At once, someone retorted, "If such an excellent younger generation cannot obtain the first place, who else is qualified?"
Someone else impatiently said, "The first place belongs to him without a doubt!"
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Completely agree!"
No one disagreed.
The elderly cultivator nodded slightly, took out a token, and handed it to Ning Zhuo: "Good young man, you have passed. Congratulations on obtaining the first place."
Ning Zhuo nodded, immediately cupped his hands, and bowed to express his gratitude.
The elderly cultivator continued, "As the first place, you passed the Xingyun Trial of our Evil Slaying Hall and will receive the highest reward."
As he spoke, the old cultivator solemnly took out a treasure.
Many eyes involuntarily turned to this treasure, as it was so magnificent and dazzling, attracting attention.
It was a treasure tower, exquisite and small, supported on the palm of the elderly cultivator.
It was based on the Good Leaf Lotus Platform, with the platform in azure gold, and the lotus petals layered like waves of jade.
The body of the tower was made of Formless Thousand Buddha Glaze, clear as ice crystal throughout. When the external light shone, the tower body overflowed with golden radiance—eight hundred Arhat figures emerged from the depths of the glaze, some forming the Demon Suppression Seal, some holding the Relic Tower, with Buddha’s Intent surging.
At the top of the tower, there was a bead, plump and smooth, with alternating colors. When white, it revealed the Sanskrit original wheel, emitting light of merit. When black, it showed the Rakshasa fangs, capable of gnawing on sinful souls. It was precisely the Karma Mantra Pearl!
The elderly cultivator introduced to Ning Zhuo, "Since you wish to join the Myriad Images Sect, you should know that the sect possesses a guardian treasure, called the Merit and Achievement Slaughter Tower."
"This treasure can distinguish good from evil, suppress Qi Fortune, and has always been managed by the Hall Master of the Evil Slaying Hall."
"Now, this small tower is an imitation of the Merit and Achievement Slaughter Tower. Due to strict material selection, it has also reached the Magic Treasure Level, suitable for Golden Core Cultivators."
"Although you are a Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage cultivator, you can barely use it."
"It can detect merit and sin and also has some power to guard personal Qi Fortune."
The Merit and Achievement Slaughter Tower!
Ning Zhuo certainly knew that this was one of the heritages of the Myriad Images Sect.
Super Sects, families, and cultivation kingdoms inevitably have treasures suppressing Qi Fortune. The Merit and Achievement Slaughter Tower is one of the treasures to suppress Qi Fortune for the Myriad Images Sect.
The elderly cultivator bringing out the Merit and Achievement Slaughter Tower was not beyond Ning Zhuo’s expectations.
Because every cultivator who passes the Xingyun Trial of the Evil Slaying Hall would receive such a treasure. However, what they received would all be Magic Artifact Level Merit and Achievement Slaughter Towers.
Only the first place received a Magic Treasure Level reward.
The reason Ning Zhuo chose the Evil Slaying Hall was knowing that the Merit and Achievement Slaughter Tower was distributed here. Just after actually trying it, the result he obtained far exceeded his needs.
Having a Magic Treasure Level is naturally better than a Magic Artifact Level. Ning Zhuo held the small tower with both hands and thanked once again.
The elderly cultivator specially reminded that after a while, the Evil Slaying Hall would hold a different Xingyun Trial and advised Ning Zhuo to participate if interested.
He genuinely appreciated Ning Zhuo, but being quite righteous in character, even after giving a Magic Treasure, he did not force Ning Zhuo to sign any contract.
Ning Zhuo immediately proposed exchanging magic power auras, enabling mutual Flying Message communication.
This immediately brought a smile to the elderly cultivator’s face.
After exchanging names and capturing each other’s magic power aura, Ning Zhuo said, "Elder Cang, although I’ve just arrived, I have innocently attracted the covetousness of a Demon Cultivator due to possessing a Mechanism Treasure. Although I have already repelled his subordinates, because of his deep background, I currently have no way to deal with him."
The elderly cultivator with the surname Cang immediately frowned and asked, "Who is this person?"
Ning Zhuo sighed, showing an expression of helplessness and worry: "His name is Ban Ji, he is from the Ban Family, but he follows the Demon Path."
The elder Cang frowned more deeply, carefully choosing his words, "Our Myriad Images Sect laws are such, always inclusive like the sea. Therefore, even Demon Path cultivators and Evil Cultivators have the qualification to join. However, once they become disciples of the Myriad Images Sect, from then on, they must restrain themselves and act on the Righteous Path."
"This is also a way of executing justice, allowing others to turn from evil to righteousness."
"Why is Flying Cloud Country peaceful and tranquil, unlike most other cultivation kingdoms? A significant reason is that every large-scale recruitment by our Myriad Images Sect can draw elites from other factions and convert them into members of the Righteous Path."
"From what I have heard of your encounter, this Ban Ji indeed retains some Demon Cultivator habits, but has not truly violated the Myriad Images Sect rules."
"Such troubles can be seen as a form of tempering on the Dao path."
Seeing the look of disappointment on Ning Zhuo’s face, Elder Cang changed his tone: "Of course, if you formally become a member of our Evil Slaying Hall, then, presumably, Ban Ji will also back down."
"If he continues to trouble you, it would be akin to troubling the Evil Slaying Hall. Do you understand?"
Ning Zhuo hastily bowed: "This junior understands, thank you elder for your guidance!"
Thus, Ning Zhuo bid farewell to the elder surnamed Cang and gracefully left under the gaze of numerous cultivators.
Watching his departing figure, the elder surnamed Cang was already exchanging divine sense, giving instructions: "Investigate what Ning Zhuo just mentioned."
Before getting clear results from the investigation, it was impossible for him to act. The elder named Cang had seen too much deceit and intrigue.
Ning Zhuo was not at all disappointed for not securing the Evil Slaying Hall’s intervention on his behalf.
The response from the elder named Cang had been within his expectations.
"From the moment I left, the Evil Slaying Hall will undoubtedly start investigating me rigorously."
"Heh heh."
"Let them investigate."
"When they find out I am the son of Meng Yaoyin, what will Zhong Dao do?"
According to Ning Zhuo’s estimation, Zhong Dao was very likely to become an obstacle for the sect’s upper echelon against him.