Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1245: Chapter 482: Divine Aid from Confucianism

The long night had not yet ended, and the moonlight was like a flowing ribbon.

Ancient trees twisted grotesquely, and the clouds were dense with mist.

Zhu Fenxiang quietly snuck into the Bluestone Cave Mansion for a secret meeting with Ning Zhuo.

This night, Zhu Fenxiang was dressed in a mystic Daoist robe, holding a purple copper incense burner. Three sticks of incense were inserted in the burner, with three strands of blue smoke enveloping her entirely, hiding her appearance and only revealing her graceful figure.

Ning Zhuo was puzzled.

By common reasoning, he and Zhu Fenxiang should have had minimal contact, trying to reduce the number of meetings as much as possible. The more secretive their relationship was, the more advantageous it was.

Zhu Fenxiang acted decisively, "Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo, let’s skip the chit-chat and go inside first to talk."

Ning Zhuo nodded, "Okay." He then led her into the cultivation room.

Qing Chi, who happened to be passing by, saw this scene and immediately widened their eyes, feeling a tightness in their chest.

"Looks like a female cultivator has sneaked into the room with the young master!"

"Who is she?!"

The two entered the room. Zhu Fenxiang got straight to the point, "Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo. Fenxiang has successfully invited three Confucian Gods; tomorrow is the checkpoint for the Inheriting Dao Jade Page, personally hosted by Gu Qing’s mentor, Zhao Hansheng."

"To be honest with you, it was by relying on the blessings of the three Confucian Gods that I was able to pass the first four stages."

"If you secretly receive the blessings of the three gods, it should greatly assist you in defeating Gu Qing."

Ning Zhuo nodded slightly but said nothing, just quietly waiting for her to continue.

Although he and Zhu Fenxiang had become secret allies, it was mostly due to the Earth Guardian True Monarch. Their relationship wasn’t like that between Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong, nor like between Ning Zhuo and Wen Ruanyu.

Therefore, Zhu Fenxiang’s initiative to help this time naturally came with demands.

There was a price to pay.

Ning Zhuo quietly awaited her to state her conditions.

Zhu Fenxiang bit her lip lightly and lowered her voice, "I am willing to guide you to this opportunity, to receive the gods’ protection. However, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world—Daoist fellow, you must do one thing for me, secretly forming an alliance with me, infiltrating under Situ Xing, and relaying information for me, cooperating inside and out."

"When the time is right, you and I will strike together; I’ll attack from the front, while you from the back, and we will surely teach Situ Xing a humiliating lesson."

Ning Zhuo heard this and let out a light laugh, shaking his head slightly.

Zhu Fenxiang frowned, "Why does Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo laugh?"

Ning Zhuo stood with hands behind his back, "Fellow Daoist Zhu’s plan is ingenious, but I, Ning Zhuo, have always acted openly and aboveboard. To act secretly and with deceit? That is not my way."

Ning Zhuo could use strategy, but the act of stabbing in the back could not be done openly, which wasn’t something this young man with a strong sense of justice could do.

Ning Zhuo’s voice was resolute, "Daoist Fellow Zhu wants to cooperate with me, I naturally welcome it. But the plan needs to change. I will first work hard under Situ Xing, and when the time is right, I will challenge him openly and defeat him in a fair fight, making him willingly yield the chief position!"

Zhu Fenxiang stared blankly at the big-headed young man.

Previously, she might have had doubts. But after the first four stages of the Confucian trials, especially the battle of Haoran Xuan, where Ning Zhuo made a name for himself at the Wanxiang Sect’s Main Mountain Gate, her impression of him had risen continuously.

Ning Zhuo’s abundant confidence in himself also touched Zhu Fenxiang’s heart.

"Alright."

"Since Daoist Fellow Ning has made up his mind, Fenxiang won’t insist. I also believe you will not let me down in the future!"

"Time is limited; let me invoke the gods to bless you first."

The two of them tidied up the cultivation room a bit, arranged the offerings, and set up the altar table.

Zhu Fenxiang took out three divine statues and placed them on the table with utmost seriousness. Then, she placed the purple copper incense burner in front of the three statues.

Her lips moved slightly as she muttered incantations.

In just a short moment, the blue smoke from the incense burner spread, gathering at the top of the room, resembling rolling clouds of smoke.

Golden lights continuously flashed amidst the smoke, flashing more and more.

The golden lights gradually grew larger, allowing Ning Zhuo to discern that each golden light was a flashing character.

The golden characters quickly accumulated, faintly emitting sounds of chanting.

Then, the aura of the gods appeared out of nowhere, quickly becoming extremely intense.

Zhu Fenxiang and Ning Zhuo simultaneously bowed in obeisance.

The first figure emerged from the golden light.

This Confucian God was clad in a mystic long robe, embroidered with sun, moon, mountains, and rivers, holding two scrolls, one of "Analects" and the other of "Da Xue". His face was warm as jade, with a long beard hanging to his chest, a benevolence in his brows that spoke of enlightening the world, and eyes shining with the wisdom of the ages.

It was the Kong God.

The Kong God looked down at Ning Zhuo, observing for a moment, and nodded slightly.

He exuded a soft light all around. Ning Zhuo bathed in this gentle light, receiving the blessing of the Kong God, all the confusion, anxiety, and unease in his heart melted away like snow and ice, gradually becoming clear and tranquil.

The second figure also gradually emerged.

He stood tall and straight, with dignity between his brows, eyes like torches, seemingly able to see through the vanity of human hearts. Similarly dressed in a mystic robe, he held the classics "Mencius" and "Ritual Records".

"Rituals are the order of heaven and earth; benevolence is the root of the human heart," the Meng God spoke, his voice like a great bell.

The blessing of the God seemed to engrave itself deep into Ning Zhuo’s soul, following the voice.

The third figure swiftly appeared.

The Zisi God bore a kind smile, holding "Ritual Records" and "Yan Family’s Teachings", radiating a light soft as jade. He spoke not a word, merely flipping open the books in his hands, and countless golden characters flew out, dancing around Ning Zhuo like fireflies.

In Ning Zhuo’s mind suddenly surged countless memories, all of the Confucian sect classics he had read before; just as he tried to examine them closely, they vanished abruptly, as if it were all an illusion.

The walls of the cultivation room trembled slightly.

Qing Chi was lying against the wall base, straining to hear but unable to make out anything.

She gritted her teeth, her expression very complex, "Just what exactly are the Young Master and that mysterious female cultivator doing? They’ve been in there for ages without coming out!"