Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 429: Chapter 68: So That’s How It Is!
 

“Five Elements Divine Master?!” Ning Zhuo hurriedly extended his Divine Sense over the stalactite.

But he couldn’t find anything unusual.

In fact, he didn’t even catch a glimpse of the Five Elements Divine Master’s shadow.

It all seemed like nothing more than an auditory hallucination.

Yet with the sharpness of a hawk, in that moment, Ning Zhuo confirmed a part of his speculation—there was indeed something peculiar about the Myriad Demons Cave!

“Junior brother?” Linghu Jiu noticed Ning Zhuo’s unusual expression.

Ning Zhuo looked at Linghu Jiu, “Brother, I’ve just heard the ancient voice of the Five Elements Divine Master. It was he who appeared twice before, first to impart to me the Divine Skill, and later to enhance my realm in the Five Elements.”

Ning Zhuo made no attempt to conceal, and directly repeated the words of the Five Elements Divine Master.

“Could that be?” Linghu Jiu was greatly surprised.

The two of them examined the pointed-out stalactite closely.

Their Divine Sense swept back and forth but did not find anything abnormal about this particular stalactite.

“Junior brother, are these words truly from the stalactite mentioned by the Five Elements Divine Master?” Linghu Jiu wanted to confirm once more.

Ning Zhuo frowned, “Indeed, the voice I heard before emanated from this stalactite. But no matter how I investigate, it seems to be but an ordinary stalactite.”

Compared with the many other stalactites around, this one wasn’t special. It rooted at the top of the cave wall, stretching downwards, its surface covered in fine textures like flowing ripples, emitting a sense of ancient mystery.

The surface of the stalactite was quite moist, and a water droplet gradually formed at its tip.

The droplet grew larger and then detached from the column, falling lightly downwards. As it pierced through the tranquil air, seemingly slow but swift, it hit the ground and emitted a faint “drip-drop” sound.

At this moment, Ning Zhuo and Linghu Jiu both felt a momentary haze, as if the miraculous droplet was the embodiment of time itself, carrying myriad years of secrets, yet with a breath of freshness, from its formation to shattering, a moment turned into a millennium!

Ning Zhuo and Linghu Jiu exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in each other’s eyes.

Ning Zhuo murmured, “So it turns out, the essence of the stalactite is ordinary, but this droplet is the key!”

Linghu Jiu expressed his admiration, “Incredible! In the moment the droplet fell, I felt the solemn presence of an ancient Array. I’ve passed this place well over a hundred times, never imagining the hidden portal lay within a droplet.”

“The opportunity to enter lies only in the time it takes for the droplet to fall.”

“What kind of Array could this be?”

Ning Zhuo also shook his head slightly, indicating he had never heard of it.

However, from within the Mechanical Dragon, Sun Lingtong transmitted, “I remember, Master once mentioned to me… this is likely the Jade Drip Formation.”

“This Array contains the principle of time, the essence of temporality, able to greatly slow the passage of time within the Array, achieving a relative prolongation of life. But it must be set up in a dark environment, with little light, or even no light at all.”

“Earlier, Little Zhuo, didn’t you raise a question about the longevity of the Five Elements Divine Master? Perhaps this Array is the answer.”

After discussing, Ning Zhuo and Linghu Jiu decided to proceed to the Array together.

As the droplet fell, they locked onto it with their Divine Sense and plunged in.

In their field of vision, the droplet expanded, in an instant, transforming from a droplet to the size of a hill.

From the outside looking in, however, the droplet radiated a strange light, bathing the two men, who then rapidly shrank in size and entered into the droplet.

Drip-drop.

The next moment, the droplet hit the rocky ground, shattering into countless tiny fragments.

Ning Zhuo and Linghu Jiu disappeared from their spot. Without their Mana to support the light, brightness quickly dissipated, plunging the cave back into darkness and tranquility.

The two men had entered the droplet and the Array within.

This was a mist-filled world inside the Array.

Upon entering, Ning Zhuo and Linghu Jiu stood still, not daring to move rashly.

Within the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon, Sun Lingtong let out an exclamation, “There’s another Array within this one! An Array-in-Array!”

“The Jade Drip Formation is already sophisticated, but merely the Outer Array. Junior brother, be extremely cautious, this Inner Array is surely extraordinary!”

Nearby, Linghu Jiu also marveled, “Array-in-Array! Ning Zhuo, my junior brother, my knowledge of Formations is minimal, and I am most learned in Swordsmanship and tasting wine. I dare not move recklessly; you explore this Array first.”

Ning Zhuo looked around for a while and saw that the light fog obscured his vision, not allowing sight beyond five steps.

The fog was pure white but occasionally, large shadows flickered and passed in an instant.

Ning Zhuo was skilled in Mechanical Techniques and somewhat versed in Formations, yet at this moment, he was at a loss, unable to discern the basis of this Array.

“Nevertheless, it’s your turn, elder brother,” Ning Zhuo sent a message.

Sun Lingtong chuckled, “This kind of adventure is the most interesting. Watch me.”

Saying so, he activated his Innate Spiritual Eyes, eyes shining with Spirit Light, piercing the fog to see a broader space.

Sun Lingtong’s proficiency in Formations surpassed Ning Zhuo’s.

Ning Zhuo delved deeply into Mechanical Techniques but didn’t specialize in Formations. Sun Lingtong, on the other hand, had a deeper understanding of Formations.

On one hand, Sun Lingtong had also studied the Technique Classics left by Meng Yaoyin, and on the other hand, as a disciple of the Bukong Sect, studying Formations was crucial for a thief.

Lastly, Sun Lingtong was older than Ning Zhuo, with more time invested in studying Arrays.

Sun Lingtong cleared up many things and immediately transmitted them to Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo smiled faintly, “Brother Linghu, I have discerned it. Come, walk with me.”

Ning Zhuo reached out, grabbed Linghu Jiu’s arm, and took the lead in stepping forward.