Book of Original Sound Reeds

Bluestone Cave Dwelling.

Ning Zhuo sat in the seat of honor, raised his wine cup, and thanked the invited cultivators. "Our victory over Ban Ji this time rested entirely on our united efforts and solidarity. Come, let us drink another cup!"

After returning from Green Bamboo Peak, Ning Zhuo took the opportunity to invite the other eleven who had passed as victors.

Some Golden Core Cultivators had not been invited, while others, mindful of the competition to come, declined Ning Zhuo's invitation. In the end, five came.

Ning Zhuo invited those five to his cave dwelling, where Old Cook prepared a Spirit Food feast.

The Spirit Grain wine was rich and mellow. The golden-thread cod was charred and fragrant. The braised Hundred Treasures mushrooms were so fresh they could make one swallow one's tongue, while the chilled jade marrow fruit brought immediate cool sweetness upon eating, with an exceedingly unique flavor.

"Though Ban Ji came from the Ban Family, his usual conduct was scarcely any different from that of a demonic cultivator. Whenever he saw an outstanding Mechanical Creation, he wanted to snatch it for himself. I had long found him an eyesore."

The speaker was a young cultivator.

His curly yellowed hair, face, and hands all bore numerous burns and marks blackened by gunpowder smoke.

His nickname was Huo Nian'er, though those close to him simply called him A Huo.

He enjoyed crafting explosive Mechanical Creations and had something of a hatred for evil in his temperament.

Black Kite Chen San picked up the thread. "Heh, I know a few bits of insider gossip. Ban Ji does not cultivate the Ban Family's orthodox technique. Rumor has it, he cultivates a demonic art!"

Ning Zhuo immediately nodded. "I know about that. It is the Greedy Mechanism Demonic Heart Art. This