The Eternal Way-Chapter 125: Secret Plans

At this moment, Li Qi had already set out, accompanied by Shen Shuibì and Bai Di, heading to meet his fellow disciple as stated in the courtesy visit card.

In the car.

There were no airplanes in the Earth Oil Realm.

"Master, I still can't figure out why we let her go?" Bai Di pondered deeply but couldn't understand what the master was thinking. So, he simply asked.

Li Qi sat on one side and casually replied, "It's simple—to muddy the waters. This organization must have a chosen one, representing the final resistance of this world's Heavenly Dao, and they're the local power here."

"If I went alone, while it might seem like I'm pressuring him into meeting me, what if he doesn't show up? And worse, if he's ruthless enough to set traps along the way to kill me outright, what then?"

Li Qi explained, then straightened himself: "So, introducing a third party ensures that if I fall behind, someone unexpected can jump in to help us."

"Huh? Are you so sure about that?" Bai Di said in disbelief.

Though logically sound, how could he be certain the other party would come?

Li Qi appeared relaxed: "It's just a backup plan; we don't rely on them to come. If they do, great. If not, it doesn't matter." He smiled and continued: "After all, this conflict is just a game between me and that young master. Who cares who wins or loses? Can he really kill me? Both sides play their cards, and the outcome depends on luck."

With that, Bai Di felt reassured.

Indeed.

The purpose of this trip had already been achieved. Even he had gained a solid understanding of the interdimensional Dao resonance.

What remained was merely a competition for rewards. The future compensation from the Heavenly Dao or the different Dao resonances after the world's rank dropped—all were extra prizes in this game.

For the young masters, an eighth-rank peripheral world was nothing more than this.

Seeing Li Qi's relaxed demeanor, Bai Di couldn't help but admire him.

However, Shen Shuibì looked at Li Qi with a subtle expression, as if something about him had changed.

But she shook her head and ultimately didn't say anything.

---

Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.

Deep into the night.

The moon hung halfway in the sky, and the stars shone brightly. In the endless desert, only the vast celestial expanse offered some solace.

On the edge of this boundless wasteland stood a small base.

Surprisingly, the environment and atmosphere here were... calm?

Although it was called a rebel base, despite the many strong and capable armed personnel around, most of them exuded a unique aura. For example, most were silent, occasionally whispering softly, and many were reading books.

These books generally lacked covers, appearing homemade.

Yet, it was clear their emotions were good.

After all, emotions, no matter how strong someone might be, could quietly seep through the tiniest cracks in the heart.

And coincidentally, human hearts were all flawed.

Mother Lion Shar's return broke this tranquility.

Many people from the base came to greet her.

She and Lu Li were warmly welcomed. Those who had escaped earlier rushed over, asking about their safety.

"Captain! Are you alright?" Teammates fussed over her.

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Shar reassured them with a smile.

"Are you really okay, Captain? You were..." Her teammates seemed very uneasy.

"I told you, I'm fine. Do I look injured? Ask Lu Li if you have questions. I need to report to our superiors," Shar told the crowd before leaving them to Lu Li.

Lu Li scratched his head, carefully considering what he could and couldn't say. He prepared himself to answer the upcoming questions.

Meanwhile, Shar left the group, nodded to onlookers from other teams, and headed straight for "Number Three's" room.

Within this organization, the highest-ranking leaders were collectively referred to by code names.

There were six of them, calling themselves "Number One" to "Number Six."

According to Number One, this naming system was part of a ritual. If any of them died, their successor must keep the same code name, or the organization's purpose would be lost.

No one knew why, but Number One's authority was high, and everyone accepted this explanation.

Among these six leaders, Number Three was in charge of intelligence.

Shar needed to report to him.

Arriving at Number Three's room, she knocked on the door.

In this base, everyone's rooms were similar—no one was treated as superior. Everyone had different roles based on their abilities, and their treatment was roughly equal.

"Come in," came the voice from inside.

Shar pushed open the door and saw Number Three organizing documents.

Intelligence work always involved a lot of paperwork.

Shar walked in and said, "I've come to report several things I encountered, regarding the 'Young Master' we met."

Number Three was an ordinary-looking man in his fifties. He wasn't masked or mysterious in any way. His code name was purely formal; otherwise, he was completely normal.

Everyone even knew his real name: John.

As previously mentioned, aside from the strange rules set by Number One, everyone here was equal, united for the same purpose.

That goal was to rid themselves of the "Celestial Immortals."

The Celestial Immortals were the parasites slowly destroying this world.

"Regarding the 'Young Master' Number One mentioned? He said if it's about that, you should talk directly to him," Number Three looked up and told Shar.

"Is that so? Then I'll go see him." Shar bid farewell.

"Mm," Number Three nodded and returned to his documents.

Shar changed her destination and headed to Number One's room.

However, the door was open.

She frowned, knocked, but received no response.

After waiting a while without hearing anything, she decided to push the door open.

As soon as she stepped inside, the scene before her eyes abruptly shifted.

Then, she saw Number One floating in midair.

This wasn't a room—it was a strange space suspended in the night sky. The surrounding heavens were clear as if in a dream, with the Milky Way rising in the southeast. Tens of thousands of bright points gathered in the air, scattering like fireflies piercing the dark crystal night.

Looking at this serene sky within the room, the stars seemed to take shape and distance.

For mortals, the stars had never felt so distant yet touchable. It was surreal, yet clearly visible.

Surveying the surroundings, this inexplicable starry sky was dazzling. The Milky Way swayed as if about to collapse, shining brilliantly like gemstones pitying humanity.

Number One—the familiar young girl—floated amidst the star map. Her expression was pained, and sweat drenched her body.

She looked like a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl, perhaps of high school age, dressed plainly. But now, standing among the stars, she radiated pain.

Her veins bulged, bones trembled, muscles spasmed, and sweat poured down her face. Her expression was contorted, as if enduring unbearable torture.

Shar sighed upon seeing this.

Number One was doing this again.

But there was no helping it—it had to be done.

As she herself had said, she was communicating with the "outer worlds," exchanging information with realms not controlled by the Celestial Immortals.

It sounded mystical.

But Shar knew it was real.

Because their modification surgeries, the so-called "Type A Modification Guidelines," were obtained through this method.

The process was painful.

But it undeniably granted her power surpassing ordinary "Celestial Immortals."

Still... she hadn't expected the Celestial Immortals to have "Young Masters" as superior beings.

Shar sat amidst the stars, waiting for Number One to finish her communication.

Typically, such communications lasted one to two hours, not too long.

Because Number One's body couldn't endure it.

Such communication was excruciating and torturous. Each use was akin to undergoing torture, shortening her lifespan.

Sitting on the ground, Shar began reflecting on her thoughts.

From this encounter, it was clear the Celestial Immortals had powerful individuals like the Young Masters.

So... was it possible they had beings even stronger than the Young Masters?

She dared not imagine. The Young Masters' abilities were already enough to destroy streets. Stronger than that? Could they flip entire cities?

Such a gap... what exactly were they striving for?

In the end, they had to rely on Number One.

Shar looked up at the teenage girl.

This orphanage-raised girl had founded the organization at twelve years old and expanded it step by step to its current state.

She was the true Chosen One.

Though young, everyone respected her.

Shar believed that if what the Young Master said was true, then undoubtedly, this world's Chosen One was Number One.

However, Number One never revealed her real name, only calling herself "Number One," claiming it was part of the ritual.

No one knew what kind of ritual it was.

Reflecting on these thoughts and contemplating the Young Master's words, time passed quickly.

Soon, the stars began to extinguish one by one.

Number One, floating in midair, gradually descended to the ground.

"Whew... ha," she panted, her eyes bloodshot, teeth nearly bitten through, and her complexion pale from intense pain. She looked horrifying, like a woman in labor suffering massive blood loss and unbearable agony.

Yet, she endured silently for hours in the air.

"Shar-nee, you're back... What happened over there? I heard from those who returned that you encountered a 'Young Master'?" Number One stood up, and the room reverted to its ordinary appearance.

She walked over, picked up a towel, wiped her sweat, and took deep breaths, looking much better.

After drying her sweat, Shar replied, "I recorded everything that happened during our mission on paper while on the road. I intended to give it to Number Three, but he told me to hand it directly to you."

With that, she handed over the documented intelligence.

"Alright, let me see." Number One took the report and read it carefully.

The more she read, the graver her expression became.

She said, "Shar-nee, you wouldn't lie, which means everything written here is true. Those Young Masters indeed possess the ability to destroy us outright... Apart from me, no one else could withstand them."

Shar nodded. "Exactly. I once fought a Young Master directly. He didn't use any abilities to manipulate substances; he defeated me purely with physical strength, and I couldn't resist at all."

She recalled her battle with Li Qi. He hadn't even unsheathed his longsword, defeating her with mere fists.

Yet that Young Master was short, with ordinary muscles. How did such a slender and seemingly weak body unleash such terrifying power?

Number One sighed and said, "I've been investigating the origins of the Celestial Immortals in outer worlds, asking around in many realms. But none of them ever mentioned the existence of 'Celestial Immortals.'"

"However, it doesn't matter. No matter what, we must drive the Celestial Immortals away. Having two competing Young Masters is a good opportunity for us."

Shar listened quietly to Number One's words.

"Shar-nee, get ready. Since you said the two Young Masters are meeting, we can't miss this chance. I think two competing Young Masters are our best shot at breaking free from the Celestial Immortals!"

"No matter what you want to do, I support you. But you need to tell me your plan." Shar responded.

"I have a secret weapon—the codenames we use. It's something I've been saving up for a long time. I'm preparing to exhaust the last bit of our world's foundation to change our world's coordinates."

"After changing the coordinates, our connection to the Celestial Immortals will be severed. Only then can our world truly gain freedom, and the Celestial Immortals will never find us again!"

"You have a plan? Then why haven't you done it until now?" Shar asked, puzzled.

"Our foundation has always been lacking. I originally planned to accumulate for another ten years, thinking it might work. Unfortunately, now there's no time. Those two Young Masters are preparing to drain the last of our world's resources."

"Once they succeed, we'll never have another chance." Number One gritted her teeth.

"But you said our accumulation isn't enough. Wait... is this why we've been attacking oil drilling sites all these years?" Shar suddenly realized something.

Could the so-called accumulation be the earth oil?

"Yes, our accumulation is far from sufficient. But I believe that if we add the resources of those two Young Masters, it should be enough to activate the ritual! This is our last chance!"

"This ritual is called 'Severing the Heaven-Earth Connection!'"