Chapter 96: Illusory True Lotus Seed
Lava Immortal Palace.
Room Number One.
Puppet components moved in quick succession, connecting with one another, forming several humanoid figures.
Soon, the puppet versions of Zhou Zhu, Zheng Jian, Ning Xiaohui, and Ning Zhuo gathered together.
The group scrutinized one another.
Zhou Zhu was tall and sturdy. Several wooden hooks floated around Zheng Jian. Ning Xiaohui’s hands were intricately constructed, distinctly different from the rest of her body.
As for Ning Zhuo…
“Wow, your head is huge,” Zhou Zhu exclaimed.
Zheng Jian nodded slightly. “Looking at it this way, you indeed seem to have some hidden talents.”
Having died so many times, Zhou Zhu and Zheng Jian gradually learned many secrets, including those related to puppet forms and hidden talents.
“What kind of talent results in a big head?” Zhou Zhu asked.
“There are many possibilities,” Ning Xiaohui answered. “For instance, a clear mind, exceptional intelligence, deep-rooted wisdom, insightful thoughts, and divinely bestowed wisdom…”
Though her tone was calm, her heart was filled with amazement. She hadn’t expected Ning Zhuo to truly possess such talent. Moreover, this kind of talent was highly compatible with puppet techniques.
Ning Zhuo’s spiritual sense was abundant. Upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, his spiritual sense would evolve into spiritual consciousness, making it even easier to command beasts, control insects, manipulate souls, and govern puppets, soldiers, and zombies.
Naturally, this included all kinds of mechanical creations!
“Is that so? My head is indeed bigger than all of yours!” Ning Zhuo said, looking around at everyone, touching his large head with a tone of surprise.
Since the banquet, where Ning Zhuo had briefly showcased the advantages of his spiritual sense, he had successfully piqued the others’ curiosity.
Ning Zhuo’s spiritual sense was overwhelmingly strong, making it highly likely that he possessed related talents. However, testing for talents was quite challenging.
Many strange and peculiar talents were not easy to test.
Zhou Zhenshen came up with a good idea: “We can merge our souls into the Immortal Palace.”
“According to our understanding of the Immortal Palace, our puppet bodies reflect our talents, each with unique phenomena!
“If Brother Ning truly has talent, it will surely be evident in this aspect!
“The Lava Immortal Palace was the residence of the three sect lords. Testing for talents here should not be a problem.”
Once this suggestion was made, everyone agreed enthusiastically, thinking it feasible. They immediately decided to end the meeting, return home, and then agree on a time to simultaneously merge their souls into the Immortal Palace.
As a result, now, everyone was gathered around Ning Zhuo, scrutinizing his large head.
Ning Zhuo had no choice but to demonstrate his talent in this area!
There was no other way!
Once he merged his soul into the Immortal Palace, his large head would inevitably draw attention!
This feature was too conspicuous.
As more and more people merged their souls into the Immortal Palace, the extraordinary nature of puppets with such distinctive features would become even more apparent.
Therefore, it was better for Ning Zhuo to reveal it voluntarily, allowing him to influence others’ thoughts more conveniently.
Suddenly, Ning Zhuo said, “I have an idea that might be worth trying.”
“But before that, I want to ask, can we use the other mechanical parts in this room?”
He was deliberately asking this.
Zheng Jian shook his head. “We can’t use them!”
“Oh, in that case, I can only use you guys. So, please disassemble yourselves first,” Ning Zhuo said.
“Huh?” Zhou Zhu was stunned.
“Do you really have a plan?” Zheng Jian asked.
“Of course, but I can’t guarantee it will work!” Ning Zhuo replied.
Zheng Jian smiled. “No matter what the plan is, we need to try it. What exactly is your plan?”
Ning Zhuo then revealed his plan!
Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu immediately looked at each other with strange expressions, while Ning Xiaohui stepped back three steps, shaking her head repeatedly, and flatly refused, “No, I won’t do it.”
…
A moment later, a monstrous puppet with four heads, eight arms, and eight legs suddenly pushed open the door!
Its massive body stood firmly in the middle of the corridor. After triggering a mechanism, it used one of its limbs as a shield to block a spear thrust.
It then raised its eight arms high, catching a heavy hammer that was about to fall.
Before the hammer could drop far enough to accumulate sufficient force, the monstrous puppet disrupted it, pushing it to the other side with great difficulty.
However, due to this action, three of the puppet’s arms were overburdened and shattered.
“Success! Success!” Zhou Zhu’s head joyfully shouted.
Zheng Jian’s head contemplated, “There’s no mistake. The three sect lords truly intended to promote our cooperation! Such thoughtful intent is quite in line with the style of those esteemed seniors!”
“What are you guys dawdling for? Hurry up and disassemble us!” Ning Xiaohui’s head couldn’t take it anymore.
Her head was placed under an arm, almost like under an armpit. Every time the arm moved, it squeezed her forehead, making her feel very uncomfortable.
“Oh, I’ll disassemble us right away!” Ning Zhuo quickly said.
“The thought of having to pass through the first door like this every time makes me feel awful!” Ning Xiaohui complained.
Zheng Jian said, “As long as it works, it’s a good method. Practicality is what matters.”
Zhou Zhu added, “Exactly, Miss Ning, your head is just under an arm. My head was in the crotch, did I say anything?”
“Sorry, sorry! I’ll switch places with Brother Zheng next time,” Ning Zhuo said.
Zheng Jian responded with a grunt, “Actually, this matter can be discussed further!”
Ning Xiaohui screamed, “Anyway, I will never use this method to pass through in front of others.”
A moment later, everyone returned to their original forms.
Ning Xiaohui’s arms were both broken, Zhou Zhu’s torso was riddled with holes from spear thrusts, while Zheng Jian and Ning Zhuo’s puppet bodies were relatively intact.
“Brother Ning, well done, you’ve truly impressed me!” Zheng Jian said excitedly, patting Ning Zhuo on the shoulder.
Zhou Zhu looked around, full of emotion.
How many times had it taken for him to finally stand on the other side of the door, openly and steadily?
How difficult it was.
“It was all thanks to him,” Zhou Zhu’s assessment of Ning Zhuo rose even higher.
Ning Xiaohui remained silent.
Ning Zhuo suggested, “Next, let’s continue moving forward!”
“Alright! I can’t wait to see the wonders of the second checkpoint!” Zheng Jian laughed heartily.
Zhou Zhu added, “Brother Ning, you go last. We’ll scout the way first!”
Ning Xiaohui didn’t object.
Although they hadn’t spent much time together, Ning Zhuo’s performance had already begun to win the others over!
Not long after, Zheng Jian and the others successively fell into a pitfall, their senses obscured, as if trapped in endless darkness, crying out for help in vain!
These traps were all specially arranged by Ning Zhuo.
He had anticipated the current situation!
With no one able to observe him, he utilized a spell, the Suspension Ring, and easily passed through Room Number Two.
After all, most of the mechanical traps were set up by him personally.
Ning Zhuo advanced into Room Number Three, immediately activating a large number of combat puppets.
He then activated Yuan Dasheng to protect him, and this time, he walked out of Room Number Three without even using any spells, arriving at the preparation room.
As he passed the leaderboard, he glanced up, sighing inwardly.
Here, a flaw appeared.
He had already renamed himself and was ranked first on the Five-faced Stone Pillar Leaderboard. Yuan Dasheng was no longer on the list. However, if he entered the preparation room in front of others, Ning Zhuo’s name would not be able to appear on the leaderboard!
Seeing this would make others feel very strange.
“Fortunately, now, in Room Number Three, with Yuan Dasheng guarding, it’s still uncertain whether Meng Chong can overcome this obstacle!”
“But for the three families’ joint exploration team, it will be quite difficult without that kind of lightning speed!”