In the distance, it was raining.
anwhile, Li Qi was conducting a ritual about ten miles away on the other side.
The ancient texts say: "When the winter solstice arrives, water follows; when the sumr solstice arrives, fire follows. Therefore, in May, when the fire is at its peak, moisture leaks out, causing yellow streams to flow and stone essences to erge."
What does this an?
During the sumr solstice, although it is the peak of fiery energy, the yin water also erges. Thus, in May, when fire energy is strong, moisture seeps out, causing yellow streams to flow and stone essences to emit vapors.
Thus, "Water overflows abundantly, the earth is moist and hot, heavy rains fall frequently. Burning and watering benefit by killing weeds, as if using hot water. By doing so, tily rain will co, removing all impurities."
This describes the ritual for making it rain.
It's not praying for rain but manipulating the flow of qi to artificially create rain.
This was the 'clear water' Li Qi promised to the convoy.
However, Li Qi knew this was just a drop in the bucket.
The texts also ntion: "Life is not ford by one qi alone. When qi is unbalanced, winds and rains are untily, sweet rains do not fall, frost and snow are out of season, cold and heat are inappropriate, yin and yang lose their order, seasons change irregularly, people beco restless and cannot settle, animals cannot reproduce, plants grow stunted, crops wither, diseases spread among the people, infants are abandoned, and countless anomalies arise."
This ans that life cannot be sustained by a single type of qi. When qi is imbalanced, like in the Di You World, it leads to untily winds and rains, lack of rain, absence of water, untily frost and thunder, improper cold and heat, loss of yin-yang balance, seasonal disorder, inability of people to produce, failure of animals to reproduce, stunted plant growth, crop failure, widespread disease, abandoned infants, and nurous anomalies.
The texts clearly explain the phenona of the Di You World.
Li Qi used the Vermillion Bird's qi to draw moisture from nearby cities, creating a small rain shower through this ritual, which could only temporarily alleviate the current predicant.
He rely fulfilled his promise by providing them with clear water.
But considering what they had told him and what he saw in the wasteland, it was evident what the Great Deer Kingdom had done here.
However, did he have the right to save them?
To the ruler of the Great Deer Kingdom, the Di You World was an important resource world, producing oil transported to many worlds, including the Heavenly Realm.
Such a critical resource world couldn't simply be halted. As a disciple of the Grand Diviner, not the Grand Diviner himself, how could he face such a challenge?
If he couldn't stop it, how could he change this world?
How many interests would he disrupt for the sake of his own benevolence?
If he forced the Zhang Corporation to shelter these refugees, would the satellite city inhabitants agree? Even if they were forced to agree, could they accommodate them?
Would these refugees accept the 'city dwellers'?
Forcing integration would only bring more harm.
Even this rain-making ritual wasn't created out of thin air; it still relied on the world's inherent moisture.
Water doesn't co from nowhere; he used the moisture from the city to make it rain.
If he were deeper in the desert, he wouldn't be able to make it rain.
This world couldn't support so many people.
After much thought, there seed to be no solution.
"Sigh, I'm still too weak. If I had great powers to transport earth and water qi from the void to replenish this place, then there wouldn't be such a situation," Li Qi lanted.
But after saying this, he shivered, stiffened, and was startled!
Li Qi looked up at the sky filled with stars, the celestial constellations, and the Four Symbols divine beings!
Rember, the celestial phenona of all worlds are the sa!
Celestial phenona guide the operation of qi in the world and bring additional qi.
Could it really be as he thought?
Although he had so guesses, without evidence or ntions in the books, Li Qi kept his speculations to himself.
After finishing the ritual, he tidied up the altar and prepared to leave.
At this mont, he frowned.
Ancient texts state: "Heaven and earth interact, yin and yang clash, called qi, all things manifest below while qi responds above. Thus, a valiant man entering court causes a white rainbow to pierce the sun; when a king appears, red clouds cover the sky. Therefore, observing qi reveals events, looking at clouds reveals people."
This ans that qi interacts with heaven and earth, each type corresponding to sothing real in the material world. Just as oil is ford by the combination of earth and water qi through certain rules.
Living beings are similar. When a valiant man enters the palace with intense emotions, a white rainbow piercing the sun appears outside. When soone with imperial aura appears, red clouds cover his head.
Thus, by observing corresponding qi, one can infer events, and by observing the qi emitted by a person, one can know their true abilities.
This thod of observing qi is a fundantal skill of shamans and diviners, forming a significant part of their divination techniques.
Though diviners aren't skilled in this area, they understand basic principles. For example, Li Qi once observed military qi to predict impending warfare.
Now, he observed similar phenona.
In the sky, earth violated the Dipper star, fire invaded the Southern Dipper, generals fell, famine and plague spread.
Flying stars turned into clouds, indicating bloodshed and bones piling up.
But around these ominous signs, there was a clear qi, pure and radiant, yellow and white, indicating virtue and heroism.
This wasn't divination but a sign.
A natural sign of this world.
"Is this civil war born because of us princes?" Li Qi murmured.
To these worlds, it seed so.
In this world's view, he and the Great Deer Kingdom were complete calamities, offering no benefits.
Li Qi sighed.
Suddenly, his competitive spirit against the diviner prince diminished.
This ti, he wouldn't take preemptive action.
Right, since the opponent could attack him remotely and nearly defeated him through exploiting his ntal weakness, perhaps now they could communicate?
Remote communication shouldn't be difficult for a diviner.
Acting imdiately, Li Qi began setting up the ritual and altar.
"An alliance is made under the witness of divine images, invoking blessings from the gods. He should notice this, right?" Li Qi arranged the altar, talking to himself.
His incantation ant: "The vow made before the divine image is an 'alliance.'"
An alliance is a pact made under the watchful eyes of diviners and witnessed by heavenly deities.
Only such a pact can be called an 'alliance,' and those who make it are 'allies.'
In rituals, such agreents are divided into two types: oaths and alliances.
Oaths are self-imposed constraints.
Alliances must be witnessed by diviners and agreed upon by both parties.
Thus, the binding force differs.
Using the 'alliance' ritual to invite remotely, the diviner should detect it, right?
As Li Qi completed the ritual, he pondered.
anwhile, far away on the polar snowy mountains,
The resting diviner suddenly opened his eyes.
"A covenant under the gaze of heaven? Inviting ?" His expression changed, his gaze becoming subtle.
"Is it a trick? Or just a casual chat?" he muttered.
But he quickly shook his head, denying his thoughts: "Impossible. An alliance is a grand ceremony, not used lightly! Unless he wants to be scolded by his master."
Even he knew from the texts: "The essence of an alliance must address crises, pointing to the nine heavens for justice, requiring solemn worship and sincere diviners."
aning, an alliance must be used in tis of crisis, witnessed by heaven, solemnly perford based on moral integrity and seriousness, the duty of diviners.
Diviners wouldn't use such an important ceremony lightly.
So, after so consideration, he decisively accepted the 'alliance' invitation.
Here, the versatility of witchcraft beca evident. Through various rituals, shamans wield incredible powers beyond logic.
While equal-ranked martial artists couldn't communicate across half a world,
In close combat, a martial artist could easily defeat two shamans.
Each path has its characteristics; the unpredictable and varied thods of shamans define theirs.
The alliance entered negotiation.
The function of diviners began to play a role.
Previously ntioned, diviners' duties involve 'communication.'
Again, in the familiar chaotic space,
Two disciples of the Wu Deity Mountain t for the first ti.
To outsiders, they were revered princes, but Li Qi, having attained clarity of mind, was no longer moved by titles.
Neither did this diviner seem concerned, indicating his own mind had been tempered.
"Pleasure to et you," the diviner greeted casually, giving a simple bow: "Junior brother, why summon with an alliance ritual?"
Li Qi responded seriously, not angered by being called junior: "Senior brother, as a diviner, surely you sensed tonight's celestial disturbances—earth violating the Dipper star, fire invading the Southern Dipper, flying stars turning into clouds."
Being a diviner, he would sense it even more strongly, knowing more than Li Qi.
"Of course, but isn't the reason simple? Our conflict spells doom for this world, as we both aim to push its heavenly dao into decline, then save it for our own gain," the diviner said nonchalantly.
Yes, both aid to push the heavenly dao into decline, then bla the other, saving it for personal gain—observing the process and receiving rewards.
It was a typical 'I want it all.'
The loser would gain nothing and offend the ruler of the Great Deer Kingdom, a dire consequence.
Both had overco arrogance, understanding their gap with a nation's ruler.
Even provincial governors were god-like figures to them.
They were honored as princes not due to strength but birthright, which is fleeting without power.
Li Qi earnestly addressed the diviner: "Senior brother, your cultivation and age surpass mine, surely you see these signs foretell catastrophe. It's caused by us. I can't bear this, seeking your agreent to limit the impact."
"Hmph, naive compassion. Do you think the Great Deer Kingdom is the only one? How many can you save?" The diviner scoffed, looking down on Li Qi.
With innate dao and guidance, they would rise high, surpassing countless others.
This wasn't arrogance but clear self-awareness.
Currently, they could easily stir a world's fate; future advancents would allow them to achieve greatness effortlessly.
Showing compassion for a minor world now was foolish and weak.
"It's not about saving how many but avoiding causing destruction." Li Qi bowed: "My actions stem not from kindness but righteousness."
"Oh? Explain," the diviner asked, curious.
"Why do gods respond to every invocation by diviners?" Li Qi asked.
The diviner understood: "Because of the Grand Diviner's power and the Witch God's authority over the southwest, all gods obey."
Though diviners' power, it's part of Wu Deity Mountain, internal disputes won't affect outsiders, so he remained proud.
But Li Qi disagreed: "I believe it's because diviners convey truth, loyalty, and devotion, appealing to the gods' virtues."
The diviner frowned, silent, unsure how to refute.
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