: The Mysterious Organization

Author: Gu Zhenren

2025-06-16

Hearing Zheng Shoumo directly admit it, Yang Sanyan and Wen RuanYu were both taken aback.

Previously, Zheng Shoumo had been arguing vehemently with Ning Zhuo, but in the end, he suddenly surrendered on his own.

"What's the trick here?" Both were filled with doubt.

They looked at Ning Zhuo, expecting an explanation from him.

Ning Zhuo, however, smiled faintly: "If that's the case, then Elder Zheng might as well surrender peacefully. After all, you've contributed much to the education of White Paper Immortal City and can seek leniency."

Zheng Shoumo sneered: "Kid, though you lack solid evidence, you do have some cunning tricks."

"You want to capture me alive? That might be difficult."

Before his words faded, a wave of energy surged from him.

Dao Field—Hidden Scales of the Dragon Abyss!

In the next moment, two Dao Fields merged, rapidly altering the surrounding environment.

What was once a lush grassland with waist-high grass now transformed into a water meadow, dotted with randomly placed large rocks.

Several small streams babbled with flowing water.

Wen RuanYu drew his brush, writing in the air.

Yang Sanyan summoned flying daggers, slicing through the sky.

Words and daggers attacked from two directions, almost simultaneously reaching Zheng Shoumo.

This was clearly intentional coordination between Wen RuanYu and Yang Sanyan. Though it was their first time fighting together, their combat instincts were high; from the start, they synchronized their attacks, flanking Zheng Shoumo.

Zheng Shoumo didn't evade, standing his ground.

Suddenly, a surge of liquid gushed out, enveloping him completely in a protective shield.

The words splashed into the translucent liquid, stirring up waves.

The more powerful flying dagger artifact was swallowed by the liquid, causing only slight ripples.

Seeing this, both Yang Sanyan and Wen RuanYu showed grave expressions.

Ning Zhuo timely reminded: "Be careful, this is Spilled Water!"

A Water Element Sin Treasure—Spilled Water! It severs connections with what it covers.

As the saying goes, split water cannot be retrieved!

At that moment, Wen RuanYu suddenly understood.

Yang Sanyan glanced at Ning Zhuo and also realized why, at the last moment, Zheng Shoumo suddenly lost heart, gave up arguing, and openly admitted to being a spy.

Because the latter couldn't accept being imprisoned.

The key reason lay with Spilled Water!

Such Five Elements treasures are difficult to store and costly to maintain.

Water Element Virtue and Sin Treasures must follow a principle for storage: water flows downhill.

Storing pure Spilled Water is quite costly. A slight mishap, and it dilutes on its own.

For daily storage, cultivators often dilute Spilled Water to significantly reduce maintenance costs.

When needed, it's purified again.

Ning Zhuo learned this principle from Li Xiangshang.

Li Xiangshang, transformed from a carp to a flood dragon, was chosen by the White Headed Dragon Lord to cultivate in the Weak Water.

He struggled each time living water was introduced to dilute the Weak Water, gradually rising closer to the surface until he leaped out of the pool.

The same applies to Spilled Water as to Weak Water.

Zheng Shoumo originally controlled the Ink Pond, making it convenient to disguise Spilled Water within it daily.

Zheng Shoumo once disguised himself, using the Hidden Scales of the Dragon Abyss Dao Field to ambush and kill Jin Yangzi.

Sun Lingtong witnessed this entire process.

Thus, Ning Zhuo knew this spy possessed Spilled Water.

When Ning Zhuo suspected Zheng Shoumo from Yang Weida's flaws, he immediately connected the previous clues.

Before coming, Ning Zhuo secretly speculated: if he guessed right, Zheng Shoumo likely carried Spilled Water with him.

If wrong, at worst, they'd detain a Golden Core cultivator.

It wouldn't significantly affect White Paper Immortal City's overall situation.

As Ning Zhuo said publicly: he was never a divine detective and never felt he had any investigative skills. He didn't need evidence; he just acted. Right was good, wrong was acceptable.

According to Wen RuanYu, this Zheng Shoumo followed Meng Yaoyin.

If this person was wronged, Ning Zhuo believed revealing his true identity would earn forgiveness.

Zheng Shoumo had the evidence on him!

That was Spilled Water.

Once found, no matter his explanation, he'd be highly suspect.

So, he wouldn't harbor any illusions or accept house arrest.

Whether Spilled Water was found or not, prolonged confinement would cause it to degrade, its mystical energies dissipating like food expiring. His combat power would plummet accordingly!

Zheng Shoumo's greatest reliance was Spilled Water!

After defending the attack, Zheng Shoumo pushed both palms forward, sending waves of Spilled Water.

Wen RuanYu, Yang Sanyan, and Ning Zhuo all retreated.

The three simultaneously activated spells.

Yang Sanyan summoned blade lights, Wen RuanYu wielded his brush, continuously writing characters, and Ning Zhuo employed hand, mouth, and mind seals, releasing Five Elements spells in succession.

Boom...

Spells collided with Spilled Water, splashing water and steaming mist.

Ning, Wen, and Yang all urgently cast spells to protect themselves, avoiding using their treasures or artifacts unless absolutely necessary, to prevent them from being taken by Spilled Water.

Zheng Shoumo rose into the air, manipulating Spilled Water while deploying his own treasures to attack from all sides.

Ning, Wen, and Yang fought while retreating, temporarily forced into a disadvantage.

Though clearly superior, Zheng Shoumo wore a grave expression. Spilled Water was strong, especially against treasures.

If he faced any one of the three alone, he could force the opponent to use treasures or artifacts.

Then, he could use Spilled Water to seize their treasures, causing backlash and greatly weakening the enemy.

But now, with Ning, Wen, and Yang联手, using only spells, they shared the pressure and held their ground.

This created a battle of attrition where spells consumed Spilled Water, which was extremely unfavorable for Zheng Shoumo.

"Must attack with full force, no holding back! The chance is now; must force out his treasures and artifacts." Zheng Shoumo was about to summon another treasure.

Yang Sanyan, growing impatient, snorted coldly, the vertical mark on his forehead suddenly opening.

Superior Talent—Look Down on Everything!

A piercingly bright, forceful gaze shone upon Spilled Water, causing a portion to rapidly vanish.

Proud and arrogant, Yang Sanyan had been brewing anger at being pressured three against one.

His爆发 immediately shifted the battle.

"Good opportunity!" Ning Zhuo and Wen RuanYu seized the moment to strike.

One executed the Mysterious Gold Slash, the other wrote three 'kill' characters in succession.

Zheng Shoumo felt a chill, as if falling into an ice cellar, sensing a lethal threat.

He hastily switched from offense to defense, but having attacked with full force, the transition, though quick, still took time.

That crucial moment meant the difference between life and death for him!

First, the Mysterious Gold Slash broke his defense, then the three 'kill' characters directly struck his body.

Zheng Shoumo spat blood, flew backward, his aura plummeting to its lowest.

Spilled Water scattered, falling to the ground,失控.

Yang Sanyan, having nullified so much Spilled Water, paid a high price; his third eye was dim, almost blind!

Ignoring it, he summoned another flying dagger.

The dagger shot out like lightning, instantly reaching Zheng Shoumo, aimed between his eyebrows to pierce his divine sea dantian!

Severely injured and dazed, how could Zheng Shoumo react?

But at the critical moment, a token was activated, flying out from his storage ring to block the dagger.

Then, the token hovered mid-air, emitting mysterious light and colors.

Within the light, a vortex archway formed.

The archway emitted a suction force, directly pulling Zheng Shoumo inside before vanishing.

This scene stunned Ning, Wen, and Yang.

They had been confident of capturing Zheng Shoumo, yet such an outcome occurred.

"What kind of technique is this?!" Ning Zhuo exclaimed in disbelief, somewhat难以置信.

All three cast suspicious gazes at the token.

After sucking in Zheng Shoumo, the vortex archway completely disappeared, leaving only the token falling onto the grass.

Yang Sanyan reached out, pulling the token into his hand.

Inspecting it closely, he saw the token was now covered in cracks, full of fissures. It wouldn't be surprising if it shattered completely the next moment.

The previous patterns, etc., could only be vaguely discerned.

Cracks and fissures intersected, some like angry thunderbolts, others twisted and fierce, crossing each other, vaguely resembling a gate.

The token's aura had fallen to mundane levels, just an ordinary item, not even qualifying as a low-grade artifact.

Clearly, this miraculous object could only be used once.

Wen RuanYu stepped forward, staring at the broken token: "What exactly is this?"

Ning Zhuo had the same question: "The Dao Field isolates inside from outside. Zheng Shoumo even released the Dao Field himself, being the master of the Hidden Scales of the Dragon Abyss Dao Field, yet he could still escape directly!?"

Yang Sanyan stared intently at the token in his hand, his heart greatly shaken!

His expression turned extremely grim; after a long pause, he looked at Wen and Ning, his voice low, filled with shock, wariness, and gravity: "It's normal you don't recognize this."

"I can only say, this involves something too significant!"

"I must immediately send a message back to my sect!!"

Ning Zhuo and Wen RuanYu exchanged glances.

Yang Sanyan's gaze swept over Wen RuanYu, resting on Ning Zhuo's face. Hesitating slightly, he said: "Your mother Meng Yaoyin's death, and the fall of other talented sect members, might well be the doing of this organization."

"What?!" Ning Zhuo's expression changed dramatically, urgently追问.

But Yang Sanyan shook his head: "This is classified information from my Myriad Forms Sect's Evil Extermination Hall! Even Golden Core true disciples like Wen RuanYu mostly don't know. If you want to know, I suggest you join the Myriad Forms Sect and work with me in the Evil Extermination Hall."

"Myriad Forms Sect, Evil Extermination Hall..." Ning Zhuo frowned deeply, murmuring to himself.

He knew his mother had suffered Dao injuries, but not how they were inflicted.

Meng Yaoyin hadn't practiced heterodox ways either.

Now, Yang Sanyan told Ning Zhuo that it was likely some organization that harmed his mother. And this token, capable of rescuing people from danger, was one of this organization's symbols.

Instantly, anger surged in Ning Zhuo's heart, mixed with shock and doubt.

Yang Sanyan cast several spells, carefully preserving the broken token, and stored it in his storage belt.

With a solemn face, he said to Wen and Ning: "The situation is far more complex than I imagined."

"Zheng Shoumo is a member of this organization; he's been in White Paper Immortal City for years. If this organization aims to infiltrate this immortal city, the real situation is probably much worse than I thought."

"I must first investigate the city lord and other high-ranking officials of the immortal city, including you two, of course."

Wen RuanYu said seriously: "Please proceed as you see fit."

Ning Zhuo: "I'm willing to cooperate fully, but this must be done discreetly. After all, White Paper Immortal City is under dual siege by ghost tides and Yin soldiers, and the atmosphere inside is already quite tense."

Yang Sanyan nodded slightly, his sharp gaze fixed on Ning Zhuo: "You're probably fine; if there were issues, you wouldn't have exposed Zheng Shoumo as the spy."

"Now I highly suspect the White Paper City Lord!"

"The current city lord of White Paper Immortal City is quite ambitious, and her true form hasn't made a public appearance for years."

Ning Zhuo touched his mechanism ring, finding it inactive: "I'm willing to accompany Senior Yang to visit the city lord's true form!"

A flash of admiration crossed Yang Sanyan's eyes: "Worthy of being the descendant of my sect's Golden Core true disciple."

Wen RuanYu: "I also wish to go!"

"Good." Yang Sanyan took charge. "Then the three of us will go directly to the City Lord's Mansion."

Yang Sanyan撤销 the Dao Field; the Hidden Scales of the Dragon Abyss Dao Field, with no one controlling it, dissipated on its own, the commotion attracting the attention of nearby cultivators.

Wen RuanYu gave temporary instructions to reassure them slightly.

The three arrived at the City Lord's Mansion, first meeting the city lord's paper puppet分身.

Wen RuanYu clasped his hands: "Brother Yang, perhaps let me explain the situation?"

He worried Yang Sanyan's arrogance might lead to improper交涉, causing unnecessary trouble.

Yang Sanyan glanced at Wen RuanYu, nodding slightly: "You're also a Golden Core true disciple of my sect; I'll give you that face."

Wen RuanYu then reported to the city lord's分身 that the spy had been uncovered: it was Zheng Shoumo.

"It's him." The paper puppet分身 showed little surprise upon hearing this, sighing deeply.

Yang Sanyan shot a sharp glance, immediately质问: "The city lord doesn't seem shocked?"

White Paper City Lord said: "After all, I am the city lord. With the spy repeatedly undetected, I naturally suspected the 'Plain Questions Heart Dissection Scroll' might have failed."

"I had several suspects; Zheng Shoumo was one of them."

"He guarded the Ink Pond, always having mishaps, causing it to break and repair repeatedly. This was a strange point."

"I also secretly sent people to investigate him but found nothing."

Hearing this, Wen RuanYu showed a strange expression. He hadn't thought the city lord had long suspected Zheng Shoumo and even investigated him!

Yang Sanyan frowned: "Why not investigate further? If it were me, I'd at least clarify the疑点 of the Ink Pond's repeated repairs."

White Paper City Lord snorted coldly: "Young friend Yang, you're not a city lord; you don't understand the difficulties of being one, that you can't act solely on personal whims."

"Zheng Shoumo was one such case."

"He was placed here by Meng Yaoyin, naturally carrying the Myriad Forms Sect's stance. Moreover, as a Confucian cultivator, he was very close to Wen RuanYu in daily life."

"If I investigated strictly, I might only find evidence that he intentionally caused mishaps to embezzle repair funds during the Ink Pond's repairs."

"At that time, it wouldn't look good for either side!"

Ning, Wen, and Yang fell silent.

The White Paper City Lord made a valid point.

Meng Yaoyin had made great contributions to White Paper Immortal City, even having a giant paper puppet statue erected in the south city. Disposing of someone she placed would damage her reputation.

Meng Yaoyin was a功臣 promoted by the White Paper City Lord; her image and reputation were also the city lord's prestige.

Affirming Meng Yaoyin's achievements was also a gesture of goodwill towards the Myriad Forms Sect.

To some extent, Zheng Shoumo replaced Meng Yaoyin as a symbol of the friendship and alliance between White Paper Immortal City and the Myriad Forms Sect!

If he fell, it wouldn't be good for the White Paper City Lord or the alliance between the immortal city and the Myriad Forms Sect.

Therefore, even if he embezzled repair funds, the White Paper City Lord would turn a blind eye.

It was with such considerations that the White Paper City Lord didn't address this疑点.

Many things in life require turning a blind eye.

Wen RuanYu broke the silence with a long sigh: "Perhaps this was Zheng Shoumo's scheme all along."

"On one hand, he used the repeated Ink Pond repairs to secretly tamper, maintaining his Spilled Water and making other arrangements. I just recalled that the previous appearance of the Ghost Gate in the city's Ink River, releasing hordes of water ghosts, was likely Zheng Shoumo's doing."

"On the other hand, he used this as a 'shield,' counting on Your Lordship to consider the bigger picture, feign ignorance, and use this 'shield' to ward off potential investigations."

White Paper City Lord looked at Ning Zhuo: "We owe much to our little savior for exposing this spy!"

Ning Zhuo, remembering Yang Sanyan's earlier words, had a determined glint in his eyes: "This matter is far from over. My mother's death is likely related to this person."

Yang Sanyan took out the broken token, describing the battle situation.

Hearing that Zheng Shoumo was likely a member of this mysterious organization, the paper puppet分身 lost its composure, showing shock.

Yang Sanyan said: "This matter is of great importance, City Lord. I must see your true form and have everyone sign a Divine Contract."

"Otherwise, I can't truly trust any of you."

"Without trust, how can we defend the city?"

The paper puppet分身 remained silent for a long moment before shaking its head with a bitter smile: "Very well, please follow me, you three."

The three exchanged glances; Ning Zhuo touched his mechanism ring and stepped forward first.

Moments later.

The three arrived at an underground chamber.

The paper puppet分身 activated a formation, revealing the city lord's true form.

"This?!" Wen RuanYu's expression changed dramatically.

Yang Sanyan narrowed his eyes, instinctively hiding the shock in his pupils.

Ning Zhuo also showed astonishment; he never expected the city lord's true form to be in such a state.

(End of )