Chapter 307: Mystery and Mayhem in Mingsha City

“What happened to Mingsha City?”

The group was momentarily stunned.

Especially Xu Hao! Lately he’s been engrossed with affairs at Mingsha Academy, leaving Mingsha City entirely in the hands of Zhu Qiang, Luo Peng, and others. He hadn’t even bothered with today’s magic competition.

“Dean, during the magic contest the contestants in Mingsha City caused a huge uproar. The event had to be suspended, and online, the chatter is explosive.”

Bai Ming took a deep breath while glancing at Xu Hao.

“They say the contestants stirred up such a commotion?”

Xu Hao’s heart skipped a beat.

“What on earth happened?”

Beside him, Li Jue and Cao Jun immediately stood up.

“Dean, the performance by a contestant named You Gong was so extraordinary that a whole crowd ended up on their knees at the event!

And that’s not all… Some tourists even filled their drink bottles with lake water, claiming they’d take it home, while many actually drank right on the spot. The security in Mingsha City couldn’t stop them!

In short,

public sentiment has spiraled out of control. Many netizens are even shouting they want to venture to Mingsha Fudi to cultivate and seek enlightenment…”

At the mention of the recent events, Bai Ming unconsciously swallowed hard.

“This…”

Hearing that, Li Jue and the others were stunned once again as they looked over at Xu Hao.

“Dean, these are live videos uploaded by netizens! Just take a look…”

Bai Ming then handed his phone over to Li Jue.

“What exactly did they perform?”

Seeing this,

Liu Shan and Cao Jun also crowded over.

They were genuinely curious to know what kind of magic could create such a spectacle!

……

One minute. Two minutes.

While the trio from the Ancient Architecture Institute grew more incredulous and dazed by the minute, Xu Hao quietly slipped out of the meeting room.

Once he was sure no one was around, he dialed Daoist You Gong’s number.

Beep, beep, beep…

It wasn’t long before the call connected.

“City Master… it seems things have really escalated…”

Before Xu Hao could continue, You Gong’s voice came through the phone.

“Daoist, what exactly is happening?”

Xu Hao ran his hand over his temples, clearly troubled.

Based on Bai Ming’s earlier account, it was evident that this incident had gone far beyond what anyone expected…

“City Master, I performed exactly as you instructed—without crossing any lines! Who would have thought…”

You Gong’s voice cut in again.

“My instructions?”

Xu Hao was utterly dumbfounded.

He had been told to keep things restrained, yet this situation hardly seemed controlled at all.

“Yes, my act was the Traditional Magic performance ‘Yu Long Man Yan’ that I previously mentioned—complete with a positive message interwoven throughout!”

You Gong continued.

“Then why…”

“City Master, didn’t you insist we secure the championship? You always say that even the smallest advantage matters.

I was the first to perform, and I had no way of properly managing the scale! I did what I had to, to be safe…”

“Uh…”

Xu Hao was momentarily speechless, unable to formulate a reply.

After a moment’s thought, it seemed this was the case. Had he, once again, made a mistake?

But…

“City Master, what do we do now?”

After a long silence,

You Gong finally asked, his voice weak.

“We have no choice but to quash the rumor first and then quickly divert attention! The lake water at Mingsha Fudi is precious—we can’t allow tourists to drink it all…”

Xu Hao let out a deep sigh.

It appeared there was no other solution; when ordinary people latch onto something, no amount of explanation will sway them. We must find a way to redirect their focus.

“And if the authorities ask…”

“Just stick to our story—deny everything!”  …

Meanwhile,

while Xu Hao was quietly on the phone with You Gong, in an office in the Second Ring of Yan City, a Chief Leader’s expression darkened when he heard a report from a staff member. He immediately put down his documents and opened his computer. “Is this… Long Kingdom’s Traditional Magic?”

After a moment,

he looked up at the staff member.

Not only did the on-site tourists seem convinced, but for a moment, he nearly believed it himself.

Especially that Dragon Chant! “Leader, it might be…”

The staff member’s voice was barely a whisper.

To be frank, after watching the video and recalling previous incidents in Mingsha City, he began to question his entire worldview.

“Now, what do we do?” Glancing at the video showing spectators kneeling by the lake, the Chief Leader slumped in his chair, exasperated.

Originally,

he had hoped the International Magic Competition would help counterbalance the negative effects of the Cultural Expo, but…

In hindsight, perhaps it should never have been held at all!

What frustrated him even more was that just recently he had praised Mingsha City for finally becoming reliable. Who would have guessed they’d act so recklessly!

In fewer than ten days of calm, they managed to create such chaos.

Now, how can this end?

The public has completely lost it. “Leader!!”

As the tension in the office grew thicker, a Deputy Leader appeared at the door.

“Hey!”

The Chief Leader waved his hand—it was obvious why the Deputy Leader had come.

“Have they called from over there?”

After motioning for the Deputy Leader to sit, the Chief Leader finally inquired.

“They have!”

The Deputy Leader nodded, his expression resigned.

“What did they say?”

The Chief Leader sat up straighter.

Just as the Deputy Leader was about to speak, the Chief Leader gestured again and retrieved a small porcelain vial from his drawer bearing the inscription ‘Fast-Acting Heart Rescue Pills.’

He carefully poured two pills into his hand, swallowed them, and then looked at the Deputy Leader.

“Now, speak up!”

“Leader, Mingsha City claims that certain self-media outlets and netizens are deliberately stirring up controversy. They even say the performers included uplifting messages in their act—announcing in advance to trust science, not succumb to superstitions! They insist it wasn’t truly their fault.”

The Deputy Leader shook his head with a bitter smile.

Seeing that the Chief Leader had taken the pills, he thought he should probably stock up too, just in case.

“Stirring up controversy? So in Long Kingdom’s Traditional Magic performance, they have such an act? This kind of spectacle is something out of a myth!

The Chief Leader glared.

“Leader, they claim that You Gong performed a bona fide Traditional Magic act called ‘Yu Long Man Yan’!”

“Yu Long Man Yan? Really?”

“Yes!”

After a sudden cough, the Chief Leader abruptly cleared his throat. “Really?”

“Yes! I even checked records in the Han Shu’s ‘Accounts of the Western Regions’—it’s documented there, even evolving into an idiom. Several historical texts, like the Sui Shu and Liao Shi, mention it as well.”

The Deputy Leader could only let out a sigh.

“Uh…”

“I specifically inquired, and Mingsha City responded that ‘Yu Long Man Yan’ is a family secret passed down by You Gong. Many assumed this traditional magic had long been lost, which led to the misunderstanding.”

“But this uproar is just too…”

The Chief Leader couldn’t help but glance at the computer screen once more.

“The person in charge of Mingsha City even asked the performer how he achieved it, and the response was that it’s a family secret that must never be divulged, even at the cost of one’s life. So now, we have no choice but to quickly find a way to explain this to the public!”

The Deputy Leader added.

Upon reviewing the information, he realized there was only one path left.

“Explain? How can we explain something like this? Even if we do, will the public believe us?”

The Chief Leader smirked.

“Even if they don’t, we must provide an explanation! And if all else fails, we’ll stage another event to divert attention.”

The Deputy Leader responded.

“Stage another event? Who would do it—Mingsha City?”

The Chief Leader winced.

“It can only be Mingsha City’s responsibility. Their in-charge agrees as well. Apparently, they have a movie and a TV series set to begin filming soon. Mingsha City is already in a bind—tourists are clamoring to drink the lake water; it’s unbelievable.”

The Deputy Leader nodded.

“A movie and TV series to divert attention? I doubt that’s enough! Let’s think of another plan, and if necessary, negotiate further with Mingsha City.”

After a long pause,

the Chief Leader still felt uneasy.

More importantly, something felt off. If this were any other city, he’d have agreed without hesitation—but Mingsha City is notoriously unpredictable.

“Alright then!”

“Hey!”

For some reason, at that moment the office fell silent once more.

Time flew by, and before they knew it, evening had arrived.

Haishi, Dino Park Headquarters

CEO Cole stared at the video on his phone for a long time until, after repeated prodding from his staff, he finally muttered an expletive. “Damn it! Mingsha City is cheating! They’re using magic as a cover to smuggle in those Long Kingdom Daoist arts! Don’t think that we foreigners are idiots.”

He ranted angrily.

“Leader, does Long Kingdom really possess such miraculous techniques? Their explanation, though, is that it’s genuine Long Kingdom Traditional Magic.”

At that, a staff member, clearly taken aback, asked instinctively.