"Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo treated with true sincerity. Have I been too excessive?"
Hanzhou couldn't help but feel a wave of guilt at the thought.
Ning Zhuo returned to his own Cave Mansion.
Sun Lingtong was already back.
"Boss," Ning Zhuo transmitted his voice softly.
Sun Lingtong nodded at him, replying via voice transmission, "The source of these rumors has been uncovered. Take a guess, Little Zhuo, who do you think is behind the scenes, stirring up the waves to secretly harm you?"
Ning Zhuo sneered, "These rumors ca so abruptly; it must be Lin Shanshan's fellow apprentices who are targeting ."
"After all, Boss, you also found out that Lin Shanshan racked up a considerable debt to set up the Spiritual Plant Cabin for and paid a hefty price."
"These fellow apprentices cleared her debts but made it easy for ; they don't want too close to Lin Shanshan. Alas, judging by their petty standards, they naturally want to take their revenge on ."
Sun Lingtong clapped his hands. "Bingo, you've guessed it again, hahaha."
Ning Zhuo said, "Guessing this wasn't hard and isn't sothing to be proud of. Their ans of spreading rumors are clumsy; there is much room for improvent."
Sun Lingtong nodded, "Clearly the work of a novice. They tried to fra , but many clues were left behind."
When it cos to spreading rumors, Sun Ning and he are among the best. Lin Shanshan's fellow apprentices were still too green compared to them.
Sun Lingtong looked at Ning Zhuo, eager to try sothing, "I've gathered all the evidence. Just wait until we throw it out; it'll definitely put them in their place, ahahaha!"
Ning Zhuo shook his head, "This isn't Fire Persimmon Immortal City; this is their territory. Although I know of Lin Bufan's way of doing things, it's not in-depth."
"Rashly throwing out this evidence brings us no advantages; instead, it increases our risk."
"Who knows if Lin Bufan will defend his disciples and play dirty tricks on us?"
"After all, he took in these disciples and sees them as his own children; their bonds are strong."
A sharp gleam flashed in Ning Zhuo's eyes, "Let's hold onto this evidence; it might play a critical role in the future!"
"If ancestor Ning Jiufan can be persuaded by , he might bring that Demon Ape to the Ten Thousand dicine Sect. Then, perhaps we can make bigger moves."
"A gentleman's revenge, ten years is not too late."
Ning Zhuo was good at biding his ti.
In Fire Persimmon Immortal City, he concealed his true self and endured for over a decade before finally revealing his brilliance in Lava Fairy Palace.
Sun Lingtong nodded, "Alright, brother, let's go with your plan."
Since the incident with Lava Fairy Palace, Sun Lingtong garnered more understanding and admiring Ning Zhuo's cunning and strategic depth.
Ning Zhuo deliberately chose not to act, allowing the unfavorable public opinion about him to fernt further.
Various voices predicting his downfall kept erging.
Eventually, soone couldn't hold back and sent Ning Zhuo a challenge letter.
Ning Zhuo quickly responded, accepting the private challenge and overwhelmingly defeated his opponent with powerful Wood Elent Magic.
Soon after, there was another challenger.
Ning Zhuo once again prevailed with the Wood Elent Magic, his reputation soared.
The resident cultivators of Little Struggle Peak gradually recognized Ning Zhuo's true strength. However, Lin Shanshan's fellow apprentices continued to instigate public opinion, only saying—
"Ning Zhuo has a one-trick pony; he only won this ti with his Wood Elent Magic. If one can counter his attack or withstand his trick, victory won't be far off!"
This viewpoint made all the cultivators itch to try their luck.
Eventually, it drew out a top ten ranked cultivator—Hua Guzi!
This female cultivator was known for her high-profile actions. Before issuing the challenge, she hyped it up, calling her friends and using this to pressurize Ning Zhuo.
If Ning Zhuo refused to accept the challenge, his reputation would suffer greatly.
The challenges on Little Struggle Peak had a process. If many challenge a single Cave Mansion, the Ten Thousand dicine Sect would decide and designate one challenger to publicly compete on the day of Little Struggle.
Aside from this fixed challenge day, cultivators could arrange private duels at other tis.
During Ning Zhuo's ti in Ten Thousand dicine Valley, the only real days of Little Struggle were his fights against Hanzhou and against Chang Yan; the rest were personal duels, but all conducted openly and watched by others.
It was the sa with Hua Guzi this ti.
Ning Zhuo welcod all cors and accepted the challenge on the spot.
This sparked a major excitent on Little Struggle Peak!
Ning Zhuo, the erging new star cultivator with soaring popularity, and Hua Guzi, an outspoken and top-ranked fighter.
Such a high-level contest was even rare during the regular rounds of Little Struggle.
Speculation was rife about who would win.
"Hua Guzi is indeed an established powerhouse, with a cultivation level in the Foundation Establishnt Late Stage, she definitely has an advantage over Ning Zhuo."
"Didn't Chang Yan also have a cultivation level advantage, and yet he was steamrolled by Ning Zhuo's Wood Elent Magic's three-pronged attack."
"That's not the sa. Chang Yan specializes in Earth Elent Magic and was specifically targeted by Ning Zhuo. But Hua Guzi is also skilled in Wood Elent."
"If you're talking about offensive prowess, Hua Guzi too has an aggressive fighting style and is very dominant in battle!"
So, the crowd began to discuss whether the outco of the fight would be determined by who could land the first hit in the opening monts.
Yuanlai Mountain.
Lin Bufan's mansion.
Inside the boudoir, Lin Shanshan laid on the round table, looking utterly bored.
At the center of the round table, there was a vase containing a Mist Embroidery Orchid.
"It's been so long, I wonder how Young Master Ning Zhuo is doing?" Lin Shanshan's gaze was vacant as she stared at the Mist Embroidery Orchid in front of her, thinking of the young man in white.
"Miss, it's ti for your al," Lin Shanshan's personal maid entered, carrying a lunch box.
Lin Shanshan was having a delicate lunch, but it tasted bland to her.
The personal maid, who knew her mistress's temperant very well, looked worried and advised, "Miss, you've lost weight today. Why do this to yourself? You should let go a bit."
At these words, Lin Shanshan's expression was numb, her gaze lifeless. Being lively by nature, confinent really dampened her spirits.
The maid, feeling pity, blurted out, "I actually have the latest news about Young Master Ning Zhuo."
Like jolted by electricity, Lin Shanshan suddenly brightened up, her eyes shining with anticipation, "Quickly tell ! Has he been challenged again?"
"Hehe, most of those stationed cultivators are no match for him; they're all like chickens and dogs."
The maid sighed, "But his opponent this ti is not ordinary."
"Now the whole Little Struggle Peak is abuzz with noise, everyone is paying close attention to this battle."
Lin Shanshan's expression changed slightly, "Who is it? Lai Wuying, or Zheng Xingchen?"
The maid shook her head, "It's Hua Guzi."
"It's her," Lin Shanshan first breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned again, "Hua Guzi herself practices Wood Elent Technique, and has imrsed herself in Wood Elent Magic for much longer than Young Master Ning Zhuo. And she often employs aggressive tactics, which indeed could pose a threat to Young Master Ning Zhuo."
"What should we do?"
Lin Shanshan's face showed anxiety.
Seeing her ntion Ning Zhuo made Lin Shanshan stop eating, the maid regretted bringing it up and suggested, "Miss, eat a little more. Only if you eat well will you have the energy to brainstorm and think of a way to help Young Master Ning Zhuo."
Lin Shanshan nodded, "You're right."
She picked up her eating pace, her appetite visibly growing.
The maid was smug, but Lin Shanshan suddenly paused again, "In the Five Elents, Gold subdues Wood, and Wood generates Fire, so if Young Master Ning Zhuo uses Gold Elent to attack and Fire-attribute for defense, he will definitely have an advantage."
"He needs the Understanding Law Map."
"Given his comprehension, he can fully realize the Attack Technique of the Fire Elent and Gold Elent before this battle takes place."
"Alas, now that I am grounded, who else can help him?"
"Hanzhou, that penniless fellow is no good!"
"Xiaoju, you must help ," Lin Shanshan suddenly stood up, walked over to her personal maid, and grasped her shoulders tightly, her eyes filled with determination.
The personal maid, Xiaoju, turned pale as she stamred, "Miss, Miss, how have you forgotten why you've been confined."
"Last ti, you helped Young Master Ning Zhuo too much, and even neglected your daily cultivation practices. Are you going to do the sa this ti?"
Lin Shanshan shook her head, "Last ti, indeed, I was too impulsive."
"I've reflected recently, and feel I went too far. Thus, I've never blad Father, and it's only right for to be confined this ti."
"The senior brothers have settled my external debts, and once I have the money, I'll surely repay them."
"These are trivial matters!"
Having not contacted Ning Zhuo for so ti, Lin Shanshan was no longer influenced by the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.
As such, she regained her composure, and without external disturbances, her thoughts, feelings, and perceptions all returned to normal.
In this calm state, she also reflected on herself and acknowledged her errors.
"At the ti, I was indeed a bit out of control." Lin Shanshan harbored no suspicion and only felt that it was her impetuosity.
But even in a normal state, Lin Shanshan still wanted to give Ning Zhuo a helping hand!
"Just say that I, in my cultivation practice, have had many epiphanies and need to contemplate a few Understanding Law Maps of the Gold Elent and Fire-attribute," Lin Shanshan ca up with a plan.
Xiaoju, the maid, widened her eyes, "Miss, are you really going to do this?"
She hesitated for a mont, then said, "What about the eldest senior brother?"
Compared to the outsider Ning Zhuo, Xiaoju as well as the many senior brothers knew about Linghu Jiu's feelings for Lin Shanshan, yet she remained unaware.
Reminded by Xiaoju, Lin Shanshan's eyes lit up, excitedly hugging Xiaoju and planting a kiss on her forehead.
Lin Shanshan said excitedly, "Right, why didn't I think of it?"
"I should help Eldest Senior Brother!"
"Now everyone knows about the battle between Young Master Ning Zhuo and Hua Guzi. If I now request the Understanding Law Maps of the Gold Elent and Fire-attribute, the senior brothers, and my father will catch on easily and suppress it without difficulty."
"But if I ask Eldest Senior Brother to intervene, wouldn't that solve everything?"
"Xiaoju, you truly are my close good friend, thank you for reminding !"
Xiaoju hastily shook her head, sweating with anxiety, "Miss, Miss, you've misunderstood , I didn't an that."
But Lin Shanshan ignored her, her eyes full of hope, "Eldest Senior Brother always took good care of . Although he is usually idle, he has a generous nature and is tolerant with others. The other senior brothers have reservations about Young Master Ning Zhuo, but he definitely won't! He is the best person to help ."
Xiaoju stared in disbelief, "Miss, are you serious?"
"Of course, I am serious!" exclaid Lin Shanshan, who imdiately ordered Xiaoju to take her ssage to the Great Struggle Peak's Myriad Demons Cave and seek help from Linghu Jiu.
Xiaoju, as her maid, had no power to resist Lin Shanshan's command and could only obey.
"My heavens, this world is too crazy."
"Why does Eldest Senior Brother have to endure such tornt?"
"It can't be my fault, it can't be!"
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