Fu Tenglong understood the situation all too well.
Wen Lingtian was a Deity Transformation cultivator, deeply versed in the art of divination. As long as he was willing to expend some of his lifespan, locating the Golden Dragon Ship would be no challenge at all.
However, the faction led by Elder Jin Yaozu had always been at odds with him. After much thought, Fu Tenglong decided it was not wise to squander a favor with Wen Lingtian. Let Jin Yaozu handle the headache himself.
With a cold sneer, Fu Tenglong instructed his subordinates to inform Elder Jin Yaozu of the situation.
In the Boundless Starry Sea
A fleet of ships was steadily advancing toward a cultivation planet.
At the head of the fleet was an enormous ship, far larger than any of the others behind it. This was the ship of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance's Elder Jin Yaozu—the Tianlong Ship.
At this moment, Jin Yaozu sat cross-legged upon a plush bed. Two graceful female cultivators flanked him, offering the freshest spiritual fruits.
Just then, a voice came from outside the door.
"Master, news from Treasure Star—The Golden Dragon Fleet has gone missing."
Jin Yaozu froze, abruptly rising from the bed. "Come in and speak!"
A burly middle-aged man entered cautiously—this was Jin Yaozu's eldest disciple, Dong Fangshuo.
Ignoring the two female cultivators, Dong Fangshuo spoke respectfully, "Master, the Alliance Lord says that even his Boundless Star Disc cannot detect the whereabouts of the Golden Dragon Ship, and he suggests you handle it yourself."
Jin Yaozu clenched his fists. "No other information? What about Jin Dafu? What's his status?"
Dong Fang Shuo shook his head. "We don't know."
Jin Yaozu began to pace back and forth, his face darkening. "That bastard Fu Tenglong! He's clearly trying to avoid helping me! His Boundless Star Disc can track the location of every ship in the fleet—how could it possibly fail to locate the Golden Dragon Ship? Damn him!"
The more Jin Yaozu thought about it, the angrier he became, convinced that Fu Tenglong was relishing his predicament.
Dong Fang Shuo, ever the cautious disciple, gently offered a suggestion. "Master, since you share a bloodline with Jin Dafu, perhaps you can track him through your blood connection."
Jin Yaozu suddenly slapped his forehead. "That's right! Damn Fu Tenglong! He's made me lose my wits!"
Dong Fang Shuo lowered his head, silent. He had long since grown accustomed to his master's frequent lapses in clarity, especially when his emotions ran high. The more agitated Jin Yaozu became, the more disoriented he seemed.
But there was no helping it—this was just how his master was.
Jin Yaozu immediately squeezed out a drop of his essence blood, forming a hand seal to activate his secret method.
The blood swelled up unexpectedly, transforming into a massive blood screen. If all went as expected, this blood screen would reveal the location of Jin Dafu. He had used this method before to search for his lost sixteenth son and found him with ease.
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However, this time, the blood screen didn't aid him. The blood screen remained a foggy red, showing nothing at all.
Jin Yaozu refused to believe it. He immediately forced out three more drops of essence blood, infusing them into the screen. The blood screen grew brighter and more vivid, yet still, there was nothing.
Jin Yaozu was dumbfounded. Dong Fang Shuo was equally stunned. This was a Deity Transformation cultivator using his essence blood to trace a bloodline heir. How could it not work?
Someone else, also a Deity Transformation expert, had used sinister means to obscure the bloodline connection.
Jin Yaozu gritted his teeth. "Who? Who could it be?! Is it one of my rivals in the Exquisite Treasures Alliance? Or someone coveting Jin Dafu's wealth?"
Dong Fang Shuo lowered his voice, "Master, I know you're anxious, but please calm down. Anyone who could block a bloodline connection must be powerful. I think you could try asking Zhao Tiancang for help. His divination skills are exceptional and almost never fail.
If he helps, we'll surely find Jin Dafu's whereabouts. Then, we'll know exactly who did this. If even Zhao Tian Cang can't find anything, we may need to ask Wen Lingtian of the Reincarnation Divine Sect. But his fees are quite high..."
Jin Yaozu cursed, "Zhao Tiancang? That old ghost doesn't have a good relationship with me. If I go to him for divination, I'll be forced to pay through the nose again!"
Dong Fang Shuo lowered his head, "Master, it's inevitable that we'll need to part with some treasures to find Jin Dafu. Please don't be upset."
Jin Yaozu took several deep breaths to calm himself down.
"Send word. We won't go to Silver Orchid Star. Change course to Reincarnation Star!"
Not long after, Reincarnation Star.
Zhao Tian Cang, the venerable diviner, sat across from Jin Yaozu. Dong Fang Shuo stood respectfully by the side.
Jin Yaozu, growing impatient, asked, "Zhao Tian Cang, give me a clear answer. Will you help me with the divination and find my son's whereabouts?"
Zhao Tian Cang leisurely sipped his tea and smiled, "I can help, but I require a Heavenly Array Colossus."
Jin Yaozu's eyes widened in surprise, "Heavenly Array Colossus? Impossible! I only have three!"
The Heavenly Array Colossus, much like the Gaint Rock Puppet, was one of Exquisite Treasures Alliance's unique puppets.
The Heavenly Array Colossus could control arrays. Any array with it at the helm would increase its power by more than thirty percent. Additionally, it had the ability to alter the formation, making it nearly equivalent to a half-formation master.
Zhao Tian Cang rose from his seat, "Then I'm afraid you'll have to leave."
Jin Yaozu cursed, "A lion's share, eh? I'll never ask for your help again!"
He stormed towards the hall's entrance, taking one step, then two, then three...
Zhao Tian Cang, unfazed, simply watched him leave.
Then, Jin Yaozu paused and returned, "Fine, I'll give it to you."
Dong Fang Shuo observed the entire exchange, maintaining an air of detachment.
His master, despite leading a major business group, acted more like a territory chief than a savvy merchant. He wasn't good at bargaining. Whenever someone gave him a price, he simply agreed, rarely attempting to negotiate.
Zhao Tiancang smiled widely and nodded, "Each time I perform divination, it costs at least a hundred years of my life. My hundred years of life are precious, Fellow Daoist Jin, please understand."
Jin Yaozu snorted coldly, "I'll give you the Heavenly Array Colossus, but my only condition is that you must find my son's whereabouts. Otherwise, I won't compensate for the lost years of your life, and I'll take back the Heavenly Array Colossus!"
Zhao Tiancang laughed heartily, his confidence unwavering, "Rest assured! I have never failed in divination!"
He took out a set of thirty-six jade slips, each one carefully crafted as part of his latest magic treasure, the Six Divinations Technique. It represented the culmination of his life's work in divination.
He then requested a drop of Jin Yaozu's essence blood.
The blood condensed into threads, merging with the thirty-six jade slips.
"With a hundred years of my life, I inquire about Jin Dafu's location."
Zhao Tian Cang slammed the Six Divinations Technique onto the table, speaking with great solemnity.
The jade slips flew into the air, weaving together a glowing screen. Countless stars spun and shifted. The vast starry sky rippled, changing shape. The image seemed to be gradually becoming clearer.
Jin Yaozu and Dong Fang Shuo both stretched their necks, eager to discover where Jin Dafu might be.
It sounded as though a colossal hand, filled with boundless power, had come crashing down from the void. The glowing screen produced by the Six Divinations Technique was instantly flattened.
Zhao Tiancang's smile froze.
Jin Yaozu stared at the now empty Inquiry Heaven Mirror and looked at him, "Where is my son?"
Zhao Tiancang: "...".