Chapter 405 - Hopeless

Chapter 405: Hopeless
The two Crown Princes’ power bore down on the world with clear-cut authority. Ninth Crown Prince’s gifts stood him out from the masses and was known as Peerless Earth Immortal. The moment he was born he earned the blessing of a Heavenly Court’s all-powerful Martyr Star Lord and took him under his wing. He was young still, however, held enough power to fight against his two brothers.
The three Crown Princes were out of this world regarding talent, further amplifying the infighting for the crown.
Second Crown Prince knew his strong suit, influence. How could his talent compare with ninth Crown Prince’s?
To seize the crown, he had to best Crown Prince, only then would he get to face ninth Crown Prince.
He had to, regardless of cost, invite the Overseer of today’s Buddhist Sect Debate!
Chen Ming and second Crown Prince settled in their courtyard and the later left to seek out the two candidates.


He stopped outside Yuan Tong’s courtyard,
Housekeeper of the East Manor, will you grace me with seeing Grandmaster Yuan Tong?

Grandmaster Yuan Tong had the highest odds of becoming the rising star of this meeting. His heart cultivation reached an incredible height and also had great Buddhist wisdom.
A young monk replied,
Grandmaster Yuan Tong is preparing for the debate. He cannot receive guests.

Is this elder brother’s hand at work?
 Wandering for a while, he arrived at Yuan Fang’s courtyard,
Housekeeper of the West Manor, is Grandmaster Yuan Fang of a heart to receive visitors?

A guarding young monk said,
Grandmaster Yuan Fang is preparing for the debate. He cannot receive guests.

Second Crown Prince was startled, Eldest brother, you won’t leave me with any shred of hope?

He roped the two candidates just like that.
Second Crown Prince returned to his house in a daze. He saw Chen Ming watering the flowers,
Grandmaster, I have no way forward and no path of retreat.

Chen Ming smiled,
Through mountains and rivers you have lost yourself, only to find the village beyond the willow’s soothing shade. (1)

Second Crown Prince felt like he was toying him with riddles.


Monks just loved riddles.
Through the course of three days, other Immortal Domains brought their own detail. It was now when the monks of the East and West Manors came out. The two were fashionably late, sitting with imposing dignity in the gathering.
The four Great Immortal Domains were ready, as well as other factions.
A monk walked in the center,
First, the draw!

The draw was unlike any martial competition. A glittering 72-faced bone was thrown into a bowl, each face showing a number. Before the glittering bone fell, the two Grandmasters wrote down their predictions. The numbers on the bone were inspected and the Grandmaster who’s scrying was correct shall be the one to announce the topic.
In a debate, he who was first was the best diviner.
The monk presiding said to the two,
Grandmasters, you can now begin.

They exchanged glances and went to writing. Then the bone was cast, rolling in the bowl.
The audience stared at the bone, yet second Crown Prince was different. With nothing better to do, he asked Crown Prince,
Grandmaster Ran Zui, what will the bone show?

Chen Ming revved up Heavenly Imperial Dao Cannon and


a character appeared in his vision, nine.
I knew it was hopeless, alright?
 Chen Ming spent half of Sin Searing Book to bribe the presiding monk.
What a joke! Our dear Immortal Master Chen had his number a long time ago. Think he could still miss?
The monks couldn’t use money for indulgence, but they could take an honest bribe nonetheless.
The monk was most unwilling at first, however, Chen Ming showed impeccable reason,
If little monk does not tell them, it won’t affect their drawing. Plus, learning Sin Searing Book will be of boundless benefit to you!

The monk thought, Quite right.
 And when he thought of Chen Ming, He doesn’t get much out of this anyway. 
The Sin Searing Book could cleanse souls, a means of doing great good deeds; so he agreed.
Chen Ming said,
Nine.

Yuan Tong and Yuan Fang turned their cryptic eyes on him.
The bone stopped and the monk announced,
Nine, Grandmaster Yuan Tong predicts nine!


Grandmaster Yuan Fang predicts nine!




Again!

Clamor spread,
Good!


Incredible!


How mystical, they’re Grandmasters!

Second Crown Prince was at a loss, Grandmaster Ran Zui is a god!

He thought, Grandmaster Ran Zui was right.
 However, he didn’t voice it, not when he recalled the two Grandmasters’ predictions.
Each time a prediction was made, second Crown Prince turned to Chen Ming, finding him as calm as ever, as if he knew the answer.
He didn’t ask though and felt somewhat odd. Despite Chen getting it right each time, doubt always came back whether Chen Ming was right again.
What a tasteless joke! How could he not be right?
With the bone rolling and spinning eight times, the two Grandmaster and Chen Ming were, obviously, correct.


People began to feel a not so little admiration for Chen Ming. This little monk is young, but his heart is true! 
Adding to that his image, the impression in the cultivators’ minds went up a notch. Even the two Grandmasters were peaking over.
And here came the ninth round, the crucial roll. As the saying went, the Havens were nine in number. Nine was supreme, ineffable!
Eyes were on him at all times,
I am curious to see the young Grandmaster’s result this time. Who will win when up against the other two Grandmaster?

Chen Ming chuckled,
Tie.

Do note his basis was on the bribed monk, though he had to admit the skills of Yuan Tong and Yuan Fang. In the case of number nine, who was the highest, prediction was useless and they had to resort to a guessing game.
To pry into the ninth’ number, he’d have to comprehend Heavenly Imperial Dao Cannon to perfection. This was something Chen Ming refused to believe the two were capable of.
With the odds one to seventy-two, he was convinced they wouldn’t guess it.
Second Crown Prince hailed the young Grandmaster as a god. Holy crap! I got a Buddha next to me!
 He asked,
Can they predict?

Chen Ming smiled,
When nine is supreme, they lost all power of prediction.


Can you predict then, Grandmaster Ran Zui?