Chapter 46: Qi Yun

“Good morning, Young Master Ming!”

“Respects to the Young Master!”

In the early morning, the servants and attendants of the Wu Manor noticed a new habit of Wu Ming.

No matter whom he met, he would always give them a thorough up-and-down glance, making people feel uneasy.

The maids who dreamed of becoming phoenixes naturally blushed with excitement and anticipation, subtly striking poses. However, other male servants felt uneasy, worrying about their own safety.

“Hmm… Their fortune and fate seem to be ordinary. However, our Wu Manor is rich in auspicious energy; there are no evil ghosts or malevolent spirits here…”

Unknown to him, all these male and female servants were overthinking. What Wu Ming was observing was merely their fate and fortune.

“All white… Does that mean they are commoners?”

“And… I’ve observed dozens of people in a row without feeling any fatigue, indicating this technique consumes very little energy…”

“Even more astonishingly, every form and hue of fortune is vividly clear to me. This is no longer merely a Spiritual Eye—it’s more akin to a divine eye! A heavenly eye!!!”

Existence is reasonable.

Since he had confirmed that his Spiritual Eye technique was divinely effective and possibly a gift from the Sovereign Deity’s Shrine (Master Shrine), Wu Ming felt at ease. Still, to be safe, he decided to show the incantation to his elder sister Wu Qing.

“Greetings, Young Master!”

Wu Tiehu and several others approached and saluted. However, Wu Ming’s eyes flickered slightly: “Finally, some different ones…”

In his eyes, Zhao Song and Wu Tiehu had thick white vapor rising above their heads, forming a cluster, with faint red threads interwoven, surrounded by dark black energy.

“Black vapor… Could that be military or martial aura?”

“And… this Wu Tiehu…”

Compared to Zhao Song, the village patrol officer, Wu Tiehu’s fortune was denser, even covered by a strange dark glow, resonating with the heavens and earth. His fortune fluctuated violently, as if trying to devour and grow stronger—his martial aura was several times that of Zhao Song’s.

“Does the Young Master have any orders?”

Unaware that his essence had been completely seen, Wu Tiehu noticed Wu Ming’s pensive gaze and asked.

“No! Nothing… Continue your training diligently!”

After dismissing the two, Wu Ming reflected on Wu Tiehu’s anomaly, somewhat surprised: “What does this mean? Heaven-bestowed fortune? A malevolent star fulfilling its destiny?”

Mulling over these thoughts, he arrived outside Wu Qing’s quarters: “Sister, are you in?”

“You have something to ask me, little brother?”

The door opened silently, revealing Wu Qing’s graceful figure.

She had changed from her Taoist robes into a pink palace gown, her hair adorned with flowers, adding an extra charm. However, she stood with her hands behind her back, seemingly gazing at a painting on the wall.

Wu Ming looked and saw a bamboo branch painting. The bamboo was upright and verdant, decent but not exceptional. On the blank space beside it was a poem:

“The willows are green, the river calm,

I hear my beloved singing on the shore.

The sun rises in the east, rains in the west,

Saying it’s not clear, yet it is.”

The painting was finely framed, even the scroll rods made of high-quality sandalwood, clearly showing Wu Qing’s deep affection for this piece.

“I was drunk when I wrote that, please don’t tease me again, elder sister…”

Wu Ming scratched his nose, smiling bitterly.

In his previous life, he remembered this poem and wrote it as a joke for Wu Qing. Unexpectedly, she loved it so much that she begged him to give it to her, treasuring it ever since.

“I really like your New Year gift!”

Wu Qing just smiled: “My little brother’s literary talent has improved, and this poem carries a profound Taoist aura!”

“Cough… cough…”

Wu Ming coughed slightly, “Actually, I came here today because of something. That Taoist Qingping left behind a Spiritual Eye technique last time, which supposedly allows one to see fortune and fate!”

“Although many techniques for observing auras exist, those that can perceive fortune are rare and valuable!”

Wu Qing was somewhat moved, then smiled again: “That Taoist Qingping is practically a wealth-bringing child for you!”

After glancing at it, she was momentarily stunned.

Her expression turned solemn. After a long while, she sighed softly: “I underestimated him. I never expected him to not only see people’s fortune but also observe the land’s energy… This technique is no worse than the ‘Divine Eye of Insight’ from the Yunping Taoist Academy. Even presenting it there would count as a major contribution…”

“But… when applying this technique, it seems not very clear…” Wu Ming deliberately said, feigning frustration.

“Applying it?”

Wu Qing was momentarily surprised, then looked at Wu Ming again, her smile deepening: “Very good. You’ve received the heavenly-endowed Taoist Talisman and passed this threshold, allowing you to obtain a Taoist certificate from the academy. For ordinary people, this would mean being exempted from commoner status, freed from corvée labor, and allowed to travel freely without official documents. Unfortunately, for you, it’s just a useless bonus!”

“I prefer being a free-spirited wanderer rather than being bound by unnecessary restrictions!”

Wu Ming scratched his nose.

“Once you enter the Taoist path, you lose your autonomy…”

Wu Qing sighed, not pressing further: “Being able to master this technique overnight shows you have a natural talent in geomancy, physiognomy, and divination…”

“As for the lack of clarity, that’s normal. After all, one’s fate and potential are fundamental and cannot be easily exposed. As for seeking the dragon veins (auspicious landforms), it’s greatly feared by Heaven, so one must be extremely cautious!”

Seeing Wu Qing’s solemn expression, Wu Ming could only nod obediently.

Just then, a thought struck him. He silently activated the technique and turned his gaze toward Wu Qing.

Instantly, he saw swirling golden-red auspicious energy forming clouds, flames dancing around them, with a small red sword floating within, absorbing and emitting fortune.

“This… It’s dozens of times more powerful than mine!”

Wu Ming marveled inwardly. Then, deep within the golden-red clouds, he faintly noticed a speck of green.

Before he could observe further, his eyes ached, signaling he had reached his limit. He withdrew the technique, deeply shaken: “My sister… is truly extraordinary! Even combining me, Wu Tiehu, and the entire Wu Manor, we might still fall short…”

“You?”

Wu Qing seemed to sense something, glancing at Wu Ming sideways.

“Nothing…” Wu Ming chuckled nervously: “Let’s not talk about dragon veins and geomancy for now. I’m very interested in personal fate. Sister, tell me more about it.”

“You still want to study this?”

Wu Qing rolled her eyes: “Traditionally, fortune-observing techniques can help others but not oneself. Those who achieve a basic level, seeing only vague outlines, are already considered extraordinary individuals, enjoying privileges and a comfortable life… Those who delve deeper into fate analysis can become honored guests of regional lords and governors!”

“What if someone can locate true dragon veins or perceive the grand trend of heavenly fortune?”

“Such people… are naturally eliminated! Otherwise, where would there be room for others to thrive?” Wu Qing smiled ambiguously, making Wu Ming shiver inwardly.

He understood that Wu Qing was cautioning him: fortune-observing techniques are beneficial, but becoming too proficient can invite great danger.

However, Wu Ming’s situation was different. After much persuasion and repeated assurances that he was merely curious and wouldn’t delve too deeply, Wu Qing finally gave in with an expression that said, “I give up on you,” and began explaining slowly:

“As for heavenly fortune and land veins, even fortune observers can suffer backlash, so I won’t discuss that with you. But I once saw a physiognomy book in the Taoist Academy archives that deals with human fate, which I can share with you!”

“Fortune—this ‘qi’ (气), in fact, refers to ‘capacity’ (器)! At its core, fortune is ‘capacity fortune’ (器运)!”

“In this context, ‘capacity’ refers to one’s innate fate and fundamental essence, representing a person’s maximum potential!”

“And ‘fortune’ refers to external assistance and opportunities, representing one’s acquired achievements!”

“These two are like a cup and water: fate is the cup, and fortune is the water. Having capacity without fortune means a life of mediocrity. Having abundant fortune but poor capacity is like a cup overflowing with water, leading to early death. Only when one’s capacity and fortune align can one walk the righteous path!”

Wu Ming frowned: “If that’s the case, doesn’t it mean we’re all restricted by our innate fate? Why bother striving for the future when we can just read our fate directly?”

“Fortune can be sought, but innate fate is hard to change, though not impossible!”

Wu Qing replied: “Originally, a person’s entire life of fortune rarely reaches their innate capacity limit, so it’s not worth discussing. Even when it does, there are methods to change one’s fate!”

“How to change fate?”

“One Heaven, Two Earth, Three Feng Shui, Four Accumulate Virtue, Five Study!” Wu Qing said solemnly: “And by uniting many people’s strength to go against Heaven’s will, after enduring trials, one can also change fate!”

“Innate fate includes categories like Ziwei (Purple Micro), Jiaolong (Dragon), and Star Alignment, while fortune also varies in color and form, judged by the Five Virtues: black for misfortune, white for neutrality, red for auspiciousness, gold for nobility, and green or purple for supreme fortune!”

“The subtlety of these transformations lies in the heart. Although fortune is valuable, it must also align with the grand trend of Heaven and Earth—it cannot be fully learned from books…”

“I’ve learned much from you, elder sister!”

Wu Ming bowed respectfully, glancing at Wu Qing again.

Within the golden-red clouds, that speck of green remained quite noticeable.

“According to my sister’s explanation, her innate fate must be extremely noble. I wonder if she knows this herself?”

At this moment, he also realized that if it were Taoist Qingping instead, he might only perceive some red energy.

Perhaps a more advanced observer could see golden energy.

To see the small sword, one would be among ten thousand fortune observers. As for directly perceiving that green essence, even rarer. Moreover, even if someone highly skilled could see it, there might be backlash.

“I wonder if the Taoist Master could do it?”

A thought suddenly crossed his mind.

After bidding farewell, Wu Ming left with a heavy heart. He found a bronze mirror and silently activated his ability.

In the mirror, a young man’s body shimmered with clear light, indicating Taoist cultivation success, surrounded by red and white fortune, indicating minor wealth and status.

Around him, some black martial aura lingered, representing the village guards under his command and Zhou family’s hostility.

“But… where is my essence? What is my innate fate?”

Wu Ming pressed his lips tightly, scrutinizing carefully. Indeed, within the red and white fortune clouds, he saw threads of dark, eerie black.

Unlike the martial aura around Wu Tiehu, this black energy was directly entwined within his fortune, making Wu Ming shudder.

“Black signifies misfortune. Could this be… the Qi of Calamity?!”

Wu Ming clenched his teeth: “And… my essence is invisible. Could this also be a transformation brought about by the Sovereign Deity’s Hall (Master Shrine)?”