Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1591: Chapter 660: Return My Yang Fish_2

The steward’s brow slowly relaxed.

Wang Yu’s lips curled into a faintly mocking smile: "On the contrary, this incident has reminded everyone. Although Ning Zhuo is a newcomer and just arrived, he already has Qinghuangzi, Confucian cultivators, the Zhu Family, Tie Kuang, and Chun Yangzi behind him. Many forces, either openly or secretly, support him. Who would dare treat him as a lone wolf?"

The steward’s eyes revealed understanding.

He recalled when he first heard Ning Zhuo was going to challenge the Three Brave of Xiang Sect, he also felt contempt in his heart.

"I understand now," the steward said softly, "Many people previously thought he was reckless and impulsive, unaware of his own capabilities. Though they admired his responsibility, they looked down on his arrogance and rashness. Now that he has admitted his mistakes and shown the ability to change, his actions command greater respect."

Wang Yu nodded gently: "Exactly."

With a hint of admiration in his eyes, he said, "This lad is doing things smoothly, with excellent control in advancing and retreating. In the art of alchemy, the biggest fear is being stubborn. One degree too much heat ruins it, one degree too little leaves it raw. He cannot rush, nor be timid. If he comes to my Danxia Peak to learn alchemy, he will certainly become skilled."

The steward’s heart was moved.

Wang Yu rarely praised a Foundation Establishment cultivator this way.

After thinking for a moment, he cautiously asked, "Peak Master, regarding that Nascent Soul-level Life-Saving Pill... should we retrieve it?"

Wang Yu’s expression slightly paused.

The fire in the hall gently flickered.

His expression became somewhat strange.

This Life-Saving Pill was originally delivered to Ning Zhuo by Cao Gui. Danxia Peak spread rumors, letting outsiders vaguely know it was related to Wang Yu. After all, matters of favor must be known to the right people.

But at the moment, Ning Zhuo has launched a feint, with the battle agreement not settled on-site, and he’s been taken by Tie Kuang to participate in the trial.

Can the Life-Saving Pill be retrieved?

It cannot be retrieved.

Wang Yu knew too well.

Such a Nascent Soul-level elixir, once given away, asking for it back would damage the face of Danxia Peak’s Peak Master. Moreover, rumors have already been spread. If it’s taken back today, the entire Myriad Images Sect will know tomorrow that Wang Yu half-gave the pill, saw the situation change, and reached back to retrieve it.

That’s not caution.

That’s called being stingy.

Wang Yu’s expression returned to calm: "No need."

A trace of distress flashed in the steward’s eyes: "Really leave it in his hands?"

"Let him keep it." Wang Yu sighed softly and soon waved the steward away.

Left alone, Wang Yu’s gaze settled again on the Purple Sun Refining Furnace.

The flame reflected in his eyes, like two faint glimmers hidden in the depths of Danxia.

He calculated in his heart: "In the coming situation of Nanming Village, Ning Zhuo is already out of the game, at least temporarily out. He dragged the Three Brave of Xiang Sect away, also diverting much attention from Flowing Cloud Peak. But Five Battles Martial Arts won’t stop because Ning Zhuo is trapped."

"If I were Chun Yangzi, I would push the Five Battles Martial Arts event forward rapidly!"

"The fifth battle determines the Solar Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar’s ownership. If Nanming Village wins, it’s most beneficial to me. If it falls into the hands of the Territorial Expansion Alliance, prepared rumors must be immediately released."

Wang Yu understood the extent of Heavy Array Peak’s reach. External affairs, internal affairs, array deployment, layer upon layer, like an invisible array map, has long covered too many places within Myriad Images Sect.

This new piece, Nanming Village, cannot be easily swallowed by Heavy Array Peak.

"This major scheme by Heavy Array Peak must not be allowed to succeed!"

When Chun Yangzi stepped into the Artifact Refining Hall, Yang energy surged out continuously.

He did not conceal his Qi mechanism.

Golden-white Pure Yang magical power seeped from the edges of his robe, exuding a Nascent Soul-level astonishing aura.

"Master Chun Yangzi!" The guardian cultivators quickly stepped forward to salute.

"I have come specifically to see your Hall Master today." Chun Yangzi’s face was stern, his lips pressed tightly, making his demeanor exceptionally imposing.

The guardian cultivator quickly said, "Our Hall Master has already instructed everyone; when you arrive, you may go directly inside."

Chun Yangzi followed the guardian cultivator into the depths of the Artifact Refining Hall.

The stone gate ahead opened, accompanied by Tie Kuang’s hearty laughter: "So quick? I thought you would at least hold out until tomorrow."

"Tie Kuang." Chun Yangzi stood at the door, his gaze heavy, decidedly unfriendly, "You took Ning Zhuo away; my Nanming Village still wants to contend for the Solar Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar. Also, return my Yang Fish!"

Tie Kuang nodded and raised his hand in a call.

A trace of golden light flew from the interior of the stone chamber, transforming into a three-inch golden fish in mid-air. The Yang Fish wagged its tail, golden scales like fragments of sunlight, ink jade eyes serene and deep, becoming noticeably closer as it approached Chun Yangzi.

Chun Yangzi extended his hand.

The Yang Fish swam a circle around his fingers before landing in his palm. The golden glow through his fingers illuminated his palm lines brightly.

The tight string in his heart finally relaxed a bit.

The Yang Fish is the Pure Yang Palace’s sect Spiritual Treasure, even though Pure Yang Palace is now part of Myriad Images Sect, his regard for this treasure exceeds ordinary life. Ning Zhuo was to battle the Three Brave of Xiang Sect, and he gritted his teeth to lend the Yang Fish. Now with Ning Zhuo dragged into the Xingyun Trial, unable to compete within seven days, the Yang Fish must return to his hand.

The Solar Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar is the crucial path for Chun Yangzi right now.

Having retrieved the Yang Fish, his gaze turned again to Tie Kuang: "And the Pure Yang Ancestor Master Pill?"

Tie Kuang replied: "It remains with Ning Zhuo. His decision to fight the Three Brave of Xiang Sect is firm and unchanged. So, he asked me to convey his request for you to allow him to continue leveraging the pill’s power to draw upon the Yang Dao for future preparation."

Chun Yangzi furrowed his brows.

The Pure Yang Ancestor Master Pill!

That pill has been passed through the hands of successive Sect Leaders of Pure Yang Palace, borrowed in youth to open their path, repaid before retiring in some manner. This pill carries not just medicinal power, but the Yang Dao insights of successive Sect Leaders, the palace’s lifespan, the remnants from the Ancestor Master.

Using the Inheritance Pill on outsiders fundamentally violates palace rules.

He previously agreed to make an exception because Ning Zhuo was about to face the Three Brave of Xiang Sect. Winning would greatly enhance Nanming Village’s stature in vying for the Solar Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar. Chun Yangzi could use this valuable holy land to charge into Divinity Transformation. If successful, Pure Yang Palace, even renamed Pure Yang Peak, could truly stand its ground in Myriad Images Sect, possibly gaining semi-independence.

He had calculated this account carefully.

But now Ning Zhuo cannot fight in the short term.

The Yang Fish has been reclaimed, yet the Pure Yang Ancestor Master Pill remains with Ning Zhuo.

"Should it still be left with Ning Zhuo?" Chun Yangzi pondered.

Chun Yangzi harbored no doubt about Ning Zhuo’s determination to battle the Three Brave of Xiang Sect.

Because he was well aware: if Ning Zhuo were to not rescue the Red Robe Guest in the future, not fight the Three Brave of Xiang Sect, his reputation in the Righteous Path would collapse instantly. Ning Zhuo, being smart, would not destroy his own foundation.

This consequence was too significant!

Moreover, Chun Yangzi had witnessed Ning Zhuo making his vow, with the True Words Bell attesting to it.

"Keeping the Pure Yang Ancestor Master Pill with Ning Zhuo does indeed help him in defeating the Three Brave of Xiang Sect in the future."

"Keeping it with me serves no purpose!"

Chun Yangzi couldn’t help but think so.

For him, the biggest hindrance to presenting the Pure Yang Ancestor Master Pill was the first time, as it was for an outsider’s use, violating the master sect’s teachings!

But having broken through the initial barrier, the greatest obstacle was eliminated.

Ning Zhuo’s excellent aptitude in cultivating the Pure Yang Technique also surfaced in his mind, influencing his decisions at this moment.

"Oh, by the way, Ning Zhuo asked me to give you this, it might help you deal with the Heaven-reaching Hook." Tie Kuang said, taking out a human-shaped combat puppet and handing it to Chun Yangzi.

This was a spiritual bamboo puppet.

Approximately the height of a normal person, crafted entirely from green spirit bamboo and intricate mechanical framework. Silver-white clasps adorned its bamboo joints, its chest bore a mechanical seal from the Empty Valley Sound Green Mechanism Tube lineage. With broad shoulders and long arms, it held no long sword, yet razor-sharp blades were concealed alongside its wrist bones, unsheathing with a fierce energy, reserved yet undeniable.

The Humbleheart Broken-Blade Guard.

A Golden Core-level spiritual bamboo puppet.

Tie Kuang: "This is specially lent to you by Ning Zhuo."

"Oh?" Chun Yangzi’s brow slightly arched, his hand resting on the bamboo puppet’s shoulder.

Fine mechanisms within the puppet turned subtly, like bamboo chimes strung along a mountain valley, stirred by the wind.