Chapter 1595: Chapter 663: Arrangements

The masked cultivator’s fingers hidden in his sleeve slowly tightened, causing his knuckles to turn white.

Someone nearby was still laughing and talking: "Look, Ning Zhuo even listed anonymous talismans. This ’Life-Splitting Demon Cone Talisman’, he couldn’t even find the person, yet he specifically marked it as ’Pending Return’."

"That’s why people say he’s truly trustworthy."

The masked cultivator narrowed his eyes: "The Life-Splitting Demon Cone Talisman was listed, but the Three Brave Life-taking Nails weren’t. What does that signify?"

He sensed a discernible bias.

He lifted his head, looking through the bustling crowd toward the tightly closed wooden window on the third floor of the tavern.

There was no shadow behind the window, yet he inexplicably felt that a pair of eyes was quietly, unobtrusively watching him through the thick wooden panel, the engulfing tea smoke, and the noisy chatter.

The masked cultivator backed up half a step, then turned away, disappearing into the crowd like a drop of ink merging with the night.

The Life-Splitting Demon Cone Talisman indeed caused Chen San a headache.

Back then, that mysterious cultivator placed down the talisman and left without even leaving his name.

Chen San had no clues about it and could only passively wait for the mysterious cultivator to come find him.

This situation was naturally quite passive, but Chen San had no other choice.

Heavy Array Peak.

Mysterious light layered like thousands of water waves rolled continuously, one layer after another.

An array map hung mid-air, rotating slowly.

Numerous talismans poured out like a galaxy of stars, or like innumerable fish swimming around the array map, each flicker affecting subtle qi mechanisms too fine for the naked eye to capture.

Whenever the array map turned, the mountain wind at the peak was sliced into extremely fine streams, sweeping over the temple ridges and eaves, producing a low hum like the breath from deep within the earth veins, long and ethereal.

Deep within the main hall, Dong Chen sat on a high seat.

His face was calm like an undisturbed ancient well, with no sharpness revealing from his eyebrows. His profound cyan Taoist robe hung like still water spreading out. He raised his eyes, his divine sense controlling the array map, rehearsing this formation.

On his desk lay the latest intelligence from within the sect. Among the various matters, Ning Zhuo had sent Chen San to voluntarily return the financial aid.

"This youngster is skilled in scheming and quite cunning," Dong Chen suddenly spoke while testing the formation, "This time, the Three Brave of Xiang Sect didn’t even see his face, just like the various major forces of Flowing Cloud Peak, all were defeated by Ning Zhuo!"

Beneath the hall, Yin Changgeng stood with his hands behind his back.

His face was lean like slender bamboo, the fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes faint like traces eroded by the wind, his eyes always slightly squinted, resembling an old chess master patiently observing the array.

Yin Changgeng spoke softly: "Sect Master, Ning Zhuo is currently stuck in the Xingyun Trial at Iron Mad Hall Master, unable to set a battle appointment with the Three Brave of Xiang Sect within seven days. Thus, the summit event at Nanming Village has additional variables. Isn’t it a bit early to say he has won now?"

Shen Xi’s Nine Palace Mist Step Array Plate, Situ Xing’s Astral Tribulation-Shifting Chess, Lin Jinglong’s Green Qiu Armor Seed, Cao Gui’s Life-Saving Pill, boxes of mechanical materials, Life-Splitting Demon Cone Talisman, Cloud Bone Sensing Evil Pearl, Old Battle Map, Broken Lamp Life Technique, Star Fire Ash...

These aids are still in Ning Zhuo’s hands.

These are not merely simple treasures and resources, but also credibility and connections!

Furthermore, even the Bai Family clan has come to seek refuge!

And what has Ning Zhuo contributed?

He merely sat in the Cave Mansion, and these assists were almost entirely delivered to him voluntarily.

He used part of them and then arranged a debt agreement for those corresponding sponsors.

He declared that the unused portion would be returned completely, doing so with utmost courtesy.

Some people retrieved their parts, some refused, and some even wanted to add more!

What did Ning Zhuo give in return?

Others claimed he was trustworthy and respectful of propriety.

In Dong Chen’s view: The True Words Bell became Ning Zhuo’s tool, Qinghuangzi was reduced to the pawn of a young man. The show at No Retreat Square directly "defeated" the Three Brave of Xiang Sect, making Ning Zhuo the biggest winner.

The amusing part is, the Three Brave of Xiang Sect haven’t even realized it. Dong Chen later sent someone to retrieve the Heaven-reaching Hook and encountered some resistance.

Previously, Dong Chen thought Ning Zhuo was too rash and full of youthful vigor. This time, after the young man cried being "detained" by Iron Mad, Dong Chen finally discerned Ning Zhuo’s political maneuvering!

The Three Brave of Xiang Sect were indeed strong, yet they couldn’t even touch Ning Zhuo, didn’t even step into the Martial Arts Arena, and were thoroughly utilized by him!

Ning Zhuo’s gains were immense!

Yin Changgeng contemplated for a moment, nodded in agreement, then praised Peak Master Dong’s judgment.

Dong Chen’s voice echoed like the reverberation of an ancient well, softly saying: "How goes the grand plan of my peak?"

Yin Changgeng’s expression immediately turned serious, bowing respectfully: "Peak Master, the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar has now become a flaw."

"Originally, the chaotic situation helped conceal many traces. Now that Ning Zhuo has been taken by Iron Mad, the Three Brave of Xiang Sect can’t press forward temporarily, Nanming Village might not retreat. Chun Yangzi will likely seize the chance to advance the Five Battles Martial Arts."

"The best scenario is for the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar to fall into the hands of the Territorial Expansion Alliance."

"Next best is White Cloud Village. There is a force there where we have placed pieces."

"The worst would be Nanming Village winning! Chun Yangzi, Iron Mad, Wang Yu, the Zhu Family, the Situ Family, the Lin Family, the Shen Family, etc., could all take the opportunity to meddle in. The many arrangements below the altar can’t withstand such upheaval."

Dong Chen’s fingertip lightly tapped twice on the armrest, like pondering before a chess move: "The Five Battles are the key. Do you have candidates in mind?"

Yin Changgeng: "There is one person."

Dong Chen looked at him.

Yin Changgeng said: "Among the Territorial Expansion Alliance, the one with the strongest combat power at the Golden Core Level is named Tuoba Pan."

As he spoke, he cast a spell, forming an image.

The image of a burly cultivator immediately appeared.

His height was nearly nine feet, with shoulders and back as broad as mountain ridges, and skin the color of ancient bronze. On his forehead, the back of his hands, and the neck were earth-yellow patterns, resembling fissures in rock layers, or like the veins of the earth emerging from flesh.

His hair was shaved very short, almost sticking to the scalp, with thick browbones resembling two earthen ridges; his eyes were heavy and oppressive, standing there like a giant rock excavated from the depths of a mountain base, heavy and immovable!

Yin Changgeng continued to introduce: "Tuoba Pan has Golden Core Peak cultivation, mainly practices the ’Thick Mountain Swallowing Soldier Book.’ This skill does not pursue agility, does not pursue change..."

"His magic treasures mainly include Yellow Mountain Shoulder Armor and Heavy Mountain Shovel..."

Dong Chen looked for a moment, finally spoke: "Then let him go to battle."

Yin Changgeng cupped his hands: "Yes."

Dong Chen added: "Since Ning Zhuo has already set up the momentum, henceforth do not treat him as an ordinary genius. Chun Yangzi advances the five battles, Wang Yu will not be idle, Tie Kuang has his sights on the Nanming Fire Furnace, and if not careful might become an obstruction. The flaw at the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar must be patched up quickly!"

Yin Changgeng bowed his head: "I will arrange it immediately."

Three Lights Heavenly Dao Cave Mansion.

The atmosphere was heavy as if weighed down by a layer of damp leaden cloud, even the three-colored luminescence flowing across the stone walls seemed to dim a bit.

After Tie Kuang took Ning Zhuo away, the people in the cave mansion suddenly felt like they lost their backbone, each guarding their own corner, yet all were distracted.

Chef was still in the kitchen boiling spirit food, the spirit soup in the pot bubbling fiercely, but the gurgling sound lacked the warmth it usually had in their ears.

Gongsun Yan was in the mechanical room, with the disassembly diagrams of more than a dozen mysterious armors spread before him, his fingertip pressed on the edge of the paper, yet his eyes involuntarily drifted several times toward the direction of the cave mansion’s door, as if hoping at any moment someone would push it open.

Qing Chi was even more restless, pacing back and forth in the front hall, his footsteps causing the stone bricks to slightly ring.

Huoniao’er leaned against a pillar with arms crossed, his expression as unpleasant as overburnt furnace ash, his forehead twitching along with the fire qi in his heart.

Suddenly there came a light, brisk sound of footsteps from outside the cave mansion, casual and unconcerned.

The next moment, Sun Lingtong entered the cave mansion.

He’s the attendant student!

Regarding Boss Sun’s attendant student identity, Chef and Qing Chi were all well aware.

Sun Lingtong gathered everyone in the front hall.

"Yo, why long faces one after another, what’s the matter? Our young master isn’t dead, no need to mourn."

"You’re the one going to die!" Qing Chi’s eyes flared with anger.

It was the first time Huoniao’er saw Sun Lingtong, and his face showed anger at the words.

Gongsun Yan knew Sun Lingtong’s might, and his brow tightly furrowed.

Chef stepped forward: "So, the young master already has arrangements?"

Sun Lingtong chuckled: "Rest assured, he’s definitely not dead, and doing well. Tie Kuang covets the Nanming Fire Furnace, Qinghuangzi needs the heir to live, the Confucian cultivators support the young master, and the Zhu Family is even more afraid of the young master’s death."

Chef couldn’t help but fall into thought.

Sun Lingtong continued: "The young master has already ordered, let me make arrangements and oversee the cave mansion until he returns."

Everyone looked at each other.

Chef was the first to speak up to express compliance: "Please instruct."

Sun Lingtong said: "Chef, you continue to manage the food, warehouse inflow and outflow, and the servants’ appeasement in the cave mansion. Starting today, spirit food gets an extra portion of fire control, to replenish everyone’s energy. Don’t make it seem like the young master’s absence means starvation in the cave mansion."

Sun Lingtong looked at Gongsun Yan: "Gongsun, continue refining the mechanical components so that we can assemble a mechanical bird group in the future. Just because the young master’s in the trial doesn’t mean your work stops. The five battles martial arts outside might advance anytime, and Chun Yangzi’s side will likely act. If the young master needs to use mechanical birds in the future, and your work isn’t up to the count, you’ll bear the consequences yourself!"

Gongsun Yan lowered his head in agreement, expressing compliance.

Sun Lingtong pointed at Huoniao’er: "Hey, you assist Gongsun Yan."

Huoniao’er hesitated for a moment, then eventually nodded: "Yes."

Sun Lingtong lastly looked at Qing Chi: "As for you, come with me."

Qing Chi’s eyes immediately brightened: "To see the young master?"

Sun Lingtong rolled her eyes: "You going now would just be a bother for the young master. We’re going to do something more useful."

Qing Chi frowned: "What is it?"

Sun Lingtong grinned, exposing a mouthful of white teeth; that smile was particularly bright in the dim light of the cave mansion: "Participate in the Xingyun Trial."

Everyone was taken aback.

Sun Lingtong chuckled, hands on her hips, commandingly said: "Chef, pack me some spirit cakes. To eat while waiting in line for the Xingyun Trial."

Everyone: ...

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