Chapter 321: The Ninth Live Broadcast

"According to you, there are no accidents in this world, only inevitabilities? Everything is predestined from birth, and a person's Fate Pattern determines everything?" I did not agree with the Underworld Live Show Examiner. Just as heaven is ever-vigorous, a gentleman must continuously strive for self-improvement; surely anything could be changed through one's own efforts.

"A Fate Pattern cannot be changed, but destiny is erratic and elusive, like a spiritual deer in a mountain ravine. No matter how minuscule the encounter, it will inevitably affect future fortunes. Once karma is established, it will never disappear." The examiner answered patiently, full of sincerity. "Just like that woman you met at the Anxin Hotel. With the Red Phoenix Heavenly Jubilee, she was destined to be extraordinary from birth. Even if she couldn't become the empress of a dynasty and mother of the nation, she could still live a happy life if she married into an ordinary family. But you saw her end. When the Red Luan met the tribulation fiend, she suffered a terrible calamity. It makes one sigh with pity. From this, you can see that a Fate Pattern cannot determine the future."

"Since a Fate Pattern cannot change the future, then why are you gathering the Fate Patterns of all living beings? And why is Lu Xing so determined to defy the heavens and change his fate?" The examiner's answer to my first question only brought up more doubts.

"What I tell you is not necessarily the answer. What you see with your own eyes, hear with your own ears, and touch with your own hands—that is the true answer. Go back. I have already answered your first question."

The examiner urged me to leave, but I was in no rush to go. I was still useful to the Underworld Live Show; they wouldn't hurt me right now. It was rare to enter Room 444, so I needed to gather as much useful information as possible.

"Is the newly unlocked Ledger of Merit related to Fate Patterns? Also, I've heard people say that my fate physiognomy is completely blurred, with its corresponding stars in the sky impossible to see. Could it be that my own Fate Pattern is also extremely special? Is that how I was able to contend with the Eight Characters Divine Fiends?"

"Ordinary people cannot see your Fate Pattern clearly because the path you walk is not the righteous path of the Yang Realm. Your Fate Pattern has been influenced by a Fate Usurper," the examiner sitting on the right said.

"A Fate Usurper?" I recalled the Octagonal Tokens in Lu Xing and his companions' hands that represented their identities. Both the front and back of the tokens were engraved with the words 'usurping fate'. "Could you explain in detail?"

That examiner rarely spoke, but he didn't refuse me this time. "The path of destiny calculation is all-encompassing. If one acts in accordance with the heavens, it branches into several major categories: Taiyi divine numerology, mystical gates divination, Six Ren divine divination, Jing Fang divination, and Ziping eight characters, which belong to the study of the heavenly stems and earthly branches; the Guolao astrological sect, the seven luminaries and four secondary bodies, Purple Star Astrology, plum blossom numerology, and Western astrology, which belong to stellar-enclosure astronomy; and the Book of Changes, which belongs to the natural cycles of Yi studies. These schools of thought all share one commonality—they comply with the mandate of heaven. Based on a person's birth date, the solar terms, weather phenomena, and all natural and unnatural features surrounding their life, they deduce a person's character traits and various fortunes to pursue good luck and avoid disaster."

"However, there are also some special destiny practitioners. They act against the heavens, playing a game of chess against the heavens to alter heaven-ordained Fate Patterns, stealing the stars and swapping the sun. This category of people is known as Fate Usurpers."

The examiner's words set me pondering. "Acting against the heavens... From the looks of it, the Two-Faced Buddha must be one of these Fate Usurpers. Every disciple under his command possesses extraordinary skills, so just how terrifying must he be himself?"

Although Lu Xing and the others were my enemies, objectively speaking, whether it was Qiu Ren, the twin brothers, or that black magician, their strength was formidable.

That examiner wanted to say something else, but the examiner in the middle stopped him. Even through the Paper Doll Mask, I could feel the chilling intent radiating from him.

I had benefited greatly from this trip, so I decided to quit while I was ahead. After checking my belongings, I hurriedly left.

Leaving Room 444, I stood alone in the corridor. I paused for a moment when passing Room 443, reaching out to grip the crumpled ball of paper in my pocket. "This corridor stretches on endlessly, and who knows how many underground floors there are in total. If every room contains someone wearing a Paper Doll Mask..."

I shivered. I didn't dare to think any further, but compared to the first time I came in, I was much braver now. I quietly opened the Underworld Live Show Phone's camera function and recorded a sweep of the corridor. After finding nothing strange, I took out my own phone and snapped two photos of Room 443. At the very least, it would serve as some sort of explanation for Xia Qingzhi.

Without staying any longer, I headed straight up. After walking out of the old house, I walked straight along a certain street on No-Lights Road. About thirty minutes later, I found my way out. "This place is hard to get into, but getting out is surprisingly easy."

The ninth live broadcast had been postponed to eight o'clock tomorrow night. I wasn't in a hurry to return to Ting Tang Road, so I took a taxi to the place where Old Liu lived.

A pale yellow light shone from the dilapidated single-story house. I knocked and entered, finding Blind Liu alone in the room, flipping through a Taoist scripture.

"Where's Mr. Gu?"

"Gu is dark and evil; it requires the essence of the moon for refinement. He went out for Raising Gu." Blind Liu put down his Taoist book, his tone a bit helpless. "Speak, what are you doing running over here again in the middle of the night?"

I turned around and closed the door. "Old Liu, I got some intelligence today regarding the person behind Lu Xing. That Two-Faced Buddha is very likely a Fate Usurper."

"A Fate Usurper?" Blind Liu's expression instantly turned serious. "Don't talk nonsense. The moment the words 'usurping fate' leave your mouth, you'll suffer bad luck and offend the heavens."

Hearing him say that, I became even more curious. "Old Liu, exactly how terrifying is a Fate Usurper? If I were to face off against the Two-Faced Buddha right now, what are my chances of winning?"

"You facing off against him? Stop joking. A Fate Usurper acknowledges only one enemy in their entire life, and that is the heavens. No one else is even worth their notice." Blind Liu shook his head. "First Destiny, Second Luck, Third Feng Shui. This path of destiny calculation is the hardest to cultivate, but once mastered, it is the most terrifying."

"What do you mean?" I humbly asked for advice; these things could very well save my life at a critical moment.

"With the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, along with the sun, moon, and stars as the board, and all living beings as the pieces, each tangled strand of karma acts as the grid lines, turning the entire universe into a boundless chess game. You and I are both pieces, our fates sealed at birth. We move along the grid lines, and no matter how far we go, we are ultimately still within the game." Blind Liu closed the Taoist scripture with a sigh. "In the eyes of the heavens, we are actually no different from ants. But Fate Usurpers are different. After defying the heavens and changing their fate, they replace their identity as a chess piece and leap up to become players, playing chess against the heavens. Even if their body dies and the Dao dissolves, they are no longer pieces within the game."

Blind Liu's evaluation of Fate Usurpers was extremely high. I committed his words to memory. "Old Liu, I have one more thing to ask you. I wonder what use this merit actually has? Previously, my body was riddled with countless hidden ailments, and I even had a mark of violent death on the bridge of my nose. But after stopping Lu Xing's conspiracy and saving Jiangcheng, all these symptoms disappeared. I just inexplicably recovered."

"I'm not too clear about things like merit either. We focus on cultivating and comprehending the Dao, experiencing the mortal realm, not being deluded by external things, not rejoicing in material gains, and not grieving over personal losses. Regarding merit, you might gain something if you ask a Buddhist practitioner."

Bidding farewell to Blind Liu, I took a taxi back to the Adult Shop. Along the way, I kept pondering about Fate Usurpers and merit.

'The Two-Faced Buddha is neither a monk nor a Taoist priest; in reality, he cultivates both paths. This can be seen from the Eight Characters Divine Fiends and the Eight Consciousnesses of Buddhism. This person's Taoist arts are profound, and his Buddhist dharma is likely even higher than his Taoist arts. He will truly be difficult to deal with.'

Returning to Ting Tang Road, I bought some meat and liquor from a night market stall and brought it back to the small shop, where Bai Qi and I gorged ourselves.

It wasn't until late at night that I hugged Bai Qi and went to sleep. Thinking about it carefully, it had been a long time since I slept so soundly.

...

Undisturbed the next day, I quietly cultivated the Profound Truth Mental Method in the room to heal my body. When it was time to eat, I took Bai Qi out for a massive meal.

The leisurely time passed quickly. The sun set, and the veil of night enveloped the world.

Inside the pitch-black Adult Shop, the sound of my heartbeat mingled with the ticking of the clock.

"It's eight o'clock."

A pale white light emanated from the phone screen. Without thinking much, I picked up the phone and answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Hello, I'd like to consult you about some problems." A middle-aged woman's voice came from the receiver. It wasn't eerie; it was very calm. "My son's voice is always echoing in my ears, crying, 'I want Mom, I want Mom.' Sometimes I'll just be sitting at home perfectly fine, and suddenly I'll go open the door and look outside. I feel like my son might be calling for me! My son's crying, terrified face also keeps appearing in my dreams."

"Is your son missing?" I guessed based on her words.

There was no answer from the other end of the line for a long time; it seemed she was deep in thought. "No, I just can't tell what's real anymore. Right now, there are a lot of children standing next to my bed..."