“It will work out? That would be wonderful indeed!”
Xie Yifan struck his palm with his fist. As for Wu Ming’s mention of the calamity, he did not pay the slightest attention.
In his view, those were merely two outstanding women of the future. As a scion of a noble family, wasn’t it only natural to sacrifice for the family while enjoying its privileges?
“Sure enough, the two phoenix-destined daughters that the Xie family wishes to claim—could they be the current generation’s twin phoenixes? What a pity! This stolen destiny is not the proper path, and carries calamity. Otherwise, they might very well have become empresses in the future…”
Wu Ming sighed inwardly. In the future, the fall of the Xie family’s twin pearls and the rise of the twin phoenixes seemed almost destined.
“Thank you, Master, for your guidance. May I ask what offering is required?”
Xie Yifan seemed to have many more questions but forcibly restrained himself. He planned to immediately investigate Wu Ming’s background upon returning.
Such innate divination ability was truly terrifying!
“Offering? No need this time!”
Thinking of his future connection with the twin pearls, Wu Ming rarely offered a piece of advice: “You are protected by the land’s energy here in Dingzhou, which means you have a karmic bond with this place. Remember this and perform more good deeds in the future…”
Unfortunately, for Xie Yifan, who was solely focused on climbing the ladder of success, these words were like beauty wasted on the blind.
After Xie Yifan took his leave, Wu Ming unusually fell into a brief silence.
“History… or illusion?”
“Zhuangzi dreaming of the butterfly, or the butterfly dreaming of Zhuangzi—can fate be so capricious?”
“This divination marks the end of my connection with the twin pearls. Furthermore, the Xie family’s affair will surely attract Ji Yi’s attention. At that time, the opportunity I have long awaited will finally arrive, won’t it?”
…
The Xie family served as ministers under Prince Wu Ji Yi, yet now they sought to rise even further. However, such ambitions require the right timing and fortune. With insufficient daughters of their own, they needed to borrow from others!
Hence, they set their sights on the twin phoenixes of Dingzhou.
Chu Feng and Nan Feng Jun in Dingzhou formed a dual phoenix-flying formation. Every few hundred years, a pair of Feng women would emerge, their fates extremely auspicious, almost destined to become empresses.
The Xie family must have secretly captured them and performed the “fortune borrowing” ritual!
However, such actions violate the natural order. The borrowed fortune will never truly belong to them. Even if the two truly possess phoenix destinies, whether they can become empresses ultimately depends on whether the true dragon favors them. Without even consulting historical records, Wu Ming knew the Xie family’s efforts would eventually come to nothing.
Initially, there might be some benefit, but in the end, the two concubines would face a tragic fate.
Moreover, by entangling with the twin phoenixes of Dingzhou today, when the phoenix energy rises again in the future, it would inevitably suppress the Xie family, requiring two outstanding women to bear the calamity.
By divining for Xie Yifan today, Wu Ming felt an odd sensation of witnessing, participating in, and shaping history.
“What’s going on? Is this real or fake?”
Even he now felt puzzled: “Is all of this just an illusion? Or has the Main Shrine extracted this historical period from the late Shang dynasty, transformed it into a real world, and then embedded it into the original Zhou dynasty’s history? If that’s the case, the power of the Main Shrine exceeds even my imagination!”
Wu Ming stroked his chin thoughtfully: “Perhaps? I can set up some contingencies to test this?”
But for now, he continued his daily routine at the Taoist temple, divining for people and building his reputation.
With the Xie family’s twin daughters as a foothold, Ji Yi, a ruler of great talent and ambition, would surely notice the events in Leye City. Otherwise, how could he be called a true dragon?
Therefore, Wu Ming was in no hurry at all, leisurely and carefree.
He wasn’t worried, so Huang Ying and Li Xiuyun naturally weren’t either. In fact, they secretly hoped to stay here until the Golden Pond Assembly ended and the Zhou dynasty was firmly established.
…
“Ying’er, Yun’er… the date of the Golden Pond Assembly approaches, and I shall soon depart!”
One day, after completing three divinations, Wu Ming, as usual, donated some incense money to the temple and ordered vegetarian meals. After finishing his meal, he summoned his two apprentices and solemnly instructed them.
“Master?”
Huang Ying was greatly alarmed: “This Taoist must be mad, why is he rushing to his death? Could it really be that his fate has come?”
“I see that you are not very eager to go, but it’s fine. I will find a safe place to settle you both first…”
Previously, it was just a joke, but in reality, even if they begged, Wu Ming had no intention of taking these two burdens with him. The method of settling them was simple—hide them in some remote mountain forest with sufficient food and supplies, and they could survive until the end of the chaos.
“Thank you, Master!”
Huang Ying wasn’t sure if this was a test or genuine concern from Wu Ming. After hesitating for a moment and seeing Wu Ming’s sincere demeanor, she finally bowed.
“Yun’er, what about you? Are you unwilling?”
Wu Ming glanced at Li Xiuyun, slightly surprised to see a struggle in the girl’s eyes.
“Sister! What are you doing?”
Huang Ying was anxious, quickly pulling Li Xiuyun’s sleeve and whispering.
“Thank you, Master!”
Li Xiuyun, unable to resist, also bowed in gratitude. After they left, Huang Ying somewhat resentfully said: “What a rare opportunity! Why would you choose a path of self-destruction?”
“Sister… I understand that too! But…”
Li Xiuyun’s bright eyes showed a deer-like confusion: “This master seems to have a very good heart and has shown us no ill intent…”
“That’s true…”
Huang Ying had to admit, with their abilities, the Zhaixingzi could have done anything to them, yet all along the way, he had neither entertained any evil thoughts nor practiced any dark arts to steal their fates. This was quite unbelievable.
“Alright! We’ll see as we go!”
Huang Ying hesitated a bit, then looked back at Wu Ming’s residence, biting her silver teeth: “Anyway, this Zhaixingzi is quite strange and skilled in innate divination. He wouldn’t be so unlucky as to get himself killed, right?”
Unknowingly, she had also developed a bit of concern for Wu Ming.
…
“Two foolish women…”
Inside the house, Wu Ming listened to the words and images coming from the talisman with some exasperation: “Don’t you know my power as a Celestial Master? If I wanted to, the entire temple wouldn’t escape my surveillance. How dare you act so openly… If it were a black-hearted Taoist instead, you two would have died countless times already!”
But at this moment, he had little mind to pay attention to the two women. A certain vague feeling prompted Wu Ming to leave his quarters and go to the front courtyard of the temple.
The temple was quite spacious. The front courtyard housed the main hall and shrine, with side rooms on both sides, while the back was where the Taoists and servants lived, along with a large garden.
Wu Ming was generous with his donations, and the three of them had occupied a secluded small courtyard, which was quite convenient in daily life.
As he stepped out, he saw the front courtyard bustling with visitors—some pilgrims were coming to offer incense. The temple’s abbot actually had a little magical power, and the deity enshrined here was quite efficacious. Thus, the temple had a modest reputation and a steady stream of worshippers.
Of course, that wasn’t what Wu Ming was looking at.
He climbed to a high place and saw a purple aura coming from the east, within which a dragon shape was faintly visible, surrounded by red energy, quite extraordinary. His heart immediately tensed: “Wow, purple aura from the east—either a sage or a true dragon! So Ji Yi’s fortune has reached such a level?”
Seeing the purple aura heading straight toward this temple, Wu Ming was even more certain that the climax was approaching. Immediately, he went to the garden of the temple, sat in a stone pavilion, and ordered a young Taoist to bring a set of Go stones.
…
The temple was built along the mountain, with a path of 827 steps, designed to create a tranquil atmosphere amid the noise.
At this moment, a group of people ascended, and Ji Yi at the front couldn’t help but sigh: “Never would I have thought that there is such a quiet place in Leye City!”
The Taoist priest Yu Qing smiled without speaking.
Although he didn’t personally know the temple’s abbot, the Dao lineage the abbot inherited had origins with Yu Qing, but there was no need to reveal that now.
He was wearing a simple Taoist robe, and Ji Yi was also dressed casually, without wearing his ceremonial crown, clearly indicating this was a private visit.
Even so, there were still many plainclothes guards surrounding them, and more cultivators secretly monitoring from the shadows. It seemed relaxed but was actually tight security.
After all, Ji Yi wasn’t a fool. With the realm still unsettled, how could he possibly go about in disguise like a dragon disguised as a common fish?
Seeing that within three zhang around him were guards disguised as tourists, Ji Yi directly said: “Although I rejected the invitation from King Gai Tian, I cannot afford not to attend the Golden Pond Assembly. I intend to send an envoy to monitor the situation. What do you think?”
“This is only appropriate!”
Yu Qing Daoist’s eyes flashed with sharp light, understanding that this meant ensuring control. He readily agreed: “Since it was my suggestion, I shall go myself and ensure that the heavenly will is followed!”
The remnants of the Shang dynasty still held strong power, which required a blood sacrifice to break. The forty rebel kings perishing together at the Golden Pond was the heavenly will!
As Yu Qing Daoist spoke, his face showed a ruthless expression, clearly indicating that he would stop at nothing to maintain the original course. Even if some had a glimmer of hope, they must all be eliminated.
“Excellent! I’ve given it more thought since returning. With the hearts of the people in the two provinces not yet fully stabilized, it’s indeed not suitable to mobilize troops…”
Ji Yi leisurely stretched: “I’ll just stay in Leye City, handle state affairs daily, and enjoy the company of beauties. Life is as blissful as a celestial immortal!”
“Good!”
Yu Qing Daoist smiled slightly, noticing that Ji Yi now exuded a noble and composed aura.
Accumulated prestige over generations, outstanding since childhood, diligent in governance, and having experienced more than thirty major and minor battles since the great chaos began, conquering two provinces and becoming the Martial King—this was all solid foundation. With the momentum already established, the remaining task was merely to patiently consolidate and steadily advance.
At this moment, Yu Qing Daoist had absolutely no doubt that Ji Yi would eventually seize the entire realm!
“However… beauties? The Xie family’s methods are truly…”
Thinking of the two Xie family women recently introduced to the palace and reportedly favored by Ji Yi, Yu Qing Daoist’s eyes carried an indescribable expression.
The Xie family’s actions—how could they possibly escape the notice of a great cultivator like him?
“With such deeds, calamity will surely follow. There’s no need for me to intervene; they will reap what they sow…”
As Yu Qing Daoist pondered, an aloof and detached demeanor naturally emerged, as if he stood high above, overlooking all beings.
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