Chapter 590: Chapter 162: Exposure of the Marital Relationship
The first formal military training session successfully established a battle formation, much to the delight of Sun Ning and his companion.
“Battle formations can be formed even faster!”
“Correct. We need to be more stable, as the pressure we face on the battlefield will be much greater than it is now.”
The two discussed and decided to shift their cultivation focus to military training.
Military training doesn’t consume much personal Mana but drains a significant amount of Divine Sense.
To compensate, they would need Elixir Pills and Spirit Food to prolong training sessions.
The most significant expenditure was on Spirit Stones.
Every Mechanical Puppet was outfitted with Spirit Stones. Often, after one training session, the Mechanical Puppets would use up their Spirit Stones, or almost deplete them.
Fortunately, Ning Zhuo was now more affluent. Previously, they couldn’t have sustained even two or three training sessions.
Zhang Zhongyi, who had hurried over, also observed a session of the Mechanical Army’s training, and couldn’t help but remark on the amount of Spirit Stones expended, “It truly is extravagant!”
Although Mu Lan no longer watched, she kept track of the situation consistently.
As days passed, Sun Ning and his companion’s manipulation techniques increasingly matured.
Mu Lan’s assessment of the Mechanical Army’s combat effectiveness kept rising—from an initial drag to somewhat satisfactory, to passable, to slightly reliable.
Ning Zhuo did not interrupt his own cultivation.
He alternated between three Cultivation Techniques: Mirror Spirit Scripture, Five Elements Qi Regulation Art, and Demon-infused Bloodline Technique.
Previously, using four National Power bricks, he saved nine years of arduous accumulation and achieved the Unobstructed Field Opening, entering the Treasure Medicine Generation stage.
At this stage, what he needed to do was not to integrate the three treasures but to let spirit, energy, and mind interact and enter his other two Dantians, achieving a state of mutual inclusion.
Thus, the time spent on cultivation was actually slightly reduced compared to before.
The biggest issue troubling Ning Zhuo was no longer the speed of cultivation. Achievements and National Power bricks had become his shortcut.
Now, what he worried about was the maintenance of the Mechanical Puppets.
During training, he and Sun Lingtong only damaged two or three.
“In real combat, I would use the Heroic Return Skill…”
“That would sacrifice many Mechanical Puppets.”
“So, after each real battle, the Mechanical Puppets would sustain considerable damage and must be replenished promptly.”
“Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon could be modified to create a few repair bays, but…”
Ning Zhuo, foreseeing the issues, knew his current weak point.
“I need to stockpile a large amount of materials and buy some Mechanical Platforms.”
Many Mechanical Platforms existed within the Lava Fairy Palace. These platforms could mass-produce or specifically operate certain Mechanical components, like heavy-duty crushing or precision cutting, fundamental for repairing and creating Mechanical Artifacts.
Ning Zhuo actively sought these in the market and made purchases.
“An auction event?”
In a shop, Ning Zhuo heard some news from the shop owner.
After further inquiries, Ning Zhuo learned more.
Although the auction was small-scale, it was of high grade, specifically targeting Cultivators about to go to war. It was led personally by the Immortal City Lord of Canglin and involved many major merchants within the city, with official permission from Liangzhu Country, acquiring many excellent items from official channels.
Therefore, participating in it held significant meaning for Ning Zhuo.
The shop owner reminded him, “Advisor Sir, attending this auction isn’t easy; you need a recommendation letter. As far as I know, only the City Lord has spare recommendation letters left.”
Ning Zhuo, comprehending the hidden aim, immediately deduced that this was the City Lord’s way of accumulating wealth.
The auction hadn’t even started yet, and he could already gather a substantial amount of money through this approach before it began.
Ning Zhuo didn’t plan to contact the Immortal City Lord of Canglin.
He first went to see Liu Guan Zhang’s three Generals, discussed the matter, but they knew even less than him, hearing about it for the first time.
Then Ning Zhuo found Mu Lan.
Mu Lan nodded, “Yes, that’s the case.”
Mu Lan didn’t show much interest.
Not because she was preoccupied with military training, but purely because she had no money!
Seeing Ning Zhuo’s desire to attend, she directly handed him the recommendation letter.
Ning Zhuo expressed his gratitude and politely invited Mu Lan to join him.
Mu Lan nodded and agreed immediately.
The auction took place at the City Lord’s Mansion.
Late at night, the hall was brightly lit.
Mu Lan, Ning Zhuo, Shuangjing, Xu Dali, Sun Gan, and others entered.
The City Lord of Canglin Immortal City, tall and thin with a goatee and protruding cheekbones, personally presided, “Ladies and gentlemen, today’s small auction has a plethora of treasures that can make you stand out on the battlefield, or even save your lives.”
“To be frank, in preparation for this auction, this old man began making arrangements half a year in advance.”
“I believe it won’t disappoint everyone!”
“Alright, let the auction begin.”
The Canglin Immortal City Lord, tactfully understanding the atmosphere, didn’t say much else and directly proceeded with the event.
He stepped down from the platform, and a Golden Core Level Cultivator took the stage to preside.
Two attendants carried a large wooden box onto the auction platform.
The presiding Golden Core Cultivator gently tapped, opening the wooden box.
Displayed before everyone was a chest full of Thunder Pearls.
“These are Earth Splitting Thunder Pearls. Inject a bit of Mana to act as a fuse and throw them to cause explosions.”
“These were refined specifically for Earth Element Cultivators. After explosion, they can rip apart the ground, especially effective against hard rocks.”
“This chest contains a total of four thousand Thunder Pearls!”
The Golden Core Cultivator quickly stated the price, and many responded.
The upcoming battle was bound to involve much mountainous terrain, where these Thunder Pearls could display their divine might.
The Earth Splitting Thunder Pearls were quickly sold.
The second item up for auction was a Flying Sword named Heavenly Unity. Weak in both offense and defense, its only strength was its extreme speed.
The Flying Sword was also sold for a high price.
Ning Zhuo noticed, the buyer of the Flying Sword was an old acquaintance—Shuangjing from the White Jade Camp.
Obviously, Shuangjing bought the Heavenly One Flying Sword as a contingency plan, a trump card for fleeing in case of defeat in the future.
Although he already has many such trump cards.
The third auction item is a set of battle armor named Black Tortoise Great Armor.
The armor was thick and heavy, clearly designed for body cultivation, and was bought by Xu Dali.
The fourth auction item brought up by the attendants was a cultivator.
This cultivator was willowy, slender and tall, with light footsteps. Her face was like coagulated cream, her skin mottled, and her eyes huge, nearly occupying one-third of her face, with a calm gaze.
Her hair was vividly colored, layered and interwoven. Her clothes were woven from vines and petals, with a tranquil color of purple tinged with red, adorned with tiny flowers.
She was only half the height of an ordinary person, which reminded Ning Zhuo of Hua Guzi.
Hua Guzi was only half-demon, while this female cultivator was fully a demon cultivator.
“Everyone must have noticed, this is an azalea flower demon.”
“This is a Daoist Soldier cultivated by the Demon Soldier Repository, capable of healing and also possessing some blood sacrifice power.”
As he spoke, the auctioning cultivator ordered the azalea flower Daoist Soldier to demonstrate her healing abilities in public.
The fourth auction item was these eighty azalea flower Daoist Soldiers.
War is perilous, and casualties are inevitable once you enter the battlefield.
Having such a force of Daoist Soldiers serving as doctors could quickly treat the injured and return them to the battlefield.
The generals present all shone with eagerness.
When the bidding began, Mu Lan also unusually joined in.
But she was the first to be outbid.
Xu Dali was the second.
Sun Gan and Shuangjing fiercely competed.
As the price soared to the limit, the two slowed in their bidding, taking longer to consider.
Just when everyone thought the victory was about to be decided between them, Ning Zhuo suddenly spoke up, bidding double the price.
Instantly, all eyes were turned.
Sun Gan and Shuangjing stared at Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo did not display any malice, however, but stood up, cupped his hands with a smile, and respectfully saluted everyone, with a humble attitude.
Sun Gan and Shuangjing each snorted coldly and withdrew voluntarily.
Ning Zhuo won the batch of Daoist Soldiers and immediately passed them on to Mu Lan.
Mu Lan slightly opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to refuse.
Ning Zhuo transmitted his thoughts through divine sense: “Take it, General Mu. Without your recommendation letter, I couldn’t have even participated in this auction.”
“I know the Red Flower Camp has suffered heavy casualties. This batch of Daoist Soldiers, excellently trained by the Demon Soldier Repository, can be put to immediate use, exactly filling the gap in your forces.”
“They should fit very well with the Red Flower Battle Formation.”
“The Red Flower Camp is in dire need of doctors; don’t let Lord Zhang Zhongyi exhaust himself too much.”
Moved by Ning Zhuo’s persuasion, Mu Lan nodded slightly, her heart touched, and she telepathically replied, “Thank you.”
Ning Zhuo waved his hands, feeling as if it was just a small amount of money, a gift he gave casually, no need to take it too seriously.
After six more items were auctioned, Ning Zhuo finally came upon the item he was interested in.
Mechanical Platform — Ingenious Cabinet.
“This is a Golden Core Level Mechanical Platform…”
After the cultivator finished introducing it, he said, “The price starts at one hundred and eight thousand Mid Grade Spirit Stones.”
“Two million!” Ning Zhuo bid first.
The entire place went silent.
The cultivators mildly interested, upon hearing this exaggerated bid, had no choice but to give up.
Just as Ning Zhuo thought he had secured it, suddenly a light female voice came: “Two million and one hundred thousand.”
Ning Zhuo raised the bid: “Two million two hundred thousand.”
Female voice: “Two million two hundred ten thousand.”
Ning Zhuo frowned and continued bidding: “Two million six hundred thousand.”
The female voice let out a snicker: “Three million.”
Ning Zhuo continued: “Three million six hundred thousand!”
The female voice laughed loudly: “Six million!!”
In an instant, all eyes turned.
Ning Zhuo also looked over and saw a female cultivator wearing a mask, her right arm replaced by a mechanical arm.
From her grayish-white hair, it was clear that she was quite aged.
The masked female cultivator slightly turned her head, looking at Ning Zhuo: “Kid, where are your elders?”
Her tone seemed inquisitive but was filled with insult and provocation.
Ning Zhuo’s expression darkened: “May I ask for your esteemed name?”
The masked female cultivator slightly raised her chin: “Shuang Ling.”
The hearts of all the cultivators present trembled — the Mechanical Princess!