Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Xia Sheng circulated the energy within her body, using an engraving knife to meticulously carve runes onto the jade.
Two hours later, she finally finished the work.
Feeling the power within her body, which was even more abundant than before, Xia Sheng felt extremely pleased.
While others in the Mystic Sect could only absorb Spiritual Energy during their cultivation, she could absorb not only Spiritual Energy but also Baleful Qi and Purple Qi. These energies stabilized her Soul Body and enhanced her cultivation.
In the modern world, Spiritual Energy was sparse, and because human lifespans were limited, the upper limit for those in the Mystic Sect was generally low. Many with poor aptitude were barely considered beginners even by the time they reached their sixties.
Although Xia Sheng could absorb Baleful Qi and Purple Qi, both were even rarer than Spiritual Energy. Restricted by this, she had found it difficult to make any significant progress over the past two years.
Now that she had someone like Shen Yanchen-who was essentially an endless power bank-her strength was bound to reach a new level. Ascending to the Heavenly Dao was no longer an impossibility.
Xia Sheng handed the jade, now engraved with a formation, to Shen Yanchen and said, “Uncle Nine, this jade can ward off evil and repel Baleful Qi. Keep it with you at all times.
“Even when you’re bathing, you must keep it close-no more than a meter away. Otherwise, evil spirits might find an opportunity to get close to you.
“It’s best if you avoid going out late at night from now on. Last time you worked overtime, the ghosts on the roof of your car were enough to start a mahjong game…”
The young girl solemnly listed the precautions, but the only thing echoing in Shen Yanchen’s mind was her calling him “Uncle Nine.” His cold, indifferent eyes watched her, his emotions unreadable.
Seeing his long silence, Xia Sheng asked, “Did you hear everything I said?”
Her willow-like brows furrowed slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with his distraction.
Shen Yanchen replied nonchalantly, “I heard you.”
Xia Sheng countered, “Then repeat it.”
Her tone and expression were like those of a strict little teacher.
Shen Yanchen spoke, summarizing the key points she had just mentioned.
Only then was Xia Sheng satisfied. “A student worth teaching.”
Watching her serious expression, Shen Yanchen finally let out a soft chuckle.
He must have been losing his mind. It was just a girl calling him Uncle Nine; there was nothing wrong with it. What was he dissatisfied about?
It wasn’t worth getting upset over such a small matter.
With the business concluded, Xia Sheng prepared to take her leave.
Shen Yanchen originally wanted to invite her to stay for dinner, but since Xia Sheng wanted to go back and spend time with her mother, he didn’t insist.
After heading downstairs, Xia Sheng walked straight toward the bus stop by the road.
As she stepped onto the sidewalk, a voice called out to her, “Little Celestial Master!”
Xia Sheng turned around and saw Lu Ren striding toward her.
“Little Celestial Master, you really are a Little Immortal! What you said last time about my first love wanting me to be her backup plan-it turned out to be true!
“Do you have some time today? Could you perform another divination for me?”
Lu Ren had heard from Shen Ze a few days ago about Xia Sheng catching a ghost with her bare hands, and he had been shouting about how badass the Little Celestial Master was.
He had been hoping for a chance to see Xia Sheng again to ask about his romantic prospects, and he hadn’t expected to run into her so soon.
Xia Sheng’s small face remained calm. “I can, but I charge a fee.”
Since business had come to her door, there was no reason to turn it down.
Lu Ren had heard from Shen Ze that Xia Sheng had charged him ten million. Thinking about his own monthly salary of only a few tens of thousands, he suddenly felt a bit nervous.
“How much?”
Xia Sheng held up three fingers.
Lu Ren’s eyes widened. “Three million!?”
Xia Sheng: “…”
Were all these people so incredibly rich that they always misunderstood her meaning?
“Three hundred.”
“Oh, that’s fine then.” Lu Ren breathed a sigh of relief. “I want to ask about my marriage prospects. Do you think it’s possible for me to meet a good girl in this lifetime?”
The incident with his first love had traumatized him; he now had PTSD whenever he thought about women.
However, he didn’t want to spend his whole life alone, so he wanted Xia Sheng to give him a reading to put his mind at ease.
Xia Sheng examined his facial features and then said, “Stretch out your hand. Let me see your palm.”
Lu Ren obediently extended his hand. Xia Sheng took it, carefully studying the lines on his palm and the side of his hand before letting go.
“Your True Fate will appear next year, and you’ll be married a year after that. Before then, you’ll encounter a bit of Peach Blossom Luck, but it will end without results.”
Lu Ren asked with a long face, “Can I just skip that bit of Peach Blossom Luck?”
He wasn’t going to get cheated on again, was he?
Xia Sheng guessed his concern and said, “Don’t worry, your next Peach Blossom Luck won’t end because you were cuckolded. It’ll simply be a case of personality clash.
“But if you deliberately try to avoid it by cutting off contact with all women, you might end up missing your True Fate too.”
Lu Ren asked, “Little Celestial Master, can you just give me my future wife’s name and address? I’ll go straight to her door so I don’t have to wait until next year.”
“I can.”
Lu Ren’s eyes lit up, only to hear Xia Sheng continue leisurely, “However, altering one’s Fate Pattern is an act against the heavens. I would suffer Heavenly Punishment and have to bear immense risks.
“If you really want to know, give me two million, and I’ll tell you.”
Lu Ren: “…”
Never mind.
He thought about it and suddenly realized something. “Wait, that’s not right. Last time you told me my first love was pregnant, which led to me breaking up with her. Didn’t that change my destiny too?
“Why didn’t you charge me then?”
Xia Sheng replied, “Because I felt like it.”
Lu Ren: “…”
This was blatant extortion!
What Heavenly Punishment? He figured the Little Celestial Master just didn’t want to tell him.
Feeling a bit depressed, Lu Ren transferred three hundred yuan to Xia Sheng. “Take care, Little Celestial Master. I’m heading back to the office.”
Xia Sheng nodded and asked casually, “It’s past six. You haven’t finished work yet?”
Lu Ren’s face immediately crumpled like a bitter melon. “I want to leave, but Ninth Master won’t let me. He had someone to see today, so he dumped an important client on me.
“I just finished meeting the client and have to go up to report now.”
Xia Sheng gave him a sympathetic look and rummaged through her backpack for a piece of Triangular Talisman Paper.
“This Talisman Paper can relieve fatigue. Want one?”
Thinking Xia Sheng was looking out for him, Lu Ren was deeply moved. “Yes, yes, yes!”
The Little Celestial Master was truly as kind as she was beautiful!
Xia Sheng continued at an unhurried pace, “Two hundred per sheet.”
Lu Ren: Fine, he took back his previous thought.
Lu Ren transferred another two hundred to Xia Sheng. The moment he took the Talisman Paper, his exhaustion vanished instantly. He felt as clear-headed and energetic as if he had just woken up in the morning.
“This is amazing! Little Celestial Master, if I wear this Triangular Talisman, does it mean I won’t get tired anymore?”
Xia Sheng explained, “It’s a consumable; it only lasts for half a day. If you need more in the future, you can buy them from me again.”
If she made them permanent, how would she make any money?
Lu Ren’s feelings were complicated.
He felt like the Little Celestial Master was a bit of a black-hearted merchant.
In the end, Lu Ren still bought a few more sheets of Talisman Paper just in case.
Having collected the money, Xia Sheng prepared to leave.
Turning around, she saw Shen Yanchen standing at the entrance of the office building, looking their way.
His posture was straight, and his entire silhouette exuded a noble, cold aura, as if he had been standing there for a long time.
Since they were quite far apart, Xia Sheng simply nodded to the man as a greeting and then departed.
Lu Ren saw Shen Yanchen at the entrance and assumed he was getting ready to leave for the day.
He walked over, reported the situation regarding President Zhao, and then waited for Shen Yanchen to dismiss him.
Instead, he heard Shen Yanchen say in a cold, heavy tone, “Work overtime tonight. Organize the materials for Zhenzhi Energy and hand them in.”
Lu Ren froze, his heart filled with misery. He braced himself and said, “Ninth Master, you said before that I could hand them in tomorrow…”
Shen Yanchen didn’t say a word, merely giving him a chilly look.
Lu Ren’s scalp tingled. “I’ll get right on it.”
He turned to walk into the building, but Shen Yanchen suddenly called out to him, “Forget it. Hand them in tomorrow.”
Lu Ren stopped and looked back, his eyes full of confusion.
Without any further explanation, Shen Yanchen turned and headed toward the parking lot.
Lu Ren was utterly baffled.
What was wrong with Ninth Master today?
Where had he offended him?