119 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 119: Foreseeing At daybreak, a gentle morning mist wrapped around the entire Mo Zhu Peak. The rising sun at the horizon painted it with delicate hues of red and purple. Seated on an exposed rock amidst the mountains, a young girl opened her singular right eye. The girl, young in age, bore features still tinged with innocence. Her face carried a delicate grace, but the black cloth covering her left eye added a jarring, peculiar element to her appearance. He He furrowed her brows briefly, a flash of golden light appearing in her eyes. Rising to her feet, she stretched her legs, unworked from a night of meditation, in the manner of an energetic youth. Her body, once small from deprivation, had grown substantially taller since she ascended the mountain. A nimble leap took her from the rock to the mountainside path that led towards the small courtyard atop Mo Zhu Peak. He He had formed a routine, practicing in the secluded parts of the mountain, treaded to a hidden path over time. The solitude of the area, aside from the path to the summit, offered serenity for her cultivation, allowing for distant views of the sea of clouds, streaming light at dawn and dusk, and cascades reminiscent of the Void Sect's main hall, providing an idyllic setting for introspection. Most importantly, this location ensured that Xiang Shi Yan could sense her presence effortlessly, easily observing her activities. She knew well enough what her spiritual roots were, yet Xiang Shi Yan assumed she possessed a trinity of mediocre roots, believing relentless diligence was necessary for her cultivation success. As the girl returned to the courtyard, she coincidentally encountered Qin Miao stepping out of his room. The two siblings shared similar misfortunes: one with a crippled left leg, the other returning from her first journey down the mountain missing an eye. Zhu Yun, frequently in ill health, seldom attended lessons at the main peak. Aside from Zhu Yu’s robust health, Mo Zhu Peak's inhabitants bore various physical woes, something He He took lightly and even jested about. It had been over six months since He He had gouged out her left eye. The wound had healed thoroughly, and she could have replaced the void with an artificial eye. Some cultivators crafted such items so expertly that, with illusion techniques, they seemed no different from natural eyes. However, He He disliked foreign objects and rarely wore the one Xiang Shi Yan procured for her. "Good morning, Senior Brother." She greeted with her usual amiable smile, but Qin Miao found it difficult to reciprocate sincerely, forcing an embarrassed twitch of his lips instead. He did not deny it—when he saw the injured He He being brought back by Xiang Shi Yan, apart from surprise, he did feel a glimmer of satisfaction. The calamity befalling the seemingly destined girl mirrored his own physical ruin, perhaps even marred her beauty, making her appear pitifully worse off than himself. The sisters who accompanied He He down the mountain were initially unsettled by Xiang Shi Yan's terse message. Upon learning of He He's lost eye, guilt overwhelmed them, compelling them to kneel en masse in the courtyard, much to Xiang Shi Yan’s alarm, who had to assure them she harbored no blame before they rose. Qin Miao learned the incident's details from a senior sister then. Young He He, clandestinely revisiting her family only to encounter spectral apparitions, narrowly escaped with her life despite being a low-tier cultivator of Refining Qi Level Seven. Was it luck, or misfortune? Surviving such an ordeal was likely due to their Master's timely intervention. How did Xiang Shi Yan, while at Yu Cang Mountain, sense He He's danger so swiftly? Did she bestow upon He He a talisman for emergencies? With these thoughts, a sense of melancholy settled in Qin Miao, recalling he'd never seen such treasures in his past life. He assumed He He would be dispirited for some time, but once again underestimated her. Appearing soft and gentle, the girl was astonishingly resilient, consoling those indebted to her, maintaining her usual serene demeanor, even refusing to wear the eye substitute procured by Xiang Shi Yan. She is so different from myself... Qin Miao, naturally introverted and somber, grew even more withdrawn following his leg injury, avoiding confrontation even when his cultivation had reached mid-Foundation Establishment, a commendable feat at his age, yet still shrouded in disgrace and vanity. The warmth radiating from his junior sister’s open-heartedness swiftly erased any shadow of her injury, and people gradually adjusted to her bandaged gaze, regarding her with increased respect and admiration. He She shone brightly in the sunlight, casting Qin Miao back to the days of being an observer at the fringes of the crowd, where prodigies like Xiang Shi Yan and Huai Ye shone, now joined by He He, all so remarkably out of reach. The two prepared meals separately, He He finishing her noodles just as Zhu Yu, yawning, sauntered into the small kitchen. The youngest sister bluntly settled in, expectantly looking to share in He He's breakfast. He He found no trouble in this dynamic; the exhilarating boldness of Zhu Yu, unstrained by thoughts or hesitations unlike her reserved and fearful sister Zhu Yun, allowed her more ease of mind. "Where's Xiao Yun?" He He inquired. "She soaked in a medicinal bath last night, too sore to get out of bed," Zhu Yu replied nonchalantly. Despite her healthy exterior, her constitution was frailer than most. For over six months, Xiang Shi Yan had intermittently nursed the twins, yet improvement was elusive; ailments likely ingrained from birth seemed destined to shadow her life. However, Zhu Yu was unfazed by the present conditions. Zhu Yun, though possessing heavenly roots, had inherently fragile meridians. Without Xiang Shi Yan's dedicated effort to widen them over the past months, she might not have been able to cultivate at all. Still, her body was weaker than most, and after a half-hour in the spiritual bath, pain rendered her sleepless, softly sobbing until sleep finally overcame her late at night. Zhu Yun generally shied from physical contact, yet when seized by such intense discomfort that it turned to vulnerability, she demanded company to soothingly relieve her pains before finding any respite. While Zhu Yu faced no daily life challenges, she remained on Xiang Shi Yan’s mind, who frequently procured nourishing spiritual herbs or suitable pills for them, should anything align with their needs. The resources were secondary; such wholehearted concern deeply moved them. Their Master, while typically aloof and reserved, expressed undeniable care, obvious to all who looked. Zhu Yu felt no guilt for banking on Xiang Shi Yan’s sympathies; after all, wasn’t He He doing the same? She couldn't believe someone capable of storming Hua Hai City, claiming the family chief seal for Zhu Yun, would succumb to wandering spirits. Clearly, it was a ruse plotted to lead Xiang Shi Yan astray. The girl shot a glance at the smiling senior sister, catching her eye, sending chills down her spine prompting a quick turn to avert and brood silently. Before leaving, He He left some food in the cupboard for Zhu Yun, fulfilling her role as a caring sister. She glanced at Xiang Shi Yan's room, finding it empty. Xiang Shi Yan was attempting another breakthrough to the Great Ascension stage, sequestering herself in a mountain cave to prevent accidental harm to her disciples. Sigh, when will Master accept that if she continues down this path blindly, she might never break through? He He cast a disappointed look at the vacant room. She had planned some minor adjustments to the twins’ prescriptions during Xiang Shi Yan's seclusion. However, realizing Xiang Shi Yan might quickly notice any alterations, coupled with a lack of appropriate ingredients, she abandoned the idea. The emotions among disciples at the main peak have grown increasingly vibrant, with lectures disregarded, more whispers exchanged during morning classes, and frequent glances at jade slips recording past events. The impending Five-Year Hidden Dragon Tournament, held two months from now, promised exhilarating anticipation. Last tournament's leader, Huai Ye, now a mid-Golden Core cultivator at just twenty, stood as an unmatched genius across the cultivation world, favored to continue his winning streak—potentially even indefinitely until surpassing age limits. Once, Xiang Shi Yan held such promises of glory, though she avoided further participation after only one appearance at the Heavenly Mechanism Sect-sponsored tournament, leaving Yu Cang Mountain lamenting the missed potential. Despite being a once-in-a-century prodigy, her sole tournament involvement marked a regrettable footnote for the entire mountain, now turning their eager eyes to Huai Ye, the determined participant of the present day. Huai Ye had long been a prominent figure at Yu Cang Mountain, and now her reputation was even more dazzling. New disciples gradually familiarized themselves with the many feats of their esteemed senior sister. For instance, in the previous Hidden Dragon Tournament, she emerged as a dark horse, leaping across two cultivation stages to defeat the late-stage Golden Core disciple from the arrogant Void Sect. Many still vividly recalled this event, relishing the sight of someone finally curbing the Void Sect’s rampant arrogance. Given this context, although interest in other lectures waned, Huai Ye's occasional instructional sessions on combat techniques were crowded to capacity. Typically, her peers kept their distance due to her ruthless approach, but increased attendance left her feeling a bit overwhelmed. "What do you think? Will Senior Sister Huai Ye win?" He He sat nearby, openly resting, and watching with amusement as Huai Ye bustled about, attending to eager juniors calling for her attention. "..." Her friend remained silent. Her companion, though possessing a plain, rustic name, often displayed glimpses of Fu Zhi's personality despite her attempts to fit her humble background as a butcher’s daughter. This body matured faster than others, and unbeknownst to Fu Zhi, she had grown a head taller than He He, who seemed perpetually youthful by comparison. At times, she couldn’t determine who truly belonged in this world. As a tall thirteen-year-old with a robust physique unlike her true persona, Fu Zhi's last departure from the "Qian Da Ni" shell drained her of strength, barely managing to reach her master's side to report her visions. Yet the corpse she inhabited, destined to grow tall and strong like a flourishing sapling, seemed to never stop expanding, giving Fu Zhi the illusion it never would. Reluctant to admit it, she secretly reveled in this sensation. A fragile person yearns for strength, feeling invigorated with each breath and step, experiencing vitality in stark contrast to her original Golden Core-borne frailty. This mortal's body, despite its inferior cultivation, was oddly preferable. Perhaps she was losing herself, Fu Zhi thought, considering confiding in her master. But faced with those seemingly all-seeing eyes, she felt unnecessary. It was just a deceptive excuse. Even if her master saw through her, she kept her secrets, including her exposed identity and clandestine dealings with the demonic figure, from everyone. "Hmm?" Noticing the prolonged silence, He He glanced at her. Whether Fu Zhi answered or not didn’t significantly matter to her. Fu Zhi pressed her lips together. "That depends on whether you plan to participate." He He was intrigued. "Do you think she'd certainly win if I didn't?" "I once watched with Lord of Heavenly Mechanism at the Hidden Dragon Tournament—she's strong. If nothing unexpected happens... she should win." The demonic figure, exasperated, glanced at Huai Ye in the distance, muttering, "If that's so, then there will be a twist." "..." Fu Zhi hesitated, glad her reaction didn't catch He He's attention. She glimpsed at Huai Ye and quickly averted her gaze, as if even a second was unbearable. The stars shifted, destinies altered, and some paths strayed from prosperity. Huai Ye’s lifeline, once predicted to end before twenty, remained intact, but the next drop of destiny’s guillotine loomed alarmingly close. If fate insisted, Fu Zhi found herself powerless, unwilling to suffer more over impossible feats, having paid dearly already. Yet the vibrant young woman afar was undeniable. Look away? As if ignoring vitality could erase its presence. Fu Zhi’s gaze involuntarily settled on her, harboring foolish hopes, as though a shimmer, despite inevitably crumbling, was less cruel than a dead end. Should she gamble on this fate-twister? 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