"Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo treated me with true sincerity. Have I been too excessive?"
Hanzhou couldn't help but feel a wave of guilt at the thought.
Ning Zhuo returned to his own Cave Mansion.
Sun Lingtong was already back.
"Boss," Ning Zhuo transmitted his voice softly.
Sun Lingtong nodded at him, replying via voice transmission, "The source of these rumors has been uncovered. Take a guess, Little Zhuo, who do you think is behind the scenes, stirring up the waves to secretly harm you?"
Ning Zhuo sneered, "These rumors came so abruptly; it must be Lin Shanshan's fellow apprentices who are targeting me."
"After all, Boss, you also found out that Lin Shanshan racked up a considerable debt to set up the Spiritual Plant Cabin for me and paid a hefty price."
"These fellow apprentices cleared her debts but made it easy for me; they don't want me too close to Lin Shanshan. Alas, judging me by their petty standards, they naturally want to take their revenge on me."
Sun Lingtong clapped his hands. "Bingo, you've guessed it again, hahaha."
Ning Zhuo said, "Guessing this wasn't hard and isn't something to be proud of. Their means of spreading rumors are clumsy; there is much room for improvement."
Sun Lingtong nodded, "Clearly the work of a novice. They tried to frame me, but many clues were left behind."
When it comes to spreading rumors, Sun Ning and he are among the best. Lin Shanshan's fellow apprentices were still too green compared to them.
Sun Lingtong looked at Ning Zhuo, eager to try something, "I've gathered all the evidence. Just wait until we throw it out; it'll definitely put them in their place, ahahaha!"
Ning Zhuo shook his head, "This isn't Fire Persimmon Immortal City; this is their territory. Although I know of Lin Bufan's way of doing things, it's not in-depth."
"Rashly throwing out this evidence brings us no advantages; instead, it increases our risk."
"Who knows if Lin Bufan will defend his disciples and play dirty tricks on us?"
"After all, he took in these disciples and sees them as his own children; their bonds are strong."
A sharp gleam flashed in Ning Zhuo's eyes, "Let's hold onto this evidence; it might play a critical role in the future!"
"If ancestor Ning Jiufan can be persuaded by me, he might bring that Demon Ape to the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect. Then, perhaps we can make bigger moves."
"A gentleman's revenge, ten years is not too late."
Ning Zhuo was good at biding his time.
In Fire Persimmon Immortal City, he concealed his true self and endured for over a decade before finally revealing his brilliance in Lava Fairy Palace.
Sun Lingtong nodded, "Alright, brother, let's go with your plan."
Since the incident with Lava Fairy Palace, Sun Lingtong garnered more understanding and admiring Ning Zhuo's cunning and strategic depth.
Ning Zhuo deliberately chose not to act, allowing the unfavorable public opinion about him to ferment further.
Various voices predicting his downfall kept emerging.
Eventually, someone couldn't hold back and sent Ning Zhuo a challenge letter.
Ning Zhuo quickly responded, accepting the private challenge and overwhelmingly defeated his opponent with powerful Wood Element Magic.
Soon after, there was another challenger.
Ning Zhuo once again prevailed with the Wood Element Magic, his reputation soared.
The resident cultivators of Little Struggle Peak gradually recognized Ning Zhuo's true strength. However, Lin Shanshan's fellow apprentices continued to instigate public opinion, only saying—
"Ning Zhuo has a one-trick pony; he only won this time with his Wood Element Magic. If one can counter his attack or withstand his trick, victory won't be far off!"
This viewpoint made all the cultivators itch to try their luck.
Eventually, it drew out a top ten ranked cultivator—Hua Guzi!
This female cultivator was known for her high-profile actions. Before issuing the challenge, she hyped it up, calling her friends and using this to pressurize Ning Zhuo.
If Ning Zhuo refused to accept the challenge, his reputation would suffer greatly.
The challenges on Little Struggle Peak had a process. If many challenge a single Cave Mansion, the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect would decide and designate one challenger to publicly compete on the day of Little Struggle.
Aside from this fixed challenge day, cultivators could arrange private duels at other times.
During Ning Zhuo's time in Ten Thousand Medicine Valley, the only real days of Little Struggle were his fights against Hanzhou and against Chang Yan; the rest were personal duels, but all conducted openly and watched by others.
It was the same with Hua Guzi this time.
Ning Zhuo welcomed all comers and accepted the challenge on the spot.
This sparked a major excitement on Little Struggle Peak!
Ning Zhuo, the emerging new star cultivator with soaring popularity, and Hua Guzi, an outspoken and top-ranked fighter.
Such a high-level contest was even rare during the regular rounds of Little Struggle.
Speculation was rife about who would win.
"Hua Guzi is indeed an established powerhouse, with a cultivation level in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, she definitely has an advantage over Ning Zhuo."
"Didn't Chang Yan also have a cultivation level advantage, and yet he was steamrolled by Ning Zhuo's Wood Element Magic's three-pronged attack."
"That's not the same. Chang Yan specializes in Earth Element Magic and was specifically targeted by Ning Zhuo. But Hua Guzi is also skilled in Wood Element."
"If you're talking about offensive prowess, Hua Guzi too has an aggressive fighting style and is very dominant in battle!"
So, the crowd began to discuss whether the outcome of the fight would be determined by who could land the first hit in the opening moments.
Yuanlai Mountain.
Lin Bufan's mansion.
Inside the boudoir, Lin Shanshan laid on the round table, looking utterly bored.
At the center of the round table, there was a vase containing a Mist Embroidery Orchid.
"It's been so long, I wonder how Young Master Ning Zhuo is doing?" Lin Shanshan's gaze was vacant as she stared at the Mist Embroidery Orchid in front of her, thinking of the young man in white.
"Miss, it's time for your meal," Lin Shanshan's personal maid entered, carrying a lunch box.
Lin Shanshan was having a delicate lunch, but it tasted bland to her.
The personal maid, who knew her mistress's temperament very well, looked worried and advised, "Miss, you've lost weight today. Why do this to yourself? You should let go a bit."
At these words, Lin Shanshan's expression was numb, her gaze lifeless. Being lively by nature, confinement really dampened her spirits.
The maid, feeling pity, blurted out, "I actually have the latest news about Young Master Ning Zhuo."
Like jolted by electricity, Lin Shanshan suddenly brightened up, her eyes shining with anticipation, "Quickly tell me! Has he been challenged again?"
"Hehe, most of those stationed cultivators are no match for him; they're all like chickens and dogs."
The maid sighed, "But his opponent this time is not ordinary."
"Now the whole Little Struggle Peak is abuzz with noise, everyone is paying close attention to this battle."
Lin Shanshan's expression changed slightly, "Who is it? Lai Wuying, or Zheng Xingchen?"
The maid shook her head, "It's Hua Guzi."
"It's her," Lin Shanshan first breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned again, "Hua Guzi herself practices Wood Element Technique, and has immersed herself in Wood Element Magic for much longer than Young Master Ning Zhuo. And she often employs aggressive tactics, which indeed could pose a threat to Young Master Ning Zhuo."
"What should we do?"
Lin Shanshan's face showed anxiety.
Seeing her mention Ning Zhuo made Lin Shanshan stop eating, the maid regretted bringing it up and suggested, "Miss, eat a little more. Only if you eat well will you have the energy to brainstorm and think of a way to help Young Master Ning Zhuo."
Lin Shanshan nodded, "You're right."
She picked up her eating pace, her appetite visibly growing.
The maid was smug, but Lin Shanshan suddenly paused again, "In the Five Elements, Gold subdues Wood, and Wood generates Fire, so if Young Master Ning Zhuo uses Gold Element to attack and Fire-attribute for defense, he will definitely have an advantage."
"He needs the Understanding Law Map."
"Given his comprehension, he can fully realize the Attack Technique of the Fire Element and Gold Element before this battle takes place."
"Alas, now that I am grounded, who else can help him?"
"Hanzhou, that penniless fellow is no good!"
"Xiaoju, you must help me," Lin Shanshan suddenly stood up, walked over to her personal maid, and grasped her shoulders tightly, her eyes filled with determination.
The personal maid, Xiaoju, turned pale as she stammered, "Miss, Miss, how have you forgotten why you've been confined."
"Last time, you helped Young Master Ning Zhuo too much, and even neglected your daily cultivation practices. Are you going to do the same this time?"
Lin Shanshan shook her head, "Last time, indeed, I was too impulsive."
"I've reflected recently, and feel I went too far. Thus, I've never blamed Father, and it's only right for me to be confined this time."
"The senior brothers have settled my external debts, and once I have the money, I'll surely repay them."
"These are trivial matters!"
Having not contacted Ning Zhuo for some time, Lin Shanshan was no longer influenced by the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.
As such, she regained her composure, and without external disturbances, her thoughts, feelings, and perceptions all returned to normal.
In this calm state, she also reflected on herself and acknowledged her errors.
"At the time, I was indeed a bit out of control." Lin Shanshan harbored no suspicion and only felt that it was her impetuosity.
But even in a normal state, Lin Shanshan still wanted to give Ning Zhuo a helping hand!
"Just say that I, in my cultivation practice, have had many epiphanies and need to contemplate a few Understanding Law Maps of the Gold Element and Fire-attribute," Lin Shanshan came up with a plan.
Xiaoju, the maid, widened her eyes, "Miss, are you really going to do this?"
She hesitated for a moment, then said, "What about the eldest senior brother?"
Compared to the outsider Ning Zhuo, Xiaoju as well as the many senior brothers knew about Linghu Jiu's feelings for Lin Shanshan, yet she remained unaware.
Reminded by Xiaoju, Lin Shanshan's eyes lit up, excitedly hugging Xiaoju and planting a kiss on her forehead.
Lin Shanshan said excitedly, "Right, why didn't I think of it?"
"I should help Eldest Senior Brother!"
"Now everyone knows about the battle between Young Master Ning Zhuo and Hua Guzi. If I now request the Understanding Law Maps of the Gold Element and Fire-attribute, the senior brothers, and my father will catch on easily and suppress it without difficulty."
"But if I ask Eldest Senior Brother to intervene, wouldn't that solve everything?"
"Xiaoju, you truly are my close good friend, thank you for reminding me!"
Xiaoju hastily shook her head, sweating with anxiety, "Miss, Miss, you've misunderstood me, I didn't mean that."
But Lin Shanshan ignored her, her eyes full of hope, "Eldest Senior Brother always took good care of me. Although he is usually idle, he has a generous nature and is tolerant with others. The other senior brothers have reservations about Young Master Ning Zhuo, but he definitely won't! He is the best person to help me."
Xiaoju stared in disbelief, "Miss, are you serious?"
"Of course, I am serious!" exclaimed Lin Shanshan, who immediately ordered Xiaoju to take her message to the Great Struggle Peak's Myriad Demons Cave and seek help from Linghu Jiu.
Xiaoju, as her maid, had no power to resist Lin Shanshan's command and could only obey.
"My heavens, this world is too crazy."
"Why does Eldest Senior Brother have to endure such torment?"
"It can't be my fault, it can't be!"