Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1301: Chapter 507: Luck Star_2

In the withered yellow mist, the Demon Star became even more dazzling, while two Luck Stars slowly emerged.

The Mechanism Star, bronze in color, vaguely showed phantoms of gears, chains, and wheels swirling around. It hung above the arm, as steady as a clock, not moving an inch.

The Monster Dao Star, gray-white in color, was eerily unpredictable, seemingly there and not there, between reality and illusion. It floated to the left of the arm, appearing and disappearing, as if it could vanish at any moment.

The Supreme Family Elders’ expressions were solemn.

The activation of the Demon Star appeared to drive the two other stars, Mechanism and Monster Dao, as well.

"Ning Zhuo’s current situation is quite complicated, hiding immense danger."

"If things continue like this, he will inevitably undergo a major transformation soon!"

"Blessings and disasters coexist, life and death share the same thread. Could the Star Cloud in his hand be the key to resolving the current calamity?"

The Supreme Family Elders delved into another round of discussions.

They truly couldn’t discern Ning Zhuo’s Qi Fortune.

This situation was just too complicated—

The book pages were slashed, thorns entwined, the cloud coffin pressed down, and the demon smoke invaded.

The three stars gradually appeared!

Gongsun Yan once again paid his respects to Elder Xiao.

"Elder Xiao, I come to trouble you once more."

Xiao Juxia took out a stack of Inheriting Dao Jade Pages, while Gongsun Yan offered a storage bag filled with spirit stones.

Gongsun Yan, scanning with his divine sense and being proficient in artifact refining, immediately judged that this batch of Inheriting Dao Jade Pages was of good quality and couldn’t help but express gratitude: "Thank you, Elder Xiao!"

Just as he was about to propose continuing the transaction, he suddenly heard Xiao Juxia say, "This is the last batch."

Surprised, Gongsun Yan asked, "The last batch? Elder Xiao, do you mean..."

Xiao Juxia slowly sat back down at the stone table, took a sip from his tea cup, and said calmly, "Exactly what it means. Once this batch is sold out, I will no longer refine Inheriting Dao Jade Pages."

Gongsun Yan became anxious.

Ning Zhuo had tasked him with purchasing as many Inheriting Dao Jade Pages as possible. Gongsun Yan visited many people, but only Xiao Juxia had the skill to craft them and was willing to make and sell them during the Feiyun Conference.

If Xiao Juxia stopped supplying them, Ning Zhuo’s external procurement channels would be cut off.

Gongsun Yan anxiously asked, "Elder Xiao, why are you suddenly stopping the refining process? Is there a difficulty you’re facing? Or is someone giving you trouble? Please tell me, and perhaps I can help."

Xiao Juxia waved his hand, interrupting him: "There’s no difficulty, and no one is troubling me."

He set down his tea cup and gazed at a few green bamboos in the corner of the courtyard, speaking leisurely: "It’s just that I’m interested in the Xingyun Trial, and I want to participate. With limited energy and time, I naturally can’t continue to refine these."

Instinctively, Gongsun Yan asked, "What trial is it? Can I help in any way? Please, Elder Xiao, just say the word. Although I might not be very skilled, I can run errands and gather information."

Xiao Juxia shook his head, still calmly: "It’s inconvenient to disclose."

Gongsun Yan’s words were stuck in his throat.

He understood Xiao Juxia’s meaning.

When cultivators participate in trials, it’s most taboo to leak information beforehand. If news spreads, it could attract more strong competitors, adding uncertainties and possibly making them targets.

Xiao Juxia had no kinship with him, so why would he reveal anything?

After a moment of silence, Gongsun Yan spoke again, "Then... Elder Xiao, I can offer a higher price. Just name it, and as long as I can afford it, I won’t haggle."

"Hehehe, I’m not short on money," Xiao Juxia chuckled softly. "Crafting these Inheriting Dao Jade Pages was initially out of interest. Secondly, it was to forge a good relationship with your young master. Now that my interest is gone, naturally, I won’t continue refining. It has nothing to do with money."

Gongsun Yan was left speechless.

He looked at the elderly man before him, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness.

In the end, he sighed softly, bowing respectfully: "I’m sorry to have troubled you, Elder Xiao. I take my leave."

Bluestone Cave Mansion.

Gongsun Yan lowered his head: "Young master, I didn’t do well enough..."

Ning Zhuo waved his hand, interrupting him: "It’s not your fault. Xiao Juxia himself is at Golden Core Perfection. Lately, I’ve repeatedly purchased his Inheriting Dao Jade Pages, leading me to suspect he intentionally allowed it, watching me secure the first place."

"Such a person would not be easily swayed by spirit stones."

"You’ve done well. Although it was luck, it was excellent enough; no need for self-blame."

With the successive purchases of several Inheriting Dao Jade Pages, Ning Zhuo clearly noted that their quality improved each time, showcasing Xiao Juxia’s artifact refining prowess.

Ning Zhuo, whose refining realm had already reached Master Level, naturally possessed this discerning eye and insight.

Seeing that Ning Zhuo wasn’t blaming him, but rather reassuring him, Gongsun Yan complied and withdrew, feeling deep respect for Ning Zhuo.

Initially, he solely relied on Ning Zhuo to solve his innate drawbacks, which is why he allied with him. But afterward, following Ning Zhuo through multiple refining sessions, Ning Zhuo’s refining skill earned him repeated admiration.

Gongsun Yan had nearly witnessed Ning Zhuo’s journey from an obscure newcomer to the Myriad Images Sect’s Main Mountain Gate, to his current prominence, and genuinely believed Ning Zhuo’s future was boundless. Therefore, regarding orders from Ning Zhuo, he pursued them wholeheartedly.

After Gongsun Yan left, Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly.

The changes on Xiao Juxia’s end were something Ning Zhuo had anticipated. If he were in the same position, he wouldn’t seclude himself to craft and sell Inheriting Dao Jade Pages at such a crucial time as the Feiyun Conference.

Someone with Xiao Juxia’s artifact refining skill certainly wouldn’t be lacking in money.

"I must have enough Inheriting Dao Jade Pages to completely return the Array Realm to the elder brother."

"Now, with Xiao Juxia withdrawing, I must take time to make them myself."

Ning Zhuo had to relay this bad news to Sun Lingtong.

Sun Lingtong was unconcerned: "This isn’t that big of a deal. You continue using my Array Realm for now; I’m not in a rush, no worries."

He had complete, unwavering trust in Ning Zhuo.

Sun Lingtong added: "You should hurry up and refine the Luoshu Book Pages. Once I clean up Shuyu Pavilion, I want to go out and about."

"The Myriad Images Sect’s Xingyun Trial is quite interesting, and I want to check out such excitement."

Given Sun Lingtong’s nature, staying cooped up in Shuyu Pavilion for so many days was already an extremely rare occurrence.

It was thanks to the Luoshu Book Pages, this treasured item, igniting his thieving nature and his desire to help Ning Zhuo reclaim his mother’s relics that he was fully invested.

Now that the Luoshu Book Pages were in hand, Sun Lingtong couldn’t bear the solitude any longer and wanted to wander around.

Of course, his identity wouldn’t pass Myriad Images Sect’s verification.

His participation in the Xingyun Trial was merely to join in the fun.

Having joined the Bukong Sect, a super sect, once Sun Lingtong joined the Myriad Images Sect, it would be akin to betraying his sect, causing big troubles.

Ning Zhuo understood Sun Lingtong’s nature well, and since the latter had his Life Hanging Thread on him, if anything unforeseen happened, he could just pull Sun Lingtong back.

Moreover, the Myriad Images Sect had broad inclusivity, treating everyone equally, even accepting Demon Cultivators into their sect. So, even if they discovered Sun Lingtong’s Bukong Sect identity, they wouldn’t specifically target him.

Ning Zhuo put away the Inheriting Dao Jade Pages, still thinking about returning the Array Realm.

"When I return the Array Dao True Intent in the future, I should give the elder brother a bit more."

"With my self-talent and demon soul experience, plus decent intelligence, advancing my realm is much quicker than normal."

"Therefore, even if my Array Realm resets to zero in the future, I can quickly recover."

"But if I master the Knowledge and Action Integration Skill, it will be like adding wings to a tiger!"

Knowledge and Action Integration Skill.

This Confucian Skill can convert a cultivator’s actions into corresponding knowledge. Similarly, it can also transform the cultivated knowledge into various behaviors of the cultivator.

However, the Knowledge and Action Integration Skill is an art of Heart Learning. Among the Confucian Cultivator Group of the Myriad Images Sect, no one has mastered it.

Even a genius Confucian Cultivator like Gu Qing, who is renowned in Huazhang Country, has not mastered it.

The only person Ning Zhuo could obtain it from was Zhao Hansheng.

This posed a challenge.

Ning Zhuo, the last time, broke Zhao Hansheng’s plot, publicly stepping over Gu Qing’s head to capture the first place in the small trial. With elements of Confucian Cultivator Group bias struggling in between, he was more of a foe than a friend to this teacher and student duo.

How could he persuade an enemy to teach him the Confucian skill he desired?