Pi Fu Jie began plotting how to counterattack. In the Martial Arts Arena, Ning Zhuo once again offered the tiger demon’s corpse to Shen Xi, and he was not just making polite small talk.
Shen Xi shook his hand and clasped his fist in a salute: "Thank you, Brother Ning, but this is your spoils of war, hard-earned through your own efforts. How could I have the reason to accept it?"
Out of self-interest, since Ning Zhuo had already become enemies with Pi Fu Jie, Shen Xi would not accept the tiger demon’s corpse.
The tiger demon was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage and not of much value.
If he accepted it, the nature of this martial arts duel would change. Originally, it was Ning Zhuo holding a grudge against Pi Fu Jie, but now Ning Zhuo would be standing up for Shen Xi and the Shen family.
Pi Fu Jie had already retreated voluntarily, showing his wariness of Ning Zhuo. If in the future, Ning Zhuo proclaimed that Shen Xi accepted the tiger demon’s corpse, Pi Fu Jie could very well seize the opportunity as a righteous reason to abandon dealing with Ning Zhuo and focus solely on Shen Xi and his entourage.
These are the rules of the Righteous Path.
Shen Xi continued to explain: "Brother Ning might not know, but what Pi Fu Jie just said does have some truth. My Shen family and the Pi family have been at odds for a long time, with countless casualties on both sides. We have collected many corpses of Pi family cultivators."
"Our clan has long researched the ’Seven-Symbol Demon-Skin Mantra,’ and this tiger demon’s corpse certainly offers a glimpse into its secrets, but it is no longer valuable to us."
"Brother Ning might as well study it; with Brother Ning’s insight and knowledge, it will surely be enlightening."
But these explanations were still not enough.
Shen Xi, not to be outdone as a genius of a great clan, had received elite-level education since childhood. He then took out a jade slip: "Brother Ning is interested in the Nine Palace Formation. Although I haven’t known Brother Ning for long, we are kindred spirits. As you have stood up for me, your friend, please accept this set of classroom notes, and I sincerely ask you not to refuse."
A flash of brilliance crossed Ning Zhuo’s eyes as he immediately understood Shen Xi’s underlying intentions.
He instantly praised the Shen family’s expertise in the Nine Palace Formation and affirmed his friendship with Shen Xi, finally accepting the jade slip.
The matter was thus resolved, and both Shen Xi and Ning Zhuo felt that their friendship had deepened.
Shen Xi invited Ning Zhuo to accompany him to observe others’ martial arts.
This was Ning Zhuo’s original purpose for coming here, but his encounter with Pi Fu Jie was unexpected, as was the performance of Xue Cai Nü·Hui in the fight.
This disrupted Ning Zhuo’s original plan, so he tactfully declined Shen Xi’s invitation, stating that he couldn’t wait to delve into the school notes Shen Xi had given him.
Shen Xi naturally didn’t insist on Ning Zhuo staying, and they parted with reluctance.
Watching Ning Zhuo leave, Su Lingkou voiced concern: "Cousin, by giving Brother Ning Zhuo the classroom notes, won’t it reveal the Shen family’s array dao secrets?"
Shen Xi smiled faintly: "There are naturally some exclusive secrets of the Shen family, but not many."
"Do not worry, cousin. I carefully considered it before gifting."
"Ning Zhuo could have been more yielding and avoided this conflict. Because I would not have backed down and had already expressed my determination to fight to the death."
"But he still stepped forward and showed through his actions his sincerity in wishing to befriend me. How could I then remain distant?"
Shen Xi’s gaze was deep: "And to express gratitude, I must show my own sincerity."
"I don’t know the forces backing Ning Zhuo, but judging from this battle, they’re surely not insignificant and have considerable depth."
"So, presenting him with what he inevitably lacks is foolproof."
"Currently, the school notes are the most suitable gift."
"With the Shen family’s unique understanding of the Nine Palace Formation, once Ning Zhuo delves into it, he will undoubtedly crave more knowledge."
Su Lingkou clapped her hands in approval: "I see, cousin, it’s essentially bait we’re offering!"
Shen Xi laughed aloud: "Haha, exactly."
"The Nine Palace Formation is particularly complex among the ten classic static arrays. My classroom notes are three years’ worth of records; an ordinary person would take even longer to study without the family manuals."
Su Lingkou smiled: "Cousin, I can already envision Ning Zhuo eagerly holding the classroom notes, seeking instructions from you."
Shen Xi laughed once more.
Ning Zhuo returned to the cave mansion he had rented, immediately releasing Xue Cai Nü·Hui.
Divine Skill — Life Hanging Thread!
He directly used his most powerful manipulation technique to forcibly connect with Xue Cai Nü·Hui’s spiritual nature.
Simultaneously, he stretched out both hands, and the tips of his ten fingers shot out the Five Elements Hanging Threads, connecting to the joints of the mechanical puppet’s body.
Xue Cai Nü·Hui struggled slightly but did not truly break free.
Through the Life Hanging Thread, Ning Zhuo immediately sensed the other party’s impatient emotions.
A keen light flashed in the depths of Ning Zhuo’s eyes, and he immediately made a judgment: "She doesn’t perceive the Life Hanging Thread and doesn’t want others to control her."
"Her spiritual nature has indeed reached the Spirit Movement Stage."
Ning Zhuo, having read the ’Spirit Theory,’ knew that spiritual nature is divided into four major stages: Dead Spirit Stage, Life Spirit Stage, Wisdom Spirit Stage, and Deity Spirit Stage.
Each stage is further divided into five sub-stages.
Previously, both Xue Cai Nü·Hui and Xue Shuyu·Kro had reached the Spirit Growth stage in the Life Spirit Stage, with spiritual nature being completely fulfilled, endlessly regenerating.
Beyond the Spirit Growth stage is the Spirit Movement Stage.
At this stage, spiritual nature begins to exhibit distinct and intense emotions, acting autonomously, freeing itself from the cultivator’s control.
Ning Zhuo already had experience in this area.
Previously in the Fire Persimmon Immortal City, Yuan Dasheng had fallen into this stage. At the time, he had walked out of the city and sat silently for a day and a night at the secret burial site of his old master.
"At this stage, one must act in accordance with the emotions of the spiritual nature and cannot forcibly control it."
"By stroking with the grain, the spiritual nature can acknowledge its master and truly be controlled!"
For this, Ning Zhuo harbored hidden worries.
After all, Ning Xiaohui died because of him.
Ning Zhuo had no other choice.
At that time, it was a case of either his death or hers.
"Xue Cai Nü·Hui’s spiritual nature comes from Ning Xiaohui. Logically, spiritual nature should not retain memories of its past life. But Yuan Dasheng could ’remember’ the secret burial site of his original master... Could Ning Xiaohui still view me as an enemy?"
It was precisely this concern that led Ning Zhuo, in the past, to limit her to the mechanical component Floating Ice Jade Hands, rather than a mechanical puppet.
So, when Xue Cai Nü·Hui exhibited traits of the Spirit Movement Stage, Ning Zhuo’s heart was troubled, making him leave the Martial Arts Hall to quickly verify the situation.
"The Life Hanging Thread is a divine skill, it’s almost impossible for her to resist it, nor is she even aware of it. Her emotions don’t include killing intent or hatred toward me, but she is indeed impatient with being manipulated."
The situation was not the worst case, allowing Ning Zhuo to secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
"Since she’s impatient, I should reduce control of her during this sensitive stage, even provide her with temporary complete freedom."
"But how should her emotions be satisfied?"
Ning Zhuo fell into deep thought.
He had three major mechanical puppets. But the spiritual nature levels of Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin and Mengye Tiger initially exceeded the Spirit Movement Stage. Only Yuan Dasheng’s case served as an important reference.
But Yuan Dasheng had gone on his own to his old master’s secret burial site to vent his sorrow and nostalgia.
Yuan Dasheng’s initiative was quite strong, but Xue Cai Nü·Hui remained motionless.
Ning Zhuo withdrew the Five Elements Hanging Threads, leaving only the Life Hanging Thread to control it in secret. The mechanical puppet remained still in its original place.
Ning Zhuo’s thoughts churned in his Divine Sea: "There is already a clear pattern here. Yuan Dasheng’s loyalty to his old master and his nature resulted in strong emotions of sorrowful lamentation and remembrance."
"What was Ning Xiaohui’s personality like when she was alive?"
Ning Zhuo gradually found an answer.
Memories of the battle with the tiger demon surfaced in his mind. His recollection paused at the moment the tiger demon was frozen to death, with Xue Cai Nü·Hui showing a slightly proud pose of lifting her head.
As a result, the answer in Ning Zhuo’s mind was strongly validated.
Ning Zhuo interrupted his thoughts, looking around: "I need to lease a new cave mansion."