Hearing this, Chen Mo's face instantly turned chalk white: "Not living past twenty? Are you kidding me?"
He's already nineteen now, not living past twenty.
That means he doesn't even have a year left, he could die at any moment.
Even Zhao Fujin's expression changed.
She knew that her master never failed when giving fortune-telling.
"This humble Daoist never jokes." Lin Su Ya's brows were tightly furrowed; she had high hopes for Chen Mo, yet from his palm reading, he wouldn't live past twenty. Receiving him as her disciple would be in vain.
Additionally, his destiny was veiled, she couldn't alter fate for him.
Chen Mo's complexion turned a shade whiter.
To be precise, Lin Su Ya wasn't wrong either.
Every time he simulated, he never lived past two months.
The longest time was only forty-two days.
"The reason you feel suffocated might be related to this. A person's fate is predetermined by heaven, and when life's journey approaches its end, the body will give a prior warning. In medical terms, this is when sickness reaches a terminal stage."
Lin Su Ya paced within the bamboo forest and spoke slowly.
"Is there a way to resolve it?" Chen Mo quickly asked.
"There is." Lin Su Ya nodded and then continued:
"In the Dao Scriptures, there are many ways to alter fate, including in Daoism's classic 'Daoist Collection,' which speaks of geomancy. People can change their fate through dragon vein seeking, marriage, and burial. One can even use astrology to find the turning points in their destiny and make changes accordingly."
Zhao Fujin scratched her head and said: "Master, can you explain it more plainly?"
Lin Su Ya gave Zhao Fujin a glance, then said: "For example, someone may learn through destiny the location of their death is in Bianliang, and some experts might even deduce who will kill them. Thus, simply by avoiding Bianliang or preemptively eliminating the person who wants to kill you, your fate will naturally change."
Lin Su Ya sighed again, directing her gaze at Chen Mo: "Unfortunately, your destiny is veiled, this humble Daoist cannot calculate your life's turning points."
"What should I do then?" Chen Mo asked.
Lin Su Ya pointed at Chen Mo and said: "You can only rely on yourself. Have you heard of one force breaking ten thousand techniques?"
Chen Mo nodded.
"Become stronger, strong enough, and naturally, you can change your destiny." Lin Su Ya stated.
"But I'm already nineteen, where do I have the time?" Chen Mo said miserably.
"Prolonging life..." Lin Su Ya pondered for a long while and then slowly spoke two words.
"Like the Seven-Star Lamp?" Chen Mo suddenly thought of the folk tale where Zhuge Liang extended his life.
"What Seven-Star Lamp?" Lin Su Ya was taken aback by the words.
"Um... when I was a kid, I heard the Seven-Star Lamp could extend life." Chen Mo said.
"This humble Daoist does not know of the Seven-Star Lamp." Lin Su Ya shook her head, then continued:
"Things that can prolong life are extremely rare treasures. Sometimes, even a king finds them hard to come by. Prolonging life differs from changing fate; only at the life's endpoint, when it manifests on the body, can one extend..."
"For example, if you are terminally ill, suffering grave injuries, then some resurrection elixirs could extend your life, or using some strange treasures to keep you alive."
"Although you can't live past twenty, your life's endpoint hasn't manifested on your body, so it's impossible to use medicine and treasures to extend your life."
"So what?" Chen Mo was somewhat frustrated; these masters were great, but they liked talking in riddles. Couldn't they just directly tell the solution?
"Your only method of extending life is to borrow fortune, borrowing others' fortunes to extend your own life."
"How do you borrow?"
"That's very easy, just stay with people who have great fortunes. Generally, people with great fortunes are beneficiaries, some disasters can't trouble them, even if they do disrupt, they won't harm them. By staying alongside such people, you have a chance to ward off misfortunes." Lin Su Ya explained slowly.
"What counts as people with great fortune?" Chen Mo asked again.
"High positions and authority. If someone holds a high position, they naturally have fortune protection."
For some reason, Lin Su Ya continued: "If you can become a partner with someone possessing great fortune, the opportunity to turn misfortune into fortune increases."
Chen Mo seemed to understand but wasn't sure.
However, considering the simulation...
Why was the Imperial Palace the safest place after major turmoil?
Firstly, it holds the National Fortune.
Secondly.
The highest positions and most authoritative people are in the Imperial City.
Moreover, after leaving the Imperial Palace.
The death always came fast.
None lived beyond fifteen days.
While staying in the Imperial Palace, they lived longer.
Chen Mo thought of the Empress.
After winning her heart, he survived for forty-two days in the simulation.
That's the longest time.
This counts as forming a partnership, right?
The reason for dying still.
Was being found out by the Emperor.
A ruler's wrath can cause a hundred thousand corpses.
Even great fortune cannot evade this!
Thus, his approach with the Empress wasn't wrong.
Lin Su Ya doesn't know his destiny.
But he knows.
After forty-two days of turmoil, that's his turning point, if he kills the Emperor then or escapes the Imperial Palace in those few days, it would change his fate, right?
If so, he must intensify his efforts!
And precisely because of the Empress, he came to Shenxiao Temple, not only gaining the Golden Talent.
He also became Lin Su Ya's disciple.
Chen Mo glanced at Zhao Fujin.
Innate Purity Immortal Body!
Isn't that a great fortune?
Making good relations must be prioritized.
"Alright, I've given you the methods, this humble Daoist will take my leave now." Lin Su Ya flicked the duster, disappearing in a few flashes from Chen Mo's sight.
"Chen Hong, don't be afraid, this Highness will do my best to protect you." Zhao Fujin looked at Chen Mo with great sympathy.
Already having lost family and land.
Now he knows he won't live past twenty.
Undoubtedly tragic.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Chen Mo folded his hands towards Zhao Fujin.
"No need to be so polite. Since you've joined the Shenxiao Sect, we are fellow disciples. In the future, you can call me senior sister." Zhao Fujin said.
"This... isn't that improper?" Chen Mo said hesitantly.
"Just call me privately, no one else will know." Zhao Fujin replied.
"Alright... fine, this servant will have the guts to call you senior sister then."
"Junior brother."
"Senior sister."
"Junior brother."
"Uh..."
Senior sister and junior brother, isn't this relationship forming rapidly?
...
On a spacious clearing made in the bamboo forest.
"Junior brother, previously my master told me to guide your cultivation, so I'll teach you the Heart Method of Shenxiao Sect—Harmonize with the Light and Dust."
Zhao Fujin plucked a bamboo leaf and walked around Chen Mo, saying: "Become the dust, serene and seemingly present, transforming into dust, hidden in invisibility..."
ps: This chapter wasn't written well, I'll modify it later, but you probably understand the orange cat's meaning, right (smirk).