Lu Chen could already tell that Master Tan was running on fumes.
In such a state, successfully beseeching a blessing was nearly impossible.
If he truly failed…
The Sun family would undoubtedly be pushed to the brink.
Just as the man next to him had said earlier:
In all of Jiang Province, Tan Kun was the best bounty spiritist for blessing and life extension available on the open market.
If even he failed…
Then who else could possibly take on this task?
…
“An opportunity! This is absolutely a heaven-sent opportunity!”
“Lu Chen, it all comes down to whether you dare to gamble.”
At this moment, Lu Chen felt his blood surge in time with his churning emotions.
He had only come to watch the excitement and maybe learn a thing or two.
Who knew that as he watched, things would take such a peculiar turn?
The dignified Longevity Immortal, with a divine communion rate of forty-seven percent, had stumbled at the finish line.
And seeing the man’s current abandoned state, he looked utterly pathetic, like a stray dog cast aside.
For a moment, Lu Chen couldn’t help but sigh with emotion: When all authority rests solely in the hands of a deity, a spiritist is no better than meat on a chopping block. Or, to put it more harshly, like a domesticated pet.
If the master is pleased, you get a few scraps.
If the master is displeased, you’re not even worth a glance.
“The arrangement my brother and I have is far superior—mutual benefit, each providing what the other lacks.”
Lu Chen mused to himself.
“No rush. I’ll wait a little longer. Even if I’m going to gamble, I need to be certain Tan Kun has definitively lost before I make a move!”
Lu Chen took a deep breath and turned his gaze back to the situation inside the hall.
Meanwhile, within the Hall of the Longevity Star.
Following Sun Qingcang’s additional offer of twenty million,
A flicker of emotion crossed Tan Kun’s face. After a moment of silence, he sighed. “For the sake of the Sun family head, I… will try once more!”
The faces of the Sun family members lit up with excited smiles. “Thank you, Master! We are certain you will achieve swift victory!”
Tan Kun nodded. “Head of the Sun family, please step back.”
“Very well!”
The Sun family retreated.
They watched as Tan Kun wiped the sweat from his brow, stretched briefly, and then lit another tall stick of incense.
He began muttering incantations, invoking the heavens and the spirits…
“Qingcang!”
Madam Song gripped her husband’s arm, her face etched with worry.
Sun Qingcang patted his wife’s hand, forcing a thin smile. “It will be alright. Have faith in Master Tan.”
But despite his words, Sun Qingcang felt no confidence whatsoever.
A voice in his heart told him: if success were possible, with Tan Kun’s divine communion rate, it should have happened long ago.
“Dad, look quickly!!”
Just then, a sharp cry came from behind them. Sun Xingwen, the Sun family’s second son, pointed a trembling finger.
Everyone fixed their eyes on the scene.
They saw the tall incense in Tan Kun’s hand suddenly shimmer with a brilliant, colorful aura.
A distinct ripple of magical energy emanated from the surrounding area.
“Did it work?!”
The Sun family collectively rejoiced.
Outside the hall, countless pilgrims witnessed this scene.
A wave of startled exclamations erupted.
“Wow, it worked! He made contact!”
“It seems the twenty million reward really did the trick!”
“I told you Master Tan couldn’t fail. If his communion rate couldn’t even establish a connection, that would be utterly absurd!”
“Exactly! Whether or not a blessing is granted, communicating with His Venerable Self, the Longevity Star, is the bare minimum.”
Seeing this, Lu Chen’s heart immediately sank halfway.
“It seems I underestimated the power of a forty-seven percent communion rate.”
If Tan Kun could establish contact, Lu Chen believed his chances of successfully obtaining a blessing were at least seventy percent.
He’d gotten excited over nothing…
Inside the hall, Tan Kun’s face finally revealed indescribable joy.
“Finally, success! Such a powerful fluctuation of magical energy! With the Longevity Lord’s protection, this matter is as good as done!”
As the radiant display inside the hall grew more intense,
Everyone—Tan Kun, the Sun family members, the pilgrims—
All craned their necks, unable to hide their surprise and eager anticipation.
They quietly awaited the descent of the Longevity Star.
And just when everyone believed good fortune was near, that the great deed was about to be accomplished—
Suddenly!
Without any warning whatsoever.
A single spark of flame erupted within the brilliant aura. In the next instant, like a tiny spark landing on dry cotton, the entire hall’s shimmering aura was instantly set ablaze.
Tan Kun’s eyes flew wide open.
The flames coalesced violently into a fireball that slammed with tremendous force into Tan Kun’s chest.
Ptoo!
Tan Kun immediately spat out a mouthful of blood. His body flew backward like a kite with a severed string.
It all happened so fast, so abruptly.
Before anyone could even react, Tan Kun had crashed heavily at the entrance of the main hall, vomiting several more mouthfuls of blood.
His vital energy was utterly depleted!
“Master!”
Sun Qingcang’s eyes nearly split with rage and desperation. With a swift step, he flashed to Tan Kun’s side.
The faces of the Sun family members drained of all color.
…
Outside the hall,
The pilgrims were utterly silent. Only after a moment did they erupt, like a dormant volcano suddenly springing to life.
“Blessing backlash?!”
“Heavens! How… how is this possible!”
“He suffered a backlash! It’s over! The Old Master Sun is truly finished now!”
…
Yet now, upon seeing Sun Qingcang, Tan Kun reacted as if he’d seen a ghost.
He scrambled backward frantically.
“Stay away from me! Don’t come near me!”
“Master, are you alright?”
“Mind your own business! I’m done with this task! Find someone else, anyone! I quit! I quit!!”
Tan Kun stammered incoherently as he staggered to his feet, then fled as if possessed.
Everyone saw his entire body looking scorched, as if licked by flames. Gone was the previous image of an exalted master; he was now utterly wretched and disheveled.
“Out of my way!”
Tan Kun shoved through the crowd and sprinted away, disappearing from the Hall of the Longevity Star in moments.
…
“It’s over. It’s truly over now.”
Inside the hall, Sun Qingcang felt dizzy and disoriented, nearly collapsing on the spot.
“Dad!”
“Master!”
Fortunately, the quick reflexes of the Sun family members behind him caught him.
He was spared from falling to the ground.
“Dad, please pull yourself together.”
Sun Yourong supported her father, a thin film of moisture clouding her eyes at some unknown point.
Tan Kun’s departure didn’t just mean they could never find a better bounty spiritist.
More critically, the prior blessing backlash had sent the most hopeless signal possible.
Her grandfather was fated not to receive the Longevity Star’s blessing.
Zhao Zhihong quickly urged, “Quickly, help Chairman Sun sit down.”
Several people guided Sun Qingcang to a chair.
The moment he sat down, Sun Qingcang slapped his thighs heavily, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face. “Father, your son is useless! I am useless!”
The sight filled the Sun family members with grief, their faces full of sorrow as they covered their faces and began to weep softly.
Many pilgrims outside the hall were also visibly moved.
It just goes to show: in the face of life and death, all mortals truly are equal.
“Hey, handsome, where are you going? You’re leaving just like that?”
At that moment, the pilgrim from earlier noticed Lu Chen suddenly turn and run without a backward glance, a look of surprise on his face.
The real drama was just beginning—how could he leave now?
Little did he know, Lu Chen was currently scanning his surroundings intently, searching for a deity registry plaque.
“The deity registry map shouldn’t only be in the main temple hall. A main hall like this should have one too. Where is it?”
After a quick sweep of the area, Lu Chen spotted it.
He dashed forward and began searching the deity registry map for two specific deities: Ma Gu and Yanshou Siming, the Arbiter of Extended Lifespan.
As for the South Pole Emperor of Long Life—he could forget about that.
A temple in a prefecture-level city like Jiangdu would never be permitted to enshrine a deity of such exalted rank as one of the Six August Ones.
Even the provincial capital of Jiang—Qianjiang City!
Was equally unworthy of housing the Three Pure Ones and the Six August Ones!
