"Heaven serves as the chessboard, stars become the pieces.""Earth as the pipa... the path, the strings."
Lü Mudu fixated on the vertical plaque's inscription, unable to restrain himself from softly reciting the words. Instantly, his entire being wavered, a look of profound astonishment and awe etched deeply across his aged face. From the black iron plaque emanated an overwhelming, cataclysmic pressure that bore down on him like a tempest, causing his body to stagger backward two or three steps, each footfall shattering the ancient blue bricks beneath. His bamboo staff struck the stone steps sharply as he squeezed his eyes shut. After a long moment, he exhaled slowly.
He turned his face away, refusing to glance again at the lines on the plaque—too fearful to look or inquire further. Standing aside with a butcher's cleaver, Nie Changqing cast a cold, indifferent glance. Lü Mudu's willpower was far stronger than his.
The grinding sound of wooden wheels on the ground echoed as Ning Zhao pushed Lu Fan from the pavilion of Baiyujing.
"Such a pity," Lu Fan murmured indifferently, "unable to withstand the imposing aura of the couplet at the entrance of Baiyujing, you cannot enter the pavilion…"
Lü Mudu forced a bitter smile and respectfully cupped his hands. "I have disappointed Young Master Lu."
Lu Fan waved dismissively. "No matter, if entry is forbidden, let us converse here."
Lü Mudu straightened his robe, his expression grave. "Please speak, Young Master Lu."
Lu Fan's palm gently smoothed the folds of a thin woolen blanket draped over his lap. "I hear that the Tianji family can divine the affairs of the world...""I happen to have a matter I require you to divine."
Lu Fan sat in his wheelchair, a faint, inscrutable smile playing on his lips. Lü Mudu's gaze sharpened.
Without further preamble, Lu Fan flipped his hand, revealing a milky white jade token that hovered above his palm. Lü Mudu's eyes fell upon the token, his face clouded with perplexity.
"This is the 'Tianqi Token,' of which there are five in total. Alongside them are five 'Diqi Tokens.' These serve as credentials for entry into the secret realm of Wolong Ridge. Within Wolong Ridge lies celestial fortune, accessible only to those bearing the 'Tianqi' and 'Diqi' tokens, granting them the opportunity to obtain immortal blessings."
Lu Fan's voice was steady and slow.
At these words, the breath of all present momentarily faltered. Nie Changqing's pupils contracted sharply, a deep terror flickering in his eyes. The young master spoke of… the secret realm of Wolong Ridge?!
He recalled the celestial blessing exchanged for a kneeling immortal within the immortal realm. The immortal had spoken of Wolong Ridge's divine fortune as well. Indeed, the young master had also received guidance from an immortal.
As for the "Tianqi" and "Diqi" tokens, had Lu Fan not explained, even Nie Changqing would have remained ignorant.
Lü Mudu's body trembled. Immortal blessings? Tokens of Heaven and Earth? These terms struck him like a thunderbolt. Five years of barren divinations by the Tianji family's disciples had culminated in sending him to Beiluo City, declaring a momentous opportunity awaited there.
At first, he paid no heed. The Tianji family cared little for the mortal realm, uninvolved in court affairs, living carefree. Why covet opportunity? Even if one became a martial lord of the West Commandery, what then? A hundred years later, all would be but a bowl of yellow earth.
Yet he was mistaken. Upon entering Beiluo City, concealing his identity as a simple fisherman, he witnessed countless inexplicable phenomena beyond comprehension. On Beiluo Lake, Nie Changqing severed scholars midair with a sword. Along the ten-li street, Young Master Lu elegantly placed his move, pressing the sword-wielding hero. And now, half a patch of spiritual chrysanthemums emitted immortal aura, enveloping the island.
Within all this, he sensed something extraordinary. Especially after his personal encounter with Young Master Lu, the sensation intensified. This young master, deemed by the world as "crippled in both legs, morose in temperament, unfit for great tasks," had deceived all. At Beiluo City's brink of survival, he bared his ferocious fangs to the world.
He had divined Lu Fan's fate himself. Yet midway, he dared not continue. Never before had he witnessed such a terrifying destiny. Perhaps only the Tianji family's disciples could glimpse even a shred of it. Lu Fan's fate was beyond Lü Mudu's reach.
Now he understood the "opportunity" the Tianji family spoke of... Common martial opportunities were insignificant. They spoke of immortal blessings!
A single thought of immortal blessings could grant eternal life. Longevity was the true pursuit of the Tianji family—and of Lü Mudu himself.
"Young Master Lu... what can I do to serve you?" Lü Mudu's throat was dry, his calm shattered beyond repair.
Lu Fan sat in his wheelchair, fondling the "Tianqi Token." He sensed Lü Mudu's emotional turmoil and understood what he must have guessed. His gaze languidly settled upon Lü Mudu.
"My demands are few. Divine for me the whereabouts of the remaining nine 'Tianqi' and 'Diqi' tokens."
Lu Fan's eyes flickered with a glimmer of light.
The rules governing the tokens were his design, and all ten were randomly distributed throughout the Great Zhou dynasty. To elevate the martial realm from low to mid and high levels, the world's fixed perceptions must be altered; the resurgence of spiritual energy must be embraced. The tokens were the key to unveiling this grand awakening.
Lu Fan's request froze Lü Mudu's features.
He withdrew three copper coins strung at his neck, clasping them with a secretive technique. After a meditative pause, he opened his eyes and faced Lu Fan, exposing a crooked tooth with a forced chuckle:
"Young Master Lu...""Can it be divined?" Lu Fan toyed with the token.
"No... it cannot..." Lü Mudu clenched the coins, swallowing hard.
Lu Fan ceased his movements and slowly raised his head. "Precision is unnecessary. Within a hundred li radius suffices."
Lü Mudu's heart trembled anew.
"No... it cannot be..."
Lu Fan's brow arched slightly and he sighed. "Then, can you divine the opening time of the Wolong Ridge immortal blessing secret realm?"
Lü Mudu's legs nearly buckled. He gripped his bamboo staff tightly.
"Young Master Lu, this old man... cannot do it."
With a clatter, he threw down the staff and collapsed onto the ground, wailing uncontrollably.
Once confident, Lü Mudu now utterly broke. He was the Tianji family's most esteemed disciple, yet now shattered.
Three questions from Lu Fan; three answers of ignorance.
Lu Fan saw through his identity. Lü Mudu had deliberately waited for him, eager to display his talents. Yet now, weeping uncontrollably, Lu Fan was baffled. The old man... crying again?!
"Enough, it's natural you cannot divine it, for immortal blessings are involved. If you could, the immortals themselves would owe you repentance." Lu Fan smiled, then grew serious:
"Spread the news of the Wolong Ridge immortal blessing secret realm, and the significance of the 'Tianqi' and 'Diqi' tokens."
"That you can do?"
Lü Mudu ceased crying, eyes wide with astonishment as he wiped his tears. "Young Master Lu intends to reveal the immortal blessings to the world?"
Lü Mudu could not fathom Lu Fan's motive. Publicizing the news would incite fierce competition. Yet, to his surprise, Lu Fan meant to escalate matters.
"Do you think immortal blessings are so easily claimed? Since ancient times, treasures have been guarded by heavenly and earthly spiritual beings. Immortal blessings are no exception. I have no wish to be a scout; should I perish within, all is lost. At least, I must discern the secret realm's conditions before proceeding."
Lu Fan's finger tapped the wheelchair armrest lightly.
"Once the news spreads, people will investigate and any dangers will be revealed in time to prepare. As for the ultimate spoils…"
His lips curled into a slight smile, his gaze lifting to the horizon.
"Baiyujing will claim them."
Nie Changqing and Ning Zhao straightened their backs at Lu Fan's words. As disciples of Baiyujing, their blood seemed to surge with fervor.
Lü Mudu's eyes narrowed. Baiyujing—Lu Fan's domain?
Lu Fan's gaze deepened on the "Tianqi Token."
"The immortals want the immortal blessings to be contested among those bearing the tokens. What is their aim? Unable to fathom, I shall muddy the waters in an instant!"
"To contend with immortals, a delight beyond compare."
A faint smile curled Lu Fan's lips. Lü Mudu drew a deep breath, perceiving Lu Fan as breathtakingly magnificent. To contend with immortals… who in the mortal world dares?
"Rest assured, Young Master Lu, this matter will be entrusted to this old man." Lü Mudu stood solemn.
"Go forth. If successful, you shall share in a fragment of the immortal blessings."
Lu Fan reclined, waving his hand. Lü Mudu's face brightened with anticipation.
"Old Nie, see him off."
Lu Fan's words were met with Ning Zhao pushing the wheelchair deeper into the Baiyujing pavilion, vanishing from sight.
Nie Changqing's expression remained impassive but inside, his heart thundered with excitement.
An era of immortal blessings was about to erupt, and the mortal world would never be the same again.