Casting the Net

Li Qi, on the other hand, wasn't in a hurry. He was observing the flaws in his opponent's swordsmanship, while also taking in his surroundings, including the other fifth-rank officials who had come to watch.

True Knowledge Dao Charm, one senses the specific circumstances around them.

Thinking this, Li Qi spoke when the thread of cause and effect enveloped the other party.

He said to the fifth-rank official in front of him who was holding a sword, "Brother, it's time to decide the winner."

After saying that, Li Qi didn't waste any more words. The Dharma image behind him put its hands together in prayer.

As for the previously established causal threads, they enveloped the surroundings.

At that moment, the swordsman suddenly felt a chill run down his spine!

Malice!

A chilling hostility enveloped him!

It's like the whole world is against him!

This swordsman is very skilled.

The battle remained extremely fierce. Li Qi's Dharma form continuously unleashed various Technique Method, weaving a vast network of Technique Method across a battlefield the size of a star's diameter.

The swordsman was much simpler than Li Qi. He just kept drawing his sword, using extraordinary swordsmanship to destroy as many of Li Qi's Technique Method as possible with minimal effort.

With such exquisite swordsmanship, the ratio of Law Power consumed by both sides was approximately one to two thousand.

For every unit of Law Power a swordsman consumes, Li Qi must consume two thousand units to maintain the balance of power; otherwise, he will be caught in close combat.

Given this disparity in resources, the swordsman appears completely unconcerned.

Li Qi's operations are extensive, which means he expends a lot of energy. The swordsman, on the other hand, only needs to rely on his exquisite swordsmanship to keep moving, getting closer, and compressing the distance between himself and Li Qi. By simply waiting for time to pass, Li Qi will naturally be defeated.

Moreover, it seems that the 1:2000 Law Power consumption is far from reaching the opponent's limit. He is still strolling around leisurely, preparing to slowly wear down Li Qi.

Even though Li Qi had worn down Li Qi's sharpness through various means, he could still reduce the Law Power consumption to one to two thousand. His swordsmanship was indeed superb, far surpassing Li Qi's. In terms of specific techniques, Li Qi was inferior to his opponent, and it could even be said that he was far behind.

But... what if the difference in Law Power between Li Qi and you could reach 100,000 times?

If you can easily achieve a ratio of 1 to 2,000, can you achieve a ratio of 1 to 100,000?

Three days later.

Celestial Heaven, True World, Six Ink Sea.

The treacherous area known as the Six Ink Sea is the location of the cave abode of a powerful being, known as the Sword Lord Cai Mo, a master of the Heaven-Piercing Realm, and an extremely terrifying existence within the Heaven-Piercing Realm.

After the Ascension Realm to the True World, mortals can enter the Longevity Realm and become true immortals, living as long as the heavens.

Of course, in the True World, lifespan is as long as the heavens, which is actually roughly equivalent to mining until the end of time. You will keep mining until you hate your long life and finally take your own life.

Therefore, the Immortal Realm of Longevity is also jokingly referred to as the Laborer Realm.

Only with unwavering will, extraordinary determination, can one escape the predicament of mining.

However, once you leave the Realm of Immortality, you will have true freedom in the Immortal Heaven. You will not be killed at will. Although it is still very dangerous, you will still have the most basic human rights and a certain degree of order. Therefore, it is called the 'Immortal Blessing Realm'.

Those who established these orders came from the 'celestial realm' at the very top.

The Celestial Realm then appointed some administrators in the True World to manage the Heavenly Gate, manipulate the mortal realm, and control the numerous mines in the True World.

These managers were all from the Heaven-Piercing Realm.

Immortality, divine blessings, and—reaching the heavens.

According to Li Qi's standards, this comparison is between the seventh, sixth, and fifth ranks.

Moving up another level, to the fourth rank, one must then consider entering the Immortal Heaven; that level is known as the 'Dao Integration Realm'.

Almost all those who Dao Integration Realm go into seclusion and never appear in public. Entering the Immortal Heaven is their ultimate goal. It is said that by entering the Immortal Heaven, one can truly 'be in Xianghe with the Dao' and thus achieve complete immortality.

This is also the goal of all practitioners.

Therefore, in reality, reaching the Heaven-Piercing Realm is the highest level in the True World, and experts in the Dao Integration Realm will not make a move.

Moreover, even in the True World, the Heaven-Piercing Realm of the level of the Sword Lord Cai Mo is extremely rare, just like the Ascension Realm in the lower mortal realm, belonging to the top experts.

As for the Sword Lord Cai Mo, he is an extremely powerful fifth-rank expert who bears the responsibility of guarding the Immortal Heaven. He is responsible for suppressing the Six Ink Sea and guarding the Heavenly Gate of the Six Ink Sea. He is also a great and renowned figure in the True World.

Therefore, every move of the Sword Lord Cai Mo is noticed by countless people.

That's how it is right now.

Countless people, including some experts at the Heaven-Piercing Realm, ordinary cultivators at the Immortal Blessing Realm, and even miners at the Laborer Realm, all looked toward the huge commotion.

The Sword Lord Cai Mo is currently fighting with someone.

The opponent used a special Divine Ability to surround the world around them. The area surrounded was about the size of a star, almost half the area of the Six Ink Sea!

The entire battlefield takes place within that enclosed world.

Fortunately, the Celestial Realm does not have the usual kind of gravity; it only has the completely downward-facing 'Earth's Magnetic Force' to maintain gravity. Otherwise, with its size, it would have collapsed into nothingness long ago.

The other seventh and sixth-rank soldiers observed the magnificent and terrifying battlefield, which resembled an astronomical spectacle.

Meanwhile, on the edge of the battlefield, other experts at the Heaven-Piercing Realm were watching the battle intently and discussing their speculations about what was going on.

They were not physically present, but through their respective Divine Ability Technique Method, they communicated remotely. Ripples spread through the space, constantly interacting and colliding—that was their conversation.

"Who on earth is this person? How dare they attack Sword Lord Cai Mo, and it seems they actually fought to a draw?" one of them exclaimed in amazement.

"I don't know who he is, but his Cultivation Method is also very strange. He has no golden core, no Law Palace, and not even Primordial Spirit. No... that strange triple body behind him, I wonder if it is his Primordial Spirit," another person analyzed.

"That triple body is not Primordial Spirit, but rather a dharma form," another person said.

"Dharma Form?" The others exclaimed in confusion. They had never heard of the term "Dharma Form" before. Was it a realm of cultivation? Or a Divine Ability?

"I once cultivated through dreams, and in my dreams I traveled to the Outer Heaven. In the outer heavens, there are some people with top-notch inherited Cultivation Method who can condense a Dharma form. This method is based on the 'Dao Path' and integrates all one's Divine Ability, Technique Method, thoughts, and knowledge into one. The Dharma form is what this person's entire abilities are displayed." He explained in this way.

"I see. Then, Brother Yuan, since the opponent's Dharma form has been shattered by the Sword Lord Cai Mo Cutting, his skills should have been broken. Why are they still fighting so fiercely?" someone asked.

"I really don't know. Perhaps it's not a Dharma Form. But I've heard that beings in the Outer Heaven have a 'Minor Dao Integration' realm. Perhaps that's why?" said the man addressed as Brother Yuan.

"Minor Dao Integration, what does this mean?" the others asked one after another.

"The Dao Integration Realm emphasizes the Xianghe between the body and the Heavenly Dao, the unity of Celestial Person, to achieve ultimate immortality. However, if the Heavenly Dao is broken down into smaller pieces, allowing them to grasp a trace of the Heavenly Dao's power, that is called 'Minor Dao Integration.' They can even use this trace of the Heavenly Dao's power to go further and develop and master more parts. It is an extremely wondrous method," Brother Yuan explained.

If Li Qi were listening, he would immediately know what he was saying.

Dao Rhyme is what is known as 'Minor Dao Integration'. However, the Immortal Heaven obviously does not have the technology of Dao Rhyme. After all, extracting Dao Rhyme is also a craft. It is said that in the world, many fifth-rank cultivators make a living from this, going to the outer realms to salvage Dao Rhyme from dead worlds and selling it to provide those people with sufficient Dao Rhyme for use.

After all, Daoist essence is indeed a very convenient thing. If it is controlled properly, it is a good thing for the growth of young people. In fact, the forces in the world are not stingy in giving the younger generation some Daoist essence, as long as they can control it.

Of course, the Innate Dao Rhyme Great One. The Innate Dao Rhyme essence that is given. For example, Bo Yue's Demon Seed is a typical example of Innate Dao Rhyme, something he was born with, which is even more useful.

As this "Brother Yuan" introduced himself, the others couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. "Is the Outer Heaven... truly so wondrous?"

"Although it is miraculous, it is not all good. It is also dangerous outside. They have a force called 'Dao Lineage,' which is similar to a sect or clan, but with stronger cohesion. Everyone is not living for themselves, as if they have been brainwashed. It is particularly dangerous to deal with this force. They don't even care about interests, and it is very difficult to communicate with them."

"Not concerned with profit? Then does that mean you only like improving your cultivation?" others asked. Clearly, these experts at the Heaven-Piercing Realm were very curious about the Outer Heaven.

"I don't know about that. I'll be back soon. After all, as you know, even experts at the Dao Integration Realm can't be away for too long. I can only travel in my dreams," said the Heaven-Piercing Realm cultivator surnamed Yuan.

"Speaking of which, the person who fought with Sword Lord Cai Mo is probably from the Outer Heaven. After they finish fighting and this person is captured by the Sword Lord, we can go and ask him about the affairs of the Outer Heaven." This is what the cultivator surnamed Yuan said.

"Very well, I'll do as Brother Yuan says."

"That's how it should be."

"Then let's just go and wait there. There are so many of us, I don't think Sword Lord will refuse us."

"That's right, that's right." The others echoed, and a large number of thought ripples transmitted and collided in the void, showing their excitement.

This is a visitor from Outer Heaven!

This is a very rare thing for those at the Heaven-Piercing Realm.

What is the Heaven-Piercing Realm?

That leads to the 'celestial realm'!

Reaching the Heavens and then merging with the Dao—this is the meaning of these two realms. Ultimately, everything is for the purpose of ascending to the Immortal Realm.

And what lies above the celestial realm?

That is naturally the legendary 'Outer Heaven'.

The Outer Heaven are extremely mysterious and difficult for them to access. To reach the Outer Heaven, one must break through the shackles of the Immortal Heaven. Such Technique Method are rare, and even if they exist, they are unique secret skills.

This "unique skill" was not easy for Li Qi to understand.

Because the amount of information about cultivation in the world is very public, apart from the essential basic principles that are crucial to one's survival, most of the other information is publicly available.

Because the very purpose of the Dao Lineage is to spread itself, to make its ideas more widely known, and to find more like-minded people to pursue the Dao together.

Therefore, openness is the best option. Research data from different institutions, even those from opposing Dao Lineage of thought, will be shared publicly, and there is a well-established sharing mechanism in place.

All of this is for the purpose of taking a further step on the Dao Path. Today I reveal one of my secrets, and tomorrow someone from another Dao Lineage will see it, learn it, and even apply it to themselves, helping them to create a brand new Dao Path and develop new secrets.

Then he'll definitely make it public, and maybe he can use it on me later.

Even if his methods can't be used on me, there are always other people's inventions that I can use.

This open atmosphere is of great help to those pursuing the Dao. Everything in the world can give way to the pursuit of the Dao, not to mention research materials and Divine Ability, even Dao disputes are the same.

Given the opportunity to pursue their chosen path, even if it means proving their own path wrong, they can immediately set aside all disputes over it.

The current conflict stems from a clash on the path of pursuing the Dao. They've clashed head-on, neither willing to back down, so it's a battle of who can break the ice the hardest.

However, things are different in the Immortal Realm. They are afraid that their Cultivation Method, secret techniques, and Divine Ability will be learned by others, so they cherish them and only reveal them to their close relatives.

However, after all, it is First Rank World with immense competitive pressure. Even so, their development of combat power and killing Divine Ability has reached an absurd level. Under such circumstances, they naturally have an insatiable thirst for new knowledge.

Stealing from others? Everyone here is at the Heaven-Piercing Realm, making them easy targets. Those without Trump Card are already dead. The remaining ones are in a delicate balance, where any action could have far-reaching consequences, making them difficult to attack.

Now, a visitor from Outer Heaven has arrived, and everyone has reached a consensus in an instant.

Knowledge from Outer Heaven, and yet he was beaten to such a state by the Sword Lord Cai Mo.

It's like... a windfall!

All around, more than twenty experts at the Heaven-Piercing Realm had secretly formed an encirclement, waiting for Li Qi to decide the outcome.

Or rather... it's not about determining a winner, but about waiting for Li Qi to be defeated so they can go up and devour Li Qi.

After all, that's the Sword Lord Cai Mo.

Everyone has been waiting. Three days have passed, and in a few more days, the outcome will be decided.

In the center of the battle.

That's good. All the fifth-rank officials around here should have gathered by now, right? With so many people, more than twenty fifth-rank officials watching, this should be all the fifth-rank officials around here, right?

Li Qi scanned everyone, silently memorizing the information of the twenty-odd fifth-rank officials.

The intelligence is now clear; the next step is for Li Qi to launch his real plan.

The next moment...

In the center of the battlefield, Li Qi's physical body and inner world collapsed with a roar, as if they had been annihilated by Sword Qi.

The others swarmed forward like sharks chasing blood!