A human cultivator suddenly appearing on Black Wind Mountain was quite a rare event for Mo Fan.
Ever since the two great human factions in the Southern Border fell, human cultivators had fled in panic, none daring to venture deep into the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
“Interesting! Why would a human cultivator come here at this time? Could it be a greedy demon hunter?” Mo Fan asked curiously, thinking only a reckless demon hunter would risk such a venture for profit.
Inwardly, he sneered, “This fool dares to hunt demons on my Black Wind Mountain? Truly seeking death!”
“Not like a demon hunter. At least, I’ve never seen one show up on their own,” White Yao Yao replied, shaking her head with a strange expression.
“Show up on their own?” Mo Fan’s curiosity deepened at her words.
After White Yao Yao’s explanation, Mo Fan understood why her expression was so odd.
The human cultivator hadn’t come to Black Wind Mountain intentionally. Influenced by her Demon-Shaking Drum, he had wandered here in a daze alongside the wild beasts.
Mo Fan couldn’t help but chuckle, asking, “Where is he now?”
“He’s locked up in the prison cell at the mountain’s peak,” White Yao Yao answered. “He’s different from the human cultivators I’ve encountered before, so I thought you should see him yourself.”
“Bring him here,” Mo Fan nodded. White Yao Yao promptly instructed Scream, who was nearby, to fetch the prisoner.
Soon, a slender cultivator in plain robes was dragged before Mo Fan by several lesser demons, bound in chains.
Mo Fan looked at the cultivator, whose dishevelled hair obscured his face, head hanging low.
Yet, Mo Fan sensed the spiritual energy fluctuations from him, confirming he was indeed a cultivator.
“Human cultivator, raise your head. Let this king take a good look at you!” Mo Fan commanded, startling the cultivator, who shakily lifted his head to face him.
Beneath the tangled hair, a pair of fear-filled eyes met Mo Fan’s gaze.
“Spare me, Demon King! Spare me!” the cultivator cried out, causing Mo Fan to frown. With a swift kick, he knocked the man to the ground, snapping, “Who are you? Why did you sneak into my Black Wind Mountain? Speak truthfully, or I’ll have you skinned, disembowelled, and thrown into a boiling pot!”
Fang Ru, curious, observed the cultivator. She considered pleading for him but held back. Though Mo Fan had appointed her head of the Demon Academy, she hadn’t yet begun teaching and had no achievements to justify interceding.
“Spare me, Demon King! I’m You Er, from Green Ox Town. I make a living as a fortune-teller and geomancer. I accidentally offended a powerful cultivator and was chased here, stumbling into your territory! Even with ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare come here knowing a mighty, dashing Demon King like you rules!” You Er said, his face full of distress.
Mo Fan’s eyes narrowed, a grin spreading across his face. “Well, damn, you’re the first to call this king dashing! That silver tongue of yours must be well-practised, but I bet there’s not a shred of truth in it! Take him away, strip his clothes, wash him, and toss him into the oil pot!”
“What?!” You Er paled, never expecting this Demon King to be so ruthless, ready to cook him over a single disagreement.
As the lesser demons approached, You Er panicked, shouting, “Spare me, Demon King Grandpa! Give me one more chance!”
“Oh? So you admit you were lying to this king?” Mo Fan’s lips curled, his gaze locked onto You Er’s eyes.
“I… I did lie…” You Er stammered under Mo Fan’s intense stare, feeling uneasy.
“Look into my eyes!” Mo Fan suddenly commanded. You Er instinctively obeyed, and a flash of red light passed, leaving him dazed.
“What’s your name?” Mo Fan asked.
“You Er.”
“Where’s your master from, and why did you come to my Black Wind Mountain?” Mo Fan pressed.
“My master is from the Divine Domain… I came to this mountain range guided by the Destiny Compass…” You Er confessed fully under the enchantment, astonishing Mo Fan.
The most surprising revelation was that this man came from the Divine Domain!
Mo Fan had only heard tales of the Divine Domain, a continent far beyond the Three Sacred Islands, where humans truly thrived.
To travel from the Divine Domain to the Hundred Thousand Mountains required crossing vast seas. That a mere late-stage Qi Refining cultivator like You Er had made such a journey left Mo Fan incredulous.
Moreover, the so-called Destiny Compass sounded extraordinary.
“What is the Destiny Compass?” Mo Fan asked.
“It’s my family’s heirloom, used to divine fortune and misfortune, one reading per day,” You Er replied.
This was the answer Mo Fan gleaned. When he tried to probe further, You Er broke free of the enchantment, exclaiming, “What did you do to me?!”
“Relax, I’ve done what needed doing, and maybe a bit more,” Mo Fan teased, winking.
“You…!” You Er’s heart sank, overwhelmed with regret and despair.
Mo Fan grinned, saying, “You can divine fortune, right? How about a reading for me?”
After a long silence, You Er nodded reluctantly, gritting his teeth. “As long as you don’t kill me, I’ll do anything!”
“Then begin. Tell me how this king’s fortune looks in the coming days,” Mo Fan said, grinning. The demons, intrigued, turned to You Er.
From Mo Fan’s earlier enchantment, they had learned this Taoist could divine fortune and misfortune, a seemingly miraculous skill they were eager to witness.
With no choice, You Er nodded, touching his forehead. A faint glow emanated, and a palm-sized golden compass appeared in his hand.
“Is this the Destiny Compass?” Mo Fan asked, curious.
“Yes, this is it,” You Er confirmed, glancing at Mo Fan before adding, “This is my family’s treasure, usable only by those of You family blood.”
Mo Fan smirked, eyeing You Er. “What, worried I’ll steal it? Rest assured, this king has no interest in your compass! Besides, I don’t believe a mere compass can divine fate! If you can give me an accurate reading, I’ll let you go,” Mo Fan said, grinning.
“Really?!” You Er’s heart leapt with hope.
“Of course. This king’s word is final, no jesting!” Mo Fan replied, smiling, and urged You Er to proceed.
…
