The so-called Celestial Secret Skill is not omnipotent; the information it can uncover is very limited, but often significant discoveries can be made from this limited information.
The Micro Realm Sect has an applied technique called Clearing Skill, specifically designed to counter the Celestial Secret Skill. Although He Kao's cultivation with the Micro-Entry Skill is not very high, practicing this applied technique poses no problem for him.
Clearing Skill is a variant of artifact refining techniques, which involves erasing residual information traces on oneself and items.
Even if someone has cultivation that can gather Divine Qi, a master of the Celestial Secret Skill can still detect the residual environmental aura from their shoes, clothes, or carried items, thus knowing where they have been.
Using Clearing Skill can wipe away these traces.
He Kao has naturally put effort into practicing the Clearing Skill and has reached the Zhi Chang realm where he can instantly cast it. He often uses Clearing Skill when switching identities and appearing in different scenarios.
Clearing Skill can erase environmental information adhered to items but cannot erase the inherent characteristics of the items themselves. As long as the item is not completely destroyed, its physical properties remain its main components.
For example, those cherries and lychees, even if Clearing Skill is used, masters like Zhu Li can still discern clues...
Contemplating this, He Kao walked out of the school gate to a corner of an alley, confirmed that no one was observing him, and then disappeared. When he appeared at another hidden location in Qi Yuan, he had resumed his original appearance.
Since it was still early and the location was not far from his unit, He Kao made a trip to Sesame Apartment.
He had never vacated the one-bedroom unit he rented at Sesame Apartment and occasionally came back to stay. Old Qian, Xiaomei, Xiaopang, and many colleagues also lived here, making it convenient to share information.
He is someone who often disappears; having multiple residences helps conceal his tracks. For instance, if he can't be found at the old house in Pugang Town, he might be at Sesame Apartment or perhaps at the large house in Guanliu District.
He Kao originally intended to eat a bowl of noodles but found the noodle shop already full.
Mei Wenhua, Sixth Uncle of Mei Guyu, recently acquired the shop next door for Meishan Noodle Shop, increasing the dine-in area by more than double. Yet business remained excellent.
Additionally, a "performance show" was added in front of the shop each day—stir-frying toppings live.
Meishan Noodle Shop offered various toppings, and based on daily sales statistics, would prepare ingredients accordingly. After tracking for a period, they replaced the least-selling topping with another variety.
Through dynamic improvements over time, the number of toppings has stabilized at eighteen types, with an additional sign in front called "Eighteen Bowls."
Toppings are freshly made in the back kitchen, and if one sells particularly well any day, they will stir-fry or boil more.
Nowadays, the boss would set up a stove in the shop entrance to stir-fry a pot of toppings and showcase his skillful tossing and flipping techniques, akin to a juggling act.
This, combined with current news storylines, also signifies that their ingredients are fresh and not pre-made.
Most toppings are prepared in the kitchen, whereas the pot stir-fried at the entrance is purely for show. As He Kao passed by, he saw the shop entrance was busy frying again, indicating one pot of toppings had sold out and was being recreated.
This work was originally done by the boss, Mei Wenhua, but today it was unexpectedly done by He Kao's schoolmate, Wang Yuheng.
Wang Yuheng, twenty-three years old, graduated last year from Qi Yuan University with a bachelor's degree. After returning to his hometown and feeling dissatisfied with work, he reached out to his original counselor, Luo Mingzhi, to express his concerns.
Luo Mingzhi persuaded him to return to Qi Yuan to develop, advising that even if he couldn't find satisfactory work, he could prepare for graduate studies. Thus, Jiang Yuheng came to Qi Yuan, and Luo Mingzhi lent him an apartment to stay.
Jiang Yuheng was very grateful, but he didn't realize that Luo Mingzhi, under Jiao Bide's instructions, had discreetly planted surveillance at Sesame Apartment.
At that time, Jiang Yuheng had no clue what was happening, and even Luo Mingzhi was unaware. As for how Wang Yuheng should be utilized, only Jiao Bide knew—a high-tier cultivator naturally has various means.
However, these methods ultimately went unused as the Ancestral Hall, through investigation, found Jiang Yuheng's situation suspicious. With Li Xiuyuan's direct assistance, He Kao even entered Jiang Yuheng's dream for investigation, finding clues about Luo Mingzhi.
Further investigation of Luo Mingzhi led the Magic Sect to uncover Jiao Bide...
Later, Jiao Bide went missing, Luo Mingzhi was taken by the police for investigation, leaving Jiang Yuheng unattended, and presumably, the lease on the apartment expired.
It had been a while since he last saw this person; He Kao thought Jiang Yuheng had returned home. Unexpectedly, upon seeing him again, he was working as a kitchen assistant at Meishan Noodle Shop, having inherited the boss's skills, and responsible for performing street cooking.
Jiang Yuheng was frying one of the shop's best-selling toppings called "Four Silk Fortune," consisting of pepper strips, shredded meat, pickled cabbage, and fragrant tofu strips, with varying sequence in adding ingredients, some requiring a second fry.
He Kao froze momentarily at the sight, then unfolded his Divine Sense to conduct a thorough inspection on Wang Yuheng from outside to inside.
Watching Wang Yuheng's footwork and posture, along with his left hand lifting the ladle and right hand swinging the spatula, though it was just ordinary cooking, it exhibited a unique rhythmic flair, a pleasing sight.
This evidently comes from training, and he has indeed developed skills.
Several passersby even paused to take short videos with their phones, predominantly young women.
Having cultivated Foundation Establishment Skills himself, He Kao practiced inner and external skills, fist and spear techniques, and benefits include agility, focus, stable stance, and coordinated movements...
It's been a while, and I didn't expect Wang Yuheng to actually be training; as for who he's learning from, his current actions make the answer self-evident.
The noodle shop owner, Mei Wenhua, came to Qi Yuan before New Year's Day. As a Tier Five Heart Stealer of the Xingshen Sect and a cousin of Mei Guyu, it is said he came to protect Mei Guyu's safety.
But at that time, Mei Guyu didn't need Mei Wenhua's protection at all. Mei Wenhua's true identity is the Magic Sect's special liaison in Qi Yuan.
Mei Guyu currently stays in Qi Yuan "working," and Mei Wenhua hasn't left either, still running his noodle shop here, which indicates that the Ancestral Hall thinks the matters in Qi Yuan are not finished yet.
I didn't expect Mei Wenhua to take the time amidst his busyness to pick up a disciple locally.
Isn't Wang Yuheng a bit too old? He Kao immediately remembered that this person is not yet twenty-four, and learning techniques is not considered too late.
This kid is not only in secret adoration of the tutor but has also appeared in his spring dreams... It's known that Luo Mingzhi is seven years older than him, that's quite something!
But then He Kao remembered that Gao Xue'e is also seven years older than him and decided not to ridicule. Not only did he not ridicule, but he also secretly thought—hmm, this kid has quite an imagination, but what's the use if you only dare to think and not act?
He Kao returned to his apartment, set up an audio-damping array, and then took out his phone to order a takeaway from Meishan Noodle Shop, specifically the freshly stir-fried Four Delights Noodles.
Actually, noodles aren't suitable for takeaway; they easily become soggy when packed, and the taste is far inferior to dining in. But if you insist on ordering, the vendor can still deliver, and they'll try to package the soup, noodles, and toppings separately.
Before long, someone knocked on the door, and from the sound, not using fingers but the tip of a shoe. Opening the door, there stood Mei Wenhua, holding a large bowl of noodles.
He Kao: "Oh, Boss Mei, why did you personally bring the noodles? Wouldn't it be enough to let the delivery person do it?"
Mei Wenhua chuckled: "The delivery person's fee is still paid; I just happen to be heading back to the apartment, so I brought it for you, to avoid the noodles getting soggy."
He Kao: "Boss, you're really thoughtful, come in and have a seat."
He took the noodle bowl and placed it on the table, turned on the soundproof array, then brewed a cup of tea and handed it to Mei Wenhua: "Have some tea, Sixth Uncle, do you have any instructions?"
Mei Guyu calls Mei Wenhua Sixth Uncle, so He Kao follows suit, which makes them seem closer.
Mei Wenhua: "It's indeed been a while since you stayed at the Sesame Apartment. Do you remember Luo Mingzhi, the tutor from Qi Yuan University?"
He Kao: "Yes, I remember her. What's the matter?"
Mei Wenhua: "She reported a case! She said mysterious individuals illegally entered her dorm to inquire about Jiaobide's situation. She believes this suggests there's more to Jiaobide's disappearance, and if the intruder is caught, clues can be found.
She even caused a scene at the police station, losing control of her emotions, grabbing the officer's clothes, and urging them to intensify the investigation because Jiaobide might be in danger; they must rescue him...
He Kao's expression was grave: "Is such a thing true?"
Mei Wenhua nodded: "It is true, and I verified it. Recently, someone indeed visited Luo Mingzhi, not just once, at least twice, likely different people each time.
Luo Mingzhi is only aware of one instance, the first one, where the intruder's details are unclear. As for the second time, the intruder should be a cultivator of the Xingshen line, with at least Tier Five Heart Stealer cultivation..."
According to Mei Wenhua's investigation, one night a few days ago, Luo Mingzhi suddenly awoke from sleep to find a person inexplicably in her room.
She screamed loudly, but the neighboring dorm was unresponsive, and it seemed her body was controlled, unable to move.
The intruder wandered around the room, examined many of her things, including private items, asked her a few questions, then left.
After the intruder left, it took a long time before she regained control of her body, then she quickly called the police... As the room lights were off, she couldn't see the intruder's appearance.
However, she told the police the intruder should be a woman, and a foreigner at that. Don't ask her how she knew, it was just a feeling.
But the police questioned the neighbors; no one heard any noise at that time, there were no traces of intrusion in the dorm, and the surveillance did not capture any evidence, so they suspected there might be issues with her mental state.
The above details can be found in the police records, and Mei Wenhua also found additional clues.
Upon receiving the information, Mei Wenhua covertly checked Luo Mingzhi's situation early this morning without alerting her. As soon as he entered the dorm, he sensed something was wrong; someone had just been there, with traces of magical fluctuations.
He was very familiar with this divine power; it was precisely the Xingshen Sect's exclusive Love Stealing Skill. Had he gone later, he might not have detected it; had he gone earlier, he might have bumped into the caster.
Xingshen Sect's Tier Five Cultivators are also called Heart Stealers, and Mei Wenhua is one. The Love Stealing Skill requires at least Tier Five cultivation to master, and at an advanced level, it can even alter people's consciousness.
Someone had just been here, probably intending to inquire about something from Luo Mingzhi, but cast a spell to keep her in a half-dreaming state. She wouldn't clearly remember this experience afterward and might think she just had a dream.
**
