Xie Jingshan used the Dust Cleaning Technique to rid himself of the spilled wine. "At first, I found it strange, but hearing that you’ve met the Patriarch, I understand the connection now. The old blind man I encountered in the Merfolk Country said... he said I share the same fate as Sword Lord Zhufeng."

The six eyes of the three people focused intently on Xie Jingshan. Wenn Miao was full of questions, "What are you talking about now?"

Xie Jingshan organized his words, "It was an old blind man I met in my youth. He said I have the fate of a Sword Immortal, so I always believed that I was the reincarnation of a Sword Immortal. This time in the Merfolk Country, I don’t know why he was there, but he said I must follow in Sword Lord Zhufeng’s path to smoothly reach the pinnacle of the Great Dao. However..."

Xie Jingshan turned to Jiang Yuebai, "But Sword Lord Zhufeng’s greatest tarnish was falling in love with the Patriarch of the Heavenly Influence Sect. So the old blind man said, if I want to surpass Sword Lord Zhufeng, I must, before falling too deep, kill... kill the person who will block my Immortal Path and cultivate the Heartless Sword Dao."

Lu Nanzhi furrowed her brows, following Xie Jingshan’s evasive gaze to Jiang Yuebai, her pupils slightly trembling as she understood in her heart.

Jiang Yuebai pointed at himself, looking at Xie Jingshan, "Are you saying that I am the one who will block your Immortal Path?"

Xie Jingshan waved his hands frantically, "I don’t mean that, I— I— it’s all the influence of that old blind man. I don’t have... feelings for you like Sword Lord Zhufeng had for the Patriarch. No, I don’t! It’s all because of the influence!"

"It’s like how I kept having that dream before, dreaming of you. Surely, because you were influenced by the Patriarch, and I was influenced by Sword Lord Zhufeng, it makes sense. You inherited the Patriarch’s legacy, and I acquired Sword Lord Zhufeng’s Sword Intent, so between us..."

"Xie Jingshan, why are you so lacking in your own ideas, believing whatever that old blind man tells you? He’s not even your ancestor!" Jiang Yuebai said, annoyed.

Xie Jingshan looked troubled, "But I don’t know why, I just feel like what the old blind man said is true. He didn’t seem like he wanted to harm me. He also said..."

Xie Jingshan didn’t dare to say the rest - the old blind man said if he didn’t kill Jiang Yuebai, he would be killed by Jiang Yuebai someday, just like how Lu Xingyun had harbored deadly intent towards Sword Lord Zhufeng for the sake of his Dao path. Those who pursue the pinnacle of the Great Dao are heartless and emotionless.

Wenn Miao, frustrated, scratched his head, "Wait, wait, what’s going on? It’s all so muddled, let me, this old fellow, sort it out. From what I know, there is indeed someone with the same fate as Sword Lord Zhufeng, but that person is Zhuo Qingfeng from the Guiyuan Sword Sect, not you. I’ve calculated your fate before; it has nothing to do with Sword Lord Zhufeng."

"Jiang Yuebai, you said you’ve encountered the Patriarch, which by conventional logic is impossible, but the matters of a True Immortal are beyond what a small Divinity Transformation stage like me can fathom. This just shows you have a connection with the Heavenly Influence Sect. The Patriarch probably doesn’t intend to harm you, or else there would’ve been no need to save your life."

Lu Nanzhi nodded, "Makes sense."

Jiang Yuebai just felt something was not quite right but couldn’t say what.

Wenn Miao said, "If you want to know, work hard on your cultivation. Ascend to the Immortal Realm and ask the Patriarch in person. The two of you, give me your birth dates, and you too, Lu Nanzhi."

Lu Nanzhi blinked in confusion, feeling like an outsider. However, at Wenn Miao’s request, she earnestly wrote down her birth date.

Wenn Miao took out a ruler filled with complex scales, frowning as he calculated based on the three’s birth dates. After a moment, Wenn Miao put down the ruler, his eyes sweeping across the three faces with a complex expression.

"Jiang Yuebai, I don’t know what your original fate was like, but I’ve calculated Xie Jingshan and Lu Nanzhi’s fates before when they were young. Now, the fates of both have deviated from their original paths, shrouded by heavenly secrets, making it a maze of mysteries that’s difficult to decipher. Still, your fates as a trio are amusing; combined, they form the number of the Great Derivation, fifty."

The three looked at each other, speaking in unison, "What does that mean?"

Wenn Miao put away the ruler, "You shouldn’t overthink the matter of fate. Nothing in this world remains unchanged. Divination Techniques can only calculate that which is already decided. No matter who you are or what fate the Heavenly Dao attaches to you, if you are unwilling, you can fight against it. Only a fool resigns to fate!"

"As for all these schemes and plots, if you can’t figure them out, leave them aside. Focus on cultivating and improving yourselves. As long as your Dao heart is steady and your strength formidable, even the Heavenly Dao will have to yield before you. All of today’s conversations should stay in your bellies—don’t utter a word outside to prevent others from exploiting them. Understood?"

The three nodded in unison, each harboring their own thoughts.

Wenn Miao observed their expressions, noting that they were all thoughtful children, and sighed, "Certain topics are not allowed to be discussed or mentioned in the Earth Spiritual Realm. When you reach the Upper Realm, you’ll learn more about the Cultivation Realm and might unravel some clues. For now, focus on your cultivation."

Speaking of this, Jiang Yuebai hurriedly asked, "Elder, when will you finally take Anan and me to the Upper Realm?"

"What? You’re going to the Upper Realm?!" Xie Jingshan was shocked, "Why didn’t anyone tell me? I want to go too!"

Wenn Miao waved impatiently, "Shoo, shoo! I’m busy with the task of clearing the Asura Domain recently and don’t have time. This matter also needs to be reported in advance to the Upper Realm. I have to use my merits from guarding the Earth Spiritual Realm to get the quota to take you there. Come find me when you’ve cultivated to the Late-Stage Golden Core."

"Alright, it’s settled then, Late-Stage Golden Core. No backing out!" Jiang Yuebai hurriedly said, "If you back out, I’ll just take Anan and leave on our own. After all, I have the Cloud-Breaking Charge."

Xie Jingshan anxiously looked between Jiang Yuebai and Lu Nanzhi, "Take me, take me, I want to go too."

"Will your family let you go?" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Yes, yes, definitely!" Xie Jingshan nodded vigorously.

Jiang Yuebai gave a sly smile, "I can take you, but it depends on your performance. First, help me build a house."

"Huh? Where to build? If you want a house, I can buy you a whole row. What kind of house requires me to personally build it?"

Wenn Miao leaned back, swaying his foot as he drank.

"A breeze of ten miles is not as good as wine, let neither the springtime nor oneself down. Ahh—good wine, good wine..."