The puppet stage creaked, the background buildings slowly sank, transitioning to the next scene.
The audience remained silent, fully immersed in the performance.
Only some of the musicians, while playing their instruments vigorously, couldn't help but glance at the highest level of the stage where Ning Zhuo stood. They were astonished, thinking, "This young cultivator truly has a skillful hand. His manipulation is nearly indistinguishable from when Li Leifeng was alive."
A glint flashed in Ning Zhuo's eyes, and he was drenched in sweat.
Taking advantage of the transition on the stage, he used the life-hanging thread to contact the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit: "Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit!"
"I am outside the Immortal Palace. Through the life-hanging thread, influencing Ning Xiaohui to this extent is already my limit."
"Next, it's all up to you!"
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit roared urgently: "No, Young Master Ning Zhuo."
"I am bound by restrictions, I really cannot..."
Before it could finish, Ning Zhuo interrupted: "Apologies, the next scene is starting, and I can barely hold on myself."
"As for the Immortal Palace, you simply must win!"
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit: ...
The stage constructed the courtier's residence, with dim lighting.
The jinghu played continuously and somberly.
The courtier puppet lay on the bed, quietly listening to the black-clad envoy puppet report.
The black-clad envoy sang: "My lord, I have persuaded the commoner to falsely accuse Fang Qing."
"Tomorrow, in court, the false accusation will bring great shame. Fang Qing's integrity will make it unbearable for him."
"Once the commoner is killed, he will fall into the trap."
The courtier puppet, dressed in official robes, lounged on the bed with one leg crossed, his head slightly moving, vividly life-like.
He sang proudly: "Well done, superb execution. Tomorrow's situation is set in stone. Fang Qing is trapped and will not be able to defend himself. The righteous path's reputation will be ruined in an instant. Let's see how he can stand in court again! Hahaha."
The courtier laughed heartily.
The lights gradually dimmed, and the jinghu turned higher.
The stage creaked again, changing scenes, and Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, his eyes flickering.
The third act ended, and the fourth act began.
The stage returned to the courtroom, brightly lit. The jinghu played urgently, accompanied by loud drumming.
The Fang Qing puppet sat in the judge's seat, delivering a judgment as he sang: "Today we reexamine, the mirror before the court is clear. Who is the true culprit? Let the details be revealed."
The criminal puppet knelt in the courtroom, lifting his head several times, each time accompanied by a soft drumbeat.
Finally, he gathered his courage, shouting excitedly, and then sang: "Fang Qing, you hypocritical official, endlessly greedy, bringing disaster to the people."
"You are the true culprit, silencing me with murder, your crimes are boundless!"
Clang, clang, clang!
The drumbeats struck, tugging at the heartstrings of the audience.
The Fang Qing puppet stood up in shock.
The jinghu turned sharply, and Fang Qing held back his anger as he sang: "Shameless scoundrel, daring to falsely accuse! Bold and reckless, fabricating charges at will!"
He took a deep breath: "If I were to exercise power today, executing you would be easy, but I am unwilling."
"Justice requires trial, thus, I will first examine myself!"
Immediately, Fang Qing sat down slowly, playing both roles, ultimately ruling himself suspicious and temporarily imprisoned.
"My lord!" The constables in the courtroom exclaimed at such a verdict.
"My lord!" The puppet citizens outside the court cried out.
Fang Qing bound his own hands, raised his head high, and led the constables away.
The lights dimmed, leaving only the criminal puppet alone, shrouded in a beam of light.
"My lord..." The criminal puppet lamented with a sobbing tone, tears streaming down his face.
Ning Xiaohui was on the verge of tears!
She ran frantically across the chaotic battlefield, exerting every effort and using all means to save her own life!
"Save me!"
"Someone save me!!"
She kept calling for help, screaming continuously.
Several times, she was on the brink of life and death. Her Talent Ice Fat Jade Hands displayed remarkable prowess at that moment, allowing Ning Xiaohui to escape with her life.
The Golden Core cultivators were no longer focused on her.
Because a massive number of Red Flame Demon Beasts were about to overrun the Historical Records Pavilion!
The three Golden Core cultivators, including Zhu Zhen, had been solemnly instructed by Zhu Xuanji beforehand — the Historical Records Pavilion was extremely important and must not be lost!
Compared to the Historical Records Pavilion, Ning Xiaohui was not as critical. Especially since Ning Xiaohui had told the Moon Hook's avatar that she hadn't had time to read the information in the pavilion.
Clang, clang, clang!
The Golden Core-level spells continuously bombarded, tearing the Red Flame Demon Beasts apart, and they fell one after another.
But there were too many Red Flame Demon Beasts, replenishing endlessly, like an unending tide.
"Damn it, we have to protect the pavilion, but our hands are tied! We can't exert our full strength!"
"We must quickly seal the breaches in the spherical light shield, or the Red Flame Demon Beasts will never stop!"
"Damn it, the hole in the shield seems to be getting bigger!"
The Golden Cores communicated with each other.
Thanks to their efforts to protect the pavilion, Yang Chanyu also survived by a stroke of luck.
She crouched in a corner, focusing all her efforts on removing the markings others had placed on her.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit couldn't directly attack Ning Xiaohui, so it directed the mechanism artifacts to drive the Red Flame Demon Beasts as close to her as possible.
But the Red Flame Demon Beasts were unruly, often choosing to battle the puppet troops head-on, making them hard to steer.
At the brink of life and death, Ning Xiaohui unleashed her full potential.
She plunged into a weak spot.
Turning a corner, her vision suddenly opened up, and she found herself in the Gourd Fire Furnace Forest.
This wasn't her first time here. Before, she had completed several artifact-refining tasks here.
The familiar scenery gave Ning Xiaohui a sense of safety.
A Foundation Establishment Stage Red Flame Demon Beast spotted her and charged.
Ning Xiaohui fled at full speed.
Instinctively, she dashed into the Furnace Forest. Seeing the Red Flame Demon Beast about to catch up to her, in desperation, she chose a silver furnace, opened its door, and scrambled inside!