: The List With Only One Person

2024-07-31 Author: Gu Zhenren

Ning Zhuo increased his efforts.

Whoosh.

One of the diamond-shaped colored gems suddenly shot out and struck the copper wall.

A thin thread connected the gem to the wooden ring.

Ning Zhuo gave it a tug and found that although the thread was frighteningly thin, it was extremely tough.

He took a few more steps, approached the wall, and carefully examined the gem that had been shot out.

He initially thought the gem had embedded itself into the wall like a nail. Instead, he discovered that the gem had actually fused with the wall surface.

The part where it contacted the wall had completely transformed into copper, with only a faint blue-purple glow visible near the thread.

It was as if it had always been part of the copper wall, with just a small protruding point sticking out. This protrusion was connected to the hanging ring.

"Marvelous, absolutely marvelous!"

"How is this done?"

"Is it using talismans, engraved with a miniature array, or is the material of the gem itself different?"

Ning Zhuo's desire for research was ignited. He wished he could dismantle it right then and there to study it thoroughly for three days and three nights.

"What a shame, now is not the right time!"

Ning Zhuo knew exploration was the top priority.

Holding the hanging ring, he looked down at his body but couldn't find a suitable place to wear it.

The puppet Ning Zhuo's limbs were much thinner than the ring; his upper and lower arms were the same thickness, as were his thighs and calves.

Ning Zhuo wouldn't simply hold the hanging ring in his hand.

When charging into the second room, he needed both hands free. Having one hand occupied would be very inconvenient.

This small problem didn't stump Ning Zhuo for long.

Soon, he thought of a solution.

He first removed his own head, then slipped the hanging ring over his neck, and finally reattached his head.

This way, his large head securely locked the hanging ring in place.

After installation, Ning Zhuo pushed the door open and formally stepped into the second room.

The door closed heavily and firmly behind him. Ning Zhuo tried pushing it again but found it immovable.

Looking at the familiar corridor-like second room, Ning Zhuo didn't rush to charge forward. Instead, he practiced using the hanging ring for a while where he stood.

After reaching a certain level of proficiency, he began his attempt.

Bang, bang, bang...

After several consecutive failures, Ning Zhuo was swept back each time.

His mindset was steady, completely devoid of the anxiety he felt the first time.

A short while later.

He reached the midpoint of his sprint.

Two large logs came crashing towards him one after the other. Ning Zhuo jumped into mid-air, with no way to avoid them.

No problem.

"I have the hanging ring!" Ning Zhuo thought.

The wooden ring, locked firmly under his large head, suddenly shot out a colored gem. With a *ding*, it embedded itself into the ceiling.

The thread was extremely tough. Ning Zhuo, bearing the force, tilted his head to the side and was directly suspended in mid-air without falling, successfully dodging the large logs.

Another log descended from above, thrusting straight towards him.

Ning Zhuo then withdrew his magic power. The thread instantly snapped at the root, and the wooden ring completely separated from the shot-out gem.

Ning Zhuo fell down, dodged the log, and then shot out another colored gem, embedding it right into the log.

As the log retracted, it carried him along with it.

And so, Ning Zhuo's head occasionally tilted to the side, adopting a hanging posture, as he successfully navigated through the second room and arrived at the second door.

"Truly, truly worthy of the name 'Hanging Ring'. The naming is top-notch. Concise and to the point, perfectly apt." Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly, reaching out with both hands to straighten his crooked head.

Using the Hanging Ring drastically reduced the difficulty of passing through the second room.

Ning Zhuo's body was now mostly intact, with only a cracked left leg and a broken finger on his right hand.

This was a world of difference compared to the pitiful state he was in during his first exploration.

"What if I had chosen the Hanging Ring last time?"

Ning Zhuo thought for a moment, then shook his head slightly: "It would have been worse."

The Hanging Ring increases spiritual energy consumption.

If he had chosen the Hanging Ring during his first exploration, Ning Zhuo would have been unable to move due to exhausted spiritual energy.

Ning Zhuo touched the second door.

Reward information reached his mind directly: Two spirit stones, the mechanism component 'Glass Flying Daggers', the spell 'Grasping Fire Technique'.

During his last exploration, Ning Zhuo's soul was weakened to its lowest point. He didn't have time to examine the choices carefully and hastily selected the spell.

Now, in good condition, he could choose calmly.

"The number of spirit stones offered has increased to two."

"Glass Flying Daggers are an offensive-type mechanism component."

"Grasping Fire Technique... seems to be a set with the Embracing Ice Technique."

Ning Zhuo's spiritual energy was now only at thirty percent, leaving him with little choice. He directly selected the first reward—two spirit stones.

After glancing back at the second room, he pushed the door open with force and formally entered the third room.

A message came through—Defeat the Kung Fu Puppet to pass the third room and enter the preparation room.

"It's not the fourth room anymore?" Ning Zhuo's heart stirred slightly.

The third room was circular in structure, darker towards the edges and brightest at the very center.

"Just like a circular arena." Ning Zhuo immediately spotted a tall, thin wooden puppet standing right in the center of the room.

The puppet was made of yellow wood, with black line patterns on its surface. Two large characters were written vertically on its chest: Kung Fu!

This puppet sensed him, and its eyes suddenly lit up with a yellow light. It extended its thumb, wiped its wooden nose, then slowly half-squatted, adopting a stance with one foot forward and one back. Then, it held one hand out in front with an open palm, placed the other behind its back, and assumed a posture towards Ning Zhuo.

The forward hand moved slightly, gesturing for Ning Zhuo to attack.

"Interesting." Ning Zhuo smiled. "I've also learned some boxing and kicking skills at the academy."

Having just obtained two spirit stones, he wasn't short on motivation. Combined with his intention to gather more information, he immediately stepped forward to begin the fight.

After only about ten breaths, the puppet Ning Zhuo was on the verge of being beaten to pieces.

"Can't win, the gap is too big!"

Ning Zhuo suddenly wrapped his arms around its waist.

The guardian puppet immediately struggled, using its elbows and fists to continuously strike Ning Zhuo's back and large head.

The banging sounds were like a sudden downpour.

Ning Zhuo, meanwhile, frantically channeled his spiritual energy, unleashing his trump card.

Spell—Embracing Ice Technique!

Crack...

After a series of faint sounds, a layer of ice covered the surface of the guardian puppet, gradually rendering it immobile.

"Without the Embracing Ice Technique, passing this stage would be utterly impossible." Ning Zhuo tried to damage the Kung Fu puppet but received a warning message and had to stop.

He half-squatted, swung his fist, and delivered a series of consecutive attacks to the puppet's head.

The ice layer shattered. The puppet's head, with its large yellow eyes, remained lit.

Ning Zhuo tried to pry off the eye components but received another message—Violently destroying the guardian puppet is not permitted!

The reward options at the third door remained three.

Ten spirit stones, the mechanism component 'Small Flying Box', the spell 'Joining Wood Technique'.

The recent battle, especially the activation of the Embracing Ice Technique, had consumed a lot of spiritual energy. Ning Zhuo, opting for caution, chose the ten spirit stones.

He pushed the door open and entered the preparation room.

The preparation room was spacious, far larger than the previous three rooms. A five-sided stone pillar stood in the center.

One face of the pillar was inscribed:

Qi Refinement Ranking.

First Place: Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo: ...

The stone pillar rotated with a clacking sound, turning to another face, which read:

Assessment Progress Ranking.

First Place: Ning Zhuo.

Below that, no one else was listed; he was the only one on the ranking.

Ning Zhuo tilted his head: Huh?!

After a few breaths, Ning Zhuo shuddered as if electrocuted, his body and mind jolting violently as he fully realized the severity of the situation.

"Oh no!"

"I... am I going to be exposed?!"

(End of )