Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

The Ning family cultivators entered in single file, their faces expressionless, streaming into Ning Zhuo's small courtyard.

They spread out to the left and right, subtly surrounding Ning Zhuo in the center.

A few others were scattered around the residence, vigilantly surveying the area.

Ning Ze and Ning Fan stood in front of Ning Zhuo.

Ning Ze succinctly explained their purpose.

Ning Zhuo raised his eyebrows. "Indeed, I have a large sum of spirit stones, but that's my business. What does it have to do with the family?"

"For this matter, Uncle, do you really need to ask me personally?" The boy's youthful face was full of confusion and disbelief.

Ning Fan remained silent.

Ning Ze slightly shook his head, his expression serious. "Xiao Zhuo, you’re still young and don’t understand these things, so I don’t blame you. Just tell us honestly, what is the source of this huge sum of money!"

Ning Ze and Ning Fan were both momentarily surprised!

Ning Ze lowered his voice, his expression becoming even more stern. "Why can't you say it? At this critical moment, you still refuse to speak?"

Ning Zhuo shrugged, spreading his hands, his tone nonchalant while also showing a bit of the stubbornness of youth. "What does it matter? It’s my money. I can spend it however I want."

Ning Ze grew anxious. "You don't understand your situation, Xiao Zhuo!"

"Do you think you’re the same as before? You’re not."

"Now, you’re the family’s key cultivation target, the second-in-command of the Reformation Team, do you understand?"

"Someone has reported you, saying you’re spending lavishly and possess a large sum of money from unknown sources!"

"At the very moment when the family wants to cultivate you and support you, you’ve run into this issue. Don’t you think you should clarify things?"

"Xiao Zhuo, you think the world is too simple!"

"In the past, you were obscure and unremarkable, and no one paid attention to you, so it didn’t matter!"

"But now, you’ve reached the Third Layer Peak, and everyone is watching you. Even the slightest flaw will be magnified, and some people with ill intentions will seize on it, fully criticizing you, trying to bring you down!"

"Now that you have such a huge suspicion on you, those people will spread rumors, claiming you’ve received secret sponsorship from another family, that you’ve been turned and are a spy infiltrating our family!"

"So don’t you think the family needs to conduct a detailed investigation to feel reassured?"

Ning Ze said a lot in one breath, speaking earnestly!

Ning Zhuo fell silent, only speaking after a long pause. "Uncle, there are indeed many hidden truths in this matter, but I can assure you, I haven’t done anything immoral. The origin of this money is legitimate, and I have a clear conscience!"

Ning Ze glared at him, almost wanting to grab Ning Zhuo by the ear. "Did I just waste all my words?"

"Did you not listen carefully?"

"You say you have a clear conscience, but who can prove it? Who will believe it?"

"Alright, since you haven’t done anything immoral, then just tell us."

"Right now, you need to prove yourself to the family."

Ning Zhuo remained silent.

"Did you even listen to what I said?" Ning Ze's tone rose, his eyebrows furrowed in worry, a look of thinly veiled anger on his face.

Ning Zhuo sighed and finally revealed a bit of the truth. "Uncle, you’re the closest person to me, you have to trust me, I really haven’t done anything wrong."

"But this matter, I really can’t reveal it."

"I made a contract with someone, I can’t say anything about it. If I do, I’ll suffer a backlash from the contract!"

Ning Ze was stunned, then his eyebrows furrowed even tighter. "What kind of matter would make you sign such a contract with someone else?"

"Oh, you child, you’re really driving me to despair!"

Ning Ze pointed at Ning Zhuo, his finger trembling in frustration!

Ning Zhuo just lowered his head, remaining silent.

Ning Ze looked at him, then turned to Ning Fan beside him, forcing a smile and softly saying to the latter, "Brother Ning Fan, could you give us a moment alone so I can talk to my nephew?"

Ning Fan showed a troubled expression. "You know, I was sent here to supervise."

Ning Ze couldn’t care less at this point, hurriedly promising some benefits through sound transmission!

Ning Fan’s expression struggled for a moment, then he nodded. "Both of you have promising futures, I wouldn’t want to offend you. I’ll give you half a cup of tea’s time!"

Ning Ze led Ning Zhuo into the room!

"Speak, what is it that you can’t talk about? Say it now!"

"It’s just the two of us here!"

Ning Ze’s face was as cold as water.

Ning Zhuo: "Uncle, I’ve already told you the truth, I’m not lying to you. I did sign a contract with someone, and I can’t reveal a single bit!"

Ning Ze was so angry that his eyes widened. He pointed a finger at Ning Zhuo’s forehead, gritting his teeth. "Ning Zhuo, do you understand the seriousness of this matter?"

"The family values you now, values you greatly, so they specially sent a team to investigate."

"They were worried you might misunderstand, so they specifically sent me to talk to you!"

"Now is the best time for you to confess. If you miss this chance, you could ruin everything."

Ning Ze took a deep breath. "Fine, even if you’re bound by a contract, it doesn’t matter."

"You should know, if there’s a lock, there’s a key!"

"Tell me what kind of contract it is. If we mobilize the family’s power, it might be possible to break the contract!"

Ning Zhuo shook his head. "Uncle, I think it’s best not to touch this matter!"

"Sigh! If you really want me to speak, I can only tell you that this matter involves a Golden Core master!"

"What?" Ning Ze was shocked, involuntarily taking a step back. "You… you’re not deceiving me, are you?"

The highest combat strength of the Ning family was their patriarch, a Golden Core cultivator.

Ning Zhuo sighed. "How could I deceive you, Uncle?"

"That’s why I think it’s best not to investigate this matter any further. Let’s just leave it here!"

"If the family doesn’t trust me, then I’ll withdraw from the Reformation Team and not participate in the exploration of the Lava Immortal Palace!"

Upon hearing this, Ning Ze stomped his foot in anger. "Xiao Zhuo, how can you say such nonsense?"

"Your entry into the Reformation Team was something I spent money on."

"Do you think you can leave just because you want to?"

"Even if you withdraw, the family will still thoroughly investigate your matter!"

"You… you… what have you gotten yourself into?"

"Tell me, who exactly is that Golden Core master? It… it wouldn’t be that Shadow demon cultivator, would it?"

As he spoke, Ning Ze’s pupils contracted sharply, a shiver running through him, causing him to take another step back.

The next moment, he transmitted his voice to Ning Zhuo, shouting sternly, "Quick, quickly tell me, does this have anything to do with the Shadow demon cultivator?"

Ning Zhuo frowned. "Uncle, don’t push me, I can’t say anything!"

"How could you sign such a contract! Oh, oh… you, you’re going to drag our whole family down with you!"

Ning Ze was so anxious that he kept slapping his thigh.

Ning Zhuo sighed. "Uncle, I had no other choice!"

Upon hearing this, Ning Ze leaned even more towards believing that the answer involved the Shadow demon cultivator.

He clasped his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth, suddenly stopping to stare intently at Ning Zhuo. "Xiao Zhuo, this matter is extremely serious, it’s not something you can avoid by hiding."

"Today, we must get to the bottom of this!"

"Don’t blame me, Uncle, it’s really because you’ve made a mistake!"

Ning Zhuo was startled and hurriedly said, "Uncle, it’s not as serious as you think!"

But Ning Ze shook his head, eager to distance himself from Ning Zhuo and prove his own innocence.

He quickly walked outside and asked Ning Fan, "My nephew indeed signed a contract. What should we do next?"

"Does the family have any means to break the contract? The key is, this matter involves a Golden Core master!"

Ning Fan was astonished!

After a brief moment of shock, his expression darkened. "This is a serious matter, but as long as the contract wasn’t personally set by a Golden Core master, we can attempt to break it!"

"But are you certain?"

"Ning Zhuo can’t disclose the details of the contract, so we’ll have to keep trying. In the process, Ning Zhuo might suffer unavoidable harm!"

Ning Ze’s expression struggled for a moment, then he gritted his teeth and nodded fiercely. "This investigation is a top-priority

task assigned by the higher-ups, and the family is watching closely! How can we face them without taking this step? Do it!"

Ning Ze's eyes flashed. "You’re Ning Zhuo’s uncle and the leader of this investigation team, it’s your call!"

"However, it’s best if Ning Zhuo cooperates voluntarily for optimal results!"

No sooner had Ning Fan spoken than Ning Zhuo declared, "I refuse!"

Ning Ze turned back, glaring. "You unfilial son, you don’t have a choice in this matter!"

Ning Ze glanced around and barked, "What are you waiting for? Move!"

Ning Fan sighed and secretly gestured with his hand!

Two burly members of the investigation team stepped forward, one on each side of Ning Zhuo, channeling their mana to easily suppress him!

Ning Fan took out a magical artifact and handed it to Ning Ze. "This is the Mind-Capturing Father-Son Bracelet. Wear the father bracelet yourself, and place the son bracelet on Ning Zhuo's wrist. This will allow you to capture his thoughts!"

"As the saying goes, ‘A father knows his son best.'"

"Although Ning Zhuo is bound by the contract and cannot disclose the truth, it doesn’t restrict his thoughts!"

"As long as we forcibly extract the relevant thoughts from his divine sea, we can obtain the information!"

"However, this action may trigger a backlash from the contract!"

"On the other hand, forcibly extracting thoughts can also damage the divine sea! To avoid this, it’s best if Ning Zhuo cooperates willingly!"

Ning Zhuo, being restrained, could only struggle in his seat. "I refuse, I absolutely refuse!"

Ning Ze snorted coldly and placed the father-son bracelets on himself and Ning Zhuo. "Xiao Zhuo, you’re stubborn and unyielding, but as your elder and the closest person to you in this world, I can’t let you make mistake after mistake."

"Cooperate obediently, and you’ll suffer less pain!"

Ning Zhuo refused!

Ning Ze’s expression was as cold as ice as he directly activated the father-son bracelets. A pair of bracelets on their wrists emitted a blue-white glow!

A powerful suction force reached into Ning Zhuo’s divine sea, attempting to wreak havoc, only to crash against the Buddha Heart Demon Seal!

The suction force was like a violent wind, while the seal was as steady as a mountain, perfectly defending against it!

Ning Zhuo’s eyes rolled back, his body convulsing in the seat.

Two streams of blood flowed from his nostrils.

Ning Ze’s expression was cold and resolute.

Ning Zhuo, who had prepared his thoughts in advance, proactively offered them up, just as Ning Ze was about to capture them.

Boom…

With a loud bang, the door of the house was pushed open, and the young clan leader, Ning Xiaoren, saw the scene in the hall. His eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and he roared in fury, "Stop!"