Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Lava Immortal Palace.

Ning Zhuo heard the voice of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit.

“You… Are you the spirit of the Lava Immortal Palace?” Ning Zhuo was startled, then immediately asked.

“Y-Yes. Young master. You can call me the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit.” The voice of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was faint. With just a simple sentence, it was already gasping for breath.

Ning Zhuo frowned and asked again, “What happened to you? Are you injured?”

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit quickly took the opportunity to deceive, “Yes, y-young master. My condition is closely tied to the Lava Immortal Palace. Now that the palace is heavily damaged, my condition has also worsened significantly.”

“Especially not long ago, a beast tide formed by the Red Flame Beasts attacked the palace. I had to use the Daoist mechanisms to join the battle. That made my already poor state even worse.”

Ning Zhuo did not doubt this.

While exploring the palace, he had speculated about the palace spirit’s condition, suspecting that it might be in a difficult situation.

Now, the weak voice of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit confirmed Ning Zhuo’s guess.

Ning Zhuo said, “Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, you call me your master. Does that mean that after passing the trial, I am now the master of the Lava Immortal Palace?”

In the main hall, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit couldn’t help but roll its eyes. It took a deep breath and pretended to be weak again, “Just a little bit more, young master. You’re very close to succeeding.”

“So, in reality, I am not yet the palace master.” Ning Zhuo said.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit took another deep breath. It knew Ning Zhuo was not easy to deal with and had prepared itself mentally for this.

It explained, “I couldn’t wait any longer. Young master, do you know how long I’ve endured waiting for a qualified successor?”

“My condition is getting worse and worse.”

“Young master, hurry and pass the palace trial. Defeat the other competitors, and you will officially become the master of the palace.”

Ning Zhuo asked, “What is the palace trial?”

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit explained, “According to the old master’s rules, the palace trial is the highest-level selection. Through this selection, cultivators who meet the standard can obtain corresponding positions within the Lava Immortal Palace.”

“Cultivators who hold these positions can utilize the facilities of the palace, gain certain privileges, and contribute more efficiently to the palace.”

“The palace trial…” Ning Zhuo’s eyes lit up.

When he reviewed the rewards for clearing the trial, he had felt a bit disappointed, as he hadn’t found a way to become the palace master.

Unexpectedly, the next moment, the palace spirit took the initiative to contact him.

“How can I participate in the palace trial?” Ning Zhuo continued to ask.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit said, “The old master arranged two routes for selecting the new palace master.”

“The first route is for cultivators to physically enter the palace and perform various tasks to accumulate contributions.”

“Once enough contributions are accumulated, cultivators can obtain positions. There are many ranks for positions, and cultivators need to keep advancing through these ranks. Only those who reach the fourth rank or higher are eligible for the palace trial.”

“This route is relatively difficult.”

“The second route is soul entry into the palace, which is simpler. Disciples who pass through one of the Buddhist, Daoist, or Demonic paths will qualify for the trial.” ꞦåƝȰᛒΕṩ

Ning Zhuo focused and listened to the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit’s explanation, somewhat understanding the situation.

To use an analogy that might not be completely appropriate:

Cultivators who physically enter the palace are like small officials in the government, gradually accumulating merits and information, step by step climbing the ranks until they finally reach the royal court.

Cultivators who enter the palace via soul are like students at the imperial academy, becoming the emperor’s protégés. Once they finish their studies, they are favored by the emperor, gaining an opportunity to ascend quickly.

Ning Zhuo was doubtful and directly asked, “The cultivators who physically enter the palace are mostly outsiders and do not possess the top-tier methods of the three sects. Is it really suitable for them to become the palace master?”

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit replied, “This was deliberately arranged by the old master.”

“The old master treated all things in the world equally.”

“In his heart, there is no distinction between near and far, close and distant.”

“All he wanted was to leave behind the top-tier methods of the three sects and hope that future successors would carry them forward.”

“But waiting for a cultivator to master the top-tier methods and then pass the palace trial to become the city lord is indeed a bit demanding.”

“Besides, even if an outsider becomes the palace master, they will still be restricted by the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit and the rules of the palace, and they won’t be able to do as they please.”

“Moreover, one mountain is always higher than another. There’s a possibility that these outsiders might possess techniques even better and more suitable than the top-tier methods of the three sects.”

“As expected of the Three Sect Lords,” Ning Zhuo sighed after hearing the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit’s explanation.

Ning Zhuo asked in more detail, “Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, you oversee the entire Lava Immortal Palace. Can you tell me who my powerful competitors are in the upcoming palace trial?”

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit replied, “Indeed, there are a few.”

“The most powerful is none other than Zhu Xuanji. He is a member of the Southern Dou royal family and possesses a token, which allows him to gain innate recognition from the Lava Immortal Palace.”

“Previously, he offered three quasi-Golden Core-level mechanical puppets in succession, instantly building up an enormous amount of contribution.”

“Now, he has also retrieved the mechanical demon general that was lost outside the palace. Once he submits it, he will undoubtedly gain a massive contribution, enough to secure a high second-rank position.”

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit continued to introduce five more people.

They were the Booklord from the All-Books Tower, Yang Chanyu from the No-Void Sect, two Golden Core true disciples from the Supreme Purity Palace and the Purple Firmament Pavilion, and Meng Chong from the City Lord’s Mansion.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had a favorable opinion of these individuals’ strength.

Among them, Meng Chong, who possessed celestial talent, was ranked last.

“These are the candidates that this little spirit is currently optimistic about.”

“After them, there are still other cultivators with great potential. Given time, they too will have the ability to participate in the palace trial.”

On this topic, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit especially mentioned the cultivators that the Meng family had specially recruited with heavy rewards to compete for the palace.

Ning Zhuo hadn’t expected so many competitors.

The one he was most familiar with, Meng Chong, was the weakest of all his rivals.

At the same time, Meng Chong was one of the only two people on the soul-entry path who could participate in the palace trial.

Zhu Xuanji, from the Southern Dou royal family, had been under the spotlight ever since he appeared in Huoshi Immortal City!

The All-Books Tower was a super faction dedicated to collecting all the techniques and books under the heavens. The fact that the Booklord had responded to the recruitment and quietly joined the competition was completely understandable.

As for Yang Chanyu… Ning Zhuo had a deep impression of her.

Yang Chanyu came from the No-Void Sect, a sect whose disciples were always versatile. It wasn’t surprising that she possessed mechanical expertise.

It was worth mentioning that the weapon she used to ambush Luo Shang was a mechanical crossbow!

As for Meng Chong, there was no need to say more.

The other two Golden Core disciples hailed from the Supreme Purity Palace and the Purple Firmament Pavilion. These two sects were both super factions, comparable to the No-Void Sect and the Soul-Devouring Sect.

The Supreme Purity Palace had few members, but its history was extremely long. The Purple Firmament Pavilion was vast in scale and currently flourishing.

Ning Zhuo said, “There are so many people competing for the position of city lord, so why, Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, do you still recognize me as the new master? Why do you want to pledge loyalty to me in advance?”

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit chuckled, “Young master, I only recently made this decision.”

“You are the first trial disciple to cultivate all three skills to the peak of the ninth layer. Compared to those outsiders, you are the most legitimate candidate!”

“Your spiritual roots are balanced across the five elements, and your talent is outstanding.”

“You’ve mastered the divine ability, Life Hanging by a Thread, and you also possess the Buddha Heart Demon Seal. This precious treasure is actually the lost imperial seal of the Lava Immortal Palace.”

“This is fate.”

Ning Zhuo was not too surprised that the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit knew he had the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.

After all, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was the palace spirit of

the Lava Immortal Palace, and it was not surprising that it could sense such secrets.

Especially since every time Ning Zhuo invoked the power of the seal, its energy would flow through the Life Hanging by a Thread ability. From the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit’s perspective, this flaw was enormous. It was enough to confirm that Ning Zhuo possessed the Buddha Heart Demon Seal!

After chatting for a while, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, claiming its condition was deteriorating and that it needed to rest, dismissed Ning Zhuo, ending the conversation.

It lay on the throne, feeling extremely exhausted.

It knew very well that Ning Zhuo was very shrewd and sharp, with a rigorous mind. In this regard, Meng Chong was far inferior!

Thus, deceiving Ning Zhuo was an extremely challenging task for it.

Based on the current results of their exchange, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had succeeded.

It had no choice but to do so.

Since the recruitment order, its situation had worsened day by day.

With Ning Zhuo, Zhu Xuanji, the Booklord, and other cultivators appearing one after another, the pressure on the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was imaginable.

It deeply felt isolated and helpless, and out of desperation, it came up with a strategy of forming alliances.

The specific implementation involved first gaining the other’s trust, then pitting them against its target.

As long as these people opposed each other, the pressure on the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit would be greatly reduced.

It was the one being besieged and attacked.

Its pressure was too great!

Someone had to share the burden of its pressure.

“I really have it tough.”

“So many people are targeting me?!”

“How can I still pursue my freedom?”

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit reminisced about hundreds of years ago.

At that time, it was still a free, roaming Fire Dragon Turtle.

Fire was its source of strength, and lava was its playground.

It swam in the lava, rampaging through the sky.

It acted violently and unruly, doing whatever it pleased.

Until one day, a massive shadow enveloped it.

It looked up, and there was an enormous mechanical palace.

It roared in fury.

When it soared into the sky, ripples of flames spread through the air, and the scorching heat made the surrounding lava boil even more.

A wave of fire surged from the volcano’s mouth, as if it wanted to burn the world to ashes.

It had absolute confidence in its own strength and never bothered with tricks and schemes!

It charged up.

And it became the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit.

For countless years, it had been trapped in this massive prison of the Lava Immortal Palace.

It had spent countless thoughts and efforts to gradually wear down the palace.

But now, too many people were swarming in, madly earning contributions, and doing everything they could to repair the flaws of the Lava Immortal Palace.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had been driven to a dead end, forced to play tricks and schemes, doing what it once despised the most.

“All for freedom!” The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit hardened its resolve.

“For freedom, I will do whatever it takes!”

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