Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1440: Chapter 584: Drilling the Flying Birds

"Which factions are close to the Thunder Cloud Association?" Qinghuangzi pondered for a moment and explained to Ning Zhuo, "Their external relations have always been quite good."

"This is because the cultivators in the Thunder Cloud Association mainly cultivate Thunder Dao Techniques. Even if they do not, they still practice it as a secondary discipline."

"They assist others in crossing the Thunder Tribulation."

"Golden Core Thunder Tribulation, Nascent Soul Thunder Tribulation, and even some important and precious elixir pills coming out can attract a Thunder Tribulation. Crafting certain magic treasures also happens thus."

"The array [Heavenly Thunder Attraction] they built on the mountain top has magical uses. It can advance a portion of the tribulation, helping cultivators to cross it more smoothly."

The Thunder Cloud Association, as the leading force on Flowing Cloud Peak, has occupied the mountain top for so long, not without reason.

Normally, sitting on the number one throne is very difficult, but this group of Thunder Cultivators can alleviate a huge amount of external conflicts by helping many cultivators who seek their aid to cross the tribulation.

Various forces on Flowing Cloud Peak have a love-hate relationship with them.

This is why Qinghuangzi couldn’t say which faction they are closer to.

"However, the second force, Bird and Beast Manor, is quite obvious. Their relationship with Ten Thousand Beasts Peak is quite close. Once, when a powerful person challenged the manor, they were no match and directly used their network to invite spiritual beasts from Ten Thousand Beasts Peak to assist, defeating the powerful person and securing their position," Qinghuangzi said.

Ning Zhuo nodded slightly, recalling related intelligence.

"Bird and Beast Manor itself is a group formed by Beast Tamers helping each other. These people uphold the idea of ’heaven and earth, birds and beasts in unity.’ They believe that cultivators should coexist with spiritual beasts without dominating them. Therefore, they not only help Beast Tamers themselves but also assist various demon pets and spiritual beasts."

Qinghuangzi continued, "The third major force is Broken Water Blade Pavilion. They are located near Flowing Cloud Waterfall. To join, one must draw a blade and cut through water. The larger the scale of the water cut, the higher the status within the organization. These people believe a perfect blade can sever all bonds and tend to solve issues with their swords."

"If we speak of close relations, personally, I think it’s the Artifact Refining Hall."

"Many cultivators in Broken Water Blade Pavilion procure weapons from the Artifact Refining Hall. The main material for these weapons is Ink Cloud Iron, uniquely produced through deep processing by the hall. Generally, it’s low in production, yet someone found that the hall supplies it extensively to the pavilion."

"Oh, and Broken Water Blade Pavilion also has conflicts with Sword Cry Peak. A strong person once single-handedly challenged Sword Cry Peak with his blade, defeating nearly ten cultivators from the peak in the Martial Arts Hall, causing multiple deaths and injuries. Of course, he eventually died in the Martial Arts Hall."

Indeed, exchanging information with Qinghuangzi yielded different insights.

Ning Zhuo seized the opportunity and asked, "Why did this strong person from the pavilion challenge Sword Cry Peak?"

Qinghuangzi replied, "It was publicly declared to test the blade. This happened over sixty years ago."

Qinghuangzi spoke with Ning Zhuo for quite a while, sharing lots of information with the latter.

Ning Zhuo, combining his purchased intelligence, gained a clearer understanding of the distribution of forces on Flowing Cloud Peak.

"On Flowing Cloud Peak, the top three recognized forces are Thunder Cloud Association, Bird and Beast Manor, and Broken Water Blade Pavilion."

"Afterward, those with significant influence include Thorn Society, Iron Hand Sect, Setting Sun Association, Xiang Si Sect, Territorial Expansion Alliance, Green Tea Society, Suspended Pot Bureau, White Cloud Village, Golden Stone Alliance, Floating Life Association, and Heart Inquiry Hall."

"All these forces possess Nascent Soul-level combat strength."

"Further down are dozens of small forces led by Golden Core Cultivators with Foundation Establishment Cultivators as their main members."

Before leaving, Qinghuangzi said, "Ning Zhuo, you little friend, tomorrow’s successful alliance formation will definitely attract attention if Nascent Soul Cultivators join. The top three forces may not act, but forces below the Nascent Soul level very likely might."

Ning Zhuo nodded, assuring that he would be cautious.

He personally escorted Qinghuangzi out of the Cave Mansion before returning.

Though his relationship with Qinghuangzi was quite close, Ning Zhuo did not plan to persuade him to join in as well.

It wasn’t necessary.

After all, according to Meng Yaoyin’s plan for him, Ning Zhuo was to form the alliance and digest this tribulation fate. Ultimately, he needed to leave the vortex of Flowing Cloud Peak and seek elsewhere.

"On Flowing Cloud Peak alone, there are dozens of Nascent Soul-level cultivators."

"The conflicts between forces are too frequent, the camps overly chaotic—not a place for peaceful cultivation."

"It’s not suitable for me."

Ning Zhuo picked up the storage bag Qinghuangzi gifted him and entered the Martial Arts Array within the Cave Mansion, testing out five Mechanical Flying Birds one by one.

The Neck Spear Crane had black and white colors over its body, a long and sharp beak, and a series of spiral patterns on its neck.

Ning Zhuo infused mana inside it, lighting up the crane’s eyes into two points of starlight.

It flapped its wings and ascended to the sky.

Ning Zhuo controlled it with his divine sense, causing the crane’s neck to contract and then extend, thrusting forward.

During the thrust, the bird’s beak pierced the air, emitting a sharp whistle.

Three feet, six feet, up to nine feet long; Ning Zhuo discovered the limit of the neck’s extension.

Yet the strongest strike was not this.

Ning Zhuo first commanded the Neck Spear Crane to soar to the highest sky, then dive downward. During its dive, its wings flapped, constantly accelerating.

When the Neck Spear Crane was about to approach the ground, it abruptly ascended, drawing a large valley-like arc.

During the dive, its entire neck along with its head and beak shot out, forming a long spear mechanism deeply embedded into the ground.

Without its neck and bird head, the hollow on the Neck Spear Crane’s body bore the wind fiercely, reducing its speed drastically while making it easier to retract its body back into the sky.

During the ascent, a replacement bird head emerged from the crane body, bringing out a new, slender neck full of threads.

"There are two replacement crane necks, allowing three strongest attacks."

"But in actual combat, three times is actually too much," Ning Zhuo estimated in his heart.

Because in real combat, after one charge, the entire Neck Spear Crane might need to be discarded. It could even be destroyed halfway through the first charge due to spell attacks.

This is not a flaw in the design of the Neck Spear Crane, but rather because in Ning Zhuo’s estimation, his opponents should be at the Golden Core level!

"Tomorrow during the alliance formation, even if someone comes to challenge me, at most they’ll be at the Golden Core level."

"Nascent Soul Cultivators actively challenging a Foundation Establishment is disgraceful, unless there is deep-seated enmity."

"Even if only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator comes to trouble me tomorrow, their combat power should be very outstanding."

In fact, Ning Zhuo himself also needs Golden Core level cultivators as opponents to demonstrate his own combat prowess.

If his combat power is recognized at the Golden Core level, only then will he not be considered a pushover in Nanming Village, truly securing his critical position.

The design of the Neck Spear Crane is not wrong; the problem is, Ning Zhuo’s Neck Spear Crane is only at the Foundation Establishment level, and most are at the Qi Refining level.

Cranes at these levels can pose a threat to Foundation Establishment level opponents, but against Golden Core levels, they only serve as consumption.

Once reaching the Golden Core level, the two replacement crane necks of the Neck Spear Crane will show their utility.

"Perhaps I should modify them slightly, add new power to the crane neck components? Or remove the two replacement crane necks and use the freed space for other parts?"

This idea had just surfaced in Ning Zhuo’s mind before he actively dismissed it.

The mechanical artifacts of the Empty Valley Sound Green Mechanism Tube have undergone numerous tests and improvements to a point almost beyond modification.

A substantial performance enhancement would require overturning the entire fundamental structure, equivalent to designing new mechanical artifacts.

Besides this reason, there is the most realistic situation—the alliance formation is tomorrow, Ning Zhuo simply won’t have time.

"Familiarize yourself with these mechanical flying birds as much as possible, then take a rest. Tomorrow is the crucial event," Ning Zhuo sighed, feeling the time was really insufficient for him.

Especially after entering the Myriad Images Sect’s Main Mountain Gate to participate in this year’s Feiyun Conference, opportunities lay everywhere.

Ning Zhuo’s time, both day and night, was always calculated meticulously.

After practicing individually with the Neck Spear Crane, Ning Zhuo increased the number. The first increase was ten, the second fifty, and by the fifth time, Ning Zhuo nearly exhausted all the Neck Spear Crane’s stock.

The crane flock circled and danced in the sky above the Martial Arts Arena, forming a dense mass.

"Just controlling them with Divine Sense is evidently arduous at this quantity, making the Neck Spear Crane less responsive."

"Using Void Spider Silk on this Neck Spear Crane is too wasteful."

"With Mana Condensed Threads, it’s barely feasible..."

It’s barely feasible because using Mana Condensed Threads increases Ning Zhuo’s mana burden.

Ning Zhuo is currently at the Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage, lacking advantages in mana reserves with the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art. Ning Zhuo mostly utilizes the Five Elements Generating to convert a portion of Five Elements Mana into multiple single-element mana, indirectly increasing mana quantity.

Yet while controlling the crane flock, the Five Elements Mana reserves in his Middle Dantian drastically decreased, unable to sustain for long.

"Mana can be replenished by consuming elixir pills, digesting medicinal power to refill mana. But such action will inevitably slow the pace during actual combat."

"The most effective use is to utilize the Neck Spear Crane in smaller batches as much as possible."

"Similarly, the Holding Festival Pheasant, Golden Cage Bird, and Sleeve Stabbing Kite are also managed this way. Only the Top Wind Kite has a smaller mana consumption. But there aren’t many of these kites."

Real understanding only comes through practice; Ning Zhuo learned much in actual training.

After practicing with the Neck Spear Crane, then the Holding Festival Pheasant, and after that, the Top Wind Kite.

During practice, Sun Lingtong came to visit him.

"Be safe tomorrow, don’t get carried away," Sun Lingtong advised.

Ning Zhuo nodded, "Don’t worry, leader, I know what I’m doing."

Sun Lingtong sighed, "It’s a pity I can’t act alongside you; tomorrow will surely be lively!"

There is a Life Hanging Thread connection between the two, but unless absolutely necessary, it won’t be used lightly.

Many people are sure to arrive tomorrow; both Sun Ning and Ning Zhuo are concerned that using this divine skill would reveal some clues.

That would be very unfavorable.