"Tell him not to let Cang Yazi’s alliance happen. I won’t allow it!"
The subordinate quickly nodded, "Understood, Peak Master."
Rumors about Ning Zhuo forming an alliance, pushed secretly by Chen San, grew increasingly widespread.
Jiang Ping, Wang Yu’s disciple, learned of it, revealing an expression of admiration.
"Ning Zhuo’s methods are truly outstanding, making creditors work for him. I can’t match that!"
"No wonder Master values him so much."
Alchemy Hall, underground cultivation room.
The stone door was tightly shut, inside only a stone bed and a low table.
Shen Hongyao sat cross-legged on the stone bed, her plain clothes scattered, her face slightly leaner.
Array patterns lit up.
"Steward Shen, the meal is here." The voice from outside carried a flattering tone.
Shen Hongyao snorted coldly.
"Please enjoy, Steward. I will collect it in half an hour."
The transmission array activated, and out of thin air, a meal box appeared on the low table, containing today’s spirit food.
Shen Hongyao: "Wait, tell me what new things have happened outside."
Ever since she was eliminated in the Nanming Fire Furnace’s small trial, she was punished with confinement in the Alchemy Hall due to the furnace explosion.
Staying in the stone chamber all day, unable to leave, she could only cultivate behind closed doors, which made Shen Hongyao feel quite lonely and bored.
The cultivator delivering meals was the only person she could interact with, naturally she wouldn’t miss the opportunity.
The cultivator was also willing to seize this chance to draw closer to Shen Hongyao, as she was, after all, a steward at the Alchemy Hall.
The chat couldn’t last long, and soon, the cultivator voluntarily left.
Shen Hongyao was alone again in the chamber, starting to eat the spiritual meal.
She deliberately chewed loudly, making the spoon, chopsticks, and bowl clash noisily to dispel the silence of the stone chamber.
However, the more noise there was, the more annoyed Shen Hongyao became.
She threw the spoon into the soup bowl, making a crisp sound, causing the spirit soup to splash everywhere.
"Ning Zhuo..." Shen Hongyao frowned. She had just learned through idle chat that Ning Zhuo planned to gather creditors and establish an alliance to venture into Flowing Cloud Peak.
Shen Hongyao’s chest heaved irregularly, holding plicated emotions towards Ning Zhuo.
She had pinned her hopes on acquiring the Nanming Fire Furnace to advance further in the Alchemy Hall. She failed, and Ning Zhuo was the only victor.
Now Ning Zhuo, relying on the furnace, was thriving and continued to shine, while she was confined here, sitting on the cold bench.
Why was it like this?
"I only caused one furnace explosion, not the first time. Why is the punishment so severe this time?"
Shen Hongyao’s face was gloomy, her heart filled with discontent.
"This is likely Jiang Ping’s suppression of me. Just an excuse to confine me, warning me not to covet his stuff."
"I truly envy you, Ning Zhuo." At this moment, Shen Hongyao almost felt jealous.
She envied his freedom, envied his carefree manner, envied his ability to act independently.
pared to him, the Alchemy Hall was like a cage!
Ancient Tomb Black Market.
Cloud Wanderer’s stall was as inconspicuous as ever.
His friend, the middle-aged cultivator who had persuaded him to participate in the furnace’s small trial, arrived at the stall smiling, "You returned so quickly? Why not stay a few more days at the sect?"
Cloud Wanderer shrugged casually, "It’s too noisy there, not suitable for me. It’s quieter here."
The middle-aged cultivator paused, "Regarding the furnace, it’s not that your skill is lacking, but your financial resources are insufficient. Heard you spent your savings on it?"
Cloud Wanderer: "Just repairing the furnace a little, contributing to this Pill Furnace makes me happy."
"That Ning Zhuo, although I’ve never interacted, should be quite good. A cultivator who can use the White Rainbow Righteousness Festival can’t be bad. The furnace falling into his hands was the right choice."
The middle-aged cultivator hesitated briefly.
Cloud Wanderer chuckled, "I know what you want to ask. Yes, the Alchemy Hall contacted me, expressed their intent to have me return. But I refused."
"You..." The middle-aged cultivator was taken aback.
Cloud Wanderer showed a knowing smile, "I understand your thoughts. Even if the petition for the furnace fails, my performance will put me back in their sights, reminding them that the Alchemy Hall still has me."
"But my old friend."
"In my view, the Alchemy Hall is no different from a cage, the rules too rigid, the higher the position the fewer the slots, too many people fighting for it."
"Ah! You, you." The middle-aged cultivator shook his head and sighed.
After exchanging a few words, before leaving, the middle-aged cultivator said, "Oh, by the way. Ning Zhuo plans to use the fire furnace as a selling point, gather creditors, and form an alliance to occupy Flowing Cloud Peak. He’s just Foundation Establishment, yet so bold and progressive. You’re too much of a Cloud Wanderer, you could use some of that enterprising spirit."
"You’re one of his creditors too. Want to join in the excitement?"
Cloud Wanderer shook his head weakly, "Too troublesome, won’t go."
"I’m leaving, I’m leaving." The middle-aged cultivator waved, not looking back.
In his heart, however, he decided to send a messenger to represent Cloud Wanderer and connect with Ning Zhuo, at least to confirm the debt.
The Confucian Cultivator Group of Myriad Images Sect remained focused on Ning Zhuo.
The affairs of Zhao Hansheng and Qin De had dealt quite a blow to them, and the public attention stirred by the Nanming Fire Furnace’s small trial shifted focus away from them, relieving some pressure.
Chu Xuangu: "The details in these reports are so thorough, they must be true. Ning Zhuo really plans to do this?"
Li Guanyu: "This is indeed something he could achieve."
Nangong Zhi: "This is a big matter, I have already sent a letter to Wen Ruanyu."
Situ Gu: "Ning Zhuo is ultimately not a Confucian Cultivator; what, do you intend to get involved?"
Duanmu Zhang: "Ning Zhuo is young and ambitious, brave enough to involve himself in the situation. On the day the alliance is established, we’ll send someone to witness."
As the days drew closer, more related news began to spread.
"Ning Zhuo has already booked the Heavenly Treasure Building to hold the alliance ceremony?" Ban Jie learned this information and frowned deeply.
Her temples had Mystic Copper Eyebrow Nails embedded as gear axes, whirring and rotating.
"Such actions, there’s an eight or nine chance of it being true."
"The question now is, exactly how many creditors has he reached agreements with secretly, giving him the confidence to book the Heavenly Treasure Building?"
"How should our family respond?"
The more Ban Jie thought, the more her head hurt.
Ning Zhuo was Ban Ji’s King’s mand Human Tribulation, if he truly succeeded in forming an alliance, then Ban Ji would face a heap of creditors dealing with Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo’s move was too clever, making many Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators his shields.
Since receiving this information, Ban Jie hoped from the bottom of her heart it was false, just rumors.
But as the days drew nearer she realized that hope was futile, she had to face this harsh reality!
"Ning Zhuo forming an alliance, can we counterjoin?"
Ban Jie’s first thought arose only to be dismissed.
Ning Zhuo did it excellently, gaining great attention but little resentment. His true enemies were few.
The most likely cultivator Ban Jie thought to ally with was Pi Fujie’s the Pi Family, but persuading Pi Fujie to oppose Ning Zhuo’s alliance? The chance was minuscule, let alone with anyone else.
"For now, I’ll seek the family’s help." Ban Jie thought this, when a family messenger visited.
The messenger brought a treasure and relayed the family’s message: "Our clan is focusing on repairing the Clan Fate Mechanism Chain, a priority. Leave Ning Zhuo to Ban Ji. This treasure will aid Ban Ji’s growth!"
And so.
When Ban Jie brought the treasure to Ban Ji, Ban Ji greeted her with a triumphant smile, "Strange, how did you know yesterday I used up the Hundred Refinement Golden Body Pill, thoroughly absorbed it, and my strength surged immensely?"
"What about Ning Zhuo?"
"This time if I face him in battle, chances of victory will increase by twenty percent!"
Ban Jie paused, "The situation is plicated..."
Reviews
All reviews (0)