Chapter 25: The New Core Destiny
Chapter 25: The New Core Destiny
Returning to his courtyard, Meng Shu was the first to come looking for him.
“Young Master, what did Li Jianping say to you?”
It was precisely because Meng Shu had sensed Li Jianping heading toward Chenyang Peak that Su Ming had deliberately asked Luo Ningshuang to roast a spirit potato for him.
“Nothing much, just some trivial matters.”
Su Ming straightforwardly recounted the conversation he’d just had with Li Jianping.
Hearing this, Meng Shu immediately advised, “Young Master, who knows what tricks Li Jianping still has up his sleeve? As for that elder who guarded the Three Saints Pool—I’ve found him.”
“He had already left the Three Saints Sect, but I captured him and locked him up in a cave somewhere.”
Su Ming hadn’t forgotten about this matter, but he hadn’t expected Meng Shu to have already tracked the man down.
“Did you get anything out of him?”
“He still refuses to talk… Young Master, should we use some… persuasion?”
“Meng Shu, handle it as you see fit—just make sure you don’t kill him.”
“Young Master need not worry.”
“I trust your judgment, Meng Shu. For this mission to support the Canghai Sword Sect, there’s no need for you to accompany me.”
With Meng Shu remaining in the sect, Luo Ningshuang’s safety as an alchemist—as well as the steady progress of their pill-selling business—would be guaranteed.
As for Su Ming’s own safety… Pfft, as if he needed to worry about that. Right now, he was the safest person on the entire Heaven Primordial Continent.
Unaware of this, however, Meng Shu immediately protested, “Young Master, if this old servant doesn’t accompany you, I fear Li Jianping might have some sinister designs—”
“No need for concern. First, I’d like you to set up a barrier to prevent outsiders from spying on us.” Su Ming spoke with a hint of mystery.
Meng Shu promptly channeled his spiritual power, forming a series of seals. A simple isolation array enveloped the courtyard.
Luo Ningshuang, watching from the side, gained a clearer understanding of Meng Shu’s strength.
But what Su Ming pulled out next left both of them utterly stunned.
As the Battle Puppet emerged from Su Ming’s system space, the two onlookers gaped in shock.
“Young Master, where did you obtain this Battle Puppet?”
“My mother gave it to me—said it was for emergencies. So, Meng Shu, rest easy. I won’t do anything that would put me in danger.”
At this point, Meng Shu naturally had nothing more to say.
He could sense that this Battle Puppet’s strength surpassed his own. With it guarding Su Ming, there was no need for concern.
…
Early the next morning, Su Ming arrived alone at the sect’s assembly square.
Though he had come early, the disciples and the elder leading the mission were already gathered.
“Saint Su, the group is assembled. If you have no further business, we can depart now.”
Su Ming ignored him, instead scanning the disciples.
In their eyes, he caught traces of resentment.
He had seen this look too many times—dating back to his student days on Earth.
Because some “big shot” had arrived, they were forced to comply, to put on a show for the VIP.
“How many of you were forced to arrive early? How many were forced to join this support mission?” Su Ming suddenly asked.
Behind him, Elder Zhao hurriedly interjected, “Saint Su, what are you saying? Time is of the essence—we should board the flying vessel and head to the Canghai Sword Sect. Every second counts—lives are at stake!”
“If it were truly that urgent, we would have left yesterday.” Su Ming coldly retorted before turning back to the disciples.
Several minutes passed, yet no one answered.
“I swear on my status as a Saint that no one will be punished for speaking up. Those who fit what I just described—raise your hands.”
Finally, hands began to rise—nearly a third of the group.
Seeing this, Su Ming turned his gaze to Elder Zhao beside him. “Was this your arrangement?”
Elder Zhao was practically choking on bitterness.
How could he dare to do such a thing? It had been Li Jianping’s covert suggestion.
But could he expose Li Jianping?
Yeah, right. Whether it was Li Jianping or Su Ming, neither was someone he could afford to offend.
Su Ming, observing his reaction, reached out and patted Elder Zhao’s shoulder, whispering, “I’m guessing Li Jianping told you to do this…”
Elder Zhao’s face instantly twisted as if he’d seen a ghost.
Su Ming smirked inwardly. Just as I thought.
Li Jianping was clearly trying to turn the sect’s disciples against him—and to avoid exposing himself, he’d thrown an elder under the cart.
Since Elder Zhao was just a scapegoat, Su Ming wouldn’t make things too hard for him.
But he still had to give the disciples an explanation.
After a brief address, Su Ming had Elder Zhao apologize publicly. Then, with a grand gesture, he distributed pills to every disciple present.
This combination of moves instantly skyrocketed Su Ming’s reputation among the disciples.
Seizing the momentum, Su Ming led the group aboard the flying vessel, setting course for the Canghai Sword Sect.
As they boarded, he faintly overheard their discussions about him:
“I thought the Saint was just a spoiled second-generation brat, but he’s actually decent.”
“Right? Elder Zhao never apologizes—this is practically a miracle.”
“Maybe Saint Su isn’t as bad as we assumed. We judged him too quickly.”
[Host successfully reversed future reputation. Obtained 1,000 Destiny Points.]
The notification surprised Su Ming. He hadn’t expected such an action to earn him Destiny Points.
But thinking about it—it made sense.
In the original story, the reputation of the Devouring Demon Sovereign had reached the point where even dogs would avoid him.
And the reason he’d ended up that way? He’d been pushed to that extreme by the protagonist of destiny.
Speaking of which, Chu Fan—the so-called “chosen one”—hadn’t appeared for four straight days.
The disruption caused by Su Ming’s mother’s intervention had ended, and Su Ming had already checked the situation with Destiny Vision.
Though the destiny tied to Chu Fan had begun to deteriorate, it remained deeply intertwined with this world.
[Detected that Chu Fan is currently accessing a core opportunity. Consume 100,000 Destiny Points to interfere? Yes/No]
Su Ming, who had originally planned to cultivate aboard the flying vessel, suddenly grew solemn.
He activated Destiny Vision and confirmed that the giant tree representing his own destiny had shrunk by another fifth. However, the previously hollow core was now being replenished.
“System, is this the thing I was planning to obtain?”
[No.]
Relief washed over Su Ming.
If Chu Fan had still beaten him to it after all his efforts, wouldn’t that make him the biggest joke of all?
But this also showed just how heavily destiny favored Chu Fan.
Even after having his core destiny stolen once, he could still compensate through other means.
Thanks to his fiancée, Su Ming’s current Destiny Points totaled:
Without hesitation, Su Ming declared, “System, begin interference! And mark Chu Fan’s exact location for me!”
[Destiny Points deducted. Remaining Destiny Points: ]
[Chu Fan’s current location has been marked in Destiny Vision.]
Activating Destiny Vision, Su Ming saw where Chu Fan was.
What shocked him even more was that the location was familiar to him.
Or rather, it was familiar to the future Devouring Demon Sovereign.
“I never would’ve guessed you’d end up there…”