The Underworld

The surrounding space suddenly distorted!

The whole world suddenly started to distort...

Demonic energy, terrifyingly powerful demonic energy, enveloped the surroundings.

The world fell silent, and all light disappeared!

Li Qi suddenly felt dizzy and disoriented, and felt... his body sinking into the water.

In the water... no, this warm feeling is more like a baby still in its mother's womb, enveloped in something warm and dark, which makes one feel... so Anxin.

The surrounding sounds all fell silent.

Li Qi was immersed in the dark yet warm sea, his consciousness gradually sinking, and he was about to fall asleep.

However, at that moment, the amulet on his body suddenly lit up.

It was a talisman made from Shen Shuibi's tail hair. As the talisman lit up, Li Qi's mind suddenly regained its light, as if he had been pricked by a needle.

He was still dizzy, but he had regained his senses and could vaguely see some light ahead.

"Where is this...? The demonic energy is so strong, all other energy is blocked, and I can't feel the natural world..." Li Qi barely managed to maintain his senses as he began to ponder.

He felt dizzy and lightheaded; although he was now fully conscious, his thinking speed had slowed down considerably.

Li Qi knew that this was a sign of the stagnation in the cultivation of Shaman after being cut off from heaven and earth.

As cultivation progresses, the practitioner's thinking organs gradually move away from the brain. Generally speaking, many different thinking organs will appear depending on the Dao Lineage.

The most common choice, made by both the Human Path and Daoist schools, is the spirit and soul. The Human Path uses the three souls as the main organs of thought, so that even if the head is cut off, it will not affect the mind.

Daoists use the Yin Spirit or Yang Spirit as their primary organ of thought, and they can completely abandon their physical bodies.

The Shinto Church will consider transplanting organs into the 'golden body' unique to Shinto. As long as the golden body is indestructible, the gods will not die.

Both the Reason Way and the Way of Spirit take absolute spirit as the foundation of their thinking. For them, even the complete annihilation of their soul and spirit does not necessarily mean death.

Martial arts, on the other hand, involve placing thought within the entire body. Li Qi generally refers to this as 'using muscles to replace thinking.' Their physical instincts react faster than their brains, and in most cases, the decisions they make are correct, which is quite terrifying.

This is why high-level martial artists can achieve 'rebirth from a drop of blood', because for them, every part of their physical body can carry their thoughts and consciousness, even a drop of blood or a hair. So there was once a high-ranking martial artist whose head was cut off, yet he was still able to use his chest as an eye and his abdomen as a mouth to continue fighting the enemy.

As Shaman, Li Qi's thinking organs will gradually shift to the 'outside world' as his cultivation level increases.

Yes, it is the outside world, the entire universe, not just limited to a certain world or realm itself, but including the entire 'universe' beyond the realm, encompassing all time and space.

Therefore, some high-ranking Shaman may even directly abandon their physical body and soul, completely merging their entire body into a certain natural phenomenon, becoming an existence similar to Innate Spirits.

Of course, they can always create another body for themselves, it's no problem, just like Zhu Fengdan, after being injured, simply disassembled her body and slowly repaired it.

Li Qi was the same way, but now he felt that the outside world was beginning to split apart, forcing Li Qi's thoughts to return to his frail body.

The direct consequence of this was that Li Qi's physical brain simply could not handle his thoughts. This thinking organ made of flesh began to overload, and Li Qi's thinking speed slowed down.

This feeling of gradually realizing that you are becoming stupid is more terrifying than anything else; it is a fear that would make most people tremble with dread.

You realize that you are becoming less intelligent, your thinking speed is slowing down, knowledge that you used to understand easily is gradually becoming incomprehensible, your memory is starting to blur, and you can no longer recite ancient books that you used to be able to memorize.

A profound sense of helplessness enveloped Li Qi; all that remained around him was utter darkness from which he could not rely, and a warmth that was gradually eroding his reason.

"I can't just sit here and wait to die," Li Qi told himself, but he didn't know how long it took him to come to this conclusion.

But it doesn't matter anymore.

Because the slow-thinking process quickly led to the second conclusion—

That is, since he is a seventh-rank official, lifespan is meaningless to him, so even if his thinking is sluggish, he can just keep thinking and doesn't need to worry about time.

Having clarified these two points, Li Qi immediately began to use his slow thinking to organize the current situation, trying to find a way to break through this boundless darkness.

It is known that this is a being called 'Devil Lord'. This Devil Lord was invited by a True Dragon of at least the fourth rank to come and deal with a powerful fourth-rank expert of the Reason Way.

Large-scale battles of rank five or above are not permitted in this world, so this being known as the 'Devil Lord' released demonic energy, engulfing the entire research vessel, seemingly intending to throw the entire ship into the outer realms.

"Something's not right... If that's really the case, then this rule is far too frivolous." Li Qi shook his head, thinking to himself in the darkness.

If this rule can be circumvented simply by capturing someone and taking them outside the domain, then does the act of 'capturing someone outside the domain' count as 'taking action'?

If taking someone abroad doesn't count as taking action? Then what happens if the opponent refuses to go and resists?

Therefore, Li Qi felt that the other party must have other means to bear the Heavenly Punishment or other consequences, otherwise it would be absolutely impossible for them to do this so easily.

As for the evidence, it is this seemingly endless darkness that will last for a long time.

Li Qi lacks an absolute sense of time and cannot know how much time has passed without a reference point. Therefore, he does not know how long he has been in darkness, but it must have been quite a while.

The fact that they are still shrouded in demonic energy after all this time, instead of directly arriving outside the realm, indicates that the two sides are still entangled. The one on the Reason Way side is also a fourth-rank cultivator, so he shouldn't be taken down so easily.

In other words... although the demonic path has intervened, it's not to the point of certain death.

Li Qi took a few deep breaths, breathing in the surrounding demonic energy to calm himself down.

Demonic energy is not a poison to him. After all, Li Qi once had a body composed entirely of demonic energy. Demonic path... is actually a property he possesses.

After calming down, he began to construct Technique Method.

I used the 'flow' method that I had comprehended a few days ago, and began to construct it using the Heaven and Earth Qi within the microcosm of the human body.

When the Qi of Qian (☰) reaches Kun (☷), all things receive its energy and are born. Kun represents pure Yin, which, when paired with Qian, gives birth to all things. It is also the beginning of goodness and the symbol of the earth. All things receive their origin from Qian and are born from Kun. Just as all things take shape and emerge from the earth, so too do things originate from Kun.

This is a simulation of what happened after the Heaven Creation the world.

Li Qi plans to artificially construct an outer world in order to restore his ability to think!

This is difficult, but Li Qi is confident and also intends to use this opportunity to test whether the fourth-rank Reason Way priest exists.

Because the Dharma form surrounding that fourth-rank great being of the Principle of Reason Way is 'Heavenly Principle'.

If the other party is still protecting the ship, then Li Qi can use the method of circulation to influence and communicate with the Heaven and Earth Qi, and with the help of the 'Heavenly Principle' of this fourth-rank great power, he will be able to create a temporary outer world to house his thinking ability.

Of course, if communication fails, it means that the fourth-rank expert is no longer around Li Qi, and the Technique Method will fail. After all, Li Qi alone does not have the ability to create an outer world on his own.

To Heaven Creation and generate one's own small world, one would need to be at least a fifth-rank cultivator. With special talent or the blessing of treasures, perhaps a very few sixth-rank cultivators could do it, but Li Qi certainly couldn't do it now.

Li Qi began to construct Technique Method.

The meaning of "Zhou He" is to connect with the heavens above, descend to the earth below, and extend beyond the four seas. It unites heaven and earth as one, encompassing the sun and moon, the changing seasons, the endless cycle of heaven, and the manifestation of all things.

At this moment, in this darkness, there is no difference between having your eyes open and closed.

So dark and profound, yet it made one feel utterly alone, as if some terrifying thing might come and swallow them whole at any moment. Floating in this suffocating darkness, surrounded by endless warmth, it seemed as if something unknown was lurking nearby...

Such a sense of oppression made his heart race and his nerves pound. Coupled with Li Qi's already slowed thinking, it made his pain all the more intense.

The pain is like being submerged in water, with all the air in your body consumed, your blood and lungs filled with exhaust fumes, and a headache combined with dizziness and lightheadedness.

Such pain even caused Li Qi's muscles to twitch involuntarily.

And he had to complete the construction of the Technique Method under these circumstances.

All I can say is, I hope I don't overestimate my limits of patience.

The Technique Method construction is that all things fill the space between heaven and earth. All things in heaven and earth, whether large or small, are classified and associated with the five elements. It is said that the movement of heaven and earth and all things is ceaseless, and that they come together and change in harmony. This is how the three lights (sun, moon, and stars) move in their proper order, yin and yang, cold and heat have their seasons, rain gives birth to things, and there are no fogs, rainbows, or strange lights.

When one is in harmony with life and death, one's will is not terrified; when one is in harmony with change, one's wisdom is not dazzling. In stillness, one shares the virtue of Yin; in motion, one resonates with the waves of Yang. There is neither separation nor intimacy. One is bound to the Dao, one is neighbors with virtue, and one takes reason as one's pillar.

In this way, the Technique Method can be mastered.

As Li Qi persisted, amidst the pain and dizziness, a certain peculiar fluctuation was stirred.

Li Qi was overjoyed!

As expected, Heavenly Principle still prevailed all around and was willing to respond to Li Qi.

In other words, Li Qi is still on that ship, and the fourth-rank master of Reason Way is still there.

Li Qi was relieved.

This means that his safety is not a concern for the time being. The two sides are probably still in a standoff, but under the influence of demonic energy, they have lost the ability to sense each other.

Then, an outer world suddenly appeared, a temporary small world composed of 'Heavenly Principle' and 'myriad energies'.

This small world was extremely small, only covering less than five feet around Li Qi. It didn't even have a physical form, only containing 'qi' and 'li', which symbolized the various properties of the world, but had no real meaning.

However, with this, Li Qi was able to extract his thinking ability from his narrow and inefficient brain and place it in this invisible world, thus enabling him to think at full speed.

After doing so, Li Qi immediately felt a surge of clarity, as if he had suddenly woken up, and all his thoughts became incredibly clear.

Once he regained his ability to think, Li Qi immediately began to analyze the demonic energy around him.

Analyzing this kind of thing requires a great deal of mental effort, which was impossible given my limited thinking abilities before.

But now it's possible, which is why Li Qi's first priority was to regain his thinking ability.

No matter what you do, a clear mind is essential, and even Li Qi knew this when he wasn't thinking clearly.

With the support of his brain and through True Knowledge Dao Charm's analysis, Li Qi also realized the origins of the 'Devil Lord' in the boundless demonic energy before him.

The Five Aggregates Demon!

The opponent is definitely from the Five Aggregates Demon lineage within the demonic path. Under the shroud of demonic energy, everyone's five senses are stripped away, and they lose their perception of the outside world. This is a typical Five Aggregates Demon technique.

Others might not be able to recognize it, because the demonic path is good at disguising their origins to deceive others, but Li Qi, as a second-generation disciple of the Heavenly Demon, recognized it very clearly. This was definitely the Five Aggregates Demon's method!

"I must find a way to tell that great being of Reason Way and morality, and I must also withdraw my senses." Li Qi made the decision immediately and then began to take action.

At times like these, there's no time to waste.

Fortunately, he was only enveloped in demonic energy, which Li Qi could handle.

He decisively chose to use the Heavenly Demon Technique, combined with the information flow vision, to reconstruct the Five Elements and avoid the Five Aggregates Demon in front of him.

If that 'Devil Lord' is fully focused on targeting Li Qi, these petty tricks will be ineffective.

But Li Qi was certain that most of the Devil Lord's energy was being tied up by that fourth-rank expert, and that he would be able to regain his five senses using the Heavenly Demon Technique.

Having been shrouded in the Five Aggregates Demonic Blood, Li Qi was quite adept at breaking through the blockage of the five senses.

The 'Devil Lord' before him had only practiced the demonic Cultivation Method of the Five Aggregates Demon lineage, while the one Li Qi had encountered was the genuine Five Aggregates Demonic Blood.

Li Qi began to use Buddhist methods, especially the series of methods used to suppress the demon, along with the information flow vision and the True Knowledge Dao Charm, to begin to break through the five aggregates.

Clapping and drumming rhythms should not be done for oneself, nor should one teach others. One should always cultivate oneself, follow the righteous path, and attain the eight inconceivable Divine Ability.

Human nature is inherently pure; all phenomena reside within one's own nature. The mouth does not speak of grasping, the mind does not think of grasping. The eyes do not crave color, the ears do not crave sound, the nose does not steal fragrance, the tongue does not steal taste, the body does not covet clothing, and the mind does not steal desires. The six senses are unattached, and one constantly establishes wisdom and expediency. Therefore, the five aggregates cannot obscure one's vision.

Li Qi used spiritual and Buddhist teachings, along with his experience in dealing with the Five Aggregates Demonic Blood, to unleash his power against the demonic energy before him.

This worked!

As the demonic energy faded, Li Qi could see the deck beneath his feet and the treasure ship itself once more.

However, the place he is in now...

It's a bit strange.

The sky was red, as if it had woven together all the ugliness and fear of the world, presenting such a hideous nightmare before our eyes.

Bizarre and fantastical, full of strange and wonderful things.

Nowhere is more insane than here.

Li Qi's eyes widened!

Is this... the underworld?!

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