"Yihai Prefecture? Nu Yun River?"

Ninghai Zen relaxed upon hearing this, clasped his hands behind his back, and laughed heartily to the sky:

"Ah Qi, do not panic. Your teacher has already made arrangements and preparations on all sides.

No disaster or calamity shall harm a single hair of my student's head."

Qiu Changtian glanced sideways, sneering:

"Your so-called preparations and arrangements, are they not to seek an old flame from the Water Monarch Palace? Or perhaps to let your master Chen Xing lead the way?

Lao Ning, listen to my advice—don't rely on your own brute strength and underestimate the power of disasters and calamities.

Since ancient times, divine techniques cannot compare to fate, let alone someone as ordinary as you."

Ninghai Zen did not respond, but after a moment coldly said:

"If the Celestial Lord still exists, why is there the loss of the Dao? If the Celestial Lord opens his eyes, why does the Turbid Tide arise?

Three thousand years of turmoil and darkness appear in the history books as nothing more than a few lines like 'people eating each other' and 'white bones scattered across the fields'.

But can you and I really turn a blind eye to the blood and tears behind it?

Even if we don't mention those, aren't all the lands outside the fourteen prefectures nothing but scorched earth?

Like firewood in a furnace, the depths of water and fire within can only be known by those who experience it.

I think, after the loss of the Dao, there might be no Celestial Lord in the Red County Divine Land."

Such words outside could surely lead to a charge of treason.

Qiu Changtian shook his head, not arguing with Ninghai Zen since he was just an uninspired Feng Shui Daoist.

Back when he joined the Observatory Tower, his master taught him that the first thing to remember in this line of work is to recognize oneself clearly and maintain reverence for heaven and earth at all times.

Never think that with a few rituals and Feng Shui arrangements, you can act recklessly.

Throughout history, many famous and renowned Feng Shui masters.

In the end, they all died due to the delusion of 'defying destiny' and 'changing fate and life'.

"I never thought my master even had an old flame."

Bai Qi raised an eyebrow, quite surprised.

As for the conversation between Ninghai Zen and Qiu Changtian, he seemed to turn a deaf ear.

After all, he hadn't reached that level yet, and it was hard to judge who was right or wrong.

He could only focus on his master's romantic escapades.

"The proper seal is the Gold and Fire Seal, while the partial seal is the Black Water surging.

With Geng Metal at its peak and Bing Fire flourishing, plus the support of Ren Water.

It indicates that in your daily conduct, you have sharpness and intensity, yet also some flexibility, capable of advancing or retreating in situations."

Qiu Changtian returned to the topic, analyzing Bai Qi's fate and seal pattern:

"Better than your master, who is only strong."

Bai Qi played the role of an obedient junior, quickly bowing in thanks:

"Thank you, Uncle Qiu, for your guidance."

Qiu Changtian nodded, accepting it calmly:

"As the Book of Fate says, a Water Fate wavering brings impurity. As it is said, the yang water body is weak and poor, the yin water body is weak and noble.

Luckily, your partial seal hides water, with the prominent Gold and Fire suppressing it, aligning with your own fortunes.

The nature of water is to nourish below, smoothly accommodating, joyfully supported by metal, with fire balancing it, an excellent fate."

He wrote with flair and style, crafting a few lines of prophecy, as the Void Candle Breath Dharma Eye observed Bai Qi's face, he added:

"Do a good deed daily, and you may receive blessings; erase a harm daily, and you can accumulate hidden virtue.

In the future, whatever Celestial Materials and Earthly Treasures of gold, fire, and water you acquire, it would be beneficial to keep them for yourself to enhance your fate and fortune.

Although this notion of filling five elemental fates with treasures and spiritual objects is unproven, the nobles of the Eight Pillars of the Realm firmly believe in it and have largely done so.

From my observations, it is beneficial and harmless, worth a try."

Bai Qi kept this in mind, planning to entrust the Chai Market and the fire kiln to help collect a few.

"In the next couple of days, walk around more and explore. As the Celestial Fiend Day approaches, the four elements are losing their order; today, Bing Fire is thriving, and tomorrow, it will be Ren Water overflowing.

Let the county residents prepare, avoiding disasters in the river while you might also test your luck."

A rare piece of advice from Ninghai Zen.

"Understood, Master."

Bai Qi clasped his hands together.

"You may return home to rest."

Ninghai Zen waved his hand, worried his student would stay in Tongwen Hall too long and catch the bad luck of Qiu Changtian, affecting his future fortune.

"Farewell, Master."

Bai Qi, understanding the situation, left with a thought:

"Qiu Changtian, Ninghai Zen, the disaster stars and Plague Deities of Yihai Prefecture are all gathered, perhaps for the rise of the Turbid Tide?"

He was pondering when Uncle Dao suddenly called out to him:

"Almost forgot, after you return, Young Master Qi, remember to step over a fire basin, then bathe in mugwort leaves, and don't keep the clothes you wore today. Clean yourself thoroughly."

Lao Dao, solemnly and earnestly, was afraid Bai Qi wouldn't take it to heart.

"Got it, Uncle Dao."

Bai Qi squinted his eyes, with a hint of confusion.

Could it be that I've provoked something unclean?

Do I need to use a fire basin and mugwort to dispel it?

...

...

"Do you really need to hurry your disciple away?"

Qiu Changtian sat back in his chair, halting the activation of the Void Candle Breath Technique, and said discontentedly:

"I've pasted seven or eight additional Six-Layered Purple Talismans on myself to suppress bad luck.

Even the heavens have to give some respect, so I can have a comfortable sleep tonight and take a good breath."

Ninghai Zen curled his lips:

"Better safe than sorry. I've only taken this one personal disciple, and if he gets tainted with hard-to-remove bad luck because of you, who will I demand compensation from?

Maybe Ah Cheng's years of hardships have had a lot to do with you.

It's a shame he still calls you 'Mr. Qiu', yet after leaving Black River County, he nearly got beaten to death."

Qiu Changtian angrily cursed:

"You, Ning, stop spewing nonsense, and don't blame me for every misfortune happening to your family!

Why don't you say that the Supreme Emperor's attempt to break into the Divine Power Secret Realm and step onto the shattered path of longevity ultimately failed because of me?