Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 25: Chapter 24: Ning Zhuo Enters the Immortal Palace

Ning Zhuo started to examine the items left by Chen Cha.

First was the jade slip, as white as snow.

Pressing it against his forehead and injecting Divine Sense, Ning Zhuo found that it was a compilation of formations titled “Curved Serpent Activation Formation Collection,” authored by White Scale Hermit.

After browsing through it briefly, Ning Zhuo revealed a trace of astonishment.

“This White Scale Hermit is not of the Human Race, but a male serpent demon.”

“He was severely injured in his middle age, unable to restore his serpent body, thus he crafted mechanisms as replacements, striving to make his serpent body whole again.”

“The formations recorded in this jade slip are those used on mechanical serpent bodies and flesh and blood serpent bodies.”

Although White Scale Hermit left little information, Ning Zhuo felt that this demon was at least of Nascent Soul level strength.

“Chen Cha must have obtained this jade slip and studied it diligently, earning the title of ‘Living Array Master’ and gaining the ability to create mechanism artifacts.”

“He has given me his entire foundation.”

The evidence for Ning Zhuo’s judgment was the jade slip content, which included a large number of Chen Cha’s personal annotations, insights, and records of solo experiments and experiences in designing mechanisms.

Knowledge is priceless.

This was Chen Cha’s foundation for establishing himself, likely something he wouldn’t reveal even if he took on a disciple.

But unexpectedly, Chen Cha directly gave the jade slip to Ning Zhuo.

“This old Chen…”

Ning Zhuo sighed, then opened the other bag.

Inside were over twenty wooden balls. The sizes varied, some as large as a baby’s fist, others as small as a little finger’s tip.

Each wooden ball had two sides, one side pitch black and the other pure white. The black side bore the word “Dead,” while the white side bore the word “Alive.”

“Half-Dead Half-Alive Beads,” Ning Zhuo immediately recognized these wooden beads after browsing the jade slip’s content.

These wooden beads were Chen Cha’s unique creation, designed based on White Scale Hermit’s formation collection, combined with his own experience and sudden inspiration.

The wooden beads were basic components of mechanism artifacts, used for joint areas.

When the bead turned to the white “Alive” side, the joint would move freely. When it turned to the black “Dead” side, the joint would be locked in place.

The brilliance lay in the hidden connection between these wooden beads. If formation patterns were engraved on the main mechanical component, it would create one or multiple living formations.

Controlling these wooden beads, switching between dead and alive, allowed the mechanism artifact to perform various intricate actions.

“These are excellent!”

“The application range of these Half-Dead Half-Alive Beads is extensive.”

“They can be used in the Explosive Flame Monkey and maybe even the Top and Bottom Wishing Ropes. Their performance should greatly surpass previous levels.”

Ning Zhuo’s face lit up with joy.

He absolutely loved these mechanism artifacts.

To others, these wooden beads might hold little value. But to Ning Zhuo, they were rare treasures, offering significant help.

Finally, Ning Zhuo examined the heaviest bag.

Inside, he found 5,118 Spirit Stones.

With such an exact number, Ning Zhuo fell silent for a moment.

“This must be all of Old Chen’s possessions,” he sighed, feeling a touch of guilt.

He carefully stored the items and began his recovery.

The Warming Cultivation Pill worked excellently, quickly adapting Ning Zhuo’s body to his new Five Elements Mana.

Ning Zhuo focused entirely on his cultivation, striving to return to the third level of the Qi Refinement Realm as soon as possible.

“When I reach the third level, will the Dharma Transmission Bell resound through the city again?”

“I must seize every second and give it my all!”

“Mother was right. I am just an ordinary person with no background or resources.”

“I’m probably already far behind others at this pace!”

Before Ning Zhuo’s mother passed away, she had advised him to strive for ranking and become a mechanism seed to receive resource support.

Ning Zhuo lacked crucial information, but he chose to take a gamble, changing his cultivation to the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art without hesitation.

“Besides cultivating the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art, I need to find a way to get close to the Magma Fairy Palace.”