Chapter 286: Climbing Out of the World, Treading the Dao to Traverse the Void

Chen Mobai thought for a moment and wrote the character "Dan" (Pill/Core). Compared to romantic prospects, he felt that cultivation realms were more tangible.

"Can I form a Golden Core?" Chen Mobai handed over the paper he had written on and the ballpoint pen, simultaneously asking the question on his mind.

The girl in sunglasses extended her pale right hand, her slender fingers taking the paper. She slightly lowered her head; her gaze, hidden behind the sunglasses, was unclear. Chen Mobai suddenly felt an urge to remove her sunglasses and see her true face. This was very strange. He considered himself someone very capable of controlling his emotions, especially since practicing the "Soul Cultivation and Mind Forging Technique" during Qi Condensation, which trained him to dispel distracting thoughts and refine them into divine sense. Ever since he achieved Foundation Establishment, such unusual impulses arising from his heart had been absent for a long time.

"Within the Immortal Sect, any cultivator has the opportunity to form a Golden Core," the girl in sunglasses replied at this moment.

After hearing this, Chen Mobai lost interest in listening further. Just like those unskilled fortune tellers, she never answered questions directly, always using ambiguous platitudes.

"Very well, I'll take your auspicious words." However, Chen Mobai was a polite person. Although he no longer wished to listen, he still replied with a smile, then stood up, preparing to leave.

"If you form a Golden Core, you shall endure three tribulations." The girl in sunglasses' hoarse voice came from behind him. Chen Mobai shook his head dismissively upon hearing it. *It's modern society now; why do you fortune tellers still use these old tricks? First say something pleasant, then scaremonger.* Convinced he had seen through her, Chen Mobai felt a surge of aversion and no longer wished to bother with this unskilled fortune-telling girl. He kept walking, on the verge of exiting the alley.

"These three tribulations are the Three Primal Tribulations of Essence, Qi, and Spirit. The Tribulation of Essence means that if you wish to form a Golden Core, you must first forfeit one hundred and eighty years of your lifespan." Chen Mobai, who had just lifted his foot, immediately turned around and walked back to the stall upon hearing this.

"Master, may I ask how I can avert this tribulation?" The girl in sunglasses looked at Chen Mobai, who was now more polite than before. Her emotions and words remained completely unruffled as she continued.

"The Tribulation of Qi is the Golden Core Heavenly Tribulation. Logically speaking, this tribulation should no longer exist within the Immortal Sect. Yet, your 'Dan' character revealed this tribulation, which is truly strange." Although she stated it was strange, her tone remained unchanged.

Chen Mobai listened, his face filled with doubt, but he dared not interrupt the master's divination. He simply kept this matter in mind, planning to research the Immortal Sect's records or ask Che Yucheng when he had time in the future.

"The Tribulation of Spirit signifies an unstable foundation; your cultivation for forming the Golden Core is not solid enough. You might fail at the last moment, unable to control the surging cultivation after forming the Golden Core, thus falling short of success." After hearing about his three Golden Core tribulations, Chen Mobai took out his phone, intending to scan a QR code for transfer. However, after surveying the entire stall, he only saw the eight large characters "Orchestrating Heaven and Earth, Divining with Divine Ingenuity," but found no payment QR code.

"Master, how do I resolve these?" Seeing that the girl in sunglasses stopped speaking after detailing the tribulations, Chen Mobai couldn't hold back and asked again.

"The Immortal Chinese Toon fruit from Jumang Daoist Academy, if consumed, can increase your lifespan by four hundred and eighty years." After a long contemplation, the fortune teller finally provided a solution for the first tribulation, but Chen Mobai was immediately speechless upon hearing it.

The Immortal Sect's only Grade Six spiritual wood was the "Grand Toon" at Jumang Daoist Academy. This tree bore fruit once every eight hundred years. Even if consumed by a mortal, it could directly extend their lifespan, even regrow flesh and bones, bringing the dead back to life. It was hailed as the Immortal Sect's supreme immortal fruit. However, even the three Great Hall Masters of the Immortal Sect were not qualified to consume it; it was exclusively reserved for Spirit Transformation Grand Ancestors.

Although as a child he had seen many TV dramas where the male protagonist died accidentally, and the female protagonist, after enduring countless hardships, finally obtained an Immortal Toon fruit from an ancestor to revive him, that was television. Chen Mobai even thought that even if half the Immortal Sect died, those two Spirit Transformation Grand Ancestors wouldn't even open their eyes to look.

"Master, is there a simpler method to avert this tribulation?" Chen Mobai continued to ask.

The girl in sunglasses, like a program, continued on her own. "The Qi tribulation shouldn't exist in the Immortal Sect. You can resolve it by finding a place within the Immortal Sect to form your Golden Core." "The Spirit tribulation is due to your unstable foundation. Refine your inner cultivation yourself, or prepare corresponding elixirs as aid; they will also have extraordinary effects."

After speaking these three sentences, the girl in sunglasses folded the paper on which Chen Mobai had written "Dan" and slipped it into her right sleeve. Then, no matter what Chen Mobai said, she remained silent, as if she were mute.

"Master, I have some savings and many magical artifacts and spiritual items. Could these serve as payment for the divination?" But the girl in sunglasses remained silent.

"How about this, Master? Don't you only perform three divinations a day? Give me two more papers, and I'll take all your business for today." These words of Chen Mobai's, however, caught the attention of the girl in sunglasses, who had seemed to be in a daze. She lifted her head, her gaze, hidden behind her sunglasses, fixed directly on him. Her tone fluctuated for the first time.

"I divine for those with destined connections; there is no charge, but it creates karma with my Divine Mechanism Manor. One divination creates shallow karma, but three divinations will link karma, interconnected like rings, which you might not be able to resolve in the future."

*Huh, this person really doesn't want money!* As Chen Mobai was surprised, he also wondered about the origin of this Divine Mechanism Manor. In front of the girl in sunglasses, he couldn't very well pull out his phone to search online.

"Our Immortal Sect doesn't speak of karma. We've been taught since childhood that great power resides within oneself, that strength can break all laws. Go ahead and divine for me." Yet, Chen Mobai knew this fortune teller was definitely an expert. After all, he hadn't told anyone in the entire Immortal Sect about the longevity fruit; only he knew about it. The fact that this person could immediately see his tribulations for forming a Golden Core showed she possessed true ability.

"Alright then, but I can only divine one more for you at most." The girl in sunglasses hesitated for a moment, then pulled out another blank paper, along with the ballpoint pen she had put away, and was about to hand them to Chen Mobai.

*Tap, tap, tap!* Footsteps approached, sounding like leather shoes tapping on the ground, crisp and pleasant.

Chen Mobai turned his head towards the alley exit. Facing the light, he couldn't clearly see her face, but he could tell it was a slender woman with a full bust. She wore a slightly tight pink plaid shirt that accentuated her slender waist, and a striped pleated skirt that revealed a pair of long, beautiful legs clad in black over-the-knee stockings and round-toed leather shoes.

"Excuse me, may I pass?" As she walked in, she saw Chen Mobai and the girl in sunglasses, who was telling fortunes. Because the alley was not wide, with two people sitting and the stall in between, there was essentially no room for anyone to pass.

Chen Mobai looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. It was an acquaintance. It was Shi Wanyu, whom he had met on the train when he first arrived at Wuqi Daoist Academy. Five years had passed, but time seemed to have left no trace on her. She was still as pure and beautiful, with a smile playing on her lips as she spoke, and the gesture of gently touching the hair by her ear added a touch of charm beyond her youthful appearance.

"Please." Chen Mobai immediately stood up to let her pass, and she thanked him with a smile.

"I divine for those with destined connections. Miss, would you like a fortune reading for your romantic prospects?" However, just as Shi Wanyu walked past the stall, the girl in sunglasses, who had been indifferent to Chen Mobai earlier, actively spoke up and asked her if she wanted a divination.

"I'm sorry, I don't believe in these things." Although Shi Wanyu was a bit surprised, she still shook her head apologetically. Just as she turned to leave, Chen Mobai had an idea.

This person from Divine Mechanism Manor only performed three divinations a day. He had already taken two, and the remaining one could be used to test the waters.

"This is a true master. Since you've had the fortune to meet her, don't miss the opportunity." Chen Mobai spoke, causing Shi Wanyu, who was about to leave, to hesitate. After all, the crimson and black robes of Wuqi Daoist Academy that he wore were very convincing.

"Never mind, my friend is waiting for me at the Wuqi Daoist Academy stall. I heard that the Duel Victor will be there today, and I'm afraid of wasting time, so I won't bother." Shi Wanyu's words made Chen Mobai's mouth twitch slightly.

*How did the news of my arrival still get out? It must be those student council members who can't keep a secret. If I had known this, I wouldn't have gone over there.*

"It won't delay you." Seeing Shi Wanyu turn to leave, Chen Mobai spoke, then reached up and removed the mask from his face. Pieces of black crystal-like scales flew from the sides of his cheeks, settling onto the bracer on his raised right sleeve.

"It's you... How are you here..." Shi Wanyu, seeing Chen Mobai, covered her mouth in surprise and delight, her pretty face slightly flushed, unable to believe it.

"Pardon me, I'm a bit popular now, so I need to wear a disguise when I go out." Chen Mobai first apologized to Shi Wanyu, who repeatedly shook her head, indicating it was fine.

"If you want to see me, just contact me directly. Don't we have each other's contact information?" Shi Wanyu listened, then lowered her head, feeling a little embarrassed.

How could a girl feel comfortable initiating contact? Previously, it was only when Chen Mobai had just achieved Foundation Establishment and posted on his social media that she, genuinely happy for him, gathered the courage to send a message. Although they chatted all night afterwards, in the following two years, with Chen Mobai not taking the initiative, she could only bury her feelings deep in her heart. Especially after Chen Mobai became the Chief Disciple of Wuqi Daoist Academy this year, sweeping through Little Chitian and reaching the pinnacle of fame. Feeling the enormous gap between them, she was even more hesitant to initiate contact, fearing Chen Mobai might misunderstand her as someone lacking self-respect, chasing fame and fortune.

"If anything comes up in the future, you can proactively tell me. I'm usually cultivating, but if I see your message when I have free time, I'll reply. Besides, I think I still owe you a lipstick, don't I?" Chen Mobai remembered that on the train, Shi Wanyu had handed him a lipstick for others to sign autographs. He had promised to buy her a new one after getting off the train, but then he went to first class, met Meng Huang'er and Ma Xiaoming, and completely forgot about it.

"You still remember!" Shi Wanyu's face lit up even more upon hearing this, her eyes, lightly made up, crinkling into a beautiful smile.

"This is an extraordinary master, with divine foresight and calculation. She only performs three divinations a day. Since you've met her, you can ask about whatever you most want to know." Chen Mobai introduced the girl in sunglasses. Shi Wanyu listened while intently watching him.

"How much do you charge?" This question indicated that Shi Wanyu was indeed going to have her fortune told. However, she remained sensible, not losing her composure due to reuniting with her friend Chen Mobai. She asked about the fees beforehand to avoid embarrassment if her merit points were insufficient later.

"There is no charge, only karma." After answering Shi Wanyu's question, the girl in sunglasses pulled out another blank piece of paper, picked up the ballpoint pen that was originally for Chen Mobai on the table, and handed it to Shi Wanyu. Although the latter found it strange, she didn't overthink it, as Chen Mobai had introduced her. *He certainly wouldn't trick me.*

"This one, then." Shi Wanyu thought for a moment, then a blush suddenly spread across her fair skin. She quickly wrote a character, folded the paper without letting Chen Mobai see it, and handed it directly to the girl in sunglasses.

"Miss, what do you wish to ask? Is it about your romantic prospects?" The girl in sunglasses took it, opened it, and asked with a knowing look.

"No, no, no, I want to ask about my future life." With Chen Mobai right beside her, Shi Wanyu felt too embarrassed. She could only ask about her romantic prospects in a roundabout way.

"Your life will be fulfilling." The girl in sunglasses gave an answer that made Shi Wanyu even happier. Chen Mobai, however, frowned slightly. *How is this cliché just like what she said to me, completely lacking substance?*

"How fulfilling?" Shi Wanyu continued to ask.

"Dying of old age." The girl in sunglasses replied with four very unromantic words. Shi Wanyu's slightly happy expression stiffened. She opened her mouth, but considering Chen Mobai was right there, she ultimately felt too embarrassed to ask that particular question.

"Being able to die of old age is my dream too." Chen Mobai spoke at this moment, trying to ease the atmosphere. Then he picked up the blank paper still on the table and wrote the character for his second divination of the day.

All the opportunities he had today came from the turtle shell. Since he had the chance today, he might as well ask.

"What do you want to ask?"

"About my life." Chen Mobai also wanted to see how far he could ultimately go in his future.

"Nine out of ten questions people ask are about life," the girl in sunglasses suddenly sighed. "But I cannot see through your life." Then she pulled out a thick stack of cards from under the table.

"Draw one. These are the supreme treasures of the Divine Mechanism Manor. The sentence written on it will be your future life." Chen Mobai frowned slightly, but still extended his hand and, as instructed, drew a laminated card.

The back of the card featured a brass Eight Trigrams wheel hovering in the starry sky. He flipped it over to the front, and indeed, there was a sentence: "Ascend beyond the world, tread the path through the void."

"Master, how do I interpret this?" Chen Mobai half-understood, half-didn't, but he felt it resonated deeply with his own life. He humbly asked the girl in sunglasses for guidance.

"Miss, since you also asked about your life, you should draw one too. Although I've seen the end of your life, there's a little mist in front." The girl in sunglasses did not answer Chen Mobai; instead, she looked at Shi Wanyu, who, in a daze, also drew a card.

She flipped it over and saw another poem: "Stars burst beyond the colorful clouds, flying until they fall before the steps."

Chen Mobai and Shi Wanyu exchanged a glance; neither understood. As they turned back to ask the girl in sunglasses, her expression suddenly changed drastically, and she violently coughed up a mouthful of blood.