After the Spring Festival, the peaceful fourth year has passed irretrievably, and the peaceful fifth year has arrived in the blink of an eye.
At dawn, just before the sunrise.
Wu Ming stood atop the loft, his face solemn, his lungs filled with energy, facing eastward practicing breathing exercises. Amidst the rising clouds and mist, a faint purple aura descended.
When the first ray of sunlight pierced the horizon, Wu Ming dared not move further. A glow flickered across his face as he activated his internal refinement technique, transforming this thread of morning purple aura into golden nectar and jade dew, swallowing it in three mouthfuls.
“This internal refinement technique, with my innate physique as the foundation of a martial cultivator, has enabled me to swiftly break through barriers and advance fearlessly and vigorously, encountering no obstacles whatsoever…”
Half an hour later, Wu Ming slowly concluded his practice, silently observing his inner self. He noticed that within the chaos, the range of brightness in his consciousness had expanded slightly, indicating further progress, which brought a nod of satisfaction.
Soon after, a shadow of gloom passed over his face:
“The second day of the second lunar month, the Dragon Raises Its Head! The Longmen Gathering!”
The time was getting tight.
“Wu Qing sister returned to the Daoist academy immediately after the New Year to prepare; she probably had a premonition too!”
“Unfortunately… despite my rapid progress and having crossed the Dao threshold, to get involved in such matters is still beyond my capability, like navigating a boat in a raging sea, where one misstep could lead to destruction!”
“And the only way to quickly enhance my strength lies within the Main God’s Hall!”
Wu Ming gave a self-deprecating smile: “Among those Reincarnators, who isn’t anxious about their missions? It’s rare to find a fool like me who actually looks forward to the missions starting sooner!”
He went downstairs and entered a secret passage.
Here, impure and yin energies lingered, causing Wu Ming to frown slightly.
The light was dim, and after walking a few more steps, he reached the depths and saw a structure resembling a dungeon.
Groans of pain and sounds of whipping continuously seeped through the cracks in the door.
“Greetings, Young Master!”
The prison door opened, and Wu Tiehu, his face twisted in a sinister grin, stepped out to meet Wu Ming, startled, quickly bowed respectfully.
“Hmm, how is the prisoner inside?”
Wu Ming asked.
He had thoroughly studied the mysterious glow on Wu Tiehu’s body; it was an omen of being attuned to a celestial star, particularly a malevolent one, indicating that he would surely achieve great feats in the future.
Of course, it was only a faint trace. If it were a true celestial star’s response, his potential would be boundless.
Nonetheless, even this slight trace was beyond his original fate’s constraints. In times of chaos, heroes find their opportunities. Originally destined to be a minor officer, with the right timing, he could rise to become a general.
“Fate isn’t immutable. The Son of Heaven, the True Dragon, is the master of destiny, capable of altering others’ fates with the nation’s fortune. ‘One Heaven, Two Earths’ refers to the descent of celestial stars and the energy of earth’s dragons, which can also change one’s capacity…”
Wu Ming was well aware of this.
Even in times of chaos, the fates of dragons, true dragons, and hidden dragons are not innate.
At most, one might carry a hint of innate destiny at birth, which would be useless in times of peace, and might even lead to a life of mediocrity.
Only when aligned with the great trends of the world, gaining the favor of heaven and earth’s energies, and gradually refining oneself through growth, can one achieve greatness when the time is ripe.
Otherwise, if there were more people like Wu Ming, wouldn’t they all be discovered?
Wu Tiehu was the same.
Carrying a trace of a malevolent star’s light merely gave him a slightly better foundation than ordinary people. His naturally hot temper and exceptional bravery could easily lead him to the chopping block if he continued down this path.
However, once he gained command and authority, his evolution would begin, leading to significant changes!
Moreover, as his authority and fortune expand, he might even attract more attention from his corresponding celestial star, transforming into a true celestial fate!
“I wonder which malevolent star corresponds to this person?”
Wu Ming knew that celestial forces are vast and boundless. There could be no less than a thousand or eight hundred people who carry a trace of such celestial light across the land!
If we consider the more famous malevolent stars, there could be thousands!
With so many seeds sown, many will fall by the wayside, but those who do well will receive further investment until the final celestial fate is determined, and a true celestial star descends to the world.
“It’s somewhat similar to the struggle for the dragon throne. Judging by Wu Tiehu’s talent and fate, if he wants to attract the attention of a malevolent star and reach a level where his true form can be discerned, he would at least need the fortune of a genuine seventh-rank official with real power! To truly resonate with the stars and gain the support of a true celestial fate, becoming a general of the third or first rank is possible…”
“But… it’s said that these ministers and generals who receive celestial fates are omens of chaos, destined to assist the True Dragon Emperor… Could it be that this world is truly about to fall into chaos?”
Wu Tiehu, of course, was unaware of the myriad thoughts that passed through Wu Ming’s mind in a fleeting glance. At this moment, he was bowing and answering: “Same as usual. Old Ma said that it’s unlikely we can get much more information out of him, and he won’t last much longer…”
“Hmm!”
Wu Ming entered the dungeon and saw a bloodied figure lying on the ground, both thighs broken, breathing more out than in.
The lifeless eyes caught sight of Wu Ming’s entrance and flickered with movement, revealing a face covered in wounds and extreme exhaustion—it was indeed Yu Cheng, the steward of the Zhou family!
Upon seeing Wu Ming, Yu Cheng’s whole body shuddered.
“Hmph! Seeing me come in and noticing that my Wu family remains intact, you should give up all hope now, shouldn’t you?”
Wu Ming said coldly, watching as despair flickered in Yu Cheng’s eyes.
“You’re a clever man; you should naturally guess that you’ve already been abandoned by the Zhou family… To tell you the truth, the Zhou family has compiled your crimes and removed you from their records! Your family and children have been cast out, completely cut off…”
“Although they still secretly take care of you, you were born into the family and should understand the principle that once a person is gone, the tea grows cold. How much affection can such a fragile arrangement maintain? If the master forgets about you, how much goodwill remains?”
Wu Ming spoke slowly and methodically, and Yu Cheng’s eyes flickered with light.
“I won’t hide from you either; you are certainly going to die, and this visit is your last chance…”
“If you can now hand over some intelligence that interests me, I can give some silver to your family and secretly take care of them a bit…”
“You can choose not to believe me, but if you want to protect your family, this is your only option!”
After coldly uttering a few sentences and laying the cold reality before Yu Cheng, Wu Ming turned directly and walked out.
Back on the surface, breathing in the fresh air, he sighed slowly.
“Master, Yu Cheng is dead. This is the last thing he wrote!”
After a while, Wu Tiehu came from behind and handed him a piece of white paper, on which a few lines were scrawled in a twisted manner.
“Hmm, you’ve worked hard. Go to the accounting office and collect fifty taels of silver. Give twenty taels to Old Ma Fourth! And remember the rules?”
Wu Ming said casually, while Wu Tiehu stood solemnly, shuddered slightly, and loudly promised: “Rest assured, Master. If even a single word leaks out, I will kill Old Ma Fourth immediately, bring his head to you, and then commit suicide to atone!”
…
After dismissing Wu Tiehu, he returned indoors.
Wu Ming’s expression was calm. He lit a match and burned the paper, recalling the information on it, then sighed again: “Clan prestige… The Wang family?”
What Yu Cheng had guarded until his death and finally offered in exchange for his family’s fate was only this one piece of intelligence.
Unfortunately, for Wu Ming, it was not good news.
The hidden hand behind the Zhou family in the county was none other than the prestigious Wang family of Chufeng Prefecture, who had been residing in the prefectural city for generations!
Wu Ming rubbed his temples, and a bit of information surfaced.
The Wang family had been established in Chufeng Prefecture for over a hundred years. Now, they had several thousand family members, owned two hundred hectares of land, and had numerous servants and maids. Their power extended throughout all eight counties of the prefecture, making them the true elite of the region, a powerful aristocratic clan!
Of course, the most crucial point was that the family head a hundred years ago was Wang Zhong, the Prefect.
He built a dam along the gorge, set up a stele to suppress the white dragon, transformed the harm of the Nao Long River into a benefit, and was deeply appreciated by the people of the prefecture. A temple was built in his honor while he was alive, and after his death, it was said that he became the City God of the underworld!
“Wang Zhong, the City God of the Prefecture, the White Dragon, the second day of the second lunar month, the Dragon Raises Its Head… The Longmen Gathering! Everything seems to connect!”
Wu Ming clenched his teeth, somewhat bitterly amused.
The power of a prestigious clan was at least five times that of the Zhou family, with immeasurable influence.
Not to mention, there was a City God of the underworld silently managing and enhancing their fortune and blessings!
Boom!
A faint thunderclap seemed to flash through the space.
Wu Ming was startled, then opened his spiritual eyes and was shocked again.
After obtaining the information about the hidden hand, a dense, thick layer of black qi emerged from the fog near his fortune!
This black qi surged, even forming into dark clouds, carrying a feeling of being able to destroy everything.
“The dark clouds press so heavily that the city seems about to fall!”
A line from an old poem suddenly surfaced in Wu Ming’s mind.
When the time is right, everything goes smoothly; when the time is lost, even heroes are powerless. The path of fortune lies in making people lose their senses, turning them upside down and blinding them to the truth.
Especially, a doctor cannot heal himself, and a method cannot be applied to oneself.
Without breaking through this barrier, one cannot see the dense calamity qi, only realizing its existence when it’s too late to reverse.
“No wonder they say that the art of observing auras is a waste!”
Wu Ming gave a bitter smile, knowing that with his current fortune, the chances of surviving under this black cloud were slim indeed.
In fact, not even himself, but even Wu Qing, might have some uncertainty.
With her noble innate nature, perhaps she could protect herself, but her fortune would likely be greatly diminished, and her future would be uncertain.
“Heaven’s movement is ever vigorous; thus, the superior man makes himself ceaselessly vigorous!”
After a moment of contemplation and silence, Wu Ming suddenly recited a line.
“There is still a glimmer of heavenly fate. Even in the face of a great heavenly calamity, there is always a thread of hope! Moreover… is a prestigious clan really that impressive? Since they have decided to target my family, they must be eliminated!”
In an instant, a trace of ruthlessness appeared on his face:
“Let me first go to the Prefecture, observe their fortune, and as long as there is a flaw, I will surely find a way to break it!”
However, at this moment, a stream of information suddenly appeared:
[Ding! Esteemed Reincarnator Number Gengshen 69, Divine Envoy! Your mission will commence three days from now at midnight. Please prepare accordingly!]
[This mission is of medium scale! Scene size: Medium!]
[Mission difficulty: Hong!]
[Main mission description: …]
Wu Ming was taken aback, then burst into loud laughter: “It comes at just the right time!”
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