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As soon as Zhang Liuxue finished speaking—
"Oh?" Gu An indifferently accepted the jade pendant from her hand.
The jade felt warm and cool to the touch, its surface emerald green with only one flaw. He didn't understand jade, but in his past life, through something called the internet, he'd gained some knowledge about jade.
This jade pendant in his hand was not cheap. In the present day, taking it to Anshan Town to exchange for a house would be no problem.
Truly worthy of a great household from the county.
With one gesture, they'd given what ordinary people sought their entire lives.
Zhang Liuxue and Lang Qing both showed delight when they saw Gu An accept the jade pendant.
The Exalted Immortal's willingness to accept the apology gift meant reconciliation was possible.
"How much do you two know about demons?" Gu An toyed with the jade pendant, his tone carrying a playful quality.
What did this mean?
Zhang Liuxue and the other exchanged glances.
A thousand thoughts ran through their minds, yet they couldn't fathom why Gu An asked this.
Though they couldn't figure it out, it didn't prevent them from answering honestly.
"My grandfather is a Mystic Arts Celestial Master in the Demon Suppression Bureau's Mystic Arts Hall, so regarding demons, this young woman knows more than ordinary people."
"My family cannot compare to the Zhang family. In terms of demon knowledge, Liuxue surpasses me."
Gu An had heard Old Man Hong mention... Mystic Arts Celestial Masters from the Mystic Arts Hall.
The Demon Suppression Bureau was divided into three halls: the Demon Patrol Hall, the Mystic Arts Hall, and the Demon Prison Hall.
The Celestial Masters stationed in the Mystic Arts Hall could craft magical treasures for dealing with demons.
His second reason for going to Anshan Town was, in a certain sense, related to Mystic Arts Celestial Masters.
While demon calamities existed in the world, places at the town level and above rarely saw demon disasters.
This situation arose because places at the town level and above all had evil-dispelling, demon-avoiding stones crafted by Mystic Arts Celestial Masters.
Therefore, houses in town were not cheap, making this jade pendant priceless.
Now, houses in Anshan Town were too expensive, rising in price every year. Gu An had calculated before that as long as he could live to 99 and continue farming, he'd have a slim chance of buying a house in town—provided someone would sell to him at a low price.
Pushing aside these stray thoughts, Gu An spoke again: "Then let me test you two."
"I have several questions. As long as you can answer correctly and to my satisfaction..."
After finishing, he tossed the jade pendant back.
"I can write off your offense against me."
Lang Qing showed delight and bowed with cupped hands: "Could it be that the Exalted Immortal has come out to seek disciples with immortal fate?"
Immortal fate was hard to find. Some Celestial Masters who wanted to take disciples could only go out searching.
Such stories were often heard—of people being taken away by Celestial Masters, finding immortal fate, and becoming Celestial Masters themselves.
The Demon Suppression Bureau also encouraged Celestial Masters to do this, as finding potential Celestial Masters invisibly expanded the Bureau's manpower.
Not only was Lang Qing excited, even Zhang Liuxue could hardly conceal her joy.
Her family was wealthy with powerful backing, giving her opportunities to become a Celestial Master. Unfortunately, her natural talent was limited.
Her grandfather had once told her that the family's method of obtaining immortal fate wasn't suitable for her—she could only seek other ways. This trip out was also to search for methods.
Throughout this journey, she'd failed repeatedly, her heart growing dark.
Who knew there'd be light after darkness, a village after the willow grove!
"Exalted Immortal, please speak..." Both bowed respectfully in unison.
"What is immortal fate?"
Zhang Liuxue and Lang Qing exchanged glances again, answering in chorus: "Sensing the Mysterious Gate of Heaven and Earth, obtaining supernatural powers and mystical arts is obtaining immortal fate."
Well said.
Don't say it again.
Gu An felt he might as well not have asked. What even was this?
However, seeing how they answered in unison, this explanation was clearly an established convention, common knowledge.
"Then how does one obtain immortal fate?"
Hearing this, Zhang Liuxue and Lang Qing fell silent.
After a moment, the latter spoke first: "Immortal fate cannot be sought, only encountered. One might suddenly achieve enlightenment, or be born favored by Heaven with innate supernatural powers, or accidentally obtain it through experiencing great sorrow or great joy."
After Lang Qing finished, Zhang Liuxue also answered.
"Even Celestial Masters cannot clearly explain what immortal fate is—this is a heavenly secret that cannot be revealed... The only certainty is that obtaining immortal fate allows one to master supernatural powers and mystical arts, transcend the mundane, become a Celestial Master, and thus suppress demons."
"This young woman once heard her grandfather say that experiencing demon calamity offers a chance to obtain immortal fate. The vast majority of Celestial Masters have experienced demon calamity and obtained immortal fate in confusion, mastering supernatural powers."
Being in demon calamity offers a chance to obtain immortal fate?
Gu An pondered.
He was in demon calamity right now, yet he'd seen no immortal fate.
"What are supernatural powers?" He continued asking calmly while thinking.
"Supernatural powers are Celestial Master abilities, strange and varied—one might shrink the earth to an inch, speak decrees into law, have words become reality, or possess clairvoyance and clairaudience..."
"One person only masters one supernatural power."
"Only one per person?" Gu An asked again.
Hearing this, both Lang Qing and Zhang Liuxue froze.
The next moment, Lang Qing understood the reason and realized why the Exalted Immortal asked this.
The Exalted Immortal had been testing basic Celestial Master knowledge from the start. This question was the same: "A person's supernatural power is predetermined—unchangeable and cannot be multiple. However, this isn't absolute. One can gain additional supernatural powers through external objects called 'magical treasures.'"
"What are magical treasures?"
Gu An continued asking.
This time Zhang Liuxue answered eagerly: "When a person masters supernatural powers, they become a Celestial Master. When an object masters supernatural powers, it becomes a magical treasure."
Hearing this, Gu An couldn't help but look toward the sickle blade wrapped in clothing.
The first two questions left him half-understanding, but the latter questions made him understand what supernatural powers were.
In terms from his past life, supernatural powers were special abilities. When some objects could use special abilities, those were magical treasures.
Recalling the supernatural power the sickle blade displayed, was the sickle blade a magical treasure?
Gu An quickly thought about whether his ability to restart after death counted as a supernatural power.
As soon as this thought emerged, he negated it.
If this were a supernatural power, then he would have mastered immortal fate and should be able to kill the demon.
"If one doesn't obtain immortal fate, how can an ordinary mortal slay a demon?"
Gu An asked again, and this question was what he most wanted to know—ranked first.
Hearing the new question, Lang Qing and Zhang Liuxue instinctively opened their mouths but then closed them again.
"?"
Both were stunned.
Wait...
Weren't they just being asked about demon common knowledge?
How did the question suddenly jump to something even veteran Celestial Masters couldn't answer?
The gap was too large.
Lang Qing smiled bitterly.
He couldn't answer this question.
However, just because he couldn't answer didn't mean others couldn't.
Zhang Liuxue's grandfather was a Celestial Master in the Mystic Arts Hall. She'd actually heard her grandfather speak of this matter.
"What the Exalted Immortal speaks of is an impossible matter in heaven and earth."
"Grandfather once said that immortal fate is hard to find, Celestial Masters are rare, while ordinary mortals are as numerous as stars. Therefore, throughout generations, Demon Suppression Bureau Celestial Masters have made this assumption and attempted it."
"Such as lending peerless magical treasures to mortals so they could slay demons, or setting up magical formations with mortals presiding to slay demons... all ended in failure. Even the Celestial Masters helping the mortals met with disaster. Despite this, even now some Celestial Masters still attempt such things."
"The Demon Suppression Bureau reached one conclusion."
"Without obtaining immortal fate, if mortals kill demons, Heaven will punish them."
As soon as Zhang Liuxue finished speaking, Gu An immediately asked back, his words light: "Is it truly impossible in heaven and earth?"
This answer satisfied yet dissatisfied him.
Satisfied because his premonition was correct—these two could indeed answer his doubts.
Dissatisfied because this answer still pointed toward being unable to kill demons.
But he felt it could be done!
Zhang Liuxue didn't understand why the Exalted Immortal would make such a statement.
What did he mean "is it truly impossible"?
This made her recall words her teacher said when she was in private school. Whenever the teacher said things like "are you certain?" "is it impossible?" "oh?"—it basically meant her answer was wrong, which is why the teacher would say such things.
Just then, Zhang Liuxue remembered words her grandfather had said before. Gritting her teeth, she said: "In response to the Exalted Immortal, perhaps... there is one method that could work."
"What method?"