Chapter 727: Unlike Ning Zhuo, I want you to be my dog!

"Come in, why haven't you come in yet?" Pan Si Niangzi, hiding inside the cave dwelling, was becoming somewhat impatient.

Unlike Ning Zhuo watched as the crowd squeezed into the cave dwelling, yet he remained unhurried.

His fingers subconsciously rubbed together, but the mechanism ring showed no movement.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was reminiscing.

The intelligence he had previously acquired was of a very high level and cost a significant price; naturally, it contained information regarding Che Zhuzi.

Unlike Ning Zhuo himself had some vague, hazy memories, but now, trying to recall them, he couldn't remember clearly.

With such minor details, it was impossible for him to remember everything with absolute clarity.

"Perhaps, after I return, I should study this intelligence more thoroughly?"

It was like a child who had just received a long wooden stick; upon seeing anything, they wanted to poke it or sweep it.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's current learning ability had skyrocketed; upon seeing anything, he also wanted to try it and learn it.

He took out the intelligence jade slip directly, held it in his hand, probed it with his spiritual sense, and after a quick browse, he soon confirmed the relevant content.

"So it's Che Zhuzi."

"'Everything is possible' Che Zhuzi—"

This referred to Che Zhuzi's nickname.

In his early years, just after Che Zhuzi had transformed, because his original form was a demonic insect, his intelligence was poor, and he was often deceived.

The Void Spider Silk secreted and produced by Che Zhuzi's body was a very practical and precious treasure material. As a result, any cultivator who brought some junk could exchange it with Che Zhuzi.

For the Che Zhuzi of that time, he had no discernment at all; as long as it looked passable, or if he believed their flowery talk, he would trade his precious Void Spider Silk for it.

This works, that works too; therefore, he was given the nickname "Everything is Possible."

Of course, the current Che Zhuzi had grown into a Jin Dan demonic cultivator; his horizons had broadened significantly, and his intelligence had grown along with his cultivation base.

Unlike Ning Zhuo pondered: "Void Spider Silk is indeed very practical."

"If I only use magic power to suspend threads, the range is far inferior to coordinating with Void Spider Silk."

"Although 'Human Life Suspended Threads' is powerful, as a divine ability, it has limitations—this method can only communicate with objects that possess spirit."

Although Unlike Ning Zhuo could temporarily imbue inanimate objects with spirit, it could not last. Using it once consumed a great deal of spirit; it was considered a trump card to be kept at the bottom of the box and could not be used routinely.

"If I use 'Human Life Suspended Threads,' I cannot control the newly crafted Mother-Sound Bamboo Puppets."

"But using Void Spider Silk, I can. This treasure material is extremely practical!"

Thinking of this, Unlike Ning Zhuo made up his mind and slowly walked into the cave dwelling's gate.

"He's in, he finally came in!" Seeing this scene, Pan Si Niangzi was so excited that her whole body trembled, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

This was clearly a space within an array.

Square gray stone bricks paved a massive plaza.

The "sky" overhead was like an inverted lead basin, and the gray clouds were like filthy cotton balls, hanging low and ready to fall.

The ground stretched out infinitely in all directions. The gray bricks gradually blurred at the edge of the horizon, eventually merging into the leaden clouds, making it impossible to distinguish where the horizon was, as if heaven and earth were one.

Che Zhuzi did not appear, but his voice carried out, announcing the rules.

"Fellow Daoists, welcome to participate in the 'Cloud-Raising Trial' I have set up."

"This trial has only three stages; this is the first stage—'Pointing at Stars in the Wind'."

"Fellow Daoists only need to activate your puppet threads or suspended threads to light up the star points to achieve victory and enter the next stage."

"Begin now."

As soon as Che Zhuzi's voice fell, points of starlight appeared in the distant air.

These starlights were like fireflies, very sparse, and constantly moving, leaving deep blue short lines in mid-air.

Unlike Ning Zhuo focused his gaze and was shocked to find that observation-type spells could not be activated; clearly, they were suppressed by the grand array.

He could only observe with his naked eye.

"The speed of these starlights is sometimes fast and sometimes slow, and their movement has no pattern at all." Unlike Ning Zhuo narrowed his eyes, observed for a while, and discovered the difficulty.

While he was observing, some cultivators had already begun to act.

Threads of magic power condensed into suspended threads shot out like lightning, cutting through the air.

Suddenly, a strong wind attacked out of thin air.

This wind was clearly strange; it blew away the magic power directly, causing these magic power threads to fail halfway.

Unlike Ning Zhuo understood in his heart: "The first stage is called 'Pointing at Stars in the Wind'; so that's where the challenge lies."

A pale-faced cultivator snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and whipped out a thin green vine.

The thin vine was a physical object; infused with magic power and controlled by spiritual sense, it flew through the air and was quite capable of resisting the strong wind.

Everyone's eyes were focused on the thin vine.

The wind grew stronger and stronger, but the thin vine was full of force, extending in mid-air, at most being blown to sway.

But the pale-faced cultivator's expression grew increasingly somber.

Suddenly, the thin vine stopped extending and halted abruptly halfway.

The cultivators hurriedly cast doubtful gazes toward the pale-faced cultivator.

The pale-faced cultivator's face twitched, but he still explained forcefully with resentment: "I didn't expect the distance to be so far!"

His thin vine was a physical object, and its length was limited.

Unlike Ning Zhuo, through this person's attempt, discovered the third difficulty of the first stage: "This array space forbids spell observation; relying solely on the naked eye, it is very easy to make misjudgments."

"These star points are truly far away; to use physical puppet threads or suspended threads, the length must be guaranteed!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo thought of the intelligence he had just read, and suddenly his heart stirred, producing a guess: "No, perhaps this distance can also be long or short. This grand array is controlled by Che Zhuzi. He is very likely controlling it from behind the scenes, creating the scenario most favorable to him."

The cultivators began their respective attempts.

There were not a few cultivators who possessed physical threads.

It was just that many fell into an awkward situation; like the pale-faced cultivator, their threads were not long enough to reach those star points. Unlike Ning Zhuo knew this situation was very normal.

Because using puppet threads and suspended threads to control mechanical creations is usually done at medium range. If it were longer, the magic power and spiritual sense transmitted by the threads would have a delay.

And the longer the distance, the more interference there would be between the threads. At the same time, the huge flaws exposed would make it very easy for enemies to attack these puppet threads and suspended threads.

Therefore, for those who use puppet threads and suspended threads to control mechanical creations, this type of thread is usually not too long.

And Che Zhuzi's deliberate arrangement made the distance between the cultivators and the targets exceed everyone's expectations!

But this could not stump Unlike Ning Zhuo.

He observed for a while, and after testing several times with magic power threads, he tested the nature of the strong wind within the array.

He designed a spell on the spot, specifically targeting the strong wind, creating a special magic power thread.

Life-bound—Five Elements Life-Death Art!

Five Viscera Temple Spirit Art!

Under the blessing of two spells, the Five Elements magic power entangled like a spiral, constantly generating each other, overcoming the strong wind, and the speed of extension was faster than physical threads.

After many failed attempts, Unlike Ning Zhuo suddenly succeeded in one fell swoop, successfully lighting up a star point and advancing to the next round.

Some observant people saw this scene and turned their heads one after another to observe Unlike Ning Zhuo.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was the only one in the field who achieved the passing standard solely by condensing threads with magic power.

In the shadows, Che Zhuzi was slightly stunned. When he wanted to change the array and the nature of the strong wind, it was already a step too late. This made him quietly size up Unlike Ning Zhuo, knowing that the latter had used a paralyzing tactic at the time. Perhaps some of the failures in the early stages were fake, and the sudden success had bypassed the changes.

Unlike Ning Zhuo scanned the surroundings and found that at least 40% of the cultivators had tried several times to no avail and were in a position to be eliminated.

These cultivators were somewhat panicked and anxious; some sought help from the cultivators who had passed, trying to borrow their physical threads, but without exception, they were all refused.

After all, they were in a competitive relationship.

The cultivators who had passed wished that the first stage would eliminate as many people as possible.

But at this moment, Che Zhuzi's voice carried over, and at the same time, what appeared before everyone was a bundle of Void Spider Silk.

"Only ten mid-grade spirit stones are needed to rent a piece of Void Spider Silk for use."

"Please remember the rules, fellow Daoists: this piece of Void Spider Silk can only be used in the first stage; it is only a temporary rental."

This made the cultivators who couldn't pass overjoyed.

Some cultivators snorted coldly, while others were somewhat dumbfounded.

"It really came." Unlike Ning Zhuo had investigated the intelligence and was not surprised at all.

"The reason Che Zhuzi set up the Cloud-Raising Trial is mainly to promote his Void Spider Silk."

"Therefore, the cultivators who rent Void Spider Silk now will have a profound experience. Their performance will also leave a deep impression on others."

"Hmm, I'll rent one too."

Even though Unlike Ning Zhuo had already passed, he still rented a piece of Void Spider Silk and tried again.

This attempt took him almost only 30% of the time it took before; it was almost done in one go.

Those cultivators in the position of being eliminated were overjoyed one after another.

"This Void Spider Silk can penetrate the void, so its length far exceeds physical objects."

"It's easy to use, really too easy to use!"

"Buy, I want to buy a few pieces to use. Where can I buy them?"

"Rent? No, no, no, I'm not short of this little money!"

Just by looking at the shouts of the cultivators, Unlike Ning Zhuo understood that Che Zhuzi's promotion this time had already taken effect.

Unlike Ning Zhuo secretly praised Che Zhuzi's arrangement: "Renting for ten mid-grade spirit stones, the vast majority of cultivators can afford it. This price design is very thoughtful."

"It looks cheap, but in fact, it is not."

"Renting it can only be used in the first stage. I believe that similar situations will inevitably appear in the subsequent stages."

While Unlike Ning Zhuo was pondering, he did not know that Pan Si Niangzi had been observing him.

Seeing Unlike Ning Zhuo rent the Void Spider Silk, Pan Si Niangzi laughed triumphantly toward the sky: "He fell for my scheme! For such a young man, making him fall for a trap is not difficult at all."

"Just use your brain a little."

"Sigh, Ban Ji and his gang really have no brains; they don't understand what is called 'circuitous' and what is called 'layout'!"

All the cultivators who couldn't pass rented the Void Spider Silk.

After all, ten mid-grade spirit stones really weren't expensive!

Thus, everyone obtained the qualification to enter the second stage.

Che Zhuzi's voice carried over, filled with encouragement: "Congratulations to all fellow Daoists for successfully entering the next stage."

"A good start is half the success!"

"My Cloud-Raising Trial has only three stages."

"Next is the second stage—'Taking the Heart from the Poisonous Flower'!"

The array space shook for a while, the star points in the far distance all disappeared without a trace, and poisonous flowers the size of carriages appeared out of thin air, placed on the floor tiles, spaced far apart from each other.

These poisonous flowers were colorful and quickly released powdery, greasy poisonous gas outward.

Soon, the poisonous gas accumulated more and more, forming paths of poisonous miasma.

And according to Che Zhuzi's introduction, the cultivators needed to use puppet threads and suspended threads to extract the stamens of the poisonous flowers.

Finally, a ranking admission method would be adopted to let the top half of the cultivators enter the third stage.

"Reminding all fellow Daoists, there is Void Spider Silk here, the quantity is limited, buy quickly!" Che Zhuzi didn't even pretend, directly promoting his own products.

Immediately, someone asked about the selling price.

As a result, the price was more than a hundred times higher, causing some cultivators' faces to change drastically, directly calling it "robbery."

The Wanxiang Sect widely recruited members, so there was no lack of ordinary, or even bottom-level people among the cultivators who came to participate in the Flying Cloud Assembly.

Many cultivators didn't want to spend money unjustly, so they immediately activated their suspended threads and puppet threads, shooting toward the poisonous flowers one after another.

The poisonous miasma was fierce, quickly corroding and dissolving these suspended threads and puppet threads.

The cultivators' faces were somber, but they were still unwilling to give up, and they all displayed their methods.

Spell—Mysterious Ice Wrapping!

Spell—Flame Attachment Art.

Spell—Gold Thousand Patterns.

Various spells blessed the puppet threads and suspended threads, causing their strength to skyrocket, forming a fierce consumption with the poisonous miasma, causing sounds to ring out in the field.

Some succeeded, while others suffered failure.

Unlike Ning Zhuo watched with interest for a while: "I didn't expect there to be so many spells that can bless puppet threads and suspended threads; this is far more than in the classics left by Mother."

Unlike Ning Zhuo truly had his eyes opened.

Che Zhuzi was in the shadows, staring closely at Unlike Ning Zhuo.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's performance in the first stage amazed him; in his countless Cloud-Raising Trials, cultivators who could pass the Foundation Establishment stage solely by using magic power threads were few and far between.

Once Unlike Ning Zhuo used magic power threads, Che Zhuzi would immediately operate behind the scenes to change the composition of the poisonous miasma.

But what surprised him was that Unlike Ning Zhuo did not use the Five Elements magic power threads, but directly purchased a piece of Void Spider Silk.

Che Zhuzi provided thoughtful service for this purchase—he also gifted a jade slip, the content of which was the method of using Void Spider Silk.

Unlike Ning Zhuo referenced and learned, and after trying several times, he successfully made the front end of the spider silk penetrate the void and reach out from a distance.

Visually, the spider silk he controlled was missing a large section in the middle.

Unlike Ning Zhuo used the Void Spider Silk to directly traverse the void, avoid the poisonous miasma, enter the flower heart, and after grabbing the stamen, he pulled back the Void Spider Silk violently; its resistance to poisonous miasma was also extremely powerful.

Even after carrying the stamen through, it didn't dissolve much.

Seeing Unlike Ning Zhuo succeed, many cultivators became somewhat anxious.

After all, the rule of the second stage was to take the top half of the cultivators.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was the first cultivator to purchase Void Spider Silk, which won him Che Zhuzi's favor, but also offended most of the cultivators; many cultivators cast resentful gazes at him, blaming him for being too competitive.

Unlike Ning Zhuo had expected this long ago and remained expressionless, as if these gazes did not exist.

This little money meant nothing to Unlike Ning Zhuo.

"Hahaha." Pan Si Niangzi in the shadows laughed joyfully.

She had placed hidden poison on all the Void Spider Silk.

Since Unlike Ning Zhuo used it so heavily, the poison would accumulate more and more in his body.

"Keep using it, use it hard!"

"Once you are poisoned by me, when you reach the third stage, I will close the net."

"At that time, I want you to be my dog!" ===== CHAPTER 728 =====