Light Fortress Chapter 1704 - 376: Forging Inheritance (Long - ) (2)

Before Gu Shen could conclude his statement, Xu Fang interjected.

"Mr. Xiao Gu, are you jesting with me?!"

Xu Fang's voice swelled with emotion as he removed the Destiny Pendant, pressing it into Gu Shen's hand. He then looked up earnestly, declaring, "This pendant... I am giving it to you! As for those promises, they are truly too weighty; Old Xu cannot possibly accept them!"

"..."

Gu Shen had not anticipated that his attempt at an 'exchange' would culminate in such a fashion.

This turn of events left him momentarily stunned, rooted to the spot.

Ever since he had entered the Extraordinary Realm, the adversaries he had faced were invariably cunning.

Employing stratagems, deceit, and outright trickery, they spared no effort in their machinations.

He had grown accustomed to utilizing ruthless methods to secure sealing items.

However, this encounter was different.

"In my possession, this pendant holds little significance; it merely informs me of the day's potential rainfall or the location of chance monetary finds. It represents a small measure of luck in my life."

Xu Fang spoke with genuine sincerity, "But in your hands, this pendant... can undoubtedly serve a greater purpose, enabling more individuals to experience 'fortune.' If you state that you require it, then you genuinely do. The people of Qinghe are most united when far from home. How could I possibly accept your possessions for such a minor trinket?"

Old Yu, standing beside Xu Fang, offered a smile tinged with a complex expression.

He understood Xu Fang far too well.

This was a man who, on the surface, appeared selfish and prone to grasping petty advantages.

Yet, his heart was far purer than his outward demeanor suggested.

"I shall accept this pendant," Gu Shen declared, taking a deep breath, his voice solemn. "And I implore you to accept my promise in return. Consider not only yourself but also those who stand with you and those who follow."

Xu Fang turned his gaze back.

His eyes fell upon the young individuals he had brought with him.

And Old Yu, standing faithfully by his side.

"...Very well."

...

...

[The Goddess of Destiny’s Sanctuary], the previously incomplete piece, was finally finished today.

Leaving the headquarters, Gu Shen proceeded directly to the dojo where Xie Zheng resided.

Distinct from the other dojos of the Judgement Institute, Xie Zheng's establishment was marked by its cold, somber atmosphere, devoid of any signs of life. Its exterior and interior were fortified with multiple sealing barriers, lending it a distinctly eerie and shadowed ambiance.

Due to Gu Shen's recent "promotion" to the rank of Grand Judge,

numerous individuals had gathered at Xie Zheng's dojo today to extend their congratulations. He promptly erected a barrier, politely declining their well-wishes.

These well-wishers, finding their efforts fruitless, naturally dispersed.

It mattered little that the door was closed.

Through the Spirit Network connection, they could still reach the promising young Judge via [Deep Sea].

Gu Shen casually identified a barrier, then shattered it with ease. Chi Huo, his flame, directly consumed the barrier, and in the subsequent moment, he made his appearance within the dojo.

Xie Zheng, who had been quietly engaged in cultivation alongside Liu Quan, was taken aback.

"Teacher..."

He quickly rose to his feet.

"There is no need for you to address me as such."

Gu Shen offered a wry smile; he found it awkward for Xie Zheng to call him 'teacher' solely due to the age disparity, as he was less than five years Xie Zheng's senior.

"Then, Sir?"

Xie Zheng tilted his head, contemplating the best form of address.

Gu Shen let out a soft sigh, choosing not to dwell on the matter.

He surveyed Xie Zheng's dojo, pacing its confines a few times; the boy truly possessed a unique connection to this place. The entire dojo was ensconced within layers of impenetrable barriers, both internally and externally. Spiritual power and light sources were meticulously isolated from the outside, contributing to its somber and unsettling appearance. Without external cues, one might easily mistake it for the creation of a disciple of a "Netherworld King."

A Netherworld King's disciple... even if Xie Zheng had not been one before, he certainly was now.

Gu Shen inquired, "It seems you are not entirely accustomed to today's surroundings?"

"Not merely unaccustomed; I am profoundly unaccustomed."

Xie Zheng exhaled deeply, "The number of people I have encountered over the past year does not exceed those present today."

Gu Shen gestured, conjuring a small Spirit Barrier that exclusively enveloped Liu Quan, who was engrossed in meditation and cultivation. He then asked with a smile, "Where did you acquire the Divination Skill?"

He had cut straight to the heart of the matter.

"My former 'teacher' imparted it to me."

Xie Zheng replied with candor, hiding nothing, "I only grasped the fundamental principles. I can merely perceive rudimentary destiny lines and make general conjectures about the auspiciousness or ill-fortune of events. I cannot track every destiny path of all beings as you can."

"Even the Great Success in the Divination Skill does not grant such potent capabilities."

Gu Shen shook his head and pressed further, "Who was your previous 'teacher'?"

"I am uncertain how to effectively describe them to you..."

Xie Zheng rubbed his head, deep in thought for a considerable time, before offering an honest explanation, "I originated from the Tundra; you should be aware of this fact."

Xie Zheng was an unregistered Transcendent hailing from the Tundra District.

This was information Gu Shen was well aware of, as the entirety of the [Deep Sea] East Continent database contained remarkably scarce specific details regarding him.

"Growing up in the Tundra, around four or five years old, I was almost frozen to death by the Wind Snow. That man saved me."

Xie Zheng recounted, "He carved out a dwelling within the Tundra's mountains, provided me with sustenance, healed my frostbitten and crippled form... and then imparted some peculiar knowledge to me."

Gu Shen's gaze sharpened.

"Peculiar knowledge of what kind?"

"Well... it's essentially the very thing you term 'ancient symbols,' isn't it?"

Xie Zheng slowly lifted his right hand.

A golden luminescence enveloped his right hand, within which intricate ancient symbols began to materialize. These symbols held a distinct familiarity for Gu Shen.

This was a fragment of the Divination Skill Xie Zheng had acquired mastery over.

It was true that he had only grasped the fundamental aspects of the skill.

The true pinnacle of the Divination Skill, when enacted, saw these golden ancient symbols coalesce at the fingertips, shedding their corporeal form to become threads of golden destiny... this represented the sacrifice of divination power for destiny itself.