Chapter 747 Making a Name for Oneself
Another cave dwelling.
Che Zhuzi clutched the intelligence report in his hand, the indoor light reflecting off his face, making one half bright and the other half dark.
Che Zhuzi's expression was complicated and conflicted: "I didn't expect Ning Zhuo's aptitude to be so outstanding, that he is actually a first-class genius."
"If I had known earlier, he would have won first place in the Confucian scholar competition twice..."
Che Zhuzi's mind raced: "No, it's best for me to stick to neutrality."
"Although Ning Zhuo took the initiative to offer his services and wanted to do a bigger deal with me, the Ban family has never been one to be ignored."
"Ban Ji's talents should have made him one of the first cultivators to exchange for the stone tablet. It's just that Ning Zhuo thwarted his attempts several times."
"It doesn't matter that he didn't stand out in the first round. He will definitely have a place in the second round."
As a businessman, Che Zhuzi naturally wanted to be successful in all aspects of the business.
As a demon cultivator, he wasn't desperate enough to make a living selling Void Spider Silk. Why would he choose one side and place a huge bet so early?
In such a situation, the spider naturally avoids risk.
"However, I should still send a letter to congratulate Ning Zhuo on obtaining the stone tablet."
"Let's give some more gifts."
Ning Zhuo's acquisition of the stone tablet dramatically increased his value and status in Che Zhuzi's eyes.
The Confucian scholars are having a gathering.
"Hahaha, as expected, like father, like son. Meng Yaoyin's son is indeed no less impressive." The Confucian scholars were discussing Ning Zhuo.
They were generally happy to learn that Ning Zhuo had acquired the stone tablet.
"I should write to Wen Ruanyu and let him know the good news."
“That’s right. House arrest is no easy thing. Since he’s been so kind to Ning Zhuo, this news will surely dispel the gloom in his heart and make him very happy.”
"No wonder Wen Ruanyu takes such good care of Ning Zhuo; this boy is actually a first-rate cultivation genius."
Song Tao stroked his beard and said, "Compared to his aptitude for cultivation, I admire his performance under the three questions of the mind even more."
The Zhuxie Hall's Xingyun Xiaoshi (a type of training exercise) is different from most others and is of extremely high quality.
Ning Zhuo's performance in the three questions of the heart was outstanding. Those present at the time were not only the high-level cultivators of the Demon Extermination Hall, but also many cultivators participating in the Rising Cloud Trial. Therefore, once this happened, many people learned about it.
Now, with Ning Zhuo's acquisition of the stone tablet and his rise to fame, attracting widespread attention, his outstanding performances have also become widely known.
Song Taosheng's words were met with agreement from most of the Confucian scholars present.
Chu Xuangui was also among them, but he was recalling Ning Zhuo's performance in his Xingyun Xiaoshi.
At the time, he felt that Ning Zhuo was well-versed in etiquette, and although it was their first meeting, they already had a tacit understanding. Although they did not exchange a single word in secret, their cooperation was very smooth.
"I never expected that this young man, though skillful, would be so upright. There are so few people like him."
Ning Zhuo's attitude toward justice naturally won the favor of Confucian scholars.
A Confucian scholar suddenly said, "Now that Ning Zhuo has obtained the stone tablet and become famous, do we still need to continue to promote him?"
Faced with this question, the Confucian scholars reacted with varying expressions.
Some people began to think.
Some people also expressed concern: "Indeed. Others are unaware of Ning Zhuo's troubles, but we learned about them in advance through Wen Ruanyu."
"Given Ning Zhuo's current reputation, the sect's higher-ups will have to think twice before taking any action against him."
"Based on this result, we have achieved our previous objective."
"If we continue to provide support, it might raise a lot of suspicion."
At this point, Song Taosheng couldn't hold back any longer, let out a cold snort, and interrupted directly: "Suspicion? Are you all that afraid?"
One of the Confucian scholars said with a solemn expression: "Mr. Song, there is no need to say such things. We are not worried about our own safety, but we are worried about the secret of our assistance to Ning Zhuo. Once it is exposed, it will greatly damage the reputation of us Confucian scholars."
"Almost all the Confucian cultivators in the entire sect are here."
"We need new talent, we need to grow and expand. But how can we attract outstanding Confucian scholars to join us if we have a bad reputation?"
That makes sense.
The Confucian scholar who spoke deliberately downplayed his own demands and focused on the interests of the Confucian scholar community, which made more Confucian scholars start to think carefully.
Seeing that the atmosphere was turning sour, Chu Xuangui decisively spoke up: "That's a misconception!"
"How often does a junior like Ning Zhuo appear?"
"He's not just a genius who stood out in the first round, but also someone who passed the three questions about his own heart. What a precious young man with such a character!"
"Since he is so promising and is practically one of us in the Confucian scholar community, why don't we increase our efforts and provide him with more financial assistance?"
Chu Xuangui expressed his own thoughts. He not only rejected the proposal to suspend the program, but also went further and suggested increasing support for Ning Zhuo.
The cultivators looked at each other for a moment, and then someone spoke up.
Immediately, everyone expressed their opinions and argued their points.
As Song Taosheng listened, he sensed that the situation was turning sour, and his brows gradually furrowed.
Confucian scholars are adept at self-preservation. Having achieved their goals ahead of time, withdrawing in a timely manner has become a growing consensus among them.
Song Taosheng's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. After thinking for a moment, he first turned his gaze to Chu Xuangui.
Little did he know that Chu Xuangui had already turned his gaze to him a moment earlier.
Their eyes met for only a moment before they confirmed each other's feelings.
Unlike other Confucian scholars, these two were the first to offer assistance to Ning Zhuo. They had met and spent time with Ning Zhuo and had a very good impression of him.
Others had a vague impression of Ning Zhuo, based only on intelligence reports, which were objective and lacked any personal connection.
Now that they had already committed, Chu Xuangui and Song Taosheng naturally wanted Ning Zhuo to go further and reach greater heights.
Song Taosheng closed his eyes slightly and leaned back in his chair.
Chu Xuangui immediately understood that Song Taosheng was preparing a backup plan and had him take the lead.
Chu Xuangui smiled slightly and slowly stood up.
All the Confucian scholars were seated, and Chu Xuangui's action immediately drew everyone's attention. They all realized that the latter had something to say, so they voluntarily fell silent.
Chu Xuangui looked around and smiled, "Actually, there's no need to discuss whether or not to continue supporting Ning Zhuo."
"I've taken a liking to this young man; I'll go and give him a hand."
"Those who have concerns are quite right; they can simply observe from the sidelines."
"Hehehe." Chu Xuangui chuckled a few times. "My biggest feeling right now is probably different from yours. I feel relaxed."
Some people were puzzled and immediately asked, "Why is it so easy?"
Chu Xuangui clasped his hands in greeting to those around him: "Fellow practitioners, to be honest, my biggest concern was with Senior Duanmu Zhang."
"Once Senior Duanmu Zhang finds out that we are secretly supporting Ning Zhuo..."
"Then, knowing his nature, he'll probably give us a severe scolding!"
These words immediately resonated with many Confucian scholars.
"Yeah yeah."
"That's true."
“My concerns are the same as Fellow Daoist Chu’s.”
Chu Xuangui changed the subject: "But now it's all good. Based on Ning Zhuo's current performance, whether it's his strength or his temperament, he is impeccable."
"Even if Senior Duanmu Zhang finds out, he won't criticize us. He'll just think we're mentoring younger generations."
Upon hearing this, all the Confucian scholars smiled to varying degrees.
Some people seemed to be deep in thought.
Song Taosheng couldn't help but open his eyes a crack and look at Chu Xuangui.
He originally thought he would be playing a team with Chu Xuangui, but he didn't expect the latter to perform so well!
On the surface, he was worried that this matter would be difficult for Senior Duanmu Zhang to handle, but in reality, Chu Xuangui was using this clever and tactful way to remind Duanmu Zhang of his likely opinion of Ning Zhuo!
Within the Confucian cultivation group of the Myriad Manifestations Sect, Chu Xuangui, Song Taosheng, and Wen Ruanyu are several prominent pillars. Duanmu Zhang, however, is the soul of the group, the core of the core, and the greatest source of its strength!
His attitude influenced almost all Confucian scholars.
What would Duanmu Zhang think of Ning Zhuo?
Even though most Confucian scholars had never seen Ning Zhuo in person, they could still answer this question with absolute certainty—
Of course, I appreciate it!
Therefore, when the Confucian scholars realized that Duanmu Zhang would appreciate Ning Zhuo, their thinking also changed.
This transition is also very natural.
With the exception of a few, most Confucian scholars were unaware of it.
So, the related topics came back again.
"Speaking of which, Ning Zhuo isn't a Confucian scholar. If we help him, it's like helping an outsider. Even if this matter is exposed in the future, it will still demonstrate the noble character of our Confucian scholar community."
"We should continue to support Ning Zhuo, otherwise how can we face Wen Ruanyu? We have already promised him that we would give Ning Zhuo at least four Xingyun trials and give him strong support!"
How can a person break their word?
The Confucian scholars tacitly avoided mentioning Duanmu Zhang, instead trying to find other reasons to continue supporting Ning Zhuo.
Chu Xuangui and Song Taosheng remained silent, watching as everyone reached a consensus—they all decided to continue supporting Ning Zhuo!
"Then, we should hold the third Xingyun trial next."
"What should we do?"
"The key question is, how can we best help Ning Zhuo?"
“It’s simple. First, let’s spread the word. Then I think Ning Zhuo might give us some signals.” Chu Xuan Gui finally spoke up at this point.
Song Taosheng smiled slightly: "I second that."
Qingzhu Peak.
Qinghuangzi had just finished writing a letter, and by the candlelight, he silently read it over again.
"Huang, a withered tree in the mountains and forests, a frail body in the wind. I am awakened day and night by fear, clutching my chest in shame, fearing that I will fail my teacher's kindness in the afterlife and cut off the lineage of the Way from my own body. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of writing this letter to express my heartfelt thoughts."
"When my master passed away, his withered hand held a reed pipe, his breath was barely a whisper, and he entrusted me with only one thing..."
"Huang wept bitterly at that time, pointing to the heavens and swearing that he would never fail his master's trust! But fate is cruel, and Huang is dull-witted. Although he devoted his whole life to mastering the art of mechanisms... in his final moments, he feared that his master's life's work would be buried with his decaying body in the grave!"
"I recently heard that Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo has obtained the stone tablet and even directly challenged the Three Questions of the Heart in the Hall of Exorcising Evil, displaying righteousness and unwavering resolve..."
"The Xingyun Trial was originally intended to test mediocre talents; how could it be a barrier to true talent? If we continue to adhere to conventional rules, allowing a pearl to be tarnished, I, Huang, will die with regrets! Therefore, I dare to take this bold step, using my meager strength and reputation, to break with convention! I will exempt you from all the trivial tests and directly entrust this lineage to you! This is not a momentary impulse, but rather a result of observing your talent and virtue, reflecting on my teacher's dying wish, and feeling the urgency of the times. These three factors combined have overwhelmed me with emotion!"
After reading the entire letter, Qinghuangzi couldn't help but sigh deeply. With a slight movement of his divine sense, he opened the bamboo window.
He infused the flying message with magical power, causing it to break through the air and disappear.
Qingshi Cave.
Inside the martial arts formation.
Ning Zhuo sat cross-legged on a futon, with a magic-grade guzheng floating slightly in mid-air, three inches above the ground in front of him.
The big-headed boy's eyes were slightly closed, and his ten fingers turned into afterimages!
Clang clang clang clang clang...
The sound waves swept across the ground, and a dozen bamboo puppet figures, each no bigger than an adult's palm, activated in response!
They are not directly controlled by divine will, but rather driven by these specific musical notes.
More and more bamboo puppet figures were activated, their bodies were agile, and their movements were quite impressive.
One bamboo puppet lunged forward, its arms slashing out like a praying mantis, creating a sharp, whistling sound. Another bamboo puppet spun and launched a flying kick, its leg flashing like a whip. Yet another bamboo puppet, hands clasped in a half-armed stance, lowered its waist and unleashed a simple yet powerful Black Tiger Claw to the Heart. Still another bamboo puppet moved with eerie, unpredictable movements, its claws casting chilling shadows that stirred up a cold wind…
Ning Zhuo stroked the strings with both hands, sometimes plucking precisely, sometimes slapping them forcefully.
The bamboo puppets began to fight in pairs. As they dissected each other's moves, their actions were swift and precise, with the joints occasionally making a crisp "crackling" sound.
Ning Zhuo's finger technique changes again!
A series of clear, crisp notes, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, flowed out, accompanied by a strange vibration.
The remaining bamboo puppets moved at the sound, but instead of fighting each other, they cooperated and formed various formations.
There are three puppets in a group, back to back in a triangular shape, forming a defensive and offensive formation. This is the most basic Small Three Talents Battle Formation.
Five puppets gathered together, four of them guarding the four directions, and one puppet in the center directing and supporting the battle. Their energy intertwined, evolving into the Five Plum Blossom Battle Formation.
There were also seven puppets arranged like the Big Dipper, their steps synchronized, their auras subtly connected, forming the Big Dipper battle formation...
Even though Ning Zhuo had participated in two major wars between the two kingdoms, he did not possess such skill in battle formations. It was truly something he gained by burning his soul to cross the river.
The zither music stopped abruptly.
The bamboo puppets fighting each other are frozen in the moment of battle, while the bamboo puppets forming a battle formation maintain a strict array. They remain motionless, waiting for the next command from their commander.
Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes, his gaze bright and clear, his heart filled with joy and clarity.
He has mastered the guzheng music to an extremely high level, thanks to nearly a century of hard work.
The profound meaning of the "Vowel Reed Book" is fully demonstrated in the exercise just now, showing no omissions.
Not only that, Ning Zhuo also figured out the subsequent consonants and even created related consonant bamboo puppets. These puppets also performed well in the recent practice.
"I should be able to win the next trial of Xingyun in Qinghuangzi."
"Um?"
Not long after, Ning Zhuo looked at Qing Huangzi's letter with a complicated expression.
"I've invested a lot in this matter, and in the end, Qinghuangzi actually wants to give me this inheritance on his own initiative?"
Ning Zhuo deeply appreciated the positive effect of this high-profile action, which brought him fame.
"This is a good thing."
"It will save me a lot of time."
"With this time, I can learn many other things."
"Wait a moment……"
Ning Zhuo narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression becoming serious.
(End of this chapter)
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