Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1550: Chapter 639: Heaven-Hanging Thread! (Part 2)

Above the Cloud Marsh Martial Arts Arena, a single thread suddenly hung down.

It was a thread so fine it was almost invisible.

Falling from an extremely high place.

Silent and soundless.

No thunder, no rosy glow, no overwhelming pressure.

Just a single thread.

The heaven-reaching Hook.

The Red Robe Guest’s pupils suddenly contracted.

He wanted to transform and escape with blood.

But the moment that single thread descended, the entire space of the Cloud Marsh Martial Arts Arena seemed pinned in place. The Blood Shadow Escape Technique had just activated when an indescribable force brutally suppressed it back into the body.

Taoist Artifact!

For the first time, the Red Robe Guest felt a strong sense of crisis at heart.

The lower end of that thread was attached to a fishing hook.

The hook’s body was extremely thin, like a cold moon bent into a sharp edge. Entirely black and white, without a hint of blood color. The tip of the hook had a touch of dim blue starlight, not bright, yet appearing to penetrate deep into the soul.

Heaven-reaching Hook!

The Red Robe Guest let out an angry roar, his sea of blood inverted, pushing the power of the Blood Demon Pill to the utmost.

Scarlet blood glow surged into the sky, transforming into a massive blood shadow that reached for the fishing hook.

The hook swayed gently.

The hand of the blood shadow was easily sliced open by the thread, effortlessly.

In the next instant, the hook came down.

The Red Robe Guest’s body suddenly stiffened.

The tip of the hook seemed not to touch his body, yet it was as if it had already pierced through everything.

He looked down to find his blood robe still fluttering, his hands could still lift, and the sea of blood still roared behind him.

A towering anger emerged in the Red Robe Guest’s eyes: "Ah!"

The Heaven-reaching Hook suddenly lifted.

The Red Robe Guest, as if struck by lightning, shuddered violently in body and mind.

His face twisted, the handsomely demonic features revealed a hideous expression for the first time.

Frozen at this moment.

This was the last expression of his life.

He was dead!

In the spectator stands, Chun Yangzi suddenly stood up.

Ning Zhuo’s complexion changed dramatically.

There was an uproar among the cultivators of Nanming Village.

"Taoist Artifact!"

"It’s a Taoist Artifact!"

"Does White Cloud Village really have the foundation of a Taoist Artifact?!"

Many cultivators from White Cloud Village also looked shocked. Clearly, not everyone was aware of this trump card.

Cloud Pot Daoist knelt on Cloud Lake, his face smeared with blood, trembling all over.

He was afraid too.

The Taoist Artifact wasn’t his.

To activate this Taoist Artifact, strict conditions had to be met—Cloud Pot Daoist himself must be on the brink of death!

If the Red Robe Guest hadn’t driven him to such a state, and if he didn’t still have a breath left, enough for his Divine Sense to activate this Taoist Artifact, he would certainly have died miserably at the Red Robe Guest’s hands by now.

"I survived."

"I finally survived!"

Cloud Pot Daoist’s eyes were red, his lips quivering.

The Heaven-reaching Hook claimed the life of the Red Robe Guest, secretly hooking his soul and delivering it to Cloud Pot Daoist’s embrace.

The Red Robe Guest’s body floated in mid-air, the blood patterns on his scarlet robe lost their vitality, which previously writhed like snakes, now all lay dead.

Cloud Pot Daoist, covered in blood, nearly collapsed, fumbling as he continuously took elixir pills to heal.

The Cloud Marsh Martial Arts Arena fell silent again.

The sound of the Jade Chime was delayed.

The Guardian cultivators were also stunned by this scene.

A moment later, the judgment voice echoed, carrying an undeniable weight: "The fourth match, Cloud Pot Daoist of White Cloud Village wins."

He won.

In the end, Cloud Pot Daoist actually won!

This scene exceeded the expectations of almost everyone present.

Cloud Pot Daoist was completely on the defensive throughout, just an instant away from being slapped to death by the Red Robe Guest.

But in the end, that single thread of heaven-reaching Hook, forcibly hooked the Red Robe Guest from the peak of victory into the abyss of death.

The seats of Nanming Village fell into dead silence.

Chun Yangzi stood there, his eyes glinting with golden light, akin to cold lightning.

He looked at the Red Robe Guest’s corpse, with the image of the Heaven-reaching Hook swirling in his mind, a chill rising layer upon layer in his heart.

"Weapons of war are treacherous and dangerous, they truly are."

"Which force within Flowing Cloud Peak possesses such a foundational Taoist Artifact?!"

Cloud Marsh Martial Arts Arena, the lingering blood qi gradually dissipates.

The Red Robe Guest’s crimson robe draped over Cloud Lake, no longer vibrant, only a dead dark red remains.

It’s time for Nanming Village to come and collect the corpse.

Chun Yangzi looks at Ning Zhuo, Ning Zhuo slowly nods and, under the watchful eyes of many, steps into the Martial Arts Arena.

His heart felt extremely heavy—

The Red Robe Guest is dead.

The Five Victories Martial Arts Competition has completely turned into a bloody match!

The score is two to two.

The final match will determine the ownership of the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar and whether Nanming Village can truly establish itself on Flowing Cloud Peak.

"Ning Zhuo, let’s talk later." Chun Yangzi transmitted his thoughts.

Soon after, inside Chun Yangzi’s Cave Mansion.

Inside the Cave Mansion, the lights flicker a faint yellow.

Chun Yangzi sits at the head position, an old injury at the base of his right thumb still hasn’t healed, golden light subtly circulates within his sleeve. His face shows no anger, yet it’s more intimidating than when he is angry.

Ning Zhuo sits below him, his expression solemn.

The two remain silent for a while.

Chun Yangzi speaks first: "The last match, must not lose."

Ning Zhuo nods: "Cannot lose."

If they lose, the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar will be unattainable. The momentum established by Nanming Village in the previous three matches will be thoroughly suppressed. The Red Robe Guest’s death will be in vain, and Tan Zhu’s intimidation will become a laughing stock.

Chun Yangzi slowly nods: "Therefore, we must win."

He pauses, then says: "The safest choice is Tan Zhu."

Ning Zhuo nods, not surprised in the slightest.

In the previous match, Tan Zhu forcefully killed Yue Qingshan; his fierce reputation still lingers. If he can be persuaded to fight again, it is indeed the most assured option.

However...

Ning Zhuo’s gaze subtly shifts, filled with deep meaning: "I think he might not be willing to take action so easily."

Chun Yangzi stands up: "Let’s go see him together."

Tan Zhu sits in the depths of the Cave Mansion.

Still dressed in gray-black deep robes, his face pale, eyebrows thin and faint, breathing so light that it seems almost absent. He resembles an elderly man who has been sick for a long time, sitting in the shadows, different from before. Now, there is a cold tea set beside him.

Seeing Chun Yangzi and Ning Zhuo enter, he lifts his gaze.

Chun Yangzi’s gaze is deep: "For the fifth match, I want to ask you to take action."

Tan Zhu coughs lightly: "In the last match, I expended a lot."

Chun Yangzi says: "If you are willing to take action, Nanming Village will certainly compensate."

Tan Zhu says: "Compensation?"

He seems to smile slightly.

Tan Zhu continues: "I want debt rights."

Tan Zhu slowly says: "Debt rights related to the Nanming Fire Furnace. I want to acquire the portion you hold, Chun Yangzi, and at the same time, Ning Zhuo, my young friend, you must also provide a portion of the debt rights."

Inside the Cave Mansion, there is a sudden silence.

Chun Yangzi’s eyes narrow with a golden glint: "Specifically, how much?"

Tan Zhu quotes a number.

The high price makes Ning Zhuo’s eye twitch slightly.

Ning Zhuo and Chun Yangzi exchange glances, a familiar feeling resurfaces in their minds.

Tan Zhu’s asking price is so high that it seems not to be a temporary whim but rather calculated well in advance, waiting for this moment to present it to them.

Chun Yangzi remains silent.

Tan Zhu says: "My lifespan is nearly over, and the previous match took a great toll. For the fifth match, if you want me to act, it means taking a gamble with what’s left of my life. This price is not excessive."

Chun Yangzi asks: "What do you want the debt rights for?"

Tan Zhu does not respond.

He merely picks up the cold tea and takes a sip.

As the tea goes down, he coughs twice, softly.

Tan Zhu says: "If you both find this unsuitable, feel free to seek someone else."

At this point, there is no more room for negotiation.

Chun Yangzi stands up, his sleeve slightly moves: "The matter is significant, allow us time to discuss."

Tan Zhu nods: "Please do."

After leaving Tan Zhu’s Cave Mansion, the journey is silent for Chun Yangzi and Ning Zhuo.

Upon returning to the Cave Mansion and activating the formation, Chun Yangzi finally speaks coldly: "So Tan Zhu was waiting here."

Ning Zhuo’s expression is serious: "He doesn’t want spirit stones or treasure, but debt rights to the Nanming Fire Furnace. If we agree to him, he will immediately become the Great Village Chief of our Nanming Village."

Chun Yangzi gazes deeply.

When Nanming Village was founded, positions were intricately linked to debts, contributions, and debt rights. Chun Yangzi’s position as Great Village Chief was due in part to his strength and prestige, and also because of significant debt relations with Ning Zhuo.

Chun Yangzi says: "He joined Nanming Village proactively, indeed for the sake of the Nanming Fire Furnace."

Ning Zhuo says: "Not only that, but he also wants to use this opportunity to truly secure his position within Nanming Village!"

Chun Yangzi looks at Ning Zhuo: "Who do you think is behind him?"

Ning Zhuo bitterly smiles and shakes his head: "I’m just a newcomer."

Chun Yangzi furrows his brows.

Ning Zhuo shares a similar expression, he sighs lightly: "Tan Zhu’s joining of Nanming Village was quite sudden. His lifespan is nearing its end, yet he still wishes to fight in such a situation. In the previous battle, he killed Yue Qingshan too cleanly, too decisively. Looking at it now, there seems to be a deeper meaning."