Chapter 32: Exposed?

The Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit gradually discerned the situation. With a disdainful puff of red-brown smoke, it was convinced that Ning Zhuo’s efforts were nothing but futile. Yet, just as it was about to lift its claw to stop him, it changed its mind. Suddenly, it found the spectacle rather amusing. It was like toying with a tiny ant—each time blocking its path with a palm, forcing the ant to turn away and seek another route. Repeatedly barring the way, the ant could only keep changing direction. Wasn’t that entertaining?

Oblivious to having become the little ant in question, Ning Zhuo felt an immense pressure bearing down upon him.

“I must succeed. I have to erase my name!”

He was acutely aware of the gravity of the situation. The outcome here would almost certainly decide his life or death. Even if he survived, his fate would be grim.

Seek refuge with the Ning clan and confess everything? Ning Zhuo barely considered it. According to the Ning family’s ways, an open confession would yield only superficial support and covert suppression. Support? They would simply use him as a tool. His future would be stifling; all his gains in the Immortal Palace would be seized by the clan. Freedom? That was out of the question!

What about turning to the other three powers? Ning Zhuo shook his head to himself. That would be unwise now. With Meng Chong, Zhou Zhu, and the others having met with misfortune, someone like him—an outsider with such outstanding achievements—would surely become the target of the other great factions. His small stature could not withstand such pressure; he would be crushed.

“My greatest advantage has always been hiding my abilities, staying in the shadows. And now, a mere ranking list has exposed me, rendering all my years of concealment useless.”

“I cannot accept this!”

With that weight and emotion, Ning Zhuo quickly assembled a crude catapult. He aimed, calculated the distance, and swiftly severed the cord. In the next instant, the thousand-jin hammer was launched from the sling.

Thud.

With a heavy thump, the hammer smashed squarely into the stone pillar, striking precisely where Ning Zhuo’s name was inscribed.

Another resounding bang followed as the hammer crashed onto the tiles, shattering the floor around it.

Yet, on the stone pillar’s ranking, Ning Zhuo’s name remained utterly unscathed, as prominent and conspicuous as ever!

Seeing this, Ning Zhuo’s heart sank like a stone. He clenched his fists and stared up at his own name with grim determination. Never had he imagined that in only his second venture into the Lava Immortal Palace, he would already be facing a life-and-death crisis!

If not for his current puppet body, he would certainly have been drenched with sweat. All manner of negative emotions inevitably arose, spreading rapidly through his heart.

He could not help but recall his mother’s dying words.

“Mother urged me to stay safe. If my life were at risk, I could abandon the Immortal Palace without hesitation.”

“Life must come first!”

“Perhaps I should never have been so greedy to explore the Lava Immortal Palace.”

Ning Zhuo abruptly shook his head, his eyes cold and resolute.

“No, what’s gotten into me?”

“Even if I had another chance, I’d make the same choice!”

“With such an opportunity before me, if I were too cowardly to seize it, I might as well be dead.”

“Calm down! Even if the worst happens and I’m exposed, I’ll accept it. After all, this is my own choice!”

He quickly regained his composure and cool-headedness. Once calm, other thoughts began to surface.

“The stone pillar ranking is hard to destroy, but perhaps the Lava Immortal Palace itself provides a way to alter or disguise one’s name?”

“There are still several places in the Armory I haven’t explored.”

Ning Zhuo began to search the room. He surveyed the worktables, mechanical tools, and various device platforms. Some he recognized; most were unfamiliar.

He approached the doorway and touched the portal—nothing happened.

“It seems the Armory doesn’t offer any rewards.”

At last, his gaze fell on the five stone pillars at the center of the room. He had already tried to erase his name by touching them, but nothing had happened.

Still, Ning Zhuo felt the pillars couldn’t be so simple. He tried channeling spiritual energy into one.

Immediately, a thin beam of light shot from the pillar, striking him squarely in the chest.

The light imprinted a seal upon his chest, which faded away after a few breaths.

“A disciple in trial?” Ning Zhuo saw the seal clearly, finding it oddly familiar.

Suddenly, realization struck: the style of the seal’s script matched that of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.

“That makes sense—my Buddha Heart Demon Seal was originally taken by Mother from the Lava Immortal Palace.”

The palace’s seal had not faded, but merely concealed itself.

Then, a new message appeared in Ning Zhuo’s mind.

“So, being listed on the ranking board brings weekly rewards, and the rewards depend on your ranking—the higher, the greater the reward.”

“One week… When does the count start?”

“And the specifics of the rewards aren’t disclosed.”

Ning Zhuo rested his hand on the stone pillar, gazing up at his rank, sighing bitterly.

“That’s not the problem. I’d rather forfeit all rewards than have my name exposed.”

For Ning Zhuo, the rewards were merely icing on the cake. But the exposure of his name was nothing short of a catastrophe.

“I must get off the list! But how?”

“I don’t want my name displayed up there.”

He racked his brains, but no solution came to mind. Yet, in his desperate search, a vague but familiar sensation began to emerge.

“This feeling… It’s the Buddha Heart Demon Seal!”

In that instant, Ning Zhuo felt like a drowning man clutching a straw. Whether it would work or not, it was his only hope.

He focused his mind, banishing all distractions, concentrating fully on the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.

In Fire Persimmon Immortal City, Ning Zhuo’s body lay on the bed, appearing to be in deep sleep. But within his spiritual sea, the towering precious seal began to glow. Its radiance grew ever stronger, passing from his body along the thread of fate, reaching Ning Zhuo’s soul.

Ning Zhuo’s soul resided within the puppet, which was in contact with the five stone pillars. Through this conduit, the influence of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal extended to the pillars themselves.

“It’s working! It really works!”

Driven by Ning Zhuo’s fervent desire, his name began to slowly sink down.

The Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit had been watching him intently. His repeated failures to erase his name and his subsequent brooding were highly amusing to the spirit. Reclining on its throne, it watched with keen interest, its gaze piercing through space.

Then, suddenly, its body stiffened and its eyes blazed with searing red light.

It had sensed the Buddha Heart Demon Seal!

Overcome with excitement, the Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit leapt into the air.

With a thunderous roar, its tiny and delicate frame unleashed a deafening cry. Once more, the entire Lava Immortal Palace blazed with radiant treasure-light!

Atop Fire Persimmon Mountain, the treasure-light surged like colossal pillars, hundreds—thousands—shooting straight into the heavens.

The entire Immortal Palace trembled; magma churned wildly, thick smoke roiled.

The Lord of Fire Persimmon City, who had been standing guard, was startled awake. He hurriedly acted to suppress the eruption, preventing the mountain from blowing its top.

“What on earth is happening?!” he wondered, filled with confusion.