Chapter 4: Secrets of the Treasure
The ancient book, originally dull and devoid of luster, became stained with Lin Bai's blood, after which countless archaic characters appeared on its cover, as if they were alive, each character dancing across the surface of the book.
The shadows of the wind outside the window flicker, as dark clouds gather densely in the sky once more. A sense of solemnity permeates the world, while thunder rumbles dully, roaring among the clouds on the horizon, seemingly mourning silently for the departed elder.
"Foolish child, do not be so attached. Life is rare and has been scarce since ancient times. I, the old Daoist, have lived for over a hundred years; this age is sufficient." Li Tianyuan gently patted Lin Bai's head and said with a light laugh
Li Tianyuan affectionately helped Lin Bai up from the ground, gently kneading the long hair on Lin Bai's head. Frowning, he said: "You look fine as you are, why keep such a ponytail? You should hurry and get it cut tomorrow."
Li Tianyuan's tone gradually became slower. He had watched Lin Bai grow from a mere crying infant to his current self. The feelings he harbored had long transcended the bond between teacher and student; he truly regarded Lin Bai as his own descendant. With little time left and the end approaching, the one thing he could not let go of was Lin Bai.
"A direct conclusion?" Lin Bai exclaimed in astonishment, looking at Li Tianyuan in shock.
Lin Bai did not hesitate for a moment, biting his finger until it bled, a drop of crimson blood falling onto the ancient book
Lin Bai, you come!
The candlelight in the main hall of the Taoist temple was dim and yellow, with the flickering flames of the oil lamps varying in length, much like the lifespan of Li Tianyuan standing before the statue of the ancestral master. The old man in front of the statue was visibly aging at a rapid pace, almost perceptible to the naked eye and as if recorded in a book.
"Good, good, good!" After Li Tianyuan repeated the word 'good' three times, he looked at the dazed expressions of Lin Bai and Zhang Sanfeng in front of him and laughed heartily towards the sky
Lin Bai's tears had not yet dried on his face when he heard the hoarse shouting of a middle-aged man outside the house. Carefully placing Li Tianyuan's corpse aside, Lin Bai wiped his tears and suddenly turned to walk outside.
"Master, you will surely live a long life. As the saying goes, misdeeds can last for a thousand years. You have certainly committed your share of wrongs. It was you who urged me to steal the chickens from Old Li's family at the village entrance, and you also encouraged me to climb the wall to watch the widow bathe. Your heart is so dark that you certainly won't leave this world just like that!" Lin Bai said, his voice choked with emotion, gazing tearfully at Li Tianyu before him.
Suddenly, the room was filled with bright light, and the characters on the ancient book began to rapidly rotate and converge, forming the shape of the ancient River Diagram and Luo Book. They rose from the ancient book and were imprinted on Lin Bai's forehead, while the ancient book vanished without a trace.
"Lin Bai, from now on you shall be the new generation master of the Tianxiang lineage," Li Tianyuan said to Lin Bai gently, his eyes filled with the warmth of a father witnessing his son's achievements. From nurturing him as a child to this day, he has been both a teacher and a father.
I never expected that in my lifetime, I, Li Tianyuan, would take on such an exceptional disciple. When the secret treasure recognized its master, it actually caused a transformation in the heavens and the earth, rivaling that of our ancestral master. The Tianxiang Sect has a successor, and I, Li Tianyuan, can also hold my head high when meeting the ancestors beneath the *Tu* *Shu*.
"Haven't you realized that sometimes, as long as what you say isn't too harsh, it will definitely come true?" Li Tianyuan chided with a smile, "You really are someone who is oblivious to the blessings you have. How many practitioners of fortune-telling yearn for the abilities you possess, yet you remain completely unaware of it."
"Lift your head and look, this is the treasure of our Tianxiang Sect." Li Tianyuan, with great effort, walked to the statue of the founder, bowed three times, and took down the ancient book held in the founder's hand.
The thunder outside grew increasingly urgent, with lightning tearing through the dark sky. The flashes resembled snakes and dragons, converging on the roof of the temple, seemingly about to strike down at any moment. However, after the light resembling the River Diagram and the Luo Script illuminated Lin Bai's forehead, the thunder outside gradually receded, and even the originally overcast sky began to faintly show signs of brightness, indicating a trend towards clearing up.
The once robust body gradually became hunched, the originally rosy face began to be covered with age spots, and the eyes started to show signs of cloudiness, with only the occasional glimmer of brilliance serving as proof that the elderly person's spirit remained vigorous
Li Tianyuan retracted the smile on his face, looking at Lin Bai with a serious expression as he continued: "Those of us who study feng shui and fortune-telling often encounter one of the five deficiencies and three shortcomings. I cannot clearly discern your fate, but perhaps I can find a way to resolve it. If the opportunity arises, I may be able to help those who seek divination in the world alleviate this concern. However, one must not delay their own life in the process"
Old man, just like that you let go, what about the treasures of my Heavenly Fragrance Sect? Hurry up and bring them to me!
Speaking of life and death being predestined, you and I are both inheritors of the art of divination, yet we still do not fully understand the principles of fate. This half-day was also obtained by me using the Seven Star Lamp of Zhuge, a method to defy destiny. Furthermore, since the master is on the verge of death, you should refrain from casting aspersions on this old body of mine. If it weren't for the fact that I think you want me to live a few more days, I would have already struck you with a big stick.
"If you have any questions, hurry up and ask. It seems that heaven does not wish to keep me here," Li Tianyuan said, trembling, as he sat beside the statue of the ancestor, chuckling lightly.
Master ... ... Lin Bai, kneeling on the ground, was already in tears, his head bowed to the floor, with large drops of tears falling onto the ground, soaking the area beneath him.
Lin Bai thought carefully and realized that there was indeed such a thing. Some time ago, while he was out and about, he got lost in the suburbs one day. Just as he was about to encounter a police officer, he saw the flashing lights of a patrol car in the distance
"San Feng, you may leave for now; I have something to discuss with your junior brother." Li Tianyuan glanced at Zhang Sanfeng, who was weeping uncontrollably on the ground, and after giving his shoulder a gentle pat, spoke calmly.
Lin Bai, you are naturally intelligent, yet your temperament is rather unruly. However, you must remember the following words from your master: the lineage of our physiognomy is, to put it plainly, about revealing the secrets of heaven. Yet, this secret must never be disclosed excessively, lest you provoke the backlash of the heavens and the earth.
"And the books are a pity, a pity, I, the old Daoist, will never witness you marrying and having children in this lifetime." Li Tianyuan laughed heartily, and his spirit seemed to improve somewhat, but Lin Bai understood that this was merely a fleeting moment of clarity. "The great Dao waxes and wanes, only we can speculate a little about it, and to be among the outstanding ones within it, I, the old Daoist, have no regrets in this lifetime"
Li Tianyuan's face showed a hint of despondency, instantly appearing several years older.
This ancient book appears indistinguishable from the rare editions held by collectors, bearing the marks left by the passage of time, and exuding an air of antiquity. However, upon closer inspection, one can discern that this ancient book is not made of paper, but rather a metallic material resembling paper, neither metal nor rain, which, despite its worn condition, is rich in a rustic charm
"The treasure is inherently mystical, and its usage varies from person to person. The subtleties within can only be slowly experienced by you." After taking a breath, Li Tianyuan looked at Lin Bai with a complex expression and said softly, "You, my child, were born with a destiny of unerring judgment; you must be cautious in its use and absolutely must not stray into the path of evil"
Zhang Sanfeng raised his hand, and the blood at his fingertips trembled as it dripped onto the ancient, rustic cover of the old book. After a long while, there was no sign of any movement. The atmosphere in the room remained unchanged.
The Tianxiang Sect does not have so many rules. You are the next sect leader, and how the Tianxiang Sect is managed is entirely up to you. You need not worry about living your whole life as a child. Even if you marry a hundred or so wives and have a multitude of disciples and descendants, no one will hold it against you. I, as an old Daoist, will be pleased even in the underworld. As for your Master Uncle Chen Qi and the spirit of the books, I have observed his fate; he is destined to have little fortune and is not to be feared.
"You two will bite your hands until they bleed, and take turns dripping your blood onto this ancient book," Li Tianyuan said in a deep voice. "San Feng, you are the senior brother, you go first."
Your peculiarity first manifested when you were four years old, when I made soup from the chicken you stole and didn't let you have the drumstick. You cursed me to fall into a latrine, and that night, when I indeed fell into the latrine, I realized it. All these years, I have kept silent, fearing that you might use this ability for mischief
Various causes and effects entangle one another; the deficiencies of heaven and earth are merely minor issues. If it involves the secrets of heaven, it will not concern only you; even close relatives will be implicated.
Lin Bai wiped away his tears and, looking at Li Tianyuan in front of him, said with a trembling voice: "Master, what if the Master Uncle really comes? How do we use this secret treasure? And what will happen to our Tianxiang Sect in the future? Should we remain in Maoshan or practice in seclusion outside the world? I do not wish to spend my entire life as a Taoist like you. Even if I must, at the very least, I should be a resident Taoist priest."
"Heaven and Earth retaliate?" Lin Bai exclaimed in astonishment, shocked.
Li Tianyu kicked Lin Bai aside and pointed at him, shouting, "You little brat, I am already one hundred and three years old, and just before this, you wished me a long life of a hundred years.
When Zhang Sanfeng walked out of the main hall, Li Tianyuan looked kindly at Lin Bai on the ground and said softly: "Foolish child, if you have any questions for me, hurry and ask, for my time is running out."
At this moment, Lin Bai's voice was choked with emotion as he looked at Li Tianyuan, whose breath was gradually weakening. He held the old man's body and choked out, "Master ... ... "