The Eternal Way-Chapter 195: Summoning

Although he wanted to run, Li Qi did not attempt to use the Solar, Lunar, and Stellar Qi given to him by his teacher.

He was very clear that the reaction speed of a Seventh Rank would be far too fast for him.

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In the moment he tried to channel it, Chan Zhi the monk could kill him a thousand times over.

The last time he managed to escape from the Green Mountain Deity, it was because the Green Mountain Deity was two thousand miles away and had struck carelessly.

If the opponent had intended to kill Li Qi, he wouldn't even have a chance to react, let alone prepare.

Therefore, channeling Qi in front of him would be suicide.

He still needed to think of other ways.

Chan Zhi the monk began to enter seclusion to experiment with the technique.

Li Qi, on the other hand, fell into a deep sleep.

The direction in which he placed his bed subtly played a role.

A Spiritual Essence is not like a Yin Spirit or a Divine Body. Yin Spirits and Divine Bodies are highly condensed, with extremely prominent energy shields that can be easily detected.

A Spiritual Essence is so fragile that a gust of wind could severely injure it, and sunlight could cause it to dissipate instantly. Even the slight Yang Qi and breath from ordinary living beings could force a Spiritual Essence to stay away, or it would be burned.

Light, fragile, and almost without any resistance—this is the nature of a Spiritual Essence.

However, this fragility also brings a characteristic.

For most people, their souls are almost imperceptible and do not affect the world in any way. Except for Yin Messengers and those who practice similar techniques, no one could find them.

It is precisely because of this characteristic that Li Qi dared to leave his body with his soul, as a single person's soul has almost no chance of being detected. What can be detected are mostly places like graveyards or battlefields where large numbers of Yin Souls gather.

Li Qi initiated his soul travel.

The moment his soul left his body, he felt a massive suction force pulling towards him!

This suction force was very familiar to Li Qi; he had faced it before.

When he was still in the Great Deer Kingdom, he fought to the death with several Tang Kingdom soldiers. That time, he almost died, and he felt this suction force pulling towards him.

This is the suction force of the cycle of rebirth!

It permeates all worlds and the infinite universe, and all the dead must submit to its pull.

The last time Li Qi managed to resist it, it was because Shen Shuibei's Pure Body protected him, and she was also using medical techniques to keep him alive.

Now, Li Qi had no preparation to resist this suction force.

This suction force was so immense that even the Fifth Level Pagoda's seal, which Chan Zhi the monk had set, could not hold it.

Although a Seventh Rank is like a deity, it is still too optimistic to think that they can easily resist the suction force of the cycle of rebirth.

Thus, Li Qi's Spiritual Essence was dragged out of the pagoda.

However, halfway through, Li Qi saw the outer domain.

This Fifth Level Pagoda itself is rooted in the outer domain. When he arrived, he was transported through a thin, unknown conduit.

The pagoda in Guangyang City was probably just a projection.

Li Qi arrived in the outer domain, and there was still a suction force pulling him.

Moreover, the surroundings were no longer the magnificent sight he had seen before.

The previous magnificence seemed to be a vision seen through the conduit, where something beyond light could transmit information, allowing Li Qi to perceive it through the Dao Resonance, thus seeing those grand scenes.

Now, Li Qi was alone in the outer domain.

The true outer domain...

Only loneliness.

No light, he could see nothing.

Not only could he not see, but he could not hear any sound. The surroundings were a void, and all his senses seemed to have failed except for the basic sense of touch, which could only feel the endless cold.

But it wasn't that they had failed; there was truly nothing around.

No light, no sound, no temperature.

His hand, when extended, felt around in the boundless darkness, sensing nothing.

It was as if even his sense of touch had disappeared, and he could only feel his own existence when his fingers touched each other.

This was the true outer domain.

A void.

An empty world.

Without light or color, without taste or sound, without any medium, it was a complete and utter dead zone.

Even the nearest matter and world were an unknown distance away.

The grandeur of the outer domain can only be truly appreciated from a vast perspective.

If one were to come to the outer domain with the perspective of an ant, they would spend their entire life in the endless void, unable to move even the slightest distance.

This made Li Qi think of the unit 'light-year.'

This distance only filled one with despair, leaving no desire to challenge it.

However, Li Qi did not believe that Chan Zhi the monk could truly be far away from the world. He didn't have that capability.

So, while he was some distance from the world, it definitely wasn't a hopeless distance.

At this moment, Li Qi silently activated the incense qi within his body.

This incense qi was the result of the reverence and gratitude of ordinary people who had built shrines to worship and pray for him with sincere hearts.

Li Qi had never thought these would be of any use before, as he didn't need them. As long as he didn't follow the path of the divine, incense qi was basically useless.

It's not enough to simply have 'Qi'; all things in the world are composed of 'Qi'. Countless forms of Qi combine to form matter and various wonders. By utilizing Qi, one can change the world, just like how Fire Qi can ignite flames—this is the foundation of 'Techniques'.

However, the uses of Qi are myriad. For example, Water Qi alone is not water; from Li Qi's understanding, it is similar to how oxygen elements are not oxygen gas, even though oxygen gas is made up of oxygen elements. Oxygen gas is a substance, while oxygen itself is an element.

Qi is the same; it is merely the basic element that constitutes the world, not the substance itself. How different types of Qi are utilized and combined to create specific effects that serve practical purposes—that is what defines 'Techniques'.

To further illustrate with Water Qi, when it combines with Mountain Qi, it becomes Cloud Qi. When it merges with Earth Qi, it generates Marsh Qi, and even when combined with Fire Qi, the fusion of Water Qi and Fire Qi can produce 'Life Qi'.

Combining these forms of Qi and creating astonishing effects that manifest extraordinary abilities is called 'Methods'. These two concepts, Techniques and Methods, are often inseparable and collectively referred to as 'Techniques and Methods'.

Therefore, while there are countless types of Qi, practitioners generally only gather the Qi necessary for their particular Method.

Incense Qi is completely useless to Li Qi and could even hinder the normal operation of his personal microcosm, much like clutter piling up.

However, Incense Qi is a precious resource for those who practice the Divine Path, something they eagerly seek.

Sometimes, the Qi you need might be discarded by others, while the Qi you discard might be treasured by someone else, depending on the cultivation method they follow.

But circumstances change.

Just like now.

Li Qi activated the Incense Qi and employed a Divine Path Method, causing the Incense Qi to envelop his Spiritual Essence.

The reverence and worship of a hundred thousand hearts surpassed the number of believers many Ninth Rank Mountain Deities had combined.

At this moment, employing the Divine Path Method produced immediate results.

Surrounding him, phenomena emerged: behind him, clouds surged over a golden mountain; beneath his feet rose a pavilion of colored glaze; a majestic throne appeared, along with a serene, autonomous figure.

Symbols filled the air, each following a ritualistic pattern.

Divine light illuminated brightly, like the sun during the day.

Benevolent winds filled the space, resembling the glow of the moon through mist.

Adorned solemnly, as if connected by radiant flames.

Li Qi himself became a beacon of light in the boundless void.

Yet, when the light extended outward, it was like a drop of water entering the sea, failing to cause even a ripple in the dark, endless expanse.

This light was insignificant.

However, it established a 'connection'.

Li Qi sensed that people were worshipping and praying to him from afar.

Some prayed for protection from Li Qi, akin to praying to a deity.

Others wished for his safety...

Even some he did not recognize, not among the hundred thousand, were individuals whom Li Qi had helped long ago, in places he no longer remembered.

How to describe it...

Li Qi felt a complex mix of emotions.

Although he never sought repayment for such deeds, the feeling was indeed subtle.

Not the kind of reverent gratitude he saw often, as many would express thanks after he performed numerous acts.

But experiencing these silent prayers from far away, after the fact, felt distinctly different.

It was like...

Donating money online to help a rural middle school student pay for high school tuition, then forgetting about it.

Years later, a stranger knocks on your door to thank you personally.

Such a feeling...

Indescribable.

But not bad at all.

However, that wasn't important.

What mattered was that through these prayers, Li Qi could clearly sense the location of 'Tianxia'.

More accurately, the locations of the worshippers, who naturally resided within Tianxia.

Yet, besides these prayers, Li Qi also sensed another summoning.

Not indicating a position, but a summoning.

The Technique of Divine Manifestation!

Li Qi frowned, a sense of unease rising in his heart.

The Technique of Divine Manifestation essentially summoned deities.

Typically, only the most favored followers of a deity would possess the means to summon their deity, allowing part of the deity's consciousness to detach and teleport to the designated location.

This is considered one of the foundational methods of the Divine Path, akin to horse stance training in martial arts—a basic skill.

However, the problem was that Li Qi was not a practitioner of the Divine Path.

Meaning, whoever was using the Technique of Divine Manifestation didn't have a divine name, temple, or any other means to pinpoint a deity.

In such a situation, who could summon him and prepare the corresponding array for Divine Manifestation?

It was like Li Qi had just registered a new phone number as his divine name and location, telling no one, ensuring no one knew of its existence.

Yet suddenly, a stranger called him.

Guessing the number?

Or perhaps someone foresaw that Li Qi would use the Divine Path Method to forge a temporary deity-like presence and prepared accordingly?

Li Qi hesitated, unsure of the caller's intentions.

He sensed that the person summoning him was located within Tianxia.

If he accepted, his divided consciousness could immediately descend to that place, effectively freeing him.

Better yet, his main Spiritual Essence could return to his body, continuing to serve Chan Zhi and keeping him pacified so he wouldn't notice Li Qi's absence!

"It's worth trying. Whoever is summoning me must have a connection to me, whether good or bad, it's better than being trapped with Chan Zhi," Li Qi decided, preparing to accept the Divine Manifestation.

Regardless, it was better than staying with Chan Zhi.

Moreover, Li Qi always had a backup plan unused—the four strands of Qi bestowed by Young Master Zhu. Though one strand had been used, three remained.

But he didn't plan to use them unless absolutely necessary.

Now wasn't the time for 'absolute necessity'.

Li Qi never put his life in extreme danger, as he valued his life too much. He wouldn't act without at least a fifty percent chance of success.

Thinking this, Li Qi chose to return to his body while simultaneously responding to the Divine Manifestation.

His main soul returned to hide within his body, while his divided consciousness answered the call.

Spanning unknown distances, in the blink of an eye, Li Qi's divided consciousness vanished from its original spot and arrived within Tianxia.

Though his Spiritual Essence was divided, Li Qi felt no pain.

Dividing consciousness isn't truly tearing apart, so it doesn't hurt.

However...

"This feeling... is very strange," Li Qi experienced two perspectives simultaneously, feeling awkward.

It was like having two bodies, both needing control simultaneously.

Two different viewpoints, two sets of sensations, and two entirely different bodies.

Did gods who manifested countless avatars experience the world this way?

Were they constantly experiencing billions of perspectives, controlling billions of bodies, and conversing with billions of people, answering their prayers?

How many people pray for a god's manifestation?

For instance, the Bull Strength Technique he often used, how many people invoked the technique to draw power from the Earth Spirit Bull?

Fortunately, it wasn't too difficult for now.

Li Qi couldn't control two bodies simultaneously or adapt to seeing two scenes at once. He even mixed up the two bodies, so he gave up controlling his physical self, letting it rest peacefully.

Though not exactly sleeping, more like lying still with his consciousness awake.

Meanwhile, he focused all his attention on the divided consciousness.

Then, the Divine Manifestation ended, and he opened his eyes.

He saw Shen Shuibei.

He was inside an array platform.

"Huh?" Li Qi was stunned.

Why is she here?

Shen Shuibei, upon seeing Li Qi, relaxed her tense nerves.

She emitted a joyful aura visibly.

She rushed over, seemingly wanting to embrace him but quickly realized something, stopping short before Li Qi, regaining composure and slowing down.

"You... Where did you go?" She approached slowly, initially excited but quickly feigning calmness.

"Uh, Miss Shen, how did you find my divine name? No, how did you know I would use the Divine Path Method to try escaping?" Li Qi asked, puzzled.

Shen Shuibei, initially delighted, turned away upon hearing Li Qi's first question, facing her back to him, huffing, "How would I know? Of course, I didn't."

"Didn't know?" Li Qi was astonished.

Only then did he notice the array platform beneath his feet.

On it were engraved thousands of different Techniques.