Ascending to Godhood: I Can Foresee All Futures

"And if I ask, will you actually tell me, Zhenren?"

Chen Sheng set down the wine jug, a smile that wasn’t quite a smile on his face.

"Ask and I shall answer. The journey is long, after all. There’s no harm in a little idle chat."

Nie Xiangjun replied readily.

"In that case... between the two of them, who is more beautiful?"

Chen Sheng went along with her, asking casually, as if he were simply discussing some trivial, amusing matter.

"They’re both beautiful."

Nie Xiangjun answered without hesitation, but then, as if feeling her answer was too vague, she frowned and added:

"Hmm... They’re each beautiful in their own way."

Chen Sheng couldn’t help but chuckle at her words. He shook his head and asked no more, simply taking another sip of the Spirit Wine.

The Primordial Yang Spirit Wine was truly extraordinary. It wasn’t just remarkably effective at aiding one’s Cultivation; its rich, mellow body and abundant Spiritual Qi also far surpassed any other wine he had ever tasted.

"It’s true!"

Seeing Chen Sheng’s reaction, Nie Xiangjun grew serious and explained:

"They’re twins, and they look so much alike that even the family elders had trouble telling them apart when they were children. Now that they’re older, they’ve each developed their own little quirks, so their taste in clothes has diverged.

"Lingshan usually wears blue, while Lingxi prefers green. When you meet them, you should be able to tell them apart by the color of their clothes."

"Twin Lotuses, then?"

At his words, Chen Sheng’s eyes instantly lit up.

He had learned from Nie Xuanfeng that Nie Lingshan and Nie Lingxi were the granddaughters of the Nie Family’s Great Elder, but he never expected them to be identical twins.

Such rare beauty was indeed captivating.

"I’ll warn you one more time."

Nie Xiangjun was incredibly perceptive. She immediately caught the unusual gleam in his eyes and her tone turned serious:

"You can only marry one. Don’t get any foolish ideas."

She was well aware of the allure that a pair of sisters, as identical and beautiful as twin blossoms, held for men.

But the Nie Family had strict rules, and their reputation was paramount. It was absolutely impossible for two legitimate daughters of their standing to be married to the same man.

"In that case, between the two, who has the better temperament?"

Chen Sheng smoothly took the hint and changed the subject.

The talk of "Twin Lotuses" had indeed piqued his genuine interest in this marriage alliance.

"Lingshan is more energetic, a bit of a mischievous sprite. Lingxi, on the other hand, is gentle and quiet, more of a refined scholar."

Nie Xiangjun described after a moment of thought.

"In that case, Nie Lingshan must be the younger sister, and Nie Lingxi the elder?"

Chen Sheng speculated.

Usually, the calmer one is the older sister.

"No, it’s the exact opposite."

Nie Xiangjun took a sip of wine, a smile that was both exasperated and fond appearing on her face.

"Lingshan is the elder, and Lingxi is the younger. It’s just that the older sister is more mischievous than the younger one—she never acts her age..."

Loosened by the wine, Nie Xiangjun began to speak at length, recounting her two nieces’ personalities, their preferences, and even some amusing stories from their childhood.

Although her tone occasionally held a hint of complaint, the heartfelt affection was impossible to hide.

After a moment, a distinct blush colored Nie Xiangjun’s cheeks. Her eyes swam with a liquid light, losing some of their usual coolness and taking on a hazy, languid quality.

She finally just leaned back against a soft felt blanket, one long leg casually bent. Her relaxed posture made it clear she was more than half-drunk.

"Aren’t you going to use your Cultivation to sober up, Zhenren?"

Chen Sheng couldn’t help but ask when he saw her like this.

"If I used my Cultivation to get rid of it, what would be the point of drinking? It’s this pleasant, tipsy feeling that I’m after."

Nie Xiangjun waved a dismissive hand, her voice tinged with languor.

Chen Sheng nodded in understanding, then remembered something and asked again:

"You mentioned earlier, Zhenren, that you were selecting a wife for me from the Nie Family’s Three Beauties. Why have you only mentioned Lingshan and Lingxi? What about the other one...?"

"You mean Zhijing?"

Nie Xiangjun’s eyes dimmed slightly, and she sighed.

"Her... you can forget about her. The family has other plans for her—a marriage alliance with the royal family. It’s not finalized yet, but... the discussions are at an advanced stage."

Chen Sheng felt a pang of regret.

He had been quite curious to see for himself just what sort of peerless beauty Nie Zhijing—famed throughout Yunzhou and one of the Eight Beauties of Mingjing—truly was.

"A certain Prince is hoping to use our Nie Family’s influence, so he proactively sought her hand in marriage. Emperor Mingjing seems to be in favor of it, and the Nie Family... sigh. It’s a complicated matter, too much to explain to you right now."

Nie Xiangjun waved her hand, clearly unwilling to discuss it further.

"You should focus on Lingshan and Lingxi. Their beauty and grace are by no means inferior to Zhijing’s. It’s only because Zhijing received more of the family’s resources and backing that she gained the empty title of one of the Eight Beauties of Mingjing."

"Then in your opinion, Zhenren, which of them would be a more suitable choice for me?"

Chen Sheng deftly turned the tables, tossing the question right back at her.

"If they were ordinary legitimate daughters, you could simply pick one, and the Nie Family would respect your choice."

Nie Xiangjun’s eyes were hazy with drink, but her thoughts were still clear.

"But Lingshan and Lingxi are different. They are of the Great Elder’s direct bloodline and hold a revered position in the family. This marriage alliance isn’t a one-way street. At the same time you’re evaluating them, they... will also be evaluating you."

She paused, as if remembering something, and then added:

"Oh, right. I might as well tell you something else. Even if the Nie Family favors you, you’re not without competition. Wei Jing of the Vast Sea Sect and Qi Heng of Zhenyuan Palace have both expressed interest in a marriage alliance.

"There are other candidates as well. For example, Ouyang Ke from the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, which has been seeking the Nie Family’s patronage in recent years..."

"The Ten Thousand Poisons Sect?"

Chen Sheng raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

"The Ten Thousand Poisons Sect has been seeking our family’s protection in recent years and has been very deferential. That Ouyang Ke is indeed exceptionally talented. He’s also on the Dragon and Tiger List, and his ranking... is actually a little higher than yours."

Propping her chin on her hand, Nie Xiangjun said languidly:

"Of course, he is a bit older than you. The family is also considering him. But in the end, whether anything comes of it will depend on Lingshan and Lingxi’s own wishes."