With the matter at the Yang Family concluded, Lang Jiuchuan and Gong Tinglan parted ways to act separately. She would investigate whether any other places in Da Zheng had suffered similar fates to the Qian, Li, and Yang clans — while Gong Tinglan would return to the Gong Family’s ancestral grounds to examine the historical records: what exactly was Tantai Qing’s background, as recorded in the Tantai clan’s genealogy from two hundred years ago, and whether any unusual events had occurred around that time.

The Tongtian Tower in Wu Jing.

Inside the private chamber, a heavy atmosphere had settled since the news Lang Jiuchuan had brought back — curling wisps of incense rose from the three-legged bronze censer, yet they could not dispel the deep contemplation etched across everyone’s brows.

Lang Jiuchuan relayed everything she had witnessed at the Yang Family residence, including the fact that the Qian and Li clans had suffered the same fate, telling A’Piao and Fu Qi everything. At the end, she said with some hesitation, “In truth, I have an even more unsettling suspicion. Tantai Qing used me to seal and nourish the imperial mausoleum’s dynastic fortune — and now he steals the fortune of great clan families. Perhaps his goal is not as simple as what we previously speculated — seeking longevity to extend his life. The deeper purpose behind all of this may far exceed what any of us can currently imagine.”

Fu Qi nodded in agreement. “What you say makes sense. Stealing fortune to sustain one’s life and pursue longevity — it sounds reasonable on the surface. But based solely on these events, even we can tell that the Grand Preceptor’s mind runs deeper than the nine darkest pits of the underworld. He has caused all this devastation, with so many households destroyed and lives ruined — and all of that just to live a bit longer? Something doesn’t feel right.”

He crossed his arms and furrowed his brow as he analyzed the situation. “There is also the matter of the Gong Family’s great formation from back then — it, too, was endlessly channeling soul power to nourish the dynastic fortune. Two hundred years have already passed, and yet he has done nothing concrete to act on that fortune. And as you said — he laid these schemes over these three great clans across several decades, steadily siphoning countless streams of fortune for his own use — yet to this day, he remains placidly in the role of Grand Preceptor. At most he enjoys the power of the vow-wishes that come from the world’s reverence for him as a god, but beyond that, he has done nothing.”

A’Piao toyed with a jade-inlaid abacus and said, “Many things — such as advancing to the next stage, or crossing a heavenly tribulation, just as spiritual cultivators like ourselves must do — require the alignment of heavenly timing, earthly advantage, and human harmony. Forcing the attempt without absolute certainty leads to the same outcome as Rong Huanxuan — the shattering of one’s Dao root and the corruption of one’s heart into demonic madness.”

That much was true.

Cultivation was never easy. Unless there was no other option, and especially for something like crossing a heavenly tribulation, it was best to have all three — heavenly timing, earthly advantage, and human harmony — without a single one missing. Otherwise, even the slightest misstep meant perishing.

Tantai Qing was cautious and steady. Without absolute certainty, he would never squander a layout built over many years.

“He must be waiting for heavenly timing,” A’Piao said, looking at Lang Jiuchuan. “And right now, he may also be waiting for human harmony.”

His gaze carried a clear implication. Lang Jiuchuan’s eyelid twitched, and she pointed at herself. “You mean — he’s waiting for me to be his human harmony?”

“We won’t discuss what he truly seeks for now — let’s assume he really is just trying to achieve longevity and extend his life. Then as you said before, one key point is clear: his lifespan is running short. That counts as heavenly timing. As for human harmony — he had you sealed in the imperial mausoleum to nourish the dynastic fortune, and began laying his schemes from the moment of your birth. This shows he always knew you were an indispensable piece in his plan. You died early — his plan suffered a deviation — and now you’ve come back to life. That means his human harmony must be rebuilt from scratch.”

Lang Jiuchuan let out a cold laugh. “You mean — he needs to kill me a second time.”

A’Piao lounged lazily in a large armchair. “Why not? Achieving his purpose by any means necessary — that is Tantai Qing, is it not? He began laying his schemes from the very moment of your birth — which means he long ago glimpsed the heavenly secrets. You are the most crucial piece, and your life’s destiny is that of a complete dragon’s fate. You have cultivated the Dao for many years — you should know that when the world is on the verge of collapse, the Heavenly Dao, in order to preserve one region from destruction, will always cause certain individuals bearing great fortune to descend into the world as its saviors. Just as in an age of chaos — when the imperial court is corrupt, the people suffer, and the land is littered with the starving dead — a great hero will arise to save the world.”

“The legendary child of fortune,” Fu Qi said, his eyes bright.

Lang Jiuchuan stroked the thunder patterns on the Dizhong and offered no refutation. What they said was not without logic. With Tantai Qing’s power, could he glimpse the heavenly secrets and seek out a child of fortune? Perhaps it was difficult — but as long as he was willing to pay the price.

He had glimpsed the heavenly secrets, which was why he had waited so patiently from the beginning — waiting for a child to be born outside the Xuan Clan, waiting for her to be born, then immediately having her taken away. He had not come himself but directed the head of the Rong Family — was this not also a way of avoiding karmic entanglement?

It all connected.

“Heavenly timing: the moment his lifespan nears its end. Human harmony: me… killed again. Ha!” Lang Jiuchuan laughed — but the smile was bone-chilling.

Did she really look that easy to bully?

“Taking everything together — whether his theft of all this dynastic and clan fortune was truly preparation for buying himself more years and achieving longevity, only he himself knows. But that he is stealing is true. And that you are a crucial piece in his plan is equally true.” A’Piao’s expression was complex as he looked at Lang Jiuchuan. “Rebirth through nirvana was no easy thing. Be careful above all else.”

“I might as well grab hold of him and self-destruct — let’s see what human harmony he waits for after that.” Lang Jiuchuan’s rebellious bone had been prodded into responding.

“To harm the enemy a thousand while costing yourself eight hundred — that is foolishness.” Feng Ya’s voice rang out from the void. “If you dare do something like that, I’ll devour your soul first to compensate for the soul power I lost — rather than waste it.”

“Eavesdropping is contemptible,” Lang Jiuchuan muttered irritably.

Feng Ya gave a cold snort. “You may match wits and strength with him, and you may give it everything you have — but if both sides suffer, that is the lowest of all stratagems. If that happens, don’t claim to know me.”

“I know, I know. Trading away this hard-won reborn self for someone like him — am I that foolish?” Lang Jiuchuan waved a hand dismissively.

Feng Ya dropped one last “take care of yourself” and fell silent.

Lang Jiuchuan no longer dared say anything that might bolster her enemy’s morale while deflating her own. She said, “Whatever he is aiming for — right now I have no certainty of taking him out in one decisive strike. I can only keep strengthening myself while at the same time working to find all the families he has stolen fortune from — among the Qian, Li, and Yang clans, there are surely similar cases happening to others. If we can identify them all and break his schemes one by one, we cut off his ‘supply line’ and force him to show a flaw sooner. This matter is of great importance and must be handled in secret. A’Piao, have your people help me investigate.”

Know your enemy and yourself, and you can break any situation.

A’Piao did not refuse. “Gathering intelligence is the Tongtian Tower’s oldest trade. I will have people comb through all families within Da Zheng that have experienced abnormal decline, unceasing misfortune, or catastrophic events over the past several decades — and even regional natural disasters and man-made calamities — to see whether any of them show signs of abnormal fortune drain.”

Fu Qi turned to Lang Jiuchuan with some puzzlement. “Can dynastic fortune and clan fortune actually be absorbed and used for cultivation? Wouldn’t that be like what the head of the Rong Family did with his soul-draining — indiscriminate absorption that causes energy to become mixed and volatile, leading to a blowup? He’s siphoned so much fortune from so many sources and swallowed it all down in one go — speaking plainly, it’s like one big chaotic stew. Isn’t he afraid of choking on it?”

Something flickered through Lang Jiuchuan’s mind — but before she could grasp it, a sudden presence swept in and caught her attention.

She walked out of the private chamber and sure enough, saw the person who had concealed themselves with a Concealment Talisman. The person’s expression was complex as they called out quietly, “Elder Sister…”

(Author’s note: …Another bout of a feverish cold, hoarse voice, can’t speak! )