Correction: Geniuses Are Idiots

Powerful Fate Masters could not only learn of a person's past and origins, but also see into the future and foresee what was to come. They were highly sought-after sorcerers by the major sects of the outside world. When recruiting apprentices, they could help identify talented cultivators blessed with the halo of a smooth path, while also preventing hostile sects from slipping in spies sent to steal cultivation secret manuals.

Even for an infant like Liu Ding, whose soul had yet to take shape, a Fate Master could unravel the mystery within the womb and obtain some information about his parents. Peak Fate Masters could even trace a person's previous lives. It was truly terrifying.

So when Fang Xi said this, Nie Zhengxu seemed to have grasped something and tried to guide him. "Grand Fate Master Fang, are you saying this child's soul may have been sealed by someone?"

The implication was that if Liu Ding's soul had once been sealed, then he was very likely an undercover spy sent by an enemy. Many clan elders immediately shook their heads solemnly. The clan could not take such a risk.

Fang Xi shook his head. "No. His seven spirits are merely damaged, and memories cannot leave an imprint. In other words, even if he grows to adulthood, he will be a fool."

"A fool?" Liu Yandong refused to believe it. What a wonderful child—his adorable smile... No, this child was always smiling. He was over a year old and still could not speak. Before, it had seemed adorable, but thinking back on it now, there had indeed been a foolish, silly air about him. Liu Yandong seemed to understand at last and collapsed into his grandmaster's chair.

Quite a few clan elders exchanged glances, their eyes and brows brimming with gloating. Nie Zhengxu even mocked him outright. "Sect Master Liu Yandong, do you still intend to acknowledge this child as the heir to your hereditary position?"

Liu Yandong gripped the armrests tightly, veins bulging on the backs of his hands. After a long while, he glared at Nie Zhengxu and said with ironclad resolve, "Nie Zhengxu, as you wish. I acknowledge this child."

Three years passed in a flash. In the early morning, the rosy clouds shining from the eastern bank still scattered across the rippling water like gold and jade, spreading with every wavelet.

"Train the Tiger Subduing Fist to the ultimate realm of spirit attunement, and you will be able to lift the First Soul-Forging Cauldron and embark upon the road to strength." The martial instructor, Liu Chengwu, was as impassioned and stirring as ever. His gaze fell upon the child standing in the middle of the first group, a child who had once shone brilliantly. "Liu Ding, go. Lift the First Soul-Forging Cauldron."

Though his voice was stern, low murmurs of mockery rose from every group.

"Here we go again. Aren't they sick of this? I suspect I was seeing things three years ago. How could a fool who has trained for three years and still cannot complete the Tiger Subduing Fist possibly lift the First Soul-Forging Cauldron?"

"Exactly. Maybe that day three years ago, the First Soul-Forging Cauldron was drawn in by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and produced the strange phenomenon of White Tiger golden energy on its own."

Amid the chaotic chatter, Little Dot squinted with a smile and habitually accepted the White Tiger Soul Pill Liu Chengwu handed him, swallowing it. Oblivious to the mockery around him, he tottered and swayed toward the First Soul-Forging Cauldron, stretched out both hands, and grasped its legs.

At that moment, behind a distant window, a pair of eyes lit up with hope for a miracle.

"Eeya, Uncle Cheng Wu, I still can't lift it." Little Dot kept straining with all his might, his little face flushed bright red. In the end, he plopped down on the ground, laughing carelessly as though this were only a game.

The pair of eyes behind that distant window quickly dimmed. Liu Yandong was disappointed again. He suspected that the miracle three years ago had been fate playing a trick on him.

This time, it was not just the children. Many clan members seated before the ancestral hall also gloated.

"Just as expected. A fool is a fool. Cultivation is a solid, practical matter. A momentary trick will eventually prove as fleeting as clouds."

"Liu Yandong miscalculated. He brought such trash into the clan, and now he knows shame. He does not even dare come watch the child break through a realm. Hehe."

"Actually, I think this is the most correct thing Liu Yandong has ever done for the clan."

"Exactly, exactly. Without his miscalculation, we would not have had a chance."

"Haha, precisely! Only nine years remain. I'm really looking forward to it."

The jeers came buzzing through the air like hornets stirred from their nest, stinging fiercely into Liu Yandong's heart. Wave after wave of wrenching pain seized him.

"They're right. I dug my own trap and jumped into it. I cannot blame anyone else." Liu Yandong gave a bitter smile and vanished gloomily behind the window.

Liu Chengwu sighed as well. However, when his gaze fell upon the middle of the third group, it brightened again. After a brief hesitation, he stepped forward and offered a fiery-red pill. "Liu Ji, I can sense that your Vermillion Bird Dance has gained the air of spirit attunement. Come, take this Vermillion Bird Soul Pill and try the Three Soul-Forging Cauldrons."

Liu Ji, visibly half a head shorter than the others in his group, stepped out proudly. With his head held high, he walked toward the Three Soul-Forging Cauldrons, reached out with his strong little hands, and gripped the cauldron's legs. The air around them seemed scalded by countless burning gazes.

Sizzle. Like air exposed to the blazing sun, a faint distortion appeared and vanished. The Three Soul-Forging Cauldrons, taller than the child himself, slowly rose into the air.

"You've broken through to the realm of the Three Soul-Forging Cauldrons and become a Three-Vessel Martial Apprentice! Liu Ji, well done!" Liu Chengwu shouted. The spectators watching from the riverbank burst into thunderous applause.

Liu Ji slammed the Three Soul-Forging Cauldrons back onto the ground. Though he was panting hard, an uncontrollable proud smile rose on his flushed little face as he enjoyed the praise coming from all around him.

"See that? Now that is a true clan genius. How could that fool from earlier compare?"

"Liu Ji isn't even seven yet, right? Yet he has already attained spirit attunement with the Three Soul-Forging Cauldrons. At this terrifying cultivation pace, he will not need nine years to attain spirit attunement with the Seven Soul-Forging Cauldrons and reach the peak of a Seven-Vessel Martial Apprentice."

"Brother Zhengxu, it looks like nine years from now, your family will rule the day. You must look after us then."

"Haha, certainly, certainly." As the flattery gradually turned into fawning, Nie Zhengxu smiled smugly. In his eyes seemed to appear the glorious scene of his grandson Liu Ji ascending to become the clan head of the Liu Clan.

"Today's morning training ends here. Dismiss." Liu Chengwu's shout rang across the riverbank. All the children scattered joyfully, some heading home and others going off to play.

"Off to hunt monsters and gain experience!" Liu Ji deliberately shouted. A group of children who had wanted to follow him and play stuck out their tongues and backed away. Only a few of his lackeys flocked after him like ducks to water.

"Be careful." Liu Chengwu called after them, but he did not pay much attention. There were no terrifying beasts near the clan grounds.

"Uncle Cheng Wu, don't worry. We're only going to..." As he passed Liu Ding, Liu Ji's lips curled into an almost imperceptible sinister smile. "Raid bird nests."

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Liu Ding, who had been playing in the sand on the riverbank, suddenly raised his head, his eyes shining. "I want to go too!"

The primeval forest was thick with yin energy. Poisonous insects came and went among the trees, beastly roars echoed through the woods, and vicious birds circled overhead. Five or six children had already crossed beyond the clan's forbidden wilderness outskirts. Looking at the tagalong still tottering behind them, twelve-year-old Liu Bo said unhappily, "Liu Ji, Liu Ding is stupid as a stump. Why did you bring him along?"

Liu Ji looked back and said slyly, "That's exactly why I need him. If we find the Golden Lion's den, tell me—would any of you dare go inside?"

Only then did the children understand. They were going to use the little fool.

They continued onward, walking several more miles into the forest. The great trees became sparse as they reached the edge of a grassland. Jagged rocks rose everywhere, and many fierce beast skeletons lay scattered across the ground. A savage aura filled the air.

Liu Bo stopped behind a huge boulder, pointed ahead, and whispered, "That cliff. I recognize it. I heard Uncle Liu Chenglin say that its den is in that cave on Knife-Edge Cliff."

A cliff stretched across the path ahead. The children hid behind rocks and looked into the distance. Beneath the cliff face was a pitch-black cave entrance, from which a savage aura faintly drifted.

"If we get Golden Lion cubs, we'll have incredibly awesome beast pets." The children clenched their fists, nervous but with their eyes full of anticipation and excitement.

"Everyone, hide." Liu Ji pressed down his hand, then said to the belated Little Dot, "Liu Ding, go see whether there are any puppies in that cave. If there are, bring them out."

"Weren't we raiding bird nests?" Little Dot asked doubtfully, blinking his black-jewel eyes.

"Stop talking nonsense. Do what you're told. Go." Liu Bo viciously shoved Liu Ding.

"Fine, we'll play with puppies instead." Thinking of those fluffy little animals, Little Dot's eyes filled with yearning again. Swaying from side to side, he walked toward the black cave entrance on Knife-Edge Cliff.

The children all drew their little heads back behind the rocks, scarcely daring to breathe. Even after Little Dot entered the cave, there was no movement.

Before long, Little Dot emerged. In his arms, he was actually cradling three Golden Lion cubs whose eyes had not yet opened.

"Damn, that little fool really doesn't know whether he's alive or dead." The children stared in stunned disbelief.

"While the mother Golden Lion is away, hurry up, everyone." Liu Ji's eyes gleamed. Pulling out a cloth bag, he said, "Don't touch the Golden Lion cubs yourselves. Don't get their scent on you. It's dangerous."

With that, he rushed forward first and had Liu Ding toss the best-looking Golden Lion cub into his bag. He puffed the bag full with several breaths and quickly tied it shut.

The other two stronger children followed suit and packed away Golden Lion cubs as well. The remaining two children's eyes turned red. Liu Bo shoved Liu Ding hard. "Little fool, are there any more inside? Hurry and bring them out for us."

"There are two more." Little Dot smiled foolishly, then turned and went back into the cave.

"Once you catch the Golden Lion cubs, leave immediately. We're going first." Liu Ji looked around and sensed danger in the air. His eyes shifted, and he turned and fled at once. The two children who had obtained Golden Lion cubs followed closely behind.

"Don't follow me. Split up!" Liu Ji shouted, quickening his pace and leaving behind the two children chasing after him.

"Little fool, hurry up." When Liu Ding finally came out holding two Golden Lion cubs, the two children practically pounced on him. Little Dot helped put one cub into one child's cloth bag, while Liu Bo impatiently held out his own bag.

"There are no more puppies. This one is mine." Little Dot hugged the Golden Lion cub tightly and unwillingly.

"Get lost! We never wanted to bring you along in the first place." Liu Bo snarled. He shoved Liu Ding to the ground, snatched the Golden Lion cub, and stuffed it into his cloth bag.

Awoooar!

Suddenly, a thunderous roar came from afar. The soundwaves rolled over the grassland like waves, and a massive mother Golden Lion appeared in the forest beyond the grassland.

"Not good! The mother Golden Lion is back! Run!" The two children turned pale. Leaving Liu Ding sprawled on the ground, they slung their cloth bags over their backs and fled for their lives.