Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1568: Chapter 648: Letter from Zhong Dao

Kong Ran counted on his fingers as he thought, then put his hand down again, seeming to feel that was too childish, and instead straightened his posture: "Nascent Soul Level Mechanical Artifacts that can fight on their own usually come in two types."

"One type has a soul, with a Nascent Soul taking it as a vessel to control it, and requires Soul Techniques and such means to drive. Brother Ning, do you have one?"

Ning Zhuo shook his head: "I don’t have such means, and I’m not skilled at driving things with Soul Techniques."

Kong Ran said, "Then there’s only the second type left—those with Spiritual Nature."

His small face wrinkled up. "That’s even harder."

Ning Zhuo did not interrupt him.

Kong Ran also wanted to explain things clearly. He lifted his teacup and took a sip, only to have his tongue tip shrink away from the scalding heat.

He hurriedly set the cup down, striving to maintain a serious expression: "The Nanming Fire Furnace possesses Spiritual Nature, so it can be called a Spiritual Treasure. What makes a Spiritual Treasure so precious is precisely this. A Magic Treasure, after years and years, its foundation stabilizes, its essence accumulates, and only by chance might a thread of Spirit Light explode forth, birthing Spiritual Nature."

"Mechanical Artifacts are much more troublesome. A mechanism has structure; the parts that exist in it have to be replaced if they break and modified if they’re weak. Many Mechanical Masters spend their entire lives constantly improving their works, so the foundation is always shifting, and Spiritual Nature is hard to settle. Wanting a mechanism to develop Spiritual Nature on its own is an extremely, extremely slim possibility."

Kong Ran sighed: "Therefore, Nascent Soul Level Mechanical Artifacts that possess Spiritual Nature are worth far more than ordinary Spiritual Treasures, and are exceedingly rare. My father likely can’t produce one."

Ning Zhuo pondered.

Kong Ran looked at him, apology surfacing in his eyes: "Brother Ning, this matter is too difficult!"

Ning Zhuo did not stay disappointed for long, and said again: "Then I’ll change my request. I have a friend who possesses an Early Wisdom Talent and wants to cultivate that Innate into Divine Skills, seeking related methods."

Kong Ran fixed his gaze on him.

The lamps in the Cave Mansion flickered softly. Kong Ran’s pair of dark, bright eyes did not blink, as if he wanted to see through Ning Zhuo from inside to out. After a long time, he spoke: "Brother Ning, the friend you mentioned is yourself, isn’t it?"

Ning Zhuo: ...

Kong Ran let out a breath: "Don’t hide it; it’s actually meaningless. If you want to join the Myriad Images Sect, you’re bound to have to explain matters regarding your Innate. Under the True Words Bell, lying is useless."

Ning Zhuo looked at Kong Ran.

A moment later, he shrugged, showing a trace of helpless smile: "All right. It’s me."

Kong Ran’s eyes suddenly lit up, carrying the particular excitement of a youth.

"I knew it!" Kong Ran slapped the table, making the teacup jump. "When you first said that someone close to you possessed an Early Wisdom Talent, I already found it strange. Later, the learning speed you displayed in all those small tests was even more out of the ordinary."

As he spoke to this point, his tone clearly grew much more familiar: "Brother Ning, that means we’re really fated! We both have Early Wisdom Talents; in the future we can exchange and compare with each other."

Ning Zhuo smiled and said: "I’m also very glad to have met Brother Kong. If we can support each other and mutually benefit in the future, that would be all the better."

Kong Ran nodded vigorously. The childlike joy finally showed on his face, but he quickly reined it in again: "I’ll pass this request on to my father and let him decide. But I’ve never heard of an Early Wisdom Talent being usable for combat."

Ning Zhuo said: "I’m only trying."

Kong Ran said seriously: "Each Innate has its own specialty. Some are good for battle, some for cultivation, some for deduction, some for management. What the Early Wisdom Talent is best at is still learning, comprehension, and insight. If Brother Ning wants to rely on it to deal with the Three Brave of Xiang Sect, I’m afraid that will be very hard."

Ning Zhuo let out a soft sigh: "In the end, my cultivation level is too weak. If only I could progress a bit more."

Kong Ran consoled him: "Brother Ning, you’re still young and already at Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage. That’s quite remarkable."

Ning Zhuo looked at him and suddenly said: "I’ve heard that National Power Bricks can cause a person’s cultivation level to soar rapidly. I wonder if the Kong Family can provide some for me?"

Kong Ran was stunned. He clearly hadn’t expected Ning Zhuo to bring this up.

"National Power Bricks..." He furrowed his little brows, thinking carefully. "This thing can indeed cause cultivation accumulation to surge. But Brother Ning, if you’re stuck at the Dantian Shines stage, you need to comprehend your Cultivation Technique and realize the realm. Only when you’re in a pure accumulation phase can the National Power Bricks let you make a single great stride."

Ning Zhuo said: "Recently I’ve felt my bottleneck loosen. If I had the help of National Power Bricks, it might be just the right timing."

Kong Ran had never considered that Ning Zhuo was cultivating the Three Elixir Fields together. In his view, if Ning Zhuo’s Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage cultivation level was about to break through, then it meant his Qi Sea was about to advance another step.

He immediately showed delight: "That’s a good thing! Brother Ning, your mastery of cultivation techniques, Mechanism Realm, and spell comprehension are all extremely deep; only your cultivation level has been holding you back. If your cultivation level improves, that shortcoming will be greatly compensated."

As he spoke, he thought some more: "I’ll write a letter to my father and explain this matter carefully. But National Power Bricks are tied to National Power, court allocations, and approval. Getting them and being able to use them won’t be easy."

Ning Zhuo cupped his hands: "Brother Kong’s willingness to speak up for me is already enough."

By the time Kong Ran rose to take his leave, the night was already deep.

The mountain path outside the Cave Mansion was soaked in Starlight, and Cloud Qi coiled around the stone steps like white silk, tranquil and cold.

After sending Kong Ran off, Ning Zhuo returned to the depths of the Cave Mansion.

Guests had come one after another today, treasures, favors, probing, deals, attempts at pulling him in... all entangled in layers.

Ning Zhuo was already weary in spirit, yet he did not rest.

He began his daily cultivation routine, which was almost as unshakable as if carved in stone.

Sitting cross-legged, Ning Zhuo settled his mind, letting his Heart Spirit sink into his body. The Three Superior Sect Techniques revolved, and in the Divine Sea, Qi Sea, and blood sea, waves rose one after another.

In the Lower Dantian of the blood sea, the Qi Mechanism of the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique was the most agitated. The blood-colored Essence Blood surged like tides, again and again crashing against the boundaries of the Dantian. Deep in his meridians, a fine, hot pain spread, like countless red-hot fine needles threading through his flesh and blood.