Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1490: Chapter 611: We’re in a Passive Position Now

Ye Qingming’s tone was not heavy, but it weighed on everyone’s hearts: "Ning Zhuo clearly could have killed Flowing Gold Guest, but let him go twice in a row. Why?"

"He treats Flowing Gold Guest as a chess piece, forcing us to place our bets."

"Flowing Gold Guest is a Golden Liquid Returning Pill Body, and our support for him is greatly limited; this was Ning Zhuo’s deliberate intention."

"Now, the treasures we’ve supported Flowing Gold Guest with have become his spoils of war. Who are we supporting? Is it Flowing Gold Guest or Ning Zhuo?"

"And these spoils have now become his powerful evidence to stir public opinion. You must have heard many external rumors, haven’t you?"

"Passive, we are very passive now."

A silence fell over the group.

Xu Duanchao finally spoke, his voice like a blade scraping stone: "Cultivation level cannot explain the method."

Everyone looked at him.

Xu Duanchao said blandly: "In the sect, home cultivators who retreat behind closed doors to practice are often deceived into bankruptcy by a few words. Whether Golden Core or Nascent Soul, without experience of worldly affairs, they are just old fools."

At this point, he glanced at Old Lady Chan Deng with the corner of his eye.

The latter’s face darkened: "Xu Duanchao, who are you talking about?"

Xu Duanchao didn’t even look at her: "Whoever’s anxious is who I’m talking about."

Lei Wangyue nearly burst out laughing.

The Golden Hairpin Old Woman tapped the cloud case with her bony finger: "Enough. Ning Zhuo is indeed shrewd. But he is not invulnerable. His greatest reliance is the newly established Nanming Village, which everyone is still unsure about. The more he releases various rumors, the more he wants to buy time."

Wen Suzhen finally spoke: "Indeed. The Nanming Fire Furnace is not repaired, and Nanming Village has no unity. If we let him drag on, he will use Flowing Gold Guest to create momentum, use opinion to counter Nanming Village, and by leveraging external forces, he’ll slowly consolidate personnel within the village. This should be one of his goals! If this drags on, he will become more difficult to deal with."

Wen Suzhen, who has always been renowned for his wisdom, gave his analysis, and everyone’s expressions grew more somber.

Zhao Ni asked: "So do we continue to invest in Flowing Gold Guest?"

Wen Suzhen was silent for a moment.

He had been hesitating all along.

As a doctor of the Suspended Pot Residence, he naturally knew how precious the Nine Orifice Blood Gold Embryo was. He also knew the cost other forces paid to support Flowing Gold Guest.

Now, these things have all fallen into Ning Zhuo’s hands, becoming his spoils of war.

The face of Suspended Pot Residence was not looking good, but that was not the point.

Wen Suzhen’s greatest worry was one issue: if resources continue to be thrown at Flowing Gold Guest, ensuring his victory is uncertain. Ning Zhuo is highly likely to take away these investments entirely for the third time.

By then, the major forces of Flowing Cloud Peak would be aiding the enemy again!

"I have to admit, Ning Zhuo’s mind is extraordinary; he immediately picked out Flowing Gold Guest." Wen Suzhen couldn’t help but sigh in his heart.

Lei Wangyue suddenly slapped the cloud case heavily: "Invest!"

Thunder burst forth, scattering the floating clouds on the surface of the cloud case.

"My Thunder Cloud Association won’t retreat! If Thunder Breaking Pearl is useless, then use a stronger Thunder Pearl."

Qiu Lei’s face was grim: "Continuing to invest is possible. But no longer can we casually throw a few items of restraint for Flowing Gold Guest to fight on his own as before."

"Flowing Gold Guest’s problem is obvious. He lacks the divine sense of a normal cultivator, rendering many treasures unusable for him. The more varied and numerous we give, the more they become a burden to him."

"The last battle already showed it. The Thousand Weight Plunge even affected him negatively!"

Ye Qingming spoke softly: "Fellow Daoist Qiu’s meaning is?"

Qiu Lei said: "We need to change our strategy. Our last investment targeted Ning Zhuo. This time, we should either not invest at all, or when investing, focus around Flowing Gold Guest’s Golden Liquid Returning Pill Body."

"Only by allowing him to truly exploit his strengths can he possibly defeat Ning Zhuo."

The Golden Hairpin Old Woman nodded in agreement: "My Golden Stone Opening Skill was used too superficially by Flowing Gold Guest. In the end, even Ning Zhuo benefitted!"

Qiu Lei’s strategy, completely different from before, stirred the cultivators present.

Xu Duanchao coldly stated: "My Broken Water Blade Pavilion will no longer invest in Flowing Gold Guest."

Everyone’s expressions slightly changed.

Lei Wangyue frowned: "Xu Duanchao, at this moment, you want to withdraw?"

"Not withdraw." Xu Duanchao said, "I’ll find another candidate."

"Flowing Gold Guest has already been defeated twice by Ning Zhuo. Sending him up again would fall into Ning Zhuo’s plan. Though he is merely a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, his strategizing is terrifying; I’ll not knowingly err again."

Qiu Lei questioned: "But who will you choose that can challenge Ning Zhuo?"

"In the time of the Feiyun Conference in Flying Cloud Country, and with the surrounding cultivation kingdoms watching us, Ning Zhuo is a first-rate genius, intent on joining our Myriad Images Sect. At this time, being members of Myriad Images Sect, to target Ning Zhuo...I’m not saying we can’t target him, but the level of targeting must be exceptionally subtle."

Xu Duanchao kept a stern face: "I know my limits."

Seeing Xu Duanchao so insistent, several cultivators present had unpleasant expressions.

Everyone investing in Flowing Gold Guest allows each force to invest minimally because the cost is shared. Now one party withdraws, choosing a different path, forcing the remaining forces to bear greater costs to meet the high expectations of Flowing Gold Guest overcoming Ning Zhuo in three battles.

Lei Wangyue sneered: "In the end, you’re afraid to continue betting on Flowing Gold Guest."

Xu Duanchao raised his eyes to Lei Wangyue: "If you’re daring, you bet."

Anger surged in Lei Wangyue, slapping the cloud case: "In that case, my side won’t invest either!"

Everyone: ?!

Ye Qingming spoke gently to mediate: "No need to argue, everyone. Continuing to support Flowing Gold Guest is a path, searching for another strong candidate is also a path. Ning Zhuo can use Flowing Gold Guest for his plans; we can reverse this, diversify our efforts, and prevent Nanming Village from focusing on a single point."