Chapter 264: Ning Zhuo, You’re Finished!
Zhu Xuanji did not show up, but his spiritual sense penetrated the room, observing the stage.
No one knew Zhu Xuanji's true intentions behind arranging Ning Zhuo in such a way.
At least, he had three layers of thoughts.
One was to verify what was written in the diary, to see Ning Zhuo's manipulation skills in the opera "Fang Qing’s Injustice Redressed."
Another was to use this event to try to awaken Ning Zhuo, to inspire him.
The final one was to use this opera itself to persuade Ning Zhuo and deliver a final ultimatum—to abandon darkness and embrace the light, the opportunity was right before him, it was now!
"These are the mechanical puppets that Li Leifeng used to perform with when he was alive," Zhu Hou personally stepped onto the stage and handed Ning Zhuo a set of puppet props.
"Thank you," Ning Zhuo expressed his gratitude.
Zhu Hou observed Ning Zhuo closely from a short distance, filled with curiosity, a gentle smile on his face: "Young man, do your best!"
Zhu Hou stepped down from the stage, and Ning Zhuo began studying the puppets in his hand.
The puppets had a simple structure, mainly controlled by strings.
As Ning Zhuo was familiarizing himself with them, the thread of life and death from the Lava Immortal Palace shot out, landing on the top of Ning Zhuo’s head, connecting to his soul.
The voice of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was transmitted through the life-and-death thread, extremely anxious: "Young master, young master!"
"It’s terrible, Ning Xiaohui has offered the Golden Phoenix Mirror! We are done for, we are finished!"
"Once she earns great merit, she’ll immediately gain control of the Records Pavilion."
"By then, no secret will be hidden."
Ning Zhuo sighed and secretly responded through the life-and-death thread: "Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, I can’t leave now, I can’t escape!"
"Look, this stage is a cage."
"That constable is watching me like a hawk."
The voice of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit grew sharp, his impatience rising: "What should we do, what should we do?"
"Quick, think of a plan!"
"I told you long ago to do something about Ning Xiaohui!"
"Now look, she’s about to succeed, and you’re outside the Immortal Palace!!"
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was on the verge of cursing loudly. At such a critical moment of life and death, Ning Zhuo was going to perform a puppet show.
Hadn’t he always been resourceful? Why had he become so foolish now!
The moment Zhu Xuanji stared at him, he froze, reduced to a useless wreck!
"If I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn’t have bet on you!"
"Alas!"
"I’m truly blind, completely blind!"
In the main hall of the Lava Immortal Palace, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was so anxious he paced in circles, occasionally raising his head to spit fire.
Ning Zhuo no longer paid attention to the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit.
On the stage, there were still three layers of steps.
He ascended the steps, reaching the highest point, and sat on a round stool.
This was where Li Leifeng often sat before his death.
The round stool seemed ordinary, yet Ning Zhuo’s back was drenched in sweat, as if he were sitting on needles.
His mind raced, fully aware that Zhu Xuanji was pressuring him, but at the same time, giving him a chance to turn back to the right path!
As long as Ning Zhuo finished the puppet show and knelt to cry before Zhu Xuanji, confessing that he was too young and had been led astray by evil cultivators who befriended, funded, and supported him, he had boarded a pirate ship.
Now, having been moved by Zhu Xuanji, and feeling guilt upon recalling Li Leifeng, he would decide to plead guilty, repent, and reform.
By then, Zhu Xuanji would surely lift him up, allowing him to atone for his sins through meritorious deeds.
Ning Zhuo could even reconnect with Sun Lingtong, frame the No-Void Sect, and put on a good show.
"Zhu Xuanji let me on stage, in fact, to give me a step to come down. As long as I follow his intentions, walking down the stage means a prodigal son’s return is worth more than gold."
"I can clear my name!"
"In the future, with Zhu Xuanji backing me, I’ll achieve success in the righteous path, and when people talk about this period, it will become a beautiful story."
"Just like these classic operas that have been passed down through generations!"
Ning Zhuo squinted, his emotions surging.
When conversing with Song Fuli, he had seen a second path in life. That path led to Feiyun Country.
And now, at this moment, he saw a third path. This path led to Southern Dou Kingdom and the imperial court.
Life, it seemed, wasn’t just one road.
According to Ning Zhuo's plan, if he was determined to seize the Lava Immortal Palace, he would undoubtedly be going against Meng Kui and Zhu Xuanji, and against the Meng family and the Southern Dou royal family.
"The life path I once had... can it really succeed?"
"Can I really become the master of the Immortal Palace?"
"Even if I do become the master of the Immortal Palace, how will I deal with enemies like Meng Kui and Zhu Xuanji?"
"Can I just leave everything behind? Fly away with the Lava Immortal Palace?"
Ning Zhuo couldn’t guarantee it for himself; he couldn’t foresee the future.
The path he had once chosen was filled with crises, as if he was plunging into endless magma, like committing suicide!
But if he relied on Zhu Xuanji, it would be different.
Zhu Xuanji appreciated him!
Ning Zhuo could feel that clearly.
Fine horses are common, but Bole—the talent scout—rarely appears.
By relying on Zhu Xuanji, Ning Zhuo could likely soar to great heights. He understood well Zhu Xuanji’s position in the royal family.
The Southern Dou royal family was not lacking in Golden Core cultivators, but Zhu Xuanji was the most outstanding among them.
Cultivation level wasn’t everything; disposition, talent, and aptitude were the key factors that determined the gap between cultivators.
Ning Zhuo believed that Zhu Xuanji had a bright future and would definitely become an important figure in the Southern Dou royal court!
"Those who adapt to the times are the true heroes... and the King of Southern Dou has even issued a recruitment decree."
"If I rely on Zhu Xuanji, maybe I can still contend for the position of the Immortal Palace master. Then, by following the recruitment decree and offering up the Immortal Palace, I could become a minister of Southern Dou, relying on Zhu Xuanji to rise rapidly!"
"Such a future..."
This was a future Ning Zhuo had never imagined.
Perhaps, just as Zhu Xuanji had hinted to him earlier—he was no longer the small-time thief under the stage, but already a young master on the stage!
Dong.
The musicians on both sides of the stage began to play.
A single beat of the big drum broke Ning Zhuo’s deep thoughts.
Then.
Dong, dong, dong.
The big drum was struck slowly.
Afterward, the jinghu began to accompany, creating a solemn atmosphere.
The stage creaked, the platform sank, and then rose, revealing a large array of miniature mechanical buildings, forming a scene.
The performing puppets stood within, their limbs extending out several strings.
The strings were faintly visible, but as Ning Zhuo infused his mana into them, the strings disappeared, becoming completely invisible, undetectable to the naked eye.
Ning Zhuo stretched out his ten fingers, all hidden within his sleeves, starting a series of delicate movements.
The tips of his fingers connected with the strings, manipulating each puppet, beginning the first act of the opera, "Fang Qing’s Injustice Redressed."
On the grand hall stage, the puppet of Fang Qing sat upright.
On the table before him were case files, a gavel, tokens, as well as brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
The Fang Qing puppet opened its mouth, exuding an air of authority: "Come, bring the criminal to the hall!"
Two constables, one on the left and one on the right, brought a criminal to the front of the hall.
The criminal knelt, his face full of fear, but he still tried to appear calm.
With just this simple entrance, the audience was already amazed.
Unlike the mechanical puppets used in regular battles, the opera puppets had many control strings, allowing for finer movements and expressions, even the tone of voice could change with the flow of mana, becoming more vivid.
Ning Zhuo’s manipulation of the puppets was highly skilled, making the puppets appear quite natural, almost lifelike.
The Fang Qing puppet continued speaking, recounting the criminal’s crimes, detailed and precise.
The criminal sang anxiously, his tone filled with resentment: "I am just an ordinary citizen, yet you, Fang Qing, unjustly interrogate me so harshly!"
"This world is the same for everyone, so why am I the only one punished?"
The Fang Qing puppet sang: "The net of justice is wide but never lets anyone escape. No matter one's status, all are punished justly."
"Heaven's law is clear and just; how dare you argue?"
"You are merely an accomplice; do not harbor any illusions
of escape."
Pa.
The Fang Qing puppet accurately picked up the gavel from the desk, striking it with a crisp sound.
Then, he shouted, "The evidence is conclusive, confess the real culprit!"
The criminal puppet lowered his head and remained silent.
The constables took him away again, heading toward the prison.
With a push of the door.
Ning Xiaohui walked into the Records Pavilion!
Her face was filled with excitement and exhilaration, not expecting to enter here so soon, fulfilling the mission Zhu Xuanji had given her.
"I’ve succeeded!"
"Though I used the Golden Phoenix Mirror, I still managed to do it."
"Hahaha!"
Ning Xiaohui laughed heartily, full of pride at this moment.
The Records Pavilion was filled with countless jade slips.
Ning Xiaohui walked among them, reaching out to touch the jade slips, a smile on her lips, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"From now on, I can also catch the eye of Lord Zhu Xuanji."
"Excellent, entering the Immortal Palace was the right path for me."
"I’ve seized this life-changing opportunity!"
Suppressing her excitement, Ning Xiaohui began to use her position to search through the past records of the Lava Immortal Palace.
She first pondered, then widened her eyes in shock, discovering an astonishing secret.
"A major discovery!"
"The Zheng family’s mechanical black snake actually came from here?"
Ning Xiaohui was overjoyed and continued her investigation.
Before long, she opened her mouth in extreme shock.
"Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit! There’s something seriously wrong with this Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit!"
Ning Xiaohui became extremely excited, finally understanding why Zhu Xuanji had sent her to investigate the Records Pavilion.
This step was truly crucial!
"As expected of Lord Zhu Xuanji! He must have already suspected something, but just lacked the evidence."
"Now, the evidence is in my hands. I’ve done it!"
Ning Xiaohui’s face flushed with excitement, she continued reading.
But soon, the flush on her face quickly faded. She stared in disbelief, her excitement turning into horror, her face growing pale.
"Ning Zhuo, Ning Zhuo..."
"It’s actually you!!!"
"A conspiracy, a huge conspiracy."
"Too terrifying, you’ve been playing this role since you were two years old."
"At the Qi Refining stage, you dare plot to seize the Lava Immortal Palace! This is utterly audacious, a crime beyond forgiveness!!"
Ning Xiaohui screamed in her heart.
The truth was terrifying, chilling her to the bone.
But soon, she became extremely excited.
"Ning Zhuo, you criminal, I’ve caught you!"
"Hahaha, you’re the biggest culprit!"
"You’re finished, you’re completely finished."
"I’ll use you to make a huge contribution. How delightful, how delightful!"
Boom!
In the next moment, a loud bang echoed, and the Lava Immortal Palace trembled violently.
Ning Xiaohui lost her balance, stumbling and nearly falling headfirst.
She was filled with doubt and suspicion: "What’s going on? What happened?"
(End of the chapter)