Ning Zhuo sincerely wanted to join the Myriad Images Sect and develop well within it.
This is a Super Sect, and Ning Zhuo has foundation in this area.
The reputation left by Meng Yaoyin, Wen Ruanyu, Yang Sanyan, and others are all sources of support he can leverage.
This actually is already a point of entry.
By entering the Myriad Images Sect through different gateways, Ning Zhuo’s future cultivation will take on different aspects.
Currently, Ning Zhuo is in the stage of observing and selecting entry points.
"The Confucian Cultivators group is just the middle level of the Myriad Images Sect, this entry point is not excellent."
"Qinghuangzi is merely a Loose Cultivator who acts alone."
"The Eight Peaks and Sixteen Halls, if one wants to enter, these are the best."
"But now, the old and new four peaks among the Eight Peaks have already brewed dangerous undercurrents."
"Normal cultivators might avoid Flowing Cloud Peak; it stays vacant for years and is temporarily managed by the winner of each Feiyun Conference. It has changed seven Peak Masters in nearly a century. It’s constantly unstable."
"But actually, Purple Thunder Peak is a bigger pit than Flowing Cloud Peak."
"On the contrary, Flowing Cloud Peak presents huge opportunities for cultivators with strength."
Ban Ji hired four Demon Cultivator experts at a great cost, trying to constrain and tangle with Ning Zhuo. Ning Zhuo remained unaffected, always seeing the situation clearly.
"Every Xingyun Trial is an opportunity."
"During this stage, almost all members of the Myriad Images Sect treat the new prospects equally, welcoming them to learn and giving plenty of opportunities."
"Such a chance, there is almost only one in a lifetime."
"In the future, when I join the Myriad Images Sect, there will surely be alliances and faction struggles. It would be impossible to learn from opposing forces."
"How many Xingyun Trials has the Myriad Images Sect had? Countless! These are all learning opportunities."
"What’s more terrifying is that this chance to learn usually comes without costs."
What did Ning Zhuo pay for participating in Chu Xuangu and Qinghuangzi’s Xingyun Trials?
He only spent his time, almost getting the Ideograph Brush and Vowel Reeds Book for free.
"Mother’s message in the Jade Slip advised me to come early, which indeed has profound meaning."
"The more Xingyun Trials I participate in, the more entry points I have, the greater the harvest."
"Under this premise, if I can incidentally take down Ban Ji and Pi Fujie, it would be even better."
Thinking of this, Ning Zhuo showed a solemn expression: "So, for me, the current priority is indeed the ability to learn!"
Chu Xuangu’s Xingyun Trial is special and is excluded from consideration.
Ning Zhuo found Qinghuangzi’s to be sufficient as a reference.
Qinghuangzi’s first trial freely taught the winners the Vowel Reeds Book. Although Ning Zhuo understood the full text, others had difficulty understanding it.
"This situation might happen to me in the future."
"After all, I only have a solid foundation in music theory. As for Mechanical Techniques, mother only left me one text."
"There is still much, much more for me to learn!"
After some thought, Ning Zhuo instructed the chef to take action, proactively announcing: A lavish purchase of all speed-learning methods!
He offered a high price, such a grand gesture immediately triggered a new wave of discussion.
"I didn’t expect Ning Zhuo to be so wealthy!"
"The character challenged by the Monk of False Words cannot be so simple?"
"Even Shen Xi and Lin Jinglong are backing him, berating the Monk of False Words as a lackey, trying to distract and drain Ning Zhuo’s energy. If Ning Zhuo competes with the Monk of False Words, wouldn’t that fall into the enemy’s snare?"
The public opinion leaned in favor of Ning Zhuo for a time.
Meanwhile.
The pillars among the Confucian Cultivators also discussed Ning Zhuo during a gathering.
One of them said: "The youngster recommended by Wen Ruanyu seems good. His lavish purchase of speed-learning spells clearly shows his deep understanding of Xingyun Trials."
Chu Xuangu recalled Ning Zhuo’s performance in front of him and slightly nodded: "He is someone who understands reason."
Another person said: "Since Ning Zhuo already has a good response to the Monk of False Words, I think there’s no need to assist him in this aspect, right?"
The third person immediately said: "We ourselves should not get overly involved. Let’s discuss serious matters, how do we support this young man in the future?"
The old Confucian Song Taosheng spoke: "Since this young man seeks the ways of fast learning and publicizes it, and Confucianism excels in such methods. It might be a signal sent by Ning Zhuo to us."
The other three cultivators nodded.
Song Taosheng continued: "In that case, let this old man handle it."
The three cultivators nodded again simultaneously.
Someone showed a trace of worry and said: "I hope the old gentleman will take it easy, lest Ning Zhuo backs out due to pain, it wouldn’t be graceful."
Song Taosheng waved his hand, speaking calmly: "I know in my heart."
Bisong Peak stands like a jade hairpin inserted upside-down into the clouds, shrouded in mist all year round. A nearly vertical ’Ascension Path,’ made of countless time-worn bluestone steps, spirals around the mountain body, directly leading to the summit.
On the summit, instead of jade palaces, there is an ancient and solemn Confucian Temple.
The temple is not large, with blue tiles and red walls, its eaves and brackets harbor the marks of time.
In front of the temple, there are no splendid archways, only an ancient pine tree with twisted branches.
Morning.
Dozens of cultivators came upon hearing the news, seeing the temple doors closed, they patiently waited under the pine tree.
"Daoist Fellow Ning."
"Brother Kong, Brother Bai, and Brother Liu."
Ning Zhuo greeted Bai Jiyun, Liu Fushu, and Kong Ran.
Kong Ran’s expression was somewhat unnatural; he had written to his father, seeking transaction rights, but was angrily rebuked in a reply by Kong Zhaoming.
Although Kong Ran was a Divine Child, he was still young and inexperienced, additionally still obsessed with the Ideograph Brush, so he hadn’t yet conveyed this to Ning Zhuo.
He was choosing his words, preparing to explain to Ning Zhuo, when suddenly, the doors of the Confucian Temple opened.
The group of cultivators entered.
The interior of the temple was extraordinarily simple: in the center stood a blank stone stele, smooth as a mirror, flanked by several rows of plain cushions.
At that moment, a gust of mountain wind howled past, causing the pine waves outside to rustle, like the whispers of sages or the turning of book pages, cleansing the soul. A stream of fresh air entered the temple, carrying the scent of pine needles and the austerity of mountain rocks.
The old Confucian Song Taosheng sat cross-legged inside the temple.
His hair and beard were all white, yet his complexion was rosy, his figure was slender and upright, dressed in a blue Confucian robe, washed to white but well-pressed and pristine. His eyes opened and closed, containing inner light, without oppressive power, yet exuding a vast and profound aura like deep fjords and towering peaks.
He glanced at the crowd, his peaceful voice reaching their ears: "To inquire about the Dao through hardship, to seek benevolence and achieve it."
"The path of Confucianism is not a smooth one, nor is it about deceit. Its strength comes from the heart, emanates from ambition, and is fulfilled in action. To glimpse its essence, one must understand the word ’hardship.’ Not the hardship of self-destruction by demons, but the tempering of ’bitter mind and weary muscles,’ the resolution of ’to hear the Dao in the morning, one can die in the evening.’"
He lightly waved his sleeve, and two treasures appeared before the crowd—a bundle of hemp rope and numerous wooden awls.
"Today, I impart to you two Confucian Skills, respectively called ’Hanging from the Beam’ and ’Pricking the Thigh!’"
"Please step forward one by one and choose a hemp rope and a wooden awl each."
The cultivators exchanged bewildered looks; some clearly furrowed their brows.
Ning Zhuo noticed Kong Ran’s small face turned a little pale.
The cultivators formed a line, each selecting the hemp rope and wooden awl, both magical artifacts.
Ning Zhuo held them in his hands to examine.
The hemp rope was dusky gray, rough and sturdy, exuding a faint smell of hay. There were no runes or spirit light on the rope, but it had been soaked in cinnabar, giving it a dark red tint with an underlying solemn aura.
The wooden awl was about a foot long. Judging from its texture, it seemed crafted from hard boxwood found in the mountains, with its tip honed to sharpness. The body of the awl was densely carved with uplifting and motivational scripture quotes in tiny regular script. Such as: "Study as if you cannot reach it, fear you might miss it," and "Persevere and eventually even metal and stone can be cut," "The way of Heaven is vigorous, the superior person should strive by self-improvement without rest," etc.
Mr. Song Tao’s eyes swept over everyone, carrying scrutiny and expectation: "The skills of ’Hanging from the Beam’ and ’Pricking the Thigh’ have long existed, their meaning enduring."
"Not to harm oneself, but to awaken sluggishness, inspire ambition, temper the spirit, and strive for progress, arising naturally from adversity."