Shen Lingshu and Zhu Xuanji stood side by side, gazing into the sky from where Ning Zhuo had departed, and he sighed, "It's the same as the previous divination results, his Qi fortune is nothing special."
Zhu Xuanji frowned, "He has gained such staggering benefits at Mist Hidden Mountain, in the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, his lifespan must be incredibly vigorous, how can it be nothing special?"
"Does this mean the 'Buddha Heart Demon Seal' possesses the power to suppress and disguise lifespan?"
At the decisive moment in the struggle for the Lava Fairy Palace, Zhu Xuanji had witnessed with his own eyes the 'Buddha Heart Demon Seal' embracing Ning Zhuo.
Shen Lingshu said, "It's hard to say."
Zhu Xuanji said, "Since the Monarch had you come to perform divination and detection, he must have considered this. Just tell us your findings. Are you worried that I am too deeply involved with Ning Zhuo that I might abandon my family and country?"
Shen Lingshu sighed again, "I haven't concealed anything from you; the divination results are indeed as such."
"Before I left, I specifically took a Spiritual Treasure from the national treasury to guard against the 'Buddha Heart Demon Seal.'"
"Now, I've found that the 'Buddha Heart Demon Seal' indeed has the function of suppressing lifespan, but it cannot disguise it."
"Suppressing lifespan allows Ning Zhuo's Qi fortune to always maintain a relatively high lower limit and not plummet too harshly to suffer terrible misfortunes."
"But as the scale and strength of the Ning Clan branch-off family grows, the suppressive effect of the 'Buddha Heart Demon Seal' on lifespan will be spread thinner and become more diluted."
Zhu Xuanji nodded, "That makes sense. Treasures that can suppress lifespan are rare indeed. It's quite fortunate for Ning Zhuo to possess one."
"According to the grade of the 'Buddha Heart Demon Seal,' although the Ning Clan branch-off family is developing rapidly, they have only just started. Their lifespan can be suppressed for a long time without too violent fluctuations."
"After all, does Ning Zhuo possess a king's mandate or the 'Life Hanging Divine Power'?"
Sun Lingtong spread his hands, indicating helplessness, "The results of my divination are just as they are; I've already told you everything."
"As for this question, my answer is—uncertain."
"Uncertain?" Zhu Xuanji raised his eyebrows.
Shen Lingshu stroked his beard, "Let's talk about the king's mandate first. This type of Immortal Aptitude contains many different kinds, but often they have one thing in common. That is, before the king's mandate is revealed, the individual seems ordinary, or even inferior. As the saying goes, 'a dragon in shallow waters, do not use a dragon concealed.'"
"After the lifespan bursts forth and the king's mandate is revealed, they will stand out impressively. At that time, we diviners can be certain."
"This is why it is difficult to detect a king's mandate in advance—the true dragon is elusive."
After a pause, Shen Lingshu spoke again, "Now, let's talk about the 'Life Hanging Divine Power.'"
"This Divine Power can connect with other sentient beings, forming an intertwining of lifespan. If one's life pattern and lifespan are likened to water in a cup, some have strong life patterns and plentiful lifespan, which is like a large cup filled with water. Others may have strong life patterns and weak lifespan, equating to a large cup with little water, and so on for the combinations of weak life patterns and varying lifespan."
"The 'Life Hanging Divine Power' is like connecting many cups at the bottom."
"So much so that, in everyone connected, the water level in their cups will be equal, all on the same plane."
"This move has its pros and cons. The advantage is that by interconnecting lifespans, one does not tumble too low, which can stabilize the lower limit and is tantamount to suppressing lifespan."
"The downside is that it is extremely difficult for an individual's lifespan to prosper and will be dragged down by others whose lifespans are mediocre or even declining."
"But overall, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks."
Zhu Xuanji nodded in agreement with this assessment.
"Lifespan, lifespan," this word on the surface meaning the number of breaths, represents the act of living. A consistent and stable lower limit of lifespan means the ability to breathe and thus the ability to keep living.
Life and death are a significant matter!
As long as one is alive, there is hope for everything.
Shen Lingshu said, "I do not possess the 'Life Hanging Divine Power.' According to the information left by the Emperor, only by mastering this Divine Power can one see it with their eyes and be able to detect 'Life Hanging Thread.'"
"So, to speculate whether Ning Zhuo has 'Life Hanging Thread' mainly relies on reflecting on the effects of 'Life Hanging Thread' on lifespan."
"I have already calculated for you, Ning Jiufan, Lin Shanshan, and I have secretly investigated Hanzhou and Hua Guzi, finding that your lifespans are intricately entangled with Ning Zhuo's."
"I have calculated for Lin Bufan and Yuan Lao and Linghu Jiu, but I did not find that the lifespans are closely tied."
Zhu Xuanji remained silent, listening attentively. Divination has always been enigmatic in the Cultivation Hundred Skills and shrouded in secrecy. In this regard, Zhu Xuanji had little exposure and could only wait for Shen Lingshu's following words.
Shen Lingshu analyzed, "If Ning Zhuo has already planted the 'Life Hanging Thread' on you, Ning Jiufan, Lin Shanshan, as well as people in Hanzhou and Hua Guzi, then the signs of intertwined lifespan and close connections are evidence."
"The problem is that these people are already closely involved with Ning Zhuo. Ning Jiufan is Ning Zhuo's ancestors and holds him in high regard as the future of the family. This time, it was Ning Zhuo's letter that called him here to help."
"Lin Shanshan and Hua Guzi are close to Ning Zhuo—the former got detained for helping Ning Zhuo, while the latter's infatuation is obvious. Their intertwined lifespans are also normal."
"You've had close associations with Ning Zhuo in the Lava Fairy Palace and at Mist Hidden Mountain, making entangled lifespans reasonable. As for Hanzhou, he's always maintained a sparring relationship with Ning Zhuo, and this time he was persuaded by Ning Zhuo to arrange a placement in Yugang Mountain. This would also explain the appearances of entangled lifespans."
"As for Lin Bufan and Yuan Lao, they are both at Nascent Soul Level. According to the information left by the Emperor, 'Life Hanging Thread' cannot span two major realms, at most, one can span one. After reaching higher stages of practice, it can only span minor realms."
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"Ning Zhuo currently only has Foundation Establishment cultivation and can plant seeds for only those at the Golden Core Level at most. So, it's reasonable that his lifespan is not closely linked with Lin Bufan and Yuan Lao,"
"Finally, there's Linghu Jiu. His lifespan, on the other hand, isn't deeply entangled with Ning Zhuo."
Hearing this, Zhu Xuanji raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"
His eyes twinkled with golden light: "If I were Ning Zhuo and had control of the Life Hanging Thread divine power, I would undoubtedly do everything in my power to plant seeds for the important figures of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect."
"Lin Shanshan and Linghu Jiu would certainly be included."
"The fact that Linghu Jiu's lifespan isn't closely connected to him at least proves that, even if Ning Zhuo had control of the Life Hanging Divine Power, he didn't plant it on Linghu Jiu."
"I have also seen the message left by the previous Emperor, and in her time, whoever she saw, she would plant, and quickly make a fortune. Ning Zhuo is young. If he didn't plant it on Linghu Jiu, it would be contrary to human nature."
"Thus, the possibility of Ning Zhuo having control of the Life Hanging Divine Power is not high."
Shen Lingshu smiled faintly: "Zhu Xuanji, have you realized that you are defending Ning Zhuo? Whether it's in Fire Persimmon Immortal City or just now."
Zhu Xuanji frowned and immediately shook his head: "I am merely analyzing, and quite rationally and calmly, at that."
Shen Lingshu said: "Of course. I'm not disputing that."
"However, once someone is planted with the Life Hanging Thread, after their lifespans are entwined, it will cause the planted person's every action to benefit the originator in an inexplicable way. Even if the subject who is planted with the thread seeks revenge on the originator."
"Your speculation about Linghu Jiu is consistent with human nature, but your own behavior is proving that you've been planted by Ning Zhuo with the Life Hanging Thread."
Zhu Xuanji shook his head again, laughing: "I am more inclined to think that I have been planted with the thread by the three masters of the sect."
"As for that, I had my suspicions before, to the point where I could hardly sleep and was paranoid."
"Now I've come to realize that whether I've been planted with the thread or not, or whether the thread even exists, I just have to act according to my own way."
"If it were the past me, the situation with Linghu Jiu would also indicate that Ning Zhuo does not possess, at least doesn't utilize, the Life Hanging Thread evidence!"
"Me being the subject of such evidence, however, is quite easy to prove."
"Now that Ning Zhuo has left the country, my fate entwined with his will inevitably plummet, and when that time comes, please observe again, senior, and won't the truth be revealed?"
Shen Lingshu nodded: "Correct, that is indeed my plan. To detect the answer to this issue, these few days are not enough; we need longer observation."
"However, there's currently an even better subject to observe than you."
Zhu Xuanji showed a look of surprise: "Oh?"
He thought for a moment, and the divine hunter renowned in Southern Bean Country immediately thought of a person and blurted out: "Are you talking about the deputy mountain god of Mist Hidden Mountain? Oh no, He has already become the true mountain god and now is the only mountain god of Mist Hidden Mountain."
Shen Lingshu nodded again: "That's right."
"This fox god had not been in contact with Ning Zhuo for a long time, but under Ning Zhuo's extortion, He even gave up the Spirit Hidden Willow!"
"This move is quite suspicious."
"After all, such a treasure like the Spirit Hidden Willow, placed on Mist Hidden Mountain to cultivate His power, would also be significantly helpful. If the fox god offered this item to Southern Bean Country, He could exchange it for atonement and protection. Yet he handed it directly to Ning Zhuo. On closer inspection, it's somewhat strange."
"But if Ning Zhuo influenced the fox god through the Life Hanging Thread at the time, then it would make sense."
Zhu Xuanji nodded: "Good, then next, we'll go to Mist Hidden Mountain."
"Ning Jiufan is also heading there."
"However, we need not show our true faces, merely investigating the mountain god of Mist Hidden Mountain in secret will suffice."
Near Yugang Mountain.
A formation had already been covertly laid out.
Three cultivators, all of Golden Core cultivation, were hiding in the array space, sitting quietly in meditation.
A flying message entered the formation with familiarity, bringing news — Ning Jiufan had departed from Ten Thousand Medicine Valley yesterday. In a few days, he would arrive at Yugang Mountain.
"The divination result is from Master Zhuge, it can't be wrong."
"Damn it, that old youngster is finally coming!"
"Much sooner than I imagined; I thought we would have to meditate here for a year, maybe two."
"Not necessary! He has already agreed to Lord Meng Kui to hunt down the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit. If he were to avoid battle by leaving the country, it would be a great blow to the Ning Family and to his own reputation!"
"Take Ning Jiufan's life, pull off this job, and then we'll flee from the country."
The three Golden Core cultivators communicated through divine sense for a while, then fell back into silence.
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