Chapter 276: Ning Zhuo, You Are Finished!

Zhu Xuanji did not show himself, but his spiritual sense penetrated the room, observing the stage.

No one knew the true intention behind Zhu Xuanji's arrangement for Ning Zhuo.

He had at least three layers of thoughts.

One was to verify what was said in the diary and see Ning Zhuo's foundation in controlling the "Fang Qing Clears the Grievance" play.

Another was to use this matter to try to awaken Ning Zhuo and inspire him.

The last one was to use the play itself to admonish Ning Zhuo and give him an ultimatum—the opportunity to turn over a new leaf was right in front of him, right now!

"These are the mechanical puppets Li Leifeng used for performances during his lifetime." Zhu Hou personally stepped onto the stage and handed a set of puppet props to Ning Zhuo.

"Thank you." Ning Zhuo thanked him.

Zhu Hou looked at Ning Zhuo closely, his heart full of curiosity, with a gentle smile on his face: "Young man, work hard!"

Zhu Hou stepped off the stage, and Ning Zhuo began to study the puppets in his hands.

The puppet structure was simple, mainly controlled by pull strings.

When Ning Zhuo was familiarizing himself, human-life hanging threads shot out from the Molten Lava Immortal Palace, landing on the top of Ning Zhuo's head, connecting to his soul.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's voice came through the human-life hanging threads, extremely anxious and urgent: "Young Master, Young Master!"

"It's terrible, that Ning Xiaohui offered the Golden Phoenix Mirror; we are finished, we are finished!"

"Once she has a large amount of merit, she will immediately be able to master the position of the History Pavilion."

"By then, no secrets will be able to be hidden."

Ning Zhuo sighed and responded secretly through the human-life hanging threads: "Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, I can't leave now, I can't get away!"

"Look, this stage is a prison."

"That catcher is eyeing me covetously."

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's voice was shrill, heart-burning with anxiety: "Then what to do, what to do?"

"Think of a way quickly!"

"I told you to think of a way earlier, told you to take action against Ning Xiaohui earlier!"

"Now look, she is about to succeed, but you are outside the Immortal Palace!!"

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit wanted to curse loudly; at a life-and-death juncture, Ning Zhuo actually wanted to perform some puppet show.

Didn't he always have ways? Why had he become so stupid now!

Zhu Xuanji stared at him, and he couldn't move; he had simply become a waste!

"If I had known this, why would I have bet on you?"

"Sigh!"

"I really am blind, blind!"

In the main hall of the Molten Lava Immortal Palace, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit paced back and forth anxiously, spraying fire from time to time.

Ning Zhuo ignored the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit.

On the stage, there were three layers of steps.

He climbed the steps and walked to the highest point, sitting on a round stool.

This was where Li Leifeng often sat during his lifetime.

The round stool was plain, but Ning Zhuo's back was already soaked with sweat, sitting on pins and needles.

His thoughts turned a hundred times; he was very clear that this was Zhu Xuanji putting pressure on him, but at the same time, it was giving him a chance to turn back to the shore!

As long as Ning Zhuo finished performing this puppet show and saw Zhu Xuanji again, he could kneel and cry bitterly, crying that because he was too young, he was favored and supported by evil sect cultivators and got on a pirate ship.

Now, moved by Zhu Xuanji and feeling guilty because he remembered Li Leifeng, he decided to confess his crimes and turn over a new leaf.

By then, Zhu Xuanji would definitely help him up and let him make amends for his crimes.

Ning Zhuo could also completely contact Sun Lingtong again, frame the Voidless Gate, and perform this play well.

"Zhu Xuanji let me get on stage; he is actually giving me a step down. As long as I follow his intention and walk down the stage, it is a prodigal who returns."

"I can be washed clean!"

"In the future, relying on Zhu Xuanji, if I achieve something on the righteous path, when people mention this period, it will also become a good story."

"Just like these various classic plays passed down!"

Ning Zhuo narrowed his eyes, his thoughts overflowing.

When talking to Song Fuli, he saw the second path of life. That path led to the Flying Cloud Kingdom.

And at this moment, he saw the third path of life. This path led to the Southern Bean Kingdom, leading to the imperial court.

Life, it seems, is indeed not just one path.

If he followed Ning Zhuo's plan, he was determined to seize the Molten Lava Immortal Palace, which was undoubtedly opposing Meng Kui and Zhu Xuanji, and opposing the Meng family and the Southern Bean royal family.

"My former life path... can it really succeed?"

"Can I really become the master of the Immortal Palace?"

"Even if I become the master of the Immortal Palace, how to deal with enemies like Meng Kui and Zhu Xuanji?"

"Can I just walk away? Fly away with the Molten Lava Immortal Palace?"

Ning Zhuo couldn't guarantee it for himself; he couldn't estimate the future.

His former life path was full of crises, like throwing himself into endless magma, like committing suicide!

However, if he defected to Zhu Xuanji, it would be different.

Zhu Xuanji appreciated him very much!

Regarding this point, Ning Zhuo could feel it completely.

A thousand-mile horse is common, but a Bole (talent scout) is not.

Relying on Zhu Xuanji, Ning Zhuo would likely soar. Ning Zhuo knew very well Zhu Xuanji's status in the royal family.

There was no lack of Jin Dan cultivators in the Southern Bean royal family, but Zhu Xuanji was the most outstanding one among them.

Cultivation does not represent everything; character, talent, and aptitude are the keys to determining the gap between cultivators.

Ning Zhuo believed that Zhu Xuanji's future was vast and he would surely be an important minister in the Southern Bean court in the future!

"Those who know the times are heroes... the Southern Bean monarch also issued a Recruitment Order."

"If I defect to Zhu Xuanji, perhaps I can continue to compete for the position of Immortal Palace Master. Then follow the Recruitment Order, offer the Immortal Palace, become a Southern Bean courtier, and rely on Zhu Xuanji to rise to the blue clouds!"

"Such a future..."

This was a future Ning Zhuo had never thought of.

Perhaps, just as Zhu Xuanji had just pointed out to him—he was already different.

He was no longer the little thief under the stage; he was already the young master on the stage!

Dong.

On the sides of the stage, the musicians began to play.

A big drum sounded, breaking Ning Zhuo's contemplation.

Then.

Dong dong dong.

The big drum was beaten slowly.

Afterward, the jinghu began to accompany, creating a solemn atmosphere.

The stage creaked, the surface sank, and then a large piece of small mechanical architecture rose, constructing a scene.

The puppet performing was placed in it, with more than a dozen pull strings extending from its limbs.

The pull strings were faint, but after Ning Zhuo injected magic power, the pull strings disappeared, becoming completely transparent, invisible to the naked eye.

Ning Zhuo stretched out ten fingers, all tucked into his sleeves, and began a series of plucking actions.

The tips of his ten fingers were connected to the pull strings, controlling the puppets, and began the first act of the "Fang Qing Clears the Grievance" play.

In the hall, the Fang Qing puppet sat upright.

On the table in front of him, files, a gavel, tokens, and brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were placed.

The Fang Qing puppet opened its mouth, with an air of majesty: "Come, bring the criminal to the hall!"

Two catchers escorted a criminal to the front of the hall, one on the left and one on the right.

The criminal knelt, looking timid, but still pretending to be calm.

This simple appearance alone made the audience feel amazed.

Puppet plays are different from normal combat mechanical puppets; they have many pull strings, which can form more subtle movements and expressions, and even the tone can change with the weight and speed of magic power transmission.

Ning Zhuo controlled these puppets with a high level of skill, making them perform quite naturally, like real people.

The Fang Qing puppet continued to speak, stating the criminal's crimes, detailed and well-founded, very rigorous.

The criminal sang urgently, his tone containing a sense of resentment: "I am just a commoner, and you, Fang Qing, are unworthy of being a high official, questioning me aggressively!"

"In this world, everyone is like this; why only question me alone?"

The Fang Qing puppet sang: "The net of heaven is vast, sparse but not leaking. Regardless of rank, all will be severely punished."

"Heaven's reason is clear; how can you allow yourself to argue?"

"You are only an accomplice; do not harbor luck."

Pa.

The Fang Qing puppet accurately grabbed the gavel on the table and slapped it, making a crisp sound.

Then he shouted: "The evidence is solid, confess the mastermind quickly!"

The criminal puppet lowered its head and remained silent.

The catchers escorted him back down and walked toward the prison.

One push of the door.

Ning Xiaohui walked into the History Pavilion!

She was full of excitement and agitation, not expecting to enter here so quickly and achieve the mission Zhu Xuanji had entrusted to her.

"I succeeded!"

"Although I relied on the Golden Phoenix Mirror, I finally succeeded."

"Hahaha!"

Ning Xiaohui laughed, high-spirited at this moment.

In the History Pavilion, there were countless jade slips.

Ning Xiaohui walked among them, reaching out to touch these jade slips, a smile on her lips, her eyes shining, feeling proud and satisfied.

"From now on, I can also catch the eye of Lord Zhu Xuanji."

"Wonderful, this route of entering the Immortal Palace is the most suitable for me."

"I have grasped this life encounter!"

Ning Xiaohui suppressed her excitement and began to use her position to check the past records of the Molten Lava Immortal Palace.

She thought for a moment, then widened her eyes, discovering an extremely shocking secret.

"A big discovery!"

"That mechanical black snake of the Zheng family actually came from here?"

Ning Xiaohui was full of surprise and continued to investigate.

Not long after, she opened her mouth, extremely shocked.

"Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit! This Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit has a huge problem!"

Ning Xiaohui became extremely excited; at this moment, she finally understood why Zhu Xuanji wanted her to investigate the History Pavilion.

This step was truly too critical!

"As expected of Lord Zhu Xuanji! He must have already suspected, just didn't have evidence."

"I have all the evidence in my hands now; I have made a contribution!"

Ning Xiaohui was flushed with excitement and continued to check.

But next, the flush on her face quickly faded; she was dumbfounded, and her excitement and agitation turned into horror and paleness.

"Ning Zhuo, Ning Zhuo..."

"It was actually you!!!"

"A conspiracy, a huge conspiracy."

"It's too terrible; you actually started acting from the age of two."

"Qi Refining stage, you are only at the Qi Refining stage, yet you dare to plot against the Molten Lava Immortal Palace! It's simply lawless and unforgivable!!"

Ning Xiaohui scolded in her heart.

The truth was terrifying, making her whole body cold to the bone.

But soon, she became extremely excited.

"Ning Zhuo, you criminal, I've caught you!"

"Hahaha, you are that biggest mastermind!"

"You are finished, you are completely finished."

"I want to use you to make my great contribution. How fast, how fast!"

Boom!

The next moment, a loud noise came, and the Molten Lava Immortal Palace shook violently.

Ning Xiaohui couldn't stand steadily, her body staggered, almost falling headfirst.

She became suspicious: "What's going on? What happened?"