Chapter 3: Leaving the Great Formation, the Great Calamity Begins to Show Signs

Since the time of Chu Li, in over twenty elemental meetings, Qi has always been studying in the Yunmeng Great Formation.

Only then did Qi dare to say they had a few delusional thoughts about the Dao, from which they derived a supernatural ability suited to them, somewhat a means of protecting the Dao.

Once this supernatural ability is used, it is like a flowing light white waterfall, forming a white thread; wherever the white thread passes, existence and non-existence interchange, earth, water, fire, and wind are reenacted, turning into a blank void.

An ordinary person struck by this, if lacking a protective treasure, would hardly escape this calamity.

Qi named it Pure Divine Light.

Qi swayed the snake tail, swam toward the lotus platform, and transformed into human form.

It is not that Qi favors this form, but rather the true form is the body that bears the Dao, and should not be lightly shown to people.

Moreover, the human form is one of Pangu's seventy-two forms, innately bearing the Dao, and is liked by the gods.

Furthermore, it is widely spread in the memory of the opening of heaven, therefore Qi chose the human appearance.

Qi's human appearance: jade-green eyes, vermilion brows, childlike face with white hair, youthful aspect, face like a jeweled crown, hair bound by a white hairpin, wearing a black long robe.

Qi looked at the reflection in the water and felt it was too plain.

Moreover, Qi plucked a lotus leaf and transformed it into a white jade crown, to be used together with the hairpin.

Taking several lotus flowers, a shake sent them flying into the robe, turning into embroidered flowers like silver-thread patterns, with distinct veins.

Only then was Qi satisfied; raising a hand, a spirit treasure flew from the sky into the sleeve and vanished.

The formation dissipated, a spirit pearl hovered in the air; Qi drew it in and held it in hand.

After thinking, Qi placed it inside the jade crown; this spirit pearl is precisely the map of the Yunmeng Great Formation and the location of its formation eye.

Infusing it with spiritual power allows the Yunmeng Great Formation to be quickly deployed; Qi's vast lotus pond where he lives is also within the spirit pearl.

It turned out that, feeling they had gained the power to protect the Dao in the previous elemental meeting, Qi wanted to go out and see the primeval world, to observe the differences of Mount Buzhou.

Also worried that if the absence lasted too long, and some unknown divine person happened to ransack the home, it would be bad.

Thus Qi refined the lotus pond secret realm into the formation eye, to be released upon returning home.

After all, these household items are all immortal herbs and grasses; although lacking top-grade spiritual-root treasures, they are also a pool of Three Light Divine Water.

Even seven or eight lotus flowers count as low-grade innate spiritual roots.

Each elemental meeting can also produce a hundred or so lotus seeds; this is a modest accumulation, and the flower dew is also a product.

At least when there are real guests, something can be brought out, rather than just dry discussions of the Dao.

This is overly cold and harsh, damaging the flour skin.

Since Qi's birth, understanding of the Dao has gradually increased, but in cultivation there has been no progress aside from the continual accumulation of magical power.

Although the innate essence and vitality within the body are full, like the yellow sprouts of plants, the golden cauldron's yellow sprouts grow day by day, yet the realm has stagnated, as if already at the limit.

Upon self-examination, it was found that there is no leakage in the Dao, life is complete, without deficiency, and there is nothing left to advance.

Qi did not want to waste time in vain, thus decided to go out and travel.

In cultivation, regarding dharma, wealth, companion, and place, the dharma now possesses the White Lotus Purifying World Universal Enlightenment Bright Dao True Classic, and it is still constantly evolving.

On the path of cultivation, mutually verifying, the technique is Pure Divine Light, which protects the Dao against enemies; for the dharma, there is currently no shortage.

Regarding wealth, there are four innate spiritual treasures, sharing the same origin, sufficient for protecting the Dao against enemies.

Qi themselves does not need to accumulate magical power through spiritual-root medicines; having lotus seeds and flower dew is enough to entertain guests in the future.

Moreover, there is a pool of Three Light Divine Water; in terms of wealth there is still surplus, and there is no lack.

Located in the Yunmeng Great Marsh, although not daring to claim it is among the best caves and blessed lands of heaven and earth, it is also full of spiritual vitality, and the outstanding things of a heavenly marsh.

Cultivating here is also exceptionally favorable; Qi has no thought of changing to a new Dao Chang.

Only regarding companions, since Qi's birth, aside from lotus flowers, there have been no sentient beings, let alone like-minded companions to cultivate and train together.

First, to see the vast primeval heaven and earth, Kunlun Mountain, and the majesty of Mount Buzhou.

Second, to search in this primeval land where opportunities are said to be everywhere for any personal fortune.

Third, it depends on fortune, since those who share the Dao can be encountered but not sought; a Dao companion is hard to find, rarer than opportunity.

Or rather, finding a true Dao companion is the greatest opportunity.

Summoning a patch of cloud, Qi stood upon it, gazing at the faint outline of Mount Buzhou far on the horizon, and drifted away.

Although Qi was not in a hurry, the speed of the drifting clouds was not slow; after drifting for over a hundred years, still above the great marsh, occasionally several huge beasts were seen breaking the water surface.

Qi's true form is also immensely large, about three thousand zhang tall, but these giant beasts are some over ten times larger than Qi, the smaller ones are two to three times Qi's size, and their shapes vary wildly.

Some have a fish body and fish tail, yet beneath are six legs, topped with a sheep's head, and also a pair of ox horns.

Qi, out of curiosity, went underwater to observe, and discovered that those six legs resemble a dog's, with only four legs paddling in the water, coordinating with the fish tail.

The other two legs strive to retract, so as not to interfere with the fish tail's sway; on land, the hind four legs stand firm, using the horns and fore paws to face enemies.

Some have a rat's head and duck's bill, with four wings on the back, capable of short flights of ten thousand li.

Some lack legs; when resting they spread their fleshy wings, lying on the water surface, not easily going ashore, feeding on aquatic duckweed and water insects, and fleeing when encountering enemies.

……

But they cannot communicate, lack primordial spirit intelligence, and act solely on instinct.

Some may have one or two supernatural abilities, but rarely know how to apply them; moreover, their bodies are filled with turbid qi, and their appetites are astonishing.

They excrete frequently and with a foul stench, polluting the environmental spiritual qi, which is hard to purify; moreover, most are extremely ferocious, and upon seeing foreign organisms they will actively attack.

They like to consume things rich in spiritual vitality, whether plants or minerals, wet-born or egg-born, without realizing the impurity.

This makes Qi extremely disgusted; upon encountering them on the way, Qi immediately slays them, and also uses Pure Divine Light to cleanse the pollution, which has caused some delay.

Slaying them only requires a wave of the World-Subduing White Jade Node; the pure light falls, and the giant beasts are surely severely wounded or killed outright on the spot.

However, purifying heaven and earth always takes ten days to half a month, resulting in after a hundred years still not having crossed half of the great marsh.

This also makes Qi lament the multitude of such giant beasts, and having made a firm resolve, upon returning will surely exterminate all such polluted creatures within the Yunmeng Great Marsh.

Otherwise, in the long run the great marsh will surely lose its spiritual vitality, the foul qi will be hard to dispel, and sentient beings will vanish completely.

If left to take its course, what face would Qi have to confront the great marsh that nurtured them, and what purpose would the Dao Chang serve?

Qi also discovered that the remaining living beings within the marsh were spontaneously limiting the reproduction of those giant beasts.

According to Qi's calculations, within a hundred or so element meetings there should be no major obstacle; thus Qi decided to continue the journey, otherwise Qi would have to turn back and directly clean up the Great Marsh.

After all, when these giant beasts die, their vitality dissipates, the turbid qi sinks, and all qi returns to its proper place, which can also increase the foundation of the Great Marsh.

The premise is that the number be reasonable and the purification be thorough.

These element meetings will let it grow; when it returns, it will be time to harvest. Surely this will be enough for the Great Marsh to digest for a long time, so that in the remaining great calamity the spiritual vitality of heaven and earth will not be cut off.

Thinking of this, Qi smiled with satisfaction, hoping that everything would go as wished, smoothly and smoothly.

Gathering the clouds once more, they flew toward the outskirts.

After traveling for over four hundred years, they finally reached the edge of the Cloud Dream Great Marsh.

They saw a great river constantly drawing water into the marsh; farther away, they could faintly make out.

Towering green mountains stretched endlessly, the heavens and earth bathed in rosy light, with cranes flying among the clouds.

(End of Chapter)