novelraw Chapter 949 - 521: Strange Divination (2)
Chapter 949 - 521: Strange Divination (2)
The Earth Yin Messenger bowed to her and started to speak, bringing forth Ning Yu’s now deepened male voice.
In addition to reporting Ningyuan Hall’s affairs, he also performed a divination for her. The divination skill obtained from the Turtle Immortal was certainly more authentic and clear than the usual street fortune-telling, without any meaningless trickery. However, the hexagram was peculiar; Ning Yu knew she disliked hearing obscure and cryptic terms, so he summed it up briefly, saying that she would "head eastward" next. This posed no disagreement, as it coincided with Mr. Yan’s suggestion, as if they had conspired together. Yet, the subsequent words of the hexagram were even stranger, one being "soul-stirring," the other "fulfilling one’s wishes."
This was practically two completely opposite meanings, but she knew that putting these two phrases together could not simply be explained by "misfortune within fortune" or "fortune within misfortune," or else Ning Yu would have already done so.
Heading east? That meant that as long as she journeyed east, no matter the destination, it would align with divine will? Having cultivated to her current stage, she increasingly found the so-called divine will and heavenly mechanism unsettling. It seemed that no matter how advanced a cultivator’s level was, they could not escape the fate of being manipulated in the hands of fate. This is such helplessness for those who aspire to transcend as Immortals and cross to the other shore.
Mr. Yan is the best example, isn’t he? Despite his cultivation outpacing most cultivators, he still dares not defy divine will.
As she pondered this, Ning Yu, via the Earth Yin Messenger, mentioned that in a few months, it would be the 90th birthday of the Old Grand Dowager of the Mirror Sea King’s Mansion, and many Immortal Sects and Demon Sects would send representatives to congratulate. Ningyuan Hall also received an invitation, but the designated invitee was her. Ning Yu asked if she needed him to go on her behalf.
Ning Xiaoxian did not rush to respond to this message but closed her eyes for a long while before taking out two items from her Storage Ring.
The first item was a note delivered by Huangfuming’s attendant at a banquet half a year ago, though it was just a torn piece of paper from somewhere, it sincerely invited her to the Old Grand Dowager’s 90th birthday at the Mirror Sea King’s Mansion. Despite his arrogant demeanor, this guy was remarkably courteous in his official wording.
The second item was an invitation sent by the Heavenly Residence auction. Now that Hidden Stream had adopted an enterprising attitude, this perceptive auction house specially invited Hidden Stream to attend a gigantic auction held every four years, and due to the renown of Hidden Stream’s elixirs across the continent, they also delivered a solicitation hoping to gather premium elixirs from Hidden Stream for auction.
The invitation was crafted with great finesse. Opening the bright red cover unleashed swirling mists that formed words from the invitation in mid-air, dissipating gradually after fifty moments, accompanied by ethereal Immortal Music playing faintly, delighting all who heard it. Such marvelous visual and auditory effects were indeed worth pondering.
She recognized this as the clever craftsmanship within the invitation. Having followed Changtian for so long, she, though disinterested in the study of arrays, inevitably absorbed some knowledge through exposure. Nevertheless, fitting two small formations on a palm-sized card, though not complex, was arranged skillfully and could be considered ingenious. She herself liked the business of commerce and the Dao and naturally understood that Heavenly Residence’s finesse was executed into the detail, showcasing not only its tremendous strength but also its professionalism and meticulousness, scratching the customers’ itch. In the end, Heavenly Residence was a Chamber of Commerce; her Ningyuan Hall, she wondered when it could attain such prestige and reputation.
The Pan-continent auction held by Heavenly Residence every few years was scheduled to be in Central Capital several months later. Central Capital was the city of storms under the sky, a place where merchants and elites gathered. During her westward journey, she had heard countless descriptions of this most prosperous city in the world. More importantly, according to the map, it was east of Mirror Sea, at the center of Central Province. If she went, it would also be "eastward."
As for the invitation from Mirror Sea King’s Mansion, since Ningyuan Hall’s founding, it had thrived. If everything went as expected, within a year and a half at most, it would have to deal with this local tyrant entrenched by Mirror Sea. Taking advantage of this opportunity to establish a good relationship with the Mirror Sea King’s Mansion could be beneficial. Merchants all know, people who do not plan for the future will find trouble. Instead of making arrangements at the time, it’s better to solidify the relationship now.
After leaving Mirror Sea King’s Mansion, she can head to Central Capital to attend Heavenly Residence’s auction. In terms of timing and route, it’s quite smooth.
So, should she leave Hidden Stream and head to Mirror Sea? She pondered for a long time, suddenly a thought crossed her mind, she then put down the two items and turned to enter the God Demon Prison.
In the Fifth Floor’s garden, the soil dutifully nurtured the spirit flowers and strange grasses. In one corner of the small garden, the Spring Flower and Autumn Fruit Tree gently swayed.
Autumn had arrived again, and the third Dao Fruit Tree she planted finally bore fruit again. Just now, she received a signal from the soil and rushed in to harvest it.
With a gentle "pop," the fruit detached ripe from the stem.
Holding a Jade Ruyi, Ning Xiaoxian was ready for the moment the fruit fell, reaching out with the Ruyi to catch it. Most spirit grass and fruit must not come into contact with gold and iron during harvesting, and the Spring Blossoms and Autumn Fruits were no exception.
As the Dao Fruit touched the Jade Ruyi’s round disc, it automatically adhered to it, marking the completion of this year’s Dao Fruit harvest. The fruits of the Spring Blossoms and Autumn Fruits, at most, only nine existed in the world. After the last harvest, Changtian consumed one; Langya took one but had not used it yet, leaving her with seven, and this time the tree would only produce one.
After completing its task, the Spring Blossoms and Autumn Fruits Tree began to wither. First, the leaves fell, then the branches died, eventually the tree core lost all vitality, slowly decaying from the inside out. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)