Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1408: Chapter 560: Dragon Ball and Wisdom Teeth (Part 2)

The truth is, there is an inside story!

But at this moment, Wang Yu felt wronged: "I really did nothing."

Ever since Ning Zhuo took the stage and "successfully soothed" the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit using the Spirit Communication Mirror, he hadn’t intervened in this minor trial. He hadn’t secretly helped anyone nor favored anyone, thus there was no form of cheating.

These cultivators were eager to repair the Nanming Fire Furnace with their own resources, which Wang Yu was happy to see.

But the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit indeed only called out three times.

What’s going on?

Wang Yu also felt puzzled.

Ning Zhuo knew the reason - from beginning to end, he was in control of all the activities of the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit.

He wouldn’t let anyone achieve four chirps, at most just three.

Of course, this was due to his personal careful planning.

"I think I might know the reason." Ning Zhuo suddenly spoke up, his volume usual but immediately drawing everyone’s attention in the scene.

"Repairing the Pill Furnace is equivalent to repairing the body of the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit, which would naturally trigger its affection and closeness."

"But as everyone consecutively takes action, the degree of repair becomes higher and higher. From the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit’s perspective, the same level of repair feels less and less impactful towards the end."

"There is a significant depreciation in this process."

"Perhaps the case of the Nine Fire Dragon Lord senior is not an exception."

Everyone suddenly seemed to ponder.

"Additionally," Ning Zhuo supplemented, "the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit has been pacified by my Spirit Communication Technique."

"As time goes on, it might develop dread again."

"After all, every time you seniors repair the Pill Furnace, you show imposing momentum, and each capability could destroy the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit."

"So, the real key factor is still my Spirit Communication Technique!"

All eyes quickly returned to Ning Zhuo, everyone thinking that he said a lengthy paragraph merely to set up for the last sentence.

"However, it does seem somewhat reasonable."

"The young man is anxious too. But it’s understandable, after all, he broke the deadlock."

"Even so, when it’s my turn to take action, I must go all out. Otherwise, I won’t even have the qualification to enter the next round!"

Each cultivator had their calculations in mind.

When it was Cang Yazi’s turn to act, he indeed gave it his all.

Artifact refining wasn’t his strongest suit, so he directly dispatched three spiritual beast partners.

The Blue-eyed Water Ape, Frost Horned Celestial Deer, and Red-capped Black Feather Crane went into battle together, assisting him in artifact refining.

Flames surged, as Cang Yazi pulled out a variety of treasures.

In the end, he even reached into his mouth and forcibly pulled out one of his teeth.

This tooth bore the color of white jade, the texture of warm fat, delicate to the touch, with a layer of golden halo.

He threw the tooth into the furnace and quickly refined it.

"Is this... a wisdom tooth?"

Mortal teeth are responsible for chewing and grinding, and belong to post-birth organs. Wisdom teeth are unique—they don’t engage with the opposing jaw for biting, nor serve the function of eating, yet are deeply embedded in the deepest part of the gums, like unpolished jade hidden in hard rock, like stars concealed amidst cloud seas.

The "Supreme Cave Mysterious Spiritual Treasure Heaven Opening Treasures Record" states: "Heaven and Earth create humans, and there are thirty-two teeth. Among them, twenty-eight are the number of ordinary bones; the remaining four are where wisdom roots gather, named wisdom teeth."

Wisdom teeth are the excess of wisdom roots.

Cang Yazi pulling out his wisdom tooth as a consumable was equivalent to infusing a part of his wisdom and enlightenment into the Nanming Fire Furnace.

One tooth wasn’t enough.

Then, he pulled out a second wisdom tooth and refined it in the furnace.

Unable to produce a Dragon Ball, he adopted a strategy of winning through quantity.

Chirp, chirp, chirp.

The Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit let out three chirps.

Cang Yazi sighed, put away his beast pets, and returned to the crowd.

The fourth minor trial lasted far longer than anyone expected, ending only the next day before dawn.

The entire Nanming Fire Furnace had been partially repaired, with participating cultivators having spent their heritage, even saying they exhausted their resources.

Wang Yu was quite pleased with this, beginning to look forward to the next round of the minor trial: "Perhaps after the next few rounds, the Nanming Fire Furnace might be fully repaired!"

He transmitted his thoughts through Divine Sense, instructing the hosting cultivators to announce the names of those qualifying for the next round.

As long as the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit shows any response, one is allowed to advance to the next round.

But the expressions of Red Robe Guest, Cang Yazi, Chun Yangzi, and Nine Fire Dragon Lord were all very grave. They had already used all their strength in this round, what could they offer in the next round to win the favor of the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit?

Watching their departing figures, countless spectators among the cultivators felt a heavy weight. The hidden experts or high-ranking figures in the crowd were already eager to act.

Once back at his temporary cave mansion, Chun Yangzi summoned his subordinates: "Report to me the entire stock of my palace’s treasury, everything that can be used must be activated!"

Red Robe Guest, a lone wanderer, although he had plenty of treasure materials left, none were suitable to repair the Nanming Fire Furnace. Naturally, he did not have the same foundation as the Pure Yang Palace, but that didn’t matter.

He proactively sought out the Commerce Hall: "You wanted to sponsor me before?"

Cang Yazi immediately headed to the Ten Thousand Beasts Peak to find three or five old friends. Those who could be his friends naturally had excellent cultivation levels and ample foundation.

"I am willing to use a Transformation Pill to purchase your treasure materials! As long as it can win the favor of the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit, I am willing to pay a high price."

"No problem, no problem." The small trial of the Nanming Fire Furnace was quite a grand affair, and his old friends naturally knew the background.

Yet, Nine Fire Dragon Lord faced rejection several times.

He is a demon cultivator.

At this critical moment, although he had some connections, helping him would mean aiding a demon. What if Nine Fire Dragon Lord really won? Wouldn’t that mean being integrated into the demon cultivator faction?

Even the Commerce Hall and similar entities didn’t actively seek out Nine Fire Dragon Lord for sponsorship.

"I cannot lose!" Nine Fire Dragon Lord’s eyes turned blood-red.

He had sacrificed too much and had even thrown his father’s Dragon Ball into the fray. From another perspective, it was akin to scattering his father’s ashes into the furnace. In fact, a Dragon Ball is far more precious than ashes!

"The more dire the situation, the more I cannot admit defeat!"

"Who else, what force can help me?!"

Soon after, Nine Fire Dragon Lord arrived at the black market.

A contract was handed to him.

The cultivator behind the scenes spoke in a deep tone: "Nine Fire Dragon Lord, think carefully. Signing this contract, you must understand what you are giving up."

Nine Fire Dragon Lord, with bloodshot eyes, snorted coldly: "As long as I seize the Nanming Fire Furnace, what do these debts matter?"

With the contract signed, the cultist reminded him: "Even if we assist you, there’s no guarantee you will win."

Nine Fire Dragon Lord: "I know. Others have almost emptied their treasuries too, but they find it much easier to get sponsorship than I do. I am not afraid of the competition! If I lose, I accept it!"

The behind-the-scenes cultivator shook his head: "Since you wagered your future, I am also worried about not recovering the debt. Let me remind you, there’s someone in this competition quite special, you must be extremely careful."

Nine Fire Dragon Lord was taken aback at first, but then a flash of realization crossed his Divine Sea: "Ning Zhuo!"

The same scenario played out among Chun Yangzi, Cang Yazi, Red Robe Guest, and others.

Zhu Fenxiang and Zhu Guizhi, while discussing in secret, also felt that Ning Zhuo’s situation was perilous. Tonight, it seems it won’t be easy!

Because breaking the stalemate in the previous round was entirely due to Ning Zhuo’s Spirit Communication Mirror!

This was a means no other cultivator had.

Subsequent cultivators tried communicating with the Artifact Spirit Vermilion Bird, but to no avail; only then did they begin repairing the Nanming Fire Furnace.

In their eyes, Ning Zhuo’s poor results were simply because of his thin resources, not offering enough or precious enough treasures.

Ning Zhuo’s artifact refining skills were not lacking at all!

Admittedly, he had a weakness in having a low cultivation level at the Foundation Establishment Stage. But he could have a "demon pet." Cang Yazi used demon beasts to assist in his artifact refining.

Ning Zhuo himself didn’t have one, but couldn’t his sponsors or their forces have one?

Therefore, Ning Zhuo was the biggest enemy!!!

With such consensus, Nine Fire Dragon Lord, Cang Yazi, and others, along with their sponsoring forces and factions, stirred up a turbulent undercurrent.

But countless flying messages and envoys arrived at Bluestone Cave Mansion only to find it already deserted.

Upon inquiry...

"What? Ning Zhuo went directly to the Evil Slaying Hall after the small trial ended? The Evil Slaying Hall even specifically sent a squad to escort him?"

Upon further inquiry...

"What? Ning Zhuo’s subordinates were also taken. They even canceled the lease on the Bluestone Cave Mansion?"

Upon further inquiry...

"What? Ning Zhuo was detained by Zhong Dao publicly, refusing all visitors to focus entirely on the next round?"

Countless people spread their hands in defeat, feeling helpless.

Since Ning Zhuo orchestrated this situation, he must have anticipated its development and already made prior arrangements.

But the name of Zhong Dao couldn’t deter everyone.

That night, Wang Yu, holding a horsetail whisk, with a wry smile, secretly arrived at the front of the Evil Extermination Hall Main Hall.