’According to this technique, the more Destiny Stars, the better. The minimum is eighteen, and the maximum is forty-nine. It also requires sufficient Qi Fortune. At this rate, I’ll only need to save up for another month or two to gather enough Qi Fortune Fish...’
Li Qingxian studied it repeatedly and found that the only Earth-Opening Technique he could use at the Lower Grade was the Filling Fate and Complementing Luck Method. The other techniques were not only much more difficult but also had major side effects.
’Opening a Life Land sooner means gaining the support of four more Destiny Stars and an additional Life Formation. Besides, Diligent Study and Advancement Type Destiny Stars need to grow continuously. The sooner they enter my Life Mansion, the faster I’ll grow. Someone like Ye Han, covered in extremely valuable Destiny Stars, has a Fate Grid uniquely suited for them. My Life Mansion couldn’t handle them right now, but even if it could, the complex interactions of conflict and consumption between the Fate Grids would be enough to throw my fate into chaos.’
’Of all the Destiny Stars, the Diligent Study and Advancement Type have the fewest negative effects. As long as they’re nurtured enough, every single one can become incredibly auspicious or even supremely valuable. From what I’ve heard, Zhao Yishan’s Life Mansion likely contains a large number of this type of Destiny Star. That’s why he grew stronger with age, experienced explosive growth in his later years, reached the First Grade, and became peerless among those of the same grade.’
After much thought, Li Qingxian made up his mind. He went to see Zhou Chunfeng and told him about his chosen path for Destiny Cultivation.
Zhou Chunfeng was very pleased. He permitted Li Qingxian and Team A9 to stay behind and focus on their Earth-Opening Cultivation.
In the days that followed, Li Qingxian immersed himself in studying the Earth-Opening Technique while continuously going with Han Anbo to acquire Destiny Stars for him to "fish."
One could purchase ordinary Destiny Stars, but they couldn’t be used directly in the Earth-Opening Technique. Li Qingxian had no choice but to buy them first and then "fish" for them himself.
A Destiny Star claimed with the Life-Hunting Skill would cost one Qi Fortune Fish and one Fate Grid slot, but it would then belong completely to Li Qingxian.
In contrast, simply purchasing the use of a Destiny Star consumed nothing, but it would still belong to its original owner. If the owner died, the Destiny Star would vanish.
Han Anbo found several disgraced Literature Cultivators and injured Martial Cultivators, all of whom possessed decent Diligent Study and Advancement Type Destiny Stars. They negotiated several times, but unfortunately, no deal was ever reached.
One person demanded five hundred thousand for a single Destiny Star, which was far beyond Li Qingxian’s budget.
Although he had obtained many treasures from the Nether Mountain Sub-Branch, most couldn’t be quickly liquidated. On top of that, he needed Han Anbo to establish an Art Troupe and plant informants, so his money was flowing like water.
During this time, Li Qingxian found three shops specializing in Life Materials through Guo Xiang. Purchasing them in large quantities was yet another major expense.
「Time passed.」
The forty-nine Destiny Stars were gathered, and the forty-nine Qi Fortune Fish were prepared.
One morning, Li Qingxian made his way to the Chunfeng Inn, with Zhou Chunfeng guarding from within and Zhou Henn from without.
Li Qingxian sat upright in an armchair, his arms resting on the smooth armrests. He closed his eyes, focused his mind on his Spirit Platform, and sent his consciousness into his Life Mansion.
Li Qingxian’s consciousness gazed upon his own dilapidated house. Though it had expanded slightly under the influence of his Destiny Stars, it was still just a slightly sturdier version of the same ruin.
"First technique: Solidify the Mansion!"
Li Qingxian chanted a long string of Spells. With a point of his finger, seven Qi Fortune Fish leaped into seven ordinary Destiny Stars. The seven stars transformed into streaks of light, crashing like meteors into the walls of the dilapidated house. They dissolved into a faint white glow that stabilized the Life Mansion.
"Second technique: Exorcism!"
Li Qingxian pointed his finger again. Another seven Qi Fortune Fish and seven Destiny Stars flew out, transforming into seven great stars. They circled above the Life Mansion and slowly melted, forming rays of seven-colored Divine Light that protected the entire structure and cleansed it of all impurities.
"Third technique: Strengthen Fate."
Empowered by the seven Qi Fortune Fish and seven Destiny Stars, the might of the four Destiny Stars already inside the Life Mansion climbed steadily, bolstering his protection.
"Fourth technique: Open the Earth!"
Qi Fortune Fish and Destiny Stars coalesced into a Light Blade shaped like a full moon. It flew into the Life Mansion and slashed into the void behind the Adolescent Life Land.
A series of crisp cracking sounds echoed as the void split open, revealing the Young Adult Life Land.
A Nine Palaces grid, an Eight Trigrams shape, four great pillars.
The Life Mansion swayed, and the Young Adult Life Land trembled violently, as if rocked by an earthquake.
"Fifth technique: Stabilize the Form!"
A new batch of Qi Fortune Fish and Destiny Stars flew in, merging with the Young Adult Life Land.
The Young Adult Life Land gradually stabilized.
Before long, the tremors vanished.
The Young Adult Life Land was like a dead land, its aura completely different from the Adolescent Life Land’s.
"Sixth technique: Nurture the Soil."
The sixth batch of Destiny Stars and Qi Fortune Fish surged into the Young Adult Life Land. Slowly, it began to exude an aura of life, becoming more vibrant, more natural, and more inviting.
"Seventh technique: Set the Formation!"
The final batch of Destiny Stars entered the new Life Land and slowly dissolved.
In the end, all forty-nine Destiny Stars had become one with the new Life Land.
Li Qingxian let out a sigh of relief, but suddenly, his Life Mansion began to tremble again.
And the shaking grew increasingly violent.
Li Qingxian froze for a moment, then instantly understood. ’My Life Mansion is too weak!’
Li Qingxian continuously fed his remaining Qi Fortune Fish and spare Destiny Stars into it, and the tremors gradually subsided.
As each Qi Fortune Fish and Destiny Star was absorbed into the Life Land under the effect of the Filling Fate and Complementing Luck Method, the Young Adult Life Land grew steadily more stable.
At last, the Young Adult Life Land stopped trembling.
Li Qingxian waited quietly for a while before letting out a long, slow sigh of relief.
He turned his head to look. Only three Qi Fortune Fish were left in his Life Pool. On the rockery, only a few Destiny Stars remained, such as the Deceitful Destiny Star and A Drop of Water Becomes a Lake.
Li Qingxian began to rearrange the positions of his Destiny Stars.
’Right now, I only have one Destiny Star for my Diligent Study and Advancing Fate Grid: A Drop of Water Becomes a Lake. This type of star must be placed in the Adolescent Life Land.’
’This is a classic Water Destiny Star. In the future, the Adolescent Life Land can only house either more of the same type or a few Gold Destiny Stars to facilitate the elemental cycle of Gold generating Water.’
After some thought, Li Qingxian moved Gray Sparrow’s Nest, Sunlight on Golden Mountain, Chameleon Hideaway, and Fox Posing as Tiger’s Might from the Adolescent Life Land to the new Young Adult Life Land.
Then, he placed A Drop of Water Becomes a Lake and Golden Toad with Treasure into the Adolescent Life Land.
’Placing Golden Toad with Treasure in the Adolescent Life Land carries a slight risk of exposing my wealth, but with the effect of Sunlight on Golden Mountain, it shouldn’t cause any major problems...’
Li Qingxian ran through the setup several more times in his mind, finally settling on the new Fate Grid layout.
’Next, I need to gather three Diligent Study and Advancement Type Destiny Stars to complete the Adolescent Fate Grid, which will eventually form a Life God.’
Li Qingxian withdrew his consciousness from his Life Mansion, a look of astonishment on his face.
The chirping of insects and the songs of birds were clearer, the fragrance of the flowers and grass was richer, and the world before his eyes seemed brighter and more colorful than before.
"How do you feel?" Zhou Chunfeng asked with a smile.
"I feel... a slight sense of comfort, but it’s hard to describe. It’s like my body has gotten stronger," Li Qingxian said.
"That’s to be expected. Go and rest for a few days to get used to the changes. Your Fate Skills might be needed soon," said Zhou Chunfeng.
"I heard they have a Middle-Grade Fate Master on their side?" Li Qingxian asked.
Zhou Chunfeng nodded, his voice grave. "The Ministry of Justice has been using that Middle-Grade Fate Master to find all sorts of clues. They’ve ’legally’ arrested several Entering Grade officials from the Patrol Bureau. That in itself isn’t the problem—if you do something wrong, you should be punished. But they’re holding them indefinitely without a verdict, which has left the Patrol Bureau severely short-staffed."
"And the Internal Factory is just standing by and watching?"
"The Ministry of Justice is being very clever. They aren’t touching any Eunuchs, nor are they involving any Night Guards with actual power. On the surface, everything looks proper, so it’s difficult for the Internal Factory to make a move."
"Alright. I’ll focus on my Cultivation for a while. When I’m ready, I’ll make my move."
"Autumn is here," Zhou Chunfeng said, gazing out the window.
Li Qingxian turned to look. Outside the window, the maple leaves burned a more vibrant crimson, and the lotus flowers in the pond had begun to wither.
The Chunfeng Inn, once brimming with the colors of summer, now felt much more desolate.