World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 447: Huai Jings Warning

Cultivators could only encounter sudden enlightenment. Since it was mysterious and had no predictable pattern, it couldn't be forced.

It seldom happened while a cultivator who had been stuck at a bottleneck for ages was working tirelessly to make a spark of insight appear.

On the contrary, it often came when a cultivator, who had been in seclusion for a long time, had properly gone through all the steps to break through and felt that they had exhausted all their inspiration. The moment they relaxed at the end of their seclusion, they would gain enlightenment.

Strands of Dao Rhythm appeared around Wang Sheng. Those who had been speaking immediately quieted down and stared at him in astonishment.

Qing Yanzi, in particular, was no longer smiling like a proud master. He didn't even know whether to laugh or cry.

What is going on with this second disciple of mine? Is he determined to make me dig three feet into the ground out of embarrassment?

Nevertheless, he pressed a finger to his lips. "Sshh."

The group postponed setting up defensive arrays and quietly left the Daoist canon repository.

On the open ground before the building, Qing Yanzi had a complicated expression, while Mu Wanxuan looked somewhat resigned.

Mu Wanxuan had just caught up to him after working hard for so long, yet Wang Sheng seemed about to reach another breakthrough already. Her dignity as his senior sister had taken yet another blow.

"Fei Yu has already reached the Rebirth Realm, hasn't he?" Jingyun commented softly. "How many years has it been? That child has truly gone through a lot."

Chi Wen smiled. "They say those who survive great trials are blessed with good fortune. His luck turned the moment Senior Brother leaped into the Earth Qi Seal. Ever since he returned, everything has gone smoothly for him."

"Little Sheng has always worked hard in his cultivation; he never slacks off. He also seized every opportunity that came his way. That's why he's achieved what he has today." Qing Yanzi's expression then turned serious. He glared at his daughter. "You're always inconsistent, Little Wen. I told you to go into seclusion for a while, but before long, you ended up wandering around and going online again."

Chi Wen blinked. "How do you know that, Dad? Are you monitoring my phone?!"

Qing Yanzi shrugged calmly. "Your mother's the one monitoring you, not me. That little Daoist priest from Mount Lao is not very focused on cultivation. He has poor aptitude, too. To top it all off, while he was chatting with you, he was also flirting with several other female cultivators."

"That was two years ago," Chi Wen muttered. She then quickly hid behind her master, complaining that she had no privacy.

Xi Lian whispered a few words into Mu Wanxuan's ear. Mu Wanxuan nodded, walked to the front of the palace, and placed a cushion on the ground. She then sat down on it to guard Wang Sheng, who had just gone into seclusion.

Qing Yanzi sighed. "I wonder if this enlightenment will be enough for Little Sheng to make another breakthrough."

Huai Jing's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile as he broke his silence. "It probably is. No need to be too sentimental, though. For him, this is completely normal. He'll experience it many more times in the future."

Qing Yanzi smiled at Huai Jing. "Oh? What makes you say that, Buddhist Master?"

"Have you ever heard of the concept of heavenly fate, Daoist Master Bu Yan?"

"The idea of heavenly fate is nothing new, but it's far too vague and illusory." Qing Yanzi sighed. "The cultivation world used to have plenty of techniques that could observe and read heavenly fate, but they're quite rare now."

"Oh?" Huai Jing smiled. "My Buddhist sects have a secret technique just like that. Many years ago, an old monk passed it on to me. I can see a bit of it."

Xi Lian and Jingyun both turned to Huai Jing, while Xiaomiao and Chi Wen busily looked elsewhere. One looked at the stars, the other at Mu Wanxuan.

Xi Lian asked, "How is Fei Yu's heavenly fate?"

"Fei Yu's heavenly fate initially wasn't that strong, but he did have signs of auspicious purple qi rising from the east. His potential became evident when he sat in meditation before the Small Nether Gate and advanced to the Golden Core Realm in just one night." Huai Jing sighed. "By the time I saw Fei Yu again after he got out of the Earth Qi Seal, his heavenly fate had already surpassed that of the entire cultivation world."

Qing Yanzi was astonished, "Why is that?"

"Because of Fairy Yaoyun," Huai Jing replied gravely. "This matter likely traces back to her. Though she has yet to attain the fruit of immortality, she is still a princess of the Heavenly Court and daughter of the Immortal Emperor himself.

"The Heavenly Court established the Three Realms and ruled them for millions of years, drawing the fortune of the boundless stars into itself—ahem. According to the old monk, that was one of the reasons many powerful beings from other races later united to take it down.

"After the Immortal Emperor's unexpected demise, Yaoyun, as his daughter, naturally succeeded him. In other words, she gained a portion of the Heavenly Court's heavenly fate."

While everyone focused on Huai Jing, a Tai Chi diagram rose behind Mu Wanxuan, who was listening intently.

Huai Jing didn't want to speak to Wang Sheng about this matter in person. Hence, he deliberately gave the others a detailed explanation about it instead.

Qing Yanzi thought for a moment. "The Heavenly Court has already fallen, and the Immortal Emperor is gone. How did its heavenly fate survive?"

Huai Jing slowly replied, "Not even I can fully explain that mystery. All I know is that Great Emperor Ziwei fought his way back to the Heavenly Court from the Northern Star Domain and rescued its surviving immortals. They then went through countless battles and desperate escapes. Eventually, they entered the strange and sealed Realm of Exiled Immortals and found Earth.

"Through all that, the Heavenly Court's heavenly fate did not entirely disappear. If the Heavenly Court's heavenly fate had ten parts at its peak, then at least three of them followed those immortals here and, for some reason, lingered in this world."

"How do you know so much about this?" Jingyun asked in curiosity.

Before Huai Jing could answer, Xiaomiao leaped forward. "That old monk told him! He's honestly amazing! Years ago, he even told Buddhist Master Huai Jing to dive into the lake and pull me out when the time came!"

Qing Yanzi nodded in admiration. "That monk must have been an enlightened Buddhist from those days."

Huai Jing cleared his throat. "Ahem. Let's go back to the topic. As the Heavenly Court's heritage, the Daoist sects are naturally blessed by its heavenly fate. However, they can't actually inherit it. Nevertheless, when I used our secret qi-observing technique on Fei Yu after he had gotten out of the Earth Qi Seal, I found purple qi soaring skyward and nearly breaking through the heavens.

"In case you're curious, your heavenly fate is green, Daoist Master Bu Yan. It hasn't turned purple yet, but it already has hints of purple qi approaching from the east."

Xiaomiao pointed above her head and cheerfully asked, "What about me, Buddhist Master Huai Jing?"

Huai Jing smiled. "Light green. It's a bit faint, but still quite good in terms of heavenly fate."

Xi Lian eagerly asked, "What about mine, Buddhist Master?"

"Green, just like the average qi color of cultivators and immortals in ancient times."

"Damn it!" Furious, Xi Lian clenched her teeth. "I bet Daoist Master Qinglin already found a Daoist partner outside the Realm of Exiled Immortals!"

Huai Jing's smile deepened. "Don't say that."

Puzzled, Chi Wen asked, "Why are they always green, purple, or cyan? Why are they never red? Isn't there a phrase about red fortune above the head?"

Qing Yanzi was momentarily rendered speechless. Still, he calmly answered, "Red doesn't mean good luck. It's a blood omen and brings great misfortune."

"That's right." Huai Jing snapped his fingers and steered the conversation back. "When I first saw Fei Yu's heavenly fate, I couldn't help but be shocked and confused. When Fairy Yaoyun appeared, though, I finally understood: she had part of the Heavenly Court's heavenly fate.

"When she became a sword spirit, she recognized Fei Yu as her sword master, who not only practices a Daoist art from the Heavenly Court. He is also righteous, just, and risks his life to save others so often that he passed a trial the Great Dao itself had set.

"Hence, with Yaoyun as the catalyst, he swiftly drew forth immense heavenly fate by surviving great peril and earning great merit. Even the three remaining portions of the Heavenly Court's heavenly fate condensed into Fei Yu. If Great Emperor Ziwei had such heavenly fate back then, the Heavenly Court's counterattack might have been successful. Tsk."

Huai Jing sighed. He then realized he had spoken too freely.

Before Qing Yanzi and the others could ask questions, he added, "I'm telling you all this only because I wish you to remind Fei Yu of one thing, Daoist Master Bu Yan."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Everyone knows great heavenly fate is a blessing, but the hegemonic powers of the Immortal Saint Realm, including Grand Dao Golden Immortals, have been fighting for it since ancient times! Unlike them, Fei Yu has only just begun cultivating. Though he has gathered significant heavenly fate, it'll take a long time before he can become powerful enough to guard it.

"That fate will give him more chances, more fated opportunities. Treasures and spiritual roots will be everywhere for him. Sudden enlightenment will often come. However, it will also bring him many trials. In ancient times, it wasn't rare for cultivators born with a vast heavenly fate to just die out of nowhere."

Huai Jing took a deep breath.

"Not to mention, his heavenly fate came from the Heavenly Court. The Immortal Emperor provoked the Three Pure Ones and angered the Great Dao, so it could very well be a toxin. To make matters worse, I'm not the only one who knows the secret qi-observing technique."

He intoned Buddha's name softly.

"It's getting late. I'll return to the temple now to rest, but I'll come back tomorrow. Keep everything I told you all today to yourselves. If word leaks, it may bring trouble. Also, please instruct Fei Yu to stay vigilant and never expose his heavenly fate before others, Daoist Master Bu Yan."

Qing Yanzi quickly asked, "Is there a way to conceal it?"

"I don't know. Amitabha. I shall take my leave."

Huai Jing offered a polite bow. Everyone returned the gesture, then watched him leave.

Heavenly fate.

Qing Yanzi could not help but grow anxious. Deep in thought, he began pacing back and forth.

Buddhist Master Huai Jing is right. Little Sheng's heavenly fate is both a blessing and a curse.

If Wang Sheng's heavenly fate were ever revealed, those who once destroyed the Heavenly Court and even experts unconnected to that ancient event would likely attack him without hesitation. Worse, Wang Sheng dreamed day and night of leaving Earth and exploring the endless starry void.

Seeing Xi Lian and the others' troubled expressions, Qing Yanzi smiled faintly. "Go get some rest, everyone. You don't have to worry too much. Once Fei Yu wakes up, we'll figure out a plan."

They all nodded softly and began to leave. However, Qing Yanzi called Xiaomiao, stopping her in her tracks.

"Hehe, Master Qing Yanzi..."

Qing Yanzi looked straight at her. "Tell me, what is Buddhist Master Huai Jing's true identity?"

Xiaomiao blinked innocently, feigning ignorance. "He's a young monk from the Heavenly Dragon Temple."

"Then why does he always speak with such subtle meaning? When he said 'since ancient times,' he meant the Immortal Spirit Realm, not Earth, didn't he?"

"Wow, you're so smart, Master Qing Yanzi! Ow! I have a stomachache! I have to use the toilet!"

Clutching her belly, Xiaomiao tried to slip away, but Qing Yanzi reached out and pressed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"This concerns your brother's safety. I have to know who Buddhist Master Huai Jing is before I can determine his true intentions."

Xiaomiao hesitated, then muttered, "Alright, but you must not tell anyone, Master Qing Yanzi. Otherwise, I'll be in real trouble with him."

Qing Yanzi nodded solemnly and listened closely.

Beside them, Mu Wanxuan had been quietly eavesdropping. Her expression soon mirrored Qing Yanzi's look of stunned disbelief.

Standing on his purple-golden alms bowl in the sky, Huai Jing sneezed. He rubbed his nose and smiled faintly. Paying it no heed, he simply brushed off his sleeves and left, keeping his merit and name hidden from the world.

"Haaaa. I've done all I can for you, Fei Yu. Guess that makes us even for all the times you've helped me."