The Corsac family could communicate with their patron goddess twice a year and only ask her one question each time, and her answer was only a few lines long.
After getting Shu cleaned, Huli Jing dragged him to the altar, and they both saw the family leader in ceremonial robes.
"Shual. Stand in front of the altar and don't move."
The family leader ordered. He closed his eyes and breathed a sigh.
"Shǒuhùshén, qǐng"
A pure, angelic, white light appeared from the middle of the altar, and the family leader's eyes lit.
"O goddess, please, answer my question. Please tell me, who is Shual? What is his gift? And what is his connection to the demon god?"
The family leader asked.
They waited for an entire minute. None of them said a thing. After a minute of silence, a noise was heard, and the light turned purple.
"One, one. One, one? Are you there?"
The voice said. This was a male voice and not the goddess'. The family leader looked terrified at the altar, and Shu was excited.
"Mister Danniel! How are you?!"
Shu asked excitedly.
"You are with the Corsac family? Does it mean you already met your family?"
The voice of the demon god asked.
"Yes."
Shu answered.
"Excuse my impudence, but who are you?"
The family leader interrupted.
"Oh, who? Me? I'm a nobody. You probably know me as the demon god."
The voice said.
"I'm sorry for the disrespect, but why isn't the mother of heaven answering?"
The family leader asked.
"The mother of heaven" is a title used for Emma since she is known to be a motherly goddess who cares for her followers and even her haters.
"My wife heard your questions and thought it would be more efficient if I answered."
The demon god answered. All the mortals listening were surprised. Who knew these two gods were married? Not to mention a god known as a demonic manipulator and a goddess known for being angelic, motherly, and kind. What kind of pairing is that?!
In addition, the family leader noticed this talk was already longer than usual. The demon god truly has magnificent control over the ways of Tao.
"Little Shu is the direct descendant of the main line of the Redfox family. He was brought to me soon after his birth. I requested the other gods to allow me to give Shu a gift forbidden for mortals, and they agreed because of his low constitution and inability to use magic. When properly used, His gift is supposed to let him see the future. His connection to me is that he is my champion and one of my disciples."
The demon god answered the family leader's question.
The family leader understood the conversation would end soon and thought it would be an opportunity to carry favor for the demon god.
"Thank you, sir. Is there anything you want us to help with?"
The family leader asked.
"Help Little Shu understand how to see the movement of divinity. It would help him use his gift. If he wins first place in the dragon gate competition, I will give you a weapon almost equal to the Redfox family's Ōkatana."
The demon god promised. He knew the family leader wanted something in return, and he wanted to use this opportunity to quicken Shu's development.
"I will gladly do as you wish."
The family leader said with a slight bow. The light instantly vanished, and there was no voice heard.
The family leader lifted his head, and his eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Shual, we will train you, and you will win this competition."
The family leader said.
********
They told Shu to follow them, and they walked to a large open circle-shaped area.
"Sit in the circle's center in a half-lotus position, and close your eyes."
Huli Jing said, and Shu did as he was told.
He sat there and closed his eyes.
"Now, clear your mind and feel the movements around you."
Huli Jing instructed him.
Shu sat there and felt the motion of the wind, the movement of people around him, the light getting weaker, the darkness, the light strengthening, and the rain.
Thoughts came to his mind now and then, Mary, Alexander, Thomas, and that weather god. He also felt something weird. Memories of things that he was sure he experienced but never happened came to his mind. These were probably the memories of the other timelines Mary talked about. He could feel his past emotions and was sure about his feelings toward Mary. Once in a while, he remembered the instructions to clear his mind, and the silence returned.
"Shual, open your eyes! There is only one week left for the competition."
Huli Jing said. Shu opened his eyes, and Huli Jing took a step back. Shu's eyes were glowing brightly and seemed different somehow.
"Is everything okay?"
Shu asked worryingly. Huli Jing looked at him with fear, and it worried him.
"Ye-yes."
Huli Jing stuttered.
He coughed a little and continued speaking.
"You were in deep meditation for two months straight."
Huli Jing said, and Shu was surprised. It felt like no more than a week.
"We are going to eat now. After that, your potential would be tested."
Huli Jing explained.
They ate a large meal in which Shu ate an unbelievable amount of food.
After that, Huli Jing took Shu to see the family head.
When the family head saw Shu, he was startled by his glowing eyes.
"Shuō qiánlì"
The family leader chanted, and his eyes were noticeably shocked.
"What is it?"
Huli Jing asked. He was confident it was higher than before but didn't know by how much.
"One hundred and twenty."
The family leader answered.
"Huh?"
Huli Jing was stupefied. Wasn't his potential just over thirty?!
"After two months of meditation, Shual's potential is one hundred and twenty."
The family leader repeated.
One hundred and twenty is the most common potential. Most people don't reach their full potential, so they die sooner, but it is still not generally impressive to have that potential. This was remarkable because his potential had grown nearly ninety years after only two months. Some people cultivated for a hundred years and didn't achieve more than three years of extra potential.
Shu's eyes kept glowing with bright yellow light, and he could see the future ahead of him. He could see countless destinies, but they were all swallowed in his mind. He could feel the way the world was moving, and even though fate-defying people exist, he could focus on the most likely futures and clear his mind.
"How long would it take to reach the dragon gate?"
Shu asked.
"Five days."
Huli Jing answered, and they both smiled.
Huli Jing hated the Dracon-kin in the land of Long. The land of Long's Dracon-kin is called Long-kin. Known by other people as prideful pricks, they terrorized the Corsac family for centuries. Huli Jing now had his key for revenge.