The six Great Shamans remained silent, each with different expressions.
Some were curious, some expectant, some kind, and some admiring.
However, Zhu Fengdan looked quite displeased but patiently watched Li Qi's performance.
All the Great Shamans ceased observing Li Qi's Heart Lake.
In fact, this was controllable. They could read others' Heart Lakes simply because they were so powerful, their perspective too high.
When one's perception became so acute that even brain currents could be clearly distinguished, then looking at ordinary mortals who still relied on their brains for thinking, their thoughts were no longer secrets.
But they could choose not to look.
Just like now.
They were all eager to see how Li Qi would think through this situation to come up with a solution satisfactory to everyone.
The current situation was awkward.
Li Qi had to either stand with the other Great Shamans and persuade his master not to act rashly.
If he did that, he would definitely be hung up and beaten by Zhu Fengdan in front of everyone.
The other Great Shamans had no doubt Zhu Fengdan would do such a thing; when provoked, he could do anything.
But if Li Qi stood with Zhu Fengdan, Zhu Fengdan would be pleased, but it meant Li Qi would have to take the initiative to challenge the disciples of the other Great Shamans, knowing full well they were unwilling.
Undoubtedly, no matter how good-tempered or fond of Li Qi the Great Shamans were, they wouldn't tolerate him openly challenging their authority. The outcome would still be Li Qi being hung up and beaten.
As for standing as a mediator or remaining indifferent?
Sorry, Li Qi only had two choices.
Standing as a mediator or remaining indifferent essentially meant siding with the Great Shamans. If he chose either, he'd still end up being punished by his master.
To navigate this without offending anyone and extricate himself was very difficult.
Knowing the difficulty of this situation, the Great Shamans were curious about how Li Qi planned to handle it perfectly.
For a Diviner, solving such matters demonstrated capability since Diviners needed to coordinate myriad deities.
Sweat appeared on Li Qi's forehead.
After bowing for a few seconds, he suddenly straightened up.
He loudly declared, "Esteemed elders, please observe my demonstration!"
Without waiting for the Great Shamans' agreement, he sat down cross-legged, releasing his small human world around him, presenting an illusionary scene.
Being only at the Eighth Rank, his small human world wasn't substantial yet, so it was merely illusory.
However, it was enough.
The Great Shamans curiously watched him, wondering what trick he was about to pull.
Then, Li Qi's small human world began to evolve.
Heaven and earth unfolded, yin and yang clashed fiercely.
It seemed as if descending from the sky.
Rain fell.
All things mixed into waves, dark yellow and vast, formless.
Thunder shook the courtyard out of nowhere, lightning illuminated the room.
Streams boiled like galloping horses, storms drove them swiftly.
Was it a sudden flood from the Southern Mountains or a brief overflow from the Northern Sea?
High cliffs dissolved endlessly, plains turned into deep abysses.
With sincere dedication and tapping into Dao, the spirit of mountain gods manifested.
Suddenly, a Dharma Body appeared, with sun and moon as its eyes, mountains and rivers as its limbs, and waters as its blood vessels.
It shared the clarity of heaven, the tranquility of earth, and the brightness of sun and moon.
This Dharma Body stretched its body!
Standing in the center of heaven and earth, at the location of Central Peak, it invoked the spirits of Eastern Peak, unlocked Western Peak, scooped up the feathers of Southern Peak, and bound the peaks of Northern Peak.
It stroked the dimly lit mountains, supported pillar-like peaks, holding up the sky.
Sitting on a jade platform, it overlooked the stars of the Southern Pole, observed a tiny lake.
Breathing in the winds and thunders, overseeing myriad transformations.
Reaching the utmost heights of all things' growth, continuously thriving.
Surveying the universe in an instant, aligning with the movements of sun, moon, and seasons!
This Dharma Body, within Li Qi's small human world, encompassed sun and moon, held the heavens, commanded all directions, filled with divine energy, radiating light, gradually expanding to the point where the entire small human world couldn't contain it anymore!
The Great Shamans commented beside him.
"Solid foundation, a small human world containing the essence of a state. This must be the result of hosting a grand ceremony. Indeed impressive, though the feedback is too rich; he can't digest it."
"It has already filled his body, stuck here. Yes, there are some drawbacks. It needs to be digested slowly, probably taking around twenty years?"
"No, look at the Dharma Body's hands. There's something there, that strand of Dao Resonance he just got."
The Great Shamans discussed while Zhu Fengdan remained silent. He had been frustrated by these Great Shamans earlier and now just watched Li Qi, wondering what he intended to demonstrate.
But Li Qi remained calm.
His plan was already set before he acted; now, he just needed to follow through.
During the demonstration, he was fully immersed, his Heart Lake calm and undisturbed, needing to focus solely on the task at hand.
True Dao Resonance unfolded.
Simultaneously, the strand of cosmic Dao Resonance began to work.
"Hey, he's analyzing Dao Resonance?"
"How can an Eighth Rank possibly analyze it on the spot? Doesn't he fear burning his brain?"
"No, he's not using his brain for analysis. His brain just summarizes the information. The real analysis is done by another strand of Dao Resonance in his hand. Strange, what kind of Dao Resonance is this?"
"Did Old Three Zhu find it for him? Doesn't seem like it; does Old Three Zhu have such good stuff?"
The Great Shamans showed surprise.
The characteristics of True Dao Resonance were somewhat peculiar.
In their eyes, once activated, it continuously delved into the world itself, gathering information to summarize for Li Qi.
This penetration was slight, akin to applying medicine to the skin, with small molecules penetrating into the body.
It basically had no impact on the world itself, only understanding very superficial information.
But that was regarding the world, specifically Tianxia.
Tianxia's rules were so firmly established they were indescribable.
Therefore, the penetration power of True Dao Resonance was significant for weaker entities, allowing deeper exploration.
Just like now.
"He's dissecting that strand of Dao Resonance. Is he really going to analyze that cosmic Dao Resonance on the spot?"
"It seems so. Will he really burn his brain?"
The Great Shamans whispered among themselves.
As for Zhu Fengdan, he had already extended his hand, enveloping Li Qi with invisible force. If Li Qi showed signs of brain damage, he would immediately stop all his actions.
True Dao Resonance was like a microscope.
This microscope extracted information and intelligence, telling Li Qi.
But deriving research results from this information required Li Qi's own calculations and summarization.
If the incoming information was too much, burning his brain was normal.
However...
Used to it.
Honestly, Li Qi was truly used to it.
True Dao Resonance constantly fed him information about his surroundings, and he had used True Dao Resonance countless times to calculate various things.
From the demonic energy of Chan Zhi monk to all the information from the grand ceremony, it was actually True Dao Resonance doing the analysis.
Li Qi had long been accustomed to a large flow of information directly entering his brain; he had developed resistance to it.
Thus, contrary to what the Great Shamans expected, he didn't burn out his brain from the overwhelming information. Instead, he began to harness some of the power of cosmic Dao Resonance.
Within his small human world, his Dharma Body expanded further.
His arms bent, elbows supporting the extremes of east and west, his head touching the firmament. Even when sitting cross-legged, he appeared too vast for the world to contain.
His small human world had reached its limit.
However, this was precisely Li Qi's plan.
Suddenly, layer upon layer of ritualistic dances unfolded around his Dharma Body.
The Dharma Body also started moving, performing an ancient and mysterious dance within the confined space of his small human world.
"Ten Thousand Dances? He knows that?" one Great Shaman immediately recognized the emanating vibrations.
"It's not that he knows it; it's the effect of that strand of cosmic Dao Resonance. That resonance belongs to the Wuyu lineage, but it's unclear how old it is..."
"Ten Thousand Dances, no wonder."
"Simple, simple, about to perform Ten Thousand Dances!"
"Simple means great, square means four directions, and 'about to' means proceeding."
Using shields and feathers in "Ten Thousand Dances," it was used in ancestral temples and mountains, hence mentioning "four directions," implying "used in mountains and rivers."
Therefore, according to "The Book of Rites," it says: "Sacrifices to the four directions refer to the Four Vistas."
According to "The Grand Master of Music," the Four Vistas refer to the Five Peaks, Four Anchors, and Four Rivers. Thus, besides these, there are mountains and rivers, which have their own dances distinct from the Four Directions.
Ten Thousand Dances were originally performed during sacrifices to the four directions, symbolizing praise for vast spaces and lands.
That cosmic Dao Resonance was created through Ten Thousand Dances!
This was an ancient heritage of the Wuyu(Dance of the Rain Altar) lineage but had been hidden until discovered by Li Qi.
Of course, Ten Thousand Dances hadn't disappeared; some high-ranking Wuyu practitioners knew them. The cosmic Dao Resonance stored in the bell only recorded the essence of Ten Thousand Dances.
Someone must have used this resonance to store part of Ten Thousand Dances, adding their understanding, and sealed it in the bell for future reading.
But something special happened, leading to this item falling into the hands of another ordinary Wuyu practitioner, Yu Mengniang.
Yu Mengniang didn't recognize its value, but Li Qi did, renting it for three years.
Now, Li Qi was unleashing the essence of Ten Thousand Dances from the cosmic Dao Resonance.
Though he didn't know Ten Thousand Dances, it didn't stop him from directly using the resonance.
Dao Resonance treasures could be used directly.
Thus—
Expanding in all four directions.
Li Qi's small human world suddenly surged!
Using the characteristic of transforming a few feet into hundreds of zhang with cosmic Dao Resonance, he forcibly expanded his small human world to accommodate a larger area.
With a greater capacity limit, Li Qi immediately had more room to maneuver.
The demonstration continued.
Next, it was Li Qi's familiar Guangyang Grand Ceremony!
He re-enacted the Guangyang Grand Ceremony within himself, showcasing his own power.
However, this time, it wasn't to worship the gods of Guangyang's mountains and waters.
Instead, it was to worship himself!
The Great Shamans understood his intention!
Expanding his small human world through grand ceremonial methods to worship himself!
Li Qi aimed to ascend directly to the peak of Eighth Rank!
"What audacity! You're relying on us not letting you die, so you're deliberately risking your life?" a Great Shaman exclaimed, realizing Li Qi's intent.
Only now did Zhu Fengdan finally show a smile, waving his sleeve and shouting joyfully, "What else can we do? Would you really watch my disciple fail and die? Quickly, support his path!"
The other Great Shamans looked at each other but had no choice; they joined forces to protect Li Qi.
The path of Dao must be walked alone; relying on others won't take you far.
But walking alone is arduous and dangerous.
That's why mentors guide disciples, passing down the path of Dao generation after generation, helping successors move toward the ultimate goal.
Li Qi was now striving to climb higher.
But it wasn't reckless.
With six Great Shamans protecting his life, even if he fell, he wouldn't die.
Who else could enjoy such treatment?
The other Great Shamans of Wu Deity Mountain weren't mere tools; everyone had their own tasks. No one would go to such lengths to protect an Eighth Rank disciple daily. Even for exceptionally talented young masters, having a Fifth Rank mentor full-time was a significant investment.
Having a Third Rank mentor care for you was almost unimaginable unless your teacher voluntarily took extra shifts.
It could be said that having six Great Shamans simultaneously assist was a privilege granted to very few in Wu Deity Mountain.
Relying on this, Li Qi boldly used the grand ceremonial method to boost his cultivation!
Originally, his path to Seventh Rank had already been paved; it was just a matter of accumulating experience.
Accumulating experience?
Sorry, no thanks.
Li Qi poured floodwaters directly into it!
As his cultivation soared, the six Great Shamans outside coordinated to balance the surrounding Dao rules for him.
Even to prevent him from being overwhelmed by chaotic internal energy, they temporarily modified the physical laws of Tianxia.
In his small human world, transformations unfolded continuously.
Li Qi's Dharma Body stretched like a giant covering the sky and earth!
Surrounded by divine beings, each with their own rituals.
The Dharma Body rose from the thick earth, pierced the heavens, spanned layers of clouds, and broke through deep seas!
Then, suddenly reaching out, it surged three thousand miles upward, swiftly advancing nine thousand miles, towering over Mount Tai's majestic peaks, lifting the Yangtze River horizontally!
Red banners flared electrically, drums thundered like lightning, flames spread rapidly, billowing smoke!
Majestic and awe-inspiring, spanning the Milky Way.
Touching the azure above, spreading below.
The sea boiled tumultuously, mountains crumbled.
Crossing the Earth's network, circling the Heavenly net.
Colorful brilliance filled the eight wildernesses, illuminating half the four seas!
As Li Qi's Dharma Body expanded, his cultivation rapidly approached the peak of Eighth Rank, just one step away from Seventh Rank.
However, right then, Li Qi suddenly stopped.
Seventh Rank wasn't so simple; it required preparation.
So without hesitation, he halted, not attempting to forcefully break through, ending this opportunity created by the six Great Shamans.
Ending the demonstration, Li Qi's aura calmed.
The other Great Shamans also sighed in relief.
Li Qi returned to calmness, stood up, and looked at the Great Shamans gathered around him, who had been his free labor force.
Then, with a satisfied smile, he bowed deeply: "Esteemed elders! Surely you won't cause trouble for my master now!"