Chapter 750 I Must Cling to Ning Zhuo's Thigh
Qingzhu Peak.
Inside the cave, Qinghuangzi solemnly explained the general situation of his family's heritage to Ning Zhuo in front of the divine tablet.
The sound of a lone valley melody on a green drum!
This is the name by which this institution has been passed down.
The original source was the Zhushan Sect.
This sect no longer exists. When the sect was attacked, the enemy was very clever and instigated internal strife within the sect. They fled without engaging the enemy, leaving behind several loyal cultivators who were willing to die in battle.
The number of cultivators was too small, and their defenses were breached all the way through, eventually forcing them to retreat into the bamboo forest in the valley.
At the critical moment of life and death, two surviving cultivators, one skilled in music and the other adept at using mechanisms, worked together to quickly transform the bamboo forest, turning a section of bamboo into a whistle.
When the enemy forcefully broke in, the cultivators activated the magic array, which generated a strong wind that swept through the bamboo forest. They then made the bamboo whistles sound suddenly, and countless sonic blades burst out, circling around the bamboo poles and killing the enemy until their blood flowed all over the ground.
The enemy launched several attacks, but failed to break through, suffering heavy losses.
Another option was to uproot the bamboo grove, leaving the enemy without any support. However, the leader considered that these bamboo plants were spiritual plants with immense value, so he preferred to remain patient and plan his move gradually.
The main gate of the Zhushan Sect was breached, leaving only this valley behind.
At that time, war was the main theme of the entire cultivation world. After the leader occupied this area, he had less and less energy to take over the last valley and bamboo forest in the face of various external pressures.
The Zhushan Sect had effectively perished since its internal strife and dispersal.
Every so often, the leader would send several skilled warriors to the bamboo forest in the valley to persuade the enemy to surrender. During the persuasion process, sparring matches were inevitable.
Using the wind and bamboo forest as cover, the two sides engaged in numerous offensive and defensive battles. Some were brief and to the point of stopping when they had the upper hand, while others resulted in deaths and a real fight.
Through this constant refinement, the elders in the valley worked together to innovate and develop a complete system, gradually delving deeper into the initial inspiration of the Wind Whistle Bamboo Forest.
This set of things was passed down from generation to generation, constantly being innovated and improved. When it was passed to Qinghuangzi, it was already the twenty-eighth generation.
Qinghuangzi stared seriously into Ning Zhuo's eyes: "Ning Zhuo, you are the twenty-ninth generation successor of this Empty Valley Melody Qingji Tong!"
“Our lineage does not belong to the Myriad Manifestations Sect. On the contrary, it was the Myriad Manifestations Sect that swallowed up the sect of the previous generation of successors, which led to the current situation.”
"However, there's nothing wrong with being within the Myriad Manifestations Sect. On many occasions, we've been able to preserve our lineage thanks to the Myriad Manifestations Sect."
“In this long lineage, we have also had beings at the Nascent Soul stage. However, they had a different main cultivation method.”
"The sages who truly mastered this inheritance reached the Nascent Soul level at their highest cultivation. In today's terms, this is a Nascent Soul level inheritance."
At this point, Qinghuangzi sighed: "I see that you have successfully established your foundation and have a major cultivation method. That's alright, as long as you successfully swear an oath under the statue, firstly, to properly preserve this inheritance and try your best to find the best inheritance within your capabilities, and secondly, if possible, to do your best to improve, refine and promote this inheritance."
"Ning Zhuo, your talent for cultivation far surpasses mine. You possess the vigor and vitality of youth, as vibrant as the rising sun. Youth is truly wonderful."
"I am also aware of my own limitations, so you can rest assured. Therefore, you don't need to worry about inheriting this legacy and acknowledging me as your master."
The relationship between master and disciple is extraordinary!
These strong social ties can sometimes even surpass those of blood relations.
In a super sect like the Myriad Manifestations Sect, there are numerous factions, a huge number of people, and various entanglements of interests, grudges, and affections, making the internal situation extremely complicated.
Ning Zhuo will only be considered to have fully joined a faction when he formally acknowledges a master.
"The talent and ability I displayed after obtaining the stone tablet made Qinghuangzi hesitant to accept me as his disciple."
"I suppose this is one of the benefits of my choice to be high-profile."
In the past, if Ning Zhuo had not demonstrated his excellence enough, Qing Huangzi would likely have asked his successor to become his disciple.
For Ning Zhuo, becoming an apprentice ahead of time was a significant loss!
After all, Qinghuangzi's personal combat strength and connections were too weak, and he himself was not even a Golden Core cultivator. From this perspective, he was a marginal figure outside the power structure of the Myriad Manifestations Sect.
Ning Zhuo faced the statue of the god.
The statue's posture is rather peculiar, unlike most other statues.
He knelt on one knee, wearing a crown with dragon patterns, and three strands of bronze hair hung down from his forehead, the ends of which were cut cleanly as if by a sharp blade. His left hand held half of a frost blade across his chest, the severed hair wrapped around the spine of the sword.
Ning Zhuo recognized him as the Sword Master with Broken Hair.
During his lifetime, his story of cutting his hair to keep his vow was already famous throughout the world. Now, more than a thousand years later, it is still widely circulated and can be said to have left a lasting mark on history.
Ning Zhuo raised his left hand in a sword-like gesture, imitating a sword blade, and held it across his neck.
After he chanted the name of the god, the power of the idol was immediately activated.
The statue emitted a resolute white light, which condensed in mid-air to form a round mirror. Nine hundred and ninety-nine copper nails were embedded in the edge of the mirror, and the mirror surface reflected a clear image of the oath-taker, Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo faced the statue of the god and finished making his vow.
The Divine Light Mirror split into two streams, one of which entered Ning Zhuo's body, while the other disappeared into the divine statue.
The brilliance vanished immediately.
Qinghuangzi witnessed the whole process. Seeing that Ning Zhuo had succeeded in his vow, he exhaled a breath of turbid air and said with delight, "Good, very good."
After that, he led Ning Zhuo to the inner room and handed over more than a dozen jade slips and three storage bags to Ning Zhuo.
"This bag contains essential items for cultivation; it is the foundation of our lineage."
“My days are numbered, and there’s not much point in keeping it for my own spiritual practice.”
"Besides these, the greatest treasure is this Green Bamboo Peak."
Qinghuangzi sighed and looked at the paving stones under his feet: "This mountain peak originally belonged to our lineage, tracing back to the eleventh generation of our descendants."
"The Myriad Manifestations Sect absorbed his sect and also moved this mountain here."
"Right now, this mountain is just for our use. The various kinds of sacred bamboo on the mountain are the result of the painstaking cultivation and planting by our descendants over the generations."
"The geology, water quality, and magic arrays here are all very mature, making it the best place to grow bamboo."
“When I pass away, you must report this immediately, complete the handover, and lease this mountain. The spiritual bamboo covering this mountain is a suitable resource for your cultivation.”
"Cough cough cough."
At this point, Qinghuangzi looked unwell and coughed incessantly.
He was truly old; he had only been putting on a brave face in public before. Now that Ning Zhuo had become the heir, he no longer concealed it, coughing incessantly and exuding an aura of death.
Ning Zhuo opened his mouth, about to finish speaking.
Qinghuangzi smiled bitterly and waved his hand, saying, "Go ahead. I investigated you after you obtained the stone tablet. Although the information was limited, only recording your actions when you came to the Myriad Manifestations Sect, it made me feel quite at ease."
"You have such talent, yet you still work so hard. There's a reason why you've achieved so much at such a young age."
"Having me around would only limit you. You'd feel uncomfortable, wouldn't you?"
"Go, go, do as you please. I'll stay at Green Bamboo Peak and keep watch for you until the very end."
Having completed the inheritance of his master's teachings, Qinghuangzi fulfilled his greatest wish, and the last breath he had been holding on to finally dissipated.
Ning Zhuo, with a solemn expression, bowed deeply and then turned and left in silence.
It was clear that Qinghuangzi's days were numbered.
These are the last days of his life; let him choose his own way to leave. This is the final dignity and respect a monk can have.
Ning Zhuo set up several tables of food and drink at the Zhenxiu Restaurant, inviting the cultivators who had previously participated in the Xingyun Trial.
Ning Zhuo sat upright in the main seat, dressed in a simple white robe, with a gentle expression and a faint smile on his lips.
The atmosphere was lively with toasts and laughter, and soon all the cultivators present were beaming with health.
Chen San's voice carried a distinctively slick tone as he proactively toasted Ning Zhuo: "Young Master Ning! Ah, I've truly broadened my horizons today. All of us who risk our lives to tinker with these little gadgets are nothing compared to you, like fireflies compared to the bright moon!"
He sighed dramatically, which drew laughter from the other guests.
“Yes, yes,” a stranger, a cultivator, stood up, emboldened by alcohol. “Young Master Ning, how did you manage to control so many bamboo puppets with sound? You commanded them like a battle-hardened elite force. I observed you closely and could tell that you only used the contents of the ‘Book of Yuan Yin Reeds’.”
Although Ning Zhuo had already deduced the "Book of Consonant Reeds," he deliberately kept it to himself and did not use it.
According to the rules of Qinghuangzi, these things are not actually prohibited.
However, in order to convince everyone and to prove that his reputation was worthy of his name, Ning Zhuo only used the "Yuanyin Huangpian Shu".
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly, put down his jade chopsticks, and said in a clear and gentle voice, "You flatter me. In my opinion, the key to 'sound control' lies in 'harmonious Qi and smooth rhythm,' rather than simply forcing the flow of spiritual energy..."
The cultivator who asked the question probably didn't expect Ning Zhuo to actually offer guidance, and in such detail at that.
He became more and more engrossed in listening, and others were in the same boat.
The lively banquet quickly fell silent, with only the sound of the wind outside the window, the noise from the restaurant outside the private room, and the rustling of beetles in Jiang Xiaobian's bamboo tube.
After Ning Zhuo finished speaking, the cultivator who had sought his guidance was overjoyed, and bowed deeply in excitement: "Thank you so much for your guidance, Young Master Ning! These words are invaluable and enlightening!"
"I don't deserve such praise. It was just a friendly exchange," Ning Zhuo said with a smile.
Jiang Xiaobian gritted her teeth, unable to hold back any longer, and asked the second question.
Ning Zhuo smiled and said, "It's perfectly normal for Fellow Daoist Jiang to have this doubt. In my opinion..."
He not only answered Jiang Xiaobian's questions, but also commented on her beetle bamboo puppet, praising it highly.
Jiang Xiaobian didn't drink any alcohol, but her little face turned red from Ning Zhuo's praise.
She had previously clashed with Ning Zhuo, and the lingering resentment was minimal, but it has now completely dissipated. She now holds Ning Zhuo in high esteem: "He only fought me once, yet he saw many weaknesses in my beetle-shaped bamboo puppets. Truly a first-rate genius!"
After Jiang Xiaobian, everyone asked a series of questions.
Ning Zhuo explained things in a gentle and clear manner, without the slightest arrogance. His insightful comments and incisive solutions were invaluable to the cultivators who asked the questions.
A banquet turned into an exchange of mechanical arts.
Ning Zhuo not only taught, but also sought advice from other cultivators. Bu Dunsun was the first to be asked a question, and when asked, he immediately stood up, his face full of flattery and surprise.
Even after the banquet ended, everyone was still reluctant to leave.
Chen San's eyes gleamed, and his smile was much warmer and more sincere than before: "A single word of advice from Young Master Ning is enough for us to ponder for half a lifetime! I, Chen San, will never hesitate to go through fire and water for Young Master Ning in the future!"
The atmosphere at the table immediately underwent a subtle change because of these words.
Ning Zhuo nodded with a smile: "Fellow Daoists, you are too kind. The way of mechanisms is vast and profound; only by verifying each other can one make progress. Today's small test has also benefited me greatly..."
Chen San clearly wanted to rely on Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo neither directly refused nor immediately agreed, which made Chen San, who had taken the initiative to join him and had been standing there, somewhat embarrassed.
But then, a waiter from the restaurant brought over a food box.
Ning Zhuo pointed to the food box and said gently, "There is one person missing from today's feast. Fellow Daoist Ah Huo is of a strong character and must be unable to refuse. The 'Eight Treasures Rare Bird Stew' of Zhenxiu Restaurant is a masterpiece, rich in spiritual energy and most effective in replenishing qi and blood. I would like to trouble Brother Chen to make a trip for me after the feast and bring it to Ah Huo."
Chen San was taken aback, then his face lit up with delight. He immediately patted his chest and agreed, "Don't worry, young master! I'll take care of it! You're truly... magnanimous!"
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly: "By the way, tell him that today's sparring session was not quite enough. I am always ready to welcome him to challenge me again. His mechanical bamboo puppet is actually quite unique."
After the banquet ended, Chen San, carrying the food box, immediately went to find the tinderbox.
"What? Ning Zhuo actually remembered me and brought this for me?" Ah Huo was extremely surprised. He had offended Ning Zhuo in public during the Xingyun trial.
When Chen San sincerely conveyed Ning Zhuo's words, Ah Huo's face first showed astonishment, then turned into a complex expression.
He opened the food box, stared blankly at the delicacies inside, which were brimming with spiritual energy, and then wiped his face hard.
He gritted his teeth and said, "To be honest, I am really unwilling. My bamboo puppet did not perform to its full potential."
"But Ning Zhuo... young master, he still agreed to spar with me. He... thinks highly of me!"
As he said this, Ah Huo's voice trembled slightly, his fists clenched, and his face was full of the joy of being respected.
Chen San took in Ah Huo's expression and sighed inwardly, "Tsk, Young Master Ning... his skills are so impressive that it's impossible to even feel jealous."
After bidding farewell to Ah Huo, Chen San flew towards the Green Stone Cave with an excited expression.
He needed to report to Ning Zhuo overnight.
Even if he refuses to see me, I will stand outside the cave and wait all night!
“Geniuses like him are rare, and those with such skill are even rarer. He must be from a powerful family!”
"If I don't do everything I can to get on their good side, I'd be doing myself a disservice."
Chen San was quite self-aware; he knew that with his aptitude, he could only ever reach the Foundation Establishment stage at best. Belonging to a powerful figure was a more likely path than self-cultivation!
(End of this chapter)
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