Chapter 949: The battle resumes, against the warrior

Li Qi listened to these past events, as told by Jiang Lü.

To be honest, he knew that these words must have been mixed with something, half-truths and half-falsehoods were hard to say, but ninety percent truth and ten percent falsehood was probably there.

Because the other party didn't reveal their true form or original body for him to see, but told him like a story, it was clear they wanted to mislead Li Qi through words.

However… it was hard to directly call it false, and there was no way to verify it.

Because even if one observed the original bodies of others, what they saw might not be the truth, and they might be misled even deeper.

The reason why secrets are called 'secrets' is because they are difficult to know. Even a Third Grade finds it hard to explore the truth of this information, because the original bodies of this information have long ceased to exist, leaving only records, and the Third Grade, Second Grade, and First Grade as the basic units of information.

Li Qi could only note it down and later observe the original bodies of others, cross-referencing them to deduce what exactly happened at that time.

Unless he directly observed a First Grade's body, which would probably be the clearest record.

But let alone finding a First Grade willing to let him see, even if they did, if he directly read a First Grade's original body, he would probably explode directly. At that time, his consciousness might be completely overwritten, brainwashed into an idiot. Although he would still be alive, he would no longer be himself.

Don't look around casually, your eyes will go blind.

Ignoring Li Qi's thoughts, Jiang Lü continued: “Later, Dao Orthodoxy restrained each other, just like the rotation of Yin and Yang, the principle of endless life. You have a move to counter mine, and I have a move to break yours again, jointly evolving into mutual competition, mutual complementarity, and ultimately growing stronger and stronger. The original Heavenly Gods, on the other hand, gradually weakened. Fortunately, Hao Tian still exists, so the deities can still maintain a certain degree of transcendent status.”

“And then what happened later, you are familiar with: the spread of the Dao throughout the world, the flourishing of Demon of Deaths, which triggered the second Dao contention, everything collapsed and restarted, the third Dao contention, the fourth… the fifth, all the way to the current Human-Shaman War. How many times has it been? Dozens of times? The intensity of this one is still relatively small, incomparable to before.”

As Jiang Lü spoke, he became more and more enthusiastic, as if he wouldn't stop.

“Alas.” Li Qi sighed, interrupting the other party: “Senior, saying these words is truly cunning.”

Jiang Lü, smiling, winked at Li Qi: “Isn't being cunning good? You should know, after mixing with those Confucianists for a long time, you'll realize that being a gentleman always leads to losses. Whether a hypocrite or a true gentleman, you always have to suffer losses first. I'm different. What I love to do most is be a scoundrel.”

“Tsk, then waiting for others to come, and chatting idly with me here, are these all part of Senior's scoundrelly behavior?” Li Qi asked.

“If I told you, would it still be called being a scoundrel? Young man, only a gentleman is open and frank. Someone like you would tell others your purpose before fighting. I am a scoundrel, a bad guy,” Jiang Lü said with a chuckle.

“Am I a gentleman?” Li Qi pointed to himself, his expression surprised.

“By Confucian standards, certainly not. Their demands for a gentleman are impossibly high. Being a human is hard enough, let alone being a gentleman. Isn't that just tormenting oneself? However, by my standards, little brother Li Qi, you are definitely a gentleman! Come, a toast to you. You are also a Human Race, you can understand us, right?” Jiang Lü toasted Li Qi.

With a Second Grade toasting him, Li Qi naturally didn't dare to say much and quickly returned the toast.

He, of course, knew what the other party was talking about.

In fact, in the eyes of the Human Race, all Dao seekers are considered Human Race. Although everyone's doctrines are different, when you abandon your animalistic nature and perfect your noble Human Race nature, you are all Human Race.

It's just that Human Race each have their own doctrines, and they don't demand uniformity.

As long as one is not an enemy of the Human Race, everything is fine. It's normal for them to meet, have a cup of tea, exchange pleasantries, and ask about each other's work progress.

If they are enemies… then they can only be enemies.

In this regard, the Human Race is actually quite easy to get along with, provided you don't have a Dao contention with them.

As for those not classified as Human Race… what do they know? They can't even be considered Human Race, how can they understand the actions of Human Race heroes? Isn't that just a fantasy?

Just like those insects who betray civilization and surrender to the Human Race for primitive survival instincts, unable to understand the heroes who died standing.

“Oh, it's about time,” Jiang Lü suddenly said. “Everyone's pretty much here, right?”

“Yes, are you waiting to see how many Shamanes are willing to come? Surely not? You didn't need to stop me for that,” Li Qi frowned in confusion.

“No, no, stopping you had another purpose, but I certainly won't tell you. You can go now, it's time for the Second Grade. Your opponent is ahead,” Jiang Lü pointed forward.

Li Qi nodded and then left the place.

And Jiang Lü stood up, looking at the Human Race border line opposite, meeting the gaze of a certain existence.

Oh, it's really annoying to deal with Shamanes.

Younger ones are fine, but talking to these old geezers is really difficult.

You know…

At that magnificent moment in the Universe's life cycle, a magical animal called 'Human Race' emerged from the mud. They discovered fire, invented the wheel, learned cultivation, could fly, and would no longer die. They even broke through their own shackles and began to explore the world.

From the day 'Human Race' was born, their history has been one of perpetual advancement. Their steps of exploration and adventure have never ceased, and their new discoveries are endless and inexhaustible.

And before the birth of the Human Race, during that long 'unpeopled era,' the entire world was calm, the scroll of history always unfolded slowly, and such rapid changes had never occurred.

It was 'Human Race' who ignited this world, making it burn fiercely, with an intense momentum.

When Human Race appeared, the story of this Universe began. Regardless of the outcome, regardless of whether there is an end, it doesn't matter, because Human Race has already gone forward with a torch, fiercely, powerfully, to pursue and eliminate that dark continent.

But along the way, there are always some who hold them back.

For example, the Shamanes, who still want to drag Human Race back into that darkness, acknowledging that darkness as the Sovereign.

Truly… even a bad guy like him can't stand it.

Divine Ability unfolded, and the true form descended.

Who is that on the other side? The time Li Qi delayed was enough, right? And he even managed to plant a mine in Li Qi's perception.

Thinking this, his opponent also revealed his appearance.

Ah.

As expected, it was an old acquaintance.

Changqin.

Then let's get to it, see if we can settle this once and for all.

——————————

Meanwhile, on the other side, Li Qi was able to advance further along the timeline.

Now, he fought while moving forward in time.

This might be hard to imagine, but his thoughts transcended time. He was fighting in the past, so he was also fighting in the present. Although he seemed motionless at the moment, the fight was incredibly intense.

In the past, in the present, Li Qi was participating in many wars, and he also needed to maintain the normal progression of his timeline, because only then could he encounter new enemies.

It was quite troublesome, but it had to be done, because Li Qi had to draw out enough Human Race combat power.

As for the battle itself, he didn't need to worry too much; he just had to focus on defense. Other Third Grades would make their moves, and then it would be a massive melee centered around Li Qi's timeline.

Because it's very easy for a Third Grade to escape, if they want to kill or even capture Li Qi, they need to 'surround, chase, and intercept'.

This surrounding, chasing, and intercepting is not just on the physical level, but also on the timeline.

Only by resolving all possible escape methods and reinforcements for Li Qi across all times can Li Qi truly be captured.

If Li Qi is rescued at any point in time, then all other efforts are considered a failure.

For this, both the Human Race and Shaman sides would invest massive forces, fighting along the timeline and possibilities Li Qi passed through. This would involve several Second Grades, and even dozens of Third Grades, contending at many different crucial nodes.

Reality was constantly oscillating and distorting because of this.

As for the 'War History' timeline, which is the time of the so-called 'Reality Universe', the time perceived by Mortals, it did not advance at this moment.

For Mortals, nothing happened.

Only when Li Qi and the others settled down and everything was completed would the War History continue to advance. Everything that happened before that would be erased, rendered meaningless.

Soon, Li Qi's timeline progressed to the 'Immortal Heaven'.

Li Qi and Yao Ji appeared in the void outside the 'Immortal Heaven'.

Yao Ji then said to Li Qi: “Immortal Heaven, are we still going? There's going to be a war, right?”

“It doesn't matter if we go or not. Anyway, it doesn't matter whether this section of history is changed or not. As for what happened inside the Immortal Heaven, it has already been devoured by it,” Li Qi said, spreading his hands.

Indeed, for this particular segment of history, what Li Qi did inside the Immortal Heaven had already been completely devoured by the Immortal Heaven, that savage beast, so there was no need to worry too much about it.

It's just, fighting near a First Grade is a bit exciting.

Thinking this, Li Qi looked at a Confucian scholar approaching from the front.

Though called a Confucian scholar, he appeared robust and powerful, dressed in Confucian robes, yet emitting Martial Dao Inner Qi from his body.

“This attire… truly.” Li Qi shook his head and patted Yao Ji, who was beside him.

Yao Ji also possessed substantiality, so even when she returned to this point in time in the Immortal Heaven, she retained the memories from that period. Thus, she skillfully transformed into Dao Resonance and coiled around Li Qi's finger.

“My surname is Zhong, given name You. I am a Martial Artist, currently cultivating Confucian methods. I have specifically come to intercept Grand Shaman Li Qi,” the Confucian scholar said.

“So it's a Martial Artist. I thought all Confucian scholars were so robust now,” Li Qi wiped his sweat.

“I also wish to become a Confucian scholar soon, but unfortunately, my teacher said that I am currently only in the hall, not yet entered the inner chamber, so changing my cultivation is still too difficult,” the other party said.

Li Qi nodded: “It is indeed improper to rashly change one's cultivation.”

“Grand Shaman, then let's not waste words.” The rough-hewn Martial Artist in front of him reached out: “It looks like this should be your first time fighting a Third Grade Martial Artist, right?”

“That is correct,” Li Qi nodded.

The opponent's demeanor and appearance were truly very strange, lacking the usual sharpness of a Martial Artist, instead being gentle and polite.

“Then you must be careful. Fighting a Martial Artist is completely different from fighting other Third Grades,” the Martial Artist said, taking a slight step forward.

Li Qi suddenly retreated explosively, and at the same time, the space in front of him began to 'stretch'.

Spacetime curvature began to surge, and the space in front became 'unapproachable'.

Because spacetime can be distorted, as Li Qi desired, anyone, any light, the distance to Li Qi was 'infinitely large'. They would forever rush through this distance, but never be able to approach Li Qi by even a fraction.

Logically, an infinite distance cannot be crossed.

However…

Li Qi was punched directly in the face.

That was a speed beyond infinite, one that even an infinitely long distance could not impede.

From afar, at this instant… it was as if a galaxy cluster was plunging into another galaxy cluster.

During this process, two shockwaves were generated: a “bow shock” at the leading edge, shaped like a ship's bow moving through water, and an “upstream shock” behind it.

Before the galaxy cluster plunged in, the gas was compressed, forming a large number of bow shocks.

The formation of upstream shocks is more complex, much like the ram pressure stripping phenomenon that occurs during galaxy cluster collisions. That is to say, as the galaxy cluster plunges, gas is ejected and falls, interacting with the original gas passing through it, thereby forming upstream shocks.

Among them, the representative bow shock was spreading, spanning several light-years.

If the shockwave could develop to a certain width, theoretically, the bow shock would be about 5.5 billion light-years wide, and the upstream shock would be 3.5 billion light-years wide.

However, due to its formation time being later than the bow shock, it has not actually formed yet; that will be a macroscopic phenomenon observable by stargazers many years in the future.

At the current speed, particles in the intracluster medium move randomly at approximately 290,000 kilometers per second, and on average, they can travel 5 billion light-years before encountering another particle.

It would take at least 200 million years for other life forms to observe this secondary heating phenomenon caused by particle collisions.

However… in other words, this means that the spectacular scene formed by this heating process will even persist in place for over 200 million years, or even longer, remaining as a cosmic marvel, leaving future generations to ponder deeply how such a baffling phenomenon came into being.

Li Qi's Physical Body directly disintegrated.

But the next moment, his 'original body', which is the metaphysical 'Dao', once again condensed a Physical Body.

With another punch, he was shattered again.

At the same time, the previous bow shock replayed itself.

Li Qi was horrified!

What the hell?!