Chapter 33

Chen Yan hurriedly took his leave to return home, for two reasons.

One was that after saving Lu Sisi again, while treating his injuries at the hospital, he quietly activated the Qi Transportation Technique—and once more, as expected, felt that sensation of cultivation advancement!

Qi (merit) +1 +1 +1 +1…

Indeed, this Lu Sisi was a walking experience pill for him!

The second reason was that Chen Yan's curiosity and interest in Lu Sisi had grown even stronger; he wanted to get home quickly and thoroughly search through books for methods to alter fate, and to analyze Lu Sisi's birth chart and destiny pattern.

·

When Chen Yan returned home, he first brewed himself a pot of tea and carried the teapot to the sunroom.

A reclining chair stood in the villa's sunroom.

In this cold winter, sitting in the sunroom during the afternoon, bathed in sunlight, the room was warm as spring.

On the reclining chair, Chen Yan habitually slipped the jade signet ring onto his thumb, rubbing it as he carefully flipped through the secret manual.

The Sevenfold Destiny Pattern was recorded in the "Cycles of Qi and Fortune" section, one of several rare destiny patterns documented in the book.

The book's entry was brief—just a few lines.

Yet what was written shocked Chen Yan.

Anyone with this destiny pattern seemed cursed by heaven, born with misfortune clinging to them, and passing it on to those close to them.

Hence the name "Sevenfold."

Cut off from family, cut off from friends, cut off from descendants!

They would never have relatives, friends, or lovers in this life, nor any offspring.

And all the happiness ordinary people pursued—wealth, fortune, status, longevity—would naturally be out of the question.

But…

"Something doesn't seem right."

Chen Yan frowned, staring at the book's entry.

The book stated that anyone with the Sevenfold Destiny Pattern was plagued by misfortune and had an extremely short lifespan—never living past one zodiac cycle—that is, not beyond age twelve!

Because the Sevenfold Destiny Pattern was extremely fierce; under accumulating misfortunes, a person simply couldn't endure long, and from birth onward, the misfortune grew stronger each year, more intense than the last.

According to the book, without external intervention, surviving twelve years—through one full zodiac cycle—was the absolute limit!

Lu Sisi was already over eighteen, wasn't she?

With doubt in mind, Chen Yan recalculated Lu Sisi's birth chart, using the algorithm from the "Cycles of Qi and Fortune," pinching his fingers to compute.

Moments later, Chen Yan's expression grew even stranger.

"This makes no sense at all!"

·

Lu Sisi's birth chart, while not indicating great wealth or nobility, was still quite favorable.

She should have had smooth sailing from childhood onward; if she ever met a man with a compatible birth chart, she'd thrive like fish in water, living in perfect harmony.

Even if she never did, it wouldn't matter much—she'd merely have a few more bad romantic encounters.

Moreover, this birth chart indicated Lu Sisi was destined for both fortune and prosperity.

·

"This doesn't make sense! How could one person have two destiny patterns?"

Chen Yan frowned, deep in thought, pressing his fingers hard against his brow.

That so-called master in Hong Kong who calculated Lu Sisi's fate… was he just a con artist?

He leapt from the reclining chair and paced back and forth twice in the sunroom, then slapped his forehead.

"Just try it and find out."

·

Chen Yan went down to the villa's basement.

One room in the basement had been converted into his workshop.

It held a workbench, along with a toolbox and all the tools he used for carving practice.

There were also brushes and ink; drawers contained yellow talisman paper and cinnabar he had purchased.

At the desk, Chen Yan first calculated the directions, then pulled out two red candles and lit them.

He took a sheet of yellow paper, found a pair of pure silver scissors he'd specially bought, and swiftly cut out a small paper figure the size of a palm.

He dipped his brush in cinnabar and wrote Lu Sisi's birth chart onto the paper figure.

"Hmm, with Lu Sisi's birth chart written on it, this paper doll is now equivalent to Lu Sisi…"

Chen Yan thought to himself.

The paper doll technique recorded in the book—he had never used it before; his cultivation was insufficient.

But now, having leveled up three times thanks to Lu Sisi, the walking experience pill, he likely had enough power—though he wasn't sure if the spell would even work properly.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Yan channeled Qi, formed finger seals, recited the incantation twice, then pointed at the paper doll.

"Rise!"

The paper figure on the desk trembled slightly, then floated lightly upward, slowly standing upright on the table.

Chen Yan's eyes lit up.

It worked?

He felt his Qi draining rapidly—this paper doll technique was still too advanced for his current level.

But Chen Yan seized the moment, grabbed a strand of hair prepared on the table, swiftly snipped off a piece with the silver scissors, pinched it between his fingers, and brushed it over the red candle flame!

The hair ignited instantly, burning away into a wisp of blue smoke.

Chen Yan seized the opportunity and blew a breath of Qi onto it.

"Body and hair, quickly return to the Primordial Spirit!"

That wisp of green smoke, mixed with Chen Yan's Yuan Qi, immediately drifted toward the paper figurine under his guidance.

Just as it seemed about to merge with the figurine, suddenly, before the green smoke could even approach the figure, it slowly dissipated, as if an invisible force was blocking it; the green smoke could not merge into the small paper man inscribed with Lu Sisi's birth date and time!

"Eh?"

That's strange!

The hair was clearly Lu Sisi's own; I cut it off with my own hands right in front of her.

According to the spell, using Lu Sisi's own hair to turn into smoke should allow it to merge into the small paper man.

But...

It was clearly her own hair, yet why could I not find her own Primordial Spirit?

Could it be that I used the spell incorrectly?

Chen Yan pondered for a moment, then quickly cut out a new paper man.

This time, he did not write the birth date and time again; instead, he took out the blood-stained gauze he had peeled off Lu Sisi's head.

He dipped a brush in clear water, then brushed the brush tip back and forth over the bloodstain on the gauze several times.

Finally, he lifted the brush and quickly drew a symbol on the new paper man.

"Flesh and blood as the guide, Primordial Spirit awaken..."

Ah, pfft!

"Flesh and blood as the guide, quickly return to the Primordial Spirit!"

With Yuan Qi infused, this new paper figurine suddenly stood upright on the table!

Chen Yan burned a lock of hair over the candle flame again, then spat a mouthful of Yuan Qi onto it...

This time, a wisp of green smoke smoothly merged into this new paper man!

Chen Yan's heart suddenly trembled!

It worked!

Chen Yan squinted, looking at the two small paper men on the table.

His gaze fell on the paper man on the left—the one with Lu Sisi's blood and the green smoke from the burned hair.

"This one is Lu Sisi!"

Chen Yan murmured to himself, then withdrew his gaze, but looked at the other paper man on the table with a different, even stranger expression, squinting his eyes.

The one that was clearly inscribed with Lu Sisi's birth date and time!

The look in Chen Yan's eyes grew somewhat cold as he stared at this paper man.

"Then, who are you?"

·

At this moment, Chen Yan had already guessed some clues, merely looking at this paper man inscribed with Lu Sisi's birth date and time.

"Without a guide object, it won't return to the Primordial Spirit; does that mean I cannot find you?"

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow.

Have you not asked who my Old Grandma is!!

She is the one who could make the Black and White Lords kneel and kowtow!

The secret manual left behind by the Old Grandma, with its spells so miraculous, how could it compare to ordinary spells?

Without the guidance of flesh, blood, or hair, I cannot find you?

Chen Yan squinted, quickly took the manual in his hand, and flipped to a certain page.

"Look at my Old Grandma's secret transmission! The Seven Arrows Nail-Head Book!"

Chen Yan pointed with his finger!

However... two seconds later, he slowly lowered his hand and sighed.

Alas, if only the Old Grandma had truly left behind the Seven Arrows Nail-Head Book.

If I had learned it, would I not be able to kill any god who stood in my way, and slay any demon who blocked me?

Unfortunately, it is not there.

In the manual, there is indeed a spell that resembles the legendary Seven Arrows Nail-Head Book.

However, it cannot harm people; instead, it is more like a "Curse of the Downward Head · Tracking Technique."

As long as one has a person's birth date and time, one can cast the spell to transform a small paper man, and then, using some secret technique, track the location of the original body.

A few days ago, Chen Yan would not have had the ability to cast such a spell.

But today, after being strengthened once again by the 【Lu Sisi Experience Pack】, he could actually try it.

Chen Yan sat cross-legged on the ground, placing that 【paper man with Lu Sisi's birth date and time】 in front of himself.

He formed hand seals with both hands; after several consecutive changes, he quickly lifted the brush and rapidly tapped three times on the paper man's head and both legs!

"Search!"

That paper figure suddenly stood upright again, then spun rapidly in place, and finally stood still facing a certain direction.

Chen Yan's face lit up with excitement!

The direction where the small paper man stood was precisely the direction where the original owner was located.

Chen Yan's entire body erupted with Yuan Qi; without hesitation, he poured it into the paper figure!

That paper figure floated into mid-air, and under the infusion of Yuan Qi, slowly, bit by bit, moved toward a certain direction.

Chen Yan watched, continuing to channel Yuan Qi with effort, and memorized the direction in his heart: toward the southwest.

As the paper man took a step, Chen Yan felt his Yuan Qi pour out like a tide—the consumption of this spell was greater than he had anticipated.

The Paper Man Guiding Method covers a hundred li with every step.

One hundred li… not enough! Not there!

Two hundred li… still not there…

Four steps… damn it, too much energy spent, my Yuan Qi is nearly drained!

Damn it, is this guy hiding that far away?

The farther the curse incantation searches for a soul, the more Yuan Qi it consumes exponentially.

With Chen Yan's current ability, the maximum search distance along any single direction is three hundred kilometers.

He felt his Yuan Qi could no longer sustain it, and helplessly prepared to give up.

At that moment, the jade signet ring on his thumb suddenly flashed a faint glow, and a vast, pure stream of Yuan Qi surged into Chen Yan's body from his thumb!

Chen Yan, caught off guard, suddenly lost focus; the Yuan Qi surged through his body, forcing out a cry of surprise.

Then, the paper doll suddenly moved toward that direction, taking step after step downward!

One step equals one hundred li; ten steps equal one thousand kilometers!

Go! Take a few more steps, don't stop!!

·

Hong Kong City, halfway up Tai Ping Mountain.

In a luxurious estate, a three-story villa nestled among the verdant shade of the hillside forest.

On the villa's rooftop terrace, an elderly man dressed in a replica ancient fangshi robe held a Luo Pan, stepping and measuring with each movement, while his other hand rapidly calculated with finger gestures.

His ruddy face radiated an aura of transcendental wisdom, and his white crane-like hair enhanced his air of a master.

"Mr. Lyu, the wealth position has been determined—it's right there."

The old man tucked away his Luo Pan and smiled warmly: "Build a fengshui fish pond there, and raise exactly forty-nine koi."

Water signifies wealth, Mr. Lyu—you're a businessman—this residence will surely bring you prosperity…"

Standing beside the terrace was a middle-aged man in a suit, naturally imposing; upon hearing this, he laughed heartily: "Then I thank Master Zhong for your auspicious words! With Master Zhong here to determine the fengshui for my new home, it must be a stroke of great fortune!"

Master Zhong laughed and slowly walked to the edge of the terrace, looking down from beside the steps.

"This residence clings to the mountain, encircled by wind, and overlooks water—it's already an excellent auspicious site, Mr. Lyu, rest assured!"

"Hahaha! Master Zhong, please come downstairs, let's take a look inside."

"Alright, alright."

"Master Zhong, watch your step on the stairs."

"Hahaha, Mr. Lyu, you're joking—I may be older, but I'm not yet so frail I can't walk properly! Hahaha… Hey?"

Hey? Hey hey?

My leg?

Oh no!

I lost it!!"

As they joked, Mr. Lyu saw Master Zhong reach the staircase—then suddenly, as if his legs had lost control, he lurched forward in giant strides…

Then he stepped into empty air and tumbled headfirst down!

Mr. Lyu froze for a second, then shouted loudly: "Someone! Master Zhong has fallen down the stairs!!"

He rushed forward several steps to the edge of the terrace…

And saw below, on the ground two and a half stories down, Master Zhong lying face-down, blood smeared across his forehead and face, groaning "Ooh… ooh…" but unable to rise.

Mr. Lyu froze again for a second…

"Someone! Call an ambulance immediately—Master Zhong has been injured!"

·

Chen Yan exhaled in relief; the fluctuations of his Yuan Qi gradually faded, and he collapsed backward onto the ground.

His entire body felt weak and limp, as if every ounce of strength had been drained.

"Found it… in Hong Kong City."

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【Two chapters today, complete.】

Finally got recommended today—votes, please!】

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