Chapter 2350: Chapter 2329: Geomancer Qianjue

Lin Feng looked at Tao Tao sitting across the table from him, feeling more bewildered by the moment. Why had she suddenly clung to him, and why mention that her grandfather’s fortune-telling was accurate for the first time? This left him utterly perplexed. Even Tangyuan was restless now, its small eyes filled with curiosity as it stared at Tao Tao!

"Miss Tao Tao, we are just acquaintances. May I ask who your grandfather is?" Lin Feng took a bite of his food and questioned Tao Tao, hoping to find out more about this girl through her grandfather.

But to Lin Feng’s surprise, as soon as he spoke, Tao Tao’s eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, "Accurate, really accurate!"

Her words left Lin Feng and Tangyuan more confused. They both turned their eyes to Tao Tao, waiting for her explanation, completely clueless about what she meant!

"What you just said is exactly what my grandfather told me. He said you would definitely say that! Sure enough, you are the benefactor my grandfather mentioned!" Tao Tao, looking at Lin Feng, said happily. She was now completely convinced that Lin Feng was the benefactor her grandfather had spoken of, and thinking of her grandfather’s words filled her with joy!

"Oh?" Lin Feng was taken aback by Tao Tao’s words. Could her grandfather truly predict his words, foreseeing this encounter? Now, he also wanted to meet Tao Tao’s grandfather. With that thought, he asked her, "Could you take me to meet your grandfather?"

"Of course, it’s my grandfather who asked me to find you!" Tao Tao nodded with a smile upon hearing Lin Feng’s question. However, her eyes drifted to the dishes on the table, and she said, "But can we not go right now? I’m very hungry and want to eat something first. Besides, my grandfather hasn’t eaten well for a while. I’d like to bring some food back for him; he really enjoys the wine here."

Hearing this, Lin Feng’s heart warmed. He nodded with a smile, recognizing that despite her peculiar words, this girl cared a lot for her grandfather. So he didn’t insist further at this moment.

As soon as he finished speaking, the waiter brought up the dishes and wine that Tao Tao ordered and then went back downstairs.

"Roasted Spiral Beast, Golden Jade Luo Fish, the tavern’s wine is my grandfather’s favorite, and mine too!" Tao Tao smiled at Lin Feng while speaking. After saying so, she picked up her chopsticks and started eating, but just after having a little, she stopped and put down her chopsticks.

"Weren’t you hungry? Why did you stop eating?" Lin Feng asked Tao Tao curiously.

"It’s been a while since I was out; I’m worried about leaving my grandfather alone at home." Tao Tao’s expression suddenly turned odd, and she said casually before directly taking out a food container from a corner on the second floor, packing up the food.

After packing everything, Tao Tao stood up, carrying the food container and ready to leave. Seeing this, Lin Feng also got up and followed her. The two of them went downstairs, and to Lin Feng’s surprise, Tao Tao didn’t have any money when it came to paying the bill. Lin Feng ended up footing the bill, but he really didn’t mind such a small expense.

Outside the tavern, Tao Tao led the way, with Lin Feng closely following behind. They twisted and turned through the paths, walking for almost an hour before arriving at the edge of Ning City in front of some low, shabby houses. Just as Lin Feng found it strange, Tao Tao headed toward those low houses.

The alley was narrow, barely enough for a single person to pass through. Most of the houses here weren’t really houses at all—they were merely patched up with old wooden planks, enough to block wind and rain. This area was equivalent to a slum back on Earth!

This situation took Lin Feng by surprise. He hadn’t expected Tao Tao to live in such a place. Given her beauty, it seemed impossible for her to reside here. There must be some untold story behind this.

Not only Lin Feng, but even Tangyuan was curious about Tao Tao’s identity. Although it was a demon beast, it had lived for hundreds of years and had seen a lot, yet it was also puzzled by how a beauty like Tao Tao could be in such a place.

After passing through four or five small alleys, they arrived at a low house. Tao Tao immediately opened the door and entered, calling out, "Grandfather, I’m back!"

Following Tao Tao inside, Lin Feng immediately noticed the scent of herbs in the air. His gaze fell on a dim room, with only a few rays of sunlight sneaking through the doorway. Inside, there was also a peculiar musty odor.

As her gaze fell on a bed not far away, there lay a withered old man, as thin as a corpse. Tao Tao immediately walked to the old man’s side, put down the food box, and tears flashed in her eyes as she said to her grandfather, "Grandpa, I brought back the roasted snail beast, golden jade fish, and restaurant wine you love. Please open your eyes and have a look!"

Upon hearing this, the old man, whose eyes were like fish skin, opened them, cloudy as they were. A happy smile spread across his dried-up face, and he said to Tao Tao, "Good child!"

After saying this, the old man sat up with Tao Tao’s help, and only then did Lin Feng see the old man’s physical condition.

The lower half of the old man’s body had no muscles, not even skin, just bare bones. Moreover, Lin Feng saw that the old man’s thighs were necrotic, and, barring unexpected circumstances, the old man didn’t have much time left. Faced with this, even Lin Feng could not remain calm, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Old man, what’s happened to you?" Lin Feng looked at the old man, his voice tinged with sorrow. His body was in such a state; how great the suffering must have been was unimaginable. If not seen with his own eyes, Lin Feng wouldn’t believe that someone could endure this; under normal circumstances, any other person would surely have perished long ago.

The old man heard Lin Feng’s voice, and tears welled up in his cloudy eyes with excitement. His voice choked as he said something Lin Feng had never dreamed of.

"I have waited for three thousand one hundred seventy-two years; finally, you’re here..." The old man looked at Lin Feng, his cloudy eyes devoid of luster. At that moment, one could sense the profound grief in the old man’s emotions — someone who waited over three thousand years was inevitably moved.

"Grandpa!" Tao Tao exclaimed in disbelief, never having imagined her grandfather was over three thousand years old. This... How was this possible? Grandpa had raised her since she was little. What could this possibly mean?

"Senior, you are..." Lin Feng’s eyes widened upon hearing this, looking at the old man. It was almost inconceivable — how could a fellow Ascender from the Lower Realm have been awaited by a senior for over three thousand years? What was going on?

"Thud!" Tangyuan, curious about the old man earlier, fell to the ground from Lin Feng’s shoulder upon hearing this statement, revealing its form, staring at the old man with bulging eyes. Tangyuan knew the old man’s physical state shouldn’t allow him to live over three thousand years. If that were true, the old man would have to be a Divine Origin Realm powerhouse. Yet the problem was it didn’t sense Yuangang from the old man; it was all too bizarre!

The old man waved to everyone at this moment, then spoke to Tao Tao, "Now that things have come to this, it’s time to explain some things. Tao Tao, you’re not actually my biological granddaughter. I picked you up from outside, but I’ve genuinely raised you from a young age. You’re a good child; grandpa is leaving soon. I’ve held on just to ensure you won’t be without support after grandpa is gone."

"Grandpa..." Tao Tao hugged the old man suddenly and began to cry, the words the old man suddenly spoke were hard to accept. Though she knew grandpa’s illness was critical, the family truly didn’t have any money. Even their daily meals were provided by their neighbors; without that support, they would have long since starved or frozen!

The dress she wore now wasn’t one she usually wore. According to grandpa’s advice, she only wore it when going out to prevent people from laughing. But if grandpa left, how could she survive alone? Tao Tao truly didn’t know.

Sensing that Tao Tao had difficulty accepting his words, the old man said nothing more, letting Tao Tao hug him and cry, lovingly stroking her head. Then he said to Lin Feng, "Friend, please sit."

Lin Feng took the cue, sitting by the bed, reaching out to try to heal the old man. But the old man waved his hand to stop him, saying, "There’s really no need to treat my illness, nor is there a way to cure it. Truth be told, I’m already a dead man. I’ve persisted these years solely because of Tao Tao; you saw my body. Can you really save me?"

As the old man spoke, Lin Feng found himself unable to reply. His medical skills were outstanding and he possessed Gang Qi capable of repairing the body. But the problem was, in his opinion, this old man was beyond saving. Even if Lin Feng used every means, the chance of reviving the old man was nearly nonexistent. Moreover, the old man himself had already settled his resolve to die, leaving treatment ineffective.

At this point, tears streamed from the old man’s cloudy eyes as he first sighed deeply and then spoke to Lin Feng, "Not to hide from a friend, we come from the same world. I ascended three thousand years ago. On Earth, my name was Geomancer Qianjue, and eventually, I ascended here by practicing upright ways. But after revealing many secrets, upon entering the Myriad Heavens Divine Realm, I faced much persecution, choosing to hide my name and live in the Hidden World for safety."

"During my time in the Hidden World, I learned of many Earth Ascenders’ tragic fates, feeling quite sorrowful. Thinking about how talented Earth Ascenders are, I couldn’t understand why they were so oppressed here in the Myriad Heavens Divine Realm. For the sake of many Ascenders, I broke my vows and sacrificed longevity to divine their fates. But the answer I received left me hopeless. There was only one prediction — after three thousand one hundred seventy-two years, a turning point might come, but that turning point was indefinite."

"Thus, I later hid here. Despite heavy ailments, I endured due to unyielding faith, for the sole purpose of meeting you this last time and explaining matters. I hope you’ll seize destiny and reclaim the rightful place for all Ascenders..."