Chapter 510: Seeing Fate

Holding the tea, he leaned over and asked, "What's this?"

Shi Chun offered no explanation. He simply held the arrow-shaped command token upright and infused it with magic to activate the hidden object within.

Both their ears instantly buzzed with a ringing sound. Immediately, a golden light shot out from the command token, transforming into a spherical golden illusionary wave that enveloped them.

Wu Jinliang, still holding the tea, looked around in astonishment, then suddenly realized, pointing at the command token, "It's that, that thing from Jin Zhan's relics in the Moon Sea's perilous realm!"

Shi Chun withdrew his magical energy. The spherical golden illusionary wave suddenly contracted, flashed, and vanished back into the command token. He then held it horizontally, carefully stroking the patterns on its surface. "That's right, it's that. In my leisure time, I've taken it out repeatedly to examine it, always wondering what it was. I tried various ways to activate it, but besides this light and shadow shroud, nothing else happened.

"This enveloping light sphere couldn't store anything, nor could it defend against anything. I even had Tong Mingshan examine it, and he also said its craftsmanship and structure certainly didn't qualify it as a magic treasure, though its material was rare.

"However, considering Jin Zhan's identity as we now know it, anything he left behind shouldn't be simple. Moreover, he didn't have many relics on him, just a handful. We don't know how much treasure he supposedly had, but among the few relics on his person, I wonder if this command token could possibly..."

Seeing him fall into hesitant contemplation, Wu Jinliang offered him the tea he was holding, indicating if he wanted to drink, and asked doubtfully, "Possibly what?"

Shi Chun pushed the tea away and countered, "Do you think it could be related to the ancient protective array left behind by the Divine Mountain?"

"Well..." Wu Jinliang couldn't help but scratch his head, chuckling, "Boss, you're naturally wise, but isn't this... a bit far-fetched? What's your basis for this idea?"

After speaking, he quickly took several more gulps of tea to mask his slight embarrassment. Contradicting the Boss's opinion still required some courage, mainly because he feared being proven wrong later.

Shi Chun shook the command token in his hand. "I suspected this token might be used to command his descendants or forces, but thinking carefully about the old monster's will, he was an extremely cautious person. He didn't seem like someone who would allow his forces or descendants to fall into others' hands and be controlled.

"If this command token isn't a conventional command artifact, it's unlikely Jin Zhan would have kept something useless to himself among his only relics.

"It wasn't until I heard what Old Mrs. Huang said, describing the ancient grand array's defensive power as so formidable, that I began to have some conjectures."

As he spoke, he continued to toy with and examine the command token in his hand.

Wu Jinliang chuckled, "Come on, Shi Chun, don't keep me in suspense! What's your conjecture?"

Shi Chun pointed the command token in his hand towards the Divine Mountain, saying, "When going out, what master doesn't carry their key?"

"Huh..." Wu Jinliang uttered a strange sound, his eyes wide. He set down his teacup and snatched the command token, turning it over in his hands, muttering, "Key, key, key..." Then he grinned at Shi Chun, showing his teeth. "You suspect this is an artifact that can enter and exit the Divine Mountain's protective grand array?"

Shi Chun: "It's not impossible. The Divine Mountain's grand array does have main gate access points, that's true. But for someone like the old monster, would he have to wait for someone to open the gate every time he entered or exited? Would his movements always be tracked whenever he came and went? The Divine Mountain's area is so vast; would he only be able to leave from one fixed point? He might have some spell that allows him to enter and exit without a key, as it's his own array. But having a key is always convenient. Over time, there will always be occasions when he's busy and can't personally attend to things, for example, if I asked you to quietly go home and do something."

"Possible." Wu Jinliang held the command token, turning it over and over, nodding repeatedly. "Very possible, indeed possible, entirely possible." Then he looked up at Shi Chun, chuckling delightedly, "So, that's why you came straight here without stopping after getting the tigress's book! You've been eyeing this all along, wanting to see if it's the key. If it really is the key..."

He also turned his head to look towards the Divine Mountain, chuckling again, "Then this is going to be a lot of fun! Old Huang might just have to kneel and call me grandpa when he sees me!"

Shi Chun: "If the tigress hadn't mentioned the ancient grand array, and that it was made by the old monster, I wouldn't have even thought of this. But these are all just guesses; after all, the command token's design is more like a command artifact."

Wu Jinliang, however, was resolute. He flipped the command token in his hand, saying, "Whether it is or not, we have to try! What if it is? If Old Huang is stifled in there, I'll take him out to a brothel, then send him back. Won't he have to treat me like an ancestor?" He couldn't help but burst into laughter at his own words.

He also tried to cast a spell to control it, making the golden illusionary wave barrier pop out, then retract, then pop out again, as if practicing.

The main issue was that every time it was released, there was a bothersome buzzing sound, like ear ringing.

Seeing his endless fiddling, Shi Chun grabbed it back and put it away. "Since we're here, we definitely have to try. The current problem is, we need to clarify a few points first: One, where are the boundaries of the array? Two, how convenient or dangerous is it to approach, and where is the best place to approach from? Three, will there be any commotion when we try, and how can we escape safely if there is?"

Wu Jinliang considered his words and said, "The first and second points can be inquired about and investigated. The third point can't be inquired about, and no one knows; we'll only find out by trying it ourselves."

Shi Chun continued, "There's also the matter of our escape afterward. With the tigress, we need to be prepared for a fallout sooner or later."

"Fallout?" Wu Jinliang was startled. "We're helping her rescue her husband, and she'll turn on us? Shi Chun, how do you figure that?"

Shi Chun sat on the couch, leaning against one end, his expression somber and his voice soft. "A rice shop, where the proprietress herself is a Sky Immortal Realm cultivator, is one thing. But she brings back three attendants from a trip, all of whom are also Sky Immortal cultivators, and some even higher than her. This indicates that the tigress has a significant power behind her, and it's certain that this power is not under her control.

"Our initial prediction of the situation went awry. Roughly, they couldn't release Old Huang in the city, which led to Old Huang losing control and exposing you. A confrontation with the tigress's side has become inevitable. If not for that, I wouldn't have asked you to join me as an attendant at the rice shop.

"That's also why there's no need to be polite when asking for her help. She's using us and observing us, and I'm also using her power for our benefit, and observing them in return.

"Since we don't know their full extent, and we can't avoid them, we should stick close. If they feel at ease, they won't act prematurely, and we'll have more room to maneuver.

"In the end, regardless of the outcome, they will try to probe our depths. Even if the tigress doesn't want to, it won't be her decision. Once they try to probe our depths, to what extent will they go, and to what extent can we accept? That's the question. What if they resort to force?"

Wu Jinliang fell silent. He finally understood why the Boss hadn't allowed Chu Jingtai and the others to expose themselves and become attendants at the rice shop as well.

After a pause, Shi Chun continued, "If there's an opportunity, we also need to confirm one thing: Huang Yingying must have guessed the purpose of our trip. I don't know if he leaked it to the tigress or anyone else. Furthermore, the tigress marrying Huang Yingying—no matter how I look at it, it makes no sense. After much thought, I don't believe it's for no reason. For the tigress to have several attendants who are Sky Immortal Realm cultivators, with such a force backing her, I don't believe anything happens without reason."

Wu Jinliang crossed his arms, stroking his chin, and mumbled, nodding, "I thought it was a bit strange before, but now knowing the tigress has this powerful background, it definitely feels even stranger. But given Old Huang's background and character, is he really worth such extensive efforts from any force?"

Shi Chun's eyes flickered as he said slowly, "The tigress being able to describe Old Huang's ancestors proves that the force behind her also knows. Thinking it over, besides that shining point from his ancestry, is there anything else significant about Old Huang?"

Wu Jinliang said thoughtfully, "You mean, the tigress's tolerance for Old Huang is related to his ancestors?"

Shi Chun: "I'm just guessing blindly. At least for now, we don't know if there's any other inducement about Old Huang that would make a relevant force act this way."

Wu Jinliang stroked his chin and mumbled, "Could it be that they received some kindness from Old Huang's ancestors and are now repaying a debt?"

Shi Chun glanced at him sidelong. "Old Huang's ancestors—that was ages ago, ancient history for people like us. How can you believe such nonsense? I've come across similar stories in books at the library, maybe they exist, but I don't believe it could happen to Old Huang."

Wu Jinliang chuckled humorlessly. "Shi Chun, what you're saying... why couldn't something that's possible happen to him? Is Old Huang's fate really that miserable?"

Shi Chun said airily, "Because Old Huang's entire clan is still enslaved, still suffering torment. If they could truly remember a kindness for so long, would they repay it this way? I don't believe ancient kindness can last that long. Interests, however, might be remembered indefinitely."

"True enough," Wu Jinliang chuckled. "It seems there might be something about Old Huang that someone's after!"

Shi Chun: "If Old Huang really is being targeted, then his previous escape from the Divine Mountain is worth investigating thoroughly. We need to find out who got him out of the Divine Mountain."

Wu Jinliang nodded slightly, then chuckled, asking in a low voice, "Is it worth going to such great lengths for Old Huang? Are you sure you've passed the book on to him?"

Shi Chun: "It depends on the situation. Old Huang isn't the only one of his clan. However, if Old Huang truly is being specifically targeted, then he might indeed hold some significance among his kin. The old monster's will isn't important. Ultimately, who inherits it depends on whether they have a destined connection with us."

"Absolutely," Wu Jinliang said cheerfully. Their 'destined connection' would, of course, depend on whether it benefited them.