Chapter 734: Then let it be dazzling!

Low-key, middle-of-the-road, high-profile... there are three paths here.

As Ning Zhuo faced the choice, his mind wandered.

At this moment, he seemed to see a child on Fire Persimmon Mountain who had started disguising himself since childhood. Every time he looked up at the City Lord’s Mansion, it was like looking up at a high mountain. He hid his cleverness, grew up secretly in the darkness, relying on Sun Lingtong. He grew up twisted in the cracks, he schemed with adults, racked his brains, and the calculation that risked his life in the Lava Immortal Palace was his first all-out attack.

The resentment he had endured for more than ten years, the dark fire he had suppressed for more than ten years, was like the eruption of Fire Persimmon Mountain, burning his heart. This was a little thief’s struggle against his own misfortune!

At this moment, he seemed to see a youth in Myriad Medicine Valley who repeatedly fought, truly appearing in front of the public, the fist-to-flesh battles making him truly feel "alive." He made new friends, some drinking buddies, some female cultivators. In the midst of drinking and talking, those smiling faces were bright and open. He saw a new life, and it turned out there was such a bright and clear scenery, compared to which Fire Persimmon Mountain felt so stuffy and depressed.

The youth first showed his style and began to live in another way. He envied Linghu Jiu, thinking he was the true gentleman.

At this moment, he saw the magnificent battle in the Thousand Peak Forest again. He was a part of the Iron Flow Plain, as small as sand, witnessing countless mountains disintegrate and collapse under the soldiers’ blades.

Battle after battle put him in danger many times, and it was also like a hammer and fire, fiercely forging Ning Zhuo’s sharp edge and power. From Liu, Guan, Zhang, and from Mu Lan, he appreciated the heroism and bravery of a general. A man’s courage was born from within.

At this moment, he saw White Paper Immortal City, saw the ghost-interwoven, spreading black cloud battlefield, saw a youth with a firm face and first-revealed edge, standing out, facing the powerful enemy of the Transformation God level, the ruler of a country!

The youth never felt timid, only feeling that it was his destiny, duty-bound, for his mother’s dying wish, and also for his personal ambition, bravely undertaking it. He could finally firmly shout that he was no longer a thief. With the honor of a hero, he responded to his mother’s expectations.

Now.

At this very moment.

He came to the Myriad Manifestations Sect, which was his mother’s sect. Ning Zhuo naturally had a good impression of this place. He made friends here, all kinds of people, and also gained enemies here, each with their own style and means.

"I am no longer so weak."

"There are three choices in front of me. I no longer have to choose to endure!"

"Then, what should I choose?"

"Or in other words, what should I—how should I live?!"

The big-headed youth asked himself in his heart.

The scenes of the past replayed in his mind, faster and faster, like flowers in a horse-riding tour.

And these were no longer just fragments of memory; they were like sparks, constantly accumulating in Ning Zhuo’s eyes, and then igniting his gaze.

Ning Zhuo’s eyes became brighter and brighter.

Like ignited stars!

His emotions could not help but become impassioned, gradually turning into a magnificent, unstoppable torrent, like the Iron Flow Plain of Thousand Peak Forest, washing away all hesitation and timidity!

Those mountains that fell one by one were all shadows of the past.

The boy who had survived in the shadows for more than ten years had now been reborn.

He held his head high, facing the unknown, facing challenges, he longed to be like a star cutting through the sky, not hiding its light, not fearing its damage, burning passionately, illuminating a trajectory that belonged to him!

Then let it be bright.

Then let it be dazzling!

This is exactly—

Hidden edge in the dark alley for twenty years of cold, lava burning waves into a dragon pool.

Thousand Peaks cast my rugged bones, Ten Thousand Medicines wash the heart and wash away old scars.

White Paper wields the blade to tear the ghost curtain, green shirt bathes in blood to prove the grand plan.

From now on, I will not hide my ambition, driving the flying boat through the nine heavens!

With the decision made, on the stone platform in the Evil-Slaying Hall array, Ning Zhuo slowly raised his head.

The crowd’s gazes were immediately drawn over.

They saw Ning Zhuo’s gaze seem to penetrate the high walls of the Evil-Slaying Hall, casting toward some distant and blurry place.

His face was heavy, calm with a certain determination.

He spoke, his voice not high, but every word carried the weight of a soul, clearly chiseling into the bottom of everyone’s heart: "Why cherish this body?"

Everyone’s heart shook in unison.

Ning Zhuo looked directly into the Golden Core elder’s deep eyes, word by word: "If this remnant body can still turn into a spark, block that demonic tribulation for a moment, and protect the grass and trees behind me for a breath... that is enough."

"Stained with infamy? Compared to the thousands of living paths behind me, compared to the peace of a single thought in my heart... it is just rubble!"

"Why cherish it? Why fear it!"

Hiss...

A sound of gasping for air.

The old cultivator could not help but widen his eyes, intense surprise almost bursting his skull.

His eyes shone, staring at Ning Zhuo, shouting in his heart: "Righteous path seed, this is a true righteous path seed!"

The means for detection had no reaction, which showed that Ning Zhuo’s words were from the heart.

This made the old cultivator sincerely happy.

The other high-level cultivators also sighed endlessly in their hearts.

"How many years, how many years have passed, finally a person who passed the three questions of asking the heart has appeared."

"Actually, there were some in previous sessions, but a cultivator as young and as promising as the one in front of us, really hasn't!"

"Too rare! It is rumored that Hall Master Zhong Dao was also like this back then, young and determined to maintain justice in the world!"

"Perhaps what I see today is a historical moment."

The old cultivator took a deep breath, trying to stabilize his face, and transmitted via spiritual sense to others: "What do you think? Does this child deserve the top spot?"

Immediately, someone retorted: "If such an outstanding junior cannot win the top spot, who is qualified?"

Someone else said impatiently: "The top spot belongs to him!"

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"Completely agreed!"

No one objected.

The old cultivator nodded slightly, took out a token, and handed it to Ning Zhuo: "Good youth, you passed. Congratulations, you won the top spot."

Ning Zhuo nodded, immediately cupped his fists and bowed to express his gratitude.

The old cultivator said again: "As the top spot, you passed my Evil-Slaying Hall’s Cloud-Rising Trial and will receive the highest reward."

While speaking, the old cultivator solemnly took out a treasure.

A large number of gazes could not help but cast toward this treasure, as it was very gorgeous and dazzling, attracting attention.

This was a pagoda, small and exquisite, held in the old cultivator’s palm.

It was based on the Good Leaf Lotus Platform, the lotus platform was blue-gold in color, and the lotus petals were layered like heavy jade waves.

The pagoda body was cast from non-phase thousand-Buddha glaze, clear as ice crystal. When the external light shone, the pagoda body surged with golden clouds—eight hundred Arhat images emerged from the depths of the glaze, some forming demon-subduing seals, some holding relic pagodas, the Buddha intent surging.

There was a bead on the top of the pagoda, plump and round, alternating between two colors. When white, it revealed the Sanskrit wheel, blooming with merit light. When black, it revealed Rakshasa teeth, capable of gnawing on sinful souls. It was the Causality Dharani Bead!

The old cultivator introduced to Ning Zhuo: "Since you want to join the Myriad Manifestations Sect, you should know that there is a treasure of the sect, named the Merit Pagoda."

"This treasure can distinguish good from evil and suppress luck, and it has been managed by the Hall Master of the Evil-Slaying Hall through the ages."

"Now this small pagoda is a replica of the Merit Pagoda. Because the materials were strictly selected, it has also reached the level of a magic treasure, suitable for Golden Core cultivators."

"Although you are a Foundation Establishment middle-stage cultivator, you can barely use it."

"It can detect merit and sin, and also has some power to guard personal luck."

Merit Pagoda!

Ning Zhuo naturally knew that this was one of the foundations of the Myriad Manifestations Sect.

Super large sects, families, and cultivation countries must have heavy treasures to suppress luck. The Merit Pagoda was one of the heavy treasures of the Myriad Manifestations Sect.

The old cultivator took out the Merit Pagoda, which did not exceed Ning Zhuo’s expectations.

Because anyone who passed the Evil-Slaying Hall’s Cloud-Rising Trial would receive such a treasure. But what they harvested were Merit Pagodas at the magic tool level.

Only the top spot had a magic treasure-level reward.

The reason Ning Zhuo chose the Evil-Slaying Hall was that he knew the Merit Pagoda was issued here. It was just that after actually trying, the result he obtained was much higher than his needs.

Being able to have a magic treasure level was naturally better than a magic tool level. Ning Zhuo took the small pagoda with both hands and thanked him again.

The old cultivator specifically took care of him, saying that after a period of time, the Evil-Slaying Hall would conduct different Cloud-Rising Trials, and urged Ning Zhuo to come and participate if he was interested.

He really looked favorably on Ning Zhuo, but his character was quite upright, and even though he gave away a magic treasure, he did not force Ning Zhuo to sign any contract.

Ning Zhuo immediately proposed to exchange magic power auras so that they could send letters to each other.

This made the old cultivator’s face add a few more smiles.

After exchanging names and taking each other’s magic power auras, Ning Zhuo said again: "Senior Cang, I am a newcomer, but because I possess mechanism treasures, I have innocently attracted the covetousness of demonic cultivators. Unfortunately, this person has a deep background, and although I have repelled his subordinates, I have no way to deal with him."

The old cultivator surnamed Cang frowned immediately and asked: "Who is this person?"

Ning Zhuo sighed, showing a look of helplessness and annoyance: "His name is Ban Ji, he is from the Ban family, but he walks the demonic path."

The old man surnamed Cang frowned deeper, weighed his words and said: "My Myriad Manifestations Sect’s sect rules are like this, always inclusive. Therefore, even demonic and evil cultivators are qualified to join. Of course, once they become disciples of the Myriad Manifestations Sect, from now on, they must restrain themselves and act in a righteous way."

"This is also a wonderful method of executing justice and letting others turn over a new leaf."

"Why is the Flying Cloud Country peaceful and different from most cultivation countries? A large part of the reason is that every large-scale recruitment of our Myriad Manifestations Sect can extract elites from other camps and transform them into part of the righteous path."

"I have listened to your encounter, and Ban Ji indeed still has the habits of a demonic cultivator, but he has not truly violated the sect rules of my Myriad Manifestations Sect."

"Such trouble can be regarded as a kind of tempering on the path."

Seeing the disappointment on Ning Zhuo’s face, the old man changed the subject: "Of course, if you can officially become a member of my Evil-Slaying Hall, then, presumably Ban Ji will also restrain himself."

"If he still finds trouble with you, it is equivalent to finding trouble with my Evil-Slaying Hall. Do you understand?"

Ning Zhuo quickly bowed and saluted: "The junior understands, thank you for your guidance, senior!"

Thus, Ning Zhuo bid farewell to the old man surnamed Cang and left gracefully under the gaze of many cultivators.

Watching his departing back, the old man surnamed Cang had already communicated via spiritual sense and ordered: "Investigate what Ning Zhuo just said."

Before investigating clearly, he could not take action. The old man surnamed Cang had seen too many tricks and conspiracies.

Ning Zhuo was not disappointed that he did not win the Evil-Slaying Hall to take action for him.

The old man surnamed Cang’s reaction was already in his speculation.

"From the moment I left, the Evil-Slaying Hall will begin to investigate me vigorously."

"Heh."

"Let them check."

"If they find out I am the son of Meng Yaoyin, what will Zhong Dao do?"

According to Ning Zhuo’s estimation, Zhong Dao is very likely to become an obstacle for the sect’s high-level officials to take action against him.

Of course, Ning Zhuo cannot be sure.

After all, the benefits involved in the White Paper Immortal City affair are too huge.

"In the face of the sect’s huge benefits, will Zhong Dao compromise?" Facing this key question, Ning Zhuo had no way to answer.

His understanding of Zhong Dao was still limited to the intelligence that could be purchased on the market, and he had not personally contacted Zhong Dao, so he had little certainty.

Borrowing power from Zhong Dao was an idea Ning Zhuo had after checking the intelligence for the first time.

It wasn't until just now on the stone platform, when Ning Zhuo faced the third question, that he made a decision.

Once the decision was made, Ning Zhuo did not hesitate anymore.

After leaving the Evil-Slaying Hall, he immediately found the nearest registration point.

After so many days, the cultivators queuing up to register here were still in a long line, with a large number of people.

Ning Zhuo was familiar with the road and walked straight to the cultivator.

"Hey, big-headed one, go to the back of the line!" A cultivator saw Ning Zhuo walking to the front and immediately shouted.

The cultivator in charge of registration was attracted, and seeing that Ning Zhuo was not an acquaintance, he was about to ask, when Ning Zhuo took out the proof of three top spots.

"I’m here to change the stone plaque." Ning Zhuo said.

The cultivator in charge suddenly changed his face. At this moment, being able to take out three top spot proofs was enough to prove Ning Zhuo’s excellence.

And the degree of this excellence was still among the best in this Flying Cloud Conference.

Realizing that Ning Zhuo had a bright future, the cultivator in charge stood up immediately, his face piled with smiles: "Fellow Daoist, may I ask your name."

Ning Zhuo answered.

The cultivator in charge smiled even more: "Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo, please wait a moment, let us ensure the authenticity of the proof first."

"I’ll do it, I’ll do it." His companion beside him couldn't wait to reach out and take the proof to test it.

Several companions reached out together and almost fought.

Seeing this scene, the cultivators queuing up to register behind Ning Zhuo fell silent.

The whole place was silent.

The three cultivators in charge of testing acted very quickly and responded almost at the same time: "It’s true."

The cultivator facing Ning Zhuo laughed immediately, took out the stone plaque, and exchanged it for the wooden plaque Ning Zhuo handed over: "Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo, congratulations, but there is one last small matter. After receiving the stone plaque, the sect needs to record more information about the cultivator."

"Oh, I know, what do you need to ask?" Ning Zhuo asked.

The cultivator in charge quickly answered: "Need to record the cultivation technique you practice, and your current cultivation level."

Ning Zhuo was prepared and answered immediately: "《Five Elements Qi Law Technique》, currently Foundation Establishment middle-stage, in the stage of strange phenomenon seed talisman."

The cultivator in charge quickly recorded it in the jade slip: "So that’s it, thank you fellow Daoist, I have recorded it."

"Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo, this is my magic power aura. If you exchange tokens next, you can come to me. I will definitely handle these trivial matters for you at full speed."

His companions cast envious gazes.

Cultivators who take on this kind of task are basically at the grassroots level of the Myriad Manifestations Sect. If they can get to know a person like Ning Zhuo, it is a great honor for them, and it is even very likely to change their own destiny.

Ning Zhuo smiled, took the magic power aura handed over by the cultivator, but did not hand over his own magic power aura to the other party.

And just such an action made the cultivator in charge receive more envious and even jealous gazes.

And the person involved was beaming with joy!

"Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo, walk slowly." Finally, under the respectful send-off of the cultivator in charge, Ning Zhuo left the nameless small mountain peak where he registered.

On the way back to the Blue Stone Cave, Ning Zhuo was expressionless, his eyes containing light.

He knew that his behavior would inevitably suffer many influences.

Information about him would be valued by many interested people and actively inquired about.

"Then come."