Days passed in a flash.
The thunderous roars outside the Dixu Realm, initially like a raging storm, gradually weakened.
Li Qi's tribulation for the Void Returning stage was largely similar to his experience during the Soul Transformation stage.
He remained still, eyes closed, calmly resting and enduring the ordeal.
When Li Qi opened his eyes, the Void Returning tribulation above his head had completely vanished.
And when Li Qi returned to the Dixu Realm.
Qi Youhuan, whom he hadn't seen in years, found him again.
Qi Youhuan, known for not visiting without a reason, was clearly not there for a casual chat.
Before Qi Youhuan could even state his purpose.
Li Qi looked around Qi Youhuan's person.
At this moment, Qi Youhuan's cultivation had reached the peak of the second layer of the Void Returning stage.
And under this very realm.
Qi Youhuan's surroundings were once again rippling with continuous spatial distortions.
This indicated that the space of the Dixu Realm was nearing its limit.
If Qi Youhuan's strength were to break through again, reaching the third layer of the Void Returning stage.
Without Li Qi reinforcing it, the space might collapse again.
Even though the Dixu Realm's world level had slightly improved after absorbing the Heavenly Dao of the Huangxuan Realm back then.
It could only support cultivators up to the second layer of the Void Returning stage at most.
"Fellow Daoist Li, what can be done about this?"
Qi Youhuan said with a wry smile.
Truthfully, he truly did not wish to ascend to the upper realm of Cangyun Realm at this moment.
However, his strength was once again nearing the limit of the Dixu Realm's endurance.
He could not perpetually trouble Li Qi to reinforce the space around him.
Besides, even if he could reinforce it for him, would Li Qi be expected to do so for other cultivators in the future?
Li Qi pondered this problem and couldn't help but frown.
Could it be? Another Heavenly Dao needed to be devoured?
Li Qi's mind instinctively recalled the one who claimed to be the World Lord of the Xiaoqing Realm.
However, Li Qi had gone into seclusion after dealing with the World Lord of the Xiaoqing Realm back then, so he hadn't given much thought to the Heavenly Dao of that realm.
But now it seemed...
"Perhaps I need to find an opportunity to devour the Heavenly Dao of the Xiaoqing Realm as well?"
Li Qi seemed to have made up his mind. He looked at Qi Youhuan, raising his hand slightly. The spatial ripples around Qi Youhuan immediately vanished without a trace.
"Cultivate with peace of mind during this period. I have just broken through to the Void Returning stage and need to stabilize my realm. Once I have stabilized it, I will resolve your matter."
"Mm, thank you, Fellow Daoist Li."
Hearing Li Qi's words, Qi Youhuan breathed a sigh of relief and, without lingering to disturb Li Qi further, departed.
Li Qi took a deep breath and, as he had said, prepared to stabilize his current realm.
Two more years passed in the blink of an eye.
Then, one day, Li Qi, who had been stabilizing his realm, suddenly opened his eyes.
A fleeting stream of light flashed in his eyes.
But this time, opening his eyes was not because he had stabilized his realm.
It was because...
Using his identity as the World Lord, he discovered that the spiritual energy within the Dixu Realm was gradually thinning.
"What happened?"
Li Qi's eyes narrowed slightly. All the privileges of the World Lord were fully activated.
Within the Dixu Realm, there were no anomalies.
But outside the Dixu Realm...
Li Qi's gaze suddenly sharpened.
Although the void outside the Dixu Realm was sparse in spiritual energy, it still contained a significant amount, which was the channel for replenishing the Dixu Realm's spiritual energy.
And now.
He discovered that in the void outside the Dixu Realm, the previously sparse spiritual energy had completely vanished, leaving not a trace.
If the void outside the Dixu Realm had no spiritual energy, then there was no way for the Dixu Realm to replenish its own.
A clever cook cannot cook without ingredients.
Li Qi's gaze turned cold. A wisp of divine sense probed out, spreading towards the outside of the Dixu Realm.
...
Not far outside the void of the Dixu Realm.
Five figures stood silently in the void.
"Fellow Daoist Yang Cheng, I never imagined you would achieve such mastery in formations. To have created such an exquisite Sealing Grand Array."
"Once this Sealing Grand Array is activated, it will completely seal off the spiritual energy in the void outside the Dixu Realm. Without replenishment, let's see if the new World Lord will emerge."
"As soon as the new World Lord appears, without the protection of the great formations of the Dixu Realm, a mere Soul Transformation cultivator will be easily captured by us."
Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on Yang Cheng's face.
"This is nothing. It's merely because in my Chaoling Realm, besides cultivation, formations are the second most prevalent art. As the World Lord, I happen to know a little, it's not mastery."
As he spoke, Yang Cheng tapped his finger. The massive Sealing Grand Array before him once again flickered with a faint glow.
The array's speed of operation became even more terrifying, completely sealing off a large area of the void outside the Dixu Realm, preventing any spiritual energy from entering.
Just then, the gazes of these five World Lords sharpened as they looked towards the direction of the Dixu Realm.
A figure was leaving the Dixu Realm and heading towards them.
"Haha, the new World Lord of the Dixu Realm has finally arrived."
Seeing this, the faces of the five World Lords immediately showed joy.
"Everyone, after we deal with that fellow, while the Dixu Realm has not yet selected a new World Lord, let's storm into the Dixu Realm and divide its resources with its Heavenly Dao Will?"
"That's precisely the intention. With the assistance of Fellow Daoist Yang Cheng, a master of formations, even if others can activate the formations within the Dixu Realm, without the authority of the World Lord, I fear they won't be able to cause much trouble."
Upon hearing this, the other World Lords nodded in agreement.
And at this moment, Li Qi's figure arrived at the other side of the Sealing Grand Array with terrifying speed.
Li Qi's cold eyes met the eyes of the five World Lords from afar, the aura of his Void Returning first layer realm emanating from him.
"It was you guys who blocked the spiritual energy outside my Dixu Realm?"
The five World Lords were surprised to see that Li Qi's cultivation had already broken through to the Void Returning stage.
And the next moment.
A burly, cold-faced man in a long robe spoke with hostility.
"Three hundred and seventy years ago, the previous World Lord of the Dixu Realm attacked me without reason, causing me to recuperate for a hundred years. Now that you have become the World Lord of the Dixu Realm, you shall pay these debts. Now that you have lost the support of the formations, let's see how arrogant you can be."
With that, the robed World Lord wasted no more words. The aura of his Void Returning sixth layer realm erupted.
The surrounding void trembled slightly.
He took a step forward and entered the inner side of the Sealing Grand Array.
He raised his hand, and fierce spiritual energy poured towards Li Qi like a tidal wave, reducing countless meteors to dust along the way, intending to obliterate him completely.
Seeing this, Li Qi's expression remained unchanged. He raised a fist.
The next moment.
"Boom!"
The two collided fiercely.
Terrifying fluctuations swept outwards.
Immediately, the figures of both retreated a few steps.
Seeing this, the other World Lords who had not yet acted looked on in surprise.
The robed World Lord who had attacked first was also somewhat taken aback.
But before they could say anything.
Li Qi's cold and distant voice rang out.
"I don't have time to waste with you. Come at me together. I'll finish you all quickly."
After saying this.
The five World Lords seemed to sense something, a sense of dread surging within them.
"Boom!"
At this moment, although Li Qi's realm was still the first layer of the Void Returning stage.
The dangerous aura emanating from him made the scalps of the several World Lords tingle instantly.