Chapter 489: Night Tiger

Meng Yetu took Ning Zhuo as his progenitor god, offering the utmost loyalty.Ning Zhuo felt a slight awkwardness, but his face remained impassive. He nodded faintly, "Arise and speak."Meng Yetu rose to his feet.Ning Zhuo's face was devoid of expression, but his shining eyes thoroughly betrayed his mood.His eyes gleamed brightly, unable to conceal the excitement in his heart, and he began to scrutinize Meng Yetu meticulously with his gaze and vision.Meng Yetu was eight feet tall, with a tiger's head and a human body, entirely dark, interspersed with silver-white streaks that shimmered with a metallic luster.His entire mechanism body appeared robust and burly, yet also sinister and overbearing.Mounted on the tiger's head was a pair of mechanical components named Yinsha Xuangtongs, specifically designed to combine with Yinsha energy, used to release powerful mental pressure, causing enemies to feel suppressed and fearful.His tiger body was covered in a layer of mechanical scales, named Yingbi Diedjia, which had three layers. Fully opened, they could instantly cover his entire body. Opening two layers, they could cover up to his knees. Stacked, they formed a half-body armor, only covering the upper body, leaving the arms bare.Concealed within the backs of his hands and feet were mechanical components named Youlu Claw. The Youlu Claws were exceptionally sharp, but lacked any sense of sharpness, appearing dull and lusterless.At his tail was the mechanical component Bailen Cangfeng. The tiger tail contained a storage formation, secretly holding hundreds of blades, which, upon eruption, could instantly form a storm of blades, possessing formidable killing power, making it difficult for anyone to defend against.In addition to these mechanical components, Meng Yetu's main formations were the Youming Fuhun Formation and the Yuanliu Guigong Formation. His main talismans were the Guiving Talisman, the Yexing Talisman, the Yinsha Talisman, the Heifeng Talisman, and the Miwu Talisman.Shadow Blade · Night Tiger!The design of this mechanical puppet was roughly sketched out by Ning Zhuo, a result of combining various schemes under the influence of luck.Though seemingly haphazard, the more Ning Zhuo observed, the more he felt this design was exceptionally excellent."Clearly, Meng Yetu's mechanical body excels in concealment, stealth, and attack. He lacks a mana pool, thus his combat power is explosive, difficult to sustain.""Although he possesses the Yingbi Diedjia, it cannot conceal his weakness in defense.""Overall, Meng Yetu is a mechanical puppet with strong offense, weak defense, and proficiency in stealth and infiltration!"Due to Ning Zhuo's use of solid materials, Shadow Blade · Night Tiger's combat power belonged to the Golden Core level.Ning Zhuo observed for a moment, nodded with satisfaction, and took out the Night Travel Assassination Diagram he had purchased at a great price, handing it to Meng Yetu."Comprehend this well and strive to learn the cultivation method within as soon as possible," Ning Zhuo instructed."As you command, Father God!" Meng Yetu knelt on one knee again, extending his arms, his hands held high above his head, and respectfully received the scroll.Meng Yetu retreated to the side, fully immersing himself in comprehending this cultivation method.Meanwhile, Ning Zhuo began to refine the Split Spirit Mirror.Amidst their busy endeavors, time flowed swiftly.Nandou Nation.Molten Immortal City.The Ning Branch Family."One-armed craftsman, have you finished refining the armor I requested?" Ning Chen entered the refining room and immediately felt an intense heat surging towards him, engulfing him, instantly curling the tips of his hair.The One-armed Craftsman was originally the top refiner in the black market. Now, he had become an important guest elder of the Ning Branch Family.Even with such high status, he dared not be careless when he saw Ning Chen.Ning Chen's identity was simple, but he was a fellow student of the Branch Family Head, Ning Zhuo, and was deeply trusted by Ning Zhuo.The One-armed Craftsman forced a smile. "Brother Chen, you've arrived at just the right time. I was about to send someone to summon you to drip blood and refine this armor that is about to be completed."Ning Chen smiled slightly, activating a spell to protect himself, resisting the surging waves of heat from outside. Only then did he walk to the One-armed Craftsman's side, facing a vast formation.At the center of the formation was the roaring Earth Fire, led here from deep within the Fire Persimmon Mountain.Ning Chen stood before the furnace, and as directed by the One-armed Craftsman, he condensed his vital blood and shot it into the furnace.The next moment, the furnace trembled fiercely, emitting a sharp metallic sound.The One-armed Craftsman's expression changed abruptly, becoming instantly nervous, for this was not a normal phenomenon.The next moment, a green light, like a firefly, slowly flew out and headed towards Ning Chen.Ning Chen hesitated and took a step back.The One-armed Craftsman laughed heartily, his brows relaxing completely. "So it's a jade spirit, it truly startled me! Brother Chen, you have good fortune."Ning Chen also showed joy, actively reaching out to take the jade spirit into his hand and examine it closely.A jade spirit, as the name suggests, is the essence within jade.After landing between Ning Chen's fingers, it dispersed its phosphorescence, transforming into a small, pale green jade bead, quite diminutive."Any object containing jade can potentially nurture a jade spirit. Brother Chen, the main material used for your armor was Jade Lustrous Profound Steel. I never expected it to conceal a jade spirit."'The jade spirit is good at hiding. I refined this piece of Jade Lustrous Profound Steel into armor, and it was still hidden inside.'"You just condensed your vital blood, refined the armor, and also refined it incidentally, which is why it was exposed."The One-armed Craftsman shook his head, making sounds of wonder.Ning Chen's face was filled with joy.The uses of a jade spirit were quite extensive.First, it could help cultivators absorb external spiritual energy, and after its own transformation and refinement, release a gentle and pure spiritual power to infuse the cultivator. This spiritual power not only helped the cultivator cultivate and accumulate their own mana, but also allowed for rapid mana recovery in combat.A jade spirit could also, at a critical moment, use the spiritual energy it stored to release a powerful defensive light shield, protecting its owner. This light shield had the power to resist both weapons and spells, and could even protect the cultivator's mind and resist divine sense attacks.If the jade spirit developed sentience, it might even take on a physical form, becoming some kind of external life form to assist the cultivator in battle.The jade spirit in Ning Chen's hand, although it had not yet developed sentience, had been hiding out of a sense of seeking good fortune and avoiding harm, which indicated that it was not far from forming sentience.Ten Thousand Medicines Sect.Minor Contention Peak.Everyone was watching the battle.Ning Yong's battle had reached its final juncture.His opponent had unleashed their ultimate technique, splitting into three, each lifelike and indistinguishable.The three simultaneously attacked Ning Yong, speaking at the same time, "Ning Yong, if you can discern my true body, I'll admit you're formidable!"Ning Yong gritted his teeth; he couldn't discern it. At this point, he was also at the end of his strength, completely lacking the power to defend comprehensively. He could only gamble, with a chance of continuing the battle only if he struck the right one.Ning Yong's face showed anger. He made a wild guess and attacked with all his might.His opponent's body trembled, being repelled, and the other two clones dissipated as a result.His opponent narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Again."His body swayed, and he split into three again, charging towards Ning Yong.Ning Yong steeled himself, made another wild guess, and exerted his remaining strength.His opponent retreated several large steps, spitting blood, and glared at Ning Yong with furious eyes.He roared, "Again!"Bang!!The third strike was guessed correctly by Ning Yong again, hitting his opponent, who fell to the ground, struggled for a moment, and then completely fainted.Ning Yong wins!Ning Yong looked at his hands, somewhat disbelievingly. "I guessed correctly three times in a row?!"The onlookers were discussing amongst themselves."I never expected this Ning Yong fellow to be able to see through the Three Treasures Clone Technique?!""This Three Treasures Clone Technique draws upon the cultivator's essence, energy, and spirit, condensing extremely realistic clones. Ning Yong didn't seem to use any methods, yet he guessed correctly directly?""Haha, how could he not use methods? It's just that we didn't see it.""You have to understand, Ning Yong was arranged by Ning Zhuo. As Ning Zhuo's fellow student, he naturally wouldn't be a simple character.""Don't look at how he usually acts boisterously. In fact, we were all deceived by him. He is cunning. At the beginning of the battle, he deliberately pretended not to be able to see through the Three Treasures Clone Technique, fooling all of us.""Think about Ning Zhuo. Since he was arranged by Ning Zhuo, how could he be someone who only possesses brute force?"Along with the discussions, everyone's gazes towards Ning Yong changed.Ning Yong reacted at this moment, raising his head and pumping his arms, shouting loudly, "I won, I won!"In an instant, the atmosphere was ignited, and congratulatory shouts surged towards him like a tide.Ning Yong's face flushed with excitement.He loved this competitive environment too much!'Clan Head is truly wise, truly understands me, arranging me here.'"I love it here, I love it too much!""Hahaha."Ning Yong rejoiced and laughed in his heart.His fortunate impromptu performance did not deceive everyone.Among them were two female cultivators.Lin Shanshan transmitted a message with her divine sense: "This Ning Yong really has some dog luck, being able to guess correctly three times in a row."Hua Guzi responded secretly: "Young Master Ning Zhuo's fellow student naturally also has some of Young Master Ning Zhuo's light on him. Even if it's just a tiny bit of faint brilliance, it's enough for Ning Yong to defeat his strong enemy."Hearing Hua Guzi praise Ning Zhuo so highly and show such closeness, Lin Shanshan couldn't help but feel a surge of anger in her heart and transmitted a message with her divine sense again: "Hmph, to think I was entrusted by Ning Zhuo to take care of Ning Yong. Now that Ning Yong has won, my hands are itching. I want to find someone to spar with."Hua Guzi let out a strange cackling sound, not at all afraid, and responded secretly: "Do you want to be hung up and beaten until your clothes are in tatters by me again? I'll satisfy you!"Lin Shanshan's eye twitched, and she said coldly, "In the last battle, I wonder who was beaten until they were sprawled on the ground, screaming repeatedly."Hua Guzi's expression darkened, and she quietly retreated into the shadows.Lin Shanshan followed her, quickly heading towards the nearest martial arts arena.Like the dozens of private battles before, the two would never give up until they were utterly exhausted.Time flew by, and several days passed.Nandou Nation, Fire Persimmon Immortal City.Lin Bufan formally bade farewell to Ning Jiufan.The Ning family specially held a farewell banquet for Lin Bufan, making a grand show of it.Recently, the most discussed topic among the city residents was this matter."I never expected the Ning family to be able to invite a Nascent Soul level cultivator to come and assist!""In this encirclement and suppression of the ten-thousand-year fire spirit, Lin Bufan's contribution was definitely not small.""With Lord Meng and Lord Lin Bufan joining forces, we still lost a Golden Core ancestor of the Zhou family. Looking at it this way, it's thanks to Lin Bufan's reinforcement. Otherwise, the ten-thousand-year fire spirit might have escaped and brought disaster upon our Fire Persimmon Immortal City.""The situation has changed so quickly in these past few days.""I never expected the three major families in the Immortal City. The Zheng family is already destroyed, and the remnants have all left the city. The Zhou family has lost one of their two, significantly weakened. The Ning family has a powerful Nascent Soul level foreign aid, and the branch family has occupied the Zheng family's territory. They are already the number one cultivation family in the Immortal City!"All sorts of news regarding the battle of the ten-thousand-year fire spirit were naturally released by the Ning family.It indeed caused the Ning family's reputation to greatly increase."Brother Ning, you are welcome to visit my Ten Thousand Medicines Sect anytime," Lin Bufan's voice echoed throughout the city before his departure, showing his enthusiastic care for the Ning family.Meng sat in the Molten Immortal Palace and snorted coldly upon hearing the sound.Ning Jiufan transmitted a message secretly: "Lord Lin, please be sure to deliver this ten-thousand-year fire spirit and this batch of Jade Steel Heavy Armor to Ning Zhuo as soon as possible. He has already sent another letter urging this matter, so it is clearly greatly needed over there."Lin Bufan snorted coldly, clearly displeased. "A mere family junior, a Foundation Establishment brat, is ordering an elder like you around like this. His airs are simply too grand."'If it weren't for the ten-thousand-year fire spirit being too sentient, requiring my personal escort, I truly wouldn't have made this trip.' Ning Jiufan bowed deeply to Lin Bufan, requesting again.Lin Bufan nodded slightly, rose into the clouds, and flew into the high sky.His speed was extremely fast, and after a few breaths, he disappeared from sight.In the mountains and forests near Fire Persimmon Mountain, watching Lin Bufan's escape light disappear into the horizon, Zhu Xuanji looked at Shen Lingshu beside him.He had just been about to quietly pursue Lin Bufan to have him deliver a letter to Ning Zhuo, but was intercepted by Shen Lingshu.Shen Lingshu said, "I just had a spiritual premonition and a mysterious feeling, so I quickly performed a divination in my heart.""I calculated that this letter is best not sent out now; it will have great use in the future."Zhu Xuanji: "Oh? How specifically?"Shen Lingshu waved her hand. "No more can be said, no more can be said."Zhu Xuanji stared at the letter in his hand. "I know Ning Zhuo's true intention. To rescue his mother, he disregards his own safety, traveling the world with Foundation Establishment cultivation. This letter is especially important to him. Lord Shen, please explain in detail, otherwise I will not believe your simple words."Shen Lingshu smiled slightly. "Zhu Xuanji, you are speaking up for Ning Zhuo and defending him once again."Zhu Xuanji shrugged, his expression natural. "I have always admired loyal and filial people, and Ning Zhuo is such a person. Helping him comes from my genuine intentions."Shen Lingshu smiled again. "Since you want to help him, then head north, to the Thousand Peaks Forest."Zhu Xuanji stared, with an expression of "What nonsense are you talking about? Do you think I'm stupid?""Ning Zhuo is the child of calamity. Helping him this much is enough. You want me to get close to him? Kill me, and I still won't go."Shen Lingshu nodded, assessing Zhu Xuanji with a mocking look. "If you're killed, you naturally can't go. But what about an imperial decree?"Zhu Xuanji immediately felt a sense of foreboding. "What imperial decree?"Shen Lingshu pointed into the distance and saw a cultivator flying over. Upon seeing Zhu Xuanji, he was overjoyed and transmitted a message with his divine sense: "Lord Divine Constable, I've finally found you. There is an imperial decree from the capital, ordering you to the front lines. The great battle in the Thousand Peaks Forest between the two Zhu Nations is imminent. You must immediately take your position and be on standby at any time to support our nation's forces stationed in the Thousand Peaks Forest."Zhu Xuanji immediately gasped, "What?"After a moment.Zhu Xuanji, who had been half-kneeling on the ground, stood up. After thanking the envoy from the capital, he looked at the imperial decree he had received, his brows deeply furrowed, his face filled with bitterness."Lord Shen, since you had already calculated this, why didn't you inform me in advance so I could avoid this troublesome assignment!" Zhu Xuanji looked at Shen Lingshu, full of resentment.Shen Lingshu smiled slightly. "I didn't calculate this; I recommended you.""What?!" Zhu Xuanji stared. "You, you, why did you harm me?"Shen Lingshu patted his shoulder. "If you don't go, I have to. Your life is much tougher than mine, and aren't you thinking of Ning Zhuo? How suitable!"Zhu Xuanji was utterly speechless. For a moment, he could only stare fiercely at Shen Lingshu.