Ascending to Godhood: I Can Foresee All Futures

Ning'an Prefecture, Luoyun Manor.

Inside the Grand Conference Hall, the atmosphere was heavy.

Lu Canghai sat upright on the grand rosewood chair at the head of the hall. His gaze seemed to calmly study Monk Xuanbei, who was seated below him, clad in bright yellow monastic robes and holding prayer beads. Inwardly, however, his mind was a storm of suspicion and uncertainty.

'A personal visit from the First Seat of Golden Spring Temple's Precepts Institute is never a small matter.'

But he showed none of this on his face, merely making small talk with Monk Xuanbei about the recent turmoil in Ning'an Prefecture, as if entertaining an ordinary guest.

Monk Xuanbei, his face full of compassion, chanted a Buddhist mantra under his breath and said slowly,

"The prefecture is in turmoil, the Jianghu is in chaos, and the common people are restless. If you trace it to its source, it is all because the Government Office has grown increasingly tyrannical and has lost all sense of propriety."

Lu Canghai merely offered a faint smile at these words and did not reply.

'Luoyun Manor would not carelessly agree with such criticism of the Government Office. While it likely wouldn't lead to disaster, it would inevitably cause unnecessary trouble if word got out.'

Seeing Lu Canghai's noncommittal response, Monk Xuanbei suddenly changed the subject, cutting straight to the point.

"Donor Lu, what do you think? Do my words hold any reason?"

A sharp glint flashed in Lu Canghai's eyes. Having already considered his response, he dodged the question and countered with one of his own:

"Master Xuanbei, you must have come for a more important reason. Please, speak your mind. Why beat around the bush?"

Monk Xuanbei lifted his eyes and looked directly at Lu Canghai, the compassion on his face deepening.

"I have come to help Your Manor resolve an imminent catastrophe."

"Catastrophe?"

Lu Canghai's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly before smoothing out again. He chuckled lightly.

"Master, surely you exaggerate. My Luoyun Manor minds its own business. From where would a catastrophe come?"

"Donor Lu, why deceive yourself?"

Monk Xuanbei slowly shook his head, his voice low but clear.

"Your Manor is, in fact, facing a twofold catastrophe. First, in the struggle for the Wushan Yuan Ore shares, Your Manor suffered a disastrous loss. For the next ten years, your resources will be stretched thin, damaging your long-term foundation.

Second, Your Manor has forged an intractable enmity with the Jingwu Bureau, and with Chen Sheng in particular.

Given the Jingwu Bureau's history of arrogance and protecting their own, and Chen Sheng's vindictive nature, do you really think he will spare Luoyun Manor once he gains power?

Every time I think of this, I too sigh with worry for Your Manor's future."

Lu Canghai's hands, hidden in his sleeves, quietly clenched into fists, his knuckles turning slightly white.

Clearly, every one of Monk Xuanbei's words had struck the deepest of his hidden worries and sore spots.

On the surface, however, Lu Canghai remained impassive, saying calmly,

"Victory and defeat are common in battle. The battle at Wushan Mountain was a loss Luoyun Manor can afford, and we accept it. As for some minor friction with the Jingwu Bureau, you exaggerate, Master."

"Is it truly just 'minor friction'?"

Hearing this, a profound smile touched the corners of Monk Xuanbei's lips. Before Lu Canghai's expression could change, he continued in a cold voice,

"When the 'Wushan Pact' was first established, the intention was for our six sects to join forces, counterbalance the Government Office, and share the resources. For years, even when my Golden Spring Temple or Qingfeng Temple occasionally gained the upper hand, we never let any other party leave empty-handed.

But now, the Government Office, using Chen Sheng as its instrument, has brazenly seized a thirty percent share. Added to their inherent ten percent, that's forty percent. It might not matter for a year or two, but what about ten years from now?

Once the Government Office uses these resources to cultivate more masters, will there be any place left for our sects in the next battle for Wushan Mountain?"

At this point, Monk Xuanbei paused, his gaze like a torch as he stared at Lu Canghai and continued,

"Furthermore, the enmity between Chen Sheng and Your Manor runs deep. Lu Maozhi was gravely injured, Lu Xuanzhou was thwarted, and Luoyun Manor's prestige has been damaged. Considering the ruthlessness and potential this man has displayed, once he holds power within the Jingwu Bureau, do you truly believe, Donor Lu, that he will simply laugh off old grudges?

When that time comes, how will Luoyun Manor fend for itself?"

Lu Canghai's brows knitted tightly, a shadow passing through his eyes. He said in a low voice,

"What are you really trying to say, Master?"

Monk Xuanbei brought his palms together. The look of compassion on his face vanished completely, replaced by a grim solemnity.

"This Chen Sheng has a deep-seated killing intent, and his actions are cruel, bordering on the Demon Dao. If he is allowed to grow stronger, it will be a disaster for the Ning'an Martial World and all its people. For the sake of all living beings, for the sake of peace in this land... this man... must be eliminated!"

Golden Spring Temple's killing intent toward Chen Sheng had long been blazing.

The battle at Wushan Mountain had destroyed Shanming's foundation, a devastating loss for the temple that had already created a mortal enmity.

Then came the incident at the Poisonous Flood Dragon Pool, which ruined the temple's twenty-year plan to raise the flood dragon. This grudge was even harder to forgive.

Now, the First Seats of the temple's various institutes had reached a consensus: this fiend had to be eliminated to prevent future disasters!

Lu Canghai's heart trembled, but he forced himself to remain calm on the surface.

"Chen Sheng has just rendered great service and has surely been promoted to Captain of Jing'an, a Standard Sixth Grade position. He is now in the upper echelons of the Jingwu Bureau. To move against him is to make an enemy of the entire Jingwu Bureau.

Killing him would be easy, but who can bear the consequences?"

Ever since the day Chen Sheng had crashed the wedding, causing Luoyun Manor to lose face completely, Lu Canghai had been unable to conceal the killing intent in his heart.

To eliminate this man, he had even secretly hired the White Tiger Hall at great expense. But who would have thought they would later return part of the payment, declare the mission a failure, and tell him to find someone more capable?

The matter had left Lu Canghai not only shocked but also with a profound sense of how troublesome the situation was.

In recent days, he had been agonizing over this very problem.

"Donor Lu, you misunderstand."

Monk Xuanbei said with a slight, calculating smile,

"Chen Sheng's status is special. I know that we cannot act against him directly. But... what if the ones who strike are the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance and the Blood River Sect?"

"The Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance? The Blood River Sect?"

Lu Canghai's brow furrowed even tighter. "Why would they willingly be our pawns?"

"What if someone were to pull the strings and make them a hefty promise?"

Monk Xuanbei began to reply, his voice unhurried: