“Precisely who are you?”

Facing the questioning gaze of the White Paper City Lord’s avatar, Ning Zhuo’s heart tightened. He understood instantly; his disguise had been seen through.

Ning Zhuo’s portrayal of Jiao Ma was based on Sun Ling Tong’s theft technique. Sun Ling Tong was merely at the Foundation Establishment stage. Though absorbing the evil god’s bone marrow significantly boosted his theft technique, the magnitude of that increase couldn’t possibly reach the Nascent Soul level. It was akin to Ning Zhuo’s earlier attempts on the battlefield in Liang Zhu Country’s Qian Feng Forest, where even exhausting his family’s assets couldn’t truly elevate his aura to the Nascent Soul realm. The fact that his disguise had held until now, only to be detected by a paper person avatar, ironically attested to the immense strength of Sun Ling Tong’s technique.

Cupping his hands and bowing slightly, Ning Zhuo spoke, “Regarding the details within, this junior requests that City Lord dismiss those around us for a private narration.”

Wen Ruan Yu’s eyebrows immediately shot up, and he was about to speak.

However, the paper person avatar waved a hand. “You all, withdraw.”

“City Lord?!” Wen Ruan Yu was instantly flustered.

The fall of Sang Le You Ling was the White Paper Immortal City’s most significant loss. This was precisely why the paper person avatar had appeared. Yet, if this avatar were also to be damaged here, the future of the White Paper Immortal City would undoubtedly become even bleaker.

But the paper person avatar simply stared at Ning Zhuo, repeating in a clear voice, “Go out.”

Wen Ruan Yu and the others naturally dared not disobey their City Lord and retreated in a flurry. The paper person avatar waved a long sleeve, instantly isolating the inside from the outside, creating a space for their secret conversation. Ning Zhuo was slightly surprised; he hadn’t expected the paper person avatar to be so amenable.

The White Paper City Lord’s avatar produced a magic treasure. “This is the Su Wen Dissect Heart Scroll. It can discern truth from falsehood. Should you lie, your heart will be dissected, and you will die a miserable death on the spot.” As she spoke, she activated the magic treasure, causing it to hover above Ning Zhuo’s head.

Ning Zhuo suddenly felt his life force being forcefully extracted and inextricably linked to the Su Wen Dissect Heart Scroll.

“Little Zhuo!” Sun Ling Tong cried out, wishing he could take his place.

Ning Zhuo transmitted a divine sense message, urging Sun Ling Tong to calm down slightly. “Old man, don’t forget, I already possess a fire element heart temple.”

Sun Ling Tong shook his head. He knew full well that these words were mostly for comfort. Though Ning Zhuo’s heart had been transformed, it was fundamentally still his Foundation Establishment level heart, merely fused with ten thousand-year fire essence. Its grade was at most Golden Core level. How could it possibly withstand this Nascent Soul level magic treasure?

Sun Ling Tong stared intently at the Su Wen Dissect Heart Scroll above. The scroll appeared remarkably plain and white, its paper surface subtly revealing the texture of natural reed fibers. The two ends of the scroll were crafted from hard-shelled paper rolled with soaked pine glue, their edges still bearing the rough remnants of cutting. It was wrapped with a half-faded indigo seal strip.

“Speak,” the White Paper City Lord urged, her voice icy cold.

Ning Zhuo remained silent for a moment before exhaling a murky breath. “In truth, there is nothing unspeakable about this matter.”

“My surname is Ning, my given name Zhuo. I hail from the Fire Persimmon Immortal City in Nan Dou Country. I am the branch family head of the Ning clan, a close friend of Divine Catcher Zhu Xuan Ji, a member of the Nan Dou Country’s royal family, and the first ally of the Wan Yao Gate in Nan Dou Country. Simultaneously, I am also the son-in-law of General Mu’s mansion in Liang Zhu Country…”

“My journey to this realm was in search of my mother’s relics, yet I was苦without any clues. This time, guided by Zhu Xuan Ji, I intended to seek out Senior Sang Le You Ling of the White Paper Immortal City for a divination.”

“For this purpose, I even brought a token…”

Reaching this point, Ning Zhuo produced the white jade candle and displayed it for the City Lord’s avatar to see.

The White Paper City Lord’s pupils suddenly constricted.

Her heart immediately recalled that prophetic poem: “Ghost tide surges, white paper in peril, a solitary wild goose holds a candle, breaking the sky curtain. The guest star should shine north of Wen Shu, ten thousand images illuminate, the calamity self-destroys.” Sang Le You Ling was her left and right hand and would naturally not conceal such things.

The White Paper City Lord, thinking thus, reached out and took the white jade candle, pinching it in her hand. After confirming its authenticity, she said, “Xiao Le only scattered eleven such white jade candle tokens in her lifetime.”

Her tone shifted slightly. “Why did you not produce it earlier? And why did you assume another’s appearance? Was Jiao Ma killed by you?”

Ning Zhuo offered a bitter smile. “This junior, arriving here for the first time, was unfamiliar with the land. Thus, I thought to disguise myself, first gather local intelligence, and then, finding a way, go seek Senior Sang Le You Ling.”

“However, midway, I stumbled upon a battlefield. Many people had perished, and a sudden impulse led me to assume the appearance of one of the deceased.”

“Who knew this clever plan would go awry, leading me to be brought to the Immortal City and become a male concubine?”

“Originally, I intended to seek Senior Sang Le You Ling, but she was twice assassinated, and the guards were stringent. If I had appeared in my original form, perhaps I could have acted openly. But the city was already undergoing thorough investigation and martial law. Rashly revealing my true body would only cause significant misunderstanding.”

“Thus, I was reluctant to act for fear of consequences, and I waited until today, seizing the opportunity of the promotion to declare my true intentions to Senior Sang Le You Ling.”

“The result is precisely as it is now.”

The White Paper City Lord fell silent once more.

This silence was longer than any before. Her slight tightening of the white jade candle in her hand revealed her inner turmoil. The White Paper City Lord naturally knew of Yang Wei Da, but upon learning Ning Zhuo’s identity, she was more inclined towards another speculation. Even she couldn’t be certain, but her interest in Ning Zhuo surged unexpectedly. She couldn’t help but inquire further. “Who was your mother? Why do you seek her relics?”

Ning Zhuo’s face displayed sorrow. “My mother’s name was Meng Yao Yin. She passed away when I was just two years old. My purpose in traversing the world is quite simple: one is to understand my mother better…”

Ning Zhuo didn’t finish his sentence, concealing the primary goal of reviving his mother. He spoke at length, all truths, carefully avoiding any contact with the Su Wen Dissect Heart Scroll above his head.

The White Paper City Lord fell silent once again. This time, the silence was considerably longer than before.

When she broke the silence, her voice was somewhat dry. “You are indeed a filial son.”

“Let it be.”

“I shall grant you three protective talismans. Go forth and investigate the true murderer who harmed Sang Le You Ling for me.”

As she spoke, the White Paper City Lord flicked a finger. Three talismans, like streaks of white light, instantly shot into Ning Zhuo’s body.

Ning Zhuo was greatly shocked and quickly checked. He saw that the three talismans were precisely in his three great dantian, occupying the most central positions.

Ning Zhuo offered a bitter smile and cupped his hands. “City Lord, you see clearly even the smallest detail, and with the Su Wen Dissect Heart Scroll here, you already understand that I am not the murderer.”

“Though I am merely a Foundation Establishment small cultivator, and my age is too young, how can I undertake this heavy task?”

The White Paper City Lord chuckled lightly. “If you do not wish to investigate, you may leave the White Paper Immortal City now. These three talismans shall be considered my gift to you for travel expenses.”

With that, she brushed her sleeve and vanished from her original spot. Along with her disappearance went the corpse of Sang Le You Ling.

However, before she left, she spoke a final sentence: “Xiao Le is dead, and attacks have erupted both inside and outside the city. You need not concern yourself with the outside. Within the city, the area near the south gate is currently under attack. The statue at the south gate is one of the array eyes of the immortal city’s great array. Go there, and perhaps you can collect clues.”

“Wen Ruan Yu will accompany you.”

“If you do not wish to investigate the true murderer, that is also your choice. The ghost tide on the south gate side is the smallest; you can easily leave.”

Ning Zhuo stood stunned in place. The White Paper City Lord’s amiable nature greatly exceeded his expectations.

The great array of the Listen You Pavilion had ceased, and Ning Zhuo regained his freedom.

Sun Ling Tong transmitted a divine sense message. “Hmph, this paper piece smelly old woman speaks nicely, claiming to allow you free action and even leave the White Paper Immortal City? If it’s so ‘ok,’ why did she leave three talismans in your body? Clearly, she’s monitoring you, holding our lives on the blade’s edge!”

Ning Zhuo sighed.

Wen Ruan Yu pushed open the door and entered, his expression grim. He urged, “Since the City Lord has confirmed your innocence and even entrusted you with investigating the case, follow me.”

“We must be swift. The south gate side is extremely chaotic! They say several Golden Core level ghost generals are rampaging!”

City South.

The defensive battle around a section of the paper person statue had entered a crucial stage.

“Guard it! We must guard it!” The human cultivators roared, boosting morale.

A butcher ghost general, fat as a mountain of flesh, wielding a bone-chopping knife the size of a door board, brought it down fiercely. The chop exploded, and the defensive light cover of the array shook precariously. The cultivators occupying the array core and eye surged their magic power, struggling to resist.

The mirror makeup ghost general held a bronze mirror, releasing mirror light that shone upon the cultivators inside the defensive light cover, causing their hearts and minds to sway. Their magic power circulation became unsteady, drastically reducing the power of the defensive light cover.

The shred-mouthed ghost general laughed heartily. “Broken! Broken! Broken!” In addition to the mouth in his normal position, mouths grew on each cheek, left and right. All three mouths spoke simultaneously, emitting a strange sound wave. Under the impact of the sound wave, the defensive light cover shattered with a bang. The human cultivators guarding the array all suffered backlash together, simultaneously spitting fresh blood and wilting on the spot. Their combat power was extinguished, and for a time, they became lambs waiting to be slaughtered!

The three Golden Core ghost generals charged in directly. The butcher ghost general was responsible for slaughtering these cultivators, while the remaining two rushed into the inner layers.

“Damn it! We’re a step too late!” Wen Ruan Yu, bringing Jiao Ma (Ning Zhuo), arrived at the scene just as the defensive array was broken. He couldn’t help but glare, a mix of shock and anger filling his eyes.

“Although you have received the City Lord’s appointment and are no longer suppressed by the Immortal City’s great array, you are after all only at the Foundation Establishment cultivation. Stay back and protect yourself well.”

Wen Ruan Yu hastily explained, then immediately went into battle, regardless of Ning Zhuo. He was a Confucian cultivator, holding a brush rod and displaying literary techniques. His strength was indeed shocking, not that of an ordinary Golden Core. The butcher ghost general had only killed a few people before being suppressed by Wen Ruan Yu. No matter how ferocious his knife skills were, they were no match for the small brush rod.

Sun Ling Tong transmitted a divine sense message from within the Ten Thousand Miles Swimming Dragon. “Little Zhuo, seize this good opportunity! I’ll take a look for you and help you steal out the paper talismans inside your three dantian!”

Ning Zhuo had been contemplating the White Paper City Lord’s attitude towards him the entire way, and the more he pondered, the stranger it seemed. The latter had been far too amiable. He also somewhat agreed with Sun Ling Tong’s analysis.

Immediately, he nodded slowly. “Old man, I’ll entrust you to look carefully for me. The White Paper City Lord is so ‘magnanimous’; there must be a scheme.”

Sang Le You Ling was dead, so Ning Zhuo had no reason to stay. “This path can be imitated. There isn’t only one person in the world who can perform divination,” Ning Zhuo thought to himself, unwilling to remain in the White Paper Immortal City. The situation of internal and external troubles in this immortal city, coupled with this experience, left him speechless.

Looking at the three ghost generals now, they were clearly not suppressed by the Immortal City’s great array. This was simply absurd! This situation must be due to past karma. Respecting the fate of others, Ning Zhuo didn’t want to be entangled in this mess any longer.

Just then, the confrontation between Wen Ruan Yu and the three Golden Core level ghost generals completely shattered the array in this area, expanding the space and revealing the workshop inside. Fierce nether fire burned within the workshop, almost reducing it to ruins.

A repair craftsman shouted, “Adult Wen, protect the giant statue’s head! If it’s destroyed, it will be very difficult for us to sculpt a second one!”

Wen Ruan Yu’s face changed.

The mirror makeup ghost general deliberately entangled him, allowing the multi-mouthed ghost general to rush ahead, stepping onto the head of the giant statue.

“Damn it!” Wen Ruan Yu was suddenly hesitant to act, secretly cursing his bad luck. Ning Zhuo’s gaze was also drawn over by the situation.

The next instant, he was utterly stunned in place—he saw the head’s appearance clearly for the first time.

That was…

“Mother?!”