Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1114: Chapter 417: Ning and Ban—A Contest of Wits

The messenger from the Zhu Family did nothing to cover up, his voice amplified by a spell, forming a rolling sound wave that surged in all directions.

Soon after, Shen Xi and Lin Jinglong saw Situ Xing fly out.

Situ Xing frowned, staring at the newcomer, and sneered, "How bold! Zhu Fenxiang has become foolish from believing in the divine? Does she really think she can defeat me?"

"Hehehe, very well, very well."

"Since she is so overconfident, I accept this challenge!"

Situ Xing had no choice but to agree.

The Zhu Family and Situ Family were mortal enemies. Nowadays, among the cultivators participating in the Feiyun Conference from both families, Situ Xing and Zhu Fenxiang were both the face of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

If Situ Xing avoided the battle, it would surely tarnish his family’s reputation. From his position, he could not avoid the fight, allowing the world to look down on him and the Situ Family, bringing shame to his family.

The messenger slowly pushed forward, personally witnessing the Flying Message fall into Situ Xing’s hand.

He turned around expressionlessly and flew away directly.

Situ Xing quickly scanned the challenge letter with his divine sense; the content was very simple, expressing Zhu Fenxiang’s anger and strong fighting spirit.

But until now, Situ Xing couldn’t figure out why the other party suddenly became furious and wanted to target him.

"Zhu Fenxiang and I have fought many times, with wins and losses on both sides."

"This time, what new confidence does she have in dealing with me?"

Situ Xing pondered as he looked at Shen Xi and Lin Jinglong.

Shen and Lin flew slowly to Situ Xing’s side.

Lin Jinglong said with a worried look, "Fellow Daoist Situ, since you have accepted Zhu Fenxiang’s challenge, you should delay your dispute with Ning Zhuo then."

"There’s no need to fight on two fronts, increasing the risk unnecessarily."

Situ Xing snorted coldly, "Zhu Fenxiang and I drew the Stone Token at the same time. Her sudden challenge should not be underestimated. Ning Zhuo is just fortunate! I’ll spare him for now."

Situ Xing had no choice but to shift his focus, concentrating his energy on dealing with the strong opponent who had come to him.

He pressed his lips tightly, showing a look of reluctance. After a few moments of silence, he squinted slightly, thinking secretly, "What kind of madness has Zhu Fenxiang launched? Just as I was about to seek trouble with Ning Zhuo, she intervenes unexpectedly?"

"First, I must investigate the cause of this!"

Situ Xing’s plan mirrored Shen Xi’s intentions.

After parting with Situ Xing, he immediately dispatched his subordinates to investigate the cause of Zhu Fenxiang’s proactive challenge.

Zhu Fenxiang never concealed anything; the process of delivering the message was done openly and ostentatiously.

Shen Xi quickly uncovered the reason.

Lin Jinglong chuckled lightly, "Fellow Daoist Situ has paid the price for his genuine nature, haha."

Situ Xing also fell silent under this reason.

He didn’t expect that Zhu Fenxiang approached him because of a poem he had inscribed.

This poem he indeed remembered.

After winning the third Xingyun Trial and confirming he could exchange it for a Stone Token, he was drunkenly inspired in a tavern and wrote a poem on the wall.

A line in the poem, "The ancient sheath still bears traces of the night’s blaze, the new blade thirsts to drink the splendor of stars," violated a taboo, enraging Zhu Fenxiang who happened to be at the tavern, and she immediately destroyed the wall.

Zhu Fenxiang angrily admonished on the spot, declaring she would make Situ Xing regret.

"It seems it has nothing to do with Ning Zhuo." Discovering it was his own blunder, Situ Xing could only accept his misfortune. "For now, I must deal with Zhu Fenxiang first, and then later handle the threat of Ning Zhuo."

Lin Jinglong felt like he had witnessed a great show.

Shen Xi, however, harbored some suspicion and secretly conducted a detailed investigation into the events of that night.

He discovered it was a waiter at the tavern who loudly proclaimed the poem, announcing Situ Xing’s condition as he inscribed the poem while drunk and even reciting it aloud to the surrounding diners.

Zhu Fenxiang was in a private room and hadn’t seen the poem. Hearing the outside commotion, and sensing the tavern staff was proud because of Situ Xing’s poem, she burst out and angrily destroyed the wall.

"Investigate this tavern waiter for me." Shen Xi secretly issued the order.

Foolish Peak.

In a quiet room in the Cave Mansion, a statue and plaque of the Foolish Thunder God were enshrined.

Blue smoke curled up from the incense burner, and the lighting was dim.

The Blind Fool wore simple hemp clothes, knelt on a cushion, his thin hands clasped at his chest, murmuring softly in pious prayer.

A moment later, Blind Fool stopped muttering and raised his voice, "You’ve been standing at the door for a long while. If there’s something, come in and speak."

Then, a man and a woman, both middle-aged, pushed the door open and entered.

"Father." The middle-aged man and woman said in unison.

They were the biological children of the Blind Fool.

The son said, "Father, I heard you want to agree to let Ning Zhuo participate in our Xingyun Trial midway?"

Blind Fool did not change his posture, still kneeling on the ground facing the deity statue.

Seeing no response from their father, the children immediately understood and both knelt behind the Fool.

Only then did the Fool speak, "That’s right. This Ning Zhuo has passed The Three Questions of the Heart from the Evil Slaying Hall and Qinghuangzi’s test, already achieving four first-place titles, matching his reputation, and displaying a righteous spirit. Such fine talent and beautiful jade, if able to comprehend the Blind Fool Divine Skill, would be a testament to the glory of our God."

"Isn’t the purpose of us hosting the Xingyun Trial to spread the name of the God?"

"The stronger this Ning Zhuo becomes, the greater the influence of our God."

Upon hearing this, the children quickly exchanged glances, both looking deeply worried.

The son, body tense, took a deep breath and tried to make his voice sound calm and earnest, "Father, you must reconsider."

"Ning Zhuo is indeed exceptionally talented and in the limelight, but... Ban Ji is no ordinary talent either!"

"From our first round of the Xingyun Trial, Ban Ji has participated devotedly, constantly honing his skills, with the sole aim of seeking the favor of our God. Ning Zhuo’s current intervention is the greatest injustice to Ban Ji!"