Farewell to the Mortal World

In the Song Kingdom, in the wilderness, in a place of auspicious geomancy, there is a cemetery.

Song Kingdom didn't have a cemetery before, but after Human Path came, they found a propitious place and built a cemetery to ensure that people buried there wouldn't become vengeful ghosts or spirits, and could properly enter the cycle of reincarnation.

After all, if they are buried haphazardly, they can easily breed all sorts of Yin Ghost, which would require various forces to exterminate them, and would also be inconsistent with the rigid rules and concepts of Human Path.

Upon finding the cemetery, it was clear that the members of the Wave-Pushing Gang still had a conscience; Uncle Liu's tombstone was quite luxurious. Although the area of the cemetery was limited by Human Path, at least the tombstone was custom-made and carved by a master craftsman.

Li Qi stood before the tombstone and quietly held a memorial service.

The music of the Nine Transformations allows both Human-Ghost to be worshipped. Wine and food are set out in the suburbs to offer sacrifices to ghosts who have no one to rely on; this is called "remote offering."

Originally, sacrificial rites were performed by the Shaman of the Human-Ghost lineage. As a member of the Earthly Deity lineage, Li Qi should have been dealing with various mountain and water deities and spirits of nature.

However, it's not necessary for Human-Ghost to perform the Shaman; the Earthly Deity is simply someone from a different profession.

Ordinary people are easily misled by all kinds of supernatural phenomena. They cannot see the truth clearly. When they see that a temple has a spiritual response, they think it is a shrine of heroes and saints, and believe that the ghosts and gods worshipped there must be intelligent and upright people.

Little did people know that there were many twists and turns in this matter: the same kind of people who were rich and powerful, such as Bo Youwei, and Zi Chan said, "The more refined the things used, the stronger the soul."

But in reality, the difference between these kinds of Human-Ghost is enormous.

Some are heroic and courageous, dying in the prime of their lives by daring to face death, and their spirits never fade. These people specialize in the path of ghosts, and their cultivation is very simple. The underworld officials also like to recruit such newcomers.

Some are born with abundant vital energy and strong spirit, which makes it difficult for them to dissipate after death. This is also the type that the underworld officials prefer.

Sometimes, when people sculpt human figures, they capture a fierce bird, such as a monkey or crow, and hide it alive inside its belly. This creature is then killed, but its soul lingers. People burn incense and pray to it day and night, and it is believed to possess a spirit. This spirit is the spirit of the creature itself, not a matter of ghosts or gods.

Others believe that the gods are spiritual, and when everyone's spirits are focused on the idol, it will naturally become spiritual, like the White Fish King.

Some souls in the world are those who died without a proper destiny, and their spirits have not yet dissipated. Sometimes they may cause trouble, but they will eventually disappear on their own.

However, there are also some who have not yet had their grievances redressed and who repeatedly cause trouble, such as the female ghost in the post station in some legends, and various wronged Yin Ghost coming to claim their lives.

Others erected shrines would attract spirits and souls that lingered on grass and trees, stealthily attaching themselves to them. This was a common tactic used by Mountain Spirits and Wild Monsters to cultivate divine ways.

Others are the spirits of mountains and rivers. Temples are situated in places with majestic mountains and rivers, and the spirits of these mountains and rivers are the Orthodox God of the mountains and rivers.

The lineage of Human-Ghost and spirits emphasizes that when a person's heart is extremely sincere and respectful, their spirit will be concentrated. The matter being divined will then have a natural connection, allowing for a natural response that is accurate in predicting good or bad fortune, simply because they all share the same principle and energy. This is the meaning behind the saying, "Purify your conduct and cultivate your virtue to the divine."

And Uncle Liu...

It does not belong to any of the above categories.

He was just an ordinary old man. After he died, his soul remained in his body. After dark, he was taken away by the underworld messengers.

Because his soul cannot even leave his body, it will be blown away by the external Yang Energy and wind, and cannot be exposed to light, so it can only be taken away by the underworld officials at night.

Even if Li Qi gave him the complete book of "Zhu", he still wouldn't be able to cultivate it; he lacked both talent and the necessary character.

Finding rare and precious heavenly materials and earthly treasures to improve his health is like trying to put out a fire with a drop in the ocean. He has long suffered from bone marrow failure and his body is withered. In this situation, even if he were at Wushen Mountain, it would be better to simply create a new body, since the cost of repair is more expensive than building a new one.

But what use would it be for Li Qi to forcibly prolong his Uncle Liu's life?

Li Qi's abilities were simply insufficient to help him break through his lifespan limit. Even if he used heavenly materials and earthly treasures to extend his life by several decades, it would only allow him to prolong his life. Moreover, such a thing would be considered "going against the heavens," and Li Qi disliked it.

Let everything take its natural course. Uncle Liu's life has passed by naturally, and that's fine.

Fallen leaves turn into mud, birth, aging, sickness, and death are all part of the natural cycle, and besides, he has already enjoyed his blessings.

Let us depart this world as a final farewell through this ritual.

This ritual placed all of Uncle Liu's karma on Li Qi's shoulders, so that after he fell into hell, he would no longer suffer, but could directly enter the cycle of reincarnation, and be reborn into a better life.

After doing all this, Li Qi turned and left.

The matter of the Wave-Pushing Gang is now closed. That's it.

Flying through the sky, the Old Ma huffed and puffed as it traveled, with Li Qi and Shen Shuibi sitting on its back. The two of them and the dragon chatted to pass the time, and they were traveling at a normal pace.

After finishing his business in the Song Kingdom, Li Qi planned to visit the Trumpet Flower God... Oh, she's not the Flower Goddess anymore, she should be called the Sovereign of Lingxiao Kingdom.

After the visit, you can go home.

However, as the two were chatting, the rabbit suddenly realized something and looked down.

Li Qi followed her gaze and looked over.

I saw... a trade route.

Along the trade route, there was a caravan.

Both men and the dragon had excellent eyesight and could clearly see the signs hanging on the caravan.

The sign reads: 'Respect'.

"A familiar scent, a member of the Jing family," Li Qi said immediately, already sensing that there were familiar faces downstairs.

What a coincidence!

Shen Shuibi nodded. "Shall we go down and take a look?"

"It wouldn't hurt to take a look, let's go." Li Qi nodded, then jumped off the Old Ma.

Shen Shuibi also floated down. Old Ma remembered what had happened back then, so he shrunk to the size of a thumb and hurriedly followed.

The two landed by the roadside and waited for the caravan to arrive.

Soon after, the caravan approached.

Dozens of vehicles, including horse-drawn carriages and oxcarts, were fully loaded with goods and were heading towards the interior of the Song Kingdom. It was clear that a lot of good goods had been brought in from outside and were intended to be sold inside the Song Kingdom.

The caravan wasn't very vigilant, and even the guards were chatting and laughing, quite relaxed.

Indeed, Song Kingdom has now been taken over by Human Path, although it is only a small part. However, the usual roadblocks and robberies, as well as various demonic creatures, have disappeared, so the guards are very relaxed.

If this were in the Great Deer Kingdom, they would be on high alert, fearing something might rush out.

Li Qi stood by the roadside, making no attempt to conceal himself; in fact, he had no intention of approaching anyone to strike up a conversation.

He just wanted to get closer and see what was going on. After all, they had only met by chance before, and now that he had seen them, he was just curious to take a look.

If we have the chance to exchange a few more words, that would be nice; if not, then I'll just leave after reading this.

Li Qi stood by the roadside, with Shen Shuibi beside him.

Li Qi's original intention was to remain inconspicuous and watch quietly, but Shen Shuibi also wanted to see. She stood there, and when the convoy passed by, everyone in the convoy looked over as if they had seen something strange.

Li Qi rubbed his forehead.

It's also worth noting that once the rabbit's invisibility was broken, it certainly attracted a lot of attention in the mortal realm.

Moreover, there were familiar faces in the caravan, so they recognized each other immediately.

Then, a chubby middle-aged man emerged from the caravan, smiling broadly, and approached Li Qi and the others.

Li Qi then stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Shopkeeper Jing, I never expected to see you again today. It's truly fate."

The chubby Shopkeeper Jing laughed heartily, "Oh, isn't that right? When I saw you on the road, I rubbed my eyes. I never thought it was you. But your sister is so dazzling, I couldn't help but look."

He winked as he said "your younger sister".

Li Qi then remembered that he had called Shen Shuibi "little sister" back then, even though they hadn't officially become a couple yet.

It really does bring back some memories, even though it was only about ten years ago.

Li Qi remained silent, looking wistful, so Shopkeeper Jing immediately chimed in, "By the way, do they still call each other 'sister' now?"

"Haha, I don't call you that anymore, I call you my wife now." Li Qi hugged Shen Shuibi to show his appreciation.

"Since we meet again by chance, why not come and sit in my caravan? Young man, you are a master. You were already a ninth-rank expert before. I imagine your cultivation has become even more profound now?" Shopkeeper Jing said with a smile. "When we parted, you already had the bearing of a master. Now that we meet again, I feel that you are unfathomable."

He sized up Li Qi and could indeed sense an unfathomable aura about him, a skill honed through years of business dealings.

It wasn't about cultivation level, because he couldn't see through Li Qi's cultivation at all; he was just a low-level cultivator. But Li Qi clearly didn't pay much attention to the caravan behind him.

You should know that his caravan has several ninth-rank escorts, and they have traveled across several countries without incident, including a master like Jing Yan.

The head of the family said that Jing Yan will definitely reach the eighth rank in ten years, and his future is limitless.

The one who defeated Jing Yan back then was now in front of him; his talent was even more terrifying.

Therefore, Shopkeeper Jing makes a wild guess: this old friend before him is probably already at the eighth rank. If he could establish a connection with him, it would be a good thing for the Jing family.

"Alright, we won't go then. But I do Jing Yan. Her dedication to the sword truly earns my respect, which is why I'm waiting for her here," Li Qi said.

"So that's how it is. They've come to visit Jing Yan. I knew it! Heroes cherish heroes. Ah Kuan, go and call your Aunt Yan. Tell her that her long-cherished friend has arrived." Shopkeeper Jing instructed the child who had come with him.

Although the child was curious, he didn't ask any more questions and quickly went back.

Li Qi didn't find it abrupt, because everyone present knew that even if the caravan stopped, Jing Yan probably wouldn't notice. She was probably still practicing her swordsmanship, and she generally wouldn't come out unless there was danger around.

He continued chatting with Shopkeeper Jing, but since they had only met once before, they didn't have much to talk about. However, being merchants, they were good at making conversation, and Li Qi didn't object, so the conversation went quite well without any awkward silences.

After a while, Li Qi suddenly stopped talking and looked towards the convoy.

There, a middle-aged woman walked over. She looked to be about forty years old, with a straight back, sharp eyes, a sword hanging at her waist, and her clothes were neat and tidy.

Her hair is short; perhaps she's too lazy to even tie it up and just cut it short.

There are quite a few women in the world with short hair, but Song Kingdom's aesthetic standards generally don't favor this style of dress, but Jing Yan doesn't care much about other people's opinions now.

Her value lies in the sword, not in anything else.

"Miss Jing," Li Qi greeted her, bowing respectfully.

Jing Yan glanced at Li Qi but didn't reply. She placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, as if she wanted to draw it.

Li Qi smiled and waited quietly.

But Jing Yan gripped the sword hilt, remained silent for a full three minutes, and then she let go.

"You've become so strong, I can't find your aura," Jing Yan said, shaking her head with a sigh.

Li Qi's smile vanished, his expression changed, and he became stern. "You've made great progress from sword to qi, but you've gone down the wrong path."

When Li Qi first saw Jing Yan, he was completely absorbed in the sword, seemingly trying to pursue the ultimate in swordsmanship, even calling it 'the Sword Way'.

This angered Shen Shuibi, who stood up and said that it was not the right way at all.

Yes, the ultimate swordsmanship is actually very simple and ordinary.

All swordsmanship, in essence, is nothing more than the movement path of a three-foot-long rectangular object in three-dimensional space. What's so difficult about it?

Li Qi could even exhaustively list all sword techniques in the entire universe, and it wouldn't take him long.

Swordsmanship is something extremely minor. Even martial arts practitioners don't specialize in swordsmanship. Even when they use a sword, they choose a higher level of spiritual intent, using the sword merely as a vessel.

Whether they use swords, knives, or fists, it all depends on whether they can bear the spirit and intent of the opponent.

What is spirit and intention?

Qi, that is naturally the stuff that makes up Li Qi's cultivation. By observing the Qi, one can sense the difference between each other or the other's attributes to a certain extent.

After all, the cultivation Cultivation Method require different kinds of energy to be absorbed. If you are good at fire magic, you must have more Fire Qi in your body, since you need to store up Fire Qi to use in your Technique Method.

Swords can naturally also contain this energy, existing as a type of Law Treasure to enhance certain types of Technique Method.

And intention is the foundation upon which a martial artist stands, the Martial Way Divine Intent.

Martial artists don't have many tricks up their sleeves, but their Martial Way Divine Intent can suppress many forces. Using their weapons to express their spirit is the most common way for martial artists to fight.

Jing Yan, though diligent in her sword practice, had gone astray. The sword in her hand emanated Sword Qi, and she could even perceive the flawless aura within Li Qi's body with her ninth-grade aura.

However, just as he used to specialize in techniques, he now specializes in qi, but neglects the existence of divine will.

If one cannot comprehend the Martial Way Divine Intent, no matter how much time one invests in cultivating qi, it will be of no use.

That's why Li Qi said she took the wrong path.

Jing Yan nodded. "I will reconsider."

"That's good, then we'll take our leave." Li Qi cupped his hands and left with Shen Shuibi.

We've already met, that's enough. As for staying to chat, we're not really that close.

We're no longer from the same world.

May we all be well.

So Li Qi and Shen Shuibi bid them farewell and rode away on the dragon.

All that remained were caravans with countless frightened horses.