Levelwater City
Mu Yu fetched the young scholar drifting in the water, and the latter turned out to be none other than Zhuang Yuanlang, the youth who used a book as his weapon of choice. “Xiaoshuai, you sure he’s alive? I don’t sense any life in him.”
Xiaoshuai knocked on Zhuang Yuanlang. “He has converted his vitality into a sinister energy to seal his life force, effectively feigning death.”
“Sounds like something Xie Bulao would think up. Why is he still out cold, then?”
“Erm… The technique will remain in effect for around seven days. I can’t remember where I’ve seen the technique employed before, but I do know how to expedite his slumber.”
Xiaoshuai gently stabbed Zhuang Yuanlang in the chest, causing the latter to wake up and spray out black qi from his mouth, shrinking his bloated physique.
“Who ar-, you!” Though Zhuang Yuanlang regained awareness, he still was not in stable condition.
“Third Heaven Palace kill everyone?” Mu Yu passed Zhuang Yuanlang a pill.
Zhuang Yuanlang, after consuming aforementioned pill, raged, “Yes. They teamed up with Celestial Star Sect to assail us. I’d be dead if I didn’t learn Shifu’s Life Stopping Technique.”
“… Have you seen Kongkong, Miaomiao or Lan Ling’er?”
“While Kongkong and Miaomiao often visit, someone picked them up prior to the attack on the day of the attack.”
“Lan Ling’er?”
“No, it was some middle-aged man I don’t recognise, but they did.”
“Uh… I wonder if it was Uncle An. If it was him, where would Lan Ling’er have gone?”
“Well, if it was Uncle An, then he’d know how to give Third Heaven Palace the slip,” stated Xiaoshuai.
“I guess and hope so. Zhuang Yuanlang, where are Ximen Buxing and Wanwan?”
“Third Heaven Palace was after those two; however, they’re seldom here. Wanwan told me she was going to Levelwater City the last time she was here,” answered Zhuang Yuanlang.
“What sort of place is Levelwater City?” Mu Yu inquired.
“Few cultivators can locate it as it’s a forbidden city for cultivators. The city is located at a riverside. The river isn’t still.”
“I don’t get it,” uttered Xiaoshuai.
“I’ve never seen it, either. According to Wanwan, you can’t find the river when you search for it, but you may find it when you don’t search for it.”
“The heck? Tian Ran, have you heard of the city before?” Mu Yu queried.
“My mother mentioned it was a city reserved for ordinary folks, so cultivators have their cultivation sealed once they set foot in the city and cannot leave. It’s believed to be a mobile city. Having said that, this is all hearsay,” replied Tian Ran.
“I can only pray everyone can protect themselves, then.”
Mu Yu nursed Zhuang Yuanlang’s injuries until the latter was able to move on his own.
“I’ll go look for Du Biying. I suspect Third HeavenPalace will be going after him if they haven’t already got to him,” mentioned Zhuang Yuanlang.
Upon returning to the manor in low spirits, Mu Yu informed, “Don’t worry, Elder Xun. Anyhow, it’s not safe for you to stay here, so we’ll escort you to Formation Sect.”
Qing Mei shook her head. “I will stay until Cheng Yan returns.”
Mu Yu gently exhaled through his nose. “He’ll be all right. Have faith in him.”
Understanding how Qing Mei felt but also comprehending the status quo, Daoist Qing Song persuaded, “Qing Mei, we’re too weak. We’ll only be used against him if we stay here. Heed Mu Yu’s advice. Cheng Yan will know where to find Mu Yu if he comes back.”
“I’ll leave a letter telling him where we’ve gone, then.”
Mu Yu escorted the trio back to Formation Sect overnight and then left them in Lu Deyi’s care while he hurried off to see Zhuge Xiaosheng in Formation Palace.
“Patriarch, have you heard of Levelwater City?”
“Levelwater City? What brought this on?” Zhuge Xiaosheng inquired.
“Wanwan is heading there,” Mu Yu elucidated.
“I see. I have only been there once.”
“I am suspecting there are more secrets in the city than we know of. If it is out of bounds for cultivators, does that mean Third Heaven Palace cannot manipulate it?”
“Dozens of years ago, Grandmaster took me along to the city, saying a friend invited him there and wanted me to expand my horizons. Once I entered the city, I felt my cultivation taken from me unless I was with Grandmaster. Now that I think about it, that must have been D-”
“Domain energy.”
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