An Off-the-Board Move

As the boundary of bondage unfolds, the protective barrier of Heavenly Principle transforms into the protective barrier of Buddhist Principle, as clear and pure as water, free from any dust or impurities. Within it arise the Thirty-two Forms and Eighty Forms of Goodness, adorning his body.

Like a vast blue lotus leaf, like the resounding thunder of Brahma.

Its body shone with a golden light, its subtle radiance beyond description.

Offering all kinds of incense and flowers, all karmic obstacles and afflictions will vanish.

The Buddha-land is pure and inconceivable, rescuing all beings from the Sea of Suffering.

As the Buddha's Crown Light Binding Realm unfolded, Moloyan's demonic energy was directly repelled and shattered!

Even with the Devil Lord's cultivation level, he could not withstand the Buddha's Buddha's Crown Light drawn by the first-grade Buddhist energy. In addition, Canghou, voluntarily sacrificed his own Heavenly Principle to transform into Buddhist Principle. Such power was beyond his ability to resist.

Admittedly, Canghou was not having an easy time either. He would probably need a long time to rebuild his protective barrier of Heavenly Principle. But he also knew that he could only have a "aftermath" if he survived this time; otherwise, he would die and his life would be over.

However, on the other side, Li Qi suddenly paused.

Demon Prince?

This title made Li Qi's heart skip a beat.

The Demon Prince, in other words, a character similar to the Prince of Wushen Mountain?

This title is also intriguing. The reason why the young master of Wushen Mountain is called "young master" is because the title "gong" is extremely noble. Great shamans are called "gong" in terms of etiquette, and their disciples are called "young masters".

And now, this Demon Prince should have the same title.

The title of "Demon King" is probably that of a high-ranking demonic figure, while the Demon Prince " refers to the disciples of the Demon Kings.

Then I've probably really provoked a powerful figure. It seems that's indeed the case. In other words, a high-ranking demonic cultivator has indeed made a move, but probably because they are wary of retaliation from Wushen Mountain, they did not directly take action, but instead sent their disciples to deal with Li Qi.

In a contest among the younger generation, even if someone dies, there's nothing to say, and it's difficult for Wushen Mountain to hold them accountable.

The current situation was probably designed in advance.

Two fourth-rank cultivators can at most fight to a draw. It's very difficult to determine a winner between Canghou and Moloyan. The outcome of their entanglement is what just happened in the 'human world'. They need something outside their own Human Path to become the 'variable' in their battle.

The young master of Wushen Mountain, and the Demon Prince who was called out before them, are the 'variables'.

Therefore, two young people are needed to use their knowledge to participate in the battle at the fourth rank, and they must become the backbone of this battle and the key to victory or defeat.

This is very difficult.

For a fourth-rank fighter, it's already incredibly difficult for a seventh-rank fighter to even comprehend the battle. Just understanding every single move and grasping concepts like 'the Heavenly Principle' is enough to eliminate 99% of seventh-rank fighters.

They also need to discern the weaknesses of the opponent's fourth-ranked opponents and provide their own fourth-ranked opponents with knowledge that would be helpful to them, thus gaining a sufficient advantage in life-or-death battles...

For a seventh-rank official, this is an almost impossible task, far more difficult than fighting among themselves.

They fought each other, relying on their cultivation and Divine Ability.

However, in a battle between fourth-rank cultivators, the cultivation and Divine Ability of seventh-rank cultivators are of no use. The only things that can be compared are wisdom, insight, and each person's background and knowledge.

These are the only useful things for the successors of the Dao Lineage.

The Dao Lineage doesn't require you to possess a mere seventh-rank Divine Ability, but it does require you to demonstrate extraordinary wisdom and profound knowledge at the seventh rank. Only then can you have a sufficient foundation to advance to a truly high rank.

Li Qi seemed to understand—

This is... an artificially created arena.

This was the place where he and the Demon Prince fought to the death.

If that's the case, then everything seems to make sense.

The ship of Reason Way, the people of Reason Way, Li Qi's whereabouts, the Ghost Emperor's approval—everything was orchestrated behind the scenes.

Ao Guangxiao is the timer of this battlefield, a timed hourglass.

If Ao Guangxiao were to break free from the Giant Spirit God puppet, Li Qi would be declared the loser and die without a burial place.

Before Ao Guangxiao can break free from his entanglement, Li Qi and this Demon Prince must settle their differences.

Almost simultaneously, Moloyan, Canghou, Li Qi, and the Demon Prince who had not yet shown himself all realized this and immediately took action.

If you have the protection of Buddha's aura, then... even the Demon Prince isn't without his Trump Card.

Suddenly, a layer of black light descended from the sky.

A Dharma image unfolded, filled with malevolent and Sha Qi, extremely violent! It landed right next to Moloyan.

Li Qi and Canghou looked up at the same time, staring at the Buddha statue.

Its overall appearance is one of wrath, its body is over ten thousand miles long and its waist is several thousand miles wide, its face is blue and its hair is red, its face is golden and its fangs are bared, and its murderous aura soars to the sky! Its appearance is one of glaring anger, its left foot is raised, then its right foot is placed on top of its left foot, its body is upright, without leaning to the left or right, it is leaning forward and backward, its crown joint is in place, its right hand holds a fire wheel, the flashing light shines like the sun, its left hand holds a wind wheel, the wind and thunder wheel turns and flashes like the wrath of the heavens!

The descending Dharma image was extremely illusory, seemingly empty. Although it could be seen, the power contained within it did not resemble a true Dharma image, but rather an illusion, a projection.

However, even if it is just an illusion, its essence remains unchanged.

Li Qi immediately sent a message through the priest. "This is the incarnation of the Death Demon! The Wind and Fire Wheels in his hands are the Wind Calamity and Fire Calamity, two of the Three Calamities! This thing must be formed from the Death Demon's demonic energy. This Demon Prince has connections to the Death Demon!"

The so-called Death Demon is a demon that brings death and destruction to all living beings.

If you want to bring about true destruction, you certainly can't use swords and axes to kill, that would be too inefficient. Of course, there are other ways, the Death Demon also has the three minor plagues available: 'Famine, Plague, and Calamity of Soldiers'.

But—to truly destroy this world, we need to use the Three Great Calamities.

In other words, Water Calamity, Fire Calamity, Wind Calamity.

The Fire Calamity burned this world, from the Avici Hell to the first Dhyana Heaven of the Form Realm, all were burned to ashes.

The Water Calamity submerged this world, from the Avici Hell to the second Dhyana Heaven of the Form Realm, all were engulfed by the water.

The Wind Calamity completely obliterated everything, turning all things into dust in the wind, which was then scattered by the wind.

The day when the three calamities appear together will be the day when the demon of death destroys all things.

The image of the Death Demon before us is incomplete; it lacks the Water Calamity, meaning it is still some distance from being a true incarnation of the Death Demon.

But that's enough.

Li Qi only mobilized power at this level.

As the Dharma form formed from the demonic energy of the Death Demon descended, Moloyan was immediately aided by divine intervention. Without hesitation, he merged his own Dharma form into this Death Demon Dharma form, gradually filling in the phantom-like Dharma form.

Just as Canghou transformed his Heavenly Principle Principles protective barrier into Buddhist Principle, Moloyan, as a member of the Five Aggregates Demonic Path, also voluntarily shattered his own Dharma form and then fully accepted the Dharma form of the Death Demon, becoming one of the incarnations of the Death Demon.

With such immense sacrifices, naturally... they will also be equally powerful.

A sudden Wind Calamity Fire Calamity broke out outside the bounded boundary.

The windmill turns, traversing the heavens, uprooting mountains, soaring into the sky, swirling and disorienting, in an instant all one sees the heart hanging and the banners waving, thousands of swirling, changing in a flash, and all things are instantly destroyed!

The fiery wheel spun again, flames roared, thousands of fires rolled, and Ten Thousand Paths rays of red light burst forth, spewing out a chaotic mix of red paint, dazzling and colorful, with flames and flying rays, burning thousands of mountains to ashes!

The wind fueled the fire, and the fire borrowed the power of the wind. The wind ignited everything it touched, and everything that was decayed was scorched. Flames shot out for 300,000 miles, melting the earth. Even the Yin Fire of the Underworld was extinguished, and countless Fire Calamity hailstones were reborn. The bound boundary was forcibly blasted open into a huge hole, and countless flames, accompanied by a raging wind, rushed into it. Even Buddhist Principle were burned!

The power of the Death Demon is unlike the previous battles where each side restrained the other, creating and destroying one another. Instead, it is pure destruction, a power that annihilates everything!

Pure destruction, restraining nothing, and likewise, being subject to no restraint.

To defeat destruction itself, the only way is to suppress it head-on!

Of course, such a person does not exist yet. Therefore, unlike the suppressed Heavenly Demon, the Death Demon still exists openly and brings death to all living beings.

The Formation, Stasis, Destruction, Void of the world, the decline and death of human life, and the gradual decay of all things—behind all of these lies the shadow of death.

This is the demon that brings death to all things, and a symbol of the very nature of decay.

Li Qi and Canghou immediately responded to the attack.

Canghou clasped his hands together and sealed the binding boundary again. This time, he directly used the power of the Buddha's Crown Light to summon the Two Realms Mandala, which were inserted into the world in turn. He reversed the Vajra Realm that appeared in the sky and the Womb Realm that appeared on the earth, using the Dharma to shield the Principle of this world. In this way, he could prevent death from coming by using the cycle of the two realms.

Reincarnation is, in itself, a rejection of death.

This action was not guided by Li Qi, which clearly shows that Canghou had his own understanding of Buddhism.

The calamity of wind and fire descended, and the Two Realms Mandala blocked it. When they collided, the surroundings collapsed again. Endless power swept through, and the cavity that was 100,000 miles long was forcibly expanded to the point that Li Qi could not see it. It was already countless miles long!

Li Qi's eyesight had deteriorated to the point where he could no longer see the red walls in the distance. He felt as if he were completely suspended in the void, with no ceiling above, no ground below, and nothing in any direction, just like floating in the outer realms.

Fortunately, Li Qi had the support of the forces Canghou, so nothing happened. The treasure ship also benefited from Li Qi's protection and was saved as well.

The battle continues, with the clash Two Realms Mandala and the Twin Calamities of Wind and Fire raging on, sweeping across the surroundings.

At this moment, Li Qi noticed something.

While the other two were locked in a fierce battle, Ao Guangxiao's speed in dismantling the Giant Spirit God puppet slowed down.

Li Qi nodded slightly. As a fourth-rank official, Ao Guangxiao was certainly not a fool. He had clearly realized that he was the timer for this battle.

As a timer, it has bargaining power.

Li Qi had no way to deal with the Death Demon. The opponent's move had indeed hit Li Qi's weak point. Li Qi knew the Heavenly Demon very well because of the Five Aggregates Demonic Blood, and he also knew the Five Aggregates Demon.

But I really don't understand the Affliction Demon and the demon of death.

This is where the gap in knowledge becomes apparent; sometimes, not understanding is simply not understanding.

However... Li Qi was not a pedantic person.

It's okay if you don't understand, but... has anyone ever said that you can't use underhanded tactics?

Li Qi began the ritual again, dancing and performing the ritual of Wu Yu, to worship the dragon.

This time it's not a sacrifice to Old Ma, but a sacrifice to a real dragon.

Ao Guangxiao!

Anyway, all the materials that Da Yu prepared were readily available on the ship. The materials that Old Ma had prepared for the sacrifice could be used on the spot without any trouble.

Such coincidences are a good thing, but Li Qi is now really afraid of coincidences.

The Visualization Diagram that suddenly appeared on Old Ma's back, and the fact that he himself couldn't see it... that only Li Qi could see it, was itself very strange.

The divine meaning within Visualization Diagram cannot be perceived unless one sees the original image with their own eyes.

To reproduce a work, one would need a specialist calligrapher or painter who invests considerable effort and painstaking work to capture its essence. Even then, a perfect copy is not guaranteed.

Therefore, even if Old Ma used the clouds and mist to refract light and shadow, he could not see the real Visualization Diagram. He also did not have a real transformation technique, so naturally he could not grow an extra section of his neck to look behind him.

Aside from illusions, true transformation techniques are extremely difficult. It is said that the Daoist sect has the Seventy-two Earthly Transformations, which are exclusive to powerful beings. They not only change the physical body, but also the entire microcosm of the human body, and even the essence of one's own concept. It is Divine Ability that can be used to avoid calamities through transformation.

Similarly, there is the Form Transformation of demons, but the method of Form Transformation can only be used once in this life. If you want to Dragon Transformation, you cannot Human Transformation, and if you want to Human Transformation, you cannot Spirit Transformation.

Form Transformation is the most important choice in a demon's life.

As for simply altering the physical body, such transformation techniques are imperfect and can easily cause the body and the inner world to lose their correspondence, leading to a disconnect between the inner world and the body, resulting in sequelae. This is considered an unorthodox or heretical practice, and is generally only practiced by some small sects or those who cultivate seductive arts.

It's clear that the being who imprinted the Visualization Diagram had even considered these details, and insisted that Li Qi see it.

After Li Qi saw this, it was only natural for him to hold a grand rain-making ceremony to help the Old Ma Dragon Transformation.

Everything seemed so logical; it was all just a coincidence.

That's why Li Qi dislikes coincidences.

Sigh, but there's nothing we can do about it.

It's a coincidence, but since all the necessary items for the Yu ritual are already laid out in front of us, we can't just leave them unused.

If we don't use it, how do we solve the problem of the Death Demon?

Therefore, Li Qi actually had no choice.

The Yu ritual began, and the altar was pointed at— Ao Guangxiao.

The communication formed through rituals began to emerge.

As for how to persuade Ao Guangxiao, Li Qi had actually rehearsed it thousands of times in his mind several months ago.

Because that was the reason he initially chose to come to the East China Sea.

Through sacrificial rites and communication, a successful connection was established.

Before Ao Guangxiao could speak, Li Qi got straight to the point.

But then Li Qi said:

"Ao Guangxiao, I have a deal, a deal that a true dragon cannot refuse. It concerns the Sun and Moon Path, and should be more important than the current demonic path, right?"

Ao Guangxiao seemed to have something to say, but he was stunned when he heard Li Qi's words.

What... is it about?

The Sun and Moon Path? Did you hear that right?

Just as Ao Guangxiao was stunned, Li Qi spoke again, "I can provide the East Sea with the complete Polaris Golden Core Method."