: Divination

Zhu Xuanji slowly set down his teacup and let out a long sigh. "Sect Leader Lin has managed the Ten Thousand Medicines Sect with such hardship and exhaustive effort; it truly hasn't been easy."

"Past matters might as well fade with the wind. Everything must move forward. Given today's circumstances, Brother should embrace openness and broad-mindedness."

"Within the four seas, all land belongs to the king; under heaven, every domain is sovereign territory. Since the Sect Leader understands the greater picture, the kingdom's generous reward naturally goes without saying."

Ning Zhuo, seeing this, stood up, stepped forward, and bowed solemnly. "Sect Leader Lin's high righteousness is truly admirable."

"In the past, when the Ning family faced hardship, we were fortunate to receive the Ten Thousand Medicines Sect's full support, saving us from crisis. The Ning family will never forget this for generations. This junior is deeply grateful for your kindness, yet has been unable to repay it. Today, having the chance to meet the Sect Leader and receiving Senior Sister Shanshan's many considerations, Zhuo has no way to repay you, feeling only profound shame and embarrassment."

"Today's sudden incident, the urgent situation, was truly an accidental discovery, mistakenly touching upon a great treasure. It was a series of coincidences, unintentionally stirring up a huge storm, forcing the Sect Leader to activate the mountain-protecting formation, filling the air with killing intent. This junior fears he may not survive, though it was not his wish, truly helpless."

Lin Shanshan's expression immediately changed.

She looked at Ning Zhuo, her feelings complex, resentment overflowing.

Although she hadn't experienced much of the world, she had been intensively trained by Lin Bufan and lived by his side, influenced by what she saw and heard.

Thus, as soon as Ning Zhuo's words, which seemed like an apology, left his mouth, Lin Shanshan knew he was thrusting a sharp sword directly at her father.

Lin Bufan smiled on the surface but snorted coldly inwardly: "This brat's tongue is sharp, disguising himself!"

"If it were purely accidental, how could Zhu Xuanji have arrived so conveniently?"

Outwardly, Lin Bufan laughed and delivered another round of polite words, stating that Lin Shanshan's disappearance had led to such a radical response.

This was also turning black into white.

The truth was that Lin Bufan had first captured Ning Jiufan and activated the mountain-protecting formation, only then forcing Ning Zhuo to kidnap Lin Shanshan.

Ning Zhuo, of course, wouldn't allow Lin Bufan to distort the facts like this and immediately refuted him, though on the surface, it still sounded like a junior apologizing.

The two engaged in a war of words, which initially interested the listeners.

Gradually, the verbal exchange between the two sides seemed endless, continuing without stop.

Zhu Xuanji, growing impatient, had to raise his hand. "Stop, both of you, stop!"

He suggested that arguing was pointless and that they should first go see the Luminous Reflection Wall.

Lin Bufan stroked his beard and smiled, agreeing while giving Ning Zhuo a "gentle" look, thinking inwardly, "You little fox!"

Ning Zhuo wore a look of shame, saying that Elder Brother Zhu Xuanji's admonishment was right, while glancing sideways at Lin Bufan and thinking, "You old fox!"

Turning back, he saw Lin Shanshan glaring at him.

Ning Zhuo smiled broadly. "Miss Lin..."

Lin Shanshan turned her head away. "Young Master Ning Zhuo, do not speak to me."

Lin Bufan felt a warmth in his heart and revealed some facts: the Luminous Reflection Wall was a spiritual treasure of a very high grade. Even he, after repeated attempts, had never seen the wall itself. The several layers of formations outside the wall alone had stumped him.

"These formations themselves do not belong to the Reflection Wall but were jointly set up by the projections of several formation masters from ancient times."

"After our sect moved here, it took the original mountain's mountain god a hundred years to infiltrate only the outermost two layers of formations, creating a secret passage connecting the underground cavern and the residence."

Lin Bufan subtly and tactfully advised everyone not to have too high expectations for this trip, as he had never been able to control this spiritual treasure. If the operation failed, it wouldn't be because he, Lin Bufan, was unwilling to cooperate.

Ning Jiufan stroked his beard, his expression serious. "If what Sect Leader Lin says is true, and the Reflection Wall contains the methods of countless ancient masters, that is truly formidable. If we provoke the spiritual treasure's retaliation on this trip, we might all be in mortal danger."

Zhu Xuanji nodded slightly upon hearing this, as this was also his concern.

Thus, he turned to Shen Lingshu beside him. "Elder Shen, please perform a divination for us before we proceed!"

Shen Lingshu nodded. "This is precisely why I was ordered here, to assist you."

Ning Zhuo looked at Shen Lingshu with curiosity, thinking, "Divination?"

Divination was one of the hundred arts of cultivation. He had long been interested in this skill and found it novel to meet a practitioner today.

"This Elder Shen not only has a cultivation base at the Nascent Soul level but was also sent by the Southern Bean Royal Family. He must be quite skilled in divination."

"I must find an opportunity to get close to him later!"

Shen Lingshu's heart suddenly skipped a beat, giving him a slight sense of foreboding.

His expression grew more solemn as he thought, "Having a premonition before action—could this trip be quite unfavorable?"

He had originally intended to exert only eighty percent of his effort, but disturbed by this premonition, he decided to perform the divination with full force.

Immediately, he took out his signature magic treasure from his storage belt—a set of Nascent Soul-level counting rods.

Ning Zhuo stared intently; it was his first time seeing a Nascent Soul-level great cultivator perform calculations before him.

Shen Lingshu, his eyes profound, gently stroked the counting rods in his hand and said, "Your auras are not aligned, with both auspicious and inauspicious signs mixed. Allow me to calculate for each of you first, then combine the results to probe the heavenly secrets of this journey."

No one objected.

Shen Lingshu concentrated for a moment, first looking at Ning Jiufan. He reached out and captured a strand of Ning Jiufan's aura, projecting it into the counting rods.

He tossed the rods.

The rods emitted specks of mysterious light, floating in mid-air before finally hovering still.

Shen Lingshu calculated the result and said to Ning Jiufan, "You have noble support and hidden fortune in your destiny. However, your fate changed recently due to external forces, with emotions involved."

Ning Jiufan's face slightly reddened as he asked, "I've heard that rashly altering fate can lead to backlash. Is it..."

Shen Lingshu shook his head, reassuring him. "This was not a change you initiated. The one who performed the spell has already borne the burden for you. There is no need to worry."

He turned to Ning Zhuo and continued the calculation.

Soon, his gaze turned icy as he said directly, "Young friend Ning Zhuo, your fate is stable and ordinary, but within this stability, there lies hidden opportunity."

After that, he calculated for Lin Shanshan. "Young friend Lin Shanshan, your destiny carries domestic energy; it is not suitable to travel far recently. There is wind, frost, and cold dew outside, but warmth remains inside. Staying within the hall will nourish your energy and strengthen your vitality."

Lin Shanshan's expression changed slightly.

Shen Lingshu then calculated for Lin Bufan, his expression turning serious. "Sect Leader Lin, your destiny is full of wealth and honor, but stillness brings unease, while movement turns auspicious. Between heaven and earth, yin and yang flow. Prolonged stillness will inevitably lead to movement. If you do not act now, disaster will be hard to avoid. Success or failure hinges on a single thought. Moving toward auspiciousness and protecting the Ten Thousand Medicines Sect's foundation aligns with heaven's will."

In other words, disaster could strike even while staying at home.

These words struck a chord with Lin Bufan, and he turned his gaze toward Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo: ...

Finally, Shen Lingshu looked at Zhu Xuanji, tossed the counting rods, and obtained an answer. "Friend Zhu, yours is a fate of toil. You have extraordinary talent, but only through hardship can you achieve great success. Toil brings merit, and your future enterprise will be illustrious. However, this journey requires much patience, as success or failure hangs by a thread. Behind fame and achievement, you must possess extreme endurance to not defy the heavenly way."

After calculating for everyone, Shen Lingshu silently recited a mysterious incantation, gathering momentum for a long time before tossing the counting rods again.

The rods combined in mid-air, forming various patterns that left the others feeling dazzled.

Ning Zhuo stared intently for a while before feeling dizzy.

Finally, Shen Lingshu collected the rods, looked around, and said quietly, "Based on your destinies, this journey holds peace within auspiciousness—no shocks or dangers, calm and uneventful, with support naturally arriving. However, the heavenly way is ever-changing. The harvest may not meet expectations. Only by relaxing your minds can you gain the advantage of time and place."

Everyone held their breath and listened intently.

Ning Zhuo, full of respect, flattered, "Elder Shen's divination skills are truly penetrating and brilliant. This junior witnessed it and feels deep admiration!"

Unexpectedly, Shen Lingshu said coldly, "Young friend Ning Zhuo, know that destiny is fixed, and heavenly secrets must not be spoken lightly. Do not approach me in the future."

Ning Zhuo: ???

With the divination completed and such a result, everyone began to take action.

Lin Bufan originally intended to leave Lin Shanshan on the original mountain, but she insisted on going, saying she wanted to personally rescue her senior brother, Linghu Jiu. Lin Bufan reluctantly agreed.

Lin Bufan opened the secret mountain path.

This was the very path Ning Zhuo had taken from the underground cavern to the original mountain.

He was essentially retracing his steps.

Everyone directly entered the formation within the formation—a vast mist, white and obscure, filling the surroundings and blinding their vision.

Lin Bufan employed his techniques, waving his long sleeves, causing the white mist to churn and roll, quickly thinning.

Just as everyone saw a gate faintly appearing, a slender figure pierced through the mist, holding a long sword, and walked up to the group.

It was Linghu Jiu.

"Master, and honored guests, please pause for a moment." Linghu Jiu smiled洒脱ly and suddenly pointed his sword at Ning Zhuo. "Allow me to challenge one person first!"

"Ning Zhuo, how about a spar with your foolish elder?"

"Elder Brother Linghu, why say this?" Ning Zhuo's expression changed slightly, feeling puzzled. "The misunderstanding between me and your sect has been resolved."

Linghu Jiu, however, smiled and shook his head.

Lin Bufan stroked his beard and suddenly said, "No, you are not Jiu'er. You are merely a projection of him."

"Linghu Jiu" nodded, admitting frankly, "My true self has already been guided to a deeper layer. I was left behind for one specific purpose."

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Ning Zhuo, his fighting spirit intensely strong.

Ning Zhuo remained puzzled, stating that this couldn't be Linghu Jiu's command—he would never treat him this way.

Shen Lingshu suddenly said, "So that's it. This is the guidance."

Ning Zhuo exclaimed softly, feeling that Shen Lingshu, this great divination cultivator, was somewhat targeting him.

Zhu Xuanji urged, "Then be quick about it, Ning Zhuo. Fight him."

Lin Shanshan pursed her lips into a smile. "Suddenly, getting to see Senior Brother and Young Master Ning Zhuo fight, even if it's not Senior Brother himself, is truly something to look forward to."

She was quite angered by Ning Zhuo's actions and inwardly hoped "Linghu Jiu" would teach the big-headed youth a good lesson.

With Lin Shanshan holding such an attitude, Lin Bufan's stance went without saying.

Ning Jiufan stroked his beard. "Xiao Zhuo, go and fight! Let everyone see the style of a man from the North, the Ning family's bearing!"

Ning Zhuo showed a bitter smile. Ning Jiufan had great confidence in him, but he knew deeply that Linghu Jiu was no simple figure. Even the Life Thread Manipulation supernatural power could be detected by Linghu Jiu; he must have hidden many things!

"War is perilous..." Ning Zhuo still held onto hope, reluctant to fight recklessly.

At that moment, the voice of the Five Elements Sovereign reached everyone's ears: "Kid Ning Zhuo, fight Linghu Jiu quickly!"

"I've made a bet with Brother Lonely."

"If you lose, don't even think about coming in!"

Ning Zhuo: ?!

(End of )