Chapter 2 The Rescue Plan

Ji Ning understood the twists and turns of the matter and immediately said, "Junior apprentice-brother, I'll find a way to rescue your Dao-companion's soul, and then take you away."

Though his heart was filled with killing intent, Ji Ning knew that rescuing his junior apprentice-brother and Yu Xia's soul was the most important thing.

"It's useless." Mu Zishuo shook his head. "I simply cannot leave the forbidden area."

"What's going on?" Ji Ning asked urgently.

"Perhaps this mysterious force was worried that one of us might have a 'Great Teleportation Dao Talisman' hidden in our Zifu space. They can't kill us, so naturally they can't search us," Mu Zishuo said. "To prevent us from escaping, when they captured us they forced us to swear a Heavenly Dao oath. Unless they voluntarily grant us freedom, if we flee and leave the Eastwood Mountain range, we will immediately have our souls scattered."

"What?" Ji Ning was shocked.

This was a huge problem.

"We only have two paths. One is death, and moreover, our loved ones' souls will suffer endless torment for eternity, never to be reborn! The other path is to swear the Heavenly Dao oath and obediently serve them. Those of us who didn't choose suicide are all longing for ultimate freedom," Mu Zishuo said.

Ji Ning nodded slightly.

Not only was security tight, but they had also made Mu Zishuo and the others swear a Heavenly Dao oath not to flee—cautious enough!

"You said unless they voluntarily grant you freedom?" Ji Ning suddenly said.

"Yes," Mu Zishuo said. "After all, that general also swore a Heavenly Dao oath, promising to grant us freedom within a thousand years. If there were no hope of freedom, many would probably choose suicide."

Ji Ning thought for a moment, then asked, "By the way, you mentioned earlier that you and many other puppet grandmasters jointly refined that most fearsome divine demon puppet... An Immortal驾驭 it dares to claim it's nearly invincible under True Immortals and Celestial Immortals! Then this puppet must be very difficult to make, right? The materials must be very precious?"

There were quite a few Celestial Immortals with Pure Yang treasures, but claiming 'nearly invincible under True Immortals and Celestial Immortals' meant that the 'divine demon puppet' should be far more valuable than ordinary Pure Yang treasures.

"Refining it is extremely difficult," Mu Zishuo nodded. "Although each of us is an Earth Immortal or Loose Immortal, and we all have detailed refining methods, the puppet's formation diagram is incredibly complex and profound. We puppet grandmasters are like ants, diligently building it. It's taken over twelve years so far, but the divine demon puppet is mostly finished. I believe it should be completed in another two or three years. As for materials? Naturally, they are very precious. A powerful puppet has very demanding requirements for 'materials'; inferior materials simply cannot withstand the power of the formation's operation. I can say... since I came to this forbidden area, this divine demon puppet has been the most important task! All the puppet grandmasters are working together, while the ordinary puppet masters make lesser puppets."

Ji Ning nodded slightly: "All the puppet grandmasters are working together, and it's taken over twelve years? Many of you were not at a high level when you entered. You gradually made lesser puppets, improved your skills, and became puppet grandmasters... That means in nearly thirty years, this Eastwood Mountain forbidden area's main focus has been this single puppet!"

"Yes," Mu Zishuo admitted. "When precious materials were escorted, it was done by other generals. Once, seven generals escorted them together."

Ji Ning nodded.

No kidding.

A puppet that, when driven by a Celestial Immortal, could achieve strength nearly invincible under True Immortals and Celestial Immortals. If there were dozens or hundreds of such divine demon puppets, they could probably sweep the Grand Xia world! He himself had studied under Patriarch Subhuti and had a broad view, but such a puppet might be comparable even to a top-grade Pure Yang treasure!

Very precious!

"Since you're refining it, you must have access to the divine demon puppet," Ji Ning said.

"Yes," Mu Zishuo nodded.

"Good. Then I'll go with you, and I'll directly seize the divine demon puppet," Ji Ning said confidently. "I'll threaten the general to free you and Yu Xia's soul."

"How will you get in? What will you turn into? The castle's security is extremely tight; no living thing can break in, not even mosquitoes or insects," Mu Zishuo said.

"I'll turn into..." Ji Ning smiled, "a strand of your hair."

"Hair?"

Mu Zishuo was stunned.

Ji Ning smiled, and with a whoosh, he vanished. Then a strand of hair appeared on Mu Zishuo's head.

"Junior apprentice-brother, how is it?" Ji Ning's voice echoed.

Mu Zishuo was startled and touched the newly appeared long hair: "This works?"

Indeed, it was flawless!

Whoosh.

Ji Ning reappeared.

"If you turn into my hair, I can't detect you. But could others in the castle discover you, senior apprentice-brother?" Mu Zishuo asked worriedly.

"Even a True Immortal or Celestial Immortal wouldn't find me," Ji Ning said confidently. The Seventy-Two Transformations were no ordinary divine ability.

"Good." Mu Zishuo showed joy. "The other puppet grandmasters and I are refining the divine demon puppet in a space deep inside the castle. That space mainly contains us puppet grandmasters and two guards. No one else disturbs us. Since we can't escape, they don't worry. As long as you go, you can seize the divine demon puppet."

"But senior apprentice-brother!" Mu Zishuo said worriedly, "As soon as you seize the puppet, the entire castle will immediately notice, and even that general will know instantly. If you threaten them, they might kill you first and then take back the divine demon puppet."

"Kill me?" Ji Ning shook his head. "They can't kill me, so they'll have no choice but to back down."

If he just showed his portable immortal mansion and Great Teleportation Dao Talisman...

The other side would probably back down!

Mu Zishuo grew excited too; his senior apprentice-brother's plan seemed feasible. He quickly said, "We must get Yu Xia's soul first. I'm not afraid to die, but I'm afraid of Yu Xia's soul suffering endless torment."

Ji Ning was startled, then nodded: "Right."

If he threatened them...

Logically, they should back down, but they might use Yu Xia's soul to threaten him in return. His junior apprentice-brother would rather die than let Yu Xia suffer eternal damnation.

"Can you get Yu Xia's soul?" Ji Ning asked.

"I haven't seen Yu Xia this month yet," Mu Zishuo quickly said. "After I enter the castle, I can request to see Yu Xia. We're allowed to see our loved ones once a month! They won't refuse. They'll take me to her. When I see Yu Xia, you immediately seize her soul."

"But..."

"Seizing Yu Xia's soul and seizing the divine demon puppet—we can only choose one," Mu Zishuo frowned.

Ji Ning smiled: "Simple. I'll go with you to the divine demon puppet first, then to Yu Xia. After I seize Yu Xia's soul, I'll use a 'Great Teleportation Dao Talisman' to instantly go to the divine demon puppet's location and seize it."

"One Great Teleportation Dao Talisman?" Mu Zishuo worried. "Later, when you need to escape Eastwood Mountain, do you have a way?"

"I have a few Great Teleportation Dao Talismans," Ji Ning smiled.

Indeed, he had a few.

He had obtained one from the Water Mansion back then, one from killing Shaoyin Nong, and over ten from killing those demon kings and Patriarch Xie Yue in the Crescent Moon Major World. Those demon kings and evil patriarchs each had at least one Great Teleportation Dao Talisman; it wasn't hard for them to get one given their status.

And now, with his treasures and his relationship with 'Skyfox' of the Heavenly Treasures Mountain, buying eight or ten Great Teleportation Dao Talismans wouldn't be difficult.

"First seize Yu Xia's soul, then teleport to seize the divine demon puppet," Mu Zishuo said. "Seizing the soul will alert the castle; seizing the puppet might cause trouble."

"Don't worry. As long as we're fast enough, once we get the soul, we'll teleport immediately. Few can stop us," Ji Ning said. "The only one in Eastwood Mountain who poses a threat to me is that general you mentioned. By the time he gets news of the soul theft and arrives, I'll have already seized the divine demon puppet."

The plan was roughly formed.

The two brothers began discussing details, and Mu Zishuo described the layout of the 'castle'.

Just as they were talking with anticipation—

Mu Zishuo suddenly turned pale.

"Senior apprentice-brother!" Mu Zishuo looked at Ji Ning worriedly. "When we seize Yu Xia's soul and force them to free me, they'll definitely suspect you're involved with me. Plus, when you seize the divine demon puppet, you'll need to use your flying swords, exposing them."

"They'll deduce that the one who rescued me is probably you, senior apprentice-brother."

"From your flying swords, they might also deduce it's you."

Mu Zishuo looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning sighed inwardly.

His junior apprentice-brother had noticed.

Right...

Last time, he had been trapped in Eastwood Mountain. Given the mysterious force's power, they had probably already suspected he practiced the 'Eight-Nine Arcane Art'.

And now, he had entered silently and seized the divine demon puppet. They would likely deduce that, given the forbidden area's defenses, only the 'Seventy-Two Transformations' could allow him to enter unnoticed. Other methods, like the 'Great Teleportation Dao Talisman', could teleport him in, but the spatial fluctuations would be detected.

The chance of exposure was extremely high.

He absolutely couldn't underestimate the other side. Ji Ning had long estimated their strength.

"Junior apprentice-brother," Ji Ning said, "Don't worry. Even if I'm eventually exposed, I've only rescued you. To this mysterious force, losing one puppet grandmaster is nothing. You're just one of many in this stronghold. As for the most important divine demon puppet, as long as they free you, I'll return it to them. They won't lose much. They won't make an enemy of a Dao Ancestor's disciple over this."

Mu Zishuo shook his head: "Senior apprentice-brother, what you say makes sense, but I can feel this force's arrogance, and they are truly very powerful. I don't want them to target you. I'd rather endure here for a thousand years."

"A thousand years—can you endure it?" Ji Ning said urgently. "Look at yourself now. I'm afraid you'll die before even half that time."

"Enough..."

Ji Ning said solemnly, "If you don't agree, I'll act alone."

"Senior apprentice-brother..." Mu Zishuo couldn't believe it.

"You decide," Ji Ning said. "Will you let me act alone, or will you act with me?"

...