Chapter 761 - 363: Venerable Arcanist

The expression on the Daoist Hua’s face carried an almost imperceptible cunningness amid his assurance, as if he were showing off his vast divine abilities, claiming to have everything under control.

He stared straight at You Su, with a look in his eyes that was both appreciative and somewhat playful.

You Su, almost instinctively, reached into his sleeve, where the fake identification card still lay. Ever since he obtained that fake ID, he had never exposed it. How did the Daoist Hua know about it?

Could it be that the Daoist Hua had taken it and looked at it before putting it back? Or perhaps... he was the one who gave out fake identities?

"When did you see it?" You Su’s voice bore a cold edge.

"See?" Daoist Hua shook his head, "Young man, I never believe in what my eyes see, I only believe in what I calculate. You’re called Dabang, an orphan from a backward village near Beiji City. Am I right?"

Upon hearing this, You Su sat upright, realizing that the abilities of the person in front of him were indeed beyond his imagination. If he could calculate his fake name as Dabang, could he also figure out his real name?

"Rest assured. I never calculate people’s privacy without permission, and in fact, that is quite difficult to calculate. In the art of numerology, this is known as peeping into fate. Such unethical behavior invites divine retribution." Daoist Hua seemed to know what You Su was thinking.

"But you did so without my permission."

"Fake things don’t matter." Daoist Hua sat back in his original spot, looking nonchalant.

You Su no longer argued with him, at least he could feel that this Daoist Hua was truly uninterested in his real identity. Perhaps in his eyes, he genuinely wished You Su were indeed ’Dabang’, so You Su simply chose to accept it.

"Fortune telling and arithmetic are two contrary things."

Daoist Hua turned his head and chuckled, "Are you really an outsider to this?"

You Su raised an eyebrow, not answering, and Daoist Hua continued:

"Only those who do not understand the art of numerology would think fortune telling is a false field full of deceit. But once you delve into it deeply, you’ll realize that everything about everyone is predetermined. Arithmetic and fortune-telling have no essential difference."

"I never believe in ’destiny’.

"No... You are too naive, destiny is not unchangeable; everyone’s fate is constantly changing, just like in arithmetic, where many unknowns exist, but as long as there are enough conditions, a definite answer can be obtained. Fortune-telling calculates that answer. The half-baked frauds will come up with the same answer for different destinies, while true masters of numerology calculate the corresponding answer according to the constantly changing conditions."

Daoist Hua spoke persistently, afraid others would look down on the study he loved most.

Seeing that You Su still seemed unconvinced, Daoist Hua shook his head:

"The Heavenly Dao is not as disastrous as feared; all things will be beset by misfortune. Those who speak the truth of the nine heavens will end the blessings and fortune of their lifetime. Faith or disbelief entirely depends on the heart; believe it and it exists, doubt it and it does not."

Daoist Hua suddenly leaned forward again, forcing You Su to shrink back. Inwardly, You Su mocked, people who love numerology usually have active minds, but this one was active both in mind and in body, just like someone with hyperactivity.

"In conclusion, Dabang, your talent for the art of numerology is the only one I’ve seen in my life. Would you be willing to take me as your master and learn the Dao of numerology? I have a nine out of ten chance of seeing you, in the future, having that Ziwei Daoist call you a master!"

You Su widened his eyes, unable to hide his astonishment—the wild boasts of Daoist Hua were truly astounding.

"If you were that capable, you’d make the Ziwei Venerable call you a master yourself." You Su struck straight to the point.

But Daoist Hua just shook his head repeatedly with a grievance:

"To truly make those people sincerely call you master, being more knowledgeable is not enough; your fists must also be larger. I’ve traveled the world for many years, visited numerous master numerologists, be it a hundred or ninety-nine, and I’ve realized one thing—that the most fundamental truth in this world is not that one plus one equals two, but that two is greater than one. Therefore, even if I consider myself not inferior in knowledge, it doesn’t matter if I can’t beat them. But you are different; not even nineteen, yet you are already in the Condensed Water Upper Realm, such a realm is truly astonishing. One day, your fists and mind will definitely surpass theirs!"

Excitedly, Daoist Hua painted a bright future for You Su, but unfortunately, You Su’s reply poured cold water on his enthusiasm.

"I refuse."

Daoist Hua was initially taken aback, then shook his head with a helpless look, "It seems you have a better teacher than me..."

You Su did not comment further, "But you haven’t said who you are."

"I go by the respected name Aoshun." Daoist Hua introduced himself with a grin, managing to juxtapose ’Daoist’ and ’respected name’, two contradictory terms.

"The Aoshun Venerable?" You Su indeed had never heard of such a Venerable, but the Daoist Hua’s Void Realm cultivation didn’t seem fake.

"That’s me, doesn’t the name sound prestigious?"

The Daoist Hua’s behavior and demeanor carried none of the airs a Venerable should have. His friendly attitude toward You Su was almost unbelievable. But considering his obsession with numerology, it was understandable he’d have some respect for someone talented in the field like You Su.

You Su nodded slightly, "It is quite daunting..."

Hua Luoxin chuckled even more cheerfully upon hearing this: "Oh well, I’ve long calculated you have a will firmer than iron; forcing you to become a disciple would be futile. How about this, shall we make a deal instead?"