Chapter 782: Chapter 257: Ashes Overturns Destiny_2
Ning Zhuo planned to reveal his identity right after contacting Sang Le Youling, let her perform divination, and then swiftly leave this troublesome place by riding the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon.
Netherworld.
Water Burial Valley.
The Valley Master Grey Bone Elder looked impatiently at the visitor: “Lord, I’ve repaid my favor to you. The previous divination has concluded.”
In the Netherworld, anyone referred to as Lord must be a ruler of an Underworld, holding high authority and significance.
It’s because within an Underworld, there are often many Immortal Cities, equivalent to the Monarchs in the Mortal World!
The Underworld Lord nodded: “Indeed. Grey Elder, do not worry. I’m not here for divination this time, but for another significant matter.”
Grey Bone Elder was slightly taken aback and immediately calculated with his fingers: “You want me to confuse a mechanism of calculation?”
The Lord admitted frankly: “Exactly.”
Grey Bone Elder said: “I do have a technique called Tribulation Ash Covering Technique, which can indeed confuse the mechanism’s powers and effects.”
“However, the cost of this method is enormous, far exceeding what I owed you previously.”
The Lord then took out an item: “Grey Elder, you are most concerned about your lifespan. I know confusing the mechanism rarely consumes lifespan. As for the cost, I wonder if this item could offset it?”
Grey Bone Elder’s gaze was already attracted by this treasure: “Is this the shell of a ten-thousand-year-old Profound Turtle?”
“Indeed.” The Lord replied.
Grey Bone Elder was silent for a moment, then said: “This treasure is indeed sufficient. But for me to perform the Tribulation Ash Covering Technique, I must borrow Tribulation Qi, transform it into ash to successfully accomplish it.”
The Lord was surprised: “You want to collect Tribulation Qi from the Ghost Tide?”
Grey Bone Elder laughed: “Lord, there’s no need for such nonsense, wasting both our time.”
“Others might not know, but how could I not know?”
“This Ghost Tide resulted from your defiance, attempting to refine that Heavenly Ghost Skull. Everyone in White Paper Immortal City is kept in the dark, becoming your tools to share the heavenly retribution.”
Upon hearing this, the Lord’s face turned solemn, his eyes sharp, staring at Grey Bone Elder.
Grey Bone Elder was fearless and continued: “If you want me to confuse the mechanism, you must allow me to contact the source of the disaster and extract Tribulation Qi. Only such Tribulation Qi can deeply affect all cultivators within the tribulation.”
“There’s no other way.”
The Lord fell into deep silence.
To overcome heavenly retribution and appease heavenly wrath, the best method is blood sacrifice.
White Paper Immortal City is precisely the blood sacrifice land the Lord has established over the years!
However, White Paper Immortal City is easy to defend and difficult to attack, with its current defense centered around Sang Le Youling.
The Lord has allied with the City Covering Alliance, making multiple attempts, but failed to assassinate her twice. Several attempts to attack from inside and outside were anticipated and thwarted by Sang Le Youling with her divinations.
Thus, Sang Le Youling has become an eyesore, a thorn in the side of the Lord and the City Covering Alliance, eager to eliminate her!
Confusing the mechanism, despite the enormous cost, has become a necessity due to the situation facing the Lord.
After a long time, the Lord stared at Grey Bone Elder, slowly speaking: “Let’s proceed.”
A day later.
Dining Hall.
Ning Zhuo sat upright, watching the Spirit Chef elder prepare Netherworld Cuisine in front of him.
As usual, after Ning Zhuo finished the Netherworld Cuisine, his stomach bloated, making it difficult for him to move.
As digestion occurred, his soul foundation officially surpassed the barrier of a thousand times that of an ordinary person.
“You brat, you’re already at the level of a thousand souls.” The Spirit Chef elder, facing Ning Zhuo, immediately detected a hint of spirit overflowing from Ning Zhuo’s soul.
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly: “All thanks to your assistance, elder.”
The Spirit Chef elder snorted: “Stop flattering! Your achievements are due to two reasons: first, you’re willing to spend your merits on my Netherworld Cuisine; second, White Paper Immortal City’s policy adjustment, releasing many precious resources. Normally, it wouldn’t be achievable.”
Ning Zhuo nodded: “I know, the Ghost Tide has been attacking the city for days now.”
The Spirit Chef elder shook his head: “It’s not just that reason. Sang Le Youling was recently assassinated and ate my Spirit Food to heal. That’s why I got these rare ingredients. Anyway, you’re just a side beneficiary, Sang Le Youling is the main subject.”
“Don’t think Cangyang Villa released so many precious ingredients just for you. You’re simply riding a favorable wind!”
Ning Zhuo exclaimed: “I see.”
He had a thought: “Elder, are you implying that I should express my gratitude when I meet Sang Le Youling later?”
This time, the male concubines advanced to the three institutes, with Ning Zhuo among them.
This afternoon, it was his turn to see Sang Le Youling.
The Spirit Chef elder nodded: “I’ve been in White Paper Immortal City for a long time. This Immortal City has survived until today, not easily. Sang Le Youling has contributed a lot, especially now when even the City Lord has to self-seal.”
Ning Zhuo recalled the recent battles and nodded in agreement: “That’s true.”
The Spirit Chef elder looked seriously at Ning Zhuo: “Jiao Ma boy, you’re the first male concubine among them to eat my Netherworld Cuisine for so many consecutive days. It marks your tenacity!”
“You’re also from the villages outside the city; White Paper Immortal City is your homeland.”
“Would you be interested in receiving my heritage and becoming a Spirit Chef? In the future, you can cook for yourself, stay here, earn the recognition of the City Lord, Sang Le Youling, and others, and change your life.”
Ning Zhuo was surprised: “Well… to be honest, elder, I’m more interested in going out and exploring the world.”
“Hmph.” The Spirit Chef elder looked displeased but still took out a Jade Slip and a Token.
“Spirit Chef is one of the Cultivation Hundred Skills, having its own schools and rules.”
“I’m entrusting this heritage to you, don’t casually pass it on. Whether you learn it or not is up to you. But if you do, remember you’re part of the dark cuisine school and you must promote this school in the future!”
“The Jade Slip contains my cultivation techniques, recipes, cultivation insights, etc. The Token signifies our school and your identity. Participating in the Hundred Nations Culinary Competition, this will be your admission and entry token.”
Ning Zhuo did not expect that eating Netherworld Cuisine for so many days would unexpectedly gain him Spirit Chef heritage.
Despite the Spirit Chef elder’s seemingly fierce demeanor, he truly appreciated Ning Zhuo.
Skills never weigh one down. The intelligent and studious young boy thought for a while and sincerely agreed.
Holding the inherited Jade Slip and Identity Token, he left the dining hall shortly after, led by a Paperman Servant.
Ning Zhuo followed the Paperman Servant into a house within a villa and used the Transmission Array inside to directly reach Tingyou Pavilion.
Standing outside the door, he fiddled with his Mechanical Ring, which was non-reactive, leaving Ning Zhuo particularly relieved.
After waiting for a few moments, he saw the Paperman Servant push open the door, signaling him to enter.
Upon entering, Ning Zhuo saw a female cultivator sitting behind a desk, her hands on the zither, unmoving.
The door closed behind Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo bowed and spoke, stating his purpose and identity, but Sang Le Youling showed no response.
Ning Zhuo raised his head in confusion to observe, just as Sun Lingtong shouted: “Something’s wrong! Something’s wrong!”
“Little Zhuo, Sang Le Youling is already dead!!”
“What?!” Ning Zhuo’s hair stood on end, filled with horror.
He rushed forward to investigate closely.
Sang Le Youling showed no signs of life, she truly was dead!
Sun Lingtong: “This place is no longer safe, let’s run…”
Before he could finish, the alarm bells sounded, the Defensive Magic Array in the entire Tingyou Pavilion activated, locking Sun Ning tightly in place.
“Enemy attack, enemy attack!”
“Someone has assassinated Sang Le Youling again.”
“I’ll hack the murderer to death!”
The next moment, a great number of City Guard Army soldiers rushed over, surrounding Tingyou Pavilion heavily.