This question made the atmosphere awkward for a moment. Li Qi, who was usually eloquent, suddenly became tongue-tied and struggled to speak.
Shen Shuibei, however, reacted quickly and immediately asked, "Great Shaman... why do you ask this?"
"Nothing, just asking casually, don't mind it," Yun Fang smiled. "Moon Essence, please step back; I want to talk to Li Qi alone."
The two exchanged glances but had no choice. Shen Shuibei bowed and retreated, leaving the altar.
As she stepped away from the altar, Li Qi and Yun Fang instantly vanished from their spot.
Wang Baisan, who was watching the grand ceremony outside, was startled and looked curiously at the suddenly appearing Shen Shuibei: "Miss Shen? What's going on? Teleportation? What kind of supernatural power is this?"
From his perspective, Shen Shuibei had suddenly appeared there.
And where was Li Qi?
He was just on the altar. How did he disappear?
"Don't ask," Shen Shuibei replied, turning around and leaving.
She needed to pack her luggage.
Guangyang was about to leave soon.
But... was this trip to the Tang Dynasty?
Also, regarding the Chenji Golden Elixir Method, something felt off.
Such a significant matter, no one informed her?
How could that be possible...
Many things weighed heavily on Shen Shuibei's mind, making even the usually carefree rabbit appear worried and unsure.
Moreover, there was...
That Great Shaman.
Why did he ask about her relationship with Li Qi?
What did he mean?
Would she become a bargaining chip for Wu Deity Mountain to force Niangniang to take sides?
---
While Shen Shuibei was full of doubts, Li Qi wasn't far behind.
He found himself and Yun Fang in a high mountain area.
Misty fog, rustling wind.
High cliffs, strange ravines, and peculiar peaks.
Phoenixes sang together, solitary phoenixes danced alone.
Leopards hid deep in the mountains, tigers roamed steep ridges.
Precious herbs and exotic flowers, green pines, and cypresses.
Red peaches were bright, bamboo forests lush and green.
A sea of clouds connected to tree shadows, streams flowed down vine roots, thousands of mountains stood tall as pillars holding up the sky, myriad valleys crisscrossed the earth.
The mountain range was majestic, extremely high and perilous. Li Qi didn't know how he ended up standing at the peak.
He and Yun Fang stood there.
Was this... the elder's personal microcosm?
Such dense energy.
Countless types of Qi, all many times purer than outside. Even a tiny bit here surpassed refined Qi from the outside world.
Just beneath their feet, the land Qi appeared pure dark gold. A single thread of this Qi would be enough for a ninth-rank Mountain God to use as a foundation, laying an extremely solid groundwork for ascending to the eighth rank.
And such Qi was everywhere.
Li Qi was still observing the surroundings when suddenly, a surge of Qi rose from the mountaintop.
Neither smoke nor mist, like clouds or rosy clouds, swirling through the clear sky.
It spread out thickly over the blue sky, white flames wrapped around in circles, piercing through the heavens, shining brightly, resembling a rainbow. Upon closer inspection, it gathered densely in mid-air.
However, as soon as Li Qi saw it, the cloud surged uncontrollably into his body.
Yet, he felt nothing...
Li Qi quickly reacted, bowing to Yun Fang and asking, "Senior, what is this...?"
Yun Fang found a flat stone to sit on. The elderly man said kindly, "Your journey to the Tang Dynasty will undoubtedly be fraught with danger, but since it aligns with your wishes and is the best option for the current situation, I cannot stop you."
"But, I am concerned, fearing you might face enmity. Therefore, I've placed some spells on you."
"That Qi has a concealing effect. Those below my cultivation level won't be able to detect your cultivation or locate you by any means. It can also obscure your karma, providing you some protection in the Tang Dynasty. As long as you don't break the law, you should be fine."
Li Qi understood after hearing this but was left with more questions.
He was moved by the elder's concern and remembered the kindness, but why was the elder so proactive? Wasn't this their first meeting?
He wasn't worried about the elder harming him; being from Wu Deity Mountain, a third-rank elder wouldn't stoop so low.
But this sudden goodwill, while not unwelcome, felt somewhat odd.
Seeming to read Li Qi's thoughts, Yun Fang smiled and said, "Keep that cloud Qi well; it has other uses. Study it later. I brought you here mainly to show you a place and give you a warning."
"As an elder's advice, I listen attentively and will not forget," Li Qi promptly bowed.
For the elder to specially warn him, it must be important.
"Follow me," Yun Fang stood up, addressing Li Qi.
Li Qi followed politely and quietly behind Yun Fang.
Yun Fang walked to the cliff edge, where a giant white crane flew in from afar, hovering beside his feet.
This crane, with its red head and white wings, round beak, and slender toes, was clearly a transformed immortal bird.
This bird alone was sixth rank.
Li Qi followed Yun Fang onto the crane's back.
The crane let out a loud cry, echoing through the nine heavens, then soared upwards, piercing through the clouds and flying among auspicious clouds and mountains, exuding an air of immortality.
It didn't seem like a witch sect but rather a Daoist immortal.
Witch sects should have a solemn and strict image, given they manage state rituals and arrange hierarchies, which are serious and authoritative matters.
Li Qi didn't know why the elder's personal microcosm looked like this, but he dared not ask, merely observing around.
However, after flying past a certain line, the sky suddenly changed.
Dark and oppressive, thunder rumbled, filled with a suffocating atmosphere.
Pengyun winds were black, lightning flashed, ugly creatures bred in foul waters.
Crossing that line seemed to change the world completely, transforming the scene into one of despair and gloom, teeming with pests and flies, turning auspicious clouds into dark clouds, beautiful mountains into barren ones, and clear springs into foul waters.
The originally peaceful beasts vanished, leaving only cunning creatures lurking.
Li Qi was stunned and couldn't help but say, "Five turbidities confuse the heart, three paths misstep, this is the scene of a collapsed Dao heart. Why is it here? Senior, you...?"
The elder seemed fine, so why was there such a region within his personal microcosm?
Yun Fang stood on the crane's back and shook his head, "This personal microcosm isn't mine."
"Then whose is it?" Li Qi was surprised; it was clearly still within the elder's personal microcosm, so how could it not be his?
Before he could continue questioning, the crane suddenly accelerated.
Despite speeding up, everything remained stable, as if on flat ground, without any bumps or inertia, even blocking the wind.
After accelerating for a few seconds, the crane landed.
Following Yun Fang, Li Qi saw an array formation.
Five mountain ranges stood arranged according to the four cardinal directions and center.
Connected mountains formed a Five Peaks Suppression Formation.
These weren't just mountains but a prison! An exceptionally high-grade prison!
"Five peaks suppress the mountain, hexagonal yin, rain and snow cover the path, earth grows cold, metal turns icy, seasons end, all things decay, like a person's qi wanes. This... this is clearly a great death realm, using death to suppress something..."
"Heart demon? Is this your heart demon, senior? Why bring me here!?" Li Qi examined the array and recognized its purpose after some thought.
Yun Fang shook his head, "This isn't my heart demon, but recognizing a heart demon shows you understand demons well."
Li Qi hurriedly explained, "I recently dealt with demons... naturally—"
At "naturally," Li Qi paused.
His expression turned shocked, his heartbeat quickened, blood rushed to his brain.
Yes, recently, he had been dealing with various demons, trying to find ways to overcome the 108 demons and used this knowledge to counter Chan Zhi. During interactions with demons, he even obtained a trace of Māra Dao Resonance.
He had risked using Māra Dao Resonance to kill Chan Zhi.
Later, he decided to hide the Māra Dao Resonance and consult his teacher about handling it.
But until now, he had forgotten about it.
Li Qi wasn't forgetful.
But he forgot about the Māra Dao Resonance.
During the preparations for the grand ceremony, he completely forgot, even neglecting to inform Le Ya to report back to Wu Deity Mountain for advice.
Even when his teacher arrived, he didn't remember.
When did he start gradually recovering memories of the Māra Dao Resonance?
It seemed... after being covered by the Great Shaman's Qi, he began slowly unlocking these sealed memories, though still somewhat confused.
Until now, thinking about the heart demon, he suddenly recalled.
Indeed, he was familiar with demonic thoughts and possessed a trace of Māra Dao Resonance.
Thinking of this, Li Qi broke out in a cold sweat.
Unknowingly, to what extent had the Māra Dao Resonance developed?
If not for the Great Shaman reminding him, what would have happened?
Seeing Li Qi's reaction, Yun Fang knew he understood.
Smiling, he said, "Remembered?"
Though he could directly hear others' thoughts, out of self-restraint and respect, he usually didn't. So, he asked Li Qi aloud.
Li Qi wiped his sweat, looked up, and said, "Thank you, senior, for saving me. Please inform my teacher afterward."
"Of course, but tell me about the origin of this Dao Resonance," Yun Fang nodded.
Li Qi, of course, dared not hide anything, recounting everything in detail from his dealings with Chan Zhi to using the Māra Dao Resonance to kill Chan Zhi.
He spoke for a full half-hour.
Finally, showing the Māra Dao Resonance, he said, "After using it, I somehow forgot about it. There must be something wrong. Could you explain, senior?"
Yun Fang stared at the Māra Dao Resonance, examining it closely.
Then, he reached out and grabbed the Dao Resonance.
Li Qi felt a flash before his eyes.
Like a bone being pulled from his body.
He collapsed to the ground, unable to move.
Yun Fang ignored him, focusing on the Dao Resonance, saying, "This thing... isn't Māra Dao Resonance. I've dealt with Desire Realm Māras, and their Dao Resonance looks different."
"No, this isn't even demonic. There's no special demonic aura. Are you sure you suddenly got it and saw the Māra's true form, that sphere?" Yun Fang asked.
Li Qi struggled to his feet, panting, "Absolutely true, I didn't exaggerate. To deceive Chan Zhi, I let myself be tainted by demonic thoughts, encountering a self-proclaimed Māra who gave me this Dao Resonance."
Yun Fang held the Dao Resonance, nodding slightly, "Interesting. I'll take this Dao Resonance and have Bo Yue diviners determine its origin. Though I know some, it's better handled by specialists."
"Thank you, senior!" Li Qi bowed deeply.
"No need, bringing you here served my own interests too. Now, since you've remembered, let's go in."
Li Qi was puzzled; was the demonic thought not the reason for inviting him?
So this heart demon...
wasn't set up as a warning.
It was real.
Yun Fang indeed had such a heart demon.
A Great Shaman's heart demon...
Thinking of this made Li Qi shudder.
But since the elder invited him, he couldn't refuse.
Nodding, he followed.
Entering the suppressed mountain, Li Qi felt a deep demonic presence.
Hard to describe, but it felt alive.
It seemed these demonic presences whispered in his ears.
But these weren't the Great Shaman's demons.
"These demonic presences... are seventh rank?" Li Qi looked around, puzzled.
Chan Zhi was seventh rank, so he had some understanding, recognizing these demonic presences' actual rank.
If they were the Great Shaman's, he'd be dead.
"Correct, seventh rank," Yun Fang nodded. "These aren't my demons, but my disciple's."
Li Qi sensed the deeper meaning.
Not heart demons, but... disciples?
Yun Fang continued, "My disciple's Dao heart collapsed, his soul destroyed. To save his life, I planted a heart demon within my heart."
"I sealed all memories of him here, retrieving our causal connection from the river of time, planting him in my heart, becoming my heart demon."
"This way, he was reborn in my heart. As long as my heart demon exists, he lives, albeit forever trapped as my heart demon, hindering my Dao path."
He spoke calmly about these matters.
Li Qi realized the immense power involved.
Reviving someone whose soul had been utterly destroyed...
Could such a thing be done?