Master Astrologer

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This Master Faraday was none other than the master Astrologer who had calculated that a monstrosity would be born on April seventeenth, a friend of Count Derek.

Could this old man already know I'm a monstrosity and have come running to subdue demons and exorcise evil? Liu Feng's thoughts ran wild for a moment, but he overturned that absurd guess with a laugh the next instant. The origin of the level-six Crystal Core in his body had already been cleared up; it had merely been caused by accident. It was not as though he really was some monstrosity, so what was there to fear from demon-subduing and evil-exorcising?

This Master Faraday had always treated Nicholas fairly well, but he did not come to visit often either. What was he doing here today? Liu Feng wondered. He answered, rose from the floor, went over to the water bucket, washed himself thoroughly, got rid of the foul-smelling grime on his body, changed into a dry set of clothes, pushed open the door, and walked out.

The moment he reached outside, Liu Feng immediately felt a dazzling glare. Since he had spent these days shut in his room cultivating day and night, the sunlight had become somewhat unfamiliar to him.

"Huh? Young—young master! Why, why do you seem to have grown taller? And, and why do you look like a different person?" Turner's somewhat startled booming voice appeared at Liu Feng's side along with his towering figure.

Because the Soul Absorption realm had remolded his body, Liu Feng was clearly much taller now. Although the changes in his muscles could not yet be seen under his clothes, there was now an unmistakable, indescribable air about him that he had not possessed before. His gaze had become deeper and more profound, and his already delicate features had grown even fairer from going several days without seeing the sun. Coupled with that distinctive head of flowing pale-blue hair, Liu Feng now looked even more handsome and refined.

Moreover, because of the change in his personality, Liu Feng had completely shed the cowardice that had originally lingered on Nicholas's face. He truly did look like a different person.

"Nonsense. Your young master is growing right now. Isn't it perfectly normal for me to change?" Liu Feng snapped, glaring at Turner.

"Uh!" Although Turner felt that the young master's reason seemed a little forced, the big simpleton was simple-minded by nature. After a silly chuckle, he stopped asking.

"Right, Turner, how long has it been since I came out? And where is Master Faraday now?" Liu Feng asked with a frown. The sunlight was far too dazzling, and Liu Feng still could not adapt for the moment.

"Oh, young master, you haven't come out for ten days. Master Faraday is waiting for you in the small parlor!" Turner answered with a smile, but in the next instant he grew hesitant again. After hemming and hawing for a long while, he asked once more, "Young master, are you cultivating some kind of technique?"

Liu Feng froze, then immediately understood. He had not left his room for even a step in ten days; even this big simpleton had guessed what he was doing.

With a faint smile, Liu Feng patted Turner's thick arm and said, "Let's go see the master first. I'll tell you when we get back!" As he spoke, he walked toward the parlor.

Turner scratched his messy hair in confusion and quickly followed.

As soon as he stepped into the parlor, an elderly man in white robes with white hair and an aged, simple face entered Liu Feng's sight. It was precisely Master Astrologer Faraday.

Seeing Liu Feng enter, a trace of surprise flickered faintly in Master Faraday's eyes. He smiled and said, "Nicholas, I haven't seen you in a few months, and you seem to have grown quite a bit taller. It looks like your health has been good lately, hehe!"

Liu Feng did not dare show the slightest disrespect toward this old man. He immediately bowed and said, "Thank you for your concern, Master. How did Master find the time to come see me today?" As he spoke, he walked over with a smile and sat down on the chair below the master's seat.

Although Faraday was only an Astrologer without the slightest strength, because of his extraordinary attainments in Astrology, his status in the Saint Mavana Empire was extremely high. He was also deeply trusted by the current emperor, had been the emperor's teacher in his youth, and was greatly respected throughout the Saint Mavana Empire.

"Hehe, I've been rather busy lately and couldn't find the time. Now that I finally have a few quiet days, I came over to see how you little fellow have been living." Faraday smiled faintly, yet his gaze measured Liu Feng's body seemingly by accident, as though the old man had already noticed Liu Feng's changes.

Swept by Master Faraday's gaze that seemed able to see straight through the heart, Liu Feng could not help feeling his scalp prickle slightly. He was afraid this old man would discover something wrong with him, this fake Nicholas.

"You're too kind, Master. I'm only of the younger generation; by rights, I should be the one visiting Master when I have time!" Liu Feng smiled gently, doing his best to keep his expression natural.

As though he had not sensed exactly what was wrong, Master Faraday finally withdrew his gaze and continued to smile. "Let's not speak these polite words. I came to see you today because there is still something else!"

I knew there had to be something! Liu Feng's expression did not change. Still smiling, he said, "Master, please give your instructions!"

"I've thought about it for a long time. Would you like to take me as your teacher and learn Astrology?" Master Faraday took a sip of tea and continued to smile as he spoke.

Astrology? Liu Feng froze slightly and could not help carefully sizing Master Faraday up, not knowing what scheme this old man was playing at.

Although Astrology could not be counted as a cultivation technique, the status of Astrologers on the Falan Continent was extremely high. This was also why Master Faraday could become the emperor's teacher.

Moreover, because of an Astrologer's status, ordinary Astrology would not be passed on lightly. Every master was also extremely strict when choosing disciples, so Liu Feng could not quite understand why Master Faraday would want to take a piece of trash as his student.

With a faint smile, seeming to have seen Liu Feng's doubts, Master Faraday continued, "I'm old now, and I still don't have a single student. Although you cannot cultivate, Astrology has no particular restrictions on those who study it!"

At this point, Master Faraday paused again and said, "And you know as well that although Astrologers have no strength, their status on the continent is not low. If you achieve success in your studies, it would greatly improve both your future life and your family!"

Liu Feng's eyes narrowed slightly, and he finally understood Faraday's thinking. The hidden meaning was: Since you are destined to be a piece of trash born unable to cultivate, there is definitely no way for you to inherit the unparalleled martial force of the Palister Family. But if you became an Astrologer, your status would naturally be much stronger than your current identity as the useless eldest son of a count, and it could also be considered an explanation to the Palister Family. After all, although Astrologers had no strength, they were still respected all the same.

With a faint smile, Liu Feng said noncommittally, "Can being an Astrologer let me live well no matter what situation I'm in?"

Faraday froze, then instantly understood Liu Feng's thoughts. He could not help smiling wryly and shaking his head as he said, "Perhaps it can, perhaps it cannot. But at the very least, it can let you live much better than you do now!"

Liu Feng still smiled gently. "Then can being an Astrologer truly let me cast off the identity of being the shame of the Palister Family?"

Faraday smiled wryly again and shook his head.

"In that case, what need is there for me to become an Astrologer or not? Besides, my talent may not necessarily allow me to become a true Astrologer. More importantly, what the Palister Family needs is not Astrologers, but powerful strength!" Liu Feng still smiled gently, yet a faint cold light shot from his eyes.

"But..." Master Faraday naturally already understood Liu Feng's thinking, yet he still wanted to advise him.

Waving his hand faintly, Liu Feng said with a smile, "Master, let me thank you first for your kindness. There's no need to speak of this question anymore. You should tell me the true meaning behind your visit today!"

This so-called taking a disciple was nothing more than a pretense. Nicholas had lived to seventeen this year and had lived in hardship all these years, so why had this old man never been seen coming before to propose taking him as a student?

If it truly was for Nicholas's own good, Master Faraday should have taken Nicholas away several years ago to study Astrology. At that time, Nicholas would most likely have accepted with incomparable joy. But only bringing it up today clearly meant there was something behind the scenes that was difficult for this old man to say, so he first tossed out a sweet fruit for Liu Feng to accept, then made the request that followed impossible to refuse.

Sure enough, Master Faraday's old face reddened slightly. He looked deeply at Liu Feng again, as though he had not expected that the Nicholas who had always been cowardly and without opinions of his own would actually have such quick thinking.

With a wry laugh, Faraday sighed and said, "Sigh! Forget it. Since that's the case, I'll speak plainly! In truth, your father, Count Derek, asked me to come. Your family's annual Grave Guarding is about to arrive, and this time your father wants you to go! Of course, I truly do want to teach you Astrology!" Afraid that Liu Feng would doubt his character, Master Faraday added another sentence at the end.

Grave Guarding? Liu Feng froze slightly, then suddenly remembered.

Although the Palister Family, because of the superlative merits of its ancestors, had caused the area around Ama City to basically become the Palister Family's fief, the Palister Family's ancestral home was not actually here. Instead, it was in York County, southeast of Ama City and near the sea.

That place was the birthplace of the Palister Family, and now it had also become the cemetery grounds. All the tombs of the family's ancestors were built there, and every year, people would be sent there to carry out Grave Guarding for half a year.

However, in the past, this matter had always been handled by Nicholas's second uncle, Derek's younger brother Claude. He had not expected that this year, they would actually propose sending Nicholas, this piece of trash, which was somewhat strange.

As thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning, Liu Feng instantly understood Count Derek's meaning.

Nicholas and Gilbert had both already come of age. According to the Palister Family's tradition, once the children came of age, the position of the next family head's heir had to be decided. However, because of the special circumstances surrounding the eldest son Nicholas, Derek had never taken any action. From the looks of it now, though, Derek seemed to have plans in that direction.

As for having Nicholas go to the ancestral home for Grave Guarding, in truth, it was nothing more than wanting to send Nicholas away. It seemed that in Derek's heart, he had already decided on Gilbert, the second young master, as the heir.

However, Nicholas was the eldest son, after all, and he had already come of age. To spare the eldest son's feelings, this matter could not very well be held right in front of him, so they had come up with this method to have Nicholas temporarily leave the Count's Mansion first.

The moment Liu Feng figured this out, a sudden, inexplicable wave of grief and fury surged through him—grief and fury for Nicholas! And grief and fury at Derek's actions!

As far as Liu Feng was concerned, he had never even thought about becoming the heir of the Palister Family. This sort of noble glory might be something others dreamed of, but to Liu Feng, it was a burden instead.

Liu Feng was not from this world to begin with, so naturally he did not feel much sense of belonging to the Palister Family. Besides, what Liu Feng wanted now was only to become a powerful expert with real strength; he had no intention of getting involved in the darkness of the nobility.

But Derek's actions were truly chilling. He had pretended to be benevolent by inviting Faraday to teach him Astrology, yet his goal was merely to make him agree to leave the Count's Mansion for York County and not take part in the ceremony establishing the family heir.

Others might not know, but aside from Nicholas's deceased mother, Derek could be considered the only one who knew the truth—that Nicholas was not truly trash. Yet he had still chosen to do this. This was not only an insult to Nicholas, but also an insult to Liu Feng! If he had something to say, he could have said it straight. Why the hell go through all these twists and turns!

Taking a deep breath, Liu Feng did his best to control his emotions and once again smiled gently. "Since Father has already decided, he could simply have sent someone to tell me. Why trouble the master? I'll go confirm with Father myself in a while when I'm to set off!"

Seeing that Liu Feng had actually agreed so easily, without the slightest trace of dissatisfaction, Faraday was stunned. He carefully looked Liu Feng over again, and in that instant, Faraday suddenly discovered that this eldest son, always known as a weak and cowardly piece of trash, gave him a feeling that he could not quite see through...

After having Turner see Faraday off, Liu Feng could no longer suppress the anger in his heart. His right arm suddenly swung out, and just then, the Crystal Core inside Liu Feng's body abruptly flashed with light. Immediately after, a surge of Soul Power poured out in an instant.

Liu Feng only felt his arm go slightly numb, and then a streak of electric light suddenly shot out, slamming viciously into the bluestone floor...