I Have an Omen System

Completely oblivious to Qin Xuan’s predatory gaze, Shen Yuling giggled and said,

"Everyone says Elder Wang is cautious and timid, but from what I’ve seen today, Elder Wang is actually a bold and forthright person."

An ordinary Cultivator faced with this situation would have likely been scared out of their wits by now.

But this Elder Wang of the Qixing Royal Family before her was remarkably composed. It seemed the saying was true: a great reputation is always well-earned.

"Heh, Fellow Daoist Shen, you flatter me."

Qin Xuan looked up at the other three Cultivators in Shuyu Pavilion and said,

"I am Wang Zezhou, a Tier One Top-grade Artifact Refiner from the Qixing Royal Family. And how should I address you all?"

"I am Luo Qianfeng, at the Foundation Establishment First Level. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Fellow Daoist Wang."

Luo Qianfeng’s expression was cold, his thin lips pressed into a tight line.

He carried an unadorned Black Scabbard Longsword on his back, his posture as straight and tall as a lone pine on a snowy peak. He cupped his fist and spoke.

"Name’s Lei Hong. Earth Dao Foundation Establishment First Level. I’ve heard a lot about you, Elder Wang."

Lei Hong grinned, revealing a set of stark white teeth.

He was nine feet tall, with muscles as gnarled as an ancient, coiling tree. The dark red beast-skin tunic he wore was stretched so taut it looked ready to burst.

"Lady Miao San, Foundation Establishment Second Level,"

the last Female Cultivator said coldly. Her face was pretty but as pale as paper, completely devoid of color.

A dark green leather pouch, squirming slightly, hung from Lady Miao San’s waist.

On her frail shoulder, a Gu Insect crawled slowly. It was entirely crimson, shaped like a scorpion, and its stinger glinted with a faint, venomous blue light.

Qin Xuan’s eyebrow twitched. He swept his Divine Sense over them, and the Cultivators’ true Realms were laid bare before him.

He could see everything, right down to their underwear.

’A bunch of small fry... trying to play mind games with me.’

Aside from Shen Yuling, who was genuinely at the Foundation Establishment First Level, the other three had all hidden their true Cultivation.

Lei Hong and Lady Miao San were both at the Earth Dao Foundation Establishment Third Level.

And that wasn’t all. Luo Qianfeng, who appeared to have the lowest Cultivation, was actually the strongest of the three—a Sword Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Fourth Level!

’If the real old Wang Zezhou were here, he’d probably fall for this and end up in the hands of these small fries.’

The path of Cultivation was fraught with danger. It truly wasn’t easy.

The thought that he could kill those in higher Realms put Qin Xuan much more at ease.

Qin Xuan asked, "Fellow Daoist Shen, when do you plan to head for the Purple Mansion Daoist’s Secret Realm?"

Shen Yuling’s lips parted slightly, her breath as fragrant as orchids, carrying a hint of charm. "In ten days, we’ll gather at Mirror Lake."

"Good. It’s a deal. I will be back then. Farewell."

Qin Xuan cupped his fist, turned, and left without a moment’s hesitation.

...

After Qin Xuan left, the blunt-tempered Lei Hong was the first to speak.

"That darned old man... I think he’s more than just an Artifact Refiner. He’s got something up his sleeve!"

He pulled an Array Plate from his beast-skin tunic. A silver-white needle on its surface was spinning wildly, revealing him to be an Array Cultivator.

The charming expression vanished from Shen Yuling’s face. She said seriously, "Rumor has it that Wang Zezhou of the Qixing Royal Family keeps a Foundation Establishment Stage Great Demon. I smelled Demon Qi on him, something of the ape or monkey variety. It seems the rumors are true."

"So what if it’s a Demon Beast? A single Elixir Pill is all it takes to poison it."

Lady Miao San sneered dismissively. A red pill appeared in her palm, and she fed it to the red Scorpion Gu Insect on her shoulder.

Luo Qianfeng, the Sword Cultivator with the highest Cultivation, said nothing, his eyes narrowed as he gently wiped the Black Scabbard Longsword in his hand.

Only a deep wariness rose in the depths of his eyes.

...

Shen Yuling’s Foundation Establishment celebration lasted a full three days, and Qin Xuan unexpectedly stayed with the Mirror Lake Shen Family until it was over.

During this time, his Identity Token grew hotter and hotter, glowing a searing crimson.

Qin Xuan simply tossed it into his Black Flood Dragon’s Reverse Scale and ignored it completely.

「Meanwhile, in Youzhou Prefecture City.」

In the shadows, a Black-robed Demon Cultivator—a man in his fifties who was short, stout, and had unusually thick arms—spoke in a low voice. He was at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Level.

"Master Ji, three days have passed, and Junior Brother Qin still hasn’t appeared. Should we keep waiting for him?"

If Qin Xuan had been there, he would have recognized the man.

This Black-robed Demon Cultivator was none other than Jin Wuhai, the Tier Two Artifact Refiner from the Contribution Hall with whom he had previously interacted!

Ji Bochang’s eyes were pitch-black, and he said nothing.

Behind him, an old man in a gray robe holding a small Pill Cauldron stared coldly at the Tai Chi Yin Yang Black and White Great Array before them.

The black and white Yin Yang Fish chased one another, gradually taking shape.

The alluring Joy Altar Incense Master, Su Mei, was drenched in fragrant sweat. She held an Array Plate as black Demonic Essence surged in her palm.

"Master Ji, the auspicious time has come. The Array of Two Principles and Yin Yang is about to activate. We can wait for two hours at most. After that, the yin and yang will fall into chaos, and we will no longer be able to enter the Golden Core True Monarch’s ruins!"

Ji Bochang’s demonically handsome face darkened.

"Forget it. Since Qin Xuan doesn’t know what’s good for him, we won’t wait. Wuhai, what are we missing to open the Secret Realm ruins of the Sun and Moon Xiyue Palm Shining Daoist?"

Jin Wuhai’s fingernails were black and sharp. Iron Hook Finger Guards materialized on his fists, sending sparks flying.

"Of the five great Dharma Gates—Sword, Array, Artifact, Pill, and Magic—we are still missing the last one represented by Junior Brother Qin: the Magic Dao."

Ji Bochang looked to the gray-robed old man holding the Pill Cauldron, his expression apologetic. "Elder Dong, I must trouble you."

"Could you please borrow my father’s Demon Monarch Jade Order and forcibly summon all Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment Incense Masters currently on Holy Sect missions in the area? They must arrive within two hours."

"As you command."

The gray-robed old man took half a step back. A brilliant Life Star shone behind him as his figure vanished into the shadows.

A short while later, the gray-robed old man returned, dragging a dwarfish Demon Cultivator who was short, wiry, and had the appearance of an ape.

Hou Qi’s face was a mask of terror. "Lord Executor, I haven’t done anything wrong! I swear, I haven’t done anything wrong..." he pleaded.

Hou Qi, a powerful Cultivator at the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment Fifth Level, was utterly powerless in the hands of the gray-robed Elder Dong!

"Junior Brother Hou, this is an emergency. Please forgive the offense."

Ji Bochang’s voice was as gentle as a spring breeze. "I wish to enter the Golden Core True Monarch’s Secret Realm Cave Mansion to seize a Life Star. Might you be willing to lend me a hand?"

"So it was Master Ji."

Hou Qi wailed inwardly. ’I did everything I could to hide,’ he thought.

’But I still couldn’t escape in the end.’

He gave an awkward smile and lowered his gaze. "I would be honored."

...

「Qixing Lake.」

Qin Xuan had just returned when his expression changed drastically.

The entire estate of the Qixing Wang Family was in ruins. The Earth Lung Poison Fire in Cold Abyss Valley had been uprooted, with only a few scattered patches remaining!

"What villain dares to trespass against my Wang Family?"

Qin Xuan was livid.

Wang Runjiang appeared, stumbling. As soon as he saw Qin Xuan, he fell to his knees and burst into tears.

"Elder Wang, you’re finally back! You’re safe... this is wonderful!"

"Runjiang, tell me everything. What happened?"

Qin Xuan helped Wang Runjiang to his feet.

Wang Runjiang wiped away his tears and said, "Elder Wang, you don’t know. Three days ago, a Great Zhenren of the Purple Mansion Realm suddenly descended, riding a Cyan Lion and holding a Golden Core True Monarch’s command token."

"He forcibly conscripted all the Artifact Refining Apprentices of our Wang Family. Even Clan Brother Runsheng was taken away..."

"We all thought you had been conscripted as well. Thank goodness you weren’t. Otherwise, the Wang Family would have been truly finished."

The moment he heard "Purple Mansion Daoist,"

Qin Xuan’s pupils contracted, and a chill shot up from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

’Have I been exposed?’

’No, that’s not right. If I had really been exposed, I wouldn’t have been left unharmed at Mirror Lake.’

Qin Xuan asked, "Why would they specifically conscript our Wang Family’s Cultivators?"

"It wasn’t just us. I heard the fighting on the front lines is intense, and their logistics are strained."

"The neighboring Alchemy Sunx Family, the Array Dao Zhang Family, the Magic Li Family... any family Cultivator with a specialized skill was forcibly taken away."

"I see." Qin Xuan instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

’Good thing I wasn’t at the family estate.’

’The Divination came true again.’

"Then why are you still here at the estate?"

Wang Runjiang’s old face flushed.

"My skills... are not refined enough. The Great Zhenren didn’t see fit to choose me."

Qin Xuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He could only shake his head helplessly.

...