The morning sun cast a gentle light over the Starfall estate as Lin Feng made his way through the courtyard, his expression calm but his mind racing with anticipation. After consuming the Fire Dragon Fruit, he felt his strength had grown considerably. Now, it was time to use another, more subtle gift of his: identifying those blessed with fortune. Today, he would put that skill to the test outside the estate.
As he approached the family gates, Elder Shui, his protector and an esteemed member of the Family, joined him. She was a powerful 4th Rank water cultivator, respected for her strength and her steady demeanor. Lin Feng nodded politely to her, knowing that her presence would draw less attention as they ventured out. To everyone else, it seemed as if they were simply taking a young master of the family on a routine outing.
"Elder Shui," Lin Feng said in a relaxed tone, "I thought it would be beneficial to explore beyond the family grounds for a change. I've spent so much time training that I haven't had the chance to appreciate our surroundings."
Elder Shui nodded approvingly. "Young Master Lin, a broader perspective often brings wisdom. The world outside can teach us things that mere training cannot."
As they walked through the bustling streets outside the estate, Lin Feng observed the commoners, traders, and minor cultivators around him. He subtly assessed each passerby, searching for anything unusual in their treads of fortune. Most people they passed seemed ordinary; they moved with purpose, but without the spark that marked someone as truly exceptional.
"Tell me, Elder Shui," Lin Feng said, making casual conversation as he continued his quiet observations, "have you traveled beyond our lands?"
Elder Shui smiled slightly. "I have, Young Master. Our continent is but one part of this vast world. The tales I could tell you about the other lands and people..."
Lin Feng's curiosity was piqued. He knew bits and pieces about the world outside, but Elder Shui had experienced it firsthand. "I'd like to hear about them," he replied, genuinely interested.
She glanced at him thoughtfully before speaking. "There are many lands beyond our borders, each with its own mysteries. The Dragon Continent, for example, is a place of fierce power. Its people carry the bloodlines of dragons, and their strength in battle is legendary. Then there's the Phoenix Continent, where fire is worshiped, and the cultivators wield flames as part of their very being, but true dragon and phoenix are sighted rarely"
Lin Feng nodded, already imagining the kind of power such cultivators might wield. "And what of the other lands?"
"Ah, the Elven Continent," she continued, "is a place of ancient forests, ruled by beings who are deeply connected to nature. Their magic is unlike ours—more instinctive and powerful, the water and earth path are majorly cultivated though most revered by elves is wood path which is a rare path. The Dwarven Continent, on the other hand, is a land of mountains, where the dwarves forge weapons of unimaginable strength most of them specialize in earth path and few lucky ones possess metal path. Then, of course, there is the Beast Continent, where the Divine Beast Academy is located. There, cultivators bond with powerful beasts, using them as partners in battle."
Lin Feng took this in thoughtfully. The Divine Beast Academy was known for drawing cultivators from across all these lands. His upcoming entrance to the academy would bring him face-to-face with such people, those from bloodlines and cultures that were vastly different from his own. He could already feel a thrill at the thought of measuring himself against them.
"There are even rumors of undiscovered lands," Elder Shui added, her gaze drifting as if recalling some distant memory. "Oceans that hide kingdoms beneath their depths, where the Triton Clans rule with water-based techniques that rival our own. And other continents, unknown, lying beyond the reach of ordinary travelers."
"A vast world indeed," Lin Feng murmured, feeling a surge of ambition. The Starfall Family was powerful here, but beyond these lands, there was so much more. One day, he would uncover the secrets of these distant realms and perhaps even surpass the legends tied to them.
As they continued through the crowded marketplace, Lin Feng's attention shifted back to his immediate surroundings. He subtly scanned the people around him, searching for anyone who might possess a certain… glow of orange or higher Qi luck strands.
He kept his thoughts to himself, careful not to let Elder Shui notice his observations. She was here merely as his escort, and he wanted to keep his unique ability hidden from everyone, even her.
After some time, Lin Feng's gaze landed on a young man browsing at a stall across the street. The man seemed entirely unremarkable at first glance, with plain clothing and a distracted expression. But Lin Feng sensed something different about him. There was a faint but unmistakable aura around him, something that made Lin Feng take a closer look and what he saw shocked him, a man with red threads of fortune! One has to know even Lin Feng himself had orange fortune before consuming the dragon fire fruit and elevating his fortune to red but this mortal…
Without making his interest obvious, Lin Feng turned slightly to Elder Shui. "That young man over there… seems a bit different, doesn't he?" Lin Feng thought she being a higher level cultivator could decern what this mortal was hiding, perhaps secret bloodline or physique or special weapon?
Elder Shui glanced briefly at the man, her expression thoughtful but unaffected. "Perhaps. But sometimes appearances are deceiving, Young Master. He could be anyone—another villager or a merchant's son."
Lin Feng nodded absently, but he kept his eyes on the man. He didn't have any intention of letting this opportunity slip by. He wanted to understand what was so special about this man for him to be so fortunate.
"Elder Shui, let's follow him for a bit," he said casually, as if it were a mere whim.
Elder Shui looked at him with mild curiosity. "As you wish, Young Master." Although she was higher ranked cultivator her soul had restrictions which were placed by forming a soul contract if she disobeys or try to harm Lin Feng she would die a painful death.
They moved discreetly, keeping a safe distance behind the young man as he made his way out of the market and toward the outskirts of town. Lin Feng remained focused, subtly gauging the energy around his target without revealing his true purpose. As they left the bustle of the town and entered the fringes of a nearby forest, he felt a growing sense of excitement.
The forest was dense, with towering trees that blocked most of the sunlight, casting long shadows over the trail. Lin Feng glanced around, admiring the scenery while remaining alert. Elder Shui, though silent, seemed aware of their surroundings, her gaze sharp and cautious.
The young man stopped briefly in a small clearing, looking around as if searching for something. Lin Feng observed him closely, waiting to see if there was a specific reason for this pause. He had read enough novels and his intuition was screaming at him that there was a life shattering opportunity present there!
"Shall we keep watching him, Young Master?" Elder Shui asked in a low voice, noting Lin Feng's interest.
"Yes," Lin Feng replied softly, his tone unwavering. "Let's see what he does next."
He had no intention of revealing his true thoughts to her. In his mind, he calculated possible outcomes. If this man indeed possessed the kind of fortune he suspected, then Lin Feng would find a way to benefit from it, silently and subtly. There was no need for confrontation, only patience. And if his intuition was wrong, well, there was no harm in watching. Years of doing business in his past life had taught him importance of patience.
As he and Elder Shui waited in the shadow of the trees, Lin Feng's mind wandered briefly to the Divine Beast Academy. Soon, he would be among other young prodigies from powerful clans and distant lands, some of whom were likely blessed by their own forms of luck and fate. He needed every edge he could gather before facing them, and each piece of fortune he claimed would bring him closer to surpassing his brothers and the Starfall Family itself.
For now, though, he would continue observing, blending into the background as a silent hunter.