The Eternal Way-Chapter 174 : Follow-up

In fact, just like how ninth-rank martial artists are called 'Innate Martial Artists,' various cultivation techniques, sects, and Dao traditions have different internal names for cultivation realms.

For example, in this traditional divine path, Li Qi knows that their cultivation realm division is as follows:

Before reaching this rank, there is the Heart Seed Realm, where one cultivates a heart seed and can sense believers.

Then comes the Incense Offering Realm, where one can officially receive offerings and incense.

Afterward, one gradually accumulates incense offerings to shape a golden body. Once the golden body is completed, one officially enters the ninth rank, known as the 'Golden Body Realm'.

Following this are the Body Presence Realm, the Mountain and Water Realm, the Unity Realm , and the Divine Soul Realm.

Reaching the Divine Soul Realm means one has advanced to the eighth rank.

Li Qi's Dao path is similar. Each time he cultivates a type of divine presence within the body, his cultivation advances to a new realm. The book briefly describes these as the Five Peaks Period (Five Peaks Qi), the Four Rivers Period (Four Rivers Qi), the Sun and Moon Period (Sun and Moon Qi), and the Primordial Spirit Period (Primordial Spirit Qi). The order of these realms is not fixed; it depends on which one you advance to first, but all must be completed.

Martial Dao also has five realms: practicing skin, practicing bones, practicing tendons, practicing flesh, and practicing organs. Completing all these realms makes one an 'Innate Martial Artist', or ninth rank. After that, there are the realms of practicing intent, practicing heart, and refining spirit. Then, one cultivates martial divine intent to advance to the eighth rank, achieving 'divine intent and heart-body unity'.

There are countless Dao paths and cultivation methods in Tianxia (Under Heaven), and the number of different realm divisions is also countless. It would be a Herculean task to unify and convert all of them.

Therefore, powerful beings have standardized all Dao paths, dividing them into ranks from one to nine, a process known as 'standardizing the world'.

One can imagine how difficult this was.

To establish a convincing standard, one must first understand almost all Dao paths and realm divisions, know why they are divided as such, and then find commonalities among all Dao paths at different realms.

With these commonalities, there is a basis for unification. It is unknown how much time the powerful beings spent to analyze and summarize all Dao paths and find the commonalities among different realms and paths.

However, since then, the world has had the nine-rank classification system.

Within your own Dao tradition, you can call things whatever you want, but when you go out, it is better to have a unified international standard for communication.

However, for some lower-level cultivators, the nine-rank classification system is already a secret unknown to many.

What is common knowledge to Li Qi is a difficult-to-reach secret for these people.

The disparity in the world is so vast.

After communicating with the water deity, the deity respectfully remembered Shen Shuibei's aura and bowed to Li Qi, took the reward, and submerged into the water, using the mountain and water communication method to send a message.

Li Qi carefully collected the severed finger and stored it.

This thing is arguably the most valuable item Li Qi possesses. A fifth-rank existence's body part, no one would believe it if he said it, and it is also very significant to Li Qi.

Every time he sees this finger, he is reminded of the day he faced the Curse Demon King and the Bear Killing King, feeling desperate and powerless.

After doing this, Li Qi remounted his horse and said to Old Horse, "Let's continue."

Old Horse grumbled and sped up, heading toward the Prefectural Office of Guangyang City.

---

A few hours later.

The sky was bright.

Li Qi squatted by the field ridge on the outskirts of the city, watching the sunrise, his brows furrowed, and his expression serious.

Old Horse was munching on tender leaves nearby, occasionally turning to look at Li Qi, who remained squatting like a wooden stake. Old Horse then continued to eat the new leaves growing on the tree.

As for why Li Qi was in this state...

It all started last night.

Last night, Li Qi visited the Prefect of Guangyang.

He learned that the Prefect had returned to the capital to report.

Then he went to see the Guangyang Situ, who was responsible for taxation and organizing production.

The Guangyang Situ was there, but he didn't even speak to Li Qi, directly driving him away.

Then, he had the gatekeeper convey a message to Li Qi, informing him that the commander of the White Rhino Army had disobeyed orders on the battlefield and was disrespectful to military commands, and had been dismissed and was now awaiting trial in prison. He instructed Li Qi to return and convey the message to immediately withdraw the army back to Guangyang, where the city would provide military rations.

Subsequently, he treated Li Qi as a messenger of the White Rhino Army and issued new orders to the White Rhino Army, instructing them to abandon the civilians and return to Guangyang City immediately.

The White Rhino Army's rations were sufficient for them to return to Guangyang City if they only fed themselves.

Li Qi tried to seek an audience again but was unsuccessful, so he retreated and came to the outskirts of the city, squatting there from night until the sun rose, without changing his position.

Until a farmer came out to hoe the fields and saw Old Horse eating the tender leaves of his jujube tree.

"Hey, you over there! What are you doing!?" The old farmer rushed over to drive Old Horse away.

Old Horse neighed, and Li Qi quickly stood up: "Sorry, sir, I didn't watch my horse. Here's compensation!"

Saying this, Li Qi quickly handed over a few copper coins, preemptively defusing the situation.

After a series of apologies, he led Old Horse away.

Old Horse looked unconvinced.

He only ate the leaves, not the buds, and he had already shown enough respect!

Li Qi could only smile bitterly and sigh.

After thinking all night, he had a clear understanding of the situation in Guangyang City.

Guangyang City, no... it might even be Guangyang Prefecture of Bailin Kingdom, ordered the abandonment of all civilians near the town gates.

So, when I first encountered that army with a commander, they didn't have any civilians with them because they had all been abandoned!

The White Rhino Army did protect some civilians, but it's clear that the commander of the White Rhino Army personally went to Guangyang City to seek permission from the authorities to bring the civilians along.

However, this request was not granted; instead, he was stripped of his rank and imprisoned.

After that, it was the situation I encountered.

The general outline of the events can be deduced, but Li Qi doesn't understand the purpose behind these actions.

Can Guangyang City really not support those tens of thousands of civilians? It's impossible. Guangyang City definitely has enough food, and if land is needed, they can be sent to cultivate it.

The cultivated land might not be much, but there's plenty of uncultivated land.

Since they can support them, why not accept them?

Moreover, from the military preparedness of Guangyang City, they are not lacking in strength. The town gates can be firmly defended, so why abandon them? Why?

In the end, what is the purpose of Guangyang Prefecture in choosing to abandon the civilians outside the town gates, and even imprisoning any general who tries to help them?

This indicates that they have zero tolerance for aiding the civilians.

No matter how Li Qi thinks about it, he can't understand why Guangyang Prefecture would do this.

There's no reason for it.

This is the point that Li Qi finds most incomprehensible. However, since the official channels are not viable, Li Qi has to find a way to solve the immediate food problem and then address the long-term survival issue.

He could also choose not to solve it, just like the Guangyang City authorities, and abandon those tens of thousands of people.

However, it's clear that Li Qi can't do that.

He doesn't have to go to great lengths to do this, but he should at least try. What's the harm in trying?

So, Li Qi led his old horse back into Guangyang City. This time, he didn't go to any government offices but headed to a large tavern.

He didn't eat there; he just went outside the tavern to watch the delivery people.

It was early morning, and he had spent the night outside the city. The sun had just risen, and there was a thin mist in the sky. The city was still quiet, but some people had already started working.

The first to start working were the delivery people.

Every day, major taverns, pleasure boats, and large residences receive fresh vegetables, fruits, and meat to supply their daily operations.

Li Qi planned to find out where these deliveries came from and locate the food and vegetable distribution center of Guangyang City.

This wasn't difficult, as the distribution center is public, and nearby residents often go there to buy groceries.

Through the delivery people, Li Qi quickly found the place.

The food distribution center of Guangyang City.

More than ten thousand dan of grain were gathered here, and the daily throughput of this place alone was enough to meet all of Li Qi's food needs.

Of course, that would be based on the entire city going hungry for a day.

However, with proper regulation, the needs could be met without affecting anyone.

Li Qi squatted by the roadside, watching the grain being transported in and out of the distribution center.

Finally, he found a sufficiently large grain convoy.

The size was crucial.

Then, he began to follow this grain convoy to see where the grain came from.

According to Li Qi's knowledge of the customs and traditions of the Baiyue people, these grain convoys are backed by business groups or interest groups.

These groups are centered around martial arts, forming a cohesive unit and then obeying a higher-level group, layer by layer, until they reach the level of true cultivators, where they finally disperse and form another type of social structure.

So, by tracing back layer by layer, the final source of Guangyang City's grain should be found.

After finding that, he could negotiate with the other party to solve the food problem.

This was Li Qi's plan, so he was now following the grain convoy.

However, as he followed, they left the city, crossed several rivers, and circled around a few mountains. Suddenly, the grain convoy stopped.

A burly man walked out, came to the back of the convoy, and said with a bow, "I wonder who the brave hero is? Why have you been following us? Are you out of a living, or do you have evil intentions?"

"If you're out of a living, we're all in the same boat. Here are ten gold pieces as a travel fee. Take them to buy some drinks, and we'll part ways peacefully."

"If you have evil intentions, the Golden Waves Sect is not to be trifled with! You can try if you dare!"

As he spoke, he took out a bag of gold with one hand and suddenly drew a curved saber from his waist, slashing a powerful wind that split a large rock in half, demonstrating considerable strength.

Li Qi was somewhat surprised; he didn't expect to be discovered.

Although he was following them openly, his personal small world was harmonized with the external large world, giving him a sense of oneness with nature. His aura was greatly diminished, and while he wasn't invisible, it was difficult to detect him through aura perception as long as he hid his form.

At least, Li Qi thought these people couldn't do it.

But he was discovered.

Li Qi frowned and stepped out. "Gentlemen, I have no ill intentions."

The middle-aged burly man saw Li Qi step out alone and visibly relaxed. He bowed and said, "The hero has been following us for at least two hours. It's hard to believe you have no ill intentions."

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"Our Golden Waves Sect does legitimate business. Although we don't have many connections with the underworld, we have had a drink or two with the Black Mountain Bees. We know the rules, so there's no need to hide anything."

Li Qi looked embarrassed and coughed. "Ahem, I really have no ill intentions. If you don't believe me, I'll prove it to you."

With that, Li Qi extended his hand and pointed forward.

In an instant, two golden threads circled the entire convoy several times.

In just a breath, the golden threads traveled five miles, circling the nearby trees and rocks a few times.

The golden threads remained in the air, shining brightly and beautifully.

Then, the source of the golden threads returned to Li Qi's body.

Before the others could react, another breath passed, and the golden threads slowly faded and disappeared.

A loud rumble and cracking sound echoed, and the surrounding trees fell in patches, rocks shattered everywhere, and even the cliffs showed a deep gash.

It was as if someone had drawn a circle nearby, and this circle had expanded outward.

Everything within this circle was cut in half, with smooth, mirror-like cuts.

Trees fell, boulders split, and small animals scattered in all directions, fleeing deeper into the forest. Birds flew out of the trees, and snakes, insects, and other small creatures were terrified.

Of course, it wasn't just the small animals.

People were the same.

The man who had been speaking confidently about "underworld rules" fell to his knees with a thud.

But his expression didn't change, and he shouted loudly and clearly, "Venerable, your virtue is great! I am in awe. Whatever you command, I will not dare to disobey! It is an honor to serve you!"

Li Qi's toes curled in embarrassment.

He wasn't used to commanding others with his strength.

So, he stepped forward. "There's no need for that. I was just following you without revealing myself. How did you discover me? I thought I had hidden my aura."

The burly man said with reverence, "Venerable, you may not know, but our Golden Waves Sect's martial arts can detect the vitality of a person. Although you didn't leak your aura, your vitality is so intense, like a blazing sun, impossible to look at directly, like the moon in a dark night sky. It's impossible to hide!"

Li Qi felt his heart constrict.