Chapter 1577 - 652: Magnanimous Aid (Part 2)

Chapter 1577: Chapter 652: Magnanimous Aid (Part 2)

"Use or not, when to use, you can judge for yourself, Daoist fellow."

Ning Zhuo held the old jade bottle, the bottle was as cold as a piece of long-aged cold iron, yet the elixir pills inside were pulsating gently as though a heart was sealed within.

"Daoist Shen, this pill is too precious," Ning Zhuo said.

Shen Hongyao waved her hand: "Stop with the pleasantries. Since I’ve brought it, I didn’t intend to take it back."

She stared at Ning Zhuo, her eyes revealing an unabashed sincerity: "Everyone outside says you’re going to die. Many people give you things, mostly hoping you can save your life. But I want to see you win!"

She stepped forward, her red dress like fire, her gaze burning like the fiery blaze in the furnace: "Ning Zhuo, eliminate the Three Brave of Xiang Sect."

Ning Zhuo’s heart skipped a beat!

When Shen Hongyao said these words, her emotions were sincere and heated, like the medicinal power in the pill furnace compressed to the extreme, ready to burst forth at any moment.

Ning Zhuo momentarily couldn’t respond.

During this time, many have supported him, almost everyone only hoping he could save his life.

Shen Hongyao is the only one who directly wished him to eliminate the Three Brave of Xiang Sect.

And the support she brought to Ning Zhuo was already tremendous for her personally—this was a Nascent Soul Level elixir pill! Despite its many side effects, it could save a life or turn defeat into victory when used at a critical moment.

This was obviously Shen Hongyao’s most cherished item, yet she gave it to Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo asked what Shen Hongyao wanted.

Shen Hongyao smiled: "If I only want to see you win, do you believe me?"

Ning Zhuo was slightly stunned.

Shen Hongyao: "Alright, for now, I don’t even know what I need myself. Maybe we should just keep a record."

Ning Zhuo proposed signing a contract, but Shen Hongyao waved her hand and turned to leave.

Ning Zhuo found it all quite baffling in his heart.

Why does Shen Hongyao value him so much? If there’s someone behind her, why not go through Chen San, the more secure route?

Yet Shen Hongyao gave him a feeling of genuine sincerity, the flames in those graceful eyes were bright and clear, without the slightest trace of pretense.

Ning Zhuo could only solemnly put away the jade bottle, silently remembering Shen Hongyao’s gesture.

Tao Liang then arrived at the Three Lights Heavenly Dao Cave Mansion.

"Daoist fellow Ning Zhuo, have you lost your mind?" Tao Liang opened with such a statement, "Are you really going to fight the Three Brave of Xiang Sect?"

Ning Zhuo sat calmly behind the desk, nodding slightly.

Tao Liang walked around in front of the desk, his sleeves fluttering noisily: "For the remnant soul of that Red Robe Guest? Are you gambling your life away?"

He glared, his lips trembling several times, swallowing the harsher words, finally changing his tone: "The key is, if you die, who will acknowledge my claim to the debt in the Nanming Fire Furnace? I put in real money, real materials!"

Ning Zhuo shook his head slowly, unwilling to explain further to Tao Liang, and stated plainly: "My mind is made up, Daoist Tao, there’s no need for more persuasion."

Tao Liang walked back and forth in agitation.

Ning Zhuo sighed and said: "This matter is irrevocable. I will not go back on my word. Daoist Tao, if you truly wish to help me, why not provide something tangible?"

Ready to speak, Tao Liang was interrupted by Ning Zhuo raising a hand: "Do you know how much support I’ve received in just these past two or three days?"

Ning Zhuo mentioned a portion.

Tao Liang’s eyes widened, his throat moved, the whole person seemingly pinned in place by nails.

Just the large batch of mechanism materials, he quickly calculated in his mind, it was a figure enough to make the scalp of a Golden Core Cultivator tingle. Not to mention those few Nascent Soul Level elixir pills.

His eyes twitched a few times, his voice lowered: "You... you boy, you’ve received this much stuff?"

Ning Zhuo looked indifferent: "Life-saving money."

Tao Liang smacked his lips: "Yes, life-saving money... you have the life to take it, but also need the life to spend it."

He spoke, suddenly bright-eyed, clapped his hands: "Wait! I have a good idea!"

Ning Zhuo’s eyelids flickered. Tao Liang approached, lowered his voice, and quickly said: "Use all these treasures and assistance as chips to offer Tan Zhu! Invite him to help deal with the Three Brave of Xiang Sect!"

Ning Zhuo looked at him speechlessly.

Tao Liang felt increasingly clever as he spoke: "Tan Zhu is the strongest Nascent Soul in our Nanming Village. With him acting, it would be a sure success. And you won’t be in any danger, isn’t that great!"

Ning Zhuo was amused, not even having the strength to point out how superficial, naive, and unrealistic this idea was.

Ning Zhuo answered: "Tan Zhu won’t agree. His end is near. Pure Yangzi Senior and I invited him before; he said he bore too much in the last martial arts demonstration and is unable to fight again."

Tao Liang frowned: "That sounds like an excuse. You put these things in front of him, he’ll certainly be tempted—especially those Nascent Soul level elixir pills!"

His eyes sparkling: "I’ve already seen through his poison technique; it’s Pill Poison. These pills will undoubtedly prove highly appealing to him!"

"Alright, alright." Ning Zhuo gestured, "Gongsun Yan."

Gongsun Yan immediately entered: "Master."

Ning Zhuo said: "Send Daoist Tao away."

Tao Liang immediately widened his eyes: "Ning Zhuo, I’m doing this for your own good!"

Ning Zhuo did not rise, just smiled and cupped his hands: "Thank you for your kind intentions, Daoist Tao. It’s late. Daoist fellow, take your time."

Gongsun Yan had already walked to Tao Liang’s side, politely yet firmly gesturing: "Senior Tao, please."

Tao Liang was half escorted and half hurried out of the cave mansion, still shouting angrily as he reached the entrance: "Ning Zhuo, you will regret it! You’re treating my sincere intentions as donkey’s liver and lungs!"

The door to the cave mansion slowly closed, cutting off the last trace of his voice.

Ning Zhuo sat back at his desk, rubbed his forehead, letting out a sigh of helplessness.

Xiang Si Sect hibernated on the western foot of Flowing Cloud Peak, the cloud qi perpetually gloomy like lead.

A light gray moss covered the nearby rocks. The moss quivered slightly with the mountain breeze, from afar, the entire mountain looked like a massive carcass that hadn’t fully cooled, lurking in the desolate dusk, eerie and menacing.

Deep inside the sect was a stone chamber.

The stone chamber had no windows, with thirty-six white bone lamps suspended from the walls, the flames casting a cold blue hue, immersing the entire chamber in a water-like glow.

A long desk lay in the center, more than ten jade slips spread across it, along with three portraits and a copper plate. The copper plate held half a plate of black water, reflecting Ning Zhuo’s image—a scene from the previous battle with Flowing Gold Guest.

Beside the long desk stood three cultivators. Their appearances strikingly similar, all tall and thin, with prominent cheekbones and eye sockets deep like ancient wells, their brows heavily pressing down, conveying a sense of restrained sharpness and unseen menace.

Indeed, they were the Three Brave of Xiang Sect!

The one on the left first raised his head.

A dark white mole marked his brow, deeply embedded in the flesh, glistening coldly like frost.

His eye sockets deep like ancient wells, his pupils emitted a cold and hollow gleam, seemingly absorbing all surrounding light. The white bone lamp’s light fell upon his face, silently absorbed by those eyes, making the shadow beside him fainter, as if seen through a thin veil of water.

He was the eldest of the trio, Xiang Hundeng.

In the middle, Xiang Sishui, his breathing steady and deep, like a silent underground river flowing. This man’s appearance closely resembled Xiang Hundeng, though his gaze was more profound, like the deep pool of dead water, leaves falling would not stir a ripple.

A Death Spring Jade Jar hung at his waist, its hue gray-white, adorned with fine water-patterned cracks, its mouth sealed with a thin layer of water vapor, seemingly tangible yet elusive.

The one on the right, Xiang Zircan, broad shoulders like an iron wall, a faint circle of bone patterns marked his neck, as if a white bone shackle deeply engraved in his flesh, leaving an indelible mark.

His arms hung at his sides, veins bulging and entwining like old tree roots, knuckles covered with years of scars.

His Three Calamities Locking Body Armor worn year-round, its scales tightly interlocked like dragon scales, crisscrossed with knife marks, sword marks, and burn marks, forging a sheet of iron repeatedly inscribed.

In the corner not far away, leaned a Crying Life Long Spear, its blade black as though soaked in the long night, the blade’s edge solidified with a dark red hue, occasionally emitting faint cries akin to lost souls grinding their teeth deep inside the spear, awaiting the next bloodletting.