Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1290: Chapter 502: Sweeping the Formation

Ning Zhuo looked at the two of them, his expression calm.

He picked up the tea cup, took a light sip, then put it down and said slowly, "Brother Shen, Miss Su, I did not intend to deceive."

Su Lingkou frowned, about to speak, but Ning Zhuo continued: "Previously, my attainments in the Array Dao were indeed just like that. The first time I traversed the Nine Curves Corridor, I couldn’t even pass the third curve; that was genuine, not a pretense."

He paused, his gaze sincere: "But in the past few days, I gained an opportunity, and my Array Realm advanced by leaps and bounds, leading to today’s achievements."

"Quite a stroke of luck!"

Su Lingkou’s frown deepened.

Opportunity?

What kind of opportunity could allow a person to leap from being unable to pass the third curve in just a few days, to becoming the first to break through the ninth curve?!

She wanted to inquire further, but the words never left her mouth.

Involving another’s opportunity and forcibly asking in this regard would be quite impolite.

She was from a wealthy family, trained since childhood. Her upbringing made her choose to remain silent.

Su Lingkou looked at her cousin, waiting for Shen Xi’s decision.

Shen Xi sat there, his expression calm, without questioning, inquiring, or showing any hesitation.

He simply nodded, "I see! Congratulations to Brother Ning."

Ning Zhuo froze slightly, and immediately a warmth rose in his heart.

This unreserved trust from Shen Xi saved him a lot of explanation.

"Thank you, Brother Shen, for your understanding," Ning Zhuo said sincerely.

Shen Xi raised his wine glass and gestured to Ning Zhuo, "Come, let’s drink to Brother Ning’s first place joy."

Ning Zhuo hurriedly raised his cup, and the two drank together.

Su Lingkou watched from the side, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She wanted to say something, but her cousin had already expressed his stance; anything more from her would be superfluous.

She could only pick up her wine glass and quietly take a sip.

After a few rounds of drinks, Ning Zhuo proactively brought up the Nine Curves Corridor Array again.

The two focused their discussion on the eighth and ninth curves.

Ning Zhuo spoke in detail, and Shen Xi listened intently. At key points, Ning Zhuo would use his hand to sketch an Array Map in the air to assist in his explanation.

Su Lingkou listened quietly from the side, gradually getting absorbed.

When Ning Zhuo finished speaking, Shen Xi felt a shock in his heart, and he was already certain that Ning Zhuo’s attainments in the Array Dao absolutely surpassed his own!

Meanwhile, Su Lingkou fell into deep silence.

The banquet ended.

Shen Xi and Ning Zhuo said their goodbyes at the tavern entrance.

Shen Xi thanked Ning Zhuo, his tone earnest, "Brother Ning, I’ve benefited greatly today. If there is an opportunity in the future, I must ask for your guidance again."

Ning Zhuo cupped his hands, "Brother Shen, you are too kind. We spar and exchange, mutually promote each other; there is no need to talk about guidance."

These words were very similar to what was said previously at Nine Curves Peak. But subtly, the roles of both reversed a bit.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they parted ways.

On the way back, Shen Xi remained silent.

Moonlight shone like water, filtering through the window grilles of the bronze flying car to light up Shen Xi’s face.

Su Lingkou sat beside her cousin, several times wanting to speak, yet unsure of what to say.

She had never seen her cousin like this.

In her heart, her cousin was always the distinguished, calmly confident genius of the Shen Family. No matter what difficulties he faced, he handled them calmly; no matter what opponent he faced, he dealt with them with equanimity.

But at this moment, her cousin’s silence made her uneasy.

"Cousin..." she called softly.

Shen Xi didn’t respond.

"Cousin?"

Shen Xi still didn’t respond.

Su Lingkou reached out and tugged at his sleeve.

Shen Xi finally regained his senses and looked at her, "What’s wrong?"

Su Lingkou looked at him; in the moonlight, she saw her cousin’s expression was somewhat lost.

Her heart ached, and she quickly spoke softly to comfort him, "Cousin, this defeat wasn’t your fault. Ning Zhuo is very suspicious; he might be cheating!"

Shen Xi furrowed his brow slightly.

Su Lingkou continued her analysis, "Don’t be fooled by how convincingly he spoke; maybe he was just advised by some master behind the scenes."

"Why did he just happen to have such a major opportunity? He didn’t even clearly state what this opportunity was, which shows he’s feeling guilty. He most likely cheated!"

Shen Xi shook his head, "In the Cultivation World, methods are varied and endless. There might be some way for someone’s cultivation realm to advance dramatically in just a few days. For example... True Intent!"

Su Lingkou sneered, "Such an opportunity like True Intent is so rare! I really can’t believe such an opportunity just happened to fall on Ning Zhuo. The timing is too coincidental, right at this critical moment."

She paused, then continued, "Moreover, even if it’s True Intent, at most it enhances the realm. The breaking array techniques Ning Zhuo just explained were proficient and seasoned, which can’t be achieved through True Intent. It requires abundant practical experience."

Shen Xi fell into silence.

He obviously knew that his cousin’s point made sense.

True Intent can elevate a realm but cannot enhance experience. The specifics Ning Zhuo just elucidated, those strategies for adapting to different situations, that precise control over the subtleties of formations, really do require a large accumulation of practice.

But where did Ning Zhuo get this practical experience?

Based on Shen Xi’s knowledge, he could conceive of True Intent but couldn’t guess the existence of Heavenly Capital Self.

This innate ability could utilize others’ experiences effectively, yet would not lose one’s self!

The combination of Master Level Array Dao True Intent, Heavenly Capital Self, and three waves of Demon Soul, these three opportunities combined resulted in Ning Zhuo’s astonishing progress in the Array Dao!

"Cousin, I think Ning Zhuo cheating is the most likely possibility. He deliberately sought our guidance, on purpose discussing the methods of breaking the eighth and ninth curves, just to cover up this truth and preemptively gag us."

Shen Xi remained silent.