Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Spirit of Laoshan, Earth’s Breath Embracing the Sky!

What kind of extraordinary opportunity could this be? Zhong Ming pondered deeply, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t figure it out.

Lately, Zhong Ming had been eating and sleeping as usual, yet no good fortune had come his way.

Not only had he encountered no good luck, but these past few days had been particularly unlucky. He had tripped over wild grass when stepping out, been hit on the head by bird droppings while walking down the road, and at worst, even found his teeth stuck when eating porridge.

Eating a bowl of porridge, getting bits stuck between his teeth three times—what kind of torment was that for a whole morning, just eating porridge and picking at his teeth? Who could bear it?

Old Taoist Zhang explained that this was because his attempt to borrow life force had failed; a residual ten percent of the former Chen dynasty’s fortune was still affecting him.

Zhong Ming asked the Taoist how long this condition would last.

Zhang Daozhen told him that either he would die, or the former Chen’s national fortune would completely vanish; otherwise, this streak of bad luck could follow Zhong Ming for life.

Of course, Zhang Nianchen was in the same boat—both brothers were down on their luck together.

That morning, Zhang Daozhen happily watched the two brothers eating porridge and picking their teeth.

It was also on that day that Zhong Ming finally believed the old saying: when a person is truly unlucky, even drinking cold water will get bits stuck between their teeth.

Zhong Ming was relieved he hadn’t inherited the full ten percent of the former Chen’s fortune; otherwise, it wouldn’t just be about stuck teeth when drinking cold water—he might have been hit by a pig falling from the sky the moment he stepped outside.

When someone is truly cursed, all sorts of bizarre misfortunes befall them.

Having learned from past experience, Zhong Ming no longer trusted his own luck.

Opportunities like these are directly tied to one’s fortune, and Zhong Ming feared that this great chance might cost him his life.

The more he thought about it, the more fearful he became, his brows knitting tightly.

Seeing his absent-minded and worried expression, Yu Bai tapped him on the head playfully.

“What are you thinking about? Aren’t you happy I brought you an opportunity?” she asked.

Snapping back to attention, Zhong Ming scratched his head and hurriedly explained, “It’s not that I don’t want it, Miss Yu Bai, but you don’t know—I’ve been so unlucky lately... this great opportunity, I’m afraid I can’t bear the burden, so maybe you shouldn’t give it to me.”

With that, he waved his hand, cleared away his dishes, and headed inside.

Avoiding trouble by staying out of it was his motto.

Zhong Ming understood the wisdom of self-preservation; after all, he wasn’t blindly righteous.

Curious about his fearful demeanor, Yu Bai followed him indoors to ask for an explanation.

Reluctantly, Zhong Ming revealed the burden of carrying the true dragon fortune of the now-defunct former Chen dynasty, and even vividly demonstrated how to deal with a lump of bird droppings on one’s head.

That clump of droppings had ruined his appetite for a whole day, and he never wanted to endure that again.

After hearing this, Yu Bai gave him a somewhat disdainful look, covering her nose as if Zhong Ming still smelled.

Zhong Ming pouted, “Now you know how bad my luck is—I really can’t handle any great opportunities.”

Yu Bai stayed silent, still pinching her nose as she stepped back, her eyes fixed on Zhong Ming’s head.

“How can you still despise me? I already washed the bird droppings off my head. Look at you, like a little muddy monkey, you’re almost stinky yourself, and you still look down on me…”

Indeed, Yu Bai was a bit messy herself; a few blades of grass were still tangled in her hair.

Her cheeks flushed as she playfully scolded Zhong Ming, giving his shoulder a light slap. “Don’t you dare say that about me!”

Shrugging, Zhong Ming washed the dishes and said, “If I don’t say it, that works. But you should stop staring at the top of my head.”

After waiting a moment, Zhong Ming heard Yu Bai reply but turned his head to see her quietly close the door.

He frowned slightly, puzzled. “Miss Yu Bai, what are you up to?”

She made a shushing gesture and whispered, “I’m going to show you your opportunity.”

“I already said I don’t want it—”

Zhong Ming’s words were cut off as he froze on the spot.

Yu Bai beckoned, and ripples shimmered in the air as a bronze greatsword slowly emerged from the wavering space.

On the broad blade lay three objects.

One was a peculiar stone with a seated phantom figure, the same spirit that Zhong Ming had seen before, claiming to be a descendant of the Kunlun Jade Void lineage.

The other two were teardrop-shaped objects, swirling around each other in a yin-yang embrace, chasing head to tail.

They hovered in midair, slowly spinning.

Seven-colored light flickered upon them, scattering like stars across the small room. Even in daylight, the scene felt dreamlike and ethereal.

Zhong Ming was stunned, his chopsticks clattering to the floor.

Those two droplets seemed magical; their radiant glow warmed his eyes and instinctively drew him closer.

Approaching, Zhong Ming could see clearly that the two droplets differed in color. One was earthy yellow, within which clouds shifted and changed, as if containing a whole world.

The other was deep brown, speckled with countless stars, resembling a night sky dotted with constellations, as if holding a summer night within.

Seeing Zhong Ming’s dazed expression, Yu Bai smiled. “Pretty, right?”

He nodded wordlessly, staring intently at the two small objects. “Miss Yu Bai, what are these?”

Yu Bai clasped her hands behind her back, cleared her throat, and recited with a sway, “In the southern mountains lies a stone called the Mountain Soul, shaped like water, absorbing all things, embodying yin and yang. To consume it is to attain longevity.”

“Mountain Soul? Longevity?”

Reluctantly withdrawing his gaze, Zhong Ming asked in surprise, “Eating this can grant immortality?”

“No, not immortality...” Yu Bai shrugged, imitating Zhong Ming’s gesture, then explained, “If simply eating something could grant immortality, we wouldn’t have to descend en masse to the mortal realm, smashing our flesh and blood bodies against the gates of the higher realms.”

Hearing this, Zhong Ming exhaled in relief; he truly feared Yu Bai gifting him eternal life.

Suddenly becoming immortal and ageless? He wasn’t prepared for that.

Zhong Ming reached out to take the two Mountain Souls, murmuring, “These are really quite beautiful.”

Yu Bai shifted her tone and continued, “While eating the Mountain Soul won’t grant eternal life, it bestows boundless benefits to the path of longevity!

The Mountain Soul is born from the essence of heaven and earth, containing the purest energy found only in the oldest mountain range in this world.

It is said that the ancient mountain holds the soul, its earthly energy encompassing the heavens!”

Seeing Zhong Ming’s hand nearly touch the Mountain Souls, he hesitated and shyly withdrew, afraid of damaging their precious form.

He felt tempted. “These things are really impressive.”

Yu Bai raised a delicate brow proudly. “Naturally. In this world, there are only these two Mountain Souls, one yin and one yang.”

Fearing Zhong Ming might not grasp their value, Yu Bai pointed toward the green mountains. “Even the entire spiritual vein of Bai Yu Capital can’t compare to a tiny fraction of one Mountain Soul.”

She pinched her pinky finger, first at one joint, then feeling it insufficient, pinched higher, leaving only a small segment visible to express how precious these two Mountain Souls were.

Truly, these were treasures!

Even Zhong Ming’s calm heart was stirred with desire.

Who wouldn’t want such divine materials?

After explaining, Yu Bai picked up the two Mountain Souls and handed him the yang soul, representing the daytime, with a smile. “This is for you!”

Zhong Ming was stunned, not daring to take it.

After a long moment, he asked incredulously, “You’re giving me something this valuable?”

Yu Bai smiled charmingly, her teeth gleaming in the radiant light.

“Of course! You lent me your horse and sword, so naturally I must repay you!

Besides, the Mountain Soul is split into yin and yang; the yang soul is for men. I have no use for it…”

Thinking a moment, Yu Bai added, “Well, I could give it to my father, but he’s focused solely on swordsmanship and disdainful of such things.

I don’t know any other men, so this yang soul is yours!”

Grasping Zhong Ming’s hand, she placed the Mountain Soul in his palm.

In that instant, something inside Zhong Ming stirred, making his heart race wildly.

In the humble room, the seemingly stern yet kind-hearted girl’s smile grew even more radiant.