Negotiation

"Feeling lost, that's your problem, isn't it?" Li Qi said, standing in front of him.

"It's okay to make mistakes, you can correct them. We can give you unlimited chances to try and fail. You won't die. You can start over every time you fall." Li Qi opened his arms.

He stared into Gaga's eyes and said, "Fire in the marsh signifies that a wise man uses this to regulate the calendar and clarify the seasons." The commentary on the hexagram says, "Heaven and earth change, and the four seasons are formed." Infinite innovation is the solution to problems.

This sentence caused Ga Ga's breathing to become heavier instantly, and his vocal organs emitted a 'clucking' sound.

That was an expression of 'uncontrollable astonishment' on the face of the Sacred Flame Tribe, even though their insect faces didn't have any expression.

Li Qi knew that this was the biggest problem troubling Gaga.

Gaga knew that the past was bad, so he wanted to fight for himself, to kill all the bandits and tyrants he hated, and to kill all the lackeys of the immortals.

He distrusted the immortals, hated those sectarian lackeys, disapproved of other powerful forces, rejected the old path of the Sacred Flame Tribe, the old path abandoned by the Sacred King, and refused to follow the immortals on a new path.

He disapproved of the existing paths, but he didn't know how to create a new one.

Therefore, he could only focus all his energy on improving his cultivation level.

Because no matter what, he knew one thing: if he didn't want to be taken advantage of by others, he had to keep going, become stronger, and gain more experience. Maybe tomorrow he would find the answer he had been searching for.

This was the driving force that sustained him through years of life-and-death struggles.

If it weren't for this, even with external advantages, it would be impossible to go from novice to the peak of eighth rank within two years.

Even for the Child of Destiny carries the destiny of the world, this speed is already excessively powerful.

Now, powerful immortals from beyond the realm are saying they'll give him unlimited opportunities to try and fail...

"Then... what's the price?" Gaga raised her head and asked seriously.

"No need. You have nothing that we care about. Everything in this world is insignificant," Li Qi said, shaking his head.

"Impossible. If that were true, then those immortals wouldn't have bothered with the 'Four Extremes Array' you mentioned, nor would they have bothered with Refining the Heavenly Way Dao. You wouldn't have even glanced at us, yet you seem quite interested in the Holy Flame." Gaga immediately retorted, and at the end, she even brought up the matter of the Holy Flame.

Li Qi smiled and said, "Why is it impossible?"

"You may be mistaken. We don't need anything from you. The only thing we care about, the only thing of value you have, is actually yourself."

You yourselves.

As soon as these words were spoken, Gaga immediately understood.

For these 'immortals', the Sacred Flame Realm is nothing special.

All they need is 'population'.

What is needed is advanced intelligence, and what is needed are individuals with subjective initiative.

Humans are both the least valuable and the most valuable thing.

When food was cheap, a single grain of rice could be exchanged for several lives.

When people are valuable, they can create everything in the world. In essence, all civilization, spiritual practice, and knowledge are created by individuals.

What I mean by wanting you is that everything you create is needed, that you labor, innovate, and exert all your intelligence to create new things.

The Sacred Flame Realm cannot provide the materials that the immortals value; what the immortals want is simply the creativity that comes from a large enough population.

"So... you just have different political views?" Gaga's voice was weak.

Political differences are just as the Sacred Flame Tribe has done to other ethnic groups in the past.

Some advocate destruction, while others advocate coexistence.

Now, the Sacred Flame Tribe has become the one being chosen.

"My enemies want to keep you as a slave, to turn the Sacred Flame Realm into a world of slaves, a race of slaves. But we don't think so. We think that perhaps you can... truly join in, become a part of it, instead of becoming private property," Li Qi said frankly.

"You can trade with other parts of the world, exert your own power, do what you can, and create a better life for your world."

Before Li Qi could finish speaking, Ga Ga interrupted him.

Gaga said, "It's like... a vassal?"

"No, I prefer to call them companions. Although there are indeed differences in strength, there is no hierarchy in terms of status," Li Qi replied calmly.

"Even if you are so powerful?" Gaga's tone was somewhat skeptical.

"Strength earns respect, but the strong have their own boundaries, which is why I'm telling you all this," Li Qi said.

This statement is not actually a lie.

This has always been the way Shaman Path is presented to the outside world.

"So, if we're going to cooperate with you... let's call it cooperation, what do we need to give in return?" Gaga changed her question.

"You don't need to pay anything, just don't try to refine the immortals of the Sacred Flame Realm like you did before," Li Qi said with a gentle smile.

"I don't believe you can't be without other desires." Gaga shook his head. "If you don't make it clear... then please choose someone else, and hopefully he'll be foolish enough to listen to your nonsense."

If you're not going to tell me, then kill me.

Very fierce.

"... Do you think you have anything that we should demand from you?" Li Qi countered.

"No, but your motives can't be that simple." Gaga insisted on this point.

"Young man, you're too short-sighted." Li Qi smiled. "What we do is simply because 'we want to,' nothing more. You still have time. I'll come back to you in a while."

After speaking, he gave a gentle push, and Ga Ga disappeared from the spot.

Originally, he was only a soul, so now it's just a matter of sending his soul into his body, simple and easy.

Gaga felt a blur before her eyes and suddenly opened them.

But they found him still sitting in his room.

He closed his eyes and continued to sit silently.

It seems he hasn't been sleeping well lately.

"Phew~." Li Qi wiped his sweat, let out a long sigh, leaned back, and sighed, "Talking to the Child of Destiny is really tiring. My sixth sense is constantly pounding and reminding me."

It was truly dangerous; as he spoke, the Shaman's sudden whims constantly sent shivers down his spine.

It's like... being struck by lightning at any moment.

Moreover, Li Qi knew that this was not an illusion; the Heavenly Dao of this world was truly trying to kill him.

So he carefully considered his words, trying to guide the Child of Destiny.

Fortunately, the Heavenly Dao has no consciousness, only instinct as a spirit.

Therefore, as long as the Child of Destiny does not harbor absolute hostility and does not have a significant impact on the world, then the heavenly lightning will not strike.

Being struck by lightning would be fine, as the rabbit could shield him, but if that happened, nothing he did in this world would go smoothly.

The hostility of the Child of Destiny must be eliminated, and the Child of Destiny must be allowed to make the decision himself.

We need to guide him patiently; this Child of Destiny is too suspicious.

He's already such a big shot, and he still doesn't believe in himself, really...

"Cough cough... Full of lies, how despicable and shameless." Just then, a voice was heard.

Li Qi looked up and saw Jin Buhuan hanging to one side.

Ah... Li Qi had almost forgotten about him.

"Brother Jin, you're still alive!" Li Qi stood up and looked at Jin Buhuan.

Jin Buhuan seemed surprised that Li Qi would pay attention to him, and paused for a moment.

No matter what sound he made, what he tried to do, or how much he struggled, the woman on the other side didn't react at all. Jin Buhuan thought he would be treated like this until the end.

To everyone's surprise, Li Qi actually replied!

So he immediately perked up and struggled to say, "Li Qi... my father is almost here! Why don't you release me quickly? That way, if we lose the battle, you can use this as an excuse to beg my father for mercy—"

"Okay." Li Qi nodded directly, then reached out and Jin Buhuan.

Jin Buhuan stunned, and the words stuck in his throat, unable to come out for a moment.

Li Qi ignored all that and smiled as he patted Jin Buhuan on the shoulder, "Brother Jin, let's go. It's almost time for you and your son to reunite. When you get back, remember to apologize to the Mountain God for me and tell him that Li Qi has prepared a feast and is waiting for the Mountain God to come."

Jin Buhuan then realized what was happening.

Then, with a shudder, he swiftly transformed into a golden-haired, white-spotted tiger, becoming a streak of light as he fled.

Li Qi watched Jin Buhuan leave.

He was ready and waiting for the Green Mountain God to arrive.

I just don't know if the Sky Swallowing Demon Lord will come.

After Jin Buhuan left, there were no more outsiders in the cave, only Xia Li Qi and Shen Shuibi remained.

Just then, the rabbit was seen getting up with gentle yet swift movements.

Her dress billowed in the air, and then she wrapped her arms around Li Qi's chest with some dissatisfaction, pressed her face against it, and whispered in a reproachful tone, "Am I the third one?"

"Huh? What third one?" Li Qi hugged the rabbit and sat down on a plate, but he was still a little confused by her words.

Despite his doubts, he was still somewhat moved.

"I am truly moved. No other words can adequately describe Li Qi's current feelings."

It's been so long since I've seen a rabbit that I can actually touch.

Although Li Qi already possessed a long lifespan, he was only in his early thirties and was not yet accustomed to living for hundreds of years at a time. A year's separation was already a very long time.

Especially... he experienced so much this year, each one of which was exhausting, and he felt like something was chasing him from behind.

The existence of the Heavenly Demon made him feel like he was walking on thin ice. When he was alone, he would concentrate on thinking, deliberating, and cultivating or researching.

To be honest, I've been under a lot of pressure for so long, and it's exhausting. Thinking itself is a very stressful and painful process.

In order to get rid of this pain, many people will even choose to play some silly games and entertainment, just to empty their minds.

But Li Qi cannot afford to be idle; to be idle is to wait for death.

Now that the matter of the Heavenly Demon has come to an end, he no longer needs to worry about the Heavenly Demon appearing at all times.

He has already come to his own conclusion that I am no longer in a hurry.

The matter of the Witchcraft Silkworm was on the right track, and he no longer needed to worry about it.

The Imperial Academy is on holiday.

The matter of the Sacred Flame Realm has come to an end.

With everything mostly resolved, he finally had a rare moment of relaxation, and, to his credit, Rabbit was by his side.

Oh, no, not just beside me, but in my arms.

Finally, I can stop thinking, unload my burdens, empty my mind, and enjoy the pleasures of life.

He used some force to hug the rabbit tightly, then buried his head in her neck and took a deep breath.

Then, in a relaxed manner, she asked, "What does 'three' mean? I don't quite understand?"

But when Li Qi asked the question, the rabbit's expression changed from slight dissatisfaction to indifference, and it even chuckled softly, which was rare for it. Then it sat on Li Qi's lap and gently shook its head. "It's nothing, don't worry about it."

Actually, what she wanted to say was that the first thing Li Qi should do after arriving was to find that Child of Destiny.

The second thing was to let Jin Buhuan.

The third thing was to come and find her.

So she was a little unhappy.

Those things were supposed to be dealt with later; they were all minor matters and there was no need to rush to finish them right away.

But now it seems... not bad, that's just his personality.

He always likes to save his favorite dishes for last when he eats, and he also likes to finish his work before resting.

This proves... that I should save my favorite thing for last.

The rabbit wasn't stupid; she was quite clever, so she easily extricated herself from those minor grievances, even though she herself didn't realize that she would never have cared about such things before.

The rabbit used to be completely indifferent to the world around her; for her, only the mysteries and logic she explored in her heart mattered.

But now, besides that, there are other things that can stimulate her thinking ability.

Having given up the ability to think, Li Qi naturally wouldn't think too much about it. If the rabbit said it was okay, then it was okay.

They held each other like that, sat quietly for a while, and enjoyed the peaceful moment.

Suddenly, the rabbit looked up and said, "Move your hand away, it's still daytime."

Li Qi laughed and said, "Time flies in the mountains. We're in the mountains, in a closed cave, so what if it's daytime? It's not like we can't turn off the lights."

"No..." The rabbit's face flushed slightly, but she still lowered her head and refused to give in.

"Then I'll just hug you, and that's all."

"... If that's all, then it's up to you, but nothing else..."

Time passed little by little.

It lasted from noon until evening.

Li Qi put on his clothes feeling refreshed.

The rabbit was wrapped in a sheet, its face flushed, and its eyes held a complex expression.

Li Qi had never uttered a single falsehood when speaking to her before...

How come it's changed like this after only a year?

What exactly did he experience outside?

"Yu'er— "

"Get out of here, don't talk to me... I'm angry."

"Alright!" Li Qi quickly ran out of the cave.

I feel so refreshed and invigorated; it has lifted my spirits.

(Please vote for me! I only need a few dozen more votes... It's the last day, and they'll disappear if I don't vote. Please vote, everyone!)

(A new illustration of Rabbit has been added to the book review section; you can see it once it's open.)