Chapter 623: How Could This Be Considered Dual Cultivation?
The space within the formation resembled an enormous vertical well, so deep that its bottom could not be seen, as though it led straight to the Nine Netherworlds.
Yin Energy surged within the well like a tide, so dense it was like ink. It was no longer composed of vast currents of airflow, but instead resembled viscous liquid.
“Blackwater Mountain, White Paper City…” When Ning Zhuo saw this scene, his heart stirred, and he suddenly recalled the external title by which White Paper Immortal City was known.
The walls of the well were smooth as mirrors, neither stone nor jade, seemingly constructed purely from the formation itself.
The black-water-like Yin Energy churned and roared within the well. At times, it rolled up waves several zhang high. When they crashed into one another, they emitted deep, thunder-like booms.
Yang Sanyan, Wen Ruanyu, and Ning Zhuo stood at the edge of the well wall. All three felt the bone-piercing cold brought by the “black water.” Its chill surpassed that of ice and snow, penetrating straight into the marrow. Even their own Yang Energy was suppressed, and the circulation of spiritual power could nearly be frozen.
Amidst this raging tide of Yin Energy, a figure floated silently at the center—it was the White Paper City Lord.
She was not drifting with the current. Instead, in an almost solidified posture filled with supreme authority, she slowly rose and sank within the violent black tide.
She had a standard oval face, yet the lines of her bone structure were strikingly sharp and firm. Her cheekbones were high as though carved by a blade, and her jawline was distinct and powerful. Even with her eyes closed in slumber, she exuded an unquestionable decisiveness and cold resolve.
Her beauty was like two slender swords, slanting upward into her temples. Her black brows were already tinged with a layer of silver-gray, like steel covered in frost.
Her eyes were tightly shut—long and sharp phoenix eyes. Even closed, the curve of her eyeliner resembled carefully painted ink strokes, their tails rising sharply upward, outlining nobility, arrogance, and scrutiny.
Her lips were thin, with a pronounced cupid’s bow. They should have been a fierce cinnabar red, yet now they were a lifeless pale gray-purple, like withered wisteria petals. Pressed tightly together, they maintained a distant coldness even in unconsciousness.
Her figure was tall and upright, her frame well-proportioned. Even lying flat, she radiated resilience and strength.
Her long hair spread out around her, black and lustrous. Not even the black-water Yin tide could conceal its sheen. At the tips, however, the black gradually transitioned into an eerie dark blue. Between the strands, tiny ice-blue Yin crystals flickered like stars before quickly vanishing into the dense waves of hair.
“City Lord…” Wen Ruanyu sighed.
After so long, he had finally seen the City Lord’s true body. Yet her condition was clearly dire—there was no way she could awaken on her own.
Yang Sanyan narrowed his eyes. This was his first time seeing the current City Lord of White Paper Immortal City.
Even with his broad experience and cold heart, he found himself momentarily captivated by her striking beauty.
And this was with her unconscious. It was hard to imagine what an aloof and powerful presence she would be when she opened her eyes.
Yin Energy boiled within the well, crashing like thunder.
At the very center, however, the White Paper City Lord was like amber of time. All the surrounding violence, upon approaching within several chi of her body, seemed suppressed by an invisible, absolute will originating from her very being. It became viscous and slow.
She was like ten-thousand-year profound ice cast into an ocean of ink. Not only was she not corroded or melted—she was instead madly assimilating and absorbing the destructive energy.
Each slow rise and fall resembled an unconscious breath, drawing vast Yin Energy into her body.
The patches of skin occasionally revealed were already covered in a greenish hue, like ghostly flesh. Combined with her imposing presence, it felt as though one were paying audience to a Lord of the Underworld!
The City Lord’s Paper Avatar let out a long sigh. “This is the current state of my true body. For the sake of the entire White Paper Immortal City, she bore the vast majority of the Yin Energy upon herself. As a result, she fell unconscious many years ago and has been difficult to awaken ever since.”
Wen Ruanyu observed solemnly. “The City Lord was originally a cultivator of the living realm. The Yang Energy within her should have far surpassed her Yin Energy. But now, bearing too much Yin Energy, she is almost hanging by a thread!”
“What can be done about this?”
The Paper Avatar shook her head. “I have secretly tried countless methods, but none have proven effective. The main issue is that the true body is on the verge of death. Any method cannot be forceful. If the balance is slightly disrupted, this fragile state will collapse, and the true body will die instantly!”
“But if the method is not forceful, how can it counter this mountain- and sea-like tide of Yin?”
As though suffocated for too long and finally finding someone to confide in, the Paper Avatar continued bitterly, “All these years, for the greater situation of the Immortal City, I have concealed the truth and sealed the true body here.”
“Left with no choice, this avatar has acted as the true body to handle certain matters.”
Yang Sanyan frowned deeply.
If the true body was in this state and could not awaken, how could she sign a Divine Contract?
Signing only with the avatar would greatly reduce its binding force.
“The sect’s intelligence was correct,” Yang Sanyan thought.
“The current White Paper City Lord is ambitious and highly controlling. Even in such dire and perilous circumstances, she refuses to relinquish power and has gritted her teeth to persist in secret for so many years.”
If this situation were exposed, her position would undoubtedly face repeated challenges.
With her true body unable to fight, it would be easy for others to depose her.
Yang Sanyan took out the Divine Contract. “City Lord, I did not expect your situation to be so dire. If your true body cannot awaken, signing this Divine Contract makes it difficult for us to establish even the most basic trust!”
“How shall this be resolved?”
The Paper Avatar wore a bitter expression and slowly shook her head.
Wen Ruanyu suddenly said, “I see. That is why the City Lord has been widely recruiting Male Consorts.”
“Since the true body is unconscious, only by allowing others to engage in Dual Cultivation, with the other party taking the lead, can Yin and Yang intermingle and alleviate the burden of Yin Energy upon her.”
“Moreover, Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation is profoundly mysterious—it accords with the great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Even if Yin Energy is like the sea, it must obediently transform, rather than extinguishing like floodwaters overwhelming kindling.”
The Paper Avatar continued, “But unfortunately, I channeled the Yin Energy within my body according to the formation into Zangyang Villa, Zhuangyang Courtyard, and other places. Even if all the Male Consorts worked together, compared to the total Yin Energy, it would be but a drop in the ocean—barely enough to maintain this near-death state.”
“As for the Yang Energy of the Golden Swallow Fork, that is not Dual Cultivation and is mixed with demonic energy. It is fundamentally unsuitable for my true body.”
“The reason it was publicized was merely to give everyone a thought to cling to, a sliver of hope.”
Ning Zhuo’s emotions surged.
He thought of Sun Tiesheng, who had lost his Dao path because of this and had been forced to transform into a half-human, half-demon.
If Sun Tiesheng had heard these words, what would he have felt?
Sun Tiesheng was already dead. Shen Bing and Chen Sui had also died because of the Golden Swallow Fork.
If they had known that this was merely a setup arranged by the City Lord, what would they have thought?
Even Zheng Shoumo had been toyed with.
Because of the Golden Swallow Fork recognizing a master, he had repeatedly taken action. Acting hastily, he exposed flaws, allowing Ning Zhuo to seize upon them.
Yet in truth, Ning Zhuo himself had also fanned the flames.
If not for his and Wen Ruanyu’s design, the Spirit Contract Treasure-Refining Formation would not have been established at Zhuangyang Courtyard, nor would such a grand commotion have been created.
“Then what about Li Xiangshang?” Ning Zhuo’s heart stirred.
Li Xiangshang had been sent by the White-Headed Dragon Lord.
“The White-Headed Dragon Lord first sent Jinyangzi, then later added Li Xiangshang. How much does he know? What agreement does he have with the White Paper City Lord?”
“Is Li Xiangshang also someone fanning the flames, though unaware of it himself?”
With this thought, Ning Zhuo gained an entirely new understanding of the bewildering situation in White Paper Immortal City.
The true grand scheme was the century-long conspiracy of the Forgetting River Underworld Lord. Under the Heavenly Ghost Life Transformation Offering, White Paper Immortal City had already been designated as a site of blood sacrifice.
“My mother knew this through Daoist Bone Tomb, but she did not inform the White Paper City Lord.”
“So does the White Paper City Lord know?”
On the Forgetting River Underworld Lord’s chessboard, the White Paper City Lord was a piece, and White Paper Immortal City was the flesh he intended to devour.
On the White Paper City Lord’s chessboard, the Golden Swallow Fork was her tool. The Funeral-Music Ghost Performer, Wen Ruanyu, and even Ning Zhuo were her pieces. Sun Tiesheng, Shen Bing, Chen Sui, and the many Male Consorts were her discarded pieces. Li Xiangshang was likely a piece as well—but whether the White-Headed Dragon Lord was one, Ning Zhuo could not determine.
“As for the Mysterious Organization, I currently lack the qualification to know. Only after joining the Myriad Phenomena Sect will I have further opportunity.”
“My mother’s message makes me appear to be a chess piece on the surface, yet secretly gives me the possibility of becoming a chess player.”
“Yang Sanyan wants the City Lord’s true body to sign the Divine Contract. That benefits me.”
The White Paper City Lord had lavished Ning Zhuo with support, never stinting on rewards. Even her funding of the Qingjiao Army had been generous.
An ordinary person would have long since been utterly devoted.
But Ning Zhuo was no ordinary person.
He had seen through the situation and understood the City Lord’s nature and character.
Thus, he decisively chose to stand with the Myriad Phenomena Sect.
“Is the White Paper City Lord Zheng Shoumo’s accomplice?”
“This question is critical!”
“If she is, I will never risk involving myself in the Heavenly Ghost Life Transformation Offering.”
According to Yang Sanyan, Ning Zhuo’s mother had likely been harmed by the Mysterious Organization. That would mean Meng Yaoyin’s message stood at a lower level than that organization.
It was even possible that the message she left had long been known by them and deliberately preserved.
Having reached this point, Ning Zhuo grasped the key issue: “The City Lord’s true body must awaken.”
Once his thoughts settled, he acted decisively.
Breaking the silence, he said, “To awaken the City Lord is actually not difficult.”
The single sentence immediately drew everyone’s gaze.
“You have a method?” Yang Sanyan asked curiously.
Ning Zhuo cupped his hands, his expression solemn. “Allow me to inform you all—I possess some knowledge of medical arts. I have a technique that can resolve the City Lord’s current predicament.”
Yang Sanyan nodded decisively. “Then please demonstrate, little brother.”
Wen Ruanyu looked on expectantly.
The Paper Avatar pondered. “Very well. But I must closely supervise the entire process.”
“Of course.” Ning Zhuo smiled. “This medical technique of mine does not forbid observation.”
“Please.” The Paper Avatar gestured.
She manipulated the formation, allowing the black-water Yin tide to lift the true body, slowly bringing her to the well wall.
Ning Zhuo stood before the City Lord’s true body.
At close range, he realized just how tall she was—nearly nine chi.
He extended his hand toward her body.
Even with three chi still between them, his palm felt as though pricked by needles.
The Yin Energy contained within her true body was terrifyingly abundant!
An ordinary Nascent Soul stage cultivator would already be dead. Only by relying on her own talent could the White Paper City Lord have reached such an exaggerated extent.
Wisely, Ning Zhuo halted, his palm facing her true body from three chi away.
The Paper Avatar, Yang Sanyan, and Wen Ruanyu all stared without blinking.
To their surprise, Ning Zhuo did not activate any mysterious medical technique. Instead, he directly expelled a stream of Yang Energy from his palm.
The Paper Avatar immediately showed disappointment.
She had thought Ning Zhuo would display some profound medical art. Instead, it was still the old method of Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation.
“Ning Zhuo is merely at Foundation Establishment. Though his combat strength is formidable, he is still young. How much Yang Energy can he possibly have?”
“Hmm?!”
In the next moment, the Paper Avatar’s expression changed.
She was astonished to see that once the Yang Energy surged forth, it required no control from Ning Zhuo, nor any leading of Dual Cultivation. It directly entered the White Paper City Lord’s true body, like swallows returning to their nest.
During this process, the Yang Energy rapidly fused with the Yin Energy.
The fusion was astonishingly swift and efficient—practically perfect!
Yang Sanyan and Wen Ruanyu, perceiving this, also revealed looks of surprise, viewing Ning Zhuo in a new light.
“How strange! What method is this? The refined Yang Energy is extremely close to the true body—it is almost as if it originated from the true body itself!” the Paper Avatar exclaimed.
Wen Ruanyu nodded in admiration. “Though Ning Zhuo is young and of low cultivation, his methods are extraordinary. He repeatedly surprises others.”
Yang Sanyan said, “Rather than medical art, it seems more like a Dual Cultivation method. I did not expect you to be so skilled in Dual Cultivation, Ning Zhuo!”
“Ahem, ahem.” Ning Zhuo coughed repeatedly. “How can this be considered Dual Cultivation?”
“Only exchanging Primordial Yang and Primordial Yin counts as Dual Cultivation!”
“This level merely involves me producing some cultivation resources for the City Lord’s use.”
“Senior Yang, I still intend to join the Myriad Phenomena Sect. I am young—please do not ruin my reputation!”
Yang Sanyan blinked. “Your method is exceedingly mysterious! It seems capable of refining your own Yang Energy according to the target, perfectly matching someone.”
“Remarkable!”
“If this were exposed, who knows how many female cultivators would wish to cultivate together with you.”
Ning Zhuo coughed again. “This method consumes my foundation. It cannot be abused, nor used frequently. It is only due to the pressing situation that I am forced to employ it. I hope all present will keep it confidential!”
Yang Sanyan said, “I shall not speak of it.”
Wen Ruanyu said, “A gentleman keeps his mouth sealed like a bottle.”
The Paper Avatar said, “As expected of the savior of our Immortal City. Young Master Ning Zhuo, your methods are wondrous and repeatedly astonishing. Sigh… for you to exhaust your foundation like this, your compensation will certainly not be lacking! Please continue—saving my true body is saving the entire White Paper City.”
Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth, feigning utmost exertion.
He secretly activated the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique, mobilizing his blood and qi to make his complexion rapidly turn pale.
In truth, the Yang Energy he expelled all came from the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel. In essence, it was converted from the White Paper City Lord’s own Yin Energy and had little to do with him.
Moments later, the eyelids of the White Paper City Lord’s true body trembled and slowly opened. Her first gaze locked onto the large-headed youth engaging in Dual Cultivation with her.