Chapter 27
Jiang Li raised her brows. This elder really did look somewhat like he could predict the future.
After thinking for a moment, she asked, “Elder Wu, can you calculate whether tonight will be a full moon night? That is, will the full moon reveal its complete form?”
“Simple. Allow this old man to calculate with his fingers.” Elder Wu had thought it would be something difficult. It was merely observing the celestial signs—something he could do with ease.
He put away the turtle shells on the ground, closed his eyes with a smile in his brows, and his hands began moving rapidly.
Jiang Li stared at his face for a while, then at the constantly changing gestures of his hands. The instant he opened his eyes, she hurriedly asked, “Do you have the result?”
Elder Wu’s expression turned serious. “Allow this old man to calculate with his fingers again.”
Jiang Li rolled her eyes and waited patiently.
By the time the morning star was almost out, and Ye Qingruo had already returned by the same path, Elder Wu still had not opened his eyes.
Seeing this, Xia Zhidi could not help laughing. “Jiang Li, in my opinion, tonight’s moon will not reveal its full form.”
What descendant of the Wu clan who could predict the future? He was more like an old charlatan pretending to be a sage.
Jiang Li endured and endured, but in the end, she could not hold back. “Elder Wu, how much longer are you going to calculate? Don’t tell me you can’t figure it out?”
Even an octopus should have finished counting on its fingers several times by now.
Elder Wu finally opened his eyes. “This old man calculated long ago that there would be no full moon tonight. I delayed a little because I was calculating the next full moon night.”
Jiang Li could not help smiling. “Then did you calculate it?”
She would really believe him—yeah, right!
Elder Wu stood up and patted his robe. “The moon waxes and wanes, and eight or nine out of ten things in life go against one’s wishes. The more it is the Mid-Autumn night, the harder it is to see the full moon.”
Jiang Li took a deep breath and kept her smile. “So, Elder, did you calculate when the next full moon night will be?”
Could he get to the point?
When he counted on his fingers, he was like an octopus. When he spoke, he was like a koala. What kind of divine teammate was this?
Elder Wu smilingly threw out one sentence. “The moon on the fifteenth is roundest on the sixteenth.”
Jiang Li laughed dryly. She almost believed him. Who didn’t know that saying?
Seeing that her expression seemed disbelieving, Elder Wu put on a stern face. “Young Daoist, if you do not believe this old man’s ability, feel free to ask again. This old man’s title as the all-knowing expert of the cultivation world is not undeserved.”
This little girl did not respect the elderly or love the young. He had painstakingly divined for so long.
Jiang Li casually asked, “Then tell me, what Dao did that foreign cultivator who used himself as the formation eye cultivate?”
She was genuinely curious.
Elder Wu sat down on the ground again and tossed out several turtle-shell pieces, muttering under his breath. “Not a weapon cultivator, not a medicine or poison cultivator, not a formation cultivator, and not a Wu cultivator like this old man either. Strange. There are only so many Daos in the cultivation world. Could he be a long-lost talisman cultivator or something of the sort, while also cultivating formations?”
Jiang Li’s heart stirred. Talisman cultivator—did that mean a talisman master?
This time, Elder Wu seemed to have guessed correctly. When that black-robed man drew the talisman formation, he used demonic beast bone and dipped it in human blood. This was consistent with the talisman-drawing method described in the incomplete talisman master volume.
“Xiao Hu, could tomorrow really be the full moon night?”
“The moon on the fifteenth being roundest on the sixteenth is indeed a saying.”
Seeing Jiang Li’s expression changing nonstop, Ye Qingruo softly interrupted Elder Wu’s muttering. “Senior, do you know how I summoned the heavenly thunder?”
What she wanted to know was why Jiang Li’s talismans could summon heavenly thunder.
Xia Zhidi also followed with a question. “Perhaps Senior knows why, despite possessing a single thunder spiritual root, I have still been unable to reach Foundation Establishment?”
Cultivators usually had five types of spiritual roots: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
Aside from these, there were two rare mutated single spiritual roots: ice spiritual root and thunder spiritual root. One might not appear even in ten thousand years.
Xia Zhidi truly could not understand. He had a single thunder spiritual root and had never been negligent in cultivation. So why could he not reach Foundation Establishment?
The corner of Elder Wu’s mouth twitched. He put on a solemn, sage-like manner and said, “Do not be impatient. This old man needs to divine quietly. You must remember not to peek, otherwise the result will not be accurate.”
After saying this, he got up and ran into the distance. Only after leaving the sight of the three people behind him did he take out a stack of books from his storage pouch and frantically flip through them.
He had already memorized these books thoroughly. Flipping through them again was merely clinging to a trace of luck.
After a long while, Elder Wu distressedly knocked his head. Why did none of these three ask questions according to what was written in the books?
Wasn’t this making things difficult for an old man like him?
After failing to find anything in the books, Elder Wu leisurely returned. “This old man already has a sense of the answers to the three young Daoists’ questions.”
Three gazes fixed tightly on him, waiting for him to continue.
Elder Wu coughed lightly and put on a stern face. “The three of you have noble and extraordinary fates, heaven-defying luck, smooth success in all matters, and wealth rolling in.”
Jiang Li was puzzled. “Weren’t our three questions not about that?”
What nonsense was he spouting? Could he really be a swindling charlatan?
Elder Wu stroked his beard with an unfathomable expression. “Of course this old man knows. However, those three questions of yours involve the secrets of heaven. The secrets of heaven must not be revealed.”
He could not calculate them, so what? It was not as if they could chase him away.
Jiang Li: “…” So he really was spouting nonsense.
Ye Qingruo: “…” Senior did not calculate it.
Xia Zhidi: “…” As expected, he was an old charlatan. Xia Zhidi should never have held any hope.
A trace of awkwardness flashed across Elder Wu’s face. He turned around to avoid their gazes. “This old man also calculated that your opportunity lies due east. Let us set off.”
Since there was a white bone horde to the west, then they would go east. These three had heaven-defying luck, so it did not matter which direction they went. In short, they could boldly move forward.
Jiang Li and Ye Qingruo exchanged a look. Neither had any objection, and they followed him.
Xia Zhidi opened his mouth, then shut it again without much feeling. Why did no one ask for his opinion? Although he had no objection, he was being ignored far too much.
These two basically treated him as air.
The group of four cautiously explored due east for most of the day. The sun had already shifted from the east toward the west. Just as the sun had set, the eastern sky suddenly filled with rosy light, accompanied by rumbling thunder.
The pale red sunset clouds looked like strips of silk that had not yet blended into the sky, spreading over from the east. From afar, the frontmost glow looked like the head of a dragon with its mouth open, waving its claws downward.
Elder Wu blew at his beard and danced with excitement. “This old man said your opportunity was due east, didn’t I? Red clouds appear, thunder accompanies them, and a rare treasure manifests. A rare treasure has appeared!”
Ye Qingruo turned to look at Jiang Li, her gaze carrying scrutiny.
Jiang Li gently shook her head. This time, the thunder had nothing to do with her. She did not know how to teleport, and besides, she could not create such a sky full of rosy clouds. Perhaps a rare treasure had really appeared.
After receiving the answer, Ye Qingruo silently held Jiang Li’s hand. It lasted for only an instant before she quickly let go. Then she flew on her sword, chasing after Elder Wu.
Jiang Li spread open her hand. In her palm were the five remaining Heavenly Thunder Talismans.
Xiao Hu immediately transmitted, “My Heavenly Thunder Talismans have finally been returned. I thought Ye Qingruo was going to secretly keep them.”
She had wanted to ask Jiang Li to get them back several times, but she had been too embarrassed to speak.
Fortunately, Jiang Li’s little wife was a pretty decent person and knew to return things to their rightful owner.
Seeing the Heavenly Thunder Talismans disappear from her palm, Jiang Li knew Xiao Hu had put them away, so she flew on her sword and followed.
Behind them, only the ignored air remained: Xia Zhidi.
Xia Zhidi was thoughtful. Those two just now…
Rumors could not be trusted. What Ye Qingruo being furious? What expelling Jiang Li from the sect? What refusing to ease their relationship?
The relationship between these two was so good that they secretly held hands.
He stared at Jiang Li’s back, and the image of Jiang Li smiling with surprise in her eyes flashed through his mind. His heart felt somewhat unpleasant.
That clear and moving appearance was because of Ye Qingruo…
Xia Zhidi forcefully closed his eyes. A friend’s wife must not be coveted. From now on, he would devote himself only to the Dao.
That faint, almost imperceptible flutter had only just shown a hint of sprouting before it was firmly suppressed. He could only lament that they had met too late.
Perhaps because they had learned from the two great pits earlier, the disciples who had remained in the Savage Forest and continued the trial in hopes of finding opportunities were afraid this would be another false alarm. This time, none of them hurried over.
So the first to arrive were only Jiang Li’s group of four.
The rosy clouds dispersed, and the thunder stopped.
Above the dense forest, at the location indicated by the rosy light, two flying cranes descended.
On the ground, a green vine glowing faintly with light broke through the soil.
The cranes’ faces were crimson red. Their long necks were snow-white on one side and gray on the other, while the area below their necks was smoky gray.
Their legs were slender and long. They looked around with elegant posture, and the way they raised their heads carried an aura of looking down on the world.
“They are white-naped cranes, demonic beasts at late Golden Core cultivation. Whenever a rare treasure appears, demonic beasts are bound to guard it. We came to the right place this time.” Elder Wu stared at the white-naped cranes with burning eyes, but he did not dare act rashly.
These two white-naped crane demonic beasts were both late Golden Core. He and Ye Qingruo were at early Golden Core. In particular, Ye Qingruo could also summon heavenly thunder. When the time came, he would symbolically attack a few times. Once Ye Qingruo sent down two bolts of heavenly thunder, he could simply wait to divide up the rare treasure.
As for Jiang Li and Xia Zhidi, although these two little children had heaven-defying luck, two Qi Refining cultivators could not help at all in front of Golden Core cultivators. They could just keep watch. Naturally, when it came time to divide things, they would rank behind him.
There was no time to lose. If they did not act now, others would arrive.
After pondering inwardly, Elder Wu looked toward Ye Qingruo and quietly transmitted, “Fellow Daoist Ye, how much chance of victory do you think we have if we join forces against these two white-naped cranes?”
Ye Qingruo shook her head. The white-naped cranes were late Golden Core, and there were two of them. If they truly fought, she had no chance of winning.
Seeing her shake her head, Elder Wu was not worried and probed further, “How many more bolts of heavenly thunder can you summon?”
Ye Qingruo still shook her head. She had been worried there would be danger while searching for the rare treasure, so she had already returned the Heavenly Thunder Talismans to Jiang Li.
Elder Wu’s shrewd eyes froze slightly. “…” This was different from what he had imagined.
After slowing down for a moment, Elder Wu changed strategies and transmitted to Jiang Li and Xia Zhidi. “In a moment, you two show yourselves, then turn and run. Keep running until you reach the place where we set out and wait for us there. Don’t worry. The white-naped cranes care about the rare treasure and won’t really chase you. At most, they’ll scare you a little. As long as we get that little opening, this old man and Fellow Daoist Ye will have a chance to steal the rare treasure. Do you understand?”
Jiang Li nodded. Luring the tiger away from the mountain—she understood.
With Heavenly Thunder Talismans and Xiao Hu, she felt the problem was not big.
Xia Zhidi looked troubled. He understood, yes, but this was far too risky. What if the demonic beasts chased them and would not let go?
Could this old charlatan’s words be trusted?
Would Ye Qingruo also agree to let Jiang Li take this risk? These two had just held hands.
Ye Qingruo did not hesitate at all and only transmitted two words. “Go ahead.”
Xia Zhidi: “???”
As expected of Qingxi Sect’s heaven’s chosen. She spoke very decisively.
Hearing those two words, Jiang Li did not hesitate at all and flew on her sword toward the white-naped cranes. Xia Zhidi gritted his teeth and rushed after her. Wealth was found amid danger. He would risk it.
The white-naped cranes were startled by the two people who suddenly appeared and indeed spread their wings as if wanting to fly. But something seemed wrong. The direction was wrong.
Why did they not chase Jiang Li and Xia Zhidi, and instead fly away together in the opposite direction?
And the green vine the white-naped cranes had been guarding was even more outrageous. It actually leapt up by itself, roots and soil included, and obediently wrapped around Jiang Li’s ankle.
Elder Wu: “!!!”
This was also different from what they had agreed on!
Seeing that the rare treasure was in hand and the white-naped cranes had vanished, Jiang Li froze. She could not help looking at Elder Wu and Ye Qingruo. Did she still need to lure the tiger away from the mountain?
“Run! People will be here soon.” Elder Wu shouted in a low voice and took the lead in leaving.
The four of them flew away with pounding hearts. Only after confirming that no one had discovered them did they find a cave and hide inside.
Inside the cave, the gazes of the three people all fell on Jiang Li. Their meaning was obvious without needing to say it: Where is the rare treasure? Hurry and take it out so we can see what it is.
Jiang Li stared at her empty ankle, her face calm and without waves. But as she listened to the two voices echoing in her mind, her thoughts churned.
Xiao Hu screamed, “What the hell are you? Don’t cling to me! Believe it or not, I’ll strike you with heavenly thunder until not a single leaf of yours remains.”
“You have the aura of my kind on you. You are the most suitable to form a life-sharing contract with me. I am a divine plant. A mere fox demon like you should hurry and bleed for me.”
A clear female voice was speaking with Xiao Hu. Clearly, it was the so-called rare treasure, and it even called itself a divine plant.
“Pah! A mere weed dares to think about forming a life-sharing contract with this fox? What beautiful dream are you having? A master-servant contract would be more like it.”
Xiao Hu was not stupid either. Since this grass was a rare treasure, it should indeed be some kind of divine plant. But a life-sharing contract meant living and dying together. If this weed withered one day, what would Xiao Hu do? She absolutely could not agree.
“You blind fox! It is your good fortune that this divine plant has taken a fancy to you.”
“To hell with your good fortune. This fox doesn’t even want it. If you’re so capable, go find someone else.” Xiao Hu had figured it out. This weed must have some unavoidable reason for seeking her out. Otherwise, how could such a good thing fall into her lap?
The two voices argued endlessly in her mind. Jiang Li roughly understood. This divine plant was most likely the female lead’s opportunity, which was why it wrapped around her ankle—because Xiao Hu was inside the sword beneath her feet.
But how was she supposed to explain this situation?
Jiang Li raised her head and braced herself. “Um, if I say I don’t know what happened either, and that vine suddenly disappeared, would you believe me?”
Elder Wu’s beard lifted, and his eyes widened. Do I look like I would believe that?
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