Chapter 278: I Want to Light This Fire Myself!

The stage creaked, the background buildings slowly sank, and it turned into the next scene.

The audience was silent, already immersed in it.

Only the musicians, some of them playing music while unable to help but look at Unlike Ning Zhuo on the top floor of the stage, felt surprised; this young cultivator really had a hand, his puppet control technique was so skilled and experienced, almost indistinguishable from Li Leifeng's lifetime.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's eyes flashed, his whole body sweating.

Taking advantage of the gap in the stage change, he contacted the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit through the human-life strings: "Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit!"

"I am outside the Xian Gong, and through the human-life strings, influencing Ning Xiaohui to this extent is already the limit."

"Next, I can only rely on you!"

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit roared anxiously: "No, Young Master Unlike Ning Zhuo."

"I am restricted by authority and simply cannot..."

Before it could finish, it was interrupted by Unlike Ning Zhuo: "Sorry, the next act is about to start, and I am currently unable to protect myself."

"On the Xian Gong side, you can only win!"

Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit:...

On the stage, a powerful official's mansion was built, the light dim.

The Jinghu sound was continuous and low.

The powerful official puppet lay on the bed, listening quietly to the Black-Clothed Envoy puppet reporting.

The Black-Clothed Envoy sang: "My Lord, I have persuaded the commoner to frame Fang Qing."

"Framing him in court tomorrow will be a great shame. Fang Qing is upright and will definitely not tolerate him."

"Kill the commoner, and he will fall into the trap."

The powerful official puppet, in an official robe and brocade gown, was lying on the bed with his legs crossed, his head turning slightly, lifelike.

He sang triumphantly: "Well killed, well done. Tomorrow's game is already set. Fang Qing falls into the trap and will find it hard to argue. His righteous reputation will dissipate in one morning. Let's see how he can stand in the court again! Hahaha."

The powerful official laughed.

The lights dimmed, and the Jinghu turned high-pitched.

The stage creaked again, and as the scene changed, Unlike Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, his gaze flickering.

The third act ended, and the fourth act opened.

The stage turned back to the trial hall, the light bright. The Jinghu was urgent, and the gongs and drums sounded together.

The Fang Qing puppet sat upright, slapped the gavel, and sang: "Trial again today, a bright mirror in front of the hall. Who is the true culprit, state it clearly."

The criminal puppet knelt under the hall, and every time he raised his head, there was a light drum sound.

Finally, he gathered his courage, shouted excitedly, and then sang: "Fang Qing, you fake upright official, greedy without limit, harming the people."

"The so-called mastermind is you, killing me to block my mouth, a crime reaching the heavens!"

Clang, clang, clang!

A few gong sounds pulled at the audience's heartstrings.

The Fang Qing puppet stood up in shock.

The Jinghu turned urgently, and Fang Qing sang, suppressing his anger: "Shameless villain, dare to frame me! Daring to the heavens, framing at will!"

He took a long breath: "If I were to use this power today, beheading you would be easy, but I am unwilling."

"Justice needs to be judged, it is only right to judge myself first!"

Immediately, Fang Qing sat down slowly, playing two roles, and finally judged himself as a suspect and temporarily detained him in prison.

"My Lord!" Facing such a trial result, the catchers in the hall exclaimed.

"My Lord!" The people puppets outside the hall exclaimed.

Fang Qing bound his hands, held his head high, and led the catchers to retreat.

The light turned dark, leaving only the criminal puppet alone, covered in a beam of light.

"My Lord..." the criminal puppet chanted, with a crying voice, tears streaming down his face.

Ning Xiaohui was on the verge of breaking down in tears!

She was running crazily on the chaotic battlefield, exerting all her strength to fight for her life!

"Save me!"

"Who can come and save me!!"

She kept calling for help, screaming one after another.

Several times, she was on the verge of life and death. The talent Ice-Fat Jade Hand still had an extraordinary performance at this moment, and it was precisely by relying on it that Ning Xiaohui saved her life.

The Jin Dan cultivators' attention was no longer on her.

Because a massive number of Red Flame beasts were about to drown the History Pavilion!

The three families' Jin Dan cultivators, as well as Zhu Zhen, had all received Zhu Xuanji's solemn instructions beforehand—the History Pavilion is extremely important and must not be lost!

Compared to the History Pavilion, Ning Xiaohui was no longer that important. Especially since Ning Xiaohui had answered the Moon Hook clone: she hadn't had time to read the materials in the History Pavilion at all.

Boom, boom, boom!

Jin Dan-level spells bombarded continuously, killing the Red Flame beasts until their skin was torn and flesh was ripped, falling to the ground one after another.

But there were too many Crimson Flame demonic beasts, replenishing endlessly, like a continuous, surging tide.

"Damn it, having to protect the History Pavilion makes us so restricted! We can't unleash our full strength at all!"

"We must plug the hole in the spherical light barrier as soon as possible, otherwise the Crimson Flame demonic beasts will be endless."

"Damn it, the hole in the light barrier seems to have gotten even bigger!"

The Jin Dan cultivators exchanged words.

Thanks to their desperate efforts to protect the History Pavilion, Yang Chanyu also luckily survived.

She huddled to one side, attacking herself with all her might, trying to remove the marking method others had planted on her.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit could not directly attack Ning Xiaohui, so it could only command the mechanical constructs with all its might, trying its best to drive the Crimson Flame demonic beasts toward Ning Xiaohui's vicinity.

But the Crimson Flame demonic beasts were unruly and stubborn; they often chose to fight the puppet army to the death, making them very difficult to drive.

At the critical moment of life and death, Ning Xiaohui burst forth with 120% of her strength.

She followed a weak point and plunged right in.

Turning a corner, her field of vision suddenly opened up, and she arrived at the Gourd Furnace Forest.

This was not the first time Ning Xiaohui had come here; previously, she had accepted many artifact-refining tasks, and basically all of them were completed here.

The familiar scene gave Ning Xiaohui a spontaneous sense of security.

A Foundation Establishment Crimson Flame demonic beast discovered her and pounced toward her.

Ning Xiaohui fled at high speed.

She subconsciously broke into the furnace forest, and seeing the Crimson Flame demonic beast about to catch up, in her desperation, she chose a silver furnace, opened the furnace door directly, and dove inside!

Bang, bang, bang...

Outside the furnace, the Crimson Flame demonic beast attacked the furnace frantically.

Ning Xiaohui pressed hard against the furnace door and used her Ice-Fat Jade Hands to condense ice blocks, sealing the gaps in the door while simultaneously reinforcing it powerfully.

Ning Xiaohui was on tenterhooks for a good while, and only when the Crimson Flame demonic beast gave up on this place and left did she finally relax.

"Wuwuwu..."

She sat down, and the joy and lingering fear after her narrow escape impacted her body and mind, making her unable to stop herself from covering her face and weeping.

The criminal puppet was also crying.

On the stage, the fifth act had already begun.

Fang Qing's choices and actions had thoroughly reformed the criminal puppet.

Both of them were locked in a prison cell, separated by an aisle.

The criminal wept and recounted everything, clarifying the whole truth to Fang Qing, exposing the treacherous official, and expressing his willingness to plead guilty and accept the law.

Fang Qing sighed deeply and sang: "A prodigal who returns is worth more than gold; recognize yourself, and your heart will remain pure and unconfused."

"You have confessed your guilt and sincerely repented; this world will surely hold a place for you."

"Do not lose your true self again; reorganize your efforts, walk the righteous path, and your life has already been renewed!"

As Unlike Ning Zhuo performed up to this point, his heart was touched!

He understood Zhu Xuanji's meaning.

Zhu Xuanji was urging him to surrender and walk the righteous path.

"Can I really walk this path?" Unlike Ning Zhuo asked himself.

His gaze flickered constantly, and a look of hesitation appeared on his face.

The puppet show continued.

The commoner puppets gathered, waving flags and shouting, petitioning on behalf of Fang Qing.

The puppet playing the deity was also moved and descended to the world to seek an audience with the monarch.

The matter caused a huge stir, known throughout the country, and the monarch decided to personally try the case.

The powerful official found out and immediately dispatched black-clad messengers to kill the criminal in the prison, leaving no evidence!

The powerful official then actively fabricated charges, trying his best to frame Fang Qing.

The sixth act began.

In the Golden Throne Hall, Fang Qing and the powerful official confronted each other.

The powerful official was fully prepared, and Fang Qing was at an absolute disadvantage.

The monarch had long been prepared; he clapped his hands and summoned the Pure White True Fire.

This was one of the seven great flames, capable of burning away hypocrisy and, to a certain extent, distinguishing truth from falsehood.

The monarch sang: "Since you two cannot agree, please enter the fire for examination."

"Who is true and who is false will be clear at a glance."

The powerful official hesitated and sang: "Proving oneself in the fire is extremely dangerous. Word of mouth is not necessarily accurate..."

Unexpectedly, Fang Qing leaped out and dove into the fire.

At this point, the play reached its climax!

The jinghu fiddle turned sharply, the gongs and drums thundered, and the audience subconsciously held their breath.

On the stage, white flames with a faint clear light enveloped the Fang Qing puppet, burning fiercely.

Such a special flame made Fang Qing look extremely conspicuous and eye-catching.

At this moment, he was the only protagonist on the stage.

Fang Qing sang loudly in the fire!

"To wash away this injustice, I shall use the blazing flames to sever falsehood."

"My heart is open and honest, with nothing to be ashamed of before heaven and earth; why fear death, why fear the scorching fire!"

"This is—"

"This heart is as clear as the sun and moon,"

"Willing to be consumed for the sake of purity."

"Life and death are but matters of a morning or evening,"

"The original intention remains unchanged, with eternal majesty!"

On the stage, the firelight burned brightly.

The clear white firelight shone on Unlike Ning Zhuo's face; for a moment, he was actually somewhat dazed.

Lava Xian Gong, inside the main hall.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's massive body pressed hard against the doors and the roof, and the firelight it emitted illuminated every corner of the main hall.

It roared, it shouted, and it yelled to Unlike Ning Zhuo: "Young Master! Young Master!!"

On the battlefield surrounding the History Pavilion.

The firelight from the Crimson Flame demonic beasts reflected on the bodies of the various Jin Dan cultivators.

The chaotic battle continued.

The Jin Dan cultivators formed a tight defensive line, and the battle fell into a stalemate.

Zhu Xuanji stood by the window, looking down at Unlike Ning Zhuo on the stage.

"Unlike Ning Zhuo, do not let me down!" The golden light in his eyes represented his expectations.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's gaze flickered; he couldn't help but think—perhaps he too could wash away his sins in this Pure White True Fire!

He wouldn't need to hide or disguise himself, wouldn't need to bear such heavy, mountain-like pressure; he could walk with his head held high in the bright light. He would walk with ease.

He sat on the high platform, looking at the audience below, seeing everything clearly.

"Is this the perspective of the old Master Li Leifeng back then? No wonder he was able to discover me as a child."

"Now, I have also sat in this position."

"Perhaps, I can keep sitting here, in this bright and beautiful place..."

"Hmm?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo's expression shifted slightly; in a trance, he saw his former self.

As if crossing more than ten years of time, the current Unlike Ning Zhuo saw the past Unlike Ning Zhuo.

That small body, hiding in a dark corner, drooling at the guests' pastries. Whenever someone's gaze swept over, he would subconsciously shrug his shoulders and shrink his head. It was like, like...

A thief.

Unlike Ning Zhuo narrowed his eyes and looked more closely.

In a trance, the child's face was not his, but Sun Lingtong's!

A scene from his memory rushed to his heart.

Unlike Ning Zhuo secretly snuck into the prison to rescue Sun Lingtong.

"Boss, you've failed again this time," Unlike Ning Zhuo said with a wry smile.

Sun Lingtong laughed, "Oops, I got caught. Thanks, little brother!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo shook his head: "If you ask me, why do you always have to steal? It's not like we don't have money now."

Sun Lingtong used his palm as a pillow, swaggered across the prison door, and while walking out, said: "I'm a thief. If I don't go steal things, what am I supposed to do?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo continued to shake his head, not understanding: "Even if you steal, there's no need to seal your cultivation, right?"

Sun Lingtong said: "Don't you feel that this is very exciting?"

"I'm already at the Foundation Establishment stage. With my true strength, unless it's those Jin Dan levels, stealing from anyone else is no difficulty."

"So, I have to seal my cultivation."

"These peaceful days are really hard to endure; I need some challenges to keep me from being so bored!"

Speaking of this, Sun Lingtong stopped, looked at Unlike Ning Zhuo, and said earnestly: "You can understand, right? You are the same kind of person as I am."

Unlike Ning Zhuo raised his eyebrows and shouted: "How is that possible?! This kind of deliberate risk-taking is simply too stupid."

"Ah, you actually called me, your boss, stupid?!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo hurriedly waved his hands: "I accidentally spoke my true thoughts, ah, no, Boss, Boss, listen to my explanation!"

Sun Lingtong leaped up and yelled strangely: "Take this chestnut, you brat!"

Another scene from his memory surfaced.

Under the moonlight, two youths were washing their hands by a small river in the Immortal City.

That was the first time Unlike Ning Zhuo had taken a human life.

The blood flowed rapidly down the river and was quickly diluted; by the time it passed the stone bridge forty steps away, almost nothing could be seen.

Sun Lingtong told him: "Every time I go out to steal, I tell myself before the action that I might not come back this time, that I might lose my life."

"If this is the result of my life's gamble, I accept it."

"I am always prepared to accept my own death, even if it's in the next second."

"This is my resolve!"

"What about your resolve?"

The leaves on both banks swayed slightly under the night breeze.

The silvery-white moonlight spilled onto the river surface, creating shimmering ripples, like countless tiny diamonds dancing on the water.

The ripples of the river water swayed in Unlike Ning Zhuo's eyes.

When he came back to his senses, he was still sitting high on the stage, with countless cultivators and celebrities below, and the Fang Qing puppet on the stage was still bathed in the clear white flames.

Silent tears flowed down Unlike Ning Zhuo's cheeks.

"Oh?" Zhu Xuanji keenly noticed this scene and immediately revealed a look of gratification.

"Unlike Ning Zhuo! Unlike Ning Zhuo!!" The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit roared in Unlike Ning Zhuo's ear.

It was strange.

Just now, he had completely blocked out this voice.

But in fact, he had heard all of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's roars.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit told Unlike Ning Zhuo everything that was happening in the Lava Xian Gong.

"Boss Sun." Unlike Ning Zhuo contacted Sun Lingtong through the Human Life Hanging Thread.

Sun Lingtong was pleasantly surprised: "Little brother, you finally have some movement!"

"The battlefield situation right now is like this..."

Unlike Ning Zhuo interrupted him: "I know."

Sun Lingtong: "Shall we act?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo: "Boss, thank you."

Sun Lingtong: "What?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo smiled silently: "I mean, act."

Sun Lingtong's eyes suddenly brightened: "Alright!"

Inside the furnace, Ning Xiaohui gradually stabilized her emotions.

"I didn't die, I survived!"

"Hehehe, Hahaha!"

"The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit has limitations after all; it can only borrow external forces, it cannot kill me directly."

"After passing this, I will take the initiative to go to the Jin Dan ancestor for help; I want to report the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, I want to report Unlike Ning Zhuo!"

"I want to... what is this?!"

Poof.

With a soft sound, flames suddenly began to burn inside the furnace.

Ning Xiaohui's pupils suddenly shrank to the size of needle points!

She hurriedly dodged and rushed toward the furnace door.

She tried her best to push.

The furnace door didn't budge at all.

Faint chanting of Buddhist scriptures could be heard.

"Who, who is outside?!"

The temperature rose rapidly, and the inside of the furnace turned bright red.

"Let me go, let me go, I beg you, spare my life."

"I'll give you whatever you want!"

"I can't die, I clearly already discovered the truth."

"I don't want to die, I really don't want to die!!"

Ning Xiaohui wailed for mercy, struggling in despair.

She used all her might to activate her innate Ice-Fat Jade Hands, creating huge ice blocks inside the furnace to linger on in a desperate struggle.

Over at the History Pavilion, it had reached a critical moment.

The mechanical constructs drove them with all their might, and a large number of Crimson Flame demonic beasts formed a frenzy, submerging the Jin Dan cultivators' magic array.

The magic array covered the History Pavilion!

"Young Master Unlike Ning Zhuo, this is the moment!" The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit roared.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's gaze was cold and stern as he performed his duties as the Artillery Tower Chief.

The Five Elements Artillery Tower rose again, and after the cannons were charged, they fired with a boom, hitting the small mountain piled up by the demonic beasts.

Boom!

Countless demonic beasts died miserably, turning into fly ash in the explosion of the cannonballs condensed from Five Elements spiritual power.

The magic array shattered.

"We can't defend anymore!"

"We can't hold it!!"

"Retreat quickly."

The Jin Dan cultivators had no choice; in order to protect themselves, they could only retreat.

Boom, boom, boom!

Continuous artillery fire covered the magic array and the History Pavilion.

The Crimson Flame demonic beasts were almost completely wiped out, and the original site of the History Pavilion had become a ruin.

What historical records?

Not even slag was left!

"I succeeded!!" The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit looked up and roared, extremely excited.

The next moment, a guillotine condensed from flames descended from the sky, following its neck, and chopped its dragon head straight off!

Gourd Furnace Forest.

Under the terrifying high temperature, the ice blocks created by the Ice-Fat Jade Hands only lasted for a dozen breaths.

Ning Xiaohui's corpse turned into fly ash in the flames, leaving behind specks of spirituality that danced like fireflies.

There was no more genius of the Ning family's main branch, no more Ice-Fat Jade Hands.

The entire furnace returned to tranquility.

The flames were like a quiet dancer, slowly stretching out a soft posture.

Red-orange firelight filled the furnace, revealing warm and tranquil colors.

On the stage, Unlike Ning Zhuo's expression also became tranquil.

The clear white flames reflected in his eyes, burning away his hesitation, burning away his luck, burning away his timidity, and burning away his humbleness.

The play "Fang Qing Clears His Name" reached its conclusion.

Fang Qing stepped out of the flames, bringing the Pure White True Fire before the powerful official.

The powerful official retreated repeatedly, but was still enveloped by the firelight, and in an instant, he was burned to fly ash.

"I also yearn to be illuminated by the firelight."

"If one day, I am careless and bring fire upon myself, ultimately playing with fire and burning myself..."

"Then, I hope this fire is one I lit with my own hands!"