Chapter 121 Fate

Aside from the tangled lifelines between the little blue man and the statue people, there was an even thicker, chain-like line wrapped around the little blue man's body. At the same time, both the little blue man and the statue people emitted countless tiny, spiderweb-like lines that were intricate and complex. Furthermore, all the extending lines were blocked by the white mist, making it impossible to see anything further.

Compared to this massive web of intertwined lifelines, Fang Yue and his little black man were insignificant, like a small shaman before a great one, completely incomparable.

No wonder the parchment was surprised and exclaimed what a huge game it was…

[Do you understand now? That guy wants to hook you. What he plans to do exactly depends on how the fate chart changes later.]

[What do you want to do?]

Fang Yue's expression turned grim. He didn't want to become someone else's pawn, so naturally, it was best to cut the connection.

[Alright, watch me!]

With a whooshing whistle, a strike that distorted the air appeared out of nowhere, slashing from afar.

*Crack!* It accurately severed the light blue line above Fang Yue's head, breaking the connection to the little blue man in the clouds.

The little blue man maintained his calm, smiling expression for a long while before it suddenly changed. As if a soul had been injected into him, he became as lifelike as Fang Yue's little black man. His expression seemed to falter for a moment as he looked down, then looked around blankly and confused, seemingly not understanding what had happened.

As the wind howled, the little blue man's expression immediately changed. He resumed that mysterious smiling expression, and his soul receded.

[Success… Using its power consumes much more than I thought.]

You're not going to fall asleep again, are you?

[No, no, just feed me more stones!]

In Fang Yue's mind, the parchment cutely tossed its head and looked at him expectantly.

[Fang Yue, Yueyue, Yueyueyue! I remember you have a gold stone left…]

"No way! I have to keep that for now. If we reach the capital safely, I'll let you have it."

[Stingy! Stiiingy!!!]

[I'm ignoring you!]

And it really did ignore him. The image of the [Fate Chart] shattered like a mirror. Fang Yue snapped back to reality and realized he was still standing on the deck, originally heading to the stern to deal with the red-eyed fish monsters.

"Ye-ge?"

"Ye-ge, what's wrong? You were spacing out for a while."

Jing Yan and Qing Chen looked at Fang Yue with confusion. Fang Yue shook his head.

"I'm fine."

With that, he led the two of them toward the stern to fight.

He wanted to ask the parchment to predict whether the Cold River Giant Ship could safely reach the capital or the Lie Huo Sect's mountain gate.

But the parchment was still sulking, so he decided not to provoke it for now.

Compared to the parchment's newly added [Fate Chart], something as mysterious and ethereal as luck, Fang Yue still felt that the parchment's predictive abilities were the most practical.

Besides… the parchment had absorbed the [Exquisite Eight-Phases Jade Flute] and become stronger, so could it break through from the rain-grade cursed object?

If the parchment could be upgraded to the immortal grade, then he could use its power to exert immortal-grade strength. In that case, many things would become much easier.

There were definitely rain-grade old monsters in the Qing capital, but immortal-grade experts were not certain.

No… there probably were some. Even if there weren't immortal-grade ones, there should be power equivalent to the immortal grade, otherwise, Qing couldn't have flourished for so many years.

Immortal-grade experts had just disappeared and no new immortals had been born for a long time, but it didn't mean that immortals were completely extinct. Those were two different concepts.

In any case, becoming stronger and reaching the capital as soon as possible were the right paths.

With that thought, Fang Yue led his men to the stern.

Compared to the chaos on the deck, the stern simply had more red-eyed fish monsters.

However, upon closer inspection, Fang Yue quickly noticed something was wrong.

He discovered that some of the red-eyed fish monsters lingering at the stern were stuck to the wooden planks like chewed gum, indistinguishable from each other, fused into one.

Although Fang Yue didn't know what was happening, he vaguely sensed something ominous.

They were on the Cold River, and if something happened to the Cold River Giant Ship, everyone would be doomed. No one would be able to leave the Cold River alive.

Without thinking further, Fang Yue shouted and immediately rushed forward. The black wheel behind him opened, and black silk shot out in all directions like tentacles, wildly sweeping away the red-eyed fish monsters as if clearing the field.

Jing Yan roared and followed suit, trying to attack the red-eyed fish monsters, hoping to get some assists to increase his stats.

Only Qing Chen, upon seeing the scene of the wooden planks and red-eyed fish fusing together, became excited. Ignoring Fang Yue and Jing Yan's efforts to clear the area, he went straight to the point where the monsters and planks were fused, his eyes shining as he began to observe and study.

…

Qing Capital, the city gate.

Qing Capital, the capital of Qing, also known as Jingcheng, was the most prosperous place in Qing.

The city gate of Qing Capital was one of the most popular areas.

The reason was simple.

It was the only open entrance and exit to Qing Capital, so the flow of people was extremely high.

Moreover, most of them were outsiders who didn't know much about Qing Capital.

With such unequal information, the locals had many ways to do business with the outsiders.

However, not everyone was qualified to set up a stall and do business in such a prime location.

Coincidentally, an ordinary-looking old man with a white beard was able to set up a chess endgame in such a prime location, waiting for people to walk into his trap.

The white-bearded old man's endgame was quite skillful. Challengers came one after another, but no one succeeded.

At this moment, the challenger in front of the old man was a newly recruited disciple from the Lie Huo Sect, named… Tian Long?

He claimed to be a refugee.

The term "refugee" was a newly popularized term in Qing, like a novelty item. Anyone who claimed to be a refugee could attract more attention.

This Tian Long had mediocre talent, but he had barely managed to be accepted into the Lie Huo Sect by relying on this identity and some fortuitous encounters.

Today, he had come to the capital to run errands for the sect.

The white-bearded old man didn't know the specifics, nor was he very interested.

It was just that this young man had been attracted to his endgame chess game as soon as he entered the capital, and he was eager to try it.

However, strangely, every time this young man made a move, he would space out for a long time before finally placing a chess piece. He would also mutter incomprehensible words like "Alpha" and "Artificial Intelligence."

The white-bearded old man didn't care, because he was waiting for someone, and that person had not yet appeared.

The surrounding people were pointing and gossiping, mostly just watching the spectacle.

All of this was within the white-bearded old man's expectations.

But suddenly, as if sensing something, his expression rapidly changed several times.

The luster in his eyes faded, and he became like the refugee Tian Long in front of him, standing motionless like a statue.

Within the Fate Chart.

The little blue man representing the First Prince, Qing Qianyang, suddenly had a soul injected into him.

He looked down in confusion at the fishing line in his hand, which had been broken.

He was clueless as to the reason. Looking down, he saw only a vast expanse of white, completely devoid of the clarity and refreshing feeling he had when he set the bait earlier.

"This shouldn't be. With my fate body cultivation, I should be able to see the dynamics below clearly. Why can't I detect even the slightest trace of that person?"