5: Very bad luck

The night was as dark as ink, and the cold wind howled.

Inside the dilapidated house, Zhou Wannian sat cross-legged, with the familiar bronze tortoise shell placed on the wooden table in front of him.

The midnight had arrived.

Zhou Wannian's daily habit of seeking a divination at the exact time had become unshakable.

He rubbed his hands together and muttered silently in his heart:

"May I ask the secrets of heaven, what is tomorrow's fortune? Will there be any calamities?"

Buzz—

His Sea of Consciousness trembled.

However, this time, the originally warm bronze light did not appear. In its place was a heart-palpitating blood-red glow.

The tortoise shell shook violently as if giving a warning. Immediately after, a massive and hideous blood-colored ancient seal script, carrying a heavy Evil Qi, was fiercely imprinted into Zhou Wannian's Sea of Consciousness:

[Misfortune!]

Zhou Wannian's heart jumped, and the hair all over his body stood on end.

Following that, a line of intermittent divination text appeared beneath the blood-colored words:

[Today's Divination: Great Misfortune.]

[Ominous Direction: Southeast, Black Wind Ridge.]

[Divination Text: Greed arises, a death tribulation is born. There is no Treasure Trove within the ancient Immortal Cave, only withered bones accompanied by a Yin wind. Five travel together, a narrow escape from death.]

[Avoid: Traveling in groups, exploration. Favor: Losing wealth, quiet cultivation.]

"A narrow escape from death..."

Zhou Wannian looked at those four bloody words and sucked in a breath of cold air.

Fortunately, I asked for a divination!

If not for this Golden Finger's warning, and if I had a sudden whim tomorrow to head southeast for a stroll, I probably wouldn't even know how I died... The next morning.

Just as dawn was breaking, a rapid pounding on the door broke the silence of the early morning.

"Wannian! Wannian! Open up quickly! I have good news!"

Zhou Wannian opened his eyes dazedly. Hearing this voice, his brows furrowed instantly.

It was the original owner's former fair-weather friend, Wang Dachui.

This Wang Dachui lived up to his name, being big and burly. His cultivation was at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, and he had a straightforward personality but not much of a brain. Before the original owner was swindled by Li Mazi, the relationship between the two was quite good.

Zhou Wannian remembered last night's "Misfortune Divination," and alarm bells rang in his heart. He slowly moved to the door, not removing the table blocking it, and only asked through the crack:

"It's Dachui. What's the matter so early in the morning?"

"Oh, open the door first!"

Wang Dachui stamped his feet in anxiety outside. "A huge Opportunity! If we're late, someone else will snatch it!"

Zhou Wannian was speechless in his heart. Opportunity? An Opportunity to be reincarnated?

He feigned weakness and coughed twice. "Cough cough... Dachui, I've caught a cold these past two days and I'm not feeling well. I'm afraid of passing the illness to you. If there's anything, just say it like this."

Wang Dachui outside was stunned for a moment, then lowered his voice, his tone leaking uncontrollable excitement:

"Wannian, have you heard? Someone discovered an ancient Cultivator's Immortal Cave in Black Wind Ridge to the southeast where they passed away! It's said that Cultivator was a big expert at the Foundation Establishment Stage when they were alive!"

Southeast? Black Wind Ridge? Ancient Cultivator's Immortal Cave?

As soon as these keywords came out, Zhou Wannian immediately matched them with last night's divination text.

It really came!

"You know 'One-Eyed Zhao,' Brother Zhao from our market, right? He's a skilled hand at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining! Brother Zhao organized a group and is short two people. I specifically begged him for a long time to save a spot for you! As long as we follow Brother Zhao inside, even if we just get a sip of the soup or pick up a few broken Magical Artifacts, it'll be enough to sustain us for three years!"

Wang Dachui spoke with spittle flying, as if the Foundation Establishment Cultivator's inheritance was already in his pocket.

If it were the old Zhou Wannian, or any other bottom-tier Loose Cultivator eager to turn their life around, hearing that a big shot at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining was leading the team, they would have probably rushed out in a heat of the moment.

But the current Zhou Wannian only felt a chill down his spine.

"Um... Dachui."

Zhou Wannian's voice sounded even more weak and timid. "For such a big matter, I... I think I won't go. You know, I'm only at the Qi Refining Second Layer; going would just hold everyone back. Besides, I'm short on funds lately and can't afford Detoxification Pills or Talismans..."

"Why are you so indecisive!"

At this moment, another sharp and mean voice came from outside, clearly not Wang Dachui's.

"Fatty Wang, didn't I say this Zhou Wannian is a coward who's like mud that can't stick to a wall? You just had to call him. A trash at the Qi Refining Second Layer is just a burden if we take him along; we might even have to waste our attention protecting him."

The speaker was a male Cultivator as thin as a monkey, standing behind Wang Dachui with a face full of impatience.

Wang Dachui was a bit embarrassed but still tried to persuade him: "Wannian, this is a rare Opportunity! Why do we cultivate? Isn't it just to gamble for longevity? If you're afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind, when will you ever get ahead?"

"Dachui, I really can't go."

Zhou Wannian's tone was firm. To completely dispel the other's thoughts, he even belittled himself: "I'm a coward and I cherish my life. I just want to live aimlessly in the shantytown. I don't have the fortune to enjoy such a great Opportunity."

"Hmph, a piece of trash indeed."

The monkey-like Cultivator sneered and pulled Wang Dachui. "Alright Fatty, stop wasting time on him. If he doesn't want to go, plenty of people are scrambling to. Any later and Brother Zhao will get angry."

Wang Dachui looked at the closed, broken door, a flash of regret in his eyes like one disappointed in someone's lack of ambition.

"Sigh! Wannian, oh Wannian, what can I say about you! Forget it, since you insist, I won't force you. When I come back after making a fortune, I'll treat you to a drink!"

After saying that, Wang Dachui turned to leave.

Inside the house, Zhou Wannian looked through the crack in the door at Wang Dachui's broad but defenseless back, and a hint of compassion ultimately stirred in his heart.

Although he didn't want to get involved in Karma, this Wang Dachui hadn't harmed the original owner after all; instead, he had even helped him out with two steamed buns when he was down and out.

"Dachui!"

Zhou Wannian suddenly called out to stop him.

"What? Had a change of heart?" Wang Dachui turned back in surprise.

"No."

Through the door panel, Zhou Wannian said in a low tone, "My eyelids have been twitching these past two days. I've heard from elders that the Yin Qi is heavy over at Black Wind Ridge. If you believe me... it's best if you don't go this time either."

"Huh?"

The monkey-like Cultivator next to him laughed exaggeratedly as if he had heard a massive joke: "Fatty Wang, listen to this! Not only does this coward not dare to go himself, but he also wants to curse us so we can't go? This jealousy is acting up really fast!"

The smile on Wang Dachui's face also froze.

He originally had some sympathy for Zhou Wannian, but now only disappointment remained. He felt that Zhou Wannian lacked courage himself and therefore didn't want his friend to strike it rich.

"Wannian, you... take care of yourself."

Wang Dachui shook his head, no longer lingering, and strode away with the monkey-like Cultivator, quickly disappearing into the morning mist.

Inside the house.

Zhou Wannian withdrew his gaze and sighed softly.

"Good advice cannot save a ghost destined to die."

He had already done all he could... Although he refused the exploration, Zhou Wannian had not forgotten the other hint in the divination text:

[Favor: Losing wealth, quiet cultivation.]

"Spending money to avoid disaster; since the Heavenly Dao wants me to spend money, then this money must be spent."

When the sun was high in the sky and he estimated that Wang Dachui and the others were far away, Zhou Wannian changed into his "Earthworm Daoist" outfit. But this time, he didn't go to the stall area; instead, he headed straight for the most legitimate Medicinal Pill shop in the market—Spring Return Pavilion.

His current cultivation had been stuck at the Qi Refining Second Layer Bottleneck for a long time. The original owner was poor and couldn't afford Medicinal Pills, so he could only rely on grinding away using the thin Spiritual Qi in the market, which was extremely inefficient.

Now that he had Spirit Stones in hand, it was time to spend some money.

"Shopkeeper, I'll take a bottle of 'Yellow Dragon Pills'."

Zhou Wannian lowered his bamboo hat and slapped three Spirit Stones onto the counter.

These three Spirit Stones were hard-earned money from drawing Talismans day and night over the past few days. Spending them now made his heart bleed.

Yellow Dragon Pills were the most commonly used Medicinal Pills for improving dharmic power in the Early Stage of Qi Refining. They had mild properties and came in bottles of three. For a Cultivator at the Qi Refining Second Layer, this was simply a luxury.

"Alright! Here you go, customer!"

The shopkeeper, accustomed to such sights, nimbly wrapped the medicine bottle.

Zhou Wannian didn't dare to linger. Clutching the Medicinal Pills, he quickly slipped back to the shantytown like a startled rabbit.

Close the door, lock it, block it with the table.

The series of actions was as smooth as flowing water.

Sitting on the bed, Zhou Wannian poured out a slightly yellow Medicinal Pill that emitted a faint medicinal fragrance.

"Three Spirit Stones ah..."

"Wang Dachui and the others are risking their lives to seek wealth. I'm spending money to save mine."

"I hope this loss of wealth really can ward off disaster."

Zhou Wannian took a deep breath and tilted his head back to swallow the Medicinal Pill.

Boom!

The Medicinal Pill entered his stomach and instantly transformed into a stream of heat, rushing toward his limbs and bones. His Meridians, like parched land meeting sweet rain, let out a joyful shiver, and the originally stagnant spiritual power began to circulate frantically.

Zhou Wannian immediately closed his eyes and concentrated, circulating that common "Everlasting Spring Art" to begin refining the medicinal power.

Outside the window, the cold wind was piercing, and it seemed as if the sounds of fighting and screams could be heard faintly from afar.

Inside the house, it was warm and cozy. The youth kept his eyes tightly shut, his aura rising bit by bit.