49: Qian Lao, who was going all in

Chu Qianqian left, feeling satisfied.

Quiet returned once more to the courtyard.

Lu Yi sat back down at the stone table, placed the pile of Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals left by Chu Qianqian on the table, picked up one of the scrolls, and began to study it carefully.

It had to be said that these techniques of the Hehuan Sect were indeed extraordinary.

Moves like the Dragon Flip, Tiger Walk, Ape Combat, and Cicada Cling... these were remarkably similar to knowledge he had acquired through certain channels back on Earth before his Transmigration.

Others, however, were truly things he had never heard of or seen before.

For instance, the "Flying Soaring Dragon," which required both parties to circulate spiritual energy simultaneously while in mid-air.

Or the "Nine-Turn Jade Ring," which required the use of a special Magical Artifact to perform.

"As expected of immortal cultivators..."

Lu Yi read with great interest, sighing with admiration in his heart.

Just as he was becoming engrossed, studying a high-difficulty Move called "Hanging Upside Down like a Golden Hook,"

A figure silently approached from behind him.

Ling'er had finished the chores Lu Yi had assigned and returned to report, only to find her master staring intently at a scroll.

She leaned down, curiously casting her gaze upon the scroll to see exactly what her master was looking at.

However, when she saw the diagrams of character Moves depicted there—strange in posture and extremely difficult—

Her large, innocent eyes were instantly filled with shock, and she subconsciously let out a cry of surprise:

"Wow! So... so it can actually be done like that!"

This sudden exclamation gave the engrossed Lu Yi a massive fright.

With a jerk of his hand, he slammed the scroll shut against the tabletop with a 'thwack'.

He whipped his head around to see Ling'er standing behind him with an expression that said her eyes had truly been opened.

Thick-skinned as Lu Yi was, his old face couldn't help but turn red, and he gave a light cough to ease his embarrassment.

Immediately, he straightened his face and changed the subject, inquiring in a serious tone:

"What's all the fuss about? Are the tasks I gave you finished? Or do you have something else to report?"

Ling'er suddenly snapped out of it, having almost forgotten her actual business.

She quickly tucked away her curiosity, stood up straight, and began to report respectfully:

"Reporting to Master, that Elder Qian you had me keep an eye on has made a new Move."

"Oh?"

"After his pathetic departure from the palace gates last time, he has been staying within the capital with his granddaughter, keeping his doors closed. No one knew what he was up to. But just today, the scouts reported that he has gone out again with that young girl."

Ling'er paused, adding the most crucial piece of information:

"Furthermore, the place they went to was that Drunken Immortal Tower. However... for some reason, the scouts say that when he went out this time, his entire aura was extremely withered. His hair has turned grey, and he staggers when he walks, as if he might collapse at any moment."

Lu Yi fell into deep thought as he listened to her report.

What was this old man up to now?

The Drunken Immortal Tower... that was where he had his conflict with Wu Yang.

For the old man to head there, could it be that he had set his sights on Wu Yang, another Son of Destiny?

If so, how did he manage to track Wu Yang down?

Lu Yi felt very curious about this.

After all, this Elder Qian had first accurately 'picked up' Lin Tian in the mountains.

Now, he seemed to have locked onto a new target. This ability to accurately track Sons of Destiny was something that he, as someone determined to be a great villain, absolutely needed to get his hands on.

Thinking of this, he decided to personally go and meet this mysterious Elder Qian.

He stood up immediately, preparing to head to the Drunken Immortal Tower.

Before leaving, Lu Yi didn't forget to point at the pile of Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals left by Chu Qianqian on the table, instructing Ling'er:

"Take these and study them diligently."

"Huh?" Ling'er was stunned.

A mischievous smile appeared on Lu Yi's face as he continued:

"When I return tonight, I'll be personally checking the results of your studies."

Ling'er turned her head, glanced at the pile of books, scrolls, and Jade Slips on the table, and couldn't help but ask:

"So... so many? I have to learn all of them?"

But by the time she turned back, Lu Yi's figure had already vanished from the courtyard.

She could only pout helplessly and walk to the table as if accepting her fate.

She picked up the scroll Lu Yi hadn't had time to close, her small face flushing slightly as she began to study seriously... Meanwhile, inside the Drunken Immortal Tower.

Elder Qian sat alone at a table near the entrance, waiting for something with an anxious expression.

His entire aura had withered to the extreme. His grey hair was disheveled, and his face was covered in deep wrinkles.

Even the hand he used to lift his teacup was trembling uncontrollably.

These were the painful consequences of forcibly using the Secret Method of Heavenly Mystery Divination.

Previously, he had expended his already meager Lifespan to divine the Heavenly Dao, which was how he had deduced the location where he could meet Lin Tian.

However, what he hadn't expected was that Lin Tian's Heart-Nature would be so unstable.

Not only did he fail to become someone his granddaughter could rely on, but he also caused Elder Qian to lose most of his savings.

Out of options, he had to look for a new prospect.

A few days ago, he had once again ignored his body's depletion and forcibly performed the secret method, attempting to find another person possessing great Luck.

Finally, he discovered that within the capital of the Xuanwu Kingdom, there was indeed another Person of Great Luck.

However, having learned his lesson from Lin Tian, he tried to continue divining this person's future fortune to see what their Heart-Nature was like, just to be safe.

But he never expected that this person's path of fate would be a bottomless abyss of Chaos!

He couldn't peer into it even the slightest bit!

The very instant he tried to forcibly peer in, he suffered a terrifying backlash from the Heavenly Dao!

Such secret methods were already Heaven-Defying acts; every use consumed his already dwindling Lifespan.

And this time, having suffered such a powerful backlash, Elder Qian's body—already on the verge of burning out—nearly exhausted all its vitality on the spot, almost causing him to drop dead.

Only today had he finally managed to catch his breath from that near-death state.

He had impatiently brought Qing'er to the only place he had divined where he could encounter this person: this very Drunken Immortal Tower.

He had no more Lifespan left for another divination.

This was his last chance, and the final gamble he could make for his granddaughter's future.

He could only hope that he hadn't misjudged the person this time, and that the person about to appear was someone worthy of his trust.

He estimated the hour again.

The time was almost right.

The person should be arriving.