The transformation of the Dixu Realm lasted for over half a month. During this period, the gaze of virtually all Plane Lords within the Small Evolution Zone was fixed upon it, never wavering.
It was only after half a month had passed that the Plane Lords of the nearest few minor worlds finally felt the oppressive aura, which had caused their own Heavenly Dao Will to tremble, gradually recede. The exterior of the Dixu Realm once again became subdued.
The ascension of the Dixu Realm this time was incredibly successful, encountering no unforeseen issues.
Li Qi now stood alone, quietly in the Heavenly Dao Space. His cultivation had reached the peak of the Void Returning realm. Unfortunately, the stage after the Void Returning realm was the Dao Integration stage. The chasm between these two major realms was not something the Heavenly Dao Will's feedback from the Dixu Realm could easily bridge. To truly break through to the Dao Integration stage, Li Qi would ultimately need to rely on his own efforts.
Simultaneously, Li Qi meticulously examined his authority as a Plane Lord. As expected, compared to his previous authority, the power of his current authority had become significantly stronger. Although, to Li Qi, much of it seemed somewhat superfluous. For instance, the combat power amplification he could gain in the vicinity of the Dixu Realm. This would require input from the over five hundred defensive formations Li Qi had deployed, along with his own full-power combat capabilities. If even these two trump cards couldn't handle an opponent, then the so-called combat power amplification would likely be of little use.
Furthermore, the lifespan increase associated with being a Plane Lord had become more substantial. However, for Li Qi, who had already obtained the buff of eternal life, lifespan was the last thing he lacked.
Still, there was one aspect that proved quite useful: the authority over Heavenly Tribulations. The Dixu Realm could now autonomously generate Void Returning stage Heavenly Tribulations. Of course, regarding these tribulations, Li Qi intended to stick to his original plan and not interfere too much. If the tribulations were made too strong, too few cultivators would be able to pass them. If they were made too weak, too many cultivators would reach higher realms, and resource management would become a problem. It was better to maintain the initial standard and not meddle.
Suddenly, a voice sounded in Li Qi's ear.
"Hungry, huggies. Eat eat."
(｡･w･｡)ﾉ♡
???
Just after ascending, you're already thinking about eating again? Are you my fatty... ahem, my chubby little darling? Li Qi's mouth twitched, but he considered that this was, after all, his own Heavenly Dao Will, and it had just ascended. Moreover, the feedback from this ascension had significantly aided his cultivation. It wouldn't be right to scold him so harshly.
"Ahem, I don't have anywhere to get you a new Heavenly Dao Will right now. We'll talk about it later."
Dixu Realm Heavenly Dao Will: (◞‸◟)
Just then.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Li, on the successful ascension of the Dixu Realm."
Outside the Dixu Realm, Xu Tianzong's hearty voice echoed. Li Qi's gaze shifted. Xu Tianzong had, at some unknown point, appeared in the void outside the Dixu Realm. With a flash of his figure, Li Qi also appeared in the void. He smiled at Xu Tianzong and said, "This is greatly thanks to you, Fellow Daoist Xu, for being willing to take me to harvest Heavenly Dao back then. Otherwise, I don't know how long it would have taken for my Dixu Realm to ascend."
Xu Tianzong glanced at Li Qi and chuckled, "Fellow Daoist Li is too polite. The share of those Heavenly Dao Wills was rightfully yours. However, congratulations are still in order. You have now become the only one of the two worlds in our Small Evolution Zone capable of accommodating Dao Integration stage cultivators."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Xu Tianzong did not linger. With a parting remark inviting Li Qi to visit the Small Evolution Realm in the future, he departed.
Li Qi, on the other hand, returned to the Dixu Realm once more. This time, however, he did not return to the Heavenly Dao Space. With such significant changes in the Dixu Realm, how could he not go and see? Due to the sudden increase in spiritual energy, many cultivators in the Dixu Realm displayed expressions of jubilation. Ordinary people did not cultivate, but by breathing in the rich spiritual energy daily, their physical fitness had improved considerably compared to before.
Occasionally, as Li Qi passed by roadsides with wild grass and flowers, he would discover that a small portion of these seemingly ordinary plants emanated a spiritual glow. They couldn't quite be classified as medicinal herbs for mortals, nor as spiritual plants for cultivators; they occupied an awkward middle ground. However, if someone were to pluck them and bring them home to brew into tea or consume, prolonged use might even have the effect of prolonging life. It had to be said that the ascension of the Dixu Realm this time had brought immense benefits to all beings within it.
One day, Li Qi returned to the Heavenly Dao Space.
"Panel," Li Qi suddenly called out, summoning the system panel he hadn't paid attention to for a long time.
[Name: Li Qi]
[Cultivation: Peak of the Ninth Heaven, Void Returning]
[Strength: 34321]
[Speed: 30254]
[Defense: 33121]
[Regeneration: 31513]
[...]
The four basic attribute points had now all surpassed thirty thousand. His current strength, coupled with the additional amplification from these attribute points, and if he were to go all out, it should be quite effortless for him to kill someone like Xu Tianzong. However, for Li Qi, there was no great surprise. He knew that such a minor increase in strength was still incredibly weak in the face of true powerhouses. The path of cultivation was long and arduous. In the past, he was invincible below the Nascent Soul stage, and he would be overjoyed with a one-for-one trade even against someone above Nascent Soul. But now, having learned the immensity of this world, a sense of insignificance began to sprout in Li Qi's heart.
"First, I'll go into seclusion to break through to the Dao Integration stage." Li Qi thought, preparing to continue his closed-door cultivation in the Heavenly Dao Space. As for the matter of defensive formations in the Dixu Realm, Li Qi had temporarily set it aside. After all, with his current strength, and given that no one in the Small Evolution Zone would likely trouble him again, it was not an immediate concern.