Temporary Departure from the Tang Kingdom

Li Qi's thoughts immediately began to race.

I am something the Heavenly Demon cannot even imagine...

In other words, his own Outer Dao was something the Heavenly Demon had not yet imagined.

Can a person imagine things that do not exist?

It's not that it doesn't exist, but rather... it's something he's never seen or understood.

It is not a collection of fragments of real things, but something that never actually existed.

For example, if someone imagines a cat-eared girl, but there is no such thing as a cat-eared girl in reality, does that mean they have imagined something that doesn't exist?

No, it's just a combination of things that already exist, not something that doesn't exist. He simply put a cat and a beautiful girl together.

So, suppose someone has such a powerful imagination that they actually imagine something that doesn't exist, and it doesn't contain any existing things or concepts.

Even setting aside feasibility, even if he did manage to do it, no matter how hard he tried, he would never be able to describe it in reality unless he used his imagination to establish an independent and highly autonomous information transmission mechanism to describe it separately.

However, because he set up this mechanism to describe it, others could not understand it. Since it had nothing to do with any concept in reality, he could not describe it in a metaphorical way. Others could not even understand this mechanism, and the Heavenly Demon was naturally unable to use his transformation method to materialize it in reality.

Even a celestial demon couldn't break through this barrier, right? This is a paradox that exists only in logic. As long as you continue to follow logic, you will not be able to break through it.

This is a paradox.

You can explain what you can imagine, but others can't imagine or explain what you can't imagine, just like the invisible fire-breathing dragon in the garage.

(Note: There is a fire-breathing dragon hidden in the garage. It is invisible, floats in the air, breathes flames without heat, and cannot be detected by any means. Only the user can see it. Can others prove that this fire-breathing dragon does not exist?)

So, to the Heavenly Demon, Li Qi was like the fire-breathing dragon in the garage.

Furthermore, Li Qi, this invisible fire-breathing dragon, appeared in the real world.

This is an existence that no one can imagine, describe, or even disprove; a dreamlike thing has appeared in reality.

Moreover, it probably only has meaning for the Heavenly Demon.

From the perspective of Shaman Path and Human Path, there is no difference between the "existence" and "non-existence" of the fire-breathing dragon, so it is simpler to consider it as non-existent. If it exists, then it is only necessary to include it in the category of existence.

Their will is real and rooted in the material world; they only need to acknowledge the things that exist in reality and don't need to get entangled in those products that only exist in consciousness.

The Heavenly Demons are different. The Demonic Path is Dao Path constructed entirely by subjective idealism. The Demonic Path can ignore all reality, but it cannot doubt its own imagination, because in the Demonic Path's view, even this real world is merely a projection of their self-consciousness onto the outside world.

In this world, only one's own will is absolutely real; everything else is likely false.

He himself was something beyond his self-projection, something beyond the imagination of the Heavenly Demon, the second tangible existence that the Heavenly Demon could confirm besides his own will.

It's a very simple logical deduction.

First of all, the Heavenly Demon knows everything in the world. His eyes are all over the heavens, every world, and perhaps even every person. So he knows everything. Even Chang'an has his eyes, and he probably has them in the Human Emperor's Palace as well.

The Heavenly Demon is the sum of all that is 'known' in the universe. Everyone has demonic thoughts in their heart, so... everyone could be a Heavenly Demon.

Secondly, it is known that the Heavenly Demon knows everything about reality, and he regards all of this as a projection of himself in the outside world. The evidence is that he knows everything, and everything in reality can be reproduced by the Heavenly Demon in the Desire Realm.

So, what is the difference between the Desire Realm and the Real World?

The answer is no. There is no difference between living in the Desire Realm and living in the Real World. There is no difference, and it is impossible to find any difference. They are absolutely identical, without any distinction.

If things in the Desire Realm are transformations of celestial demons, then things in the outside world may also be transformations of celestial demons, only they may not be this particular celestial demon.

Based on the first and second points, we arrive at the third point: if something other than the Heavenly Demon's self-projection appears, that is, something the Heavenly Demon is unaware of, then it proves that besides the Heavenly Demon's unique spiritual entity, there exists a second spiritual entity in the world!

This second spiritual entity may not be Li Qi; Li Qi may simply be an extension of this second spiritual entity.

But it doesn't matter. Li Qi's existence proves that Li Qi is not a projection of the Heavenly Demon's spirit, but a projection of something else.

Therefore, finding this second spiritual entity is the key for the Heavenly Demon to break through its self-imposed limitations.

The only thing the Heavenly Demon can be certain of in this world is the existence of his own thoughts, because Mara of Self-Transformation, can create anything, and he has enough reason to suspect that everything in the world is a product of transformation.

So, if there is nothing in the world at all, and it is all an illusion, and everything is a projection of his own thoughts onto the outside world, then there cannot be anything in this illusion that he cannot imagine.

However, it has been proven that Li Qi and the Outer Dao behind him are things that the Heavenly Demon cannot imagine, which proves that there exists a second spiritual entity other than the Heavenly Demon himself.

That's why the Heavenly Demon cares so much about Li Qi, and only the Heavenly Demon would value Li Qi so much, because Li Qi is something outside the shackles of his self-conscious imagination, and is the key for him to break free from the constraints!

Even the other first-rank beings were within his imagination and understanding, so the other first-rank beings might be self-projections of the Heavenly Demon, but Li Qi was not.

Therefore, it is only natural that he would place a large bet on himself.

Li Qi quickly went through the process in his mind and ultimately had to admit it.

If that's really the case, then... I can indeed help the Heavenly Demon 'transcend'.

It is not about transcending this world, but about allowing the Heavenly Demon to transcend itself, ultimately encompassing both 'existence' and 'non-existence' within itself.

The Mara of Self-Transformation will continue to be ever-changing, rather than remaining static.

Because a perfect thing must be unchanging, the Desire Realm, after the Heavenly Demon became a first-class being, has become the sum of all real things, and there is nothing in the present world that is not included in the Desire Realm.

Therefore, the Mara of Self-Transformation is no longer free and cannot transform.

Only...

Li Qi shuddered, feeling a dryness in his mouth.

The sum total of all real things.

That's so easy to say...

But upon closer reflection, one must consider what kind of existence this truly is, and what immense power it possesses.

This being... has its eyes on me?

"Sigh..." Li Qi couldn't help but sigh.

After hearing his sigh, the Grand Tutor continued, "But you don't need to worry. The Heavenly Demon used repeated statistics in the sense of time to restore the sum of things that happened in the same space in different times and spaces, and thus formed the Desire Realm. But this also imprisoned the Desire Realm's ability to change, preventing him from coming to you. As long as you don't go to the Desire Realm and provide your information to the Heavenly Demon, he will not be able to fulfill his wish."

"So... the way to ensure my safety is to not stray too far from the world?" Li Qi looked up.

"That's about right. However, we won't restrict you too much, after all, you are from Wushen Mountain." The Grand Tutor said calmly, "If you really insist on going to see the Heavenly Demon, no one can stop you, unless Wushen Mountain kills you to prevent future troubles."

"So, is there anything else you want to ask?" the Grand Tutor asked before Li Qi could continue thinking.

Li Qi was still immersed in shock when he heard this, so he shook his head. "I know what I need to know, but there is still one thing I don't understand. If everything before the Three Lives Ancient Mirror was done by the Heavenly Demon to arrange for me to enter the Tang Kingdom, then what was the meaning of sending me to the White Horse Temple to exorcise the demon?"

The Grand Tutor said, "I really don't know about that. However, the Three Lives Ancient Mirror at White Horse Temple has already run into problems. It's clear that whether or not Kashyapa Matanga knew about it, he is at least a suspect. So, the White Horse Temple built by Kashyapa Matanga ... will also have some problems. If I send you to White Horse Temple, you will probably encounter the same thing."

Li Qi shook his head.

It's impossible to move an inch.

So many things are beyond our control, and one wrong step could mean death.

Really...

It's unbearable.

But is this old man standing in front of us an ally?

I'm afraid not.

Human Path and Shaman Path are not friends, and they cannot be friends in the foreseeable future.

In fact, Li Qi felt that what the other party told him might not all be the truth...

For example, is it just a way to induce oneself to reject the Heavenly Demon? To make oneself go away from the Desire Realm or something like that?

Thinking of this, Li Qi sighed inwardly again.

I can't tell the difference, I can't see it clearly.

It was as if everything was shrouded in mist, as if he were walking blindfolded on a narrow bridge, and one wrong step would send him plunging into an abyss, where he would die without a burial.

Who can be believed? What can be believed?

Li Qi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing these distracting thoughts, before asking, "Then... what about the sorcerer god that the Grand Tutor mentioned?"

The Grand Tutor shook his head. "You'll have to ask the Witch God about that. As for you... Ah, your master is here. Ask him about the rest."

After saying that, he disappeared without even saying goodbye.

At the same time, Li Qi suddenly felt an immense pressure coming from outside!

He felt as if he had been hit, and then, with a loud bang, the entire roof was blown away.

Amidst the chaos, Zhu Fengdan, battered and bruised by the shockwave, appeared before Li Qi in the next moment.

His appearance is quite different from what it used to be.

In the past, Zhu Fengdan was carefree and irresponsible, always wearing loose and comfortable robes. She loved fashion and usually wore the latest trendy clothes.

He even put on armor, but there was a huge gaping hole in his chest, piercing through the armor and protruding from his back. Demonic energy still clung to the wound, constantly eroding it.

Besides these, other wounds can be seen, but it is also clear that many Technique Method are in effect at the same time, driving them away.

"Teacher!" Li Qi immediately stood up, not even bothering to bow, and rushed to help him up.

But Zhu Fengdan shoved him aside. "You don't need to help me. Let Bo Yue and the others ask for leave for you to go back to the mountain gate."

"Yes." Li Qi immediately took out his terminal and sent a bunch of messages, while also sending a string of messages to Shen Shuibi.

After confirming that they had all received the message, he then crushed the terminal with both hands and threw it aside.

Seeing this, Zhu Fengdan grabbed Li Qi's shoulder, and Li Qi felt a strange fluctuation surging out.

The anti-air formation in Chang'an was shattered.

Sparks of energy burst forth in the air over a radius of thousands of miles, crackling and popping.

"Zhu Fengdan!" A furious roar came from afar.

Li Qi could tell that it sounded like the voice of the Prefect of Jingzhao Chang'an.

But Zhu Fengdan completely ignored her, quickly traversing the distance and disappearing from the spot in the blink of an eye.

Li Qi couldn't see clearly. He only felt that his vision blurred for a while. In just a few seconds, he found himself sitting on Dapeng.

It was the roc that my teacher raised.

Oh, it seems they weren't raised, but rather hired.

Among the pavilions and towers on Dapeng's body, another half-dead senior Shaman Path lay lying.

That was the great shaman Mi Xin. He looked badly injured, half of his body had turned black and was emitting black smoke. His whole body had turned into a black and white panda.

Before it could even settle in, the roc accelerated.

A flash of lightning and a clap of thunder revealed that the Gale Layer had been torn apart, affecting countless aircraft which were overturned and thrown aside, causing many people to curse.

But Zhu Fengdan still didn't care. The roc quickly broke through the Gale Layer and then left the World Barrier in a dazzling light, entering the outer realm.

Beyond the realm, one can see the sun and moon, revolving around a giant continent.

This is the second time Li Qi has viewed the world from this perspective; the first time was when he was taken to Wushen Mountain by a fifth-rank Shaman.

But... this time, he realized that something seemed off.

Beyond the realm, countless corpses float...

It looks like the remains of a demon.

There are demonic cultivators, and there are also pure demons.

The largest of them was as large as a third of the sun, and its remains floated in the boundless void, as if casting a shadow over the sun.

But there were many more other corpses.

Hundreds of millions...?

There are probably more than that; at least tens of billions of demonic corpses, like a black river, drawn by the sun's gravity, circling and falling towards it.

This scene is like a black ring hanging around this huge star.

While I was trapped in that boundless darkness, what exactly happened outside?

Li Qi immediately looked at the two great shamans lying dead on the giant roc's body.

Zhu Fengdan slumped weakly on the spot. "Don't ask, I'm too lazy to talk about it. Let me rest for a while—"

(End of Volume 4. A new chapter begins, and Li Qi will officially come of age from now on.)