Chapter 64: Then Allow Me to See You Off

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Su Jian hesitated, "This layman... seems to be of the demon race?"

"Why, does your temple refuse demons?" The Lord's voice carried a chilling undertone.

"Of course not. Please, come in," Su Jian replied, his gaze involuntarily drifting to the visitor’s corporeal form.

He felt an urge to plunge his hands into the other’s body and retrieve talismans. A pity, he did not possess the magic to break the Lord’s defenses.

Sanqing Hall.

The Lord glanced at the clay statues within, questioning, "Have you heard of anyone from beyond the heavens?"

Su Jian began a simple explanation, "I do not know what people from beyond the heavens are. All who come to my temple seek divination, fortune, and guidance to avoid misfortune."

"A mountain, regardless of its height, gains spiritual power from the presence of an immortal. My temple is small, but its divination is remarkably accurate—those who have sought it all praise its efficacy."

"Before the founder of the Dao, you need only silently contemplate your desires. Do not speak them aloud; if you do, the answer will lose its potency. If you are a demon with fate, surely the Dao Ancestor will grant you some guidance."

"Remember, before you draw a lot, silently contemplate everything you wish to know. The Dao Ancestor is not interested in hearing your troubles one by one."

The Lord: "......"

These words sounded... awfully like the ramblings of a charlatan.

Yet Su Jian did not ask for money... it seemed genuine.

Moreover, this world was exceedingly strange... far beyond his understanding.

The Lord had already formed a preliminary impression of this realm. The power of ancient demons... was of little consequence here.

He felt a frustration unlike any he'd ever experienced; even when sealed, he had never been led so passively.

Earlier, the Lord had used the Snake Talisman to quietly return to Yingdu City and soon noticed the small advertisement Su Jian had posted last night.

He then connected the content to himself.

Moreover, even the old beggar of Yonghe Street had vanished.

The Lord’s mood was complicated—this damned task...

Soon after,

The Lord, half skeptical, picked up the divination tube before him.

He gave it a gentle shake, then asked suspiciously, "Why are there only two lots inside?"

Su Jian patiently explained, "Did you think the Dao Ancestor's lots were as common as cabbages, to be drawn at will?"

"Each person has only two chances to draw lots. Make haste—the Dao Ancestor’s time is not to be wasted."

The Lord hesitated for a moment, ultimately abandoning other curiosities and silently contemplated the whereabouts of Xi Wang and Longhu.

"You may begin," Su Jian said calmly. The Lord, as long as his mind was sound, would not stray to matters outside his task.

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These two lots were prepared specifically for him.

The Lord drew both lots in succession and then examined them closely.

"Xi Wang... at the City Lord's mansion under the alias Mei Xianyi."

The Lord was deeply shocked and immediately looked at the second lot.

"Longhu was taken by the Punishment Division last night and is currently bound with the Demon Rope in their celestial prison."

"So accurate?" The Lord was pleasantly surprised.

"You little demon, your experience is shallow—you likely don’t even know what the Dao Ancestor truly is. Since you’ve received the answers you sought, do not linger before the Dao Ancestor," Su Jian issued the dismissal.

The Lord, grinning, sidled up to Su Jian, "Young brother, could you give me a few more lots..."

Yet the Lord’s smile, in Su Jian’s eyes, was somewhat unsettling.

Su Jian replied with a hint of disdain, "Let me send you on your way, then."

With that, Su Jian tossed a Great Teleportation Talisman.

The Lord—gone.

Peace returned instantly...

......

The Lord’s expression was slightly unnatural: "......"

He was suffering in silence; since arriving, not only was the beggar on the street difficult to handle, but even a nondescript temple boy wielded such extraordinary means.

Still, the temple’s lots had piqued his curiosity.

The humans had a saying: sincerity pierces stone.

He hurried toward the temple again, but this time, he did not intend to alert the little Daoist—he could not best Su Jian, but surely he could avoid him?

......

As soon as the Lord was sent away, Ouyang Feng arrived.

Su Jian, as usual, lounged leisurely in the rocking chair.

"Are you here to seek divination from the Dao Ancestor?"

Ouyang Feng paused, then responded, "Indeed, that is precisely why I came."

He cared little for those from beyond the heavens; his son was likely to come here, and that was his concern.

Ouyang Feng followed Su Jian into Sanqing Hall.

He was not unfamiliar with Daoists, and looked upon the clay statues of the Three Pure Ones.

Ouyang Feng mused, "Could the Dao Ancestor truly exist, and be honored even in this realm?"

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Su Jian, smiling, said, "Before the Daoist founder, you need only silently contemplate your desires, and from the lot you draw, you will find your answer."

Ouyang Feng frowned slightly, saying nothing, not trusting Su Jian’s words.

But since Ouyang Ke had yet to appear, and he had nothing else to do, there was no harm in trying.

His mind was full of thoughts of his son—he had no need to silently contemplate.

In the next moment, he decisively drew the sole lot.

It read, "Came for the son."

Ouyang Feng, unable to think further, urgently asked, "Why is there only half a sentence?"

Su Jian glanced at him, replying coolly, "Sincerity brings results. You were so negligent toward the Dao Ancestor; to receive half a sentence is already a mercy."

Ouyang Feng: "......"

It was too late for regret. He hurriedly asked, "Daoist, is there any remedy?"

"You ask me? How should I know? However..." Su Jian said, making a gesture for payment.

Ouyang Feng immediately understood, producing ten spirit stones, "Daoist, please accept this small token."

Su Jian did not stand on ceremony, slipping them into his storage ring before speaking slowly,

"I’ve heard the Dao Ancestor is quite interested in the incense specially made for our temple, but the materials are rare and not cheap."

He did not know how many spirit stones Ouyang Feng carried, but he would take whatever was offered.

He rather wished Ouyang Feng would help him gather more spirit stones, though now was not the time.

He could not linger long in this nameless temple, and he had no desire for prolonged dealings with Ouyang Feng.

Ouyang Feng’s expression stiffened, "How many spirit stones for one stick of incense?"

Su Jian replied with a smile, "That depends on how many spirit stones you have."

He could seize them by force, but there was no need.

Ouyang Feng did not hesitate, producing the storage ring issued by the Punishment Division.

"All my possessions are here. Is it enough for a stick of incense?"

He would pay any price to learn his son’s whereabouts.

Su Jian took it calmly, glancing inside.

Over eighty spirit stones?

Where did this old man get so many? Clearly, he had many ways to profit in the Punishment Division.