The Greater Chi

According to the system's definition, the Celestial Devil in the Taiyin Heavenly Demon Cave are all Chi. Specifically, the ones Li Fan came into contact with were of four types: Chi, Great Chi, Super Greater Chi, and Extra Greater Chi.

... Okay, I can understand this naming convention. It probably doesn't refer to size, but rather to combat strength and level of threat.

The shallowest level is the lowest-level demon, which can create illusions for about five to ten seconds. Once you see through it, you can destroy it with a snap of your fingers, which can slightly increase the upper limit.

The Great Demon is an entity that has seized a body to inhabit. These are usually desiccated corpses with broken limbs and exposed to drafts. A Fourth Department glare from its Crimson Eyes is enough to kill them. Their combat power is basically equivalent to a slightly stronger Fiend Corpse. Killing one will increase your mood cap by ten points, significantly boosting your mood by one point.

The bodies of the Super Greater Chi are mostly complete immortal bodies. They must have devoured the immortals' primordial spirits and seized their bodies. It's likely that the demons themselves fought over flesh and bones to piece them together, and then connected them with malevolent energy. These humanoid shells, blood vessels, and meridians are filled with almost liquid malevolent energy and demonic aura. This intensity is probably even stronger than the Nascent Soul Stage level ascension of the four fairy maidens after their resurrection!

The most obvious characteristic of these Super Greater Chi is that the whites of their eyes are completely stained black, turning them inky black. Even when their limbs are severed, they still exude a murderous aura. Moreover, they can use this murderous aura to mimic the release of Daoist magic in a convincing way. When they shriek and laugh, they can simultaneously unleash attacks of the primordial spirit and illusionary techniques. In short, they are quite powerful and numerous. Killing one can increase your maximum level by 100 points, significantly improving your mood.

As for the Extra Greater Chi Li Fan, we didn't directly fight him, but it's estimated that killing him would have given him a maximum of over 500 points.

As Li Fan swept Crimson Eyes sword energy and glared wildly, shattering the surrounding giant and Super Greater Chi into pieces, one Extra Greater Chi, who was far away on the periphery, glanced at him and was frightened away by the power of Crimson Eyes's instantaneous demon-annihilation.

Those Extra Greater Chi were also humanoid, and judging from their movements and appearance, they were not much different from living people. You could even sense a trace of yang energy in them. However, the whites of their eyes were still black, but their pupils were surrounded by a red blood ring. Moreover, judging from the fact that they knew how to assess strength and decisively abandoned their escape attempts, they already possessed considerable intelligence and consciousness.

Perhaps beyond the Extra Greater Chi," there are even "Super Extra Greater Chi," things that can kill someone with a maximum of 1200 points. But even Li Fan probably couldn't easily deal with those.

Don't be fooled by how easily Li Fan defeated these demons; he could kill a large demon in one move, and even Super Greater Chi couldn't withstand three of his attacks. But honestly, anyone at the same cultivation level would be no match for him.

On the contrary, if a low-level demon were to occupy a body, it could eventually be refined into a Nascent Soul Stage- level Devil Embryo, like Extra Greater Chi. It's just that the number of bodies in this demonic cave is limited, which is why they fight each other. If the demons were to escape from the demonic cave, it would truly be a catastrophe of annihilation.

So Li Fan didn't hold back. He stepped onto the coffin lid, unleashing a flurry of sword energy from both hands and a barrage of Ghost Hand attacks, blasting the swarming, bat-like corpses into dust, preventing them from piecing the corpses back together like clay. Although he was drenched in ink-like, almost liquid, malevolent energy, Li Fan still felt quite exhilarated.

After all, you know what, after being refined by the evil energy and the demons, it has become even more refined, and his Gui Xu Nascent Soul and Tai Su Dao Body are even easier to absorb! Now, when his mood rises, it's showing a significant increase!

"Come on! Give me more!"

Unfortunately, even the Celestial Devil have their pride. Seeing that they not only failed to seize Li Fan's Dao Body and Soul Pearl, but also had their Dao Body shattered and their baleful aura stolen, even the Great Demon realized this and gradually stopped rushing forward to their deaths. Now, deep inside the demon's lair, even the ordinary demons have vanished.

After firing wildly for a while, Li Fan found that no demons dared to approach. He then wiped the demonic liquid off his face and checked the system panel.

Li Fan's mood improved significantly.

Current mood: 4999/5509

Tsk, he didn't count either, but he hit so many, and most of them were still big demons. Couldn't he at least get a demon to make it a round number? My OCD is killing me...

Li Fan turned his head and glanced around, scanning with his blind eyes. There were still quite a few Super Greater Chi around, but they were all keeping a distance and not approaching on their own. Moreover, Li Fan could clearly feel the threat of a peak behind him, so it seemed that there were also Extra Greater Chi among them, waiting for an opportunity to strike. However, the Extra Greater Chi were obviously more cunning and did not come up to deliver themselves.

However, this number is truly troublesome. An ordinary Nascent Soul Stage cultivator would be committing suicide to go this deep, yet we haven't even seen the shadow of that Luo Feng Old Lord yet...

Li Fan simply sat cross-legged on the coffin lid to cultivate, absorbing the evil energy throughout his body to replenish his true essence. He waited for his mind to recover.

Honestly, even though he's at the Nascent Soul Realm now, fighting to the death to kill Nascent Soul Nascent Soul Stage outside only gives him a little thrill. But jumping into this cave has increased his cultivation so much! If it were him, he'd stay inside the cave and wouldn't come out no matter who called him...

Suddenly, a chill ran down Li Fan's spine, and he could clearly feel the Extra Greater Chi around him fleeing like madmen!

It's here!

Li Fan suddenly kicked off, using the Wind and Cloud Dragon Ascent Technique to escape and dodge. He also released seventy percent of the power of the Ghost Hand, sweeping out two ghostly claws overflowing with fierce energy, one in front and one behind, covering his entire body.

Even though he reacted and made a move instantly, the newcomer dodged left and right, darted in close, grabbed his left wrist, pulled and yanked him, and threw him to the ground, throwing him onto the coffin lid, then folding his hand behind his back and pinning him down.

Damn it... how come I got one-shotted again...?

"Your Ghost Hand is still a bit lacking! How long have you been learning it?!"

Luo Feng Old Lord's voice sounds quite young, like that of a teenager going through puberty.

Li Fan said in a muffled voice, "Three to five days..."

"Three to five days! What nonsense! You think you can train like this in three to five days?" The man behind him flicked his hand, sending Li Fan flying like a spinning top. "Come at me with all your might!"

"Holy crap, you said that?! Ghost Hand!!"

Li Fan flipped over and lashed out with his claw, unleashing seventy percent of his power before instantly changing his attack. He used the same technique as before, parrying an Obscuring Moon Palm and blasting it towards the figure behind him.

The Luo Feng Old Lord let out a soft chuckle.

Instantly, Li Fan felt a tap on his shoulder, and he was sent flying backward. Half of his meridians went numb and went limp as he flew backward.

This time, Li Fan saw it clearly: the other party made a feint from a distance, which shattered his Claw Wind Palm Technique, sending him flying with a single finger.

Tsk, the stats are overwhelmingly superior...

"Hey, you've never actually seen the Barefoot Man's Ghost Hand, have you? This is just a charade." Luo Feng Old Lord waved his hand and pulled Li Fan back onto the coffin lid.

This time, Li Fan saw clearly that the person in front of him was a boy who was at most eight or nine years old. His face was fair and clean, with a bit of baby fat. His features were fairly regular. He was wearing a dark blue Daoist robe. If you didn't know him, you might think he was a servant boy. But his cultivation level was undeniable. This was the ancestor of the Luo Feng lineage.

"Qingyue of Ink Bamboo Mountain pays respects to Luo Feng Old Lord."

Lao Jun stretched out his index finger, twirling the Four Soul Beads bracelet that he had just taken from Li Fan, and glanced at him sideways, "You weren't personally taught by the Barefoot Guy, were you? You can still use the Ghost Hand technique with variations and holding back; you're too calculating. But you can still modify a couple of moves yourself, so your comprehension isn't bad."

"Laojun's guidance is correct. I have indeed never witnessed my master's true abilities, but I presume you have. May I ask how to properly execute the Ghost Hand technique?" Li Fan earnestly inquired.

"Then naturally I'll strike without holding back, using all my strength..." Luo Feng Old Lord seemed to realize something, his face hardening. "Enough nonsense! What's with you coming down to the Demon Cave from Mo Shan! And what about these guys you brought? We don't need the barefoot ones!"

Why are all these old men so loud and boisterous...?

Li Fan rubbed his numb shoulder and explained, "It was the Jueyin Shenjun who requested Laozi to come out of seclusion..."

In a few words, he recounted the story of the traitor within the Luofeng Palace, the struggle for the throne in the Xun Kingdom, and the Heavenly Book.

Luo Feng Old Lord nodded repeatedly, "Oh, I understand. You can go back now, I won't go out."

"..." Li Fan froze for a moment, hesitated, and then recounted the story of the traitor within Luo Feng Palace, the struggle for the throne in Xun Kingdom, and the Heavenly Book...

"I heard you! Enough with the nonsense! I'm not going up! I want to cultivate immortality!"

"Huh? But it's a book written in a mysterious language..."

"It's just a mysterious book, who cares!"

Then, with a light tap of its toes, it leaped from the coffin into the void and vanished.

Li Fan was dumbfounded. "No... Lao Jun! Lao Jun, please sign for the goods!"

Ugh... that old bastard is so annoying! Where did he fly off to now?!

At this moment, Li Fan heard a series of banging sounds coming from the coffin. He realized that the old ghost had also taken the Soul Jade. So he slapped open the coffin lid and released the four flying immortals.

The four immortals burst out of their coffins, circled once, and the malevolent energy from the Taiyin Demon Cave poured into their mouths and noses, inflating the four dried corpses into human form in the blink of an eye. Then, the four bowed to Li Fan, pointed in a direction in the void, and led the way to chase after their own souls.

So Li Fan also put away the coffin, and then the four flying immortals vanished.

Unfortunately, the Fourth Department ghost scared away all the demons, big and small, and after chasing for a while, no demon came to snatch the four containers.

Finally, Li Fan followed the four of them through the misty ravine and landed in the void at the entrance of a Daoist temple.

The four flying immortals bowed and knelt down at the entrance of the Daoist temple.

Li Fan glanced at the plaque above the entrance of the Daoist temple, which read "Taiyin Jing Tian Palace" in five large characters, and knew that this was probably the place where Laozi cultivated.

Before he could even knock on the door, the Daoist temple door suddenly opened, and four beams of light shot out, shining into the foreheads of the four immortals, knocking them over. When they got up again, Li Fan could see that all four of them had regained their senses; they had clearly been resurrected.

Then, Laozi's voice, as if going through puberty, rang out from inside the palace. "You persistent ghost! You've been chasing me all this way! So annoying!"

Li Fan was sweating profusely. It was your own fault for forgetting to bring their soul jades...

The four concubines, having served Laozi for a long time, knew his bad temper and quickly ushered him into the palace to serve him. Li Fan followed them in.

Outside the palace, darkness reigned and demonic forces swirled, but inside, the Daoist temple was tranquil and serene, with a peaceful atmosphere. The courtyard was complete with mountains, water, flowers, trees, rockeries, lotus ponds, and winding streams. In the distance, one could see the main hall at the back, its doors wide open, revealing many memorial tablets inside, presumably a shrine dedicated to the Luo Feng Immortal Army.

Li Fan walked into the inner hall of the backyard and saw that the four concubines had returned to their full-figured, voluptuous Heavenly Immortal, serving Luo Feng Old Lord, who was lying on the couch, with practiced ease. One served tea and water, another massaged his shoulders and back, and yet another lay under Laojun's couch, lit a jade pipe, took a couple of puffs, and fed them to him to taste.

Ha, you really know how to enjoy yourself...

"What, aren't you leaving yet?" Luo Feng Old Lord didn't even glance at Li Fan.

Li Fan then realized that this guy was a two-faced, arrogant jerk. If he didn't want to see him, he wouldn't have Door Opening in the first place. If he really didn't have four concubines, he would have crushed them with a flick of his wrist. Why bother restoring them? Fortunately, Li Fan had experience dealing with this kind of old man and knew that he had to pamper and coax him.

So he walked forward with a grin, "Ancestor, this place is truly a paradise on earth. No one bothers us at all. If it were me, I wouldn't want to get involved in all the fighting and killing outside. It's so carefree to cultivate here in peace. It's much quieter than the Ink Bamboo Mountain Grotto-Heaven."

Luo Feng Old Lord smiled broadly and said, "What are you flattering me for? I've been to Ink Bamboo Mountain before, it's pretty much the same. How's your master doing lately? Is he still guarding the mountain?"

Li Fan also laughed and said, "How can it compare to your carefree life, Laozi? My master has gained some enlightenment and is currently in seclusion, where he may be able to make a breakthrough."

"What?! A breakthrough! He's about to achieve enlightenment? Is that for real?!" Luo Feng Old Lord jumped up, throwing aside a bunch of his concubines. "Don't try to provoke me! I know his talent! Enlightenment isn't something that can be achieved so easily!"

Li Fan chuckled, "Look at what you're saying. Who hasn't had a stroke of luck these days? Even the Xun Kingdom managed to get their hands on a celestial book, let alone my Mo Shan, who hasn't had any fortuitous encounters over the years..."

"I don't believe it! Tell me! Is the barefoot man really going to achieve enlightenment?!" Luo Feng Old Lord swept his four concubines away.

The four women quickly knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "This servant truly does not remember."

"Get out! Get out! Get out!" Luo Feng Old Lord flung his sleeves and chased them away, pacing back and forth in anger. "This doesn't make sense... Can reading a few more heavenly books really lead to enlightenment? Then why don't I feel anything at all..."

Seeing that he was interested, Li Fan immediately encouraged him from the side, "Yes, yes, I've read the Heavenly Book. My hearing and eyesight are sharp, my body is strong and healthy, and my energy is boundless. It's just that my mood sometimes fluctuates a little."

And haven't you heard that as long as you collect all nine volumes of the Xuan Girl Heavenly Book, you can ascend to heaven in broad daylight! Isn't this volume from Xun Kingdom already yours, Ancestor? As long as you personally take action, you'll surely get it easily! Really, don't you want one? Why not take it if it's free?

"Stop yelling at me! Collecting all nine volumes of the Xuan Girl Heavenly Book requires at least an ascension level to even have a chance!" The old ghost was quite shrewd, giving Li Fan a disdainful look before turning to stare at him. "So you've seen the Heavenly Book too?"

Li Fan shrugged. "Two or three books, I guess."

Luo Feng Old Lord squinted at him for a while, then suddenly reached out and pulled Li Fan away, flying straight out of the Jing Tian Palace. It was unknown how long they fled before landing.

"Then take a look, isn't this some kind of celestial script?"

Li Fan was stunned for a moment before he realized what was happening and looked down.

His feet touched something solid, but it wasn't solid ground; it was like a flat bronze plate with grooves engraved with countless small seal script characters, densely packed with runes.

"It doesn't seem like it..." Li Fan said honestly. After all, generally speaking, looking at a celestial book containing the Tai Su Dao would be disheartening, and now the system wasn't reacting at all. "Perhaps the text is misarranged and needs to be deciphered? Laozi, what is this?"

"Really not? Okay, actually I don't think so either..." Luo Feng Old Lord pulled Li Fan up a little higher and pointed to the gate, "It's a gate. The Celestial Devil all come from that gate."

Then Li Fan saw it too; it was indeed like a bronze gate, stretching across the void, boundless and endless, as if blocking out the Void Abyss.

"This is a relic left behind by the Immortal Venerable when he suppressed the Heavenly Demon Cave, and it has been guarded by my Luo Feng Immortal Army for generations. You see, even the Xuan Girl God Lord has a Heavenly Book, so why didn't the Immortal Venerable leave behind a Heavenly Book? It doesn't make sense!"

"Ancestor, you stayed in the Demon Cave in seclusion to comprehend the Celestial Venerable's Heavenly Book?" Li Fan didn't quite understand. "You made a copy and took it out to study it slowly, right?"

"Do you think I'm stupid? Of course, it's not just for that reason." Luo Feng Old Lord rolled his eyes at Li Fan, then used another teleportation technique to fly to the top of a rift valley.

Of course, that wasn't a rift valley, but a crack in the door. The two large gates on either side were like bronze cliffs, and the dark ravine was the open crack in the door. The depths of the abyss were endless void, which, even with Gu Guan Method, could not be seen at a glance.

Countless immortal corpses possessed by giant, Super Greater Chi, and Extra Greater Chi roamed back and forth in the canyon between the door. It seemed that their lair was on the other side of the door.

"There's been something trying to come over from the other side of the door lately. Let's wait a bit longer. Look, look, it's here again."

As soon as Luo Feng Old Lord finished speaking, something suddenly emerged from the crack in the door. At first glance, it seemed to be five dark fingers, but upon closer inspection, it looked more like a collection of earthworm-like tentacles. In any case, five of them reached out from behind the door, as if trying to push open the bronze door.

Before Li Fan could even probe with his Divine Sense to get a clear look, Luo Feng Old Lord suddenly made a move.

With a deafening crash, the 'canyon' seemed to collapse as if the sky had fallen and the earth had caved in, flattening the mountains on both sides. The bronze gate was slammed shut by Laozi, and his enormous five fingers were instantly crushed into minced meat.

The 'blood' contained within the severed finger was a liquid, malevolent aura, as black as ink. The black water erupted like a flood, spreading everywhere and even spilling a sea of ink onto the bronze door.

Meanwhile, the surrounding demons swarmed forward, vying for the torn pieces of flesh and bone, which they churned and drank in the inky black sea of evil, splashing black waves everywhere.

Li Fan frowned, noticing that the moment the five fingers appeared, his emotions began to falter again.

"What is that thing?"

"How should I know? Before, it was just some demons sneaking in through the crack in the door. Suddenly, these big ones started pushing the door open. It must have been more than ten years of peace and quiet. It's so annoying!"

Super Greater Chi Luo Feng Patriarch rolled his eyes, drank deeply of the flesh and blood below, Extra Greater Chi then spread Extra Greater Chi hands, saying, "Look at this scene, how can I possibly leave?"