Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1447: Chapter 590: Jin Mantang (2)

He heard the trap within Ning Zhuo’s words.

Ning Zhuo only said, "He’s willing to nominate," fully expressing sincerity, but actually was deliberately laying a trap. He agrees, but what about the other creditors?

Even if the Floating Life Association takes on the remaining twenty percent of the debt for repairs, the other creditors still hold eighty percent. If they unite a little, the president of the Floating Life Association won’t be able to sit in the first chair.

But Jin Mantang can’t refute this, because Ning Zhuo is someone who stands by his word.

"Good." Lin Jinglong silently praised.

Situ Xing also thought Ning Zhuo’s response was brilliant.

Kong Ran evaluated in his heart, "As expected of Brother Ning. The Floating Life Association underestimates Brother Ning, underestimates Nanming Village, using jade dishware as bait, revealing intentions to absorb them. Brother Ning, however, fights back with their own methods, inviting the Floating Life Association to become new creditors, pulling them into the Nanming Village’s schemes."

In a phrase, whose game rules to play by?

Playing by whose rules often means that person is in charge.

Jin Mantang also saw this, his smile appeared stiff.

Ning Zhuo didn’t let him off, pressing the advantage by saying, "How does Fellow Daoist Jin feel? Isn’t it brilliant?"

"Brilliant my foot! This kid is quite wicked." Jin Mantang cursed in his heart and could only temporarily put it off, "The twenty percent left unrepaired is no small amount, I need to go back and consult the president."

"Of course, of course." Ning Zhuo nodded repeatedly, his expression earnest, "After Fellow Daoist Jin consults, you can directly contact me. As for matters of Nanming Village, I can decide."

When he said "I can decide," he emphasized the tone.

Kong Ran nearly couldn’t hold back from laughing.

Situ Xing, Lin Jinglong, and Shen Xi exchanged glances, seeing the amusement in each other’s eyes.

They all heard the underlying meaning in Ning Zhuo’s words — you’re a Golden Core, you won’t decide. I’m Foundation Establishment, I can decide.

Between us, who is stronger?

"Young Master is... straightforward." Jin Mantang chuckled dryly, stepping back half a step.

Ning Zhuo cupped his hands, "Fellow Daoist Jin, please take a seat."

Jin Mantang turned and walked to the side table, with a smile on his face, but his heart was repressed.

Upon stepping into the hall, he saw Ye Qingming’s table and decided to sit here.

As he sat down, he saw Ye Qingming smiling at him.

The smile was gentle and serene like a spring breeze, but Jin Mantang felt a sense of "schadenfreude" within it.

The muscles at the corner of Jin Mantang’s mouth twitched slightly.

Che Zhuzi laughed heartily, speaking to Jin Mantang.

He didn’t hear the earlier clash; seeing Jin Mantang and the Floating Life Association bring such great gifts to Ning Zhuo and Nanming Village, he thought their attitude was genuinely friendly.

This made Che Zhuzi feel a sense of familiarity with Jin Mantang upon first meeting.

He preferred to chat with Jin Mantang rather than engage in awkward small talk with Ye Qingming and Li Ku.

However, as soon as Che Zhuzi finished introducing himself and looked expectantly at Jin Mantang, Jin Mantang glanced at him contemptuously with a mocking smile at the corner of his mouth, "Demon Cultivator?"

Che Zhuzi’s expression immediately froze, a flash of anger in his eyes, his smile quickly retracted, straightening his back, "Indeed."

Jin Mantang just nodded to him, then turned to talk with Ye Qingming.

Che Zhuzi suffered discrimination and was left aside, first feeling anger, grievance, and pain, then deeply confused — wasn’t Jin Mantang on Ning Zhuo’s side? Wasn’t the Floating Life Association going to help Nanming Village? Didn’t Ning Zhuo invite the Floating Life Association to become creditors?

They communicated well.

So, he simply looked down on my demon cultivator origins, huh?

"This damn prejudice! Truly not everyone is like Young Master Ning Zhuo." Che Zhuzi was deeply unsettled, regretting once again choosing to sit here.

But now, if he leaves, he doesn’t want to either, "If I do this, wouldn’t I become a deserter?"

Jin Mantang, feeling indignant inside, maintained surface-level conversation with Ye Qingming, but secretly transmitted his thoughts with Divine Sense, "Young people today sure are impulsive, but I’m afraid they might rush headlong into trouble."

Ye Qingming replied, "At least Ning Zhuo can handle today’s situation."

She had tested, and witnessed personally the setbacks faced by Li Ku and Jin Mantang, understanding Ning Zhuo’s Righteous Path accomplishment, at least won’t lose out in verbal exchanges.

Jin Mantang coldly snorted, "That’s not necessarily true. I see the cultivators in this hall are few, and there are just a few Golden Cores among us. Aside from the three of us, the other two don’t sit at the main table and are just demon cultivators, neither intending to join Nanming Village. What other forces from Flowing Cloud Peak would want to attend?"

Ye Qingming said, "I received the president’s order to observe the ceremony only this morning. As for other forces, I know nothing."

Jin Mantang scrutinized her, eyes revealing suspicion.

When it comes to which small peak at Flowing Cloud Peak is most capable in intelligence gathering, it is definitely the Green Tea Society.

Ye Qingming had anticipated Jin Mantang’s reaction, but didn’t explain, only speculated, "If there are more envoys from other forces, they should arrive after me and Li Ku."

The forces on Flowing Cloud Peak wouldn’t want to see a new strong force taking root. If they wanted to pressure them, they’d certainly act together to achieve the greatest deterrence.

After Ye Qingming’s appearance, Li Ku quickly followed, and then it should be Jin Mantang. But in reality, it wasn’t.

Jin Mantang transmitted with Divine Sense, "I was only slightly distracted, so this demon cultivator beat me here first."

Actually, he wanted to observe a bit, see if any other forces were watching here, but ended up a step too late.

Ye Qingming laughed lightly, not getting entangled in this, "Even if there are other forces’ envoys, not many will come. Ning Zhuo’s invitation was prepared to prevent this."

Only those with invitations could be permitted by Gongsun Yan to enter the actual venue.

Ning Zhuo’s invitations were limited, only targeting creditors, friends, etc. Thus, cultivators wanting to participate had to quickly employ means to acquire an invitation within three days.

The difficulty isn’t small.

Because this is the Myriad Images Sect, which has very strict supervision and punishment on internal conflicts. During each Feiyun Conference, the forces of the entire Sect would retract, making the defenses and surveillance at the Wanxiang Sect’s Main Mountain Gate at their strongest!

If someone assumed they could barge in without an invitation, it meant they couldn’t stand firm.

Gongsun Yan’s strength isn’t high, but cultivators must hold an invitation for him to verify.

This is the rule set by the organizers, and anyone unwilling to follow it is challenging Ning Zhuo. Challenging Ning Zhuo might mean challenging Nanming Village, and if Nanming Village had Nascent Soul Level cultivators joining, they’d be offending Nascent Soul Stage great cultivators!

Even if there weren’t Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, several Golden Core cultivators joining would still hold strength.

Who would be foolish enough to make enemies without cause?

Furthermore, rumors of Ning Zhuo’s attempt to establish an alliance have been circulating for three days, with many eyes on this place. This certainly includes the Evil Slaying Hall, Ten Thousand Beasts Peak, and Danxia Peak.

If someone were to break the rules and force their way in, it would undoubtedly signal to the public and the real upper echelon of the Myriad Images Sect that they disregard the rules. Without life and death hatred as an excuse, such a person would be cutting themselves off from the Righteous Path, disconnecting from the Myriad Images Sect.

In the future, who would trust them? Who would cooperate with them?

So, while it may seem small, it is actually very serious.

Jin Mantang murmured, focusing his attention on the screen at the entrance of the hall. He sensed another cultivator emitting Elixir Qi arriving at the location.

This was a female cultivator.

She was clothed in a moon-white long robe, dark hair flowing down her waist, her face calm as smoke, her hands like jade, fingers slender as green onion stalks, fingernails gleaming with glossy sheen.