No one could have imagined.
The Black Mountain Old Demon, who had emerged with such ferocity, died so obscurely.
After defeating the Black Mountain Old Demon with three punches.
Li Qi leisurely returned to Lan Ruo Temple.
As for the half-crippled cultivator from the Demon Slaying Division at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, even with half his body missing, it wouldn't be difficult for him to return to the Demon Slaying Division given his cultivation.
The most difficult part, however, was Ning Caichen at Lan Ruo Temple.
Previously, Li Qi had left Ning Caichen alone in Lan Ruo Temple while he went to investigate the commotion.
Ning Caichen, terrified, had cowered in a corner of the temple, repeatedly chanting Amitabha Buddha at the dilapidated Buddha statue.
He definitely didn't want to encounter another Nie Xiaoqian.
Fortunately, Li Qi had returned.
In the following days, Li Qi continued his journey with Ning Caichen towards the capital.
Another half a month passed.
Not far away, a prosperous city came into view for the two of them.
The capital, they had finally arrived.
Upon entering the capital, with still a month left until the imperial examinations, Ning Caichen largely remained in the inn, diligently studying poetry and books.
Meanwhile, Li Qi spent about half a month exploring the entire capital, excluding areas forbidden to outsiders like the imperial palace.
Having seen the capital, Li Qi saw no further need to linger.
On this day, he returned to the inn, found Ning Caichen engrossed in his studies, and expressed his intention to leave.
Ning Caichen, upon hearing that Li Qi was leaving, felt a pang of reluctance. After all, their month-long journey together had significantly deepened their friendship.
However, even the closest of friends must eventually part ways.
Ultimately, to bid Li Qi farewell, Ning Caichen squeezed out a small portion from his meager travel funds, gritted his teeth, and treated Li Qi to a farewell meal at a restaurant in the capital.
The restaurant's specifications were not high; it was considered one of the worst in the capital.
This was because Ning Caichen himself came from an ordinary farming family and had little money left after the journey.
The wine they were drinking was also nothing special.
By price, it was also considered one of the poorest quality offerings in the establishment.
The reason was still Ning Caichen's lack of funds.
After three rounds of drinks, the three small dishes of light fare on the table were nearly empty.
Only a bit of wine remained in the single pot, which Ning Caichen and Li Qi divided between them.
A thousand-mile journey must eventually end.
Slightly tipsy, Ning Caichen watched Li Qi gradually depart.
He let out a burp and suddenly called out.
"Brother Li, wait for me. Today's drinking and dining was not satisfying. When I succeed in the imperial examinations, I will definitely invite you to meet again at Zui Xiang Lou."
Zui Xiang Lou, the most luxurious restaurant in the capital.
Li Qi's figure gradually disappeared around the street corner, but his voice, filled with laughter, drifted back.
"I'll be waiting."
The next day, Ning Caichen woke up from his bed and weighed his remaining travel money, looking quite troubled.
"If only I had known yesterday, I would have ordered one less dish when bidding farewell to Brother Li."
For a long time afterward, Ning Caichen tightened his belt, subsisting on two flatbreads a day.
...
The Demon Slaying Division in the capital.
Within the somber architecture, cultivators of considerable skill roamed.
Compared to the Demon Slaying Divisions in other regions, the capital's division was responsible for the security of the Great Jing imperial city.
The strength of the cultivators here was terrifying.
"Lord Zuo, that's how it happened. If it weren't for that fellow Daoist on the road who stepped in and exterminated the Black Mountain Old Demon, perhaps none of us three would have returned this time."
In a strictly furnished room, a cultivator whose lower legs had completely disappeared spoke with lingering terror in his eyes.
He was none other than the cultivator at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment from the Demon Slaying Division, whom Li Qi had saved.
Before him stood a middle-aged man whose aura was as unfathomable as an abyss. He clasped his hands behind his back, his brow furrowed.
"Black Mountain Old Demon? Another demon that has never been recorded in the Great Jing Demon Slaying Division."
Rubbing his brow, even Zuo Shang found himself troubled.
"What exactly is happening? So many unfamiliar demons have been appearing in the Great Jing recently."
Zuo Shang. He was the foremost expert beneath the nine Grand Directors of the Demon Slaying Division; if not for the fact that the Grand Director positions were limited to nine, he would have been the tenth.
Zuo Shang looked up at the legless cultivator before him and then spoke again.
"However, you mentioned that the cultivator who saved you, with a cultivation of the third level of Foundation Establishment, killed the Black Mountain Old Demon at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment with three punches?"
Upon saying this, even Zuo Shang couldn't help but shake his head.
"But that is impossible. In cultivation, each step represents a world of difference. The gap between each minor realm is immense. Killing enemies across realms is virtually impossible, let alone spanning so many levels."
"It's likely that the fellow Daoist who saved you possessed special means to conceal his cultivation realm."
"This..."
Zuo Shang's words left the legless cultivator speechless.
After all, compared to such terrifying power to kill across realms, concealing one's true cultivation was a far more believable explanation.
Suddenly, Zuo Shang spoke again.
"Right."
"Lord Zuo, is there something?"
"Do you remember the appearance of that fellow Daoist who saved you?"
"Naturally, I remember. Lord Zuo, this subordinate will draw it now."
With that, the legless cultivator picked up a brush and paper and drew a portrait that bore an eight-tenths resemblance to Li Qi.
As Zuo Shang looked at the portrait, his brow furrowed once more.
There were many cultivators in the Great Jing Dynasty, but one capable of defeating the Black Mountain Old Demon at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment would at least be a cultivator of the same realm, or even higher at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment.
With Zuo Shang's status and strength, he knew most cultivators of such power.
Yet, looking at Li Qi's portrait, Zuo Shang felt utterly unfamiliar, with no sense of recognition.
Li Qi's appearance did not match any of the cultivators he knew who could defeat the Black Mountain Old Demon at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment.
"Hmm, could it be that this fellow Daoist is also someone who cultivates in seclusion, living deep in the mountains?"
Zuo Shang murmured, his doubts growing.
...
Meanwhile, Li Qi himself had already left the capital.
As for Ning Caichen's imperial examinations, he did not concern himself with them.
If he had the chance to visit the capital again in the future, he would eventually find out.
"I wish Brother Ning a smooth journey."
Li Qi's travels continued, spanning several years.
Over these years, Li Qi's aura had become increasingly unfathomable.
His understanding of formations seemed to have reached its peak potential.
"There is no need to continue looking."
Such a thought arose in Li Qi's mind.
He needed to digest his current insights.
Thus, Li Qi stopped.
Beside a certain official road.
A small teahouse was suddenly opened on this very day.