Chapter 199

Ning Ning felt a bit of a headache and asked, clinging to the little hope she had left, “City Lord, has the Jucidial Court come to any conclusions after their recent all-night investigations?”

“We’ve considered many motives, the most likely being the use of live human sacrifices,” Luo Yuanming replied.

“The missing girls are mostly around sixteen or seventeen, the ideal age for sacrifices. The one who took them must be a cultivator, but the purpose remains unknown. Evil methods are unpredictable and varied; it could be soul refining, spirit stealing, body possession, or even using them as cultivation furnaces—all are possible.”

Well, that was about as useful as saying nothing at all.

“In addition, I have a secret to share. It’s said that the Lord of the City is a naturally gifted and outstanding cultivator, but few know that he was born with a damaged sea of consciousness and weak spiritual energy. It was only through unexpected opportunities found while traveling the world that he was able to recover.”

The storyteller on stage, unaware of the city lord’s presence, continued his tale. Ning Ning glanced at Luo Yuanming, who gave her a gentle smile, signaling her to keep listening.

“In the vast desert, where danger lurks at every turn, there also lie endless spiritual treasures. At midnight, with sand as white as snow and a faint moon hanging in the sky, at the shimmering surface of a hidden crescent spring, a red lotus suddenly bloomed.”

Another sharp rap of the storyteller’s wooden block echoed, “It was a rare spiritual plant, the Lone Moon Lotus!”

Someone from the audience curiously asked, “What does this lotus have to do with the sea of consciousness?”

“A cultivator with a damaged sea of consciousness is essentially cut off from the path to immortality. People say even gods can’t help, but if a pill made from several rare medicinal ingredients is consumed, it can reverse fate and rebuild the spiritual foundation.”

Ning Ning’s heart skipped a beat.

The original text indeed mentioned that Wen Hemian’s recovery of his spiritual energy was due to the elders of the Xuanxu Sword Sect painstakingly seeking out these ingredients, though it never specified what these spiritual plants were.

The most regrettable part was that, because it would still take years to gather all the ingredients, by the time Wen Hemian recovered, he was already riddled with old ailments and perpetually gloomy. Even though his sea of consciousness was restored, he could never reach his former peak.

They had remained pen pals, at the very least. If she could contribute to the search, perhaps Elder Wen could recover sooner and avoid so much unnecessary suffering.

With this in mind, Ning Ning quickly looked up at Luo Yuanming, who, noticing her gaze, lowered his voice and asked, “Miss Ning Ning, are you interested in this matter?”

Ning Ning, not feeling overly reserved, nodded in response, “I know someone whose sea of consciousness was also destroyed… I’ve been searching for a way to restore it.”

“Someone you know?”

He was momentarily surprised, then smiled. “Could it be Elder Wen?”

Ning Ning nodded.

Pei Ji, who had been silent all the time, moved his fingertips when he heard the words. He raised his eyelids and glanced at her quickly, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

“To repair the sea of consciousness, five medicinal ingredients are needed in total. The elders of the Xuanxu Sword Sect have also been diligently searching for them. Now, only two remain unfound,” Luo Yuanming explained.

“One is the Lone Moon Lotus, and the other is the Lingshu Immortal Grass.”

Ning Ning memorized these two names and nodded slightly.

“The Lone Moon Lotus is elusive. It could be found on steep cliffs, in volcanoes or snowy peaks, or it might just be a common red lotus by an ordinary pond. Encountering it is a matter of fate.”

Seeing the young girl’s serious expression, he couldn’t help but chuckle, “As for the Lingshu Immortal Grass… rumors say that in the secret realm for your next trial, there happens to be one.”

Ning Ning’s breath caught.

“The next trial?”

“The Ten Method Assembly has two rounds. The second round used to involve one-on-one combat, but this year it has been changed to a more perilous method,” Luo Yuanming said.

“You will enter the secret realm—”

He didn’t finish his sentence when he suddenly frowned and bent over, letting out a suppressed cough.

When he moved his right hand away from his mouth, Ning Ning, despite his attempts to hide it, saw a trace of blood.

“Recently, I’ve been unwell, often like this, though I’m not sure why.”

Luo Yuanming wiped away the blood, smiling awkwardly, “It’s just a minor illness, probably from overworking. I should recover soon.”

Before Ning Ning could ask more about the second round of the trial, the storyteller on stage laughed loudly, breaking the solemn atmosphere.

“That’s all boring stuff. Seeing how enthusiastic the young disciples are, I’ll tell you all about the city lord’s incredible three hundred-round battle with the demon cultivators of the Wanmo Cave! It’s a fantastic tale, full of life and color!”

Luo Yuanming’s face turned red instantly, and he hastily explained, “It’s a myth, not true. It is complete nonsense…That never happened! Trust me!”

“Hey, you there; close the door quickly!”

The storyteller was fully engrossed, laughing slyly, “If the Jucidial Court officers come in, we’re doomed. We’ll discuss this secretly.”

Someone in the audience joked, “Sir, you know you’ll be arrested for spreading rumors, right?”

“This isn’t spreading rumors!”

He straightened his face and said, “Even if I really get caught by the Jucidial Court, the charge would be ‘leaking important secrets of the city lord’—quick, quick, do you want to hear ‘The Demoness and the Amorous City Lord Play’ or ‘The Demoness Happily Teasing the Swallows and Orioles ‘?”

(T/N: I’m not sure if I get this correctly, but usually swallows and orioles often symbolize beauty (man/woman)/love/spring time…)

Luo Yuanming: …

Luo Yuanming stood up stiffly, his voice as cold as winter iron.

“I’d rather hear ‘The Execution of the Storyteller’.”

He had a strong aura and took off the mask on his face as he walked forward, giving the impression of walking out of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

The teahouse was in chaos, with people running around. The storyteller, assuming this was an undercover Jucidial Officer, pleaded with a pained expression, “Master Officer, I only did this to make a living. Please show mercy and don’t tell the City Lord—”

Before he could finish speaking, he saw the familiar face behind the mask.

The storyteller smiled awkwardly and babbled, “Oh, haha.”

Ah, it was the City Lord himself.

Nothing to worry about then.