Chapter 299: Mystery at Mingsha City

In reality, chaos reigned in Mingsha Ge. Everyone except the person on stage lost their composure, as if, for a moment, they forgot this was merely a magic competition.

Especially the contestants from H Country—their performance was downright dismal!

At one point, Cui Xiaozhong even felt that these Black-Armored Soldiers were targeting him specifically.

Meanwhile,

Viewers watching the live stream were thoroughly shocked. Yet, since they weren’t at the scene, the impact was less palpable—they knew it was all just a performance.

“Damn, this magic…”

“How on earth did he pull that off? Not a single flaw in sight.”

“He scattered a handful of beans and all of them transformed into ironclad soldiers. In a way, the ‘Scattering Beans to Form Soldiers’ act by the Mingsha City contestant might be the only instance of truly authentic magic.”

“If this weren’t a magic competition, it would have been mistaken for the kind of sorcery seen in novels and movies.”

“Mingsha City is still Mingsha City; we’re just overthinking it!”

“Yeah!”

“I want to know how he did it right now! It seems impossible for any magic prop to achieve that.”

“It all happened in the blink of an eye—it’s just too mystifying.”

“And one more thing—I’m curious. That performer, You Gong, shouted something like ‘Urgent as the Orders’ before his act.”

“Really?”

“I think so! He even made a hand gesture.”

“Goodness, if that’s true, could it be the legendary sorcery? Remember, the competition was held at Mingsha Fudi, where the Zhu You Technique is said to be especially potent.”

“Oh my, enough already—I’m starting to believe it too!”

Thanks to the decryption of the online video, those who had doubted You Gong’s traditional colorful act now found it impossible to ignore the buzz.

Especially regarding the ‘Scattering Beans to Form Soldiers’ trick—the more details uncovered, the more heated the discussions became.

At the competition,

Just when everyone was immobilized by fear—and even the live cam was on the verge of being withdrawn—You Gong made a new move on stage. With a sweeping gesture, a plume of smoke erupted! Once it cleared, fifty Black-Armored Soldiers had vanished, and You Gong slowly opened his palm to reveal a handful of yellow beans.

“Judges, my performance is complete!”

Bowing slightly, You Gong stepped off the stage.

“This is a bit embarrassing,” he muttered.

The judges, many of whom had already left their seats, were utterly confounded. The judges of the prestigious International Magic Competition had been scared off by one trick—a moment that would surely go down in history.

Minutes passed—until the visibly shaken host finally returned to the stage, and the venue gradually fell silent.

“Now, judges, please score contestant number one.”

As time went by, the competition proceeded, while Cui Xiaozhong from H Country and the leader from M Country completely lost their ability to think clearly.

They had hoped their own contestants would clinch the minor magic contest, but no one expected the Mingsha City representative to thwart the entire event right off the bat.

No other minor magic act could possibly outdo this live spectacle.

No! Frankly speaking, this trick could have effortlessly clinched the championship even in a medium-sized magic contest.

More importantly, even professional magicians couldn’t detect a flaw or discern the underlying method—a first in the industry! ‘Who exactly is You Gong? His skills are extraordinary. He shouldn’t be unknown in the magic world.’

After a long while,

Cui Xiaozhong turned to Jin Shanfú, whose eyes were now full of caution.

“Boss, I have no idea where Mingsha City found this contestant, but he’s undoubtedly a top-notch expert! Thankfully, our performance this time wasn’t for the championship, or else…”

Coming back to his senses,

Jin Shanfú stole a glance at David, standing far off in M Country.

If his memory served right, You Gong had registered for three categories. If the minor magic act is this impressive, then the medium and large contests must be on another level entirely.

Spectators may simply enjoy the thrill; experts, however, look for the nuances. You Gong’s ‘Scattering Beans to Form Soldiers’ trick has truly ascended to legendary status.

“Alright, you keep an eye on the stage while I call Chairman Chen to dig into You Gong’s background! I have this nagging feeling he might be one of our own from H Country!”

After a brief pause, Cui Xiaozhong continued.

He knew the contest had lost its suspense. Whether it was the live audience, the judges, or online netizens, everyone was focused on that one trick; the other acts barely registered.

“Got it, Boss!”

As Cui Xiaozhong had anticipated, You Gong’s astonishing display left everyone in awe. Not only were the subsequent contestants (numbers two and three) overshadowed,

but even the favored contestants from H and M Countries became mere supporting acts.

Naturally,

You Gong was crowned champion of the minor magic contest.

By 2 p.m., keywords like Long Kingdom’s traditional colorful act, Scattering Beans to Form Soldiers, Mingsha City, and You Gong were trending. This even sparked a wave of exposé discussions, attracting interest from not only Long Kingdom netizens but also international viewers.

Yet, You Gong’s trick was destined to remain an enigma—a bug in the system that could never be unraveled.

In Yan City, on the Second Ring,

the deputy leader who championed the magic contest in Mingsha City lounged on a sofa, incessantly massaging his brows, while the chief leader stared intently at his computer screen.

“Is this really magic?”

After a long pause,

the chief leader took a deep breath and looked at the deputy leader.

“Boss, I just called Director Li from the Ancient Architecture Institute. He confirmed that it’s definitely magic, and advised us to trust science—no rumors, no spreading false information.”

The deputy leader couldn’t help but shake his head with a wry smile.

“But how on earth was this done? And what did that ‘Urgent as the Orders’ phrase mean?”

The chief leader pressed on.

Honestly, at one point, he found himself agreeing with what the online commentary had to say.

“I can’t say exactly how it was done, but one thing’s for sure: that ‘Urgent as the Orders’ was likely an impromptu addition by the contestant for dramatic effect.”

The deputy leader quickly added.

Fortunately, since this is a magic competition, the public may be amazed, but they consider it nothing more than an impressive magic trick. Had this been performed at the Cultural Expo’s opening, they’d be at a loss for words.

“You’re that certain?”

The chief leader paused for a moment.

“Boss, after calling Director Li, I also contacted a deputy president from the Long Kingdom Daoist Association. He mentioned that any talk of spells or sorcery is baseless, and that ‘Urgent as the Orders’ is merely a term from Daoist classics—later turned into a magical incantation in some TV dramas. Moreover, he checked and said no registered Taoist goes by the name You Gong. It appears Mingsha City brought in an outsider magician.”

“The deputy president of the Daoist Association said that?”

Hearing this, the chief leader let out a relieved sigh.

“Yes, he said it himself.”

“Alright then. Later, call Director Li again and ask them to keep it low-key. Next time, no reciting ‘Urgent as the Orders’ or similar phrases—opt for more uplifting script!”

After a thoughtful pause, the chief leader added.

Although Mingsha City had stirred up another commotion, this time it fell within acceptable limits. More importantly, thanks to that magic trick, the honor of Long Kingdom’s traditional colorful act was upheld.

Without it, Long Kingdom would have had no face at all in this competition.

For the upcoming medium and large magic contests, it seems that Mingsha City’s magician might have to shoulder the burden.

“More uplifting lines?”

The deputy leader immediately grasped what the chief leader meant.

“Also, we must find out who’s behind all this mischief. Our second-picked contestants were trained in seclusion, yet somehow, information still leaked out.”

After a brief pause, the chief leader fixed his gaze and said firmly.

“Boss, they’re already investigating. I’m sure we’ll have some answers soon!”

“Once we uncover the culprit, there will be no leniency!”

“Understood!”

Elsewhere, at Lutai,

After watching the video, Zhu Qiang and Luo Peng were silent for a long time. Finally, as a gentle breeze passed, the two exchanged a glance. “President Luo, Daoist You Gong is extraordinary. I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t ordinary magic! Yesterday, he was at Brother Hao’s place at Wuzhuang Temple, never even setting foot in Mingsha Ge—so the theory of pre-arranged props doesn’t hold water.”

Zhu Qiang broke the silence.

“I felt the same way.”

Luo Peng nodded in agreement.

“Then…”

“Don’t worry! With Brother Hao backing him, there’s nothing to fear. I noticed that Daoist You Gong holds Brother Hao in the highest regard, and since Brother Hao entrusted Biyou Palace to him, perhaps he already knows something.”

“Think about it—Biyou Palace is said to be the sacred ground of a celestial immortal. According to folk beliefs, this isn’t just some local shrine. An ordinary Taoist wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“But I still feel uneasy—what if…”

Zhu Qiang couldn’t help but exhale deeply.

That feeling was truly unsettling! In Mingsha Fudi resides someone capable of sorcery; it’s disconcerting, almost like watching one’s worldview collapse.

“General Zhu, don’t be uneasy! Like I always say, with Brother Hao backing us, all is well. Besides, having a Daoist Master like him isn’t a bad thing at all.”

Luo Peng replied.

“Not a bad thing? Explain yourself.”

Zhu Qiang was momentarily stunned.

“Yes! I haven’t had a clear design for Mingsha Entertainment City these past few days—perhaps we should consult the Daoist Master. If he assists us, who knows, maybe Brother Hao already knows some secrets. Hehe!”

Luo Peng grinned, flashing a set of perfectly white teeth.

“Huh? You want the Daoist Master to help fix the Entertainment City?”

Zhu Qiang was left utterly speechless.

As another breeze blew, he appeared momentarily disheveled!

Time flew by and soon it was 10 p.m.

Though night had fallen, Mingsha City remained bustling—especially along the Qing Brick Avenue by the lakeside of Mingsha Fudi, where crowds had piled up.

“Mingsha City’s magic today was absolutely phenomenal!”

One tourist, on tiptoeing for a better view, chatted with a companion.

“It’s more than phenomenal—many say the Mingsha City contestant is using magic as a cover for actual sorcery.”

“Sorcery? You believe that? At 6 p.m., the Long Kingdom Daoist Association even came out to debunk it, insisting there’s no such thing as sorcery. Trust science, not superstition!”

“The Daoist Association debunked it?”

“Yeah!”

“I’ve also heard some netizens mention that he seems to have read an ancient passage about ‘Scattering Beans to Form Soldiers’—and its description is nearly identical to his performance today.”

“Huh? Could it be a deliberate stunt to grab attention and boost traffic?”

“That’s possible, but I feel something is off. In the past, a buzz-worthy magic trick would have a cracked version online within minutes. Yet here in Mingsha City, there’s still no cracked version even now.”

“Then…”

“Better to trust that it exists than deny it. Tonight, no matter what, I’m determined to try the Summoning Technique from the Zhu You Technique.”

With that,

a tourist discreetly pulled out a miniature version of the Huangdi Neijing from his pocket.

“Wait, seriously—you really…”

“Shh! Keep it down! Didn’t you see that sign? Don’t let Mingsha City’s security catch you.”

“You…”

“What, me? Look over there!”

At that moment, a young tourist signaled his companion to glance toward the northeast side of the railing.

“Ha!”

Luckily, a quick look averted disaster. The companion nearly spat out blood upon seeing a young man by the northeast railing holding a gray cushion—and, unbelievably, clutching a copy of Jiuyang Divine Art.

“Brother, I’m truly impressed.”

“.”

In fact, many tourists were determined to test their theory. As expected, for a long while, Mingsha Fudi would not lack curious visitors!

Little did they know that every move was being watched by Xu Hao and You Gong.

At a lakeside pavilion in Biyou Palace, Xu Hao and You Gong silently observed the restless tourists in the distance.

“City Master, it seems you’ve gotten into trouble again! Mingsha City’s security can’t possibly monitor Mingsha Fudi all night!”

Glancing at Xu Hao, You Gong sheepishly remarked.

In his eyes, while the Zhu You Technique and Daoist sorcery share some similarities, they are not the same. Anyone can perform the Zhu You Technique if conditions are met; their strain of Daoist sorcery is entirely different.

If any tourist managed to pull it off secretly, neither Mingsha Fudi nor Taiyi Hospital would ever be able to relax.

“I was the one who approved the ‘Scattering Beans to Form Soldiers’ performance in the first place!”

Hearing this,

Xu Hao sighed deeply.

Truth be told, Xu Hao never expected You Gong’s version of ‘Scattering Beans to Form Soldiers’ to turn out this way. When You Gong explained it, he assumed it was just an upgraded twist on traditional magic—but it bore no resemblance whatsoever. Had he known, perhaps a little restraint would have been wise.

“City Master, what about the upcoming medium and large magic contests? Once the act is performed, even more tourists will flock here to try their own stunts.”

After a brief silence, Daoist You Gong added,

“We must participate in the upcoming contests. The H Country contestants might stir up trouble in the medium and large categories, so we need to keep a close eye on things! As for your two acts, just exercise a bit more restraint. Besides, officials have called in to insist that in the upcoming performances, we must avoid phrases like ‘Urgent as the Orders’—it’s best to use more positive, uplifting lines.”

He continued, “If we can tone things down a bit, it shouldn’t be a problem. If the audience accepts ‘Scattering Beans to Form Soldiers,’ they’ll surely accept your other two acts as well.”

At that, Xu Hao immediately waved his hand dismissively.

ps: Brothers, it seems I’ve caught the flu again—my whole body aches and I’m far from my best.

Once I feel better, I’ll sprint to write a million words. Daily updates, every single day! And if I don’t deliver, Lao Ba will live-stream eating coffee beans.