Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Theory of Fate and Fortune

Han Ming said, “According to the book, those blessed with immortal aptitude are beloved children of heaven and earth. Once they overcome an ordeal, it is like crossing a heavenly tribulation, or like refining a gu. Scale one mountain, and a whole new vista of life opens before you.”

“For the time being, my lord, you should be on guard. After one’s fortune swells greatly, opportunities often come to seek you out.”

Ning Zhuo grew even more interested. “What other means are there to increase one’s fortune?”

Han Ming replied, “Cultivation is the principal way. The stronger a cultivator becomes, the greater their fortune.”

“One may also borrow momentum. But it must be borrowed well; borrow it poorly, and it will only turn into internal depletion.”

“There are also certain rare treasures. Every super-sect, every super-family, and every cultivation nation possesses at least one supreme treasure that can suppress fortune and regulate destiny.”

Ning Zhuo nodded. “Write out that treatise on fortune from memory.”

“Yes, my lord.”

He added, “As for the other scriptures, so long as they do not touch upon the restrictions of your sect, write those out too.”

Han Ming answered again, “Yes, my lord.”

Ning Zhuo also asked about the soul pact.

Han Ming explained that it was an art of the Soul-Eating Sect, a contract sworn with the soul itself, exceedingly reliable.

Most important of all, the essence of Han Ming’s cultivation lay in her soul. By binding her with a soul pact, he could control her most completely. Once it was signed, her life and fate would rest on a single thought from Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo studied the soul pact briefly, but found he could not make sense of it.

He decided to proceed with caution.

Fortunately, the materials and talismans required to forge such a pact would take time to gather, so there was no need to hurry.

“You say you have submitted to me, but your loyalty still requires time to be tested.”

“In the future, you had best conduct yourself well,” Ning Zhuo warned.

Han Ming lowered her brows and softened her voice. “Yes, my lord.”

After thinking for a moment, Ning Zhuo, just before leaving, lengthened the chain a little, allowing Han Ming to pace about half the cell. It was, in effect, a reward.

Ning Zhuo had not expected this meeting with Han Ming to bring him such gains.

He had learned of Yuan Dasheng’s immortal aptitude.

One must know that detecting natural talent was an extremely complicated matter. The three Core Formation cultivators had all searched Yuan Dasheng’s remains, and none had discovered any sign of immortal aptitude.

“It was only because I had Han Ming devour the soul that it was unexpectedly awakened and thus identified.”

“An upright bone tempered to gold and steel—perfect material for making mechanisms. Excellent!”

Second, he had learned the secret of fortune.

“The treatise on fortune is truly fascinating.”

And lastly, he had brought Han Ming under his control.

Of course, as for Han Ming’s submission, Ning Zhuo remained skeptical in his heart.

At this moment, he longed for Zhu Xuanji’s method of lie detection. Unfortunately, Zhu Xuanji’s ability was built upon a particular kind of spiritual power, certain arts, and his golden eyes.

Ning Zhuo possessed none of these foundations.

Yuan Dasheng’s corpse, because of its gold-and-steel bone, could only be dealt with later.

During this time, Ning Zhuo had to ensure Yuan Dasheng’s soul remained weakened at all times, so that it would not be drawn away by the soul-snatching summoning into the palace.

But now that Yuan Dasheng’s body was dead, it could no longer nourish the soul. Even if Ning Zhuo ignored it, natural law would cause the soul to continue fading.

What Ning Zhuo needed to do more was intensify his watch, lest anything unexpected occur.

What is the best enemy?

A completely dead one.

Until Yuan Dasheng’s soul was used for something, Ning Zhuo would keep his eye on it.

He closed his eyes and began his review of the day.

The knowledge of fortune gave him yet another layer of understanding of himself, of the Immortal Palace, and of this world.

First, he thought of himself.

“If I truly possess extraordinary talent and strong fortune, then it all makes sense.”

“Without my parents to protect me, I grew smoothly to sixteen, and from there rose and prospered, accumulating wealth my uncle and aunt never had in all their lives.”

“Since beginning my exploration of the Immortal Palace, I have repeatedly encountered crises, yet even in the worst moments there has always been a sliver of hope. I have never been brought down with one blow.”

For example, his name had not been discovered by others, giving Ning Zhuo time to adjust.

Or take Yuan Dasheng’s unexpected appearance. Its comings and goings happened at different times from Meng Chong and the others. Yuan Dasheng did not encounter anyone else, and the three great factions likewise failed to discover it, giving Ning Zhuo room to struggle.

Ning Zhuo then thought of Yuan Dasheng again.

“Applied to Yuan Dasheng, it actually had several chances for survival.”

If Ning Zhuo had not successfully changed his name earlier, or had done so too late, Yuan Dasheng would have discovered it and immediately grasped its true situation. It would have become alert at once, responding more precisely to Ning Zhuo’s framing.

If it had not injured its own soul in order to care for Yuan Er, and had continued exploring the Immortal Palace, it might well have encountered others. Though that would have been disadvantageous to it, it could also have brought a turning point.

If, during the Fire Persimmon Festival, when the mechanism monkey was slaughtering Yuan Er, it had not gone to join him, the situation afterward would not have spiraled out of control. Ning Zhuo’s scheme would never have succeeded.

If, when the thousand-year fire-persimmon forest triggered its chain of detonations, it had ignored Yuan Er and curled up in hiding, then even while wary of its surroundings and refusing to use demonic arts, it could still have protected itself with the peak third-layer five-element spiritual power. Perhaps it might have remained conscious after the explosions. Consciousness and unconsciousness are entirely different things, a difference in kind.

In the end, even if Yuan Dasheng had protected Yuan Er and then collapsed unconscious, it still retained a glimmer of survival. Zhu Xuanji might have been moved and offered assistance. As long as it endured for a while and either awoke or had its soul enter the Immortal Palace, there would have been another turn of fortune.

It was just a pity that Ning Zhuo had acted in time, decisively entered the game, and Yuan Er had performed so poorly that he failed to protect his monkey uncle.

“Fate actually granted it many chances, but it never seized them.”

“It was also dragged down by Yuan Er.”

Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly. He gained a deeper comprehension of certain truths within the treatise on fortune.

Thoughts surged through his sea of consciousness as he retraced the entire sequence, and new insights kept arising.

“Hm?”

Countless thoughts brushed against the treasure seal in his sea of consciousness, leading to an unexpected discovery.

“Why has my Buddhist Heart-Demon Seal been activated so many times?”

Because he feared Zhu Xuanji, Ning Zhuo had scarcely used the Buddhist Heart-Demon Seal in this act of sabotage. The most notable instance had been when he used the mind seal to command the mechanized monkeys into revolt.

Once those monkeys were destroyed by the formation, it was basically enough to erase the evidence.

Even if it were traced back to him, Ning Zhuo could simply explain that he was the one who made them, and the matter would be perfectly accounted for.

After that, throughout his dealings with Yuan Er, he had never used this treasure seal again, still guarding against even the slightest flaw.

Methods in the cultivation world were beyond counting, and Ning Zhuo sought certainty with all his might.

In his view, no matter how precious the Buddhist Heart-Demon Seal might be, it was still only a tool. Since it was a tool, its value depended on the skill of the one who used it. To rely on any one tool too heavily was unwise. If trouble did not come at noon, it would come sooner or later.

So, as far as Ning Zhuo knew, he had not used the Buddhist Heart-Demon Seal many times.

But now, as he examined it, he unexpectedly found that reality clashed with his memory in many places.

“When did that happen? I used the Buddhist Heart-Demon Seal more than once—at least three or four times.”

Ning Zhuo could not help but be astonished.

What was going on?

This had never happened before.