Wu Zhu are known for their combat prowess.
Why? Because they receive blessings from gods, deities, ghosts, and spirits. They can draw power from the heavens, earth, mountains, rivers, or ancestors.
And what about Li Qi? Does he have any divine protection now?
Of course, he does.
Leaving aside the ethereal Four Seasons Gods and the unreliable Five Sacrificial Deities, the only reliable ghost spirit protecting him is Old Man Li, an Eighth-Rank deceased who forgave the Wang family after Li Qi mediated.
Before leaving, Old Man Li kept his promise and bestowed three strands of ghostly qi upon Li Qi as a divine blessing.
What's the use of this ghostly qi?
To bewilder!
Ghostly qi can cause confusion. Upon contact with someone, it causes their spiritual essence to scatter, unable to attach back to the body!
Without spiritual essence attached, one becomes disoriented, temporarily losing reaction ability. Without strong willpower and determination, it's impossible to resist!
Li Qi used this technique to silently eliminate all Boshan Sect disciples present without making a sound.
Now, it was happening again!
Using a severed head to attract attention, then attacking from behind!
This sneak attack wasn't meant to succeed but to distract again.
He didn't believe Bao Dun wouldn't notice his attack.
Clearly, Li Qi's guess was correct.
Bao Dun sensed the attack from behind, instantly strengthening his golden aura. A metallic sheen enveloped him like a meat grinder, shredding the willow branch with a creaking sound.
However, the willow branch proved extremely resilient, continuously deflecting attacks despite being shredded. The golden aura couldn't damage its core.
This willow branch was Li Qi's greatest reliance in the martial world. Though seemingly ordinary, it had been infused with divine qi by a true Wu Zhu and nurtured with the Five Sacrificial Deities' qi by Li Qi himself. While ineffective against physical bodies, it was potent against spiritual essences!
With the willow branch blocked, Li Qi achieved his goal.
Bao Dun focused entirely on defending against the willow branch.
After blocking it, he felt relieved.
But immediately realized something and shouted, "You're not using a saber! Are you using whip techniques?!"
Unfortunately, Li Qi ignored him. While Bao Dun was distracted, Li Qi released the ghostly qi.
Twice distracted, the third time he couldn't react in time.
Eighth-Rank ghostly qi surged into his body!
His spiritual essence destabilized, becoming detached from his body—a state of soul wandering, akin to birds leaving nests or snakes shedding skins. His body became hollow, making it hard to react!
Seeing this, Li Qi decisively struck again with the willow branch.
Don't forget, this willow branch specifically targeted spiritual essences!
One strike dispersed half of his spiritual essence!
Just like when dealing with that Ninth-Rank military cultivator, who split his spiritual essence and stored part in his saber, Li Qi's strike knocked him unconscious.
Similarly, Bao Dun's spiritual essence leaked out, suffering severe pain, bleeding from seven orifices, and curling up like being electrocuted.
As a result, the surrounding golden aura field dissipated.
Li Qi mercilessly whipped twice more, dispersing all leaking spiritual essences while activating his Bull Strength Technique, producing a puff of white smoke, stomping on Bao Dun's neck.
A cracking sound followed; his neck was crushed, clearly beyond saving.
But Li Qi, before deciding to act, always considered carefully, even appearing indecisive. Once resolved, he left no room for regrets!
Another stomp, yet Bao Dun's skull was too hard, injuring Li Qi's foot.
"Too hard..." Li Qi switched to one of the Boshan Sect's own swords, trying to behead him.
But even the sword bent, failing to cut through the spine.
Upon dissecting the flesh, Li Qi discovered that despite appearing obese, Bao Dun's bones were as tough as steel, permeated with golden aura, extremely resilient, almost cutting to touch.
Li Qi understood Bao Dun's strength.
Direct confrontation would likely result in defeat, given Bao Dun's formidable physicality and terrifying golden aura field. Li Qi might struggle to harm him, instead risking being minced by the aura field.
Fortunately, Li Qi wasn't a close-combat fighter; he was a Wu Zhu, a spellcaster.
It's well-known that warriors are at the mercy of spellcasters.
Expelled by ghostly qi, his spiritual essence detached, coupled with the willow branch's strikes, rendered his formidable defenses useless. With his spiritual essence shattered, he became easy prey.
Unable to decapitate him, Li Qi switched to another sword, piercing his heart, mashing his internal organs, ensuring death before stopping.
In this world filled with monsters and spirits, caution was necessary.
Who knows if incomplete handling could lead to reanimation?
The five vital organs contain the Five Constants' qi. Humans are intelligent due to containing this qi. When dead, organs decay, causing the Five Constants' qi to lose its anchor, leading to loss of intellect in spirits.
Destroying the body disrupts the spirit's stability.
Moreover, his spiritual essence was shattered by the willow branch, preventing reincarnation, merging directly into the cosmos.
After cleaning up, Li Qi erased traces like footprints and fingerprints, collected spoils, then set the pleasure boat ablaze.
Subsequently, he dived into the Li River, swimming underwater out of the city.
No disturbance occurred.
Only the burning pleasure boat and shouts of "Fire!" echoed.
Li Qi swam deep underwater, returning to the Paibo Gang, retrieving his long saber and basket, smashing Zhang Caitou's head with a stone, dispersing his spiritual essence.
Then, diving back into the river, he swiftly exited the city.
Uncle Six handled matters steadily, instructions given, Carp Flow Intent cultivation method shared, along with six gold pieces. The Paibo Gang affairs were settled.
Swimming far, he surfaced, entering the forest, letting out a long cry.
Minutes later, Old Horse arrived, carrying Shen Shuibei on his back.
"Oh, you're back? Are we leaving?" Shen Shuibei asked.
"Let's go! No stops this time!" Li Qi waved, mounting the horse!
(End of Volume One)
(From Volume Two, the world view will gradually unfold.)