Sailboats and Inquiries

Night had fallen deep and heavy. In Songhai, seeing the stars at night was rare. Air pollution meant the sky was seldom clear, and ground-level light pollution reflected off the cloud cover, obscuring the heavens. Stargazing in Songhai was normally an impossible task. Yet once one mastered Stargazing, neither clouds nor light pollution could veil a Stargazer's eyes. At this moment, Zhang Yuanqing's gaze pierced the cloud layer, taking in the vast canopy of stars. Across the firmament, stretched like a swath of black velvet, bean-sized stars were densely scattered—some twinkling brightly, others dim and lusterless. With the celestial dome mirrored in his pupils, Zhang Yuanqing murmured like someone chanting an incantation: "Rescue Demonic Eye. Rescue Demonic Eye..." After repeating it more than a dozen times, a certain patch of previously still stars in the night sky shifted ever so slightly. A chain reaction followed, setting more and more stars into motion. After a flurry of elusive shifts, Jupiter and Mars shone brilliantly, twinkling without pause. "Jupiter symbolizes good fortune, while Mars symbolizes calamity. Rescuing Demonic Eye will bring me both fortune and disaster. In other words, as long as I attempt to save him, it's either boundless luck or total ruin—no middle ground..." "And what if I don't save him?" Zhang Yuanqing muttered to himself, the starlight in his eyes surging as he initiated a second Stargazing reading. The stars shifted once again, offering their warning. A dozen seconds later, the movements ceased. Mars glowed fiercely, pulsing with persistent light. Jupiter remained dark. The omen was abundantly clear: save Demonic Eye, and success meant great fortune, while failure brought disaster. Don't save Demonic Eye, and disaster was certain. "Could my Perfect Human Skin plan be flawed? Or did the death of Greed Divine General ruin Fear Heavenly King's opinion of me, meaning if I don't rescue Demonic Eye now, he'll personally strike at me, thus triggering the calamity...?" Zhang Yuanqing's expression turned grave. After a few seconds of contemplation, he made his decision. Leaving Demonic Eye to his fate carried pure harm without a single benefit. Attempting the rescue at least offered a fifty-fifty chance at good fortune. How to choose was self-evident. "With my current mastery of Stargazing, this is all I can discern. If only I could see the exact unfolding of fate from the constellations..." A thought struck Zhang Yuanqing. He opened his palm, and a heavy, dark iron disc appeared in his hand. The Daluo Astrolabe! The core function of this prop was to aid in Stargazing. Before he had learned the skill, Zhang Yuanqing had used items and records with strong karmic ties to predict the future through it. Now that he had mastered Stargazing, how much more potent would the Daluo Astrolabe prove to be? Without hesitation, Zhang Yuanqing channeled stellar energy into the astrolabe. A water-like power coursed across its surface, igniting the constellations traced in silver paint one by one. The constellations on the disc leaped outward into a holographic projection. This time, instead of freezing in midair, they surged like flowing water straight into Zhang Yuanqing's starry eyes. In an instant, an identical chart of the heavenly stars formed within his mind. At the same time, the stars in the night sky felt far "clearer" to him; vaguely, he could perceive faint, hazy glimpses of all things evolving. *The Daluo Astrolabe actually elevates my Stargazing to the level of someone who specializes in stellar power? Holy shit! As expected of a record-breaking reward from a killing trial—the quality of this prop is even higher than I imagined!* Zhang Yuanqing was wild with joy. Back when he hadn't known Stargazing, he hadn't realized its true worth. Only now did he grasp that the Daluo Astrolabe was undeniably a top-tier prop of the Saint stage. It effectively granted him a portion of the abilities exclusive to stellar-path cultivators. "Rescue Demonic Eye. Rescue Demonic Eye..." Murmuring mentally, he focused his spirit, opened his starry eyes wide, and locked his gaze intently on the celestial movements. Soon, the placid stars began to shift, triggering a cascading chain reaction across the entire night sky. The conditions, causes, and consequences tied to whether rescuing Demonic Eye succeeded or failed were laid bare along the trajectories of the moving stars. Zhang Yuanqing hadn't understood it earlier, but with the Daluo Astrolabe in hand and the constellations mapped in his mind, comprehension suddenly clicked. Everything clicked into place in seamless comprehension. The stars halted their dance. Mars and Jupiter flared with light once more. As if receiving a signal, the Daluo Astrolabe within Zhang Yuanqing's sea of consciousness also began to move in exact synchrony with the stars above. Finally, Mars and Jupiter lit up simultaneously. The two stars burst into radiance, manifesting two distinct glimpses of the future. —A solemn, imposing tribunal. Grand Elder Dihong of the Five Elements Alliance, grandfather to Huang Taiji, sat high upon the judgment seat, flanked by two white-haired elders. Rows of stern, formidable elders lined the sides, their presence quiet yet naturally commanding. "Yuanshi Tianzun, you colluded with the Soldier Master Sect and unlawfully freed Heavenly King Demonic Eye, violating taboo. In consideration of your past contributions and because the conspiracy did not ultimately come to pass, the Council of Elders has resolved to strip you of your official status, sentence you to three years of imprisonment, and fine you five billion. If your funds are insufficient, items will be confiscated to make up the difference." —A dark, shadowy chamber, lit only by a dim yellow bulb. There stood Demonic Eye, wearing his sports headband. Demonic Eye looked down at him, the corner of his mouth curving upward. "From this day forward, you are the sixth Heavenly King of the Soldier Master Sect. Fear already consulted Asura, and Asura agreed." Then, he heard his own raspy, agonizing voice: "Fuck off! I'd rather die than keep company with you bastards! Let me go!" The two future visions faded away. "This..." The starlight in Zhang Yuanqing's eyes receded, his brow furrowing deeply. As a Stargazer, interpreting divination was an essential skill. The first scene wasn't hard to understand: the rescue of Demonic Eye had failed, and colluding with an evil faction crossed a cardinal line. In the Five Elements Alliance's penal system, imprisonment was far more than sitting in a cell. The imprisoned were placed under control, turned into test subjects and suicide squads, forced to take on missions with abysmal survival rates. Refusal or escape would trigger an internal curse, resulting in sudden death. As for the five-billion-yuan fine, he certainly didn't possess that much wealth, so his prized props would be seized by the organization and confiscated. For him to face such treatment despite his reputation, merits, and accumulated connections meant the headquarters had truly resolved to ruin him. Why would headquarters be so determined to destroy him? Zhang Yuanqing deduced that either his identity as the Demon Lord's successor had been exposed, or the truth about Cai Longshen's death had leaked, giving Elder Cai at headquarters the chance to kick him while he was down. Alternatively, headquarters had judged Yuanshi Tianzun too rebellious and uncontrollable, deciding to discard him entirely. His prior conduct—with Wei Yuanzhou and the Rogue Dial—had already left a terrible impression on the higher-ups. What truly baffled Zhang Yuanqing was the second vision. He had apparently awakened in a gloomy room, severely injured, with Heavenly King Demonic Eye watching over him. Demonic Eye wanted to recruit him as a Heavenly King of the Soldier Master Sect, and Asura, the strongest native Spirit Realm walker, had approved Fear's recommendation. *My wife isn't about to die under the Immortal-Slaying Sword, so why the hell would I join an evil organization? How is that good fortune?!* Zhang Yuanqing scoffed internally. *Besides, aren't there only four Heavenly Kings?!* But soon, his focus shifted from "the sixth Heavenly King" to "waking up from unconsciousness." Given Yuanshi Tianzun's unyielding, obstinate, and extreme temperament, there was no way he would willingly ally himself with evil classes that trampled human life. The vision he had just witnessed must have shown a future where he was in mortal danger and Demonic Eye saved his life. Demonic Eye had then brought him back to the Soldier Master Sect's headquarters, which was why he had shouted, "Let me go!" The night was cool and hazy, but Fujia Bay remained brightly illuminated. The garden lamps of the various villas cast clear, gentle light. Standing at the edge of the rooftop terrace, Zhang Yuanqing could even see bunny girls bustling about through the floor-to-ceiling windows. He stared blankly into the distance, his mind working at full speed. *Even though I have a Five Elements Power Trial Card, the Zoo is a rule-based item, and Elder Dog is a Level 8 Dominator. There's no way I can rescue Demonic Eye single-handedly.* *Moreover, after Fear Heavenly King made trouble in Songhai, headquarters is probably keeping a close eye on the Zoo right now. If the Grand Marshal were still in Songhai... but I can't possibly hire a demigod to help me.* *Ask Fu Qingyang for assistance? No. When it comes to matters of principle, I can't drag the boss into the mud.* Though Fu Qingyang pampered him, Fu Qingyang had his own principles and bottom lines. Leveraging Money Prince's favoritism to force him to violate those principles was something Zhang Yuanqing refused to do. Furthermore, if the truth ever came to light, Fu Qingyang would likely be barred from entering headquarters for the rest of his life. Zhang Yuanqing lingered on the rooftop for a long time, racking his brains for a solution. Suddenly, an idea flashed across his mind. A Stargazer's true purpose was to be a chess player—a strategist who laid down intricate webs, adjusting piece by piece according to the feedback of Stargazing until events unfolded precisely as intended. *I can give that a try too. But how exactly do I build a scheme around Stargazing?* Zhang Yuanqing sank into thought once more. Judging by what he had learned since mastering Stargazing, formulating schemes through divination wasn't a standard skill. It came down to personal execution. Just as some players could Flash, execute an ultimate, and wipe out their enemies in one go, while others merely Flashed straight into a wall. The same skill on the same character produced completely different results depending on the player. *The commandery princess is a Stargazer, and an ancient cultivator at that. Asking her can't go wrong.* Zhang Yuanqing put away the Daluo Astrolabe, snapped his fingers, and used Star Traveling to return to his bedroom. Inside, Commandery Princess Yinyao lay stiffly on the bed, her posture resembling a corpse that had peacefully departed the world. The instant the starlight flared, she sensed it and opened her eyes. "Commandery Princess, I'd like to consult you on the practical application of Stargazing..." Zhang Yuanqing explained his dilemma to the top-grade figurine. Her eerie, crimson eyes wide open, the figurine remained rigid as she replied, "First formulate a plan, then seek feedback through Stargazing. Refine it step by step until it is foolproof." She added, "However, nothing is ever truly foolproof. The world is ever-shifting. Even the most formidable Stargazer cannot guarantee absolute success." Zhang Yuanqing pondered for a moment. "How should I begin in practice?" Commandery Princess Yinyao thought briefly. "Take an example. Suppose you wish to bed Queen and Lingxi right under Guan Ya's nose. Fooling her directly is impossible, so you must find a way to lure Guan Ya away. Yet Scouts possess keen insight; mere lies cannot deceive her. "Therefore, you must lay your plans in advance. You could covertly obtain information on the patrol captains of the Songhai Branch, secretly injure them, and arrange an ironclad excuse for yourself to remain in Songhai. Then, you instigate an evil class you're colluding with to wreak havoc within Songhai's borders. "With the patrol captains injured and unable to deploy, the branch would dispatch Guan Ya instead. Throughout this entire sequence, you would repeatedly perform Stargazing to ensure no mishaps occur at any step. "The moment Guan Ya departs, you can deflower Queen and Lingxi." "Your example makes me sound like an absolute scoundrel, but I get your point. It's certainly easy to understand," Zhang Yuanqing nodded in satisfaction. Tomorrow, he would draft a plan first, then gather intelligence based on it. Within three days, he had to produce a solid strategy! *** Eleven at night. In the Capital City, beneath a scholar tree in a traditional courtyard home, an energetic Sun Miaomiao crouched beside the rocking chair of her grandfather, Elder Sun. Holding her phone, she read aloud: "'Extra, extra! Yuanshi Tianzun has reached Level 6! This is insane! He's a genius even more dazzling than Fu Qingyang! Even if I've been exiled to the training camp and nailed shut inside a coffin, with my rotting vocal cords, I will still cry out: Elder Sun, you fool~'" Sun Miaomiao looked up at her grandfather and piped up crisply, "That was Yuan Ting's post! And it's not just Yuan Ting—everyone is saying you were foolish." The night breeze blew, swaying the scholar tree, which echoed with children's laughter: *"Grandpa is a fool, a fool, a fool~"* Sun Miaomiao flashed her little white teeth in a grin. "Next up is—" "No need to read any more!" Elder Sun's weathered face darkened as he slammed his hand against the armrest. "Why aren't you sleeping in the middle of the night? Why are you loitering around me? Scram, scram, scram! Get the hell out!" The uproar on the Taiyi Sect forum this time was simply too overwhelming. Previously, it had just been low-level novices making a fuss, but now Ultra, Saint, and even elder-tier members were chiming in about his foolishness. Elder Sun felt he could no longer keep a lid on it, so he had no choice but to take out his frustration on his granddaughter. "Why are you demoting your own seniority like that?" Sun Miaomiao muttered under her breath. "Don't blame me either. I logged into more than a dozen alt accounts to argue with them all night long! I've been plenty loyal!" Just as Elder Sun was about to snap back, he suddenly glanced toward the courtyard gate. A handsome young man wearing loose shorts and a T-shirt, his hair charmingly untamed, leaned against the gate frame, grinning as he watched the grandfather and granddaughter bicker. "Lingjun? What are you doing here?" Elder Sun asked with a frown. "To visit my beloved little sister, of course." Lingjun sauntered over with swaggering strides and casually draped an arm over Sun Miaomiao's shoulder. "Ah, Miaomiao, we haven't seen each other in months. Big Brother Lingjun missed you so much he couldn't eat or sleep—I've lost several pounds!" Sun Miaomiao shrugged his arm off and spat, "Scram, scram, scram!" Evidently unwilling to humor him, she wiggled away toward the exit. "Grandpa, I'm heading back." Lingjun watched with a smile as her figure slipped out the courtyard gate and vanished into the night. Waiting a few seconds more to ensure Sun Miaomiao had truly departed, his smile vanished. With a dignified demeanor, he bowed to Elder Sun. "Quite an easy girl to send away. Elder, there is something I wish to ask you." Elder Sun, a notoriously ill-tempered old man, snorted. "If you have questions, go ask Victoria. Why come to me? You and I aren't close." Lingjun sighed softly. "Because my question is one only you can answer." Pausing, he cut straight to the chase. "Do you still remember Elder 'Shanhe Yongcun'?" Elder Sun's eyes instantly narrowed. *** Free Confederation, Lake Wilga. It was ten in the morning. The sun hung high in a cloudless azure sky, and the waters of Lake Wilga were just as blue. A brisk wind swept across the lake, stirring glittering ripples, making the boundless surface look as if it were laden with gold. Sailboats dotted the expanse, their white sails billowing. Under the fierce wind, the rigging and masts occasionally groaned under the strain. This was a fleet of single-handed dinghies—4.23 meters long, 1.42 meters wide, with a sail area of 7.06 square meters. Such Laser-class sailboats were staples of world-class competitions, renowned as one of the most competitive sporting events in the world. Each craft held only a single sailor, perched on the gunwale, leaning far back, deftly handling the tiller and sheet to dictate their course. Among the fleet, two dinghies led far ahead of the rest, neck and neck. Both skippers were women, clad in life jackets, goggles, and safety helmets, skillfully cutting through the waves. As the finish line drew near, the dinghy on the left lagged by a fraction, letting victory slip away. Neither slowed immediately; easing their pace, they glided smoothly toward the shore. Stepping onto the hull, Fu Xue leaped lightly onto the bank. She unstrapped her helmet, goggles, and life jacket, tossing them to a handsome blond man who came forward to receive them, then turned back with a smile. "I won!" The wild wind whipped her locks, a charming smile gracing her lips, radiating mature allure. The woman from the other dinghy also removed her goggles and helmet. She appeared to be around forty, her fair face devoid of makeup, her features delicate and refined—neither coquettish nor delicate, but clean, elegant, and imbued with sharp competence. "Your technique has barely improved. I'll beat you next time." Chen Shu tossed her gear to the brown-haired handsome man beside her. The two women walked over beneath a parasol and settled lazily into their seats. Not far away stood a catering cart, where young attendants were expertly preparing desserts, fruits, and drinks. All of them wore swim trunks, baring strong, attractive physiques, their facial features deep and handsome. Chen Shu took a sip of juice, crossed her legs, leaned back against the chair, and smiled. "The genetic serum our biotech company is researching has reached a critical stage. As long as we secure a stable supply of Life Source Fluid, we can neutralize the toxicity in the formula. "Its function is to stimulate a Spirit Realm walker's potential for a short duration. Diluted several dozen times, it becomes the finest painkilling, life-preserving medicine in the world. I've had a professional team evaluate it—once it hits the market, it will generate billions in Confederation dollars for us each year." Fu Xue mused, "You want to use me to secure a stable supply of Life Source Fluid from the Fu family?" The lake breeze whispered past, gently rocking the parasol. Beneath it sat two wealthy women, curvaceous and graceful, their meticulously maintained skin fair and lovely, complementing one another. Chen Shu smiled and nodded. "You know that our Benevolence Society doesn't deal with Chinese Spirit Realm walker organizations. So a lucrative opportunity like this can only fall into your lap." Fu Xue shook her head. "You know how rare Life Source Fluid is. Given my standing in the Fu family, I can't supply you with much. Unless my daughter marries into the Miller family..." Fu Xue paused abruptly, glancing at the handsome young attendant lingering by the table, subtly flexing his abs. She frowned. "Get lost. This isn't a conversation for your ears." Realizing his looks and physique had failed to sway the two wealthy women, the young attendant had no choice but to retreat dejectedly. Only then did Fu Xue continue, "...my status would skyrocket, and securing a steady supply of Life Source Fluid wouldn't be difficult at all." Chen Shu furrowed her brow. "Doesn't your daughter's boyfriend hold quite a reputable position in the official faction?" Fu Xue retorted crossly, "His rank isn't high enough." Without a high rank, he naturally lacked the authority to allocate Life Source Fluid. Chen Shu said immediately, "What good is a son-in-law who has only potential and no rank? You're better off choosing the Miller family." Yuanshi Tianzun's handsome face surfaced in Fu Xue's mind, and she sighed. "I don't know what kind of spell was cast on me back then; I simply found him quite agreeable. Enough about him. I still have some connections in China and can pull some strings to help, but you'll have to pay more." Chen Shu smiled faintly. "I won't wait for you forever. You aren't my only option." Just as Fu Xue was about to respond, a female assistant dressed in a tailored skirt suit hurried over with a phone in hand. Stopping beside the table, she bowed and offered the device. "Madam, I believe you need to see this news." Fu Xue casually took the phone and glanced at the screen. In that single instant, she froze as if struck by lightning. Her pupils constricted slightly, her exquisite, glamorous oval face overtaken by utter shock. Chen Shu glanced at the smartphone in her friend's hand. "What happened to scare you like that?"