novelraw Chapter 1291: Divining Qiankun, Unraveling Life
Chapter 1291: Divining Qiankun, Unraveling Life
Soon, the two of them entered Dingbian City and found a money exchange to convert some silver taels. Although Shangyue Country and Anyun Country were old enemies, silver notes were universally accepted across the Continent. Since there was plenty of space in the Star Plate, Mu Hanyan bluntly exchanged for tens of thousands of taels of silver, kept a small portion on her person, and threw the rest into the Star Disk Space.Such an action naturally made Xiao Ming, who was beside her, extremely envious. The last time they were eating in Hanshan Town, when Mu Hanyan had conjured up a lavish feast like magic, Zhu Xiuqing knew that she carried a space item. Though space items existed on the Holy Court Continent, the technique to refine them had long been lost over the ages. The existing space items were mostly ancient artifacts, with spaces that were usually not too large — the bigger ones only spanning a few meters, and the smaller ones just a square foot. Even such space items were invaluable treasures, often with a price but no market.
Watching Mu Hanyan casually throw tens of thousands of silver taels into a space item without worrying about the space limit, Zhu Xiuqing knew her Storage Space must be far larger than he imagined.
"Such a person probably won’t care about the little silver I owe, might even forget it inadvertently," Zhu Xiuqing thought optimistically to himself.
"Oh, remember to revise the IOU later and include the interest," Mu Hanyan turned her head and poured a bucket of cold water right over Zhu Xiuqing’s head.
"Oh." Xiao Ming was instantly drenched with a chill; his beautiful dreams shattered like a soap bubble.
"Young lady has an extraordinary face, may I, an old man, divine a fortune for you?" A suddenly clear and venerable voice came from beside her.
Mu Hanyan turned her head and saw that it was a Star Divination Master. This Star Divination Master had hair as white as snow, a handsome, ruddy face with the demeanor of a sage. Even Mu Hanyan couldn’t discern his actual age. Behind him hung a cloth banner that read "Predict the heavens, predict the earth, predict Qiankun; discern life, discern death, discern yin and yang," with large characters that danced like dragons, full of lingering charm.
In the past, Mu Hanyan wouldn’t have taken a Star Divination Master seriously, dismissing him as a worldly god-man. But now Mu Hanyan herself was considered a Star Divination Master; her Star Divination Technique amazed even people like Shen Moce, who privately revered her as a generation’s Divine Fortune Teller, so naturally, she wouldn’t view a Star Divination Master with her previous perspective.
"Then I’ll trouble the old gentleman," Mu Hanyan said politely, seeing that the Star Divination Master looked extraordinary.
"Could the young lady extend her hand for this old man to see?" The elder said with a cheerful smile.
Mu Hanyan extended her hand. The Star Divination Technique had evolved to include face and bone reading among countless other methods. Reading one’s palm to understand destiny was one of the more common practices.
"Just as I thought, just as I thought." The elder carefully studied Mu Hanyan’s palm, his expression growing more solemn, muttering to himself.
"I wonder if the old gentleman has divined anything?" Though she had shed her prejudices against Star Divination Masters, the Star Divination Masters of the Holy Court Continent were mostly world-wise god-men who sold dog meat under the guise of selling lamb; thus, Mu Hanyan did not assume this elder, despite his extraordinary demeanor, to be a true sage.
Take Qu Shanling, for example, white hair could be dyed, wrinkles could be pinched, and even bearing could be faked.
Seeing the elder’s solemn and mysterious behavior, Mu Hanyan chuckled inwardly. First, scare people with an inscrutable face to unsettle them, then take the opportunity to deceive them for money — this was a common trick of worldly god-men. Was this old man, who appeared high and mighty, also hiding a hollow core?
"The young lady’s fate, this old man cannot see through," the elder shook his head, speaking with seriousness.
"If it can’t be seen, then forget it, thank you." Since Mu Hanyan had already classified the old man among the worldly god-men, she didn’t want to waste more time. As for money, she certainly wouldn’t give it.
"In the previous life, after numerous twists and turns, you couldn’t escape a fragrant but sorrowful end. In this life, you rise reborn, but can you see through the ephemeral world?" The elder wasn’t angry but sighed faintly behind her.
A jolt went through Mu Hanyan’s heart. The elder’s words were clearly hinting at her reincarnation, her greatest secret, unknown even to her closest ones. How did he know?
"I didn’t realize the old gentleman truly has the ability to divine Qiankun and fathom life and death. I apologize for my earlier rudeness and hope the old man can forgive me," Mu Hanyan turned around and said seriously to the elder.
Having her Heavenly Secret revealed in one sentence, Mu Hanyan no longer dared to regard him as a worldly god-man.
"Hehe, who can truly divine Qiankun and fathom life and death in this world? This old man has merely just begun to glimpse the doorway," the elder said with a serene smile.
"The old gentleman is too modest. This young lady has several puzzling matters and hopes the old gentleman can help answer them," Mu Hanyan said.
"The young lady overestimates this old man. I have already said that I cannot see through your fate and cannot answer your questions, but you do have an item that might help resolve your doubts," the elder said with a cheerful smile.
"What?" Mu Hanyan was slightly startled, not knowing what he was referring to.
"Besides the Star Divination Technique, this old man also knows a bit of Alchemy Sealing. If you have any Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures in need of repair, I could offer some assistance," the elder said.
Mu Hanyan’s heart stirred. The elder’s words seemed casual, yet deliberate. Was he referring to the pair of Jade Pendants Han Jinglun had gifted her?
"Then I’ll trouble the old gentleman. I have a pair of Jade Pendants that seem to be damaged. I hope the old gentleman can take a look," Mu Hanyan hesitated for a moment and took out the pair of Jade Pendants.
Though she didn’t know the elder’s background, she felt he didn’t seem to harbor ill intentions. Embracing a ’treat the dead horse as a living horse’ mindset, she didn’t have much to worry about.
The elder took the Jade Pendants, held them in his palm, closed his eyes, and appeared to ponder something.
Mu Hanyan dared not disturb him, merely watched his hands intently, hoping to witness his prowess in Alchemy Technique and see if he could unlock the secrets hidden in the Jade Pendants.
"Done." The elder’s eyes suddenly opened.
"Done?" Mu Hanyan looked at him curiously. How could it be done without doing anything?
"Take it back. The secret inside this Jade Pendant might help you unravel your doubts," the elder returned the Jade Pendants to Mu Hanyan’s hand without explanation.
"This...this is..." Mu Hanyan looked at the Jade Pendants in her hand with surprise.
At this moment, the two pieces of Jade Pendants had merged into one, with no visible seams, even more crystal clear. Upon closer inspection, it vaguely revealed a landscape of rolling mountains and flowing rivers, seemingly a map.