The Hairpin Infiltration

Ji Ning now understood the full complexity of the situation. He said at once, “Junior apprentice-brother, I’ll find a way to rescue your Dao-companion’s soul. Then I’ll take you away from here.” Although his heart was filled with a desire to kill, Ji Ning knew very well that saving his junior apprentice-brother and Yu Xia’s soul was the most important thing. “It’s useless.” Mu Northson shook his head. “I can’t leave the forbidden grounds at all.” “What’s going on?” Ji Ning asked hurriedly. “Perhaps the mysterious force was worried that one of us might have a ‘Greater Teleportation Dao Talisman’ hidden in our Zifu space,” Mu Northson said. “They can’t kill us, so naturally they can’t search us. To prevent us from escaping, they forced us to swear a Heavenly Dao Oath as soon as we were captured. Unless they voluntarily set us free, if we try to flee and manage to leave the Eastwoods Mountain Range, our souls will instantly scatter and perish.” “What?” Ji Ning was shocked. This was a huge problem. “We have only two choices,” Mu Northson said. “One is death, which would also mean our loved ones’ souls being tormented for endless ages, never to be reborn! The other is to swear the Heavenly Dao Oath and obediently serve them. Those of us who didn’t choose suicide are all hoping for eventual freedom.” Ji Ning nodded slowly. In addition to the tight security, they had forced Mu Northson and the others to swear a Heavenly Dao Oath forbidding escape. Very cautious! “You said they might voluntarily set you free?” Ji Ning suddenly asked. “Yes,” Mu Northson said. “After all, that general also swore a Heavenly Dao Oath, promising to release us within a thousand years. If there was no hope of freedom at all, I imagine many would choose suicide.” Ji Ning pondered for a moment, then asked, “By the way, you mentioned earlier that you and all the other puppet grandmasters were jointly forging that terrifying divine- fiend puppet. A Celestial Immortal piloting that puppet is said to be nearly invincible beneath the True Immortal and True God level! Was it very difficult to make? Were the materials extremely precious?” There were quite a few Celestial Immortals who possessed Pure Yang treasures, but to claim one was ‘nearly invincible beneath the True Immortal and True God level’… that ‘divine-fiend puppet’ had to be worth far more than an ordinary Pure Yang treasure. “It was exceedingly difficult to forge,” Mu Northson confirmed. “Although each of us is an Earth Immortal or Loose Immortal and we all have detailed forging instructions, the puppet’s formation diagram is incredibly complex and profound. We puppet grandmasters are like ants, working diligently. It has taken us over twelve years now, and we’ve only completed the majority of the forging. I expect it will be finished in another two or three years. As for the materials? Naturally, they are extremely precious. A powerful puppet has very demanding material requirements; inferior materials simply cannot withstand the power of the formation diagram’s operation. You could say… ever since I arrived at this forbidden ground, this divine-fiend puppet has been the single most important task! All the puppet grandmasters are working together on it, while the ordinary puppet masters forge lesser puppets.” Ji Ning nodded gently. “All the puppet grandmasters are working together on it, and it’s taken over twelve years? Many of you were probably not at a high level when you first arrived. You gradually improved by forging lesser puppets, reaching the rank of puppet grandmaster. So, for nearly thirty years, this one puppet has been the main project of the Eastwoods Mountain Range forbidden grounds!” “Yes.” Mu Northson nodded in agreement. “When precious materials are brought in, other generals handle the escort. Once, seven generals escorted a shipment together.” Ji Ning nodded. Of course. If a single puppet piloted by a Celestial Immortal could be nearly invincible beneath the True Immortal and True God level, then dozens or even a hundred such divine-fiend puppets would be enough to sweep through the entire Grand Xia World! Having studied under Patriarch Subhuti, Ji Ning had a very broad perspective. Even a top-grade Pure Yang treasure might not be able to compare with such a puppet. It was incredibly valuable! “Since you’re all forging it, you must have access to it,” Ji Ning said. “Yes,” Mu Northson nodded. “Good. Then I’ll go with you, and I’ll seize the divine-fiend puppet myself.” Ji Ning said confidently. “Then I’ll use it to pressure the general into releasing you and Yu Xia’s soul.” “How will you get in? What will you turn into?” Mu Northson asked. “The castle is under extremely heavy guard. No living thing can sneak in — not even a mosquito or insect.” “I’ll turn into…” Ji Ning smiled, “…one strand of your hair.” “Hair?” Mu Northson was astonished. Ji Ning smiled. Swoosh! He vanished into thin air, and then a single strand of hair appeared on Mu Northson’s head. “Junior apprentice-brother, how is it?” Ji Ning’s voice echoed. Mu Northson reached up in astonishment and touched the scattered, newly-appeared long strand of hair. “This works?” It was utterly flawless. Swoosh. Ji Ning reappeared. “If you become my hair, I won’t be able to detect you. But what about the others in the castle? Won’t they discover you, senior apprentice-brother?” Mu Northson asked worriedly. “Even a True Immortal or True God wouldn’t be able to detect me,” Ji Ning said confidently. The Seventy-Two Transformations was no ordinary divine ability. “Good.” A look of joy appeared on Mu Northson’s face. “The other puppet grandmasters and I all forge the divine-fiend puppet in a space deep within the castle. That space primarily houses us puppet grandmasters, along with two guards. No one else comes to disturb us. Since we can’t escape anyway, they don’t worry about anything. As long as you go there, senior apprentice-brother, you can seize the puppet!” “But senior apprentice-brother!” Mu Northson said worriedly. “The moment you seize the puppet, the entire castle will be alerted immediately. Even that general will know at once. When you threaten them, they might try to kill you first before taking back the 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 displayed his Immortal estate or a Greater Teleportation Dao Talisman… They would probably have to back down. Mu Northson grew excited as well. His senior apprentice-brother’s plan was indeed feasible. He quickly said, “We must get Yu Xia’s soul first. I’m not afraid to die, but I’m terrified of Yu Xia’s soul suffering endless torment.” Ji Ning was startled, then nodded. “Right.” If he threatened the enemy, they should theoretically back down. But they might also use Yu Xia’s soul to threaten him in return. His junior apprentice-brother would rather die than see Yu Xia suffer eternally. “Can you get to Yu Xia’s soul?” Ji Ning asked. “I haven’t seen Yu Xia this month yet,” Mu Northson said quickly. “After we enter the castle, I can request to see her. We’re allowed to visit our loved ones once a month! They won’t refuse. They’ll take me to her, and as soon as I see Yu Xia, you can seize her soul immediately, senior apprentice-brother.” “But…” “Seizing Yu Xia’s soul and seizing the divine-fiend puppet — we can only choose one,” Mu Northson frowned. Ji Ning smiled. “That’s simple. First, I’ll go with you to the divine-fiend puppet’s location. Then we’ll go to Yu Xia. I’ll seize Yu Xia’s soul and immediately use a ‘Greater Teleportation Dao Talisman’ to return to the divine-fiend puppet’s location and seize it.” “One Greater Teleportation Dao Talisman?” Mu Northson was worried. “When we need to escape the Eastwoods Mountain Range later, how will you manage?” “I have a few Greater Teleportation Dao Talismans,” Ji Ning said with a smile. Indeed, he had a few. He had obtained one from the aquatic palace, another from killing Shaoyan Nong, and over a dozen more from killing those monster kings and the Slopeclaw Patriarch in the Tristar Crescent Abyss World. Those monster kings and evil patriarchs each carried at least one such talisman, which wasn’t hard for them to acquire. Furthermore, with his current wealth and his relationship with ‘Skyfox’ of Heavenly Treasures Mountain, purchasing eight or ten more Greater Teleportation Dao Talismans wouldn’t be difficult. “First seize Yu Xia’s soul, then teleport to seize the divine-fiend puppet,” Mu Northson said. “But seizing the soul will alarm the castle. Seizing the puppet might become problematic.” “Don’t worry. As long as we’re fast enough, once we get the soul, I’ll immediately teleport. Not many will be able to stop us,” Ji Ning said. “The only threat to me in the entire Eastwoods Mountain Range is the general you mentioned. By the time he gets the news of the stolen soul and arrives, I’ll have already seized the puppet.” The broad outline of the plan had taken shape. The two senior and junior apprentice-brothers began discussing the details. Mu Northson also began describing the layout of the ‘castle’ and other relevant information. Just as they were speaking with excitement and anticipation, Mu Northson’s face suddenly went pale. “Senior apprentice-brother!” Mu Northson looked at Ji Ning with concern. “When we seize Yu Xia’s soul and force them to set me free, they’ll definitely suspect that you’re involved. And when you seize the divine-fiend puppet, you’ll have to make a move, probably using your Immortal swords. That will expose your swords.” “From there, they’ll be able to deduce that the one who came to save me is most likely you, senior apprentice-brother.” “And from your Immortal swords, they might even be able to figure out your exact identity.” Mu Northson stared at Ji Ning. Ji Ning sighed silently. His junior apprentice-brother had figured it out. Yes… Last time, he had been trapped inside the Eastwoods Mountain Range. He was sure that the mysterious force, with all its power, had already suspected that he was training in the ‘** Arcane Art’. Now that he had entered silently and seized the divine-fiend puppet, they would probably deduce that he had used the ‘Seventy-Two Transformations’ to infiltrate so quietly, given how formidable the forbidden grounds were. Other methods, like a ‘Greater Teleportation Dao Talisman’, could teleport someone directly inside, but the spatial fluctuations would certainly be detected. The chances of being exposed were extremely, extremely high. He absolutely could not underestimate the enemy. He had long anticipated how powerful they were. “Junior apprentice-brother,” Ji Ning said. “Don’t worry. Even if I end up being exposed, all I’ve done is save you. To this mysterious force, losing one puppet grandmaster is nothing. You’re just one puppet grandmaster in this stronghold. As for the most important divine-fiend puppet, as long as they set you free, I’ll return it to them. They won’t have lost much. They won’t become an enemy of a Daofather’s disciple over something so trivial.” Mu Northson shook his head. “Senior apprentice-brother, what you say makes sense. But I can feel how arrogant this force is, and they are truly very powerful. I don’t want them to come after you. I’d rather endure these thousand years.” “Can you endure a thousand years?” Ji Ning said urgently. “Look at yourself now. I’m worried you’ll die before even half that time is up.” “Enough…” Ji Ning said solemnly, “If you don’t agree, I’ll act on my own.” “Senior apprentice-brother…” Mu Northson found this hard to believe. “You decide,” Ji Ning said. “Either let me act alone, or act together with me.”