Chapter 20: Exploring Each Other
Upon seeing the place where the old fortune teller lived, Zhang Kai couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Surprisingly, it was just an ordinary small courtyard in the back of Wudang Mountain. The courtyard had mud walls and wooden tile-roofed houses, giving it an ancient and somewhat run-down appearance. It looked even more aged than the Baiyun Temple Zhang Kai had previously seen.
This was hardly fitting for someone of the seniority of the Wudang Clan, was it?
"What's this? You don't like my little courtyard?" The old fortune teller seemed to have seen through Zhang Kai's thoughts and spoke with a half-smile.
Zhang Kai didn't mince his words, saying, "It's not a matter of not liking it; it's more like not seeing its worth. You, living in Wudang, with this kind of place?"
"Heh, it seems you're not from the orthodox cultivation lineage, young man. Your knowledge is somewhat lacking," the old fortune teller suddenly said, catching Zhang Kai off guard.
This old man... Has he seen through that I'm a cultivator?
"Why can't I understand what you're saying, old man?" Zhang Kai replied calmly, looking at the old fortune teller.
The old fortune teller smirked, "You're pretending. Do you think I've been making a living by deceiving people? Since we're fellow cultivators, I'll let you in on a little secret. I'm a bona fide practitioner of the Wudang Clan's esoteric arts. The traces of true Qi in your body are as clear to me as a bright lightbulb in the night. So, tell me, why have you come to Wudang, and what's your purpose?"
Zhang Kai stared deeply at the old fortune teller, realizing that this old man had embarked on the path of cultivation with the resurgence of spiritual energy. However, the old man's true Qi was pitifully weak. He had probably used some secret technique earlier to see through Zhang Kai's cultivation, but the technique had left him devoid of true Qi. Therefore, he had only discovered that Zhang Kai was a cultivator and couldn't gauge his level.
Understanding this, Zhang Kai smiled and said, "You've hidden it quite well, old man. You didn't realize I was a fellow practitioner before."
The old fortune teller gave a mysterious smile, and Zhang Kai continued, "Since we're being open about our identities, I'll be honest too. I came to Wudang with a purpose. Have you noticed that there has been an emergence of spiritual energy in the world recently?"
With his last sentence, Zhang Kai tried to appear mysterious, showing the enthusiasm of a practitioner in the declining era.
The old fortune teller paused, clearly aware of the resurgence of spiritual energy. Without it, he wouldn't have been able to take this crucial step and establish his foundation.
"Did the celestial phenomena on Wudang Mountain have anything to do with you?" the old fortune teller asked.
"I wanted to ask you the same question. I came to Wudang Mountain to seek spiritual energy, and when celestial phenomena appeared, I wanted to investigate. However, I gained nothing. But those celestial phenomena confirmed to me that Wudang Mountain is undoubtedly one of the places with the most advantageous resurgence of spiritual energy, as such anomalies haven't appeared elsewhere," Zhang Kai explained.
The old fortune teller stared deeply at Zhang Kai, trying to gauge the truth behind his words. Zhang Kai remained composed.
After a moment, the old fortune teller smiled and said, "Come, let's have some tea. In this era of decline, it's rare for fellow cultivators to meet. Our encounter is fate. We can chat while enjoying tea."
"I'd be honored," Zhang Kai replied with a smile.
Soon, the two walked into the courtyard. Upon entering, Zhang Kai immediately sensed something peculiar. The courtyard seemed even more comfortable than the outside, exuding a sense of tranquility and harmony. Moreover, Zhang Kai could feel the presence of spiritual energy, which made him stop in his tracks.
This was incredible. There was no trace of spiritual energy outside the courtyard, but inside, it was present, albeit not as strong as in the Bull Head Mountain cave. Still, it was a continuous flow.
The old fortune teller also paused and said with a smile, "Did you feel it?"
Zhang Kai asked, "What is this?"
The old fortune teller proudly explained, "It's a Wudang secret, the Qi Men formation. This courtyard was built by the last Qi Men Grandmaster of the Wudang Clan 300 years ago. It harmonizes with nature and sits atop the spiritual veins of Wudang Mountain. Even without spiritual energy, living here ensures a long and healthy life. If the spiritual energy revives, it will become a holy place for our Wudang Clan's cultivation."
Zhang Kai marveled at the explanation and pretended to envy, "Indeed, the big clans have a head start, even in the beginning."
"Hehe, if you give me a few billion, I can let you stay here for a month," the old fortune teller eagerly looked at Zhang Kai.
Zhang Kai's face darkened. Even though he didn't consider money as valuable, the price was exorbitant. A few billion for a month? Others might be overcharging, but this was blatant exploitation.
"I can't afford that, so let's just have tea," Zhang Kai calmly declined.
The old fortune teller sighed in disappointment. "Missed an opportunity, what a pity."
Once inside the house, the old fortune teller took out tea leaves and skillfully prepared tea. His movements were graceful, creating an ambiance of a tea ceremony. The tea had a delightful fragrance, refreshing the spirit and leaving a lasting aftertaste.
"Excellent tea!" Zhang Kai praised after savoring a sip. He then looked at the old fortune teller and asked, "Old man, you didn't invite me just to show off, did you?"
The old fortune teller chuckled, "Why do you think it's showing off? I did invite you, and you declined. Now that you're here, let's talk about something. Practicing in this era of decline, the resources are scarce. To keep up with other practitioners and close the gap, we need to be prepared. Are you interested in seizing an opportunity together?"