Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1096: Chapter 408: Making a Name for Oneself (2)

Other people’s impressions of Ning Zhuo are vague; they start from intelligence, objective but not too personal.

Since they have already invested, Chu Xuangu and Song Taosheng naturally want Ning Zhuo to go further and climb higher.

Song Taosheng slightly closed his eyes and leaned his back against the chairback.

Chu Xuangu immediately understood that Song Taosheng intended to make him the vanguard while he held the reins.

Chu Xuangu smiled faintly and slowly stood up.

All the Confucian cultivators were sitting; Chu Xuangu’s movement instantly drew everyone’s attention, making them realize he had something to say, and they voluntarily fell silent.

Chu Xuangu glanced around, smiling: "Actually, whether to continue supporting this kid Ning Zhuo is fundamentally unnecessary to discuss."

"If you fancy this young man, just go ahead and give him a hand."

"Those who have concerns also have valid reasons; just observe quietly."

"Hehehe." Chu Xuangu chuckled a few times, "Perhaps my biggest feeling right now is different from all of you. I feel relieved."

Someone was puzzled and immediately asked, "Why do you feel relieved?"

Chu Xuangu cupped his hands in courtesy to the surroundings: "Fellow Taoists, to be honest, my largest worry before was with senior Duanmu Zhang."

"Once senior Duanmu Zhang finds out about our secret support for Ning Zhuo."

"Given his temperament, I’m afraid he would reprimand us harshly!"

As soon as these words were spoken, many Confucian cultivators immediately resonated.

"Yes, yes."

"That’s indeed the case."

"I share the same worries as Daoist Fellow Chu."

Chu Xuangu shifted the topic: "But now, it’s fine. Based on Ning Zhuo’s current performance, whether in strength or temperament, he is impeccable."

"Even if senior Duanmu Zhang learns about it, he won’t criticize us but will think that we are nurturing the younger generation."

Upon hearing this, the Confucian cultivators all smiled to some extent.

Some fell into thoughtful contemplation.

Song Taosheng couldn’t help but open a slit in his eyes, looking at Chu Xuangu.

He originally thought he would have to cooperate with Chu Xuangu, but unexpectedly, the latter performed so outstandingly!

On the surface, it was a concern that this matter was not well-received by senior Duanmu Zhang, but in reality, Chu Xuangu was using this ingenious and tactful way to remind them—how likely Duanmu Zhang would view Ning Zhuo!

Among the Confucian cultivator group of the Myriad Images Sect, Chu Xuangu, Song Taosheng, and Wen Ruanyu were clearly pillars. And Duanmu Zhang is the soul figure, the core of the core, the greatest foundation!

His attitude influences almost all Confucian cultivators.

What view would Duanmu Zhang have of Ning Zhuo?

Even though most Confucian cultivators have not seen Ning Zhuo in person, they can answer this question very confidently—

Of course, he appreciates him!

Therefore, when the Confucian cultivators realized that Duanmu Zhang would appreciate Ning Zhuo, their thoughts changed accordingly.

And this change was very natural.

Except for a few, most Confucian cultivators didn’t notice.

Thus, the related topic was drawn back again.

"Speaking of which, Ning Zhuo is not a Confucian cultivator. Helping him is tantamount to helping an outsider. Even if this matter gets exposed in the future, it can also show the noble morals of our Confucian cultivator community."

"We should continue to support Ning Zhuo; otherwise, how do we face Wen Ruanyu? We clearly promised him that we would give Ning Zhuo at least four Xingyun Trials and support him vigorously!"

"How can one not keep their word?"

All the Confucian cultivators tacitly did not mention Duanmu Zhang but tried to find other reasons to continue supporting Ning Zhuo.

Afterwards, Chu Xuangu and Song Taosheng did not speak up, quietly sitting and watching everyone reach a consensus—all decided to continue supporting Ning Zhuo!

"Then, we should hold the third Xingyun Trial next."

"How should we proceed?"

"The key is how to do it to help Ning Zhuo more?"

"It’s simple, first release the wind, and then I think Ning Zhuo might give us some signals." At this point, Chu Xuangu finally opened his mouth.

Song Taosheng smiled slightly: "I second that."

Qingzhu Peak.

Qinghuangzi had just finished writing a Flying Message, and by this candlelight, he read it again silently.

"Huang, rotten wood in the mountains and forests, a burning candle on its last legs. Frightened day and night, grievingly clutched my chest, fearful of failing my master’s grace in the afterlife, and breaking the legacy upon myself, thus daringly addressed this letter, sincerely presenting my feelings."

"When my master passed away, he held the reed in his withered hand, his breath like a gossamer, only entrusting me with one thing..."

"At that time, I was tearful, swore an oath to the sky that I would not fail the trust! However, the Heavenly Dao toys with people; my talent is dull, and though I exhausted my life’s blood in the art of mechanisms... On the verge of death, I fear my master’s work will be buried with this decaying body!"

"Recently heard that Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo exchanged the Stone Token and directly faced The Three Questions of the Heart in the Evil Slaying Hall, with great magnanimity and strong determination..."

"The Xingyun Trial was originally set as a barrier for mediocrities, how could it hinder a true dragon? If we continue to adhere to worldly conventions, the bright pearl would be covered by dust, and I’d die unsatisfied! Therefore, I boldly, with this frail body and little reputation, take an extraordinary action! I entrust this legacy directly to you! This is not a rash impulse but truly a fusion of observing this young friend’s talent and virtues, contemplating my master’s last will, and feeling the urgency of the moment, the three blending together irresistibly!"...

Qinghuangzi read the entire letter, couldn’t help but take a deep sigh, and with a slight move of his Divine Sense, he opened the bamboo window.

Infusing Mana into the Flying Message, letting it soar into the sky.

Bluestone Cave Mansion.

Inside the Martial Arts Array.

Ning Zhuo was sitting cross-legged on a cushion, in front of him, a Magic Artifact Level Ancient Zither slightly floated in mid-air, three inches above the ground.

A boy with a large head slightly closed his eyes, his ten fingers transformed into afterimages!

Zheng zheng zheng zheng zheng...

As the sound waves swept across the ground, more than ten bamboo puppet figurines, the size of an adult’s palm, were activated by the sound!

They were not directly controlled by Divine Sense, but were driven by these specific sound notes.

The number of activated bamboo puppet figurines increased, their forms were nimble, the movements they performed were vivid and lifelike.

One bamboo puppet rushed forward with its torso low, its two arms crossed like mantis blades, cutting with a sharp whistling sound. Another bamboo puppet spun and kicked, the leg shadows like a whip. There was also a bamboo puppet holding an imaginary hug, sinking its waist and sitting on its haunches, with a simple and unadorned Black Tiger Stealing Heart, yet with an overwhelming power. Another bamboo puppet moved with an eerie and drifting form, its claw shadows carrying a sinister breeze...

Ning Zhuo fingers over the strings, sometimes plucking precisely, sometimes vigorously strumming.

The bamboo puppet figurines began to fight one another. Amid the execution of their moves, each action was swift and accurate, with a crisp "ka-ka" sound occasionally emitted from joints.

Ning Zhuo’s finger technique changed again!

A series of sound notes as crisp as pearl droplets on a jade plate, yet with a strange tremor, flowed out.

The remaining bamboo puppets moved upon hearing the sounds; instead of engaging in combat, they collaborated, forming various formations.

A group of three puppets stood back to back in a triangular shape, each supporting the other with offensive and defensive capabilities; this was the most basic Small Three Talents Battle Array.

Five puppets gathered, with four outside guarding the four directions, one in the middle coordinating, the energy flowing smoothly, evolving into the Five-Lattice Plum Blossom Battle Array.

Seven puppets arranged like Beidou, stepping in synchrony, their breaths connecting faintly into a line, forming the Northern Dipper Seven-Star Battle Formation...

Although Ning Zhuo had participated in the Liangzhu Country’s war, he had no such achievements in battle formation. This was indeed gained from his soul-burning through the boat crossing.

The zither music came to an abrupt stop.

The bamboo puppets engaged in martial combat froze at the moment of slaughter, while those arranged in formations maintained their strict arrays, motionless, awaiting the commander’s next order.

Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes, brilliance flashing in his pupils, his heart filled with clear joy.

The Ancient Zither Skills had been mastered to an extreme level, with nearly a century’s worth of hard work.

The essence of the "Vowel Reeds Book" also manifested perfectly in the recent practice.

Moreover, Ning Zhuo also comprehended the subsequent consonants and even created corresponding consonant bamboo puppet figurines. These figurines performed well in the recent practice too.

"I should be able to win in Qinghuangzi’s Xingyun Trial next."

"Hm?"

Soon, Ning Zhuo looked at Qinghuangzi’s letter, his expression quite complex.

"I’ve invested a lot in this matter, and in the end, Qinghuangzi actually wishes to voluntarily pass this legacy to me?"

Ning Zhuo deeply realized the good effects of this high-profile action and sudden fame.

"This is a good thing."

"It will save me a lot of time."

"With such time, I can learn more other things."

"Wait a moment..."

Ning Zhuo’s eyes slightly narrowed, his expression turned profound.