: The Artifice Forging Sound Score

Thousand Peaks Forest.

Edge of the battlefield.

In a deserted valley stood a hidden thatched hut.

Lin Bufan was sitting on a short stool made from a tree stump in the clearing before the hut, leisurely sipping tea and gazing at the distant mountains under the clear sky.

A ripple stirred in the air, and then Zhu Xuanji's figure penetrated the illusion formation, appearing before Lin Bufan.

Lin Bufan was slightly startled, then set down his cup.

Ever since he had been practically "conscripted" by Zhu Xuanji and brought to his side, the two had secretly set up multiple camps.

This was just one of them.

Lin Bufan liked the scenery here, so he often resided here.

As for Zhu Xuanji, he was as elusive as a dragon, rarely staying long in any of these secret camps.

Lin Bufan understood clearly: Given the situation of the Two Pillars Kingdom, the Southern Bean Kingdom was inevitably closely linked to the Thousand Peaks Forest. Zhu Xuanji had been dispatched here precisely to liaise closely with the forces within the Thousand Peaks Forest that were friendly to Southern Bean. It was even possible that the Southern Bean Kingdom had personally planted personnel and forces within the forest.

The matter of the newly established army of the Two Pillars Kingdom dispatching Du Tiechuan to campaign against the Thousand Peaks Forest was, from the very beginning, not just an internal affair of the Two Pillars Kingdom itself, but one that involved other countries.

Seeing that Zhu Xuanji had come to find him, Lin Bufan understood that there was important business requiring his attention.

Sure enough, Zhu Xuanji tossed a jade slip to him.

Using spiritual sense to move objects.

The jade slip floated to Lin Bufan and gently landed on his outstretched palm.

Lin Bufan scanned it with his spiritual sense and immediately showed a strange expression: "I never thought the first thing I'd have to do would still be related to that kid Ning Zhuo."

The latest intelligence in the jade slip recorded that Ning Zhuo was following the army on an expedition, attacking Ten Mile Burning Forest.

Zhu Xuanji said, "Ning Zhuo's safety concerns the ownership of Fire Persimmon Immortal City, so the implications are significant, and we cannot afford any mistakes."

"Brother Lin, why not go and protect him covertly? The Three Generals Camp is unimportant; just ensure Ning Zhuo's life and freedom are secure."

Lin Bufan shook his head with a wry smile: "That kid still doesn't know he's already been targeted by the Old Monster in the Stone and the Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts."

"The Old Monster in the Stone is suspected to be at the Deity Transformation level, profoundly scheming and extremely mysterious in his movements."

"The Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts are powerful experts from the Soul Devouring Sect, renowned far and wide across many kingdoms. Given Ning Zhuo's current combat strength, even with his mechanical army's assistance, he would certainly die if he faced the Twin Ghosts!"

"If I were him, I'd definitely hunker down safely inside the front-line main camp."

At this point, Lin Bufan picked up his cup, took a sip of tea, and sighed: "Ah, this is not an easy assignment."

Zhu Xuanji laughed: "The Ning family's cooperation with your Myriad Medicine Sect is also very close. Moreover, I've heard that Miss Lin of your esteemed sect is very close to Ning Zhuo."

"Perhaps in the future, you'll even become family."

Lin Bufan immediately glared: "Don't say such things recklessly!"

"That kid Ning Zhuo already has a family; he married the heir of a kingdom's Great General's estate. Tsk tsk…"

Lin Bufan looked at Zhu Xuanji with a hint of teasing: "Speaking of which, ever since Ning Zhuo appeared in Canglin Immortal City, he has repeatedly stated in public that he has a marriage agreement with your Zhu family. Now that he's pulled this stunt, doesn't your Zhu family have any reaction?"

"That kid…" Zhu Xuanji shook his head with a laugh.

Regarding Ning Zhuo's spreading of such rumors, he not only didn't expose them, he wasn't even angry.

This was because back in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, he had profoundly experienced Ning Zhuo's abilities in endurance, cunning, and disguise.

Seeing that he couldn't pry any information out of him, Lin Bufan finished the tea in his cup and stood up: "Let me be blunt upfront: whether it's the Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts or the Old Monster in the Stone, I can't defeat either."

"When necessary, I will abandon Ning Zhuo to preserve myself."

Zhu Xuanji nodded: "Of course."

"If Ning Zhuo perishes here, it is his fate to die."

"Your safety comes first."

"As for your reward for this mission and any potential future actions, go ask Ning Zhuo for it. That kid is filthy rich now, able to fund the Three Generals Camp and the Red Flower Camp."

Lin Bufan nodded, immediately got up, left the secret camp, and hurried towards Ten Mile Burning Forest.

Flying low while concealed, he pondered Zhu Xuanji's every word and expression from moments ago.

"I initially thought Ning Zhuo's claim of a marriage alliance with the Zhu family was just boasting. But Zhu Xuanji didn't deny it just now."

"Moreover, although Zhu Xuanji said the words 'fate to die,' it made me feel that he is quite confident in Ning Zhuo!"

"Strange."

"Although Ning Zhuo has high talent and great potential, given the current situation, why does Zhu Xuanji still have such confidence in him?"

Near the front-line main camp of the Two Pillars Kingdom.

The Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts lurked in a dark corner, still as mountain rocks.

Various ghostly creatures returned to their side from time to time, reporting in detail.

"Hmm?" Suddenly, the white-clothed ghost cultivator Tian Shuang slightly raised an eyebrow and immediately sent a mental message to his black-clothed companion Di Hui, "News obtained from the alliance. The Three Generals Camp has suddenly left the main camp to campaign against Ten Mile Burning Forest."

Di Hui reacted immediately: "Is that kid Ning Zhuo among them?"

Tian Shuang: "The intelligence doesn't specify."

The Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts had returned to the front-line battlefield just after the Three Generals Camp's departure.

After all, they were outsiders; aside from the results of their own reconnaissance, the intelligence they obtained was mostly second-hand from the alliance. Thus, there was a time delay.

Di Hui thought for a moment and said, "If Ning Zhuo stays holed up in the main camp, we can do nothing to him."

"But now is a good opportunity!"

"Whether he went with the army or not, this chance is enough for us to move and investigate."

Tian Shuang: "I think so too."

"The only concern is, what if Ning Zhuo stayed in the main camp? After we leave, if he goes out alone to harvest Ginseng Dragon Whiskers, wouldn't we miss an opportunity?"

Di Hui thought it over and immediately shook his head: "The Thousand Peaks Forest contains Deity Transformation level combat power; we absolutely must not separate casually. Let's choose one option. I suggest we leave here and go to Ten Mile Burning Forest."

"Even if we find nothing, we can still destroy the Three Generals Camp, severely depleting the forces around Ning Zhuo."

To his surprise, Tian Shuang shook his head: "Not advisable."

"That kid Ning Zhuo is quite capable; he hooked up with Mu Lan and became husband and wife."

"If the Three Generals Camp is wiped out by us, Ning Zhuo will most likely join the Red Flower Camp. The Red Flower Camp can form a combat formation manifestation, which is much harder to deal with than the Three Generals Camp."

Di Hui was taken aback, then understood: "That's true. Then what should we do next…"

Before Di Hui could finish, a flying message arrived.

The Twin Ghosts immediately detected it and quickly received the message.

"Oh? Someone is interested in the three treasures we displayed and wants to join forces to acquire them!"

"Unexpectedly, there are three Nascent Soul cultivators, one of whom is the Fairy Hong Xiu."

They placed considerable importance on this female cultivator who mastered the mountain-moving supernatural power.

Consequently, the scales in their hearts immediately tipped heavily towards staying put.

After all, by staying here, they had a chance to obtain three valuable treasures. Even if they failed to collect the treasures and were driven out by the Two Pillars Kingdom's main force, they still had a chance to acquire their companions' souls for ghost creation.

In comparison, Ning Zhuo was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even if he had Golden Core combat strength or wielded unorthodox methods, he was not a major concern in the eyes of the Heaven and Earth Twin Ghosts.

The only reason they had accepted this sect mission was that they happened to be coming to the Thousand Peaks Forest anyway; it was merely a convenient task.

Ten Mile Burning Forest.

The soldiers of the Three Generals Camp cheered in unison, their morale rising by ten percent.

The rat horde and the mayfly swarm had retreated on their own, allowing them to win the first engagement, boosting their confidence further.

The four – Liu, Guan, Zhang, and Ning – showed not a hint of complacency.

They were well aware of the intelligence: the Fire-Fur Rats and Crimson Refining Mayflies in Ten Mile Burning Forest were specifically bred, but not for defensive warfare; they were used to assist in artifact refining.

The Fire-Fur Rats acted as scavengers, with a broad diet. They could not only eat shattered bark and roots but also swallow leftover debris from large-scale refining processes, etc.

After death, the undigested waste remaining in their bodies could be further refined, often yielding precious materials.

The Crimson Refining Mayfly swarms were used by cultivators when engraving array patterns or talismans during refining. They would summon a swarm of mayflies. Controlled by spiritual sense, the mayflies would land on the magical instrument or treasure, arranging themselves into the shape of a talisman or array. By sacrificing individual mayflies, impressions were烙下, quickly forming talismans or arrays.

"This was just the enemy's probe. Entire army, heed the order, continue advancing!" Liu Er waited for the army to cheer for a while before loudly calling a halt.

The entire army continued forward.

After advancing another two *li*, the soldiers had to stop again.

The raging flames around them suddenly changed dramatically, transforming into walls of fire that encircled the entire army.

Then, these fire walls burned higher and higher, connecting heaven and earth like a curtain, forming a crimson giant bowl turned upside down, covering the Three Generals Camp beneath it.

The soldiers experienced a wave of panic and unrest, but seeing the calm expressions of Generals Liu, Guan, and Zhang, they quickly recovered.

Fairy Flowing Flame, presiding over the formation, stood before the Vermilion Bird Incense Burner, exerting herself fully to mobilize the formation's power.

Immediately, a huge pattern of a Vermilion Bird appeared on the heavenly curtain.

The temperature of the surrounding air rapidly climbed.

Streaks of flame assailed the Three Generals Camp, and the ground beneath their feet became hot enough to scorch, sprouting countless tiny flames.

The flames quickly grew, turning the area into a land of fire.

The entire Three Generals Camp found themselves in a sea of fire; the frost-white talismans on their bodies were rapidly consumed.

Seeing this, Liu Er immediately ordered: "Form the Iron Barrel Formation!"

Guan Hong and Zhang Hei immediately coordinated, both deploying military tactics.

Speed is paramount in war!

The soldiers' movements became very agile, most remained calm, and few made errors.

Soon, the Iron Barrel Formation was successfully established.

Once the combat formation was complete, it immediately provided powerful protection to the entire army. The soldiers immediately felt the temperature drop significantly, and the consumption rate of the frost-white talismans on their bodies slowed by more than three times.

Morale stabilized once more.

However, the soldiers could still feel the surrounding temperature slowly rising, and their protective frost-white talismans were still being depleted, albeit at a rate slower than before by at least threefold.

Liu, Guan, Zhang, and Ning immediately realized that prolonged defense would inevitably lead to loss.

Zhang Hei, being impatient by nature, was the first to act. He brandished his Black Serpent Spear again, deploying the military tactic 'Great Army Presses the Border'.

Black Water soldiers emerged once more, but before they could charge at the crimson fiery curtain, they were melted halfway.

Guan Hong swung his Blood Dragon Blade, releasing a huge blade aura that slashed against the heavenly curtain.

The curtain swayed violently but quickly stabilized.

Liu Er held his Xuanhuang Sword but did not strike.

The three generals each had their specialties. Guan Hong's attacks were often concentrated with inwardly focused power. The current situation was suited to breaking a surface by focusing on a point.

In comparison, even if Liu Er attacked, he might not achieve such good results. Military strength was precious; although it could recover quickly, it consumed the soldiers' combat strength, stamina, etc.

Guan Hong continued to attack, slashing three times in a row, hacking a large breach in the heavenly curtain.

Seeing this, Liu Er seized the moment while Guan Hong caught his breath to supplement with a sword strike.

This strike was perfectly timed, exceeding the curtain's endurance limit and splitting it open.

The heavenly curtain directly dispersed.

The soldiers cheered again, able to continue their advance.

Ten Mile Burning Forest was named for a reason. Its length was approximately ten *li*.

But the Three Generals Camp didn't need to traverse all ten *li*; they only needed to advance about five *li* to break through to the central area and see the Fire Crown Divine Fir.

This divine tree was the king of trees in Ten Mile Burning Forest, a landmark giant tree.

The Three Generals Camp had already advanced three *li*, with only the final two *li* left.

However, the journey ahead proved drastically more difficult.

Successive curtains of fire emerged, enveloping the Three Generals Camp and making their progress extremely arduous.

Although Guan Hong could劈开 the fire curtains, such frequent attacks also placed a great strain on him.

As a Golden Core cultivator, he was already feeling heavily fatigued, and the other soldiers were even more so.

The closer they got to the center of the Burning Forest, the more vigorous the flames became, the higher the temperature, and the more rapidly the Three Generals Camp's resources were consumed.

The frequency of each person replenishing talismans increased more and more. The soldiers' stamina was mostly depleted, and despite consuming some pill rations along the way, their physical energy expenditure still outweighed replenishment.

Just as they were approaching the four-*li* mark, a loud bell sound suddenly rang out.

The bell's sound waves震荡, stirring the flames into greater fury.

Cracks appeared on the soldiers' armor, talismans, and even weapons, rapidly disintegrating.

In this critical situation, Liu Er hurriedly deployed the military tactic 'Guard the Land, Secure the Roots', buying crucial time.

Seizing this opportunity, the soldiers quickly replenished their talismans, and Ning Zhuo also cast spells to alleviate the predicament as much as possible.

During the difficult struggle to resist the bell sounds, Ning Zhuo's thoughts raced. A flash of inspiration crossed his mind like lightning, and he exclaimed aloud: "Could it be the Artifice Forging Sound Score?!"

Zhang Hei: "What?"

Guan Hong also looked puzzled.

But Liu Er's eyes lit up: "Correct, it should be that method."

Yan Jin, who primarily cultivated the Artifice Forging Sound Score, was the chief craftsman of Ten Mile Burning Forest. At this moment, he stood before a giant bronze bell, each swing of his fist or palm striking the bell heavily,激发出一声声 vast, resonating tones.

The bell sounds could forge iron and steel, treating the entire Three Generals Camp as raw ore to be refined!

The Three Generals Camp was in dire straits, and Generals Liu, Guan, and Zhang were at a loss.

This was because the bell sounds were difficult to defend against; even using their methods, they couldn't change the situation of being passively beaten.

"Using layers of fire curtains to delay our advance, then using the forging sound of the bell to kill us." Ning Zhuo looked around and already saw many soldiers bleeding from their mouths and noses.

This was because their internal organs couldn't withstand the bell sounds, causing massive internal bleeding.

"The Artifice Forging Sound Score is an artifact refining method, amplified through the great bell. As long as we destroy the bell, we should be able to resolve this move."

"According to intelligence, the Forest Chief of Ten Mile Burning Forest is the Nascent Soul cultivator Luo Chen. He hasn't shown himself yet."

"The Three Generals Camp's marching speed is slow; they need the Iron Barrel Formation for defense. Switching to another combat formation would be suicidal. Generals Liu, Guan, and Zhang are only at the Golden Core level. If they leave the Iron Barrel Formation to destroy the bell, they will certainly be attacked by Luo Chen."

"It's time for me to make a move."

Thinking this, Ning Zhuo rotated his mechanism ring.

The ring showed no reaction.

He immediately probed with his spiritual sense into his storage belt and took out one mechanical puppet after another.

The mechanical army made its entrance!

(End of )