Chapter 718: What on Earth Are You Four Doing?!

"That's enough, stop, youth." Song Taosheng waited for a while longer, seeing that Ning Zhuo had no intention of stopping at all, and finally spoke again to call Ning Zhuo to stop.

Ning Zhuo's thighs were bloody and mangled, and after being reminded, he opened his eyes, stunned for a moment, and only then realized that he had already won.

Song Taosheng was amiable to Ning Zhuo, asking for Ning Zhuo's name while casting a healing spell.

The wounds on Ning Zhuo's body began to recover rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

This recovery speed made a different color flash in Song Taosheng's eyes, secretly thinking: "This junior's physical foundation is not bad!"

Ning Zhuo bowed to Song Taosheng, first thanking him, and then respectfully answered his name.

Song Taosheng took out three ink sticks and a jade slip.

"You are the winner this time. This is Bitter Ink, and this is a Qi-gathering method created by the old man himself, named 'Songtao Nourishing Qi Art'. These two are the prizes this time."

Song Taosheng urged his magic power, letting the prizes float in front of Ning Zhuo.

After Ning Zhuo thanked him again, under the envious gaze of everyone, he took them with both hands.

He looked at the rewards in his hand.

The jade slip recording the cultivation method was put aside for the time being, and the Bitter Ink was the first time he had seen it.

This ink stick was not pure black, but a bitter brown, deep and restrained, as if absorbing endless night.

It smelled slightly of the bitter scent of pine and cypress.

It was very heavy; Ning Zhuo felt the ink stick was as hard as mysterious iron in his hand.

Song Taosheng looked Ning Zhuo up and down, not concealing his appreciation, stroked his beard and said: "It's a pity that you have achieved Foundation Establishment, otherwise with your temperament, practicing Confucianism would have a bright future."

"Forget it, I will give you another opportunity."

Saying that, Song Taosheng waved his sleeves lightly, and the gate of the Wen Temple opened immediately.

Facing the dense pine sea outside the door, he opened his five fingers and grabbed it virtually.

The Songtao Nourishing Qi Art was immediately activated, allowing him to capture a gust of literary wind.

Song Taosheng cast the literary wind onto Ning Zhuo: "This is the effect of the Songtao Nourishing Qi Art. Even if you are not a Confucian cultivator, you can use it. You can experience the use of literary wind well. If you achieve success in cultivation in the future, you are allowed to come to this mountain peak at any time to absorb the pine wave wind here."

Ning Zhuo immediately showed joy and thanked him again.

"Alright, you may return." Song Taosheng waved his sleeves and sent the guests away directly.

The second and third place Confucian cultivators immediately showed disappointment; they were still holding on to the fluke mentality, expecting the top three to have rewards.

However, the winner-takes-all Xingyun Trial is not uncommon.

The crowd poured out of the temple through the Wen Temple gate.

Some left directly, while others approached Ning Zhuo and greeted him actively.

Ning Zhuo did not refuse anyone, with a smile on his face, making friends widely.

After being busy for a while, Ning Zhuo saw that Bai Jiyun, Liu Fushu, and Kong Ran had been waiting for him, so he was happy to walk with the three.

Bai Jiyun was gentle and indifferent, smiled freely, and praised directly: "Ning Fellow Daoist's will is admirable!"

Liu Fushu also lost convincingly this time, nodded when he heard the words, and reminded Ning Zhuo with envy: "As far as I can see, Ning Zhuo Fellow Daoist, you already have two top spots in the Xingyun Trial. If you have one more top spot, you can go to the registration office and change to a different identity token."

Bai Jiyun nodded and added: "This must be done as soon as possible. The entire Myriad Phenomena Sect is watching. If Ning Brother can change to a stone token at this time, it can be said to be showing his head."

Kong Ran: "I heard that Situ Xing has already obtained three top spots and has a stone token."

"Ning Brother, if you work hard, you still have a chance."

"But pay attention to time. If the time drags on, more people will get stone tokens, and it won't be rare and prominent."

According to the rules of the Myriad Phenomena Sect, in the Xingyun Trial, the identity tokens of cultivators will be continuously changed. Wood token, stone token, copper token,

iron token, silver token, gold token, until jade token. Each level of identity token represents the affirmation of the Myriad Phenomena Sect for the cultivator's present and future.

"Okay, I will work hard!" Ning Zhuo nodded.

He couldn't help asking himself in his heart: At present, should I show my head?

Others feel that he should work hard to strive for it, but Ning Zhuo knows his own strength, and plotting a top spot is not difficult.

"The problem is, is it appropriate for me to stand out now?"

Ning Zhuo is also paying attention to the latest intelligence at all times.

Currently, several cultivators have changed to stone tokens, and Situ Xing is indeed one of them.

"Confucian cultivators should hope that I can get a stone token."

"But in my opinion, people like Shen Xi and Lin Jinglong have not really exerted their strength, but let Situ Xing show up first."

"Is it really good for me to show my head now? What will be the loss, and what will be the gain?"

For this question, Ning Zhuo pondered all the way.

All the way back to the Blue Stone Cave Mansion, he didn't ponder it out.

Ning Zhuo himself also knew the reason: "I have no grasp of the specific internal situation of the Myriad Phenomena Sect. I am a newcomer, and many situations have not been figured out, and I haven't even met a real high-level person."

The big-headed youth has at most mixed in the immortal city, and this is the first time he has participated in such a super sect. Especially since the Myriad Phenomena Sect is a very large one among many super sects.

The group of Confucian cultivators is secretly supporting Ning Zhuo, but they are only middle-level, and they are deliberately keeping a safe distance from Ning Zhuo. It is impossible to have close communication at all.

Qing Huangzi is a loose cultivator, Jin Dan level. In Ning Zhuo's view: his positioning should be about the same as his mother Meng Yaoyin when she was alive.

Wen Ruanyu is a Confucian cultivator who has been stationed outside for many years, and he is still under house arrest now.

Yang Sanyan, as an important member of the Punishment Hall, may have a whip-and-fathom understanding of the internal situation of the sect, but he is still in the White Paper Immortal City.

"Mother still had friends when she was alive, and left a message in the jade slip before, letting me seek help."

Ning Zhuo thought of this line again.

But now, approaching rashly will only bring trouble.

The reason for this is still in the White Paper Immortal City.

With Wen Ruanyu's debriefing, the high-level officials of the Myriad Phenomena Sect must have a deep understanding of the current situation of the White Paper Immortal City, and now they already know Meng Yaoyin's huge influence in the immortal city.

Now, Ning Zhuo appears as the son of Meng Yaoyin and approaches others, which easily arouses suspicion and vigilance.

All this is too coincidental!

Ning Zhuo thought from another perspective: if he faced the son of an old friend, the first thing he would think of is—which high-level official moved crooked brains, wanting to use this entry point to gamble on the huge interests of the White Paper Immortal City?

Since these cannot be grasped, Ning Zhuo can only put it down first.

"In the final analysis, being strong yourself is the most practical."

"I need to improve my cultivation!"

"If I become a Jin Dan, no, even if it is late-stage Foundation Establishment, dealing with things will be more calm than now."

Ning Zhuo's cultivation is currently stuck on the Demon Dyeing Blood Tendon Art.

He got "Head Hanging from Beam, Awl Piercing Thigh", and got Bitter Ink, and couldn't wait to return to the cave mansion, just to try to study the Demon Dyeing Blood Tendon Art and strive for a breakthrough!

After a while.

In the martial arts formation space, Ning Zhuo sat alone.

He held the jade slip in his hand, and the content inside was exactly "Demon Dyeing Blood Tendon Art".

Divine Ability—Human Life Hanging by a Thread!

"Boss, I need your help." Ning Zhuo contacted Sun Lingtong inside the Shuyu Studio.

Sun Lingtong had been comprehending the Water Vortex Formation, and there was a lot of progress. Ning Zhuo asked for help, and naturally assisted with all his strength.

Dao Treasure Luo Shu Page blessing!

"Hoo," Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, without the slightest hesitation in his eyes.

Head hanging from beam, awl piercing thigh!

The hemp rope rose straight to the sky, although there was no beam, it just curled into a few circles in mid-air, and the other end was tightly bound to Ning Zhuo's hair, still taking effect.

The wooden awl pierced into the thigh, and a clear sharp pain came out instantly.

Fatigue dissipated, distracting thoughts were all gone!

Ning Zhuo's other hand picked up the Intent Brush, dipped it in Bitter Ink water, and began to copy.

The endless bitterness, like the water of a long river, poured into his divine sea dantian, bringing heavy pressure to Ning Zhuo.

Under Ning Zhuo's pen, he arduously outlined the blood qi operation trajectory, fascia condensation points, and the complex diagram of erosion and pollution changes described in the cultivation method.

Under the multiple blessings of Bitter Ink, Intent Brush, Head Hanging from Beam, and Awl Piercing Thigh, Ning Zhuo's learning ability soared several times.

And under the influence of Luo Shu, the inferences were all in the correct direction.

"Hmm?!" Along with many past difficulties being solved one after another, Ning Zhuo had no joy, but showed a look of surprise and heaviness.

In his previous understanding, "Demon Dyeing Blood Tendon Art" was blood qi condensation, strengthening himself, good at interfering and prohibiting others, and the means were rough and direct.

But now, he suddenly realized that its inner mystery was like an abyss!

The "condensation" of blood qi fascia is not a simple accumulation, its internal structure is very particular!

Different fascia weaving methods, such as spiral, layering, spider web, have different effects on power transmission, speed explosion, defensive toughness, and even erosion efficiency, which are different from person to person and are vastly different!

Relying on Luo Shu's influence, the mathematical relationship of various fascia weaving structures that Ning Zhuo deduced made him dazzled and deeply felt its complexity!

Blood qi fascia in one's own body is so complex. Put on others, the complexity is more than a hundred times greater?

"This is definitely not done by brute force, it is even a delicate blood qi formation set."

Luo Shu helped Ning Zhuo deduce deeper, and the latter seemed to see a huge and profound maze of knowledge, slowly laying out in front of him.

Poof, poof...

Ning Zhuo's arm moved mechanically, constantly stabbing the wooden awl into his leg.

Blood flowed horizontally, and a group had already piled up on the ground.

The hemp rope made a creaking sound.

Ning Zhuo infused spiritual sense into the jade slip

His complexion grew increasingly pale, and his entire body was drenched in cold sweat.

He knew in his heart that he had been pushed to his limit, yet the path of deduction and learning remained vast and endless, with not the slightest sign of an end in sight.

"Still want to keep learning, do you—"

Just as Ning Zhuo’s mind felt as if it were splitting and he was about to interrupt his study, a cool, moistening energy flowed from the outside in, permeating his body and mind.

A strange look appeared on Ning Zhuo’s face; he realized the source was the literary aura lingering around him.

The literary aura was consumed and transformed into wisps of literary energy, which, like a spiritual spring, brushed over his parched and agitated sea of consciousness, swiftly calming the sense of mental chaos and scorching agitation caused by excessive deduction.

Half a cup of tea later, Ning Zhuo’s brush tip paused; the final stroke was exceptionally difficult, but he managed to complete it nonetheless.

Ning Zhuo slowly set down his brush, his face as pale as paper. His soul felt a rare and intense sense of weakness, and the pain from his physical body surged in to meet it. His upper dantian was dim, lingering with endless bitterness.

Ning Zhuo’s eyes were vacant. He closed them for a moment, then, fighting off the drowsiness, slowly opened them again; only then did a glimmer of light return to his gaze.

Looking at the jade slip floating before him, Ning Zhuo wore a solemn expression.

"The profundity of this art far exceeds what I had previously imagined!"

He had originally thought that the complexity of the Demonic Blood Tendon Art was roughly on par with the Mirror Platform Spirit-Communication Art and the Five Elements Qi Law.

But this breakthrough study had completely overturned his old understanding.

"The Demonic Blood Tendon Art appears simple and crude, but in reality, that is all a facade. This cultivation art is extremely complex and subtle, involving the essence of blood energy, the massive structures of interwoven fascia, blood energy infection, and even the secrets of flesh and blood creation—it is by no means something that can be mastered overnight."

Ning Zhuo could not help but tilt his head back and sigh: "No wonder my progress in demonic arts has always been slow."

"The biggest reason is actually that this art is inherently quite complex, far exceeding the other two."

This discovery undoubtedly disrupted Ning Zhuo’s plans.

"Let's not think about that for now." His condition had not been this poor for quite some time.

Just by reviewing things slightly, he felt a strong sense of exhaustion again. Intense drowsiness kept washing over him, and the generation of thoughts in his sea of consciousness and upper dantian became even more sparse and difficult.

Just as Ning Zhuo fell into a deep sleep, Ban Ji was throwing a tantrum inside his cave dwelling.

He had just learned that Ning Zhuo had once again won first place in the Cloud-Raising Small Trial.

"What exactly are you four doing?"

"Did you take my heavy payment just to do nothing?"

"You let Ning Zhuo make such a big splash and win first place again?"

"He has already won first place twice, twice! Just one more time, and he will be able to claim the stone tablet."

Ban Ji used a secret method of contact to directly interrogate the four demonic cultivators in succession.

The demonic cultivators were all silent for a moment.

It was indeed their fault.

Of course, they respected Ban Ji’s personal combat strength and family background more. So, after letting Ban Ji vent, someone finally responded.

Rust Disaster Craftsman responded in a muffled voice; he was actively investigating more intelligence on Ning Zhuo, and half of the heavy payment he had received from Ban Ji had already been spent.

Delusional Monk stated that he had been provoking Ning Zhuo, but the latter would not respond.

Liu Qingyan said that she had been disguising her appearance and following Ning Zhuo, and had even seen with her own eyes Ning Zhuo climbing the mountain, participating in the Cloud-Raising Small Trial at the Confucian Temple, and finally winning and leaving.

"Then, Pan Si Niangzi, what do you have to say?" Ban Ji’s anger dissipated slightly.

Pan Si Niangzi did not respond. Ban Ji shouted a few times, but Pan Si Niangzi still did not make a sound, which caused Ban Ji’s anger to rise again, and he could not help but start smashing things in his cave dwelling again.

Cultivating demonic arts has such drawbacks; emotional fluctuations are significant, and one must focus on venting.

Being able to vent is actually a good thing.

Ban Ji had also accumulated much experience in cultivating demonic arts, and by venting, he gradually stabilized his state of mind: "The matter of containing Ning Zhuo can still only be left to the four demons."

"I must not let anger cloud my judgment, but rather focus more on my own goals!"

Ban Ji’s next goal had long been set: it was Che Zhuzi, who was a demon cultivator with a knack for mechanism arts.

In previous years, he would hold his own Cloud-Raising Small Trial, which included content on mechanism arts.

The true intention, in fact, was for him to promote his own Void Spider Silk.

This precious material, once refined, could allow the threads controlling mechanism creations to penetrate the void and focus on other places. For controlling mechanisms, it was extremely practical!

"If I had this kind of thread, my range for controlling mechanisms would skyrocket more than twenty-fold, and because the threads penetrate the void, they could also largely avoid being struck or destroyed."

Just as Ban Ji was daydreaming, Pan Si Niangzi’s voice finally came through.

The latter said excitedly and triumphantly: "Ban Ji, what can you expect from the others? Let me tell you, I have made great progress!"

"This time, I successfully seduced a mechanism cultivator from the Myriad Phenomena Sect."

"In previous years, he would hold a Cloud-Raising Small Trial related to mechanism arts; his control threads are very remarkable and can penetrate space."

"I suspect that the big-headed boy will definitely take the bait. When that time comes, I will be able to use the Cloud-Raising Small Trial to make things difficult for him."

Ban Ji:

The more he heard, the stronger the sense of unease in his heart became.

His lips twitched a few times, but he eventually asked with a glimmer of hope: "Who is the person you seduced?"

Pan Si Niangzi: "Oh, his name is Che Zhuzi."

Ban Ji’s vision went black, his body stumbled, and he almost fell face-first to the ground!