Chapter 162: Cooperating with Xiahou Fang

Yi Tianling and Su Yun'er were very glad to see them and kept waving. Soon, the two sides converged.

They boarded Xuanyuan Tunhan's flying magic artifact. When Xiahou Fang attempted to climb aboard, Xuanyuan Tunhan struck him with a palm strike.

Xiahou Fang was startled, but he managed to dodge and seized the opportunity to leap onto the vessel.

"Old Ancestor Xuanyuan, what is the meaning of this?"

He was still grinning, acting as if the previous conflict between them had never existed.

Neither Yi Tianling nor Su Yun'er had any idea what was happening. Seeing them come to blows upon meeting, they hurriedly asked what was wrong.

Ning Xianyu said, "He is Xiahou Fang, a demonic cultivator."

Su Yun'er knew of Xiahou Fang's notorious reputation and glared angrily in his direction.

Yi Tianling had heard of him as well, but his reaction wasn't as intense. "However, this Brother Xiahou helped us along the way and said he could assist us in reaching Mount Qingxu."

Ning Xianyu was even more surprised. "You are going to Mount Qingxu too?"

What an incredible coincidence; they were heading there as well?

Yi Tianling replied, "We previously found a map detailing Mount Qingxu and wanted to go there to see if we could find any fragments of the Heaven-Mending Stone."

So they were also searching for the Heaven-Mending Stone.

Xiahou Fang chuckled from his spot. "Actually, we can all cooperate. That is Mount Qingxu, after all. Having been cut off from the Six Realms of Yunhuang for so many years, no one knows what it looks like now. With my profound cultivation, I can be of help to you."

Ning Xianyu asked from the back, "Are you helping us for free?"

Xiahou Fang smiled. "As long as you lend me the Astrolabe to use once—I will return it to you immediately after a single use—how about it?"

Su Yun'er asked with a puzzled expression, "Why do you need the Astrolabe? What are you trying to divine?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed Xiahou Fang's expression shift, turning somewhat sorrowful yet tinged with madness.

"Miss Su, I am naturally inquiring about my own fortune. A demonic cultivator like me defies the Heavenly Dao and may not be able to ascend. I simply wish to know what my ultimate fate will be."

He was blatantly lying, and even Su Yun'er did not believe him.

Over on the other side, Yi Tianling's system was already briefing him on Xiahou Fang's past.

Compared to the Wish-Fulfilling System, his system understood this world much better and possessed far more knowledge.

Learning of Xiahou Fang's past, Yi Tianling felt a deep sense of emotional resonance.

[Xiahou Fang is somewhat unhinged, but as long as you dangle the carrot of helping him fulfill his wish, he will offer his genuine assistance. You should make good use of this.]

Yi Tianling thought: [But the Astrolabe is clearly with Senior Ning, and she is unwilling to take it out. How can I help Xiahou Fang?]

The system replied: [Divination is not exclusive to the Astrolabe or Elder Bu Jiao; I can do it too. I can help him.]

Yi Tianling asked skeptically: [Can you really do it?]

The system answered: [Of course. I know everything that happens in this world. I can know whatever I wish.]

Yi Tianling asked: [Then tell me, will Senior Ning and Senior Xuanyuan eventually become a bonded couple?]

This truly put the system on the spot: [Both of them are variables. It is difficult to calculate anything regarding such powerful existences, but Xiahou Fang and his dao companion are different. That can be calculated quite easily.]

Still doubtful, Yi Tianling said: [Then calculate where his dao companion is first.]

Feeling a bit depressed and sensing a lack of trust from him, the system pondered for a moment before saying: [Fine, I will tell you. Xiahou Fang's dao companion was injured by the fire of the Demonic Star back then. Although cultivators cannot be reincarnated, a portion of their divine soul survived and drifted onto a seed of a migration grass.]

[Those seeds fled in all directions, flew into the human world, and landed in a human courtyard. Later on, when a woman in that household suffered a difficult labor, the divine soul from that seed entered a stillborn child and was successfully born.]

Yi Tianling asked in astonishment: [Then isn't she long dead?]

[No, no, no, she isn't. Because she merged with the residual soul originally belonging to the infant, it formed a brand-new soul instead. As a result, she underwent multiple reincarnations and is still a mortal today.]

The system spoke with absolute confidence and even revealed the exact location of that mortal.

Finally reassured, Yi Tianling spoke up: "Senior Xiahou, you don't necessarily need the Astrolabe to perform divination. In fact, I have a way to help you. How about we cooperate?"

Xuanyuan Tunhan immediately glared over. "Yi Tianling!"

Had that so-called system told him something?

Yi Tianling persuaded, "Senior Xuanyuan, Senior Xiahou is right. Our prospects on the way to Mount Qingxu are uncertain, and Senior Xiahou is a formidable ally."

Xiahou Fang, however, asked dubiously, "Kid, can you really help me?"

Yi Tianling suddenly asked, "Is the matter you wish to know related to a cultivator who was very important to you, and also connected to the descent of the Demonic Star all those years ago?"

Xiahou Fang instantly flew into a rage. "Old Man Xuanyuan, did you tell him?"

His expression distorted instantly, and the clear skies and white clouds above his head turned pitch black in an instant, as if thunder and lightning were about to strike down upon Yi Tianling at any moment.

Yi Tianling hurriedly blurted out, "It wasn't Senior Xuanyuan! He didn't say anything—wait, Senior Xuanyuan, you knew about this too?"

Xuanyuan Tunhan looked at him with equal astonishment, not expecting him to actually find out. That strange system was indeed useful.

Observing the expressions between the two and recalling Xuanyuan Tunhan's usual character, Xiahou Fang reasoned that he couldn't have been the one to leak it.

"Kid, how did you find out?"

Xiahou Fang remained cautious and was not about to trust him easily.

Yi Tianling said, "This junior once studied some arts of divination and has also encountered certain fortuitous opportunities. Senior, this junior cannot say any more; it all depends on whether you are willing to trust me."

Xiahou Fang was still wary, but he cast a glance at Ning Xianyu.

If Yi Tianling was lying, he could always go after Ning Xianyu instead.

Since they were all in the same group anyway, opportunities would eventually present themselves.

"Very fine. Practitioners always have their own secrets, so I won't press further. I'll cooperate with you."

Xiahou Fang laughed generously. "I will help you, and you will divine the whereabouts of the person I wish to find. If you fail to find them, I will flay you alive."

Su Yun'er grew very nervous and anxiously grabbed Yi Tianling's hand.

However, he gave her a reassuring smile and said, "Don't worry, this junior will certainly honor his promise."

The pact was struck. Although Xuanyuan Tunhan initially disagreed, a glance at Yi Tianling made him abandon his objections.

With Yi Tianling's peculiar system combined with Ning Xianyu, their chances of finding the Heaven-Mending Stone would only increase.

Having experienced being captured before, Ning Xianyu harbored a lingering fear of Xiahou Fang and hid closely behind Xuanyuan Tunhan, refusing to let him get near.

Meanwhile, Xiahou Fang had developed a keen interest in Su Yun'er.

"Although I have no interest in a woman's hide, I must admit, Miss Su, your hide is also quite exquisite."

The remark gave Su Yun'er goosebumps, and she hurriedly hid behind Yi Tianling as well.

Yi Tianling said angrily, "Senior Xiahou, we are in a cooperative relationship. Please refrain from preying on our companions."

"Companions?"

Xiahou Fang let out a mocking chuckle. "So young. Youth is truly a wonderful thing."

Back then, he too had believed in such things, but that was many, many years ago.