Ning Zhuo continued, “The reason I didn’t accept these Comprehension Diagrams is simply because they weren’t given as help from a friend.”
“They were compensation, and indeed they benefited !”
“But in terms of my own temperant, I don’t value such things.”
“Hehehe, soone like , Ning Zhuo, with such talent, such lineage, such brilliance—given enough ti, is it really that difficult to acquire all the Comprehension Diagrams under the heavens?”
“Your sect’s senior brothers protecting their junior sister and misunderstanding —I can completely understand that.”
“But understanding does not an forgiveness.”
“I will respond to this matter in my own way!”
Upon hearing Ning Zhuo’s words, Xiao Ju imdiately grew anxious and tried to persuade him with a few words, hoping to turn hostility into harmony.
Ning Zhuo smiled as he retrieved a pile of evidence from his storage belt.
“These are what I’ve uncovered recently—evidence of Lin-guniang’s senior brothers conspiring and secretly spreading rumors.”
“Miss Xiao Ju, please pass these to Daoist Friend Linghu. If Lin-guniang is aware, kindly let her review them as well.”
Xiao Ju’s face turned pale. So Ning Zhuo had already discovered this matter.
“As expected of a family clan descendant, nurtured since childhood. In this regard, Ning Zhuo is strikingly similar to my young lady!”
Being only a maid, Xiao Ju had no real authority. In the end, personally sent off by Ning Zhuo, she left Lesser Strife Peak carrying the returned Comprehension Diagrams and the newly acquired evidence.
“Interesting, truly interesting.” Ning Zhuo paced back and forth in his cave residence. The more he pondered, the more intrigued he felt.
From the Wanli Dragon coiled around his waist, Sun Lingtong transmitted his voice: “Xiao Zhuo, this was evidence your big brother worked hard to collect. How could you just hand it over like that? Not even a trace of blackmail?”
“Also, those Fire and tal Elent Comprehension Diagrams—why not accept them? That’s fat at delivered to our mouths.”
“You might not want to comprehend them, but I sure do!”
Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly and instead asked, “Big Brother, what do you think of Linghu Jiu?”
Without hesitation, Sun Lingtong replied, “According to intel, he’s the Senior Brother of the Myriad dicines Sect—imnsely talented and fad for his love of wine. He has a high reputation in the sect! But he’s undisciplined and frequently makes mistakes, so Lin Bufan keeps locking him up in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave.”
Ning Zhuo said, “Then, Big Brother, have you ever considered what kind of mistakes Linghu Jiu often makes, such that Lin Bufan punishes him again and again?”
Sun Lingtong thought for a mont, “Eh, just so trivial things. But since he’s the Senior Brother, he has to set an example. So Lin Bufan punishing him makes sense.”
Ning Zhuo let out a sound of agreent. “Linghu Jiu often gets punished and confined, yet his standing in the Myriad dicines Sect remains the highest.”
“Lin Shanshan has turned to him instinctively for help multiple tis—including this ti.”
“I believe it’s not just Lin Shanshan—Lao De and the others likely see Linghu Jiu in the sa light.”
“From the intelligence I’d seen earlier, I thought Linghu Jiu was just a carefree scoundrel. But now, it’s not that simple!”
“Think about it. We had just acquired the evidence, and he already took action.”
“If he knew we had the evidence, it ans he understands the external situation extrely well.”
“If he didn’t know and only deduced everything from Xiao Ju’s words just now, then promptly made a compensatory gesture—that proves his insight into human nature and the inner workings of the sect is equally astonishing.”
Only now did Ning Zhuo answer Sun Lingtong’s earlier question. “Regardless of whether I accept the Comprehension Diagrams or not, the power of our evidence has already plumted. This card is half-wasted. If I don’t play it now, I won’t be able to later.”
“Playing it now, maybe I can still use it again later!”
Upon hearing this, Sun Lingtong ca to a realization. “I understand now! You and that Linghu Jiu had a showdown through this event!”
“Exactly.” Ning Zhuo nodded. “A pity. If only back at the rear mountains of Greater Strife Peak, I had taken the chance to ‘accidentally intrude’ upon the Ten Thousand Demons Cave and et Linghu Jiu.”
“Unfortunately, our target then was Lin Shanshan. We didn’t want any unnecessary complications.”
“Now that I know the full picture, if I were to trespass into the Ten Thousand Demons Cave, that would be a sign of disrespect to the entire Myriad dicines Sect.”
“I really do want to et Linghu Jiu.”
Just as Linghu Jiu had long wanted to et Ning Zhuo, Ning Zhuo now found himself deeply intrigued by Linghu Jiu.
Sun Lingtong reminded him, “Xiao Zhuo, focus on the present for now.”
“Without tal or Fire elent techniques, how will you deal with Hua Guzi?”
Ning Zhuo smiled. “Big Brother, don’t worry. I have my own plans!”
Ning Zhuo’s refusal to accept the Comprehension Diagrams as compensation left Linghu Jiu rather surprised.
After hearing about it, Lin Shanshan was unexpectedly no longer worried—much to Xiao Ju’s astonishnt.
Lin Shanshan explained, “I know the character of Young Lord Ning Zhuo. Since he declined to accept, he must have his own confidence. I’m now looking forward to him defeating Hua Guzi!”
After all, this fight was a private duel—not part of the Lesser Strife Day.
Many cultivators were looking forward to this battle.
The battle began as scheduled.
Lesser Strife Peak, Martial Arena!
Hua Guzi was petite and delicate, only four and a half feet tall. Her short hair was ink-black at the crown and gradually turned white with a tinge of purple toward the tips.
Her face was round, carrying a trace of baby fat, with pale and delicate skin.
Her eyes shimred with violet light, giving off an otherworldly aura—rumor had it she was a half-human, half-demon hybrid.
Her nose was small yet prominent, her lips tender pink.
She wore a red and white dress and was barefoot. Her entire body floated as she moved—rarely ever touching the ground.
“Ning Zhuo, don’t think that just because you’re handso you can be so arrogant!” As soon as Hua Guzi spoke, she lashed out. “Today, let teach you a good lesson!”
Ning Zhuo smiled. “Daoist Friend Hua, you are also quite beautiful—wilder and more flamboyant than . So by your logic, shouldn’t you be the one who needs teaching?”
Hua Guzi froze on the spot.
“Eh?” After a mont of realization, she blinked repeatedly. “You sure have a sweet tongue.”
“Hehehe, you’re so good at coaxing girls—it makes even more excited!”
“I’ll rip your mouth apart!!!”
In the next instant, she directly unleashed a spell.
Tree Realm Descent!
A mighty Wood elent spell manifested in an instant. Towering trees rose from the ground, surrounding Ning Zhuo.
Imdiately, countless vines and roots—like a mass of writhing serpents—lunged toward Ning Zhuo.
Just as Ning Zhuo prepared to cast a defensive spell, he abruptly paused.
“Fake!”
“This must be fake!”
Realizing this, he grit his teeth and chose not to defend.
The duel had a judge.
Without the judge announcing the start of the battle, the one who made the first move would be violating the rules and automatically lose.
Sure enough, the vines coiled around Ning Zhuo turned into transparent illusions and vanished.
In the next mont, the dense forest conjured by the towering trees also disappeared before his eyes.
His vision cleared once more.
Hua Guzi still floated in place, completely motionless.
“Gu-gu-gu…” She covered her mouth and giggled. The sound was like a pigeon’s cooing—strangely eerie.
The surrounding spectators burst into laughter upon seeing Ning Zhuo nervously assu a defensive stance.
“Illusion spell, Xiao Zhuo, you fell for her illusion.” From the Wanli Dragon, Sun Lingtong chuckled gleefully.
Ning Zhuo didn’t have Sun Lingtong’s mystical pupils and fell for it imdiately.
Seeing Ning Zhuo suffer a loss, Sun Lingtong was quite gloating, as if reliving the tis he used to ntor Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo’s expression turned solemn. “Daoist Friend Hua’s illusions are more troubleso than I expected. I’ve learned sothing today!”
Hua Guzi stared into Ning Zhuo’s eyes, revealing a sick and cruel smile. “Don’t worry, little young lord, this bit of experience is far from enough. Next, I’ll let you taste the full flavor of Hua!”
The battle began!
Wood elent — Root and Vine Bind!
Wood elent — Fragrant Flower Mirage!
Ning Zhuo seized the initiative.
Vines burst forth from beneath the arena floor like crocodiles from water, jaws wide open to strike.
But they struck nothing!
Hua Guzi’s figure vanished, leaving behind only scattered petals and a lingering fragrance.
“I can’t see her!” Ning Zhuo’s search failed—he was in a passive position.
He quickly released the Puppet Floating Hand, casting a flurry of Five Elents spells in all directions—above, below, and to the sides.
If Hua Guzi got too close and got hit, she might be forced to reveal herself.
Ning Zhuo used offense as defense. It looked fierce, but he was actually at a disadvantage.
He knew the real situation well. While controlling the Puppet Floating Hand, he also tried to channel another spell—multitasking—to prepare Tree Realm Descent!
Unexpectedly, even while he was preparing the spell, Hua Guzi did not show up.
Wood elent — Tree Realm Descent!
The very scene from the earlier illusion now appeared again.
A multitude of trees surged from the ground, forming a forest that engulfed the battlefield.
Nurous vines and roots wildly whipped and coiled, trying to flush Hua Guzi out.
But Hua Guzi appeared of her own accord.
She floated above, higher than the treetops.
The mont she appeared, countless vines surged at her like a swarm of serpents with overwhelming force.
Hua Guzi remained composed and smiled triumphantly. “I was waiting for this move!”
Wood elent — Fatal Bloom!
The vines and roots suddenly sprouted countless flower buds.
Within a breath, the buds swelled upon contact with air. In the next breath, they all blood.
The vines and roots had their mana drained and withered instantly.
The flowers broke away from the vines and began to flutter through the air.
Wood elent — Withering Flower Rain.
Like a torrential downpour, petals cascaded over the entire forest.
The towering ancient trees withered and collapsed.
More and more buds appeared on the trunks of these trees, sucking away their mana and vitality, all blooming at once.
Hua Guzi laughed proudly, “Trying to play Wood elent tricks with ? Granny Hua is your ancestor!”
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