Chapter 28: Fate's Sudden Turn

The north wind howled; winter was coming.

What Li Ji'an saw and heard upon returning to his old homeland only strengthened his resolve to remain within the Immortal Palace and never set foot outside again. With his current achievements—a perfect completion of blood refinement, mastery of the enhanced "Floating Reed Step," and several rudimentary blood-qi techniques of his own invention—he was already considered a first-rate martial artist in the world. Yet, with the coming chaos, not even these could guarantee he would not be swept away by the tides of fate.

The Immortal Palace was still the safest place. No matter how turbulent the world outside became, peace always reigned within its walls, and resources were ever abundant. Most people strove to become Immortal Seedlings—except for Li Ji'an.

After perfecting his blood refinement, his progress in internal cultivation had noticeably slowed, and he now focused on external techniques and methods of unleashing blood-qi in combat. He dreaded the next Immortal Selection Ceremony, fearing another mishap with the Immortal Seedlings that would force him into the fray unprepared.

He could not guarantee absolute preparedness, but at the very least, he had to do his utmost to arm himself before stepping into the realm of cultivation.

"Old Shi, as usual—best of three games, shall we?" On this day, Li Ji'an once more arrived at the Immortal Palace's Sutra Pavilion.

This pavilion had been established by the emperor to collect all martial arts under heaven, accessible only to those who, in the end, failed to ascend as Immortal Seedlings—meant as a way for the dynasty to cultivate martial strength.

In theory, only those who had completely lost their chance of becoming Immortal Seedlings after the age of thirty could enter. But over the past century, only ten people each decade had managed to ascend with the Immortal Masters, leaving many would-be Immortal Seedlings ultimately unsuccessful. Thus, the rule had long since evolved: as long as one failed to ascend in the first Selection, they could enter.

The only limitation was that their access was restricted to the lowest three floors.

To go higher required entering government service and accumulating sufficient merit.

These three floors corresponded to the levels of blood refinement, marrow cleansing, and organ tempering.

Li Ji'an had just begun the marrow cleansing phase, his progress slow, so in theory, he could only access the first floor and study second-rate martial arts.

Luckily, over the past three years, Li Ji'an, well-versed in coaxing old men, had become close with Old Shi, the custodian of the Sutra Pavilion. In the beginning, Li Ji'an had patiently taught him to play chess, and with entertainment scarce and Old Shi biding his time until death, he gradually became addicted.

Afterward, Li Ji'an was free to come and go as he pleased on the lower three floors.

"Hey, boy, your timing is impeccable! I’ve spent three sleepless nights devising a strategy just for you. Today, I’ll make sure you’re utterly defeated!" Hearing Li Ji'an's voice, Old Shi immediately set aside the messy chess diagrams he was sketching, his aged eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Oh? If you’re so confident, how about we raise the stakes?" Li Ji'an pressed, seizing the moment.

Old Shi was about to agree but then shot Li Ji'an a wary glare. "What? You’re not thinking of getting access to the middle three floors, are you? No way! I still want to enjoy my retirement here."

"Heh~ I thought you were more confident. Well, now I know. Come, I'll take black and go first," Li Ji'an said, baiting him with a smile.

As expected, after two close games, Li Ji'an won both by a narrow margin.

"Old Shi, your tactics were truly remarkable this time—you almost had me. What you lacked was just a bit of unwavering courage and confidence. Thank you for the game!" Leaving Old Shi still staring stubbornly at the board, Li Ji'an ascended to the third floor of the Sutra Pavilion.

"Long-distance lightness technique, evasive movement, fist technique, palm technique, saber technique, staff technique, sword technique... Hmm, I’m still missing hidden weapons and defensive arts..."

He came here nearly once a month, and in three years had studied a great deal of common martial arts. Although techniques on these lower three floors only unleashed about thirty percent of their blood-qi potential—not worthy of his full devotion—they served as a valuable foundation, helping him build a database for blood-qi activation.

Based on these first- and second-rate skills, he had managed to create half a set of his own fist techniques over three years, with blood-qi activation roughly matching the power of top-tier skills—at least fifty percent effective.

When the evening bell tolled, Li Ji'an left the Sutra Pavilion.

"The hidden weapon techniques here are lacking. Too bad Ning Sujin hasn’t yet mastered 'Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles.' No matter, after the Immortal Selection in five years, there’ll be plenty of time to plan."

Muttering about Ning Sujin on his way back, he found her already waiting in his courtyard.

"Recently, I have felt a sudden shift in my fate," Ning Sujin said calmly, wasting no words.

She could only discuss such premonitions with Li Ji'an.

"How is it? Good or bad?" Li Ji'an immediately grew serious.

Ning Sujin shook her head. "Unlike before—neither auspicious nor ominous, fortune and disaster are both possible."

"In the past, I could sense the fate of those around me when they set out to do something. For myself, I would sense omens before taking action. But this time, I haven’t done anything, and yet I suddenly felt a change."

Li Ji'an furrowed his brow for a moment. "Is someone planning to do something against you?"

"Most likely," Ning Sujin agreed.

"But this time, no matter how I try to divine a solution, I find none."

"Even fleeing the capital won’t work?"

"I’ve tried every possibility—none can change the outcome."

Over the past five years, Ning Sujin had trained relentlessly and was close to perfecting marrow cleansing. Barring accidents, she should achieve organ tempering at the next Immortal Selection, with hope of becoming an Immortal Seedling.

This sudden turn of fate left her feeling powerless.

"With the Duke at the height of his power, and both Uncle Chen and your grandfather supporting you, yet still nothing can be changed... Could it be the Immortal Master?" Li Ji'an speculated reasonably.

"The Immortal Master?" Ning Sujin’s expression grew grave.

"There are still five years until the Selection, and since the Immortal Master began visiting the mortal realm a century ago, the ten-year cycle has never changed..."

But aside from the Immortal Master, Li Ji'an could think of no one who could so forcefully affect Ning Sujin’s fate, someone she could not avoid even if she tried. Even if the emperor ordered the extermination of the Duke’s household, she could simply hide among the common folk and escape.

"What about me?" he asked.

Ning Sujin shook her head—no change.

"The Duke?"

Another shake of the head.

So, it was truly aimed at Ning Sujin alone.

After a long silence, Ning Sujin let out a deep breath.

"Ji'an, was it truly your desire for immortality that made you refuse Aunt’s proposal?"

In fact, she had sensed this shift five days ago. Today, she hadn’t come to seek a solution, but because she felt powerless—resigned to her fate, now beyond her control.

Yet, alongside her resignation, the ten years spent between the Chong’an Manor and the Immortal Palace had unknowingly caused Li Ji'an to take root deep in her heart. Upon quiet reflection today, she realized that Li Ji'an’s place in her heart had nearly surpassed even the brother she’d cherished since childhood.

She didn’t know if, after this change, there would be a future at all.

Li Ji'an saw through her thoughts and managed a wry smile, nodding resolutely.

"Nonsense! You’ve only just begun marrow cleansing, and your progress over the past three years has been slow. There’s no hope for you at the next Selection. You should abandon the idea of becoming immortal," Ning Sujin suddenly said, a hint of agitation in her voice.

But I still have my next life.

Li Ji'an could only reply with an awkward smile.

"So you’re just trying not to burden me, because you understand me? Is that it?" Ning Sujin suddenly stood, staring intently at Li Ji'an.

"Is there truly no way to resolve this?"

"None!"