In the center of Yi Lin, beneath the old locust tree.
Dong Chen couldnât help but feel a sinking sensation in his heart.
He had been observing the Yi Lin Hermit all along.
From the moment Shao Qian Nong closed his eyes for divination, Dong Chenâs gaze never left that withered face.
Shao Qian Nong opened his eyes, and especially that sigh, felt like a basin of icy water poured over Dong Chenâs heart.
Dong Chen suddenly felt an ominous foreboding. He hurriedly asked, "Senior, how went the divination?"
Shao Qian Nong paused, then spoke, his voice calm, revealing no happiness or anger: "Just a hairâs breadth away, and all was lost."
Dong Chenâs heart sank further, his voice hoarse, eyes showing a hint of urgency: "Even with your intervention, Senior, itâs still not possible?"
"I beg you, Senior, please use your divine skills again."
The Yi Lin Hermit slowly shook his head, looking up at the old locust tree, at the leaves gently swaying in the night breeze.
"Thereâs an old saying: a clever housewife cannot cook without rice. Divination is much the same. For any divination, we require clues."
"The more clues, the more important they are, the lower the difficulty of divination and the greater the harvest."
"This time, the clues are rather special, being that streak of calamity fortune."
As he reached this point, the Yi Lin Hermit slightly shifted the topic: "Do you know what fortune is?"
Dong Chen cupped his fists: "I ask Senior for clarification."
The Yi Lin Hermit sighed: "Fortune itself is change. Good fortune produces positive change; bad fortune produces negative change; peach blossom fortune involves interpersonal changes with the opposite sex."
"Fortune is a thing that moves and doesnât stay, circulating through the six emptinesses. During my divination earlier, I already engaged in a confrontation with the counterpartâs qi fortune. Though I borrowed the sectâs qi fortune to create an overwhelming force, the opponent also had background and external support."
"In my divination earlier, it led to a confrontation of fortunes. Amidst the chaos, that streak of calamity fortune has vanished."
"Surely, the child of calamity fortune must have received guidance from a master, taking the wisest measures, carrying out urgent handling."
"Trying to capture that streak of calamity fortune again is now impossible."
Dong Chenâs face turned a few shades darker, sighed heavily: "What should we do now?"
Yi Lin Hermit continued with further words: "Though losing a scale, we gain a claw."
Dong Chen was stunned.
Shao Qian Nong continued: "During the confrontation earlier, I captured remnants of residue. Thatâs the lingering trace left by the clash of qi fortunes, and from it, I calculatedâthat aiding the child of calamity fortune earlier were two treasures of qi fortune. One could burn qi fortune, likely completely destroyed. For now, letâs not discuss this part."
"And the other treasure of qi fortune, of a high grade, can be used to suppress fortune. Even if damaged, it surely wonât be discarded!"
He raised his hand, pointing southeast: "Moreover, Iâve calculated the position of this treasureâcentered at this place, in the southeast direction."
Dong Chen furrowed his brows, immediately unfolded the territorial map of Flying Cloud Country within his mind.
In his mind, starting from the Wanxiang Sectâs Main Mountain Gate, extending towards the southeast.
At the same time, he quickly analyzed in his mind.
"A treasure that can suppress fortune is extremely rare. Basically, only superpowers possess them."
"Of course, individual ownership isnât excluded, but that is even rarer.
"If conducting a conventional investigation, starting from the southeast, priority should be given to investigating the superpowers along this line."
The southeastern line he sketched in his mind already extended to the borders of Flying Cloud Country.
Meanwhile, he listed all the superpowers along this line.
There is the Xuantian Sword Sect. Established through Sword Dao, inherited for three thousand years, with profound foundations. Their fortune-suppressing treasure is the âMystic Sky Sword Order,â using the founding ancestorâs sword as the core, with successive Sword Mastersâ sword intent as the lead, capable of suppressing a sectâs qi fortune.
There is Biluo Pill Valley. An Alchemy Sect, historically producing three Divinity Transformation Alchemists. Their fortune-suppressing treasure is the âGreen Fall Pill Furnace,â made of Ten Thousand Years Cold Jade, cultivated with Pill Fire for a thousand years, capable of gathering qi fortune, nourishing Spirit Pills.
There is the Mechanical Clan. Known for Mechanical Techniques, possessing the Mechanism Clan Fate Mechanism Chain which can manifest targeted qi fortune, continuously monitor, and suppress a clanâs fortune.
There is also Ten Thousand Treasures Tower. Known for artifact refining, with many Refinement Masters emerging from the sect, their magic artifacts and magic treasures sold across countries. Their fortune-suppressing treasure is the âTen Thousand Treasures Furnace,â fueled by Earth Core Fire, guided by Hundred Types of Spiritual Materials, capable of gathering artifact fortune, and rarest, can cultivate artifact spirits!
Dong Chen stated his judgment.
Shao Qian Nong nodded slightly, added: "Additionally, thereâs another characteristic."
"The opponentâs qi fortune is cunning and varied, very much fitting the characteristics of the Demon Path."
"This perhaps indicates that the young cultivator is a Demon Cultivator, or maybe that superpower is a Demon Sect."
Dong Chenâs eyes flashed with a sharp light.
Among the four superpowers, only Biluo Pill Valley belongs to the Demon Path. Xuantian Sword Sect and Mechanical Clan belong to the Righteous Influence. Meanwhile, Ten Thousand Treasures Tower lies between the righteous and demon, belonging to the neutral camp, thus holds considerable suspicion as well.
Naturally, Dong Chen understood: What Shao Qian Nong mentioned were merely characteristics, not clues. Thus, the final characteristic of the Demon Path, may not be true, and could merely be the opponentâs disguise.
Dong Chen made a decision: "Next, letâs first investigate these four powers. Priority goes to Biluo Pill Valley, then Ten Thousand Treasures Tower."
Shao Qian Nong leaned against the old locust tree: "If you find anything, present the clues."
Dong Chen was instantly delighted.
The Yi Lin Hermit had willingly expressed interest in pursuing this matter, showing a willingness to continue divination.
Dong Chen quickly stood up, cupped his fists in gratitude.
"Thank you, Senior." His voice sincere, "Upon returning, I will do my utmost to investigate. If enough clues are gathered, theyâll be promptly sent to Yi Lin for Senior to exhibit the mystical calculations of divination."