Chapter 1024: Compass in Hand to Calculate the World, Gods and Ghosts Cannot Predict the Heavenly Dao

Dao Qiongcang finished speaking, tapping the round table lightly with his finger, and looked up at everyone.

The elders nodded profusely, like chickens pecking at rice.

"You're right."

"Your analysis makes a lot of sense."

"Please continue."

Although everyone seemed to adopt a passive or "lying flat" attitude on the surface, the Ten-Person Council meeting was, in fact, extremely important.

Before the meeting, everyone had gathered general information about the Yunlun Mountain Range incident in the Eastern Region through their respective channels.

Of course, no one knew as many details as Dao Qiongcang.

However, trying to find fault in Dao Qiongcang's words was something members of the Ten-Person Council had been attempting for decades.

So far, they hadn't succeeded...

But trying was the only way to have a chance, wasn't it?

"As for Ai Cangsheng, during this process, he fired an arrow..."

Dao Qiongcang paused, then changed the subject, looking at the man on the wheelchair holding the Evil Sin Bow. Everyone's gaze simultaneously shifted with his.

"This arrow was aimed at an unknown water-affinity Origin Seeker.

"I don't know who he is, but if there isn't a third grassroots genius, that person is either Yu Lingdi, who was controlled, or Yu Mo, who is deceased.

"You should have some impression of these two names; they were both Spirit Division Chiefs, our own people."

"I won't elaborate on the intricacies here; you can ponder it yourselves."

As Dao Qiongcang stopped speaking, the pupils of many senior elders constricted.

Two suspected Spirit Division Chiefs?

In other words...

Traitors?

Everyone felt that there were definitely many hidden complexities if they delved deeper into the matter.

However, trying to outsmart Dao Qiongcang was utterly futile. So, the elders continued to stare at Dao Qiongcang.

Dao Qiongcang was speechless.

"Sigh."

He sighed.

"Leaving other matters aside for now, that water-affinity Origin Seeker set up a trap in a place called 'Solitary Sound Cliff.'

"This trap snared too many powerful cultivators from the Five Domains.

"Under the Grand Void, countless cultivators at the Path Severing and Path Realm levels were involved, but we won't count them.

"However, there were at least over twenty to thirty Grand Void cultivators, and likely a Half-Saint – the latter I just deduced."

A Half-Saint?

Hearing about a Half-Saint, all the elders were startled; their intelligence reports did not mention this.

But clearly, if Dao Qiongcang said it, it had to be accurate.

This meant that their subordinates' intelligence-gathering methods were truly subpar.

No one spoke.

The elders continued to gaze at Dao Qiongcang. At this moment, no statement was as precise as his "one-sided account."

Under their many gazes, Dao Qiongcang paused for a long time before flipping his left hand and producing a compass.

"It's here..."

Seeing the compass, everyone's hearts tightened with anticipation.

This thing was simply not meant for human use!

It was said that with just this one compass, Dao Qiongcang could calculate everything under heaven.

Whether it was the Heavenly Path, the Saint Path, life and death, reincarnation, opportunities, treasures, fortune and misfortune, or even predestined marriages—everything could be resolved with a single reading of this disk.

Previously, no one believed such an outlandish claim.

But as the Ten-Person Council met more frequently, even the most skeptical had to believe.

Yet, even if they were to obtain this compass, they wouldn't know how to use it.

This was because it only resonated with Heavenly Mechanism arts, and to fully utilize its intricate functions, it required a supreme "brain."

Throughout the heavens and earth, only one person could create such an unparalleled compass and master its elaborate workings: Dao Qiongcang.

The Heavenly Mechanism Compass pulsed with Saint Power. It featured complex configurations like the Five Elements characters, Heavenly Stems, and Earthly Branches, while its central concave disk was engraved with the Eight Trigrams, with raised divination lines.

A single glance was enough to make one's eyes blur and head spin.

"Click-clack..."

As the Heavenly Mechanism Compass appeared, faint mechanical sounds echoed through the hall. This was evidence of its ceaseless operation, constantly calculating the world's heavenly mechanisms.

Above the compass, there was a star dipper, with its head pointing north and handle pointing south.

However, at this moment, the entire base plate tilted slightly towards the east.

"The power of fortune is concentrated in the East... that's why the Heavenly Mechanism Compass leans eastward," Yan Wuse said, stroking his beard, a profound expression on his face. "This means that all major events in the world are currently unfolding in the Eastern Region's Sword God Heavens."

Everyone was speechless.

"What's the point of stating the obvious?"

Who didn't know that Dao Qiongcang was about to calculate what happened in the Eastern Region's Sword God Heavens?

Without even looking at the Heavenly Mechanism Compass, wasn't this information already clearly written in the reports submitted by his subordinates?

As the Heavenly Mechanism Compass was brought out, even the Elemental God Envoy Zhong Yuanzi lifted his head from his explosion research, followed the general reaction, and stared speechlessly at Yan Wuse, who had spoken.

"Hehehe..." Yan Wuse chuckled awkwardly.

Could he be blamed?

He had watched Dao Qiongcang use this thing for so long, and this was the only insight he had managed to gain.

As for the knowledge on the compass disk... among those present, who could explain even a bit of it, besides Dao Qiongcang?

"Elder Yan is clever."

Dao Qiongcang lifted his eyelids and offered a word of praise, causing Yan Wuse's old face to flush. Then, Dao Qiongcang held the compass in his left hand and began forming hand seals with his right.

Soon, under everyone's gaze, the mechanical sounds of the compass accelerated, and the star dipper trembled slightly.

Below, the water element character activated; the Heavenly Stems pointed to Ren and Gui; the Eight Gates rotated, stopping at Death and Injury; the trigram lines connected, shifting between long and short...

Everyone around the round table was dazzled and bewildered, impressed by something they couldn't understand.

"Buzz..."

Soon, the Heavenly Mechanism Compass stopped operating, and a red light, almost blood-colored, flashed above it.

"An ill omen!"

Yan Wuse slammed the table and stood up, pointing at the Heavenly Mechanism Compass. With a solemn expression, he declared, "This is a great ill omen, and judging by the intensity of this red light, it might even signify a catastrophe of bloodshed!"

Everyone was speechless.

Killer God Wei Feng's lips twitched. He said irritably, "Then perhaps Elder Yan would care to explain it to us all?"

"Hehehe..." Yan Wuse awkwardly settled back into his high-backed chair.

Explain?

He must be joking!

He had only attended a few meetings and merely deduced the color conclusions: "white is normal," "gold is opportunity," and "red is a bad omen."

To truly discuss the process behind it...

Was this something a human could even understand?

Who could possibly figure it out?

"If you don't understand, don't babble."

Killer God Wei Feng grumbled a few more words, then, along with everyone else, turned his gaze back to Dao Qiongcang.

Dao Qiongcang glanced at the Heavenly Mechanism Compass, then looked at the people around the round table and said:

"My calculations are a bit complex, so I'll explain them one by one."

"The first meaning of the water element in the Five Phases is, naturally, that the trap at Solitary Sound Cliff was indeed set by that water-affinity Origin Seeker.

"Combined with the Heavenly Stems, this relates to the Half-Saint you all are concerned about... To be honest, the Holy Divine Palace didn't send me any information indicating Half-Saint involvement in this scheme.

"However, Ren and Gui correspond to water and the north. From this, it's not difficult to deduce that this Half-Saint, acting independently, should be primarily investigated in the Northern Region.

"Ren and Gui have an extremely high affinity with water. In Heavenly Mechanism divination, we don't speak of coincidences, only guidance. This implies that this Half-Saint and the water-affinity Origin Seeker likely have a connection, or even a collusion..."

Yan Wuse interrupted in surprise, "He's insane?!"

A Half-Saint from the Northern Region, especially if from a Half-Saint noble family, acting independently without the Holy Divine Palace's authorization—everyone knew what that implied, even if they just thought about it with their toes.

Moreover, Dao Qiongcang also said that this Half-Saint and the water-affinity Origin Seeker had a shared agenda...

The latter was an enemy!

Wouldn't a Half-Saint acting this way be seeking their own demise?

"Noisy!"

Elder Yu finally couldn't bear it anymore. He gave Yan Wuse a hard rap on the head with his fishing rod, then looked at Dao Qiongcang, his eyes still wide with surprise. "Continue," he urged.

This human lad was truly something!

He could gain so much information with just this old compass?

How was this any different from the Lord of Heavenly Dao?

Were Heavenly Mechanism arts really this powerful?

For a moment, Elder Yu again felt the urge to learn Heavenly Mechanism arts, but he quickly suppressed the impulse.

Humans couldn't even master this, let alone his race, which wasn't known for its wisdom.

Dao Qiongcang paused, then continued:

"The Eight Gates stopped between 'Death' and 'Injury.' Elder Yan Wuse was correct; this situation is an ill omen, indicating either death or severe injury.

"Even with a Half-Saint's involvement, it's still such a dire omen, which means Rao Yaoyao is under immense pressure and likely can't handle it alone.

"Perhaps, senior elders, you truly need to shift your positions and consider intervening.

"As for the trigram lines..."

"Wait!" Before Dao Qiongcang could finish, the Nine Sacrifices Osmanthus Spirit Body interrupted, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment. "When you said Rao Yaoyao couldn't attend the meeting earlier, were you actually saying she participated in the Eastern Region's operation?"

"Yes, she's leading it," Dao Qiongcang looked over. "Is there a problem?"

Nine Sacrifices Osmanthus fell silent. After a long moment, she asked, "Isn't she still a Grand Void, like young Wuyue, not yet a Half-Saint?"

"That's correct," Dao Qiongcang nodded.

Even Half-Saints found it difficult to move.

That's why the only two positions within the Ten-Person Council requiring extensive external action, the Law-Enforcing Sovereigns, were held by Grand Void cultivators:

Wuyue and Rao Yaoyao.

If they didn't act, who would?

"Then, did you calculate this to be an ill omen beforehand?" Nine Sacrifices Osmanthus asked, looking at the blood-red light on the Heavenly Mechanism Compass, still puzzled.

"I did," Dao Qiongcang nodded.

"You knew, and you still let her go? She's still just a child..." Nine Sacrifices Osmanthus became anxious.

The crucial point wasn't just that Rao Yaoyao was young, but that her abilities and experience weren't enough to lead such a major undertaking.

Her surname was Rao; how could she be sent on such a critical mission without reaching the Half-Saint cultivation level?

There was a Half-Saint involved in this.

She should at least have a Half-Saint accompanying her...

Dao Qiongcang knew what Lady Nine Sacrifices Osmanthus was thinking and smiled. "That's why I approved the dispatch of the Mysterious Azure Divine Sword. With Mysterious Azure there, she won't be in danger."

"But..." Nine Sacrifices Osmanthus was still worried.

"Lady Nine Sacrifices, you worry too much. What you can think of, young Dao can certainly think of. If he dares to do this, he definitely has his reasons," Elder Yu said, looking at Dao Qiongcang with indifference. "Isn't that right?"

Everyone's gaze turned to Dao Qiongcang again. He let out a soft laugh and nodded.

"Rao Yaoyao lacks tempering. This time, facing the schemes of Ba Zun'an and others alone is the best training for her.

"If this operation succeeds, her mind will be strengthened, and with unwavering conviction in the Path, it will greatly benefit her cultivation and growth, allowing her to advance further and lead even larger operations in the future."

"What if she fails?" Nine Sacrifices Osmanthus pressed.

How could she not know the true capabilities of that little girl who used to play around her main body, enjoyed breaking branches to practice swordplay, and would eat a bite of osmanthus cake whenever she was hungry?

If Dao Qiongcang faced Ba Zun'an, it would be fine.

Rao Yaoyao?

She'd be completely played!

"Failure would be even better," Dao Qiongcang's lips curled. "I anticipate she will fail. After experiencing such a setback, she'll realize that leading overall is ineffective and instead focus on cultivating the sword path. Perhaps then, reaching Half-Saint will be within her grasp."

Everyone was speechless.

"Oh..."

From the very beginning, he had already calculated her failure!

As expected of him.

Nine Sacrifices Osmanthus was speechless; for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

Elder Yu clicked his tongue, finding young Dao to be as shrewd as a fox spirit. His calculations were preposterous; he could make sense of both good and bad outcomes.

"Aren't you afraid of getting her killed?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That won't happen," Dao Qiongcang smiled. "I mobilized the full strength of the Six Divisions, entrusted all the troops to her, and even lent out my disciple..."

He suddenly stopped speaking, realizing something was amiss.

As expected, although Elder Yu was slow, he wasn't foolish. He immediately reacted, "You lent out someone from the Path Division too? Then what about my precious great-granddaughter..."

Dao Qiongcang was speechless.

"Speak!"

"During the operation, as I mentioned earlier..."

"What?!" Elder Yu slammed his fishing rod down and flew into a rage. "Such a dangerous operation? Isn't it enough for Rao Yaoyao to go? My great-granddaughter went too? Dao Qiongcang, what is the meaning of this? Are you trying to scheme against me?"

"Elder Yu, please calm down," Dao Qiongcang said with a wry smile. "Please sit, please sit. It's nothing like that, don't speak nonsense."

"You immediately calculate for me, is my precious great-granddaughter alive or dead right now?!" Elder Yu couldn't sit still, holding his fishing rod as if to fish for someone.

Dao Qiongcang sighed helplessly. He temporarily set aside the Heavenly Mechanism Compass and performed a quick divination with the Eight Trigrams in his palm, then said, "She's alive. A great auspicious omen, the divination looks very good."

"You're lying to me!" Elder Yu didn't believe him at all.

What could he possibly deduce by just wiggling his fingers a couple of times?

He pointed to the seemingly formidable Heavenly Mechanism abacus. "Use this to calculate!"

"Elder Yu."

Dao Qiongcang became serious and said:

"When contending with Ba Zun'an, outsiders may not know his true depth, but how could I not?

"Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit. Furthermore, Ba Zun'an's strategies, as displayed during the Ten Venerables era, were no less than mine. Now that I'm engaging him in a strategic game again, would I not employ every trick in my arsenal?"

Elder Yu huffily sat down. "It had better not go wrong, or you, and your sister, will both be finished!"

Dao Qiongcang had a very generous temperament and didn't care about such a minor threat at all.

Seeing the sudden shift in atmosphere, the other elders immediately spoke up to mediate.

Nine Sacrifices Osmanthus, witnessing this, felt considerably more at ease. At the very least, since Dao Qiongcang took charge, the world had been peaceful, and any troubles that arose were swiftly suppressed.

"Everyone, please be quiet and listen to the Palace Lord continue," she said, calming the commotion around the round table.

Dao Qiongcang couldn't help but look at the Heavenly Mechanism Compass again.

He had originally intended to explain the trigram lines and symbols, hoping to pique the elders' curiosity and encourage more disciples from their lineage to pursue the path of Heavenly Mechanism arts.

At the culmination of its divination, the Heavenly Mechanism Compass typically didn't display any colors.

However, to keep everyone engaged and prevent them from falling asleep during his calculations, Dao Qiongcang had employed this small trick to give them a greater sense of participation.

The result was clearly excellent.

Once curiosity was sparked, wouldn't everyone's sense of participation increase?

But now, time was pressing, and the others clearly had no interest in continuing to follow the divination process. Dao Qiongcang stated definitively:

"I won't elaborate on the divinatory texts. From the final hexagram, since a Half-Saint was involved in the Solitary Sound Cliff scheme, it essentially rules out the possibility that the trap was merely for 'hunting.'

"After all, no matter how powerful that water-affinity Origin Seeker is, they cannot kill a Half-Saint."

Returning to the main topic, everyone's minds were calm, at least not distracted by the recent interlude. They nodded in unison, awaiting what came next.

Seeing that everyone still had no objections, Dao Qiongcang tapped the round table with his finger and calmly continued:

"One speculation: since the Solitary Sound Cliff scheme wasn't for slaughter, but still involved so many Grand Void cultivators and even a Half-Saint, then it clearly only concerns their high cultivation levels.

"High cultivation levels represent high energy. This 'inviting the enemy into the urn' tactic, combined with the Saint Emperor's Golden Edict directly summoning the Void Island's descent...

"It led me to one possibility."

"Sacrifice?" Nine Sacrifices Osmanthus, having lived a long life and being well-informed, immediately thought of something.

Dao Qiongcang looked at her and nodded. "Indeed, it is a sacrifice, and it's related to the Void Island. What else can you all think of?"

"The Void Gate?"

Yan Wuse's old eyes widened in disbelief. He turned his head, awaiting confirmation.

"It is the Void Gate."

Dao Qiongcang nodded definitively, replying with a declarative tone, as if he had absolute confidence in his deduction.

"Let's return to the original objective of this meeting: the Void Island.

"The essence of this game orchestrated by Ba Zun'an and that water-affinity Origin Seeker is to capture the energy of the Five Domains' Grand Void cultivators and Half-Saints, to open the Void Gate, and ascend to the Void Island.

"Now, back to the Saint Servant organization itself...

"Ba Zun'an once entered the Inner Island of the Void Island. After escaping, he founded the Saint Servants.

"After years of preparation, he now wishes to return, which certainly can't be simply for the sake of laying a Saint Path foundation.

"The Outer Island of the Void Island might not even be the focus of his current scheme.

"All talk of laying Saint Path foundations, Grand Void cultivators ascending the city, Half-Saints entering the fray... these might all be misleading illusions.

"His true objective is blatantly obvious!"

Around the round table, everyone's hearts were heavy, and their expressions solemn, swayed by these resolute words.

This plot was undeniably grand!

But...

Blatantly obvious?

Where was it blatantly obvious?

What exactly was Ba Zun'an after? Speak up!

Dao Qiongcang surveyed the round table, his expression serene, yet his words were astonishing:

"What Ba Zun'an seeks is nothing less than to break the seal of the Void Island's Inner Island, release the Half-Saints and Saint Emperors within, then lead all Saint-level beings to ascend the Saint-Crushing Mountain, and even climb the Heavenly Ladder, to wage a decisive battle against the Five Great Sacred Land Secret Realms and overturn the entire world order!"