Chapter 486: Liu Er Borrows a Treasure
Divine Art—Spiritual Sound Probing Pulse!
The moment Ning Zhuo said he was going to find Mu Lan, and walked out of camp in front of Liu Er, Liu Er activated this innate divine ability.
As always, his innate talent did not disappoint, allowing him to eavesdrop on the detailed exchange between Ning Zhuo, Mu Lan, and Zhang Chongyi.
"Family-inherited Mysterious Gold Armor-Breaking Art? Didn’t the Strategist say he had no interest in that technique?"
"It was because I didn’t promise him a military roster slot. That’s why he went to Red Flower Camp for help. This is nothing more than an exchange of benefits!"
When Liu Er heard that Ning Zhuo had grasped a great deal just by glancing at the Mysterious Gold Armor-Breaking Art, and even discussed a treatment plan with Zhang Chongyi on the spot, he fell briefly silent.
"As expected of someone from a great clan."
"No, even for someone from a great clan, the talent and insight of Strategist Ning Zhuo are extraordinary."
Though his resentment toward Ning Zhuo grew with each passing day, Liu Er had to admit Ning Zhuo’s brilliance.
Later, when Zhang Chongyi's needle insertion went awry and caused Mu Lan to cough up a mouthful of blood, Liu Er's expression instantly brightened.
"Good, an error in treatment! Ning Zhuo is also responsible!"
But in the next moment, he heard Zhang Chongyi shouting, “Quick! Quickly begin Meridian-Pushing and Blood Exchange!”
"Meridian-Pushing and Blood Exchange?!" Liu Er's ears perked up and his expression changed dramatically.
Then he heard Zhang Chongyi sigh and leave the tent.
Liu Er's expression changed again, his heart clenched tight. “That old thing, that old thing!”
He had picked up on Zhang Chongyi’s intent to match Ning Zhuo and Mu Lan together.
Liu Er was so angry his teeth were grinding.
He could no longer sit still. Rising to his feet, he began pacing back and forth inside his tent, visibly agitated, furiously pushing his divine ability to listen in with full force.
“No, it can’t be.”
“Ning Zhuo comes from a great clan, a man of virtue and integrity. He said he wouldn’t dual cultivate with Mu Lan, so he surely won’t!”
Liu Er tried to comfort himself, coaxing himself to stay calm.
Then, in the very next instant, he heard Ning Zhuo speak—“There’s one final point of stagnation. I’ll break through it with all my strength. Just endure it for a moment.”
Liu Er froze as if struck by lightning, stopping dead in his tracks.
“Stagnation? What part of the body is stagnated?!”
“All-out breakthrough? What exactly are you trying to break through?!”
“Endure?!”
Whether or not Mu Lan could endure, Liu Er himself could no longer endure!
“No, no!”
“A man and a woman, alone in a room—that's dangerous, far too dangerous!”
“Ning Zhuo is a young man, brimming with vitality. And Mu Lan—according to my investigations—though already a Golden Core cultivator, has long immersed herself in ascetic cultivation and military discipline. She has never been close to any man and is still a virgin to this day!”
“Too dangerous. I can’t let them remain together like this any longer!”
Liu Er hurried to the entrance of the tent.
Just as he lifted the curtain, he heard a soft moan from Mu Lan.
In that instant, Liu Er’s eyes widened, and his pupils shrank sharply.
“What the hell? What the hell are you two doing?!”
“No! Absolutely not!”
Liu Er could no longer stay composed. He leapt into the air and flew straight toward Red Flower Camp.
Red Flower Camp.
Hearing Mu Lan’s voice, Ning Zhuo suddenly looked up. “What’s wrong?”
Immediately, the tender and delicate atmosphere was utterly destroyed.
Mu Lan was furious, feeling an urge to raise her hand and smack Ning Zhuo’s thick skull.
But when she met Ning Zhuo’s clear and innocent eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
In the end, she snorted coldly, suppressed her shame, and forcibly changed the subject. “Your treatment technique still needs improvement.”
She had expected that Ning Zhuo would refute her, saying something like, “I’m not a doctor,” and so on.
But instead, Ning Zhuo immediately accepted her criticism, nodding repeatedly, his face full of sincerity: “Yes, yes.”
“The field of medicine is vast and profound. I’m merely stepping in temporarily. My healing abilities are inherently weak.”
“I can’t even compare with Lord Zhang Chongyi, let alone ordinary doctors. They’re far more experienced and skilled. If it were them, they definitely wouldn’t have hurt you, General Mu Lan.”
Mu Lan: …
She paused for a moment before continuing, “Young Lord Ning Zhuo, our dual cultivation would be a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
“From the fact that you’ve gone to great lengths to acquire mechanical puppets and build an army, it’s clear—you intend not only to participate in battle but to shine in the upcoming war, to earn military merit.”
“War is perilous and brutal. You’ve already experienced an ambush, so you should understand the gravity of that.”
“In this situation, dual cultivating with me will undoubtedly boost your cultivation and increase your chances of survival on the battlefield. Why hesitate?”
Ning Zhuo fell silent.
In midair, Liu Er heard this and became even more frantic.
With fierce winds buffeting his face, he howled inwardly: “No! Don’t dual cultivate! Don’t do it!”
Red Flower Camp.
Mu Lan’s gaze fixed tightly on the white-robed youth before her as she continued to persuade him: “I know your concerns. It’s nothing but Yuan Yang, right?”
“But is Yuan Yang really that important?”
“The cultivation method you practice doesn’t even require Yuan Yang, does it?”
“And about the arranged marriage with the Southern Dou royal family… Honestly, Yuan Yang isn’t important. It’s merely a form of respect.”
“If you’re powerful and have a bright future, and with your Ning Family’s great influence, would the Southern Dou royal family really make a fuss over something as trivial as ‘Yuan Yang’?”
“If you and I dual cultivate now, both our strengths will improve dramatically. Then on the battlefield, you’ll earn more merit and grow stronger. Once you’re powerful enough, the Southern Dou royal family will be the ones begging for the alliance, won’t they?”
“You’re from a prestigious family and well-versed in the classics. Surely, Young Lord Ning Zhuo, you understand these principles?”
Ning Zhuo lowered his head, still silent. His mana flowed steadily from his palm, pressing against Mu Lan’s lower abdomen, continuing to pour into her body.
Mu Lan couldn’t see his expression and pressed on. She pretended to mention casually: “Oh, by the way.”
“My father once obtained a spoil of war on the battlefield—none other than the Hundred-Armed Arhat Armor once used by Tang Jifeng.”
“I’ve already sent a letter back, asking the household attendants to deliver this mechanical battle armor here.”
Ning Zhuo looked up, eyes shining brightly: “Oh?”
He spoke in pleasant surprise: “Tang Jifeng? You mean that Hundred-Armed General? The one who crushed the bandits at Azure Green Mountain, cracked the Heavenly Gate puppets, annihilated the enemy forces at the Scorching Flame Gobi, and ambushed and killed a Nascent Soul enemy general in the Sea of Clouds?”
Ning Zhuo recited his exploits fluently.
He had read many books and was well-informed about renowned mechanical cultivators.
Tang Jifeng was among the most distinguished.
He was famous for being able to control a massive number of puppets by himself, forming an army in battle.
Ning Zhuo’s current endeavor to assemble a puppet army was, in a sense, following in Tang Jifeng’s footsteps!
The development of cultivation arts had long since included those who used beasts or puppets to form armies.
So when Mu Lan saw Ning Zhuo using only mechanical puppets to build an army, she wasn’t surprised at all and didn’t doubt their combat capability.
However, at this moment, seeing the light in Ning Zhuo’s eyes, Mu Lan felt somewhat vexed.
“In Ning Zhuo’s heart, these mechanical constructs are even more attractive than me!”
Suppressing her complicated emotions, Mu Lan continued her temptation: “In fact, that armor isn’t the only thing we have. There’s also a confidential battle record—Tang Jifeng’s insights on operating puppets and commanding them in combat.”
“I read it years ago to prepare for potential enemies, and it deepened my understanding of mechanical cultivators.”
“Oh?” Bright gleams flickered rapidly in Ning Zhuo’s eyes.
Mu Lan snorted silently in her heart: “Young Lord Ning Zhuo, you shall stay the night here. I’ll teach you from that confidential record—I remember it all.”
“Uh…” Ning Zhuo hesitated.
Meanwhile, Liu Er, still flying overhead, had already reached the brink of panic: “Stay the night? Stay for what night! Absolutely not!”
“What battle manual transmission?!”
“Mu Lan! You actually resort to such deceit to trick and seduce our strategist?!”
Liu Er was beside himself with fury.
Because he had suddenly realized that Ning Zhuo was actually the one he could trust more. Mu Lan was becoming increasingly proactive, and he was terrified that Ning Zhuo might falter and—the spear fires by accident—and a true dual cultivation would happen!
Mu Lan stared fixedly at Ning Zhuo.
She was a tiger daughter of a general’s household. When she did things, this was her style—decisive and swift!
In her view, even though the treatment plan devised by Ning Zhuo was effective, it was ultimately treating the symptoms rather than the root cause. To truly resolve the issue at its core, the path of dual cultivation was the only one.
“Ning Zhuo is traveling abroad. After this war, he will continue to roam and leave the Liangzhu Kingdom.”
“At that time, our connection will dissolve, and the Grand General Mu’s Mansion will once again become prey in others' eyes, and they will come after us.”
“But if Ning Zhuo continues to occupy this identity, then my Grand General Mu’s Mansion will remain safe.”
Mu Lan harbored little personal affection toward Ning Zhuo.
She was far more focused on the interests of the Grand General Mu’s Mansion, weighing gains and losses.
“Tang Jifeng...” Ning Zhuo’s brows furrowed slightly.
Just as he was about to speak under Mu Lan’s hopeful gaze, a rush of footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the tent.
The footsteps were hurried.
“General Liu, General Liu! Please wait, please wait. Let this subordinate first report to my Lady!” came the voice of Mu Lan’s female deputy.
Liu Er was burning with anxiety, ears perked, continuously pushing his divine ability to listen.
“Wait?! Wait a moment longer and the two people in this tent will have already dual cultivated!”
Liu Er flicked his sleeve, brushed past the female deputy, and said perfunctorily, “I’m not here to see your General.”
In the next moment, as he walked toward the tent, he shouted urgently, “Strategist! Strategist! Come out at once! It’s important, truly important!”
Zhang Chongyi also rushed over upon hearing the commotion, shooting Liu Er a furious glare for ruining his carefully arranged plan. What “important matter” could be more important than matchmaking Mu Lan and Ning Zhuo?
“This many-eared scoundrel is hateful, always ruining people’s affairs!” Zhang Chongyi cursed inwardly as he walked toward Liu Er, intending to pull him away.
But Ning Zhuo had already lifted the curtain and stepped out. “General, what urgent matter has occurred?”
Liu Er glanced inside the tent but didn’t spot Mu Lan. With the curtain now blocking his view, he had no choice but to turn his gaze to Ning Zhuo.
It was obvious—Mu Lan didn’t want to see him.
“Strategist, Strategist, it’s good you’ve come out.” Liu Er immediately grabbed Ning Zhuo’s arm and began dragging him outside the camp. “I have something important to discuss with you. Let’s leave camp first.”
After departing Red Flower Camp, Liu Er didn’t take Ning Zhuo back to the Three Generals Camp, but instead brought him to a secluded corner.
Liu Er cast a spell, creating a secure space for private conversation.
“Strategist, my honored teacher had someone deliver a treasure to me. I just received it—and immediately realized this treasure would be of great use to both you and General Mu Lan.”
“Take a look.”
The next moment, Ning Zhuo saw the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel.
“What is this?” Ning Zhuo asked in surprise.
Liu Er took the initiative to shove the treasure into Ning Zhuo’s hands so he could examine it closely.
Ning Zhuo turned it over repeatedly, using his spiritual sense to inspect it, and said over and over, “A fine treasure, truly a fine treasure.”
Liu Er held back his heartache, forced a smile onto his face, and explained the power and usage of this demonic treasure.
Ning Zhuo’s eyes lit up, and he immediately thought, “This seems to be a perfect match for General Mu Lan’s condition!”
“Really? Then all the better!” Liu Er slapped his thigh, his face full of joy, though in truth his heart bled with pain.
Ning Zhuo stroked the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel, expressing his heartfelt thanks to Liu Er.
Liu Er warmly patted Ning Zhuo’s shoulder, smiling with overflowing enthusiasm: “The moment I obtained this treasure, I thought—among the Three Generals Camp, you, Strategist, are the youngest and most in need of strengthening your cultivation. So I’ve brought this treasure for you.”
Ning Zhuo’s eyes turned slightly red. “General Liu treats me with great generosity. I, Zhuo, am profoundly grateful!”
Liu Er thought to himself, “If you truly want to thank me, then don’t dual cultivate with Mu Lan!”
He really wanted to say it out loud—but in the end, he restrained himself.
To speak it outright would make his intentions too obvious!
“With this treasure… can I perform dual cultivation with myself?” Ning Zhuo said with excitement.
This had been a notion he had considered long ago.
What he now wanted most was to test that idea.
As for dual cultivation with Mu Lan?
Dual cultivate my ass!
How could anything be more convenient and efficient than cultivating with himself?
On the other side.
The Demon Cultivator Elder was dumbfounded.
Just moments ago, he had sensed a sudden surge in Ning Zhuo’s fate energy!
Now, on the arm-shaped projection of Ning Zhuo’s fate energy, a treasure vessel had appeared.
Ning Zhuo’s fate energy held the vessel, which gradually shrank in his hands until it vanished.
“The Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel!”
“How did that treasure vessel end up in Ning Zhuo’s hands?”
“What is Little Six doing?!”
“Unfilial disciple!”
The Demon Cultivator Elder was filled with grief and rage. He had painstakingly laid out vast quantities of precious materials, but Ning Zhuo’s surge in fate energy forced him to invest even more.
Grinding his teeth, the elder furiously tore the fox pelt off his back and flung it into the air.
He continued pulling more rare materials from his storage pouch.
“These are all my treasures collected over many years,” the Demon Cultivator Elder cried out in anguish—true, piercing anguish!
He had no choice but to double down on his investment.
Of course, he didn’t forget to send a message, questioning Liu Er’s situation.
Soon, he received a reply.
After learning the details, the Demon Cultivator Elder fell silent.
He forgave Liu Er and even believed Liu Er had made the right move. This was because, between Yuan Yang and Yuan Yin, dual cultivation would cause Ning Zhuo’s and Mu Lan’s fate energies to blend together, forming a bond, while also skyrocketing their respective fate energies.
According to the elder’s calculations, this kind of surge would surpass even the one brought by the Yin-Yang One-Energy Vessel!
“Ning Zhuo poses too great a threat!”
“He must be eliminated.”
“This time, I’ve used the very bottom of my reserves. I refuse to believe Ning Zhuo’s fate energy can surge again!”
“With such a heavy price paid, the one who wins the Fortune-Seizing Life-Reclaiming battle can only be Liu Er!!”
Almost simultaneously, near Mount Huoshi—
A Flying Message had just arrived in the hands of Ning Jiufan.