Chapter 600: Changes in Heavenly Numbers

After talking with the White Paper City Lord's paper avatar for a while, Unlike Ning Zhuo returned to his residence in the Hidden Yang Branch Mansion to rest.

He took out the four treasures given by the White Paper City Lord and observed them carefully.

The Cold Bone Moon Dew Wine's liquid was semi-transparent silver-gray; if observed from the side, a layer of white moonlight could be seen on the surface of the liquid.

If the liquid was left undisturbed for a long time, fine suspended matter, similar to bone fragments, would condense in it.

Unlike Ning Zhuo turned his mechanical ring and tried to take a small sip.

The liquid was very clear, like snow water. When it went down the throat, a warmth like a hot spring surged up. When he savored the aftertaste, his mouth was full of the cold fragrance of cedar and ice mint.

There were nearly a hundred Nine Springs Rest Incense, each looking like a thin, withered branch, dark purple on the surface.

Unlike Ning Zhuo pinched off a finger-length piece and tried to light it.

The burning Nine Springs Rest Incense had blue smoke as straight as a hanging thread, thin and long. Smelling it, it was like rotten soil mixed with damp and cold white plum blossoms.

The ash after burning maintained the complete shape of the incense; as soon as it touched something with yang energy, it would immediately transform from the state of ash into black water dew drops. At this time, smelling it again, it was like the deep, heavy wood fragrance of a thousand-year-old coffin.

The Hungry Ghost Backlash Tripod was over a person tall and was a bronze tripod with three legs and two ears.

The tripod body was covered with copper rust, the rust forming blurred pictures of ghosts biting each other. The inner wall of the tripod had dried dark green ink marks, and the three tripod legs were wrapped in a layer of gray bone. The tripod ears seemed to have a layer of dark brown patina, but looking closely, they were countless finger marks and tooth marks layered on top of each other.

The last item was the "Underworld Penal Code."

It was an iron-skinned, iron-paged book, quite heavy.

The iron cover was dark as night, with cast mysterious iron hoop patterns, faintly showing the outline of the underworld. The spine was inlaid with a palace roof carved from ink jade marrow, with a solemn shape.

The pages were all cold-rolled from thousand-forged cold iron, thin as blades and glowing with a ghostly green light.

Each page was engraved with a type of punishment pattern, namely oil pan, mountain of knives, forest of swords, sea of fire, mountain of ice, iron bed, heart dissection, tongue pulling, cattle pit, millstone, saw dissection, stone pressure, iron tree, intestine twisting, blood pool, etc.

When opening the volume, the iron pages collided with each other, making the sound of iron shackles colliding.

Unlike Ning Zhuo only needed to touch it with his fingers to make his soul feel different kinds of pain.

"All good treasures!" Sun Sun Lingtong was also observing, his eyes Dantian Shining.

Unlike Ning Zhuo nodded slightly and put these away.

He didn't rush to use them, but pondered the person of the White Paper City Lord.

Before, the White Paper City Lord's calculations were obvious, simple and direct, making both Sun and Ning quite critical and guarded.

But after the last meeting, Unlike Ning Zhuo found that this person acted quite openly, saying one thing and meaning another.

"She could have kept the prophecy poem and other things secret and not told me, but she said it, and didn't worry about me raising the price."

"In fact, her hand was quite large, and she was not stingy. The Cold Bone Moon Dew Wine alone exceeded my expected upper limit."

"She indeed has the spirit of a heroine among women."

"Did my mother also cooperate with the White Paper City Lord because of this? Was her feeling about the White Paper City Lord the same as mine?"

"My mother was truly benevolent and magnanimous, even refusing the position of Deputy City Lord... Compared to my mother, my pattern is too small, and I can't do such self-sacrifice."

"Ten Thousand Phenomena Sect... true disciple..."

A knock on the door interrupted Unlike Ning Zhuo's thoughts.

The person who came was not someone else, but Wen Wen Ruanyu.

Now Unlike Ning Zhuo was clear that this person was his mother Meng Meng Meng Yaoyin's fellow apprentice, Jin Dan level, and also a true disciple.

The Ten Thousand Phenomena Sect was a super sect, with a status similar to the Soul-Eating Sect and the Non-Empty Gate. To become a true disciple of such a force, the minimum cultivation level had to be Jin Dan!

"Coming." Unlike Ning Zhuo got up and opened the door.

He was not surprised by Wen Wen Ruanyu's active visit. Because the White Paper City Lord had already given clear instructions, asking him to cooperate with Wen Wen Ruanyu to investigate the internal traitor among the high-level figures.

Wen Wen Ruanyu cupped his hands to him, showing a smile: "I will fully cooperate with Fellow Daoist Hemp-face to complete this important task!"

Since Unlike Ning Zhuo captured three Jin Dan-level ghost generals alive, his attitude and tone toward Unlike Ning Zhuo had become equal.

This time, he was personally cared for by the White Paper City Lord, asking him to be Unlike Ning Zhuo's assistant.

This made Wen Wen Ruanyu's posture lower by a level, vaguely considering himself Unlike Ning Zhuo's deputy.

He was a Confucian cultivator; no matter what he thought inside, at least his surface attitude was correct and in place.

Unlike Ning Zhuo also returned the salute and transmitted his voice to Wen Wen Ruanyu, telling him: Don't startle the snake; Hemp-face's identity still needs to be maintained as much as possible. Next, he would follow Wen Wen Ruanyu to investigate the internal traitor in the identity of Hemp-face, and on the surface, he would be led by Wen Wen Ruanyu.

Wen Wen Ruanyu pondered for a while; this was a prudent move, and his evaluation of Unlike Ning Zhuo rose by a small level, agreeing fully.

He asked Unlike Ning Zhuo where to start investigating.

Unlike Ning Zhuo did not hesitate and transmitted to him: "I have initially thought about it, let's go to the Chengnan Gate first."

Arriving at the Chengnan Gate, Unlike Ning Zhuo saw the paper giant statue again, as well as many cultivators who were actively repairing the battlefield.

Unlike Ning Zhuo: "I need to see the various arrangements made by Senior Meng Meng Meng Yaoyin back then."

Wen Wen Ruanyu followed Unlike Ning Zhuo's secret instructions, first letting the other cultivators on the scene withdraw, leaving only the two of them, and then opened the array for Unlike Ning Zhuo, stepping into the interior of the array space together.

Here, Unlike Ning Zhuo saw the true structure of the array, which was so complex and fine that it made him dizzy.

"Mother is truly amazing!"

"In terms of array arrangement, her attainments are too deep, and I can't understand them at all in a hurry."

Unlike Ning Zhuo secretly communicated with Sun Sun Lingtong, with a look of reverence and longing.

Sun Sun Lingtong laughed, thinking: Wasn't this array designed by your mother and the White Paper City Lord after seven days and seven nights of discussion?

Sun Sun Lingtong understood Unlike Ning Zhuo's mood very well and didn't tear him down.

Meng Meng Meng Yaoyin was a Jin Dan true disciple of a super sect, proficient in mechanical arts, and naturally proficient in many cultivation techniques. Unfortunately, she passed away early and only left Unlike Ning Zhuo a set of classics on mechanical arts.

Unlike Ning Zhuo did not inherit her array foundation and couldn't understand the array here, but he had his own methods.

"Senior Wen, please explain the structure to me." Unlike Ning Zhuo made a direct request.

Wen Wen Ruanyu patiently explained to Unlike Ning Zhuo, knowing everything and saying everything.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's array foundation was solid, and he barely understood two or three points, making a precise judgment in his heart: "My mother personally arranged this here; if this array's various arrangements were burned with the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra, it should yield quite a bit of spirituality."

After watching the array, Unlike Ning Zhuo said to Wen Wen Ruanyu again: "Let's go inside the paper giant statue and take a look."

Wen Wen Ruanyu had no objection.

The Underworld.

Deep in Water Burial Valley.

Old Man Gray Bone sat cross-legged, slowly opening his eyes, staring complexly at the skull in front of him.

This was the skull of a Heaven Ghost, a treasure material at the Void Refinement level!

Now, the skull had been refined by the Prefect until its surface melted like water, but the inside was still stubborn bone quality.

"No wonder you, Prefect, spared no price to refine this piece of Heaven Ghost bone."

"This superior talent is a perfect match for you; no, it seems to be a match made in heaven."

The Prefect laughed loudly: "If it weren't for this, why would I have to go to such great lengths?"

After obtaining this skull, he studied it carefully and found that it retained a small part of its supernatural powers. He spent over a hundred years of painstaking efforts, constantly investing manpower and material resources, and finally saw signs of success this year.

In the Heaven Ghost skull, only a small part of the bone quality remained.

As long as it was completely refined, the Prefect could fully absorb it and add a talent for himself!

The Prefect sighed: "To obtain this talent, I have racked my brains. Just to obtain the Heaven Ghost Transformation Tribulation Offering, I consumed 30% of my mansion's treasury to exchange for it from another mansion."

Old Man Gray Bone was silent for a moment before saying: "This offering originates from Confucianism, sacrificing to heaven and earth; in the underworld, it is virtue, and in the mortal world, it is evil. Therefore, it caused countless killings and blood debts in White Paper Xiancheng."

The Prefect sneered: "Those who achieve great things do not care about trifles; I am the King of the Underworld, do I still need the morality of the mortal world?"

"I must eliminate White Paper Xiancheng, and the entire city will be used for blood sacrifice to complete my Heaven Ghost Transformation offering!"

Old Man Gray Bone sighed: "So, this skull is the source of the disaster. I used the tribulation energy in it to perform the Ashes of Tribulation Covering the Hexagram technique, but I also calculated that you are still a barrier away from success."

The Prefect nodded slightly: "I know."

"To be able to absorb this skull, one must have at least a million human soul foundation, and also have enough evil energy to control the impact of this foreign talent."

"I am a Prefect, my soul foundation has long broken through ten million, a million human souls is not an obstacle."

"And I use the ghost tide to attack White Paper Xiancheng, so I can obtain soldier evil energy to help me resist the impact."

Old Man Gray Bone nodded slightly, then shook his head lightly: "There is more."

"Hmm?" The Prefect was surprised, then said, "Can you calculate it for me, Fellow Daoist Gray Bone?"

Old Man Gray Bone shook his head: "I cannot. But I can remind the Prefect of one or two things."

The Prefect cupped his hands: "Please enlighten me, Fellow Daoist."

Old Man Gray Bone said: "To put it simply, according to my divination skills, the various barriers are actually a struggle of life force."

"You are a Prefect, placed in the mortal world, naturally a monarch of a country, with extraordinary power."

"But this Heaven Ghost Transformation offering covers both the underworld and the mortal world. Your status in the underworld is stable and unbreakable, but in the mortal world, it is a major shortcoming."

"To win in the mortal world, one must have the strongest few strands of life force to succeed."

"And the life force of the mortal world is obvious: one is the Yin Tide Black Swamp Wetland, two is White Paper Xiancheng, and three is the major super sects."

The Prefect laughed loudly: "For these three, I have long had plans. The City-Overturning Alliance can solve the geographical advantage, internal spies can solve the immortal city, and I have already divided the major super sects."

Old Man Gray Bone heard this and nodded slowly: "The Prefect plans before acting, planning and accumulating for decades, acting thoroughly. According to the current situation, success is a natural development."

"However, things like talent are granted by heaven. We mortals seeking any kind of acquired talent are against the way of heaven and will not go smoothly."

"The life force of heaven is the greatest; compared to heaven, we are like mayflies and ants, not worth mentioning."

"Therefore, the Prefect must not be careless; perhaps heaven has already brewed some variable, but it has not yet manifested."

The Prefect restrained his smile and couldn't help but show a thoughtful expression: "If Fellow Daoist Gray Bone says so, then if I find the variable in advance and strangle it in the cradle, wouldn't it be twice the result with half the effort?"

Old Man Gray Bone said: "This is the method of resolving the tribulation."

"First of all, finding the variable is extremely difficult."

"Secondly, one must find the right time to solve the variable. To resolve the tribulation of heaven, one must have the timing just right and grasp the most precise heat."

"A little early, the variable is eliminated, and other variables will be derived, or more, or stronger. A little late, the variable itself has already caused irreversible negative effects."

The Prefect listened carefully and felt he had gained a lot.

White Paper Xiancheng.

Chengnan Gate Giant Statue.

Unlike Ning Zhuo and Wen Wen Ruanyu were investigating inside the giant statue.

"This is a mechanical creation, but it mainly uses two cultivation techniques: talisman making and paper cutting. My mother's mechanical skills are so vigorous, and she has such ingenious ideas, I am far from it!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo was surging with excitement.

Although he was determined to study the art of mechanics, he was still too young, his cultivation had just started, so there was too much room for improvement in his foundation and level.

A flying letter drilled into the giant statue at this time and fell into Wen Wen Ruanyu's hands.

Wen Wen Ruanyu scanned with his spirit sense and showed joy: "Fellow Daoist Hemp-face, good news. The City Lord personally took action and interrogated the three Jin Dan ghost generals, learning a lot. They all come from an underworld force, named the Forgotten River Underworld!"

"Forgotten River Underworld?" Unlike Ning Zhuo changed color slightly, "This is corresponding to a force in the mortal world; the Prefect should be at the Nascent Soul level, right?"

Wen Wen Ruanyu nodded, but comforted: "Although this is so, the underworld and the mortal world are separated. The Prefect is also powerful, so it is even more impossible to travel to the mortal world. Otherwise, if the Prefect took action personally, our White Paper Xiancheng would have been destroyed long ago."

Unlike Ning Zhuo narrowed his eyes: "In the past, there were no underworld soldiers or ghost generals, but this ghost tide has this new situation. But I heard that the Forgotten River Underworld had already taken action secretly?"

Wen Wen Ruanyu nodded: "Exactly. Although the ghost tide is a normal phenomenon, it doesn't happen frequently. The Forgotten River Underworld had already taken action secretly decades ago, fueling the ghost tides one after another."

Unlike Ning Zhuo's eyes flashed with a sharp light, secretly gritting his teeth and thinking: "Forgotten River Underworld... Good, very good. It was you who made my mother pay so much, and even shorten her lifespan to protect the city."

He thought for a while and asked: "Why did the Underworld Prefect design to harm White Paper Xiancheng decades ago? Could it be that he still wants to walk out of the underworld, defy the world, and plot against the mortal world?"

Wen Wen Ruanyu shook his head: "I don't know the details. However..."

"However what?" Unlike Ning Zhuo asked.

Wen Wen Ruanyu hesitated, but still said: "Back then, Senior Sister Meng seemed to have found some clues and pondered them."

"What clues?" Unlike Ning Zhuo asked again.

Wen Wen Ruanyu shook his head: "I only heard a word from Senior Sister Meng. She left a secret treasure, waiting for a predestined person, which is an arrangement specifically aimed at this place."

Unlike Ning Zhuo heard about the secret treasure again and continued to ask.

Wen Wen Ruanyu smiled bitterly: "I have been in White Paper Xiancheng for so many years, and I have never found this secret treasure. Sometimes I think, perhaps this is a clever move by Senior Sister Meng to use human hearts to coordinate the city people to participate in the city defense enthusiastically, and there is no secret treasure itself."

Unlike Ning Zhuo nodded and continued to observe.

Sun Sun Lingtong was a little impatient and asked secretly: "Little Zhuo, you have been checking for a long time, have you found any clues about the internal traitor?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo shook his head in his heart and told Sun Sun Lingtong the truth: "Boss, I am not Zhu Zhu Zhu Xuanji, where do I have any talent for investigation?"

"My purpose in coming here is to see my mother's personal arrangements and judge how much spirituality these fire burials can yield."

Sun Sun Lingtong was silent.

Unlike Ning Zhuo laughed: "Don't count victory before considering defeat. Eh?"

Sun Sun Lingtong: "What's wrong?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo's communication tone changed: "Boss, look carefully, is the mechanical arrangement here an application in my mother's classics?"

Sun Sun Lingtong identified carefully: "It is indeed. It was your mother's original creation at the time, quite ingenious. Running forward is one effect. Running backward is another power."

"This application... let me think, there should be another hidden space here!"

"Little Zhuo!"

"Why did your mother arrange it like this?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo's heart shook, almost blurted out: "Secret treasure?" ===== CHAPTER 601 =====

"Little Zhuo!"

"Why do you think your mother set things up this way?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo's heart shook, and he almost blurted out: "A secret treasure?"