Chapter 272: The Truth Is About to Be Revealed

"According to Li Leifeng's judgment, Unlike Ning Zhuo possesses deep mechanical talent, and he judged that he would be able to stand out by the age of six."

"But in fact, Unlike Ning Zhuo has always been indistinguishable from the crowd, and it was only recently, with the emergence of the Magma Xian Gong, that he revealed his talent and became a figure of the moment."

Zhu Xuanji had long ago collected much intelligence on Unlike Ning Zhuo and knew his growth trajectory.

Previously, Zhu Xuanji had thought that Unlike Ning Zhuo was constantly accumulating, waiting for the right moment. Only after changing his cultivation did he gradually discover his own talent and then bloom with brilliance.

But now, this jade slip from Li Leifeng shattered his old perception.

"If Unlike Ning Zhuo was able to perform 'Fang Qing Clears the Grievance' at the age of five, judging by his control of puppets, his basic skills are extremely solid!"

"In the Ning family's great examination, Unlike Ning Zhuo performed poorly due to nervousness... clearly, this was his performance."

"Looking at it this way, Unlike Ning Zhuo began to hide his talent and disguise himself from a very young age."

"He has been hiding like this for more than ten years, only recently taking the initiative to reveal his edge."

"Why?" Zhu Xuanji felt very confused.

"Unlike Ning Zhuo, this branch disciple of the Ning family, why would he hide his talent and disguise himself?"

"In his long school life, why did he have to appear so ordinary?"

"Clearly, Unlike Ning Zhuo only needed to show his talent and aptitude to receive the family's focused cultivation!"

Zhu Xuanji thought of Ning Xiaoren.

"Could it be that there is internal strife in the Ning family?"

"The key is, if this kid has been disguising himself since he was three or four, what kind of intelligence is that?"

"Such thoughts are too deep!"

Thinking of this, a chill even rose in Zhu Xuanji's heart.

"Then, did Unlike Ning Zhuo do it deliberately, hiding for a full ten years?"

"During this period, did Unlike Ning Zhuo not have any vanity or impulsiveness of a young person?"

"Or is it... by his side, there is actually another expert giving him pointers?"

Zhu Xuanji's doubts grew more and more.

The more he discovered, the more questions he had in his heart.

"Unlike Ning Zhuo is problematic!" Zhu Xuanji said affirmatively in his heart.

He had begun to suspect Unlike Ning Zhuo before, but he himself knew that this suspicion was groundless. He just felt that there was an indescribable strangeness and unnaturalness about Unlike Ning Zhuo.

Now, Zhu Xuanji understood the reason!

"I have investigated cases countless times, pursuing true culprits and criminals, accumulating very rich experience, from which I have cultivated an intuition for solving cases."

"Unlike Ning Zhuo performed very well, without any obvious flaws or unreasonable points."

"However, a performance is a performance; there is always a gap with reality!"

Zhu Xuanji had seen too much reality and falsehood; although sometimes he couldn't judge it rationally, in his heart, he had already felt this strangeness and unnaturalness.

When this feeling of unnaturalness accumulated to a certain degree, Zhu Xuanji couldn't help but start to suspect Unlike Ning Zhuo.

"Unlike Ning Zhuo, you little guy, in the struggle surrounding the Magma Xian Gong, what kind of role have you been playing?"

Zhu Xuanji frowned deeply, looking at the night sky.

Tonight, the moonlight was hazy, covered by clouds and mist.

All kinds of intelligence, countless clues, flickered in Zhu Xuanji's mind, mixing together into a huge vortex.

Zhu Xuanji stared at the clouds covering the moonlight, as if he saw the fog in his mind.

He had a strong feeling—just one last clue was missing.

Like a puzzle, just the last key piece was missing!

As long as he found it and pieced it together, he would be able to tear away the fog in front of him and let the moon named Truth be completely revealed.

"So... the History Pavilion is that last puzzle piece!" Zhu Xuanji's eyes flashed with golden light.

An impulse rose in his heart to fly directly back to the Magma Xian Gong and personally watch Ning Xiaohui thoroughly investigate the History Pavilion.

"No, no, no, can't do that."

Zhu Xuanji lowered his head and paced, constantly deep in thought.

He was completely immersed in his own world of thought, forgetting everything around him.

Seeing him thinking like this, Zhu Hou couldn't help but smile, not making a sound, just watching quietly.

As a senior, seeing such a performance from an outstanding younger generation of the Royal Family, he was full of appreciation and relief.

Zhu Xuanji quickly reviewed the past. From the time he arrived in Fire Persimmon Immortal City until now, the various events he had experienced—among them, Unlike Ning Zhuo really appeared too frequently.

"Unlike Ning Zhuo should be playing some relatively important role."

"Perhaps he is the biggest fog covering the truth!"

"But I can't tear it apart; I lack direct evidence."

"Even if I take out Li Leifeng's list, Unlike Ning Zhuo has countless excuses and pretexts."

"In fact, even if he frankly admitted that he had been disguising himself for more than ten years, so what?"

"Perhaps, I should conduct a surprise inspection to see what he usually keeps in his storage equipment?"

"No, doing that is also wrong!"

Zhu Xuanji thought that Unlike Ning Zhuo was only at the Qi Condensation stage; even if he was deeply involved with the mastermind, he was only a capable pawn.

Even if Zhu Xuanji pried this pawn open and saw the true colors he had been hiding, so what?

"Instead, it would be too much 'beating the grass to startle the snake,' sparking contradictions."

"At the moment, Ning Xiaohui is one key, and Unlike Ning Zhuo is another."

Thinking of this, Zhu Xuanji made a decision.

He first wrote a secret letter to inquire about Zhu Zhen.

After Zhu Zhen stopped his investigation, he had secretly come to find Zhu Xuanji, taking the initiative to express his willingness to make more contributions.

Zhu Xuanji had arranged for him to be in the Magma Xian Gong, not letting him expose his Royal Family identity, but disguising him as an outside cultivator, working hard to complete tasks and constantly earning merit.

In fact, Zhu Xuanji had another important task for Zhu Zhen—for the past few days, Zhu Zhen had been secretly responsible for protecting and supervising Ning Xiaohui!

"I am now outside the Xian Gong, which is actually an opportunity."

Zhu Xuanji wrote a secret jade slip letter, instructing Zhu Zhen to protect Ning Xiaohui with all his might!

At the same time, Zhu Xuanji took out a dressing mirror from his storage belt.

This mirror was exquisite and beautiful to the extreme.

The entire mirror was surrounded by a lifelike golden phoenix; the phoenix's wings spread out to embrace the mirror surface, the feathers as fine as silk, extremely delicate, as if every feather were trembling slightly.

The phoenix's head was held high, its eyes like stars, revealing majesty and mystery, its beak slightly open, as if whispering an ancient spell. Its long tail wound down, the tail feathers lightly circling the bottom of the mirror frame, forming a graceful arc, adding a touch of softness and agility to the mirror.

Jin Fengjing!

This was something Zhu Xuanji had taken from the Nandou Royal Family's treasury.

The Nandou King had specifically told him that this Jin Fengjing was originally an object of the Magma Xian Gong, only taken by the Retired Emperor.

If it were handed over to the Magma Xian Gong, it would inevitably earn a huge amount of merit!

Zhu Xuanji kept this treasure mirror in his hand, intending to keep it as a trump card for a useful moment.

Now, he decisively took it out, deciding to secretly hand it to Ning Xiaohui through Zhu Zhen. By having Ning Xiaohui hand it over, she could obtain a huge amount of merit in a short time.

In this way, Ning Xiaohui could instantly obtain the position at the History Pavilion.

This was the most critical breakthrough for the current situation!

Zhu Xuanji had originally not intended to pay such a heavy price. But at this moment, after obtaining Li Leifeng's list, he felt a chill from Unlike Ning Zhuo.

This prompted him to make such a decision.

"Unlike Ning Zhuo... he is another key, the most important witness."

"He should also be fought for with all my might!"

Thinking of this, Zhu Xuanji's gaze narrowed, and he completely regained his senses.

He smiled at Zhu Hou, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Zhu Hou waved his hand, not minding: "Being able to help you, uncle, I feel very gratified."

Zhu Xuanji said: "Clan uncle, I've changed my mind. Tomorrow I will attend your handover ceremony, and besides, I will bring one more person."

Zhu Hou was curious after hearing this: "Oh? You were just performing like that, thinking with all your might—was it because of this person?"

Zhu Xuanji had nothing to hide from Zhu Hou and directly admitted: "That's right, this person is named Unlike Ning Zhuo, the very talent recorded in Li Leifeng's list."

"Although he is only a Qi Condensation cultivator and is only sixteen years old now, he is the most special young man I have ever seen."

"Many times, I can't figure him out either!"

Zhu Hou immediately revealed a look of surprise.

He had watched how young Zhu Xuanji had made rapid progress step by step and was very clear about Zhu Xuanji's talent.

This was the first time he had seen Zhu Xuanji give such a high evaluation of someone! And this person was only at the Qi Condensation stage and only sixteen years old.

Zhu Hou was extremely curious and laughed loudly: "Hahaha, this makes me look forward to tomorrow's handover ceremony immensely."

"Unlike Ning Zhuo, is it? I will definitely take a good look to see what kind of young genius can catch the eye of you, Zhu Xuanji!"

The next day.

"Not good, not good! Young Master, wake up, wake up quickly!" The anxious voice of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit woke Unlike Ning Zhuo.

Unlike Ning Zhuo lay on the bed and opened his eyes abruptly: "What happened? Has the Magma Xian Gong's defensive light shield shattered by more than half?"

Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit: "No, something even worse."

"This morning, Ning Xiaohui obtained a magic treasure called the Jin Fengjing and is about to offer it to the Xian Gong!"

"The Jin Fengjing was originally an object of the Xian Gong, a pair with the Jade Dragon Mirror, specifically equipped for the Mirror Platform Spirit-Communication Art."

"Now, by handing over such an important magic treasure, her merit will skyrocket, instantly exceeding the minimum standard for the History Pavilion position!"

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was incredibly anxious.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's heartstrings tightened, and he immediately sat up: "What?!"

He was about to continue questioning the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit about this emergency, when Ning Jiufan's voice came from outside the room: "Unlike Ning Zhuo, wake up, I'm taking you out."

Unlike Ning Zhuo's heart skipped a beat; he hurriedly pushed the door open in just his undergarments and bowed to Ning Jiufan.

Ning Jiufan grabbed Unlike Ning Zhuo by the collar and flew into the high sky.

On the way, he explained: "The Children's Garden is holding a handover ceremony today. Zhu Xuanji is presiding over this matter, and seeing that you have donated things to the Children's Garden many times, he specifically invited you to attend."

"I didn't expect Lord Zhu Xuanji to think so highly of you. Xiao Zhuo, you must perform well."

"Understand?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo's heart was ice-cold, but on the surface, he was extremely pleasantly surprised: "I have always been grateful to Lord Li Leifeng! When I was young, I stole leftover pastries from guests in the Children's Garden. Lord Li Leifeng discovered me but didn't drive me away, and even invited me to eat many brand-new tea pastries."

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was dumbfounded.

It watched as Unlike Ning Zhuo was taken away, leaving the Magma Xian Gong. Only then did it react, subconsciously stretching out its dragon claws, four fingers wide open.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit looked in the direction Unlike Ning Zhuo had gone and shouted loudly: "No—!"

"Come back."

"Unlike Ning Zhuo, come back quickly!"

"Ning Xiaohui is about to enter the History Pavilion and know all the truth!!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo's heart was filled with awe, as if he were in a snowy land, cold to the bone.

"Ning Xiaohui suddenly had a magic treasure to hand over, and at this critical node, I was taken away from the Magma Xian Gong."

"This must be Zhu Xuanji's handiwork!"

"Zhu Xuanji suspects me even more. Where exactly did I reveal my flaw?"

"Could it be that Han Ming has been caught?!" ===== CHAPTER 273 =====