Ning Zhuo fell into contemplation: "No, not a stronger opponent. But... a more suitable one."
He once again realized that Snow Core Control·Xie and the bronze weapons in Xuan Armor Cave were different.
The bronze weapons in Xuan Armor Cave are able to fight because they have martial arts principles engraved upon them. Changes occur based on these principles.
The adaptations of bronze weapons in battle are merely the principles being affected by external changes, reflected onto the bronze weapons themselves, and then reacting according to the engraved principles.
Essentially, this reaction is passive.
If the martial arts principle is shallow, the adaptation of the bronze weapon is simple and predictable. In the initial battles in Xuan Armor Cave, cultivators can easily discern the patterns, making it easier to defeat the bronze weapons and pass through smoothly.
This is the Central Mechanism Path.
The principle is the "core," which triggers "mechanical changes."
Spiritual Nature is not like this.
Whether it’s Snow-colored Girl·Hui or Snow Core Control·Xie, their Spiritual Nature has the ability to think, even having its own personality.
For example, Snow-colored Girl·Hui’s personality is rather proud.
Spiritual Nature’s reaction to the outside world is essentially active.
The response to principles might remain unchanged. Profound principles may have multiple ways to adapt. Adaptations of Spiritual Nature are full of possibilities.
The weapons in Xuan Armor Cave have only the value of refinement; the principles increase continuously, making them stronger. The value of Spiritual Nature more focuses on growth.
For instance, Snow-colored Girl·Hui has made rapid progress in her skills in runes and martial combat through repeated practice against Qing Chi.
Snow Core Control·Xie also has this growth potential, but the opponent needs to be carefully chosen.
"To cultivate a particular mechanical artifact, select the corresponding opponent."
Ning Zhuo thought deeply.
Snow Core Control·Xie’s mechanical structure has been greatly optimized, and the materials are fully upgraded, but her positioning has never shifted.
This positioning wasn’t decided by Ning Zhuo, but by Ning Xie’s Spiritual Nature.
More accurately, it’s the Innate talent contained within the Spiritual Nature—Snow Soul Frost Spirit!
This Innate ability has significant drawbacks and is deemed low-level talent by the public. The growth of the soul foundation will quickly surpass the body, freezing the body to death, leaving only the soul to persist. Once possessing this ability, the cultivator inevitably becomes a Ghost Cultivator.
In essence, it’s the principle of the soul containing ice attributes, which with growth, will increasingly include principles related to ice frost and soul ghost, with the most crucial aspect being overflow! Thus, the body suffers, negative impacts accumulate, ultimately breaking balance and causing severe consequences.
Therefore, any external method can more fully exhibit the specialties of the Snow Soul Frost Spirit.
The positioning of Snow Core Control·Xie is exactly that—stirring vast offensives to control the entire battlefield.
To evolve and develop from this positioning, appropriate real combat training objects need to be chosen.
Wen Ruanyu’s Flying Message arrived at this time.
After reading the letter, Ning Zhuo felt a sense of realization.
"I see!"
Having someone like Wen Ruanyu on the inside finally gave him an accurate understanding of the Qin De affair.
Previously, he only obtained information through channels of Gray-robed cultivator and Sun Lingtong. The truth was always hidden in the dense fog.
Now, this layer of fog was completely lifted, allowing Ning Zhuo to see the full picture.
"It turns out Duanmu Zhang voluntarily gave up the ’Mountain Master’ position because of this thought."
"What exactly is in the ’Saint Thief Scripture’ that makes Duanmu Zhang so obsessed, causing the expansion of the Myriad Images Sect’s Confucian Cultivator community to nearly cease?"
Involuntarily, Ning Zhuo became more interested in the ’Saint Thief Scripture’.
Earlier, he learned about this Cultivation Technique from Sun Lingtong, who didn’t hide her real feelings from Ning Zhuo. Upon learning that Sun Lingtong was emotionally moved, Ning Zhuo immediately took it seriously and decided to obtain the ’Saint Thief Scripture’ at any cost.
The Gray-robed cultivator’s first attempt completely failed, and after Sun Lingtong urged, a second attempt was made.
Ning Zhuo, holding Wen Ruanyu’s letter, was now completely sure: the Gray-robed cultivator’s second attempt would certainly fail. This matter was without suspense!
The ’Saint Thief Scripture’ actually involves the fierce contest between the high-levels of Myriad Images Sect and the Confucian Cultivator community.
The Gray-robed cultivator in the black market is clearly mid-to-low level, without access to this layer of information, thinking too simplistically!
"If the ’Saint Thief Scripture’ is to be obtained, it will certainly be extremely challenging."
"There might even be serious conflicts with the Confucian Cultivator community, turning friends into enemies!"
The situation is truly filled with various possibilities, with potential upheaval at any moment.
Wen Ruanyu surely wouldn’t anticipate the matter involving Sun Lingtong and the ’Saint Thief Scripture’. So, he was being straightforward with Ning Zhuo.
Before receiving this letter, Ning Zhuo never thought: one day he might turn hostile with the Confucian Cultivator community! Previously, he considered the Confucian Cultivator community’s initiative to support and shelter him as his most valuable basic position upon arriving at the Myriad Images Sect.
This is why, previously, Ning Zhuo sought flexibility, never directly deciding to join any side, but always maintaining autonomous choice.
He himself couldn’t foresee the future.
The future is indeed filled with various possibilities.
Between the Confucian Cultivator community and Sun Lingtong, Ning Zhuo has never hesitated, firmly choosing the latter.
Even if the Confucian Cultivator community expanded a hundredfold, Ning Zhuo’s choice would never change!
Sharing life and death, brotherly and fatherly, the heavy life journey.
"Boss, boss, there’s new information!"
Through the Life Hanging Thread, Ning Zhuo conveyed the message to Sun Lingtong.
Upon learning the situation, Sun Lingtong first chuckled: "In that case, I am quite looking forward to seeing how the Gray-robed cultivators handle me next. Hahaha!"
He solemnly said: "If that’s so, then it’s truly troublesome."
"This is the only Demon Path Confucian Cultivator we can currently reach."
"Little Zhuo, don’t you want to seek Knowledge and Action Unity in Confucian Skill? If you truly have Qin De’s experience and memory, it would greatly aid your development!"
Just like Ning Zhuo placed Sun Lingtong in a prominent position, Sun Lingtong also prioritized Ning Zhuo first, not himself.
Ning Zhuo had previously attended Zhao Hansheng’s public lecture, and even though he wasn’t a Confucian Cultivator, he was greatly moved.
Especially, he developed a strong desire for the Confucian skill of Knowledge and Action Unity. He promptly informed Sun Lingtong about this significant matter.
The two brothers discussed for a while but didn’t come to any conclusions.
This level of strategic game was already far beyond their current capabilities.
After a discussion, both decided to temporarily abandon Qin De’s "Saint Thief Scripture"; it really seemed unreliable. Based on current observations, hope was slim.
Sun Lingtong once again threw himself into the grand undertaking of resolving the Luoshu Water Array.
Recently, his understanding of Array Dao has grown increasingly profound, advancing remarkably.
After cutting off contact, Ning Zhuo stared at the Flying Message in his hand, brows tightly furrowed.
He and Wen Ruanyu shared the same view: despite Duanmu Zhang’s request, offering the "Mountain Master" position right off the bat was quite an immature action.
On the other hand, he discerned a layer of trial from Wen Ruanyu’s recent letter, which had hints pointing toward his abilities—from the facade of Xuan Armor Cave, Wen Ruanyu changed his view of Ning Zhuo significantly. So this time, Wen Ruanyu candidly revealed, aiming to see Ning Zhuo’s choices, performance, and test his abilities in political acumen and so on.
This letter intensified Ning Zhuo’s sense of unease several times over.
"If under Zhao Hansheng’s leadership, the group of Confucian Cultivators collectively shifts, even individuals like Wen Ruanyu would be implicated."
Ning Zhuo sensed the scent of ambition from Zhao Hansheng and Gu Qing’s actions.
The root of all these separate movements stemmed from Zhao Hansheng’s proactive concession.
"For fame and recognition, never pretend in front of others!" Even with high cultivation level, if one doesn’t understand these, would merely serve as a tool for others, easily exploited.
After pondering for a long time, Ning Zhuo decided to contact Chen San to release the next wave of rumors.
Chen San was at a low level, his cultivation was just that, unable to infiltrate the upper echelons, failing to acquire the intelligence Wen Ruanyu provided.
But in spreading rumors, his ability was formidable.
Disseminating rumors from the bottom level is incredibly swift and fierce. The upper echelons would find it difficult to trace.
Of course, it’s only relatively difficult.
Chen San’s cultivation level and methods do not exceed the Foundation Establishment Stage, so if subjected to extensive investigation, he would still be exposed.
Yet, presently, it is a subtle time.
"Myriad Images Sect’s upper echelons were originally Confucian Cultivators, thus extra cautious."
"Now, with Zhao Hansheng and Gu Qing, this pair of master and disciple arriving, it’s akin to strong dragons crossing the river, inevitably provoking even more caution among the upper echelons."
"Zhao Hansheng and Gu Qing have just arrived, lacking mature channels of intelligence. The upper echelons of Myriad Images Sect being wary, would hardly help them, wouldn’t they?"
"Indeed, regarding these rumors, they are even pleased by them."
Ning Zhuo’s judgment on the timing is highly skilled.
If not, he wouldn’t have emerged as the biggest victor behind the scenes in the Lava Fairy Palace’s competition.
Right at this delicate juncture, he decisively encouraged Chen San to act boldly.
The new rumors are built upon the previous foundation.
But unlike before, they almost entirely focus on Gu Qing, nearly neglecting Zhao Hansheng.
Zhao Hansheng’s public lecture, dissemination of Heart Learning, which shook the audience; solely by this performance, his reputation had already matched.
At least in the realm of Confucianism, Ning Zhuo can only feel astonished, but couldn’t directly challenge Zhao Hansheng.
If the teacher is difficult to contend with, then the student becomes Ning Zhuo’s only target.
Thus, for a time, the rumors regarding Gu Qing became extremely rampant.
Especially in comparing Gu Qing with the first batch of genius cultivators emerging from the Myriad Images Sect.
Will Situ Xing be stronger than Gu Qing?
Between Pi Fujie and Gu Qing, which one is more formidable?
Gu Qing suddenly felt like he was being roasted on fire.
Especially amid the rumors, there is a portion that makes him hatefully grind his teeth—the rumors pointedly mention that Gu Qing only came for training, never having the intention to join Myriad Images Sect, nor was it possible for him to join.
This entirely distinguished his identity from others.
Especially during the Xingyun Trial and the Feiyun Conference, inside and outside the Wanxiang Sect’s Main Mountain Gate were filled with cultivators eager to join Myriad Images Sect.
And then, lo and behold!
A cultivator who doesn’t want to nor can join Myriad Images Sect is hopping around before them, trying to step on them to gain fame.
Would the cultivators of Myriad Images Sect feel favorable?
Would the cultivators wanting to join Myriad Images Sect feel favorable?
Of course not.
With a light wave of rumors, Ning Zhuo created a scene where Gu Qing was isolated.
Gu Qing, well-versed in the rules of the Righteous Path, knew things were amiss and sought advice from his teacher.
Zhao Hansheng retorted: "Can’t you think of a solution to break the siege?"
Gu Qing already had an idea: "Martial Arts Arena?"
Zhao Hansheng nodded slightly, further testing: "How should the martial arts be conducted?"
Gu Qing smiled faintly: "Naturally, by extensively inviting strong individuals and geniuses, while only fighting using painting Dao avatars."
Zhao Hansheng stroked his beard and smiled, quite satisfied: "Very good. Go ahead and do it."
Not long after, an invitation for a bout reached Ning Zhuo’s hand via Flying Message.