Ning Zhuo’s Five Qi Hanging Silk was naturally among them as well.
His Divine Sense followed the Mana Suspended Threads, quickly infiltrating the interior of the Bamboo Puppet, but other cultivators were also doing the same.
As a result, multiple strands of Divine Sense clashed within the Bamboo Puppet, engaging in intense consumption.
"Hehehe, hahaha!" Ban Ji’s Divine Sense transmitted his thoughts, releasing an unrestrained laugh, "You are all so mediocre, get out of here!"
His Divine Sense emanated a surging demonic intent, eroding the Divine Senses of other cultivators, swiftly disintegrating them, and then assimilating them for his own use.
Ban Ji cultivated the Demon Skill "Greedy Opportunity Demon Heart Technique," which was not a family inheritance from the Ban Family, but rather a separate fortuitous encounter.
This cultivation technique emphasizes: feeding the demon with greed, and when the demon strengthens, opportunities become fierce; seizing opportunities to nourish greed, and when greed intensifies, the demon goes rampant.
The demonic intent and wild thoughts aided Ban Ji in sweeping through his opponents, invincible in his path.
Even Ning Zhuo’s Divine Sense suffered defeat after defeat, unable to hold its ground, forced to swallow the bitter fruit of defeat.
Ban Ji specifically taunted Ning Zhuo: "Ning Zhuo, I thought you had something special. How can such a Divine Sense be enough to stand against me?"
He seized the opportunity to strike at Ning Zhuo’s morale.
"Interesting!" Ning Zhuo’s eyes shone brightly, full of interest.
Although he had participated in several great battles, this was the first time he encountered a clash between Divine Senses.
"So, this is the ’Greedy Opportunity Demon Heart Technique’? It should be a first-class cultivation technique, it’s truly formidable!"
"My ’Mirror Stand Spirit Communication Technique’ is also a top-tier technique, but it excels in spirit communication rather than in the realm of Divine Sense."
"It’s only natural to lose to an opponent like Ban Ji."
Ning Zhuo did not feel disheartened; he was very self-aware.
In fact, the Mirror Stand Spirit Communication Technique has a significant shortcoming in terms of cultivating Divine Sense. For this reason, the patriarchs of the Three Sects specially designed many Mechanical Mirrors to assist in expanding the range of Divine Sense, or to make it more precise or profound.
Ning Zhuo wanted to use these, but had no way to, because Qing Huang Zi had long stipulated that only Divine Sense and Mana Suspended Threads could be used.
Though Ning Zhuo suffered a small setback, his state of mind remained calm, and he immediately shifted his target, turning to the other Magic Treasure Level Bamboo Puppets.
Ban Ji sneered: "Ning Zhuo, I want you to know the pain of confronting me!"
He successfully seized a Bamboo Puppet but did not stop there; he immediately activated the Mana Suspended Threads and Divine Sense, participating in the contention for other Bamboo Puppets.
The rules allowed each person a maximum of one Bamboo Puppet.
Ban Ji had already secured his minimum goal; now, his main focus was to obstruct Ning Zhuo!
Ning Zhuo tried several times, all resulting in failure.
Apart from Ban Ji, there were several other cultivators whose Divine Senses were quite unique, either due to practicing relevant cultivation techniques or using some sort of secret techniques or skills.
In short, Ning Zhuo’s Divine Sense was not remarkable among them.
Of course, he wasn’t without his advantages, either.
Ning Zhuo’s advantage lay in his Divine Sense’s greater durability and rapid recovery ability. This was not due to the Mirror Stand Spirit Communication Technique but rather because Ning Zhuo himself had substantial foundations, with a physical body and soul far surpassing ordinary people.
It wasn’t until the final Magic Treasure Level Puppet that Ning Zhuo saw his opportunity.
"This guy’s Divine Sense isn’t particularly special, yet he keeps coming back even after defeat, with immense resilience."
"He’s my Human Tribulation, not one to be underestimated!"
"To be safe, I must seize every good opportunity. It would be best to eliminate him in the first stage itself!"
Ban Ji thought of this, and his breathing became heavy and rough, like a pulled bellows.
He poured all his effort, letting his greed-infused Divine Sense surge towards Ning Zhuo’s Divine Sense like waves.
Ning Zhuo immediately sensed Ban Ji’s strong thoughts—"Mine!", "Seize it!", "Tear you apart!"
Ning Zhuo’s Divine Sense was retreating step by step, while Qing Huang Zi’s voice came again, informing everyone that only thirty breaths of time remained.
Ban Ji laughed loudly, taunting Ning Zhuo: "You’re doomed to lose!"
Yet, the corner of Ning Zhuo’s mouth suddenly curled into a faint smile.
He transmitted his thoughts with his Divine Sense: "Everyone, how much longer will you endure? Now is the final opportunity for battle!"
The expressions of the cultivators became solemn, and suddenly they all attacked together, surrounding and attacking Ban Ji!
Ban Ji’s expression changed drastically.
It turned out that during the Divine Sense confrontation, one could also convey thoughts.
While battling Ban Ji, Ning Zhuo was simultaneously coordinating with fellow cultivators.
Ban Ji kept chasing and attacking Ning Zhuo’s Divine Sense, doing his best to suppress the latter, showing off his arrogant and overbearing demeanor.
This stirred vigilance and apprehension among the other cultivators, and under Ning Zhuo’s coordination, they formed a secret alliance against Ban Ji.
"Ban Ji’s strength is so formidable, if we allow him to perform freely later, our hopes will be slim!"
"He is currently oppressing Ning Zhuo, if Ning Zhuo is defeated, we’ll be next."
"Everyone, attack with full force, let’s eliminate Ban Ji first!"
The cultivators all shared a common enemy, launching a concerted siege.
Ban Ji rushed to fight with all his might, but the numerous cultivators overwhelmed him, and his previous efforts to chase Ning Zhuo’s divine sense had drained him considerably, leading to a situation of continuous retreat.
"Damn it!"
"I was focused on suppressing Ning Zhuo, wanting to push him out, and forgot about these cultivators."
"My Ban Family is one of the notable Mechanical Families in Flying Cloud Country, and I am the only candidate chosen by the Ban Family to join the Myriad Images Sect. This naturally attracts attention and provokes jealousy."
"Ning Zhuo is not well-known and doesn’t get the attention he deserves."
"Damn it..."
"Hold on, I must hold on!!!"
Ban Ji clenched his teeth, and his body began to tremble.
He desperately unleashed his divine sense, causing his Upper Dantian Divine Sea to violently shake, as if pierced and stirred by thousands of rust-covered steel needles!
"I cannot lose!"
"I cannot fall here, I must hold on even if it kills me."
"Hold on for me!!!"
Ban Ji squeezed all his potential, his eyes bloodshot, his expression horribly fierce.
In just thirty breaths, he felt like an eternity had passed.
Ning Zhuo was always at the forefront, exhausting his divine sense and then activating his Divine Sea to generate new divine sense.
If he didn’t set an example, how could other cultivators follow?
Their spirits must not falter!
"Three, two, one, time’s up," Qing Huangzi announced.
Ning Zhuo’s vision went dark, his face pale, his whole body sluggish.
"No!!!" Ban Ji screamed in agony, clawing his hair, gaze fierce as if ready to devour a person.
He persevered to the end, fought desperately to hold on, but ultimately missed defending the final stronghold—the Bamboo Puppet he had seized earlier was taken by someone else.
He never expected to fall at the very beginning of the round.
He had specially researched a lot of information about Qing Huangzi for the exam, and even speculated how Qing Huangzi would test successors. He firmly believed he was prepared and could achieve his ambition.
Yet, in the first round, he was excluded by the crowd!
"The damn biggest culprit is Ning Zhuo!"
"I must kill him, I must kill him!!!"
Qing Huangzi was so furious he seemed about to die on the spot, wishing to tear Ning Zhuo apart alive.
Ning Zhuo smiled in response.
He smiled pale and weak. This victory was also a bitter triumph for him.
Among the cultivators who seized Magic Treasure Level Bamboo Puppets, he was not included.
Ultimately, Ning Zhuo only seized a Magic Artifact Level Bamboo Puppet.
But Ban Ji was eliminated, losing the qualification to participate in the next round.
With such a battle result, Ning Zhuo was already satisfied!
Ning Zhuo controlled a palm-sized Bamboo Puppet, leading it through a small maze built with green bamboo.
A sharp sound pierced the air without warning, and over a dozen bamboo spears protruded from the walls on both sides, aiming to skewer Ning Zhuo’s controlled Bamboo Puppet like a beehive.
Ning Zhuo desperately tried to maneuver the Bamboo Puppet to dodge, but his previous divine sense duels left him too drained and not fully recovered.
With this hindrance, Ning Zhuo’s Bamboo Puppet managed to avoid this section, yet its chest was still pierced, forming a hole.
"What should I do?" Ning Zhuo frowned, feeling worried.
It’s only the second stage, and already so difficult; subsequent stages will likely be even tougher.
Suddenly enlightened, Ning Zhuo chose to sever the exposed bamboo spears, using them as materials to repair himself.
The hole in the Bamboo Puppet’s chest was wrapped from front to back with new bamboo pieces, and it carried two other bamboo spears in its hands, continuing on.
Having crossed the maze, they reached the third stage.
On a rather broad platform, numerous cultivators manipulated their respective Bamboo Puppets in a chaotic melee.
"Damn it, curse it. I had already predicted this stage and prepared extensively!"
"Ah—! Why would I lose? How could I lose here?"
Ban Ji was so angry that he nearly fainted, unable to accept the reality before him.
And when he found Ning Zhuo emerged as one of the final twelve winners, he clutched his chest, breathing heavily, almost howling at the sky and spitting up three liters of blood.
"My tribulation!"
"He is my tribulation!!"