Chapter 26 - 26 My Master Can Tell Fortunes (Please Follow)
Lin Qingzhi and Chen Yao were in a squad led by an Inner Sect Disciple of the Golden Core Realm at the ninth level.
This Inner Sect Disciple had cultivated in Mount Shu for sixty years, not a novice by any means, with rich worldly experience, thus he was qualified to lead new disciples on their formative expeditions.
Normally, as long as one didn’t encounter an Elder of the Demon Sects or a Great Demon, being at the ninth level of the Golden Core Realm meant one could traverse Xia State with impunity.
“The disciples of this generation in Mount Shu have boundless prospects.” “Two years from now, we shall meet again at the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion.” Following the conclusion of the Mount Shu Disciples’ Conference, the Elders of the five Righteous Dao Sects held a covert meeting with Li Changye before taking to the skies on their swords and departing.
“Changsheng, have you noticed? Xia Ningxue, the newly accepted disciple of the Fairy Pavilion Master, possesses exceptionally high talent.”
Senior Brother Li Changye watched the departing crowd and communicated telepathically with Lu Changsheng.
“Despite her young age, her cultivation has already reached the Dao Palace Realm, indeed formidable.”
“During the Six Dao Conference, it’s likely that the Fairy Pavilion Master will send this girl to challenge the rank of our young generation Elders in Mount Shu. Although I’m confident in defeating her, having cultivated for five hundred years, a victory over her would hardly be honorable.”
“One thousand five hundred years ago, the Six Dao Conference was held at our Mount Shu, and Inquiry Immortal Pavilion challenged our position as number one. The Pavilion Master fought our Sect Leader and was defeated in all three battles, losing face completely. As a result, Inquiry Immortal Pavilion’s status fell to fifth place. I reckon the Fairy Pavilion Master still remembers this.”
“You are the last direct disciple accepted by our Sect Leader. For this Six Dao Conference, we can only hope you will defeat Xia Ningxue.”
Li Changye spoke with a heavy heart as he patted Lu Changsheng’s shoulder.
Li Changye had been present to protect Lu Changsheng during his breakthrough to the Dao Palace Realm, witnessing the heavenly phenomena induced by Lu Changsheng. Believing that Lu Changsheng’s talent was no less than his own, he hoped that Lu Changsheng could stand against Xia Ningxue and uphold Mount Shu’s dignity.
To battle Xia Ningxue?
“Senior Brother, if I defeat Xia Ningxue when the time comes, you’ll have my back, right?”
Lu Changsheng wasn’t afraid of Xia Ningxue, but he was concerned about the Fairy Pavilion Master supporting her from behind.
How would he face it if the Fairy Pavilion Master, after finally finding an opportunity to disgrace the Mount Shu Sect Leader, decided to personally draw a sword and pursue him if he ruined it?
“Hahaha, both Master and I will have your back.”
Understanding Lu Changsheng’s implication, Li Changye reassured him.
It seems his Senior Brother also enjoys stirring up a bit of chaos.
Before his disciples set off for their trials, Lu Changsheng summoned Lin Qingzhi and performed a Power-infusing Initiation on him.
[Ding, you have imparted 300 days of Heavenly Cultivation to your disciple “Lin Qingzhi,” and Lin Qingzhi has actually gained sixty days of cultivation.] [Ding, you have received an eighty-fold return reward for your teaching: 4.800 days of cultivation.]
[Ding, the number of Power-infusing Initiation you can perform today -1, the remaining count for initiating today is 1.]
Due to Lu Changsheng’s realm advancement, Lin Qingzhi only gained sixty days of his cultivation, but his Qi Sea was now brimming with spiritual energy. Lu Changsheng obtained over ten years of cultivation return, further solidifying his Dao Palace.
“Disciple, your master has foreseen through calculation that one year from now, on your way back to Mount Shu after completing your trials, you will encounter a tribulation.”
“Master can tell fortunes?”
Lin Qingzhi’s eyes widened.
To mysteriously calculate the ways of heaven, even the Temple Master of the Hidden Dragon Temple would not dare claim to accurately predict events a year in advance.
Yet, his master had outright stated that he would experience a tribulation in a year’s time.
“I know a thing or two.”
“How should your disciple face this tribulation?”
“When the time comes, you needn’t worry, keep calm and handle it. If you truly cannot overcome, your master will appear and assist you in crossing the tribulation.”
“Thankyou, Master. Your disciple takes the liberty to ask.”
“Goon.”
“Is Master… an Immortal?”
“Do I look like an Immortal to you?”
“Yes, very much so.”
Lin Qingzhi was convinced that Lu Changsheng was an Immortal hidden away, cultivating in Mount Shu.
Otherwise, how could Lu Changsheng bestow limitless Power-infusing Initiation? How could he foresee the future and be so prescient?
“To me, an Immortal is nothing more than a cultivator with a much higher level of cultivation.”
“Before you depart, as a reward, I’ll bestow upon you some Elixir Pills for your survival during your trials.”
Lu Changsheng casually handed over a bag of Elixir Pills.
With Lin Qingzhi’s current realm, Elixir Pills below the third grade were more than sufficient; higher-grade Elixir Pills might risk causing his body to explode from their potent power.
Over the past three years, Lu Changsheng diligently exploited the system benefits every day, amassing hundreds of advanced Elixir Pills, including an eight-grade Elixir Pill that returned a ten-thousand-fold reward.
The power of an eighth-grade elixir pill is so strong that even those in the Dao Palace Realm cannot withstand it.
Lu Changsheng need only take out a few fifth-grade elixir pills to trade for a stack of third-grade or lower elixir pills at Mount Shu’s Elixir Pavilion, never fearing a lack of elixir pills to reward his disciples.
As for high-grade elixir pills, Lu Changsheng uses them for body tempering himself and his young apprentice.
The higher the grade of the elixir pill, the better the body tempering effect, and the stronger the physique.
Of course, if the power of the elixir is too strong, it could easily result in the body exploding and death.
“Thank you, Master. Qingzhi has been away from Mount Shu for a year and couldn’t serve by the Master’s side. I hope the Master will forgive me,”
Lin Qingzhi bowed deeply, then respectfully took his leave.
“Master, Lian also wants to go down the mountain and play! Please- ”
Lian clung to Lu Changsheng’s arm, coquettishly pleading to descend the mountain for trials.
“No, you may not. Here in Mount Shu, you have the protection of your master, Sect Leader, eldest senior brother, and the Supreme Elders. If you leave, your presence could alarm the four Great Demon Sects and the demons of Huang State. Do you want to be devoured by a Great Demon?”
“Alright then…”
Lian, remembering being chased by the Black Tiger Daoist and Reincarnation Hall three years ago, reluctantly gave up the idea of leaving the mountain.
“So when can Lian leave the mountain?”
“You must at least reach the Dao Palace Realm, with your Martial King Divine Physique becoming somewhat established,”
Lu Changsheng pondered for a while and, considering his young apprentice’s monstrous talent, realized that once she had somewhat established her Martial King Divine Physique, she would have no problem blowing apart Great Demons of the calibre of the Black Tiger Daoist with her bare hands.
“That’s too long.”
Lian pouted but continued to cultivate under Lu Changsheng’s guidance.
For a peerless genius like Lian, who could reach the Dao Palace Realm in her twenties, such a period of cultivation was indeed insignificant.
In the Qi Transformation Realm, one’s lifespan is 150 years.
In the Golden Core Realm, it is 300 years.
In the Nascent Soul Realm, it is 500 years.
In the Dao Palace Realm, it is a thousand years.
A dozen or so years, to a cultivator of the Dao Palace Realm, is no more than a year or two for a common mortal.
Lu Changsheng still wanted to linger in Mount Shu for a while longer.
Without being invincible, Lu Changsheng always felt the world of cultivation was fraught with danger.
Staying in Mount Shu was wonderful, with the protection of the Sect Leader and the Supreme Elders, and the abundant nature’s spiritual energy to use when breaking through – it was truly a Holy Land for cultivation.
Only if the spiritual energy of Mount Shu was no longer sufficient would Lu Changsheng consider relocating.
Lian continued cultivating with Lu Changsheng on Qingyun Peak, while his eldest disciple, Lin Qingzhi, began his year-long trial as a disciple.
Lin Qingzhi’s team was led by a senior disciple at the ninth layer of the Golden Core Realm; it also included Chen Yao at the third layer of the Golden Core Realm, a disciple at the ninth layer of Qi Transformation Realm, one at the sixth layer, and one at the fourth layer, totaling six members.
“The Master has predicted that I will face a trial in a year’s time; I must be especially cautious,”
Lin Qingzhi trusted his master, Lu Changsheng, wholeheartedly without a trace of doubt.
“Silly boy, what are you brooding over?”
Chen Yao carried the Skywave Sword on her back and, seeing Lin Qingzhi frown in thought, she approached him.
“My master said that in a year, our team will face a dire calamity; you should be careful too.”
“I thought you were honest and simple, yet you want to deceive me. Do you think your master is the Temple Master of the Hidden Dragon Temple, known for his incredible predictions?”
Chen Yao was skeptical.
The Time Law is among the most difficult in all of nature.
To predict the workings of fate may also invite backlash.
Not even the Temple Master of the Hidden Dragon Temple can necessarily foresee events a year in advance.
Lin Qingzhi promised with conviction, “I swear, my master will not be wrong.” “How about we make a bet? Whoever loses has to agree to do one thing for the other.”
“The Master said the martial world is perilous, and we must not bet lightly with others.”
“So you do not have confidence in your master’s prediction?”
“The Master won’t be wrong… Alright, I’ll bet with you,”
Lin Qingzhi scratched his head.
What a fool, getting twisted into making a bet by me.
Chen Yao found it amusing, but what she didn’t know was that Lu Changsheng had already used the system to simulate Lin Qingzhi’s life beforehand; in the end, she was actually the one lured into the trap.