Chapter 123

Ji Xian and Xia Lihua were lost in their own world, seeing only each other in their eyes. Despite having a crowd staring in awe behind them, the couple remained engrossed in their private conversation. It was only when the Great Ancestor approached the two that they finally stopped and looked over.

The bindings over the old man’s eyes were soaked in blood, his face deathly pale as he flew forward with an unsteady breath. His haggard appearance left many of those from the Arcane Mountain worried about his condition, yet at the same time, they found his situation odd. The Great Ancestor had been evenly matched with Yatong, with neither side gaining an advantage— so why did he look to be in such a dire state? Some of the Elders and remaining Hall Masters could guess it might be due to his usage of divination, but this was the first time they saw such a frightening effect it had on him.

The old man didn’t acknowledge their concerns. Standing before the young man and woman, his gaze fell upon the unconscious Dong Zongying, cradled in the arms of the man in the loose black robe. Seeing her peaceful expression as she rested, a flicker of relief softened his worry. Dong Zongying was not only an inheritor of Empress Han Lan’s legacy but also someone he deeply cared for. The last thing he wanted was for any harm to befall her.

His attention eventually shifted to the visually captivating couple with appearances that transcend words. An indescribable sensation washed over him as he observed them with a blank yet contemplative expression. Though this was his first encounter with these enigmatic individuals, he had already heard much of them from Dong Zongying. From being the ones who attained the Empress’s book to sealing the Chaos Tunnels, he was aware of it all. He had always been curious about these two people, and now standing before them, he couldn’t even sense a whiff of their aura, leaving him to frown in disbelief.

I had initially thought these two people might’ve been from the Upper World after hearing of their feats, just like the princess of Fey who was sent here, but no… they’re not. They’re genuine Extreme level cultivators! Miracles!

The Great Ancestor drew in a cold breath, amazed.

Two Miracles, together in one place. The uproar this will cause when they ascend, I can’t even imagine. Furthermore, they aren’t just any ordinary Extreme level cultivator, I can feel an impossible gap between us, almost like they’re in a completely different realm that isn’t beyond divinity. How strange… even if several thousands of me were here, I fear there’s no chance of facing off against them. No wonder they were able to decimate Yatong and his group so easily. However…

The Great Ancestor had a puzzled expression.

While I can sense their presence in front of us, their fates are elusive. They must have Heavenly Merit on them, allowing them to be free from my divination as well as being targeted by the Universal Will. But… for him… this person should not be in the Lower World. He is insurmountable— a black hole, capable of consuming the entirety of this world’s Essence. If I can sense this without being able to perceive his aura, then why can’t the Universal Will? Why hasn’t it intervened and forcibly taken him away yet? Heavenly Merit can only do so much for someone with such overwhelming might. So why…?

The Great Ancestor heavily focused on Ji Xian, subconsciously gathering his Essence.

What is that? There’s a thin golden film on this person’s body, and on that young lady as well.

is that… a formation?

When the Great Ancestor tried to probe further into the mysteries of the golden suit, what he saw made his mind reel painfully, and blood began to trickle from his lips. The cracks on his arm also extended, slowly growing bigger, causing his face to become even paler.

Impossible!

The Great Ancestor quickly turned away, sweat beading at his temples. A haunting sense of impending collapse struck him, as though his very mind might shatter if he had dared to look on any longer.

As he did so, a cool chuckle resonated in the air, drawing his attention even as he struggled to shake off the sharp pain throbbing in his head,

“This grandpa, your actions just now were rather rude for a first meeting.”

The Great Ancestor wiped away the blood from his mouth before showing off a kind, gentle smile as he looked at Ji Xian, who spoke.

“Apologies, my young friend, but I suppose any seer would naturally be intrigued by an anomaly as remarkable as yourself,” he said softly. “I doubt I’m the only one who has acted in such a manner upon seeing you.”

Ji Xian grinned, “Grandpa, aren’t you also a remarkable anomaly? Those with the gift of foresight should consider themselves quite blessed.”

The Great Ancestor shook his head and said, “What is so exceptional about being able to glimpse at a potential future that may never come to pass? This kind of ability fosters nothing but skepticism and doubt, often driving others like me to ruin.”

“I’m curious,” said Ji Xian, eyes sparkling, “are there many like you?”

“No,” replied the Great Ancestor, shaking his head. “I may be the only seer you will ever meet in your lifetime.”

Ji Xian chuckled, “Somehow, I doubt that.”

“And why is that, my young friend?”

Scratching his chin, Ji Xian laughed and said, “Call it a gut feeling.”

The Great Ancestor also joined in, lightly laughing, though it devolved into a heavy cough caused by his injuries. Once it calmed, he acted as though nothing happened and said, “A cultivator’s intuition is rarely wrong. Perhaps you are right.”

“However,” he added, with his gentle manner slightly shifting, “there’s something I feel compelled to correct.”

“Oh?” Ji Xian raised an eyebrow, his gaze steady on the old man, silently inviting him to continue.

“You stated that those with the gift of foresight should consider themselves blessed but that cannot be any more from the truth. We seers aren’t blessed. We are beings who are utterly despised by the Heavens. Other than mortals, no one is truly considered blessed under its watchful skies.”

“…Is that right?”

Ji Xian and Xia Lihua narrowed their eyes, exchanging a curious glance. The words of the Great Ancestor were full of meaning, leaving them with pondering thoughts.

“Senior, does that include cultivators then?” Asked Xia Lihua.

The Great Ancestor nodded, “Of course, after all, aren’t we just a bunch of parasites to the eyes of Heaven?”

He answered Xia Lihua while finding her oddly familiar. There were resemblances between her and Xiao Yueyin, but that wasn’t what caught his attention. Her figure struck a chord of familiarity deep within him. Recalling a past divination, he remembered foreseeing that someone would rise to aid Mortal Desolate in its time of crisis. Though he had never seen the person’s face, only their shadowy silhouette, the similarities were undeniable. Comparing the woman before him to the shadow from his vision, he realized with certainty— they were one and the same.

The Great Ancestor had dismissed this divination when the figure abruptly vanished from his sight. Yet, seeing her standing before him now, he couldn’t help but find it amusing as he realized the reason she had disappeared from his vision.

Just what is that golden suit…?

Countless questions churned in his mind— about the peculiar and intricate method they employed to harness Heavenly Merit and the mystery surrounding their identities. Deep down, he suspected the couple weren’t of this world. The two of them lacked something that only those born in this world would have, a certain feeling, a certain… connection. There was no way for the Great Ancestor to prove this as it wasn’t rooted in logic but rather, as Ji Xian had put it, a gut feeling.

While he had doubts, he had no desire to voice them aloud. For someone like him, who had peered into destiny countless times, he understood the weight of knowing too much and the significance of accepting things as they come. After his brief interaction with the couple, he sensed they weren’t people of ill intent, though their presence carried an air of unpredictability.

As these reflections lingered in the Great Ancestor’s mind, the young man before him suddenly asked something that gave him pause.

“Hey Grandpa, considering I just helped you deal with your enemies, why not return the favor and divine my future?”

AUTHORS NOTE: sorry this one took so long, I had a lot of trouble writing it.