“Have I heard correctly that there is a Taoist here calling himself ‘Zhaixingzi,’ who reads faces and tells fortunes with unfailing accuracy, boasting ‘Iron Mouth Straight Prediction’? And he also has a peculiar rule, only taking three clients a day?”
Ji Yi walked a few steps, then suddenly asked.
“Your Majesty, that’s correct!”
A personal guard commander immediately stepped forward: “This person initially appeared in Dafeng City, accompanied by two young Taoist apprentices, seemingly females disguised as males. Upon arriving in Jianye City, the first person he met was Feng Kuang, the young master of the Feng family…”
With just a few sentences, the commander roughly outlined Wu Ming’s activities in Qian Prefecture, revealing Ji Yi’s strong control over his domain.
“Didn’t I say before? When we’re out, you must call me ‘Master Yi’!”
Ji Yi frowned.
“Yes! Understood, Master Yi!”
The commander slightly bowed. Though already a Grand Master cultivator, sweat still beaded on his forehead.
Seeing this, the Taoist Yuqing silently nodded, understanding that Ji Yi was perceptive and insightful. The Xie family’s actions were trivial and unworthy of concern.
Observing the commander’s demeanor, Ji Yi felt too weary to pay further attention. Without turning his head, he continued climbing the mountain, his drifting voice carrying back: “What’s this Taoist’s background? Have you found anything yet?”
“Master Yi, our intelligence network in the outer provinces is still under development. It cannot compare to the networks in Qian and Yun Prefectures. We can only confirm that he came from the south and that his Taoist license is genuine… With the current chaos in the world, it’s difficult to obtain detailed information.”
“Oh?”
Ji Yi frowned, suddenly turning to the Taoist Chang beside him: “This Zhaixingzi seems to be a capable cultivator. I’ll need to ask Master Taoist to check him out later.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Yuqing Taoist bowed respectfully.
“Yes, that’s settled. Everyone, relax a bit. I’m incognito today, planning to observe the common people’s livelihood. I also heard of this Zhaixingzi’s divination skills and decided to come see for myself. I doubt anyone would recognize me, and with you and Master Yuqing here for protection, what is there to fear?”
Ji Yi waved his sandalwood folding fan, appearing even more composed, like a wealthy young master traveling with his retinue. He indeed attracted many women’s glances.
…
After entering the Taoist temple, Ji Yi first went to the main hall to offer incense and casually donated five taels of silver.
The attendant Taoist, seeing this, immediately brightened and respectfully invited him to the back for tea, presenting the merit book for a signature.
Ji Yi played with the writing brush in his hand but didn’t start writing. Casually, he asked: “I heard there’s a Taoist named Zhaixingzi here whose divination is extremely accurate. Is that true?”
“Of course it’s true! That Zhaixingzi is indeed a highly cultivated cultivator!”
The Taoist’s eyes sparkled, nodding like a chick pecking rice.
Indeed, Wu Ming’s abilities had earned the Taoist’s respect, but his generous nature was also a significant factor.
“To be honest, Master Gongzi, ever since Zhaixingzi arrived, the number of devout believers visiting our temple has multiplied several times over!”
“Oh?”
Ji Yi feigned interest: “Then bring him here for me to meet and have my fortune told!”
“Well…”
The Taoist immediately showed hesitation on his face: “Zhaixingzi is indeed playing chess in the back garden, but his temperament is peculiar. Once he finishes three divinations, he immediately stops. Even if others offer thousands of taels of silver, he won’t give it a second glance…”
“Dare!”
Before Ji Yi could say anything, one of his guards couldn’t help but shout.
The imperial aura, commanding the law, left no room for outsiders to defy. When the ruler summoned, even low-level spirits had to obey. How could a mere wandering Taoist dare to refuse?
Instantly, the guard placed his hand on his sword hilt, waiting for Ji Yi’s command to arrest the Taoist with imperial authority!
This palace guard was highly skilled, clearly a Master cultivator, hardened in countless battles, his martial arts honed on the battlefield. An ordinary Master cultivator would need two or three to match him. Even a slight leakage of his killing intent made the Taoist tremble in his legs, nearly collapsing to the ground.
“Wait! Eccentricities are common among extraordinary people. I’ll go to the back garden myself!”
Ji Yi waved his hand, and the guard immediately stepped back, lowering his eyes respectfully like a humble maid, completely losing his previous imposing demeanor.
This shift from movement to stillness made the Taoist secretly amazed, realizing that the guest was extraordinary. He dared not be careless and immediately led the way.
The temple’s back garden was vast, planted with evergreen trees and seasonal flowers, creating a beautiful scene. On the snow-white walls on both sides, literati and scholars had left their calligraphy works.
Some particularly precious works were even framed and protected with curtains.
Of course, with Ji Yi’s status, he could view any work he desired, but he showed no interest at the moment. After walking for a while, he saw a stone pavilion in the garden.
Inside the pavilion was a Taoist, with thick eyebrows and bright eyes, quite young. He was holding both white and black Go stones, clearly playing against himself.
On the stone pillars on both sides were two short couplets: “Victory brings joy, defeat brings happiness too.” The calligraphy was powerful, exuding a sense of transcendence, making Ji Yi feel pleased at first sight.
“An esteemed guest has arrived. Please come in for tea!”
At this moment, the young Taoist stood up and bowed to Ji Yi.
“Hmm!”
Without hesitation, Ji Yi directly entered the pavilion and sat down. Only Yuqing Taoist and the guard commander followed him inside.
The other “servants” dressed as wealthy attendants were stationed around, seemingly walking casually, but subtly surrounding the stone pavilion from all four directions.
“Wow!”
Instantly, Wu Ming felt several powerful gazes fall upon him, even making him sense intense danger!
“This Ji Yi is truly a future dragon emperor. Even when traveling incognito, his guards are extraordinary. Ordinary level-four cultivators would be mere cannon fodder here…”
Wu Ming thought silently, then glanced at the three people opposite him.
His first glance was naturally at Ji Yi.
Roar!
In that instant, Wu Ming’s eyes slightly hurt, as a large area of purple qi floated before him, within which a red dragon appeared, with twin horns and four claws, each claw having four toes, exuding immense majesty.
He slightly narrowed his eyes and looked again. The red dragon transformed into Ji Yi himself, his face surrounded by purple qi, his appearance truly noble beyond compare, connecting with heavenly fate above and earthly blessings below, carrying an indomitable power. Ordinary natives would already be kneeling at this sight.
“Wow! His appearance is extremely noble, surrounded by purple qi, his fortune manifesting as a red dragon, only a thread away from becoming a true dragon!”
Although he had suspicions, seeing it firsthand still made Wu Ming’s expression change in surprise.
At this moment, the red dragon slightly moved, as if sensing something, making him dare not look further, quickly shifting his gaze.
This true dragon emperor was indeed under close observation by heavenly will. Wu Ming worried that staying by his side day and night would expose his identity as an outsider, immediately inviting heavenly punishment!
At least in this period, Ji Yi was the chosen one of heavenly fate in this Dashing world!
“Ji Yi has immense fortune, and the two beside him aren’t bad either, one of them a Martial Sage!”
Wu Ming glanced at the guard commander. Clearly, the guard was focusing all his attention on him, even making Wu Ming feel as if pierced by knives and needles.
He clearly understood that if he showed any abnormal movement, the guard would instantly attack. Within a few steps, even with his Celestial Master body, he couldn’t match a Martial Sage!
A Grand Master cultivator in martial arts possesses blood qi as intense as a furnace, capable of shattering evil artifacts, and is a third-tier expert!
A Martial Sage is level four! His essence, energy, and spirit are refined to the peak, yet completely internalized. If Wu Ming closed his eyes, he would see only “emptiness”!
This represented terror! And marked the limit of human physical capabilities in this world!
“This guy isn’t just a saying; in guerrilla warfare, he could rival a thousand men! Within three steps, I’m no match for him!”
The most powerful aspect of martial cultivation was the instantaneous explosive damage. At such a close range, even a Celestial Master couldn’t withstand it.
Of course, if Wu Ming had time to prepare and create distance, the Martial Sage would surely die!
“But… I could handle this Martial Sage. The Taoist beside him, however, I can’t deal with!”
Among the three people present, Ji Yi had unparalleled fortune with a Martial Sage guarding him, but the Taoist beside him was the most intriguing to Wu Ming.
The Taoist had an ordinary appearance, seeming around thirty to forty years old, with a touch of world-weariness. He exuded a clear aura, condensed yet not dissipating, possessing a truly ethereal demeanor.
Without hesitation, Wu Ming immediately activated his Heavenly Eye.
Boom!
Instantly, the Taoist opposite seemed to sense something, a faint glow flashing from his sleeve.
Wu Ming’s eyes changed, revealing divine incantations and talisman characters, which quickly vanished.
Their eyes met, both feeling a chill. In that subtle confrontation, they both understood a bit about each other’s foundation.
“His external fortune is blue and purple, clearly indicating his allegiance to Ji Yi, their fates intertwined. Although not as formidable as the national preceptor, it’s still terrifying… Of course, the most critical aspect is his internal fortune, jade-like green and stable as a mountain! A Earth Immortal!!!”
Although it was only a brief glimpse before being detected and countered, Wu Ming’s Heavenly Eye ability still caught a glimpse of his foundation.
An Earth Immortal!
Cultivating the principles of heaven and earth’s rise and fall, drawing on the numbers of the sun and moon’s creation, achieving the convergence of three flowers at the crown and the gathering of five energies at the dantian. When the cultivation is complete, one forgets form, and the immortal fetus naturally transforms. When yin is exhausted and yang is pure, one attains a body beyond the body. Transcending physical form to become an immortal, surpassing the mundane to attain sainthood! A true level-five expert!
Even the three noble deities of Fusang wouldn’t surpass this level!
Cultivating to this stage, one has already achieved fruition, breaking through the limit of two hundred years of life as a human immortal. Though calling it immortality might be an exaggeration, living five hundred or a thousand years without departing the world is no myth!
“Moreover… it’s said that where this Earth Immortal resides, a blessed land forms naturally, similar to the concept of a domain in the West… That must be the Earth Immortal’s strongest ability!”
Wu Ming slightly nodded, showing respect to a senior cultivator.
Reaching this level of cultivation, the next step would only be to comprehend the rules of heaven and earth, gaining the world’s position, which requires fortunate coincidences, blessings, and merits, not merely diligent cultivation.
“Poorly informed as I am, today I have the honor of meeting three great experts. This is truly a joy beyond measure!”
Wu Ming waved his hand, his demeanor composed, his grace heartily admirable.
Even though Ji Yi’s single command could seal his fate, it would only affect a projection, leaving his main body unharmed with an escape route prepared. Thus, he naturally appeared calm and at ease, handling the situation skillfully and effortlessly.
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