The Eternal Way-Chapter 221: Heads

What is a battle between third-rank entities like?

Is it grandiose?

Or does it directly destroy everything?

Li Qi might have had various thoughts about this before.

But now, as such a battle unfolded right in front of him, he found it... much calmer than he had imagined.

Li Qi didn't know how to describe what he was witnessing.

Was this... a battle?

No, it didn't seem like one.

It felt like sitting on the ground and looking up at the sky.

Hanging in the sky was a painting that filled the entire firmament.

The entire sky became bizarre and fantastical.

It was incredibly wondrous and mysterious.

He felt as if his breath had stopped.

A feeling emerged in Li Qi's heart that he couldn't understand or analyze. If there were a comparison, perhaps it was akin to the awe and reverence one might feel when witnessing the creation of the universe.

He couldn't decipher the specific meanings of the patterns and textures in the sky, only sensing an overwhelming presence.

This scene was magnificent, filled with infinite passion and fervor, yet it also contained something terrifying, making one's heart race.

These patterns had delved into the secrets of this world; their creator must have uncovered something both beautiful and frightening.

The master who painted this must have known things ordinary people shouldn't, depicting something shocking, something beyond the mortal realm.

This should be a scene that could never exist in this world.

It shouldn't exist, wasn't supposed to exist, and certainly couldn't exist.

Yet, someone had painted it, and it was here.

Strange and absurd, noble and indifferent, beautiful yet cruel, just witnessing it from afar made Li Qi feel the infinity of space and the eternity of time.

The imposing aura was dizzying, making anyone feel incredibly small and insignificant in the face of such greatness.

No one could resist the fear that gripped them tightly. Li Qi found himself held by an invisible terror, unable to escape.

Merely observing and describing the painting in the sky, Li Qi felt his inner turmoil calm down. For some reason, the wounds caused by the backlash from the grand ceremony no longer hurt.

Perhaps he had finally found peace of mind...

His painful life seemed to have been preparation for witnessing this great scene. When he arrived here, his tormented soul far from worldly affairs found rest. His lifelong pursuit had been achieved.

But more astonishingly, Li Qi realized only he could see these things.

Others seemed unaware.

"True Dao Rhythm..." Li Qi murmured.

This scene wasn't seen through physical eyes.

It was given to him by the True Dao Rhythm.

His own senses couldn't perceive what was happening before him; only the power of the True Dao Rhythm allowed him to witness it all.

Was this... a battle between third-rank entities?

Li Qi couldn't comprehend it.

But he didn't need to understand; he merely deeply remembered what he saw and then closed his eyes, continuing to preside over the grand ceremony.

Forget it.

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The information flow of the grand ceremony had piled up significantly; it would be disastrous if not handled promptly.

As for what was happening above...

If Master held off the attackers, he would be fine.

If Master couldn't hold them off, worrying wouldn't help.

Better to focus on his task.

Even though his lips twitched strangely, his heart pounded wildly against his ribs, almost pushing his lungs out.

Countless terrifying thoughts flashed into his mind, causing Li Qi to collapse onto the altar.

Others couldn't hear it, but he could hear the prelude to tragedy, the sizzling sound of a fuse burning, unsure when everything would turn to ashes in an instant.

Fear and tension were inevitable.

When bombs were exploding overhead, no one could remain calm, knowing any leak would result in countless deaths below.

However, not being afraid wasn't bravery.

True bravery was standing up and bearing one's responsibility despite endless fear.

In Li Qi's view, if the battlefield above failed, everyone below would surely perish.

But if his grand ceremony failed, most of Guangyang's remaining people would die too.

Thus, his battlefield was almost as important as the one above.

Regardless, he had to bear it.

Suppressing his panic, enduring his pounding heart and nausea, Li Qi stood back on the altar.

No matter what, he couldn't abandon his duty while the battle raged above.

Before reaching the rank, he had withstood the killing intent of a sixth-rank entity.

Now, without even facing direct killing intent, just seeing the battle, he couldn't give up.

Thinking this, he fully embodied the spirit of remaining calm in the face of disaster, ignoring the third-rank battle and focusing on the grand ceremony.

Though it sounded easy, almost everyone could sense the grand ceremony slowing down.

On the altar, Li Qi's bloodshot eyes and swollen veins indicated he was enduring immense torment.

Guangyang Sikong frowned, watching Li Qi closely, puzzled why things had suddenly worsened after initially becoming easier.

Wang Baisan opened his fan, frowning and muttering, "Is Li Qi breaking down? What's with this explosive look?"

Only one person suddenly accelerated toward the altar.

Shen Shuibei had just woken from sleep.

Her first thought was to find Li Qi.

She sensed something was terribly wrong.

Above the firmament...

There were combatants of Lady Luofu's level.

Li Qi was in danger; she needed to go to him.

---

On the true battlefield,

countless Dao resonances echoed.

Below them lay Baiyue Kingdom, with billions of lives visible—humans, monsters, ghosts, landscape deities, and other beings.

These lives emitted faint glows like candles lighting up one by one.

Like candles lit during festivals, they formed a sea of stars, encompassing the entire world.

The third-rank entities resembled whales passing through an endless sea of candles.

Below them, the candlelight ocean seemed fragile, ready to shatter at a touch.

Whales swimming through the candle sea had to carefully avoid extinguishing the lights, as even a slight flick of their tails could snuff out countless flames.

Extinguished, they were truly dead.

Even the slightest breeze could cause the flames to flicker precariously.

Thus, Zhu Fengdan and Yun Fang fought while ensuring no ripple affected those below.

Their opponents showed no restraint.

After all, they had someone from Wushenshan backing them.

A Zhiren raised his hands, maintaining suppression, laughing softly, "Zhu Fengdan, I heard your combat talent is unparalleled. Why are you holding back? Isn't there someone behind you helping?"

As he spoke, the principles of heaven circulated around them, forming an arcane pressure like Mount Tai pressing down on Yun Fang and Zhu Fengdan.

Yun Fang released his six divine bodies.

Not being a diviner or a priest, he relied on these divine bodies, whose powers rang like bells and gongs, exerting heavenly fire's force, preventing the sky from collapsing.

Their battle lacked obvious manifestations or grand displays, defying description, seemingly outside the realm of reality.

To the naked eye, apart from some light effects and the pressure of divine bodies, they appeared to be chatting casually rather than fighting.

"Be careful, don't underestimate him. During the Luofu incident, he defeated two pursuers," the leading Zhiren warned.

Zhu Fengdan had indeed defeated two Zhiren but hadn't killed them, showing his strength had limits.

With four third-ranks now, even with exceptional combat skills, he was still just a Wu Xi. They just needed to watch out for underhanded tricks.

Wu Xi weren't known for direct confrontations.

Likely, he used some trick to succeed in fighting two opponents.

Upon hearing the warning, the other three took it seriously and pressed hard.

Rolling Dao principles layered upon each other.

The intricate patterns in the sky grew heavier and more complex.

These patterns were layers of Dao principles.

Not spells or techniques, which were too shallow.

For Zhiren, the weapon was their unique 'Dao'—the rules governing the world.

It was like playing a game.

No matter how skilled, one couldn't beat the developers and operators because they played within the framework set by them.

Unless one broke the game, accessed the code, and modified it directly.

In the real world, 'Dao' was the world's code, its operating principles.

Each layer of Dao resonance modified the rules of this domain, incorporating the two great witches into their own principles, turning them into characters in the game.

Without breaking free, they remained trapped and passive.

Under the opponent's principles, reality could be arbitrarily altered, making victory impossible.

These patterns were layers of Dao resonance covering the sky, transforming this domain into a cage where reality could be rewritten.

Reforming space, creating something from nothing, reversing life and death—all decided by a word.

Zhiren acted as the will of heaven, speaking its words, performing its deeds, handling its affairs—no exaggeration.

If their principles covered completely, they would become heaven itself.

Reality moved according to their will, controlling heaven and earth.

Such coverage usually happened instantly, especially with three Zhiren and an Earth Immortal assisting.

It hadn't completed due to Yun Fang's interference.

Yun Fang resisted fiercely, his divine bodies towering, supporting the descending principles.

This was taxing, so wiping sweat, he looked at Zhu Fengdan preparing, "Old Three..."

Zhu Fengdan turned, chuckling, "Old Man Yun, did you not get enough rocks thrown at you last time? Want me to cut off your gas supply while you're refining medicine?"

Yun Fang laughed awkwardly, changing his tone, "Fengdan, ready?"

No choice; Old Three dared do such unscrupulous things.

"That Earth Immortal is troublesome, but the other three... mere chickens and dogs," Zhu Fengdan smiled, unconcerned.

Third-rank?

These weaklings thought they were third-rank?

Their ranks were false, relying on official positions.

True third-rank power came from positions, condensed by Tang Dynasty's 'human rules,' unrelated to these weaklings.

Using positions as strength and trying to show off...

Fools.

Why did the Secretary-General send four people, declaring negotiations, not battles? Didn't they understand?

Zhu Fengdan smiled, glancing at Li Qi below.

Good.

Under immense pressure, the grand ceremony continued uninterrupted.

His disciple was impressive, having heard he lured a seventh-rank to his death, truly embodying his style.

Proud of his disciple, though not formally taught, he must have contributed half.

With such an impressive disciple, the master couldn't afford to falter.

Those fools nearly harmed his disciple.

Three lives for half a life.

He'd try his best.

---

The sky changed colors, but no ripples reached below.

Until dusk, when the grand ceremony ended.

Li Qi, without opening his eyes, spat out tainted blood and fell backward into Shen Shuibei's arms.

Shen Shuibei had arrived earlier, staying by his side.

"Ah... Miss Shen, thank goodness for you..." Li Qi rubbed his head.

He hadn't intended to rub.

But couldn't resist.

During the grand ceremony, he nearly gave up, but Shen Shuibei arrived in time, healing him, allowing him to endure.

Rubbing twice, Li Qi noticed Shen Shuibei trembling?

Angry?

No, something else?

Thinking this, he opened his eyes.

And saw two severed heads staring back at him.

He trembled like a startled rabbit.