The second wave of rumors arrived!
It perfectly connected with the previous wave of rumors, causing a commotion.
The second wave of rumors revealed many new details—how Zhu Xuanji, the Divine Hunter, obtained clues about the Demon Dao True Scripture.
The rumor mentioned that Zhu Xuanji acquired the Mechanical Demon General. This mechanism possessed the combat power of the Golden Core Level, a precious automaton lost from the Magma Fairy Palace.
The original Demon Dao True Scripture was stored inside the Mechanical Demon General. However, when Zhu Xuanji obtained the Mechanical Demon General, he found no trace of the True Scripture.
With his strong investigative abilities, he found clues from the Mechanical Demon General, tracing them all the way to Yuan Dasheng of the Monkey Head Gang.
He suspected that Yuan Dasheng had come into contact with the Mechanical Demon General in his early years, thereby stealing the Demon Dao True Scripture.
However, Yuan Dasheng had long been dead, and his corpse had been obtained by Ning Zhuo.
This meant that the Demon Dao True Scripture on Yuan Dasheng had fallen into Ning Zhuo's hands!
The power of the second wave of rumors was much greater than the previous one.
On one hand, it involved Zhu Xuanji. Zhu Xuanji, honored as a Golden Core Cultivator, was also a member of the royal family and a Divine Hunter of the Divine Hunter Office, holding high status and great prestige. Having such a significant figure involved naturally fueled people's enthusiasm for speculation.
On the other hand, the rumor was very realistic, with many detailed and convincing aspects.
As soon as the rumor spread, some cultivators wanted to visit Zhu Xuanji to confirm the truth of the rumor.
Zhu Xuanji neither clarified nor denied anything.
This subtle attitude caused many people to ponder deeply, gaining insight.
Zhu Xuanji secretly communicated with the Golden Core Cultivators of the three families.
They were also speculating and discussing who might have spread the rumor.
Ning Jiufan clenched his fists angrily: "Who else could it be? If it's not one of us, it must be the City Lord's Mansion!"
"We took back the Mechanical Demon General from the Demon Ape King Court, and we informed Meng Kui about this action at the time. Meng Kui, being at the Nascent Soul Level, likely knew everything that happened in the King Court."
Zheng Shuanggou wondered, "I don't quite understand. Why announce matters related to the Demon Dao True Scripture this way? If I were the City Lord's Mansion, I would secretly gather intelligence, and after confirming it, send a proficient assassin to eliminate Ning Zhuo."
"What is the point of announcing these things?"
Zhou Nongying smiled faintly: "Obviously, they are trying to clear themselves of suspicion."
"Because once Ning Zhuo is assassinated, it will likely be interpreted that someone from the Demon Path was influenced by the rumors and took a desperate risk to obtain the Demon Dao True Scripture from Ning Zhuo."
"The City Lord's Mansion stirred the waters first, then took the opportunity to secretly send a strong assassin to take Ning Zhuo's life."
"Even if the assassin is caught and points to the City Lord's Mansion in the future, the City Lord's Mansion can deny involvement, claiming it was the assassin's personal act, deliberately framing them after capture."
"This is actually an old trick used by many major forces," Zhou Nongying added at last.
The Golden Core Ancestors fell into silence.
They all felt an invisible pressure.
"It must be Fei Si..." someone sighed, voicing everyone's thoughts.
In their view, Fei Si obviously realized that there might be a trap on Ning Zhuo's side.
So what did he do about it?
No matter whether there was a trap or not, he played this move first. By controlling public opinion, he hadn't even started to assassinate Ning Zhuo, and he had already begun clearing the City Lord's Mansion of suspicion!
Tricky.
Vexing.
This was the biggest impression Zhu Xuanji received from the second wave of rumors and from Fei Si.
"Apart from clearing suspicion, he has another intention," Zhu Xuanji's eyes deepened.
He discreetly observed the other Golden Core Ancestors.
He carefully watched their expressions!
Clearly, out of all the Golden Core Cultivators, Ning Jiufan's face looked the worst.
He bore considerable psychological pressure.
Zhu Xuanji understood well what Ning Jiufan was worried about.
"If there was an insider among us, Ning Jiufan would be the least likely."
"Not only because he had weaknesses that threatened his own reputation, but also because Ning Zhuo was originally the genius cultivator of the Ning Family."
Zhu Xuanji was preoccupied with whether the rumor originated from the City Lord's Mansion.
The other Golden Core Cultivators seemed to accept this, but Zhu Xuanji, being a Divine Hunter, never made conclusions on matters without evidence.
"If the rumor didn't come from the City Lord's Mansion, then who could it be?"
"Who knew that I acquired the Mechanical Demon General?"
In Zhu Xuanji's view, there were only two groups of people. One was the City Lord's Mansion, and the other was his and the alliance of three families.
After some thought, Zhu Xuanji said to the others: "Two waves of rumors in quick succession clearly indicate a behind-the-scenes manipulator."
"The current situation has undoubtedly become very severe."
"We must increase our protection of Ning Zhuo. After all, Ning Zhuo is the genius cultivator of the Ning Family. As I told Daoist Ning Jiufan before, I will do everything in my power to ensure his safety."
"So, from now on, we will pair up in groups to watch over Ning Zhuo in shifts."
"I will personally arrange all the shifts."
Zhu Xuanji's words made some Golden Core Cultivators thoughtful.
Even though Zhu Xuanji and the three families' Golden Core Cultivators had signed a contract, this binding was not perfect.
Just like locks and lock-picking methods, the two always alternated in growth.
The same was true for contracts and oath-breaking methods.
Zhu Xuanji didn't directly mention concerns about an insider. He divided the six Golden Core Cultivators, including himself, into three teams.
Each team had two members.
He avoided putting the two Golden Core Cultivars from the Zhou Family and Zheng Family in the same team.
This was to guard against the risk of an insider.
Ning Zhuo's residence.
"What?!"
"There are actually such rumors?!!"
Ning Zhuo shouted and immediately stood up.
His face was pale, he tried to remain calm, but it was hard to hide his panic.
The two Ning Family Foundation Establishment Cultivators who reported to him exchanged a glance, feeling that based on Ning Zhuo's reaction, the rumor was likely true.
Ning Zhuo's eyes flickered, holding onto his desk for support. After a while, he came to his senses and waved the two Ning Family Foundation Establishment Cultivators away: "Keep a close eye on the rumors, and report to me immediately if there are any changes."
The two Ning Family Foundation Establishment Cultivators excused themselves, and Ning Zhuo couldn't help but wipe his forehead.
His forehead was covered in cold sweat.
He swallowed, still feeling parched, then picked up the teapot on the desk and took a big gulp of cold tea.
He sat back down, opened a drawer, and took out a jade slip, writing with his divine sense.
This was a letter asking for help, addressed to Ning Jiufan.
After finishing, Ning Zhuo thought for a bit and took out another jade slip.
It was another plea for help, this time addressed to Zhu Xuanji.
The two pleas for help were quickly delivered to Ning Jiufan and Zhu Xuanji.
The content of the letters was roughly the same, all lamenting Ning Zhuo's innocence, grievances, fear, and unease.
The gist was as follows:
"I honestly didn't obtain any Demon Dao True Scripture."
"I am being wronged, I am innocent."
"I am really unlucky to have gotten caught up in this. Surely someone will come to harm me, coveting the Demon Dao True Scripture."
"They will be disappointed, even if they kill me, they won't get the True Scripture!"
"But I don't want to die, I am still young, I am only sixteen years old."
"So, Lord Ning Jiufan (Lord Zhu Xuanji), I beseech you to save my life. Just by stepping forward to clarify, you can resolve my peril!"
After reading the letter, Zhu Xuanji emotionlessly put the jade slip away.
Ning Jiufan, however, couldn't remain indifferent. He secretly approached Zhu Xuanji. After some small talk, he got to the point: "Lord Zhu, how much do you think Meng Kui knows about our actions in the Demon Ape King Court?"
Zhu Xuanji replied, "Meng Kui is at the Nascent Soul Level, his cultivation level and combat power far exceed ours."
"Before the action, I specifically informed him to ensure he could be our backup."
"With his abilities, he definitely was aware of our actions in the Fire Persimmon Mountain."
"However...
"To what extent he was aware, I do not know."
Zhu Xuanji spoke a lot of nonsense.
He was also in a difficult position.
He couldn't directly tell Ning Jiufan that Meng Kui knew everything that happened to him?
That would only increase Ning Jiufan's psychological burden.
Ning Jiufan sighed heavily and left.
Zhu Xuanji couldn't help but show a pensive expression.
Confrontations on the righteous path were naturally different from those on the Demon Path, possessing their unique style.
"In dealing with the rumors, I have already had a round of confrontation with the City Lord's Mansion."
"Fei Si is indeed formidable."
"Two rumors are enough to unsettle our side."
At this moment, a cultivator walked straight towards the gate of Ning Zhuo's courtyard.
His movements immediately attracted attention.
"Halt."
"Who goes there?"
The Ning Family Foundation Establishment Guards immediately intercepted him halfway.
Zhu Xuanji and Ning Jiufan also secretly focused on this person.
The visitor cupped his hands, showing respect: "I am Su Mo. My apologies to the two Foundation Establishment Seniors."
"I am merely a bottom-level Qi Refinement Realm cultivator, making a living by crafting talismans."
"I recently arrived in Fire Persimmon Immortal City and heard that the Ning Family is renowned for talisman crafting. Young Master Ning Zhuo is the leading figure in talisman crafting within the Qi Refinement Realm."
"Therefore, I have come to visit and seek to compete with Ning Zhuo in talisman crafting techniques."
The Foundation Establishment Guards exchanged a look, their faces full of disdain.
"Hmph, you choose neither an earlier nor a later time, but come now. You are truly meticulous."
"Can't you speak the truth? You're here because of the rumors about the Demon Dao True Scripture, aren't you?"
Su Mo smiled slightly: "Seniors, it is indeed now late at night, meaning I came 'late.'"
"I am unaware of any rumors."
"I only know that I am here to challenge Ning Zhuo. If Ning Zhuo doesn't accept, it would tarnish the reputation of the prestigious Ning Family in talisman crafting."
The two Foundation Establishment Guards grew increasingly irritated.
But the matter couldn't be dismissed easily and needed proper handling.
"Alright, alright. Wait here, and allow me to report!"