"You’ve only grasped a part." The Senior Elder of the Ban Family shook his head and continued to guide, "Divination is a very subtle act."
"Divination is the most mysterious among the Cultivation Hundred Skills, without exception."
"On the surface, this skill is about predicting the future and helping cultivators make changes now. But in reality, it is a challenge to fate!"
"Every living being has a life chart, a position granted by Heaven. Cultivators use divination to repeatedly alter the future, inevitably gradually departing from Heaven’s designation."
"This is beneficial for the individual cultivator, but Heaven does not permit it. If everyone were to do this, all creatures would break free from the constraints of their life charts, leading the entire world into chaos, self-destruction, quickly heading towards decay and ruin in endless disorder."
"Therefore, throughout history, divination skills have been very difficult to pass down, and most people find them hard to obtain. This is because Heaven secretly prevents this skill from being inherited in various ways, aiming for the stability of the Cultivation World."
After a pause, the Senior Elder of the Ban Family continued, "Our clan possesses the Clan Fate Mechanism Chain, a treasure that can detect qi fortune, manage the lifespan of family members, and divine for every clan member; it is the treasure that stabilizes the clan."
"And decades ago, our clan received guidance from The Hermit of the One Dao, which was a great opportunity for our entire clan."
"Combining both, we have the ability to link Ban Ji’s King’s Order, performing certain maneuvers regarding his fate."
"Although The Hermit of the One Dao left a significant amount of treasure, he specifically cautioned that divination concerning Ban Ji holds great importance and should be done later rather than sooner. Do you understand why?"
The Senior Elder of the Ban Family tested Ban Jie.
Ban Jie furrowed her brows, her mind keen, and with a bit of thought, she understood that the Senior Elder of the Ban Family had already provided the answer.
She replied, "Since Heaven conceals divination skills, isolating cultivators from inheriting the skill, then naturally Heaven would also evolve and suppress cultivators who foresee the future through divination."
"On Ban Ji, Heaven’s attention is undoubtedly very high."
"If our clan were to divine early, foreseeing the future, then this future may very likely be altered by Heaven. After this change, not only would our clan waste precious divination treasure, but we would also expend energy and time in the wrong direction, mistakenly thinking we have adequately prepared."
The Senior Elder of the Ban Family stroked his beard, showing a hint of satisfaction: "The young one can be taught!"
"Ban Ji carries the King’s Order, and according to Heaven’s path for him, he will walk alone, tread the Demon Path, accumulating conflicts with the family step by step, ultimately becoming enemies. During this process, he will rely on various challenges to stimulate the King’s Order and become a new king."
"And our Ban Family will become the firewood on his path to kingship, helping him confirm the Demon Heart, clearing away weaker opportunities."
Ban Jie immediately felt a pressure from the heavy tone of the Senior Elder of the Ban Family.
The Ban Family seeks better advancement by leveraging the King’s Order, while also fearing Ban Ji’s free development, threatening the family. Considering both aspects, the Ban Family united in a daring grand plan—linking the clan’s fortune tightly with Ban Ji, sharing its glory and decline.
This is both self-preservation and self-strengthening, both dangerous and an opportunity.
The Senior Elder of the Ban Family asked Ban Jie again: "Do you know why you’re arranged to go and help Ban Ji?"
This time, without waiting for Ban Jie to answer, the Senior Elder of the Ban Family directly revealed the answer: "You grew up with him, considered childhood friends. On one hand, you know his personality and conduct, enabling you to help him better without arousing his resentment or aversion."
"On the other hand, your qi fortune with his is tightly linked, making it more beneficial for you to assist him in stimulating the King’s Order."
"You are the best choice!"
"Remember, the fate of the family rests on your shoulders."
Ban Jie took a deep breath, filled with a sense of responsibility and honor: "Rest assured, Elder, I understand, I will spare no effort to provide the most suitable assistance for Ban Ji."
She fully understood the situation.
In helping Ban Ji to trigger the King’s Order, her opponents are not only Ning Zhuo, the apparent tribulation, but also Heaven, and even Ban Ji himself!
The cliff wind suddenly arose, dispersing the incense smoke rising a foot before her, interrupting Ban Jie’s recollection.
While arranging the tea set, Ban Jie analyzed the current situation.
"Our clan divined a few years ahead, preparing reputable martial artists for Ban Ji, assisting him in enhancing his close combat skills in blades and swords."
"Yet during the current venture into the Xuan Armor Cave, Ban Ji encountered neither a knife nor a sword."
"The Great Array of the Xuan Armor Cave randomly selects mysterious armors to distribute among participating cultivators. This fairness, under Heaven’s interference, caused our clan’s planning regarding Ban Ji to fail."
Realizing this situation, Ban Jie immediately dispatched measures, successfully bribing
"However, despite this, Ban Ji ultimately obtained only a bronze knife, and during the subsequent bronze sword battle, he was completely overwhelmed, failing to win."
Ban Jie now knows that facing the knife and sword, Ban Ji’s combat power was markedly superior to those of similar level.
Ban Ji’s poor performance was partly due to this. Additionally, he had expended too much in earlier battles. Ban Ji’s physique fell short of Ning Zhuo, as he cultivated the ’Greedy Opportunity Demon Heart Technique’ focusing on the Upper Dantian.
"Even though I’ve launched remedial actions, Heaven’s changes continue to suppress Ban Ji."
Subsequently, the third challenge commenced.
Though Ban Jie was not present at the scene, her well-arranged personnel had already transmitted information multiple times.
This made Ban Jie very clear on the situation of the third challenge.
Thinking of this, Ban Jie placed various tea items—tea tray, teapot, fair cup, tasting cup, aroma cup, tea caddy, tea scoop, and teaspoon—on the table before her.
Looking at these tea utensils, she seemed to see the battle in the cave.
"Now the three Golden Core cultivators are in a chaotic fight, they won’t easily give up until one gains victory."
"Lu Zeng is likely to be eliminated."
"Among Foundation Establishment cultivators, integration is difficult and should not be done now. This is a chance to test Ning Zhuo and try to weaken him!"
With this thought, Ban Jie deployed the second round of manpower, having Zhang Wangxing and other acquaintances perform in public, enticing Ning Zhuo to let his guard down, aiming to deliver a significant blow to him!
Zhang Wangxing’s expression was ferocious, full of killing intent, no longer with the previous pitiful appearance begging for help.
He threw the bronze lock chain directly at Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo, now a different person, continuously retreated, his figure flickering, evading the lock chain.
But the attacks from others had already arrived.
A heavy bronze Mountain Opening Halberd wrapped in a vicious gale swept horizontally at Ning Zhuo’s waist.
A bronze sword and a Water Dividing Needle approached from behind, one aiming for his back and the other stabbing his waist!
Additionally, three bronze shuttles flew silently, breaking through the air, targeting Ning Zhuo’s upper, middle, and lower vital points, blocking his escape routes!
Evidently, these attacking cultivators had practiced cooperation, their various attacks complementing each other with great tacit understanding from the moment they struck.
Ning Zhuo suddenly found himself besieged, the situation rapidly deteriorating.
Cold gleams flashed in his eyes, and after a moment of shock and anger, came icy calmness.
He withdrew continuously, his body shaking, sending out several pieces of mysterious armors from his sleeves and other places.
In the air, the mysterious armors transformed, respectively becoming a bronze spear, bronze knife, bronze sword, and a pair of bronze boxing gloves.
Clang! Clang! Clang...
A series of sparks flew, Ning Zhuo’s bronze weapons precisely blocked the attacking mysterious armors.
But this delay greatly hindered Ning Zhuo’s retreat speed, and he was surrounded by the cultivators from all directions.
"You guys..." Previously deceived outsiders who attacked Zhang Wangxing showed expressions of surprise and doubt, momentarily pausing, uncertain of what to do.
And then, the second round of assault against Ning Zhuo began again.
A variety of weapons alternated in attacking, Ning Zhuo was left defending on all sides, completely at a disadvantage.