Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master-Chapter 1260 - 487: Ice Movement True Intent 2

Reacting to the exterior body, the six arms of the Snow-colored Girl·Hui began to tremble uncontrollably.

Although the tremor was quite subtle, Ning Zhuo immediately ceased the infusion of True Intent.

The True Intent from the Inheriting Dao Jade Page had just dissipated by a tenth. Meanwhile, the Spiritual Light Group of the Snow-colored Girl·Hui had dimmed by three parts compared to before, and there were cracks on the surface, like ice.

Her Spiritual Nature was damaged.

On the other side, the situation of Snow Core Control·Xie was quite similar.

Her Spiritual Nature damage was even more severe than that of the Snow-colored Girl·Hui.

"After all... it’s not feasible."

Ning Zhuo murmured softly, his voice drifting away in the icy mist.

This outcome was also among the possibilities he had anticipated.

Humans are the spirits of all things, with far more abundant Spiritual Nature than Mechanical Puppets, so they can accept the infusion of True Intent. But the Spiritual Nature within Mechanical Puppets is insufficient to bear such True Intent.

"At least, for the time being, it is so."

"Alas, I need a wonderful method that can enhance Spiritual Nature. Unfortunately, such techniques are extremely rare, and it seems that even the Myriad Images Sect does not have them treasured."

"Oh well."

Ning Zhuo put away the two Ice Machine Dolls and also the Inheriting Dao Jade Page.

However, he did not reabsorb these Ice Movement True Intents but instead, through the Life Hanging Thread, he called upon Sun Lingtong.

Soon, Sun Lingtong secretly returned to the Bluestone Cave Mansion, sitting cross-legged in front of Ning Zhuo.

With his chubby short legs arranged in the Five Hearts Facing Heaven Style, and his lotus-like arms resting on his knees, he held the Inheriting Dao Jade Page, examined it for a while, and then decisively triggered the True Intent within.

Icy blue streams of light flew out from the Inheriting Dao Jade Page, infusing into the space between his brows, within the Upper Dantian of his Divine Sea.

The entire process was very brief, after ten or so breaths, the Inheriting Dao Jade Page in his hand dimmed and became as dull as ordinary paper.

The Ice Movement True Intent from the Inheriting Dao Jade Page all fell into his Divine Sea, becoming his cultivation foundation.

Sun Lingtong giggled, eyes and brows curved in laughter: "This feels really good!"

He then proceeded to cast an Ice Magic.

With a tap of his finger, the ground condensed into a chessboard-like grid of ice, with clear lines arranged in an orderly fashion.

He blew a breath, snowflakes drifted in the air, each being a standard hexagon.

He stuck out his tongue, which was instantly covered by a thin layer of ice armor.

After playing for a while, he turned to look at Ning Zhuo, finding the latter sitting on a cushion, holding a Jade Slip, deeply absorbed in study.

Ning Zhuo first read the "Bitter Cold Scripture."

Previously, he purposely appeared to see through the roots. Like a master chef flipping through a recipe, at a glance knowing "this place needs a simmer," "this place needs vinegar seasoning," and knowing why these steps are necessary and what their use is. Even if not noticed before, a little pondering brings understanding.

Now, however, he is learning anew.

The previous him was looking down at the snowstorm from the peak of the ice mountain. But now, it’s as if he is observing the glacier from the foot of the mountain, learning again as a re-climb, with each strand of cold air scraping across the skin, bringing a vague prickling pain.

Re-understanding is naturally difficult.

Setting aside the "Bitter Cold Scripture," Ning Zhuo opened the "Ice Carving Secret Scripture."

Choosing the material for ice block carving, the prime importance is on ’following or going against the grain.’ Sculpting with the grain yields twice the result with half the effort; carving against the grain wastes nine out of ten efforts... Ning Zhuo savors and comprehends these subtle points repeatedly, accumulating continuously.

With small gatherings into greater, the change in quantity induces a qualitative transformation, allowing him to regain the depth and breadth of comprehension he once had with the "Ice Sculpture Secret Manual."

"It looks like revisiting, but it’s entirely different."

"Regarding the ’Bitter Cold Scripture’ and ’Ice Sculpture Secret Manual,’ I clearly know the outcomes of my previous understanding, or one might say the answers. But these answers and outcomes are quite unfamiliar; I still need to re-understand, step by step accumulate, ultimately achieving thorough integration."

"Once I achieve thorough integration, my Ice Movement Realm can recover."

"If not entirely, at least restoring most of it is certain."

Actually, just through this kind of study, Ning Zhuo has already distinctly felt a strong trend—the rapid recovery of the Ice Movement Realm.

"Much of my Ice Movement Realm relies on the profound Water Realm, leveraging interconnections."

"Both the ’Bitter Cold Scripture’ and ’Ice Sculpture Secret Manual’ are part of my learning content."

"Oh, and the life memory and experience of Ling Mo."

"Improving and renewing the Snow-colored Girl·Hui and Snow Core Control·Xie are, indeed, invaluable practices!"

Although Ning Zhuo’s Ice Movement Realm has fallen, its foundational roots remain; it hasn’t completely withdrawn.

He retraces the previous path, giving his Ice Movement Realm a strong resurgence trend and efficiency.

"This is also related to my Ice Movement Realm being not exceedingly profound. It is merely at the craftsman level."

For instance, it is akin to Ning Zhuo falling from the mountain peak, needing to climb again. Since the mountain wasn’t that high to begin with, retracing the old path with memory makes the climb back to the peak relatively quick and easily achievable.

Ning Zhuo takes out the Proud Snow Map and Frost Conquest Diagram for another look.

The Frost Conquest Diagram quickly finds entry, immediately supplying a great deal.

"Oh?" Upon looking at the Proud Snow Map, Ning Zhuo experiences a different sentiment than before.

"Isn’t the ancient plum in the painting just like myself at this moment? The realm has fallen, as if covered by snow and ice, the branches heavy-laden, appearing challenging. Yet it’s precisely due to being ’covered’ that one has to condense all life force inward, rooting deeper downward."

Ning Zhuo finds himself more immersed than before.

When he once again slowly opens his eyes, his Ice Movement Realm has already recovered to the Artisan Level.

However, he is not very pleased.

Because the Proud Snow Map is dimmer than before, and the picture has blurred significantly.

"Essentially, I’ve drawn out a portion of the Ice Movement Sentiment within the Proud Snow Map to fill my Divine Sea."

This originally belonged to Ning Zhuo.

It was merely moving it from one place to another.

Seeing Ning Zhuo open his eyes, Sun Lingtong finally spoke: "Little Zhuo, give me all the Inheriting Dao Jade Pages, and I’ll infuse my Array Dao True Intent."

"With these, clearing the Water Array is just around the corner!"

"Hee hee hee."

Things progressed much more smoothly than Sun Lingtong anticipated.

Ning Zhuo also felt pleased: "These Inheriting Dao Jade Pages alone are certainly insufficient. But I’ve already dispatched Gongsun Yan to set off again, to discuss and procure with Xiao Juxia."

"And there’s one more thing..."

Sun Lingtong waved his hand, interrupting him: "I know, focus on the current second test of the Evil Slaying Hall first."

This is the most pressing matter.

Evil Slaying Hall’s Hall Master Zhong Dao holds Ning Zhuo in such high regard, there was even a public political performance between him and Ning Zhuo not long ago (publicly returning the [White Rainbow Righteousness Festival]), so Ning Zhuo must not fail.

The next day.

The second Cloud Raising Trial Ground at the Evil Extermination Hall.

At the third quarter of the hour of Chen, as the morning sun began to rise.

"Activate—Formation—" The voice of the aged cultivator leading the formation was sonorous.

More than ten Golden Core Level cultivators each occupied the Array Eye, simultaneously performing magic techniques, infusing into the Array.

The Jade Platform Array Patterns lit up one after another, first the central Tai Chi Diagram spinning, with black and white beams shooting from the Yin Yang Fish Eyes directly piercing the sky; subsequently, the Eight Trigrams positions lit up in turn, the ancient seal characters for Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, Dui floated in the void, each character as large as a house, gleaming with golden light, rotating slowly.

Gold light like stars continually ascended into the air, forming 9,600 points of interwoven golden starmap above the Jade Platform.

The star map perimeter descended, slowly and firmly forming a spherical shape, creating a closed space.

"Infuse the World Smoke and Clouds!" The lead cultivator commanded again.

Thirty-six bronze Array Flags flapped noisily, drawing out a massive surge of strange smoke and clouds, channeling through the formation pathways, injecting into the spherical space.

For a moment, the cloud vapor surged like a thousand galloping horses, also resembling a hundred waterfalls suspended upside down, creating a spectacular sight.

Amidst the roiling cloud vapor, occasionally forming some image, then instantly vanishing, transforming into another form. There were partial profiles of people, shapes, hazy outlines of cities, silhouetted mountains, and also flowers, birds, beasts... intricate and ever-changing, seemingly real yet illusory.

Ning Zhuo stood among the crowd, witnessing this scene, felt a sense of awe: "What a tremendous feat!"

"The Evil Slaying Hall has expanded the specifications for the second test, going so far as to create a temporary Yunmeng Marsh."

Moments later, the cloud vapor settled. Presented before everyone was a dreamy, massive white mist-filled cloud ball.

"The second Evil Extermination Test, commence."

"Participants—Enter the Marsh—!"