Fortune Telling

Cangsong, Feather Transformation Immortal Lord, one of the three elders of Emei, was described by Cangsong as "exceptionally powerful. Even I had to be wary of him back then, and I always treated his family members with respect."

In novels, he's the ultimate demon king; in games, he's the final boss. If you made a combat power ranking, he'd be at least one of the top two. Now, using an IOU signed by his pet, he's blocking Li Fan, this young and helpless Nascent Soul Stage, at the entrance of Lou Guan Elementary School in the beginner Ink Bamboo Mountain, holding up a pebble and demanding that he touch it.

Can't we just have some fun anymore??

However, Li Fan had seen all sorts of grand occasions; it wasn't his first time dealing with Dao Ancestors, Immortal Lords, or Demon Gods. At least this old man hadn't killed anyone instantly like his junior brother, so there was still room for negotiation.

So he straightened his clothes, bowed again, and said, "Immortal Lord Emei has graced Lou Guan. I, Qingyue, have failed to greet you properly and have been quite impolite just now. Please allow me, as a junior, to offer you three cups of tea to fulfill my duty as a host."

"You've come to offer tea? Hmm? The Lou Guan has really fallen into your hands." Old Man Qin blinked, momentarily surprised, then stroked his beard and smiled, "Alright. However, I am no longer the head of the Emei Sect, now merely a guest elder in the mountains. As the mere head of the Qin Family, I am not worthy of receiving the three bows of the orthodox Lou Guan. I will take advantage of being a few years older than you, fellow Daoist, and accept a cup of your tea."

That's not just about getting a few years older...

Although this old man came up with a surprise attack, trying to trick Li Fan into touching his stone, and we don't know what his intentions were, the fact that he is now willing to accept the tea ceremony offered by the Xuanmen sect shows that he regards Qingyue as a junior fellow practitioner of the Xuanmen sect, and at least he won't slap her down like a fly.

So Li Fan didn't play any other tricks and behaved properly. He first took out six yellow flags and threw them to form a Six Gates formation on the main road to perform a ritual. Then he took out the tea table, teacups, and futon he always carried with him, invited Old Qin to sit down, and brewed tea over a low flame. He took out a small alchemy furnace, put a Qiankun Huaqi Pill into it, and steamed the pill's Qi. Pure and clean Daoist Dao Breath rose out, and black and white Qiankun Qi overflowed, circulating around the Six Gates formation, like a fairyland.

In a short while, the tea was boiled, and after three changes of spring water, a cup of clear tea was brewed. The tea was as green as Daoist Dao Breath, surrounded by the Dao Breath heaven and earth, and shrouded in immortal energy. Only then was it considered ready.

So Li Fan straightened his clothes, bowed to Old Man Qin, and offered him a teacup with both hands.

Old Qin accepted his bow, thanked him, and drank the tea in one gulp.

After drinking the tea, Old Man Qin nodded and smiled, "The things prepared are quite complete; everything you need is there."

Li Fan respectfully returned the greeting, saying, "This junior was born in the southern barbarians and raised in the mountains. I can only rely on ancient books and am merely a monkey in a crown. If there is anything I have done wrong, please forgive me, Immortal Lord."

Old Qin chuckled and counted on his fingers, "Hey, not bad, not bad at all. It's rare to see a young man like you these days. When I used to travel the mountains, the juniors I met would just bow down and ask to become my disciples. If I didn't accept them, they would follow me around like I owed them money."

It's even worse now; hardly anyone even knows who Qin Baichuan is anymore.

"Unexpectedly, I've come all this way to South Border and am even offered a cup of tea. Thank you for your hospitality."

Li Fan smiled and poured more tea, saying, "Immortal Lord, you are too kind. Although I am just a boy from the borderlands and do not know the vastness of the Central Plains, I know that you are a true pillar of the righteous path, the leader of the Xuanmen, a paragon of eliminating demons and protecting the righteous, punishing evil and upholding justice. It is only right of me to offer you a cup of tea in order to witness such a legend as yourself."

As a sign of respect, please have another drink.

Old Qin waved his hand with a smile, "Oh, that's too much, I'm just an old man, no need for such flattery."

However, he did drink another cup of tea.

"This is not flattery. If we talk about skills and Daoist techniques, the disciples of the Nine Great Xuan Sects would probably not give way. But if we talk about virtue and integrity, and the standard of the righteous path, all the people of the world would give a thumbs up and call it the true lineage of Emei!"

Ultimately, this is all because you, Immortal Lord, upheld the righteous path and protected the world, thus becoming a model of righteousness and rectifying the virtues of the younger generation of the Xuanmen!

For the sake of Emei's righteous path, please allow Qingyue to offer you another cup!

Actually, Li Fan wasn't really flattering or groveling... well, only a little bit. But there's one thing about this old man Qin that can't be denied.

For a long time, Qin Baichuan, the Daoist of the Cangsong, was truly the number one in the world. He might have intermittently fallen to second or third place, but he would almost never fall out of the top three.

But he never sought power and status commensurate with his strength. He was either the leader of the Emei sect or a teacher there.

He never acted like a celestial being or a deity, dominating the world and seeking to conquer it.

He never attempted to merge the Nine Great Xuan Sects, regain control of Yuntai Peak, or establish a new sect and ancestor.

This is an old-fashioned Real Immortal, who neither dwelt in the imperial court nor troubled the common people.

On the contrary, in recent years, Emei's reputation has spread throughout the martial arts world and been praised by the people, becoming a benchmark for the righteous path. To this day, legends of their chivalrous deeds and their punishment of demons and monsters still circulate in the world.

The reason why the world has fallen into such a chaotic and turbulent state is largely due to the fact that Emei has abandoned its duties.

Honestly, Emei owes no one anything. So what if Emei closed its mountain? So what if someone ascended to immortality at the Golden Summit? Once Emei left, heroes rose up in the Xuanmen (Daoist sects), demons ran rampant, and various forces Central Plains control of the Central Plains and the world. So, who is at fault, Emei or the world?

Even in such times, in recent years, when the Ling King of the South Sea invaded, it was Ink Bamboo Mountain and Emei who stepped forward. When the Divine Sect launched a major invasion of the Central Plains, it was also Emei that took the lead. Last time when the Xiongnu Hu Barbarians went south, if it weren't for a minor mishap, Emei would probably have been the one to deal with it at first.

As the saying goes, "What the superiors do, the inferiors will follow." Naturally, there are disciples like Canglong and Yang Nanying among the Emei disciples. However, since the vast majority of the disciples they teach are righteous people who uphold justice, subdue demons, and take on any responsibility, it's impossible that the three elders of the Emei sect could really be that bad.

So, this old man was probably the kind of person who was very simple and honest...

Partners of justice.

Of course, the Sword Ancestor Xuantian, who wished to remain anonymous, also played the role of a righteous ally, but that was mainly because he genuinely enjoyed killing people. However, Cangsong also played the role of a righteous ally, which can only be because he truly was a righteous ally.

So, out of respect for his partner in justice, Li Fan offered a third cup of tea.

Old Qin hesitated for a moment, then took the drink and said, "You're not bad, lad, but it's not good to steal someone else's Dao, especially since I'm not taking any more disciples."

Li Fan smiled and said, "Then what brings you here from so far, Immortal Lord? I heard that the Golden Peak is under lockdown. Could it be that your entire sect is about to ascend to immortality?"

Old Qin put down his teacup, took out the pebble, and placed it on the tea table. "Indeed, this is the matter. My Emei sect is preparing to ascend to another world. Before that, I still have one matter on my mind, and I must ask my young friend Qingyue to touch this stone."

"..." Li Fan's smile froze on his face. "Immortal Lord, may I ask..."

Old Qin nodded knowingly, "Since we've had three cups of tea, it's only right that I explain things to you clearly. However, whether or not some things can be said, and how they should be said, depends on you, young friend, to figure it out after you've experienced it firsthand."

Li Fan almost rolled his eyes. "... Can't you at least tell me what this is?"

Fortunately, Old Man Qin didn't hide this fact. "This is a Three Lives Stone. Touching it the first time allows you to see your past life's karma, touching it the second time allows you to see your present life in another world, and touching it the third time allows you to glimpse your future life in Mount Sumeru. After that, when you roll it into a ball, it's just an ordinary stone. Young friend, you only need to touch it once."

Holy crap! The Three Lives Stone! Just hearing that sounds like a rip-off! You can just touch it like that?!

Li Fan was genuinely nervous this time. What the hell? If he just touched it, would his underwear be completely exposed?!

"This... this... Immortal Lord, I think matters of the past life are truly private. Whether you know about them or not is irrelevant. The key is what to do in this life. Why dwell on past entanglements..."

Old Qin nodded with an expression that seemed to say, "Young friend, there's no need to worry. I have no intention of prying into your past life. I just want to know who you were in your previous life. Whoever you were, you won't cause me any trouble. I'm just asking as a precaution."

Just in case? Just in case of what?

Li Fan was completely bewildered. What on earth was going on? Why were you all so concerned about who he was in his past life? He didn't even know if he was Li Yi or Li Fan now, and he didn't know who Li Yi was in her past life either. As for whether Li Fan had a past life at all, that was even more unclear!

Old Man Qin could see Li Fan's hesitation and nervousness, but he didn't press him. "Young friend, you know that my Emei Sect is going to ascend to heaven with the Golden Summit. You should also know that this is because we once calculated the general trend of the world. The False Moon hangs in the sky, the way of heaven will change, and Taiji cannot exist in this world."

Li Fan hesitated before nodding. "I've heard that the righteous disciples of Emei punish evil and eliminate demons, braving all dangers. I really can't understand why your sect doesn't make any effort and instead chooses to escape... and live in seclusion..."

Old Man Qin wasn't angry. "Actually, we not only foresaw the fall of the Taiji Dao, but also the three patriarchs who would later greatly promote the Tai Su Dao."

What... the Third Patriarch of Taisu? Not the Sixth...

Before Li Fan could react, he saw two streams of bloody tears flow from Old Man Qin's eyes, but he didn't seem to care at all, counting on his fingers.

"The Great Luo Void Star Dharma Master, the Blood Talisman Crimson Crow Celestial Child, and the Supreme Fiend Heavenly Demon Sword Ghost."

With tears streaming down his face, Old Man Qin stared at the stunned Li Fan and asked, "It's not that we didn't try. We uprooted the Divine Sect, eradicated the Luo Sect's path, wiped out the entire Mo Shan family, suppressed the Heavenly Dao, and obscured the Heavenly Secrets, resisting the calamity until now. But the Three Demonic Children of the Tai Su Dao have still descended upon the world."

I've killed too many people and lost too many others. I don't want to lay a hand on you anymore, or I'll ruin Emei.

All I want to know is, Qingyue, which one are you?

So many people died. What went wrong back then? Which side was behind it? Who was behind it all? Who was the one who caused all this trouble, and yet you were brought into this world.

At that moment, Li Fan stared at Old Man Qin's bloodshot eyes, his pupils collapsing and bleeding, as if some unseen insects were gnawing holes in the flesh of an immortal.

Feathering.

The ascension has begun...

For some reason, Li Fan suddenly stopped worrying, feeling lost, and afraid.

Things have come to this point, there's no way to avoid it now, and he even feels a little excited and curious.

Who I am

I think almost everyone has thought about this question, right?

So he reached out and, under the hopeful gaze of Old Man Qin, pressed his index finger against the stone.

In that instant, the Dao Breath surged like a soaring dragon, erupting like a dense fog, reversing the flow of heaven and earth! The sun, moon, and stars flew! Time reversed!

When everything came to a stop, Li Fan found himself sitting in a study. At the head of the table sat a Daoist priest in white robes and black robes, surrounded by a group of young Daoist boys dressed similarly in white robes with their hair tied in round buns. They were all bent over their desks, writing furiously as they prepared for... an exam.

Li Fan glanced down at the exam paper. It tested his knowledge of human meridian diagrams, Daoist classics, and basic knowledge of elixirs and talismans. He could tell at a glance that he had answered half of the questions wrong, and the calligraphy on the paper was ugly, like chicken claws crawling on the paper.

Li Fan tried to decipher the name on the exam paper for a while, but couldn't make out the handwriting. The handwriting was just awful...

"You're actually a disciple of my Emei Sect!"

Li Fan looked up and saw Cangsong, his eyes Cangsong with bloodshot holes, standing beside him. Cangsong gazed at the many young Daoist disciples and the ink-scented study with an indescribable sense of desolation and sorrow. After a long while, he looked down at Li Fan and let out a long sigh.

"How could this be? How could this be? I see..."

The next instant, the clouds dispersed and the mist vanished, and Li Fan sat back down at the tea table.

Cangsong sat before him, tears of blood streaming down his face, silent. The two remained silent for a long time.

"... Is the Immortal Lord's heart at ease?"

Old Qin sighed, "Do you still remember your name, whose disciple you were, and how you died?"

Li Fan knew he was asking about his past life, but to be honest, apart from the scene he had just witnessed, he couldn't remember anything. However, if his guess was correct, it should be the memories of the previous system host. So he said,

"I... I don't remember the name, but I think I was a disciple of the Southern Academy. I hadn't passed my master's test yet, and I was killed while adventuring in the martial world after I had formed my core."

Old Qin shook his head, revealing a dejected expression like a defeated dog. "I was still guessing whether you were the divine child of the Divine Sect or the demon child of the Luo Sect. I never imagined you would be the reincarnation of a disciple of my Emei Sect!"

To be accepted into my Emei sect, especially a disciple raised in the Southern Courtyard since childhood, there wouldn't be any problem tracing back three lifetimes! To perish at only the Golden Core stage, unable to even remember one's own name—that's not even enough for a proper dissolution! Can a naturally born demon child be born? How can we investigate then!

... No, are you really a demon prince...? What kind of demon prince gives an IOU to a mortal...? Could it be that I miscalculated? Has the Heavenly Dao truly become so chaotic?

It's irreversible, it's already irreversible... No matter how much more blood is killed... it's all irreversible...

Seeing that the Cangsong Lord of the Pine Trees seemed to have no intention of killing, Li Fan felt a little relieved. "So, what does the Immortal Lord mean... that I am... the Third Demon Child? Which one am I?"

Cangsong shook his head, "I don't know either. Of the three future ancestors of the Tai Su Dao, one is from the Luo Sect, one is from the Shen Sect, and the third will probably be born in Ink Bamboo Mountain, but I can't figure out exactly who it is."

But if you don't have the background of the Luo Sect or the God Cult, how can you have such abilities...? Alas, it seems I really am getting old; the younger generation is truly formidable...

This Three Lives Stone is for you. You can try touching it a second time. You will see another possibility: if you are reborn, you will not be able to embark on the path of immortality and will remain in the mortal world.

Touching it a third time might allow you to glimpse the secrets of heaven and foresee the future, but it's not very accurate. However, you can change the future if you want to. If you're interested, try touching it yourself."

Although Cangsong said, "You can touch it and play with it yourself," he still seemed a little unwilling, staring intently at Li Fan.

Li Fan was also a little curious. Although fortune telling, character divination, and the Eight Trigrams are not credible, trying them won't hurt.

So Li Fan touched it again.

Then a strong wind blew, the sun shone brightly, and horns sounded from all directions.

Li Fan squinted, then slowly opened his eyes, finding himself clad in golden armor, riding a divine steed, and slowly stepping through the city gate.

To be precise, one enters the city through Mingde Gate, walks along Zhuque Avenue, and goes straight to Vermilion Bird Gate.

Behind him, banners stretched to the sky, and his army, like a dark cloud, was arrayed outside the city, extending all the way to the horizon.

Before him, on both sides of the main street, golden-armored guards carrying halberds and banners led the way. The streets were filled with millions of subjects cheering and feasting.

He rode alone, passing through flower-strewn roads, as if treading on an equator paved with countless pieces of flesh and blood, with no one able to ride alongside him.

Then, from the sky came a clear, audible female song. Amidst the colorful clouds, it seemed as if celestial beings were dancing and singing joyfully.

"Emperor Taizong raised an army eighteen times, and with white banners and yellow axes, he pacified the two capitals."

Capturing prisoners and slaying bandits, the world is at peace; twenty-four years later, the great cause is accomplished.

He ascended the throne at the age of twenty-nine and brought peace to the land at the age of thirty-five.

Success is achieved swiftly and rationally; its speed lies in establishing virtue and righteousness to win people's hearts.

Then the Vermilion Bird Gate of the Imperial City opened before Li Fan, radiating golden light.

Li Fan and Cangsong looked at each other, and neither spoke for a long while.

"Cangsong, at thirty-five you'll enjoy peace... How old are you this year?"

Li Fan, "Uh..."

"That song is Cangsong 'The Song of Chen Wang's Virtuous Deeds and Establishment of the Dynasty,' only when a new dynasty governs and the country is at peace can such celestial music be sung..."

Li Fan, "Oh..."

"And that's not Changsi City, it's the old Wang Jing, the former Three Walls..." Cangsong.

Li Fan, "Hiss..."

"You Cangsong, you have a royal decree to come to the mountains to cultivate Daoism?"

Li Fan: "Ah... I heard it's a sixty-year royal mandate. Actually, it hasn't been that long, it's been over in the blink of an eye."

Cangsong took a deep breath, calmed himself, and finally couldn't hold back his anger any longer.

"It's not sixty years! It's the imperial destiny, a perpetual and prosperous fate. The fortune teller can only count up to sixty years, stopping after one cycle of the sexagenary cycle, otherwise it will interfere with the destiny! Who exactly are you?!"