Chapter 3: Evil Hexagram

Chen Zhao quickly declined with an excuse.

Funny, if he really had the ability to lift others up, why would he be taking on tasks?

Zheng Daocai is blinded by profit; perhaps he'll wake up someday. Read novels daily to cure your reading drought, 𝒕𝒕𝒌𝒔. 𝒕𝒘 has everything.

But if this man fails to achieve his goal, he'll surely harbor resentment.

"Under watchful eyes, outright violence is unlikely—but what if we're alone in a room? I won't entrust my life to human nature."

Chen Zhao watched the man slink away, silently pondering.

He was only Qi Refining First Layer; the other could crush him like an ant.

"No matter how hard it is, the root cause is still insufficient cultivation."

He held a Low-grade Spirit Stone, waiting for Liu Chen to return to the Cave Abode, then sat cross-legged in meditation.

One night later.

At cockcrow.

Chen Zhao stretched, his Spirit Stone now gray and shattered.

"With the aid of a Spirit Stone, I've finally broken through to Qi Refining Second Layer."

His cultivation had long reached a bottleneck; now, after years of accumulated buildup, he felt profoundly refreshed.

"With higher cultivation, he'll find it harder to target me. Just to be safe, I should check the Divination again."

After the incident with the hairpin, Chen Zhao gained insight:

When uncertain, first cast a Divination.

If the Divination is unclear, first draw a fortune slip.

He looked down and saw ink-like script floating on his palm.

【Divination has refreshed】

【Today's Divination·Ominous】: Avoid partnerships, avoid meeting friends; drawing a fortune slip requires one Low-grade Spirit Stone.

Ominous?

Avoid meeting friends or partnerships?

Chen Zhao patted his pouch; after expenses for Spirit Rice, he had only two Low-grade Spirit Stones left, given by his senior sister.

If I spend another Spirit Stone, and then encounter a major ill omen, I'll be truly helpless.

"Still poor. Even good omens bring income, but drawing fortune slips costs money—is there a cheaper way?"

Chen Zhao lowered his head in thought.

He had some study of the I Ching; he already had a guess.

From the Divination, it was the Fire-Marsh Kui Hexagram.

"Fortunately, this Divination is clear: hearts are divided, all endeavors fail, wealth scatters... the cause of disaster is mutual suspicion."

He glanced inside the Cave Abode; the two were nowhere to be seen.

Could it be related to them?

"No, I can't guess blindly."

Chen Zhao shook his head.

"For safety, today I'll see no one—just work in the Ling Tian until the next refresh."

There, no one would disturb him, and Zheng and Liu had no idea where he was.

Perfect place to avoid disaster!

The Ling Tian spanned several mu, surrounded by emptiness.

Chen Zhao was about to cast the Spirit Rain Technique when the Token in his chest suddenly grew hot.

A blue holographic screen suddenly shot out from the Token.

Communication Talisman!

This Talisman was First-grade Low-grade, worth at least three Low-grade Spirit Stones.

What could be so urgent?

On the screen, Zheng Daocai rubbed his hands and smiled:

"Brother Chen, I've got a big opportunity—earning at least one Low-grade Spirit Stone per day!"

"No one took the task to kill a First-grade Intermediate beast, so I, Brother Liu, and seven Qi Refining Fifth Layer seniors plan to share it, splitting the reward by contribution."

"I originally wanted to invite you, but we waited long in the Cave Abode and didn't see Brother Chen."

"The destination is near the sect—round trip takes only half a day. If you're interested, meet at the mountain gate in three hours."

"We'll surround and kill the beast; we just need to hold position."

Seven Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivators surrounding a First-grade Intermediate beast—if they cooperate, victory is certain.

The reward is substantial, even higher than tending the Ling Tian.

Any other new cultivator would almost certainly agree.

But Chen Zhao immediately sensed something wrong.

Zheng and Liu are only Qi Refining beginners—why should they share the spoils with the seniors?

The only possibility: they're meant to lure the beast, act as bait and cannon fodder.

Zheng Daocai has been a Cultivator for years—he knows this well.

Inviting me? He just wants another person to take his place as a shield!

And he missed one thing.

The Ling Tian is large—three hours won't be enough to finish tending it; Chen Zhao didn't even need to invent an excuse to refuse.

Chen Zhao snorted coldly.

I have duties to attend to—why would I risk myself for a petty person?

Secure the Token, and begin focusing on tending the Ling Tian.

Following his memory, he formed the hand seals.

The Spirit Rain fell softly.

The Spirit Medicine in the field grew even more vibrant under the rain, making Chen Zhao's mouth water.

"Earth Spirit Ganoderma, Fire Essence Date, Nishang Flower... this entire mu is ten-year-grade Spirit Medicine?"

His knowledge of Spirit Medicine came almost entirely from others' boasts that "one bite grants immortality."

Even so, many of these Spirit Medicines were unknown to him.

No wonder he's an Inner Sect Disciple.

Even a casual glance reveals the ground is full of opportunities.

Chen Zhao sighed, working harder than ever.

The medicinal scent filled his nose; his dantian seemed nourished, and the Yi Sheng Art flowed more smoothly.

This was far better than going out as cannon fodder!

If he got another lucky find, ascending to Outer Disciple would be effortless.

Chen Zhao felt something stir, and immediately summoned the Divination Tube, murmuring:

"Is there an opportunity for me in the Ling Tian?"

Ink and water swirled, forming a single character.

【Ping】

Chen Zhao froze.

Targeted Divination always yields either auspicious or ominous—this "Ping" character...

Could it mean fate is undecided?

Or that success depends on human effort?

Too bad Targeted Divination cannot be interpreted—Chen Zhao had no choice but to give up.

Night fell.

Chen Zhao lay sprawled on the ridge.

His internal Spirit Qi was completely depleted; his earlier excitement had vanished.

"At my level, the Spirit Rain Technique can cover at most two hundred ping—after one ke, my Spirit Qi is exhausted..."

Chen Zhao let out a bitter laugh.

Even here, where Spirit Qi is abundant, it takes a full ke to recover.

Thus, merely irrigating the Ling Tian would take at least five ke.

Not counting pest control.

Yet even after a full day's labor, some Spirit Medicines showed no sign of being "satiated."

"How can Spirit Medicine be as voracious as a thirty-year-old tiger? No wonder no one dares take this task."

Draining dozens of times a day—who could endure it?

Still, Chen Zhao's gains from this trip were substantial.

Not only had he avoided disaster, but his meridians had swelled more than double from the Spirit Qi wash.

His body grew stronger, and even his cultivation and Qi recovery sped up considerably.

"If I reach Qi Refining Third Layer, I should finish the work in three ke."

Chen Zhao took a brief moment to recover, then sat cross-legged to cultivate, awaiting the next ominous Divination.

Unaware of time.

Zi Shi had arrived.

【Divination has refreshed】

【Today's Divination·Auspicious】: Favorable for tilling soil; interpreting requires one Low-grade Spirit Stone.

Tilling again?

This Divination ranks above Minor Auspicious—last time, when he found the hairpin, the gain far exceeded the cost of interpretation.

Thinking of this, Chen Zhao gritted his teeth and pulled out a Low-grade Spirit Stone.

"I, Chen Zhao, invest in this project!"

Interpret the Divination!

The ink and water in his hand shifted instantly.

【Today's Divination·Auspicious】: While tending the Ling Tian, you noticed several Spirit Medicines showing no growth, so you dug three chi deep—and uncovered a two-hundred-year-old Spirit-Avoiding Taisui.

A two-hundred-year-old old Spirit Medicine?

Chen Zhao sucked in a sharp breath.

The grade of Spirit Medicine corresponds to pill tiers.

A ten-year Spirit Medicine is First-grade Low-tier, effective for Qi Refining beginners—but this Spirit-Avoiding Taisui likely reaches First-grade Mid-tier or even High-tier!

It could fetch at least twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones!

"No wonder these Spirit Medicines are insatiable—the Spirit Rain has all been absorbed by the big medicine."

"But this Ling Tian belongs to Sister Li—the Taisui, even if dug up, isn't mine."

Chen Zhao was delighted, but his mind remained clear.

Digging up the Taisui would indeed lighten his workload—and perhaps bring extra surprises.

The problem is,

Someone else's Ling Tian — how do you dig three feet into the soil?