Li Qingxian frowned as he walked back along the cobblestone path.
Jingg Guan’s behavior had already been suspicious. After entering Chunfeng Inn, things felt distinctly off. Even though Li Qingxian kept cracking jokes, Zhou Chunfeng’s reactions were still strange.
’Could it be that we were too ruthless with the Demon Sect and are now facing a clandestine retaliation? Or is it something else? Still, Uncle Zhou was right. I should be focusing my energy on my Fate Skills right now. Everything else can wait...’
Back in Room A9, Li Qingxian contacted Shen Xiaoyi first.
"Xiaoyi, do you know anywhere that sells the Refining Method for the Celestial Gazing Mirror?"
Shen Xiaoyi replied quickly.
"I sell it."
"You’re a straightforward one, Xiaoyi. Name your price."
"You know as well as I do that we Fate Masters aren’t skilled in combat. In fact, you could say we’re the weakest Cultivators when it comes to fighting. My condition is that you assist me during the Myriad Phenomena Cyan Cloud Examination."
"Does the entire world know about the Myriad Phenomena Cyan Cloud Examination now? A shame I’m only Eighth Grade. I can’t participate in a Seventh-Grade event like that."
"You have the status of a Seventh-Grade Qi Fortune Officer. You can."
"But I don’t want to go."
"But you *can* go."
"We’re not talking about the Cyan Cloud Examination. We’re talking about the Celestial Gazing Mirror."
"You really don’t want to go?"
"I really don’t. To be honest, I’m only doing the Eighth-Grade Cyan Cloud Examination. After that, I’m heading straight for Jiangnan to get away from a trouble magnet like the Divine Capital. In the Myriad Phenomena Cyan Cloud Examination, for every ten who enter, eight die. Before they go in, everyone thinks they’ll be one of the two survivors, but it’s only when they’re about to die that they realize they were one of the eight all along."
"We’re Fate Masters."
"Have you forgotten that the Myriad Phenomena Cyan Cloud Examination is hosted by the Celestial Fate Sect? You’re a Fate Master, but can your skills surpass the entire Celestial Fate Sect? Xiaoyi, I’m not trying to lecture you, but you... you just haven’t tasted hardship. You’ve never been beaten down by the real world; you’re just too naive. Let’s get back to the Celestial Gazing Mirror. If you really don’t want to sell it, you can just introduce me to someone who will," Li Qingxian said.
"Every time the Myriad Phenomena Cyan Cloud Examination begins, one person is chosen as the ’Human Son.’ They can absorb the fortunes of others to accelerate the nurturing of their Life God, and can even form a ’Hidden Destiny Star.’"
"If you think you’re the Human Son, then go for it. I’m really not interested. Are Hidden Destiny Stars that easy to get? Is there even one in a million?"
"Even if you don’t become the Human Son, just by getting close to them, you can get a share of their Qi Fortune."
"Or you could be devoured whole by the Human Son," Li Qingxian said.
"What if I told you I have a secret Treasure that can locate the Human Son once we’re inside? We could help them ahead of time and get on their good side," Shen Xiaoyi said.
Li Qingxian froze for a second, then sighed. "There’s really no such thing as fairness in this world. To think you’re decked out in Life Artifacts and can even predict who the Human Son will be before entering the Myriad Phenomena Celestial Destiny Map... I’m sure you’ll make it out alive."
"So you agree?"
"You people with good Qi Fortune all have one thing in common."
"And what’s that?"
"You always end up screwing over the people around you. I think I’ll pass."
"The Myriad Phenomena Map is the Ancient Netherworld itself. It has sealed away countless Destiny Stars and hides innumerable Treasures. Even the Celestial Fate Sect hasn’t managed to gain complete control over it. Don’t you want to go look for a Treasure?"
"The Celestial Fate Sect hasn’t taken full control? Interesting. But if even they can’t control it, what makes you think I have the courage to go in there and get myself killed? Ah, Xiaoyi, the Demon Sect has given me enough trouble lately. I’m tired of the endless fighting and killing in the Jianghu. I’m ready to hang up my armor and wash my hands of this whole business."
"The Myriad Phenomena Cyan Cloud Examination is still a month away. How about this: I’ll gift you the Refining Methods for three Life Artifacts. The condition is, if you participate in the exam, you have to become my ally—even if you don’t go all-out to help me. If you don’t participate, then we’ll consider the favor you owe me from before repaid. What do you say?"
"Deal! Give me a list, and I’ll pick," Li Qingxian said.
"Alright."
Soon, Shen Xiaoyi rattled off a long list of Life Artifact names.
Li Qingxian noted them down one by one, shaking his head as he looked at the list. ’As expected of a scion from a great Jiangnan clan.’ She had rattled off twenty-seven Life Artifacts in one breath as if she were reciting a menu, even including some from the Fate Measuring Sect.
However, aside from the Celestial Gazing Mirror, which was a Great Fate Artifact with a Great Inheritance, the rest were all ordinary Life Artifacts.
Shen Xiaoyi then asked, "Can you trade the Refining Method for the Immortal-Seeking Bee?"
"I can’t share that one with outsiders," Li Qingxian said.
"A pity."
Li Qingxian looked at the list of twenty-seven Life Artifacts. Putting the Celestial Gazing Mirror aside, he searched for what would suit him best right now.
’It even has the Void Life River. Xiaoyi’s a decent person, worth knowing. I’ll pick this for my second choice.’
The Void Life River was a special type of Life Artifact. If his Life Mansion was ever invaded by an external force he couldn’t handle, he could use the Void Life River to envelop the threat, lead it away, and banish it into the void.
The drawback of the Void Life River was that it was a one-time-use item; it disappeared after being used, and a new one had to be refined each time.
Then, Li Qingxian chose the third Life Artifact.
’The Township Stele might not be very useful to others, but for me, it’s a lifesaver...’ Li Qingxian thought of that shabby little hut and shook his head.
"I’ve made my choice: the Celestial Gazing Mirror, the Void Life River, and the Township Stele," Li Qingxian said.
"Oh? You actually need the Township Stele? You really are timid."
Li Qingxian pursed his lips. ’If your Life Mansion were a shabby little hut, you’d be even more timid than me.’
Shen Xiaoyi sent over the Refining Methods. After thanking her, Li Qingxian took some men from the Patrol Bureau and went out to gather the Life Materials for the Celestial Gazing Mirror and the Ten Directions Celestial Observation Technique, collecting the materials for the Void Life River and the Township Stele along the way.
Some of the Life Materials for the Celestial Gazing Mirror and the Ten Directions Celestial Observation Technique weren’t available in the Divine Capital, so he had to pay a hefty price to have them flown in from distant lands via Magical Artifacts.
Thankfully, he had the contributions from the Nether Mountain Sub-Branch; otherwise, he really wouldn’t have been able to afford it.
Half a month passed in a flurry of acquisitions and preparations.
「Divine Capital City, Wangjiang Building.」
The literary grandmaster of his generation, Lur Wenlin, once composed his "Ode to Wangjiang Building" here, catapulting the place to fame. For the past century, it has been a hallowed gathering spot for Scholars.
The Wangjiang Building was later expanded, with its adjacent Wangjiang Pavilion becoming the largest section, making it the premier location for large gatherings in the Divine Capital.
On this day, with the Double Ninth Festival approaching, the renowned literary figure Zhangg Maoshan—a former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites—sent out a wide invitation to the old Literature Cultivators near the Divine Capital. He was hosting a literary assembly at the Wangjiang Pavilion for them to drink wine and tea, and to compose and recite poetry.
Songg Yunjing and Zhou Chunfeng were invited as honored guests. Before the assembly officially began, Li Qingxian accompanied Zhou Chunfeng and was introduced to some of the elder Literature Cultivators.
Some of these elders had retired after successful careers, others had been demoted and were now living in leisure, some had no interest in an official career, and others were recuperating from injuries. There were over a hundred of them in total. More than ten were Upper Grade, the majority were Middle Grade, and only a few were Lower Grade.
Upon learning he was Li Gangfeng’s son, the elders showered him with praise, though they also expressed their regret that he hadn’t followed the path of Literature Cultivation.
Many of the elders gave him small trinkets or pieces of their calligraphy as first-meeting gifts, and Li Qingxian found himself with a bountiful harvest.
When the literary assembly officially began, Li Qingxian went up to a room on the second floor.
In the center of the room sat a miniature model of the Wangjiang Pavilion. To the east, south, and west of the model stood clothes racks draped with Zhou Chunfeng’s ceremonial robes, Court Attire, and official uniform. To the north lay Zhou Chunfeng’s Official Seal as the Inspector of the Patrol and Arrest Department.
The floor was covered with Yin-Yang Carpets, while an Eight Trigrams Lamp hung from the ceiling. In each of the eight cardinal and intercardinal directions stood a Wood Carving of one of the Eight Directions Gods. Each Divine Spirit held a weapon and was carved with lifelike detail.
Li Qingxian held up a scroll of calligraphy that the late Emperor Tiankang had bestowed upon Zhou Chunfeng and began to chant a Spell in a low voice.
As the Spell concluded, a burst of cyan light erupted from behind him. A gleaming bronze mirror soared into the air, carried by the rising cyan qi.