Destiny: Foresight and the Reopening of the High Heavens (54k)

(Besides)

"Approaching the target area— Hangu Pass."

The crisp electronic sound echoed aboard the No. 92 Whale-Penguin Ship, prompting an elderly crew member to remark:

"This should have been the 93rd Whale-Penguin Ship. For thousands of years, the Whale-Penguin Ship has never crashed and is an important military deterrent for the Federation."

"But the first two months..." The crew member shook his head.

The original Whale-Penguin Ship, number 92, crashed in the Golden Province and was taken away by a mysterious being.

It's important to understand that each Whale-Penguin Ship required a massive amount of manpower and resources to construct on the remains of the Giant Whale-Peng.

A Whale-Penguin Ship is at least equivalent to a [Venerable] level figure.

What if a venerable one were to personally drive it again?

Even when facing a powerful being, one may not necessarily be unable to contend with them.

The importance of such a vessel to the Federation is self-evident—yet not long ago, one of them was lost.

"Yes."

A young woman from the Investigation Department shrugged:

"Originally, an Innate Great Realm was supposed to preside over the Whale-Penguin Ship, but due to the last incident, a Celestial Person has been appointed to oversee it personally."

After a moment, Meng Xiaoshi looked out the fake porthole projected with a panoramic view, staring at the lingering, grayish object:

Hopefully, this time it will go smoothly.

She looked somewhat worried.

Beside him, Zhao Shanhe strode over, his expression also showing worry, and sighed:

"This operation is classified as high-risk, with a projected mortality rate greater than 39%. You didn't need to come in the first place."

"That won't do."

Meng Xiaoshi shook her head:

"That official seal was lost in our hands, how can you be the only one to take responsibility?"

In principle, as core members of the Seventh Department of the Investigation Department, the two should not have been involved in such a high-risk operation.

However, because the [Human Emperor Seal] was lost...

It's a kind of alternative punishment.

In fact, if they hadn't been presented with a mysterious token, the two would probably have been sent on a catastrophic mission—meaning an average mortality rate of over 90%.

A crew member walks over at this moment:

"Gentlemen, Lord Kong has convened an action meeting."

Meng Xiaoshi and Zhao Shanhe exchanged a glance, and without hesitation, hurriedly headed to the combat conference center of the Whale-Penguin Ship.

Located in the throat of this behemoth, right next to the brain, which serves as the combat center.

Enter the conference room.

"Is everyone here?"

The middle-aged man, exuding a scholarly air, spoke in a hoarse voice, quietly glancing around before continuing in a slow, deliberate tone:

"The Hangu Pass incident was a special event predicted by the Heavenly Calculation Department."

Kong Zhongshu gestured, and a 3D model of a Buddhist temple appeared before everyone under the holographic projection.

"According to the calculations of the Heavenly Calculation Department, there is a 0.03% probability that this Buddhist temple involves matters of the [Celestial Venerable level]. The probability is very low, but it truly exists."

"The most crucial thing is..."

The middle-aged man's voice suddenly became solemn:

"There's also a greater than 0.01% chance that it involves Destiny Event. I won't go into that further."

The people in the conference room looked around in surprise. Destiny Event?

How come I hear it's much more serious than the [Heavenly Venerate Fruit Position]?

Meng Xiaoshi felt a sense of unease. As a member of the Investigation Department, she nominally had the right to interfere in the affairs of the Investigation Bureau in all regions.

They also had a considerable understanding of the gods, and naturally knew what the Heavenly Venerate Fruit Position meant.

It represents the most powerful being in this world—and even that might not actually exist.

At the same time, after explaining the operation's procedures in detail, Kong Zhongshu ordered the rest of the men to leave.

But Meng Xiaoshi stayed.

"Come here," he said irritably.

Meng Xiaoshi shrank back, jogged forward, and said with an embarrassed smile:

"Uncle Kong."

"Don't call me Uncle Kong!"

Kong Zhongshu glared:

"You knew perfectly well that this was a high-risk operation, so why did you still apply to participate?"

He looked at him with a disappointed expression:

"If something happens to you, how am I supposed to explain it to your father?"

Meng Xiaoshi pursed her lips and remained silent.

The Kong-Meng Families have been on good terms for generations and are the strongest allies. She was raised under the watchful eye of this Uncle Confucius since she was a child.

Seeing her stubborn appearance, Kong Zhongshu felt a deep headache:

"You, you..."

Meng Xiaoshi changed the subject:

"Uncle Kong, what exactly is the Destiny Event?"

Kong Zhongshu glared at her again:

Why are you so curious about everything?

After pausing for a moment, he explained:

"The Destiny Event originates from a very ancient prophecy, which states that in Age of Great Strife, those who are favored by Heaven will return one after another."

"According to the Heavenly Calculation Department, the so-called Chosen Ones may have an inseparable connection with the old era."

Meng Xiaoshi listened intently:

"Involving the Old World? That should be a top-level event, right? Why were you the one put in charge?"

Kong Zhongshu:

"What, do you think I, your Uncle Kong, am not qualified?"

"No, no!" Meng Xiaoshi chuckled awkwardly again.

Kong Zhongshu snorted coldly, then explained helplessly:

"Because recently, the Heavenly Calculation Department has predicted far too many possible Destiny Event, such as the Great Opportunity in Chang'an Town as indicated by celestial secrets."

"According to the calculations of the Heavenly Calculation Department, the probability of Destiny Event is as high as ten percent!"

Meng Xiaoshi was startled, ten percent?!

Kong Zhongshu continued:

"Furthermore, there is a greater than 30% probability that the Chang'an Town incident involves levels above the [Heavenly Venerate Fruit Position] rank."

"The Federation's attention is entirely focused there—but none of the higher-ups dare to take the risk themselves."

"After all, the level above the Celestial Venerable is beyond imagination. Once it is truly involved, even if the Speaker himself is present, disaster may still occur."

Meng Xiaoshi listened quietly, clicking her tongue in amazement.

"Alright, you can go now."

Kong Zhongshu warned:

"We're almost at the Hangu Pass area. Once we reach that Buddhist temple, you'll stay with me the whole time, understand?"

"Yes, sir!" Meng Xiaoshi saluted in a proper manner, only to be kicked away by Kong Zhongshu in a bad mood.

He concluded by saying:

"I don't care about what happens between you and that young man Zhao Shanhe. But your parents might not approve, so be careful what you do."

"The difference in your social status is too great."

Meng Xiaoshi bared her teeth and jumped out of the conference room without saying a word, but her expression darkened.

"The Destiny Event"

Zhang Fusheng walked out of the Buddhist temple, gently stroking the red ox, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

He suddenly had a whim and used his karmic connection with the two little guys named Meng Xiaoshi and Zhao Shanhe to sense and trace back.

Then I heard many real secrets.

The prophecy of destiny was mentioned by the True Lord Scarlet Ox, and now, considering all the factors,

Those who are supposedly blessed by Heaven are probably those who left behind contingency plans from the old world.

Why are they said to be destined by heaven?

Zhang Fusheng didn't understand, and sighed inwardly:

"As expected of the Path of Karma."

He immediately sensed that someone with whom he had a karmic connection was going to the Buddhist temple to carry out a special operation, simply because he was within the temple grounds.

The Path of Karma is so powerful it's almost unbelievable.

It's already like this now; what if I reach an even stronger level in the future?

Do they mention themselves in their speech, or even think about themselves?

Can one generate perceptions and then trace them back along the cause and effect?

Zhang Fusheng narrowed his eyes and glanced back at the Buddhist temple.

When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits.

Let the Investigation Department team test the waters first and uncover more information.

"Is there any accommodation nearby?" Zhang Fusheng asked, glancing sideways at Lian Laosan.

The burly man who led the Fourth Girl out nodded:

"A batch of wooden buildings have been built in the market area, which can be considered 'hotels,' or more accurately, ancient 'inns,' but they are very expensive, costing one pseudo-soul a night. We usually sleep on the ground in the market area."

Let's stay at the inn.

Zhang Fusheng said calmly:

"The wilderness was shrouded in thick fog, both gloomy and cold."

With someone else providing the funds, Lian Laosan naturally wouldn't object and immediately raised both hands in agreement.

I just haven't had a chance to check into the inn next to the market yet.

In the distance, through the fog, blurry figures flew by, the thick fog in the sky churned violently, and a spaceship slowly sailed out!

"Are they from the Jincheng Investigation Bureau?"

Lian Laosan stared at the spaceship, then looked at the figures rushing towards him on the ground, his expression changing:

"Those guys from the Myriad Gods Cult."

At this moment, the market was in an uproar, and many pedestrians and vendors looked up, gazing at the spaceship hovering in the sky.

A dozen or so figures had already arrived.

The one leading them was the burly man covered in twisted tattoos.

"Gentlemen."

The burly man smiled and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards the crowd in the market.

"I'm assisting the Investigation Bureau with my work, and I'm only here today for a few Buddhist Sect cult members. I hope everyone can do me a favor."

A slight commotion stirred in the market, but no one uttered a sound.

There were Great Grandmaster- level figures present; they could easily destroy that spaceship in mid-air.

However, the symbolic significance of the spaceship far outweighs its practical significance.

The Jincheng Investigation Bureau is no ordinary provincial Investigation Branch; its director is often a Celestial Person being!

"Damn it," Lian Laosan said in a deep voice, "They're coming for us."

He reached out and touched the coffin behind him, saying in a low voice:

"I've taken your money, so I'll naturally ensure your safety. I'll hold them off for a bit, and you two should take my daughter and hide in the temple immediately!"

The old man beside the red ox asked lightly:

"Will we be safe if we hide in a temple?"

Lian Laosan nodded heavily:

"Anyone who dares to desecrate the temple will be condemned by all of us."

After a moment, he surprisingly adopted a solemn and dignified expression:

"Maitreya above."

Zhang Fusheng frowned, keenly sensing that something was amiss, and then he thought of the devout worshippers' utmost piety towards the Buddha statues in the temple.

Their piety was almost excessive.

Transformation? Refuge?

Is it related to that unique cause and effect? Then why wasn't I affected at all after connecting to that cause and effect?

As my thoughts wandered, the spaceships loomed overhead, awe-inspiring and intimidating.

The dozen or so Myriad Gods Cult followers had already swaggered through the market and were speeding towards them!

"Retreat to the temple!"

Lian Laosan roared, his own body radiating light, revealing him to be a grandmaster, with two furnaces of fire—one for his physical body and the other for his Qi and Blood— suspending behind his head!

"Third Brother!"

The burly man at the head of the group shouted:

"Today I am assisting the Investigation Bureau in this operation, taking you back for questioning. Do you dare to resist?!"

The burly man was clearly a grandmaster as well; the tattoos on his body were now violently twisted, forming a radiant Dharma image behind him.

But as soon as the Dharma form was completed, it was pierced through by Lian Laosan's punch!

Buddha Light shone from between his fists.

The burly man groaned, blood spilling from his mouth, in shock and doubt:

"When did you become so powerful?!"

As he spoke, he decided to abandon the idea of reassembling his physical form and instead utilize his area of expertise—his physical body!

Myriad Gods Cult who get special divine tattoos on their bodies often receive a 'bonus' based on the deity depicted in the tattoo!

"Wolf! Lord!"

The burly man roared, his body tattooed with a ferocious wolf soaring through the clouds and Star Chasing stars, its howl seeming to come from the Savage Wilderness.

He raised his fist to throw at Lian Laosan, but the latter seemed to have foreseen the future and dodged the punch before it was even thrown!

The burly man's punches and kicks carried the power to shatter mountains.

Without exception, all of them were dodged and dealt with in advance by the Lian Laosan!

Zhang Fusheng, who was watching from the sidelines, raised his eyebrows. Chi Niu also seemed to have noticed something was wrong, staring intently with his large, round eyes.

"What kind of technique is this?!" the burly man exclaimed in surprise.

Lian Laosan ignored him, turned around and roared:

"Get back into the temple!"

As he spoke, his body flashed to a hundred meters away, and the spot where he had been standing was smashed to pieces by a ferocious wolf formed from Qi and Blood!

It's as if he's predicted the future once again.

Zhang Fusheng narrowed his eyes and noticed that most of the onlookers in the market were very calm, as if they had known all along.

A flash of white light suddenly appeared in the sky.

That's the spaceship, fire your main guns!

The blazing white beam of light arrived in an instant; the speed of light was far beyond what a grandmaster could dodge or react to.

But strangely,

Lian Laosan had already taken evasive action and dodged to a distance of over a kilometer!

The ground within a hundred meters was struck by the beam of light and instantly evaporated.

"Grab them!" the burly man roared at his men, and a series of figures swarmed towards Zhang Fusheng and his companions.

Lian Laosan panicked and wanted to rush to the rescue, but suddenly his expression changed. The Body Furnace Fire behind his head surged, and his skin turned a deep iron-black color, clearly in 'defense'.

One second later.

The burly man then hissed and gathered his strength:

"Dodge, dodge, dodge! How can you dodge this move?"

"Star Chasing!"

The ferocious wolf tattoo on his body, depicting a wolf soaring through the clouds and Star Chasing stars, seemed to come alive.

The burly man raised his fist, and brilliant light burst forth from the gap between his fists, leaving a bright fist imprint. Then, it suddenly vanished into the void and disappeared.

Standing beside Zhang Fusheng, Fourth Girl suddenly panicked, as if she had witnessed some horrific scene, and tears welled up in her eyes:

"Dad!!"

Suddenly, many people in the market sighed.

Zhang Fusheng suppressed the urge to intervene and glanced sideways.

The fist imprint that had vanished into the void suddenly reappeared on the back of Lian Laosan's head, impossible to dodge, and crashed down!

Lian Laosan's body was pierced through, his Body Furnace Fire was extinguished, and he was almost torn in two by the fist imprint, with blood spurting out!

He was on the verge of death in an instant.

Fourth Girl was still crying loudly.

Strange.

That's so strange.

Lian Laosan seemed to have a premonition.

Even the little girl beside him seemed to have foreseen her father's tragic fate; not a single fist landed, Lian Laosan wasn't even on the verge of death.

The girl was already wailing.

Predicting the future

Zhang Fusheng suddenly turned around and gazed at the solemn and majestic ancient temple.

Just then, the figures that had been hunting ahead arrived.

Far away,

Lian Laosan. Just as he was about to make a final cry, his eyes widened as if he had seen something unbelievable.

It wasn't just him.

It was Fourth Girl, and everyone in the market who had a special karmic connection with the Buddha statue, who suddenly widened their eyes.

One second later.

A veiled, graceful cowherd girl raises her hand, and behind her, a verdant bamboo sways in the breeze.

She pulled a wisp of Pure Qi from her palm, Pure Qi surged into a river, instantly killing all those who dared to approach.

Corpses fell before her.

All eyes were fixed on the girl.

The burly man turned and left without hesitation, and the spaceship in the sky also changed direction.

"Godfather, what should we do?"

Under the watchful eyes of the public,

The masked girl who had instantly killed two grandmasters and a dozen Martial Arts Master with a single palm strike lowered her head towards the Sloppy Old Man beside the red ox and asked him this question.

Fourth Girl suddenly widened her eyes again.

A second later, the old man's voice rang out:

"Clean it up."

As he spoke, Zhang Fusheng glanced at the little girl beside him who looked 'prematurely surprised'.

"Yes, Godfather."

The girl responded softly, and the green bamboo behind her swayed, its Pure Qi flowing into a surging river, rippling out and then rolling back.

The spaceship was swept into the river of Pure Qi, and before it even stirred up a wave, it disintegrated into particles invisible to the naked eye.

The burly man, still trembling with fear, was running away when he suddenly looked up and saw the Pure Qi river of air pouring down on him.

He wanted to shout, but before he could utter a sound, he had already disintegrated and collapsed under the cleansing force of the Pure Qi.

Not even a speck of dust remained.

The vast market fell into a deathly silence. The Pure Qi, flowing air returned to the green bamboo behind Ruan Yutu, and she pointed casually again...

A wisp of Pure Qi landed on the dying Lian Laosan in the distance.

The extinguished Body Furnace Fire reignited, and the 'Regeneration from a Drop of Blood' Divine Ability associated with the flames was also activated.

In just a short while, Lian Laosan had recovered from his serious injuries. After shaking off the blood, he looked fine except for being a little pale.

He approached, his expression still showing lingering fear, and cautiously thanked the graceful young woman.

"It's alright," Ruan Yutu said gently.

Lian Laosan swallowed hard, realizing he had probably met a 'big shot'.

This girl's skills are at least those of a top-tier Great Grandmaster!

And this incredibly slovenly old man whom she called her godfather?

Lian Laosan didn't dare to think about it in detail, a term popped into his mind— the Innate Great Realm?

His heart skipped a beat.

The market was quiet at this moment, with everyone cautiously gazing into the distance in silence.

Let's go.

The old man lowered his eyes and spoke gently:

"Let's go to the 'inn' over there; we'll be spending the night here."

He rode the red ox backwards, led by a veiled girl, towards some wooden buildings in the distance. Lian Laosan and Fourth Girl followed cautiously.

Once the figures had completely disappeared into the wooden building, the market suddenly erupted in a frenzy.

After checking in.

In the house.

Ruan Yutu brewed a cup of tea and handed it to her.

Lian Laosan took it cautiously, and after taking a sip, his eyes widened suddenly, and every pore on his body opened up, exhaling a burst of Pure Qi!

What kind of tea is this??

Startled, Lian Laosan saw the old man take a sip of tea, exhale a refreshing Pure Qi, and then speak lightly:

"Little Lian"

Lian Laosan's expression suddenly changed.

The old man then spoke:

"Is this ability of 'foresight' something everyone possesses? Is it related to Buddhist temples?"

Lian Laosan remained silent, licked his dry lips, and said cautiously:

"Senior, we have only practiced the same scripture bestowed by Maitreya Buddha Ancestor, and can only see what will happen a second or two in the future."

The old man said "Oh":

"Just as I thought. What scripture is it?"

Lian Laosan hesitated for a moment before answering:

"It's called the Future Scripture. I can't describe the contents of the sutra, nor can I easily explain it, but once you offer incense and candles and worship the Buddha statue, you will naturally understand it."

Zhang Fusheng smiled, his eyes incredibly deep.

That's foresight!

This weasel has passed on scriptures to everyone who worships it; it is certainly not without purpose.

Is it due to salvation?

Or is it for some other reason?

Transmission of scriptures and teachings

Zhang Fusheng suddenly remembered an ancient story.

When Lao Tzu left Hangu Pass, he finally passed down a scripture after repeated requests from Yin Xi, the gatekeeper.

That scripture is called the [Dao De Jing].

A series of thoughts collided in Zhang Fusheng's mind.

The Mandate of Heaven, Hangu Pass, Transmission of Scriptures, Yellow Eyebrows, Maitreya, Future Scripture.

He seemed to have a vague grasp of something, but it was very vague and needed to be 'confirmed' from other aspects.

Mandate of Heaven, Mandate of Heaven.

Lian Laosan turned his head, and a second later, a cry that sounded like a whale or a roc came from outside the building.

"You should go back inside first."

Listening to the chirping, Zhang Fusheng spoke calmly. After Lian Laosan politely took his leave, he sat cross-legged on the bed.

The thought had already quietly slipped into the Eight Sceneries Palace.

Then, he lightly tapped his fingers.

Then, figures were led to an audience.

The heavens will open again.