Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1588: Chapter 658: Ning Zhuo’s Oath

A young Confucian Cultivator immediately unfolded the plain paper, while another slowly ground ink, and yet another just took out a Jade Pen, causing a pale white light to rise gently from the paper, like moonlight falling on fresh snow.

Within the Confucian Cultivator Group, Chu Xuangu stepped forward expressionlessly: "Young fellow Ning Zhuo, today let me write a poem for you."

He lifted his pen and wrote— as the pen stroke fell, a phenomenon was born, and the ink on the paper turned into a breeze of clear righteousness, gently floating towards Ning Zhuo.

The crowd stirred slightly.

The expressions of the cultivators from Flowing Cloud Peak grew even graver. The Confucian Cultivators writing a poem to lend support further boosted Ning Zhuo’s reputation on the Righteous Path.

On the other side, Zhu Fenxiang and Zhu Guizhi also appeared.

Zhu Fenxiang’s eyebrows and eyes were bright and sharp; today, she wore a red-earth-colored vestment robe with a Divine Pattern Jade Belt at her waist, looking more solemn than usual.

As she looked towards Ning Zhuo, a complex expression flashed briefly in her eyes, like a subtle wave beneath the surface of the water.

Zhu Guizhi stood beside her, dignified like autumn chrysanthemums, her eyes and brows carrying the unique wisdom and warmth of a mature Female Cultivator.

With a smile on her lips, she looked at Ning Zhuo: "Young fellow Ning Zhuo, my family is also your creditor. You serve Nanming Village, so you deservedly should have support. Today, let my daughter summon the god for you to witness!"

"Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo," Zhu Fenxiang approached Ning Zhuo.

Facing the puzzlement, Ning Zhuo returned the courtesy: "Fellow Daoist Zhu."

Zhu Fenxiang walked to a black stone vacant lot and raised her hand to take out a Divine Statue.

The moment the statue hit the ground, it expanded to the size of a temple, causing the stone bricks below to crack.

Everyone’s expressions grew more solemn, as they felt the ancient and heavy presence of the statue, bestowing the authority of Earth Guardian True Monarch suppressing myriad prisons, like a miniature mountain descending into the world.

Zhu Fenxiang formed sealing gestures with both hands; her face soon turned pale, and fine sweat beads seeped from her forehead, resembling dew on a flower petal.

Her voice was clear and resolute, carrying the solemnity honed from long engagement with Divine Tao rites: "Today, at Verification Peak’s No Retreat Square, I humbly request the Earth Guardian True Monarch to witness Ning Zhuo’s vow!"

On the statue, earth-yellow divine light slowly lit up, a heavy and vast Qi Mechanism descended upon the square, as if an invisible mountain came down from the void, suppressing everyone’s stirred heart spirits.

The True Words Bell remained silent; beyond the silence, added a layer of divine witness pressure.

Ning Zhuo looked deeply at Zhu Fenxiang, respectfully bowed, and expressed gratitude.

Despite her pale face, Zhu Fenxiang slightly lifted her chin as she gazed at Ning Zhuo.

Chun Yangzi, witnessing the scene, couldn’t help but narrow his eyes. Normally, the Confucian Cultivator Group, Zhu family mother and daughter supporting Ning Zhuo would be considered fortunate.

However, unease surged in Chun Yangzi’s heart.

He immediately recognized the source of this unease with careful thought— judging by Ning Zhuo’s expression, he was unaware of this arrangement. Thus, the current situation was out of control!

On the Flowing Cloud Peak side, someone couldn’t help but snort coldly: "Confucian Cultivators, Divine Tao, and Qinghuangzi, it sure is lively."

The cultivator beside him looked gloomy, like heavy clouds: "The more lively they are, the less Three Brave of Xiang Sect can afford to lose. If Ning Zhuo solidifies his position today with the True Words Bell, it’ll be a great trouble later."

"Relax." A Female Cultivator squinted her eyes, her voice crisp with an icy tone, "Three Brave of Xiang Sect will ensure Ning Zhuo dies disgracefully. The stronger their momentum today, the more tragic and amusing their defeat and death tomorrow will be."

Someone grew impatient: "Hurry up. This is just a show! Hurry up and make the vow, set the duel time, let us agree so. My Pill Furnace’s fire isn’t extinguished yet."

At that moment, a rumbling suddenly sounded from the sky.

Everyone looked up to see a red iron-colored glow falling from high altitude.

Boom.

The newcomer, like an anvil, landed heavily in the square, with a weighty wind pressure.

Some cultivators with lower cultivation levels instinctively stepped back half a step, intimidated by the newcomer’s presence.

Many turned to look, revealing expressions of surprise.

The reason being that the newcomer’s identity was extraordinary, recognized as the current Hall Master of Artifact Refining Hall, Tie Kuang!

Tie Kuang was as robust as an iron tower, his rough appearance exuded an unabashed Nascent Soul Level aura.

Tie Kuang strode towards Ning Zhuo, at first glancing at the True Words Bell, then sweeping over the Confucian Cultivator Group, Zhu family mother and daughter, and Qinghuangzi, finally resting his gaze on Ning Zhuo’s face, with the corners of his mouth curling into a rough smile: "Young fellow Ning Zhuo, today I too come to join in the excitement."

Ning Zhuo bowed: "Greetings, Senior Tie Kuang. May I ask..."

Tie Kuang waved his large hand, his robe sleeve creating a breeze: "At the request of Qinghuangzi, I too come to lend a hand to you."

As he spoke, he flipped his hand and produced an item.

Spiritual Treasure— Hundred Tempering Thousand Weight Hammer!

Ning Zhuo’s gaze focused; though this Spiritual Treasure was only a foot and seven inches long, completely black as if smoked and scorched for years. The hammerhead was square-shaped, and the hammer surfaces uneven, covered with dense pits.

The hammer handle was wrapped in dark red iron lines, seemingly soaked long ago by palm sweat, furnace fire, and spiritual blood, its color as deep as dried blood scabs.

In the arena, cultivators quickly identified the origin of this spiritual treasure. It is Tie Kuang’s lifebound spiritual treasure, capable of tempering an artifact a thousand times over. Refining artifacts on the spot is just a whim; its true function is to continuously enhance the artifact’s power in a specific direction.

"Tie Kuang has also made a move!"

"He’s actually lending out his spiritual treasure? Is he siding with Nanming Village this time?"

"Why does he suddenly favor Ning Zhuo so much?"

"This, I can understand. Tie Kuang’s temperament is well known. He had wanted to repair the Nanming Fire Furnace before but was thwarted by the artifact spirit. Now that Ning Zhuo has pacified the artifact spirit, he might be itching to repair the Nanming Fire Furnace."

"But, Ning Zhuo made an oath today; why does he need to use this lifebound spiritual treasure?"

The crowd discussed continuously, guessing back and forth.

The faces of many cultivators from Flowing Cloud Peak had become quite grim.

Tie Kuang is no ordinary figure; as one of the hall masters of the Sixteen Halls, he’s undoubtedly part of the high echelon of the Myriad Images Sect!

Just Tie Kuang’s appearance is enough to put significant pressure on the various forces of Flowing Cloud Peak. Moreover, he’s now using his lifebound spiritual treasure to publicly assist Ning Zhuo!

The envoy from Heavy Array Peak frowned slightly, immediately reassessing the direction of the entire situation.

The envoy from Danxia Peak’s gaze sank even deeper.

And the cold-faced steward from Evil Slaying Hall stared at Ning Zhuo and Tie Kuang, his expression complicated and difficult to discern, pondering, "Could it be that after Ning Zhuo distanced himself from our hall, he immediately sought refuge with the Artifact Refining Hall?"

No matter what the truth is, the attitude of the crowd toward Ning Zhuo changed because of Tie Kuang.

Ning Zhuo showed a look of confusion, cupped his hands, and said, "Thank you, Senior Tie Kuang, for your assistance, but..."

Tie Kuang interrupted again, "Little friend Ning Zhuo, time is limited, quickly make your oath."

Ning Zhuo nodded and turned to the True Words Bell.

Ning Zhuo could feel countless gazes converging from all directions, like ten thousand lights simultaneously casting upon his back.

At the cliff in front, the mountain wind roared, the black True Words Bell stood silent like a well, the sea of clouds beyond the cliff churning endlessly, as if heaven and earth held their breath, awaiting his next words.

Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, his chest slowly filled, like a bow being slowly drawn.

He raised his hands slowly, sleeves slightly flaring in the wind.

The Great Thousand Mechanism Sound Robe emitted a tinkling sound, like a clear spring dropping into a stone crevice, ethereal and pure.

Ning Zhuo spoke, his voice steady and clear, spreading across the entire square: "Elders and fellow disciples of Myriad Images Sect. With the True Words Bell before me, the Shutu Prison True Monarch Statue as witness, Ning Zhuo makes an oath today."

On No Retreat Square, countless cultivators quieted down together. Even those Flowing Cloud Peak cultivators harboring enmity ceased their cold smiles at this moment.

"Red Robe Guest perished because of Nanming Village, his soul scattered and subjugated. As the initiator from Nanming Village, Ning Zhuo does not want to stand by idly nor shirk away."

"From today onwards, Ning Zhuo vows to seek his soul, strive to rescue him from hardship, and restore peace to his afterlife."

On the Confucian Cultivator Group’s side, the ink scent grew dense as fog. The plain paper had spread three zhang long, like a white river gently undulating in the wind.

Chu Xuangu’s jade pen continuously fell, the strokes steady and forceful like an ancient pine anchored on a cliff. With each sentence written, a wisp of white literary energy rose from the paper, transforming into a breeze, swirling gently around Ning Zhuo like an invisible sash tied at his waist.

Dong Nishang sat cross-legged, took out an ancient zither, its body dark blue-black like soaked old ink, strings like frost and snow. Her fingers barely touched the strings, and a clear, expansive piano sound spread out—it wasn’t pleasingly cunning, but stable and proper, layer by layer pressing down the floating restlessness in everyone’s hearts...

Zhu Fenxiang stood before the divine statue, her fingers had long been flying like flowers falling, butterflies dancing, the soil-colored vestment robe glowing bright like evening clouds under the divine light.

Her face pale as paper, lips pressed tightly like a thin line carved by a knife.

Zhu Guizhi stood behind her, gaze peaceful like an autumn lake, yet her fingers gently tapped a jade talisman within her sleeve to prevent any unforeseen events.

Ning Zhuo then said, "Red Robe Guest’s demon soul has fallen into his hands, Ning Zhuo is willing to battle the Three Brave of Xiang Sect..."

Suddenly, Tie Kuang’s lifebound spiritual treasure, the Hundred Tempering Thousand Weight Hammer, lightly trembled, the entirely black hammer body suddenly lighting up with a dark red spirit light.

The dark red spirit light radiated in all directions, layers of forging patterns dispersed along the spirit light, forging the surrounding space.

The spirit light fell in circles, enveloping the vicinity around Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo paused, showing a look of bewilderment.

At this moment, Zhu Fenxiang shouted, "Divine Monarch, please extend your hand!"

Her ten fingers fluttered like flowers falling, butterflies dancing, the yellow light on the divine pattern jade belt suddenly surged.

That giant-sized Shutu Prison True Monarch Statue responded with a roar, its eyes lighting up with profound and vast divine light.

The divine light was not dazzling but settled heavily like yellow earth, landing instantly at Ning Zhuo’s feet.

Black Stone Plaza shook, a soil-yellow divine domain rose beneath Ning Zhuo’s feet, forming a square-shaped prison! Divine patterns fell from the four sides of the divine domain, the patterns heavy as iron chains, sealing every inch of retreat around Ning Zhuo.

Simultaneously, the Confucian Cultivator Group’s poetry had arrived.