The cultivators began their own attempts.
There were not a few cultivators with tangible threads.
However, many found themselves in an awkward situation, much like the pale-faced cultivator, with threads not long enough to reach those points of starlight.
Ning Zhuo knew this situation was entirely normal.
Because using threads and suspended threads to control Mechanical Artifacts is typically done at a medium distance. If longer, there would be delays in the transfer of Mana and Divine Sense through the threads.
Furthermore, the longer the distance, the more interference the threads cause among themselves, revealing significant flaws that enemies can easily take advantage of.
Therefore, the threads used for manipulating Mechanical Artifacts in this manner are often not very long.
Moreover, Che Zhuzi’s deliberate setup made the distance between the cultivators and the target unexpectedly vast!
But this did not stump Ning Zhuo.
He observed for a while, and after repeatedly probing with Mana Suspended Threads, he tested the base tone of the strong winds within the formation.
On the spot, he devised a spell specifically targeting the strong winds, creating special Mana Suspended Threads.
Intrinsic Technique—Five Elements Life and Death Technique!
Five Internal Organs Temple Spirit God Skill!
With the support of the two spells, the Five Elements Mana intertwined like a spiral, constantly generating and overcoming the strong winds, extending faster than tangible threads.
After several failed attempts, Ning Zhuo suddenly succeeded, lighting up one starlight point and advancing to the next round.
Some observant individuals in the crowd turned to watch Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo was the only one in the field who met the passing standard solely with mana-consolidated threads.
In the shadows, Che Zhuzi was slightly taken aback. When he intended to change the formation and alter the nature of the strong winds, it was already too late. He couldn’t help but quietly regard Ning Zhuo, realizing the latter had used a feint strategy. Some of the early failures might have been deliberate, allowing him to suddenly succeed and evade changes.
Ning Zhuo looked around and found that at least 40% of the cultivators, after several attempts without success, found themselves on the brink of elimination.
Some of these cultivators showed panic and urgency, with some seeking help from those who had passed, asking to borrow their tangible threads, but without exception, they were all refused.
After all, they were competitors.
The cultivators who had passed wished for as many to be eliminated in the first round as possible.
But just then, Che Zhuzi’s voice came through, accompanied by the sight of a bundle of Void Spider Silks in front of everyone.
"It only takes ten Mid Grade Spirit Stones to rent one Void Spider Silk for use."
"Friends, please remember the rule: this piece of Void Spider Silk can only be used in the first round and is just a temporary rental."
This news delighted the cultivators who were unable to pass.
Some cultivators snorted coldly, while others were a bit dumbfounded.
"As expected." Ning Zhuo, having investigated the information, was not surprised at all.
"Che Zhuzi’s main purpose for setting up the Xingyun Trial is promoting his Void Spider Silk."
"So, those cultivators renting Void Spider Silk now will deeply experience it. Their performances will leave a lasting impression on others."
"Hmm... I’ll rent one, too."
Even though Ning Zhuo had already passed, he rented one of the Void Spider Silks and tried once again.
This time, his attempt took only about thirty percent of the time it did before, almost achieving his goal in one go.
The cultivators on the brink of elimination were overjoyed.
"This Void Spider Silk can penetrate the void, so its length greatly surpasses tangible threads."
"It’s so useful, really too useful!"
"I’ll buy some for my use. Where exactly can I buy it?"
"Rent? No, no, no, I’m not short on money!"
Just by listening to the outcries of the cultivators, Ning Zhuo understood that Che Zhuzi’s promotion had already worked.
Ning Zhuo admired Che Zhuzi’s setup secretly: "Ten Mid Grade Spirit Stones for rental, an amount most cultivators can afford. The pricing is very thoughtfully designed."
"It seems low-cost, but actually it isn’t."
"Renting it can only be used in the first round. I believe similar situations will arise in the subsequent stages."
While Ning Zhuo pondered, he was unaware that Silk Lady had been observing him all along.
Seeing Ning Zhuo rent the Void Spider Silk, Silk Lady laughed to the sky with glee: "He fell for my scheme, indeed! It’s not hard to trap such a young man."
"Just use a little wit."
"Alas, Ban Ji and his group are really brainless, not knowing what it means to maneuver or deploy strategies!"
All the cultivators who couldn’t pass used the rented Void Spider Silk.
After all, ten Mid Grade Spirit Stones really weren’t expensive!
Thus, everyone gained the qualification to enter the second round.
Che Zhuzi’s voice carried over, full of encouragement: "Congratulations, fellow Daoists, on successfully entering the next stage."
"A good start is half the success!"
"My Xingyun Trial only has three stages."
"Next, it’s the second stage—Poison Flower Heart Extraction!"
The Array Space shook, and the starlight points in the far distance disappeared without a trace, while carriage-sized poison flowers appeared out of thin air, resting on the ground tiles, spaced far apart.
These poison flowers were colorful, quickly releasing powdery toxins.
Soon, as more and more toxins accumulated, they formed paths of miasma.
According to Che Zhuzi’s introduction, cultivators needed to use suspended threads and pulling lines to extract the stamens from the poison flowers.
Finally, admission would be based on ranking, allowing the top half of the cultivators to enter the third round.
"A reminder to fellow Daoists, there are Void Spider Silks available here, but in limited quantity; so act quickly if you wish to purchase!" Che Zhuzi didn’t even bother to hide his promotion of his products.
Immediately someone inquired about the price.
The result was a price over a hundred times higher, causing some cultivators’ faces to change drastically, exclaiming "daylight robbery."
The Myriad Images Sect accepts a broad range of members, so among the cultivators attending the Feiyun Conference, there were many ordinary and even lower status individuals.
Many cultivators who didn’t want to spend money wastefully immediately used their suspended threads and pulling lines, shooting them toward the poison flowers.
The miasma was so potent that it quickly corroded and dissolved these suspended threads and pulling lines.
The cultivators wore gloomy expressions but were unwilling to give up, employing various methods.
Spell—Frozen Mist Enclosure!
Spell—Flame Attachment Technique.
Spell—Golden Thousand Patterns.
...
Various spells empowered the pulling lines and suspended threads, greatly enhancing their strength, leading to fierce bouts of exhaustion against the miasma, causing hissing sounds in the field.
Some succeeded, and some failed.
Ning Zhuo watched with interest for a while: "I didn’t expect there to be such a wide range of spells capable of empowering pulling lines and suspended threads, much more than what’s recorded in the tomes left by my mother."
Ning Zhuo indeed broadened his horizons.
Che Zhuzi monitored Ning Zhuo closely from the shadows.
Ning Zhuo’s performance in the first round impressed him; among his countless Xingyun Trials, there were very few cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage who passed solely using Mana Suspended Threads.
As soon as Ning Zhuo used Mana Suspended Threads, Che Zhuzi would covertly alter the miasma composition.
But to his surprise, Ning Zhuo did not use the Five Elements Mana Suspended Threads, instead purchasing a length of Void Spider Silk.
Che Zhuzi provided considerate service for this purchase—he even included a Jade Slip detailing the use of Void Spider Silk as a gift.
Ning Zhuo referred to the instructions in the Jade Slip, and after a few attempts, successfully had the front end of the spider silk penetrate the void, extending from a distance.
Visually, the silk thread he controlled was missing a large segment in the middle section.
Using the Void Spider Silk, Ning Zhuo directly traversed the void, avoiding the miasma, and reached the flower’s pistil, retrieving it with a swift motion.
The Void Spider Silk showed a very strong resistance to the miasma.
Even carrying the stigma through it was hardly a challenge.
Being the first to buy the Void Spider Silk made Ning Zhuo a target of favor from Che Zhuzi and blame from most other cultivators, whose glares were filled with resentment, calling him ’overly competitive’.
Just as he expected, Ning Zhuo remained poised, expressionless and calm.
Meanwhile, Silk Lady laughed heartily from her shadows.
Sheathed within each Void Spider Silk was her hidden poison.
With Ning Zhuo using it so extensively, the third round would serve as the moment for her trap to spring.
"Keep using it, use it all you want!
You’ve fallen into my trap, and at the third round, I’m going to reel you in."