440: Chapter 440 The Trapped Dragon's Predicament

[You slowly approach.]

[You stop three zhang away from her.]

[Then, you raise your hand and release a streak of spiritual light.]

[That spiritual light contains the Law Power from Space Law, spreading silently and completely isolating this floor.]

[Liu Qing finally turns her head.]

[She looks at you, her gaze slightly cold, and says nothing.]

[You sit down opposite her, your expression calm: "Are you Liu Qing?"]

[Liu Qing still doesn't respond, merely staring at you.]

[You give a small smile.]

["Asura Demon Venerable sent me to find you."]

[The moment the words 'Asura Demon Venerable' leave your mouth, Liu Qing's expression finally changes.]

[Her pupils contract slightly as her gaze sweeps over you. After several breaths, she lets out a cold laugh:]

["So it turns out... you were the one behind the incident at the Liu Clan Territory."]

[Only someone personally informed by the Asura Demon Venerable could speak that name and know to look for her.]

[Furthermore—others might not notice that trace of the Demon Seed's aura lingering on you, but how could she possibly miss it?]

[And so, she remembers your name.]

[You do not deny it.]

["Lady Liu," you speak directly, "I need a teleportation permit to leave the Heavenly Palace's sphere of influence."]

[Liu Qing stares at you for a while before shaking her head: "In the past, it was possible. Now... even I cannot get out."]

[Your brow furrows—Liu Qing is at the Void Refining stage and holds no small position, yet even she cannot leave?]

["Is there no way at all?"]

[Liu Qing does not answer directly.]

[She picks up her teacup, takes a sip, and then asks in return: "The Demon Seed is so precious, yet you actually used it in the Liu Clan Territory?"]

[She pauses, her gaze turning sharp: "Are you not afraid the Demon Venerable will hold you accountable?"]

[You merely smile without responding and immediately stand up: "Since you are unwilling to tell me, then I shall take my leave."]

[With that, you turn to walk away.]

[As you take two steps, Liu Qing's voice carries over: "Unless you can follow certain people out, such as those from other top-tier forces."]

[You turn to look at Liu Qing and smile while cupping your hands: "Many thanks!"]

[After leaving,]

[You walk down the street, your brow tightly knit.]

[The path of the teleportation permit is a dead end; what else can be done?]

[The other four top-tier forces—Kunlun Dao Academy, Wuji Immortal Sect, Xuanyuan Immortal Clan, and Canglan Holy Land—who would come to the Heavenly Palace for no reason?]

[Even if someone did come, how could you convince them to take you away?]

[The more you think, the more frustrated you become.]

[As you walk, a fortune-telling stall by the roadside catches your attention.]

[The stall owner is an old man with snow-white hair and beard. His gaze is deep, and he is looking at you with a beaming smile.]

["Young Master, I see a cloud of worry on your face. Why not have a divination? Perhaps it can resolve the troubles in your heart."]

[You glance at him, shake your head with a smile, and continue walking.]

[These kinds of street fortune-tellers are everywhere, just looking to swindle a few Spirit Stones.]

[However—]

[Just as you take a step, a flash appears before your eyes.]

[The old man, at some unknown moment, is already standing in front of you, blocking your path.]

[Your pupils suddenly constrict.]

[This person... is a hidden master!]

[You didn't detect any spatial fluctuations at all, yet he appeared before you out of thin air.]

[This level of strength clearly indicates that his mastery of Space Law has reached an unfathomable depth.]

[What makes your heart race even more is that even though he is standing right there, you cannot perceive the depths of his power at all.]

[His aura is ethereal, as if he were an ordinary person, yet also like a bottomless abyss.]

[Definitely no ordinary person.]

[You steady your mind and do not act rashly.]

[The old man strokes his snow-white beard, looks you up and down a few times, and suddenly sighs:]

["Little friend, I see that your forehead is dark and your Ziwei star is dim. I fear... a great disaster is imminent."]

[As he speaks, he pinches his fingers to calculate, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter:]

["Tsk, tsk, tsk... A Trapped Dragon Formation. A dragon trapped in the shallows, surrounded by enemies on all sides."]

["This tribulation... is a narrow escape from death."]

[Your heart jolts.]

[This old man... is not simple.]

[You possess the Heavenly Fate Dao Embryo; although you cannot calculate for yourself, even Gu Jing's Soul Transformation cultivation could not see through your fate.]

[This old man spoke a few casual words and could actually state your current predicament?]

[What does he want?]

[If he knows who you are, why hasn't he sold you out to the Heavenly Palace?]

[Suppressing the shock and suspicion in your heart, you cup your hands and smile: "Senior has a Wisdom Eye. I wonder if this Junior's predicament... has a solution?"]

[The old man strokes his beard and nods with satisfaction: "For the sake of the fate between us, this old man shall point out a path of survival for you."]

[He pauses, his gaze as deep as an abyss, and says word for word: "Go east for a hundred days; the Heavenly Mandate Legacy is the only way to defy fate."]

[As soon as the words fall, you are about to ask further—but no one is left before you.]

[The old man has vanished without a trace, as if he had never existed.]

[Only the wind on the street remains, making your robes flutter loudly.]

[You stand in place, speechless for a long time.]

[Go east for a hundred days?]

[Heavenly Mandate Legacy?]

[The only way to defy fate?]

["Venerable Tianming?" You are shocked.]

[The meaning of these words couldn't be clearer—after going east for a hundred days, you will meet the Venerable Tianming, and only by taking him as your master can you change your Heaven-Defying fate.]

["Why would the Venerable Tianming take me as a Disciple?" you calculate in your heart.]

[The more you think, the more panicked you become, and for a moment, you don't even dare to go home.]

[You immediately find a tavern, stay there, and begin to think of a counter-strategy.]

[Three days later,]

[You have made up your mind.]

[Go and become a Disciple.]

[A Disciple of the Venerable Tianming.]

[When this thought first emerged, even you felt it was absurd.]

[You know better than anyone what kind of person the Venerable Tianming is—he has killed you, and more than once.]

[He stands on the side of the Liu Clan, on the opposite side of you.]

[On this chessboard, he is the opponent you dread the most.]

[But on second thought, you feel you are overthinking it.]

[This time, from beginning to end, the Venerable Tianming has not seen you.]

[He doesn't know—your opinion of him.]

[He doesn't know—that he has killed you.]

[He doesn't even know—that you consider him an enemy.]

[You recall the events of the past—from the Liu Clan Territory to Ziyang Star, to today.]

[In the eyes of the Venerable Tianming, who are you?]

[A 'talent' who stirs up trouble.]

[A 'pawn' worth recruiting.]

[A 'venomous snake' that isn't afraid of death.]

[Nothing more.]

[You suddenly feel like laughing.]

[This series of accidental collisions has actually caused you to inexplicably stand on the side of the 'villain.']

[So be it.]

[You know that the Venerable Tianming choosing you as a Disciple is definitely not a whim.]

[He must have his purpose.]

[As for what it is, you don't know.]

[But this is indeed a path to survival.]

[Only by entering the game yourself will you have a chance to see the full picture of this chessboard.]

[And so, you set out.]

[The spirit boat pierces through the air, heading straight to the east.]