Divination Dares Not Reckon to the End, for It Fears Heaven, Earth, Ghosts, and Gods

With Scholar and the other joining them, short-distance travel had already lost its meaning for Chen Qiu.

Teleporting through thin air—as long as he did not encounter some mighty expert who sealed off space—he could go anywhere under heaven.

In the blink of an eye, they had returned to Heaven-Question Market and arrived at the auction house Fat Dragon had pointed out.

"Zhao Clan Merchant Association."

It was said to be an industry belonging to a rather powerful lineage, with trade and auctions serving as its primary source of income. The Lower-Grade Heavenly Dao Retrospection Talisman he wanted was sold here—not as an auction item, but individually in the shop.

"Can't you make it any cheaper?"

Standing inside the Zhao Clan Merchant Association's shop, Fat Dragon looked at the shopkeeper, sincerity written all over his face as he bargained. "Ten Spirit Stones each? Hardly anyone has use for this thing, and you know it. If you price it so high, nobody will buy it."

The shopkeeper gave Fat Dragon an odd look. "If nobody can use it, why are you buying it?"

"If nobody buys it, how can it have a price?"

"Of course people buy it. That is why it has a price."

"Ninety percent of people never get the chance to choose one out of three traits in the Qi Refining Realm, but opportunities exist in this world. This is prepared for those people. Since you came to buy it, that means you need it. Fifty Spirit Stones is already a fair price. It can't go any lower."

"..."

Fat Dragon was momentarily speechless. The man made perfect sense, and he had no way to refute him.

"Fine, that price."

Chen Qiu did not wish to waste any more time. Time was the most important thing to him right now. Money and goods changed hands, and after tucking the two Lower-Grade Heavenly Dao Retrospection Talismans into the storage pouch at his waist, he turned and left the shop.

After leaving the shop, Chen Qiu did not slow his steps in the slightest. He headed straight out of Heaven-Question Market along the main road. Scholar and the other were waiting for him at their old spot.

He had killed the Huang Family's Seventh Elder. Perhaps the Huang Family had not yet received the news, or perhaps they had no time to deal with him. At least, no follow-up had come yet.

Just then—

"Young friend, please wait."

An elderly man with a head full of silver hair sat by the roadside, holding up a tattered black banner as he called out to block Chen Qiu's path. "I see many wandering souls and wild ghosts clinging to you. Their resentment is heavy, your glabella is dark, and I fear you will suffer a bloody calamity in the coming days."

"One Spirit Stone, and I'll divine your fortune. It may save your life."

Two slightly crooked lines of words had been embroidered onto the black banner in white thread.

"Divination dares not reckon to the end, for it fears heaven, earth, ghosts, and gods."

"Words cannot be spoken plainly, lest the world fall into great chaos."

"..."

Chen Qiu casually glanced at the old fortune-teller. His feet did not pause for long. He merely nodded slightly to indicate that he had heard him, then continued onward. He did not know whether the old man had been speaking at random or had truly seen something.

There were indeed quite a few wandering souls and wild ghosts clinging to him, though they were all merely Wraiths.

Only he knew the truth of his own affairs. They were his methods, not some possession by Wraiths.

He soon left Heaven-Question Market and arrived at the edge of the cliff.

Just as he was about to speak, he saw Scholar and the other gazing into the distant horizon from the cliffside, apparently watching something. Chen Qiu followed Scholar's gaze. His eyelids twitched slightly, and a flash of shock crossed his pupils.

In the clouds on the horizon, slightly below the cliff—

A middle-aged man over forty zhang tall carried a saber more than thirty zhang long over his shoulder. Lotus flowers continuously bloomed beneath his feet as he calmly walked through the air toward Heaven-Question Market under the watchful eyes of countless people.

"Good heavens..."

Fat Dragon's mouth fell slightly open as he stood frozen in place, his face full of disbelief. If that saber came down, even if it was unsharpened, it could crush a whole swath of people to death with the blade alone. Was this really a cultivator?

Wasn't this no different from the giant race?

Scholar, who sat cross-legged on the ground, spoke softly. "His name is Zhao Yishi. He ranks one hundred and seven on the Great Xia Prodigy Rankings. He is at the Sixth Level of the Foundation Establishment Realm and has no lineage behind him."

"In his early years, he was an utterly ordinary Rogue Cultivator. Later, it is said that he obtained some tremendous opportunity and subsequently joined the Heavenward Sect."

"He possesses the Pink Trait, 'Sky-Piercing Giant.' Every time he kills a demonic beast, his height increases by one li, and his body grows larger accordingly. It is quite a powerful Pink Trait for body cultivators. He is also a Sky Prodigy who has only risen to fame in recent years."

"That can't be right, can it?"

Fat Dragon stood beside him, looking at the towering, brawny man in the distance, who stepped upon azure lotuses and left footprints with every stride. He asked in confusion, "His height increases by one li for every demonic beast he kills. After several years, he is only a little over forty zhang tall?"

"Shouldn't he be over a hundred zhang at least? With his strength, he could specifically seek out demonic beast clans that are weak but numerous. Wouldn't that be easy?"

"Mm."

Scholar nodded and explained softly, "Pink Traits are of an extremely high grade. Ordinary people could live their entire lives without ever obtaining one, but most Pink Traits cannot be directly converted into combat power."

"For example, the Pink Trait, 'Sky-Piercing Giant.'"

"Pink Traits have only one effect: they can cause a certain aspect of you to increase without limit. For instance, 'Sky-Piercing Giant' increases one's height and physique. I also know of a Pink Trait called 'I Have a Sword.' Its effect is that every time you kill a demonic beast, your flying sword's speed increases by one hao."

"And in the cultivation world, capable people emerge in endless streams and powerful experts abound. A body over forty zhang tall is practically useless. Instead, it makes you a living target, the focal point of any crowd."

"Only by gathering compatible traits—such as traits where the larger one's body is, the greater one's physical strength becomes, or suitable cultivation arts—can one fully unleash the power of a Pink Trait. Otherwise, a single Pink Trait does not possess much strength."

"The reason Pink Traits are strong lies in their rarity and their limitless potential for growth. To truly bring out a Pink Trait's power, one must possess other traits that complement it."

"However..."

"There are countless traits in this world. Other than the traits gained when breaking through a major realm, how difficult is it to obtain additional traits through other means?"

"Before acquiring those compatible traits, no matter how tall or large he becomes, it means nothing. This time, the Heavenly Dao Secret Realm has appeared, and his cultivation happens to meet its entry requirements. A secret realm of this level may yield additional traits."

"This man has suddenly come here because he is likely preparing to enter this Heavenly Dao Secret Realm and gamble everything on a single attempt."

"..."

Chen Qiu stood where he was, gazing at the brawny man in the sky. Though he was clearly still far away, he seemed close enough to touch. Chen Qiu's expression was complicated as he remained silent. He also had a Pink Trait.

"Dantian Expansion (Unique)."

Moreover, it was a unique Pink Trait, and he had already obtained a compatible White Trait. Once he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and learned a spell, his combat power would rise drastically.

Only then would he truly possess a certain degree of influence in this unfamiliar world.

"Let's go."

He said no more, merely signaling Scholar to prepare to depart. Scholar nodded in understanding. As Azure Edge shot into the clouds, the four of them swiftly vanished from where they stood.