Chapter 1585 - 656: Master Realm! (Part 2)

Chapter 1585: Chapter 656: Master Realm! (Part 2)

With Ning Zhuo opening his eyes, the golden light in the cave mansion gently swayed, like the rippling surface of water blown by the wind.

The Yang Fish had somehow swum right up to him, only three inches from the center of his brows.

This was an unprecedented close distance!

Its ink jade-like fish eyes were fixedly looking at him, the depth of cold shadows in its gaze reflected a wisp of golden light at Ning Zhuo’s brow that had yet to disperse, like a morning star about to fall in the night sky.

It flicked its tail fin lightly, and the golden scales spread out a circle of delicate ripples in the light. This time, it did not retreat.

...

Today is a big day.

Ning Zhuo is to go to the location of the True Words Bell at the Myriad Images Sect today and publicly make an oath — to rescue the Red Robe Guest’s demon soul and formally set the date for the martial arts arena."

He stood alone deep inside the cave mansion, facing the copper mirror.

He first fastened the inner garment, his movements neither hurried nor slow, his fingers like flowing clouds as they moved between the belts, then took out the Great Thousand Mechanism Sound Robe and draped it lightly over his shoulders.

The robe was a pale blue-like color, at first glance, warm and elegant like distant mountains after rain. But upon closer inspection, deep within the fabric, there were extremely fine mechanism patterns, intertwined like the fibers within bamboo joints, or like threads of sound woven into the warp and weft by the wind in an empty valley.

As Ning Zhuo raised his arm, from within the sleeve came a faint sound of the mechanism — ting...dong...like the clear breaking sound from bamboo joints when the wind blows over spiritual bamboo in a distant mountain valley, intermittent and long-lasting.

At the moment the waist belt tightened, the Great Thousand Mechanism Sound Robe fit his frame like a living creature, the intricate mechanism patterns on the robe glowing briefly before sinking back into the fabric, like ripples settling back to the water surface.

The robe sleeves were wide but not chaotic, the hem long but not dragging, paired with Ning Zhuo’s youthful face, it displayed a unique aura.

The young man’s brows and eyes were clear and bright, his lip color slightly pale due to days of cultivation, and his forehead full like a full moon, yet his eyes held a calm far beyond his years, like a bottomless deep pool.

The Great Thousand Mechanism Sound Robe subdued the remaining youthful air on him, yet did not cover the young man’s unique bright clarity.

Ning Zhuo reached to tidy his collar, but his brows slightly furrowed.

The Yang Fish swam slowly beside him.

Chun Yangzi’s assistance came at an absolutely crucial time.

The Yang Fish, Pure Yang Ancestor Master Pill — one being the sect’s spiritual treasure and the other a pill passed down through generations of the sect leader at the Pure Yang Palace. With these, Ning Zhuo truly had the foundation to stand against the Three Brave of the Xiang Sect.

But in the following days, although there were still those sending assistance, it was not ideal. Most of those things could only add minor enhancements and could not change the situation, unable to truly make Ning Zhuo stand his ground before the Three Brave of the Xiang Sect.

The Three Brave Life-taking Nail and Yang Fish are the real heavyweights that can be showcased. The former is sinister and cold, the edge pointing straight at the iron-clad life and death together bond of the Three Brave of the Xiang Sect. The latter is grand and bright, perfectly restraining the Yin Nether Death Qi, like the rising sun breaking through the cold fog.

"Tribulation Fate, Tribulation Fate." Ning Zhuo stared at himself in the mirror, silently chanting in his heart.

Tribulation is disaster, fate is vitality.

This time, it seems because Chun Yangzi gave something precious, thus no new fate appeared.

Ning Zhuo glanced at the Yang Fish in the mirror.

In the past few days, he had been constantly watching the Pure Yang Ancestor Master Pill, using the true intent in the pill to gain insights into the Yang Dao.

Ning Zhuo has now officially crossed that threshold, entering the Master Level. But after reaching this level, his progress became suddenly more steady.

The true intent within the Pure Yang Ancestor Master Pill remained abundant, and the Yang Fish grew closer, while the Five Elements Realm still helped him unravel and digest those domineering truths. Yet each time he delved into contemplation, the young man seemed to encounter an invisible barrier - it wasn’t strong in obstructing him, yet constantly slowed his pace, like an undercurrent hidden beneath calm waters.

Strangely, the more he examined, the more elusive that barrier became.

"At this rate, it’s greatly not in line with my expectations." He sighed softly.

The Yang Fish flicked its tail, swimming beside his sleeve, seemingly attracted by the tiny clear sounds within the Great Thousand Mechanism Sleeves. It gently touched the sleeve edge’s mechanism pattern with its forehead, the pattern emitting warm golden ripples, like a gentle star dropped onto the water surface.

Ning Zhuo looked at it with eyes now softer, raised his hand to guide, and the sleeve mouth’s pattern lightly opened.

The Yang Fish flicked its tail and swam into it, the golden scales flashing momentarily.

Outside the cave mansion, Chef’s lowered voice was heard: "Master Ning Zhuo, it’s almost time."

Ning Zhuo nodded, turned and walked outside.

In the front hall of the cave mansion, several people were already waiting.

Chef stood on one side, dressed far more tidily than usual today. His face, slightly darkened by years of smoke and fire, had less of its usual gentle smile, the wrinkled lines around his eyes were deeply pressed, his hands tucked within his sleeves, which occasionally rubbed together, revealing the unease in his heart.

Gongsun Yan was on the other side, the bloodshot in his eyes had yet to fade completely. These days, he had been busy dealing with mechanism materials for Ning Zhuo, checking the Mystic Armor, adjusting various auxiliary magic artifacts, barely having any rest.

Upon seeing Ning Zhuo properly dressed, and with his youthful temperament fresh and solemn, his eyes first flashed with a bit of amazement before being quickly overshadowed by deeper worry.

Behind Gongsun Yan stood Huoniao’er.

For now, he is temporarily assisting Gongsun Yan, doing chores like moving materials, watching over the furnace, and running errands. Gongsun Yan had a meticulous demeanor, organizing things methodically, which initially made Huoniao’er rather impatient, muttering under his breath several times.

But over the past few days, seeing Gongsun Yan tirelessly adjusting each mechanical device for Ning Zhuo, the little bit of dissatisfaction in his heart gradually subsided.

Today upon seeing Ning Zhuo emerge, he swallowed, his eyes a bit warm, yet also somewhat nervous.

Qing Chi was also present.

The ghost clan girl stood the straightest, her hands behind her back, and her sparkling eyes upon Ning Zhuo.

In her eyes, Ning Zhuo seemed omnipotent. Whatever Three Brave of the Xiang Sect, whatever Heaven-reaching Hook, whatever life and death together, she might vaguely understand their might, yet she still believed Ning Zhuo could surely make it through.

"Master, you look really good today!" Qing Chi blurted out.

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly at Qing Chi: "Today going to the True Words Bell to make an oath, there’s no leisure for beauty."

Qing Chi nodded, her expression serious, filled with expectation: "I want to, want to go with Master."

"You stay in the cave mansion." Ning Zhuo said.

Qing Chi pursed her lips, her joy immediately falling by half.

"Alright." She replied softly, her toe gently brushing the floor tile, her eyes still slightly reluctant, yet ultimately didn’t speak again.

Ning Zhuo stepped out of the front hall, where the Flowing Gold Guest had been waiting for quite some time.

Lately, he had been temporarily residing in the Three Lights Heavenly Dao Cave Mansion, after all, since surrendering publicly, the external situation was tense.

Compared to his initial encounter with the flamboyant sharpness of a Golden Core Cultivator, the Flowing Gold Guest had clearly restrained himself a lot now.

Flowing Gold Guest’s voice was hoarse: "Young Master Ning Zhuo, are you truly going?"

Ning Zhuo nodded: "Naturally."

Flowing Gold Guest’s facial muscles twitched slightly, seemingly having much to say, but in the end only managed to squeeze out a single sentence: "Do you not realize that this time you very well might fall to the Three Brave of the Xiang Sect, costing you your life?"

Chef’s face changed slightly; Gongsun Yan’s fingers clenched tightly; fire flared on Huoniao’er’s face, his temple veins bulging.

Qing Chi’s gaze instantly sharpened, like two drawn daggers fixed on the Flowing Gold Guest.

Flowing Gold Guest ignored the others. He stared at Ning Zhuo, light golden eyes filled with anger, and a twinge of inexplicable anxiety: "I lost to you, there’s nothing to argue about that. But the Three Brave of the Xiang Sect are entirely different from me."

"Those three old things have slain Nascent Souls not just once or twice. Once life and death together activates, you fight one, it’s equivalent to fighting three. You injure one, the other two can revive him. You kill one, the remaining two can still pull the person back. You’re only at Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage. Ah Ning Zhuo, your actions embody the righteousness of the path, but on the martial arts arena, it’s like offering your head on a silver platter to be cut off!"

Qing Chi couldn’t help but step forward: "What do you mean? My Master cannot be compared by someone who’s already been defeated!"

Ning Zhuo raised his hand, gently stopping her.