Free Web NovelChapter 174: Chapter 172: The Old Fortune Teller
"Sir, this is the Sui Family’s residence."
"Are you sure you wish to live here?"
"Yes." Su Qing nodded.
Su Qing had scouted the island; the strongest person here was merely a Cultivator at the Golden Core Fourth Layer.
The island had its own produce as well—purple gourds.
They were all Spirit Plants.
The island’s layout resembled half a taiji symbol, which was also quite nice.
The Spiritual Qi was decent, and the environment was pleasant.
"Yes, this is the place." Su Qing was displaying a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation base, so of course the Sui Family servant selling the courtyard had to respect him.
"Sir, that will be 8,500 Spirit Stones."
"Plus our Sui Family’s protection fee, which is 500 Spirit Stones a year."
"That’s 9,000 Spirit Stones in total."
Su Qing gave him the 9,000 Spirit Stones. To him, it was a trivial sum.
"Thank you, Sir. I hope you enjoy your stay."
"Mm." After receiving the Spirit Stones, the servant broke into a smile.
...
This area was located halfway up the island, and the sea was visible from outside the courtyard.
The residence wasn’t large, just a single story.
Besides being a bit damp, it had no other flaws.
As for the dampness, Su Qing could simply set up an Array to keep the place dry.
Being at the Foundation Establishment Realm was actually quite good for life on this island.
As long as he didn’t get entangled in local power struggles, he could live peacefully.
He made a routine of visiting the Marketplace.
Su Qing browsed the novel trinkets, hoping he might unearth something valuable.
Throughout all this, Su Qing constantly wore his Black Cloak.
After all, many of the Cultivators living on the island had already paid him a visit.
A Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator was someone many would try to win over.
If Su Qing were in the Golden Core Realm, it would be a completely different story. The island’s own Golden Core experts would definitely find all sorts of ways to challenge him.
They might not even let him stay on the island for long.
Unless they fought to the death.
HISS!
Just as Su Qing heard a sharp intake of breath, someone tugged at the hem of his Cloak.
He turned to see an old man with grizzled hair. He was a mortal.
"What is it?" Su Qing asked coldly.
"You truly are a great Immortal, a great anomaly. Your fortune is peerless, yet also incredibly perilous."
Su Qing frowned and looked at the old man’s eyes.
The old man’s gaze was fixed on the space above Su Qing’s head.
’Can he really see the path of fate?’
’Or is he just a fraud trying to scam me?’
"Heh! Do you just go around praising everyone you meet?" Su Qing didn’t want to get involved.
With a flick of his hand, he tossed the old man a Spirit Stone and was about to pull his hand back and leave.
"Hey! Don’t be in such a hurry. I don’t want your Spirit Stone."
"I want to read your fortune." The old man grabbed the sleeve of Su Qing’s Black Cloak.
He held on with a death grip.
"Read my fortune? What could you possibly read?" Su Qing said doubtfully. "And besides, keep your hands to yourself!"
"You already changed your fate when you were fifteen!"
What?
’This old man... he’s the real deal.’
’Fifteen? Wasn’t that how old I was when I first came to this world?’
’Can he really tell fortunes?’
In that case, Su Qing decided, he had to see exactly what this old man was capable of.
"Oh? Now that you put it that way, I’m interested. Come, let’s go somewhere else, and you can read my fortune."
Su Qing chuckled and led the old man to the seashore.
Before Su Qing could even ask a question,
the old man spoke: "Your life was originally meant to end at fifteen, but somehow, your fate was changed."
"When a person changes their fate, they must suffer tribulations. Once a tribulation passes, your fortune improves by several degrees."
"And now, your fortune is gold tinged with purple—the mark of an Immortal."
"Am I right? HAHAHA." The old man looked at Su Qing and roared with laughter.
"You’re right. But how can a mere mortal like you see my path of fortune?"
Su Qing nodded, looking at the old man with confusion.
"I was born with a pair of Spiritual Eyes. I can see the fortune and tribulations of every living being."
"Unfortunately, I was also born with Extinct Veins. Whether I have a Spirit Root or not, both Immortal Cultivation and Demon Cultivating are impossible for me."
"I’m already 112 years old," the old man chuckled. "Six months ago, I foresaw that my great opportunity would be here, so I boarded a Treasure Tower ship and came to this island."
"And it seems that opportunity must be you, right?" The old man’s eyes flickered to the space above Su Qing’s head from time to time.
He couldn’t suppress the grin spreading across his face.
"I have met many cultivators who sought me out for fortune-telling, but I have never seen fortune as terrifying as yours."
Su Qing looked at the old man and pulled down the hood of his Black Cloak.
"Then why do you think I am your opportunity?" Su Qing smiled. He could easily resolve the old man’s condition, but why should he?
"I don’t want to die."
"It cost me a great deal of my life’s essence to calculate this. I know this is a gamble, one I can’t afford to lose, but I have to take it," the old man said slowly, but his eyes were resolute.
"On this entire island, you are the greatest opportunity. Even the fortune of the Sui Family pales in comparison to yours."
"I can’t figure it out either," the old man said with a smile, looking out at the distant sea. "But I’m a person who believes in fate. I’ve believed in it my whole life, and now... I want to change my own."
The old man suddenly became agitated. "The moment I saw you, I knew you were my opportunity. It’s definitely you. I have to fight for this."
Su Qing asked, "What’s your name? What can you do? Why should I help you?"
As soon as these words were spoken, an intense light flashed in the old man’s eyes, which were filled with excitement.
’He asked why he should help me! This means he is my opportunity!’
"I swear to the Celestial Dao, as long as I live, I will be loyal to you and never betray you."
"With this pair of Spiritual Eyes, I can help you with any great undertaking you desire! I can even help you avoid tribulations."
The old man gripped Su Qing’s Cloak tightly, looked at Su Qing’s handsome face, and spoke with utmost seriousness.
The old man certainly was a unique talent.
Su Qing fell silent for a moment.
He then smiled faintly. "There’s no need to swear loyalty. Just teach me your fortune-telling techniques. I don’t believe your Spiritual Eyes are the only reason you can read fortunes."
"Done!" The old man was extremely excited. "I will teach you everything I know."
"Follow me."
Su Qing found the old man interesting and thought he might as well give this a try.
He was a little bored anyway, and besides, the old man’s Spiritual Eyes were indeed impressive.
"Yes, Immortal."
"Hahaha. Immortal... Please don’t call me that. I’m no Immortal," Su Qing laughed.
He wasn’t an Immortal. He had earthly passions and desires, and he even got bored. Su Qing knew he was a rather mundane person at heart.
He just happened to possess great power.
In Su Qing’s view, a true Immortal was one who existed in a state free of wants and desires, of thoughts and attachments.
That was what a true Immortal should be in his mind.
"Understood. Then shall I call you Young Master?"
"I suppose that works," Su Qing laughed.
"My name is Su Qing. You can also just call me Su Qing."
"Young Master, my name is Tang Dan. A lowly name is good for survival."
Hearing this name, Su Qing couldn’t help but smirk. ’How particular.’
...
Su Qing brought the old man back to his courtyard.
He said to him lightly,
"Wait here for a moment."
Su Qing quickly synthesized an Immortal Vein Pill.
When he walked back out, he saw the old man standing very stiffly, not moving at all.
"I am helping you today, and I’ve made my request clear. Once you teach me your fortune-telling skills, we will owe each other nothing."
"That won’t do at all!" the old man said hurriedly.
Su Qing just shook his head lightly. "It’s settled."
Then, Su Qing began to channel the Immortal Qi from his Little Immortal Realm.
He gathered it at the tip of his finger, which he pointed at the old man.
One wisp of Immortal Qi, two wisps of Immortal Qi...
Five wisps of Immortal Qi.
The old man’s transformation was dramatic. He reverted to the appearance of a middle-aged man, though his hair remained white.
Su Qing withdrew his hand.
"Alright. This is an Elixir. Take it, and you’ll be fine."
Su Qing took out the Immortal Vein Pill and gave it to Tang Dan.
Tang Dan stared at his hands, now youthful again. He touched his face—the wrinkles were gone. He didn’t need a mirror to know he had become younger.
He was overcome with excitement. For almost his entire life, he had begged those so-called Immortals of the Foundation Establishment Realm and Golden Core Realm for help.
None of them could do anything.
Worse, because of his weakness, he was often forced to tell fortunes against his will.
How could Tang Dan have been truly willing? He would make some predictions accurate and others inaccurate.
It was all just to survive. If he had been too impressive, or too mediocre, he wouldn’t have survived to this day.
"Thank you, Immortal! Thank you, Immortal!" Tang Dan was incredibly moved. He prostrated himself completely, kowtowing and banging his head on the ground repeatedly.
...
