The divination immortal south of the city, a discussion of karma

Lingcheng County.

After many days away, Ao Ding once again came to a human city.

Its bustling, lively atmosphere was utterly different from the cold solitude of the spirits and demons in the wilds.

Ao Ding drew a deep breath, suddenly experiencing the wondrous sensation of returning to the mortal world from somewhere beyond it.

He entered the city and headed straight for the Lin Household's gates.

The young gatekeeper still remembered the acquaintance from three years ago and hurriedly invited him inside to wait.

Before long, Lin Bai came personally to welcome him, laughing heartily. "Brother Ao, what brings you here? Have you made progress in your cultivation and come to visit this old friend?"

Seeing wisps of True Qi circulating through Lin Bai, Ao Ding asked in surprise, "Brother Lin, you actually succeeded in Foundation Establishment?"

A hundred days of Foundation Establishment was not difficult for children and youths.

With their primal yang intact and diligent practice, they could accomplish it in a mere hundred days.

But for a grown young man like Lin Bai, it was no simple matter.

With every ten years of age, the difficulty doubled.

If an elderly person attempted it, they might well die before establishing their foundation.

"It was all thanks to Father's guidance. I've only just crossed the threshold."

Seeing Ao Ding's surprise, Lin Bai was rather pleased with himself.

Both father and son had entered the Dao, a joyous event that brought glory to their household. In the future, perhaps the Lin Household could even become a local cultivation aristocratic clan.

Ao Ding went inside as a guest and chatted with him about recent events in the Country of Xuanjia.

Hearing that He Wenchang and the others were doing well, Lin Bai breathed a sigh of relief. "Wang Mao is all right-that's good. His household has suffered these past few years. As long as he's all right... Over the last two years, I've tried to find that place, but I simply couldn't locate it anymore. The wondrous realms of immortals really are different."

Feigning ignorance, Ao Ding asked how the Wang Household was faring.

"Three years ago, shortly after you, Senior Sun, and Brother Lu left, disaster struck the Wang Household. Apparently, their ancestors offended a feng shui practitioner, who has now returned for revenge. Under his retaliation, ill fortune has hung over the Wang Household, and their clansmen have suffered one mishap after another. Only with support from old friends like us have they barely managed to maintain their family estate."

The Wang Household's ancestors had made an enemy long ago, and the goodwill the household had accumulated over all these years was now being repaid, little by little.

But compared with that hatred, this goodwill was not enough to let the Wang Household weather the calamity with ease.

Their decline continued...

Ao Ding fell silent briefly, then brought up the Plague-Dispelling Dao's cave abode.

"I've looked it over. The spiritual energy there is quite good, suitable for you and your father to cultivate. You can also look after the place for me in your daily lives. Of course, if you have the money someday, you can buy it from me. As for these next few years... let's use wine as rent for now. Your father has already entered the Wine Immortal Dao. I'm very curious how wine brewed by a wine immortal differs from that of a mortal brewer."

Lin Bai's eyes lit up, and he hurried into an inner room to fetch a jade flask.

"Father, Father, come out!"

"What is it?" White smoke drifted with the fragrance of wine, and an illusory figure floated into view.

On closer inspection, the old man with the handsome beard had a flushed face and reeked of wine.

"Oh! Young brother, it's you."

Lin Bai's father sobered up and hurriedly greeted him. "Is Senior Sun well?"

"Everything has gone smoothly and as Senior Sun Chen wished."

He had reincarnated as he wished, with nothing outside his plans happening. How could that not be smooth?

When Ao Ding brought up the cave abode again, Lin Bai's father readily agreed.

"Young brother, you still remembered the two of us. We have no way to repay this kindness-quick, son, prepare a few jars of my newly brewed Drunken Moon Wine for our young brother. It's a spiritual wine made by gathering the essence of the moon."

Ao Ding accepted with a modest smile, then added, "Also, if you encounter a mortal called He Xiao while cultivating at that cave abode, sorry for the trouble, but please look after him a little."

He briefly mentioned He Xiao and Tu Qing'er's circumstances, along with some of his own conjectures.

"Originally, I didn't want to think too badly of demons-it's just..."

"There's no harm in being careful." Lin Bai's father was an experienced middle-aged man, far more knowledgeable than youngsters like He Xiao, Lin Bai, and Ao Ding.

He patted his chest. "Rest assured. With me there, I certainly won't let anything happen to young friend He Xiao."

Ao Ding then took out the Immortal Pillow and asked Lin Bai to pass it on to He Xiao.

Having them hand it over was naturally also a way to establish a connection between them and leave He Xiao a way out.

Their conversation was most pleasant, and the Lin father and son invited a chef from the city to prepare a feast for Ao Ding.

During the feast, Ao Ding voiced a question that had troubled him recently.

"Senior Sun once told me to avoid interfering with other people's karma as much as possible. I could stir the waves from shore, but mustn't wet the hem of my robes... Yet I've interfered too much in He Xiao's affairs, and even feel a faint unease. Does this count as involving myself in someone else's karma?"

Ao Ding felt he had already been very careful, leaving He Xiao to handle everything himself. He had merely helped make connections. Throughout it all, he had never used force.

But thinking back carefully, his influence had indeed been too great.

Without his intervention, they could never have succeeded, and perhaps their future would have been another scene entirely.

Lin Bai's father thought for a moment, set down his wine cup, and said to Ao Ding:

"Though I'm several cycles older than you, young friend, I'm still new to cultivation. I cannot answer questions about such cultivation mysteries as the inheritance and repayment of karma-but we can have Lin Bai bring a few flasks of wine and accompany you to visit an expert south of the city."

"An expert?"

"He's a cultivator who arrived in Lingcheng County before the new year. He is proficient in divination and casts three readings each day, guiding common people out of confusion and toward goodness. Quite a few bullies and idlers have been guided back onto the proper path by him. From what I can see, he should be someone above the Jade Palace level. Besides, he helps people do good every day and divulges heaven's secrets. If you want to ask about karmic retribution, he is the best person to consult."

Afraid of delaying Ao Ding's cultivation, Lin Bai's father took out three jars of Cloud Immortal Drunk after the feast and had Lin Bai immediately lead Ao Ding south of the city to seek advice.

South of the city.

In a corner, an old man in hemp robes sat at a table, a Heavenly Secret Banner standing beside him. On it were written the words: "Three readings a day, guiding goodness and seeking fortune. Those with affinity may see; profound mysteries come of themselves."

That corner south of the city was packed with people, but they wandered around the old man like headless flies, none able to see him or his table and chairs.

"Master Duan gives three readings every day, and they're extremely accurate, so many people come to consult him. But he has placed a spell nearby, and only those with affinity and cultivators can see him."

After explaining quietly to Ao Ding, Lin Bai squeezed through the crowd with a smile plastered across his face. "Master Duan-I have something to ask."

The crowd only saw Lin Bai approach with a youth.

But the next moment, both disappeared.

"Oh no-that's the third today! All three readings for today are taken!"

Everyone beat their chests and stamped their feet, but there was nothing they could do.

Then they heard an aged voice drift through the air. "The three readings are finished. Everyone, leave promptly."

Reluctantly, the crowd departed in silence.

Amazed by what he saw, Ao Ding quietly opened his left eye to examine the surrounding spells.

Though he did not look directly at the old man, the latter still shuddered in fright. Staring at Ao Ding's left eye, he could no longer maintain his air of immortal grace and Daoist dignity.

He swept the Heavenly Secret Banner around them, and a golden circle enclosed the three.

He asked politely, "Young friend Lin, how should I address this fellow Daoist beside you?"

That eye-

What a profound Great Dao True Nature.

"May I ask which of our sects you belong to, fellow Daoist?"

"My name is Ao Ding. I have no courtesy name and have not yet taken a master. I came today to seek your advice about some troubles, Daoist brother-I should call you Daoist brother, shouldn't I?"

Though Ao Ding had not deliberately used his left eye to see through the old man's true nature, even his right eye could discern the concealing illusion around him-this "old man" was probably very young.

"Haha-" The aged voice suddenly became clear and youthful. The old man transformed with a shake of his body into a handsome young man with red lips and white teeth, whose looks were no less striking than Ao Ding's.

Lin Bai was startled. "S-Senior?"

"Haha-don't take offense, Fellow Daoist Lin. Most people are foolish and judge appearances first. They assume the elderly are wise and the young handle things unreliably. If I didn't find a way to turn into an old man, it would be difficult to earn their trust."

Lin Bai shook his head with a wry smile.

"You accomplished cultivators really are each stranger than the last."

Duan Lingxiao teased, "You're a cultivator yourself now, you know!"

Lin Bai said nothing. He placed the wine jars before the young Duan Lingxiao and explained why Ao Ding had come.

"You want my advice on heaven's secrets and karma? Certainly, certainly. Please speak, fellow Daoist."

He hasn't entered the Six Sects?

Well, he's bound to become a Six Sects Disciple in the future.

Duan Lingxiao was exceedingly courteous. Ao Ding quietly sat across the table and spoke of how he had helped He Xiao and Tu Qing'er. Then he mentioned how, on his travels, he had helped various villages, as well as the Polygonatum Immortal, Water Ghost, and Ning Zhi.

As the young man listened to Ao Ding's good deeds, his right hand remained hidden in his sleeve, his fingers ceaselessly performing calculations.

After quite a while, he laughed heartily.

"You worry too much, fellow Daoist. In the future, simply follow your heart when you act. Don't have too many misgivings-misgivings are the way of old people. We young people should just charge ahead. It's fine-afterward, our teachers and elders will back us up."

Where would I find teachers or elders to back me up?

Ao Ding gave a helpless, wry smile.

Duan Lingxiao thought nothing of it.

With a True Person's Eye, there are bound to be teachers and elders in the Six Sects willing to take him as a disciple.

At worst, I can bring him back to our Purple Sun Sect.

Thinking that he might gain a junior brother, Duan Lingxiao grew even more amiable. "Karma, gratitude, grudges-at your young age, don't concern yourself with them. There is a saying among immortals: 'All beings fear the fruit; True Persons fear the seed.' At our level, not interfering with others' karma means guarding against future troubles implicating us. So long as matters are handled properly and don't embroil us, that's enough. The way you handled those recent matters was very sound.

"Delivering Water Ghost. You intervened in the ordeal in which he should have bitterly languished for three hundred years. But afterward, did anyone hate you? Would anyone seek revenge on you for it?

"You counseled that girl studying medicine. Her entire household couldn't thank you enough, so who would hate you? In the future, when she succeeds in cultivating the Dao, she will still have to thank you as her benefactor.

"As for He Xiao, you worry their affection might not last-but even if so, what would that have to do with you? They chose their own road. You merely offered some kindly help when they needed it. Just as I set up my divination stall here, I only guide them toward goodness-truly setting foot on the path of goodness requires them to take their own steps."

The young man clapped Ao Ding heavily on the shoulder.

"You needn't dwell too much on what that senior who guided you said. He didn't want you interfering with others' karma simply because he didn't want you tasting bitter fruit. It was a way of protecting you. But in my view, we young people should venture forth when we ought to. If we suffer a loss, that's experience gained."

How broad-minded.

Looking at the young man's open, cheerful smile, Ao Ding inwardly admired him. This True Disciple of the Six Sects truly had an exceptional disposition, rather like Senior Sun Chen.

After hearing this, Lin Bai also relaxed and smiled. "Can you rest easy now, little brother? Senior Sun Chen probably cautioned you like that because he cares too deeply for you. Don't dwell on it."

"Huh? Sun Chen? Uncle-Master Sun Chen of the Pure Tenuity Sect?"

"Yes. Do you know him, Daoist brother?"

"Ah-no. But..." The young man scratched his cheek. "It was Uncle-Master Sun who advised you to act carefully and cautiously? Ah-well... you might want to listen seriously to that. Though we young people have drive, some things still call for a more tactful approach. Some indignities can be endured for a while. Things like trampling a sect's gates in a fit of rage, or smashing a spiritual mountain with a backhanded blow... you should still show some restraint."