Hidden Moth-Chapter 484 - 273: Autumn Reflections, a Leaf of Lingxi Thought

Chapter 484: Chapter 273: Autumn Reflections, a Leaf of Lingxi Thought

Since Elder Li made such a request, He Kao "described" a story—

Wang Yuheng went to university at eighteen, it was 2020, and unfortunately, he was hit by the pandemic, so he often attended online classes at home, turning a full-time course into a half-distance one.

Many things at the school were also communicated by the advisor in the class group, so he wasn’t very familiar with many classmates but had a particularly deep impression of the advisor, Luo Mingzhi, as they met more often offline.

Luo Mingzhi, supposedly her name, was twenty-five at the time, a fresh master’s graduate, an outstanding student leader during her studies, and stayed on as an advisor while pursuing a doctoral degree.

She looked nice and had a good sense of fashion, exuding a youthful yet mature intellectual beauty in Wang Yuheng’s eyes, leaving him with an inexplicable admiration for her unique charm.

Wang Yuheng did not pursue a master’s degree, and after graduation, he returned home to find a job. However, the general environment was not good, and his career was not developing smoothly, leaving him feeling a bit disheartened.

He wasn’t sure who to talk to about some things, occasionally engaging in online chats with his former advisor.

He still had contact with Luo Mingzhi, sending messages of blessing during holidays. At the end of last year, he mentioned his current situation, wanting to resign and move to Qi Yuan, even if it meant working while preparing for graduate exams.

Wang Yuheng merely intended to vent and gather some information, but unexpectedly, Luo Mingzhi expressed support and encouragement, even offering help. So, he resigned, packed up, and moved to Qi Yuan, meeting with Luo Mingzhi.

Surprisingly, Luo Mingzhi found him accommodation, allowing him to settle down and often visiting him with concern... This is Wang Yuheng’s experience.

As for Luo Mingzhi, there is another story. She was also a schoolmate of He Kao, three years his senior, but He Kao didn’t know her, given the number of people in their school, and they weren’t in the same faculty.

For Luo Mingzhi, Wang Yuheng was a godsend. At the time, she was looking for suitable people to place in Sesame Apartment, mainly to confuse and distract the Ancestral Hall’s investigation efforts and direction.

Why did Luo Mingzhi do this, or for whom was she working?

She was either part of an adversarial force outside of the Magic Sect or a corrupt faction within, and very likely was recruited by these forces two years ago.

Two years ago, there were rumors of the Hidden Moth resurfacing in Jianghu, said to be in Qi Yuan, prompting Qian Guran and others to rush there, followed by a flood of sorcerers.

Many had set their sights on He Kao, certainly heading to Qi Yuan University to investigate his past experiences. It was likely then that Luo Mingzhi came under the radar of those forces and was recruited.

Why was Luo Mingzhi chosen? Possibly due to her talent or because of her position as a teacher at He Kao’s alma mater, making her a convenient covert operative.

Luo Mingzhi may not be inherently bad. She might have been fooled by Jianghu tactics or lured by the mysterious allure of the secret technique... much like Meng Ya was used back then.

This covert operative is quite discreet. Even if it’s found out that Wang Yuheng was placed in Sesame Apartment by her, there would be nothing suspicious on the surface. Who wouldn’t come to Qi Yuan to find work, who wouldn’t help others, or who thinks Sesame Apartment is uninhabitable?

The story is that simple, quickly told in a few words.

Li Xiuyuan chuckled, "I asked you to tell a story, to describe the narrative you witnessed after the dream, a natural interpretation, instead of fabricating some essay!"

There were only a few dialogues and two scenes in the dream, but the story He Kao told was a lot more complicated, with much speculation and even fabrication.

He Kao also laughed, "I wasn’t making things up; it was an analysis based on reason and evidence."

Li Xiuyuan shook his head, "Natural interpretation in the moment is different from concocted guesses. Whatever there is, is just enough, no need to add what’s not there."

Elder Li suddenly talking about this topic was somewhat strange; He Kao thoughtfully asked, "Is there something special about this?"

Li Xiuyuan: "I can’t explain it in a few words, but this is the focus of the Entry Level of Lingxi Skill. I didn’t dual cultivate Lingxi Skill, just had more dealings with Old Ghost Jiang, and I’ve come to understand his ways somewhat."

He Kao spread his hands, "I didn’t dual cultivate either, just don’t have the energy for it at the moment."

Li Xiuyuan: "But you might interact with people cultivating Lingxi Skill, not only those within the Magic Sect but also potentially those from outside, so it’s important to understand their methods well.

Spirit Awakening Skill cultivated to Tier Four realizes the divine technique called ’Observing Color and Describing Form.’ Lingxi Skill cultivated to Tier Four realizes the divine technique ’One Leaf Knows Autumn,’ its mystery lies there.

No explanation from me will be sufficient; you need to distinguish it yourself... Which parts of that story you just told are natural interpretations in the moment?"

He Kao hurriedly explained, "Some content isn’t; it indeed involves a lot of guesswork and conjecture."

Li Xiuyuan nodded, "It’s good that you can tell the difference; there’s now a task for you.

Since you found this clue, it’s up to you to continue investigating whether there’s a Luo Mingzhi at Qi Yuan University and what her situation is?

The dream can’t be taken as reality; the purpose of letting you investigate is to verify how much of your previous judgment aligns with the facts, and more importantly—which parts align?

This is also a method used by the Lingxi Sect to test disciples; they don’t mind anything but use other things. I’m merely using this opportunity to let you attempt it and learn how to deal with such people.

This task has no time limit, so there’s no rush. Just investigate when you have time.

Whether or not you find anything, always ensure your own safety... Let’s leave this person for now and investigate the next one."

The next target was the couple He Kao met last time with Old Qian, the man named Li Gongcheng and the woman named Zhao Qingfang, who were attending an arts training class with their child.

The child’s grandfather is Zhao Huai’en, a Tier Two Mountain Guest of the Alchemy Sect. However, neither the couple has trained in cultivation, they are merely Guests of Fate.

The two arrived at Building No. 1 again, but surprisingly, Mei Guyu hadn’t finished work yet, and Qian Guran was not there either.

Lately, due to the digital life project, many preparatory tasks have been intensely underway, with related teams often working overtime into the night, making it hard for President Qian and Xiaomei.

Taking this opportunity, Elder Li asked He Kao about his feelings and reminded him again with Divine Thought.

A few days ago on Dragon Scale Slope, Elder Li had analyzed the various precautions of Transference. Earlier, He Kao attempted a whole new dream entry and discovered and summarized many issues.

The closer the Transference target is to the caster physically and mentally, the clearer the senses, and theoretically, the process is safer and more controllable.

Thus, the best target for Transference is a human.

Transference to humans seems safest, and one can even enter the dreamscape of the other, as He Kao’s earlier attempt demonstrated. However, precisely because of this, the potential risks are often most easily overlooked.

Elder Li had long warned He Kao not to perform prolonged, immersive Transference on someone, nor to repeatedly perform Transference on the same person. The Primordial Spirit, like a mirror, can also be contaminated.

Yesterday morning, He Kao had performed Transference on Wei Digao for an extended time and already had experience in this regard.

He just performed a very brief Transference on Wang Yuheng, barely lasting two or three seconds due to the uniqueness of the dreamscape, but still experienced a slight influence.

While describing the dreamscape and telling stories, thinking of the counselor Luo Mingzhi inexplicably stirred emotions in him, although he didn’t even know this woman or clearly see her in the dream.

Could it be due to just having a sexual dream? Wang Yuheng’s sexual dream apparently equated to his own... for just a few seconds, could the influence be so evident? It seems the dreamscape indeed has more unique characteristics than reality, with a deeper degree of contamination on the Primordial Spirit.

Luckily, He Kao was able to timely notice this point.

The worst case would be the Primordial Spirit being unknowingly contaminated.

Hence, Elder Li again cautioned He Kao that unless absolutely necessary, Transference must not be attempted rashly, especially dream entry, which should be avoided if possible.

Without Elder Li’s assistance, can He Kao himself enter others’ dreams? Certainly, during someone else’s dreaming, he can directly perform Transference, but with Elder Li’s Divine Technique, dream entry can become dream induction.

Today is a special situation, and He Kao cooperates with Elder Li to conduct dream entry investigations. However, Elder Li also advised He Kao to pause, calm his mind and eliminate any contamination before proceeding to the next investigation.

No matter what is found today, attempts are limited to just these two instances; more dream entries must not be made.

Elder Li also specifically reminded, "You are now of Tier Four Cultivation, and the pendant given to you by Elder Jiang more than twenty years ago can be actively wielded now, just fitting your current situation."

The pendant He Kao has been wearing for over a year was a fake processed by Wu Yanjun’s junior apprentice-sister, Ye Yuxuan, yet the fake was actually a genuine Hidden Moth Object, indistinguishable to anyone.

As for his original magical treasure pendant, it had been worn by Gao Xue’e to aid her cultivation.

Today, Gao Xue’e broke through to Tier Two Cultivation, allowing He Kao to finally relax and switch her pendant to one that should better suit her temperament and current stage of cultivation.

It was a necklace with a Fine Silver Branch entwining a Xue Guanghan.

As for the Magic Beast Claw pendant, He Kao wore it again. His current pendant comprised two seemingly identical Beast Claws, something Elder Li naturally noticed.

The family of three lived on the same floor as Qian Guran, so Li Xiuyuan and He Kao first sneaked into Qian Guran’s apartment. He Kao engaged in a brief sitting meditation and employed the Artifact Control Technique to activate the calming power of the Beast Claw pendant, truly effective in dispelling Primordial Spirit contamination.

After about ten minutes, He Kao opened his eyes and asked, "Could Elder Jiang have foreseen more than twenty years ago that I would need such a magical treasure today?"

Li Xiuyuan smiled wryly, "If you say Old Ghost Jiang could foresee the scene today over twenty years ago, I absolutely do not believe it! However, that he foresaw such a Magical Artifact would be very useful to you is entirely normal."

The two sneakily entered the apartment rented by the family of three, which had a two-bedroom layout; the child lived in the small bedroom, and the couple slept in the master bedroom.

He Kao took out the Beast Claw pendant and gestured in front of the two doors as if writing in the air, but he was actually Casting a calming spell to ensure the family slept soundly and would not wake suddenly.

The calming power of the Beast Claw is not merely a passive effect for wearing it; with Tier Four cultivation and mastering the Artifact Control Technique, he could also actively apply it to others.

Upon entering the bedroom and seeing the couple sleeping on the bed, He Kao signaled to Elder Li with a glance—Who to choose?

Elder Li pointed to the husband, Li Gongcheng.

He Kao inquired again with his gaze—Why?

Elder Li answered with Divine Thought, "You are not a woman, so you should choose an object more aligned with your body and mind, or else the feeling becomes awkward, and contamination on the Primordial Spirit becomes more severe."

Next, using the same trick, Elder Li cast a spell to secretly guide Li Gongcheng. Once he started dreaming, He Kao immediately performed Transference...

The dreamscape unfolded abruptly, with He Kao "discovering" himself sitting at a table, drinking with another person, a cigarette in his left hand. Across from him was a man in his thirties, and there was no one else in the room.

**