On one side lay a path paved with opportunity, while the other led to certain death. Anyone would know which to choose, yet the people surrounding the Child of Fortune would always orbit around him.
Even a master who had only known him for a few months would be willing to sacrifice his life to save the endangered Child of Fortune.
Strictly speaking, this was the effect of the Child of Fortune's destiny at work.
But how much longer could that fortune last?
"Beat them to within an inch of their lives, but make sure not to kill them. Let them go," Qin Tian secretly transmitted this order to Ling Jiao.
Ling Jiao, though curious, asked no questions. If the young master gave an order, there was certainly a reason behind it.
Ling Jiao looked at Xuan Lin, who was burning his cultivation, with disdain. This Xuan Lin was truly too weak. Even after burning his Heavenly Sovereign Realm cultivation, he could barely reach the sixth or seventh stage of the Human Emperor Realm. If not for the young master's instructions, Ling Jiao could have easily dealt with ten of him.
And that wasn't an exaggeration. After all, he was a pureblooded flood dragon, and soon he would transform into a five-clawed golden dragon.
Dragons, no matter where they are, are always synonymous with power.
Even while holding back, Ling Jiao still left Xuan Lin half-dead. Lin Fan, who was on Xuan Lin's back, was barely clinging to life.
"Senior, your loyalty is truly impressive."
"If you survive today, you're welcome to seek me out. I would still be willing to use my clan's resources to heal you." Qin Tian smiled as he watched Xuan Lin and Lin Fan stagger away. Stirring discord was always so amusing.
But Xuan Lin wouldn't survive—Qin Tian had never seriously considered taking him in.
It was all just a ruse to deceive the old master.
Not just anyone was worthy of becoming his follower.
"Young Master, why did you let them go?" Ling Jiao, now back in human form, respectfully asked Qin Tian. He couldn't understand why the young master would spare those who had shown such disrespect.
"You wouldn't understand." Qin Tian's eyes narrowed as he watched Lin Fan disappear into the distance, his pupils glowing faintly red. The demonic seed he had planted in Lin Fan had proven ineffective in controlling him while his fortune remained strong. During the battle between Ling Jiao and the two, Qin Tian had attempted to use the demonic seed to take control of Lin Fan.
The result? It didn't work. However, the seed was still planted, allowing Qin Tian to monitor Lin Fan at any time.
As for why he let Lin Fan go, there were several reasons. The most important was that the Child of Fortune couldn't be killed yet. Killing him now would result in a backlash of fate. Qin Tian needed to slowly erode his fortune.
Another reason was that he could use the Child of Fortune to seek out opportunities. A Child of Fortune's luck was beyond compare—these individuals could stumble upon divine beasts just by walking down the road.
Beaten to near death, Lin Fan's "golden finger" (his master) was now useless. So what would happen next?
According to the fate of such protagonists, a grand opportunity was surely waiting for Lin Fan.
And with the demonic seed inside him, would Qin Tian simply sit back and let Lin Fan claim that opportunity?
Sometimes it wasn't a bad idea to cultivate a little mouse to hunt for treasure.
After all, slowly stripping away someone's fortune was far more satisfying.
...
Inside a grand hall.
"Ding! A rift has formed between Lin Fan and his master. The host has gained 500 Fortune Points."
"As expected, it was worth offering the Wendao Divine Lotus to tempt him." Qin Tian smiled slightly. Everything was going according to plan.
After this incident, if there wasn't a rift between them, no one would believe it.
After all, Lin Fan's pride had cost his master the chance to regain his former glory. No matter how deep the gratitude, this was bound to create resentment.
"System, show me my stats."
Master: Qin Tian
Physique: Dao-Seeding Demonic Body
Talent: Ancient Dual-Pupil Eyes
Cultivation Level: First Stage of the Human Emperor Realm
Identity: Young Master of the Immortal Qin Clan
Techniques: Dao-Heart Demonic Seed, Immortal Ascension to the Nine Heavens, Supreme Immortal Arts...
Fortune Points: 800
"System, tell me, how much fortune does a typical Child of Fortune possess?" Qin Tian didn't believe that the fortune of a Child of Fortune was limitless. If it were, what would be the point of all this?
"Ding! A standard Child of Fortune possesses approximately 8,000 Fortune Points. Lin Fan, being slightly above average, has 8,700 Fortune Points. For comparison, the average person has around 100 Fortune Points."
Qin Tian fell silent. All the effort he had put into suppressing Lin Fan had only earned him one-tenth of Lin Fan's fortune.
Lin Fan's beloved had been forced into servitude for someone else, rumors were spreading that she had been defiled, and now there was a growing rift between him and his master. Yet all that had only stripped 800 points from him? It seemed that unless Qin Tian could steal one of Lin Fan's greatest opportunities, he wouldn't be able to truly cripple him.
...
Outside a forbidden area in the Eastern Wastelands.
Cough, cough.
A man, covered in wounds, slowly pushed himself up with his arms. His clothes were tattered, his aura dissipated, and his eyes burned red with rage as he let out a howl toward the heavens.
"If I don't avenge this disgrace, I am not human!"
His goddess had been humiliated, and he had been cast out of the Dao Palace. Lin Fan had never felt such agony.
"Master! Master, are you still alive?" Lin Fan cried out in his mind. He knew he couldn't seek revenge on his own. He needed the help of his mysterious master.
"Foolish child," a weak voice echoed from above him. Xuan Lin's soul hovered over Lin Fan, filled with sorrow. He had taken time to reflect on everything that had happened between Lin Fan and Qin Tian, and it was all over a woman?
Didn't Lin Fan understand that even Xuan Lin himself was insignificant in Qin Tian's eyes?
"Master, what do you mean by that?" Lin Fan, on the verge of losing control, demanded. After all, he was the one who had been humiliated.
Xuan Lin glanced at his disciple, now boiling with rage, and sighed deeply. For the first time, he regretted taking Lin Fan as his student.
"I'm tired. I'm going to rest for a while. You're on your own for now." Xuan Lin's voice carried an unfamiliar coldness. He no longer sounded like the compassionate master he once was.
His path to cultivation had been cut off, and he had angered the young master of the Immortal Qin Clan. Xuan Lin felt a deep sense of despair.
"Master, didn't you say you had a great treasure and a powerful technique? Can you give them to me now?" Lin Fan asked urgently. He wasn't a fool—he knew he had no chance against Qin Tian as he was. He needed his master's help to close the gap between their power.
Xuan Lin smiled bitterly. He had already told Lin Fan that the treasure was too powerful and the technique too dangerous for him to handle at this stage.
"Such a foolish child," Xuan Lin murmured, then let out a long sigh before retreating into the storage ring to sleep. He was far too weak to remain.
"Master, why won't you pass them to me..." Lin Fan's voice trailed off.
...
"Young Master, how about taking a walk? I could accompany you," a soft and seductive voice suddenly chimed. A stunning figure floated into the room, her face adorned with a playful smile.
"I've heard that a powerful Upper Realm legacy has appeared in the Eastern Wastelands. Everyone is coming for it. Not only are the local geniuses on their way, but even the elites from Zhongzhou are coming." Chu Xinyue floated beside Qin Tian, her fragrant scent lingering in the air.
"Wouldn't you like to take a look, young master? Even if the legacy doesn't interest you, the scenery alone would be worth the trip."