Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1390: Chapter 551: Formulating the Flowing Clouds Plan (Part 2)

"Heaven clearly doesn’t want me and my elder brother to obtain this skill."

"If I insist with my mother, I’m afraid I’ll incur Heaven’s aversion."

Ning Zhuo then considered the issue from another perspective, feeling somewhat relieved, "Mother cares for me, she knows my thirst for knowledge. If I were suitable to master the skill of divination, she would have taught me already."

"I’m really looking forward to seeing how I can perform divination. I wonder what it feels like..."

"Sigh, let’s not think about this now."

Ning Zhuo continued to review the situation.

This time, Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin didn’t just open his eyes to new possibilities but also guided him in his future cultivation strategy.

Ning Zhuo understood that he had a measure of misfortune upon him, which added clarity to his self-awareness.

He also understood that at the upcoming Feiyun Conference, he first needed to join Flowing Cloud Peak, aiming to dissolve his misfortune, and then assess the situation before making a final decision.

Regarding the competition for the Nanming Fire Furnace, starting from Ning Zhuo’s own Qi Fortune, he had devised a more accurate strategy.

"It must be said, the cultivation skill of divination is truly useful."

"Ah, I really want to learn it."

Ning Zhuo suppressed this thought and began considering his own influence, "Looking at it from aspects like the Life Plate and limited lifespan for treasures, managing family power is very necessary."

Ning Zhuo thought about the Ning Clan’s branch that he had split off, no, established. Previously, the creation of the branch was more about going along with the trend.

Now it seems that careful management here would greatly benefit his own cultivation.

"Many treasures and scriptures that I currently possess can be given to my family so they can use their own Life Plates and lifespans to share and bear them."

"That’s precisely what the Myriad Images Sect does. Very few Sect Leaders throughout history of Myriad Images Sect master the art of divination."

"But among the Guest Elders or Elders they attract, several possess powerful divination skills. In critical moments, Myriad Images Sect can leverage these individuals to aid in key divinations."

In a sense, the relationship between Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin and Ning Zhuo is similar.

"If the family is well managed, even if I never learn the skills of Qi Fortune and divination, I can still attract others or cultivate talents within my own family."

Thinking this way, Ning Zhuo immediately felt a broadening of perspective.

"It’s getting late. What a lively night this was," Ning Zhuo calculated the time, then released Sun Lingtong, Qing Chi, Chef, and Gongsun Yan from the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon.

He dismissed the other three, leaving Sun Lingtong alone, informing him of what had transpired.

Sun Lingtong felt a complex emotion for Ning Zhuo’s mother and, after hearing Ning Zhuo’s recount, gained additional respect for Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin.

He was happy for Ning Zhuo and expressed his willingness to assist Ning Zhuo actively in seeking out top materials to repair the mechanical body of Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin.

Ning Zhuo said to Sun Lingtong, "Since my mother has arrangements concerning the Nanming Fire Furnace, elder brother, you don’t need to participate tomorrow."

Sun Lingtong nodded, "Since your mother specifically advised, I definitely won’t join in the commotion. If suspicion and investigation arise, that would be terrible."

The brothers quickly reached an agreement.

The night swiftly turned clear, and dawn arrived.

On Danxia Peak, many spectators remained.

Dozens of cultivators who retained their qualifications gathered together under public scrutiny.

The previous Great Array had changed; there was no longer any enclosed array space, instead, it was exposed to the heavens and the public.

"This is Void Eaves Courtyard!" Ning Zhuo’s heart shook slightly.

This is a technique for setting up an array, not something ordinary cultivators can achieve.

Typical array spaces are enclosed, forming a separate entity. But the technique represented by Void Eaves Courtyard connects the array space with the external space.

As observed now, the center was a column of light, hazy and dreamlike, radiating pink hues. The light column stretched from its top and base in all directions, forming pink light walls.

Two light walls constituted a simple dome and floor. The further the light walls extended outward, the duller the brilliance became, and the paler the color grew until it finally dissipated.

At the edge of the light walls, it seemed naturally to merge with the normal world between heaven and earth.

Achieving such natural integration, as if everything fell into place, is not easy; it’s a characteristic of the Void Eaves Courtyard technique.

Guided by guardian cultivators, participants in the minor trial gathered around the pink light column.

Among them was Mu Yuehua, wearing a moon-white long dress, cold as frost.

Shen Hongyao wore a fiery red dress, arms crossed, eyes slightly squinting.

Jiang Ping donned a Danxia-colored Daoist robe, with a calm face.

Cang Yazi was expressionless.

Nine Fire Dragon Lord stood in the crowd, with fiery red hair, red gold long robe, conspicuously visible.

Hundred Herbs Elder stood at the edge of the crowd, gaze gentle.

Red Robe Guest displayed a crimson robe, surrounded by a bloody aura.

Tao Liang sat cross-legged in a corner, eyes shut, resting like a sculpture.

Chun Yangzi stood with hands behind, displaying the demeanor of a sect leader.

And also Qin Ke, Gu Lianjie, Zhu Fenxiang, Situ Xing, etc.

Ning Zhuo was among them, appearing quite ordinary. He speculated inwardly, "As expected, it’s exactly as mother predicted, the rules have drastically changed by the third round."

The guardian cultivator spoke slowly, announcing the new minor trial rules.

Everyone would take turns to step forward, in front of everyone, using their methods to attract the attention of the Artifact Spirit Vermilion Bird. Whoever obtains the spirit’s recognition will be the winner.

If multiple people receive recognition, then proceed to the next round.

If only one person, naturally he is the victor.

If none, then the minor trial is declared over, having not found someone with a fated affinity to save the spirit.

To ensure fairness, the sequence for cultivators stepping forward was decided through a lottery.

The guardian cultivator first displayed a Purple Sandalwood Box, showing it to all the cultivators present, strictly inspecting it to confirm no tricks.

Then, he publicly displayed dozens of Jade Chous, each bearing different numbers.

He placed all the Jade Chous into the Purple Sandalwood Box.

Each cultivator came forward in turn, reaching into the box, retrieving a Jade Chou.

Ning Zhuo was in the middle of the line, when it was his turn, he reached into the box, his fingertips touching a Jade Chou, gently extracted it, and upon looking down—"Five."

Fifth position.

Fairly upfront.

Ning Zhuo pocketed the Jade Chou, returned to his original position, waiting until everyone had drawn lots to determine the sequence.

First was a male cultivator, face pale, demeanor cold.

Second was Mu Yuehua.

Third was Chun Yangzi.

Fourth was Shen Hongyao.

Fifth was Ning Zhuo.

In front of everyone, the cold-faced male cultivator first approached the pink light column.

He stood there, hands naturally dropping, eyes closed, akin to a meditating monk.

Then, a chill emanated from his body.

The chill continuously flowed, seeping from his pores, increasingly dense, forming a faint blue radiance enveloping his body.

Innate—Cold Marrow Dawn!

Cold, signifies freezing, femininity, yin, which upon guard can return to truth.

Marrow signifies the essence within bones.

Dawn signifies morning light, sunlight, an initial light, the origin of brightness.

Combining the three words as one results in "Cold Marrow Dawn."

This innate trait is born in the bone marrow, manifests in the skin, completes in the divine sense. Its nature is yin containing yang, its quality cold harboring warmth, its symbol stillness enveloping movement.

The simplified explanation of its power is—free manipulation of hot and cold, simultaneous cultivation of dual methods.

Cultivators only have three Dantians, limiting the Cultivation Techniques they can practice. Spells are a separate matter.

Ning Zhuo practicing the Three Superior Sect Techniques is a rare instance.

A cultivator possessing the innate "Cold Marrow Dawn" can freely choose one Fire-attribute and one Water Element cultivation technique for simultaneous practice. As long as these two techniques do not occupy the same Dantian, without requiring the technique contents themselves to coordinate or resonate, even if vastly different, they can harmonize centrally through this innate trait to practice smoothly.

Not just Fire-attribute and Water Element, but also cultivators can simultaneously practice opposing Yin Yang attribute techniques.

Opposing methods, under the innate "Cold Marrow Dawn," achieve perfect balance and harmony.