Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1014: Chapter 369: Duel of Life and Death?

The registration process was so simple it was astonishing.

Ning Zhuo wasn’t surprised. He had actively gathered intelligence about the Myriad Images Sect.

The complete registration was divided into many phases; this was just the first phase.

After some time, the second phase of registration would begin, and the identity cards would be replaced with stone tokens instead of the current wooden ones. More information about the cultivators would also be included.

Wood Token, Stone Token, Copper Token, Iron Token, Silver Token, Gold Token, and finally Jade Token. Each level of identity token represented the Myriad Images Sect’s recognition of a cultivator’s present and future potential.

As for how to successfully register and exchange for a higher level of identity token, it would depend on the performance of each cultivator in the Xingyun Trials that followed.

After successfully registering, Ning Zhuo, Shen Xi, and Su Lingkou left on a cloud, each holding their wooden token.

Shen Xi said, "Brother Ning, where are you headed now?"

Ning Zhuo replied, "Naturally, I want to choose a Martial Arts Hall to first experience the atmosphere. After all, it’s my first time at the Myriad Images Sect."

Shen Xi rubbed the jade token at his waist and smiled slightly, "Perfect, I’m heading the same way as Brother Ning!"

Seeing Ning Zhuo moving slowly on his cloud, Shen Xi directly invited him, "Brother Ning, why not ride with me?"

Ning Zhuo had no objections.

Shen Xi then released a magic artifact in the shape of a vehicle. It wasn’t mechanical and was bronze-colored, with wheels that didn’t turn, forming a seamless whole.

But after Su Lingkou activated it, the speed of the bronze flying vehicle was fast, and its steering agile, quickly reaching the nearest Martial Arts Hall.

From the vehicle, the three observed the crowd bustling with excitement at the entrance.

Ning Zhuo remarked, "After the first phase of registration, everyone now has an identity token, which gives them tangible progress to accumulate for the Xingyun Trials. Hence, the scene is so vibrant."

Su Lingkou’s face showed slight concern, "With so many people, should we still go down?"

Shen Xi pondered silently, merely looking at Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo said, "Let’s go to another hall."

The main mountain gate of the Myriad Images Sect was vast, with hundreds and thousands of halls.

The bronze flying vehicle sped through, quickly arriving at a Martial Arts Hall that wasn’t near any registration points, thus having fewer people than the other halls.

As soon as they descended from the bronze flying vehicle and stepped onto the square in front of the hall, a cultivator coming out spoke, "Who do I see? Turns out it’s the young one from the Shen Family!"

Shen Xi, a genius of the Shen Family, was disparagingly referred to in such a manner. The speaker knew Shen Xi’s background yet still took this attitude, clearly indicating ill intentions.

Ning Zhuo remained calm, scrutinizing the speaking cultivator.

He appeared young but had a head full of gray hair, with deep-set eyes like a skeleton, dressed in a wide robe made from Hundred Python Skins, with an arrogant demeanor and a gaze sharp as a knife, wantonly provocative.

And beside the gray-haired young cultivator stood a giant nine-foot man, tiger-bodied with a human head, his physique robust, muscles bursting, with wings on his back, and covered entirely in brownish-yellow tiger fur.

He was clearly a ferocious Tiger Demon Cultivator.

Shen Xi’s face darkened, "Pi Fuji?"

The Shen Family in Nine Palace Immortal City had substantial power, with several major enemies, one of which was the Pi Family.

This family’s cultivators primarily practiced the Demon Skill ’Seven Talisman Demon Skin’ and were known for their dual skills in talisman making and paper mache, exerting considerable influence with numerous followers.

The gray-haired young cultivator Pi Fuji in front of them held a similar position in the Pi Family as Shen Xi did in the Shen Family. However, due to having an Intermediate Talent with Three Tribulations Transformation, Pi Fuji received much more support and expectations than Shen Xi.

Pi Fuji squinted at Ning Zhuo, Shen Xi, and Su Lingkou, and said coldly, "Shen Xi, I’d heard that the Shen Family sent you over to participate in the Feiyun Conference."

"Hmph, meeting you beforehand is just bad luck for you!"

Anyone hearing this would know there was long-standing enmity between the two families.

Shen Xi sneered, "What you said is exactly what I want to say. Since this is the entrance to the Martial Arts Hall, Pi Fuji, I’ll accompany you in whatever challenge you offer. Let’s have a duel, regardless of life or death!"

Within the Myriad Images Sect, the affairs of the Martial Arts Hall are matters of life and death.

During duels between cultivators, accidents are bound to happen, and indeed, some may even deliberately scheme.

The Myriad Images Sect permits all of these to occur.𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

There’s no other way; the Myriad Images Sect simply has too many people.

They must select the best!

Once, an elder of the Myriad Images Sect made a blunt comment, roughly stating that anyone who was slain in the Martial Arts Arena was at least undeniably unlucky. Such people not joining the Myriad Images Sect seemed only natural.

This statement was too direct, causing a wave of public discontent. The elder was immediately demoted. Years later, he returned to the sect and secured a high position.

Thus, the true attitude of the Myriad Images Sect is evident.

This attitude and code of conduct are accepted by the true high-level or large forces, as they all understand the pain points of the Myriad Images Sect.

If they really wanted to eliminate this situation, it would be too difficult.\p>

The Myriad Images Sect simply cannot manage it; the management costs are immensely high, and the hidden dangers even more so.

Once the Myriad Images Sect attempted to manage this phenomenon, they had to grant the martial arts referees authority. This power was immense, dealing with matters of life and death—how could it not be significant?

Therefore, it would inevitably lead to corruption, and significant corruption at that.

Corruption would definitely occur.

In this way, it would greatly impact the Myriad Images Sect’s reputation.

If referees were unfair, even if they were fair, the side that lost loved ones would resent the Myriad Images Sect, believing its referees to be unjust. Thus, the Myriad Images Sect would face numerous conflicts, accumulating countless karma and consequences.

Instead, it’s better not to intervene; this way, the conflicts remain confined to the dueling parties, while the Myriad Images Sect stays aloof and detached.

Shen Xi, extremely determined, directly assumed a life-or-death duel stance, causing Pi Fuji’s momentum to momentarily falter.