Li Qi quietly observed the three Plane Lords who claimed to be from nearby worlds.
The twenty or so formations he had set up represented the pinnacle of his formation artistry. Individually, they might not be enough to kill cultivators at the fourth or fifth level of the Void Returning stage.
However, when all of them were superimposed and interconnected, the damage they would inflict would not be additive, but multiplicative.
Li Qi was even confident that, without any external aids, formations alone could deal with cultivators above the eighth level of the Void Returning stage.
After hearing Li Qi's reply, the three Plane Lords exchanged glances.
"That old monster has indeed died of old age."
They sized up Li Qi, but their brows furrowed slightly.
Nascent Soul, third level?
This cultivation base?
The new generation of Plane Lords of the Netherworld Realm after that old monster?
They would never believe that besides that old monster's peak Void Returning strength, there were no other experts in the Netherworld Realm.
Even at their worst, they wouldn't let a cultivator at the third level of the Nascent Soul stage become a Plane Lord.
What was this guy's relationship with that old monster? Could he be his biological son?
The thoughts of the three Plane Lords raced.
They began to wildly speculate about Li Qi's relationship with the previous Plane Lord of the Netherworld Realm.
In their opinion, without the extensive arrangements of the previous Plane Lord of the Netherworld Realm, a cultivator like Li Qi would absolutely not be able to ascend to the position of Plane Lord.
"If there's nothing else, please leave quickly. The Netherworld Realm does not welcome outsiders."
Just then, Li Qi's lukewarm voice rang out.
Li Qi's voice pulled the three Plane Lords back from their thoughts.
Immediately after, Li Qi noticed that the gaze of the three Plane Lords towards him was no longer quite right.
'A reclusive personality, just like that old monster. This guy, could he really be that old monster's offspring?'
The three Plane Lords glanced at Li Qi again, then looked at the Netherworld Realm behind him.
For some reason, a sense of apprehension involuntarily rose from the bottom of their hearts.
The Nascent Soul stage posed no threat to them, but they did not know how many measures that old monster had put in place in the Netherworld Realm before his death.
After all, with his former peak Void Returning strength, coupled with his reclusive and eccentric personality, and his unwillingness to ever invite other Plane Lords into the Netherworld Realm.
The previous Plane Lord of the Netherworld Realm was quite famous among all the small worlds in this vicinity.
Looking at Li Qi.
The three Plane Lords couldn't help but give an awkward laugh. The only Plane Lord at the fifth level of the Void Returning stage cupped his fists and said with a smile.
"Since you are unwilling for us to visit the Netherworld Realm, then we shall not. However, now that you have become the new Plane Lord of the Netherworld Realm, I am the Plane Lord of the nearby Scarlet Patrol Small World. If you have time, you can come visit us and foster some goodwill."
Then, the other two Plane Lords cupped their fists towards Li Qi and said similar words.
After speaking, these three Plane Lords did not linger any longer. They said their farewells and departed.
Li Qi stood quietly in place, watching the receding figures of the three.
After a long while, Li Qi's divine sense finally released the Netherworld Realm formation he had been controlling and ready to activate at any moment.
It was just that the three Plane Lords seemed to have genuinely only wanted to see the situation of the Netherworld Realm and did not carry any malice.
However, Li Qi took this matter to heart.
The arrival of these three Plane Lords was likely just the beginning.
And in the years to come, who knew how many Plane Lords would pass by the Netherworld Realm intentionally or unintentionally.
As for whether any of those who came later would have ulterior motives, that was unknown.
"It seems that strengthening the formations in the Netherworld Realm is a long and arduous task. My own cultivation improvement also cannot be neglected."
With this thought.
Li Qi's figure flickered, and he returned to the Heavenly Dao Space.
For a long time afterward.
Li Qi once again fell into a cycle of prolonged closed-door cultivation and the arrangement of new formations.
Ten years later, with the fortunate authority of a Plane Lord, coupled with the more abundant spiritual energy of the Netherworld Realm.
Li Qi's cultivation successfully broke through, reaching the fourth level of the Nascent Soul stage.
At the same time, thirteen more formations were added to those already laid out in the Netherworld Realm.
Twenty-five years later.
Li Qi's cultivation broke through to the fifth level of the Nascent Soul stage, and the number of formations he had set up increased significantly.
...
Time flew by, and eighty years had passed.
During these eighty years, many Plane Lords or cultivators passing through on their ascension attempts had tried to temporarily reside in the Netherworld Realm.
However, without exception, all were politely declined and driven away by Li Qi.
And the development within the Netherworld Realm was also extremely rapid.
Under the much richer spiritual energy, even though spirit stone resources were still scarce.
Many cultivators, by simply absorbing the abundant heaven and earth spiritual energy, saw their cultivation bases significantly improve.
Qi Youhuan, whom he had rescued that day, not only recovered from his injuries after decades of recuperation, but his cultivation also saw considerable improvement.
Furthermore, Chen Tu'an, the last of the three Nascent Soul stage human cultivators from that day, successfully entered the Void Returning stage during these years.
The summons from the Upper Realm's Cangyun Realm had appeared, but without exception, both chose to ignore them and cultivate peacefully in the Netherworld Realm.
And at this moment, within the Heavenly Dao Space.
Another immensely profound and complex formation pattern appeared, then suddenly expanded in volume, covering the sky above before gradually vanishing.
This had become a common occurrence over these decades. Even mortals in the Netherworld Realm had grown accustomed to it, and would even discuss it with each other occasionally.
This was naturally another type of new formation drawn by Li Qi.
In these eighty years, the formations he had drawn had long surpassed a hundred.
If the formations in the sky of the Netherworld Realm were not all concealed by Li Qi at this moment, perhaps in the future, when the beings of the Netherworld Realm looked up.
They would not see the starry sky, but rather one incredibly complex and overlapping formation pattern after another.
And at the same time, in the Heavenly Dao Space.
Li Qi himself, after just completing a formation, exuded a terrifying aura that spread in all directions.
Despite frequently drawing new formations.
Li Qi's cultivation had never fallen behind.
At this moment, Li Qi's cultivation had also broken through to the peak Nascent Soul stage after a long period of closed-door cultivation.
If it weren't for the need to periodically awaken and set up formations, Li Qi himself would have likely entered the Void Returning stage long ago.
And at this moment, just as Li Qi was preparing to re-enter closed-door cultivation.
Suddenly, Li Qi seemed to sense something.
His gaze shifted towards the void outside the Netherworld Realm.
At this moment, in the void outside the Netherworld Realm.
A figure radiating a terrifying aura, with a strength of at least the sixth level of the Void Returning stage, was approaching the Netherworld Realm.
"Damn Netherworld Realm's previous Plane Lord, forcing me to spend nearly three hundred years recuperating from my injuries. Now that you are dead, all grievances will be borne by your successor."