NOVEL NEXT Chapter 002:
Chapter 002: Heavenly Emperor’s Aura Reading Technique:
[Heavenly Emperor’s Aura Reading Technique (Unique): An extraordinary skill derived from the ancient holy emperor through the supreme treasure Heavenly Diagram Fate Book. This divine ability allows the host to perceive the aura of all things, seize heavenly opportunities, and control the flow of destiny.]
[Effect 1: Heavenly Perception, Invincible Combat
Activating this technique allows the host to discern all energy fluctuations within an opponent, uncovering their every action and weakness. The host can anticipate the enemy’s moves, ensuring invincibility in combat against those of the same level.
Effect 2: Aura Seizure, Destiny Manipulation
By using this technique, the host can see the level of others’ fortune and the location of upcoming fortuitous encounters. Preemptively claiming someone else’s opportunities will reduce their fortune.
Effect 3: Heavenly Favor, Shared Opportunity
When helping others obtain opportunities using this technique, the host will receive a reward of equivalent fortuitous encounters.]
[Fortune levels are categorized by color, from lowest to highest: Black (misfortune), White (ordinary), Green, Blue, Red, Purple, Gold, and Multicolored.]
…
Chu Shenxiao closed his eyes, feeling a slight ache in his head.
The moment he acquired the Heavenly Emperor’s Aura Reading Technique, a vast and incomprehensible amount of knowledge flooded his mind. Slowly, he came to understand the true essence of this skill.
When he finally processed it all, he opened his eyes, overwhelmed by a single thought.
Powerful!
Having read countless online novels, how could he not grasp the significance of a skill like Heavenly Emperor’s Aura Reading Technique?
It represented limitless potential—a supreme cheat!
In the Taicang Realm, everyone knew fortune existed, but no one could see it, no matter how advanced their cultivation was. At best, one could speculate about someone’s fortune based on their fortuitous encounters or events.
Only the Heavenly Emperor’s Aura Reading Technique could clearly reveal someone’s fortune.
This meant Chu Shenxiao could instantly identify protagonist-like individuals, ally with them, share their fortunes, or, if he chose a darker path, directly steal their opportunities!
Likewise, he could avoid those whose fortunes were depleted, ensuring he wouldn’t be dragged down by their bad luck.
With this divine ability, he could not only seek fortune and avoid calamity but also rapidly rise by claiming a great opportunity!
Chu Shenxiao was overjoyed.
“Finally, the heavens have shown me some mercy. I wasn’t pushed into a dead end.”
Earlier, he had been disappointed by the mediocre aptitude ratings on his status panel.
In this world, where strength dictated everything, poor aptitude meant slow progress and slim chances of success.
And with his exceptional appearance, if he lacked the strength to protect himself, he wouldn’t survive ten steps outside before some wicked female cultivator kidnapped him for unspeakable purposes.
Even he, as a man, almost found his looks too dazzling. How could those starved demonic women resist?
Now, with the Heavenly Emperor’s Aura Reading Technique, he finally saw hope.
If his aptitude was poor, he would leverage his unparalleled good looks to make allies across the world, share their fortunes, and accumulate enough opportunities to forge himself into a master!
Chu Shenxiao’s gaze grew determined as he set a small goal for himself:
Make ten friends with protagonist-level fortune and share their luck to the fullest!
Overjoyed, he couldn’t wait to activate the Heavenly Emperor’s Aura Reading Technique and test its power.
His eyes emitted a faint, almost imperceptible light.
Then, the world before him transformed.
Everything in heaven and earth now exuded subtle ‘auras.’
For instance, the land he stood on revealed the presence of spiritual energy.
He could clearly see where spiritual energy was abundant, where it was scarce, and which areas were fragile or solid. Every detail was vivid and crystal clear to him.
Chu Shenxiao suddenly understood why this technique claimed invincibility in combat among those of the same level.
With such precise insight, he could track the flow of energy, muscle movements, and even the thoughts of his opponents.
Every tiny flaw would be exposed. Before his enemy could act, he would have already countered their moves.
It was like having an overpowered cheat—how could anyone fight him?
He then turned his gaze to the river.
In the water, fish, shrimp, and crabs all had faint strands of aura above their heads.
Most were white, with occasional traces of black.
This represented their fortune.
Curious, Chu Shenxiao looked at his own head, only to find nothing—an empty void.
He immediately understood. This must be the one limitation of the Heavenly Emperor’s Aura Reading Technique: it couldn’t perceive his own fortune.
Though slightly disappointed, he accepted it as reasonable.
Putting the technique away, Chu Shenxiao used the clear river water to tidy his appearance.
Though he couldn’t fix his tattered clothes, he cleaned the dirt from his face and straightened his messy hair. Even he was stunned by his reflection.
“Good thing this is a river. If it were a mirror, it might have shattered from how handsome I am.”
With a mix of sighs and self-praise, he examined his reflection, trying out various expressions.
Eventually, he settled on one: calm and serene, with a distant gaze.
His flawless features resembled finely carved jade, exuding unparalleled charisma. Between his eyebrows was a faint air of unmatched valor, emanating a sense of superiority that set him above everyone else.
“Perfect. From now on, this is my public expression—profound and untouchable, like a celestial being descended to earth. Ordinary people will feel unworthy to speak to me, while only those with extraordinary confidence will dare approach.”
Chu Shenxiao nodded in satisfaction.
Since he planned to make friends and share their fortunes, his outward demeanor needed to be impeccable.
With his exceptional looks and a touch of refined manners, he was confident he could attract plenty of allies.
He reopened his status panel:
…
Name: Chu Shenxiao
Gender: Male
Title: Celestial Being Descends
Affiliation: None
Cultivation: Condensed Aperture Stage
Spiritual Aptitude: 23 (Mediocre)
Physical Aptitude: 28 (Mediocre)
Comprehension Aptitude: 39 (Slightly Gifted)
Charm: 100 (Eternal Legend)
Cultivation Technique: Mysterious Water Serenity Technique (Seventh Grade)
Martial Skills: Mysterious Heart Water Manipulation Technique, Heavenly Emperor’s Aura Reading Technique (Unique)
…
Chu Shenxiao was already familiar with the mechanics of Taicang Realm, having studied the game extensively.
In the game, cultivation techniques ranged from common ninth-grade methods to supreme first-grade celestial tomes, with higher grades requiring greater aptitude.
Aptitude was divided into three categories: spiritual, physical, and comprehension. Like charm, the maximum value was 100.
Spiritual aptitude pertained to refining energy, physical aptitude to strengthening the body, and comprehension was universally applicable.
Chu Shenxiao’s current aptitudes were all mediocre, ranging between 20 and 30.
The higher the aptitude, the rarer it became. At advanced levels, even a single point difference was significant.
Aptitude determined everything—cultivation speed, technique mastery, and divine skill acquisition.
For instance, his current seventh-grade technique, Mysterious Water Serenity Technique, required a minimum of 20 spiritual aptitude and 30 comprehension.
Aptitude was predetermined at birth and rarely changed unless one encountered extraordinary opportunities, such as supreme techniques or celestial treasures.
Thinking of this, Chu Shenxiao felt frustrated.
With his divine appearance and celestial aura, he seemed like someone destined for greatness, yet his aptitudes were painfully average…
“First, I need to switch to a better technique. No matter how hard I train this seventh-grade method, I won’t achieve much.”
The royal family’s Mysterious Water Serenity Technique had limited potential. Even with exceptional talent, its peak would only lead to forming a Dao Embryo body.
Though a Dao Embryo body represented a mighty expert capable of extraordinary feats, Chu Shenxiao wouldn’t settle for limitations in a world where celestial beings existed.
He needed to find a superior technique!
The most direct way was to join a top-tier sect.
Sects ranked third-grade and above had celestial tomes as their core techniques, guiding disciples directly toward the Dao.
However, entering such prestigious sects wasn’t easy. With his current aptitudes, his chances were slim.
“Every journey begins with a single step,” he muttered.
Rising to his feet, he decided to return home first.
The blind old eunuch, his benefactor and caretaker, was likely worried sick by now. This man had raised him and was like a second parent—a debt of gratitude he intended to honor.
Just as Chu Shenxiao prepared to leave, a sudden exclamation came from behind him…