"Sigh, I never thought my proud Ban Family would have such a weak and passive moment."
Rumors are spreading!
Various rumors and opinions about Ning Zhuo are circulating all over the Myriad Images Sect’s Main Mountain Gate.
These rumors focus on Ning Zhuo’s outsider status, highlighting how he is arrogant, disdainful towards the local cultivators of Flying Cloud Country, and lacking in demeanor.
At the same time, they point out that Ning Zhuo only has cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage, making him the weakest among all top geniuses. Yet he behaves as if he is the center of the universe.
These rumors can only damage Ning Zhuo’s impression and favorability slightly.
Ban Jie has done her utmost without offending the Confucian Cultivators or the Evil Slaying Hall.
What infuriates her, however, is the rumors about the Ban Family, disclosing Ban Ji’s past sins during his cultivation and bringing up old stories to the public.
Especially disgusting to Ban Jie is another set of rumors. These rumors, from the Ban Family’s perspective, encourage the Ban Family to clean house, removing Ban Jie, the "bad apple."
"The clan’s destiny is already tied to the King’s Order. ’Cleaning house’ would be the same as ending the Ban Family’s legacy!"
"These rumors are truly malicious! They aim to distinguish Ban Ji from the Ban Family, sowing discord on one hand and pressuring the family on the other. If the family continues to tolerate Ban Ji, it will inevitably invite suspicion and damage its reputation greatly."
"Ning Zhuo... truly formidable!"
"The incident with Zhu Fenxiang, he’s likely responsible with a seventy percent probability."
Despite Ban Jie anticipating a passive situation, the severity of the situation when it truly unfolded exceeded her expectations.
Experts can tell the quality of an opponent at a glance.
The confrontation among experts can be discerned with just a look at each other’s overall power level.
This round of confrontation, in which Ban Jie used to excel, was now being dominated by Ning Zhuo.
The gap in skills was too apparent!
"Our disadvantage is too great. I’m hindered and can’t compete with Ning Zhuo! It’s infuriating! Hateful!" Ban Jie bit her lip until it bled, oblivious to the pain.
She felt stifled, a fire burning in her heart!
The Feiyun Conference of the Myriad Images Sect attracted everyone’s attention, with countless eyes from the entire Flying Cloud Country focusing on it. Not just domestically, but many cultivators from other countries would travel far to seize the chance to participate and perform.
On this grand stage, any action could be magnified countless times.
Ning Zhuo displayed the demeanor of a top genius, and his influence was spreading beyond the Myriad Images Sect’s Main Mountain Gate, beginning to reach the entire Flying Cloud Country.
If he continues to perform excellently until the end of the Feiyun Conference, his renown could even spread to surrounding cultivation kingdoms!
This is the Feiyun Conference!
For this reason, Situ Xing, Lin Jinglong, Shen Xi, Ban Ji, Pi Fujie, and others have been waiting for years for this kind of opportunity to swarm in.
This is truly the best stage to make a name far and wide!
And now, the rumors released by Ning Zhuo have had a huge impact on Ban Ji and the Ban Family’s reputation.
Ban Jie knew clearly that the Ban Family’s clean reputation was shaking rapidly. Ban Ji had become the target of public criticism!
"Now, the Clan Fate Mechanism Chain is likely showing obvious reactions. The clan’s fortune is undoubtedly plummeting."
"Alas, there’s no choice. Compared to the King’s Order, this is the inevitable sacrifice."
Previously, Ban Jie couldn’t understand that the family’s tolerance for Ban Ji stemmed from elders’ indulgence and leniency towards a genius.
Now, she realized the truth: the Ban Family had no choice. Ban Ji’s King’s Order fell on the Monster Path and the Demon Sect. Even if they forced him to cultivate on the Righteous Path, fate would intervene, causing him to defect and turn to the Demon Cultivator.
At that time, the entire Ban Family would have no choice but to deal with Ban Jie.
Instead, by following the King’s Order, allowing him to cultivate the Demon Path Cultivation Method, and linking clan fortune with the King’s Order, it fundamentally prevents turning against each other.
The Ban Family sheltered Ban Ji, paying a heavy price. But in the future, when the King’s Order bursts forth, establishing a cultivation small country, the entire Ban Family would ascend, becoming part of the royal family!
Bluestone Cave Mansion.
Various intelligence gathered in Ning Zhuo’s hands.
"Ban Jie didn’t spread rumors about me cheating? She’s indeed capable."
Here is the Main Mountain Gate of the Myriad Images Sect. For outsiders like Ning Zhuo and Ban Jie to spread rumors, it would be easy for the sect to trace back to the source.
If Ban Jie had truly spread rumors about Ning Zhuo cheating, it would have been a complete blunder.
"Getting creative about my arrogance and presumptuousness, it’s not painful nor itchy."
"The issue is Ban Ji has already secured first place at Blind Fool Yu Gong’s side and obtained a Stone Token. What’s his next step in participating in which Xingyun Trial?"
"Is it the Nine-layered Profound Armor of the Ancient Sect Mechanism Sect, or the Heavenly Ruins’ Mechanical Calculation Star?"
"Is it the Immortal Bird Feather Clan fulfilling their promise to seek a destined partner for the Wings of the Great Roc, or developing the Hidden-Archive Locksmith’s recruitment trial?"
Collected intelligence already shows that Ban Ji possesses Golden Core Level mechanical artifacts.
Ning Zhuo, with Yuan Dasheng and Mengye Tiger both absent, would not directly mess with Ban Ji.
Firstly, Snow Core Control·Xie and Snow-colored Girl·Hui are newly acquired Golden Core Level puppets from the [Empty Valley Sound Green Mechanism Tube] inheritance. Ning Zhuo cannot fully utilize their combat power.
Secondly, the Martial Arts Arena of the Myriad Images Sect does not prohibit life-and-death situations, and to Ning Zhuo, such risks are unnecessary.
Thirdly, he intended to establish his authority over Ban Ji, not to put him to death. Backed by the Ban Family, Ning Zhuo does not intend to completely offend the Ban Family.
"Time is my advantage."
"I have many learning methods, and Spirit Hidden Willow is on its way here. The Xingyun Trials are my resources for rapid growth."
"I only need to suppress Ban Ji and establish a certain level of prestige."
"Just arrived and gaining fame, I need to establish authority to stand firm and stable!"
Ning Zhuo is unaware of Ban Ji’s King’s Order secret, of how the Ban Family is already linked with Ban Ji’s Qi Fortune, sharing glory or loss, fully supporting Ban Ji.
He also doesn’t know that in Ban Ji’s and the Ban Family’s eyes, he is Ban Ji’s Human Tribulation, to be treated with utmost caution!
Ning Zhuo’s plan is to find the Xingyun Trial that Ban Ji intends to participate in and join in proactively. By this means, he will confront Ban Ji. If he can suppress Ban Ji repeatedly, he will establish his own prestige.
Ordinary cultivators wanting trouble with Ning Zhuo would have to think a few times.
After all, Ning Zhuo dares confront even the Ban Family and can suppress Ban Ji, making him a formidable character.
What Ning Zhuo wants to achieve now is to make most people hesitate before offending him, knowing that they will pay a great price!
"Previously, there weren’t many Xingyun Trials related to Mechanical Techniques."
"But with Ban Jie arriving here, the scale of the mechanical trials has expanded more than threefold."
"And these Xingyun Trials even proactively invite me to participate!"
"There must be a trap set by the Ban Family here!"
"I must choose cautiously."
Stepping into the trap would result in defeat under the Ban Family’s influence, perhaps even losing to Ban Ji. That would be a huge loss.
"I need more intelligence to make the most accurate judgments possible."
"Besides the background of these mechanical trials, there’s also Ban Ji’s precise movements."
"Until then, I must rely on guesses."
"This particular Xingyun Trial revolves around the Ancient Sect Mechanism Sect’s Nine-layered Profound Armor, which has appeared at every Feiyun Conference. Ban Ji has even dispatched subordinates to study it before. In my view, this is the most likely."
The Ban Family.
Ancestral Shrine.
Surrounding the Clan Fate Mechanism Chain, a group of Supreme Family Elders panted heavily, exhausted both physically and mentally.
The structure of the Clan Fate Mechanism Chain changed once again, and within the Glazed Vertical Pipe, the water level was slowly rising.
This represented Ban Ji’s lifespan.
"Obtaining the Stone Token isn’t the key. The key is mastering the Blind Fool Divine Skill, formally initiating the King’s Order!"
"What’s the next step?"
"It’s the Nine-layered Profound Armor."