Chapter 275: Choice

Yes, Li Qi also knew that what he was doing was extremely, extremely dangerous.

"Yes, but this is what I'm thinking." Li Qi began to explain to Shen Shuibi how he planned to proceed.

If he were to integrate Human Dao and Shaman Dao within his personal miniature heaven and earth using governance, the outcome would very likely be similar to Baiyue.

The fundamental reason why the Baiyue region was isolated from gods and had stagnant Dao and magic was precisely due to the conflict between Shaman Dao and Human Dao.

The rulers of Baiyue were indecisive, wanting both sides; they wanted Human Dao to gather the strength of the populace for their own use to achieve the position of ruler, and they also wanted the free, constant, and eternal methods of Shaman Dao.

The result was that while they seemingly succeeded, Baiyue turned into that ghastly state.

Even across the entire world, Baiyue's backwardness was evident.

Li Qi felt this deeply; in Baiyue, he truly thought the world he was in was a feudal era.

But once he truly stepped out of Baiyue, he would discover that the world was unbelievably prosperous.

This was the center of all the myriad worlds, the 'Divine Realm,' 'Immortal Realm,' 'Heaven above Heavens' that countless lower worlds yearned to Ascend to, a place adorned with various glories.

Even here, Baiyue managed to make itself like this, which was enough to show the consequences of conflicting Dao paths.

If Li Qi didn't handle it well, his personal miniature heaven and earth could very likely become another 'Baiyue.'

It would become as backward and incompetent as Baiyue.

Moreover, the two Dao paths and their methods could also have other conflicts, conflicts from the real world.

To put it simply, if those of the Human Dao felt Li Qi had gone astray, and Shaman Dao also felt Li Qi had gone astray, how would Li Qi conduct himself?

If you modify both methods and integrate the other's philosophy, it means you acknowledge such an approach and put it into practice.

For example, Tang Nation's industrial development, aquaculture, etc., while greatly improving productivity, many Shamanes do not approve of such practices.

This implicitly draws a line.

This, in fact, was a danger; someone might try to trip him up.

The philosophies and principles of the two Dao paths are different, just like public and private ownership cannot coexist.

Forcing coexistence would not only displease both sides but also lead to mutual conflict, and if used to govern one's personal miniature heaven and earth, it could even explode.

For example, take relativity and quantum mechanics; they govern the macroscopic and microscopic worlds respectively, and in their own Domains, they are both correct.

However, there is a contradiction between them; they cannot be integrated.

When quantum mechanics is effective, general relativity is not.

When general relativity's environment is effective, quantum mechanics cannot be established.

Both are correct, but they are incompatible and cannot exist simultaneously; they are actually in conflict.

However, Li Qi said that Human Dao and Shaman Dao actually coexist in this world.

It is well known that the macroscopic world itself is composed of the fundamental particles of the microscopic world.

This means that the microscopic world and the macroscopic world should be unified; there should be a single theory to interpret them, otherwise, this world would be wrong.

Two correct theories that cannot coexist indicate that they are not yet correct enough.

Li Qi didn't think he could find the correct method; he wasn't that arrogant, but he felt he could try.

That's why he boldly used this method to refine Guangyang.

He didn't know if he was correct, but he had the 'read file' divine charm; if it was about to self-destruct, he could revert time, so he acted a bit willfully.

He absolutely trusted the methods of the Great Shaman.

Li Qi was even prepared for a self-detonation and time reversal.

But he didn't expect that this attempt actually succeeded!

Not only did he resolve those issues without side effects, but he also successfully refined Guangyang.

Although it was incredible, that's how it was.

Li Qi's explanation was very detailed, and Shen Shuibi listened very carefully.

After listening, Shen Shuibi sighed.

"Li Qi... you are planning too big." She looked at Li Qi with some worry.

If Li Qi chose this path, and if he succeeded, his achievements would certainly be immense, but the difficulties and obstacles involved, just thinking about them, made one shudder.

Even Shen Shuibi felt it was too difficult.

But Li Qi smiled and said, "My Dao is righteousness and justice. I don't think there's anything unrighteous or unjust about this."

"Shaman Dao treats all living beings with impartial fairness, following the natural order, but nature itself is inherently unfair to the weak; the consequence of fairness is inequality."

"Human Dao does not acknowledge fairness; they restrict everyone's freedom, but after restricting, they forcibly create relative equality."

"Both sides have their unrighteous and unjust aspects, but they also have their strengths. Why not take the best from each?"

Freedom and equality are antonyms.

Absolute freedom means absolute inequality; the strong will possess all freedom, and the freedom of other existences will be deprived.

Absolute equality means absolute unfreedom, and the principle is the same.

Human Dao imposes the same restrictions on the strong and the weak, creating a relatively fair society where everyone is restricted.

Shaman Dao does not impose restrictions, so the strong will bring the most natural, inherent, and appropriate 'survival of the fittest' world to the weak.

However, Shaman Dao will maintain balance, keeping the survival of the fittest within a scope that does not harm the operation of the Heavenly Dao; 'taking only what is needed' is the best solution.

Human Dao will also allow some survival of the fittest, but not within itself; instead, it focuses all its energy on external aggression, making itself 'strong.'

The Dao struggle between the two is manifested in all aspects; each believes the other is wrong, yet both have established nations conforming to their respective Dao paths, proving that both are actually useful.

However, Li Qi felt that his Dao was righteousness and justice.

In that case, taking the righteousness of Shaman Dao and the justice of Human Dao, while somewhat unconventional, does not violate his own path.

Li Qi thought it over and over and felt that this was suitable for him.

After listening to Li Qi, Shen Shuibi said, "This is very difficult, and you are not the first."

Yes, Li Qi was not the first, and certainly not the last, but so far, no one has ever succeeded in walking this path.

This was equivalent to challenging the Shaman Gods and Sages with his own wisdom.

Shaman Dao is the crystallization of the Shaman Gods' wisdom, and Human Dao is the crystallization of the Sages' wisdom.

There must be reasons why these two Dao paths developed this way.

Everyone desires a perfect Dao path that can encompass everything, but this is like a middle school student boastfully claiming to establish a unified theory and unify quantum mechanics and relativity.

It's very difficult.

It could even be said to be 'impossible.'

"I'm not trying to establish a replicable, complete Dao path from Ninth Grade to First Grade."

"I'm just choosing my own path when I have options. As for what lies ahead, I'll deal with it when I get there," Li Qi said relaxed.

Yes, this was Li Qi's thought.

The Dao path is one's own, so it's normal to walk one's own path, right? Why must one follow the 'orthodox'?

Shen Shuibi listened and remained silent for a while.

Then, she said, "You and that Grand Invoker... truly are master and disciple. Although you're not as flamboyant as him, what's inside is truly identical."

That Grand Invoker, Zhu Fengdan, Li Qi made the same choice as him; both were unconventional.

"However... I will stay by your side," Shen Shuibi said softly.

"I never doubted that," Li Qi said playfully, squeezing Shen Shuibi's palm.

However, before Shen Shuibi could react, he immediately changed the subject.

"Alright, let's not talk about my affairs. Let's talk business. Look at these two things." Li Qi changed the subject, tossed the empty cup into the trash can, took out his terminal, and pulled up two tickets.

"Regarding what we talked about last time, earning money to repay Mount Luofu's debt, by luck, we've got a lead."

Shen Shuibi immediately leaned closer, clearly very concerned about this.

She looked at Li Qi's tickets: "These are?"

"Dou Su Six travel tickets, for a self-guided tour. They were calculated by a Diviner as 'what I currently need most,'" Li Qi said. "I searched it up, Dou Su Six is near a cluster of wild worlds. It's not prosperous, but not barren either."

"That cluster of worlds has a Fourth Grade world at its center, serving as the leader of that world cluster. It controls this world cluster, swaying between Tang Nation, the East Sea, and the Southeastern Demon Clan, but it hasn't taken a side yet. As a world on the edge of a war zone, it's convenient for us to act."

"You still decided on plunder?" Shen Shuibi gripped Li Qi's hand, her tone becoming more serious.

"How could that be? Neither of us could do such a thing. Besides, plundering is too slow; even Human Dao disdains using this method. Moreover, haven't we already decided?" Li Qi smiled, reassuring Shen Shuibi.

The method had already been decided.

"Establish an extraterritorial organization, but it needs a name. I previously thought of having you join the Tang Nation army... but now I think it's unnecessary. My name will suffice."

"Yours?" Shen Shuibi was a bit confused.

What name did Li Qi have?

To put it bluntly, he was just an unknown.

Potential was potential, but it hadn't been realized yet.

"Using this name." Li Qi took out a bamboo amulet.

This item was given to Li Qi by the Great Phoenix back then, saying it was something Zhu Fengdan gave him. (See Chapter 247 for details)

Li Qi had privately pondered for a long time what this thing was for.

He tried various methods and found that it had no practical use whatsoever, except for the particularly obvious imprint on it.

What kind of imprint was particularly obvious?

Of course, it was Zhu Fengdan's personal imprint.

Li Qi pondered for a long time before realizing that this thing... should be a business card.

Teacher must have thought of this long ago, right?

A Third Grade mighty figure... how much did he know?

Earlier, that Great Shaman took him to the seismograph, surely also knowing that the seismograph could help him.

Now, the teacher gave him a business card early on, which could also help him.

Clearly, they had all foreseen this, just waiting for Li Qi to figure it out himself.

If Li Qi couldn't figure it out himself, then they would probably act as if it never happened, and around him... how many such hidden arrangements were there?

On the other side, Shen Shuibi looked at the business card and immediately recognized it.

"This is Grand Invoker's aura. Wait, you're going to use this name to establish an extraterritorial trading company?" Shen Shuibi immediately realized Li Qi's meaning.

"Not just a trading company. We can create an integrated production organization for mining, processing, selling, and leasing. That way, we'll make money faster." Li Qi found a roadside bench and sat down, beginning to explain his idea.

"There are many similar organizations in the extraterritorial regions. Most of them use similar methods for mining and then hand over these resources to larger organizations for processing."

"In that case, there will also be competition, right? Will it work?" Shen Shuibi was a little worried.

There would definitely be competition, not against the local natives, but against these forces from the world. Unless you go to truly uninhabited places as a pioneer, but that would be too slow.

Li Qi nodded: "Before, I was worried about this, so I didn't dare to go directly. I planned to find opportunities in Imperial Academy and try to get involved through the connections there."

"However, now we have a second option. With this, maybe we won't need to go to Imperial Academy to do this, but can use my teacher's name to cause a stir in the extraterritorial regions."

"If we first establish some foundation in the extraterritorial regions, and I can expand some connections in Imperial Academy, perhaps things will go even more smoothly. Even if it doesn't work out, it won't affect our plans to go to Imperial Academy afterward."

After Li Qi finished speaking, he looked at Shen Shuibi, waiting for her reaction.

And Shen Shuibi also fell into deep thought.

After a while, she looked up: "Current plans are just plans. Let's go see the actual situation. Anyway, we have to do this."

"Mm." Li Qi nodded, then said, "Shall we depart now?"

Actually, he still had some ulterior motives.

He said he was going to see the specifics.

But in reality, it was also... a trip, right?

Just for the purpose of investigation.

"Mm, let's go," Shen Shuibi also nodded.

Since it was decided, the two didn't delay and immediately set off.

Riding the Earth Flow Vehicle again, the two quickly advanced towards Chang'an's 'Golden Dais.'

The Golden Dais was Chang'an's transportation hub. To go to the extraterritorial regions, one had to pass through the facilities there.

Fortunately, it wasn't far from here to the Golden Dais.

The two walked hand in hand, chatting and laughing along the way, and soon arrived at the Golden Dais.

Upon arriving here, one could truly understand why it was called 'Golden Dais.'

Because it truly was a Golden Dais, a thousand zhang high, exquisitely structured, a marvel of divine craftsmanship, its light stretching across the rocky shores, its brilliance reaching the Star Gates.

Star maps were drawn upon it, marking the movements of the sun and moon and the paths of the five planets.

The constantly bright ones, which are large world clusters, numbered one hundred and twenty-four.

The namable ones, which are medium-large world clusters, numbered three hundred and twenty.

The stellar ones, which are medium world clusters, numbered two thousand five hundred.

The micro-stars, which are miniature heaven and earth clusters, numbered approximately eleven thousand five hundred and twenty.

Furthermore, there were two hundred and eighty-three Star Officials, commanding one thousand four hundred and sixty-four Star Domains, distributed in seven directions, with the twenty-eight lunar mansions as their main controllers.

The 'Dou Su Six' that Li Qi and Shen Shuibi were going to was the sixth Star Domain in the southern celestial region of the twenty-eight lunar mansions, a miniature heaven and earth cluster, with approximately ninety thousand worlds.

Of course, the worlds here all referred to graded worlds; ungraded fringe worlds were generally not calculated. Such miniature heaven and earths were like fragments floating in a star system; no one cared about them.

As long as one confirmed on the terminal at the Golden Dais and consumed their 'credentials' or paid silver, they could quickly reach their destination.

"This is the power of the Human Dao's center..." Li Qi exclaimed, looking at the magnificent building before him and the throngs of people on it.

In this central hub of the myriad worlds, just being born here already surpassed countless people.