431: Zhou Tailai

On Qingyang Peak.

A gentle figure, with white ribbons fluttering behind her, slowly walked along the path.

Zhou Family Disciples, each with a snake-patterned zhou character token hanging at their waist and wearing various styles of uniform robes, saw this gentle figure.

They all respectfully bowed with solemn expressions.

The gentle figure nodded in response to each of them.

A soft, flowing stream of spiritual power rose from below, lifting up each bowing figure.

Since her journey to the Xutuo Ancient Realm, Zhou Liyue had been in seclusion for many years, diligently studying the profound Formation Legacy she obtained from the Xutuo Ancient Realm.

Thus, she appeared less frequently within the Zhou Family.

However, this did not diminish the respect and affection the Zhou Family Disciples held for her.

Her Cultivation had progressed, and the Family was stable and secure.

This was indeed an excellent time.

Looking at the expressions and appearances of the Zhou Family Disciples, Zhou Liyue felt satisfied.

Before long, on the way to the Zhou Family School.

On a large round stone, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy sat cross-legged.

The boy wore a scholar's cap, held a feather fan, and gently fanned himself. His features were proper, with round eyes and thick eyebrows, and his eyes seemed to twinkle with stars.

Between his knees lay a dusty round disk, upon which numerous patterns were carved.

The patterns were slightly distorted, as if the carver was doing it for the first time.

At this moment, the boy was muttering to himself, though it was unclear what he was saying.

His gaze was unfocused, yet he did not appear dazed.

Instead, there was a hint of profound mystery about him.

As the boy murmured in a low voice, various figures of different ages gathered below the large round stone.

They were all holding their breath, not daring to make a sound.

The scene was silent, save for the gentle chirping of birds.

A moment later, the boy's feather fan paused, and a divine light suddenly flashed in his eyes.

"I've got it!" the boy exclaimed involuntarily.

The dusty round disk between his knees seemed to glow.

"Ten days from now, head towards the direction of the sunset, and you shall have a harvest."

The boy pointed with his feather fan, speaking to a slightly younger boy who was nervously watching him.

"Many thanks for the guidance, Brother Tailai!" At this, the boy pointed at by the feather fan showed a hint of joy.

He sincerely expressed his gratitude.

"This is the divination fee."

After thanking him, the boy took out several Spirit Stones and handed them over.

"We are all Clan brothers; there's no need for this, is there?"

The boy sitting cross-legged saw the Spirit Stones being offered.

A divine light flashed in his large, star-filled eyes.

Zhou Tailai smilingly accepted the several Spirit Stones, his large eyes curving into crescent moons.

"It's my turn... it's my turn..."

The crowd gathered below came forward one after another.

"Don't rush, don't rush, one at a time."

"We are all Clan brothers; none will be left out for sure."

Zhou Tailai grinned, speaking in a clear voice.

When Zhou Liyue passed by this spot, she happened upon this scene.

"Ancestor Yue!"

A sharp-eyed young Disciple had already spotted the gentle figure.

His heart tensed, and he quickly straightened his robes.

He bowed in greeting.

As a Zhou Family Disciple, he naturally recognized Zhou Liyue.

"Ah?"

Hearing a Disciple greet her, the surrounding Disciples all rose, and like the young Disciple before, bowed respectfully.

On the giant stone, Zhou Tailai was startled.

He quickly jumped down from the giant stone and bowed alongside his fellow Clan Disciples.

His heart, however, was somewhat uneasy.

His charlatan-like appearance must have been seen by Ancestor Yue.

More importantly, he had even accepted Spirit Stones.

Zhou Tailai's heart was in turmoil.

Although he was not a swindler, he couldn't guarantee the accuracy of his divinations.

After all, he had only been practicing this method of fate calculation for two years.

Speaking of this method of fate calculation, it was found among the Cultivation Techniques and classics collected by the Tianji Pavilion when it was destroyed.

It was categorized and placed in the Zhou Family Cultivation Manual Tower.

Some of these elementary divination techniques were placed on the first and second floors of the Cultivation Manual Tower.

When Zhou Tailai first saw these peculiar classics, he developed a deep interest in them and showed exceptional talent in this area.

By today, among the Zhou Family Disciples of the 'Tai' generation, he had already earned the reputation of a "Little Divine Diviner."

This made Zhou Tailai quite proud.

He had been exceptionally lucky since childhood.

Falling and picking up Spirit Stones, getting lost and finding Spirit Fruits, and discovering treasure maps when going out were all routine occurrences.

For a long time, Zhou Tailai's parents were somewhat suspicious, wondering if Zhou Tailai was not their biological child.

This exceptional luck alarmed Zhou Leyi.

However, after several Golden Core Elders of the Zhou Family examined him, they couldn't draw any conclusions.

This luck also extended to his divination skills.

There were quite a few Clan members interested in these divination methods, but few could calculate as accurately as he could.

Therefore, so many people gathered here.

"No need for such formality."

Zhou Liyue gently waved her hand, lifting up all those who were bowing.

Then, Zhou Liyue nodded and walked past the crowd.

After Zhou Liyue departed, everyone slowly let out a sigh of relief.

As an existence whose seniority in the Zhou Family was second only to the Old Ancestor, although Zhou Liyue was gentle and approachable, with an excellent temperament, and often showed care for the younger generation, she also served as the head of the Zhou Family School.

Therefore, every young Zhou Family Disciple could be considered Zhou Liyue's student.

Thus, everyone always felt an inexplicable tension when facing Zhou Liyue.

Zhou Tailai's uneasy heart calmed down.

"Everyone, that's all for today."

Zhou Tailai's heart stirred, and he quickly slipped away.

He sped past the crowd, quickly departing.

Ancestor Yue had come out of seclusion and gone to the Family School.

She would surely examine the Cultivation progress of their 'Tai' generation Disciples.

At this time, he had neglected his Cultivation quite a bit these past two years.

Zhou Tailai felt guilty and prepared to cram at the last minute.

Zhou Liyue, who was walking straight ahead, took in everyone's expressions and actions.

Seeing the figure wearing a scholar's cap and holding a feather fan hastily fleeing, she let out a soft chuckle.

She had known about Zhou Tailai's exceptional luck since he was a child.

Not only her, but Zhou Leren also knew.

However, both of them had consulted ancient texts but had never found any specific explanation.

After all, luck was too ethereal and could not be quantified.

Although there weren't many records in the ancient texts, there were some related sayings: "When things reach an extreme, they can only get better" and "When things reach an extreme, they will reverse."

She and Zhou Leren had already informed Zhou Leyi about these matters within the Clan, and presumably, Zhou Leyi had also warned Zhou Tailai.

As for this divination technique, it was a unique and wonderful art of the Tianji Pavilion, with infinite uses.

If Zhou Tailai, with his strange and exceptional luck, could cultivate the art of divination to a profound level, it could provide him with an extra layer of protection.

Zhou Liyue thought about it and decided to pay special attention to Zhou Tailai during the upcoming assessment.

After all, Cultivation was the foundation of one's existence... One month later, on Qingyang Peak.

Inside an Immortal Cave, the seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy, wearing a scholar's cap and holding a feather fan, frowned deeply.

His face was troubled as he looked at the pile of Jade Slips floating before him.

He was on the verge of tears.

He suspected that his good luck had run out.

How long would it take him to read so many Jade Slips... These were all tasks assigned by Ancestor Yue herself during this year's Family School assessment because of his poor performance.

"Sigh..."