Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1396: Chapter 554: Baby, Don’t Be Afraid! (Part 2)

Ning Zhuo sighed silently, knowing that he couldn’t gain trust or the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit’s cooperation in a short time.

"Let’s save this misunderstanding for the future to resolve properly."

"Whether you want to cooperate or not, you must. Little Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit, this is all for your own good."

"Trust me, it’s all for your good."

Ning Zhuo conveyed information and a sincere attitude while forcibly controlling the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit, digging for more insider information from it.

"Hmm?" Ning Zhuo was startled.

This dig uncovered Wang Yu’s secret of manipulating the situation and cheating behind the scenes.

The truth was plain to see!

The Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit was indifferent to the first four people and had a natural dread towards cultivators with Golden Core Cultivation and above, making it impossible for them to generate any goodwill or trust.

The image of Wang Yu automatically surfaced in Ning Zhuo’s Divine Sea.

He couldn’t confirm that the person behind the scenes was Wang Yu, but Ning Zhuo’s first thought was of this contemporary Peak Master of Danxia Peak.

"Whether it’s him or not, Danxia Peak is clearly pulling the strings behind everything."

"Such deep calculations."

"With this trend, even if the Nanming Fire Furnace isn’t salvaged, Danxia Peak would still attract a mass of external talents and resources. Maybe they’ll earn even more."

Ning Zhuo inwardly called out "Good heavens", feeling like his group had become the prey instead.

"I’ve learned a lot!" He thought from a different perspective, adding more understanding of Danxia Peak.

Looking back at the Feiyun Conference system, he couldn’t help but admire it more.

"Truly impressive."

"Every exercise of this system acts like a vast net, attracting and drawing in talents and resources from all over Flying Cloud Country and surrounding Cultivation Kingdoms."

"It’s like this trial, characters like Mu Yuehua and Chun Yangzi fly into the flame like moths, leading people, fire seeds, and even entire sects."

As Ning Zhuo pondered, the atmosphere in the field quietly shifted.

Even though Ning Zhuo formed the Vast Energy Pillar, the pink gas pillar remained unaffected, showing not the slightest ripple.

Qin Ke’s brows furrowed slightly, showing impatience.

Chun Yangzi stood with hands behind his back, secretly sighing in relief.

Zhu Fenxiang’s eyes showed some disappointment but simultaneously revealed excitement: "Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo, it seems you’ll be eliminated. What a pity. If you had agreed to collaborate with me earlier, things might have been different. Now, let’s see how I do."

Cang Yazi, Nine Fire Dragon Lord, Red Robe Guest, Zhong Limei, and other Nascent Soul Level cultivators shifted their focus, deeming Ning Zhuo no longer worth attention.

The onlookers buzzed.

"Ning Zhuo has no chance this time."

"Sigh, who would have thought he’d be eliminated so disgracefully."

"He’s not strong in alchemy. I can’t understand why he’s participating in this alchemy trial recently."

"I say, aiming for a Spirit Treasure Level Alchemy Furnace like the Nanming Fire Furnace is just wishful thinking for him."

"He’s overestimating himself. Although I admit he’s a genius in some areas, a real genius should be pragmatic. Know what you excel at and what you don’t."

"Indeed, with cultivation developed for so many years, there are countless cultivation techniques, how could there be an all-rounder?"

As people awaited the host cultivator’s announcement of Ning Zhuo’s elimination, the pink gas pillar changed.

First, there was a fluctuation of brilliance, creating ripples.

Then the ripples expanded, dyeing the Void Eaves Courtyard in warm, gentle pink.

The ripples quickly dissipated, the pink light illuminating the faces of many cultivators participating in the trial, showing many surprised and astonished expressions.

"Ning Zhuo?!"

"Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit’s reaction is so intense?"

"The feeling I get is like a restless soul finding peace and gaining abundant security! So, what’s going on?"

"Doesn’t this mean Ning Zhuo has already won?" Gu Lianjie exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Is it true?" Qin Ke furrowed his brow, admitting he had underestimated Ning Zhuo, "There’s still so many who haven’t taken action; at best, Ning Zhuo has gained a huge advantage and is temporarily leading... that’s all."

Mu Yuehua’s face, cold like frost, showed interest for the first time. She looked seriously and curiously at Ning Zhuo.

Shen Hongyao’s fingers clenched tightly inside her sleeve, her knuckles turning white. She looked at the pink gas pillar, seemingly seeing the prospects of the Alchemy Hall dissolve before her eyes.

Jiang Ping barely maintained a calm face.

Cang Yazi, Nine Fire Dragon Lord, Red Robe Guest, and other Nascent Souls, once again cast their concerned gazes.

Even Tao Liang, who had been meditating with closed eyes, opened them for the first time, looked at the pink gas pillar, then at Ning Zhuo.

Everyone was surprised, curious, and wary, but the most shocked person hid in the shadows—Wang Yu.

"The previous people were all rigged, creating illusions."

"But Ning Zhuo truly elicited the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit’s recognition!"

"Could, could it be that he is the one we’ve been desperately seeking, who can earn the Artifact Spirit’s trust and assist in repairing the Pill Furnace—the destined one?!"

No one knows Ning Zhuo’s thoughts.

At this moment, he was thinking: "How should I control the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit to show the appropriate extent?"

This Great Array wasn’t designed by him; he only had a slight understanding of it. Most of the methods of detection arrays couldn’t be used!

Therefore, he couldn’t grasp the specific extent within, only try slightly.

He secretly intensified the command to the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit: "Come on, little darling, show me more affection."

And then, in the next moment, the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit in the pink gas pillar spun around in place.

Hiss...

The sound of drawing breath could be heard behind Ning Zhuo.

Even Nascent Soul Level cultivators were moved, pupils contracting, hearts involuntarily tensed, fearing Ning Zhuo would become the sole victor.

But then the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit returned to its original state.

It had just spun around in place.

Wang Yu’s mind was shouting: "If no one else comes next, then it’s Ning Zhuo!"

Ning Zhuo sensibly displayed a look of joy, maintained the Vast Energy Pillar for a while longer, but still the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit never made a new move.

His face showed a look of ’a loss that is hard to bear’, dispelled the Platinum Gas Pillar, his body no longer slightly suspended, and his feet touched the ground.

The host cultivator announced: "Currently in first place is Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo; please Daoist Fellow return and let other Daoists compete."

So, Ning Zhuo sighed, regrettably turned around, and walked back into the crowd.

Many people cast attentive glances, especially Shen Hongyao and Chun Yangzi’s gazes were the most complex.

Hidden in the shadows, Wang Yu’s gaze towards Ning Zhuo had changed.

It became fervent, became determined.

"Ning Zhuo!"

"What an extraordinary Ning Zhuo."

"He is a talent indeed. I must recruit him to Danxia Peak."

"Wonderful, wonderful, didn’t expect this trial to truly unearth the destined one."

Originally, Wang Yu didn’t have high hopes, but things turned out more optimistic than he imagined.

"Maybe the Nanming Fire Furnace can be repaired, I also want Chun Yangzi, Mu Yuehua, and these people!"

In Wang Yu’s plan, the third round wasn’t the end; the fourth round was.

Sixth, seventh, eighth... cultivators appeared one after another.

Some were eliminated but some caused disturbances in the pink gas pillar, creating ripples.

Ning Zhuo watched with his own eyes, inwardly murmuring: "Good, good, good. It seems fair and impartial, but Danxia Peak is actually meddling, manipulating the scene, constantly disguising!"

Ning Zhuo constantly communicated with the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit, remaining perceptive of the truth.

Many people were secretly "admitted" to the next round.

And when Wang Yu manipulated the pink gas pillar, forming Pink Light Shining Courtyard, and even created the illusion of the Artifact Spirit returning, Ning Zhuo’s eyes ultimately flashed with a chill.

Someone tied with him for first place.