Preparations Before Battle

Li Qi was Shaman.

Moreover, it's common knowledge that Li Qi's combat talent... well, it's hard to describe. The Great Shaman Yun Fang selected him. (See Chapter 222 for details)

Although everyone felt that Shaman's fighting talent, like a warrior's intelligence, was a non-essential condition, and it didn't matter whether he had it or not.

Having it won't make you look better, and not having it won't make you seem incompetent.

For example, Zhu Fengdan is known for her exceptional fighting skills; she's the kind of person who fights with people every day.

However, it is said that many years ago, Zhu Fengdan was similar to Li Qi now, belonging to the gentle and modest type, and even more gentle than Li Qi.

Li Qi is like a hedgehog; he usually curls up into a ball and just does his own thing, but if someone touches his quills, he'll definitely prick you.

Moreover, if you block Li Qi's path, once Li Qi realizes he can't make way, he'll simply run you over instead of leaving you stuck in place.

But Zhu Fengdan would choose to wait in place until the other side left.

He will only retaliate if the other party tries to crush him; he is a typical polite person and a common type among Shaman.

Most Shaman are actually quite solitary and don't tend to compete for power, because they are not good at fighting and don't like to fight. Most of the people on Wushen Mountain are the type to meditate on themselves.

It is common knowledge throughout the world that Shaman are not good at fighting.

Therefore, the Demon Prince understands this even better.

The Demon Prince must have run out of tricks. In the time it has been, both he and Li Qi have used all their means and resources. They have racked their brains, but neither of them can truly overpower the other.

Therefore, at this point, Li Qi was thinking about how to use the head of a third-rank official to make a final decision.

The Demon Prince was even more straightforward.

He came in person, and his solution to the problem was quite simple.

Since a battle between cultivators of four ranks cannot determine a winner, then let's kill Li Qi! The Shaman is definitely no match for the demonic path!

He descended swiftly from the sky! Without hesitation, he broke free from the protection of the fourth-rank guards and charged towards the Fifth Rank Treasure Ship where Li Qi was!

Unfortunately, Canghou Hou was unable to spare any resources to assist Li Qi.

The moment the Demon Prince appeared, Moloyan disregarded his own safety and forcibly entangled with Cang Canghou. The intensity of the battle between the two sides rose to another level, and neither was able to interfere with the outside world.

Anyone who dares to attack the outside world at this time is courting death; neither of them can interfere with the battle over there.

Such a protracted struggle is extremely dangerous for Moloyan. Before this, he could easily withdraw and escape, but if he got caught up in such a struggle, he would be unable to leave.

Even though it might cost him his life, he actually carried out the Demon Prince's order. It's hard to imagine what kind of madness a fourth-rank official must have had to do such a thing.

Perhaps the title "Demon Prince" truly carries weight.

But in any case, Li Qi had to face the other party in person.

Thinking this, Li Qi stood up.

To be honest, he was a little nervous. He knew his own limitations. When it came to fighting, Li Qi had basically only bullied the weak and rarely fought against those of the same level.

As for challenging the strong...

Aside from a time when he was young and ignorant, when he fought a mass-produced ninth-rank military officer before he even reached the highest rank, Li Qi always respectfully addressed others as "senior" and never challenged those stronger than himself.

But what can be done now?

It's better to face it calmly.

Li Qi packed his things, regulated his Qi regulation, prepared his Technique Method in advance, and set up traps.

He was very calm.

The enemy has come from afar, from the battlefield thousands of miles away, right beside Moloyan. It will take some time for them to arrive.

Therefore, it is essential to prepare traps and formations in advance, wait for the enemy to tire themselves out, and be ready to face the opponent head-on to compensate for one's disadvantage in fighting.

After a few minutes, the Demon Prince, using some unknown power, traversed such a long distance in such a short time.

He didn't give Li Qi much time to prepare at all!

However, Li Qi was fully aware of this, and he also understood another point—

The faster the opponent runs, the more tired they will be, and the more energy they will expend, but the advantage will not change.

Moreover, a few minutes is enough time for him to do a lot of things.

The small world spread out, forming a cage.

The Inner Gods were summoned, the Five Peaks Mountain God suppressed the five directions, Four Rivers Water God traversed the eight directions, connecting the eight extremes, forming a small world.

The inner world of Shaman is sustained by the Heaven and Earth Qi, thus resembling a small universe, where yin and yang, the five elements, the four seasons and the eight solar terms all operate within the body.

Li Qi then scattered many more treasures, nailing them to various places; each one was a corresponding treasure.

For example, the four treasures that suppress the four directions are the Green Tablet in the east, the Red Tiger Tablet in the south, the Zouyu in the west, and the Yuanhuang in the north. The yellow jade is used to suppress the earth, the Azure Jade Disc Yellow Tube supports the sky, and the jade and the jade hang the sun and moon, forming a formation.

Li Qi even hung the rabbit's talisman on the Moon Goddess, but did not activate its power yet, simply to suppress the Taiyin Eye. He also took out the corresponding Golden Crow Spirit Qi and hung it on the Sun Goddess.

As for where the aura of the golden crow comes from.

You can't just call someone your sister-in-law for nothing, right?

As for mineral veins, mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes, they are governed by vital energy.

One element, two principles, Three Powers, four seasons, five elements, Six Laws musical pitches, Seven Luminaries, eight winds, nine palaces, and ten continents, each with its own sphere of influence.

The Liesu are orderly, the three luminaries illuminate the sky, the five planets shine brightly, the stars move and circle the poles, the celestial sphere moves and points in the right direction, the two polarities begin to separate and the primordial Primal Qi is clear, the Liesu their signs, and the six positions are formed in due time.

Even though it was only a few minutes, Li Qi had already prepared a solid little world in advance, and reinforced it with various treasures.

As I've said before, once you enter this world, you will be suppressed by the Heavenly Dao, and your cultivation level will drop by one level out of thin air.

Li Qi, however, is able to exert even greater power within this context.

Back and forth, there are many differences. Not to mention losing a whole grade, it can at least close the gap by half a grade!

Just as Li Qi finished setting up the battleground, the Demon Prince finally arrived.

Li Qi had set up the battleground on Fifth Rank Treasure Ship, so Li Qi hadn't made a move yet, waiting for the enemy to break through the protective barrier.

Of course, it would be best if the enemy couldn't even break through the protective walls of the treasure ship.

Unfortunately, the protective barrier can only block the aftershocks of a battle, but it cannot stop a truly discerning person.

Because the protective barrier had long been damaged and full of holes. After being attacked by fourth-rank troops time and time again, the barrier was already riddled with holes and in a terrible state.

It's like a dilapidated house, full of holes. It can barely keep out the wind and rain, and you can find a corner without any drafts to withstand the wind and rain outside, but it certainly can't keep out robbers who want to come in.

Robbers can't break through walls, but finding a hole to crawl through is easy for them.

Li Qi had made preparations that were not perfect, but he believed to be the best he could be, and waited for the other party to arrive.

Before long, a figure, riding a streak of black light, came hurtling in.

The light from the escape was solid, indicating profound cultivation and a solid foundation.

The black light seemed to faintly exude the aura of some high-level being, indicating that he had paid the price of some treasures to accelerate himself to this extent.

However, the other party did not rush straight into the trap as Li Qi had imagined, but stopped not far away.

"Hmm... did you sense the trap? No problem, the small world has already been set up, the trap is just an extra." Li Qi was vigilant and did not make the first move. Instead, he steadily suppressed the small world. With this, he could make up for his disadvantage of not being good at fighting.

But the Demon Prince stopped outside, hovering in mid-air using his wind-riding technique, revealing his true form.

His true face was not visible; he wore a mask, but there were no patterns on it, only two small holes indicating the location of his eyes, allowing light to pass through. The rest of the mask was simply black, entirely black, as if it were made of some kind of jade, completely covering his face.

His posture was upright, like a graceful jade tree, head held high and chest out, with a noble air, as if he were some kind of royalty, exuding an air of nobility in every gesture.

However... Li Qi felt that it was a little pretentious, that is, it felt like it was deliberately showing off.

Looking at the clothes, they were made of black silk with tadpole-shaped characters on them. It was impossible to make out what they were, but they were probably some kind of runes, and perhaps even the work of a great calligrapher.

He wore a majestic cloak that fluttered in the wind, a nine-ringed belt around his waist, and black leather boots. He had no jewelry or ornaments except for a black jade tiger pendant hanging from his waist. The tiger was carved from black jade and was lifelike, with golden eyes and breaths of gold, as if it could come to life at any moment.

"Wushen Mountain, Li Qi ... Hmm, he is just as cautious as I thought." The Demon Prince spoke, his voice similar to Li Qi's, both being the voices of young men, even their tones were similar.

As he said this, a walking stick appeared in the Demon Prince's hand. It was a bamboo walking stick, but it was made of black bamboo and was entirely black.

This Demon Prince seems to have a particular fondness for black. Dressed entirely in black, coupled with that handsome mask, he exudes an air of nobility even without showing his face. What a dashing young nobleman! Walking down the street, he'd probably attract a lot of cheers.

But then he held a bamboo staff and tapped it a few times. The traps that Li Qi had set up around him immediately wilted, their runes and formations being severed.

Li Qi's eyes darkened slightly.

This move alone is enough to show that Li Qi's skill in Technique Method is inferior to his opponent's.

With just a glance, he broke through Li Qi's carefully laid trap. If the other party had set it up, Li Qi would not dare to say that he could have been so calm and composed.

Because this is not destruction, but breaking apart.

The destruction is simple: just smash it with force, then defend against it. You won't die, but you'll definitely be covered in dirt and suffer some minor injuries, much like a tank running over some ordinary landmines.

Breaking through means removing the fuses of every mine in the minefield, turning them into duds.

The technical skill involved is incomparable. If the other side had set a trap in advance, Li Qi wouldn't dare say he could have broken through it so easily.

Therefore, Li Qi began to get nervous.

However, he had already made preparations, so he could only be extremely careful at this moment.

"What? I've already spoken up, aren't you going to answer? Or do you not even have the energy to speak?" The Demon Prince's mask revealed no expression, but a hint of contempt could be heard in his tone.

Since the other party had said so, Li Qi, while remaining prepared, replied, "Being cautious is a good thing. Better safe than sorry. If you're not humble and cautious enough, even a dragon crossing the river can capsize in a ditch. If the dignified Demon Prince underestimates his enemy, he might very well crash and burn here, wouldn't he?"

"You're quite interesting. We were just exchanging blows from afar, each of us using our wisdom and experience to our advantage. You and I were evenly matched, and I thought I had finally met my match. But now, I'm truly disappointed." The Demon Prince shook his head, his tone tinged with regret—the kind of regret that comes from having one's expectations dashed.

"The previous duel has already shown that there isn't much of a difference between us. I thought you had just won, Demon Prince," Li Qi replied with a smile.

What are you pretending to be so great for? Weren't we all exhausted just now, and no one could do anything to the other? Now you're acting like a master? What kind of nonsense is that?

Is the goal to seize the initiative and gain the upper hand by using momentum?

A multitude of guesses raced through Li Qi's mind, but thinking didn't stop him from speaking.

After hearing Li Qi's words, the Demon Prince's expression was not visible, but laughter could be heard from beneath his mask.

He smiled and said, "We're all sensible people, why bother with these words? I've come here in person, and you've seen my abilities. We all know what level I'm at, so why bother with empty pleasantries?"

Upon hearing this, Li Qi couldn't help but roll his eyes, spit out a curse, and said rudely, "What nonsense! If a single glance could determine the winner, what would be the point of fighting? Wouldn't it be clear the outcome if everyone just came out and showed their skills? If you're really so confident, why bother telling me all this? Just come up here and kill me!"

"I heard your master is Zhu Fengdan. It's true. You've really learned his rudeness and vulgarity." The Demon Prince shook his head. Although his expression was not visible, one could sense his regret.

Then he continued, "It's a pity. I still think you are a talent. After all, although you are not as good as me, you are still much better than the many useless people in the world. You are qualified to talk to me. I originally thought that you would die after today's battle, so I felt sorry for you. Therefore, I stopped here to say a few more words to you, so as to remember you."

"However, since you're being ungrateful, fine. In that case, let's begin." With that, the Demon Prince raised his bamboo staff and threw it forward!

The bamboo staff flew out and landed in Li Qi's small world.

Suddenly, the stable little world was greatly shaken!

The sun lacks its brilliance, the moon lacks its True Qi;

Chaos descends from the heavens, and Evil Qi pervade the land;

Drought breeds demons, and fierce winds spread their influence.

Locusts swarmed, and in the small world of water and marshes, swarms of insects suddenly appeared, covering the ground and the sky with their wings. They devoured grains, trees, flowers and grasses, and even uprooted good trees.

Li Qi's stable little world was directly ripped open by the natural disaster!