Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1444: Chapter 589: Those Who Bring Thorns, Those Who Gift Seeds

Ye Qingming was clearly unfriendly.

But Ning Zhuo’s words could also become very sharp when needed.

He honed this kind of verbal sparring from the age of two. His childhood life wasn’t good, but conversely, the harsh and oppressive living environment helped him train his skill with words.

Today was Ning Zhuo’s big day, and with Ye Qingming initiating provocation, Ning Zhuo naturally showed strength.

Ye Qingming’s mouth twitched slightly, looking at Ning Zhuo, thinking to herself: "This boy hasn’t even joined the Myriad Images Sect yet, isn’t even an ally of our sect, and he’s already so aggressive, his sharpness is truly ignorant of the height of the heavens and the depth of the earth!"

On the surface, Ye Qingming smiled faintly: "If I were Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo, with such a huge debt, I would surely lose my appetite and sleep. Yet, you are making a big fuss, establishing alliances and strongholds, and even going around making enemies, truly a display of unrivaled courage."

Ning Zhuo made a bitter smile: "Fairy Ye has misunderstood. Where do I get the courage from? I’m just being forced by the enormous debt. I’m just a small Foundation Establishment Cultivator, my greatest wish at this moment is merely to repay my debts."

"How could I be making enemies?"

"The greatest aim of forming alliances at Nanming Village is to repay debts, to repay them as soon as possible. I, Ning Zhuo, cannot bring myself to not repay debts and I wish to pay them off as soon as possible, making it so everyone benefits."

"Fairy Ye represents the Green Tea Society at the ceremony, I’m very grateful, please take a seat."

Ning Zhuo couldn’t possibly argue these points with Ye Qingming; purely sparring with words is the most pointless.

Ye Qingming was momentarily at a loss for words to refute, continuing to argue would instead make her, as a senior, appear lacking in grace.

Were they alone it wouldn’t matter, but under the watchful eyes of everyone, as she represented the Green Tea Society, she could only nod and find a seat to sit down.

After sitting down, she still felt a bit stifled.

To find herself at a disadvantage in a verbal exchange and unable to seize the initiative was quite rare indeed.

Reviewing this minor verbal skirmish, she discovered Ning Zhuo’s greatest advantage: "The boy is merely at Foundation Establishment Level, very young. If I argue, it would be the strong bullying the weak. If word got out, my reputation would be damaged."

Ye Qingming, a Golden Core Cultivator, yet in this setting, the mid-stage Foundation Establishment Ning Zhuo actually wielded the "advantage" in cultivation prowess.

Ning Zhuo noticed that Ye Qingming chose not to sit at the main table, but at the closest side table, and he had a sense: "It seems that such ’guests’ are not just Ye Qingming."

However, Ning Zhuo had also anticipated this situation.

The Green Tea Society was one of the final potential factions to send an envoy, as this small faction was renowned for its skill in intelligence gathering and dissemination.

Shortly after Ye Qingming sat down, a third Golden Core Cultivator entered the hall.

Middle-aged with one eye, sunken eye sockets marked with dark circles, as though chronically sleep-deprived.

He gave the entire hall a detached once-over, then approached Ning Zhuo.

His walk was distinctive, each step never too slow nor too fast, consistently paced. The hem of his indigo old robe did not shift, while the thick hemp rope tied in a dead knot at his waist slightly swayed.

Under frayed cuffs, a pair of prominent knuckled hands was revealed, knuckles pallid as if accustomed to holding something heavy, or repeatedly ground down by some force.

This was an unfamiliar cultivator as well, causing Kong Bailiu, Ahuo, and others to speculate inwardly.

Ning Zhuo, however, guessed the other’s general identity, similar to Ye Qingming.

Indeed, the middle-aged one-eyed cultivator stood before Ning Zhuo, not clasping his hands, standing straight, speaking with a superior tone: "Thorn Society, Li Ku. The president sent me."

His voice was distinctive, hoarse and deep, unforgettable, like sandpaper grinding against iron plates or dried bamboo colliding in the wind, each word carrying a rough texture worn by time.

No "Congratulations," no empty pleasantries.

"A gift." Li Ku retrieved a palm-sized black ore from his sleeve, its surface rough like thorny bark, with a metallic sheen faintly visible beneath the rugged exterior.

Ning Zhuo received the ore, finding it extremely heavy in the hand.

The rough texture pricked his palm, imparting a faint sting—not a physical pain, but a vague, indescribable mental pressure. It was as though countless tiny thorny bristles emerged from the ore, lightly pricking his skin.

This was merely Foundation Establishment Level treasure.

"The Thorn Society’s goodwill, Ning Zhuo accepts." Ning Zhuo put away the thorny iron, speaking steadily, "Fellow Daoist Li has worked hard, please be seated."

But Li Ku didn’t move.

He stood there, his one eye still fixed on Ning Zhuo, his gaze bearing a heavy scrutiny.

"The president instructed: suffering is a path one must traverse in cultivation. Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo, coming to Flowing Cloud Peak, you must be well-prepared for hardship."

Ye Qingming smiled.

Kong Bailiu and the others wore various expressions.

Jiang Xiaobian continued savoring the delicious snacks, while Ahuo detected the instructive tone and became visibly displeased.

Zhang Dadan and Niu Cheng did not comprehend the situation.

Patchwork Sun lowered his head, eyes on the cup in his hands.

Gu Huaijiu snorted disapprovingly.

Cao Gui lightly furrowed his brow, thinking: "Young Master Ning Zhuo creating alliances and rushing to the peak drew significant attention from existing powers at Flowing Cloud Peak. But now, two forces have arrived."

Ning Zhuo slightly raised an eyebrow, showing a faint smile: "I have heard that the Thorn Society is famous for ’Hard Practice,’ advocating suffering as joy and difficulty as a teacher. Today is the first time meeting Fellow Daoist Li Ku, confirming this rumor."