Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1533: Chapter 632: Secret Reward

Before participating in the Xingyun Trial, Ning Zhuo had already made tremendous progress.

His fingertips landed on the Small Cloud Field Array Plate, infusing mana.

The next moment, the array plate floated up.

The diagram’s cloud sand formed a bottom layer, resembling a circle of intricate array patterns. Ning Zhuo used water element magic power to support the water vapor at the bottom layer and then outlined the cloud road with shaping cloud ink. Soon, a small cloud field took shape in mid-air.

Ning Zhuo’s small cloud field was divided into three layers.

The bottom layer gathered water, with calm water vapor, akin to the bottom of a pill furnace.

The middle layer nurtured clouds, with several clusters of young clouds respectively inhaling and exhaling cloud grain, maintaining an equilibrium of cold, warm, moist, and dry conditions.

The upper layer transformed, with a cluster of white clouds slowly changing among the states of cloud, rain, and mist. Beside it, a wisp of sunset color attempted to blend in without disturbing the cloud heart.

The outer circle was the path for shepherding, where ten small clouds moved in sequence, advancing and retreating in an orderly manner.

The entire cloud field resembled a virtual pill furnace in space, yet also like a precise mechanical array plate.

Clouds grew within, clouds were nurtured within, clouds transformed within, clouds returned within.

The entire venue fell completely silent.

Sister Yun Sang looked at that small cloud field, speechless for a long time.

After a while, she finally announced, "Ning Zhuo, you’ve passed all twenty levels and are ranked first in this Xingyun Trial."

Some envied, some marveled, and some had complex expressions.

Ning Zhuo withdrew his hand, saluted Sister Yun Sang, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, senior."

Sister Yun Sang replied, "You relied on your own ability to pass the tests."

The regular rewards were soon distributed.

One Clear Dew Birth Cloud Disc, a box of Morning Mist Water Beads, three Little Rain Listening Breath Talismans, three clusters of Cloud Embryo Cotton, a bottle of Warm Glow Powder, one Cloud Nurturing Small Garden Plate, three Climate Adjustment Water Beads, one each of Dyeing Powder, Ink Mist Liquid, and Frosty White Cloud Floss, a strand of Rain Mother Cloud Silk, a Shepherd Cloud Fine Rope, a strand of Returning Sleeve Cloud Silk, ten sticks of Cloud Attracting Fragrance, a segment of White Bridge Cloud Bone, one Sealing Cloud Box, and three scrolls of Cloud Grain Formula.

These rewards piled in front of Ning Zhuo, drawing envy from many participants.

Especially the White Bridge Cloud Bone and Sealing Cloud Box, both practical items. The White Bridge Cloud Bone could be refined into cloud ranks or cloud bridges and could also be combined with mechanical techniques; the Sealing Cloud Box could store living clouds, perfectly suited for Ning Zhuo’s subsequent self-cultivation of cloud material.

Ning Zhuo accepted each item, his expression calm and composed.

Sister Yun Sang announced the dismissal of the gathering while secretly transmitting thoughts.

Ning Zhuo pretended to leave but quietly returned halfway.

Under the guidance of a Cloud Garden Institute disciple, he detoured into a quiet cloud corridor at the back.

The cloud corridor was tranquil.

Cloud curtains hung low on both sides, isolating external sounds. As he walked deeper, an inconspicuous small courtyard appeared before him. In front of the courtyard, there was no signboard, only an old stone with faint cloud patterns etched on it.

Sister Yun Sang was already waiting there.

At this moment, she was alone, without any other organizers beside her.

Ning Zhuo cupped his hands and said, "Senior called me here, is there another test?"

Sister Yun Sang looked at him and said, "The Xingyun Trial has a hidden tradition. It’s not opened every time, and not necessarily awarded to the first place. Today, you’ve passed all twenty levels, and instead of following old methods, you formed your own understanding. According to the old rules, you may try it once."

Ning Zhuo’s heart stirred, "What is the trial?"

Sister Yun Sang replied, "Cloud nature."

Ning Zhuo’s eyes slightly narrowed.

Sister Yun Sang explained, "Cloud material can be bought, cloud tools can be refined, cloud grain can be formulated. But only cloud nature cannot be forcibly imposed. Cloud nature is the root of living clouds. When a fire element enters a cloud, it becomes a fire cloud; when a thunder attribute enters, it becomes a thunder cloud; when a water element enters, it becomes a rain cloud; when a cold element enters, it becomes a frost cloud; when an ominous attribute enters, it becomes an ominous cloud."

Stopping here, Sister Yun Sang looked at Ning Zhuo, "Do you know what is meant by ’nature’?"

Ning Zhuo thought for a moment, wanting to answer but restrained himself, his expression slightly solemn, he cupped his hands and said, "Please guide me, senior."

Sister Yun Sang said, "Nature refers to properties. Everything born between heaven and earth, forms according to its essence and gains logic to form nature. Stone has stone nature, thus it is heavy and firm; water has water nature, thus it flows downwards; fire has fire nature, thus it rises and burns; lightning has thunder nature, therefore it strikes swiftly, dispelling evil."

"In the cultivation world, ’nature’ doesn’t just refer to the good or evil of the human heart, nor simply to temperaments of joy or anger. It refers to the most fundamental, habitual, and difficult to change tendency within an entity."

As she finished speaking, she flipped her palm.

A small thunder cloud floated out of her sleeve. The thunder cloud was only the size of a fist, with tiny electric lights dancing within its gray-white cloud heart. Each time the electric lights flashed, the cloud’s edge would gently explode and rapidly contract.

Sister Yun Sang said, "This is thunder nature. Thunder’s nature is shaking, swift, fierce, and breaks through turbidity. If you forcefully cultivate it into a rain cloud, it can still pour rain, but the water will inevitably contain electric charge, and if one is not careful, the cloud will scatter with a bang. For in its foundation, there is already thunder nature."

She then extracted a wisp of pale red cloud glow.

The cloud glow’s color was gentle, not intense, but it continuously floated upwards. Tiny golden light adorned the cloud edge, like an evening glow reflecting on a mountain.

Sister Yun Sang said, "This is fire nature. Fire nature rises, enjoys ascending, excels at refining, can illuminate objects, and can also burn them. When fire nature enters a cloud, it becomes a fire cloud. Not all fire clouds are fierce. Some only illuminate the cloud heart, nurturing the sunset veins; others scorch the cloud and harm the embryo, readily burning all water vapor. The distinction lies not in the name but in the depth of the fire nature and the subtleties of fire control."

Ning Zhuo’s heart slightly trembled, suddenly thinking of the Nine Fires of the Nine Fire Dragon Lord.

Earth fire is profound, wood fire generates life, thunder fire shakes, heart fire disturbs the spirit, pill fire refines gently, demon fire corrupts, dragon fire presses down. The so-called nine fires actually contain nine types of distinct natures within the flames!

Sister Yun Sang saw the change in his eyes and knew he was profoundly affected. She continued, "Daoist sects often speak of dual cultivation of life and nature. Life refers to the body, energy, blood, and the foundation of longevity; nature refers to the divine soul’s essence, the luminous tendency. Applied to cloud materials, it is the same. Cloud body is life, cloud nature is nature. If the cloud body disperses, it can be reassembled; if the cloud nature deteriorates, it is like a heart shrouded in dust. Even if the form remains, it is no longer the original living cloud."