Chapter 1343: Half-Immortal Meng
After a bout of bickering, the matter was finally settled with the Everlasting Immortal Fairy sternly warning Yun Mengmeng never to call her that again.
“Why...” Yun Mengmeng was baffled. She didn’t think she had said anything wrong.
“Don’t ask why either!” the Everlasting Immortal Fairy snapped fiercely.
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy felt that nothing had gone her way ever since she left the Peach Blossom Secret Domain. First, Xia He and Bai Shuang had been flirting with Xiao Yangzi and competing with me for him, and now, Yun Mengmeng is calling me “First-Mom-in-Command.” That wicked Lass Yun must have secretly cast some petty curse to make me so unlucky.
“Come on, let’s settle accounts with Lass Yun!” she exclaimed, dragging Lu Yang to find Yun Zhi.
Yun Zhi had already noticed the commotion the moment Lu Yang returned. With that much noise, it would have been strange if she hadn’t heard it.
“Lass Yun, aren’t you going to welcome us back?!” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy stormed into Yun Zhi’s cave abode, striding in what she believed was an imposing manner, but which actually came across as utterly brazen and unrestrained.
Yun Zhi’s eyelid twitched. Little Junior Brother could have extended his hometown visit. Eight or ten years would have been fine. The Everlasting Immortal Fairy had teased her mercilessly in the Peach Blossom Secret Domain, and even now, her emotions stirred whenever she saw her.
“First—”
“You’re not allowed to call me that either!” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy stomped. This isn’t the Peach Blossom Secret Domain where I can hold Yun Zhi’s secret over her. Now I’ll fly off the handle at anyone who calls me that.
“Big Senior Sister, come inside my mental space,” Lu Yang said.
Yun Zhi’s primordial soul left her body and entered Lu Yang’s brow.
“What is it?” Yun Zhi knew that Lu Yang had asked her to enter his mental space because he had something to tell her, something the hidden mastermind behind the scenes mustn’t hear.
“Actually, we found the North Star, the Immortal Fairy’s hometown. It’s also my hometown...” Lu Yang recounted how he discovered the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s cave abode on the Blue Planet, how she had partially recovered her memories, and his speculation about the mastermind’s cultivation realm.
“He’s at Transcendence?” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy was astonished. This is tricky indeed.
“Transcendence? Indeed, that would explain a lot of things.” Yun Zhi nodded, her expression turning grave. This is a major discovery. We had previously underestimated the mastermind’s cultivation realm.
“Omniscience, Transcendence, and Dao Union are the three major realms above immortality. In terms of outcome, Transcendence and Dao Union don’t interfere with each other. However, Omniscience can cause a Transcendent person to fall from their realm and preserve the human nature of one who unites with the Dao.” Yun Zhi pondered. She had never compared these three realms before. Lu Yang’s reminder made her realize that Omniscience was a very special realm.
“Still, it doesn’t change the bigger picture. We can just continue with the previous plan,” Yun Zhi said. The Transcendence realm was indeed powerful, but she firmly believed the three major realms had hierarchies and that Dao Union was stronger than Transcendence. This also holds true, judging by the methods.
To achieve Transcendence, one must cut off history, hide oneself, and commit endless slaughter. On the other hand, my Dao Union requires no external aid. I transcend all worldly things and can reach the Dao Union realm through my own ability.
If she were a pure seeker of the Dao and viewed realms as everything, she would have achieved Dao Union long ago. Although she sought the Dao and was devoted to cultivation, it was only a hobby. I have Little Junior Brother, Senior Immortal Fairy, the Dao-Seeking Sect... These are all things and people I can’t bear to part with and can’t forget. Pursuing cultivation realms single-mindedly will be putting the cart before the horse and losing sight of what matters most.
“Senior Immortal Fairy, do you not remember how to break through to Omniscience?”
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy shook her head. “I don’t remember.”
“Since only karma-type Dao Fruits can achieve Omniscience, this realm must be related to karma. Little Junior Brother, you can consider paying Junior Brother Meng a visit.”
“Old Meng? Where is he now?”
“Running a fortune-telling stall in the imperial city.”
~~~
“Come take a look! The Imperial City’s Iron Mouth! If my fortune-telling is wrong, I’ll pay you double!”
On the streets of the imperial city, a fortune teller called out periodically. Behind him stood a white banner with the bold characters “Half-Immortal Meng,” making it impossible to miss.
A chubby boy strolled through the streets, carrying a basket of freshly steamed baozi, piping hot and glistening with oil. His attire looked ordinary, but in fact, every part of it was a top-grade defensive magical treasure.
He noticed the fortune-teller and grew interested. Sitting on a small stool, he asked in a casual tone. “Hey, fortune-teller, are your predictions accurate?”
The fortune teller jerked his thumb at the golden sign behind him. “See that? ‘Imperial City’s Iron Mouth.’ How could that be fake?”
“How do you charge?”
The fortune teller sized him up. “Since you haven’t started cultivating yet, one low-grade spirit stone will do.”
The chubby boy opened his cloth pouch, which contained only a few low-grade spirit stones. He painfully took one out. As the grandson of the Minister of Justice, he had a strict upbringing, and his allowance was pitifully meager. “Here. Your predictions had better be accurate.”
The fortune teller pocketed the spirit stone. “Tell me. What do you want to know?”
“Can you predict the questions on the Provost’s final exam?” The boy’s eyes sparkled. If I score well on the finals, my allowance may increase.
The fortune teller silently handed the boy two spirit stones. This question exceeded his capabilities. “Before you go, let me offer you a warning—you may soon face a bloody calamity.”
The chubby boy didn’t believe a word. This is obviously a scam to swindle me out of my money.
After the boy left, the fortune teller beckoned over a steward hiding nearby. “Go tell Minister of Justice Xu that his grandson is asking street fortune-tellers to predict his final exam questions.”
“Yes.”
Soon, another customer sat down. It was a good friend of the fortune-teller. “Half-Immortal Meng, you can’t even predict anything. Why are you running a fortune-telling stall?”
Half-Immortal Meng snorted. “What does a little brat know? My specialty is reading romantic fortunes.”
“You’re back from your hometown?” Meng Jingzhou saw Lu Yang looking radiant. Clearly, he had enjoyed himself thoroughly, probably showing off every day back home.
“Why are you running a stall as a street charlatan for no reason?”
Meng Jingzhou glared at him. “Street charlatan? Watch your mouth. This is a perfectly legitimate business!”
“Isn’t fortune-telling the Heaven Strategy Sect’s job? Did they owe your Meng Family too much money and teach you their signature skill to pay off the debt?”
“You don’t get it.” Meng Jingzhou pointed at the white banner behind him. “See those characters? I’m a half-immortal now!”
“You’ve really become a half-immortal? What Incipient Dao Fruit have you condensed?”
Meng Jingzhou smiled smugly. “The Karma Incipient Dao Fruit. You think I’m just running a stall? I’m cultivating my Incipient Dao Fruit through fortune-telling!”
The second Imperial Preceptor of Great Yu used to possess a Karma Incipient Dao Fruit. Guan Shanhai knew the key principles for condensing one.
Naturally, Meng Jingzhou was also talented in this area. He had mastered karmic abilities even before Lu Yang. The Single’s Curse Fist was proof.
“Currently, my main cultivation direction is romantic prospects. But I’ve run into a bit of a problem,” Meng Jingzhou said.
“What problem?”
“I can read others’ romantic fortunes, but not my own.” This troubled Meng Jingzhou greatly.
“Could it be that... you have no romantic fate in this lifetime?”
“You must be joking! Who am I? How could I have no romantic fate? Old Lu, you’re just jealous of my Karma Incipient Dao Fruit. Since you don’t believe me, let me demonstrate.”
“How are you going to demonstrate?”
“I’ll take a look at your karma.”
“Oh? Let’s try then.” Lu Yang’s interest was piqued. I now understand why Big Senior Sister suggested I visit Old Meng.
Meng Jingzhou assumed a stance and activated his Karma Incipient Dao Fruit, power gathering in his eyes. No karma in the world could escape his sight.
“Karma, reveal!”
He snapped his eyes open. Catching a glimpse of the brilliant, densely intertwined karma surrounding Lu Yang, he let out a scream. “AH, MY EYES!”