Chapter 742: Must latch onto Ning Zhuo

Green Bamboo Peak.

Inside the cave dwelling, Qing Huangzi looked solemn. Before the spirit tablet, he explained the general situation of his family’s heritage to Ning Zhuo.

Empty Valley Note Green Mechanism Tube!

This is the name of this mechanism heritage.

Its initial source was the Bamboo Mountain Sect.

This sect no longer exists. At that time, the sect gate was attacked. The enemy’s methods were extremely sophisticated, inciting internal strife within the sect. Before they could even engage the enemy, they fled, leaving behind several cultivators loyal to the sect who preferred to die in battle.

The number of cultivators was too small, and the defensive line was broken all the way through, finally retreating into the bamboo forest in the valley.

At the critical moment of life and death, among the surviving cultivators were two: one proficient in musical temperament, the other skilled in using mechanisms. They cooperated with each other, quickly modifying the bamboo forest, turning the bamboo of a certain section into sound whistles.

When the enemy broke in forcefully, the cultivators triggered the magic array, urging a great wind to sweep through the bamboo forest, taking advantage of the momentum to make the bamboo whistles sound suddenly. Countless sound blades shot out, circling the bamboo poles, killing the enemy until the ground was covered in blood.

The enemy charged several times but could not overcome it, suffering heavy losses.

There was a way, which was to uproot the bamboo forest so the opponent would have no reliance. But the leader considered that these bamboos were all spiritual plants with great value, so he preferred to endure and plan slowly.

The Bamboo Mountain Sect’s main sect gate was breached, and only this valley remained.

At that time, war was the main theme of the entire cultivation world. After the leader occupied this territory, facing various external pressures, he had less and less energy to occupy the last valley bamboo forest.

Since the Bamboo Mountain Sect scattered due to internal strife, it had effectively perished.

Every once in a while, the leader would send several experts to the valley bamboo forest to persuade them to surrender. During the persuasion process, it was inevitable to have exchanges and competitions.

Both sides used the wind whistle bamboo forest to conduct many defensive battles. Some were just a taste and stopped, while others caused deaths and ignited real fire.

Under such constant tempering, the elders in the valley worked together, constantly pushing through the old to bring forth the new, letting the initial inspiration of the wind whistle bamboo forest be deeply investigated, gradually developing a whole set of things.

Later, this set of things was passed down from generation to generation, constantly innovating. When it reached Qing Huangzi’s hands, it was already the twenty-eighth generation.

Qing Huangzi stared seriously into Ning Zhuo’s eyes: "Ning Zhuo, you are the twenty-ninth generation successor of this Empty Valley Note Green Mechanism Tube!"

"Our heritage does not belong to the Myriad Phenomena Sect. On the contrary, it was the Myriad Phenomena Sect that annexed the sect of the previous generation’s successor, which caused the current situation."

"However, it is not bad within the Myriad Phenomena Sect. Many times, with the help of the Myriad Phenomena Sect, the heritage was kept from being lost."

"In this long heritage, we have also had Soul Transformation level existences. It’s just that he had other main cultivation techniques."

"The sages who truly practiced this heritage completely reached the Nascent Soul level at their highest cultivation. According to today’s saying, this is a Nascent Soul level heritage."

Speaking of this, Qing Huangzi sighed: "I see you have succeeded in Foundation Establishment and have other main cultivation techniques. This doesn’t matter, as long as you successfully swear under the statue next, firstly to take good care of this heritage, find the most excellent successor as much as possible within your ability, and secondly, if possible, try your best to improve, refine, and carry forward this heritage."

"Ning Zhuo, your cultivation talent is much stronger than mine. Youthful spirit, as vigorous as the morning sun. Being young is really good."

"I also have self-knowledge, you can rest assured about this. So, you don’t have to worry about inheriting this heritage and having to acknowledge me as your master."

The relationship between master and apprentice is extraordinary!

This kind of strong social connection sometimes even surpasses blood kinship.

In a super sect like the Myriad Phenomena Sect, there are many factions, too many people, and various interests are intertwined, making the internal situation very complex.

Only when Ning Zhuo truly acknowledges a master in the future will he be considered to have completely joined a certain faction.

"I obtained the plaque, and the talent and intelligence I displayed made Qing Huangzi dare not accept me as an apprentice."

"This should also be considered one of the benefits of my choice to be high-profile."

If it were before, and Ning Zhuo hadn’t shown enough excellence, Qing Huangzi would likely have required the successor to acknowledge him as a master.

Acknowledging a master in advance would be a major loss for Ning Zhuo!

After all, Qing Huangzi’s personal combat power and the connections behind him are too weak, and he himself is not a Jin Dan true disciple. From this perspective, he belongs to a marginal figure outside the power layer of the Myriad Phenomena Sect.

Ning Zhuo faced the statue.

The statue’s posture is quite peculiar, different from most statues.

He knelt on one knee, wearing a Chi-pattern hair-binding crown, with three strands of bronze hair hanging down in front of his forehead, the ends cut straight as if sliced by a sharp blade. His left palm held half a frost blade horizontally in front of his chest, with the broken hair wrapped around the sword spine.

Ning Zhuo could recognize it; it was the Sword Lord of Broken Hair.

During his lifetime, his deeds of breaking his hair to keep his oath were already famous throughout the world. Now that more than a thousand years have passed, it is still widely circulated and can be said to have left a name in history.

Ning Zhuo raised his left hand in a sword finger, imitating a sword blade, and held it across his throat.

After chanting the god’s name, he immediately activated the statue’s power.

He saw the statue emit a firm white light, and the divine light condensed in mid-air, forming a round mirror. The edge of the mirror was embedded with 999 copper nails, and the mirror surface reflected a clear image of Ning Zhuo, the oath-taker.

Ning Zhuo faced the statue and finished swearing.

The divine light round mirror split into two, one part entering Ning Zhuo’s body, and the other sinking into the statue.

The brilliance then dissipated.

Qing Huangzi witnessed the whole process. Seeing Ning Zhuo succeed in swearing, he let out a breath of turbid air and said with joy: "Good, very good."

Afterwards, he led Ning Zhuo to the inner room, handed over a dozen jade slips to Ning Zhuo, and three storage bags.

"There are necessary items for cultivation in this bag, which can be considered the foundation of our heritage."

"I don’t have much time left, and keeping them for my own cultivation won’t have much effect."

"Besides these, the biggest wealth is this Green Bamboo Peak."

Qing Huangzi sighed and looked at the floor tiles under his feet: "This peak was originally the property of our lineage, tracing back to the eleventh generation successor."

"The Myriad Phenomena Sect annexed his sect and also moved this peak inside."

"Now, this peak is just rented by us. The various spiritual bamboos on the mountain are also the result of our generations of successors painstakingly managing and planting."

"The geology, water quality, and magic arrays here are all very mature, making it the best place for raising bamboo."

"When I pass away in the future, you must immediately report it, handle the handover, and rent this peak. The spiritual bamboos all over the mountain are cultivation resources suitable for you."

"Cough, cough, cough."

Speaking of this, Qing Huangzi looked sickly and coughed incessantly.

He was truly old and frail. Before, he was just holding on in public. Now that Ning Zhuo had become the successor, he no longer hid it, coughing continuously, and the aura of death spread.

Ning Zhuo opened his mouth, about to finish speaking.

Qing Huangzi smiled bitterly, waved his hand and said: "Just go. After you exchanged for the stone plaque, I investigated you. Although the information is limited and only recorded your actions since coming to the Myriad Phenomena Sect, it makes me very relieved."

"You have such talent and are still so hardworking. It is for a reason that you have achieved such accomplishments at such a young age."

"Being by my side will only limit you. You would also feel that way, right?"

"Go, go, do as your heart desires. I will guard the last post for you at Green Bamboo Peak."

Having completed the sect heritage, Qing Huangzi fulfilled his greatest wish, and the breath he was holding was released.

Ning Zhuo had a solemn face, and after bowing deeply, he turned and left in silence.

It was obvious that Qing Huangzi did not have much time left.

These were the last days of his life, so let him choose his own way to leave. This is the final decency of a cultivator, and also dignity.

Ning Zhuo set up several tables of wine and food at the Delicacy Tower, inviting the cultivators who had participated in the Xingyun Small Trial together.

Ning Zhuo sat in the main seat, wearing a plain white robe, with a gentle expression and a faint smile on the corners of his mouth.

During the banquet, cups were exchanged, the atmosphere was warm, and soon the many cultivators present were flushed with excitement.

Chen San’s voice carried a unique oily tone, taking the initiative to toast Ning Zhuo: "Young Master Ning! Oh my, today was truly an eye-opener. We people struggle to tinker with some small gadgets, but in front of you, it’s really like fireflies compared to the bright moon, not even a fart!"

He sighed exaggeratedly, drawing a chorus of laughter from the banquet.

"Yes, yes," a strange-faced cultivator stood up with the help of the wine, "Young Master Ning, why are you so excellent at using sound control to command many bamboo puppets? Commanding them to be like an elite force of a hundred battles? I clearly observed carefully and could see that you only used the content in the 'Mother Sound Reed Book'."

Although Ning Zhuo had already deduced the "Consonant Reed Book", he deliberately held back and did not use it.

According to Qing Huangzi’s rules, these were actually not prohibited.

But in order to make everyone convinced, and also to live up to his reputation, Ning Zhuo only used the "Mother Sound Reed Book".

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly, put down his jade chopsticks, and his voice was clear and peaceful: "You all overpraise me. The essence of 'sound control', I personally think, lies in the 'harmony of qi and the smoothness of musical temperament', rather than blindly seeking the penetration of spiritual power—"

The cultivator who asked the question probably didn’t expect that Ning Zhuo would really give pointers, and in such detail.

The more he listened, the more addicted he became, and there were others in the same situation as him.

Thus, the lively banquet quickly became quiet, and only the sound of the wind outside the window, the noise in the restaurant outside the private room, and the rustling sound of the beetles in Jiang Xiaobian’s bamboo tube could be heard.

When Ning Zhuo finished speaking, the cultivator who asked for advice felt like he had obtained a treasure, and bowed deeply with excitement: "Thank you, Young Master Ning, for your guidance! Golden words, enlightening!"

"I dare not accept. It’s just an exchange of ideas." Ning Zhuo smiled.

Jiang Xiaobian gritted her teeth, unable to endure, and asked the second question.

Ning Zhuo smiled: "It is normal for Fellow Daoist Jiang to have this doubt. As I see it—"

He not only answered Jiang Xiaobian’s questions but also commented on her beetle bamboo puppets, praising them highly.

Jiang Xiaobian didn’t drink, but her little face was flushed by Ning Zhuo’s praise.

The resentment remaining from her previous confrontation with Ning Zhuo was already not much, and now it had completely dissipated, and she admired Ning Zhuo greatly in her heart: "He only fought me once, yet he saw through many weaknesses of my beetle bamboo puppets. He is worthy of being a first-class genius!"

After Jiang Xiaobian, everyone asked questions one after another.

Ning Zhuo spoke eloquently, explaining the profound in simple terms, without any arrogance in his words. The precise comments he made offhand and the solutions that went straight to the point made the cultivators who asked questions feel like they had obtained a treasure.

A banquet evolved into an exchange meeting on mechanism arts.

Ning Zhuo didn’t just teach; he also asked other cultivators for advice. Patch Sun was the first one, and when asked, he stood up directly, his face full of being flattered.

By the time the banquet ended, everyone was still not satisfied.

A sharp light flashed in Chen San’s eyes, and the smile on his face was much more enthusiastic and sincere than before: "A single word of guidance from Young Master Ning is enough for us to ponder for half a lifetime! If Young Master Ning has any errands in the future, Chen San will go through fire and water, without hesitation!"

The atmosphere at the banquet changed subtly because of these words.

Ning Zhuo nodded with a smile: "Fellow Daoists, you are too polite. The way of mechanisms is vast, and only by verifying with each other can we make progress. Today’s small trial also made me gain a lot—"

Chen San obviously wanted to attach himself to Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo did not directly refuse, nor did he agree on the spot, which made Chen San, who took the initiative to defect and had been standing, feel a bit awkward.

But at this time, a waiter from the restaurant brought a food box over.

Ning Zhuo pointed to the food box and said warmly: "Today, one person was missing at the banquet. Fellow Daoist Ah Huo has a fierce temperament, and I suppose he couldn’t let go of his pride. This 'Eight Treasure Rare Bird Stew' at the Delicacy Tower is a masterpiece, rich in spiritual energy, and best for nourishing qi and blood. Please, Brother Chen San, run an errand for me after the banquet and bring it to Ah Huo."

Chen San was stunned, a look of surprise appeared on his face, and he immediately patted his chest to agree: "Young Master, don’t worry! Leave it to me! You are truly—magnanimous!"

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly: "By the way, tell him that today’s exchange was not satisfying. I am always ready to welcome him to challenge me again. His mechanism bamboo puppet actually has quite a unique aspect."

After the banquet dispersed, Chen San took the food box and immediately found Ah Huo.

"What? Ning Zhuo actually remembered me and brought this specifically for me?" Ah Huo felt extremely surprised, even though he had offended Ning Zhuo in public during the Xingyun Small Trial.

When Chen San conveyed Ning Zhuo’s words with sincerity, Ah Huo’s face was first stunned, and then turned into deep complexity.

He opened the food box, looked at the delicacies overflowing with spiritual energy inside, was stunned for a moment, and then fiercely wiped his face.

He gritted his teeth and said: "To be honest, I am indeed not reconciled. My bamboo puppet didn’t exert its proper strength at all."

"But Ning Zhuo—Young Master, he still agreed to exchange with me. He—thinks highly of me!"

Speaking of this, Ah Huo’s voice trembled slightly, his fists clenched, his face full of the joy of being respected.

Chen San took in Ah Huo’s expression, and sighed in his heart: "Tsk, a person like Young Master Ning—such methods really make people unable to even generate the energy to be jealous."

After saying goodbye to Ah Huo, Chen San flew towards the Blue Stone Cave Dwelling with excitement.

He wanted to report to Ning Zhuo overnight.

"Even if he refuses to see me, I will stand outside the cave dwelling and wait for a night!"

"A genius like him is rare, and one with such methods is even rarer. He must be a child of a big family!"

"If I don’t try my best to latch onto such a thigh, I would be letting myself down."

Chen San had considerable self-knowledge. He knew that according to his aptitude, he would at most be hovering in the Foundation Establishment stage. Attaching himself to a strong person would be a more possible way out than self-cultivation!