In reality, the fact that the world is a planet was not particularly surprising to Wang Sheng. He had observed it before and had long anticipated it.
However, the idea that Stargazing Skill came without any cost puzzled him greatly.
“Mr. Yue, does the Stargazing Skill really come with no cost? Won’t it cause chaos?”
If the Stargazing Skill bore no cost, unless Stargazing Valley was invincible, it certainly couldn’t protect its legacy.
An artifact that can be used to both seek advantages and avoid harm without any cost is definitely something all the powers of the world would desire.
“Indeed, the Stargazing Skill carries no cost, but it requires extremely stringent qualifications for cultivation, and only the legacy of Stargazing Valley can identify those with such qualifications.
Moreover, each generation’s Master of Destiny visits Stargazing Valley, but eventually, each Master of Destiny leaves without pursuing further, which has become a publicly known secret. The same is true for the Border Army’s powers, where the Master of Destiny also visits but ultimately leaves having taken no action.”
Mr. Yue slowly explained the situation.
The mysterious influence of the Stargazing Skill and the Border Army certainly drew the attention of the nation’s ruling Master of Destiny.
Yet, generation after generation, Stargazing Valley and the Border Army remained unchanged.
“These things are actually public knowledge among some forces; if even the Master of Destiny can do nothing, other powers naturally won’t interfere.”
Logically, if the strongest person in the country did not act, other powers appeared sensible too.
Moreover, each generation of Stargazing Valley has its Great Grandmasters, with thousands of years of legacy; who knows how many trump cards are hidden? One misstep and it could lead to their own destruction.
Seeing Mr. Yue’s puzzled expression about paying a cost, Wang Sheng did not inquire further.
But the Stargazing Skill once again left a deep impression on him.
Every time he inquired about the Stargazing Skill, he would receive different information, and each time, the information made the skill seem more eerie.
Truly, it’s a power that has been passed down for thousands of years.
The ability to predict and foresee without any cost seemed normal to Stargazing Valley, but to Wang Sheng, this ability was terrifying.
To steal the Heavenly Secret without paying anything in return, not even making a sacrificial gesture.
If truly utilized, it would be extremely fearsome.
He thought about Mr. Yue’s peer, Star.
With such an ability, Star was not really searching for the Heir of Destiny, but perhaps creating the Heir of Destiny instead?
With Star’s assistance, most people could smoothly sail through life, avoiding dangers and turning misfortunes into blessings.
This is the very treatment of an Heir of Destiny.
And in a world where fate is intertwined with destiny, even though Wang Sheng did not believe in destiny, he was certain that a Child of Destiny existed.
Destiny and fate are similar yet distinct.
The term “destiny” could be quite cruel.
Wang Sheng thought the Child of Destiny seemed more like those who obtained more help just by walking the path of righteousness, such as Mo Yang whom he met while slaying the Evil Flood Dragon.
When they parted, that peculiar scene, after meeting Mr. Yue, he believed it was fate.
Yet, it was uncertain whether Star found the Heir of Destiny or a Child of Destiny.
If it were a Child of Destiny, how could Star be sure that he himself was not influenced by destiny?
Just like Wang Sheng, he was not sure if he had helped Mo Yang turn a misfortune into a blessing.
“If that’s the case, then it’s quite interesting!”
“What’s interesting, Lord Wang Sheng?”
“It’s nothing. I was just thinking about your Stargazing Valley’s Stargazing Skill,” Wang Sheng did not elaborate.
But he was indeed contemplating the Stargazing Skill.
An abnormal occurrence must have an underlying reason.
A powerful ability such as the Stargazing Skill allegedly had no cost.
Whether his thoughts did not conform to the norms of this world, or if the Stargazing Skill was inherently like that.
Perhaps, only when he became powerful enough would he know the true reason; as long as he was strong enough, there were no secrets in the world, a saying applicable even in a non-cultivation world.
Wang Sheng did not speak further, and Mr. Yue would not inquire.
Soon, Wang Sheng rose and left.
He had come to chat with Mr. Yue this time; after all, Mr. Yue’s insights were much broader than his own, and conversing with such a person held no disadvantages at all, providing a chance to broaden his horizons.
After leaving there, Wang Sheng again immersed himself in daily cultivation.
It was not long into winter when Shuzhou experienced snowfall. Overnight, the landscapes were cloaked in silver, the hills turned hoary.
This snowfall was not as abnormal as the last one that triggered the Martial Artist’s plague; it was a normal snowfall, not heavy, and if it did not snow further, it might melt by tomorrow.
However, enough to excite the children in the fort.
Snow was uncommon in Shuzhou.
The next occurrence would excite people for a long time.
“Auspicious snow promises a bountiful year; next year will surely be a good one.”
Scholar Jiang was teaching the children, aware that most of them would not participate in the imperial examinations; thus, he preferred to teach through enjoyment.
Rather than book knowledge, he enjoyed showing these children the world.
The children did not understand why “Auspicious snow promises a bountiful year,” but they remembered this lesson amid the snow.
“I found a patch of Snowdrops; this is the Spiritual Medicine Mr. Yue mentioned. It can aid in cultivation and might be exchanged for some resources.”
This came from a Martial Artist who had returned from hunting.
New Year was approaching, and they had gone to the mountains to prepare the seasonal goods.
Though it was winter, the mountain’s resources were still plentiful, occasionally yielding some Spiritual Medicines.
However, they did not use these medicines themselves; generally, they submitted them to the fort in exchange for Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Pills.