Chapter 749 This is the Dawn-Breaking Demon-Slaying Manual!

"Damn it, damn it!" Ah Huo clenched his fists, extremely unwilling.

His bamboo puppets not only have vowel components, but also incorporate his unique mechanical parts, each capable of self-destruction. And the power of their self-destruction is considerable.

But now, he has no way to control these bamboo puppets, and can only watch helplessly as Ning Zhuo's team cuts them down, rendering them useless.

This made Ah Huo, who wanted to give it his all, feel extremely frustrated.

Ning Zhuo's bamboo puppet team directly overwhelmed Huo Nian'er's squad and rushed to Zhang Dadan's bamboo puppets.

Zhang Dadan was aware of his disadvantages. Unlike other cultivators who practiced mechanical arts, his spiritual sense was coarse and difficult to control precisely. Therefore, he played to his strengths and avoided his weaknesses, releasing only three heavily armored bamboo puppets.

When these three large bamboo puppets are uncontrollable, they appear very clumsy, standing still like pillars.

But Zhang Dadan wasn't too worried: "Even if I can't control it for the time being, this level of defense is enough for you to keep slashing for a while."

The next moment, Ning Zhuo's bamboo puppet squad swept past the three large bamboo puppets like flowing water and continued to charge towards the rear.

Zhang Dadan: "Uh..."

His plan backfired; Ning Zhuo had never intended to get entangled with them from the very beginning.

Having personally experienced two major battles, Ning Zhuo knew all too well how important it was to seize opportunities in battle.

"I want to maximize my damage at this moment, rather than getting entangled with a clumsy opponent. I must avoid wasting time like that."

Ning Zhuo's squad charged forward, taking advantage of the opponents' restraint, inflicting casualties several times greater than their own, with the results being so significant that they were clearly visible.

"Damn it!" Chen San was the first to regain his mobility. He gritted his teeth and urged his bamboo puppet team to work with all his might.

His situation was somewhat awkward. Before the battle began, he had manipulated his bamboo puppet squad to break away from the main force, attempting to outflank Ning Zhuo's troops from behind.

But unexpectedly, faced with such an enemy force, Ning Zhuo did not choose to defend, but instead directly used offense as defense!

Ning Zhuo's bamboo puppet team was like a fierce tiger descending from the mountain. Under its sharp claws, no beast could withstand a single blow; some were wounded, and others died.

Chen San could only focus on controlling his own troops to rush over from the rear, but he couldn't catch up with Ning Zhuo's troops. He could only watch helplessly as the only enemy force in the field charged into the depths of his own formation like a tiger.

In this way, encirclement becomes meaningless.

Chen San could only follow the opening Ning Zhuo had created and plunge in as well.

"Get out of the way!" Chen San shouted to Zhang Dadan.

Zhang Dadan responded with a wry smile.

The next moment, the onlookers witnessed a scene that was both laughable and absurd—Chen San's bamboo puppet team crashed headlong into three heavily armored bamboo puppets, and many of the puppets fell to the ground, some slightly damaged and others completely broken.

"Did he really train in mechanical arts to manipulate things like this?"

"Compared to Ning Zhuoyi, the difference is too obvious."

"What a clown!"

The crowd sneered, and some people, without any restraint, responded to Chen San with biting sarcasm.

Chen San's face darkened further, his eyes twitched, and he thought to himself, "My performance was already very good. You know, I've never made any progress in sound control methods!"

After Chen San gave chase, Ning Zhuo's bamboo puppet team encountered its first setback in terms of killing power.

Jiang Xiaobian tried her best, playing the flute until her face turned red.

The flute's shrill sound, though overshadowed by Ning Zhuo's zither playing, still held its own. This caused her bamboo puppet to also display remarkable resilience.

This bizarre group, composed of beetle shells, bladed arms, and venomous stingers, exhibits a rigid yet resilient spirit, undeterred by pain, and is extremely aggressive.

Bang! Bang!

Click! ...

The insect puppet fearlessly clashed with Ning Zhuo's bamboo puppet.

The arm blade sliced ​​through the bamboo puppet's verdant surface, and the poisoned needles pierced the joints and other vulnerable points of Ning Zhuo's bamboo puppet with cunning precision. Even Ning Zhuo's own movements as he played the guzheng slowed down.

This wasn't due to external influences, but rather because the big-headed boy was naturally curious and, upon seeing some peculiar mechanisms, developed a strong desire to explore them.

He subconsciously paused his attack, wanting to observe the performance of these insect-bamboo puppets.

In this way, his opponents all misunderstood.

"good!"

"We still have a chance!!"

"Quickly adjust your strategy. Stop wasting time on each other and focus on Jiang Xiaobian!"

"Although Ning Zhuo is strong, our battle is only a contest of bamboo puppets. If everyone joins hands, we still have a great chance in this battle."

Under intense pressure from Ning Zhuo, this temporary allied force made adjustments on the spot and became more focused and prioritized.

This prompted them to quickly adjust their voices, with Jiang Xiaobian, Chen San, Zhang Dadan, and others becoming the main force.

Jiang Xiaobian had never played the bamboo flute so fiercely before, but she couldn't break through after a long time. She felt that her own offensive was like a tidal wave, but her opponent was as solid as a rock.

"Chen San! Quick! Attack from both sides!" Jiang Xiaobian's eyes lit up when he saw Chen San's troops attacking Ning Zhuo's forces, and he immediately sent a telepathic message.

Chen San sensed Jiang Xiaobian's urgency and couldn't help but feel a chill. He knew that although Jiang Xiaobian seemed to be on the offensive, he was actually exhausted and couldn't hold on for much longer.

"Ning Zhuo's mechanical skills are truly impressive. I admit that none of us on our side can match you."

"But it is precisely because of this that the current situation has arisen."

"The path to cultivation lies in striving! Ning Zhuo, you are a first-rate genius, but I am not. I must seize every opportunity as much as possible."

"The inheritance of the Azure Leaf might mean nothing to you. But for me, it is the greatest opportunity of my life!"

Chen San roared inwardly, giving it his all and manipulating all the bamboo puppets to crash heavily into the back of Ning Zhuo's team.

Ning Zhuo's team is caught in a pincer movement!

Seeing this situation, the onlookers inevitably became tense, as if Ning Zhuo's defeat was imminent.

"Is it going to succeed?" Patch Sun clenched his fists nervously. He knew he was not strong enough, so he simply stopped all the bamboo puppets at the back.

Only by eliminating Ning Zhuo can he possibly control his bamboo puppet and find a slim chance of winning in the subsequent competition.

Ning Zhuo remained calm, but his eyes narrowed slightly, and he felt a little disappointed.

"Is that all?" After observing for a while, he couldn't see any further innovation in the insect-bamboo puppet.

Then, in the next moment, Ning Zhuo's left hand, which was suspended in the air, no longer plucked one or two strings, but suddenly spread out. His five fingers, like the claws of an eagle, suddenly cast a shadow over the zither strings!

Clang clang clang clang...

Although still jarring, this sudden burst of piano music was already rhythmically distinct, solemn and magnificent, bringing out a strong fighting spirit of clashing swords and bloody battles!

In that instant, Ning Zhuo's bamboo puppet seemed to come alive.

They seemed to have truly transformed into a battle-hardened elite force!

Those seemingly "torn" openings instantly healed! The few insect-bamboo puppets that rushed in were quickly annihilated, as if they had fallen into a meat grinder's vortex.

The inner circle bamboo puppet twists and turns, its arms like spears, precisely stabbing at the joints!

The outer circle of bamboo puppets spun like wheels, creating a whistling wind that violently knocked away the insect puppets that followed!

Some bamboo puppets launched treacherous attacks on the lower body, while others leaped high into the air like tigers pouncing on their prey, fiercely attacking and annihilating Chen San's bamboo puppets.

The entire bamboo puppet formation transformed into a high-speed, precisely meshing mechanical millstone!

No matter how tough your insect armor is, how ruthless and unique your poisonous needles and arm blades are, no matter how you attack from behind, carrying syringes and crossbows, once you are caught in this killing formation driven by sound rhythm, you will be like beans thrown into a millstone, all of you will be crushed to pieces!

Jiang Xiaobian and Chen San both widened their eyes, their pupils contracted sharply, and their faces were filled with shock.

The onlookers gasped in surprise.

"This is... a battle formation?"

"As if controlling an arm or fingers! What incredible skill in maneuvering!"

"Military formations! He actually incorporated the principles of military formations into the control of mechanisms?!"

On the stone seat, Qinghuangzi straightened his hunched back, and his cloudy old eyes shot out an unprecedented gleam.

Just a moment ago he was worried about Ning Zhuo, but now he was so excited he almost stood up.

"With such strength, it's no wonder Ning Zhuo is so confident."

"Such a genius, able to inherit his master's legacy, will surely carry it forward and make it great. This is truly a blessing from heaven."

Qinghuangzi was astonished.

He had anticipated that Ning Zhuo was skilled in mechanical arts, but he did not expect that the latter was also well-versed in military strategy and had a profound understanding of military tactics.

The gasps of surprise subsided, and the crowd began to discuss Ning Zhuo.

"Ning Zhuo is so young, yet he has such skill. He truly deserves to be called a genius. He has completely left all his opponents far behind."

"To control dozens of bamboo puppets with one's own strength and to execute such an exquisite battle formation... the champion of this test is already a foregone conclusion!"

Everyone agreed that Ning Zhuo would definitely be the top scorer in this Xingyun preliminary test.

At that moment, Ning Zhuo looked up at Qing Huangzi.

Qinghuangzi's eyes narrowed, sensing Ning Zhuo's eagerness to try.

At this moment, even the old cultivator couldn't help but feel a surge of pride: "This Ning Zhuo is not satisfied and expects an even greater challenge? In that case, let me add fuel to the fire!"

With a flick of his withered hand, a bamboo flute made entirely of black jade appeared in his grasp.

Qinghuangzi brought the xiao (vertical bamboo flute) close to his lips, took a deep breath, and used his divine sense and magic power to play it with all his might!

Whoosh—buzz—! ! !

The sound of the flute suddenly rang out, instantly drowning out all other sounds. It directly targeted other musical notes, causing strong interference and distortion.

Sun Buding, Jiang Xiaobian, Chen San, Zhang Dadan, and the others turned pale, as if they had been struck by a heavy blow.

The difficulty of controlling the bamboo puppets increased several times over. The bamboo puppets in the field were all over the place, some collapsed to the ground, and some were spinning wildly in place!

Ning Zhuo's battle formation, which was as precise and efficient as an extension of his own arm, was also severely affected. All the bamboo puppets slowed down and deformed.

"Qinghuangzi has made his move!"

"What kind of flute music is this? I feel that even communicating with it through my mind is very difficult."

"Is this the real test of Xingyun's preliminary trial?"

Ning Zhuo's formation became disordered, and the losses became more severe.

Although his opponents suffered more losses than he did, the situation was clearly more unfavorable for Ning Zhuo.

Because he couldn't afford to exchange it.

He was fighting against overwhelming odds, and each of his bamboo puppets was precious. In contrast, his opponents had ample manpower and a large army, and could withstand attrition.

Even more so were figures like Zhang Dadan, who, with only three heavily armored bamboo puppets, were easy to control. In this situation, the bamboo puppets forced Ning Zhuo's team to act like three heavy hammers, trying to shatter Ning Zhuo's formation.

Sun the Patchwork Man was also giving it his all. His mechanical skills were unique; he could patch up wounds and was dedicated to mending the injured. Ning Zhuo's opponents were already well-manned, and with his full support, they were able to revive the wounded and immediately rejoin the battle.

The onlookers were displeased to see Ning Zhuo being targeted.

"What's wrong with Qinghuangzi? Is he taking sides?"

"First, the rules allowed them to team up, and then the sound of the flute interfered. This is a bit too much of a targeting of Ning Zhuo."

"This is not fair at all!"

Ning Zhuo's brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed, and his calm expression changed for the first time, revealing a hint of fighting spirit.

In front of everyone, he slowly spoke, his voice not loud, but he used his magic to make it clear: "Only now is it starting to get interesting."

"It's worth it for me to use both my hands."

Chen San, Jiang Xiaobian, and the others' pupils suddenly shrank to the size of pinpoints.

Sun's music was completely out of tune.

Zhang Dadan's heart skipped a beat.

The onlookers were then surprised to realize that, despite the seemingly perilous situation, Ning Zhuo had only used his left hand throughout.

Now, his wrists are suspended in the air, and his ten fingers rest on the guzheng.

Clang clang clang clang...

Ning Zhuo's hands swept and rolled across the zither strings like a storm!

The guzheng burst forth with an unprecedented sound, shrill, violent, and like a roar.

The sound was piercing and penetrating, filled with the ultimate fighting spirit.

The sound of the zither completely overshadowed the entire audience, even stealing the spotlight from the sound of the flute played by the Qinghuangzi.

Qinghuangzi's fingers, which were holding the xiao flute, trembled slightly, and his eyes were filled with unbelievable surprise!

"This child's musical skills are so solid and profound. Just how old is he? He seems to be the same age as me. If I only use my Foundation Establishment level strength, I will be suppressed by him!"

Accompanied by the overwhelming sound of the zither, Ning Zhuo's bamboo puppets, like tigers breaking free of their shackles, once again moved freely in formation!

Crushing, utterly crushing.

Completely crushing! Absolutely crushing!

After a dozen or so breaths, only Ning Zhuo's bamboo puppet figures remained on the stone platform. They still stood silently, maintaining their strict formation.

The other bamboo puppets have all been reduced to fragments scattered all over the ground!

The dust has settled.

Only the last mournful note of the zither remained, echoing in the air and in everyone's hearts.

After a few breaths, Qinghuangzi broke the silence and asked Ning Zhuo, "What guzheng notation are you using?"

Ning Zhuo bowed respectfully and said loudly, "Senior Qinghuangzi, this is the Dawn-Breaking Demon-Slaying Manual. It is to inspire my will to glorify the righteous path, to vanquish evil and vanquish demons, and to use the zither's sound of tearing silk to kill all sins. Even in darkness, it will tear and pierce through. If there is a long night, I will break the dawn!"

The young man in white stood tall and straight, his voice resounding.

"Good, what a wonderful dawn." Qinghuangzi finally stood up excitedly, his eyes shining as he looked at Ning Zhuo, full of admiration for this junior.

"You've come in first place in this preliminary test for Xingyun!"

"It is most appropriate for you to inherit my master's legacy."

Ning Zhuo smiled and said loudly, "Thank you, senior!"

Sun, Chen San, Jiang Xiaobian, Zhang Dadan, Ah Huo, and others looked ashen-faced and offered no objections.

The large number of broken bamboo puppet fragments on the stone platform best embodies their deepest sense of powerlessness at this moment.

The crowd that came to watch, who had originally come with curiosity and doubt about Ning Zhuo, were now filled with admiration and awe after witnessing this small test firsthand.

"This...this is utterly crushing!"

"Actually, even with Qinghuangzi's biased support, he still couldn't suppress Ning Zhuo."

"There's no point in continuing this Xingyun trial. Ning Zhuo is too outstanding, and Qinghuangzi's decision is wise."

(End of this chapter)