Child of Destiny

Soon, two days passed, and Li Qi gained a clearer understanding of the laws governing this world.

Indeed, it still requires a combination of experimentation and theoretical learning to make rapid progress.

By comparing various data and witnessing firsthand the formation process of this global oil field, he made significant progress.

Now, he has even tentatively applied this knowledge to his own Technique Method, making minor adjustments to make the priest more adaptable to this world, thus making the Technique Method and the priest's power even stronger in this world.

"If I could instantly perceive these not-so-difficult changes in every world and make corresponding adjustments, then I would have a home-field advantage anytime, anywhere... This should be a way to improve, right?" Li Qi thought to himself.

Then, he stepped out of the laboratory and witnessed firsthand the spectacular scene of oil extraction.

Tens of thousands of people crowded on the ground, using various machines to extract oil from the ground.

Various forklifts, conveyor belts, and manpower appeared simultaneously at this large construction site, and the oil gushing from the wells was loaded into barrels and then transported out.

Because the rules of this world are subtly different, this place is able to produce such a strange substance as "earth oil." Furthermore, according to the unique Dao of the universe, this substance will not collapse even if taken to another world.

This leads to this peculiar scenario: each world has its own unique resources, while the most powerful 'world' rules over all the extraterrestrial worlds within its own domain. Therefore, various forces mine the resources of their own worlds, some of which are then traded to exchange goods, while others are used for their own purposes.

This is truly a bizarre scene.

The Great Deer Kingdom, in that world, maintained that backward and primitive ecology, but it also started industrialization in the outer regions, recklessly mining the resources of these outer worlds.

The extracted oil will be transported to a spatial passage opened up by the Great Deer Kingdom Lord, and then to various different places, sometimes to other realms, and sometimes to that world.

Only...

Li Qi sensed something was wrong.

"What's going on with all this energy?" Li Qi saw countless streams of energy gathering at this large construction site, created through their labor.

Then, the meeting point will be nearby.

In fact, it's getting closer and closer!

Li Qi became vigilant, secretly mobilizing his Vermilion Bird Divine Energy while observing the various progress bars around him to prevent a sneak attack.

Although it was one of the industrial company's strongholds, he remained vigilant.

But at this moment, a voice was heard saying to Li Qi, "Young master, there is no need to be so vigilant. I am only here to deliver the information to you as requested by Bai Di."

As he said this, a middle-aged man walked in from the stairs next to him.

Li Qi could clearly see that he was connected to the spirit of all those laborers.

It's like... a giant array.

Seemingly noticing Li Qi's expression, the man took the initiative to explain, "This is Cultivation Method taught to me by the Great Deer Kingdom Lord. It is Human Path method that can gather the power of many people for one's own use."

"I used 'contracts' as a starting point to establish connections with them, so that their power could be used for my purposes, forming a Human Path cluster. In this way, I can reach the ninth rank. The king said that once I unify all the companies in the Earth Oil Realm, the eighth rank will be just around the corner."

Hearing this, Li Qi was somewhat surprised and said, "Are you the president of the local industrial company?"

"I am unworthy of such a respectful title, sir. Please address me by my given name, Zhang Le." He seemed somewhat apprehensive.

"Then I'll call you General Manager Zhang. You said you're here to deliver some information, is it the intelligence I asked for before?"

Zhang Le lowered his head and took out a document package. "That's right, please take a look, young master."

"Thank you." Li Qi took it and began to look through it.

Zhang Le stood respectfully to the side, waiting for Li Qi to review the documents.

Li Qi, meanwhile, was looking at the documents.

This list includes the world's two largest oil and gas companies: the current Zhang's Company and another Polar Industrial Development Company.

Zhang's Company controls inland oil extraction, but Polar Development Company controls oil extraction in both the polar and offshore areas.

These two companies viewed each other as enemies and competed fiercely.

Because the Cultivation Method given to them by the Great Deer Kingdom Lord destined them to compete. There is no such thing as coexistence between Human Path and Evil Methods. The two sides will inevitably compete for each other's population, labor force, and oil extraction land.

"So, you're telling me that Polar Industries also has a 'young master'?" Li Qi frowned after reading the information.

You guessed right, there really is a competitor.

Moreover, the other party doesn't seem prepared to get along well; everyone just finishes their own thing and then runs away.

"That's right, exactly," Zhang Le said. "This isn't just a fight between two young masters... The Zhang Group is willing to assist you in defeating the other, so you can get even more rewards, right?"

"The reward is secondary... it's useless anyway, but someone is planning to attack me without even meeting me, and with great force at that. I have no choice but to fight back." Li Qi put the documents away and said thoughtfully.

"That's right. So our group will definitely cooperate fully with your actions, young master, to crush Polar Industries!" Zhang Le declared with determination.

Li Qi glanced at him.

He understood that Zhang Le did this because he was worried that without the protection of another young master, Zhang's Industrial Company might be suppressed by Polar Industrial Company and thus lose in the struggle.

Now that I've arrived, he'll definitely need to cling to me, creating the kind of standoff we used to have.

However, this also has its advantages. At least, in this world, it's definitely not as smooth for one person to act alone as it is for a local strongman.

"Alright, then that's settled. I'm definitely going to deal with him, and it's good to have your help." Li Qi nodded.

"Zhang Le will certainly not disappoint you, young master!" he immediately pledged his loyalty.

"Don't be so formal. Go and deliver a visiting card for me. It shouldn't be too far from here to the Polar Industries Company's territory, right? Can it take half a day?" Li Qi patted his shoulder and said.

"Huh? A formal invitation? You're going deep into enemy territory?!" Upon hearing this, Zhang Le immediately realized what Li Qi was planning to do.

"What do you mean by 'penetrating deep into enemy territory'? Look at what you're saying," Li Qi chuckled.

"We are all fellow disciples, not enemies. Your Earth Oil Realm is also a subordinate world of the Great Deer Kingdom. We are just competing with each other, not mortal enemies."

"In that case, what's wrong with me paying a visit?" Li Qi said casually.

Soon, a visiting card was sent from Zhang's Industrial Company on Li Qi's side to Polar Industrial Company via email.

It was still in that snow-capped mountain, in that small room.

"This is a provocation," the middle-aged man said to the Diviner Young Master nearby.

His identity is obvious: he is the owner of Polar Industries.

"No, this isn't a provocation; he wants to negotiate with me." The Diviner Young Master shook his head with a smile.

That was a brilliant move.

The debate over divination was also a struggle over the Dao, but it didn't escalate to the point of no return; it was merely a contest for control of the discourse within the Wushen Mountain.

Unlike Shaman Path and Human Path.

"Negotiation?" The owner of Polar Industries frowned, puzzled.

He didn't understand whether there was any room for negotiation between the two young masters.

"Yes, it's a negotiation. He doesn't want to argue with me, so he wants to meet with me and have a proper talk. So he's been very frank. But, if you call it a negotiation, I'm afraid he's just trying to use his power to intimidate me." The Diviner Young Master smiled and played with the dagger in his hand.

It was a black stone dagger, as if it had been hammered, with mottled hammer marks on it. It looked newly made, rather than the kind of stone tool that had been worn smooth after long use.

"Shaman is powerful and can leverage the natural environment. He is very strong in direct confrontation. Look, the intelligence you gathered last time, that huge crater that looks like an oil extraction equipment explosion, was his doing."

"His strength has already reached this level, so if I step in to negotiate with him this time, it would mean putting the outcome in his hands, and I would have no room to negotiate then." Diviner Young Master pondered to himself.

The Elder Si remained silent.

This young master loves to talk to himself, but he gets angry if anyone interrupts him.

"But if I don't go, it will make me seem stingy, and it won't sound good to others." Bu Ren frowned, looking very unhappy.

He didn't want to lose face.

He wants both face and substance, to achieve complete victory.

The room fell silent, save for the sound of him constantly fiddling with the dagger.

However, after a while, he suddenly raised his head and looked at the boss of Polar Industries.

"I remember you were a ninth-rank Human Path, right?"

"Yes... yes."

"Alright, I will use the substitution technique to temporarily transfer my aura to you, and you will go to see him in my place."

"But, the difference in appearance between me and you is so great..."

"Just use illusion magic; it's intentional to make him recognize me," the Diviner Young Master waved his hand impatiently.

"Intentionally let him recognize me?" The boss looked up, seemingly lost in thought.

"That's right. Isn't he being arrogant, trying to intimidate me by showing up in person? If I go, I'll be taking a risk; if I don't go, I'll lose face and seem petty." Diviner Young Master stood up from his chair. "Then I won't be polite either. Since he dares to take such a risk, I'll really arrange enough danger for him."

"When he's lying on the ground waiting to die, I'll personally show up and 'negotiate' with him amicably. Then, won't I save face and save face? That's decided. You, go and do as I say!"

Upon hearing that the young master had made his decision, the owner of Polar Industries immediately bowed and said, "Yes, sir!"

After saying that, he left in a hurry, without even waiting for the young master to explain the specifics.

Because he knew that in a little while, the young master's 'plan' would emerge from his shadow.

This young master seems to be everywhere.

While the two young masters of Wushen Mountain were scheming against each other, Shar and Lu Li were completely bewildered. They were given a carriage and a few days' worth of food and water and then sent on their way.

Yes, Li Qi simply let them go.

The original words were. "Go back and tell your companions to be quiet for a while and not to make any trouble. I will help you with your Heavenly Dao matters. However, I will need your help then, but by then, you should already know who you will be helping."

"Now, go back and tell your leader everything you have learned here."

After saying that, he had someone escort them away.

Then they were indeed taken away, and they received food, supplies, and a new car.

The car was driving through the desert.

A cloud of dust rose up.

The two men looked at each other, completely baffled as to what the young master was thinking.

Is he just acting on a whim? Or is there some deep-seated conspiracy behind it all?

Not understand.

But one thing is certain.

The other party is High Immortal, and an extremely powerful one at that, and he has no hostility... at least he hasn't shown any hostility yet, so we shouldn't make an enemy of him.

A cloud of dust hangs over the desert.

The car would occasionally pass by dry riverbeds, and sometimes come across a dead forest.

Decades ago, these places were all lush and green.

However, with the extraction of oil, the earth's veins were blocked, and water and air circulation was cut off, which gradually disrupted the world's water and air cycle, leading to the creation of these vast deserts.

This is not what is called desert terrain, but a complete wasteland where no life can exist.

Desert terrain is just a type of terrain. In reality, it is a place with abundant earth energy, continuous water veins, groundwater, geothermal activity, and various life forms and plants.

In this desert, life cannot find even a trace of resources. The "qi" here has been cut off. Earth energy does not grow, water energy does not flow, the mineral veins formed by metal energy have been exhausted by mining, and wood energy has long since withered and died. It is even dry and cold, without even a ground fire.

In this desolate place, not a single one of the Five Elements Qi— metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—can be found.

This is the consequence of recklessly exploiting the world's resources.

The five elements generate each other, and could have gradually increased in size and maintained their existence on their own. But now, the five elements have been severed, turning it into a dead land.

This is the predicament of the Earth Oil Realm.

This is also the predicament of all resource-rich worlds that are endlessly exploited.

The Earth Oil Realm is merely an insignificant part of it, and its Heavenly Dao is extremely weak. Even someone like Li Qi, a ninth-rank official, can manipulate it at will by relying on his extensive knowledge and the foundation of the original world.

"Captain, do you think... that young master has ulterior motives, or...?" Lu Li asked, glancing at Shar, the Shar curled up in the back seat, as he drove.

Shar was so big that she had to curl up to get into the car.

"Don't overthink it," Shar replied in a deep voice. "We can't resist the power of High Immortal."

"Therefore, we can only rely on Number One."

"She is the Child of Destiny."