Seventh Rank

Why did it break so easily before, but now it can hold up?

The reason is simple: Li Qi has changed his ways.

He could see the weaknesses reflected in the Three Lives Ancient Mirror, so he immediately made modifications, eliminating redundant parts, simplifying the structure, improving efficiency, and reducing internal friction.

Moreover, there is another reason that enabled him to do this in such a short time.

That is a wealth of clear intelligence!

True Knowledge Dao Charm is more than twice as strong as before.

Everything became crystal clear; the world and the demon before him became incredibly clear.

What had previously appeared as a Black Mist of demonic energy now took on a concrete shape in Li Qi's eyes.

He could see through even sixth-grade demonic energy and read the other party's specific actions.

It was as if he had returned to that night in the alley where he fought against Shan Dazhuang.

Concentrate fully on your opponent's every move, then interrupt them in advance to prevent them from achieving their full potential.

The Hundred-Zhang Buddhist Kingdom that Li Qi imitated was essentially Buddhist sorcery he created himself, which he then used to form something by borrowing a Cosmic Space Dao Charm.

The Cosmic Space Dao Charm played a crucial role, creating a hundred-zhang space that gave Li Qi a chance to catch his breath, making the Heavenly Demon's attacks less relentless. It also allowed Li Qi to set up numerous spells within that hundred-zhang space to block them.

This is called strategic depth.

Li Qi didn't know True Knowledge Dao Charm, but he did know that as his sixth sense, True Knowledge Dao Charm had become more than twice as strong, to the point that he could clearly see the Heavenly Demon's attacks.

If you can see things clearly, you'll naturally be able to find a way to deal with them.

The battle was no longer limited to attacking each other 'Dao heart; it had turned into a real fight!

The Heavenly Demon emitted a series of demonic sounds, and then countless demons appeared. Their skin was pitch black, they were draped in tassels, had skulls around their necks, bit infants in their mouths, rode on evil spirits, and had snakes wrapped around their waists. Some had four heads and eight arms, and some held halberds. They were extremely ugly and rushed towards Li Qi!

Li Qi, however, maintained the Hundred-Zhang Buddhist Kingdom while using Shaman Path techniques that incorporated Daoist demon-suppressing sorcery to suppress it.

The microcosm of the human body transforms, Inner Gods emerges, becoming the microcosm of Li Qi's body.

Going out to fight enemies is not the main responsibility of the Inner Gods. They are usually responsible for regulating Li Qi's body and maintaining the stability of the microcosm within the human body.

However, it wouldn't be weak if used in a fight.

The heavens always look up to the celestial constellations, and return to the three celestial bodies.

The Five Sacred Mountains and Four Great Rivers underground, as well as all the sacred mountains.

The sun shone with lightning, the moon exhaled clouds, and Li Qi's Dharma body appeared, holding the Heavenly Gate in his hand and stepping on the Earthly Gate, becoming one with nature, and the seasons changed!

The process is repeated 36 times a year, corresponding to the 360 degrees of the Heavenly Gate's rotation of the Nine Heavens' Qi.

Instantly, within the microcosm of the human body, myriad spirits rushed about, earth dragons devoured ghosts, heavenly winds drove away evil, and the source of demons was annihilated!

By using the methods of Shaman Path to control the timing of the heavens, and corresponding to the methods of borrowing power from Daoism, they can work together to eliminate the demonic energy of the heavenly demons from entering the body and protect their own safety.

Both sides countered each other's moves.

But the Imperial Academy Chancellor outside was in a hurry.

The safest method would have been to let Li Qi Dao heart breakdown, so that no one could find out.

Now that the Heavenly Demon has appeared and is fighting, he has been Lower Vehicle, but there's nothing he can do about it.

Only the Imperial Academy Chancellor must absolutely not intervene; if he does, things will escalate.

Then we'll have to rely on the Heavenly Demon.

Moreover, we can't let this stalemate continue. If rescuers arrive from outside, will Li Qi be taken away?

Furthermore, it seems that the opponent's Daoist aura has suddenly strengthened, and he is actually able to achieve a stalemate with him in the battle.

Are we really going to let him live?!

Thinking of this, the Imperial Academy Chancellor decisively pointed his fingers like a sword and thrust them fiercely into his left hand.

With a swish, his left hand was severed!

Then come the chest and abdomen, internal organs, skin, Five Officials.

After several consecutive slashes, blood splattered, the Daoist energy became disordered, and the microcosm within the human body collapsed.

The Imperial Academy Chancellor's energy Qi and Blood surged forth rapidly with the sacrifice.

Like a water-filled balloon being punctured by a needle, his body began to shrink rapidly. All that could be heard was a series of thuds as all the major acupoints on his body burst open, leaving him covered in blood and rapidly losing his Qi and Blood.

All the Blood Qi and cultivation that had dissipated were greedily devoured by the Heavenly Demons outside.

Li Qi's pupils contracted.

This fellow couldn't take action himself, so he actually mutilated himself, offering himself as a sacrifice to the Heavenly Demon!

The demon went berserk after being offered blood, which greatly increased the pressure on Li Qi!

This is still a mindless demon; if it were, Li Qi would probably have been defeated long ago.

Disaster!

The Heavenly Demon received a sacrifice from a sixth-rank cultivator, causing its power to surge, and Li Qi's hundred-zhang Buddhist kingdom began to gradually collapse!

Demons dance wildly!

A demon burned down the palace; in the hundred-foot-tall Buddhist kingdom, the seven-jeweled platform was instantly destroyed.

A demon gnawed at it, and within the Pure Land of the Ten Directions, the Bodhi Tree collapsed with a crash.

Calamity filled the sky, darkness was endless, evil spirits bewitched people's hearts, the hundred-foot Buddhist kingdom collapsed and was almost completely destroyed, leaving only a few dilapidated houses that could not shelter from the wind and rain.

Li Qi could sense that after accepting the sacrifice... this time, the Heavenly Demon seemed to have turned into a sphere.

Spherical!

Li Qi was horrified!

In the past, when he was possessed by demonic thoughts, he saw a sphere with countless tentacles extending out.

Li Qi attempted to reactivate the Buddhist kingdom to resist the Heavenly Demon.

When it comes to dealing with demons, Buddhist sorcery still the most effective. After all, Buddhas and demons are natural enemies, having fought for countless years and being the most restrained of each other.

However, this time when the Buddhist kingdom was reopened, it suddenly turned black.

In the Buddhist kingdom, the Buddha's light shines everywhere, just like the sun, but now it has suddenly disappeared.

Li Qi was drenched in cold sweat.

He discovered that he could not see anything.

The Buddha's light dissipated, everything was destroyed and burned away, leaving no trace of calamity, just as ghee was burned away and consumed, leaving no trace of smoke or ink.

Within the Buddhist kingdom of Baizhang, nothing exists.

Everything disappeared, not even light remained, only darkness.

Even... True Knowledge Dao Charm couldn't see anything at all.

Li Qi felt as if he had fallen into an abyss, the cold seeping into his bones.

He didn't know what had happened, but... it probably wasn't anything good.

However, the Imperial Academy Chancellor outside showed a look of great joy.

Li Qi didn't know, but he did.

His own sacrifice attracted the attention of a higher-ranking demon.

Li Qi is doomed!

Without hesitation, knowing he was going to die anyway, he slit his own throat with one hand, and his head flew off.

Sacrifice all cultivation, Blood Qi, and even soul!

Not a single one will survive!

Today, I will die alongside a young master from Wushen Mountain!

The Imperial Academy Chancellor resolutely offered himself as a sacrifice, dying and disappearing from the world.

Then, his remaining cultivation, bones, blood, and soul all became food for the Heavenly Demon.

But then they saw the power of the Heavenly Demons outside rise again, almost instantly enveloping the entire chaotic cosmic light.

Li Qi was unaware of what was happening outside, but he knew he was in deep trouble.

The demon-suppressing Buddhist Incantation and the Daoist demon-suppressing incantation he had previously tried to use had all failed, having no effect on the heavenly demons after they had been sacrificed, and were easily broken.

Then he still has the methods of Shaman Path left.

The human body is a microcosm, stirring within it.

All the Inner Gods appeared.

Li Qi in the center, and the Inner Gods scatters outwards to soothe the four directions. Thus, he can control the movement of heaven and earth, the rotation of the wheel without ceasing, the flow of water without end, and the beginning and end of all things.

When the demon invaded all things, Li Qi used his human body as a microcosm to cultivate life force and compete with it for health.

But then they saw Li Qi's human body within a small world:

It harmonizes heaven and earth with yin and yang, and regulates the four seasons and the five elements.

The sun and moon shine because of it, and the stars move because of it.

All things live in abundance, endowed with destiny by Heaven and Earth.

It nourishes plants and trees, and permeates metals and stones.

The birds and beasts were enormous, with glossy fur.

Its wings spread, and its horns grow.

Animal fetuses are not killed, and bird eggs are not laid to rest.

The natural order and harmony gave birth to boundless vitality, providing Li Qi's personal world with the only light in the darkness and keeping him from being corrupted.

Or rather... it can recover even if it's been eroded.

Li Qi remained steadfast, unmoved by the surging demons.

To be honest, I can't move it.

The overwhelming demonic energy, the malice that erodes the world, the aura that leads all things to their doom, the incessant clanging of demonic sounds, all stir up the ever-growing impure thoughts in people's hearts.

Li Qi was truly unable to defend himself.

If we could counter their moves before, now we can only defend.

He calmed his mind, trying to eliminate the noise within.

Hunger and thirst, alternating between hot and cold.

Mosquitoes, horseflies, flies, fleas, and lice harass my ears.

He suffered from various illnesses, experiencing extreme pain, and was on the verge of death.

Worries and anxieties linger in my heart, from which I cannot find relief.

Li Qi was enduring unspeakable pain, a torment more intense than any physical suffering.

But he had no choice but to stay quietly, maintaining the life in his own little world, thinking of solutions in this desperate situation, and waiting for possible rescue.

He had previously identified a variable that forced the Imperial Academy Chancellor to sacrifice himself in order to continue increasing the stakes.

So where is the next variable?

This demon... is too powerful.

This nameless disturbance alone was already too much for Li Qi to bear.

There was a possibility that someone would come to rescue him soon, but Li Qi couldn't gamble on that.

So... it's still that same choice, the only source of uncertainty...

Li Qi looked at the Three Lives Ancient Mirror.

Let's continue to follow the journey back in time using the Three Lives Ancient Mirror.

The rewinding continued. Li Qi suppressed the noise in his Dao heart and immersed all his senses in the rewinding of the Three Lives Ancient Mirror, hoping to find some variable.

However, as soon as he sank into it, Li Qi discovered... something.

Something that is expanding.

"This is... the edge of the universe?!" Li Qi was shocked beyond words, as if the pain in his body had lessened somewhat.

Because the Three Lives Ancient Mirror has traveled back to this place, a place filled with chaotic cosmic light and ever-expanding space.

A terrifying, indescribable force is propelling space to expand at an unprecedented speed, far surpassing the Heavenly Way Limit!

Previously, Li Qi felt nothing, but now that the two True Knowledge Dao Charm had merged and strengthened, he was able to understand why the Three Lives Ancient Mirror had shattered.

The distance he has traveled back to is far beyond the concept of a 'galaxy'. He has now even arrived at the edge of the universe and can feel that this vibrant universe is constantly extending its boundaries and expanding!

Li Qi didn't know what was outside the universe, nor could he sense it; he only knew that the universe was constantly growing larger.

But, in that very instant—

He suddenly felt that the torment from the Heavenly Demons on his body seemed to have disappeared.

Because... he witnessed 'Creation from Nothing' with his own eyes.

Before the boundaries of the universe expanded, time did not exist, space did not exist, and matter did not exist.

However, after the expansion of the universe, spacetime appeared, and matter seemed to have been created out of thin air.

Li Qi suddenly had a strange feeling.

He had heard of the Big Bang theory, which is said to be the origin of all spacetime and matter, before which there was nothing.

As mentioned before, Li Qi is still a thin layer away from the seventh rank, a layer called 'Creation from Nothing'. (See Chapter 271 for details)

He simply couldn't understand what it meant to create something from Creation from Nothing. In his view, the conservation of mass-energy was a matter of course, and he found it difficult to comprehend what exactly creating something from Creation from Nothing meant.

But now, he seems to understand.

The entire universe was created from Creation from Nothing.

If even the universe can come into Creation from Nothing, then why can't it?

True Knowledge Dao Charm is subconsciously fully activated.

A massive amount of information was poured into his mind.

That was the echo left behind by the expansion of the universe and the Heaven Creation.

Li Qi was unable to face the expansion of the universe directly; he could only stay behind and watch the dust settle, and even that was only possible because the Three Lives Ancient Mirror was burning itself.

But just listening to the lingering sound is enough.

I see, I see.

Li Qi felt the same way he used to preach to others.

All the doubts, in the end, boil down to just one sentence. "I see."

The problem that had troubled Li Qi for so long was suddenly solved.

The torment brought by the Heavenly Demon seemed to have disappeared.

He was completely immersed in the echoes of the universe's exploration, feeling the magnificent poem.

That is the secret of Creation from Nothing.

Li Qi observed carefully, and at the same time, he also spared a bit of energy to feel that Cosmic Space Dao Charm.

Did the hundred-zhang space within it appear out of thin air?

Perhaps.

Thinking of this, Li Qi took a deep breath, and his inner world began to change.

He wants to add a new path to his body.

As the universe expands, there is the undeniable 'Heavenly Dao'.

But then they saw that Li Qi's personal microcosm suddenly began to slowly expand.

From nothing to something.

"This..." As the microcosm within his body expanded, Li Qi suddenly felt a surge of new vitality flowing into his body.

His ship of life suddenly gained new vitality, and it seemed to be inexhaustible.

Like the expansion of the universe, it seems to have no end.

This vitality is not much, just enough to replenish the wear and tear on his lifeline.

In other words... Li Qi's lifespan will not be diminished if he is not injured!

As lifespan increases, other parts of the human body's microcosm also ascend.

The echoes from creation made Li Qi's personal microcosm more reasonable and began to get closer to the Real World.

At the same time, Li Qi also came into contact with another kind of energy.

An aura he had never seen before.

As his inner world expanded naturally, he seemed to have invaded some unknown territory.

"This is..." Li Qi sensed the energy.

Then, suddenly, the small world around him solidified!

It's like the air has turned into water mist, and the quality has increased exponentially!

Li Qi then suddenly realized.

It has exhausted almost all of its reserves and resources.

He's already a seventh-rank official!

When Li Qi opened his eyes again, he was full of confidence; he hadn't even felt his own power.

However, when he opened his eyes, what appeared before him was—

It was as if the sun had been placed in its shadow, forming a Black Mist wave like a surging mass of demons.

The Heavenly Demon is still here.