Chapter 762 A Genius in Real Combat
"This is bad, this is bad!" Another cultivator shared the same feeling as Banji.
He concealed his appearance and identity, kept a low profile, and remained an observer throughout.
But now he knows he can't stay any longer.
He took the initiative to walk up to Banji and said, "Young Master Banji, I'm here to help you!"
He revealed his true colors, deliberately speaking loudly to attract everyone's attention.
Banji was surprised. He looked at the person who had come and realized it was an old acquaintance. He immediately snorted coldly, "What, it's you?"
The visitor was none other than the rust-damaging craftsman.
He was shrouded in a dark red iron robe, beneath which the outline of a metal skeleton could be vaguely seen. Every movement he made produced a dull metallic scraping sound, and rust chips would occasionally fall off.
Rusty Craftsman transmitted his thoughts, showing no politeness: "Hmph! If it weren't for Ban Jie's generous invitation to secretly help you, do you think I would have come? To see your sour face?"
Rusty Craftsman had previously accepted a large sum of money from Banji, planning to deal with Ning Zhuo. However, Ning Zhuo's high-profile actions made him realize the latter's power. In addition, with the disappearance of Spider Lady, Rusty Craftsman decisively found Banji with the other two, forcibly refunded the money, and withdrew.
Banji naturally didn't have a good attitude towards the rust-damaged craftsman.
Rusty Craftsman continued the telepathic communication: "You think I want to stand up and support you on the spot? Curl up your temper, do you think you're in the Ban family?"
"If this continues, you might become the target of everyone's attacks again."
"Think about your experience on Green Bamboo Peak!"
Banji gritted his teeth: "That time, I was just careless."
Rustster: "Don't say I didn't warn you!"
Banji squinted and fell silent.
After a few breaths, he took a step forward and came to Lu Zeng, first thanking the latter. After all, Lu Zeng had just given him a jade pendant.
Lu Zeng was in business, so naturally he wouldn't offend Ban Ji.
Banji received a positive response and then visited Aopan. Aopan treated him with the same enthusiasm as he had towards Ningzhuo.
Ao Pan is a foreigner and needs to cultivate good relationships. Since Ban Ji took the initiative to visit, he also wants to establish good relations with Ban Ji and the Ban family.
In his view: Your Ningzhuo and Banji don't get along, but that doesn't prevent me from getting along well with both of them!
Ao Pan visited Tie Zheng again, but the latter also reacted coldly.
They visited Zhang Wangxing again. The two communicated telepathically, frequently glancing at Ning Zhuo, as if they were conducting a transaction or negotiation.
Ning Zhuo had been paying close attention to Ban Ji, and seeing his actions, he understood: "Ban Ji was cultivated by the Ban family from a young age and also has political acumen. His choice of conversation partners is deliberate, and the order is also correct."
Ban Ji broke the deadlock by taking advantage of Lu Ban and Ao Pan's attitude, and soon many cultivators took the initiative to talk to him.
Ban Ji was, after all, the representative of the Ban family.
The Ban family is a prestigious and righteous sect, and the Myriad Manifestations Sect has never cared about cultivators from the evil or demonic paths joining the sect. As long as such cultivators abide by the sect rules after joining, they are fine.
The rules of the Myriad Manifestations Sect are among the fewest and most lenient of all the super sects.
Ban Ji was forced to the brink by Ning Zhuo, but he still had some skill. He learned from his mistake and successfully neutralized many of Ning Zhuo's attacks, turning a crushing defeat into a narrow loss.
A cultivator at the Golden Core level emerged from the Xuanjia Cave and announced that the time had come, and the Xingyun Trial would officially begin.
Once given permission, everyone revealed their identification badges and entered the cave one after another.
The identity plaques were almost all made of wood, except for those held by Ning Zhuo and Ban Ji, which were made of stone.
The moment Ning Zhuo stepped into the cave, his vision changed abruptly.
He found himself in complete darkness, with invisible barriers blocking his way in every direction, as if the air itself formed a wall, sealing him within.
Ning Zhuo remained calm. Before he arrived, he had memorized the information about this Xingyun trial.
Like the Demon-Slaying Hall, the Ninefold Mystic Armor's Cloud-Rising Trial is almost unchanged.
Sure enough, the next moment, a divine sense came from the darkness, instructing Ning Zhuo to use his divine sense to clear a path.
Ning Zhuo urged his divine sense to spread as far as possible in front of him.
The divine sense seemed to push away a layer of filth, leaving Ning Zhuo with an opening of similar size.
Ning Zhu strode forward, his divine sense clearing a path ahead, creating a temporary passageway for him to enter and exit.
"This is the first test of the Ninefold Mystic Armor: the Divine Sense Test."
"Without sufficient spiritual power, it is impossible to pass through here."
Ao Pan had a hunched back, yet he walked with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger.
Tie Zheng stood with his arms crossed, expressionless and composed.
Lu Zeng stroked the ruler on his chest, his divine sense swirling around him, constantly radiating outwards to create a spherical void around him.
This stage doesn't discriminate based on cultivation level, so Golden Core cultivators can generally pass it. After all, those with higher cultivation levels often possess superior spiritual sense, magical power, and energy compared to Foundation Establishment cultivators.
As for cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage, they must each display their unique abilities.
Zhang Wangxing's robes rippled like waves as he walked very slowly.
Ban Ji's eyes were bloodshot as he glared ahead. The "Greedy Demon Heart Technique" was originally designed to cultivate the upper dantian, and in terms of the scale of his spiritual sense, he was one of the best in the Foundation Establishment stage, so he had no obstacles to his breathing.
Ning Zhuo made no preparations in this regard. The reason is that he cultivates all three dantian simultaneously, and the cultivation of the Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Technique has made his spiritual foundation far surpass that of other cultivators at the same level who cultivate the Qi Sea and Essence Sea.
His advantage in spiritual awareness differed from Banji's; he excelled at control. Therefore, he precisely released his spiritual awareness, creating a passage only large enough to accommodate himself, saving both time and effort.
Zhang Dadan remained silent. He mainly cultivated the Sea of Essence, and his divine sense was made strong and difficult to disperse using a secret technique, but it was not a problem to protect himself.
The Rust Disaster Craftsman's spiritual sense was quite special. When he was carving out the path ahead, it made a hissing sound, corroding all the invisible barriers. Although it was slow, it was very easy.
Almost all the cultivators who came to participate in this Xingyun trial had done their research beforehand. Even those who hadn't, had been informed of the relevant information through prior divine sense transmission.
Everyone used their own methods and kept moving forward.
They were surrounded by endless darkness, with no landmarks, but they weren't worried about their direction.
The rules clearly state that even if you're just spinning in place, it doesn't matter. If you persist for a while and reach the required distance, you can move on to the next level.
Of the three Golden Core cultivators, Tie Zheng was the first to break through and enter the second stage.
His divine sense, having been modified using a secret technique, was extremely sharp.
Next are Lu Ban and Ao Pan.
Among the Foundation Establishment cultivators, Ban Ji was the first to arrive, followed by Ning Zhuo. Zhang Wangxing, at the peak of Foundation Establishment, lagged behind, as spiritual sense was his weakness. Even Zhang Dadan passed through faster than him.
Ning Zhuo's eyes suddenly lit up, and he found himself in a spherical space.
This is still the space within the array, only its structure is different.
A sword hovered in front of Ning Zhuo.
The sword is made of bronze, with the tip pointing vertically towards the ground.
The rules were communicated through divine sense. Ning Zhuo heard in the message that the rules for the second trial were exactly the same as before, without any changes.
The countdown began, transmitted through divine consciousness.
After counting down from ten to one, the suspended bronze sword seemed to be held by a person, and suddenly stabbed towards Ning Zhuo.
The sword tip pierced the air with a short, sharp whistle, aiming straight for Ning Zhuo's throat.
Ning Zhuo's pupils suddenly contracted, and his waist snapped as if pulled by a strong bow.
Iron Bridge!
The cold wind from the sword brushed past his nose, severing a few strands of his flying hair.
The sword missed its mark, but the bronze sword did not hesitate at all. With a tremor, the blade changed from a thrust to a slash, horizontally cutting across Ning Zhuo's exposed neck as he leaned back.
The blade sliced through the air with extreme sharpness, producing a hissing sound like tearing silk.
Ning Zhuo twisted his body.
He had a strong physical foundation, and even in such an awkward position, he was still able to forcefully rotate to the side, causing his entire body to fall to one side.
Sizzle...
Ning Zhuo's clothes were cut cleanly by the sword's edge. A line of blood also appeared on his neck; after a few drops of blood seeped out, his muscles tightened and the bleeding stopped.
Although it was just a scratch, it stung terribly.
Ning Zhuo turned sideways and retreated continuously. Before he could adjust his posture, the bronze sword came again.
This time it was an upward slash, the sword light like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, extremely cunning, aiming directly at Ning Zhuo's unsteady lower body.
Ning Zhuo's eyes darkened, and he stomped his left foot on the ground, using the force to spring backward, while simultaneously striking down with his right palm like lightning.
He certainly wouldn't meet the sword head-on, but instead used the edge of his palm to make a diagonal cut on the middle of the sword's spine, with precise speed, angle, and force.
The bronze sword was slammed down and hit the ground. Ning Zhuo took the opportunity to stomp forward, but missed.
The bronze sword was pulled back to avoid Ning Zhuo's footsteps, and then immediately thrust forward.
Ning Zhuo adjusted his posture at the crucial moment, but his outer thigh was still cut, adding another bloodstain.
Unable to defeat Ning Zhuo, the bronze sword changed tactics, its swordplay becoming continuous and unending, like a surging river!
Pointing, stabbing, wiping, picking, slicing, chopping... all the basic sword techniques were brought to their extreme, so fast that dozens of bluish afterimages were left in the air, weaving into a deadly sword net that firmly enveloped Ning Zhuo!
Ning Zhuo's figure darted and weaved through this storm of death, like a lone boat in a raging sea.
Sweat mixed with blood seeping from his wounds, leaving wet streaks on his skin.
"Swoosh!" A cool sensation ran down his left cheek, and a strand of hair flew up along with a streak of blood. The tip of the sword grazed his cheekbone.
"Pfft!" The burlap on his right side was ripped open, the skin and flesh rolled up, and blood instantly stained his clothes red.
"Clang!" He couldn't dodge in time and could only parry the diagonal slash with the outside of his left forearm. His arm bone was in excruciating pain, his sleeve was torn, and a deep wound that revealed the bone appeared, dripping with blood.
Despite the constant dangers and injuries, Ning Zhuo's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Such difficulty was expected and not surprising.
"My close combat and hand-to-hand fighting skills were only basicized in Fire Persimmon Immortal City."
"It was only after arriving at the Wanyao Sect that this shortcoming was made up for."
"During the two battles at Qianfenglin, I learned some military tactics that were simple and direct, which added to my courage."
"It's generally sufficient for dealing with peers in normal times. But it's not enough for the preliminary test of the Nine-Layer Mystic Armor."
"The difficulty of the second level is gradual. The first weapon I encountered was the easiest to challenge, but it was already a little beyond my limit."
Ning Zhuo's close combat skills were no longer a weakness, but they were never a strength either.
The second trial of the Ninefold Mystic Armor is to select cultivators who are skilled in martial arts and eliminate those who are mediocre.
Faced with such a trial, Ning Zhuo was suppressed and sealed by the magic array, unable to mobilize other forces, and could only use martial arts to resist. Naturally, he was in great danger and in a very sorry state.
An ordinary cultivator would have been severely injured and exhausted long ago, and would have been eliminated.
Ning Zhuo was able to hold out for so long thanks to his robust physical body. His body could withstand the souls of millions, and many minor injuries could heal themselves quickly.
Ning Zhuo's persistence was not a futile struggle; in the fierce competition, his martial arts skills improved rapidly.
His footwork initially consisted of constant dodging, but now it is gradually becoming more methodical.
Sometimes he moved like a star, dodging sharp blades with small, agile steps; sometimes he waded through mud, his body sluggish yet he narrowly avoided the sword; sometimes he spun like a whirlwind, his afterimages and sword light intertwining and entwining, indistinguishable from one another, yet without inflicting any new sword wounds.
“Review successful!” Ning Zhuo was thrilled.
He used soul-searching techniques to deliver righteous punishment to a group of demonic souls. His innate talent protected him, and the Soul-Saving Technique allowed his inner strength to surge.
Among these demonic cultivators were many skilled in close combat, and their lifelong experience in this area became one of Ning Zhuo's strengths.
Ning Zhuo simply didn't have time to practice, but now, in the fierce battle with the bronze sword, he quickly reviewed everything, mastered it all, and truly made it his own.
Ning Zhuo fought more and more battles, and his composure only increased.
His most serious injury was on his left forearm, but his body was really strong. Even with a deep wound that exposed bone, he managed to stop the bleeding and begin to slowly heal himself while he was exercising intensely.
Another reason is that the bronze sword itself does not possess any magical power; it relies solely on the sharpness of its blade.
This level tests martial arts skills and close combat abilities.
Ning Zhuo's physical strength was sufficient to withstand such superficial injuries.
"Now is the time!"
Ning Zhuo's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Suddenly, he lowered his body, raised his foot, aimed his toes at the sword, and kicked it away with force, sending the bronze sword flying.
The bronze sword was forced to distance itself from Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo was thrilled; this was his first effective counterattack.
The bronze sword struck again, but Ning Zhuo's eyes gleamed, his confidence growing stronger as he met the challenge.
After several rounds of such exchanges, Ning Zhuo's stamina was running out, and the bronze sword was being kicked away more and more frequently.
The bronze sword pierced straight at Ning Zhuo's heart, but Ning Zhuo did not retreat but advanced, confidently turning to the side and calmly avoiding the blade. His left hand moved like a willow branch, fingers spread wide, grabbing the hilt and gripping it tightly.
The bronze sword struggled fiercely in his hand.
Ning Zhuo could have suppressed it, but with a smile on his face, he took the initiative to let go, allowing it to leap into the air like a fish and escape once again.
“Again.” He clapped his hands at the bronze sword that had created some distance between them, taunting it.
And so, Ning Zhuo used the bronze sword to train himself, and his close combat skills steadily improved. This scene attracted the attention of the cultivators who were in charge of the trial.
"What's the deal with this Ning Zhuo?"
"At first I thought he was nothing special, just here to make a fool of himself. I never expected that he would improve so much in such a short time!"
"It's hard to believe! But it actually happened. Is his aptitude for martial arts really that strong?!"
"It's quite rare to grow so quickly from real combat experience!"
The cultivators were all amazed.
(End of this chapter)
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