: Studying Xiao Hui

"Victory!" Su Lingkou cheered and jumped for joy.

"This puppet's combat power is incredibly strong!" Shen Xi's heart trembled with shock.

He had watched the entire battle process clearly and knew well: this tiger demon possessed peak Foundation Establishment cultivation, with combat power far surpassing ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.

His original form was that of a fierce tiger, giving him superior physical attributes. While the magical tools he carried were somewhat lacking and didn't match his cultivation and combat power, considering his background as a rogue cultivator and a demonic cultivator, this situation was quite normal.

This was an era of flourishing cultivation, dominated by humans.

The two demonic talismans Pi Fujie bestowed upon the tiger demon increased his combat power by at least fivefold over his original base!

The Thousand Layer Scale Skin Talisman could be fully regarded as an excellent defensive treasure. The Blood Burn Gallop Talisman added wings to a tiger, drastically increasing his speed. This speed boost wasn't just about footwork and movement; it included punching speed, turning speed, and even the velocity of blood and energy circulation within his body—a comprehensive enhancement in all aspects of speed.

The Shen and Pi families were mortal enemies, so Shen Xi understood the power of the "Seven Talisman Demonic Skin Sutra" better than anyone.

Therefore, at the start of the battle, Shen Xi felt worried and specifically reminded Ning Zhuo to be cautious about this point. During the fight, when he saw the tiger demon using the two talismans to suppress Xue Cai Nü·Hui, he wasn't surprised at all.

"But in the end, the tiger demon was completely subdued by this puppet!"

Shen Xi marveled inwardly.

The final freezing completely displayed Xue Cai Nü·Hui's overwhelming combat power. This was genuine Golden Core level strength!

Shen Xi couldn't help but speculate, "Which faction is behind Ning Zhuo? They actually left him a Golden Core level puppet."

He then pondered which factions in Feiyun Kingdom excelled in mechanisms.

"Could it be the Ban family? The Mysterious Jade Sword Sect? The Carpenter's Hall? Or perhaps the Weaving Clouds Loom City?"

Pi Fujie's face was as dark as water.

He stared intently at the upward-gazing Xue Cai Nü·Hui, painfully realizing that even he would have to struggle fiercely if he were to fight her.

"Fortunately, this person's control over the mechanism isn't great. The early part of the battle was quite smooth, but when the tiger demon used the two talismans later on, he became flustered and made major mistakes."

"Even so... this puppet should not be underestimated at all!"

"Dammit."

Pi Fujie gritted his teeth secretly.

Although he believed that Ning Zhuo, as the puppet's operator, was the weakest link and that attacking Ning Zhuo directly would be his primary choice in any future conflict, he had to admit that Ning Zhuo was a formidable enemy!

Ning Zhuo put away Xue Cai Nü·Hui but did not leave the arena. Instead, he looked at Pi Fujie outside the field: "Well, your subordinate is dead. Next, it's your turn."

Ning Zhuo provocatively challenged him once again.

Pi Fujie's eyes flickered, and his fighting spirit dropped significantly.

In his view, Ning Zhuo didn't fight personally and wasn't skilled at controlling the puppet, clearly using Xue Cai Nü·Hui to consume and probe the enemy's capabilities.

Actually, Pi Fujie had the same intention—sending the tiger demon to fight was also to probe Ning Zhuo's底细 (dǐ xì, details/capabilities).

As a result, the tiger demon couldn't defeat Xue Cai Nü·Hui and died in battle.

Pi Fujie knew deep down: it wasn't that the tiger demon was useless, but that the opponent's puppet was simply too powerful!

"If I accept the challenge, I'd have to deal with this puppet first, inevitably leading to a tough fight and revealing my own底细."

"Even if I win, what would I use to deal with this big-headed cultivator?"

"A wise man doesn't act recklessly!"

Thinking this, Pi Fujie immediately sneered, "I refuse your challenge."

Ning Zhuo laughed heartily, his face full of mockery: "Is this the Pi family's style? Aren't you the face of the family's Foundation Establishment stage? You're simply disgracing your family!"

"Don't worry, I'll widely publicize your cowardice."

Pi Fujie shook his head, his face pale with anger, but his refusal to fight was quite firm: "A true man knows when to yield and when to advance, when to retreat. Say whatever you want about me. How could the prestige of my Pi family be shaken by mere rumors?"

Ning Zhuo wasn't surprised that Pi Fujie didn't take the bait.

He had already gauged the other's temperament; acting强势 (qiáng shì, strong/forceful) was precisely to make the other back down knowingly.

Ning Zhuo turned to Shen Xi: "Brother Shen, this tiger demon has two of the Pi family's demonic talismans implanted on him. I'll give him to you. If you study him, you'll surely uncover the secrets of the 'Seven Talisman Demonic Skin Sutra'."

Pi Fujie remained unmoved, showing strong confidence: "Go ahead and dissect him. If you could easily grasp the essence of our clan's foundational technique, our Pi family wouldn't have lasted this long without decline!"

After saying this, he turned and left, quite decisively.

Having already lost one round, why stay? To be further insulted by their words?

Seeing him leave, neither Shen Xi nor Ning Zhuo could do anything about it.

After all, this was the main mountain gate of the Myriad Forms Sect. Everyone wanted to join this super sect, so they naturally had to abide by its rules.

The Myriad Forms Sect's rules restricted conflicts between cultivators, requiring disputes to be settled through martial contests.

But since Pi Fujie refused the challenge and disregarded his reputation, Ning Zhuo couldn't very well use force.

Pi Fujie left the martial hall, walking swiftly with killing intent radiating from him, exuding an aura that kept others away.

The tiger demon's death and Ning Zhuo's强势 performance gave him an explanation to make to his family behind this.

But losing the first round was one thing; losing a second would be troublesome.

Next, he had to find a way to regain face.

"My family supports me; I have the advantage against Shen Xi, as I have more subordinates."

"But I didn't expect Shen Xi to form a strong alliance."

"Dealing with both of them leaves me somewhat outnumbered."

"Hmph! If Shen Xi can befriend experts, can't I do the same?"

"This time, the Ban family of mechanisms also sent outstanding juniors to join the Myriad Forms Sect. The Ban family has always been eager for excellent mechanical creations, especially Ban Ji, who is greedy by nature and loves collecting powerful mechanisms..."

Pi Fujie began plotting his counterattack. Back in the martial arena, Ning Zhuo's offer of the tiger demon's corpse to Shen Xi wasn't just empty words.

Shen Xi waved his hand and bowed slightly: "Thank you, Brother Ning, but this is your spoils of war, earned through your hard-fought battle. How could I accept it?"

Out of personal consideration, since Ning Zhuo had already made an enemy of Pi Fujie, Shen Xi wouldn't accept the tiger demon's corpse.

The tiger demon was only at the Foundation Establishment stage and wasn't very valuable.

If he accepted it, the nature of this martial contest would change. It would shift from Ning Zhuo and Pi Fujie becoming enemies to Ning Zhuo standing up for Shen Xi and the Shen family.

Pi Fujie's voluntary retreat already showed his wariness of Ning Zhuo. If Ning Zhuo later publicized that Shen Xi accepted the corpse, Pi Fujie might very well use that as a convenient excuse to stop targeting Ning Zhuo and focus solely on dealing with Shen Xi and his group.

That was the way of the righteous path.

Shen Xi continued to explain: "Brother Ning might not know, but Pi Fujie's words earlier held some truth. My Shen family and the Pi family have been enemies for a long time, with countless casualties on both sides. Our clan has collected quite a few corpses of Pi family cultivators."

"Our clan has long studied the 'Seven Talisman Demonic Skin Sutra.' While the tiger demon's corpse could offer a glimpse into its secrets, it holds no new value for our clan anymore."

"Brother Ning, why not study it yourself? Given your insight and knowledge, you're sure to gain some inspiration."

These explanations alone weren't enough.

Shen Xi,不愧 (bù kuì, worthy of) being a genius from a great clan, having received elite education since childhood, took out a jade slip: "Brother Ning is interested in the Nine Palaces Formation. Although we haven't known each other long, I feel a strong rapport with you. Moreover, you stood up for me, your friend, this time. Please allow me to gift you these academy notes. I sincerely hope you won't refuse."

A glint of understanding flashed in Ning Zhuo's eyes; he immediately saw through Shen Xi's underlying intention.

He promptly praised the Shen family's mastery of the Nine Palaces Formation, affirmed the friendship between him and Shen Xi, and finally accepted the jade slip.

With this matter settled, both Shen Xi and Ning Zhuo felt their bond had deepened.

Shen Xi invited Ning Zhuo to observe others' martial contests together.

This was originally Ning Zhuo's purpose for coming here, but encountering Pi Fujie was an意外 (yì wài, accident/unexpected event), and even more unexpected was Xue Cai Nü·Hui's performance in battle.

This disrupted Ning Zhuo's original plan, so he politely declined Shen Xi's invitation, saying he couldn't wait to study the academy notes Shen Xi had given him.

Shen Xi naturally didn't press Ning Zhuo to stay and bid him farewell reluctantly.

Watching Ning Zhuo leave, Su Lingkou expressed some concern: "Cousin, by giving Brother Ning those academy notes, might you leak some of the Shen family's formation奥秘 (ào mì, secrets/essence)?"

Shen Xi smiled slightly: "Naturally, there are some of our Shen family's unique insights, but not many."

"Cousin, don't worry. I thought it through carefully before giving them."

"Ning Zhuo could have shown some restraint and avoided this fight. After all, I was the one who wouldn't back down and had expressed a determination to fight to the death earlier."

"But he still stepped forward strongly, using action to show his sincerity in wanting to befriend me. How could I keep him at a distance?"

Shen Xi's gaze became profound: "And to express gratitude, I needed to show my sincerity."

"I'm not sure about the forces behind Ning Zhuo, but judging from this battle, they must be significant, with substantial底蕴 (dǐ yùn, foundation/background)."

"Therefore, only by offering something he surely lacks can it be considered foolproof."

"Right now, the academy notes are the most suitable."

"With our Shen family's unique understanding of the Nine Palaces Formation, once Ning Zhuo studies it, he's bound to desire more."

Su Lingkou clapped her hands in admiration: "I see, cousin! This is us laying out bait!"

Shen Xi laughed heartily: "Haha, exactly."

"Among the Ten Great Classic Static Formations, the Nine Palaces Formation is especially complex. My academy notes are records from three years of study. For an ordinary person to research them without the family's teaching texts would take even longer."

Su Lingkou smiled: "Cousin, I can already picture Ning Zhuo eagerly holding the academy notes, coming to you for guidance."

Shen Xi laughed heartily once more.

Ning Zhuo returned to the cave dwelling he had rented and immediately released Xue Cai Nü·Hui.

Divine Ability—Life Thread Manipulation!

He directly used his strongest control method, forcefully connecting to Xue Cai Nü·Hui's spirit.

Simultaneously, he extended both hands, threads of the five elements condensing at his fingertips and linking to the puppet's body joints.

Xue Cai Nü·Hui immediately struggled slightly but didn't truly break free.

Through the Life Threads, Ning Zhuo immediately sensed her impatient情绪 (qíng xù, emotion/mood).

A sharp glint flashed in the depths of Ning Zhuo's eyes, and he immediately reached a judgment: "She doesn't react to the Life Threads and doesn't want others controlling her."

"Her spirit has indeed reached the Agile Spirit stage."

Ning Zhuo had read "On Sentience" and knew that spirit was divided into four major stages: Dead Spirit, Living Spirit, Intelligent Spirit, and Divine Spirit.

Each stage was further divided into five minor stages.

Previously, both Xue Cai Nü·Hui and Xue Shu Yu·Xie were at the Prime Living stage of the Living Spirit period, with spirits at full perfection, endlessly vibrant.

After the Prime Living stage comes the Agile Spirit stage.

At this stage, the spirit displays obvious and strong emotions, acts on its own, and tries to break free from the cultivator's control.

Ning Zhuo already had experience in this area.

Back in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, Yuan Dasheng had entered this stage. At that time, he walked out of the city and sat for two days and one night at his old master's secret burial site.

"At this stage, one must follow the spirit's emotions and not force control."

"Stroke its fur the right way to make the spirit acknowledge its master and truly come under my control!"

Regarding this point, Ning Zhuo harbored hidden worries.

After all, Ning Xiaohui had died because of him.

Ning Zhuo had had no choice back then.

It was either her death or his.

"Xue Cai Nü·Hui's spirit comes from Ning Xiaohui. Normally, the spirit shouldn't retain memories from its previous life. But back then, Yuan Dasheng could 'remember' his original master's secret burial site... Could Ning Xiaohui still see me as her enemy?"

Precisely because of such concerns, Ning Zhuo had previously limited her to the mechanical component—the Floating Ice White Jade Hand—and not the full puppet.

Therefore, after Ning Xiaohui displayed characteristics of the Agile Spirit stage, Ning Zhuo, burdened with these worries, didn't stay at the martial hall but hurried back to confirm the situation.

"Life Thread Manipulation is a divine ability; she can hardly resist it and isn't even aware of it. Her emotions show no killing intent or hatred towards me, but she is indeed impatient with being controlled."

The reality wasn't the worst-case scenario, allowing Ning Zhuo to secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

"Since she's impatient, I should reduce my control over her during this sensitive stage, even give her temporary complete freedom."

"But how should I satisfy her emotions?"

Ning Zhuo fell into deep thought.

He possessed three major puppets. But the spirits of Buddhist Physician·Meng Yaoyin and Meng Yehu had surpassed the Agile Spirit stage from the start. Only Yuan Dasheng's case provided significant reference value.

But back then, Yuan Dasheng went to his old master's secret burial site on his own to vent his feelings of sadness and remembrance.

Yuan Dasheng's initiative was very strong. As for Xue Cai Nü·Hui, she remained motionless.

Ning Zhuo retracted the Five Element threads, leaving only the Life Threads暗中 (àn zhōng, secretly) in control. The puppet still remained stationary in place.

Thoughts surged in Ning Zhuo's divine sea: "There's actually a clear thread here. Yuan Dasheng's loyalty to his old master, his temperament was like that, hence his strong emotional longing and sadness."

"What was Ning Xiaohui's temperament in life?"

Ning Zhuo gradually found an answer.

His mind recalled the battle with the tiger demon. The memory定格 (dìng gé, froze/fixed on) the moment the tiger demon was frozen to death, and Xue Cai Nü·Hui, acting autonomously, slightly raised her head with a proud demeanor.

Thus, Ning Zhuo's inner answer received strong confirmation.

Ning Zhuo cut off his train of thought and looked around: "I need to rent a different cave dwelling."

(End of )