Immortal Heaven, Mortal World

At the city gate, Li Qi looked at the huge plaque on the gate.

Its name is 'Bai Lu'.

Bailu City, that's quite an interesting name.

Because this name is actually a very auspicious expression, and it uses the language of the world, it is clear that this First Rank World has been influenced by the world.

It is precisely because of this influence that the world chose extreme xenophobia after it developed, because the world is not a benevolent place, especially the Way of Evolution and the Daoist sects that this world came into contact with.

Neither of them are good people in the conventional sense.

However, although they used the same characters as everyone else, the pronunciation and language were different. Li Qi walked among the crowds at the city gate, observing the characters nearby and the pronunciation of others.

As a fifth-rank official, just by looking around and going around once, he had already learned the language of this world, and was basically familiar with it.

Since the written language is the same, the pronunciation is not a problem at all, just like learning a dialect.

Having learned the language, Li Qi began to pay attention to people.

The city was surrounded by guards, but the defenses were just as tight. Li Qi could see guards everywhere, as well as many cultivators dressed in the same manner as those in the world.

These practitioners, some of whom were not at the highest level and others at the ninth level, all had solid foundations and were clearly not unorthodox practitioners.

Or rather, even if they are unorthodox practitioners, their Cultivation Method are complete, not just fragments they pieced together themselves.

Some were walking, while others were leading spirit beasts. These beasts seemed to be wild animals that cultivated in accordance with the Way of Evolution, but they had not yet developed intelligence and could only be driven by people. They were some powerful wild beasts.

It seems there are no demons.

Moreover, True Knowledge Dao Charm swept over, Li Qi discovered that the people here had bodies that were different from those in the world.

Indeed, although humanoid races have special advantages in cultivation, the advantages vary from place to place, even in the First Rank World.

This difference, coupled with the differences in the world and the different Cultivation Method, led to unexpected changes in the Daoist Cultivation Method of the world here.

For example, after reaching the Golden Core stage, Daoist practitioners only improve their Dao heart and the purity of their cultivation. There is a saying that one should cultivate the mind first when cultivating the Tao, and magical Law Power is secondary. If your Dao heart is stable, your Law Power will naturally be strong.

The essence of the Golden Elixir, whether internal or Outer Elixir, is to stabilize the inner world. It can be achieved either through Outer Elixir alchemy, using external force to achieve 'no leakage', or by refining oneself into a Golden Elixir. In this way, one no longer easily exchanges matter with the outside world, thus achieving a body without leakage, and thus having a long lifespan, and even attaining immortality.

But it's different here. The Golden Core cultivators here not only don't actively sever ties with the outside world, but they even actively absorb external energy and greedily exploit external Spiritual Qi.

After mining, the elixir is stored entirely using its 'leak-free' nature, ensuring that not a single drop leaks out.

In this world, every cultivator is a black hole that only eats and never spits out, extracting from heaven and earth without giving anything back, even more extreme than Human Path.

Li Qi didn't quite approve of this.

If it is a form of Shaman Path, the human body is an open system that emphasizes constant interaction with the outside world, with things coming in and going out. The boundaries between the inside and outside of the body are blurred, so it is possible to achieve Body Merged with Nature and to achieve longevity through such interaction.

But here, it's even more extreme than the Daoist sect, only taking in and not giving out, relying on mining the world to forcibly increase Law Power.

Well...

It can only be said that the First Rank World rank is indeed well-established. So many people are sucking blood and it can still maintain its first rank. Even in the mortal world, the Spiritual Qi of the mountains and rivers is of a considerable level.

However, these are all people of the lowest or ninth rank, so Li Qi has not yet seen any eighth-rank or near-seventh-rank experts and does not know what the high-end combat power in the mortal realm is like.

Subordinate Ninth Rank, the combat power of this world is actually quite strong, because those who only take in and don't give out Golden Core cultivators are generally much stronger than ordinary ninth-rank cultivators.

It's not just a little stronger, it's much stronger.

Of course, this is only calculated based on the depth of one's cultivation and magical Law Power, without taking into account factors such as Divine Ability Technique Method.

Aside from that, the ecology here, including the appearance of the market, is actually quite similar to the cities of most humanoid beings in the myriad worlds. They are all resource distribution centers, it's just that Li Qi doesn't quite understand the resources sold here.

Although I don't understand it, if True Knowledge Dao Charm scan the list, I can usually figure out the nature of the materials used in these products.

For these ninth-rank and non-ranked cultivators, even the experts among them, with their years of accumulated knowledge, might not be as accurate as Li Qi's one glance.

Most of the transactions here are barter, but Li Qi discovered that if the value of the barter is not equal, they will offer a high-purity energy crystal, similar to the Qi bead of the world, as a supplementary means.

Li Qi didn't know what this thing was called, but it was produced by a naturally occurring mineral vein in this First Rank World.

It truly lives up to its reputation as First Rank World. Even in such a remote place, a large number of Qi crystals can still be naturally generated, in such large quantities that they form mineral veins, and their purity is high enough to be directly absorbed for cultivation.

Moreover, Li Qi noticed that they were very wary of each other during the transaction.

To be precise, even after cities have been built, everyone in this world retains a wildness similar to that of primitive societies.

They were covered in thorns, wary of everything around them, afraid that someone would try to take advantage of them.

Generally speaking, practitioners living in the civilized world gradually lose this wildness and become civilized and friendly, because civilization and friendliness are more suitable for cooperation. Prickly practitioners find it difficult to adapt to such a life. They either force themselves to adapt and learn the magic of friendship such as 'love, friendship, and kindness', or they leave civilization and continue to wander alone.

The simplest point is that people in civilized society don't worry about being stabbed to death while they sleep.

But those who remain wild are constantly worried that they won't wake up while they sleep.

By observing these differences, Li Qi could clearly draw a conclusion: this world is indeed very dangerous, the competition is extremely fierce, and it is a complete arena of life and death.

Even when forced to cooperate, they remained wary of each other and would not easily expose their weaknesses and backgrounds to the outside world.

Well...

This attitude may improve individual strength, but it will cause extremely serious internal friction for the civilization as a whole.

Can the Celestial Heavenly Realm truly become First Rank World through this method?

Li Qi couldn't help but become suspicious.

This approach cultivates only solitary beasts, rather than a civilization adept at cooperation.

After carefully observing the area for a while and familiarizing himself with some of the basic rules, Li Qi broke free from his state of Body Merged with Nature and strolled around the market outside the city like an ordinary person, listening intently to what the people around him were saying.

Perhaps it was a coincidence, but just as Li Qi appeared and began to listen, a robbery suddenly broke out right beside him.

Right next to Li Qi, at most three zhang away, a cultivator who had set up a street stall was caught off guard. Suddenly, the restrictions on his stall were broken, and three people suddenly made a move, using three different Divine Ability to grab the items on the stall and run away.

"What a skillful Spirit Walking Technique." Li Qi raised an eyebrow. The three of them broke the restriction, grabbed the items, and escaped in one smooth motion, demonstrating excellent teamwork and a high level of Spirit Walking Technique.

Despite being a ninth-rank technique, this level of Spirit Walking Technique, under the suppression of the Heavenly Dao, made them run at the speed of an eighth- Baiyue cultivator from the Hundred Yue region. According to Li Qi's estimation, these three people could travel thirty miles in the blink of an eye.

When Li Qi was a ninth-rank official, he didn't have the ability to run this fast.

"Interesting." Li Qi turned slightly to the side, wanting to make way for the three people.

He had no intention of interfering in these matters, since they were all local issues.

However, one of the three thieves, when passing by Li Qi, actually reached out and tried to rummage through the Mustard Seed Bag at Li Qi's waist.

This amused Li Qi.

Kid, you're really unlucky.

Thirty miles in the blink of an eye—such a movement seemed like slow motion to Li Qi was a fifth-rank official.

So, Li Qi reached out, grabbed the other person, lifted him up easily, and then pressed him to the ground Technique Method to forcibly bind the other person's hands behind his back, and then pressed him down with his knee.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye; even at a speed of thirty miles in the blink of an eye, nothing could be seen clearly.

The thief only felt a blur before his eyes, and his accomplice had already escaped, while he was pinned to the ground.

What happens?

The thought flashed through his mind.

But in just a moment, he realized what had happened.

I've been outmatched; I've met a master.

A feeling of wanting to cry but having no tears immediately filled his heart, but he was obviously an expert, and immediately said to Li Qi, "Master, you can have everything! Spare my life!"

"I don't need that little bit. I just want to see what they're going to do," Li Qi replied.

Then, Li Qi turned his attention to the guards around him.

There's been a robbery here, you know. These guards look quite professional, they've even formed a battle formation. It's not a military formation, but you can't expect them to have such high-end equipment.

So, how will these people respond?

Li Qi observed for a moment, and the answer was no.

These soldiers completely ignored the matter. Meanwhile, Li Qi discovered that other places were also not peaceful; theft and robbery were not unusual here.

However, some succeeded, while others failed.

Some managed to escape, while others barely managed to get away, but a portion of them were still caught.

Just like the one that Li Qi has now taken control of.

At that moment, the stall owner had taken the opportunity to tidy up his scattered belongings and then came to Li Qi's side.

"Senior." The shop owner was extremely respectful, because Li Qi had already demonstrated his fighting prowess.

Clearly, combat strength is an extremely important criterion in this world.

It's different in the real world; research and development talent is far more important than pure combat power.

In fact, most of the young masters of Wushen Mountain are not good at fighting, such as Li Qi.

Of course, after years of serving as the commander in the Human-Shaman War, and after studying countless battle reports from the Demon Prince, Li Qi's combat strength has improved by leaps and bounds, and he is no longer the weakling he used to be.

"Hmm, what are you planning to do with him?" Li Qi asked, glancing at the shop owner.

Upon hearing Li Qi's question, the shopkeeper's eyes showed a hint of fear, and he immediately said, "Such a petty thief should be executed. His belongings can be disposed of by you, senior."

"Senior! Spare my life! I have a hidden treasure; if I live, I will offer it all up!"

"Alright, then leave it to me." Li Qi nodded, stripped the shop owner's belongings from the thief, and tossed them to the shop owner.

The items were incomplete, as the other two escaped thieves also had some on them, but that was about it. Li Qi had no interest in helping others with the investigation.

"As for you, stand up." Li Qi stood up, gesturing for the petty thief to stand up.

He quickly got up, secretly delighted.

Clearly, this big shot had no intention of killing him.

The shop owner next to him remained expressionless, though a hint of disappointment flickered in his eyes, which he dared not show, and he remained respectful.

Li Qi ignored him and simply asked the petty thief, "What's your name?"

"I am... I am Ju Ye," the little thief named Ju Ye said immediately.

"Lead the way. You should have a place to stay. Let's find a place to sit and talk," Li Qi instructed him.

The other party nodded immediately, like a chick pecking at rice.

And so, just like that, easily, a robber in the street left this place under the watchful eyes of the guards.

These guards weren't looking at the thief Ju Ye, but at Li Qi.

It seems that robbing ten thousand times is not as important as becoming a 'strongman'.

Li Qi nodded slightly, having roughly understood the logic of how the celestial realm operated in the mortal world.

Ju Ye respectfully led the way, taking Li Qi through the city for about fifty miles before entering an inn.

It should be considered an inn, anyway, it's a shop outside the city that provides accommodation, the building is 600 feet high, and people come and go.

Ju Ye took out a piece of paper with a contract written on it in calligraphy imbued with divine intent. Li Qi noticed that it was a house rental agreement. They had rented the place for a month and paid for a ninth-grade spirit beast skull and thirty-five Spirit Stone.

Hey, that thing is really called Spirit Stone?

Li Qi couldn't help but complain in his heart.

After presenting the contract, Li Qi and Ju Ye were able to enter the building smoothly and sit down in room number 560.

The room was elegantly decorated in a style reminiscent of the world, but there were still some unusual items that Li Qi found strange, probably unique to this world.

Moreover, security is a top priority here, with numerous protective formations.

It's probably just a matter of global trends.

Ju Ye cautiously closed the door, then knelt on one knee. "Senior... please tell me what you need."

"I want you to be my guide," Li Qi said. "After all, you were forced into robbery, weren't you?"

Upon hearing this, Ju Ye suddenly looked up.

How did this person know?

Can he read minds?