Chapter 124

“Hey Grandpa, considering I just helped you deal with your enemies, why not return the favor and divine my future?”

“Hm?”

The Great Ancestor blinked, visibly caught off guard by Ji Xian’s unexpected request.

After a moment’s hesitation, he spoke, his tone still gentle but laced with caution and unwillingness. “My young friend, are you certain that this is what you want? The future is never absolute. Even If I share with you what you may one day become, it doesn’t guarantee that it will become true. In fact, knowing too much can be its own danger— potentially causing you to deviate from the timeline that was meant for you.”

The old man paused, his gaze becoming melancholic and sad as he added, “Sometimes, it’s better to walk your path as it unfolds. Knowledge… is a burden, and also, a curse.”

Seeing the old man’s expression, Ji Xian was inwardly amused.

What’s this? Looks like this Grandpa had experienced quite a bit. From his tone, a tragic love, perhaps?

Ji Xian didn’t give it too much thought. Everyone carried their own past, and he wasn’t one to meddle in matters that didn’t concern him. Even so, he appreciated the old man’s advice, which left a favorable impression on him.

“Grandpa,” he began calmly, “I completely agree with everything you’ve said. However, you’re making this out to be a far bigger issue than it really is. While divination has its drawbacks, you can’t deny the advantages it offers. After all, can you honestly say you’ve never used it to your advantage when it’s so readily available? To prepare in advance for a chance at a different outcome? Isn’t a silent witness to disaster just someone who knows but chooses not to act?”

“Knowledge may be a curse, but it also opens the door to potential possibilities.”

“…”

The Great Ancestor silently regarded Ji Xian, unable to answer. As he gazed at the young man before him, it felt as though a shadow of someone familiar lingered behind him, emanating that same otherworldly aura and feeling.

Ji Xian didn’t seem to notice the old man’s somewhat blank expression as he continued, “Besides, for a seer such as yourself, I’m sure you may have already noticed the many occurrences that have been happening in this world aren’t mere coincidences. Do you perhaps understand what I mean? How do the events unfolding seem to feel as though they were expected long ago and had been planned for in advance?”

With a faint smirk, he added, “If someone like me can even see it, surely you must as well.”

The Great Ancestor froze, his expression shifting as he caught the implication. He murmured, “Someone like you…? Could it be that you’re really…?”

Ji Xian nodded, “Consider this— the Empress’ book, the missing page that conveniently appeared, the precise location of the Graha’s descent, the sudden radiance in the distance where they’re all flocked together, that little girl Hong Tian, the mysterious island, and even you. So many variables that seemed so deliberately left behind and were anticipated. The Empress must’ve also been a seer, no? Haha, the future may not be absolute, but what did she glimpse in her visions that made her leave so many pieces in place? Was it the destruction of Mortal Desolate and its people? Or, with the way things are going, had she already succeeded in ensuring its safety?”

“Empress Han Lan may not have known how things would play out in every exact detail, but she could still manipulate the possibilities to tilt the outcome in her favor. That, Grandpa, is the true wonder of divination—the foresight granted to prepare for what lies ahead.”

The Great Ancestor was rendered speechless. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that a mere youngster from the Lower World would one day lecture him on the intricacies of divination. If others of his kind were to hear of this, they would surely find it laughable—absurd, even. Yet, despite the absurdity of the situation, he couldn’t find any fault in Ji Xian’s words. What he said was a truth ingrained in every seer.

But what truly unsettled him was how much this young man knew about what was happening in Mortal Desolate—far more than he had anticipated. No, it wasn’t just more; it surpassed his own understanding. A mysterious island? The Great Ancestor hadn’t even been aware of such a place. And the missing page from Han Lan’s book? That revelation was a surprise to him as well.

Han Lan… you have hidden quite a bit from me…

The Great Ancestor smiled, not in the least bit angry that so much had been kept from him without his awareness. This was, after all, all a part of that person’s plan.

Returning his gaze to Ji Xian, he sighed before shaking his head. “My young friend, it seems you’re quite set on knowing what is in store for you. It doesn’t look like I can persuade you otherwise.”

“Indeed,” Ji Xian nodded, his eyes glimmering with anticipation.

“Then, I’ll…” The Great Ancestor hesitated, with uncertainty in his voice. Truthfully, he was reluctant to perform a divination, especially given the fragile state of his body. There was a real possibility that it might break down entirely if he proceeded, leaving him without the chance to bid farewell to Dong Zongying. However, he also understood that everything hinged on this young man, making it difficult for him to refuse this request.

In the brief moment the old man delayed his response, a cold, icy voice cut through the air, interrupting him.

“No.”

Startled, the Great Ancestor and Ji Xian turned to Xia Lihua who spoke.

With all eyes on her, Xia Lihua subtly gritted her teeth and met Ji Xian’s gaze with a trace of discontent. Until now, she had been quietly listening to their conversation, saying very little. The revelation that the old man was a seer had taken her by surprise, quietly unsettling her. While she acknowledged she wasn’t as well-versed as Ji Xian, she had once come across information about seers in Mortal Haven. They were said to perceive the world differently, possessing visions that extended beyond the boundaries of time. A mysterious ability, gifted by individuals as rare as herself and Xiao Yueyin, yet one that came with a great cost. What that cost entailed, Xia Lihua didn’t know, as information on seers was scarce. However, there was one critical weakness she had learned about: most seers could not see through the sacred power of Heavenly Merit.

Hearing Ji Xian’s request, Xia Lihua immediately grasped his intentions and could already anticipate the direction this would take.

His recklessness was astonishing, enough to make even her lose her composure.

“You idiot…”

Her glare bore into him, frustration clear in her voice. “Can’t you stop thinking about yourself for just a moment? What you’re doing is irresponsible and thoughtless!”

Ji Xian, however, appeared entirely unbothered by Xia Lihua’s reaction. He casually shrugged, “Nothing will happen. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Nothing will happen?” Xia Lihua repeated, her brows knitting together. “Divination cannot be performed on those who possess Heavenly Merit. If you want your future foretold, you’ll have to remove it… and you know exactly where you stand in terms of cultivation. The moment you withdraw the suit on your body, you’ll attract the ire of the Universal Will. Do you understand what that means? You’ll be forced to ascend!”