Chapter 919: The gravity well of birds

When you possess substantiality and can control space-time itself...

You had an argument with your family, so you went back to before the argument. If you interpret this a bit radically, aren't you... killing the family members you argued with and recreating a new batch of family members who didn't argue?

Or to put it another way, you played a GAL game and got a bad ending, your girlfriend's affection decreased, so you reloaded a save, re-said your lines, and got the smile you wanted.

There is almost no difference between the two; both require you to first treat everything as an existence 'inferior' to you before you can implement them.

Different Dao Orthodoxy have different attitudes towards this.

Despite individual differences, it is generally possible to summarize the cognitive attitudes of different Dao Orthodoxy towards this kind of backtracking.

Shaman Dao, which believes that illusory things are also real, although some Shamanes don't care, most Shamanes actually believe that this should not be done. They will not backtrack, or rarely backtrack, only doing so in necessary situations, such as the Human-Shaman War.

And more extreme Shamanes, like Li Qi, have a Dao that doesn't even support them backtracking, believing the world is real, thus greatly weakening their ability to backtrack, only allowing them to subtly influence the future.

As the archenemy of Shaman Dao, the Human Race is much more straightforward. They, of course, also believe the world is real, and the essence of backtracking is to kill and reshape.

So... what then?

If they kill, they kill. When a third-rank of the Human Race backtracks, they will protect 'humans,' achieving the effect of group Transmigration, but they will not care about the life, death, or continued existence of any non-human things.

If the situation is urgent and they cannot protect other people, for example, when fighting a third-rank in the Human-Shaman War, protecting Mortals would obviously reduce their win rate. In that case... let's consider it a 'sacrifice,' and like all sacrifices, just remember it.

Daoists, especially those from the reclusive sects, are all striving to achieve the 'Sole Self.' Except for their closest friends, they won't care about the lives of ordinary people, just like Shen Shuibi.

However, Daoists rarely encounter such situations, because they generally do not associate with people who 'cannot understand them,' and those capable of understanding a third-rank Daoist would at least be third or fourth-rank themselves, and they can inherently resist backtracking.

True Dragons are actually quite similar, but True Dragons are more ruthless. Daoists are merely 'Sole Self,' but True Dragons genuinely look down on anyone weaker than themselves.

And when it comes to the Demonic Dao and the Spirit Dao, things are even simpler. They have no psychological pressure regarding backtracking, and even if they themselves are backtracked, they don't care; it's just an illusion.

It's just that the Spirit Dao is gentler and more independent. They rarely backtrack because there are few things that require their interference. For them, finding a 'concept' that can explain everything in the spiritual world is far more important than external objects. The Spirit Dao rarely interferes with the outside world, and they have no Dao Orthodoxy conflicts to speak of; any conflicts are personal.

As for Buddhism and the demon race, they have no specific views on backtracking. These two Dao Orthodoxy depend almost entirely on the individual.

There are those unwilling to backtrack, those very willing to backtrack, those who care, and those who don't care. The Dao Orthodoxy itself has no specific inclination.

This also reflects another tendency.

Things change easily.

It is a very simple matter for a person to become not a person.

Cultivators are born from Mortals, but as they progress, they easily leave this group, and this is natural, because they are indeed different from Mortals.

So, is the Zhongwei Bird's current state also like this?

Li Qi did not continue to press, he continued to live with the Zhongwei Bird.

About four hundred years passed, enough time for Li Qi to speak occasionally, and these words could accumulate into a small story.

Li Qi told the Zhongwei Bird some things about the various Dao Orthodoxy in the world, and how the living beings in the world respond to the idea of backtracking.

He didn't draw conclusions, just stated the situation.

During their slow and leisurely process, the environment of this glacier planet gradually worsened further, and the living conditions became increasingly harsh, at which point the Zhongwei Bird chose to leave.

On the last day of this gloomy glacier world, all living beings welcomed an unexpected, true spring day.

Mortals suddenly saw that the usually turbulent sky was clear and cloudless, unusually calm, which was a truly special and strange thing.

The biting cold wind had completely ceased, the sea surface was very calm, everywhere the same light blue, still.

The originally faint sun now emitted a warm but not dazzling white light. This desolate area, bathed in this sunlight, was as if slowly covered by something precious and rare; even the most remote areas became joyful and lively.

There was a pleasant warmth in the air, exuding the breath of spring, even making people involuntarily pray that the weather would not change again, that there would be no more gloomy days and blizzards.

The dullness of the sea, accompanied by the tranquility and serenity of the sky and atmosphere, presented a 'spring' tranquility.

On this day, the world gained a long-lost tranquility, but an existence far greater than this planet departed from here.

When he left this world, he left behind that metal spear.

In Li Qi's deduction, this spear would lead this indigenous race onto the path of civilization, eventually prompting the birth of a primitive feudal Dynasty.

Well, that was also within the other party's calculations, wasn't it?

As for the fate of the Dynasty, that would be up to future generations.

After the Zhongwei Bird left this world, he didn't even say goodbye to Li Qi, his body directly transforming into his 'true form'.

Calling it a true form isn't quite accurate; for a third-rank, the true form is a metaphysical existence. This was merely his original body as a Zhongwei Bird.

His body dispersed, entering some subtle place that Li Qi would overlook if he didn't look carefully, rapidly fluctuating like a tide within the surrounding gravitational field, and then re-converging.

In just that instant, he seemed to have established connections with many places.

Then, the Zhongwei Bird transformed back into the appearance of the Human Race of the world and looked at Li Qi: “What you want is your Dao Resonance, right? I asked around, and indeed someone gave you a wisp of it a long time ago, and we also have others.”

Li Qi cupped his hands: “Thank you. So, how can I get it?”

“Just go and get it. You’ve gone to such lengths to help me, so it’s only natural for you to receive some compensation. That thing is useless in our hands; it’s better to just give it to you. However… you’re very good at dealing with demonic thoughtss.” The Zhongwei Bird suddenly said.

“Hmm… I can’t say I’m very good; it’s just that prolonged illness makes one a doctor,” Li Qi said.

“The method is very clever, but… its effect on me is limited, but it did provide some help, thank you very much,” the Zhongwei Bird said.

“It’s good if I could help,” Li Qi nodded.

Although he knew that the other party had not truly emerged from his predicament, it was merely a polite thank you.

“It did help, so I have a question I’m very curious about.” The Zhongwei Bird looked at Li Qi, his expression serious: “My demonic thoughts was generated during this backtracking. So, where did you learn of my existence?”

“The Desire Realm. I got a new clue from the destruction of the Desire Realm, a clue about all third-rank demonic thoughtss,” Li Qi said.

“Oh… that’s quite a coincidence,” the Zhongwei Bird nodded slightly, stopping the conversation.

This conversation was the only meaningful one in these past hundred-plus years.

Li Qi also said nothing more; he had already obtained what he wanted, and he had received the other party's warning.

One is in the game and knows not the game; when one knows, one is already outside the game.

However, for a third-rank, this kind of impact should be nothing major; they can calm down very quickly.

It’s just… what did this third-rank Zhongwei Bird that Li Qi found experience?

Li Qi actually didn't know, but obviously, the Universe's reshaping had caused him to abandon something very important, leading to the proliferation of demonic thoughtss that he couldn't control.

What Li Qi did was actually teach the other party his method of controlling demonic thoughtss. Their four hundred years of interaction were not just idleness; there was also a subtle mutual influence.

Finally, coupled with Li Qi himself using the Desire Realm's information as a guarantee.

It was enough; the transaction had been completed, or rather... at least a basic acquaintance had been established.

Thinking so, the other party disappeared.

Li Qi also vanished without a trace, heading to the Zhongwei Birds' nest.

The next moment, the Zhongwei Birds, who had already received the message, also began to act.

Li Qi witnessed the true 'civilization' of the Zhongwei Birds.

How to describe it?

Completely different from Mortal life; truly a higher civilization distinct from the world.

At first glance, Li Qi couldn't quite understand their mode of existence.

Their daily routine was simply to orbit the star's gravity, seemingly deriving enough pleasure from it.

However, this behavior would greatly affect the world, as their rotation could easily propel an entire galaxy to near light speed. They enjoyed the interactions and space-time ripples thus generated.

It's like a human enjoying the wind blowing across their face.

They are constantly igniting stars, accelerating changes in gravitational wells, and even causing stars to explode, which can generate large amounts of gravitational waves, also known as space-time ripples.

They ride the space-time ripples, drifting through the Universe, as joyful as true birds.

If one were to observe ordinary Zhongwei Birds, they would appear quite clumsy, because of their extreme speed and lack of interaction, making them seem heavy. But whenever strong gravitational waves struck, they gained nimble vitality, like seagulls awakened by the wind.

The Zhongwei Birds bounced and leaped on the gravitational wave currents in their unique way, more agile and swift than some meticulously crafted flying boats.

Seeing that posture, it is easy to understand why the Great Powers named them 'Zhongwei Birds'.

Indeed, their form is like a bird and a fish, but unfortunately, Mortals cannot see it.

They can only see super-energetic waves erupting at near light speed, whose flashes are clearly visible billions of light-years away.

But they cannot see the Zhongwei Birds soaring freely and at will, riding such magnificent waves.

Of course, such actions are bound to cause a lot of damage, because the Zhongwei Birds don't care about the Mortals' situation; their playful behavior will cause stars to explode, naturally affecting surrounding planets.

Moreover, the collapse of some massive stars can even cause supernova explosions, which can destroy all Mortals within tens of light-years in a straight line, and even a fifth-rank would be directly obliterated.

This thing is second only to quasar Sword Qi.

However, a supernova explosion, powerful enough to kill a fifth-rank, is nothing more than a joyful breeze to the Zhongwei Birds; its intensity is merely the thrill of riding a roller coaster.

Because matter and energy can hardly affect them, they simply do not interact with ordinary matter; the only thing that can affect them is the gravitational field.

Therefore, the gravitational field is everything the Zhongwei Birds possess, and gravitational fluctuations are all their perceptions. Zhongwei Birds essentially live in an empty Universe with only space-time ripples.

Their civilization seems to be always filled with a faint loneliness and self-amusement.

Although self-amusement is likely to cause the extinction of other lives, in the eyes of the Zhongwei Birds themselves, they don't even see those things. They cannot interact with light, naturally cannot interact with various electromagnetic fields, and the Universe is empty in their eyes.

Therefore, they have their own unique understanding of the meaning of 'existence'.

When a Zhongwei Bird's cultivation gradually increases, and they can master special transformation techniques or even directly modify their life essence, they will usher in the first wave of impact on their Dao Heart.

The Universe turned out to be so dense and fervent.

And they were out of place.

This is also a unique feeling of a higher civilization, just like the Human Race of the world.

The Human Race of the world is actually superior to special races like the Zhongwei Bird; they also have similar feelings, not loneliness, but 'specialness'.

The Human Race of the world are the closest to Haotian; their cultivation progresses by leaps and bounds, they are innately close to the Dao. What other humanoid creatures in other worlds struggle their whole lives to comprehend, like the 'Dao within water and fire,' or understanding the natural laws of heaven and earth, is completely incomprehensible in the eyes of the Human Race of the world.

In the eyes of the Human Race of the world, feeling the Five Elements is simply instinct. If the Human Race of the world were taken to some ninth-rank worlds, they would even have an extra sensory perception of fluctuations compared to others.

Not to mention their Inner World, which is so perfect it can be said to be 'close to the Dao'; the speed of cultivating any method is incredibly fast, and they can also build virtual machines internally to store spells and Qi within.

Ordinary races would have long been crying with envy.

If one were to say, the Human Race of the world are natives of the Immortal Realm, fundamentally different from Mortals; their Inner World is inherently much more complete than others.

Li Qi felt the giant gravitational ring constructed by the Zhongwei Birds.

This gigantic gravitational ring is like a Great Attractor...

No, this is a Great Attractor.

They are using the Great Attractor to Seal something, which is what Li Qi wants.