: "Record of Clouds Falling to the Horizon"

Date: 2024-07-31 Author: Gu Zhenren

Ning Zhuo had possessed the "Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra" for some time now.

Judging purely by the sutra's title, its general meaning was: through the purification of flame, sentient beings are liberated from worldly binds, refining the spirit of prajna.

The Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra indeed possessed such power.

Ning Zhuo had once relied on it to enhance and fully replenish Yuan Dasheng's spirit to a perfect tenfold, achieving a qualitative transformation. From that point on, Yuan Dasheng's spirit was complete, capable of self-recovery.

Back then, Ning Zhuo had used the Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra merely to augment Yuan Dasheng's spirit.

Now, having unexpectedly grasped a deeper essence of the Cremation Sutra, he immediately knew he had also made significant progress in his mechanical arts!

He released more floating clouds and made his first attempt right there amidst them.

He succeeded on the very first try!

Ning Zhuo obtained a mechanical whip. It resembled a snake, able to slither along the ground on its own.

However, after slithering for a while, the whip became still, as if dead.

It wasn't that the mana within the mechanical whip was depleted—it still had plenty. Rather, the spirit Ning Zhuo had refined was exhausted!

Ning Zhuo proceeded to try several more times.

There were successes and failures.

Overall, failures were in the majority, with successes being relatively rare.

This allowed Ning Zhuo to clearly see the limits of his ability.

He assessed privately, "So far, although I can create some mechanisms with a spiritual essence, that essence is quite faint."

"The more complete the mechanism, the higher the probability of failure, and the shorter the duration the spirit can sustain it."

"But if I only create mechanical components, or even just parts, the duration the spirit can support is noticeably extended."

"I should invest in higher-grade raw materials."

"No, it's not just that."

"I need a lot of practice."

"My understanding and mastery of the Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra also have immense room for improvement!"

This unexpected progress excited Ning Zhuo greatly.

Because once he mastered this technique, he would be able to tinker with spirit-infused mechanisms in the preparation room after soul-projecting into the Immortal Palace.

As for raw materials, he could use the various demon beasts and spiritual intelligences from the coffin room behind the Buddhist sect.

After all, with the Demonic Heart Seal of Buddha, Ning Zhuo could come and go freely within the Molten Rock Immortal Palace.

"All along, when I soul-project into the Immortal Palace, I've been troubled by my inability to bring external resources inside."

"The only ones who can freely enter and exit are the Golden Blood War Ape, Dasheng, and the Nether Envoy, Qi Bai."

Qi Bai's spirit was nearly depleted, forcing Ning Zhuo to reluctantly bench him.

Relying solely on Yuan Dasheng, a single mechanical construct, it was already difficult to withstand the increasing number of trial disciples. Among them, especially Meng Chong, posed a growing threat.

Ning Zhuo's control over the trial stages of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace was rapidly declining!

Now, with the Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra, Ning Zhuo had new hope of restoring his previous level of control.

Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian came to report to Ning Zhuo together.

The Ning family's group of Foundation Establishment cultivators had been overseeing the black market for several days now.

They had successively captured quite a few cultivators who caused trouble in the black market, openly started fights, or engaged in particularly vile deception.

Ning Zhuo carefully examined the jade slips, then after a moment, said, "Interrogate these people, ask about their backgrounds."

"Those with lesser offenses can leave after paying their own ransom."

"Keep this last group and transfer them to Lord Fei Si of the City Lord's Manor. He will be pleased."

Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian immediately looked. Both noticed simultaneously: the cultivators to be handed over to Fei Si were all wanted fugitives, listed on the South Bean Kingdom's wanted rolls.

Ning Xiangqian frowned, "Should we transport them secretly?"

Ning Zhuo shook his head, "That's unnecessary. We've done a great deed, shouldn't it be widely publicized?"

Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian exchanged a glance, both realizing: Ning Zhuo had already reached some private agreement with Fei Si!

Sure enough, when Fei Si received these captive fugitives, he felt quite pleased.

For him, this was all political achievement!

"Not in vain that I actively reduced my share to thirty percent."

"Ning Zhuo, you are quite considerate."

"I didn't misjudge you. In this regard, even the former Sun Lingtong wasn't as understanding as you."

Fei Si inwardly praised profusely.

He thought for a moment, then proactively wrote a letter for Ning Xiangguo to take back.

Ning Zhuo unfolded the letter and found it was a letter of introduction, with Fei Si requesting an audience with Book Lord Jun on Ning Zhuo's behalf.

Book Lord Jun was a Golden Core cultivator from the Complete Book Pavilion.

The Complete Book Pavilion was a super sect, larger in scale than the Soul Devouring Sect or the Unempty Gate by far.

The first Pavilion Master who founded the Complete Book Pavilion, feeling that too many in the cultivation world hoarded their knowledge, had suffered in his early cultivation days from being unable to find suitable, excellent techniques, wasting much time and taking many detours.

Therefore, after achieving success in his cultivation, he vowed to collect as many cultivation techniques, spells, and so on as possible.

Since its founding, the Complete Book Pavilion had always adhered to neutrality. They profited from selling techniques, spells, or other texts, then used the profits to acquire more techniques, spells, etc.

Ning Zhuo immediately realized—Fei Si writing this letter of introduction for him was a subtle, small act of mentorship, expressing Fei Si's unspoken gratitude.

Ning Zhuo set off immediately.

Soon after, with the help of the letter of introduction, he met Book Lord Jun.

Book Lord Jun, being a Golden Core cultivator, received Ning Zhuo personally purely out of respect for Fei Si, asked a couple of questions, gave Ning Zhuo an identity token, and then sent him on his way.

Holding the identity token, Ning Zhuo went to find the manager in charge of book sales.

Although the Complete Book Pavilion's branch in Fire Persimmon Immortal City hadn't been constructed yet, the identity token Ning Zhuo held granted him the privilege of special handling.

The manager asked him what books he wanted to buy.

Ning Zhuo wasn't in a hurry. Instead, he asked if the pavilion would be willing to purchase the first three layers of the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

The manager informed him that the Complete Book Pavilion had already collected over two hundred copies of the first three layers of the technique, which had been transmitted to other outposts for comparison and revision by powerful cultivators there, aiming to eventually produce a more universal and concise version.

Ning Zhuo was inwardly amazed by the Complete Book Pavilion's wealth and operational capability.

He then showed the manager spells like the Embrace Ice Technique.

This immediately caught the manager's interest.

After all, when the Law Transmission Bell had spread the techniques, the entire city knew. Thus, collecting the first three layers from the citizens had been relatively easy for the Complete Book Pavilion.

But spells like the Embrace Ice Technique were only mastered by the Qi Refining geniuses of the four major powers and the members of the Conversion Team.

There were far fewer of these people.

A short while later, the manager evaluated these spells and quoted Ning Zhuo a price.

"Our Complete Book Pavilion typically has two methods for trading texts."

"The first is spirit stone transactions."

"The second is conversion into corresponding Pavilion Gold."

Ning Zhuo didn't hesitate, "I choose Pavilion Gold."

Pavilion Gold was the Complete Book Pavilion's own currency. It had no physical form, being merely a numerical record.

Trading with spirit stones wasn't cost-effective. Using Pavilion Gold allowed for acquiring more texts.

The Complete Book Pavilion deliberately set up these two trading methods mainly to create a contrast, highlighting the superiority of Pavilion Gold and encouraging more people to use it for transactions.

Ning Zhuo sold the Embrace Ice Technique, Grasp Fire Technique, and others, acquiring his first sum of Pavilion Gold.

He didn't hold onto it, asking the manager what good books were available for exchange.

The manager replied, "Young Master Ning Zhuo, our Complete Book Pavilion encompasses everything. While your amount of Pavilion Gold isn't large, it can exchange for thousands of books. What specifically are you looking for?"

Ning Zhuo thought for a moment. He had his main cultivation technique, and he had more spells than he had time to practice, especially the Five Elements Mutual Generation and Restraint Art.

"What mechanical texts can I exchange for?"

However, while browsing, Ning Zhuo found himself drawn to another book.

In the end, he bought a copy of "Record of Clouds Falling to the Horizon."

This book was a travelogue. The author's name was unknown; he styled himself Fallen Cloud Master.

There were many mechanical texts, but this book was quite rare, dealing with the concept of fate and fortune.

"I have the mechanical texts left by my mother; their content is excellent. With my current Pavilion Gold, exchanging for something on par with my mother's legacy is basically impossible."

"Some texts would be helpful, but it's hard for me to filter them out."

"Might as well look into content related to fate and fortune."

"The 'Thread of Human Life' involves fate; perhaps it will help me comprehend the complete divine ability."

Ning Zhuo had a premonition: once the nascent form of the Thread of Human Life divine ability broke through, he would experience a terrifying improvement!

At that time, even though he was only at Qi Refining stage, he would possess a divine ability.

The vast majority of Golden Core cultivators couldn't accomplish such a feat.

The Thread of Human Life divine ability would become a powerful trump card for him!

Ning Zhuo took "Record of Clouds Falling to the Horizon" onto his carriage and read it all the way back, yet the lotus of his nascent divine ability didn't tremble even once.

Ning Zhuo had read thirty percent of "Record of Clouds Falling to the Horizon." A story in the early part left the deepest impression on him.

The story told of a villager who saved Fallen Cloud Master from near death by thirst and starvation.

To thank him, Fallen Cloud Master offered to perform a ritual to change the villager's fortune, allowing him to enjoy worldly riches.

The villager didn't believe him. The reason was simple: Fallen Cloud Master was too wretched, saved by the villager himself—what ability could he possibly have?

Fallen Cloud Master then introduced himself: "I am originally from the Carefree Cloud Path, on a whim I defied heaven and fell to the mortal dust. I once cultivated in the Heavenly Track Manor, now plagued by misfortune, I roam the four seas."

Faced with Fallen Cloud Master's revealed demeanor, the villager reluctantly agreed.

The villager followed Fallen Cloud Master's instructions, purchasing and arranging everything as required.

Finally, the ritual was completed. From then on, the villager's wealth flowed abundantly, and within half a year, he became very rich.

Before leaving, Fallen Cloud Master told the villager: First, this wealth luck will last twelve years; make good use of it. Second, after becoming rich, you must not show a shred of kindness. No matter how difficult, destitute, or pitiful anyone appears, do not help them, or you will bear the consequences.

The villager, harboring a kind heart, couldn't bear to see suffering. He held out for a few years until a famine struck. He consciously cast Fallen Cloud Master's warning aside, providing relief to many poor people and saving many lives.

His own body grew increasingly weak, often feeling exhausted. He was drowsy and low-energy during the day. At night, he frequently had nightmares where countless ghosts pounced on him, heavy as a small mountain. He walked through wilderness, each step a struggle.

By the time Fallen Cloud Master sensed something and returned to the village,

The villager had only one breath left.

On his deathbed, the villager asked Fallen Cloud Master, seeking answers.

Fallen Cloud Master sighed, "You've encountered petty and malevolent ghosts."

"I told you not to be kindhearted and save people."

"Your kindness came from good intentions, but it also provided an opportunity for spirits and vengeful ghosts to attach themselves to you."

"In this world, many souls cannot rest due to resentment or greed. They will use your kindness to satisfy their own desires."

"Being wealthy but unkind is wrong, but indiscriminate kindness is even more harmful to oneself."

"Once you cannot help others correctly, those malevolent and petty ghosts will drag you down relentlessly, pulling you straight to the underworld!"

"Being a good person is always far more difficult than being a bad person."

After hearing this, the villager grew agitated and asked, "Then how can one deal with these malevolent and petty ghosts? What counts as helping correctly?"

Fallen Cloud Master said, "Liberate them."

The villager smiled wryly, "But I'm just a mortal."

Fallen Cloud Master added, "Liberation isn't only through spells; mortals have methods too. Assign them work, make them labor."

"Labor can ferry people across."

(End of )