Three hours later.
Li Qi rode out of Guangyang City with a grim expression.
Undoubtedly, he had been expelled by the Zhang family.
All signs pointed to Wang Baisan's words being true.
The Guangyang Sima was an incompetent figurehead, neglecting his duties and living off the state.
The Guangyang Situ, on the other hand, was a heartless scoundrel who would resort to blood sacrifices to defend against possible demons—rely an excuse.
Guangyang State was thoroughly rotten.
The Zhang family naturally wouldn't sell him grain; he had been driven out.
It had been thirteen hours since he set out.
A full day.
There was no ti for him to waste. Thus, Wang Baisan's proposal beca his only option.
Li Qi didn't believe Wang Baisan genuinely wanted to help him; he certainly had his own agenda. But it didn't matter; everyone had their own interests. As long as Wang Baisan could secure thirty thousand bushels of grain, it was acceptable.
Riding through the wilderness, Li Qi pondered his next steps and precautions.
Suddenly, he pulled his horse to a stop in the middle of the road.
Surrounded by silent woods, Li Qi sighed, "Who is it? Soone sent by the Guangyang Situ?"
As he spoke, the atmosphere shifted, and a gray-robed middle-aged man appeared gracefully.
"Young as you are, you've already reached the innate stage. Truly a hero at a young age. However, compared to , your nascent innate abilities pale," the gray-robed man stood on a tree branch, holding a sword wrapped in tattered cloth, balancing effortlessly on the leaves.
"Who are you?" Li Qi looked up at the gray-robed man.
His face weathered, beard unkempt, standing lightly on the leaves without causing them to fall.
"Haven't heard of ? Understandable, young man. I am Liu Sanlong, the Drifting Sword."
"I started learning swordsmanship at three, refined my bones at five, killed five bandits on a desolate mountain at seven, beca famous within five thousand miles at twelve, entered the innate stage at twenty, and now, twenty-three years have passed."
"For twenty-three years, I've dominated the martial world. You're also in your twenties with innate abilities, undoubtedly a genius like I once was. But I have twenty-three more years of experience."
"Normally, I'd protect soone like you. Unfortunately, you've offended the wrong people and done the wrong things. Today, I'm here under orders to take your life. Any last words?" The gray-robed man solemnly declared.
Li Qi glanced around.
Just this one person?
"Faced with a formidable enemy and still looking around. Seems I overestimated you." The gray-robed man shook his head.
With that, he drew his sword.
A flash of light, followed by a crisp snap.
A golden line sliced through, cutting both the half-drawn sword and the man in two.
"I thought there were others hiding... Turns out just one." Li Qi muttered, urging his old horse to continue running.
He hadn't even listened to the man's self-introduction.
Just a newly-minted Ninth Rank martial artist, nothing threatening.
He had expected an ambush, but it was just one person.
Truly underestimated.
Continuing his journey, everything seed peaceful.
Though not entirely peaceful.
There were still so minor annoyances.
But with two golden threads swirling around him, Li Qi swiftly decapitated any ambushers. Along the way, he killed about ten people, including two or three Ninth Ranks, the rest re lackeys.
Still, it could be considered peaceful; it didn't hinder his horse's pace.
Afterwards, no one ca after him.
Soon, he returned to the Golden Waves Sect's estate.
Dismounting, he shouted loudly, "Brother Wang, I'm back! When do we leave?"
Wang Baisan walked out, "Already prepared! Let's go imdiately!"
They responded in unison and set off without delay.
Shortly after they left, inside Guangyang City, at the Situ mansion.
The scenery was beautiful, surrounded by yellow stone walls, with nurous rooms laid out in intricate patterns.
In the central room, the Guangyang Situ clenched his fists as he listened to the report.
"Drifting Sword, Shan Nan brothers, Lu Tiejie, He Yuxiu... all dead?" the Guangyang Situ asked.
"Yes..." the trembling scout reported, "Their bodies have been collected..."
"How is this possible? He's also a Ninth Rank, and from what I saw, he just entered the rank. As a witch doctor, he doesn't even have a divine spirit within. How could this happen?" The Guangyang Situ was utterly baffled, using "how is this possible" twice to emphasize his shock.
An ordinary Ninth Rank Shaman and Diviner without a divine spirit, and no apparent special artifacts, managed to kill several Ninth Ranks!
These were renowned figures in Guangyang State's martial world, not pushovers, often sect leaders, top-tier within the Ninth Rank.
"This man must have hidden cards. We can't afford to send more n to their deaths. Have the Zhang family's ancestor intervene. He's almost at the peak of the Ninth Rank, nearly condensing his martial spirit. He should handle this easily."
"Where is he now?" the Guangyang Situ asked.
"We don't know; our other scouts haven't returned yet," the scout replied.
"Not returned?" The Guangyang Situ frowned.
If they hadn't returned by now...
They probably won't.
"Hmph, so that's how it is. There's soone backing him. He went towards the Golden Waves Sect's external granary. Is the 'Master' supporting him?"
"I thought he was genuinely trying to save people, albeit naive but well-intentioned. I wasn't planning to kill him. Turns out he's just another outsider ddling. Trying to obstruct the array formation, such folly. Dispatch orders! No, I'll go myself!" The Guangyang Situ, enraged, stood up and left.
Leaving the scout behind, wiping cold sweat, fearing retribution.
Seeing the Situ walk away, the scout sighed in relief, muttering, "Building this array is really tough..."
He then chanted a spell, turning invisible, and secretly left.
Good scouts never reveal themselves unnecessarily.
---
anwhile, Li Qi rode his dragon steed, reaching the cave abode within fifteen minutes.
True to its reputation as a Seventh Rank expert's residence, it contained a miniature world, vast and serene, like a paradise.
However, everything had been stripped clean, not a single item remained, not even potted plants or fish.
Thoroughly looted...
"To find a hidden Outer Realm in such a place, Brother Wang truly has keen senses." Li Qi looked at the bare cave, his eyes twitching.
"Haha, without this thorough search, how could we find the Outer Realm? Follow , it's right here." Wang Baisan smiled, stopping before a mural.
Li Qi followed and saw a panoramic painting depicting oceans, deserts, cities, mountains, rivers, armies, and celestial phenona.
Before he could fully appreciate it, Wang Baisan waved his hand, breaking the painting to reveal a vortex pulling Li Qi in.
The force wasn't strong, and Li Qi easily stabilized himself.
Wang Baisan stepped forward and disappeared into the vortex.
Sensing no danger, Li Qi trusted his intuition—a witch doctor's sixth sense was reliable.
Thus, Li Qi stepped in, followed by his horse.
Erging, Li Qi felt dizzy, finding himself in a desert under the scorching sun, heat waves making it hard to open his eyes.
Even skin might crack if exposed too long.
The intense sun, hot winds, and burning sand made it feel like hell.
Recalling the differences between this world and Diti Oil World, where the Heavenly Dao had been refined, making it stable, this world's Heavenly Dao still resisted outsiders.
Being a non-ranked Outer Realm, its Heavenly Dao was rely Ninth Rank, similar to Li Qi's level.
However, Heavenly Dao was always the strongest at any rank, usually overwhelming opponents of the sa rank.
Li Qi knew this firsthand from his earlier encounters.
"Brother Wang, how much combat power do you have left?" Li Qi asked.
Wang Baisan tested his strength, replying, "About fifty percent."
"I have eighty percent," Li Qi said.
Wang Baisan nodded, "That's good. Indeed, inviting you was right. Witch doctors have natural affinity with the world, so this Heavenly Dao is slightly more tolerant of you."
He continued, "Please conduct a Heaven Worship ceremony to communicate with the Heavenly Dao. Previously, I was constantly repelled, unable to accomplish anything here. My crops withered, and every attempt to exploit this realm t resistance."
"I'll try." Li Qi nodded.
Everything seed preditated, including his status as a witch doctor.
So, Wang Baisan had been eyeing him for a long ti?
While pondering Wang Baisan's hidden motives, Li Qi proceeded with the ritual.
Sacrificing to the Heavens required wine offerings, sweeping the ground, presenting fine foods, and lighting fires on the altar to communicate with the heavens.
Having perford a similar ritual in Diti Oil World, though mockingly, this ti, he needed genuine preparations.
Fortunately, Wang Baisan seed well-prepared, providing whatever Li Qi needed.
"Brother Wang, did you prepare a bit too thoroughly?" Li Qi remarked, glancing at him.
Wang Baisan explained, "I deal with food, so carrying these items in my storage bag is normal. Aren't they just food?"
"What about the sacrificial wood? Could you prepare that beforehand?" Li Qi asked while setting up the altar.
Wang Baisan fanned himself, laughing, "Coincidence, coincidence. I found it earlier, never expecting it to be useful now."
Li Qi remained skeptical.
Setting up the altar, a sudden sandstorm arose.
"A sandstorm... See, being rejected by the Heavenly Dao ans encountering such events frequently," Wang Baisan sighed.
Though harmless, the sandstorm disrupted the ritual. Wang Baisan was powerless against natural phenona.
But Li Qi wasn't.
"No problem." Li Qi pressed his hand into the ground, creating a depression.
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