148 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 148: Prophecy As Xiang Shi Yan stepped out of the council hall, what she saw was the sight of two people standing on either side of the entrance like gatekeepers, neither acknowledging the other. Hearing her voice, Qin Miao eagerly approached, "Master, I wish you well. It’s been quite some time since I left the mountain to travel, and I beg for your forgiveness for my lack of greetings." The young man moved almost like any ordinary person, walking without stumbling even without a cane. Xiang Shi Yan could tell that he was stabilizing himself with spiritual energy and perhaps had also practiced his gait meticulously. His eyes shone with a hint of anticipation, even though he expressed little, as if hoping Xiang Shi Yan would feel some melancholy about his long absence. Seeing her disciple return from his travels, the woman showed no delight whatsoever. She nodded at Qin Miao, "It's all right." Seeing her indifference, Qin Miao pursed his lips and said dryly, "Master... do you wish to return to Mo Bamboo Peak? I can accompany you..." "No need, I have other matters to attend to." The woman in white glanced at him, her gaze devoid of attachment, and turned to Huai Ye, "Have you kept an eye on any letters for me?" Huai Ye hadn’t expected her to ask about that matter right after leaving seclusion. Caught off guard, she became flustered. It wasn’t as if she had forgotten, but rather, for the past four years, Huai Ye had diligently assisted Xiang Shi Yan by sorting through the scattered letters that poured in from various places. If there was anything unusual in those messages, she had to report it promptly to her senior martial aunt. However, Xiang Shi Yan unexpectedly emerged from seclusion and immediately asked to see the messages. Huai Ye hadn't yet had the chance to separate the hundred-plus jade slips of exchanged insults between her and Du Ruo. Thinking about the provocations in those exchanges, which occasionally mentioned Xiang Shi Yan, the normally stern woman felt a chill of anxiety. Tongue-tied and unable to find a suitable excuse to delay Xiang Shi Yan, Huai Ye’s awkward reaction made Xiang Shi Yan suspicious. "Is there a problem?" She frowned at the young girl, intending to probe further. "Is there something wrong with the letters..." "Elder Xiang," a voice interrupted her. The only people who referred to her this way were the three envoys from the Heaven's Mechanism Gate. Xiang Shi Yan could only set aside the issue with Huai Ye for later. Turning around, she saw Fu Zhi, supported by Fu Xiao, approaching with a bamboo cane. She glanced up and noticed Mu Hua standing with his arms crossed at a distance, apparently uninterested in eavesdropping on what his junior martial aunt was about to discuss with the external elder. Qin Miao was reluctant to leave just like that. Seeing Fu Zhi again, he made a move toward the woman in blue clothes but was blocked by Fu Xiao, who appeared in front of him in an instant. He could only watch as Fu Zhi cast him a cursory glance before following Xiang Shi Yan to the corner of the platform in front of the council hall. "I mean no harm, Senior Sister; I merely wish to apologize once more to Elder Fu for my earlier offense," Qin Miao said to Fu Xiao, who had a stern expression. Fu Xiao had been watching the whole scene earlier with keen eyes; she knew Qin Miao had done it on purpose. Even when Xiang Shi Yan ordered him to apologize, he was somewhat reluctant. Now the sudden eagerness seems like an attempt to curry favor with Fu Zhi. "Uncle Master has matters to discuss with Elder Xiang; it would be best if you didn't disturb them," the young woman stated coolly. With the same expression, Qin Miao’s eye twitched in annoyance. These women... He knew Fu Xiao intentionally kept him away from Fu Zhi. Even without Xiang Shi Yan, she would have found another reason. Defeated, he clicked his tongue, nodded in farewell, and, conceding to the discourtesy, departed by sword flight. Watching the morally questionable male cultivator leave, Fu Xiao sneered quietly. But when she glanced at the two people in the distance, she hesitated, unsure whether she should approach or not. So, she remained steadfast at a distance, keeping a watchful eye on her troublesome blind uncle master. Unaware that Fu Xiao had shielded her from Qin Miao, Fu Zhi still maintained a guarded demeanor until Xiang Shi Yan assured her there was no one else around them. Only then did she visibly relax her shoulders. Recalling what just happened, a look of confusion crossed her face, "What exactly happened just now?" The moment Qin Miao touched her, Fu Zhi had felt an unusual sensation, as if her body was beyond her control... It was a feeling no one could mistake for “love at first sight” given time and reflection. A normal person would only feel fear from such an experience. Remembering that feeling made goosebumps rise on Fu Zhi's arm. She rubbed her shoulder with a furrowed brow, her already pale complexion paling further. Xiang Shi Yan rubbed her temples with a sigh, "I thought something like this wouldn't happen anymore." Even after the system had been forced to reconstruct its communication channel, it retained functions that allowed Xiang Shi Yan to check aura points and the world's text. Now and then, when she awoke from deep meditation over the past four years, her first action was to check Qin Miao's aura points. After the young man's initial despondency, there had been a minor increase, but it seemed his internal conflicts remained unresolved, unchanged despite his journey through the world. Theoretically, a world should have only one main viewpoint character. According to the system, the "default setting" of this world designated Qin Miao as the male lead. It would not be hard for Xiang Shi Yan to serve as the official female lead by his side, but to replace Qin Miao as the center of the world was not a simple task. Only by Qin Miao losing this status could Xiang Shi Yan place it upon herself. The role of a protagonist's halo has many functions; the most fundamental is to be unkillable. Except for novels with specific settings, most protagonists possess the ability to survive dire situations with ingenuity or receive rescue when in peril, or encounter fortuitous events after disasters. Without an unkillable halo, one doesn't deserve the title of protagonist. When Xiang Shi Yan first encountered the system and Qin Miao together, his aura points were only twenty-seven. Her own were thirteen, merely three points above the baseline. Due to the rule that a world can have only one protagonist, even though the original Qidian (QD) halo didn't conflict with the Jingjiang (JJ) halo later installed on Xiang Shi Yan, their aura values were inversely related. Qin Miao's aura, honestly, was much more fragile than Xiang Shi Yan had anticipated. While his main "golden finger" consisted of the Dragonbone Blade and extraordinary perseverance—that wasn't dependent on Xiang Shi Yan, according to the system's mundane explanation, where his cultivation speed and perseverance were merely standard—Xiang Shi Yan, as his direct senior with numerous character connections, had an extraordinary impact on the plot points that enhanced his aura value. Qin Miao couldn't proceed with the storyline without encountering Xiang Shi Yan. Over the years, as Xiang Shi Yan's actions progressed, Qin Miao's aura value couldn't make significant breakthroughs and dimmed increasingly with Xiang Shi Yan's prominence, currently reduced to a pitiful fourteen. Meanwhile, Xiang Shi Yan's own aura value climbed to over sixty, reversing the situation. The higher Xiang Shi Yan's value rose, the more the world inclined toward her represented style, decreasing the entwinement with Qin Miao. Despite Qin Miao's aura value being below twenty, theoretically, he shouldn't be able to affect late-stage characters like Fu Zhi. Xiang Shi Yan was momentarily stunned by the unexpected incident before stepping in to extricate Fu Zhi. The system had once said that only by reducing Qin Miao's aura value below ten or raising Xiang Shi Yan's own above ninety could the protagonist role be stripped from him. Before achieving that, even if Qin Miao's value were only eleven, he remained the unique protagonist of the world. On the other hand, Xiang Shi Yan estimated that the "animated adaptation" phenomenon previously mentioned by the system had begun impacting their world. Consequently, actions taken by Qin Miao at low values were magnified by the world's will, temporarily deceiving Fu Zhi. Though the deception was easily dispelled by Xiang Shi Yan, it still sent chills down her spine. At the moment, she truly didn't know how to explain this to Fu Zhi. Before she realized it, Fu Zhi suddenly inhaled sharply, seemingly reaching some self-understanding. Her expression shifted drastically, but she quickly composed herself. Xiang Shi Yan closed her mouth, her gaze deepening, "Could it be that the Young Elder has reached some conclusions on her own?" Fu Zhi's heart skipped a beat. Now she was the one racking her brains for a response, eventually feigning nonchalance, "I don’t understand what you mean." "No need to elaborate further. Since the Young Elder has her own suspicions, I won't explain any more," Xiang Shi Yan stated with a calm demeanor, gathering her sleeves. The notion that He He was the child of destiny was something Xiang Shi Yan had neither anticipated nor believed. Observing Fu Zhi's reaction now only reinforced her belief: He He was just a cover, and the Heaven's Mechanism Gate intended to use it to hide the real destiny's child. She couldn't help but frown. Honestly, if Qin Miao didn't have this aura, Xiang Shi Yan wouldn't care at all. Even when interests were at odds, she never harmed him, nor did she wish for anyone else to sacrifice others for Qin Miao's sake. For now, since Heaven's Mechanism Gate hadn't revealed this information to the public, Fu Zhi informing her privately perhaps indicated their intent to test the waters. Considering the possibility that Heaven's Mechanism Gate might employ this false information to obscure Qin Miao's presence, a sense of clarity washed over Xiang Shi Yan. Although He He possessed three spiritual roots and was only at the Foundation Establishment mid-stage, she publicly declared her talent to be as rare as Xiang Shi Yan’s own rare single ice spiritual root, making her a notable young talent—perfect as a decoy for Qin Miao. Yet, how blameless was He He! She was merely an ordinary person who wouldn't even count as a background character in the original narrative. She happened to encounter Xiang Shi Yan, the "official main heroine," and was consequently drawn into the strife. Becoming Xiang Shi Yan's disciple had already placed He He in the spotlight that the world’s will directed toward the "male lead" and "female lead." But being an ordinary person without any real support, if a significant event occurred, Xiang Shi Yan might not be able to protect her. The Heaven's Mechanism Gate held the workings of the heavens in absolute reverence. However, Xiang Shi Yan understood that the supposed divine will was nothing more than a few lines scribbled by an ordinary man for the sake of drama and excitement. He He was a flesh-and-blood person organically generated by the world, not controlled by its will. Xiang Shi Yan could not bear to see her sacrificed for Qin Miao, allowing Heaven's Mechanism Gate to shield the true chosen one in secret. Though her expression remained unchanged, Xiang Shi Yan felt a twinge of disappointment in the woman in blue before her. Was it that Fu Zhi had yet to shake off the influence of the world's will, or was it that her "character profile" destined her to be this way? No, this was merely her speculation. What if Fu Zhi's words were true? She transmitted a message, tone devoid of emotion, "That day, you told me He He is the foretold chosen one. Is that true?" "It is indeed true," Fu Zhi was prepared for this repeated questioning and answered without hesitation. "I don't know how you viewed her during your two years of posing as a child with He He... I know the ways of the Heaven's Mechanism Gate, but since you guarantee it so firmly, I'll trust you once more. Do not disappoint me." Fu Zhi mulled over the woman's words, pondering over the odd feeling they gave her. After further reflection, she realized, Xiang Shi Yan mistakenly believed they intended to use He He to draw the attention of major sects and demonic forces, allowing Qin Miao to grow in peace. The blind woman’s expression froze momentarily, then shifted to a complex, inscrutable look. In fairness, Xiang Shi Yan’s hypothesis had merit, following a logical consistency. After all, it aligned with what Fu Zhi was doing; however, it contained a crucial preconceived flaw. Seeing the woman who was barely an arm’s length from her rub her temples, then cover her face and take deep breaths twice, still not feeling relieved, and then massaging her temples in confusion, she finally uttered, "Am I the blind one, or is it—" A hand from behind covered her mouth, stifling her reckless words. Mu Hua, awkwardly, put his arm around his suddenly agitated junior martial aunt. Fu Zhi seemed internally unsettled, her struggle ceasing only after Mu Hua pinched her waist hard enough in secret. Feeling misunderstood despite defying her sect to safeguard Xiang Shi Yan, Fu Zhi naturally felt wronged, as though her years spent navigating this star-crossed dance had suddenly lost all meaning. If not for Xiang Shi Yan’s excessive concern for He He, such a comical outcome might have been avoided. Fu Zhi was quite impressed by the cunning and pitiful tactics of the demon, though the fate she favored still lay within the grasp of the treacherous dragon. As her thoughts unfolded, she found herself less angry, sympathy for Xiang Shi Yan welling up like a tide. However, Mu Hua's painful pinch forced her to bend over; unable to escape, she buried her face in his shoulder, which earned her a perfunctory pat of reassurance on the back. Xiang Shi Yan, too, found herself puzzled by Fu Zhi's reaction, though some relief washed over her. While unclear about Fu Zhi's precise intent, it was evident that Fu Zhi herself had no plans of exploiting He He. As for the truth of this information, that was a matter for later. What was important now was Mu Hua’s behavior in the council hall earlier. "May I ask, did Heaven's Mechanism Gate find it worth the favor they extended?" Mu Hua's tone was noncommittal, "That remains for the lord of Heaven's Mechanism Gate to decide." At this, Fu Zhi's ears perked up. She hadn’t realized Xiang Shi Yan had directly visited the mountain to meet with the Heaven Pair himself, thinking it was simply an arrangement between Xiang Shi Yan and Mu Hua. She hadn't expected she had misjudged the situation. "But I've always wondered..." "Wondered why the Heaven's Mechanism Gate audience received me?" The young woman raised an eyebrow, silently confirming. Heaven's Mechanism Lord was nearly eight hundred years old, with top-notch cultivation among human cultivators and a revered status. Being both reclusive and unwell, he rarely met with visitors. Even Bai Jinghuan was turned away under some perfunctory excuse upon presenting a calling card when first arriving at Qingyuan City. After giving it more thought, Mu Hua still couldn't discern any particular qualities that warranted an audience with the Heaven's Mechanism Lord, nor could he fathom why Xiang Shi Yan was able to enlist the enigmatic master. Yet, Xiang Shi Yan seemed disinclined to enlighten him. Caught unprepared by the subject shift, Fu Zhi was alarmed at heart. Xiang Shi Yan’s peculiar capabilities were plenty; her identity as Starcrossed Forebear's disciple alone warranted Heaven’s Mechanism Lord to give her special notice. But if Xiang Shi Yan was unaware of this attribute, what trade did she make with the master? Unaware of the mental machinations occurring between these two, Xiang Shi Yan deftly steered the conversation, "But speaking of it, isn’t using demonic beast activity as an excuse somewhat far-fetched? If the demon tribe rises in turmoil, we might fare poorly." Unexpectedly, Mu Hua's expression grew grave. "Elder Xiang, you are mistaken. This is not a pretext devised by Heaven's Mechanism Gate to control Qingban Forest." "In a month, a beast tide will come raging from the forest. This is a certainty, a destined event." Author's Note: Someone guessed it! The pregnant human female cultivator who appeared in Chapter 137 was mentioned previously in Chapter 113. This was an idea I conjured in a fit of nocturnal delirium—a woman whose presence is overwhelming enough to turn your world black. Thank you to the little angels who cast their overlord votes or sprayed nutritional liquid during 2022-08-13 01:21:35 to 2022-08-15 03:41:50~ Thanks to the little angels who threw grenades: Feng Xuelian Mei 1; Thank you so much for your support, I will continue to work hard! Our site has no pop-up ads, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)