: The True Scripture Appears

Author: Gu Zhenren

Date: 2024-08-24

Sun Lingtong was naturally skilled at spreading rumors and had plenty of experience. He predicted, "By that time, the situation will definitely be tense. The third wave of rumors is indeed crucial. We'll need to act quickly then; otherwise, once the rumors are out, our alerted opponents might join forces to stamp them out."

However, Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly, offering a different perspective. He told Sun Lingtong, "I’d prefer it if the third wave of rumors didn’t come from us."

Sun Lingtong was immediately curious. "Xiao Zhuo, are there other forces you can use?"

Ning Zhuo laughed. "Boss, I do have my secrets, but how could I hide anything about forces from you?"

This only made Sun Lingtong more puzzled. "Then who else can help us spread the rumors?"

Ning Zhuo shook his head. "I’m not entirely sure myself. I don’t have full confidence in this."

"But I still think we should wait a bit when it’s time for the third wave of rumors."

"Are you sure?" Sun Lingtong asked, concerned.

When it came to spreading rumors, he was very experienced and professional.

He had accurately predicted the future situation: "If we spread the third wave of rumors at the normal pace, by then, there won’t be enough time or space."

"Under such circumstances, should we really wait another wave, assess the situation, and then release the third wave of rumors?"

Ning Zhuo nodded. "I think taking this risk is worth it."

"The first two rumors we spread were fine, but if the third wave comes directly from us, it could become a flaw."

"On this point, Boss, I want to take a gamble!"

Sun Lingtong laughed heartily, patting Ning Zhuo’s shoulder. "Alright, you understand the rules of the righteous path much better than I do."

"I’ll gamble with you."

A little girl with rosy cheeks, looking like a red apple, suddenly leaned in, blocking Sun Lingtong’s view and interrupting his thoughts.

"Grandpa, why are you lying here? Do you need help getting up?" the girl asked in a sweet, childish voice.

Sun Lingtong quickly sighed and thanked her, saying he indeed needed help.

The girl used all her strength to help Sun Lingtong up.

Sun Lingtong transmitted a message to her: "I didn’t expect you to shake off Zhu Xuanji so quickly!"

The girl was none other than Yang Chanyu in disguise.

Yang Chanyu smiled lightly and replied via transmission: "If we were in an open field, Zhu Xuanji’s Golden Eye talent would indeed be troublesome."

"But Fire Persimmon Immortal City has complex terrain, far from open, and with the gaps in the formation you provided, how could I let Zhu Xuanji catch me with such an advantage?"

Zhu Xuanji returned empty-handed.

Facing Ning Jiufan and the four other Golden Core cultivators who had arrived, he stated bluntly, "I lost her, but I’m certain it was Yang Chanyu."

The five Golden Core cultivators fell into silence for a moment.

Ning Jiufan sighed. "Since we couldn’t catch Yang Chanyu and our trap here has been exposed, should we still guard Ning Zhuo?"

Zhu Xuanji nodded. On his way back, he had already considered the next steps.

He said, "Right now, we can’t determine Yang Chanyu’s motive. She might be after the Demonic Scripture herself, or she might have been hired by the City Lord’s Manor."

At this point, Zhu Xuanji wore a look of self-reproach, full of regret. "If only I had captured Yang Chanyu."

"Right now, we still have no evidence."

Even with Zhu Xuanji personally taking action, Yang Chanyu had managed to escape.

This outcome left the five Golden Core cultivators deeply disappointed and worried.

Zhu Xuanji observed their expressions and sighed, explaining further: "Yang Chanyu used the terrain to her advantage, slipping through the gaps in the city’s formation and making her escape."

Ning Jiufan said, "This isn’t your fault, Lord Zhu. Anyone would find it hard to catch Yang Chanyu under these circumstances."

Zhou Nongying snorted coldly. "The current situation is quite clear. The City Lord’s Manor must have hired Yang Chanyu to test this place! And to ensure their own safety and Yang Chanyu’s, they provided her with a gap in the formation."

Zhu Xuanji shook his head. "We can’t confirm that yet, as we have no evidence."

Zheng Danlian sighed. "To be honest, this is due to the City Lord’s Manor’s inaction!"

"Normally, the city’s defensive formation should be altered periodically for security."

"But the recent city lords haven’t done this. I suspect they find it too troublesome and unrewarding."

Zhu Xuanji’s lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he held back.

He knew some inside information about this matter.

It was intentionally neglected by the Southern Bean Royal Family.

After all, Fire Persimmon Immortal City was located deep within the Southern Bean Kingdom, relatively safe. Altering the city’s defensive formation would indeed be costly and labor-intensive.

As a new city, Fire Persimmon Immortal City had its own specialties and provided the royal family with substantial tax revenue each year.

If the formation were altered, the royal family’s income would sharply decline!

Zhou Nongying suddenly said, "The current situation is developing unfavorably for us. We’re too passive."

"Right now, our manpower is tied up by Ning Zhuo."

"Even if assassins come, as long as we can’t catch them, we can’t determine whether it’s the City Lord’s Manor’s doing or the assassin’s personal greed."

"Fei Si is quite cunning! I believe he’s likely already figured out our intentions and is stalling for time."

"Every so often, as long as he sends or hires Yang Chanyu to test us, he’ll keep us tied down. Most of our energy will be focused on protecting Ning Zhuo."

"This will make us even more passive."

"So I’m thinking, instead of always being on the defensive, we should take the initiative now."

Zheng Shuanggou asked curiously, "How do we take the initiative?"

Zhou Nongying smiled. "It’s actually quite simple. Much easier than you’d think."

"Rumors have been spreading, and I think a large part of them are the City Lord’s Manor’s doing."

"Why don’t we also spread rumors and directly drag the City Lord’s Manor into this?"

And so, the third wave of rumors emerged.

The rumors claimed in detail the events involving Ning Zhuo, the Mechanical Blaze Monkey, Yuan Dasheng, the Fire Persimmon Festival, and more.

They highlighted how Ning Zhuo, at sixteen, sought advice from Chen Cha but was robbed of his research credit by the City Lord’s Manor. He was then deceived into mass-producing Mechanical Blaze Monkeys for the market. Finally, during the Fire Persimmon Festival, Fei Si sent him with his waist token, forcing Yuan Er to stand by and let Yuan Dasheng die.

Upon hearing the rumors, people had three main thoughts:

First, Ning Zhuo suffered due to his youth and was schemed against, evoking sympathy.

Second, the City Lord’s Manor might have already obtained the Demonic Scripture, and Fei Si used Ning Zhuo to silence Yuan Dasheng.

Third, the Demonic Scripture was likely in the hands of the City Lord’s Manor, making them the mastermind and the biggest winner!

Soon, the entire city was discussing: Where is the Demonic Scripture? In the City Lord’s Manor’s hands or on Ning Zhuo?

The information that Yang Chanyu, during her probe, said "So that’s how it is" before leaving was also widely spread.

City Lord’s Manor.

Fei Si personally escorted Shu Zhongjun to the manor’s gate.

Returning alone to his desk, his face was dark.

Shu Zhongjun was a Golden Core cultivator from the Book Tower, currently stationed in Fire Persimmon Immortal City. He was setting up and managing the Book Tower’s outpost while actively exploring the Molten Rock Immortal Palace, quickly accumulating achievements.

Shu Zhongjun had come to Fei Si with a business proposal: if the City Lord’s Manor possessed the Demonic Scripture, the Book Tower would buy it at a high price.

Fei Si, who knew nothing about the Demonic Scripture, directly told Shu Zhongjun the deal was impossible.

In the end, Fei Si saw Shu Zhongjun off.

"Even Shu Zhongjun believes the third wave of rumors is targeting me and the City Lord’s Manor!"

"Who wants to deal with me?!"

Fei Si felt the enemy was showing their true intentions.

The previous two waves of rumors had already felt off to him, and he had been monitoring them daily.

Now, the third wave directly implied that the City Lord’s Manor secretly possessed the Demonic Scripture!

Fei Si immediately realized the gravity of the situation and ordered a full investigation.

During his investigation, another deep night arrived.

Moonless.

Stars dotted the sky.

Boom!

A thunderous roar startled countless citizens from their sleep.

People rushed out of their homes to see what was happening.

Some witnessed Yang Chanyu clashing with a Golden Core cultivator, fighting as she retreated.

"Yang Chanyu?!"

"Wait, her opponent is… the Shadow Demon Cultivator!!"

In an instant, the cultivators who saw this widened their eyes in shock.

After many days, the Shadow Demon Cultivator had finally reappeared.

The next moment, the Shadow Demon Cultivator shouted, "Demoness, hand over the scripture!"

The cultivators shuddered.

"Scripture?"

"What scripture?!"

"Yang Chanyu escaped from the City Lord’s Manor. Did she steal the Demonic Scripture from them?!"

(End of )