The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 1235 - 657: The Severing of Qi Fortune? (Part 3)
"Why have you returned so quickly? Is something happening?"
Zhao Douan nodded: "I must see the Heavenly Master."
The few people exchanged looks, sensing the seriousness in his tone. They revived their spirits and immediately led the two, master and servant, towards the courtyard of Zhang Yan Yi.
But when they pushed open the door deep within the courtyard, they were all stunned.
In the tranquil courtyard, Zhang Yan Yi stood under a large banyan tree, hands behind his back, gazing upward with a grave expression at the tree’s crown.
The large banyan tree, which should have been lush and vibrant in the spring, had one-half of its crown still flourishing with vibrant life.
However, the other half of the crown seemed as if in late autumn; the leaves were golden, and as the spring breeze passed through the courtyard, the golden leaves rustled down, carpeting the ground.
A desolate and bleak scene.
"This..."
Zhao Douan was startled, a strong sense of unease rising inexplicably. He didn’t know what this meant, but instinctively he knew the anomaly was not a good sign.
"Master, what happened to the banyan tree?!" Gongshu Tianyuan eyed roundly, voicing his concern.
Han Zhao, next to him, abandoned his usual frivolity, his face unprecedentedly serious:
"It’s the fate. The fate of the Heavenly Master Mansion’s lineage is in decline."
Zhao Douan looked at him: "What do you mean by this?"
The priest specializing in "Destiny" spoke in a deep tone:
"This banyan tree was planted by the first Heavenly Master when the Heavenly Master Mansion was established. Legend says he brought it back from the Mubei Forest; then, it was only a sapling the size of a thumb, and it took nearly a thousand years to grow to today’s size. The banyan’s roots have long since connected with the entire Heavenly Master Mansion’s veins.
This connection is not in soil or water, but in fate.
When the banyan tree thrives, the fate of the Heavenly Master Mansion thrives; when the banyan tree withers, it indicates the peril of the Mansion’s fate.
Six hundred years ago, during the Heavenly Hunting and Destruction of Buddha, it withered once."
Is it so? Zhao Douan was shocked, instinctively saying:
"Is it because a large number of Heavenly Master Mansion priests went to Xiping Road to confront the Buddhists, and casualties caused this?"
Zhang Yan Yi spoke at this moment:
"This is only one reason. The battle at Xiping Road is undoubtedly dangerous, but it wouldn’t change the banyan so quickly, hence there’s only one truth."
He turned and looked at Zhao Douan:
"The danger foreseen in the Heavenly Book draws ever closer to us. Perhaps more urgent than I previously imagined."
Zhao Douan’s heart moved, his expression turning grim:
"I just received intelligence, concerning Xuan Yin and the Dharma King."
Then, without concealing it, the information given before the Red Sect Master’s death was shared.
Xuan Yin and the Dharma King are one person?!
Upon hearing this, including Zhang Yan Yi, several priests’ faces dramatically changed.
"So it is, so it is..." Zhang Yan Yi murmured:
"This matches, the omen matches."
He suddenly looked at Zhao Douan and spoke gravely:
"Our time is limited. We must act swiftly."
The half-withered banyan tree seemed like a precarious progress bar, tightening the heartstrings of everyone.
Zhao Douan took a deep breath, nodding:
"I understand, so I plan to rest for just a day, and tomorrow we’ll open the second door, quickly gather the keys, we can’t delay further."
...
Meanwhile.
Outside the Eastern Sea Thousand Islands, a storm is brewing on the sea. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
Wu Xiankui, wearing straw sandals, with hair black and white intermingling messily over his shoulders, walks upon the waves, a date-red mark on his brow flickering intermittently.
Alone, he faces the furious gusts and dark clouds above the sea, feeling the true power of the "Sea God."
Wu Xiankui coughs up blood, wipes it with his hand, tightens his lips, and steps into the storm.
