Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Ning Zhuo's Bedroom.

The cultivation compartment had been completed. Although small in size and with limited internal space, it was sufficient for Ning Zhuo's use.

The Floating Cloud Handkerchief was infused with mana, causing a surge of floating clouds to rise.

A large amount of floating clouds filled the small cultivation chamber completely, enveloping Ning Zhuo within, making it impossible to see his outstretched hand in front of him.

The double-layered protection left the four Ning family guards sighing helplessly.

They reported the situation, and the young clan leader, Ning Xiaoren, responded with indifference: "What secrets could young Ning Zhuo possibly have? Previous intelligence gathering has already turned him inside out."

"A young man, hehe, still thinks he has some little secrets!"

"Let him indulge in that feeling; it's not bad."

Thinking this way, Ning Xiaoren did not give the order for further investigation.

If discovered by Ning Zhuo, it would surely damage the hard-earned good relationship Ning Xiaoren had painstakingly cultivated.

Ning Xiaoren didn’t want to take that risk.

This reaction was also within Ning Zhuo's expectations.

Vital energy surged like streams of crimson rivers, coursing through Ning Zhuo's lower dantian, eventually gathering at the center.

In the center of the lower dantian, a small pool of refined blood had already formed, resembling a tiny pond.

As the vital energy continued to pour in, the small pond suddenly trembled, its edges rapidly expanding, soon reaching three times its original size.

A breakthrough!

At this moment, Ning Zhuo broke through to the fourth layer of refining essence.

"The accumulation of refined blood, once it reaches the limit, will be four times as much as before! This is an immense increase!"

"Yes, the refined blood has undergone a slight qualitative change, allowing it to form blood energy membranes more quickly, saving at least thirty percent of the previous time!"

"With full operation, the speed of digesting medicinal power is now more than twice as fast as before."

Ning Zhuo quickly explored the enhancements in various aspects.

What delighted him most was the improvement in the digestion of medicinal power.

Generally, all cultivation techniques become slower in effect as one progresses further.

The Demonic Blood Tendon Technique was no exception.

However, with the digestion speed more than doubled, it meant that as long as resources were sufficient, he could maintain his previous pace of progress.

This was quite rare.

"The principles of the Three Sect Elders seem to involve changes at the third stage!"

"Whether it's the mechanisms in the Lava Immortal Palace or the three cultivation techniques, they all follow this pattern! After passing the third layer, there's a qualitative improvement."

Ning Zhuo deduced this rule because the other two techniques had also broken through in recent days.

It was a natural progression.

Previously, his three techniques had all reached the peak of the third layer, just a hair's breadth away from the fourth layer.

After obtaining the subsequent techniques, Ning Zhuo spent a little time cultivating, breaking through his previous limits.

After reaching the fourth layer of the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art, not only could the Five Elements Mana be sustained longer, but it could also be split and merged at will.

Previously, when Ning Zhuo used the Five Elements Mana, he had to concentrate to extract a specific type of mana to perform techniques like Ice-Embracing Technique or Fire Grasping Technique.

Now, with just a thought, he could easily separate a stream of mixed Five Elements Mana instantly.

Often, it's not about inadequate practice but insufficient foundation.

Just like when a child tries to reach a windowsill, they have to jump. As they grow, they can reach it by standing on tiptoe. As an adult, the windowsill is only waist-high, and they can touch it easily.

Among the three techniques, the Mirror Platform Spirit Technique saw the greatest progress.

Currently, it had already reached the fifth layer.

Ning Zhuo wasn’t entirely sure why this was happening.

He cultivated the subsequent stages of the Mirror Platform Spirit Technique at an extremely fast pace, everything falling into place naturally.

Ning Zhuo vaguely felt that such rapid progress might be related to his grasping the opportunity and acquiring the Divine Ability—Life Hanging by a Thread.

"Buddhist techniques have a characteristic: they emphasize sudden enlightenment. Sometimes, a moment of enlightenment can surpass a hundred years of hard work."

"The Divine Ability—Life Hanging by a Thread I grasped is closely related to the Mirror Platform Spirit Technique."

"The Mirror Platform Spirit Technique can communicate with all things with spirits, while Life Hanging by a Thread can forcibly control a target’s every move. Combined with the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, which affects the mind and guides thoughts."

Ning Zhuo had already glimpsed the essence of the Three Sect Elders’ methods in mechanism control.

After breaking through to the fourth layer of the Mirror Platform Spirit Technique, a qualitative change also occurred.

Ning Zhuo discovered that the spiritual mirrors formed from the third layer’s condensed divine sense could merge with each other, creating a larger divine sense mirror.

Moreover, this mirror came with a base.

Although Ning Zhuo hadn’t had the opportunity to use or practice it, he could tell from the feeling alone that the spiritual ability of this divine sense mirror far surpassed the previous smaller mirrors.

"At least three times greater."

Now, Ning Zhuo’s Mirror Platform Spirit Technique had reached the fifth layer, and compared to the fourth layer, the fifth layer didn’t bring a qualitative change, but rather a quantitative one—an additional divine sense mirror formed through merging.

"Hmm?"

Ning Zhuo’s heart stirred slightly.

There was movement from the Golden Blood Battle Ape—Dasheng.

"Could it be…"

Ning Zhuo quickly ceased the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique and activated the Mirror Platform Spirit Technique, using the divine sense large mirror to observe Yuan Dasheng’s situation.

Sure enough, it was as Ning Zhuo had guessed—it was Meng Chong.

"Come on, come on, come on!"

Meng Chong roared continuously.

He charged recklessly, displaying unparalleled bravery. His puppet body was entwined with lightning shadows, crackling as he forced Yuan Dasheng back step by step in close combat.

Ning Zhuo’s heart trembled, and he quickly used the Mirror Platform Spirit Technique to connect with the spirit, manipulating the spirit power within Yuan Dasheng to cast the Ice-Embracing Technique.

In the previous moment, Meng Chong was still fighting fiercely, roaring with vigor. The next moment, he was covered in frost and cold air.

His joints were frozen with frost, and his speed plummeted.

Yuan Dasheng seized the opportunity to counterattack, his long fist like a spear, striking straight at Meng Chong's chest.

Danger.

Meng Chong knew that his defenses were extremely weak; if struck, he would surely lose.

"Wild Sprint Thunderclap!"

He roared in his heart, and the lightning shadow suddenly expanded, transforming into intense electric light that enveloped his entire body.

The next moment, he shot out like lightning.

Yuan Dasheng’s fist struck empty air, staying in place, maintaining a punching posture, directly facing Meng Chong.

Meng Chong crouched in a corner, still in shock.

He hadn’t expected that this mechanical monkey could also cast spells.

This instantly doubled the danger level.

"You failed to take me down in one strike, and now you’ve exposed your final trump card. Big Monkey, today you won’t escape your fate."

Meng Chong, after a brief regrouping, quickly dispelled his fear and once again became full of fighting spirit.

The puppet Meng Chong charged forward again.

Crackle…

Lightning shadows accompanied his every move, allowing him to accelerate instantly with each action.

Yuan Dasheng engaged in battle with him once more.

The former's speed was far inferior to Meng Chong's, and after a few exchanges, he once again fell into a passive position.

This time, Ning Zhuo fully understood: "Meng Chong has improved again."

"Upon his return, his mastery of Wild Sprint Thunderclap has reached a whole new level."

"Although his speed hasn't exceeded his previous limit, his precision has made explosive progress."

In terms of pure martial skills, Yuan Dasheng was still superior to Meng Chong.

But every move of Meng Chong’s was much faster than Yuan Dasheng's.

As the saying goes, all martial arts in the world are invincible, except for speed.

In a true life-and-death battle, being a split second faster can make all the difference.

Moreover, Meng Chong was much faster.

The fact that Yuan Dasheng could hold on for so long was due to his martial skills inheriting the foundation of his past life, allowing him to counter with slow attacks, observing the initial moves to predict the opponent's subsequent actions.

"However, Meng Chong, if this is all you have, it won't be enough!" A sharp light flashed in Ning Zhuo’s eyes.

The next moment.

Fire Grasping Technique!

Suddenly, Yuan Dasheng’s hands ignited, the flames condensing into two fireballs.

Yuan Dasheng clenched the fireballs tightly, like gripping two spheres.

Then, Ning Zhuo silently chanted in his heart: "Grasp the fireball like a loyal heart, the heart moves, and power surges. The blazing armor rises, and the crimson flames flow to protect the body."

He performed another spell based on the Fire Grasping Technique.

Fire Grasping Technique—Fire Bath Technique.

In the next moment, the fireballs in Yuan Dasheng’s hands shattered into countless flame flowers with a light squeeze.

The blooming flames flowed rapidly, enveloping Yuan Dasheng's entire body.

Yuan Dasheng was now bathed in fire, as if covered in armor.

The flames roared, radiating immense heat.

Meng Chong was stunned.

He looked at the over

one-zhang-tall blazing heat, then at his wooden puppet body, and finally fixed his gaze on Yuan Dasheng's golden bones and red rock muscles.

Envy.

Yuan Dasheng was unafraid of burning, but Meng Chong couldn’t say the same.

Yuan Dasheng remained motionless, extending a finger towards Meng Chong, beckoning him as if saying, "Keep attacking, come and fight me!"

"IXXX."

Meng Chong couldn’t help but curse.

Holding back his anger, he gritted his teeth and charged once more.

Moments later, Meng Chong was covered in flames, burnt into large chunks of charred wood, scattered all over the place!

End of Chapter~~