Ascending Immortal City, Tianling Realm
On the busiest street of the city, there was a fortune-telling stall featuring a small table, two wooden stools, and a banner. The table was covered with a blue cloth adorned with a yin-yang and bagua symbol. To the left sat a bamboo tube filled with divination sticks, and to the right, six copper coins were lined up neatly.
The banner read:
"Know your fate without worry, and speak with an iron mouth like a true immortal."
Jiang Bai, the fortune-teller, had recently transmigrated to this world, where he discovered the "Strongest Fortune-Telling System." By reading fortunes, he could earn Fortune Points, which he could exchange for cultivation techniques, magical artifacts, and even chances to gamble for more rewards.
However, it seemed he had neglected to read his own fortune before leaving home. Now, standing before him was a genuine immortal, not seeking to admire his potential, but rather to pick a fight.
"Know your fate without worry, and speak with an iron mouth like a true immortal! Kid, you have quite the audacity," said the immortal in white robes, exuding celestial energy, flanked by powerful cultivators from Ascending Immortal City. To them, Jiang Bai was merely a source of amusement.
Feeling helpless, Jiang Bai realized he was already caught in a classic scenario of bullying. Typically, this would be expected of a protagonist, but he was still just a powerless mortal facing a full-fledged immortal—a vast gap in power.
In the Tianling Realm, cultivation levels ranged from Mortal Shedding to the Tribulation stage, after which one could ascend to the Immortal Realm. The man before him was an immortal, looking down on him from a higher plane.
"Please excuse me, Immortal. This is just a means to earn a living, not worth your attention," Jiang Bai said, trying to lower the tension.
But the immortal was not in a forgiving mood. "You dare call yourself an immortal in my presence? Do you understand the consequences?"
Jiang Bai frowned, knowing fortune-tellers often used such phrases to attract customers, yet this immortal's intimidation felt out of place.
"A mere mortal calling himself an immortal, how ridiculous!" the immortal's followers echoed, mocking him.
Jiang Bai felt unjustly attacked; he hadn't even spoken yet. It seemed the immortal was simply in a foul mood and looking for trouble.
"Today, you will read my fortune. If you're correct, I'll let you go. If not, don't blame me for being merciless!" To the immortal, Jiang Bai was no more than an ant, his fate entirely at the immortal's discretion.
What Jiang Bai didn't realize was that the immortal needed an outlet for his frustration, and Jiang Bai wasn't an ordinary person; he wasn't about to back down easily.
"If the Immortal desires a reading, I will risk my life to provide one. But I have two rules for my fortune-telling!" he declared, casting aside his submissiveness.
The immortal chuckled, intrigued. "Two rules? Let's hear them."
Jiang Bai explained calmly, "First, to provide an accurate reading, I must commune with the heavens, requiring a sufficient fee based on what you wish to know."
The immortal nodded. "Fair enough. And the second rule?"
"The second rule is that, as a mortal without possessions, I must be paid in advance."
The immortal laughed in disbelief. "You care more about money than your life? Aren't you afraid you might not live to spend it?"
Jiang Bai shrugged. "Rules are rules."
"Fine, I'll abide by your terms. But you'd better be right!" the immortal warned.
"Very well. What would the Immortal like to know?" Jiang Bai asked confidently.
After a moment of thought, the immortal asked, "How much longer is my lifespan?"
"Please pay the fee first, Immortal."
"How much?"
Jiang Bai quickly consulted his system, which revealed:
[System: The fee for this reading is 100,000 spirit stones or an equivalent item of value.]
Surprised at the high price, he hesitated but steeled himself. "The fee is 150,000 spirit stones or an equivalent item."
The immortal stared at him incredulously. "Are you serious?"
Jiang Bai nodded firmly. "Absolutely, fair and honest."
"Very well, I'll pay it. I'm curious to see what you'll come up with." The immortal tossed him a storage ring.
Jiang Bai accepted the ring, stunned. One hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones were a fortune that few could muster at once.
After deducting the system's cut, he'd still have 50,000 for himself—a massive windfall.
"Kid, stop daydreaming and start the reading! This money wasn't given lightly!" the immortal urged impatiently.
Regaining his focus, Jiang Bai commanded, "System, begin the reading!"
Instantly, 100,000 spirit stones vanished from the ring, and a data screen visible only to Jiang Bai appeared above the immortal's head:
[Name: Pao Longtao
Cultivation: Early True Immortal Realm
Lifespan: 13,000 years
Remaining lifespan: 30 years]
Jiang Bai rubbed his eyes in disbelief as the "remaining lifespan" count began to tick down:
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