124: On Causality and the Nature of Fate

After musing for a moment, Lu Daoxuan continued, "The 'Wisdom Eye' supernatural ability is often hyperbolically described in legends as 'knowing five hundred years into the past and five hundred years into the future.' In reality, it is merely a sensitivity born from serendipity, not an omniscient or omnipotent power."

Upon hearing this, the group felt quite discouraged, thinking that if it all depended on chance, then this "Wisdom Eye" did not seem particularly remarkable.

Listening to Lu Daoxuan, Mutou pondered for a while before saying, "Does the Wisdom Eye rely on serendipity to perceive the past and future? How is it that I feel I had this ability when I was a child?"

"Huh!?" Everyone was astonished to hear him say this.

Mutou recalled, "I remember when I was very young, probably nine years old. One day, my father told me to go to the field to pull a cabbage for dinner. Back then, everyone's plots were adjacent and all planted with cabbage. As I walked down to the field to pull the cabbage, a thought suddenly flashed through my mind: 'Am I pulling my own family's cabbage?' By the time I pulled it out, I suddenly felt that I was going to be beaten today because of this cabbage. Later, when I went back, I was indeed severely beaten, all because I said: 'I’m not sure if this cabbage belongs to us or someone else.'"

The group broke into a cold sweat... not because of his precognitive ability, but because he was beaten over a head of cabbage!

Lu Daoxuan thought for a moment and asked, "Was it only that one time? I mean, where you predicted the result based on your own intuition?"

Mutou shook his head. "There were many times. But I would always know the outcome yet be unable to avoid it; it seemed as if it were predestined by heaven, something humans simply could not change!"

"Besides that, I occasionally have a strange feeling. For instance, while holding a pen, I suddenly feel as if I have already performed this action just a moment ago, as if I am repeating the motion... or walking along a preordained track."

Hearing this, Lu Daoxuan stared straight at him, making Mutou feel uneasy. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Lu Daoxuan deliberated before saying, "So, you were born with the Eye of Causality!"

"Eye of Causality? What is that?"

Lu Daoxuan explained, "It is another name for the Wisdom Eye. It allows one to perceive the result from the cause. Although it only lasts for a brief instant, it is already extremely rare."

"In fact, some lucky individuals are influenced by the primordial energy of heaven and earth at birth, granting them special innate abilities. Like the 'Yin-Yang Eyes' people often hear about, which can see spirits. However, if such abilities are not properly guided and nurtured, they will gradually fade as the primordial energy dissipates."

He then said to Mutou, "I understand now. The reason you possess the Wisdom Eye is not because of an 'Immortal Body,' but because you were born with the ability to perceive causality. The Wisdom Eye is effectively a means for you to gradually master this power. If my deduction is correct, the SSS-grade skill you eventually acquire will be a Law of Causality skill, such as 'Reversing Causality' or the 'Grand Prophecy.'"

"Reversing Causality? Grand Prophecy? What kind of powers are those?" the others asked curiously.

Lu Daoxuan pondered and said, "It is said that SSS-grade skills can cause deities to fall, though I only know fragments of their true nature. 'Reversing Causality' is supposedly the most powerful of the causality laws. No matter how strong the opponent, they cannot escape the laws of cause and effect. One simply finds the 'life thread' of that person or god among the countless threads of fate and gives it a gentle tug... and everything returns to oblivion. As for the 'Grand Prophecy,' it is the manifestation of one's word as law. If you say there is light, there is light; if you say something shall be destroyed, it ceases to exist... In short, they are all heaven-defying skills."

Hearing this, the group gasped in awe. Gu Feng said enviously, "These skills are too powerful. Once mastered, wouldn't one be invincible?" He sighed, "Alas, my spatial arts don't have such heaven-defying capabilities."

"No, there are SSS-grade skills in spatial arts as well. I recall one called the 'Starry Black Hole,' which acts like a cosmic black hole, capable of devouring all matter."

Gu Feng exclaimed in surprise, "Really?"

But Lu Daoxuan poured cold water on his excitement: "You currently need the combined strength of all of us just to perform an SS-grade skill, yet you're already dreaming of SSS-grade ones."

As they were discussing, the flickering screen of the Space-Time Management System sounded: "Rewards have been distributed. The Contract Squad will head directly to the high-level trading plane, the 'Great Plane Space,' in ten days. Please prepare accordingly!"

"Wait! I want to ask, what is the Six Paths of Reincarnation about?" Mutou asked hurriedly.

"Insufficient authority to answer!" the Space-Time Management System replied mechanically. "The reward for this session has been delivered. Initiating immediate return to the original plane coordinates!"

"Wait!" Mutou added, remembering that the original coordinates were at the bottom of the ten-thousand-meter deep sea. "That environment is not suitable for human survival. Can you send us back to the ship instead?"

The system's casual reply left everyone stunned: "As the Plane Agent is a special entity, the Plane System can guarantee the Agent's survival in that environment." In other words, the pressure issue they had been worrying about did not exist for them at all.

"...However, this request can be granted!" The Space-Time Management System actually made an exception. Following that, a flash of light swept over them, and a pulling force tugged at them in the space. The scene shifted, and they had arrived!

"Oh! My God!"

"Good heavens!"

Amidst the exclamations, they looked around to find they had returned to the cruiser belonging to the foreigner, Solas. The mercenaries and Solas were staring at Mutou and the others in astonishment. Only Li Yun remained unfazed; in his mind, Mutou was already a celestial being, so such feats were nothing out of the ordinary.

"Oh! Master, what kind of technique is this? Is it the legendary power of an immortal?" It was not Li Yun who spoke, but the foreigner, Solas.

Mutou glanced at him sideways. "The title of 'Master' is not used lightly. You should call me Mr. Mu."

Solas chuckled. "My relationship with Li Yun is extraordinary, so I naturally follow his lead!"

Mutou was slightly taken aback. He thought that even Li Yun seemed to treat him with mostly reverence; he hadn't realized this person’s influence on Earth far exceeded Li Yun's. When did they become so close?

"Master!" Li Yun called out this time, whispering to Mutou, "This Solas is a world-renowned financial sniper. He owns a fund company and is the puppet master behind many financial consortia. His influence on Earth is extraordinary. While we were on the seabed, he witnessed your methods and began building a rapport with me. When he heard I had just become your disciple, he wanted to follow suit!"

Mutou was rendered speechless. "This foreigner wants to be my disciple!?"

Li Yun whispered, "Master, I don't see why not. This man is a very powerful figure on Earth. If our sect is to develop in the secular world, having some support is always a good thing! I even took the liberty of boasting on your behalf, saying that you possess miraculous medicines that can eliminate hidden ailments and strengthen the body to prolong life!"

Mutou smiled. "What boasting! My medicine naturally has that effect!" He sighed inwardly. Li Yun, a veteran of the underworld, was indeed sharper than him; he had immediately thought of securing support for the sect. Fortunately, since he had already been subdued, he could be trusted.

Thinking of this, he patted his shoulder. "You did well."

Hearing the praise, Li Yun was overjoyed.

Mutou turned to Solas. "Li Yun says you also wish to become my disciple?"

Solas said, "Having witnessed your immortal techniques, I am deeply impressed. I beg you to accept me as your disciple!" As he spoke, he gestured, and a sailor brought over a cup of tea. It seemed Solas had come prepared. He took the tea and knelt on one knee. "I know China is a place that values the etiquette of apprenticeship. I don't have anything precious to offer, but once we return to land, I will immediately offer ten million US dollars as an initiation gift!" He then presented the tea.

Mutou said sternly, "Do you think apprenticeship is just about money? It depends on whether we have the 'karmic affinity' of master and disciple. If anyone could become a disciple just by offering money, the disciples of my Taixu Sect would be countless."

Solas didn't understand the Chinese concept of "karmic affinity" at all. Hearing this, he made a bitter face. "Then how can I be accepted as your disciple, Master?"

Mutou smiled slightly, took the tea, and drank a sip. "Meeting is fate, and since I saved your life and you have begged to be my disciple, this is the affinity. When the time is right, it naturally happens!"

Solas was overjoyed. He had been worried that Mutou would seize the opportunity to demand a massive sum of money. Now, he felt this master was truly a high-minded individual who didn't care for wealth.

Little did he know that Mutou understood the principle of "casting a long line to catch a big fish." If not for Solas's unique status and influence on Earth, he wouldn't have casually accepted a foreigner as a disciple.

Mutou added, "Very well, stand up! You are now an outer-sect disciple of our sect. You shall handle some secular matters for the Taixu Sect. If you make significant contributions to the sect in the future, you may be promoted to an inner-sect disciple and learn the methods of longevity."

He then took a pill from his bracelet. "According to the rules of the Taixu Sect, I must give you something. This 'Peiyuan Pill' has the effect of curing illnesses, strengthening the body, and prolonging life. I give it to you now."

Solas was ecstatic. He had already pried from Li Yun that Mutou possessed immortal pills that could cure ailments and strengthen the body, and he had been wondering how to ask for one. He never expected Mutou to give one away so readily. Seeing the pill’s exotic, fragrant aroma, he didn't doubt it for a second and swallowed it immediately, failing to notice the faint, mischievous smirk on Mutou's lips.

As it turned out, Mutou had soaked this pill in the secret medicine provided by Gu Feng. From now on, Solas would obey Mutou from the depths of his consciousness and would never betray him. Considering the man's power and influence, Mutou felt that his own wrist alone might not be enough to control him, so he had him enjoy the same treatment as Li Yun.

Solas, unaware that Mutou had tampered with the pill, felt a wave of comfort throughout his body after swallowing it. The hidden ailments he had developed with age were swept away, and he stood up in excitement. Just as he was about to thank him, he felt the cruiser begin to sway violently...