Chapter 428: The Little Fortune Teller
With Yu Yin joining them, the duo became a trio, forcing Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu to behave themselves during their tour of the Land of Gentlemen instead of causing mischief as usual.
“Every time I visit Great Zhou, I feel like it exists in a completely different world from the Tianyuan Dynasty. This visit to the Land of Gentlemen gives me similar feelings,” Yu Yin remarked. The national fortune of the Tianyuan Dynasty destined its internal affairs to be filled with covert struggles, some methods of which even made Yu Yin uncomfortable. She had been searching for ways to alter this national fortune, though with little progress.
“Step right up! This humble Daoist is a descendant of Qingxu Mountain, traveling the world to enlighten people and divine their futures!” A young Daoist priest dressed like a fortune teller was loudly hawking his services.
“Qingxu Mountain? Isn’t that the legendary reclusive sect said to be able to calculate heavenly secrets? They supposedly closed their doors to visitors because such practices violated natural order.”
“I always thought Qingxu Mountain was just a myth. Could it actually exist?”
“Probably a scammer.”
Passersby whispered among themselves, some believing, others skeptical.
“How many spirit stones?” someone asked, thinking there shouldn’t be scams in the Land of Gentlemen.
“Ten low-grade spirit stones.”
The inquirer looked doubtful—that seemed suspiciously cheap. Figuring it couldn’t hurt to try, he said, “I want to know when my wife and I will have a child.”
The young fortune teller examined the man, counting on his fingers before looking troubled. “Before worrying about children, shouldn’t you first find yourself a wife?”
The man was shocked—this unassuming fortune teller actually knew he wasn’t married. “Here’s ten more stones. Tell me when I’ll reach Core Formation stage.”
The fortune teller pushed the stones back. “One reading per person. You’ve used yours up. Fate’s quota exhausted. Goodbye.”
Despite the man’s pleading, the fortune teller remained firm, forcing him to give up.
“Master, why can’t I sleep at night recently?”
“Because you sleep five hours during the day.”
“Master, when will I become rich? I’m always giving others spirit stones—when will they give me some?”
“Here, take your ten stones back.”
“Master, will my cheating on the exam succeed?”
“No need to cheat—you’ll get food poisoning that day and spend it all in the latrine, missing the test entirely.”
“Master, I’m a Unity Stage expert, but I woke up yesterday with no spiritual power left! What happened?”
“Stop playing with that holographic simulator. You’re only at third level Qi Refining.”
“Little Green, who knew the Nine Provinces had fortune tellers? Let’s try!” Xia Chao eagerly suggested. Following Jiang Li’s advice to visit the Nine Provinces, he encountered new wonders daily. The longer he stayed, the more he appreciated Jiang Li’s greatness, realizing how incredibly lucky he’d been to summon him.
Little Green Snake’s dragon horns twitched—she didn’t believe in fortune telling, but seeing Xia Chao’s interest, she didn’t stop him.
“Master, can you divine my origins?” Xia Chao offered ten stones.
The fortune teller smiled intriguingly. “Fascinating. You’re not from the Nine Provinces, but another world. A Divine Transformation cultivator, with a female companion stronger than you—a True Dragon. You came to the Nine Provinces, first studying True Dragon techniques at the Four Seas, then traveling to the Baize Dynasty and Beast Taming Sect to learn how cultivators and demons coexist, intending to apply these lessons in your own world.”
The crowd could tell from Xia Chao’s expression that every word was accurate. They were shocked not just by the precision, but that these two came from another world—and that the horned girl was a True Dragon from beyond.
Little Green Snake’s dragon pupils gleamed as she tried to see through the fortune teller, but failed. This wasn’t surprising—since arriving, she’d fought many Unity Stage experts and knew the Nine Provinces hid countless masters beyond her perception.
“May I try too?” she asked.
“Of course. Xia Chao is Xia Chao, you are you—each gets one reading,” the fortune teller casually revealed Xia Chao’s name.
“I want to know how to become as strong as Jiang Li.” Her eyes shone with admiration.
“No need to divine that—impossible. Ask something else,” the fortune teller waved dismissively.
“…”
“Then tell me when Xia Chao and I will marry.”
“*Cough* Little Green! Don’t ask that!” Xia Chao’s face reddened.
The fortune teller rolled his eyes. “You’ve already consummated the relationship. Marry whenever you want.”
Both froze—this fortune teller seemed to know everything about them, even their intimate relations. And he didn’t just know—he spoke as if he’d witnessed it.
“Is this master truly from Qingxu Mountain?” bystanders gasped at his supernatural skills.
Jiang Li and Yu Yin, seeing through the act, shook their heads with smiles.
Bai Hongtu scoffed. “Qingxu Mountain’s fortune-telling reputation is just rumors. Originally they claimed to read fate through celestial observations, scamming people with vague predictions until exposed, when they ‘reclused’—actually just rebranding as the Star Observation Sect to study stars instead. Later they became the Great Vehicle Observation Sect, tricking many to join.” He revealed this secret.
“Master, divine when I’ll become Human Sovereign,” Jiang Li joked, sitting down.
“Uncle Jiang!” The fortune teller’s disguise melted away into Ji Kongkong’s delighted face.
“Indeed. Where’s your father?”
There was no fortune teller—just Ji Kongkong using her mastery of time to peer into the past. “Father asked me to attend the Confucius Sage’s birthday in his stead.” With Jiang Li here, she abandoned her game. Recently advancing her time techniques, she’d gained dual-pupils allowing her to see past and future without entering the River of Time. In the Land of Gentlemen, she’d set up this fortune-telling stall for fun, using concealment artifacts from Ji Zhi that even Unity Stage experts couldn’t pierce.
“Jiang Li?!” Little Green and Xia Chao recognized him.
“Not the place to talk. Let’s relocate.” Jiang Li led them to a teahouse.
“Aunt Yu, Uncle Bai.” Ji Kongkong greeted politely.
“We pay respects to both seniors.” Little Green and Xia Chao remained stiffly formal before Yu Yin and Bai Hongtu.