e-booksonline Chapter 15: The Junior Diviner Arrives Online
Chapter 15: The Junior Diviner Arrives Online
The third day after the pack of rotten wolves retreated.
The team continued their slow and arduous journey across the wilderness, like a wounded giant python dragging a long and weary trail across the desolate land.
The land beneath our feet gradually transitioned from the scorched black and reddish-brown of the initial battleground to a grayish-yellow mixed with a large amount of weathered gravel, hard and barren.
In the distance, the undulating hills, like a sleeping behemoth covered in withered yellow fur, silently watch over this ant-like migrant.
The air was heavy, and the pervasive atmosphere was no longer just filled with the stench of blood.
More than anything, there was the stench of dust, sweat, and injuries, along with a subtle, oppressive feeling that grew stronger as you ventured deeper into the wilderness.
It was as if this land itself was breathing something ominous.
The patrol force raised its alert level to the highest level.
The scouts' patrol range doubled, and like vigilant worker bees, they constantly relayed intelligence from the front and flanks.
The large refugee contingent was instructed to huddle together as closely as possible to minimize the cross-section of the population vulnerable to attack.
The dozen or so heavy-duty wagons, carrying the most important supplies and seriously wounded soldiers, and pulled by tamed beasts called "mountain-mountain beasts," were guarded like stars surrounding the moon at the very core of the convoy, surrounded by the most elite forces of the patrol army.
Xuan Tianyi walked among the crowd, a completely different person from the weak, frightened, and unsteady boy who had just woken up from a coma a few days ago.
A slightly oversized, yet clean and crisp, wolfskin soft armor, standard issue for patrolmen, replaced his original tattered strips of cloth. Although worn, it added a touch of heroism and agility to his appearance.
The days of bloody battles, the nourishment of elixirs, and his own relentless "Thunder Tempering" have restored his originally pale complexion to a healthy rosy hue, and even subtly revealed a restrained brilliance.
More importantly, his demeanor had changed; the fear, confusion, and deep sorrow he once felt had been replaced by a calm focus and a cold confidence.
As he walked, his steps were steady, his back straight, and his eyes sharp and clear as he constantly scanned his surroundings.
What is particularly eye-catching are the three items hanging from his waist.
They were three round bone fragments, about the size of copper coins, with a strange white jade-like texture, yet faintly wrapped with blood-red threads.
The bone fragments were polished smooth and rounded, with blunt and thick edges, and a dark red dot in the center like a solidified wolf's eye. They swayed gently with each step as the person walked, occasionally bumping into each other.
It produces a soft, dull "tap-tap" sound, not crisp but rather calming, like an ancient wooden fish, carrying a mysterious and distant charm.
This is the Wolf Eye Jade Coin that he created by using those few rotten wolf brow bones as a base, consuming 30 points of life essence, and undergoing initial "refining and enhancement" by the system.
[Obtained Beginner Divination Medium: Wolf Eye Jade Coin x3]
[Description]: Forged from the brow bone of a rotten wolf, it contains the ferocity of a wolf and a trace of spirituality. It can be used as a divination coin in the "I Ching Divination" to slightly improve the accuracy of divination of good and bad events related to oneself.
With this tangible "medium," his "divination" ability, which originated from the system but was difficult to exert out of thin air due to his low level of understanding, finally had something to rely on.
It is no longer just empty talk, but has a seemingly "ancient and mysterious" ritual form.
During the past two days, he did not slack off despite joining the guard team.
On the contrary, while fulfilling his patrol and guard duties, he devoted all his free time to cultivation and...practice.
The "Eight Views Mysterious Life Lamp Visualization Method" continues to operate, nurturing the spirit and enhancing perception.
His control over the thunderous power in the "Zhen Gua Jade Token" became increasingly refined and meticulous as he dealt with sporadic air raids by rotten wolves and corpse dogs.
No longer as violent and uncontrollable as at the beginning, but able to precisely attach that faint purple lightning to the tip of the gun as if it were an extension of its own arm, increasing penetration and paralysis, or stimulating its own muscles to unleash speed at critical moments.
[Slaying a Tier 1 Beast "Corpse Hound" grants 37 Life Points.]
[Slayed a Tier 1 Beast "Rotten Wolf," gaining 52 Life Points.]
The system's notification sounds remained the main theme of his acquisition of "Life Source".
Every beast that fell to his spear became a stepping stone to the "Thunder Guiding Body Tempering Technique".
The Life Source Points are increasing slowly but steadily.
Another way to obtain life essence—"divination"—officially opened with the completion of the "Wolf Eye Jade Coin".
Although the harvest per instance is far less than that from slaying a beast, it is more stable and safer, and... can bring unexpected additional value.
At first, it was just fellow refugees who knew him. Seeing that he wore those three strange bone fragments all day long, and remembering the strange "early warning" he gave that day, they approached him tentatively to ask questions, either out of desperation or simply to seek some psychological comfort.
"Brother Xuan, you...you really know how to do that...what kind of divination? Can you help me see if my mother's injuries...will she make it to Tianxia City?"
A young man with a sorrowful expression supported his unconscious and weak-breathing mother, his eyes filled with despair and a last glimmer of hope.
Xuan Tianyi neither refused nor made any promises. He found a relatively quiet, sheltered spot and gestured for the man to settle his elderly mother in.
He then sat down cross-legged, his expression solemn, and took the three warm and smooth "wolf-eyed jade coins" from his waist, placing them in his palm.
He closed his eyes, his consciousness slightly subsided, and the "Eight Views Mysterious Life Lamp Visualization Method" flowed naturally. The lamp flame in his mind's sea of consciousness between his brows emitted a warm and clear light, making his mind clear.
At the same time, a faint spiritual force attached itself to the jade coin, communicating with the wolfish ferocity and spirituality contained within it. Using the jade coin as a bridge, it attempted to "sensor" the subtle "trajectory of fortune" and "ripples of life" entwined around the divination seekers—the mother and child.
This is the initial combination of "qi observation" and "divination". In his perception at this moment, the aura above the head of the unconscious old woman was dim and grayish-white, almost extinguished, but in the middle was a stubborn black aura representing serious injury and illness. However, at the edge of the black aura, there was a faint, extremely weak light spot of light, representing "medicine" or "vitality", flickering and uncertain.
Sensing something, he opened his eyes, his gaze clear. He gently shook the three jade coins in his palms, focusing his mind on the question, while softly reciting an ancient prayer that he himself might not fully understand, yet which seemed to contain a certain rhythm (in reality, it was a divination incantation instilled by the system).
A moment later, he separated his hands and gently tossed three jade coins onto a relatively flat stone surface in front of him.
"Ding, tap, clatter." Three soft sounds, and the jade coin stopped rolling.
Xuan Tianyi stared intently. Three jade coins, two heads (representing yang lines), one tail (representing yin lines). In his mind, the vast knowledge of divination symbols instilled by the system automatically surfaced and matched. The first line was yang, the second line was yang, the third line was yin… the corresponding hexagrams were…
"Upper Qian, lower Zhen, Heavenly Thunder Without Error." He muttered to himself, then, combining the fleeting pale green vitality he had seen through "qi observation" with the old woman's condition, he pondered for a moment, looked at the man who was so tense he was almost breathless, and said slowly:
"The divination indicates 'An unprovoked illness, no medicine needed, but joy awaits.' Your mother's injury is real, but not entirely hopeless. The 'no medicine needed' part of the divination doesn't mean no medicine at all, but rather... there might be an unexpected turning point. This turning point may not be a miracle cure, but perhaps she'll encounter a suitable doctor, or a subtle change in the environment or climate might just be the right thing to do. Hold on until Tianxia City... there's a glimmer of hope, but she needs extra care and must be protected from further turbulence and cold. Pay special attention around noon tomorrow, when her vital signs may be weakest, and she'll need constant supervision."
He spoke cautiously, leaving ample room for interpretation, and made no guarantees. He merely pointed out a possible clue and a critical juncture that needed attention, as indicated by the divination.
The man was skeptical, but he had no other choice at the moment, so he could only express his gratitude profusely and remember the time "tomorrow at noon".
As expected, during the team's midday break the next day, the old woman's breathing suddenly dropped, and her pulse was almost undetectable, terrifying the man to the point of madness. Just then, Liu Ruyan, who was patrolling the wounded that day, passed by and noticed the abnormality. She used silver needles to stimulate acupoints and administered a mild herbal decoction, which miraculously pulled the old woman back from the brink of death. Although she remained unconscious, her breathing had stabilized considerably.
The news caused quite a stir in the refugee camp.
Immediately afterward, someone else inquired about a lost tattered cloth bag containing their last remaining possessions. Xuan Tianyi cast a divination, combining the location of the jade coin's fall with a faint (almost invisible) indication of "lost item returning" in the inquirer's aura, and pointed out, "Search in the southeast, near a pile of rocks with traces of water." The person went searching with some skepticism, and indeed found the cloth bag, blown away by the wind, nestled in a crevice of rocks beside a semi-dry puddle!
One, two, three... Although the questions were all short-term, verifiable matters such as "What will the weather be like tomorrow?", "Is the water source ahead safe?", and "Is there any danger tonight?", Xuan Tianyi, with the medium of the "Wolf Eye Jade Coin", the assistance of the "Qi Observation Technique", the basic divination principles instilled by the system, and a cautious and ambiguous interpretation, actually came true several times in a row!
[Completed one divination, establishing a preliminary causal relationship, cutting a minor branch of destiny, and gaining 5 Destiny Points.]
[Complete one divination, gain 8 Life Points.]
[Complete one divination, gain 12 Life Points.]
The system notifications sounded intermittently. Although the rewards per attempt were meager, mostly fluctuating between 5 and 20 points—far less than killing a rotten wolf—the number of people seeking divination steadily increased. More importantly, this "prediction" and "guidance" provided immeasurable psychological comfort and a sense of "control" on this migration route filled with uncertainty and despair.
The reputation of "Xuan Xiao the Diviner" spread quietly among the thousands of people, like ripples created by a pebble falling into water. He was no longer "that weird kid with an electric gun," but rather someone with an air of mystery and awe.
People began to flock to the divination hall. There were women with sorrowful faces, inquiring about the fate of their lost husbands; there were men with shifty eyes, their minds hidden, subtly probing whether there were opportunities or dangers on the road ahead; there were thin, pale-faced teenagers, their big, innocent, and longing eyes asking if the divination could tell them where their next full meal would be; even two low-ranking soldiers from the patrol army secretly approached, asking if they would encounter any danger on their next shift…
Xuan Tianyi welcomed all comers, but quickly established rules.
He found a relatively fixed corner near the guard's gathering place, where he would lay out the three jade coins each day when he rested. However, each divination required a "divination fee" as payment. The divination fee was not limited to star coins (which he couldn't spend for the time being), but could be a little dry food, a low-quality medicine, helping with chores (such as cleaning armor and sharpening weapons), sharing valuable information he knew (about Tianxia City, about the wilderness, about martial arts), or... a small promise that might be fulfilled in the future and would not violate his moral principles.
He deeply understood the preciousness of "life essence" and knew that gifts given away for free were the least appreciated. He also didn't want to be treated like a charlatan who could be ordered around at will. Appropriate thresholds and exchanges could filter out those who were just there for the fun of it and make those seeking divination take the divination results more seriously.
This behavior, far from deterring people, actually solidified his image as someone "possessing extraordinary skills" and "strictly adhering to rules." After all, in this precarious environment, exchanging a little food or labor for a hint that might save one's life or provide peace of mind is considered worthwhile by most. Furthermore, the option requiring a "future commitment" made him seem even more unfathomable to some with ulterior motives.
"Master Xuan, I'd like to ask you something..." A simple-minded young man named Zhao Hu, whom the guards had just met, handed over half a hard grain cake with some embarrassment.
Xuan Tianyi took the cake, nodded, and gestured for him to ask.
"I just want to know... whether I can make it to Tianxia City safely and find my sister..." Zhao Hu rubbed his hands, his eyes full of worry.
Xuan Tianyi followed the same method, concentrating on casting a divination. Three jade coins fell, and he carefully observed the divination results. He then looked up at the gray-white aura above Zhao Hu's head, which was relatively stable but showed a faint sign of "blood separation".
"The hexagram shows 'The Traveler,' symbolizing travel. There will indeed be setbacks and difficulties along the way. The main hexagram, 'The Mountain Traveler,' foreshadows potential conflicts and near misses during the journey. However, the changing line is in the fifth position: 'Shooting a pheasant, one arrow kills, but ultimately one's life is rewarded.' This means that although there will be losses (like the arrow), one will ultimately achieve a good result and reach the destination through some kind of 'reputation' or 'recognition.'" Xuan Tianyi slowly interpreted, "Your sister's matter is not explicitly stated in the hexagram, but the Traveler hexagram is ultimately auspicious. You only need to remember to be cautious in all matters, avoid being overly assertive, but do not hesitate to demonstrate your value when necessary. Your 'safety' is closely related to whether you can be 'recognized.'"
Zhao Hu only vaguely understood what was being said, but the words "finally auspicious" and "arrived at the destination" made him breathe a sigh of relief, and he thanked them repeatedly.
Xuan Tianyi put away the half-eaten grain cake, and a notification sounded in his mind: [Completed one divination, gained Life Source Points: 9.]
His gaze swept across the system interface; his Life Source Points had increased to 611. He was one step closer to his goal of 800 points.
As the sun set, it cast a long shadow across the wasteland. Three "Wolf-Eyed Jade Coins" at his waist swayed gently with his steps, gleaming with a warm and mysterious luster in the afterglow. The occasional glances cast from those around him were filled with complex and enigmatic meaning.
This young man, armed with an electrified black gun and three strange bone coins, is quietly accumulating power in an unexpected way amidst this desperate migratory torrent, weaving his own emerging trajectory.