Chapter 761 The Righteous Demeanor of the Big-Headed Boy
“I…” Normally, Ban Ji would have already cursed out loud. He was not a good-tempered man, nor did he have any righteous manners.
But just as he was about to utter a curse, he suddenly realized the situation.
This isn't the Ban family's residence, but the main gate of the Myriad Manifestations Sect; there are so many people watching.
He could only swallow his curses and instead stared intently at Ning Zhuo with wide eyes, his gaze burning as if it were spitting fire.
"This brat really treats me like a demonic cultivator! This righteous path's face is utterly despicable!"
"No, that's not right. Although I am a demonic cultivator, I belong to the Ban family, I am a righteous cultivator, and I am also a righteous cultivator!"
Ban Ji realized something was wrong and immediately spoke up to refute Ning Zhuo, saying that the latter had slandered him.
To everyone's surprise, Ning Zhuo raised his head high, looked down at Ban Ji with his nostrils, and said with a disdainful expression: "Ban Ji, you have a reputation, but now it seems that you are nothing but a hypocrite who dares to do things but not to admit them.
After saying that, he turned and left.
“You…” Ban Ji was furious and subconsciously clenched his fists.
In the past, he would have used force to kill any cultivator who provoked him. Even if he couldn't do it himself, Ban Ji could call on his family's forces to swarm him.
But not now!
Ban Ji's eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Ning Zhuo's back, wishing he could punch him and pierce him through the back of his heart.
This is infuriating!
Banji had never been so provoked, nor had he been so publicly humiliated.
Unfortunately, he couldn't refute it.
Because he actually did it. Even his rebuttal just now seemed weak.
"I really, really want to punch him to death!"
"I really want to stomp on his head and tell him, 'Grandpa did it, so what?!'"
A strong impulse arose in Ban Ji's heart, and he subconsciously activated his demonic power, causing demonic energy to overflow from his body.
But that won't work.
If he does that, he will be openly violating the rules of the Myriad Manifestations Sect. At that point, even if the entire Ban family mobilizes, they won't be able to protect him.
"I can accept it myself! But how will my parents face the family?"
"I'm so annoyed, I'm really so annoyed!"
For a moment, Banji was so angry that he wanted to roar to the sky.
It's so frustrating.
"If only I didn't have a family." This thought flashed through his mind, stronger than ever before.
The demonic path emphasizes unrestrained indulgence and the full expression of one's emotions. "I don't care about the world, I'm the most important! My personal emotions are paramount; the world revolves around me."
Only by doing this can a demonic cultivator's demonic cultivation proceed smoothly.
From this point alone, demonic cultivators are inherently at odds with the rules and find it difficult to integrate into a closely united organization.
However, demonic cultivators are also adept at manipulating the various emotions of others.
But now, Ban Ji's intense anger and hatred were fiercely stirred up by Ning Zhuo.
Banji gritted his teeth so hard that they made a crunching sound.
"It's decided!"
"I will definitely grind you to dust."
"I will crush you under my feet and avenge my humiliation."
"You just wait, you just wait."
"Why hasn't the Xingyun trial run started yet?!"
Ban Ji exuded a murderous aura.
Many of the onlookers had their eyes gleaming.
They got to know the gossip and witnessed a lively scene.
Someone nodded inwardly: "Ning Zhuo truly deserves to be called a rising star of the righteous path. He was awe-inspiring and upright after the three questions on his conscience. Seeing him today, I can confirm it."
Some people frowned in confusion: "How can the prestigious Ban family tolerate someone like Ban Ji? His demonic powers are quite formidable."
Some people secretly shook their heads: "In just a few words, Ban Ji was provoked to the point of going berserk by Ning Zhuo, and the difference in their abilities was immediately apparent."
Everyone wants to roam freely, to be the greatest in the world, and no one wants others to become such a demonic cultivator.
Therefore, people naturally tend to favor Ning Zhuo in their hearts.
In the first round of confrontation, Ning Zhuo gained the upper hand through words alone, using Ban Ji to highlight himself and winning over a group of people.
Ning Zhuo had already scheming against Ban Ji upon their first meeting, provoking him before leaving. After glancing around, he walked up to Lu Zeng and bowed respectfully.
"May I ask if you are Senior Lu Zeng?" Ning Zhuo asked with a composed smile and impeccable manner.
He naturally paid more attention to the mechanical cultivators. This Lu Zeng was among the intelligence he had gathered.
Lu Zeng was dressed in indigo, with many tool bags wrapped around his waist. A bronze compass hung on his chest, and a wooden machine case was carried on his back.
Ning Zhuo knew that he majored in the "Connecting Threads Couple Technique" and that his natal magic weapon was a mechanical creation called the Thousand Machine Lotus.
Lu Zeng felt a great deal of goodwill towards Ning Zhuo, and with a kind smile, he waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "I dare not accept such praise. We are of the same generation and can be friends."
Ning Zhuo only has the cultivation level of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, but Lu Zeng would never underestimate him because of this.
Ning Zhuo is a genius who stood out in the first wave. His future prospects are at least at the Golden Core level. He has already gained the favor of the Confucian cultivators and the Exorcising Evil Hall. He has also openly opposed Ban Ji and the Ban family, proving that he is very confident.
Even a blind person could see that this kind of person had a bright future. Lu Zeng was certainly not blind, so he treated him as an equal.
After exchanging a few words, Lu Zeng offered Ning Zhuo a jade token, explaining that it could be used for future transactions to obtain some discounts.
Lu Zeng already owns several stores. If he successfully joins the Myriad Manifestations Sect, he is expected to set up a shop inside the sect's main gate, selling a large number of mechanical attachments.
He was most skilled at making such mechanical components. The wonder of the "Thread Coupling Technique" was fully demonstrated in these components. As long as they were pasted onto the mechanical creation, fine threads would condense and tightly connect the two.
Lu Zeng used this to sell a large number of mechanical parts, thereby acquiring cultivation resources and boosting his own cultivation.
After Lu Zeng gave away the jade pendant, he then took the initiative to send another jade pendant to Ban Ji in front of Ning Zhuo.
"You two are both exceptional individuals, geniuses in the art of mechanical engineering. If we can do business together in the future, the more the better."
A glint of light flashed in the eyes of both Ning Zhuo and Ban Ji.
Based on this action, Lu Zeng immediately demonstrated his neutrality: I am a businessman, I will befriend both of you at the same time, and I will not offend either of you!
This aligns with his background as an outer sect servant and also with the intelligence reports describing his temperament.
After exchanging a few words with Lu Zeng, Ning Zhuo took his leave.
He came to the other side, in front of Tie Zheng, a Golden Core cultivator.
Tie Zheng was eight feet tall, wearing a bronze beast mask and a martial arts outfit. His exposed elbows, knees and other joints were replaced with steel bone balls.
He carried a large sword with the head of a Qilin on his back, and had an iron chain around his waist with twelve bronze bells with the heads of Qilin hanging from it.
Ning Zhuo took the initiative to get closer to him, but Tie Zheng responded coldly.
After exchanging a few words, Ning Zhuo took the initiative to leave.
He knew about Tie Zheng's intelligence and didn't take the latter's cold reaction to heart.
Tie Zheng was born into a prominent family, but he suffered repeated betrayals. His parents, wife, sworn brothers... these betrayals filled him with contempt and disgust for humanity. He took the initiative to leave his family and became a rogue cultivator, spending his days cultivating alone in the mountains.
He had more faith in the knife in his hand than in others.
He also had a fortuitous encounter in the mountains and wilderness, which allowed him to raise sword beasts. To date, he has raised twelve sword beasts, all of which are made from Golden Core level swords, so the sword beasts are also all Golden Core level.
This made his combat power far exceed the normal level, making him a well-known Golden Core cultivator in Feiyun Kingdom.
Ning Zhuo then approached Ao Pan and bowed respectfully, saying, "This junior is Ning Zhuo. I do not know your honorable name, senior. Please do not take offense."
Of the three Golden Core cultivators present, Ning Zhuo recognized the first two, but Ao Pan did not.
Ning Zhuo had carefully studied the intelligence he had, and he was certain that there was no such person as Ao Pan in the intelligence.
This can only mean that Ao Pan has only recently arrived at the main gate of the Wanxiang Sect.
Ao Pan was seven feet tall, with a hunched back and a stooped posture like an old ape. He had three claw marks on his left cheek, and his eyes were of different sizes. His right eye was smaller and cloudy like a stone, while his left eye was slightly larger, with a vertical pupil and a golden base.
"I don't know, that's understandable. I come from the Kingdom of Fubo, and I just arrived yesterday."
“Ning Zhuo, I know you. I’m an outsider just like you.”
Among the three Golden Core cultivators, Ao Pan was the most enthusiastic towards Ning Zhuo.
"Fubo Kingdom?" Ning Zhuo immediately became interested and, following this phrase, started a conversation with Ao Pan.
Ning Zhuo was well-read and had a good grasp of many common sense facts, including the customs and traditions of the Fubo Kingdom.
Ao Pan chatted with him about things he was familiar with and felt a sense of kinship. He wanted to continue talking with Ning Zhuo, but Ning Zhuo bowed and apologized, then took his leave.
"Although this person is a body cultivator, he is quite cunning. I tried to probe him several times by mentioning the Fubo Kingdom, but he responded tactfully and avoided the questions."
In just one round of conversation, Ning Zhuo had already gained a general understanding of Ao Pan's temperament.
In comparison, Tie Zheng is more reliable.
Ning Zhuo decisively withdrew.
Ao Pan stared at the big-headed boy's back, his big and small eyes narrowing slightly: "This kid is even more slippery than me. Although he appears righteous and awe-inspiring after the three self-examinations, he's not straightforward and has a lot of social skills."
"He talked a lot about the Kingdom of Fubo, and he managed to extract a lot of information about me, but I don't even know where he came from!"
Before the Xingyun trial began, Ning Zhuo continued to make friends with the surrounding cultivators.
He quickly fixed his gaze on Zhang Wangxing.
This is because the person exudes the aura of the peak of Foundation Establishment, which is quite obvious.
Zhang Wangxing was tall and imposing, but he was covered by an even larger gray linen robe, with a huge hood obscuring his face. He also used magic to create shadows to cover his face.
It was daytime, and the light outside Xuanjia Cave was bright, but Ning Zhuo, facing Zhang Wangxing, could only see the lower edge of the shadow under the hood, outlining the curve of Zhang Wangxing's jawline. Moreover, this curve often showed subtle fluctuations.
"May I ask if you are Zhang Wangxing, fellow Daoist?" Ning Zhuo greeted him proactively.
Zhang Wangxing nodded slightly, his voice hoarse: "It is indeed I, Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo."
Ning Zhuo knew his information. Although this person was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, he possessed the combat strength of a Golden Core cultivator. He cultivated the "Blood and Flesh Transformation Scripture," which complemented his inferior talent. Don't be fooled by his amiable tone now; he was actually a heretical cultivator who was hired to do all sorts of jobs to earn high wages and support his own cultivation.
Zhang Wangxing transmitted his thoughts: "Fellow Daoist, if you wish to deal with Ban Ji in the Xingyun Trial, I can offer my assistance. I believe Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo, with your noble birth, will not treat me unfairly."
Ning Zhuo did not refuse and responded with his divine sense: "Of course, of course. The situation is unclear at the moment, but I will definitely contact Fellow Daoist Zhang if needed."
Zhang Wangxing chuckled: "Fellow Daoist, please be careful. To be honest, if Ban Ji were to hire me, I would agree."
His tone was laced with threat, and he decisively raised the price.
This put Ning Zhuo in a delicate and passive position. Knowing that he could not stay any longer, he decisively took his leave.
"I acted boldly, obtained the stone tablet in the first wave, and was not afraid of the Ban family. I provoked Ban Ji and won the equal treatment of the Golden Core cultivators."
"It's quite interesting that they've fallen into a disadvantageous position in front of a Foundation Establishment cultivator."
Ning Zhuo felt a surge of emotion.
Having left Fire Persimmon Immortal City, he traveled the world, witnessing magnificent landscapes and meeting all sorts of people. Now, at the Myriad Manifestations Sect's Flying Cloud Assembly, cultivators from all directions had gathered, further broadening his horizons and deeply moving him.
"Young Master Ning Zhuo!" At this moment, a mechanical cultivator stepped forward to pay his respects to Ning Zhuo.
This person was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator, with a sturdy build, broad shoulders and a thick waist, and dark, shiny skin, resembling a lump of iron. He carried a square iron shield on his back and moved slowly and deliberately.
Upon seeing this man, Ning Zhuo smiled and called out his name: "Zhang Dadan".
This is someone I know.
Zhang Dadan also participated in Qinghuangzi's Xingyun trial, and Ning Zhuo even hosted a banquet for him. Besides him, there were also Buding Sun, Chen San, Jiang Xiaobian, and Ah Huo.
Ning Zhuo had a fairly deep impression of these people.
Ning Zhu patted Zhang Dadan on the shoulder: "Where are the others?"
Upon inquiry, it was learned that Buding Sun had originally intended to come with Zhang Dadan, but was delayed by the other Xingyun Trial. Fortunately, the Xingyun Trial of the Ninefold Mystic Armor has many rounds, similar to the Exorcising Evil Hall, so the opportunity was not lost.
Chen San has already joined Ning Zhuo's side and gone to carry out Ning Zhuo's mission.
Jiang Xiaobian and Ah Huo were not interested in the Ninefold Mystic Armor. This did not align with their cultivation path.
For the two of them, Xingyun was just a small trial; there were other things more suitable for them.
After Ning Zhuo and Zhang Dadan exchanged a few words, other cultivators came over and struck up a conversation.
Ban Ji previously had a cold and aloof demeanor, and as a demonic cultivator, he had a bad reputation (which was amplified by Ning Zhuo's rumors). Even if people wanted to curry favor with him, they would have to think twice and hesitate.
Ning Zhuo is different.
His arrival immediately provoked Ban Ji to jump up and down, giving him the upper hand and demonstrating his dominance. More and more cultivators believed that Ning Zhuo's backing was no less powerful than the Ban family's; otherwise, it would be difficult to explain Ning Zhuo's assertive and confident demeanor.
Moreover, Ning Zhuo took the initiative to chat and exchange ideas, and was very amiable with people like Zhang Dadan, which made the observing cultivators' hearts flutter.
So, without Ning Zhuo having to go, many cultivators came over on their own initiative.
Ning Zhuo responded to each question with a consistently kind and friendly attitude.
This scene immediately highlighted Banji's presence. Standing alone by the mountainside, Banji seemed rather neglected.
Banji looked at Ning Zhuo, who was surrounded by the crowd, and his eyes twitched incessantly.
Damn it!
This familiar situation has occurred again.
This is bad.
If things continue like this, does that mean Ning Zhuo will once again unite a bunch of idiots to turn against him?
Troublesome!
This is a real problem!
Ning Zhuo had only been there a short time, and after just a few rounds of interaction, Ban Ji felt pressure once again.
(End of this chapter)
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