Chapter 603: Ink Pool Enlightenment |
On just the first night, a male consort had died—and he was even one of the strongest among them.
This not only shocked and angered Wen Ruanyu, but also ignited a hope in him of uncovering the traitor. He sought out Ning Zhuo and invited him along. “Jiao Ma, your strategy is truly effective. Just on the first night, the traitor was forced to make a move.”
Yet Ning Zhuo’s expression remained calm as he gently shook his head. “Let’s investigate first before saying anything.”
To strike on the very first attempt—was that truly the traitor?
If it truly was the traitor acting, then he must have been completely confident in his own methods.
But if it was not, then this investigation would fail to achieve their intended goal.
Seeing Ning Zhuo’s expression, Wen Ruanyu could not help but pause slightly. “Jiao Ma, you seem to have other thoughts?”
“I’m not optimistic about this.” Ning Zhuo laid out all of his thoughts.
Wen Ruanyu froze again, then sighed with emotion. “Although your appearance is different, your reaction is very similar to my Senior Sister Meng.”
However, Wen Ruanyu did not notice Ning Zhuo’s odd reaction. He tilted his head back and sighed. “Recently, I’ve often been thinking about Senior Sister Meng.”
“It must be that this ghost tide has placed too much pressure on me!”
“Especially after the Funeral Music Nether Performer was killed. It has left me constantly suspicious, forcing me to think about many possibilities.”
“So in my heart I always wonder—if Senior Sister Meng were still here, what would she do? At that time she didn’t even have cultivators skilled in divination assisting her, yet why was she always so wise and decisive?”
Ning Zhuo comforted Wen Ruanyu for a few sentences before deliberately saying, “Senior Wen, you are different from the White Paper City Lord and these citizens. You came from the Myriad Phenomena Sect.”
“If White Paper Immortal City were destroyed and you had to retreat, surely your sect would not blame you.”
Wen Ruanyu looked at Ning Zhuo, then shook his head with a bitter smile. “You don’t know how many years I’ve been stationed in this immortal city.”
“At first, it was simply because of Senior Sister Meng’s instructions. But as time passed, my feelings toward this city only grew deeper. Now I cannot bear to leave it.”
“You may not know this, but the City Lord’s main body suffers from illness. Even with her paper clones, she rarely appears unless it is a major matter.”
“Normally, I manage the internal administration of the city, while Tie Guzheng is responsible for the city’s defenses.”
“Much of this immortal city’s construction originated from my ideas—some were even personally implemented by me!”
“Take the Ink Pool for example. Although it was originally arranged by Senior Sister Meng, it has been damaged more than ten times since then. Each time, I was the one who mobilized manpower to repair and improve it.”
Ning Zhuo felt slightly puzzled. “Although I am not a Confucian cultivator, I know a little about it. Is the Ink Pool really so easy to damage?”
Wen Ruanyu revealed a secret. “As the saying goes, the land nurtures its people. The Ghost Race has lived and multiplied here for generations. Their nature is gloomy and combative—almost like barbarians. At the beginning, they were extremely difficult to manage and could barely coexist peacefully with the Human Race.”
“The White Paper Immortal City you see today—and even the cultural landscape of this entire Yin Soul Black Marsh Wetlands—are all the result of the Ink Pool.”
“We mix the ink within the Ink Pool, turning it into the primary drinking water source for the entire city and the surrounding villages.”
“Over long periods of influence, the Ghost Race gradually absorbed much scholarly aura. Their vicious nature was greatly reduced, and they became gentle and refined. Only then could our schools educate them, teaching them knowledge and helping them reproduce and live peacefully.”
“But the Ghost Race naturally resisted being changed by such external forces. For a long time, they constantly tried to destroy the Ink Pool—and they succeeded many times.”
After hearing this, Ning Zhuo raised another question. “So before Senior Meng came here, the appearance of White Paper Immortal City was completely different from now?”
Wen Ruanyu nodded without hesitation. “Of course!”
“When I first followed Senior Sister Meng here, the population was sparse and the place was desolate. This area is close to the Underworld, the Yin energy is extremely heavy, and ghost tides constantly attack. What normal cultivator would willingly come here?”
“Human cultivators were the main population, while Ghost Race members were even fewer. Because of their sinister nature, they were heavily guarded by the humans. Most of them were treated as slaves.”
“Senior Sister Meng was born with a compassionate and generous heart. She treated all beings equally—that is what I admire most about her.”
“Not long after arriving and understanding the situation, she told us that she had devised a plan to revitalize White Paper Immortal City.”
Ning Zhuo’s heart stirred. He blurted out, “Borrow the strength of the Ghost Race?”
Wen Ruanyu laughed. “Exactly.”
“The Ghost Race are half-yin and half-yang, naturally perfectly suited to this wetland.”
“They adapt to this land far better than humans. They can even enter the main channel of the Underworld Flood Dragon River and explore the Underworld!”
“But their population and strong cultivators were tightly suppressed by humans. Meanwhile, the human population was too small—even basic governance manpower was insufficient. In Senior Sister Meng’s view, this was an enormous waste.”
“So she consulted us and ultimately chose the methods of the Confucian path—establishing the Ink Pool to educate the Ghost Race in the wetlands. By removing their barbaric tendencies, they became the true main force in governing this wetland.”
Ning Zhuo immediately felt a sense of admiration. “This Senior Meng is truly formidable. The land nurtures its people—yet she directly changed the water here, thereby transforming the entire region’s cultural character. Such vision and scope truly inspire heartfelt praise.”
“Of course.” Ning Zhuo then looked at Wen Ruanyu. “Without Senior Wen’s persistence and dedication, White Paper Immortal City would not have achieved such results in education today.”
Hearing Ning Zhuo praise Meng Yaoyin and also compliment himself, Wen Ruanyu felt extremely pleased. “It is precisely because of the Ink Pool’s long-term influence that we gradually reduced restrictions on the Ghost Race and strongly supported their population growth. Using their labor, we developed the entire Yin Soul Black Marsh Wetlands.”
“As I oversaw governance, I deliberately developed many villages around the immortal city. These villages are built upon several human cultivator families, with Ghost Race members forming the main population.”
“Now, our influence already covers forty percent of the wetlands.”
“This time, when White Paper Immortal City faced destruction, the City Lord gave a single order and so many forces came to support us. That truly comforts me.”
“On one hand, it is indeed because of the City Lord’s heavy rewards. But on the other hand, it shows that our enlightenment has deeply taken root in people’s hearts. Whether Human Race or Ghost Race, they all support White Paper Immortal City.”
Through this conversation, Ning Zhuo gained a deeper understanding of White Paper Immortal City’s history.
As they talked, the two arrived at the crime scene.
Shen Bing’s corpse was still lying there, deliberately left untouched.
Wen Ruanyu looked toward Ning Zhuo, but Ning Zhuo extended a hand, gesturing for him to go first.
Wen Ruanyu activated a spell and began examining the body. Soon he obtained results.
“Shen Bing has two fatal injuries.”
“One at the neck, and one at the heart.”
“Although his neck is still connected and shows no external wound, his life force was completely severed—equivalent to decapitation.”
“And in his heart there is a Dark Iron Heart-Piercing Needle, which was also a cause of death.”
Seeing the strange look on Wen Ruanyu’s face, Ning Zhuo felt something stir in his mind. “Senior Wen, it seems you already have some guesses?”
Wen Ruanyu sighed deeply. “Yes.”
“The nature of this spell injury immediately reminds me of Chen Sui’s Wheat-Harvesting Art.”
“And the Dark Iron Heart-Piercing Needle is Sun Tiesheng’s famous artifact.”
Shen Bing, Chen Sui, and Sun Tiesheng were the three strongest cultivators of the Strength-Nourishing Institute. Now Shen Bing was dead, and the clues pointed directly toward Chen Sui and Sun Tiesheng. This result left Wen Ruanyu somewhat at a loss.
For a moment, Ning Zhuo also fell silent.
After a while, Wen Ruanyu broke the silence with a bitter sigh. “You know what? I don’t even dare let the two of them undergo a test under the Heart-Dissecting Inquiry Scroll.”
The Heart-Dissecting Inquiry Scroll could detect lies. Once exposed, the subject’s life force would be severed—an extremely formidable method.
Ning Zhuo sighed as well. “I strongly suspect this is the traitor manipulating things from behind.”
“This is a chain scheme.”
“Chen Sui and Sun Tiesheng may both be tainted—possibly instigated into taking action.”
“If we discover this through investigation, should we punish them? The most straightforward answer is a life for a life.”
“But if we do that, we would be fulfilling the traitor’s wishes. It would be equivalent to eliminating Chen Sui and Sun Tiesheng on his behalf.”
“If we refuse to punish them, how would we convince the public?”
“So no matter what choice we make, it will fracture the unity of White Paper Immortal City.”
Wen Ruanyu nodded. “Although there is no evidence, I agree with your judgment, Jiao Ma.”
“After several rounds of fighting wits with this traitor, I’m beginning to admire him more and more.”
“This person’s combat strength and strategy are both exceptional.”
“Golden Yangzi is already dead. Shen Bing is also dead. If Chen Sui and Sun Tiesheng are killed too, the main strength of the Strength-Nourishing Institute will be completely gone.”
“That would deal a huge blow to the entire institute’s morale.”
After saying this, the two fell silent again.
The traitor’s methods were simply too brilliant. Even though Ning Zhuo and Wen Ruanyu knew there might be clues, they dared not investigate further.
Because everything they did had to consider the overall situation.
Investigating further would be equivalent to harming themselves.
Ning Zhuo clapped his hands in admiration. “Our plan was to pressure him through the broader situation of the Golden Swallow Fork and the Forget River Lord. The traitor must have seen through it. So he used the same method to pressure us in return.”
“Impressive, truly impressive!”
Wen Ruanyu frowned. “What should we do now?”
After thinking briefly, Ning Zhuo spread his hands. “I choose to endure and remain inactive. Investigating rashly would only aid the enemy.”
“But we still hold the initiative.”
“As long as the Spirit Contract Treasure Refining Formation remains active, the Forget River Lord will continue applying pressure on the traitor.”
“Next, we increase surveillance on Chen Sui and Sun Tiesheng. I refuse to believe he can repeatedly succeed without revealing a flaw.”
Wen Ruanyu pondered for a moment and then shook his head with a bitter smile. “That is the only option.”
Residence of Chen Sui.
“What?!” Chen Sui glared furiously, tearing the message letter in his hand to pieces. “Who is impersonating my Wheat-Harvesting Art to frame me?!”
“Shen Bing is already dead. The biggest rival for the Golden Swallow Fork is gone. The only one who might frame me is Sun Tiesheng.”
“The Sun Family… their foundation is deep. Unlike a lone cultivator like me. They even prepared people to cultivate the same technique.”
“The Heart-Piercing Needle I stole is still in Shen Bing’s corpse. When will Wen Ruanyu arrest Sun Tiesheng?”
Residence of Sun Tiesheng.
After hearing the report from his servant, Sun Tiesheng slammed the table and roared, “Damn that Chen Sui! I clearly remember losing my Heart-Piercing Needle after sparring with him.”
“I didn’t expect that even with our family’s preparations—having elders convert to cultivate the Wheat-Harvesting Art—he could still confuse the truth!”
“Have the family think of another plan!”
“Right now, among the entire Strength-Nourishing Institute, only Chen Sui and I have the greatest chance. If I obtain the Golden Swallow Fork, I will definitely repay the family greatly.”
The servant hesitated. “Shen Bing just died. If we act again now, it would be like committing a crime directly against the wind, my lord.”
Sun Tiesheng laughed loudly, utterly confident. “For the Golden Swallow Fork to recognize a master is no simple matter. Golden Yangzi and Shen Bing are already dead—only Chen Sui the orphan remains.”
“I’m the strongest contender now. White Paper Immortal City is facing the ghost tide disaster, and the Underworld Yin Army is stationed nearby, watching closely. Would they dare move against me? Aren’t they afraid the Golden Swallow Fork would remain without a new master?”
Ning Zhuo returned to his residence and resumed cultivation.
Four Nascent Soul–level treasures were used in rotation. Ning Zhuo’s soul foundation had already approached the level of eight hundred thousand souls—a terrifying rate of progress.
“Boss, are you really not going to cultivate your soul using this method? If you miss this chance, you may never get another.” Ning Zhuo could not help persuading Sun Lingtong again through Life Hanging by a Thread.
Sun Lingtong rejected him without hesitation. “Little Zhuo, stop trying to convince me. I’m stuck at the final stage, close to forming the Golden Core. After I reach Golden Core, it won’t be too late to work on this.”
“Hehe.”
“Guess who’s here? Your little girlfriend.”
Since Ning Zhuo was the master of Life Hanging by a Thread, he naturally knew Sun Lingtong’s situation.
At this moment Sun Lingtong was inside the Yin Soldiers’ main camp, though close to the outer perimeter.
Through Sun Lingtong’s perspective, Ning Zhuo saw a group of cultivators charging straight into the camp under cover of night. He was secretly surprised—these people were quite bold.
“Charge with me!!!” Qing Yan led the charge.
His daughter Qing Chi followed closely behind.
Previously, White Paper Immortal City had only sent small squads to eliminate scout teams of the Forget River Yin Army. They had never directly attacked the camp before.
Thus the sudden assault caught the Forget River Yin Army completely off guard.
By the time they regrouped and launched a counterattack, Qing Yan and the others had already caused havoc and withdrawn safely.
Qing Chi brought up the rear. With a push of both palms, she unleashed a surge of azure flames.
Under the flames, countless Yin Soldiers screamed as they were completely annihilated.
Seeing this, Sun Lingtong was startled. “Little Zhuo, your little girlfriend is quite formidable. Just that move alone already carries Golden Core–level power!”
On the victorious return journey, Qing Chi transmitted her voice to her father. “Dad, don’t forget. If I fight with all my strength, you promised to support me in going to see Jiao Ma again.”
Qing Yan snorted coldly. “I said you must establish merit first!”
Qing Chi cracked her knuckles. “Just merit? I’ll earn it easily.”
That night passed uneasily for the Forget River Yin Army.
For Ning Zhuo, it passed in deep cultivation.
The Strength-Nourishing Institute passed the night peacefully—until dawn, when chaos suddenly erupted.
“Someone’s dead! Someone’s dead!”
Chen Sui was dead.
