Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Strange Investigation

Zhao Huai hurriedly examined the light in his mind.

[The black ring symbolizes great fortune; all things will go smoothly; start with good luck.]

[Lucky Strike (Superior Earth Grade)]: Gain a large amount of flowing qi, increase the probability of obtaining destiny, improve quality, and change the results of fortune and misfortune once a day.

“There’s actually a new destiny?!”

“This destiny looks unusual, it’s actually an orange Earth Grade, this is the first time to get an Earth Grade destiny!”

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Zhao Huai said with surprise.

Every time he casts copper coins and reaches a certain number of fortune or misfortune divinations, it triggers another function of the copper coins.

Absorb destiny and change fate against the heavens.

However, this destiny is as mysterious as a blind box. Each time it comes out, the grades and additional effects are different.

The destiny of copper coins is divided into seven levels: Immortal, Emperor, Heaven, Earth, Xuan, Yellow, and Human, which are further divided into three ranks: upper, middle, and lower. Human Grade is the lowest, and Immortal Grade is the highest.

This “Lucky Strike” destiny should be the best he has gotten in three years.

Ever since Zhao Huai got the golden bronze coins, he hasn’t received many destinies, very few of which are useful, and most of which are useless.

The three destinies he is currently using are:

[Light as a Swallow (Human Grade Average)]: Excellent body movements, increased agility, and your speed is extraordinary.]

[Swordsmanship Specialization (Superior Yellow Grade)]: Greatly fond of swordsmanship, enhancing the efficiency of practicing and repairing swords moderately.]

[Diligent Reader (Superior Xuan Grade)]: Persevering and persistent, tireless cultivation makes your cultivation speed three times faster than ordinary people.]

[Light as a Swallow] and [Swordsmanship Specialization] are easy to understand, both related to martial arts destinies, which can increase small buffs; it’s better than nothing.

Among these, Zhao Huai thought the most useful destiny was the one called [Diligent Reader].

This scroll does not refer to the pressure of competition but to the scroll of books.

As the saying goes, “Diligent Reader” refers to tireless, unceasingly diligent people, generally referring to hardworking students.

One snowy evening a year ago, Zhao Huai came across a young scholar on his way to take the imperial exams in the capital. Because it was late, the inns were closed, and the scholar came to Zhao Huai’s pawnshop hoping to stay overnight.

Zhao Huai thought the scholar didn’t look like a bad person, and after receiving guidance from the copper coins, he took him in.

The destiny of [Diligent Reader] came along with it.

It was precisely because of this three-fold increase in cultivation that Zhao Huai was able to cultivate all the way to the ninth stage of refining qi in just three years, with initiation stage just around the corner.

So he was particularly concerned about this newly acquired [Lucky Strike].

[Do you want to absorb destiny?]

Seeing the small characters that appeared in his mind, Zhao Huai didn’t hesitate at all.

“Absorb it right away.”

A blazing, brilliant light bloomed in his mind, and the orange light instantly filled his entire consciousness.

Suddenly, an invisible force was drawn to Zhao Huai, causing him to shudder.

Zhao Huai felt as if something had indeed increased on his body, but he couldn’t see what it was.

Because the flowing qi is invisible and intangible, it can only be sensed slowly over time.

“Lucky Strike allows me to increase the probability and quality of obtaining destinies, which means I can get more destinies?”

Zhao Huai furrowed his brows and pondered, “I’m not quite sure about changing fortunes and misfortunes for now. Does it directly change the divination results of the copper coins?”

He temporarily suppressed his doubts and checked the items in the ring.

Except for a thick parchment, an ancient sword, and a bottle of pills, there was nothing else inside.

The text on the parchment was obscure and difficult to understand, and he didn’t know what medicine was in the pills. As for the ancient sword, it was still extremely sharp and emitted a faint glow.

The three items didn’t seem too amazing, which was a bit disappointing to his excited passion. He thought there would be some grandpa figure coming out, or at least some earth-shattering cultivation technique treasure.

“Are these three items really that simple, considering they’re called the symbols of great fortune?” Zhao Huai said with a puzzled look.

If it weren’t for the results of the copper coins, he would have doubted if things had gone wrong.

“Hurry up! Over here!”

“Search!”

Suddenly, the rustling sound of belts and sabers colliding came from outside the pawnshop.

With his cultivation level, Zhao Huai’s ears were extremely sharp, and he immediately heard the movement outside the house.

“It seems the people from the police station have arrived.”

Zhao Huai said solemnly.

The big man mentioned before that the city was strictly checking those who arrived in Jinzhou in the past three years, as well as unregistered citizens. The purpose behind this was unknown for the time being. If they were truly here to arrest him, he would have to prepare countermeasures in advance.With golden bronze coins, isn’t turning misfortune into fortune simple?

Moreover, my own cultivation has reached the ninth stage of refining qi, so I haven’t encountered any opponents in the Mortal World for now.

As thoughts flickered, Zhao Huai tossed the golden bronze coin in his hand once more.

“Soldiers are chasing me outside the house; how should I act now?”

“Come on, give me an accurate answer.”

[Misfortune and fortune are interdependent, for now, let’s see]

[Hexagram one: On an auspicious day, outside the Peach Blossom World, the guidance you receive is “fortune.”]

[Hexagram two: In the house, soldiers bring calamity; if you encounter fear, you’ll give rise to chaos. If you stay at home, the guidance you’ll get is “misfortune.”]

“Since that’s the case, let’s go.”

After checking the results, Zhao Huai pocketed the bronze coin, closed the warehouse, and decisively left.

…

On the originally bustling and noisy streets, several groups of armor-clad soldiers with long sabers had appeared, attracting a lot of people’s attention.

The equipment of these soldiers was quite sophisticated, with fish scale armor and long sabers, driving the crowds on the streets.

There wasn’t a single commoner who wasn’t afraid; each one had to roll up their sleeves and hurriedly leave.

“What kind of grand operation is this? Who are they trying to catch?”

“I don’t know! Let’s go!”

“I heard some rumors that they seem to be investigating newcomers and unregistered citizens in recent years. Could it be that some great thief has fled to Jinzhou?”

“Oh no, if there’s a murderer who has escaped here, we’re in trouble!”

Among the crowd, Zhao Huai listened to the people’s discussions, constantly thinking.

Are these armored soldiers here to catch him?

Based on previous experience, it looks a bit like an overreaction now, doesn’t it?

In his first year of fleeing south, there were many searches and they were very strict, as the new dynasty was worried about the whereabouts of the remnants of the previous dynasty like him.

However, in the following years, both the number and quality of people decreased year by year.

The dispatched personnel changed from soldiers to some minor officials for investigation, and they were not as concerned about him as before.

At the beginning of the Xia Country, everything was thriving, so they naturally didn’t have time to manage an unnecessary former Crown Prince.

However, now the pursuers have returned to their first-year level, which looks very strange.

It doesn’t seem like they are here to catch him.

“No matter what, avoiding misfortune is always the right choice.”

Zhao Huai shook his head, not wanting to think about it anymore. Since staying in the pawnshop meant misfortune, he couldn’t gamble on it.

“How can I escape this search? I need a place to go.”

Faced with a difficult choice, Zhao Huai picked up a golden bronze coin from his waist and tossed it again.

[Hexagram one: Going to the downtown street, the guidance you receive is “disaster.”]

[Hexagram two: Going to the teahouse, the guidance you receive is “disaster.”]

[Hexagram three: Going to the Drunken Flower Tavern, the guidance you receive is “disaster.”]

…

[Hexagram ten: Going to the fragrant wine alley, the guidance you receive is “disaster.”]

“Damn, it’s haunted!”

Zhao Huai’s face showed shock after casting ten coins and all of them resulted in disaster, which meant that disaster was unavoidable.

It seems that no matter where he goes, it’s not safe.

This situation has happened before; he must use the results obtained and come up with a solution to change the fortune or misfortune.

However, he quickly calmed down and suddenly remembered the new destiny he had just obtained.

Zhao Huai clenched his fist, not admitting defeat, and said:

“Heh, I just don’t believe it. Activate [Lucky Strike], change the outcome of fortune and misfortune once!”

As the bronze coin leaped into the air again, it turned over.

A new hexagram appeared before him.