Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return

Mu Hanyan noticed the change in the old god-man’s eyes and was quite pleased with himself. It seemed he indeed had the potential to be a god-man, managing to fool even this experienced swindler who had deceived people from all corners. Ah spit! No, that’s not right. I am an honest man, an honest man! I had merely overwhelmed him with my imposing aura! Mu Hanyan hurriedly cursed in his mind.

”By the way, Young Master Nan, what do you think of my Hand Formation? Is there anything wrong with it?” The old god-man, oblivious to the young god-man’s thoughts, respectfully asked again.

”It’s alright, perform it one more time for me to take a closer look,” Mu Hanyan, having pretended to be a master for long enough, finally spoke up.

He had been too excited earlier, and since it was his first time seeing the Hand Formation, many of the finer details were still unclear to him. He needed to observe it several more times.

”Alright, please guide me, Young Master Nan.” Qu Shanling obediently started the Hand Formation again.

Though Qu Shanling was filled with excitement at the moment, without the support of the Heavenly Heart Technique, performing the Hand Formation alone was too draining on his qi and spirit. Even if he were boosted by adrenaline, he couldn’t keep it up.

Soon, Qu Shanling’s face turned as pale as paper, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, eventually causing him to stop again, performing the same Hand Formation as before.

”Why have you stopped again?” Mu Hanyan was captivated and displeased to see him stop once more.

”I can’t continue; it’s too exhausting,” Qu Shanling said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

”You can’t go on like this. The most important aspect of the Cultivation Path is persistence; you can’t keep complaining about tiredness and hardship,” Mu Hanyan shook his head, assuming the air of a mentor.

Who do you think you are? Just because you lucked out and learned the Star Illusion Thousand Mechanism Technique, now you’re lecturing me? As a well-known god-man who’s been famous for years, even city lords show me respect, Qu Shanling thought, already exhausted and now angered by Mu Hanyan’s scolding. But just as he was about to retort, Mu Hanyan spoke again, forcing him to swallow his anger.

”No wonder you’ve spent twenty years unable to unravel the mysteries of the Star Illusion Thousand Mechanism Technique; your determination is lacking. If you can’t persevere, you might as well give up now and save yourself the wasted effort,” Mu Hanyan sighed.

Qu Shanling’s heart chilled! Could he give up? If he could have given up, he would have done so years ago. Why else would he have expended twenty years of grueling effort and traveled far and wide? This was a matter of life and death; giving up was not an option.

”I’ll try once more.” After a brief rest, Qu Shanling resumed the Hand Formation.

Unfortunately, some things can’t be achieved by willpower alone. He had just restarted when he stopped at the same point as before. This time, his face looked as lifeless as a corpse, his eyes devoid of light.

”Why have you stopped again? No, no, try again!” Mu Hanyan, having witnessed the sequence thrice, was verifying it against his own Heavenly Heart Technique. He had just integrated the earlier Hand Formation with the technique and was eagerly awaiting the completion when Qu Shanling stopped at the same spot again, driving Mu Hanyan almost frantic.

”I really can’t continue,” Qu Shanling said weakly, collapsing onto a chair.

”Alas, let’s stop here for today,” Mu Hanyan could only sigh helplessly. It seemed the old god-man truly couldn’t persist any longer. Pushing him was futile.