Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1565: Chapter 646: Foundation Establishment (Facade) 2

He wore a smile on his face, but there was a fleeting trace of helplessness in his eyes.

Both he and Situ Xing were the Foundation Establishment representatives of super families, having a deep friendship, yet there was a rivalry beneath the surface. Especially regarding the matter of Ning Zhuo, whether one gave gifts earlier or later, the significance was entirely different.

Shen Xi quickly suppressed these thoughts, cupping his hands and saying, "Brother Ning, with the tumultuous storms outside, I have come here this time both under the orders of the elders in my family and with my own intentions."

Ning Zhuo invited him to sit down.

Shen Xi sat upright, his back slightly straight, and took out a square plate, holding it in his palms with both hands.

The square plate was about a foot square, made entirely of green-white jade and mystic copper joined together. The surface was divided into nine palaces, each with a small lattice window. Within the lattice windows floated tiny talisman beads, each a different color—some like diffused ink, some like sunken golden sand, and some like a drop of fire solidified in jade.

In the center of the nine palaces was embedded a colorless crystal stone, within which faint mist flowed incessantly, transforming at times into palace gates, at times into corridors, and at times shattering into thousands of light points.

Shen Xi placed the array plate on the table. As soon as the bottom touched the tabletop, nine thin lines spread outwards, resembling a spider web’s expansion.

The tea cups, wooden box, and jade slip on the table were instantly enveloped by a thin ripple of water, their positions shifting imperceptibly by a fraction of an inch.

Ning Zhuo’s eyelids twitched slightly. Though he hadn’t moved at all, he felt as if the position beneath his feet had silently shifted by half an inch, as if gently nudged by an invisible hand.

Shen Xi raised his hand and gently pressed the array plate, and that sense of disarray immediately vanished, as if it had never existed.

"The Nine Palace Mist Step Array Plate," introduced Shen Xi, "a Golden Core Level array plate, inclined to disrupt enemies, delay, and buy time."

Ning Zhuo leaned forward for a closer look.

Shen Xi pointed to one of the nine palaces with his finger: "Once this array is deployed, it can delineate a region of ten to thirty feet around into nine palaces. If an enemy steps inside, their sense of direction, sense of distance, and flow of mana will all be subtly disrupted. It is not great for killing, but it excels in quick activation. If the enemy rashly charges forward, they will continually walk into the wrong palace, seemingly heading forward but actually veering off. What may seem close at hand requires detours."

As he spoke, he tapped the central crystal stone again.

The mist on the array plate suddenly rose, transforming into nine small doors. The doors revolved, and behind each floated shadows of light.

Within the light and shadow, one could see a cultivator rushing forward with a sword, only to take one step and uncontrollably veer to the side, being held up for merely a breath by the Nine Palace array line. But in a battle of spells, one breath can exchange a life.

Shen Xi’s expression turned serious: "The Three Brave of Xiang Sect attack fiercely, their foundations interlinked. If you wish to defeat them head-on, this array plate won’t help you. If you merely want a few breaths of respite, it might still be useful."

Ning Zhuo looked at the array plate, nodding slightly.

His mechanism system often required coordination, deployment, and connection—mechanical bird group, mysterious armor, mechanical puppet, puppet, spell, each with its own rhythm.

Facing opponents like the Three Brave of Xiang Sect who pressed on regardless of life and death, the greatest fear was losing rhythm and the greatest need was time for adjustment.

This Nine Palace Mist Step Array Plate could give him a few breaths of respite.

Ning Zhuo raised his head, "Shen, you are considerate."

Shen Xi lightly shook his head, "The gift is not heavy."

This array plate leaned towards preserving life and delaying, signaling the Shen Family’s willingness to maintain goodwill, yet not directly confronting Flowing Cloud Peak on Ning Zhuo’s behalf. The balance was exquisitely maintained.

As Shen Xi got up to leave, he left a message: "Brother Ning, the elders in my family asked me to deliver a saying—only by retaining the green mountain can a village be established. The foundation of Nanming Village truly rests upon you."

Ning Zhuo thanked him with a nod.

Lin Jinglong was the last of the three to arrive.

Today he was clad in blue attire that clung to him tightly at the cuffs, with a slender wooden box hanging from his waist.

His figure was tall and his eyebrows clear, walking with shoulders and back expanded like pine, exuding the distinct lightness and pride of the Lin Family disciples.

As soon as he entered, he noticed the Astral Tribulation-Shifting Chess on the table, then glanced at the Nine Palace Mist Step Array Plate by the side, immediately raising an eyebrow and chuckling.

He took the wooden box from his waist and placed it on the table.

The box was not ordinary wood, its surface covered with a layer of green scale patterns, like the bark of some ancient vine.

When the lid was opened, it was lined with a layer of moist spirit soil, within which lay three seeds.

Each was only the size of a knuckle, the outer shell dark green, its patterns like a coiled dragon with scales distinct.

At the edge of the seeds glowed a faint halo, and when approached, one could hear the faint sound of roots extending, like three little hearts beating slowly at the bottom of the wooden box.

Lin Jinglong said, "These are Green Qiu Armor Seeds."

He reached out to pick up one, and the seed rolled slightly in his palm, its green scale patterns lighting up.

The wood element spiritual energy in the cave mansion was drawn to it, threads of green light streaming from the table legs, wooden chairs, and bamboo scroll entering the seed shell.

"This seed, when urged by wood element mana, takes root immediately in the soil. Normally it’s a seed, but at critical times it can transform into a Green Qiu with twisting roots to protect you, forming layers of wood armor. If a formidable enemy approaches you closely, it can block a deadly strike for you."

As Lin Jinglong spoke, a wisp of green mana shot from his fingertip.

The seed fell onto the table, surprisingly rooting itself on the jade surface. The fine roots did not damage the table, but merely spread gently along the spiritual energy patterns.

In the blink of an eye, over a dozen green roots intertwined into a small vine armor, with scales overlapping, two branches in the middle lifting like dragon horns, appearing grand and impressive.

Lin Jinglong looked at Ning Zhuo: "This item leans towards defense and can also complement your wood element magic. If you first create a wood element environment, the Green Qiu Armor Seeds will benefit from the external wood qi and last longer. If you rely solely on your own mana to activate it, the consumption will be much faster."

Ning Zhuo reached out to touch the edge of the vine armor. It receded slightly, its scales soft yet flexible, with a solid vitality surging within, like spring wood concealing thunder, able to quickly heal after being struck.

"Excellent item," Ning Zhuo said.

Lin Jinglong smiled at one corner of his mouth: "Glad you recognize its value."

After finishing, his expression became more solemn, his voice lowering: "Brother Ning, I won’t beat around the bush. Since the Lin Family is involved in the Nanming Village affair, we won’t withdraw easily. If you die and Nanming Village collapses, all the previous efforts will be a joke. People might even talk about us."

He paused, gazing directly into Ning Zhuo’s eyes: "So, you need to survive."

Ning Zhuo gently closed the wooden box, smiling, "I will do my best."

Lin Jinglong frowned, "Doing your best isn’t enough."

Ning Zhuo smiled, "Then I will strive to live."

Lin Jinglong finally nodded.

The cave mansion returned to silence once more.

Sitting on the table were three treasures: the Astral Tribulation-Shifting Chess, the Nine Palace Mist Step Array Plate, and the Green Qiu Armor Seed. One black, one green, one white, each with different qi mechanisms, yet all oddly enough inclined towards preservation, delay, and defense.

Ning Zhuo looked at them, his mind already considering.

The actions of Situ Xing, Shen Xi, and Lin Jinglong were all within Ning Zhuo’s expectations — having involved themselves in the Nanming Village affair, they wouldn’t wish their previous efforts to go to waste. Investing in Ning Zhuo was merely an extension of their previous strategic development.

The items were good, but not too forceful.

They also revealed their views on Ning Zhuo’s impending battle with the Three Brave of Xiang Sect — none were optimistic about it! All sought to help Ning Zhuo preserve his life.

"But that’s the demeanor of great families — there is sentiment yet boundaries. They are willing to bet but also leave room."

"Heh."

Thinking of this, Ning Zhuo chuckled lightly, holding some expectation for the next visitor.

Pi Fujie arrived.

"Young Master Ning, I come uninvited, presumptuous, presumptuous indeed!"

He wore a luxurious leather robe, its surface a dark red hue with fine black leather stitched along the collar, revealing faint demonic patterns flowing like hidden currents as he moved.

Ning Zhuo invited him to sit.

Pi Fujie sat down, leaning slightly forward, showing a deliberate closeness: "Pi and Young Master Ning once had a misunderstanding, but we later turned foes into friends, and when word of this reached my clan, the elders praised me greatly. Now that Young Master Ning is in trouble, if I were to hide away, wouldn’t that make Pi appear insincere and hypocritical?"

As he spoke, his eyes never stopped observing Ning Zhuo’s expression.

Ning Zhuo bore a slight smile, his eyes clear as a deep pool beneath the moon, revealing no ripples.

Pi Fujie indeed found it hard to discern anything, inwardly cursing just how troublesome this was.

He stopped beating around the bush, raising his hand with a flourish.

A piyin flew out from his sleeve, lightly drifting onto the table.