Cao Ming said, "Lord Ge, I must disagree. Special appointments are for attracting and motivating talent. If Li Qingxian receives a high-level special appointment, it will surely inspire the Night Guard. Perhaps soon after, the Night Guard will gain several more Fate Masters. What’s more, it’s best for our Night Guard’s Fate Masters to avoid getting too close to the Astronomical Bureau."
Ge Chao said, "Unlike the Astronomical Bureau, we have no means of verifying Fate Masters. If everyone starts claiming to be a Fate Master in the future, what then? I think we should wait. After all, conferring a special appointment requires a report to the Cabinet, and that takes several days."
Li Qingxian looked at the man. He was average-looking, with a round nose, a thin, pointed face, and a calm gaze. It was impossible to tell whether he was targeting him or simply engaged in a normal discussion.
However, the man’s gaze was clear and his speech was gentle. ’Perhaps he’s an upright official, like Li Gangfeng,’ Li Qingxian thought.
"So you mean, as long as Qingxian can prove he’s a Fate Master, you’ll no longer object?" Zhou Chunfeng turned to look at Ge Chao.
"Naturally," Ge Chao said.
Zhou Chunfeng said, "Do you have a way to prove it? Don’t say you’ll take out a Life Artifact. Not only should Life Artifacts be kept secret, but even if you did, we couldn’t prove it’s a Life Artifact and not just a regular Magical Artifact."
Li Qingxian thought for a moment and said, "As far as I know, the Astronomical Bureau’s method of verification is Observing Fate and Qi. I have a basic grasp of it, but... I’m afraid that even if I give a reading, some people won’t accept it."
Ge Chao smiled. "Captain Li, you’re mistaken. Observing Fate and Qi is only a matter of being accurate or inaccurate, true or false. There is no question of ’accepting’ it. If you can truly do it, we will naturally acknowledge your skill."
’I wonder if someone put him up to this,’ Li Qingxian thought, his gaze shifting to Wei Yong, the Disciplinary Officer of the Finance Department.
Seeing Li Qingxian’s gaze, Wei Yong frantically shook his head and sent an urgent telepathic message. "He’s from the Imperial Prison Department! I didn’t put him up to this; my influence doesn’t extend that far! Don’t you go blaming me for everything!"
Li Qingxian felt helpless. ’Why is he so nervous? I never said it was definitely him.’
Li Qingxian glanced at Ye Han, only to find him staring into space, completely oblivious to the situation.
The Cowardly King opened his eyes, swept an expressionless gaze over Ge Chao, then looked at Li Qingxian. A faint smile appeared on his face as he said, "Are you certain you’ve become a Fate Master?"
"Yes, Lord Guard Commander. I am certain."
The Cowardly King looked at Ge Chao again. "Do you dare let Li Qingxian perform Observing Fate and Qi on you?"
Ge Chao was taken aback for a moment. "It’s not that I’m unwilling, my lord," he said. "But to be subjected to a fate reading simply because I suggested we strictly verify Fate Masters... it seems somewhat improper."
The Cowardly King, however, said, "Since you’re not unwilling, we’ll take that as your consent. Li Qingxian, perform Observing Fate and Qi on Ge Chao in front of everyone to prove you are a Fate Master."
Li Qingxian said, "My lord, I am merely Junior Tenth Grade, while Lord Ge is Junior Seventh Grade. The difference in our official ranks is quite large; I’m afraid it might be difficult."
The Cowardly King said, "No matter. I shall temporarily appoint you Street Patrol Deputy Room Leader, a position of the Junior Seventh Grade. If your fate reading is successful, the ’temporary’ will be removed."
"Thank you, my lord."
As soon as they heard this, everyone understood that the Cowardly King was clearly favoring Li Qingxian.
Li Qingxian cupped his fists, adopting the posture of an ordinary Fate Master. "I await your instruction, Lord Ge."
"You’re too kind."
"May I have your eight characters of birth, Lord Ge?" Li Qingxian asked respectfully.
Ge Chao recited, "Wuxu, Gengshen, Dinghai, Jiyou."
Hearing how forthrightly Ge Chao gave his information, Li Qingxian and the others nodded slightly. It seemed the man truly bore no ill will.
Li Qingxian silently memorized these eight characters, maintaining a calm facade.
’I’ve memorized some Life Books related to the eight characters, but I’ve barely ever used them. Besides, the Fate Measuring Sect’s Divination Skill is notoriously inaccurate.’
’Thankfully, my method isn’t the Divination of the Four Pillars and Eight Characters, but the far more advanced Divination of the Celestial Destiny Instrument.’
"If you’re not confident, you can still refuse," Zhou Chunfeng’s voice murmured in his ear.
Li Qingxian gave Zhou Chunfeng a slight smile, indicating he was very confident.
Li Qingxian silently chanted in his mind, ’Covering Eyes... Seeing the Dragon and Gazing at Qi.’
A Copper Official Seal hovered high above Ge Chao’s head, the sign of an Approaching Officer’s rising fortune.
Li Qingxian silently recited the incantation for the Observing Fate Skill.
"Heaven and Earth were originally one Qi. Motion and stillness divided Yin and Yang. Age and youth transformed into the Four Phases. The Four Phases gave birth to the Five Elements..."
This time, it was completed in just four minutes.
Li Qingxian’s consciousness entered the vortex above Ge Chao’s head, arriving in a courtyard.
A two-story, red-lacquered wooden building, surprisingly similar to Wei Yong’s. ’Looks like this man has Middle Grade aptitude.’
As Li Qingxian approached the entrance, the main doors swung open on their own.
Li Qingxian’s favorable impression grew. ’He really doesn’t seem to have his guard up against me at all.’
Within his Childhood Life Land, two Destiny Stars floated in the air.
On the Year Pillar, within the Celestial Destiny Star, a red-hot sword blank lay on an anvil. A hammer struck it again and again, sending sparks flying with a rhythmic CLANG CLANG.
Celestial Destiny Star: Forging a Sword of Fine Iron.
A Fate Technique states: Anvil with a furnace, Gold and Fire both prosper; Anvil without a furnace, life is full of ups and downs.
This was the first time Li Qingxian had seen a Gold Fate, so he paid extra attention.
Gold Fates and Fire Fates are the most unyielding.
On the Moon Pillar floated a Human Destiny Star.
Inside the Destiny Star, a small stream flowed slowly. The bottom of the stream glowed with a faint golden light.
Human Destiny Star: Stream Bottom Flashing Gold.
A Fate Technique states: Stream Bottom Flashing Gold, when the water dries, the gold scatters. Riverbed Gold Flowing, wealth streams in. Great River Hiding Gold, fortune and prosperity are endless.
’In the Five Elements, Gold generates Water... but his "Gold in the fire" has no furnace, making it unstable. His "Gold in the water" is just a flicker at the bottom of a shallow stream, easily depleted. It seems his family was wealthy when he was young, but they later fell into decline.’
He then looked toward the Youth Life Land.
It was completely empty.
’A voided Destiny Star is a major taboo, signifying a total lack of accomplishment. So how did he make it to Seventh Grade? Did he somehow turn a disaster into a blessing? This man has a story.’
Li Qingxian looked towards the Middle-Aged Life Land.
A faint white mist floated over the Middle-Aged Life Land. He hadn’t noticed it before; it was only visible when he looked at it head-on.
’Is this a Life Mist formed from a Life Formation, or by a Life God?’
Li Qingxian felt a surge of excitement, like a hunter spotting rare prey. This was a very unusual Fate Grid.
’As I thought. With my own power, I can’t see through this Life Formation. Time for the Celestial Destiny Instrument!’
At his mental command, a Qi Fortune Fish dove into the Celestial Destiny Instrument.
The Celestial Destiny Instrument rumbled and began to turn.
An invisible power surged in, and the Life Mist dispersed.
Four Destiny Stars hung high above their Life Pillars.
’With four Destiny Stars forming a set, the entire Fate Grid is different.’
Three of them were normal, but one wasn’t floating above its Life Pillar—it was resting right on top of it.
Li Qingxian first looked at the Destiny Star that was resting on the Life Pillar.
Within the Destiny Star, on a great plain, a black steed had separated from its herd and was galloping forward.
Human Destiny Star: Outcast Horses.
A Fate Technique states: A strong horse leaving the herd neighs loud and clear; an old horse leaving the herd cries mournfully; the Outcast Horses leave in silence.
Another Fate Technique adds: A strong horse leaving the herd has a great future; an old horse leaving the herd has no family or home; the Outcast Horses will turn and strike back.
Li Qingxian’s heart skipped a beat.
Outcast Horses... a notorious Fate Grid of betrayal.
And it just had to be a ’Destiny Star fallen onto its Pillar.’ A Fate Grid like this means one of two things: either the Destiny Star is an external addition, or a great calamity has occurred.
’Could he be from one of the Night Guard’s clandestine departments?’
Li Qingxian looked at the other three Destiny Stars.
’One was Gray Sparrow’s Nest, which I’ve seen on Wei Yong. It’s a common Fate Grid that helps one avoid some dangers, at the cost of being underestimated by others.’
In another Destiny Star, there was only a patch of pond water and weeds.
Li Qingxian was surprised. ’I’ve never heard of this kind of Fate Grid.’
Upon closer inspection, he saw a small, cyan fish hiding among them, perfectly still.
Human Destiny Star: Microscale Submerged Grass.
A Fate Technique states: Microscale Submerged Grass, ensures safety in disaster; Great Whale Sinks to the Bottom, the reef that wrecks ships.
Finally, he looked to the last Destiny Star.
In this Destiny Star was a dense forest with lush, flourishing green leaves.
Li Qingxian, having learned his lesson, looked carefully and soon saw a chameleon lying motionless on a brownish-green branch, completely blended in with its surroundings.
Human Destiny Star: Chameleon Hideaway.
A Fate Technique states: A tiger moving through the forest is heard in the wind, and an insect in the grass can be heard chirping, but where the chameleon walks, it leaves no form even when right before your eyes.
Li Qingxian felt the fog in his mind completely dissipate.
’Chameleon Hideaway, Microscale Submerged Grass, and Gray Sparrow’s Nest... they’re all concealment-type Destiny Stars. They reinforce each other, making them even more potent. That’s why I wasn’t wary of this man. It’s why I don’t resent him even though he’s clearly targeting me, and even find myself making excuses for him.’
’These three concealment Fates represent beast, fish, and bird. If he had one more—say, an insect or another concealment type—he would have a "Four Phases Complete" Life Formation and be destined to become a Life God. If he truly had such a Fate Grid, the thought of reading it would never have even occurred to me or the Cowardly King. We would have overlooked him completely.’
’His Microscale Submerged Grass is a Water Fate, while Gray Sparrow’s Nest and Chameleon Hideaway are Wood Fates. With Water nourishing Wood, he’s set to rise to prominence in his middle age. Barring any accidents, his future should be limitless. But... the horse from Outcast Horses eats grass, which slightly suppresses the Wood Fate. That star makes his formation, but it could also be what breaks it...’
Li Qingxian carefully inspected Ge Chao’s Life Mansion one more time. Finding no other issues, he then withdrew.