The Eternal Way-Chapter 134: Ninth Rank

"So, that's pretty much it. We can go home now," Li Qi said, spreading his hands to Shen Shuibai and Bai Di.

At this moment, they were in their hotel room, the three of them facing each other, looking at one another.

Two hours had passed since Li Qi returned to the room, only to find the two waiting for him.

Shen Shuibai seemed to have anticipated this outcome: "Well, shall we leave then?"

Bai Di stood up, bowing deeply, almost folding himself in half. "Bai Di thanks Young Master!"

He then straightened up and continued, "Young Master's path has enlightened me greatly. I can only express my gratitude this way. If there is ever a need for assistance, please let me know, and I will come to your aid."

"Brother Bai, no need for such formalities!" Li Qi responded, confused but quickly rising to help him up.

Li Qi scratched his nose, feeling somewhat embarrassed...

He didn't understand what words of his had inspired such a reaction... so suddenly receiving such a grand gesture made him feel uneasy.

"Uh... What's wrong?" Li Qi asked, slightly embarrassed.

"Young Master's determination on the path of Dao has been profound. Your journey through Dao has enlightened me, dispelling my previous confusion and helping me make a firm decision," Bai Di said firmly.

"I don't know what decision you've made, but good luck!" Li Qi encouraged awkwardly.

"Certainly!" Bai Di replied with unwavering resolve.

This left Li Qi feeling a bit guilty.

Did he somehow mislead this young man?

Regardless, matters in the Diyou Realm had come to an end.

From the final conversation between his teacher and the Great Deer Kingdom's ruler, it was clear that his teacher used Li Qi's actions to warn the ruler against wavering in his dealings with the Tang Kingdom.

With the mission accomplished, it was time to leave.

As for the Diyou Realm...

The Heavenly Dao operated according to its own principles, leaving them a glimmer of hope. What more could be done?

So, it was time to rest.

After resting, they would return to the world below.

The three dispersed; Shen Shuibai stretched lazily, the rabbit appearing quite tired.

However, as Li Qi was about to leave, he turned back and called out, "Miss Shen."

"Huh? What is it?" Shen Shuibai tilted her head, looking puzzled at Li Qi.

"The methods of Heavenly Dao are not so profound that even I, after observing several worlds, could figure them out. So, what do those higher-ranked beings contemplate?" Li Qi pondered aloud.

Indeed, after experiencing Earth, the world below, and the Diyou Realm, along with various accumulated knowledge, Li Qi could deduce the principles of Heavenly Dao.

So, what did those higher ranks contemplate?

Hearing this question, Shen Shuibai smiled and asked in return, "Is it easier to see the outline of Wu Deity Mountain from afar or to explore every stone within it?"

Li Qi, upon hearing this, realized the answer and bowed gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance."

Shen Shuibai explained simply: Is it easier to see the outline of Wu Deity Mountain from afar or to explore every detail within it?

This made Li Qi realize his current position clearly.

He had merely observed the outline of Dao from afar.

Understanding true Dao was still far off.

The next day, Li Qi and company left the Diyou Realm.

Before leaving, the evil Humanist methods here were abolished, indicating that the Great Deer Kingdom might change its ways.

But these matters no longer concerned Li Qi.

The only thing he cared about slightly was the fate of the Heavenly Mandate Child.

Would she have the same fortune as him in the outer realms?

Leaving that aside.

Li Qi and his companions bid farewell to the Diyou Realm and returned to the world below, continuing their journey.

The old horse had grown fat and strong, scales appearing on its body, clearly well-cared for by the White Snake State's stable master.

It greeted Li Qi joyfully, wagging its tail, but upon hearing they were leaving, it grimaced and refused to budge.

Of course, who wouldn't prefer staying where there's good food, drink, and female horses over traveling three million miles?

However, seeing he couldn't move the horse, Li Qi decided to let it stay, patting it and saying it could enjoy itself while he returned to his master.

Then he left.

Fortunately, the old horse eventually caught up.

Apparently, Li Qi was more important than good food.

Li Qi seemed to have anticipated this, laughing heartily, mounting the old horse with Shen Shuibai sitting behind him, bidding farewell to Bai Di and the governor before setting off.

---

The journey through White Snake State proceeded without any hindrance, even neighboring countries dared not stop them.

There were minor incidents along the way, but Li Qi and Shen Shuibai, both being Ninth Rank cultivators, were powerful enough to handle any mundane threats.

Thus, they traveled safely until winter was nearly over, and the Azure Dragon was about to rise again.

A year had passed since Li Qi left Lishui to search for Lady Luo Fu.

During this time, they had celebrated the Autumn Sacrifice, known as the "Golden Autumn," marking the season when the White Tiger's metal element prevailed, bringing about the death of all things.

Now, in the last month of the year, Li Qi performed the final sacrifice.

In the twelfth month, the sun was in the constellation of Wunu (婺女), with dusk in Lou (婁) and dawn in Dishi (氐). The corresponding heavenly stem was Renqian (壬乾), the ruling deity was Zhuanxu (顓頊), the divine spirit was Xuanming (玄冥), the creatures were turtles and tortoises, the musical note was Yu, the tuning pitch was Dayu, the number was six, the taste was salty, the smell was decay, the sacrifice was for the road, and the offering was kidney.

This month marked the end of the solar cycle and the beginning of a new year.

Thus, this day's sacrifice was especially important.

Li Qi offered sacrifices to the north using black jade, honoring the turtle and tortoise clan with kidneys, accompanied by a black cloth measuring eighteen feet.

The sacrifice was completed.

Li Qi felt the final moments of the year, gazing at the snow-covered land, remarking, "On the winter solstice, the Dipper points north, Yin reaches its peak, and Yang begins to emerge... Indeed, this is true."

Currently, the Big Dipper pointed north, aligning with the meridian, where Yin reached its peak and Yang began to stir, just as the principle of Yin-Yang rotation dictated.

This marked the annual cycle.

The end and beginning of the annual cycle.

The earth appeared lifeless, yet new vitality lay beneath, awaiting the revival of Yang and the flourishing of spring.

Shen Shuibai quietly sat behind Li Qi, waiting for the completion of the sacrifice.

Soon, the year would pass.

With the four seasons' energies complete, the microcosm of the human body now contained its own seasons, mirroring the initial formation of heaven and earth.

Wu Dao should now enter cultivation rank.

Li Qi focused on the entire landscape.

He was on a mountain, maintaining the sacrificial rites and awaiting the completion of the celestial cycle.

The hour arrived.

When the stars completed their cycle around the sky.

Li Qi felt a tremor in his body, staring in disbelief at the scene unfolding.

The world was changing.

The entire world seemed to be undergoing a dramatic transformation!

Clear energy surged and swirled, drifting like phoenixes flying in the sky or dragons ascending to the clouds!

Murky energy sank and descended, filling the void, with mountains and stones emerging distinctly across the land.

The various energies entwined throughout the year suddenly separated, returning to their origins.

Heaven and earth divided, primordial chaos cleaved apart, establishing north and south, orienting east and west, illuminating the four corners.

This spectacle awed Li Qi while simultaneously stirring the microcosm within his body.

Countless energies took form—those manifesting in the heavens as celestial bodies, those forming the earth's features, and those embodied in the human body as organs.

With the reformation of heaven and earth, the microcosm within Li Qi naturally evolved under the influence of the seasonal energies.

Li Qi knew the time had come.

He closed his eyes, focusing inward.

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The microcosm within him was empty, surrounded by chaotic, boundless space.

The scenery resembled a vast wilderness, a dim chamber, a bright light where neither ground nor sky could be seen, neither heard nor perceived, with unidentifiable ripples beyond.

Then, he invoked Yin and Yang energies.

Yin and Yang entered his body, creating a sun and moon within, illuminating the darkness.

Thus, the microcosm within Li Qi began to glow.

Next, he drew the essence of heaven above and the essence of earth below.

Various energies surged forth!

Seasonal energies transformed, inner Qi from martial arts practice emerged, the five elements represented by the organs appeared, and vital energies flowed within, dividing into pure and impure forms.

What was once empty now manifested various elements, each governed by different energies.

Impure energies formed the earth, pure energies formed the sky.

The five elemental energies of the organs became the internal mountains and terrain.

Flowing nutritive and defensive Qi formed the internal rivers and root systems.

The spiritual energies of the Four Symbols formed the celestial constellations.

Martial Qi filled the space, making everything flourish, producing sweet dew and fine springs.

Though devoid of life, everything appeared vibrant, symbolizing the birth of all things.

Li Qi knew his advancement was complete.

He opened his eyes, taking a deep breath.

Ninth Rank, achieved.

"Phew, with this, my powers..." Li Qi sensed the strength within him.

Truly, he had become a microcosm, no longer needing to store Qi externally but generating different types of Qi internally to use various abilities.

His physical strength grew stronger, his aura more enduring, blending seamlessly with his martial arts cultivation.

He even sensed something else... a rise in his 'rank.'

Not entering cultivation rank, but rather, some kind of... status?

Now, divination about him had become even harder, though it was already difficult.

Moreover, curses, karma, and resentments would find it harder to attach to him; if weak enough, they would naturally dissipate within his microcosm.

"Congratulations, achieving rank in just a year! Even among Wu Deity Mountain, your talent is remarkable," Shen Shuibai congratulated him with a smile upon seeing Li Qi regain consciousness.

"Phew, I didn't expect it to feel like... creation itself," Li Qi reminisced about the moment of ascension.

"It's truly magical. From now on, you've transcended the mundane," Shen Shuibai chuckled, seemingly finding Li Qi adorable.

"Why say I've transcended now? I was already Ninth Rank in martial arts," Li Qi questioned.

Shen Shuibai explained, "Martial arts and Humanism differ. Even at Fifth or Sixth Rank, they remain part of the mortal realm."

"So, why does Wu Dao's Ninth Rank signify transcendence?" Li Qi asked.

Shen Shuibai clarified, "Humanism and martial arts cannot exist independently of the external world. Humanism relies on collective power, and martial arts require continuous nourishment and training, thus always needing to engage with the mortal world."

"Our Daoist paths and your Wu practitioners differ. We focus on ourselves, cultivating to a point where we can exist independently, relying on our internal microcosms," Shen Shuibai explained. "This is the distinction between transcending and remaining mundane, also the divergence between Humanism and Wu Dao. Humanism often seeks to capture great witches who have formed their own microcosms, treating them as resource worlds due to their astonishing output."

"Humanism claims that great witches selfishly harness the energies of heaven and earth for personal use, which they deem too self-centered. They believe anything not serving humanity is against Dao and must be eradicated..."

Shen Shuibai seemed to find this topic troubling.

Li Qi wiped his sweat, nodding to indicate understanding.

It seemed... the conflict between Humanism and Wu Dao was irreconcilable.

This was outright robbery!

Wu Dao appeared more harmonious.

It aimed to maintain a pristine natural environment, allowing spirits and all living beings to thrive, viewing humans as equal parts of the universe.

Wu Dao pursued communication between heaven, earth, humans, gods, and ghosts to maintain natural harmony.

Through reading, Li Qi learned that areas controlled by Wu Deity Mountain appeared primitive but were actually balanced and peaceful, providing all necessary resources.

Humanism, however, required rapid expansion, conquering nature and transforming everything for human use, leading to conflicts with Wu Deity Mountain, with the Ten Thousand Mountains of Baiyue becoming battlegrounds.

"Forget it, let's not dwell on these issues. We should continue our journey. It's been nearly a year, and I've practiced spells to about seventy percent mastery and achieved cultivation rank. Let's find a place to rest," Li Qi shook his head, deciding not to think about the Dao conflict.

For now, it didn't concern him directly.