The Eternal Way

A sorcery technique!?

"Are you sure it's a sorcery technique?" Uncle Six's face froze in astonishment.

"Yes, a sorcery technique, but... somehow, I think I've learned it too?" Li Qi rubbed his head.

Indeed, besides the inexplicable progress bars that had appeared in his mind, he had also gained another set of memories.

No, not exactly memories, since there were no images or texts involved—more like an... insight?

"You've learned it too? Can you teach it to our gang?" Uncle Six's previously despondent expression suddenly turned to one of delight.

"I don't know... I can't use it yet, and I can't describe it either. It feels more like a sensation, without any words. Give me some time," Li Qi struggled to explain.

"That should be a divine intent inheritance. It's normal for you to find it hard to express," Uncle Six nodded, acknowledging Li Qi's explanation.

"Uncle Six, you knew about this?" Li Qi was stunned.

"Do you think the Paibo Gang was founded by just anyone? Who do you think first brought the Paibo Technique here?" Uncle Six smiled.

He then reassured Li Qi, "It's alright. Getting a divine intent inheritance means we've made a profit even if nothing else comes out of it. But there is one issue: how did the Lizhuang Gang manage to get close to such a high-level practitioner?"

Li Qi explained, "I overheard that this high-level practitioner divined that the Lizhuang Gang could help him obtain an 'Outer Path object,' so he hired them to search for it. They succeeded, and as a reward, he taught them a sorcery technique. I happened to witness this and seemed to have been affected too. Uncle Six, what exactly is a divine intent inheritance?"

After confirming that Li Qi had indeed acquired the divine intent inheritance, Uncle Six's face relaxed completely. He first checked around to ensure no one was eavesdropping before continuing, "I don't know the specifics of divine intent inheritance, but what I do know is that it's like having a book thrown into your mind. As long as you practice regularly, you can learn the techniques inside. I once had a similar opportunity and learned the Paibo Technique, which led to the founding of the Paibo Gang."

"Will you teach us?" Uncle Six asked, looking somewhat anxious.

Though he trusted Li Qi, it was still a sorcery technique after all.

"Don't worry, I won't forget the gang once I master it," Li Qi quickly promised.

The Paibo Gang had taught him the Paibo Technique, and it was Uncle Six who saved him initially. He wasn't ungrateful, nor would he selfishly keep a sorcery technique to himself.

Moreover, teaching it to the gang would strengthen their collective power, potentially leading to new opportunities. Sharing knowledge was mutually beneficial.

"That's good to hear. You don't need to participate in the river opening ceremony anymore. We'll cover for you, and your share of the rewards will remain intact. Go back now and focus on understanding the divine intent in your mind to see if you can unlock the sorcery technique," Uncle Six waved him off.

But Li Qi shook his head, "No, I can't go back yet."

"Even though I covered my face, someone from the Lizhuang Gang definitely saw me. They won't let this slide."

"They'll surely come looking for me. If they notice someone missing from the river opening, they'll realize something is wrong, just like we did when the Lizhuang Gang didn't show up," Li Qi said.

Given that the Lizhuang Gang's absence prompted their investigation, the Lizhuang members wouldn't be oblivious to any discrepancies among those returning.

"So, we should proceed with the river opening as usual. When you surrounded me to help, tell everyone I fainted due to a fever. Make sure everyone sticks to the same story. Uncle Six, you personally make sure everyone understands. Remember, today, no one left, and I fainted because of a fever."

"Right, right, I got carried away. Let's do as you say! Rest for now, I'll go inform them." Uncle Six nodded repeatedly and rushed out of the shelter to relay the instructions to the others.

Meanwhile, Li Qi sat back down, shaking his head.

For the rest of the day, he continued working on the river opening, pulling boats with extra effort.

By evening, the ice on the Lishui River had been crushed, allowing the water to flow freely, marking the end of the ceremony.

However, he didn't show any reaction.

Throughout the day, he realized...

The remnants of his game console might be manifesting as these progress bars in his mind.

The so-called 'Outer Path object' might be these progress bars.

This was his hypothesis, though uncertain, it seemed plausible after a day of contemplation.

Perhaps these were leftover game progress bars? Fragments of his broken game console?

Damn, if the console were intact, he might have a system instead of just these seemingly useless progress bars?

But complaining wouldn't help; better to accept reality.

As for the strange 'insight' in his mind, he had figured out what it was.

How did he figure it out?

Simply by focusing on the insight, the progress bar would pop up:

"Learning: Ox Strength Technique, Progress 1%."

So, this insight was called the Ox Strength Technique?

With 'technique' as a suffix, it indeed seemed like a sorcery technique.

Initially at 0%, but after trying to immerse himself in it, following its rhythm and moving his body accordingly, he began to gradually understand its methods.

By immersing himself in the insight, using its instinctual guidance while pulling the boat, he managed to reach 1% progress after a full day of work.

"The river opening ceremony has concluded. Gather here, the Prefect will bestow rewards personally!" an official shouted to the exhausted pullers gathered by the river.

Despite being drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted, the pullers scrambled to their feet upon hearing this.

After a grueling day—and even more during the previous competition for the river opening—the ultimate goal was today's reward!

Currently, navigation was still impossible as only this section of the river had thawed. The entire Lishui River spanned thousands of miles, making complete navigation impossible.

The river opening was merely a ritual, a prayer for the river to thaw sooner.

However, within a week or so after the ceremony, the whole river would typically become navigable.

Li Qi discarded any unnecessary thoughts and hurried to join the group.

He wasn't in a rush; every moment delayed was a moment safer.

During the river opening period, the Lishui military was present, along with the Prefect. Surely, the young man wouldn't dare to cause trouble here?

Although he knew this was wishful thinking—if the other party truly wanted to harm him, no one could save him—he couldn't help but try to delay the inevitable.

Around ten thousand people lined the banks of the Lishui River, stretching two to three miles.

The river opening ceremony wasn't limited to pullers; there were sailors, ship workers, weavers, and dozens of other groups contributing to the event.

Thus, after the ceremony, the Prefect, the highest-ranking local official, would ride in a grand procession around the river, bestowing rewards upon all participants.

Li Qi watched as the progress bar for the river opening ceremony reached 97%.

It would likely hit 100% after the rewards were distributed.

"The Prefect's carriage approaches! Bow!" an official announced loudly.

Upon command, everyone by the river knelt, and the crowd of ten thousand bowed simultaneously, resembling a field of wheat swaying in the wind under the Prefect's authority.

Drums, carriages, processions, and banners followed.

First came rows of black-armored warriors, each towering eight feet tall, robust and cold-eyed, viewing the pullers as mere pigs and dogs, silently holding their halberds and leading the way.

Having participated twice in the river opening, Li Qi recognized this.

These were the Lishui military.

Each member was akin to a humanoid mobile suit; Li Qi had witnessed the commander sever the Lishui River with a single slash, stopping the river's flow for several seconds.

Following the armored guards came the carriage.

The ornate carriage depicted mountains, rivers, colorful clouds, cliffs, and misty landscapes, culminating in twin gates with a great river flowing through.

If one looked closely, they'd recognize the design as the map of Lishui.

Above the carriage stood a nine-foot-tall, handsome man driving slowly along the riverbank.

At each stop, he recited a blessing, followed by officials distributing rewards.

Finally reaching the Paibo Gang's pullers, the carriage's occupant declared, "In the Qinghua Palace resides the deity of Lishui, commanding forty-two divisions, overseeing myriad spirits. You, pullers, belong to one division, aiding ships upstream, relieving heavenly disasters, and benefiting the underworld. For today's grand river opening, you've resolved calamities and deserve rewards!"

Three officials stepped forward, presenting nine fat pigs, nine nets of fresh fish, two piles of copper coins, and two chunks of ice freshly retrieved from the river, placing them before the kneeling leaders of the Shuimajiang and Paibo gangs.

The pigs weighed roughly two thousand pounds each, with sharp teeth and impenetrable hides, yet bound tightly and motionless.

The fish measured nearly half a meter, some with sharp teeth, indicating their ferocity.

Each gang received half the rewards, with the Paibo Gang getting an extra share for being the primary force, receiving five pigs and five nets of fish.

Both gangs accepted their rewards but remained.

They had to wait until all rewards were distributed before leaving together.

"What's going on...?" Li Qi, intending to stay unnoticed, noticed a progress bar on the Prefect's carriage: 'Ritual Enhancement: 90%.'

The progress bar advanced rapidly, completing after the rewards were distributed.

Li Qi kept watching.

He observed that each person rewarded and each blessing recited contributed to the progress of the Ritual Enhancement bar.

All rewards distributed, the Prefect's carriage departed without a word or appearance.

But Li Qi suddenly recalled the young man's words: "Those who follow the Dao of Man unite masses for their own use; all human realms embody this path."

Was this ritual part of the Dao of Man?

Li Qi speculated.

Then, he looked at the Lishui River again.

Surprisingly, he saw another progress bar:

"River Opening Ceremony: Progress 99%."

"Why isn't it finished? What's happening?" he wondered.

Previously, the ceremony ended once all rewards were given, allowing everyone to disperse.

Without the progress bar, he wouldn't have noticed the ceremony wasn't complete.

A puller approached Li Qi, "Brother Li, let's go! We need to find a butcher tonight!"

"Today's five pigs and big fish should last us a year!"

The pullers cheered, some preparing to take fish home, others carrying pigs to the butcher.

Killing pigs required specialized skills; regular pullers couldn't penetrate the thick hides, necessitating expert butchers skilled in vital points.

Thus, butchers formed their own small guilds.

In this world, almost everyone belonged to small groups centered around specific techniques.

"You guys go ahead, I'll stay behind," Li Qi suddenly said.

"Huh? Stay behind? Where are you going, Brother Li? People will be cleared from the river soon," a puller asked, puzzled.

Uncle Six kicked him, "Stop asking so many questions! I've assigned Li Qi a task. Go, your wives are waiting for meat to cook!"

With Uncle Six's assurance, the others stopped questioning and eagerly thought of the pigs and fish awaiting them.

Such delicacies were rare outside special occasions.

Fish could be caught, but mostly smaller ones; catching larger, powerful fish required skill, often beyond the pullers' abilities.

They left happily with Uncle Six, carrying the pigs and fish.

Uncle Six didn't ask what Li Qi intended to do, knowing he had a mission related to the situation.

This highlighted the importance of trust and rules within small groups.

Once Li Qi made his commitment, Uncle Six gave him full trust without hesitation.

Seeing them leave, Li Qi prepared to depart too.

Staying wasn't an option; he'd be forced out eventually.

The rule prohibiting lingering post-ceremony, combined with the persistent 99% progress, aroused Li Qi's suspicion.

Dao of Man techniques... enhanced through rituals?

The river opening incomplete, yet the Prefect was clearing people out.

An audacious idea crossed Li Qi's mind.

Could he somehow benefit from the unfinished river opening ceremony?

After all, he was a participant, part of the ceremony.

Stealing a sorcery technique meant certain death by this world's standards.

Moreover, he didn't want to be a puller forever!

Suddenly awakened powers and the sorcery technique in his mind spurred Li Qi to take a gamble!