I Have an Omen System

"Settle down, everyone!"

"The Old Ancestor himself will be leading this expedition and holding the line! Your safety is assured..."

Wang Runsheng lowered his voice and said gravely, "We just need to show our faces on the battlefield and go through the motions.

There is another, more important task for the family... to go to the Ten Thousand Treasures Black Market within Canglin Country and purchase a Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill!"

Upon hearing the words "Foundation Establishment Pill," the previously noisy assembly hall fell abruptly silent.

The eyes of all the Wang Family Cultivators glinted, and they were practically drooling with desire.

Qin Xuan also sharply caught the keywords.

’Canglin Country’s black market!’

’This way, it’ll be convenient for me to get rid of my stolen goods.’

As for what Wang Runsheng said later about how whichever branch successfully purchased the Foundation Establishment Pill would get to choose the next candidate for Foundation Establishment...

Qin Xuan completely ignored it.

’Trash that can only reach Foundation Establishment by popping pills has long been beneath my consideration.’

...

In the end, after some discussion, an agreement was reached.

Wang Runsheng of the first branch would remain to guard the family.

The second and third branches would each send one Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer cultivator, named Wang Run Tian and Wang Runsong, respectively.

Before their departure, Wang Runsheng wore an expression of shame.

"Elder Wei, my apologies for the trouble... The Wang Family is weak, and with the Wu and Sun Families eyeing us like tigers, we cannot afford to be short-staffed. We truly couldn’t muster three Late-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivators..."

Qin Xuan waved his hand. "Patriarch, say no more. I understand the stakes."

The procession of carriages and horses was vast and mighty.

The Old Ancestor, Wang Zezhou, sat within the central, magnificent palanquin that was inscribed with faint Spirit Patterns, his aura completely restrained.

The three Late-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivators, along with over a dozen Low-Tier Cultivators from the Wang Family responsible for supplies and protection, rode magnificent spirit steeds. They flanked the palanquin, their clopping hooves kicking up a trail of dust.

Just as the group was preparing to formally set out for the battlefield, Wang Lanmeng’s delicate figure, her face streaked with tears, suddenly burst from the crowd.

"Master, this servant is willing to accompany you!"

However, she had barely moved before a faster figure intercepted her.

It was her younger brother, Wang Lanfeng.

The young man’s arms clamped around his sister like iron pincers. He shook his head frantically, his eyes filled with anxiety. "Sister, don’t be foolish..."

Wang Runsheng roared, "This is absurd!"

A cultivator of the family, insisting on throwing herself at an outsider Talisman Cultivator... what would people say if this got out?

"Lanfeng, take her away!"

Wang Lanmeng struggled and sobbed in her brother’s arms, looking at Qin Xuan with tear-filled eyes, utterly unwilling yet unable to break free.

Qin Xuan was rather surprised.

’I’m disguised as a decrepit old man,’ he thought. ’Do I really still have this much charm?’

’We only slept together for a few months.’

’She’s probably just putting on a show for me, trying to make me feel grateful to the Wang Family.’

Qin Xuan was completely unmoved by such a petty trick.

A joke. He was an elite Demon Cultivator from the Holy Sect. His heart was made of iron—the more you grovelled, the harder it became.

Even if it wasn’t an act, he wouldn’t be moved.

After Wang Lanmeng’s outburst, the expressions of many uninformed Wang Family members turned sour.

Unpleasant whispers and murmurs began to spread.

"Runsheng, since she’s willing, let her go with them."

A majestic, ancient voice, laced with a hint of anger, came from the magnificent palanquin. It was a voice that permitted no argument.

"Yes, I will obey the Old Ancestor’s command."

Since Wang Zezhou had spoken, Wang Runsheng couldn’t object and had to let Wang Lanmeng have her way.

In any case, she was just a Qi Cultivation Second Layer cultivator from a branch family.

It was a bonus for Qin Xuan, though. The whole journey, he had a soft, fragrant beauty in his arms. It was quite pleasant.

...

The group traveled at a forced march for a full month, finally arriving at the border between Canglin Country and Daqian, on the outskirts of You Province.

The closer they got to the border, the heavier the grim, murderous atmosphere became.

A formidable pass occupied the strategic chokepoint.

At the city gate, a Captain at the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer, clad in black Profound Iron Armor with a steady, heavy aura, led a squad of stern, armored soldiers to block their path.

The Captain’s gaze was as sharp as a falcon’s. He said coldly, "State your names and present your travel documents for inspection!"

Wang Run Tian of the second branch hastily dismounted, a humble smile plastered on his face. With a flip of his hand, a flash of aquamarine light appeared, and he respectfully presented a jade booklet, thin as a cicada’s wing and shimmering with faint Spirit Patterns.

"Thank you for your hard work, Officer! We are cultivators from the Wang Family of Thousand Lakes Island in You Province. As the time for the annual tribute is approaching, we have come under the conscription order of the Governor’s Mansion to participate in the Annual Tribute Labor and supplement military supplies."

Hearing this, the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer Captain’s tone softened considerably as he leafed through the document.

"Family cultivators here for the tribute labor?"

The Captain’s lips curled into a barely perceptible smirk. "Good. Very good. Go wait in that mountain hollow over there. Someone will come to lead you through the pass shortly."

"Thank you, Officer! Thank you, Officer!" Wang Run Tian bowed repeatedly, his posture extremely deferential.

Night fell.

Qin Xuan noticed that the small mountain was packed with Late-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivators.

All in all, there were no fewer than a thousand of them.

’What the hell is the Governor of Youzhou up to? Don’t tell me he’s planning a blood sacrifice?’

Qin Xuan couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hesitation, subconsciously analyzing the situation with the mindset of the Holy Sect.

This wasn’t the front line; it wasn’t dangerous at all. The real battles were happening inside the ruins of Canglin Country.

Why were so many people gathered here, not being allowed to pass?

Back in the Holy Sect, Qin Xuan would be one hundred percent certain that an Incense Master was about to start sucking blood.

...until a pale, beardless Tunneling Foundation Establishment Second Level Cultivator appeared.

"All of you, follow me out of the pass!"

The thousand-odd cultivators passed through the mighty pass in a vast procession, arriving at a desolate valley.

They then heard the Tunneling Foundation Establishment Second Level Cultivator wave his hand, his face straining to maintain a dignified expression as he announced in a deep voice, "Alright, disperse. Return in one year."

As he spoke, he opened a heavy Treasure Manual, over a foot thick and shimmering with golden light, and began to write in it with a jade brush that flowed with spiritual light.

Qin Xuan’s Divine Sense was exceptionally sharp.

He quietly released it, and it swept over the Golden Manual like an invisible tentacle.

There, on the golden page, a line of small, luminous words was clearly visible.

"One thousand elite soldiers of the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer have arrived. Please allocate the ration and pay talismans for Camp A!"

BUZZ!

The Golden Manual suddenly burst with brilliant light, casting a golden sheen on the pale cultivator’s cheeks. The irrepressible ecstasy in his eyes was clear to see.

The next moment, ripples spread through the void, and a small Storage Ring appeared out of thin air.

Qin Xuan was dumbfounded.

’Well, I’ll be damned. They’re fucking embezzling military funds!’

Just then, Wang Zezhou’s cold voice suddenly rang in Qin Xuan’s mind.

"Talisman Master Wei, what are you spacing out for? We’re gathering at the Ten Thousand Treasures Black Market!"

At the same time, the location information for a valley a hundred li away from the pass appeared before his eyes.

Yunxi Valley, Ten Thousand Herbs Hall!

Qin Xuan glanced around and saw that the thousand-plus people had long since scattered in a flash, turning into streaks of Escape Light and heading in all directions, each with their own objective.

’It seems that embezzlement among Daqian’s low-ranking captains is a common sight!’

In an instant, Qin Xuan understood.

The so-called Annual Tribute Labor was just a pretext. The real reason was a lack of manpower to pull off the military payroll scam.

And whenever there’s war, a land of chaos represents opportunity and fortune!

Take this time, for example.

Canglin Country had become a ruin, and a Foundation Establishment Sect here called Ten Thousand Herbs Hall had also been destroyed.

’Although Ten Thousand Herbs Hall was destroyed, the large quantity of Spirit Herbs and Elixirs in its sect treasury has flowed out among the populace, with Foundation Establishment Pills being the most numerous.’

Taking advantage of the great war.

The price of Foundation Establishment Pills, which take a long time to use for a breakthrough, had plummeted. In contrast, the prices for all sorts of cultivation necessities like healing herbs and recovery Spirit Pills had skyrocketed.

This, in turn, attracted a large number of Late-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivators from Ninth-Grade Noble Families.

These Qi Cultivation Cultivators and the captains stationed here hit it off immediately.

One side scammed military funds, while the other took advantage of the rock-bottom prices for Foundation Establishment Pills.

"If this were the Holy Sect, anyone who dared to scam Contribution Points from the Blood Loan Money Shop would probably end up in the Ten Thousand Souls Banner that very night!"

Qin Xuan couldn’t help but sigh at how Daqian was rotten to the core.

’Does the Daqian Emperor Monarch even know his subordinates are profiting so massively from the war?’

Of course, doing this wasn’t without risks.

Wang Zezhou continuously sent Telepathy messages to the group: "Once we leave You Province, we will be in Canglin Country. Although it’s just the border, you must heighten your vigilance. This place is a chaotic mix of all sorts—Demon Cultivators, Loose Cultivators, and even other kinds of Demon Cultivators... they have all gathered here, taking advantage of the war."

"Remember, unless it’s an emergency, do not leave my sight. Otherwise, not even a Foundation Establishment expert could protect you!"

"We will obey the Old Ancestor’s command," the group replied in unison.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea,

The group arrived at a massive, bottomless canyon.

Wang Runsong swallowed hard. "Old Ancestor, is this Yunxi Valley? Why does it look different from how I remember...?"

Before them, a deep rift valley had appeared, as if split open by a supreme, sharp sword. Its two sides were sheer cliffs, soaring into the clouds.

Looking down from above, they could even see clouds and mist swirling midway down the rift.

Only a single, hidden rope bridge extended from the cliff’s edge, connecting to the clouds and mist within the rift, obscuring the view of what lay inside.

It seemed to be shielded by an Array.

Wang Zezhou concealed his cultivation down to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer and said respectfully, "Wang Runsheng of the Ninth-Grade Noble Family from Daqian has come seeking Pills. I hope the Master of Ten Thousand Treasures Valley will grant us passage."

Hearing "Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer," Wang Runsong shot his Old Ancestor a surprised glance.

Qin Xuan laughed inwardly.

’This Wang Family Old Ancestor is a cunning old fox.’

SPLASH!

The roaring sound of surging, rushing water echoed out, and mist filled the air.

In that instant, the clouds and mist dispersed, and three narrow plank walkways appeared before them.