Chapter 245

Chapter 245.

"If you're not interested in men, how about women?" Bai Chengfeng said with a grin, pulling out another set of portraits.

Ye Shi looked at Bai Chengfeng with a conflicted expression.

Surely this was a jest at his expense? The top picture among the Bai family's young men was Bai Yi, while among the young women, it shockingly was Bai Jinle.

In the past half-year, during his travels, he had encountered Bai Jinle multiple times. Just like Bai Yi, she looked down on him.

"Pauper, hick, miser, coward..." Bai Jinle's gaze always held disdain, treating him like an insignificant bug. And Bai Chengfeng actually wanted to introduce such a woman to him.

Ye Shi frowned and replied, "Senior, I'm not interested in women either."

Bai Chengfeng blinked, saying, "Like father, like son. Your father wasn't interested in women nor men. I once thought he'd have no offspring, but then out pops a son like you."

Ye Shi: "..."

"Wouldn't you reconsider? She used to be your father's foster daughter. Exceptional among the younger generation of the Bai family, and quite beautiful," Bai Chengfeng suggested, wearing a broad grin.

Ye Shi sneered, "Such a distinguished lady from the Bai family isn't suited for a hick like me. Perhaps you, senior, would be a better match."

Bai Chengfeng's eyes twinkled, "Ah, you're so much like your father. When I tried matchmaking for him, he'd always push them onto me. Even though I know I'm charming, I really don't need that many wives."

Ye Shi clenched his fists, saying, "Senior, please refrain from meddling in my affairs."

Bai Chengfeng shrugged, "Alright then, nephew. How did you merge with the formation? Any tricks to share?"

"Just learn it," Ye Shi replied matter-of-factly.

"Just learn it?" Bai Chengfeng gazed at Ye Shi with a contorted expression.

Ye Shi furrowed his brow. His experience learning to merge with the formation was smooth, as if the technique was tailor-made for him. It was only after arriving in the Central Continent that he realized its danger and difficulty.

Perhaps the secret was his physique, honed much more than the average martial emperor.

Ye Shi had once shown the Body Refinement Technique to Bai Chenxing, who commented on its rarity and value, advising Ye Shi to safeguard it.

Ye Shi nodded, saying, "Yes, I just learned it."

Bai Chengfeng looked at Ye Shi with envy, thinking: The Bai family gains another prodigy. Bai Chenxing is so fortunate. Both father and son are so gifted.

"Where's your father?" Bai Chengfeng inquired.

"He mentioned visiting the Divine Prediction Pavilion. He must be there," replied Ye Shi.

"Divine Prediction Pavilion?" A look of puzzlement crossed Bai Chengfeng's face.

Ye Shi, noticing Bai Chengfeng's curious expression, asked, "Is something amiss?"

Bai Chengfeng shrugged, "It's just unexpected. Your father never believed in fate and considered diviners to be charlatans. It's quite surprising he'd visit the Divine Prediction Pavilion."

"I see," murmured Ye Shi.

...

Divine Prediction Pavilion.

Bai Chenxing, with hands behind his back, stood before Huntian and coldly asked, "Well?"

Bai Chenxing had always held a disdain for Huntian, thinking him a fraud. Yet, he never imagined he'd one day seek his counsel.

"The Spirit Clan is an extraordinary lineage. The young master's bloodline is unique, preventing me from predicting his destiny," Huntian replied indifferently.

Bai Chenxing's eyebrows knit together in skepticism, "So you're saying you know nothing?"

Huntian shook his head, his eyes hinting at mischief, "Calm down, young master. In fact, I've found something intriguing."

"Speak." Bai Chenxing said with a hint of impatience.

"The birth characters of the young master and those previously brought by Bai Yi are in direct conflict." Excitement painted Huntime's face.

Bai Chenxing's eyes narrowed suddenly, "What do you mean?"

"There are many in this world who conflict with each other, some mildly, some severely. But I've never seen two destinies clash to such an extreme. It's a matter of life and death between them," Huntime said with intense fervor.

Some alchemists go mad when they produce the ultimate elixir; some symbol crafters go mad when they create special seals. Similarly, some fate-seers become frenzied when they come across unique destinies. Huntime was in the throes of such madness.

"Is Zhuang Yu countering my son?" Bai Chenxing looked down, his eyes filled with chilling intent. "Between the two, whose fate is stronger?"

Huntime smiled leisurely, "I believe young master Bai Yi went to the outer regions after hearing about the birth of the Child of Destiny, right?"

Bai Chenxing nodded, "Correct."

"The so-called Child of Destiny, blessed by heaven and earth, finds smooth sailing in cultivation. Throughout their growth, countless adventures accompany them. Those close to the Child of Destiny can reap immense benefits."

Not only the Bai family heard about the Child of Destiny. Yet, being the first to access the outer regions, Bai Yi acted swiftly. Before other clans could react, he had already brought Zhuang Yu home, garnering attention from all.

Although Bai Chenxing didn't entirely believe the rumors about the Child of Destiny, he still acquiesced to the elders' wishes, doing a favor for Zhuang Yu and placing him in the Bai family's debt.

With hands behind his back, Bai Chenxing remarked, "I've heard of the tales of the Child of Destiny, but it seems..." He left the sentence hanging.

"However," Huntime squinted, "I believe the elder must've noticed that while Zhuang Yu has potential, he doesn't possess the legendary destiny that defies the heavens. His achievements are too ordinary."

Bai Chenxing nodded in agreement, "True."

Zhuang Yu is decent, but just that. Many in the Bai family surpass him in talent.

Due to Zhuang Yu's mundane performance, those who previously competed with Bai Yi for him have faded away.

Many in the Bai family doubt if Bai Yi identified the right Child of Destiny. Other clans probably harbor the same suspicions.

"Between the young master and Zhuang Yu, Zhuang Yu's destiny is stronger. The name 'Child of Destiny' isn't for naught," a peculiar smirk formed on Huntime's face.

Bai Chenxing frowned, unconsciously clenching his fist.

Huntime, with a hint of madness in his eyes, whispered, "Elder Bai, did you know? By all rights, the young master should have been dominated by Zhuang Yu. Those who oppose the Child of Destiny usually meet... a tragic end."

Bai Chenxing's resentment bubbled as he stared at Huntime's smirking face, hating these fateful seers and their cryptic ramblings.

"Yet, he's alive. Thriving even," Bai Chenxing remarked coldly.

"Indeed," Huntime nodded, "The young master shines brighter, even more so than Zhuang Yu."

"I've always doubted if Bai Yi identified the right Child of Destiny. Now I realize he wasn't wrong. Someone just altered the young master's fate. Opposing destinies can also compete for blessings."

"The young master took Zhuang Yu's blessings, hence the latter's mediocre performance. Originally, the young master shouldn't have been a match for Zhuang Yu."

Huntime's gaze intensified, "Bai Chenxing, the young master's mother hails from the Spirit clan. But his cultivation talent is lacking, right?"

With a heavy expression, Bai Chenxing nodded, "Indeed."

"The heavens are fair. They wouldn't favor someone excessively. While talented individuals from the Spirit clan can't perceive fate, those less gifted often can foresee and even defy it. The Spirit clan's most promising gift to alter destiny belongs to twin descendants."

Bai Chenxing's grip tightened instinctively.

Huntime's eyes gleamed, "I wonder, what would happen if the young master's blessings weren't sufficient? The Fate clan excels in bloodline camouflage. Their blood can absorb others'. The young master's blood, after all, can unlock the Bai family's ancestral texts."

Bai Chenxing's blood boiled under Huntime's scrutinizing gaze.

Bai Chenxing abruptly stood up. What if Ye Shi was killed by Zhuang Yuke, and his blood merged with Zhuang Yuke's?

Would he accept Zhuang Yu as his true son?

Yes, just as he currently wishes to give Ye Shi everything. If he mistakenly recognized Zhuang Yu as his own, he'd undoubtedly leave everything to him.

With squinted eyes and a radiant smile, Huntime mused, "If 'that person' truly saw their fate as I suspect, what did they witness? Defying destiny comes at a great cost. Even if Spirit clan members possess this ability, they wouldn't use it recklessly. What did they see that compelled them to use such power?"

Bai Chenxing's face paled. Had Ye Shi's mother foreseen his son's doom at Zhuang Yu's hands and him mistakenly accepting Zhuang Yu as his true son?

"Enough." Overwhelmed, Bai Chenxing stormed out.

Watching Bai Chenxing's retreating figure, Huntime's expression was devilishly playful.

"He left in quite a hurry," Huntime mused, thinking about the consequences of defying fate. He'd heard Ye Shi's father had passed away, perhaps as retribution.

Bai Chenxing, a man who never believed in destiny, was doomed to be toyed with by fate.

Bai Chenxing walked the streets, the biting wind whipping across his taut face.

Huntuo, that madman, always spouting nonsense. He shouldn't have sought him out.

"It's fake, it's fake." Though he kept denying it internally, Bai Chenxing had a growing suspicion that his hunch might be close to the truth.

If everything is as Huntuo described, what changed it all?

Bai Chenxing clenched his fists, suddenly thinking of someone—Mu Chen.