409: Chapter 53 Anomalies

"So what if that's the case?"

Facing Zhuge Qing's probing, Ma Xianhong countered, then introduced the meaning behind the organization he founded, the "New Interception," signifying the "New Interception Sect." He went on to state that he identified more with the inclusiveness of the Interception Sect during the Investiture of the Gods War.

Finally, he stated directly: "So, if I can exchange the Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements for two people to assist me, then I've truly made a huge profit."

After hearing Ma Xianhong's speech, Wang Ye couldn't help but give him a thumbs-up: "Impressive."

"Sect Leader, you are a straightforward person."

Saying this, he glanced at Meng Li beside him and asked curiously, "But this gentleman already knows the Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements. Sect Leader, what do you plan to offer to move him?"

Meng Li hadn't expected the topic to suddenly shift to him, but hearing the question, he too felt a bit curious.

Moreover, he sensed that Wang Ye seemed overly focused on him, someone he had just met.

Ma Xianhong, however, seemed oblivious.

He thought for a moment and replied: "Since you both call me 'Sect Leader,' I'll be magnanimous and make the decision. If Mr. Meng is willing to join the New Interception, he can serve as the Vice Sect Leader, ranking above the Superior Roots, and he can also share the profound secrets of the Self-Cultivation Furnace with me."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Qing was utterly astonished.

He had already witnessed the marvels of both the Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements and the Wind-After Odd Gates, considering them incredible and worthy of their status as peculiar skills.

But distinguishing which was superior was impossible; he could only say each had its own merits.

Yet, here, offering benefits to recruit, Ma Xianhong directly elevated Meng Li's status above Wang Ye's.

This indicated that Meng Li held a higher position in Ma Xianhong's heart than Wang Ye did.

Logically, as possessors of the Eight Peculiar Skills, their statuses should be equivalent, or perhaps Meng Li should even rank slightly lower than Wang Ye. This is because Meng Li's Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements were obtained from Ma Xianhong, whereas Wang Ye's Wind-After Odd Gates were due to his own opportunity, which Ma Xianhong did not possess.

From this perspective, Wang Ye's value and appeal to Ma Xianhong should be greater than Meng Li's.

Yet the reality was the exact opposite...

This Meng Li must be more than just someone who knows the Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements and met Ma Xianhong earlier.

Thinking of this, Zhuge Qing suddenly recalled that Ma Xianhong had previously mentioned he noticed him, Wang Ye, and Meng Li because of their connection.

Could it be because of this?

The problem was, he was certain he had only just met Meng Li.

For a moment, Zhuge Qing became even more bewildered.

Wang Ye, upon hearing Ma Xianhong's words, seemed to confirm something. He didn't dwell on the topic but rubbed his temples: "I can't handle much alcohol. When I drink too much, my head hurts. How about we call it a day?"

"Sect Leader, we will discuss what you mentioned further, Old Qing and I. As previously agreed, we'll give you an answer in a couple of days."

"Fine, I await your good news." Ma Xianhong's gaze flickered slightly, and he readily agreed.

The simple banquet thus concluded.

Meng Li was arranged by Ma Xianhong to stay in a courtyard not far away.

Upon reaching his room, he didn't lie down. Instead, he released several flying insect Magical Artifacts from his storage ring and sent them toward Zhuge Qing's and Wang Ye's residences.

His action wasn't intended to spy on the two, but rather so he wouldn't miss the ensuing excitement.

This was because Meng Li remembered Wang Ye strongly disapproved of Ma Xianhong's actions and had no intention of joining Biyou Village, yet he also didn't want to fight outright. Therefore, the highest probability was that Wang Ye would drag Zhuge Qing along to sneak away. However, Ma Xianhong was not someone easy to deal with, so a confrontation was highly likely between the two sides.

To Meng Li's surprise, as soon as the flying insects arrived, he overheard Zhuge Qing and Wang Ye chatting, and the subject of their conversation was him.

Zhuge Qing, holding a bottle of milk, asked Wang Ye: "Old Wang, you seem very concerned about that Mr. Meng."

Wang Ye, who was packing his luggage, nodded upon hearing this.

Zhuge Qing asked curiously: "Why?"

Wang Ye paused his actions and countered: "You know about Destiny Charts, right?"

Zhuge Qing nodded, then pondered thoughtfully: "Could it be that Meng Li has some kind of special Destiny Chart?"

Saying this, he began to recall Meng Li's facial features, but found nothing distinctive, though he didn't dwell on it. Although he was a sorcerer with profound family knowledge, his mastery in physiognomy and fortune-telling wasn't very deep, certainly not comparable to Wang Ye's.

Unexpectedly, Wang Ye replied: "I don't know. I can't see his Destiny Chart."

"You can't see it?" Zhuge Qing raised an eyebrow, showing astonishment.

In the view of professional sorcerers, all people in the world possess a Destiny Chart, which is basically unchangeable and discernible through facial features. Through generations of summation, the characteristics and types of the vast majority of Destiny Charts are known to insiders. For a sorcerer, especially one who has studied physiognomy and fortune-telling, the knowledge summarized by their predecessors is mandatory curriculum.

Related to this are certain special cases, and the inability to view a person's Destiny Chart is one of them.

If a person's Destiny Chart cannot be seen, there is only one possibility—the person is outside of Fate!

Everyone has a fate, thus existing within the confines of fate, subject to fixed decree.

This is the common principle of destiny, also known as the Heavenly Decree.

If one possesses a fate but exists outside of it, they are a variable contrary to the common principle, briefly called an "Anomaly."

Such an existence breaks the common principle, is difficult to restrain, and can easily become a menace if not handled carefully.

As far as Zhuge Qing knew, the most recent typical Anomaly was related to the Eight Peculiar Skills. He didn't know that person's name, only that they caused a great deal of chaos in The Realm of Extraordinary People at the time, being called the "Number One Troublemaker Under Heaven."

Thinking of this, Zhuge Qing suddenly understood why Wang Ye was so concerned about Meng Li.

Wang Ye noticed the change in Zhuge Qing's expression and spoke another astonishing statement: "I encountered someone else like this, whose Destiny Chart I couldn't see."

Zhuge Qing was even more surprised. Driven by a sorcerer's curiosity, he subconsciously asked: "When was that, and who was that person?"

Wang Ye replied: "During the Luotian Grand Ritual at Longhu Mountain. That person's name was—White, Sword, Immortal."

Zhuge Qing froze, then frowned: "It's almost impossible for multiple Anomalies to appear in a similar timeframe, or there will be a great calamity. The most typical example is during the Shang and Zhou dynasties when both Jiang Taigong and Shen Gongbao appeared as Anomalies, leading the Chan and Interception Sects to escalate from a debate of righteousness to an irreconcilable battle."

"But that was ancient times."

"In the current era, with the higher powers keeping things in check, something like that cannot happen."

Hearing this, Wang Ye smiled: "Have you never considered that the White Sword Immortal and Meng Li might be the same person?"

Zhuge Qing was stunned, then followed this line of thought, a flash of insight hitting his mind: "Magical Artifacts, Artifact Refiner, Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements!"

"Exactly!" Wang Ye praised, zipping up his backpack and urging Zhuge Qing: "Stop sitting around, hurry up and pack your bags!"

"Why pack?" Zhuge Qing took a sip of milk, asking a question he already knew the answer to.

Wang Ye pouted: "When did you, you fox, become such a naive fool? Pack your things and run! The thing that Sect Leader Ma created is a time bomb, and now with an Anomaly like Meng Li mixed in, who knows what kind of trouble will erupt later."

"If we don't run quickly, we might actually lose our lives!"

"Pack your bags, quickly, immediately, now!"