Tong Ling walked behind a tree and changed into her usual red clothes, wrapping her body up tightly. But there was no hiding her prominent curves.
"How did he look at you?"
Tong Ling gave a charming smile and said, "Like a normal man, but he was very restrained. This person... is extremely suspicious."
"Good. Being suspicious means he has a brain. Being restrained means he has self-control. Even if he isn’t the Emperor’s Human World Body, he’s certainly extraordinary. What’s your take on him?"
Tong Ling looked down and thought for a moment. "He’s mature for his age, but not overly so. He has a certain presence, but it’s not overwhelming. All in all, I’d say he has above-average potential."
"Above-average is great! Too low, and you’re weak. Too high, and you’re rigid. Above-average is the best," Gai Fengyou said, nodding repeatedly.
Tong Ling and the male disciple exchanged a glance, unsure if their master was just flattering the Yellow Springs Emperor or speaking his true thoughts.
Tong Ling added, "On the way here, I saw Ye Han from a distance. He..." She trailed off, hesitant to continue.
Gai Fengyou waved his hand dismissively. "My readings on Ye Han are inaccurate. I know his Fate Grid is extraordinary, and I originally planned to foster a good relationship, find a chance to give him a Communication Talisman Disc. However, I can barely protect myself right now. Li Qingxian alone has nearly been the death of me, so how can I possibly pay any mind to Ye Han? Besides, no matter how great Ye Han’s fortune is, can it really surpass Li Qingxian’s? With the Life-Seeking Sect and the Emperor as his backers, even if we don’t get the meat, a mouthful of soup would be nice. At the very least, with the goodwill we’ve established today, if you have to ask him for help in the future, he’ll at least show you a way to survive. I’m old, but there’s still hope for you two."
"Master..." The two disciples were touched.
Gai Fengyou’s tone shifted. "My Cultivation has fallen from the Upper Grade, and I don’t know when it will recover. I’m afraid I’ll have to enter secluded cultivation for a long time. You two should do the same. Find a time to go into seclusion. After you emerge, if you don’t see me, go find Li Qingxian and help him out however you can. Tong Ling, that goes especially for you."
Tong Ling’s body trembled slightly. She bit her lower lip and said with her head bowed, "Yes, Master."
Gai Fengyou let out a long sigh. "The Qi Fortune of heaven and earth is in chaos. Even the Celestial Fate Sect has been forced to release the Myriad Phenomena Map just to protect itself. A worldly calamity, chaotic fortune in the Human World... do you think you can just run from it? Do you think the Celestial Dao is so easily deceived? Do you think Cultivation is so easily obtained? It’s at times like these that you have to take a gamble. For years, I have been humiliated by so many people, called greedy, obsequious, a disgrace to all Fate Masters. But if I hadn’t been, I would have been a pile of dust long ago."
"I have always respected you, honored Master. In any other Sect, they would just..." Tong Ling couldn’t bring herself to finish.
"This trip to Prince Yuann’s Mansion was both a disaster and a blessing. To trade a First-Grade Cultivation for a connection to the Emperor’s Human World Body is, in fact, a great fortune. I’ve already said everything else. You two, take care of yourselves."
"Yes."
The autumn wind blew away the night and ushered in the morning light.
A massive, motley crowd, like a great flock of multicolored sheep, was scattered in all directions around the Aoshou Platform and the Grand Arena.
The common folk from around the Divine Capital and Cultivators from near and far had arrived with their younger generations, some to watch the spectacle, some to broaden their horizons, and some to witness the champion experts.
A rough glance estimated the number of people at over three hundred thousand.
More people were still streaming in from every direction.
At the edges of the crowd, many stalls had even appeared, selling food, miscellaneous goods, and toys, just like a marketplace.
The edge of the Grand Arena was sectioned off by a wooden fence, and in the center, a temporary sacrificial altar had been added.
Li Qingxian accompanied Songg Baige, Wang Buku, and the others through the candidate-only passage, just managing to squeeze into a spot at the edge of the Grand Arena.
Li Qingxian stood not far from the Aoshou Platform, watching as Songg Baige and the other candidates stepped into the Grand Arena and approached the altar.
Li Qingxian said, "Old Han, you must have seen the Cyan Cloud Examination before. How does the number of people this time compare to the past?"
"The Myriad Phenomena Cyan Cloud Examination ten years ago also started here. In terms of numbers, there are more this year. They said there were twenty thousand candidates that year; this year, it looks like it’s close to thirty thousand."
"That many more?"
"Last time, it was announced rather suddenly, so people from farther away couldn’t make it. Also, the Myriad Phenomena Cyan Cloud Examination hadn’t been held for a long time, so many people were just observing. This time, everyone knows the benefits, so even with the danger, many want to risk it for a good future," Han Anbo said.
Zheng Gaojue said, "My dad told me that those who came back alive from the Myriad Phenomena Cyan Cloud Examination back then all had their strength increase by a huge margin. Those who survived and are still alive today are all Middle-Grade figures with real power in their respective factions, and a few are even Upper Grade. Going from Seventh Grade to Third Grade in ten years is just too rare."
"That’s right. That’s why there’s a rumor that the Myriad Phenomena Cyan Cloud Examination is a Gu-pot. It transfers the Qi Fortune from the dead to the living. Otherwise, there’s no explaining how so many people can get stronger," Han Anbo said.
"There’s a rumor like that?" Li Qingxian had never heard this theory.
Han Anbo chuckled. "What, are you tempted?"
Li Qingxian shook his head. "Only a fool would be tempted. I’m a Fate Master, why would I care about a little bit of Qi Fortune like that? The Qi Fortune I gained from the Emperor’s reward for my Aoshou achievement is no less than what those who walk out of the Myriad Phenomena Map alive receive."
"That’s true. Besides, you only reached Entering Grade half a year ago. It’s not a good time for you to be risking your life," Han Anbo said.
Li Qingxian smiled. "I’m just waiting to see Songg Baige make a fool of himself. If his final ranking is low, he can’t blame me for being sharp-tongued."
Yu Ping whispered, "He has to be alive for that to count."
"Don’t jinx it! Shut it!" Li Qingxian turned and stuffed a chicken leg into his mouth. With another flick of his hand, Magical Power swept over his fingers, cleaning off the grease.
Yu Ping’s eyes lit up. As he gnawed on the chicken, he felt as if he had discovered a whole new world.
Han Anbo gazed at the altar and smiled. "When the Myriad Phenomena Map descends, it’s an incredible spectacle. It scared the daylights out of me back then. They say that every time the Myriad Phenomena Map appears, it creates a different phenomenon. I wonder what kind we’ll see this year."
"What was it like last time?"
"Last time, ten cracks opened in the sky, brilliant light shone in the Ten Directions, and then a waterfall of clouds hung in the air, enveloping all the candidates."
"That does sound spectacular. I hope it’s even more spectacular this year," Li Qingxian said, looking at the altar with great interest.
Han Anbo laughed. "Don’t say that. With things like this, the more spectacular it is, the bigger the commotion, and the more people die."
"Haha, that’s true."
In front of the altar, a Middle-Grade Fate Master from the Celestial Fate Sect, wearing a Tai Chi Daoist Robe, was leading several other Fate Masters in chanting a Curse and casting a Skill to connect the altar with the Myriad Phenomena Map.
Li Qingxian’s gaze fell on the collars of their robes. Unlike the Daoist Robes of ordinary Fate Masters, the edges of their collars were embroidered with bright yellow, dragon-patterned brocade.
"The Fate Masters of the Celestial Fate Sect are so impressive," Zheng Gaojue remarked with feeling.
As the Fate Masters cast their Skill, the crowd gradually fell silent.
「7:00 AM was approaching.」
When the casting was complete, the world trembled lightly. A vertical, pitch-black rift suddenly appeared in the sky above the altar, like an irregular crack in a door.
A fierce wind arose, and the morning light flickered.
Everyone held their breath, watching the phenomenon in silence.
A few moments later, the wind stopped and the morning light dimmed. The jagged, pitch-black rift remained motionless.
The spatial rift resembled a twisted black spear, piercing the vault of heaven.
The examiners began to murmur among themselves. The Fate Masters from the Celestial Fate Sect also lowered their heads to confer, and the candidates looked on in confusion.
"Strange..." Han Anbo’s brows furrowed tightly.
Li Qingxian said, "The Myriad Phenomena Map is a Qi Fortune treasure, after all. It’s unpredictable. This is normal."
Han Anbo nodded.
The crowd whispered amongst themselves. The Seventh-Grade Cyan Cloud Examination seemed to have reached an impasse.
Suddenly, a thick black fog surged out from the rift, engulfing the entire area in the blink of an eye.
The black fog blotted out the sky, plunging the world into twilight.
The black fog veiled the sun, turning the great star a dark, bloody red.
The whole world suddenly took on a different appearance.
The immature voices of thousands, tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of children suddenly rang out in unison.
"Old wolf, old wolf, what time is it?"
There was no response.
Everyone was stunned. Who would be playing a children’s game at a time like this?
’Isn’t this a game everyone played or heard about as a child?’
Then, the hundreds of thousands of children’s voices cried out in unison once more.