Chapter 529: Heavenly Craft Forging Sound Manual
Thousand Peaks Forest.
Edge of the battlefield.
In a secluded valley stood a hidden thatched hut.
Lin Bufan sat on a low stool made from a wooden stump in the open space before the hut. He leisurely sipped tea while gazing at the distant mountains beneath the clear sky.
A ripple suddenly stirred in the air. Moments later, Zhu Xuanji’s figure pierced through the illusion formation and appeared before Lin Bufan.
Lin Bufan was slightly startled and immediately set down his teacup.
Ever since he had been “drafted like a laborer” by Zhu Xuanji and pulled to his side, the two of them had secretly established several hidden camps.
This was merely one of them.
Lin Bufan liked the scenery here, so he often stayed in this place.
As for Zhu Xuanji, he appeared and disappeared like a divine dragon. He rarely lingered in these secret camps.
Lin Bufan understood the situation well: judging from the national circumstances of Liangzhu Kingdom, Southern Dou Country must have deep ties with Thousand Peaks Forest. Zhu Xuanji had been sent here precisely to closely contact the forces within Thousand Peaks Forest that were friendly to Southern Dou Country. It was even possible that agents and factions personally planted by Southern Dou Country were hidden within the forest.
From the very beginning, Liangzhu Kingdom’s creation of a new army and the dispatch of Du Tiechuan to campaign against Thousand Peaks Forest had never been purely an internal affair of Liangzhu Kingdom. Other nations were involved as well.
When Lin Bufan saw Zhu Xuanji coming to find him, he knew that an important task must need his attention.
Sure enough, Zhu Xuanji tossed him a jade slip.
Using spiritual sense to control objects, the jade slip floated in front of Lin Bufan and gently landed in the palm of his outstretched hand.
Lin Bufan swept it with his spiritual sense and immediately revealed a strange expression.
“I didn’t expect the first thing I have to do would still be related to that kid Ning Zhuo.”
The latest intelligence recorded in the jade slip stated that Ning Zhuo was currently marching with the army to attack Ten-Li Burning Forest.
Zhu Xuanji said, “Ning Zhuo’s safety concerns the ownership of Huoshi Immortal City, so the implications are extremely great. Nothing can go wrong.”
“Daoist Friend Lin might as well go there and secretly protect him. The Three Generals Camp itself is irrelevant. You only need to ensure Ning Zhuo’s life and freedom.”
Lin Bufan shook his head with a bitter smile.
“That kid still doesn’t know he’s already being targeted by the Stone Dwelling Old Monster and the Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts.”
“The Stone Dwelling Old Monster is suspected to be a Soul Formation–level existence. He is extremely deep-minded and moves in complete secrecy.”
“The Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts are experts of the Soul-Devouring Sect. Their reputation is widely known across many nations. With Ning Zhuo’s current combat strength, even with the support of a Mechanical Army, if he faces the Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts, he will undoubtedly die!”
“If I were him, I would obediently hide inside the Forward Camp.”
At this point, Lin Bufan lifted his cup, took a sip of tea, and sighed.
“Sigh… this task won’t be easy.”
Zhu Xuanji smiled.
“The Ning Family also cooperates very closely with your Myriad Medicines Sect. I also heard that Miss Lin of your sect has quite a close relationship with Ning Zhuo.”
“Perhaps in the future, you might even become one family.”
Lin Bufan immediately glared.
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
“That kid Ning Zhuo already has a family. The one he married is even the heir of a Grand General’s Mansion of a nation. Tsk tsk…”
Lin Bufan looked at Zhu Xuanji and teased slightly.
“Speaking of which, ever since Ning Zhuo appeared in Canglin Immortal City, he has repeatedly declared in public that he has a marriage engagement with your Zhu Family. Now that he’s done this sort of thing, doesn’t your Zhu Family have any response?”
“That kid…” Zhu Xuanji shook his head and laughed.
Regarding Ning Zhuo spreading such rumors, he did not expose them and was not even angry.
This was because in Huoshi Immortal City he had already deeply experienced Ning Zhuo’s abilities in patience, cunning, and disguise.
Seeing that he could not probe any useful information, Lin Bufan drained the tea in his cup and stood up.
“Let me say the ugly words first. Whether it’s the Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts or the Stone Dwelling Old Monster, I can’t beat either of them.”
“If necessary, I will abandon Ning Zhuo and preserve myself.”
Zhu Xuanji nodded.
“That is only natural.”
“If Ning Zhuo dies here, then it is simply his destined end.”
“You should prioritize your own safety.”
“As for the reward for this operation and any future assistance, you can ask Ning Zhuo for it yourself. That kid can now fund both the Three Generals Camp and the Red Flower Camp. He’s practically swimming in wealth.”
Lin Bufan nodded. He immediately departed from this secret camp and hurried toward Ten-Li Burning Forest.
Concealing his presence, he flew low through the air while pondering every word Zhu Xuanji had just spoken, along with every subtle change in expression.
“I used to think Ning Zhuo’s marriage alliance with the Zhu Family was just his bragging. But Zhu Xuanji didn’t deny it just now.”
“And although he said ‘his destined end,’ I somehow feel that he actually has considerable confidence in Ning Zhuo!”
“Strange.”
“Ning Zhuo certainly has talent and great potential, but in such a situation, why is Zhu Xuanji still so confident in him?”
Near the forward camp of Liangzhu Kingdom.
The Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts lurked silently in a dark corner, as motionless as stones.
From time to time, ghostly entities returned to them and reported detailed information.
“Hm?” Suddenly, the white-robed ghost cultivator Tian Shuang slightly raised his brow and transmitted a message through spiritual sense to the black-robed ghost cultivator Di Hui beside him.
“News from the alliance side. The Three Generals Camp suddenly left the camp and has gone to attack Ten-Li Burning Forest.”
Di Hui immediately reacted.
“That kid Ning Zhuo is among them?”
Tian Shuang replied, “The intelligence does not specify.”
When the Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts returned to the frontline battlefield, they had just missed the departure of the Three Generals Camp.
After all, they were outsiders. Apart from what they personally investigated, most of their intelligence came second-hand from the alliance side. Therefore, there was always some delay.
After thinking for a moment, Di Hui said, “If Ning Zhuo keeps hiding inside the camp, we have no way to deal with him.”
“But now this is a good opportunity!”
“Whether he joined the expedition or not, this chance is enough for us to move and investigate.”
Tian Shuang nodded.
“I think the same.”
“The only concern is this: if Ning Zhuo actually stayed behind in the camp, and after we leave he goes out alone to harvest Dragon Ginseng Root, we might miss the opportunity.”
Di Hui pondered briefly, then shook his head.
“There is Soul Formation–level combat power hidden within Thousand Peaks Forest. The two of us absolutely cannot separate at will. Then we must choose one option. I suggest we leave and head to Ten-Li Burning Forest.”
“Even if we fail to find him, we can still annihilate the Three Generals Camp and reduce most of the strength around Ning Zhuo.”
Unexpectedly, Tian Shuang shook his head.
“Not appropriate.”
“That kid Ning Zhuo has some skill. He has even gotten involved with Mu Lan and become her husband.”
“If the Three Generals Camp is destroyed by us, Ning Zhuo will most likely join the Red Flower Camp. The Red Flower Camp can form a battle formation manifestation. It is far more troublesome than the Three Generals Camp.”
Di Hui froze for a moment, then realized the point.
“That’s true. Then what should we do next—”
Before he could finish, a flying message arrived.
The Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts immediately sensed it and swiftly received it.
“Oh? Someone is interested in the three treasures we revealed and wants to cooperate in obtaining them!”
“I didn’t expect three Nascent Soul cultivators. One of them is even Fairy Hongxiu.”
This female cultivator, who possessed a mountain-moving divine ability, was someone even the Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts regarded seriously.
With this development, the scale in their hearts heavily tilted toward staying here.
After all, if they remained here, they had a chance to obtain three great treasures. Even if they failed to secure the treasures and were driven away by Liangzhu Kingdom’s main army, they could still harvest the souls of their allies to create ghosts.
Compared to that, Ning Zhuo was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even if he possessed Golden Core combat strength or strange methods of the Bizarre Dao, he was still not worth worrying about in their eyes.
They had only accepted this sect mission because they happened to come to Thousand Peaks Forest and thought they might as well do it conveniently.
Ten-Li Burning Forest.
The soldiers of the Three Generals Camp cheered loudly in unison. Their morale rose by another level.
The mouse swarms and the Scarlet-Refining Mayflies had voluntarily retreated, allowing them to win their first encounter. Their confidence grew greatly.
However, Liu Er, Guan Hong, Zhang Hei, and Ning Zhuo showed no trace of pride.
They knew the intelligence well: the Fire Fluff Mice and Scarlet-Refining Mayflies within Ten-Li Burning Forest were specially bred, but not for defensive combat. They were used to assist in artifact refining.
The Fire Fluff Mice acted as scavengers with a very broad diet. They could devour shattered bark, roots, and even the residue left behind during large-scale artifact forging.
After they died, the indigestible debris left inside their bodies could be further refined, often yielding valuable materials.
As for the Scarlet-Refining Mayflies, when cultivators engraved Formation Runes or talismans during artifact refining, they would summon swarms of mayflies. Controlled through spiritual sense, the mayflies would land on artifacts or magical treasures and arrange themselves into the shapes of talismans or formations. By sacrificing each mayfly, marks could be branded quickly to form talismans or formations.
“This is merely the enemy’s probing attack. Entire army, listen to orders—continue advancing!” Liu Er shouted after allowing the soldiers to cheer for a moment.
The army continued forward.
After marching another two li, the soldiers were forced to stop.
The blazing flames around them suddenly transformed into towering walls of fire, surrounding the entire army.
Soon the firewalls grew higher and higher until they connected heaven and earth, forming a fiery dome like a massive crimson bowl turned upside down over the Three Generals Camp.
The soldiers panicked for a moment, but seeing the calm expressions of the three generals quickly restored their composure.
The formation was being controlled by Fairy Flowing Flame, who stood before the Vermilion Bird Incense Furnace, mobilizing the power of the grand formation with all her strength.
Soon, the image of a massive Vermilion Bird appeared across the fiery dome.
The surrounding air temperature rapidly rose.
Waves of flames surged toward the Three Generals Camp, and the ground beneath their feet became scorching hot as countless sparks erupted.
These sparks quickly expanded into a sea of fire.
The entire Three Generals Camp was immersed within the sea of flames, and the frost-white talismans on their bodies rapidly depleted.
Seeing this, Liu Er immediately ordered, “Switch to Iron-Wall Formation!”
Guan Hong and Zhang Hei instantly cooperated and both activated their military arts.
Speed is the Soul of War!
All the soldiers moved with remarkable agility. Most maintained calmness, and very few made mistakes.
Soon the Iron-Wall Formation was successfully established.
Once the battle formation formed, it immediately provided powerful protection to the entire army. The soldiers instantly felt the temperature drop significantly, and the consumption rate of their frost-white talismans slowed greatly.
Morale stabilized again.
However, the soldiers could still feel the temperature gradually rising. Their protective talismans were still being consumed—just at a speed more than three times slower than before.
Liu Er, Guan Hong, Zhang Hei, and Ning Zhuo quickly realized that prolonged defense would inevitably lead to defeat.
Zhang Hei, who had an impatient temperament, acted first. He swung his Black Serpent Spear again and used the military art Overwhelming Army Pressure.
Blackwater Soldiers surged forth once more, but before they could reach the crimson fire dome, they melted halfway there.
Guan Hong wielded his Blood Dragon Blade and unleashed a massive blade radiance that struck the fiery dome.
The dome swayed violently but quickly stabilized.
Liu Er held the Primal Yellow Sword but did not attack.
The three generals each had different specialties. Guan Hong’s attacks were usually the most concentrated and penetrating. In this situation, breaking the surface with a single point was the best strategy.
In comparison, even if Liu Er attacked, it might not produce such good results. Military strength was precious. Although it could recover quickly, it still consumed the soldiers’ combat power and stamina.
Guan Hong continued attacking, slashing three more times in succession and carving a massive opening in the dome.
Seeing this opportunity, Liu Er seized the moment when Guan Hong paused to catch his breath and followed with a single sword strike.
The timing of this strike was perfect. It exceeded the dome’s limit of endurance and split it apart.
The fiery dome collapsed instantly.
The soldiers cheered again and continued their advance.
Ten-Li Burning Forest was named for a reason. Its length from front to back was roughly ten li.
However, the Three Generals Camp did not need to march all ten li. Once they advanced five li, they would reach the central region and see the Fire-Crowned Divine Cedar.
This sacred tree was the king of trees within Ten-Li Burning Forest and the most iconic giant tree there.
The Three Generals Camp had already marched three li. Only two li remained.
But the next stretch of their journey suddenly became far more difficult.
Layers of fiery curtains continuously appeared, trapping the Three Generals Camp and severely slowing their advance.
Although Guan Hong could slash through the fire curtains, the frequency of attacks placed enormous strain on him.
He was a Golden Core cultivator, yet he already felt exhausted. The ordinary soldiers were in far worse condition.
The closer they moved toward the center of the burning forest, the stronger the flames grew and the higher the temperature rose. The consumption of the Three Generals Camp increased drastically.
Everyone had to replenish talismans more frequently. The soldiers’ stamina was mostly depleted. Even though they had eaten medicinal pills and military rations midway, their physical energy was still insufficient.
When they approached the fourth li, a loud bell suddenly rang.
The bell’s sound reverberated, stirring the flames even more violently.
The soldiers’ armor, talismans, and even their weapons began to crack and rapidly collapse.
The situation became extremely dangerous. Liu Er quickly used Military Art—Fortify the Land and Stabilize the Foundation to buy crucial time.
Using this opportunity, the soldiers hurried to replenish talismans while Ning Zhuo cast spells to alleviate the crisis.
While enduring the bell’s attacks, Ning Zhuo’s thoughts raced. Inspiration flashed like lightning through his Sea of Consciousness, and he blurted out:
“Could this be the Heavenly Craft Forging Sound Manual?!”
Zhang Hei blinked. “What?”
Guan Hong also looked puzzled.
But Liu Er’s eyes lit up.
“That’s right. It must be this method.”
Yan Jin, the chief artisan of Ten-Li Burning Forest, specialized in the Heavenly Craft Forging Sound Manual.
At this very moment, he stood before a massive bronze bell. Each time he swung his fists and palms, he struck the bell fiercely, producing waves of vast resonant sound.
The bell’s sound could forge iron and refine steel—treating the entire Three Generals Camp as ore to be smelted!
The Three Generals Camp fell into a difficult predicament. The three generals were helpless.
The bell’s sound was extremely hard to defend against. No matter what methods they used, they could not change the passive situation of being beaten.
“Using layers of fire curtains to delay our advance, then using the forging bell sound to kill us,” Ning Zhuo looked around and already saw many soldiers bleeding from their noses and mouths.
Their internal organs could not withstand the bell’s vibrations, causing severe internal bleeding.
“The Heavenly Craft Forging Sound Manual is an artifact-refining method that amplifies power through a giant bell. As long as the bell is destroyed, this technique can be neutralized.”
“According to the intelligence, the Forest Chief of Ten-Li Burning Forest is the Nascent Soul cultivator Luo Chen. He has not appeared yet.”
“The Three Generals Camp moves slowly and must rely on the Iron-Wall Formation for defense. Switching formations would be suicidal. Liu Er, Guan Hong, and Zhang Hei are only Golden Core cultivators. If they leave the Iron-Wall Formation to destroy the bell, they will certainly suffer an ambush from Luo Chen.”
“It’s time for me to act.”
Thinking this, Ning Zhuo rotated his Mechanical Ring.
The ring did not respond.
He immediately extended his spiritual sense into his Storage Belt and took out mechanical puppets one after another.
The Mechanical Army appeared!