Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1493: Chapter 612: Nanming Village’s Counterattack (Part 2)

Mu Yuehua used the fragrance of tea as the main ingredient, and directly refined a small pill on the spot, successfully countering one of Green Tea Society’s signature spiritual teas, showcasing an extremely high level of alchemy!

Mu Yuehua leisurely extended her hand, simultaneously using divine sense control to elevate the tea originally given to her, sending it floating to Ye Qingming’s front.

Ye Qingming, with a solemn expression, reached out to accept it, taking a gentle sip.

She remained silent for a long moment before placing the cup down, her gaze toward Mu Yuehua completely altered: "Good tea."

Mu Yuehua smiled lightly, stood up slowly, and gave a shallow bow: "Thank you, Senior Ye, for your hospitality; I shall take my leave."

Ye Qingming sighed, earnestly stating: "You all must escort Fellow Daoist Mu three miles for the return journey."

Lin Jinglong challenged the Golden Core Beast Tamer Zhao Ni of Bird and Beast Manor.

Martial Arts Arena.

Zhao Ni released a Golden Core level Cloud-winged Tiger, its roar swept through the clouds, wings spread wide, and countless cloud blades shone like a bright tide of knives.

Lin Jinglong planted tree seeds, retreated ninety feet, and then used Wood Element Magic to induce the growth of Cloud Vine.

The Cloud Vine didn’t resist the tiger claws directly, but rather grew along the cloud qi. Each time the Cloud-winged Tiger flapped its wings, it stirred up cloud currents, and the Cloud Vine took advantage of these currents to climb, branch out, and entwine.

Zhao Ni initially held the upper hand, sneering repeatedly, pressing forward aggressively with attack. But by the third pounce, he realized that fine vine nets had already formed between the tiger’s claws.

"Good lad!" Zhao Ni barked, and the Cloud-winged Tiger roared fiercely, snapping most of the green vines.

Lin Jinglong, however, had already deeply planted the tree seeds.

A young spirit tree rose from the ground, its white bark like snow, its thin leaves transparent, astonishingly absorbing the surrounding chaotic clouds within moments. The Cloud-winged Tiger lost its cloud momentum, its wings sank, and its body fell half a foot to the ground.

Under Lin Jinglong’s urging, the spirit tree rapidly expanded, soon becoming large enough for several people to embrace.

From that point on, Lin Jinglong held the advantage.

After thirty minutes.

Lin Jinglong raised his hand, and thirty-six green vines closed in simultaneously, halting before the Cloud-winged Tiger’s neck.

The Cloud-winged Tiger struggled to stand, then fell to the ground with a thud.

Lin Jinglong clasped his hands: "Thank you for letting me win."

Zhao Ni’s face was grim, but he had nothing to say.

Shen Xi challenged Mr. Zhao Xin of Heart Inquiry Hall.

Mr. Zhao Xin had Golden Core cultivation and was adept at Heart Arrays.

He set up a Heart Mirror Wall, with cloud shadows shifting upon it, causing those entering the array to incite greed, anger, ignorance, glimpsing what they feared, coveted, were ashamed of, or loathed.

Shen Xi stood before the formation, his array scroll unfurled, as nine palace phantoms emerged one by one.

Mr. Zhao Xin smiled: "Little Fellow Daoist Shen, formations can break formations, but how does one break the heart?"

Shen Xi replied: "The heart does not break, but the formation breaks itself."

He took a step into the Heart Mirror Wall.

Within his field of vision on the wall, first appeared the great expectations of the family, then emerged Ning Zhuo, Situ Xing, and other geniuses of his generation, followed by the cold stares of Shen Family elders. Numerous pressures bore down like mountains, with the Heart Mirror Wall’s light and shadow constantly disrupting his heart spirit.

Shen Xi, however, did not look at the illusions within the wall, focusing only on the nine palaces on the ground.

He used the nine palaces to establish his steps, with each step setting his heart. With every step, the array scroll dropped an array pattern. After nine steps, the nine palaces returned to their positions, and all the illusions on the Heart Mirror Wall were segmented into nine parts by the array patterns, then shattered with his pointed finger.

Mr. Zhao Xin’s smile froze slightly.

Shen Xi clasped his hands: "The heart array of Heart Inquiry Hall is marvelous; I have learned a lot."

He exited with dignity.

The counterattack strength of Nanming Village far exceeded public expectations.

Situ Xing, Shen Xi, and Lin Jinglong all made their moves, engaging in battles beyond their ranks, each securing victory, fully demonstrating the Foundation Establishment face of a super family.

And Mu Yuehua’s "battle achievements" were also circulated, causing amazement among others.

Red Robe Guest forcibly broke Thunder Platform, successfully concealing his injuries; his bold combat posture increased others’ dread of Nanming Village. After all, Red Robe Guest was merely one of five Nascent Souls among debts.

The real Great Village Chief is Chun Yangzi.

Will Chun Yangzi make a move?

Many cultivators, enjoying the spectacle, eagerly awaited with strong anticipation.

Chun Yangzi sat steadily without any sign of making a move.

Some ridiculed him for keeping up appearances; others said he was prudent and mature. Chun Yangzi had no reaction whatsoever.

Ning Zhuo also watched coldly, knowing Chun Yangzi would definitely not act: "He is a leader of a faction, and his political acumen is certainly not weak. Therefore, he surely understands—Nanming Village needs a pillar representing the righteous path amid the chaos!"

What dissatisfied Ning Zhuo, however, was that Tao Liang did not act either.

This man spent decades as if drilling into the pill furnace in hard practice, perfecting the art of ’Seclusion’ into Daoism.

While the outside world fought fervently, he found it a mere bother.

After deliberating, Ning Zhuo personally invited him to probe the Territorial Expansion Alliance headquarters. He excused himself with unstable furnace fire, discordant elixir qi, among other reasons, listing over ten excuses in one breath.

Ning Zhuo merely chuckled after hearing, "Since Daoist Tao is inconvenient, I shall invite Fellow Hundred Herbs Elder instead. If there is Earth Spirit Grass accompanying the earth veins at the Territorial Expansion Alliance, I’m sure Hundred Herbs Elder would be interested."

Then, he "casually" mentioned that this mission could count as a new debt.

Tao Liang heard this and immediately couldn’t sit still.

"Wait, wait!"

"Who said I’m not going? I just need to adjust the furnace breath first! A place like the Territorial Expansion Alliance isn’t somewhere for Hundred Herbs Elder to try recklessly! His battle power is absolutely inferior to mine; if he is defeated, what of the reputation of Nanming Village?"

Lately, there have been many rumors, speculations, and evaluations surrounding Nanming Village.

Involving Tao Liang and Hundred Herbs Elder, one speaks of the village’s two elders, one male, and one female "standing shoulder to shoulder."

Initially, Tao Liang and Hundred Herbs Elder didn’t take it to heart, but as the rumors grew rampant, gradually both had the notion of contesting each other.

As for who spread the rumors, it need not be mentioned here.

After Ning Zhuo brought up Hundred Herbs Elder, Tao Liang was provoked and decisively departed.

The Territorial Expansion Alliance’s headquarters at Cloud Platform is secretly embedded with heavy earth veins formations.

Tao Liang first sent a visit letter, boldly and righteously breached the formation.

The Territorial Expansion Alliance, constrained by their previous support for Flowing Gold Guest, held by a small handle by Ning Zhuo, and trusting in their own formation, decisively accepted the challenge.

Tao Liang had just entered the outskirts when a Spirit Locking Thick Earth Formation swallowed him.

Earth walls like mountains closed in from all sides, layers of gravity pressed down, as if the entire Flowing Cloud Peak sat upon his shoulders.

Tao Liang cursed loudly, diving back into his Treasure Furnace, refining himself with the furnace, resisting the heavy pressure.

The Spirit Locking Thick Earth Formation pressed deeper, the outer wall of the pill furnace creaked, and Tao Liang was momentarily unable to extricate himself, his predicament deepening, hopeless at this pace.

The Territorial Expansion Alliance cultivators advised surrender upon witnessing this.

Tao Liang hesitated, yet upon hearing the calls for surrender, his fighting resolve firmed instead, "Others won before me; if I cannot, what face do I have to return to Nanming Village, what face to meet Ning Zhuo?"

Unable to think of a method to break the impasse, he continued stubbornly resisting.

The Alliance cultivators saw his obstinate manner, cursed inwardly, not daring to directly slaughter him.

The leader considered briefly, immediately dispatched an envoy to explain the situation to Chun Yangzi.

Upon learning the details, Chun Yangzi hesitated, still deciding to notify Ning Zhuo first.

Ning Zhuo’s flying message quickly responded, informing Chun Yangzi he had already arranged matters and to quietly observe the changes.

Receiving the reply, Chun Yangzi’s eyes flashed, maintaining attention while temporarily repressing his actions.

Tu Yuanzi, carrying Ning Zhuo’s orders, arrived at the Alliance to rescue Tao Liang.

He shouted a few lines outside the formation; Tao Liang heard, his face flushed red, feeling even more unable to retreat, choosing to play turtle, holed up in the pill furnace, obstinate in futile persistence.

The Alliance cultivators were left with helplessness.

Tu Yuanzi realized, "Young Master Ning Zhuo was indeed accurate. The developments matched his foresight precisely."

He immediately rolled up his sleeves, indicating he would personally enter the formation and fish Tao Liang along with the furnace out.

The Alliance cultivators discussed briefly, feeling troubled, stating the great formation protects the headquarters, difficult to halt and cease.

Tu Yuanzi pondered, "This too aligns with Young Master Ning Zhuo’s expectations."

He grinned widely, waving repeatedly, "No need, no need for such complications. I’ll be back shortly."

Having said, he voluntarily entered the formation.

The headquarters’ grand formation exploded with greater might, yet Tu Yuanzi merely furrowed his brows, as if deeming a heavy wet garment upon his shoulders.

Array Patterns burst into dazzling yellow light, but Tu Yuanzi moved as if amid deserted lands.

He swiftly neared the pill furnace, lifted a hand to grasp it, then leaped forth.

Disengaging the formation, he casually tossed the pill furnace.

The pill furnace landed, Tao Liang rolled out along with the furnace, in a humiliating state, the furnace lid askew to one side.

He raised his head towards Tu Yuanzi, naturally knowing this man rescued him, his face flushed upon accepting, immediately clasping fists and bowing in gratitude.

Tu Yuanzi shrugged it off, showing a silly smile.

The Alliance cultivators, however, were pale-faced.

"He, he resisted the Spirit Locking Thick Earth Formation?"

"That was the Territorial Expansion Alliance’s headquarters formation!"

"This Tu Yuanzi surely is among the strong ones in Nascent Soul Level Cultivators!"

After this event, Tu Yuanzi’s reputation surged.

The image of the fourth Nascent Soul cultivator in Nanming Village finally solidified in the outsiders’ minds, becoming considerably weighty.