Random Recommendation:
Zhu Xuanji did not appear, his divine sense piercing through the room, observing the stage.

No one knew Zhu Xuanji’s true intention for this arrangement involving Ning Zhuo.

He had at least three layers of thought.

One was to verify what was written in the diary and see Ning Zhuo’s manipulation skills in the drama “Fang Qing Vindicates the Wronged”.

Another was to use this matter to try and awaken Ning Zhuo, to inspire him.

The last one was also to use the drama itself to admonish Ning Zhuo, to give him a final ultimatum—the chance to turn over a new leaf was right before him, right now!

“These are the mechanism puppets used by Li Leifeng during his performances in his lifetime.” Zhu Hou personally ascended the stage and handed a set of puppet props to Ning Zhuo.

“Thank you.” Ning Zhuo expressed his gratitude.

At close range, Zhu Hou deeply scrutinized Ning Zhuo, his heart full of curiosity, wearing a genial smile: “Young man, work hard!”

Zhu Hou stepped down from the stage, and Ning Zhuo began to study the puppets in his hand.

The puppet structure was simple, mainly controlled by strings.

As Ning Zhuo familiarized himself with them, human life threads shot out from the Lava Immortal Palace, resting on Ning Zhuo’s head and connecting to his soul.

The voice of the Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit, extremely anxious and urgent, came through the human life threads: “Young Master, Young Master!”

“This is terrible, that Ning Xiaohui has offered the Golden Phoenix Mirror, we’re finished, we’re finished!”

“Once she has significant merit, she will immediately be able to take control of the Historiography Pavilion.”

“By then, no secret can be hidden.”

Ning Zhuo sighed and secretly responded through the human life threads: “Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit, I can’t leave now, I can’t escape!”

“Look, this stage is a cage.”

“That constable is staring at me like a tiger eyeing its prey.”

The Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit’s voice was sharp, burning with anxiety: “Then what do we do, what do we do?”

“Think of a way quickly!”

“I told you to think of a way early on, I told you to take action against Ning Xiaohui early on!”

“Now look, she’s about to succeed, and you’re outside the Immortal Palace!!”

The Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit was almost cursing loudly. At a critical juncture of life and death, Ning Zhuo was actually going to perform some puppet show.

Didn’t he always have a way? Why has he become so stupid now!

As soon as Zhu Xuanji stared at him, he couldn’t move, practically becoming a useless person!

“If I had known this, why would I have wagered on you?”

“Alas!”

“I must have been blind, completely blind!”

In the main hall of the Lava Immortal Palace, the Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit paced anxiously in circles, occasionally spitting fire upwards.

Ning Zhuo no longer paid attention to the Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit.

There were still three steps on the stage.

He ascended the steps, walked to the highest point, and sat on the round stool.

This was where Li Leifeng often sat during his lifetime.

The round stool was unremarkable, yet Ning Zhuo’s back was already soaked with sweat, as if sitting on pins and needles.

His mind was in turmoil, and he was very clear that Zhu Xuanji was putting pressure on him, but at the same time, he was also using this to give him a chance to turn back.

As long as Ning Zhuo finished performing this puppet show and met Zhu Xuanji again, he would kneel down and weep profusely, crying that he was too young and was courted, sponsored, and supported by evil cultivators, getting on the wrong ship.

Now, being enlightened by Zhu Xuanji and feeling guilty because he recalled Li Leifeng, he decided to confess his guilt and turn over a new leaf.

By then, Zhu Xuanji would definitely help him up and let him make amends for his crimes.

Ning Zhuo could also contact Sun Lingtong again, frame the Void Gate, and act out this play well.

“Zhu Xuanji asking me to go on stage is actually giving me a step down. As long as I follow his wishes and step down from the stage, it’s like a prodigal son returning, worth more than gold.”

“I can be cleansed!”

“In the future, backed by Zhu Xuanji, achieving success on the righteous path, when people mention this period, it will also become a beautiful anecdote.”

“Just like the various classic dramas that have been passed down!”

Ning Zhuo narrowed his eyes, his emotions overflowing.

When talking to Song Fuli, he saw a second path in life. That path led to the Flying Cloud Country.

And at this moment, he saw a third path in life. This path led to the Nandou Kingdom, to the imperial court.

Life, it seemed, was indeed not just one path.

If he followed Ning Zhuo’s plan, he was determined to seize the Lava Immortal Palace, which would undoubtedly make him an enemy of Meng Kui and Zhu Xuanji, and an enemy of the Meng family and the royal family of the Nandou Kingdom.

“Could my former path in life… truly succeed?”

“Could I truly become the master of the Immortal Palace?”

“Even if I become the master of the Immortal Palace, how should I deal with enemies like Meng Kui and Zhu Xuanji?”

“Can I just leave? Fly away with the Lava Immortal Palace?”

Ning Zhuo couldn’t guarantee himself, he couldn’t predict the future.

His former path in life was full of dangers, like throwing himself into endless lava, like committing suicide!

However, if he defected to Zhu Xuanji, it would be different.

Zhu Xuanji appreciated him greatly!

Regarding this point, Ning Zhuo could feel it completely.

Good steeds are common, but discerning eyes are not.

By relying on Zhu Xuanji, Ning Zhuo was very likely to rise quickly. Ning Zhuo knew Zhu Xuanji’s position in the royal family very well.

There was no shortage of Golden Core cultivators in the Nandou royal family, but Zhu Xuanji was the most outstanding one among the Golden Core cultivators.

Cultivation did not represent everything; temperament, talent, and innate ability were the keys to determining the disparity between cultivators.

Ning Zhuo believed that Zhu Xuanji had a vast future and would surely be a prominent minister in the Nandou Kingdom’s court in the future!

“Only the sensible are heroes… The Nandou King also issued a decree seeking talented individuals.”

“If I defect to Zhu Xuanji, perhaps I can also continue to contend for the position of Immortal Palace Master. Then follow the decree seeking talented individuals, offer the Immortal Palace, become a Nandou court official, and rise rapidly by relying on Zhu Xuanji!”

“Such a future…”

This was a future Ning Zhuo had never thought of.

Perhaps, as Zhu Xuanji had just pointed out to him – he was already different.

He was no longer the petty thief below the stage, he was already the young master on the stage!

On both sides of the stage, musicians began to play.

A drumbeat sounded, breaking Ning Zhuo’s contemplation.

Then.

Dong dong dong.

The large drum was slowly struck.

Subsequently, the Jinghu began to accompany, creating a solemn atmosphere.

The stage creaked and groaned, the stage surface sunk down, and then a large area of small mechanism buildings rose up, constructing a scene.

The performing puppets were placed within it, and more than a dozen control strings extended from their bodies and limbs.

The control strings were faintly visible, but after Ning Zhuo infused them with magic power, the control strings became invisible, completely transparent, and could not be seen with the naked eye.

Ning Zhuo extended his ten fingers, all gathered within his sleeves, and began a series of manipulating movements.

The ends of his ten fingers were connected to the control strings, manipulating the puppets one by one, and the first scene of the drama “Fang Qing Vindicates the Wronged” began.

In the great hall, the Fang Qing puppet sat upright.

On the table before him were case files, a gavel, a token, and writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, etc.

The Fang Qing puppet spoke, radiating an imposing aura: “Bring the criminal to the hall!”

Two constables, one on each side, escorted a criminal to the front of the hall.

The criminal knelt on the ground, his face timid, but he still feigned calmness.

Just this simple entrance surprised the audience.

Puppets were different from mechanism puppets used in normal combat; they had many control strings, allowing for more subtle movements and expressions, and even the tone of voice could vary with the intensity and urgency of the magic power transmission.

Ning Zhuo manipulated these puppets with a high level of skill, making them appear quite natural, like real people.

The Fang Qing puppet continued to speak, recounting the criminal’s crimes, which were detailed and well-supported, very rigorous.

The criminal sang anxiously, his tone containing a sense of indignation: “I am but a humble citizen, and you, Fang Qing, falsely acting as a high official, are pressing me for answers!”

“In this world, everyone is like this, why only accuse me?”

The Fang Qing puppet sang: “The net of law is vast and all-encompassing, it allows no one to escape. Regardless of status, everyone will be severely punished.”

“Heaven’s principles are clear and bright, how can you argue sophistically?”

“You are merely an accomplice, do not harbor any侥幸.”

The Fang Qing puppet accurately grabbed the gavel on the table and struck it, making a crisp sound.

Then he shouted: “The evidence is conclusive, quickly confess the true culprit!”

The criminal puppet lowered his head and remained silent.

The constables escorted him back down, heading towards the prison.

They pushed open the door.

Ning Xiaohui walked into the Historiography Pavilion!

Her face was full of excitement and emotion, she had not expected to enter here so quickly and accomplish the mission Zhu Xuanji had given her.

“I succeeded!”

“Although I used the Golden Phoenix Mirror, I ultimately succeeded.”

“Hahaha!”

Ning Xiaohui laughed heartily, full of high spirits at this moment.

The Historiography Pavilion was filled with countless jade slips.

Ning Xiaohui walked among them, reaching out to touch these jade slips, a smile on her lips, her eyes shining, feeling smug and satisfied.

“From now on, I will also be able to enter the eyes of Lord Zhu Xuanji.”

“Excellent, entering the Immortal Palace through this route is the most suitable for me.”

“I have seized this opportunity in life!”

Ning Xiaohui suppressed her excitement and began to use her position to investigate the past records in the Lava Immortal Palace.

She pondered for a moment, then suddenly her eyes widened, discovering an extremely astonishing secret.

“Great discovery!”

“That Zheng family’s mechanism black snake actually came from here?”

Ning Xiaohui’s face was full of surprise, and she continued to investigate.

Soon, she opened her mouth, extremely shocked.

“Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit! This Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit is extremely problematic!”

Ning Xiaohui became incredibly excited. At this moment, she finally understood why Zhu Xuanji wanted her to investigate the Historiography Pavilion.

This step was truly too crucial!

“As expected of Lord Zhu Xuanji! He should have already suspected something, he just lacked evidence.”

“I have evidence in my hands now, I’ve made a great contribution!”

Ning Xiaohui’s face was flushed with excitement as she continued to look.

But then, the redness on her face quickly faded, she was dumbfounded, and her excitement and emotion turned into fear and paleness.

“Ning Zhuo, Ning Zhuo…”

“It was you!!!”

“Conspiracy, a huge conspiracy.”

“This is too terrifying, you’ve been acting since you were two years old.”

“Qi Refining Stage, you’re only at the Qi Refining Stage, yet you dare to scheme for the Lava Immortal Palace! You are simply audacious, your crime is unforgivable!!”

Ning Xiaohui reprimanded in her heart.

The truth was horrifying, making her feel bone-chilling cold all over.

But soon, she became extremely excited.

“Ning Zhuo, you criminal, I’ve caught you!”

“Hahaha, you are the biggest true culprit!”

“You are finished, you are completely finished.”

“I will use you to make my great contribution. How exhilarating, how exhilarating!”

The next moment, a loud bang was heard, and the Lava Immortal Palace shook violently.

Ning Xiaohui lost her footing, her body staggered, and she almost fell headfirst.

She became surprised and uncertain: “What’s going on? What happened?”

(End of this chapter)