Chapter 866: Ominous Calamity
Chapter 866: Ominous Calamity
"Sir... Young Master?!"
Several elders of the Hsiao family, especially those closely related to Tianquan Hsiao, who had placed high hopes on him, no longer cared about their status or dignity. They immediately left their seats and approached the main seat, checking Tianquan Hsiao's breath, feeling his pulse, and sensing his divine consciousness. In an instant, their faces turned as pale as white paper.
A few of them fumbled for pills, trying to force them into Tianquan Hsiao's mouth.
But their hands were trembling, taking a long time to get them in, with no effect.
Tianquan Hsiao's seven orifices were terrifying, with no sign of breathing.
"Truly... He’s... dead..."
In an instant, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
An elderly Hsiao family elder raised his head to look at Jiance Xia, his gaze filled with both resentment and complaint and blame and accusation, and well indignation.
Due to the gap in cultivation and status, he dared not show his feelings too obviously, only hatingly saying:
"Jiance Xia... What is this all about?"
The Golden Core cultivators of the Xia family exchanged glances.
Jiance Xia himself frowned deeply, no longer maintaining his usual calm demeanor.
This matter was truly too bizarre.
He had never imagined that one day, someone would suddenly die before his eyes, and he wouldn’t sense a single hint of it.
There were no signs of spiritual energy or blood qi, no traces of any spirit artifacts, or any Dao techniques.
Just like that... After drinking a cup of wine, the person went mad, and then died.
To the outsiders, it even looked like...
This Feathersage True Human, Jiance Xia, had personally killed Tianquan Hsiao!
Jiance Xia approached Tianquan Hsiao.
Several Hsiao family elders were on high alert, wanting to stop him, but intimidated by Jiance Xia's deep cultivation and imposing demeanor, they hesitated.
At this moment, the elderly Hsiao family elder suddenly sighed, earnestly saying:
"My Hsiao family’s young master has met with misfortune, suddenly passing away. I humbly request Jiance Xia to investigate clearly and give the Hsiao family justice."
"Elder!"
The other Hsiao family elders were still indignant.
"Silence!" The elderly Hsiao family elder hissed, shaking his head and saying, "This matter has nothing to do with Jiance Xia."
The Xia and Hsiao families were allied, and Tianquan Hsiao was a key figure.
Jiance Xia had no reason to kill the Hsiao family’s young master.
Even if he wanted to kill, he wouldn’t do it in such a setting, in front of so many Hsiao family elders.
The incident happened suddenly, and the Hsiao family elders were initially shocked and indignant. But after a brief moment of contemplation, they all understood, thus no longer tried to stop Jiance Xia.
Jiance Xia approached the brutally killed Tianquan Hsiao, briefly examining him, his frown deepened.
No traces at all...
With his years of experience in criminal investigation, he found not a single clue.
It seemed as if, in a moment of wild joy, he suddenly lost his sanity, couldn’t suppress the killing qi, his Shi (Consciousness) was shattered, and died from seven orifices bleeding...
This was impossible.
Jiance Xia took out a palm-sized blue jade compass from his sleeve, just as he was about to deduce the cause and effect, a thought arose, and as he moved his fingers, his pupils constricted, and he immediately covered the compass.
Jiance Xia remained silent, slowly tucking the compass back into his sleeve.
But no one knew that the hand hidden in his sleeve was trembling.
At the same time, a deep chill surged in Jiance Xia's heart.
Ominous Calamity!
This was the most ominous sign he had ever sensed, a terrifying omen within the cause and effect.
Jiance Xia's gaze was cold.
The art of Heavenly Calculations was very special, not all cultivators would learn it, and even the majority of cultivators wouldn’t believe in it.
But he had once heard a saying from a high-ranking expert:
"Do not investigate Heavenly Calculations, do not peek into cause and effect, fortune or misfortune is hard to predict, life is not in your own hands."
This saying left a deep impression on him.
Therefore, after Feathersage, he had exhausted all his efforts, sincerely seeking guidance from an old ancestor in his clan, spending over a decade to gain the old ancestor’s wisdom and learn a bit of the Heavenly Calculations.
But the path of Heavenly Calculations was unique, vastly different from ordinary cultivation methods.
He had only learned some of the basics after reaching Feathersage.
But even these basics had overturned his understanding of the entire cultivation world.
Some events, seemingly natural disasters, were actually man-made calamities.
Behind the seemingly foolish phenomena, lay deep and intricate calculations and strategies.
The people in this world, seemingly “independent and autonomous,” were actually on pre-determined divine consciousness tracks, mere puppets following their “threads.”
And now, he personally experienced the “great terror” within the Heavenly Calculations and cause and effect, which truly existed...
Jiance Xia profoundly remembered the old ancestor’s words:
"Heavenly Calculations, if you can deduce, then deduce; if you can’t, then don’t."
Heavenly Calculations, meaning, don’t be afraid to waste divine consciousness, don’t be lazy, often deduce cause and effect, even for seemingly trivial matters, as they might hide Heavenly Calculations.
"Can’t deduce, then don’t deduce," meaning, once you sense an omen, immediately stop, to avoid deducing what shouldn’t be deduced, and to prevent invoking unknown great Calamities.
Previously, he had always “deduced, now, for the first time, he encountered a situation where he “can’t deduce."
Jiance Xia's expression was extremely solemn.
The Hsiao family elders, seeing this, exchanged glances, their hearts filled with foreboding.
Jiance Xia paused, then said solemnly, "There is a great Heavenly ability, using cause and effect techniques, to break his vital energy!"
Upon hearing this, the Hsiao family elders were utterly shocked.
Great Sage of the Heavenly Secrets!
"Inspector Shaw, do you know..."
Inspector Shaw shook his head and sighed, "Though I am in the Aviarian Dominion, my deep understanding of profound causality has been shallow. Obscure, yet deep, that..."
Illegible phrases replaced with ellipses for clarity
The elderly Elder of the Xiao (now Elder Eaton of the Easton Family) frowned, his gray brows furrowed, and sighed, "This matter..."
"That can only be resolved by returning to the venerable Elder Sage. Inspector Shaw knows nothing of this, but..."
Illegible phrases replaced with ellipses for clarity
Inspector Shaw nodded, "This is... the way things happened, unfortunate as it is. I'm in the hands of fate, and I must be cautious. I'll be a shame to the Easton Family elders if I mishandle this matter."
Inspector Shaw nodded to himself, "On the surface, since he's done... This too is in the hands of fate. I'll investigate, but I doubt... fate. Yet, attention must be paid."
After a few moments, the other Easton Family elders arrived, bowing to Inspector Shaw. They then proceeded to the coffin of the late Tian Easton. All present bid their farewells, marking the end of the chapter.
Inspector Shaw nodded, saying with a hint of irritation, "More than a whisper of disdain..." He gazed at the remains of the deceased Tian Easton and the Easton Clan.
...
For a moment, the two elders, Elder Eaton and Inspector Shaw, stood silent. They turned to face each other, and soon, one thought came to mind:
Both "What a pity..."
Inspector Shaw wondered, "How did he die?"
Or, more importantly, who killed Tian Easton?
No matter how hard they tried, the two could not think of an answer, their minds a blank. In the Aviarian Dominion, no one could have crossed Inspector Shaw's mind, leaving the two at a loss.
The same words came to mind simultaneously.
"Murder..."
Gu Harrison murmured, finding the word strangely familiar.
A moment later, he suddenly remembered the words that Mo Hua had said in in the the Water at the in Water City:
"People do things, and watches. Xio Tianquan, too the unrighteous, might be punished by the heavens at any moment, he could suddenly meet his end..."
Not only Gu Changhuai, this, but, but, but, Xia, the words City, but, he classic of. Xia Diansi also also this same thought as well.
"Two of them exchanged glances, a mix of disbelief and awe.
"Mo..."
Xia Diansi started to speak, but stopped halfway through when he saw Gu Changhuai shaking his head, clearly signaling her not to mention that name at the moment.
Xia Dians i swallowed the name "Mo Hua" back down his throat, his expression a mix of shock and "This... should be a coincidence, right?"
She pondered for a moment, her gaze suddenly narrowing, and asked Gu Changhuai, "Yesterday, You..."
..."
Gu Changhuai nodded, "Sent him to Tai Xu Gate, the mountain stronghold of the.. residence... should. cultivating. He should now the the sect now, cultivating cultivating cultivation."
."
Xia Diansi sighed in relief.
Since that was the case, it should have nothing to do with Mo Hua.
all.
She had just been spoken those sentence, though.
There was no way Mo Hua could "speak it into existence, causing anyone's death or death through mere words.
Xia Diansi shook her head.
But in the back of Gu Changhuai's mind, a faint feeling nagged. feeling a was this.
From his understanding of Mo Hua, there was no way he would say such a thing without a purpose.
nothing. If nothing had happened, it would be for the best.
But now, his words had come true, and this was far from mere talk.
He had prophesied Xiao Tianquan's downfall, likely because, at that moment, he had already determined Xiao Tianquan's fate.
Why...
Gu Changhuai frowned, ever since entering Qianxue Prefecture, he had known Mo Hua for five years.
During these five years, Mo Hua's appearance hadn’t changed much, but his abilities had skyrocketed.
His cultivation might not have been remarkable, but his array arrays, and, Dao, But his array techniques, Dao techniques, and various other methods were endless.
At first, he was hard to fathom, but now, there was a hint of the inexplicable.
Words becoming prophecy, words causing fate.
If Xiao Tianquan’s death had nothing to do with Mo Hua, he wouldn’t be surprised.
But if it had something to do with Mo Hua, he wouldn’t be surprised either.
Even more, Xiao Tianquan’s life and death might have been decided by Mo Hua’s words, something Gu Changhuai now found not so hard to accept...
But this matter, he still kept buried in his, in his, never mentioning it to anyone.
...
In Yan Shui City.
Ye Hong didn't give up his desire for revenge.
Despite knowing it was impossible, he was now alone, with nothing left to lose.
Therefore, he was fearless.
Three days later, after countless attempts, he finally obtained a piece of news.
Xiao Tianquan, had died in the line of duty...
At that moment, Ye Hong was equally incredulous, then he also recalled Mo Hua’s words.
"People do things, heavens watch..."
Ye Hong smiled bitterly, two clear tears streaming down his face.
He went to the Yan Shui River once more, pouring a jug of the the of a pot of of on the, his a, of, temples a3 death.
Then, facing eastward, He bowed to the0 the direction of Qianxue Prefecture, where Tai bowed three times, Bowing his head, he said:
"Thank you, young master, for your great kindness!"
"May your Dao path be successful, bringing salvation to the world, seeking the truth of the Dao."
...
At the Xiao Family Compound.
In a hidden and majestic cave within the forbidden grounds.
The Xiao Family’s ancient ancestor, with a head of white hair and dressed in black, looked at the soul of Xiao Tianquan, now dead with seven orifices bleeding, his heart filled with sorrow and rage, his body trembling.
This was his most beloved great-grandson, the one he had recognized as the heir to his legacy, destined to lead the Xiao Family to greater heights.
But now, this beloved great-grandson had died, inexplicably.
The Xiao Family’s ancient ancestor, eyes filled with bloodshot veins, coldly, " voice, "What happened?"
Beside the Xiao Family elder, head hanging low, softly recounted everything that had transpired at the banquet, then slowly added, "Ancient Ancestor, could this be the work of the Xia Inspector..."
The Xiao Family’s ancient ancestor sneered, "He is no fool. There’s no reason for him to kill my grandson without cause. This man is deep and cunning, far from simple. He wouldn’t do this without a reason, and he wouldn’t dare to make such a deadly enemy with our Xiao) Family..."
"Ancient Ancestor is right..." the Xiao Family elder agreed.
The Xiao Family’s ancient ancestor, face clouded with anger, but then forcefully suppressed it, his voice turning cold, "The Xia Inspector’s body shows no external injuries, only internal harm. How could he have such many abilities to kill one of Xiao great-grandson? If he had this ability, he he come to kill my great-grandson?"
The Xiao Family elder dared not to answer.
The Xiao Family’s ancient ancestor’s gaze darkened, then suddenly asked, "Did the Xia Inspector calculate himself calculated? Didn’t come nothing?"
(End of chapter)
"Go and give the order. Prepare everything, and then clear everyone out, I don’t want anyone to disturb us."
"Yes, Elder Xiao."
Elder Xiao knew that the family’s old ancestor had once obtained a secret and profound technique for divensing the threads of fate and destiny. The old ancestor was extremely skilled in this art, and it was largely due to his mastery that the Xiao Family became a Fifth-Rank family. This time, the family’s decision to betray the Gui Shui Sect) and align with the Xia Familysect) was also decided by the old ancestor’s calculations.
However, something seemed to have gone awry with this cause and effect...
A sense of unease filled Elder Xiao’s heart, but he dared not say anything in front of the old ancestor. He simply arranged everything as instructed, dismissed everyone, and sealed the family Compound.
The door slowly closed, the compound tightly sealed.
The old ancestor of the Xiao Family sat alone, facing the corpse of Xiao Tianquan.
Not long ago, this vibrant and promising grandson would still come to see him, respectfully calling him "Great Ancestor." But in the blink of an eye, they were separated by death, and he, now with white hair, mourned the black-haired youth.
His heart grew increasingly bitter and sorrowful.
This sorrow and pain also affected his mind, making him commit a grave taboo:
An uncertain Dao heart must not probe the threads of fate, must not ded out cause and cause and.
But now, he could not this.
Ancestor had to find out who dared to defy such a great offense, who dared to kill his Xiao Family’sheaven’s pride and Joy.
Moreover, the Xia Family’s inspector was just a Yu Hua, a novice in the art and matter and know and to know nothing of the great schemes.
He had studied the threads of fate for so many yearsears(these decades, years decades no know nothing, and nothing would go wrong.
The old ancestor of the Xiao Family silently recited the technique for divining the threads of fate, his divine consciousness flowing, facing the blood-soaked corpse of Xiao Tian Quan, and began to deduce.
He was deducing the cause and effect of Xiao Tian Quan.
But as he deduced, he suddenly startled.
The threads of fate flowed, cause and effect reversed.
The old ancestor of the Xiao Family saw his grandson using cruel torture, slaughtering lives.
He saw him on a crimson boat, drinking the night and reckless, ground, drinking excessively, squandering in debauchery.
He saw him in a water village, slaughtering cultivators, and then sacrificing these cultivators to an unknown altar...
No!
No!
The old ancestor’s expression changed.
This man, who slaughtered withoutlessly, lives faces a killing and full of killing intent and was not the obedient and clever grandson he knew!
Why?
Why had he never noticed before?
What had obscured his perception?
Now that Xiao Tian Quan was dead, the fog had lifted, and the truth had surfaced?
The old ancestor of the Xiao Family suddenly felt a chill run down his back.
He continued deduding...
He continued to deduce...
At this moment, a thread of fate warning suddenly appeared.
But due to the old ancestor’s emotional turmoil, he overlooked this warning.
He wanted to know what his seemingly obedient grandson had truly done.
And who had killed him!
Even if his grandson’s actions were despicable, he was still a Xiao Family member and should not be judged by outsiders.
Even if he deserved a thousand deaths, he, the old ancestor, should personally punish him personally, and no outsider had the right to kill his grandson!
The old ancestor of the Xiao Family unconsciously had bloodshot eyes.
He continued to deduce, and soon saw the Dragon King Temple.
He saw a group of the in the Dragon King Temple, But these people were all blurry, unclear.
Especially, there was a vague, ghost-like existence among them.
He Had no idea what this “ghost” was, whether it was a living person or something else, but its existence was extremely special, impossible to ignore.
It seemed this ghost was the core of this group, the deepest grudge of Xiao Tian Quan.
But this ghost always faced away from the old ancestor of the Xiao Family.
The old ancestor wanted to see this ghost’s face, so he consumed more divine consciousness, pushing his technique to its limit.
But before he could deduce anything, this ghost suddenly paused, seemingly sensing someone wanted to see him.
He fulfilled the old ancestor’s desire, slowly turning his head to face the old ancestor.
The old ancestor froze, finally seeing this ghost’s face.
It was a faceless, dripping with black blood, as if it had just hatched from an embryo, still adorned with bizarre horns.
The ghost faced the old ancestor with this eerie face.
The old ancestor quietly sucked in a cold breath.
A chill shot through his heavenly spirit.
Rage subsided, he finally came back to his senses.
He finally realized he had committed an extremely fatal error.
It seemed he had... deduced something he should never have deduced.
The old ancestor of the Xiao Family forced himself to stay calm, quietly shifting his gaze, trying to withdraw his divine consciousness from the ghost’s stare.
But a more powerful, more ancient, and more chilling aura slowly spread from all around.
It seemed his disturbance had awoken some evil existence, its sinister presence filling the air.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
