Since the incident where Zhao Jiudou intercepted the harvest last time, Meng Zhang ordered the external affairs Hall Master Li Xuan of the sect to search for other Shang Families outside and sell various mineral products of the Taiyi Sect. Meng Zhang’s intention was twofold: first, to express dissatisfaction with the Earthfire Sect and give them a warning, and second, to diversify and reduce the reliance on the Earthfire Sect by not putting all their eggs in one basket.
Li Xuan’s work was quite effective, and after many years of effort, they managed to find alternative buyers for at least half of Taiyi Sect’s mineral products.
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Meng Zhang’s intentions were clear: he was willing to suffer some losses in terms of price and sell fewer spirit stones if it meant preventing the Earthfire Sect from controlling Taiyi Sect’s shipping channels. Judging from Shangguan Wen’s reaction, Taiyi Sect’s approach was successful.
Regardless of whether Shangguan Wen’s previous words were complaints or warnings, Meng Zhang was not afraid of him. Although the Earthfire Sect held great power in the Firewell Market and was nominally the master, the market’s success was built on a relatively fair business environment, which was the result of the joint efforts of various Shang Families. If the Earthfire Sect wanted to bully others and engage in unfair trade practices, not only would the other Shang Families oppose them, but even the Flying Swan Sect would not tolerate it.
In essence, the Earthfire Sect was too arrogant and looked down on Taiyi Sect. Otherwise, when Meng Zhang actively sought help, if Shangguan Wen had even a little sincerity, he could have saved face and improved the relationship with Taiyi Sect.
After leaving Shangguan Wen’s place, the clever Yang Xueyi also noticed that the Earthfire Sect’s attitude was not right. Understanding the situation, she said to Meng Zhang, "Sect Master, since Earthfire Sect is unwilling to help, let’s just go back. It’s not urgent to buy the Second Rank magic tool. I’ll spend more time practicing some spells, and it won’t affect our combat strength."
Yang Xueyi’s sensible words actually aroused Meng Zhang’s competitive spirit. He replied, "You don’t need to say more about this matter. Since I promised you to help you get a suitable Second Rank magic tool, I won’t go back on my word."
Meng Zhang believed in keeping promises just as he wouldn’t eat pork with hair after leaving Zhang the Butcher’s place. Even though they couldn’t buy a suitable Second Rank magic tool from the Earthfire Sect, Meng Zhang had other ways to handle the situation.
Instead of rushing back, Meng Zhang and Yang Xueyi stayed in the market and found an inn to rest. They chose a secluded small courtyard to stay in.
After returning to his room, Meng Zhang calmed his mind and adjusted his breathing, clearing his thoughts. He then focused and initiated the Grand Evolving Fortune technique.
Countless calculation tallies flew out from Meng Zhang’s body, gathering into a circle in front of him. These calculation tallies appeared vague and ethereal, impossible to touch by an outsider’s hand.
Meng Zhang held both hands up in front of him and kept moving his ten fingers, chanting indistinct words. The previously calm surroundings seemed to stir on their own, disrupting the airflow in the room.
Soon, the room was filled with an ancient and mysterious atmosphere. Invisible gusts of wind flowed through the room.
In his consciousness, Meng Zhang repeatedly calculated his target, and one calculation tally after another disappeared. Since he started learning the Grand Evolving Fortune technique, he had been accumulating calculation tallies, rarely taking a break, and adding one tally almost every day.
Until now, Meng Zhang has accumulated over four hundred calculation tallies. It’s just a mere Second Rank magic tool he’s trying to deduce, so these calculation tallies should be enough.
The rate at which the calculation tallies are disappearing is very fast; in a short while, about half of them vanished. Meng Zhang’s expression is not good because the consumption of the calculation tallies is too rapid.
He worries that if the calculation tallies are depleted before yielding results, he might end up exhausting his life. Thankfully, the worst-case scenario he fears has not occurred.
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After consuming over three hundred calculation tallies, Meng Zhang finally obtains the Calculated result. A rough piece of information appears in his mind: In ten days, two thousand miles east of the Firewell Market, the thing he desires will appear.
The information is not precise and lacks specific details, but Meng Zhang is already satisfied. This is the result of using the art of celestial calculation; at his current level, obtaining definite information regarding Second Rank items is impossible.
In fact, even if he had received vague, enigmatic information, he would have been very pleased. Meng Zhang is not yet aware of the seemingly inconspicuous "Grand Evolving Fortune" and its significance and miraculous effects in the world of Diviners.
With the specific time and a rough location, Meng Zhang considers this Calculated session a success. Early the next day, he summons Yang Xueyi to accompany him in traveling to the Calculated location.
Though the result indicated it would take ten days, arriving early and making preparations is not a bad idea.
Yang Xueyi, who always obeys the Sect Master, doesn’t question much and follows Meng Zhang directly.
In less than a day, the two of them reach the destination. The result of the Calculated session only provided a broad area: two thousand miles east of the Firewell Market, which is an immensely vast region.
Meng Zhang doesn’t rush to land but, instead, leads Yang Xueyi to ride a Red Feathered Falcon, thoroughly surveying the surroundings.
The terrain below is an endless desert with nothing remarkable. During this process, Meng Zhang frequently activates his Deception Breaking Eye to carefully observe the surroundings but doesn’t find anything abnormal.
It seems that the time hasn’t come yet, and the thing he desires hasn’t appeared.
After a day of traveling, Meng Zhang and Yang Xueyi find a sand dune to land on, clear a space, and begin to meditate and recover.
The next day, Meng Zhang takes Yang Xueyi again, mounts the Red Feathered Falcon, and takes to the sky, circling the area.
This routine continues, flying high during the day and resting in a designated place at night.
On the third day, Yang Xueyi finally couldn’t help but ask, "Sect Master, are we searching for something? We’ve been circling around in the sky like this, exploring the entire area, but still haven’t found our target."
Meng Zhang smiles mysteriously. "Don’t ask too much for now. The time hasn’t come, that’s all. When the time comes, you’ll understand everything."
Meng Zhang hasn’t revealed the Calculated result to Yang Xueyi, nor has he informed him that he has become a Diviner. It’s not that he doesn’t trust Yang Xueyi, but rather because it’s the customary style of Diviners.
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