Ban Ji’s expression was grim. “Yes. In the beginning, I learned from Pi Fùjié that Ning Zhuo possessed a wondrous automaton capable of forming a Golden Core, and I wanted to seize it.”

“So I first investigated him and then sent a flying letter, expressing my desire for a sparring match.”

“Who would have thought that this young man, who is only in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, would be similar to Situ Xing?”

“Such a possibility is one in a million.”

Ban Jie rolled her eyes. “So, you’re saying you have bad luck?”

Ban Ji: “Exactly. That’s why he is my personal tribulation.”

Ban Jie shook her head. “He now has your challenge letter and holds the initiative. He can avoid a fight, but if he produces that challenge letter, you must accept the challenge!”

Ban Ji gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Ning Zhuo was a foreigner, and the power behind him remained veiled in mystery, completely unknown in Feiyun Nation.

This was Ning Zhuo’s weakness, but also an advantage. At least, trying to force Ning Zhuo to fight based on his faction’s reputation was highly unlikely. Ban Ji, however, was not in such a position.

His situation was similar to Situ Xing and Zhu Fenxiang; if others attacked the Ban family, Ban Ji would have no choice but to fight.

In this regard, he was different from Pi Fùjié.

Pi Fùjié had directly refused Ning Zhuo’s challenge, which was quite natural. The Pi family itself had transitioned from demonic cultivation to the righteous path, and their true nature was always there.

Ban Ji was different. The Ban family had always been a righteous family, and Ban Ji’s cultivation of demonic arts was an anomaly.

In short, the Ban family cared about its reputation!

Without honor, how could they maintain their standing on the righteous path?

Ban Ji showed a ruthless glint. “Honestly, if Ning Zhuo were to challenge me proactively, it wouldn’t be bad.”

“If he’s foolish enough to challenge me, I’ll give him that chance.”

“Of course, if the family could provide me with more Golden Core-level automatons, my chances would be even greater.”

Ban Jie immediately shook her head. “Don’t be reckless.”

Since she had been assigned to assist Ban Ji, she had been informed of the family’s secrets before departing. Ban Jie not only knew about Ban Ji’s Mandate of the King but also the perilous situation where the family’s Fate Axis Chain had nearly collapsed.

Ban Jie said in a deep voice, “Ning Zhuo is not as simple as you imagine; the waters behind him run very deep.”

Ban Ji snorted. “If it weren’t for being in the Myriad Forms Sect, with my usual temperament, I would have already gathered people and crushed him directly.”

“Even if I fight alone, as long as I have eight or more Golden Core-level automatons, I can achieve Nascent Soul-level combat power with my talent and demonic cultivation!”

“Little Ning Zhuo, I will crush him like an ant.”

Ban Jie sighed.

Ban Ji himself did not know the secret of the Mandate of the King. She couldn’t tell him directly.

“Ban Ji’s Mandate of the King has not yet erupted; it is still very weak.”

“But according to the family’s plan for him, repeated trials will stimulate his Mandate of the King, officially commencing his journey.”

“Ning Zhuo is a top-tier genius, with unfathomable forces behind him, and he is Ban Ji’s personal tribulation this time. His luck currently surpasses Ban Ji’s. From the overall situation, it’s clear that Ning Zhuo holds the initiative!”

“To let Ban Ji confront Ning Zhuo head-on now is extremely risky! Ban Ji is currently at a disadvantage and needs to catch up in terms of prestige, continuously stimulating his Mandate of the King, and rapidly increasing his strength.”

“The family has expended vast resources and endured countless hardships to divine the optimal path for him. Each trial can bring about a subtle qualitative change in his strength!”

“As long as we are given sufficient time, Ban Ji’s personal combat power and fortune will surge.”

“Once Ban Ji’s strength continuously surpasses Ning Zhuo’s, leaving him far behind, this personal tribulation will resolve itself.”

“This is the Way of the King! This is the advantage of the Mandate of the King.”

Ban Jie already had a plan in mind. Of course, her plan wasn’t her own but derived from the collective wisdom of the entire Ban family.

“Ban Ji and the family’s destinies are linked; they prosper and decline together.”

“Now is the time for the family to shelter him from the storm and buy precious time.”

“The future is ours!”

Ban Jie’s public gift-giving earlier was also an attempt to buy time. However, Ning Zhuo reacted quite strongly, which, from the Ban family’s perspective, indicated that the young man was overly arrogant.

But the higher-ups of the Ban family understood this arrogance very well.

“It’s the delusion of destiny!”

“Even if he is a top-tier genius, compared to the Mandate of the King, he is but a mortal. Used by the Heavenly Dao, reduced to a tribulation for the Mandate of the King, he is naturally deluded by destiny and becomes a pawn to test the Mandate of the King.”

Now, with the challenge letter in Ning Zhuo’s hands, Ban Jie was very worried that Ning Zhuo might use this card to force Ban Ji into an immediate confrontation.

“He is so young, yet so high-profile, openly showing his attitude and provoking the Ban family. This means he must have something to rely on!”

“Ban Ji has trump cards, and Ning Zhuo certainly does too.”

“The family’s activation of the Fate Axis Chain failed to fully calculate his destiny, and even a part of the family’s guardian automaton collapsed, which is enough to prove the point.”

“Even putting aside all of the above, the mere fact that he was chosen by Heaven to become Ban Ji’s personal tribulation already proves the point.”

“How can we prevent him from using the letter to force Ban Ji into a direct confrontation?”

Ban Jie frowned deeply.

She glanced at Ban Ji, said nothing, but decided in her heart: “If Ning Zhuo comes to force a battle, even if I have to knock out Ban Ji, I must avoid this confrontation. The timing is too unfavorable for us. Even if the Ban family’s reputation is damaged, compared to protecting the Mandate of the King, this price is acceptable!”

“Ning Zhuo has the backing of Confucian cultivators and the Demon Purging Hall, but spreading rumors is still a viable option. However, this action won’t deal him a severe blow; it’s merely a harassing punch.”

“We must protect Ban Ji to prevent a repeat of the Qinghuangzi incident, so we need to release a large amount of interference. On one hand, it could be traps; on the other hand, even pure benefits, as long as they distract Ning Zhuo’s attention, would be a gain.”

“Alas, I never thought that my esteemed Ban family would be in such a weak and passive position.”

Rumors began to spread!

Various rumors and opinions targeting Ning Zhuo circulated throughout the Myriad Forms Sect’s main mountain gate.

These rumors focused cultivators’ attention on Ning Zhuo’s outsider status, emphasizing his arrogance, haughty demeanor, disdain for native Feiyun Nation cultivators, and lack of grace.

At the same time, they pointed out that Ning Zhuo’s cultivation was only at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, making him the weakest among all top-tier geniuses. Yet, he treated people with an arrogant air, believing himself to be the center of the world.

These rumors could only slightly damage Ning Zhuo’s image and goodwill.

Without offending the Confucian cultivator community and the Demon Purging Hall, Ban Jie had done her utmost.

What shocked and angered her, however, were the rumors targeting the Ban family, which exposed Ban Ji’s past transgressions during his cultivation, bringing old matters to light and making them public.

What particularly disgusted Ban Jie was another rumor. This rumor, from the perspective of the Ban family, encouraged the Ban family to cleanse its ranks and eliminate Ban Ji, this “rotten apple.”

“The family’s fate is already tied to the Mandate of the King; ‘cleansing the ranks’ would be equivalent to revolutionizing the Ban family itself!”

“This rumor is truly malicious! It attempts to separate Ban Ji and the Ban family, on one hand, sowing discord, and on the other hand, forcing the family. If the family continues to tolerate Ban Ji, it will inevitably arouse suspicion and greatly damage its reputation.”

“Ning Zhuo—he’s formidable indeed!”

“The matter of Zhu Fenxiang—the probability that he did it is now as high as seventy percent.”

Although Ban Jie had anticipated a passive situation, when it actually occurred, the severity of the situation still exceeded her expectations.

An expert’s move reveals their skill.

In a confrontation between masters, a mere glance can roughly ascertain each other’s general power level.

This round of confrontation was Ban Jie’s forte, yet she was being utterly dominated by Ning Zhuo.

The disparity in skill was too obvious!

“Our disadvantage is too great, and my hands are tied. How can I possibly contend with Ning Zhuo? Damnable! Detestable!” Ban Jie bit her lip until blood flowed, unaware of it.

She felt extremely stifled, a fire burning within her!

The Myriad Forms Sect’s Feiyun Grand Assembly was drawing immense attention, with countless eyes from across the entire Feiyun Nation fixed upon it. Not only within the nation, but many cultivators from other countries would also travel great distances to seize opportunities to join and perform.

On this grand stage, any action could be magnified countless times.

Ning Zhuo displayed the demeanor of a top-tier genius, and his influence was not limited to the Myriad Forms Sect’s main mountain gate; it had already spread, beginning to propagate throughout the entire Feiyun Nation.

If his excellent performance continued until the end of the Feiyun Grand Assembly, his reputation could even spread to neighboring cultivation nations!

This was the Feiyun Grand Assembly!

It was precisely for this reason that Situ Xing, Lin Jinglong, Shen Xi, Ban Ji, Pi Fùjié, and others had waited many years for such an opportunity to flock together.

This was truly the best stage to become famous far and wide!

And now, the rumors spread by Ning Zhuo were dealing a truly devastating blow to the reputations of Ban Ji and the Ban family.

Ban Jie was well aware that the Ban family’s good name was rapidly wavering. Ban Ji had also become a target of public criticism!

“Now, the family’s Fate Axis Chain has probably reacted significantly. The family’s luck must be rapidly declining.”

“Alas, but there is truly no other way. Compared to the Mandate of the King, this is a necessary sacrifice.”

In the past, Ban Jie had not understood, always believing that the family’s indulgence of Ban Ji stemmed from the elders’ doting affection and leniency toward a genius.

Now, she knew the truth: the Ban family was also helpless. Ban Ji’s Mandate of the King fell upon the monstrous path and the demonic sect. Even if they forced him to cultivate the righteous path, fate would make various arrangements, compelling him to defect and become a demonic cultivator.

At that time, the entire Ban family would have to deal with Ban Ji.

Instead, by conforming to the development of the Mandate of the King, actively allowing him to cultivate demonic techniques, and linking the family’s fate with the Mandate of the King, they fundamentally prevented the situation of turning against each other.

The Ban family suffered a heavy price to protect Ban Ji. But in the future, when the Mandate of the King erupts, securing a place and establishing a minor cultivation nation, the entire Ban family would also rise in status, becoming royal relatives!

Qingshi Cave Dwelling.

All kinds of intelligence converged into Ning Zhuo’s hands.

“Ban Jie didn’t spread rumors about me cheating? She certainly has some skill.”

This was the Myriad Forms Sect’s main mountain gate. It would be very easy for the Myriad Forms Sect to trace back the source if outsiders like Ning Zhuo and Ban Jie spread rumors. If Ban Jie had indeed spread rumors about Ning Zhuo cheating, it would have been a foolish move.

“Just fabricating my arrogant and overbearing personality is neither painful nor itchy.”

“The question is, Ban Ji has already secured the first place at the Blind Fool’s residence and obtained the stone tablet. Next, which trial will he participate in?”

“Will it be the Nine-Fold Profound Armored Warriors of the ancient sect Jishu Sect, or the Calculating Star Automaton of the celestial ruins?”

“Will the Immortal Bird Feathered Tribe fulfill their promise to find a fated person for the Great Peng Wings, or will it be the recruitment trial for the Guicang Locksmiths?”

The collected intelligence already showed that Ban Ji possessed Golden Core-level automatons.

Ning Zhuo would not proactively seek trouble with Ban Ji while Yuan Dasheng and Meng Yehù, his two major combat powers, were unavailable.

Firstly, Xuè Shūyù · Xiē and Xuè Cǎinǚ · Huì were newly created Golden Core-level puppets from the Konggu Yinjie Qingji Tube inheritance, specialized in defense, and Ning Zhuo couldn’t fully unleash their combat power.

Secondly, the Myriad Forms Sect’s training grounds did not prohibit killing, and in Ning Zhuo’s opinion, such a risk was unnecessary.

Thirdly, he wanted to establish his authority against Ban Ji, not to kill him. The other party was backed by the Ban family, and Ning Zhuo didn’t want to completely offend the Ban family.

“Time is my advantage.”

“I have many learning methods, Lingyin Liu is also on its way, and the trials here are all resources for my rapid growth.”

“As long as I can suppress Ban Ji and establish some prestige, that will suffice.”

“I am a newcomer, yet I have risen to fame. I need to establish my authority to stand firm and stable!”

Ning Zhuo was unaware of Ban Ji’s secret of the Mandate of the King, nor did he know that the Ban family’s fate was intertwined with Ban Ji’s, prospering and declining together, thus fully supporting Ban Ji.

He was even less aware that, from the perspective of Ban Ji and the Ban family, he was Ban Ji’s personal tribulation and must be handled with utmost effort and caution!

Ning Zhuo’s plan was: find the trial Ban Ji intended to participate in, and he would proactively join. In this way, he would confront Ban Ji. If he could repeatedly suppress Ban Ji, he could establish his prestige.

Ordinary cultivators who wanted to trouble Ning Zhuo would have to think twice.

After all, Ning Zhuo was a formidable character who dared to provoke even the Ban family and could even suppress Ban Ji.

The result Ning Zhuo wanted to achieve now was to make most people feel apprehensive when offending him, knowing that they would pay a huge price!

“Earlier trials related to automaton techniques were not many.”

“But with Ban Jie’s arrival here, the scale of the automaton trials has more than tripled.”

“And these trials even proactively sent me invitations to participate!”

“There must be a trap from the Ban family in this!”

“I must choose carefully.”

If he truly stepped into a trap, under the influence of the Ban family, Ning Zhuo would inevitably lose, perhaps even to Ban Ji. That would be a fruitless endeavor.

“I need more intelligence to make the most accurate judgment possible.”

“In addition to the backgrounds of these automaton trials, I also need Ban Ji’s precise movements.”

“Before that, I’ll have to rely on guesswork.”

“This trial revolves around the Nine-Fold Profound Armored Warriors of the ancient sect Jishu Sect. It has appeared in previous Feiyun Grand Assemblies, and Ban Ji has also sent subordinates to investigate it. In my opinion, it’s the most likely one.”

Ban Family.

Ancestral Shrine.

Surrounding the Fate Axis Chain, a group of Grand Elders were panting, their bodies and minds utterly exhausted.

The structure of the Fate Axis Chain had changed again, and in the glazed vertical tube, the water level was slowly rising.

This represented Ban Ji’s destiny.

“Obtaining the stone tablet is not the key; the key is mastering the Divine Art of Blind Ignorance and officially activating the Mandate of the King!”

“What’s next?”

“It’s the Nine-Fold Profound Armored Warriors.”