The Eternal Way-Chapter 128: A Chance Encounter

Before the two parties met, the first round of confrontation had already been completed.

Li Qi was slightly at a disadvantage, but fortunately, Shen Shuibei was there to prevent the outcome from turning dire.

However, Li Qi also benefited from this misfortune. It allowed him to clarify his Dao Heart, eliminating the previous uncertainties and laying a foundation for future progress.

This was far more valuable than any foreign Dao Rhyme he could have learned.

According to Rabbit's explanation, his coming here for training was also arranged by his teacher.

With that in mind, everything made sense now.

Why the Great Deer Kingdom's ruler suddenly made way for him, why the Bai She Prefecture Governor, a sixth-rank official, would take the initiative to invite him.

He thought it was because of his own influence, but now it seemed all part of the plan.

Given this, he needed to perform even better.

Shen Shuibei told him that two-thirds of their mission had been accomplished, so the remaining third wouldn't be as simple as acquiring another Dao Rhyme.

What was it then?

What were the remaining tests or evaluations?

As he pondered over these questions, Li Qi couldn't help but marvel at his teacher's meticulous planning.

A single test involved placing an entire world similar in size to Earth at his disposal for exploration.

It truly was...

While deep in thought, night fell, and the car stopped in a city.

"Young Master, shall we rest here tonight? Zhang Le has booked us a hotel," Bai Di said, opening the car door.

"You go ahead to the hotel. I want to take a walk alone," Li Qi nodded and replied.

"Yes," Bai Di didn't argue further.

Shen Shuibei stretched lazily; the rabbit wanted to sleep. She had been supporting Li Qi all day, which left her exhausted.

However, she glanced at Li Qi.

Judging by his appearance,

The final third should be nearing completion soon.

How did she know?

Because she had gone through this herself before.

It was like watching a younger brother struggle with quadratic equations after having graduated from university.

Kind of cute.

"Yawn...!" Shen Shuibei yawned.

These matters could wait until later.

Sleep first!

Meanwhile, Li Qi didn't follow Shen Shuibei and Bai Di to the hotel directly.

Because he realized that since arriving in this world, he hadn't taken the time to properly observe it.

This was something he had considered earlier.

A diviner (Zhu) presides over rituals, acting as a mediator between heaven, earth, ghosts, and gods.

Since he came to this land as a diviner, did he truly understand this sky, this earth, and the people, ghosts, and deities living on it?

Without understanding, how could he possibly coordinate between heaven, earth, humans, and gods?

Undoubtedly, without understanding, coordination was impossible.

If he couldn't achieve this, could he still call himself a 'diviner'?

Dao represented both the laws governing the external world and the principles guiding human behavior.

If he failed to fulfill the duties of a diviner and didn't adhere to its principles, wasn't his conduct 'losing the Dao'?

Diviners acted as mediators, utilizing the power of mountains, rivers, ghosts, gods, and all things in nature.

Could someone who had lost the Dao gain anything?

Li Qi had heard a saying, "Those who lose the Dao will find little support." It meant that if one lost righteousness, no one would help them.

What was righteousness?

Firstly, it was about being upright, correct in action and principle. Just as Li Qi once reprimanded the eighth-rank ghost god Li Weng, one must remain impartial and just when coordinating.

Secondly, righteousness meant aligning with the collective good and the logic of the entire world.

The book "Wu" mentioned that righteousness was the focus of sacrifices. Ancient texts stated, "In the morning, use the proper ranking of titles to lead the order of seniority."

Here, righteousness referred to appropriate measures and ceremonies, which were essential parts of sacrifices.

Was righteousness then the Dao of a diviner?

Or rather, was righteousness what Li Qi believed to be the Dao of a diviner?

Or perhaps, this wasn't the Dao of a diviner but Li Qi's personal Dao?

Walking through the unfamiliar streets of this alien world, Li Qi pondered countless questions about cultivation.

But he couldn't find any answers.

Answers weren't fixed; whichever path he chose, he should pursue and practice it wholeheartedly.

Not finding an answer indicated that Li Qi himself didn't know what path to take.

"Sigh, my experience is too shallow," he sighed.

"There are no ninth-rank individuals who are absolutely certain about their future. I need to see more, learn more. As long as I maintain reverence and vigilance, keeping my Dao Heart clear, I will naturally find my own answers after experiencing many things. That will be my 'Dao,'" Li Qi silently noted this point.

After sorting out these thoughts, he took a deep breath, feeling much lighter!

But looking around, he realized he had wandered into an unknown place.

Lost in thought, he had walked too far without paying attention to where he was going.

Surroundings no longer consisted of tall buildings and bustling cities. Instead, they stood alone in the wilderness.

Li Qi suddenly realized that in Di You World, while cities appeared prosperous, vast deserts lay between them.

Only cities held life.

However, ...this desert still had signs of human habitation.

Using his Qi Observation Technique, he detected a human settlement not far away.

Wherever there were human settlements, there was vitality, which formed a natural barrier against various toxic fumes and miasmas.

Therefore, humans gathered together; those wandering alone in the wild often suffered from these harmful gases.

"How can there be vitality in such a place? And people actually live here?" Li Qi was curious and headed towards it.

Over the past few days, due to his arrogance, he hadn't truly observed this world, nearly falling into a trap. Thus, he decided to change.

Since he vowed to see more and learn more, he should start now.

The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago; the second-best time was now.

Now was the time to actively explore this world.

Li Qi followed through with his thoughts immediately, putting his decision into action right away.

Speeding up, he swiftly moved through the wilderness.

Soon, Li Qi indeed found a human settlement amidst the wilderness.

These people didn't seem to be permanent residents because Li Qi saw ...a convoy.

Yes, a convoy.

Including two oil tankers, four pickup trucks, seven to eight small cars, and some motorcycles.

Most were dressed in tattered clothes, emitting a foul odor, their skin rough, covered in grease and dust, appearing unwashed for a long time.

This convoy comprised about twenty to thirty people, including men, women, and children, resembling a small settlement.

Li Qi didn't rush over but used his superior senses to listen to their conversations in the dark.

In the camp formed by vehicles,

Everyone circled the cars to shield themselves from the direct cold wind.

It was still cold but tolerable.

Due to the surrounding dead forests, fuel wasn't lacking. They chopped down some dead branches and easily lit a bonfire.

On the fire roasted canned food, sizzling, likely sourced from the city.

Almost everyone held broken guns or rusty melee weapons.

It looked like a scene from a wasteland.

Yet, it still felt very lively.

Women and children stayed together, chatting and laughing warmly.

Some younger men hung around, chatting with different women, sometimes silent, exchanging smiles and glances without speaking.

On the other side, four to five strong middle-aged men huddled together, discussing something.

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Among these middle-aged men, a more robust man suddenly looked up and asked another beside him, "Lao Er, how much water do we have left?"

"Not much, enough for two or three days," the man called Lao Er replied.

"For drinking or using?" the man asked again.

Lao Er answered truthfully, "For drinking. For usage, it won't last a day. After washing the wounds of a few injured young men a few days ago, our reserves are low."

"What about food?" the man asked.

"We have enough food. We looted a transport truck a few days ago, filled with food. Now, the pickups are full. Enough for a month, but not many cans left, mostly biscuits and sugar, probably transported sweets, but without water, they're hard to swallow," Lao Er replied.

Several middle-aged men fell silent.

Water was precious; only where underground oil remained intact would there be water.

Where underground oil dried up, the land turned to desert, forests died, and nothing survived. Supplies were always a big problem for wanderers like them.

Since the discovery and exploitation of underground oil over a hundred years ago, desertification spread uncontrollably.

Ordinary people didn't know the cause, only associating it with underground oil.

But Li Qi knew nearby.

Without underground oil, the qi of earth and water vanished, weakening and exhausting the five elements' qi, ultimately turning the land barren.

"Those companies really value money over lives!" a man punched the ground in anger.

The leader waved his hand, calming him down, then said, "Enough complaining, let's think about how to get water. Dare we go to the oil extraction site?"

Oil extraction sites always had water, typically large lakes and rivers.

"People will die," Lao Er frowned.

"If we don't go, more will die. Without water in two or three days, who will still hold a gun? Who can run? Better to go while we still have strength," the middle-aged man argued.

"That makes sense, but it's an oil extraction site..." Lao Er worried.

Oil extraction sites were extremely dangerous, with guards vastly different from those patrolling the wilderness.

"Let's discuss tactics. We'll target a smaller oil extraction site; we might not lose anyone. We can team up with other convoys to attack together," the middle-aged man decided.

Then, the convoy's decision-makers gathered to discuss tactics and armaments.

Just as they started, suddenly, everyone in the camp perked up, looking toward a distance.

There stood a person with clean, bright clothes and a spotless body.

Compared to their dirty, worn-out appearance, he seemed excessively clean.

With a rustle, everyone grabbed their guns, aiming at Li Qi, and those with melee weapons tightened their grips, even the children.

"A city dweller!" the middle-aged man shouted immediately!

Then, he signaled Lao Er with a glance, who nodded and quietly went to scout the surroundings.

City dwellers never ventured outside!

If they did, they'd be accompanied by guards.

Was this a guard patrol to eliminate them? They needed to scout the area first.

Surrounded by guns, Li Qi raised his hands decisively, "Relax, I came alone."

"Why would a city dweller come out!" The man aimed his gun at Li Qi, face serious.

As he spoke, he stepped forward.

Behind, women and children began packing up, getting into vehicles.

Men armed themselves, prepared positions, some scouting, others covering.

The decision-makers approached Li Qi cautiously, ready to shoot at any sign of trouble.

"I mean no harm, I'm just curious about you, nothing more. I also have no guards," Li Qi raised his hands, shouting loudly.

"I just want to ask some questions."

But they didn't relax, muscles tense, highly alert.

Minutes later, scouts returned, Lao Er among them, whispering in the leader's ear.

Weapons were put away, and the leader frowned at Li Qi, asking, "You want to ask questions?"

"Exactly, I just want to ask a few questions. And, if you answer, I'll give you water as payment!"

Hearing this, everyone perked up.

"Water? Where's the water!"

"Show us!"

Several young men pointed guns at Li Qi, demanding he show the water.

"Obviously not on me, but I do have water. You must answer my questions first," Li Qi reiterated.

Young men grew impatient, ready to beat Li Qi for answers.

Answer questions? Dream on. If not talking, beat him till he does!

No need to be polite with city dwellers!

But the leader shouted, "Come back!"

Young men reluctantly returned, faces still unfriendly.

Instead, the leader approached Li Qi, examining him closely, then said, "Are you a reporter? I've heard city dwellers have such a profession, always trying to run around asking people questions, then taking their answers and twisting them."

"Eh... sort of, a reporter," Li Qi's expression changed slightly, answering thus.