142 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 142: Elegy "…Have you possibly mistaken the person?" Xiang Shi Yan's expression was rigid, and she felt a wave of dizziness upon hearing Fu Zhi's words. This was utterly impossible. Xiang Shi Yan was somewhat disoriented. According to the system's explanation, the original work never had the depth for someone unchosen by fate to achieve destiny through their own efforts. Qin Miao could become the child of destiny purely because he was the protagonist of this book. This setting, apart from adding excitement, lacked deeper meaning, merely allowing Qin Miao to command with grandiosity. The idea that the Great Dao would choose another person as the child of destiny was unthinkable. In fact, following the rule of "main character = child of destiny," even if Qin Miao were to lose the blessings of the Great Dao and the title of destiny were to change hands, the one to earn this title should be Xiang Shi Yan, whose protagonist aura outweighed Qin Miao's by more than ten percent. And yet, Fu Zhi was telling her that He He was the destined one? It's not that Xiang Shi Yan underestimated He He, but if viewed from the system's perspective of pleasing readers with utility, He He didn't possess many traits matching that of a novel's protagonist. Why would he…? She couldn't help but clutch her forehead, casting a skeptical glance at Fu Zhi. "Little Elder, do not try to mislead me with such unfounded talk. Not to mention whether this so-called destiny is credible or not, how could He He possibly be the one chosen by the Great Dao?" The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly strange. Although she was the one fabricating the lie, Fu Zhi had anticipated the skepticism towards the notion of destiny. Still, Xiang Shi Yan's response seemed to press her to recant, which perplexed Fu Zhi. Nonetheless, since the words had already been spoken, there was no retrieving them. Fu Zhi rarely lied, and at this moment, she deeply pressed her nails into her palm to maintain control over her facial expression, affirming, "Absolutely true, and this is also why I've befriended her." Though Fu Zhi indeed had ulterior motives, this statement was entirely inverted. Previously, she spent each day pondering how to warn Xiang Shi Yan so that the female cultivator would realize that the seemingly simple village girl she picked up was not what she seemed. She never anticipated the day she'd utter such an absurd lie to Xiang Shi Yan. "The Tianji Sect acts in accordance with the Great Dao; my actions are all guided by it, with no personal agenda," Fu Zhi explained awkwardly. For Fu Zhi, this was indeed the case. Her every action was to assist the destined one. However, the ominous star predicted in the prophecy had appeared earlier, and even infiltrated Qin Miao's Yucang Mountain. He He had countless ways to kill Qin Miao without arousing suspicion, forcing the Tianji Sect to adapt its strategies accordingly. With destiny and destiny's adversary separated by thousands of miles, and with Qin Miao in another sect entirely, dispatching Fu Zhi alone through the secretive body-switching pool was already challenging. The Tianji Sect lacked the capability to intervene swiftly when situations turned dire. Thus, stabilizing He He and seeking help became crucial tasks. Fu Zhi concealed the deal proposed by He He in her heart, anxious for a long time. At that time, she realized the girl she had painstakingly approached wasn't as innocent as she had imagined. He He already had the capacity to create chaos, and the demon beneath the girl's exterior was eyeing the vexing " " with malice, certainly not waiting for Qin Miao to grow. "I want you and the entire Tianji Sect to recognize me as the child of destiny. I don't need your assistance and protection, nor do I require you to attend to me closely. All I need from now on is that whenever and whoever asks, even if it's just an ordinary sweeping disciple of the Tianji Sect, they'd firmly respond, 'He He, the second disciple of Yucang Mountain's Mozhu Peak, is the person blessed by the Great Dao.'" He He maintained his ever-present smile as he spoke. "You can keep secretly watching over him—though I find it useless. Such trivial matters I wouldn't even consider. But if I find anyone daring to reveal anything about this to him, leaving me entirely disinterested, then there’s no need for me to hold back." "You might as well see if I truly have the means to monitor you." Initially, Fu Zhi was baffled by He He's demands, until witnessing Qin Miao's disheartened reaction upon returning from the Hunyuan Realm. Then she understood He He's intentions. The true child of destiny, with a poor character, is hard to utilize. Learning his nemesis was actually in such a state, He He aimed to toy with and humiliate him like a cat with a mouse, pushing him into gradual despair. The closer Fu Zhi's nearby " " shone, the more attention she attracted, the more disdain people held for the already unremarkable Qin Miao. Moreover, if He He's assertion to Fu Zhi that Qin Miao was a reincarnated person were true, then perhaps his current despondency was due to the stark contrast between his previous life's circumstances and the present. He might also have heard something about destiny, and He He coercing the Tianji Sect into spreading a false prophecy was likely to push him further towards breaking point. This indeed seemed more entertaining than outright killing him. Fu Zhi held onto this secret for quite some time before daring to confess to her master, though she didn't disclose her covert conspiracy with the ominous star at the time it was proposed. Having been at Yucang Mountain for over two years, she regularly observed Qin Miao under the guise of maintaining friendly relations with He He. Yet perhaps due to He He’s involvement, she truly found it challenging to discover any qualities about the young man that were bright enough to inspire followership. If that were the case, it might be better to make way for another destined one. The young girl, narrowing her eyes at the seemingly pensive woman opposite her, gently released the nails she'd driven into her palm. Yes, everything she said and did was for destiny’s sake...she just didn’t specify which one. In this vast world, besides her, no one knew that there were two destined individuals. Hence, let Qin Miao continue being the scapegoat for a while longer. When Fu Zhi reported He He's demand to the sect, the master of fate decided to follow her suggestion and assigned her another task: to bring Xiang Shi Yan into their fold. But Shifu's order was for her to be completely candid with Xiang Shi Yan—mainly about He He's role in the calamities to come, which didn’t conflict with He He's instructions and was a loophole of sorts. Still, Fu Zhi did not follow her master’s guidance. The Tianji Sect intended to leverage Xiang Shi Yan, who was both an important figure at Yucang Mountain and a senior to the two. She had legitimate reasons to intervene with He He and protect Qin Miao and had considerable strength to shield the true child of destiny in critical moments. Rumors even claimed that Xiang Shi Yan was extremely caring of her first disciple, so they believed it wouldn’t be hard to persuade her to pay more attention to Qin Miao with some clever words. This was the elders' narrative to Fu Zhi, who scoffed at it. Though Fu Zhi couldn't yet present facts to illustrate He He’s danger to them, she didn’t believe the sect elders hadn’t noticed the faint signs of power He He had already revealed. While Xiang Shi Yan was distinguished from youth and possessed near-perfect cultivation, how long could she truly withstand He He? The elders were merely concerned that Fu Zhi wouldn't obey orders out of a soft heart, saying comforting words for persuasion. Moreover, based on what Fu Zhi had observed over the past two years, the rumor that Xiang Shi Yan valued her first disciple didn't seem that much of a reality. Fu Zhi had her own selfish concerns. If Xiang Shi Yan, due to Fu Zhi's influence, became suspicious of He He and collided with the ominous star prematurely, it would put her life at risk, which was far from ideal. In Fu Zhi's calculations, Qin Miao's life wasn't worth as much as Xiang Shi Yan's. Therefore, she disregarded her sect’s orders, relaying the demon's demand to Xiang Shi Yan as a means to prevent her from deducing He's true identity from clues and rashly confronting him, safeguarding Xiang Shi Yan’s identity from being discovered by He He. Fu Zhi was certain that during her conversation with Xiang Shi Yan, He He was very likely observing them both. After a brief moment of confusion, Xiang Shi Yan, though unsettled at heart, maintained her composure on the surface. She understood that this wasn't a matter to worry about now; after all, even when she thought destiny belonged to Qin Miao, she wasn't overly concerned. The Tianji Sect was still keeping this matter confidential as long as Qin Miao hadn't gained official recognition and support from other sects, his title of destiny was inconsequential. It's the same now; whether the title for He He was authentic or not, as long as it hadn't attracted others' covetous desires or fears, it was of little concern. Xiang Shi Yan had pressing matters right before her. Fu Zhi had firmed her resolve, sitting upright and waiting for Xiang Shi Yan’s inquiry, only to hear a soft sigh from the woman in white. "Whether what you say is true or false matters little to me. I have no means to verify it and can only wait and see if your so-called prophecy comes true," said Xiang Shi Yan. "Moreover, I didn't come today to question you—I have another issue I'm puzzled about." "Hmm?" The young girl was momentarily stunned, "Please, do ask." "Why do you remain here?" Xiang Shi Yan interlaced her fingers, resting them on the table. "Long Rui Qing escaped during the chaos by faking his death; why would you let such an opportunity slip and not leave?" Fu Zhi hadn't anticipated that Xiang Shi Yan would casually brush aside such a significant matter as destiny to ask her about something seemingly trivial. The young girl was momentarily speechless before bitterly replying, "I can't leave, not when she’s gone. Shixiong… Yu Ming took two consecutive hits in one day, losing both disciples. That would be too tragic." "You don't need to worry about her," Xiang Shi Yan responded with a hint of exasperation. Knowing that Yu Ming secretly took in these two disciples over the last decade, who turned out to be spies for other forces, she considered discussing with her Shijie to prevent them from accepting more disciples in the future. "If you're worried that I'll secretly relay information back to the Tianji Sect from Yucang Mountain, you can set a restriction on me. I wasn't planning on staying here for long anyway," Fu Zhi said nervously, fiddling with her fingers. "This is just a minor matter; the important thing is what I just mentioned. Even if you don't believe it now, please remember it…" Xiang Shi Yan lightly tapped her fingers on the table. "What exactly is the trivial matter here, that vague destiny or your own life?" Fu Zhi was rendered speechless, staring at the woman before her with a serene countenance, as if she were waiting for a crucial answer. Meanwhile, a solemn and serene atmosphere brewed around them. The girl's breathing became a bit more rapid. Over the last two years, she had seen Xiang Shi Yan's face numerous times, yet never dared to look closely. She feared she would be tempted to imagine how Xiang Shi Yan once appeared, tranquil in that dilapidated temple years ago, waiting for her response to joining Yucang Mountain. She awkwardly licked her lips and said, "I've got my own plans, you needn't worry." "You say you won't stay long, probably not due to an order from your sect, but because this puppet trick can't last much longer." Faced with Xiang Shi Yan's questioning, Fu Zhi could only reply with silence. The woman possessed an extraordinary persistence, stirring an inexplicable annoyance within Fu Zhi—had Xiang Shi Yan been this resolute during their initial encounter, Fu Zhi might not be the little elder of the Tianji Sect now. Unaware of the fleeting regret in Fu Zhi's heart, Xiang Shi Yan continued, "When I hurriedly glanced at your true body at the Tianji Sect's affairs office, no ordinary illness would make a Jindan cultivator look that way—clearly lifeless, nearing death. Is it because of your connection to this body?" It wasn't until Xiang Shi Yan pointed it out that Fu Zhi felt a tangible sense that she might soon die, yet she stubbornly insisted, "I'll be fine. Worry about yourself instead." She was certain she wouldn't die; there was much more to be done. Unlike the turbulent fates of destiny and the ominous star, Fu Zhi's own path was clear. At least until she completed the tasks directed by the heavenly Dao, she wouldn't die. But Xiang Shi Yan didn't believe her reassurance, her brow slightly knitted, seemingly awaiting a convincing reason from Fu Zhi. The two remained at an impasse for some time before Fu Zhi couldn't help but avert her gaze from Xiang Shi Yan's persistent stare and murmur, "I originally planned to leave..." The Xiao Zu members causing chaos in Qingyuan City had disguised themselves as rebels from the Yao Zu's borders, unaffiliated with the Demon Emperor, further distancing their actions from any association with the " ". They even extended the disturbance to Yucang Mountain, located in the northern part of the city alongside the " ". Among the " ", only Yu Ming, whose spiritual power had faltered, remained at their dwelling. However, he couldn't be relied upon. With Li Huai’s barriers, the older disciples like Huai Ye secured the residence tightly. Neither the less skilled " " nor Long Rui Qing could leave without persuasive efforts to convince Huai Ye otherwise. However, if Fu Zhi wanted to escape, there were other ways—to abandon this body as if slain by infiltrating Yao Zu within the residence was feasible. This had been her plan all along. Due to Xiang Shi Yan's instructions, Huai Ye didn’t dare let He He out of sight. The demon, seemingly having urgent matters, was delayed by Huai Ye, looking extremely displeased. Meanwhile, Fu Zhi and Xu You Qing, along with other disciples not yet in the Jindan stage, were protected in the living room of the residence. From time to time, shouting and killing sounds came from outside, with occasional indistinct voices in the distance. Aside from that, the night was eerily silent, a stillness that bred fear. Each time Fu Zhi wanted to slip away quietly, she couldn't ignore Xu You Qing, trembling beside her. The once-proud young lady of a prestigious family was, in reality, quite fragile. She always maintained her stature, even when around He He. Fu Zhi was curious why Xu You Qing seemed so terrified. Xu You Qing's growth spurt hadn't arrived yet, while Fu Zhi had grown quickly. Seeing the girl's lips quivering as she clutched her clothes, Fu Zhi couldn't bear it and gently extended her arms, drawing Xu You Qing to her side. The girl's face was pale, a blush tinging her sharp, lifted eyes, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She clung to Fu Zhi's sleeve, unwilling to let go. Sensing her friend's comforting presence, she wrapped her arms around Fu Zhi's waist, burrowing into her embrace. After a silent reassurement, she slowly relaxed her shoulders. Several young nearby boys of similar age felt compelled to tease her despite their fear, prompting Fu Zhi to stop them with a stern glance. The girl simply leaned into her, silent. Perhaps half an hour later, as silence settled outside, Xu You Qing had fallen asleep clinging to her, her grip on Fu Zhi's waist had loosened. Unwittingly, Fu Zhi smoothed the frown from the girl's brow as she gently extricated herself, watching Xu You Qing's peaceful sleeping face with reluctant fondness. Though her time at Yucang Mountain was not without ulterior motives, it would be untrue to say no real feelings had begun to form. Otherwise, she wouldn't be concerned about how Yu Ming would feel when both she and Long Rui Qing had left. Presently, she was twenty-six, a few months older than Long Rui Qing and over ten years senior to Xu You Qing, making them unexpected friends across the years. Initially approaching Qin Miao and He He with this appearance, befriending Xu You Qing had been unforeseen. The girl's prickly nature and complexities somehow endeared her to Fu Zhi, making her departure all the more difficult to bear. Fu Zhi smiled wryly, knowing she preferred spending time with the young girl because, in her presence, He He wouldn't mock her, nor would she have to consider the sect, missions, or any matters of burdensome responsibility—just rare moments of ease. Using this body to briefly recapture a semblance of light, even forging genuine friendships in this false guise, had been unexpected but welcome. Yet, Fu Zhi still gently moved the sleeping girl to lean against the wall and continue her slumber. No matter how inviting a dream might be, it must end; there was much yet to accomplish. The shixiong and shijie hadn’t noticed anything amiss within the residence, and now in the later hours of the night, most of the disciples in the hall had succumbed to fatigue or meditation. Departing unnoticed at such a time was plausible. Fu Zhi stood and quietly made her way to the door. Inadvertently glancing back, her eyes met those of He He, who was peering sideways at her outside the door—yes, someone had observed her after all. He He offered a subtle smile, gesturing for silence before losing interest. Seeing this left Fu Zhi with a complicated feeling, though it seemed He He had aided her passage with his spiritual sense, preventing the Yucang Mountain disciples outside from noticing her departure. She slipped into the kitchen to stage her death. Fu Zhi opened the windows and doors leading to the backyard, providing a plausible entry for an intruder. She then grabbed a boning knife from the counter, assigning it as the makeshift weapon she seized in a moment of desperation. Her spatial bag contained a pre-soaked scrap of cloth tinged with demonic aura and a small vial of Yao Zu blood. She simply needed to leave signs of struggle, and maybe a wound from another weapon to complete the scene. As she searched for places to leave knife marks, she unexpectedly locked eyes with a bewildered Xu You Qing, who seemed recently awakened by the commotion, her eyes wide and questioning. Fu Zhi, holding the knife, found herself somewhat shaky with relief at having not yet started the task. The girl gazed at her sleepily, having perhaps been roused by Fu Zhi's actions, resembling a lost animal cub awakened to find its mother missing. She yawned, her voice sticky with sleep, "What are you doing here? Don't leave me…" Fu Zhi helplessly raised the boning knife awkwardly, replying with a forced smile, "I was a bit hungry and wanted to fix a snack." The little girl's lips turned down as she rubbed her eyes, "I've got some pastries in my spatial bag. Let's go back." Yet, her companion hesitated, still holding the knife uncertainly. Fu Zhi turned back to the partially awake Xu You Qing, swallowing nervously. Knocking the girl out would be simple enough, but letting her wake to her best friend's lifeless body nearby seemed unnecessarily cruel… Fu Zhi, habitually indecisive, felt increasingly torn. Before she could make a decision, Xu You Qing approached and naturally wrapped her arms around Fu Zhi's waist, nestling her face against her, speaking hazily, "Don't leave me. I'm scared." The girl's sleepy words and the slight vibrations against her body as she spoke softened Fu Zhi’s heart, leading her to sigh and gently stroke the back of Xu You Qing's head. "You're normally the bravest; why are you like this today?" Rather than returning to the main hall, Fu Zhi closed the windows and doors and settled into a clean corner of the kitchen. Holding the girl close, she whispered gently in her ear. "Shush, if they see us they'll tease," Xu You Qing protested slightly, squirming, "How have you grown so tall while eating the same things as me, when I'm just this small." Despite the complaints, Xu You Qing relaxed and returned the embrace, letting out a proud hum. Fu Zhi initially thought Xu You Qing had fallen back asleep. After a while, however, she heard the girl quietly speak, "Three years ago, when Mother took me back to visit her family, we passed the border of the two tribes and encountered a group of Yao Zu rebels. My mother and I were discovered, and so she hid me in a cave and faced them alone. Though her cultivation was higher than theirs, they were numerous. By the time my father arrived after receiving her message, she had already perished, taking them with her." There was a hint of sadness in Xu You Qing's voice, yet it wasn't as tender as when she had whimpered earlier. Fu Zhi understood she was suppressing her emotions to prevent herself from crying, trying to appear tough. "When I returned home and couldn't find her, I cried daily. Eventually, my grandfather grew tired of it and sent me to Yucang Mountain." The girl sniffled, her voice small as she added, "I’m not some noble lady... I’m just, ugh, a child nobody wants." Fu Zhi was silent for a long time before slowly resting her chin on Xu You Qing's head, gently stroking it. Xu You Qing roughly smeared her tears onto Fu Zhi's collar, and after a while, she pinched her arm, feigning anger, "I've shared so much about myself; it's your turn now!" "I don’t really have any stories myself... alright, I'll share one I heard from someone else." Unable to resist Xu You Qing's persistent urging, Fu Zhi finally relented. "Once in Dao Hai City, there was a prefecture governor named Fu. In his second year in office, his wife gave birth to a daughter. This girl was born with unusual abilities; even in infancy, she could discern fortune from misfortune. Whoever she smiled at soon experienced good luck, and whoever she cried at, misfortune would follow..." Fu Zhi returned to the present, blinking as she looked at Xiang Shi Yan’s face, momentarily lost, before smiling softly. "When I was planning to leave, Xu You Qing stumbled upon me, and after that, I couldn’t find a chance to slip away." Xiang Shi Yan raised an eyebrow. "Was it truly that she held you back, or did you never intend to leave?" Unexpectedly, those words seemed to strike a nerve within Fu Zhi. She abandoned her previous calm demeanor, frowning slightly, "Does Senior think I’m so enraptured by Yucang Mountain I can’t tear myself away? That would be presumptuous." Xiang Shi Yan was noncommittal to her reaction. "I will consult with your master. Feel free to leave. I don't know what puppet technique you’re using, but it's extremely taxing on the body. There's no need to risk your life for a brief stint." "Yuehua Jun truly knows a great deal," Fu Zhi replied bitterly. Her identity now exposed, she lacked the means to refute Xiang Shi Yan's insistence. The conversation ended there. Xiang Shi Yan stood and walked past the girl seated with her head bowed at the table. Just as she reached the door, she heard Fu Zhi murmuring softly behind her, "Sixteen years ago, for a meal's gratitude, Fu Zhi has not forgotten. If there's a chance in the future, I'll repay it with utmost sincerity." As Xiang Shi Yan turned back, the girl had lifted her head and looked elsewhere, seemingly unwilling to let Xiang Shi Yan see her current expression. "Since it's just a meal's gratitude, Little Elder, please forget about it then." With that, Xiang Shi Yan stepped out of Fu Zhi's room. In light of these events, the Qianlong List ranking meeting couldn't proceed. The Tianji Sect tidied up the aftermath and sent everyone from various sects on their way. During this incident, the " " suffered the loss of over ten talented disciples. Their second-in-command, Bai Jinghuan, perished as well, naturally leading them not to let this go easily. As it involved the Yao Zu, the thirteen seats of the Immortal Sect convened urgently. The elders of the " " publicly accused the Tianji Sect of incompetence as the host. Contrary to expectations, the great elder of the Tianji Sect did not accept the blame meekly but stood firm and argued, clearing the sect of responsibility. Though the " " sent a team to investigate at Qingyuan City, they found no concrete evidence that the Tianji Sect had stood by idly. Instead, rumors surfaced that a disciple from the " " had insulted the remains of a Yao Zu, inciting misfortune. While few believed this theory, it did tarnish the " "'s reputation to some extent. With internal disputes swiftly quelled, the thirteen seats could only unite against external pressures, pushing the Demon Emperor for accountability. The Yao Zu responded fiercely; even before the Immortal Sect's message arrived, the Demon Emperor had swiftly eradicated border rebels without addressing human accountability. As the " " gained no ground against the Tianji Sect, they seized the moment to advocate for a strike against the Yao Zu. Yet, among other sects, only Yucang Mountain suffered losses in the Qingyuan City chaos. Apart from a few loyalists to the " ", most were reluctant to compromise the rare peace for the " "'s grievances, allowing the matter to fade away. Although Yucang Mountain was also a victim, it held steadfast that it was merely caught in the " "'s crossfire—a senior elder and two elder disciples perished because the mountain’s leader ensured prompt notification of other sects when the incident occurred. Li Huai, who personally warned each sect that night, was hailed as a paragon of justice. Unfortunately, Elder Yu Mingjun of Yucang Mountain faced a series of tragedies—his long-cultivated senior disciple was slain by bandits in Qingyuan City, and within half a year, his recently acquired young disciple succumbed to illness. During the young disciple's burial, condolence messages from countless casual acquaintances in the cultivation world arrived like a flurry of snowflakes. Among them was an apology talisman and an ancient tome from the Tianji Sect, delivered by a little elder representing their order. Author’s Note: Seeing the sudden spike in my followers, I rushed to search for my work on platforms, and as expected, someone recommended my story! Reading those recommendations was truly touching. Thank you all so much for your support! I’m overwhelmed with gratitude! Apologies to everyone who was expecting the promised extra chapters earlier; I'm sorry to those who messaged me without getting a response. I haven’t logged into that account for quite some time… w/b@一只黑熊bearing has my QQ number, and everyone is welcome to come hang out in the group! Thank you to the angels who cast their votes or nourished with nutrient solutions between 2022-07-30 35:54:01~2022-08-01 22:31:00. Thank you to the angel for nourishing with nutrient solution: Hotpot Scalded Egg 10 bottles; Clockwork Orange 1 bottle; Thank you all so much for your support. 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