Chapter 411: Tethered Fate

Shen Lingshu stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhu Xuanji, gazing at the sky where Ning Zhuo had departed, and sighed. “It’s still the same as the previous divinations—his fate is ordinary and unremarkable.”

Zhu Xuanji furrowed his brows. “He gained so much at Mist-Hidden Mountain and from the Myriad Medicines Sect. His fate must be exceptionally strong—how could it be ordinary?”

“Then does that mean the Buddha Heart Demon Seal possesses the power to suppress and disguise fate?”

Back at the final moment of the struggle for the Lava Immortal Palace, Zhu Xuanji had personally witnessed the Buddha Heart Demon Seal fly willingly into Ning Zhuo’s hands.

Shen Lingshu replied, “That’s hard to say.”

Zhu Xuanji said, “Since the King assigned you to this task of divination and detection, he must have taken that into account. Whatever results you’ve found, feel free to speak plainly. Surely you’re not worried that I’m too entangled with Ning Zhuo, to the point of abandoning my duties and homeland?”

Shen Lingshu sighed again. “I have hidden nothing from you—the results of my divination are indeed as I said.”

“Before departing, I specifically withdrew a spirit treasure from the national treasury to guard against the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.”

“I’ve now confirmed that the Buddha Heart Demon Seal does suppress fate—but it cannot disguise it.”

“The suppression of fate allows Ning Zhuo’s fortune to maintain a relatively high lower limit. It won't drop too drastically, nor will he suffer terrifying misfortunes.”

“But as the Ning Family Branch grows in size and strength, the suppressive effect of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal becomes increasingly dispersed and diluted.”

Zhu Xuanji nodded. “That’s only natural. A treasure that can suppress fate is already exceedingly rare. For Ning Zhuo to have one is an immense stroke of luck.”

“Judging by the grade of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, even though the Ning Family Branch is developing rapidly, it’s still in its early stages. Their fate can be suppressed for a long time yet, and won’t fluctuate too wildly.”

“In the end, does Ning Zhuo truly possess a King’s Mandate—or the divine ability Life Hanging by a Thread?”

Shen Lingshu spread his hands, clearly helpless. “That’s the extent of my divination, and I’ve told you everything.”

“As for that question—my answer is: I cannot say.”

“‘Cannot say’?” Zhu Xuanji raised his brows.

Stroking his beard, Shen Lingshu explained, “Let’s talk about the King’s Mandate first. This kind of immortal endowment comes in many different forms, but they tend to share a common feature: before the Mandate awakens, the bearer appears ordinary, even lowly. As the saying goes—‘a white dragon dons a fish’s scales; a hidden dragon should not be used.’”

“Only after the fortune erupts and the Mandate reveals itself will the bearer’s brilliance shine through. It’s only then that we, as diviners, can confirm it.”

“This is precisely why the King’s Mandate is so difficult to detect in advance. A true dragon is nearly impossible to find.”

After pausing for a moment, Shen Lingshu continued, “Next, let’s talk about the divine ability Life Hanging by a Thread.”

“This ability connects with other beings possessing spirit, establishing a bond of fate. If a person’s life fate and fortune are likened to water in a cup, then someone with a strong fate and abundant fortune has a large cup filled with water. Conversely, someone with a strong fate but weak fortune would have a large cup with little water. And so on for other combinations.”

“In that case, Life Hanging by a Thread is like linking the bottoms of many cups together.”

“As a result, all the connected cups will have water levels that even out and stabilize at the same height.”

“This has both benefits and drawbacks. The benefit is that everyone’s fate becomes interlinked and won’t fall too low—much like the suppression of fate.”

“The drawback is that for any individual to rise strongly in fortune becomes extremely difficult, as they’ll be dragged down by others with mediocre or weak fate.”

“But overall, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.”

Zhu Xuanji nodded in agreement with this assessment.

Fate—at its surface level—refers to the breath of life, the number of times one can breathe, representing survival. A stable lower limit of fate meant continued breath—continued life.

And life and death were matters of utmost importance.

As long as one lived, there was always hope.

Shen Lingshu continued, “I myself have not mastered Life Hanging by a Thread. According to the records left behind by the Supreme Empress, only those who possess this ability can see the threads with their own eyes.”

“Thus, deducing whether Ning Zhuo has this divine ability is a matter of reverse inference, based on how the ability affects fate.”

“I’ve already calculated the fate of you, Ning Jiufan, Lin Shanshan, and also secretly investigated Han Zhou and Hua Guzi. I discovered that your fate is tightly entangled with Ning Zhuo’s.”

“But when I calculated Lin Bufan, Granny Yuan, and Linghu Jiu, I found no such entanglement.”

Zhu Xuanji remained silent, listening intently. Divination had always been an esoteric art—mysterious even among the myriad disciplines of cultivation. He himself had little knowledge of it and could only await Shen Lingshu’s conclusion.

Shen Lingshu analyzed, “If Ning Zhuo has already planted Life Hanging by a Thread in you, Ning Jiufan, Lin Shanshan, Han Zhou, and Hua Guzi, then the tight entanglement of fate serves as evidence.”

“The problem is—these people are already closely associated with Ning Zhuo. Ning Jiufan is his ancestor and places great hope in him as the future of the family. This time, a single letter from Ning Zhuo summoned him over to lend support.”

“Lin Shanshan and Hua Guzi are both very close to him—the former aided him and was punished with confinement for it, while the latter’s obsession is plainly obvious. Their fate being entangled is natural.”

“You have strong ties with Ning Zhuo at both the Lava Immortal Palace and Mist-Hidden Mountain. The entanglement of fate is also reasonable. As for Han Zhou, he’s been sparring with Ning Zhuo all this time, and now he’s been persuaded to settle at Jade Steel Mountain. This too can explain the observed entanglement.”

“As for Lin Bufan and Granny Yuan—both are of the Nascent Soul stage. According to what the Supreme Empress left behind, Life Hanging by a Thread cannot cross more than one major realm. At higher stages, it can only cross one minor realm.”

“Ning Zhuo is currently only at Foundation Establishment. At best, he can plant it in Golden Core cultivators. So it makes sense that there’s no tight fate entanglement with Lin Bufan or Granny Yuan.”

“Lastly, Linghu Jiu. His… fate is not deeply entangled with Ning Zhuo’s.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xuanji raised his brow. “Oh?”

A golden light flickered in his eyes. “If I were Ning Zhuo and had mastered Life Hanging by a Thread, I would’ve spared no effort to plant it in key figures within the Myriad Medicines Sect.”

“Lin Shanshan and Linghu Jiu would definitely be included.”

“That Linghu Jiu’s fate isn’t tightly bound with his proves that even if Ning Zhuo possesses the divine ability, he hasn’t planted it in Linghu Jiu.”

“I’ve read the Supreme Empress’s notes too. Back then, she planted it in nearly everyone she met, rising to power swiftly. Ning Zhuo is still a youth—if he hasn’t planted it in Linghu Jiu, it goes against human nature.”

“From this reasoning, it seems unlikely that Ning Zhuo has mastered Life Hanging by a Thread.”

Shen Lingshu smiled slightly. “Zhu Xuanji, I wonder if you’ve realized—you’re defending Ning Zhuo. In Huoshi Immortal City, and just now as well.”

Zhu Xuanji frowned and shook his head. “I’m merely analyzing—rationally and calmly.”

Shen Lingshu replied, “Of course. I’m not denying that.”

“It’s just—once one is planted with Life Hanging by a Thread, and their fate becomes intertwined, then their every action—even seeking revenge—will unconsciously benefit the caster.”

“Your reasoning about Linghu Jiu is in line with human logic, yet your very behavior is evidence that you yourself have been planted by Ning Zhuo.”

Zhu Xuanji shook his head again, smiling. “I’m more inclined to believe I was planted by the Three Sect Lords.”

“I’ve had my doubts about that before. There was a time I couldn’t sleep, constantly suspicious.”

“But I’ve come to terms with it. Whether I’ve been planted or not, whether the threads exist or not, I will act according to my own will.”

“In the past, I would’ve seen Linghu Jiu’s situation as evidence that Ning Zhuo hasn’t mastered—or at least hasn’t used—the divine ability.”

“As for myself, that’s easy to prove.”

“Ning Zhuo has now left the country. The entanglement between our fates is bound to plummet. When that happens, we can simply have you observe again—won’t the truth become clear?”

Shen Lingshu nodded. “Indeed, that is precisely my plan. To uncover the truth behind this matter, these few days won’t be enough. A longer period of observation is required.”

“However, there is someone even more suitable for observation than you right now.”

Zhu Xuanji looked surprised. “Oh?”

He thought for a moment, and as the famed detective of the Southern Dou Country, he quickly realized who it might be. He blurted out, “You mean the Deputy Mountain God of Mist-Hidden Mountain? No—he’s now the official Mountain God, and the only one.”

Shen Lingshu nodded again. “Exactly.”

“The Fox God didn’t have long contact with Ning Zhuo, yet under his extortion, she gave him a Lingyin Willow!”

“That move was rather suspicious.”

“After all, a treasure like the Lingyin Willow would greatly benefit her own power within Mist-Hidden Mountain. If she had offered it to the Southern Dou Country, she could have exchanged it for pardon and protection. Yet she gave it directly to Ning Zhuo—strange, isn’t it?”

“But if Ning Zhuo had influenced her through Life Hanging by a Thread, it would make sense.”

Zhu Xuanji nodded. “Very well. Then our next destination is Mist-Hidden Mountain.”

“Ning Jiufan is going there too.”

“But we don’t need to reveal ourselves—just quietly investigate the Mountain God.”

—

Near Jade Steel Mountain.

A formation had already been secretly laid down.

Three cultivators, all of Golden Core stage, sat hidden within the formation space, silently meditating.

A message bird flew in with practiced ease, delivering the news—Ning Jiufan had departed Myriad Medicines Valley yesterday, and would arrive at Jade Steel Mountain in a few days.

“The divination came from Master Zhuge—it won’t be wrong.”

“Damn it, the old bastard is finally coming!”

“Faster than I thought. I figured we’d be sitting here for half a year.”

“No need! He already promised Lord Meng Kui he’d help suppress the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essence. If he backs out now, it’ll deal a massive blow to his reputation—and to the Ning Family.”

“Alright. Once we take Ning Jiufan’s life, we vanish across the border.”

The three Golden Core cultivators exchanged a brief conversation through spiritual sense, then returned to silent meditation.