Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

At the peak of the mountain.

Liu Er's mentor—the Demon Cultivator Elder, sat immobile upon a boulder.

With nimble fingers, he incessantly twirled a Spiritual Pearl, silently channeling his cultivation for quite some time.

The Elder slowly opened his eyes, activating Mana.

Fueled by Mana, the Spiritual Pearl gradually unleashed a blinding brilliance.

The Elder opened his mouth and swallowed the Spiritual Pearl.

Upon entering his mouth, the Spiritual Pearl did not proceed down his throat towards his stomach, but instead traveled upwards, coming to rest between the Elder's eyebrows.

Excruciating agony assailed the Demon Cultivator Elder, causing copious veins to bulge around his eye sockets, contorting his expression into one of ferocious horror.

The light from the Spiritual Pearl slowly faded.

At the center of the Elder's forehead, a large, round lump surfaced.

The Demon Cultivator Elder brought his fingers together like a blade, raising his palm in front of him and fiercely chopping towards himself.

A surge of sharp Mana exploded forth, cleanly slicing open the round lump on the Elder's forehead.

Instantaneously, fresh blood and some mysterious yellow fluid splattered out, eliciting an involuntary groan of pain from the Elder.

He bit down hard on his teeth, closed his eyes, and relied solely on the "round lump" on his forehead to see.

Once the round lump was split open, it revealed an orange-yellow eyeball streaked with blood vessels.

The eyeball emitted a profound glow, illuminating over a meter in front of the Elder.

Through the Elder's vision, the distant Canglin Immortal City underwent a complete transformation; countless Qi Fortunes intertwined and interlocked, forming a kaleidoscopic and complex spectacle.

The Elder stimulated a spell, continuously adjusting his vision, eliminating many irrelevant details.

Soon, only three factions remained in his sight.

At the center stood a huge Red Flower, blood-soaked and with petals scattered, swaying tumultuously amid the storm.

Amid the vast storm, a Golden Spear hovered in the sky, resplendently sharp, radiating a golden chill, seemingly invincible.

The aura of the Golden Spear intimidated the Red Flower, as if it would strike down at any moment.

There was also a White Jade Plaque, crafted from white jade, crystalline and lustrous, likewise suspended high in the sky, overlooking the Red Flower with the towering grandeur reminiscent of mountain ranges.

"Red Flower Camp's Mu Lan, Golden Halberd Army's Sun Gan, and White Jade Camp's Shuangjing..."

"Has Xiao Liu still not grasped it?"

The Demon Cultivator Elder murmured in disappointment.

He couldn't sustain much longer, his third eye on the forehead wept ceaselessly with blood, and blood also seeped from his two eye sockets.

Right at that moment, a robust Qi Fortune appeared, materializing into a monkey also surrounding the Red Flower.

The monkey, covered in yellow fur with three ears, seemed much smaller when compared to the Golden Spear and the White Jade Plaque. Yet upon appearing, it leaped several bounds, coming closest to the Red Flower.

The monkey stretched out its hand, poised to pluck the flower.

"Good, good, good!" the Demon Cultivator Elder exclaimed in joy, "Indeed the King's Order is upon him; I didn't even need to hint, and Xiao Liu has already grasped the truth!"

The Demon Cultivator Elder lingered nearby, without leaving, repeatedly probing just to witness this scene.

Now, the anxiety he harbored immediately diminished greatly.

But in the next moment, as if the monkey's flower-plucking posture provoked the other two parties, the Golden Spear shot out golden radiance, sweeping the surroundings. The White Jade Plaque similarly soared above the Red Flower, slowly pressing downward.

The Demon Cultivator Elder, watching this unfold, slowly came to a realization and sighed, "The enemy is formidable indeed."

"However, if these two forces were not as dominant, how would there be an opportunity for my Xiao Liu to seize? Hehehe."

In the Red Flower Camp.

"What brings General Shuangjing here?" Mu Lan asked, her expression emotionless and gaze calm.

Shuangjing clapped his hands, and his subordinates immediately carried in several massive treasure chests.

These chests all emitted an aura indicative of the Golden Core Level, clearly containing treasures and Storage Treasures of the Golden Core Level.

Shuangjing then commanded his subordinates to open the chests one by one, revealing a massive quantity of Treasures, Spirit Stones, and even military supplies within.

Mu Lan sneered coldly.

Zhang Zhongyi had already returned to the Red Flower Camp.

She had learned from him about Shuangjing's conspiracy to entrap her, and her heart was filled with extreme loathing for Shuangjing.

"General Mu Lan, these are merely a part of the engagement gifts; what do you think?" Shuangjing said.

"Considering your current situation, just one of these chests would be sufficient to support your Red Flower Camp for several months."

Even though Mu Lan was prepared, she was still infuriated to the point of turning pale, "You wish to marry me too? Then, under the guise of this relationship, attempt to seize the Upper General Seal?"

Shuangjing's smile slightly froze, "Too?"

Mu Lan scoffed coldly, "Not long ago, Sun Gan secretly entered my military tent and threatened me. If I did not comply with him, he would pretend to be the Old Monster in Stone and wreak havoc within the Red Flower Camp."

"I am a bit curious now."

"Who exactly played the part of the Old Monster in Stone in the recent attack on the grain transport team?"

Shuangjing's eyes narrowed slightly, speaking coldly, "General Mu Lan, you need not deceive me. I would absolutely not stoop to the level of disguising as an enemy and attacking the grain transport team."

"And I do not believe that Sun Gan would do such a thing."

"He is the Main General of the Golden Halberd Army and also one of the heads of the Imperial Guards in the Royal Capital. I urge General Mu Lan to be cautious with her words!"

Shuangjing was not fooled.

Mu Lan wanted to divert the trouble, to spark a conflict between Shuangjing and Sun Gan.

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But Shuangjing held tightly to the crux of the matter: "So, General Mu Lan, do you choose Sun Gan, or me?"

"Sun Gan may be the head of the Imperial Guards, but his family's foundation is weak."

"I am not only the Main General of the White Jade Camp, but also carry the surname Shuang. Which is more significant? I think anyone with a brain can tell them apart."

Mu Lan sneered: "The White Jade Camp you mentioned is left with only a hundred survivors, do you still have the face to mention it?"

Shuangjing's expression faltered slightly, yet he continued to smile: "With the support of my family in the background, it would only take some time to restore it to its former glory. What do you think, General Mu Lan?"

Mu Lan clenched her teeth, her gaze fixed intently on Shuangjing: "During the ambush, the White Jade Camp fell into crisis, and on the verge of life and death, it was only my Red Flower Camp that came to the rescue."

"You act this way, carrying the nation's surname, would you really repay kindness with enmity?"

Shuangjing's smile grew even fuller, evidently, he had prepared for this interrogation in advance, his response now rolling off his tongue: "General Mu Lan, you are mistaken."

"Your army's rescue of mine indeed reflects our comradeship in battle. My army paid such a heavy price, but also successfully held off the enemy's strongest, creating an opportunity for the entire battle."

"Now, seeing you, General Mu Lan, in a dire situation, I extend a helping hand proactively. How can that be considered repaying kindness with enmity?"

"Enough!" Mu Lan couldn't bear it any longer, interrupting sharply, "Take all these things back! Even if I die, even if the Upper General Mansion falls into ruin, I will not accept your 'help'!"

Shuangjing laughed heartily: "I don't believe that you, General Mu Lan, would simply watch the Upper General Mansion fall into ruin. Nor do I believe you would watch the wounded soldiers of Red Flower Camp die due to lack of provisions."

"What I believe in is the offer I have made, which is more than generous and certainly something Sun Gan cannot match."

"Please consider it carefully, General Mu Lan."

Having said his piece, Shuangjing, accompanied by several close aides, left with a sweep of his sleeve.

He did not take these treasure chests back with him, instead leaving them behind in Mu Lan's tent.

Mu Lan, her face cold, immediately ordered: "Someone come, move these chests away, follow General Shuangjing, and send them directly back to his residence."

Several of Mu Lan's personal soldiers immediately obeyed the order.

"You!" Shuangjing turned back, glaring at Mu Lan before shaking his head with a sneer, "I would like to see how long you can hold out."

Three Generals Camp.

Ning Zhuo lifted the flap of the Main General's tent and stepped inside: "General Liu, you called for me?"

Liu Er greeted Ning Zhuo warmly, inviting him to sit, then with a troubled expression, he said: "Actually, this is a personal matter of mine, I hope you can give me some advice."

Ning Zhuo was curious, waiting for what would come next.

After Liu Er finished, Ning Zhuo's face showed a peculiar expression: "General Liu, did I hear you right just now? You mean to say, you've taken a fancy to General Mu Lan and it was love at first sight?"

"Yes," Liu Er stated without the slightest embarrassment, "This time, seeing General Mu Lan in trouble, I thought to offer her some support."

"But as you know, after the ambush, our army's perception of the Red Flower Camp has been quite poor. With my younger brother causing trouble in Red Flower Camp recently, the relationship has worsened. If it weren't for you, strategist, we would have had a complete fallout with General Mu Lan."

Ning Zhuo held his forehead, remaining silent for a long while.

After a good while, he looked at Liu Er: "General Sir, it might be difficult for you to help Red Flower Camp. Frankly, the situation now is quite sensitive, and I do not recommend that we extend our hand at this moment."

Liu Er pressed on purposefully: "Why is that? Strategist."

Ning Zhuo sighed, disclosing to Liu Er about Zhang Zhongyi's secret quest for help and General Mu Lan's old injuries.

Liu Er was shocked: "I never imagined that the details within were so complicated!"

"That's not good."

His face showed deep concern: "I didn't expect General Mu Lan's predicament to be so grim, surrounded by formidable foes. Ah, she must be fighting quite a difficult battle."

"How ironic!"

"Because the Red Flower Camp fought bravely, they've weakened and are coveted by allies, who want to devour them."

"Is the interior of Liangzhu Country so foul and dark? Truly disappointing!"

Liu Er bitterly criticized the dark politics, then rose to his feet with clenched fists, sincerely declaring: "Strategist, I have decided!"

"I cannot allow my loved one to be in such danger while I stand by idly."

"These old fogies at the Nascent Soul Level, they don't even consider their age. They aren't sincerely fond of General Mu Lan, they simply wish to seize the General Seal!"

"I must rescue General Mu Lan from the jaws of death!"

Watching Liu Er before him, Ning Zhuo silently praised him: "A kindred spirit, indeed a kindred spirit. Who would have thought that Liu Er also has such a profound foundation in the Righteous Path! Excellent, truly excellent."

Ning Zhuo coughed, outlining the difficulties to Liu Er: "General, to marry your beloved, it is difficult, very difficult."

Throughout Liangzhu Country, there is not a single half-human, half-demon who sits within the temple halls.

If Liu Er succeeds, he would be the first.

And the first is always the hardest!

But Liu Er was very persistent and determined: "I know the difficulty in this! But, having just heard of Mu Lan's dilemma from you, strategist..."

"It has instead ignited my courage, solidifying my resolve."

"General Mu Lan, such a fine lady, how could I just watch her fall into demon hands?"

Seeing this, Ning Zhuo let out a long sigh, his eyes reddening with emotion as he stood up and enthusiastically took hold of Liu Er's arm.

His expression earnest, he said: "General Liu indeed has a benevolent heart!"

"To venture fearlessly to rescue your loved one, if you can break through worldly shackles, it will surely be a wonderful tale."

"I also feel indignant that General Mu Lan has suffered such bullying. She is a good general, even if during the ambush she threw the strongest enemy our way, it actually reflects her superb military strategy."

"I am very disappointed with the court of Liangzhu Country."

"The infighting within the temple halls is so shameless, especially since it occurs in the face of a great enemy, with no thoughts of eliminating the foe but rather, turning on one's comrades. I am truly scornful!"

"This time, I must lend all my strength to assist you, General Liu, in defeating Sun Gan and winning the lady's favor."

Liu Er was overjoyed, heaving a sigh of relief: "With the strategist's assistance, a grand undertaking is assured!"

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