Chapter 76: Chapter 59: Divining Fortune, Encountering a Gambling Addict

Being urged to cultivate by Jiang Yi, his junior, didn’t annoy Yang Xun in the slightest. In fact, he was gratified.

In the past, he had no dreams and no hope, so he could only hole up in the Quenching Room on Red Flame Peak, an old codger just waiting to lie down in his coffin.

But now, things were completely different.

Yang Xun had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer in one fell swoop. His Primordial Essence strengthened and cleansed his entire body, rejuvenating his aging frame.

If he could just absorb and refine a portion of Spiritual Energy Attribute Qi to increase his Merit, even his white hair could gradually turn black again.

The future was full of promise!

“Ah Yi is absolutely right. I will certainly push myself to surpass that old dog Lu Ting as soon as possible and put him so far beneath me he won’t be able to lift his head!”

Yang Xun hadn’t stopped smiling all day. The lines at the corners of his eyes crinkled deeply as he chuckled and said,

“The only thing is, this has ended up delaying you. Ah Yi, you worked so hard to open your Primordial Gate and establish your Inner Mansion, but you still haven’t been nourished by Spiritual Energy…”

As he said this, a look of guilt couldn’t help but appear on his face.

He felt it was his fault for not arranging things properly. It just so happened to coincide with the Taifu Sect sealing off Beimang Ridge, and on top of that, his own closed-door cultivation breakthrough had prevented Jiang Yi from returning to Red Flame Peak to gather and refine that portion of Mingtang Qi.

“As long as I gather the Spiritual Energy within a hundred days, it won’t be a problem.

Besides, I’ve already stabilized my Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer Realm. You don’t need to worry, Grandpa.”

Jiang Yi’s expression was calm, his voice firm.

These weren’t just words of comfort. He had long ago resolved to obtain a Qi Cultivation First-Grade Technique!

The Eighth Grade Rituals Swamp of Fire and Water, which he had spent four hundred thousand Fu Qian to set up, had already rectified the problem of his previously insufficient foundation.

Jiang Yi had specifically consulted the Celestial Book: if he could cultivate a First-Grade Technique before reaching the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer,

then all of his shortcomings—such as not having Opened his Meridians and possessing a shallow foundation—could be resolved with ease.

“Excellent! Once I convert the shops and other properties I own into Fu Qian and buy you a few more Spiritual Objects for your cultivation, we’ll head back to the Outer Sect.

That way, even that Xiao Tongquan might not be your match!”

Yang Xun’s bald eyebrows shot up. After serving as a Servant on Red Flame Peak for decades, he had naturally accumulated a handsome sum of savings, totaling just over a million.

However, most of this wealth was tied up in shops in the Marketplace, manors near the Dharma Lineage, and annual dividends from the clan’s Spirit Fields and Spirit Ponds.

The actual amount of liquid Fu Qian he had on hand wasn’t very much.

He had originally been saving those assets for his retirement, but that was no longer necessary.

He should liquidate them as soon as possible and convert them into cultivation resources for Ah Yi.

“For a Fifth-Layer Cultivator, the Brain God grows stronger by the day, slowly giving rise to ’thought.’ This thought is spiritual in nature; not only can it detect the Qi Mechanisms of others, but it can also manipulate objects.

For example, the White Bone Magical Sword produced by our Red Flame Peak is refined and controlled using Divine Thought.”

Yang Xun had already considered purchasing a Magical Artifact for Jiang Yi.

Once Jiang Yi entered the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, he would inevitably have to venture into Resource Lands like the Hundred Beasts Cave and the Heart-Stealing Forest. Those places were incredibly dangerous, so he needed some means to defend himself.

“Divine Thought?”

Jiang Yi mulled over the term. He couldn’t help but think of how his senses had grown increasingly sharp lately, to the point where he could perceive the slightest rustle of grass in the wind.

“To know and perceive without seeing or hearing—that is Divine Thought.”

Yang Xun didn’t elaborate, only saying,

“Ah Yi, your Dao Wisdom is outstanding. It won’t take you more than a few days to grasp its true meaning.

Alright, I’m going to continue my cultivation, lest that old dog Lu Ting catches up to me.”

Jiang Yi glanced at the time and thought to himself,

’It’s past the middle of the Hour of the Dog, and he’s still not resting. Grandpa is truly diligent.’

He quietly exited the room, carrying the ritual Sacrificial Offering to summon the Venerable Supreme, and headed for the shacks on Shuangfeng Street.

At this time of night, an Elder from the True Gu Sect was practicing their Breathing techniques for Qi Cultivation, disturbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism and making the air outside intensely cold.

The churning, cold mist was almost tangible, condensing into flakes of frost that wrapped around one’s body and chilled them to the bone.

Any First and Second-Layer Cultivators with weaker qi and blood would, after being immersed in it for a few hours, feel as if they had fallen naked into a hole in the ice, their teeth chattering, barely able to hang on.

’High Cultivators act as they please, while Lower Cultivators must tread with trepidation.’

Jiang Yi sighed softly. The corner of his eye caught a few shivering figures by the roadside, and he wondered if they would make it through the night.

It wasn’t that they were foolishly sitting there waiting to die. Rather, having pawned their Body Mirror Tokens, they were now no different from vagrants in the mortal world.

Unable to board Cloud Ships or Land Ships, crossing mountains on foot was fraught with peril.

Most Lower Cultivators who left Sanhe District were liable to be captured by some Tribulation Cultivator and used as “Materials” for Soul Refining or Alchemy.

In the process, they would likely endure considerable torture and suffering.

’Tribulation Cultivators have no scruples. They kill at the drop of a hat, taking flesh, blood, and souls for their materials.

By contrast, a Dharma Lineage under the Demon Dao that raises Disciples as Daoist Cans has to be discreet, not daring to act so openly…’

Jiang Yi walked into the West Suburban Sheds, where many families were lighting charcoal fires to warm themselves.

He passed through their midst and, following the precise location indicated by the Celestial Book, carefully placed the plate of jerky made from Spirit Bird Breast Meat before leaving immediately without a second glance.

’Whatever the Celestial Book indicates must have a deeper meaning. Since I don’t know the full story, I mustn’t get clever.’

Jiang Yi was convinced the Venerable Supreme would appear on its own in five days. Trying to spy on it now might cause him to lose this Opportunity.

Hurrying back to Dai Pavilion, Jiang Yi saw that the candlelight in his grandpa’s room was still lit and couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

’The older generation of cultivators really is diligent. They rise early and sleep late, not daring to rest for even a moment.’

With that thought, he lay down on his bed fully clothed and drifted off to sleep.

’Grandpa is old but full of vigor; I, on the other hand, need my rest.’

…

…

The next morning, cold dewdrops dripped down, tapping against the window lattice.

Jiang Yi, having slept his fill, got up and left his room, only to see Yang Xun with deep bags under his eyes, looking as though he hadn’t slept a wink.

“Grandpa, you…”

“I spent two hours on my Cultivation last night, then another two hours contemplating the profound essence of my technique. Before I knew it, the sun was rising.

Age truly catches up with you. I remember back when I was painstakingly cultivating to reach the Fifth Layer, working day and night… I never felt tired back then!”

Yang Xun waved his hand dismissively. At his age, if he didn’t cherish this opportunity and seize the time to cultivate, how could he ever advance to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer? And how could he crush that old dog Lu Ting so thoroughly that he could never raise his head again?

’I must push myself!’

“Ah Yi, come with me to Zhizhen Garden today. Now that I’m at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, that old dog Lu Ting is bound to be jealous. I can’t do business with him anymore.

Zhizhen Garden has always been fair, and they’re fabulously wealthy. I won’t lose much by selling my shops and manor to them.”

Jiang Yi nodded in agreement.

Yang Xun was truly “betting the farm” on this trip down the mountain.

Fortunately, he also had the extra windfall of a Yuan Containing Pill, so his coffers wouldn’t be completely empty.

「A short while later.」

Jiang Yi followed Yang Xun into Zhizhen Garden. As they passed the Gambling Pool, he once again fed the Copper Fish, but this time, he got nothing.

He was the proud recipient of a slip of paper that read, “Thanks for playing!”

’Can’t have good Luck every time,’ he thought.

As his grandpa, Yang Xun, went to handle the transfer of the property deeds, Jiang Yi heard a low BUZZ in his ear.

The Celestial Book was providing the result of his plea.

He lifted his gaze slightly. A golden light surfaced in his eyes as dense, tadpole-like characters seemed to leap off a page.

[I beg the Celestial Book: show me the fortune, good or ill, of going to Zhizhen Garden tomorrow. If it is good, provide details. If it is ill, provide a way to avoid it.]

Ever since the two Elders from the Self-Illuminating Ghost Sect and the True Gu Sect had arrived in Sanhe District, Jiang Yi had been leaving a plea with the Celestial Book to divine his fortune and prevent disaster before it struck.

Just as he had mused the night before, a High Cultivator’s every move could stir up massive waves. A Lower Cultivator could only hope to survive by treading as if on thin ice.

Those with a low Realm were like fish and shrimp at the bottom of the sea, forced to drift along with the currents. To have the power to control one’s own destiny, one had to reach the peak of the Twelfth Layer.

[Deduction results as follows:]

[Today is the Daoist Calendar, Year…, 24th day of the tenth month. Auspicious for: travel, visiting friends, making Sacrificial Offerings, breaking ground. Inauspicious for: opening a business, felling trees, raising beams…]

’Why is the year of the Daoist Calendar displayed but not revealed? Could it involve matters of causality so profound that it concealed itself?’

Jiang Yi’s thoughts stirred, and he continued to read.

[Immortal Friend, your fortune today is neutral. No ill omens or disasters are foreseen, nor is there any good luck…]

With this confirmation from the Celestial Book, Jiang Yi finally relaxed and began to stroll leisurely through the garden.

Before he knew it, he had wandered to the front of the Doufa Pavilion, where he happened to see Lu Xuan standing dejectedly at the bottom of the steps, looking like a defeated rooster.

The other man was slightly surprised to see Jiang Yi. He froze for a moment, then quickly strode forward.

“Jiang… Wise Brother Jiang.”

Lu Xuan took the initiative to greet him.

“Do you have any Fu Qian on you? Could you lend me some?”

Jiang Yi frowned. He caught a familiar scent from this member of the Dongping Lu Clan’s Direct Lineage, the scent of a “degenerate gambler.”

“Young Master Lu, for what purpose do you need to borrow money?”

’Your grandpa is the Grand Steward of Sanhe District, and you need to borrow money from me?’ Jiang Yi scoffed inwardly.

“I just placed a few bets in the Doufa Pavilion. I was on the verge of a big win, but my luck was just a little off.”

Ordinarily, Lu Xuan wouldn’t have given Jiang Yi the time of day, but right now, he desperately needed Fu Qian to win back his losses. He had no choice but to swallow his pride and lower himself a bit.

“Don’t worry! I’ve already got my eye on someone. He’s a fierce veteran who fought his way up in the Zhao Country’s Border Army, and he’s an expert in the Five Tigers Breaking Gate Saber! He’s guaranteed to string together a few wins!”

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow. This good-for-nothing from a Village Clan Direct Lineage had actually developed a gambling addiction, obsessed with the duels between Magic Slaves.

“How much does Young Master Lu wish to borrow?”

“Thirty thousand is enough! I’ll pay you back as soon as I recoup my losses. Or…”

Lu Xuan’s eyes darted slyly.

“Wise Brother Jiang, why not place a few bets yourself? My eye for this is always sharp. I guarantee you’ll turn a profit!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep