Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

A medium-sized mechanical beast moved its limbs, quickly leaving Zheng Jian and the others behind.  

Zheng Jian focused on the Zheng family cultivator beside him: "How was it?"  

The Zheng family cultivator looked puzzled: "Strange! The merit I earned wasn't much at all. It's not even as good as when I worked alone."  

Zheng Jian's face darkened, and he said nothing.  

The Zheng family cultivators around him found it strange.  

They had clearly imitated Ning Zhuo, but why was the difference in results so great?  

The Ning family cultivators whom Ning Zhuo supported had their merits skyrocketing as they rushed into the medical pavilion one by one.  

On Zheng Jian's side, not only did it delay Zheng Jian himself, but the others' merit gains were also insignificant.  

"Should we try again?" suggested a Zheng family cultivator.  

Zheng Jian shook his head: "Forget it, we've already tried three times, no need to continue."  

At this moment, he thought about his exploration of the medical pavilion.  

Throughout, Zheng Jian had been sensing his innate talent—Piercing Insight.  

When faced with rooms he couldn't enter, he used his talent to indirectly test them.  

Most of the rooms were nothing special, but when he faced the door to the critical care room and had the urge to break in, Piercing Insight was triggered.  

An alarm rang in his heart, warning him that forcibly breaking in would surely lead to death!  

"There is only one critical care room in the entire medical pavilion."  

"There seems to be something strange inside."  

"Ning Zhuo has already entered twice, but I haven't seen any related tasks."  

Thinking of this, Zheng Jian said to those around him, "Ning Zhuo was once controlled by the No-Void Sect, so he likely kept some secrets and didn't disclose everything."  

"Among those secrets should be the results of the No-Void Sect infiltrating the Lava Immortal Palace and continuously exploring."  

"That's why he's able to lift up his companions through shared tasks."  

"But, this is nothing!"  

"The Ning family is, after all, the weakest of the three families. When my clan starts exerting its strength, the difference in power will be quite obvious. That little Qi Refining junior Ning Zhuo, hehe, won't last long."  

"We just need to wait for the right time."  

When Zheng Jian realized that he couldn't defeat Ning Zhuo and the Ning family by legitimate means, he began to use the power of his clan to engage in a family-level competition.  

In the sky.  

A Fire Dragon Serpent was circling and flying.  

A serpent with horns becomes a dragon, and most can master the ability to fly.  

The aura of a Golden Core level creature permeated everywhere.  

Such a blazing demonic beast was extremely difficult to counter with just the mechanical creations of the Lava Immortal Palace.  

Unless Daoist Masters or Demon Generals of that level were deployed.  

Ning Jiufan and Zheng Jianlian arrived almost simultaneously to provide aid.  

Zheng Jianlian, holding a mechanical scythe, smiled at Ning Jiufan: "Brother Ning, why don't you guess whether my mechanical weapon can take the life of this Fire Serpent?"  

Ning Jiufan's face darkened: "Naturally, it can."  

Zheng Jianlian then activated the mechanical scythe.  

The blade of the scythe trembled lightly, seemingly flashing with a faint illusionary glow.  

In the next moment, the Fire Dragon Serpent that had just been screeching in the air was instantly decapitated.  

Its demonic core was knocked out of its body and fell to the ground, while the entire serpent's body completely disintegrated.  

In an instant, its life was lost!  

Ning Jiufan's pupils shrank sharply.  

Zheng Jianlian exhaled a breath of turbid air, and a fleeting red hue flashed in his eyes.  

Though he appeared calm and collected, he had, in fact, used all his strength.  

That single activation consumed forty percent of his Golden Core mana.  

Though the consumption was terrifying, the result was excellent, greatly intimidating Ning Jiufan.  

"Brother Ning, congratulations, you guessed correctly." Zheng Jianlian continued, "Now, take a look—can my mechanical weapon take that medical pavilion as well?"  

Ning Jiufan was silent for a moment before responding in a low voice: "Yes."  

...  

Ning Zhuo walked into Ning Jiufan's study.  

Over the past few days, he had achieved significant results, promoting most of the Ning family's repair team members into the medical pavilion.  

Once inside the pavilion, he used his position to assign good tasks to the Ning family's repair team, increasing their profits.  

Currently, the Ning family had completely surpassed the Zheng family in the competition for positions in the medical pavilion.  

Ning Jiufan coughed and gestured to a bench: "Sit down first."  

Ning Zhuo sat down.  

"Take a look at this." Ning Jiufan handed him several jade slips.  

Ning Zhuo placed the jade slips on his forehead, scanning them with his spiritual sense, and found that they were reports and pleas for help from the main branch of the Ning family.  

The letters described how the Zheng family had launched a full-scale offensive, harassing and attacking various Ning family businesses repeatedly.  

The Zheng family had taken action everywhere, targeting the Ning family so severely that they were struggling.  

Some pleas for help also came from the black market, from those former deacons of the Ning family.  

Even the black market, controlled by Ning Zhuo, had suffered multiple incidents, clearly the work of the Zheng family in secret.  

Without the Ning family's main branch backing it, the black market was now on the verge of collapse!  

Ning Zhuo snorted coldly: "It seems the Zheng family is determined to get the medical pavilion."  

He then looked at Ning Jiufan: "Ancestor, did you call me here this time to tell us to give up?"  

Ning Jiufan did not answer directly but instead asked, "Ning Zhuo, what do you think we should do now?"  

Ning Zhuo fell into deep thought.  

He paced around the study three times before finally stopping in front of Ning Jiufan, speaking with a bitter tone: "The Zheng family is strong, and logically, we shouldn't confront them head-on."  

"But I think there may still be a chance."  

"We can ask Lord Zhu Xuanji for help!"  

Ning Jiufan shook his head: "The Zheng family’s actions against us are within permissible limits. How could Lord Zhu Xuanji side with us?"  

Ning Zhuo continued, "Then we should ask Lord Meng Kui to mediate!"  

Ning Jiufan hesitated for a moment, then shook his head again: "Not wise! Our family has already signed an alliance with Zhu Xuanji, the Zheng family, and the Zhou family. Asking Lord Meng Kui to intervene would be seen as betraying the alliance."  

Ning Zhuo said, "But there is a way to resolve this. For example, I could separate from the main family, leading the branch family to seek refuge with Meng Kui."  

"After all, the members of the repair team are mostly from the branch family."  

"If Meng Kui truly protects us, we won’t have to retreat!"  

"You brat, always thinking about splitting the family!" Ning Jiufan, irritated, gave Ning Zhuo a flick on the forehead.  

However, Ning Zhuo raised his head with a gleam in his eyes: "Ancestor, just tell me—is my idea feasible or not?"  

Ning Jiufan was momentarily stunned.  

Thinking it over carefully, he realized, hmm, it might actually work.  

Meng Kui was clearly looking to divide the alliance—everyone could see that. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have enacted the ploy of keeping positions unchanged.  

If Ning Zhuo really managed to split the family and align with Meng Kui, Meng Kui would likely be happy to accept.  

He could then use this opportunity to openly intervene in Ning family affairs.  

Once the Ning family’s internal matters were interfered with, the City Lord’s Mansion could also intervene in the alliance and other families' affairs.  

But after some further thought, Ning Jiufan ultimately rejected Ning Zhuo’s proposal.  

Splitting the family was far too risky!  

Ning Zhuo sighed deeply: "If we can't rely on external forces, then we may have no choice but to compromise with the Zheng family."  

Ning Jiufan replied, "Very well, young Ning Zhuo, you can adapt to the situation, and to possess such foresight at your age is indeed rare."  

Ning Zhuo snorted, "I would rather defeat Zheng Jian fair and square, but unfortunately, our family is weak. I’ll approach Zheng Jian again, offering a retreat in exchange for some compensation. Sigh... we can’t just retreat for nothing, right?"  

Ning Jiufan nodded: "That will do."  

Ning Zhuo’s letter of invitation was soon delivered to Zheng Jian’s hands.  

After reading it, Zheng Jian passed it to the others.  

The members of the Zheng family’s repair team burst into laughter, their morale visibly boosted.  

"Boss, you predicted it perfectly. Ning Zhuo really surrendered!"  

"He only submits after taking a beating. Isn’t that just pathetic?"  

"Refusing the easy way and choosing the hard way. Haha, serves him right. In my opinion, there’s no need to even

meet him. Does he really think he’s something special?"  

Zheng Jian shook his head: "Ning Zhuo does have some skill."  

"Putting everything else aside, I have great respect for his talent in mechanics."  

"Meeting him again and having a talk won’t hurt. I’m also somewhat interested in the cooperation he mentioned in his letter."  

Ning Zhuo and Zheng Jian met again.  

Zheng Jian cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother Ning."  

He didn’t act arrogant, but his smile radiated the superiority of an established family.  

Ning Zhuo sighed deeply: "Brother Zheng Jian, I didn’t lose to you this time. It’s my Ning family that lost to the Zheng family."  

Zheng Jian nodded: "Exactly. Now, tell me about the cooperation you mentioned in your letter."  

Ning Zhuo sighed again: "You should know that I’ve mastered a technique. After completing a group task, I can significantly boost the merit of my companions."  

Zheng Jian nodded.  

Ning Zhuo continued, "I can help your Zheng family, assisting your people to quickly become physicians."  

"Once they become physicians and gain access to the medical pavilion's equipment and the tasks assigned to physicians, the progress of your Zheng family cultivators will be astounding!"  

Zheng Jian was intrigued: "Your proposal is interesting. What do you want in return?"  

Ning Zhuo took a deep breath and tentatively said, "My Ning family needs a few positions in the medical pavilion."  

Zheng Jian immediately shook his head: "That’s absolutely impossible!"  

Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth: "What if I’m the only one who keeps a position?"  

Zheng Jian shook his head again: "Brother Ning Zhuo, I can’t allow you to remain in the medical pavilion. After all, above the physicians, there are higher positions. And the higher the position, the fewer there are."  

"If I let you stay in the medical pavilion, and you eventually become the head of the pavilion—I mean the top position—then won’t my Zheng family and I, Zheng Jian, become the laughingstock?"  

"Is there really no way?" Ning Zhuo stared at Zheng Jian.  

Zheng Jian shook his head: "Absolutely not!"  

Suddenly.  

A soft sound rang out.  

Zheng Jian’s body stiffened. He slowly lowered his head, finding it hard to believe as he saw the tip of a blade protruding from his chest!  

A single-handed sword had pierced his heart from behind, emerging through his chest.  

Ning Zhuo was momentarily stunned, then quickly retreated, shouting loudly: "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!"  

His voice echoed around, and the members of the Zheng family’s repair team, who were nearby, rushed to provide support.  

Then, they saw Yang Chanyu withdraw her sword after killing Zheng Jian.  

Zheng Jian collapsed to the ground, his eyes wide open, lifeless.  

Yang Chanyu cultivated the Cicada's Lament technique, which was most adept at accumulating strength for assassinations.  

Even Luo Shang had once fallen to a sneak attack from her.  

Let alone Zheng Jian, who was merely at the Qi Refining stage.  

"Boss!"  

"Leader!!"  

"Vixen, I’ll kill you!"  

The Zheng family cultivators were furious, their eyes filled with hatred.  

Their blood-boiling anger made them fearless of Yang Chanyu, even though she was at the Golden Core stage.  

However, Yang Chanyu ignored them and charged toward Ning Zhuo.  

Ning Zhuo cried for help, and the Flowing Oil Talisman on his body activated automatically, forming a protective shield.  

Yang Chanyu slashed a few times, but each strike was blocked by the oily shield.  

"Interesting." She suddenly stopped and looked southeast. "Next time, I’ll take your life, you little traitor!"  

She gave Ning Zhuo a cold, sinister glare, leaving behind those harsh words before flying off into the sky.  

Ning Zhuo collapsed to the ground, his face full of fear, drenched in cold sweat, his soul seemingly lost.  

(End of Chapter)