Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1479: Chapter 605: Business and Favor

Ning Zhuo inscribed not only four types of array patterns.

He used the Storage Technique Pattern as the outer pool, the Locking Technique Pattern as the inner ring, and divided the Returning Essence Pattern into five parts, corresponding to gold, wood, water, fire, and earth. He inscribed the Pressure Relief Pattern at the center, where the Thick Earth Pottery Mother was located, akin to a Pool Well.

Even more ingeniously, he borrowed the layout of the Nine Palace Formation.

Five Elements positioned, central suppression, four corners left to rotate.

In this way, when the Magic Pool opens, it won’t surge all at once; instead, it would first be buffered by the central Earth Palace, then release the Five Elements Mana in sequence, sustaining power without disrupting the Qi Sea.

Ning Zhuo relied on his profound Array Realm, with the assistance of Luoshu, to successfully improve the foundational four formations on the spot!

Finally, he bit open his fingertip.

A drop of blood fell into the center of the Five-Colored Magic Pool, sinking like a red gem into a clear pond. The pool walls gently trembled, with five-colored brilliance converging towards the center and then slowly dispersing.

There was no violent noise, nor dazzling light, just a ring of extremely stable five-colored ripples spreading slowly across the pool wall.

The Magic Pool successfully recognized its master.

The third challenge concluded, eliminating most of the cultivators.

Ning Zhuo, Tie Yanyu, and fewer than ten others advanced to the fourth challenge.

This round was a public pool inspection.

When Tie Yanyu’s Red Gold Rejuvenation Pool opened, the red-gold light surged violently, like fire waves from a furnace flooding his Qi Sea. His face subtly reddened, his breath instantly surged, and with a raised hand he cast a Fire Gold Cone, shattering three layers of cloud targets.

Cheers arose from the audience.

The rest proceeded to examine their pools, none matching Tie Yanyu’s performance.

The cultivators in the Artifact Refining Hall knew without doubt that this trial was indeed between Ning Zhuo and Tie Yanyu.

It was Ning Zhuo’s turn to step forward.

He activated his Magic Pool, and the Five-Colored Magic Pool did not gush forth.

It was like a small deep well, first glowing with a central earth-yellow light, stabilizing the Qi Sea, then wood qi sprouted, fire qi continued burning, earth qi supported again, gold qi formed into a sharp edge, water qi smoothly flowed.

The Five Elements Mana did not pour in all at once, but rather as five orderly streams, each returning to Ning Zhuo’s Qi Sea sequentially.

Tie Yanyu’s Red Gold Rejuvenation Pool excelled in its fierceness, like a potent spirit instantly invigorating someone but inevitably causing a heady aftermath.

Ning Zhuo’s Five Elements Returning Essence Magic Pool excelled in its stability.

It was like rain nourishing a barren field, quietly invigorating.

Ning Zhuo raised the Five Elements Life and Death Fan, gently shaking it.

Five Elements Magic techniques successively flew out.

Wood vines entwined, fire dragon burned, golden blade sliced, water whirlpool engulfed, earth wall crushed.

The transitions between the five types of spells were seamless. Ultimately, the Five Elements generated each other, the mana transformed, and actually condensed into a small five-colored ring, striking the final cloud target.

Boom!

The cloud targets scattered layer by layer.

The square was silent.

Everyone had completed their testing, and the stewards transmitted their thoughts through Divine Sense, discussing amongst themselves.

They assessed from aspects like stability of storage, efficiency of returning essence, mana compatibility, and finally potential rebounding risk, to comprehensively judge.

The leading position—Ning Zhuo!

Tie Yanyu, upon hearing this news, blushed with indignation: "I don’t yield."

The stewards had anticipated his response, and the leader smiled: "That’s easily resolved."

He requested Ning Zhuo to temporarily lend his Magic Pool to Tie Yanyu for testing.

Ning Zhuo had no objection, smiling as he proposed an exchange with Tie Yanyu, wanting to learn and observe.

Tie Yanyu huffed coldly and exchanged pools with him.

Upon examination, his expression changed, he opened his mouth as if to speak, but couldn’t voice anything.

"I lost." Tie Yanyu returned the Magic Pool to Ning Zhuo.

With the truth before him, his temperament led him to admit defeat voluntarily.

Ning Zhuo smiled, returning the Red Gold Rejuvenation Pool while genuinely praising Tie Yanyu’s refining technique.

Tie Yanyu’s demeanor greatly eased, his gaze towards Ning Zhuo lost its sharpness, now carrying gratitude and a faint sense of embarrassment.

Ultimately, the steward of the Artifact Refining Hall stood up, announcing on the spot: "Here is the ’Magic Pool Map,’ the prize for the winner of this trial. Moreover, Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo’s pool crafted on site can be retained by him."

Ning Zhuo accepted it with both hands, feeling a slight joy in his heart.

Returning to his Cave Mansion, Ning Zhuo obtained Five Elements Spirit Talismans from Chef and newly refined mechanical accessories from Gongsun Yan.

He combined the Five Elements Spirit Talismans and mechanical accessories, forming a Soul Absorption Box.

These mechanical boxes can convert external spiritual energy into mana.

"Cloud Tide Replenishing Talisman, Five Qi Returning Essence Pill..." were also procured by Chef. For Ning Zhuo in the Foundation Establishment Stage, these were the best available from the market.

"Making a few more Magic Pools should roughly address the weaknesses in mana."

As he contemplated, Sun Lingtong transmitted secret intelligence along the Life Hanging Thread.

"Suspended Pot Residence, Nine Orifice Blood Gold Embryo..."

Flowing Gold Guest’s Upper Dantian was lost, his Divine Sense, spirit, and bodily golden blood deeply fused, making ordinary Magic Treasures ineffective. However, the Nine Orifice Blood Gold Embryo was different and matched Flowing Gold Guest exceptionally.

"Indeed prepared just for him."

"Golden Stone Alliance, Golden Hairpin Old Woman, appears to have some intent to impart techniques?"

"What could Flowing Gold Guest learn from her?"

Sun Lingtong speculated in the intelligence—the Golden Stone Opening Skill!

Upon seeing the intelligence description of the spell, Ning Zhuo’s eyes turned slightly somber.

"They’re targeting my mechanical artifacts."

This is quite fatal.

If it cannot be resolved, Ning Zhuo’s war of attrition will not succeed; instead, he will be worn down by Flowing Gold Guest.

"Green Tea Society, Soft Cloud Dispersing Divine Fragrance..."

This incense is colorless, its scent very faint, nearly indistinguishable mixed in with the aroma of tea and clouds. It is not a poison but makes a cultivator’s divine sense soft and sluggish.

During tea exchanges, it creates a relaxed and soothing atmosphere.

But if used in battle, someone like Ning Zhuo, who needs to simultaneously manage a large number of mechanical artifacts, if affected, would be in great danger.

"Bird and Beast Manor, Alarm Whistle..."

This whistle is originally used by beast tamers for hunting demon beasts. When blown, it can disturb the spiritual senses of beast groups, causing their formations to scatter and edge towards collapse.

"This is targeting my ancient zither."

"Territorial Expansion Alliance, Thousand Weight Plunge..."

This magic treasure can create a battlefield where earth power is enhanced, making every move struggle against at least a thousand pounds of downward force.

"This is meant to curb my speed, targeting the Green Forest Python Chariot and so on."

"Flowing Gold Guest excels in close combat; if my speed significantly drops, it’s extremely advantageous for him."

"Thunder Cloud Association, Thunder Breaking Pearl..."

This thunder aims not to kill but to specifically disrupt mana releases and defensive light curtains. Items like the Golden Light Necklace and Green-White Jade Ring, if continuously bombed by the Fake Thunder Pearl, can easily have their mana thrown into chaos, with their defenses shattered swiftly.

In the last battle, Ning Zhuo used two defensive treasures to withstand the Golden Needle, buying time to perform the Flame Washing Gold Contamination Technique.

Without good defense measures, his buffer space is greatly reduced.

"Broken Water Blade Pavilion, Breakup Blade Talisman..."

Though the blade talisman seems unremarkable, with just a fine black blade mark on its surface, once activated, it locks onto the enemy autonomously, severing mana connections, divine sense threads, especially good at disrupting control of objects and puppet control lines.

Seeing this, Ning Zhuo couldn’t help but show a slight change in expression.

"While I’m patching up weaknesses, the aid Flowing Gold Guest is receiving is far more than mine."

"However, I am not without support either."

"Boss, where did you get such detailed intelligence?"

Sun Lingtong nodded and said, "I also sensed this. While investigating and purchasing intelligence on Flowing Gold Guest, I must have received secret assistance from certain people or some mountain force."

"But exactly who it was, I have no way of knowing."

Ning Zhuo sighed deeply.

After all, he had just arrived and knew too little about the inner workings of the Myriad Images Sect.

"However, the current situation is developing in the direction I want."

"The more sponsorship Flowing Gold Guest receives, the stronger he becomes, which means my tribulation will be stronger."

"As I have tribulation fate on me, the greater the benefit I get from overcoming this disaster!"

Ning Zhuo intended to use Flowing Gold Guest as a pawn to make Flowing Cloud Peak’s various forces place their bets, allowing him to both discern the enemy situation and gain a clearer view of the conflict landscape, while also quickly resolving the tribulation fate surrounding him.

"Let’s not worry about other things for now; the Golden Stone Opening Skill poses the greatest threat, and I must find a way to counter it."

With this thought, a piece of intelligence popped into Ning Zhuo’s mind.

"Residual Thread Old Monster has set up a Xingyun Trial, and those who pass can learn the Shattering Machine and Filling Gaps Skill from him."

"This mechanical technique is perfectly suitable for large-scale mechanical artifact battles."

"If I get it, I will no longer fear the Golden Stone Opening Skill."

Ning Zhuo acted swiftly and set off immediately. While on the way, he received the latest intelligence.

His expression changed slightly with disappointment: "What? Residual Thread Old Monster’s Xingyun Trial has already been passed by someone else. And that person is Ban Ji?!"

Ban Ji held a grudge against Ning Zhuo, so with things like this, there’s no chance for the Shattering Machine and Filling Gaps Skill.

"Could it be a coincidence? Why was it Ban Ji of all people?" Ning Zhuo’s mind wandered as he returned to his own cave mansion deep in thought.

"Is there any remedy? How can I counter the Golden Stone Opening Skill?"

Suddenly an idea hit Ning Zhuo, and he took out an item from his storage waist belt.

This was a mechanical accessory called the Compatibility Order!

Inside a cave mansion.

Ban Jie and Lu Zeng sat opposite each other.

On the table was a row of mechanical boxes, each containing a Compatibility Order.

The Compatibility Order was Lu Zeng’s main product. Upon hearing the news, Ban Jie immediately made contact, offering a high price to buy out all Compatibility Orders!

The Compatibility Order, just finished, lacked buyers and fame. If the Ban Family was willing to offer a price, it would pave the way, making this deal highly advantageous for Lu Zeng.

Just as he was about to nod in agreement, a flying message landed in front of him.

The message was from Ning Zhuo.

It spoke politely, simply stating an urgent need for a batch of Compatibility Orders, specifying that their levels need not be high, but they must be stable and reliable for on-the-spot connection of mechanical components. The price could be negotiated.

After reading it, Lu Zeng remained silent for a moment.

Ban Jie felt a growing sense of foreboding.

Lu Zeng, having put down the flying message, clasped his hands and said, "I’m sorry, but this batch of Compatibility Orders, I must supply to someone else first."

Ban Jie’s foreboding grew stronger, and he couldn’t help but ask, "Is it Ning Zhuo?"

Lu Zeng nodded.

Ban Jie’s expression darkened: "In business, fairness is important, isn’t it?"

Lu Zeng laughed heartily: "We haven’t made a deal yet. Naturally, the highest bidder wins."

Ban Jie sneered: "Are you sure Ning Zhuo will definitely offer a higher price than me? I act on behalf of the Ban Family!"

Lu Zeng’s face turned serious: "Even if Ning Zhuo offers no money, I still want to do business with him. This isn’t about money—it’s about a huge favor."