Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1003: Chapter 363: How Many Golden Cores Does Ning Zhuo Have?

The words were beautifully spoken, but Shen Xi was a keen person.

Deep inside, he was very surprised, never expecting Ning Zhuo to directly undermine Lin Jinglong’s greatest support!

"Lin Jinglong is actually not angry?!" Shen Xi looked towards Lin Jinglong.

Lin Jinglong detected the gaze and gave Shen Xi a bitter smile.

Shen Xi was surprised again, suddenly realizing: "Gongsun Yan is the most valuable among Lin Jinglong’s subordinates. He would never easily let this go. But considering his current attitude, it implies that Ning Zhuo has further impact and deterrence on him."

"Although Ning Zhuo offered a Ghost Dao Golden Core, Lin Jinglong wouldn’t adopt this attitude just for one Golden Core!"

"The question is, is Lin Jinglong intimidated by the elder or powerful figure behind Ning Zhuo, or did Ning Zhuo actually beat him up?"

Ning Zhuo quickly waved his hand, showing great humility: "Daoist Fellow Lin has facilitated this beautiful connection between me and Daoist Fellow Gongsun. We mustn’t act wickedly, letting this matter escalate, being used by others to belittle Daoist Fellow Lin and the Lin Family."

"Therefore, I implore everyone, do not spread this, keep it a secret."

These words instantly engendered a favorable impression in Lin Jinglong’s heart.

Shen Xi sighed and agreed verbally: "Naturally."

Su Lingkou had a very complex feeling.

She instinctively looked towards Gongsun Yan, who had tied with her in their battle yesterday, though in reality, she was at a disadvantage. The power of Heart Fire amazed Su Lingkou upon reflection, causing alarm within her heart.

Unexpectedly, just a day passed, and Gongsun Yan had become Ning Zhuo’s subordinate.

"How exactly did he manage this?"

"What kind of terms did Ning Zhuo offer?"

Su Lingkou also turned her gaze towards Ning Zhuo, suddenly realizing at this moment: Ning Zhuo definitely isn’t someone like herself or Gongsun Yan; Ning Zhuo should have a status akin to her cousin.

"What kind of terms did Ning Zhuo offer?"

This question also lingered in Lin Jinglong’s mind.

Lin Jinglong secretly observed Gongsun Yan and was surprised to find: the latter appeared refreshed, with a different kind of confidence compared to before.

Recalling his battle with Ning Zhuo, Lin Jinglong secretly speculated: "Ning Zhuo’s fan is his Lifebound Magical Artifact, hence its immense power. Previously, he exhibited only one Defense Treasure; surely, he has other reserves."

"He must be cultivating a Five Elements-related technique, perhaps another treasure belonging to the Five Elements category specifically addresses shortcomings of the Melt Heart Talent."

"Thus, it attracted Gongsun Yan to pledge allegiance!"

"As for treasures, I have three myself!"

"Previously, during our duel, there was no need, so I didn’t use any of them."

Though Lin Jinglong was "tied" with Ning Zhuo, deep down he doesn’t believe he truly lost. The tactics of a great family made him stop while favorable, avoiding a hard fight."

"Regarding the Golden Core... Ning Zhuo consecutively produced two, clearly demonstrating his deep foundation."

"Judging by this, he still has more in his possession."

"But certainly not many!"

"These are Golden Cores! He couldn’t possibly have a dozen or so. Hehe."

Lin Jinglong continually pondered Ning Zhuo’s capabilities.

Perhaps distracted by this, he lost to Shen Xi in the subsequent round of rock-paper-scissors.

Thus, Shen Xi secured the second seat, while Lin Jinglong sat in the third. As for Ning Zhuo, he clearly stated he won’t participate in ranking positions for a while.

"I’m just satisfied to exchange, learn, and progress together with everyone!" Ning Zhuo’s attitude was quite humble.

It’s truly unnecessary.

What he needs to do now is wait for his identity to be revealed. Before that, he should gather as much information about the surrounding situation as possible and find the entry point most suitable for him.

After the banquet concluded, bidding farewell to everyone, Ning Zhuo returned to his cave mansion, cloud-riding and lost in thought.

The elder chef stood guard over the cave, while Qing Chi rushed out to greet Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo inquired about her own cultivation situation with a few words of concern.

Although Qing Chi suffered from amnesia, her cultivation level remained intact. Foundation Establishment had been achieved, easily changing her cultivation method would incur a massive cost. Therefore, she continued cultivating her original technique.

"Young Master, everything is going well!" Qing Chi indicated no issues.

This was as expected.

Even though Qing Chi lost her memory, she had practiced the cultivation technique countless times, developing a form of muscle memory preservation. Moreover, the Ghost person’s body was transformed into a more compatible form during cultivation.

Thus, Qing Chi re-mastering the cultivation technique posed no issue.

"This is Daoist Fellow Gongsun Yan; he is willing to cultivate alongside me too." Ning Zhuo introduced Gongsun Yan to both of them.

Gongsun Yan followed behind Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong, glanced casually at the elder chef and Qing Chi, cupped his hands in a formal greeting, maintaining a cool demeanor.

The elder chef and Qing Chi were both at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and in Gongsun Yan’s view, they seemed to be Ning Zhuo’s attendants or subordinates, unlike Sun Lingtong’s closer book-boy relation. Hence, Gongsun Yan’s attitude was understandably moderate.

If it were a female cultivaor from the Human Clan, Gongsun Yan might speculate Qing Chi as Ning Zhuo’s personal maid, thereby regard her with some esteem.

But the Ghost People Clan...

Instinctively, Gongsun Yan deemed Qing Chi as a typical subordinate.

Ning Zhuo first settled Gongsun Yan into his residence, then entered the cultivation room to begin cultivating.

The Six Foundation Establishment Realms are: Unobstructed Field Opening, Treasure Medicine Generation, Dantian Shines, Abnormal Phenomenon Seed Talisman, Inner Golden Light, Transforming Void into Reality.

Ning Zhuo’s cultivation level had already progressed to the Abnormal Phenomenon Seed Talisman stage, marking him as mid-to-late Foundation Establishment.

He began retraveling his cultivation journey at sixteen, changing to Three Superior Sect Techniques. The Three Superior Sect Techniques meant simultaneous cultivation of the Three Elixir Fields, which drastically slowed the cultivation pace.

Yet now at seventeen, Ning Zhuo had reached the mid-to-late stage; his rapid cultivation speed was incredibly startling!

More astonishing was the fact that his main focus wasn’t even on cultivation.

His primary purpose was to save Meng Yaoyin. Having left Fire Persimmon Immortal City, he undertook various journeys, though diligent in cultivation yet sparing genuinely invested time.

Ning Zhuo firmly believed his terrifying cultivation efficiency stemmed entirely from external sources, such as the Three-portion Cross Treasure Talisman, or abundant Spirit Stones. The most crucial being National Power Bricks!

Using national power for cultivation truly yielded extraordinary effects, akin to a celestial ascension sensation!

Ning Zhuo luckily experienced this several times. He still has National Power Bricks in hand.

Only during the Abnormal Phenomenon Seed Talisman stage, where power cannot be brute-forced, it tested the cultivator’s comprehension of their cultivation method.

"Divine Sea and Qi Sea levels were attained, gaining Spirit Communication Technique and Five Elements Life and Death Technique respectively, but the Essence Sea corresponding to Demon-infused Bloodline Technique still had considerable gaps."

"Sigh... Indeed, I belong to the Righteous Path, unsuitable for the Demon Path cultivation methods."

Regarding how to accelerate comprehension of the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique, Ning Zhuo already had a plan.

He took out a budding flower, the sealed prohibition applied by the Dharma Form Red Flower Battle Formation, which encaged Lin You.

This person, son of the Demon Heart Cave Master, cultivated the same method as the Cave Master; it was likely quite similar to the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique.

Ning Zhuo initially intended to educate him in the righteous way, coaxing out the technique, helping Ning Zhuo comprehend Demon Skills, thereby redeeming himself and contributing to the Righteous Path.

However, Ning Zhuo didn’t expect the buds to persist past White Paper Immortal City.

"With so much time elapsed, might Lin You already be dead from starvation?" An uneasy feeling surged within Ning Zhuo.

Yet faced with the red flower bud, he was utterly helpless.

This was military art power. If it were Five Elements Magic, Ning Zhuo could easily handle.

There was another such bud imprisoning Wu Hen. Likewise, despite its thinness, the bud’s resilient texture remained tightly confining the cultivator.

Ning Zhuo put away the buds, engulfed in deep contemplation.

He harnessed Five Elements Mana, then activated his Lifebound Technique, Five Elements Life and Death Technique, secretly directing the Wood Element Lung Temple.

A surge of Wood Element Mana gushed forth from his hand, circulating, growing, constantly transforming within his palm.

This condition persisted for half a cup of tea when abruptly, a streak of electricity emerged amidst the ever-transforming green mana!