Seven Killings in the Fate Palace

Moonlight fell cold over the riverbank.

Chu Bai sat slumped beside the reeking carcass of the strange fish, gasping for breath.

Once he had recovered a little strength, he struggled to push himself up. Every part of his body ached.

His arms and the webs between his thumbs and forefingers hurt worst of all. After that desperate pounding, they burned with pain, and his muscles twitched beyond his control.

"Hiss..."

Chu Bai sucked in a sharp breath. He was about to inspect his injuries when the familiar panel appeared in his mind of its own accord, trembling faintly.

Beneath the activated [Food Injury Leaks Elegance], a third line of text slowly emerged.

The writing still flickered in and out, clearly not yet fixed in place.

[Acquired Fate Pattern: Seven Killings in the Fate Palace (Inactive)]

(Note: Snatches victory from danger; decisive in battle. Bears killing intent. Combat instinct and explosive power greatly increased; grows stronger after every battle.)

"Seven Killings in the Fate Palace?"

Chu Bai's heart stirred.

In the study of fate, the Seven Killings was an ill-omened star, governing bloodshed, conquest, and rashness. But it was not wholly bad. If one could master it, its deadly force could be brought under control, turning it into a fate pattern of great power that held authority over life and death.

"Looks like that fight to the death triggered it."

Chu Bai looked at the mangled fish carcass and understood.

This had been his first true fight for his life. Facing a vicious creature far stronger than himself, he had not broken under the pressure. Instead, he had unleashed a ferocity he never knew he possessed and killed it. That resolve and experience were the very image of the Seven Killings.

"It hasn't activated yet, but this means... I'll have a special gift for combat in the future."

That was undoubtedly good news.

But when Chu Bai recalled the fight, a wave of fear still ran through him.

If the strange fish had been even a little stronger, or if he had reacted a moment slower, he would likely have been the one lying there.

"When it comes down to it, I have too few ways to fight."

Chu Bai gave a bitter smile. If he had known even one offensive spell, something as basic as the Spirit Blade Technique or Fireball Technique, would he have had to fight for his life like a savage, swinging a rock?

"I have to break through to Qi Refining and learn Spell Arts as soon as possible!"

His mind made up, Chu Bai wasted no more time. He found a sturdy enough rope on the boat, threaded it through the strange fish's gills, and tied it in a tight knot.

The fish weighed dozens of jin. The old Chu Bai could never have dragged it, but his physique had improved greatly. It was hard work, yet he could just manage it.

Under cover of night, Chu Bai avoided the main road and hauled it home step by step along the narrow paths between the fields.

It was late at night when he arrived home.

His parents were already asleep, and the house was dark.

Chu Bai quietly dragged the fish into the back courtyard and hid it in the cellar used to store sweet potatoes. He covered it with a thick layer of dry grass to mask the smell. Only then did he finally breathe easy.

Back in his room, Chu Bai used the moonlight to tend his scrapes as best he could, then collapsed into bed. He was utterly exhausted.

Early the next morning.

Chu Bai woke just as dawn began to break.

Though he had slept deeply, the soreness that made him feel as if his body had come apart still reminded him of everything that had happened the night before.

To keep his parents from seeing his wounds and worrying, he put on a long robe with a high collar, carefully concealing the scrapes on his neck and wrists.

In the back courtyard cellar, the strange fish had been dead all night, yet its blue-black scales still gleamed coldly. It had not begun to rot or stink; instead, it gave off a faint, blood-tinged spiritual aura.

Chu Bai took a boning knife and laboriously cut away several of the hardest scales along its back. He also severed its two long whiskers, as tough as steel wire, and wrapped them in cloth.

"I should ask Master what this thing is."

If it was a Demon Beast, it would be worth a fortune.

After a quick breakfast and a word to his parents, Chu Bai hurried out and headed straight for the Zhang Residence in the city.

Daoist Zhang was drinking tea in his study. When he saw Chu Bai arrive so early, walking a little stiffly and still carrying a faint trace of bloody killing intent, he frowned.

"What happened? Did you run into trouble?"

"Nothing escapes you, Master."

Chu Bai held nothing back. He gave a full account of renting a boat the previous night to cultivate in the middle of the river, being attacked by the strange fish, and killing it. Naturally, he left out the new Fate Destiny.

Surprise flashed in Daoist Zhang's eyes as he listened, then gave way to deep approval.

"You did well, lad. You've got courage!"

"You've only just begun and haven't learned any Spell Arts, yet you dared to fight a vicious creature like that in the water and came away alive. Keeping your head in danger matters more than any aptitude."

Chu Bai took the cloth bundle from inside his robe, opened it, and set it on the table. "Master, these came from the strange fish. I don't know what it was. Could you tell me?"

Daoist Zhang picked up a blue-black scale. It felt heavier than it looked and was hard as iron. He pinched one of the long whiskers, sensing the spiritual energy still lingering within it.

After a moment, Daoist Zhang set them down, shook his head, and smiled. "This was no Demon Beast."

"Not a Demon Beast?" Chu Bai was a little disappointed.

"A true Demon Beast, even one of the lowest, first-rank lower grade, has awakened intelligence. It can draw in the essence of the sun and moon, and may even wield an innate demonic art."

Daoist Zhang explained, "If what you met last night had been a true Demon Beast, even a single water arrow from its mouth would have left you dead. How could you have beaten it to death with a rock?"

Chu Bai's heart tightened. It was true. If that fish had known magic, even a half-baked Fireball Technique like Zhao Xing's, he would have had no room to dodge on the boat. He would have died.

The creature had only begun to show its vicious nature. It had little intelligence and knew nothing but how to attack. That was the only reason Chu Bai had survived.

"Then what was it...?"

Daoist Zhang pointed at the scale. "It lived for a long time in a place rich in spiritual energy: the center of that river bend you mentioned. Nourished by that energy, its body grew far stronger than others of its kind, and its scales became hard as iron."

"At the same time, the spiritual energy in the wild was mixed with baleful intent. Corroded by it, the fish grew savage, bloodthirsty, and fiercely aggressive. But it never awakened intelligence, so it cannot be called a demon."

At that, Daoist Zhang glanced at Chu Bai. "It's no surprise you encountered it. Since it had claimed that river bend, the Pure Bathing Spirit Flow was its prize alone. You entered its territory and tried to take the spiritual energy. Of course it fought you."

"I see." Understanding dawned on Chu Bai.

"However..." Daoist Zhang changed tack, a hint of a smile appearing on his face. "Though it wasn't a Demon Beast, this is a rare opportunity for you."

"An opportunity?"