This Really Wasn't Something a Gentleman Should Do

After reading through the records, Su Li sat stunned for a moment, his expression turning more solemn.

"Master Su, if you have something to say, please speak plainly."

Seeing the change in Su Li's expression, Hua Ziyan let out a faint laugh, seemingly unconcerned.

Su Li pondered briefly, then said, "I know what you're thinking right now: 'This man's about to say I'm facing a tribulation, then claim he can solve it, all to achieve some ulterior motive.'"

Hua Ziyan smiled at that. "That is indeed what I'm thinking. But surely Master Su has the same idea?"

"That's true, but I still have to say this. After you leave, you'll encounter a tribulation in the southern part of Wuyue City.

"This tribulation stems from the karmic consequences of a grudge passed down through the generations, so it should be a planned ambush.

"Judging by your fate, the ones involved won't be ordinary cultivators. They'll be something akin to walking corpses—what I'd call 'Puppet Death Warriors.'

"Fairy Mu Yuxi will be drawn into this vortex of fate and perish in the tribulation.

"And you...

"This divination has cost me a great deal of energy, so the information I have about you is more complete.

"Your fate has fluctuated quite sharply, and it's on a steep downward trend. That means you're about to endure a great tribulation.

"This tribulation will threaten your life.

"But the changes in your fate show that you'll fight to the death. Given your cultivation, you'll likely fail to transform into a Nascent Soul, then summon a heavenly tribulation to slay your enemies. Unfortunately, you're bound to fail.

"After that, your fate will come to a complete end."

Su Li had been keeping an eye on the information in the Life Archive System the whole time. He could tell that even after regaining her composure, Hua Ziyan still doubted him before he began revealing these details.

But as he disclosed more and more, Hua Ziyan could no longer remain calm.

Her expression was grave.

At first, she'd been deeply skeptical and hadn't really taken Su Li seriously.

But even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance that what he said was true, she couldn't afford to take it lightly.

What was more, if the series of events Su Li described really happened, they would be the inevitable choices she'd make!

Beside Hua Ziyan, Mu Yuxi held her breath. Her face had gone pale, and her eyes were filled with disbelief.

"Puppet Death Warriors? But... weren't those evil methods lost to the world along with Yinshang Cave Heaven? How dare they?!"

"They actually dare to raise Puppet Death Warriors? That's a method for cultivating demonic souls!"

Mu Yuxi cried out, disbelief and anger mingling in her beautiful eyes.

Su Li glanced at Mu Yuxi. As expected, a seventeen-year-old prodigy who hadn't yet been beaten down by life was still far too innocent.

When there was enough profit at stake, what wouldn't people dare to do?

"Master Su, I have a senior brother who's treated me very well since we were children. My father's thinking is that if my fated tribulation can't be overcome, I should be with him and bear him a child. What do you think of that, Master Su? And what do you think of my senior brother as a person?"

After a long silence, Hua Ziyan suddenly asked another question.

At first glance, this seemed to have nothing to do with the life-and-death crisis she'd just described.

But from her Life Archive, Su Li could see that she'd already made a compromise with fate. If she couldn't escape her fated tribulation, she'd leave behind a bloodline for the Hua Clan, however slim the chance of passing it on might be.

"Your senior brother really does treat you well, but your fates don't intersect. Even if you're willing, the two of you won't end up together. Still, if all you want is to bear a child, then finding a Heavenly Secrets Master with tremendous potential would be a rather good choice."

Looking at the pretty young woman before him, Su Li couldn't help making a casual joke. What was the big deal? Why so serious? This master would help her.

Hua Ziyan studied Su Li seriously, her cheeks turning faintly red. She sighed. "Since Master Su knows that my talent is Purple Qi Three Thousand, you must also know that I have a Chaos Physique. This constitution is naturally complete. Given Master Su's current cultivation, even if I were willing, you'd probably be... absorbed... no, struck down by the backlash of Yin Yang Dao Union before long.

"My fated tribulation is almost impossible to resolve. I may not care much about that, but are you willing to take the risk, Master Su?"

As she spoke, Hua Ziyan blushed and summoned her courage to take a step toward Su Li.

Su Li's expression froze. At the same time, he caught a faint, fresh fragrance, and his heart inexplicably began to beat faster.

"Ahem... Well, let's talk about your fated tribulation instead."

Su Li had a good impression of Hua Ziyan, but he still followed his heart.

He thought it was best to focus on the matter at hand. The Saintess was going to die, and for him to tease her at a time like this really wasn't something a gentleman should do.

Su Li took a deep breath, looked through Hua Ziyan's Life Archive again, and found the information about her at that very moment.

[With a constitution like mine, ordinary people simply can't bear it. Master Su has some ability, and he's quite handsome and extraordinary, but his talent and constitution seem far too weak. I hope, as he said, that he's concealing his strength through some special means and only showing me his ordinary side...]

[Senior Brother Yun Qinghong is passable, I suppose. He has the Flame Thunder Totem talent and was born with the Flame Thunder Spirit Body...]

[But I don't like him. At this point, what does it matter what I want?]

[Over these seventeen years, Father has poured so much of his heart and effort into me. I can't leave so heartlessly, grieving him and letting the Hua Clan's sacred bloodline die out...]

When Su Li saw the name Yun Qinghong, he immediately focused his thoughts on it and opened Yun Qinghong's Life Archive.

This was the Life Archive's "derivation" function. Anyone mentioned in a person's Life Archive could also be viewed, but only their past records were accessible.

In other words, part of the function had been crippled.

If he went a step further and looked at the records of people connected to Yun Qinghong through Yun Qinghong's own archive, the amount of information available would shrink even more.

It had taken Su Li several days of experimenting to figure out how this function worked.

Now, Yun Qinghong's information appeared in meticulous detail.

[Yun Qinghong: Male, 25 years old.

Cultivation: Golden Core Realm, eighth level, late stage.

Talent: Flame Thunder Totem (Spirit-grade, 8 stars), Mysterious Qi Movement (Profound-grade, 3 stars—continuously declining).

Constitution: Flame Thunder Spirit Body (Spirit-grade, 9 stars).

Fate: On the verge of death.

Current state of mind: I have to break through the eighth level of the Golden Core Realm as soon as possible and reach the ninth. Then I'll head to the Boundary Water Wasteland to obtain the Boundary Water Spirit Array diagram. With that diagram, Junior Sister Li will have a better chance of surviving the ninth-level Pill Tribulation...

Past experiences:...]

After reading it, Su Li had already made up his mind.

He spoke confidently. "Your senior brother Yun Qinghong has a Spirit-grade, 8-star Flame Thunder Totem talent, as well as the special Mysterious Qi Movement talent. Unfortunately, that talent has been affected by your fated tribulation and is continuously declining. His constitution is the Spirit-grade, 9-star Flame Thunder Spirit Body. Sadly, someone like him really isn't right for you, because he, too, is on the verge of death.

"As for the details of his impending death, I can't say without seeing him in person. I'd have to examine his face, then activate the Eye of Heavenly Secrets and use the Heavenly Secrets Qi Observation Technique on him to make a specific judgment.

"Also, he'll be going to the Boundary Water Wasteland in the next few days to obtain the Boundary Water Spirit Array diagram, so you'll have a better chance of surviving the ninth-level Pill Tribulation. You can easily confirm whether that's true by asking him."

Su Li's words had revealed quite a few secrets.

Hua Ziyan finally couldn't keep her composure.

"Please wait a moment, Master Su."

Hua Ziyan immediately took out a Communication Jade Talisman and sent a message.

Then she briefly asked about Yun Qinghong's situation.

After more than a hundred breaths, Hua Ziyan turned to Su Li, her face pale and her expression shaken. She bowed deeply to him.

"Master Su, I'm completely convinced! And I sincerely apologize for doubting your abilities all this time. Master Su, please help me."