Di Xu Tian Dao's face was etched with worry, and beside him, a similarly corpulent orb shared his unease.
Ever since Li Qi returned from Feisha Sect that day, his smiles had become fewer and farther between.
Di Xu Tian Dao and the System knew exactly why.
But there was nothing they could do.
For one was the Heavenly Dao itself, and the other, a treasure born from the universe's creation.
They were not Li Qi, not a living, breathing person like him.
"Li Qi, I'm about to break through! Quick, come hug me."
Di Xu Tian Dao trotted out at this moment, feigning cheerfulness, as if seeking Li Qi's praise.
But this time, Li Qi merely glanced at him, offering a smile in return. Yet, within that smile, Di Xu Tian Dao sensed something different.
"Mm, congratulations."
Di Xu Tian Dao fell silent for a moment.
Cultivation did not make one indifferent; it was the accumulation of experiences that did.
Li Qi had said this long ago.
But now, Li Qi himself seemed to be drifting towards coldness.
For a long time afterward, the easy banter between Di Xu Tian Dao, the System, and Li Qi diminished.
Though they still conversed occasionally, for some inexplicable reason, as time wore on, Li Qi's aura grew more terrifying, yet his emotions became increasingly faint.
Eventually, even though Li Qi used to call Di Xu Tian Dao a "rebellious son," their bond had been good.
But now, Li Qi's face mostly bore a calm, unruffled expression.
Heaven and earth seemed utterly tedious in his eyes.
Ten thousand years, a million years, and even longer.
Li Qi met with Di Xu Tian Dao and the System less and less frequently.
It wasn't that Di Xu Tian Dao and the System didn't want to see Li Qi.
It was that there seemed to be nothing left to talk about when they met.
And then, perhaps eight hundred thousand years after Li Qi's last visit to Feisha Sect.
In the place where Li Qi cultivated, Di Xu Tian Dao's voice abruptly sounded in his ear.
"Li Qi, Feisha Sect has been annihilated."
...
"What concern is it of mine."
...
Silence descended. Di Xu Tian Dao seemed to have left, or perhaps he simply made no sound.
Several million more years passed.
In that span of millions of years, even immortals reached the limits of their lifespans, perishing in waves.
As for the Di Xu Realm, it had long become a legend, or rather, even legends rarely spoke of it, existing only in ancient texts of forgotten worlds.
Regarding the Di Xu Realm, with Li Qi's power, he had long since concealed it, making it impossible for the immortals of the outside world to discover.
As for Li Qi at this moment.
His gaze had long since shifted beyond the void, beyond this universe.
In fact, from a very early stage, Li Qi had sensed.
This universe was not unique.
Beyond the universe lay infinity.
And on a certain day, after Li Qi's strength seemed to advance once more.
This time, his gaze, for the first time, peered beyond the confines of the universe.
Upon witnessing the scene outside, he couldn't help but show a hint of surprise, and his long-unwavering emotions stirred slightly.
What met his eyes was an infinite number of universes.
Some were immensely powerful, requiring Li Qi himself to be cautious.
As for the weaker ones, perhaps the strongest beings within them were only at the Mahayana stage.
Li Qi found it interesting.
He continuously observed one universe after another outside.
At times, other powerful beings sensed Li Qi's gaze and clashed with him.
But alas, under the relentless march of time, Li Qi's strength grew ever greater.
Those powerful beings, after mere contact, fled in disarray.
It was precisely because of this that Li Qi found himself wondering why, even though his System was no longer as potent as himself, he could still utilize its various functions.
Thus, Li Qi speculated that perhaps even the System was unaware of his true origins.
But what did it matter? He would eventually find out.
Uncountable eons passed. Li Qi continued to gaze beyond the universe.
He witnessed the birth and collapse of countless universes.
And now, Li Qi was observing the birth of an interesting universe.
Li Qi saw that at the moment of its creation, all the power within that universe converged into light and darkness.
The light held seven distinct forces, and the darkness also contained their uniquely different powers.
The light and darkness were meant to be in balance, but one day, the light began to weaken, completely consumed by the darkness.
Of course, light and darkness would not vanish entirely unless external forces intervened within that universe.
And so, Li Qi watched for untold ages.
"Hmm, that disadvantaged light seems to be counterattacking."
A flicker of surprise appeared in Li Qi's eyes. Strength and weakness were inherently cyclical. As long as there was a setting that ensured neither side could be utterly destroyed.
The end of strength was weakness, and the end of weakness was strength.
And as Li Qi watched, the once immensely powerful darkness began to shrink, utterly suppressed by the light.
"Interesting, truly interesting."
Li Qi smiled. "Perhaps I should go in and take a look?"
With this thought, Li Qi felt an urge to send a sliver of his consciousness into it.
But before Li Qi could act, a panicked will from Di Xu Tian Dao arrived.
"Li Qi, the universe is about to collapse completely!"
Upon hearing this news, a ripple of emotion crossed Li Qi's eyes.
Despite his extreme indifference, Di Xu Tian Dao had, after all, spent countless ages with Li Qi.
Gazing at the universe where the seven lights and darkness were locked in a perpetual struggle, Li Qi shook his head slightly.
"Never mind. A pity. I won't get to see the rest of the story."
Universes never remained static.
If Li Qi withdrew his gaze now, finding it again would be difficult.
He would leave it to fate. After all, his own Di Xu Tian Dao needed saving.
Drawing his gaze back within the universe.
Li Qi sensed Di Xu Tian Dao's panic and then his gaze swept beyond the Di Xu Realm.
At this moment, even Li Qi was somewhat surprised.
He had seen such a scene before.
The collapse of some universes was like this.
Some universes would be reborn after collapse, while others would vanish completely.
But eventually, the fragments of collapse would attract each other, giving birth to a new universe, or rather, ushering in a new era.
The Di Xu Realm, under this grand collapse, seemed to be cracking.
"What do we do, Li Qi?"
Di Xu Tian Dao asked anxiously.
Li Qi remained silent, then extended a single finger.
Immediately, Di Xu Tian Dao was stunned.
For he discovered that under Li Qi's gesture, the complete collapse from the outside world had no effect whatsoever on the Di Xu Realm.
What level of existence was this?
Li Qi paid no heed to other places outside this collapse.
After an immeasurable period, the collapse ended.
The entire universe was deathly silent, devoid of any life. The once supreme powerhouses, the terrifying will of the heavens, were all gone.
The Di Xu Realm, however, remained.
Li Qi stood quietly within the Di Xu Realm, gazing out, utterly serene.
Another immeasurable period passed.
This universe might have been reborn, or its fragments might have reassembled.
One Heavenly Dao will after another was born, traces of life reappeared.
Starting from the weakest wills of the heavens, countless wills of the heavens competed and fought, as did cultivators.
This seemed... like a new era!
Countless years later, the world flourished once more, with a multitude of powerful beings.
Immortals emerged in endless succession.
But sadly, the cultivators of this era never had the fortune to glimpse Li Qi.
Of course, in Li Qi's long existence, such eras were not uncommon.
Yet, all he did was protect the peace of the Di Xu Realm.
The collapse at the end of the external era and the birth of a new one had nothing to do with him.
And thus, time flowed by, and nine epochs passed within the universe where Li Qi resided.
And in this very epoch.
Suddenly, Li Qi seemed to sense something.
His gaze abruptly shifted outside the Di Xu Realm.
With Li Qi's power, nothing in this universe could be hidden from him if he wished.
But at this moment, Li Qi's sight pierced through the infinite worlds, entering a minuscule, small world.
It was an utterly unremarkable little world.
But now, Li Qi quietly observed the strongest being within this small world.
"I, Xu Qingfeng, today shall shatter the barrier, from nothingness to existence, transcending into a realm that even the seniors have never reached!"