Chapter 627: Calamity from the Yang World
Ning Zhuo listened carefully, murmuring to himself as he softly repeated the key points: “First, find the vital point. Second, use Confucian methods to strike that vital point.”
“Alright!”
“How do I find the vital point, and what Confucian method should be used? Can I learn it?”
Ning Zhuo was extremely curious about new things. Among the hundred arts of cultivation, there was none he did not wish to learn.
Warm Soft Jade could not help but feel curious. “Little Friend Ning Zhuo, you are being so solemn about this. Do you truly have a ritual that requires you to sabotage it?”
“Is it related to White Paper Immortal City, or to the ghost tide?”
Ning Zhuo smiled faintly. “Senior Warm, thank you for your concern. This is my personal matter. Please teach me! If you have any conditions, feel free to name them.”
Warm Soft Jade shook her head. “You are Senior Sister Meng’s child. I have yet to show you enough care—how could I possibly demand compensation from you?”
“Though the contents of this ritual are incomplete, its rank is quite high. If you handle it alone, it will be far too strenuous and dangerous.”
“If you need my help, just say the word!”
Ning Zhuo once again declined tactfully.
This matter—he would handle it himself.
Warm Soft Jade seemed trustworthy, and the White Paper Immortal City Lord was also tied to the matter by shared interests. Yet Ning Zhuo did not wish to seek their help.
The reason was simple—Meng Yao Yin had concealed all of this, not only from the White Paper Immortal City Lord, but also from the Myriad Phenomena Sect.
“Mother must have her reasons for doing so. I have not been in White Paper Immortal City for long. I am still an outsider. Until I uncover why Mother arranged things this way, the safest course is to follow her methods without alteration.”
“In truth, even if they knew this secret, they would not be of much help.”
“Just defending White Paper Immortal City already requires their full strength.”
Seeing Ning Zhuo’s firm attitude, Warm Soft Jade stopped insisting and instead began explaining the relevant methods in detail.
“To locate the central hub is actually quite simple. One must rely on literary qi.”
“When literary qi accumulates to a certain degree, it attracts and contends with itself. This is called literary talent cherishing yet competing with literary talent.”
“This is the literary qi I have accumulated over the years. I will give it to you. By following its resonance, you will be able to find the hub.”
As she spoke, Warm Soft Jade took out a small storage bag.
The white storage bag was semi-transparent. Inside it was a swirling mass of literary qi, radiating a snowy glow that shone outward through the bag.
With a trace of pride, Warm Soft Jade said, “This is the Snow-Reflecting Literary Light Pouch. If a Confucian cultivator’s literary attainment is insufficient, even if they accumulate literary qi, they cannot emit this snowy glow. Thus, during Confucian gatherings, cultivators often take out their Snow-Reflecting Pouches to compare.”
Ning Zhuo immediately offered several words of praise, causing Warm Soft Jade’s face to bloom with a smile.
After putting away the Snow-Reflecting Literary Light Pouch, Ning Zhuo asked what Confucian method should be used to destroy the hub.
Warm Soft Jade pondered briefly before saying, “I can think of six methods capable of destroying the hub.”
“I can learn them all! It’s just that…” Ning Zhuo hesitated.
Warm Soft Jade gazed at him deeply. “It’s just that you are pressed for time, aren’t you?”
Ning Zhuo nodded frankly.
Warm Soft Jade sighed. “You truly are like your mother—always wanting to shoulder the heaviest responsibility. Very well. Since time is short, there is only one method most suitable for you.”
“This Confucian art is called ‘The Scholar Encounters Soldiers.’ Though it is a Confucian technique, it borrows military baleful energy to counter other Confucian arts.”
Ning Zhuo’s pupils contracted slightly. In that instant, his scalp tingled.
Warm Soft Jade did not keep him in suspense and immediately transmitted the art to him. “Among them all, this is the simplest and easiest to master quickly. However, each use consumes a considerable amount of military baleful energy, making it suitable for certain Confucian generals.”
After a brief examination, Ning Zhuo found her words entirely true. His heart shook as he thought to himself, “Earlier, I purchased the Art of Bearing Soldiers and Carrying Baleful Energy and have already gathered much military baleful energy within my body.”
“Now this ‘The Scholar Encounters Soldiers’ pairs perfectly with the Art of Bearing Soldiers and Carrying Baleful Energy!”
“Is this what it means to be favored by fortune?”
“No matter what I do, everything flows naturally, smooth and effortless!”
The Underworld.
Forgotten River Immortal City.
A subordinate hurried into the study, his expression grave.
Recently, bad news had emerged one after another, plunging the entire Forgotten River Nether Prefecture into unrest.
Once immovable and mighty, the Forgotten River Nether Prefecture now seemed battered by wind and rain.
The subordinate gritted his teeth and stood at the doorway, reporting in a low voice that an urgent situation had arisen.
“Enter,” Lord of the Forgotten River said.
After hearing the report, Lord of the Forgotten River remained calm. “Understood. You may withdraw.”
The subordinate respectfully retreated.
Lord of the Forgotten River fell into deep thought. “This time, it is a locust plague, resulting in the burning of three million mu of fire grain.”
“Which side made the move?”
“This method… could it be the Myriad Locust Lord?”
This person was a Gu cultivator of Soul Formation–level and bore a personal grudge against Lord of the Forgotten River. Whether he had been persuaded by others or seized the opportunity upon seeing the prefecture at a critical juncture was unknown.
“Very well, Myriad Locust Lord. I will remember this debt and repay it in the future.”
Even Lord of the Forgotten River felt heartache at this loss.
The three million mu of fire grain fields were a major resource point of the Forgotten River Nether Prefecture.
To cultivate that land, he had buried more than a dozen earth gods to make the fields fertile.
The land in the Underworld was typically barren and difficult to cultivate.
After painstaking effort, he had established three million mu of fertile fields, arranged formations to generate yang from extreme yin, and planted fire grain.
These fire grains were yang in nature. Though common in the Yang World, they were rare treasures in the Underworld.
Even ghosts could not cultivate purely yin—they required yang to balance it, harmonizing yin and yang.
Thus, fire grain was always in short supply. After meeting the prefecture’s needs, the remaining thirty percent was sold, generating profits that accounted for one and a half tenths of total revenue.
Now the Myriad Locust Lord had summoned countless locusts, devouring the fire grain and triggering vast fires, crippling this economic pillar.
Lord of the Forgotten River did not choose retaliation. He had already dispatched much of his strength in recent days.
With the fire grain gone, there was no saving it. His only concern was that the flames would spread and cause further losses.
“A capable official must be sent for disaster relief. If I leave it entirely unattended, I will lose the people’s hearts and fall into the enemy’s scheme.”
At this thought, he frowned.
His capable ministers and generals had originally been guarding the Heavenly Ghost Transformation Offering Tribulation Rite tightly. Now they would have to be redeployed to stabilize the situation.
He had just made the difficult decision and issued orders when another urgent report arrived.
“Iron Skeleton Duke!” This time, Lord of the Forgotten River lost his composure, slamming his palm onto the desk and scattering brush and ink.
Iron Skeleton Duke had been a veteran minister of the previous regime. Before the former prefect’s death, he had passed the position to Lord of the Forgotten River and instructed him to treat Iron Skeleton Duke kindly.
Lord of the Forgotten River had agreed—and indeed treated him “kindly,” gradually stripping his power, distancing him from the center, and letting him retire.
Of course, he had not forgotten to assign personnel to monitor Iron Skeleton Duke’s daily activities. The man was senior and held a Dan-Book Iron Voucher granted by the former prefect.
Now Iron Skeleton Duke had suddenly rebelled, killing the surveillance squad and rallying his old subordinates under the banner of “rectifying chaos.”
If mishandled, this rebel force could severely shake his position.
“A great general must be sent to counter him!”
After much deliberation, Lord of the Forgotten River dispatched his most trusted commander—one who had risen with him to power and possessed considerable talent.
Yet that talent still fell short of Iron Skeleton Duke’s.
The latter’s military achievements surpassed all under his command.
“You will hold the city and defend to the death, restrain the rebels, and wait for my reinforcement!” he emphasized in the order.
By afternoon, another panicked report came. “Disaster, Lord! Rolling Mud Pill has suddenly awakened. It has appeared in the northwest and is currently moving toward Nine Nether Mountain.”
Lord of the Forgotten River froze.
Rolling Mud Pill!
Originally a single mountain peak that grew by devouring others, it had now become an entire mountain range—and still was not satisfied.
Its target was clearly Nine Nether Mountain.
The Underworld had few mountains. Nine Nether Mountain’s mineral veins were abundant, supplying eighty percent of total extraction.
If devoured, the prefecture would become dependent on external purchases.
“They want me to use the White Tiger Golden Light Seal.”
This treasured artifact was one of his signature items. Only by using it in conjunction with the formation in Nine Nether Mountain could he draw forth the boundless metallic qi of the veins to wound Rolling Mud Pill and force it to retreat.
He saw through the enemy’s scheme but had no choice.
By night, another report arrived—a calling card had appeared in the City Lord’s Mansion hall.
It was from Zeng Jide.
In life, he had been a cultivator of the No-Void Sect. After death, he became a soul cultivator and notorious thief in the Underworld.
Brazen in style, he always sent a theft notice in advance, specifying what he would steal and when.
“Good. Even a rogue cultivator dares bully me now.” Lord of the Forgotten River inhaled deeply, knowing his attention would inevitably be divided.
These calamities had already drawn away most of his forces and treasured artifacts.
“Fortunately, these are not heavenly disasters, but human calamities.”
“They can be dealt with—or left temporarily unresolved. They are merely pieces meant to divert my strength.”
“The true ones opposing me… Yin Nine-Wick is foremost. Then Sorrow Bone and Soundless. I wonder whether Painted-Skin Rakshasa is traveling afar and unable to return.”
“Most of these human calamities likely originate from those three—or four.”
He knew clearly who bore irreconcilable hatred against him.
They were his true formidable enemies.
“No. Those are Underworld opponents. There should also be one human calamity from the Yang World.”
At this thought, his scalp tingled.
He suddenly awakened, realizing this was a warning from the King’s Mandate.
As Prefect, he naturally bore the King’s Mandate.
“In performing the Heavenly Ghost Transformation Offering Tribulation Rite, I served the Underworld’s Heaven and angered the Yang World.”
“Thus, in the Underworld, only human calamities obstruct my path—no natural disasters.”
“But in the Yang World, it is different.”
“Even so, Heaven of the Yang World cannot directly afflict me. It can only evolve into human calamity.”
“And now it seems that this human calamity is no trivial matter!”
After a moment of silence, he made his decision. “Go invite Elder Gray Bone. Promise generous reward—no matter what, he must divine the human calamity in the Yang World!”
The Yang World.
White Paper Immortal City.
Li Xiangshang was awakened by Ning Zhuo.
He stepped out of the Fetal-Breath Spirit Vessel and gently patted its hull in gratitude. “What a fine treasure.”
“Young Master Jiao Ma, this treasure must be thoroughly repaired.”
Cracks riddled the vessel’s body.
“It does need repairs,” Ning Zhuo replied. “But I cannot find an excellent artifact refiner, and I fear failure if I attempt it myself.”
Li Xiangshang suddenly produced a jade pendant and handed it to Ning Zhuo.
Startled, Ning Zhuo waved it off. “I’ve already said, Senior Li—letting you use the Fetal-Breath Spirit Vessel was repayment for your use of your innate talent to help establish the army.”
Li Xiangshang said earnestly, “The Qing Jiao Army is already formed, yet you still let me cultivate within it.”
“To be honest, this has helped me immensely!”
“I was but an ordinary fish. My cultivation talent was limited, and my physical foundation insufficient, hindering my practice of the Ascending Dragon Transformation. But this cultivation made up for my bodily shortcomings.”
“You have bestowed great kindness upon me. I must repay you!”
Ning Zhuo laughed and declined again.
But Li Xiangshang remained solemn. “Young Friend Jiao Ma, this jade pendant is of extraordinary significance. You must accept it.”
“I set out on this journey by command of the Dragon Lord. Before departing, however, the Prime Minister Tortoise stopped me and sought to forge a good karmic tie. He specially performed divination for me.”
“He told me this trip to White Paper Immortal City would be my cultivation opportunity. If I conducted myself properly, I would encounter a benefactor who could make up for my shortcomings.”
“He also said that to maintain this benefactor’s fortune, I must be willing to give.”
“He advised me to gift my most precious treasure to that benefactor.”
“After much thought, the most valuable thing I possess is this Dragon Qi Jade Pendant bestowed by my lord.”
“Please accept it!”
As he spoke, this dignified Golden Core cultivator bowed to Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo, increasingly aware of the mysteries of fortune, grew deeply interested upon hearing of the Prime Minister Tortoise’s divination. “What use does this jade pendant have?”
Li Xiangshang replied honestly, “It contains a strand of my lord’s dragon qi, allowing me to absorb its influence and have a concrete reference while cultivating the Ascending Dragon Transformation.”
“As for other uses, I do not know.”
After hearing this, Ning Zhuo quickly declined. “This is your treasure for attaining the Dao. How could I seize what you cherish?”
But Li Xiangshang was even more resolute. “The Prime Minister Tortoise is a benevolent elder. I believe he would not harm me. If I must maintain benefactor’s fortune, then what I give must be what the benefactor needs. Otherwise, how could that fortune be sustained?”
“This jade pendant—Jiao Ma, you should need it!”
Ning Zhuo hesitated. At that moment, the Mechanical Ring on his finger subtly tightened.
His scalp tingled.
When he attempted to refuse, the ring tightened further. When he considered agreeing, it loosened.
Ning Zhuo instantly understood. “Heaven’s fortune is aiding me—how formidable!”
He nodded slightly and finally accepted the Dragon Qi Jade Pendant into his robes.