Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master Chapter 359 4: Look at Ning Zhuo!

Before Fei Si's departure, and in the presence of Zhou Nongying, he was particularly solicitous towards Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo, however, appeared indifferent, almost to the point of being the polar opposite of his forr self.

Such an attitude naturally pleased Zhou Nongying greatly; he understood that this junior, Ning Zhuo, was extrely astute, fully aware of the current political landscape and who the real allies and foes were.

At present, the Lava Fairy Palace had already fallen into the hands of the ng Family.

It was inevitable that ng Kui would not relinquish it easily. Given ti, with the Lava Fairy Palace as a strategic fulcrum, the ng Family would possess an almost perfect justification to continuously dispatch their cultivators to garrison Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

Ultimately, this could lead to Fire Persimmon Immortal City being fully absorbed by the ng Family, turning it into a private domain of their clan.

Under such circumstances, the Zhou and Ning families naturally needed to band together for warmth, countering the wolfish ambitions of the ng Family.

Since Ning Zhuo acted thusly, Fei Si did not linger, choosing instead to take his leave ahead of schedule.

Ning Zhuo saw him out with full propriety, all the way to the main gate.

Before parting, Fei Si smiled faintly, ntioning Chi Dun. He said that Chi Dun, this Body Cultivator, had been preoccupied with Buddhist Physician ng Yaoyin, burning with a strong desire for a rematch to regain lost ground and soothe the discontent in his heart after the quelling of the Demon Beast Tide.

Ning Zhuo also smiled faintly. He imdiately discerned that Fei Si was threatening him through Chi Dun.

Thus, he did not indulge the other party, simply saying, "I may be young and frail, but I, too, possess a heart eager for victory. If the esteed Chi Dun has such refined tastes, then I must accompany him to the utmost. Only, I worry... under the Big Snake Scythe, an accidental lack of restraint could tragically lead to the fall of the esteed Chi Dun. That would be disastrous!"

Fei Si instantly dropped his smile, gave Ning Zhuo an indifferent nod, then turned and swept away in his sleeves.

Watching his ascending silhouette disappear into the sky, Ning Zhuo's gaze turned profound, well aware that from this point on, his close ties with Fei Si had been completely severed and they now stood on opposing sides.

"The Headmaster of the Ciyou Garden, His Excellency Zhu Hou arrives—!" The greeter once again called out loudly, followed by the announcent of the list of congratulatory gifts Zhu Hou brought.

Many hearts were once again shaken!

Although Zhu Hou only had a Foundation Establishnt cultivation, he was born into the Southern Bean Royal Family, carrying inherent prestige and a high status. Particularly since the Royal Family had placed him there to serve as a wedge, firmly embedded to monitor the situation of the Immortal City and to counter ng Kui's influence as much as possible.

Ning Zhuo had just returned from the main gate when he heard the announcent. He imdiately turned around, approached Zhu Hou with a warm smile, and welcod him.

But Zhu Hou was different from the others.

Upon entering the banquet hall, he imdiately caused a sensation.

Only after he mingled extensively among the guests at the banquet, forging good relationships, did he leave his seat to discuss matters with Ning Zhuo and Zhou Nongying.

This ti, he represented the Southern Bean Royal Family and wanted to support both the branch Ning Family and the Zhou Family—in hopes that they could thwart the ng Family's future encroachnt upon Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

The three of them chatted rrily, with strong intentions of cooperation evident.

When the eting dispersed, Ning Zhuo returned to the floating banquet.

After taking his seat at the main table, the cultivators who had been anxiously waiting all approached, offering their respects to Ning Zhuo with raised cups.

Foremost were Ning Youfu and Ning Houjun, two forr Family Elders of collateral branches.

Now that Ning Zhuo was the head of the branch family, his status far surpassed that of the two elders.

Ning Youfu assud a clearly subservient posture, while Ning Houjun was even more deferential, for he had a favor to ask. He hoped that his blood descendants could return to Ning Zhuo's branch family and have their sentence of exile revoked.

Ning Zhuo did not agree outright, instead saying that it would require inspection before a decision could be made.

This simple response already moved Ning Houjun to the edge of tears, filled with emotion.

"From now on, in the branch family, I hope the two elders will serve as family pillars, shielding the younger generations from wind and rain for a ti," Ning Zhuo cordially invited.

Ning Youfu and Ning Houjun exchanged glances and agreed on the spot. Their retirent from the position of Family Elders had not been solely out of personal volition.

Beside them, the Academy Elder's face was dark with frustration; he could only watch helplessly and with resentnt as Ning Zhuo's branch family openly absorbed mbers from the collateral lines, quickly expanding and strengthening itself.

Ning Xiangqian and the other forr stewards also ca to Ning Zhuo's side, eagerly hoping to be included in Ning Zhuo's branch family.

Ning Zhuo announced that a list would be made public before long.

Following this were Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and other schoolmates and mbers of the Renovation Team.

Ning Zhuo gave them so encouraging words. Among this group, his reputation had always been high—a status largely owing to his previous sharing of experiences.

Now that his position as the head of the branch family was solidified, he naturally inspired their loyalty even further.

The leaders of the Monkey Head Gang and the Crane Beak Gang were present as well, occupying the most remote seats.

Nevertheless, they quivered with excitent.

This was what they had dreamt of before pledging loyalty to Ning Zhuo. As Ning Zhuo's status soared, so too did they benefit, finally integrating into the circles of the Righteous Path.

Having personally witnessed Zhou Nongying, Fei Si, Zhu Hou, and others coming forward to offer their congratulations to Ning Zhuo, their loyalty surged a hundredfold.

Chen Cha, Feng Heizi, Unclean, and the One-Ard Craftsman all left their seats to co forward and express their congratulations.

Chen Cha, with a complex expression, exclaid deeply moved, "Ning Zhuo, without seeing it with my own eyes, I would never have imagined you could reach this point. Congratulations!"

Ning Zhuo rose and clasped Chen Cha's hand, showing an exceptional closeness that incited envy from Feng Heizi, Unclean, and the One-Ard Craftsman.

At the banquet, Feng Jiqing boasted to the cultivators at the sa table.

"Back when the Ning Family Clan Leader was still alive, he asked to evaluate Ning Zhuo's chanical Fireworks Monkey."

"When I laid eyes upon it, I was astounded! Without getting into details, just take the Storage Formation—it was designed to perfection. If it were , I'm afraid I would have to opt for a Cloud Whale's empty lung."

"Ha ha ha, compared with such a prodigy, I am truly too ordinary to ntion."

"Being in the sa city as Lord Ning Zhuo is already a great honor for !"

...

Lava Fairy Palace.

ng Kui hovered slightly above the ground, sitting above the crater where the throne once stood.

In front of him, a spell-ford mirror reflected scenes from within Ning Zhuo's separated family branch.

The protagonist in the mirror was none other than Ning Zhuo himself.

ng Kui observed the white-clothed youth with profound eyes.

He would never have believed, before the dust settled, that he could be defeated by such a junior.

Who would have thought that within Fire Persimmon Mountain, a little cultivator at the Qi Refining level could pretend and endure for over a decade, only to seize the Lava Fairy Palace by blowing it up and temporarily blinding all involved parties?

"Grandfather!" ng Chong burst through the main hall doors, rushing to ng Kui's side.

"Is that Ning Zhuo opening his estate today? I want to fight him! I haven't lost yet!!" ng Chong yelled loudly, vowing to seek vengeance.

ng Kui snorted coldly and flicked his finger slightly, hitting ng Chong with such force that ng Chong ducked his head, holding his forehead, and howling in pain.

"Grandfather, why did you hit ?"

ng Kui: "I told you to practice diligently and master more of the Cultivation Hundred Skills, but you never listened."

"Did you see this ti?"

"With his proficiency in chanical Techniques, Ning Zhuo left you streets behind. The chanical Monkey you saw as your life's greatest foe is rely one of his chanical artifacts. In the end, the position of Palace Master, my dear grandson, was sothing he chose to relinquish voluntarily!"

"Look at him, only sixteen years old, even younger than you."

"At such a young age, he caused your efforts to fail utterly, splitting your spirit from your body. With such cunning and outstanding skill in chanical artifacts at such a young age, he is even establishing his own branch today."

"Chong'er, you should really learn from those geniuses who are more talented than you!"

ng Chong was stunned.

Grandfather ng Kui had always taken pride in him. Yet now, he spoke words that made ng Chong feel unfamiliar. After all, in the past, ng Chong was the sole protagonist in such talks.

Now, Ning Zhuo had successfully pushed ng Chong off his pedestal.

"Alright, Chong'er, it's understandable that you were defeated this ti. Even you and I were deceived by that cunning brat, weren't we?" ng Hu revealed himself.

He walked up behind ng Chong, lifting him up: "I'll take Chong'er with . The Three Superior Sect Techniques are foundation establishnt by the three Dantians, with a focus on chanical Techniques, but since the opportunity has been lost and is unsuitable for Chong'er..."

"Coincidentally, the Thunderclap Nation Master from Thunderclap Nation is openly recruiting direct disciples. Chong'er has the Immortal Aptitude of Frenzied Rushing Thunder, and if he can beco a direct disciple of the Thunderclap Nation Master, the outco would be even better."

ng Kui nodded: "That sounds good, take him then."

No matter how much ng Chong struggled and scread, ng Hu carried him away, turning into a rainbow and departing.

ng Kui was left alone, sighing deeply.

Had he been in possession of the complete Three Superior Sect Techniques, it would have been a good option for ng Chong to stay and continue his cultivation.

However, the true scriptures of the three techniques were only contained within the body of the Daoist Master of chanical Techniques.

The connection to the Soul Entering Immortal Palace would at most grant the Qi Refining Realm's Three Superior Sect Techniques.

The subsequent cultivation technique was hidden within the Dharma Transmission Bell, but for ng Kui to unlock this bell, it was not just challenging, but he had nowhere to even start!

Understanding the mysteries of lifespan all too well, ng Kui knew: the lifespan of the Lava Fairy Palace had already been seized by others. A step ahead is steps ahead, and the subsequent blessings of lifespan would favor those who had taken them first, not him, ng Chong.

For ng Chong to catch up would be extrely difficult, and he had already lost the initiative, wasting years without good progress—it would be better to make a clean break and start anew on another path.

Divine Sense spread out, ng Kui once again surveyed the Lava Fairy Palace.

"The losses are too great!" he shook his head repeatedly.

From the bottom of his heart, he didn't want to take over this ss.

But there was no choice, as the ng Family needed the whole Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

And if the ng Family was to maintain long-term control of Fire Persimmon Immortal City, they needed a reason to counter the Royal Family's city lord rotation policy.

Undoubtedly, the identity of the Immortal Palace Master of the Lava Fairy Palace could help the ng Family achieve this.

This was why ng Kui, a great strategist, knowing full well that it was a trap, still fulfilled Ning Zhuo's wishes, voluntarily taking over and bearing the burden.

"Rebuilding the entire Lava Fairy Palace consus a staggering amount, only by seeking help from the family can it be possible." Even ng Kui, at the Nascent Soul level, couldn't personally bear the maintenance of the Immortal Palace, which showed the imnse cost of repairing the palace.

What truly troubled ng Kui wasn't the repair issue, but the positions.

The Lava Fairy Palace had various positions, and even though the chanical structures had fallen, the positions had not been abolished.

According to the previous agreent between ng Kui and Zhu Xuanji, no matter who obtained the title of Immortal Palace Master, these positions wouldn't be audited.

So, although ng Kui was now the Palace Master, he had a substantial number of positions under him falling into the hands of the cultivators from the three renovation teams.

Their existence, controlling many positions within the Immortal Palace, undoubtedly greatly reduced the ng Family's control over the Lava Fairy Palace!

This was also the most important foundation for Zhou Nongying and Ning Zhuo to join forces against the ng Family.

The separation was drawing to an end, and suddenly a guest announcer called out high: "Lord Song Fuli has arrived—!"

Ning Zhuo tensed slightly, knowing trouble had co to his doorstep.

Song Fuli, expressionless, stood upright; he neither brought gifts nor showed any willingness to step through the gate.

He blocked the entrance.