Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 974: Chapter 350: The Visit (Part 2)

"Especially the first time." Su Lingkou shook his head, full of disdain, "Liu Fu actually used sword Qi to attack worms, utterly foolish!"

Shen Xi smiled slightly: "I can understand him. The methods of Gu Cultivators are always strange and unusual. Liu Fu chose to deal with these worms first, which is considered a safe move."

"It’s just that he misjudged; Chen Er is not a Gu Cultivator, he must have mastered some cooking skills."

A bystander’s clarity.

Shen Xi noticed the details and identified that the old cook was not scattering Gu insects, but glutinous rice.

Su Lingkou: "Liu Fu is going to lose. This Chen Er should be Ning Zhuo’s countermeasure."

"He hides the real experts within. Yu Heye’s subordinate challenges failing won’t let it rest peacefully. Ultimately, it’s very likely it could lead Yu Heye to take action personally."

"Mm." Shen Xi nodded.

He focused on the match, pointing toward the old cook: "Cousin, I need to investigate him."

Shen Xi needed to determine whether the old cook was hired by Ning Zhuo at a high price or was one of Ning Zhuo’s own subordinates. There is a huge difference between these two.

Just as he finished speaking, the old cook executed a winning blow, severely injuring Liu Fu.

After winning, the old cook did not leave the Martial Arts Hall. Next, there was a second match, a third match.

Since it was a concentrated challenge, the Martial Arts Hall arranged the contest between Ning Zhuo’s and Yu Heye’s subordinates together.

The second match featured one tall and one short contestant.

The tall one gave a loud shout, his muscles knotting like ancient tree roots, as he pounded his fists into the ground.

An Earth Python broke through the ground, charging towards the short one.

The short one chuckled lightly, agile beyond compare, directly leaping onto the back of the Earth Python, making a frontal charge towards the tall one.

The tall one snorted coldly, throwing out over a dozen talismans that ignited instantly.

The talismans turned into numerous stone cones, shooting towards the short one. The short one’s speed soared, leaving afterimages, crashing headlong into the midst of the stone cones.

Amidst the barrage of stone cones, he continuously shifted, weaving left and right, evading every attack and pouncing in front of the tall one.

The tall one, skilled in long-range spell fighting, was quickly overwhelmed by the short one’s dagger-wielding close attack.

Seeing the unfavorable situation, the tall one could only concede defeat.

The third match, fourth match, fifth match...

Yu Heye’s side ended up losing every match!

The one-sided results filled Su Lingkou with astonishment.

Shen Xi’s eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Where did Ning Zhuo find these experts? Cousin, check every one of them thoroughly to find out their identities."

He realized he had underestimated Ning Zhuo’s strength, and thought to himself: "This person deserves a reassessment."

In the late afternoon.

"All defeated?" In the Cultivation Room, Yu Heye suddenly looked up, eyes wide, staring at Liu Fu.

Liu Fu’s face was deathly pale as he hesitantly recounted the details.

At the end, he handed Yu Heye an invitation letter once more.

The invitation was still from Ning Zhuo!

Yu Heye frowned deeply, staring at the invitation. After a brief silence, his brow unfurrowed, revealing a smile: "A mere Foundation Establishment, hehe."

Ning Zhuo’s image in his mind had slightly shifted.

Although still a mere small-time Foundation Establishment cultivator, there seemed to be a force behind him that required more attention in terms of overall strength.

Of course, it wasn’t too much attention.

Yu Heye knew clearly that the cultivators attached to him were not that outstanding in strength.

He was primarily cultivating the "Reverse Five Elements Demon Technique," and his physical condition had long been deteriorating and he had to risk breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage.

If a Foundation Establishment Stage elite wanted to attach to a stronger force, they certainly wouldn’t choose him.

A flame rose from the palm, burning the invitation to ashes.

Yu Heye shook his hand and looked at Liu Fu: "The other party came prepared, so it’s understandable that you were caught off guard and lost."

He did not blame them but instead provided Liu Fu and the others with a way out.

"Since this is the case, let’s pave the way."

"Ning Zhuo wants to gather loose cultivators on a large scale to settle here, and a key part is the cultivator in the Internal Affairs Hall helping him."

"Warnings, threats, or bribery; in any case, securing this key person could very likely thwart Ning Zhuo."

Yu Heye began to brainstorm.

He had known this was how Ning Zhuo operated, therefore recognizing one of the key points in this action.

As long as it’s broken, it could cause considerable interference for Ning Zhuo.

But the next moment, Liu Fu revealed a bitter smile: "My lord, we have just found the cultivator from the Internal Affairs Hall cooperating with Ning Zhuo."

"His surname is Cao, called Cao Gui."

Yu Heye immediately frowned: "That Cao?"

Liu Fu was a long-time follower of his; otherwise, Yu Heye would not have entrusted him with the task of expelling the cultivators.

Liu Fu nodded.

Yu Heye’s frown deepened: "It seems the other side came prepared."

Years ago, he offended someone from the main peak, specifically the Cao Family. To solve this problem, he almost exhausted his fortune.

Even though the Cao Family did not take action against him, he could not contend for the position of Golden Core True Transmission—how could the Cao Family let an enemy become a Sect’s True Inheritance?

Ning Zhuo’s early intelligence gathering, the money wasn’t spent in vain.

This path is blocked, so Yu Heye thought of another way: "The fact that these people are being used by Ning Zhuo is a bit odd. Go investigate your opponents and find a way to buy them off."

Due to the involvement of someone from the Cao Family, Yu Heye was even more reluctant to make any big moves.

He would rather spend money to resolve trouble.

Liu Fu nodded and went off to carry out his orders.

Half a day later.

Su Lingkou, feeling dejected, reported back to Shen Xi.

Shen Xi slightly raised his brow: "You’re saying you couldn’t investigate them at all?"

Su Lingkou nodded: "Yes, it’s like they appeared out of nowhere."

Shen Xi displayed a heavy expression.

Bringing some outsiders into the Myriad Images Sect was not uncommon.

Since they weren’t loose cultivators, this implies Ning Zhuo has the backing of a force.

Ning Zhuo’s image in Shen Xi’s mind was immediately shrouded in a veil of mystery.

Liu Fu also reported a similar response to Yu Heye.

After dismissing Liu Fu, Yu Heye was silent in contemplation.

This part was not a flaw either.

Like Shen Xi, Yu Heye once again raised his evaluation of Ning Zhuo.

"Why is this person going to such great lengths to complicate matters for me? Just because I expelled him and cost him face?" Yu Heye was puzzled.

Resolving the mystery would be simple, just confronting Ning Zhuo directly would suffice.

However...

He had burned the invitation!

Just as Yu Heye was feeling regret, his eyes suddenly focused. A letter of invitation was resting quietly beside him.

??!!

The shock was extraordinary for Yu Heye.

He had no idea when the invitation was placed beside him.

If the other party could send an invitation so casually, he could just as easily approach and take his life?

"Ning Zhuo, which force are you backed by?!"

Yu Heye opened the invitation and read it quickly.

The content was simple, Ning Zhuo requesting a visit to Yu Heye for a mutual exchange on the "Reverse Five Elements Demon Technique."

Yu Heye laughed in anger: "A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator wanting to discuss with me, a late-stage Golden Core?"

This attitude of equal exchange left Yu Heye feeling quite annoyed.

Yet this time, he ultimately did not tear up the invitation.

After some contemplation, he again summoned Liu Fu: "Arrange it; tomorrow, I will entertain Ning Zhuo with good wine and dishes."

Liu Fu: "Yes."

The next day.

Ning Zhuo arrived punctually at the Panshi Cave Mansion as agreed.

He was full of courtesy, addressing Yu Heye as ’senior,’ which calmed the latter’s emotions considerably.

After some pleasantries, Ning Zhuo frankly stated he didn’t intend to get tangled in this matter, that he would prefer to take ten pieces of Spirit Stone to choose another Cave Mansion for convenience. But Shen Xi approached him with another urgent matter.

As for what "urgent matter," Ning Zhuo briefly explained.

"I see." Yu Heye stroked his beard with a neutral expression.

Ning Zhuo: "So, please rest assured, Senior Yu. Although I borrowed the power of the Cao Family, this matter isn’t caused by the Cao Family using me to trouble you."

Words often need to be heard in reverse.

This means if Ning Zhuo really wanted to deal with Yu Heye, he could fully utilize this power at a deeper level.

Yu Heye cast a deep glance at Ning Zhuo: "What do you intend?"

Ning Zhuo, however, changed the subject: "Lately, I have been researching the ’Reverse Five Elements Demon Technique’ and have a number of doubts, which I would like to consult with you, Senior."

Yu Heye snorted coldly, tired of Ning Zhuo beating around the bush, yet he still stroked his beard, raised his head slightly: "Ask away, then."