"You're too kind, Brother Qi. Learning a Qi Observation Technique from you should at least earn you a meal. A fair exchange, right?"

Bai Qi's eyes shined brightly, as luminous as jade, giving a gentle impression.

He read "sincerity," "gratitude," and "craving" in Qi Yan's eyes.

"Using the power of eye recognition, perhaps one day, I'll truly be able to discern three parts of indifference, three parts of mockery, and four parts of casualness in others' gazes... This turns out to be a grand fan-shaped law!"

…

…

"Lao Dao, I've missed you so much!"

In front of the Tongwen Hall, Lao Dao, lazily basking in the sun, suddenly twitched his handful of sunflower seeds, scattering them on the ground.

This Red Eyebrow Leader who converged at Fulong Mountain rarely showed a trace of surprise, staring straight at the yellow-robed scholar leading a donkey.

Suddenly shouted:

"Halt!"

Then, he hurriedly got up, like a gust of wind rushing to the rear Dezhen Tower.

"Young Master! Qiu Changtian has really come! You must go and block him!"

Qiu Changtian scratched his temple, slightly annoyed:

"It's been so many years, is the disdain really necessary? It chills my heart!"

The donkey turned around, presenting its more rounded backside to its owner.

After about five or six breaths, Ninghai Zen, who happened to be in the Tongwen Hall, drifted down from the rooftop.

"Lao Qiu, how are you not dead yet?"

Reuniting with an old friend, he greeted warmly.

"Hmph, I'll sooner or later break through to become a Ghost Immortal, live for three to five hundred years, and surely overtake you.

Ninghai Zen, if you die, you better not let me find out where you're buried, otherwise, every year on your death anniversary, I'll feast happily on your grave!"

Qiu Changtian defiantly declared, head held high.

"For what you said, Lao Qiu, before I die, I'll definitely drag you down with me.

Back then when we swore brotherhood, we promised the heavens not to be born on the same year, month, and day, but to die on the same year, month, and day!"

Ninghai Zen crossed the threshold, hands behind his back, standing on the steps with eyes hinting at a smile.

"You rogue! Can the sworn words of brotherhood be taken seriously? You also pledged in the temple to the Bodhisattva to commit fewer murders in this life, yet you haven't kept it!

And what's more, that promise of dying together also included the words enduring hardships together and sharing blessings!

I'm plagued by bad luck, misfortune surrounds me, you should help bear some of it!"

Qiu Changtian cursed aloud, knowing Ninghai Zen's nature might actually compel him to do such things.

He is truly yearning to become a Ghost Immortal, pursuing the Path of Longevity!

"Each time I'm done with my hands, I recite the Daoist Decree of Redemption and the Buddhist Great Compassion Mantra of Rebirth in my heart, making sure there's no residual sin."

Ninghai Zen justified confidently, then added:

"Moreover, when we pledged Brotherhood, it was distinctly said that I enjoy blessings and you bear the hardships! Lao Qiu, you recalled incorrectly."

Qiu Changtian was so vexed he gnawed his teeth; no one else could make him repeatedly eat humble pie but Ninghai Zen.

If not for being outmatched, he would have rolled up his sleeves and swung his fists long ago.

"Enough chit-chat. I have a bit of Spiritual Sand left, wash away your bad luck, half a stick of incense for the hour, finish your matters quickly and leave."

Ninghai Zen sidestepped to allow entry.

"Hmph, considers you have a hint of conscience, albeit not much."

Qiu Changtian grumbled, stepped up the stairs, and smiled:

"Haven't you always wanted to know what I've calculated at the Observatory Tower? Well, I'm in a good mood today, so I'll tell you."

He deliberately paused, waiting for Ninghai Zen to inquire, only to find the green-robed figure turning back to Tongwen Hall, saying to Lao Dao: 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Brew a pot of tea, doesn't have to be good. Lao Qiu, he can't savor the finer things anyway."

Qiu Changtian couldn't help but grit his teeth, entered the main hall boldly, sat down at ease, and picked up the topic without embarrassment:

"I've calculated that the Turbid Tide will cease, that two major stars will crash to earth, East sees the Morning Star, West witnesses the Long Star, and calculated... someone has ignited the Nine Heavens Star Ring that White Sun Sect has pursued for three thousand years!"