《Advent of Immortal Truth》


 Chapter 1: The Young Puppet Master

    Chapter 1: The Young Puppet Master


    < Chapter 1: The Young Puppet Master >


    The Ning Family council hall.


    The Spirit Lamp emitted a bright light.


    The Ning Family patriarch, the young lord, and a group of family elders were all gathered here.


    A few jade slips were passed around in their hands, which recorded the entire process of this year¡¯s major family examination.


    The patriarch rubbed the jade slip in his hand, his eyes slightly closed, as the scenes recorded in the jade slip appeared in his sea of consciousness, reying continuously.


    Unlike previous years, this year he paid special attention to the puppetry section of the examination.


    The content of the puppetry exam for the Ning Family had changed; it involved controlling marites.


    The young cultivators infused their mana, sending it through the strings directly into the marite puppets.


    Through the dual effects of spiritual sense and mana, the marite puppets were made to move and perform various actions; however, even the best-performing young cultivator could only make the puppet perform walking, aerial somersaults, and rolling on the ground during this exam.


    Overall, the performance was rather dismal.


    The patriarch slowly opened his eyes, withdrawing his spiritual sense from the jade slip, and ced it gently on the desk beside him.


    ¡°This family exam didn¡¯t reveal any budding puppet masters among our younger members,¡± sighed the Ning family patriarch.


    The elder of the academy felt the pressure and quickly spoke up, ¡°Patriarch, fellow elders, our Ning family excels in talismans. In the hundred arts of cultivation, puppetry is a minor specialization. Our family has very little foundation in puppetry, and the teachers in the academy who teach puppetry are all mediocre. How can we expect to cultivate a seed of puppetry?¡±


    The Ning family patriarch reassured, ¡°Rest easy, I¡¯m not ming you. The Puppet Immortal City of Magma Pce was built by the ancestors of the three sects to suppress the eruption of Fire Persimmon Mountain and is hidden within it. To ess the immortal treasures and puppetry heritage of Magma Pce, the best approach is through puppet masters.¡±


    ¡°Our Ning family only discovered the Magma Immortal Pce this year. The other two major families and the city lord have been ahead for a long time. They had the opportunity to secretly cultivate seeds for puppetry, but we could not.¡±


    ¡°We are theters, toote. Only by recruiting outsiders with heavy rewards to serve as our guest officials can we have a chance topete.¡±


    The Ning family patriarch took out a jade slip: ¡°This contains records of the Fire Persimmon Immortal City and the famous puppet masters around it; pass it around and have a look.¡±


    After all the elders had looked over it, the Ning family Patriarch said, ¡°We need to make contact with all the puppet masters that we can find and try to win them over. Especially Young Puppet Master! He is a puppet master within Fire Persimmon City, with considerable skills, and should be our primary target.¡±


    The young lord said, ¡°The identity of the Young Puppet Master is mysterious; he has never appeared publicly. His puppets sell well but they are only sold through the ck market that takes ce once a month.¡±


    ¡°The ck market is controlled by Sun Lingtong. This person is an external disciple of the No-Void Sect, making it very difficult for us to actually meet the Young Puppet Master.¡±


    The Ning family patriarch frowned, ¡°Xiaoren, I don¡¯t want to hear about problems, I need solutions.¡±


    The young lord Ning Xiaoren sweated from his forehead and quickly assured, ¡°Yes, father. I have already sent people to try to make contact with him personally, and we will surely have results soon!¡±


    The Ning family patriarch then stroked his beard, ¡°Good. I shall await the oue.¡±


    * * *


    After the meeting, the young lord of the Ning family immediately summoned his subordinate, Ning Ze.


    "Ning Ze, you are the procurement manager of the Ning family, a position you would not have gotten without me backing you. I tasked you with making contact with the Young Puppet Master, yet you have made no progress. What exactly have you been doing?!" the young lord furrowed his brow.


    Ning Ze was a middle-aged man who had a face reflecting years of stress. If possible, he would rather not have anything to do with this task.


    "Young Lord, I am ashamed of failing the trust you ced in me; my ipetence is inexcusable."


    "But the Young Puppet Master is really difficult tomunicate with. Haven¡¯t I repeatedly tried to engage with him at the ck market, purchasing the Up-and-Down Ruyi Ropes while persistently advising him, yet he remains unmoved? He refuses to discuss anything beyond the transactions."


    "The Young Puppet Master is too mysterious. I¡¯ve tried every means to inquire about him, but that only angered the ck market owner Sun Lingtong. I not only lost manpower but was also framed and had to pay arge sum of spirit stones. I¡¯ve been covering this expense myself so far¡­"


    "Enough!"


    The young lord interrupted, brimming with displeasure.


    "You''ve been yed, and that¡¯s embarrassing enough. Do you also want the n to bear the cost of your mistakes?"


    "This time, our family needs to purchase 80 Up-and-Down Ruyi Ropes; you handle it."


    Ning Ze was shocked.


    "Eighty ropes? That many?!"


    The young lord said, "Leverage this significant deal and make it into an all-out effort. You¡¯ve been in touch with the Young Puppet Master many times without advancing any talks of cooperation."


    "Such performance really makes me doubt your capabilities, Ning Ze."


    Feeling the pressure, Ning Ze repeatedly assured him that he would do his utmost.


    * * *


    Ning Ze arrived in the southeastern area of Huoshi City. In the entire city, this area was notorious for its mix of dragons and snakes, rampant theft, and the worst public security in the entire city.


    Additionally, it was the location of the ck market.


    At one of the entrances to the ck market, Ning Ze disyed a token.


    A grim-faced cultivator nced at Ning Ze, scrutinized the token closely, then tossed it back to Ning Ze.


    "Follow me."


    He led Ning Ze into a small hut behind him, then lifted the floorboards to reveal a hole.


    They entered the hole that led to a winding tunnel, and eventually arrived at an underground trading space resembling a small market.


    Ning Ze swept his gaze around and immediately spotted his target.


    "Lord Young Puppet Master, we meet again," Ning Ze approached Young Puppet Master with a warm smile on his face.


    Young Puppet Master was an old man with a decrepit appearance. He leaned on a cane and was incredibly stooped; his entire figure bent like a lobster.


    His face was weathered, with dark purple bags under his eyes and wrinkles deep enough to trap mosquitoes. His long, messy ck hair hung down to his feet like arge ck cloak.


    Young Puppet Master stood behind a cart and merely gave Ning Ze a brief nce without speaking.


    This was always Young Puppet Master''s attitude, and though Ning Ze felt helpless, he also umted anger in his heart.


    He was, after all, a cultivator of the Ning family, but Young Puppet Master gave him no respect!


    Despite his frustration, the young lord of the Ning family wanted to win over him.


    Ning Ze managed a forced smile and said, "Lord, this time I have brought a significant deal to you."


    "Altogether 80 Ruyi Ropes!"


    "Look, such a big deal, could your price be a bit more favorable?"


    "I am your longtime customer, always patronizing your business. There will be even more such deals in the future. Every time it''s 200 spirit stones per Ruyi Rope, this constant price seems a bit unreasonable, doesn''t it?"


    The old man with the dangling hair nodded slightly, his voice hoarse and time-worn: "You''re right."


    "Then let''s settle for 250 spirit stones each."


    Ning Ze was startled for a moment and chuckled, saying, "Lord Young Puppet Master, please don''t jest with me. That''s not how you lower prices."


    Young Puppet Master snorted coldly.


    "For every extra word you say, the price goes up by 50 spirit stones."


    Ning Ze stared wide-eyed, frozen in ce for a moment.


    His belly was full of rising anger, wanting to smack the old man in front of him to the ground. But he eventually suppressed his fury, muttering, "Fine, let''s go with your price!"


    "However, my n wishes to add some additional functionalities to betterplement our n''s techniques. The specifics of the modifications¡­"


    Young Puppet Master sternly interrupted.


    "No modifications, take it or leave it, if not, scram."


    Ning Ze became choked with anger.


    After taking a deep breath, he finally nodded with a bitter smile, agreeing to the deal.


    Young Puppet Master did not move, but from the roof of the puppet carriage in front of him, several marites were dangling down.


    These marites were all manipted by threads, each one seeming almost lifelike and giggling eerily.


    They tumbled and jumped around. They even pushed and shoved each other, but they eventually opened the circr cover inside the puppet carriage.


    One by one, they entered the hole beneath the cover, then, like pulling out a series of pythons, dragged the Up-and-Down Ruyi ropes out.


    Every time Ning Ze saw this scene, he was amazed.


    The control capability of these suspended-thread mechanisms was honed to perfection; the puppet-like dolls seemed truly alive.


    If the young cultivators of the Ning family taking the examination had even one percent of this controlling ability, the puppet technique subject of the examination would definitely be top-notch!


    "Puppet techniques are the lowest ranked among the hundred arts of cultivation, and they have many weaknesses. The most obvious weakness is the control method!"


    "Just take these mechanical dolls, for instance; if their threads are cut, they would be paralyzed instantly."


    Ning Ze handed over the spirit stones and took the Ruyi ropes with him as he left the ck market. It was only then that he revealed a hint of sinister and angry expression.


    ¡®Young Puppet Master! Every time I speak to you with respect, I really give you face.¡¯


    ¡®This time, I specifically hired the Huang Family Three Ghosts for you! I even meticulously prepared this ¡®gift'' for you!¡¯


    ¡®If you refuse to work with me, then you must take a loss.¡¯


    Ning Ze was truly forced into a corner and had to take a dangerous risk.


    His n was simple: first, have the Huang Family Three Ghosts deal with Young Puppet Master, then intervene to save the day himself, as a way to curry favor. If Young Puppet Master was severely injured, Ning Ze wouldn''t discard the possibility of coercing him into submission.


    In any case, the first priority was to break the situation open andplete the mission he was tasked with.


    As for other issues, they were concerns for the other Ning family members!


    After the ck market ended, Young Puppet Master,den with his gains, walked through a dark alley.


    Suddenly.


    A Calming Talisman!


    A talisman instantly triggered, sealing the space around him.


    Young Puppet Master halted in ce, unable to move.


    "Heeheehee¡­"


    A light, floatingugh echoed as three small ghosts emerged from nearby and attacked Young Puppet Master.


    Young Puppet Master remained still as a rock until the small ghosts closed in on him. Then, his body shook.


    Several mechanical birds tumbled out, shooting forward.


    Puppet Arts¡ªThunder Silent Birds!


    In the darkness, several streaks of lightning suddenly lit up, exploding into silent shes of thunder.


    In an instant, the Thunder Silent Birds had in the three small ghosts.


    "How is that possible?"


    "We used the Calming Talisman; you shouldn''t be able to use your divine sense to control puppets!"


    "There''s something strange. He''s clearly using mechanical puppets, but I didn''t see him use any controlling threads."


    "Doesn''t matter, let''s go together!"


    The Huang Family Three Ghosts leapt forward simultaneously, each disying their unique skills to besiege the puppet master with the long, disheveled hair. Suddenly, more than a dozen ghostly spirits burst forth, surrounding the area from all sides with their ghastly and ferocious appearances, their teeth bared and ws extended.


    The young puppet master remained as immovable as a mountain, and his long, chaotic ck hair suddenly intertwined, forming several long whips.


    These dark whips danced wildly like dragons and serpents, yet not a breath of air stirred, and in the eerie silence, a terrifying intent to kill filled the air.


    Mechanism¡ªLong Hair Death Whip!


    The whips were ferociously violent, as if capable of devouring everything in their path, leaving souls dissipated and spirits scattered.


    The eyes of the Huang Family Three Ghosts glinted ferociously, preparing to counterattack.


    Inside the puppet master''s mind, a treasure seal emerged, vast as a mountain, embodying both Buddha and demon, suddenly bursting with a strange light.


    Treasure¡ªBuddha Heart Demon Seal!


    The three ghosts faltered simultaneously, revealing fatal ws. Shocked and desperate, they hastily retreated, but it was already toote.


    Two screams rang out, and two of the ghosts met their demise.


    The eldest, eyes filled with rage and hatred, fueled by vengeance, pushed his foundational energies to their limit,unching a do-or-die counterattack against the puppet master.


    His treasured dagger, upon which he pinned all his hopes, flew like lightning, instantly striking the middle of his forehead.


    Ting.


    A crisp sound of metal striking metal resounded.


    The eldest of the Huang family stood frozen, disbelief etched across his face.


    Thud, thud, thud.


    In the next instant, several Long Hair Death Whips converged from all directions, piercing him through.


    The eldest ghost''s eyes widened as the whips prated his body, suspending him in mid-air. Blood rained down like a shower, spattering the ground and the walls, obscured by the thick darkness of the night.


    As the nearby cultivators heard the strange noises, they arrived at the alleyway to investigate.


    "What happened?" one cultivator wondered aloud.


    In the alley, there was neither a body nor a drop of blood to be found.


    Having waited in vain for news, Ning Ze''s heart grew colder. "Why is there still no news? It¡¯s been so long, it should have been sessful by now."


    "The Young Puppet Master is at the Foundation Establishment stage, and so are the Huang Family Three Ghosts. Even in Huoshi City, where theirbat power is suppressed, it doesn''t make sense for them to fail with a three-against-one advantage." He was still trying to reassure himself.


    "I gave them the Calming Talisman and also the spirit pet, the Green Knife Mantis, capable of slicing through hanging threads. With such preparations, the mechanic master should be severely restricted!"


    "Just wait a bit longer."


    But this waiting was destined to be futile.


    The Puppet Master walked through the underground tunnels.


    Three chain whips trailed behind him, each carrying a dead body of a cultivator. As he moved, monstrous and terrifying shadows were cast on the tunnel walls.


    A red glow slowly appeared ahead, and the temperature became scorchingly hot.


    Turning a corner, arge furnace appeared in front of the Young Puppet Master.


    The furnace door was opened, and the puppet master skillfully threw the three bodies inside.


    After closing the furnace door, he headed to an adjacent storage room.


    He deposited several kilograms of fire essence, recently acquired from the ck market, into the storage room. Over the years, the umtion of fire essence had formed a small mountain.


    "Only ten more kilograms of fire essence to go."


    Young Puppet Master made his way to the transmission room and activated the teleportation array. In the next moment, he returned to his underground workshop.


    The body of the puppet master began to change. The strange, floor-length ck hair quickly retracted, and his hunched posture gradually straightened. Under the ck robe, the old man¡¯s body flickered with light and shadow, revealing his true form¡ªa silver-gray mechanical battle armor.


    The surface of the armor shimmered with a faint precious light, adorned with talismans and array patterns. A new scar was evident on the helmet of the armor, a result of thest stand made by the eldest of the Huang Family Three Ghosts.


    The armor''s breastte, abdominal te, and leg tes symmetrically opened to the sides. From within emerged a young man.


    The youth had a paleplexion with eyes clear as water, exuding a calm and serene aura.


    The armor was named: Iron Grey Han Armor.


    The youth¡¯s name: Ning Zhuo.

 Chapter 2: Ning Zhuo

    Chapter 2: Ning Zhuo


    < Chapter 2: Ning Zhuo >


    The Ning family estate.


    Today is a significant day for the Ning family¡ªit¡¯s the day the examination results are announced.


    Ning Ze and his wife, Wang Lan, have been seated in the main hall since early morning, eagerly awaiting the examination results of the two younger members of their family.


    From birth, the descendants of the Ning family are tested annually for their spiritual roots until they reach the age of twelve or thirteen.


    Those with the aptitude for cultivation are sent to the family¡¯s private school, supported fully by the family, to study intensively until they are sixteen or seventeen years old, when they take the final examination.


    This annual examination determines the fate of the young cultivators.


    The top thirty young examinees qualify to join the core industries of the Ning family, promising them a broader future.


    While Wang Lan sips her tea on the surface, her gaze frequently drifts towards the main gate, barely concealing her nervous anticipation.


    Ning Ze, however, appears distracted and deeply depressed.


    He had been waiting until dawn, yet there was no word from the Huang Family Three Ghosts.


    ¡°They¡¯ve failed!¡±


    ¡°I hadn¡¯t expected the Young Puppet Master to be so powerful.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s alright.¡±


    ¡°When I contacted the Huang Family Three Ghosts, I didn¡¯t show my true face; the Young Puppet Master won¡¯t be able to find me.¡±


    ¡°The Huang Family Three Ghosts are overrated. With the Calming Talisman and the spirit pet Green Knife Mantis, they still lost three against one! I really misjudged them.¡±


    ¡°s, Young Puppet Master¡­ What should I do next?¡±


    Forced into a desperate move that ended in painful failure, Ning Ze was gued with a headache, unsure how to exin the situation to the young n leader.


    Just then, a jubnt young boy burst into the room, eximing excitedly, "Dad, Mom, I made it¡ªI¡¯m in the top thirty!"


    "Really? Ji''er, did you really make it?!" Wang Lan immediately stood up, her face alight with joy.


    The young cultivator Ning Ji spoke loudly, "Of course! Mom, don¡¯t you even believe your own son?"


    "Oh?" Ning Ze looked up to see his son Ning Ji¡¯s face brimming with unrestrained joy.


    Ning Ji¡¯s performance usually hovered around the fortieth rank, so it was a surprise that he had excelled beyond expectations in this crucial exam.


    This unexpected good news slightly alleviated Ning Ze''s gloom.


    Ning Ji, with a raised voice, continued, "Dad, Mom, I¡¯ve made you proud this time. I¡¯ve always said I know what I¡¯m doing. My usual scores aren¡¯t great because I choose not to give it my all."


    "Not like someone!" he added with a sneer.


    "Usually, this person scores well, consistently ranking in the top thirty. But in this crucial exam, he slipped just below, ending up thirty-first. Oh dear, he failed to make the cut!" Ning Ji turned to look at the young man in white following him, his face full of mockery.


    The young man in white, dressed simply with clear eyes filled with a mix of guilt and disappointment, greeted respectfully, "Uncle, Aunt."


    Wang Lan turned sharply towards the young man, her voice high-pitched with astonishment, "What? Xiao Zhuo, did you flunk this time?!"


    Ning Ze''s face darkened as he extended his hand and demanded, "Bring me the report card to see."


    Ning Zhuo then took out the report card and handed it to his uncle Ning Ze.


    Ning Ze nced down at it, his expression bing as somber as still water.


    The next moment, he shook the paper in his hand, and said with frustrated disappointment, "Xiao Zhuo, how could you make such a serious mistake this time?"


    "I remember, you have had some small achievements in mechanical arts before."


    "Previously, the mechanical parrot you made was even praised by the elders of the n."


    "Mechanical arts are clearly your strength, so how could you have scored so low this time?"


    "Ah, if not for this poor grade, you would have been in the top thirty!"


    His aunt, with a sharp gaze, said, "Xiao Zhuo, tell me, have you been taking on private work from the mechanical workshops again?"


    Before Ning Zhuo could respond, his aunt sighed deeply, "Ah, I''ve told you so many times not to be greedy for money. At your age, you should be focusing on your studies."


    "You''ve focused your energy on making money, it''s like picking up sesame seeds and losing watermelons."


    "Look at you now, ranked beyond thirtieth!"


    "The family business is now out of reach!"


    Upon hearing this, Ning Zhuo finally mustered up the courage: "Great Aunt, I heard from my ssmates, it''s said that connections might help¡­"


    Before he could finish, his aunt interrupted loudly, "Use connections? Do you know how many spirit stones that would cost? Do you know how many people we would need to approach?"


    "Oh, now you''ve done poorly on your exams, and with just a light-heartedment, your great uncle and I must go around pulling strings, running our legs off, finding backdoors for you?"


    "And you have the nerve to ask this of us!"


    "If only we knew this would happen, why did we bother in the first ce."


    "I''ve told you before to focus on your cultivation, not to take on private jobs for those few spirit stones."


    "What''s the use?!"


    "If you had made it into the top thirty and entered the family business, you''d earn much more. And with fewer responsibilities and more time, you could continue your cultivation."


    Ning Zhuo suddenly raised his head, his face flushed with humiliation, and said with gritted teeth, "Uncle, Aunt, I, Ning Zhuo, take responsibility for my own actions!"


    "If it''s rank thirty-one, then so be it."


    "All these years, I''ve been grateful for the care from the two elders. If I''ve ended up like this, it''s the bitter fruit of my own making, and I deserve what I get!"


    "I take responsibility for my own actions!"


    "I don''t believe I can''t find a way to support myself if I go out on my own."


    At this point, Ning Zhuo bowed and excused himself, "Uncle, Aunt, my ssmates are waiting for me for dinner. If there''s nothing else, I''ll take my leave now."


    His great uncle stared at Ning Zhuo, silent.


    His aunt waved her hand dismissively, "Go on, go! You still feel like dining out even after scoring so poorly!"


    Unable to stay a moment longer, Ning Zhuo turned and left in a huff.


    Meanwhile, his cousin Ning Jifortably settled down.


    As the aunt turned her gaze towards Ning Ji, her expression shifted like changing masks, turning her anger into joy: "My son is truly outstanding!"


    She pushed the tea snacks on the table toward him, "Try these. These are Jinshan Hall''s ¡®Golden Thread Jade Dew Cakes.'' Eating them can enhance the depth of your Sea of Consciousness, strengthen your mental power, and greatly aid your cultivation, even in future foundation building."


    Ning Ji''s eyes lit up, and he eagerly took one and popped it into his mouth. The texture of the Golden Thread Jade Dew Cake was unique; the cake was soft and glutinous, with harder, crunchy golden threads and a flowing filling inside.


    After swallowing three bites, Ning Ji felt a refreshing sensation rising from his stomach to his crown, invigorating his spirit.


    He sincerely praised, "Delicious, delicious!"


    "Then eat more, they''re all yours," his mother said with a smile.


    Ning Ji devoured the remaining three cakes and licked his lips, still craving more: "It¡¯s truly worthy of Jinshan Hall¡¯s reputation for deliciousness! Why only four? Are there any more?"


    His father scoffed, "Each of these cakes is worth 20 spirit stones. You''ve just consumed nearly a hundred spirit stones. Do you still want more?"


    "You need to work even harder and not ck off! You must perform well within the family from now on, and strive to earn enough with your own hands to afford these spirit nourishments."


    Ning Ji protested, "Dad, I¡¯ve made you proud this time! Think about it, if it were my past results, wouldn¡¯t you have to run around using connections, giving gifts and finding backdoors to get me into the family business? My excellent performance in the major exam has saved you hundreds of spirit stones. What¡¯s wrong with enjoying a little treat from Jinshan Hall?"


    "Besides, eating these also serves to enhance my spirit, helping me to cultivate better and strive harder."


    "If I had had such resources avable to me earlier, I would have been among the top performers long ago," Ning Ji mused.


    Seeing his son''s retort, Ning''s father''s eyes widened, ready to scold him.


    Ning''s mother quickly interjected, "Alright, alright, let''s all say a little less."


    She red at her husband, "Our son has done well, and he deserves praise for it. You hardly say a few words before you start criticizing him."


    "Don¡¯t look at my son as if he''s just yful; at critical moments, he is reliable."


    "Unlike Ning Zhuo, who usually lets us down with his performance, and in the end, he¡¯s the least reassuring!"


    "Look at him, just a few criticisms and he storms off. How unteachable! Am I wrong?"


    "Hmph, and then he runs off to eat. He sure is in the mood for it!"


    Ning Ji sneered, "His pride is too high, and he¡¯s too opinionated. Mom and Dad¡¯s earnest teachings just don¡¯t sink in with him."


    "By the way, we''re not really going to use our connections to help him, wasting our goodwill, are we?"


    Ning''s father huffed, "That''s not for you to worry about."


    Seeing his father getting angry, Ning Ji instinctively shrank back, but then, buoyed by his exam results, he raised his voice, "Mom, if Ning Zhuo can go out to eat, I want to go out too, to eat some spiritual food. Give me some money, you have no idea how much I¡¯ve put into this exam!"


    "Alright, alright." Ning''s mother chuckled and took out a bag of spirit stones, handing it to Ning Ji.


    Taking the money bag, Ning Ji got up and left.


    Once outside the Ning family estate and on the street, he did not hurry to his favorite restaurant but wandered the streets instead.


    He wanted to see where Ning Zhuo was dining.


    It was a rare opportunity to catch Ning Zhuo, and Ning Ji was eager to ridicule him further.


    However, after searching left and right, he couldn¡¯t find him.


    He asked several shopkeepers and confirmed that Ning Zhuo had note by.


    Ning Ji pped his forehead, realizing, "This kid is just putting on an act; there''s no banquet at all! He''s probably at his mother''s dpidated house, crying over her death at this very moment!"


    "Forget about him; I''m going to have a meal first."


    The spiritual food was not only delicious but also had the wonderful effect of enhancing one''s cultivation, which Ning Ji was particrly looking forward to.


    His guess was partly correct.


    Ning Zhuo had already returned to his own home.


    Compared to his uncle and aunt''s residence, Ning Zhuo''s house was modest and rundown.


    He gently closed the courtyard gate, walked through the small yard, entered the main house, and proceeded to the inner room.


    This was his bedroom as well as his study.


    Although the furniture was old and simple, it was kept very clean.


    Ning Zhuo touched the lion-shaped stone on his desk.


    A flicker of light passed over the surface of the lion stone, indicating that no one had visited during his absence.


    Ning Zhuo then turned around, went to the bed, and slightly twisted the railing beside it, causing a series of mechanical noises to emit.


    Immediately, the bed shifted to the side, revealing an underground passage.


    He stepped down the woodendder, entering the secret basement.


    Once his feet hit the ground, he twisted a switch on the wall, moving the bed above back to its original position.


    As the light above was cut off, runes on the walls of the basement lit up, brightening the small space.


    At this point, the expressions of loss, grief, and repression vanished from Ning Zhuo''s face, reced by a calm demeanor.


    He settled down at his most familiar workstation, which was covered with various mechanicalponents.


    Ning Zhuo pulled open a drawer on his right, revealing a drawer full of pastries.


    Each pastry was wrapped in paper.


    On the paper was the emblem of Jinshan Hall.


    He casually grabbed a handful, about five or six, channeled his magical power, and in the next instant, burned the paper off the pastries without causing the slightest damage to the Gold Thread Jade Dew cakes.


    Clearly, he had performed this action countless times and had mastered it to perfection.


    Ning Zhuo chewed on the pastries, his gaze slightly unfocused as he mentally reviewed his performance from the day.


    This good habit had been maintained for over a decade.


    "There shouldn''t be any problems."


    "I just didn''t expect that in this major exam, the performance of others was generally wed, not showing their true capabilities."


    "When I was looking at the rankings earlier, I almost thought I had failed to control my score, nearly making it into the top thirty."

 Chapter 3: The Will

    Chapter 3: The Will


    < Chapter 3: The Will >


    In the underground workshop, the gentle light of a spiritmp filled the space evenly. Ning Zhuo sat at the desk, checking a storage bag for thest time. It was a spoils of war he had acquired from the Huang Family Three Ghosts at a ck market.


    After ensuring safety, Ning Zhuo began to crack the tiny array on the first storage bag, then faked the original owner''s aura and consciousness, finally tricking the storage bag into opening sessfully. Inside the first storage bag, there were a few spirit stones, a spirit pet Green Knife Mantis, and some materials suitable for ghost cultivation like dark essence, soul essence, and Netherworld Flower.


    The second storage bag contained hundreds of spirit stones and only a gust of yin wind along with a jade slip of a ghost cultivation technique, "Yin Bone Jue," which could modify one''s own bones.


    The third storage bag belonged to the eldest of the Huang Family Three Ghosts. It had a doubleyered array, which significantly increased the difficulty and time required for Ning Zhuo to crack it.


    "Interesting," the young man''s eyes shone brilliantly. The greater the difficulty, the stronger the resistance, the more it spurred his fighting spirit.


    He immersed himself wholeheartedly, enjoying the challenge of the difficult problem. After nearly half an hour, he sessfully cracked it. As soon as he opened it, a little ghost head lunged at Ning Zhuo''s face.


    Ning Zhuo snorted softly, already prepared. At the crucial moment, the Buddha''s Demon Mind Seal in his sea of consciousness shed a light, capturing the little ghost head. Then, the defensive array on the desk activated, instantly obliterating the soul of the little ghost head.


    The little ghost head was like thest defiance of the eldest Huang Family ghost. From then on, his storage bag posed no defenses against Ning Zhuo.


    Inside, there were over a thousand spirit stones, two jade slips for ghost cultivation techniques¡ª"Nether Heart Sutra" and a detailed exnation of "Soul Summoning Art"¡ªand arge pile of cultivation materials suitable not only for ghost cultivators.


    "Fire essence?!" Ning Zhuo''s pupils dted as he discovered about ten pounds of fire essence.


    Joy immediately appeared on his face.


    Suppressing his excitement, Ning Zhuo pulled open a drawer and grabbed a Gold Thread Jade Dew Cake from inside. With a flick of his mana, he incinerated the cake''s wrapping paper, sending a small amount of ash flying, reminiscent of the ashes of a corpse burned in a pill furnace.


    He opened his mouth and stuffed the entire pastry inside.


    As he chewed, under the illumination of the Spirit Lamp, his lips were a bright red, asionally revealing his white teeth. The Gold Thread Jade Dew Cake was crushed between his teeth and lips, its filling oozing out and mixing together. It was as if the numerous cultivators who had fallen into his hands were wailing in torment during their grind, their flesh and blood shattered, turning into the nourishment for Ning Zhuo¡¯s growth.


    The world of cultivators was cruel; without shady businesses like the Ruyi Rope, and the contributions of these demonic cultivators, how could Ning Zhuo afford so many Gold Thread Jade Dew Cakes?


    While enjoying the cakes, Ning Zhuo cheerfully tallied up the profits from yesterday''s ck market.


    Selling the Ruyi Ropes had brought him 24,000 spirit stones.


    Of these, his uncle Ning Ze had contributed the most by purchasing 80 Ruyi Ropes for the Ning family.


    Inparison, the spirit stones on the Huang Family Three Ghosts were pitifully few.


    ¡°The Ruyi Ropes I make are the best avable on the market. Thus, this business has always been good.¡±


    ¡°It seems that the Ning family is preparing for big moves with suchrge-scale war preparations, huh?¡±


    ¡°s, the world of cultivation is a world where people devour each other!¡±


    ¡°There are always those with ulterior motives, bullying ordinary youths like me.¡±


    ¡°Since those three ghost cultivators came out to rob, they must be desperate. But the ten pounds of Fire Essence was beyond my expectations, truly a pleasant surprise.¡±


    ¡°With this, the Fire Essence I¡¯ve been preparing has now reached over a thousand pounds, which is more than enough!¡±


    Over the years, Ning Zhuo had been secretly umting Fire Essence. For safety, he always purchased only a small amount at a time from the market, umting gradually. At his pace, it would take over a month to gather ten jin of Fire Essence.


    Now, thisrge batch of Fire Essence had immediately filled hisst gap.


    After tallying his gains, Ning Zhuo calcted the losses fromst night''s ck market.


    He retrieved a silver-gray token from his bosom.


    The front of the token bore the character "²Ô," while the back had another Chinese character.


    Ning Zhuo gently tossed the token into the air, where it disassembled, stretched, and expanded, bursting forth with a dazzling radiance. When the brilliance faded, the Mechanical Battle Armor of Cang Tie Han quietly floated in midair.


    Ning Zhuo opened a section of the spine on the Mechanical Battle Armor, where a Foundation Establishment Pill was embedded.


    "Only thirty percent of the Foundation Establishment Pill is left."


    This pill was crucial; it was one of the elements that enabled the Cang Tie Han Armor to exert Foundation Establishment battle prowess. Ning Zhuo himself was only at the Qi Refining stage.


    "Once the Foundation Establishment Pill is used up, the Cang Tie Han Armor will also be unusable."


    "Ah, getting another Foundation Establishment Pill is very difficult," Ning Zhuo frowned slightly.


    This was Ning Zhuo''s biggest loss yesterday.


    Last night, a new scar had been added.


    It was a stab wound left by the eldest of the Huang Family Three Ghosts in a desperate fight, and Ning Zhuo was powerless to address it.


    Upon closer inspection, it was evident that the surface of the Mechanical Battle Armor was already marred with numerous scars.


    Some were old wounds from years past, others were marks left from battles Ning Zhuo had fought in while wearing it.


    "Mother¡­" Ning Zhuo caressed the old scars, his eyes bing sorrowful.


    Fourteen years ago, when he was only two years old, his dying mother had instructed him.


    He thus learned that within Mount Huoshi, there was a Lava Immortal Pce, a Mechanical Immortal City, where the city spirit secretly selected cultivators to inherit the city. His mother was one of the chosen Foundation Establishment cultivators. The trials of the Immortal City were incredibly difficult, and his mother, due to her outstanding strength, was targeted by otherpetitors and ultimately sumbed to grave injuries.


    "The Immortal City continues to deteriorate, and the selection criteria are lowered. My son, by the time you are fourteen, the selection criteria for the Mechanical Immortal City will be lowered to the Qi Refining stage. This will be your greatest opportunity!"


    "My son, you must diligently study mechanical arts, and keep your involvement in this field a secret from others."


    "You must design, assemble, and control mechanical creations personally; these are all part of the assessments in the Mechanical Immortal City."


    ¡°If you rank among the top few in the selection of the other candidates, you will be recognized as a ¡®Puppet Seed'' and receive focused cultivation from Puppet Immortal City. This is especially important for you, as you need the cultivation resources of Puppet Immortal Pce more than those with backgrounds,¡± she exined.


    ¡°You must never cultivate to the Foundation Establishment phase using the Ning family''s methods! Your mother was a ¡®Puppet Seed'' at the Foundation Establishment phase, but sadly, my dantian is fixed, and I cannot change my cultivation method. Many of the trials in Lava Immortal Pce became immensely difficult because I did not practice the cultivation methods left by the Three Ancestors, and I eventually had no choice but to stop,¡± shemented.


    ¡°Cough, cough, cough!¡±


    Two-year-old Ning Zhuo cried out in fear, ¡°Mother, stop talking, you¡¯re coughing up blood!¡±


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s mother reached out to stroke his little head, her eyes filled with reluctance and worry, ¡°Zhuo¡¯er, mother is sorry for not protecting you. Without your father and mother, you will be alone from now on, you can only rely on yourself.¡±


    ¡°Do not be too loyal to the family. Your father made that mistake!¡±


    ¡°Before your father died, he entrusted Young n Leader Ning Xiaoren to take care of you. But this person, I have seen clearly, is duplicitous and cannot be relied upon.¡±


    ¡°Your eldest uncle and aunt, one cares too much about face, and the other is extremely stingy; neither are generous people, so be cautious.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes, the people around you, your rtives and friends, can be more dangerous than your enemies!¡±


    ¡°Do not perform too excellently; with no parents, no one is truly there to support you. You must hide yourself well, do not perform too poorly either, mediocrity is sufficient. You need to grow ordinarily, umte quietly, and avoid attracting attention.¡±


    ¡°I have seen too much, many a genius dies young¡­¡±


    ¡°I leave you my Cang Tie Han Armor for protection; it possesses the power of Foundation Establishment.¡±


    ¡°And this magical item¡ªmy Buddha Heart Devil Seal! I was fortunate to obtain it from Lava Immortal Pce, you must never reveal it.¡±


    As Ning Zhuo¡¯s mother spoke these words, her voice faded to a whisper.


    She wept continuously, gazing intensely at the two-year-old Ning Zhuo, wanting to keep looking at him, but her vision gradually darkened.


    In her final moments, she was filled with doubt, ¡°Mother doesn¡¯t know if teaching you this way is right or not.¡±


    "Zhuo''er, you must take good care of yourself. If it bes too difficult, just give up on the Lava Immortal Pce," Ning Zhuo''s mother advised with a weary voice.


    "Life is the most important thing. I want you to live, to live well!"


    "As long as you are alive, mother will be happy."


    A two-year-old Ning Zhuo clutched his mother''s bloodied clothes tightly, crying out, "Mother, mother, please stop talking. I don''t want you to die, you must not die, wuu wuu wuu¡­"


    In her final moments, Ning Zhuo''s mother softlyforted, "Dear Zhuo''er, don''t be afraid, don''t be afraid¡­ Mother is here, mother will protect you from below¡­"


    The next moment, her heart ceased beating, and her hand slowly slid from atop Ning Zhuo''s head.


    The body of two-year-old Ning Zhuo shook violently as if struck by electricity, and he suddenly looked up¡ªnow in the form of a sixteen-year-old.


    The once exceedingly innocent face of a child, now covered in tears, had been reced by the resolute expression of a grown young man.


    He had grown up, bearing the dying wishes and expectations of his mother.


    "Mother, the situation has changed!" he dered.


    "The lord of the city and the Zhou and Zheng families have intensified their purge in the Scarlet me Demon Caves, significantly reducing the defensive pressure on the Lava Immortal Pce and decreasing its damage. The pce¡¯s spirit hasn''t lowered the selection standards anymore."


    "This year, the Ning family also uncovered the secrets of the Lava Immortal Pce. If they too join in the defense, when will the standards ever lower?"


    "Perhaps I might never see that day in this lifetime!"


    "The several major powers of the Puppet Immortal City are all trying their best to conceal the Lava Immortal Pce, wanting to monopolize this opportunity within their ranks. How can this be allowed?"


    "Therefore, I must take action myself!"


    "Now, I have umted enough Fire Essence, certainly enough to st the pce into damage, thus lowering the standards."


    "All that¡¯s left is the Explosive Monkey."

 Chapter 4: Opening Matters

    Chapter 4: Opening Matters


    < Chapter 4: Opening Matters >


    Ning Zhuo approached the furnace at the corner of the wall.


    Inside the furnace, fierce mes burned vigorously, and amidst the mes stood a mechanical monkey half the height of a man, enduring the scorching fire at all times.


    The mechanical monkey''s skeleton stood upright, its entire body covered in vivid, bright red fur, except its muscles slowly disintegrated in the mes, oozing out from various cracks.


    Hidden within the volcanic magma, the Lava Immortal Pce required Ning Zhuo to control the explosive monkey, which carried a thousand jin of Fire Essence, to navigate through the thick magma and attach itself to the surface of the pce for self-destruction.


    But now, its muscles could not hold up.


    "Yun-patterned soft silver won''t work, let''s switch to the next one."


    Ning Zhuo sat down at the table, ording to his n for the evening, he intended to try using soot mud.


    The reddish-brown soot mud emitted a pungent odor.


    Ning Zhuo took a small wooden hammer and began to beat the mud.


    With each strike of the small wooden hammer, a dull thud echoed, dispersing the clumps within the mud. Whenever sparks appeared in the reddish-brown mud, the wooden hammer emitted a coldness, promptly extinguishing the sparks.


    Ning Zhuo had specially designed and developed the small wooden hammer for handling the soot mud.


    If the examiners of the major exam were to see this, they would immediately grade Ning Zhuo''s talisman science score as "superior."


    Lower, middle, and upper grades were the mostmonly used evaluations.


    "Superior" was very rare, sometimes absent even in one session. This meant that the normal standards of evaluation were insufficient to describe the excellence of this young cultivator!


    By the time all the lumps in the soot mud hadpletely dissolved, the surface of the red mud had umted ayer of fire oil.


    Ning Zhuo took a cotton cloth handkerchief and covered it with soot mud. As he channeled his mana into it, the formation on the handkerchief activated, swiftly absorbing the oil. This handkerchief was also designed by Ning Zhuo, but this time, instead of using talismans, he had set up a miniature formation on it. The formation''s craftsmanship was of the highest caliber.


    After carefully inspecting and ensuring that the greasy soil was properly processed, Ning Zhuo began to knead it. The treated oily mud was excellently sticky, bing pliable and fine under his maniption. Any other impurities in the soil were flushed out under the infusion of his mana.


    Ning Zhuo disassembled an arm from the mechanical monkey, using the processed greasy mud to adhere it to the armature. Under the light of the Spirit Lamp, his fingers were pristine white, and his movements were agile and sharp. He waspletely absorbed, utterly focused, and had lost track of time. The youth at this moment was filled with a serious charm.


    The soot mud was quickly molded into shape, and the bare armature soon sported full, blood-red muscles. Of course, Ning Zhuo wasn''t just shaping the exterior with his hands; throughout the process, he continued to manipte his mana, infusing it into the mud to refine its internal structure.


    A mere slice through the flesh with a knife revealed that inside the mud, the structure also resembled that of muscles. The astonishing proficiency in material shaping could surely astonish the elders of the academy. If Ning Zhuo revealed this, he would undoubtedly be the focus of this year''s academy promotional efforts. Such a talented seed in artifact refinement would prove the elders'' skills and efforts.


    Afterpleting the shaping, Ning Zhuo began various tests on the arm. It was not sufficient. While the soot mud exhibited excellent fire resistance, its adaptability to mana was quite poor.


    "Improvements are needed," Ning Zhuo mused.


    He recalled, "When soot mud is mixed with thunder sand, it can be used to make explosives. It''smonly used for sting mountains orbating demonic beasts."


    "Soot mudbined with poison can be processed into poison pills. When these pills disintegrate, they release toxic fire smoke, useful for blocking enemies and defense."


    "Soot mud can also bebined with coal stone and ced in the furnace of the artifact refining room, burning for a long time to maintain high temperatures."


    * * *


    Over the years, Ning Zhuo had done his utmost to remember everything he could ess in terms of knowledge.


    He would often spend his weekends immersed in the family''s library, staying there the entire day from dawn to dusk, forgetting both sleep and meals.


    Unknown to others, the unremarkable-looking Ning Zhuo was actually a walking library!


    Ning Zhuo recalled all the knowledge about oil smoke y, yet he could not find a method to improve it.


    "No matter, I''ll design the form myself!"


    Youthful bravado shone with confidence in his eyes.


    "Soot mud is warm in nature, attributed to the heart and liver meridians, carrying the energy of fiery oil, capable of dispersing moisture and cold evil from the bones. A small amount can treat the pain of cold congealing in the abdomen."


    "If mixed with moonlight water from a well, the fiery and watery natures could harmonize, potentially reducing the weight."


    "If the tail feathers of the Leading Bird are used as a catalyst, mixed together in alchemy¡­ perhaps by leveraging the lightness of wind and its dispersing nature, the oil smoke y could be optimized to its best state."


    "The catkins of the Lingyin Willow might also work. Taking catkins and oil smoke y for joint alchemy, the ratio might refer to forms like the Light Spirit Pill and rity Dispersal Powder, which could significantly reduce the weight of the final product."


    * * *


    Ning Zhuo, with his quick-witted mind and solid grasp of pharmacology, quickly devised several pill recipes based on logic and medicinal theory.


    Such a performance alone would not just secure him an exceptional score in the medicinal pills subject; the Ning family would surely take action to firmly bind him within the family''s ranks.


    Ning Zhuo began experimenting with new materials. He went through his own stock of materials and identified at least seven possible experiments to conduct.


    Moonlight Water from the well?


    Failed.


    The final product''s y reduced slightly in stickiness and weight, and its fire resistance was greatly weakened.


    Early Bird Feathers?


    A massive failure.


    The result was no longer y, but a pile of dust.


    Yet, Ning Zhuo felt a sense of joy: "The wind nature of the bird feathers is too strong, and I have gained a deeper understanding of this material."


    His third attempt used Lingyin Willow''s catkins.


    The resulting y showed patterns of the willow catkins, the stickiness remained unchanged, fire resistance was slightly reduced, but the weight decreased sharply. All other tests passed.


    "Lucky me, I didn''t expect to achieve the ideal result on the third try¡­ uh."


    Ning Zhuo''s happiness was short-lived, as he noticed the patterns of the willow catkins on the y starting to float to the surface, causing a clear-to-turbid transformation that degraded the quality of the y.


    This new y was unstable!


    Ning Zhuo then attempted a fourth experiment, which was a great failure. He pondered for a while, but instead of rushing to the next experiment, he decided to delve deeper into the Lingyin Willow''s approach.


    "This n is close to sess; it adapts well to various types of mana. What I need to do is to stabilize its form."


    "What should I do next?"


    As old problems were resolved, new ones emerged.


    Far from being discouraged, Ning Zhuo was eager to try, his thoughts bing even more focused. He found joy deep within himself as he immersed in the design process, a task that never felt dull or tedious but instead filled him with genuine delight.


    In this state of deep thought, he felt his existence, his value.


    He knew he was creating something that did not naturally exist in the world!


    This anticipation, this sense of achievement, was something no other thing could offer him.


    For others, it might be torture, but for him, it was a beautiful indulgence, a pleasure of the mind.


    Time silently slipped by, and Ning Zhuo, lost in thought, felt none of it pass.


    After an unknown period of time, his eyes suddenly lit up.


    "To solve this technical challenge, I need to use a moving formation."


    However, this level of knowledge was well beyond what was taught at the Ning family''s school.


    Ning Zhuo stood up and paced back and forth in his underground workshop a few times.


    After a moment of contemtion, he stopped, tilted his head back slightly, and made up his mind: "Chen Cha¡­ known as the ¡®Living Formation Master,'' specializes in moving formations, and crucially, he is also a puppet master."


    "It''s time to make contact with him."

 Chapter 5: This Mechanism is Truly Ingenious

    Chapter 5: This Mechanism is Truly Ingenious


    < Chapter 5: This Mechanism is Truly Ingenious >


    The next day, Ning Zhuo arrived at the Flying Disk Workshop to formally visit the master of the workshop, Chen Cha. Ning Zhuo stated his purpose and was smoothly guided by the gatekeeper into Chen Cha''s study.


    Chen Cha was an old man dressed in a ck robe, his face carrying a look of bitterness, his beard graying, and his eyes deeply set. He scrutinized Ning Zhuo, noticing his clean, white robe and calm, deep eyes, reminiscent of a serene pool. The jade pendant on his waist, engraved with the character ¡®Ning'', caught his eye.


    "Ning family?" Chen Cha thought to himself.


    Huoshi Immortal City was dominated by four major powers, led by the City Lord''s Mansion, whose current lord was a Nascent Soul period cultivator. The others included the Zhou family known for their formations, the Zheng family famous for weapons, and the Ning family, specialists in talismans.


    "Junior pays his respects to Master Chen Cha, the Active Formation Expert," Ning Zhuo greeted.


    The old man chuckled bitterly, "I''m hardly qualified for the title of ¡®Master''. As for ¡®Active Formation Expert'', that''s just ttery from others. Young man, if you wish, you can simply call me Old Chen."


    Ning Zhuo continued, "My name is Ning Zhuo. I have heard that Old Chen can impart knowledge about formations. Therefore, I have brought some rted questions to seek your advice."


    Chen Cha replied, "Indeed, I do conduct this business. Based on the specific questions, I quote specific prices. Ning Zhuo, please ask your questions first, then I can set a price."


    His finances were tight; as the head of the workshop, he had to personally craft mechanisms to pay off debts. Normally, he wouldn''t engage in this consulting business, but desperate times called for measures to make money from various sources.


    After signing the contract, Chen Cha invited Ning Zhuo to take a seat. The contract bound both parties to strictly maintain confidentiality regarding the issue and its solution.


    Ning Zhuo then changed his tone and said, "Senior, my question rtes to puppet mechanisms."


    "Every year during the Huoshi Festival, there are casualties. I want to design a mechanical puppet that can harvest the fire persimmons."


    "I''ve named it the Explosive Monkey. It''s already designed, except for the final stage."


    "Its body isn''t resistant to high temperatures. If a fire persimmon causes an explosion during harvesting, the Explosive Monkey would be severely damaged."


    "To solve this difficult issue, I think designing a moving formation to stabilize the body''s form would help."


    "Therefore, I seek your guidance, senior."


    Chen Cha stroked his beard, "Hmm¡­ Did you bring the mechanical monkey? Show it to me."


    He was rather dismissive in his heart.


    As a master of the puppet workshop, he was often consulted about puppetry issues.


    He had seen many such cases and thus had a great deal of experience.


    The monk before him was young and had independently designed a mechanical creation, but he suspected that this so-called mechanical monkey was hardly worth looking at.


    "Young people, after all, have a shallow perspective and do not know the vastness of heaven and earth. They are also often arrogantly unaware of their limitations and reality without having gone through hardships and stern discipline."


    "This young Ning,ing from a prominent family, is likely even more arrogant."


    "Be mindful of your wordster, and avoid any critical tone. After all, he''s paying for advice, and there might even be further business opportunities," Chen Cha silently reminded himself.


    After Ning Zhuo''s initial introduction, he directly took the mechanical monkey out of his storage bag.


    Thump.


    The mechanical monkey was quite heavy, and it made a dull sound when ced on the desk.


    Chen Cha''s pupils dted slightly!


    At the first appearance of the mechanical monkey, his heart skipped a beat. With years of experience, he immediately judged that the mechanism in front of him was not simple.


    "Be gentle," Chen Cha''s tone was somewhat reproachful. He had a passion for mechanical arts and cherished mechanical creations, feeling that Ning Zhuo''s way of cing the mechanical monkey was a bit rough.


    Ning Zhuo mistakenly thought Chen Cha was concerned about his desk and awkwardly smiled in response.


    At this moment, Chen Cha''s gaze was firmly fixed on the Explosive Monkey, as if his soul had been hooked.


    Chen Cha, being a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, immediately released his spiritual sense to inspect it.


    Soon, his eyebrows rose high, and his expression turned quite animated.


    Chen Cha gently stroked the bright red, smooth fur of the fiery monkey, unable to resist praising on the spot: "This monkey fur is made from the fur of the Fire Cotton Rat. The craftsmanship is excellent, the sewing is seamless, as if it were one piece. The fur lining is inscribed with numerous talismans, enhancing the toughness of the fur. The production is neat, and theyout is meticulous,parable to that of an experienced tailor."


    Ning Zhuo listened and was slightly startled, quickly responding with modesty: "Not at all, not at all. You tter me too much."


    He remained unimpressed and continued, "This needlework is merely basic skill, done in the most traditional way, without any innovation. There''s nothing worth boasting about."


    Chen Cha''s spiritual sense scanned the puppet monkey''s skeleton: "The skeleton is made of Celestial Metal. Celestial Metal is both lightweight and tough, and it also possesses a certain spatial efficiency. Indeed, a storage formation has been designed on the skeleton, fully utilizing the material''s properties."


    "Good, good. The array is also very appropriatelyid out. It is evident that the creator was very careful and cautious when setting up the array, trying topress the space of the formation as much as possible. Being able topress the formation to this extent demonstrates powerful array-setting skills. Also, the creator tried their best in the early stages of designing the puppet creation, leaving space for future designs. This is foresight and a great perspective."


    Ning Zhuo blinked and responded, "Senior, you really give me too much credit. These are all just basic skills. As for the choice of Celestial Metal, I followed the standard teachings. As for the storage formation, I indeed made some minor adjustments. These adjustments are all based on the work of predecessors, and there''s nothing worth mentioning."


    Chen Cha, however, did not look at him, his entire being immersed in the puppet monkey before him.


    He continued to evaluate, "This muscture, is it made from soot y, further enhanced for fire resistance? No, it doesn''t seem quite right¡­ It should be primarily soot y, but transformed into a new material using alchemical methods. The muscle modeling is really well done. Beautiful, truly beautiful!"


    "Just this foundation in material modeling alone qualifies the creator to serve as the second hammer in a tool-refining workshop. Even for crafting delicate magical tools, taking on the role of chief hammer would not be amiss."


    "And the skill of creating new materials primarily from soot y is also quite impressive. As far as I know, this must be an original creation! The creator independently explored and developed this new material, very good, very good. Such a foundation and expertise in the path of alchemy might well make one a great alchemist in the future."


    Ning Zhuo felt somewhat embarrassed by the praise and quickly responded, "Senior Chen, you tter me too much."


    "My attempts are very rudimentary, and these innovations are without any systematic method. They''re just asional sparks of inspiration, and there are many ws and deficiencies."


    "This time I sought your guidance, Senior, because the material of the body is unstable and struggles to withstand high temperatures. With such drawbacks, it really shouldn''t deserve such high praise from you."


    Chen Cha finally looked up at Ning Zhuo, a hint of surprise in his heart: How could such a young man, who crafted such mechanisms, be so humble?


    He continued his inspection.


    This time, Chen Cha carefully spread open the monkey''s palm, and his eyes lit up with brilliance, astonished by the intricate array design within the palm.


    "Wonderful, truly exquisite!"


    "These miniature arrays are nested within each other, allowing the monkey''s palm to perform sensitive and lively movements, capable of executing quiteplex finger actions."


    "The key is, the way these arrays arebined is quite innovative, not amon setup, showing the creator''s talent in array setting and designing arrays."


    Ning Zhuo coughed twice, feeling his smile stiffen a bit: "Senior, you praise me too highly, far too highly."


    "These designs really aren''t anything special, just a bit of integration of some existing knowledge."


    "The design of these arrays is just some minor experimentation; I am still exploring. They are far from what could be called innovative or talented, and there are many deficiencies and areas that need improvement."


    Chen Cha looked up again at Ning Zhuo, murmuring to himself, "Why is this young man overly modest? Perhaps this is the family style of the Ning family? The so-called demeanor of a great house?"


    Suddenly, Chen Cha''s eyes widened, a look of astonishment appearing on his face.


    He had delved into the puppet monkey''s head and discovered that the magical implements arranged within the brain were actually three Curving Bullets!


    "Curving Bullets are originally a type of attack that can be remotely controlled to change their flight direction. But they have been transformed, swirling within the monkey''s brain, acting as receptors for spiritual sense. This is the first time I have seen this, its unheard of!"


    "Oh, and there are many talismans etched inside the monkey''s brain working in harmony."


    "This is another original creation."


    Chen Cha quickly surmised that this arrangement would seed.


    "Clever, truly clever!" His eyes sparkled with admiration as he spoke continuously in praise.


    Ning Zhuo was sixteen years old and had always been modest about his skills; he had never before experienced such direct andvish praise. Thepliments made his scalp tingle somewhat. "Senior''s praise is too kind, I am truly ttered, overly ttered."


    "As for this arrangement, I''m merely experimenting, trying it out. I cannot yet guarantee its practicality and stability."


    "In fact, transforming the curving bullet into a spiritual sense receiver was a measure of necessity. Because selling this mechanical Explosive monkey is meant to make money. If it were equipped with an array disk, the cost would be much higher. Hence, this design solution was adopted."


    "I always feel this isn''t the best solution; there are still unexplored risks and unstable factors."


    Finally, Chen Cha had scrutinized the mechanical monkey thoroughly. He looked up at Ning Zhuo, his eyebrows slightly furrowed with skepticism, filled with doubt about the young man before him: "Such an excellent mechanical creation, really made by this young man?"


    Ning Zhuo''s modesty only deepened Chen Cha''s skepticism. In Chen Cha''s view, the mechanical monkey was an outstanding piece. If he was the creator, he should hold his head high and proudly proim it everywhere¡ªthis was a testament to his skills, not something an ordinary person could achieve!


    But Ning Zhuo''s excessive humility, in Chen Cha''s eyes, seemed overly done.


    It was as if hecked confidence, falsely iming another''s work as his own.

 Chapter 6: Ning Zhuo, Plain and Unremarkable

    Chapter 6: Ning Zhuo, in and Unremarkable


    < Chapter 6: Ning Zhuo, in and Unremarkable >


    Chen Cha, harboring suspicions, subtly posed several questions to Ning Zhuo.


    The questions spanned multiple areas, which only a true creator could answer.


    Of course, this did not pose a challenge for Ning Zhuo.


    After their exchange, Chen Cha''s doubts were dispelled, and he couldn''t help but be astonished, "Did he really design and create these himself?"


    "Isn''t he a descendant of the Ning family? The Ning family is known for their expertise in talismans. When did they be so skilled in the art of mechanical devices, to have nurtured such an outstanding young cultivator?"


    "If he continues to develop like this, this child will surely achieve great things!"


    Chen Cha began to see Ning Zhuo in a new light, his interest intensifying, prompting him to ask a few more questions.


    Ning Zhuo then said, "This year¡¯s major examination has concluded my schooling. The elder''s insight is profound; indeed, I am quite fond of mechanical techniques and have always been interested. I make it a point to collect books and study in private. It¡¯s unrted to the Ning family''s school."


    Chen Cha stroked his beard and deliberately asked, "In the hundred arts of cultivation, the top four are alchemy, tool refining, talisman making, and formation setting. Mechanical techniques rank low among these arts, being a specialty within a specialty. Why do you particrly favor this path?"


    Ning Zhuo felt a stirring in his heart, realizing that their conversation had reached a critical moment!


    His contact with Chen Cha was premeditated. Bringing out the mechanical monkey was part of his n.


    The young man pondered for a moment, his expression turning serious, and he solemnly said, "I believe that cultivation is about understanding the truths of the universe. The hundred arts of cultivation are merely tools for applying these truths."


    "Pills are tools, magical instruments and flying swords are tools, talismans and formations are likewise tools."


    "Using these tools, we can more conveniently cultivate and increase the sess rate of various actions."


    "And the pinnacle of tools is none other than mechanical techniques!"


    "A new material in a mechanism is refined using pill-making techniques. The structure of the mechanism is shaped using the art of tool refining. The formations and talismans on the mechanism involve the skills of setting formations and making talismans."


    "An excellent mechanical creation is a cleverbination of cultivation arts."


    At this point, Ning Zhuo paused: "As for why mechanical techniques have fallen to the bottom among the hundred arts and are considered a niche field, it''s because they are difficult to learn and master, with the highest barriers!"


    "On one hand, constructing a mechanism requires a cultivator to master a variety of cultivation arts. Alchemy, tool refining, talisman making, and formation setting are all foundational. After mastering these, one must then choose andbine from numerousplex materials and techniques."


    "On the other hand, designing a mechanism is even more challenging. It tests a cultivator''s thinking, talent, inspiration, and imagination. A good design may take a cultivator over a decade toplete. During this process, one often gets stuck on a single point, making no progress for years."


    "Only with an excellent design can there be an excellent mechanical creation."


    Hearing Ning Zhuo''s discourse, Chen Cha leaned back slightly, his eyes shining, and he appraised the young man before him, unable to resist pping his hands, "Well said, well said indeed!"


    His attitude towards Ning Zhuo shifted once again.


    From the initial admiration and interest, it transformed into the warmth felt towards a fellow traveler on the same path.


    The interactions between people are fascinating. Some people spend all day together yet remain the most familiar strangers, while others resonate deeply on their first meeting, finding a shared understanding in each other''s thoughts.


    Chen Cha and Ning Zhuo found themselves getting along better and better, naturally changing how they addressed each other. Chen Cha affectionately called Ning Zhuo "Xiao Zhuo", while Ning Zhuo started referring to him as "Chen Lao".


    When Ning Zhuo asked a question, Chen Cha thought for a moment and then provided three different ns. Usually, he would only offer one solution to a problem, but with Ning Zhuo, he held nothing back.


    Ning Zhuo, having heard the three proposals, immediately came up with numerous questions and asked them one by one. Chen Cha answered all of them enthusiastically, his usual concern for fees forgotten.


    Ning Zhuo continued to offer his thoughts, making modifications to the three ns. Chen Cha was deeply immersed in the joy of discussing these matters with a fellow practitioner.


    In the course of their discussion, the ns were rapidly refined and optimized, eventually finalizing a n to enhance the "Fireburst Monkey" by adding blood infused with dynamic array foundations to stabilize its body, while the evaporating blood would help dissipate heat, significantly easing the heat stress the Fireburst Monkey endured.


    Chen Cha concluded, "Based on my many years of experience, the Fireburst Monkey will definitely be very popr once it hits the market."


    "Xiao Zhuo, why don''t you have my Flying Disk Workshop handle the production of the Fireburst Monkey?" he suggested.


    "How could you produce arge number of mechanical Fireburst Monkeys on your own? You''ll need to outsource to a workshop for mass production," he continued.


    "My Flying Disk Workshop has enough cultivators and equipment to meet your manufacturing needs."


    "Moreover, I''ve operated in Puppet Immortal City for decades and have established sufficient sales channels, including some support from the city lord''s mansion," Chen Cha exined further.


    "On one hand, I can leverage these connections to reduce taxes to some extent, allowing you to earn more," he continued.


    "On the other hand, this serves as protection. Once the mechanical Fireburst Monkeys are released, they will significantly harm the interests of the Monkey Head Gang."


    "This gang breeds spirit pet monkeys whose primary business is ordering the monkeys to harvest the highly explosive fire persimmons."


    "This is something we need to anticipate and guard against in advance."


    Ning Zhuo blinked, feigning hesitation, "This¡­"


    With a sincere smile, Chen Cha added, "Xiao Zhuo, I''ll be honest with you."


    "This is also greatly beneficial for me."


    "My Flying Disk Workshop has not had any standout products for many years. Your Fireburst Monkey perfectly meets my urgent needs."


    "The better the Fireburst Monkey sells, the brighter the reputation of my Flying Disk Workshop will shine, and the easier it will be to conduct business."


    "Therefore, I will only take thirty percent of the profits from the Fireburst Monkey, and I will bear all the manufacturing costs myself!"


    Ning Zhuo scratched his head, "Chen Lao, I can feel your sincerity, but¡­"


    Chen Cha stroked his beard, "No worries, such a big decision requires careful consideration. Perhaps, Xiao Zhuo, you should consult your family. However, although the Ning family is a major cultivator family, they don''t have much strength in the puppet industry. Relying on your family for this business might not be advantageous. Indeed, they might also rely on puppet workshops."


    "I''m speaking frankly; you are free to investigate further," said Chen Cha earnestly.


    Ning Zhuo waved his hand dismissively, "Chen Lao, I have been an orphan since childhood, raised by my uncle and aunt. Now that I''ve graduated from the academy, I''vepletely moved on and am living on my own."


    "I make my own decisions regarding these matters and have never considered handing over the mechanical Fireburst Monkey to the Ning family''s control."


    "I just have one small request," Ning Zhuo added.


    "Oh? Feel free to mention it," replied Chen Cha.


    Ning Zhuo continued, "I would like to join your workshop and participate in various tasks at the puppet workshop to gain experience. I also wish to learn more from you, Chen Lao. I have umted many questions. As for the consulting fees, we could deduct them from my earnings from the Fireburst Monkey, how does that sound?"


    Chen Cha burst into heartyughter, "Xiao Zhuo, having you here would be a blessing for the Flying Disk Workshop. I wee you wholeheartedly!"


    "With your talent, you should directly take the position of deputy master of the workshop."


    Ning Zhuo hastily gestured, "That wouldn''t be appropriate! I am merely a novice with much to learn. Just a in and unremarkable youth from the Ning family, how could I possibly take on the role of deputy master?"


    "in and unremarkable? You are far too modest!" Chen Cha shook his head, sighing with admiration, mistakenly attributing it to the humble family ethos of the Ning family.


    However, Ning Zhuo thought to himself, "Chen Lao''s praise and treatment likely stem from seeing the potential for consultancy business and profits from puppetry."


    "In the art of puppetry, I have only made modest achievements. Whether it''s the Ruyi Rope or the Fireburst Monkey, there is still a vast gappared to those ssic puppet creations."


    "Speaking of designing the Puppet Monkey, it took me several years, with many bumps along the way. This time, the difficulties were only solved after consulting Old Chen," he said.


    "I still need to make much more significant progress in the art of puppetry."


    "The praises from Old Chen shouldn''t be taken seriously, I''m truly not worthy of such remarks!"


    Unbeknownst to him, Chen Cha''s evaluations were never exaggerated; they were grounded in reality and his rich life experiences.


    Ning Zhuo was unaware that these were Chen Cha''s sincere thoughts.


    On one hand, Ning Zhuo had always been diligently hiding his skills, never having had a discussion with his peers like he did today, and he was not aware of his own precise position.


    On the other hand, following his mother''s dying wishes, Ning Zhuo had always been cautious and prudent, constantly building his mentality to keep his skills hidden.


    Even when he achieved some sess, he would find ways to critique himself from various aspects, to ensure he never fell into the trap of pride andcency.


    For fourteen years, he constantly reminded himself: I am ordinary, utterlymonce. Even the achievements I have made, others could achieve too. I must keep striving, never allow myself to becent¡­


    Over time, through countless self-admonishments, he developed a very humble character, unable to see his own excellence, and firmly believing that he still had much to improve upon.


    That evening, Ning Zhuo ced the newly configured Fireburst Monkey into the furnace for another baking test.


    "This time, it''s likely to seed."


    Ning Zhuo was quite confident about this.


    "Much of this is thanks to Chen Cha. His experience is not just ten times but at least a hundred times greater than mine."


    "Working in his Puppet Workshop in the future, I must make good use of such an opportunity to seek his advice frequently."


    Ning Zhuo had been investigating Chen Cha for many years and knew quite a bit about his temperament.


    Just as Chen Cha held Ning Zhuo in high regard, Ning Zhuo equally appreciated Chen Cha.


    "If there''s no problem with the Explosive Monkey at this key juncture, the next step is to figure out how to make contact with Lava Immortal Pce."


    The Lava Immortal Pce was hidden within the body of Mount Huoshi, concealed in thick magma.


    Ning Zhuo needed to first reach inside the body of Mount Huoshi.


    There was a path for that. He would start by reaching the summit of Mount Huoshi, then enter through the volcanic vent, diving into the Red me Demon Melt Cave. From the myriad of passages, he would choose the correct one and keep going deeper to eventually find a vantage point from which the Lava Immortal Pce could be seen.


    "But if the Lava Immortal Pce encounters problems right after my first excavation, it would be too conspicuous."


    "After all, for so many years, I have never entered the Red me Demon Melt Cave. Suddenly entering the cave would be abrupt."


    "I need a cover."


    With that thought, the image of his great-uncle Ning Ze appeared in Ning Zhuo''s mind.


    A n began to form in his heart.

 Chapter 7: Ning Zhuo Comes Home

    Chapter 7: Ning Zhuo Comes Home


    < Chapter 7: Ning Zhuo Comes Home >


    The young n leader of the Ning family summoned Ning Ze once again to inquire about the progress of the task involving the Young Puppet Master.


    Ning Ze reported with gritted teeth.


    Bang!


    The young n leader, Ning Xiaoren, was so furious that he grabbed the inkstone from the desk and hurled it.


    The inkstone struck Ning Ze''s forehead, immediately causing blood to flow.


    Ning Ze didn''t dare to wipe it away; his knees buckled, and he knelt down on the ground, wailing, "Young n Leader, it''s truly not that I, Ning Ze, haven''t tried. I''ve given it my all, but that Young Puppet Master is just imprable!"


    "My abilities are simply insufficient; I really can''tplete such a task."


    "Young n Leader, you think too highly of me. I am severely overestimated. I trulyck the confidence and ability to handle such a duty."


    Ning Ze dared not mention the matter of the Huang Family Three Ghosts; that was all his own doing.


    He had wanted to abandon the task long ago. Now that the situation had reached its worst, he decided to just let go, admitting his incapacity¡ªhe couldn''t do it!


    "You, you, you!" The young n leader was so angry that his fingers trembled, and for a moment, he was too speechless to address Ning Ze''s dodging.


    He leaned back in his chair, gasping for a long time, before finally waving his hand dismissively, "Such a simple task, and you can''t even manage it! Fine, I''ll assign it to someone else. Get out! Just looking at you makes my head hurt."


    Ning Ze hastily retreated, but just as he reached the door, the young n leader called out to him again.


    "Wait!" Ning Ze''s heart skipped a beat as he turned to bow, "What instructions does the Young n Leader have?"


    The Young n Leader''s tone slowed, "I''ve looked at the roster for the major exam, and Ning Zhuo is on it."


    "He ranked 31st this time. As his uncle, what do you have to say?"


    Ning Ze gave a bitter smile, "Speaking of Xiao Zhuo, I am indeed deeply troubled, Young n Leader."


    "The child has grown up and feels that he can spread his wings. After the exam yesterday, he had a big fallout with my wife and me."


    "Sigh, perhaps it''s because Xiao Zhuo lost his parents at a young age. We haven''t done enough, leading to his strange temper and solitary nature. He''s extremely stubborn, unwilling to take shortcuts or let us pull strings because that would embarrass him."


    The Young n Leader''s gaze sharpened, "Hmm?"


    "You know very well: Ning Zhuo''s father, Ning Zhong, your own brother, was my lifesaver. I promised him and his wife that I would take good care of Ning Zhuo and help him cultivate properly."


    "Young children don¡¯t understand, but don¡¯t you?"


    Ning Ze hurriedly bowed, "Young n Leader, I understand your meaning. I''ll go back right now and persuade Ning Zhuo to change his mind."


    "Good!" The Young n Leader waved his hand, issuing a final warning, "If you can''t handle this small matter, you won''t be fit to manage any procurement duties anymore!"


    With a heavy heart as if arge stone weighed upon him, Ning Ze returned home with a gloomy expression.


    Upon seeing him, Aunt Wang Lan eximed in shock, "Husband, how did you get injured!?"


    "It was the Young n Leader who hit me," Ning Ze sighed.


    Aunt Wang Lan spoke with resentment, "Really, this Ning Xiaoren! If he is so capable, he should recruit the Young Puppet Master himself. Why bother subordinates for such matters?"


    Whileining, Aunt Wang Lan gently applied medicine to the wound on Ning Ze''s forehead.


    The pain from the wound made Ning Ze''s mouth twitch. He scoffed, "Fortunately¡­ I managed to pass this hot potato along."


    "But Ning Xiaoren gave me another task to handle."


    "Ah, it''s about Xiao Zhuo''s mess!"


    Ning Ze briefly exined.


    After listening, Aunt Wang Lan''s eyebrows shot up like an angered cat: "What? We really have to spend money to pull strings for him to enter the family business?"


    "No, I don''t agree!"


    "How much money will that even cost?"


    "We''ve raised him all these years, brought him up, and it wasn''t easy. And now we have to spend more money?"


    Uncle sighed, "He''s been living at the academy without tuition fees, just a little bit for living expenses, which isn''t much at all."


    "Besides, his mother left a sum of money before she died from illness."


    Aunt Wang Lan eximed, "Have you lost your mind? That money is ours!"


    "Back then, when Ning Zhuo¡¯s mother was on her deathbed, she took my hand and handed me that money."


    "You were there, and several other elders were present too."


    "Ning Zhuo''s mother made it very clear that this money was not for Ning Zhuo''s upbringing, but a thank-you gift to us!" Aunt Wang Lan insisted. "The money should be ours, and we should be free to use it as we wish."


    Uncle chuckled coldly, "Exactly, and that''s why we cannot let Xiao Zhuo down."


    "After all, I am his uncle, and he ranked 31st this time. It wouldn''t be right if I didn''t make arrangements."


    Aunt Wang Lan clenched her teeth and stood her ground, "If you think I''m going to part with such arge sum, you might as well kill me."


    "This troublesome little brat, and that greedy Ning Xiaoren, deserve nothing!"


    "Can''t you see? Ning Xiaoren is singling you out to push you into bribing him, using his connections to get Ning Zhuo into the family business."


    "What kind of man he is, and what he''s plotting, aren¡¯t you clear about that?"


    "He is petty and heartless. Promises he made in public yesterday, he could conveniently forget today."


    "Previously, we thought having such a connection would make things easier. But when we''ve asked him for help, he either shirks responsibility or demands money."


    "To secure your position as procurement manager, we sought the Young n Leader¡¯s help, and how much did he charge us? Three times more than what others paid!"


    "Now, he''s looking to exploit the situation with Ning Zhuo to extort more money from us."


    "Heh, if he really cared about repaying the debt for saving his life, why hasn''t he shown any concern orfort for Ning Zhuo even once in all these years!? If he really wanted to repay the favor, he could have used his own power to ce Xiao Zhuo in the family business directly. He is the Young n Leader, after all."


    "Such hypocrisy, it''s utterly despicable!"


    Uncle sighed deeply, "Ah, do you think I don''t understand? His intentions were very clear; this time if I don''t curry favor with him and present him with gifts, he will strip me of my managerial duties!"


    Aunt Wang Lan was incredulous, "Are you really going to submit to this? Let him extort our family?"


    "You have a son too."


    "Ning Ji also needs to cultivate and requires resources for it. What can we give him? We can''t even satisfy him with the pastries from Jinshan Hall."


    Uncle''s face darkened as he snapped, "Nonsense!"


    "Those Golden Thread Jade Dew cakes aren''t something even a major manager can snack on freely."


    "Don¡¯t worry, let me think this over properly."


    Ning Ze was filled with reluctance at the idea of using money and connections to secure Ning Zhuo a position in the family business.


    Compared to his wife Wang Lan, it wasn¡¯t the money that bothered him but rather his own dignity.


    With Ning Zhuo having fallen out with them due to his stubborn temperament, Ning Ze felt it demeaning that, as an elder, he should have to go out of his way to secure a favorable position for him.


    Wasn''t that just acting like a servant?

 Chapter 8: Buddha Heart Demon Seal

    Chapter 8: Buddha Heart Demon Seal


    < Chapter 8: Buddha Heart Demon Seal >


    "It should be Ning Zhuo begging me to handle this matter."


    "Not me rushing to arrange things for him."


    "I am his uncle, his elder!"


    "If it really came to that, wouldn¡¯t it make him so proud that he''d only look down on me through his nostrils from now on?"


    "How could I continue to discipline him after that?"


    But the situation was beyond his control.


    The young n leader, Ning Xiaoren, had already cornered Ning Ze, who was not willing to give up his position as manager.


    What should he do?


    Ning Ze pondered hard for a long time but could not find a solution.


    In the afternoon, Ning Zhuo returned.


    In the main hall, Ning Zhuo met again with Ning Ze and Wang Lan, stating his purpose: "This time, my main purpose is to take away the daily necessities I use."


    During his time studying at the school, Ning Zhuo¡¯s usual residence had been here. He only went back to live alone on weekends.


    Ning Ze feigned interest and inquired about recent developments.


    Internally, Ning Zhuo activated the power of the treasure seal within his sea of consciousness, while verbally, he informed the couple that he had found a job in the Puppet Workshop with good conditions.


    After a brief conversation, Ning Zhuo took his leave.


    Wang Lan watched his departing figure and snorted coldly: "What Flying Disk Workshop? Never heard of it. What future can such a small workshop have?"


    Ning Ze, expressionless,mented: "Young people are full of vigor. They need to go through some hardships to understand the difficulties of life."


    Seeing the stubborn look on Ning Zhuo¡¯s face, Ning Ze felt even more aversion to the idea of using money and connections to help him.


    "Wait, maybe I can use his character toe up with a n." Ning Ze suddenly thought of a good idea.


    He sneered: "Ning Zhuo has always been too schrly, and as a young man, he loves adventure and excitement."


    "I recall that many of our family''s cultivators have joined the Demon Hunting Society and ventured into the Crimson me Demon Molten Cave to hunt volcanic demons."


    "I could have someone incite Ning Zhuo to join the demon hunt!"


    The great-aunt started to worry: "Wouldn''t that be too dangerous?"


    She was concerned about money, but she didn''t want to see Ning Zhuo harmed or killed.


    The great-uncle shook his head slightly: "There are already quite a few members of the Ning family in the Demon Hunting Society."


    "Moreover, this time the young n leader asked me to procure no less than 80 Ruyi Ropes, clearly indicating that our n is nning a major exploration of the Crimson me Demon Molten Cave."


    "By then, with the protection of the n''s power, Xiao Zhuo''s safety shouldn''t be an issue."


    "Xiao Zhuo is young and hot-blooded, loves thrills and adventure, and wants to strive alone for sess. He is stubborn, dislikes my arrangements, and is eager to join the Demon Hunting Society! How''s that for an exnation? Hahaha."


    "The beauty of it is¡ªexploring the Crimson me Demon Molten Cave is also a major n affair. Ning Zhuo would be contributing to the family, and arguably, it''s still part of the family business. The young n leader won''t be able to hold this against me."


    "Of course, money still has to be spent."


    "But, the cost of arranging for Xiao Zhuo to enter the Demon Hunting Society is much less than entering a family enterprise!"


    The great-aunt blinked and thought for a moment: "That''s a good idea."


    "However, as the head of the family."


    "Since the n is nning a major action in the Crimson me Demon Molten Cave, there will certainly be many opportunities to distinguish oneself. You mentioned, our Ji¡­"


    The great-uncle suddenly widened his eyes and rebuked, "Are you mad? The battlefield is blind to the sword, what if Ji were to go and something were to happen, some mishap urs? Do you want to see us, the elderly, burying the young?"


    "Ah?" The great-aunt was immediately thrown into panic, hurriedly saying, "I was mistaken, I thought too much. It''s safest for Ji to stay at home and make talismans!"


    Neither spouse noticed that just as Ning Zhuo was taking his leave, two streams of blood trickled from his nostrils.


    Ning Ze thought this was his own doing and was secretly pleased.


    Little did he know, this was actually the result of Ning Zhuo''s deliberate influence.


    As the sun set, night enveloped Huoshi Immortal City.


    Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, his heart tinged with slight nervousness and trepidation, and opened the alchemy furnace.


    "Excellent, it indeed passed!"


    Seeing the intact Mechanical Exclusive Monkey, Ning Zhuo rxed, his heart leaping with joy.


    Then, with a thought,


    The seal hidden within his sea of consciousness faintly shimmered with light.


    It was the magical treasure his mother had left him¡ªthe Buddha Heart Demon Seal!


    The top of the seal was carved with a figure of Buddha and a demon head, back to back, standing in stark contrast. The Buddha''s expression was serene, with eyes full ofpassion, while the demon looked fierce, its gaze fiery.


    The body of the seal was shaped like a round basin, with Sanskrit talismans flickering on and off around it.


    The base of the seal was inscribed with immortal script, ancient in style, bearing only fourrge characters, precisely "ÎÒ·ðÐÄħ."


    A single thought can make one a Buddha, a single thought can make one a demon.


    I am both Buddha and demon.


    The seal, when reflecting upon oneself, embodies the Buddha''spassion, guiding both oneself and others. When directed at others, it can project a cultivator''s thoughts and intentions into another''s sea of consciousness, influencing and altering their thoughts. At that moment, it bes the heart demon of others.


    Ning Zhuo had suffered greatly to keep this treasure hidden, paying a heavy price. His extensive purchases of Gold Thread Jade Dew Cakes were primarily to expand his own sea of consciousness, increase his foundation, and bear the burden of this magical treasure.


    He had also reaped many benefits from this treasure! For instance, while disguised as the Young Puppet Master in the ck market, and when attacked by demonic cultivators, Ning Zhuo used this treasure to shock his enemies'' minds, creating ws in their defense. Even a momentarypse was often enough to let him emerge victorious.


    Simrly, today, in order to influence Ning Ze, he forcefully activated the treasure in his presence, drawing a trace of its power. This led Ning Ze to have the "inspiration" to devise the n of getting Ning Zhuo into the Demon Hunting Society.


    However, this had left Ning Zhuo with a weakened spirit and soul, causing his nose to bleed uncontrobly.


    "My uncle is at the Foundation Establishment stage, and I''m only at the third level of the Qi Refining stage. Influencing him is difficult andes at a cost."


    "Unlike when I operated in the ck market, where I wore the Cang Tie Han Armor, endowed with the power of Foundation Establishment, I could invoke more of this seal¡¯s power, easily shaking enemies at the Foundation Establishment stage."


    "But the real purpose of this seal is not here; it is meant for controlling mechanisms!"


    Ning Zhuo activated the power of the seal, forming a heart imprint.


    The heart imprint appeared as a pale pink light, shooting in an instant into the Mechanical Monkey¡¯s body.


    The next moment, the Mechanical Monkey opened its eyes and leapt out from inside the alchemy furnace!


    The Mechanical Explosive Monkey moved agilely and nimbly around the underground workshop, leaping effortlessly without disturbing a single item. Its movements were delicate and precise, responding fluidly to intent.


    If anyone else were to witness this scene, they would be astounded.


    There are various methods to control mechanisms, with spiritual sense control being mainstream. Normally, to possess spiritual sense, one must be at the Foundation Establishment stage.


    Ning Zhuo had equipped the Exclusive Monkey with a device that receives spiritual sense, indicating that such mechanical creations were intended for Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.


    However, even for an experienced Foundation Establishment stage Puppeteer, it would be challenging to control the Exclusive Monkey with such sensitivity using spiritual sense.


    This is because the spiritual sense receiver of the Exclusive Monkey was ingeniously designed by Ning Zhuo with three pellets to save costs, as opposed to the more traditional array tes, significantly reducing control performance. Thus, the issue wasn''t the Puppeteer''s skill but the inherent limited control capability of the Mechanical Exclusive Monkey.


    Yet, under Ning Zhuo¡¯s control, the Exclusive Monkey moved as if it were a real monkey, remarkably lifelike!


    This was all due to the heart imprint.


    As the saying goes, "like minds think alike."


    Using the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, Ning Zhuo imprinted a heart seal onto the Mechanical Monkey, allowing him tomand it directly with his mind. This method of control was more convenient and effective than using spiritual sense.


    Ning Zhuo tested the monkey¡¯s ability to climb and even store Fire Essence, and all went smoothly.


    "Years of preparation have finally culminated in this moment!" The youth felt a deep sense of aplishment, his thoughts drifting to the Lava Immortal Pce, his eyes shimmering with unwavering determination.

 Chapter 9: Ordinary People Trapped in Schemes

    Chapter 9: Ordinary People Trapped in Schemes


    < Chapter 9: Ordinary People Trapped in Schemes >


    Ning Chen and Ning Yong sat by the window on the second floor of the restaurant, constantly watching the street.


    "Look, Ning Zhuo has appeared."


    "Let''s go!"


    The two of them moved swiftly, reaching the intersection ahead of time and pretending to bump into Ning Zhuo by coincidence.


    "Ning Zhuo?" Ning Yong called out.


    Ning Zhuo looked at them, paused for a moment, and then smiled faintly, "Ah, it''s you guys, Ning Yong, Ning Chen."


    These two were Ning Zhuo''s ssmates.


    Ning Chen pretended to sigh, "Since the major exam, we haven''t seen each other. It feels like it''s been a long time."


    Ning Zhuo felt a stir in his heart, "Although the time was short, if many things have happened, it naturally feels like a long time has passed."


    Ning Yong said, "I heard about your situation. After the major exam, you fell out with your uncle and aunt and refused their help."


    "Are you living alone now? Is it difficult?"


    "What do you do to earn spirit stones to maintain your cultivation?"


    Ning Zhuo hesitated for a moment, "I''m currently doing odd jobs at a mechanical workshop. How about you guys?"


    Ning Yong chuckled lightly, somewhat proudly, "We''ve already joined the Demon Hunter Association!"


    "We''re buying supplies to leave the city. Tonight, we will join the seniors from the association to enter the demon caves and hunt demonic beasts."


    "How about that, exciting, isn''t it?"


    Ning Zhuo opened his mouth slightly in surprise, "You guys are going into the Crimson me Demon Molten Cave? Isn''t that too dangerous?"


    "Why fear? What can you achieve if you''re afraid of dying?" Ning Yong puffed up his chest, his face showing disdain, "At a young age, we should explore everywhere. Without taking risks, where would the extraordinary gainse from? Without money to speed up cultivation, when will I ever reach the Foundation Establishment stage?"


    Ning Chen interjected, "Don''t listen to his exaggerations. There are cultivators from our Ning family in the Demon Hunter Association. Have you heard of Lord Ning Zhanji?"


    "We will enter the cave under his leadership, and tonight is a period of low geo-thermal activity, very safe."


    Ning Chen tried his best to dispel Ning Zhuo''s concerns.


    Ning Zhuo showed a look of envy.


    Seeing this, Ning Yong promptly invited, "Listen, Ning Zhuo, stop working those workshop jobs. Why not join us in the cave?"


    "There are countless treasures hidden in the demon molten cave."


    "How much do you earn in a week? Maybe, just one spirit nt from the Crimson me Demon Molten Cave could equal your weekly sry!"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head and waved his hands, refusing, "My swordsmanship grades have always been mediocre, hovering around the middle and lower tiers. Fighting with demonic beasts is too dangerous for me."


    "Coward!" Ning Yong red, about to speak.


    Ning Chen stopped him with a look and smiled at Ning Zhuo, "If I were you, Ning Zhuo, I''d go back and apologize to my uncle and aunt, let them use their connections to get me into the family business. The treatment there is definitely much better than any outside job!"


    Ning Zhuo immediately shook his head, disying a youthful stubbornness, and said firmly, "Since it hase to this, there''s absolutely no way I would just bow down like that."


    Ning Chen chuckled lightly, "What if I were your uncle or aunt, seeing you in such a downfall, making a living in an inconspicuous little workshop, what would they think?"


    "Perhaps thinking: Look, this Ning Zhuo, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth, without our help, can only live a life of hardship, gradually sinking to the bottom of cultivators!"


    Ning Zhuo immediately furrowed his brows, his expression darkening as if his defenses had been broken.


    Ning Chen smirked to himself, pressing on¡­


    Momentster.


    Watching Ning Zhuo''s departing figure, Ning Yong said, "Ning Zhuo¡¯s achievements are better than both of ours, but what use is that? He still fell easily for our provocation and agreed to act with us tonight."


    Ning Chen sighed, "Ning Zhuo is just like us, ordinary people."


    "Putting oneself in his ce, if I were him, targeted deliberately, I too would have fallen for it."


    "Sigh¡­"


    Seeing hispanion''s low spirits, Ning Yong consoled, "Although Ning Zhuo is our ssmate, we are now affiliated with Lord Ning Zhanji. Thismand was directly given to us by Lord Ning Zhanji. What does this ssmate sentiment countpared to our future prospects? We are not even close to him on ordinary days!"


    Ning Chen shook his head slightly, "Forget it. This way, we can at least ount to Lord Ning Zhanji."


    "Let''s go."


    In the evening, Ning Zhuo arrived alone at the meeting point.


    Ning Yong smiled and led him inside.


    Ning Chen apanied him to face Ning Zhanji.


    Ning Zhanji, a burly middle-aged man with slender eyebrows, sized up Ning Zhuo expressionlessly and stated, "Since we''re all from the Ning family, I''ll take care of you this time by letting you join the team."


    "But remember, you must follow mymands and arrangements."


    "I understand, senior!" Ning Zhuo responded promptly.


    In Ning Zhuo''s mind, information about Ning Zhanji quickly shed through. Years ago, the Ning family had consciously started to send cultivators to various organizations inside and outside Puppet Immortal City, and Ning Zhanji was one of them.


    He was known for his strongbat abilities and decisive actions, making him a standout military-type figure who could seize fleeting opportunities on the battlefield. This time, Ning Zhanji had been persuaded by Ning Ze to take action, epting thetter¡¯s money to provoke Ning Zhuo by sending Ning Chen and Ning Yong to challenge him.


    After giving Ning Zhuo a quick once-over, Ning Zhanji withdrew his gaze, internally noting, "Third level of Qi refining, quite ordinary."


    Soon, the group was assembled, consisting of over fifty individuals, most of whom bore the Ning surname. The few outsiders present also had strong connections with the Ning family.


    Leading the group, Ning Zhanji set out toward the Red me Demon Molten Cave.


    Huoshi City is a typical mountain city. Most of its buildings are concentrated midway up the mountain. The terrain rises toward the city center at the peak, which is the volcano''s crater, while it lowers toward the periphery, stretching out at the mountain¡¯s base.


    Ning Zhuo and hispanions climbed upwards from the mid-mountain, passing through several checkpoints along the way. The inspections werex, and eventually, they reached the summit.


    At the top, the spiritual energy was noticeably denser and hotter.


    The air was filled with the pungent smell of sulfur.


    Despite it being night, the volcano''s crater continuously emitted bright light. Utilizing the light, Ning Zhuo saw clouds of white smoke drifting above the crater.


    Within this smoke, numerous smoke cloud sparrows fluttered about, darting in and out.


    Ning Zhuo and the others arrived at the edge of the volcano.


    Looking down, they saw a broad, t area of rock within the crater.


    The red rocks constantly emitted intense heat. Some of the red rocks were closely connected, while others had gaps between them, revealing bright orange-red magma flowing beneath. There were also openings in the rocks.


    Some openings periodically spewed mes, others flowed with magma, and some were bottomless pits leading to deeper underground paths.


    The mountain walls and rocky ground were almost vertical, forming a circr wall that appeared ssy and exceptionally smooth. This was clearly the result of artificial modification; the entire crater resembled a huge open cup.


    As they moved towards the center, Ning Zhuo noticed that the number of holes on the red rock surface increased, as did their size.


    Finally, his gaze settled on the very center of the rocky ground.


    There, he found ake of magma.

 Chapter 10: Volcanic Caverns

    Chapter 10: Volcanic Caverns


    < Chapter 10: Volcanic Caverns >


    Theke of magma resembled a golden ze bead, splendidly set in the center of a dark red rocky teau, dazzling in its splendor. Oranges and golden hues of magma slowly flowed and churned within theke, asionally emitting giant bubbles.


    Intense waves of heat emanated from the center of the magmake, spreading outwards in waves. These were then met by the mountain walls, causing the air waves to shoot upwards.


    Ning Zhuo and Ning Yong stood atop the mountain wall, their figures violently shaken by the upward surging air waves. Despite Ning Zhuo having conjured his magic power to protect his mouth and nose, the heat still managed to singe the tips of his hair.


    Ning Zhanji nced over the somewhat disheveled neers andmanded indifferently, "Give each of them a set of magic robes." His subordinate immediately tossed spare robes to the two.


    Ning Zhuo examined his set and found that it included a helmet, top, trousers, outer robe, armor, and boots. The clothing was adorned with a plethora of talismans, primarily frost talismans.


    "Talisman treasures," Ning Zhuo thought to himself.


    Talisman treasures differed from magical instruments in that they would wear out with repeated use. They were consumable items. The advantage of talisman treasuresy in their cost-effectiveness. Basic materials inscribed with talismans could transform into talisman treasures, greatly increasing their utility value.


    Previously, in the basement, Ning Zhuo had designed a small wooden hammer as a talisman treasure, which proved very convenient for handling soot mud.


    These magic robes were standard issue for the Ning family''s cultivator brigade, likely specially developed by the Ning family in their campaign to conquer the Lava Immortal Pce.


    Ning Zhuo and hispanions donned aplete set of robes and immediately felt the temperature return to normal, no longer scorching. The previously pungent sulfur smell had alsopletely disappeared.


    At the mountain wall, several descending tforms were hanging. Each one was guarded by city defense troops, partly for protection and partly for collecting fees.


    Ning Zhanji led the group, choosing a descending tform, and they officially stepped onto the concave ground at the mountain''s mouth.


    Ning Yong excitedly stamped his feet and looked around, very curious.


    Excitement and caution appeared on Ning Zhuo''s face.


    Ning Zhanji''s target was directly aimed at the central magmake.


    The team of over fifty cultivators moved together, immediately drawing the attention of others.


    Inside the volcanic crater, it was not just Ning Zhuo''s group; many teams or solitary cultivators were scattered across this crater basin.


    From time to time, cultivators walked down from the top of the mountain wall.


    Some people used the official descending tforms, but many more set up their own ropes, climbing down from the top of the mountain wall. However, because the heat waves continuously buffeted and blew, the process of descent was generally very strenuous.


    The solitary cultivators who climbed down themselves saved a fee for using the descending tform.


    The city defense troops, seeing these scattered cultivators go down, did not stop them, their gaze indifferent, primarily adopting an attitude of turning a blind eye.


    Ning Zhuo gradually approached the magmake.


    As he got closer, he discovered there was life activity in the magmake.


    Once again, a giant bubble of magma burst, and a red silken-fur mouse used the thermal updraft to soar up, hunting into the high white smoke.


    If the hunt was sessful, one could see a Red Silken-fur Mouse holding a Smoke Cloud Sparrow, smashing it towards the ground. Due to the continuous production of heat waves, the force of the fall was greatly diminished, allowing the Red Silken-fur Mouse tond on the rocky ground each time without harm.


    Some cultivators specifically waited for these Red Silken-fur Mice tond after their hunt. Once on the ground, they would make their move, using specially crafted tools to capture them.


    In Ning Zhuo''s sea of consciousness, a thought bead flickered with brilliance. "Fire Cotton Mouse, it has strong resistance to fire attributes and can swim in magma." "It sustains itself by preying on small birds." "The most valuable part of the Fire Cotton Mouse is its fur. Collecting hundreds of these, and through sewing and other methods, one can craft a Fire-Resistant Mouse Fur Robe, which is highly effective."


    At this moment, Ning Zhanji, who was leading, stopped. In front of him was one of the many cave entrances, indistinguishable from the others around it. Yet, he was certain, and he dered in a low voice, "This is the ce, prepare to enter."


    The cultivators listened intently to themand. Then, one of the cultivators formed a hand seal, and with a push of his palms, a burst of frosty white mist was expelled. The mist entered the cave, immediately covering the entrance with ayer of frost. The cold air continued to pour down, provoking a reaction from the cave, which began to rumble increasingly louder. The next moment,rge amounts of mud erupted from the cave, shooting high into the sky, igniting into mes like fireworks.


    Ning Zhuo recognized that the burning mud was indeed Soot Mud. After the eruption had ceased, Ning Zhanji was the first to leap into the cave, with the rest of the cultivators following in a single file.


    Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and other neers like Ning Zhuo were led one-on-one by more experienced members as they jumped into the cave entrance. Initially, Ning Zhuo shivered from the chill surrounding him as he descended into the cave, but the temperature quickly rose as they slid deeper.


    By thetter half of the descent, the air had be very hot. While sliding, Ning Zhuo keenly observed the changes in the walls of the tunnel. At first, the walls were covered with frost, but by thetter half, the frost hadpletely melted away.


    When he finallynded and stood firm on solid ground, Ning Zhuo looked up to find himself in a subterranean world filled with mes and rocks. The rocky ground beneath his feet felt slightly soft, and the surrounding rock walls were semi-transparent orange-yellow, constantly radiating intense heat.


    Beside him, Ning Yong curiously reached out to touch the rock wall. In the next instant, a third of the runes on his glove melted away, causing him to quickly withdraw his hand.


    Fortunately, a Ning family cultivator acted promptly, taking out a jade bottle and releasing a misty water vapor. The water vapor condensed into blue and white ribbons, floating mid-air, circling around everyone, helping them resist the pervasive heat.


    After positioning Ning Zhuo and the other neers in the middle of the group, Ning Zhanji continued leading the Ning family cultivators forward.


    After the initial novelty wore off, the scenery in the Red me Demon Molten Cave became monotonous. Ning Yong kept mumbling, longing for the appearance of a formidable demonic beast. The cautious expression on Ning Chen''s face gradually rxed. Ning Zhuo, however, was secretly amazed by the density of the spiritual energy here, which was the highest he had ever encountered.


    "No wonder many powerful cultivators choose to live alone in remote and dangerous ces," he thought. "Unfortunately, my magic power is of the frost type, and the spiritual energy here heavily leans towards fire, mixed with a lot of fire poison, which isn''t suitable for me."


    The underground passage sometimes widened and sometimes narrowed, clearly sloping downward. There were also multiple paths, and Ning Zhuo frequently encountered forks in the road. However, the Ning family cultivators were clearly familiar with the route, always choosing one passage without any hesitation.


    "Fire Crystal Grass, rooted in the rocks, its leaves transparent like glistening gems, constantly absorbing geothermal heat and mes, capable of emitting light."


    "me Shadow Flower, drawing from magma and venomous evil, its grass is purple-ck, and its leaves thin as cicada wings, the nt itself remains still, but its shadow sways like mes."


    "Vigorous Ginseng, drawing from the earth''s strength, undergoes a transformation every one hundred and thirty years. Its roots are thin and long, possessing a natural ability to tunnel through earth."


    Along the way, Ning Zhuo saw several types of spiritual nts. As the Ning family cultivators passed by, some would also take the time to harvest these nts.


    Ning Zhanji gave Ning Zhuo a barely perceptible nce, then beckoned to all the neers, including him, and challenged them, saying, "Do you know why we need to pick these spiritual nts?"

 Chapter 11: After All, He Is Just a Youth

    Chapter 11: After All, He Is Just a Youth


    < Chapter 11: After All, He Is Just a Youth >


    Faced with Ning Zhanji''s sudden test, the others looked at each other in bewilderment.


    Ning Zhuo spected aloud, "These spirit nts are very young and of low value; picking them is certainly not for the nts themselves. I think it''s about maintaining this pathway, deliberately clearing it. With the spirit nts here, spirit beasts and demon beasts will be attracted. If our n intends to use this pathway for a long time, it''s obviously about preventing problems before they arise."


    "Indeed," Ning Zhanji nodded, "The family academy''s training is indeed effective."


    "Choose one of these spirit nts as a reward for a correct answer."


    "As for which one you can pick, it depends on your discernment."


    Ning Zhuo didn''t hesitate; he reached out and took a Fire Crystal Grass, then thanked him: "Thank you, Lord Ning Zhanji! I have some research on the herbal market, and among these spirit nts, this Fire Crystal Grass has the best quality and will surely fetch the highest price."


    Ning Zhanji nodded, then shook his head: "Choosing the one with the highest market price is not bad."


    "But if I were you, I would choose the Strength Ginseng."


    "As members of the Ning family, we practice ice attribute techniques, and Fire Crystal Grass is not suitable for our constitution. But Strength Ginseng is good, as it can nourish our bodies."


    "You are still young, do not be solely focused on money. Remember, investing in oneself is the best path to sess."


    "Once you reach the Foundation Establishment stage, you will find yourself in a different realm of life."


    Upon hearing this, Ning Zhuo showed a stern look of enlightenment.


    Ning Zhanji took the opportunity to impart wisdom: "Excellent cultivators are always those who dare to strive hard. One must fully estimate the ratio of risk to reward. If you join the battle hall and are assigned to guard here, you will be able to harvest several spirit nts every day, plus have the protection of a temporary camp. This is a rare opportunity."


    "Many times, refusing risk is refusing opportunity."


    Ning Zhuo showed an interested expression.


    This change in expression did not escape Ning Zhanji''s notice, and he thought to himself with a light chuckle, "After all, he is just a youth¡­"


    "Lord, I wish to be stationed here," Ning Yong suddenly eximed.


    Ning Zhanjiughed lightly: "Neer, pass the special training first."


    The Ning family''s cultivator squad entered an underground hall.


    Clearly, this was a frontline position deliberately constructed by the Ning family.


    Inside the hall, there were two Ning family cultivators stationed.


    The stationed cultivators quickly responded to their arrival.


    Ning Zhanji ordered a temporary rest while he positioned himself in the center of the underground hall, stimting his mana and forming hand seals.


    Soon,plex array patterns emerged on the ceiling of the hall.


    At the center of the array patterns, a millstone-sized array disc slowly descended and finally came to rest before Ning Zhanji.


    He ced both hands on the array disc, connecting with it through his spiritual sense, quickly essing the recorded information within. Thus, within a few breaths, heprehended everything that had transpired at this frontline camp.


    Having done this, he then took out spirit stones from his money pouch, recing the fully greyed-out or significantly dimmed spirit stones in the array disc.


    After a brief rest, the Ning family''s team of cultivators continued on their way.


    During the journey, Ning Zhuo passed three more forward camps.


    Some were for rest and repairs, while others they simply passed through.


    As the group ventured deeper into the volcanic underground, the threats gradually increased.


    Traces of demon beasts became more apparent.


    There were fire fluff mice the size of a paw, floating stone heads known as Red Rock Demons, and me Striding Lizards.


    "Stop!" Ning Zhanji, who was leading the group, suddenly raised his hand and halted in ce.


    The cultivators quickly came to a standstill, transitioning from motion to stillness, demonstrating excellent tactical discipline.


    Ning Zhanji bent down to closely examine a small ditch in front of him.


    He extended a finger, gently touching the smooth surface of the ditch, which subtly emitted a lustrous glow like zed ss.


    "It''s a Fire Serpent, likely over a hundred years old, a Foundation Establishment stage demon beast," Ning Zhanji exined, then ordered the troops to be on full alert.


    Ning Yong, ever brash, showed his excitement: "Finally, we encounter one? With Lord Ning Zhanji here, why fear a mere demon beast?"


    Ning Chen analyzed, "Apart from us neers, there are six Foundation Establishment stage cultivators here, the rest are high-level Qi Refinement cultivators."


    "Just a single Foundation Establishment stage demon beast."


    Ning Zhuo, however, remained silently vignt.


    He knew well: demon beasts'' innate physical abilities often far surpassed those of human cultivators. Moreover, this ce was the Red me Demon Molten Cave; a prolonged battle could potentially attract other demon beasts to converge and attack.


    The Ning family''s cultivator squad pressed on.


    But this time, their pace had noticeably slowed down, and the atmosphere within the group had changed. Soon, they encountered the Fire Serpent.


    The Fire Serpent was slender and emitted a dazzling fiery light from its entire body, resembling a fiercely burning me. In fact, it was an essence of fire itself,cking the flesh and blood typical of demonic beasts.


    The Fire Serpent was ferocious and incredibly fast. It slithered through the rocks, often melting a serpentine path on the surface of the stones. Just moments ago, Ning Zhanji had spotted such a path, and from the width and the charred indentations, he made his assessment.


    Now, facing the beast itself, they found Ning Zhanji''s judgment had been spot-on. This was a demonic beast of the Foundation Establishment stage.


    The Ning family cultivators began their attack. First, a cultivator threw out an array disk to set up a temporary formation, concealing everyone¡¯s auras. Then, numerous cultivators began preparing their spells.


    Soon, a barrage of water arrows shot towards the Fire Serpent. Initially overwhelmed by the concentrated attack, which dimmed its fiery light significantly, the Fire Serpent then lunged fiercely at the Ning family¡¯s team.


    Two robust cultivators from the Ning family rushed forward, shielded by various spells, and engaged the Fire Serpent in closebat, holding it in ce. Meanwhile, the other cultivators continued to cast spells, both to support theirrades in closebat and to actively harm the Fire Serpent.


    Outnumbered, the Fire Serpent quickly shrank to one-third of its original size under the assault of water and ice spells. Realizing it was overpowered, the Fire Serpent attempted to flee.


    Ning Zhanji moved like lightning, intercepting the Fire Serpent. With a p of his hands, he released two palm prints formed of condensed frost.


    The palm prints flew through the air, their chill pervasive, enveloping the Fire Serpent and slowing its movements.


    Bang, bang.


    The sounds nearly ovepped as the frost palm prints struck, directly killing the Fire Serpent. It was a beautifully executed surprise attack!


    Ning Yong''s eyes sparkled with excitement, "This is the great Ning Zhanji!"


    His words revealed a deep admiration and aspiration. Ning Zhuo nodded repeatedly, his expression simr to Ning Yong¡¯s, yet he harbored doubts internally, "In this volcanic region, where the fiery spiritual energy is exceptionally strong, using frost spells is difficult and unrewarding. Why are they still being used?"


    After several more battles hunting demonic beasts, Ning Zhuo began to understand. It turned out that Ning Zhanji was deliberately training his troops. When they encountered weaker demons and spirits, they used spells to fight, honing their coordination with each other. Against stronger demonic beasts, the Ning family cultivators would deploy various magical instruments with Ning Zhanji taking the lead.


    To avoid prolonged battles, the Ning family cultivators aimed for swift actions, striving to end the fights in the shortest possible time.


    "Suddenly, a cultivator responsible for scouting shouted a warning, "There''s a Fire Molten Demon Ape up ahead!"


    The entire team halted.


    An adult Fire Molten Demon Ape was notoriously tough to handle, a single ape could match ten Foundation Establishment cultivators. Clearly, the possibility of encountering a juvenile in this area was minimal.


    Even Ning Zhanji frowned.


    "Wait, something seems off about the demon ape," the scouting cultivator said, his eyes closed and the headband he wore glowing faintly.


    "It appears to be dead?!" he eximed in disbelief as he opened his eyes.

 Chapter 12: The Trap

    Chapter 12: The Trap


    < Chapter 12: The Trap >


    Ning Zhanji pondered for a moment, then dispatched two cultivators to investigate, while he led the main force to retreat some distance. Momentster, the two cultivators returned to report: "It''s the corpse of a demon ape!" This news somewhat eased the tense atmosphere among the troops.


    When the main force reached the side of the demon ape''s corpse, Ning Yong eximed in shock. It was his first time seeing the appearance of a Fire Melting Demon Ape. The beast was robust, about three meters tall, and covered in thick, big red fur. The fur was uniformly fiery red and strikingly beautiful.


    The Fire Melting Demon Ape''s fangs protruded outward, and its eyes were wide open in death, refusing to close. Its body was a peculiar existence, a fusion of flesh and moltenva. Even though it was dead, the internal structure visible through its wounds resembled flowing magma, still slowly moving and emitting intense heat, although it was quickly cooling.


    Ning Zhanji furrowed his brows. This was an unexpected situation. He would have preferred to encounter a living Fire Melting Demon Ape. Now, things had beplicated.


    "There was a fierce confrontation here!" someone noted.


    "The Fire Melting Demon Ape fought here but ultimately fell."


    "What kind of being could y a mature Fire Melting Demon Ape in a one-on-one battle?"


    "From the traces, it doesn''t seem to be any known type of demon beast."


    Ning Zhanji knew that he must investigate thoroughly to understand what had happened.


    Because leaving a mysterious demon beast unattended could pose a significant risk to the n''srge forces during major operations, especially with unclear intelligence¡ªthis could lead to severe losses. Ning Zhanji''s mission to lead a team into the underground cave was precisely to scout the environment and gather intelligence. This was his duty.


    Realizing this, Ning Zhanji stopped pondering, decisively abandoned the original route, and followed the tracks. "However, considering the fierce battle between the mysterious demon beast and the adult demon ape, we can estimate its strength. Our current force should be capable of handling it."


    "Moreover, after its intense battle with the demon ape, its strength must have declined. This is a great opportunity!" Ning Zhanji''s eyes sparkled with determination as he led his team in pursuit.


    Along the way, they passed other casualties of the mysterious beast. For instance, after the death of a Fire Serpent, the Fire Essence scattered on the ground, and the body of a me-stepping Lizard, and stones scattered from a Red Rock Demon. The Ning family''s cultivators umted more and more items as they pursued.


    "Boss, what kind of creature could be so powerful to have killed so many demon beasts?"


    "Ha ha, we are in luck this time. If a few more of these mysterious demon beasts appear, we won''t have to do anything else; we''ll just get rich."


    Ning Zhanji furrowed his brows, silently estimating: "The fact that the opponent leaves these behind without cleaning up the battlefield clearly indicates it''s not a cultivator. Yet these bodies haven''t been devoured, and resources like Fire Essence haven''t been consumed. This seems to suggest that this mysterious demon beast does not belong to the volcanic molten caves and is not a part of the local food chain."


    "Perhaps this is some cultivator''s Spirit Pet?"


    "Regardless, I must uncover its true identity this time!"


    Ning Zhanji made up his mind and pursued relentlessly.


    Eventually, they arrived at a dead end.


    "Is there no way forward?"


    "That shouldn''t be!"


    "The traces clearly point here¡­"


    The Ning family cultivators were puzzled.


    Ning Zhanji looked around and then muttered a spell under his breath.


    Finally, his gaze fixed on a section of the wall.


    "Step back, form the array."


    "Let''s st this wall open and see," Ning Zhanji ordered.


    The Ning family cultivators formed three small arrays, pulling Ning Zhuo and Ning Yong into the furthest one, instructing them not to run around.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The array activated, and the cultivators collectively bombarded the wall.


    After the wall''s surface shattered, the brilliance of an array was revealed.


    There was a defense array hidden here!


    The defense array was crudelyid out and did not hold up for long before being sted apart.


    The wall was prated, revealing another passage.


    "Is there really another passage hidden here?"


    "Had it not been discovered before because it was concealed?"


    Ning Zhanji frowned deeply.


    Arriving here, his previous conjectures were shaken.


    Clearly, whoever could set up such arrays must be a cultivator. Even if not a human, then a wise demon cultivator.


    After hesitating for just a second, Ning Zhanji decided to continue the pursuit.


    The Ning family cultivators began to explore the mysterious passage.


    They quickly discovered traces of "demon beasts" simr to those they had encountered before.


    "Perhaps this is a Spirit Pet of some cultivator, quite intelligent, possessing the authority to pass through arrays."


    "There are man-made traces all over this passage; it was developed earlier than our arrival."


    "Does that mean our Ning family is actually theter party here?"


    "What is that?"


    "We are reaching the end of this path."


    "Be careful!"


    The Ning family cultivators tracked their way through the passage and arrived at an open, t underground za.


    The underground za had two arraysid out, both rudimentary, resembling the scribbles of a toddler.


    Ning Zhanji dispatched his subordinates to search for clues. Just then, the howling of demon beasts was heard.


    Screaming and roaring echoed, surrounding them from all directions.


    Ning Zhanji was shocked and immediately ordered a retreat.


    But suddenly, scorchingva surged through the passage they hade from, forcing them to retreat further back.


    "Damn it!"


    "This is a trap!!"


    "Could such a scheme be the work of the other two families, or perhaps the city lord''s side?"


    Ning Zhanji was both shocked and furious, directing his people to form arrays while sending others to investigate.


    The investigation turned out very poorly.


    The underground za seemed to be a hub, linking many passages. From these passages, arge number of demon beasts were pouring out.


    The Ning family cultivators set up a defensive array in a corner of the za, activating it with all their might.


    Fortunately, they were well-prepared for battle and had brought many array discs, which allowed them to quickly establish the defensive array.


    The defensive array sprung to life, forming a semi-circle of icy blue light walls,bined with the wall at the cultivators'' backs, creating a circle.


    The first to charge were groups of Fire Fluff Mice. Compared to those outside, the mice here were asrge as half a human!


    The Fire Fluff Mice swarmed fiercely, many dying upon mming into the ice wall.


    Cracks began to appear in the ice wall.


    Some Red Rock Demons floated mid-air, flying over the ice wall to attack.


    The Ning family cultivators coordinated seamlessly, and prepared for this.


    A multitude of magical instruments activated, primarily flying swords and needles, piercing through the Red Rock Demons, buying critical time.


    A second defensive array waspleted, forming a hemisphere that enveloped the cultivators.


    Suddenly, the noise from outside the array diminished significantly.


    "Continue building the array!" Ning Zhanji''s face was stern.


    Just as the cultivatorspleted the third major array, forming a column of light that supported the underground space''s ceiling, a tremendous aura suddenly burst forth.


    The cultivators looked on in shock.


    "The aura of a Golden Core, are we pursuing a Golden Core cultivator?"


    "I recognize this aura; it''s Zheng Shuanggou, the old ancestor of the Zheng family!"


    "Could the Zheng family be making a move against us?!"

 Chapter 13: Decisive Action

    Chapter 13: Decisive Action


    < Chapter 13: Decisive Action >


    The cultivators of the Ning family began to feel emotional chaos.


    "Shut up!" Ning Zhanji decisively shouted, "If it''s truly Zheng Shuanggou who means to harm us, there''s no way we can escape from here."


    "But the likelihood of that is too small. If they really wanted to strike, why would they harm us? Are they trying to startle the snake by hitting the grass?"


    "We wouldn''t be the primary target of the attack!"


    Ning Zhanji managed to stabilize his emotions momentarily, only to see a figure wielding dual hooks, charging through countless demon beasts, and heading towards a certain passage.


    "It''s Zheng Shuanggou!"


    "I saw his signature weapon, the Sun-Moon Hooks."


    "Phew, he''s not here to deal with us!"


    The cultivators of the Ning family had just let down their guard when, in the next moment, they were on edge again.


    Due to the fierce impact of the demon beasts, the defensive formations were under severe pressure. Ning Zhanji had no choice but to order his subordinates to form small teams and fight their way out of the formation to relieve the pressure.


    After all, the formation had been hastily set up and was not very stable.


    The demon beasts were ferocious!


    Despite the Ning family cultivators'' desperate fight, the first ice wall was quickly breached.


    The second dome didn''tst much longer.


    Fortunately, the Ning family cultivators took the opportunity to set up a fourth formation.


    Everyone huddled in the light column, struggling to hold their ground.


    Ning Yong''s face was pale, his body trembling, "Could it be that today is the day we die here?"


    Ning Chen was no longer calm, his face full of panic,pletely at a loss.


    Ning Zhuo also showed a simr demeanor, yet his eyes shimmered with faint gleams of ghostly light.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    Suddenly, three loud bangs shook the earth and mountains.


    The monsters fled in panic, and a ck figure smashed through a wall, rushing into the underground square.


    Following this, Zheng Shuanggou, a Golden Core cultivator from the Zheng Family, chased after him.


    "You rat, daring to covet the Immortal Pce, leave your life behind!" Zheng Shuanggou bellowed.


    Zheng Shuanggou swung with all his might, releasing a five-meter-long de energy.


    The ck shadow, with an ancient and cackling voice,ughed, "The treasures of the cultivation world are for those who are destined. Do you major ns of Puppet Immortal City think you can monopolize the Lava Immortal Pce? Dream on!"


    With that, the ck shadow forcefully dispersed the de energy and took the opportunity to fly backwards toward the Ning family cultivators.


    Ning Zhanji''s heart screamed a warning in an instant; he dove into the center of the formation, shouting, "I''ll take charge of the grand formation!"


    The defensive formation burst forth with unprecedented brilliance.


    The ck shadow arrived in front of the formation, waved his hand lightly, and instantly shattered the formation.


    With another wave, arge group of cultivators fell, their bodies unharmed but devoid of life.


    "Demons, still so rampant!" Zheng Shuanggou roared in fury, charging forward.


    The demon cultivator turned around and engaged Zheng Shuanggou in a fierce battle.


    "Lord Ning Zhanji!" the Ning family cultivators cried out.


    But Ning Zhanjiy on the ground with wide-open eyes, dead without closing them.


    With the loss of the formation''s protection and their leader, more monsters continued to attack, and the Ning family cultivators had no choice but to scatter!


    Casualties quickly mounted.


    At the critical moment, Ning Zhuo suddenly shouted, "Head towards the passage where the Golden Core cultivator came through, there must be fewer monsters there!"


    After being reminded, the Ning family cultivators, having lost their wits, all shuddered with realization.


    "Right!" they eximed. "That passage was assaulted twice by two Golden Core cultivators, so there should be the fewest demonic beasts there."


    "Let''s go through there!"


    Thus, the people of the Ning family united once again, charging towards the entrance of the passage.


    "Ning Yong, Ning Chen, follow me closely!" Ning Zhuo opened his arms wide, pulling out a batch of Frost Talismans and scattering them around. These were all products of his routine talisman-making practice at the academy.


    Both Ning Yong and Ning Chen, their eyes bloodshot in panic, instinctively followed behind Ning Zhuo, fighting with all their might to secure a chance at survival.


    The three supported each other and barely managed to keep up with the main group of the Ning family, entering the mouth of the passage.


    Looking back, they saw two Golden Core cultivators fighting so fiercely that the demonic beasts fled in all directions.


    Many demonic beasts fled in the same direction as the Ning family, attacking from behind them.


    Ahead in the passage, there were numerous bodies of demonic beasts with very few survivors, but more and more demonic beasts continued to pour in from behind.


    Under this pressure, the Ning family cultivators had no choice but to grit their teeth and charge forward through the passage.


    "Kill! Kill! Kill!"


    Along the way, they encountered some demonic beasts blocking their path, all of whom were ferociously in by the desperately fleeing cultivators of the Ning family.


    "What''s that?!"


    "Lava Immortal Pce!"


    "Who would have thought this passage also led to the Lava Immortal Pce?"


    The cultivators of the Ning family discovered ake of magma with the Immortal Pce subtly revealing a corner amid theke.


    "Lava Immortal Pce¡­" Ning Zhuo murmured under his breath, his expression remarkably calm. For an ordinary youth witnessing the Immortal Pce for the first time, it was inevitable that he would be captivated. However, no one saw the fleeting spark of determination that shed in his eyes!


    In fact, he had anticipated this oue.


    Beside him, Ning Chen, panting heavily, came to a realization and eximed, "It''s actually not hard to guess!"


    "Haven''t the words spoken during the fight between the two Golden Core cultivators already given away the answer?"


    "It''s likely that the shadow demon cultivator intended to infiltrate this ce but was intercepted by Zheng Shuanggou!"


    The situation for the Ning family cultivators was quite awkward.


    Ahead was theke of magma, revealing a corner of the Immortal Pce, while behind, demonic beasts continuously surged forward.


    With no other choice, the remnants of the Ning family had to form defensive formations again.


    They set up two formations, one inside the other, interlocking. The intensity of the demonic beasts'' assault was much weaker than it had been in the underground za.


    "We can hold them off!!" Just as the Ning family cultivators began to rejoice, a violent booming sound erupted.


    "Where do you think you''re going?!" The roaring voice of Zheng Shuanggou grew closer and closer.


    The cultivators of the Ning family felt as if they had fallen into an ice pit, realizing from the sounds that the shadow demon cultivator had returned!


    "It looks like we''re destined to die today!" Ning Yong said, his face deathly pale.


    Ning Chen simply closed his eyes, sumbing to despair.


    Just as a glimmer of hope for survival had ignited, it was cruelly crushed, leading to a devastating loss of morale among the two novice cultivators.


    "If we''re going to die, then so be it!" Ning Zhuo suddenly shouted, "Dying in battle is better than dying in vain!"


    Inspired by these words, Ning Yong''s demeanor changed; he mustered the courage to stand up, despite the dire circumstances, and clenched his teeth.


    Ning Chen opened his eyes and looked at Ning Zhuo, admiring his courage just before his death.


    He too was inspired to bravery: "Ah Zhuo, well said! To die at the hands of a Golden Core, in front of the Lava Immortal Pce, is indeed a death well met."


    No sooner had he spoken than a massive surge of thick smoke came billowing forth. The smoke was pitch-ck, filled with tumultuous Dark Essence, capable of shielding spiritual sense detection.


    In an instant, shadows within the smoke began to move and converge, forming countless shadow serpents, which hurled themselves towards the Lava Immortal Pce in theke ofva.


    However, they only made it halfway before the fearsome giant serpents dissipated helplessly.


    Zheng Shuanggou''s roar could be heard: "Thinking of attacking the Immortal Pce? Dream on!"


    But then, the serpents regenerated and this time, they did not attack the pce but instead struck directly at the surrounding corridors.


    The walls of the corridor cracked under the ferocity of the assault, nearly copsing.


    "Madman!" Seeing this, Zheng Shuanggou felt a chill in his heart.


    He had no choice but to switch from offense to defense, unleashing all his power to cover the corridor and protect it.


    In the midst of the ck smoke, a long shadow snake suddenly struck the Ning Family''s array.


    As expected, the attack, at the level of a Golden Core, was more than the Ning Family''s array could withstand, and it crumbled instantly!


    The ck smoke spread across the sky,pletely obscuring the vision of the Ning Family''s remnants.


    "Come on!" Ning Yong shouted, bursting with all his courage, resolved to fight to the death.


    The rolling ck smoke was so thick that they could not see even their own hands before them.


    Ning Zhuo seemed to be left alone in an instant.


    He took out his token and transformed it into Cang Tie Han Armor. d in the iron armor, he instantly gained the strength of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator!

 Chapter 14: Blast the Immortal Palace!

    Chapter 14: st the Immortal Pce!


    < Chapter 14: st the Immortal Pce! >


    Ning Zhuo, relying on his memory of the surroundings, lightly leaped andnded behind Ning Yong. Ning Yong, sensing the air shift behind him, turned around instinctively, his eyes wide as brass bells, but he couldn''t see the Cang Tie Han Armor that was so close. With a light strike, Ning Zhuo knocked Ning Yong unconscious, then casually threw him into a corner.


    Using the same method, Ning Zhuo also knocked out Ning Chen and tossed him next to Ning Yong.


    Having done this, Ning Zhuo quickly retreated, running full force towards thevake.


    "There''s one person directly ahead, five steps away."


    "Two people on the left, one step and four steps away."


    "Three people grouped defensively to the right, three steps away."


    Despite the ck smoke obscuring his vision and blocking his spiritual sense, Ning Zhuo had prepared well and clearly remembered the positions of every Ning family cultivator just a moment ago.


    While others were as blind, he moved as if his eyes were wide open, skillfully dodging everyone along the way.


    His figure was like lightning as he rushed to the front of thevake.


    Protected by the Cang Tie Han Armor, he was unscathed by the heat.


    "Now is the time!"


    Ning Zhuo shook his storage bag and released the mechanical Exclusive Monkey inside.


    The monkey, half the height of a man, was covered in bright red fur and bulging muscles, moving agilely.


    Under Ning Zhuo''s control, without a moment''s hesitation, the monkey dived straight into the magma.


    Ning Zhuo turned and ran!


    Every second counted!


    The Exclusive Monkey plunged deeper, struggling forward through the dense magma.


    The terrifying heat rapidly melted the pure red, blood-like fur of the Exclusive Monkey. The exposed flesh appeared vividly lifelike, but its surface quickly turned ck, hard, and brittle as it carbonized rapidly in the magma. The "blood" coursing through the body of the Exclusive Monkey yed a crucial role in dissipating heat, evaporating inrge quantities and causing plumes of steam to emerge from the surface of the mechanical monkey.


    As the Exclusive Monkey reached the surface of the Lava Immortal Pce, it had been melted down to its celestial metallic skeleton. Yet, it had seeded! Under the control of Ning Zhuo''s mental imprint, the storage array was activated, instantly releasing thousands of pounds of Fire Essence.


    "It''sing," Ning Zhuo''s heart skipped a beat.


    Boom¡ª! The exploding st wave surged violently, forcefully impacting outward. The next moment, the terrifying sound of the explosion thundered by his ears like thunder, the st wave mming into his back. Fortunately, he had already activated the Cang Tie Han Armor, which withstood the impact, preventing any bone fractures or tendon tears.


    Propelled by the st wave, he moved to the location in his memory, arriving at a corner and bending over to urately pick up two people. It was Ning Yong and Ning Chen.


    Ning Zhuo crouched in the corner, bending his back and shielding Ning Chen and Ning Yong in front of him, using his back to face the direction of the explosion. The next moment, the st of firelight came attacking, momentarily pushing back the heavy smoke.


    Ning Zhuo struggled to hold his ground, only feeling the temperature on his back rapidly increasing as the iron armor melted, bringing him intense pain. He clenched his teeth, pushing the Han Armor''s defenses to their limits.


    In just a few breaths, the Foundation Establishment Pill had been severely depleted by twenty percent, leaving only thest ten percent remaining.


    Fortunately, Zheng Shuanggou growled lowly, sacrificing his magical instrument to unleash a powerful force that blocked the explosive red mes and the surgingva.


    The shadow demon cultivatorughed heartily, "Zheng Shuanggou, I will be back!" As he was leaving, he hurled another ck sphere magical instrument.


    The ck sphere exploded again, creating an immense amount of dark, dense smoke.


    Zheng Shuanggou''s spiritual sense was constrained; he couldn''t make out anything beyond a few yards, let alone lock onto the enemy. He also had to maintain the underground tunnel to prevent it from copsing and burying him alive, which infuriated him to the point of nearly vomiting blood, leaving him no choice but to stay put.


    By the time the ck smoke had cleared, all Zheng Shuanggou could see were the tunnel walls, devastated to the extreme, and the original site of thevake nowpletely enveloped inyers ofva. The corner of the Immortal Pce''s structure was alsopletely buried.


    Furthermore, there were Ning Family cultivators lying on the ground, some of whom were still alive but unconscious.


    Zheng Shuanggou cursed under his breath, "Damn it!" His gaze flickered for a moment, but he did not rashly pursue.


    The mysterious demon cultivator had vanished, and Zheng Shuanggou was concerned about being lured away from his position. To prevent the enemy from making a sudden return attack, he decided to stay put.


    He made a move to rescue the Ning Family cultivators.


    Ning Zhuo, employing the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, pretended to be unconscious, sessfully deceiving Zheng Shuanggou. When the right moment arrived, Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes to find himself back at the crater of the volcano.


    After this series of perilous events, only eleven Ning Family cultivators had survived.


    "With the aid of ck smoke, no one should have discovered that I am the true culprit behind the explosion!"


    "This time, it went smoother than I imagined."


    "Although the explosion was triggered, did I really seed?"


    Ning Zhuo pondered secretly.


    "I survived, I actually survived! Wuu wuu wuu¡­" Ning Yong came to his senses, crying loudly.


    Ning Chen also woke up as if from a dream, his face deathly pale, filled with fear: "All the other neers are dead. It''s just our luck that we survived."


    Unbeknownst to them, their survival was all thanks to Ning Zhuo''s protection.


    The two approached Ning Zhuo, Ning Chen asked with concern, "Are you alright?"


    "Are you injured?" Ning Yong also asked.


    After this life-and-death battle, their impression of Ning Zhuo had drastically changed. During this perilous exploration, Ning Zhuo had disyed calmness and bravery, which secretly earned their admiration.


    Their moment of concern was genuinely heartfelt.


    At first, Ning Zhuo appeared dazed, with a vacant look in his eyes. Coming to his senses, he suddenly showed the exhaustion and fear of someone who had just survived a catastrophe.


    Such expressions did not affect Ning Chen and Ning Yong''s perception of him; rather, they felt even closer to him.


    They had, after all, experienced the great terror between life and death vividly and empathetically.


    On the other hand, they had fought side by side and shared life-and-death experiences.


    Ning Zhuo took a few deep breaths and managed a wry smile, "I can''t believe we all survived¡­ It''s wonderful¡­ But I never want to enter the Red me Demon Molten Cave again."


    Ning Chen and Ning Yong quickly offered words offort.


    The awakened cultivators of the Ning family stood up; some treated their injuries, while others thanked Zheng Shuanggou.


    Zheng Shuanggou watched as numerous city guards entered through the ground opening in single file and snorted coldly, "Your Ning family was used by that demon cultivator! He used your presence to hide himself, which I failed to detect momentarily. Later, he even lured a small beast tide to confuse the situation."


    "After you return, prepare to apologize!" he dered.


    The cultivators from the Ning family were stunned, but then argued: The opponent was a Golden Core demon cultivator; our Ning family is weak, which is why the enemy took advantage. Moreover, our family has suffered the heaviest losses!


    Zheng Shuanggou waved his hand impatiently, "Take your excuses to your n leader and the city lord."


    Any remnants of good spirits from their narrow escape were wiped clean.


    Before parting, the Ning family cultivators once again solemnly thanked him, "Thanks to Lord Zheng Shuanggou''s efforts in repelling the demon cultivator, he was prevented from seeding."


    No matter what, Zheng Shuanggou was their lifesaver.


    Just as the two groups were about to part, suddenly, the ground shook violently!


    Countless beams of treasure light burst through the various holes, piercing through the volcanic smoke and into the depths of the night sky.


    Beneath the feet of the cultivators, the grand formation sealing the volcano''s mouth operated at full speed, disying dragon and snake-like lines and points.


    The city guards began to shout, raising an rm.


    "What''s going on?!" The Ning family cultivators staggered, struggling to maintain their bnce, many screaming in shock.


    GPT


    Zheng Shuanggou''s expression turned extremely ugly, as thest bit of hope in his heart vanished. "This is bad! The battle has affected the Lava Immortal Pce!"


    Beams of treasure light pierced the night sky, dazzlingly bright.


    The volcano trembled slightly, awakening the entire Huoshi City.


    A colossal blue cloud hand, covering the sky, pressed down from above, attempting to push all the treasure light back.


    The crimson treasure light shed with the cloud hand, stiffening momentarily like a sword piercing through a divine hand, before charging deeper into the night sky!


    Massive chunks of red rock crumbled, and between countless cracks, scorching earth energy tumultuously surged outward. mes erupted like furious dragons in all directions.


    The cultivators fled in panic.


    Zheng Shuanggou, determined to see his benevolence through to the end, swept up the Ning family cultivators with his long sleeves and ascended into the clouds.


    From high above, they saw the tip of a high tower piercing upward like an unstoppable spear thrusting into the sky. Then, as if it were the axis of heaven and earth, the entire tower forcefully emerged, breaking through all barriers and boldly presenting itself to the world.


    Following that, massive pce rooftops broke through the heavy red rock crust, slowly rising toward the sky.


    Mountains roared, and the earth shook!


    The remnants of the Ning family swallowed hard, utterly dumbfounded by the sight.


    Rocks continued to split, and numerous cracks emitted intense firelight; golden-orange magma sttered everywhere, and hot sts surged wildly, shocking everyone to their core.


    "Lava¡­ Lava Immortal Pce?"


    "The Immortal Pce has emerged!"


    Many were speechless.


    Hidden deep underground, now revealing its sharp edge. Such a spectacle was truly awe-inspiring.

 Chapter 15: The Transmission Bell

    Chapter 15: The Transmission Bell


    < Chapter 15: The Transmission Bell >


    The Lava Immortal Pce gradually ascended, with its golden pirs and red bricks, it presented a majestic and grand spectacle, delivering a tremendous visual impact. The blinding firelight made the entire pce seem like the divine residence of a deity. Mount Huoshi itself trembled, emitting a terrifying roar. The formidable force of the earth surged, magma boiled and spurted upwards, reaching heights of several dozen feet!


    The cultivators scattered in all directions, tiny as ants beneath the overwhelming power of nature. The current master of Huoshi City appeared, his face stern. He activated therge formation set up at the volcano¡¯s mouth, pouring in the full force of his Nascent Soul stage spiritual power.


    Countless greenish-blue glows converged in mid-air, forming a-like great formation that covered the giant column of magma trying to burst forth from the volcano¡¯s mouth. The two forces collided, locked in intense stalemate.


    The ground shook violently! The entire city of Huoshi was awakened; countless people ran out of their dwellings, staring at the copsed or swaying buildings, utterly terrified.


    ck smoke from the volcanic eruption billowed upwards, like a demonic disaster descending to devour all life and the world itself! The smoke swirled unpredictably, the greenish-blue light did not dissipate, and the protective mountain formation still stood firm, preventing a human tragedy.


    The earthquake gradually weakened until it ceased entirely. The Lava Immortal Pce stood in the volcano¡¯s mouth, like a giant lying across. Its top was enveloped in the billowing ck smoke, while below, the fiery magma continued to boil tirelessly.


    The pce, with its golden columns and red bricks, boasted towering spires, majestic halls, and exquisite side chambers, embodying the fierceness of the fire element, the firmness of the earth, and the solidity of the metal.


    Numerous gazes, filled with suspicion, curiosity, or greed, were all drawn to the Lava Immortal Pce. But in the next moment, the city master''splexion turned pale, and he slowly descended from the sky.


    He waved his long sleeves, activating the great formation. In a flicker of light and shadow, the Lava Immortal Pce was concealed from view, rendered unrecognizable. The cultivators at the volcano''s mouth suffered heavy casualties, and those who ventured inside the volcano were reduced to bones.


    Zheng Shuanggou, leading the remnants of the Ning family, flew up on a cloud to the city lord''s presence and said, "Lord of the City."


    He reported swiftly,municating through spiritual sense.


    Understanding the situationpletely, the city lord''s face became stern, his gaze icy cold: "Investigate! I want a thorough investigation, and the Shadow Demon Cultivator must pay with his life!"


    His eyes then swept over the Ning family remnants behind Zheng Shuanggou: "These people must also be investigated, and any surviving cultivators should be detained and interrogated rigorously!"


    "Use all avable means to gather any clues about the Shadow Demon Cultivator."


    "If any aplices are found, they must be punished without mercy!"


    The city lord, being the only Nascent Soul stage cultivator in Puppet Immortal City, was in a particrly foul mood. During his tenure, he had discovered the Lava Immortal Pce.


    However, he chose not to report it, opting instead to keep it secret from his superiors.


    He wanted to monopolize the Lava Immortal Pce, digesting it internally within his own faction, secretly developing it, and ultimately iming it as his own.


    Things did not go as nned.


    The Zhou and Zheng families discovered this secret sessively.


    The city lord had no choice but topromise, secretly making agreements with both families. This year, the Ning family also uncovered the secret.


    With the Ning family having Golden Core stage cultivators and being one of the major cultivator ns in the city, the city lord was prepared to ept them.


    His painstaking n was to have the four strongest forces within the citypete and develop the Lava Immortal Pce together, excluding outsiders¡ªa scenario the city lord had been meticulously cultivating.


    But now, the situation was nearly falling apart!


    "Shadow demon cultivator, this damned shadow demon cultivator!" The thought of the culprit filled the city lord''s heart with a surge of deep resentment.


    "What to do?"


    The city lord suppressed his anger, contemting solutions. He was merely the city lord appointed by the Southern Bean Kingdom, not someone who could control everything.


    "How frustrating! Once this news reaches the capital, it won''t be within my authority anymore!" He was only one of the high-ranking officials from the Southern Bean Kingdom, andpared to the entire kingdom, even as a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, he felt incredibly vulnerable.


    "Sigh¡­ I''ll keep it hidden as long as I can."


    "Fortunately, the Lava Immortal Pce has not fully emerged, staying dormant at the volcano''s mouth. If I repair the grand formation and set up rolling clouds of smoke for cover while issuing a ban, I might be able to¡­"


    Ding Ding Ding!


    A series of bell tones suddenly emanated from deep within the volcano. The prolonged bell ringing resonated across heaven and earth. Those who heard the bell found a cultivation technique gradually forming in their minds.


    The city lord was greatly startled, his expression turning extremely grim as he blurted out, "A bell that transmits techniques?!"


    Night had fallen deeply.


    The entire Huoshi Immortal City was still in chaos. Countless buildings had copsed, and the citizens were engaged in heated discussions, with most people looking up towards the mountaintop.


    The recent major confrontation between the city lord and the Immortal Pce had made it clear to everyone¡ªsomething significant had undoubtedly happened at the mountaintop!


    At that moment, the deep and majestic bell tone came through!


    Ding Ding Ding¡­


    The bell tone vibrated intensely, echoing throughout Huoshi Immortal City and reverberating around its outer walls and countlessnes and alleys.


    It enveloped the high courtyards, it spread throughout ordinary dwellings. It stirred every inch of the air currents, wrapping the entire immortal city in its grasp.


    It prated precisely into the heart of every sentient being, shaking their very souls!


    Countless people cried out in shock, but the next moment, they were captivated by the cultivation techniques gradually forming in their minds.


    At the city lord''s residence.


    A burly youth was sprawled on the ground, sound asleep, when the bell¡¯s toll startled him awake, hisrge eyes snapping open.


    "Wow!" he shouted, pushing himself up swiftly with his arms, stirring a gust of wind around him.


    "An enemy?!" The burly youth, Sun Lingtong, was on full alert.


    At that moment, the Huoshi City Lord transmitted a message: "Sun Lingtong, focus andprehend quickly, this is the bell that transmits techniques, it is key topeting for the Lava Immortal Pce!"


    "The bell that transmits techniques?" Sun Lingtong, reminded by the city lord, immediately stood still, his posture rigid as a spear, his eyes unfocused but staring intently ahead, desperately memorizing andprehending the techniques that appeared in his mind.


    At the Zhou family''s home.


    Young cultivators Zhou Zhendeep and Zhou Zhu were together studying a mechanical diagram.


    The two, one shorter and the other taller, one weaker and the other stronger.


    In an instant, their expressions and movements froze.


    A few breaths after the bell sounded, Zhou Zhendeep, shocked, eximed, "Quick, quick, quick, this seems to be the bell that transmits techniques. The bell contains cultivation techniques! Hurry andprehend."


    Zhou Zhu, usually taciturn and reliant on Zhou Zhendeep''s ideas, immediately sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.


    At the Zheng family''s home.


    Zheng Jian was closely examining the family''s financial records.


    This young cultivator wore a headband with a pupil-shaped gem at its center.


    Standing in front of him, the steward¡¯s face was pale, his forehead beaded with sweat.


    Zheng Jian suddenly snorted coldly, throwing the ledger to the ground and sharply rebuked, "Do you think you can still hide these falsified ounts from me?"


    GPT


    The steward''s whole body shuddered, and he suddenly fell to the ground. At that moment, the sound of a bell echoed. Zheng Jian listened for a few moments, his face drastically changing as he dismissed the butler: "I can''t question you right now, get out!"


    At the Ning family residence.


    Recognized as a prodigy within the n¡ªNing Xiaohui was extremely tired from crafting talismans all day. Even as the bell''s sound reached her, her eyebrows remained tightly furrowed, and she sank into a deep sleep without waking.


    Ning Ji was meditating when the sound of the bell disrupted him, breaking his concentration, leaving him with a face full of astonishment: "What on earth?"


    At the volcano''s crater.


    Zheng Shuanggou still stood amidst the clouds.


    Upon the clouds, the cultivators of the Ning family were sprawled in disarray.


    It wasn''t just them; most of the cultivators were either lying down or sitting where they were.


    "This is an opportunity, this is an opportunity indeed!" the cultivators eximed in ecstasy, desperately trying to remember.


    Ning Chen sat down cross-legged, his eyes tightly shut and his brows deeply furrowed, giving his all.


    Ning Yong clutched his forehead tightly: "Aaah, remember this, brain, it''s all on you now, remember!"


    Ning Zhuo was both shocked and thrilled: "I''ve seeded! I''ve passed the selection criteria of the Lava Immortal Pce."


    "But the method of selection has changed, it directly transmitted a Qi-cultivation technique."


    This was something Ning Zhuo hadn''t anticipated.


    Like the other cultivators, Ning Zhuo stood still, carefully listening to the bell.


    Gradually, the bell''s sound transformed into a technique¡ª''The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art''!


    "With this technique, I can now break away from the Ning family''s ¡®Snowfield Talisman As''."


    For a moment, the emotions of long-term nning, personal risk-taking, and the results exceeding his expectations stirred the young man''s heart.


    Indeed¡ª


    The Mechanical Fire Monkey leaps over theva, the Cang Tie Cold Armor breaks the dawn frost.


    Buddha and demon deeply hidden, mark the core of the machine, the Immortal Pce trembles, revealing the celestial light.


    The bell thunders, transmitting the neww, the Five Elements Qi Regtion naturally connects.


    Cultivate to the endless, return to the root, break the seal and the lock, freely roam!

 Chapter 16: Dungeon Interrogation

    Chapter 16: Dungeon Interrogation


    < Chapter 16: Dungeon Interrogation >


    In the Huoshi Immortal Mountain, high above where clouds veiled the peaks, the lord of Puppet Immortal City was seated in meditation, summoning his Golden Core subordinate, Chi Dun. Chi Dun was a middle-aged man with one blind eye, short in stature but robust, with muscles bulging like a walking boulder.


    "Chi Dun, Imand you to pursue the Shadow Demon Cultivator with all your might," the lordmanded from his meditation cushion, surrounded by a swirling mix of white smoke and dark clouds, mirroring the turbulent emotions of anger and gloom in his heart.


    Chi Dun showed a troubled expression, "My lord, at yourmand, I would traverse fire and water without hesitation. However, as you know, I primarily practice the ¡®Stone Heart Dying Tactics''. I fear this task might be too challenging for me."


    "It does not matter." The lord waved his hand slightly, and from his sleeve, a magical instrument flew out. It was a delicate, tender yellow bell.


    Chi Dun hurriedly reached out to catch the bell. The lord then ordered, "With this Alert Heart Bell, you will have the capability to track down the demon cultivator. Go forth with all your might!"


    After receiving his orders, Chi Dun first headed to the dungeon. "Start with the easy tasks first. These Ning Family cultivators were involved. I''ll interrogate them first. Otherwise, if the Ning Familyes to take them awayter, it willplicate matters."


    "Previously, the Shadow Demon Cultivator used them as a disguise to divert Zheng Shuanggou¡¯s attention. Perhaps there is an aplice among them?" Although he considered this, Chi Dun knew the likelihood was quite slim.


    Nheless, it was a good opportunity to use the Alert Heart Bell and familiarize himself with its power.


    Ning Zhuo and hispanions were originally rescued by Zheng Shuanggou and were not detained. However, when the Immortal Pce emerged and the transmission bell echoed throughout the city, the situation escted.


    The city lord personally ordered the arrest of all surviving cultivators, including them. The purpose was twofold: to interrogate them for clues and to use authority topel them to keep the secret of the Immortal Pce''s emergence.


    At this point, the city lord was doing everything possible to remedy the situation and cover up the secret of the Immortal Pce.


    Chi Dun first picked the Foundation Establishment stage cultivators from the Ning family, and soon it was the turn of those in the Qi Cultivation stage.


    Ning Zhuo, being among them, was quickly taken into a single room to face Chi Dun alone.


    Chi Dun, flipping through the notes in his hand without looking up, enveloped Ning Zhuo with his spiritual sense, "You aren''t a member of the Monster Hunting Society? How did you suddenly end up in the Red me Demon Molten Cave?"


    Ning Zhuo swallowed nervously, casting a respectful nce at Chi Dun before quickly lowering his head, only daring to look at the ground.


    He stuttered through his exnation, recounting his encounters with Ning Chen and Ning Yong, and the provocations they had uttered, along with a great deal more.


    Chi Dun listened with a frown.


    He had no interest in young cultivators like Ning Zhuo.


    "This young fellow, with merely the thirdyer of Qi Cultivation, encounters such events on his first descent into the molten cave; his luck is truly terrible."


    "No, his survival is fortunate indeed. Many stronger cultivators have lost their lives."


    If Ning Zhuo had been the only one to survive, he would have been quite conspicuous at this moment.


    But the truth was different; three Qi Refining stage neers had survived. Both Ning Chen and Ning Yong were among them.


    "The shadow demon cultivator first used the corpses of demonic beasts to lure the Ning family members," they exined. "Then he incited a demonic beast tide, all to conceal his own aura."


    "He''s merely using the Ning family cultivators as cannon fodder. It''s very unlikely that he has an inside man among them."


    "If I were him, even if I were looking for an inside man, I wouldn''t choose these small fry at the third level of Qi Refining."


    Of course, Chi Dun was not so careless.


    In fact, he had been continuously ringing the Alert Heart Bell and had also activated the Heart Questioning Formation in the interrogation room.


    The Alert Heart Bell could keenly sense any malice nearby. If someone in the Ning family harbored ill will towards Chi Dun, the bell would sound an rm.


    The Heart Questioning Formation could determine if someone was being insincere.


    Whenever someone''s words did not match their intentions, the formation would emit red and yellow light.


    During the entire interrogation of Ning Zhuo, neither the Alert Heart Bell nor the Heart Questioning Formation showed any signs of activity.


    Initially, Chi Dun had few suspicions about Ning Zhuo, a minor figure. Based on the Alert Heart Bell and the Heart Questioning Formation, hepletely eliminated any doubts.


    "You may leave," Chi Dun instructed Ning Zhuo. "Hm?"


    He was slightly surprised.


    Ning Zhuo had blood streaming from his nostrils.


    Ning Zhuo was taken aback for a moment, then he wiped under his nostrils with the back of his hand, looking at the blood on it.


    He quickly waved his hand, "Sir, it''s nothing, really nothing! It might be a lingering injury from the molten cave, I''m perfectly fine. I feel great now!"


    Chi Dun grunted nomittally, no longer speaking but merely gesturing with a wave of his hand.


    Ning Zhuo bowed to Chi Dun and quickly left, gently opening and then quietly closing the door behind him.


    As Chi Dun was about to interrogate the next prisoner, he paused, spreading his spiritual sense tomunicate with the guard outside: "Tell them to treat the Ning family cultivators well. Have they been negligent? Why are there still hidden injuries? Make sure they are all treated!"


    The Ning family was one of the three great families of Puppet Immortal City, and Chi Dun did not wish to offend them.


    Of course, if it turned out that any Ning family cultivator was colluding with the shadow demon cultivators, that would be a different matter altogether.


    Having been taken down, Ning Zhuo immediately received a new round of treatment.


    His nosebleed was naturally the result of him secretly activating the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.


    This precious seal could imprint on the heart, influencing the thoughts of others while protecting the user, suppressing and clearing various thoughts and emotions.


    It was indeed about converting others to demons and converting oneself to a Buddha.


    Ning Zhuo was led back to the prison cell.


    Before he even entered, he could hear the loud arguments inside.


    The Ning family cultivators were engaged in a heated debate over the teachings transmitted by the bell.


    Ning Zhuo entered the cell, and many Ning family cultivators turned to look at him. Seeing that Ning Zhuo was unharmed, some nodded slightly at him before returning to their discussions and debates.


    This trip to the Red me Demon Molten Cave had significantly strengthened their bonds, having faced life and death together.


    Ning Chen and Ning Yong stood up and approached Ning Zhuo, concernedly asking about his condition.


    They had been ssmates, sharing a foundational rtionship.


    Although Ning Chen and Ning Yong were acting under the orders of Ning Zhanji, Ning Zhuo had indeed nearly lost his life, causing them to feel a deep sense of guilt.


    It was more than just guilt.


    During the perilous journey in the Red me Demon Molten Cave, despite his fear, Ning Zhuo had shown true courage. At the brink of death, he had also inspired bravery in Ning Chen and Ning Yong.


    Such actions had not only brought them closer but also earned Ning Zhuo their respect and admiration.


    Theseplex emotions had fundamentally changed their rtionship with Ning Zhuo.


    ¡°How are you doing? Are you alright?¡± they asked, one after the other.


    ¡°We are cultivators of the Ning family, and our ancestor is a Golden Core. If anyone tries to use soul-searching techniques on us, the family will surely support us!¡± they reassured him.


    Ning Zhuo nodded. ¡°I was a bit nervous when I first went in.¡±


    ¡°But throughout, I wasn¡¯t mistreated.¡±


    ¡°I found it quite straightforward, just speaking the truth was enough,¡± he reassured Ning Chen and Ning Yong in turn.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Ning Chen and Ning Yong responded simultaneously.


    The next moment, a guard called for them, and both were taken away.


    Ning Zhuo entered the cell and found his spot in the corner.


    He had a small stool and a little table in front of him, which wasid with fruits, nuts, and hot tea.


    The other Ning family cultivators received simr treatment.


    This was certainly not the norm and was a privilege due to their status as members of the Ning family.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s ce was in a corner of the dungeon.


    In the corner of the wall not far away, a pile of foul-smelling broken thatch was stacked, the brick wall was covered withrge patches of dried blood, and the surface of the prison bars bore the marks of finger imprints forcefully etched into them. Being in such a ce, it felt as if one could hear the wails and pleas for mercy from the prisoners.


    Ning Zhuo was acutely aware that once the truth was exposed, his fate would be far more miserable and terrifying than that of these prisoners. The first to not spare him might not even be the city lord''s side, but rather his own Ning family! At that time, the friendly Ning family cultivators around him would turn their faces in anger and hatred, pursuing him with all their might.


    Ning Zhuo harbored no regrets.


    Destroying the Lava Immortal Pce had been his determined resolve for a long time, risking his life for it¡ªso what?


    He slowly sat down and reached out to grab a roasted chestnut.


    The shell of the chestnut, between his two fingers, was easily crushed, making a crisp cracking sound.


    He took the nut out, chewed it, and swallowed it into his stomach.


    The current state of the Lava Immortal Pce was just like this tough nut¡ªits outer shell had been ruthlessly crushed by Ning Zhuo, lowering its defenses.


    But how to reach the nut inside still required careful consideration and utmost caution.


    If the matter escted too much, Ning Zhuo, with his mere third level of Qi cultivation, was literally walking on thin ice. A slight carelessness would reveal ws, like stepping on thin ice and falling into an icyke, swallowed by the undercurrents and losing his life.


    Years ago, Ning Zhuo''s mother had met such a fate.


    Ning Zhuo quietly chewed on the nut, savoring the delicacy on his tongue, as if he was also savoring the perilous situation he was in.


    Nobody would have expected that this seemingly ordinary youth was the true culprit behind the explosion of the Immortal Pce!

 Chapter 17: Self-Crossing

    Chapter 17: Self-Crossing


    < Chapter 17: Self-Crossing >


    The Ning family cultivators were arguing in the prison cell.


    The transmission bell sounded, disseminating a technique known as "The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art", but only the first three levels were transmitted.


    However, even within these initial three levels, the cultivators found discrepancies after exchanging their insights.


    For instance, in the segment about the condensation of metal energy, some understood it as: Metal energy enters the palm, spreading through all channels, traveling from the palm to the lungs, nourishing the organs. Practitioners must have a broad mind and even breathing; since metal energy is dry, improper use can harm the yin and lungs.


    Others perceived it differently: Metal energy enters the palm¡­ with a fierce spirit and swift breathing. Metal energy is sharp, governing killing and decisiveness, ascending in ordance with it.


    The first interpretation required cultivators to practice slowly, while the second encouraged them to be bold and make rapid progress.


    Despite having heard the same bell, everyone had different understandings, which naturally led to endless debates.


    "It seems that you all are not quite clear on what a transmission bell is," Chi Dun appeared after a while, followed by Ning Chen and Ning Yong.


    By this time, he had finished interrogating all the Ning family cultivators.


    The Ning cultivators looked over, and one of them bowed respectfully: "Please enlighten us, Lord Chi Dun."


    Ning Zhuo looked towards Ning Chen and Ning Yong, a smile on his face.


    However, Ning Chen and Ning Yong avoided his gaze. Just moments ago, during their interrogation, they had confessed everything, including following Ning Zhanji''s orders to provoke Ning Zhuo into entering the cave.


    Chi Dun exined to the crowd: "As the name ¡®transmission bell'' suggests, it is meant for imparting techniques."


    "The advantage of transforming bell sounds into techniques is that beings of differentnguages, and even different races, can all gain insights."


    "The revered masters from the three sects arepassionate and wish to save all beings. Thus, they left behind the transmission bell, not only to enlighten humans but also to guide other life forms."


    "The transmission bell also varies in quality. For the simpler ones, the teachings transmitted by the bell''s sound are consistent. However, with the superior bells, the techniques conveyed are tailored to the individual," exined Chi Dun. Most people were surprised, but a few showed thoughtful expressions.


    Chi Dun continued, "The techniques each of you received are indeed correct. These techniques have been slightly adjusted based on your own individual traits."


    "So that''s how it is!" the cultivators realized suddenly, their faces lighting up with delight.


    "Any cultivation technique involves absorbing external energies, allowing us to digest, store, and utilize them. These methods are continually evolving."


    "That''s right, ancient cultivation techniques find it hard topete with new methods because the external environment is changing, the seas have be mulberry fields," another added.


    "The masters of the three sects truly havepassionate hearts, looking after each and every one of us," someone remarked.


    Chi Dun noted, "This is also the style of the Buddhist sect. They excel in transformation, which involves refining external magical powers into Buddhist power. Just as the saying goes, ¡®Lay down the butcher''s knife and instantly be a Buddha,'' even the magical powers umted over many years by demon cultivators can be converted into Buddhist power."


    "But don''t overestimate the effect. The transmission through the bell''s sound has its limits; it takes into ount all living beings in the city, so the adjustments are necessarily limited."


    "Therefore, do not be mistaken in thinking that this technique is perfect. In cultivation, there is always room for improvement," he added.


    The Ning family cultivators looked at each other.


    One of them smiled wryly, "To improve a cultivation method is very difficult! Master Chi Dun thinks too highly of us."


    Another added, "Those who can modify techniques either have a deep understanding of them or possess exceptional innate talent. It''s not something we can achieve."


    Chi Dun was aware of this but had mentioned it just as a kind reminder.


    "Alright, you''ve all been cleared of any suspicion. Follow me; there''s no need to take up space in the dungeon anymore."


    He deliberately released the Ning family cultivators, intending to subtly show goodwill towards them. Chi Dun conveyed that prosecuting the Ning family members was not his personal desire but rather a duty he had to fulfill.


    The Ning family cultivators thanked him profusely and followed Chi Dun out of the cell. Just as they stepped out of the dungeon and saw the dawn light, the Alert Heart Bell on Chi Dun suddenly erupted into a loud, jarring sound. Chi Dun''s expression changed drastically, and his aura surged wildly as he followed the guidance of the bell and shot out.


    The surge of his energy sent the nearby Ning family cultivators flying.


    Boom!


    The next moment, a loud explosion shook the ground, and dust billowed into the air. From within the dust, a figure shot out.


    "It''s that Shadow demon cultivator!" the Ning family cultivators eximed in shock.


    "Insolent thief, daring to spy on the dungeon," Chi Dun roared in anger as he chased after the shadowy figure.


    The Shadow demon cultivator let out a harsh, raspyugh, retreating while fighting.


    Boom, boom, boom.


    The two of them leaped across a wide expanse of buildings and temples, shing and causing structuresrge and small to crumble around them. The city''s inhabitants ran in panic, thrown into chaos.


    "We should get going too!" the Ning family cultivators headed in the opposite direction.


    Ning Chen and Ning Yong were about to pull Ning Zhuo along.


    "What are you running for? Let''s head back to the dungeon; it''s safer there!" Ning Zhuo eximed.


    The two paused in surprise.


    Ning Zhuo firmly grabbed their hands. "Trust me, I''m right."


    The three of them then returned to the dungeon.


    Back inside their cell, everything was still as they left it¡ªtheir spots and even the fruits were still in ce.


    Ning Zhuo and the others sat down again, reassuming their positions.


    Ning Zhuo exined, "Even though the Immortal City is protected by a great formation that reduces thebat power of all cultivators, a Golden Core stage is still a force we simply cannot resist."


    "What if they end up fighting right where we are, just like in the Red me Demon Molten Cave?" he added.


    "Master Chi Dun is very strong; he''s a physical cultivator, and his strength is least suppressed in Huoshi Immortal City. The likelihood of his victory is quite high."


    "It''s safest for us to wait here until he has defeated the Shadow demon cultivator before we venture out again."


    Ning Chen and Ning Yong found Ning Zhuo''s reasoning sound and nodded in agreement.


    Boom, boom, boom¡­


    The sh between the two Golden Core cultivators continued, with each strike causing the entire dungeon to tremble and dust to fall from the ceiling.


    Ning Chen and Ning Yong were restless, but Ning Zhuo remained calm andposed, leisurely eating fruit and drinking tea, appearing somewhat carefree.


    Seeing theirpanion''s demeanor, Ning Chen and Ning Yong grew even more admiring of him.


    Ning Zhuo said, "Well, I''vee to terms with it! If the two Golden Cores bring their fight here, we''re as good as dead anyway. In such a worst-case scenario, we might as well eat more, so we don''t die on an empty stomach."


    Ning Chen was speechless.


    Ning Yong, pping his head, gave Ning Zhuo a thumbs up. "Ah Zhuo, you''re right. Smart!" He grabbed a handful of grapes, stuffing them into his mouth, and called out to Ning Chen, "You eat too,e on, eat up."


    Ning Chen rolled his eyes at him, his expression and mood heavy, and he shook his head. "You guys eat. I can''t."


    The battle between the two Golden Cores did notst long.


    The three young men kept watch, noticing the noise diminishing and the sts bing more distant, gradually settling their nerves.


    Only when themotion hadpletely ceased, and a jailer came to urge the three young men of the Ning family did they finally step out of the dungeon again.


    Chi Dun and the Shadow demon cultivator hadpletely vanished from sight. ording to others, they had continued their chase outside the city.


    Large swathes of buildings had copsed, turning into ruins. Amid these ruins, bodiesy scattered, and the wails of survivors cast a chill over the early morning.


    The three young men of the Ning family all bore solemn expressions.


    "It''s strange, I always thought the Immortal City was safe!" Ning Yong remarked.


    Ning Chen sighed, "This is actually not the worst oue. With the suppression of the city''s great formation, Golden Core cultivators can''t fully unleash their power. Otherwise, a single spell from a Golden Core could devastate half the city."


    Ning Zhuo urged, "This is beyond what we can handle; let''s go back. Right now, I just want to copse on my bed and sleep deeply."


    His words instantly resonated with hispanions, awakening their own fatigue and weariness.


    After walking together for a while, Ning Zhuo parted ways with the other two.


    The events of the previous night had been too overwhelming, and Ning Zhuo was exhausted. Hey down on his bed and fell asleep instantly, not waking until the evening.


    After a light meal, he went down to his underground workshop.


    Sitting cross-legged on a cushion, he began his first attempt at practicing the "Five Elements Qi Regtion Art."


    Previously, he had practiced the "Snow Region Talisman Scripture," one of the three major techniques of the Ning family. Normally, he would have topletely dissipate the "Scripture''s magical power" and empty himself before he could start practicing a new technique.


    But Ning Zhuo was different.


    Buddha Heart Demon Seal!


    For others, it was demonic; for him, it was enlightenment.


    Transforming oneself was not only about suppressing thoughts and being devoid of sadness or joy, but also about detecting intrusions and the wonderful ability to convert magical power.


    Immediately, the Scripture''s magical power began to transform, converting directly into the Five Elements'' magical power with astonishing efficiency!

 Chapter 18: Fei Si Offers Strategies

    Chapter 18: Fei Si Offers Strategies


    < Chapter 18: Fei Si Offers Strategies >


    Two Golden Core cultivators each rode their clouds, flying towards the high sky above the mountaintop. Chi Dun was covered in dirt and bore several minor injuries, snorting coldly on his gray cloud, "Fei Si! If it weren¡¯t for you blocking me from pursuing that demon cultivator, I would have captured him long ago!"


    His argument was with an old man in yellow robes, sporting a goatee and possessing piercing eyes. His surname was Fei, and his given name was Si.


    Fei Si snorted coldly in return, "You brute. Was I really blocking you from capturing the demon cultivator? I was preventing you from destroying the Huoshi Forest!"


    The two argued all the way to the presence of the city lord.


    Thick clouds parted like curtains, revealing the true form of the city lord. The current lord''s face was as calm as an ancient well, ustomed to the disputes between the two.


    Fei Si and Chi Dun, one skilled in strategy and the other in martial prowess, were the strongest supports of the city lord, though they often disagreed.


    After bowing in respect, Chi Dun immediatelyined, using Fei Si of non-cooperation and even obstructing his pursuit, which now allowed the shadow demon cultivator to escape into the Huoshi Forest, necessitating a temporary seal on the forest.


    Fei Si immediately retorted, "You brute! Do you know how valuable the Huoshi Forest is? It has been cultivated since the city was founded. It took the hard work of over a dozen generations, diligently working for hundreds of years to reach its current size."


    "Huoshi is naturally explosive. If a battle were to break out within the Huoshi Forest, it would inevitably lead to a chain of explosive reactions. Then, thergest industry of our Huoshi Immortal City would turn to ashes!"


    "The city''s annual ie relies heavily on the Huoshi Forest. One could say that it is the Huoshi Forest that sustains the operation of the Immortal City."


    "You are only concerned with your own task,pletely short-sighted. Once the Huoshi Forest is destroyed, how do you expect the Lord Mayor to exin to the Southern Dou Court?"


    Originally, the three sects'' masters hid the Lava Immortal Pce deep within Mount Huoshi, and after suppressing the volcano, this ce gradually turned from a vilend into a blessednd.


    The Southern Dou Immortal Court took interest in this area and, centuries ago, appointed Nascent Soul stage cultivators to settle in the volcano and construct an immortal city. Afterying out the city''s grand formation, which drew earth''s strength and fire spirit energy to nourish, the Huoshi Forest was cultivated.


    The Huoshi Forest yielded great profits, hence the name of Huoshi Immortal City originated from this.


    The annual Huoshi picking also led to a unique festival for Huoshi Immortal City¡ªthe Huoshi Festival.


    On the day of the festival, all the cultivators in the city would gather in the forest to participate in picking Huoshi. At that time, the city would be filled with the joy of a bountiful harvest, exceptionally lively.


    Chi Dun, with his neck stiffened, was furiously ring at Fei Si, about to speak.


    The Lord Mayor interrupted: "Enough, you have questioned a group of cultivators, but do you have any leads?"


    Chi Dun quickly bowed and presented a confession booklet.


    The Lord Mayor remained seated, allowing the booklet to slowly float towards him. A swift gust of wind flipped through the booklet from beginning to end.


    Being a Nascent Soul cultivator with astonishing spiritual sense, he scanned the contents of the booklet in just a few breaths.


    It was of no value.


    Chi Dun then asked, "Lord Mayor, that demon cultivator is currently hiding in the Huoshi Forest. What should we do?"


    The Lord Mayor, with a flick of his spiritual sense, sent the booklet flying back to Chi Dun, his tone calm: "What do you think should be done?"


    Chi Dun furrowed his brows with difficulty, "The Huoshi Forest is extremely important. I believe it would be better to report directly and have the Southern Dou Court dispatch capable individuals to handle it."


    "Without saying anything else, just sprinkling a handful of red beans, with the Red Turban Strongmen taking the lead, would greatly reduce the casualties."


    "Or, we could directly invite the people from the God-Catching Department toe over and hunt down the demon cultivators."


    "Whether it''s cultivating the ¡®Alert Mind Art'' or the monks from the God-Catching Department who specialize in the ¡®Trace to Source Technique'', they are all more skilled in capturing the culprits than I am."


    The city lord looked emotionless as he nced at Fei Si.


    Fei Si immediately understood and called out again, "Brute!"


    "What''s the point of calling people from the God-Catching Department here, what else would there be for us to do?"


    "We have already secretly negotiated properly with the two major families. Now, suddenly reporting upwards, how would we face the Zhou and Zheng families?"


    "Once this is done, it will greatly disrupt the rules!"


    "In the future, if the lord continues to govern a region, how will the local cultivator families trust our lord again?"


    "You must know, to sit in local governance, one must maintain good rtions and closely cooperate with the local major ns, only then can governance be smooth and orders followed."


    "Going back on one''s word is the behavior of a petty person!"


    Fei Si vehemently refuted, emotionally charged.


    He still had some words left unsaid¡ª


    The discovery of the Lava Immortal Pce was after the city lord took office. ording to the rules, the city lord should have reported it in a timely manner.


    However, at that time, the Zhou and Zheng families strongly persuaded and heavily bribed, and the city lord himself was tempted by the treasures of the Lava Immortal Pce, so he concealed it without reporting.


    Originally, the three parties were secretly developing it, and all was well.


    The Ning family''s discovery of the Lava Immortal Pce was not unexpected; all parties involved had long been mentally prepared for such an event. However, an unforeseen incident urred¡ªthe Lava Immortal Pce was sted open!


    That damned Shadow Demon Cultivator single-handedly turned a favorable situation on its head, rendering itpletely unrecognizable.


    The Lava Immortal Pce was almost fully revealed, and it was only through the city lord''s personal intervention that it was barely subdued. Nevertheless, the selection criteria for the Lava Immortal Pce were lowered to the Qi Cultivation stage, and the sound of the transmission bell spread far and wide.


    Despite the city lord issuing multiple orders to control the cultivators present and keep the situation under wraps, word had already leaked significantly. As time passed, the Southern Dou Court would inevitably be aware.


    If the city lord had obtained some treasures from the Lava Immortal Pce, it would have been another story. However, he had not managed to secure any benefits!


    The losses on the part of the immortal dynasty were now inevitable. Under such circumstances, how could the city lord just give up? He would undoubtedly proceed with exploring the immortal pce with all his might, as that was in his best interest.


    Chi Dun, unable to argue with Fei Si, simply spread his hands, indicating that the task was too difficult and he was out of ideas.


    Fei Si scoffed, "You, a mere brute, how could you think of a solution? It has to be me!"


    The city lord looked at Fei Si and spoke indifferently, "Fei Si, if you have any methods, feel free to speak."


    Fei Si, who had already prepared his response, now smiled and said, "My lord, I believe the best method is to ¡®calm it with stillness.''"


    "It''s clear that the Shadow Demon Cultivator''s target is the Lava Immortal Pce!"


    "Previously, he wanted to enter the immortal pce but was stopped by Zheng Shuanggou. Why did he appear near the dungeon this time?"


    "On the surface, he aimed to destroy the formation pirs beneath the dungeon."


    Within Puppet Immortal City, there are five major formation pirs located at the Zhou family''s, Zheng family''s, Ning family''s homes, the dungeon, and the city guard barracks. Destroying these pirs would jeopardize the entire city''s grand formation.


    "But that''s just the apparent objective!" Fei Si judged, his eyes sparkling with confidence.


    "He is likely deliberately exposing himself, luring Chi Dun to pursue him, to attract the city lord to appear and capture him."


    "In the end, this demon cultivator fled into the Huoshi Forest, seemingly in panic, but his choice was rather peculiar."


    "Huoshi are prone to exploding, and the Huoshi Forest isced with multiple arrays. Why would he choose this ce to hide?"


    "Now, with multiple arrays in the Huoshi Forest activated simultaneously, the Shadow Demon Cultivator is temporarily sealed off. He seems like a bird in a cage, a turtle in a jar, but I''m more inclined to believe he''s diverting our attention."


    "I have a bold conjecture. This Shadow Demon Cultivator is merely a decoy on the surface; in reality, there might be others lurking in the shadows."


    "Once we are drawn to him and concentrate our forces to encircle and suppress, the area around the volcano''s mouth will inevitably be left vulnerable, exposing ws."


    "We have very limited knowledge about the enemy situation. We don''t know how many enemies are hidden in the shadows."


    "Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that those three major families might be internal supporters of the demon cultivator, or even the masterminds behind the scenes!"


    Chi Dun listened, his mouth slightly agape and his eyes zed over in disbelief.

 Chapter 19: Exclusive Monkey and Ning Zhuo

    Chapter 19: Exclusive Monkey and Ning Zhuo


    < Chapter 19: Exclusive Monkey and Ning Zhuo >


    Fei Si looked at him disdainfully and said, "Just like a reckless man, you are being led by the nose by the enemy, and you''re not even aware of it."


    He then sped his hands together, looking towards the lord of the city: "It is all thanks to your lordship¡¯s keen insight, decisively managing the chaos, always standing guard at the summit of the volcano, unmoving like a mountain, leaving no opportunities for the enemy."


    "As long as you personally oversee, who can sneak into Lava Immortal Pce right under your nose?"


    "This is indeed the art of unchanging response to all changes, a masterstroke of ingenuity, leaving the hidden enemy only able to look to the heavens and sigh, without a chance!"


    Chi Dun was scolded again and immediately said angrily, "You¡¯ve talked a lot, yet you haven¡¯t touched on the main point. What about the demon cultivator hiding in the Fire Crystal Grass forest? What if he triggers a chain explosion in the Fire Crystal Grass forest, won¡¯t the centuries of umtion in Huoshi City be destroyed?"


    Fei Si shook his head and sighed, "At this point, we can only prepare for the worst."


    "However, I believe it is unlikely that he will trigger it himself."


    "He is a demon cultivator, not insane. The entire Fire Crystal Grass forest exploding would unleash a force that could shake the whole Mount Huoshi, and he himself would certainly be blown to pieces, dying a gruesome death on the spot."


    Pausing for a moment, Fei Si continued, "He has already been afflicted by the Limestone Heart Technique, the longer the time drags on, the more severe his injuries will be."


    "We are the ones in a superior position, we should slowly strategize, absolutely must not be hasty, giving the enemy an opportunity."


    "In my humble opinion, we should contact the other three families to discuss together how to deal with this demon cultivator. This will strengthen our unity and help us distinguish the loyal from the traitors. If there are indeed hidden maniptors or coborators among us, they will be more easily exposed," suggested one advisor.


    "Moreover, it would be best to act after the Fire Crystal Grass Festival. By then, the mass harvesting of Fire Crystal Grass will minimize our losses."


    Chi Dun widened his eyes in disbelief and eximed, "You still want to hold the Fire Crystal Grass Festival?!"


    "Do you want to send the entire city to its death?"


    "What would happen if the Fire Crystal Grass forest triggered a chain explosion? How many casualties would that cause?"


    "At that time, the city lord would definitely be unable to shirk responsibility and would likely be directly dismissed!"


    Fei Si, having anticipated this reaction, replied confidently, "Since I have proposed this n, naturally I have prepared a response."


    "Lord City Mayor, please look at this mechanical monkey."


    Saying this, Fei Si took out a mechanical creation from his storage bag.


    The mechanical device was half a person tall, with vivid red fur and a swollen muscr body; it was none other than the Exclusive Monkey.


    Fei Si, with a hint of pride, continued, "Just three days ago, Chen Cha presented this mechanism. Using it, we can easily harvest the Fire Crystal Grass and avoid casualties."


    The city lord, expressionless, moved his spiritual sense and drew the mechanical monkey closer to examine.


    After a few moments, he nodded slightly, "Mediocre, but the monkey''s brain control center has some clever tricks."


    Being at the Nascent Soul stage, his vision was broad. In his view, the design of the Exclusive Monkey was in and unremarkable.


    ¡°Chen Cha? Who is that?¡± the city lord asked, showing a hint of interest in the creator.


    Fei Si responded, ¡°Years ago, my lord, you ordered your subordinates to recruit puppet masters from various ces. Chen Cha was one of them, invited by me to live in Huoshi City.¡±


    ¡°This person is a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, solid in formation techniques and adept at setting up mobile formations. However, in the field of puppetry, hecks spiritual finesse and has not produced any notable work until now.¡±


    ¡°Finally, he seems to have achieved some results.¡±


    Hearing that Chen Cha was just a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, the city lord lost interest and waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Let the matter be handled this way.¡±


    ¡°Chi Dun, going forward, you will fully cooperate with Fei Si.¡±


    Chi Dun, somewhat sullen, responded, ¡°As youmand!¡±


    At the Ning family residence.


    The family head summoned the young n leader to his study.


    He first handed over a list.


    The young n leader, Ning Xiaoren, looked through it. He first noticed the name Ning Zhanji among the casualties, then found Ning Zhuo¡¯s name among the survivors.


    The family head sighed, ¡°The loss of Ning Zhanji is a great blow to our Ning family.¡±


    Ning Xiaoren said, ¡°For a member of a branch family to sacrifice himself for the n is also his honor.¡±


    The family head continued, ¡°You manage the n¡¯s logistics; thepensation for the family''s cultivators this time should be overseen by you.¡±


    Ning Xiaoren quickly replied, ¡°Father, rest assured, I will handle this matter properly.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the family head nodded, then inquired thoughtfully, ¡°Xiaoren, what do you make of the emergence of the Lava Immortal Pce?¡±


    Ning Xiaoren pondered for a moment before saying, "The emergence of the Immortal Pce forces us to elerate our exploration progress. Our n was thest to learn of this matter, and our situation is more disadvantageous than before."


    "We have never been able to invite an excellent Puppet Master, and relying solely on our n''s strength, it''s difficult topete with the other three parties."


    The n leader sighed heavily, his tone grave, "Currently, the selection criteria for the Immortal Pce have been lowered to the Qi Refining Stage. Perhaps, our n should fully organize arge number of cultivators to modify the ¡®The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art''."


    Ning Xiaoren''s brows furrowed deeply, "Father, this is what worries me the most."


    "How many people should be organized, and who should modify the new technique? Most crucially, how many people from the main vein and whom to choose? And how many from the branch veins and whom to choose?"


    "With the situation unclear, it''s quite difficult to proceed."


    Hearing this, the n leader showed a relieved expression, "Xiaoren, realizing this makes you a qualified young n leader."


    "I need to convene the elders to discuss this matter thoroughly."


    "You go and take care of your own affairs."


    Ning Xiaoren bowed and excused himself.


    Returning to his study, a n cultivator came to ask, "How should the n''spensation be distributed this time?"


    Ning Xiaoren responded without hesitation, "Compensation? Whatpensation?"


    "Aren''t all these members of the Ning family part of the Monster Hunting Association? The Association has its ownpensation."


    The n cultivator looked troubled, "But they are all our Ning family¡¯s¡­"


    Ning Xiaoren interrupted, saying, "It is precisely because the family is in distress andcks financial resources that we encourage our n members to join other organizations to sustain their livelihood. As a member of the Ning family, one must consider the family''s interests!"


    The family cultivator had no choice but to step back.


    However, Ning Xiaoren was still very angry and summoned Ning Zhuo''s uncle, Ning Ze.


    Ning Xiaoren''s face was livid, his knuckles rapping on the tabletop with a thudding sound: "Ning Ze, how do you serve as an uncle? Ning Zhuo ran into the Red me Demon Molten Cave and almost lost his life, did you know?"


    Ning Ze, wiping the sweat from his forehead, hurriedly said, "I know, I know!"


    He had finallye up with a clever n on his own, goading Ning Zhuo to join the Monster Hunting Association. As a result, when the Immortal Pce emerged, Ning Zhanji, who was responsible for recruiting Ning Zhuo, ended up dead.


    Ning Zhuo had not truly joined the Monster Hunting Association, instead, Ning Xiaoren had seen through Ning Ze''s arrangements. Thetter was naturally furious!


    With a bitter smile, Ning Ze said, "It''s just, my lord, the young n leader, it''s not that I don''t want to make arrangements for little Zhuo. It''s really that he''s too stubborn¡­"


    Snap.


    Before Ning Ze could finish, he was struck in the head by an inkstone thrown by Ning Xiaoren.


    A surge of pain hit him, and at the same time, a warm flow ran down his forehead quickly to his chin.


    Between the wings of his nose, all he could smell was the scent of iron rust.


    He knew then that his forehead had been smashed open by the young n leader again.


    "Don''t y dumb with me!" the young n leader pointed at the door, "Get out, and next time, I want to hear good news!"


    With a face full of pain and his head bleeding profusely, Ning Ze did not dare to treat his wounds on the spot. Clenching his teeth, he retreated.

 Chapter 19.5 - Side Story

    Chapter 19.5 - Side Story


    < Chapter 19.5: Side Story >


    Ning Zhuo, with early wisdom (apologies to all the dear readers!)


    Author¡¯s Note: (He was the first to set up this monthly ticket side story, and it confused everyone.)


    (It was previously posted in rted works, and many people did not receive update notifications, so now it''s being posted directly after the main text.)


    (I just found out that many authors have been tricked before; I am currently sweating profusely!)


    The massive caravan of the Ning family migrated, apanying the steps of March, and arrived together in the southern fields.


    Spring was in the air.


    Vast fields of rapeseed flowers bloomed, and under the caress of the spring breeze, the golden flowers were like ayer of golden light atop a green ocean, bringing endless hope.


    The caravan moved forward, making a rumbling sound.


    A middle-aged man dismounted his steed and jumped onto one of the mechanical carriages in the caravan.


    He hurriedly pushed open the door.


    "Madam, look what this is?" the middle-aged man said, presenting a pill like a treasure.


    His wife, pregnant and with a prominent belly, was lying on the bed with her eyes closed, resting.


    The carriage window was closed.


    The middle-aged man remotely infused his magical power to light a Spirit Lamp on the roof of the carriage.


    Under themp light, his wife slowly opened her eyes and looked at the pill, which was transparent throughout, resembling a ss bead and shimmering with a faint yellow light.


    The wife sniffed slightly through her nostrils, smelled the fresh and pleasant fragrance of the pill, like the scent of a forest after rain, which calmed the spirit and cleared the mind.


    The wife, surprised, said, "This is an Early Wisdom Pill, a top-quality medicinal pill. Where did you get it?"


    The middle-aged man grinned and said, "Didn''t I help the Strong Fist Monk?


    He practices Buddhism and values karma, so he had to repay my kindness."


    "I told him that my wife was about to give birth soon, and I hoped that the master could provide some help for my son''s future cultivation," the man exined.


    However, his wife''s joy turned into worry: "Husband, you could have used this opportunity to ask the master to heal your injury."


    "Or at least, you could have requested the lotus seeds from the Buddha''s Universal Salvation Lotus tform to enhance your cultivation talent," she added.


    The middle-aged man shook his head, sighing. "It''s okay for me."


    "My chronic injury hurts when it acts up, but it won''t kill me; at most, it just makes me ufortable for a few days. Even if it were healed, it wouldn''t significantly enhance mybat abilities."


    "Even obtaining a lotus seed would only improve my cultivation aptitude from medium to slightly above medium. Given my age, with only a slightly above-medium cultivation aptitude, I cannot break through the bottleneck."


    The middle-aged man then crouched down and gently caressed his wife''s belly. "Considering all this, it''s better to leave this opportunity for our child!"


    "The main ingredient of the Early Wisdom Pill is indeed a wisdom root from the Bodhi tree," he exined.


    His wife sighed softly, nodding in agreement with her husband''s decision.


    "Come, take the pill," the middle-aged man stood up and handed over the medicine. "I''ll help you circte energy to aid in its digestion."


    After his wife took the pill, the gentle power of the medicine worked on the baby in her womb.


    The Early Wisdom Pill could strengthen the spirit, open the spiritual tform, nourish the soul, and moisturize the heart, allowing one to develop intelligence early and possess exceptional intellect.


    Having done this, joy appeared on the middle-aged man''s face. "This is wonderful, our child will gain wisdom early with this pill. Maybe, he can even remember everything we''re saying right now."


    Next, the couple considered imparting cultivation techniques through chanting to their unborn child. "Who knows, maybe he can cultivate while still in the womb!" the man suggested yfully.


    His wife chuckled dismissively. "You wish," she remarked.


    "Even if he could remember every word, every sentence, he wouldn''t understand their meaning," the man added thoughtfully.


    "Besides, his physical meridians are not fully developed yet. Starting cultivation now could actually be harmful," his wife pointed out.


    The middle-aged man grinned, "I know that; I was just joking."


    He took his wife''s hand gently. "Ah, only after bing parents do we truly understand the sincere love a parent has for their child."


    "Our child isn''t even born yet, and I already find myself worrying about his future," he confessed.


    "I just hope he has a good aptitude for cultivation¡ªthe higher, the better. I don''t want him to be like me," he sighed.


    His wife, however, shook her head. "If he doesn''t have the aptitude for cultivation, does that mean I won''t love him?"


    "No, no matter what, he is our child, our own flesh and blood," he reassured her.


    "I do hope he has some aptitude for cultivation, but not too strong," the wife reflected. "Haven''t we seen and heard enough about the talented children who die young?"


    "I just want him to live a safe and peaceful life."


    Just then, rms red suddenly.


    "Enemy attack, enemy attack!" someone shouted loudly.


    The expressions of both husband and wife changed drastically.


    The middle-aged man instructed his wife to stay put and calm, as he rushed out the door.


    The next moment, he witnessed a dramatic change in the sky and the earth; an icy wind howled as if thousands of des were slicing through all life.


    "We''re trapped in a grand formation!" The middle-aged man eximed in a mix of shock and anger, forcibly calming himself down as he channeled his magic power into the magical instrument to protect himself. Below him, the mechanical vehicle, operated by his wife, lit up with various runes, greatly enhancing its defenses.


    "Who goes there?" The Ning family patriarch, radiating an imposing aura, rose into the sky and bellowed in rage.


    The attacker remained silent, merely manipting the ice and snow formation to bring about another change.


    Hailstones the size of fists nketed the sky, causing immediate casualties among the Ning family convoy.


    The Ning family patriarchughed angrily, "Ha! Very well! Even though you hide and only show parts of yourselves, did you think I wouldn''t recognize you?"


    "Han Shuang Hou, Jue Bing San Ren, you''ve waited until we entered the Southern Dou country tounch your ambush," he identified them aloud.


    With their identities exposed, Han Shuang Hou and Jue Bing San Ren appeared.


    The former said, "Elder Ning, when you left our North Wind country and your whole n sought refuge with Southern Dou, you should have anticipated this moment."


    The Ning family patriarch retorted, "I had already rified things with the ruler and left a magical treasure as part of our agreement. You, the North Wind royal family, have gone back on your word. After this battle, I will make sure the whole world knows!"


    At this, Jue Bing San Ren sneered, "That¡¯s exactly why I am here. Elder Ning, rest assured, after this battle, even if word spreads, it will only be known that Jue Bing San Ren came here for personal vengeance."


    A fierce battle then erupted.


    Already at a disadvantage fighting two against one and needing to protect his family, the Ning family patriarch quickly found himself on the losing side.


    Sensing the dire situation, the Ning family patriarch detonated one of his magical treasures in desperation, sting open a temporary passage in the formation.


    "Quickly, escape!" he shouted.


    The situation was dire; the Ning family''s patriarch personally led the team, trying to help as many family members as possible escape through the corridor. Packs of wolves, formed from ice and snow, pursued them relentlessly. The corridor was narrowing, yet most of the Ning family members were still inside therge formation.


    "People, don''t push, don''t push!" everyone shouted in panic.


    The snow wolves broke into the crowd, causing a gory chaos.


    In the turmoil, Ning Xiaoren, the young patriarch of the Ning family, along with two others, squeezed into a middle-aged couple''s mechanical car.


    "Ning Zhong, big brother!" Ning Xiaoren saluted the middle-aged man with a face full of panic, "The passage is about to close, may we borrow your mechanical car for a moment?"


    However, the mechanical car, burdened with extra people and damaged by the ice and snow, slowed down significantly and fell to the back.


    Seeing they were about to be trapped again, the crowd risked being sealed within the formation.


    The young patriarch''s two followers looked at the middle-aged man, Ning Zhong: "Brother Ning Zhong, you are also at the Foundation Establishment stage, we hope you can get off the car with us to fend off the enemy!"


    His wife cried out in rm, "Zhong, don''t go!"


    Ning Zhong furrowed his brow; his battle experience made him keenly aware of the situation: "If I don''t go down to hold them off, none of us will be able to escape!"


    With a fierce twist of his head and a re that radiated determination, Ning Zhong stared at the young patriarch.


    Ning Xiaoren shuddered and quickly raised his hand to swear, "Big brother Ning Zhong, rest assured, I, Ning Xiaoren, swear that if we manage to escape alive this time, I will definitely protect your wife and beloved son, and will wholeheartedly assist your son on his cultivation journey!"


    Ning Zhong gave his wife onest look full of deep affection.


    Her eyes were already red from crying.


    "Take good care of our child!"


    With gritted teeth, Ning Zhong turned around abruptly, taking the young patriarch''s two followers with him as he jumped off the carriage.


    The snow wolves howled, and the mechanical car staggered into the passage.

 Chapter 20: Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit

    Chapter 20: Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit


    < Chapter 20: Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit >


    Thick ck and white smoke incessantly billowed around the pce, while moltenva slowly flowed at the base of the pce. The pce, with its red bricks and golden pirs, stood majestic and tall, resembling an ancient giant reclining in a river of moltenva for a bath.


    In the deepest part of the main hall, on a high-backed throne, coiled a small dragon. This little dragon was orange-red, resembling solidifiedva, with golden light flowing within, making it look extraordinarily majestic. It had a dragon''s head, tail, and four ws, but its upper body was that of a turtle. Its shell was covered with uneven reddish-brown rock pieces. The rocks were spaced apart, with gaps crisscrossing, sketching out a grid-like turtle pattern.


    It was the spirit of the Lava Immortal Pce¡ªthe Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit! At this moment, the resting Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit slowly opened its eyes. It looked up, gazing towards the top of the pce. The Lava Immortal Pce trembled slightly, aiding its vision to prate the roof and theyers of smoke clouds, eventually glimpsing a blurry figure. It was indeed the lord of the Puppet Immortal City!


    To avoid alerting the lord, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit did not look closely but quickly shifted its thoughts, and its gaze began to spread downward. Its vision swiftly covered the entire Puppet Immortal City and continued down to the lush and fiery Fire Crystal Grass at the foot of the mountain, where it abruptly stopped.


    The golden pupils in the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit''s crimson eye sockets shimmered brightly. It intensified its scrutiny. In its view, the mountain city, forests, and residents gradually became translucent, revealing a grand formation.


    The grand formation was divided into two main nodes: arge one embedded within the mountain and a smaller one located within the city lord''s mansion. Additionally, there were five formation pirs strategically ced at the residences of the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families, as well as in the dungeon and the city guard barracks.


    The formation was immense, nearly epassing the entirety of Mount Huoshi and was interconnected with numerous smaller formations in the Fire Crystal Grass forest at the base of the mountain.


    The base of the grand formation extended from the peak of Mount Huoshi deep into the mountain itself.


    The array patterns of the formation were interwoven in shades of cyan and green, forming a massive that enveloped the entire Mount Huoshi. The Lava Immortal Pce within was like a bird trapped in a cage.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit grunted in frustration, clearly irritated by the sensation of being bound.


    With a forceful push of its forepaws, it lifted itself up and then leapt into the air.


    Despite having no wings, it flew swiftly and agilely. Its speed was tremendous, and as it darted through the air, it resembled a brilliant streak of orange-gold light.


    The streak of light drew a radiant circle in the sky beforending back on the throne.


    In an instant, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit went from motion to stillness, with sparks scattering from its momentum, hitting the throne and then flying about in the dimly lit pce.


    Having vented its frustration slightly, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit then continued to crane its neck upward, gazing into the distance with intent focus.


    Its gaze was fixed on the city lord¡¯s mansion.


    At that moment, inside the mansion, a burly, wide-eyed young man was sitting cross-legged, actively practicing his cultivation. However, unlike usual, he was not gathering magical power but dispersing it.


    He was Meng Chong, the city lord¡¯s grandson.


    The city lord¡¯s voice seemed to still echo in Meng Chong¡¯s ears.


    "Meng Chong, my grandson, I have already used the Destiny Appointing Talisman to draw the spirit of the Lava Immortal Pce to you! I also lit the Ingenious Calction Incense to figure out the best steps," he said.


    "Remember, you need to be the first to master the ¡®The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art'' and reach the third level of Qi Refining. This is crucial, as it will give you a tremendous initial advantage. Seeding in this step means you are halfway to sess. Like a snowball rolling, you will gradually outpace the otherpetitors."


    "It¡¯s just unfortunate that ¡®The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art'' is a Taoist method. If it were a Buddhist method, I could have used my Transformation Pill on you."


    "Now, you need to dispel your current cultivation quickly and start over with ¡®The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art''!"


    "You will be provided with enough Vein Nurturing and Body Protecting Powder. Do not hesitate to use it all to achieve a perfect dispel of your current cultivation at the fastest speed!"


    Meng Chong exhaled a breath of turbid air, hisrge eyes filled with determination.


    The Destiny Appointing Talisman and Ingenious Calction Incense are Nascent Soul-level treasures, immensely valuable. The Lord of Huoshi City made such a significant investment, essentially cing the heavy responsibility of conquering the Lava Immortal Pce squarely on Meng Chong''s shoulders.


    Meng Chong''s heart was filled with fighting spirit!


    "Grandfather, you have done so much for me. If I still don¡¯t seed, I would bring shame to the Meng name!"


    "I will definitely not let you down."


    "I must seize this first ce!"


    Meng Chong''s face showed resolute determination as he closed his eyes and continued to dispel his cultivation.


    However, his previous cultivation level was too high, having reached the ninthyer of Qi Refining. Now, dispelling his cultivation actually required more time.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit slowly shifted its gaze from the lord''s mansion to the Zhou family territory.


    In an underground chamber of the Zhou family,


    Zhou Zhendeep and Zhou Zhu stood before a grand formation.


    Zhou Zhendeep said, "This Gather-Disperse Spirit Tide Formation is unique to our Zhou family within Puppet Immortal City."


    "Zhu, you will next enter this formation to dissolve your cultivation. Then, you''ll choose The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art to cultivate anew."


    "This formation will help elerate the dispersal of your old cultivation and aid in your swift re-cultivation."


    "Please proceed!"


    The Zhou family''s foundations were profound, ranking first among the three major families. This was undisputed.


    In their designs on the Lava Immortal Pce, the Zhou family had made many attempts early on.


    Among these, family members Zhou Zhendeep and Zhou Zhu had joined the Mud Flow Sect, a rare sect skilled in puppetry arts. After achieving some sess, they returned to the family to stand by.


    Unexpectedly, the transmission bell sounded.


    This forced them to make a choice.


    After careful consideration, the Zhou family decided to keep Zhou Zhendeep and let Zhou Zhu take the risk of switching to The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    Zhou Zhu had no objections, quietly saying, "Brother Deep, you''re smarter than me. I''ll do whatever you tell me."


    "There''s no need for guilt. Contributing to the family is my duty!"


    Zhou Zhendeep took a step forward, officially entering the formation. He did not sit down to meditate; instead, he stood upright, his body tall and straight like a sturdy column, solid and unadorned.


    The process of dispersing his cultivation began.


    Zhou Zhendeep sighed inwardly, feeling pity for Zhou Zhu. Zhou Zhu had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, one level higher than himself. To disperse the mana painstakingly cultivated over many years was a significant loss.


    But there was no other choice.


    The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art could be crucial in the contest for the Lava Immortal Pce. The transmission bell had sounded for the first time, causing such a stir, revealing that the selection method of the Lava Immortal Pce had undergone significant changes after reaching the Qi Refining stage!


    To adapt to potential changes, the Zhou family chose a conservative yet proactive approach.


    The grand formation began to hum and operate. Pain appeared on Zhou Zhu''s face. The invisible force generated by the grand formation forcibly extracted the mana from Zhou Zhu''s body. This inevitably caused him harm!


    However, Zhou Zhu had a vitality-restoring constitution. As long as he remained still, vitality would surge within his body, elerating the healing of his injuries.


    The grand formation was assisting him in forcefully dispersing his cultivation, while Zhou Zhu''s own healing abilities were actively repairing the damage to his meridians.


    This was the key reason for choosing Zhou Zhu to undergo cultivation anew.

 Chapter 21: Qi Refining Second Layer!

    Chapter 21: Qi Refining Second Layer!


    < Chapter 21: Qi Refining Second Layer! >


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit withdrew its gaze and focused on the Zheng family.


    Two Zheng family elders were persuading Zheng Jian.


    Zheng Jian was a young cultivator, with a pupil-shaped gem embedded in the center of his headband.


    At this moment, Zheng Jian shook his head vigorously, his resolve firm: "No, I''m determined to cultivate ¡®The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art''! No one can stop me."


    One elder sighed, "Zheng Jian, you are the most outstanding among our family''s current generation. You possess a talent that grants piercing insights, whichplements our family''s techniques perfectly. Switching to another practice would truly waste such excellent talent."


    Zheng Jian shook his head, "It''s precisely because of my piercing insights that I know I must cultivate this technique swiftly. This will greatly benefit my path!"


    The elder shook his head, "Our family records also mention ancestors with piercing insights. Indeed, it grants cultivators remarkable intuition. But that doesn''t mean it''s always right. Our family history records several instances where the intuition was wrong. Zheng Jian, you shouldn''t ce too much trust in this talent."


    Zheng Jian shook his head again, "From childhood till now, I''ve never encountered a situation where my intuition was wrong. This time, I still choose to trust my intuition. Elders, I appreciate your concern, but there''s no need to persuade me further."


    The elder sighed, yielding a step, "In that case, Zheng Jian, let the members of a branch line practice this technique first to see how it goes."


    Zheng Jianughed heartily, "There''s no need for that! What''s the main line, what''s the branch line? Because it''s risky, let the branch line take it? If I act like this as the main line, it''s too cowardly and weak."


    "Because I am from the main lineage of the Zheng family, I should lead by example and forge ahead courageously. Otherwise, what right does the main lineage have to lead the family?"


    "The two elders, I have made up my mind."


    The two family elders sighed, both worried and reassured.


    One of them said, "Well then. I will give you this jade slip."


    "This was personally bestowed by Elder Zheng Shuanggou after he heard of your situation."


    "The jade slip contains the method for forging a weapon called the ¡®Deadly Flying Hook''."


    Zheng Jian was puzzled: "I need to disperse my power, which requires urgency. Why would I engage in weapon forging at such a critical moment?"


    The elder smiled, "Don''t hurry, just take a good look first."


    Zheng Jian then pressed the jade slip against his forehead and activated his spiritual sense to probe inside.


    Soon, his face lit up with joy.


    "Wonderful!"


    "This weapon forging secret technique is powerful, but it has drawbacks. First, it must be used in conjunction with our family''s techniques. Second, each hook forged permanently reduces ayer of the cultivator¡¯s magical power. If too many are forged, the cultivator¡¯s maximum magical power bes increasingly lower, and it cannot be restored."


    "But for me at the moment, this is exactly what I need."


    "My own magical power is already dispersing; it would be better to make use of it and forge the Deadly Flying Hook. Not only can this elerate the dispersion of my power, but it also provides me with such a marvelous protective object."


    "Thank you, Ancestor Zheng Shuanggou, and thank you to the two elders!"


    The elders either stroked their beards or smiled.


    "This is rightfully yours."


    "You truly are a son of the Zheng family, and we hope you seed in every endeavor!"


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit nced at Zheng Jian for a while, then shifted its gaze toward the Ning family.


    The patriarch of the Ning family, along with a group of family elders, was engaged in a secretive discussion to finalize their selection of candidates.


    The newly drafted list was being passed around among them.


    The elder from the academy furrowed his brow, ¡°This list is problematic.¡±


    ¡°That Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, even though ites from the transmission bell of the Immortal Pce, only has threeyers so far. Switching to this technique is unpredictable and difficult to undertake voluntarily.¡±


    ¡°Now, forcibly assigning people to it will certainly breed resentment.¡±


    ¡°There are too many people from the branch families on this list, and scarcely any from the main family. If we release it publicly, it won¡¯t be epted.¡±


    The elder from the battle hall was unconcerned, ¡°Our Ning family''s main line has always had fewer people than the branches. It¡¯s only right for the branches to contribute more hands.¡±


    ¡°If the main line involves too many people, and if they were to sacrifice themselves while exploring the Immortal Pce¡­ Even if they don''t sacrifice themselves, once they fail to obtain the subsequent techniques, they would be practically crippled.¡±


    ¡°The sacrifice from the main line would be too great.¡±


    ¡°I certainly do not want to see the internal strife from over a decade ago repeat itself!¡±


    Over ten years ago, the Ning family had migrated from the North Wind Country, traveling thousands of miles to enter the Southern Dou Country.


    Along the way, they were ambushed.


    Many from the main line were sacrificed, and the Golden Core ancestor was severely injured. After settling in Puppet Immortal City, the Golden Core cultivator of the Ning family had been in constant recovery, bing the weakest presence among the Golden Core cultivators in the city.


    With the numerous branch family members seeing the situation as it was, ambition brewed among them. They audaciously stirred up internal strife, attempting to overthrow the main line¡¯s rule.


    In the end, the main line narrowly survived the fierce conflict.


    From this, the main branch members of the family were extremely cautious towards the family''s sub-branches, employing various overt and covert means to weaken the sub-branches while strengthening the main branch.


    In a word, the Ning family''s core policy was "strong trunk, weak branches!"


    However, this policy became difficult to implement when it came to selecting personnel for retraining in The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    This was because they did not know the prospects of retraining in The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    If the prospects were promising, they would arrange for members of the main branch with great effort. If the prospects were bleak, they would assign more people from the sub-branches.


    Now, no one could guarantee the future.


    The family elders generally tended to be conservative.


    After some discussion, the personnel from the sub-branches were settled, but it was difficult to decide for the main branch, with a lot of disputes ensuing. All the family elders present were from the main branch, each with their ownworks and interests behind them.


    The n leader listened to the elders'' argument for a long time, and taking advantage of their pause for breath, he interjected, "Regardless of how many people the main branch sends, having no leader is absolutely uneptable. With many from the sub-branch and without capable hands from the main branch to suppress them, it''s easy for the tail to wag the dog and for guests to dominate the host."


    The elders'' faces fell in unison, understanding from the n leader''s words that they needed to send out truly promising talents.


    The n leader continued to ask, "Among the family''s Qi Refining Stage members, who can take on a heavy responsibility?"


    The elders could only think of one person.


    "Undoubtedly, it should be Ning Xiaohui."


    "She was born with a pair of ice-jade hands, crafting frost talismans with her mind moving as her hands do, naturally graceful, sure to produce masterpieces!"


    "To let such a fine talent go to¡­"


    "I disagree!" Suddenly, an elder of the Fu Tang family sharply interrupted the other elders'' discussion, expressing strong opposition.


    Another argument erupted.


    The patriarch was troubled and, after waiting a long while, seized a moment when the elders were catching their breath to suggest, "Why not ask Ning Xiaohui herself?"


    The Fu Tang elder abruptly stood up, pushed open the door, and stepped out of the council hall, dering, "I''ll talk to her personally!"


    Soon after.


    "Elder." Ning Xiaohui greeted him respectfully.


    The next moment, upon learning of the matter, her expression changed dramatically: "I possess the Ice Jade Hands, which naturally suit the path of talisman crafting¡ªa bright and clear path. Who among the elders wishes to see me fail by pushing me towards the obscure path of mechanism?"


    "I mustin to my grandmother about this!"


    The Fu Tang elder''s face was stern, "I absolutely support you, Xiaohui. Come, I''ll go with you."


    Hearing Ning Xiaohui''sments, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit snorted out a puff of fire-smoke, its dragon face showing a deep disdain.


    Observing until now, among the forces around Huoshi Immortal City, it held the poorest view of the Ning family.


    Just as it was about to look away, something caught its eye.


    Not far from the Ning family''s settlement, there was a simple courtyard.


    Beneath this courtyardy a workshop.


    Inside, a young boy was sitting cross-legged, diligently cultivating.


    Blood slowly trickled from his nostrils.


    His cultivation technique was notably the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art and, furthermore¡­


    He was at the second level of Qi Refining!

 Chapter 22: Cant Bear to Bully Ning Zhuo

    Chapter 22: Can''t Bear to Bully Ning Zhuo


    < Chapter 22: Can''t Bear to Bully Ning Zhuo >


    In the underground workshop.


    Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes and wiped the blood from his nose with his hand.


    Inside him, the mana was no longer the pale blue of ice frost.


    It was the Five Elements Mana!


    The Five Elements Mana consisted of the white of metal, the blue of wood, the ck of water, the red of fire, and the yellow of earth. These colors, white, blue, ck, red, and yellow, intertwined without blending, each distinct and clear.


    "In the natural world, the spirits of the Five Elements generate and ovee each other. To maintain stability and coexistence over a long term is exceedingly difficult."


    "However, through the art of The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, transforming spiritual energy into Five Elements Mana can be harmoniously maintained, clearly tiered."


    "Truly a legacy of the great masters from the three sects!"


    "Qi Refining Stage¡­ Level Two¡­"


    Previously, Ning Zhuo was at the third level of the Qi Refining stage, but after theplete transformation of his mana, only the second level remained.


    The transformation of mana also involved consumption.


    This was to be expected, and Ning Zhuo had anticipated it.


    Next, he would continue his cultivation, umting mana to reach the third level of the Qi Refining stage.


    "I wonder when I will hear the sound of the transmission bell again."


    After the transformation, Ning Zhuo, both physically and mentally exhausted, decided to rest and conserve his energy.


    He took several Warm Nurturing Pills and consumed them to help his body adapt more quickly to the new mana.


    The Warm Nurturing Pill had many advantages, such as mild medicinal strength, slow effectiveness, and minimal burden on the body. Its biggest drawback was likely its cost. One pill cost hundreds of spirit stones.


    Ding, ding, ding.


    Just after Ning Zhuo finished taking the pills, he heard the clear, bell-like sound.


    The situation involved suspicious individuals appearing near his residence, which triggered the rm mechanism.


    He approached his desk and gently kicked its leg. Directly in front of him, the wall creaked and its bricks shifted sideways, revealing a mirror.


    Through the mirror, Ning Zhuo saw the "suspicious person"¡ªChen Cha.


    Chen Cha was pacing back and forth at the entrance of Ning Zhuo¡¯s small courtyard, hands sped behind his back, head bowed, and his expression troubled.


    A spark of intelligence shed in Ning Zhuo¡¯s eyes: "Chen Cha? What brings him to me on his own initiative?"


    "It seems to be rted to the matter of the Mechanical Battle Monkey. There must be further developments," he thought, feeling a hint of joy.


    Meanwhile, Chen Cha continued pacing at the courtyard entrance, his mind reying the events that had urred.


    Fei Si had summoned him and informed him: "The city lord has approved the Mechanical Battle Monkey, and he ns to mobilize all the city¡¯s mechanical workshops to mass produce this device for this year¡¯s Fire Crystal Grass Festival, to harvest fire crystal grass on arge scale."


    Fei Si encouraged Chen Cha, "You are one of the talents I brought into the city."


    "Give it your all! If you seed, your life circumstances willpletely change."


    Chen Cha was startled, quickly exining, "Lord Fei Si, you misunderstand me."


    "I came to report about the mechanical monkey, primarily to request that you arrange a favorable policy to reduce some taxes for the Flying Disk Workshop."


    "In fact, the mechanical monkey wasn¡¯t designed by me. Someone else developed it."


    Chen Cha, proficient in formation and mechanical arts, was the type of person who endured loneliness and hardship in his technological pursuits and often disliked falsifying achievements.


    iming others'' work as his own was an act Chen Cha despised and refused to engage in. He had previously conversed with Ning Zhuo and had even suspected that Ning Zhuo was falsely iming mechanical creations as his own.


    Fei Si was momentarily taken aback, "Not your work?"


    He truly did not know this.


    Heughed dismissively, "That¡¯s no big deal. You are the master of the workshop; isn¡¯t it up to you to decide whose merit it is?"


    Chen Cha held firm to his principles and decisively shook his head, "My lord, Ick the intelligence and talent to design such a sophisticated mechanical creation."


    "Such creations, from design topletion, endure countless setbacks and hardships. The inventor has poured immense effort and thought into this!"


    "Usurping someone¡¯s mechanical creation is no different from murder and child theft!"


    "I implore you to see clearly, my lord."


    A chill shed in Fei Si''s eyes, his annoyance evident.


    In his view: this mechanical creation had to be Chen Cha''s! After all, Chen Cha was his subordinate, and if Chen Cha was credited with the aplishment, it reflected on him as well.


    Yet, Fei Si¡¯s expression softened into a smile, and he patted Chen Cha on the shoulder, instead praising him, "It¡¯s precisely your integrity that I admire."


    "Even though this creation isn¡¯t yours, I believe that in the future, you will definitely design a mechanical creation even superior to this one."


    Chen Cha was moved, "Thank you, my lord, for your recognition!"


    Years ago, it was Fei Si¡¯s recruitment that had brought him to develop in the city of the Fire Crystal Grass Immortal. Little did he know, surviving in the city was not easy! He had diligently managed the Flying Disk Workshop, but by this year, it was in a precarious situation.


    Indeed, Fei Si had truly given him an opportunity back then, and Chen Cha had always been grateful for it.


    Fei Si probed naturally, "Tell me, which cultivator invented this mechanical monkey?"


    Unwilling toply, Chen Cha watched as Fei Si decided to take matters into his own hands, aiming to "help" Chen Cha out of this predicament.


    In the vast Fire Crystal Grass Immortal City, what did it matter if one or two unknown mechanical craftsmen disappeared?


    Chen Cha, unsuspecting, simply introduced Ning Zhuo to him.


    "A mere Qi Refining thirdyer¡­" Fei Si sneered internally, but then he heard the following words, "Hmm? A member of the Ning family?"


    Fei Si''s brows furrowed slightly.


    This made thingsplicated.


    He immediately abandoned his previous sinister n.


    This involved the Ning family, a Golden Core-level power. Provoking them would be extremely troublesome.


    Among the four major forces in the Fire Crystal Grass Immortal City, the Ning family was recognized as the weakest overall. The Ning family had only one Golden Core stage cultivator.


    However, the Ning family¡¯s Golden Core ancestor had proven himself in actualbat.


    Sixteen years ago, during the Ning family''s migration, they endured a fierce battle. The Ning family ancestor faced two enemies alone, repelling the ambush and saving most of his n, demonstrating remarkablebat prowess.


    It was precisely this reason that allowed the other three forces to ept the Ning family settling in Fire Crystal Grass City. Normally, although friction among the four powers was inevitable, they all restrained themselves and tried to avoid serious conflicts.


    Acting against Ning Zhuo could potentially lead to a confrontation with the Ning family, even their Golden Core cultivator. Such a huge cost was something Fei Si was not willing to bear willingly.


    For such a minor credit, it simply wasn¡¯t worth it!


    With this n thwarted, Fei Si''s mind swiftly turned to another strategy.


    He sighed and said, "Chen Cha, you have misunderstood me!"


    Chen Cha was immediately perplexed, "My lord, you are my benefactor. It was with your rmendation that I was able to cultivate in Puppet Immortal City. Why do you say this?"


    Fei Si responded, "When you reported, your description was vague, leading me to believe that this was your creation."


    "I had vouched for you to the city lord, even specifically securing a merit for you."


    "s, I have always trusted you."


    "Now that things have taken this course, how will the city lord deal with us if the truthes out?"


    "I am not so worried about myself. My concern is for you. For you, this is a crime of falsely iming credit!"


    Chen Cha''s face turned pale, and he became panicked, "What should I do? Please, my lord, save me!"


    Fei Si remained silent, stroking his beard as if in deep thought, before finally saying, "Here¡¯s what you can do¡ªgo and talk to Ning Zhuo, see if you can convince him to hand over the mechanical monkey to you. You are much older than him; Ning Zhuo is only sixteen. What experiences could a cultivator from a major n''s academy possibly have? Have a good chat, negotiate with him well."


    Chen Cha was extremely troubled, "This¡­"


    Frankly, he was not at all willing to do this.


    Fei Si scoffed internally but sighed outwardly, "Chen Cha, this is for your own good! If you don''t rectify this mistake, and the city lord finds out, you will be the one punished! Falsely iming a reward is no small crime."


    Fei Si casually mentioned a few examples, causing Chen Cha to break out in a cold sweat.


    "s, things havee to this, I must persuade Ning Zhuo. No, I must seed in persuading him!" Chen Chamented inwardly, feeling forced to change his mind.


    Although he held Ning Zhuo in high regard, considering him a peer and even a confidant in subtle ways, the stakes involving his own life and reputation¡ªand potentially implicating Fei Si, who had helped himpelled him to act.


    Fei Si''s power and influence far surpassed his own. Easily manipting the situation due to Chen Cha''sck of clout and familiarity with the internal affairs of the city lord''s estate, Fei Si held Chen Cha firmly under his control.


    Chen Cha had never intended to oppress or confront Ning Zhuo, but before the Golden Core level Fei Si, he, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, was insignificant.


    Such insignificant figures often had no choice but to follow the currents.


    After some inquiries, Chen Cha arrived at Ning Zhuo''s residence.


    He did not knock directly on the door but lingered at the entrance, sighing heavily in his heart.


    "Old Chen, what brings you to my ce?" The courtyard door opened, and Ning Zhuo appeared in clean clothes.


    Turning around, Chen Cha saw a young man dressed in a pristine white robe, with a clear gaze and an extraordinary demeanor.


    The youth stood tall, and the sunlight from above sharply outlined his figure, enhancing the youthful vigor and purity against the small courtyard''s flora.


    Seeing Ning Zhuo''s fresh and unblemished appearance intensified Chen Cha''s guilt tenfold!


    He had spent years immersed in technological research, harboring a disdain for the injustices of the cultivation world.


    Yet today, he had to y the role of the oppressor, forcing a younger person and conveying the dark and harsh realities of the world.


    Chen Cha felt an overwhelming heaviness and pain!

 Chapter 23: Chen Cha - I Really Should Die!

    Chapter 23: Chen Cha - I Really Should Die!


    < Chapter 23: Chen Cha ¨C I Really Should Die! >


    "Junior Ning Zhuo," Chen Cha greeted with a cupped fist, managing a forced smile.


    "Master Chen, there''s no need for such formality, pleasee in."


    Ning Zhuo led Chen Cha inside, invited him to sit down, and brewed some tea for him.


    Ning Zhuo got straight to the point: "Master Chen, what brings you here today?"


    Chen Cha''s lips moved slightly, but he couldn''t muster enough courage, managing only to say, "There''s some good news."


    He briefly exined: Chi Dun was pursuing a shadow demon cultivator who fled into Huoshi Forest. The forest''splex array formations had been fully activated, temporarily sealing the cultivator inside. To minimize losses, the city lord nned to mass-produce mechanical Exclusive Monkeys to rece manualbor in harvesting the Fire Crystal Grass.


    "This is a tremendous stroke of luck, Junior Ning Zhuo, you are indeed fortunate!" Chen Cha remarked emotionally.


    "But¡­" Chen Cha felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his tongue, making it difficult to utter a word.


    Ning Zhuo, observing his difort, took the initiative, "Master Chen, is there something else troubling you? Just speak freely, my mechanical monkeys are highly effective because of your rmendation. I will help you in any way I can, without hesitation!"


    Hearing Ning Zhuo''s understanding and consideration, Chen Cha felt even more ashamed and guilty, overwhelmed by his sense of wrongdoing.


    "I am utterly ashamed," he confessed, looking up with a deep sigh before bowing his head and revealing the full story, hoping Ning Zhuo would secretly transfer the development rights of the mechanical Exclusive Monkeys to him.


    A subtle gleam flickered in Ning Zhuo''s eyes.


    "Fei Si¡­ this Golden Core cultivator, always eager to im credit and show off. It''s typical of him to pull something like this."


    Ning Zhuo was well-acquainted with Fei Si. Since the age of two, he had been plotting for control over the Lava Immortal Pce. Fei Si was naturally among the four major powers he was on guard against.


    In Chen Cha''s view: A young man like Ning Zhuo, hungry for wealth and eager to make a name for himself, would have put immense effort and faced tremendous hardships in designing the mechanical Exclusive Monkeys. To have the fruits of hisbor picked by someone else would undoubtedly leave him feeling resentful and immensely angry.


    Chen Cha had overestimated the difficulty of the matter.


    He couldn''t have predicted howplicated and dangerous the underlying issues were, even involving the previous bombing of the immortal pce.


    Ning Zhuo''s meeting with Chen Cha was not solely about designing mechanical monkeys but also about deliberately revealing the mechanical Exclusive Monkeys.


    He thought several steps ahead.


    The bombing of the immortal pce was just the first step. What about the investigation following the bombing? This was something Ning Zhuo had been considering for a long time.


    "Before, I had already engaged Chen Cha to use the Flying Disk Workshop to produce many mechanical monkeys, which were then sold externally."


    "Now, with Fei Si intervening, asking me to transfer the mechanical monkeys, isn''t this just covering for me?"


    "This is good, anotheryer of cover."


    With these thoughts, Ning Zhuo decided to agree.


    Of course, he wouldn''t just nod in agreement. Instead, upon hearing Chen Cha''s words, his expression dramatically changed.


    Disbelief, anger, hatred, resentment, awe¡­ aplex array of emotions yed across Ning Zhuo''s face.


    Chen Cha could clearly feel that several times, Ning Zhuo was on the verge of mming the table and berating him in anger!


    Chen Cha was prepared, ready to bow his head and take the scolding he deserved.


    But ultimately, Ning Zhuo did not do so.


    His face a mix of flush and pale, he red at Chen Cha, his lips moved slightly, emitting only a few indistinct sybles, as if cursing under his breath.


    Chen Cha felt an immense guilt, the weight of his wrongdoing nearly suffocating him.


    He took the initiative to pick up the teapot and pour some more hot tea for Ning Zhuo: "Junior Ning Zhuo, it''s my fault, all my fault. You can scold or beat me as you see fit!"


    Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth and finally stood up furiously. As a young man faced with such a situation, how could he possibly hold back? He red fiercely at Chen Cha, but ultimately, he didn''t curse out loud.


    Instead, he paced back and forth in front of Chen Cha in the small room.


    His face was crimson, his fists clenched, and his stridesrge, as if trying to vent all the pent-up frustration and anger in his movements.


    Seeing this, Chen Cha felt helpless and wanted to offer words offort but found none that seemed right. He felt so guilty he wished he could burrow into the ground.


    Ning Zhuo paced several times back and forth, then suddenly mmed his fist against the wall.


    He bowed his head, leaving a stubborn, lonely figure for Chen Cha to behold. His lean shoulders, and the fist embedded in the wall, gradually bleeding, left Chen Cha speechless, a heavy weight on his heart.


    Ning Zhuo stood like a statue, maintaining this pose, unmoving.


    Time seemed to stand still, and the atmosphere in the room was oppressively heavy. Chen Cha could only hear Ning Zhuo''s angry breathing.


    It was unclear how much time had passed before Ning Zhuo finally withdrew his fist and slowly turned around. He seemed as if he had lost his skeleton, his previous vigor and spirit copsed, his face full of sorrow and helplessness.


    His once clear eyes were now filled with despair.


    His voice became hoarse, struggling to speak, "So, Elder Chen, this matter cannot be salvaged, right?"


    Elder Chen''s Adam''s apple moved as he tried to console Ning Zhuo, but he found himself unable to speak.


    Suddenly, he pulled out his palm and harshly pped his own face several times.


    p, p, p.


    He used all his strength, each hit causing his face to distort significantly.


    After he finished, he stood up, bowed deeply to Ning Zhuo, and did not rise again.


    Ning Zhuo took several deep breaths, gritting his teeth, making a few indistinct moaning sounds. It was as if he was crying, yet also like a scream.


    The sound was heartbreakingly painful for Chen Cha to hear!


    Then, Ning Zhuo loosened the fist he had been clenching tightly and took extremely heavy steps. Slowly, he lifted his hand and supported Chen Cha''s forearm, helping him to stand.


    Only then did Chen Cha straighten up. In such a short time, his cheeks were visibly swollen.


    But when Chen Cha saw Ning Zhuo, his pupils shrank.


    He saw the young man''s reddened eyes and the two clear tear tracks on his cheeks.


    "I truly deserve to die!" Chen Cha cursed himself internally.


    Ning Zhuo spoke up, "Elder Chen, there''s no need to me yourself. Although I have known you for only a short time, I trust that you are certainly not such a viin!"


    "It hase to this¡­"


    "It hase to this, and I can only ept it, can''t I?" Ning Zhuo looked up with a long sigh, took a step back, and almost stumbled and fell.


    Chen Cha hurriedly stepped forward to support him.


    Chen Cha helped Ning Zhuo all the way to his seat.


    For a long time afterward, the two sat in silence, facing each other without speaking.


    Ning Zhuo, timing silently, felt the moment was right and broke the dead silence in the room with his hoarse voice.


    "I have agreed."


    Elder Chen''s heart twitched violently.


    "I have agreed," Ning Zhuo repeated.


    Elder Chen clenched his teeth in agony.


    Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked up at Ning Zhuo and then took out a jade slip from his bosom.


    He ced the jade slip on the desk, quickly followed by a small cloth bag.


    He ced the cloth bag next to the jade slip.


    Finally, he took out a bag of spirit stones and also ced it on the table.


    Having done all this, he bowed deeply to Ning Zhuo. Then, with no face left to stay, he turned around and left without a word, exiting Ning Zhuo''s residence.


    Ning Zhuo, left alone, also took a long time to recover.


    He had been too immersed just now, and the strong emotions still lingered.

 Chapter 24: Ning Zhuo Enters the Immortal Palace

    Chapter 24: Ning Zhuo Enters the Immortal Pce


    < Chapter 24: Ning Zhuo Enters the Immortal Pce >


    Ning Zhuo began to examine the items left by Chen Cha. First, there was a jade slip, white as snow. Pressing it against his forehead, Ning Zhuo immersed his spiritual sense into it and discovered that it contained a collection of formation arrays titled "Serpentine Flexure Formation Collection," authored by the hermit Bai Lin.


    Ning Zhuo skimmed through it, revealing a hint of surprise. "This Bai Lin is not a human but a male snake demon," he deduced. "He was severely injured in his middle age, and unable to recover his snake body, he constructed mechanisms as substitutes, striving to keep his snake form intact."


    "The jade slip records various formation arraysid on both the mechanical and flesh snake bodies." Although Bai Lin had left little information, Ning Zhuo felt that this demon possessed the strength of at least the Nascent Soul stage.


    "It was after obtaining this jade slip that Chen Cha delved into research, earning the title of ¡®Active Array Master'' and the ability to craft mechanical creations," Ning Zhuo surmised. "He''s really handed over all his secrets to me."


    The evidence for Ning Zhuo¡¯s judgment was in the content of the jade slip, which included a vast amount of Chen Cha''s personal annotations, insights, and records of experiments and experiences with designing mechanisms.


    Knowledge is priceless. This was the foundation of Chen Cha''s reputation, and he would likely have kept some secrets even from his disciples.


    But unexpectedly, Chen Cha had gifted the jade slip directly to Ning Zhuo. "Old Chen¡­" Ning Zhuo sighed, then turned his attention to a bag.


    Inside the bag were about twenty wooden balls, varying in size. Thergest were the size of a baby''s fist, while the smallest were the size of a little finger¡¯s tip.


    Each wooden bead was split into two sides: one side painted ck with the character for "death," and the other white with the character for "life."


    ¡°Half-Dead Half-Alive Bead.¡± Having browsed the content of the jade slip, Ning Zhuo recognized these wooden beads at a nce.


    These beads were an original creation by Chen Cha, based on the formation collection of Bai Lin,bined with his own experience and a moment of inspiration, to craft these mechanical wooden beads.


    These beads were basicponents in mechanical creations, used at the joints.


    When the bead flipped to the white "life" side, the joint would move freely.


    When it flipped to the ck "death" side, the joint would lock into ce.


    The brilliance of ity in the subtle connection between the beads; if formation patterns were carved onto the main parts of the mechanism, they could form one or multiple active formations.


    Controlling these beads to switch between ¡®dead'' and ¡®alive'' allowed the mechanical creations to perform various precise movements.


    ¡°Excellent item.¡±


    ¡°The application range of this Half-Dead Half-Alive Bead is vast.¡±


    ¡°It could be used in the Exclusive Monkey, and it seems it could also fit the Ruyi Rope. The performance should indeed surpass the previous models.¡±


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s face showed delight.


    He really loved such mechanical creations.


    To others, these wooden beads might seem of little value. But for Ning Zhuo, they were rare treasures that could significantly aid him.


    Lastly, Ning Zhuo checked the heaviest bag.


    Inside, he found 5118 spirit stones.


    The count, mixed with both singr and bulk numbers, once again plunged Ning Zhuo into a moment of silence.


    ¡°This must be all of Old Chen''s possessions, right?¡±


    Ning Zhuo sighed, a trace of guilt stirring within him. He packed away his belongings and began to actively recuperate. The Warm Nurturing Pill was highly effective, quickly helping his body adapt to the newly acquired Five Elements Mana. Focused on his cultivation, Ning Zhuo strived to return to the Qi Refining thirdyer as soon as possible.


    "When I reach the thirdyer, will the transmission bell continue to resonate throughout the city?" he wondered.


    "I must race against time and give it my all!"


    "My mother was right," he reflected. "I''m just an ordinary person, unlike others who have backgrounds and resources."


    "I''m afraid I''m already far behind others in progress!"


    Before his mother passed away, she had advised him to strive for a good ranking to be a seed of the Puppet Immortal City, which would ensure he received more resources. Lacking key information, Ning Zhuo decided to take a gamble without any hesitation and switched his practice to The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    "Besides cultivating The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, I also need to find a way to get close to the Lava Immortal Pce."


    After the pce had been bombed, the volcano''s peak waspletely under martialw, not a single non-essential person allowed.


    "What would the family think?" he pondered.


    "Organizing Qi Refining stage cultivators to collectively switch to The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art is a rightful action."


    "With Chen Cha''s connections, if I can utilize them well, it seems I could also enter the Lava Immortal Pce through the city lord''s channel."


    Ning Zhuo decided to wait and watch, to bide his time until the right opportunity emerged. His decision proved wise.


    A few dayster, a family member came to his cottage to inform him that he had been selected to be among those in the Ning family who were to switch to The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    Following orders, Ning Zhuo disguised himself and returned to his n to participate in the first collective training session.


    "Ah Zhuo, you''re here too?" Ning Yong greeted him with enthusiasm.


    Ning Chen also approached and nodded slightly at Ning Zhuo. After exchanging greetings, Ning Zhuo looked around and noticed that most participants were from the coteral branches, with few from the main lineage of the Ning family.


    "I heard that an elder in the n wanted Ning Xiaohui to join, but she decisively refused and even made a scene," Ning Yong whispered to Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Xiaohui was a ssmate of theirs and consistently ranked first in all their exams, without exception.


    Ning Chenmented, "She has a talent we can''t even dream of¡ªthe Ice Cream Jade Hands. Why should she risk switching techniques? I think her decision is right."


    "Even I would rather practice the ¡®Snow Region Talisman As'' than the threeyered Five Elements Qi Regtion Art!"


    From Ning Chen''s words, Ning Zhuo sensed a clear resentment. But what could they do? After all, they were merely small figures.


    The collective training turned out to be much shorter than expected. It was simply announced that the selected members of the Ning family were to actively switch to the new cultivation method, with different resources awarded to the top ten performers. The session was then dismissed the same afternoon.


    Observing his nsmen, Ning Zhuo noticed that the promise of rewards had generally motivated a strong interest in switching techniques. However, he certainly wouldn''t im the reward. No one knew he was already at the secondyer of Qi Refining.


    He intended to keep this secret and not reveal it prematurely.


    Just as he was about to leave the n''s territory, his uncle Ning Ze stopped him halfway. "Cultivate well, little Zhuo. It was by spending money that I managed to get you into this program."


    Ning Zhuo let out a sigh, his face flushing red with both shame and embarrassment. He bowed to Ning Ze and thanked him, "Uncle, I''ve troubled you and made you worry."


    Ning Ze nodded slightly, "As long as you understand."


    He had no choice. The young n leader, Ning Xiaoren, pressed him hard, even threatening to include Ning Ji in the modification list.


    Faced with such a threat, Ning Zhuo''s great-aunt, Wang Lan, instantlypromised and agreed to let go.


    Ning Ze had no choice but to present a substantial gift to the young n leader.


    The young n leader had epted the gift and immediately added Ning Zhuo to the modification list.


    In the days that followed, Ning Zhuo secretly practiced diligently and took time to participate in family training sessions, gradually revealing his proficiency in The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    He cleverly concealed his true capabilities, maintaining an average progress in the modifications, nothing conspicuous.


    However, in secret, he spared no spirit stones, furiously using them to umte mana rapidly, skyrocketing from the second to the thirdyer of Qi Refining.


    Tonight, Ning Zhuo reached the pinnacle of the thirdyer.


    "There''s no further progress to be made. The transmission bell has also been silent." Ning Zhuo sighed, "Ah¡­ when will the Ning family''s modification team enter the Lava Immortal Pce?"


    Unbeknownst to him, deep within the Lava Immortal Pce, a bronze stele was slowly revealing his name, Ning Zhuo.


    Qi Refining List, first ce, Ning Zhuo!


    In the next moment, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit on the throne roared.


    Divine Ability¡ªLife Hanging by a Thread!


    Invisible threads pierced through space, instantly catching Ning Zhuo.


    Before he could react, his soul was pulled out by the threads, traversing through space, and directly entering the Lava Immortal Pce!

 Chapter 25: I Have a Head Now

    Chapter 25: I Have a Head Now


    < Chapter 25: I Have a Head Now >


    Darkness.


    Endless darkness.


    In the infinite darkness, Ning Zhuo gradually came to his senses.


    "What on earth happened?"


    "Where is this?!"


    Just at that moment, a stream of information flowed directly to the depths of his soul through the Divine Ability¡ªLife Hanging by a Thread: "Lava Immortal Pce, Puppet inheritance, Life-thread soul guiding, Qi Refining trial¡­ Leave Room One, enter Room Two."


    Ning Zhuo''s spirit was invigorated, and he understood the whole situation.


    "It seems that the peak of the thirdyer of Qi Refining is the first criterion for selection."


    "I have reached it, so my soul was drawn into the Lava Immortal Pce, starting the second step of the trial."


    "This is very different from the message left by my mother!"


    "Indeed, the appearance of the transmission bell was already hinting¡ªthe method for Qi Refining stage cultivators topete for the Lava Immortal Pce ispletely different from previous ones for Foundation Establishment stage, Golden Core stage, and Nascent Soul stage!"


    "Thinking about it, it makes sense."


    "Once a cultivator reaches the Foundation Establishment stage, the dantian ispletely transformed and stabilized. Changing cultivation techniques then is extremely difficult, almost impossible."


    "But I, still in the Qi Refining stage, took the opportunity to change my cultivation method to The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art before my dantian was fixed. To the Lava Immortal Pce, I am like their own kin."


    "Compared to those who cultivate other methods, the difference in closeness is clear at a nce."


    "However¡­"


    "Leaving Room One, entering Room Two? How should I proceed?"


    Ning Zhuo calmed his mind and carefully sensed his surroundings in the endless darkness. Gradually, he realized that his soul was not existing independently but was residing within an object that also harbored a cluster of spiritual power.


    Ning Zhuo tried to manipte this spiritual power, but initially, he had no sess. However, when he employed The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, he immediately felt a response. The spiritual power began to flow slowly inside the object where his soul resided, following the pathways dictated by The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    Through this, Ning Zhuo gradually perceived that his soul''s abode resembled a long rectangr box. "A coffin?" he spected. "Moreover, this sensation of manipting spiritual power is very familiar to me. It must be a spirit stone. I am drawing spiritual power from it."


    He knew that the spiritual power in a spirit stone was limited, and by continuing to operate his technique, he was steadily depleting this power. Ning Zhuo ceased his cultivation technique, falling into a moment of hesitation. Surrounded by darkness, he could find no further clues. "It seems this is the only option¡­"


    With a gritted resolve typical of his adventurous spirit, Ning Zhuo decided to take a risk. He fully activated The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, causing a rapid depletion of spiritual power, yet he did not stop. The spiritual energy began to leak out from the "long rectangr box."


    As the spiritual energy dissipated, it acted like tentacles, giving Ning Zhuo a vague sense of something in a particr direction. "There seems to be something over there," Ning Zhuo sensed through the darkness.


    His curiosity peaked, he continued to guide the flow of spiritual power towards that direction, hoping to uncover whaty hidden in the shroud of darkness.


    And indeed, this presence seemed to be faintly echoing him.


    Ning Zhuo steeled his heart and pushed his spiritual power to its peak.


    The echoing sensation suddenly intensified, and within a few breaths, it surged by dozens of times!


    Until suddenly, a mysterious hard object struck the long rectangr box where Ning Zhuo''s soul resided.


    The spiritual energy that leaked everywhere quickly pulled the long box and the mysterious hard object together, directlybining them.


    The spiritual energy that Ning Zhuo released now had a new destination.


    Spiritual power was infused into the mysterious object, allowing Ning Zhuo to gradually perceive its shape.


    "It looks like, it looks like¡­ an arm?"


    A lightning bolt of realization struck Ning Zhuo¡¯s heart, sparking a guess.


    He continued to circte his technique, confirming his previous spection.


    It indeed was an arm, with a hand at the end of the forearm, and the hand had four fingers.


    In the darkness, Ning Zhuo keenly felt around.


    He tried swinging the arm and then stretching out the hand, moving the fingers, exploring all around.


    He had no sense of touch, but the spiritual energy spreading outward began to echo other mysterious objects.


    Momentster, a cubic hard object was also drawn to his body and assembled.


    The troubling darkness suddenly dissipated, and Ning Zhuo''s vision lit up in an instant.


    He finally saw everything around him!


    It was a huge room filled with countless puppetponents¡ªtorsos, skulls, limbs, tails, horns, wings, and more.


    The myriad puppetponents were all made of wood, colored in shades of brown and yellow.


    And Ning Zhuo himself was perched atop a small hill formed from these piled-up puppet parts.


    Ning Zhuo observed himself.


    "My guess was right!"


    The long rectangr box that his soul had resided in was indeed a rectangr puppet torsoponent.


    The first part he had drawn over with his spiritual power was the left arm.


    The secondponent that was assembled, a cube, turned out to be a square puppet head.


    "It really is a head!"


    "I have a head now!"


    "And it''s quiterge."


    Ning Zhuo was delighted.


    The headponent had essories simr to eyes, which is why he could see.


    Now equipped with the ability to observe, Ning Zhuo found it much easier.


    Following the same method, he found otherponents in the mound of puppet parts and assembled them onto his body.


    By the time he climbed down from the mountain-like pile of puppet parts to the ground, he had both arms and legs.


    "A puppet automaton''s body, huh¡­"


    At this time, Ning Zhuo''s main body was the long rectangr box. He had two legs, one slightly thinner and shorter than the other, creating a slight imbnce.


    His two arms were the same length, but the hands had three and four fingers, respectively.


    Hisrge, squarely shaped head, disproportionate to his torso, made him look somewhatical.


    "With a body, although I can move freely like a human, it also increases my consumption of spiritual power significantly."


    Ning Zhuo constantly monitored the spirit stone within his torso. So far, he had consumed nearly half of its spiritual power.


    "Other torso parts should have spirit stones stored. I can take them out for backup."


    However, just as Ning Zhuo pinpointed the torso part and was about to proceed, new information came to him, informing him that he was not allowed to damage other parts.


    "Then I''ll just assemble another body." As soon as Ning Zhuo began, another piece of information arrived¡ªcurrently, the limit for spiritual powerponents was one.


    Ning Zhuo had no choice but to stand up.


    He remembered the first message¡ªrequiring him to move from the first room to the second. This was a standard of assessment.


    "The second assessment appears to have no time limit, but that''s not really the case."


    "Because there is only one allowed spiritual powerponent, and the spiritual power in the spirit stone is constantly depleting."


    "I mustplete the first assessment before the spiritual power ispletely exhausted."


    "I should leave here quickly."


    The first room was spacious, with copper walls and a golden ceiling, brightly lit.


    Ning Zhuo had already seen the only door in the room.


    He limped towards the door.


    As he reached the door, his fingers just touching it, more information was conveyed to him.


    One spirit stone, one hanging ring on a mechanical part, and a spell, "A Rush of Energy."


    "Can I only choose one?"

 Chapter 26: Running and Jumping with Arms

    Chapter 26: Running and Jumping with Arms


    < Chapter 26: Running and Jumping with Arms >


    Ning Zhuo fell into deep thought.


    He didn''t know what the suspension ring on the mechanicalponent was, nor did he understand what the "a surge of spell energy" meant.


    However, he did know about spirit stones, and he was acutely aware of his currentck of them.


    "I''ve spent a lot of time fumbling around earlier, and now the spiritual energy in the spirit stones inside me is less than forty percent."


    "Let''s choose the spirit stones!"


    Ning Zhuo made up his mind.


    The next moment, a ring of light appeared out of nowhere in front of him. The circle of light slightly expanded and spat out a spirit stone.


    Ning Zhuo hurriedly caught the spirit stone. At the same time, the ring of light quickly dissipated.


    Carrying the second spirit stone, Ning Zhuo struggled to push open the door and entered Room No. 2.


    Bang!


    The door automatically closed behind him.


    Ning Zhuo turned around to push the door, attempting to return to Room No. 1.


    The door didn''t budge.


    "Well then." Ning Zhuo turned back around and began to closely examine Room No. 2.


    Theyout of Room No. 2 was very different from that of Room No. 1. The room was elongated and empty, with the floor and wall bricks square and emitting a brass sheen.


    Ning Zhuo immediately noticed the door.


    It was directly in front of him.


    The message came through again¡ªto pass through Room No. 2 and enter Room No. 3.


    After observing for a moment and not gathering any new information, Ning Zhuo took steps forward, heading directly for the door.


    As a result, after walking a few steps, Ning Zhuo realized he was moving backwards.


    He quickly looked down and saw that the floor tiles were slowly moving backwards!


    Ning Zhuo had no choice but to quicken his pace and increase his speed.


    The speed at which the floor tiles moved also increased.


    He walked faster and faster, eventually being forced to run.


    "If I had known this was the test, I should have chosen the legponents carefully."


    In Room No. 1, concerned about the consumption of spiritual energy and the need to save time, and because it was hard to match the length of his legs, he had made do.


    Now, the result was that his legs were uneven, causing him to limp when he ran, which was quite bumpy and affected his speed.


    When he ran at his fastest speed to the middle of the room,


    suddenly, a giant log shot out from the right wall.


    The log was fixed at one end to the wall, while the other end sprang out like the sweeping arm of a giant.


    Ning Zhuo remained vignt and quickly leaped to avoid the log.


    But as hended, another giant log shot out from the left wall.


    Ning Zhuo had already jumped, but given the continuously moving floor tiles, he didn''t manage to apply enough force and his footing was unstable. This time, his jump was too low.


    Bang.


    A soft sound was heard as he was struck by the log, sending him through the air in a long arc before he crashed to the floor.


    He slid backward on the ground for a distance before finally crashing into the first door, where he came to a stop.


    Puppet Ning Zhuoy on the ground, dizzy and disoriented. After a few breaths, he regained his senses.


    "Is there such a mechanism?!"


    "The runes on that giant log seem to have the ability to weaken the soul."


    Ning Zhuo felt a wave of weakness in his soul.


    He looked up and observed: the dark runes on the giant log gradually disappeared, and the entire log slowly retracted into the wall. Then, the bricks on both sides clicked and shifted, returning to their original state.


    "I understand now!" A thought struck Ning Zhuo.


    "These sweeping logs are both my obstacles and my stepping stones."


    "I need to leap onto them as they swipe across, then use them to jump forward."


    The puppet''s own speed was very limited, and by the midpoint, it was slower than the speed at which the floor tiles were moving backwards.


    Relying solely on running, Ning Zhuo could not get close to the second door.


    The walls were initially smooth and offered no leverage, but the logs that sprang out provided an opportunity.


    With this new insight, Ning Zhuo tried again.


    He timed his jumps, one after another, until the fifth log¡­


    Bang.


    He was swept away by the log.


    "The closer I get to the door, the faster the floor tiles move backward. I must urately judge the speed of the movement tond stably."


    After summing up the lessons learned, Ning Zhuo continued.


    Bang.


    When he reached the eighth log, the difficulty increased. A log shot out from the ceiling,ing down and directly knocking him off.


    Ning Zhuo crashed into the door, his body falling apart.


    He scrambled to reassemble himself, eventually extending his hands to pick up his head and reattach it to his neck.


    "The headponent is also a bitrge. It''s square, and turning my head is slow. I should have opted for a smaller head."


    "The biggest issue is the uneven legs."


    "Fortunately, I remember the positions from where the logs wereunched. If I keep trying and learning from my errors, I should be able to get through!"


    Bang!


    This time, he only managed to jump over three logs before being knocked back again.


    Ning Zhuo watched the log retract into the wall, utterly astonished. "Isn''t it so that the positions of these logs are fixed? Can they actually change freely?"


    The difficulty suddenly skyrocketed tenfold!


    On the throne in the main hall, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had been covertly observing the first trial participant. It chuckled gleefully, gurgling withughter as it watched Puppet Ning Zhuo stand motionless.


    The dull-witted Puppet Ning Zhuo seemed to be putting on a vivid puppet show for it. Watching the entire spectacle, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit derived a great deal of amusement.


    Bang, bang, bang¡­


    Ning Zhuo continuously failed to break through.


    "I''m running out of spiritual energy."


    He sighed inwardly, sat down cross-legged, and opened a small hatch on his belly.


    Beneath the hatch, there was a hiddenpartment containing a spirit stone.


    This spirit stone was dim and nearly depleted of spiritual energy.


    Ning Zhuo removed this spent stone and quickly reced it with the second spirit stone.


    He closed the small hatch on his belly and patted it gently with his small palm to ensure it was securely fastened.


    "When recing the spirit stone, it must be done quickly, making use of the residual spiritual energy still circting within the puppet''s body. This is probably the most vulnerable time for the puppet."


    The reced spirit stone still retained a bit of spiritual energy.


    But Ning Zhuo dared not continue using it.


    If, during a sprint, the spiritual energy were to bepletely depleted, leaving nothing in the puppet''s body, he would bepletely immobilized.


    "Under the puppet form, the consumption is not only the spiritual energy in the spirit stones."


    "Every time I''m hit, the runes on the giant logs weaken my soul a bit."


    "I entered the pce as a soul, and if the soul bes too weak, even with spiritual energy, I''d still be immobilized."


    "Also, this puppet body is continuously umting damage."


    Ning Zhuo examined himself and found that various parts such as his arms and head were developing cracks and fissures.


    "If the position of the logs is unpredictable and there''s no trick to it, then I must put in hard work."


    Concentrating his mind and rallying his spirits, Ning Zhuo once againunched into a sprint.


    Bang, bang, bang¡­


    Ning Zhuo was repeatedly knocked back, each time umting experience and increasing his proficiency in controlling the puppet body.


    His improvement was visible to the naked eye.


    When he reached thest stretch, seven or eight logs acted simultaneously. They seemed to spasm, continuouslyunching. Some swept across, some plunged straight, some descended from above, and some even changed direction mid-course.


    Ning Zhuo was knocked down once again, his leg smashedpletely upon impact. After falling, the shifting floor tiles moved him back in front of the first gate.


    Previously, both legs had suffered bumps and bruises.


    Now, with one leg gone, what should he do?


    After some thought, Ning Zhuo came up with a bold idea.


    "Shall I try?" he murmured.


    He disassembled his arms and attached them under his torso to substitute for his thighs.


    Then, he attached the remaining thigh to where his right arm once was.


    He transformed into a bizarre puppet-like figure, his appearance quite eerie.


    Ning Zhuo did not rush to proceed but stayed where he was, practicing for a while to gradually master his new form.


    Half an hourter.


    Ning Zhuo, left with only one arm, fortunately managed to reach the second gate.


    His condition was dire; his soul had been severely weakened by the runes.


    "Quick, quicker!" he urged himself, struggling to reach out and touch the gate.


    Instantly, information flowed to him.


    Just like before, there were three options:


    First, a spirit stone.


    Second, mechanical parts.


    Third, a spell.


    At his limit, Ning Zhuo did not have the luxury to examine the options carefully and immediately chose the spell.


    The next moment, he passed out.

 Chapter 27: Undermining

    Chapter 27: Undermining


    < Chapter 27: Undermining >


    Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes and found that his surroundings had changed dramatically; he was back in his underground workshop. A strong sense of weakness surged from deep within his heart.


    Standing up, Ning Zhuo examined himself. "My physical body is fine, but my soul has been severely weakened." In Room No. 2, he had endured numerous hits from giant trees. "Although it was only my first exploration of the Lava Immortal Pce and I didn''t enter Room No. 3, I made significant gains!"


    "Especially the magical rewards from Room No. 2, which I was fortunate to bring back with me." Ning Zhuo did not rush to study the magic he had acquired. Instead, he first drank water and ate some food.


    With his soul extracted, his physical body had been in aatose state, maintaining heartbeat and breathing, but remaining immobile for a long time was not advisable. After all, Ning Zhuo was still just a Qi Refining stage cultivator and had not practiced any particr body-strengthening techniques. His physical body was not strong.


    While eating and drinking to nourish his body, Ning Zhuo calcted the time spent before and after. "The first exploration of the Lava Immortal Pce took about three hours."


    "A Qi Refining stage cultivator who has practiced the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art enters the Lava Immortal Pce differently than before. Previously, the true body entered the pce, but now the soul is drawn in¡­ This means that even if the city lord continues to guard the top of Mount Huoshi, it won''t be very effective anymore."


    "No, the city lord will probably continue the blockade."


    "On one hand, he needs to prevent cultivators above the Qi Refining stage from entering the pce in their true forms. After all, the Lava Immortal Pce has now made its appearance."


    "On the other hand, by doing so, he also benefits his own power base. His own grandson, Meng Chong, who is still in the Qi Refining stage, has been preparing to im the Lava Immortal Pce for a long time. In this regard, the city lord''s side still holds a significant advantage."


    "Meng Chong possesses superior immortal talents¡ª''Wild Bursting Thunder''¡ªfar beyond what I canpare."


    "s, I wonder how far he has progressed? Room No. 2 definitely wouldn''t pose a challenge for him."


    Although it was Ning Zhuo''s first exploration and he hadn¡¯t reached Room No. 3, his gains were substantial. The Lava Immortal Pce offerspletely different treatments to "outsiders" and its "own cultivators."


    This was highly advantageous for Ning Zhuo.


    Previously, Ning Zhuo had to contend with Foundation Establishment stage, Golden Core stage, and even Nascent Soul stagepetitors. But now, under this testing method, hispetitors are temporarily just other Qi Refining stage cultivators.


    Ning Zhuo recalled the intelligence he had collected.


    "Among the city lord''s Qi Refining cultivators, Meng Chong is definitely the leader."


    "The Zhou family¡¯s Qi Refining cultivators include Zhou Zhendeep and Zhou Zhu. These two have joined the Mud Flow Sect, and their mastery in mechanical arts is hard to estimate."


    "The Zheng family''s Zheng Jian is the face of the Qi Refining cultivators, possessing top-tier immortal talents like ¡®Piercing Heart Insight,'' which is also quite remarkable."


    "As for the Ning family, among their peers, Ning Xiaohui is the best. However, she is not willing to switch to practicing the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art."


    "s, these are all geniuses in the world of cultivation,"mented Ning Zhuo. "Compared to them, I possess only inferior Early Wisdom potential, utterly unremarkable."


    "The key difference is their profound backgrounds which enable them to receive strong support from their families, even assistance from Nascent Soul stage cultivators. I, on the other hand, am too ordinary and must struggle on my own. In this respect, I can only look up to them."


    Ning Zhuo pondered the situation, his head aching unbearably. He found a bottle of soul-restoring pills, poured out a few, and swallowed them with water. Immediately afterward, he threw himself onto his bed and fell into a deep sleep.


    Meanwhile, a conflict was brewing in the Zhou family. "Why can''t I use the Gather-Disperse Spirit Tide Formation here?" a Qi Refining stage cultivator shouted arrogantly.


    "Because I am here," Zhou Zhendeep said darkly, stepping forward.


    The Zhou family Qi Refining cultivator''s mouth twitched, about to speak mockingly, when he saw Zhou Zhendeep produce a small g. With a simple shake, the ground beneath the troublemaker''s feet churned into a swamp, swallowing him rapidly.


    "Zhou Zhendeep, you''re too presumptuous, using force within the n grounds! Ahhh¡­" His words were cut off.


    His entire body was nearly engulfed by the swamp mud, his chin and mouth buried, but his nostrils remained above the surface, allowing him to breathe. He struggled desperately but couldn''t move, his face turning red with fury and his eyes bulging with rage.


    Zhou Zhendeep sneered, then nced around and said to the onlookers, "I know there are people in the family who are dissatisfied with Zhou Zhu and me."


    "But to use such petty tricks to disgust someone is really underestimating me."


    Just then, a sharp rm suddenly sounded from below.


    Zhou Zhendeep''s expression changed drastically. He hurriedly turned around and rushed into the basement.


    The Gather-Disperse Spirit Tide Formation had already slowlye to a stop, and Zhou Zhu was lying on the ground, his eyes tightly closed, and blood was flowing from all over his pores.


    "Zhou Zhu!" Zhou Zhendeep cried out loudly, rushing into the formation to check on him and administer emergency treatment.


    Soon after, an elder from the Zhou family arrived, his face ashen. "Investigate! We must find the perpetrator and punish them severely!"


    At the Zheng family''s residence.


    The refining room was bustling with activity.


    A ten-foot-high furnace was wide open, its mes reflecting off Zheng Jian''s reddened face.


    At that moment, he was shirtless, his muscles bulging, and sweat rolling down his body as he fervently refined a tool.


    He held tongs in one hand and raised a hammer high with the other, continuously striking the tool embryo.


    The tool embryo was quite small, only about the size of a baby''s palm.


    Suddenly, the tool embryo burst into brilliance.


    Zheng Jian''s eyes sparkled with excitement as he quickly put down the hammer and scooped up adle of water, pouring it directly onto the tool embryo.


    The clear water hit the tool embryo, hissing upon contact and generating a thick plume of white steam.


    Zheng Jian immediately sensed danger and quickly retreated.


    But he had already inhaled a bit of the white mist and couldn''t help but cough twice, coughing up blood.


    "Damn it, the water''s been poisoned!"


    Zheng Jian''s face turned pale as he bolted out of the artifact-refining chamber.


    City Lord''s Mansion.


    A ck-d assassin climbed over the courtyard wall, stepping across the rooftops, quietly pulling out a blowpipe-shaped magical instrument.


    He secretly cast a spell, melting a small hole in the roof, and then slowly extended the blowpipe down through it.


    But the next moment, he heard a low roar: "Thief, meet your death!"


    The blowpipe was harshly shoved back, carrying terrifying electric light, directly piercing the assassin''s mouth and shooting out from the back of his head, then vanishing into the sky at high speed.


    In the ring electric light, the assassin trembled violently for a few moments.


    The next moment, he turned into char and plummeted headlong. He rolled down the roof, all the way until he hit the ground.


    "Hmph!" In the room, Meng Chong slowly closed his eyes, continuing to disperse his power.


    Ning Family.


    Ning Xiaohui stood before the n leader, her grandmother, and the family elders of the Talisman Hall by her side.


    "I''m not opposed to modifying The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, but I have some conditions!" Ning Xiaohui changed her tone.


    Originally, the main line of the Ning family had always failed to elect a notable figure, only being able to nominate Ning Xiaohui.


    Ning Xiaohui''s grandmother and the supportive elders from Talisman Hall, also gradually unable to withstand thebined pressure from others, had no choice but topromise.

 Chapter 28: Ice-Embracing Technique

    Chapter 28: Ice-Embracing Technique


    < Chapter 28: Ice-Embracing Technique >


    Ning Family''s patriarch gave a wry smile, "State your demands."


    With each condition Ning Xiaohui stated, his face grew darker.


    After the fifth, the patriarch could no longer hold back, raising his hand to stop her: "Hold, let''s pause for a moment."


    Elder Grandma Ning, with her old credentials, spoke displeasedly: "Pause what? My granddaughter is risking her life this time."


    The family elder from the Talisman Hall also chimed in: "Patriarch, do you know? The Lord Mayor¡¯s office has already taken action, deploying multiple squads of city guards to patrol continuously in Puppet Immortal City, beginning strict checks on cultivators who practice The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art."


    "Once Xiaohui joins thispetition, it''s not just the dangers inside the Lava Immortal Pce."


    Grandma Ning scoffed coldly, "We''re all from the main branch, all family, not outsiders from a branch line. What are you being stingy about?"


    Ning Zhuo woke up the next day at noon, feeling much better.


    "It seems I¡¯ll need some nourishing pills to restore my soul."


    Although Ning Zhuo had stored many pills, he didn¡¯t have many that were specifically for the soul.


    From his first exploration of the Lava Immortal Pce, he knew such pills would be indispensable.


    "Not only does the giant tree in room two weaken the soul."


    "When the soul is extracted and resides in a puppet, it also slowly loses soul power."


    "Therefore, the stronger the foundation of the soul, the more advantageous it is in exploring the Lava Immortal Pce."


    Thinking this, Ning Zhuo sprang into action.


    He decided to purchase soul-nourishing pills from several Pill Pavilions and Medicine Shops throughout the city. Each time, he bought other pills as cover.


    As he was on his way, he heard peopleining that the city guards were arresting people everywhere.


    At the same time, he saw many notices posted on the walls¡ªthe Lord''s Manor was quickly checking the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, fearing it was a demonic technique disguised as a Taoist practice, and as a precaution, they had ordered that cultivators in the city temporarily refrain from practicing this technique.


    Ning Zhuo immediately changed his ns, no longer daring to purchase pills from the Pill Pavilions or Medicine Shops.


    On his way back, he heard more rumors, which made his heart tighten.


    ¡°Meng Chong, Zheng Jian, and Zhou Zhu were attacked and assassinated?¡±


    ¡°That''s terrifying.¡±


    ¡°These geniuses, even under the heavy protection of their families, are experiencing such things.¡±


    ¡°If someone like me were exposed, it would be even worse than them!¡±


    ¡°My mother was right, I really should stay hidden.¡±


    Ning Zhuo returned home.


    He needed to stockpile more soul-nourishing pills, but with the situation so tense, he decided to wait.


    Ning Zhuo considered the ck market.


    But ever since the explosion at the Immortal Pce, his Cang Tie Han Armor had been greatly damaged. The armor, especially the back, showed significant wear.


    Most crucially, one of the coreponents, the Foundation Establishment Pill, was down to only ten percent remaining.


    This was Ning Zhuo''sst resort, and he could not afford to misuse it any longer.


    ¡°First, I¡¯ll master the spell I received as a reward from the Immortal Pce,¡± Ning Zhuo decided. The spell, known as the Ice-Embracing Technique, allowed him to freeze any object he held in his embrace into ice.


    After some study, Ning Zhuo¡¯s first impression was that the spell seemed rather weak.


    His main expertise had been in the Snow Region Talisman As, which gave him control over frost-type mana and several spells like Ice Spear Technique, Frost Flower Technique, and Snowball Technique.


    ¡°The biggest drawback of the Ice-Embracing Technique is that it requires closebat to be effective,¡± he mused.


    ¡°Whereas spells like the Ice Spear Technique and Snowball Technique allow for long-range attacks.¡±


    This was a significant limitation in actualbat situations, which made Ning Zhuo consider using the Ice Spear Technique, something he had thought about while in the Lava Immortal Pce.


    However, there was a problem: he couldn¡¯t use it!


    This brings us to the differences and rtionships between cultivation methods and spells. Cultivation methods, such as the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art and the Snow Region Talisman As, are primarily used to cultivate mana.


    Spells like the Ice Spear Technique, Frost Flower Technique, and Ice-Embracing Technique are techniques for utilizing mana in specific ways.


    Spells rely on the foundation provided by cultivation methods. Cultivators'' mana varies widely, and mana of one element cannot easily invoke spells of another¡ªthose with frost mana, for example, can''t use Fire Dragon Technique, only Ice Dragon Technique or Snow Whale Technique, etc.


    After acquiring Five Elements Mana, Ning Zhuo also tried using spells like the Ice Spear Technique, but he couldn¡¯t activate them. With his mana epassing all five elements, he needed to extract the specific type of mana required for each individual spell.


    He mastered the Ice Spear Technique and The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, but they were notpatible. This required the improvement of the spells. Such situations were quitemon in the realm of cultivation.


    If Ning Zhuo decided to learn another Ice-based technique, he could likely use the previous Ice Spear Technique directly. However, since the original spell and the current mana were not entirelypatible, there would be significant losses, and adjustments were needed for a perfect match.


    The Ice-Embracing Technique was something Ning Zhuo could use directly because it was fullypatible with The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    After practicing a few times, Ning Zhuo was able to separate the water element from his Five Elements Mana and activate the Ice-Embracing Technique.


    The wooden stool in Ning Zhuo''s arms was instantly covered with frost. The frost spread rapidly, bing thicker with each moment, and within a few breaths, it turned into a block of ice.


    Ning Zhuo couldn''t hide his astonishment: "Is the power of this Ice-Embracing Technique really so strong?"


    Compared to regr spells like the Ice Spear Technique, Snowball Technique, and Frost Flower Technique, the power of the Ice-Embracing Technique was clearly superior.


    Next, Ning Zhuo devoted himself to practicing this spell in the underground workshop. Benches, chairs, mirrors, bricks¡ªall were frozen into blocks of ice by him. He became absorbed in his practice.


    The floor and corners of the room were filled withrge and small ice bumps, freezing various objects. The entire underground workshop was filled with chill, essentially turning it into an underground ice cer.


    "I faced three options in front of the first gate: a spirit stone, a hanging ring, and a gust of air."


    "Upon careful reflection, these three options should all aid me in passing the challenge," Ning Zhuo analyzed logically, with evidence to support his ims. "Spirit Stones are self-exnatory. The hanging rings are likely simr to the Ruyi Rope I crafted, which could enable the puppet to change direction in midair, or even briefly float and fly."


    Following this line of thought, he considered the reward options he encountered before the second gate as potentially useful for his challenge as well. "Spirit Stones need no mention. I didn''t see clearly what the mechanical parts were, but considering the Ice-Embracing Technique, it seems likely that room three will require me to fight," Ning Zhuo concluded, recognizing that the Ice-Embracing Technique was typically an offensive spell.


    "Room one requires a cultivator to assemble a mechanical puppet, room two tests the puppet¡¯s ability to jump, run, and dodge, and room three is likely forbat."


    Viewing it this way, the trials of the Lava Immortal Pce seemed to be both a rigorous selection of the excellent and a training in puppetry techniques. "It seems the three sect elders are interested not just in selecting the outstanding, but also in training them in puppetry arts."


    Sighing, he reflected on his recovery, "My soul is almost fully recuperated. It''s just that I don''t know when I will be able to re-enter the Immortal Pce."


    That night, an exhausted Ning Zhuo fell into a deep sleep. However, something felt amiss. He tried to open his eyes, only to find darkness still surrounding him. After a few seconds of astonishment, he sensed his surroundings and became excited.


    "My soul has been extracted again, and I have entered the Lava Immortal Pce!"

 Chapter 29: Hanging Ring

    Chapter 29: Hanging Ring


    < Chapter 29: Hanging Ring >


    Having had the valuable experience from before, Ning Zhuo was no longer unfamiliar with the darkness. He didn''t hesitate, fully mobilizing the spiritual energy from the spirit stones, and began circting "The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art."


    Click.


    He drew in the first mechanical part and attached it.


    It was an arm.


    He drew in another part and sessfully assembled it.


    It was a wooden head.


    Ning Zhuo regained his vision.


    Hey atop a heap of mechanical parts like a mountain. He touched his head, finding it was still arge, square one.


    "Why is it this kind again?"


    "The wind resistance while running and jumping negatively affects passing through the second room."


    Ning Zhuo rotated his big head, using his only arm to drag his body and climb around.


    He patiently selected legs, only stopping when he found two of equal length.


    His previous experience told him that spending time on this waspletely worth it.


    Not only that, he decided to choose longer arms as well.


    "I want long arms and legs."


    "And I want to change to a smaller head."


    Ning Zhuo failed.


    When he rummaged and picked out a small head, just as he was about to rece it, he received new information¡ªthe initial puppet body, based on his aptitude, could not be freely changed in Room One.


    "There''s this restriction too?"


    Ning Zhuo was momentarily stunned, then immediately fell into deep thought.


    "If the puppets are assembled based on talent, this means that from the start, Meng Chong and the others will have much stronger puppets than mine."


    "It also means that although the mechanical parts here appear to have simr quality, there are actually significant differences in their performance."


    Ning Zhuo then thought of himself.


    "I took the Early Wisdom Pill while still in my mother''s womb, which gave me the talent of early wisdom."


    "It is precisely this talent that gave me this big head, so I can''t rece it with a small one."


    "With the talent of early wisdom, I was able to have this big head. It shows that having a big head is beneficial, even if it''s not obvious."


    "Furthermore¡­"


    Ning Zhuo thought of a doubt.


    The first mechanical part he attracted was an arm, not a big head!


    "The first time it was like this, and the second time it was the same. The arm parts were prioritized over the head parts."


    "Does this mean that I actually have a hidden talent, and that this talent is rted to my arm, which is even better than my talent for early wisdom?"


    Ning Zhuo was quick-witted and observant, able to spot problems from the details.


    This was entirely possible.


    Because in cultivation, talentse in all sorts and varieties, many of them strange and unique. While the Ning family had always been engaged in detecting immortal qualifications, they could only cover basic andmon talents. Many special talents could not be detected using conventional means.


    Perhaps Ning Zhuo''s arm hid such a talent, one that had not yet been detected by the family.


    Ning Zhuo continued to contemte the information he had just received.


    "The message mentioned that this is the ¡®initial puppet body'' and also stated that it''s not possible to ¡®freely'' change it in ¡®Room One''."


    "Does that mean it''s actually possible to upgrade the body? In some room, it''s possible to freely change it?"


    In just a few breaths, Ning Zhuo had thoroughly analyzed this seemingly ordinary piece of information, grasping many hidden key points.


    Despite the reminder from the message, Ning Zhuo still harbored a bit of luck and attempted to assemble the wingponents.


    If he could attach wings, it would be much easier to pass through Room Two.


    Sure enough¡­ it didn''t work.


    "In that case, these wings, short horns, ws, and other parts are meant for non-human entities."


    "In the future, will there be non-humanpetitors in the Lava Immortal Pce?"


    Ning Zhuo climbed down from the pile of mechanical parts, which was like a small hill.


    During this process, he made an important observation.


    Soon, he discovered various traces left from his first exploration.


    "In other words, this room is Room One, which I explored for the first time."


    This observation was quite important!


    "This isn''t a room exclusively for me."


    "In fact, the abundance of mechanical parts also suggests this."


    "The changes I made during the exploration seem to have been retained to some extent?"


    "There¡¯s another crucial question¡ªwhen I explore the Immortal Pce, will I encounter others in the same room?"


    Ning Zhuo walked to the entrance of the first door and paused his thoughts, reaching out to touch the door.


    A message came through, presenting the same three options as before.


    1. One spirit stone.


    2. Hanging ring on a mechanicalponent.


    3. A gust of spell energy.


    Ning Zhuo already had a n and, without hesitation, directly chose the hanging ring.


    Currently, his spiritual power was still at seventy percent, much more than during his first exploration. Additionally, the reward for passing through Room Two would still include a spirit stone.


    In the long run, choosing the spell energy would be the most advantageous. But for now, Ning Zhuo needed immediatebat power. Choosing the hanging ring would allow him to go further in this exploration.


    "In the early stages, intelligence is the most important."


    "Therefore, I need to explore as far as possible. This way, I can collect enough intelligence, and with that foundation, I can make the right decisions."


    "Sigh, I wonder how far Meng Chong and the others have gone."


    "Hopefully, I can see their trails soon."


    The teleportation circle appeared again, spitting out a wooden ring before slowly disappearing.


    Ning Zhuo took the wooden ring and examined it closely.


    The entire wooden ring was about half a foot in diameter, with a thick body, and iid with eighteen diamond-shaped crystals.


    The crystals emitted a faint blue-violet glow. Whenever Ning Zhuo changed his viewing angle slightly, the blue-violet light would shift ordingly, quite eye-catching.


    "Is this the hanging ring? How do I use it?"


    "Is there no exnation?"


    Ning Zhuo did not receive any information about the hanging ring.


    He understood that the mechanicalponent rewards were, in fact, a test of the cultivator''s mechanical skills.


    He needed to figure out the correct usage himself.


    With this in mind, Ning Zhuo instinctively ced the hanging ring on his forehead.


    Nothing happened.


    Ning Zhuo chuckled awkwardly in his heart. "I forgot, I don''t have divine sense now."


    Divine sense originated from the Divine Sea, which was the upper dantian of a cultivator.


    In this world, cultivators had three dantians: the upper dantian (Divine Sea), the middle dantian (Qi Sea), and the lower dantian (Essence Sea).


    The upper dantian, located at the brow, was the source of the sea of consciousness, where thoughts condensed into the void.


    The middle dantian, located in the chest, was the pce of mana, where Qi gathered like clouds, hiding strength and umting momentum.


    The lower dantian, located in the abdomen, was the pce of essence, where blood gathered, essence merged, and was the root of life.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s current puppet body was entirely wooden,cking the three dantians. Even the "mana" he used was just "spiritual energy" drawn from spirit stones.


    Ning Zhuo held the hanging ring in his palm and attempted to infuse it with spiritual energy.


    Soon, the diamond-shaped blue-violet crystals embedded on the surface of the hanging ring were all illuminated one by one.

 Chapter 30: A List for One Person

    Chapter 30: A List for One Person


    < Chapter 30: A List for One Person >


    Ning Zhuo increased the force.


    Swoosh.


    One of the diamond-shaped colored crystals suddenly shot out, hitting the copper-red wall.


    Between the colored crystal and the hoop, there was a fine thread connecting them.


    Ning Zhuo tugged at it, discovering that although the thread was incredibly thin, it was extremely strong.


    He took a few steps forward, approaching the wall to closely examine the colored crystal that had been shot out. He initially thought that the crystal had been embedded into the wall like a nail, but to his surprise, it had actually fused with the wall.


    The part of the crystal that touched the wall hadpletely transformed into copper-red, with only a faint blue-violet glow near the thread still visible.


    It was as if it had originally been part of the copper wall, and only a small protrusion stuck out, which connected to the hoop.


    "Fascinating, fascinating!"


    "How was this achieved?"


    "Was it done using a talisman, or was a miniature formation engraved, or is the material of the crystal itself different?"


    Ning Zhuo''s curiosity was piqued, and he was eager to dismantle it on the spot and study it for three days and nights.


    "Unfortunately, now is not the right time!"


    Ning Zhuo knew that exploration was more important.


    He held the hoop, looked down at his body, and couldn''t find a suitable ce to wear it.


    The puppet Ning Zhuo''s hands and feet were much thinner than the hoop, and his upper arms and forearms were of equal thickness, as were his thighs and calves.


    Ning Zhuo wasn''t going to hold the hoop directly in his hand.


    When exploring Room 2, he needed to have both hands free. Having one hand upied would be very inconvenient.


    This small issue didn''t trouble Ning Zhuo.


    Soon, he came up with a solution.


    He first removed his head, then ced the hoop around his neck, and finally reattached his head.


    This way, his big head held the hoop firmly in ce.


    After finishing this setup, Ning Zhuo pushed open the door and officially entered Room 2.


    The door closed behind him with a heavy thud. Ning Zhuo tried pushing it, but it wouldn''t budge.


    Looking at the familiar hallway-like Room 2, Ning Zhuo didn''t rush forward. Instead, he stayed in ce and practiced with the hoop for a while.


    After reaching a certain level of proficiency, he began to attempt moving forward.


    Bang, bang, bang¡­


    After several consecutive failures, Ning Zhuo was swept back.


    However, his mindset was calm, unlike the first time when he had been agitated.


    Momentster, he sprinted to the midpoint.


    Tworge wooden beams came crashing toward him, and Ning Zhuo jumped into the air, unable to avoid them.


    No worries.


    "I have the hoop!" Ning Zhuo thought.


    The wooden hoop stuck under his big head suddenly shot out the colored crystal, which embedded itself in the ceiling with a ding.


    The thread was very sturdy. Ning Zhuo applied force, tilted his neck, and dangled in midair, sessfully avoiding the beams.


    Another beam came down from above, crashing toward him.


    Ning Zhuo canceled his mana, and the thread instantly broke at the base. The wooden hoop and the colored crystal that had been shot out werepletely detached.


    Ning Zhuo fell, dodged the beam, and then shot out another colored crystal, which embedded itself in the beam.


    As the beam retracted, it carried him along with it.


    Thus, with his head tilting now and then, Ning Zhuo sessfully crossed Room 2 by dangling and arrived at the second door.


    "No wonder it''s called the hoop. The name is quite fitting, concise, and apt," Ning Zhuo thought as he used both hands to straighten his tilted head.


    Using the hoop, the difficulty of crossing Room 2 had drastically decreased.


    Ning Zhuo was now fully intact, except for a crack in his left leg and a broken finger on his right hand.


    This was a world of difference from his first exploration, where he had been severely damaged.


    "What if I had chosen the hoop the first time?"


    Ning Zhuo thought for a moment, then shook his head slightly.


    "That would have been worse."


    The hoop would have elerated spiritual power consumption.


    If, during his first exploration, he had chosen the hoop, Ning Zhuo would have been immobilized due to exhausted spiritual power.


    Ning Zhuo touched the second door.


    The reward information directly reached his mind: two spirit stones, a ss flying knife mechanicalponent, and the spell Fire Grasping Technique.


    During hisst exploration, Ning Zhuo''s soul was at its weakest, so he hurriedly chose the spell without examining the other options closely.


    Now, in good condition, he could choose at leisure.


    "The reward for spirit stones has increased to two."


    "The ss flying knife is an offensive mechanicalponent."


    "Fire Grasping Technique¡­ seems to be a set with the Ice-Embracing Technique."


    With only thirty percent of his spiritual power remaining, Ning Zhuo had no other choice but to select the first reward¡ªtwo spirit stones.


    After ncing back at Room 2, he then forcefully pushed open the door and formally entered Room 3.


    The message arrived¡ªdefeat the Kung Fu puppet, pass through room three, and enter the preparation room.


    "Wasn''t it supposed to be room four?" Ning Zhuo pondered.


    Room three had a circr structure, with the light dimming towards the edges and the brightest spot at the center.


    "It''s like a circr arena." Ning Zhuo immediately noticed the center of the room, where a tall, slender wooden puppet stood.


    The puppet was made of yellow wood, with ck lines crisscrossing its surface. On its chest, tworge characters were written vertically: "¹¦·ò" (Kung Fu).


    The puppet sensed him, and its eyes suddenly glowed yellow. It wiped its wooden nose with its thumb, then slowly squatted, positioning itself in a half-bow stance with one foot forward and one foot backward. It then extended one palm forward and ced the other behind its back, adopting abat posture towards Ning Zhuo.


    It moved its forward palm, indicating for Ning Zhuo to attack.


    "Interesting," Ning Zhuo smiled, "I also learned martial arts at the academy."


    Having recently obtained two spirit stones, he felt motivated. Moreover, he was eager to gather more intelligence. Without hesitation, he stepped forward to engage in battle.


    Within just a few breaths, the wooden puppet had Ning Zhuo almost in pieces.


    "Can''t win, the gap is too wide!"


    Ning Zhuo suddenly hugged its waist.


    The puppet immediately struggled, using its elbows and fists to constantly strike Ning Zhuo''s back and head.


    The banging sounds resembled a sudden rainstorm.


    Ning Zhuo, however, frantically channeled his spiritual power and unleashed his trump card.


    The spell¡ªIcy Embrace Technique!


    Crack¡­


    After a series of subtle noises, the guarding puppet was covered in ayer of ice, gradually bing immobile.


    "Without the Ice-Embracing Technique, it''s impossible to pass this stage." Ning Zhuo attempted to destroy the Kung Fu puppet but was warned by a message, so he had to stop.


    He squatted down and swung his fist, repeatedly striking the puppet''s head.


    The iceyer shattered, and the puppet''s yellow eyes remained glowing.


    Ning Zhuo tried to remove the eyeponents, but again received a message¡ªviolently damaging the guarding puppet was not allowed!


    The reward options for the third door were still three: ten spirit stones, a small mechanical flying box, and a grafting spell.


    In the recent battle, he had consumed a lot of spiritual power to unleash the Ice-Embracing Technique. To be on the safe side, Ning Zhuo chose the ten spirit stones.


    He opened the door and entered the preparation room.


    The preparation room was spacious, far exceeding the previous three rooms. In the center of the room stood a five-faced stone pir.


    On one face of the stone pir, it read:


    Qi Refining Ranking.


    First ce: Ning Zhuo, Qi Refining Third Layer.


    Ning Zhuo: ¡­


    The stone pir rotated with a cracking sound to another face, which read:


    Assessment Progress Ranking.


    First ce: Ning Zhuo, Room Three.


    Below, there was no one else, only him on the list.


    Ning Zhuo tilted his head: Hmm?!


    A few breathster, Ning Zhuo seemed to be struck by lightning, his body and mind shook violently, and he fully realized the severity of the problem.


    "Crap!"


    "I''m exposed?!"

 Chapter 31: I Dont Want to Be on the List!

    Chapter 31: I Don''t Want to Be on the List!


    < Chapter 31: I Don''t Want to Be on the List! >


    In the Lava Immortal Pce.


    Inside the preparation room, Ning Zhuo ran up to the five stone pirs.


    He discovered that the five facets of the stone pirs each had a list. They were the Qi Refining List, the Essence Refining List, the Spirit Refining List, the Assessment Progress List, and the Speedrun List.


    Lo and behold, his name was on the Speedrun List, and he was the only one listed.


    Ning Zhuo couldn''t care less about the hidden information on these lists or why he was the only one on them. All he wanted to know now was how to remove his name!


    "The Four Major Powers can''t protect geniuses in the Qi Refining Stage. If I get exposed, who knows what could happen."


    "The superiors of the three sects likely set up these rankings to encouragepetition, motivate, and inspire. But my small frame can''t handle it."


    Ning Zhuo circled around the five stone pirs. As the pir rotated, he rotated along with it.


    The characters for "Ning Zhuo" on the stone pir were in relief, protruding outwards.


    "Can I grind it off?"


    Ning Zhuo jumped up but couldn''t reach his name. He was the only one on the list and held the top spot, so his name was positioned at the highest point.


    He hooked onto a hanging ring!


    Ding.


    A blue-violet rhomboid crystal shot up to the ceiling and fused with the roof, bing extremely secure.


    Hisrge head was caught in the wooden ring. The inside of the ring rotated, retracting a long, thin line and swiftly lifting Ning Zhuo''s body upward.


    Ning Zhuo''s head tilted as he gradually rose until he was level with his name.


    He reached out, attempting to grind off his name, but found that he couldn''t even manage to produce a single stone chip.


    The stone pir was extremely sturdy!


    Reflecting on his abilities, Ning Zhuo knew that his only technique, the Ice-Embracing Technique, would be useless, so there was no need to waste time and spiritual power.


    "I must, I must solve this problem!"


    Knowing that he had no way out, Ning Zhuo hung in midair, tilting his head to look around.


    At that moment, he began to carefully observe the unique room he was in.


    ording to the information, this was a preparation room, different from rooms one, two, and three.


    Upon examining it, he found this to be true.


    The entire preparation room was square, forming a perfect square.


    The walls and ceiling of the room were made of copper, but it was blue copper.


    The light in the room seemed to emanate from nowhere, casting a faint sea-blue shimmer.


    In the center of the preparation room were five stone pirs, and along the walls were five or six mechanical pedestals. The walls were adorned with a plethora of mechanicalponents, an array of dazzling items. There were also several workbenches, each equipped with an array of mechanical tools.


    Seeing these facilities and tools rekindled Ning Zhuo''s hope.


    "Perhaps, I can use these tools to grind off my name."


    Ning Zhuo manipted the hanging ring, lengthened the thread, andnded back on the ground.


    He trailed the slender thread, jogging over to one of the walls, reaching for a torch hanging there.


    As soon as he touched the torch, a message conveyed itself to his mind.


    Using the torch came with a fee!


    The specific fee was calcted based on the duration of use.


    Ning Zhuo was momentarily stunned before he suddenly understood, "No wonder the spirit stone rewards for passing each room keep increasing!"


    "In this assessment, these spirit stones aren''t just a source of spiritual power, but also serve as currency."


    Ning Zhuo agreed to the fee in his mind, which allowed him to sessfully remove the torch.


    The torch, named a welding torch, was one of themon tools used in mechanical crafting.


    Ning Zhuo grasped the welding torch and ran towards the center of the preparation room.


    After running a few steps, he stomped the ground and, together with the rotation of the wooden ring around his neck, the thin thread retracted swiftly.


    Ning Zhuo tilted his head once again, and his whole body was hoisted into the air.


    He swung in midair, using the momentum to return to the level of his name.


    Then, he extended the torch forward, channeling his spiritual power into it.


    The torch immediately ignited, with a me that was duck-egg red at its tip.


    Ning Zhuo increased the spiritual power input, and the me surged up, resembling an enraged outburst. At the tip of the me, the fire swiftly turned a bright blue-purple color.


    Ning Zhuo aimed the tip of the me at his name, burning it with all his might.


    However, after burning for quite a while, there wasn''t even a trace of scorching on the name¡ªit remained just as prominent and noticeable.


    Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth and had no choice but to give up.


    The hanging ring sped his chin, and as he spun rapidly, he lengthened the thread. Ning Zhuonded back down.


    When he returned to the hanging ring, the torch was gone, reced by a file.


    It was the Teeth-Grinding Demon Sound File.


    Using the canine teeth of a fierce beast as the main material, once infused with spiritual power, it emitted a piercing noise. The noise could be adjusted for volume and range, and was used for grinding in many ces.


    It wasn''t just for the exterior of objects; because the noise could prate, the interior of objects could also be polished to be extremely smooth and even.


    Ning Zhuo attempted to use the "Teeth-Grinding Demon Sound File" on his own name.


    At the same time.


    In the main hall of the Lava Immortal Pce.


    On the throne, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit yawned out of boredom.


    During thest exploration, Ning Zhuo had brought it much amusement. So, when the Dragon Turtle Fire


    Spirit noticed that Ning Zhuo''s soul was nearly restored, it couldn''t wait to draw Ning Zhuo''s soul back in.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit wanted to amuse itself with Ning Zhuo again.


    During Ning Zhuo''s second exploration of the Immortal Pce, his strange appearance when he hanged himself in Room Two and his wretched state after being beaten by the Kung Fu Puppet had both entertained the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit.


    But now, Ning Zhuo wasn''t moving and was intent on polishing away his name. This made the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit feel extremely bored.


    It directly transmitted a message¡ª "Do not destroy the ranking stone pir!"


    Ning Zhuo paused slightly upon receiving this message.


    In the past, he might have stopped.


    But the matter of his name was too important for Ning Zhuo to simply give up.


    He secretly gritted his teeth and continued to use the "Teeth-Grinding Demon Sound File" on his name.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit scoffed and angrily spat out a spark of fire.


    In the next moment, it directly used the divine ability, "Life Hanging by a Thread".


    Instantly, Ning Zhuo couldn''t move.


    After a breath, he regained his mobility but had to stop.


    Looking again at his name, the tworge characters "Ning Zhuo" remained as prominent and outstanding as ever.


    "What should I do?" A feeling of despair slowly spread in Ning Zhuo''s heart.


    "No, I can''t just give up like this."


    This time, afternding, Ning Zhuo didn''t use small tools anymore.


    He set his sights on the pedestals.


    The shapes of the pedestals were varied.


    Ning Zhuo walked past the motion bnce bed, the formation pattern engraving table, skipped the spiritual powerpression bed, the White Tiger de Sharpening Wheel, and eventually arrived at the "Thousand-Jin Heavy Hammer Pedestal".


    "The Lava Immortal Pce''s control over me happens in an instant."


    "I''ll set up a simple mechanism. As long as the first press is made, the heavy hammer will strike the stele!"


    Ning Zhuo''srge head immediately thought of a clever trick.


    He started to busy himself, first selecting the mechanical parts, then dragging out the "Thousand-Jin Heavy Hammer tform" and gradually assembling a catapult.

 Chapter 32: Exposed?

    Chapter 32: Exposed?


    < Chapter 32: Exposed? >


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit gradually sensed something was off.


    It disdainfully exhaled a puff of reddish-brown smoke, convinced that Ning Zhuo''s efforts were entirely futile. However, just as it was about to lift its finger to stop Ning Zhuo, it changed its mind.


    It suddenly thought that watching this unfold could be quite entertaining.


    It was like toying with a small ant¡ªeach time raising its palm to block the ant''s path. The ant, seeing no way forward, could only turn and go in another direction. By continuously blocking its path, the ant had to keep changing direction.


    Wasn''t that amusing?


    Ning Zhuo, unaware that he had be like a small ant, felt immense pressure.


    "I must seed."


    "I must destroy my identity!"


    Ning Zhuo was acutely aware of the gravity of the situation.


    The sess or failure of this task could almost determine his life or death!


    Even if he didn''t die, the oue would certainly be very grim.


    Seek refuge with the Ning family, confess to the n?


    Ning Zhuo hardly considered this.


    ording to the Ning family''s traditions, if he confessed proactively, he would likely be supported on the surface but suppressed in the shadows.


    Support? He would just be used as a tool.


    His future life would be extremely stifling, and any gains from the Immortal Pce would be seized by the n.


    Freedom? He shouldn''t even think about it!


    "What about seeking refuge with the other three factions?"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head to himself.


    At this point, seeking refuge would not be wise. Meng Chong, Zhou Zhu, and others had been secretly harmed. He, as an outsider, with such excellent achievements, would certainly be targeted by other major powers.


    He, with his frail build, couldn''t bear it; he absolutely couldn''t bear it!


    "My greatest advantage has always been keeping a low profile, staying in the shadows. But now, a simple leaderboard has exposed me, rendering my efforts of concealing myself for more than ten years in vain."


    "I''m not willing to ept this!"


    With such pressure and emotions, Ning Zhuo quickly assembled a crude catapult.


    He aimed, calcted the distance, and swiftly cut the cord.


    In the next moment, the heavy hammer in the catapult''s basket wasunched.


    Bang.


    With a muffled sound, the heavy hammer struck the stone pir, precisely hitting the spot where Ning Zhuo''s name was engraved.


    Then, another bang echoed as the heavy hammer fell onto the floor tiles, shattering the tiles nearby.


    However, on the stone pir leaderboard, Ning Zhuo''s name remained intact, still as prominent and outstanding as ever!


    Seeing this, Ning Zhuo''s heart sank deeply.


    He clenched his fists tightly, staring up at his name.


    He had never expected to encounter a life-and-death crisis during his second exploration of the Lava Immortal Pce!


    If he wasn''t in a puppet body now, he would have been drenched in sweat.


    Negative emotions inevitably arose and quickly spread in his heart.


    Ning Zhuo couldn''t help but recall his mother''s dying instructions.


    "Mother told me to stay safe. If my life is in danger, I can even abandon this Immortal Pce entirely."


    "Life is still the most important!"


    "Perhaps, I shouldn''t have had any greed and explored the Lava Immortal Pce."


    Ning Zhuo suddenly shook his head, his eyes showing a cold gleam.


    "Heh, what''s wrong with me?"


    "If I had another chance, I would still make the same choice!"


    "With such an opportunity right in front of me, if I didn''t fight for it and lived so cowardly, I''d rather die."


    "Calm down!"


    "Even if I''m eventually exposed, I can ept the worst oue."


    "Because it''s all my own choice!"


    Ning Zhuo adjusted himself swiftly, returning to a calm andposed state.


    Calming down, he quickly came up with another n.


    "The stone pir ranking is hard to destroy, but perhaps the Lava Immortal Pce itself provides a function to change or disguise names?"


    "There are still many areas in the preparation room that I haven''t explored."


    Ning Zhuo began exploring around.


    He quickly scanned the work tables, mechanism-making tools, and various types of mechanism pedestals.


    He recognized some, but many were unfamiliar.


    He reached the exit of the room and touched the door, but nothing happened.


    "It seems the preparation room doesn''t offer any rewards."


    Finally, he focused on the five stone pirs in the center of the room.


    Just a moment ago, he had touched the stone pirs trying to erase his name, but nothing happened.


    However, Ning Zhuo thought for a moment and still believed the stone pirs shouldn''t be so simple.


    He tried channeling spiritual power into the stone pirs, and the next moment, one of the pirs shot out a thin beam of light, striking Ning Zhuo''s chest directly.


    The thin beam of light imprinted a seal on Ning Zhuo''s chest.


    After a few breaths, the seal faded away.


    "Trial disciple?" Ning Zhuo saw the seal and felt it looked familiar.


    Suddenly, he realized, "The style of the seal''s characters matches the Buddha Heart Demon Seal."


    "This isn''t surprising, as my mother took the Buddha Heart Demon Seal from the Lava Immortal Pce."


    The seal from the Lava Immortal Pce didn''t vanish but merely became invisible.


    Then, more information reached Ning Zhuo''s mind.


    "It turns out that being on the ranking board brings weekly rewards. Moreover, the rewards are linked to the specific ranking. The higher the rank, the better the rewards."


    "One week¡­ from when does that start counting?"


    "The specific rewards aren''t specified either."


    Ning Zhuo held onto the stone pir and looked up at his ranking, sighing inwardly.


    "That''s not the issue."


    "I would rather give up these rewards and remove my name."


    To Ning Zhuo, the rewards were merely icing on the cake. But having his name exposed was almost a disaster!


    "I want to get off the list, get off the list!"


    "What should I do?"


    "I don''t want my name up there."


    Ning Zhuo pondered deeply but couldn''t think of a good solution.


    Yet, because he was racking his brain and exhausting his thoughts, he gradually felt a very vague but familiar sensation.


    "This feeling¡­"


    "Could it be the Buddha Heart Demon Seal?!"


    In an instant, Ning Zhuo felt like a drowning person grabbing onto the only lifeline. Whether it was useful or not, this was his only hope at the moment.


    At that moment, he focused his mind, discarded distracting thoughts, and fully enhanced his sensing of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.


    Huoshi Immortal City.


    Ning Zhuo''s physical bodyy on the bed, indistinguishable from normal sleep.


    However, in his upper dantian, the Sea of Consciousness, a majestic seal started to glow faintly.


    Its brilliance intensified, extending from his body and, along the thread of life, into Ning Zhuo''s soul.


    Ning Zhuo''s soul resided within the puppet, which was in contact with the five stone pirs.


    Through this conduction, the influence of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal extended to the five stone pirs.


    Ning Zhuo eximed, "It''s effective, truly effective!!!"


    In Ning Zhuo''s fervent desire, his name truly began to sink.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had been watching Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo''s various failed attempts to erase his name and his subsequent deep contemtion had amused it.


    It reclined on its throne, eyes prating space, watching with keen interest.


    In the next moment, its movements stiffened, and its eyes abruptly shot out piercing red light.


    It sensed the Buddha Heart Demon Seal!


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit became exceedingly excited. It leaped up and soared into the air.


    Roar!


    It roared, its petite frame emitting an astonishing sound. The entire Lava Immortal Pce radiated dazzling light once more!


    At the top of Mount Huoshi, the light shot upwards like giant pirs, hundreds of beams piercing the sky.


    The entire pce trembled continuously, magma churned violently, and thick smoke billowed.


    The city lord of Huoshi, who had been on guard, was awakened and quickly acted to suppress the mountain''s potential eruption.


    "What happened?!" He was filled with doubt.

 Chapter 33: Return of the Soul

    Chapter 33: Return of the Soul


    < Chapter 33: Return of the Soul >


    The entire Lava Immortal Pce shook violently!


    Ning Zhuo pressed his palms against five stone pirs, while his soul power was being consumed at an rming rate.


    His soul had left his body.


    While his physical body remained in Puppet Immortal City, his soul had been drawn into the Lava Immortal Pce. The soul and body were connected by the Divine Ability "Life Hanging by a Thread."


    Ning Zhuo was merely a Qi Refining stage cultivator, while the Buddha Heart Demon Seal was a treasure of the magical artifact level. In normal circumstances, attempting to channel the power of the seal was already quite difficult for him.


    Now, with his soul and body separated, and connected only by the thread of "Life Hanging by a Thread," sensing and channeling the power of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal was exponentially more challenging!


    Ning Zhuo''s spiritual power and soul power plummeted like a flood.


    He looked up at the ranking board, his heart filled with delight.


    Because he saw his name slowly sinking. At this rate, by the time the name he had inscribed on the board aligned with the surface of the stone, he should be able to hide his name!


    However, the descent of his name stopped midway.


    The puppet Ning Zhuo knelt down, copsing in front of the stone pir.


    His soul power was almost depleted. His soul had be so weak that it was on the verge of dissipating.


    Ning Zhuo couldn''t hold on any longer.


    In his attempt to harness the power of the seal, he was like a baby wielding a heavy hammer, his frail body unable to bear it.


    The next moment, his soul could no longer hold on. It swiftly rose from the puppet body, traced the thread of "Life Hanging by a Thread," pierced through space, and instantly returned to his physical body.


    With a thud, his puppet body, devoid of soul, fell to the ground, motionless.


    Ning Zhuo once again fell unconscious.


    In the main hall of the Lava Immortal Pce, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit leaped and bounded through the air, creating surging waves of fire wherever it went, presenting a terrifying scene!


    Suddenly, its entire body froze in ce, as it sensed the departure of Ning Zhuo''s soul.


    It opened its mouth and roared loudly!


    The sound wave spread through the Lava Immortal Pce, clearing awayyers of clouds and dispersing the rollingva.


    "It¡¯s that Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit roaring. What on earth is it furious about?" the Lord of Huoshi City eximed, forced to urgently activate the city''s grand formation once more.


    Countless emerald green formation lines intertwined, crisscrossing like a, forming a powerful blockade.


    The Lord of Huoshi City puffed his beard, red fiercely, and his robe fluttered as he struggled to suppress the turbulent Lava Immortal Pce. It took him a full half of an incense stick''s time before he gradually stabilized the situation.


    "Last time, it was because the pce was attacked by a Golden Core demon cultivator, and it almost ascended."


    "What happened this time?"


    "Was it attacked again?"


    The Lord of Huoshi City narrowed his eyes, his expression gloomy.


    Ever since the pce emerged, he had been stationed at the mountain top, not leaving for a moment.


    He was a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, a local lord, personally guarding the ce. Who would dare recklessly infiltrate the Lava Immortal Pce?


    The Lord of Huoshi City was certain that since he had been stationed atop the mountain, no outsider had entered the pce.


    "Even if they tunneled through the mountain, they would face the blockade and detection of the formation, as well as the unrelenting geothermal heat and fire fiend from the ongoing eruptions."


    "Is it that Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit bing impatient?"


    Ning Zhuo slowly awakened.


    After a long while, his blurred vision gradually cleared up.


    He felt his eyelids were extremely heavy.


    "This time, the damage to my soul is much more severe than thest time."


    Ning Zhuo fought against the urge to fall asleep and got up with great difficulty.


    Even though he deliberately slowed down his movements, his vision still cked out, and he felt dizzy and lightheaded.


    He struggled to sit up.


    This simple movement caused him to break out in a cold sweat, and his vision was filled with ovepping shadows, with the stationary tables, chairs, and benches constantly shaking.


    He had to close his eyes. In the darkness, the sound of his heart beating faster turned into intense drumming in his ears.


    After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes and felt slightly better.


    "My body and soul are originally one, a matched set."


    The body could nourish the soul.


    Ning Zhuo could feel somewhat better because of this.


    But this process was too slow, and Ning Zhuo needed to make the most of his time, so he had to take medicine.


    He slowly stood up, left the bed, activated a mechanism, and opened the basement.


    He supported himself on anything that could bear his weight, moving like a snail. He couldn''t move too quickly, to prevent himself from passing out again.


    When he reached the middle of the stairs, he couldn''t support himself any longer and slowly sat down.


    He curled up, resting his head against the stair railing.


    He felt ufortable, heavy, weak, dizzy to the point of nausea, and extremely drowsy!


    He lowered his head, feeling like his head had swollen several times its size, while his spine felt weak like a nearly withered branch.


    He closed his eyes again, and in the darkness, he listened quietly to his heartbeat, which sounded like war drums.


    He hunched his back, as if an invisible mountain-like weight was pressing down on him, trying to crush him!


    "Heh heh heh." Ning Zhuo chuckled softly instead.


    The moreplicated the mechanical constructs, the more he wanted to study them thoroughly. The tougher the situation, the more it awakened the fighting spirit hidden deep in his bones!


    His face was as pale as paper, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat, but the corners of his mouth curved into a faintly manic smile.


    Soon, his smile faded away.


    He opened his eyes again, and his pupils gleamed with determined cold light.


    "It''s doable!"


    "Using the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, I can continue to live incognito."


    "This was left to me by my mother, and it''s my only chance."


    "If I can''t seize this opportunity, I''d be letting her down, and I''d be utterly useless!"


    Ning Zhuo struggled to stand up again, and each unnoticed movement required all his strength.


    He walked down the stairs, hugging the wall, and finally reached the cab.


    He fought off the dizziness, opened the cab doors with trembling hands, took out a pill bottle, and painstakingly removed the cork.


    When he poured out the pills, his hands were weak, and his vision was blurry, causing many of them to spill onto the ground.


    But in the end, he managed to swallow some.


    After sessfully taking the medicine, Ning Zhuo leaned against the wall and slowly sat on the ground. He bowed his head, and in the next instant, fell asleep.


    When he woke up again, it waste at night.


    His condition had greatly improved.


    Before, everything he saw had double images, and any slight movement made the world spin.


    Now, his vision was only slightly blurry, and only when he turned his head too quickly did double images appear.


    Using the power of the medicine was far more efficient than sleeping.


    Otherwise, why would alchemy be rated as the foremost of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation?


    Ning Zhuo picked up the pills that had spilled on the ground, cleaned them, and put them back into the bottle.


    These pills were few in number, so he needed to be as frugal as possible.


    "It would be best to buy in bulk."


    "Throughout the process of guiding the soul into the pce, soul power is constantly being consumed. Therefore, the demand for soul-nourishing pills will keep increasing."


    "In my case, the situation is even more serious."


    "Even if I bought many soul-nourishing pills, I can''t bring them into the Lava Immortal Pce or take them inside."


    "I must directly raise the foundation of my soul, at least double it. Only then can Ist longer and remain incognito on one of the rankings."

 Chapter 34: Phoenix Soul Fragrance

    Chapter 34: Phoenix Soul Fragrance


    < Chapter 34: Phoenix Soul Fragrance >


    Ning Zhuo was filled with a sense of urgency. He did not know when the nextpetitors would be summoned by the soul-calling to enter the Lava Immortal Pce and face the trials.


    It was entirely possible that at any moment, Meng Chong could enter the pce, breeze through the challenges, reach the preparation room, and discover Ning Zhuo''s name.


    ¡°The opponent possesses superior immortal qualifications!¡±


    ¡°What can I do to at least double the foundation of my soul essence in a short time?¡±


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s brow furrowed deeply as he opened several drawers stuffed with jade slips. Each jade slip had a simplebel on it. After searching through them, he pulled out one and pressed it against his forehead.


    He then diverted his spiritual sense from his upper dantian''s sea of spirits into the jade slip to browse the information.


    Since he began earning spirit stones, he had developed a habit of collecting intelligence from outside sources¡ªa habit that had persisted for over a decade.


    It was this umtion of information that gave him a deeper understanding of the Puppet Immortal City. Otherwise, how could he, a mere Qi Refining stage cultivator, know about practitioners in the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages?


    Although much of the intelligence was superficial, Ning Zhuo¡¯s decade-plus of consistent collection,parison of events over time, and analysis had proved invaluable. He flipped through several jade slips, mainly searching for information rted to soul essence.


    Eleven years ago¡­


    Outside Puppet Immortal City, a demon cultivator named Hua Qianhun arrived. She nted flowers in a valley near the city, creating a sprawling sea of blooms that spread rumors of miraculous flowers emerging.


    Many were drawn to the flower sea, where their souls were extracted and turned into fertilizer for the nts. Eventually, a rare flower named the Soul Essence Flower did indeed emerge.


    Hua Qianhun promptly picked it and swiftly fled.


    Eight years ago, news about the appearance of the Seven Stars Lamp spread widely in the cultivation world, and Puppet Immortal City also learned of this. Themp was made by Kong Riyue, a famous minister from Qing Mountain Country, who aimed to defy fate and change destiny.


    He created thismp intending to use the power of the stars to rece part of his soul with a heavenly soul.


    Ultimately, his ns were thwarted by the internal sabotage of Dai Yan from the Overlord Instrument Country, and his efforts ended in failure.


    The emergence of the Seven Stars Lamp caused turmoil in several countries at the time, inciting countless cultivators to vie for it and nearly triggering a war between Qing Mountain Country and Overlord Instrument Country.


    Five years ago, a Golden Core cultivator from the Saint Ape Sect roamed the world and arrived at Puppet Immortal City.


    During his stay, a mishap in his cultivation practice led to demonic possession, causing his soul to merge with his spirit pet, the Furious Heart Monkey.


    This caused considerable damage to Puppet Immortal City at the time, and it took several Golden Core cultivators working together to kill him.


    Four years ago, the graveyard at the foot of Puppet Immortal City''s mountain saw a surge of ghost fires, sparking a fad for collecting them.


    Three years ago, seven hundred li away from Puppet Immortal City, a dry mountain appeared with a valley of death containing a pool of Yellow Springs, attracting many cultivators to fight over it.


    Two years ago, a Jiuyou ck Death Cat was born near Puppet Immortal City. The city''s lord personally battled it for three days and nights before finally driving it away.


    The aftermath of the battle deeply affected the forests and mountains for hundreds of miles around. Many of the mountains were shrouded in a deathly aura, and ghosts roamed freely at night.


    Puppet Immortal City was also affected.


    The city lord ordered arge number of cultivators to continuously leave the city to clear the area around the Immortal City and restore the natural vitality of thend.


    It was only through disaster relief funds allocated by the Southern Dou Court and the distribution of arge amount of materials that the natural vitality of the surrounding areas was gradually revived.


    One year ago, Sun Lie, a master of the Pill Dao, came to Puppet Immortal City to visit friends and wasmissioned by the Zhou family to refine the Phoenix Soul Blood Fragrance Pills using the souls and refined blood of phoenix-type birds.


    On the day the pills werepleted, the sound of a phoenix echoed around the beams for three days without end, considered a miraculous sight in the city.


    Eighteen pills were made; twelve were handed over to the Zhou family, and the remaining four caused a fiercepetition among the cultivators, resulting in one death and three injuries. The perpetrator, Han Ming, is still atrge¡­


    "Phoenix Soul Blood Fragrance Pills." A sharp light shed in Ning Zhuo''s eyes.


    He knew of this pill¡ªbright red like blood, with a heart-prating fragrance, and possessing strong soul-nourishing and revival properties.


    Ning Zhuo took out a token and threw it into the air.


    The token disintegrated mid-air, rapidly transforming into a set of armor¡ªthe Cang Tie Han Armor.


    After the operation to storm the Immortal Pce, the armor had suffered considerable damage, especially at the back. An even greater loss was inside it. The Foundation Establishment Pill, a crucialponent of the armor''s mechanism, was now down to just ten percent of its capacity.


    "No choice, I must act now!"


    Ning Zhuo stepped into the Cang Tie Han Armor, bent over, and picked up a walking stick.


    After a series of light and shadow changes, the armor''s facete transformed into the visage of an old man¡ªweathered, with dark purple under-eye bags and deep wrinkles. He draped himself in a tattered leather cloak, and his Chui Tou Guest whip unfurled, disguised as hair, hanging from his head down to his feet.


    Chui Tou Guest once again made his appearance.


    Ning Zhuo stood in the corner, activating the teleportation array.


    The next moment, he entered the depths underground.


    He exited the teleportation room, passing by a huge cauldron used for cremating corpses, his hunched figure gradually disappearing into the dark underground passage.


    In the ck market of Puppet Immortal City, a courtyard scene unfolded.


    A cultivator knelt on the ground, his body trembling. With a bruised and swollen face, he looked up in fearful submission, sping his hands in plea: "Elder Brother Sun, I will definitely repay the money I owe. I can surely pay it back! You must believe me, I¡­"


    In an instant, a sh of de light, and the kneeling cultivator''s arm was cleanly severed.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    Stunned for a moment, the cultivator then began to howl in agony, his voice filled with despair.


    Clutching at the stump of his arm, he copsed to the ground, writhing in excruciating pain.


    The big wound spewed blood outward, and soon, a pool of blood had formed.


    Elder Brother Sun began tough gleefully, taking pleasure in the gruesome scene before him.


    He had short, jet-ck hair, plump cheeks tinged with a rosy blush, giving him an endearingly cute appearance.


    His eyes wererge and clear, distinctly ck and white. His skin was tender and smooth, resembling that of a three or four-year-old child.


    This was all because, as a baby, he had identally consumed a Pill of Preserving Youth and subsequently cultivated a special technique.


    Sun Lingtong, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, scoffed dismissively, "You think you can deceive me? I''ve managed the ck market for so long, relying on these very eyes. I have the sharpest eye for people; you can''t fool my spiritual gaze."


    As he spoke, he flicked a dagger between his fingers. The de was exceptionally sharp, flipping and fluttering through Sun Lingtong''s nimble wrists and fingers like a butterfly dancing in the moonlight.


    Just then, a cultivator approached respectfully, whispering into Sun Lingtong''s ear. Sun Lingtong''s smile faded immediately, and a cold gleam shed in his eyes.


    "Clean up, we have a distinguished guest arriving," Sun Lingtongmanded, waving his hand. Two burly cultivators with faces full of scars hurried over. One of them twisted the neck of another cultivator with a broken arm, lifting the corpse and walking away. The other used a spell to clean the courtyard.


    Momentster, Chui Tou Guest was led into the courtyard.


    Sun Lingtong opened his arms and walked towards him with a broad smile, "Little brother, what brings you here on this wind?"


    Chui Tou Guest''s voice was hoarse, his expression indifferent, "Sun, I indeed need your help this time."


    "I''m nning to make a move against Sun Lie."


    Sun Lingtong''s pupils contracted sharply.

 Chapter 35: The Demon Cultivators Plot

    Chapter 35: The Demon Cultivator''s Plot


    < Chapter 35: The Demon Cultivator''s Plot >


    Han Ming entered the secret chamber, her mind alert.


    Inside the chamber, there were only two people.


    "Wee, wee." Sun Lingtong pped his hands, his tone enthusiastic.


    The main seat was in the center, with a row of seats on each side, each row having three seats.


    To Sun Lingtong''s left, on the middle seat, sat an elderly man. His face was weathered, his expression gloomy. When he saw Han Ming arrive, he cast a scrutinizing gaze towards her.


    Han Ming''s eyes flickered as she looked at the elder, finding his face somewhat familiar.


    After thinking for a moment, she recalled, "He''s the mechanist from the ck market who sold the ¡®Ruyi Rope''."


    "Please, sit, sit," Sun Lingtong invited.


    Han Ming then sat in the right row but chose the furthest seat, which was also the closest to the chamber''s exit.


    "Sun Lingtong, you invited me with a generous reward. What do you want me to do? Just say it." As soon as Han Ming sat down, she asked directly.


    Han Ming was a Foundation Establishment stage demon cultivator. Her face was delicate but had ayer of bluish-gray hue. Moreover, she exuded a constant chill, giving her an eerie and cold beauty.


    Sun Lingtong pped his hands in praise, "Straightforward! Alright, I''ll be direct."


    "I want to deal with Sun Lie, and after considering all options, Han Ming, you are the most suitable coborator."


    Han Ming let out an "oh" and raised her eyebrows slightly. "You want the Phoenix Soul Fragrant Pills too?"


    A year ago, Sun Lie had refined eighteen Phoenix Soul Fragrant Pills. After delivering them to the Zhou Family, the remaining pills were distributed on the spot.


    Sun Lie was a generous and bold person, not particr about minor details. At that time, he was also drunk, and suggested that interested cultivators shouldpete on the spot, with the winner taking all.


    Han Ming happened to be present.


    She was an outer disciple of the Soul-Devouring Sect, practicing the Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art. The Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pill was highly beneficial for her and extremely valuable.


    She immediately joined thepetition, but due to numerous strong opponents and fiercepetition, she was forced to use her demonic arts, killing one Foundation Establishment stage cultivator and seriously injuring three others.


    Thus, her identity as a demon cultivator was exposed.


    Naturally, Sun Lie wouldn''t give the Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pill to a demon cultivator in public.


    Han Ming had to flee.


    Ning Zhuo spoke, his voice hoarse and slow: "Who wouldn''t want the Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pill?"


    Sun Lingtong nodded: "In fact, we want even more."


    "Sun Lie is a great alchemist who has been living in the Puppet Immortal City for over a year, with a constant stream of people seeking pills."


    "His sess rate in alchemy is extremely high. For eachmissionpleted, there are usually a few leftover pills."


    "I''ve discovered that on the shelves in his pill storage room, there are over a hundred bottles of pills!"


    Han Ming nodded slightly, already interested.


    Her exposure as a demon cultivator happened a year ago. She hadn''t left Puppet Immortal City since, unwilling to give up and still plotting to obtain the Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pill.


    Over the past year, she had gathered a lot of information and probed Sun Lie several times, but always came back empty-handed.


    Han Ming said: "Sun Lie is at the peak of Foundation Establishment and has considerablebat strength."


    "Additionally, he is a great alchemist, hosted by the City Lord''s Mansion, and has been staying at the Ziyang Courtyard."


    "Ziyang Courtyard is a property of the City Lord''s Mansion, and the protective formation in the courtyard is interconnected with the grand formation of the Immortal City."


    "Therefore, the Ziyang Furnace in the courtyard can, through the formation, harness the endless ground fire from Mount Huoshi to refine pills."


    "Not to mention the guards in Ziyang Courtyard, even the protective formation alone is not something we can break through quickly."


    "Once we get bogged down, we will have to face the city guardsing from all directions."


    Sun Lingtongughed heartily, "Han Ming, don''t forget which sect I belong to. Look at this!"


    With that, Sun Lingtong took out a talisman.


    Han Ming nced over and immediately showed a hint of joy, "A Breaking Formation Talisman? Excellent!"


    "I''ll agree to this matter."


    "But let me make it clear, I want at least three Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pills!"


    Sun Lingtong smiled silently.


    Ning Zhuo snorted coldly, "You''re dreaming! You''d be lucky to get one."


    "If it weren''t for the fact that the agreed-upon manpower hadn''t arrived, how could you, an outsider, be added at thest moment?"


    Han Ming''s face turned cold, her killing intent overflowing. She stared at Ning Zhuo, narrowing her eyes, "Thest Foundation Establishment stage cultivator who treated me with such an attitude died a year ago. Additionally, there were three others who were severely injured."


    Ning Zhuo chuckled coldly, "Do you think I''m like those useless fools?"


    As he spoke, his hair solidified, forming long ck whips like serpents raising their heads. From under his cloak, several mechanical birds poked out their heads, their eyes emitting electric light, scanning Han Ming up and down.


    Han Ming felt a chill in her heart.


    In Huoshi Immortal City, there was a grand formation covering the area. For cultivators like her, who primarily relied on spells forbat, it was quite disadvantageous. Considering the formation''s suppression, body cultivators, corpse cultivators, beast tamers, and mechanical cultivators had a much easier time.


    Han Ming couldn''t discern Ning Zhuo''s true nature, but she knew that he made a living by selling the Ruyi Rope, earning a lot of money. For someone to have that much money and still be alive, they naturally weren''t simple.


    Sun Lingtong pped his hands, breaking the tense atmosphere, "Alright, alright."


    "We are here to cooperate, not to fight to the death."


    "Han Ming, youe from a major demonic sect and are very strong. But let me tell you, the young puppet master is certainly not weaker than you."


    Han Ming snorted and withdrew her killing intent.


    Ning Zhuo also retracted his ck whips, his cloak settling, covering the restless Thunder Silent Birds.


    Seizing the opportunity, Sun Lingtong said, "This time, there are only the three of us attacking Ziyang Courtyard. For the Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pills we seize, each of us will get at least one."


    "The actual situation is uncertain, and no matter how many there are, we will divide them ording to our specific contributions."


    "What do you two think?"


    The secret room fell into silence.


    Ning Zhuo remained silent.


    Han Ming was in deep thought.


    She didn''t trust Ning Zhuo but trusted Sun Lingtong. Sun Lingtong came from the No-Void Sect, and both the No-Void Sect and the Soul-Devouring Sect were major sects in the world, with equal standing.


    Sun Lingtong had been in charge of Huoshi Immortal City''s ck market for many years, and his credibility was very high.


    "He is the local big shot here. Since he wants to attack Ziyang Courtyard, he must be confident."


    "If I miss this opportunity, how long will I have to wait if I rely on my own strength?"


    Thinking of this, Han Ming nodded slightly, her tone icy, "I agree."


    Sun Lingtong looked at Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo then nodded, "Very well, let''s sign the contract."


    Ziyang Courtyard.


    Pill Refining Room.


    Sun Lie and Meng Chong stood before the Ziyang Furnace.


    The pill refining furnace was over two people tall, upying nearly half of the Pill Refining Room''s space.


    The furnace, made of red copper, radiated intense heat.


    Meng Chong scrutinized the Ziyang Furnace, still not recovered from what he had just heard, "Old Sun, are you going to put me in the furnace and roast me like an herb?"


    Sun Lie picked up a gourd, took a sip of strong liquor, and his cheeks turned slightly red, "Hahaha, that''s exactly it!"


    Meng Chong frowned and said puzzled, "Refining pills with humans, isn''t this a demonic cultivator''s pill refining method?"


    Sun Lie rolled his eyes, "What demonic cultivator''s method?"


    "In the myriad arts of cultivation, practicality is king. Whichever method is better, we use that one. Righteous path or demonic path, they are all paths of cultivation; what''s the fundamental difference?"

 Chapter 36: Joint Attack on Ziyang

    Chapter 36: Joint Attack on Ziyang


    < Chapter 36: Joint Attack on Ziyang >


    Sun Lie looked at Meng Chong and said, somewhat annoyed, "Your grandfather has given the order for me to assist you in quickly dispersing your cultivation."


    "With this method of mine, you can lose your cultivation in just one night. What, are you afraid?"


    Meng Chong immediately raised his eyebrows, puffed out his chest, and said, "What''s there to be afraid of?!"


    Sun Lieughed heartily, "Good, I didn''t misjudge you."


    Turning the conversation, he continued, "Actually, practicing with a pill furnace has been a known method."


    "You must have heard of the divine ability, Fiery Eyes Golden Pupils."


    "To cultivate this divine ability, one must first have either fiery eyes or golden pupils'' potential, and then enter an old pill furnace."


    "After the furnace is opened, the cultivator must endure severe trials for forty-nine days, never closing their eyes, at most blinking. They must fully endure the smoke and fire, and bear the pain."


    "You should be mentally prepared when entering the pill furnace this time."


    Meng Chong nodded gravely.


    Sun Lie opened his storage bag and took out arge bowl and a small ss bottle.


    In the bowl was a thick amber-like substance, orange-yellow and translucent. The small bottle contained red and yellow mixed powder granules.


    Sun Lie instructed, "Come on, take off all your clothes."


    "First, apply what''s in the bowl, and then sprinkle the powdered herbs from the bottle all over your body."


    Meng Chong acknowledged and stripped himself naked. He took therge bowl and the small bottle.


    He first applied the contents of the bowl and then evenly sprinkled the powder from the bottle.


    He gradually felt something wasn''t quite right. Sniffing, he said, "Old Sun, why does this smell like honey and cumin?"


    Sun Lie tilted his head back, took arge swig from the gourd, thenughed, "Haha, you only just noticed? Your grandfather said your cultivation in various arts is extremely poor, and he wasn''t wrong!"


    Meng Chong''s face darkened. "I may not be good at alchemy, but I''ve eaten plenty. I''ve eaten even more spiritual food."


    Sun Lie nodded. "Since ancient times, food and medicine have been closely rted."


    "The best medicine is food."


    "The so-called spiritual food and spiritual chefs¡ªwhat''s the difference between them and spiritual pills and alchemists?"


    Saying this, he winked at Meng Chong. "You don''t think I''m trying to harm you, nning to roast you until you''re fragrant and crispy, do you?"


    Although he hadn''t met Meng Chong many times, he had a keen grasp of his character.


    Meng Chong was younger than Ning Zhuo, only fourteen years old, but he looked eighteen or neen. He was youthful,petitive, and proud of his family name.


    "Don''t underestimate me." Meng Chong red at Sun Lie and directly climbed into the Ziyang Furnace.


    Sun Lie burped, following closely behind, and closed the furnace door.


    The sound of the furnace door closing made Meng Chong''s heart skip a beat.


    The furnace sealed shut, but there was a dim light inside.


    Standing in front of the furnace door, Meng Chong surveyed his surroundings and quickly noticed that the bottom of the furnace was already covered with various medicinal herbs.


    Seeing this, Meng Chong''s heart settled a bit, as this showed that Sun Lie had prepared in advance.


    Applying honey and cumin seemed unreliable at first nce, but remembering Sun Lie¡¯s status as a master alchemist, there was undoubtedly a purpose to this setup.


    Immediately, Meng Chong walked to the center of the pill furnace and sat cross-legged.


    Outside the Ziyang Furnace, Sun Lie tilted his head back and drank deeply, then exhaled.


    Boom.


    A burst of ming alcohol ignited the Ziyang Furnace.


    Within a few breaths, the air temperature rapidly soared. The fiery red glow reflected off Sun Lie''s face, making it flush bright red.


    "It''s starting," Meng Chong thought, sensing the sudden temperature increase.


    The previously dim interior of the pill furnace instantly brightened, filled with crimson light.


    Meng Chong''s body temperature quickly rose, the honey on his skin began to melt, and the cumin seeds released an intense fragrance. Simultaneously, arge amount of mana steamed out of his pores like mist.


    At this moment, outside Ziyang Courtyard, Sun Lingtong''s eyes sparkled with a strange light.


    His spiritual eyes prated through multiple walls, seeing a blurred scene.


    "Good. Sun Lie is concocting pills. This is an excellent opportunity to strike." He was thrilled.


    Once alchemy began, the alchemist often had to stay by the furnace.


    This meant that Sun Lie, a peak Foundation Establishment stagebatant, was temporarily out ofmission!


    "Formation-Breaking Talisman, go!"


    Sun Lingtong acted decisively, directly employing his strongest technique.


    Sensing the attack, the formation of Ziyang Courtyard activated instantly, forming a hemispherical light shield.


    The Formation-Breaking Talisman looked small and delicate, seemingly insignificant, but when itnded on the light shield, it immediately shattered, and the tiny specks of light it released directly dissolved the hemispherical light shield.


    The formation of Ziyang Courtyard had failed!


    "Go." Ning Zhuo had been waiting for a long time, his cloak fluttered.


    Arge number of Mechanical Thunder Silent Birds flew out.


    They traced arcs of lightning in the air, covering the front yard.


    ng, ng, ng!


    Ear-piercing rm bells sounded within Ziyang Courtyard.


    Ning Zhuo''s heartbeat quickened slightly. He untied two storage bags from his waist, grabbed the bottom of the bags, opened their mouths wide, and shook out everything inside.


    Each mechanical creation erged from small torge, returning to their true size as they hit the ground.


    Twenty brass mechanical men and forty copper mechanical beasts lined up in formation and charged toward Ziyang Courtyard.


    Ziyang Courtyard naturally had its own guards.


    Four Foundation Establishment stage cultivators and eighteen Qi Refiningte-stage cultivators were rmed.


    The Foundation Establishment cultivators cast spells, clearing out the Mechanical Thunder Silent Birds.


    The eighteente-stage Qi Refining cultivators formed a battle formation, unleashing power surpassing the mid-stage Foundation Establishment, holding their ground.


    The mechanical creations surged like waves, while the battle formation stood firm like a coastal rock, unmoved by the crashing waves.


    "Brother, that Sun Lie is in the pill refining room!" Sun Lingtong''s voice stealthily passed over.


    Ning Zhuo''s heart stirred, and he immediately dispatched a portion of the mechanical creatures to rush towards the pill refining room.


    Attack the enemy''s vital spot!


    "Damn it!" The four Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivators cursed but didn''t move.


    A mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator suddenly appeared from the shadows, holding a magical mirror. He released a beam of light from the mirror, covering all the mechanical creations that were rushing forward.


    With another shake of the mirror, the reflection of the young puppet master appeared on its surface.


    "He''s there!" The mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator holding the mirror shouted, pointing out Ning Zhuo''s exact position for hispanions.


    Immediately, a figure shot toward him like lightning.


    "Another hidden mid-stage Foundation Establishment!" Ning Zhuo''s pupils narrowed, while the Thunder Silent Birds circled around him. The Chui Tou Hanging Whip raised like a ck python, standing ready.


    Soon, intensebat erupted in the dark alley where he was hiding.


    "Hmph! I hope this person is as skilled as Sun Lingtong said."


    Han Ming nced in Ning Zhuo''s direction and then took action.


    She was surrounded by Yin Wind, moving swiftly and silently, like a ghostly shadow.


    The ghostly shadow flew first toward the pill refining room, but seeing another Foundation Establishment cultivator emerging at the door, she decisively turned toward the medicine storage room.


    However, midway, sword light shed, a flying sword shot out, intercepting the ghostly shadow Han Ming.


    A peak Foundation Establishment cultivator slowly revealed himself.


    "Tonight, I''m only here for the pills, not to harm anyone," Han Ming narrowed her eyes and said.


    She was answered by sharp sword light.

 Chapter 37: Surprise Attack

    Chapter 37: Surprise Attack


    < Chapter 37: Surprise Attack >


    When Han Ming was forced into battle, Sun Lingtong took a step that pierced through space, already arriving inside the storeroom for medicines.


    ¡°Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pills!¡±


    ¡°Foundation Establishment Pills!¡±


    ¡°Soul Returning Pills!¡±


    ¡°Returning to Origin Pills!¡±


    ¡°Hehehe¡­¡±


    Sun Lingtong jiggled his chubby hands. On his lotus-root-like forearm, he wore a bracelet.


    The bracelet glowed.


    This storage magical instrument was powerful, and its light erased the pills on the spot.


    Outside, swords crisscrossed and ghostly figures soared.


    Han Ming¡¯s face was as still as water, unable to shake off her enemy.


    This deadlock in battle was something she desperately wanted to avoid.


    Suddenly, she snorted coldly and used her demonic skill, the Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art!


    The figure of the sword cultivator inevitably staggered slightly.


    But at the same time, a flying sword shot towards Han Ming¡¯s heart.


    Han Ming did not dodge; she exerted her full strength andunched a flying shuttle from her sleeve.


    The shuttle was only about a foot long, grey like stone, and covered in spikes, with a strange design. It seemed slow but was actually fast, hitting the sword cultivator¡¯s body.


    At the same time, Han Ming was also pierced through the heart by the flying sword.


    It seemed like mutual destruction, but Han Ming revealed a sinister smile of sess.


    Her innate ability was called Yin Corpse Qi, suitable for both soul cultivation and corpse cultivation. She joined the Soul-Devouring Sect, primarily practicing the Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art, while secretly cultivating the Corpse Cultivation Technique¡ªthe Immortal Zombie Life Creation Method.


    She had sessfully turned her internal organs into those of a zombie, no longer having conventional vital weaknesses.


    Even if her zombified heart was pierced, it did not matter.


    In contrast, her opponent was different.


    Han Ming''s shuttle was extraordinary, a magical instrument perfectly adapted to the Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art¡ªthe Soul-Capturing Shuttle!


    When it struck the body of the sword cultivator, it generated a strong suction force, forcefully extracting part of the sword cultivator''s soul.


    The sword cultivator''s face turned pale as his body violently trembled, suffering a heavy blow in an instant.


    "Even if you are at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, you are just a lone cultivator. How can you oppose the great sects of the demonic path?" Han Ming revealed a cruel smile. "Die!"


    But the next moment, the sword cultivator suddenly threw out a talisman¡ªthe Void Escaping Talisman.


    In the next instant, the talisman erupted with spatial fluctuations, instantly teleporting the sword cultivator away, disappearing from the spot.


    Han Ming snorted coldly, her desire for revenge unsatisfied as she failed to kill her enemy.


    She was about to continue her charge towards the storeroom when she received a message transmission.


    It turned out that Sun Lingtong had already swept the storeroom clean and had easily escaped.


    Sun Lingtong transmitted to her, "I''ve got the goods, let''s go!"


    However, Han Ming could not suppress the boiling killing intent in her heart. "Heh, to give up such a good opportunity, wouldn''t that be a pity?"


    She set her sights on the alchemy room and charged over.


    She harbored considerable resentment towards Sun Lie.


    Previously, in her quest to obtain the Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pill, she had fought fiercely, only to end up with nothing. She was subsequently wanted by Puppet Immortal City and had been hiding and moving about for over a year. During this period, her attempts and attacks made no progress.


    Boom!


    Han Ming smashed through the door and charged towards Sun Lie.


    Sun Lie, having heard the noise outside, was helpless as the alchemy process had already started, and he could not leave.


    "It''s you!" Sun Lie saw Han Ming and had no choice but to summon all his remaining strength, standing his ground unmoving, striving to resist.


    He could only exert less than forty percent of hisbat strength, naturally no match for Han Ming, and was quickly knocked down.


    Thud.


    Sun Lie was sent flying, crashing into the wall, bleeding from all orifices, falling to the ground unable to rise.


    "Die for me!" Han Ming sneered sharply, utterly thrilled.


    Her fingers were razor-sharp, each fingertip wrapped in a sinister bluish-gray Yin Qi, viciously aiming for Sun Lie''s crown.


    Boom!


    The next moment, the Ziyang Pill Furnace burst open, and a bolt of lightning shot out.


    This waspletely unexpected by Han Ming.


    She had not anticipated that the pill furnace was not refining ordinary pills but a genius young man!


    Meng Chong in the pill furnace heard the noise and realized that the Ziyang Courtyard was under attack. He had recently been attacked by assassins, and this time he had secretly left the City Lord''s Mansion toe to the Ziyang Courtyard, quite on guard.


    He immediately shouted, trying to connect with Sun Lie, intending to leave the furnace to join the fight.


    However, Sun Lie stopped him: "Once pill refining begins, it cannot be stopped. Meng Chong, you are already in the process of leaking mana. If you leave the furnace now without sufficient medicinal nourishment and external pressure, your three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit will all leak wildly. By then, not only will your cultivation be dissipated, but your physical foundation will be exhausted, and you will be a cripple, living a fate worse than death!"


    Meng Chong then realized the severity of the situation, hesitating for a moment.


    By the time he heard clearer sounds, heard Sun Lie coughing blood, and Han Ming''s sharpughter as she dered Sun Lie''s impending death, he could no longer bear it.


    His blood boiled, and the divine energy of a thunderous rush was unconsciously triggered.


    Crackling!


    In an instant, numerous bolts of lightning swirled around him. Meng Chong, with eyes wide in fury, made a resolute decision, and smashed through the furnace door, bursting out like a tiger freed from its chains.


    Fast, too fast!


    Han Ming turned her head only to see what seemed like a thunderous tiger roaring towards her.


    Meng Chong was merely at the Qi Refining stage, having dissipated much of his power, and was only at the thirdyer of Qi Refining. In contrast, Han Ming was at the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment stage!


    Sensing Meng Chong''s aura, and with her enemy Sun Lie right before her eyes, Han Ming''s heart hardened. She continued her assault on Sun Lie, intending to rely on her own defenses to withstand Meng Chong¡¯s attack.


    Boom!


    The next moment, dazzling lightning struck Han Ming¡¯s back fiercely.


    The power of her Yin Soul, which she had been amplifying, was destroyed as easily as dry weeds. The supremely strong and yang force of the lightning invaded her body, rampaging and wreaking havoc.


    In just a breath''s time, all of Han Ming''s zombified internal organs were damaged!


    Han Ming spat out a mouthful of bluish-gray cold blood, and her attack on Sun Lie crumbled.


    Her extensivebat experience made her instantly realize the danger she was in. No longer caring about iming her enemy''s life, she conjured an escape talisman and vanished in an instant.


    "Where do you think you''re escaping to?!" Meng Chong roared.


    The thunderous power within Han Ming gave him a strong sense of her location.


    The escape talisman Han Ming had used was not of high quality, allowing her only to teleport randomly within a radius of no more than six miles¡ªa distance well within Meng Chong¡¯s sensing range.


    Just as Meng Chong was about to pursue, he heard Sun Lie stopping him: "No need to chase!"


    Meng Chong paused, then quickly realized that tending to Sun Lie was the priority.


    He hurriedly ran up to Sun Lie, yet found himself at a loss for what to do.


    Combat was his forte, but saving someone was an entirely different matter.


    Han Ming, having been seriously injured, forced himself to regte his breathing and teleported away from the battlefield using void travel.


    Sun Lingtong was the first to withdraw.


    Ning Zhuo covered the rear, directly abandoning part of his mechanical creations to leave the scene easily.


    As for the Foundation Establishment cultivator who hade looking for him, he had already be a corpse hanging from the Dead Whip.


    The three of them met halfway as agreed.


    Han Ming nced at the corpse on the Dead Whip and at Chui Tou Guest, who showed no signs of battle on his person, and felt a chill in his heart.


    At this moment, she was enveloped in a shroud of Yin energy, her aura formidable, nowhere near the weakness she had shown after her severe injuries.


    Han Ming said coldly, "Let''s part ways here. Give me the Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pills, and I want one-third of the other pills."


    Ning Zhuo immediately frowned, "One-third? My contribution was much greater than yours."


    Han Ming retorted with a sneer, "But it was I who severely injured Sun Lie and held off Meng Chong!"


    "Especially Meng Chong, merely at the Qi Refining thirdyer, yet possessing suchbat strength. Truly a genius with exceptional celestial talents! Could your mechanical creations have stopped him?"


    Ning Zhuo snorted and remained silent.


    "Stop arguing, our operation was a huge sess, let''s all be happy," Sun Lingtong chuckled and tossed a pill bottle to Han Ming, "Everything inside is Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pills."


    Han Ming immediately opened the bottle to check, and a puff of ck smoke sprayed out, hitting her right in the face.


    In an instant, Han Ming''s aura vanished, her soul was sealed, and she nearly copsed on the spot.


    Incredulous and furious, she eximed, "Sun Lingtong, you betrayed me!"


    Pfft, pfft, pfft.


    The next moment, three strands of the Chui Tou Death Whip silently attacked, piercing through Han Ming''s body, then coiled around her like a python, binding her tightly.


    Ning Zhuo''s voice eerily echoed, "Dividing between two is always better than dividing among three."

 Chapter 38: Successful Setup

    Chapter 38: Sessful Setup


    < Chapter 38: Sessful Setup >


    At the Lord''s Mansion.


    "What did you say? Ziyang Courtyard has been attacked by a demon cultivator?" Fei Si, who was handling official affairs, stood up in shock.


    "How is Young Master Meng Chong?" he immediately inquired.


    Upon learning that Meng Chong was unharmed, the boulder that had been in his throat finally settled in his heart.


    He promptly ordered the deployment of a team of cultivators to support Ziyang Courtyard.


    "I''ll go first!" Fei Si, no longer caring about the official duties at hand, leaped into the air and, like a rainbow, flew towards Ziyang Courtyard.


    "Meng Chong was ced in Ziyang Courtyard, both before and after, very secretly."


    "But he had only just arrived there when he was attacked by a demon cultivator!"


    "Is it really a demon cultivator?" Fei Si''s mind was clouded with doubt.


    He was the right-hand man of the current Lord of Puppet Immortal City, with a sinister character and adept at using cunning schemes. Many things that the Lord of Puppet Immortal City found inconvenient or Chi Dun too brainless to handle were left to him.


    Previously, Fei Si had discovered that Zhou Zhu of the Zhou Family, relying on his innate talent and despite his injuries, was dissipating his power very quickly, posing a significant threat to Meng Chong.


    He had made arrangements to activate the Zhou Family''s secret agents and sabotaged Zhou Zhu, significantly dying Zhou Zhu''s power dissipation.


    Meanwhile, Zheng Jian of the Zheng Family, using his artifact-refining skills, was also making fast progress, so he decided to sabotage him as well.


    Lastly, to disguise his own actions, he activated a suicide attacker to intentionally assault Meng Chong. Meng Chong killed the attacker in self-defense, thus making a name for himself among the three major families and indirectly showcasing the strength of the Lord''s Mansion.


    Of course, Meng Chong was unaware of this matter. Apart from Fei Si and the city lord, no third person knew.


    As for the Ning family, Fei Si had also taken notice of Ning Xiaohui. However, this person was still strategizing with his family for greater benefits and had not relinquished his powers, posing no threat. Therefore, Fei Si refrained from taking action.


    Within the Ning household, the city lord''s mansion had nted an insider. However, Fei Si considered: activating the insider to take action was worthless. It was better to spare the Ning family, creating the reality where among the powers of the four directions only the Ning family had not been attacked.


    By doing this, what would the Zhou and Zheng families think?


    Fei Si used this to subtlyy a trap, making a covert move against the Ning family.


    It was precisely because he had done so much that, when he heard Meng Chong had been attacked, he immediately felt as if facing a great enemy.


    "Could it be that the other three families have uncovered the truth and are secretly retaliating against us?"


    "Which family could it be?"


    "And how did the leak happen in our side?"


    In Puppet Immortal City, the bnce among the four directional forces was maintained. Everyone professed righteousness, and even if they sought revenge, they would not do so openly, nor would they break decorum; instead, they would make covert moves.


    Arranging for or disguising as demon cultivators was the mostmon method.


    Fei Sinded in Ziyang Courtyard, causing a gust of air that stirred up dust and debris.


    He looked around, and everywhere were signs of fierce battles. Among the ruins, numerous cultivators'' bodiesy strewn, along with a great many shattered mechanical parts.


    The Foundation Establishment peak swordsman who had been repelled by Han Ming earlier and had fled using an escape talisman had returned.


    Upon seeing Fei Si, the swordsman''s face turned pale, and he hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects.


    "Desertion in the face of the enemy will be dealt withter!" Fei Si had already received an urgent report from the cultivators on his way here, giving him a clear picture of what had transpired during the attack.


    Although the swordsman bowed his head in apparent obedience, he harbored no regrets in his heart.


    His colleague, also a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, had taken the initiative to confront a mechanical demon cultivator and had not returned.


    It was clear that his chances of survival had been slim.


    At least he had preserved his own life!


    As for the punishment, he would endure it. With his life intact, all possibilities remained open.


    Fei Si passed by the swordsman and hurried to the alchemy room.


    In the alchemy room, Meng Chong was squatting down, tending to Sun Lie who was lying on the ground.


    By now, Sun Lie''splexion had improved significantly.


    Although Meng Chong was not skilled in healing others, Sun Lie was a grandmaster alchemist and carried many healing pills with him.


    "Master Meng Chong, are you alright?" Fei Si asked urgently, his voice full of concern and anxiety.


    Even though he knew Meng Chong was unharmed, it was important to show concern at such times.


    Often, pleasantries are not useless¡ªthey can signify a certain attitude, and attitudes often indicate one''s stance.


    Meng Chong nced at Fei Si and shook his head, indicating that he was fine.


    Fei Si felt it was bizarre, but he would never voice his thoughts aloud. "Sun Lie, you''re lucky Meng Chong is unharmed, otherwise you would be to me!"


    "Your death would be trivial, but Lord Meng Chong possesses exceptional immortal talent and is the hope of the Meng family. If you had hindered him, even ten lives would not suffice aspensation."


    Sun Lie, although a grandmaster alchemist, was only at the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment stage, not a Golden Core stage cultivator.


    In fact, even if Sun Lie were at the Golden Core stage, Fei Si would have scolded him just the same. That was his cleverness.


    Leaning against the wall, Sun Lie gave Fei Si a significant roll of his eyes.


    He was not one for trivial formalities and did not have much regard for someone like Fei Si. Even if Fei Si were a Golden Core stage cultivator, what of it? He would still retort without hesitation.


    Everyone was supposed to act ording to the righteous path''s standards.


    Cultivation did not mean everything.


    "I''m dragging Meng Chong down?" Sun Lie countered. "It was your city lord who personally requested my involvement. Do you think I wanted to meddle in this mess with Lava Immortal Pce?"


    As a grandmaster alchemist, even if his cultivation was a bitcking, his valuable skills earned him respect wherever he went, ensuring he never fared poorly.


    Fei Si nced at the ruined ingredients in the cauldron and scoffed, "Now look what''s happened. Your attempt to help Lord Meng Chong has failed. You''ve exposed us, and staying here now poses an even greater risk."


    Sun Lie snorted. "Fei Si, which ear of yours heard me say that I failed?"


    "I have already seeded!"


    "Huh?" Fei Si was taken aback.


    Meng Chong was momentarily stunned. "Master Sun, my energy hasn''t dispersed yet."


    Sun Lie burst into heartyughter, not bothering to exin right away, clearly feeling triumphant.


    Fei Si sneered, pointing at the wasted ingredients in the cauldron: "Facts speak louder than words, Sun Lie. What''s the use of being stubborn now?"


    Sun Lie''sughter grew louder, filled with derision. However, his amusement soon pulled at his injuries, and hisughter abruptly stopped, reced by a grimace of pain.


    "Cough, cough, cough¡­ugh!" Sun Lie coughed violently, then his throat convulsed, and he spat out arge mouthful of blood.


    The blood reeked strongly of alcohol.


    "What a pity, what a pity," Sun Liemented as he stared at the blood and pped his thigh.


    Meng Chong quickly offered him a medicinal pill: "Master Sun, no more talking, please take some medicine."


    Sun Lie pushed his hand away: "Pills aren''t something you should have more of; I''ve just taken some, and the medicinal strength is already spreading throughout my body, slowly being digested. Too much would not be good."


    Fei Si narrowed his eyes, sensing something odd: "What are you pitying?"


    Sun Lie looked at the blood on the ground and exined: "That was Thousand me Fierce Soul Wine. It''s brewed with millennium Spirit me Flowers, pure Soul Essence, and me Spring Water. The aroma is rich, and the liquor is potent; I nearly finished it!"


    Meng Chong sighed: "Master Sun, don''t feel bad. It''s just Thousand me Fierce Soul Wine. I''ll ask Grandfather to get you another jar."


    Only then did Sun Lie smile broadly, looking at Meng Chong: "Goodd, your efforts haven''t wasted my careful nning of this setup for you."

 Chapter 39: Innate Talent and Qualities

    Chapter 39: Innate Talent and Qualities


    < Chapter 39: Innate Talent and Qualities >


    Meng Chong was astonished. "Huh?"


    Fei Si narrowed his eyes into slits. "You¡¯re implying something. What do you mean? Did you summon those three demon cultivators here?"


    "Rubbish!" Sun Lie cursed directly. "You¡¯re thinking too much, you know?"


    He shifted his gaze to Meng Chong. "Don¡¯t you find it strange?"


    Meng Chong paused, then suddenly pped his forehead. "Oh, right! Master Sun, you once said that I shouldn¡¯t leave the Ziyang Furnace at will. Otherwise, with the reduction in external pressure andck of herbal supplements, my essence, qi, and spirit would drain wildly, and I would end up a wreck."


    "But now I¡¯ve clearly run out and stopped the alchemy, yet there¡¯s no wild draining."


    Sun Lie thenughed. "Of course, I was deceiving you."


    Meng Chong eximed, "Huh?"


    Sun Lie continued, "The art of Human Pills is a demonic cultivation method. How could I, a righteous cultivator, practice such a thing?"


    Meng Chong eximed again, "Huh?"


    Sun Lie revealed, "The true dispersal of power must start from you. You possess extraordinary talents rare in the cultivation world. That¡¯s the best key."


    Meng Chong asked, "Are you referring to my ¡®Wild Sprint Thunderp''?"


    Sun Lie nodded. "Exactly."


    "The ¡®Wild Sprint Thunderp'' is a superior immortal talent, one in a million among cultivators, extraordinary!"


    "However, I¡¯ve found that you haven¡¯t truly mastered this talent. It¡¯s such a pity, like a precious medicine hidden within, possessing exceptional medicinal properties but not being utilized, truly a waste of heaven¡¯s gifts!"


    "As long as you truly unleash this talent, you''ll be able to dissipate your power quickly. Half a day might not be enough, but a day will definitely suffice."


    "So, I set this trap to force you into a desperate situation."


    "In this desperate situation, if you can devote yourself wholeheartedly, without any distractions, abandoning everything and fearlessly charging forward, you will be able to awaken your exceptional talent!"


    Meng Chong: "Ah?"


    The young genius blinked several times, then suddenly thought of something and said directly, "So, Master Sun, you were just joking when you had me apply honey and cumin? Was that really just a joke?"


    Sun Lie pped his thigh andughed loudly, "Of course, I didn''t lie to you!"


    Fei Si frowned: "Young Master Meng Chong is a superior immortal talent, the city lord''s own grandson. How could you treat him as food to roast? And setting a trap? Why are you so sure that this act would awaken his immortal talent?"


    Sun Lie nced at Fei Si and rebuked, "Are you a grandmaster alchemist? What do you know?"


    "All things under heaven can be considered as ingredients."


    "The same is true for people. In people, human nature is the medicinal property. As long as human nature is fully stimted, it is like activating the medicinal properties."


    "In the path of demons, when humans are used for concocting medicine, they are usually tormented greatly, filling their hearts with pain, hatred, anger, and sorrow. This is also to stimte the medicinal properties."


    After exining, Sun Lie asked Meng Chong again, "Have you ever thought about why your immortal talent is specifically the ¡®Wild Sprint Thunderp''?"


    Meng Chong: "Ah?"


    Sun Lie shook his head, "You might think it''s just luck. But it''s not! Immortal talent isn''t just about being favored by heaven and earth, it''s closely rted to the cultivator''s own nature."


    "It''s precisely because you are naturally brave and fearless, despiseplexity and prefer simplicity, and are straightforward, that you have such talent."


    "Immortal talent and innate nature actually correspond andplement each other."


    "Therefore, as long as we fully stimte your innate nature, and supplement it with some alchemical methods, we can awaken your immortal talent."


    "The ingredients in that alchemy furnace were carefully prepared by me, not useless at all."


    Fei Si narrowed his eyes, a glint of understanding shing within as he listened; he realized and guessed Sun Lie''s strategy.


    Sun Lie looked at Meng Chong, "Putting you into the Ziyang Furnace, using the human pill refinement method, and applying honey and cumin were all just a facade."


    "My original n was to pretend to be drunk and asleep during the refinement process, subjecting you to prolonged baking. This was to make you believe you were in a desperate situation."


    "This was to force you, to stimte your innate nature."


    "Once you broke out of the alchemy furnace, disregarding the threats I had made before, and overturning the oppression I had created for you, your innate nature would erupt."


    "When your innate nature erupts, it naturally brings out your immortal talent, which is the ¡®Wild Sprint Thunderp''!"


    Sun Lie sighed deeply after exining.


    "In times of crisis, true courage is shown; in life and death, true colors are revealed."


    "To see what someone''s true nature is like, look at their choices and performance at critical moments like these."


    Meng Chong responded, "So that''s how it is."


    He had an epiphany. Previously, his talent of Wild Sprint Thunderp was intermittent.


    "I just wanted to kill that demon cultivator! At the crucial moment, the Wild Sprint Thunderp erupted, which was a pleasant surprise and felt quite lucky."


    "I didn''t expect that it was all thanks to you, Elder Sun!"


    Sun Lie smiled gently, "I hadn''t anticipated that a demon cultivator wouldunch a sudden attack on the Ziyang Courtyard."


    "At that time, my life was hanging by a thread, and it was you who, disregarding your own safety, broke out of the alchemy furnace to rescue me."


    "I remember this favor,d!" Sun Lie gave Meng Chong a thumbs up.


    Through this event, he grew quite fond of Meng Chong.


    Meng Chong puffed out his chest and proudly dered, "My surname is Meng, and my family is a top n in the Southern Dou Immortal Country. How could I possibly shrink back in battle? How could I just watch as arade was in?"


    "To be honest, I didn''t think too much about it. All your previous instructions, Elder Sun, I had thrown them out of my mind."


    "At that moment, my heart was filled with anger, and I just wanted to st that demon cultivator into dust, so I charged out."


    Sun Lie praised, "This is exactly the stimtion of one''s innate nature."


    "In my view, Meng Chong, with such superior immortal talent, you don''t need topete for any mechanical inheritance. Cultivation has many arts, and the art of mechanisms simply isn''t suited for you."


    "The technique that suits you is one that allows you to charge forth freely and unrestrainedly," said Sun Lie.


    Fei Si coughed and quickly interrupted Sun Lie''s speech.


    Sun Lie was criticizing the city lord''s decisions, and as a subordinate, Fei Si naturally had to defend him.


    Fei Si said, "The senior of the three sects is a great power at the level of refining the void. His traveling pce is not just one. However, the Lava Immortal Pce is part of Puppet Immortal City, which inherits mechanical arts."


    "In fact, ording to the intelligence collected and calctions made by the city lord, the heritage in the Lava Immortal Pce, although primarily based on mechanical techniques, is not just limited to these."


    "The elder of the three sects, by virtue of his own extraordinary encounters, cultivated three paths simultaneously, a rarity in this world. It is said that in hister years, he created a marvelous method of cultivating all three paths simultaneously, and the Lava Immortal Pce was arranged by him during thoseter years."


    "The Qi Regtion Art of the Five Elements, transmitted by the transmission bell, though unfinished, is a Taoist technique, yet it also carries the nuances of Buddhist and Demonic schools. After studying the techniques, the city lord spected that there might be two other techniques thatplement it, corresponding to the other two dantians."


    "What do you think, if one were to cultivate using the marvelous methods of the three sects, undertaking foundation building, how profound would the foundation of such cultivation be? Tell me, how many foundation-building methods in the world involve the simultaneous cultivation of three dantians?"

 Chapter 40: Discard It All!

    Chapter 40: Discard It All!


    < Chapter 40: Discard It All! >


    Sun Lie slightly opened his mouth after listening, and after a long pause, he shook his head, "There are hardly any."


    "So, the real value of the Lava Immortal Pce doesn''t lie in the transmission of puppet techniques, but in the foundational techniques of the three sects and three fields?" Fei Si nodded, "The city lord is far-sighted, who are we to guess his intentions?"


    "Puppet techniques have always been a niche within the myriad arts of cultivation from ancient times to the present, what''s there to pursue?"


    "Such foundational techniques of the three sects are the real treasures!"


    Sun Lie nodded and sighed, "I see."


    Meng Chong clenched his fists, his fighting spirit ignited, "I must acquire the techniques of the three sects and cultivate the upper, middle, and lower dantians!"


    "I can''t wait any longer. Elder Sun, tell me quickly, how can Wild Sprint Thunderp help in dispersing my cultivation?"


    Sun Lieughed lightly, "It''s quite simple."


    "After this battle, you should be able to control Wild Sprint Thunderp actively."


    "When you disperse your cultivation, activating Wild Sprint Thunderp simultaneously can speed up the process."


    "The applications of this innate talent, Wild Sprint Thunderp, are extensive, not just in dispersing cultivation, but also in elerating the umtion of mana during cultivation."


    "In fierce battles, it can enhance your prowess with lightning speed, oveing enemies of the Yin attribute."


    "Ordinary cultivators need to develop divine abilities starting from their life-bound spells step by step. Possessing the celestial talent of Wild Sprint Thunderp is like having a seed of divine power. Grow it step by step, and it can transform into a divine ability!"


    "There are other applications, which you wille to understand and explore gradually."


    "However, you must be cautious, as this innate ability consumes the three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit. It must not be used recklessly."


    Meng Chong acknowledged this with an "Oh," and thanked him with a fist salute.


    Sun Lie then turned to Fei Si, "Han Ming has been probing me repeatedly, fixated on the Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pills."


    "I had previously been lenient because she was a disciple of the Soul-Devouring Sect and didn¡¯t pursue it further."


    "But this time, she intended to take my life. We are now mortal enemies!"


    "I''ve added an undetectable medicinal scent to those six Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pills. Once I prepare a specific elixir and you consume it, you will be able to detect that scent."


    "Follow the scent, and you will be able to track down the Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pills! Even if they have been consumed by cultivators, as long as the scent is undetected and unbroken, it can be discerned for several months."


    Sun Lie, though straightforward and unconcerned with trivialities, has been in the cultivation world for many years and is no simpleton.


    Indeed, how could someone capable of setting up a situation to stimte Meng Chong''s potential be without cunning?


    Fei Si nodded, his attitude transformed, and he bowed, "Truly a master of the Pill Path. I was mistaken earlier, please forgive my oversight."


    His gesture of respect, unusual for a Golden Core cultivator towards one at the Foundation Establishment stage, made Sun Lie regard him even more highly.


    Sun Lie, an old hand in the cultivation world, nodded slightly, no longer mocking Fei Si but instead praised meaningfully, "The lord of Huoshi City has a fine subordinate indeed."


    After the division of spoils, Sun Lingtong bid farewell to young puppet master Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo''s voice was hoarse, his expression indifferent: "Elder Sun, I owe you a favor for your help this time. I¡¯ll keep it in mind."


    Sun Lingtong chuckled, "Hey, little brother, why don¡¯t you reconsider my earlier proposal?"


    "Joining the No-Void Sect?" Ning Zhuo shook his head, "I''m not interested."


    In Ning Zhuo¡¯s view, being from the Ning family and on the path of righteousness, why would he join the demonic paths when he could be aiming for the Lava Immortal Pce and living a good life?


    Although strictly speaking, the No-Void Sect wasn¡¯t considered a demonic sect, it was definitely of an unorthodox practice.


    Sun Lingtong also shook his head, "But you are really suited to join our sect."


    This remark slightly stirred Ning Zhuo¡¯s heart.


    He recalled his spection in the Lava Immortal Pce that he might possess a hidden talent, possibly superior to Early Wisdom.


    Ning Zhuo tentatively said, "I heard that No-Void Sect likes to recruit cultivators with special hand-rted talents. Like the Stealing Fragrance Slipping Jade Hand, Spatial Miscement Hand, Flowing Light Weaving Shadow Hand, Skillful Hand, Piercing Cloud Hand, and others."


    "Is it possible that I have such a talent, which is why you, Elder Sun, have always valued me?"


    Sun Lingtong shook his head, "I''m not the sect¡¯s recruiting elder, how could I tell?"


    "I think your disposition is naturally suited for the paths of demonic practice."


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s tone became serious: "Let''s not make such jokes in the future."


    Sun Lingtong widened his eyes and eximed, "Don¡¯t doubt it! My eyes are very sharp when ites to judging people."


    "Enough," Ning Zhuo interrupted.


    Sun Lingtong chuckled, "Alright then. What about these pills we''ve seized?"


    "My real goal was to capture Han Ming alive. These pills feel like hot potatoes; let''s just dispose of them," Ning Zhuo stated.


    "I don¡¯t believe Sun Lie wasn¡¯t tampered with by Han Ming multiple times without him making some moves on these pills."


    Sun Lingtong raised his thumb, "Little brother, you¡¯re as cautious as ever. But isn¡¯t it a pity to dispose of all of them?"


    "With the methods of the No-Void Sect, give me some time to check them, and I can detect even the most hidden tricks."


    "After all, Sun Lie is just at the peak of Foundation Establishment."


    Ning Zhuo shook his head, "I strongly advise against doing that."


    "This time, we unexpectedly ran into Meng Chong. He is a descendant of a Nascent Soul; our actions might be interpreted as an attempt to target him through stealth."


    "Fear not, Fei Si is probably investigating us by now."


    "We¡¯re short on time, there¡¯s no room for slow checks. We must be cautious and dispose of these pills immediately!" Ning Zhuo emphasized again.


    Sun Lingtong patted his chest and nodded, "You''re right; I still want to stay in the Huoshi Immortal City."


    "But how should we dispose of them?"


    Ning Zhuo snorted coldly, "Isn¡¯t it simple? Just throw them into the Huoshi Forest."


    Sun Lingtong was initially taken aback, then his eyes sparkled, and he pped his hands in praise,


    "Brilliant, truly brilliant!"


    After parting ways with Sun Lingtong, Ning Zhuo, with his spoils of war, returned to the underground base.


    In the dimly lit underground cell, a basin of cold water was sshed onto Han Ming''s face. Han Ming bowed her head, her eyes tightly closed, unmoving.


    young puppet master Ning Zhuo let out a hoarse coldugh, "Stop pretending, Han Ming. You regained consciousness half a teacup¡¯s time ago."


    Grinding her teeth, Han Ming suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with undisguised murderous intent and hatred, "You dare to betray me!"


    "I am a disciple of the Soul-Devouring Sect, think about the consequences if you kill me!"


    Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly: He had intended to keep a low profile, working in the shadows to conquer the Lava Immortal Pce, never nning to offend a major demonic sect. But he had no choice.


    His current situation left him no option but to forge ahead relentlessly. To step back, no, to even slow down a bit, meant a deep abyss and utter doom.


    "A cornered rabbit will still bite; what more a human," he thought to himself, keeping his feelings of resignation unspoken.


    Ning Zhuo looked at Han Ming, quietly staring at her.


    Han Ming felt uneasy under Ning Zhuo''s intense gaze. Misunderstanding his intention, her expression softened, and she adopted a helpless, vulnerable demeanor as if to survive she had topromise,


    "Alright, I admit defeat this time. Let me go, and I¡¯ll do anything you ask."

 Chapter 41: Please Help Me Cultivate

    Chapter 41: Please Help Me Cultivate


    < Chapter 41: Please Help Me Cultivate >


    Han Ming''s features were already quite striking, but now, as he suddenly lowered his stance from cold and domineering to humble and submissive, it was disconcertingly charming. Beneath the mask of the Cang Tie Han Armor, Ning Zhuo remained as unfazed as an ancient well.


    He took out Han Ming''s magical instrument, the Soul Capturing Shuttle: "I''ve heard that the techniques of your Soul-Devouring Sect allow one to increase the foundation of one''s soul directly by devouring spirits."


    "If your sect¡¯s techniques were reversed, one could refine one''s own elite soul essence through the magical instrument and then transfer it to another person. Although this process results in substantial loss, it bears no negative side effects."


    "With this ability, your sect has allowed elders nearing the end of their lifespans to transfer soul power and instantly provide younger cultivators with a strong foundation. This is also one of the main reasons why the Soul-Devouring Sect has be a major sect within the demonic path."


    "Han Ming, I would like you to assist me in my cultivation."


    The Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pill was a type of medicinal pill. Ning Zhuo''s soul could not bring it into the pce.


    Even if he consumed it before entering the pce, its effects wouldn¡¯tst long.


    Ning Zhuo preferred to achieve a direct increase in his soul foundation. After he learned about the Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pill and encountered Han Ming, he decided to capture Han Ming alive.


    Hearing this, Han Ming''s eyes widened, and a chill spread through his body: "I see now, I am your real prey!"


    "All this talk of attacking the Ziyang Courtyard was just a decoy!"


    "This is all a trap, a venomous snare!"


    Han Ming screamed, struggling fiercely, the heavy chains on his body nking loudly.


    The chain was firmly attached to the wall of the cell, nging against the wall with a metallic sound. young puppet master Ning Zhuo watched her quietly, waiting until Han Ming calmed down before saying, "You''re too agitated, which is not good for your injuries."


    Hearing this, Han Ming, who had just calmed down, red up again, swearing continuously.


    Ning Zhuo listened quietly, waiting again until Han Ming exhausted herself from cursing, then stopped.


    "Would you like some water?"


    Ning Zhuo''s fingers moved slightly, extending a thread of condensed mana from his fingertip. Below the thread, a puppet little person carrying a water cup climbed up from Han Ming''s instep, up her shin, thigh, abdomen, and then stood on her chest, holding up the water cup to her mouth.


    Han Ming''s breath grew heavy again.


    But her recent struggle and cursing had drained much of her energy. She stared fixedly at Ning Zhuo and finally lowered her eyes to nce at the water cup.


    The next moment, she lowered her head to drink. She was indeed thirsty.


    Most importantly, she was now a prisoner. If the young puppet master wanted to harm her, there were countless ways he could do so; there was no need to bother with poisoning her water.


    After drinking, Han Ming calmed down a bit.


    "There''s one thing I can''t figure out!" Han Ming looked up, her eyebrows furrowed, eyes fixed on the young puppet master''s face. "Sun Lingtong is a distinguished disciple of the No-Void Sect, so why would he coborate with you? What exactly is your rtionship?"


    Ning Zhuo smiled faintly. "I''ve been buying information from him for over a decade."


    "I watched him strive bit by bit, and ultimately, he took control of the ck market within Puppet Immortal City, securing his foothold in this immortal city."


    "Our interests are deeply intertwined."


    Han Ming scoffed, "Is that all?"


    "Is that all it took for him to conspire with you to trap me, risking the wrath of the Soul-Devouring Sect?"


    "Should anything unexpected happen, allowing me to escape, his foundation in Puppet Immortal City, and you, would both be doomed!"


    "We are not like those on the righteous path who y by the rules."


    Ning Zhuo smiled faintly again: "Have you escaped then? Have you managed to send any message out?"


    Han Ming was silent.


    Ning Zhuo continued, "The attack on Ziyang Courtyard wasn¡¯t just a diversion. At least, we did manage to obtain a lot of elixirs."


    Mention of this stirred Han Ming again.


    "You two wretches, despicable beings! My sect will surely avenge me, ying and deboning you both, crushing your souls, plunging you into endless torment!"


    Ning Zhuo gestured for calm. "Settle down, settle down, okay?"


    "Getting angry is bad for your health."


    "Didn''t you just agree? You said you¡¯d do anything. So, help me with my cultivation."


    Han Ming threw her head back, bursting into shrillughter, even crying from it.


    "Ptui." Suddenly stopping herughter, she spat, saying with intense hatred, "In your dreams!"


    The spit flew into the air, only to be blocked by Ning Zhuo¡¯s mana, falling powerlessly to the ground.


    Han Ming''s voice was chilling to the bone, "I have painstakingly cultivated, umting for so many years to establish today''s foundation and essence. You want me to diminish my soul''s essence to aid your cultivation? Hah, you think so beautifully with such an ugly face!"


    "Hard-earned umtion?" Ning Zhuo asked in disbelief, "The Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art of your Soul-Devouring Sect allows you to devour others'' souls to enhance your own essence. Clearly, it''s ruthless plundering, how can it be considered hard-earned?"


    This was the fundamental difference between the righteous and demonic paths.


    The cultivation resources for a righteous cultivator were things like lightning, rain, and dew, or the flora and fauna.


    For demonic cultivators, their resources were the very beings of other cultivators, such as blood, souls, and bodies.


    Han Ming retorted, "You know nothing, only seeing the surface! Do you think the Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art is so easy to cultivate? That it can fully transform another''s soul into one''s own essence?"


    "Hmph! If it were that easy, then my Soul-Devouring Sect wouldn''t just be one of the great sects of the demonic path, we would have unified the demonic world long ago!"


    "Five percent, at most five percent!"


    "The souls devoured, the closer they are to the original body, the smaller the difference, the higher the yield."


    "It also can''t be used frequently."


    "It''s like eating, eat too much, and you''ll burst."


    "We also need a substantial amount of time and numerous auxiliary resources to help our souls digest," Han Ming continued. "If the digestion isn''t thorough, the soul bes deformed, leading to severe consequences."


    "Of course, in my Soul-Devouring Sect, there are those who are impatient for quick results. They ignore the deformity of the soul and devour others'' souls recklessly, which boosts their strength significantly in a short period. But by doing so, they certainly doom their future."


    Han Ming was not shortsighted. She possessed an innate ability, the Yin Corpse Qi, which already put her ahead of most cultivators.


    She always emphasized proper digestion to keep her soul pure.


    She cared deeply about her future.


    That''s why she was extremely reluctant and did not want to cooperate at all. How could she possibly hand over the essence she had painstakingly umted over decades to someone else?


    Absolutely impossible.


    Especially to an enemy!


    "You wish to make me cooperate? Kill me instead; that would be cleaner!" Han Ming was also very cunning.


    She could tell that Ning Zhuo needed something from her and felt secure. By saying this, she aimed to gain some leverage.


    Ning Zhuo sighed deeply, "I spoke kindly, hoping you would cooperate willingly."


    "If you cooperate well, I can promise you that, after a while, I will set you free."

 Chapter 42: Who is the Devil that Carries the Staff?

    Chapter 42: Who is the Devil that Carries the Staff?


    < Chapter 42: Who is the Devil that Carries the Staff? >


    "Hehehe. You''re trying to deceive a ghost!" Han Ming mocked.


    Ning Zhuo''s voice grew cold: "Since you don¡¯t want to cooperate nicely, I''ll have to force it."


    With that, Ning Zhuo pulled out a tool from his bosom.


    It was a set of mechanical needles, varying in length and thickness.


    "What are you going to do to me?!" Seeing the young puppet master approach step by step, Han Ming panicked.


    Ning Zhuo said as gently as he could: "Bear with it, some of the needles are quite thick and might hurt a bit."


    A dozen mechanical puppets, each carrying a few needles, climbed all over Han Ming¡¯s body.


    "You old thief, just kill me¡­ Ah!"


    Han Ming¡¯s body shook with electric tremors, and he threw his head back in a scream. His agonizing cries echoed in the cell, chilling to the bone.


    Momentster, several needles were distributed all over her body, at every joint, vital points, and even around her head, embedding more than a dozen mechanical needles.


    Some of the thinner needles were still fine, but blood was gradually trickling out from the punctures of some of the thicker needles.


    Ning Zhuo took a deep breath and used a secret technique to manipte the mechanical needles.


    The needles,rge and small, moved up and down on Han Ming¡¯s body in response to his control, some stirring inside her flesh while others rotated outside.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    Han Ming''s screams once again filled the air, almost piercing the ears of anyone who heard.


    The intense pain caused her to involuntarily twist her body, her slender fingers clutching tightly onto the cold, thick chains. Her fingertips soon bled from the force of her grip.


    However, this agony was nothingpared to the pain brought by a needle prick.


    Ning Zhuo was fully focused, beginning to activate the magical treasure within his divine sea dantian, the Buddha Heart Demon Seal!


    The seal, massive like a mountain, settled within the divine sea, with one end''s demonic figure starting to emit a red demonic light.


    This demonic light quickly manifested on various mechanical needles, permeating throughout Han Ming''s entire body.


    In the next moment, a pink heart seal shot out from Ning Zhuo, directly piercing into the depths of Han Ming''s heart.


    Han Ming''s screams gradually subsided, as a strong sense of terror fiercely gripped her.


    She felt her body moving beyond her control, unexpectedly beginning to operate the Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art!


    "Don''t, please don''t!" Han Ming''s pupils shrunk to the size of pinpoints, yet she was unable to stop.


    Soon, the technique progressed to a certain extent, starting to draw out the essence of Han Ming''s soul.


    Ning Zhuo timely released his hold, flipping open the Soul Capturing Shuttle.


    The Soul Capturing Shuttle didn''t crash to the ground, but was controlled by Han Ming, slowly floating in front of her.


    Then, the very tip of the Soul Capturing Shuttle gently pierced into her chest.


    The Soul Capturing Shuttle activated.


    Han Ming never would have expected that she would face such a day!


    Her weapon of massacre, the Soul Capturing Shuttle, which had ughtered thousands and caused harm to countless, was now turned against its master.


    And the one wielding the Soul Capturing Shuttle was none other than herself!


    The Soul Capturing Shuttle trembled slightly.


    The elite essence of Han Ming''s life-long umted soul was thoroughly purified and gradually infused into the Soul Capturing Shuttle.


    As the essence of the soul approached the carrying limit of the Soul Capturing Shuttle, the shuttle itself began to emit a faint cold light.


    Momentster, the Soul Capturing Shuttle, now fully loaded, was recaptured by Ning Zhuo.


    Han Ming''s face was deathly pale, and her whole body seemed as if the bones had been drawn out, copsing limply. Only the iron chains locked around her wrists and shoulder des, with hooks piercing through, kept her upright.


    "What have you done to me?"


    "What kind of method is this?"


    Han Ming looked up, her eyes filled with terror as she stared at Ning Zhuo.


    "Are you a disciple of the Shadow Sect? Was that the Enthralling Soul Technique?!"


    "Or are you from the Bewitching Sect? Did you use a gu on me?"


    "No, none of those¡­"


    Her entire body was trembling, and her heart was shaking as well; all her previous confidence and self-assurance had vanishedpletely.


    Beneath the Cang Tie Han Armor, Ning Zhuo had already bled from his nose.


    The Buddha Heart Demon Seal, turning oneself into a Buddha, turns others into demons.


    Using the Buddha Heart Demon Seal alone could influence targets of the same level, but usually only momentarily. If facing a target of a higher cultivation level, the influence was even more limited; it required guiding along the target''s thought process rather than directly altering it.


    However, as was the case now, using additional mechanical needles as aids could amplify the effect.


    Just now, Ning Zhuo had used the heart seal to issue amand to Han Ming¡ªto operate the Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art and transfer her essence to him.


    With the help of the mechanical needles, Han Ming did just that.


    Even though she was utterly unwilling!


    "Ning Zhuo''s mother, a puppet master in her own right, left behind a detailed manual on puppeteering. It includes various control staff heads like the cross staff, the ¡®Gan'' character staff, and the ¡®Wang'' character staff, but unfortunately, my cultivation level isn''t high enough to use the more powerful ones."


    "For now, I can only use this single-line staff head."


    Most of Ning Zhuo''s skills in puppeteering came from his mother¡¯s detailed puppeteering manual. Like puppet strings, the staff head is one of the main methods to control mechanical creations.


    Just now, Ning Zhuo treated Han Ming as a puppet, controlling her as such.


    Of course, even using the most powerful ¡®Wang'' character staff head, achieving such control wouldn¡¯t be possible unless Ning Zhuo¡¯s cultivation was far superior to Han Ming¡¯s, or his puppeteering skills increased hundreds of times.


    The real game changer here was the Buddha Heart Demon Seal!


    Thebination usage was something Ning Zhuo had gradually figured out himself.


    The advantage of this method was obvious, but the downside was that the target of the technique would not live long, bing merely a consumable.


    Ning Zhuo didn''t rush to absorb the soul essence; instead, he carefully examined Han Ming''s injuries.


    "Your dual cultivation techniques are quite good, your body has sessfully undergone partial zombification. This will allow you tost longer, very good, very good." Ning Zhuo couldn''t help but praise.


    Upon hearing this, Han Ming could no longer hold on and passed out in anger.


    Meanwhile.


    Meng Chong hurried back to the city lord''s mansion.


    He went straight to the training room, not wanting to waste a moment, and began to dissipate his cultivation.


    Exceptional talent¡ªWild Sprint Thunderp!


    Lightning flickered around him, and his spiritual essence rapidly declined.


    The lightning greatly enhanced his ability to dissipate his powers, with stunning effects!


    Meng Chong¡¯s eyes sparkled with electric light, and he eximed joyfully, "At this rate, by tomorrow, I will havepletely dissipated my magical powers and can start cultivating anew!"


    "I''ve learned, I understand now!" Meng Chong exulted, realizing that his greatest asset was the ¡®Wild Sprint Thunderp.''


    "From now on, I will be brave and fearless, going all out, charging forward without any hesitation!"


    Immersed in the joy of his breakthrough, Meng Chong found that the more single-mindedly he charged forward, the stronger the effect of the Wild Sprint Thunderp became, and the better he could control it.


    "Indeed, as long as I continue to express my nature, my talents will be more apparent and enhanced!" he eximed with augh, praising the elderly Sun Lie.


    In the underground dungeon, Ning Zhuo ignored Han Ming, who had already passed out. He moved to the adjacent room, opened his battle armor, and held the Soul Capturing Shuttle in his hand, gently touching its other sharp end to his skin.


    The next moment, a cool, gentle stream of pure soul energy flowed from the Soul Capturing Shuttle, infusing his soul. Ning Zhuo stepped back, his pupils dted with an immenselyfortable sensation overwhelming his entire being, akin to diving into ake during the hot days of summer.


    His soul''s foundation soared rapidly, quickly doubling the growth umted over sixteen years. Yet, only half of the Soul Essence in the Soul Capturing Shuttle had been used.


    After a few breaths, the Soul Capturing Shuttle was empty, and the faint cold light it emittedpletely vanished. "Comfortable, sofortable," Ning Zhuo felt revitalized as never before.


    Then, he noticed something unusual. His left arm was slightly warm. "What''s this?" he wondered, both rmed and excited. "Is my innate talent being triggered? Is it starting to manifest?"


    Ning Zhuo became eager. If he could identify the trigger, he could continually activate and nurture his talent until it fully manifested.


    "What could be the reason? Is it because I absorbed the pure Soul Essence? Or is it because I dealt with a demon cultivator, punishing evil and upholding the righteous path of humanity?"

 Chapter 43: Be Modest in Life

    Chapter 43: Be Modest in Life


    < Chapter 43: Be Modest in Life >


    Ning Zhuo''s left arm felt warm for a little while before the sensation gradually disappeared.


    "What exactly this talent is, still remains to be explored in the future."


    For now, Ning Zhuo set aside these thoughts to check his condition, confirming that his soul foundation had indeed tripled! The gain was substantial.


    "There is still much value to be had from Han Ming; this was just the first time."


    The young man harbored even brighter hopes for the future. He went back to check the cell again and fed the unconscious Han Ming some medicinal pills. Afterwards, he re-entered the teleportation room and used it to return to his underground workshop at home.


    He began his daily review. This risky endeavor was undoubtedly a sess.


    With Han Ming captured, his soul foundation had tripled, and the prospect of renaming himself in the rankings saw a glimmer of sess. Moreover, Ning Zhuo had also gained some extremely valuable information¡ªthat Meng Chong was still in the phase of dispersing his power! This exined why Ning Zhuo was the only name on the ranking list.


    Of course, Ning Zhuo had also paid a significant price. Soliciting Sun Lingtong''s help wasn''t free; it had cost him nearly half of his family''s wealth. Only ten percent of the Foundation Establishment Pills remained in the Cang Tie Han Armor; after this operation, seventy percent were consumed, leaving only thirty percent.


    Furthermore, the identity of the young puppet master was nowpromised, and he was sure to be wanted throughout the city. "All of this was worth it," he assured himself. In fact, even if it meant ruining the entire Cang Tie Han Armor and depleting all his family wealth, Ning Zhuo would not have hesitated.


    Ning Zhuo was clear-headed about his current situation¡ªkeeping his life was more important than anything else. "The matter with the Foundation Establishment Pills has be even more urgent," he reflected.


    "Should I go through Sun Lingtong to buy them? He has connections in the ck market, which would be much more convenient for me." Ning Zhuo hesitated. "It would be ideal if the rewards for passing through the immortal pce included Foundation Establishment Pills." "However, it seems that all the current rewards are rted to mechanical techniques."


    Ning Zhuo was unable to make a decision at this time. It wasn''t a matter of whether he trusted Sun Lingtong or not, but rather that Foundation Establishment Pills were extremely important and significant, tightly controlled by various powers. The majority of cultivatorscked exceptional talents or superior techniques, and their progression to the Foundation Establishment stage relied heavily on these pills.


    The major forces that controlled the Foundation Establishment Pills could thus support their own cultivators in advancing, maintaining, and expanding their power''s size. Thepetition over Foundation Establishment Pills even extended to the medicinal herb market, where the primary and key ingredients for these pills were heavily regted. Controlling the trade of these ingredients allowed forces to curb the production of Foundation Establishment Pills by others, thereby exerting indirect pressure.


    Moreover, one''s own Foundation Establishment Pills could be used to attract external talents to join. Typically, these pills were consumed internally and seldom found circting outside. Those that did appear on the market were well-ounted for and traced back clearly. Foundation Establishment Pills often featured as finale items in auctions, capable of igniting bidding frenzies.


    Those that made it to the ck market were exceedingly rare.


    Even if there were such a thing, it wasrgely bait set by certain forces for fishing.


    Ning Zhuo had gathered intelligence on this matter for over a decade, having seen it several times!


    "If my identity is exposed, relying on the Foundation Establishment stagebat power of the Cang Tie Han Armor, I simply cannot contend against those at the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages."


    "Not to mention, there''s also the grand formation of the immortal city."


    "Exploring the Lava Immortal Pce, the Cang Tie Han Armor cannot be used."


    "The identity of the young puppet master has already been exposed; the Cang Tie Han Armor also can¡¯t be used for the time being."


    Ning Zhuo pondered once again and decided to put this matter on hold.


    "I am now the top ranked!"


    It was at this moment that Ning Zhuo felt a hint of surprise and pleasure about this fact.


    He had always approached exploring the Lava Immortal Pce with a mindset of pursuit.


    He exerted all his strength, not wanting to be left far behind by people like Meng Chong, and unexpectedly, he found himself in first ce!


    "Calm down."


    "There''s nothing to be proud of."


    "Meng Chong took longer to recover his powers because he was previously too strong."


    "He also suffered a sneak attack, which dyed his time."


    "Not just him, but also Zhou Zhu, Zheng Jian, and others."


    Ning Zhuo analyzed it once over and felt that his lead was partly due to having an informational advantage, and partly because the Buddha Heart Demon Seal directly converted mana. Lastly, it was because he kept a low profile, hiding his true strength, and no one paid him much attention.


    "These were all given to me by mother."


    "What do I have?"


    "I only possess a little inferior talent. No matter how hard I try, I can only be temporarily ahead," Ning Zhuomented to himself.


    "Without any sacred seals or intelligence, could I have achieved even this much?" He shook his head in the darkness.


    "Meng Chong and the others will soon catch up to me, and surpass me," he said with a serious look.


    Ning Zhuo gave himself a pep talk, striving to adjust his mindset to the optimal state.


    "One must always be humble," he reminded himself.


    "Look at Han Ming, who prides himself as a disciple of a great demon sect. His arrogance was tant, and what has be of him now?"


    "This is a bloody lesson that must be absorbed and remembered!"


    Ning Zhuo continually warned himself, quickly erasing any trace of the slight joy and pride he had felt before.


    "Now, I just have to wait for the Lava Immortal Pce to pull me over again."


    His soul state was in excellent condition, surpassing his previous peaks by threefold.


    He eagerly anticipated his third entrance into the pce.


    But as he waited, nothing happened.


    "How strange, what''s going on?" Ning Zhuo wondered.


    "During my second time, they pulled my soul in before it had fully recovered. Why is it so slow now?"


    Meanwhile, in the Lava Immortal Pce, in the main hall.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirity atop the throne, its dragon head slightly raised, its gaze piercing through space, watching Ning Zhuo.


    Seeing Ning Zhuo''s expectant expression, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit couldn''t help but snort, expelling two small mes from its nostrils.


    Then, it closed its eyes and turned its head away, refusing to watch Ning Zhuo any longer.


    Fei Si personally escorted Meng Chong back to the lord''s mansion.


    Seeing Meng Chong heavily guarded again, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Soon after, his subordinate reported back with a jade slip.


    Fei Si''s spiritual sense prated the jade slip and saw the investigation results concerning the attack on Ziyang Courtyard.


    The mechanisms left by the demon cultivators were mass-produced and offered no valuable clues.


    Based on testimonies and traces at the scene, it was deduced that three demon cultivators had carried out the attack. Two had been exposed, while the third had remained deeply concealed, stealing all the pills from the storage room before vanishing without ever showing their face.


    Fei Si paid close attention to the two demon cultivators who had been exposed.


    In the jade slip, the portraits of the two were vividly detailed.


    One was the cold female cultivator Han Ming, and the other was an old man leaning on a cane.


    "Han Ming¡­" Fei Si sighed.


    Han Ming had previously been causing trouble for Sun Lie, harassing him multiple times. Sun Lie had reported this to the authorities, but under Fei Si''s subtle indication, although the subordinates took action, it was all for show and merely perfunctory.


    The reason was that Han Ming hailed from the powerful demonic sect, the Soul-Devouring Sect!

 Chapter 44: The Demon Cultivators Arrogance

    Chapter 44: The Demon Cultivator''s Arrogance


    < Chapter 44: The Demon Cultivator''s Arrogance >


    Fei Si was still uncertain about Han Ming''s exact standing within the Soul-Devouring Sect. If he captured Han Ming and provoked an old monster from the sect, the trouble would be immense. Moreover, a critical concern was the Lava Immortal Pce. Currently, the city lord''s mansion and other forces were all fully engaged in exploring this immortal pce and wanted no additionalplications.


    Thus, Fei Si''s earlier thought was: "After all, the one being harassed isn''t us but Sun Lie."


    "Once Sun Lie can no longer bear the harassment and leaves Huoshi City on his own, wouldn''t that solve the problem?"


    The city lord''s mansion''s negligence further fueled Han Ming''s audacious attitude until she was finally taken down by Ning Zhuo.


    In a way, Sun Lie''s tolerance and the city lord''s mansion''s indifference were instrumental in Ning Zhuo''s eventual capture of Han Ming.


    "This time it''s different."


    "Han Ming has even shed with Meng Chong; this time, we must use all our strength to capture her!"


    "Hmm¡­"


    "Let''s capture the young puppet master first."


    "Perhaps, Han Ming might take the chance to escape the city."


    Mobilizing all forces to capture Han Ming was a stance Fei Si had to make clear, yet he was not at all keen on taking risks. In fact, if he truly captured Han Ming, he would be even more worried.


    Compared to Han Ming, the young puppet master was a much easier target.


    "This young puppet master has always been close to Sun Lingtong."


    "Sun Lingtong is a disciple of the No-Void Sect, and this notorious sect is best known for their sneaky tricks."


    "Could the third demon cultivator possibly be Sun Lingtong?"


    Fei Si immediately considered this possibility but had no inclination to verify it.


    Sun Lingtong and Han Ming both had the backing of a major sect. Sun Lingtong had lived in Puppet Immortal City for over a decade, firmly rooted there like a local serpent.


    Taking action against him would be even more troublesome than dealing with Han Ming.


    Fei Si then ordered his subordinates to search the ck market for young puppet master and capture him.


    But where could they possibly find young puppet master?


    Not even a shadow!


    After searching for most of the day, his subordinates came back empty-handed.


    Fei Si berated his subordinates thoroughly, putting on quite a show.


    After a brief dy, he picked up a bottle of pills and poured out one.


    After swallowing it, his sense of smell underwent a subtle change.


    With a light sniff, he detected a faint medicinal fragrance in the air.


    "Han Ming, I hope you are wise enough to have already left Puppet Immortal City by now."


    Fei Si personally took action, transforming into a long rainbow that soared above Puppet Immortal City.


    Following the scent, he sped through the clouds and over the city walls to the base of the mountain.


    The closer Fei Si got, the more something seemed off, until he smelled an intense aroma and saw a huge bundle on the grasnd of the Fire Crystal Grass area.


    Inside the bundle were the stolen pills.


    Hovering in mid-air, Fei Si cursed silently, "Damn it!"


    His face was extremely somber: "They didn¡¯t even use a storage bag, just wrapped it up in cloth and tossed it in the Fire Crystal Grass area."


    "So arrogant, truly too arrogant!"


    Fei Si felt he was being severely provoked.


    Yet, he dared not enter the woods to retrieve the bundle of pills.


    For previously, the Shadow Demon Cultivator had been hiding in the Fire Crystal Grass area!


    ¡°This is likely a bait to lure me into the woods,¡± he thought.


    ¡°Indeed, the Shadow demon cultivator does have aplices.¡±


    ¡°If it were Chi Dun, he might rush in without thinking. But I am not him; I am no reckless man.¡±


    Holding this thought, Fei Si decisively turned around and flew away, arriving at the summit of the volcano to meet the lord of Huoshi City.


    He quickly reported everything.


    The lord of Huoshi City, seated in mid-air, nodded slightly and pondered, ¡°It may not necessarily be the aplice of the Shadow demon cultivator.¡±


    ¡°It could also be others framing and diverting disaster.¡±


    If so, the situation was even worse.


    It essentially meant: the major powers within the city had noticed something and were beginning to target the lord''s mansion in secret.


    Fei Si had previously proposed a n to secretly eliminate the talents of the Zhou and Zheng families, which the lord had agreed to.


    The n was sessful, but it also made the lord feel a sense of urgency.


    He then arranged for Sun Lie to help his grandson Meng Chong master the Wild Sprint Thunderp. Sun Lie had reported his methods to him in advance, and the lord had approved.


    Unexpectedly, during this process, they were attacked by demon cultivators.


    ¡°It may not be real demon cultivators,¡± the lord inevitably thought.


    After a moment of contemtion, he said to Fei Si, ¡°You¡¯ve done well, the pills are not of concern.¡±


    ¡°Capturing demon cultivators is not the priority either.¡±


    ¡°Take your time to apprehend them; there¡¯s no need to rush.¡±


    ¡°For Meng Chong, empty the mansion''s treasury to provide him with ample heavenly and earthly treasures. After all, the use of Wild Sprint Thunderp greatly depletes the three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit.¡±


    This was why the lord had always allowed Meng Chong to develop ording to the situation.


    He was well aware of his grandson''s personality. Once he fully mastered the divine ability Wild Sprint Thunderp, he would undoubtedly use it incessantly. While Wild Sprint Thunderp was exceptionally effective, it was easy to overuse it, which could weaken Meng Chong to the point of damaging his foundation and future prospects.


    It was only recently, when the city lord felt the pressure from two other forces chasing the treasures of the Lava Immortal Pce, that he changed his mind. Through the help of Sun Lie, he aided Meng Chong in sessfully mastering this excellent talent.


    As for the attack on Meng Chong himself, it did not cause the city lord any anxiety. To protect his grandson, he had long ago imprinted talismans on Meng Chong¡¯s body. Should Meng Chong fall into a life-threatening crisis, these talismans would be activated, unleashing tremendous power. Even if they couldn¡¯t kill the enemy, they would provide enough time for the city lord to arrive and support.


    In fact, he had more than one such measure at his disposal, including escape talismans like the Void Evading Talisman.


    It was the middle of the night.


    Ning Zhuoy in bed, eyes wide open.


    "Why hasn¡¯t my soul been extracted yet?" he wondered aloud. "I need to enter the Immortal Pce!"


    The young man kicked his legs on the bed, growing increasingly restless. He had a feeling that waiting like this would dy important matters.


    "Can I voluntarily enter the Immortal Pce with my soul?" Ning Zhuo pondered, recalling the mark that had been ced on him in the preparation room.


    He tried to activate the Buddha Heart Demon Seal. After some exploration, the "Trial Disciple" mark reemerged on his chest. The next moment, a thread of Divine Ability¡ªLife Hanging by a Thread was drawn out, piercing through space and striking his soul directly.


    Ning Zhuo''s vision darkened as his soul was extracted, entering the pce for the third time!


    In the main hall of the Immortal Pce.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, deeply asleep, suddenly jolted awake, sensing Ning Zhuo''s sessful entry. It exhaled a st of fiery breath and soared into the air, flying around the main hall and repeatedly crashing into the pirs with its head and body.


    It roared angrily.


    The Lava Immortal Pce was once again in turmoil.


    Thousands of radiant treasures scattered light in all directions, thick smoke billowed, and magma churned.


    "Huh? It''s shaking again!" the lord of Huoshi City eximed, his eyes wide as he quickly acted, wielding the grand formation of the Immortal City to suppress the pce with all his might.


    "What on earth is happening?!"


    The face of the Huoshi City lord, illuminated by the glow of magma and firelight, turned a deep red, his expression darkening as his suspicions grew.

 Chapter 45: Everyone is the Main Character

    Chapter 45: Everyone is the Main Character


    < Chapter 45: Everyone is the Main Character >


    Ning Zhuo could neither hear, see, nor smell; he was once again plunged into a dark world.


    But he was pleased.


    "I''ve finally made it in!"


    "From now on, I can enter the Lava Immortal Pce this way, on my own initiative."


    The previous methods were too passive.


    "Perhaps, I might even activate the ¡®Trial Disciple'' imprint and leave the Immortal Pce on my own?"


    This conjecture lingered in his mind, temporarily needing no confirmation.


    While pondering, Ning Zhuo activated the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, bursting forth his spiritual power.


    The dispersed spiritual power quickly attracted the first mechanical part.


    As before, it was the left arm.


    Then, the head.


    Also, as before, it was a big head.


    Ning Zhuo skillfully assembled himself and then hopped down the small mountain of mechanical parts.


    He limped towards the door.


    This time, to save some time, he did not focus on finding legs of equal length.


    "With the hanging ring, even if I limp, it should be enough to get through room number two."


    "The urgent task at hand is to remain incognito. At the least, I am renowned in three lists, and by the most conservative estimate, I need to make three trips."


    However, when Ning Zhuo touched the door, he did not see the option for a hanging ring as a reward.


    The three options were: a piece of spiritual stone, a return disc silk (mechanical part), and a breath of qi (spell).


    "No hanging ring?!" Ning Zhuo was momentarily stunned.


    At that moment, Ning Zhuo pped his forehead. His wooden palm collided with his oversized head, creating a loud ¡®bang''.


    "Mistake!" he eximed.


    "I should have guessed this earlier."


    "During my second exploration, I discovered that the Ice-Embracing Technique had been reced by the Fire Grasping Technique."


    "This indicates that the reward options are not fixed. They likely rotate depending on what I previously chose."


    "If this is the case for spells, then it''s reasonable to assume that mechanical rewards would vary in the same way."


    "Only the spiritual stone option seems constant, which is why I wasn''t particrly sharp in noticing these changes."


    Everyone makes mistakes, and Ning Zhuo is no exception.


    Of course, his eagerness to conceal his identity was also a contributing factor to his oversight.


    Staring at the three rewards before him, Ning Zhuo thought briefly and then quickly chose the Return Disc Silk.


    Selecting a spell was definitely out of the question; Ning Zhuo wanted to seed in dropping off the list this time.


    Though he could use the Trial Disciple''s imprint to voluntarily enter the pce, he hadn''tpletely figured out this mechanism yet, and there might be other restrictions.


    "Perhaps, I must wait several days before I can enter the pce again?"


    Ning Zhuo did not want toplicate matters at this critical juncture. Right now, his primary goal was to drop off the list!


    He did not want to take unnecessary risks.


    Nor did he choose the spiritual stone.


    His spiritual power was currently ample.


    The Return Disc Silk was transported to him.


    It was a loop of metal thread, quite thick. Upon closer inspection, one could see a mixed luster of gold and silver on the surface of the thread.


    Ning Zhuo was very familiar with this.


    He sat down on the ground, and disassembled both of his legs.


    Then, he pulled out a piece of boomerang disc wire and wound it around his nimble fingers, twisting it into a spiraling upward shape, resembling a whirlwind.


    Afterwards, he installed this spiraling metal wire at the knee joint, creating a new connection between his lower and upper legs.


    Finally, he reattached his legs.


    Following the same method, he also added boomerang disc wire to his elbows.


    Standing up, he tried moving around, and it felt good.


    With nothing much to practice in Room One, Ning Zhuo pushed the door open and entered Room Two.


    He ran on the retreating floor tiles.


    His legs were fitted with boomerang disc wire. Every time his feet hit the ground, the wire wouldpress. Oncepressed to a certain extent, the wire would burst forth with a force, restoring itself to its original length. This provided Ning Zhuo with additional momentum.


    Previously, Ning Zhuo had run straightforwardly through challenges. This time, he bounded and leaped, covering great distances with each jump.


    In his first two attempts, he couldn¡¯t outpace the retreating tiles midway. But this time, his running and jumping efficiency was so high that he passed the midpoint still outpacing the tiles.


    A massive log swung towards him, but Ning Zhuo was prepared; with a light leap, he jumped right onto the log.


    "Previously I needed to jump with both feet, but now the height and speed of jumping off one foot are both stronger than thest two times using both!"


    Ning Zhuo leapt between towering trees and walls, asionallynding on the floor tiles. He failed twice, but on his third attempt, he sessfully crossed the final obstacle andnded in front of the door.


    "The Boomerang disc wire is more suitable for navigating Room No. 2 than hanging rings," Ning Zhuo concluded in his mind.


    At that moment, he thought of the speed rankings.


    "The venerable masters from the three sects set up these challenges not only as tests but also as teachings," he reflected.


    "The so-called speed rankings are actually an encouragement for us trial disciples to continuously hone our skills and train in using mechanical creations."


    "What would happen if Meng Chong were to attempt this challenge?"


    "Could he skillfully use these mechanicalponents?"


    "No, the decisive factor isn''t that; it''s his puppet. A puppet born from superior innate talent would definitely be much stronger than mine!"


    Ning Zhuo had also witnessed Meng Chong''s assault on the Ziyang Courtyard through mechanical creations, where Meng Chong struck Han Ming.


    "Though Meng Chong was surging with medicinal power and the dispersing mana around him, the force of his attack was still due to his exceptional innate talent, Wild Sprint Thunderp."


    Ning Zhuo, himself a humanoid library, was well aware of the significance of superior innate talent, yet the firsthand sight of it still deeply stirred his soul.


    What does superior mean?


    Lower, middle, upper¡ªall belong to one category. Superior, however, transcends the ordinary, exceeding the standard!


    Such a one emerges perhaps only once among a million cultivators.


    Monks with superior innate talent, once they mature, invariably be the pride of great sects and the pirs of their nations.


    "The Meng family is a super n in the Southern Dou Country, with tens of thousands of members. With such a vast number, a person with superior innate talent emerges every so often," Ning Zhuo mused.


    He felt no envy.


    Since he himself possessed the lower innate talent of Early Wisdom and the mysterious talent of the Arm, why couldn''t others have talents? Why couldn''t they have better ones? What right did he have to resent that?


    The year Ning Zhuo''s mother died, he understood a truth¡ªthe world does not revolve around him. He is merely the protagonist of his own life, and everyone is the protagonist of their own.


    All these protagonists y out their roles of love, hate, ambition, and schemes on the grand stage of the world.


    "It is precisely because of this that the world is so fascinating," he thought.


    Meng Chong hadn¡¯t yet arrived, but Ning Zhuo already felt a pressure looming behind him.


    Using a pseudonym was just a safety measure to secure his current head start. But with Meng Chong officially entering the fray, how long could he maintain this advantage?


    Ning Zhuo was uncertain.


    All he could do now was to keep moving forward.

 Chapter 46: Here Again

    Chapter 46: Here Again


    < Chapter 46: Here Again! >


    In Room No. 2, the rewards were two spirit stones, a ss flying dagger mechanical part, and the Fire Grasping Technique spell. Ning Zhuo immediately chose the spirit stones.


    Upon entering Room No. 3, he once again encountered a martial arts puppet. Without hesitation, Ning Zhuo embraced the puppet, enduring its pounding as he fully deployed the Ice-Embracing Technique.


    Momentster, the martial arts puppet turned into a lump of ice for the second time. Itsrge eyes emitted a yellow light, seeming to re at Ning Zhuo as if using him ofcking martial integrity.


    Ning Zhuo mentally apologized, "I know this challenge is meant to train my closebat skills with puppets. Unfortunately, I don''t have time now, but if possible, I wille back to learn more in the future."


    The rewards in Room No. 3 were ten spirit stones, a small flying box mechanical part, and the Wood Connecting Technique spell. Ning Zhuo still chose the spirit stones.


    Finally, he returned to the preparation room, feeling somewhat stirred. He noticed the floor was clean and empty: "The puppet body I explored with the second time has been cleared away."


    He ran to the rotating pentagonal stone pir and ced his hand on it. With determination, Ning Zhuo infused spiritual power and channeled soul power, sensing the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.


    The Buddha Heart Demon Seal did not disappoint Ning Zhuo. Soon, he saw his name slowly sinking. However, after his name hadpletely sunk, it gradually floated back up!


    "How can this be?!" In an instant, Ning Chen stood frozen, dumbfounded.


    At the Lava Immortal Pce, in the main hall.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit joyfully raised its head and opened its mouth, spewing out arge mouthful of mes. Its expression seemed to take delight in disaster, as if saying, "That''s right, serves you right for cheating with the Buddha Heart Demon Seal!" If Ning Zhuo weren''t in a puppet body, he would have been sweating profusely by now.


    "Can''t hide my name?" Ning Zhuo pondered. "That means I must disy my name prominently."


    "Wait, what if I change the approach? Maybe I could use a different name?" Ning Zhuo continued to experiment.


    The first attempt brought sess, and he was surprised to see his name change. From Ning Zhuo, it changed to Ning Ji!


    Roar! The previously joyful Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, now infuriated, raised its head and roared, causing the Immortal Pce to shake violently.


    Atop Mount Huoshi, the lord of Puppet Immortal City immediately opened his eyes, watching the volcano''s mouth cautiously. After confirming that the pce had only shaken briefly, he slowly closed his eyes and returned to meditation.


    Ning Zhuo looked up at the leaderboard and shook his head slightly. "Changing it to Ning Ji''s name won''t work. It''s too easy to trace."


    "What if I change it to Meng Chong?" he wondered aloud. "No, that''s even more foolish. Meng Chong would arrive in the preparation room and find himself upying both the first and second positions. That would give it away immediately."


    "What name should I change to?" Ning Zhuo was in a quandary. Even using an unfamiliar name was a w. After a moment of thought, a sudden inspiration struck him, and he came up with a n.


    He looked at the leaderboard with the names already changed and murmured to himself, "This should fool them for a while."


    In the main hall.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit repeatedly mmed its head against a pir.


    It was in agony, helplessly watching others cheat, but it was powerless to stop them. Although it was a pce spirit, its abilities were limited.


    With every collision, the entire Lava Immortal Pce trembled.


    High above, amidst dense clouds and smoke, the city lord suddenly opened his eyes, his brow furrowed and his eyes shining with divine light: "Is there going to be a riot again?!"


    But after waiting intently for a while, all he saw was the Lava Immortal Pce trembling, causing the moltenva below to ripple and churn in waves.


    It was almost rhythmic.


    Gradually, the city lord rxed,pletely baffled: "Is the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit having a fit? What exactly is it up to!"


    Ning Zhuo, however, felt a surge of surprise.


    He discovered that by merely changing a name on one leaderboard, the other leaderboards had also updated simultaneously.


    He didn''t need to exhaust his spiritual power or soul power to change each name individually.


    "The real situation is much easier than I imagined!"


    "So, never fear difficulties. Sometimes, the challenges are mostly concocted by our own fears."


    Ning Zhuo encouraged himself.


    At that moment, he still had plenty of spiritual power and a fair amount of soul power left, more than enough to continue exploring.


    Ning Zhuo didn''t rush to the next challenge but instead explored the preparation room.


    As he was about to grab a torch hanging on the wall, a message about a fee came through. This time, however, Ning Zhuo decided not to pay but instead attempted to activate the Buddha Heart Demon Seal again.


    Seeing this, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit swung its tail with force, snorting coldly, its disdain clearly evident.


    Soon after, Ning Zhuo sighed in disappointment. The Buddha Heart Demon Seal did not grant him the ability to use these tools for free, nor did it offer any discount.


    The specific privileges granted by this magical seal, and to what extent they could be used, all required Ning Zhuo to test them one by one.


    Ning Zhuo approached the stone leaderboard pir again. This five-sided stone pir would rotate periodically on its own to disy its five leaderboards.


    Touching the pir, he activated the Buddha Heart Demon Seal. The next moment, the pir stopped rotating, ceasing its motion.


    Just as Ning Zhuo was about to rejoice over this small sess, a sudden spark of realization struck him like lightning!


    He quickly looked up, excitedly staring at the door of the preparation room. He ran to the door, about to push it open and enter the next unknown room, but suddenly hesitated and withdrew his hand.


    He turned and ran to the opposite side, standing before the door through which he had entered.


    Meanwhile, in the main hall.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was now propping itself up on its forelimbs, staring intensely at Ning Zhuo, its face full of tension.


    Ning Zhuo, feeling the power of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, tried to open the door.


    The next moment, Ning Zhuo effortlessly opened the door!


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, upon seeing this, suddenly threw back its head, let out a loud cry, and furiously mmed its w into the ground, sparking numerous embers.


    Ning Zhuo opened the door and was greeted once again by the sight of Room Three.


    The kung fu puppet was still frozen.


    Suppressing his excitement, Ning Zhuo entered Room Three and then closed the door behind him.


    His palm touched the door panel once more.


    The information about the rewards was transmitted again: ten spirit stones, a small flying box from the mechanical parts, and the Wood Connecting Technique.


    Ning Zhuo first chose the spirit stone reward, only to find that although the teleportation circle appeared again, it sadly produced no spirit stones.


    He then chose the small flying box.


    Thus, he received a wooden box that could fly in mid-air.


    Lastly, he chose the Wood Connecting Technique.


    Consequently, he received detailed information on a magical technique.


    Back in the main hall.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit once again rammed its head against a pir, continuously emitting roars.


    The roars resonated far and wide.


    However, unlike before, the roars now mixed with feelings of powerlessness, frustration, and suffocation.


    The Lava Immortal Pce erupted once again, with countless treasures shooting straight into the sky.


    "Again?!"


    The Lord of Huoshi City, forced to interrupt his cultivation, puffed his cheeks and red angrily,pelled to activate the grand formation of the Puppet Immortal City once again in an effort to counter the uprising at the Lava Immortal Pce.

 Chapter 47: Cultivation

    Chapter 47: Cultivation


    < Chapter 47: Cultivation >


    Ning Zhuo made his way back, iming all the rewards he hadn''t chosen before.


    Upon reaching Room No. 2, he found himself short on soul power.


    Every time he opened a door, he had to sense the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, an action that consumed a significant amount of soul power.


    Ning Zhuo decided to return to the first level and finally managed to obtain the spell in one go.


    "Name change sessful, and my soul power is nearly depleted. Perhaps this time, I should conduct more experiments in Room No. 1."


    He chose a corner, ced all his items into a small flying box, and finally climbed in himself, closing the lid.


    He sensed the mark of the trial disciple, and the next moment, his soul smoothly returned to his body.


    "Smooth return! Very good." Ning Zhuo clenched his fists, genuinely exhrated.


    Previously, passive entries and exits depleted almost all his soul power. Each return required healing and rest, and while feeling terrible was one thing, it significantly hindered his affairs.


    Now that he could return actively, it ensured his condition wouldn''t hit rock bottom.


    "My soul power has dropped to a third, but I can still move freely."


    Ning Zhuo first took several medicinal pills, then disguised himself again as the young puppet master and left through the teleportation array.


    Momentster, he opened the door to the underground prison and encountered Han Ming.


    Hearing the noise, Han Ming abruptly looked up and upon seeing the young puppet master, began furiously cursing him, venting boundless anger and hatred.


    Ning Zhuo noticed many tear stains on her face and couldn''t help but sigh, quietly listening for a while.


    Exhausted from her tirade, Han Ming was panting, her face pale.


    Seizing the brief respite, Ning Zhuo manipted several mechanical puppets, carrying water and food, and climbed onto Han Ming''s body, prepared to feed her bite by bite.


    Han Ming firmly closed her lips, refusing to eat.


    Although shecked the strength to curse, her eyes red intensely at Ning Zhuo, as if spewing fire.


    Ning Zhuo sighed lightly, "This won¡¯t do; refusing to eat or drink will lead to death."


    Han Ming suddenly revealed a mocking, crazedugh, "Death? Hahaha!"


    "Death is better than having you steal my cultivation!"


    "Young puppet master, are you even a man? If so, release me and let¡¯s fight for three hundred rounds!"


    "If I lose, I''ll let you do as you please, be it enving or servitude, and I won¡¯t utter a word against it. Even if it means handing over the essence of my soul, I ept it."


    "Are you brave enough?!"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head, "Why bother going through all this unnecessary trouble?"


    Saying so, he took out a set of mechanical needles.


    Han Ming¡¯s pupils dted sharply.


    Momentster, her cell echoed once more with her miserable, piercing screams.


    This time, the pain Han Ming endured was even greater than before because Ning Zhuo not only extracted the essence of her soul but also manipted her to consume a lot of food and drink.


    Unable to withstand the ordeal, Han Ming fainted again.


    Ning Zhuo directed the mechanical puppets to remove the rods one by one and tend to her wounds, carefully applying medicine to each one.


    Ning Zhuo''s soul foundation surged once again, reaching about six times its original limit.


    Due to previous losses of soul power, he currently had only three times the reserve of soul power.


    But this was already sufficient for him to explore the Lava Immortal Pce once again.


    He returned to his residence and activated the "Trial Disciple" seal, only to find that he could not enter.


    "As expected, there''s a time restriction?" Ning Zhuo had anticipated this and was quite calm about it.


    Immediately, he decided to test the seal every tea time to figure out the exact interval.


    During this time, he was not idle.


    He began to practice spells.


    This exploration of the immortal pce had yielded the most spells ever, securing three techniques directly.


    Wood Connecting Technique, Fire Grasping Technique, and another unknown spell¡ªit was time to diligently practice them.


    In the city lord''s mansion.


    In the cultivation room, the formation operated, and the spiritual energy was so dense that it formed thin wisps of mist.


    Amid the ethereal mist, Meng Chong sat cross-legged, his body flickering with electric light.


    After sessfully dispersing his previous cultivation, he immediately began to practice The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    The spiritual energy was directly drawn from the grand formation of the Puppet Immortal City, purified from the robust fire spiritual energy of Mount Huoshi, and was incessant.


    The pills were from the city lord''s treasury, all of high quality and inrge quantities.


    Also, the exceptional talent of Wild Sprint Thunderp, when activated, always skyrocketed Meng Chong¡¯s cultivation speed!


    The electric light suddenly dispersed, and Meng Chong abruptly opened his eyes, his face showing excitement: "Qi Refining firstyer!"


    "The speed of cultivation is more than ten times faster than before."


    "So exhrating."


    "Wild Sprint Thunderp¡­ So this is how useful it is! Why didn''t I think of using it earlier?"


    "Sigh, if only Grandfather had reminded me."


    "Cough, cough."


    Meng Chong coughed a few times. Upon closer examination, one would notice his haggard appearance, entuated by the faint bluish bags under his eyes. Meng Chong was well aware of his condition. Every time he activated the Wild Sprint Thunderp, it simultaneously consumed his essence, energy, and spirit.


    "Master Meng Chong, it is time for you to replenish your body," came a servant''s voice from outside the cultivation room.


    "Um!" Meng Chong decisively got up and, with a few strides, forcefully pushed open the door. Momentster, he arrived at the conditioning room and leapt directly into the medicinal bath.


    The brownish-yellow medicinal water in the bath, made from precious herbs meticulously mixed together, emitted a strong, almost foul medicinal scent. Meng Chong jumped in and, while soaking himself, devoured various spiritual foods that the servant had brought him.


    After stuffing his stomach with servings of spiritual food, he tilted his head back and guzzled down two jars of medicinal wine, followed by several bottles of pills, popping them like peanuts.


    As he continued, blood began to seep from his seven orifices.


    The servant nervously warned, "Master Meng Chong, that''s enough. You''ve replenished too much. Your body has reached its limit and can hardly bear it anymore."


    Meng Chongughed heartily. "What¡¯s there to fear? I am a man of talent, after all."


    "Wild Sprint Thunderp!" he bellowed.


    In the next instant, his entire body once again released countless shes of lightning. His talent elerated the digestion of the medicinal power at an rming rate.


    His swollen belly deted visibly fast. The pool full of medicinal water also cleared up quickly, and soon the scent of the medicine was barely detectable.


    Meng Chong leaped out, once again vigorous and full of energy, and quickly headed towards the cultivation room.


    "I must strive every second and give it my all!" he dered.


    "I will definitely be the first to enter the Lava Immortal Pce!"


    "Grandfather, I will not disappoint you."


    Meng Chong fully unleashed his natural tenacity, moving with a tiger-like ferocity, and his desire to cultivate was almost frightening.


    Ning Zhuo had preliminary test results¡ªthree hours! This was his fourth entry into the Lava Immortal Pce.


    He specifically left behind the puppet body in room number one and items like the small flying box, all of which had been cleaned up and were nowhere to be seen, which slightly disappointed him.


    However, upon touching the portal, he discovered that the rewards were selectable again.


    Using the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, he collected all three rewards from each door.


    Arriving in the preparation room, Ning Zhuo didn''t rush to challenge the next stage but instead stared at the various puppet-making tools and the numerous mechanical stands scattered around, falling into deep thought.

 Chapter 48: The Trap of Mechanisms

    Chapter 48: The Trap of Mechanisms


    < Chapter 48: The Trap of Mechanisms >


    "I''ve reached the secondyer of Qi refining, hahaha!" Meng Chong eximed with joy in the cultivation room.


    He adored this pace.


    After activating Wild Sprint Thunderp, his cultivation level soared, starkly contrasting with his previous practice sessions, bringing him immense pleasure and a sense of achievement.


    His excitement grew as he practiced, gradually bing addicted.


    Wild Sprint Thunderp, Wild Sprint Thunderp, Wild Sprint Thunderp!


    The more he used this superior talent, the more he liked it, the more he relied on it.


    Fei Si sensed something was wrong and advised him gently.


    Meng Chong moderated himself slightly while cultivating, frowning.


    He genuinely felt ufortable: "So slow, too slow!"


    "It''s like a snail''s pace!"


    Of course, this was an illusion.


    But after unleashing his nature, he became increasingly impatient.


    "Just one more time."


    "One more time wouldn''t hurt, right?"


    "Onest time."


    Wild Sprint Thunderp, Wild Sprint Thunderp, Wild Sprint Thunderp¡­


    "Hahaha!" His exhratedughter echoed through the cultivation room.


    Ning Zhuo entered the pce for the sixth time.


    He formally entered Room Four.


    Room Four was not much different inyout from Room One, filled with scattered mechanical parts.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit watched Ning Zhuo with pursed lips, expressionless, observing his every move without offering any hints.


    Ning Zhuo attempted to assemble the mechanical parts; his movements paused, and he was instantly restrained by the Divine Ability¡ªLife Hanging by a Thread.


    The young man tried to activate a treasured seal, to no avail.


    He tried approaching the exit, touching the door, and again received information about a reward.


    "Can this be the end of the level?"


    "No, this room must be useful. I just haven''t figured it out yet."


    Ning Zhuo pondered for a moment and tried to activate the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, but there was no response.


    Seeing this, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit unconsciously got up, supporting itself on its four limbs, no longer lying down as before.


    It was getting nervous.


    Suddenly, an idea struck Ning Zhuo. He abandoned the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art and instead released a spell.


    First, the Ice-Embracing Technique.


    As soon as the spell was cast, it attracted a mechanical part, which flew towards him.


    Ning Zhuo quickly caught it, and due to the force of the collision, he had to step back.


    "I guessed right!" he rejoiced inwardly.


    Snap.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, irritated, pped its dragon w and gritted its teeth.


    Ning Zhuo had figured it out again!


    The new mechanical part was a forearm with a hand, very robust, capable of floating in the air.


    Ning Zhuo continued to release spells, obtaining another floating arm, a mechanical wooden staff, and a set of mechanical rings, totaling twelve.


    "The more spells mastered, the greater the enhancement received in this room."


    "This challenge mainly tests one''s skills and spells."


    Ning Zhuo entered Room No. 5.


    A long corridor unfolded before him, at least ten times longer than Room No. 2.


    What kind of mechanisms and traps would there be this time?


    At the lord''s mansion.


    "Hahaha!" Meng Chongughed uproariously, looking up to the sky, "I''ve reached the peak of the thirdyer in just three days. Who can be as fast as me?"


    For three days and nights, he had barely slept or rested, but now he had finally seeded.


    "I must be the first to enter the Immortal Pce!" he dered.


    "But how to enter¡­"


    The next moment, everything before Meng Chong''s eyes went dark, as his soul was abruptly drawn out.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit excitedly stood up; it had been waiting for this moment for a long time.


    It impatientlymunicated to Meng Chong, "Lava Immortal Pce, Puppet inheritance, Life Hanging by a Thread, Qi Refining test¡­ Awaken your talent, fully activate The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, pass through room one, and reach room two!"


    Instantly, a whip of fire formed in the main hall of the Immortal Pce, fiercelyshing the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit.


    With a crisp snap, the whip struck the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, causing it to fall to the ground.


    The fire whip dissipated, and the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, grinning in pain and excitement, saw that Meng Chong had received the crucial hint and began furiously circting The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    At the same time, faint sparks of electricity began to emanate from his torso.


    Snap, snap, snap.


    The sparks of electricity flickered increasingly, emitting crackling sounds.


    A small mountain made of mechanical parts began to tremble slowly, and five mechanical parts shot out from it.


    The parts soared through the air and, within a few breaths, collided with Meng Chong¡¯s main torso, instantly assembling themselves.


    Meng Chong clenched his fists, thrust out his chest, and shouted upwards as electric light gathered around his body, erupting into a beam of lightning that shot upwards, forming a column of electric light with an impressive force.


    Boom, boom, boom¡­


    His movements caused the mountain of mechanical parts to copse.


    Amidst the dust and debris, Meng Chong stood tall and proud, takingrge strides forward.


    He touched the door and received a reward message.


    "The trial of inheritance at the Lava Immortal Pce is quite interesting!"


    Meng Chong did not even nce at the options for mechanical parts or spells, and directly chose the spirit stone.


    "Room number two, here Ie." He forcefully pushed open the door and strode in with vigor.


    Bang! He triggered a mechanism, and a massive hammer tform fell from above.


    Meng Chong didn''t even have time to react before he waspletely smashed into countless wooden pieces.


    "What happened?" Without his puppet body, Meng Chong''s soul was sent back to his flesh body.


    He waspletely stunned.


    After some reflection, he realized, "It seems that after I opened the door, I triggered a trap."


    Meng Chong thought for a moment and directly summoned Fei Si.


    Upon learning of his ordeal, Fei Si first enthusiastically congratted him, praising Meng Chong for a good while.


    Meng Chong snorted, "I am the most talented person of the current Meng family generation; I won''t disgrace my grandfather! Now, what should I do?"


    Fei Si sighed, "So, the trial of inheritance at the Lava Immortal Pce has undergone such a significant change at the Qi Refining stage!"


    "These days, I have been reading various reports about the three sect masters, trying to understand their thoughts and emotions."


    "If I''m not mistaken, Young Master Meng Chong, the door reward you encountered contains a crucial option that could bring you great help."


    Meng Chong immediately fell into thought: "Spirit stones, hanging rings, and a burst of energy, which could it be?"


    "When can I enter the Lava Immortal Pce again?" After his failure, even though he still had plenty of soul power left, he had to wait three hours.


    It was Ning Zhuo''s seventh entry into the pce.


    During his previous attempt, he failed in Room Five,pletely depleting his stored spiritual power.


    "Room Five and Room Two are simr; I need to run and maneuver through all the obstacles to reach the endpoint."


    "The difficulty has increased at least threefold!"


    "Although I acquired quite a few mechanicalponents, I''m not familiar with them. In my rapid running and dodging, they became a burden."


    "The key issue is that the additional mechanicalponents also increased the consumption of spiritual power."


    "Huh?!"


    Ning Zhuo entered Room Two and found that the trap he had set up had been triggered once.


    The massive hammer tform¡­


    He had assembled it previously to smash the ranking stone pirs. On his fourth entry into the pce, he had an idea to move it to Room Two and set up a trap.


    On his fifth entry, he was excited to find that the trap was still in ce.


    The experiment was a sess!


    Thus, using the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, Ning Zhuo added many new features to Rooms Two and Three.


    "Meng Chong entered the pce."


    "Hmm, he was smashed."


    "I already know the minimum interval is three hours. So, I can roughly estimate the timing to avoid running into him."


    A sense of urgency rose again in Ning Zhuo''s heart, his expression bing cautious.


    "Such superior talent¡­"


    "This time, I should add a few more traps."


    "Otherwise, I won''t be at ease."

 Chapter 49: Receiving Awards, Submitting

    Chapter 49: Receiving Awards, Submitting


    < Chapter 49: Receiving Awards, Submitting >


    Ning Zhuo stood before five stone pirs, touching the surface with his palm, and immediately received a message.


    He was collecting rewards for ranking first in the Qi Refining List, Speed List, and Progress List!


    The rewards were still spiritual stones, mechanical parts, and spells, and Ning Zhuo needed to choose one.


    "There are one hundred spiritual stones in the reward!" Ning Zhuo was slightly shocked.


    The most he had ever received from a clearance reward was ten spiritual stones.


    One hundred spiritual stones were ten times that amount!


    Ning Zhuo decided on the spot to take the spiritual stone reward at least once.


    Previously, he had used many items from the preparation room to set up mechanisms. The Buddha Heart Demon Seal could not let them go for free, as these were all chargeable.


    As he set up more and more mechanical traps, Ning Zhuo''s spiritual stones were running low.


    Suddenly having an extra hundred spiritual stones, Ning Zhuo was essentially without worries.


    There were over a dozen options for mechanical parts, and Ning Zhuo saw items like hanging rings, boomerang disc wire, and small flying boxes among them.


    The spells also included familiar ones, such as the Ice-Embracing Technique, Fire Grasping Technique, and Wood Connecting Technique.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was also observing Ning Zhuo, looking nervous as thetter stood pondering in front of the leaderboard.


    Without a second thought, Ning Zhuo began to sense the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.


    Unfortunately, he found out that he could not choose multiple rewards from the leaderboard; he could only choose one.


    Seeing Ning Zhuo''s attempt fail, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit snorted and still appeared nervous.


    "Strange," Ning Zhuo felt something was amiss.


    "Something is indeed strange."


    The youth was exceptionally adept at spotting issues in details.


    "Each of the top rewards is actually the same, letting me choose one from three."


    "However, the value of these three options is not equivalent."


    "The spirit stones option amounts to a hundred pieces, while the other two options are still the same as the previous rewards."


    "I''ve used most of these rewards before; I''ve pretty much got all the spells."


    "The elders from the three sects wouldn''t make such a mistake¡­ Which means, the other two rewards are actually far more valuable than they appear."


    "Let''s try all of them!"


    Ning Zhuo had made his decision.


    He had three opportunities to receive a reward, so he chose each option once.


    A hundred genuine spirit stones.


    For the mechanicalponent, he chose a suspension ring.


    Finally, for the spell option, Ning Zhuo chose a spell he hadn''t mastered yet¡ªMetal Attraction Technique.


    The next moment, the information about the spell was transmitted into his heart.


    Ning Zhuo was moved!


    The Metal Attraction Technique was a spell that could draw metals and condense them at the fingertips.


    This alone was not enough to stir Ning Zhuo''s emotions.


    What was crucial was that along with the spell information, many cultivation insights were transmitted as well.


    Although Ning Zhuo had just acquired the Metal Attraction Technique, because of these cultivation insights, he became someone who had practiced the Metal Attraction Technique for two and a half years instantly!


    "Is this a method of ¡®enlightenment''? Transferring the cultivation experiences of predecessors to the next generation?"


    "Impressive, truly impressive."


    "With this, I can save so much time and effort."


    Ning Zhuo was secretly delighted. Compared to Meng Chong and others, hecked a background, and now he could only rely on the ranking rewards to somewhat neutralize his opponents'' advantages.


    After testing the magic reward options, Ning Zhuo meticulously inspected the suspension rings on the mechanicalponents again, finding that they were not much different from the previous rewards.


    However, Ning Zhuo had a new hypothesis and was waiting for a future opportunity to verify it.


    As soon as the time limit was reached, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit hurriedly pulled Meng Chong into the Immortal Pce.


    During the portal rewards, Meng Chong chose the mechanicalponent this time. Holding the suspension ring in his hand, he was puzzled, "How do you use this thing?"


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit clenched its teeth, transmitting the message along with the usage method and even the mechanical blueprints to Meng Chong.


    Instantly, in the main hall, two whips of fire condensed and viciouslyshed at the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit!


    Snap, snap, snap.


    For a moment, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit''s dragon ws clenched tightly, and it gritted its teeth as it endured the whipping, its body trembling and face contorting in pain.


    Meng Chong, having received the message, suddenly realized, "So, this is how it''s used."


    He frowned again; deep down, he did not fancy such gadgets¡ªhe preferred a more direct approach.


    This time, he gently cracked open the door. After pondering, he held the suspension ring, aimed in a direction, and shot out a bluish-purple colored drill.


    The colored drill quickly merged with the wall, seamlessly integrating with it.


    Meng Chong manipted the suspension ring, and the slender rope instantly tensed up.


    ¡°Use the rope to speed up and rush through in one go!¡± Meng Chong activated his superior innate talent, Wild Sprint Thunderp, sensing his own body. The next moment, his body flickered with electric light.


    As the thin rope sharply retracted, he pushed the door forcefully and ran with all his might. With a crack, the electric light red violently!


    In an instant, his speed surged to its peak. He was almost like a bolt of lightning, slicing through the air, aiming to go far.


    But in the next moment, a huge fishing flipped out from beneath the floor tiles, securely enveloping Meng Chong. Every strand of the was made from Boomerang Disc Wire, giving it tremendous extensibility and toughness. The stretched long, like a drawn bowstring.


    Meng Chong¡¯s speed plummeted, and within a few breaths, his momentum waspletely lost. He was like a projectile, harshly shot back by the retracting! With a snap. A crisp sound echoed as he crashed into the now-closed door. He fell apart on the spot. Bang. The next moment, a massive, immensely heavy hammering tform smashed down from above. Meng Chong¡­ shattered.


    Regaining his senses, Meng Chong yelled furiously. The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit also mmed its hand down abruptly, showing an angry expression.


    Dungeon. Han Ming slowly lifted her head to gaze at the young puppet master who had reappeared. Her face was haggard, numbed, as if she too was about to shatter.


    It was not the first time her soul essence had been harvested.


    She couldn''t remember how many times it had happened.


    Several of those times, she had been unconscious.


    She no longer cursed or railed against Ning Zhuo; partly because shecked the strength, her physical condition was too poor, and partly because she hade to a stark realization of her reality.


    Reality was so cruel that it had crushed her pride,pelling her to think desperately about how to survive.


    "No, don''t control me anymore, I''ll help you."


    "I''ll actively extract the soul essence and transfer it to you."


    Young puppet master Ning Zhuo was momentarily stunned, then nodded: "You''ve finallye around, Han Ming. I''m pleased for you."


    Anger red again in Han Ming''s heart, but she suppressed it: "Please give me the Soul Capturing Shuttle, and release some of the seals on the chains."


    Ning Zhuo smiled faintly, "Not in a hurry, have something to eat first."


    He directed a dozen small puppets, who came to feed Han Ming. Some sat on her shoulders, spooning soup to her; others stood on her chest, holding up drumsticks and pork knuckles. Others handled a pair of chopsticks together, cooperatively picking up vegetables for her to eat.


    After finishing a hearty meal, a puppet held a handkerchief aloft, hanging down from above her head, alongside her hair, to wipe the corners of her mouth from a high vantage point.


    Finally, three different puppets each held a variety of fruits, offering them to Han Ming as dessert.

 Chapter 50: The Gathering of the Three Arts

    Chapter 50: The Gathering of the Three Arts


    < Chapter 50: The Gathering of the Three Arts >


    Han Ming devoured her meal with wolfish ferocity, a stark departure from her earlier refusals. Once finished, she still seemed unsatisfied. "Is there more?" she asked.


    Ning Zhuo replied apologetically, "I''m sorry, I''ll bring more next time."


    Han Ming nodded. "It would be best if you could bring some spiritual food. These mundane dishes are tasty, but they don''t offer much benefit to cultivators like us."


    "Hmm," Ning Zhuo murmured, "I''ll consider it."


    Han Ming continued, "And about my soul. I must tell you, I can''t support this for much longer."


    "If you continue to draw from it unrestrained, my soul''s foundation will be exhausted." When that happened, Han Ming would be scattered to the winds, unable to even be a ghost cultivator.


    Realizing this, Han Ming chose to temporarily yield and seek apromise.


    Ning Zhuo nodded. "Do you have any suggestions?"


    "Give me people! As long as I absorb souls, I can nourish myself. With a strong soul foundation, I can continue to provide you with Soul Essence," Han Ming proposed.


    Ning Zhuo smiled slightly. "In fact, I''ve already prepared something for you."


    "Oh?"


    Ning Zhuo stood and briefly left the cell. When he returned, he carried several monkeys in his hands.


    Han Ming''s expression darkened. "I said I wanted humans. These monkeys will only give me about thirty percent of what I need."


    Ning Zhuo chuckled. "If they can provide thirty percent efficiency, that''s eptable to me."


    "I''m not a demon cultivator; I won''t harm humans. These beasts and spirits, however, are fair game."


    At Mount Huoshi, monkeys were plentiful, and hunting some of them could indeed provide some aid to the city of Mount Huoshi. Han Ming could no longer restrain herself and began to mockingly sneer, "And you¡¯re not a demon cultivator yourself?"


    "You''re just unsure about my background, worried that I¡¯ve been absorbing human souls in secret, amassing power."


    "Moreover, the noise made from killing humans and monkeys is entirely different. You¡¯re worried that this will hasten your exposure!"


    Ning Zhuo smiled faintly, "You''ve reminded me, thank you, Han Ming."


    "To be safe, I¡¯ll insert these mechanical needles and keep you under strict surveince."


    Seeing Ning Zhuo produce the mechanical needles again, Han Ming¡¯s pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints, her anger ring anew. However, this time she merely red at Ning Zhuo, holding back any curses.


    At the Lava Immortal Pce, Meng Chong had lost count of how many times he had attempted the challenge. To him, the number of failures was meaningless. He was only focused on breaking through!


    Among the rewards, he had chosen the Suspension Ring. Slightly opening the door to create a gap, Meng Chong carefully extended the Suspension Ring into Room No. 2. ng, ng, ng¡­ He spared no expense, firing all the colorful diamonds.


    Talent¡ªWild Sprint Thunderp!


    Spell¡ªA Gust of Qi!


    Mechanicalponent¡ªSuspension Ring!


    With these three forces working in unison, Meng Chong forcefully pushed open the door, shooting out like a cannonball.


    His speed broke through the limit, and although the mechanism behind the door was triggered, it was toote to stop him. The metal ck came up empty, and the thousand-catty heavy hammer smashed down onto the floor tiles instead.


    "Ha ha ha!" Meng Chongughed heartily, his entire body enveloped in blue electric light as he sped towards the finish line.


    The floor tiles quickly receded, but their speed was no match for Meng Chong.


    But in the next moment, Meng Chong disintegrated!


    Just before his vision wentpletely dark, he saw clearly. Transparent silk threads had beenid between the walls, incredibly sharp.


    The faster Meng Chong sped, the quicker he was sliced upon reaching these threads.


    Countless puppet fragments scattered across the ground, and the fierce blue electric light lingered in the air for a moment before dissipating unwillingly into nothingness.


    Meng Chong pouted, his soul returning to his body, and he sulked for a good while.


    Fei Si came to inquire and, upon learning the details, sincerely eximed, "I didn''t expect the legacy of this mechanism to be so challenging!"


    "Perhaps we should start by deciphering these mechanical traps before proceeding."


    "What? Me learn mechanism art?! I can''t even refine pills or tools," Meng Chong held his head, feeling extremely troubled.


    "I don''t believe it!"


    "I just couldn''t control such speed."


    "As long as I see clearly, I can pass through the and reach the endpoint!"


    "I''ve decided, I''m going to undergo special training. Let''s start with three days and three nights, without sleep or rest!" Meng Chong loudly dered.


    Fei Si immediately showed a worried expression and hurriedly advised, "Young Master Meng Chong, that''s not advisable."


    "Lately, you''ve been excessively using the ¡®Wild Sprint Thunderp'' technique; you''ve overused it. You should take a look in the mirror," Fei Si advised.


    Meng Chong checked his reflection and saw the deep dark circles under his eyes and his haggard appearance, with his cheekbones bing pronounced.


    "I can still go on!" Meng Chong dered, undeterred.


    Fei Si earnestly advised, "Young Master Meng Chong, please be cautious. Even though the Lord Mayor''s office provides you with unlimited resources, replenishing your essence, energy, and spirit requires time."


    "Currently, your rate of consumption far exceeds your recovery. This is not a good trend."


    Meng Chong blinked, "Then what can I do to quickly replenish my essence, energy, and spirit?"


    "It''s all about the cultivation method," Fei Si replied.


    "You''ve been practicing ¡®The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art'', which can help you quickly restore your energy. However, it only has three levels and the effects are not sufficient."


    "As for replenishing essence and spirit, there are no cultivation methods that can assist with that; you can only rely on your body''s natural processes."


    Meng Chong shook his head, "Natural processes are too slow! I''ll talk to my grandfather; he knows many cultivation methods. Why not practice a few more to help me quickly replenish my essence and spirit?"


    "Hahaha, I''m a genius! With ¡®Wild Sprint Thunderp'', my cultivation speed is exceptionally fast. In just six days, I could master two new methods."


    Fei Si smiled wryly, "If only it were that simple!"


    "The Lord Mayor has already calcted that the Qi Refining Trial has strict entry standards. If you practice other cultivation methods, you''ll have different types of mana, which won''t be recognized. You mustpletely dispel your current powers to enter."


    Meng Chong eximed, "What?"


    Fei Si exined, "However, the Lord Mayor has also predicted that within the Lava Immortal Pce, there are likely two other cultivation methods that,bined with ¡®The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art,'' allow one to cultivate all three dantians simultaneously."


    Meng Chong sighed, "It''s useless talking about that; I can''t even get past the second room."


    Lava Immortal Pce.


    Under the resentful gaze of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, Ning Zhuo cleared the ninth room. He entered the preparation room and then stepped through another door, entering a central transfer hall.


    As he approached the center of the hall, he heard mechanical sounds and saw the stone walls descend, revealing three doors.


    The left door emitted a faint yellow auspicious aura and bore the character for "Buddha."


    The middle door shimmered with a green light and disyed the character for "Tao."


    The right door exuded a strong scent of blood and had the character for "Demon."


    "It''s different from before," Ning Zhuo noted.


    "Buddhist path, Taoist path, Demon path¡­"


    This was unexpected for Ning Zhuo, but recalling the life stories of the three sect masters who had practiced methods from Taoism, Demonism, and Buddhism, he adapted quickly.


    He approached the Taoist door first; no reaction.


    Next, he touched the Buddhist door and acquired a cultivation method¡ªthe "Mirror tform Spirit Sutra."


    Finally, upon touching the Demon door, he obtained another method named "Demonic Blood Tendon Technique."


    These two methods, like the "Buddha Heart Demon Seal," only had the initial three levels. But upon studying them briefly, Ning Zhuo''s wooden body trembled with excitement.


    "These three methods correspond with each other, allowing one to cultivate all three dantians simultaneously."


    "Buddhist, Taoist, and Demon paths together for building the foundation?!"


    "Such a method of foundation establishment is among the most elite in the world."

 Chapter 51: The First Layer

    Chapter 51: The First Layer


    < Chapter 51: The First Layer >


    Humans have three dantians.


    At first nce, it seems perfectly reasonable to allocate one cultivation technique per dantian evenly.


    However, in reality, practicing multiple techniques simultaneously is extremely challenging.


    This is because the three dantians are not isted and independent from each other; they are all parts of the cultivator''s body and influence each other.


    For example, if one dantian is cultivated with an ice-frost technique, the other two dantians will also be significantly affected, subtly shifting in that direction.


    If at this time, the other two dantians practice different techniques, it is akin to pulling the human body in three different directions, which will inevitably lead to a breakdown.


    Externally, this often manifests as interference, conflict, or even bacsh among mana, vital essence, or spirit, leading to catastrophic consequences like cultivation deviation.


    How does one assess the quality of a cultivation technique? It is quite simple.


    Look at how many dantians the technique strengthens and to what extent, as well as the efficiency of the cultivation. Inferior techniques typically focus on only one dantian whilepletely neglecting the others and may even cause side effects.


    Ordinary techniques primarily cultivate one dantian but do not have drawbacks.


    Better techniques cultivate one dantian and moderately attend to the other two. Excellent techniques primarily cultivate one dantian while significantly caring for another, or both.


    The best techniques, which are also the hallmark techniques of major sects, cultivate two dantians while considering the third.


    This assessment purely considers the technique itself. The actual situation involves other factors and is highlyplex!


    For instance, the demon cultivator Han Ming practices two techniques.


    One technique was the Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art, which focused on cultivating her middle and upper dantians.


    She also practiced the Immortal Zombie Life Creation Method, cultivating her lower dantian.


    Ordinary cultivators could not emte her approach of practicing two techniques simultaneously; doing so would cause interference between the corpse-transformed body parts and the magic power of the Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art, at best halving the effectiveness of their efforts, and at worst leading to devastating internal conflicts and demonic cultivation disasters.


    Han Ming was able to do this thanks to her lower-grade natural talent¡ªYin Corpse Qi.


    All cultivators possess spiritual roots, but not all cultivators have natural talents.


    The impact of one''s natural talent influences countless aspects, permeating a cultivator''s entire career. It has significant effects on various stages of cultivation, such as Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and beyond.


    Although Ning Zhuo had only obtained the first three levels of the technique, his innate ability as a walking library of knowledge was undeniable.


    He was certain that these three techniques were exceptional.


    "Cultivators can practice these three techniques simultaneously, developing a harmonious coexistence of their essence, qi, and spirit!"


    "The key is this harmonious coexistence, which does not depend on one¡¯s natural talent. As long as one has the basic spiritual roots and is qualified to cultivate, they can practice these techniques."


    "This is definitely a top-tier technique!"


    The excitement in Ning Zhuo''s heart made his eyes slightly moist.


    "Mother, just as you said, I have obtained the Qi Refining techniques from the Lava Immortal Pce."


    "The real techniques are even better than you imagined, simply perfect."


    "I will cultivate them all."


    His mother''sst will and testament had deeply imprinted on the young man''s heart. His mother''s expectations had be a mission, a burden, turning into Ning Zhuo¡¯s unwillingness to be mediocre, challenging his own destiny!


    * * *


    Meng Chong was also taking on the challenge.


    To hone his skills, he had specifically designed a training hall.


    After activating Wild Sprint Thunderp, he continuously darted through the obstacle-filled training hall.


    Bang, bang, bang¡­


    The sounds of him crashing into obstacles echoed nonstop throughout the hall.


    "I can do this!"


    "I can definitely achieve it."


    Meng Chong asionally stopped, panting heavily and drenched in sweat. Yet, his eyes shone brightly, unwilling to rx even for a moment.


    Soon, he resumed his intensive training.


    * * *


    At the Zhou family''s residence.


    "I did it, A''shen." Zhou Zhu emerged from the Gather-Disperse Spirit Tide Formation, now at the peak of the Qi Refining thirdyer.


    Zhou Zhendeep nodded, "Zhu, you really did well!"


    Zhou Zhu: "If there hadn''t been any dys, I would have reached this stage even faster. Meng Chong wasn¡¯t disturbed by assassins, he must have seeded before me."


    "The four major powers of Puppet Immortal City, only the Ning family was not attacked."


    Zhou Zhendeep shook his head, "You think it was the Ning family¡¯s doing? Let''s not talk about theck of evidence for now, I personally don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessarily the case."


    "If the Ning family was really anxious about falling behind, they wouldn¡¯t be so leisurely in selecting and training people."


    "From the results, the Ning family is still inst ce, while the city lord¡¯s mansion maintains its lead. Personally, I think thetter is more likely!"


    "That makes sense." Zhou Zhu nodded, about to speak when his eyes suddenly rolled back.


    Thump.


    He copsed to the ground, unconscious.


    Zhou Zhendeep turned pale with shock, "Zhu, what¡¯s wrong?"


    "The soul!"


    "Where is your soul?"


    "Someonee here!"


    "Enemy attack, another enemy attack!"


    With Zhou Zhendeep''s warning, the entire Zhou family was alerted and thrown into chaos.


    In the main hall of the Lava Immortal Pce, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit cowered, enduring theshes.


    In Room One.


    Zhou Zhu fumbled for a long time before he thought to use The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art to attract mechanicalponents.


    He had taken too much time.


    Just as he was about to reach the first door, his spiritual power was exhausted, and his puppet body fell to the ground powerlessly.


    Failure.


    Zhou Zhu returned with first-hand precious intelligence.


    That night, the senior members of the Zhou family stayed awake.


    Zhou Zhendeep dispersed his power overnight.


    * * *


    Ning Zhuo ate and drank heavily, his belly noticeably protruding.


    He closed his eyes, stood up straight, and secretly operated his technique¡ªDemonic Blood Tendon Technique!


    His essence blood was strengthened, his blood cirction elerated, his essence blood circted, and it permeated into his fascia, thickening it at a visible rate.


    Essence Refining firstyer!


    Soon, Ning Zhuo felt hungry again.


    * * *


    At the Zheng family''s home.


    "Oh?" Zheng Jian heard some intelligence during a break, "Zhou Zhu of the Zhou family was attacked again?"


    "To prevent idents, more people will be deployed around the artifact refining room for added protection," reported the attendant.


    Zheng Jian furrowed his brow, sensing something fishy about this intelligence.


    "Never mind, I''m already at the secondyer of Qi Refining. Just a bit more effort to reach the peak of the thirdyer." Zheng Jian continued his arduous cultivation.


    He sat cross-legged on the straw mat, continuously umting mana, with several hook-shaped magical instruments circling and flying around him.


    * * *


    Ning Zhuo also sat on a straw mat, with a stick of incense burning in front of him.


    This was a tranquilizing incense, which helped him practice the Mirror tform Spirit Technique.


    This technique could enhance his spiritual storage and deepen the foundation of his spiritual sea.


    By the time the incense stick had burned out, Ning Zhuo¡¯s spiritual sense in his upper dantian had increased by over six hundred, a remarkably efficient gain.


    "Having previously consumed arge amount of Golden Thread Jade Dew Cake, I already had a solid foundation. Now, relying on the Mirror tform Spirit Technique, I''ve gradually developed it, significantly enhancing my spiritual cultivation," he thought.


    With a faint joy, Ning Zhuo ceased his rest and continued his rigorous cultivation.


    Spirit Refining firstyer!


    Upon reaching this level, the spiritual senses in his upper dantian gathered together, forming a spiritual mirror.


    Through this spiritual state, Ning Zhuo couldmunicate with the spirited entities of nature and the world around him.


    The more sentient a life form is, the more spirited it is.


    Humans are considered the most spiritually aware of all beings.


    "Even the pce spirit of the Lava Immortal Pce is a spirited entity. Could Imunicate with it?" Ning Zhuo wondered.

 Chapter 52: Unexpected

    Chapter 52: Unexpected


    < Chapter 52: Unexpected >


    Qi Refining thirdyer peak!


    Zheng Jian was soul-drawn into the pce.


    The moment he received the message, his innate talent, Heart Piercing Insight, was also triggered.


    "Through room one, into room two?"


    He unconsciously began to activate the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    Momentster, as he touched the door to choose his reward, he once again held his breath, trying to trigger the Heart Piercing Insight.


    No response.


    Zheng Jian was not discouraged. After analyzing for a moment, he chose the suspension ring on the mechanicalponent.


    Although he was not skilled in mechanism techniques, he had extremely profound experience in artifact refinement and quickly figured out its true usage.


    But just as he was about to push the door open, an unparalleled sense of horror assaulted his soul!


    "I will die! I will die! I will die!!"


    The intuition granted by the Heart Piercing Insight made him tremble in body and soul.


    Zheng Jian gritted his teeth, spurred on by even more courage: "So, there is something deadly behind the door?"


    "Not seeing it with my own eyes, how would I know?"


    He pushed open the door.


    He stepped inside.


    Bang!


    He shattered.


    * * *


    Dungeon.


    Ning Zhuo gently lengthened the chain and said to Han Ming, "You''ve worked hard these days, take a good rest."


    He had always used the chain to keep Han Ming standing.


    Given that Han Ming had changed her attitude and was actively cooperating with Ning Zhuo, offering up the essence of her soul, Ning Zhuo was gradually rxing the constraints. This time, lengthening the chain allowed Han Ming to lie directly on the ground.


    He had already tested and found that if he chose spells he had already mastered, the experience and insights gained were more substantial, helping him save a great deal of time and energy¡ªit was the most cost-effective option.


    Additionally, he confirmed his previous hypothesis about the mechanical parts. The parts selected from the leaderboard would be treated as a legacy, passed on to the next exploration.


    However, the mechanical parts that Ning Zhuo exchanged were mostly used to set up traps.


    * * *


    Ning Zhuo''s arrangements had turned Zhou Zhu and Zheng Jian''s exploration experience from initial amazement to shock, then to pain, and finally into despair.


    "Why is it so hard?!"


    "How long has it been, and we can''t even get past the first door?"


    Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu looked at each other; they had met earlier and had confirmed each other''s identities.


    "This can''t go on. Zhou Zhu, we need to cooperate if we hope to get through," Zheng Jian initiated.


    Zhou Zhu nodded, "Alright, you go first."


    Zheng Jian paused, staring at him, "Are you joking? You''re so tall and strong, just like a pir. If we charge together, you can hold off the heavy hammer, and I''ll have time to dash past."


    "Why shouldn''t you be the one to hold it for me?" Zhou Zhu countered.


    Neither could persuade the other, leading to a standoff.


    Neither wanted to make sacrifices for the other.


    * * *


    Through hidden mechanical parts, Ning Zhuo observed this scene afterward.


    "It seems that the day when the Zhou family, Zheng family, and the City Lord''s Mansion work together is not far off," Ning Zhuo realized clearly in his mind.


    This was inevitable.


    Without cooperation, they couldn''t even pass the first door; only by working together was there any hope.


    In fact, the upper echelons of both the Zhou and Zheng families had reached a consensus that sincere cooperation was the foundation for passing the assessment!


    Zhou family: "The venerable elders of the three sects harborpassion in their hearts, urging us to coexist peacefully and cooperate with each other."


    Zheng family: "It must be so. The emergence of the Lava Immortal Pce has already started to spread widely through rumors. We must hurry and sincerely cooperate to seize the pce before the outside world reacts!"


    After reaching a consensus, the Zhou and Zheng families secretly contacted the City Lord''s Mansion.


    Meng Chong was approached and, learning of the intentions of the two families, scoffed disdainfully, "Only the weak band together; the truly strong walk alone!"


    Meng Chong, having undergone special training, was once again drawn into the Lava Immortal Pce.


    Under the excited gaze of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, he pushed the door open.


    Click!


    A soft sound, and sparks flew.


    The was thrown toote.


    The heavy hammer struck, missing its target.


    Between the walls, tough transparent threads were everywhere.


    Meng Chong identified the position of every thread, navigating through the gaps, bypassing all obstacles!


    He stood tall and proud before the second door, "Hmph, just a second room, nothing more."


    He chose the spiritual stone reward, pushed the door forcefully, and stepped into room three.


    Inside room three, thirty to forty kung fu puppets simultaneously raised their heads, their eyes emitting a dazzling yellow light. These were all frozen by Ning Zhuo, painstakingly moved from subsequent levels to room three.


    Meng Chong¡­


    After a moment, his soul returned to his body. Due to using too much immortal resources, Meng Chong''s cheekbones were now prominently protruding, and hisrge under-eye bags had turned a shade of purplish-blue.


    "Room three, even tougher!"


    He blinked his eyes, wanting to get up and continue his training. But he was too exhausted. Just as he attempted to rise, his vision ckened, and he passed out into a deep sleep.


    * * *


    "Truly a talent of the highest order," Ning Zhuo remarked sincerely after watching the footage of Meng Chong navigating the challenges.


    "Although Meng Chong is still operating solo and hasn''t teamed up yet, his sess will surely spur the Zhou and Zheng families to intensify their cooperation."


    "Once they learn the true situation, these three forces will definitely push others to revise their strategies."


    "So, what I''m facing next will be more and more teams of cultivators."


    Ning Zhuo gradually felt overwhelmed.


    The more people there were, the moreplicated another issue became. That was the likelihood of Ning Zhuo being discovered entering and exiting the Immortal Pce, which could lead to his exposure increasing drastically.


    On this day, he entered the Lava Immortal Pce again.


    "What happened?!" As he entered room two, he discovered all the mechanisms had been destroyed.


    The heavy hammer tform had been moved to the side of the wall.


    The horizontal striking logs were all broken.


    The scene was inplete disarray.


    He quickly retrieved the hidden mechanical parts and reviewed the previous scenes.


    In the next moment, Ning Zhuo was profoundly shaken.

 Chapter 53: Yuan Dasheng

    Chapter 53: Yuan Dasheng


    < Chapter 53: Yuan Dasheng >


    A colossal mechanical ape appeared before Ning Zhuo''s eyes. The height of the ape was at least four or five times that of the puppet Ning Zhuo. Its body was immensely robust, with arms as thick as Ning Zhuo''s torso. Despite its size, the ape was not clumsy at all.


    With a gentle push, it opened the first door and stooped to enter. The door frame came nowhere near reaching its waistline. As it stepped inside, the mechanism was triggered, and a massive hammer weighing thousands of pounds smashed down towards it.


    The mechanical ape didn¡¯t even look up, instead stretching out its arms to catch the hammer. At the same time, it straightened its body, rising like a towering mountain. The thick arms met the descending hammer not with brute force but with a gentle resistance, cleverly redirecting the trajectory of the hammer.


    Bang!


    The massive hammer was deflected by the ape''s arms and crashed into a wall beside it. The mechanical ape remainedposed throughout.


    From the moment it entered the room, it had stood firm, straightening its body without moving an inch. Having neutralized this trap, the mechanical ape examined its arms.


    Had it resisted forcefully, its wooden arms would have shattered long ago. But now, there were only a few minor cracks.


    "Using softness to ovee strength!" Ning Zhuo realized in an instant: the mechanical ape¡¯s closebat skills were probably superior to those of anybat puppet. The action had been effortless, abination of softness and strength, disying an elegant power.The mechanical ape continued forward.


    Bang.


    It triggered the mechanism again, and the golden silk fishing came sweeping up from below.


    With a gentle leap, it stretched out its arms, and its hands urately grasped the edges of the golden silk.


    It performed a backflip in mid-air.


    When its heavy bodynded on the ground, it only made a faint sound.


    The golden silk fishing was torn apart by its strength and draped over its body, bing a makeshift cloak with a hint of protective quality!


    Ning Zhuo watched, utterly dumbfounded.


    "This is definitely a martial arts master!"


    The Mechanical Ape moved with fluid grace, turning the enemy''s tool into its own, possessing great strength that could tear apart the''s connections. Yet, its control over its power was extremely precise.


    Next, Ning Zhuo observed as the Mechanical Ape continuously broke through, moving so quickly that it surpassed the retreat speed of the floor tiles.


    During this, numerous logs struck towards it; the Mechanical Ape swung its arms, sometimes smashing the huge logs like a heavy hammer and sometimes piercing obstacles like a long spear.


    It alternated between leaping with agile and effortless motions and standing firm and immovable like a grand hall''s pir.


    Thus, it progressively smashed through the various triggered mechanical traps, resembling an elegantly dancing bulldozer.


    Upon reaching the second gate, it paused, showing a contemtive expression. After a few breaths, it chose the spirit stones as a reward.


    Seeing this, Ning Zhuo thought, "Its body is so massive, it must consume a substantial amount of spiritual power. Hence, it needs the spirit stones."


    After watching, Ning Zhuo reinserted the surveince mechanismponent back into the corner.


    He immediately proceeded to room number three.


    The scene in room number three made his heart tremble once more.


    Three to four dozen kung fu puppets were already toppled and scattered about, most of them severely disabled, somepletely dismantled.


    Over the past forty to fifty days, Ning Zhuo''s visits to the Lava Immortal Pce had be too numerous to count.


    This was the first time he discovered that kung fu puppets could be destroyed!


    Ning Zhuo immediately took out the monitoring mechanism to inspect it, and for a moment, was at a loss for words.


    When the Mechanical Ape arrived at Room Three, it was immediately besieged by numerous kung fu puppets.


    Its body was massive and its martial skills were exceptional, but it had only two fists and two legsmon sense dictated it would be at a disadvantage.


    However, after inspecting it, Ning Zhuo understood what it meant that "any part of a martial arts master''s body can be a weapon!"


    In Room Three, the Mechanical Ape rolled, jumped, and crawled; its fists, elbows, head, chest, back, and even its tail and buttocks were its weapons.


    It swung its arms, sweeping across the area.


    Its elbows, sharp as awls, pierced through the chests of the kung fu puppets.


    With a thrust of its head, it knocked a puppet up to the ceiling. When the puppet fell back down, the Mechanical Ape whipped its tail like ash, flinging the mechanical puppet and knocking over three or four others.


    Just like that, the Mechanical Ape seemed to stir up countless whirlwinds, spinning multiple circles around the room.


    Kung fu puppets fell one after another, then were sessively sent flying.


    Eventually, when the Mechanical Ape stood still in the center of the room, all the kung fu puppetsy defeated on the ground, the yellow light fading from their eyes.


    Ning Zhuo had a realization: "I''m starting to understand."


    "This is the correct way to pass through Room Three!"


    "Using martial arts to fight can destroy kung fu puppets. If one resorts to using spells to cheat, then destroying the puppets is expressly forbidden."


    "This Mechanical Ape''s martial skills are truly remarkable!" Ning Zhuo sincerely marveled.


    Each time he passed through Room Three, he had used spells to take shortcuts.


    He had not only learned all the spells but also gained a wealth of casting experience through weekly ranking rewards, bing quite the veteran.


    "If I were to battle it, I would need to keep my distance and use spells for long-range attacks to stand a chance of winning."


    "In closebat, there would be no chance at all!"


    Sometimes, cultivators at the first threeyers of Qi Refining are killed by mortal martial artists. Such cases are not umon.


    Seeing the Mechanical Ape choose the spirit stone reward and leave Room Three, Ning Zhuo quickly reced the monitoring mechanismponent and hurried after it.


    In the preparation room, aside from himself, there was no one else.


    This gave Ning Zhuo a slight relief, but he immediately became more anxious.


    On one hand, he did not need to fight in the preparation room. The space here was still rather narrow; on the other hand, it meant that the Mechanical Ape had already passed through here and gone deeper.


    After picking up the monitoring mechanismponent, Ning Zhuo noticed that the Mechanical Ape had turned several times in this area, carefully inspecting each mechanism pedestal, even picking up some manufacturing tools to examine briefly before putting them down.


    Finally, the Mechanical Ape stopped in front of the five-faced stone pir leaderboard, scrutinizing it for a long time.


    Ning Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief, for the Mechanical Ape had not infused spiritual energy into the stone pir, nor had it received the imprint of a trial disciple.


    Ning Zhuo also approached the five-faced stone pir.


    When he saw the leaderboard, his heart shook!


    He was first on four lists, but on one list, he had been pushed to second ce.


    "The Qi Refining list shows me tied for first, but I''ve fallen behind on the Essence Refining list. I''m already at the thirdyer of essence refining."


    "What''s going on?"


    It appeared the Mechanical Ape had its own fortune, having practiced the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique early on!


    "Yuan Dasheng?" Ning Zhuo stared at the name of the Mechanical Ape, lost in thought.


    "Clearly, the Mechanical Ape is a non-human demon cultivator."


    "From its expertise in martial techniques and its various behaviors in the preparation room, it''s clear it possesses remarkable intelligence."


    "It has a name, and this name¡­ I seem to have seen it somewhere before¡­"


    Ning Zhuo had many questions.


    How did this demon cultivator named Yuan Dashenge to learn the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique in advance?


    Does it reside within the Puppet Immortal City?


    Initially, Ning Zhuo thought this Mechanical Ape might be one of the volcanic fire melt demon apes. But further discoveries led him to dismiss this guess.


    "Where have I heard this name before?"

 Chapter 54: Demonic Contamination

    Chapter 54: Demonic Contamination


    < Chapter 54: Demonic Contamination >


    Ning Zhuo, the young puppet master, ultimately did not encounter Mechanical Ape Yuan Dasheng. When he arrived at Room No. 7, he found parts of the Mechanical Ape lying on the ground, being transported away by a ring of light.


    This was a cleaning method used by the Lava Immortal Pce. The ring of light could transport not only rewards but also clear away debris. Ning Zhuo had noticed this phenomenon before and was not surprised.


    He inspected the surveince mechanism parts and discovered that the Mechanical Ape had been defeated due to insufficient spiritual power. "Its physique is too massive; just maintaining it requires a lot of spiritual power."


    "It chose spirit stone rewards all along the way, but it still could not support itself against the consumption."


    "Of course, this is also rted to the many traps I installed in rooms one through nine."


    Ning Zhuo felt a heavy weight on his heart. Yuan Dasheng¡¯s strength was too formidable, causing a significant impact on his ns. The negative effects of this impact could very likely lead Ning Zhuo to a deadly predicament!


    "This was only Yuan Dasheng''s first attempt at the challenge, and he made it all the way to Room No. 7."


    "Next time, it will be more familiar with this ce.""Although it still has a weakness in spiritual power consumption, once it survives seven days, it can im the rewards from the leaderboard. By then, its spiritual power will be at its peak, possibly allowing it to break through all at once, advancing ahead of me."


    This added considerable pressure on Ning Zhuo. Burdened with heavy thoughts, he passed Room No. 9 and returned to the central lobby.


    The sound of machinery echoed as the stone wall lowered, revealing three portals: Buddha, Dao, and Demon.


    Before this, Ning Zhuo had already entered the Taoist gate and discovered that the challenges were extremely difficult. Although there was hope of passing, the time and energy it would consume were immeasurable.


    After deep contemtion, Ning Zhuo decided to first master the newly acquired techniques. ording to his understanding of the Lava Immortal Pce and the seniors of the three sects, these two techniques would definitely be useful!


    As the saying goes, sharpening your axe will not dy the work of cutting wood.


    This time, Ning Zhuo approached the demonic gate.


    He stretched out both hands, pressing his palms against the door, silently activating the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique.


    Once the demonic technique was in motion, he quickly began to draw strands of blood energy from the door.


    The crimson blood energy flowed through his arms, spreading throughout Ning Zhuo''s entire body and gradually condensing into a blood essence within his puppet body.


    This was the crystallization of blood strength!


    Having obtained the blood essence, Ning Zhuo could no longer draw blood energy and found that the demonic gate could now be pushed open.


    He officially entered the demonic gate and found the room filled with numerous traps and many martial puppets wandering about.


    Observing for a moment, Ning Zhuo came to a preliminary conclusion: "The difficulty of this level is about the same as that of the Taoist gate. These martial puppets are brimming with blood energy and seem to also possess blood essence?"


    "Does this mean they can also use the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique?"


    Ning Zhuo attempted to tackle the challenge.


    Demonic Blood Tendon Technique!


    He activated the technique, and his blood energy condensed into intertwined sinew structures spread throughout his body, particrly concentrated at several of his joints.


    With the enhancement of the blood sinew, Ning Zhuo''s running, jumping, and dodging speeds greatly increased.


    Not just speed, but his strength and defense also improved.


    Although the traps had been triggered, they posed little threat to Ning Zhuo. The real trouble came from the kung fu puppets that rushed over. Ning Zhuo''s previous guess was confirmed¡ªthese kung fu puppets could indeed use the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique! With the demonic technique aiding them, the threat of the kung fu puppets increased manifold, making them even more troublesome.


    Ning Zhuo managed to hold on until the middle of the level but was then surrounded and attacked by three kung fu puppets. Using their vital energy, they pped Ning Zhuo, quickly covering his puppet body with their blood energy tendons.


    As soon as these blood energy tendons formed, they severely interfered with every movement of Ning Zhuo. He could only rely on his spells and the suspended mechanical arms for defense.


    After resisting for a moment, he could no longer hold on, and his entire body was enveloped by blood energy. Vast amounts of blood energy tendons sealed off his entire body. The three kung fu puppets struck together, ultimately shattering Ning Zhuo¡¯s puppet body into pieces.


    "So, the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique can be used like this!" Although Ning Zhuo had failed, he gained a significant insight.


    Back in his underground workshop, he conducted validations in this area. The blood energy tendons, which were condensed, could not only assist cultivators themselves by enhancing their mobility and providing a certain degree of defense but could also corrode others.


    By using one''s own blood energy to invade and contaminate another''s blood energy, creating extensive blood energy tendons both inside and outside their body, one could imprison them.


    "No, not just imprisonment."


    "More precisely, it¡¯s control!"


    Ning Zhuo was profoundly shaken. In that moment, he discerned the core concept of the three techniques.


    The patriarchs who founded these three techniques intended them specifically for controlling mechanical creations. The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art draws upon the Five Elements Mana, which has an extensive range of applications. The threads of the Five Elements it creates can control the majority of mechanical creations.


    The Demonic Blood Tendon Technique endows blood energy tendons, enhancing the mobility and control of mechanical creations in various aspects.


    The Mirror tform Spirit Technique, on the other hand, operates through the spiritual mind tomunicate with spirit objects. Clearly, it pairs well with certain mechanicalponents.


    Ning Zhuo continued his testing. He discovered that blood energy from the same source was more prone to erosion, contamination, and even usurpation, whereas blood energy from different sources was more about suppression and interference.


    These findings were encouraging, but Ning Zhuo''s mood grew heavier. He thought of Yuan Dasheng.


    "This monkey somehow obtained the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique in advance."


    "Its Qi Refining cultivation should be the same as mine, both at the peak of the thirdyer. But in terms of refining essence, it ranks first on the leaderboard, having pushed me down. This indicates it must have surpassed the thirdyer."


    "What is its true level of cultivation?"


    The mechanical ape had made it to room seven on its first attempt, a feat too terrifying toprehend! What''s more frightening is that at this stage, it could only use its spiritual power.


    If it were toe into contact with the demonic sects and harness the power of blood energy, its true strength would be fully realized.


    Ning Zhuo had already felt the marvelous effects of the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique. This demonic art greatly enhanced his abilities.


    With such an aid, the Mechanical Ape would undoubtedly soar to new heights, like a tiger sprouting wings!


    "At that time, it will definitely surpass me and be the first."


    "I must never let ite into contact with the demonic sects!"


    Ning Zhuo pulled open a drawer and took out a jade slip, beginning his search for information.


    "I''ve found it!"


    He quickly made a discovery.


    "It really is a Fire Fusion Demon Ape, only it''s a cultivator''s Spirit Pet."


    "Cultivator Yuan Yi, founder of the Monkey Head Gang¡­"


    "The Fire Fusion Demon Ape, Yuan Dasheng, is indeed the guardian spirit beast of the gang!"


    "I knew I had seen the name Yuan Dasheng somewhere before. It turns out it''s not a person''s name, but the name of a spirit beast."


    Having previously crafted the Mechanical Fireburst Monkey, Ning Zhuo had taken an interest in the Monkey Head Gang, which was why the name Yuan Dasheng had made an impression on him.


    "The only constion now is that I know its name, and it doesn''t know mine."


    "The enemy is exposed while I remain hidden. The moment it climbed the rankings, it revealed a huge w."


    "I must eliminate it, and soon!"


    A fierce killing intent shed in Ning Zhuo''s eyes.

 Chapter 55: Zhu Xuanji

    Chapter 55: Zhu Xuanji


    < Chapter 55: Zhu Xuanji >


    "Your subordinate, Fei Si, requests an audience with the Lord of the City," Fei Si said, bowing towards the dense clouds above the peak of Mount Huoshi.


    The rolling clouds parted like a curtain, revealing the figure of the Lord of Huoshi City.


    Fei Si slowly ascended, and upon approaching the city lord, he bowed once more and began reporting the essential matters of the city.


    Most affairs in Huoshi Immortal City were managed by him, with only significant matters reported to the city lord. The city lord of Huoshi City spent most of his time in cultivation. As the city''s sole Nascent Soul stage cultivator, as long as he remained in good condition, the entire city would remain stable.


    Currently, the most crucial matter was, of course, the Lava Immortal Pce. The incident with the transmission bell had caught the city lord off guard, but he personally intervened, stationed at the mountain peak amidst the clouds, to stabilize the situation. Even though the Lava Immortal Pce frequently erupted, he suppressed the disturbances, preventing any significant chaos.


    Fei Si focused on reporting the arrangements for the Huoshi Festival. The festival was imminent.


    "Currently, nearly two thousand Mechanical Fire Monkeys have been manufactured."


    "I have discussed and finalized arrangements with the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families. The Foundation Establishment stage cultivators who will control the Fire Monkeys will primarily be dispatched by these three families.""In addition, Yuan Er, the current leader of the Monkey Head Gang, has volunteered to participate despite the risks."


    "Moved by his loyalty and considering the shortage of manpower, I have temporarily agreed to let the Monkey Head Gang participate."


    "In previous Huoshi Festivals, the monkey pets from this gang have always yed a major role in picking the fire persimmons. Having them participate again provides an extrayer of security."


    "Regarding the encirclement and suppression of the shadow demon cultivators, I have made some arrangements, all detailed in this jade slip."


    The City Lord infused his spiritual sense into the jade slip and saw that the various arrangements were clear and methodical, with rigorous steps. Besides the main arrangements, there were also many contingency ns.


    The main force for the encirclement of the shadow demon cultivators would naturally be the Golden Core cultivators from the City Lord''s Mansion, the Zhou family, and the Zheng family. The Ning family patriarch was still in seclusion for recuperation, but he would appear as a backup.


    Speaking of which, ever since the appearance of the shadow demon cultivators, Fei Si, representing the City Lord''s Mansion, had proactively contacted the other three families to discuss the encirclement n.


    Using this as a pretext, the City Lord''s Mansion managed to unite the three families.


    Fei Si observed in secret but found no evidence of collusion between the three families and the shadow demon cultivators.


    "Proceed as nned," the Huoshi City Lord approved after reviewing the arrangements.


    The n for the encirclement did not include the City Lord.


    The opponent was merely a Golden Core cultivator, and Huoshi Immortal City''s n involved deploying four Golden Core cultivators.


    Thisbat force configuration was entirely sufficient.


    From the perspective of the City Lord''s Mansion, the most appropriate action was for the Huoshi City Lord to remain stationed at the mountain peak.


    It was evident that the shadow demon cultivators had been trying their utmost to enter the Lava Immortal Pce. The first time, they were stopped by Zheng Shuanggou. The second time, when they tried to sneak near the dungeon, they were discovered by Chi Dun, who was carrying the Alert Heart Bell.


    If they truly had aplices, then the third time they attacked Ziyang Courtyard and left pills in the Huoshi Forest, it was clearly to lure the Huoshi City Lord into capturing them.


    The more the enemy wanted to achieve something, the more they couldn''t be allowed to seed!


    As long as the City Lord remained stationed at the mountain peak, he would stand in an invincible position.


    "Sir, there is another urgent matter I must report," Fei Si said. "Since thest failed trial, Young Master Meng Chong has once again gone into seclusion for special training."


    "He has been using the Immortal''s Wild Sprint Thunderp far too frequently. Such a terrifying consumption of resources is unsustainable."


    "I am deeply worried."


    "I have tried to persuade Young Master Meng Chong many times, but he refuses to listen and continues as he pleases."


    As he spoke, Fei Si handed over a jade slip.


    The jade slip recorded Meng Chong''stest condition during his special training.


    His previously robust physique was no longer visible.


    He was now noticeably thin. His cheekbones were prominent, his eye sockets deep, but his gaze had be increasingly bright, giving the impression of someone who had practiced demonic techniques, burning life force to achieve a temporary state of power.


    The City Lord smiled slightly, "Then let him continue as he pleases."


    Fei Si was stunned, "City Lord, you¡­?"


    Huoshi City Lord spoke leisurely, "Talent and temperament are two sides of the same coin and can be considered as one. Expressing one''s temperament is to unleash one''s talent."


    "The higher the talent, the stronger the temperament."


    "Fully expressing one''s temperament is the way to maximize the potential of one''s talent."


    "Let me ask you, how has Chong''er progressed in the past month or two?"


    Fei Si replied, "His progress has been rapid, leaving me in awe."


    Indeed, this was the case.


    In the beginning, Meng Chong couldn''t even dodge the Thousand-pound Hammer tform. Later, he managed to dodge the hammer but couldn''t evade the Golden Silk Fishing Net. After that, he broke through the but couldn''t control his speed, getting sliced into pieces by the fine threads.


    After the special training, hepletely adapted to the extreme speed. His movements became incredibly agile and swift, allowing him to easily navigate through numerous obstacles.


    The City Lord continued, "From the images in the jade slip, it is evident that he is on the verge of a breakthrough in this special training. Previously, his use of Wild Sprint Thunderp was straightforward and monotonous. Now, he has started to adjust his breathing, incorporating fluctuations."


    "He has gradually grasped the principle that rigidity cannotst, understanding thew of yielding and extending."


    "Once he breaks through, he will be able to achieve rhythm, with speed that includes moments of slowness and vice versa, allowing him to elerate even within extreme speed."


    "At that point, he will achieve bnce and moderation. This is the cyclical transformation of yin and yang, where all things beplete."


    Fei Si suddenly understood, "I see."


    "Temperament can enhance talent, and the progress of talent can also improve temperament."


    "Young Master Meng Chong previously only knew how to charge recklessly. Once he breaks through this time, his temperament will improve, enabling him to achieve bnce and moderation."


    The City Lord smiled, "This is the path of cultivation. Extremes of yin give birth to yang, and extremes of yang give birth to yin. It is said that when the limit is reached, change urs."


    "Possessing extraordinary talent is the seed for immortality cultivation. It cannot be treated withmon sense."


    "Since his extraordinary talent is fully stimted, let him fully develop and explore it. As his talent advances, his temperament will also improve."


    "Chong''er has his unique path of cultivation."


    "As long as it does not endanger his life, there is no need to intervene harshly."


    "We will provide him with nourishing pills and try to help him replenish his nutrition."


    "In addition, we will gather personnel and form a team to assist him in the future."


    "Passing the trials of the Lava Immortal Pce is difficult to achieve by individual effort alone."


    "Only through coexistence and cooperation can the true path be revealed. From this, it is evident that the three sect elders are indeed venerable monks, trulypassionate and intent on saving all beings."


    Fei Si hurriedly said, "When Young Master Meng Chong switched his cultivation method, the mansion had already organized a team of thirty people to assist in the modification."


    "Upon Young Master Meng Chong''s first return from exploration, the size of the modification team expanded to fifty people."


    "However, theyck talent and are still in the process of modification, still some distance from the peak of the thirdyer."


    "Based on my investigation, our mansion''s modification team is in the best condition. The Zhou family ranks second due to the Gather-Disperse Spirit Tide Formation. The Zheng family is third, and the Ning family is the worst."


    The city lord nodded and mildly praised, "You handle matters prudently."


    Fei Si immediately showed a joyful expression and was about to respond when suddenly a voice rang out, "Meng Kui."


    "You have already deeply understood the principle of extreme Yin giving birth to Yang. Why then do you still covet the Lava Immortal Pce? Aren''t you worried about going too far and making mistakes?"


    "Who is it?" Fei Si shouted in anger and shock, releasing his spiritual sense to search for the enemy.


    The Huoshi City Lord, however, showed a hint of surprise and waved to Fei Si to calm him down.


    The city lord directed his gaze towards the right side of the clouds. There, a figure gradually emerged.


    It was a middle-aged man, dressed in a bright red brocade robe with ck embroidered edges. His face was square-shaped, and in the center of his pitch-ck pupils, tiny golden lights flickered.


    He did not conceal his presence, revealing the aura of a Golden Core cultivator. Facing the city lord and Fei Si, he exuded an air of nobility and smiled faintly, his imposing manner overwhelmingly superior.


    Fei Si, recognizing the familiar brocade robe and the threerge characters "Divine Inspector" on the waist tag of the middle-aged man, twitched slightly at the corners of his eyes and quickly saluted, "Fei Si pays respects to the Divine Inspector. May I be bold enough to ask for your esteemed name?"


    The middle-aged man smiled slightly, "I am Zhu Xuanji."


    "Surname Zhu?" Fei Si''s heart trembled slightly as he pondered, "The surname Zhu is the royal surname. Could it be that the person before me¡­"


    Zhu Xuanji nodded directly, candidly admitting, "You should have guessed it by now. That''s right, I, Zhu, am not only part of the Divine Inspector Office but also a member of the Southern Dou Immortal Country''s royal family."


    "This time, I havee to investigate the Lava Immortal Pce!"

 Chapter 56: Various Parties

    Chapter 56: Various Parties


    < Chapter 56: Various Parties >


    Fei Si''s face darkened.


    The City Lord of Huoshi City also narrowed his eyes slightly.


    Since the emergence of the Lava Immortal Pce, he had been working tirelessly to keep the news under wraps, fully expecting it to attract the attention of the higher-ups in the dynasty.


    But he hadn''t expected them toe so quickly!


    Fei Si''s mind was awash with all sorts of distracting thoughts: "Could someone have intentionally leaked the information?"


    "The Zheng Family and the Zhou Family are unlikely; they would prefer to reap benefits from the Lava Immortal Pce themselves."


    "Could it be the Ning Family, feeling left behind in progress, decided to bring in outsiders?"


    Zhu Xuanji, seeing the two men silent, chuckled lightly: "Meng Kui, your Meng Family controls Ziyan City, Qingshuang City, and Tutai City. Do you now wish to take control of Huoshi Immortal City as well?""Let me tell you the truth. Five hundred years ago, the royal family already knew that the Lava Immortal Pce was buried within this mountain. Do you think the royal family has not opened the Immortal Pce for a reason?"


    Fei Si was stunned.


    Even the City Lord, Meng Kui, showed a trace of emotion.


    As both a Divine Constable and a messenger of the royal family, Zhu Xuanji was unlikely to speak falsely.


    But if this were true, all of Meng Kui''s actions and ns up to this point might have been nothing more than a joke!


    Zhu Xuanji sighed: "The Lava Immortal Pce was not supposed to emerge at this time; there must be something fishy going on! That''s why I was sent here by the royal family and the Divine Constable Bureau to investigate."


    "This is the imperial edict."


    Meng Kui could no longer remain seated. He stood up, bent down, and epted the edict with both hands.


    After reading it and confirming its authenticity, Meng Kui asked, "What orders does the emissary have?"


    Zhu Xuanji said, "I want to find out the true reason for the Immortal Pce''s emergence. Let Chi Dun cooperate with me for the investigation and visits first."


    "Whatever cooperation is required from you in the future, you will be informed."


    Facing the Nascent Soul stage Meng Kui, he spoke without courtesy.


    Meng Kui immediately summoned Chi Dun and introduced him to Zhu Xuanji.


    Momentster, Fei Si watched the backs of Chi and Zhu as they departed, worry evident in his voice. "My lord, I didn''t expect the royal family to dispatch someone so quickly!"


    "It seems the royal family is also aware of the secrets of the Lava Immortal Pce."


    The city lord pondered, "In the past, the Three Sects'' elders and the former emperor of Southern Dou had a rtionship, their ties were quite close."


    "It''s not surprising that the royal family knows some secrets."


    "I believe Zhu Xuanji hase this time to investigate and has no intention of intervening in the contest for the Lava Immortal Pce."


    "Everything proceeds as usual."


    Fei Si respectfullyplied, "Yes."


    After he retreated, the clouds and mist once again obscured Meng Kui.


    The city lord of Huoshi City''s face finally revealed his true emotions, turning extremely grim.


    Though the Meng family was strong, they were merely a prominent family in Southern Dou Country.


    Despite Meng Kui''s strength and his position as a Nascent Soul cultivator overseeing the mountain city, he was essentially just a city guardian.


    Meng Kui looked around and, for the first time, felt the heavy clouds and mist around him were somewhat oppressive.


    The patriarchs of the Zhou and Zheng families met in secret.


    "Brother Zhou, not long ago, your family was attacked again, which made our family quite tense, on guard for many days!" The Zheng family patriarch said deliberately.


    The Zhou family patriarch smiled slightly.


    Before, when Zhou Zhu entered and exited the Lava Immortal Pce, Zhou Zhendeep had caused quite a blunder. Since there had already been a disturbance, the elders of the Zhou family discussed the matter and decided to turn the situation to their advantage. They staged a false enemy attack to deceive the other families and buy themselves more time.


    Now, it seemed that although they had gained some time, it was of little use.


    This was because the challenges of the Lava Immortal Pce were too difficult!


    After thoroughly analyzing the intelligence brought back by Zhou Zhu and Zheng Jian, the Zhou and Zheng families realized that only by working together could they possibly ovee the challenges.


    Therefore, they even approached the City Lord''s Mansion to seek cooperation, but Meng Chong refused.


    Upon this refusal, both families became unsettled.


    What did this imply?


    It implied that Meng Chong of the City Lord''s Mansion did not need any cooperation and could seed on his own!


    No wonder he was considered exceptionally gifted.


    After the high-ranking members of the two families expressed such sentiments, they immediately decided to join forces against the City Lord''s Mansion.


    Otherwise, they had no hope of victory.


    The head of the Zhou family sighed, "The Meng family is a powerful n in our country,pletely controlling three immortal cities."


    "Our two families cannotpare to the Meng family; we only upy one city."


    "As for the inheritance of the Lava Immortal Pce, let''s not even mention it. Once Meng Chong bes the Lord of Huoshi Immortal City, and the Lava Immortal Pce suppresses Huoshi, the Meng family will have the most valid reason to insert even more forces."


    "At that time, how will our two families position themselves?"


    "Recently, every time I think of this, I be deeply worried."


    These words immediately resonated with the head of the Zheng family: "Only by uniting can we have a chance at victory."


    The head of the Zhou family continued, "In my opinion, we should also bring the Ning family into the fold. Compared to the City Lord''s Mansion, the three of us together would stand a much better chance."


    The head of the Zheng family pondered for a moment and then nodded decisively, "Alright, let''s bring in the Ning family!"


    "A family is steadfast, but city lordse and go."


    "Huoshi Immortal City is already crowded with three families; we cannot let the Meng family interfere and take over!"


    The head of the Ning family paced anxiously in his courtyard.


    When a servant came to report good news, he finally pped his hands and smiled, "It is done!"


    Feeling that his family was falling behind, the head of the Ning family had proactively bribed the head of the Zhou family to form an alliance.


    The messenger sent by the head of the Zhou family brought not only good news but also valuable intelligence.


    The head of the Ning family was shocked, "So the method for testing Foundation Establishment stage cultivators has changed so drastically! Quickly, find out how manyyers of cultivation Ning Xiaohui has achieved!"


    The servant quickly reported back, "She has reached the secondyer."


    "What about the others?"


    The servant replied, "A few have reached the firstyer, but most have just finished dispersing their energy."


    "Too slow, too slow!" The head of the Ning family was so anxious he almost stomped his foot, hastily ordering an increase in rewards to encourage the cultivators to train day and night.


    The head of the Ning family felt deeply worried, "Our Ning family migrated here from elsewhere; we are outsiders."


    "Now, this opportunity with the Lava Immortal Pce must be seized. Forming a cooperation with the other two families will help us strengthen our rtionships," said the head of the Ning family.


    "The City Lord will eventually step down, but the Zhou and Zheng families will remain."


    "Our Ning family has always been in thest position among the three families. We must advance step by step to have a chance to grow."


    Monkey Head Gang.


    The current leader, Yuan Er, summoned all the elders.


    With a serious expression and a heavy tone, he said, "Everyone has seen the Mechanical Explosive Monkey."


    "It poses a tremendous threat!"


    "Therefore, during this Huoshi Festival, even with the threat to our lives from the demon cultivators, we must go all out to demonstrate our value to the upper echelons of Huoshi Immortal City!"


    "Otherwise, this business of harvesting Huoshi will be taken over by these fake monkeys."


    The elders, understanding the urgency of the situation, immediately agreed and supported Yuan Er''s decision.


    Seeing that a consensus had been reached, Yuan Er showed a slight smile, "We cannot lose our main business. Holding onto it is the only way for our Monkey Head Gang to continue developing."


    "Once we ovee this hurdle, the Monkey Head Gang could potentially be the fifth power in Huoshi Immortal City in the future."


    Before he finished speaking, a gang member suddenly rushed in, looking panicked, "Leader, elders, something terrible has happened."


    "Our monkeys have been poisoned, and many have died!"


    The upper echelons of the gang stood up in unison, a mix of shock and anger on their faces.


    "Who is making trouble for us?"


    "They must be killed!"

 Chapter 57: Great Victory, Great Leftover

    Chapter 57: Great Victory, Great Leftover


    < Chapter 57: Great Victory, Great Leftover >


    Monkey Head Gang.


    The monkey corpses were allid out in one ce, arranged in a row. The high-ranking members of the gang gathered, each looking at the numerous monkey corpses on the ground with grim expressions.


    An elder bowed his head, examining for a moment, then performed a hand seal to draw out the toxins from the monkey corpses. The toxins were pitch ck, floating in the air like a puff of ck smoke, making the air vaguely hot.


    "It''s fire poison."


    "This will be hard to investigate."


    Huoshi Mountain was filled with endless geothermal heat, zing mes, and fire poison. One could say that fire poison was very abundant. When Huoshi Mountain wasn''t sealed off, any cultivator who entered the Red me Demon Molten Cave could gather fire poison.


    With such abundant raw materials, cultivators found it very easy to produce fire poison, making it difficult for the high-ranking members of the Monkey Head Gang to follow this clue and investigate.


    Yuan Er''s face was very somber.He had just mobilized all the elders to exin the major crisis the gang was facing. At a time when they urgently needed monkeys to demonstrate their value, a third of his monkey pets had died directly!


    The elders all looked at Yuan Er. Their gazes were filled with worry, as well as expectation and scrutiny.


    Compared to his father Yuan Yi, Yuan Er had not been in power for many years and had not achieved much, making it hard to win people over.


    Now, with the entire gang facing a crisis, could this young cultivator manage the helm?


    "Leader, what should we do now?" an elder asked directly, testing him.


    Yuan Er thought for a moment. "We can''t afford to lose monkey pets!"


    "Without demonstrating our value, the business of picking Huoshi fruits will no longer be ours."


    "Hurry and go capture or buy other monkeys to supplement our strength!"


    The elders frowned one after another.


    "Even if we do that, we won''t be able to train these monkeys to maturity in a short time."


    "At best, it''s better than nothing."


    "No, I think acting rashly will make things worse. If the training is insufficient, and these monkeys fail in picking Huoshi fruits during the festival, causing explosions in the Huoshi forest, the consequences would be worse for us!"


    "You might not know this yet, but there are very few monkeys on the market now. Many monkeys near the immortal city have been captured and killed," an elder spoke up.


    "Is that so?" The others were astonished, and Yuan Er also looked over inquiringly.


    The elder who spoke nodded. "Recently, the Monster Hunting Association has received arge number of orders to capture wild monkeys alive."


    "Even on the ck market, there''s a high price for monkey pets."


    Yuan Er squinted his eyes immediately. "Who is buying them?"


    "Could it be the same people who poisoned our monkey pets?"


    The elders frowned in deep thought.


    They all felt a chill.


    "Boss, someone is targeting us."


    "This is a setup. Someone is scheming to harm us!"


    "Who could it be?"


    An elder stared at Yuan Er. "Boss, the enemy has reached this level of aggression, what are we hesitating for?"


    "Find them and eliminate them!"


    "If the old boss were still alive, he definitely wouldn''t hesitate."


    Yuan Er''s face turned ashen, and he almost cursed out loud, "Nonsense!"


    How were they supposed to fight?


    Given the current situation, it was highly likely that the force poisoning their monkey pets was none other than the Flying Disk Workshop.


    The workshop''s owner, Chen Cha, was the mechanical cultivator who designed and manufactured the Mechanical Explosive Monkeys.


    If the Monkey Head Gang performed poorly during the Huoshi Festival, his Mechanical Explosive Monkeys would naturally dominate the market, seizing the fire persimmon business and earning huge profits.


    Chen Cha wasn''t the crucial issue; the key was Fei Si, the one behind him.


    Fei Si, a Golden Core cultivator, was known for his vicious and ruthless nature. Anyone who had lived long enough in Puppet Immortal City knew about him.


    Yuan Er was extremely worried that if his investigation led to Chen Cha, it would put him in an awkward position.


    Pursuing the matter was certainly not an option.


    But if he didn''t pursue it, it would make him seem weak and disappoint others. His position as the gang leader would be seriously undermined.


    Immediately, Yuan Er red fiercely at the elder who had suggested going to war, filled with the urge to strangle him on the spot.


    He knew this elder had always coveted the position of gang leader.


    Such was the nature of the gang.


    It wasn''t a family or a sect. There were no blood ties or bonds between master and disciple; it was all about interests. The strongest led, and whoever could make everyone rich took charge!


    The elder was adept at power ys, and with one squeeze, he had put Yuan Er in a dilemma.


    Yuan Er quickly thought, feigning deep contemtion, "That''s not the main issue right now."


    He looked at the numerous monkey corpses on the ground and said, "These monkeys, many of them are Uncle Monkey''s descendants. With such a significant incident, we must first seek his elder''s opinion."


    In an instant, the tension of coercion and intimidation dissipated.


    Although the old gang leader Yuan Yi had passed away, he left behind his spirit pet¡ªYuan Dasheng!


    This Fire Fusion Demon Ape had fought alongside Yuan Yi, starting from scratch and gradually establishing the foundation of the Monkey Head Gang. Now, it was the backbone of the gang!


    At the mention of Yuan Dasheng, all the elders were subdued.


    Most couldn''t help but feel a deep sense of reverence.


    Yuan Er secretly breathed a sigh of relief and turned to leave. "Uncle Monkey is sleeping; I''ll go wake him."


    Everyone hurriedly said, "Let Uncle Monkey sleep until noon. Don''t disturb its peaceful dream."


    Yuan Er insisted, "That''s for you. If I wake it up, there won''t be any problem. Don''t follow me, or you might irritate Uncle Monkey, and it''ll beat you up."


    Yuan Er leisurely walked away, and none of the elders dared to follow.


    Yuan Er left alone, his back radiating a sense of triumph.


    Many elders couldn''t help but grumble internally, "He''s really riding on the monkey''s coattails!"


    Yuan Er entered the tent.


    There he saw an old ape lying on its side, sleeping soundly.


    It was enormous, with thick deep red fur and an extremely robust body.


    Its body was covered with scars of various sizes, adding to the old ape''s rugged and formidable aura.


    Yuan Er instinctively lightened his steps, approached it, and gently called out, "Uncle Dasheng, Uncle Dasheng."


    "Dasheng, Dasheng¡­"


    Yuan Dasheng''s breathing was long and steady. Amidst the calls, he vaguely dreamt of his old master, Yuan Yi.


    Yuan Yi, in tattered clothes and with a disheveled appearance, came back holding a wooden bucket, his face beaming with joy. "Look what I managed to get!"


    "It''s leftovers from Yan Hong Lou. I arrived just in time before they threw it out and managed to grab a whole bucket of it!"


    "We''re in luck, we''re in luck."


    Yuan Yi ran to the ape''s side and ced the wooden bucket on the ground.


    "I gave you the perfect name! Dasheng, Dasheng. Every meal, you get to eat so many leftovers. How fortunate!"


    The ape was still growing and had a huge appetite.


    It had long smelled the aroma and impatiently plunged its head into the bucket, devouring the food without stopping.


    Soon, it had finished all the food.


    Just as it sat down, it heard Yuan Yi''s stomach growling.


    It was momentarily stunned.


    Yuan Yi grinned, "Hehe, I''ve already eaten, I''ve already eaten!"


    The ape''s cheeks puffed up, holding thest mouthful of food.


    It began to chew more slowly.

 Chapter 58: Ning Zhuo vs Yuan Dasheng

    Chapter 58: Ning Zhuo vs Yuan Dasheng


    < Chapter 58: Ning Zhuo vs Yuan Dasheng >


    Yuan Yi said, "Don''t worry, I''m human; I naturally eat less and don''t get hungry easily."


    He thenughed, "You are my brother. Thank you for protecting me earlier. In the future, those beggars from the Beggar Sect might still bully me, so I can''t let you go hungry!"


    The monkey opened its mouth, spit out the food, ced it in its palm, and offered it to Yuan Yi.


    Yuan Yi waved his hand, "No need, no need."


    However, his Adam''s apple involuntarily moved.


    The monkey was very persistent. It stepped forward, held its palm to Yuan Yi''s mouth, and let out a sound.


    "Hehe, then I won''t be polite." Yuan Yi''s eyes turned red as he held the monkey''s hand, lowered his head, and quickly ate thest handful of leftovers.


    "Delicious, delicious!" Yuan Yiughed. He was skinny, wearing clothes that belonged to someone else, very ill-fitting, and with his disheveled appearance, he looked like a monkey himself.The monkey alsoughed, chattering away.


    Man and monkey immersed themselves in happiness.


    "Dasheng Uncle, Dasheng Uncle¡­"


    Finally, Yuan Er woke the monkey.


    The moment it opened its eyes, the monkey almost mistook Yuan Er for its old master. After all, father and son looked so alike.


    The monkey''s vision cleared, and suddenly its nose twitched, its eyebrows furrowing.


    It smelled something very unpleasant.


    Yuan Er swallowed hard and quickly exined.


    The monkey listened halfway, then stood up and walked out of the tent.


    It was over ten feet tall, burly and majestic like a battle elephant. The scars all over its body were its medals of honor, showcasing its countless battle achievements.


    "Greetings, Lord Monkey!"


    The elders all bowed.


    The ape didn¡¯t even look at them, only stared at the numerous monkey corpses on the ground. After a moment of silence, it suddenly raised its head and let out a roar.


    The roar was deafening, and the sound waves it created directly blew many elders off their feet.


    Yuan Dasheng''s eyes turned red, truly enraged!


    The elders all broke out in a cold sweat.


    Yuan Er intentionally lingered at the back, feeling especially satisfied seeing the elders'' submissive expressions.


    He timely stepped forward and said, "Uncle Monkey, Uncle Monkey, such a big incident has urred, we will definitely find the true culprit and severely punish the murderer!"


    Yuan Dasheng gradually stopped roaring, lowered his head, and looked at Yuan Er. The familiar face of thetter slowly calmed him down.


    He slowly extended a finger and lightly tapped Yuan Er''s chest.


    Yuan Er''s heart raced. He took a small step back and hurriedly nodded, "Uncle Monkey, believe me, I won''t let you down!"


    "But right now, the gang is facing a major crisis. We must perform our best at the Huoshi Festival."


    "Currently, we are severely understaffed and can only rely on you, Uncle Monkey."


    "Please conserve your strength during this period. You are our pir of support!"


    Yuan Dasheng remained silent, slowly walked back, and entered the tent, disappearing from everyone''s sight.


    Yuan Er looked at the elders sprawled on the ground, showed a slight smile, and waved his sleeve, saying, "Get up."


    Next, all his various instructions were met with fullpliance from the elders.


    When he left, the elders began tomunicate through sound transmission.


    "Yuan Er relies on the monkey¡¯s power; does he have any aura of a leader?" someone scoffed.


    "Monkey Lord didn¡¯t get angry and kill; its temper has lessened."


    "What? Do you want it to go berserk?"


    "I mean, could it be that it''s getting old, its strength declining, just putting on a strong front?" an ambitious elder pondered.


    The oldest elder, upon hearing this, let out a disdainful sneer and turned to leave.


    The other elders hadn''t seen it, but during a gang operation exploring the Red me Demon Molten Cave, he had witnessed Yuan Dasheng''s battle firsthand.


    "Thebat strength of that Fire Serpent wasparable to a half-step Golden Core."


    "But in the end, it was torn apart by Yuan Dasheng¡­"


    "Although Yuan Dasheng has stepped into old age, hisbat power is extremely terrifying. He certainly has talent, at least of a high level."


    "Not having a cultivation method is his greatest regret, but it is also our gang''s greatest fortune."


    Birdsong was close at hand.


    Ning Zhuo was awakened from his slumber and opened his eyes.


    What woke him was a mechanical parrot, with a staff head inserted into its back.


    It was the staff head that controlled it, allowing it to call out at set times to wake Ning Zhuo.


    "It''s about time." Ning Zhuo immediately sensed the mark on his chest, letting his soul enter the Immortal Pce.


    He quickly assembled a puppet body and continued breaking through the levels.


    Along the way, he found traces of others attempting to break through. He retrieved surveince parts and saw that Zhou Zhu and Zheng Jian had begun to cooperate.


    "In the short term, they do not pose a threat."


    "The most crucial one is Yuan Dasheng; even Meng Chong is secondary."


    Ning Zhuo continued to pass through the levels.


    He was now proficient in more than twenty kinds of spells, all of which he wielded with great skill. As long as his spiritual power was abundant, passing these checkpoints was quite easy.


    After advancing as far as he could, Ning Zhuo retreated.


    He retreated all the way to Room Eight, stopped moving, and began to wait patiently.


    Soon after, the door was suddenly pushed open, and arge mechanical ape squeezed in.


    "It''s here," Ning Zhuo thought to himself as he slowly stood up, facing the ape.


    As their gazes met, Yuan Dasheng immediately realized that this mechanical puppet before him was not ordinary.


    After sizing up Ning Zhuo''s puppet, Yuan Dasheng scanned the entire room, considering not only the obvious mechanical traps but also specting about potential hidden traps.


    "It seems it mistook me for a guard puppet, like those Kung Fu puppets from before," Ning Zhuo thought with a nod.


    This was precisely the effect he wanted to create.


    In this regard, the leaderboard and his pseudonym yed a crucial role, making Yuan Dasheng believe that he was the only one daring to venture into the Immortal Pce!


    After observing for a while, Yuan Dasheng began to attempt breaking through the level.


    Ning Zhuo immediately took action.


    Spell¡ªIce Embracing Technique.


    Mechanical Part¡ªFlying Hand.


    Spell¡ªSingle Breath.


    Mechanical Part¡ªGas Ring.


    A mechanical arm swiftly flew toward Yuan Dasheng, with a burst of freezing cold air emanating from its palm.


    The freezing air would typically only be harmful upon contact. But the Gas Ring spun ahead, and with the influence of the Single Breath spell, the freezing air was blown outward.


    The fan-shaped burst of freezing air instantly swept over.


    Yuan Dasheng immediately dodged, though most of it missed him, a section of his left leg was still covered in frost.


    A fierce gleam appeared in Yuan Dasheng''s eyes!


    It was the first time he had seen a guard puppet capable of casting spells.


    Without any hesitation, Yuan Dasheng charged forward, his momentum fierce, quickly closing in on Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo leapt lightly, activating the Single Breath spell. Coupled with the pair of Gas Rings on his ankles, a propulsion current burst forth, pushing him backward.


    Ning Zhuo quickly widened the distance.


    As he retreated, he continued to attack.


    Dozens of Flying Hands continuouslyunched attacks. Ice Embracing Technique, Fire Grasping Technique, Metal Attraction Technique, Wood Connecting Technique, and others, all augmented by Single Breath, turned into mid- to long-range attacks.


    Yuan Dasheng tried his best to shrink his body, using his arms as shields to protect his face, smashing through all the spells, and charging straight at Ning Zhuo, ignoring everything else.


    This tactical choice was absolutely correct!


    But it couldn''t change his defeat.


    Momentster, Yuan Dasheng''s puppet body copsed, parts of it burned, parts frozen into ice blocks, and some wooden parts protruding, creating huge obstacles¡­


    Before copsing, Yuan Dasheng looked up and roared in anger, his roar filled with resentment, indignation, and helplessness.


    Frustration, utter frustration.


    This was far from his true strength!


    "It''s blocked," Ning Zhuo breathed a silent sigh of relief.


    The mechanical traps he set up were ineffective against Yuan Dasheng. Only by personally intervening could he halt thetter''s advance.


    The fan-shaped burst of freezing air instantly swept over.


    Yuan Dasheng immediately dodged, though he avoided most of it, a section of his left leg was still covered in frost.


    A fierce gleam appeared in Yuan Dasheng''s eyes!


    It was the first time he had seen a guard puppet capable of casting spells.


    Without any hesitation, Yuan Dasheng charged forward, his momentum fierce, quickly closing in on Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo leapt lightly, activating the Single Breath spell. Coupled with the pair of Gas Rings on his ankles, a propulsion current burst forth, pushing him backward.


    Ning Zhuo quickly widened the distance.


    As he retreated, he continued to attack.


    Dozens of Flying Hands continuouslyunched attacks. Ice Embracing Technique, Fire Grasping Technique, Metal Attraction Technique, Wood Connecting Technique, and others, all augmented by Single Breath, turned into mid- to long-range attacks.


    Yuan Dasheng tried his best to shrink his body, using his arms as shields to protect his face, smashing through all the spells, and charging straight at Ning Zhuo, ignoring everything else.


    This tactical choice was absolutely correct!


    But it couldn''t change his defeat.


    Momentster, Yuan Dasheng''s puppet body copsed, parts of it burned, parts frozen into ice blocks, and some wooden parts protruding, creating huge obstacles¡­


    Before copsing, Yuan Dasheng looked up and roared in anger, his roar filled with resentment, indignation, and helplessness.


    Frustration, utter frustration.


    This was far from his true strength!


    "It''s blocked," Ning Zhuo breathed a silent sigh of relief.


    The mechanical traps he set up were ineffective against Yuan Dasheng. Only by personally intervening could he halt thetter''s advance.

 Chapter 59: Starting from Scratch

    Chapter 59: Starting from Scratch


    < Chapter 59: Starting from Scratch >


    Lava Immortal Pce, Main Hall.


    "Roar!"


    Seeing Yuan Dasheng defeated, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit tilted its head back in anger, its dragon ws fiercely mming down on the armrest of its throne.


    Although the leaderboard within the Lava Immortal Pce didn''t clearly show it, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit knew that Yuan Dasheng''s demonic skills were at a high level, perfectlyplementing its own powerful physical body.


    The problem was, having its soul drawn into the pce had deprived it of its original body, leaving it with only a puppet''s form.


    The puppet bodycked blood energy, except when it came into contact with the demonic sects beyond Room Nine.


    At that point, if Yuan Dasheng could just slightly unleash his true potential, he would soar to unprecedented heights.


    But Ning Zhuo had blocked him!The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had hoped that Ning Zhuo would make a mistake in the fight. From beginning to end, Ning Zhuo had avoided closebat with Yuan Dasheng. Thispletely dashed the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit''s hopes.


    What further infuriated the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was seeing Ning Zhuo''s name on the leaderboard.


    It was just too cunning! Yuan Dasheng had been utterly deceived.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit wished it could scratch off those few characters itself. But it couldn''t.


    For any disciple participating in the trial, it couldn''t reveal the slightest bit of information. This was the strict rule set by the Three Sect Elders!


    In Room Eight, Ning Zhuo began to clean up the battlefield. Despite his victory, he felt no joy. The oue of this battle had been within his expectations.


    At present, with his mastery of numerous spells, along with the various mechanicalponents, spirit stones, and spiritual power at his disposal, his overall strength far surpassed that of Yuan Dasheng.


    Moreover, he had previously observed Yuan Dasheng and was well aware of his speed, strength, and other specific capabilities. Rather than a head-on confrontation, it was more urate to describe this as a hunt!


    "Even if I defeat it countless times, it will alwayse back. It won''t truly die."


    Therefore, this did notpletely solve the problem.


    Ning Zhuo carefully examined Yuan Dasheng''s mechanicalponents. While the Lava Immortal Pce had yet to clear them away, he hurried to check them.


    Despite having the upper hand throughout the entire fight, Ning Zhuo felt significant pressure, sensing that it might be concealing some innate talent.


    If there was an innate talent, it might manifest in the mechanicalponents. For instance, Ning Zhuo''s early wisdom talent could be discerned from hisrge head.


    However, after scrutinizing them two or three times, Ning Zhuo found no hidden secrets. Although theponents were substantial, their proportions were natural and reasonable, with no single part standing out excessively.


    "Is it like Meng Chong''s Wild Sprint Thunderp, which only bes apparent once activated?"


    "No, if it could be activated, it would have been used during the previous battle."


    "Is it the puppet body that prevents its use? Or is there another restriction?"


    Ning Zhuo sighed. This search had yielded negligible results.


    Soon, he left Room Eight, heading back quickly to repair the mechanical traps. He also froze the humanoid puppets and took them to the preparation room, cing them on various mechanical tforms. Using various mechanical tools, he repaired and reinforced them.


    Yuan Yi and Dasheng suffered imprisonment, hit rock bottom, and then rebounded. They joined forces with their fellow inmates to break out of the Beggar Sect''s private prison. After several days of fierce street battles, they eventually overthrew the Beggar Sect.


    After the war, Yuan Yi''s contributions were immense, and he was elected leader by the people.


    Seizing the opportunity, he reorganized and established the Monkey Head Gang.


    In the early days of the Monkey Head Gang, they faced joint suppression from other gangs in Huoshi City.


    The situation was precarious several times, and it was only through Dasheng''s fierce battles that they managed to stand firm and gradually grow stronger.


    During this blood-soaked process, Dasheng''s name was gradually forgotten.


    More and more people began to respectfully call him Dasheng, and for the sake of the gang''s reputation, Yuan Yi gave him a surname, finally making him Yuan Dasheng.


    "This is a man of great talent who started from scratch, endured the trials of blood and fire, and ultimately built a foundation!"


    Ning Zhuo carefully studied Dasheng''s win rate during beast fights and several crucial gang battles afterward.


    "Individually, Yuan Dasheng''s fights had wins and losses. But if we calcte the overall win rate, it''s very problematic."


    "His win rate is too high, indicating he has some powerful trump card!"


    Generally, such individuals who rise from obscurity frequently encounter dangers, making it hard to conceal a trump card. But Yuan Dasheng managed to do so.


    From this, it could be inferred that his hidden trump card was likely significant, very significant!


    "He might have exceptional talent."


    "But this time in our confrontation, I didn''t uncover it."


    Ning Zhuo furrowed his brows, pondering deeply without a solution.


    The underground workspace was silent, and the atmosphere was quite oppressive.


    Yuan Dasheng''s own strength was already formidable enough to severely threaten Ning Zhuo''s leading position and greatly disrupt his ns.


    Even more terrifying was the reaction of the other four major powers after Yuan Dasheng''s exposure.


    The response of these righteous factions was almost unanimous: they would coerce and entice Yuan Dasheng to use him for their purposes!


    With such a powerful weapon, any of them could gain a leading edge and even ultimately obtain the Lava Immortal Pce.


    As for Yuan Dasheng cultivating demonic arts, it didn''t matter at all.


    Weren''t there already plenty of demonic cultivators acting as the ck gloves for righteous factions?


    Sometimes, righteous cultivators even disguised themselves as demonic cultivators to do things that their righteous identities couldn''t.


    And Yuan Dasheng was very easy to manipte.


    The Monkey Head Gang and Yuan Er were his weaknesses.


    Once a strong alliance was formed, Ning Zhuo''s defeat would be almost certain.


    The subsequent developments were easy to predict.


    The righteous factions would team up with Yuan Dasheng, destroy the mechanical traps, and quickly surpass Ning Zhuo.


    They would eventually be the masters of the Lava Immortal Pce, check the records, learn about Ning Zhuo''s actions, then capture Ning Zhuo and uncover the Buddha Heart Demon Seal!

 Chapter 60: Too Many Clues

    Chapter 60: Too Many Clues


    < Chapter 60: Too Many Clues >


    So, letting Ning Zhuo recruit Yuan Dasheng? The sess rate was almost zero.


    The Four Great Powers could use their influence to pressure others, but Ning Zhuo couldn¡¯t. He was only at the thirdyer of Qi Refining, an insignificant figure within the Ning family. The Monkey Head Gang had nearly ten Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, along with the formidable presence of Yuan Dasheng. Why would they be recruited by Ning Zhuo?


    Cooperate?


    The same principle applied. What qualifications did someone as insignificant as Ning Zhuo have to negotiate cooperation with the Monkey Head Gang and Yuan Dasheng?


    Expose the Buddha Heart Demon Seal to show his true advantage?


    In Ning Zhuo''s view: that would be an incredibly foolish move!


    Once he did that, he would be gambling his life on the goodness of others. Were the Monkey Head Gang and Yuan Dasheng kind-hearted? A gang that prioritized profit, and an ape who had fought his way up from nothing¡ªkind-hearted?


    All kinds of information were in Ning Zhuo''s hands. One could say that Yuan Yi and Yuan Dasheng''s experiences were very inspirational, but that didn¡¯t mean they were kind! In fact, it was quite the opposite.The situation for Ning Zhuo was extremely dangerous. He was acutely aware that he was walking on the edge of a cliff, and the next step could send him plummeting into the abyss of failure.


    ¡°I must secretly eliminate Yuan Dasheng!¡±


    This was the only solution Ning Zhuo could think of.


    But how to kill him?


    The Zheng family.


    Two Golden Core members of the Zheng family appeared simultaneously to entertain Zhu Xuanji. Chi Dun was apanying them. Zhu Xuanji was studying the medicine bottle in his hand. The bottle was almostpletely transparent, allowing the ck smoke inside to be seen from the outside.


    Zhu Xuanji''s eyes gleamed with golden light for a moment. ¡°This is made from fire poison.¡±


    In the battle between Zheng Shuanggou and the shadow demon cultivator, although thetter escaped, some things were collected. For example, this peculiar ck smoke that could seal spiritual senses duringbat, causing significant trouble for Zheng Shuanggou.


    Zheng Shuanggou absorbed some and stored it away to study and break it down, preparing for the next encounter. When Zhu Xuanji arrived, Zheng Shuanggou dared not hide anything and handed it over directly.


    Zheng Shuanggou said, ¡°To be precise, it is Heartburn Fire Poison.¡±


    ¡°Five years ago, a Golden Core cultivator from the Saint Ape Sect came to Huoshi Immortal City. During his stay, he went berserk, and his soul fused with his spirit pet, the Furious Heart Monkey.¡±


    ¡°We joined forces and killed him in the Red me Demon Molten Cave. However, before the Furious Heart Monkey died, it caused great havoc on Mount Huoshi.¡±


    ¡°Many demonic beasts, spirit nts, geothermal heat, earth mes, fire poison, and evil energy were contaminated with its fury, resulting in varying degrees of mutation.¡±


    Zhu Xuanji nodded slightly and set down the medicine bottle. He had observed many items since arriving but had not found any useful clues.


    ¡°It seems I must venture into Mount Huoshi,¡± Zhu Xuanji said. ¡°Daoist Zheng Shuanggou, please take me to the previous battle site.¡±


    Zheng Shuanggou looked troubled. ¡°This¡­ Detective Zhu, is it really necessary?¡±


    ¡°The Lava Immortal Pce has already emerged, and the former Red me Demon Molten Cave is destroyed. Although it will regenerate, the newly formed tunnels and caves are very unstable.¡±


    "Especially since the Lava Immortal Pce asionally erupts. Every eruption causes the mountain to shake, magma to roll, and destroys most of the new tunnels."


    "If we want to go there, we have to dig our own tunnels. We also have to face endless geothermal heat, ground mes, and magma. What''s more troublesome is that some native monsters won''t let us pass."


    Zhu Xuanji said, "No matter how difficult it is, we have to take a look. Daoist Chi Dun wille to help me."


    Chi Dun frowned slightly but nodded his head.


    Zheng Shuanggou sighed. As one of the parties involved, he couldn''t shirk the responsibility and had to agree reluctantly, "Alright, I will apany Detective Zhu on this journey."


    Ning Zhuo came to see Sun Lingtong.


    "This is thetest information about the Monkey Head Gang and Yuan Dasheng that you wanted to buy before." Sun Lingtong tossed a jade slip to the young puppet master Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo''s voice was hoarse, "Thank you."


    "I still want monkeys. On one hand, buy more wild monkeys! On the other hand, continue hiring people. The more of the Monkey Head Gang''s spirit pets they kill, the more bounty I will give." Ning Zhuo tossed out a storage bag filled with spirit stones.


    "Understood," Sun Lingtongughed. "Brother, well done!"


    "Now, the entire Monkey Head Gang is already in a state of panic."


    "The business of picking Huoshi is extremely profitable. Recing the Monkey Head Gang, you can earn a fortune every year."


    "Striking first is the best strategy. This style of action suits me perfectly. You are really suited to join our No-Void Sect."


    Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly, without a hint of happiness, "As long as Yuan Dasheng remains, the Monkey Head Gang cannot be underestimated."


    Sun Lingtong''s chubby face showed a hint of ruthlessness. He extended his hand and made a slicing motion, "I say, why don''t we hire some demon cultivators to help us? We''ll find an opportunity when Yuan Dasheng is alone and take him out!"


    "This matter needs careful nning!" Ning Zhuo immediately shook his head. "Yuan Dasheng has been through countless battles and is not simple. Various clues indicate he has a powerful hidden card."


    Sun Lingtong raised his chin and said nonchntly, "How do we know if we don''t try? We can hire some demon cultivators as cannon fodder. Even if it doesn''t work, we can probe his hidden card."


    Ning Zhuo frowned deeply. Sun Lingtong''s attitude made him uneasy. "If it were so easy to force out his hidden card, why hasn''t anyone seeded all these years?"


    "Let me tell you a reliable piece of information."


    "On the surface, Yuan Dasheng has no cultivation, but in reality, he has practiced demonic arts and his cultivation level is definitely not low!"


    Sun Lingtong was immediately moved.


    Yuan Dasheng was a Fire Fusion Demon Ape, known for his formidable closebat skills. If he revealed his demonic arts, hisbat power might increase tenfold.


    "The Monkey Head Gang has also received Fei Si''s permission to participate in the Huoshi Festival. If we make too big a move, the City Lord''s Mansion will be the first to deal with us," Ning Zhuo added.


    Sun Lingtong smacked his lips and waved his hand, "Then forget it."


    Unexpectedly, Ning Zhuo said, "We won''t target Yuan Dasheng, but we can assassinate Yuan Er. Before the assassination, send him a warning letter. The assassination must fail; it cannot seed."


    Sun Lingtong rolled his eyes, "Brother, what are you nning?"


    Mount Huoshi.


    "Hurry, I can''t hold on much longer!" Zheng Shuanggou used all his strength to maintain the temporary passage.


    Chi Dun was bleeding profusely, silently fending off several ferocious beasts.


    "Hold on a little longer, we''re almost there," Zhu Xuanji said, his eyes glowing with golden light as he continuously formed hand seals.


    Hearing this, Zheng Shuanggou almost coughed up blood, as Zhu Xuanji had said the same thing half an incense stick ago.


    Chi Dun, however, really did spit out a mouthful of blood, revealing a weakness.


    A Fire Serpent saw this and immediately charged with its horn.


    This Fire Serpent was practically a fire dragon, with a horn growing on its head. If it struck Chi Dun, he would be severely injured, or even killed.


    But in the next moment, Zhu Xuanji truly finished his work. He activated a talisman, taking the two Golden Core stage cultivators with him, and transformed into a rainbow to escape.


    Within a few breaths, the three had fled the volcano.


    "We''re safe!" Zheng Shuanggou exhaled a breath of relief.


    Chi Dun began silently healing his wounds.


    Zheng Shuanggou looked at Zhu Xuanji, "Detective Zhu, did you find anything?"


    Zhu Xuanji smiled, "A significant discovery. Using the Trace Back Art, I saw that the one bombing the Immortal Pce was a Thousand-Pound Fire Essence. The one deploying the Fire Essence was a mechanical monkey."


    "When I return to Huoshi Immortal City and use the Trace Back Art again, I will definitely find the relevant people and objects. Capturing the culprit is within reach."


    Zheng Shuanggou and Chi Dun looked at him in amazement.


    Zhu Xuanji looked up at the sky, "Under my golden eyes, the true culprit has nowhere to hide!"


    Momentster.


    Zhu Xuanji activated the Trace Back Art and used his celestial golden eyes, staring intently at the special vision showing the red-glowing mechanical monkeys scattered throughout the city.


    "Detective Zhu, why aren''t we leaving?" Zheng Shuanggou asked, puzzled.


    Zhu Xuanji: "¡­"

 Chapter 61: Interrogating Chen Cha

    Chapter 61: Interrogating Chen Cha


    < Chapter 61: Interrogating Chen Cha >


    After a moment of silence, Zhu Xuanji chuckled lightly, steadying his emotions. "Interesting."


    He then asked, "What is the origin of these Mechanical Apes?"


    Zheng Shuanggou immediately frowned, finding it somewhat unbelievable. "Lord Zhu, do you mean to say that the shadow demon cultivator used these Mechanical Apes to blow up the Immortal Pce?"


    "I know about this," Chi Dun spoke up, his voice deep.


    He knew quite a lot. After all, when Fei Si presented the treasure to the city lord, it was right in front of him.


    Chi Dun gave Zhu Xuanji a brief introduction.


    Zhu Xuanji nodded slightly and said directly, "Take me to the Flying Disk Workshop."


    * * *At the Flying Disk Workshop, Chen Cha handed over arge batch of spirit stones to Ning Zhuo. "Brother Ning, these are your recent dividends."


    ced in front of Ning Zhuo were seven or eight storage bags, each filled to the brim with spirit stones.


    Originally, when Chen Cha and Ning Zhuo had agreed to coborate, Chen Cha took only thirty percent of the profits, while the remaining seventy percent went to Ning Zhuo. Moreover, Ning Zhuo did not need to provide any raw materials.


    The business of the Mechanical Explosive Monkeys had grown tremendously. All the mechanical workshops in the city were manufacturing them around the clock, running at full capacity, yet there was still a significant shortage.


    This was not the first time Ning Zhuo had received his share of the profits.


    Ever since thest time Chen Cha privately requested Ning Zhuo to let him take credit for inventing the Mechanical Explosive Monkeys, Chen Cha had felt deeply guilty, ashamed to face Ning Zhuo.


    Therefore, although he knew Ning Zhuo had considerable talent in mechanical design, he had never invited him to the workshop to participate in the manufacturing process.


    Their meetings were solely for the purpose of handing over the dividends.


    But this time, Ning Zhuo visited with a different purpose.


    "Old Chen, I have an important matter to discuss."


    Chen Cha was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Just call me Old Chen. Brother Ning, feel free to speak. I will do my best to help!"


    Ning Zhuo then took out a mechanical monkey and ced it in front of Chen Cha.


    The familiar scene once again left Chen Cha in a daze.


    "Old Chen, take a look at this."


    "I''ve been diligently practicing the Five Elements Qi Regtion Arttely, and I''ve realized that the current demand for mechanical monkeys is still far from being met. So, I came up with a way to increase production."


    Chen Cha sighed, "This year''s situation is too unique."


    "In previous Fire Persimmon Festivals, we only picked a portion of the fire persimmons, relying on the Monkey Head Gang as the main force toplete the task."


    "This year, a Golden Core stage shadow demon cultivator has intruded, making the City Lord''s Mansion act with extreme caution. We must harvest all the fire persimmons before dealing with the shadow demon cultivator to minimize losses."


    At this point, Chen Cha began to inspect the mechanical monkey.


    Ning Zhuo timely exined, "I adjusted some of the material ratios, mainly tweaking the muscles¡­"


    Listening to the exnation and examining the monkey himself, Chen Cha''s expression became somewhat grave.


    He looked up and gave Ning Zhuo a deep nce. If not for his sense of guilt, he would have already walked away in a huff or even reprimanded him on the spot.


    Chen Cha took a deep breath, his face showing aplex expression, and advised, "Brother Ning, this is purely cutting corners."


    "ording to yourtest n, you have indeed significantly reduced the production process, cutting down a lot of workload. But the mechanical monkeys produced are far inferior to the previous ones."


    "Not only is it prone to breaking down during use, but its body will melt slightly when exposed to heat."


    "I remember you specifically visited me before to discuss how to solve the issue of the body melting when heated."


    Ning Zhuo smiled and said, "Old Chen, this is precisely the essence of my improvement!"


    "Think about it, how many years can we continue to sell mechanical monkeys?"


    "After this year, there will be too many mechanical explosive monkeys in the market. How much more can we sell next year?"


    "In business, we must consider the long-term flow."


    "These new explosive monkeys won''tst long; those who need them will have to buy more."


    Chen Cha''s face grew even more serious. "I think differently from you. Mechanical devices shouldn''t be made this way. Quality is crucial to build a good reputation and attract repeat customers."


    "You have to realize that we''re not the only ones producing mechanical explosive monkeys. Eventually, someone will imitate them, and if our quality is poor, we''ll lose the market."


    Ning Zhuo smiled indifferently. "Old Chen, with your rtionship with Lord Fei Si, whatpetition do we have to fear?"


    Just as he was about to continue persuading, a voice suddenly interrupted, "Oh? Chen Cha, what rtionship do you have with Fei Si?"


    "Who is it?!" Chen Cha immediately stood up.


    Ning Zhuo''s expression also changed, and he stood shoulder to shoulder with Chen Cha, fully alert.


    The next moment, Zhu Xuanji pushed the door open, followed closely by Chi Dun and Zheng Shuanggou.


    Chen Cha and Ning Zhuo were both stunned and hurriedly bowed in greeting.


    Both of them knew Chi Dun and Zheng Shuanggou, but Zhu Xuanji was unfamiliar to them.


    Zhu Xuanji picked up his waist token and introduced himself, "I am Zhu Xuanji, a member of the Detective Division and a personnel of the Southern Dou royal family. I am here to investigate the emergence of the Lava Immortal Pce."


    "Let me ask you, was the appearance of the Immortal Pce your doing?"


    Zhu Xuanji stared intently at Chen Cha, his eyes shing with golden light.


    Chen Cha waspletely bewildered by the question!


    It took him two breaths to react, and he smiled bitterly, "How could I possibly have the capability to be involved with the emergence of the Immortal Pce?"


    Zhu Xuanji frowned slightly, sensing that Chen Cha was not lying.


    He then asked, "How did you design the mechanical explosive monkeys? How were they made and sold? Exin everything to me clearly."


    "Well¡­" Chen Cha hesitated, then reluctantly began to speak.


    He had only said a little when Zhu Xuanji interrupted, "You are lying!"


    In the next moment, Zhu Xuanji''s eyes zed with golden light, and a Golden Core-level aura burst forth, pressing down on Chen Cha, forcing him to the ground.


    "How dare you, Chen Cha! To conceal the truth in front of a Detective?!" Zheng Shuanggou shouted sternly.


    Chi Dun''s face was also as hard as iron. "Tell us the whole truth, or you will be considered an aplice of the shadow demon cultivator!"


    Chen Cha was so frightened that his face turned pale, and his body trembled uncontrobly.


    "Please wait, sirs. I dare to interrupt, but there are hidden circumstances in this matter, and I am also privy to them," Ning Zhuo hurriedly said.


    "Oh?" In an instant, the gazes of the three Golden Core cultivators turned towards him.


    Zhu Xuanji said meaningfully, "I will interrogate you after I finish with Chen Cha. But since you wish to speak, then go ahead. Perhaps you can atone for your crimes."


    In his special vision, both Chen Cha and Ning Zhuo appeared red with ck hues. Ning Zhuo was even more red and ck than Chen Cha.


    Feeling immense pressure, Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth and said, "Both Chen Cha and I signed a contract. Speaking too much could result in bacsh!"


    "Fei Si knows about this."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Zhuo''s face turned pale, and he started to bleed from his nose, providing the most evident proof of the so-called "bacsh" he had mentioned.


    Upon hearing the name Fei Si, Zhu Xuanji raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at Chi Dun, saying, "Interesting."


    Chi Dun hurriedly said, "I will go and consult the Lord of the City immediately."


    "No need, I am already here," Fei Si''s voice came from outside the door.

 Chapter 62: Did You Invent the Mechanical Monkey

    Chapter 62: Did You Invent the Mechanical Monkey


    < Chapter 62: Did You Invent the Mechanical Monkey? >


    The next moment, Fei Si pushed the door open and entered.


    Zhu Xuanji stared at Fei Si with deep, intense eyes. "You arrived quite quickly."


    Fei Si smiled, but the smile was filled with bitterness.


    Zhu Xuanji had a special status, and Fei Si paid close attention to his every move. Although the city lord did not explicitly instruct him, how could Fei Si not know what to do?


    Thus, when Zhu Xuanji and his twopanions left the volcano and headed straight to the Flying Disk Workshop, Fei Si received the news immediately.


    The Flying Disk Workshop and Chen Cha were closely connected to Fei Si. Especially with the Huoshi Festival approaching, Fei Si urgently needed as many Mechanical Exclusive Monkeys as possible.


    This matter was crucial to the Huoshi Festival, which Fei Si was responsible for. Naturally, he did not dare to be careless.


    Now that Zhu Xuanji and hispanions were heading to the Flying Disk Workshop, Fei Si couldn''t sit still and rushed over."First, I have nothing to do with the appearance of the Immortal Pce," Fei Si began. "Second, this started with a small mistake on my part."


    He then detailed how, out of concern for the livelihood of the people and fear that the wealth of the Southern Dou Dynasty might be destroyed, he was eager to present treasures to the city lord and rmended the mechanical monkeys. Therefore, he mistakenly believed Chen Cha was the inventor.


    When he discovered this mistake, Chen Cha suggested that they could cover it up.


    At first, Fei Si hesitated, but Chen Cha''s persistent persuasion led him to agree.


    Chen Cha then privately approached Ning Zhuo, asking him to transfer the inventor''s identity to him in exchange for a hefty reward.


    Ning Zhuo agreed.


    The two signed a contract to keep this secret together. (In fact, Fei Si had ordered Chen Cha to do this, and the agreement was added afterward.)


    "Sounds nice!" Chi Dun sneered, staring at Fei Si. "But I know you''re lying."


    Zhu Xuanji frowned even more deeply. Using his cultivation technique, he could tell that much of what Fei Si said was false, although the main points were true.


    Considering that Fei Si was a Golden Core cultivator and held a high position responsible for the daily affairs of Huoshi Immortal City, Zhu Xuanji chose not to expose him.


    Zheng Shuanggou then looked at Ning Zhuo, reassessing him. "So, you are the inventor of the Mechanical Monkeys."


    Ning Zhuo quickly bowed, once again expressing his gratitude to Zheng Shuanggou for saving his life.


    Zheng Shuanggou, a Golden Core cultivator, had once saved the remaining members of the Ning family at the volcano''s peak, including Ning Zhuo, Ning Yong, and Ning Chen.


    Zheng Shuanggou smiled and said, "Since you remember my life-saving grace, how do you n to repay it?" Realizing Ning Zhuo''s talent with mechanisms, he had a slight intention to recruit him.


    Ning Zhuo smiled wryly. "As a cultivator of the Ning family, it might be difficult for me to fully repay you, my lord, but I will do my utmost."


    Zheng Shuanggou waved his hand. "Forget it, forget it. How could I trouble a junior like you?"


    As a cultivator of the Ning family, forcibly recruiting Ning Zhuo would undoubtedly cause friction with the Ning family.


    Previously, the three families had already been discussing joining forces against the City Lord''s Mansion. Since Ning Zhuo had changed his cultivation, whether he joined the Zheng family or not was no longer significant.


    Hearing this, Zhu Xuanji looked at Ning Zhuo again. "Were you present when the Immortal Pce emerged?"


    Ning Zhuo replied, "Yes, I was fortunate enough to escape with my life."


    "Ha ha. I know this much," Chi Dunughed. He had found Fei Si''s weak spot and was very pleased, saying boldly, "After the incident, I interrogated many people. The Ning family cultivators were among the first batch."


    "At that time, I not only used the Heart Questioning Formation but also carried the Alert Heart Bell personally bestowed by the City Lord."


    "It was the Alert Heart Bell''s warning that allowed me to discover the lurking Shadow demon cultivator! Afterward, I chased him all the way until he escaped into the Huoshi Forest."


    Zhu Xuanji nodded and asked the crucial question, "When did you start producing the Mechanical Explosive Monkeys? Did your design drawings leak before? Are there any other insiders?"


    Upon inquiry, Zhu Xuanji found out that the Mechanical Explosive Monkeys had been sold even before the Immortal Pce emerged.


    On the same day Ning Zhuo sought advice from Chen Cha, the two had reached an agreement to coborate and began producing the Mechanical Explosive Monkeys for sale.


    ording to Chen Cha, he needed to introduce the product to the market, obtain market feedback, and then decide the level of investment and production scale.


    Although Ning Zhuo imed that his design drawings had not leaked, as a mere Qi Refining stage disciple, it would be difficult for him to detect if they had been spied upon.


    In short, this clue was useless.


    Tracking down the exact buyers of each Mechanical Explosive Monkey was an enormous task that made Zhu Xuanji''s scalp tingle just thinking about it.


    This did not even ount for the cases of resale.


    In reality, a single Mechanical Monkey could go through first-hand, second-hand, third-hand¡­


    At this point in the investigation, Zhu Xuanji lost interest in the Flying Disk Workshop, Chen Cha, and Ning Zhuo.


    As they left, Fei Si saw them off. "Actually, Lord Zhu, there''s no need to go to such great lengths investigating all this."


    "The Huoshi Festival is just around the corner. By then, we will surround and capture that Shadow demon cultivator."


    "If we can capture and interrogate him alive, with the methods of the Detective Division, the mastermind behind the scenes will surely surface, won''t it?"


    This was Fei Si''s thinking.


    As the person handling most of the affairs, he had to meticulously calcte his time each day, prioritizing efficiency.


    In his eyes, Zhu Xuanji''s extensive investigation seemed to be a very inefficient endeavor.


    The culprit was hiding in the Huoshi Forest. Wouldn''t it be more efficient to capture the real culprit directly at that time?


    Zhu Xuanji snorted coldly and looked at Fei Si. "I understand your point. Rest assured, I will be there to oversee things on the day of the Huoshi Festival."


    "I very much want to meet that Shadow demon cultivator in person!"


    Fei Si smiled. He had said this to seek additional support.


    As a member of the Detective Division, Zhu Xuanji''sbat prowess was formidable. Additionally, with his royal family background, he likely carried many precious treasures.


    This greatly increased the likelihood of capturing the Shadow demon cultivator.


    Zhu Xuanji left the Flying Disk Workshop.


    On the way, Zheng Shuanggou bid farewell to Zhu Xuanji.


    Only Chi Dun remained. His thoughts were actually quite simr to Fei Si''s. He also wanted to capture the Shadow demon cultivator during the Huoshi Festival to directly resolve the core issue.


    Zhu Xuanji sneered. "Do you really think the Shadow demon cultivator is the true culprit behind the explosion at the Immortal Pce?"


    Chi Dun was stunned. "Isn''t he?"


    Zhu Xuanji shook his head. "Don''t let your inner assumptions blind you."


    ¡°From the current clues, it seems that the Immortal Pce was bombed and damaged again, causing it to reappear.¡±


    ¡°The explosion was caused by the Mechanical Monkeys. From this point of view, others can alsomand these mechanical creations.¡±


    Chi Dun paused in ce, acknowledging that Zhu Xuanji''s words made a lot of sense.


    ¡°But if it wasn''t the shadow demon cultivator, who else could it be?¡± He pondered deeply, his body suddenly trembling as he revealed a look of disbelief, ¡°Could it be¡­ Zheng Shuanggou?!¡±


    Zhu Xuanji shook his head again, ¡°Anything is possible.¡±


    ¡°Just think, if the shadow demon cultivator isn''t the real culprit and we mistakenly believe he is, thereby wasting precious investigation time, how would we deal with it?¡±


    Chi Dun nodded, ¡°What Lord Zhu said is very true. But wasn''t the clue about the Mechanical Monkeys a dead end?¡±


    Zhu Xuanji smiled slightly and looked up at the sky, ¡°Chi Dun, you¡¯ve forgotten, there¡¯s actually a more crucial clue.¡±


    ¡°The real culprit behind the bombing of the Immortal Pce wasn''t the Mechanical Monkeys, but the thousand-pound Fire Essence.¡±


    ¡°Purchasing such arge amount of Fire Essence would surely attract attention, and the seller would have a very strong impression!¡±


    Chi Dun pped his hands excitedly, ¡°Yes, yes. This is indeed a valuable clue.¡±


    Zhu Xuanji turned to him, ¡°So next, I want you to lead me to investigate the various markets in the Immortal City.¡±


    ¡°Understood, my lord!¡± Chi Dun, seeing hope in the investigation, spoke with renewed enthusiasm.

 Chapter 63: I Want to Climb Up

    Chapter 63: I Want to Climb Up


    < Chapter 63: I Want to Climb Up >


    Fei Si sent Zhu Xuanji away. He turned back to the Flying Disk Workshop and stared at Chen Cha and Ning Zhuo, his gaze focused on Ning Zhuo.


    He suddenly released the pressure of a Golden Core martial artist. Ning Zhuo, caught off guard, was brought to his knees while Chen Cha turned pale with fright, "Master Fei Si, what are you doing¡­"


    Fei Si sneered, "Recently, the Monkey Head Gang has suffered numerous blows, with more than thirty percent of their monkey pets poisoned."


    "Upon investigation, it was discovered that someone had been spending a lot of money from a long time ago to hunt wild monkeys. Moreover, they even offered a heavy reward in the ck market for the lives of the Monkey Head Gang''s monkey pets."


    "Not only that, the current leader of the Monkey Head Gang, Yuan Er, had an assassination attempt on him. The assassin was extremely arrogant, even sending a death threat before the assassination attempt. Although the assassination failed, Yuan Er was scared out of his wits and has been hiding in the gang''s base, no longer venturing out."


    Fei Si stared at Ning Zhuo, "Were you the one behind all this?"


    Ning Zhuo was almost crushed to the ground by the pressure. His face turned pale, and cold sweat covered his body. He struggled to resist the pressure and barely managed to speak, "Master Fei Si, if you ask me like this, I will surely deny it."


    "I have already produced new mechanical monkeys using new blueprints. They can be made soon and can fully meet your demands!"Fei Si raised his eyebrows slightly and turned to look at Chen Cha. Worried about Ning Zhuo''s life, Chen Cha quickly nodded, "Master Fei Si, that''s right. However the new mechanical monkeys use fewer materials and processes, so their quality has dropped significantly, making it difficult to maintain for long."


    Fei Si inquired, "Can the Huoshi be picked?"


    Chen Cha nodded. "That won''t be a problem."


    Only then did Fei Si''s expression soften, gradually retracting his pressure. He looked down at Ning Zhuo from above.


    "Get up."


    "Thank you, my lord." Ning Zhuo staggered to his feet, drenched in cold sweat with his lips bitten through and a bleeding nose. Looking quite disheveled.


    Fei Si pointed at Ning Zhuo. "You¡¯re quite clever. Ning Zhuo, was it? I''ll remember you."


    Ning Zhuo immediately showed a hint of joy. "To be remembered by you, my lord, is an honor beyond measure. I am willing to stake my life on it¡ªwe will definitely produce enough Mechanical Monkeys to meet the needs of the Huoshi Festival."


    Fei Si gave a satisfied nod, his attitude further softening at Ning Zhuo''s assurance.


    Ning Zhuo continued, "My lord, ording to my new design, we could make the Mechanical Monkeys out of monkey corpses."


    "Haven''t many monkey pets from the Monkey Head Gang died? We could use these monkey corpses as raw materials."


    "I hope my lord will permit it!"


    Upon hearing these words, Fei Si squinted his eyes, reassessing Ning Zhuo.


    Stroking his beard, he felt a touch of admiration for Ning Zhuo. "This young man is ruthless despite his age, aiming to bring down the Monkey Head Gang."


    "He sees it clearly: the Exclusive Monkey business relies on picking Huoshi. And the Monkey Head Gang monopolizes this trade. So, he wants to dethrone the Monkey Head Gang."


    "He ns to use my power to obtain the monkey corpses. Can Yuan Er refuse? But if he doesn¡¯t, what will be of the leader''s authority?"


    "Resourceful and capable," Fei Si mused. "Just like me, back when I was young."


    If Ning Zhuo had Golden Core cultivation, or even Foundation Establishment cultivation, Fei Si would feel apprehensive. But at this moment, Ning Zhuo was just a Qi Refining stage youth. This left Fei Si feeling no pressure.


    Thinking of this, Fei Si disyed a smile with an obscure meaning. "How interesting. How much money do you think it would take to buy the monkey corpses from the Monkey Head Gang?"


    Without hesitation, Ning Zhuo replied, "I am willing to give up forty percent of the profits. From now on, forty percent of the profits from the Mechanical Exclusive Monkeys will be yours, my lord!"


    Fei Si pretended to be confused. "What does this have to do with me?"


    Ning Zhuo immediately responded, "Lord Fei Si, you are the guardian of Puppet Immortal City. How could anything not rte to you?"


    "On the other hand, the Monkey Head Gang, with blood on their hands, sucking the life out of the people, are leeches."


    "They should contribute more to our Puppet Immortal City, and think more about our guardian, Lord Fei Si."


    "Those monkeys are dead anyway, and they would only bury them. It would be better to give them to us, to solve the problems of the Huoshi Festival and help our Puppet Immortal City progress!"


    Fei Siughed heartily, pointing at Ning Zhuo with his finger. "Not bad, Ning Zhuo. You¡¯re quite smart. Very good, you''re a promising seedling of the righteous path!"


    "I will have my subordinates go and request the monkey corpses to be sent to you."


    Ning Zhuo bowed deeply. "Thank you, my lord."


    Chen Cha, witnessing all this from the side, had a veryplex expression.


    After Fei Si left, Ning Zhuo turned to Chen Cha with a sincere expression, "Elder Chen, I''m sorry. I had to do this!"


    Chen Cha sighed, unable to hide his resentment. "Since Lord Fei Si has permitted it, what else can I say?"


    He despised this kind of cutting corners and shortchanging from the depths of his being. It was purely for profit, disrespecting his mechanical creations which was tantamount to disrespecting his spirit as a craftsman.


    Chen Cha''s emotional reaction was within Ning Zhuo''s expectations.


    The young cultivator had already prepared a response and immediately said, "Elder Chen, from now on, I wille to the workshop more often. I will also participate in making the Mechanical Monkeys!"


    "After all, I guaranteed Lord Fei Si with my life on the line."


    Hearing this, a look of worry appeared on Chen Cha''s face. "Brother Ning, what you did is too risky."


    "In the future, don''t make such reckless promises. What if something unexpected happens and you can''t fulfill it?"


    "You are a member of the Ning Family, even Lord Fei Si would be hesitant to cause any trouble.


    But Ning Zhuo clenched his fist and interrupted Chen Cha. "Elder Chen, if I don''t make a guarantee, how can I show my stance and gain Lord Fei Si''s favor?"


    "The matter of the Mechanical Exclusive Monkeys has made me understand."


    "I understand that this is a world of power! Even if it''s something I invented, thisyer of honor can be easily taken by others."


    Elder Chen was taken aback, a deep sense of guilt appeared on his face. He was about to speak.


    Ning Zhuo interrupted, "I''m not ming you, Elder Chen. I know you had no choice."


    "These days, I have been studying the Serpentine Flexure Formation Collection, and it has been immensely beneficial."


    "Elder Chen, I can understand."


    "I thank you. Thank you for giving me your insights into formations, and thank you for letting me see the true nature of this world."


    "Therefore, I must climb!"


    "I must climb up, I must be someone above others!"


    "Only by reaching a certain height can I defend my own interests. I want a future where no one can easily strip me of my honor, and no one can take away my mechanical creations!!"


    Chen Cha fell into silence.


    Looking at the righteous and ambitious young man before him with eyes gleaming with determination, his heart filled withplex emotions.


    Now, he understood the change in Ning Zhuo¡¯s temperament.


    He no longer felt resentment, no longer felt disgust, and no longer looked down on Ning Zhuo. On the contrary, his heart was filled with guilt and self-me.


    He knew: the young man before him was once so pure, and it was him, Chen Cha, who had caused this change in the youth.


    "What right do I have to criticize him?" Chen Cha sighed deeply in his heart.


    He walked up to Ning Zhuo and ced his hands on Ning Zhuo''s shoulders. "Xiao Zhuo! I have wronged you. I will do my best to help you!"


    Ning Zhuo smiled broadly.


    He knew he had seeded the moment he heard Chen Cha change the way he addressed him from ¡®Brother Zhuo¡¯ to ¡®Xiao Zhuo¡¯.

 Chapter 64: We Must Fight Our Way Up

    Chapter 64: We Must Fight Our Way Up


    < Chapter 64: We Must Fight Our Way Up >


    Monkey Head Gang Headquarters.


    Yuan Er red at the messenger in shock and anger. "What did you say? You want me to hand over the monkey corpses? To give them to that Flying Disk Workshop for refinement?!"


    He was livid, his eyes bloodshot, and when he shouted, it seemed like he was ready to devour someone.


    The messenger''s face remained impassive. "This is Lord Fei Si''s order. Your Monkey Head Gang has greatly disappointed him. With so many monkey pets dead, how can you meet his expectations?"


    "On the contrary, it would be better to make good use of these monkey corpses and refine more Mechanical Apes."


    "This year''s Huoshi Festival is extraordinary! Even the City Lord is watching closely. You must act for the greater good."


    At the mention of the "greater good," Yuan Er''s face instantly turned pale.


    He gritted his teeth and said, "I¡­ I need to think it over¡­"The messenger interrupted, "There is no need for you to consider this matter. Just execute it. This is an order!"


    However, he nced at Yuan Dasheng, who was lying like a bear or tiger beside him, and his pupils slightly contracted. Softening his tone, he said, "But I also understand your difficulties. I''ll give you some time to ept it."


    "I''ll be at the door, and I won''t leave empty-handed this time."


    "I hope you can adjust quickly."


    The messenger left the room and closed the door.


    After he left, Yuan Er, in his fury, grabbed everything within reach and smashed it to the ground.


    The continuous sound of crashing objects reached the messenger outside the door, only eliciting a cold smile from him.


    "Too much bullying, this is simply too much bullying!"


    Yuan Er roared, "It''s the Flying Disk Workshop! They are the ones aggressively buying wild monkeys. They are the ones offering hefty bounties, enticing demonic cultivators to attack and kill our monkey pets. They are the ones who tried to assassinate me!"


    "They have set their sights on the business of harvesting Huoshi. They want to uproot our Monkey Head Gang."


    Yuan Er''s anger gradually gave way to a sorrowful wail.


    Yuan Dasheng remained calm throughout.


    Since Yuan Er''s assassination attempt, Yuan Dasheng had moved in to live with him.


    To prevent his soul from being extracted and taken to the pce, he would periodically harm his own soul, ensuring he didn''t trigger the soul-drawing mechanism (Yuan Dasheng''s theory).


    Watching Yuan Er, Yuan Dasheng was reminded of the past.


    Yuan Yi had been ambushed and severely injured.


    The attacker brazenly left his name and spoke bluntly, "You''re just a beggar, and you think you can marry my family''sdy? Haha!"


    "Give up on that idea."


    "To be honest, I was sent by thedy herself."


    "This time, I''m giving you a lesson. Stop dreaming and take a good look at yourself."


    Seeing Yuan Yi lying on the bed, barely breathing, Yuan Dasheng had been enraged and wanted to rush over to fight the enemy.


    Yuan Yi had held him back tightly. "Dasheng, Dasheng! Calm down."


    "Anger won''t solve the problem!"


    "That Miss Zhang, I am determined to marry her. Only through this marriage can our gang establish a foothold and align with other factions."


    "So, even if I am humiliated and ambushed, I will act as if it never happened."


    Yuan Dasheng red at Yuan Yi, furiously breaking free from his hold. He grabbed anything within reach and started smashing them, his rage causing the air to subtly distort.


    Yuan Yi leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, with fresh blood seeping through his bandages. He patiently waited until Yuan Dasheng calmed down a bit before approaching him again.


    cing a hand on his shoulder, Yuan Yi''s voice was hoarse and heavy, "Dasheng, I know you''re very angry. My humiliation angers you more than if it were your own."


    "But let me tell you, let me tell you¡­"


    "Being born humble is not a disgrace. A true man must be able to endure and adapt!"


    "I will certainly marry that woman. Her father is already inclined to cooperate with our Monkey Head Gang. This is not something she can decide."


    "We must not cause trouble, or it will ruin everything."


    "But I assure you, today''s humiliation, I will repay doubly in the future."


    "We must get through this, Dasheng," Yuan Yi said, patting the ape''s shoulder firmly. "We need to climb up, we need to fight our way up. One day, we will stand very high!"


    Under Yuan Yi''s soothing words, the ape''s flushed face and raised brows gradually settled, revealing a look of aged weariness.


    His monkeys and their offspring had been poisoned, not even given the dignity of a proper burial, instead used as materials for the enemy''s mechanisms.


    Though a storm of rage brewed within Yuan Dasheng''s chest, his face remained eerily calm. He silently watched Yuan Er, who was smashing everything in sight, reminiscing about his old friend with whom he had once fought side by side.


    Unfortunately, he was no longer around.


    Thus, the ape''s anger was tinged with an addedyer of sorrow.


    It slowly stood up, walked to Yuan Er''s side, and gently ced its hand on his shoulder.


    Yuan Er''s body trembled. When he turned and saw Yuan Dasheng, he immediately copsed to the ground, tears streaming from his eyes. "Uncle Monkey!"


    * * *


    Lava Immortal Pce.


    The puppet Ning Zhuo had been quietly waiting for some time.


    Finally, he believed that Yuan Dasheng would no longer enter the Immortal Pce.


    "The strategy worked!" Ning Zhuo thought to himself.


    Whether it was offering a high price to lure demon cultivators into repeatedly attacking the Monkey Head Gang''s monkey pets, or deliberately failing to assassinate Yuan Er, it was all to put pressure on Yuan Dasheng.


    Now it seemed the n had worked well.


    Yuan Dasheng, realizing that a storm was brewing and that the Monkey Head Gang was under targeted attacks, could no longer focus on exploring the Immortal Pce.


    "This way, in the short term, the four major forces won''t discover Yuan Dasheng."


    "On the other hand, Yuan Dasheng won''t be able to gauge the situation in the Immortal Pce urately without noticing otherpetitors."


    "And I, too, am in the midst of turmoil."


    Detective Division member Zhu Xuanji arrived much earlier than Ning Zhuo had anticipated.


    Though Ning Zhuo had been prepared.


    "The two major arts practiced by the Detective Division members are the Alert Mind Art and the Trace Back Art."


    "The former is the source of the spell prohibitions in the Alert Heart Bell, and thetter can uncover closely rted objects."


    If Ning Zhuo went to blow up the Immortal Pce, under the Trace Back Art, he would undoubtedly be exposed. To solve this problem, Ning Zhuo proactively appeared, contacted Chen Cha in person, and deliberately exposed the Mechanical Explosive Monkey.


    Now, the arrangement had already taken effect.


    "But how long can it be hidden?" Ning Zhuo didn''t know; perhaps in the next second, he would be exposed and captured.


    He had long been mentally prepared for this.


    He could only race against time and keep moving forward.


    "Now, I just have to wait for the Huoshi Festival."


    * * *


    Zhu Xuanji and Chi Dun concealed their figures as they left the ck market.


    Chi Dun, puzzled, asked, "Lord Zhu, what¡¯s going on? Under your Celestial Golden Eyes, they can''t lie. But no one has recently purchasedrge quantities of Fire Essence."


    Zhu Xuanji was silent for a moment, then smiled slightly, "It seems the culprit came prepared."


    "From the Mechanical Monkey, it¡¯s clear the culprit specifically guarded against our Trace Back Art."


    "None of therge or small markets in Huoshi City have suspicious buyers making significant purchases of Fire Essence. Either they bought in bulk from elsewhere or they bought it in batches."


    "Whichever the case, it¡¯s all meticulously nned!"


    Chi Dun asked, "What should we do next?"


    Zhu Xuanji stroked his chin and sighed, "Next, we prepare for the Huoshi Festival!"

 Chapter 65: Huoshi Festival

    Chapter 65: Huoshi Festival


    < Chapter 65: Huoshi Festival >


    Every time the Huoshi Festival arrived, Huoshi Immortal City was always bustling with people. The city residents would leave the Immortal City and head to the wild areas on the mountainside and at the foot of the mountain.


    At that time, a portion of the Huoshi Forest would be opened.


    Both mortals and cultivators would participate, picking Huoshi¡¯s.


    This was a city-wide celebration, a harvest festival. Since the founding of the city and the establishment of the first generation city lord, it had never ceased.


    This year''s Huoshi Festival was very different from previous years.


    Months ago, Chi Dun¡¯s pursuit of the Shadow Demon cultivator had shocked the entire city.


    Even those city residents who did not witness it first hand learned from others that the Shadow Demon cultivator had been driven into the Huoshi Forest and was heavily sealed by numerous formations.


    Before this year''s Huoshi Festival even began, Fei Si took charge of defense, step by step imposing martialw across the entire city.On the day of the Huoshi Festival, the city lord stood at the peak of Mount Huoshi and actively activated the grand formation of the Immortal City.


    Countless emerald green formation patterns appeared in the sky, within the city, and on the ground, majestic and crisscrossing. This was only the part visible to the city residents; more formations extended deep into the body of Mount Huoshi, continuously drawing geothermal heat and earth mes, channeling them into various parts of Huoshi Immortal City, supplying numerous alchemy rooms, artifact refining rooms, mechanical workshops, and other facilities.


    The ce that consumed the most earth mes and geothermal heat was precisely the Huoshi Forest.


    Through the Huoshi trees, the earth''s mes and geothermal heat were converted into one Huoshi after another.


    Huoshi¡¯s could serve as a fuel simr to Fire Essence, could be eaten, used in medicine, used in artifact refining¡­ they had many uses.


    When the city was first established, the Huoshi Forest was just a small patch. Now, it nearly spanned the entire base of the mountain, encircling the foot of Mount Huoshi in a magnificent fiery red ring.


    Under the watchful eyes of countless city residents, arge number of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators exited the city together.


    These cultivators mostly came from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion and the three major families. A small portion came from trusted factions, such as the Monkey Head Gang.


    Each Foundation Establishment cultivator brought several Mechanical Monkeys with them.


    Yuan Dasheng followed closely beside Yuan Er, his tall and robust figure standing out among the cultivators leaving the city.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go too,¡± Ning Zhuo said as he and Chen Cha secretly left the city.


    Today, these mechanical cultivators were to perform emergency repairs on the Mechanical Monkeys. This was one of Fei Si¡¯s precautionary measures to prevent any idents.


    After leaving the city, they did not head directly to the Huoshi Forest. Instead, they went to a hidden, well-defended formation located on the mountainside.


    This formation also provided a view of the Huoshi Forest, allowing the mechanical cultivators to observe the working Mechanical Monkeys in real time and determine where problems urred.


    On the mountainside, Zhu Xuanji concealed his figure and gazed alone at the Huoshi Forest.


    Chi Dun did the same, though it was unclear where he had hidden himself.


    The Golden Core cultivators of the three major families also remained unseen, secretly positioned around the Huoshi Forest as directed by the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.


    A designed to ensnare the Shadow Demon cultivator was already in ce.


    ¡°Begin,¡± Fei Si, the only openly visible Golden Core cultivator,manded.


    At his order, numerous Foundation Establishment cultivators, carrying Mechanical Monkeys, charged into the Huoshi Forest.


    In recent days, the Foundation Establishment stage cultivators from the three major families had been diligently practicing mechanical techniques, honing their ability to control the Mechanical Monkeys.


    Typically, a Foundation Establishment cultivator could control at least three Mechanical Monkeys simultaneously to pick Huoshi¡¯s.


    Seeing countless Mechanical Monkeys leap into the fiery red persimmon forest, Yuan Er became somewhat anxious and made a final rallying call, "Brothers, the next part is up to you."


    "Give it your all and show everyone that our Monkey Head Gang is the best at picking Huoshis!"


    The Huoshi Forest was divided into numerous sections byplex formations based on the age of the trees.


    Initially, only the sections with trees less than ten years old were opened.


    The Mechanical Monkeys continuously picked persimmons, and each time they picked one, they would ce it against their chests, where it would be absorbed by the storage formation they carried.


    From a bird¡¯s-eye view, one could see countless Huoshi¡¯s rapidly disappearing, leaving behind only the fiery red leaves on the branches.


    Once the Mechanical Monkeys reached their storage capacity, the Foundation Establishment cultivators remotely controlled them to return.


    They would stand in the formation of a giant circle and expel the stored Huoshi¡¯s, which would pile up on the ground.


    Whenever a small hill of Huoshis, about one zhang high, was formed, the formation would activate, transporting the Huoshis directly to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion''s granary.


    After the Huoshis from trees less than ten years old were picked, Fei Si opened the sections with trees aged over ten years.


    After these were harvested, it was time for the twenty-year, thirty-year¡­


    The age of the sections increased progressively until it reached the hundred-year-old trees.


    Boom!


    With a loud explosion, a Huoshi self-destructed.


    Almost instantly, it triggered a chain reaction, causing the surrounding Huoshis to explode as well.


    Terrifying mes quickly engulfed over a dozen Exclusive Monkey mechanisms. Fortunately, the Foundation Establishment stage cultivators were far enough away that there were no casualties.


    In an instant, countless gazes turned towards the site of the incident.


    Fei Si frowned and immediately ordered an investigation.


    A Foundation Establishment stage cultivator from the Zhou family was swiftly brought forward.


    Fei Si''s face was expressionless as he asked, "Was it your mishandling of the Exclusive Monkeys?"


    The Zhou family cultivator''s face turned pale, and he nodded weakly. He wanted to argue, but he knew very well that the grand formation recorded images from all angles. If he lied, he would easily be exposed, and the consequences would be even more severe.


    Fei Si''s brow furrowed slightly. "The damage to the Fire Crystal Grass will be counted against you. Take half a tea''s time to calm your mind and then resume your duties."


    "Yes," the Zhou family cultivator responded, bowing and retreating.


    Bang.


    Not long after, another Exclusive Monkey''s movements suddenly distorted. While retrieving Fire Crystal Grass, it collided with the other nts, causing an explosion.


    Fei Si reviewed the footage and confirmed that there was an issue with the Exclusive Monkey. He immediately identified the workshop responsible for its production based on its serial number.


    It was the Flying Disk Workshop.


    Fei Si immediately sent someone to inform Chen Cha and Ning Zhuo.


    The messenger delivered Fei Si''s reprimand.


    In the array where they were located, the scene before the explosion was being reyed. The main focus of the footage was the malfunctioning Exclusive Monkey.


    Chen Cha analyzed the footage and immediately made a judgment. "The Exclusive Monkey malfunctioned due to prolongedbor, leading to excessive wear and tear, which caused its movements to distort."


    Chen Cha then looked at Ning Zhuo.


    This particr Exclusive Monkey was a low-quality product made ording to Ning Zhuo''s reduced specifications n.


    Ning Zhuo pondered and said, "The temperature in the centennial Fire Crystal Grass forest seems to be higher than in previous years. Have the Foundation Establishment stage cultivators pause their work and use Clear Dew Pills. Grind them into powder, mix with water, and pour it over the Exclusive Monkeys. Make sure to soak them thoroughly until the liquid slightly seeps from their surfaces."


    After giving these instructions, Ning Zhuo continued repairing the Exclusive Monkeys.


    Since the harvesting of Fire Crystal Grass began, damaged and malfunctioning Exclusive Monkeys had been continuously sent over for emergency repairs and then quickly returned to the field.


    As time passed, more and more Exclusive Monkeys were sent for repairs, making Ning Zhuo and his team increasingly busy, eventually falling behind the repair schedule.


    Chen Cha, drenched in sweat from the effort, reminded Ning Zhuo, "Xiao Zhuo, see, this is the consequence of cutting corners."


    Ning Zhuo sighed, "Chen Lao, isn''t this high failure rate exactly what I intended?"


    "Moreover, many of the repairs are due to mishandling by the operators. That can''t be med on me."


    The difficult period was temporary. Before long, the number of Exclusive Monkeys sent for repairs began to decrease.


    This was because everyone had finished harvesting in the centennial area and started harvesting in the millennial Fire Crystal Grass forest.


    These millennial Fire Crystal Grass were asrge as basins, nurtured by the grand formation absorbing infinite geothermal heat and earth mes. Each one was incredibly valuable.


    The Foundation Establishment stage cultivators became more cautious, choosing to control only one Exclusive Monkey each for harvesting.


    If one self-destructed, causing a chain reaction of explosions among the other Fire Crystal Grass, these cultivators could be financially ruined!


    With each cultivator using only one Exclusive Monkey, the number of Monkeys needing repairs naturally decreased.

 Chapter 66: Critical Mistake

    Chapter 66: Critical Mistake


    < Chapter 66: Critical Mistake >


    Yuan Er felt as if a giant stone was pressing on his heart, making it difficult for him to breathe. He observed the entire situation and was fully aware of the circumstances. The efficiency of the Mechanical Apes was truly astonishing, far surpassing that of the monkey pets.


    The monkey pets would get tired, worry about self-destruction, and act cautiously. In contrast, the Mechanical Apes would not tire, and if damaged, they could be swiftly repaired and returned to action. Crucially, they exhibited no fear, leading to extremely high efficiency.


    "We are already falling behindprehensively. The Millennium Huoshi Forest is ourst chance. Uncle Monkey, it''s all up to you now!" Yuan Er said.


    Yuan Dasheng nodded to him and leapt out. He had been conserving his energy, waiting for this critical moment to make his move.


    Yuan Dasheng, with his burly physique, lightly spread his arms, his palms moving swiftly and leaving faint ck shadows, yet when his palms touched the huoshis, they did not trigger an explosion.


    The Fire Fusion Demon Ape, using both hands, quickly and efficiently harvested all the millennium huoshis from a fire persimmon tree, dropping them to the ground. Its impressive performance drew the attention of countless cultivators.


    "This Fire Fusion Demon Ape is amazing!"


    "You''re joking, this is the heritage of the Monkey Head Gang, a spirit pet left by the old gang leader, Yuan Yi.""It looks terrifying. Its movements are so rough, yet it doesn¡¯t trigger any explosions in the huoshis. Its martial skills are so advanced that even many martial arts masters would be ashamed."


    Yuan Dasheng skillfully bnced firmness and gentleness, light and heavy in harmony. The millennium huoshis, originally more prone to explosion than the hundred-year and ten-year huoshis, were handled with such precision in its hands that they remained as calm as if they were fake.


    The apes leaped and bounded between the trees and the ground. Despite theirrge and burly bodies, they moved with an agile swiftness that captivated many onlookers, who couldn''t help but appreciate this disy of powerful grace.


    Halfway up the mountain, Chen Cha, Ning Zhuo, and others watched this scene through the images projected by the formation.


    Chen Cha showed a look of amazement. "The Monkey Head Gang has been controlling the Huoshi harvesting business for many years; they are quite capable!"


    "Indeed, very impressive," Ning Zhuo agreed. "But unfortunately, there is only one of this Fire Fusion Demon Ape."


    Chen Cha shook his head. "You can''t say that. Judging by the current performance, our mechanical apes are of poor quality, causing numerous explosions."


    "The City Lord''s Mansion will assign mechanical apes for harvesting ordinary Huoshi in the future. Other monkey pets are inefficient and make frequent mistakes."


    "But when ites to the Millennium Huoshi, we must deploy this Fire Fusion Demon Ape. Its movements are swift, leisurely, and very reliable."


    Ning Zhuo remained silent, his eyes brewing with a cold gleam.


    He sneered inwardly, "Reliable?"


    "I''ve been plotting for this very moment."


    "Yuan Dasheng, whates next is my carefully prepared gift for you."


    "Die!"


    At this thought, a dozen mechanical apes suddenly broke free from the cultivators'' control and charged at Yuan Er.


    The sudden change startled many people.


    Yuan Er, however, reacted quickly.


    Having been walking on thin ice and constantly on edge since the assassination attempt, he was like a frightened rabbit ready to dive into a burrow at the slightest disturbance.


    Left and right, as well as from behind, mechanical monkeys attacked relentlessly. In front of Yuan Er, however, the way was clear.


    In his panic, Yuan Er instinctively chose the direction he believed to be the safest.


    He ran straight ahead, aiming to regroup with Yuan Dasheng!


    Yuan Dasheng also reacted immediately. Interrupting his own actions, he swiftly ran toward Yuan Er.


    The two sessfully met in the Millennium Huoshi Forest, with the mechanical monkeys unable to follow them inside.


    It turned out that Fei Si had intervened, activating a formation that directly destroyed these Mechanical Exclusive Monkeys.


    This was the Millennium Huoshi Forest!


    The essence of the entire forest was here, of immense value. Fei Si would certainly not allow these mechanical monkeys to cause any damage.


    "Is it that shadow demon cultivator causing trouble? But why target the Monkey Head Gang?" Zhu Xuanji, Chi Dun, and the others were all puzzled. Not seeing the shadow demon cultivator in person, these Golden Core stage cultivators remained still, none revealing themselves.


    Fei Si''s face turned grim, his eyes flickering with suspicion. He began to doubt that this was the work of the shadow demon cultivator, suspecting instead that Ning Zhuo might be behind this scheme.


    "If that''s truly the case, then that brat Ning Zhuo is unbelievably audacious and must be killed!"


    Although Fei Si somewhat appreciated Ning Zhuo, when it came to his own responsibilities and future, if Ning Zhuo had indeed done this, Fei Si would be the first to not let him go!


    Fei Si immediately ordered all the mechanical monkey fragments to be sent to Chen Cha and Ning Zhuo, along with a message.


    The messenger quickly arrived in front of Ning Zhuo, his expression and gaze extremely cold. "Lord Fei Si said that anyone who disregards the bigger picture is courting death!"


    Chen Cha was stunned.


    Ning Zhuo''s expression was extremely serious. "Please inform Lord Fei Si that I would never act so recklessly! To control these mechanical monkeys, one would need at least the Foundation Establishment stage cultivation. How could I possibly do that?"


    "This must be the work of that shadow demon cultivator, a test of some sort. I urge Lord Fei Si to look into this matter carefully. Currently, repair tasks are scarce. To prove my innocence, I request permission to temporarily withdraw and return to Puppet Immortal City."


    Chen Cha finally understood, and a look of indignation appeared on his face. He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. "We would never, for personal gain, plot against the Monkey Head Gang under everyone''s watchful eyes!"


    "Controlling these mechanical monkeys from such a distance without using wires or spiritual sense? That''s overestimating us."


    The messenger''s expression softened slightly. He nodded and turned to leave.


    Chen Cha was still fuming. "What nonsense is this? The coreponents for controlling these mechanical monkeys are three walking marbles, which require Foundation Establishment stage cultivation to manipte. To suspect you of this, Ning Zhuo, is truly absurd!"


    Ning Zhuo smiled wryly. "You can''t me Lord Fei Si. The pressure on him is immense. Now, only the Millennium Huoshi Forest remains. The shadow demon cultivator hasn''t made a move yet, but it might happen soon!"


    In the Millennium Huoshi Forest.


    Yuan Er, still shaken, eximed, "Uncle Dasheng, the Flying Disk Workshop is insane! Under the eyes of the entire city, they still want to take my life!"


    Yuan Dasheng, also furious, patted Yuan Er''s shoulder tofort and calm him.


    Yuan Er''s face still bore traces of fear, but his tone was invigorated as he said, "Uncle Dasheng, I think the Flying Disk Workshop made this desperate move because they saw your great power and couldn''t sit still any longer."


    "Uncle Dasheng, please continue your efforts and keep picking the persimmons to secure our victory!"


    Yuan Dasheng nodded, pointing first to Yuan Er and then to the ground.


    Yuan Er immediately understood and nodded. "Don''t worry, Uncle Dasheng, I won''t stray far from you."


    Yuan Dasheng turned back, continuing to climb the tree and pick the persimmons. His movements gradually sped up, soon returning to his previous efficiency.


    On the mountainside, a dark gleam in Ning Zhuo''s eyes had reached its peak.


    "Come on,e on," he silently called in his heart.


    Yuan Dasheng''s expression suddenly changed dramatically!


    His fingers exerted too much force, and he identally crushed a Millennium Huoshi persimmon.


    He had made a mistake.


    At this critical moment, right when they were about to win, he had made a mistake!

 Chapter 67: Explosion

    Chapter 67: Explosion


    < Chapter 67: Explosion >


    Once the Huoshi was broken, it immediately self-destructed!


    Yuan Dasheng''s attention had been entirely focused on Yuan Er, the Millennium Huoshi, and the surrounding Mechanical Monkeys.


    He never thought he could make a mistake!


    It was utterly impossible.


    He had been picking Huoshis for many years, and it had be an instinct. The possibility of making an error did not exist.


    But the fact was, he did make a mistake!


    At this moment, the enraged monkey''s eyes bulged, staring helplessly at the Huoshi self-destructing in its hand. The self-destruction triggered other explosions, initiating a chain reaction of detonations in the entire Huoshi Forest.


    This was a Millennium Huoshi Forest!In the face of life and death, Yuan Dasheng thought of Yuan Er, who was still in the forest.


    Without hesitation, he rushed back to protect Yuan Er.


    He wanted to escape the Huoshi Forest with Yuan Er.


    But Fei Si would not allow it!


    This was the most important asset of Puppet Immortal City, his responsibility, and a significant achievement during the City Lord''s tenure.


    Each small section of the Huoshi Forest was isted by formations to prevent a chain reaction of explosions during harvesting from destroying the entire forest.


    The moment of the explosion, the defensive formation was triggered, isting this section of the Millennium Huoshi Forest to prevent the explosion from spreading to others.


    Yuan Dasheng and Yuan Er were trapped inside.


    Boom, boom, boom¡­


    The chain reaction of explosions began.


    Yuan Er trembled violently, his body shaking like a sieve, eyes tightly shut, clutching Yuan Dasheng''s fur, screaming incessantly, "Uncle Monkey, Uncle Monkey! I''m going to die, we''re going to die!!"


    Yuan Dasheng held him in his arms, turning his back to the exploding Huoshi Forest.


    The entire Huoshi Forest exploded!


    In an instant, mes soared into the sky, and fierce mes roared like a gigantic red lotus of mes blooming in the world, extremely scorching, melting gold and iron.


    Terrifying mes and shockwaves rolled in, filling the entire formation space.


    Under the immense pressure of life and death, Yuan Dasheng''s face contorted in a grimace. He instinctively wanted to use the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique!


    But suddenly, he realized something and hesitated!


    On the mountainside.


    Ning Zhuo''s face was full of astonishment. The firelight from the explosion illuminated his young, tender face, turning it crimson, but it couldn''t erase the gleam in his eyes.


    "It worked!" His heart raced, filled with ecstatic joy at this moment.


    This was the trap he had painstakingly designed, intended to kill Yuan Dasheng.


    Such a terrifying explosion posed a life-threatening danger to Yuan Dasheng! He had to give his all to have any hope of surviving.


    However, could he give his all? Could he reveal the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique?


    Once he exposed it, he would inevitably face eradication and capture!


    Because it was a demonic technique, there might be some room for leniency in private. But if he exposed it in front of everyone, which righteous person would dare to shelter him?


    At this moment, the four major forces were unaware of the astonishing value Yuan Dasheng had discovered in the Lava Immortal Pce.


    The four major forces were working together to hunt down the Shadow Demon Cultivator.


    If someone who could perform demonic techniques suddenly appeared, what would their reaction be?


    At this moment, time seemed to slow down.


    Terrifying explosions, crimson mes gradually engulfed Yuan Dasheng and Yuan Er.


    Yuan Dasheng held Yuan Er tightly in his arms. In a daze, he saw Yuan Yi again.


    Yuan Yi excitedly held Yuan Er and ran to Yuan Dasheng.


    "Look, Dasheng, this is my child, he is my child!" Yuan Yi was overjoyed. "I have a child now, I have a descendant in this world."


    Yuan Dasheng grinned, genuinely happy for Yuan Yi.


    Yuan Yi handed the child directly to Yuan Dasheng.


    Yuan Dasheng quickly took him, feeling a bit flustered.


    The baby was so small that he carefully supported him with his palm. From the small wrapping cloth, he could feel the warmth and fragility of the baby.


    These feelings touched him deeply.


    Yuan Yi watched Yuan Dasheng with a smile, "You like him too, right? That''s great, cough cough!"


    As he spoke, Yuan Yi spat out blood.


    Yuan Dasheng quickly looked up at Yuan Yi, calling out with concern in his eyes.


    Yuan Yi waved his hand dismissively, "Old ailment, you know that."


    He wiped the corner of his mouth and spat out another mouthful of blood, ignoring the severe pain in his body. He still smiled and said, "Climbing up from the bottom, step by step, to this position, how could it be without some cost?"


    "Isn''t that right, Dasheng?"


    The ape chuckled a few times; its scars were the best response.


    Yuan Yi stretched his arms and took a few deep breaths. "Damn, I''ve lived my life, and it¡¯s worth it."


    Then, in a calm voice, Yuan Yi continued, "I took action. This child no longer has a mother. Hmph, that woman thought she could leverage her child to secure her position. Without her, her family''s manpower and assets are all ours!"


    "I said I would make her regret it."


    "I said the humiliation I suffered would be repaid tenfold. I meant what I said, Dasheng."


    The ape nodded, its gaze towards the baby bing much gentler.


    Yuan Yi also looked at the baby and said, "I named him Yuan Er. Dasheng, my life isn''t as long as yours."


    "If one day I''m no longer here, let Yuan Er take Yuan Yi''s ce and continue to apany you."


    ¡­


    Yuan Er got hungry and started crying. Yuan Dasheng squeezed juice from a peach the size of a washbasin and fed it to him. As a result, Yuan Er ended up soaked like a drowned rat.


    Yuan Er fell ill. Yuan Dasheng sped through the immortal city at night, rushing into the medical hall. He grabbed the pharmacist by the neck, dragging him along, flying and leaping. The pharmacist''s screams shattered the tranquility of the moonlit night.


    Yuan Er began to climb. He clung to Yuan Dasheng''s thick monkey fur, challenging heights. Each time he fell, Yuan Dasheng''s palm would catch him precisely.


    Yuan Er gradually grew up, but Yuan Yi weakened day by day, bedridden for a long time.


    In the end.


    In the final moments of his life, Yuan Yi said to Yuan Er, "You brat, rely on your monkey uncle in the future and keep this family business going for me."


    The young Yuan Er cried uncontrobly.


    Yuan Yi looked at the ape, his strength briefly returning, and shouted, "Dasheng! I, I¡­"


    Yuan Dasheng followed with a shout, but unlike before, he could no longer hear Yuan Yi''s subsequent words.


    Yuan Yiy on the bed, eyes wide open, mouth agape, with no signs of life.


    The ape stood silently, like a statue. It showed no expression, yet its ears were filled with the thunderous roar of explosions, echoing like heavenly thunder.


    Boom¡ª!


    The deafening explosion was terrifying, like a prehistoric beast, instantly engulfing Yuan Dasheng and Yuan Er.


    Then, the explosion was blocked by the formation. The crimson light was extremely dazzling,pletely filling the entire formation space.


    In just a few breaths, the firelight dissipated.


    People around could once again see inside the formation.


    A scorchednd, full of devastation. The once dense Huoshi Forest had almostpletely vanished. Only a few persimmon trees remained, their trunks turned into pitch-ck charcoal, stubbornly standing tall.


    In the next moment, as the hot wind scattered, the charred tree trunks cracked open and fell to the ground.


    Yuan Dasheng was half-kneeling on the ground, like a statue.


    Yuan Er moved in his arms, and Yuan Dasheng fell to the ground with a thud.


    His skin was torn, his back was blown open, revealing the white bones of his spine. His monkey fur was gone, and his skin was charred ck in patches.


    He kept his eyes tightly shut, teeth bared. The intense pain and his full effort to protect, frozen on his face.


    Yuan Er was in a daze, slowly turning his head to look around. Then he shivered and snapped back to reality.


    He quickly checked himself and found only minor injuries.


    It was simply a miracle!


    Yuan Er could hardly believe it. At the moment of the explosion, he thought he was dead! Unexpectedly, he was still alive, and in such good condition.

 Chapter 68: A Ray of Hope

    Chapter 68: A Ray of Hope


    < Chapter 68: A Ray of Hope >


    "Uncle Monkey!" Yuan Er finally reacted, eximing as he saw the fallen ape.


    He rushed to the front of the ape.


    The ape, however, remained motionless.


    In an instant, Yuan Er was filled with grief, tears streaming down his face.


    "Who can save Uncle Monkey?"


    "Who can save it!?"


    "Hurry, open the formation, open the formation, we need a healer, we need a healer!!"


    Dragging Yuan Dasheng closer to the edge of the formation, Yuan Er identally tore off its arm.Yuan Er sat down on the ground, staring nkly at everything before him.


    "Open the formation," Zhu Xuanji suddenly appeared beside Fei Si.


    Fei Si was startled. He couldn''t see through Zhu Xuanji''s stealth technique: "Lord Zhu, with the current anomaly, it is likely the work of the shadow demon cultivator. It would be wise to stay calm and wait¡­"


    Zhu Xuanji, however, stared at him, golden light flickering in his eyes, his expression stern: "I said, open the formation!"


    Fei Si''s pupils contracted slightly, forcing a smile: "Since the detective wants to act and capture the true culprit, I will naturally cooperate."


    The formation opened.


    Zhu Xuanji approached Yuan Er, activated a spell, and aimed at Yuan Dasheng.


    Under his treatment, Yuan Dasheng''s severed arm reattached, his injuries stabilized, his heartbeat resumed, and there was a faint sign of life.


    "Sir, thank you, sir!" Yuan Er repeatedly kowtowed to the unfamiliar Golden Core cultivator, Zhu Xuanji.


    Zhu Xuanji, however, sighed lightly: "His injuries are too severe. I''ve done my utmost, but it only temporarily brought him back to life."


    "This is the Late Autumn Life-Saving Pill. Give it to him, and it will save his life," Zhu Xuanji said. "But from now on, he will have to spend the rest of his days bedridden."


    Zhu Xuanji looked at the critically injured Yuan Dasheng with deep emotion.


    He possessed the Celestial Golden Eyes. While others'' vision was obscured by the explosion, he saw everything clearly.


    At the moment of the explosion, Yuan Dasheng wanted to activate his demonic powers to defend himself fully. But he didn''t. Instead, he used his mana to protect Yuan Er, who was in his arms.


    He used his own flesh and blood to withstand the explosion, choosing to sacrifice himself to save Yuan Er.


    "Despite having demonic powers, he didn''t use them."


    "He was worried that revealing his identity as a demonic cultivator would lead to misunderstandings, causing him to be attacked and ultimately implicating Yuan Er."


    "This ape is truly loyal and righteous."


    Zhu Xuanji was deeply moved, which was why he revealed himself and personally acted to save Yuan Dasheng''s life.


    "Zhu Xuanji!!!" From the mountainside, Ning Zhuo, who had witnessed Zhu Xuanji saving Yuan Dasheng, had cold light in his eyes.


    "You actually ruined my n!" Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth in secret.


    He had meticulously designed this trap, cleverly using the situation, calcting most people''s mindsets and reactions. But he hadn''t expected Zhu Xuanji to take such action.


    "I underestimated Zhu Xuanji''s capabilities."


    "What should I do?"


    Due to Zhu Xuanji''s unexpected intervention, the originally doomed Yuan Dasheng hade back to life.


    "Although he looks in extremely poor condition, barely clinging to life, most of the injuries are physical. His soul remains intact."


    "He can be drawn into the pce with his soul."


    "Once he encounters Meng Chong, Zhou Zhu, or Zheng Jian, these three forces will definitely extend a helping hand and actively treat him."


    "Damn it, damn it!"


    When Zheng Shuanggou learned that Ning Zhuo had designed the Mechanical Explosive Monkey, he immediately showed an intention to recruit him. The four major forces'' thirst for talent in mechanics was evident.


    If they knew that Yuan Dasheng could reach Room No. 7 on his own, they would undoubtedly go crazy!


    "What to do? What should I do?" Ning Zhuo thought rapidly, exerting all his mental energy, until his face turned pale and his head throbbed.


    It was too difficult!


    To design such a trap had already exhausted all his efforts and drained his mind.


    This was a result of him continuously analyzing arge amount of information and pondering for days.


    After all, he was only sixteen years old!


    Fei Si''s face was equally unsightly.


    Just now, Zhu Xuanji had forced him to open the formation, which was simply a p in his face! He didn''t care at all about the asion.


    Fei Si, with his dark thoughts and ruthless methods, secretly gritted his teeth and vowed in his heart: he would remember this and definitely repay Zhu Xuanji in the future. Even if he was a member of the Detective Division and the royal family, so what?


    "We are all righteous people and must act ording to the rules. Today you made me lose face, fine, fine, just don''t let me catch an opportunity!"


    "My lord, someone from the Flying Disk Workshop seeks an audience," a guard reported shortly after.


    Soon, Ning Zhuo was brought over.


    Fei Si, in a foul mood, said, "Boy, you better have something important to say, and it better be urgent!"


    Ning Zhuo smiled and transmitted his voice, "Lord Fei Si, that Zhu Xuanji is truly rude. I have a n here that can relieve your worries."


    Fei Si immediately rebuked, "Lord Zhu is a member of the royal family and a distinguished detective. Who are you, a mere Qi Refining cultivator, to call him by name? You are too bold!"


    Although he rebuked him, Fei Si transmitted his voice so that no third person would know.


    Ning Zhuo secretlyughed in his heart and continued, "It was reckless of me. But Zhu Xuanji, for some unknown reason, actually took action to treat that ape, showing no regard for our Puppet Immortal City!"


    Seeing Fei Si frown and show displeasure, Ning Zhuo hurriedly said, "My lord, now the whole city knows that Zhu Xuanji acted to save that ape. He doesn¡¯t want the ape to die. So, what if the ape actually dies?"


    Upon hearing this, Fei Si''s eyebrows rxed, and he pointed at Ning Zhuo, "Boy, your thoughts are too deep. Are you worried that the ape will recover andpete with you in the business of picking huoshi?"


    Seeing that Fei Si had "seen through" him, Ning Zhuo admitted directly, "Lord Fei Si, your insight is as sharp as a torch. How could my petty thoughts escape your discerning eyes? In fact, I never intended to hide anything from you."


    Fei Si shook his head, "This matter is inappropriate. You should abandon such thoughts. If outsiders knew, what would they say? That I am narrow-minded and at odds with Lord Zhu? My own reputation is of no consequence, but I fear it would implicate the Lord of the city and tarnish the reputation of our Puppet Immortal City."


    Ning Zhuo then smiled, "My lord''s concerns are understood. Rest assured, I will not take action personally or leave any evidence for others. I just need one token from you. With that, I will act in such a way¡­ Even if Zhu Xuanjies looking for trouble, there will be no cause!"


    "Oh?" Fei Si thought for a moment and realized that this n had some feasibility.


    He dropped a token on the ground and said deliberately, "Oh dear, I lost a token, what should I do?"


    Ning Zhuo quickly picked up the token, "Please wait, my lord, I will retrieve it for you immediately."


    Ning Zhuo saluted and took his leave.


    Fei Si watched his departing figure and thought to himself, "This boy from the Ning family has quite the perceptive mind."


    Regardless of whether this n seeded, he was finding himself increasingly appreciating Ning Zhuo.


    With the token in hand, Ning Zhuo walked faster and faster towards the temporary base of the Monkey Head Gang.


    Although the n was good, its implementation was uncertain.


    He didn''t know if this mission would seed, but he had to try and seize every opportunity.


    Yuan Dasheng still had a glimmer of hope for survival, and so did Ning Zhuo!


    If Yuan Dasheng survived, Ning Zhuo would have to die.


    For Ning Zhuo to survive, Yuan Dasheng had to die.


    It was either you die or I die!


    Ning Zhuo knew he was taking a risk, but he had no other choice.


    Among the four major forces, in front of Zhu Xuanji, he was too ordinary, too weak, too alone.


    He had to enter the fray personally and kill Yuan Dasheng himself!

 Chapter 69: Visiting the Enemy Gang in Person

    Chapter 69: Visiting the Enemy Gang in Person


    < Chapter 69: Visiting the Enemy Gang in Person >


    "Who dares trespass into the backyard!" The servant shouted loudly.


    Ning Zhuo walked forward, lifted his foot, and kicked, directly knocking the servant over.


    Then, he held up amand token, almost shoving it into the servant''s face.


    "Open your eyes and take a good look!"


    "I am under orders from Lord Fei Si, entrusted with urgent matters, here to see Leader Yuan Er. Do you dare to stop me?" Ning Zhuo shouted, sweeping his gaze over the other servants, exuding an imposing aura.


    "Another person from the City Lord''s mansion?"


    "The previous envoy directly forced us to sell the monkey corpses, and the leader didn''t even dare to say a word!"


    "What does this envoy want this time?"The resentment towards Yuan Er within the Monkey Head Gang had been growing.


    Most of the gang members were beast tamers who had cultivated their monkey pets for years. Who could be without feelings? Properly burying the monkey corpses was the right thing to do. However, Yuan Er, unable to withstand the pressurest time, directly sold them to the Mechanical Workshop. This action severely tarnished his reputation.


    Now, with the critical situation of Yuan Dasheng being severely injured and on the brink of death, the entire Monkey Head Gang was already in a state of panic.


    With just one token, Ning Zhuo proudly marched straight in, unimpeded all the way.


    Soon, he reached the backyard.


    The main bedroom in the backyard was dimly lit.


    Yuan Er sat there in a daze, looking at the unconscious Yuan Dasheng lying on the bed, tears silently falling.


    In the past, he had also understood the significant importance of Yuan Dasheng to himself and to the Monkey Head Gang. But when Yuan Dasheng truly fell, Yuan Er fully realized how heavy this significance truly was!


    Zhu Xuanji had saved Yuan Dasheng''s life, but it was only a temporary measure. Even with the Late Autumn Life Preservation Pill, Yuan Dasheng would remain permanently disabled, confined to a sickbed for the rest of his life.


    This devastating news was like a thunderbolt to Yuan Er.


    Noises came from outside the door.


    Yuan Er trembled and thought, "Could it be the eldersing to force me out?"


    Without Yuan Dasheng, who could back him up?


    Then Ning Zhuo''s voice came: "Where is Leader Yuan Er? I am here under the orders of Lord Fei Si with urgent matters."


    Yuan Er, with tear stains still on his face, walked out of the bedroom and saw the haughty-looking Ning Zhuo.


    He was at the Foundation Establishment stage and already possessed spiritual sense.


    At this moment, he scanned with his spiritual sense to confirm the authenticity of themand token. Not daring to neglect Ning Zhuo, he cupped his hands and said, "Uncle Hou watched me grow up, his kindness is like a mountain. Now he is gravely injured and on the brink of death. I must care for him and cannot leave. Please report to Lord Fei Si that I can no longer participate in the Huoshi Festival."


    Yuan Er looked defeated.


    The explosion in the Millennium Huoshi Forest and Yuan Dasheng''s critical injuries had utterly devastated him and the entire Monkey Head Gang.


    Without Yuan Dasheng''s protection, how could he dare to venture out again?


    At this moment, Ning Zhuo smiled and put away themand token. "Leader Yuan Er, I am here to save your life. Do you know that you don''t have much time left?"


    Yuan Er was furious. "Why is the envoy trying to scare me?"


    Ning Zhuo immediately replied, "Whether it''s scaremongering or not, does Leader Yuan Er dare to dismiss everyone and listen to what I have to say?"


    Yuan Er snorted coldly, his gaze flickering. In the end, he waved his hand and said to the servants around him, "All of you, leave us."


    Seeing no one else around, Ning Zhuo directly barged into the master bedroom.


    This behavior was extremely rude, causing Yuan Er''s face to turn livid with anger, but he ultimately held back.


    Ning Zhuo stepped into the master bedroom and immediately saw Yuan Dasheng lying on the sickbed.


    The monkey was on the verge of death, its life hanging by a thread.


    In an instant, Ning Zhuo felt a strong impulse to kill the monkey outright!


    But he took a deep breath and controlled his temper.


    He couldn¡¯t kill it.


    Many things seemed straightforward but were actually counterproductive.


    On one hand, if he suddenly acted now, Yuan Er would definitely intervene. Yuan Er, being at the Foundation Establishment stage, had far superior cultivation to Ning Zhuo.


    On the other hand, even if he seeded in killing the monkey, he was within the Monkey Head Gang¡¯s territory and escaping would be difficult.


    The third, and most crucial aspect, was that if Ning Zhuo killed Yuan Dasheng directly, he would be openly offending Zhu Xuanji!


    Zhu Xuanji had just saved the monkey, and Ning Zhuo showing up to ughter it immediately after would be a tant challenge to Zhu Xuanji¡¯s authority.


    Zhu Xuanji was a detective who had already questioned Ning Zhuo once during the Lava Immortal Pce investigation. Doing such a thing would be an arrogant provocation, practically inviting Zhu Xuanji to investigate him again.


    In fact, even Fei Si wouldn¡¯t dare to act so directly.


    Yuan Er followed and, in a low voice, displeased, said, "Do not disturb my Uncle Hou¡¯s rest. Envoy, this way, please."


    Yuan Er led Ning Zhuo to a side room.


    It was a small study.


    Ning Zhuo took the initiative to close the door and spoke directly, "Leader Yuan Er, how long do you think you can hold onto your position as the leader?"


    Yuan Er''s face darkened. "If the envoy is here to sow discord, then please leave."


    Ning Zhuo sneered, "Leader Yuan Er, I am here to help you, to save your life. Is this how you treat your savior?"


    "The pill given to you by Lord Zhu Xuanji, along with his words, have all been recorded by the formation and are now widely known."


    "Even if Yuan Dasheng survives, he will be nothing more than a bedridden cripple. Without him, who will submit to you, Yuan Er?"


    "You know very well how your father rose to power!"


    "The Monkey Head Gang gradually rose through bloody battles and fierce struggles, establishing its foothold amidst the carnage."


    "How many enemies did you make in the process?"


    "How many foes are lurking in the shadows? Now that they finally have a chance for revenge, do you think they will let you live in peace and enjoy wealth and prosperity?"


    His words struck directly at Yuan Er''s heart, causing his gaze to flicker. "How can the envoy help me?"


    Ning Zhuo once again held up themand token, specifically showing Yuan Er the back with Fei Si''s name on it.


    "A mere monkey as your backing, how can itpare to Lord Fei Si?"


    A gleam of hope shed in Yuan Er''s eyes as he found it hard to believe. "Are you saying I can seek refuge with Lord Fei Si?"


    Ning Zhuo sneered, shattering his fantasy. "Don''t dream such sweet dreams. Even when the Monkey Head Gang was strong, it didn''t catch Lord Fei Si''s eye. How could it be now?"


    "What I mean is, you should seek refuge with me!"


    Yuan Er felt a wave of humiliation but knew that everything Ning Zhuo said was true.


    The gang members were almost all aggressive and belligerent, involved in shady activities, and far from clean.


    Officials of the Southern Dou Immortal Court wouldn''t get involved with these matters, as it would tarnish their reputations.


    Fei Si, being at the Golden Core stage, wouldn''t even consider using the entire Monkey Head Gang as hisckeys! Of course, this was assuming Yuan Dasheng hadn''t shown his true strength.


    Yuan Er scrutinized Ning Zhuo, then cupped his hands. "May I ask, what is your esteemed identity?"


    "My surname is Ning, given name Zhuo, and I am a member of the Ning family."


    Ning Zhuo directly leveraged his family name as a shield.


    Yuan Er''s expression became more serious.


    Ning Zhuo shook themand token in his hand. "I am also under the favor of Lord Fei Si, merely a small errand boy."


    Yuan Er''s face turned solemn as he extended his hand. "Please, have a seat."


    Ning Zhuo spoke humbly, but Yuan Er understood that this so-called errand boy was likely someone close to Fei Si, possibly even a confidant.


    Yuan Er invited Ning Zhuo to sit, and he himself slowly sat down.


    The two sat across a desk from each other.


    Ning Zhuo continued, "I am also a member of the Flying Disk Workshop. Many of the mechanical monkeys were brought to life by my hands."


    Yuan Er suddenly stood up, furious. "Was it you who came to assassinate me? To poison my gang''s monkey pets! How dare youe here?!"

 Chapter 70: Ning Zhuos Persuasion

    Chapter 70: Ning Zhuo''s Persuasion


    < Chapter 70: Ning Zhuo''s Persuasion >


    Ning Zhuo abruptly stood up, his voice booming over Yuan Er''s: "Cease your nder! How could we possibly have assassinated you, or harmed your monkey pet? Do you have any evidence?"


    "Can you produce any evidence?!"


    Yuan Er was taken aback, his eyes turned blood-red with fury. He pointed at Ning Zhuo, his gaze fierce and murderous: "You little thief, you''vee to my house to deceive me. You deserve to die!"


    Ning Zhuo raised his head high, directly stepping around the desk towards Yuan Er, shouting: "Come,e,e! My head is right here, feel free to take it, Leader Yuan!"


    As he advanced step by step, Yuan Er, intimidated by his momentum, wanted to retreat but was blocked by his chair, causing him to fall back into it.


    He, a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, was being forced into such a position by a young Qi Refining stage cultivator. If outsiders saw this, his reputation would be utterly destroyed.


    Seeing this, Ning Zhuoughed heartily but did not continue to press. Instead, he took a few steps back, his voice softening: "Leader Yuan, you are a wise man."


    "I was ordered toe here to recruit you, so naturally, I have protective measures. But let''s not dwell on that.""If I suffer even the slightest injury here, what do you think Master Fei Si will do? How will the Ning family respond? How will the Flying Disk Workshop retaliate?"


    Yuan Er was intimidated. He clenched his teeth hard, his fists tightening so much that his fingernails dug into his flesh, drawing blood.


    However, this pain was nothingpared to the humiliation and anger he felt at this moment!


    Ning Zhuo, on the other hand, seemedpletely rxed. He sped his hands behind his back and strolled around the small study.


    Yuan Er was once filled with shame and anger. As a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, if he acted out of rage, Ning Zhuo''s fate would undoubtedly be tragic. However, Ning Zhuo strolled leisurely, because he knew that the moreposed and confident he appeared at this moment, the more he could intimidate his opponent.


    Ning Zhuo raised his head and spoke eloquently, beginning to recount the lifelong experiences of Yuan Yi and Yuan Dasheng, detailing the rise of the Monkey Head Gang, with every key battle described in utmost detail.


    This feeling of being thoroughly understood sent a chill through Yuan Er''s heart.


    Although the opponent was merely at the Qi Refining thirdyer, Ning Zhuo seemed like a colossal beast with its mouth wide open, ready to devour him and the entire Monkey Head Gang.


    Ning Zhuo once again stepped in front of Yuan Er, his sharp gaze prating to the core: "Leader Yuan Er, your father and your Uncle Monkey fought tirelessly their whole lives to build this foundation. Are you going to let it fall apart now that it''s in your hands?"


    "Are you willing to let that happen? Can you face your father and your Uncle Monkey with this oue?"


    Yuan Er red, "Isn''t it because of you that I''ve ended up in this situation?"


    "No, you''re wrong!" Ning Zhuo waved his hand emphatically, "Even without us, there would be others! This world is about the survival of the fittest; if you''re weak, you''ll naturally be the prey of the strong."


    "Otherwise, how did your father and your Uncle Monkey rise to power? How was the Monkey Head Gang established?"


    "What you''re thinking now is exactly what those you trampled underfoot thought."


    "Stop ming others, Leader Yuan Er."


    "Such thoughts are too weak. Give your father and your Uncle Monkey some dignity!"


    Yuan Er still red but was left speechless.


    He came from a gang, and in his bones, he believed in thew of the jungle, so he had no way to refute it.


    Ning Zhuo raised his head and resumed, "Join us, and we can help you. Only then will we assist you."


    Yuan Er took a deep breath, "How will you help me?"


    Ning Zhuo turned around, hands behind his back, taking a few steps away, leaving only his back to Yuan Er. His tone was somber, "Are you aware of the rtionship between the Flying Disk Workshop and Lord Fei Si?"


    "Let me tell you a secret: forty percent of the profits from the sale of mechanical monkeys go to Lord Fei Si."


    "Although Lord Fei Si would never openly admit this, just a little favor from him can make your situation drastically different."


    "This connection alone is enough to intimidate those ambitious elders."


    Yuan Er took another deep breath.


    His heart surged with resentment once more.


    "So, the Flying Disk Workshop is so powerful because of its interests with Fei Si, because Fei Si supports them from behind."


    "Disgusting, truly disgusting and corrupt!"


    "No wonder my Monkey Head Gang has been bullied so miserably."


    "With a Golden Core stage cultivator backing them, and a ruthless one like Fei Si at that, how could we ever win?!"


    The more Yuan Er thought about it, the more aggrieved and furious he became, losing all his courage.


    Ning Zhuo had been closely observing every change in Yuan Er''s expression. He continued, "Moreover, we will sell arge number of mechanical monkeys to you."


    "From now on, you must abandon your monkey pets and switch to using mechanical Explosive Monkeys."


    Yuan Er was stunned when he heard this, and immediately said, "That''s impossible! If I were to announce such an order, I would be overthrown immediately. They would neverply with such an absurdmand."


    Ning Zhuoughed heartily, prepared for this response, and replied, "Of course, I wouldn''t let you lose your position as leader."


    "You just need to tell them that from now on, the business of harvesting Huoshi will be entirely in the hands of the Monkey Head Gang, and the Flying Disk Workshop won''t touch it at all."


    "The only condition is that you must use the mechanical Explosive Monkeys and abandon all monkey pets."


    Yuan Er couldn''t believe it, "What did you say?"


    Ning Zhuo chuckled, "You don''t think that our Flying Disk Workshop wants to steal your business, do you?"


    "Your perspective is too narrow."


    "We have intricate interests tied with Lord Fei Si. If we were to seize the Huoshi harvesting business, wouldn''t that bepeting with the people for profit? That would be extremely detrimental to Lord Fei Si''s reputation, and it would never happen."


    "We only sell mechanical Explosive Monkeys to reduce the risks of harvesting Huoshi, lower personnel casualties, and benefit the country and the people. This is the true virtue."


    Yuan Er''s face turned pale, finding it all quite absurd.


    All along, he had thought that the opposition aimed to seize the Monkey Head Gang''s foundation for survival, and thus, he had fought desperately. But it turned out that their goal wasn''t this at all.


    Then why had they been so tense and acted like they were facing a formidable enemy?


    Ning Zhuo seemed to read his mind, "Leader Yuan Er, don''t overthink it."


    "If you continue using monkey pets, you are our enemy. If you use mechanical Explosive Monkeys, you are our customer!"


    "The difference between an enemy and a customer is clear even to a child, isn''t it?"


    "ording to Lord Fei Si''s wishes, Huoshi City will no longer need the outdated method of using monkey pets for harvesting."


    "Every monkey is a living being; how can you be so cruel?"


    "Mechanical monkeys are much better¡ªthey don''t fear death and are highly efficient."


    "I assure you, if you join us, we will secretly sell you special models of mechanical monkeys. These monkeys will be superior to the regr models in every aspect."


    "This will give your Monkey Head Gang a significant advantage in harvesting Huoshi."


    Yuan Er''s heart sank to the bottom. He knew very well that if he agreed to these terms, he would forever be at their mercy. The supply and maintenance of mechanical monkeys would all depend on the Flying Disk Workshop. The entire Monkey Head Gang''s lifeline would be in their hands.


    The Flying Disk Workshop would greatly increase its influence over the entire market through them. The Monkey Head Gang would still have to fend off businesspetitors, while the Flying Disk Workshop would just sit back and collect money, watching the tigers fight from the mountain without shedding a drop of blood.


    "What a brilliant scheme, truly brilliant!" Yuan Ermented, losing all will to fight.


    A ghostly light flickered in Ning Zhuo''s eyes, "Leader Yuan Er, have you thought it through?"


    Yuan Er felt a deep sorrow. At this point, did he really have a choice?


    From the moment the Millennium Huoshi Forest exploded, he waspletely defeated and had no other options left!


    Thus, Yuan Er walked around the desk and stood before Ning Zhuo.


    Taking a deep breath, he forcibly suppressed the sorrow and anger in his heart, bowed, and said with a trembling voice, "Yuan Er greets Mr. Ning!"

 Chapter 71: Hand Yuan Dasheng Over to Me

    Chapter 71: Hand Yuan Dasheng Over to Me


    < Chapter 71: Hand Yuan Dasheng Over to Me >


    "Yuan Er, pay respects to Mr. Ning!"


    The moment Yuan Er bowed to him, Ning Zhuo hesitated.


    He was contemting whether to take this opportunity to truly subdue the entire Monkey Head Gang for his own use. Yuan Dasheng had be a cripple, but his soul had entered the pce, making him a formidable weapon to seize the immortal pce inheritance!


    However, Ning Zhuo quickly regained hisposure.


    "I must not covet temporary gains!"


    "Convincing Yuan Er was merely a strategy to take advantage of the enemy''s weakened state. Ultimately, it wasn''t me who subdued him."


    "If Fei Si or any of the other three major families were to recruit him in the future, would Yuan Er remain loyal to me? Absolutely not."


    "The most crucial point is, even if Yuan Er were entirely loyal to me, could I rely on him to control the Monkey Head Gang?"Ning Zhuo shook his head internally.


    Many gang members were already disappointed in Yuan Er.


    "Can I control Yuan Dasheng through Yuan Er?"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head again in his heart.


    Yuan Dasheng only wanted to protect Yuan Er and rarely listened to him. He had risen from the bottom with his own talent and judgment.


    He had been ambushed and lost the initiative but hadn''t realized the significant threat posed by Ning Zhuo. Given time to gather information, he would rely on hisbat experience and wisdom umted over the years to understand his true situation.


    The most likely course of action for him would be to proactively seek refuge with the four major forces, abandoning or even eliminating Ning Zhuo.


    "I am so weak right now, as if walking on the edge of a cliff, perilously close to destruction. How can I be tempted by profit and lose my sense of proportion!"


    "One wrong step, and I will fall off the cliff and be shattered into pieces!"


    At this point, Ning Zhuopletely calmed down, no longer deceived by the illusion of an advantage.


    He extended both hands to help Yuan Er stand up, praising him, "Those who recognize the situation are truly wise¡­"


    He spoke soothingly to Yuan Er, and after seeing that his emotions had gradually calmed down, he finally revealed his true purpose: "Since you have already joined our side, we must fully support you to retain your position as the gang leader."


    "Your personalbat strength is indeed a bit weak. ording to Lord Fei Si''s instructions, we will fully customize a mechanical creation for you."


    "This mechanism will possess thebat strength of a Foundation Establishment stage, allowing you to overpower other elders in the gang."


    "Oh?" Yuan Er''s eyes lit up with surprise and joy.


    The increased investment and support from the other side made him feel at ease.


    However, Ning Zhuo''s next words made him angry again, almost to the point of wanting to hit someone!


    Ning Zhuo nodded and said, "It''s good that you agree."


    "Next, hand Yuan Dasheng over to us, and we will create a powerful mechanical monkey for you."


    Yuan Er almost jumped up in rage: "No, that''s impossible!"


    He immediately refused without hesitation.


    "Hmm?!" Ning Zhuo immediately frowned, "Gang Leader Yuan Er, think carefully!"


    "Only excellent materials can create powerful mechanisms."


    "Do you think we are asking for a monkey corpse just to humiliate you? You overestimate yourself."


    "Using a monkey as material is the only way to create an excellent mechanical monkey."


    Yuan Er shook his head repeatedly: "Even so, I would never use my Uncle Monkey''s¡­"


    Ning Zhuo impatiently waved his hand, rudely interrupting, "Enough, Yuan Er. Do you still have such naivepassion now?"


    "Let me be frank with you, the material muste from you."


    "Only by using Yuan Dasheng''s corpse can we create an excellent mechanical monkey to protect you in the future."


    "We need you to continue as the leader of the Monkey Head Gang, but what do you think the elders are thinking?"


    "Yourbat strength is weak, and without strong protection, what will you do if an elder hires an assassin to kill you?"


    Yuan Er remained silent.


    Ning Zhuo continued, "Only fools shed tears when they see the coffin."


    "But by then, it''s toote!"


    "Since you''ve already decided to join us, why not do things properly?"


    Yuan Er shook his head, his attitude resolute, "Mr. Ning, there''s no need to persuade me further. Uncle Monkey has shown me great kindness and has greatly contributed to the gang. I must care for him! I will ensure his final years are worry-free."


    "If I don''t do this, would I still be human?!"


    Ning Zhuo narrowed his eyes, a sudden impulse rising within him to punch Yuan Er to death and then eliminate Yuan Dasheng directly!


    He had gone to great lengths, all to obtain Yuan Dasheng. Now stuck at the final step, he couldn''t help but feel a bit anxious.


    Rationality told him he must not act rashly.


    Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and changed his tone, "Gang Leader Yuan Er, your character truly earns my admiration."


    "I respect such integrity, and I respect you as a person!"


    "However¡­ you are being a bit selfish."


    Yuan Er''s eyes widened in confusion, his mind unsettled. "With my behavior, you still call me selfish? If I were selfish, I would have agreed long ago to use Uncle Monkey as material to make a mechanism!"


    Ning Zhuo continued, "Leader, have you ever thought about what your Uncle Monkey wants?"


    Yuan Er was taken aback.


    Ning Zhuo went on, "Your Uncle Monkey is brave and fearless, a true warrior among warriors. Do you think he would prefer to die in battle or to grow old and die in bed?"


    "I think if your Uncle Monkey truly bes a cripple and can only lie in bed, he would absolutely prefer death. This period of his old age is merely to satisfy your filial piety. For him, it is too cruel, an unparalleled humiliation!"


    Yuan Er frowned deeply, lost in deep thought.


    Ning Zhuo''s eyes were cold, but he smiled gently, his tone as soft as a breeze. "Why don''t you discuss it with your Uncle Monkey?"


    "Your Uncle Monkey has sacrificed so much for you. If he loathes this kind of life, I believe he would definitely be willing to give himself. He might think: even if I die, I can still apany and protect you in another way."


    "Why don''t you ask him?"


    Yuan Er lifted his head, his face pale, devoid of any color. His eyes were unfocused as he murmured, "Yes, Mr. Ning, you''re absolutely right. Why don''t I ask my Uncle Monkey myself?"


    Yuan Er left the small study and went to the master bedroom, where he knelt by the bed.


    Yuan Dasheng was still in a state of unconsciousness.


    Yuan Er opened his mouth to speak, but despite several attempts, he couldn''t utter a word.


    In his memory, the once tall and imposing figure now appeared as fragile as paper, unable to provide him with the slightest sense of security.


    Yuan Er''s thoughts gradually became chaotic, his eyes unfocused, and tears unconsciously began to flow.


    Through his tear-blurred vision, Yuan Er seemed to be transported back to the past.


    When he was a child¡­


    He climbed on Yuan Dasheng''s body as if climbing a towering, dark volcano.


    When he could walk and jump¡­


    "Uncle Monkey, they''re bullying me!" Yuan Er brought Yuan Dasheng to confront them, scaring the other children into crying and wetting themselves.


    While ying in the water¡­


    "Hey, Uncle Monkey, why is mine so small and yours so big?" Young Yuan Er pointed at Yuan Dasheng''s crotch with a face full of curiosity.


    A bit older¡­


    Yuan Er became brave and aggressive, curious about one thing: "Uncle Monkey, who is stronger, you or my dad? Have you ever fought? I asked my dad, but he never answered me."


    After winning a gang fight¡­


    Yuan Er ran to Yuan Dasheng, his face full of admiration and excitement. "Uncle Monkey, you''re so amazing, so mighty! When can I be like you?"


    Then, and then¡­


    Things gradually began to change.


    The harsh and cold reality shattered Yuan Er''s illusion that "as long as you work hard, you can excel."


    Cultivating immortality depended on aptitude.


    "I will never be as powerful as Uncle Monkey!"


    "Uncle Monkey is really amazing!"


    "Uncle Monkey is too amazing!!"


    "Uncle Monkey is overly amazing¡­" The once admiring boy turned into a gloomy young man.


    The same fact that once inspired admiration and awe gradually transformed into worry and suspicion.


    "My father also relied on Uncle Monkey to build this foundation. When my father is gone, can I control Uncle Monkey?" Yuan Er became increasingly anxious as he watched his father weaken daily from his severe, incurable injuries.


    "The highestbat strength of our Monkey Head Gang is Uncle Monkey. Combat strength is power, and the foundation of that power rests on Uncle Monkey. Is this appropriate?"


    "Monkey Head Gang, Monkey Head Gang¡­ is it a human gang or a monkey organization?" Yuan Er felt confused as he saw more and more monkey pets.


    Seeing the elders'' reverence and fear towards Yuan Dasheng filled him with mixed emotions.


    * * *


    During a gang fight, Yuan Er shouted loudly, "No, don''t kill him!"


    Yuan Dasheng, already in a frenzy, couldn''t stop himself. He opened his mouth and bit the opposing cultivator in half.


    The enemy''s morale plummeted, and they began to flee.


    Yuan Er sighed deeply, "Now, we can''t leave things unfinished. We have topletely destroy the enemy gang!"


    Yuan Dasheng approached, holding half of the cultivator''s corpse, and suddenly handed it to Yuan Er.


    Yuan Er was startled.


    Sessfully pranking him, Yuan Dashengughed heartily, not noticing the shadow in Yuan Er''s eyes.

 Chapter 72: The Death of Yuan Dasheng

    Chapter 72: The Death of Yuan Dasheng


    < Chapter 72: The Death of Yuan Dasheng >


    "Father, I heard you''re nning to find a demon cultivation technique for Uncle Monkey? Please don''t do this!" Yuan Er burst into the study, shouting.


    Yuan Yi''s face turned ashen, and he roared, "Shut up! Who''s been spreading nonsense to you?"


    "Father, Uncle Monkey''s power is already uncontroble. Those monkeys and their offspring, calling them spirit pets is inurate; they are the true masters. The cultivators are merely their caretakers, no more than ves."


    "The situation is already dire. If Uncle Monkey''s power increases further, it will only get worse!"


    "By then, who will control the Monkey Head Gang?" Yuan Er pleaded earnestly.


    Yuan Yi''s lips quivered slightly, and he fell into a deathly silence.


    The Monkey Head Gang was an enterprise he had built through a lifetime of hard work.


    It was easy to conquer a territory, but maintaining it was a different story.He was old now, and even in his younger years, he had only managed to barely maintain bnce within the gang.


    Yuan Dasheng was a Fire Fusion Demon Ape, undeniably powerful.


    When fighting side by side, this was an absolute advantage. But now that the Monkey Head Gang was well-established and no other faction posed a threat, this advantage had be an internal concern.


    Yuan Er was his only blood rtive, and the Monkey Head Gang was to be passed down to him. But could he truly takemand?


    Yuan Yi had confidence in himself and had no doubt about his rtionship with Yuan Dasheng. But when it came to Yuan Er and Yuan Dasheng''s rtionship, he had severe doubts.


    Yuan Yi pondered for an entire day and night. Finally, with a pale face, he called Yuan Er and instructed him, "You must remember! Always treat your Uncle Monkey with the utmost respect. You must hold him in higher regard than you hold me. Understand?"


    "Understood!" Yuan Er immediately promised, feeling a surge of joy in his heart.


    Guilt-ridden, Yuan Er indeed showed even more respect than before.


    All the members of the gang also held Yuan Dasheng in higher regard.


    When Yuan Er became the leader, his situation was awkward. He had to rely on Yuan Dasheng tomand respect. However, because he repeatedly relied on Yuan Dasheng, he couldn''t trulymand respect on his own.


    Yuan Er knelt by the bed, looking at Yuan Dasheng.


    "Uncle Monkey, your kindness to me is as deep as the mountains. I know it, and I remember it in my heart."


    "But the emissary was right. Letting you linger on the sickbed is the greatest insult to you!"


    "I, I don''t want to do this, because I respect you! I admire you!"


    "I think, if my father knew, he would definitely agree with what I¡¯m doing."


    "I know he would understand me¡­ The enemy is too strong, even the entire Monkey Head Gang cannot contend."


    "In that case, I''ll join them!"


    "My father often said that a true man can bend and stretch."


    "What I¡¯m doing, enduring such humiliation, is all to preserve our foundation."


    "Uncle Monkey, you must understand my intentions!"


    "The Monkey Head Gang is the result of you and my father¡¯s lifetime of struggle. It must not be destroyed in my hands."


    "I have to pass it on, pass it to my son, my grandson."


    "With this development and growth, one day we will establish the Yuan family as a cultivation family and be the fifth power in Huoshi City!"


    "Uncle Monkey, please understand me, don''t me me! You must understand me, right?"


    Yuan Er kept murmuring in his heart.


    Suddenly, Yuan Dasheng slowly opened his eyes.


    Yuan Er''s body trembled as if struck by lightning.


    Yuan Dasheng''s eyes werepletely gray and cloudy, devoid of any light.


    He couldn''t see anything, nor could he hear, but he still had a sense of smell, and he caught the familiar scent of Yuan Er.


    Yuan Dasheng tried to get up, his body as heavy as a mountain. He tried to lift his hand, but it was mostly numb.


    In the end, he could only slowly extend his finger, pointing towards Yuan Er.


    Yuan Er was startled, falling backward onto the ground.


    The next moment, Yuan Dasheng''s index finger slowly dropped, and he exhaled hisst breath.


    He was finally gone.


    Yuan Er was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud sobs, tears streaming down his face.


    He knelt, walking on his knees, and threw himself onto Yuan Dasheng''s corpse, wailing, "Uncle Monkey, Uncle Monkey!"


    He cried out the words his father hadn''t finished before his death, "Uncle Monkey, I''m sorry. Uncle Monkey, I¡¯m so sorry¡­"


    Unbeknownst to him, Ning Zhuo had also stepped out of the small study.


    He stood behind Yuan Er, witnessing with his own eyes the final moments of Yuan Dasheng''s life.


    Finally, Yuan Dasheng was dead.


    But at that moment of sess, Ning Zhuo''s joy was far less intense and overwhelming than he had imagined.


    Ning Zhuo''s feelings wereplicated at this time.


    Yuan Dasheng''s downfall was entirely due to Ning Zhuo. Yet, to his dying breath, Yuan Dasheng never knew of Ning Zhuo''s existence. He didn''t even know how he had provoked such a formidable enemy.


    And Ning Zhuo?


    Ning Zhuo never actually wanted to be enemies with Yuan Dasheng. Before Yuan Dasheng stormed the Immortal Pce, they had never even met once.


    However!


    Fate had used the Lava Immortal Pce as a stage, cing Ning Zhuo and Yuan Dasheng on a narrow path of death. It was either you die, or I perish!


    There was no second choice.


    "If there was a choice, Yuan Dasheng, I would actually prefer to have you as an ally!"


    "What a pity¡­"


    With regret, Ning Zhuo stepped forward to handle Yuan Dasheng''s corpse.


    Yuan Er, shocked, instinctively reached out to stop him.


    However, Ning Zhuo kicked him aside, finally revealing the disdain and anger he felt deep inside, and hissed, "Get out of the way!"


    Even though Yuan Er had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, what good was it with such a temperament?


    When Ning Zhuo saw Yuan Dasheng in the bedroom, he confirmed that the Fire Fusion Demon Ape had not taken the Late Autumn Life Preservation Pill.


    Zhu Xuanji had clearly handed the Late Autumn Life Preservation Pill to Yuan Er, but thetter had never given it to Yuan Dasheng.


    Was it because he didn''t have time?


    He had plenty of time!


    From this alone, Ning Zhuo deduced Yuan Er''s true intentions and thus pretended to let him seek Yuan Dasheng''s opinion. As expected, Yuan Er had knelt down from the start, only calling out in his heart, never truly speaking.


    "Chief Yuan Er, please ept my condolences." Ning Zhuo ced the monkey corpse into his storage bag and was about to leave.


    Yuan Er knelt on the ground, grabbing Ning Zhuo''s leg, and looked up at him. "When will I see my Uncle Monkey again?"


    "As soon as the production schedule is finalized, I''ll notify you. Don''t worry, it will be very soon," Ning Zhuo reassured him, forcefully pulling his leg free and leaving without looking back.


    Yuan Er remained alone in the empty bedroom, dazed like a stone.


    Ning Zhuo maintained hisposure. As he was about to leave the Monkey Head Gang''s base, he overheard the returning gang members discussing among themselves.


    "All the Huoshi Forest fruits have been picked, yet that shadow demon cultivator didn''t appear!"


    "Wasn''t he supposed to be hiding in the Huoshi Forest, sealed by the formation?"


    "How could he just disappear?"


    "Yeah, I was looking forward to a hunt."


    "You didn''t see it, but Lord Fei Si''s face was extremely grim!"


    "Now, all the Golden Core cultivators from each family have appeared and are searching throughout the Huoshi Forest."


    Hearing this, Ning Zhuo''s heart tightened. "Damn it!"


    With his sharp mind, he immediately realized he was once again in danger.


    After leaving the Monkey Head Gang, he hastened his pace, racing against time, and headed directly to the Flying Disk Workshop.

 Chapter 73: Disappearance of the Demon Cultivator

    Chapter 73: Disappearance of the Demon Cultivator


    < Chapter 73: Disappearance of the Demon Cultivator >


    Huoshi Forest.


    "Shadow demon cultivator, where did the shadow demon cultivator go?!" Chi Dun searched everywhere.


    The same action was being performed by the Golden Core cultivators of the three great families.


    Fei Si''s face was ashen. He had never anticipated this oue and sternly ordered, "Search! Dig three feet into the ground if you must, but find that demon cultivator!"


    Under the eyes of the public, the shadow demon cultivator had vanished without a trace!


    Fei Si was furious with shame.


    This task was botched!


    All the city''s citizens knew that the City Lord''s Mansion had been fooled. After meticulously setting up such a grand n, in the end, they caught nothing."This shouldn''t have happened, it shouldn''t have!" Fei Si gnashed his teeth, looking towards Zhu Xuanji in the distance.


    After thinking it over, Fei Si flew towards Zhu Xuanji.


    Previously, Zhu Xuanji had ordered him to activate the formation, saving Yuan Dasheng''s life, which had put Fei Si in an awkward position. But now, the shadow demon cultivator''s disappearance was a matter far more significant than Fei Si''s personal dignity.


    Fei Si understood the gravity of the situation and immediately set aside his grievances against Zhu Xuanji, forcing a smile as he inquired, "Lord Zhu, you were observing the whole time. Did your Celestial Golden Eyes see anything?"


    Zhu Xuanji shook his head. "No discoveries at all."


    "If someone were hiding, they would have shown themselves under my Golden Eyes."


    "Throughout the whole process, there were no suspicious individuals. I can only infer that the shadow demon cultivator had already left Huoshi Forest before all this."


    Upon hearing this, Fei Si''s brows furrowed deeply, and he instinctively denied it vehemently, "No, he''s definitely still here!"


    Zhu Xuanji''s inference was the worst possible news for him.


    Because he was in charge of the Huoshi Forest, he was akin to the warden, but the prisoner escaped without him knowing anything.


    For this Huoshi Festival, Fei Si went to great lengths, but ended up with nothing, making the entire City Lord''s Mansion aughingstock.


    At this moment, Chi Dun flew over and severely rebuked, "Fei Si, if you hadn''t stopped me at the time, I would have chased down that demon cultivator and eliminated him that night!"


    "It was all your insistence on maintaining calm and minimizing losses. Now look, the Shadow Demon Cultivator has escaped! How exactly did you manage the Huoshi Forest?"


    Fei Si snorted coldly, "Setting other matters aside, the Huoshi Forest''s sessful harvest¡ªtell me, has this vast wealth been preserved?"


    "Furthermore, the formation has been active throughout, recording everything, and can withstand any inspection."


    "If it is indeed found that the Shadow Demon Cultivator escaped due to my negligence, I will ept the punishment and voluntarily plead guilty to the City Lord!"


    At this moment, the Zhou family''s Golden Core Patriarch also flew over. "The formation''s records, of course, need to be checked."


    The Zhou Patriarch''s expression was also grim.


    Although the City Lord''s Mansion was the biggestughingstock at the moment, the three major families and their Golden Core cultivators were also left empty-handed and disgraced.


    The Zhou Patriarch continued, "The key issue now is whether the Shadow Demon Cultivator escaped from the formation earlier, or if he slipped away right under our noses today."


    "From my understanding of formation principles, the Huoshi Forest formation is intricate and tightly connected with the Immortal City''s grand formation, exceedingly thorough and rigorous."


    "If I were the Shadow Demon Cultivator, even if I could break the formation, it would certainly cause amotion. Escaping so quietly¡ªis this really something a Golden Core cultivator could achieve?"


    For a moment, Fei Si, Zhu Xuanji, and Chi Dun all fell into silence. The three of them were struck by a terrifying possibility¡ª


    If the Shadow Demon Cultivator had indeed left earlier, perhaps someone had secretly opened the formation and let him escape!


    The highest authority over the Immortal City''s grand formation rested with the City Lord, and Fei Si, who guarded the Huoshi Forest, also had control over thisplex formation.


    Moreover, several formation pirs of the Immortal City''s grand formation were located within the residential areas of the three major families. Therefore, the three major families could also manipte the formation and secretly release the Shadow Demon Cultivator.


    If this were true, the situation would be serious.


    A lone Golden Core demon cultivatorpared to a cultivation family was an entirely different matter!


    Zhu Xuanji looked at the Zhou family''s Patriarch, thinking to himself, "The City Lord''s Mansion is almost impossible. They have no motive."


    "As for the three major families, each one is suspicious."


    "On one hand, the City Lord''s Mansion has always held the upper hand in thepetition for the Lava Immortal Pce. On the other hand, the three major families definitely do not want to see the Lava Immortal Pce acquired by the City Lord, thereby allowing the Meng family to settle in Huoshi Immortal City!"


    "If it is indeed one or several of the three families, then the Zhou family is the most suspicious."


    "In terms of formations, the Zhou family; in terms of weapons, the Zheng family; and in terms of talismans, the Ning family¡ªthe Zhou family is the most skilled in formations."


    The Zhou family''s Patriarch appeared forthright as he continued, "Let''s temporarily set aside the possibility that the Shadow Demon Cultivator escaped earlier."


    "There were indeed some questionable points during today''s Huoshi harvest."


    "That''s right!" Chi Dun immediately nodded, understanding what the Zhou Patriarch was referring to.


    Earlier, a dozen Mechanical Apes suddenly went berserk, breaking free from the control of the Foundation Establishment cultivators and all attacking the current leader of the Monkey Head Gang, Yuan Er.


    This anomaly was witnessed by all the Golden Core cultivators. They held back, while Fei Si handled it decisively, immediately activating the formation and exterminating all the Mechanical Apes.


    The Zhou family''s Patriarch continued, "Why did those Mechanical Apes riot? Who exactly controlled them?"


    "After the Mechanical Apes were destroyed, the old ape of the Monkey Head Gang made a mistake, triggering the self-destruction of a section of the millennium-old Huoshi Forest."


    "Was it really a mistake? Or was it influenced by some spell or magical artifact?"


    "Did the Shadow Demon Cultivator use the explosion to distract us and escape in the chaos?"


    Fei Si immediately waved his hand, activating the formation and calling up the recorded images of the event.


    The Golden Core cultivators watched the footage several times but found nothing suspicious.


    Fei Si said, "I will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the Mechanical Apes'' loss of control."


    Zhu Xuanji added, "I monitored the situation with my Celestial Golden Eyes and confirmed that the old ape indeed made a mistake!"


    Chi Dun frowned. "It''s a bit strange. This old ape has been the foundation of the Monkey Head Gang, harvesting Huoshi for many years. Initially, there were indeed some mistakes, but in recent years, it has alwayspleted its tasks perfectly. Why did it make a mistake this time?"


    Fei Si pondered for a moment before speaking, "Being of flesh and blood, mistakes are inevitable. The Monkey Head Gang has faced numerous targeted attacks recently, and Yuan Er was even ambushed before. The old ape might have been unsettled, leading to the mistake. It''s quite possible."


    As he said this, Fei Si thought of Ning Zhuo. Then, he remembered the forty percent profit share. He began to feel that this profit share was bing slightly burdensome.


    The Zhou family''s Patriarch then said, "Do you think the Shadow Demon Cultivator might have hidden inside the old ape?"


    "Whether it was the sudden riot of the Mechanical Apes or the old ape''s mistake, it all led to a chain explosion."


    "The mes obscured our vision, and in that moment, the Shadow Demon Cultivator could have killed the old ape and hidden inside it."


    At this point, the Zhou family''s Patriarch turned his gaze towards Zhu Xuanji.


    "There is one thing I don''t understand. I dare to ask, why did Lord Zhu save that old ape?"


    For a moment, the others also turned their eyes towards Zhu Xuanji.


    A hint of schadenfreude shed in Fei Si''s eyes.

 Chapter 74: Something Feels Wrong

    Chapter 74: Something Feels Wrong


    < Chapter 74: Something Feels Wrong >


    Zhu Xuanji coldly snorted, "You all suspect me first!"


    "I used my Celestial Golden Eyes to inspect thoroughly. How could mere mes obstruct my vision?"


    "I saw that the old ape had cultivated deep demonic powers but never used them. He was willing to risk his life to protect his master."


    "Truly loyal and righteous!"


    "If we humans were in that position, how many of us could achieve such a level of loyalty?"


    "Moved by this, I couldn¡¯t bear to let it die, so I treated it."


    At this point, Zhu Xuanji''s tone grew heavier, "But because I personally treated it, not only using my Celestial Golden Eyes but also infiltrating it with my mana, I can be certain that besides its severe injuries, everything else is normal. There is absolutely no shadow demon cultivator hiding within it!"


    Everyone saw Zhu Xuanji speak so firmly and fell silent once more.If this was true, then there were no doubts.


    The greater possibility was that someone had secretly released the shadow demon cultivator in advance.


    Fei Si gradually frowned. He opened his mouth to speak but then closed it again.


    The Zhou family patriarch also frowned but continued to question, "Lord Zhu, may this old man dare to ask again, are you absolutely certain?"


    "In this world, are there no other spells or divine abilities that could deceive both your Celestial Golden Eyes and mana investigation?"


    Zhu Xuanji sneered, "Saying that makes no sense."


    "Who can guarantee absolute certainty?"


    "This world is full of talents and prodigies, with countless spells, divine abilities, and magical treasures. How could we possibly know them all?"


    "I can only tell you that my mastery of the Celestial Golden Eyes is near the level of divine ability. In the more than ten years I¡¯ve been with the Detective Division, I have only encountered three Golden Core cultivators who could withstand my Celestial Golden Eyes'' scrutiny. Below the Golden Core stage, no living being can escape my sight."


    The group fell silent once more.


    Zhu Xuanji, determined to clear himself of suspicion, proposed, "Since some of you do not trust me, that''s fine. Let''s go find that old ape now, and everyone can examine it personally. How about that?"


    "That makes sense," Chi Dun nodded.


    "Agreed," the Zhou family patriarch also concurred.


    Fei Si, however, felt a jolt of unease in his heart.


    He thought again of Ning Zhuo.


    Previously, Ning Zhuo had volunteered to persuade Yuan Er to surrender, using threats and promises to coerce him into killing that old ape.


    What progress had been made on that front?


    Thinking about the token still in Ning Zhuo''s possession, Fei Si grew increasingly anxious.


    Maintaining his outward calm, he said, "I too have doubts about this matter and would like to witness it personally."


    "Chi Dun, you stay here and continue to manage the situation, leading the remaining Golden Core cultivators in the search. There might be people hiding underground, and we must not let them slip away!"


    Fei Si then requested that the Zhou family patriarch and Zhu Xuanji join him in checking on Yuan Dasheng.


    Chi Dun protested, "Why should I stay here? You¡¯re the one responsible for this ce!"


    Fei Si silenced him with a single sentence, "The City Lord appointed me in charge of the Huoshi Festival. Do you refuse to follow my orders?"


    Chi Dun snorted coldly but had no choice but toply.


    The three Golden Core cultivators then flew together to the Monkey Head Gang¡¯s base.


    Yuan Er still knelt on the ground in front of the bed, his expression dazed and eyes vacant.


    Suddenly, the three Golden Core cultivators descended from the sky, crashing through the roof and looking down at him from above.


    Yuan Er shuddered in fright.


    "Where is that old monkey of yours?" Zhu Xuanji''s spiritual sense scanned the backyard, and he already had a foreboding feeling.


    Yuan Er''s face turned deathly pale, and he started crying bitterly, "Dead. My Monkey Uncle is dead!"


    Zhu Xuanji''s eyes gleamed with golden light as he questioned sternly, "I gave you the Late Autumn Life Preservation Pill. How did the old ape die?"


    Yuan Er, trembling like a leaf, dared not conceal anything and shakily revealed the entire truth.


    After listening, Zhu Xuanji was so enraged that his face turned white. Pointing a finger at Yuan Er, he said, "You ungrateful wretch!"


    Then he turned to Fei Si, "Well, well, Fei Si. You¡¯ve shown me quite the disy here, haven''t you?"


    Fei Si, inwardly delighted, thought, "I didn''t expect Ning Zhuo to act so quickly. Well done!"


    Having regained his footing, Fei Si felt ted and immediately squinted his eyes, speaking slowly and deliberately, "Thank you for thepliment, Lord Zhu."


    "I¡¯m also thinking about the well-being of Puppet Immortal City."


    "After all, continually using monkey pets to harvest Huoshi fruit is somewhat cruel. The Three Sects'' Revered Elder ispassionate. If it weren''t for him leaving behind the Lava Immortal Pce back then, Mount Huoshi wouldn''t be the blessednd it is today."


    "As sessors, we must deeply understand the spirit of the Three Sects'' Revered Elder, release these monkeys, and fully utilize mechanical constructs. This is for the benefit of all living beings, an act ofpassion, and a virtuous policy."


    Fei Si pretended to be oblivious to Zhu Xuanji''s sarcasm,vishly praising himself instead.


    Zhu Xuanji''s breathing became rapid with anger, his face turning pale with a hint of green.


    Fei Si felt a great sense of satisfaction in his heart.


    This was not entirely a matter of saving face.


    The confrontations among righteous cultivators could not be as direct or as bloody as those with demonic cultivators.


    Therefore, these confrontations under certain rules became the markers to judge a cultivator''s strength and weakness.


    Fame and fortune, fame often brought real benefits.


    Fei Si was publicly pressured by Zhu Xuanji into opening the formation, such a weak disy would make many people more inclined towards Zhu Xuanji in the future. This harmed Fei Si''s authority and diminished his influence.


    Essentially, it also reduced the influence of the City Lord''s Mansion and the current City Lord, Meng Kui.


    Zhu Xuanji represented the royal family and the Detective Division, and inherently had a power struggle with Meng Kui''s faction.


    If Fei Si did not retaliate, precisely within the game''s rules, it would disappoint Meng Kui.


    Now, he had turned the tables, offsetting the previous negative impact, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.


    The Zhou Family Ancestor beside him frowned, not wanting to be involved in the overt and covert struggles between Fei Si and Zhu Xuanji. As a third party, it was too early to make a decision now.


    He was more concerned with resolving the issue of the shadow demon cultivator, so he said, "Since the old ape has been taken away, why are we still staying here?"


    "Brother Fei, where is your messenger now?" the Zhou Family Ancestor asked Fei Si.


    The grand formation of the Immortal City greatly suppressed spiritual sense, but Fei Si had his own authority. He immediately extended his spiritual sense with the help of the formation and sensed his own token.


    "Follow me!" Fei Si took the lead and flew away from the Monkey Head Gang.


    Zhu Xuanji and the Zhou Family Ancestor followed closely behind.


    Three streaks of light arced across the sky and swiftlynded at the Flying Disk Workshop.


    Zhu Xuanji stretched out his hand and made a grasping motion in the air. Instantly, an invisible force lifted the roof, revealing Ning Zhuo and Chen Cha.


    The old ape the three Golden Core cultivators were looking for was lying on the mechanical tform, its blood essencepletely drained and about to be dismembered.


    "Stop immediately!" the Zhou Family Ancestormanded sternly.


    Ning Zhuo and Chen Cha, faces full of shock, quickly bowed in greeting.


    The three Golden Core cultivators ignored them and spread their spiritual sense, thoroughly scanning Yuan Dasheng''s corpse.


    They found no traces of any hidden demonic cultivator.


    "He indeed practiced demonic arts, and seemingly quite effectively," remarked the Zhou Family Ancestor.


    Zhu Xuanji confirmed his previous findings once more. He nced regretfully at the old ape''s body before turning his gaze to Ning Zhuo. "You, boy, have quite a way with words. Yuan Er was indeed a fool to be so easily swayed by you."


    Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, his face filled with apprehension as he spoke, "Lord Zhu, please understand. My cooperation with Yuan Er was mutually beneficial. I wanted to make money, and Yuan Er wanted to keep his position as gang leader."


    "With all due respect, sir, you acted out ofpassion to help the old ape. But was that truly a good thing for it? Given its loyalty to its master, it would rather not be a burden to its owner, correct?"


    "Hmph, sharp-tongued!" Zhu Xuanji''s opinion of Ning Zhuo worsened considerably.


    Fei Si, on the other hand, stroked his beard, growing increasingly appreciative of Ning Zhuo.


    Finding nothing suspicious, the three Golden Core cultivators soon left.


    Fei Si hurried back to Huoshi Forest, but Zhu Xuanji paused midway.


    Frowning deeply, he pondered, "Something doesn''t feel quite right!"

 Chapter 75: Cause and Effect

    Chapter 75: Cause and Effect


    < Chapter 75: Cause and Effect >


    "You go ahead, I need to go back for a moment." Zhu Xuanji turned back halfway.


    Fei Si hurriedly said, "I''ll go too, I''ll go too!"


    The ancestor of the Zhou family was naturally unwilling tog behind and followed closely, "Detective Zhu, what did you discover?"


    Zhu Xuanji only shook his head.


    After a while, the three of them returned to the Flying Disk Workshop.


    Several cultivators of the workshop were repairing the roof.


    With a wave of Zhu Xuanji''s hand, the roof was opened again.


    The three Golden Core cultivators slowly descended."Ah, my lords!" Ning Zhuo and Chen Cha bowed again.


    Zhu Xuanji ignored them and went straight to Yuan Dasheng''s corpse, taking out a bottle of potion from his bosom.


    The moment he opened the cork, the medicinal fragrance spread, shaking everyone''s hearts.


    Fei Si eximed, "Supreme-grade elixir?"


    Supreme-grade elixirs were extremely rare. Every pill that could be refined to this grade required the alignment of heaven, earth, and human factors. Even the creators couldn''t easily replicate such sess.


    Zhu Xuanji''s face was solemn. He didn''t hesitate to take out this precious treasure just to verify his thoughts.


    All eyes were on him as he carefully dripped a drop of the potion.


    The potion fell on Yuan Dasheng''s corpse and instantly seeped in.


    Zhu Xuanji and the others waited for a while but saw no change.


    Zhu Xuanji sighed, "This old ape''s mind hasn''t been influenced by any external force recently. This explosion in the Huoshi Forest was truly its mistake."


    Fei Si''s expression fell, as if saying, "That''s it?"


    The ancestor of the Zhou family nodded lightly.


    Without looking at the others, Zhu Xuanji turned and left, leaping into the air.


    Fei Si and the ancestor of the Zhou family followed suit.


    The three Golden Core cultivators left once again.


    Ning Zhuo and Chen Cha continued handling Yuan Dasheng''s corpse.


    Chen Cha noticed that Ning Zhuo''s movements were slow, his face pale, and his breath weak. He couldn''t help but show concern, "Little Zhuo, you''ve been working so hard these past few days. First, you rushed to make the Mechanical Monkeys, then you participated in the Huoshi Festival. Under Fei Si''s orders, you pressured Yuan Er to hand over Yuan Dasheng. Finally, you faced the overwhelming presence of the three Golden Core masters twice."


    "You''ve been through too much. Go home and rest well. I can handle things here."


    Ning Zhuo smiled bitterly and waved his hand, wiping the fine sweat from his forehead.


    "Let me catch my breath first." He stopped what he was doing, found a stool, and sat down to catch his breath.


    A strong sense of lingering fear swept over him, causing cold sweat to bead on his forehead once more.


    The recent situation had been extremely perilous!


    "Just a little more, just a little more¡­"


    He had just finished extracting the blood from Yuan Dasheng''s body when the three Golden Core cultivators arrived to investigate the corpse.


    Afterwards, the three Golden Core cultivators left and then returned. If Ning Zhuo had truly used the Buddha Heart Demon Seal to influence Yuan Dasheng, things would have turned disastrous.


    Let''s go back to a few days ago.


    Ning Zhuo had been racking his brains, exhausted from trying to handle a life-and-death crisis.


    Yuan Dasheng was very strong!


    He also had the Monkey Head Gang protecting him.


    Fighting head-on was definitely the worst strategy.


    "To kill with a borrowed knife, I needed to expose Yuan Dasheng to other forces¡­"


    Not to mention figuring out how to manipte other forces to trouble the Monkey Head Gang. If others discovered Yuan Dasheng''s value, Ning Zhuo would be bringing disaster upon himself.


    The greatest constraint was Zhu Xuanji.


    Zhu Xuanji possessed the Trace Back Art!


    If Ning Zhuo used the Buddha Heart Demon Seal to directly influence Yuan Dasheng, Zhu Xuanji could use the Trace Back Art on Yuan Dasheng''s corpse to find the closely linked individual¡ªNing Zhuo.


    This would mean exposing himself proactively.


    ¡°How should I save myself?¡±


    Ning Zhuo pondered bitterly, exhausting his thoughts!


    He was trapped in an abyss of contemtion.


    A strong sense of loneliness enveloped him, making him feel abandoned by the whole world.


    No one knew his true situation. He couldn''t confide in anyone, nor could he rely on anyone.


    Fate was cold and cruel, cing a formidable enemy like Yuan Dasheng in front of him, forcing him into a life-or-death struggle.


    Surveying the entire situation, he realized he could only fight alone!


    Whenever he thought of countermeasures, intense emotions surged within him.


    Helplessness, powerlessness, disappointment, despair, a yearning to survive, anger, hatred, the unwillingness to betray his mother''s dying wish, and a rebellious desire to challenge¡­


    Ning Zhuo had to constantly stay vignt against these emotions, trying to eliminate their interference, and think calmly and objectively.


    He needed to find possibilities within the impossible!


    And he had to seed in one go, with utmost thoroughness. Because if there was any w in his n, it would inevitably backfire, leading him to his doom.


    ¡°I still have a lot of critical information that hasn''t been uncovered.¡±


    ¡°For example, how exactly did he acquire the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique? How many levels are there?¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute¡­ Demonic Blood Tendon Technique!¡±


    Ning Zhuo, deep in thought, was taken aback, then his eyes gleamed brightly.


    Yes, the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique.


    Once this demonic art was activated, it could draw blood energy and condense blood tendons.


    When used on oneself, it could enhance mobility and provide a certain level of defense.


    When used on others, it could corrode and pollute their blood energy with one''s own. If arge amount of blood tendons formed inside and outside their body, it could imprison or even control them.


    At this moment, Ning Zhuo felt as if he had seen a glimmer of hope in the endless darkness.


    "I can use blood energy to infiltrate and influence it."


    "Of course, not my own blood energy. If foreign blood energy shed, Yuan Dasheng would definitely notice."


    "I can use his own blood energy!"


    Ning Zhuo, of course, couldn''t draw blood directly from Yuan Dasheng. However, thetter had monkeys and offspring!


    "Even if these monkeys and offspring have blood from different mother monkeys, as long as I collect enough, I can use alchemical methods to purify and extract the blood energy most simr to Yuan Dasheng''s own."


    At this point in his thoughts, Ning Zhuo faced another problem¡ªwould Yuan Dasheng be able to detect this same-origin blood energy?


    ¡°Could it detect it minutely?¡±


    Ning Zhuo delved deeper into his thoughts, finding it unlikely.


    ¡°Yuan Dasheng cultivates two techniques.¡±


    ¡°One is the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique, with an unknown origin, at least at the third level of Qi Refining.¡±


    ¡°The other is the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, acquired from the transmission bell, cultivated to the peak of the third level of Qi Refining, which allowed his soul to enter the Immortal Pce.¡±


    ¡°Apart from these, he couldn''t possibly cultivate other techniques!¡±


    To enter the Immortal Pce during the Qi Refining stage, one must abandon other techniques unless they were the Mirror tform Spirit Technique, the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, or the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique.


    The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art had to reach the peak of the third level of Qi Refining to trigger the soul''s entry into the Immortal Pce.


    If Yuan Dasheng had any other techniques, it could only be the Mirror tform Spirit Technique. If he had such cultivation in soul refinement, it would definitely show on the leaderboard.


    But up until now, the soul refinement leaderboard only had Ning Zhuo¡¯s pseudonym.


    ¡°Without a soul refinement technique, it¡¯s impossible to detect it minutely with just Five Elements Mana and the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique.¡±


    ¡°ording to the information, Yuan Dasheng isn¡¯t adept at using magical instruments and prefers closebat, fully utilizing his physical prowess.¡±


    ¡°Betting on this gives me a considerable chance.¡±


    Ning Zhuo had no other choice but to gamble that Yuan Dasheng didn¡¯t have other methods and wouldn¡¯t be able to detect it minutely.

 Chapter 76: I Am an Official

    Chapter 76: I Am an Official


    < Chapter 76: I Am an Official >


    After figuring things out, Ning Zhuo began to implement his n.


    He spent a fortune


    capturing wild monkeys, then hired demonic cultivators to poison the Monkey Head Gang''s monkeys. Finally, he orchestrated a failed assassination attempt on Yuan Er.


    Feeling immense pressure, Yuan Er and Yuan Dasheng retreated defensively, allowing Ning Zhuo''s first step to seed.


    Riding the momentum, Ning Zhuo yed the role of a petty man in front of Fei Si, causing Fei Si to misjudge the situation. Ning Zhuo willingly ceded 40% of the profits to obtain the Monkey Head Gang''s monkey corpses.


    He then collected and refined the blood essence, obtaining blood qi identical to Yuan Dasheng''s.


    Deliberately, he participated in the Flying Disk Workshop, hastily making inferior quality mechanical fire-explosive monkeys. He secretly used the identical blood qi and performed the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique, infusing the blood qi into the mechanical fire-explosive monkeys.


    On the day of the Huoshi Festival, Ning Zhuo was stationed halfway up the mountain, covered by a formation. He daringly used his heart imprint to control the mechanical monkeys, causing them to riot and attack Yuan Er.Fei Si activated the formation to destroy the mechanical monkeys, but the lurking blood qi had already attached to Yuan Er.


    Terrified, Yuan Er reunited with Yuan Dasheng.


    As a result, Yuan Dasheng got contaminated and infiltrated.


    Ning Zhuo had gambled correctly!


    Yuan Dasheng indeed failed to perceive the intrusion, perhaps because he was preupied with Yuan Er and didn''t notice the trace amount of identical blood qi in his body.


    Although the blood qi was minimal, at a critical moment, it affected Yuan Dasheng''s fingers, causing his "mistake."


    The Millennium Huoshi Forest exploded!


    Ning Zhuo''s trap was so meticulously designed that even Zhu Xuanji, using his Celestial Golden Eyes, couldn''t detect the identical blood qi.


    Ning Zhuo seeded in his scheme right under Zhu Xuanji¡¯s nose!


    However, Zhu Xuanji saving Yuan Dasheng still caused Ning Zhuo to lose hisposure for a moment.


    He almost believed he had been discovered.


    Yuan Dasheng being saved and still having a sliver of life left worried Ning Zhuo even more. What troubled him most was that Yuan Dasheng''s body remained intact, contrary to his expectations of it being blown to pieces.


    Especially, Yuan Dasheng¡¯s ten fingers were all intact, which made Ning Zhuo realize he had left a w!


    At the time, Zhu Xuanji had focused on saving Yuan Dasheng and didn¡¯t pay attention to minor details. The blood qi from the same source was the best disguise, so he hadn''t noticed anything amiss with the fingers.


    But if they continued to investigateter, examining every inch, would they not find anything?


    Ning Zhuo didn¡¯t dare to gamble on that.


    Therefore, Ning Zhuo had to kill Yuan Dasheng quickly to erase this w.


    Ning Zhuo couldn¡¯t act under his own name. He was merely at the Qi Refining Stage and couldn¡¯t withstand the possible casual retaliation from Zhu Xuanji upon discovering the truth.


    ¡°I can use Fei Si¡¯s name, making Zhu Xuanji wary of Fei Si afterward, identifying me as the executor, not the mastermind!¡±


    Ning Zhuo threw himself into the game, risking everything, and seeded in persuading, ultimately achieving victory.


    As he had predicted, upon learning of this, Zhu Xuanji identified Fei Si as the mastermind. Even better, Fei Si also believed himself to be the mastermind.


    ¡°After all, I did it!¡± Ning Zhuo sighed in the Flying Disk Workshop.


    He came back to his senses, his breath much calmer, and his emotions returned to normal.


    Zhu Xuanji and the others had no idea how close they hade to discovering the crucial clue.


    But just that little bit of distance buried the truth.


    A small difference can lead to a great error.


    ¡°For now, I can still continue to hide,¡± Ning Zhuo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and let out a light sigh.


    It was really not easy.


    Throughout the entire process, there was no fighting, but it was like walking a tightrope on the edge of a cliff. Several times, Ning Zhuo''s state of mind nearly faltered.


    He stood up and said, "Old Chen, I would like to handle Yuan Dasheng''s body personally. This is a task Lord Fei Si assigned to me, and I want to make sure I do it well."


    Even though the essence blood had been extracted and the ws were gone, Ning Zhuo, being cautious, still didn''t want Yuan Dasheng''s body to fall into someone else''s hands.


    "You," Chen Cha sighed deeply. "Very well, I''ll pack it up for you."


    "Take a good rest. This corpse has already been pre-treated and can be preserved for a long time."


    "There''s no need to rush."


    "It''s really not worth it if you exhaust yourself."


    Ning Zhuo bowed in thanks, "Thank you, Old Chen!"


    * * *


    Fei Si, Zhu Xuanji, and the others returned to the Huoshi Forest and continued digging the ground.


    They dug not just three feet, but as deep as thirty feet. At the same time, several Golden Core cultivators took turns using various spells and magical instruments to probe.


    There was no movement at all.


    Fei Si''s face was as calm as water. He had a premonition that the shadow demon cultivator had indeed escaped and would not appear again.


    Given the situation, he had to continue digging. Even if it meant turning the mountain base upside down, he would not hesitate.


    The logic was simple.


    If he messed up this task, he at least had to show that he had worked hard, so that the city lord would know that even if he didn''t achieve any merit, he had made a significant effort.


    "I ¡®retaliated'' against Zhu Xuanji this time, making him embarrassed."


    "So, the problem shouldn''t be too big."


    Fei Si pondered his own situation and naturally thought of Ning Zhuo.


    His eyes narrowed slightly, and his feelings were somewhatplex.


    From today''s events, he saw the talent in Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo was merely at the Qi Refining stage, yet he dared to venture into the Monkey Head Gang''s stronghold, using threats and inducements to coerce Yuan Er, a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, to abandon Yuan Dasheng. From this incident, it was clear that Ning Zhuo was indeed capable and courageous!


    Fei Si was also very clear that Ning Zhuo acted in this manner out of his own selfish motives.


    But Fei Si did not mind; in fact, he felt that this gave him a better understanding of Ning Zhuo, making him feel a sense of security and control.


    These feelings made him appreciate this young man from the Ning family even more.


    "He really is like I was when I was young."


    "Moreover, he has a keen eye!"


    "It''s just that I don''t know if it was him who caused the Mechanical Apes to riot, leading Yuan Er to attack during the Huoshi Festival."


    Fei Si was not foolish and maintained this suspicion in his heart.


    In his view, Ning Zhuo had a strong motive!


    Of course, he had also heard Ning Zhuo and Chen Cha''s exnation of the matter. When he first received the report from his subordinates, he found it very reasonable.


    But his suspicion was notpletely dispelled.


    "I don''t understand any mechanical techniques, so who knows if there''s a way Ning Zhuo could control the Mechanical Apes?"


    "Even if he couldn''t control them, isn''t Chen Cha also at the Foundation Establishment stage?"


    "If Chen Cha isn''t an aplice, perhaps Ning Zhuo offered a high price to hire some demon cultivators?"


    As an official, Fei Si naturally harbored suspicions about everything, regardless of evidence.


    Of course, Fei Si leaned more towards the belief that the Mechanical Apes were secretly controlled by the shadow demon cultivator! And thetter had sessfully escaped in broad daylight.


    He leaned towards this hypothesis because it was the most advantageous for him.


    The shadow demon cultivator had toyed with almost all the Golden Core cultivators in the city. His strength was too formidable!


    Thus, Fei Si''s failure in this case would be more eptable to the city lord.


    Look, even Zhu Xuanji, who possessed the Celestial Golden Eyes, hadn''t discovered the shadow demon cultivator. How could Fei Si have done anything more?


    Fei Si began racking his brains, figuring out how to solidify this hypothesis and how to report it to the city lord.


    As for the actual truth, he couldn''t care less.


    After managing the affairs of Huoshi Immortal City for so many years, how many wrongful cases had he encountered and handled?


    "I am an official, not a detective from the Detective Division!"


    Investigating the truth was Zhu Xuanji''s goal and responsibility. Fei Si only wanted to maintain the established order of Huoshi Immortal City, follow the directives of the city lord Meng Kui, and safeguard his own authority and interests.

 Chapter 77: Unexpected Immortal Talent

    Chapter 77: Unexpected Immortal Talent


    < Chapter 77: Unexpected Immortal Talent >


    For a whole day and night, numerous Golden Core cultivators searched continuously, but they still hadn''t unearthed the shadow demon cultivator.


    Faced with this reality, the four major powers of Huoshi Immortal City felt a deep sense of disgrace.


    The lockdown of the city remained in ce, but the pervasive whispers and undercurrents of tension could not be contained.


    Zhu Xuanji asked Fei Si for some fragments of mechanisms.


    These fragments all came from the out-of-control and riotous mechanical monkeys that had attacked Yuan Er.


    Since the shadow demon cultivator hadn''t shown up, these fragments became the only clues.


    Zhu Xuanji fiddled with these fragments.


    He had also obtained the design blueprints of the Exclusive Monkey, which he memorized after a few nces.After spending the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, he managed to piece together three mechanical monkeys from the fragments.


    The mechanical Exclusive Monkeys were all in a state of disrepair, barely able to stand before him.


    Zhu Xuanji took out control strings, infused them with mana, and manipted the mechanical Exclusive Monkeys.


    If Fei Si had seen this, he would have been astonished: Zhu Xuanji had this skill as well.


    Zhu Xuanji indeed had his own expertise in mechanical techniques, which was one of the reasons he had been selected to investigate this case.


    After a moment, Zhu Xuanji put away all the control strings and sighed, having discovered nothing of value.


    "Let''s review it again."


    Zhu Xuanji closed his eyes and reflected on the investigation process: starting with the mechanical monkeys, then the thousand-pound Fire Essence, and finally the shadow demon cultivator.


    "Using the self-destruct of the mechanical monkeys was obviously to guard against the Trace Back Art."


    "The thousand-pound Fire Essence left no traces in the market. If one of the four major powers did it, it would be easy to achieve."


    "The disappearance of the shadow demon cultivator most likely points to an insider secretly letting him go!"


    All clues pointed to one of the three major families in Huoshi Immortal City, suggesting they might be the masterminds behind the bombing of the Immortal Pce and the disguise of the shadow demon cultivator.


    "But if the shadow demon cultivator had already escaped beforehand, why cause the explosion of the mechanical monkeys during the Huoshi Festival and frame the Monkey Head Gang?"


    "Wouldn''t that be redundant?"


    Zhu Xuanji delved deeper into his thoughts.


    "Perhaps the other party wanted to use this to disguise themselves, creating the illusion that the shadow demon cultivator was present."


    "Additionally, the other party might have wanted to eliminate the old ape because it was too prominent. Disposing of it publicly would undermine the City Lord''s authority."


    "Lastly, it seems the other party intended to confuse me and slow down my investigation."


    Bang!


    Zhu Xuanji clenched his fist and mmed it onto the jade table.


    He felt the enemy''s provocation. These fragments of mechanical monkeys seemed to mock his ipetence, as if saying: Come on, investigate. I left clues for you!


    But Zhu Xuanji had learned from his previous encounters with the mechanical monkeys. He knew that if the enemy had done this, it was impossible to find anything meaningful, and it would only waste his precious time and energy.


    "If the mechanical monkeys were the enemy''s provocation, then was the old ape truly at fault?" This thought made Zhu Xuanji return midway on the day of the Huoshi Festival, not hesitating to use top-grade potions to verify whether the old ape''s mind had been influenced.


    Zhu Xuanji''s verification results were negative.


    After long contemtion, he slowly opened his eyes and thought, "The most suspicious thing remains that explosion!"


    The night was deep.


    Zhu Xuanji concealed his figure and returned to the Monkey Head Gang''s base, using a spell to make Yuan Er sleep as if dead.


    Then, he carefully took out a drop of top-grade potion and administered it to Yuan Er, but saw no effect.


    Zhu Xuanji sighed in frustration, "What was I thinking? The likelihood of Yuan Er''s mind being affected is too small!"


    "Hmph, this scoundrel wasted a drop of my top-grade potion."


    Gazing at the sleeping Yuan Er, Zhu Xuanji felt disgruntled.


    As he turned to leave, he flicked his sleeve, causing a gust of wind to p Yuan Er''s cheek with a sharp sound.


    Zhu Xuanji quietly distanced himself from the Monkey Head Gang''s base. Under the star-filled sky, he made his way to the peak of Mount Huoshi to meet the City Lord.


    "City Lord Meng Kui, I need to review all records and thoroughly investigate everyone who has entered and exited the Lava Immortal Pce over the years!"


    * * *


    Ning Zhuo returned home, rested briefly, and patiently waited until deep into the night. He then donned the Cang Tie Han Armor and once again disguised himself as the young puppet master.


    Using a teleportation technique, he arrived at the dungeon and met Han Ming.


    Upon opening the cell door, he saw Han Ming squatting on the ground, scratching his ears and cheeks, a very undignified posture.


    Startled, Han Ming quickly stood up and waved his hands at Ning Zhuo, a look of fear on his face. "M-Master, please don''t give me any more monkey souls. My soul needs to digest and purify!"


    "Now, my soul has be deformed, taking on many characteristics of a monkey."


    "My behavior has also unconsciously changed!"


    Ning Zhuo nodded. He understood the importance of not exhausting resources recklessly and said gently, "You''ve worked hard recently. From now on, you only need to absorb this ape''s soul. I''ll give you a break so you can rest for a while."


    Ning Zhuo had been frantically purchasing wild monkeys, all of which he handed over to Han Ming for her to absorb.


    As a result, Ning Zhuo''s soul foundation had increased to over eighty times what it was when he first met Han Ming.


    Han Ming''s condition had deteriorated rapidly, and Ning Zhuo had noticed this.


    With a thud, Yuan Dasheng''s corpse was taken out from the storage bag and thrown to the ground.


    Han Ming was startled, her hair standing on end. From the first nce, she could tell this old ape was extraordinary!


    "Devour its soul, and then you can have a break," Ning Zhuo said.


    When handling the corpse, Ning Zhuo had deliberately worn down Yuan Dasheng''s soul and imprisoned it within the body.


    Since Yuan Dasheng hadn''t practiced any soul-rted cultivation techniques, he could only be manipted by Ning Zhuo.


    However, this approach still carried risks.


    The best option for Ning Zhuo was to let Han Ming absorb the soul first, and then he would absorb it from her, maximizing the use of this spoils of war.


    "Thank you, Master, for your consideration!" Han Ming swallowed nervously and began to perform the Soul-Devouring Art.


    In the next moment, Yuan Dasheng''s corpse shed with a golden light.


    With a spurt, Han Ming suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted on the spot.


    Ning Zhuo was stunned. He quickly controlled several small puppets to administer aid while vigntly inspecting Yuan Dasheng''s corpse.


    Han Ming soon regained consciousness, still shaken, and eximed, "Righteous Golden Bones!"


    "This¡­ this is supreme talent!!"


    Ning Zhuo raised his eyebrows, surprised, "Supreme talent? This old ape had immortal potential? Are you sure?"


    Han Ming nodded, staring at the old ape''s corpse with unwavering certainty. "Absolutely! I have thoroughly studied the sect''s texts and can confirm that these are the characteristics of Righteous Golden Bones. The bearer is often innately loyal and unyielding, with unbreakable resolve."


    "Their entire skeletal structure is as hard as diamonds, making their physical body equally strong and resilient. A soul attached to these bones bes steadfast and immovable, not easily swayed by external forces."


    "In my current state, I can''t absorb its soul. Even at my peak, I might not be able to seed."


    At this moment, Han Ming also recognized the old ape''s identity and sighed, "I never would have thought, the old ape from the Monkey Head Gang, Yuan Yi''s monkey pet, had immortal potential!"


    Han Ming paused, then suddenly looked up sharply at Ning Zhuo, her eyes sparkling with intensity.

 Chapter 78: Willing to be a Servant

    Chapter 78: Willing to be a Servant


    < Chapter 78: Willing to be a Servant >


    Han Ming seemed to have thought of something. She looked at Ning Zhuo, her eyes shining brightly, full of curiosity.


    She swallowed a mouthful of saliva and cautiously asked, "May I ask, sir, was it you who killed this old ape?"


    Under the mask, Ning Zhuo squinted slightly, "Yes, it was me. So what?"


    Han Ming immediately gasped and adjusted her posture, dropping to her knees and bowing deeply to Ning Zhuo. "Sir, this humble girl is willing to be your servant, willing to sign a soul contract, and serve you for life!"


    Ning Zhuo couldn''t help but frown, feeling quite strange about Han Ming''s behavior.


    Initially, when Ning Zhuo had captured Han Ming alive and used her to supply soul essence, Han Ming had been extremely disgusted and hated Ning Zhuo.


    Later, her attitude softened because she feared death and had no choice but to submit.


    But now, Ning Zhuo could genuinely feel her sincerity and wholehearted submission.Of course, Ning Zhuo''s perception might be wrong, but Han Ming''s attitude indeed gave him the feeling that it had fundamentally changed!


    "Why?" Ning Zhuo looked down at Han Ming and asked indifferently.


    Han Ming took a deep breath and straightened her upper body, while her lower body remained kneeling. She gazed up at Ning Zhuo. "Sir, do you know about the concept of ¡®qi fate''?"


    Ning Zhuo frowned, thought for a moment, and replied, "I know a little."


    "The ¡®qi'' in ¡®qi fate'' refers to breath."


    "We humans start breathing from birth, and it ends when our life does. The number of breaths we take is our ¡®qi fate.''"


    "Therefore, many cultivators do not advocate fighting and strive to maintain a peaceful state of mind."


    "Because injuries from fighting greatly reduce one''s ¡®qi fate.'' Emotions such as anger, fear, despair, or extreme joy often cause rapid breathing, which reduces ¡®qi fate.''"


    "Therefore, many cultivators advocate avoiding conflict and maintaining a peaceful mind, often leading to longevity."


    Han Ming nodded, "This exnation of ¡®qi fate'' is indeed the most widely circted in the cultivation world. It does reveal part of the essence, but it''s notplete."


    "I was fortunate enough to read a book in my sect, called ¡®Qi Fate Theory, Volume One.'' It is a secret calction ssic from the Tian Gui Mansion."


    Ning Zhuo raised an eyebrow slightly.


    He had heard of Tian Gui Mansion.


    It was a super sect, extremely mysterious, with very few disciples. However, whenever a disciple appeared in the world, they often brought about significant changes in the entire cultivation world. This was because each generation''s disciples would choose the True Child of Destiny, guiding the great trend, leading to the destruction of old cultivation nations and the establishment of new ones.


    Ning Zhuo secretly sighed, "The Soul-Devouring Sect that Han Ming belongs to is indeed a major demonic sect, having such high-quality books in its collection."


    As for himself, over the past decade, he had only been able to browse the Ning family''s library. And that was the public library, not the secret library.


    "Continue," Ning Zhuo said.


    Han Ming swallowed a mouthful of saliva, still kneeling on the ground, "The ¡®Qi Fate Theory'' states that everyone''s ¡®qi fate'' is different. Some have more, some have less, some are strong, some are weak."


    "The higher one''s spiritual root and talent, the more and stronger their ¡®qi fate'' tends to be."


    "Among them, those with extraordinary talent are considered to have immortal potential, possessing the most and the strongest ¡®qi fate.''"


    "Those who possess immortal qualifications often have continuous fortune and opportunities presenting themselves."


    "They will never easily fall into desperate situations; there will always be a glimmer of hope. As long as they seize it, they can survive through hardship, narrowly escaping death, and eventually turn misfortune into blessing."


    "For those with ordinary fate, dealing with such individuals always leads to various unexpected events, either due to their own mistakes or external interference, ultimately resulting in failure."


    Upon hearing this, Ning Zhuo felt a slight stir in his heart, understanding the reason behind Han Ming''s change in attitude.


    "Interesting, don''t stop."


    "Yes." Han Ming continued, "I remember ¡®The Theory of Fate'' lists many examples, all of which happened in reality."


    "Many possessors of immortal qualifications have faced various forms of suppression. As long as they can withstand and adapt, they often achieve rapid improvement in some aspect due to the pressure."


    "And those who attempt to deal with the possessors of immortal qualifications often meet bad ends."


    "In the process of confronting such individuals, their fate diminishes, affecting their mind, causing confusion and emotional turmoil, leading to numerous wrong judgments and actions."


    "In the end, they bring suffering upon themselves and court their own demise."


    "Those with immortal qualifications cannot be easily in by ordinary people!"


    At this point, Han Ming looked at the young puppet master Ning Zhuo with a noticeable fervor in his eyes.


    "I understand what you mean," Ning Zhuo replied, habitually maintaining his humility. "However, although I eliminated Yuan Dasheng this time, it was with the help of external forces. This action might be the result of my fatebined with others'' fate, whose total surpassed that of Yuan Dasheng."


    Han Ming immediately shook her head. "Sir, ording to ¡®The Theory of Fate,'' when two parties cooperate, their fates do not simply add together. Sometimes, they even diminish each other due to internal conflicts."


    "¡®The Theory of Fate'' gives the examples of Nie Xiongfeng and Chu Liuyun. You should know that both of them were possessors of immortal qualifications and were enemies. At first, Nie Xiongfeng underestimated Chu Liuyun and sent subordinates to hunt him down continuously."


    "Chu Liuyun honed himself through these repeated pursuits, growing stronger with each battle. Eventually, he turned the tables and defeated Nie Xiongfeng."


    The conflict between these two figures was widely known in the cultivation world. Their struggle led to the downfall of a super sect and the rise of another.


    Han Ming sighed. "An immortal qualification appears in only one out of a million cultivators. This ratio is based on cultivators, not ordinary people."


    "Every possessor of immortal qualifications has an immensely strong fate and extraordinary opportunities."


    "Even if two top-tier talents were to cooperate with perfect sincerity, theirbined fates would still be far inferior to that of a super-tier talent."


    "I see," Ning Zhuo snorted coldly. "You''ve figured it out. Indeed, I am a super-tier talent!"


    Han Ming was momentarily stunned but then rejoiced. She bowed again. "Sir, this humble girl is willing to serve you wholeheartedly as your servant."


    She had already yielded before.


    This time, having deduced that Ning Zhuo possessed immortal qualifications, her pride as a member of a major demonic sect vanishedpletely.


    It was known that even a major demonic sect would have no more than ten individuals with immortal qualifications.


    Aligning herself with such a person promised a bright future!


    Of course, Han Ming''s actions were also driven by fear.


    During this period, she had consumed far too many monkey souls. She had no desire to be a woman-monkey!


    Ning Zhuo nodded slightly.


    He himself was uncertain about his concealed talent, but at this moment, he didn''t care about the truth; agreeing was the best choice.


    "This old man will reluctantly ept you," the young puppet master Ning Zhuo''s voice remained hoarse.


    "Thank you for your mercy, my lord!" Han Ming eximed excitedly, bowing her head.


    When she looked up, she added, "I must also congratte you, my lord. By eliminating someone with immortal qualifications, your own fate will greatly increase!"


    "Oh? What is the reasoning behind this?" Ning Zhuo asked, curious.

 Chapter 79: The Theory of Fate

    Chapter 79: The Theory of Fate


    < Chapter 79: The Theory of Fate >


    Han Ming said, "ording to the book''s exnation, those with celestial aptitude are the favored children of heaven and earth. Once they ovee a challenge, it is like undergoing a tribtion or refining gu poison. Climbing over a mountain brings a newndscape to life."


    "Master, you must be vignt in the near future. When your fate increases significantly, opportunities often follow!"


    Ning Zhuo grew more interested, "Are there other methods to increase fate?"


    Han Ming replied, "Cultivation is the primary method. The stronger a cultivator''s strength, the greater their fate."


    "Borrowing momentum also works. But it must be borrowed well; if not, it can lead to internal exhaustion."


    "Additionally, there are certain treasures. For example, every super sect, super family, and any cultivation nation has at least one significant treasure that can be used to suppress fate and adjust fortune."


    Ning Zhuo nodded, "Copy out the entire ¡®Theory of Fate''."


    "Yes, Master."Ning Zhuo added, "For other texts, as long as they don''t involve your sect''s forbidden knowledge, copy them as well."


    Han Ming replied again, "Yes, Master."


    Ning Zhuo then asked about the soul contract.


    Han Ming exined that this was a spell from the Soul-Devouring Sect, which could use souls to sign contracts, making them very reliable.


    The key point was that the essence of Han Ming''s cultivationy in her soul. Signing a soul contract was the best way to control her. Once signed, her life and death would be in Ning Zhuo''s hands.


    Ning Zhuo studied the soul contract a little but found he couldn''t understand it.


    He decided to proceed cautiously.


    Fortunately, the materials and talismans needed to establish the soul contract required time to collect, so there was no rush.


    "You may say you have pledged allegiance to me, but time is needed to verify your loyalty."


    "In the future, you must perform well," Ning Zhuo admonished.


    Han Ming bowed her head obediently, speaking softly, "Yes, Master."


    Ning Zhuo thought for a moment. Before leaving, he extended the length of the chain, allowing Han Ming to move within half the cell as a reward.


    Ning Zhuo hadn''t expected to gain so much from this meeting with Han Ming.


    He learned about Yuan Dasheng''s celestial aptitude.


    It''s important to note that detecting celestial aptitude is a ratherplex matter. Three Golden Core cultivators had examined Yuan Dasheng''s corpse, yet none of them detected it.


    "It was because I had Han Ming devour his soul that it was identally stimted, allowing me to identify it."


    "His righteous bones are as hard as gold, making them excellent materials for creating mechanisms. Marvelous!"


    Additionally, he gained insights into the secrets of fate.


    "The ¡®Theory of Fate'' is quite intriguing."


    Finally, he also subdued Han Ming.


    Of course, Ning Zhuo harbored doubts about Han Ming''s submission.


    At this moment, he wished he had Zhu Xuanji''s methods for detecting lies. Unfortunately, Zhu Xuanji''s lie-detection abilities were based on specific mana, spells, and golden eyes.


    As for these fundamentals, Ning Zhuo had none of them.


    Due to the presence of Yuan Dasheng''s righteous bones, his corpse had to be dealt withter.


    In the meantime, Ning Zhuo needed to ensure that Yuan Dasheng''s soul remained weak to prevent it from being drawn to the pce of souls.


    However, now that Yuan Dasheng''s body was dead, it could no longer nourish his soul. Even if Ning Zhuo did nothing, ording to naturalw, the soul would continue to weaken.


    Ning Zhuo needed to intensify his supervision to prevent any unexpected urrences.


    What is the best kind of enemy?


    The best kind of enemy is one that ispletely dead!


    Until Yuan Dasheng''s soul could be utilized, Ning Zhuo would keep a close watch on it.


    Ning Zhuo closed his eyes and began his daily review.


    The knowledge of fate gave him a deeper understanding of himself, his exploration of the Immortal Pce, and the world.


    He first thought about himself.


    "If I truly have extraordinary aptitude, having strong fate would make sense."


    "Without the protection of my parents, I have grown smoothly to sixteen years old and have developed and amassed wealth that my uncle and aunt could never achieve in their lifetimes."


    "Since I began exploring the Immortal Pce, I have repeatedly encountered crises, but even in the worst situations, there has always been a glimmer of hope, never a fatal blow."


    For example, his name not being discovered by others gave Ning Zhuo time to make adjustments.


    Another example was the unexpected appearance of Yuan Dasheng. Hisings and goings did not coincide with Meng Chong and others.


    Yuan Dasheng didn''t encounter anyone else, and the three major forces didn''t discover him, giving Ning Zhuo a chance to struggle.


    Ning Zhuo then thought about Yuan Dasheng.


    "In Yuan Dasheng''s case, he also had several opportunities for survival."


    If Ning Zhuo hadn''t sessfully changed his name or had not done so in time, Yuan Dasheng would have realized his true situation immediately. He would have be alert and more urately countered Ning Zhuo''s trap.


    If he hadn''t injured his soul to care for Yuan Er and had continued to explore the Immortal Pce, he might have run into others. Although this might not have been beneficial, it could have presented a turning point.


    If, during the Huoshi Festival, the Mechanical Ape hadn''t attacked Yuan Er and failed to converge, the subsequent chaos wouldn''t have ensued. Ning Zhuo''s scheme would have been thwarted!


    If, during the chain explosions in the Millennium Huoshi Forest, it hadn''t concerned itself with Yuan Er and had instead withdrawn, even considering the surrounding dangers without using demonic arts, it could have protected itself with the peak-level Five Elements Mana of the thirdyer.


    Perhaps it might have remained conscious after the explosion. Being conscious or unconscious werepletely different states, with a qualitative difference.


    In the end, even if Yuan Dasheng had protected Yuan Er, and it had fallen into aa, there would still be a glimmer of hope. That hopey in Zhu Xuanji being moved to intervene and help. As long as it endured for a period and woke up or its soul entered the Immortal Pce, there would be a chance for a turnaround.


    Unfortunately, Ning Zhuo acted swiftly, decisively entering the fray, and Yuan Er performed poorly, failing to protect his Uncle Monkey.


    "Fate actually gave it many opportunities, but it failed to seize them."


    "It was also dragged down by Yuan Er."


    Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly, gaining a deeper understanding of some of the concepts in the study of destiny.


    His mind churned within his spiritual sea, reviewing the entire process, continuously generating insights and realizations.


    "Hmm?"


    Amidst the countless thoughts, he touched the treasured seal in his spiritual sea, leading to an unexpected discovery.


    ¡°Why has the Buddha Heart Demon Seal been used so many times?¡±


    Ning Zhuo, wary of Zhu Xuanji, had rarely employed the Buddha Heart Demon Seal during this covert operation. The most prominent instance was when he used the heart seal tomand the Mechanical Monkeys into a frenzy.


    As these monkeys were destroyed by the formation, it effectively obliterated the evidence.


    Even if discovered, Ning Zhuo could perfectly exin himself as the creator.


    In the subsequent negotiations with Yuan Er, he had not used this treasured seal at all, meticulously avoiding any small w.


    In the cultivation world, the methods were countless, and Ning Zhuo pursued utmost caution.


    To Ning Zhuo, no matter how precious the Buddha Heart Demon Seal was, it was merely a tool. And since it was a tool, its value depended on the user''s skill. Over-reliance on a single tool was inadvisable; if trouble didn''t ur now, it would eventually.


    Thus, ording to Ning Zhuo''s knowledge, he had not used the Buddha Heart Demon Seal many times.


    But now, as he interacted with the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, he unexpectedly discovered that the facts shed significantly with his recollection.


    ¡°When did this happen? I''ve used the Buddha Heart Demon Seal not just once, but at least three or four times.¡±


    Ning Zhuo couldn''t help but be astonished.


    What was going on?


    This had never happened before.

 Chapter 80: Pushing Open the Buddhas Gate

    Chapter 80: Pushing Open the Buddha''s Gate


    < Chapter 80: Pushing Open the Buddha''s Gate >


    Ning Zhuo immediately reviewed each instance when the Buddha Heart Demon Seal was activated, summarizing theirmonalities.


    He quickly discovered that every time the seal was activated, it urred when he was anxious and unsettled, his mind in turmoil.


    When he was officially taking action, using the heart seal tomand the mechanical monkeys into a frenzy.


    When Zhu Xuanji saved Yuan Dasheng.


    When Ning Zhuo broke into the backyard bedroom and saw the unconscious Yuan Dasheng, almost wanting to take action immediately.


    When he seeded in subduing Yuan Er, but Yuan Er refused to hand over Yuan Dasheng, making Ning Zhuo so anxious that he wanted to act.


    "Is this the sh of fate, making my mind unstable? Emotions nearly losing control, if mistakes are made, it would definitely give Yuan Dasheng a new chance to survive."


    "On one hand, I rely on rationality, forcing myself to remain calm. On the other hand, the Buddha Heart Demon Seal has been secretly supporting me, saving me at least four times.""Guiding others into demonhood, guiding oneself into Buddhism!"


    Upon discovering this truth, Ning Zhuo broke out in a cold sweat once again.


    It turned out that this matter had hidden many dangers that Ning Zhuo had not detected at all. If he hadn''t learned about the theory of fate from Han Ming, he might not have understood it for a long time.


    "From this, it seems that the Buddha Heart Demon Seal should be a treasure that can guard fate. Triggering the Buddha statue to guide oneself can avoid the emotional disturbances caused by the sh of fate, strictly preventing personal mistakes."


    Ning Zhuo secretly rejoiced. Through this matter, he discovered yet another function of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.


    "However, this way, my innate talent bes uncertain."


    Behind the door, the room was filled with coffins. Not only were there coffins on the floor, but even the walls had coffins standing upright, and the ceiling had several coffins suspended by iron chains.


    This scene was beyond Ning Zhuo''s expectations.


    "At least it''s not the obstacles and puppets of the Dao or Demon gates."


    At this moment, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit wore a serious and solemn expression, its gaze piercing through the air, staring intently at Ning Zhuo.


    Despite its reluctance to provide hints, it had no choice but to transmit key information to Ning Zhuo''s mind through the Life Hanging by a Thread technique.


    "Use the Mirror tform Spirit Technique to sense the spiritual essence inside the coffins through their lids. Once sessful, the coffin lid can be opened."


    "Choose one to send for fire cremation, obtaining a spiritually imbued mechanical creation."


    "You can also transmit an external corpse to the fire furnace, gaining a corresponding mechanism."


    "Note: This mechanism requires careful maintenance and can be transported in and out of the Lava Immortal Pce!"


    Upon receiving the information, Ning Zhuo immediately began to try.


    His Mirror tform Spirit Technique had indeed reached the thirdyer, andmunicating with some of the coffins on the ground was not difficult.


    Soon, he managed to open several coffins, discovering inside them a Fire Serpent, Fire Fluff Mice, and a me-shadow Flower.


    Everything possessed spiritual essence.


    Ning Zhuo then attempted to contact the coffins embedded in the four walls. Themunication was difficult, but he could vaguely sense that they still contained beasts and spiritual nts from Mount Huoshi. However, their power and foundation were of a higher level than those on the ground.


    "It seems that the bodies in the hanging coffins must be the most advanced," Ning Zhuo thought, tilting his head. He used the Suspension Ring to hoist himself up.


    He ced his hands on the surface of the hanging coffin, fully activating the Mirror tform Spirit Technique. This time, the response was faint, very vague, and weak.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit monitored Ning Zhuo''s every move closely, its ws clenched, looking extremely tense.


    After his investigation, Ning Zhuo surveyed the surroundings, finally fixing his gaze on an upright coffin embedded in the wall. "Given my current spirit refining level, the Fire Serpent in this coffin is the best target."


    As he thought about this, Ning Zhuo tilted his head, extended the line, and lowered himself to the ground, walking to the target coffin.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit grunted, eager to see Ning Zhuo sense this coffin.


    But Ning Zhuo stopped and fell into contemtion.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit grew more anxious, letting out a low growl and spitting out a me, as if urging Ning Zhuo to proceed.


    While Ning Zhuo stood still, lost in thought, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit sensed something amiss and began scratching the ground with its hind ws, visibly agitated.


    What intrigued Ning Zhuo was a part of the information he received: "You can also transmit an external corpse to the fire furnace, gaining a corresponding mechanism."


    The more Ning Zhuo pondered, the more curious he became. "If I capture a Golden Core stage beast alive and send it to the Lava Immortal Pce, would I obtain a mechanism far exceeding the standard?"


    Of course, he didn''t have a Golden Core stage beast at hand.


    Ning Zhuo naturally thought of Yuan Dasheng!


    Yuan Dasheng''s soul was attached to the Righteous Bone Gold Frame, making it difficult to deal with. Ning Zhuo had nned to extract the bones for creating mechanisms.


    But now, a ready-made opportunity was right in front of him.


    He didn''t need to handle Yuan Dasheng''s corpse himself; he only needed to bring it inside and hand it over to the Lava Immortal Pce for processing. In return, he would receive a corresponding mechanism.


    This thought excited Ning Zhuo more and more.


    On one hand, it saved him a lot of trouble and eliminated a significant amount of risk. After all, the sooner Yuan Dasheng''s corpse was dealt with, the better.


    On the other hand, Ning Zhuo had always believed that his own proficiency in mechanism techniques was not particrly high. He trusted the skills of the three sects'' elders much more.


    "Bring Yuan Dasheng''s corpse inside!" Ning Zhuo made his decision.


    But how?


    Ning Zhuo pondered this question.


    Logically, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit should have provided an answer at this moment.


    However, at this very moment, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was tightly covering its own mouth. No matter how much the fire whipshed it, it stubbornly held back and did not respond!


    Ning Zhuo then exited the Immortal Pce and returned to the outside world.


    He approached Yuan Dasheng''s corpse, thought for a moment, and poured the essence blood he had previously extracted back into the ape corpse.


    He took out two storage bags filled with supplies and ced them on and inside the ape''s body.


    Then, hey down beside the corpse, one hand touching the ape corpse, while sensing the trial disciple''s mark.


    In the next moment, he was back in the room behind the Buddha, with Yuan Dasheng''s corpse beside him.


    He seeded!

 Chapter 81: Yuan Dashengs Rebirth!

    Chapter 81: Yuan Dasheng''s Rebirth!


    < Chapter 81: Yuan Dasheng''s Rebirth! >


    Lava Immortal Pce.


    As Ning Zhuo''s soul returned to his body, the puppet body he was inhabiting scattered to the ground with a crash.


    However, when Ning Zhuo quickly returned, the puppet body rapidly reassembled itself on the ground and soon stood up again.


    At the same time, the teleportation circle spat out Yuan Dasheng''s corpse.


    Seeing this scene, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit suddenly felt a darkness before its eyes.


    The situation it most dreaded had happened!


    For a moment, it red at Ning Zhuo with wide dragon eyes, nostrils ring, and with each breath, it spewed sparks.


    But Ning Zhuo didn''t feel anything at all.The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit''s breathing grew more intense, and it roared to the heavens in fury!


    The roar echoed in all directions, shaking the entire Immortal Pce.


    Sound waves quickly leaked out, causing magma to ssh on the peak of Mount Huoshi, dispersing arge expanse of smoke and clouds.


    City Lord Meng Kui abruptly opened his eyes and immediately interrupted his cultivation: "Is it happening again?"


    In the main hall of the Lava Immortal Pce.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit frantically darted about in mid-air, constantly spewing fire pirs from its mouth, burning everywhere as if it had gone mad.


    The Lava Immortal Pce grew increasingly turbulent.


    Against the backdrop of the sky-high mes, Meng Kui''s expression grew darker.


    Ning Zhuo waspletely unaware of this.


    In the room he was in, it was peaceful and serene.


    After quickly examining Yuan Dasheng''s corpse, he felt both surprised and disappointed.


    He was surprised because, on his first attempt, he had sessfully brought Yuan Dasheng''s corpse into the Lava Immortal Pce. This was a brand new experience for him.


    He was disappointed because he had specifically hidden storage bags above and inside Yuan Dasheng''s body. However, neither of these bags had been transported.


    "I was constantly sensing the Buddha Heart Demon Seal during the pce entry process."


    "Sigh, if only I could bring in arge amount of materials."


    "The resources avable in the Lava Immortal Pce almost always require the expenditure of limited spirit stones."


    If he had arge quantity of materials, Ning Zhuo was confident he could make the first three levels imprable!


    Calming his emotions, Ning Zhuo began to ponder what to do next.


    He had sessfully brought in the ape corpse, but how could he deliver the ape corpse to the Immortal Pce?


    He didn''t know this step of the process; he was severelycking in information.


    This information should have been provided promptly by the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, but now it was gritting its teeth, frantically fleeing in the main hall.


    Behind it, a fire whip was flying.


    Crack! Crack!


    The fire whip continuouslyshed the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, even as it flew swiftly around the pirs.


    At the top of Mount Huoshi.


    Meng Kui, exerting all his strength, frantically urged his spells, conjuring arge hand to suppress the Lava Immortal Pce.


    The radiant beams from the Lava Immortal Pce soon pierced through therge hand.


    Meng Kui sighed helplessly and had to activate the grand formation of Huoshi Immortal City. With the power of the grand formation, he finally managed to stabilize the situation.


    "What on earth is making the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit go crazy?!"


    This time, the scale of the Lava Immortal Pce''s upheaval was unprecedented.


    Therefore, the pressure on Meng Kui was immense.


    Meng Kui could even discern from the dragon roars transmitted outside the pce a strong sense of unwillingness, rage, and exasperation. And¡­ also the sound of miserable wails and cries of pain.


    At first, there was only one fire whipshing at the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit. But as it continued to resist and shirk its duties, the number of fire whips increased.


    Five or six fire whips now chased the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, relentlessly striking it!


    The entire spiritual body of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was beingshed into a dim, ethereal state. Unable to endure any longer, it had to speak and convey the critical information.


    In the room, Ning Zhuo was preparing to make some attempts. Upon receiving the information, he frowned slightly, "The Lava Immortal Pce seems to be severely damaged. Such important information should have beenmunicated immediately."


    Without any hesitation, Ning Zhuo acted immediately and dragged Yuan Dasheng''s corpse to the door.


    His small puppet body found it extremely difficult to drag Yuan Dasheng''s corpse, taking considerable time and effort.


    Once Yuan Dasheng''s corpse was dragged to the door, a teleportation circle appeared and swallowed it up.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit curled up in a corner, enduring the continuousshes of the fire whips with pain, a look of utter despair on its face.


    It knew that Ning Zhuo had made the most appropriate choice!


    Even if Ning Zhuo brought in the corpse of a Golden Core stage cultivator to create a spiritual puppet, Ning Zhuo would not be able to control it.


    But Yuan Dasheng was not a Golden Core; he was at the thirdyer of Qi Refining, ninthyer of Essence Refining. Using him as raw material, the resulting puppet creation would be just at the edge of Ning Zhuo''s control limit.


    The most crucial point was the celestial aptitude!


    Materials with celestial aptitude were extremely rare and highly valuable!


    The Lava Immortal Pce had four levels of furnaces: copper, iron, silver, and gold.


    To refine materials with celestial aptitude, the gold furnace must be used. Once used for refining celestial materials, even the gold furnace can only be used once!


    Since the construction of the Lava Immortal Pce, there had been at most eight gold furnaces, and now only four remained.


    Now, to refine Yuan Dasheng, another gold furnace had to be used.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit desperately didn''t want to see this happen, but reality was harsh for it!


    It had no choice but toply, controlling the entire Immortal Pce to ce Yuan Dasheng''s corpse into the gold furnace.


    The gold furnace began the refining process.


    A massive amount of spiritual energy started to be consumed, and a magnificent beam of light shot out from the gold furnace.


    The light was blindingly bright, shooting straight into the sky, thick as a pir.


    "What is happening now?" Meng Kui was astonished. He hurriedly used the grand formation to summon clouds and smoke, doing his best to cover the towering pir of light.


    "If only I could enter the Immortal Pce¡­" Meng Kui gritted his teeth in frustration and could only sigh.


    His expertise in mechanisms was very low. To be more precise, by the standards of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, it was extremely low.


    Thus, he hadn''t been chosen and couldn''t enter the Lava Immortal Pce.


    In this regard, he was even less qualified than some Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators who had been admitted after the pce''s standards were lowered.


    Among his subordinates, two Golden Core cultivators, like him, hadn''t been chosen by the Immortal Pce.


    Some of his Foundation Establishment subordinates had been selected and could enter the Immortal Pce. But overall, the advantage was not significant enough to differentiate them from the Zhou and Zheng families.


    Because of this, after the appearance of the Immortal Pce, Meng Kui personally took action, stationed himself at the mountain peak, and used the investigation as a reason to seal off the entire Immortal Pce, temporarily preventing all cultivators from entering.


    The Zhou family and the Zheng family did raise objections, but Meng Kui strongly rejected them. After all, the City Lord¡¯s mansion also did not send any cultivators to directly enter the Immortal Pce.


    Meng Kui, representing the Southern Dou Dynasty, used the excuse of investigating the demon cultivators. The other two families had no choice but to watch the Immortal Pce, ensuring that the City Lord''s mansion did not secretly send anyone inside.


    "Our greatest hope still lies with Chong¡¯er."


    Meng Kui had immense confidence in Meng Chong.


    Especially recently, Meng Chong had sessfully broken through, taking his Wild Sprint Thunderp technique to a whole new level, making tremendous progress.


    "Chong¡¯er has exceptional aptitude and strong fate. Any pressure only makes him stronger. In a fairpetition, who can surpass him?"


    The pir of light gradually dissipated, and the Lava Immortal Pce returned to calm.


    Meng Kui snorted with satisfaction.


    At the same time.


    Another teleportation circle appeared before Ning Zhuo.


    From the circle, a mechanical monkey slowly floated down.


    "So, it¡¯s finished this quickly?"


    Ning Zhuo was pleasantly surprised and stepped forward to inspect it.


    Seeming to hear his footsteps, the mechanical monkey opened its eyes and slowly raised its head.


    It looked at Ning Zhuo, its pupils glowing with a blood-red light, exuding an awe-inspiring presence.


    Ning Zhuo slowed his steps.


    At this moment, Yuan Dasheng was reborn!

 Chapter 82: Golden Blood Battle Ape - Great Victory

    Chapter 82: Golden Blood Battle Ape - Great Victory


    < Chapter 82: Golden Blood Battle Ape ¨C Great Victory >


    This Mechanical Ape was only half the height of Yuan Dasheng but appeared exceedingly robust and majestic!


    Its overall appearance was abination of gold and red, with monkey fur as deep red as blood and golden strips exposed on various parts of its body, iid with golden edges. The metal strips varied in length and thickness,bined and assembled like a set of hollow gold armor covering the Mechanical Ape''s entire body.


    On closer inspection, it became evident that these were actually the exposed bones of the Mechanical Ape. Its forehead, brows, and nose bridge were all made of metal.


    The appearance of the Mechanical Ape bore a striking resemnce to Yuan Dasheng.


    Its pupils resembled blood jade, and beneath its sunken eye sockets were two heavy ck eye shadows.


    The puppet Ning Zhuo ran to the front of the Mechanical Ape, looked up for a moment, and then circled around it. The puppet''s small wooden hands reached out, asionally pinching the Mechanical Ape''s thick legs, sometimes tapping the exposed metal bones with its fingers.


    "Unfortunately, the puppet''s bodycks spiritual sense and cannot prate its interior for inspection."


    Ning Zhuo felt regret, his desire to research growing wildly with each breath.At this moment, a message was conveyed¡ª


    Golden Blood Battle Ape!


    Made with Zhu Fire ze baked from Zhu Yan Stone as the main material for the Battle Ape''s muscle body.


    Using celestial spirit wood paired with scarlet gold mysterious iron to create the ape''s entire indestructible bone structure, extremely tough and resilient.


    The surface of the indestructible bones was engraved with the full text of the Vajra Body Protection Technique, making this skeleton a powerful defensive magical instrument on its own.


    Within the Battle Ape''s palms were eighteen types of martial arts talismans, and inside its head was a mass of celestial condensed mist, with each drop of mist capable of serving as a thought, used for thinking¡­


    This was the first time since Ning Zhuo entered the pce that he received such arge amount of information.


    The content was very rich, causing the puppet Ning Zhuo to stand in ce and carefully savor it for quite a while.


    "Yuan Dasheng''s body and soul were both used as the main materials to create this mechanical construct."


    "It has no memory of the past, but because of its spirituality, there will be some actions deeply imprinted in its heart."


    What caught Ning Zhuo''s attention the most was this sentence: ¡°It contains eighty percent spirituality and can exhibit the Righteous Bone Gold Frame!¡±


    "Spirituality¡­" Ning Zhuo muttered to himself.


    Spirituality was truly remarkable.


    ording tomon cultivation knowledge, the treasures used by cultivators are divided into: talisman treasures, magical instruments, magical treasures, and spirit treasures.


    The reason spirit treasures are special lies in their spirituality.


    In somerge-scale cultivation sects and families, spirit treasures can evenmunicate normally with people, possessing considerable intelligence.


    "The mechanical constructs created by the Lava Immortal Pce actually possess spirituality!"


    "Doesn''t that mean it can mass-produce spirit treasures?"


    "The three sect masters truly deserve to be great beings of the Void Refinement level."


    "But¡­ eighty percent spirituality? Why not a hundred percent?"


    "What would happen if it were a hundred percent?"


    "How can spirituality be increased?"


    The more Ning Zhuo thought about it, the more questions arose in his mind.


    Thinking also brought results.


    He realized the intention behind the arrangements the three sect masters made in the room following the Buddhist hall.


    The mechanical constructs being endowed with spirituality was obviously meant to be paired with the Mirror tform Spirit Technique.


    This Buddhist technique specializes in refining the spirit. It allows one to construct a spiritual mirror in the Sea of Consciousness on the dantian, used tomunicate with all things possessing spirituality.


    Right now, wasn''t the Golden Blood Battle Ape in front of Ning Zhuo the most suitable target?


    Thinking of this, Ning Zhuo activated the Mirror tform Spirit Technique.


    He had a puppet body and no dantian in the Sea of Consciousness, but the Life-Hanging Thread was always connected to his physical body, enabling him tomunicate with his Sea of Consciousness and stimte the spiritual mirror.


    Soon, through the spiritual mirror, he established a close connection with the Golden Blood Battle Ape mechanism.


    "Forward, backward, move left, turn right," Ning Zhuo ordered in his mind, and the Golden Blood Battle Ape followed eachmand.


    "Roll over, stick out your tongue, pucker your butt¡­" Ning Zhuo tried tomand the mechanical ape to perform more precise actions.


    The mechanical apeplied, then conveyed a sense of impatience.


    Ning Zhuo was both surprised and excited. "Having spirituality really is different; it even throws little tantrums."


    He continued trying tomunicate with the Golden Blood Battle Ape. The ape couldn''t talk to him but would convey emotions and some basic reactions.


    The most frequent response was¡ª"Master, what do you need me to do? Please give the order."


    Though it was made using Yuan Dasheng''s corpse as the main material, it had spirituality but no memory. Even if it had memories, Yuan Dasheng never knew that Ning Zhuo was the enemy who framed him, even up to his death.


    The more Ning Zhuo experimented, the more excited he became. He discovered that themands the Golden Blood Battle Ape could execute could be rtivelyplex in content.


    Usually, with mechanical constructs, even if Ning Zhuo used his heart seal, he needed to constantly direct and focus his mind on them.


    However, with the Golden Blood Battle Ape, it was almost equivalent to having a subordinate cultivator. After Ning Zhuo issued amand, he didn''t need to worry about it; the ape would execute it on its own.


    "Wonderful, truly wonderful!"


    Ning Zhuo, with the Golden Blood Battle Ape, officially pushed open the door, entering the second trial after the Buddhist hall.


    Upon entering, a cage immediately dropped down.


    Ning Zhuo tried to dodge, but the surrounding space was locked, trapping him inside the cage.


    In contrast, the Golden Blood Battle Ape remained free.


    At this moment, information was transmitted to him¡ªcontrol the Golden Blood Battle Ape to protect himself and repel six waves of attacking puppets.


    In the darkness, a dozen pairs of eyes lit up.


    Then, nearly ten mechanical wolves charged out.


    The pack of wolves rushed toward Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo understood and immediately issued amand to the Golden Blood Battle Ape.


    The Golden Blood Battle Ape stepped forward to fight. Its movements were agile, disying stunning martial skills, repeatedly tearing the mechanical wolves apart in closebat.


    Ning Zhuo did not intervene; relying solely on the Golden Blood Battle Ape''sbat abilities, he survived five waves.


    In the final wave, over thirty kung fu puppets arrived.


    The Golden Blood Battle Ape was somewhat outnumbered, so Ning Zhuo used the Mirror tform to cast spells.


    The spiritual energy stored within the Golden Blood Battle Ape was consumed under Ning Zhuo''s guidance, causing the ape''s hands to be surrounded by a gentle breeze, greatly increasing its speed. Additionally, the ape emitted cold air, freezing its enemies.


    As soon as Ning Zhuo intervened to assist, the situation immediately turned around. The Golden Blood Battle Ape gained a significant advantage and ultimately won with ease.


    "Logically, the difficulty of this trial should beparable to that of the Daoist and Demonic sects. Yet, I did not find it difficult at all."


    "Is the Golden Blood Battle Ape just too excellent?"


    Ning Zhuo guessed correctly.


    He continued to push the door, but encountered difficulties again at the third trial.


    "My coordination with the Golden Blood Battle Ape still needs a lot of practice."


    "This time, I ventured into the Buddhist hall alone, and I don''t have any blood energy on me."


    "The Lava Immortal Pce changes every three trials. I wonder what good things the Buddhist path will offer after passing this trial."


    Ning Zhuo tested it for a while, then wisely retreated.


    He didn''t rush to the Demonic Hall to absorb blood energy but instead tried to exit the Immortal Pce.


    A message came, asking whether Ning Zhuo wanted to leave the mechanical ape behind or take it with him.


    Ning Zhuo tried both options and confirmed that he could indeed take the Golden Blood Battle Ape in and out at will.


    What surprised him was that even if he left the Golden Blood Battle Ape in the Immortal Pce, he could still use the spiritual mirror to observe its condition and issue orders to it!


    "So, does this mean I can¡­"


    Not long after.


    The puppet Meng Chong broke through the second room.


    "I''ve been training hard, day and night. Now, the second room can''t hinder me in the slightest!"


    "Hahaha." Meng Chongughed loudly as he pushed open the door and entered the third room again.


    The numerous puppets inside the third room quickly surrounded him.


    "Wild Sprint Thunderp!" Meng Chong activated his celestial power, moving like lightning, weaving effortlessly among the kung fu puppets.


    His speed varied; after slowing down and then elerating again, the speed of Wild Sprint Thunderp surpassed his previous limits.


    Meng Chong''s control over his celestial power had reached a new height!


    Just as he knocked down all the kung fu puppets and was about to push open the door, the Golden Blood Battle Ape, activated by Ning Zhuo, appeared.


    "Oh? There''s still a straggler left." Meng Chong clenched his fists and charged forward.


    Wham.


    The next moment, he was thrown over the shoulder by the Golden Blood Battle Ape and forcefully mmed into the ground.


    Meng Chong was momentarily stunned but quickly stood up, fiercely saying, "Come on, I''m going to smash you to pieces!"

 Chapter 83: Yuan Dasheng vs. Meng Chong

    Chapter 83: Yuan Dasheng vs. Meng Chong


    < Chapter 83: Yuan Dasheng vs. Meng Chong >


    Lava Immortal Pce.


    Room Three.


    The puppet Meng Chong was surrounded by flickering electric light as he charged towards the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, with the speed of lightning.


    In the fleeting moment when they crossed paths, Dasheng seized the opportunity. Hisrge hands grasped Meng Chong''s arms and, with the momentum, executed an over-the-shoulder throw.


    Bang!


    Meng Chong was mmed onto the floor tiles, his vision spinning.


    Then, he saw Dasheng''s broad foot stepping towards him, apanied by a fierce wind.


    Meng Chong''s heart trembled, and he shouted inwardly, "Wild Sprint Thunderp!"Electric light surged from his body, and he vanished from his original spot.


    The next moment, Dasheng''s right foot stomped down hard, shattering the floor tiles.


    Meng Chong had pulled back, his spiritual power surging around him, his heart heavy with the situation.


    He had already been thrown over the shoulder by Dasheng twice.


    "This is a formidable enemy!" Meng Chong quickly adjusted his mindset.


    Yuan Dasheng, missing his strike, stood still on the spot.


    The scene fell into a brief stalemate.


    Outside the Immortal Pce.


    Ning Zhuo sat cross-legged on a meditation mat in his underground workshop at home. His eyes were tightly shut, his mind fully engaged, and he was entirely focused on the battle in the Immortal Pce.


    One side was Meng Chong, the other was Yuan Dasheng¡ªboth possessed immortal potential!


    "Meng Chong''s puppet body, in terms of materials and structure, is far inferior to the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng. This severely hampers hisbat effectiveness. However, relying on his immortal potential and the Wild Sprint Thunderp, he still poses a significant threat. He remains a living being, withbat wisdom far surpassing that of the intelligent Dasheng."


    "Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng''s advantage lies in its mechanical body forged by the Lava Immortal Pce. Its materials and structure far surpass those of the puppet Meng Chong. However, its drawback is that it possesses only eighty percent spirituality, making it less versatile in thoughtpared to the living Meng Chong."


    "ording to the Lava Immortal Pce, even with eighty percent spirituality, it can still utilize the immortal potential of ¡®Righteous Bone Gold Frame.'' I wonder what it would be like when truly activated."


    Ning Zhuo continuously evaluated thebat strength of both sides in his mind.


    He ced great importance on this battle.


    The result of this fight would significantly impact his future decisions.


    "Wild Sprint Thunderp," Meng Chong softly called out in his heart, suddenlyunching himself for the third time towards the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    Meng Chong swiftly closed the distance, almost reaching Dasheng.


    When he saw Dasheng extend his hands, his spirit soared, and he exerted all his strength.


    In an instant, electric light burst forth from his puppet body, causing Meng Chong''s speed to surge again!


    This was the result of his recent special training.


    His vision blurred as he circled behind Yuan Dasheng.


    "Sess!" Meng Chong rejoiced and was about to strike Dasheng''s back. But in the next moment, his legs were pulled, and his body quickly lost bnce, his attack abruptly copsing.


    As Meng Chong''s body tilted severely and he tumbled to the ground, he saw the culprit causing his downfall: "Damn, it''s the monkey''s tail!"


    Yuan Dasheng''s tail, like a rope whip, had wrapped around Meng Chong''s left leg.


    Then, Yuan Dasheng let out a low roar, turned, stepped forward, and raised his fist high, smashing it towards Meng Chong.


    Meng Chong was mid-air, and his vision darkened as he saw Yuan Dasheng looming over him like a mountain, rapidly filling his sight.


    Yuan Dasheng¡¯s raised fist, like a falling meteor, tore through the air, producing a chilling wind that made Meng Chong¡¯s heart tremble.


    "Wild Sprint Thunderp!" Meng Chong exerted all his strength, unleashing his immortal potential.


    Electric light burst forth, allowing him to break free from the monkey tail''s entanglement and regain his freedom, quickly dodging aside.


    Bang!


    In the next moment, Yuan Dasheng''s fist, like a steel hammer, struck the ground, shattering the floor tiles.


    The electric light settled in a corner, revealing the puppet Meng Chong once it dissipated.


    Seeing Yuan Dasheng''s fist almost embedded in the tiles, Meng Chong couldn''t help but take a sharp breath. If he had been hit, his fragile puppet body would have surely been destroyed.


    Such peril instead fueled Meng Chong¡¯s fighting spirit even more.


    "Hahaha," heughed aloud, "now this is a challenge, now it''s fun!"


    He was enveloped in azure electric light again,unching another charge.


    He continued to mobilize his immortal potential but didn¡¯t approach Yuan Dasheng easily. He seemed to transform into a streak of electric light, constantly zigzagging and crisscrossing within Room Three.


    The electric light moved so quickly that it left behind trails of lightning shadows in Yuan Dasheng¡¯s eyes.


    As time passed, the room filled with more and more lightning shadows, intertwining and forming a giant, seemingly trapping Yuan Dasheng within.


    Seeing this, Ning Zhuo¡¯s heart stirred slightly: "Meng Chong has withstood the immense pressure and made a breakthrough in the midst of battle."


    "He can maintain his maximum speed, and this speed even slightly surpasses his previous limits."


    "This is the power of extraordinary talent!"


    Witnessing all this with his own eyes, Ning Zhuo was filled with emotions; truly, this was the mark of immortal talent.


    In Room No. 3, electric lights shed and crossed, while Yuan Dasheng stood silently like an old tree.


    It could only passively defend.


    It couldn''t keep up with Meng Chong''s speed. Instinctively, it knew that the best response was to remain unchanged.


    Suddenly, the electric light veered and struck towards Yuan Dasheng.


    Yuan Dasheng raised his hand to block.


    With a bang, after the impact, it staggered back a big step.


    The electric light that Meng Chong had transformed into bounced off the wall and quickly regained its lost speed, continuing to shuttle back and forth in the checkpoint.


    Meng Chong asionallyunched surprise attacks. Yuan Dasheng couldn''t keep up with his speed and was forced to defend passively, umting more and more wounds on his body.


    Meng Chongughed heartily, knowing that he had the upper hand.


    "This Mechanical Ape''s closebat ability is too strong!"


    "At least it''s at the level of a martial arts master, no, it might even be a martial arts grandmaster."


    "But it can''t keep up with my speed. As long as I can keep sprinting, I can definitely wear it down!"


    As Meng Chong thought this, his expression suddenly changed dramatically.


    Crack, crack.


    The electric light on his body flickered twice, then became extremely weak.


    He exposed a fatal w.


    Almost instantly, Yuan Dasheng let out a long roar and took several consecutive steps forward. In just two or three steps, he was already in front of Meng Chong.


    Yuan Dasheng shrugged his shoulders and charged forward. Meng Chong''s condition suddenly plummeted, leaving him no time to dodge, and he was struck head-on.


    Bang.


    The puppet Meng Chong was like arge projectile, crashing into the wall, with his right leg being knocked off entirely.


    His entire puppet body rebounded a short distance after hitting the wall.


    Just as Meng Chong lifted his head, a strong wind blew, and Yuan Dasheng''s figure loomed like a ck mountain.


    Yuan Dasheng raised his thigh, and his knee, like a steel cone, broke through the wind with a whistling sound!


    Meng Chong instinctively crossed his hands in front of his chest to protect himself.


    Bang.


    In the next moment, his puppet hands and forearms were shattered by Yuan Dasheng, utterly destroyed!


    Meng Chong''s chest suffered a severe blow, more than half shattered, and he was forcefully pushed up to the ceiling by a tremendous force.


    His back violently collided with the ceiling, causing countless cracks to erupt.


    Meng Chong gritted his teeth in secret, feeling immense fury and battle intent surge within him after being beaten so brutally.


    However, he couldn''t activate Wild Sprint Thunderp.


    He flipped in mid-air, adjusting his posture, head down and feet up. He kicked forcefully against the ceiling with one foot, shooting off at an angle, intending to evade Yuan Dasheng''s follow-up attack.


    Yuan Dasheng stood his ground, watching as Meng Chong shot out at an angle.


    Yuan Dasheng''s chest noticeably heaved, as if taking a deep breath.


    His right hand trembled slightly, and the runes engraved within began to emit a radiant light.

 Chapter 84: Oh no, Young Master Meng Chong has fainted

    Chapter 84: Oh no, Young Master Meng Chong has fainted


    < Chapter 84: Oh no, Young Master Meng Chong has fainted >


    With a low roar, it pressed its hands and feet against the wall, its crimson-gold body ascending like a dragon!


    In a few leaps, it reached Meng Chong below.


    At the moment of exertion, its body suddenly stretched out, like a massive war bow being drawn, exuding the beauty of power.


    Its right arm shot out fiercely, obviously with great force, yet it gave a sense of lightness and agility, resembling a white crane spreading its wings.


    Then, Dasheng''s palm gently descended, his five fingers so dexterous as if they were still alive, resting on Meng Chong''s puppet head.


    A gentle turn, a twist.


    When itnded on the ground, its toes touched down first, followed by its arms like a cloak or wings, sliding down along its sides, quickly yet seemingly slow, leaving a brilliant red trail.


    The gusts howled, but when itnded, it was almost silent.In stark contrast was the sound of Meng Chong hitting the ground.


    With a loud "pa," the sound echoed within the third checkpoint.


    Yuan Dasheng let out a light breath, nced at the head he had removed from Meng Chong, then flipped his wrist, his hand opening like flowing water.


    Meng Chong''s head rolled to the ground like a wooden ball, rolling a short distance beforeing to a stop.


    Despite the limited expressiveness of the puppet''s face, one could still discern the look of shock Meng Chong had at the moment of his fatal blow.


    Meanwhile, at the City Lord''s Mansion.


    Meng Chong abruptly opened his eyes.


    It was as if he had been startled awake from a nightmare, the feeling of death vivid and intensely impacting his soul.


    ¡°Whew, whew, whew!¡± He panted heavily, his body drenched in cold sweat.


    If Han Ming saw him, she might not even recognize him. At this moment, Meng Chong was gaunt, looking like a patient who had been ill for a long time, unable to be exposed to sunlight. His once robust physique had be extremely thin, with prominent cheekbones and sunken eye sockets.


    Originally, his gaze was so bright it was intimidating. But now, his eyes were incredibly dull.


    ¡°Strong, this mechanical ape is so strong!¡±


    ¡°But I won¡¯t lose.¡±


    ¡°As long as I undergo special training, I will definitely make aeback, defeat it, and then sessfully pass this stage!¡±


    Meng Chong was heavily defeated but remained undaunted.


    However, just as he was about to sit up and get out of bed, this slight movement caused his vision to go ck, and he fainted directly.


    With a thud, he fell back onto the bed.


    The attendants outside the door had heard themotion and knew that Meng Chong had already returned to his body. Upon hearing this sound, they immediately felt something was wrong. They called out anxiously, but received no response from Meng Chong.


    The two attendants, faces flushed with worry, hastily conferred and finally broke down the door together.


    ¡°Young Master Meng Chong!¡±


    ¡°This is bad, Young Master Meng Chong has fainted!!¡±


    Their cries for help spread, causing chaos to erupt in the back courtyard of the city lord¡¯s mansion, with chickens flying and dogs barking.


    In the underground workshop.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s mouth was slightly open, unable to conceal his look of surprise.


    This was very different from what he had anticipated.


    The surprise was a bit too much.


    ¡°Thebat power of the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, is much higher than that of Meng Chong.¡±


    ¡°This actualbat test showed that although Meng Chong''s Immortal Technique, Wild Sprint Thunderp, had improved, it was still no match for Yuan Dasheng.¡±


    ¡°The turning point was that Meng Chong seemed to encounter a problem and couldn''t use Wild Sprint Thunderp anymore.¡±


    Ning Zhuo spected that this was likely due to the soul entering the Immortal Pce.


    Without a physical body, many things became inconvenient.


    It was like when Ning Zhuo sensed the Buddha Heart Demon Seal before; he had to use the Life Hanging by a Thread technique to circte it.


    Meng Chong¡¯s situation was the same.


    Activating Wild Sprint Thunderp continuously consumed the three treasures: essence, qi, and spirit. This consumption was already intense, and with the transmission through the Life Hanging by a Thread technique, there was significant loss in the process. After reaching the puppet body, Meng Chong recklessly used it frequently.


    ¡°If he were to confront Meng Chong in Huoshi Immortal City, the effect of his Wild Sprint Thunderp would be better!¡±


    ¡°In contrast, thebat power of the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, did not differ between inside and outside the Immortal Pce.¡±


    ¡°Dasheng¡¯s closebat abilities were extremely strong; Meng Chong couldn¡¯tpare to it in this aspect.¡±


    ¡°Previously, Meng Chong could rely on his Immortal Technique to maintain the situation. Once he couldn¡¯t use his Immortal Technique and was engaged in closebat by Yuan Dasheng, he had no chance.¡±


    Summarizing this, Ning Zhuo once again felt a strong sense of relief.


    He had analyzed the intelligence before and predicted Yuan Dasheng¡¯s prowess in closebat, thus avoiding a frontal confrontation and not even attempting a surprise or sneak attack.


    The facts proved how wise his decision was.


    If he had previously used force head-on, he would have been handing himself over to Yuan Dasheng.


    Ning Zhuo calmed his mind and focused, gradually strengthening his connection with the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    A few breathster, a white circle of light for teleportation appeared out of thin air, gradually expanding in front of Ning Zhuo until it finally released the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    The Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, was shorter than him, but its physique was much more robust and powerful than Ning Zhuo''s. Even standing still, its red and gold coloring,bined with its resolute and divine appearance, made Ning Zhuo like it from the bottom of his heart.


    The young man rubbed his hands together, his mouth wide open with a smile that came from the deepest part of his soul.


    He reached out and squeezed Dasheng''s muscles, feeling a surprising chill. The fur of the mechanical Dasheng was very soft, while the exposed golden bones were extremely hard.


    This kind of tactile sensation was something Ning Zhuo''s puppet body did not have.


    Ning Zhuo examined it and found some new scars on the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    These were left by Meng Chong.


    ¡°The Lava Immortal Pce provides these mechanical creations for Foundation Establishment stage disciples, but the materials used are not of high grade.¡±


    ¡°The three sect elders likely intended to give each trial disciple a rtively refined practice mechanism.¡±


    If the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit heard this analysis, it would surely be furious.


    What did he mean by "rtively refined"?


    Was this even humannguage?


    The Lava Immortal Pce consumed an entire gold furnace for this! The materials selected were also at the extreme limit specified by the trial''s requirements.


    There was nothing better than the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng! Even the suspended coffins could notpare to Dasheng.


    To put it into perspective, the normal standard was wooden swords and knives, while Ning Zhuo''s mechanical Dasheng was like a bronze weapon!


    Ning Zhuo attempted to repair the mechanical Dasheng.


    There were many fine cracks on the body constructed of Vermilion Fire ze.


    If one looked closely at this body, they would find it faintly transparent.


    The information conveyed by the Lava Immortal Pce, thoughcking mechanical blueprints, mentioned that the body structure was made of Zhu Yan Stones.


    Mount Huoshi had an abundance of Zhu Yan Stones.


    Ning Zhuo''s material warehouse contained a considerable stockpile of these stones. He immediately took some out and baked them, producing a bright red fluid that was transparent and luminous.


    He infused this fluid into the cracks, quickly repairing them until they were as good as new.


    Ning Zhuo then studied the monkey fur, revealing a troubled expression.


    He couldn''t figure out how the monkey fur was made.


    So, he decided to use his own method to create some monkey fur for Dasheng, nting it in the exposed areas of the body.


    On the surface, it at least matched therge areas of the original monkey fur. But Ning Zhuo knew that the defensive performance had decreased significantly.


    After finishing the repairs, Ning Zhuo began to clean Dasheng''s entire body.


    Finally, he took out a handkerchief, asionally exhaling warm breath onto it, and polished the golden bones of the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, until they were gleaming without a speck of dust. Only then was he satisfied.


    Just as he was about to study the mechanical Dasheng further, someone came to deliver a message.


    After the messenger left, Ning Zhuo opened the letter and browsed through it, raising his eyebrows slightly.


    The letter informed him that he was to go to the Zhou family the next day to assess his progress in cultivation techniques and to use the Zhou family''s formations to aid his practice.


    "So, the Ning family and the Zhou family have formed an alliance?"


    "Hmm¡­ in that case, the Zheng family is probably involved as well."


    "The three families are united, what about the City Lord''s Mansion?"


    Ning Zhuo was not surprised; this shift in the situation was within his expectations.


    What made him ponder deeply was the image he should present to the three major families.


    After contemting for a short while, Ning Zhuo made up his mind: "It''s time to showcase some of my mechanical talents and make a ssh."

 Chapter 85: The Joint Test of the Three Families

    Whether it was the Zhou family, the Zheng family, or the Ning family, they all attached great importance to the uing joint test.


    In the reception hall.


    The Zhou family patriarch sat at the head of the table, with the Zheng family patriarch on his left and the Ning family patriarch on his right.


    "It''s peculiar; we still have no clue about the identity of that shadow demon cultivator!" The Zhou family patriarch took a sip of tea and set the cup down. "This time, our Huoshi Immortal City has truly lost face."


    Although he said this, his expression remained calm, showing no signs of anger or shame. Instead, he seemed rxed andposed.


    This was clearly a probing statement.


    After the incident, the Zhou family higher-ups began to suspect who the traitor was, who had secretly released the shadow demon cultivator.


    Just as Zhu Xuanji had spected, the Zhou family also wondered who might have been the mole.


    The Zheng family patriarch, with his loud voice, spoke directly, "In my opinion, that shadow demon cultivator must have fled long ago! On the day of the Huoshi Festival, our three Golden Core patriarchs worked together to dig up the ground, nearly hollowing out the entire mountain base, but we didn''t find a trace of him."The Zhou family patriarch looked towards the Ning family patriarch, squinting his eyes, "Brother Ning, what do you think of this matter?"


    The Ning family patriarch spread his hands, "It doesn''t matter where the shadow demon cultivator came from or who he colluded with. These things are not important."


    "Right now, City Lord Meng Kui himself is stationed at the volcano top, preventing any cultivators from entering the Immortal Pce."


    "In this way, only disciples in the Qi Refining stage can use their souls to enter the Immortal Pce andpete for its inheritance."


    "Meng Kui''s own grandson, Meng Chong, is extraordinarily talented. You both understand the significance of such a talent."


    "We three families must join forces, work closely together, and fully support our juniors if we are to contend with Meng Chong."


    When he said this, the Ning family patriarch was still unaware that Meng Chong had once again failed in exploring the Immortal Pce and had fallen unconscious.


    But his words earned the approval of the Zhou and Zheng family patriarchs.


    The immense pressure brought by Meng Chong''s exceptional talent was a major reason why they agreed to ally with the Ning family.


    The desire for an alliance among the three families was strong, and they were all willing to bring out their resources to support their juniors. However, the problemy in the distribution.


    If one family contributed more, the others would have less to use.


    None of the three families wanted to suffer a loss, so their preliminary alliance was stalled by issues over benefits distribution.


    The three families couldn''t reach an agreement for the time being.


    "We''ll first see how the test goes," the Zhou family patriarch said.


    The Zheng family patriarch nodded, "Let''s take a good look then!"


    The Ning family patriarch remained silent, a trace of worry in his eyes.


    He knew that this joint cultivation test organized by the three families had a deeper meaning beyond the surface¡ªit was a way to evaluate the quality of each family''s modified cultivation teams to determine resource allocation!


    The Ning family patriarch was very aware that his side was the weakest. He could only hope that the gap between them and the Zhou and Zheng families wasn''t toorge.


    Ning Zhuo, led by a servant, arrived at the Zhou family''s martial arts training ground.


    Many cultivators had already gathered in the square.


    They were mostly young faces, with few middle-aged or elderly.


    The crowd was distinctly divided into three groups: the Zhou family, the Zheng family, and the Ning family.


    "Ah Zhuo, you''re here." Seeing Ning Zhuo appear, Ning Yong immediately walked out of the crowd and ran towards him.


    Ning Chen was also in the crowd, waving at Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo smiled and waved back.


    Since theirst battle at the Immortal Pce, Ning Yong, Ning Chen, and Ning Zhuo''s rtionship had undergone a fundamental change. From ordinary ssmates, they had berades who had fought through life and death.


    The training ground was noisy and bustling.


    Ning Zhuo and Ning Yong blended into the Ning family crowd, looking inconspicuous.


    While chatting casually with Ning Yong and Ning Chen, Ning Zhuo observed the people around them.


    "The scale of the Ning family''s modified cultivation team has grown!"


    In the training ground, the Ning family had thergest number of people, exceeding sixty.


    The Zhou and Zheng families had groups of twenty-nine and forty-five people, respectively.


    The Ning family members gathered together, appearing strong in numbers.


    Many young people scanned around, sometimes making direct eye contact with cultivators from the other two families, with a sense of hidden rivalry.


    Ning Zhuo pondered to himself, "Among the three families, the Ning family started thetest and is overall the weakest."


    "Originally, the modified cultivation team was also the smallest."


    "Did the family higher-ups suddenly expand the team because they feltcking in confidence and wanted to fill the ranks with more people?"


    "The Ning family has a strong desire for the Lava Immortal Pce!"


    Ning Zhuo also secretly observed the Zhou and Zheng family cultivators.


    The Zhou family cultivators were generally silent, with littlemunication among themselves, giving off a repressive feeling. In the center of their group stood two figures, one tall and one short, one strong and one thin, with an obvious leader''s demeanor.


    "It''s Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zhendeep." Ning Zhuo had gathered quite a bit of intelligence and recognized them immediately.


    The Zheng family cultivators were all muscr and exuded a fierce energy. Their eyes were sharp, and their gazes were like des, causing many Ning family cultivators to avoid eye contact.


    The young cultivator standing at the forefront of the Zheng family, wearing a headband, had his eyes closed. What caught people''s attention were the few hook-shaped magical instruments hovering around him.


    "It''s Zheng Jian!" Ning Zhuo thought to himself.


    After observing the cultivators from the Zhou and Zheng families, Ning Zhuo looked at the Ning family cultivators and immediately felt that, despite their numbers, the Ning family seemed disorganized and ragtag.


    An elder from the Zhou family appeared before everyone, activated the test formation, and announced the start of the skill assessment.


    "Da Zhu, let''s go," Zhou Zhendeep said.


    "Mm," Zhou Zhu replied in a muffled voice.


    Although Zhou Zhu had a higher cultivation level, he followed behind Zhou Zhendeep.


    They were initially in the center of the crowd, but as they moved forward, the Zhou family members ahead of them seemed to sense it and stepped aside a few paces.


    Once the two Zhou family geniuses passed, the crowd immediately returned to their original positions.


    As Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zhendeep walked out, the Zhou family members moved like flowing water, seamlessly coordinating and showing a high degree of formation expertise. Every step they took seemed synchronized, their movements interweaving without the slightest chaos, disying the demeanor of a great family.


    A gleam shed in Ning Zhuo''s eyes as he immediately caught key details and deduced, "These Zhou family cultivators are extraordinary. Their coordination is seamless, and they operate as one. They must have deep expertise in battle formations."


    Although the Zhou family''s modified cultivation team had the fewest members, they were not to be underestimated!


    Seeing this, many knowledgeable cultivators showed solemn expressions.


    Most people, however, didn''t pay much attention, with the Ning family having the most of such individuals.


    Under countless gazes, Zhou Zhu was the first to enter the testing formation.


    Once inside, he fully activated the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, causing the formation to emit the light of the five elements.


    The Zhou family elder took a nce and loudly announced, "Zhou Zhu, thirdyer peak."


    In an instant, the Zhou family cultivators cheered.


    They were clearly prepared, shouting in unison, drawing the attention of the other two families'' cultivators.


    Next, Zhou Zhendeep entered the formation.


    "Zhou Zhendeep, secondyer mid-stage!" the elder announced.


    The Zhou family cultivators cheered again.


    Someone in the Zheng family sneered, "And they call him a genius? Howe he''s only at the secondyer mid-stage? I''m already at the thirdyer!"


    Zheng Jian opened his eyes and nced indifferently at the speaker, who immediately fell silent.


    This small scene also fell into Ning Zhuo''s view.


    "Mm, another useful piece of information."


    "In the Zheng family''s modified cultivation team, Zheng Jian is the absolute leader with supreme authority."


    In the reception hall.


    The Zheng family patriarch sighed, "Brother Zhou, your family''s Gather-Disperse Spirit Tide Formation is truly effective."


    The Ning family patriarch nodded slightly, agreeing deeply.


    They naturally knew more, understanding that Zhou Zhendeep had only recently modified his cultivation, yet had reached the secondyer mid-stage.


    Such speed was incredibly fast.


    The Zhou family patriarch feigned a sigh, "Relying solely on the Gather-Disperse Spirit Tide Formation couldn''t achieve such results. Zhou Zhendeep has been pushing himself to the limit. Although he doesn''t have Zhou Zhu''s talent, he has been catching up madly using numerous healing methods."


    "There were several times when he was on the verge of death, causing many family members to worry deeply."


    The Zheng family patriarch was moved, "With such descendants, how could a family not prosper?"


    The Ning family patriarch echoed this sentiment, though he felt increasingly heavy-hearted.


    Ning Zhuo continued to observe silently. He knew Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zhendeep had trained at the Mud Flow Sect and was curious about their mechanical skills.


    Unfortunately, today''s event did not provide them with an opportunity to showcase their mechanical techniques.

 Chapter 86: My Rapid Progress to the Third Layer Peak!

    After the two geniuses from the Zhou family took their turn, the entire reform team from the Zhou family entered the formation, one by one.


    "Mid-thirdyer."


    "Mid-thirdyer."


    "Early-thirdyer."


    ¡­


    First came a series of thirdyer cultivators, ranging from mid-thirdyer to early-thirdyer, with note-thirdyer.


    Then, there were peak secondyer,te secondyer, mid-secondyer, and early secondyer cultivators, with none below the secondyer.


    After this round of testing, the discussions among the Zheng and Ning family cultivators quieted down considerably. Many Zheng family cultivators became serious, while most of the Ning family cultivators looked even more disheartened.


    Though the Zhou family¡¯s reform team had fewer members, they were very elite.Next, it was the Zheng family''s turn.


    Zheng Jian, without hesitation, was the first to enter the testing formation.


    "Thirdyer peak," the elder announced loudly.


    "Oh!!" The Zheng family cultivators cheered, creating a much louder uproar than the Zhou family¡¯s.


    It seemed they werepeting in this manner.


    Many young Zhou family cultivators watched silently, most of them with calm expressions.


    **In the reception hall.**


    The Zhou family head praised, "The Zheng family¡¯s unity and prosperity are truly enviable, all thanks to your excellent management, Brother Zheng."


    The Zheng family headughed heartily, not showing modesty: "Like forging steel, it takes hundreds of hammer strikes to achieve tight unity and create good weapons."


    The Zheng family cultivators made a lot of noise, sometimes cheering, sometimes teasing each other.


    It was obvious that the Zhou family cultivators had tested their cultivation levels in advance, entering the formation in order of their cultivation levels.


    The Zheng family did not do this.


    This resulted in unpredictable oues for each Zheng family cultivator who entered.


    When a cultivator achieved a good result, they cheered; when the result was not ideal, they teased, but not harshly.


    This positivepetitive atmosphere made the Ning family head secretly envious.


    "My Ning family used to be like this too."


    "Unfortunately, we suffered heavy losses during migration. After entering the city, the branch families rebelled, forcing us to adopt a policy of strengthening the main family and weakening the branches."


    "Sigh, only when the main family grows stronger in both quality and quantity can we gradually loosen our grip on the branches and cultivate a good family culture."


    The Ning family head, who had been in his position for many years, was well aware of the internal problems of the family.


    But he had no choice.


    He was from the main family, and his background determined his stance.


    He couldn''t betray the main family to support the branches. The branch family cultivators wouldn''t ept him, and the main family cultivators would overthrow him.


    "Every family has its difficulties," the Ning family head thought to himself.


    He knew his reform team¡¯s situation well. Most of them were at the firstyer of Qi Refining, and the uing test results would surely be dismal.


    Next, it was the Ning family''s turn.


    With a cold face and the worried gazes of the Ning family behind her, Ning Xiaohui walked into the testing formation.


    "Thirdyer peak," the elder announced.


    The Ning family cultivators also burst into cheers.


    Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhendeep looked at Ning Xiaohui, who walked out of the formation still with a cold face, exuding arrogance.


    **In the reception hall.**


    The Zheng family head looked at the Ning family head: "Your Ning Xiaohui hasn''t been reforming for long, yet she''s already reached the thirdyer peak?"


    The Zhou family head also looked over, showing interest.


    The Ning family head stroked his beard and smiled. He had been waiting for this moment, pretending to be indifferent as he said, "My family realizedte the great gap with the Lava Immortal Pce, so I requested our ancestor''s permission to use a talisman from our family treasury, called the Flowing Cloud Talisman."


    "When making this talisman, our sage used water from an iceberg spring, which contains a trace of heaven and earth''s spirituality. Therefore, it can help cultivators practice together, providing some assistance."


    The Zhou family head smiled, praising the Ning family, thinking that they indeed had a deep foundation.


    The Zheng family head said, "Brother Ning, our two families should indeed get closer. To be honest, our family is currently forging a magic weapon and urgently needs extreme cold tempering methods. Since your familyes from the North Wind Country, could you lend a hand?"


    The Ning family head stroked his beard: "Of course, of course."


    But he felt a tinge of regret.


    The Flowing Cloud Talisman, endowed with spirituality, could help cultivators practice together effectively but had a limited number of uses.


    If they could create a Jumping Mountain Pass Talisman, endowed with spirituality, ording to Ning family secrets, the two talismans could interact, nourishing and supplementing each other''s spirituality. Although the umtion would be slow, by strictly limiting the number of uses, they could achieve a cyclical utilization.


    Unlike now, using a single talisman would deplete its spirituality without recovery.


    Fortunately, after Ning Xiaohui restarted her cultivation, she was only in the early stages of Qi Refining, so her consumption of the Flowing Cloud Talisman was minimal.


    Using this talisman was unavoidable.


    Firstly, on the night of the transmission bell, Ning Xiaohui had fallen asleep from fatigue after making talismans, and had not adapted to the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art tailored for herself. She could only use the summary version understood by others, which was inefficient.


    Secondly, her grandmother and other high-ranking elders had fought for many benefits for her.


    Thirdly, the Ning family head also considered thepetition with the Zhou and Zheng families. If Ning Xiaohui, a leader, had weak cultivation, the Ning family would suffer greatly in the three-family interest distribution.


    For all these reasons, the Ning family temporarily integrated the Flowing Cloud Talisman into Ning Xiaohui''s body, helping her with her breathing exercises and mana refinement, leading to rapid progress.


    After Ning Xiaohui rejoined the team, the test results of the other Ning family cultivators were not so pleasing.


    The good ones had secondyer cultivation, but most were only at the firstyer.


    This was understandable, as the Ning family had only recently expanded their recruitment.


    However, during this three-family joint test, the Zhou family elder¡¯s announcements grew louder, making those firstyer Ning family cultivators feel publicly humiliated.


    The young Zheng family cultivators, being full of vigor, sometimes burst intoughter.


    The Zhou family cultivators maintained theirposure, but their eyes showed increasing disdain.


    Ning Xiaohui was so angry that her face turned pale. She looked at the cultivators around her and coldly said, "A bunch of useless trash!"


    Ning Chen and Ning Yong returned to the team with defeated expressions; both were at the peak of the firstyer.


    "Since we began reforming, we have been working tirelessly, day and night, to the limit."


    "I heard that the Zheng and Zhou families provide resources for free, but in our Ning family''s reform team, only the main family enjoys this treatment!"


    "Yes, if we had the same treatment and time, we might surpass them."


    Ning Chen and Ning Yong were very dissatisfied.


    Ning Zhuo extended his hand, patted their shoulders, and said, "Watch me."


    Amid their puzzled gazes, Ning Zhuo stepped out and entered the testing formation.


    The entire martial arts field was buzzing.


    By this point, the three families'' quality was evident.


    Though the Ning family had many cultivators, most were only at the firstyer. With such cases beingmon, no one expected much from Ning Zhuo.


    Yet, the brilliance of the testing formation was exceptionally strong.


    The Zhou family elder was stunned. After confirming, he announced loudly with disbelief, "Ning Zhuo, thirdyer peak!"


    The entire ce fell silent.


    Many people began asking theirpanions what they had just heard.


    When Ning Zhuo walked out of the formation, he was met with countless gazes.


    The sixteen-year-old faced everyone without flinching, smiled slightly, and then walked back to the Ning family team with his head held high.


    Numerous eyes followed him, including those of Zhou Zhendeep, Zhou Zhu, Zheng Jian, and others.


    "Who is this person? How could he have such cultivation!"


    "There''s no mention of him in the information."


    "Could the Ning family have hidden talents?"


    Such questions and emotions swirled in everyone''s minds.


    Even the heads of the three families were among them.


    Normally, they wouldn¡¯t pay this much attention to the family''s Qi Refining stage cultivators.


    But now, with the Lava Immortal Pce at the mountain top, Qi Refining cultivators in the family were the main force exploring the pce, so it was essential to take them seriously!


    The Zhou family head looked at the Ning family head: "I didn''t expect you to have such a hidden talent, Brother Ning."


    The Ning family head stroked his beard and smiled calmly: "Brother Zhou tters me."


    He didn''t borate, which made the Zhou and Zheng family heads raise their opinions of the Ning family.


    They didn¡¯t know that the Ning family head had the same doubts as them!


    Ning Zhuo''s return was met with cheers from the Ning family cultivators.


    Ning Chen and Ning Yong gathered around with incredulous joy: "Ah Zhuo, how did you suddenly reach the thirdyer peak?"


    "Yeah, you''re as strong as Ning Xiaohui now!"


    Numerous ears perked up, waiting for Ning Zhuo¡¯s answer.


    Ning Zhuo smiled slightly: "Maybe I''m just suited for the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art


    . Cultivating this method, I progressed quickly, like a river flowing fast, making rapid progress."


    Everyone fell silent.


    TL Note:


    Name change:


    Zhou Zhendeep to Zhou Zhenshen

 Chapter 87: Discussing Ning Zhuo

    "There are indeed such examples. Some people are just very suited to a particr cultivation method, progressing at an extremely fast pace."


    "What''s his name? Ning Zhuo, right? He¡¯s had incredible luck, perfectly matching the *Five Elements Qi Regtion Art*."


    "Aye, why couldn¡¯t such good fortune fall upon me?"


    Most people had never heard of the name Ning Zhuo before.


    But now, everyone was discussing it.


    Within the martial arts training grounds, the Ning family''s cultivators were also inquiring.


    Those close by took advantage of the situation, many crowding around Ning Zhuo, introducing themselves to him with smiles on their faces.


    It seemed as though, in an instant, the whole world¡¯s attitude towards Ning Zhuo had undergone a drastic change¡ªfrom cold indifference to warm enthusiasm.


    Originally, Ning Chen and Ning Yong, who had been standing beside Ning Zhuo, were both squeezed out.Ning Yong, proud of himself, raised his arms and shouted, "Ning Zhuo is my ssmate, he''s my ssmate!"


    A young Ning family cultivator passing by heard this and turned his head to look at him, sneering, "Who isn¡¯t? I''m his ssmate too."


    Ning Yong sighed and red, "Do you evenpare to me in terms of our rtionship? Ning Zhuo and I arerades who have faced life and death together!"


    A Zhou family cultivator, hearing this, came over and smiled at Ning Yong, "This brother, you said just now that you have a close rtionship with Ning Zhuo?"


    "Not bad," Ning Yong nodded immediately, feigning indifference, though he couldn¡¯t hide his pride.


    The Zhou family cultivator quickly sped his hands together in respect, asking Ning Yong for advice.


    Ning Yong was about to introduce Ning Zhuo, but Ning Chen pulled him aside, instantly making him realize that he should remain silent.


    Ning Chen then continued, "The two of us are indeed ssmates with Ah Zhuo and have even faced life and death together."


    "Ah Zhuo is honest and sincere, friendly and courageous. It''s our honor to be friends with him. At the same time, he is also a role model for us to learn from. I remember back in the school days¡­" Ning Chen began to boast about Ning Zhuo.


    When faced with outsiders seeking information, the more Ning Chen praised Ning Zhuo, the more it showcased the strength of the Ning family.


    Furthermore, after the expedition to the Red me Demon Molten Cave, and the subsequent exposure of the Shadow Demon Cultivator, the experiences they had while hiding in the dungeon only deepened his admiration for Ning Zhuo.


    Both Ning Chen and Ning Yong were part of the Ning family¡¯s branch lineage, and they felt a strong sense of identification with Ning Zhuo.


    In no time at all, Ning Zhuo became the most dazzling person on the scene. With just one cultivation test, he had stolen the spotlight, as if he had stepped onto a new stage in life.


    The tests continued.


    The remaining Ning family cultivators entered the testing formation one by one, but their results were mediocre, and no one paid attention to them.


    But it didn¡¯t matter. Ning Zhuo alone had already shifted the entire situation!


    The joint examination among the three families was not only a way to showcase the strength of each family''s newly reformed teams, but it was also the basis for negotiating the distribution of benefits.


    In the world of cultivation, the more powerful an extraordinary individual was, the more they could dominate the group.


    Whenparing the strength of the three families, the focus was mainly on the top cultivators.


    Without Ning Zhuo¡¯s outstanding performance, the Ning family¡¯s only peak thirdyer cultivator would have been Ning Xiaohui, with the Zheng family having Zheng Jian, and the Zhou family having Zhou Zhu. However, Zhou Zhenshen was also exceptionally talented, rivaling Zhou Zhu. His cultivation was second only to Zhou Zhu, and in time, he would surely stand shoulder to shoulder with the others.


    Thus, among the top cultivators, the Zhou family counted as having one and a half talents, cing them first.


    The Zheng and Ning families each had one talented cultivator, but the other members of the Zheng family clearly surpassed those of the Ning family by arge margin.


    After the Ning family expanded their recruitment, many of their cultivators were only at the firstyer of cultivation, which wasughable and not worth mentioning.


    Therefore, the Zheng family was second, and the Ning family third.


    But with the emergence of Ning Zhuo, the Ning family now had two top cultivators, immediately rising to the top.


    The Zhou family, with one and a half talents, was ced second.


    The Zheng family, meanwhile, was pushed down to third.


    After the joint examination ended, the head of the Ning family returned home beaming with joy.


    Though the distribution of benefits among the three families was still under discussion, with Ning Zhuo''s outstanding performance, the Ning family had cleared away previous disadvantages, making the negotiations look bright and optimistic.


    The head of the Ning family summoned the young patriarch with a smile on his face, "Xiaoren, there was a happy event at the martial arts training grounds today. You must have been informed by now?"


    Ning Xiaoren immediately responded, "Father, I¡¯ve heard about it. I was the one who arranged for Ning Zhuo to join our family''s reformed team!"


    The head of the Ning family nodded, "Gather all the information on Ning Zhuo,pile it, and bring it to me."


    Ning Xiaoren answered, "I have already ordered my subordinates to do so."


    The head of the Ning family hummed in acknowledgment, "I suspect that Ning Zhuo might possess some kind of innate talent that has yet to be detected."


    Ning Xiaoren replied, "There are countless types of talents, and even though our family conducts tests every year, it¡¯s impossible to test for all of them. Your suspicion is reasonable. We can arrange for another set of tests for Ning Zhuo."


    "However, if he indeed has a talent, and it is unusual, there¡¯s a high chance it won¡¯t be detected."


    The head of the Ning family nodded, "If he has talent, that would be ideal. Even possessing a low-grade talent would make him a genius! That way, our Ning family¡¯s reformed team could fully rival the Zhou family."


    The Zhou family had Zhou Zhenshen and Zhou Zhu, both of whom were talented.


    Ning Xiaohui and Zheng Jian were also talented.


    In the joint examination among the three families, Ning Zhuo only disyed the peak of the thirdyer of cultivation, demonstrating to everyone how well the *Five Elements Qi Regtion Art* suited him.


    Ning Xiaoren then said, "Father, isn¡¯t it up to us to decide whether or not he has a talent?"


    ¡°Even if the test doesn¡¯t show anything, or he¡¯s just particrly suited to cultivating the *Five Elements Qi Regtion Art*, it doesn¡¯t matter. As long as we arrange it, we can fully present to the outside world that our family has two genius cultivators!¡±


    The head of the Ning family shook his head, "That¡¯s not appropriate. This isn¡¯t an internal family matter; it¡¯s not up to us alone."


    "If we fabricate something, the other two families will certainly verify and test it. After all, this powerparison influences our negotiations and distribution."


    "Our Ning family has gone through a lot to cooperate with the Zhou and Zheng families this time, finally breaking through past barriers. We must maintain integrity. If we¡¯re caught faking, it would damage the Ning family¡¯s standing."


    Ning Xiaoren nodded, showing that he had learned his lesson.


    The head of the Ning family sighed, "Even if it¡¯s confirmed that Ning Zhuo has talent, it might not be a good thing. Xiaoren, you know what I mean, don¡¯t you?"


    Ning Xiaoren nodded again, "I understand, Father. Ning Xiaohui is from our main lineage, while Ning Zhuo is from a branch. Both have simr cultivation levels, but Ning Xiaohui has received extensive support from our family, while Ning Zhuo has not."


    "The branch members in the reformed team far outnumber those from the main line."


    "At the martial arts training grounds, once Ning Zhuo revealed his true strength, he was immediately surrounded and admired by members of the Ning family¡¯s branch."


    "If it turns out that he has talent, I¡¯m very concerned that Ning Xiaohui won¡¯t be able to overshadow him."


    The head of the Ning family showed a look of satisfaction, "Since you understand this, I¡¯m not worried about how you¡¯ll handle the situation with Ning Zhuo. Go ahead."


    "Yes, Father. Rest assured, I will handle this matter beautifully. I¡¯ll take my leave now."


    His feelings towards Ning Zhuo wereplicated.


    Sixteen years ago, when the Ning family migrated as a whole, he was fortunate enough to board the mechanical carriage of Ning Zhuo''s parents during the escape.


    Ning Zhuo''s father had to get off to fend off the enemies to ensure the carriage''s safe escape.


    Ning Xiaoren was thus saved.


    Ning Zhuo''s father was indeed his lifesaver, and Ning Xiaoren had even sworn at that moment to treat Ning Zhuo¡¯s mother and son well and to fully support Ning Zhuo¡¯s future cultivation.


    But Ning Xiaoren hadn¡¯t done so.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s father had died fourteen years ago, and Ning Zhuo had grown up without much of his involvement.


    He had originally thought that Ning Zhuo was just an ordinary child, but unexpectedly, one day, Ning Zhuo shone brightly, making a stunning impact in the joint examination, stealing the spotlight!


    When Ning Xiaoren heard the good news, his first feeling was not joy, but awkwardness.


    He still harbored doubts:


    "Why does it have to be him?"


    His family¡¯s courtyard was faintly in sight as Ning Xiaoren walked along, sighing to himself, "If only it weren¡¯t Ning Zhuo."


    "Sixteen years old, already has his own opinions, not easily persuaded."


    In his contemtion, Ning Xiaoren recalled something Ning Ze had once said.


    Previously, after the major rankings were announced, Ning Xiaoren had tried to extort money, even pressuring Ning Ze a few times.


    Ning Ze had reported to him back then that Ning Zhuo was a loner, had grown wings, and no longer listened to his elders, among other things.


    With this in mind, Ning Xiaoren made his decision, "In the short term, it¡¯s best not to approach Ning Zhuo directly."


    "This child¡¯s temperament isn¡¯t something that can be easily swayed by a few words from me."


    "Ning Zhuo knows that his father was my lifesaver and also knows that I¡¯ve been indifferent to him for the past sixteen years. All of this needs a good exnation."


    "I¡¯ll have to start with Ning Zhuo¡¯s eldest uncle."

 Chapter 88: The Explosive Monkey Was His Creation!

    Ning Xiaoren returned to his reception hall and quickly summoned Ning Ze.


    ¡°Come, sit, have some tea.¡± Ning Xiaoren smiled and invited Ning Ze to sit in the seat beside him.


    Ning Ze was puzzled and uncertain, as it was the first time Ning Xiaoren had treated him so courteously.


    He hurriedly expressed, ¡°If there¡¯s anything you need, please instruct your subordinate, and I will handle it.¡±


    Ning Xiaoren pointed to the seat.


    Ning Ze, filled with anxiety, sat down.


    Ning Xiaoren took a small sip of tea and sighed, ¡°Ning Ze, you''ve raised a good nephew.¡±


    Ning Ze quickly stood up. ¡°Master, what has Xiao Zhuo done? I will go back and discipline him properly!¡±


    Ning Xiaoren¡¯s eyes widened slightly as he waved his hand three times. ¡°Sit, sit. Don¡¯t be nervous; this is good news, great news.¡±As Ning Xiaoren continued to speak, Ning Ze, who was half-sitting, gradually widened his eyes, and then couldn¡¯t help but open his mouth.


    From the moment he left Ning Xiaoren¡¯s reception hall until he returned home, Ning Ze''s face still held an expression of shock.


    **Third Layer of Qi Refining Stage, Peak!**


    **Astonishing results in the joint test by the three families!**


    **On par with geniuses like Ning Xiaohui and Zheng Jian!**


    Was this really Ning Zhuo?


    Was this still the Ning Zhuo he remembered?


    ¡°How did Xiao Zhuo achieve this? Is the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art truly that suitable for his cultivation?¡±


    Curious and puzzled, Ning Ze called for his wife, Wang Lan. ¡°Prepare a family banquet today, and order some Spirit Food from the restaurant.¡±


    Wang Lan asked in confusion, ¡°Spirit Food is expensive. What¡¯s the special asion today that warrants such a celebration?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a family dinner. Invite Xiao Zhuo to the house. Sigh, I haven¡¯t seen him in a long time,¡± Ning Ze replied.


    Wang Lan¡¯s eyes widened, and she eximed, ¡°What? Invite Xiao Zhuo to the house for a meal? And order Spirit Food? Are you out of your mind?¡±


    Ning Ze sternly replied, ¡°What do you know? This is an order from the Young n Leader¡­¡±


    He briefly recounted what Ning Xiaoren had instructed him to do.


    Wang Lan stood in ce for a long time, stunned.


    ¡°Xiao Zhuo?¡±


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s Xiao Zhuo?!¡±


    Ning Ze snorted, ¡°How could I deceive you? And would the Young n Leader lie to me? The joint test of the three families was witnessed by so many people. How could it be fake?¡±


    Wang Lan¡¯s lips moved, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.


    Her eyes widened, and her expression became quiteplicated, with disbelief, denial, resentment, jealousy, and disappointment all mixed in.


    Ning Ze¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What are you thinking? Hurry and make the arrangements!¡±


    Wang Lan replied absentmindedly, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll handle it.¡±


    She turned to leave, her gaze still nk, her walking posture stiff, as if she was lost in a daze.


    With no one around, Ning Ze also let out a long sigh.


    He had been sternly ordered by Ning Xiaoren to befriend Ning Zhuo and to try his best to gather some information from him.


    Ning Zhuo had grown up to sixteen years old, and this was the first time Ning Ze had ever humbled himself to invite Ning Zhuo to a banquet.


    Ning Ze valued his reputation, and such an order made him feel ufortable, as it challenged his dignity as an elder.


    But he had no choice.


    With a direct order from the Young n Leader, he had toply.


    Of course, his rational mind also told him that Ning Zhuo was no longer the same as before, and building a good rtionship with him could be beneficial.


    After leaving the Zhou family, many people apanied Ning Zhuo for a long distance, even though their paths didn¡¯t align.


    At the final intersection, Ning Zhuo bid farewell to the others, keeping only Ning Chen and Ning Yong by his side.


    When they returned home, Ning Zhuo invited Ning Chen and Ning Yong inside, offering them tea and exchanging a few words.


    Although their time together was limited and they didn¡¯t converse much, Ning Chen and Ning Yong both felt honored after leaving, their faces glowing with happiness. Along the way, they kept discussing how Ning Zhuo was still humble and sincere, even after gaining fame!


    Ning Zhuo waited and finally received an invitation to Ning Ze¡¯s family banquet.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s not a summons from the Ning family patriarch, nor even a summons from the Young n Leader Ning Xiaoren?¡±


    Ning Zhuo scoffed inwardly but outwardly expressed sincere gratitude to the messenger, giving a warm smile and assuring him that he would attend the banquet on time.


    The family banquet wasvish!


    In his sixteen years, Ning Zhuo had never eaten such fine food at Ning Ze¡¯s house.


    Faced with various Spirit Foods, Wang Lan couldn¡¯t eat. During the banquet, she spoke very little, unlike her usual chatterbox self. She hardly looked at Ning Zhuo, as if he radiated a light that would pierce her heart if she dared to nce.


    Ning Ji also ate without tasting the food.


    For him, everything was happening too suddenly!


    Ning Ze maintained a calm demeanor, but the air of superiority he had held for sixteen years as an elder wasn¡¯t something he could let go of instantly.


    Ning Zhuo ate and drank little. Each time Ning Ze asked a question, he would set down his cup or chopsticks, respond respectfully, but with concise answers, showing no desire to engage in more conversation, keeping a distant attitude.


    Ning Ze knew well that he needed to smile, lower his head, and be more amiable.


    But until the end of the banquet, when Ning Zhuo left, he hadn¡¯t managed to do so.


    Ning Ji quietly followed Ning Zhuo.


    He didn¡¯t know why he was doing this.


    Perhaps it was the doubt in his heart: ¡°How did he reach the peak of the thirdyer? It¡¯s so unreasonable!¡±


    ¡°Is it really because the cultivation method is particrly suitable?¡±


    ¡°No, I have to investigate. He must have some secret!!¡±


    ¡°Following me?¡± Ning Zhuo had long noticed Ning Ji trailing him, so he deliberately slowed his pace, making it easier for thetter to follow.


    Under Ning Ji¡¯s watchful eyes, Ning Zhuo visited many pill shops, purchasing arge number of pills, all for cultivation.


    Ning Ji was shocked. ¡°How is he so rich?! Richer than my father?¡±


    ¡°Even though he¡¯s shown his cultivation, the family resources haven¡¯t been distributed to him yet. Even if they had, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for so many Spirit Stones.¡±


    ¡°Illicit gains, his money must be illicit!!¡±


    ¡°I have to report this!¡±


    Ning Ji was overjoyed and hurried home to report the matter to Ning Ze.


    Ning Xiaoren learned of this situation even earlier than Ning Ze. After instructing Ning Ze to befriend Ning Zhuo, he immediately dispatched a team of cultivators to secretly protect Ning Zhuo. Of course, they were also there to monitor and report on him at all times.


    ¡°Ning Zhuo actually possesses such a huge sum?¡± Ning Xiaoren couldn¡¯t believe it as he read the list in his hand.


    The list detailed therge number of pills Ning Zhuo had purchased.


    Ning Xiaoren¡¯s eyes burned with envy as he read. ¡°If I had known Ning Zhuo was so wealthy, I should have gotten closer to him.¡±


    ¡°Did his parents secretly leave it to him?¡±


    ¡°Or is this money illicit, stolen? Or perhaps he¡¯s being secretly funded by demonic cultivators?¡±


    Ning Xiaoren paced back and forth in his study.


    As he pondered, the fire of greed in his heart grew ever stronger.


    ¡°Ning Zhuo is a branch family member, now with cultivation on par with Ning Xiaohui. And now he has a huge sum apanying him¡­¡±


    ¡°This huge sum has an unclear origin. For the sake of the family, I must investigate thoroughly.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, I don¡¯t need to act personally; I can have Ning Ze handle it. Wouldn¡¯t that be perfect?¡±


    Finally, he stopped in his tracks and shouted toward the door, ¡°Someone,e!¡±


    A servant immediately entered.


    Half an hourter, Ning Ze and Ning Fan led a team of cultivators to surround Ning Zhuo¡¯s small courtyard.


    Ning Ze frowned. ¡°Do we really have to do this? It¡¯s too improper.¡±


    Ning Fan replied, ¡°Didn¡¯t the Young n Leader give you detailed instructions? Modifying the team concerns the Lava Immortal Pce, a matter of utmost importance. Ning Zhuo¡¯s huge sum indeed has an unclear origin. As his elder, you must take action.¡±


    ¡°The family might still need to rely on Ning Zhuo, and as his rtive, you are the most suitable person.¡±


    ¡°Hurry up and do it.¡±


    Ning Ze was from a branch family, while Ning Fan was from the main family. Thetter had been specifically sent by Ning Xiaoren to supervise the former.


    Ning Ze sighed and reluctantly knocked on the courtyard door.


    Ning Zhuo opened the door, greeted them respectfully, and inquired about their purpose.


    ¡°We¡¯ll discuss it inside.¡± Ning Ze''s face was stern as he stepped into the courtyard without waiting for Ning Zhuo to invite him in.


    The others followed suit, pushing Ning Zhuo aside toward the door.


    Meanwhile.


    The three family patriarchs met secretly again to continue their negotiations.


    This time, they


    aimed to finalize the distribution of benefits from the three-family alliance.


    ¡°This Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pill is very effective in restoring Soul Power. It should be distributed equally among the three families.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± the Ning family patriarch objected. ¡°Our family has two geniuses, Ning Xiaohui and Ning Zhuo, so we should be adequately supplied. On the other hand, the Zheng family has only one.¡±


    The Zheng family patriarch immediately snorted, ¡°That Ning Zhuo is merelypatible with the cultivation method; he has no real talent. How can he be considered a genius? He¡¯s not, not at all!¡±


    Just then, a knock on the door suddenly sounded.


    The three patriarchs'' pupils shrank, and their hearts trembled.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Zhu Xuanji!¡±


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s the great Detective Zhu.¡± The three patriarchs quickly opened the door and weed Zhu Xuanji inside.


    They had stationed guards outside, but since it was a Golden Core stage cultivator, those defenses were naturally useless.


    Zhu Xuanji smiled. ¡°Patriarchs, I have a request.¡±


    Zhu Xuanji had already obtained detailed records from the City Lord, detailing the cultivators who had entered the Lava Immortal Pce over the years.


    But these were only the records from the City Lord¡¯s residence.


    Zhu Xuanji hoped to obtain the records from the three major families to piece together a moreplete version.


    The three patriarchs were only Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, and their alliance against the City Lord¡¯s residence was, to some extent, aligned with the interests of the royal family.


    The three patriarchs immediately sent people to retrieve their records and handed them over to Zhu Xuanji.


    Most of the records came from the Zheng and Zhou families, as the Ning family had only discovered the Lava Immortal Pce this year, so their records were sparse.


    Zhu Xuanji nced at the records, nodding in satisfaction.


    As a member of the royal family, he did not want to see Meng Kui and Meng Chong take over the Lava Immortal Pce, allowing the Meng family¡¯s influence to expand further.


    Before leaving, he gave them a piece of advice, ¡°I heard a familiar name on my way here. If you¡¯re talking about Ning Zhuo, it might be worth cultivating this young man.¡±


    ¡°His character needs to be observed, but he does have some talent in mechanisms.¡±


    ¡°The Mechanical Explosive Monkey was designed and created by him.¡±


    The three patriarchs¡¯ eyes widened in shock.


    The Ning family patriarch gasped, ¡°What?!¡±


    Zhu Xuanji smiled slightly. ¡°Outwardly, it¡¯s attributed to the Flying Disk Workshop¡¯s owner, Chen Cha, but there¡¯s more to the story, involving Fei Si. If you investigate, you¡¯ll find out.¡±


    Just that one exnation was enough.


    Zhu Xuanji waved his hand and disappeared.


    Leaving the three patriarchs staring at each other.


    Gradually, the Ning family patriarch raised his head slightly, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and a look of joy spread across his face. ¡°Did you two hear that clearly? This was said by Detective Zhu himself!¡±


    The Zhou and Zheng family patriarchs were momentarily speechless.


    In his joy, the Ning family patriarch had no idea that Ning Zhuo was currently being severely interrogated by his own family.

 Chapter 89: Unfilial Son

    The Ning family cultivators entered in single file, their faces expressionless, streaming into Ning Zhuo''s small courtyard.


    They spread out to the left and right, subtly surrounding Ning Zhuo in the center.


    A few others were scattered around the residence, vigntly surveying the area.


    Ning Ze and Ning Fan stood in front of Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Ze sinctly exined their purpose.


    Ning Zhuo raised his eyebrows. "Indeed, I have arge sum of spirit stones, but that''s my business. What does it have to do with the family?"


    "For this matter, Uncle, do you really need to ask me personally?" The boy''s youthful face was full of confusion and disbelief.


    Ning Fan remained silent.


    Ning Ze slightly shook his head, his expression serious. "Xiao Zhuo, you¡¯re still young and don¡¯t understand these things, so I don¡¯t me you. Just tell us honestly, what is the source of this huge sum of money!"But Ning Zhuo shook his head, his face showing difficulty. "I''m sorry, Uncle, but I can''t say anything about that!"


    Ning Ze and Ning Fan were both momentarily surprised!


    Ning Ze lowered his voice, his expression bing even more stern. "Why can''t you say it? At this critical moment, you still refuse to speak?"


    Ning Zhuo shrugged, spreading his hands, his tone nonchnt while also showing a bit of the stubbornness of youth. "What does it matter? It¡¯s my money. I can spend it however I want."


    Ning Ze grew anxious. "You don''t understand your situation, Xiao Zhuo!"


    "Do you think you¡¯re the same as before? You¡¯re not."


    "Now, you¡¯re the family¡¯s key cultivation target, the second-inmand of the Reformation Team, do you understand?"


    "Someone has reported you, saying you¡¯re spendingvishly and possess arge sum of money from unknown sources!"


    "At the very moment when the family wants to cultivate you and support you, you¡¯ve run into this issue. Don¡¯t you think you should rify things?"


    "Xiao Zhuo, you think the world is too simple!"


    "In the past, you were obscure and unremarkable, and no one paid attention to you, so it didn¡¯t matter!"


    "But now, you¡¯ve reached the Third Layer Peak, and everyone is watching you. Even the slightest w will be magnified, and some people with ill intentions will seize on it, fully criticizing you, trying to bring you down!"


    "Now that you have such a huge suspicion on you, those people will spread rumors, iming you¡¯ve received secret sponsorship from another family, that you¡¯ve been turned and are a spy infiltrating our family!"


    "So don¡¯t you think the family needs to conduct a detailed investigation to feel reassured?"


    Ning Ze said a lot in one breath, speaking earnestly!


    Ning Zhuo fell silent, only speaking after a long pause. "Uncle, there are indeed many hidden truths in this matter, but I can assure you, I haven¡¯t done anything immoral. The origin of this money is legitimate, and I have a clear conscience!"


    Ning Ze red at him, almost wanting to grab Ning Zhuo by the ear. "Did I just waste all my words?"


    "Did you not listen carefully?"


    "You say you have a clear conscience, but who can prove it? Who will believe it?"


    "Alright, since you haven¡¯t done anything immoral, then just tell us."


    "Right now, you need to prove yourself to the family."


    Ning Zhuo remained silent.


    "Did you even listen to what I said?" Ning Ze''s tone rose, his eyebrows furrowed in worry, a look of thinly veiled anger on his face.


    Ning Zhuo sighed and finally revealed a bit of the truth. "Uncle, you¡¯re the closest person to me, you have to trust me, I really haven¡¯t done anything wrong."


    "But this matter, I really can¡¯t reveal it."


    "I made a contract with someone, I can¡¯t say anything about it. If I do, I¡¯ll suffer a bacsh from the contract!"


    Ning Ze was stunned, then his eyebrows furrowed even tighter. "What kind of matter would make you sign such a contract with someone else?"


    "Oh, you child, you¡¯re really driving me to despair!"


    Ning Ze pointed at Ning Zhuo, his finger trembling in frustration!


    Ning Zhuo just lowered his head, remaining silent.


    Ning Ze looked at him, then turned to Ning Fan beside him, forcing a smile and softly saying to thetter, "Brother Ning Fan, could you give us a moment alone so I can talk to my nephew?"


    Ning Fan showed a troubled expression. "You know, I was sent here to supervise."


    Ning Ze couldn¡¯t care less at this point, hurriedly promising some benefits through sound transmission!


    Ning Fan¡¯s expression struggled for a moment, then he nodded. "Both of you have promising futures, I wouldn¡¯t want to offend you. I¡¯ll give you half a cup of tea¡¯s time!"


    Ning Ze led Ning Zhuo into the room!


    "Speak, what is it that you can¡¯t talk about? Say it now!"


    "It¡¯s just the two of us here!"


    Ning Ze¡¯s face was as cold as water.


    Ning Zhuo: "Uncle, I¡¯ve already told you the truth, I¡¯m not lying to you. I did sign a contract with someone, and I can¡¯t reveal a single bit!"


    Ning Ze was so angry that his eyes widened. He pointed a finger at Ning Zhuo¡¯s forehead, gritting his teeth. "Ning Zhuo, do you understand the seriousness of this matter?"


    "The family values you now, values you greatly, so they specially sent a team to investigate."


    "They were worried you might misunderstand, so they specifically sent me to talk to you!"


    "Now is the best time for you to confess. If you miss this chance, you could ruin everything."


    Ning Ze took a deep breath. "Fine, even if you¡¯re bound by a contract, it doesn¡¯t matter."


    "You should know, if there¡¯s a lock, there¡¯s a key!"


    "Tell me what kind of contract it is. If we mobilize the family¡¯s power, it might be possible to break the contract!"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head. "Uncle, I think it¡¯s best not to touch this matter!"


    "Sigh! If you really want me to speak, I can only tell you that this matter involves a Golden Core master!"


    "What?" Ning Ze was shocked, involuntarily taking a step back. "You¡­ you¡¯re not deceiving me, are you?"


    The highestbat strength of the Ning family was their patriarch, a Golden Core cultivator.


    Ning Zhuo sighed. "How could I deceive you, Uncle?"


    "That¡¯s why I think it¡¯s best not to investigate this matter any further. Let¡¯s just leave it here!"


    "If the family doesn¡¯t trust me, then I¡¯ll withdraw from the Reformation Team and not participate in the exploration of the Lava Immortal Pce!"


    Upon hearing this, Ning Ze stomped his foot in anger. "Xiao Zhuo, how can you say such nonsense?"


    "Your entry into the Reformation Team was something I spent money on."


    "Do you think you can leave just because you want to?"


    "Even if you withdraw, the family will still thoroughly investigate your matter!"


    "You¡­ you¡­ what have you gotten yourself into?"


    "Tell me, who exactly is that Golden Core master? It¡­ it wouldn¡¯t be that Shadow demon cultivator, would it?"


    As he spoke, Ning Ze¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, a shiver running through him, causing him to take another step back.


    The next moment, he transmitted his voice to Ning Zhuo, shouting sternly, "Quick, quickly tell me, does this have anything to do with the Shadow demon cultivator?"


    Ning Zhuo frowned. "Uncle, don¡¯t push me, I can¡¯t say anything!"


    "How could you sign such a contract! Oh, oh¡­ you, you¡¯re going to drag our whole family down with you!"


    Ning Ze was so anxious that he kept pping his thigh.


    Ning Zhuo sighed. "Uncle, I had no other choice!"


    Upon hearing this, Ning Ze leaned even more towards believing that the answer involved the Shadow demon cultivator.


    He sped his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth, suddenly stopping to stare intently at Ning Zhuo. "Xiao Zhuo, this matter is extremely serious, it¡¯s not something you can avoid by hiding."


    "Today, we must get to the bottom of this!"


    "Don¡¯t me me, Uncle, it¡¯s really because you¡¯ve made a mistake!"


    Ning Zhuo was startled and hurriedly said, "Uncle, it¡¯s not as serious as you think!"


    But Ning Ze shook his head, eager to distance himself from Ning Zhuo and prove his own innocence.


    He quickly walked outside and asked Ning Fan, "My nephew indeed signed a contract. What should we do next?"


    "Does the family have any means to break the contract? The key is, this matter involves a Golden Core master!"


    Ning Fan was astonished!


    After a brief moment of shock, his expression darkened. "This is a serious matter, but as long as the contract wasn¡¯t personally set by a Golden Core master, we can attempt to break it!"


    "But are you certain?"


    "Ning Zhuo can¡¯t disclose the details of the contract, so we¡¯ll have to keep trying. In the process, Ning Zhuo might suffer unavoidable harm!"


    Ning Ze¡¯s expression struggled for a moment, then he gritted his teeth and nodded fiercely. "This investigation is a top-priority


    task assigned by the higher-ups, and the family is watching closely! How can we face them without taking this step? Do it!"


    Ning Ze''s eyes shed. "You¡¯re Ning Zhuo¡¯s uncle and the leader of this investigation team, it¡¯s your call!"


    "However, it¡¯s best if Ning Zhuo cooperates voluntarily for optimal results!"


    No sooner had Ning Fan spoken than Ning Zhuo dered, "I refuse!"


    Ning Ze turned back, ring. "You unfilial son, you don¡¯t have a choice in this matter!"


    Ning Ze nced around and barked, "What are you waiting for? Move!"


    Ning Fan sighed and secretly gestured with his hand!


    Two burly members of the investigation team stepped forward, one on each side of Ning Zhuo, channeling their mana to easily suppress him!


    Ning Fan took out a magical artifact and handed it to Ning Ze. "This is the Mind-Capturing Father-Son Bracelet. Wear the father bracelet yourself, and ce the son bracelet on Ning Zhuo''s wrist. This will allow you to capture his thoughts!"


    "As the saying goes, ¡®A father knows his son best.''"


    "Although Ning Zhuo is bound by the contract and cannot disclose the truth, it doesn¡¯t restrict his thoughts!"


    "As long as we forcibly extract the relevant thoughts from his divine sea, we can obtain the information!"


    "However, this action may trigger a bacsh from the contract!"


    "On the other hand, forcibly extracting thoughts can also damage the divine sea! To avoid this, it¡¯s best if Ning Zhuo cooperates willingly!"


    Ning Zhuo, being restrained, could only struggle in his seat. "I refuse, I absolutely refuse!"


    Ning Ze snorted coldly and ced the father-son bracelets on himself and Ning Zhuo. "Xiao Zhuo, you¡¯re stubborn and unyielding, but as your elder and the closest person to you in this world, I can¡¯t let you make mistake after mistake."


    "Cooperate obediently, and you¡¯ll suffer less pain!"


    Ning Zhuo refused!


    Ning Ze¡¯s expression was as cold as ice as he directly activated the father-son bracelets. A pair of bracelets on their wrists emitted a blue-white glow!


    A powerful suction force reached into Ning Zhuo¡¯s divine sea, attempting to wreak havoc, only to crash against the Buddha Heart Demon Seal!


    The suction force was like a violent wind, while the seal was as steady as a mountain, perfectly defending against it!


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s eyes rolled back, his body convulsing in the seat.


    Two streams of blood flowed from his nostrils.


    Ning Ze¡¯s expression was cold and resolute.


    Ning Zhuo, who had prepared his thoughts in advance, proactively offered them up, just as Ning Ze was about to capture them.


    Boom¡­


    With a loud bang, the door of the house was pushed open, and the young n leader, Ning Xiaoren, saw the scene in the hall. His eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and he roared in fury, "Stop!"

 Chapter 90: Ning Zhuo Nephew, Youve Suffered!

    Ning Ze and the others were all stunned.


    Ning Xiaoren red at Ning Ze angrily: "Aren''t you going to stop!?"


    As he spoke, he ripped off the identity token hanging from his waist and hurled it fiercely.


    The hard token struck Ning Ze right on the head, causing him to tilt back and almost fall.


    Ning Ze staggered back a step, steadied himself, and quickly saluted: "Greetings, Young n Leader!"


    As he spoke, arge stream of blood flowed down his forehead.


    He had been struck by Ning Xiaoren once again, causing his scalp to bleed.


    Naturally, the Father-Son Bracelet stopped its activation!


    Ning Xiaoren cast a fierce nce at him, then hurried over to Ning Zhuo.He raised his foot and directly kicked away one of the Ning family cultivators who had been holding down Ning Zhuo. Then, he shouted at another, "Get lost!"


    The two burly Ning family cultivators hastily retreated!


    Ning Xiaoren quickly extended his hand to support Ning Zhuo, his eyes reddening, his face full of guilt and concern: "Ning Zhuo, my nephew, I came toote, it was Uncle''s fault foring toote, allowing you to suffer this hardship. It pains Uncle''s heart to see this!"


    As long as the Father-Son Bracelet was no longer activated, Ning Zhuo wouldn''t feel difort.


    But Ning Xiaoren still took out a high-grade pill and handed it to Ning Zhuo: "Ning Zhuo, nephew, Uncle''s mana differs from yours, so I can''t personally help you adjust your body! But take this pill, its healing effects are excellent."


    Ning Zhuo''s face was pale, and he panted heavily. He weakly pushed away the pill, showing the fear and doubt of a young boy: "Young n Leader, I, I¡­ why are you¡­?"


    Ning Zhuo had been on the verge of sess!


    The arrival of the Ning family''s investigation team was something he had anticipated. During the joint examination of the three families, he had made a big ssh, knowing full well that various forces would secretly investigate and track him.


    This didn''t matter; the important thing was that if they didn¡¯t investigate, Fei Si and Zhu Xuanji would certainly do so!


    Even if Fei Si and Zhu Xuanji didn¡¯t investigate now, they would in the future!


    Being investigated now was even more advantageous for Ning Zhuo!


    This was a unique opportunity. As long as Ning Zhuo utilized it well, he could exin himself to the outside world, further disguising himself while also demonstrating his value!


    "Ning Ze was influenced by the Buddha Heart Demon Seal!" Of course, this was also based on the fact that Ning Ze was already fearful and anxious.


    To this day, Ning Zhuo had reached the thirdyer of Qi Refining, the thirdyer of Essence Refining, and the thirdyer of Spirit Refining¡ªmuch stronger than before! He barely managed to use a trace of the seal''s power, though it did cause a nosebleed, but it took longer this time.


    With the cover provided by the Father-Son Bracelet''s strong control of thoughts, the nosebleed wasn¡¯t conspicuous!


    Ning Zhuo needed to exin to the outside world the reason for his rapid progress in cultivation!


    Relying on thepatibility of techniques alone was not enough; he also needed to show that he had a huge sum of spirit stones, which implied he had plenty of cultivation resources!


    At this moment, he had to publicly use this "huge sum!"


    Because Fei Si, Chi Dun, and Zhu Xuanji all knew that he was the creator of the Mechanical Explosive Monkey.


    His business acumen in the Mechanical Explosive Monkey had earned him arge sum of money.


    From the perspective of a normal young cultivator, having such arge sum of money and not spending it, not purchasing arge amount of resources, not advancing one''s cultivation, would be very unreasonable.


    Being a miser or stingy was not a character trait he had shown for the past sixteen years. As long as he sessfully exined this, Ning Zhuo could openly use this money, openly go to various pill pavilions and pharmacies, purchase arge amount of cultivation resources, and fully advance his cultivation.


    This would be very beneficial for him!


    Especially in the uing joint reconstruction team of the three families, he needed a ce.


    When Ning Ze and the others arrived, Ning Zhuo had already prepared for a performance.


    The Father-Son Bracelet and other magical instruments had been recorded in his intelligence database. In his sea of consciousness, he had prepared some thoughts for this. As long as he presented them, Ning Ze would get the "answers."


    But just when he was about to seed, Ning Xiaoren appeared.


    Ning Zhuo was very curious about why Ning Xiaoren suddenly barged in!


    Ning Xiaoren, on the other hand, was filled with relief: "I made it, thankfully I made it!"


    It turned out that during the negotiations between the three n leaders, Zhu Xuanji hade to request the records. Before leaving, Zhu Xuanji had voluntarily revealed the secret of Ning Zhuo''s Mechanical Explosive Monkey.


    The three n leaders were all high-ranking officials and immediately believed Zhu Xuanji''s words.


    Zhu Xuanji, being a member of the royal family and a detective, had high credibility, and he was unlikely to be wrong.


    Recently, the Mechanical Explosive Monkey had been selling like hotcakes, and all three families had dispatched arge number of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators to participate in the Huoshi Festival.


    The three leaders had gained a lot of understanding about the Mechanical Explosive Monkey.


    Combining Zhu Xuanji''s truth, they quickly deduced the truth with just a few words.


    Fei Si had presented it as his achievement, and Chen Cha had secretly bought the identity of the inventor and was impersonating him!


    The true creator was actually Ning Zhuo of the Ning family.


    Immediately, the n leaders of the Zhou and Zheng families congratted the Ning family leader!


    The Ning family leader was overjoyed inside but outwardly remained humble and cautious, saying that this matter needed to be investigated further before confirming.


    He immediately summoned a Ning family attendant, sent a voice transmission, instructing them to return to the family and inform the Young n Leader to first conduct an investigation and then reward Ning Zhuo ordingly!


    The attendant returned to the family and met with Ning Xiaoren.


    When Ning Xiaoren heard this, he was so frightened that he almost jumped. He immediately realized the source of Ning Zhuo''s huge sum of money and thought of the investigation team he had ordered to be sent out. How could he dare to stay in the family residence?


    Despite thete hour, he ran out of the mansion with all his might, rushing frantically to Ning Zhuo''s residence.


    This led to the scene just now!


    Ning Xiaoren''s eyes were red as he sighed bitterly: "Ning Zhuo, nephew, you''ve suffered, you''ve suffered. Uncle knows you have grievances, and you have difficulties!"


    "Do you know? During your sixteen years of growing up, Uncle has been secretly watching over you!"


    "I know your temperament, I know you''re not a bad child, you wouldn''t do anything terribly wrong!"


    "I will investigate the matter with the investigation team thoroughly and give you an exnation!"


    "But after this incident, you must realize that your situation is veryplicated and fraught with danger."


    "It''s just that you''re too outstanding!"


    "s, the tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind, and the river that rises above the bank will be turbulent. There are many people who are envious of you!"


    "Uncle truly cannot rest easy with you!"


    "Look, this investigation team came out of nowhere, and even your own uncle was dragged into it!"


    Ning Ze watched Ning Xiaoren''s performance, filled with confusion: "Weren''t you the one who personally summoned me to do this?"


    And now you¡¯vepletely disassociated yourself from it?


    Despite Ning Ze''s strong innerints, he knew that he absolutely could not expose his superior at this moment.


    Taking responsibility for the superior¡¯s mistakes¡ªwasn''t that exactly what a subordinate was supposed to do?


    So, Ning Ze remained silent, secretly treating the wound on his forehead!


    Ning Zhuo nced at Ning Xiaoren, then at Ning Ze who had his head lowered, and finally at Ning Fan and the others. He could only show an expression of fear, anxiety, and bewilderment on his face!


    "Then, what should I do?" He cast a pleading look towards Ning Xiaoren.


    At that moment, Ning Xiaoren did his utmost to disy a gentle smile, speaking in the most sincere and affectionate tone: "This is easy, Ning Zhuo, nephew, you shoulde stay at Uncle¡¯s residence. Uncle is the Young n Leader, I will personally protect you!"


    Ning Zhuo hesitated, lowering his head slightly.


    Ning Ze handed the pill to Ning Zhuo once again, his voice as gentle as possible: "Take it!"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head: "My injuries aren''t serious, using such a precious pill would be a waste."


    "Heh heh!" Ning Xiaoren patted Ning Zhuo¡¯s shoulder, "Good child, you should still take it, just consider it a gift from Uncle upon our first meeting. Come, let¡¯s go back to Uncle''s residence. You might not know, but your father was my savior!"


    "In the past, I had my difficulties and many concerns, so I couldn¡¯t directly take care of you. But now, with you in danger, I have no choice but to step in personally. I will do everything I can to protect you!"


    Ning Zhuo slowly raised his head, his face filled with emotion: "Thank you, Young n Leader!"


    "Sigh, don¡¯t call me Young n Leader, just call me Uncle Ning!" Ning Xiaoren once again extended his hand, offering the pill.


    This time, Ning Zhuo hesitantly epted it.


    "Come, Uncle will take you home!" Ning Xiaoren ced his arm around Ning Zhuo¡¯s shoulder, helping him to his feet, preparing to leave with him.


    After a few steps, Ning Zhuo hesitated: "What about the investigation regarding the spirit stones?"


    Ning Xiaoren responded, "Uncle swears to you, I would never treat you so harshly. We will think of a solution together, see if we can bypass the contract. If not, Uncle will use his position as the Young n Leader to guarantee your safety, allowing you to cultivate in peace!"


    Hearing this, Ning Zhuo''s suspicions were nearly confirmed: "It seems Ning Xiaoren has learned about the secret of the Mechanical Explosive Monkey from another source! It''s either Chi Dun or Zhu Xuanji! Chi Dun and Fei Si are at odds, and Zhu Xuanji has royal connections¡ªboth are possible!"


    Ning Zhuo was pleased to see this development.


    His n to introduce the Mechanical Explosive Monkey was, on one hand, to cover up the truth about the Immortal Pce, and on the other, to showcase his skills in mechanical arts!


    With these thoughts in mind, Ning Zhuo no longer resisted.


    Ning Xiaoren deliberately concealed the fact that he knew the truth, intending to use this to show his sincerity and fully win over Ning Zhuo. Meanwhile, Ning Zhuo also sought to get closer to Ning Xiaoren.


    In theing days, relying on the Young n Leader¡¯s protection would better allow him to conceal himself.


    Ning Xiaoren apanied Ning Zhuo all the way, speaking many gentle andforting words.


    When they arrived at the residence, Ning Xiaoren loudly ordered in front of Ning Zhuo: "Clear out my bedroom for my good nephew to stay in!"


    Ning Zhuo quickly tried to stop him, but Ning Xiaoren''s eyes reddened again as he implored Ning Zhuo to stay, to make up for the guilt he felt for not adequately caring for his savior¡¯s son.


    In the end, even Ning Ze¡¯s eyes turned red, and with a look of gratitude, he reluctantly nodded in agreement.


    When Ning Zhuo was about to sleep, Ning Xiaoren brought out a supplementary talisman for him: "You¡¯ve only recently reached the thirdyer peak, right? You haven¡¯t yet had your soul drawn into the pce?"


    Ning Zhuo nodded, expressing his curiosity about the Lava Immortal Pce.


    Ning Xiaoren warmly exined: "Regarding the Lava Immortal Pce, you need to act in coordination with others to have a chance of passing through. Right now, there¡¯s no rush. Entering the pce rashly will only damage your soul and dy your cultivation."


    "Applying this talisman will slightly lower the standard for soul extraction, which is all to your benefit."


    "Thank you, Uncle Ning!" Ning Zhuo quickly expressed his gratitude.


    Ning Xiaorenughed heartily, patted Ning Zhuo''s shoulder, reminded him to rest well, and then left on his own.


    Once alone in his study, the warmth on Ning Xiaoren''s face vanished, reced by a cold expression. He summoned a close attendant: "Gather a group of our own people, search Ning Zhuo''s residence thoroughly. Remember, leave no trace of disturbance, and collect every bit of information possible."


    "Yes, sir!"

 Chapter 91: Ning Zes Injustice

    Afterward, Ning Xiaoren secretly summoned Ning Ze.


    Ning Ze, with bandages wrapped around his forehead, came to see Ning Xiaoren, showing a very respectful attitude.


    Ning Xiaoren coldly snorted in his heart, knowing well that Ning Ze could have easily healed the wound on his forehead but deliberately left it to garner sympathy. This was his way of expressing his grievances, subtly reminding Ning Xiaoren of his merits and hardships.


    "Ning Ze,e, have a seat." Ning Xiaoren once again disyed a gentle smile on his face.


    Ning Ze promptly sat down. "I am truly puzzled. It was clearly you, Young n Leader, who instructed me. But why did you suddenly¡­"


    Ning Xiaoren raised his hand, stopping Ning Ze from continuing. "I''ll exin with just one sentence: the true inventor of the Mechanical Explosive Monkey is actually Ning Zhuo."


    Ning Ze was stunned, thinking he had misheard. "W-what?"


    Ning Xiaoren did not exin further but leaned back in his chair, slowly sipping his tea.


    Ning Ze, fullyprehending the situation, was so shocked that he stood up, unable to stay seated. He widened his eyes and murmured, "Little Zhuo¡­ Little Zhuo is actually the creator of the Mechanical Explosive Monkey?"Ning Xiaoren only nced at him, still remaining silent.


    Ning Ze''s mouth gaped open, his eyes vacant, lost in thought for a moment before he regained his focus.


    "No wonder, no wonder he has such arge sum of money!"


    "But, but ording to him, this matter involves a Golden Core stage cultivator."


    Ning Xiaoren set down his cup and sighed. "It was Fei Si. Fei Si wanted to take credit and presented the Mechanical Explosive Monkey to the City Lord. Chen Cha was his subordinate, not Ning Zhuo''s! So, Chen Cha secretly forced Ning Zhuo and took the honor for himself."


    "This matter is still under investigation, but it''s likely close to the truth!"


    "So that''s how it is, that''s how it is!" Ning Ze let out a heavy breath, a look of guilt appearing on his face. "I wronged him."


    "But in that situation, I had no other choice!"


    "I had to give the n, especially you, Young n Leader, an exnation!"


    Ning Xiaoren smiled. "I understand, I understand. Come, sit down."


    Ning Ze sat down again.


    Ning Xiaoren continued, "I know you are loyal, and you provided me with an exnation. But now, how should I exin things to Ning Zhuo?"


    "Huh?" Ning Ze was perplexed.


    "You see, here''s the situation." Ning Xiaoren stood up and slowly walked around the desk to the front.


    "Ning Zhuo has reached the peak of the thirdyer of Qi Refining. The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art is particrly well-suited for him, and he can even create the Mechanical Explosive Monkey. So, he will undoubtedly be the main force in our n''s exploration of the Lava Immortal Pce."


    "Our n needs him, we need him greatly, we must use him heavily!"


    "He is a rare Mechanical prodigy of our n."


    "But now, he feels wronged, and there is a rift between him and the n!"


    "If you were in his ce and encountered this situation, how would you feel?"


    As he said this, Ning Xiaoren walked up to Ning Ze.


    Ning Ze hurriedly stood up, a growing sense of unease in his heart. He said, "If I were Ning Zhuo, what is this investigation to me? It¡¯s nothing to be upset about. On the contrary, having the opportunity to prove my innocence, I would be very grateful to the n for giving me this chance."


    "I am a member of the Ning family, loyal to the n. Contributing to the n and making sacrifices is my duty!"


    "Hahaha¡­"


    Ning Xiaoren pointed at Ning Ze with his finger, nodding, "You have great awareness, Ning Ze, you are remarkable!"


    "I was not wrong about you."


    Ning Ze quickly expressed his humility.


    Ning Xiaoren suddenly shifted his tone, "But Ning Zhuo is not you. He is only sixteen years old. How much can he understand? How much awareness like yours can he possibly have?"


    Ning Ze replied, "Yes, I will certainly guide him well in the future, leading him onto the right path."


    Ning Xiaoren nodded, "That is for the future!"


    "But for now, Ning Zhuo is hurt. As elders, we naturally need to take care of him, soothe his heart, heal his wounds, and let him grow up happily and cultivate joyfully, don¡¯t you think?"


    The more Ning Ze listened, the more he felt uneasy.


    Ning Xiaoren added, "As elders, we should have a spirit of sacrifice. Ning Ze, do you have such awareness?"


    Ning Ze, under direct pressure from Ning Xiaoren, could only grit his teeth and ask for advice.


    Ning Xiaoren then transmitted his n to Ning Ze.


    Ning Ze was horrified and immediately waved his hands, "S-Sir, how could you do this? Where would that leave me?"


    It turned out that Ning Xiaoren''s n was to have Ning Ze investigated next. Ning Ze, unable to bear the pressure, would "confess the truth"¡ªthat over the years, Ning Xiaoren had been secretly funding Ning Zhuo''s cultivation with a great deal of spirit stones and resources, but Ning Ze had embezzled them, mistreating Ning Zhuo. Now that Ning Zhuo was making a name for himself, Ning Ze, upon hearing that Ning Zhuo had amassed a fortune, could not resist his jealousy and greed. Under the guise of an investigation, he attempted to extort Ning Zhuo, only to be stopped by the kind-hearted and family-minded Ning Xiaoren, who then discovered the truth that had been buried for over a decade!


    Ning Ze did not want to bear such false usations in the slightest.


    Clearly, it was Ning Xiaoren who had been unkind, who had forgotten old favors, neglected Ning Zhuo for over a decade, only to now turn the me on him!


    This was too despicable, too vile.


    "Will you do it or not? Are you still my subordinate?" Ning Xiaoren red, directly threatening him!


    "Dare you refuse? Think about the consequences."


    "Think about your son, Ning Ji, right? He¡¯s living quite well in the family estate right now!"


    A bone-chilling coldness enveloped Ning Ze''s heart.


    Looking at the stern and severe Ning Xiaoren, he suddenly realized, "So, Ning Xiaoren appointed me as the leader of the investigation team not because he wanted to rely on my rtionship with Ning Zhuo to find out the source of therge sum of money."


    "No, Ning Xiaoren, this damned guy, wants to take Ning Zhuo¡¯s money for himself while framing me, stepping on my body to deceive Ning Zhuo, to win Ning Zhuo over."


    Understanding the truth, Ning Ze was furious, his face turning red, fists clenched, breathing heavily.


    Seeing his reaction, Ning Xiaoren sneered disdainfully.


    It was this light sneer, like icy water from the pr regions, that extinguished the mes of anger in Ning Ze''s heart.


    After all, Ning Xiaoren was the Young n Leader, and also his immediate superior. What could he do?


    Clearly, it was Ning Ze who had raised Ning Zhuo over the past decade, though not with great care, but still protecting him.


    But now Ning Xiaoren wanted to win over Ning Zhuo, take the credit, and frame Ning Ze to cover up his own mistakes!


    So sinister, so despicable.


    There was nothing he could do. Ning Ze had no choice!


    He could only swallow this unjust me and responsibility.


    Because he was a subordinate, making a living under Ning Xiaoren¡¯smand. Ning Xiaoren was the Young n Leader, second only to the n Leader of the Ning family.


    Even if Ning Ze resisted to the death, he would still be forced toply.


    At this moment, Ning Ze suddenly thought of Ning Zhuo, whom he had pressured not long ago.


    "So, this is how it feels to be coerced by someone, unable to resist, so painfully unbearable!" His heart was filled with bitterness and despair.


    Thinking this, he suddenly felt that perhaps he deserved this.


    "Indeed, Young n Leader, I embezzled the resources you secretly provided and wronged Ning Zhuo. It was all my fault." Ning Ze¡¯s voice became low and resigned, his expression extremely gloomy.


    Only then did Ning Xiaoren pat his shoulder. "I won¡¯t treat you unfairly."


    "You¡¯ll move into the family¡¯s dungeon first!"


    "I¡¯ll notify your wife to visit you!"


    Ning Ze was stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected things to move so quickly. He couldn¡¯t help but look up at Ning Xiaoren.


    Ning Xiaoren¡¯s face was all smiles, but his eyes were filled with cold light.


    Ning Ze could only lower his head, his tone heavy, "Yes, I ept the order!"


    The Ning family¡¯s n Leader, with a smile on his face, returned to the mansion.


    In this negotiation, he had secured many practical benefits for the Ning family, far exceeding previous expectations.


    Ning Xiaoren came to report,ying out his entire scheme of framing Ning Ze and winning over Ning Zhuo.


    The Ning family¡¯s n Leader stroked his beard and pondered, "You handled it quite well."


    "Remember, Ning Zhuo is no longer the same. At least for now, the family needs to rely on his strength. You should curb your nature."


    The Ning family¡¯s n Leader was well aware of his son¡¯s greedy nature


    .


    With just a quiet nce, Ning Xiaoren broke out in a cold sweat and quickly nodded, promising never to do such a thing again.


    "Father, this is the result of my urgent investigation." Ning Xiaoren then presented a stack of reports.


    Themon thread in these reports was Ning Zhuo.


    They were all closely rted to him.

 Chapter 92: Investigating Ning Zhuo

    The Ning family patriarch had always been quite curious about the sudden emergence of Ning Zhuo. After examining him thoroughly at this moment, he felt a bit relieved and said, "So it turns out that this child, Ning Zhuo, had already shown talent in mechanisms a long time ago."


    The first piece of information revealed that Ning Zhuo''s mother, Meng Yaoyin, was herself a mechanism cultivator. Although she passed away early, she left behind many mechanism technique books for Ning Zhuo. Ning Zhuo treasured these books as mementos from his mother and would often hug them to sleep when he was a child.


    As he grew older, he was gradually influenced by these books.


    During his early childhood, Ning Zhuo began to show a strong interest in mechanism techniques. He frequently visited the Ci You Garden to watch Li Leifeng¡¯s puppet shows.


    Ci You Garden was an orphanage in Huoshi Immortal City that housed homeless children, jointly funded by the City Lord''s Mansion and various wealthy families in the city.


    This was a national policy of the Southern Dou Country.


    Li Leifeng was the head of Ci You Garden. He possessed the Thunder Spiritual Root and was also a mechanism cultivator. The mechanism tower he constructed could absorb external lightning, converting it into power to maintain the operation of the mechanism tower, without consuming any spiritual power.


    When faced with enemies, the mechanism tower would release stored electricity, emitting chains of lightning that bound and electrocuted the opponent continuously.


    "Old Li''s puppet shows are indeed a masterpiece!" Seeing this, the Ning family patriarch sighed sincerely.He, too, had grown up watching Li Leifeng¡¯s puppet shows.


    Perhaps influenced by Li Leifeng, Ning Zhuo had loved puppets since childhood, especially enjoying such toys. The ones he often yed with were named Wheel, Eng Leg, and Mao. After entering the family school, he showed the most interest in mechanism techniques, studying diligently to the extent of neglecting everything else, causing his performance in other subjects to deteriorate.


    It wasn¡¯t until after he turned ten that his performance in various subjects gradually improved. Eventually, he ranked in the upper-middle tier in the school.


    The Ning family valued talismans heavily, so Ning Zhuo''s uncle and aunt naturally didn¡¯t want him to tread the wrong path and ruin his future. They disciplined him strictly, smashing more than threerge baskets of mechanism puppets.


    Although Ning Zhuo seemed to be restrained on the surface, he continued to seize every opportunity to study mechanism techniques in secret.


    He even took the initiative to work as a childborer in some mechanism workshops, even without pay.


    For him, simply being able to engage with mechanism creations was a joyful thing.


    Perhaps due to his persistence and passion, Ning Zhuo''s skills in mechanism techniques continued to improve.


    At the age of fifteen, a mechanism parrot created by Ning Zhuo surpassed the level of all his peers. It was seen by an elder in the school, who praised it on the spot.


    However, Ning Zhuo, who was originally slightly expected by some elders, performed poorly in the family¡¯s major exam.


    "He was too nervous!" The Ning family patriarch looked at the jade slip and sighed.


    The jade slip contained the detailed circumstances of Ning Zhuo''s family exam that year.


    "Indeed!" Ning Xiaoren echoed, "At that time, the puppet string identally got tangled, and Ning Zhuo didn''t notice it. When it came time to perform, the tangled string left Ning Zhuo with no room to showcase his skills."


    "If I were the supervising elder, I would have allowed Ning Zhuo to retake the exam!"


    The Ning family patriarch shook his head, "The supervising elder did not make any mistakes. ording to the rules, examinees should conduct thorough checks before the exam. Since this happened, Ning Zhuo should take responsibility!"


    As the father and son discussed, a servant came to report: "Feng Jiqing has arrived!"


    "Invite him in!" The Ning family patriarch nodded.


    Feng Jiqing, a middle-aged man with squinting eyes and long cyan hair, tall and thin, entered with a knife wheel resembling a windmill strapped to his back.


    Feng Jiqing possessed the Wind Spiritual Root and had some skills in mechanisms. Although he wasn¡¯t a formal mechanism cultivator, the mechanism wind falcon he created and controlled was as fast as lightning, striking with fierce winds, making it extremely sharp.


    After failing to recruit the young puppet master, the Ning family hadn¡¯t stopped trying to attract external talent.


    Recently, the Ning family had significantly increased their efforts, finally managing to recruit Feng Jiqing, who was their most significant sess in attracting external talent to date.


    "Patriarch, Young Patriarch!" Feng Jiqing greeted with cupped hands, his posture upright. As a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage peak, he was well aware of the temperament of mechanism cultivators. Confident in his own worth, his attitude towards the two high-ranking members of the Ning family was merely cordial.


    Young Patriarch Ning Xiaoren smiled, "Master Feng, we invited you today to have you evaluate these two Mechanism Explosive Monkeys and assess the skill level of their creator."


    The Ning family patriarch and the young patriarch didn¡¯t want to reveal too quickly that Ning Zhuo was the creator of the Mechanism Explosive Monkeys.


    On one hand, Ning Xiaoren still wanted to pretend he was unaware, creating a false image to make Ning Zhuo feel his "sincere intentions."


    On the other hand, the matter of the Mechanism Explosive Monkeys involved Fei Si.


    If word got out, it would make things difficult for Fei Si.


    The Ning family did not want to offend Fei Si because of this.


    Thetter, as the immortal official who actually handled most of the daily affairs of Huoshi Immortal City, wielded considerable power and was not someone to be trifled with.


    Their concealment inadvertently caused some misunderstanding for Feng Jiqing.


    He couldn¡¯t help but specte, "Could it be that the Ning family intends to hire Chen Cha with a heavy price?"


    Feng Jiqing naturally didn¡¯t want this to happen, so he began to inspect the two Mechanism Explosive Monkeys without showing any expression.


    One of these Mechanism Monkeys was finely crafted and made from solid materials¡ªthis was the earlier version.


    The other one was crudely made and significantly damaged¡ªthis was the modified version that Ning Zhuo had deliberately made afterward.


    After some inspection, Feng Jiqing said, "The primary material for the monkey¡¯s skin is the hide of a Fire Fluff Mouse, woven with traditional spiritual power embroidery! Traditional craftsmanship, not worth mentioning."


    "Using Celestial Gold for the skeleton is a must since setting up a storage formation requires it. Celestial Gold is typically the best option!"


    "But if it were me, I would take it a step further and choose the Air Lungs of a Cloud Whale! This would allow the formation to store living creatures.


    "Currently, this design can only store non-living objects!"


    "The Mechanism Explosive Monkey was designed to pick Huoshi Fruits! Although in some ways, the Huoshi Fruit can be considered a Fire Essence, it is fundamentally a living thing¡ªthe fruit of the Huoshi tree. cing them in a formation space that stores living creatures would be more suitable, ensuring they retain their best vor!"


    Feng Jiqing only mentioned the advantages of his own approach, without ever bringing up the rarity of Cloud Whale Air Lungs.


    "The materials used for the Mechanism Explosive Monkey¡¯s body are decent."


    "One of its biggest highlights was overshadowed by Feng Jiqing¡¯s remarks!"


    "There are many formations in the palms, and theirbinations are rtively innovative. Quite good!"


    When Feng Jiqing had to praise, he would downy his words as much as possible.


    "The roaming pellets in the monkey¡¯s brain are, in my opinion, the most brilliant part of this mechanism design."


    After quickly praising it, Feng Jiqing immediately turned to criticism, "However, such material selection, although saving a lot of cost, cannot be used by anyone below the Foundation Establishment stage, severely limiting the number of buyers."


    "If not for this w, the sales of Mechanism Explosive Monkeys could have multiplied several times, even by tenfold!"


    "This design has its ws."


    Feng Jiqing concluded with a final remark.


    The Ning family patriarch and Ning Xiaoren exchanged nces, the former staying silent while thetter pressed, "With such skills in mechanisms, is the designer considered strong?"


    Among the myriad of cultivation arts, mechanism techniques were ranked the lowest!


    Neither father nor son had delved into this field. Besides, being at the top of the family hierarchy, they were either constantly entangled in heavy affairs or engaged in intrigue, making it hard to grasp the intricacies of the Mechanism Explosive Monkeys.


    In fact, it wasn¡¯t just mechanism techniques; they couldn¡¯t even evaluate the quality of a new pill form.


    They were neither alchemists nor specialized in mechanisms.


    In ancient times, this was manageable; Foundation Establishment cultivators were scarce, and families were generally weaker than sects.


    Cultivation had not yet overdeveloped, and during the first half of history, most were fleeting.


    But cultivation had evolved to the present day, where the arts had be vast and profound. For most cultivators, switching fields was as daunting as crossing mountains.


    Feng Jiqing pondered, "How many years has Chen Cha been running the Flying Disk Workshop, and only now managed to create such a mechanism construct?"


    "It¡¯s quite remarkable."


    "This mechanism construct shows ingenuity, but not much. Even if it¡¯s selling like hotcakes now, next year¡¯s Huoshi picking business will surely slump; its uses are narrow."


    "In summary, this mechanism construct is about average


    , slightly above."


    "As for the mechanism creator, I won¡¯tment further."


    The Ning family patriarch and Ning Xiaoren exchanged nces again, the former thinking, "Feng Jiqing is a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and rating it as average is a hugepliment for Ning Zhuo, who is only at the Qi Refining stage."


    Thetter became even more determined to win over Ning Zhuo.


    Meanwhile, at Ci You Garden.


    Zhu Xuanji concealed his presence as he entered the garden.


    An old man was sunbathing in the garden when he suddenly frowned and looked in the direction of the hidden Zhu Xuanji. "Who¡¯s there?"


    Zhu Xuanji was startled but then revealed himself.


    He formed a hand seal, his eyes gleaming with golden light, and activated a detection spell to observe his surroundings.


    "So that''s it! There''s a hidden electric current here in this small courtyard, creating an invisible difference in electric potential. As soon as I stepped in, the difference triggered your senses."


    As Zhu Xuanji praised, he stomped his foot.


    A small explosion of thunder erupted beneath his foot, sting away ayer of soil to reveal the bricks underneath.


    The runes on the bricks were so intricate that one could easily be dizzy just by ncing at them.


    These bricks wereid underground at regr intervals, but not in a formation.


    It was precisely because they didn¡¯t form aplete formation that Zhu Xuanji found them hard to detect, unable to foresee their effects.


    Since entering Huoshi Immortal City, this was the first time someone had spotted him.


    "So it¡¯s Lord Zhu Xuanji. Please, have a seat!"


    The old man remained lying in his chair, motionless.


    Zhu Xuanji had already appeared publicly in Huoshi Immortal City, and this was widely known throughout the city.


    What was strange was that the old man was only in the Foundation Establishment stage, and at the early stage at that, yet he remained so casual in the presence of Zhu Xuanji, a Golden Core stage cultivator.


    Zhu Xuanji didn¡¯t feel offended in the slightest. He approached the old man with a smile, "Elder Li Leifeng, I¡¯ve long heard of your great name and came specifically to meet you."


    The old man, Li Leifeng, snorted coldly, "You¡¯re toote to visit an old man like me, Detective Zhu."


    "You say you came to visit, but in truth, you want to verify if I¡¯m the shadow demon cultivator?"


    Zhu Xuanji smiled awkwardly!


    Li Leifeng sighed, "I¡¯ve lived a long life and seen much. Lord Zhu, feel free to investigate."


    Zhu Xuanji cupped his hands, "Forgive my offense."

 Chapter 93: Who Would Suspect a Two-Year-Old?

    Since Li Leifeng had already spoken, Zhu Xuanji did not hesitate and immediately extended his hand to check the pulse. He channeled his mana into Li Leifeng''s body while a pair of golden eyes shot out divine light.


    Quickly, Zhu Xuanji had a clear understanding of Li Leifeng''s physical condition, and his expression instantly changed.


    "Senior Li, you¡­"


    Li Leifeng persisted for a while before he finally couldn''t hold it in and started coughing violently.


    His breath weakened again, regressing to the Qi Refining stage. He coughed so hard that blood appeared at the corners of his mouth, and his face turned ashen.


    ¡¾I''m already old, my body is decaying, even breathing has be extraordinarily difficult.¡¿


    ¡¾No matter how gentle Master Zhu''s mana is, it still caused unavoidable harm to this old one.¡¿


    ¡¾But, it''s fine.¡¿


    ¡¾If this old one hadn''t had a fortuitous encounter in my youth and consumed a life-extending Ganoderma, I wouldn''t have lived to this age.¡¿¡¾I must thank Master Zhu for helping this old one find relief.¡¿


    Zhu Xuanji sighed, his brows furrowed, unable to hide his guilt: ¡¾Senior Li, I am fully aware of your contributions to the orphanage. Why do you have to do this?¡¿


    Being a wise man, Zhu Xuanji saw through Li Leifeng''s tricks after falling into his trap. He felt deeply troubled.


    Li Leifengughed: ¡¾Master Zhu, if you truly feel remorse, then please, on behalf of the court, appoint a good director for this orphanage. If you don''t, even in death, I won''t be at peace and won''t dare to close my eyes.¡¿


    Zhu Xuanji raised his head and couldn''t help but sigh deeply.


    The primary reason he hade here was to thoroughly investigate Li Leifeng.


    ording to the intelligence he had gathered from the City Lord''s Mansion and the three major families, Li Leifeng was undoubtedly the prime suspect.


    Although he hadn''t reached the Golden Core stage, he possessed the Thunder Spirit Root and was in charge of the Mechanism Tower, making him a formidable opponent with half-step Golden Core strength.


    Moreover, he had profound expertise in the art of mechanisms, recognized by the Lava Immortal Pce, and was considered a candidate among Foundation Establishment stage cultivators who could enter the Immortal Pce.


    ording to the records of the four major families, Li Leifeng had entered the Immortal Pce several times and had reaped significant rewards!


    And this was just what was recorded.


    In fact, before the Lava Immortal Pce was unearthed, the summit of Mount Huoshi wasn''t under strict control, and the path to the Red me Demon Molten Cave was fixed, allowing many cultivators to easily disguise themselves and explore the cave.


    It was simply impossible for the four major forces to keep records of all the cultivators who had entered the Immortal Pce.


    In other words, the number of times Li Leifeng had explored the Immortal Pce was far more than what was documented.


    Now, after Zhu Xuanji''s investigation, he confirmed that Li Leifeng was nearing the end of his life, with only a few days left.


    And he, a Golden Core stage cultivator, had been outsmarted by Li Leifeng.


    Zhu Xuanji sighed inwardly.


    He had been targeted by such tricks many times before.


    Once he appeared in public, his past experiences, personality, and likes and dislikes would be thoroughly investigated by those with ulterior motives.


    Li Leifeng''s actions hit right at Zhu Xuanji''s weak spot.


    Even small figures have their own ways of surviving.


    Zhu Xuanji knew that this investigation had likely shortened Li Leifeng''s life by at least three months.


    Feeling guilty, he could only promise to find a good director for the orphanage in Huoshi Immortal City.


    Li Leifeng nodded and smiled, "Master Zhu, after I pass away, there will be a bequest event where I will donate all my belongings to others. I know youe from the royal family and are a divine detective, wealthy and powerful, but I still wish to give you something to express my respect!"


    "This old one certainly can''t produce any treasure that would catch your eye, but I do have a little toy I collected early on, which is quite amusing."


    "Master Zhu, please take a look!"


    Zhu Xuanji epted a wooden board, the size of a chopping board and quite heavy. Its surface was light yellow, with many natural wood grain patterns.


    The surface of the board was also crisscrossed with various lines, dividing the board into many small pieces of varying sizes.


    Having some expertise in mechanisms himself, Zhu Xuanji was immediately intrigued at first nce.


    He tried pressing one of the small pieces with his finger and sessfully moved it to the side.


    Just as he had guessed, these small pieces were movable.


    "Interesting!" Zhu Xuanji''s fingers moved quickly, shifting many small pieces back and forth, gradually uncovering the puzzle.


    "This mechanism board hides some information. As long as the pieces are moved and ced in the correct position, part of the information will be revealed!"


    "And when all the information is gathered, theplete message that this board wants to convey will be pieced together."


    Zhu Xuanji frowned at this: "There are so many pieces. How long would it take to move and ce them all to reveal the entire message?"


    Li Leifeng chuckled, "This is just a toy, simr to the puzzles I yed with in my youth, like the wheel, the crossed legs, and the three hairs!"


    "But it''s quite intricate and can pass the time!"


    Zhu Xuanjiughed, "Time is the one thing I can''t afford to waste!"


    As he spoke, he activated his Golden Eyes to gain insight.


    With this cheating method, he quickly obtained all the information hidden in the mechanism toy: "So this is just a story about an immortal god? And it''s not even theplete story?"


    Li Leifeng sighed, "Master Zhu, it''s just a toy!"


    "In my opinion, perhaps some mechanism cultivator in hister years made this for his grandchildren to y with."


    Zhu Xuanji nodded and returned the mechanism board, "I think this board is better suited to stay in the orphanage. Elder Li, I must be going now. I''ll take care of what I''ve promised you!"


    Li Leifeng replied, "Master Zhu, take care. Please forgive this old one for not being able to see you out!"


    Zhu Xuanji hurriedly waved his hand, "No, no, please stay lying down!"


    He was afraid that seeing him off would cost Li Leifeng even more of his remaining lifespan.


    Leaving the orphanage, Zhu Xuanji couldn''t help but sigh deeply, looking up at the sky, thinking to himself, "Heavens, why can''t you show a little more mercy to good people in this world?"


    Zhu Xuanji felt a sense of loss, filled with regret over Li Leifeng''s impending death.


    As for the time he would now need to spend reporting to the court and personally participating in the selection of a new orphanage director, it would all consume energy and dy his investigation.


    But he was willing to do it.


    Ning Zhuo did not sleep well in Ning Xiaoren''s residence!


    In fact, it was even worse than at his uncle''s house!


    What truly gave him a sense of belonging was still the small courtyard his mother had left for him!


    Breakfast wasvish, filled with various Spirit Foods.


    Ning Xiaoren had speciallye over to share breakfast with Ning Zhuo.


    He asked with concern how Ning Zhuo had sleptst night and if the food suited his taste.


    Ning Zhuo responded with an awkward, embarrassed demeanor, feeling ufortable with Ning Xiaoren''s care.


    Ning Xiaoren noticed this and appropriately toned down his enthusiasm.


    Only then did Ning Zhuo gradually rx and start eating the Spirit Food.


    After all, these items could increase one''s cultivation.


    Ning Xiaoren was surprised to see Ning Zhuo eating more and more quickly.


    Most of a te of Spirit Food was consumed by him.


    Some of the small Spirit Food dishes had little in quantity and were meant to be savored.


    But when Ning Xiaoren went to pick up his chopsticks¡ªnothing was left!


    "Eat well, eat plenty if you like it!" Ning Xiaoren smiled broadly.


    Ning Zhuo''s chewing paused for a moment, and he once again showed an embarrassed expression.


    Ning Xiaorenughed heartily, "Good, good, child. Eating more helps you cultivate faster and gain more from exploring the Immortal Pce!"


    "Thank you, Young n Leader," Ning Zhuo mumbled with his mouth full.


    Ning Xiaorenughed again, "I told you, just call me Uncle Ning!"


    Ning Zhuo then called him Uncle Ning.


    "Good, from now on, let''s call each other uncle and nephew!" Ning Xiaoren stood up, "You eat well and fill up. Then focus on cultivation; don''t waste the Spirit Stones! I heard you like mechanisms, so I''ll loosen up the mechanism books for you to readter!"


    Ning Zhuo immediately showed a look of joy and quickly stood up, cupping his hands in thanks.


    Ning Xiaorenughed heartily, waved his hand, and left the room.


    Returning to his study, his expression cooled. Not getting enough to eat, especially in his own residence, was a first.


    He had to order another breakfast, instructing the servants to prepare it.


    Ning Zhuo flipped through the books.


    These books were obviously from the Ning Family''s secret library, far superior in quality to those in the public library.


    On the surface, Ning Zhuo


    appeared to be fully focused, but in reality, he was distracted.


    Under normal circumstances, he would have been eager to absorb the knowledge, unable to put the books down.


    But now, he was acutely aware of his precarious situation.


    No matter how well Ning Xiaoren treated him at this moment, there was no guarantee that the next moment, Ning Xiaoren wouldn''t turn against him and throw him into a private dungeon.


    Ning Zhuo was walking a dangerous path, but he had no choice.


    The appearance of Yuan Dasheng forced him to take action, a perilous move that removed a powerful enemy. He was just a hair''s breadth away from being exposed.


    Zhu Xuanji''s early arrival had been investigating and applying tremendous pressure, forcing Ning Zhuo to act quickly.


    "When did my situation be increasingly precarious?" Ning Zhuo reflected on the beginning when he decided to blow up the Immortal Pce.


    Once he had done that, it was as if he had stepped onto a lone boat, needing to navigate through tumultuous waves, reaching the shore to be truly safe.


    Even the slightest mistake or the smallest dy would result in the boat''s destruction.


    He could no longer step off the boat.


    If someone else captured the Immortal Pce, they would inevitably investigate the explosion, exposing Ning Zhuo as the real culprit.


    He could only move forward, constantly pressing on, biting the bullet, no matter how difficult it was, and forging ahead with all his might.


    "After a long night, Ning Xiaoren is still treating me well. This shows that they have already reached their conclusion from the investigation!"


    "This is the result of the defensive lines I began weaving from the age of two, the roles I yed, and the many pieces of evidence naturally scattered along my growth trajectory."


    "As long as they investigate these, they will arrive at a reasonable exnation and recognize my talent in mechanisms."


    "Even if they search the underground workshop, it doesn''t matter. I''ve already cleaned it up, leaving behind many drafts of the Mechanical Explosive Monkey, numerous failed mechanism prototypes, and so on!"


    Ning Zhuo, though weak and isted, had one advantage.


    He had started preparing more than a decade ago, and during that time, he had deliberately left many traces and clues!


    These clues and information, once gathered, would form a body of intelligence.


    And that intelligence was, in fact, Ning Zhuo''s carefully crafted personal defense line¡ªwho would believe that a two-year-old child had been acting all along?


    As long as his early wisdom wasn''t discovered, Ning Zhuo could temporarily hold this line of defense!


    Of course, Ning Zhuo''s love for mechanisms and obsession with them was not an act but his true passion!


    "Ning Zhuo,e out!" Suddenly, Ning Xiaohui''s voice rang out from outside the room!

 Chapter 94: Attending the Banquet

    Ning Zhuo recognized Ning Xiaohui''s voice and left the dining table to go out to the courtyard, where he met his former ssmate.


    Ning Xiaohui and Ning Zhuo were both students of the same cohort at the academy.


    In the academy, Ning Zhuo''s performance was above average but otherwise unremarkable. In contrast, Ning Xiaohui, as a member of the main branch and possessing the innate talent of "Ice Jade Hands," always upied the top position. She was like the moon surrounded by stars in the academy.


    At this moment, Ning Xiaohui had a cold expression, her gaze indifferent as she looked Ning Zhuo up and down as he approached!


    She was slightly surprised in her heart, thinking, "I never expected that someone so unremarkable in the past actually has quite a good appearance!"


    After scrutinizing him from head to toe, she remarked, "I really couldn''t tell that you were the one who created the Mechanical Exclusive Monkey!"


    Ning Zhuo let out an "Ah," feeling a bit embarrassed as he said, "Well, I think it was just a fluke. If I had to create another new mechanical work, I''m afraid I wouldn''t be able to do it. I have no more information!"


    "Yes, I know!" Ning Xiaohui had already reviewed all the information on Ning Zhuo, including the numerous manuscripts and drawings the Ning family investigation team had discovered and copied in the underground workshop.


    From that, she saw that Ning Zhuo had spent at least five or six years on the development of the Mechanical Exclusive Monkey!This discovery significantly lowered her opinion of Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo walked up to Ning Xiaohui and asked, "May I ask why you called me out here?"


    Ning Xiaohui frowned slightly, feeling that Ning Zhuo was standing too close.


    She took a small step back and questioned him, "You actually gave the Mechanical Exclusive Monkey to an outsider. Why didn''t you report it to the family first?"


    Ning Zhuo sighed, spreading his hands, his face showing frustration and helplessness as he said, "I really wanted to tell the family, but at that time, my Mechanical Exclusive Monkey still had ws. It was iplete and not presentable."


    "I couldn''t bring it out!"


    "I consulted Chen Cha to solve the design problems of the Mechanical Monkey. But I never expected it to be exposed like that. In the end, some big shot took notice of it."


    "What could I do?"


    "At least they gave me money!"


    "Hmph, are you talking about Lord Fei Si?" Ning Xiaohui intentionally revealed the name.


    Ning Zhuo immediately showed a look of surprise.


    Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Ning Xiaohui''s lips curled into a slight sneer as she said, "Ning Zhuo, you''re so focused on money, you have such a short-sighted view!"


    "Don''t you know that in the words ¡®fame and fortune,'' famees first, and fortunees second? With fame, you naturally get fortune."


    "Fame is far more important than fortune!"


    "Creating the Mechanical Exclusive Monkey was such a great honor!"


    "And now it''s been taken away. How could such a loss bepensated by mere money?"


    "Is that so?" Ning Zhuo scratched his head, wearing an innocent and foolish expression, as if he waspletely clueless about the ways of the world.


    Ning Xiaohui, seeing Ning Zhuo''s foolish appearance, suddenly felt a surge of disgust in her heart, losing any desire to continue talking with him.


    Little did she know that Ning Zhuo had seen through her disdainful and arrogant nature, and had easily manipted her.


    Ning Xiaohui turned to leave, saying, "I came to find you specifically to tell you that there''s a small banquet tonight, and I''ll take you there!"


    "Make sure you clean yourself up properly, and don''t disgrace our family!"


    Ning Zhuo was surprised, "May I ask what kind of banquet it is? Who will be there?"


    Ning Xiaohui kept walking, not turning back as she replied, "It''s with people from the joint team of the three families, including Zheng Jian, Zhou Zhenshen, and Zhou Zhu!"


    "A dragon should not mingle with snakes. Just follow me and don''t talk too much!"


    "Oh, okay!" Ning Zhuo quickly responded, "Oh, wait, I need to report this to the Young n Leader first!"


    "Suit yourself!" Ning Xiaohui walked out of the courtyard, her figure disappearing behind the door.


    Ning Zhuo''s gaze deepened.


    Reporting to the Young n Leader was just an excuse; he already knew that since Ning Xiaohui could make her way to the inner residence, she must have received Ning Xiaoren''s approval.


    "Ning Xiaohui is from the main branch, while I''m from the side branch."


    "My cultivation and mechanical skills have already posed a certain threat to Ning Xiaohui."


    In the past, Ning Zhuo would have already been warned or suppressed.


    But now, with the three families joining forces and striving for fairness, the Ning family, being at a disadvantage, also needed Ning Zhuo''s personal efforts to support Ning Xiaohui.


    This was why he was being treated with respect.


    However, Ning Xiaohui was not one to toleratepetition. If he continued to shine and disy his talents, she would be an obstacle in his path.


    "I can only continue forward by removing this obstacle!"


    Ning Zhuo always nned three steps ahead. As the saying goes, "If a man does not have long-term concerns, he will have near-term worries." He had already started thinking about how to remove Ning Xiaohui as a threat.


    After pondering for a while, he shook his head slightly, smiling bitterly to himself.


    He couldn''t think of a good solution.


    Ning Zhuo first went to report to the Young n Leader, Ning Xiaoren, about the banquet that evening.


    Seeing Ning Zhuo''s conscientious behavior, Ning Xiaoren was pleased, having tested that the young man indeed had a submissive nature. He immediately expressed his approval and mentioned that Ning Zhuo''s clothes were not suitable for attending a banquet, so he ordered someone to measure Ning Zhuo for new clothes.


    As the Young n Leader, Ning Xiaoren had a high position and many servants.


    In the cultivation world, even the making of ordinary clothes was done with remarkable efficiency!


    By evening, the clothes were ready.


    And not just one set, but three.


    Ning Xiaoren did not miss the opportunity to show goodwill!


    He personally attended the entire fitting process, praising Ning Zhuo repeatedly!


    In the end, his eyes reddened, his voice choked with emotion as he said, "If only your father, Ning Zhong, were still alive to see you grown up like this, such a fine young man! He would be so proud!"


    Ning Zhuo quickly inquired about his father''s situation.


    But Ning Xiaoren had no idea, so he coughed, saying it was gettingte, and that they could catch up another time.


    In his heart, he thought about looking into all the information on Ning Zhong to see if he could fabricate some deep connection between their families.


    "Oh, by the way!"


    Ning Xiaoren took out a bag of money and handed it to Ning Zhuo.


    "I know you have arge sum of money, but this is just some pocket money. You should take it as a little gift from your Uncle Ning!"


    Ning Xiaoren handed it over slowly, but Ning Zhuo''s eyes lit up, and he quickly reached out with both hands, taking the money bag.


    His swift movements left Ning Xiaoren momentarily stunned.


    "Thank you, Uncle Ning!" Ning Zhuo''s thanks were more direct than ever before.


    Then the young man added, "Uncle Ning, I don''t have anyrge sums of money."


    "I''ve never thought of myself as having a lot of money. In fact, it''s really not much at all!"


    "Besides, who everins about having too much money?"


    "Thank you, Uncle Ning!"


    Ning Zhuo expressed his gratitude again.


    Ning Xiaoren couldn''t help but cough lightly, "Good, good, I''m d you epted it!"


    Watching Ning Zhuo inspect the money bag, Ning Xiaoren''s feelings were mixed.


    On one hand, Ning Zhuo''s attitude toward money perfectly echoed Ning Xiaoren''s own sentiments!


    He felt like he had found a kindred spirit.


    But this kindred spirit, well, was better off not having.


    Especially since Ning Zhuo was taking his money.


    On the other hand, it made perfect sense.


    Ning Xiaoren thought back to all the information he had seen.


    As a child, Ning Zhuo had been under the care of others, suffering harsh treatment from Ning Ze and Wang Lan, and hardly ever had any pocket money, living in considerable poverty.


    In contrast, Ning Ji lived in luxury, with plenty of food and clothing.


    Ning Zhuo was always short of money, and after entering the academy, he often took on odd jobs!


    Given this background, it was not surprising that Ning Zhuo had a strong desire for money.


    So, Ning Zhuo agreeing to let Chen Cha take credit for creating the Mechanical Exclusive Monkey in exchange for arge sum of money wasn''t surprising at all.


    Leaving Ning Zhuo, Ning Xiaoren felt very satisfied.


    Because he realized that Ning Zhuo wasn''t difficult to win over.


    To win someone over, it was actually quite simple¡ªappeal to what they like.


    "Ning Zhuo''s first interest¡ªmechanical arts."


    "His second interest¡ªmoney!"


    "Hmm, I should use mechanical arts ssics to win him over!"


    Because, when it came to money, Ning Xiaoren liked it just as much.


    Nightfall!


    The carriage stopped, and Ning Zhuo was the first to jump off the carriage. Then, Ning Xiaohui gracefully stepped down


    , using a servant''s back as a step.


    "Ning Zhuo, your status is not the same as before. You must pay attention to your every move!" Ning Xiaohui frowned, "Jumping off the carriage so casually is too frivolous, not something a member of a prominent family should do."


    "Oh, okay!" Ning Zhuo quickly agreed to heed the advice.


    Along the way, he looked around curiously, as if he had never been here before!


    Everything seemed new to him.


    Ning Xiaohui''s frown deepened, "Stay close to me!"


    Ning Zhuo hurried to follow!


    Ning Xiaohui added, "But not too close, keep some distance from me!"


    Ning Zhuo: "Oh, oh!"


    ¡­


    "Wee, wee, the two of you!"


    Zheng Jian personally stood at the entrance of the private room to greet them.


    This small banquet was hosted by him.


    Ning Xiaohui and Ning Zhuo entered the private room, finding that Zhou Zhenshen and Zhou Zhu had already arrived.


    The few of them gathered with smiles on their faces. Just the energy alone was already something new to Ning Zhuo.


    Because he had never seen these geniuses smiling and talking so warmly before.


    The dishes at the banquet were naturally exquisite.


    Ning Zhuo''s eyes sparkled as he stared at the table, and he was the one who picked up his chopsticks the most.


    Zheng Jian and the others kept a close eye on Ning Zhuo.


    They were rtively familiar with Ning Xiaohui.


    But theycked enough knowledge about the suddenly prominent Ning Zhuo.


    Although their two families had conducted thorough investigations and obtained intelligence beyond what the Ning family had.


    Many times, however, face-to-face probing and understanding were still necessary.


    Seeing Ning Zhuo trying to suppress himself, acting indifferent, but always unable to resist eating and drinking, the group gradually formed an impression of him.


    Combining it with the intelligence they had, they quickly sketched out a picture of Ning Zhuo in their minds¡ªan emerging talent from the family''s lower ranks, a former marginal figure who, by chance, had entered the upper circles, but who, in the initial stages of adjustment, was out of ce. Every nce he cast around revealed his humble past.


    During the meal, Zheng Jian and the others naturally talked about the Lava Immortal Pce.


    Zheng Jian first raised his ss to Ning Xiaohui, saying, "We must thank the Ning family for providing the talismans, which prevented us from having our souls easily extracted by the Immortal Pce."


    "Since our three families are united, and everyone present has already reached the thirdyer peak of Qi Refining, we can now open the talismans and explore the pce together!"


    "I believe that by working together, we will surely ovee the challenges ahead."


    Ning Zhuo pricked up his ears, listening intently with a serious expression.


    He spoke with excitement and enthusiasm, "If we join forces, we will surely ovee all obstacles and triumphantly advance!"


    Zheng Jian: ¡­


    Zhou Zhu: ¡­


    For a moment, the small banquet fell into a rare silence.

 Chapter 95: Could it be that Ning Zhuo has natural talent?!

    ¡°What''s wrong with you all?¡± Ning Zhuo revealed an expression of "sensing that something was off," and asked with a puzzled face.


    Zheng Jian let out a dryugh: "Little brother Ning Zhuo is oversimplifying things."


    Zhou Zhu nodded, "That''s right."


    Ning Xiaohui coldly snorted, "That Lava Immortal Pce was one of the ancient residences of the three sects'' great masters. It is not something to be taken lightly. The three sects'' great masters were powerful cultivators in the Void Refinement stage. The trials they left behind are not something easily ovee."


    "Your fighting spirit ismendable, but you are indeed a frog at the bottom of a well, with no regard for others."


    "Don''t say such things in the future."


    Ning Zhuo let out a sound of surprise and quickly nodded in agreement, "Oh, oh."


    He had been observing their expressions.


    The reason he said this was to provoke Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu, and to probe the Zhou and Zheng families'' future ns.Unexpectedly, his reminder resurfaced painful memories, once again inflicting a heavy blow on Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu.


    Zheng Jian smiled bitterly: "The trials left by the three sects'' great masters are indeed too difficult. Don''tugh at us, brother Ning Zhuo. We couldn''t even pass the first trial!"


    "Ah?" Ning Zhuo widened his eyes, looking genuinely surprised.


    Zheng Jian was the oldest among everyone present. Additionally, being straightforward by nature, he chose to openly admit his poor performance without hiding it.


    In fact, Ning Zhuo was certain to enter the Immortal Pce next, so there was no need to conceal anything from him.


    "What exactly was the first trial that even Brother Zheng Jian and Brother Zhou Zhu found so difficult?" Ning Zhuo couldn''t help but ask.


    Ning Xiaohui couldn''t help but let out a lightugh, thinking, "Zheng Jian''s words were still too polite. In fact, they didn''t even get a clear view of the first trial."


    She hadn''t entered the Immortal Pce even once!


    On one hand, she had not been at the peak of the thirdyer for long. On the other hand, she was always protected by talismans and unaffected by soul extraction.


    Because the Ning family had learned from the other two families that even if Ning Xiaohui entered the pce, she wouldn''t be able to achieve much, they decided to keep her in reserve, waiting for the right moment.


    Because of this, Ning Xiaohui had never tasted failure and felt no empathy for Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu.


    Seeing that Ning Zhuo was about to ask more questions, Zhou Zhenshen hurriedly pped his hands, interrupting him, "Everyone, merely eating and drinking is rather dull. Recently, our Zhou family has recruited a mechanical cultivator named Chu Xiyao, who is quite talented."


    "Brother Zheng, Chu Xiyao apanied us to this banquet and is currently waiting in the main hall."


    "Why not invite her up and let her set up a game for our entertainment?"


    Zheng Jian gave Zhou Zhenshen a deep look, then nodded, "Since brother Zhou has this in mind, I wee it wholeheartedly. Please invite the talented one up."


    Momentster, Chu Xiyao entered, greeted everyone present, and bowed.


    She was a female cultivator, with average looks but an attractive temperament. Her eyebrows drooped, giving her a mncholic expression, especially with her exceptionally slender waist.


    Her figure was like a delicate willow swaying in the wind, arousing pity.


    Though she was in the Foundation Establishment stage, she maintained a humble demeanor towards the Qi Refining stage cultivators present.


    In the cultivation world, strength is revered!


    But in this situation, it was not surprising.


    On one hand, the gap inbat power between Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining stages wasn''t particrlyrge.


    There were many situations where this gap could be bridged!


    On the other hand, this was the righteous path, not the demonic path of jungle warfare.


    Much of Chu Xiyao''s respect stemmed from the potential of Zheng Jian and the others.


    Cultivators with spiritual roots could cultivate.


    In ancient times, those with spiritual roots were extremely rare, making them inherently noble!


    As the era progressed and the number of cultivators increased, the pursuit of excellent spiritual roots began!


    Today, as spiritual energy became more abundant, spiritual roots were no longer valued as much, and natural talent was the key trait revered.


    Chu Xiyao only had spiritual roots butcked any natural talent. Given time, her cultivation would be easily surpassed by Zheng Jian and the others.


    So, her respect was still rooted in the principle that the strong are revered!


    It was just that those present would be the strong in the future!


    This was simr to how some sects would immediately take in cultivators with outstanding talent as personal disciples, even if they were only in the Qi Refining stage, granting them elder-level status and respect within the sect.


    Ning Xiaohui was curious: "I''ve heard of Senior Chu''s reputation for a long time. My Ning family once tried to hire you with a hefty sum!"


    "Senior refused our offer, saying you disliked restrictions and preferred freedom."


    "I''m quite curious, what changed your mind and led you to join the Zhou family?"


    Chu Xiyao sighed, "Wasn''t it because of Zhu Xuanji?"


    It turned out that Chu Xiyao, being in the Foundation Establishment stage and skilled in mechanics, met the standard for entering the Immortal Pce andpeting for its inheritance rights!


    She had indeed entered the Immortal Pce, had been injured, and had also gained some benefits.


    During the Huoshi Festival, Zhu Xuanji failed to corner the shadow demon cultivator. Although he didn''t lose all his leads, Zhu Xuanji believed that Zheng Jian had intentionally left those leads as traps for him.


    Zhu Xuanji then gathered all the records from the four major forces in Huoshi Immortal City andpiled a list of suspects.


    He began investigating them one by one, starting with the first name on the list!


    Li Leifeng was the first he investigated.


    Then came Zhao Die, who resisted and was killed by Zhu Xuanji.


    Chu Xiyao knew she was definitely on that list and didn''t want to leave Huoshi Immortal City. She still wanted to wait for another opportunity to enter the Immortal Pce.


    So, after much consideration, she chose the Zhou family as a temporary refuge.


    Why did she make this choice?


    She mainly considered two points.


    First, it was certainly not possible to choose the City Lord''s Mansion.


    The City Lord''s Mansion was under the jurisdiction of the Southern Dou Court, and Chu Xiyao joining them would leave her no reason to resist Zhu Xuanji''s stringent investigation!


    Second, the three great families offered more lenient conditions and were far more tempting than the City Lord''s Mansion.


    Even if Zhu Xuanji came to trouble her, the three great families couldn''t resist him head-on but could still provide some protection.


    At the worst, the three great families could secretly release information, allowing Chu Xiyao to escape on her own.


    The three great families were deeply rooted in Huoshi Immortal City and highly valued their family reputation.


    After weighing her options, Chu Xiyao chose the most powerful of the three great families¡ªthe Zhou family.


    Ning Zhuo''s eyes flickered.


    He had made a name for himself by participating in this small banquet, gaining the first valuable piece of information tonight.


    "Is it Zhu Xuanji''s actions that are driving cultivators to form alliances?"


    "Some cultivators with rtively clean backgrounds are likely to seek refuge with the four major forces. But there are certainly some demon cultivators who will remain unaffiliated. They will either flee far away or band together. There will hardly be any fools who continue to act alone."


    "Zhu Xuanji is methodically investigating suspicious individuals. I wonder if my mother is on that list?"


    Ning Zhuo felt the pressure once again.


    Chu Xiyao patted her storage bag, releasing a mechanical wooden box.


    The box was square, and once itnded on the ground, it quickly disassembled, gradually forming a rectangrbyrinth game board.


    Ning Zhuo immediately recognized that the board was modeled after Room No. 2.


    Although Zhou Zhu and Zheng Jian had both perished under the heavy hammer at the entrance, they had caught a glimpse of theyout of Room No. 2 when the door opened.


    After dying numerous times, they had managed to gather some valuable intelligence.


    After setting up thebyrinth game board, Chu Xiyao took out game pieces and distributed them to Zheng Jian and the others.


    The pieces were also small mechanical devices, resembling wheels with spokes and an axle.


    "Isn''t this a miniature version of *Yi Lun*?" Zheng Jian asked after examining the piece.


    Chu Xiyao nodded, "Yes, this is *Yi Lun*!"


    "*Yi Lun* is a mechanical toy often favored by young cultivators! Children would pour a pitiful amount of their mana into the *Yi Lun*, making the wheel move on its own. They would thenpete to see whose wheel rolled the farthest."


    "The reason it''s called *Yi Lun* is because the cultivator who invented it was very weak and would always get knocked out in the first round of anypetition held by his family, sect, or country!"


    Chu Xiyao continued, "But the *Yi Lun* I modified can absorb not only mana but also store a certain amount of spiritual sense. What we need to do is pour mana and spiritual sense into the game piece and ce it into thebyrinth game board to see whose *Yi Lun* can travel the farthest!"


    Zheng Jian was a man of action. The moment Chu X


    iyao finished speaking, he tossed his piece into the board!


    His *Yi Lun* swiftly moved through thebyrinth, making several turns before finally crashing into an obstacle and stopping.


    "Interesting!" Zheng Jian''s eyes gleamed as he summarized, "Mana and spiritual sense must be abundant and work in harmony. Each step must be calcted precisely; otherwise, even the smallest mistake in coordination will quickly umte, causingpounding errors that drag each other down until you fail."


    Chu Xiyao smiled softly, immediatelyplimenting Zheng Jian''s keen insight.


    After Zheng Jian, Zhou Zhenshen, Zhou Zhu, and Ning Xiaohui took their turns. Zhou Zhu''s piece traveled the shortest distance, while Zhou Zhenshen, though weaker in cultivation, managed to go the farthest.


    Ning Xiaohui''s *Yi Lun* moved gracefully with a delicate charm, covering a distance second only to Zhou Zhenshen.


    "Now it''s brother Ning Zhuo''s turn!" Zhou Zhenshen said with a smile.


    Instantly, many eyes turned towards Ning Zhuo!


    Zhou Zhenshen had called it entertainment, but it was fundamentally a test. In the cultivation world, individual excellence was always valued.


    Undoubtedly, this test would likely determine the internalpetition among the three families moving forward.


    The others were familiar with each other, but Ning Zhuo was a dark horse. Despite gathering intelligence, he remained the most mysterious.


    As everyone watched him openly and secretly, Ning Zhuo seemedpletely oblivious. After tossing his piece, his gaze followed it, his face tense.


    The *Yi Lun* made numerous turns through various obstacles, progressing slowly. It wasn''t as graceful as Ning Xiaohui''s nor as precise as Zhou Zhenshen''s, but it continued forward, eventually reaching a record-breaking distance.


    "How could this be?" Zhou Zhu was shocked!


    Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhenshen both looked at Ning Zhuo!


    Even Ning Xiaohui couldn''t help but show surprise, reassessing Ning Zhuo.


    Chu Xiyao''s eyes sparkled, "It''s spiritual sense!"


    "This young lord from the Ning family has an exceptionally strong spiritual sense, far beyond that of a Qi Refining stage cultivator!"


    "Therefore, he was able to maintain control over the *Yi Lun* for a longer period!"


    "Moreover, he used the minimum amount of mana, extending the duration of coordination between spiritual sense and mana to achieve the best results!"


    Ning Zhuo scratched his head, "It seems like that''s the case. My spiritual sense does seem to be a bit more abundant than others my age."


    "Could it be natural talent?"


    For a moment, the same question crossed everyone''s minds!

 Chapter 96: Illusory True Lotus Seed

    Lava Immortal Pce.


    Room Number One.


    Puppetponents moved in quick session, connecting with one another, forming several humanoid figures.


    Soon, the puppet versions of Zhou Zhu, Zheng Jian, Ning Xiaohui, and Ning Zhuo gathered together.


    The group scrutinized one another.


    Zhou Zhu was tall and sturdy. Several wooden hooks floated around Zheng Jian. Ning Xiaohui''s hands were intricately constructed, distinctly different from the rest of her body.


    As for Ning Zhuo¡­


    "Wow, your head is huge," Zhou Zhu eximed.


    Zheng Jian nodded slightly. "Looking at it this way, you indeed seem to have some hidden talents."Having died so many times, Zhou Zhu and Zheng Jian gradually learned many secrets, including those rted to puppet forms and hidden talents.


    "What kind of talent results in a big head?" Zhou Zhu asked.


    "There are many possibilities," Ning Xiaohui answered. "For instance, a clear mind, exceptional intelligence, deep-rooted wisdom, insightful thoughts, and divinely bestowed wisdom¡­"


    Though her tone was calm, her heart was filled with amazement. She hadn''t expected Ning Zhuo to truly possess such talent. Moreover, this kind of talent was highlypatible with puppet techniques.


    Ning Zhuo''s spiritual sense was abundant. Upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, his spiritual sense would evolve into spiritual consciousness, making it even easier tomand beasts, control insects, manipte souls, and govern puppets, soldiers, and zombies.


    Naturally, this included all kinds of mechanical creations!


    "Is that so? My head is indeed bigger than all of yours!" Ning Zhuo said, looking around at everyone, touching hisrge head with a tone of surprise.


    Since the banquet, where Ning Zhuo had briefly showcased the advantages of his spiritual sense, he had sessfully piqued the others'' curiosity.


    Ning Zhuo''s spiritual sense was overwhelmingly strong, making it highly likely that he possessed rted talents. However, testing for talents was quite challenging.


    Many strange and peculiar talents were not easy to test.


    Zhou Zhenshen came up with a good idea: "We can merge our souls into the Immortal Pce."


    "ording to our understanding of the Immortal Pce, our puppet bodies reflect our talents, each with unique phenomena!


    "If Brother Ning truly has talent, it will surely be evident in this aspect!


    "The Lava Immortal Pce was the residence of the three sect lords. Testing for talents here should not be a problem."


    Once this suggestion was made, everyone agreed enthusiastically, thinking it feasible. They immediately decided to end the meeting, return home, and then agree on a time to simultaneously merge their souls into the Immortal Pce.


    As a result, now, everyone was gathered around Ning Zhuo, scrutinizing hisrge head.


    Ning Zhuo had no choice but to demonstrate his talent in this area!


    There was no other way!


    Once he merged his soul into the Immortal Pce, hisrge head would inevitably draw attention!


    This feature was too conspicuous.


    As more and more people merged their souls into the Immortal Pce, the extraordinary nature of puppets with such distinctive features would be even more apparent.


    Therefore, it was better for Ning Zhuo to reveal it voluntarily, allowing him to influence others'' thoughts more conveniently.


    Suddenly, Ning Zhuo said, "I have an idea that might be worth trying."


    "But before that, I want to ask, can we use the other mechanical parts in this room?"


    He was deliberately asking this.


    Zheng Jian shook his head. "We can''t use them!"


    "Oh, in that case, I can only use you guys. So, please disassemble yourselves first," Ning Zhuo said.


    "Huh?" Zhou Zhu was stunned.


    "Do you really have a n?" Zheng Jian asked.


    "Of course, but I can''t guarantee it will work!" Ning Zhuo replied.


    Zheng Jian smiled. "No matter what the n is, we need to try it. What exactly is your n?"


    Ning Zhuo then revealed his n!


    Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu immediately looked at each other with strange expressions, while Ning Xiaohui stepped back three steps, shaking her head repeatedly, and tly refused, "No, I won''t do it."


    ¡­


    A momentter, a monstrous puppet with four heads, eight arms, and eight legs suddenly pushed open the door!


    Its massive body stood firmly in the middle of the corridor. After triggering a mechanism, it used one of its limbs as a shield to block a spear thrust.


    It then raised its eight arms high, catching a heavy hammer that was about to fall.


    Before the hammer could drop far enough to umte sufficient force, the monstrous puppet disrupted it, pushing it to the other side with great difficulty.


    However, due to this action, three of the puppet''s arms were overburdened and shattered.


    "Sess! Sess!" Zhou Zhu''s head joyfully shouted.


    Zheng Jian''s head contemted, "There¡¯s no mistake. The three sect lords truly intended to promote our cooperation! Such thoughtful intent is quite in line with the style of those esteemed seniors!"


    "What are you guys dawdling for? Hurry up and disassemble us!" Ning Xiaohui''s head couldn''t take it anymore.


    Her head was ced under an arm, almost like under an armpit. Every time the arm moved, it squeezed her forehead, making her feel very ufortable.


    "Oh, I''ll disassemble us right away!" Ning Zhuo quickly said.


    "The thought of having to pass through the first door like this every time makes me feel awful!" Ning Xiaohuiined.


    Zheng Jian said, "As long as it works, it''s a good method. Practicality is what matters."


    Zhou Zhu added, "Exactly, Miss Ning, your head is just under an arm. My head was in the crotch, did I say anything?"


    "Sorry, sorry! I''ll switch ces with Brother Zheng next time," Ning Zhuo said.


    Zheng Jian responded with a grunt, "Actually, this matter can be discussed further!"


    Ning Xiaohui screamed, "Anyway, I will never use this method to pass through in front of others."


    A momentter, everyone returned to their original forms.


    Ning Xiaohui''s arms were both broken, Zhou Zhu''s torso was riddled with holes from spear thrusts, while Zheng Jian and Ning Zhuo''s puppet bodies were rtively intact.


    "Brother Ning, well done, you''ve truly impressed me!" Zheng Jian said excitedly, patting Ning Zhuo on the shoulder.


    Zhou Zhu looked around, full of emotion.


    How many times had it taken for him to finally stand on the other side of the door, openly and steadily?


    How difficult it was.


    "It was all thanks to him," Zhou Zhu''s assessment of Ning Zhuo rose even higher.


    Ning Xiaohui remained silent.


    Ning Zhuo suggested, "Next, let''s continue moving forward!"


    "Alright! I can''t wait to see the wonders of the second checkpoint!" Zheng Jianughed heartily.


    Zhou Zhu added, "Brother Ning, you gost. We''ll scout the way first!"


    Ning Xiaohui didn''t object.


    Although they hadn¡¯t spent much time together, Ning Zhuo''s performance had already begun to win the others over!


    Not long after, Zheng Jian and the others sessively fell into a pitfall, their senses obscured, as if trapped in endless darkness, crying out for help in vain!


    These traps were all specially arranged by Ning Zhuo.


    He had anticipated the current situation!


    With no one able to observe him, he utilized a spell, the Suspension Ring, and easily passed through Room Number Two.


    After all, most of the mechanical traps were set up by him personally.


    Ning Zhuo advanced into Room Number Three, immediately activating arge number ofbat puppets.


    He then activated Yuan Dasheng to protect him, and this time, he walked out of Room Number Three without even using any spells, arriving at the preparation room.


    As he passed the leaderboard, he nced up, sighing inwardly.


    Here, a w appeared.


    He had already renamed himself and was ranked first on the Five-faced Stone Pir Leaderboard. Yuan Dasheng was no longer on the list. However, if he entered the preparation room in front of others, Ning Zhuo''s name would not be able to appear on the leaderboard!


    Seeing this would make others feel very strange.


    "Fortunately, now, in Room Number Three, with Yuan Dasheng guarding, it''s still uncertain whether Meng Chong can ovee this obstacle!"


    "But for the three families'' joint exploration team, it will be quite difficult without that kind of lightning speed!"

 Chapter 97: Everyone Knows You Were Wronged

    Ning Zhuo''s steps gradually quickened.


    He was taking Yuan Dasheng to explore the Immortal Pce, a journey fraught with risks.


    After all, Meng Chong could enter at any moment.


    Without Yuan Dasheng in Room Three to fend off enemies, Meng Chong could easily break into the preparation room.


    "I hope Meng Chong''s unconsciousness is thorough this time, giving me as much time as possible to explore!"


    At this thought, a new insight suddenly dawned on Ning Zhuo, as he recalled the theory of Qi fortune.


    "The Lava Immortal Pce is like an arena, and both Meng Chong and I are within it. Even if we''re not face-to-face, there''s still a struggle and entanglement of Qi fortune between us."


    "I took the initiative, setting up traps and obstacles everywhere for Meng Chong, gaining the upper hand."


    "But he grows stronger when faced with challenges, rapidly advancing through special training.""I encountered a crisis, had to change my name, and devised a n involving Han Ming. Yet, in the Ziyang Courtyard, Meng Chong suddenly appeared and defeated Han Ming!"


    "If he had been more decisive or relentless back then, killing Han Ming, I would have been at a dead end, and my n to change my name would have failed, leading to my indirect defeat by Meng Chong!"


    "Not long ago, I narrowly eradicated Yuan Dasheng. ording to Han Ming, my Qi fortune surged!"


    "So, I used Yuan Dasheng to defeat Meng Chong, leaving him in aatose state, once again suppressing him!"


    "But who knows what kind of formidable stance and degree of progress Meng Chong will return with next time!"


    As Ning Zhuo''s thoughts reached this point, he had already arrived in front of the three gates.


    "These three gates are actually ws!"


    "Zhu Xuanji once witnessed Yuan Dasheng using the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique. Although the process was brief, the aura had already leaked."


    "In the future, if someone masters this demonic technique, Zhu Xuanji will definitely notice the signs and develop new suspicions about Yuan Dasheng''s death."


    "New suspicions will lead to new investigations!"


    "And such investigations would be extremely dangerous for me."


    "Sigh, if only I could conceal this demonic gate!"


    Ning Zhuo had long tried to address this issue. Unfortunately, even with all his effort to frantically activate the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, he could not make the stone wall rise again to cover the demonic gate.


    "The most urgent matter now is to seize every bit of time and opportunity to explore with all my might!"


    Ning Zhuo not only had to race against Meng Chong and Zheng Jian but also against Zhu Xuanji.


    "This time, I will first break through the Buddhist gate."


    Ning Zhuo had made up his mind.


    The main reason was that the golden-blood battle Yuan Dasheng had fought made him extremely advantageous in traversing the Buddhist gate.


    However, the first gate Ning Zhuo opened was the demonic gate!


    He ventured into the demonic gate, and after some attempts, he voluntarily stopped.


    His primary purpose was to obtain the blood energy within.


    He infused all the blood energy directly into Yuan Dasheng without leaving any for himself.


    In an instant, Yuan Dasheng''s red muscles began to emit a dark red glow, filled with demonic energy, exuding a sense of dominance and ferocity!


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, which had been closely watching Ning Zhuo, was so furious that it breathed fire through its nostrils.


    Normally,petitors couldn''t retreat once they entered; they had to press forward, even to their doom!


    But Ning Zhuo, cheating with the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, retreated after clearing the gate.


    This retreat had a tremendous impact on Yuan Dasheng.


    With the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit guarding him, Ning Zhuo ughtered his way through several checkpoints in the Buddhist gate, invincible.


    "As I expected, Yuan Dasheng had very high proficiency in essence cultivation when he was alive, and the level of the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique was likely very advanced!"


    "Using his intact body and soul as the main material, the spirituality obtained has deep imprints of his past actions."


    "Therefore, when using blood energy, he could even produce a vast amount of blood tendons!"


    Ning Zhuo fought his way through the three checkpoints of the Buddhist gate and once again stood before the door!


    "What reward will there be this time?"


    He anticipated that the reward would be valuable since there had been no reward after passing the second gate of the Buddhist gate.


    Sure enough, when Ning Zhuo touched the door, he immediately received a message!


    The dozen or so options made him momentarily dizzy.


    His first thought was: "Can I keep retreating and collect all these rewards?"


    "Let''s pick one first and then verify it! What would be the best choice?"


    After studying the options, Ning Zhuo found that most of them were spells and mechanical blueprints, with only one being special¡ªa Phantom True Lotus Seed.


    "What is this Phantom True Lotus Seed?" Ning Zhuo wondered.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, which had been waiting eagerly, couldn''t wait to exin: "The Phantom True Lotus Seed imprints the essence of a divine ability. Once nted, it can help a cultivator fullyprehend the divine ability. It is extremely rare and precious, with limited quantities!"


    Crack! Crack! Crack!


    The fire whipshed furiously.


    But the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit gritted its teeth and endured the pain, refusing to continue speaking.


    Unable to hear more, Ning Zhuo subconsciously assumed that was all there was to know.


    "Limited quantities, extremely precious¡ªI''ll choose this one then!"


    After Ning Zhuo made his choice, an illusionary lotus seed was immediately transmitted through the door, reaching the deepest part of his Upper Dantian Spiritual Sea.


    "Is that it?"


    "And then?"


    Ning Zhuo stood there momentarily stunned, feeling a bit foolish.


    After the Phantom True Lotus Seed was nted, it almost disappeared, bing so difficult for Ning Zhuo to find that even he struggled to locate it.


    Ning Zhuo tried various methods, all of which failed.


    "Maybe I need to return my soul to my body to connect with it!" Ning Zhuo spected, harboring hope!


    Little did he know, back in the main hall of the Lava Immortal Pce, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit wasughing so hard that ity down, using its dragon w to pound its shell in glee.


    Finally, finally, it had tricked Ning Zhuo.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was in pain from theshes but felt immense satisfaction.


    What it had concealed was the fact that while the Phantom True Lotus Seed was precious, it also reduced the chance ofprehending divine abilities. Many Golden Core cultivators who had nted the Phantom True Lotus Seed failed toprehend anything because the divine abilities imprinted in these lotus seeds all originated from one thing¡ªLife Hanging by a Thread!


    In the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit''s view, Ning Zhuo, a mere Qi Refining Stage cultivator, had no chance of understanding it¡ªit was simply a fantasy.


    Ning Zhuo pushed the door and stepped out, once again entering a hall with the three gates of Buddha, Dao, and Demon.


    He first tried to use the Buddha Heart Demon Seal to retreat again, shocked to find that the door was much harder to open.


    A sense of unease arose in him: "Could it be that the influence of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal is no longer sufficient at this point in my exploration?"


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, watching this, became increasingly calm.


    It knew the real reason¡ªit wasn''t that the Buddha Heart Demon Seal''s influence was insufficient; rather, Ning Zhuo was still in the Qi Refining Stage and hadn''t fully drawn out the power of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal. Having reached this point in the exploration, its influence on the gate had begun to wane.


    Unless Ning Zhuo made significant progress in cultivation, which wouldn''t happen overnight.


    After paying a great price, Ning Zhuo finally managed to retreat and return to his previous position.


    Touching the door again, he found he could choose another reward, so he selected a spell.


    Ning Zhuo pushed the door open once more, entering the hall but could no longer retreat!


    The cost was simply too high, so Ning Zhuo tried the three gates of Buddha, Dao, and Demon!


    He discovered that the mechanisms of the three gates were simr to before.


    Touching the Dao gate, he obtained the contents of the techniques from the fourth to the sixthyers of the three gates.


    "Finally, I can continue my cultivation!"


    "These techniques arrived just in time!"


    Ning Zhuo let out a sigh of relief. Although he had anticipated this, it wasn''t until now, when his guess matched reality, that he felt truly at ease.


    After exploring around and finding nothing else, Ning Zhuo once again retreated, selected another reward, and returned the way he hade.


    He returned to Room Three, left Yuan Dasheng there, and went back to Room Two, where he found everyone else still trapped,pletely unaware of the outside world.


    Ning Zhuo then jumped into a pit and waited silently.


    When the souls of the others were exhausted and returned to their bodies, he waited a little longer before easily returning to his own body using the trial disciple''s mark.


    Two dayster!


    Ning Xiaoren led Ning Zhuo into his study.


    Upon entering, Ning Zhuo found Ning Ze, his head covered in blood from being struck with an inkstone, kneeling on the ground.


    Ning Xiaoren, his face filled with grief, said to Ning Zhuo, "At first, I couldn''t believe it until the evidence wasid before me, until I personally confirmed it from your uncle!"


    "Ning Zhuo, my dear nephew, I never imagined, I never could have imagined that your


    uncle would be so shameless."


    "He actually embezzled the cultivation funds I secretly sent you every year!"


    Ning Zhuo''s eyes reddened, filled with disbelief and anger!


    "Uncle, is it true?" Ning Zhuo growled at Ning Ze!


    Ning Ze''s body trembled as he slowly raised his head to look at Ning Zhuo.


    His eyes were cloudy, his face extremely haggard, and his body bore numerous signs of severe torture.


    Ning Ze stared at Ning Zhuo, then at Ning Xiaoren, whose gaze was sharp and unforgiving.


    Ning Ze''s heart sank into despair. He took a deep breath and, with an unbearably heavy tone, said, "Yes, I did it."


    Ning Zhuo''s body swayed, and he couldn''t help but step back, only to be caught by Ning Xiaoren.


    Ning Zhuo, unable to bear the blow, tightly shut his eyes as tears streamed down his face.


    His vision temporarily darkened as memories flooded his mind.


    "Kneel down!"


    Ning Ze, holding a bamboo cane, spoke sternly.


    Young Ning Zhuo raised his head high, "Why should I be punished? I said it wasn''t me. It really wasn''t me."


    Smack!


    The bamboo cane came down hard.


    A red mark instantly appeared on Ning Zhuo''s cheek, soon swelling up!


    But Ning Zhuo still held his head high.


    Furious, Ning Ze raised the bamboo cane again!


    Smack, smack, smack!


    Ning Zhuo was beaten until his knees buckled, and he had to kneel down.


    "Uncle, why don''t you believe me? I''m being wronged, it wasn''t me. Boohoo¡­" Ning Zhuo raised his arm to wipe his tears.


    "Still being stubborn!" Ning Ze threw down the bamboo cane and turned to leave. "Today, you will kneel here until you admit your mistake, then you can have dinner."


    That time, Ning Zhuo knelt from evening until dawn, eventually fainting.


    The next morning, when Wang Lan got up, she said to Ning Ze, "Husband, although Xiao Zhuo has a wild nature, he is indeed honest. At the very least, he has never lied to us!"


    "I think this wrongdoing might not have been him after all."


    Ning Ze snorted coldly, "Of course, I know he was wronged!"


    "But what could I do?"


    "The child who did it, his father is an elder in the Battle Hall!"


    "We can''t afford to offend him."


    "Ning Zhuo just needs to admit his mistake, and this matter will be resolved!"


    "Being stubborn will only bring more trouble."


    Wang Lan gasped, "Oh, so that''s how it is!"


    "Husband, you did the right thing."


    "A little suffering for the child is nothing."

 Chapter 98: Puppet Strings

    "Brother Ning Zhuo, I''m here!" Zheng Jianughed heartily. Upon seeing Ning Zhuo get off the carriage, he walked a few steps forward and quickly reached him.


    Ning Zhuo hurriedly sped his hands in salute. "Brother Zheng."


    "No need for such formalities!" Zheng Jian grabbed Ning Zhuo''s arm to stop him from continuing the salute. "Come on, let''s go to the second floor."


    Behind them, Ning Xiaohui slowly stepped down, using the back of a servant as a step.


    Seeing Zheng Jian dragging Ning Zhuo along whilepletely ignoring her, her face was covered with ayer of frost.


    Ever since the sessful exploration of the Immortal Pce, Ning Zhuo had fully demonstrated his value among the top ranks of the three families, and his status had risen rapidly.


    To better win over Ning Zhuo, Ning Xiaoren elerated the process of fabricating evidence to frame Ning Ze!


    It was known that Ning Ze had served under Ning Xiaoren for many years, with no great achievements but plenty of hard work.


    Ning Xiaoren''s actions made Ning Zhuo secretly disdainful and wary.Ning Zhuo and Zheng Jian walked arm in arm into a courtyard.


    The que above the courtyard''s gate was inscribed with threerge characters: *Ci You Yuan* (Kindergarten for Benevolence).


    The courtyard was bustling with people, all engaged in conversation, discussing someone named Li Leifeng.


    Li Leifeng had finally reached the end of his life. ording to his will, *Ci You Yuan* had prepared a donation event, where all of Li Leifeng''s belongings would be given away.


    "I didn''t expect old Li to pass away after all. I grew up watching his puppet shows!" Zheng Jian sighed.


    Ning Zhuo also sighed. "Old Li was a respectable man. Ever since he took charge of *Ci You Yuan*, who knows how many orphans and homeless children he saved."


    Zheng Jian patted Ning Zhuo on the back. "Old Li had a good life and passed away peacefully. Look at how many people came today; you can see his reputation. His life was definitely worth it."


    Ning Zhuo nodded slightly and stopped talking.


    Most of the crowd had gathered at a five-story pavilion.


    The donation event was held here.


    Ning Zhuo and the others also entered the building.


    The pavilion was designed in a looped shape.


    Climbing the stairs to the second-floor private room, Ning Zhuo saw the Zhou brothers.


    "Come, sit down!"


    "The food *Ci You Yuan* is serving today still has that nostalgic taste, really brings back memories!"


    "Yes, I still remember how much I loved watching puppet shows when I was a child. That private room over there was where I used to go."


    "When I was little, I loved leaning on the railing to watch the shows!"


    Ning Zhuo remained silent, his gaze falling on a corner of the main hall.


    As a child, he would often sneak in unnoticed when the ticket inspectors weren''t looking.


    Huddled in a corner or behind a pir, he could watch the shows, and sometimes, after the performances, when the ce hadn''t been cleaned up, he could pick up some leftover cakes or fruits that guests hadn''t finished.


    Although Ning Zhuo had early wisdom, he also had a yful side.


    His uncle and aunt often treated Ning Ji harshly, letting him eat snacks in front of Ning Zhuo without sharing a single sweet with him.


    Even as a child, Ning Zhuo had cravings.


    He remembered one time when he was caught. Just as he was trembling with fear, Li Leifeng approached him, patted his head, took his hand, and led him backstage, giving him a clean, untouched portion of cakes and fruits.


    People came and went around them, and no one was surprised by the scene. They even gave Ning Zhuo kind looks.


    The details of the event were hazy in Ning Zhuo''s memory.


    In his mind, the entire experience was wrapped in a gentle light, and whenever he recalled it, a warm feeling would well up in his heart.


    This was why, when Li Leifeng passed away, nearly everyone in the city came to pay their respects.


    The cultivators participating in this donation event were mostly prominent figures.


    "With Li Leifeng gone, who knows what will happen to *Ci You Yuan* now?"


    "I heard that the next headmaster hasn''t been decided yet!"


    "I know the reason. Li Leifeng entrusted Zhu Xuanji to have a Detective find his sessor."


    Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhenshen exchanged information casually, revealing valuable intelligence.


    Ning Zhuo silently noted this.


    "By the way, how is your soul recovering?"


    "Almost fully healed!"


    "I''m about the same!"


    "When will we explore the Lava Immortal Pce again?"


    As they asked this question, everyone instinctively nced at Ning Zhuo.


    It was Ning Zhuo''s performancest time that had allowed them to make a qualitative breakthrough.


    However, Ning Zhuo had no desire to do so. He had already obtained the techniques and had been diligently cultivating them.


    Of course, the *Five Elements Qi Regtion Art* and *Demonic Blood Tendon Technique* were difficult to cultivate.


    The techniques from the fourth to the sixthyer differed significantly in the breathwork from the first threeyers.


    But the *Mirror tform Spirit Technique* could be cultivated.


    All activity would be suppressed andpletely gathered. This often left Ning Zhuo appearing to be in a daze, when in fact, he was secretly practicing his spiritual cultivation.


    Ning Zhuo said, "I haven''te up with any solutions for now. If we continue to explore the Immortal Pce, we''re likely to repeat our previous mistake and fall into that pitch-ck trap again!"


    Zheng Jian and the others shuddered.


    Last time, when they fell into the trap, they couldn''t live or die, unable to hear, see, or touch anything. They had to endure until their soul power reached its limit before they were finally sent out of the Immortal Pce.


    This nightmare-like experience was something they never wanted to go through again.


    "Have you not thought of any good ideas during this time?" Zheng Jian asked.


    Ning Zhuo shook his head, and Zhou Zhu sighed.


    Zhou Zhenshen tried to boost morale. "I''m almost at the peak of the thirdyer. Once I reach it, let''s head out together and explore the Lava Immortal Pce again."


    Everyone nodded, agreeing on the n.


    At this moment, the donation event officially began.


    All of Li Leifeng''s belongings were publicly disyed, free for anyone to choose from.


    Whoever could select an item could take it directly¡ªthat was the donation.


    Some lower-level cultivators were overjoyed after picking up items, reaping great rewards.


    Some families or powerful cultivators also took items, usually insignificant ones.


    They often donated arge sum of spirit stones or resources to *Ci You Yuan* in return.


    Suddenly, Zhou Zhenshen let out a small exmation, reached out, and used a formless power to grab a mechanical wooden board and brought it to the second floor.


    He took it and yed with it for a moment, thenughed. "As I thought, it¡¯s this."


    "I remember when I was little, my father brought me here, and I wouldn''t stop crying, so Old Li took out this toy to amuse me!"


    "This mechanical toy is veryplex. You need to piece together each transformation to get a little bit of information!"


    "Eventually, when you piece together all the information, it forms a legend about immortals."


    As he spoke, Zhou Zhenshen handed the mechanical toy to Zheng Jian.


    Zheng Jian yed with it for a while, lost interest, and passed it on to someone else.


    Zhou Zhu took it and asked curiously, "Did you everplete the legend?"


    "Of course." Zhou Zhenshen replied, "It took an entire summer, and the immortal legend I got was only a part of it, which made me so angry!"


    "But I still copied the story and wrote it on a jade slip that I carry with me at all times!"


    "Going through that experience gave me a lot of patience. Whenever I get impatient, I take out that jade slip, rub it a few times, and I can quickly calm down."


    As he spoke, Zhou Zhenshen took out the jade slip and passed it around for everyone to see.


    Ning Zhuo yed with the mechanical wooden board and then looked at the story on the jade slip.


    The jade slip recorded a legend about immortals.


    In the legend, a supreme immortal master crossed the void. Tired, he took out a mixed bag, held the bag''s opening, and prepared to shake it fifty times. At the forty-ninth shake, he was too tired to continue and released the bag, which spat out a mechanical world.


    In this mechanical world, the heavens and earth fluctuated, water and soil mingled, and smoke and fire swirled.


    The supreme immortal master then took out a five-element staff, threw it into the mechanical world, and made the five elements circte, cing heaven above, earth below, the oceans, and the rivers¡ªeverything in perfect order.


    The supreme immortal master then entered the mechanical world to rest. Wanting someone to serve him, he used three thousand puppet strings and flicked them three times. The first flicknded on celestial energy, creating celestial puppets.


    The second flicknded on demonic energy, forming demonic puppets.


    The third flicknded on divine energy, creating divine puppets.


    The three puppets served the supreme immortal master with utmost care.


    When the supreme immortal master had rested enough, he continued on his journey. Before leaving the mechanical world, the three puppets begged to follow him.


    The supreme immortal master told them it wasn''t that he was unwilling, but that the three puppets couldn''t survive


    outside.


    Forcibly taking them would only lead to their demise.


    The three puppets didn''t believe him!


    The supreme immortal master pointed to them and said, "Look at the strings on your bodies!"


    The three puppets were startled.


    The celestial puppet saw the strings on its body were ideals, wisdom, freedom, and betrayal¡­


    The demonic puppet saw the strings on its body were power, chaos, love¡­


    The divine puppet saw the strings on its body were principles, order, fairness¡­


    For a moment, Ning Zhuo''s heart was touched, and he suddenly thought of himself.


    He thought of the historical books he had studied, of the various figures within them.


    He thought of the countless times he had tried to understand their thoughts.


    Their choices at critical moments.


    As he grew older, he gradually realized that these people, regardless of their strength, all had patterns to follow.


    He thought of Yuan Dasheng, who, despite his strength, had a string of loyalty and righteousness firmly attached to his head.


    Wasn''t it because he grasped this string that Ning Zhuo was able to outmaneuver him?


    He then thought of his uncle Ning Ze and Ning Xiaoren. They also had strings on their bodies.


    He thought of Han Ming.


    Even demon cultivators had a string named greed.


    "As long as I can grasp these strings, I can control them like I control mechanisms. Can''t I?"


    "So then,"


    "Do I have a string on my body?"


    The thought sent a shiver down Ning Zhuo''s spine.


    He slowly raised his head, and in a daze, he saw it.


    He saw a nearly transparent, enormous string.


    That was¡ªLife Hanging by a Thread.


    At that moment, the Phantom True Lotus Seed in his divine sea quietly sprouted.


    Lava Immortal Pce!


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit awoke from its slumber, pressing its chest, puzzled by a sudden, inexplicable sense of fear.


    The Life Hanging by a Thread disappeared from Ning Zhuo''s vision, no longer visible.


    Ning Zhuo lowered his head, expressionless.


    "Quite an interesting little story!"


    Ning Zhuo smiled as he returned the jade slip to Zhou Zhenshen.


    "It does have a certain charm."


    Zhou Zhenshen took the jade slip and casually echoed.


    He could never have imagined how much of an opportunity his casual action had brought to Ning Zhuo.

 Chapter 99: Life Hanging by a Thread

    Huoshi Immortal City.


    Zhu Xuanji stood in front of a small house, gently pushing open the door.


    In the next moment, a thick shadow surged out like a tide, engulfing himpletely.


    The shadow tide roared, swallowing Zhu Xuanji and covering the entire alley, plunging it into darkness.


    In the darkness, a pair of golden eyes suddenly lit up.


    They were none other than Zhu Xuanji¡¯s golden eyes.


    Divine light overflowed from his pupils, piercing through the rolling shadows, revealing the hidden truth as he gazed directly at the demon cultivator.


    The demon cultivator was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. Even though his concealment had been broken, he didn¡¯t panic but instead sneered coldly and lunged at Zhu Xuanji.


    **Bang¡­**In the thick shadows, the two shed fiercely.


    Zhu Xuanji took a small step back, while the demon cultivator grunted and flew back into the shadows even faster.


    Zhu Xuanji didn¡¯t pursue the advantage but instead furrowed his brow, sensing something subtle.


    ¡°No wonder you¡¯re Zhu Daren; you easily saw through my disguise!¡± The demon cultivator''s voice echoed from all directions.


    ¡°But can you see through whates next?¡±


    As his words fell, countless ¡®demon cultivators¡¯ flew out from the shadows, surrounding Zhu Xuanji.


    Zhu Xuanji gathered his mana, continuously smashing the approaching ¡®demon cultivators.¡¯


    The ¡®demon cultivators¡¯ fell to the ground and scattered into pieces.


    It turned out they were all mechanical constructs.


    However, even though these mechanical constructs were scattered, they quickly reassembled in the shadows and continued to attack Zhu Xuanji.


    Zhu Xuanji stood his ground, allowing the countless mechanical constructs to attack him from the shadows, defending himself with unwavering stability!


    The demon cultivator in the shadows sensed something was amiss and was about to retreat when he suddenly heard Zhu Xuanji say, ¡°Liu Ying, it¡¯s a bitte to try and escape now, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    The demon cultivator Liu Ying felt a chill down his spine, his hair standing on end as Zhu Xuanji¡¯s golden eyes locked onto him.


    He frantically retreated, but Zhu Xuanji had already locked onto his true body, following closely behind.


    **Boom, boom, boom¡­**


    They fiercely battled several more rounds.


    Liu Ying fell to the ground, unable to get up, his chest bones broken, with the fractured bones piercing his lungs, making each breath a struggle as blood spurted from his mouth and nose.


    ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t kill me! I¡¯m willing to surrender!¡± Liu Ying pleaded for mercy as Zhu Xuanji slowly approached.


    Zhu Xuanji said, ¡°It seems you only used shadows to rece your puppet strings to control the mechanical constructs.¡±


    The demon cultivator Liu Ying was taken aback, ¡°Could it be that Zhu Daren misunderstood something?¡±


    Zhu Xuanji shook his head, ¡°Just a precaution.¡±


    ¡°If there was a misunderstanding, the hundreds of people who died at your hands wouldn¡¯t consider it one.¡±


    Liu Ying¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted, and shadows like a swarm of pythons attacked Zhu Xuanji from behind.


    But as they reached within three feet of Zhu Xuanji, the shadows melted away like snow.


    Liu Ying¡¯s desperate attack failed, and in his dying moments, he shouted, ¡°I don¡¯t understand! I¡¯m only in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. Even though I¡¯ve entered the Lava Immortal Pce, why did you, Zhu Shenbu, prioritizeing after me?¡±


    Zhu Xuanji didn¡¯t answer.


    In the next moment, Liu Ying died at Zhu Xuanji¡¯s hands.


    ¡°The fifth one!¡± Zhu Xuanji took out a list and crossed off Liu Ying¡¯s name.


    Despite the demon cultivator¡¯s shadow escape technique, under the golden eyes, there was nowhere to hide.


    Zhu Xuanji had arranged the order on this list not by cultivation level but by suspicion and threat level.


    Liu Ying¡¯s techniques bore many simrities to those of the shadow demon cultivator.


    More crucially, in Zhu Xuanji¡¯s mind, Liu Ying might have grasped the divine ability *Life Hanging by a Thread*.


    Although the possibility was slim, it was enough to rank him fifth on the list.


    Before Zhu Xuanji set out, he had received a private audience with the ruler of Southern Dou, learning many secrets.


    The ruler of Southern Dou had warned him, ¡°Xuanji, when you go to Huoshi Immortal City, you must be extremely cautious of the divine ability *Life Hanging by a Thread* left in the Lava Immortal Pce by the three sects.¡±


    ¡°This divine ability can control others of the same kind, and the more familiar they are with them, the deeper the control.¡±


    ¡°If a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator grasps this divine ability, even if you are a Golden Core, you will be in great danger!¡±


    ¡°All because this divine ability¡¯s control over others is as deep as their fate.¡±


    Zhu Xuanji was greatly astonished, ¡°Could *Life Hanging by a Thread* extract others¡¯ fate?¡±


    ¡°Not quite!¡± The ruler of Southern Dou shook his head slightly, his voice clear, ¡°But *Life Hanging by a Thread* can make fates ovep and add up, never internally conflicting or diminishing each other.¡±


    ¡°If a cultivator masters this kind of divine ability, they can link others on arge scale, binding their fate with their own.¡±


    ¡°Our founding Empress started with nothing, facing certain doom. She solely relied on the three sects'' efforts to create the divine ability *Life Hanging by a Thread* for her!¡±


    ¡°It was by relying on this divine ability that many of her rtives, subordinates, and pioneers acted as shields for the throne.¡±


    Zhu Xuanji¡¯s expression grew solemn as he epted the mission.


    As a Golden Core cultivator, even though he was suppressed by the grand formation within the Immortal City, there were only a handful in Huoshi Immortal City who could stand as his enemy in a direct confrontation.


    But the feary in losing the battle for fate. If his fate were weakened, it would easily lead him into a seemingly coincidental trap.


    By then, even a Golden Core would have nothing to rely on.


    Liu Ying was once a suspect.


    Now, with Liu Ying¡¯s death, Zhu Xuanji dismissed his suspicion, ¡°It seems I was overthinking it.¡±


    ¡°Come to think of it!¡±


    ¡°These suspects are all in the Foundation Establishment stage; how could they possiblyprehend a divine ability?¡±


    The Southern Dou royal family was deeply wary of anyone possessing the divine ability *Life Hanging by a Thread* because their founding Empress had built her power on it.


    If someone within the Southern Dou Kingdom possessed such a divine ability, the royal family would prefer to quietly eliminate them to prevent this person from growing too powerful and destabilizing the Southern Dou Kingdom¡¯s rule.


    The Gift Ceremony ended, and Ning Zhuo returned to his n¡¯s territory.


    Ning Zhuo closed his eyes and meditated, focusing his spirit on his Upper Dantian.


    In his Sea of Consciousness, the lotus seed had already sprouted, emitting a faint radiance.


    ¡°The divine ability seedling of *Life Hanging by a Thread*.¡±


    Ning Zhuo had alreadyprehended the use of this divine ability.


    The power and mystery of a divine ability often surpassed that of mana.


    The reason for this was that a divine ability was built upon a profound understanding of the principles of heaven and earth!


    Take Ning Zhuo as an example: on the surface, he seemed to have been inspired by stories of celestial beings and gods, thus grasping some essence and triggering the Phantom True Lotus Seed in his Sea of Consciousness.


    But in reality, this was only a catalyst. The greater premise was Ning Zhuo¡¯s deep insights into societal operations, human behavior, thoughts, and so on.


    These umtions and reserves underwent a qualitative change under the influence of the Saint Immortal¡¯s stories.


    On the foundation of the Phantom True Lotus Seed, the seedling of the divine ability *Life Hanging by a Thread* sprouted.


    Because theprehension was inherently his own, once the divine ability was understood, the cultivator would naturally understand all its uses.


    ¡°If Han Ming¡¯s theory of fate is correct, then this is probably the opportunity I gained after defeating Yuan Dasheng when my fate surged.¡±


    Ning Zhuo had an epiphany.


    The Golden Blood Battle Ape ¡¤ Dasheng was likely not the opportunity because its mainponent was Yuan Dasheng¡¯s corpse, which Ning Zhuo originally owned.


    Opportunities often worked this way.


    For most people, a story is just a pastime; no one can derive great benefits from it.


    But for a particr person, the same thing can yield unimaginable benefits.


    **Four guards followed closely by Ning Zhuo¡¯s side.**


    Two of them were in the Qi Refining stage, and the other two were at the Foundation Establishment stage, all dispatched by the Ning family to protect Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo was now extremely important to the Ning family¡¯s exploration of the Lava Immortal Pce. The family¡¯s level of concern was evident from the four guards.


    After leaving the family residence, Ning Zhuo didn¡¯t immediately return to his home.


    He visited several shops, purchasing many special bricks, array discs, and other items for setting up formations.


    The four guards noticed this andmunicated via spiritual sense.


    ¡°This brat Ning Zhuo seems to be building his own cultivation chamber.¡±


    ¡°These chambers have decent defensive capabilities and can shield against spiritual sense. How are we supposed to monitor him? Using magical instruments would cause too muchmotion.¡±


    ¡°Report this to the young n leader.¡±


    ¡°But honestly, this kid is pretty rich!¡±


    ¡°Well


    , he¡¯s the young n leader¡¯s favorite now, and with thebined resources of the three families, he naturally has a lot of money at his disposal.¡±


    Afterpleting his purchases, Ning Zhuo spared no expense and hired a formation master to set things up.


    After leaving in the morning, by the afternoon, a new smallpartment had already been constructed in his bedroom.


    Thepartment was built entirely of stone bricks, with a stone door that could be moved left and right, opened, and closed with the infusion of mana and controlled by spiritual thought.


    However, the formation was not yet fully set up.


    The smallpartmentcked significant defensive power.


    Of the four guards, the two in the Qi Refining stage patrolled the courtyard and its surroundings.


    The two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, one concealed, and the other stood at the door of Ning Zhuo¡¯s back room, resting with their eyes closed.


    Night fell!


    Ning Zhuo opened his eyes, gently got out of bed, activated the switch, and entered the underground workroom.


    ¡°Youngsters these days!¡± one of the Foundation Establishment cultivators slowly opened his eyes, a knowing smile appearing on his face.


    Ning Zhuo looked around the workroom, his expression tense. He first checked several ces to see if there were any changes.


    These were his detection methods; if an outsider entered here, it could cause changes in these areas.


    There were no changes at all.


    Under the spiritual monitoring of the two Foundation Establishment cultivators, Ning Zhuo let out a long sigh of relief, his brow rxing, and his whole body unwinding.


    He strolled around, touching this and fiddling with that, as if he had returned to hisir, radiating a sense of safety andfort from the inside out.


    He sat on a chair, stretched, and yawned.


    After resting for a while, he slowly got up.


    He took a cushion from his storage bag and ced it in the center of the room.


    After sitting cross-legged, he took out several bottles of pills, cing them in front of him.


    Both the cushion and the pills made the two Foundation Establishment cultivators envious.


    Ning Zhuo was only in the Qi Refining stage, but as one of the top talents in thebined revision team of the three families, he had ess to arge amount of resources.


    Before starting his cultivation, Ning Zhuo thought for a moment, then took out a handkerchief from his chest.


    The handkerchief was as white as snow, soft in texture, without any patterns.


    As Ning Zhuo infused it with mana, clusters of white clouds gradually emerged from the handkerchief, surrounding him.


    The white clouds piled up on each other, gradually enveloping Ning Zhuopletely.


    The two Foundation Establishment cultivators both frowned deeply.


    Theymunicated via spiritual sense, ¡°This seems like the Floating Cloud Handkerchief.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the magical instrument, produced in Feiyun Country!¡±


    ¡°How does Ning Zhuo have it?¡±


    ¡°Hmm? It could be his mother¡¯s keepsake. Don¡¯t you remember? The records say Ning Zhuo¡¯s mother, Meng Yaoyin, was from Feiyun Country.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I remember now. That must be it. But what do we do now? We can¡¯t sense his cultivation state!¡±


    ¡°The Floating Cloud Handkerchief has strong concealment abilities; that¡¯s why it¡¯s so renowned.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter; our primary concern is Ning Zhuo¡¯s safety. Monitoring him is secondary. We¡¯ll report this situation in the morning.¡±


    Ning Zhuo had long nned and anticipated many scenarios.


    Just as the two Foundation Establishment cultivators guessed, this handkerchief was indeed his mother¡¯s keepsake.


    The clouds produced by this magical instrument had excellent concealing properties.


    With these clouds, it would be difficult for others to see his cultivation state.


    Even if someone with golden eyes looked, it would trigger intense consumption of the clouds, giving Ning Zhuo ample warning and time to adjust.


    Of course, there were still risks.


    In the cultivation world, techniques were endless, with countless talents and spells. There might be some method that could pierce through the clouds, observe Ning Zhuo¡¯s true state, and not even trigger any reaction from the clouds.


    Ning Zhuo had considered this.


    But as they say¡ªhe had no other choice.


    He had done his best.


    The four forces were vast and powerful. Thebined revision team¡¯s overall cultivation was progressing rapidly.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s previous defensive measures would inevitably fail.


    Zhu Xuanji¡¯s continuous investigation also brought immense pressure.


    Ning Zhuo had to race against time.


    The longer he waited, the more likely it was that his carefully constructed defenses, built over a decade, would copse.


    He had to seize the Lava Immortal Pce before anyone else.


    Therefore, taking risks in these areas was necessary!


    **The Demonic Blood Tendon Technique extracted essence blood!**


    **The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art absorbed mana.**


    **The Mirror tform Spirit Technique forged his spiritual sense.**


    He cultivated the three techniques in turns, swallowing expensive and rare pills one after another.


    Even the cushion he sat on was a supplementary magical instrument provided by thebined forces, which could enhance Ning Zhuo¡¯s cultivation speed.


    All three techniques advanced rapidly, their progress visible to the naked eye.


    ¡°There¡¯s no problem with the cultivation methods.¡±


    ¡°But I can¡¯t practice any spells, and the new divine ability seedling is also off-limits.¡±


    Ning Zhuo itched to try out the divine ability seedling of *Life Hanging by a Thread* to see its effects.


    But in this situation, he could only endure.


    **At the top of Mount Huoshi, amidst the billowing clouds, Meng Chong was also cultivating.**


    He hovered in mid-air, his eyes closed, still in a deep sleep.


    The current Lord of Huoshi Immortal City, Meng Kui, floated above Meng Chong, cing a hand over Meng Chong¡¯s head.


    He activated his mana, channeling his essence into Meng Chong.


    Meng Chong was his direct grandson, sharing the same bloodline, so a portion of Meng Kui¡¯s essence could be naturally absorbed by Meng Chong.


    Meng Chong benefited from this; his sunken eye sockets and protruding cheekbones began to fill out, the speed of the change visible to the naked eye.


    Meng Kui, on the other hand, grew visibly weaker.


    Even though he was in the Nascent Soul stage, he had practiced few techniques that focused on the physical body.


    Of course, even without focusing on his body, a Nascent Soul cultivator¡¯s physical foundation was stronger than most Golden Core body cultivators.


    The key issue here was the enormous loss.


    The essence blood Meng Kui offered was purified throughyers of processes, with only a tiny portion being absorbed by Meng Chong.


    Although the loss was significant, the benefit was that the essence blood Meng Chong absorbed was pure, without any foreign impurities.


    Meng Kui hadn¡¯t wanted to resort to this, but he had no choice. He knew that the three families¡¯bined forces had made significant progress in their exploration of the Lava Immortal Pce.


    Yet Meng Chong remained stuck in Room Three, still unconscious.


    So, he had to take action.


    ¡°Meng Chong, my grandson, you are destined to be the new master of the Lava Immortal Pce. Wake up now!¡±


    Meng Kui¡¯s voice echoed.


    Meng Chong slowly opened his eyes, ¡°Grandfather, I¡­¡±


    Meng Kui instructed him to close his eyes and rest, focusing on recovery.


    A cultivator¡¯s essence, energy, and spirit were their three treasures.


    Meng Kui had fully replenished Meng Chong¡¯s essence, so now he needed to rest.

 Chapter 100:

    Four guards followed beside Ning Zhuo.


    Among them were two Qi Refining stage cultivators and two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, all dispatched by the Ning family to protect Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo was very important now, providing great assistance to the Ning family in exploring the Lava Immortal Pce. The importance the Ning family ced on him could be seen clearly from these four guards.


    Ning Zhuo left the family¡¯s residence but did not immediately return to his own home.


    He entered several shops, purchasing arge amount of specially crafted bricks, formation tes, and other materials used for setting up formations.


    The four guards noticed this andmunicated with each other via voice transmission.


    ¡°This kid, Ning Zhuo, is nning to create his own cultivation chamber.¡±


    ¡°This type of chamber has decent defensive capabilities and can block spiritual sense. How are we going to monitor him in the future? Using magical tools would cause too much noise.¡±


    ¡°Report this to the Young Master.¡±¡°But speaking of which, this kid really has some money!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s currently favored by the Young Master and is supported by resources from the three families¡¯ alliance, so of course, he¡¯s well-off.¡±


    After Ning Zhuo finished his purchases, he spared no expense and hired a formation master to set everything up.


    He left the residence in the morning, and by the afternoon, a newly constructed smallpartment had appeared in his bedroom.


    Thepartment was entirely built from stone bricks and equipped with a stone door that could move left and right, opening and closing, depending on the infusion of mana and control by spiritual sense.


    However, the formation had not yet been fully set up.


    The smallpartment did not have much defensive capability.


    Among the four guards, the two Qi Refining stage cultivators guarded the perimeter, constantly patrolling within and outside the courtyard.


    The two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators took different positions: one concealed his presence, while the other stood guard at the door of Ning Zhuo¡¯s back room, resting with his eyes closed.


    As night deepened, Ning Zhuo opened his eyes, quietly got out of bed, and activated a switch to enter his underground workspace.


    ¡°He¡¯s still young!¡± One of the Foundation Establishment stage cultivators slowly opened his eyes, revealing a smile that seemed to say everything was under control.


    Ning Zhuo looked around the workspace, his expression tense. He first inspected several spots to see if there had been any changes.


    These were all detection measures he had set up; if anyone else had entered here, it was likely these spots would have shown some changes.


    But there were no changes.


    Under the spiritual monitoring of the two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, Ning Zhuo let out a long sigh of relief, his brows rxing as his whole body unwound.


    He wandered around the room, touching this and adjusting that, as if he had returned to his own nest, exuding a sense of safety andfort from the inside out.


    He sat in a chair, stretchedzily, and even let out a big yawn.


    After resting for a while, he slowly got up.


    He took out a meditation mat from his storage bag and ced it in the center of the room.


    After sitting down cross-legged, he also took out several bottles of pills, arranging them in front of him.


    Both the meditation mat and the pills made the two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators envious.


    Ning Zhuo was only in the Qi Refining stage, but because he was now a standout in the newly formed alliance of the three families, he had received a significant share of resources.


    Before starting his cultivation, Ning Zhuo thought for a moment and then took out a handkerchief from his chest.


    The handkerchief was as white as snow, soft to the touch, and had no patterns on it.


    As Ning Zhuo infused mana into it, clusters of white clouds gradually emerged from the handkerchief, surrounding Ning Zhuo.


    The white clouds piled up on each other, eventually enveloping Ning Zhuopletely.


    The two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators frowned simultaneously.


    Theymunicated via voice transmission: ¡°This seems to be the Floating Cloud Handkerchief.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, this magical tool is produced in the Flying Cloud Country!¡±


    ¡°How does Ning Zhuo have it?¡±


    ¡°Hmm? It¡¯s likely an heirloom from his mother. Did you forget? The records mentioned that Ning Zhuo¡¯s mother, Meng Yaoyin, was from the Flying Cloud Country.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I remember now, that must be it. But what should we do now? We can¡¯t monitor his cultivation anymore!¡±


    ¡°The Floating Cloud obscures vision. The Floating Cloud Handkerchief has a strong concealing ability. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be so well-known.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. As long as we ensure Ning Zhuo¡¯s safety, monitoring isn¡¯t the priority. Of course, we¡¯ll report this situation tomorrow morning.¡±


    Ning Zhuo had long nned for this, considering various scenarios.


    As the two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators guessed, this Floating Cloud Handkerchief was indeed an heirloom from his mother.


    The floating clouds produced by this magical tool provided excellent concealment.


    With this cloud cover, it would be difficult for others to detect the specifics of his cultivation.


    Even if someone with Celestial Golden Eyes tried to see through it, it would trigger the cloud¡¯s rapid depletion, giving Ning Zhuo ample warning and plenty of time to adjust.


    Of course, there were still risks.


    The methods in the cultivation world were countless, with innumerable talents, spells, and techniques. It was possible that someone might have a way to pierce through the floating clouds and observe Ning Zhuo¡¯s true situation, perhaps even without causing the clouds to change.


    Ning Zhuo had considered this possibility.


    But, as the saying went¡ªhe had no choice but to do so.


    He had already made his best effort.


    The four factions wererge and powerful. The overall cultivation level of the reformation team was advancing rapidly.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s previous methods to block others would inevitably be ineffective.


    Zhu Xuanji¡¯s relentless investigations also brought immense pressure.


    Ning Zhuo had to race against time.


    The longer he waited, the more he risked losing everything.


    Even though he had carefully constructed a defense line against investigation for more than a decade, it could still copse.


    He had to seize the Lava Immortal Pce before anyone else.


    Therefore, taking some risks in these areas was necessary!


    He refined his blood with the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique!


    He circted mana with the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    He forged his spiritual sense with the Mirror tform Spirit Technique.


    He practiced these three cultivation methods in rotation, while consuming one expensive and rare pill after another.


    Even the meditation mat he sat on was a supplementary cultivation tool provided by the three families¡¯ alliance, which could enhance Ning Zhuo¡¯s cultivation speed.


    All three cultivation methods advanced in tandem, their progress visible to the naked eye.


    ¡°There¡¯s no problem with the cultivation methods.¡±


    ¡°But I can¡¯t practice any spells, nor can I test the newly acquired divine ability¡¯s embryonic form.¡±


    Whenever Ning Zhuo thought of the divine ability, Life Hanging by a Thread, he felt an itch in his heart, wanting to try it out.


    But under the current circumstances, he could only endure.


    At the peak of Mount Huoshi, amidst rolling clouds of smoke, Meng Chong was also cultivating.


    He hovered in the air, eyes closed, still asleep.


    Meng Kui, the current City Lord of Huoshi Immortal City, floated above Meng Chong, cing his hand on Meng Chong¡¯s head.


    He activated his power, channeling his essence and infusing it into Meng Chong.


    Meng Chong was his biological grandson, sharing the same bloodline, so some of Meng Kui¡¯s essence could be naturally absorbed by Meng Chong.


    Meng Chong benefitted as his sunken eye sockets and prominent cheekbones gradually recovered, the speed visible to the naked eye.


    Meng Kui, however, clearly grew weaker.


    Although he was in the Nascent Soul stage, he had practiced very few body-strengthening techniques.


    Of course, even without focusing on his body, a Nascent Soul cultivator¡¯s physical foundation was far stronger than most Golden Core body cultivators.


    The most crucial reason here was the great loss involved.


    The essence blood offered by Meng Kui had to be purified through several stages, and only a tiny fraction of it could be absorbed by Meng Chong.


    Although the amount lost was astonishing, this process ensured that the essence blood absorbed by Meng Chong was pure, without any external impurities.


    Meng Kui originally didn¡¯t want to do this, but he had no choice. He knew that the alliance of the three families had made significant progress in exploring the Lava Immortal Pce.


    But Meng Chong was still stuck in Room Three and had not yet awakened from hisa.


    So, he had to act.


    ¡°Meng Chong, my grandson, you are destined to be the new master of the Lava Immortal Pce. Why haven¡¯t you awakened yet?¡± Meng Kui transmitted his thoughts.


    Meng Chong slowly opened his eyes. ¡°Grandfather, I¡­¡±


    Meng Kui instructed him to close his eyes and rest, to recover his strength.


    A cultivator¡¯s essence, energy, and spirit were their three treasures.


    Meng Kui had fully replenished Meng Chong¡¯s essence, allowing him to recover.


    Hisplexion had turned slightly yellow, and his gaze had dimmed a little.


    After being freed, Meng Chong began recounting his experiences in Room Three.


    Meng Kui never suspected that the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, was arranged by otherpetitors.


    He stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and said, ¡°Your martial skills and the Mechanical Ape are far from matching each other. Even with special training, it would take a lot of time.¡±


    ¡°Your time is very valuable; you must seize the initiative!¡±


    ¡°I have a method that can quickly help you make up the gap, but it¡¯s a bit painful!¡±


    Meng Chong was overjoyed and quickly


    said, ¡°Grandfather, your grandson doesn¡¯t even know what pain is. What¡¯s the method?¡±


    ¡°Lightning strike!¡± Meng Kui said.


    Meng Chong responded with an ¡°Oh,¡± and asked, ¡°What do I strike?¡±


    Meng Kui shook his head. ¡°You get struck!¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Meng Chong was about to continue speaking when suddenly a p of thunder sounded, and a blue light shed within the clouds.


    Meng Chong was struck hard by the lightning, stunned on the spot.


    His entire body was charred ck on the surface, his hair standing on end with wisps of ck smoke rising.


    Rumbling¡­


    Thunder continuously echoed within the clouds.


    Meng Chong gritted his teeth and endured, repeatedly recalling the appearance of the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, in his mind: ¡°I will seed, I will regain my honor.¡±


    ¡­


    Ning Residence!


    Ning Xiaohui was also undergoing special training.


    She extended her hands, plunging them into a basin of ice.


    Immediately, an extreme cold pierced through her, turning her face pale, her body trembling uncontrobly from time to time.


    ¡°Hold on, Xiaohui!¡±


    Ning Xiaohui¡¯s grandmother, with a stern face, cheered her on from the side.


    ¡°You have the talent of the Ice-Fat Jade Hand, the best method to suppress that Ning Zhuo!¡±


    ¡°Ning Zhuo¡¯s talent hasn¡¯t been tested yet, and even if it has, there might not be any mature methods to further develop it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re different! Your Ice-Fat Jade Hand has appeared in our family many times!¡±


    ¡°This is the advantage of our family!¡±


    ¡°We share the same bloodline, practice simr cultivation methods, and consume simr resources.¡±


    ¡°There are many cultivation methods for the Ice-Fat Jade Hand, all gradually explored by our ancestors over the generations!¡±


    Ning Xiaohui¡¯s expression was firm: ¡°I understand, Grandma. The Ice-Fat Jade Hand has always been my greatest advantage.¡±


    ¡°Once the special training ispleted, that little Ning Zhuo is nothing!¡±


    Zhou Family!


    Zhou Zhenshen had several tubes inserted into his body, with medicinal fluids continuously flowing into him.


    He was fully focused on cultivating.


    Zheng Family.


    Zheng Jian was tirelessly training with his mechanical puppets, fully engrossed, lost in the process.


    The struggle over the Lava Immortal Pce had moved beyond its opening phase and had entered a more intense stage.


    The night was deep.


    Yuan Er tossed and turned, unable to sleep, restless.


    Ever since Yuan Dasheng¡¯s death, he had been like this every night, feeling a void in his heart, without a shred of security.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t Uncle Dasheng¡¯s mechanism finished yet?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, tomorrow I¡¯ll go find that Ning Zhuo!¡±


    Inside the Lava Immortal Pce, the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, quietly crouched in Room Three. When not activated, it was indistinguishable from the bricks and stones around it.

 Chapter 101: Yuan Er Seeks Help

    Early in the morning, Yuan Er arrived at the entrance of Ning Zhuo¡¯s small courtyard.


    Seeing him attempting to enter, a patrolling Ning family cultivator in the Qi Refining stage immediately stepped forward to block him. "Stop."


    Although Yuan Er was in the Foundation Establishment stage, upon seeing the identity token on the Qi Refining stage cultivator''s waist, he didn¡¯t dare to act rashly. "I¡¯m here to see Ning Zhuo. I¡¯m Yuan Er, the current leader of the Monkey Head Gang."


    "Please wait a moment, I will report." The Qi Refining cultivator nced at Yuan Er and exchanged a look with his approachingpanion.


    Thepanion nodded and stood at the entrance of the courtyard, blocking Yuan Er.


    Yuan Er felt uneasy, thinking to himself that as a gang leader, he was now being kept outside when seeking an audience with a Qi Refining stage cultivator.


    However, he had gathered quite a bit of information over the past few days, learning that Ning Zhuo was highly valued by the Ning family and was a favored figure in the eyes of the young n leader, Ning Xiaoren.


    "Why don¡¯t I have a powerful family to rely on?" Yuan Er thought bitterly, just as the reporting cultivator returned and said to him, "You may enter!"


    Yuan Er stepped into the courtyard, pausing slightly after a few steps.He caught a trace of the aura of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator but then immediately lost it.


    He quickly understood that this was a deliberate leak of aura, a warning not to act recklessly.


    Yuan Er¡¯s heart skipped a beat. "Why is Ning Zhuo so valued by the family that they would even deploy a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator to protect him?"


    The fact that the three families were working together to reform their cultivation was kept secret from the outside world.


    Yuan Er was still unaware of the details.


    "Leader Yuan, pleasee in!" At that moment, Ning Zhuo appeared with a polite smile to greet him.


    Ning Zhuo led him into the bedroom, not the study!


    "Apologies, I¡¯m temporarily setting up a cultivation room, please don¡¯t mind, Leader Yuan!" Ning Zhuo exined.


    Yuan Er then saw three formation masters working together to set it up.


    With a single nce, he recognized these three formation masters as renowned experts in the market, all in the Foundation Establishment stage, not a single one in the Qi Refining stage.


    Yuan Er immediately felt the wealth of Ning Zhuo, and the unease in his heart deepened.


    Ning Zhuo did not invite him to sit, so Yuan Er could only stand at the doorway, feeling awkward.


    Whilemunicating with the formation masters, Ning Zhuo asionally nced at Yuan Er from the corner of his eye, observing his expression.


    After a moment, he turned to Yuan Er. "Leader Yuan, as you can see, I¡¯m busy here. What business do you have?"


    Yuan Er replied, "Mr. Ning, could we speak privately?"


    However, Ning Zhuo did not agree. He pointed to the cultivation room. "As you can see, I need to keep an eye on this. I can¡¯t step away for now!"


    "I can guess why you¡¯re here."


    "You want to order a mechanical monkey, don¡¯t you?"


    "Yes, yes!" Yuan Er quickly nodded, "Mr. Ning, you do remember!"


    "I¡¯ve always kept it in mind!" Ning Zhuo sighed, "But I¡¯ve been very busytely!"


    "I was staying at the family¡¯s main estate until a few days ago!"


    "Although I was fortunate enough to stay at the young n leader¡¯s residence for many days, I thought it over and decided it was more convenient to move back here. I¡¯m more ustomed to this way of living."


    "So, as you can see, I¡¯m setting up a small room for cultivation!"


    "I¡¯m a bit busy, so you¡¯ll have to be patient and wait!"


    Yuan Er, of course, would not let this matter be brushed aside so easily.


    He maintained a humble posture and politely inquired about the timeframe.


    Ning Zhuo sighed deeply. "It¡¯s hard to say. In the next few days, the family will also be preparing to test me, to evaluate my aptitude."


    "I can¡¯t give you a definite answer for now, but rest assured, you¡¯ll get it!"


    "Aptitude test?" Yuan Er was taken aback.


    Even the three formation masters setting up the formation nced at Ning Zhuo.


    Having spiritual roots was not umon, but cultivators with innate aptitude were rare.


    Even those with low-grade aptitude were different from the ordinary, truly deserving the title of genius.


    "Could it be that Ning Zhuo has disyed some sort of aptitude, which is why he has gained the family¡¯s favor?" Yuan Er couldn¡¯t help but specte.


    In an instant, his assessment of Ning Zhuo rose to a new level.


    Although he was the leader of the Monkey Head Gang, it was difficult for him tomand respect, and hecked powerful allies.


    Facing Ning Zhuo, a genius cultivator favored by a prominent cultivation family, he dared not be tough.


    Thus, he was left in an awkward situation by Ning Zhuo for a while, unable to endure the difort, and eventually offered to leave.


    Ning Zhuo smiled again. "Let me see you out!"


    Despite saying this, he only escorted him to the bedroom door.


    Just after Yuan Er left, a Foundation Establishment stage guard from the Ning family transmitted a message to Ning Zhuo. "There¡¯s a tail following Yuan Er!"


    After Yuan Er entered the courtyard, this tail had been hiding nearby and hadn¡¯t left.


    "As soon as Yuan Er left, the tail left as well!"


    "Should we remind Yuan Er?"


    The guard wasn¡¯t clear on the rtionship between Yuan Er and Ning Zhuo, so he reported everything promptly and in detail.


    Ning Zhuo thought for a moment and shook his head. "Leader Yuan is strong; there¡¯s no need to remind him!"


    The guard immediately understood and said no more.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s gaze was deep. From the beginning to the end, he had never intended to hand over the mechanical creation made from Yuan Dasheng¡¯s corpse to Yuan Er.


    Yuan Er¡¯s problem did not need him to solve, as the countless enemies provoked by the elders of the Monkey Head Gang, as well as Yuan Yi and Yuan Dasheng, would all take care of it for Ning Zhuo.


    All Ning Zhuo had to do was dy as long as possible.


    As for the family testing his aptitude, it wasn¡¯t an issue.


    "For Ning Xiaohui¡¯s sake, how could the family easily test my aptitude?"


    "At most, they¡¯ll put on a show to prove to the Zhou and Zheng families that I do indeed have aptitude, but the results just haven¡¯t shown up yet."


    Ning Family!


    Ning Xiaohui¡¯s entire body radiated cold air, her hands plunged deep into ice, and her lips were turning blue from the cold.


    Her grandmother apanied her throughout, encouraging her, "Xiaohui, hold on."


    "You need to carefullyprehend the meaning of this cold."


    Ning Xiaohui shivered, "Gr-Grandmother, do we have to do it this way? Can¡¯t we try something else?"


    Her grandmother shook her head slightly. "This is the fastest way."


    "Aptitude is the soil of divine abilities. This method can fully stimte your aptitude, making it manifest more."


    "If you were in North Wind Country, where you grew up in ice and snow, you would have a deeper understanding of Ice Jade Hands."


    "Unfortunately, we¡¯re in Southern Dou Country, living on an active volcano. The environment is different, so your understanding of your aptitude is limited."


    "No, I can¡¯t take it anymore! I¡¯m going to freeze to death!" Ning Xiaohui couldn¡¯t hold on any longer and finally withdrew her hands, failing at thest moment.


    Her grandmother sighed deeply, but seeing Ning Xiaohui¡¯s tearful face, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to scold her.


    ¡­


    At the peak of Mount Huoshi, clouds and mist rolled around!


    Meng Chong hovered in mid-air, his eyes wide, staring intently at the surrounding clouds and mist.


    Boom!


    A thunderous sound echoed, and the grayish-white clouds suddenly shed with a bright blue color!


    This was lightning piercing through the clouds, dyeing them blue.


    Meng Chong had no time to react before being struck by a bolt of lightning, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood as he was flung backward.


    "Damn it, how hateful!"


    "The clouds and mist here obscure my vision, making it impossible to see the lightning before it strikes!"


    Meng Chong was utterly exhausted.


    Although his vital essence had been replenished by Meng Kui, his mana and spirit were still severely weakened.


    In these two aspects, even someone like Meng Kui, who was at the Nascent Soul stage, couldn¡¯t help him.


    It wasn¡¯t that Meng Kuicked pills to restore mana and spirit, but that after consuming such pills, a cultivator had to use the corresponding profound techniques to quickly digest the medicinal power.


    Otherwise, the umted medicinal power would backfire, inevitably harming the body and even endangering life.


    However, Meng Chong only had the first threeyers of the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, which meant his efficiency in digesting medicinal power was too low.


    As for the twin treasures of spirit and mind, he had no corresponding techniques, leaving him unable to absorb the medicinal power effectively.


    Boom!


    Meng Chong was struck again, the charred skin peeling off inyers, his hardened body covered in cracks, from which fresh blood continuously oozed.


    He was now a bloodied figure, his body nearly copsing under the strain, yet his fighting spirit grew even stronger.


    "Come!"


    "Again!"


    "Again!"


    Boom, boom, boom¡­


    He was struck by lightning repeatedly, on the brink of death, when suddenly, he had a realization.


    Sizzle¡­


    Electric arcs crackled across his body, forming a shadowy figure woven from lightning.


    The shadow moved in sync with Meng Chong''s body and limbs, closely connected.


    When the next bolt of lightning struck, Meng Chong¡¯s body flickered, leaving behind a shadow of lightning as his true form had already evaded.


    He dodged the lightning, and the remaining lightning shadow absorbed the power of the bolt, growing even more solid.


    The crackling sound intensified as the shadow became more tangible.


    "Using my aptitude like this consumes much less than before!"


    "The key is that I can elerate only a specific part of my divine body. Just with this, I can deal with that special mechanical ape!"


    "Hahaha, I¡¯ming, I¡¯ming!"


    Meng Chong raised his arms in triumph,ughing heartily.


    Meng Kui silently nodded in approval, a look of admiration on his face, thinking to himself, "As expected of my grandson, courageous and diligent, fearless and relentless, he hasn¡¯t brought shame to the Meng name!"

 Chapter 102: Yuan Dasheng vs. Meng Chong

    Ning Zhuo''s Bedroom.


    The cultivationpartment had beenpleted. Although small in size and with limited internal space, it was sufficient for Ning Zhuo''s use.


    The Floating Cloud Handkerchief was infused with mana, causing a surge of floating clouds to rise.


    Arge amount of floating clouds filled the small cultivation chamberpletely, enveloping Ning Zhuo within, making it impossible to see his outstretched hand in front of him.


    The doubleyered protection left the four Ning family guards sighing helplessly.


    They reported the situation, and the young n leader, Ning Xiaoren, responded with indifference: "What secrets could young Ning Zhuo possibly have? Previous intelligence gathering has already turned him inside out."


    "A young man, hehe, still thinks he has some little secrets!"


    "Let him indulge in that feeling; it''s not bad."


    Thinking this way, Ning Xiaoren did not give the order for further investigation.If discovered by Ning Zhuo, it would surely damage the hard-earned good rtionship Ning Xiaoren had painstakingly cultivated.


    Ning Xiaoren didn¡¯t want to take that risk.


    This reaction was also within Ning Zhuo''s expectations.


    Vital energy surged like streams of crimson rivers, coursing through Ning Zhuo''s lower dantian, eventually gathering at the center.


    In the center of the lower dantian, a small pool of refined blood had already formed, resembling a tiny pond.


    As the vital energy continued to pour in, the small pond suddenly trembled, its edges rapidly expanding, soon reaching three times its original size.


    A breakthrough!


    At this moment, Ning Zhuo broke through to the fourthyer of refining essence.


    "The umtion of refined blood, once it reaches the limit, will be four times as much as before! This is an immense increase!"


    "Yes, the refined blood has undergone a slight qualitative change, allowing it to form blood energy membranes more quickly, saving at least thirty percent of the previous time!"


    "With full operation, the speed of digesting medicinal power is now more than twice as fast as before."


    Ning Zhuo quickly explored the enhancements in various aspects.


    What delighted him most was the improvement in the digestion of medicinal power.


    Generally, all cultivation techniques be slower in effect as one progresses further.


    The Demonic Blood Tendon Technique was no exception.


    However, with the digestion speed more than doubled, it meant that as long as resources were sufficient, he could maintain his previous pace of progress.


    This was quite rare.


    "The principles of the Three Sect Elders seem to involve changes at the third stage!"


    "Whether it''s the mechanisms in the Lava Immortal Pce or the three cultivation techniques, they all follow this pattern! After passing the thirdyer, there''s a qualitative improvement."


    Ning Zhuo deduced this rule because the other two techniques had also broken through in recent days.


    It was a natural progression.


    Previously, his three techniques had all reached the peak of the thirdyer, just a hair''s breadth away from the fourthyer.


    After obtaining the subsequent techniques, Ning Zhuo spent a little time cultivating, breaking through his previous limits.


    After reaching the fourthyer of the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, not only could the Five Elements Mana be sustained longer, but it could also be split and merged at will.


    Previously, when Ning Zhuo used the Five Elements Mana, he had to concentrate to extract a specific type of mana to perform techniques like Ice-Embracing Technique or Fire Grasping Technique.


    Now, with just a thought, he could easily separate a stream of mixed Five Elements Mana instantly.


    Often, it''s not about inadequate practice but insufficient foundation.


    Just like when a child tries to reach a windowsill, they have to jump. As they grow, they can reach it by standing on tiptoe. As an adult, the windowsill is only waist-high, and they can touch it easily.


    Among the three techniques, the Mirror tform Spirit Technique saw the greatest progress.


    Currently, it had already reached the fifthyer.


    Ning Zhuo wasn¡¯t entirely sure why this was happening.


    He cultivated the subsequent stages of the Mirror tform Spirit Technique at an extremely fast pace, everything falling into ce naturally.


    Ning Zhuo vaguely felt that such rapid progress might be rted to his grasping the opportunity and acquiring the Divine Ability¡ªLife Hanging by a Thread.


    "Buddhist techniques have a characteristic: they emphasize sudden enlightenment. Sometimes, a moment of enlightenment can surpass a hundred years of hard work."


    "The Divine Ability¡ªLife Hanging by a Thread I grasped is closely rted to the Mirror tform Spirit Technique."


    "The Mirror tform Spirit Technique canmunicate with all things with spirits, while Life Hanging by a Thread can forcibly control a target¡¯s every move. Combined with the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, which affects the mind and guides thoughts."


    Ning Zhuo had already glimpsed the essence of the Three Sect Elders¡¯ methods in mechanism control.


    After breaking through to the fourthyer of the Mirror tform Spirit Technique, a qualitative change also urred.


    Ning Zhuo discovered that the spiritual mirrors formed from the thirdyer¡¯s condensed divine sense could merge with each other, creating arger divine sense mirror.


    Moreover, this mirror came with a base.


    Although Ning Zhuo hadn¡¯t had the opportunity to use or practice it, he could tell from the feeling alone that the spiritual ability of this divine sense mirror far surpassed the previous smaller mirrors.


    "At least three times greater."


    Now, Ning Zhuo¡¯s Mirror tform Spirit Technique had reached the fifthyer, andpared to the fourthyer, the fifthyer didn¡¯t bring a qualitative change, but rather a quantitative one¡ªan additional divine sense mirror formed through merging.


    "Hmm?"


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s heart stirred slightly.


    There was movement from the Golden Blood Battle Ape¡ªDasheng.


    "Could it be¡­"


    Ning Zhuo quickly ceased the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique and activated the Mirror tform Spirit Technique, using the divine senserge mirror to observe Yuan Dasheng¡¯s situation.


    Sure enough, it was as Ning Zhuo had guessed¡ªit was Meng Chong.


    "Come on,e on,e on!"


    Meng Chong roared continuously.


    He charged recklessly, disying unparalleled bravery. His puppet body was entwined with lightning shadows, crackling as he forced Yuan Dasheng back step by step in closebat.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s heart trembled, and he quickly used the Mirror tform Spirit Technique to connect with the spirit, manipting the spirit power within Yuan Dasheng to cast the Ice-Embracing Technique.


    In the previous moment, Meng Chong was still fighting fiercely, roaring with vigor. The next moment, he was covered in frost and cold air.


    His joints were frozen with frost, and his speed plummeted.


    Yuan Dasheng seized the opportunity to counterattack, his long fist like a spear, striking straight at Meng Chong''s chest.


    Danger.


    Meng Chong knew that his defenses were extremely weak; if struck, he would surely lose.


    "Wild Sprint Thunderp!"


    He roared in his heart, and the lightning shadow suddenly expanded, transforming into intense electric light that enveloped his entire body.


    The next moment, he shot out like lightning.


    Yuan Dasheng¡¯s fist struck empty air, staying in ce, maintaining a punching posture, directly facing Meng Chong.


    Meng Chong crouched in a corner, still in shock.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that this mechanical monkey could also cast spells.


    This instantly doubled the danger level.


    "You failed to take me down in one strike, and now you¡¯ve exposed your final trump card. Big Monkey, today you won¡¯t escape your fate."


    Meng Chong, after a brief regrouping, quickly dispelled his fear and once again became full of fighting spirit.


    The puppet Meng Chong charged forward again.


    Crackle¡­


    Lightning shadows apanied his every move, allowing him to elerate instantly with each action.


    Yuan Dasheng engaged in battle with him once more.


    The former''s speed was far inferior to Meng Chong''s, and after a few exchanges, he once again fell into a passive position.


    This time, Ning Zhuo fully understood: "Meng Chong has improved again."


    "Upon his return, his mastery of Wild Sprint Thunderp has reached a whole new level."


    "Although his speed hasn''t exceeded his previous limit, his precision has made explosive progress."


    In terms of pure martial skills, Yuan Dasheng was still superior to Meng Chong.


    But every move of Meng Chong¡¯s was much faster than Yuan Dasheng''s.


    As the saying goes, all martial arts in the world are invincible, except for speed.


    In a true life-and-death battle, being a split second faster can make all the difference.


    Moreover, Meng Chong was much faster.


    The fact that Yuan Dasheng could hold on for so long was due to his martial skills inheriting the foundation of his past life, allowing him to counter with slow attacks, observing the initial moves to predict the opponent''s subsequent actions.


    "However, Meng Chong, if this is all you have, it won''t be enough!" A sharp light shed in Ning Zhuo¡¯s eyes.


    The next moment.


    Fire Grasping Technique!


    Suddenly, Yuan Dasheng¡¯s hands ignited, the mes condensing into two fireballs.


    Yuan Dasheng clenched the fireballs tightly, like gripping two spheres.


    Then, Ning Zhuo silently chanted in his heart: "Grasp the fireball like a loyal heart, the heart moves, and power surges. The zing armor rises, and the crimson mes flow to protect the body."


    He performed another spell based on the Fire Grasping Technique.


    Fire Grasping Technique¡ªFire Bath Technique.


    In the next moment, the fireballs in Yuan Dasheng¡¯s hands shattered into countless me flowers with a light squeeze.


    The blooming mes flowed rapidly, enveloping Yuan Dasheng''s entire body.


    Yuan Dasheng was now bathed in fire, as if covered in armor.


    The mes roared, radiating immense heat.


    Meng Chong was stunned.


    He looked at the over


    one-zhang-tall zing heat, then at his wooden puppet body, and finally fixed his gaze on Yuan Dasheng''s golden bones and red rock muscles.


    Envy.


    Yuan Dasheng was unafraid of burning, but Meng Chong couldn¡¯t say the same.


    Yuan Dasheng remained motionless, extending a finger towards Meng Chong, beckoning him as if saying, "Keep attacking,e and fight me!"


    "IXXX."


    Meng Chong couldn¡¯t help but curse.


    Holding back his anger, he gritted his teeth and charged once more.


    Momentster, Meng Chong was covered in mes, burnt intorge chunks of charred wood, scattered all over the ce!


    End of Chapter~~

 Chapter 103: The Exhaustion of Fate

    The small cultivation chamber was filled withyers of floating clouds.


    "Meng Chong, Meng Chong, how formidable, truly formidable!" Ning Zhuo''s face was filled with a solemn expression.


    "As expected of someone who possesses immortal potential."


    Although Meng Chong had still been defeated in this confrontation, Ning Zhuo had already felt the powerful impact from Meng Chong!


    "Every time I repel him, he always returns swiftly, and his strength advances rapidly."


    "I feel like a whetstone, constantly sharpening him, making him even sharper."


    "If this continues, perhaps one day, he will break through the obstacles I''ve set, soar to the skies, and be unstoppable."


    The first time the Golden Blood Battle Ape defeated Meng Chong, it was because Meng Chong had overused his immortal potential, leading to ack of follow-up strength, causing his line to copse.


    But by the second time, Meng Chong had already mastered a deeper use of his immortal potential, greatly reducing his energy consumption and elerating a part of his body, allowing him to fight evenly with Yuan Dasheng.He even gradually began to suppress Yuan Dasheng.


    "This time I won because I relied on spells!"


    "Now that this trump card has been exposed, Meng Chong will definitely find a way to counter it, but how long will it take him this time?"


    Ning Zhuo had a premonition about this.


    In fact, it wasn''t difficult to counter.


    Meng Chong just needed to master some spells, using spells to counter spells, and that would be enough.


    Meng Chong was only focused on breaking through, relying on his immortal potential without mastering or connecting with the spells rewarded by the checkpoints.


    Ning Zhuo reviewed the battle results.


    Yuan Dasheng''s body had suffered many injuries, far more severe than in the first battle.


    Now, it wasn''t convenient for Ning Zhuo to send Yuan Dasheng back for repairs, so he controlled it to push open the door and head towards the maintenance room.


    Upon reaching the maintenance room, Ning Zhuo controlled it to pay for spirit stones and selected several mechanical tools to repair itself.


    Yuan Dasheng sat cross-legged on the ground, holding fire-type wood in one hand and using the Wood Connecting Technique with the other.


    The wood flowed like water, winding and extending, probing into the various wounds and filling thempletely.


    Ning Zhuo then borrowed Yuan Dasheng''s strength to perform the Fire Embracing Technique, burning the wood into ashes, filling the cracks and gaps of the scars, big and small.


    This repair method was far from perfect.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s previous repair techniques were actually quite good.


    Now, although Yuan Dasheng had treated the wounds, the wounds were left with streaks of ck ash.


    These charcoal-ck scars were scattered all over its body, adding a lot of fierce ¡®ferocity'' to it.


    There was no other way.


    Ning Zhuo couldn''t openly use all kinds of tools to smelt rted fiery rocks and manufacture materials for filling and repairing under the watchful eyes of the four Ning family guards.


    "Hmm? It seems the spirituality has diminished."


    While repairing, Ning Zhuo discovered an unpleasant phenomenon.


    Yuan Dasheng''s spirituality had somewhat decreased. Originally, it was fully at eighty percent, but now it had dropped to seventy-nine percent.


    Ning Zhuo''s heart sank, "I need to rely on Yuan Dasheng to stop Meng Chong, so I must find a way to replenish its spirituality."


    "Spirituality."


    Ning Zhuo knew very little about this.


    Although he had memorized and mastered all the knowledge in the Ning family''s library, those were public books, not high-level ones.


    Spirituality was rted to spiritual treasures, which were high-end powers in the cultivation world, only recorded in secret manuals!


    The pressure in Ning Zhuo''s heart grew day by day.


    He had nned for fourteen years, but in the actualpetition for the Lava Immortal Pce, unexpected events kept urring. Whether it was Yuan Dasheng or Zhu Xuanji, they forced Ning Zhuo to change his ns repeatedly, leading to the current situation.


    "Meng Chong is the direct grandson of Meng Kui, so he must have life-saving items gifted by a Nascent Soul stage cultivator."


    "I can''t possibly scheme against Meng Chong like I did with Yuan Dasheng."


    "Compared to the City Lord''s Mansion, the entire Ning family is insignificant, and I¡¯m just a branch of the Ning family. If we were to truly face off against the City Lord''s Mansion, how could the Ning family possibly stand by me?"


    In this way, no matter how many times Meng Chong failed, he could always make aeback.


    Meanwhile, Ning Zhuo¡¯s energy,bat power, and time were heavily restrained by him, making it difficult to concentrate fully on exploring the Immortal Pce.


    "Take this battle, for example. I gained no spoils, and instead, I have to spend various resources to repair Yuan Dasheng!"


    "The only gain, perhaps, is that in the state of spiritual connection, I can fully sense Yuan Dasheng''sbat state, giving me significant insights into martial arts."


    "If I keep fighting like this, it won''t work!"


    "I''ll only get weaker with each fight."


    Ning Zhuo had aprehensive view and was not at all blinded by the victory before him.


    As his thoughts deepened, he grew increasingly worried.


    In the City Lord¡¯s Mansion!


    Meng Chong slowly opened his eyes.


    His facial muscles twitched!


    Phantom pain.


    In the Lava Immortal Pce, he had been burned alive. The sensation was so vivid that it left an indelible impression on him.


    For a while, Meng Chong didn''t get up, his gaze somewhat dazed.


    After mastering the Lightning Shadow, his consumption of essence, energy, and spirit had greatly decreased.


    This time, he could clearly sit up and move freely, but he didn¡¯t.


    He was filled with a sense of dejection and frustration.


    Meng Chong had been detected to have immortal potential since childhood. Everything had always gone smoothly for him, and he had never encountered such a huge setback.


    Not only was this setback immense, but it also happened repeatedly.


    Even though Meng Chong was naturally bold and full of fighting spirit, at this moment, he still felt depressed.


    "The difficulty of exploring the Lava Immortal Pce is just too high."


    Meng Chong thought of the mechanical monkey burning with fierce mes and was at a loss for what to do.


    He was utterly confused.


    Every move he made was observed by his attendants and servants.


    Seeing that this time, the young master had returned with his soul in such a different state, and something was clearly wrong, the servants hurriedly reported the situation.


    Meng Chong¡¯s condition was of the highest priority.


    Soon, Meng Kui learned of the matter.


    Meng Kui''s true body was atop Mount Huoshi, his eyes shooting out divine light, directly piercing through the sky, breaking through all obstacles along the way, and saw his beloved grandson lying in the room, silent, with vacant eyes.


    "Something¡¯s wrong. Let me calcte!"


    Meng Kui pinched his fingers to calcte, but nothing came out.


    He immediately took out an abacus-type magical treasure, his fingers quickly moved, and his mana and spiritual sense were consumed intensely as he continuously manipted the beads on the abacus.


    When the beads stopped, Meng Kui had calcted Meng Chong''s fate.


    "How could it be this low?"


    The Nascent Soul cultivator was secretly shocked.


    In his understanding, Meng Chong had immortal potential, with naturally abundant fate, so such a low state was extremely rare.


    Unlike his ancestors, Meng Kui¡¯s natural talent was of a superior level, named "Lofty Vision."


    This talent allowed him to stand tall like a mountain; as long as he remained still, his own fate could stabilize, enabling him to calmly overlook his surroundings and observe the whole picture.


    Because of this, he had the nickname "Mountain-Top Chancellor."


    When faced with confrontation, he was always as unmoving as a mountain, observing theyout and luring the enemy to attack.


    His fate was naturally stable and rarely wavered, reducing his losses far more than his enemies.


    This often led to the situation where the enemy, after a prolonged attack, would reveal ws on their own.


    Meng Kui would remain still, only taking action when enough ws had umted, often striking the enemy down with a single blow, securing victory in one move.


    He also practiced the art of calctions, which was very rare.


    In the cultivation world, to master the art of calctions required rare spiritual roots or talents as prerequisites.


    Lofty Vision was precisely such a talent. When the vision reached a certain level, it could "observe" a glimpse of the future.


    Meng Chong''s situation reminded Meng Kui of the chaos in the world when numerous heroes vied for supremacy.


    Often, the dragons that were most prominent at the beginning were not the true kings.


    In the early and mid-stages of the struggle, they attracted too much firepower, and the fate of these dragons was mutually exhausted to a serious extent.


    The seeds of true kingship would take this opportunity to develop and grow, eventually umting great momentum, establishing the heavens and earth, and founding a cultivation nation.


    "ording to Zhu Xuanji, the Lava Immortal Pce was not supposed to appear at this time."


    "Therefore, by forcefully seizing the Immortal Pce, we are going against its fate!"


    "Since Chong''er is currently the first to progress, leading the charge, it has resulted in a great depletion of his fate."


    "If we could obtain the treasure of fate from the Lava Immortal Pce, or a fate-rted treasure, it would be great. It could


    help avoid this fate conflict as much as possible."


    Thinking of this, Meng Kui sent a distant voice transmission, while also using the abacus-type magical treasure to temporarily boost Meng Chong¡¯s fate.


    "Foolish child, why are you not waking up?"


    "Ah, Grandfather." Meng Chong¡¯s spirit shook, his fate returning to normal, and his mind was no longer muddled.


    His gaze sharpened, and a sh of insight struck him, "I¡¯ve got it."


    "If the other side is using spells, then I can use spells too!"


    "Among the checkpoint rewards, there¡¯s the Ice-Embracing Technique. If I undergo special training and master this spell, wouldn¡¯t I be able to counter that monkey¡¯s mes?"


    "Hahaha."


    Meng Chongughed loudly, suddenly leaping to his feet.


    He tookrge strides, pushing open the door, "Someone, bring me food."


    "I want to eat, eat, eat!"


    "After I finish eating, I want to train, train, train."


    The servants, seeing this, all breathed a sigh of relief.


    This was the Meng Chong they were familiar with.


    Meng Kui gazed from afar, seeing this situation, he nodded slightly.


    He then looked towards the territories of the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families, his expression turning slightly grave.


    "Chong¡¯er and the Lava Immortal Pce are exhausting each other''s fate, like two strong forces shing."


    "Now that the three families have united, althoughbining their fates is not simple, it still makes it easier for them to pick up the spoils."


    "I need to suppress this."


    Zhou Family!


    Ning Zhuo was led into the Treasure Book Pavilion.


    "This is the ¡®On Spirituality''. Please, Ning Zhuo, read it here!" The Zhou family cultivator instructed.


    Ning Zhuo nodded and epted the jade slip.


    After a quick inspection, he ced the jade slip on his forehead.


    He infused his spiritual sense and began reading the jade slip.


    The "On Spirituality" was neither a cultivation method nor a secret art, but a knowledgependium about spirituality.


    After reading it, Ning Zhuo¡¯s eyes gleamed brightly, and this brilliancested for quite a while.


    His vision had broadened, it was aplete qualitative change, and his gains were immense.


    "So, there are so many aspects to spirituality!"


    In the "On Spirituality," spirituality was ssified into five levels. The lowest level was non-spirituality!


    Then came dead spirituality.


    Next was living spirituality.


    Higher still was intelligent spirituality.


    The highest level was divine spirituality.


    The so-called "stubborn as a mule" referred to the non-spiritual stage, with no signs of spirituality.


    The dead spirituality stage was further divided into: spiritual charm, spiritual pattern, spiritual root, spiritual shadow, and spiritual image.


    The living spirituality stage was divided from low to high into: spiritual star, spiritual vigor, spiritual longevity, spiritual movement, and spiritual sensitivity.


    ording to the book, Yuan Dasheng¡¯s spirituality was at the spiritual longevity stage within the living spirituality stage.

 Chapter 104: Traversing Again the Buddhas Path

    At the Primal Spirit stage, Yuan Dasheng needed to increase his spirituality until it reached ten levels ofpletion.


    Ten levels represented a qualitative transformation!


    Upon achieving this, spirituality would regenerate on its own, bing endless. Otherwise, the more spirituality one used, the more it would diminish, which was highly disadvantageous.


    Yuan Dasheng was in this exact situation.


    Originally possessing eight levels of spirituality, after some losses, he was left with only 7.9 levels, unable to recover on his own.


    Unless, one day, he reached ten levels of spirituality and underwent a qualitative transformation, only then would he be able to recover by himself.


    After reading this jade slip, Ning Zhuo''s first thought was: "Choosing Yuan Dasheng''s corpse was indeed the correct choice."


    "ording to the information given by the Lava Immortal Pce, choosing any corpse would only result in obtaining a Spiritual Resonance-level mechanism. This is merely the first stage of the Necromancer phase."


    "But by using Yuan Dasheng''s corpse, I obtained the Gold-Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, whose spirituality surpassed seven stages, reaching the Primal Spirit stage."Previously, Ning Zhuo knew that the Gold-Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, had excellent quality, but after reading *On Spirits*, he finally understood the extent of its superiority.


    "So how can spirituality be increased?"


    This tome, *On Spirits*, did not contain any relevant information.


    "Perhaps it does, but it hasn¡¯t been made essible to me."


    "I''m an outsider, and being able to see this *On Spirits* from the Zhou family is already thanks to the coboration of the three families!"


    Although *On Spirits* did not provide detailed methods, it did connect to some rted history.


    In the cultivation world, there once was a demonic sect that was highly prominent, shaking the world with its power. It was called the Burial Spirit Sect.


    This sect had a technique known as the *Three Lives Spirit Sacrifice Grand Method*.


    The so-called Three Lives did not refer to three lives, but to the concept of ¡®Three Lives Creating All Things''.


    The true meaning was to create all things through the Three Lives, sacrifice, and seek spirituality! They would bury all things under heaven and earth, refine them through sacrifice, and obtain spirituality.


    The Burial Spirit Sect used this technique, ughtering countless lives, acquiring vast amounts of spirituality, and mass-producing spirit treasures, thereby strengthening the sect¡¯s power.


    Countless righteous sects, evil factions, and even other demonic sects recognized the threat of the Burial Spirit Sect and rose to attack, causing this superpower that endangered the entire cultivation world to be annihted.


    "*Three Lives Spirit Sacrifice Grand Method.*"


    When Ning Zhuo read this, he suddenly thought of a reward in the Lava Immortal Pce.


    After passing the three tests of the Buddhist Sect, he would receive a reward.


    He thus obtained the Phantom True Lotus Seed.


    The rewards were many, and he remembered very clearly that one of them was a technique called the *Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra*.


    "This might just be the secret method for increasing spirituality!"


    Ning Zhuo thought to himself.


    His guess was not without basis.


    He had evidence.


    Previously, when he ventured through the first test of the Buddhist Sect and selected a corpse from the coffin, he received some rted information.


    One piece of information was: "Choose one, send it to the cremation furnace, and obtain a Spiritual Resonance mechanism creation."


    Cremation could yield a Spiritual Resonance mechanism creation.


    These two clues directly linked to the *Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra*.


    "Next time I venture into the Lava Immortal Pce, I''ll choose this reward to see!"


    Ning Zhuo had a feeling in his heart, making him believe that this was indeed the correct choice.


    However, venturing into the Lava Immortal Pce would not be easy.


    This was a different time and situation.


    Now, Ning Zhuo had four Ning family cultivators guarding him, and they weren''t the same four people all the time.


    They would take turns every so often.


    If Ning Zhuo entered the Immortal Pce with his soul, the chances of being discovered would greatly increase.


    He was also worried about one thing¡ªif he entered the Immortal Pce and encountered the three family geniuses or Meng Chong, what would he do?


    As for Meng Chong''s situation, he couldn''t fully investigate it.


    The three family geniuses all had Ning family talismans protecting them, so if they wanted to enter the Immortal Pce with their souls, they only needed to remove the talismans.


    This was entirely unpredictable.


    "There are two possible approaches!"


    "One is to have someone remotely control Yuan Dasheng to storm into the depths of the Immortal Pce. As it is my mechanism creation, it can be considered part of me."


    "Two is to explore the pce with Zheng Jian and others, which depends on Zhou Zhenshen''s cultivation progress."


    Previously, Ning Zhuo and the others had agreed at the Kindergarten for Benevolence that once Zhou Zhenshen reached the peak of the thirdyer, they would all venture into the Immortal Pce together.


    Ning Zhuo thought about it and felt that the second approach was better.


    When he left the Zhou family''s treasure library, he inquired about Zhou Zhenshen''s current cultivation level.


    "Do you know what level fellow Daoist Zhou Zhenshen has reached in his cultivation?" he asked one of the Zhou family cultivators.


    "Currently, he is still in thete stage of the thirdyer," the Zhou family cultivator replied.


    Ning Zhuo frowned slightly.


    The Zhou family cultivator, out of a desire to defend his family, immediately exined, "Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo, you should know that our family''s Zhou Zhenshen has superior talent, like water umting to form a deep abyss."


    "As the saying goes, ¡®umting earth forms a mountain, wind and rain arise from it; umting water forms a deep abyss, and dragons are born from it.'' This kind of talent requires continuous umtion of water element power, ultimately achieving a far-reaching momentum and disying immense power."


    "Therefore, our family''s Zhou Zhenshen umtes power more slowly in the early stages of cultivation, needing more resources, time, and patience than others!"


    "But where there is loss, there is gain. In theter stages, Zhou Zhenshen will surely experience a breakthrough in his cultivation."


    Ning Zhuo nodded slightly, "Then how much longer will it take?"


    The Zhou family cultivator smiled wryly, "Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo, please don''t make it difficult for me. Why not ask Zhou Zhenshen himself?"


    Ning Zhuo then went to find Zhou Zhenshen and inquired directly.


    Given his current status, reputation, and rtionship with the three family geniuses, he was able to do so easily.


    He received Zhou Zhenshen''s personal response: "It will take at most seven days!"


    "This time frame is eptable!" Ning Zhuo thought to himself.


    If he forcibly relied solely on the Gold-Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, without personally taking action, even if Yuan Dasheng managed to pass the tests, it would suffer significant damage.


    Currently, Ning Zhuo''s research on Yuan Dasheng''s mechanism body was not deep enough, and repairing it within the Lava Immortal Pce would be very difficult.


    What Ning Zhuo feared most was that such high-intensity use of the Gold-Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, would cause its spirituality to decline once again.


    And the extent of the decline could be estimated¡ªit would certainly be much greater than when Yuan Dasheng fought Meng Chong.


    However, after he returned home and began his daily cultivation, he made a startling discovery.


    He found that the Buddha Heart Demon Seal in his Divine Sea had reactivated once again.


    Although it was only once, the timing was right after he had thought about waiting for Zhou Zhenshen while at the Zhou family.


    "Low fortune can cause one¡¯s mind to be clouded."


    "But the Buddha Heart Demon Seal can suppress fate, turning oneself into a Buddha, thus ensuring my rity of mind."


    Following this line of reasoning, Ning Zhuo immediately realized that his decision to wait had been influenced by fate.


    "If that''s the case, doesn''t it mean that the first option is the correct one?"


    Ning Zhuo fell into deep thought.


    "ording to *On Fate: Volume One*, when Meng Chong and I arepeting against each other, until one of us achieves a decisive victory, our fortunes will continue to fiercely oppose each other."


    "So, my fortune is not as strong as thebined forces of the three families, which led to this moment of clouded judgment?"


    Ning Zhuo realized with a shock.


    "Yes, I''m racing against time."


    "Why should I dy for seven days because of Zhou Zhenshen?"


    Immediately, Ning Zhuo made a decision¡ªto use the Gold-Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, to break through the tests.


    He hid in the cultivation chamber within his bedroom and activated the Floating Cloud Cloth.


    First, he took out the Gold-Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    The teleportation ring fluctuated, sessfully transporting Yuan Dasheng. The entire process was silent.


    Ning Zhuo then activated the ¡®Trial Disciple'' mark, entered the Immortal Pce with his soul, and simultaneously brought in the Gold-Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    Only by doing so would this count as apletely new challenge.


    As before, he appeared in Room One.


    Ning Zhuo did not even touch the first door and immediately withdrew, returning his soul to his body.


    The Gold-Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, reced him, touched the first door, received the reward, and then pushed the door open.


    In the next moment, Yuan Dasheng saw Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zhenshen.

 Chapter 105: The Great Victory Over the Zhou Family

    Lava Immortal Pce.


    The first door was swiftly pushed open by Yuan Dasheng.


    Zhou Zhenshen, Zhou Zhu, and the others immediately turned around to look back.


    In this way, both parties saw each other.


    "People from the Zhou family!" Ning Zhuo''s pupils slightly contracted as he saw the scene through Yuan Dasheng.


    When he noticed that inside Room No. 2, besides the two Zhou family geniuses, there were three other Zhou family cultivators, he immediately understood.


    "They must have used the method I had previously conceived,bining wooden bodies to withstand the lethal strike when the door was opened."


    "In the Zhou family, aside from Zhou Zhenshen, who is already at the Third Layer Peak, there are actually three others with the same cultivation."


    Ning Zhuo couldn''t help but recall the joint test among the three families.The test results from the Zhou family''s remodeling team showed that, besides Zhou Zhu, there wasn''t a second person at the Third Layer Peak, not even one in thete stage of the Third Layer!


    "The testing formation back then was provided by the Zhou family!"


    "It seems that even at that time, the Zhou family had already nned to intentionally hide the true cultivation levels of many of their cultivators!"


    "The Zheng family and the Ning family were both deceived. At least, I didn''t expect that the Zhou family already had several cultivators at thete stage of the Third Layer."


    Ning Zhuo immediately deduced the truth.


    Judging by the speed of the stars, for an ordinary cultivator to advance from the mid-stage of the Third Layer all the way to the Third Layer Peak, this amount of time was insufficient.


    The most likely scenario was that the Zhou family had long been concealing their cultivation levels.


    "No wonder the Zhou family excels in formations. They are not only skilled in setting up arrays but also in nning strategies."


    "In the joint test among the three families, they were the leaders, and they had already begunying out their ns."


    "And now, I''ve identally uncovered it."


    When the Zhou family cultivators heard the movement from the door behind them, their hearts tightened, and they all turned around, ready to defend themselves.


    Zhou Zhenshen bitterly smiled inwardly. No matter if the person entering was from the Ning family, the Zheng family, or the City Lord''s Mansion, their Zhou family''s painstakinglyid-out n would be exposed on its first attempt.


    However, the ¡®person'' who pushed the door open was something the Zhou family cultivators could never have expected.


    It was a mechanical ape.


    The ape was tall and mighty, its frame sturdy and muscr, with golden bones exposed like ayer of hollowed-out armor.


    Its body was entirely red, its fur uniform, and there were colored marks scattered all over its body. These long, ck marks, some long and some short, made it look extremely menacing.


    Zhou Zhenshen was just about to greet it, already formting words in his mind.


    But when he saw Yuan Dasheng, such a creature, he couldn''t help but blurt out.


    "What is this?" The Zhou family cultivators eximed in shock.


    The next moment, without needing Ning Zhuo''smand, as soon as it sensed the presence of others, the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng,unched an attack.


    It lifted its foot abruptly and took a step forward, the distance so vast that it instantly appeared before a Zhou family cultivator.


    The Zhou family cultivator felt a gust of strong wind hit his face.


    The next moment, the tall and sturdy body of the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, descended like a mountain from the sky, crushing down heavily.


    The Zhou family cultivator raised his arms to block.


    Bang!


    With a punch, the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, struck with a fierce wind, as heavy as a giant hammer, smashing the Zhou family cultivator from head to toe into a pulp.


    Such ferocity scared the Zhou family cultivators into a collective outcry.


    Zhou Zhenshen''s voice turned sharp, "We can''t match its strength, spread out and dy it!"


    He was indeed the strategist whom Zhou Zhu usually obeyed. In the brief moment of being attacked, he had already thought of the correct tactic.


    However, while the tactic was sound, the battlefield environment was quite unfavorable.


    Because Room No. 2 was far less spacious than Room No. 1.


    It was long and narrow, with limited space on both sides.


    For the Zhou family cultivators to distance themselves from Yuan Dasheng, they had to move towards the second door.


    As they moved, the floor tiles shifted backward, pulling them back to their original position.


    Yuan Dasheng let out a low roar, spread his arms, and attacked with full force.


    Bang.


    Another loud explosion sounded, and a second Zhou family cultivator''s puppet was smashed to pieces by Yuan Dasheng, with no chance to resist.


    Only after passing the sixth barrier would cultivators have ess to the Lingyun Mechanisms. These mechanisms were powerful and often stronger than the puppets of the trial disciples themselves.


    And the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, surpassed the highest limits, an extraordinary mechanical creation that Ning Zhuo had acquired by sacrificing a celestial body''s resources¡ªthis waspletely beyond the norm.


    "What on earth is this thing!" Zhou Zhenshen shouted.


    "I don''t know either!" Zhou Zhu was equally puzzled. How was this exploration of the Lava Immortal Pce so different from any previous one?


    Where did this extremely powerful mechanical apee from?


    "You lure it into the trap, attract it, and let it charge into the dark trap too." Zhou Zhenshen quickly thought of another tactic.


    This dark trap was specifically set up by Ning Zhuo.


    Previously, when Ning Xiaohui, Zhou Zhu, Zheng Jian, and Ning Zhuo explored the Immortal Pce, these dark traps yed a significant role, trapping and killing the other three, leaving them with a harrowing experience of imprisonment.


    Zhou Zhenshen''s mind was agile, and within a few breaths, he came up with a solution.


    By utilizing the terrain, they might only need to sacrifice one Zhou family cultivator to temporarily deal with this mechanical ape.


    As long as the trap caught the mechanical ape, they just needed to find a way to break through Room No. 2 and push the door open to escape.


    But there was no ¡®if.'' After the Zhou family cultivator jumped into the trap, the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, abruptly halted its charge, standing right at the edge of the mechanism trap, without moving even an inch further.


    It was a joke¡ªNing Zhuo had personally set up these traps, and he was fully aware of the traps'' positions.


    Zhou Zhenshen saw Yuan Dasheng turn back and give him a cold stare, instantly sending a chill down his spine.


    "Damn it!"


    "Zhou Zhu, you intercept him. I''ll try to break through with all my strength!"


    Zhou Zhenshen shouted.


    "Alright!" Zhou Zhu stepped forward, rushing toward Yuan Dasheng.


    Although his body was tall andrge,pared to Yuan Dasheng, he clearly paled inparison.


    Yuan Dasheng moved gracefully, agilely dodging Zhou Zhu''s attacks, and then seized an opening, advancing with the momentum.


    *Bang bang.*


    After two soft thuds, Zhou Zhu also fell to his knees.


    When Zhou Zhenshen turned around and saw that Zhou Zhu hadn¡¯t evensted a single breath, a deep chill surged in his heart.


    He rushed madly toward the front.


    However, the floor tiles kept moving backward faster and faster, continuously sending Zhou Zhenshen closer to Yuan Dasheng.


    "This damn mechanism is also making things difficult for me!"


    Zhou Zhenshen struggled with all his might but only managed to buy himself three breaths of time.


    In the end, his head was snatched off by Yuan Dasheng, who then opened his palm, tilted it at an angle, and directly tossed Zhou Zhenshen''s head onto the ground.


    The Zhou family cultivators werepletely annihted.


    For Yuan Dasheng, dealing with them was very easy, even though there were five of them.


    Firstly, theycked celestial resources and couldn''t match Meng Chong''s level of impact.


    Secondly, the spells they knew were pitifully few.


    Under Yuan Dasheng''s rampage, most of them used Qi-based spells to speed up or change direction.


    But these minor maneuvers were insignificant in the eyes of a martial arts master like Yuan Dasheng.


    In the end, Yuan Dasheng, under Ning Zhuo''s control, willingly jumped into the dark trap and crushed the remaining struggling Zhou family cultivators.


    Yuan Dasheng, carrying the remains of the puppets of his enemies, leaped out of the trap.


    These mechanism traps were originally designed by Ning Zhuo himself, so he was fully aware of every detail.


    These traps posed no obstacle at all.


    Main Hall!


    Seeing the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, disy great power and easily eliminate the Zhou family cultivator team, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit clenched its dragon ws in anger, continuously mming its fists on the throne.


    Ning Zhuo was too arrogant. This time, he only dispatched a single mechanical creation to challenge the Lava Immortal Pce.


    He showed no respect for the Lava Immortal Pce at all.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit didn''t have enough authority and could only watch helplessly as Yuan Dasheng cleaned up the battlefield.


    Ning Zhuo controlled the mechanical ape, dissecting each Zhou family cultivator to retrieve the unused spirit stones.


    "Not bad at all!"


    "If I had challenged this alone, there¡¯s no way I would have collected this many spirit stones in Room No. 2."


    "Oh, and there are also the next suspension rings!"


    Thanks to the contribution of the Zhou family cultivators, Yuan Dasheng''s strength had already umted impressively in the early stages.


    Ning Zhuo manipted it, resolutely moving deeper into the pce.


    Meanwhile.


    Zheng Family!


    "Catch the assassin!"


    "Hurry! He ran that way!"


    "Quick, chase him!"


    The Zheng family was in chaos, with cultivators swarming together,unching a frenzied pursuit.


    "Young Zheng Jian, are you alright?"


    A Zheng family alchemist rushed over to treat him.


    Zheng Jian nodded slightly, "At the critical moment, my Piercing Heart Insight was triggered, alerting me just in time, so I didn''t walk into the assassin''s ambush."


    "How did this assassin manage to sneak in? This is the inner circle of the family grounds, it''s absolutely absurd." Zheng Jian clenched his fists, gritting his teeth in anger.


    Suddenly, the alchemist let out a strange smile. The once deep voice of the middle-aged man suddenly turned into a sinister female voice, "What do you think?"


    Zheng Jian''s pupils shrank sharply, and he instantly retreated.


    But it was already toote.


    The next moment, the alchemist suddenly swelled, his body exploding into countless foul, poisonous gases that clung to Zheng Jian.


    Most of Zheng Jian''s body was afflicted, his skin turning red, blistering, and festering at a terrifying speed.


    Zheng Jian quickly took out an emergency pill and swallowed an entire bottle, barely halting the spread of the poison in his body.


    "I still got hit¡­"


    "They deliberately triggered my Piercing Heart Insight once to make me fully vignt."


    "Without a calm mind, the chances of Piercing Heart Insight being triggered are greatly reduced."


    "They came prepared."


    At this moment, his expression was extremely grim.


    City Lord''s Mansion, Meng Chong was surrounded by lightning shadows, beating the assassin ck and blue.


    His expression was disdainful, "And you think you can assassinate me?"


    Zhou Family.


    Zhou Zhenshen and Zhou Zhu simultaneously opened their eyes!


    The next moment, intense pain surged through their entire bodies.


    Zhou Zhenshen looked down and saw that his body was crawling with ants.


    Countless ants, densely packed andyered upon each other, had already gnawed away at his lower body, leaving only bones. His abdomen had also been half-devoured, with his intestines scattered around, many of which were half-eaten by the ant swarm.


    Zhou Zhenshen''s pupils suddenly contracted to the size of needle points, filled with extreme terror.


    In the next instant, his Five Elements Mana burst out wildly, unleashing a violent wind that swept away countless ants.


    On the other side, Zhou Zhu was also frantically sweeping away the ants. His situation was slightly better, but below his crotch, nothing remained except bones.


    "Someone is plotting against us; there¡¯s a traitor in the family!"


    "Someone, help!"

 Chapter 106: Ning Zhuo Attacked

    **Ning Family.**


    Ning Xiaohui had just taken a sip of tea when her expression suddenly changed dramatically.


    She identally dropped her teacup and immediately fell to the ground, clutching her neck.


    "I¡­ I¡­" Ning Xiaohui struggled to breathe, her face turning a terrifying shade of blue and purple.


    The tea had numbed her nasal cavity and mouth, the poison corroding her and filling her nose and mouth with toxic foam, making it impossible for her to breathe!


    The next moment, Ning Xiaohui reached out with her hand and viciously scratched at her throat.


    She directly tore open her windpipe, causing blood to flow profusely. But because of this, she managed to breathe fresh air once again.


    The Ning family guards, who rushed in upon hearing themotion, were shocked by the scene and hurriedly reported the incident.


    Ning Xiaohui, her expression fierce, prepared a spell in her hand, aiming it at anyone who dared to approach her.The Ning family guards didn¡¯t dare to act rashly. It was only when Ning Xiaohui saw her grandmother appear that she rxed, fainting on the spot.


    **Ning Zhuo''s Small Courtyard.**


    In the small secret cultivation room inside his bedroom, Ning Zhuo sat with his eyes tightly closed, fully focused.


    Drops of fresh blood dripped down, falling onto his chest and staining his clothes.


    It was nosebleed.


    Ning Zhuo was going all out, using the Mirror tform Spirit Technique for observation and controlling Yuan Dasheng with his Heart Seal, asionally manipting Dasheng¡¯s spiritual energy to cast spells.


    When Yuan Dasheng reached the final door, his body was covered in wounds.


    Three fingers on his left hand were broken, and his right leg had nearly been severed.


    It was only under Ning Zhuo¡¯smand that Yuan Dasheng retreated to the maintenance room, where he self-repaired before being able to continue exploring.


    Although the Ning Zhuo puppet was not as powerful as Yuan Dasheng, the twoplemented each other well, with one attacking from a distance and the other engaging in closebat, creating a significant change in theirbat effectiveness.


    Relying solely on Yuan Dasheng to charge through would have been much more difficult.


    Yuan Dasheng courageously fought through the three barriers of the Buddha Gate and once again stood before the reward selection door.


    Without any hesitation, Ning Zhuo directly chose the *Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra*.


    The content of the sutra quickly transmitted to Ning Zhuo''s mind.


    "Just as I thought!"


    Ning Zhuo first felt exhrated, then quickly became dazed.


    The content of the *Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra* moved him deeply.


    He forced himself to suppress the surging emotions and ordered the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, to push open the door and enter another hall, where he once again saw the three gates: Buddha, Dao, and Demon.


    The three doors required cultivation at the peak of the sixthyer to enter, which was beyond Yuan Dasheng¡¯s capabilities.


    Ning Zhuo then activated the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, allowing Yuan Dasheng to retreat smoothly and re-enter the reward stage.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was furious.


    Previously, Ning Zhuo only cheated by himself, but now even his mechanical puppet was cheating.


    The Immortal Pce shook as Meng Kui made another move.


    As a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, he was working tirelessly, constantly worrying that the Immortal Pce might erupt and cause a volcanic explosion, resulting in a great disaster with countless casualties.


    Inside the Immortal Pce, everything was peaceful.


    Ning Zhuo was still a bit eager.


    "What should I choose this time?"


    "Hmm, is there still another *Phantom True Lotus Seed*?"


    "If my guess is correct¡­"


    Ning Zhuo pondered for a moment and then chose the *Phantom True Lotus Seed* again.


    The second *Phantom True Lotus Seed* was sent to his spiritual sea through the Life Hanging by a Thread divine ability.


    It quickly merged with the divine ability bud from before.


    Soon, the previously sprouting lotus seed grew to nearly twice its original size after the fusion.


    Seeing this, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit suddenly felt less angry.


    It hadn''t expected Ning Zhuo, after suffering a loss once, to still take a gamble and choose the second *Phantom True Lotus Seed*.


    All the *Phantom True Lotus Seeds* in the Lava Immortal Pce were imprints of a part of the essence of the Life Hanging by a Thread divine ability.


    They were limited in number, avable on a firste, first-served basis, but understanding the divine ability was extremely difficult.


    Seeing Ning Zhuo make such a choice, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was gloating.


    Thus, under the puzzled gaze of the city lord, the previously tumultuous Lava Immortal Pce suddenly calmed down.


    "What on earth is wrong with this Pce Spirit?" Meng Kui furrowed his brows, unable to understand.


    Yuan Dasheng pushed open the door, then retreated again to im the reward.


    The third time, Ning Zhuo still chose the *Phantom True Lotus Seed*.


    At this point, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was rolling withughter, its mocking voice echoing throughout the main hall.


    The fourth time, and also thest time.


    The exhausted Ning Zhuo still chose the *Phantom True Lotus Seed*.


    After fusing three *Phantom True Lotus Seeds* consecutively, the lotus bud had grown into a small segment of lotus root.


    This brought with it a flood of insights, like a rushing stream, constantly washing over Ning Zhuo¡¯s mind.


    Ning Zhuo quickly focused on these insights. In the process, he suddenly opened his eyes.


    He was in the small secret cultivation room, surrounded by floating clouds that obscured his vision.


    But Ning Zhuo turned his head and stared in a certain direction, his brows furrowed, his eyes shing with a dark glow.


    At the courtyard gate, a Ning family artifact refining cultivator was patrolling.


    Tap, tap, tap.


    A horse-drawn carriage seemed to lose control and rushed toward the small courtyard.


    The Ning family cultivator first shouted loudly to stop it, then quickly cast a spell.


    But the spell couldn¡¯t stop the carriage. It smashed through the courtyard gate and charged into the courtyard.


    After slightly adjusting its direction, it headed straight for the bedroom where Ning Zhuo was.


    "Enemy attack!"


    A Foundation Establishment cultivator descended from the sky, blocking the carriage.


    Suddenly, his expression changed dramatically.


    Boom¡­


    The next moment, the carriage exploded, sending intense heat and mes soaring into the sky.


    The st wave surged in all directions.


    Everything turned blindingly white.


    First, the roof of Ning Zhuo¡¯s house was blown off, then the walls were torn apart. Everything inside the house, including furniture and decorations, was reduced to ashes in the explosion.


    The violent explosion nearly leveled the surrounding area.


    Amidst the smoke and dust, the Ning family guards regrouped. Only two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators remained, while the two Qi Refining stage cultivators had perished in the explosion.


    One of the Foundation Establishment cultivators was the one who had tried to intercept the carriage and was severely injured.


    But he didn¡¯t care about his own injuries, frantically searching for Ning Zhuo¡¯s whereabouts.


    After all, this was the target they must protect at all costs.


    "It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, Ning Zhuo is dead!"


    "No, there¡¯s still hope."


    "Yes, yes, there¡¯s a basement here."


    The Ning family¡¯s double cultivators quickly formed hand seals and began digging furiously.


    They soon unearthed a passage.


    Entering the basement, they found that most of the framework had already copsed, and much of it had caved in.


    But to their immense joy, Ning Zhuo was indeed there.


    "You¡¯re still alive."


    "Thank heavens!"


    The two Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Ning family were almost in tears of joy.


    Ning Zhuo, his breath weak, seemed to be injured: "Two brothers, let¡¯s talkter. Quickly set up a formation to protect me."


    "Also, quickly send a message to the family, asking them to send people to escort us."


    The Foundation Establishment double cultivators suddenly realized, and one of them nodded frantically, "Yes, yes, that¡¯s exactly what we should do."


    A temporary formation was set up, with Ning Zhuo inside.


    Outside the formation, the two Foundation Establishment guards didn¡¯t dare to rx even a little.


    At any sign of trouble, they would immediatelyunch spells without hesitation.


    Not long after, arge group of Ning family cultivators arrived to escort him.


    Ning Xiaoren led the way, weing Ning Zhuo out of the formation: "Dear nephew, dear nephew, when I heard you were attacked, I was so worried. I was anxious the whole way."


    "Fortunately, you have the heavens'' protection and survived this deadly crisis!"


    "It was extremely dangerous!"


    Ning Zhuo first bowed in respect, then asked, "Uncle Ning, the attacker was utterly ruthless, even blowing up my residence. It was a ce left to me by my mother, and now it¡¯s in ruins."


    "When can we catch the demonic cultivator who attacked me?"


    "I won¡¯t have peace of mind until we catch him."


    Ning Xiaoren looked troubled, carefully choosing his words to persuade Ning Zhuo to stay calm.


    "For now, let¡¯s escort you back to the family residence."


    "It would be much safer for you to stay at my mansion."


    This time, Ning Zhuo didn¡¯t have much room to refuse.


    But after thinking for a moment, he said, "Uncle Ning, I don¡¯t want to trouble you all the time."


    "In fact


    , when I was studying at the academy, I used to stay at my uncle¡¯s house!"


    "So this time, I¡¯d rather stay at my uncle¡¯s house. After all, they are also within the inner area of the family estate."


    Ning Xiaoren thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement, "Alright. If you¡¯re notfortable at my ce, I won¡¯t force you."


    "I¡¯ll send more guards to watch over you day and night."


    "You might not know this, but all the Qi Refining stage geniuses from the four major forces in the Volcano Immortal City have been assassinated, each of them injured. Ning Xiaohui is already unconscious. Your situation is rtively better."


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s face showed fear, and he gasped.


    Ning Xiaoren sighed, his brows furrowed, his face full of worry.

 Chapter 107: The Three Families Calculation

    "Is this all the evidence?" Zhu Xuanji arrived at the Zhou family.


    The Zhou family patriarch personally received him.


    Zhu Xuanji got straight to the point, saying that as soon as he heard about the attack, he rushed over.


    "This might be the work of the shadow demon cultivators! ording to our previous assumptions, someone secretly released them."


    "This is an evil force lurking in the shadows!"


    "If we hadn''t discovered it in time, I''m afraid the two Qi Refining geniuses of our Zhou family would have perished." The Zhou family patriarch''s expression was grave.


    Zhu Xuanji held the dead ant corpse in his hand, his eyes radiating golden light as he activated the Trace Back Art.


    He remained silent throughout.


    The Zhou family patriarch, with a hopeful expression, asked if Zhu Xuanji had found anything.Zhu Xuanji shook his head!


    "Your family''s evidence alone is not enough; I need to check with the other families."


    Zhu Xuanji bid farewell to the Zhou family patriarch.


    He then visited the City Lord''s Mansion, the Zheng family, and Ning Zhuo''s courtyard one by one.


    The results of his investigation were as expected.


    There were clues, and plenty of them.


    The problemy in the abundance of these clues.


    The Trace Back Art could detect closely rted things, but this closeness could involve many aspects.


    For example, from the poison residue that harmed Ning Xiaohui, Zhu Xuanji found rted ingredients, the herbal boy who prepared the medicine, the servant who delivered the medicine, and so on. Could he determine that the herbal boy or the servant was the culprit based on this?


    No!


    Because they were closely rted to the preparation and delivery of the poison.


    But could he be sure they weren''t the culprits?


    Also no.


    Because they might have secretly poisoned the medicine during preparation or delivery.


    The Trace Back Art could only uncover clues, and the real investigation had to rely on Zhu Xuanji''s various interrogation techniques.


    However, Zhu Xuanji decided to stop.


    There were too many clues; if he continued to investigate, it would consume a terrifying amount of energy and time.


    Zhu Xuanji suspected that the culprit had deliberately set this up to dy his investigation.


    Just like the previous incident with the Huoshi mechanical monkeys attacking Yuan Er.


    Afterward, Zhu Xuanji traced many clues from the remains of those mechanical explosive monkeys.


    Were these clues useful?


    Of very little value.


    What Zhu Xuanji liked to see under the Trace Back Art was only a few clues.


    The fewer the clues, the more valuable they were for further investigation.


    But now, every piece of evidence had so many clues.


    The culprit''s intention to counter the Trace Back Art was very clear.


    However, this was also within Zhu Xuanji''s expectations.


    As the fame of the Trace Back Art spread, many powerful individuals or forces would consciously prepare defenses against it.


    All the techniques under heaven were tools to help cultivators better achieve certain goals.


    Since they were tools, they could be countered.


    What was difficult to counter were always the strongest among people, not the most excellent tools.


    There was no invincible technique, only invincible cultivators.


    "I had originally hoped that the culprit would slip up, but that was wishful thinking!"


    Zhu Xuanji left the four major forces and decided to continue with his original investigation n.


    "Perhaps my methodical investigation has already put pressure on the culprit, which is why these recent attacks urred, trying to divert my attention."


    Zhu Xuanji had been frowning the entire time.


    After a round of investigation, he felt that something was amiss.


    There was something strange, but when he thought about it carefully, he couldn''t pinpoint anything specific.


    Not only that, but the strange feeling also dissipated afterward.


    Zhu Xuanji''s subsequent actions left the patriarchs of the three major families disappointed.


    The three family patriarchs met in secret to discuss a grand n.


    "Detective Zhu is truly disappointing."


    "Perhaps he has already discovered which force is responsible, but due to his position, he cannot make it public."


    "What do you mean?"


    The three patriarchs fell silent.


    Though not explicitly stated, they all knew it referred to the City Lord''s Mansion.


    Whether it was the previous attack or this one, the City Lord''s Mansion actually suffered the least losses.


    No!


    More urately, they had benefited from the disaster.


    Meng Chong''s fame soared after eliminating the assassins twice, firmly suppressing the Qi Refining geniuses of the other three families.


    "Since Meng Kui took office, he has maintained good rtions with our three families. This time, it might not be his doing. After all, Meng Chong''s will has always been ahead in the exploration of the Immortal Pce," said the Zheng family patriarch.


    The Ning family patriarch also analyzed, "After thest attack, I did suspect the City Lord''s Mansion. But this time, the intensity of the assassination was extremely high, with the intent to kill all the Qi Refining geniuses of our three families. Perhaps there really is a hidden force plotting against us."


    The Zhou family patriarch shook his head and sneered, "None of our three families'' genius descendants died, did they?"


    "Even if they had, could it be traced back to the City Lord''s Mansion?"


    The Zhou family patriarch sighed deeply, "The Meng family is a great family of our Southern Dou Immortal Country!"


    "When the Meng family cultivators act, they are generally impulsive and aggressive!"


    "Especially the four generals of the Meng family, each one has a record of great military achievements and ughtered countless enemies!"


    "Let¡¯s not even talk about the other three fierce generals. Meng Kui, who is one of the four, may appear peaceful, but that¡¯s all an illusion.


    "Think about it; since he took office, have our three families had a good time?"


    "Hasn''t it been much more oppressivepared to the previous city lords?"


    "I wonder if you two have investigated Meng Kui''s past battle reports."


    "This person is even better at scheming than our Zhou family. He has a nickname, ¡®The Prime Minister on the Mountain Top.''


    "Is someone like that easy to deal with?"


    The Ning family patriarch mused, "Now that you mention it, I have to admit I feel the same."


    "As for the Lava Immortal Pce, it was the City Lord''s Mansion that discovered it first."


    "Next came the Zhou and Zheng families."


    "ording to the information our family gathered, we know that your two families secretly bribed Meng Kui heavily to keep him from reporting to the court."


    "But if you think about it, if Meng Kui had reported it immediately after discovering it, what business would we have?"


    "On the surface, it seemed like the Zhou and Zheng families took the initiative to seek his cooperation, but could that have already been part of his scheme?"


    The Zheng family patriarch snorted coldly, "Very likely."


    "Meng Kui is actually more difficult to deal with than the others in the Meng family because he''s more insidious!"


    "Relying on the Lava Immortal Pce, he made our three families cooperate with him willingly, allowing him to govern the Immortal Pce with efficiency and harmony all these years."


    "Earlier, he deliberately released information, rxed monitoring, and attracted countless rogue cultivators and demon cultivators to explore the Red me Demon Molten Cave."


    "Over the years, countless people have died. These people risked their lives, killed numerous Red me Demons, and greatly reduced the pressure on the Immortal Pce, allowing the City Lord''s Mansion to gradually gain detailed information about the Immortal Pce, the Red me Demon Molten Cave, and more."


    "If the City Lord''s Mansion had handled everything on its own, the City Guard''s forces would likely have been wiped out by now."


    The Zhou family patriarch added, "Since the emergence of the Lava Immortal Pce, Meng Kui has personally overseen it, suppressing the pce and forbidding anyone from approaching."


    "Hmph."


    "His excuse is very clever, extremely legitimate."


    "In reality, his actions havepletely prevented our three families'' cultivators from entering the Immortal Pce to explore its treasures."


    In the past, when the Zhou and Zheng family cultivators wanted to enter the Immortal Pce, it was very troublesome. They had to climb to the volcano''s peak, enter the Red me Demon Molten Cave, and choose the correct path to enter the Immortal Pce within the mountain.


    During this process, they also had to face the Red me Demons along the way.


    Finally, the cultivators would reach the Immortal Pce.


    But they couldn''t break in; only those with mechanical skills already recognized by the pce spirit could enter.


    Originally, with the emergence of the Immortal Pce, the cultivators of the three families could have entered and exited frequently.


    But Meng Kui''s personal suppression prevented the three families from essing the Immortal Pce.


    Although the City Lord''s Mansion didn''t have cultivators entering the Immortal Pce either, the three families knew that in this aspect, the City Lord''s Mansion was far lesspetitive than during the Qi Refining stage.


    In the Qi Refiningpetition, Meng Chong was a super genius. This advantage was simply too great.


    The Zhou family patriarch looked solemn, "At this point, finding the real culprit is not as important as the Lava Immortal Pce."


    The other two patriarchs nodded in agreement.


    The Zhou family patriarch seized the opportunity, "We can only resist the City Lord''s Mansion if we unite and cooperate more closely."


    "As a gesture of goodwill, I am willing to fully open the Gather-Disperse Spirit Tide Formation and offer it for your families'' use."


    The Ning and Zheng family patriarchs were somewhat surprised.


    The Zhou family patriarch had previously been adamant about not opening the Gather-Disperse Spirit Tide Formation during their negotiations.


    Unexpectedly, after this


    assassination, which dealt the Zhou family''s two geniuses the biggest blow, the Zhou family patriarch decided to offer the Gather-Disperse Spirit Tide Formation.


    "Good!" The Zheng family patriarch said excitedly, "In that case, I will bring out our family''s secret treasure¡ªthe Sharp Advance Needle."


    The Ning family patriarch nodded, "Then my Ning family will offer the Ice Light Strong Vein Talisman!"


    "The Gather-Disperse Spirit Tide Formation can help cultivators gather and umte strength more quickly."


    "The Sharp Advance Needle can open up a cultivator''s qi veins during the Qi Refining stage, saving them from painstaking refinement."


    "The Ice Light Strong Vein Talisman can cover a cultivator''s qi veins with ayer of ice light. With this protection, the cultivator can absorb qi at three times their usual limit without worrying about their qi veins copsing from the surge of mana."


    The three families'' genius cultivators had all been injured and needed time to recuperate.


    They urgently needed to improve the cultivation of other members of their teams.


    These assassinations made the three family patriarchs realize the harshness of thepetition and the strength and ruthlessness of their opponents.


    They lowered their pride and became more proactive in their cooperation.


    At Ning Ze''s residence.


    In the dining room.


    "Mother, how long do we have to wait?"


    Ning Ji had just reached out with his chopsticks to grab some food, only for his mother, Wang Lan, to hit his hand with her chopsticks.


    Ning Ji, in pain, quickly withdrew his hand.


    Wang Lan red at her son, "What''s wrong with waiting a bit?"


    "Your father is still in the private prison; how can you eat so calmly?"


    Ning Ji rubbed his hand, "But we don''t need to wait for Ning Zhuo to start eating. We never had this rule before. Didn''t we always eat first?"


    Wang Lan snorted, "How can now be the same as before?"


    "Ning Zhuo has gained such favor with the young patriarch. As long as he puts in a good word for your father, he can be released!"

 Chapter 109: Enthusiastically Helping Ning Xiaozhuo

    Ning Ze''s home also had a cultivation chamber.


    After finishing his meal, Ning Zhuo entered the cultivation chamber and began his training.


    He first inspected the surrounding facilities and found no surveince methods in ce. Then, he took a closer look at the formationid out in the chamber.


    The formation wasplex, intricately connected to the Ning Family¡¯s main formation.


    The Ning Family¡¯s main formation, in turn, was linked to one of the formation pirs of the grand formation around the Puppet Immortal City.


    With thisyered and refined setup, the formation in Ning Ze''s cultivation chamber could provide a rtively abundant supply of spiritual energy.


    The source of this spiritual energy was the boundless fire element spiritual energy within Mount Huoshi.


    This immense fire element spiritual energy was tainted with toxic miasma, but after being refined by the grand formation of Puppet Immortal City, it became purified fire element spiritual energy.


    The fire element spiritual energy was then transformed into neutral spiritual energy through a series of intricate formations.When it reached the Ning Family¡¯s territory, the neutral spiritual energy was further converted into ice or water element spiritual energy.


    This was because the mainstream cultivation methods of the Ning Family primarily contained ice or water elements.


    After Ning Zhuo modified his cultivation technique, he practiced the "Five Elements Qi Regtion Art," which was broad in scope and allowed him to directly absorb any spiritual energy rted to the five elements.


    Thus, this cultivation chamber was suitable for his use.


    Soon, floating clouds began to drift inside the chamber.


    The cloudsyered upon each other, covering Ning Zhuo entirely, wrapping him into arge ball of cotton.


    However, due to the spaciousness of the chamber, the clouds only gathered around Ning Zhuo and could not fill the entire chamber.


    When the Ning Family set up their family estate, they had put in a great deal of effort and spared no expense.


    Wrapped in the floating clouds, Ning Zhuo first took out some spiritual food pastries, savoring their lingering fragrance on his tongue. Then, he drank a bottle of specially-made juice worth hundreds of spiritual stones, causing his internal spiritual energy to surge, leaving his entire body slightly swollen.


    After all, taking too many pills could lead to medicinal toxicity, so he refrained from consuming any.


    Spiritual food didn¡¯t have this drawback, though its downside was that it was prone to spoge, difficult to store for long, and expensive.


    Spiritual food was much more costly than pills.


    But who could stop Ning Zhuo when he was so wealthy!


    Besides the profits from the Mechanical Explosive Monkey, Ning Zhuo''s current ie also included periodic leaderboard rewards from the Lava Immortal Pce, as well as resources swindled from his uncle¡¯s scheme.


    Thergest sum, however, came from the cultivation resources jointly distributed by the three families. The share had always been substantial, but the recent attacks on the three families'' geniuses had greatly stimted them, causing the resources they distributed to increase by three to four times!


    Ning Zhuo had already demonstrated his cultivation level and potentially undetected talent, earning him top-tier resource shares, on par with Zheng Jian and others!


    Therefore, Ning Zhuo had the means tovishly indulge in spiritual food.


    After consuming the spiritual food, he also prepared some pills.


    In addition, his meditation cushion was an excellent auxiliary tool for cultivation.


    Today, another batch of new resources was distributed by the three families. The Sharp Progress Needle and the Ice Light Strong Pulse Talisman made Ning Zhuo¡¯s eyes light up. These were resources usually reserved for top-tier geniuses like Ning Xiaohui!


    Practicing the "Five Elements Qi Regtion Art," cultivating the "Demonic Blood Tendon Technique," and meditating with the "Mirror tform Spirit Technique"¡­


    With resources maxed out, his progress was almost visibly fast.


    At first, five-colored divine light swirled around Ning Zhuo, staining the inneryer of the clouds. Then, his face became covered in red demonic light, with blood energy overflowing. Finally, his aura contracted, and a sense of Buddha-likepassion rose, filling his face with a serene expression.


    Once his body reached its limit of absorption, Ning Zhuo decisively stopped.


    Rapid progress in cultivation wasn¡¯t always good.


    The body, especially the three dantians, needed time to adapt and buffer.


    Improving one¡¯s cultivation too quickly could lead to unstable foundations, which was why caution was necessary.


    However, Ning Zhuo¡¯s resources included many items that elerated adaptation, and he didn¡¯t hesitate to use them.


    ¡°For me, it¡¯s essential to exert all my efforts and seize the Lava Immortal Pce as quickly as possible.¡±


    ¡°Wealth is merely an external possession. If I fail to seize the pce and lose my life, no amount of spiritual stones will matter.¡±


    Ning Zhuo had a deep understanding of this.


    He opened the door to the chamber and walked out.


    He wore a smile on his face.


    The results of this cultivation session were greater than any previous ones.


    ¡°The Sharp Progress Needle and the Ice Light Strong Pulse Talisman were truly effective.¡±


    ¡°If I couldbine them with the Gather-Disperse Spirit Tide Formation, the effect would be even better.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, I can¡¯t use it.¡±


    Ning Zhuo was deeply wary of the Zhou Family¡¯s power and their way of doing things.


    Among the three major families, Ning Zhuo was well-versed in the Ning Family and had some confidence. The Zheng Family was straightforward and easy to predict.


    But the Zhou Family was different.


    In terms of strength, the Zhou Family was undoubtedly the strongest of the three, and even the Zheng Family acknowledged a gap in hard power between them.


    However, in Puppet Immortal City, the most prominent family was not the Zhou Family, but the Zheng Family.


    The Zhou Family members liked to act only after careful nning and were known for their deep schemes. Zhou Zhu was an exception, but Zhou Zhenshen was a true representative of the Zhou Family¡¯s style and characteristics.


    ¡°I identally stumbled upon the Zhou Family¡¯s little scheme using the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.¡±


    ¡°Even now, the Zhou Family has kept it under wraps.¡±


    Ning Zhuo certainly wouldn¡¯t reveal it voluntarily.


    The Zhou Family¡¯s temporary secrecy was to his advantage.


    ¡°Masters, please this way. Young Master Ning Zhuo is in the side hall,¡± the servant said as he led Ning Chen and Ning Yong in.


    Entering the side hall, the two saw Ning Zhuo.


    ¡°Ah Zhuo!¡± Ning Yong raised his arm excitedly and waved.


    Ning Chen smiled and greeted Ning Zhuo with a salute.


    Ning Zhuo waved his hand, ¡°With our rtionship, there¡¯s no need for such formalities. Let¡¯s sit down and chat over some food.¡±


    ¡°Indeed! Why be so polite with Ah Zhuo? We¡¯ve been through life and death together,¡± Ning Yong said as he walked down and saw the various spiritual food pastries on the round table, his eyes widening.


    ¡°Heavens, so much spiritual food!¡± Ning Yong eximed.


    Ning Chen also showed a look of surprise as he sat down.


    Both had been cultivating at home when a servant informed them of Ning Zhuo¡¯s invitation.


    Ning Zhuo had changed considerably since before, and the two now felt a mix of affection, admiration, and hidden guilt toward him, leading them to dly ept the invitation and leave their homes toe here.


    The three chatted in the side hall.


    Ning Yong¡¯s cheeks puffed up as he ate, never deting, as he devoured the food.


    Ning Chen, initially a bit reserved and awkward, also ended up eating a lot after Ning Zhuo¡¯s urging.


    As soon as he saw the two, Ning Zhuo began to exercise the embryonic form of his divine ability, "Life Hanging by a Thread."


    It took him a full two cups of tea¡¯s worth of time to sessfully ce a "Life Hanging by a Thread" on each of their heads.


    However,pared to his older cousin Ning Ji and his aunt Wang Lan, the threads on Ning Chen and Ning Yong were much thinner and semi-transparent.


    ¡°Knowing the target influences the execution of the ¡®Life Hanging by a Thread¡¯ technique so much!¡±


    Ning Zhuo reflected inwardly.


    The embryonic form of the divine ability only informed him that he had mastered the technique.


    It was like growing legs, making Ning Zhuo aware that he could walk and run. But how far he could walk, how fast he could run, and how high he could jump¡ªthese all required Ning Zhuo to figure out through practice.


    Only through practice could one gain true knowledge.


    Now, Ning Zhuo realized his previous estimates were overly optimistic.


    ¡°Ning Chen and Ning Yong have been my ssmates for fourteen years. Although we weren¡¯t particrly close, we¡¯re familiar with each other and know each other¡¯s general information.¡±


    ¡°My cultivation is higher than theirs, yet it still took two cups of tea¡¯s time to ce the threads.¡±


    This indicated that the "Life Hanging by a Thread" divine ability had limited value in actualbat.


    Most opponents in battle wouldn¡¯t be familiar.


    In the heat ofbat, with rapid offensive and defensive exchanges and the threat of life, who could methodically connect the "Life Hanging by a Thread"?


    At least for now, Ning Zhuo couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°This divine ability is primarily for managing influence rather than excelling inbat.¡±


    ¡°Unless I prepare in advance andy down the threads beforehand.¡±


    ¡°But from what I see now, cing the threads requires the targets to be very close¡ªbeyond three steps, it¡¯s nearly impossible!¡±


    With the "Life Hanging by a Thread" finally ced, Ning Zhuo stopped chatting and took the initiative to speak, ¡°I invited you two here to give you a hand.¡±


    ¡°Your cultivation is currentlygging behind mine. I¡¯ve reached the peak of the thirdyer and have plenty of experience.¡±


    ¡°I can pass all this experience on to you.¡±


    Ning Yong and Ning Chen exchanged nces, both seeing the joy in each other¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°This is wonderful!¡± Ning Yong cheered.


    Ning Chen stood up with a solemn expression and bowed deeply to Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo immediately stood up and smiled as he helped him up.


    Seeing this, Ning Yong quickly followed suit, bowing and thanking him.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been ssmates for over ten years and have been through life and death together¡ªno need for such formality,¡± Ning Zhuo said with a heartyugh. ¡°How about this, you twoe with me to the cultivation chamber, and I¡¯ll personally guide you.¡±


    The three of them then entered the main house¡¯s cultivation chamber.


    ¡°This is the main family¡¯s chamber. In our house, my grandfather uses it the most, followed by my father. I only get to use it asionally,¡± Ning Yong sighed. ¡°Ah Zhuo, it seems your uncle treats you quite well.¡±


    Ning Chen chuckled lightly, ¡°It must be Ah Zhuo¡¯s uncle¡¯s recent change of heart! If the stories of mistreatment were just rumors, they couldn¡¯t have persisted throughout his ten years of school life.¡±


    Ning Zhuo smiled but neither confirmed nor denied it, saying, ¡°My uncle has a secret mission. He¡¯s been out on an assignment recently, so I¡¯ve been able to use this chamber.¡±


    This was the official exnation.


    The incident involving Ning Ze hadn¡¯t escted and was confined to a few people.


    On one hand, Ning Xiaoren knew it was his own scheme, so he wouldn¡¯t spread it. On the other hand, Ning Ze cared about his reputation and wouldn¡¯t disclose it even under threat of death. Finally, Ning Ze had no motivation to reveal this scandal to the outside world. Wang Lan and Ning Ji were busy trying to keep the secret, so why would they spread it?


    Ning Zhuo had the two sit down.


    Both of them were part of the modification team and took out their meditation cushions from their storage bags, starting to absorb energy.


    Ning Zhuo moved around them, immediately beginning to apply acupuncture needles.


    They also had their own sets of Sharp Progress Needles and Ice Light Strong Pulse Talismans.


    Ning Zhuo used their own sets of Sharp Progress Needles but used a mix of their and his own Ice Light Strong Pulse Talismans.


    This was ayer of concealment, a precautionary measure.

 Chapter 110: A Series of Victories, Chillingly Cold

    Ning Zhuo asionally came behind Ning Chen or Ning Yong, cing his hand on their backs to help them control the Sharp Progress Needle, and to open up their qi meridians ahead of time.


    The cultivation levels of the two were behind Ning Zhuo, and many of their qi meridians had not yet been opened.


    Ning Zhuo had long since reached the peak of the thirdyer and had now broken through to the fourthyer. He was very familiar with these qi meridians, like a local guiding outsiders through unfamiliar territory.


    The Ice Light Strong Pulse Talisman and the Sharp Progress Needle formed a very cleverbination.


    The newly opened qi meridians were still weak and unstable. At this moment, the Ice Light Strong Pulse Talisman was immediately applied, which could stabilize them, saving the cultivators a lot of time on the subsequent nurturing and conditioning.


    Soon, Ning Chen and Ning Yong each had a breakthrough!


    Ning Zhuo kept a close watch and gave guidance whenever necessary.


    When Ning Chen and Ning Yong first began circting their new spiritual power pathways, it was still quite strenuous for them.


    But at this moment, Ning Zhuo secretly controlled the Life Hanging by a Thread ability, directly guiding their physical bodies, helping them adjust their breathing, and continuously optimizing their rhythm.At the same time, he also drew on a trace of the power of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, guiding their thoughts so they wouldn''t realize the truth, only believing that Ning Zhuo was teaching them well and that they were learning excellently!


    A cultivator¡¯s daily breathing exercises also had a limit to how much they could endure.


    Ning Chen was the first to reach his limit, followed shortly by Ning Yong.


    Only then did Ning Zhuo withdraw his palm from their backs and say, "You two should rest and adjust your breathing. I''ll wait for you outside."


    Ning Zhuo was the first to leave the cultivation chamber.


    Not long after, Ning Chen and Ning Yong emerged one after the other, both looking exhausted.


    It was Ning Chen who first saluted, deeply grateful for Ning Zhuo''s guidance.


    Ning Yong scratched his head, unable to imitate Ning Chen¡¯s eloquence, and simply said, "Me too!"


    Ning Zhuoughed heartily, indicating that it was just a small matter within his capability.


    Ning Chen, with a serious expression, bowed deeply, "Brother Ning Zhuo, if you ever need anything in the future, just let me know."


    Ning Zhuo nodded and smiled. Ning Chen was very perceptive, something that Ning Yongcked a bit.


    But Ning Yong wasn¡¯t entirely dull. After hearing Ning Chen''s words, he immediately realized and quickly added, "I-I feel the same!"


    Ning Zhuo then said, "In fact, there is something I need you two to help me with right now."


    Ning Chen breathed a sigh of relief and quickly asked what it was.


    Ning Zhuo then informed them that they needed to visit the Monkey Head Gang''s headquarters to find the current gang leader, Yuan Er.


    Yuan Er was seated in the main seat.


    Below him, numerous gang elders were engaged in a heated debate.


    Their voices were loud, and during arguments, they would often bang on the table, curse, and shout to see who could be louder.


    The once solemn council hall was now in chaos, resembling a noisy marketce.


    Yuan Er''s face was ashen.


    Without Yuan Dasheng¡¯s support, these elders had all be bold!


    Yuan Er couldn''t get a word in, feeling like a puppet. Although he sat in the main seat, no one respected him.


    On the surface, the elders were arguing, but in truth, they were all mocking Yuan Er.


    Yuan Er could clearly feel that his already pitiful authority was rapidly disintegrating.


    "What should I do?"


    "Who can help me?"


    As if hearing Yuan Er''s inner prayer, Ning Chen and Ning Yong were led in by the gang members.


    Ning Chen''s face was serious, while Ning Yong, with his head held high, led the way into the council hall, directly calling out, "Leader Yuan Er, my master has something to discuss with you."


    The council hall fell silent.


    The gang elders all turned their heads, looking at the two young cultivators in the Qi Refining stage.


    Their gazes simultaneously focused on the identity badges at their waists.


    The Ning family?!


    A hint of joy shed in Yuan Er¡¯s eyes as he slowly stood up and carefully chose his words, "Does Mister Ning Zhuo have business with me?"


    Ning Chen nodded, "Indeed. I request that the leader step aside so we can discuss the details."


    "Certainly, certainly." Yuan Er had already been feeling out of ce here, as if sitting on pins and needles.


    This was undoubtedly the best way out.


    "Please, this way," Yuan Er gestured.


    Ning Chen took the lead.


    Before leaving, Ning Yong boldly waved to the gang elders, "Ah, you all continue, keep chatting."


    The elders no longer had the previous fiery enthusiasm. Although they continued their discussion, one by one, they began to lose focus.


    "When did Yuan Er start associating with the Ning family?"


    "Who is Young Master Ning Zhuo? I¡¯ve never heard of him."


    "Go back and investigate immediately!"


    Yuan Er led Ning Chen and Ning Yong into a secluded room and learned that they hade to request all of Yuan Dasheng¡¯s personal belongings.


    "For what reason?" Yuan Er asked, puzzled.


    Ning Chen then recited what Ning Zhuo had instructed, "Young Master Ning Zhuo keeps his promises. When he personally creates the Mechanical Ape for you, he naturally wants to put in his utmost effort."


    "Since the main material is Yuan Dasheng¡¯s corpse, the Mechanical Ape should closely mimic Yuan Dasheng¡¯sbat habits to fully utilize the advantages of the raw material."


    Hearing this, Yuan Er found it very reasonable and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, that makes sense."


    "Uncle Dasheng was skilled in closebat. His bones, honed through countless battles and fights, had long been refined to perfectlyplement his martial skills."


    "I¡¯ll gather all the recordings of Uncle Dasheng¡¯s lifetime battles for Mister Ning Zhuo¡¯s reference."


    "As for his daily items, are they really necessary?"


    Ning Chen shook his head, "No, this was Young Master Ning Zhuo¡¯s personal request. Creating a puppet is likeposing a poem¡ªit requires inspiration."


    "You can think of the Mechanical Ape as a poem dedicated to Yuan Dasheng."


    "Young Master Ning Zhuo naturally needs to feel Yuan Dasheng¡¯s essence through these daily items and various materials topose a better poem."


    "It¡¯s best to collect everything rted to Yuan Dasheng and bring it to us."


    "The moreplete the collection, the better the final product will be."


    Yuan Er nodded repeatedly, "I understand, I understand!"


    These days, he had been having a rough time, and the trend was clear¡ªit would only get worse in the future!


    No one wanted the Mechanical Ape more than Yuan Er.


    "Although Uncle Dasheng is no longer with us, he¡¯ll be with me in another form, protecting me and maintaining control over the Monkey Head Gang!"


    Ning Chen and Ning Yongpleted the task perfectly.


    They returned with arge number of items, all closely rted to Yuan Dasheng.


    The reason Ning Zhuo collected these was to supplement the spirituality of the Golden Blood Battle Ape¡¤Dasheng.


    ording to the *Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra*, everything has spirituality. When the spirituality is strong, it will dissipate outward. Therefore, daily items often carry rted spirituality.


    Some personal items of great cultivators, after long periods of use, often develop some degree of sentience.


    Although Yuan Dasheng wasn¡¯t a great cultivator, he hadn¡¯t been dead for long, so many of his personal items still retained some of his spirituality.


    And since this spirituality came from the same source, its supplementation efficiency was very high!


    This was also the most feasible n for Ning Zhuo at the moment.


    "Next, I¡¯ll need to train in the *Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra*, then find an opportunity to refine these items to extract their spirituality."


    "Apart from the spirituality issue, the Golden Blood Battle Ape¡¤Dasheng itself also needs better repairs."


    Ning Zhuo also had to consider how to handle the aftermath when the Zhou family discovered the Golden Blood Battle Ape¡¤Dasheng.


    "Hmm?"


    Ning Zhuo checked the jade slip provided by Yuan Er.


    The images in the jade slip recorded some of Yuan Dasheng¡¯s martial arts exercises and realbat scenes.


    This opened Ning Zhuo''s eyes.


    Especially abo that Yuan Dasheng used inbat left a deep impression on him.


    When Yuan Dasheng encountered a formidable enemy, he would first pretend to be unable to fight and flee.


    When the enemy pursued closely, he would suddenly squat down, reach back, and perform a downward hooking move. At that moment, his arm seemed to lengthen and always managed to strike the opponent.


    This was a martial skill that Yuan Dasheng gradually understood and perfected through realbat in street fights and beast battles¡ª*Backward Hook*.


    In the recorded images, Yuan Dasheng, in his middle age, also developed another martial skill¡ª*Sun Crushing Hand*!


    When practicing *Sun Crushing Hand*, he started by crushing wooden balls, then stone balls, andter iron balls, and steel balls¡­ Gradually progressing, the attack became terrifying, making Ning Zhuo feel a chilling sensation as he watched.


    Ning Zhuo sighed, "First the Backward Hook, then the Sun Crushing Hand. These two martial skills form abo, filled with a ruthless and sinister style. Yuan Dasheng is truly worthy of having fought his way up from the bottom. He¡¯s so grounded!"


    A thought struck him, "Perhaps when I repair Yuan


    Dasheng, I can take this direction and modify him ordingly."


    "If he gains sufficient spirituality, he might even replicate his former favoritebo."


    Just the thought of it filled Ning Zhuo with great anticipation.

 Chapter 111: A Decisive Move with Full Spirituality

    Huoshi Immortal City.


    The Ning family''s carriage moved along the street at a moderate pace.


    Pedestrians along the way consciously stepped aside.


    This was because the carriage bore therge character "Ning" on both the carriage and the g. The carriage itself exuded the aura of multiple magical instruments, indicating its high status¡ªtypically reserved for important figures.


    Even without recognizing these signs, onlookers could easily identify the grandeur¡ªa total of eight cultivators guarded the carriage, four at the Qi Refining Stage and four at the Foundation Establishment Stage.


    From such a disy, even a fool could understand that the carriage must be carrying an important member of the Ning family.


    However, the one seated inside was Ning Zhuo.


    The geniuses of the Qi Refining Stage from the four major forces in Huoshi Immortal City had recently been targeted by assassinations in rapid session.


    The four forces, being severely provoked, not only strengthened their cooperation but also enhanced the protection of their geniuses.Ning Zhuo, as a result, benefited from this and was able to travel in a carriage of such high standards.


    At this moment, he sat cross-legged inside the carriage, surrounded by floating clouds.


    The Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators of the Ning family used their spiritual senses to probe the scene and couldn''t help but admire Ning Zhuo''s diligence.


    Those who had guarded him for a long time gradually realized how hard he worked in his daily cultivation. He had pushed himself to the extreme, almost never engaging in leisure or rxation.


    It was as if some terrifying beast were chasing him from behind, and if he slowed down even a little, he would be devoured!


    The floating clouds could shield the fluctuations of his breathing exercises, though even if the fluctuations were revealed, it wouldn''t matter.


    After all, when a cultivation technique reaches its limit, it still requires daily breathing exercises to refine new mana for use.


    Covering each session with floating clouds was reasonable.


    Given his past of hardship and loneliness, and the recent assassination attempts, anyone would have a profound sense of insecurity. Using such actions to slightly fill this void of safety was understandable.


    But in fact, Ning Zhuo was remotely controlling Yuan Dasheng!


    Ning Zhuo first took out the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, and secretly ced it in Ning Ze''s residence.


    Once he left the family''s territory and boarded the carriage, drawing everyone''s attention, he quietly began to remotely control Yuan Dasheng, activating it to start another operation.


    With the Mirror tform Spirit Technique, Ning Zhuo could constantly monitor the surroundings of Yuan Dasheng.


    With the Heart Seal nted by the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, Ning Zhuo could control Yuan Dasheng even without spiritual sense or puppet strings.


    Moreover, Yuan Dasheng itself was intelligent enough to understand rtivelyplex instructions¡­ This made Ning Zhuo''s operation highly likely to seed.


    Yuan Dasheng donned the Cang Tie Han Armor, which had the ability to disguise itself. This time, it disguised itself as an ordinary cultivator.


    As Ning Zhuo sat in the carriage, Yuan Dasheng walked down another nearby street, blending in with the passing pedestrians.


    When it neared Ning Zhuo''s small courtyard, Yuan Dasheng quickly slipped into an alleyway. Seeing no one around, it dove into the sewer.


    Somewhere in the sewer, it made contact with a specific wall brick, activating a hidden teleportation array.


    The next moment, Ning Zhuo felt a significant weakening in his control as Yuan Dasheng was teleported to an underground base.


    This ce currently held Han Ming captive. It was also Ning Zhuo''s transit point every time he visited the ck market and where he had once stored his Fire Essence.


    Yuan Dasheng approached the furnace.


    It opened its storage bag, dumping everything inside into the furnace.


    Afterward, it shut the furnace door, infused it with spiritual power, and slowly increased the furnace''s power.


    As the temperature of the air rose, the red glow gradually dispelled the surrounding darkness.


    The Cang Tie Han Armor still covered Yuan Dasheng.


    It sat cross-legged in front of the furnace and, with Ning Zhuo''s help, began to activate the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra!


    Spiritual power followed the sutra''s path, gradually revealing its profound abilities.


    Within the furnace, red mes burned fiercely, quickly melting all the items rted to Yuan Dasheng.


    From the mes, specks of pink light rose.


    The pink light danced gracefully at the tips of the mes, like snowkes.


    When the cremation ended, and Yuan Dasheng opened the furnace door, these specks of spiritual light, like young swallows returning home, naturally flew into Yuan Dasheng''s embrace, filling its spirit.


    The original seven-point-nine spirit quickly climbed.


    After a few breaths, some of the pink light particles circled outside Yuan Dasheng''s body, unable to enter, and regretfully dissipated.


    This was because Yuan Dasheng''s spirit was nowplete!


    Full spiritual essence!


    Self-sufficient spirit!


    This was an absolute qualitative change. From now on, Yuan Dasheng''s spirit could restore itself, no longer relying solely on external supplements.


    "Very good, very good!" Ning Zhuo smiled inside the carriage, though he looked exhausted.


    After all, it was his first time fully activating the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra, and he did it remotely.


    Fortunately, his soul was deeply rooted, and his mind was sharp. His current Mirror tform Spirit Technique had already reached the sixth level. Such a level of cultivation made it stand out among his three techniques!


    "Return by the original route." Ning Zhuo issued thismand, but in the next moment, his smile froze.


    From the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, came a very clear refusal!


    Ning Zhuo: ?!!


    The Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, controlled by the Cang Tie Han Armor, slowly stood up.


    It looked around in confusion, then looked down at its hands and body, feeling utterly perplexed.


    It didn''t know who it was, nor where it was.


    Ning Zhuo hurriedly issued anothermand!


    As a result, Yuan Dasheng felt a voice in its mind, telling it what to do.


    But Yuan Dasheng chose not to listen to this voice. Instead, it ced a hand on its chest.


    Deep within its heart, there was a strong emotion of anger and hatred, like a flood from an opened gate, surging forth and overwhelming it.


    Yuan Dasheng was almost instantly buried by this intense emotion.


    It let out a low roar, emitting a tragic ape howl.


    The sound startled Han Ming in her cell.


    Han Ming had been resting and recuperating these past few days.


    Before Ning Zhuo left, he had loosened her restraints. Although she was still chained, her range of movement now covered half of the cell.


    At the same time, Ning Zhuo had set up mechanisms here to feed Han Ming at regr intervals.


    Considering Han Ming''s needs, Ning Zhuo had added a small woodenpartment in a corner of the cell, containing a waste bucket.


    When the bucket''s contents umted to a certain level, a floor tile at the bottom would open, and water would spray in, flushing the waste away.


    To prevent Han Ming from feeling lonely, Ning Zhuo had also ced some books in the cell, covering a wide range of topics, to help her pass the time.


    Even so, Han Ming was about to lose it!


    She longed to see the young puppet master. Even seeing a cockroach would lift her spirits and bring her a sense of happiness.


    So, when she heard the ape''s howl, she was instantly horrified, then overjoyed.


    She quickly ran toward the cell door, but the chains yanked her back midway.


    Han Ming fell onto the cold floor tiles, screaming toward the cell door, "I''m here, I''m here!"


    "Master, is that you? Have youe?"


    Yuan Dasheng heard Han Ming''s voice but paid no attention.


    The intense hatred subsided as quickly as it hade, like ayer of ice on the sea''s surface. Beneath the icey the vast ocean, filled with endless sorrow.


    The sorrow was so overwhelming that it buried Yuan Dasheng''s spirit deep within.


    Yuan Dasheng''s eyes, which had been mechanical and lifeless, now revealed an incredibly deep sadness and grief.


    It moved slowly, its footsteps heavy, like a walking corpse, and left the underground base through the teleportation array.


    Han Ming was still screaming, struggling as if trying to resist, not wanting the dungeon to return to its silent state.


    "Please, master, are you out there?"


    "Please, I don''t want to be locked up anymore!"


    "I''ll do anything, just let me out; I can''t take it anymore! Sob, sob¡­"


    Han Ming broke down.


    The underground base returned to its calm, as if the despair of life had gripped her throat.


    She cried for a long time until she passed out.


    Ning Zhuo, through Yuan Dasheng, sensed Han Ming''s movements, but he could no longer care!


    "Yuan Dasheng, stop, halt!"


    "Return by the original route, return by the original route!!"


    Ning Zhuo desperatelymunicated with Yuan Dasheng through the Mirror tform Spirit Technique.


    But it was useless!


    Yuan Dasheng''s spirit refused to follow themand.


    "Full spirit! Who would''ve thought there''d be such a drawback!"


    Ning Zhuo, sitting in the carriage, was extremely nervous. If Yuan Dasheng were exposed, it would directly point to his fatal w.


    The Heart Seal!


    The Buddha Heart Demon Seal!!


    Ning Zhuo closed his eyes tightly, trying to resonate with the seal, causing blood to quickly flow from both nostrils.


    It was no use.


    He was only at the Qi Refining


    Stage and could only draw out a tiny bit of the seal''s power. The distance between him and Yuan Dasheng was too far, and with Yuan Dasheng acting on its own, the distance was growing even more.


    Even using the Heart Seal only made Yuan Dasheng''s movements stiffen slightly, slowing it down but having no decisive effect.


    Through the Mirror tform Spirit Technique, Ning Zhuo saw that Yuan Dasheng had already left the sewer, exited the alley, and entered the bustling street.


    For a moment, Ning Zhuo had the urge to jump out of the carriage and run directly toward Yuan Dasheng.


    But he quickly suppressed such a foolish thought.


    "Calm down, calm down."


    Ning Zhuo''s breathing steadied, his eyes filled with cold light.


    He told himself to stay calm, and to his surprise, he adjusted his mindset almost instantly.


    The efficiency of this adjustment left him a little astonished.


    He quickly assessed the situation.


    Yuan Dasheng was covered in the Cang Tie Han Armor, not in its ape form, but as an ordinary cultivator. In Huoshi Immortal City, this was unremarkable.


    "The situation isn''t the worst yet."


    "Emotions have strong impacts, but they don''tst. The previous rage and hatred were quickly reced by sorrow."


    "Once the emotions subside to a certain level, my control over Yuan Dasheng will return."


    "On the contrary, if I loseposure, jump off the carriage, and run near Yuan Dasheng, that would be the biggest mistake."


    Amid the floating clouds, Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, fully calming himself.


    With so many guards around him, he needed to continue heading to the Zheng family.


    "Even if Yuan Dasheng is exposed, I still have my final trump card."


    "This sudden change is nothingpared to the crisis of renaming the leaderboard or the plot to kill Yuan Dasheng."


    Since the bombing of the Immortal Pce, Ning Zhuo had grown rapidly.


    Not only had his cultivation advanced, but so had his temperament.


    The pressure of difficulties, challenges, and death had stripped away his mortal bones, giving him a trace of a strongman''s demeanor.

 Chapter 112: A Frightening Experience but No Harm Done

    "Brother Ning!" At the entrance of the Zheng Family residence, Zheng Jian personally greeted Ning Zhuo.


    This was Ning Zhuo''s first official visit to the Zheng Family.


    The Zheng Family treated him with great ceremony, directly opening the main gate¡ªa rare honor, especially considering that Ning Zhuo was merely at the Qi Refining Stage.


    Not only that, but they also had Zheng Jian himself wee him.


    "Zheng Brother, you troubled yourself toe greet me," Ning Zhuo said as he stepped down from the carriage. Upon seeing Zheng Jian, he was momentarily surprised, but then his expression turned into one of deep gratitude, feeling moved by the respect shown to him.


    At this time, Zheng Jian had not yet fully recovered from his injuries, with bandages wrapped almost entirely around his body.


    Heughed heartily, "Don¡¯t be fooled by how I look. My injuries have stabilized. How could a son of the Zheng Family neglect a friend over such minor wounds?"


    "Come, I''ll take you to the artifact refining room."


    After the three families deepened their cooperation, they opened up some of their facilities to each other, such as the Ning Family¡¯s talisman-making room, the Zhou Family¡¯s various formations, and the Zheng Family¡¯s artifact refining room.The most popr, of course, was the Zhou Family¡¯s *Gather-Disperse Spirit Tide Formation*. Everyone who used it praised it, and it was currently so overbooked that cultivators were being put on a waiting list.


    The second most popr was the Zheng Family''s artifact refining room.


    Many of the Zheng and Zhou families'' facilities were even better than those of the City Lord''s Mansion.


    Back when Puppet Immortal City was being constructed, the Southern Dou Court provided most of the funds, but the Zhou and Zheng families also made significant contributions.


    Therefore, once the city waspleted, these two families were given the two best plots ofnd and were in charge of two of the formation pirs, gaining the most advantageous conditions in certain respects.


    The Zhou Family obtained the most spacious area for arranging formations, allowing them greater freedom to operate. The Zheng Family had ess to the most abundant high-quality earth mes, making it convenient for them to refine artifacts.


    From a broader perspective, this was a contest between local forces and the central court.


    ¡­


    On the street, the flow of people was unceasing.


    Yuan Dasheng walked with difficulty, his head lowered.


    As he walked, he collided with pedestrians, but remained unmoved.


    Some people were knocked to the ground by him, but they chose not to cause trouble, merely muttering a fewints before walking away sullenly.


    After all, Yuan Dasheng, wearing his Cang Tie Han Armor, was tall and imposing, exuding the aura of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator. His expressionless face,bined with a strong sense of sorrow as if he had lost all hope, made it clear that he was not someone to be trifled with!


    ¡­


    Under Zheng Jian''s guidance, Ning Zhuo arrived at an artifact refining room.


    Ning Zhuo looked around and couldn''t help but exim in admiration.


    The refining room was well-equipped with advanced tools, many of which Ning Zhuo was seeing for the first time, having only read about them in books before.


    As the various arts of cultivation had developed to this day, each field had be highly specialized, making it difficult for someone to excel across different disciplines. Unlike in ancient times, when the threshold for various arts was rtively low, a single cultivator could use one cauldron to both refine pills and craft artifacts. Nowadays, even cauldrons were specialized, used exclusively for either pill refining, artifact crafting, and so on.


    Zheng Jian handed over a jade slip. "Our Zheng Family has stocked a lot of materials. It''s an exaggeration to say we have everything, but we definitely have more than what''s avable on the market."


    "As long as it¡¯s listed in this jade slip, feel free to use it, Brother Ning."


    "ording to the agreement between our three families, any materials consumed will be converted to market value and ounted for in each family¡¯s share of the expenses."


    After saying this, Zheng Jian handed over another jade slip. "These materials are from my personal share. Brother Ning, you can use them as well."


    This was clearly a gesture of goodwill.


    Ning Zhuo smiled and epted it graciously. "Thank you, Zheng Brother."


    "If you''re not too busy, why not stay? I''m nning to use your refining room to craft some mechanicalponents," Ning Zhuo suggested.


    "This is a design I''ve created for the mechanism. I''d appreciate your advice, Zheng Brother." Ning Zhuo proactively offered a jade slip.


    Zheng Jian was pleasantly surprised, realizing that Ning Zhuo had epted his family''s goodwill and immediately reciprocated.


    "Brother Ning, you were able to design the Mechanical Explosive Monkey. My understanding of mechanism techniques is too shallow to show off. Your generosity is humbling; I look forward to appreciating your new creation." Zheng Jian immediately epted the jade slip.


    Although he wasn''t particrly interested in mechanism techniques, thepetition for the Lava Immortal Pce and Ning Zhuo''s previous disy of incredible mechanism skills made Zheng Jian eager to see this new design.


    As he unrolled it, he found it was for a mechanical monkey.


    Upon closer inspection, he realized that this mechanical monkey was not designed for harvesting Huoshi Fruits but was clearly intended forbat.


    The more Zheng Jian looked at it, the more his eyes gleamed, bing so engrossed in the blueprint that he fell silent.


    Ning Zhuo paid him no mind and walked straight to a corner, picked up some tools, and began stoking the fire and blowing air to ignite the furnace.


    ¡­


    Yuan Dasheng had just passed through the western gate of Puppet Immortal City, heading towards the wilderness.


    The number of pedestrians around him quickly dwindled.


    Step by step, he walked into the wilderness on the western side of Mount Huoshi, his massive figure exuding an intense sense of loneliness and sorrow.


    Finally, he stopped in a deste area, sitting on an unremarkable hill, staring nkly at everything around him, watching the sky and the clouds.


    ¡­


    Ning Zhuo exhaled a murky breath and carefully flipped his wrist, pouring the melted silver into the mold.


    Zheng Jian then made a hand seal, guiding the molten silver to quickly spread and fill every corner of the mold.


    Ning Zhuo ced his palm on the wall and activated the formation.


    Immediately, a cold current gushed down from the ceiling, rapidly cooling the heated mold, freezing it into a block of ice.


    Zheng Jian waved his hand, dispelling the cold air, then took out an oddly shaped mechanicalponent.


    This was thest piece.


    With the help of the Zheng Family¡¯s artifact refining room and the assistance of Zheng Jian, a talented cultivator skilled in artifact refining, Ning Zhuopleted the creation of all the mechanicalponents in far less time than he had originally nned.


    The next step was to assemble andbine them.


    Without any unexpected issues, the assembly was smooth, and soon, a mechanical ape skeleton, eight feet tall, stood before the two of them.


    Zheng Jian clicked his tongue in admiration. "Just by looking at this skeleton, it has over a hundred movable joints. The finished mechanical ape will surely be extremely agile, but it will also require a high level of control from the cultivator. Many people might not be able to fully unleash its potential."


    Ning Zhuo replied, "I designed this for myself. I intentionally made it this way so that I would have plenty of room to improve my skills in controlling mechanical creations."


    "Alright, next we¡¯ll set up the formation."


    "Then, install the formation disk and so on."


    "Filling in the body structure and other tasks willeter."


    Zheng Jian nodded, his face full of joy. "Let''s follow your n, Brother Ning. I''ll assist you every step of the way."


    Despite his injuries, Zheng Jian insisted on participating in the entire process. On one hand, it allowed him to directly observe Ning Zhuo¡¯s level of skill in mechanism techniques, and on the other hand, it provided him with excellent training, enhancing his own understanding of mechanisms.


    After two days and one night, theypleted the task.


    "Why don¡¯t you stay at my ce for the night? You can leave tomorrow morning," Zheng Jian suggested, trying to persuade him.


    Having been involved in the entire process, Zheng Jian had gained a lot and experienced the brilliance and joy of mechanism techniques. He candidly said, "Brother Ning, I¡¯d love to talk with you all night by candlelight!"


    Ning Zhuo smiled wryly and pointed to the bandages covering Zheng Jian¡¯s body.


    The once white bandages were now stained with blood in several ces and were covered in ck soot.


    "Zheng Brother, you really need to take care of your injuries."


    "This time, you assisted me throughout. I¡¯m extremely grateful, but if I stay any longer, your family might have some objections."


    "In the future, there will surely be opportunities for us to chat in depth!"


    Zheng Jianughed heartily. "Alright, alright."


    "By the way, I almost forgot to tell you."


    "In a few days, our three families will be conducting a joint operation, and we need you to lead it."


    "The rest of us who are injured won''t be able to participate."


    Although the geniuses of the three families could still send their souls into the Lava Immortal Pce, the physical injuries they had sustained required their souls to remain in their bodies during the recovery period.


    Otherwise, the new flesh would grow improperly and would not perfectly match the soul. This could create many obstacles for their future cultivation, reducing their cultivation efficiency. Over time, the cumtive damage would be uneptable.


    As night fell, Ning Zhuo left the Zheng Family by


    carriage.


    Puppet Immortal City had no curfew, and Yuan Dasheng had also entered the city.


    Before Ning Zhuo reached the family residence, Yuan Dasheng had already snuck into Ning Ze¡¯s home, quietly waiting for Ning Zhuo¡¯s return.


    As Ning Zhuo had previously anticipated, emotions would eventually dissipate.


    The stronger the emotion, the less it could endure.


    After sitting in the wilderness for two days and one night, Yuan Dasheng''s emotions ebbed away like receding tides, exposing the spirit beneath, which once again obeyed orders and acted asmanded.


    However, the sorrow still lingered, like a heavy shroud over its spirit.


    Controlling Yuan Dasheng was no longer as easy as before for Ning Zhuo.


    "ording to the *Treatise on Spirits*, after the Spirit Prolongation stagees the Spirit Activity stage."


    "With ten percent of its spirit fully developed, Yuan Dasheng has moved beyond the Spirit Prolongation stage and entered the Spirit Activity stage."


    "So this so-called Spirit Activity manifests as this uncontroble behavior?"


    "If it experiences another emotional surge, I¡¯ll be unable to control it again!"


    Ning Zhuo definitely did not want to go through such a terrible experience again.


    "There must be a way to solve this problem in the Lava Immortal Pce." Ning Zhuo thought.


    This issue needed to be resolved quickly.


    "I can''t just soul-enter the Lava Immortal Pce for no reason; too many people are watching me."


    "The best opportunity will be during the three families'' joint operation in a few days!"

 Chapter 113: Ning Xiaoren and the Suspended Thread of Life

    ¡°Uncle Xiaoren, that''s how things are.¡± Ning Zhuo returned to the family and informed Ning Xiaoren about the exploration of the Immortal Pce that Zheng Jian had mentioned.


    ¡°I think, as a member of the Ning family, it might have been a bit inappropriate to agree on the spot.¡±


    ¡°So, I came back specifically to consult you, Uncle Xiaoren. Do you think I should agree?¡±


    ¡°You were willing to share such an important matter with me, letting me help you decide. This shows that you trust me. I''m very pleased!¡± Ning Xiaoren patted Ning Zhuo on the shoulder, sighing deeply with a contented expression.


    He felt very gratified by Ning Zhuo¡¯s understanding and thoughtfulness.


    In fact, he had long known about this decision that the three families had agreed upon.


    The Ning family was bound to send Ning Zhuo to participate!


    On one hand, the Ning family needed to maintain its influence within the three-family alliance. They needed to contribute continuously to secure the current share of resources.


    On the other hand, ording to the contract agreed upon by the three families, with Ning Zhuo''sbat prowess intact, it would be unreasonable not to have him participate.Ning Zhuo actually had no choice in the matter.


    Whether he agreed or not, he had to agree.


    Of course, Ning Xiaoren wouldn''t say this outright.


    What satisfied Ning Xiaoren most was that Ning Zhuo didn''t act on his own this time but came back to seek his advice, demonstrating obedience.


    At this moment, Ning Xiaoren deeply felt that the efforts he had put into winning over Ning Zhuo had not been in vain and were entirely worth it!


    ¡°Since everyone values you so highly, you should go.¡±


    ¡°Perform well. The Ning family is about to have a third cultivator at the peak of the thirdyer.¡±


    ¡°This time, you alone represent our Ning family.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be afraid. Remember, the entire Ning family is your support!¡±


    After a pause, Ning Xiaoren continued, ¡°However, although you¡¯ve been appointed as the leader, you don''t have any n members by your side to assist you.¡±


    ¡°But the Zheng family cultivators should take the initiative to join forces with us.¡±


    ¡°The Zhou family is the real target you need to be wary of. They have thergest numbers and are likely not to follow your orders. You should be mentally prepared for this.¡±


    Ning Zhuo looked surprised and was slightly astonished in his heart.


    From Ning Xiaoren''s words, Ning Zhuo quickly realized that this young n leader had sharp power and foresight.


    He had analyzed the internal dynamics of the three-family alliance thoroughly. Even though the action had not officially started, he had already predicted the future.


    This aligned with Ning Zhuo''s expectations.


    On second thought, Ning Zhuo found it reasonable that Ning Xiaoren had such insight.


    ¡°The Ning family has always implemented a policy of strengthening the strong and weakening the weak. Ning Xiaoren has personally suppressed many branch families. In contrast, the n leader stays behind the scenes. He only steps in when matters be too difficult to resolve.¡±


    ¡°Ning Xiaoren has been on the front lines for years. Without the ability to navigate power struggles, how could he have held the position of young n leader for so many years?¡±


    Ning Zhuo bowed and saluted, ¡°Uncle Xiaoren, I will keep your advice firmly in mind!¡±


    ¡°If this situation arises, what should I do?¡±


    Ning Zhuo asked, his expression innocent.


    Ning Xiaoren pondered, ¡°On one hand, you should take good care of the Zheng family cultivators and give them some genuine support. On the other hand, you need to achieve sess. If you can lead them to continuously break through in the Lava Immortal Pce, others will naturally gravitate toward you. Even the Zhou family will acknowledge your strength.¡±


    Ning Zhuo nodded, ¡°I understand, Uncle Xiaoren.¡±


    ¡°Well then, if I lead them to a sessful exploration, will the family reward me?¡±


    The young n leader was taken aback.


    Since taking office, he had never encountered such a straightforward request.


    A surge of disgust and repulsion suddenly welled up in Ning Xiaoren''s heart.


    Outwardly, he maintained his smile, extended a finger, and pointed at Ning Zhuo, ¡°Aren''t you already quite wealthy? I heard that you even take care of others, generously sharing Spirit Food with them.¡±


    Ning Xiaoren spoke casually, as if it were of no consequence, but deep down, he was quite wary of Ning Zhuo¡¯s actions!


    What did this signify?


    It was the formation of cliques, the building of factions!


    If Ning Zhuo weren¡¯t still in the Qi Refining Stage, not the Foundation Establishment Stage, and if he weren¡¯t currently of great use to the Ning family, Ning Xiaoren would have long since suppressed him.


    Ning Zhuo had already prepared his exnation. He scratched his head, ¡°Uncle Xiaoren, they are all my fellow ssmates. I genuinely want to help them.¡±


    ¡°Especially Ning Chen and Ning Yong, they have fought life and death battles with me. I help them, and they help me. We trust each otherpletely.¡±


    ¡°As for money, I never thought I was particrly wealthy.¡±


    ¡°I never feel like I have too much money!¡±


    Ning Xiaoren deeply agreed with this sentiment. He had never felt like he had too much money either.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s love for money made perfect sense to Ning Xiaoren; he had never doubted it.


    From the intelligence gathered, it was evident that Ning Zhuo had lived in poverty for over a decade. Such an upbringing would certainly make him extremely frugal and foster an almost pathological desire and obsession with resources.


    Ning Xiaoren ambiguously replied to Ning Zhuo: The family would not forget Ning Zhuo''s contributions and would certainly reward him.


    Having anticipated Ning Xiaoren''s response, Ning Zhuo immediately pursued the matter, ¡°Uncle Xiaoren, I¡¯ve read the Zhou family¡¯s *On Spirituality* and found it quite enlightening.¡±


    ¡°I wonder if our family has any simr ssics?¡±


    ¡°Hehe,¡± Ning Xiaoren chuckled, ¡°Of course, we do! Back in the days of the North Wind Country, our Ning family was an old and established cultivation family, far stronger than the Zhou family, almost monopolizing a city.¡±


    ¡°Our Ning family has a long history and once produced individuals of the Nascent Soul stage.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, in the North Wind Country, we were betrayed by viins and had to move the entire n.¡±


    ¡°Little Zhuo, if you perform exceptionally well this time and bring great honor to our Ning family, I will swallow my pride and request the higher-ups to allow you ess to rted secret manuals.¡±


    Ning Zhuo nodded repeatedly and then said, ¡°Uncle Xiaoren, I heard that Ning Xiaohui used the Flowing Cloud Talisman, which significantly boosted her strength. Could you also get me one?¡±


    A cold gleam shed in Ning Xiaoren''s eyes, and his disgust grew even stronger.


    He thought to himself, ¡°Flowing Cloud Talisman! Even I, the young n leader, can¡¯t afford to use it. What qualifications or face does a mere branch member have to ask for it?¡±


    Suppressing his disdain and anger, Ning Xiaoren spoke kindly, ¡°The Flowing Cloud Talisman is a spiritual talisman, imbued with a trace of the world¡¯s spirituality, making it extraordinarily rare. The entire n has only one, which was given to Ning Xiaohui as a special case due to an urgent situation.¡±


    ¡°This talisman is something even I dare not hope for.¡±


    ¡°But you still have hope, Little Zhuo!¡±


    ¡°As long as you break through the checkpoints of the Immortal Pce and make contributions so great that the whole n is proud of you and cannot help but acknowledge you, then giving you this precious talisman would be a natural thing.¡±


    Ning Zhuo put on a look of being encouraged and added, ¡°Uncle Xiaoren, I¡¯m a bit short of funds recently. I¡¯ve almost used up the spirit stones I had before.¡±


    ¡°Do you think you could lend me some spirit stones?¡±


    Ning Xiaoren took a deep breath, striving to maintain his smile, ¡°The three-family subsidy was just distributed a few days ago, wasn¡¯t it? Little Zhuo, have you used it all up so quickly? How about this: I¡¯ll make a private decision and allow you to withdraw some of your subsidy in advance. How does that sound?¡±


    ¡°That would be great! Thank you, Uncle Xiaoren.¡± Ning Zhuo beamed with joy.


    Ning Xiaoren couldn¡¯t help but advise, ¡°Little Zhuo, you shouldn¡¯t spend money sovishly. Some Spirit Food isn¡¯t necessary to buy. Pills are cheaper than Spirit Food and are just as effective.¡±


    Ning Zhuo appeared to take the advice to heart, ¡°Alright, Uncle Xiaoren, I¡¯ll cut back in the future.¡±


    He nced at the top of Ning Xiaoren¡¯s head, where a thread of Life Hanging by a Thread had already descended, connecting him to Ning Xiaoren.


    This round of tugging was deliberately prolonged by Ning Zhuo to imnt the seed of his divine ability.


    He discovered that although the thread of Life Hanging by a Thread was difficult to connect in actualbat, it could persist for a long time once nted.


    As for how long it couldst, Ning Zhuo had not yet tested its limits.


    In any case, through this encounter, Ning Xiaoren had also be a target connected by the seed of his divine ability.


    Watching Ning Zhuo¡¯s departing figure, Ning Xiaoren fell into deep thought.


    Ning Zhuo possessed abundant cultivation resources, and more importantly, he was willing to share them!


    In a very short time, he had gathered a group of people around him.


    Moreover, most of these people were from branch


    families!


    Whether this was unintentional or not, this action had already aroused Ning Xiaoren¡¯s vignce.


    The Ning family¡¯s branch members had alwayscked a figurehead, which was why the branches had been scattered over the years.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s emergence filled this gap.


    He disyed his cultivation at the peak of the thirdyer, gaining great recognition. The family¡¯s effort to test his talent only further boosted his reputation.


    Now, everyone in the n knew that Ning Zhuo had exceptional talent. Although the specifics were yet to be determined, his future seemed bright.


    People tend to seek benefits and avoid harm.


    Many thought: When Ning Zhuo was weak, investing in him now meant that when he soared in the future, as long as he remembered old friendships and extended a helping hand, they would surely reap great rewards!


    Ning Xiaoren was acutely aware that the branch families of the Ning family had already begun to slowly revolve around Ning Zhuo.


    ¡°The problem lies in Ning Xiaohui¡¯s injury, which left the main branch unable to control the reform team.¡±


    ¡°Ning Zhuo has already started to gain momentum. If he continues to seed, the force around him will only grow stronger.¡±


    ¡°Fortunately, the Lava Immortal Pce is extremely difficult, with numerous checkpoints. Even if Ning Zhuo manages to break through, he¡¯ll only clear one or two at most.¡±


    ¡°This time should be enough for Ning Xiaohui to recover fully and participate in the exploration of the Immortal Pce, reiming her lost power from Ning Zhuo.¡±


    Thinking this, Ning Xiaoren¡¯s slightly tense mood eased a bit.


    Ning Zhuo returned to his uncle¡¯s house.


    Wang Lan brought him some fruit and took the opportunity to ask, ¡°Little Zhuo, I heard you just came back from the young n leader. Did you¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, Auntie, don¡¯t worry. I specifically mentioned it to Uncle Xiaoren, pleading on behalf of my uncle.¡±


    Wang Lan immediately showed a joyful expression, ¡°Then, did the young n leader say when he would release your uncle?¡±


    Ning Zhuo shook his head, ¡°Uncle Xiaoren didn¡¯t mention that.¡±


    ¡°Auntie, I need to start my cultivation now.¡±


    As he spoke, Ning Zhuo made a gesture to close the door.


    Wang Lan suppressed her anger and forced a smile, ¡°Alright, Little Zhuo, you cultivate well. I¡¯ll leave now, I¡¯ll leave now!¡±

 Chapter 114: Dasheng Easily Takes Ning Zhuos Head

    A few dayster.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s soul entered the Immortal Pce.


    He quickly assembled his body and walked down from a small mountain made up of mechanicalponents.


    "Life Hanging by a Thread¡­" His steps were slow as he carefully felt the surroundings.


    As the embryonic form of his divine ability grew stronger, his perception of the *Life Hanging by a Thread* over his head deepened.


    "Every time the *Life Hanging by a Thread* is transmitted, there is a loss. Now, by harnessing the power of the *Buddha Heart Demon Seal*, the loss along the thread will be much less than before!"


    "Ning Zhuo has arrived."


    "Look at his head, it really is big."


    "Hmph, making us wait for him¡ªhe¡¯s really making a big show of it."The puppets gathered around the first gate, whispering as they watched Ning Zhuo approach.


    Everyone else was already in position; Ning Zhuo was thest to arrive.


    Ning Zhuo also looked at them.


    The Zhou family had five people, the Zheng family had two, and the Ning family only had him¡ªjust one person.


    "The three great families have started exerting their strength¡­ In the future, more and more souls will enter the Immortal Pce," Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly.


    Once the numbers reached a certain scale, the traps and mechanisms he had set up would be increasingly ineffective, ultimately unable to resist, and would be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.


    Compared to the three great families, Ning Zhuo was at a significant disadvantage, being all alone.


    Under the watchful eyes of the many puppets, Ning Zhuo walked to the door and touched the door, selecting the *Suspension Ring*.


    "Next, we need tobine our efforts to break through the traps behind the door," Ning Zhuo said.


    The Zheng family cultivators nodded, but the Zhou family members refused: "The five of us are enough; there''s no need tobine forces."


    "We¡¯ll go through first, and you can follow us in."


    "Haha, who told us that the Zhou family has the most people?"


    Although Ning Zhuo was the nominal leader, the Zhou family cultivators paid him lip service, not following his orders.


    Just as Ning Xiaoren had expected, the Zhou family cultivators were trying to diminish Ning Zhuo¡¯s influence.


    Yet, they acted as if they were sharing the burden for the group, eager to break through the challenge, leaving Ning Zhuo with no choice but to let it go.


    However, Ning Zhuo had long been prepared for this.


    With a thought, a teleportation circle suddenly appeared.


    The circle fluctuated and dropped the *Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng*!


    "What is that?" A Zheng family cultivator was the first to shout.


    "Who are you!?" The Zhou family cultivators were all startled, some even trembling.


    "An enemy! Quickly scatter and surround it!" Ning Zhuo shouted, full of valor.


    "Wait, wait!" Seeing that Ning Zhuo was about to give the order to attack, the Zhou family cultivators quickly stopped him.


    "Something¡¯s off; don¡¯t act rashly!"


    "Calm down, calm down, everyone, please be patient and don¡¯t be impulsive!"


    The Zhou family cultivators had suffered heavy losses and were well aware of Dasheng''sbat strength. They knew they were no match for it, and a confrontation would mean certain doom.


    The puppets from the three families were on high alert, all of them staring intently at Dasheng.


    Dasheng, with its red body and golden bones, was covered with countless ck stripes, exuding an aura of menace.


    The injuries it had sustained during the previous challenge had been temporarily repaired by Ning Zhuo. Although its abilities had weakened significantly, it still looked just as formidable as before.


    In any case, the puppets from the three families spread out, subtly encircling Dasheng, but no one dared to make a move.


    Dasheng scanned the crowd, ignored them, and walked straight to the first door.


    The next moment, it directly pushed the door open.


    The spears on the walls shot out, but Dasheng easily deflected them.


    A heavy hammer fell from above, but Dasheng lightly grabbed it and threw it aside.


    Then, Dasheng lifted the heavy hammer and reset the mechanism trap.


    It continued to move forward, leaping between the walls and obstacles as if it were joyfully roaming in a mountain forest.


    Through the crack in the door, everyone saw this scene and fell silent.


    "What¡¯s with this mechanical ape?" Ning Zhuo looked at the Zhou family cultivators. "You seem to know something."


    The Zhou family cultivators denied it vehemently.


    One of them said, "Didn¡¯t you see? This mechanical ape is obviously different from ours. We gained mobility through assemblingponents."


    "But this mechanical ape was directly teleported in."


    Another Zhou family cultivator added, "Look at us¡ªour bodies are all made of wood, but this ape looks like it¡¯s on a whole different level."


    "If we really attack it, we¡¯re more likely to lose than to win."


    A Zheng family cultivator stared at Dasheng in the second room, utterly perplexed. "But why did this mechanical ape appear?"


    "Perhaps¡­" Ning Zhuo pondered, "Perhaps it¡¯s something set up by the elders of the three sects to teach us."


    "Look at this mechanical ape¡ªit clearly has the ability to break through the second room, but it¡¯s been hopping around between the traps as if it¡¯s ying, or maybe even showing us how to get through?"


    Hearing Ning Zhuo¡¯s words, everyone felt enlightened.


    A Zheng family cultivator pped his thigh. "It really seems that way!"


    The Zhou family cultivators remained silent.


    Since Dasheng had wiped them out once, they had been actively researching and specting after returning to the family.


    Their first guess was that Dasheng was a *Fire Fusion Demon Ape* within Huoshi, which, after hearing the transmission bell, sessfully cultivated, entered the Immortal Pce, and assembled a monkey puppet topete for the inheritance of the Lava Immortal Pce.


    But this guess had an obvious w: the mechanismponents in the first room were all made of uniform wood. Dasheng¡¯s body materials were clearly different.


    They then spected that it might be a mechanism set up by the Lava Immortal Pce.


    When the challengers reached a certain standard, such as a certain number? The Lava Immortal Pce would activate this mechanical ape to hinder them.


    They also considered whether it was still apetitor, a demon cultivator, who was allowed to rece their puppet body at ater stage in the Lava Immortal Pce.


    Apart from this, there were various other spections.


    Dasheng¡¯s appearance was simr to its form when it was alive, but it was difficult for others to make the connection. To many, all monkeys looked the same. In fact, when people saw those from different races, they often couldn¡¯t distinguish between them.


    After today¡¯s incident, everyone saw with their own eyes that Dasheng had been teleported in, not a soul entering the Immortal Pce.


    This highlighted a part of the Zhou family¡¯s previous spections.


    Main Hall.


    The *Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit* kept moving its jaw from side to side, grinding its teeth.


    It snorted, frustrated and furious, asionally clenching its fists and pounding on the armrests of the throne.


    It was the one who knew the truth best.


    Watching Ning Zhuo openly use Dasheng while keeping everyone else in the dark, even having some of the informed Zhou family cultivators cover for him, was infuriating!


    Fools.


    A bunch of fools.


    Not a single smart one among them!


    The more the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit watched, the angrier it became, but it couldn¡¯t say anything.


    It was so furious that the entire Lava Immortal Pce began to tremble.


    At the top of Mount Huoshi.


    Amidst the heavy clouds and smoke, City Lord Meng Kui suddenly opened his eyes. Seeing that the Lava Immortal Pce was about to erupt again, he sighed helplessly, his expression growing serious as he prepared to activate the grand formation to suppress the upheaval.


    Ning Zhuo observed Dasheng through the crack in the door.


    After gaining full intelligence, Dasheng¡¯s reactions became more acute. When facingplex obstacles and traps, its choices became more varied, no longer as monotonous as before.


    It was as if it had trulye to life!


    However, in Ning Zhuo¡¯s perception, his control over Dasheng still felt like it was shrouded in a thickyer of dust, making it quite unsatisfactory.


    "This mechanical ape has been staying in the second room, neither advancing nor retreating, seemingly ying with the traps."


    "Let¡¯s move on; don¡¯t worry about it for now!" Ning Zhuo said.


    The Zhou family cultivators hesitated, "The traps at the entrance have been reset; we¡¯ll need tobine forces to deal with them."


    "If we enter the second room and the ape attacks, what should we do?"


    Ning Zhuo shrugged, "We can¡¯t just try nothing this time, right? Staying here until our soul power is exhausted is worse than taking a gamble."


    These words garnered strong support from the two Zheng family cultivators.


    The Zhou family cultivators exchanged nces and finally nodded, "The five of us willbine, and you follow behind."


    "If the mechanical ape attacks us, you three must hold it off to give us time to disassemble."


    Combining into a giant mechanical puppet would greatly reducebat power.


    Ning Zhuo agreed to the Zhou family¡¯s n.


    The Zhou family¡¯srge puppet squeezed through the door, taking the wall spears head-on, deflecting the heavy hammer, and clearing the trap on the ground, sweeping away the entrance traps


    .


    Seeing that Dasheng didn¡¯t attack, the Zhou family cultivators breathed a sigh of relief, "Come on in."


    So, Ning Zhuo and the other two pushed the door open and entered with ease.


    At this moment, Dasheng let out a low growl, suddenly turned around, and charged at everyone.


    The Zhou family cultivators were terrified¡ªsome wanted to fight back, others wanted to flee, and some decided to stand their ground, causing the Zhou family¡¯sbined puppet to spin in ce.


    Dasheng, like a meteor falling to the ground, directly shattered them.


    "It seems we do have to fight!" Ning Zhuo growled, leaping forward, disying great bravery.


    Dasheng reached out and easily plucked off Ning Zhuo¡¯s puppet head, tossing it directly into the nearest trap.


    Everyone saw this scene clearly.


    Bang, bang, bang¡­


    Dasheng¡¯s punches were incredibly heavy, and it systematically destroyed each puppet.


    The cultivators could only have their souls return to their flesh bodies.


    Dasheng then jumped into the trap, retrieved Ning Zhuo¡¯s head, and reattached it to his puppet body.


    "Let¡¯s go." Ning Zhuo stomped his foot, shook his hand, and began to move with Dasheng.


    Zheng Family.


    "Why did it end so quickly?" someone asked.


    The Zheng family cultivator¡¯s face was solemn, and he eagerly said, "Though we lost this time, we gained a lot! We discovered the Lava Immortal Pce¡¯s mechanism guardian."


    Zhou Family.


    New information led to new conclusions.


    "So it seems that the mechanical monkey is a special obstacle set by the Lava Immortal Pce when there are too many people in the group, to maintain the challenge¡¯s difficulty."


    "Yes, that¡¯s very likely!"


    Ning Family.


    "Why hasn¡¯t Ning Zhuo returned yet?" Ning Xiaoren wondered.


    "That¡¯s right." He looked at the information passed on by the other two families and understood.


    "Ning Zhuo is out of luck¡ªhis puppet head was plucked off and thrown into a trap. He¡¯ll have to wait until his soul power is exhausted before he can return." Ning Xiaoren sighed.


    Meanwhile.


    Outside Mount Huoshi.


    Two ck-d demon cultivators stood at the foot of the mountain, looking up at Huoshi Immortal City on the mountainside.


    "The call for help came from here."


    "Heh, who would have thought that a genius like Han Ming would fall here."


    "She usually looks down on us. After we rescue her this time, I¡¯d like to see if she¡¯s still so arrogant."


    "If it weren¡¯t for the orders from above, I really wouldn¡¯t want to save her! Never mind, let¡¯s enter the city and find Han Ming as quickly as possible."

 Chapter 115: Closing the Door, Not Letting You Leave!

    Ning Zhuo cherished every opportunity to explore the Immortal Pce.


    By now, his surroundings made it difficult for him to freely explore.


    Primarily, it was because more and more people had reached the peak of the thirdyer of Qi Refining. Ning Zhuo had to blend in with them to avoid standing out.


    In Room One, he reconstructed his body and joined forces with the Zhou and Zheng families, allowing his great treasure, the *Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng*, to make a public appearance.


    In Room Two, Ning Zhuo ordered Yuan Dasheng to repel all hispanions and publicly threw him into a mechanical trap.


    In this way, there was no need for him to exin; the Zhou and Zheng families would naturally inform the Ning family why Ning Zhuo had taken so long to return to his body.


    Ning Zhuo first reset the mechanisms, then, along with Yuan Dasheng, cleaned the battlefield, digging out all the spirit stones from the puppets and taking them away.


    When he pushed open the second door, Ning Zhuo selected mechanicalponents.


    He did not use the *Buddha Heart Demon Seal* and did not retreat.The reason was that he had already imed all the spell rewards from passing Room Two. The spirit stones were only a mere two pieces. Ning Zhuo abandoned the spirit stones, preferring to conserve his soul power as much as possible.


    Utilizing even a trace of the power of the *Buddha Heart Demon Seal* required the consumption of soul power.


    The further he progressed through the checkpoints, the more soul power it would consume to retreat.


    Room Three marked Meng Chong''s recorded limit.


    There were many mechanical puppets here.


    The moment they saw Ning Zhuo appear, they immediately pounced on him.


    Yuan Dasheng roared and stood at the forefront. Ning Zhuo unleashed a series of spells, freezing all the puppet fighters.


    To date, he had imed the leaderboard rewards numerous times, amassing a vast amount of spellcasting experience, allowing him to cast these spells with ease.


    After passing the third checkpoint, Ning Zhuo entered the preparation room.


    Under the leaderboard, he received the first-ce reward belonging to him on the five-faced leaderboard.


    The number of spirit stones surged by hundreds!


    Looking at this alone, the previous door''s spirit stone rewards were pitiful inparison.


    It was worth mentioning that the insights gained from receiving spells now provided little improvement for Ning Zhuo, far less than at the beginning.


    "I now have the prototype of a divine ability. Can I use the *Buddha Heart Demon Seal* to remove my name from the leaderboard directly?"


    "Or simply hide the stone pir leaderboard?"


    Ning Zhuo attempted this but failed.


    Passing through the preparation room, he entered Room Four.


    Ning Zhuo cast spells one after another, obtaining a dozen mechanicalponents like the Flying Hand and the Qi-Dispersing Ring.


    He quickly armed himself fully.


    Room Five, Room Six, preparation room.


    Room Seven, Room Eight, Room Nine.


    Ning Zhuo and Yuan Dasheng joined forces, resulting in a qualitative change in their overallbat strength, making it far easier than breaking through alone.


    Yuan Dasheng, by nature, did not favor using spells. By cing him in the front to attract and distract enemies, Ning Zhuo stayed behind, seizing opportunities to unleash various spells.


    After passing through the preparation room for the third time, Ning Zhuo entered the central hall, once again encountering the three gates of Buddha, Dao, and Demon.


    His highest record was achieved by relying solely on Yuan Dasheng, gritting his teeth, and pushing through the three checkpoints of the Buddha Gate, before re-entering the central hall and seeing the new three gates.


    By touching the door, Ning Zhuo obtained the fourth to sixthyer techniques of the *Mirror tform Spirit Technique*, *The Five Elements Qi Regtion Art*, and the *Demonic Blood Tendon Technique*.


    Now, his Qi Refining cultivation had reached thete fourthyer, his Essence Refining cultivation was at the peak of the fourthyer, and his Spirit Refining cultivation stood out, having reached the early sixthyer.


    This level of cultivation meant that Ning Zhuo''s best choice was to make the Buddha Gate his main route for clearing the checkpoints.


    Ning Zhuo first pushed open the Demon Gate, receiving the blood energy attached to the door.


    With the blood energy boost, Yuan Dasheng''s strength surged.


    After the three checkpoints of the Demon Gate, Yuan Dasheng absorbed as much blood energy from the puppet fighters as possible, storing it to his limit.


    Like the Buddha Gate, there was no reward for the second checkpoint, but after the third, a pile of reward information appeared.


    What caught Ning Zhuo''s attention was one of the mechanicalponents¡ªa Blood Oil Bottle.


    Using this mechanicalponent allowed the collection and mixing of various blood energies, refining them into a blood-like oil.


    Blood oil was inferior to pure blood energy, but it could be a substitute to some extent.


    "The Blood Transformation Pool can consume living beings with blood, breaking them down into countless blood droplets."


    "The Blood Transformation Pool and the Blood Oil Bottle can work together, allowing mechanical puppets to sustainbat by battle, significantly extending the duration of fierce battles."


    Ning Zhuo chose the Blood Oil Bottle and obtained oneponent.


    He pushed the door and returned to the central hall, encountering the second set of three gates.


    These three gates required at least peak sixthyer cultivation to push open.


    Thus, Ning Zhuo looked to his side and found the first gates of the Buddha and Dao.


    He approached the Dao Gate, pushed, and pulled, but it didn''t budge.


    *Buddha Heart Demon Seal!*


    Ning Zhuo opened the door and stepped inside.


    The mechanical puppets in the Dao Gate''s third checkpoint, upon hearing themotion, turned their heads and, upon discovering Ning Zhuo, rushed at him.


    Ning Zhuo pointed his finger, and Yuan Dasheng roared out, standing at the front.


    The mechanical puppets in the Dao Gate''s three checkpoints were surrounded by five elements, casting spells endlessly.


    Under the onught of various spells, Yuan Dasheng immediately fell into a disadvantage.


    This was the advantage of spell cultivators¡ªstrong short-term attack power with sufficient burst potential!


    Ning Zhuo immediately acted, following up with various spells.


    His supply of spirit stones was abundant, quickly helping Yuan Dasheng stabilize the situation.


    Once the stalemate was established, Yuan Dasheng could rely on his excellent one-on-onebat ability to smash the spell puppets one by one.


    When the number of spell puppets decreased to a certain level, Ning Zhuo ordered Yuan Dasheng to slow down his attacks, and he himself cast spells to freeze the remaining spell puppets.


    "We could move them to Room Three for Meng Chong to have a taste."


    After a moment''s thought, he reconsidered, "Better move them to Room Six."


    Since being defeated by Yuan Dasheng, Meng Chong had not returned to the Immortal Pce.


    However, the renovation team from the City Lord''s Mansion, recorded by the surveince mechanism that Ning Zhuo had hidden, had explored it multiple times.


    Ning Zhuo had a strong premonition¡ªwhen Meng Chong reappeared, he would have a brand new look, and hisbat power would have increased by at least one level!


    Under such circumstances, no amount of spell puppets would be of much use.


    Only a presence like the *Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng* could handle Meng Chong.


    Even Ning Zhuo himself, armed as he was, would find it difficult to withstand Meng Chong''s *Wild Sprint Thunderp*.


    Ning Zhuo started from the third checkpoint and backtracked to the second and first checkpoints of the Dao Gate, eventually arriving at the first central hall.


    This was his first time clearing the three checkpoints of both the Demon and Dao Gates.


    Overall, the design of both gates'' checkpoints was quite simr to that of the Buddha Gate. Like the Buddha Gate, neither gate offered rewards in the second checkpoint, concentrating all rewards in the third checkpoint.


    Among the Dao Gate''s rewards, Ning Zhuo chose the *Five Elements Disorder Technique*.


    This technique specifically targeted the Five Elements Mana, capable of disrupting the orderly arrangement of the five streams of mana, causing them to be disordered and conflicting, leading to internal chaos within the mechanical constructs, rendering them immobile.


    "The blood tendons of the *Demonic Blood Tendon Technique*, along with the Five Elements Mana, both serve to enhance control over mechanical constructs."


    "By focusing on these two aspects, if one day Yuan Dasheng loses control again, I''ll have means to keep him in check."


    "Perhaps this was the intention of the Three Sect Patriarchs. They created spiritual mechanisms and thus designed the three gate techniques to be used in conjunction with mechanical constructs."


    Ning Zhuo pushed open the Buddha Gate and once again entered the coffin room.


    He did not receive any new information and found that he could not select another coffin to create a second mechanical construct.


    Ning Zhuo shook his head regretfully and continued on his way.


    The *Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit*, seeing him shake his head, was so angry it ground its teeth.


    At the final gate, when Ning Zhuo received his reward, he chose the *Phantom True Lotus Seed* without hesitation.


    The *Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit* saw this and, rxing, couldn''t help but feel happy.


    Ning Zhuo pushed the door open and left.


    *Buddha Heart Demon Seal!*


    He opened the door and returned, rewarded with the *Phantom True Lotus Seed*.


    The *Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit* burst outughing.


    Ning Zhuo pushed the door open and left.


    *Buddha Heart Demon Seal!*


    He opened the door and returned, rewarded with the *Phantom True Lotus Seed*.


    The *Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit*y on the throne, kicking its dragon legs in delight.


    ¡­


    Ning Zhuo went back and forth, each time choosing the *Phantom True Lotus Seed*.


    The yful and mocking expression on the *Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit''s* face gradually faded, reced by suspicion.


    It found this very strange!


    Each time Ning Zhuo retreated from a checkpoint, he had to expend soul power to activate the *Buddha Heart Demon Seal*. But the number of times he had beening and going was far beyond the *Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit''s* expectations! What was going on?


    Ning Zhuo''s cultivation had advanced rapidly, naturally enabling him to draw more power from the treasure.


    More importantly, as the prototype of his divine ability continued to strengthen, the loss of power during the *Life Hanging by a Thread* transmission had decreased dramatically!


    This resulted in Ning Zhuo''s performance of entering and exiting checkpoints being far stronger than before.


    The *Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit''s* eyes gradually widened as a sense of unease grew stronger in its heart, even causing it to feel a little panicked.


    A terrifying thought involuntarily surfaced in its mind: Could it be that Ning Zhuo had already mastered the *Life Hanging by a Thread* divine ability?!


    But it ultimately had no evidence.


    The reason it could use the *Life Hanging by a Thread* divine ability was merely by borrowing the power of the Lava Immortal Pce. It did not possess this ability itself and could not see the *Life Hanging by a Thread*.


    Finally, Ning Zhuo no longer kept going in and out.


    He had reached his limit.


    His soul power was nearly depleted, and at this moment, he particrly missed Han Ming. "After this time, Han Ming should have mostly recovered, right?"


    "If my soul power continues to grow, I''ll certainly be able to go in and out more times and quickly collect all the *Phantom True Lotus Seeds*."


    At this point, Ning Zhuo''s soul power had only a little left.


    He could have continued to im one more *Phantom True Lotus Seed*, but he didn''t.


    He wanted to conduct a crucial experiment.


    Ning Zhuo retreated to the first central hall.


    Once again, he faced the three gates of Buddha, Dao, and Demon.


    "Buddha Gate and Demon Gate are both my vulnerabilities!"


    "The Demon Gate has the *Demonic Blood Tendon Technique*. Yuan Dasheng once tried to use it publicly, and Zhu Xuanji caught a hint."


    "If in the future, the *Demonic Blood Tendon Technique* is known to others and word reaches Zhu Xuanji, he will undoubtedly reexamine everything that happened during the Huoshi Festival. And as the one who ultimately obtained Yuan Dasheng''s corpse, I will naturally be the prime suspect."


    "The Buddha Gate''s vulnerability lies in the first checkpoint!"


    "If in the future, others obtain the special mechanical construct of the Immortal Pce in this checkpoint¡­"


    "¡­then they will discover that they can freely bring this mechanical construct in and out of the Lava Immortal Pce."


    "Yuan Dasheng''s identity would then be questioned again."


    "If I could hide the Demon Gate and Buddha Gate, that would be ideal!"


    This had been Ning Zhuo''s long-standing thought.


    He had tried before, but all previous attempts had failed.


    This time, he still wanted to give it another try.


    "Because, I have be stronger."


    "I have mastered the prototype of the *Life Hanging by a Thread* divine ability."


    "My cultivation has also greatly improved!"


    *Buddha Heart Demon Seal!*


    Ning Zhuo activated it with all his might, and his soul power plummeted.


    In exchange, the stone wall slowly rose, eventuallypletely covering the Buddha Gate.

 Chapter 116: Tree-War Ape Dasheng

    With the final, soft sound of impact, there was no longer a Buddhist sect in front of Ning Zhuo¡ªonly a seamless wall that blended perfectly with its surroundings.


    "I seeded!" Ning Zhuo was so overjoyed that he wanted to burst intoughter.


    Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit: ???!!


    It was stunned.


    It stood there in a daze, motionless, like a statue.


    For a long while, its wide-open mouth trembled before slightly closing.


    In the next moment, it raised its head and roared madly, spewing out a massive pir of fire from its throat!


    Ning Zhuo, not missing a beat, also sealed the demonic sect again, leaving no trace of any tampering on the surface.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit went berserk!It leaped up and down in the main hall, smashing into pirs and floor tiles with its head, making the entire Lava Immortal Pce tremble as if it would jump out of the ground.


    Atop Mount Huoshi, firelight andva erupted together in a furious disy.


    Meng Kui sighed in despair, forced to act by initiating the grand formation, exerting all his strength to suppress the rampaging Lava Immortal Pce.


    This was the most violent eruption in the history of the Lava Immortal Pce.


    Meng Kui had to guard it day and night before the pce finally calmed down.


    So exhausting!


    Even with Meng Kui''s Nascent Soul stage cultivation, he could not withstand the repeated outbursts of the Lava Immortal Pce.


    After this arduous effort, Meng Kui''s face showed signs of fatigue; dark circles appeared under his eyes, and hisplexion had paled significantly.


    Soon, thick smoke enveloped him, obscuring his appearance and figure.


    After returning his soul to his body, Ning Zhuo took a Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pill and then fell asleep.


    While Meng Kui struggled to suppress the pce, Ning Zhuo slept soundly.


    A day and a nightter, Ning Zhuo opened his eyes, feeling refreshed and with much of his soul power restored.


    The Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pill indeed had an exceptional effect!


    Ning Xiaoren came to check on him.


    Lying in bed, Ning Zhuo was about to get up when Ning Xiaoren stopped him.


    Ning Zhuo, with a face full of guilt, said, "Uncle Xiaoren, I¡¯ve failed to meet expectations; I¡¯m truly ashamed."


    Ning Xiaorenforted him gently, "It happened suddenly; who could have known there was such a mechanism in the pce? It''s not your fault!"


    Ning Zhuo nodded, "After this incident, I deeply feel my own inadequacy. I want to read more books, especially those rted to spirituality. Uncle Xiaoren, you were a good friend of my father, so you¡¯ll definitely help me, right?"


    "Uh¡­" Ning Xiaoren was taken aback, cursing inwardly but smiling warmly on the surface, "I''ll help you look for some."


    "Rest in bed for the next few days; don¡¯t exert yourself too much, or it might affect your recovery."


    "Yes, Uncle Xiaoren." Ning Zhuo sped his hands in respect, then asked, "When will the books arrive?"


    Ning Xiaoren coughed twice, then reluctantly said, "I¡¯ll handle it as quickly as possible and have someone send them to you soon."


    Lying in bed, Ning Zhuo subsequently received visits from Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and others. He expressed his thanks for their concern and gifts.


    Because of Ning Zhuo''s previous proactive assistance, he had gained considerable poprity within the modification team, especially among his fellow ssmates.


    This was, of course, by Ning Zhuo''s design.


    While they stood by his bedside, conversing with him, Ning Zhuo secretly activated his budding divine ability, connecting each of them with a "Life Hanging by a Thread."


    This exploration of the Immortal Pce had significantly boosted his divine ability.


    After absorbing a total of nine Phantom True Lotus Seeds, two new segments had grown on the lotus stem. Moreover, a small leaf, the size of a fingernail, had sprouted at the top of the stem.


    The moment Ning Zhuo sensed the budding divine ability, heprehended many things.


    "The divine ability *Life Hanging by a Thread* has greatly improved; connecting threads to my ssmates is a breeze!"


    "The qualitative change lies in the fact that¡ªI can now attach threads to mechanical creations."


    "To be precise, it¡¯s mechanical creations with full spiritual essence."


    Everything possesses some level of spirituality, but not all are fully endowed with it.


    The first thing Ning Zhuo thought of was Yuan Dasheng!


    Now at the Spiritual Movement stage, it had reached the standard of full spiritual essence.


    Late that night, after sleeping for most of the day, Ning Zhuo got up and went to his Uncle Ning Ze''s cultivation chamber to practice.


    The guards immediately adjusted their positions, surrounding him at the center.


    Floating clouds drifted around Ning Zhuo as he summoned back the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    Within the clouds, he applied the budding divine ability to Yuan Dasheng.


    It took a long while before a nearly transparent "Life Hanging by a Thread" appeared above Yuan Dasheng¡¯s head.


    "I did it!" Ning Zhuo was ecstatic.


    Suddenly, an idea struck him. He tugged lightly on the thread.


    In the next moment, the thread quivered and lifted.


    At the end of the thread hung a round, crimson spiritual essence.


    The crimson spiritual essence shone brilliantly, sometimes forming a smooth, round sphere, and at other times morphing into the head of a young ape, looking adorably silly, squeaking and chattering.


    "I pulled Yuan Dasheng¡¯s spiritual essence out!" Ning Zhuo, the mastermind, was stunned on the spot.


    It was akin to when the *Life Hanging by a Thread* had extracted his soul from his body to enter the Immortal Pce. Now, he had done something simr.


    The Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng,cked a soul, so Ning Zhuo had extracted its spiritual essence entirely!


    "Wait a moment!"


    Ning Zhuo took out another mechanical ape from his storage bag.


    This mechanical ape was one he had crafted together with Zheng Jian in the Zheng Family''s artifact refining chamber.


    Compared to the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, the materials were more refined, generally two or three grades higher. After all, many things in the Lava Immortal Pce were restricted by checkpoints.


    Following his heart, Ning Zhuo manipted the *Life Hanging by a Thread* and connected it to the new mechanical ape.


    The spiritual essence hanging from the thread then flowed into the new mechanical ape.


    In the next moment, the mechanical ape opened its eyes, revealing two green glimmers.


    Tree-War Ape, Dasheng!


    The mechanical ape had a yellow-green color scheme, primarily made of Steel Vine Trees, Gale Wood, Xuanwu Star Iron, and Golden Emperor Quartz.


    The ape was eight feet tall, with a slender build, long arms reaching past its knees, and a solemn, majestic demeanor.


    To fully showcase itsbat techniques, Ning Zhuo had specifically designed a jointed skeleton for the Tree-War Ape, Dasheng.


    Using life-rich trees as its muscles, even if damaged in battle, it could be swiftly repaired through the *Wood Connecting Technique*.


    The most crucial feature was its talisman engraving slots¡ªNing Zhuo had crafted six in total. Currently attached were the: Savage Strength Talisman, Gale Talisman, Growth Talisman, Xuanwu Talisman, Vajra Talisman, and Sharp de Talisman.


    The reason Ning Zhuo designed and crafted the Tree-War Ape was initially to train himself, attempting to gradually find abat body more suited to Yuan Dasheng through battles and other means.


    However, things had gone more smoothly than he expected¡ªhe had directly transferred Yuan Dasheng''s spiritual essence into the Tree-War Ape!


    Without needing anymand from Ning Zhuo, Yuan Dasheng''s spiritual essence, having calmed down, began to control its new body.


    It started moving continuously, from small actions like stretching its fingers to eventually stepping forward and finally dancing around, stirring the floating clouds vigorously.


    Before it could cause moremotion, Ning Zhuo quickly stopped it.


    "In this way, I can keep Yuan Dasheng close to me."


    This was indeed a pleasant surprise for Ning Zhuo.


    However, the surprises didn''t end there.


    Among the books sent by Ning Xiaoren¡¯s people, Ning Zhuo discovered secrets regarding the Spiritual Movement stage!

 Chapter 117: Sitting on the Mountain to Watch the Tigers Fight

    At the peak of Mount Huoshi, deep within the clouds and mist, Meng Kui, the current city lord of Lava Immortal Pce, sat cross-legged in midair. Dense twilight shrouded the surroundings as clouds surged around him.


    His fingers formed hand seals, and he silently chanted incantations. His mana surged like tides, merging with the heavens and earth, resonating with the surrounding environment.


    Meng Kui''s entire body emitted a faint green glow.


    He had been cultivating like this for eight or nine days already.


    Slowly, Meng Kui opened his eyes. With a thought, he retrieved a scroll from his storage belt.


    The scroll floated in the air, unfurling in the wind to reveal its entirety.


    It was a frontal portrait of a figure with a square face, d in armor, and carrying a battle g on his back. He looked majestic and imposing, exuding an overwhelming aura of ferocity. Behind him, a robust and striped yellow tiger stood on a mountain peak, roaring towards the sky.


    This man was Meng Kui''s nsman, Meng Hu, a body cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage and one of the four renowned generals of the Meng family.


    The artist who created this painting was no ordinary person. He was Han Xiongfeng, an expert in the myriad arts of cultivation, particrly skilled in depicting fierce generals on the battlefield.The painting of Meng Hu, created by Han Xiongfeng, was naturally extraordinary. It contained a portion of Meng Hu''s spirituality, representing a part of his innate talent and fortune.


    Meng Kui specifically sought this painting because it was the key item needed for his spellcasting.


    Divine Ability¡ªSitting on the Mountain to Observe!


    In an instant, Meng Kui unleashed the divine ability he had been preparing for days onto the painting.


    The scroll suddenly disintegrated. Meng Hu and the tiger ovepped and intertwined, both figures emerging from the painting. The man and tiger shed with each other, fiercely battling back and forth.


    The clouds churned, and the man and tiger merged, sometimes the man bing the tiger, sometimes the tiger bing the man, making it impossible to distinguish between them.


    The two phantom figures of the man and tiger shed and roared within the clouds.


    Sitting on the Mountain to Observe¡ªTiger Fight!


    The spell waspleted.


    In an instant, an invisible whirlwind swept across the mountain peak, clearing away the dense clouds and twilightpletely.


    The phantom figures of the man and tiger dispersed with the clouds, spreading across the Lava Immortal Pce, Huoshi Immortal City, and even the entirety of Mount Huoshi!


    Meng Kui''s face turned pale, his throat bobbed, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.


    A strand of hair at his forehead visibly turned snow-white.


    Meng Kui possessed the innate talent of far-sightedness, allowing him to suppress his own fortune and observe the surrounding situation with rity. With this talent, he had cultivated the divine ability of Sitting on the Mountain to Observe.


    Sitting on the Mountain allowed one to observe the wind and clouds, the world, the lives of all beings, as well as the struggles between dragons and tigers, and the battle for supremacy!


    Meng Kui, using the man-tiger painting, sessfully cast the spell, creating a fortune field of "Sitting on the Mountain to Watch the Tigers Fight."


    This fortune field covered the entire Mount Huoshi, affecting every living being within it. In the uing period, they would engage in conflicts with each other for various reasons.


    This so-called "Tiger Fight" was no minor scuffle but a battle to the death!


    As a result, those caught within this field would experience a significant decline in fortune due to their mutual conflicts. Meng Kui''s fortune, however, would remain unmoved, giving him a significant advantage in terms of momentum.


    He didn''t cast this spell for himself but for his grandson, Meng Chong.


    Meng Chong, under the protection of this spell, would not be affected by the fortune field.


    "Chong''er has been diligently practicing multiple spells these days."


    "Moreover, after recuperating, his fortune has truly recovered."


    "With my spell this time, even the Lava Immortal Pce will be affected. In this way, Chong''er will surely ride on the advantage of fortune, proceeding smoothly and effortlessly!"


    City Lord Meng Kui, overseeing the entire situation, was deeply aware of the changes in fortune.


    As the situation had developed to this point, it had be increasingly unfavorable for the City Lord''s Mansion.


    On one hand, thebined forces of the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families were pressing step by step; on the other hand, the repeated uprisings within the Lava Immortal Pce left Meng Kui puzzled. The third issue was the premature arrival of Zhu Xuanji and the mysterious disappearance of the shadow demon cultivator.


    These factors made Meng Kui realize that measures had to be taken to change the situation.


    The "Sitting on the Mountain to Watch the Tigers Fight" spell was cast using his divine ability,bined with a key painting. The drawbacks were significant¡ªit would shorten his lifespan and was not something that could be used frequently. But for the sake of the battle for the Lava Immortal Pce, for the sake of his beloved grandson, and for the overall situation of the Meng family, Meng Kui was willing to go all out.


    Meng Chong was unaware of his grandfather''s hidden sacrifice. Ever since he was defeated by the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, and awakened, he had been rigorously practicing spells.


    Super Talent¡ªWild Sprint Thunderp.


    Spell¡ªOne Breath.


    The breath was elerated, and the shooting speed skyrocketed, instantly bing a sharp offensive spell.


    Super Talent¡ªWild Sprint Thunderp.


    Spell¡ªIce-Embracing Technique!


    Cold air sprayed everywhere from Meng Chong''s embrace, covering his face in frost flowers.


    He shivered from the cold.


    Although the Ice-Embracing Technique was sessfully cast, it didn''t synergize well with his spiritual aptitude. If it were used in actualbat, it might harm himself rather than the enemy, which would be quiteughable.


    A servant advised from the side, "Young Master Meng Chong, it''s time for a break."


    Meng Chong nodded. "Alright, I understand."


    He temporarily set aside his special training and moved to the edge of the field to rest.


    In the past, he would never have done this, always pushing forward with a single-minded determination, eager to see immediate results.


    But now, he understood the principle of bncing work and rest; today''s rest was for a better push forwardter!


    The various hardships and setbacks he had endured not only honed his abilities but also tempered his character, making him more mature and resilient.


    As the servant treated Meng Chong, heforted him, "Young Master, you have already been very sessful."


    "Bear in mind, you need to extract the water element from the Five Elements Mana to perform the Ice-Embracing Technique. That alone is quite troublesome."


    "Moreover, you need to add spiritual aptitude, which greatly shortens the spellcasting time. It requires extremely high proficiency to separate the water element and then perform the Ice-Embracing Technique."


    "This difficulty is at least a hundred times harder than simply casting the Ice-Embracing Technique!"


    Meng Chong grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "Even if it''s a thousand times harder, I can ovee it and break through it."


    "In this world, there''s no challenge I can''t ovee!"


    Meng Chong''s fighting spirit was high, and he was full of confidence!


    At the Ning Residence.


    Ning Zhuo put down the jade slip, falling into deep thought.


    Ning Xiaoren had sent several jade slips, all rted to spirituality.


    But most of them weremon knowledge, not grand treatises like the *Theory of Spirituality,* and certainly not any secret manuals or rare books.


    Ning Xiaoren hadn''t broken his word.


    Since Ning Xiaoren had personally visited andforted Ning Zhuo once, he hadn''te again, as if afraid that Ning Zhuo would make more requests.


    Two examples in the jade slips left the deepest impression on Ning Zhuo.


    One was the Four Seasons Natural Zither.


    This was the sect treasure of the Heavenly Sound Sect.


    The Heavenly Sound Sect was a super sect, its influence extending across several cultivation countries.


    The selection of the zither master for the Four Seasons Natural Zither was the most important event in the Heavenly Sound Sect. Because such a high-level spiritual treasure often formed the core of a cultivation power''s foundation and strength.


    A single mistake in the selection could lead to a decline in the sect''s strength and cause widespread turmoil.


    To be the new master of the Natural Zither,petitors were required topose and perform four different pieces using the zither.


    These four pieces had to correspond to the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Competitors needed immense cultivation to even pluck the zither strings. The yed zither music had to be infused with genuine emotion and align with the essence of the seasons to gain the zither''s recognition and ultimately be its new master.


    And because the spiritual treasure''s power was immense, the sect cultivator who became the zither master often experienced a meteoric rise.


    The second story was from a long time ago.


    It was one of the anecdotes about the grandmaster of artifact refining, L¨¹ Duan.


    It was said that L¨¹ Duan, while traveling the world, discovered a small country struggling to resist the ravages of an evil god.


    The small country of cultivators was tiny, and the evil god was incredibly powerful. However, the king was kind and brave, earning the support of the people. With their unity, they barely maintained a bnce.


    L¨¹ Duan pitied the innocent lives and intervened, designing a n and working with the king and others to finally trap the evil god.


    Using


    this, L¨¹ Duan created the Wind Shepherd Whip, which temporarily sealed the god.


    L¨¹ Duan gave the Wind Shepherd Whip to the king and told him, "The Wind Shepherd Whip is not yet fully refined! Only when it''s fully refined can itpletely seal the god. Over the long process of use, it will gradually transform the god into the spirituality of the whip!"


    The king then asked L¨¹ Duan how to fully refine the Wind Shepherd Whip.


    L¨¹ Duan replied, "Now is a critical period. You need to do things that align with the spirituality, gradually allowing the magic treasure to control this spirituality. For example, creating hurricanes and tornadoes."


    The king tried using the Wind Shepherd Whip to create various strong winds and storms.


    Initially, the effects were great, butter, the effectiveness sharply declined. The whip couldn''t be refined in time, and the god was about to break free from the seal.


    L¨¹ Duan had already left, and the king privately discovered that causing wind disasters, destroying the people''s homes, maximized alignment with the spirituality.


    The king was deeply hesitant, but time was running out.


    He made an excruciating decision: to sacrifice his current people in exchange for the future happiness and prosperity of his country.


    So he secretly wielded the whip, creating wind disasters that killed many of his people, causing countless to be disced.


    In the end, the king sessfully refined the Wind Shepherd Whip, but his actions were discovered. He was imprisoned by his enraged people, and the Wind Shepherd Whip''s whereabouts became unknown.


    In the end, the small country was also destroyed.


    "Although these jade slips don''t explicitly say so, the principles should be the same."


    "Summing it up, it means that acting in ordance with spirituality allows the spirituality to recognize its master or be refined."


    "Reflecting this on mechanical creations, if I want to deepen my control over Dasheng, I need to do things that it desires."


    "So, what could such things be?"


    A slight anxiety arose in Ning Zhuo''s heart.


    ording to the *Theory of Spirituality,* spirituality grows, with stages of Spirituality Long-term, Spirituality Dynamic, and Spirituality Sensitive.


    "If I miss this Spirituality Dynamic period, will I lose my only opportunity topletely control Dasheng?"


    Ning Zhuo primarily referenced the Wind Shepherd Whip.


    The refinement of the Wind Shepherd Whip had to align with the spirituality of the evil god.


    This process had a time limit.


    Dasheng was likely the same!

 Chapter 118: Saving Someone

    Ning Zhuo analyzed the situation up to this point and dared not dy any longer.


    Yuan Dasheng possessed immortal potential, which was extremely rare and highly valuable!


    Due to its abundant spiritual nature, it could grow on its own. When paired with the "Life Hanging by a Thread" technique, it could freely switch between mechanical bodies.


    In this way, if Yuan Dasheng was well-used and cultivated properly, it couldpletely apany Ning Zhuo throughout his entire cultivation journey!


    Not to mention the future, even in the present, Ning Zhuo heavily relied on it to bring some challenges and fun to the other contenders for the Immortal Pce.


    To put it bluntly, if it weren''t for Yuan Dasheng, Ning Zhuo would have been killed by Meng Chong long ago, relying solely on the traps he had set.


    Although it wouldn''t have been aplete ughter, Meng Chong''s record wouldn''t have been halted at Room Three.


    After pondering for a moment, Ning Zhuo recalled the scene where Yuan Dasheng lost control earlier, leaving the city on its own and staying motionless in a remote wilderness.


    ¡°Since Yuan Dasheng wanted to go there, that ce must hold some significant meaning for him.¡±¡°I''ll just take it there directly and see what happens!¡±


    As for how to go out?


    Ning Zhuo''s eyes darted around, and he quickly came up with a reason for leaving the city.


    He summoned the Ning Family guards and informed them that he had coborated with Zheng Jian to create a new mechanical ape.


    He needed to venture into the wild to find some wild beasts and use realbat to refine his mechanical arts skills.


    The guards hesitated because the assassination had urred not long ago. Ning Zhuo''s desire to leave the city carried unquantifiable risks.


    Ning Zhuo didn¡¯t make things difficult for them and allowed them to report this to the higher-ups.


    When Ning Xiaoren heard the report, he thought for a moment, then dispatched two more Foundation Establishment stage cultivators. He also retrieved several life-saving items from the family treasury and sent them to Ning Zhuo.


    The matter of Ning Zhuo and Zheng Jian working together to create a mechanical ape was already well-known among the three families.


    Afterward, Zheng Jian couldn''t stop praising the mechanical ape and repeatedlyuded Ning Zhuo''s expertise in mechanical arts.


    On one hand, Ning Xiaoren was eager to know just how powerful this new mechanical ape was. On the other hand, he hoped that Ning Zhuo''s skills in mechanical arts would continue to improve. This would be beneficial for the entire Ning family!


    Ning Xiaoren''s reaction was exactly as Ning Zhuo had expected.


    The life-saving items sent over also satisfied Ning Zhuo, especially a particr directional teleportation talisman that had been locked onto the Ning family ancestral residence. In case of danger, Ning Zhuo wouldn''t even need to activate it himself; the talisman would automatically burn and instantly transport him back to the family.


    "The Ning family is a prominent cultivation n. When they truly tap into their heritage, their strength is evident."


    With this thought in mind, Ning Zhuo led a group of Ning Family guards and marched grandly out of the city.


    He didn¡¯t follow Yuan Dasheng¡¯s previous route exactly but chose a slightly longer path, eventually arriving near the remote wilderness.


    He ordered the group to set up camp there while he manipted the Tree Martial Combat Ape¡ªDasheng to actively seek out some wild beasts for practice.


    With everyone watching, Ning Zhuo couldn''t openly let the Tree Martial Combat Ape¡ªDasheng act on its own.


    If he did so, it would undoubtedly cause a sensation among the three families¡ªno, the entire city!


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s ten fingers each connected to a thread of mana, and the ten threads formed the Life Hanging by a Thread connection, with the other end linked to the Tree Martial Combat Ape¡ªDasheng.


    The mana threads extended three to four zhang, some curved, some straight, forming amunication bridge between Ning Zhuo and Yuan Dasheng.


    When Yuan Dasheng first fought the wild beasts, it was a flurry of clumsy moves.


    This was because Ning Zhuo was controlling it.


    Although he had considerable expertise in mechanical arts, the Tree Martial Combat Ape¡ªDasheng was, after all, a new creation that required familiarization.


    After getting ustomed to it, Yuan Dasheng''sbat became orderly and well-coordinated.


    The guards were also observing Yuan Dasheng''s performance closely.


    They secretlymunicated with each other, discussing fervently.


    ¡°This mechanical ape is really strong.¡±


    ¡°It definitely has thebat strength of a Foundation Establishment cultivator!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know much about mechanical arts, but I have some knowledge in artifact forging. The materials used to create this mechanical ape are of high quality. The most basic ones are at the Foundation Establishment level, and some are even top-tier Golden Core materials.¡±


    Seeing that the time was right, Ning Zhuo used the Mirror tform Spirit Technique tomunicate, allowing Yuan Dasheng to exert some freedom.


    Yuan Dasheng had long been impatient, but because his master had given strict orders, he could only let his body be manipted by Ning Zhuo.


    Many opportunities for a swift victory had been missed because of Ning Zhuo¡¯s rigid control, which made Yuan Dasheng increasingly frustrated.


    When Ning Zhuo finally let it act freely, it immediately roared toward the sky, startling the guards and the wild beasts before them.


    With a single stride, Yuan Dasheng leaped over a zhang forward, charging at the wild beast.


    It twisted its body, raised its arm, and used its elbow!


    Bang.


    The wild beast was directly sent flying, crashing through severalrge trees in its path.


    The Ning Family guards were stunned.


    In that instant, they felt that the Tree Martial Combat Ape¡ªDasheng hade alive.


    The wild beast, enraged to the extreme, stood up and charged again.


    ¡°Take it easy, hold back your strength.¡±


    ¡°y with it, no need to rush to kill it.¡±


    Ning Zhuo quicklymunicated with Yuan Dasheng.


    At the moment, Yuan Dasheng was still obedient and immediatelyplied.


    What followed was a spectacle of the mechanical ape toying with the wild beast.


    The guards were all left gaping in astonishment.


    ¡°This mechanical ape is terrifyingly agile, far stronger than me!¡±


    ¡°Not just you, even if several of us joined forces, we might not be able to handle it.¡±


    ¡°Is it really the mechanical ape that''s strong? It¡¯s Ning Zhuo who is formidable.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes, indeed!¡±


    As the guards secretlymunicated and reached this point in their discussion, their gazes toward Ning Zhuo changed dramatically.


    In the past, they protected Ning Zhuo out of orders from Ning Xiaoren, fully aware that Ning Zhuo was crucial to the Ning family¡¯s grand n to seize the Lava Immortal Pce.


    Now, they genuinely respected Ning Zhuo.


    Because Ning Zhuo¡¯s control over the Tree Martial Combat Ape¡ªDasheng disyedbat power that exceeded their expectations, surpassing even thebined strength of three or four of them.


    They marveled in their hearts: "This mechanical ape seems alive; Ning Zhuo''s control technique is astonishingly strong."


    "He''s clearly only at the Qi Refining stage, and still early in that stage, but by controlling a well-made mechanical ape, he hasbat power beyond ours!"


    "Isn''t this the specialty of mechanical cultivators, beast-taming cultivators, and ghost-controlling cultivators? Nothing too surprising. There have been far more exaggerated cases in history."


    The Tree Martial Combat Ape¡ªDasheng fought with a domineering and humiliating manner, driving the wild boar-like beast to the brink of copse. Exhausted and covered in wounds, it finally justy on the ground, motionless, as if resigning itself to its fate.


    Ning Zhuo chuckled but didn¡¯t kill it, sparing its life.


    He recalled the Tree Martial Combat Ape¡ªDasheng, withdrew the mana threads, and then took out a dozen or so mechanical needles.


    The mechanical needles varied in thickness, precisely resembling the head of a rod.


    Ning Zhuo instructed the guards beside him, ¡°Next, I¡¯m going to use a different control method to test the Tree Martial Combat Ape¡ªDasheng¡¯s long-distance return capabilities.¡±


    ¡°If anything unexpected happens, please do your best to retrieve this mechanical ape.¡±


    The guard captain immediately nodded, reassuring Ning Zhuo. His attitude was much more enthusiastic than before, with the slight arrogance stemming from his superior cultivation havingpletely vanished.


    Only at this point did Ning Zhuo direct Yuan Dasheng to head toward the remote wilderness.


    The rod heads inserted into Yuan Dasheng''s body slowly began to rotate with the passage of time.


    When it reached the destination, Ning Zhuo felt a slight movement in his heart, sensing that his connection with Yuan Dasheng had be a bit clearer. It was as if manyyers of parchment had covered the link before, and now a fewyers had been peeled away.


    Yuan Dasheng returned, and Ning Zhuo inspected the rod heads embedded in its body. Some were removed for examination, others were twisted a few more times, and he infused his spiritual sense into them.


    He then had Yuan Dasheng leave again for the remote wilderness. Ning Zhuo¡¯s control over Yuan Dasheng deepened slightly.


    After three rounds, Ning Zhuo frowned slightly, thinking to himself, "It''s not enough, far from enough."


    To use an analogy, it was as if a hundredyers of parchment separated him and Yuan Dasheng. Each time they reached the destination, three or fouryers, or two or threeyers, would be peeled away, with the effect diminishing each time.


    The result was mixed.


    The good news was that Ning Zhuo''s hypothesis was confirmed: by following the flow of Yuan Dasheng''s spirit, he could gain its spiritual acknowledgment and deepen his control.


    The bad news was that this method wasn¡¯t


    very effective. It was like tilting a water bottle and getting only a sip, far from quenching his thirst.


    "What should I do?"


    Just as Ning Zhuo was troubled, shouts of killing and cries for help came from the forest.


    The guards immediately became alert and gathered around Ning Zhuo.


    "Something¡¯s wrong!"


    "Young Master Ning Zhuo, we should leave here quickly!"


    "It might be another assassination attempt. Let''s prevent anyone from approaching."


    However, Ning Zhuo¡¯s expression turned peculiar. He stood still, slightly shaking his head, ¡°It is indeed an assassination, but it¡¯s not targeting me.¡±


    Through Yuan Dasheng''s perspective, Ning Zhuo saw Yuan Er.


    Yuan Er was being relentlessly pursued by several cultivators.


    He looked terrified, with multiple wounds on his body. He was fleeing in desperation, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.


    When Yuan Dasheng spotted Yuan Er, its body trembled, and intense emotions surged within it.


    Seeing that its spirit was about to be overwhelmed, Ning Zhuo had a sudden epiphany and decisively ordered, "Yuan Dasheng, go save him!"


    The moment themand was given, theyers of parchment between him and Yuan Dasheng were peeled away in an instant!!


    Yuan Dasheng let out a shout, leaping high over Yuan Er''s head andnding among the crowd of enemies.


    Yuan Er looked up and, upon seeing the Tree Martial Combat Ape¡ªDasheng, couldn''t help but cry out in surprise, "Uncle Dasheng!?"


    At the same time.


    In Huoshi Immortal City.


    The ck market.


    Sun Lingtong led a group of burly men, surrounding a stall.


    He toyed with a dagger, shouting in a childish voice, ¡°Hey, if you want to do business here, you¡¯ve got to pay protection fees! How many days has it been since youst paid?¡±


    The stall owner knelt on the ground, crying bitterly, ¡°Boss Sun, my elderly mother is seriously ill, and my earnings from the stall are meager. Could you possibly give me some more time for the protection fee¡­¡±


    ¡°Bullshit! Do you take me for a three-year-old you can fool?¡± Sun Lingtong lifted a foot and kicked the stall owner to the ground, his tone disdainful, and his expression fierce, ¡°I don¡¯t know who you think you¡¯re dealing with.¡±


    Just as he was about to continue speaking, he suddenly felt his hair stand on end and quickly jumped to the side.


    Zhu Xuanji slowly revealed himself, ¡°You¡¯re quite sharp, Sun Lingtong. I got close, and you sensed it. Those spirit eyes of yours¡­ not bad.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s Lord Zhu!¡± Sun Lingtong quickly bowed.


    Zhu Xuanji revealed a list, ¡°My reason for seeking you is simple. Tell me where the young puppet master is.¡±

 Chapter 119: Zhu Xuanji’s Hidden Investigations and Ensuring Public Safety

    Over a month ago.


    Southern Dou Country.


    Mid-section of the E-Dragon River.


    Xuanlin City.


    The streets were crowded with people on both sides.


    Guards were escorting a mechanical prison cart, slowly moving forward.


    Inside the cart, a Golden Core stage cultivator was heavily shackled with iron chains, his hair disheveled and his eyes tightly shut.


    The city residents, upon seeing this person, were furious and hurled countless rotten eggs, leftover vegetable leaves, spoiled rice, and even stones while cursing loudly.


    "Smash him! Kill this corrupt official!""If he hadn''t embezzled the disaster relief funds, my grandfather wouldn''t have starved to death."


    "His conscience was truly eaten by dogs! As a Golden Core cultivator, it was fine if he cultivated alone, but as an official, he sucked the people''s lifeblood! He''s worse than a demonic cultivator! He deserves this end!!"


    The Golden Core prisoner kept his head down, his eyes closed, his expression lifeless.


    Watching themotion on the street from afar, Zhu Xuanji sighed softly and said to the group of people beside him, "It''s about time I set out as well."


    Next to him, the current City Lord of Xuanlin City sped his fists and bowed, saying, "This time, we owe it to you, Lord Zhu, for taking action and exposing the rotten element. If not for you, I would have remained in the dark."


    Zhu Xuanji smiled softly and looked deeply at the City Lord. "Lord Su, take care of yourself."


    After speaking, he mounted his horse and left directly.


    The City Lord sped his fists, watching Zhu Xuanji gradually disappear into the distance, always smiling, but with a cold gleam in his eyes.


    "Ah, it''s Lord Zhu!"


    "Lord Zhu is here."


    "Lord Zhu, thank you, thank you for uncovering the truth! If it weren''t for you, boohoo¡­"


    "Lord Zhu, please don''t go! Stay and be our official!"


    One person first knelt beside the street, followed by a second, then a third.


    The city residents all knelt down, crying bitterly, thanking and pleading.


    On the same road, Zhu Xuanji and the Golden Core prisoner receivedpletely different reactions.


    Zhu Xuanji rode on his horse, smiling, and continuously waved his hand.


    With the citizens'' heartfelt farewells, he reached the city gate and finally looked back at the kneeling crowd and the City Lord standing at the end of the street.


    "The Su family¡­" Zhu Xuanji sighed, a gloominess rising in his eyes.


    He knew that the true mastermind was the City Lord with the surname Su, but thetter was ruthless, killing to silence witnesses in time, leaving no evidence in Zhu Xuanji''s hands.


    Zhu Xuanji had only managed to capture a Golden Core cultivator under the City Lord''smand.


    Zhu Xuanji urged his horse to speed up, quickly catching up with the prisoner escort team ahead.


    The group meandered along until they reached a country road.


    The cultivator in the lead suddenly shouted, "Who goes there? Daring to block the imperial escort team, do you not value your life?!"


    The person blocking the prison cart quickly pleaded for mercy, his voice old and trembling, "Sirs, I am no bandit but havee specifically to thank Lord Zhu."


    Zhu Xuanji scanned the area with his spiritual sense and immediately ordered, "Stay calm, I know this old man; he is not an enemy."


    He lightly kicked his horse''s belly, reached the front of the group, and upon seeing the familiar face, couldn''t help but smile, "Old man, we meet again."


    The old man bent over, bowing deeply, tears streaming down his face as he said, "I am ashamed, I had eyes but failed to recognize a true hero. When you passed by my teahouse, I even insulted you. If I didn''te to thank and apologize, I would never have peace in my life."


    Zhu Xuanji dismounted, came to the old man''s side, and extended his hand to help him up. "Old man, has your family''s field been returned to you?"


    The old man cried again, choking up as he said, "Yes, it''s been returned. Not just my family, but the good fields of our entire vige have been returned."


    "That''s good." Zhu Xuanji nodded.


    The old man took out a bag of spirit stones. "Lord Zhu, this is a token of our vige''s gratitude¡­"


    Zhu Xuanji waved his hand, "I will not ept it."


    "This bag of spirit rice is also from our vige¡­"


    Zhu Xuanjiughed softly, "Old man, I don''t care for these things."


    The old man became anxious, "This is just a small token from our vige, only meant to express our endless gratitude, Lord Zhu¡­"


    Zhu Xuanji extended his hand, "Old man, do you remember when we first met, I passed by your teahouse at the vige entrance?"


    "You saw me covered in dust and invited me to sit down."


    "Iughed and said I had no money to pay for tea. Yet, you kindly offered me a bowl of sweet water."


    The old man nodded, wiping his tears, "How could I forget?"


    "You drank the sweet water and inquired about the people''s livelihood. I told you about the corruption in Xuanlin City."


    "You were merely asking for details, but I was old and foolish, thinking you were defending the corrupt officials, and angrily knocked over your sweet water."


    "Hahaha." Zhu Xuanjiughed heartily, "I''m d you remember!"


    He sped his fists and said, "If I may, could I ask the old man to offer me another bowl of sweet water?"


    The old man was stunned.


    Seeing Zhu Xuanji''s serious and sincere expression, his vision blurred again, tears streaming down as he hurriedly nodded, "Please, please! It is my honor to offer Lord Zhu tea again."


    Zhu Xuanji shook his head, "Not tea, I just want a bowl of sweet water."


    The old man took out his storage bag, and right there, made a bowl of sweet water for Zhu Xuanji.


    Zhu Xuanji held the rough pottery bowl, took a big sip, and with great satisfaction said, "Good, such sweet water!"


    The guards, seeing this scene, remained silent.


    After bidding farewell to the old man, Zhu Xuanji continued on his way.


    No one ambushed the prisoner, and the journey was peaceful.


    Upon entering the capital, he had not yet rested when he was summoned by the King.


    In the King''s presence, he knelt on one knee, sped his fists, and reported in a loud voice, "This minister went to Xuanlin City to investigate the details of the corruption case. Fortunately, I did not fail in my mission¡­"


    Smack.


    The King of Southern Dou mmed the table and scolded, "Zhu Xuanji! You entered the capital, handed over the prisoner, and did not think toe see me and report, must I summon you?"


    "Did not fail in your mission? Ha!"


    "Before you set out, how did I instruct you?"


    "In the end, you went to Xuanlin City and still acted on your own, disregarding my orders. Do you think I summoned you to praise you?"


    "This minister dares not," Zhu Xuanji replied with a bitter smile.


    The King of Southern Dou sighed deeply, "Zhu Xuanji, Zhu Xuanji¡­ You are a member of the royal family. Do you not know the weight of the Su family in our country?"


    "This time you captured a Golden Core subordinate, making the Su family lose face. Several of the Su family''s old ministers have already submitted their resignation, stating that the Su family''s reputation must not be tarnished."


    "I asked you to investigate the case, not to cause turmoil in the court!"


    Zhu Xuanji raised his head, his expression serious, "I dare not disagree with Your Majesty, but I believe that the major ns in Southern Dou Country have already be deeply entrenched, with their power so great that it''s hard to shake. The Su family, in particr, controls multiple immortal cities and holds many key positions in the court, suppressing neers and monopolizing governance."


    "If this continues, they will be a significant crisis for Southern Dou Country."


    "As members of the royal family, we should support new ns and new people, reform the court with new energy, take care of themon people, and widely recruit talent from among the people to bnce the old ns."


    The King of Southern Dou snorted coldly, "Nonsense! In the past, when thete Emperor expanded the territory, how much did the Su family sacrifice? How could we treat such founding heroes with contempt? If this gets out, how will talents from othernds view our country?"


    "People have given you a title, calling you ¡®Zhu Xuanji, the investigator who ensures public safety,'' and you''ve actually be proud of it?"


    Zhu Xuanji lowered his head, "This minister dares not."


    The King of Southern Dou sighed softly, "Enough."


    "Perhaps I have always expected too much from you. Your handling of this matter was indeed an improvementpared to before."


    "I have read your secret report."


    "The Su family¡¯s City Lord cannot escape responsibility. Everyone in the court is aware of this."


    "But let this matter rest. The Golden Core cultivator will be beheaded and disyed at the vegetable market as the conclusion."


    Zhu Xuanji volunteered, "This minister is willing to serve as the executioner!"


    The King of Southern Dou shook his head, "The court is


    unstable, and as a member of the royal family, you must consider and think for me."


    "If you, with your status, serve as the executioner, would it be seen as the royal family''s decision? As my decision? How could the court officials and subjects not specte wildly?"


    "You should not stay in the capital any longer. Leave."


    "Just as well¡­"


    The King of Southern Dou took a memorial from the corner of the desk, threw it to the ground, and tossed it to Zhu Xuanji. "Stand up and take a look."


    Zhu Xuanji responded, "Yes."


    He slowly stood up and reached out his hand.


    An invisible force lifted the memorial from the ground and ced it in his hand.


    Zhu Xuanji unfolded the memorial and quickly read through it, his face showing surprise, "Lava Immortal Pce?"


    The King of Southern Dou nodded, "Indeed."


    "This was once the residence of the Supreme Elder of the Three Sects, built in coboration with thete Emperor during their time of deep affection. It was originally buried within Mount Huoshi, suppressing volcanic eruptions and turning a dangerousnd into a blessed one."


    "It was supposed to continue suppressing the earth''s fire for over a hundred years, but now it has emerged."


    "There must be something unusual about this."


    "On this journey, you must investigate the reason for the appearance of the Lava Immortal Pce."


    "This Immortal Pce contains the Supreme Elder''s mechanical inheritance, and you are the one who meets the standard for this. Whether you can obtain the inheritance depends on your fortune and abilities."


    "Though you aplished some merits in Xuanlin City, you also made mistakes. I have my reasons, so I will neither reward nor punish you. Go to the Lava Immortal Pce and see if you can obtain the inheritance."


    "This minister epts the decree!" Zhu Xuanji expressed his gratitude, "My expertise in mechanical techniques is also thanks to the royal family''s nurturing. On this journey, I will do my utmost to uncover the truth."


    The King of Southern Dou nodded, "I have three pieces of advice for you."


    "First, the Supreme Elder of the Three Sects had a close rtionship with thete Emperor. You could say that our royal family owes much of its foundation to the Supreme Elder. His merits and influence could be considered that of our national preceptor."


    "The Supreme Elder arranged the Lava Immortal Pce within Mount Huoshi with profound intentions that cannot be easily guessed. On this journey, do not act recklessly; go with the flow and do not disturb the Supreme Elder''s careful ns."


    "Second, thete Emperor did not have the royal mandate at the time, and it was entirely due to the Supreme Elder''s use of the divine ability ¡®Life Hanging by a Thread'' that the Emperor was able to gain the favor of the people."


    "After thete Emperor, no one in our Zhu family has inherited this ability. ¡®Life Hanging by a Thread'' has be a lost art."


    "One of the key tasks of your journey is to find this divine ability. If possible, strive to obtain it!"


    "On the other hand, if you discover someone else has mastered this divine ability, do everything in your power to eliminate them and snuff out the threat early!"

 Chapter 120: Sun Lingtongs Tantrum and Rolling Around

    "The third point, the current City Lord of Huoshi City, Meng Kui, has a divine ability called *Watching the Mountain*, which is quite formidable."


    "Among the four generals of the Meng family, Meng Kui is the only one known as a strategist. He has governed Puppet Immortal City for many years, achieving harmonious governance."


    "You have a Golden Core cultivation, the Celestial Golden Eyes, and the royal treasury''s protective magical treasures, making yourbat power exceptional."


    "However, once Meng Kui uses *Watching the Mountain*, it will create a fortune-altering field that will cause drastic changes in the fate of all living beings within it."


    "There are very few treasures that can suppress such a fate. Without a heavy treasure to protect yourself, you will be affected by it."


    "I shall grant you a *Raising Wind Bell* as a warning tool."


    "Your servant humbly thanks Your Majesty for the grace." Zhu Xuanji once again half-knelt on the ground.


    Finally, the King of Southern Dou waved his hand. "The relevant intelligence and secrets of the Lava Immortal Pce are recorded in the royal family''s secret realm. Before you depart, go and take a look; it will help youplete this mission. Remember, all secrets must not be leaked."


    "Your servant obeys the decree!" Zhu Xuanji received the order and withdrew.Zhu Xuanji left the capital.


    Alone, under an assumed name, he traveled a long distance until he reached Mount Huoshi.


    "The Meng family¡­" Zhu Xuanji''s expression was solemn. In the Southern Dou Kingdom, the Su and Meng families were equally renowned, withparable power.


    Zhu Xuanji stealthily made his way to the mountaintop but was discovered.


    He used the Celestial Golden Eyes to look far into the distance at the Lava Immortal Pce, seeing it with his own eyes for the first time.


    He brought along Chi Dun, visited the Zheng family, and obtained information rted to the shadow demon cultivators.


    He ventured deep into the Red me Demon Molten Cave, using the *Trace Back Art* to discover that the true culprits behind the bombing of the Immortal Pce were the Fire Essence and the Mechanical Explosive Monkeys.


    Then, his investigation was obstructed.


    Whether it was the Mechanical Explosive Monkeys or the Fire Essence, both leads had been deliberately set up, making them of little value.


    At the Huoshi Festival, Zhu Xuanji monitored the entire event but found no trace of the shadow demon cultivators.


    Yuan Dasheng''s performance elicited his sympathy, while Yuan Er left him disappointed and disgusted.


    From the fragments of the Mechanical Explosive Monkeys, he collected countless clues once more.


    He decisively gave up, believing that this was a ruse by the enemy, not wanting to waste energy and time.


    He suspected that the shadow demon cultivators might have allied with a certain force in the city. The other side had long been prepared for the *Trace Back Art*, hiding deeply, proving to be a tough opponent.


    Zhu Xuanji decided to put in extra effort.


    He requested all records from the four major forces andpiled a list of suspects.


    He intentionally made the list public, hoping to stir the pot.


    Zhu Xuanji conducted his investigation with high-profile actions, starting with Li Leifeng.


    As a result, he was schemed against.


    Li Leifeng died of natural causes, and Zhu Xuanji specifically investigated secretly, confirming it as true.


    Afterward, he wholeheartedly spent his time investigating in Puppet Immortal City, reviewing the past performance records of officials and clerks but did not find a suitable candidate.


    He wrote a memorial to the royal family, detailing the situation, and hoped that the Zhu family would send a member to take on the role of director.


    Zhu Xuanji continued his investigation.


    When demon cultivators resisted, he killed Zhao Die.


    He also killed Liu Ying, confirming that the other party did not possess the divine ability *Life Hanging by a Thread*.


    He conducted his investigation with great fanfare, causing a series of reactions.


    The demon cultivators and rogue cultivators in Puppet Immortal City either left, banded together, or sought refuge.


    This did not trouble Zhu Xuanji.


    The investigation continued to progress gradually.


    During this time, the geniuses of the Qi Refining stage from the four major forces were all attacked and assassinated around the same period.


    Zhu Xuanji immediately took action to investigate.


    He uncovered many clues, but the key points were all cut off. However, most still pointed to Fei Si.


    Zhu Xuanji understood this and held back.


    He was rather disappointed, knowing that this was not the true culprit he was looking for but rather a covert sh between the four major forces.


    The three major families wanted to use him as a tool to confront the City Lord¡¯s Mansion for their benefit.


    Zhu Xuanji saw through this and withdrew in time.


    A few days ago, he visited the Zhou family to inquire about Chu Xiyao.


    During the interrogation, the Zhou family specifically sent an elder to apany and support Chu Xiyao.


    Zhu Xuanji found no evidence of Chu Xiyao lying and left the Zhou family expressionlessly.


    "Interesting." He looked up at the sky.


    Despite stirring up a lot of trouble, scaring many people, he hadn''t provoked the real culprit.


    "The mastermind is hiding very well."


    Zhu Xuanji looked at the suspect list again.


    His list was divided into three sections.


    The first section consisted of confirmed cultivators who had entered the Lava Immortal Pce, such as the two Golden Core cultivators from the Zheng family, an elder from the Zhou family, Li Leifeng, Zhao Die, Liu Ying, Chu Xiyao, and so on.


    The second section included cultivators with considerable expertise in mechanical arts, fitting the criteria to enter the pce, but there were no records of these individuals entering or leaving the Immortal Pce among the four major forces. This included the young puppet master!


    The third section contained those skilled in mechanical arts who had entered and left the pce or had no relevant records but were generally believed to be deceased.


    Zhu Xuanji had already investigated the first section, and now it was time for the second.


    After investigating two people, it was the young puppet master''s turn.


    The young puppet master was very mysterious, but he had sold numerous mechanical creations in the ck market multiple times. Thest time he appeared was when he, along with Han Ming, raided Ziyang Courtyard and, with the help of a mysterious third person, sessfully stole arge amount of pills.


    Strangely, these pills appeared in the Huoshi Forest and then mysteriously vanished.


    Zhu Xuanji had long known about this clue, but after careful consideration, he felt that the young puppet master had little connection with the shadow demon cultivators.


    Sun Lie had tampered with the pills to guard against Han Ming. The young puppet master and his group likely saw through this and determined the pills were unusable, so they abandoned them.


    After working in vain, they might have thrown the pills into Huoshi Forest out of revenge or to shift the me onto the shadow demon cultivators.


    If the City Lord''s Mansion and the shadow demon cultivators fought, Huoshi Forest would inevitably suffer, and the City Lord''s Mansion would incur heavy losses. At that time, these demon cultivators would stand by and watch, gloating over their misfortune.


    Regarding the handling of Huoshi Forest, Zhu Xuanji recognized Fei Si''s efforts.


    Fei Si had genuinely protected the vast wealth of Huoshi Forest in his role, serving both the City Lord''s Mansion and the Southern Dou Kingdom.


    Zhu Xuanji''s reasoning about the young puppet master''s connection to the shadow demon cultivators was simple and straightforward¡ªif the young puppet master and his group were truly involved with the shadow demon cultivators, why didn''t they secretly deliver the pills? Why make such a public spectacle, letting everyone know?


    But now, following the list, Zhu Xuanji still found himself focusing on the young puppet master.


    "The master of the ck market is named Sun Lingtong, at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, an outer disciple of the No-Void Sect. He must know something."


    With this thought, Zhu Xuanji went to find him.


    "The young puppet master, huh¡­" Sun Lingtong''s big eyes rolled around as he grinned cheekily, "Lord Zhu, what do you want with him?"


    Zhu Xuanji remained expressionless. "You only need to cooperate and tell me the details. What I want with him is none of your business."


    Sun Lingtong scratched his head. "Ah, it''s hard to lie in front of Lord Zhu."


    Zhu Xuanji nodded slightly. "Sun Lingtong, I''ve investigated you. Although you''re the master of the ck market, you''re not a ruthless viin. Over the years, you''ve reformed the ck market and adhered to the rules you''ve established, which, in a way, has prevented many bloody conflicts."


    "Just speak the truth, and I won''t make things difficult for you."


    Sun Lingtong spread his hands. "Then I''ll say it. I know where the young puppet master is, but if you want to know, you need this."


    As he spoke, Sun Lingtong extended his soft fingers and rubbed them in front of Zhu Xuanji''s eyes.


    "You want money? Hahaha." Zhu Xuanji was so angry heughed, "Since I started handling cases, I''ve never bought information. You''re really pushing your luck, aren''t you?"


    "Hmm?" Suddenly, a sh of gold appeared in Zhu Xuanji''s eyes.


    His expression changed. "No, you''re lying!"


    "Even if I gave you money, you wouldn''t tell the truth."


    This time, it was


    Sun Lingtong''s turn to change color.


    "Interesting." Zhu Xuanji stared at Sun Lingtong, his eyes gleaming with golden light. "You''re protecting the young puppet master so much, it seems that you were involved in the Ziyang Courtyard incident as well?"


    Sun Lingtong shouted, "Lord Zhu, what are you talking about?"


    "You''re framing me!"


    "I''m just a kid, and you''re a grown-up. You''re using and bullying me right to my face?!"


    "Somebody, help! Lord Zhu is bullying people!"


    Sun Lingtong plopped down on the ground, pounding his chest and stomping his feet, crying loudly, "This is too much! No kindness at all, a royal member bullying a child!!"


    "Woo woo woo!"


    "I don''t want to live anymore, I can''t afford to live."


    "I''m being framed, being ndered by someone from the Zhu family. How can a distinguished detective make baseless usations?!"


    "How am I supposed to live after this?"


    "My reputation!"


    "What will people think of me? Oh, heavens."


    "I might as well die, woo woo woo, how pitiful I am."


    "Quick, record this scene with a jade slip, so I can keep it for when I seek justiceter."


    "Come and see, everyone, the Zhu family royalty is bullying ordinary folks!!!"


    Sun Lingtong, with tears and snot flowing, rolled around on the ground, iling his pink little legs and arms.


    Zhu Xuanji: ¡­


    The nearby vendor who had just been kicked to the ground by Sun Lingtong: ¡­


    As for the few burly men Sun Lingtong brought with him, they remained silent, looking as if they were used to it. One of them actually pulled out a jade slip and held it in his hand, recording the scene.


    Zhu Xuanji was so angry that he burst outughing. "Do you think that by throwing a tantrum and rolling around, you can escape my investigation?"


    "Sun Lingtong, stand up. Don¡¯t make me look down on you."


    Sun Lingtong wailed, "No, I won''t. Come and see, someone is bullying a child."


    He cried as he crawled toward Zhu Xuanji.


    Zhu Xuanji instinctively took a few steps back, but Sun Lingtong still managed to grab his leg.


    Zhu Xuanji, furious, started shaking his leg and shouted, "Sun Lingtong! You control the ck market, you''re a public figure, yet now you''re acting like a three-year-old child?"


    Sun Lingtong: "I don''t care; you''re bullying me. If you have evidence, show it."


    "Woo woo woo, my elders from the sect aren''t here, so you''re picking on the weak. Are you even human?!"


    Themotion attracted a lot of attention.


    Zhu Xuanji''s face turned blue as he frantically shook his leg.


    Sun Lingtong clung to him tightly, refusing to let go, like a sticky ster.


    He even rubbed his face against Zhu Xuanji''s pants, smearing snot and tears all over them.


    Zhu Xuanji: "Sun Lingtong, you''re going too far!"


    Sun Lingtong shouted, "Just kill me, Lord Zhu, just kill a child. You''re Lord Zhu, the protector of the people, what could you possibly do wrong?!"


    Zhu Xuanji was so angry that he felt a surge of killing intent. Just then, a bell sounded from the upper dantian of his spirit sea.


    It was the *Raising Wind Bell*!

 Chapter 121: The Wind Rises

    "The Wind-Bell!"


    In an instant, Zhu Xuanji was startled.


    Once the fate of the world undergoes a drastic change, it will lead to turbulent winds and clouds, causing the heavens and earth to change colors, creating a vast fortune that influences countless people and various forces. If this fortune expands, it will lead to frequent wars and intense upheavals.


    This Wind-Bell was bestowed by the King, specifically used to detect drastic changes in fate and the influence of fortune.


    "The Wind-Bell has rung. Is it due to the natural surge of fortune, or is someone using a technique?"


    Zhu Xuanji subconsciously raised his head and looked towards the peak of Mount Huoshi.


    He had long known about Meng Kui''s divine ability, *Sitting on the Mountain and Watching!*


    Sun Lingtong''s unreasonable behavior would not cause Zhu Xuanji to back down. He had various methods to punish this suspect.


    But now, he didn¡¯t want to do so anymore.Before his departure, the King had specifically instructed him to be cautious of changes in fate and to be wary of Meng Kui.


    Zhu Xuanji remembered this deeply, fully aware that he had no means to suppress the fortune. Now that the Wind-Bell had rung, if he continued to be involved in this situation, he would inevitably be affected. Even if he were to close his doors and stay inside, the entanglement of fate and the changes in fortune would still bring disaster from the heavens while he sat at home!


    Zhu Xuanji himself had no means to interfere with fate, so the only solution now was to withdraw as soon as possible. Being outside the situation would prevent him from being influenced.


    "I''ll let you off today, but I wille for you." Zhu Xuanji released his power, sending Sun Lingtong flying away.


    He disappeared from the spot, swiftly leaving the city.


    It wasn''t until he had distanced himself hundreds of miles away from Mount Huoshi that the Wind-Bell stopped ringing.


    "With such a small range of fortune fluctuation and such a drastic change in fate, the suspicion on Meng Kui bes even greater."


    "If the fortune field doesn''t expandter, it''s very likely to be the result of Meng Kui''s divine ability, *Sitting on the Mountain and Watching*!"


    Zhu Xuanji''s face turned gloomy as he immediately decided to rely on the Wind-Bell''s detection range for verification.


    As soon as Zhu Xuanji left, Sun Lingtong stood up.


    Sun Lingtong found it hard to believe, thinking to himself, "Did I really just drive Zhu Xuanji away so easily?"


    On the surface, he spat out a mouthful of saliva, wiped his small face, and seeing the stunned small vendor, he yelled, "Did you see that? Learn from it!"


    He then looked at his subordinates and eagerly asked, "Did you record everything?"


    His subordinate nodded, "It''s all in the jade slip."


    Sun Lingtong threw his head back andughed three times, "Excellent! This is the greatest achievement of my life."


    "Come, spread the word that I, Sun Lingtong, with a Foundation Establishment cultivation, forced Golden Core Zhu Xuanji to retreat!"


    "Hahaha, I''m going to be famous, I''m going to be famous!"


    "If anyone doubts it, just throw the jade slip in their face."


    "Yes, quickly make copies of the jade slip, ten or even hundreds of them, and distribute them for safekeeping, to prevent confiscation!"


    Sun Lingtong''s methods were shrewd; he intended to establish his reputation first and then use it to pressure Zhu Xuanji, preparing for the future when Zhu Xuanji woulde after him again.


    As Zhu Xuanji left the city, Ning Zhuo entered.


    Unlike when he left, Ning Zhuo''s team now included Yuan Er.


    Yuan Er and Ning Zhuo sat in a carriage, with Yuan Er asionally ncing at the Tree Martial Combat Ape, Dasheng, sitting beside Ning Zhuo.


    Their conversation came to an end.


    "So that''s how it is," Ning Zhuo sighed softly.


    He had finally understood the situation.


    It turned out that in a few days, it would be the death anniversary of Yuan Yi, and as Yuan Yi''s son, Yuan Er had to pay respects at his grave.


    There were over ten burial sites for Yuan Yi, but the real tomb was in the deste wilderness where Yuan Dasheng, driven by emotion, had lost control and rushed to.


    The other false graves were deliberately arranged by Yuan Yi. On one hand, they were meant to prevent others from desecrating his grave out of revenge; on the other hand, they served as bait to lure out hidden enemies.


    After all, in the cultivation world, there were many methods to curse and kill others using their remains.


    Yuan Er originally didn''t want to leave the Monkey Head Gang''s headquarters, but this was a ritual to honor his ancestors, especially the founder of the Monkey Head Gang, so he had no choice but to take action.


    The elders of the gang were also urging him to do so. If he didn''t, he would surely bebeled as cowardly and unfilial by those with ulterior motives. This would be a fatal blow to Yuan Er''s already miserable reputation!


    Yuan Er had no choice but toply. He had initially nned to contact Ning Zhuo to expedite the creation of Yuan Dasheng''s mechanical construct, but the messengers he sent out never returned.


    Yuan Er did everything he could to conceal his whereabouts, deliberately setting out several days early to secretly perform the ritual.


    Unexpectedly, he encountered an ambush on his way, and all his attendants were killed, leaving him as the sole survivor.


    He instinctively fled to his father''s burial site, only to be rescued by Tree Martial Combat Ape, Dasheng.


    After that, Yuan Dasheng, under Ning Zhuo''s orders, came to the rescue.


    "Mr. Ning, this is the Uncle Monkey automaton you made for me, right? It must be!" Yuan Er couldn''t hold back any longer, his eyes fixed on Yuan Dasheng, filled with urgency and desire.


    "It''s really powerful, far surpassing the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage."


    "Mr. Ning, you are a man of your word. I admire you immensely!"


    Yuan Er praised him endlessly.


    Ning Zhuo smiled slightly and patted the arm of Tree Martial Combat Ape, Dasheng, "This is just the initial product, newly crafted. My trip outside the city was mainly to find wild beasts to test the power of Tree Martial Combat Ape, Dasheng in actualbat."


    "Tree Martial Combat Ape, Dasheng¡­" Yuan Er savored the name, his eyes shining, and he gave a thumbs up, "Mr. Ning, your skill in automaton crafting is profound, and your naming sense is also extraordinary. It¡¯s a perfect fit, absolutely fitting."


    "Can weplete the handover now?"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head, "No rush, no rush."


    "Through actualbat with beasts and cultivators, I found that Tree Martial Combat Ape, Dasheng still has many areas that need improvement."


    "I¡¯ll hand it over to you only after I¡¯vepleted the improvements."


    "When ites to Ning Zhuo''s creations, they must be masterpieces. I wouldn¡¯t deliver a hastily made, rough product."


    Yuan Er''s eyes widened, his face full of anxiety, "But, Mr. Ning!"


    "You see, I¡¯m in great danger right now, too dangerous."


    "This time, if I hadn''t been lucky enough to encounter you, I would have died, died at the hands of those shameless, insidious, and ruthless assassins!"


    "The key thing is, you let a few assassins go. I, I¡­"


    At this point, Yuan Er was so agitated that he stammered and couldn''t finish his sentence.


    Ning Zhuo sighed, spreading his hands as he offered a perfect exnation, "I couldn¡¯t see the specific situation at the time. I¡¯m just at the Qi Refining stage, not the Foundation Establishment stage. I don¡¯t have spiritual sense."


    "The Tree Martial Combat Ape, Dasheng, is controlled by the staff head. The staff head stores my divine sense, and the setting I imposed on it is to engage in unrestrictedbat with any hostile target it encounters."


    "So, when some assassins lost their killing intent and fled in panic, Tree Martial Combat Ape, Dasheng wouldn¡¯t be triggered and thus wouldn¡¯t pursue them."


    "If I had been there, I would have certainly eradicated all the evil!"


    Yuan Er blinked repeatedly, his mouth dry, "About the staff head, I¡¯m aware as well."


    "To be honest, Mr. Ning, ever since you agreed to craft a Foundation Establishment-level automaton for me, I¡¯ve been scouring the gang''s library, studying rted knowledge day and night, and relentlessly practicing the techniques for controlling automatons."


    "If you hand over Tree Martial Combat Ape, Dasheng to me now, I¡¯ll definitely make good use of it! I¡­"


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s expression darkened, and he spoke with displeasure, "Enough, Chief Yuan Er, you don¡¯t need to persuade me any further."


    "This is my principle. I won¡¯t hand over Tree Martial Combat Ape, Dasheng until I¡¯ve finished improving it."


    "You must understand, a shoddy product would tarnish my reputation."


    "In the future, I n to walk the path of automaton crafting, and my reputation must be protected from the very beginning!"


    Ning Zhuo spoke with righteous conviction,pletely forgetting about the time he had made the crude Mechanical Explosive Monkeys.


    If Chen Cha were to hear this, he would undoubtedly be gratified, feeling that Ning Zhuo had found his way back and that it was a fortunate thing indeed for a prodigal son to


    return.


    Yuan Er breathed heavily, his mouth slightly open, with many things he wanted to say, but under Ning Zhuo¡¯s stern gaze, he ultimately held back.


    Although Ning Zhuo was only at the Qi Refining stage, his status was no longer what it used to be.


    The automaton carriage Ning Zhuo was riding in, along with the guards apanying it, made Yuan Er keenly aware of the disparity in their positions.


    Ning Zhuo continued to reassure him, "Chief Yuan Er, don¡¯t be too nervous, it¡¯ll be fine."


    "Now that you¡¯ve entered the city, I¡¯ll directly escort you to the gang''s headquarters."


    "You¡¯ve already honored your father, and I can testify to that."


    "You can use my rtionship to strongly intimidate the traitors within the gang. I doubt they¡¯d be so insane as to bring assassins into the headquarters."


    Yuan Er¡¯s face turned pale, "Yes, they probably wouldn¡¯t be so reckless."


    "But the enemies left behind by my father and Uncle Dasheng''s rise are different!"


    Ning Zhuo immediately refuted, "They can¡¯t enter the headquarters either. If they could, they would¡¯ve seeded in assassinating you by now, wouldn¡¯t they?"


    "After all, in the past, Yuan Dasheng wasn¡¯t always by your side, right?"


    A fineyer of cold sweat appeared on Yuan Er¡¯s forehead, "That¡­seems to be the case¡­it should be the case."


    "If Mr. Ning could deliver the product now, that would be the best oue."


    Yuan Er¡¯s face was full of distress, his tone pleading.


    Ning Zhuo mercilessly shook his head, refusing once again.


    In the end, he escorted Yuan Er directly back to the Monkey Head Gang headquarters as promised, drawing the attention of countless gang members.


    Yuan Er was somewhat reluctant to get out of the carriage.


    It was only under Ning Zhuo¡¯s urging that he unwillingly nced back at Tree Martial Combat Ape, Dasheng, and reluctantly got off the carriage.


    "Let¡¯s head back," Ning Zhuo waved, and the team set off again.


    Yuan Er remained standing in ce, staring at the automaton carriage until it disappeared from sight, before finally moving his leaden feet.


    Back in his empty inner room, his longing for Yuan Dasheng intensified to the extreme, causing two silent tears to roll down his cheeks.

 Chapter 122: Rising Clouds

    The Mechanical Carriage.


    Ning Zhuo gazed intently at the Tree Martial Battle Ape, Dasheng, sitting beside him.


    Today''s results from leaving the city were far more bountiful than expected.


    First, Ning Zhuo showcased the Tree Martial Battle Ape, Dasheng, to the outside world, demonstrating the oue of him collecting Yuan Dasheng''s corpse.


    Although none of the materials from Yuan Dasheng''s corpse were used in the creation of the Tree Martial Battle Ape, Dasheng, this didn¡¯t matter.


    Ning Zhuo could easily exin it this way: his initial mechanical creations were prototypes, requiring continuous improvements. Only after obtaining a mature design would he truly use Yuan Dasheng''s bones as the primary material.


    Second, Ning Zhuo tested thebat capabilities of the Tree Martial Battle Ape, Dasheng, through actualbat and indeed discovered many areas that could be improved and optimized.


    "The Tree Martial Battle Ape, Dasheng, needs more slots for talisman inscriptions. Six slots are not enough to fully disy Yuan Dasheng''s martial prowess."


    On this point, Ning Zhuo had to admit that he had underestimated Yuan Dasheng!The Tree Martial Battle Ape had already been constructed with the most flexible skeleton. Since it was built using a jointed method, almost every bone could move.


    Thus, from the very foundation of its design, it allowed Yuan Dasheng to freely perform all sorts of maneuvers.


    However, in actualbat, many of Yuan Dasheng''s martial techniques required otherponents to unleash their full power.


    The design of the Tree Martial Battle Ape, Dasheng,cked an arrayyout. This was mainly because Ning Zhuo didn¡¯t have the time; setting up formations was far moreplex and precise.


    Ning Zhuo could only use abination of talismans to fill the mechanical contraption''s power as much as possible to meet Yuan Dasheng''sbat needs.


    Thirdly, Ning Zhuo discovered a way to enhance his control over Yuan Dasheng!


    And that was through Yuan Er.


    When Yuan Er was being assassinated, Yuan Dasheng grew restless. Under Ning Zhuo''smand, it joined the rescue operation. This action perfectly aligned with its spiritual nature!


    When Ning Zhuo gave themand, dozens of sheets of parchment flew off. After Yuan Dasheng killed several assassins and drove the rest away, more than thirty sheets of parchment were lifted away.


    "If Yuan Er were assassinated a few more times, and I used the Tree Martial Battle Ape, Dasheng, to rescue him each time, wouldn''t that achieve the desired result?"


    That was exactly what Ning Zhuo thought at the time.


    So, he intentionally let the remaining assassins escape.


    "If those assassins don''t take action, I can stage a few assassination attempts myself."


    "After all, Yuan Er is hiding in the Monkey Head Gang''s stronghold; he''s easy to find."


    "This time, after being ambushed and assassinated, he must have realized there''s a traitor within the gang. He won''t trust anyone anymore and will just cower in the depths of the gang¡¯s headquarters, living in constant fear, barely surviving."


    "Who would''ve thought that such a person could still be of use?"


    "Well¡­"


    "If rescuing Yuan Er from these assassination attempts isn¡¯t enough for me to fully control Yuan Dasheng, then what if I dig up Yuan Yi''s grave?"


    "If I rob the grave in front of the Tree Martial Battle Ape, Dasheng, and then order it to stop me, that should also align with its spiritual nature, right?"


    "Well¡­"


    "I could also find some people to attack the Monkey Head Gang, let the Tree Martial Battle Ape, Dasheng, see it, and then intervene. After all, this was its enterprise in life, maybe that could work too."


    Inspired, Ning Zhuo''s thoughts began to flow, and he came up with many ideas.


    He felt a surge of joy and couldn¡¯t help but show a pure smile.


    "Actually, it''s quite simple to align with the spiritual nature."


    "You just need to find the real needs."


    The carriage drove from the Monkey Head Gang''s base towards the Ning family''s estate.


    "Perhaps I should go directly to the Zheng family? My uncle''s ce doesn¡¯t have a good workshop for mechanical creations."


    Ning Zhuo changed his route halfway, but ended up facing a closed door when he arrived at the Zheng family.


    The Zheng family informed him that they were currently hosting distinguished guests and could not amodate him, asking for his understanding.


    "What kind of distinguished guests?" Ning Zhuo felt a bit disappointed and had no choice but to return home.


    On the way back, he made a detour to check on his small courtyard home.


    Since thest attack and explosion, his residence had turned into ruins. However, construction had started again on the same day.


    Now, seeing it, the foundation of the house was already rebuilt. The protective formation around the house was several levels higher than before, and thanks to the Ning family¡¯s connections, it could directly link with the grand formation of the entire Puppet Immortal City.


    Ning Zhuo returned to the Ning family estate.


    A family envoy had been waiting for him to return the items he had previously been given before his outing. The most valuable of these was the Directional Escape Talisman.


    Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly as he handed everything back.


    Ning Xiaoren received the envoy''s report, confirming that the life-saving items had returned to the family treasury, and felt relieved.


    He also received first-hand intelligence from the guards, leaving him with mixed feelings.


    "This Ning Zhuo really is a mechanical prodigy!"


    "The previous Mechanical Explosive Monkey was already quite impressive, and now he¡¯s designed thebat mechanism, the Tree Martial Battle Ape, Dasheng, with extraordinarybat power!"


    "The stronger he bes, the more he can help the Ning family in the three families'' alliance."


    "However¡­ can Ning Xiaohui continue to hold him down?"


    As the main branch, Ning Xiaoren naturally leaned towards Ning Xiaohui, with Ning Zhuo being part of the side branch.


    After some thought, he decided to pass this information to Ning Xiaohui''s grandmother.


    Ning Xiaohui''s grandmother was currently overseeing Ning Xiaohui''s secret training.


    Ning Xiaohui still hadyers of bandages wrapped around her throat. Her gaze was focused as she stared at the basin filled with ice in front of her.


    She had plunged her hands into the ice and had kept them there for the duration of an incense stick''s burning!


    The bone-chilling cold invaded her entire body through her hands.


    At first, she trembled all over, her face covered in frost.


    Later, her hands turned blue and purple, and her body became numb from the cold.


    And now, in this final moment, she felt a hint of warmth emerging from her frozen, numbed hands!


    It was as if, in and of extreme cold, a seed of life was hidden within thousands ofyers of ice, stubbornly sprouting a green bud.


    Ning Xiaohui suddenly had a sh of inspiration and experienced an epiphany on the spot.


    Her hands began to emit a jade-like glow, instantly absorbing all the frostbite and cold in her body, transforming it into a surge of vigorous vitality that flowed back into her.


    In the next moment, Ning Xiaohui radiated with renewed energy, and all the injuries and coldness throughout her body werepletely healed!


    Even her damaged throat recovered as if it had never been hurt.


    "Grandmother, I did it!" Ning Xiaohui eximed, tearing off the bandages around her neck, leaping with joy.


    Her grandmother stood beside her, witnessing her granddaughter''s breakthrough with great relief, her eyes moistening, "Good, good, good, grandmother saw it all. You truly are my good granddaughter."


    "You should now have grasped the essence of the Ice Jade Hand technique."


    Ning Xiaohui carefully considered her words, "It feels like a trace of vitality born from extreme cold, a transformation after reaching the limit."


    Her grandmother nodded and slowly said, "All things in heaven and earth possess spiritual nature."


    "A cultivator''s talent is the inherent spiritual nature they are born with. There is an infinite variety of spiritual natures, just as there is an endless variety of talents."


    "The reason I had you immerse your hands in ice was to help you, through this arduous training, experience the vitality that persists even under extreme cold."


    "As the saying goes, ¡®Heaven never seals off all exits!'' There is no truly hopeless situation in the world, and even in the most despairing circumstances, there is a glimmer of hope."


    "This is the principle of the universe''s operation, the truth we cultivators seek, and the essence contained within the Ice Jade Hand technique."


    "Here is a message that just came from the young n leader. Take a look."


    Ning Xiaohui nced at it, "I didn¡¯t expect Ning Zhuo to have such talent. The previous Mechanical Explosive Monkey wasn¡¯t his limit, and he¡¯s already created another excellent mechanical ape."


    "However, that¡¯s nothing special."


    Her grandmother nodded, "Indeed."


    "Xiaohui, now that you¡¯ve grasped the basics of the Ice Jade Hand, your strength will improve rapidly."


    "Although you¡¯ve switched to cultivating the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, the water element within the Five Elements Mana canplement your innate talent."


    "Moreover, the earth element and wood element within the Five Elements Mana are also good matches for the Ice Jade Hand."


    "If in the future, you obtain the advanced techniques that follow the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art and surpass the limits of our n''s primary cultivation method, the *Ice Heart Sutra*, then for you, switching cultivation paths will be the better option."


    "Ning Zhuo is not a threat."


    "Even if he has talent, our n won¡¯t test it now."


    "And even if it is tested in the future, he will struggle to


    find good ways to develop his talent."


    "Take this training of yours as an example. Grandmother specially blocked information for you. In fact, the essence of the Ice Jade Hand technique had long been recorded in the family¡¯s ancient texts."


    "If you had read them in advance, it would have been a huge obstacle to your true understanding during arduous training."


    "Only by personally experiencing the vitality in extreme cold and despair can you further master your talent."


    "This is the heritage of our family!"


    "Ning Zhuo''s talent clearly isn''t onemon in our Ning family bloodline. Without the guidance and support of the family''s predecessors, he will inevitably take many detours in the future."


    "The future is yours, Xiaohui."


    Ning Xiaohui nodded, "Not just the future, even the present is mine!"


    "Once I¡¯ve fully mastered the Ice Jade Hand, I will return to the team of re-cultivators and show everyone the grandeur of the Ning family¡¯s main branch!"


    ¡­


    Apanied by Wang Lan, Ning Zhuo entered Ning Ze''s talisman crafting room.


    He nced around and sighed, "With some modifications, this ce could still be usable."


    Wang Lan, harboring frustration in her heart, forced a smile on her face, "Zhuo, as long as it¡¯s helpful to you, that¡¯s good."


    "Unfortunately, I¡¯m just a woman who doesn¡¯t understand mechanical arts. Your uncle is much better at this than I am."


    "If he were home, he would surely be of more help to you."


    Wang Lan subtly reminded Ning Zhuo that his uncle was still imprisoned in the private dungeon.


    Ning Zhuo acted as if he didn¡¯t notice. He took out various mechanical crafting tools from his storage bag, clearing out some of the talisman crafting room''s facilities, and temporarily transformed it into a simple mechanical workshop.


    Wang Lan watched and even assisted throughout the process, feeling increasingly bitter and indignant, thinking that the servants were lording over their masters and that despicable people were in power. Yet, she could only swallow her feelings.


    Ning Zhuo asked Wang Lan to leave, wanting to be alone. He then set out the Tree Martial Battle Ape, Dasheng, and began disassembling it.


    The main modification he made was to increase the number of slots for talisman inscriptions.


    After some hammering and chiseling, Yuan Dasheng''s talisman slots increased from six to ten.


    "Next, I¡¯ll refine the various talismans and adjust theirbinations. That should basically meet Yuan Dasheng''s martial technique requirements."

 Chapter 123: Tiger Fight

    It wasn''t impossible for the Tree Martial Ape, Dasheng, to cast spells. However, Yuan Dasheng''s spiritual nature, retaining characteristics from his previous life, was not fond of using magic.


    Ning Zhuo had to rely on the Mirror tform Spirit Technique to channel spiritual power within the mechanical body to cast spells like the Ice-Embracing Technique.


    "In fact, I can only use a spell once."


    "Because the joint reconstruction team of the three families hasn''t passed Room No. 2 yet, they haven''t had ess to the Ice-Embracing Technique."


    In this situation, it wasn''t suitable for Ning Zhuo to reveal the Ice-Embracing Technique. He could only use it openly after the joint reconstruction team essed it and he "learned it publicly."


    Ning Zhuo took out the Flowing Cloud Handkerchief, covering himself and the table. From the vast, cotton-like clouds, sporadic noises of mechanical manufacturing could be heard.


    Ning Zhuo was crafting a Blood Oil Bottle mechanicalponent! The specific blueprint came from a reward from the third level of the Demon Gate. By using this mechanicalponent, one could collect various blood gases, mix them, refine them, and ultimately form an oil-like substance with the texture of blood.


    It paired even better with another mechanicalponent, the Blood Transformation Pool.


    "Yuan Dasheng had mastered the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique in his lifetime and his cultivation was high.""Granting it blood energy would significantly enhance itsbat power!"


    If the Demon Gate were still active, Ning Zhuo would never reveal this mechanicalponent. But now, he had sealed the stone walls, deeply hiding both the Buddhist Gate and the Demon Gate. This meant that others entering the transfer hall could not ess the Buddhist and Demon Gate paths, let alone im rted rewards.


    Of course, the Blood Oil Bottle that Ning Zhuo crafted was not a direct copy of the original; it had been modified and altered by him. Its power was significantly reduced, and the principles had also been adjusted.


    There were reasons for this approach. One reason was his limited materials on hand, with some high-qualityponents unavable to him. Another reason was that even if this item was exposed in the future and the Lava Immortal Pce discovered the Blood Oil Bottle, Ning Zhuo would have usible exnations and excuses.


    The Ning family''s cultivators guarded Ning Ze''s residence. Their spiritual senses, at the Foundation Establishment stage, scanned the floating clouds but refrained from probing further.


    Theymunicated through voice transmissions, specting on what kind of new mechanism Ning Zhuo might be working on that required such secrecy.


    "Young Master Ning Zhuo has such talent in crafting mechanisms; his future is limitless."


    "Indeed, it''s been a long time since such an outstanding descendant appeared in our branch of the family."


    "I''m curious, what kind of mechanism is he tinkering with this time?"


    "But with all these clouds obstructing the view, wouldn''t it inconvenience his creation?"


    "Heh, geniuses always have some quirks. Besides, we know Ning Zhuo''s background well. He lived alone for too long; this is caution and self-protection, which are good habits!"


    As Ning Zhuo''s performance became more impressive, the expectations and tolerance of those around him grew.


    Later that evening, Yuan Dasheng donned the Cang Tie Han Armor once more and proceeded along the sewer. It entered a specially designed narrow path. The path was dark and deep; Yuan Dasheng crawled through it, reaching the end. It manipted a rudimentary mechanical lever, causing the stone bricks in front to shift aside, revealing a small door.


    The stone brick door opened halfway up a disused well. Yuan Dasheng carefully inspected the surroundings, confirmed safety, crawled out of the well, and entered an abandoned slum dwelling. It left a Jade Slip in the corner of the slum and then returned.


    This was one of the secretmunication channels between Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong. Ning Zhuo secretly maneuvered with the intent to inform Sun Lingtong to recruit more demon cultivators and prepare to assassinate Yuan Er, staging a convincing act. The messages in the Jade Slip were, of course, written in the secretnguage jointly created by Sun Lingtong and Ning Zhuo.


    At the Zheng family residence, four Golden Core ancestors gathered.


    One of the Golden Core cultivators from the Zhou family, discussing Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zhenshen, wore a troubled expression: "The Earth Yin Ant swarm harbored Gu worms, leaving behind Earth Yin Qi that is hard to remove. Once the body recovers, it''s like a root of illness, with longsting effects."


    "Both Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zhenshen are highly talented. If the Earth Yin Qi lingers in their bodies, their vitality will gradually diminish, leading to a decline in kidney strength and potentially making them impotent, unable to produce heirs. In severe cases, their yang could turn to yin, bing neither fully yin nor yang."


    Zheng Shuanggou sneered, "Even so, you two wish to seize our family''s Nine Yang Yellow Ox Balm? That''s too presumptuous."


    Another Golden Core elder from the Zhou family bowed, "For the sake of our descendants, as ancestors, we have no choice but toe shamelessly to ask."


    "I have a proposal."


    "Daoist Zheng Shuanggou has long wished to challenge my Night Star Silk Array."


    "Why not have my elder brother and I arrange this array, and let you two challenge it? If after three days and nights you are still trapped in the array, please grant us the Nine Yang Yellow Ox Balm."


    Zheng Shuanggou sneered, "And if we break out?"


    The Zhou family elder smiled, "Then we will offer the Southern Sky Vermilion Bird Constetion Diagram!"


    Hearing this, Zheng Shuanggou was moved, "Are you serious?"


    Another Zhou family elder nodded, "We can swear an oath."


    The two Golden Core elders from the Zheng familymunicated via voice transmission, and after a brief discussion, agreed with a nod.


    Immediately, the Zhou family elder produced a length of silk, spreading it out. The surface of the silk was smooth and delicate, akin to flowing water, ck as the deep night. Amidst the dark hue, faint starlight flickered intermittently, appearing and disappearing.


    The silk ascended into the air, merging seamlessly with the night, without a trace of anomaly.


    The four Golden Core cultivators from the Zhou and Zheng families entered the array and vanished from sight.


    Zhu Xuanji roamed between the mountains, constantly keeping an eye on the Alert Wind Bell in his spiritual sea. He circled around the surroundings of the Huoshi Immortal City, probing continuously.


    "Who''s there?" Suddenly, Zhu Xuanji''s eyes shed with golden light as he stared in a certain direction.


    He saw only a fleeting shadow, carrying a chilling ghostly aura, swiftly traversing towards Huoshi Immortal City.


    "A Golden Core cultivator! A ghost cultivator?"


    Zhu Xuanji''s expression immediately turned solemn. To withstand his Celestial Golden Eyes, the cultivator must have an extraordinary background. Judging by the aura alone, the cultivation technique''s quality was exceptionally high, seemingly from a prestigious sect.


    At the peak of Mount Huoshi, the roars of beasts were incessant, and magma surged tumultuously. Various demon beasts rioted, attempting to charge out from the Red me Demon Molten Cave but were blocked by the Lava Immortal Pce at the final barrier.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit sat on the throne of the main hall, roaring continuously. The Lava Immortal Pce shone with dazzling light, and numerous mechanical puppets awakened, forming defensive lines.


    This scene was not beyond Meng Kui''s expectations.


    "My Watching Tigers Fight from the Mountain technique covers the entire Mount Huoshi."


    "The various demon beasts within the mountain are naturally included. Those with weak fate will be the first affected, those with average fate will be swept by the momentum, and even those with the highest fate will eventually be implicated."


    Meng Kui sat amid the clouds and smoke, holding an invincible position, calmly observing the unfolding chaos.


    "I wonder if that shadow demon cultivator will be drawn into revealing himself?"


    In the ck market, Sun Lingtong had just returned to his courtyard when his eyes suddenly shed coldly, and he shouted, "Who''s there?!"


    Two demon cultivators in ck appeared, one in front and one behind, looking pleased.


    "Sun Lingtong, you are already within the array; just surrender obediently!"


    "Considering your affiliation with the No-Void Sect, if you reveal the whereabouts of the young puppet master, we''ll spare your life."


    Sun Lingtong''s expression tightened. Judging from their spiritual aura, he identified them: "You''re from the Soul-Devouring Sect?!"


    "Spare him? Why should we!" Han Ming emerged from the shadows like a ghostly zombie, her face full of resentment and malice. "You dared to plot against me! Sun Lingtong, I want you dead!"


    "And that young puppet master!"


    "If you reveal him, I''ll grant you a swift death."

 Chapter 124: One Versus Three, Butterfly Wing Blade

    In the small courtyard, strands of Yin energy rose and hovered, enveloping the surroundings. The sounds outside the courtyard grew fainter, as if isting this ce from the outside world.


    Sun Lingtong, short in stature, resembled a three-year-old child with a head of short, shiny ck hair. His eyes wererge, distinctly ck and white, with chubby cheeks and smooth, tender skin.


    He was trapped in the middle of the courtyard.


    In front of him and behind him stood two ck-d demon cultivators, one with triangr eyes and the other with a hooked nose.


    To Sun Lingtong''s right, a shadow, seemingly alive, gathered against the courtyard wall.


    Within the enveloping shadow, Han Ming''s figure flickered faintly.


    Her face was delicate yet tinged with a bluish-gray hue. Her expression, twisted by intense resentment and hatred, made her look especially menacing.


    ¡°The situation is unfavorable,¡± Sun Lingtong thought to himself.


    He could clearly sense the separation between himself and the surrounding environment, as if the once clear world had suddenly been obscured by ayer of coarse ss.With this realization, Sun Lingtong understood that he had fallen into a formation.


    The reason the formation hadn¡¯t shown its external signs was solely because the opponents were holding back.


    "Three against one, and they''re all at the Foundation Establishment stage," Sun Lingtong observed the two ck-d demon cultivators in front and behind him, as well as Han Ming in the corner.


    His gaze quickly swept over them and lingered momentarily on Han Ming.


    ¡°Han Ming possesses the Yin Corpse Qi!¡±


    ¡°Most of her body has already turned into a zombie, so ordinary attacks are ineffective against her.¡±


    Sun Lingtong calcted in his heart, while outwardly showing a panicked expression. ¡°Wait, everyone, don''t be impulsive!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a disciple of the No-Void Sect. You should consider the consequences of making a move.¡±


    ¡°If I die at your hands, there will surely be traces left behind. You must think carefully about the future retaliation from the No-Void Sect.¡±


    The two ck-d demon cultivators remained expressionless, while Han Ming gritted her teeth. ¡°Worried about the No-Void Sect''s retaliation? You ambushed me before, weren''t you afraid of the Soul-Devouring Sect''s revenge?¡±


    Sun Lingtong quickly said, ¡°I didn''t ambush you, it wasn¡¯t my intention.¡±


    ¡°It was that young puppet master who offered such a high price that it was hard to refuse!¡±


    ¡°The ck smoke that knocked you out wasn¡¯t from me. It was the young puppet master; the one who imprisoned and humiliated you was also him. Go after him!¡±


    ¡°We''re not enemies, I was just doing business.¡±


    ¡°As long as you pay, I can be your ally.¡±


    ¡°Ally?!¡± Han Ming¡¯s tone rose, full of mockery and disdain. ¡°Do you think I¡¯d fall for the same trick twice?¡±


    ¡°Still asking for money?¡±


    ¡°Hah, are you blind? Can¡¯t you see the current situation?¡±


    ¡°Enough, killing you and taking your soul for interrogation is the same!¡±


    ¡°Attack¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Sun Lingtong shouted, ¡°I know you¡¯ve set up a formation, but you must understand.¡±


    ¡°This is the Immortal City of Huoshi!¡±


    ¡°The formation you¡¯ve set up will inevitably trigger a response from the city''s defensive formation. How long can itst?¡±


    ¡°If I''m trapped in the formation and can''t leave, I will certainly fight you to the death.¡±


    ¡°At this rate, won¡¯t that old puppet masterugh himself to death?¡±


    ¡°We should sit down and have a proper discussion. There¡¯s no need for a life-and-death struggle.¡±


    Sun Lingtong tried to persuade them kindly.


    On normal days, his words might have had some effect. But now, after Meng Kui had set the stage for watching tigers fight from atop a mountain, the aura of fortune had already influenced everyone present.


    Han Ming snapped, ¡°He¡¯s stalling for time, attack!¡±


    As she spoke, she formed seals with her hands, and with a small opening of her mouth, she spat out a wisp of ck-gray Yin wind.


    Hand seal, body seal, mind seal.


    These were among the main auxiliary techniques for spellcasting in the cultivation world.


    The two ck-d demon cultivators performed the same technique, blowing out two additional gusts of Yin wind.


    The Yin wind, though seemingly slow, was actually swift. It approached Sun Lingtong from three directions, about to surround him.


    Sun Lingtong channeled his mana, and his figure suddenly vanished from his original spot. When he reappeared, he was already by the left wall of the courtyard.


    The Yin wind missed its target, converging into a whirlwind that continued to pursue Sun Lingtong.


    This was the advantage of being trained under the same sect.


    They all mainly cultivated the "Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art". Even though each of their mana had unique characteristics, their essence was simr. This allowed their spells to briefly merge rather than sh fiercely against each other.


    Sun Lingtong attempted to leap over the courtyard wall, but suddenly, whistling Yin energy surged in front of him. The ground split open, and from the cracks, torrents of Yin wind erupted.


    The overwhelming Yin wind shot straight into the air, forming a wall of wind about five or six feet thick and two zhang high.


    These Yin wind walls were not just in one spot; in the next breath, all the courtyard walls were blown away, reced by violently billowing ck-gray Yin wind.


    ¡°Within my Yin Wind Narrowing Formation, Sun Lingtong, where do you think you can run?¡± The hooked-nosed demon cultivatorughed smugly.


    Sun Lingtong had no way forward, and from behind, a chilling whirlwind was blowing towards him.


    He cursed, extended his left hand with five fingers, and formed a seal with his fingers, creating a hand sign.


    In the next moment, he spread his left hand t, and a cluster of lightning formed in his palm.


    Palm Lightning!


    Boom.


    With a thunderous roar, the lightning shattered the Yin wind.


    But the triangr-eyed demon cultivator¡¯s thin needle magical instrument took advantage of the chaos, silently stabbing straight towards the back of Sun Lingtong¡¯s head.


    If it pierced him, Sun Lingtong would be gravely injured, if not killed.


    In this critical moment, Sun Lingtong¡¯s eyes shed with spiritual light. He spun around abruptly, his gaze locking onto the thin needle magical instrument.


    Having just used his left hand for the lightning technique and unable to use it again, he reached into his robe with his right hand and flung out a handkerchief.


    The handkerchief flew out, wrapping around the thin needle magical instrument.


    Sun Lingtong grinned, lightly leaped, and grabbed the handkerchief with his right hand, tightly wrapping the thin needle magical instrument.


    The triangr-eyed demon cultivator''s expression changed drastically.


    He frantically channeled his mana and consumed his spiritual sense to summon the thin needle back. However, once the handkerchief wrapped around it, his connection with the thin needle weakened significantly. By the time Sun Lingtong grabbed it, the triangr-eyed demon cultivator could barely sense the needle.


    The demon cultivator was greatly rmed and recognized it: ¡°No-Void Sect, Trapping Treasure Art!¡±


    The thin needle struggled frantically within the handkerchief in its final throes as Sun Lingtong was about to seed, and Han Ming lunged over.


    ¡°Let go!¡± Han Ming¡¯s movements were stiff, but her speed was incredibly fast. She spread her fingers wide, reaching to grab Sun Lingtong.


    Her fingernails were exceptionally sharp, appearing ckish-purple, slicing through the air with ten sharp trails, and emitting a pungent, sweet odor.


    Sun Lingtong¡¯s hair stood on end. He quickly released his grip, abandoning the thin needle and the handkerchief, and leaped backward.


    The thin needle and handkerchief fell to the ground.


    Han Ming, ruthless by nature, had sought revenge even against Sun Lie in the past. After Sun Lingtong tricked her, she harbored an extreme hatred for this disciple of the No-Void Sect, with each strike aimed at Sun Lingtong''s vital spots.


    Sun Lingtong retreated continuously, not daring to confront her head-on.


    Han Ming relied on her natural talents and had also cultivated the "Immortal Zombie Life Creation Method," making her a formidable body cultivator as well.


    Sun Lingtong practiced the No-Void Sect''s techniques, having sessfully built his foundation with a focus on cultivating his Divine Sea. However, his mid-dantian Qi Sea and lower-dantian Essence Sea were not as strong as his upper dantian.


    Han Ming kept closing in, fully utilizing the power of her zombie body, vicious and poisonous.


    Sun Lingtong dodged left and right, his movements extremely agile. Though his magical treasures were far inferior to Han Ming''s, he managed to maintain the situation.


    The two ck-d demon cultivators from the Soul-Devouring Sect, who were watching, gradually noticed the nuances.


    ¡°Sun Lingtong has very richbat experience!¡±


    ¡°Han Ming has a significant advantage, but shecks proficiency in martial skills. Despite her advantage, she can¡¯t establish dominance in a short time.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s assist her!¡±


    The twomunicated through sound transmission and reached a consensus.


    The hooked-nosed cultivator manipted the Yin Wind Narrowing Formation, causing the Yin wind walls to press in.


    The triangr-eyed demon cultivator recalled his thin needle instrument, seized Sun Lingtong''s handkerchief magical instrument, and reactivated his spiritual sense. The thin needle flew out, circling around to cooperate with Han Ming, thrusting toward Sun Lingtong.


    Sun Lingtong, besieged by the three, struggled to fend them off. First, he was struck several times by the thin needle, and his protective spells were nearly shattered. Then, he was scratched by Han Ming''s nails, prompting him to quickly consume an antidote pill after being poisoned.


    Finally, as the Yin wind walls pressed in, Sun Lingtong managed toplete his spell.


    Space-Piercing Technique.


    He took arge step back, spatial ripples emerged, enveloping him from back to front.


    As he retreated, he vanished into thin air.


    In the next moment, he appeared behind Han Ming and the others, standing at the other end of the Yin Wind Narrowing Formation, finally gaining some distance.


    Sun Lingtong¡¯s expression was very grim.


    Han Ming turned around, sneering. ¡°Sun Lingtong, since we already know you''re from the No-Void Sect, how could we not guard against your Space-Piercing Technique?¡±


    For the first time, Sun Lingtong¡¯s childlike face twisted into a fierce expression. ¡°Fine, fine, since you''re pushing me this far, even if I lose my life, I¡¯ll make sure to drag all of you down with me!¡±


    Han Ming scoffed, ¡°Foolish delusion!¡±


    She channeled her mana, formed seals with her hands, and spat out a stream of ghostly green fire.


    Sun Lingtong shouted and pulled out a gourd from his robe, spraying a jet of cold water from its mouth.


    The ghost fire and cold water collided, creating a mist that filled the sky.


    Sun Lingtong¡¯s eyes shone with spiritual light, easily piercing through the mist. Ignoring Han Ming, he charged toward the hooked-nosed cultivator.


    The hooked-nosed cultivator was the one controlling the formation. If Sun Lingtong could kill him, he might have a chance to break the spell and escape.


    However, the three from the Soul-Devouring Sect had long anticipated this move. The hooked-nosed cultivator retreated, disappearing into the Yin wind.


    The triangr-eyed cultivator and Han Ming immediately caught up, engaging Sun Lingtong in a chaotic melee.


    Sun Lingtong abandoned his previous evasive style, recklessly using his mana and spiritual power, frequently casting spells and throwing various magical artifacts.


    For a moment, the battle was evenly matched.


    ¡°This Sun Lingtong has a lot of useless trinkets!¡± The hooked-nosed cultivator, controlling the formation,mented after destroying a flying dagger artifact.


    ¡°People from the No-Void Sect never keep their hands clean. Sun Lingtong has been umting in the ck market for years; these artifacts are surely stolen,¡± the triangr-eyed cultivator remarked.


    Han Ming, displeased, snapped, ¡°Kill Sun Lingtong quickly! Once the fight is over, you''ll have plenty of time to chat!¡±


    The hooked-nosed cultivator snorted coldly. ¡°Han Ming, what¡¯s with your attitude? We¡¯re the ones who saved you.¡±


    The triangr-eyed cultivator added, ¡°Without us, you¡¯d still be chained up. This is your enemy; we''ve helped you enough.¡±


    The hooked-nosed and triangr-eyed cultivators began to hold back.


    As Sun Lingtong fought back fiercely, the two ck-d demon cultivators grew somewhat apprehensive.


    They preferred letting Han Ming take the lead, weakening Sun Lingtong. If he revealed one or two trump cards against Han Ming, the two demon cultivators would be safer.


    Demon cultivators excelled in solobat and also preferred it.


    A key characteristic of demonic techniques was the ability to use fellow cultivators as resources for cultivation. Thus, demonic sect brothers often had strong motivations for turning against each other.


    After briefly joining forces to attack Sun Lingtong, the three from the Soul-Devouring Sect soon turned on each other.


    The pressure on Sun Lingtong sharply decreased!


    Sun Lingtong keenly felt this change, granting him a moment of respite.


    His eyes shed with brilliance, and he switched hisbat style back to evasion. asionally, he would activate spells or magical artifacts, attacking Han Ming or the Yin wind walls.


    Prolonged defense inevitably leads to failure.


    Han Ming spat ghost fire that chilled Sun Lingtong to the bone, turning his ck hair to white ash.


    Her nails were exceptionally sharp and carried corpse poison. Sun Lingtong¡¯s body was riddled with wounds, the flesh around them rotting and exuding a foul corpse stench.


    Han Ming¡¯s Soul Capturing Shuttle was what Sun Lingtong feared most. He preferred enduring other attacks rather than allowing the Soul Capturing Shuttle to get close.


    ¡°Haha, hahaha!¡±


    ¡°Sun Lingtong, did you think about today when you framed me back then?¡±


    ¡°I will surely capture and kill you, extract your soul, and let you taste the soul punishments of the Soul-Devouring Sect.¡±


    Han Ming¡¯s eyes were filled with bloodthirsty rage. Revenge made her feel indescribably satisfied, sinking into a nearly frenzied excitement.


    Sun Lingtong was forced into a corner.


    ¡°Die!¡± Han Ming screamed, pushing her mana to the limit. The ghost fire zed, forming a serpent of dark fire that opened its jaws to devour Sun Lingtong.


    In the face of death, Sun Lingtong suddenly let out a slyugh.


    ¡°You want me dead?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, you three are far from it!¡±


    The next moment, his figure abruptly vanished.


    ¡°Another Space-Piercing Technique,¡± the triangr-eyed cultivator muttered.


    ¡°No worries, he¡¯s within my Yin Wind Narrowing Formation¡­ Not good!¡± The hooked-nosed cultivator''s expression suddenly changed drastically.


    The relentless Yin wind that formed the wind walls copsed at that moment.


    The hooked-nosed cultivator, who had been maintaining the formation, suffered a terrifying bacsh from the sudden change.


    He spat out a mouthful of blood and fell to the ground, unconscious.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± The triangr-eyed cultivator wondered in rm. Sun Lingtong had already shed behind him.


    St.


    A snow-bright dagger, razor-sharp, easily pierced the triangr-eyed cultivator''s lower back.


    Then, the dagger exploded with bright blue lightning, fiercely attacking the triangr-eyed cultivator''s internal organs.


    The triangr-eyed cultivator''s body convulsed violently, as if in the throes of a seizure.


    Within a few blinks, his eyes rolled back, and he opened his mouth, a stream of ck smoke seeping from his throat.


    Thud.


    He, too, fell to the ground, unconscious.


    ¡°Only you¡¯re left.¡± Sun Lingtong, no longer looking beleaguered, had eyes zing with light and an unyielding fighting spirit.


    Han Ming, enraged, shouted, ¡°Without these two burdens, it¡¯s no big deal!¡±


    With that, she charged at Sun Lingtong.


    Sun Lingtong took a deep breath, holding a dagger in each hand, pouring his mana into them.


    The des flickered continuously, like the pping wings of a butterfly, dancing forward.


    The butterfly-like de light was dazzling and exquisite, as beautiful as a painting. Not a trace of mana was detected, perfectly restrained.


    Sun Lingtong¡¯s self-created de technique¡ªButterfly Wing de!


    A swarm of butterflies surrounded Han Ming.


    Wrapped in Yin wind, Han Ming spewed ghost fire and attacked with punches and kicks, but all her strikes missed!


    The butterfly de lights were exceptionally nimble; some lightly grazed her skin, while others sliced through her limbs, flying out from her back.


    From their formation, attack, to their dissipation, the butterfly swarmsted no more than five breaths.


    Han Ming stood still, motionless.


    Her eyes widened, filled with disbelief!


    ¡°This¡­ this is your true strength?¡± she managed to utter.


    As soon as the words left her mouth, her head fell off, and her torso, severed diagonally at the waist, also crashed to the ground.


    As her body hit the ground, her limbs were also dismembered, scattering around her.


    Blood gushed out, rapidly forming a pool around Han Ming¡¯s corpse.

 Chapter 125: The Life-Saving Benefactor

    Sun Lingtong shed continuously, using talismans to seal the hooked-nosed and triangr-eyed demon cultivators. Then, with a light leap, he stood before Han Ming.


    He picked up Han Ming¡¯s head, his eyes gleaming with spiritual light. ¡°Tell me, how did they find you?¡±


    ¡°You were clearly imprisoned in an underground iron cell; how did you send out a call for help?¡±


    Due to her cultivation of the "Immortal Zombie Life Creation Method," Han Ming¡¯s head could still survive for a while, even after being severed.


    Her face was filled with panic. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me! I¡¯m a disciple of the Soul-Devouring Sect. If you kill me, a soul mark will be nted on you, and the Soul-Devouring Sect will never let you go!¡±


    Sun Lingtong sneered, his killing intent evident. ¡°You and I are already mortal enemies; do you think I fear a mere soul mark?¡±


    Han Ming screamed, ¡°No, don¡¯t kill me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    ¡°But you can¡¯t kill me! I¡­ I have value; I can help you enhance your soul¡¯s essence!¡±¡°Speak!¡± Sun Lingtong felt inexplicably irritated. He shouted impatiently.


    ¡°I can tell you.¡± Suddenly, a voice emerged from behind Sun Lingtong.


    In an instant, without thinking, he attempted to use the Space-Piercing Technique.


    But his body remained stationary, unmoving.


    ¡°Why can I see my body from a distance?¡± The bizarre perspective filled Sun Lingtong with horror.


    Once he realized, he was shocked to find that his soul had been forcibly pulled from his body and was being held by the throat, lifted in mid-air by a mysterious cultivator!


    Sun Lingtong turned his head and saw a tall, slender man with long ck hair smiling at him.


    The man wore a ck robe with his hair disheveled. His eyes were all white, without pupils.


    Sun Lingtong shuddered as he recalled a piece of intelligence from his memory and blurted out the man''s identity: ¡°¡®Blind Judge¡¯ Qi Bai?¡±


    The ck-robed man, Qi Bai, smiled lightly, his breath cold and eerie. ¡°You know me? That saves me some trouble.¡±


    ¡°Outer disciple Han Ming pays respects to the True Inheritor!¡± Han Ming was overjoyed, not expecting the rescue to arrive so quickly.


    She had thought death was imminent, only to find hope in the face of despair!


    Sun Lingtong¡¯s physical body stood still, head bowed and motionless.


    His soul, gripped by Qi Bai, had be a captive. ¡°Qi Bai, you''re a dignified Golden Core cultivator, a true disciple of the Soul-Devouring Sect. You¡¯ve been eyeing Huoshi Immortal City for some time, haven¡¯t you? That¡¯s why you appeared just in time.¡±


    Qi Bai smiled again. ¡°You¡¯re clever; that¡¯s good. I enjoy conversing with intelligent people.¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    ¡°Our Soul-Devouring Sect has been secretly observing Mount Huoshi for a long time.¡±


    ¡°Mount Huoshi used to be and of cmity, where countless volcanic eruptions buried innumerable lives. The spiritual energy and geothermal treasures resulting from these eruptions, along with the fertile soil, gradually attracted living beings to settle here. Then, one day, the volcano would erupt again, creating a ughterhouse of mass death.¡±


    ¡°Would you not say this is a meticulously nned murder of all living things by nature itself?¡±


    Qi Bai paused, then continued, ¡°From ancient times to now, how many lives have perished within Mount Huoshi? Even if their souls were scattered, the remaining soul essences have umted, forming an immeasurable soul reservoir.¡±


    ¡°Why do Red me Demons within Mount Huoshi appear endlessly? It¡¯s because souls are smelted by the earth mes, transforming into new seeds, once again blooming as demon beasts.¡±


    ¡°This should have been the blessednd of our Soul-Devouring Sect, the perfect station for a branch.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, three prominent sects left the Lava Immortal Pce here, and the Southern Dou Court built an Immortal City here.¡±


    ¡°Most people focus on the Lava Immortal Pce, but our sect is more interested in the immeasurable soul reservoir hidden deep within Mount Huoshi.¡±


    As Qi Bai spoke, he gazed up at the mountain peak, disying a mix of greed, curiosity, and desire.


    Han Ming couldn¡¯t help but cry for help. ¡°Lord Qi Bai, save me!¡±


    ¡°Be patient.¡± Qi Bai extended a finger and casually pulled the souls of the three defeated Soul-Devouring Sect members into his grasp.


    Seeing him do this so effortlessly, Sun Lingtong couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°As expected of the Blind Judge, you¡¯ve truly mastered the Soul Capturing Technique, wielding a divine ability seed even at the Golden Core stage.¡±


    Against ordinary spells, Sun Lingtong might have had a slim chance to evade Qi Bai¡¯s sneak attack using the Space-Piercing Technique.


    But with the divine ability seed-level Soul Capturing Technique, Sun Lingtong became a prisoner without resistance.


    The souls of the three defeated cultivators floated in the air. The hooked-nosed and triangr-eyed cultivators, upon realizing their situation, were overjoyed and bowed to Qi Bai.


    Qi Bai said, ¡°Our sect is a grand demonic sect. The fact that the three of you joined forces and still lost to one person, if word got out, would surely damage our sect¡¯s reputation.¡±


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t intervened in time, your deaths would have been certain.¡±


    ¡°Now, tell me why you failed this time. If your reasoning is sound, I¡¯ll save your lives.¡±


    ¡°If not, I will stand aside. Should you die at the hands of others, the sect¡¯s rules won¡¯t trouble me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll speak! I¡¯ll speak!¡± The hooked-nosed cultivator was the first to respond, ¡°I was careless and didn¡¯t expect that this Sun scoundrel had the ability to tap into the power of the Immortal City¡¯s formation.¡±


    ¡°The formation he set up in his courtyard, I had already seen; it seemed unremarkable.¡±


    ¡°But perhaps that was his deliberate disguise. In truth, this small courtyard formation could connect with the Immortal City¡¯s formation.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. As I set up my formation in the courtyard, time dragged on, gradually triggering the small formation, which indirectly activated therger formation. The Immortal City¡¯s formation, with its vast power, broke my spell from the outside in, causing a severe bacsh.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Qi Bai nodded. ¡°You may return.¡±


    With just a simple remark, the hooked-nosed cultivator¡¯s soul flew back into his body, and he woke up in an instant.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go next,¡± the triangr-eyed cultivator quickly replied, ¡°We lost because of internal strife.¡±


    ¡°If the three of us had acted with unity and cooperation from the start, we could have taken down Sun Lingtong.¡±


    ¡°But the two of us were resentful of Han Ming¡¯s arrogance, and we held back, which allowed the enemy a chance to breathe.¡±


    Qi Bai nodded, ¡°You did not see thetter part of the battle and still underestimated Sun Lingtong¡¯s strength. However, what you said is also a reason for your defeat. You may return.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Lord!¡± The triangr-eyed cultivator was overjoyed, and in the next moment, his soul returned to his body, and he got up.


    ¡°Han Ming, what are your thoughts?¡± Qi Bai looked at Han Ming¡¯s soul.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Han Ming¡¯s soul seethed with hidden rage. ¡°This Qi Bai is just trying to use this to pressure me into submission!¡±


    Han Ming saw through Qi Bai¡¯s intent.


    She was a proud individual.


    But also a pragmatic one.


    If she hadn¡¯t been rescued, she would have submitted to the young puppet master. Now that she was saved, her first thought was to settle the score with the young puppet master!


    The luck field of watching tigers fight from the mountain fully triggered Han Ming¡¯s vengeful mindset, making her disregard the risks involved.


    Now, being questioned by Qi Bai, she suddenly realized that she had been used as a tool, reduced to a mere pawn probing the path ahead.


    Qi Bai aimed to coerce her into submission, making her serve his purposes.


    ¡°In essence, how is this different from how the young puppet master treated me?¡±


    ¡°Let them fight amongst themselves!¡±


    ¡°One¡¯s a celestial talent, the other¡¯s a Golden Core cultivator, hehe!¡±


    Thinking this, Han Ming pretended to answer, ¡°I lost because I was too eager for revenge, which caused my mindset to be unbnced¡­¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it simply because of yourck of strength?¡± Qi Bai interrupted.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Han Ming gritted her teeth, admitting this before proactively suggesting that if Qi Bai helped her get revenge on the young puppet master, she would be willing to serve him for a hundred years and sign a soul contract.


    Qi Bai smiled, ¡°You¡¯re still quite clever.¡±


    Indeed, he valued Han Ming. Though her talents were lower tier, taking her in as a subordinate still held some value.


    Afterward, he returned Han Ming¡¯s soul, reassembled her body, and provided some minor healing.


    Han Ming finally regained some freedom of movement.


    Qi Bai turned to Sun Lingtong. ¡°Now, tell me, where is the young puppet master?¡±


    Sun Lingtong tried to stall for time. ¡°You just said you would tell me how Han Ming managed to send out a call for help.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you still remember,¡± Qi Bai chuckled and exined.


    The issuey with a batch of materials.


    Han Ming had proactively mentioned the soul contract to Ning Zhuo, which required many key materials for crafting.


    Among these materials, there were some rare items that were secretly


    monopolized by the Soul-Devouring Sect.


    After Han Ming was captured, Ning Zhuo began gathering these essential items for the soul contract. The purchase requests for these items spread, immediately alerting and drawing the attention of the Soul-Devouring Sect¡¯s hidden forces.


    Combined with Han Ming¡¯s sudden disappearance, it was easy to deduce that she had been captured and urgently needed rescue.


    And don¡¯t forget, Qi Bai had been keeping a close eye on Huoshi Immortal City all along.


    ¡°So it was that simple.¡± Sun Lingtong sighed deeply.


    ¡°Often, simple and straightforward setups are more reliable than spells or magical artifacts,¡± Qi Bai said. ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn to clear my doubts.¡±


    Sun Lingtong shook his head and spread his hands. ¡°We never agreed on that.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re refusing to cooperate?¡± Qi Bai felt slightly puzzled. ¡°You know who I am. I have a title¡ªthe Blind Judge. You¡¯re well aware of this.¡±


    Sun Lingtong replied, ¡°Then go ahead.¡±


    ¡°The pain of soul searching is something you may not have experienced; it¡¯s beyond what ordinary people can imagine.¡± Qi Bai sneered coldly. ¡°Since you wish to try, I¡¯ll oblige you!¡±


    He clutched Sun Lingtong¡¯s soul and entered the house.


    He took out a seal, infused it with mana, and tossed it into the air.


    The seal floated, suspended.


    Qi Bai performed a ritual, bowing before the seal. ¡°I humbly request the presence of the Judge!¡±


    The seal burst forth with overwhelming ghostly energy, swiftly forming a towering figure.


    Spirit Summoning Technique¡ªJudge of Investigation!


    The ghostly judge was a fearsome figure, resembling a temple deity seated in meditation, gazing down at Sun Lingtong.


    The judge¡¯s eyes radiated lightning, piercing through Sun Lingtong¡¯s soul, ravaging every inch of his memory.


    Sun Lingtong couldn¡¯t resist, plunging into a realm of darkness.


    When he, as a child, opened his eyes, he saw his master.


    His master looked at him with a face full of affection and pity, saying, ¡°Ah, you greedy child. After eating the Rejuvenation Pill, you can only cultivate the Child¡¯s Technique now.¡±


    Memories were abruptly stirred, as if an invisible hand was forcibly rewinding Sun Lingtong¡¯s memories.


    Sun Lingtong found himself in the Red me Demon Molten Cave, staring anxiously at a corner of the Lava Immortal Pce.


    ¡°Master, Master, why haven¡¯t youe out yet?¡±


    The memory shifted again.


    The scene changed from within Mount Huoshi to a secluded alley in the Immortal City.


    Sun Lingtong, gravely wounded and on the brink of death,y on the ground, ignored by everyone.


    A two-year-old child discovered him, cautiously approached, and then, with all his might, dragged Sun Lingtong into his home.


    The memory shed once more.


    Sun Lingtong was lying on a bed, weakly gazing at his savior.


    The two-year-old child held a bowl, offering it to Sun Lingtong.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally awake.¡±


    ¡°Drink up!¡±


    ¡°I made this medicine for you; it¡¯ll help you recover.¡±


    Sun Lingtong stared nkly, still processing the situation.


    ¡°Little brother, what¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Ning Zhuo.¡±


    ¡°Where do you live? Do you remember your parents'' names?¡±


    Touched by the child¡¯s questions, Sun Lingtong murmured instinctively, ¡°Master¡­¡±


    The two-year-old Ning Zhuo immediately nodded. ¡°Yes, yes, when you were unconscious, you kept calling for your master. Where is your master?¡±


    Sun Lingtong¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°My master didn¡¯te out¡­ I have to find him!¡±


    With that, he tried to get up.


    But he was too weak; his hands couldn¡¯t support him, and he fell back onto the bed.


    The two-year-old Ning Zhuo hurriedly helped him up, his voice soft andforting. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t worry. If you need to find your master, you can ask your family to help. For now, you should focus on recovering.¡±


    Sun Lingtong said anxiously, ¡°Master is my only family in this world! Besides him, I have no other rtives.¡±


    The two-year-old Ning Zhuo froze, deeply moved, and felt a surge of sympathy from the depths of his heart!


    He choked up slightly and said, ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t have any family either. My father died in battle before I was even born.¡±


    ¡°My mother also passed away not long ago.¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ although I still have an uncle, he¡¯s very fierce, and I¡¯ve never felt like he¡¯s family.¡±


    As he spoke, the two-year-old Ning Zhuo¡¯s eyes quickly reddened, and his lips began to quiver.


    Sun Lingtong was stunned, sensing something was amiss. ¡°Don¡¯t cry now¡­¡±


    ¡°Waaah!¡± The next moment, thinking about his sorrows, the two-year-old Ning Zhuo burst into tears.


    Sun Lingtong stared, helpless.


    He had been saved, but this savior¡­ was rather unique.

 Chapter 108: The Taste Is Amazing

    "Behave yourselfter. Be careful, or I¡¯ll smack you again!" The more Wang Lan spoke, the more severe her expression became.


    Ning Ji felt a deep bitterness in his heart.


    He couldn''t help but recall the past.


    During his childhood, Ning Zhuo often lost track of time while ying and missed meals, returning homete to find only leftovers on the table.


    "Who told you toe back sote? Hehe, you''re in trouble now." Ning Ji, having eaten his fill, sat at the table and teased him.


    Ning Zhuo stuck out his tongue and sat down, just about to pick up some food with his chopsticks.


    Smack!


    Wang Lan struck Ning Zhuo''s chopsticks with her own, causing them to fall to the ground.


    "No manners!"Wang Lan''s expression turned icy.


    "There''s dirt under your fingernails. Have you forgotten the rules I taught you? Go wash your hands."


    "Yes!"


    Ning Zhuo''s face paled as he hurriedly nodded, left the round stool, and covered the back of his hand, rushing out of the house to wash up.


    But just as he was dyed, the bell rang.


    "It''s time. Clean up the dining room. Oh, poor Zhuo, nothing left for you to eat," Ning Ji pped his hands in glee, reveling in his misfortune.


    "Master?"


    Wang Lan hesitated, ncing at Ning Ze.


    Ning Ze''s expression was indifferent as he slowly stood up and left his seat. "Rules are rules, no exceptions!"


    "Yes, Master!" Wang Lan lowered her head in acknowledgment.


    Ning Zhuo stepped back into the dining room.


    The once small child who had covered the red back of his hand and rushed off to wash up had now, in what seemed like a fleeting moment, grown into a sixteen-year-old youth.


    He was dressed in white, with a calm gaze, and slowly walked in.


    Both Ning Ji and Wang Lan felt a sense of time passing quickly, like a fleeting moment.


    Wang Lan quickly collected herself, stood up, and shed a wide smile at Ning Zhuo, waving him over, "Little Zhuo, you''re here! We were just waiting for you to start the meal."


    Ning Zhuo bowed and greeted, "Aunt."


    He then looked at Ning Ji and smiled slightly, "Cousin."


    Ning Ji nodded, his expressionplicated.


    Wang Lan said, "Ah, you¡¯re still so polite, child. No need for all that. We don''t stand on so many formalities in our family. Come, sit, sit!"


    Wang Lan led Ning Zhuo to sit beside her.


    However, she didn''t sit at the head of the table.


    The head seat at the round table was empty; it was reserved for Ning Ze.


    Seeing this, Ning Zhuo understood the purpose of Wang Lan''s warm reception.


    Sure enough, not long after they began eating, Wang Lan brought up Ning Ze: "Little Zhuo, what your uncle did was wrong. He took things that rightfully belonged to you."


    "You''re such a kind-hearted child; otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have forgiven your uncle so easily.


    "Your father''s brother is your uncle. We are truly family."


    As she spoke, Wang Lan felt stifled and secretly resentful.


    She knew well that this was all baseless.


    But since Ning Xiaoren had already made arrangements, Ning Ze could only go along with it.


    Wang Lan had no choice but to support her husband in this.


    Ning Zhuo said, "Aunt, you¡¯re right. In this world, the people closest to me are still you all."


    "Honestly, when I first heard about it, I was very angry."


    "But as time went on, I let it go. After all, he is my uncle, and you are my closest rtives."


    "As long as you return the embezzled money and resources, that¡¯s all I ask."


    "We never embezzled anything! That Ning Xiaoren is aplete scoundrel. You believe whatever he says?" Wang Lan roared internally, her anger twisting her smile into something grotesque.


    She forced herself to suppress her fury. "Yes, we will return it, but it will take time. The amount is substantial, and we can¡¯t gather it all at once."


    "Ipletely understand, that¡¯s perfectly fine." Ning Zhuo nodded.


    As he spoke, he quietly observed Ning Ji and Wang Lan.


    The embryonic form of his divine ability had already been activated in secret.


    Unlike before, the lotus seed of the "Life Hanging by a Thread" divine ability had now grown into a section of lotus root.


    This embryonic divine ability allowed him to control his fluctuations and quietly activate his powers.


    As long as the target wasn¡¯t too powerful, he could fully conceal his aura, moving undetected.


    Ning Zhuo had chosen to stay temporarily at his uncle¡¯s house, not only because of the constant surveince in Ning Xiaoren''s mansion but also to test his divine ability.


    The "Life Hanging by a Thread" divine ability became stronger with more understanding, and its control grew tighter.


    In this world, Ning Ze''s family was the one Ning Zhuo knew best.


    After all, they had lived together for over a decade, which was no small matter.


    In Ning Zhuo''s vision, a "Life Hanging by a Thread" thread gradually formed above Ning Ji''s head.


    Unlike the thread he had used in the Lava Immortal Pce to extract souls, the thread Ning Zhuo controlled now was extremely thin and semi-transparent.


    Soon, a "Life Hanging by a Thread" thread also appeared above Wang Lan''s head.


    The mother and son werepletely unaware.


    Ning Zhuo tried to manipte them.


    Ning Ji suddenly grabbed his throat, making a choking sound.


    "What¡¯s wrong?" Wang Lan, about to persuade Ning Zhuo, was interrupted by Ning Ji''s sudden outburst.


    Ning Ji''s face flushed as he said, "I swallowed a fishbone!"


    Wang Lan snorted and ignored him.


    She continued, "Little Zhuo, you know your uncle has been in the private prison for days now. You know what the conditions are like there; it''s no ce for anyone to stay."


    "I¡¯ve tried to see the young n leader, but he refuses to meet us.


    "Little Zhuo, I just want you to¡ªcough, cough!"


    Wang Lan suddenly started coughing.


    Ning Zhuo quickly handed her a cup. "Aunt, please, take your time. Don¡¯t get too worked up!"


    Wang Lan thanked him, took the cup, and drank a sip of water.


    "Cough, cough, cough!"


    This time, she coughed even more violently, having choked on the water.


    "I''m so sorry you had to see that, Little Zhuo!"


    It took Wang Lan quite a while to recover, and all the emotions she had been building up vanished.


    Of course, Ning Zhuo wouldn¡¯t tell her that all of this was the result of his experimenting with his divine ability.


    Wang Lan hesitated for a moment and then started to speak again, but after only a few words, Ning Ji suddenly grabbed his throat and opened his mouth wide, making strange noises.


    "What¡¯s wrong with you now?" Wang Lan frowned.


    Ning Ji, feeling wronged, said, "I, I got another fishbone stuck."


    "You''re such a big boy, and you can¡¯t even eat a fish properly. You¡¯re hopeless."


    Wang Lan red at Ning Ji.


    Ning Ji quickly lowered his head, assuming a meek posture as he braced for a scolding.


    Wang Lan reprimanded him for a few more moments, and Ning Ji''s face turned redder, shifting ufortably in his seat.


    "What¡¯s wrong with you now?"


    Wang Lan snapped.


    "Mother, I need to use the restroom!" Ning Ji said. The intense urge to relieve himself made him desperate.


    "Go, quickly!"


    Wang Lan couldn''t stand to look at Ning Ji anymore.


    Ning Ji immediately got up and hurried out of the dining room.


    His movements were awkward, and as he crossed the threshold, he identally let out a fart.


    Ning Zhuo manipted the "Life Hanging by a Thread" thread, causing Ning Ji to trip over his own feet just a few steps past the threshold, making him fall t on the ground.


    Wang Lan red at him, about to scold him, but choked on her own saliva, leading to a long coughing fit.


    Ning Zhuo smiled slightly and stopped Wang Lan from continuing. "Aunt, I think I understand what you want to say."


    "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll plead with the young n leader on my uncle''s behalf."


    "I¡¯ll try to get him released as soon as possible."


    Hearing these words, Wang Lan was so excited that she pped her thigh. "Oh, Little Zhuo, you''re such a good child! You¡¯re the best!"


    "Aunt is so grateful to you, so grateful!"


    Ning Zhuo said, "Let¡¯s eat first."


    Wang Lan eagerly used themunal chopsticks to pick up some food for Ning Zhuo.


    But halfway through, the food fell onto the table.


    Wang Lan felt embarrassed.


    "Aunt, there''s no need for that. I¡¯ll help myself." Ning Zhuo picked up a fish eye with his chopsticks and ced it in his mouth.


    He only took a small bite, but Ning Zhuo was already deeply enamored with the sensation.


    The "Life Hanging by a Thread" divine ability, once used, caused a portion of the cultivator''s power and actions to be controlled if they were caught in its thread.


    Just like Ning Zhuo''s recent experiment, both Wang Lan and Ning Ji made small movements and mistakes several times.


    "This feeling¡­ this feeling is truly indescribable!"


    It felt as if


    everything could be easily influenced by him, as if everything was within his control.


    Ning Zhuo was deeply intoxicated by this.


    "How does it taste?"


    Wang Lan asked with concern, "I made this fish myself."


    As Ning Zhuo chewed on the fish eye, his eyes flickered with a cold light. He sincerely replied, "The taste¡­ it''s really amazing."

 Chapter 126: Ill Teach You

    Inside the room.


    After much effort, Sun Lingtong finally managed to calm the two-year-old Ning Zhuo, feelingpletely drained.


    Taking advantage of Ning Zhuo leaving the room, his Adam''s apple moved as he regurgitated the potion he had just drunk, storing it in his storage bag.


    His tongue tasted the potion''s vor, discerning some of the ingredients.


    "Twenty-year-old vigorous ginseng, angelica, gtin, astragalus, white atractylodes¡­"


    "Indeed, all are ingredients for replenishing blood and qi."


    However, Sun Lingtong still stored the potion in his storage bag without drinking it.


    He thought to himself that his alchemy skills were not good enough, and he knew that sometimes over-nourishment could be poisonous, and that mixing certain ingredients could create a deadly concoction.


    Sun Lingtong had thrown himself into the unorthodox sect, No-Void Sect, following his master on travels throughout thend, gaining far more experience than his youthful appearance suggested."There''s something strange¡­"


    "This Ning Zhuo is only two years old, so why is he so clever?"


    He couldn''t help but think of himself¡ªhe looked three years old but was actually already thirteen.


    "When I was severely injured, covered in blood with ghastly wounds, he saved me and brought me home. Was he not afraid of causing trouble?"


    "Isn''t his proficiency in brewing medicine too practiced?"


    Sun Lingtong was somewhat suspicious that this was all a setup.


    However, on second thought, "I''m only in the mid-stage of Qi Refining; what could there be to plot against?"


    "Although I''m from the No-Void Sect, I practice child cultivation skills, not the orthodox techniques of the sect. What could anyone possibly scheme from me?"


    Lacking sufficient information, Sun Lingtong couldn''t make an urate judgment and decided to observe for the time being.


    After several days of recuperation, his mana had returned to its peak, and he gradually discerned Ning Zhuo''s genuine intentions.


    That day, Sun Lingtongy on the bed when his ears suddenly twitched, revealing a hint of alertness.


    Soon, Ning Zhuo pushed the door open, running in hurriedly, breathlessly saying, "Someone from my family has arrived! Quickly, little brother, I''ll help you to my mother''s bedroom. There''s a secret underground chamber there where you can hide."


    Sun Lingtong, having anticipated this, smiled faintly and said, "No need to rush; I have a way. Watch this!"


    With that, he vanished from the bed.


    Ning Zhuo was stunned, immediately running to the bedside, feeling the empty bedding, looking around in shock.


    Sun Lingtong''s voice transmitted, "Quickly go handle your family members."


    Ning Zhuo responded with an "Oh" and, with a look of amazement, ran to the small courtyard and saw Wang Lan.


    "Hello, Aunt." The two-year-old Ning Zhuo greeted her.


    Wang Lan squeezed out a smile, nodded, and then waved her hand, signaling the servants behind her to enter the house.


    "Little Zhuo, I''m here to help you move some things."


    "It''s not suitable for you to live alone here; you should move to your uncle''s house."


    Ning Zhuo eximed in surprise, his face full of disbelief.


    After Wang Lan exined, she paid no further attention to him, and after entering the house, began directing people.


    "Move this table and chair back."


    "Hmm, the vase looks nice, take it too."


    "This talisman-crafting table is valuable. Be careful not to damage the formation patterns on its surface while moving it."


    ¡­


    Very quickly, Wang Lan had almost emptied Ning Zhuo''s home.


    Before leaving, she said to Ning Zhuo, "We''ll keep these things for you first."


    "You''re just a small child; it''s too easy for you to be robbed."


    "Once the n hall affairs are sorted out, we''ll bring you over."


    Ning Zhuo, with wide eyes, shook his head repeatedly, urgently saying, "I-I won''t move!"


    "Mother lives here¡­"


    "But your mother is already dead!" Wang Lan immediately shook her head, firmly refusing, "This is not a negotiation. You''re too young to protect yourself."


    Wang Lan pulled Ning Zhuo into a corner, leaned in close, and stared into his face, lowering her voice, "By the way."


    "Little Zhuo, before your mother passed away, did she give you anything special to keep?"


    "These things might be very important. If a child like you can''t keep them safe, it''ll be a big problem if they''re lost."


    "Be good, take them out and let Auntie keep them safe for you! When you''re grown and the time is right, Auntie will return them to you."


    Ning Zhuo shook his head quickly, denying adamantly, "No, there''s nothing like that."


    "Really nothing?" Wang Lan asked suspiciously.


    Ning Zhuo continued to shake his head, "Really nothing!"


    "Alright." Wang Lan, seeing the servants moving items, didn''t press further for now. "Once the n hall updates your registry, we''lle and get you."


    Before leaving, Wang Lan whispered into Ning Zhuo''s ear, "Little Zhuo, if you''re scared and want to move in earlier, that''s fine too!"


    "Remember to keep anything your mother gave you safely with you, don''t leave it here for others to steal!"


    Ning Zhuo replied, "Don''t worry, Auntie, I have Major General and Little General protecting me."


    Wang Lan sneered, "Those two mechanical puppets are at most mid-stage Qi Refining level. For ordinary home protection, they still cost spirit stones."


    After the group left, Ning Zhuo stood nkly in the main hall.


    Many of the furniture and items had been taken away, and the two-year-old child looked so small in the now empty house.


    Sun Lingtong, having witnessed the entire process, looked at Ning Zhuo and couldn''t help but feel a ripple in his heart.


    At that moment, he realized why he had been saved¡ª


    "He sees me as another child, so he came to help."


    "He treated my wounds, brewed medicine, because he''s done the same for his mother. To him, it''s something very familiar."


    "He must see himself in me."


    "Simrly alone and without support, naturally feeling a closeness."


    "His mother passed away less than half a month ago; he''s just trying to find apanion, a support, in this suddenlyrger, colder, and unfamiliar world."


    Thinking of this, Sun Lingtong deliberately circled behind Ning Zhuo and lightly tapped his shoulder.


    Ning Zhuo jumped in fright.


    Sun Lingtong revealed himself,ughing, "Don''t be scared, it''s just me!"


    The sadness on Ning Zhuo''s face disappeared, reced by surprise and anticipation, "Little brother, are you a cultivator?"


    "You''re so young, yet so powerful!"


    "Did you just use an invisibility technique?"


    Sun Lingtong proudly raised his head, "This is not an ordinary invisibility technique. Wait, don''t call me little brother; I''m much older and bigger than you."


    "You should call me big brother!"


    At this point, Sun Lingtong finally revealed his true identity to Ning Zhuo and began correcting Ning Zhuo''s way of addressing him.


    Ning Zhuo retorted, "But my mother told me that some kids are just big-boned; they might not be older than me. We even have someone like that in our family¡­"


    Sun Lingtong waved his hand, "Alright, alright. From now on, just call me big brother."


    "By the way, were you pretending to be clueless just now?"


    "Before your mother passed away, she must have given you something very important!"


    Ning Zhuo let out a sound of surprise, his eyes shifting to the wall, not daring to look at Sun Lingtong, "I don''t know what you''re talking about!"


    Sun Lingtong chuckled, "I''m just telling you, your act doesn''t seem genuine at all."


    "The next time your aunt asks you, just say you don''t know. Don''t deny it so firmly."


    "The more resolutely you deny, the more it confirms that your mother left you some keepsakes."


    Ning Zhuo let out another sound of surprise, unable to help but ask, "Why?"


    Sun Lingtong''s gaze seemed to pierce through to Ning Zhuo''s heart, "You''re talented, aren''t you?"


    Ning Zhuo let out yet another surprised sound, showing a panicked expression, taking a step back, and shaking his head repeatedly, "N-no, definitely not!"


    "Whatever you''re talking about, I don''t understand at all."


    "I don''t know, I really don''t know!"


    He denied it vehemently, but his small face turned red, and his expression full of guilt and panic said it all.


    Sun Lingtong found it amusing andughed heartily, patting Ning Zhuo''s shoulder, "Little guy, you may be talented and smarter than your age,"


    "But you''re still too green!"


    "Really obvious acting."


    "However, you''re lucky to have met me!"


    "There''s no one better than me at ying the role of a normal child."


    "I''ll teach you how to disguise yourself as a two-year-old!"


    What Sun Lingtong said was not just boasting.


    Though outwardly only three years old, his soul was that of a thirteen-year-old youth.


    He joined the No-Void Sect, specifically trained in all sorts of trickery and deceit. His master had adopted him at a young age, imparted knowledge, took him on journeys, and taught him to observe others and navigate the world.


    Often, Sun Lingtong would y roles ording to his appearance, fully exploiting his youthful look to deceive.


    Under his guidance, the two-year-old Ning Zhuo made rapid progress.


    "Hey, what exactly is your talent? This


    level of intelligence isn''t normal."


    "Didn''t your mother tell you?" Sun Lingtong asked curiously.


    Ning Zhuo nced aside, then quickly turned his gaze back, looking directly at Sun Lingtong with a natural expression, "Brother Sun, my mother never told me anything."


    Sun Lingtong chuckled, giving a thumbs up, "Good job. Your lying has improved a lotpared to before."


    "But there''s still a small eye-shifting habit."


    "Remember, you need to change that!"


    Ning Zhuo felt a bit ashamed, "Brother Sun, aren''t you upset that I kept it from you?"


    Sun Lingtong shrugged, casually saying, "What''s there to be upset about? Everyone should have their own secrets, and it''s only right to allow others their own secrets too."


    "I''m just thinking, maybe you should show your talent to your family? It could greatly improve your living conditions."


    Ning Zhuo shook his head quickly, his face turning serious, "Before she died, my mother told me to hide and keep my abilities concealed."


    "She said the family is unreliable, and even Uncle can''t be trusted."


    "She told me the deeper I hide, the better protected I''ll be!"


    "Mhm, your mother was surely thinking of your best interests." Sun Lingtong said dismissively.


    Sun Lingtong had stayed with Ning Zhuo for over half a month, and although his injuries were already healed, now that Ning Zhuo could convincingly pretend to be a normal two-year-old, Sun Lingtong''s desire to leave grew stronger.


    But how should he arrange for Ning Zhuo?


    Although Wang Lan had previously said she would take Ning Zhuo to stay with her, she never followed through; instead, every few days she sent servants to check on him, bringing daily necessities.


    Sun Lingtong had made several night explorations of the Ning family grounds.


    Although only mid-stage Qi Refining, No-Void Sect''s excellent techniques allowed him to infiltrate smoothly.


    He gradually grasped the Ning family''s situation, understanding the main branch''s suppression of the coteral branches, and investigated Ning Xiaoren''s reputation.


    One day, he overheard Ning Ze and Wang Lan discussing.


    Ning Ze urged Wang Lan to have Ning Zhuo move in.


    Wang Lan said, "Husband, the n hall people are deliberately holding things up, asking me for a bribe of two hundred spirit stones!"


    "Do they expect us to pay two hundred spirit stones just to raise a child? What kind of logic is that!?"


    Ning Ze stroked his beard, "The n system has its reasons. It must go through the n elders'' review to ensure that taking in close rtives'' orphans isn''t done with bad intentions. Only after this approval can we officially adopt."


    "Before this system, there were indeed chaotic incidents and many human tragedies."


    "Little Zhuo has been living alone for so many days; it''s not right. If word gets out, how will I, as his uncle, keep my face?"


    Wang Lanined, "But those two hundred spirit stones aren''t a small amount either!"


    Ning Ze sighed, "Sigh, alright, my brother once saved the young n leader''s life. Tomorrow, I''ll go see the young n leader and ask him to intervene."


    Sun Lingtong also explored the n hall, finding the Ning family elder who was holding up Ning Zhuo''s registry.


    One night, he heard the elder discussing secretly with a visitor.


    The visitor said, "The deed to Ning Zhong''s house hasn''t been found by Ning Ze yet. I''ll offer four hundred spirit stones; here''s one hundred and eighty as a deposit. Please, Elder, make it convenient."


    The Ning family elderughed, "That''s easy. That Ning Ze doesn''t know the rules; he won''t even pay the two hundred spirit stones, so he deserves a lesson."


    "Just don''t cause a stir."


    "After all, Ning Zhong gave his life to save the young n leader."


    The visitor said, "Don''t worry, Elder. Both Ning Zhong and his wife have passed, and the only child left is two years old. A little coaxing, and he will sign the contract."


    "This matter is as easy as turning one''s hand!"


    Upon hearing this, Sun Lingtong couldn''t help but roll his eyes, inwardly mocking the Ning family.


    Returning to Ning Zhuo''s ce, he found the young Ning Zhuo sleeping soundly.


    Sun Lingtong watched for a while, thinking, "This little guy may be smart and can now pretend, but he''s only learned the basics."


    "Hecks experience, doesn''t know the dangers of the world, and without true support, he could easily be devoured by those around him."


    Sun Lingtong shook his head in secret, feeling that he couldn''t just leave Ning Zhuo behind.


    "He needs to learn how to see through people''s deceitful hearts."


    ¡­


    Sun Lingtong''s residence.


    Han Ming and the others were quickly repairing the courtyard, clearing away the traces of the recent fierce battle.


    Inside the main house.


    The Judge of Inspections directed his spiritual gaze, enveloping Sun Lingtong''s soul.


    Sun Lingtong''s soul shut its eyes tightly, his face contorted with pain, his body trembling violently, yet he stubbornly refused to cry out.


    "A tough nut!" Judge Qi Bai remarked in genuine admiration upon witnessing this.


    He muttered something under his breath, activating a spell to review the results of the soul search.


    A nk te!


    "Hmm?" Qi Bai was surprised, "The Empty Seal?"


    He recognized this information.


    One of No-Void Sect''s foundational treasures, the Empty Seal, could imprint a mark on the heart, providing protection to sect members.


    The Empty Seal was known to prevent soul searches, safeguarding the sect''s secrets and texts from falling into enemy hands.


    "The Empty Seal usually guards the sect''s vital secrets. I only sought information on the young puppet master, yet it was still protected?"


    "Isn''t Sun Lingtong just an outer disciple? The Empty Seal guards him thisprehensively?"


    At that moment, Han Ming entered the room, "Master Qi, have you found any information about the young puppet master?"


    Qi Bai snorted coldly, "This is troublesome. No wonder Sun Lingtong was fearless earlier, unafraid of the soul search."


    "But against ordinary peers, this would be problematic."


    "Meeting me, Judge of the Blind, it''s his bad luck!"


    "Give me another day, and I''ll have your answer."


    Qi Bai waved dismissively, displeased.


    Han Ming quickly bowed, sensibly retreating and respectfully closing the door behind him.

 Chapter 127: Guard Against Pride and Impatience

    The morning light illuminated Puppet Immortal City.


    Clouds and mist entwined around the mountain top, but they could not conceal the increasingly frequent tremors.


    The Lava Immortal Pce had been sted open some time ago, and more and more insiders began to understand, "Is that Immortal Pce stirring again?"


    Meng Kui gazed down at the Immortal Pce, quietly watching as Red me Beasts continuously emerged, assaulting the pce''s defenses.


    Ning Family.


    The Ning family patriarch stared at the mountain peak, and after a moment, the n leader reported to him.


    "The Zhou family''s two Golden Cores and the Zheng family''s two Golden Cores gambled and fought, both entering the formation?"


    "Such a coincidence?"


    The Ning family patriarch shook his head slightly. Regardless of whether this information was true or not, he decided to investigate in person.Since Meng Kui had sealed the mountain peak and personally takenmand, the Ning family patriarch had not set foot in the Immortal Pce for a long time.


    "Grandpa Sun hasn''t replied to me?"


    It had been more than half the night, and Ning Zhuo had not received a reply from Sun Lingtong.


    He frowned deeply; this was very unusual.


    Ning Zhuo paced around the room with his hands behind his back.


    After a fewps, he summoned a servant, "Themotion at the mountain top is significant; what''s going on?"


    "Go find out what''s happening, and if there''s any other important news, report it all."


    Not long after, the servant returned with explosive news from the market.


    Ning Zhuo received the information he wanted.


    "Zhu Xuanji sought out Grandpa Sun?"


    "Grandpa Sun deliberately spread the ¡®achievement'' of driving away Zhu Xuanji, which is his way of telling me about his current real situation!"


    "Grandpa Sun, being from the No-Void Sect, has the Empty Seal. Even if Zhu Xuanji abandons his principles and face and forcibly performs a soul search without evidence, he won''t find anything."


    "He''s still not replying to me. What exactly happened?"


    Ning Zhuo''s brow furrowed tightly, "Let''s wait a bit more."


    Trusting the other¡­ this was a pact between the two, a mutual understanding cultivated over a decade.


    Back then, Ning Zhuo was only two years old.


    One day, Sun Lingtong returned, injured.


    "What are you doing?" he noticed Ning Zhuo packing a small bundle and his expression darkened.


    From the bundle, he saw supplies meant for entering the Red me Demon Molten Cave.


    Ning Zhuo eximed in surprise, "Brother Sun, you''re back! I was just about to go find you, ouch!"


    Sun Lingtong couldn''t help but give Ning Zhuo a light flick on the forehead.


    "I can explore the Red me Demon Molten Cave because I''m capable."


    "What are you going there for? To feed the beasts?"


    "You don''t know the immensity of heaven and earth, you reckless brat!"


    Ning Zhuo''s chubby little hand covered his forehead, his voice full of grievance, "But, Brother Sun, this time you were gone so long, missing for a whole seven days."


    Sun Lingtong''s expression darkened.


    After recovering from his injuries, he would periodically sneak into the Red me Demon Molten Cave to search for his master.


    No results.


    This time, the tunnel he entered had copsed midway.


    Fortunately, Sun Lingtong was on his way back and decisively used the Void Pration Technique repeatedly, narrowly escaping through the copsed section and saving his life.


    However, finding the Lava Immortal Pce next time would not be easy; he would need to re-map the correct path.


    Of course, these troubles were unnecessary to share with a two-year-old child.


    Sun Lingtong patted his chest and smiled at Ning Zhuo, "You have to trust me, your brother is strong!"


    "Let''s make a deal: ten days from now on."


    "I promise to return within ten days."


    "So, as long as it''s within ten days, don''t worry. I''ll be fine."


    Ning Zhuo weakly responded, "I understand."


    "This time, did you find your master in the tunnel?"


    Sun Lingtong replied, "Although I didn''t see my master, I left some talismans in the corridor. If my master leaves the pce, he should sense them. Cough, cough."


    Sun Lingtong''s breath weakened, "I suffered internal injuries this time. Please brew some potion for me; here''s the pill recipe. I urgently need to replenish my qi."


    Ning Zhuo looked at the recipe and noticed theck of ingredients, so he went out and bought some.


    After testing them, Sun Lingtong found many were fake.


    He inquired about the entire process of Ning Zhuo''s purchase, then helplessly shook his head and advised, "You''re a child; buying from street vendors with a covered face is bound to arouse suspicion."


    "Next time, go to a reputable pharmacy openly and show your Ning family badge."


    "im you''re buying for the adults at home; no one will trouble you, and you''ll get genuine ingredients."


    "You''re smart, but you''re sorelycking in experience!"


    ¡­


    The Ning family had visitors.


    The visitor smiled kindly and spoke to Ning Zhuo in a gentle tone, attempting to coax him into signing a contract.


    Sun Lingtong had foreseen this and had already informed Ning Zhuo of the solution.


    Ning Zhuo followed the n and brought in his uncle, Ning Ze.


    Ning Ze, with a stern face, personally intervened, loudly reprimanding the visitor and thwarting his scheme.


    However, afterward, he failed to restrain Wang Lan. She rushed to the n hall, causing a scene that left the elder in charge disgraced.


    Ning Zhuo told Sun Lingtong, "With such amotion, I''m afraid I will soon have to live with my uncle. Sigh, I really don''t want that."


    Sun Lingtong patted his shoulder andforted him, "Don''t worry, your registry transfer won''t bepleted."


    "You''ll likely stay here for a long time."


    Ning Zhuo was curious, "Why?"


    Sun Lingtong exined, "On the surface, the elder of the n hall has been dismissed, but he remains an elder from the main branch, deeply connected, and this is just a temporary appearance. He will surely rise again."


    "Your aunt''s outburst caused the n hall''s prestige to suffer. However, the Ning family''s coteral branchcks powerful figures or factions to push the n hall into changing its ways."


    "So, the n hall is likely to stand firm, refusing to correct its errors, testing the reaction of the Ning family''s coteral branch."


    "If the reaction isn''t strong, they''ll withhold your registry as a warning to others. Though eventually, they will transfer you to your uncle''s house, they will dy it as long as possible."


    "Your aunt mishandled the situation. However¡­ it may not have been unintentional."


    Ning Zhuo''s mouth slightly opened, listening in stunned silence.


    Seeing his bewildered expression, Sun Lingtong patted his shoulder, "This is the world of adults."


    "You''re too young, only two years old."


    "You''re clever, but adults are cunning."


    "You still have a lot to learn."


    "For instance, do you know the difference between a gang, a family, a sect, and a country? Do you understand how these forces operate?"


    Ning Zhuo could only shake his head and ask in confusion, "Are these important?"


    Sun Lingtong''s face turned serious, "Extremely important!"


    He then smiled, "Come, let me exin it to you."


    ¡­


    Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly.


    The knowledge Sun Lingtong imparted to him about various forces was vivid in his mind, echoing as if it had happened yesterday.


    "Gangs, in most cases, prioritize profit. The first generation leader of the Monkey Head Gang possessed immense personal charisma, but he is dead. The second-generation leader, Yuan Er, struggles tomand respect, especially after Yuan Dasheng''s death."


    "Externally, old enemies harbor grudges, lurking in the shadows, waiting for revenge. Internally, powerful elders defy Yuan Er, coveting the leader''s position."


    "Yuan Er faces internal and external threats!"


    "There''s still no response from Grandpa Sun; I should deploy my forces first."


    While waiting for Sun Lingtong''s reply, Ning Zhuo remotely controlled the Tree Martial Fighting Ape, Dasheng, attempting to infiltrate the Monkey Head Gang''s base.


    He was already quite familiar with the Monkey Head Gang''s base.


    As a result, a simple attempt proved sessful.


    Hemanded the Tree Martial Fighting Ape, Dasheng, to smoothly enter the inner perimeter of the base, getting very close to Yuan Er.


    "I didn''t expect the Monkey Head Gang''s base defenses to be thisx!"


    "After the Huoshi Festival''s crushing defeat and Yuan Dasheng''s death, the gang''s reputation has severely declined, and the members'' morale has plummeted."


    "Their hearts are scattered; even the main base''s defenses are so poorly managed."


    "No, something''s off."


    "This might not be mere negligence; it''s likely an elder''s doing, deliberately arranging it this way."


    After analyzing for a moment, Ning Zhuo considered a possibility.


    The more he thought about it, the more usible it seemed.


    "If the gang''s elder colludes with old enemies to assassinate Yuan Er, I won''t need to trouble Grandpa Sun."


    "This would save me a lot of trouble."


    ck Market.


    Sun Lingtong''s residence.


    In the main house, a chilling yin energy filled the entire hall.


    The Judge of Inspections, like a temple statue, his gaze as sharp as des, pierced Sun Lingtong''s soul, scouring through his memories.


    As Ning Zhuo grew older, he


    was tested for spiritual roots and began attending school.


    He lived with his uncle''s family, but his days were stifling.


    Relying on the No-Void Sect''s techniques, Sun Lingtong would secretly meet with him every so often.


    These meetings were the brightest moments in Ning Zhuo''s otherwise dim life.


    Sun Lingtong nced over Ning Zhuo''s exam results, his eyes sharp, "Little Zhuo, why were your scores so good this time?"


    "Have you forgotten what your mother told you on her deathbed?"


    "You must hide your talents; keep yourself hidden!"


    Ning Zhuo lowered his head, "But the school elder is kind and often encourages me to perform well."


    "And my ssmates always mock my poor grades, don''t y with me, and think I''m stupid."


    "But I''m obviously much smarter than they are!"


    "I just wanted to show a little bit of my ability to make them see me differently!"


    Sun Lingtong sighed inwardly, "Little Zhuo is indeed very smart, but as a child, he can''t hold back, easily provoked."


    "How should I persuade him?"


    "No matter how I advise, it might not be effective!"


    After some thought, Sun Lingtong decided to scare him, "Little Zhuo, you''re not far from death."


    Ning Zhuo was instantly frightened, "What?!"


    Sun Lingtong, with a stern face, listed many examples, telling him how many geniuses were killed by jealous individuals, turned into pills, or used as refining materials.


    "Your performance at school was too outstanding; it could draw suspicion, leading others to discover your talents and kill you!"


    Ning Zhuo was terrified, his face pale and sweating profusely, "B-but Ning Xiaohui also has talent."


    "Hmph, she''s from the main branch, while you''re from a coteral branch. Her grandmother is an elder, but you?"


    "Have you forgotten what I taught you about cultivation families? Forgotten my analysis of the Ning family''s current situation?"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head repeatedly.


    "Come, let''s spar." Sun Lingtong thought for a moment, still uneasy, and decided to deliver another hard lesson.


    Using the content of the school exams, Sun Lingtongpleted all the tests in front of Ning Zhuo.


    Naturally, his results were excellent, far surpassing Ning Zhuo.


    Sun Lingtong said, "I''m only a year older than you, yet look at my scores. Am I arrogant? Am Icent?"


    Ning Zhuo, looking as if he had lost his soul, slowly shook his head, his face pale.


    Sun Lingtong patted Ning Zhuo''s shoulder, "Your Ning family is small, rankingst among the cultivation families in Puppet Immortal City."


    "Compared to your ssmates, you might be excellent. But how do youpare to all the children in this city?"


    "Puppet Immortal City is just a corner of the world, a newly built city within the Southern Dou Immortal Country over the past hundred years."


    "How do youpare to children in the older cities?"


    "Furthermore, this is only within the Southern Dou Country. What about the other countries?"


    "Do you think you can rank among them?"


    Sun Lingtong raised his finger and shook it, dering, "You can''t!"


    "You can''t evenpare to me, so don''t getcent."


    "Let me tell you, I barely count for anything in the Southern Dou Country!" Sun Lingtong pinched the smallest section of his pinky finger, greatly downying himself.


    Ning Zhuo''s face turned pale, his forehead covered in cold sweat.


    Seeing the effect, Sun Lingtong was pleased and patted Ning Zhuo''s shoulder, "You need to understand, there are always people better than you, and skies beyond your own."


    "Arrogant and self-important people are fools!"


    "You must always remain humble, open-minded, and keep a low profile to recognize reality, quickly absorb new knowledge, and grow faster."


    Having said this, Sun Lingtong had already made a decision: every now and then, he would personally challenge Ning Zhuo to a ¡®spar,'' teaching him to guard against pride and impatience!


    Ning Zhuo remained silent for a long time before finally raising his eyes to look at Sun Lingtong, his voice hoarse, "Brother Sun, I was wrong! Before my mother passed, she often warned me, too."


    Sun Lingtong sighed, "Actually, what I just told you was all taught to me by my master."


    The two looked at each other, and for a moment, both fell into silence.

 Chapter 128: Taking You to Play

    Three-year-old Ning Zhuo moved a small furnace out and immediately refined a new material for Sun Lingtong.


    Sun Lingtong sneered, "I don¡¯t even need a pill furnace. Watch carefully."


    He stretched out his palm, and a me ignited in his palm.


    He threw the medicinal materials into the fire one after another and quickly obtained a brand-new material.


    "How about it?"


    After checking, Ning Zhuo pped his hands repeatedly, "Brother Sun, you¡¯re amazing! You don¡¯t need a pill furnace, and you did it by hand. It¡¯s faster and better than mine!"


    Sun Lingtong shook his head, "This is nothing, you must stay humble."


    Ning Zhuo nodded heavily in agreement.


    ¡­Four-year-old Ning Zhuo held a talisman pen, drawing symbols on talisman paper.


    The process went smoothly, and he seeded in one go.


    Sun Lingtong was slightly surprised, knowing he must be faster and make better symbols than Ning Zhuo.


    Outwardly rxed, he deliberately yawned, his eyelids drooping as he casually pinched the pen. But in reality, he was fully concentrated,pleting the drawing in one stroke!


    Afterparing, Ning Zhuo gave a thumbs up and sincerely praised, "Brother Sun, you''re awesome!"


    "Compared to you, I really can''t measure up. You¡¯re truly amazing."


    Sun Lingtong sighed, "There are countless geniuses. Compared to them, I¡¯m as insignificant as an ant. Little Zhuo, you must stay humble."


    Ning Zhuo nodded repeatedly, "I know, I¡¯ll remember!"


    ¡­


    Five-year-old Ning Zhuo took a deep breath and began arranging a formation on a nk array disc.


    After three hours, he wiped the sweat off his forehead and said with some shame, "Brother Sun, I failed."


    Sun Lingtong witnessed the entire process, his heart trembling. Ning Zhuo had given it his all, and although he failed, his formation skills far exceeded the standards of his age!


    Sun Lingtong maintained a calm facade, "Not bad at all, now watch me."


    He quickly arranged the formation,pleting the array disc in just one hour.


    Ning Zhuo inspected the array disc and was sincerely convinced.


    Sun Lingtong wiped the sweat from his forehead, thinking, "Formation techniques aren¡¯t my specialty. Luckily, I secretly tampered with the array discst night."


    He said to Ning Zhuo, "This is nothing, I still have a lot of room for improvement."


    Ning Zhuo strongly agreed and quickly pointed out many shorings in the array disc.


    Finally, he told Sun Lingtong, "Brother Sun, I¡¯ll keep working hard. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t getcent or proud!"


    "That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good." Sun Lingtong nodded, full offort.


    Secretly, he felt uneasy, thinking, "He¡¯s only five, what will happen next year?"


    After this, he decided to secretly take time to study various cultivation arts to deal with the increasingly formidable Ning Zhuo.


    ¡­


    Thepetition for six-year-olds was about controlling spirit beasts.


    Ning Zhuo was full of fighting spirit and confidence, "Brother Sun, my Fiery Majestic General is very strong. I personally hatched it at the start of the school year and have been raising it since. For this school¡¯s small exam, I sealed more than half of its power in advance, and it still easily ranked fifth."


    Sun Lingtong nodded, expressionless, "It seems your fighting chicken is indeed formidable. Mine, on the other hand, has only been in my hands for a little over a month."


    He secretly chuckled.


    In reality, more than a year ago, he realized he could no longer suppress Ning Zhuo, so he specifically investigated past exam topics. He even confirmed this year¡¯s small exam content in advance.


    Therefore, he secretly nurtured his fighting chicken for far longer than Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo released his Fiery Majestic General, while Sun Lingtong released his Xiao Heizi (Little ckie).


    The Generalunched the first attack, its wings spreading like des, swooping towards its opponent with a fierce wind.


    Xiao Heizi dodged nimbly, quickly counterattacking with its sharp beak and ws striking at the General''s chest.


    The two chickens fought more and more fiercely, feathers flying, and blood sttering.


    Ning Zhuo gave it his all, casting spells from time to time to protect the Fiery Majestic General.


    But in the end, the General¡¯s full-strength attack was dodged by Xiao Heizi, who leaped into the air and tore open the General¡¯sb, securing victory.


    The General fell to the ground, on the verge of death.


    Xiao Heizi also swayed, having reached its limit.


    Ning Zhuo panted heavily, his small face flushed, disappointment written all over his face, and his eyes lost their light.


    He trembled, rushing to the field, cing both hands on the General, and casting healing spells with all his might.


    The General''s injuries soon stabilized, its breathing became steady, and it fell into a deep sleep.


    After a while, Ning Zhuo raised his head and said in a low tone, "Brother Sun, I lost again."


    He couldn¡¯t hide the dejection in his expression.


    Only then did Sun Lingtong¡¯s tense mood gradually ease.


    He had thought he had a huge advantage, but unexpectedly, the chicken fight had been so evenly matched that it wasn¡¯t until the very end that victory was decided.


    He knew his victory was unfair; he had secretly invested far more in Xiao Heizi than Ning Zhuo had.


    Feeling guilty, Sun Lingtong sincerely praised, "You did very well. If you had gone all out, your General would surely be the top in the school."


    Ning Zhuo shook his head, "What¡¯s the point of being the top in the school? Compared to the whole Huoshi City, I¡¯m nothing. In all of Southern Dou Country, I don¡¯t even rank. Let alone, there are other cultivation nations out there. I¡¯ve always been no match for Brother Sun, I always lose¡­"


    Sun Lingtong gritted his teeth, trying to console him, "I almost lost just now."


    "Really."


    "Wasn¡¯t thatst move of yours a mechanical technique?"


    Ning Zhuo nodded, "Yes, I usually use puppet strings to train the General. Later, I referred to some cultivation techniques and designed somemands. When I give themand, the General will fly down and kill its enemies. At the same time, it will trigger the talismans hidden deep in its feathers, greatly enhancing its attack power."


    Sun Lingtong was momentarily stunned, sincerely praising, "Amazing! You¡¯ve already started using various methods to train your fighting chicken."


    "You¡¯re not limiting yourself to what the school¡¯s elders have taught."


    "You¡¯re already innovating, and most importantly, the results in actualbat are outstanding!"


    Ning Zhuo still felt downcast, "Thank you for your praise, Brother Sun, but you don¡¯t need tofort me. I understand!"


    "I need to work even harder. This battle exposed many of my weaknesses."


    "I¡¯m really nothingpared to you all. The gap is just too wide."


    "I have to work even harder to make up for the difference in talent!"


    Sun Lingtong fell silent, wondering if he had gone too far over the years.


    ¡­


    Thepetition when Ning Zhuo was seven, however, made Sun Lingtong furious!


    "Little Zhuo, what¡¯s going on? A whole year has passed, and although you¡¯ve made some progress in the hundred arts of cultivation, it¡¯s not much."


    "What have you been doing?"


    "Have you been studying seriously?"


    Ning Zhuo lowered his head and admitted his mistake, telling Sun Lingtong that he had been spending time with his ssmates, getting addicted to ying with marbles.


    Sun Lingtong asked carefully what marble games were, and upon finding out that the game was boring, he was deeply pained, "You¡¯ve be obsessed with this? It¡¯s simply ruining your will to achieve!"


    He scolded Ning Zhuo harshly for the length of an incense stick.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s eyes filled with tears, "Brother Sun, I won¡¯t do this again. I¡¯ll study hard!"


    "I know I¡¯m really bad, and I have too many shorings."


    Hearing this, Sun Lingtong was stunned and couldn¡¯t help but think: Have I been suppressing Ning Zhuo¡¯s achievements too much, distorting his perception, making himck a sense of aplishment and confidence, thus losing the motivation to improve himself?


    "Actually¡­" Sun Lingtong pondered his tone, "Little Zhuo, you¡¯ve actually done quite well before. Don¡¯t be too hard on yourself."


    Ning Zhuo replied, "I know, Brother Sun. You don¡¯t have tofort me! I understand everything."


    Sun Lingtong: "¡­"


    ¡­


    At the Kindergarten for Benevolence, Li Leifeng was holding a puppet show.


    Sun Lingtong sneaked in, stealing the cultivators¡¯ personal belongings to fund his daily cultivation needs.


    After Li Leifeng''s performance ended, he went to the private box to thank Elder Zhou of the Zhou family for his generous donation to the show.


    Elder Zhou of the Zhou family also wanted to make friends


    with Li Leifeng and asked about his methods of raising children.


    "Under your guidance, the orphans in the Kindergarten for Benevolence have been trained well, they are obedient, sensible, and diligent."


    "Sigh, my son Zhou Zhenshen, however, is mischievous and a troublemaker. He hates school and has no interest in learning at all. It¡¯s truly worrisome!"


    Li Leifeng asked a few questions and, after understanding the situation, smiled and said, "My advice is to let him y."


    Elder Zhou was puzzled.


    Li Leifeng continued, "From what you¡¯ve just said, I understand that your son is being too strictly monitored. Aside from school lessons, he has multiple supplementary lessons at home, leaving him with almost no time to y."


    "It¡¯s because he ys too little that a de of grass, a pen, even a cloud in the sky can keep him amused, and his mind wanders, daydreaming."


    "You must understand: no matter how smart a child is, they have a child¡¯s heart. ying is their nature and a necessary part of their growth."


    "Only by ying continuously can they find joy, happiness. Once they¡¯ve yed enough, a de of grass or a pen will no longer hold any temptation."


    "This is the growth they need."


    Hidden nearby, Sun Lingtong listened intently.


    From then on, he no longer stole money from the Kindergarten for Benevolence.


    Sun Lingtong excitedly found Ning Zhuo.


    "You¡¯re really lucky to have met me!" He suddenly said something that left Ning Zhuo feeling baffled.


    "Come on, I¡¯ll take you out to y!"


    Seven-year-old Ning Zhuo could hardly believe it, his eyes filled with surprise, "R-really?"


    "Of course!" Sun Lingtong raised his head proudly, grabbing Ning Zhuo¡¯s arm, and flew away.


    In a dark alley.


    Sun Lingtong "encouraged" Ning Zhuo, "See that unpleasant person? Steal something from him for fun, just like I taught you earlier!"


    Ning Zhuo hesitated, "Stealing from others isn¡¯t right, is it?"


    "What are you afraid of? Trust your Brother Sun, I won¡¯t harm you." Sun Lingtong patted his chest and kept egging him on, "It¡¯s thrilling, especially the first time. It¡¯ll make you feel really excited!"


    Under his guidance, Ning Zhuo chose a local thug and stole his purse.


    The thug frantically searched, almost stripping himself bare.


    Ning Zhuo hid in the shadows,ughing out loud.


    Before leaving, he even seemed to toss the purse back near the thug¡¯s feet.


    Sun Lingtong patted Ning Zhuo¡¯s shoulder, "How does it feel? Exciting, right?"


    "Yes! It was fun." Ning Zhuo said.


    Sun Lingtong sighed, "Sometimes, when I¡¯m in a bad mood, I stroll down the street, find someone I don¡¯t like, and steal from them."


    "Hahaha, after stealing, I always feel much better!"


    Ning Zhuo hesitated, "Brother Sun, maybe we shouldn¡¯t do this. The school teaches us to follow the righteous path and do righteous deeds. Stealing isn¡¯t good behavior."


    Sun Lingtong rolled his eyes, then slyly smiled, "The elders at the school are right. But what I¡¯m teaching you is the same thing."


    Ning Zhuo stared, confused.


    Sun Lingtong said, "Don¡¯t you understand the principle of punishing evil and promoting good? Punishing these wicked people is an act of umting virtue and righteousness."


    "The thug you just taught a lesson to usually bullies kind and honest poor people. You only scared him a little, and he didn¡¯t actually lose anything. You really let him off easy!"


    Ning Zhuo squinted, "Then I¡¯ll go back and steal from him again."


    Sun Lingtong nodded, "Sure, I¡¯ll go with you."


    "This time, I¡¯ll teach you a new way to steal. Try it out, the feeling will be different from before."

 Chapter 129: Communication with the Dead Eye

    Ning Zhuo''s in and repressed life began to be more colorful.


    As the frequency of thefts increased, Sun Lingtong was very satisfied with Ning Zhuo''s progress: "Xiao Zhuo, you learn everything quickly, you''re really talented."


    "Why don''t you just join me and be a member of the No-Void Sect?"


    Ning Zhuo showed a troubled expression: "Even though No-Void Sect is your sect, Brother Sun, its reputation is quite bad."


    "I just want to rob the rich to help the poor, to punish evil and promote good. I don¡¯t want to be a real thief."


    "Ah, um¡­ Brother Sun, I wasn''t talking about you. You''re different from the others, really!"


    "Alright, alright." Sun Lingtong waved his hand repeatedly, "I was just saying it casually. If you don''t agree, forget it."


    "You just said you want to rob the rich to help the poor, so let''s y something more exciting. Hehe!"


    Ning Zhuo was curious: "What''s more exciting?""Robbery!" Sun Lingtong''s eyes lit up.


    In a narrow alley.


    Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong suddenly jumped out, surrounding a thug.


    "Robbery!" Sun Lingtong shouted.


    "Mm-hmm." Ning Zhuo nodded, feeling a bit nervous as it was his first time robbing someone.


    The thug was initially startled, then burst intoughter: "You two kids think you can rob me?"


    Sun Lingtong became furious: "How dare you underestimate me? Xiao Zhuo, get him!"


    "Mm!" Ning Zhuo rushed forward.


    He was a Qi Refining cultivator, only at the firstyer, while the thug was a martial artist who had mastered internal energy.


    Their hands shed evenly, but during the stalemate, Sun Lingtong struck the thug on the back of the head with a brick, knocking him out.


    Ning Zhuo was shocked: "He-he''s not dead, is he?"


    Sun Lingtong, pleased with himself, dusted off his hands: "Don''t worry, I know my limits."


    Although Ning Zhuo had sessfullymitted robbery, he wasn''t ted. He often drifted into thoughts, troubled and uneasy.


    Sun Lingtong noticed this and chuckled, pulling Ning Zhuo by the hand: "Come, let''s go back."


    "Go back for what?"


    Sun Lingtong led him back along the original route, bringing Ning Zhuo to witness the thug waking up.


    The thug discovered all his belongings were gone, and he flew into a rage, cursing aloud. He returned to his gang''s territory and extorted small vendors along the way to make up for his losses.


    Following behind, Ning Zhuo clenched his fists in anger: "Let''s rob him again!"


    A gleam shed in Sun Lingtong''s eyes, and he suddenly said: "Xiao Zhuo, have you ever thought about how, after we rob him, he will take it out even worse on the poor?"


    "There¡¯s a better way. Why don¡¯t we just kill him and make him disappear from this world?"


    Ning Zhuo was startled, his expression full of shock, and he stammered: "Kill¡ªkill someone? That doesn''t seem right."


    He had never considered killing anyone.


    Sun Lingtong smiled slightly and patted Ning Zhuo on the shoulder: "If you don¡¯t want to, then forget it. I was just mentioning it in passing."


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s face turned pale: "We should just teach him a lesson, give him a deep impression, and let him receive proper punishment!"


    As the frequency of thefts and robberies increased, Ning Zhuo quickly grew in experience, no longer as na?ve as before.


    "Your mindset is still unstable, you need more training. Follow me." Sun Lingtong dragged Ning Zhuo out, ced talismans on both of them, transforming them into two middle-aged men.


    He took Ning Zhuo into a mortal gambling den, where they gambled intensely, sometimes winning, sometimes losing.


    The intense atmosphere of the casino opened Ning Zhuo''s eyes.


    After several hours of gambling, Sun Lingtong brought Ning Zhuo home and asked him about his thoughts.


    Ning Zhuo said that it was eye-opening: "So this is how these people think!"


    "Brother Sun, you''re amazing, it''s like you can read minds."


    "You sent me voice transmissions, constantly analyzing the gamblers'' mindsets. From the changes in their expressions, you could deduce the size of their hands. It''s as magical as a spell!"


    Sun Lingtong asked the key question: "What do you think of gambling?"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head: "I don''t like gambling. I prefer working step by step, umting sess steadily."


    "As long as you enter a gambling game, there¡¯s always a chance of losing. But if you be the one running the casino, you¡¯re the yer. I prefer being the yer."


    "However, I also understand that sometimes you have no choice but to gamble!"


    Sun Lingtong clicked his tongue: "You don¡¯t like the feeling of gambling? How are you just like my master?"


    Every time they gambled, Sun Lingtong usually won more than he lost.


    asionally, he would take Ning Zhuo to high-end restaurants, orderingrge tables of delicious dishes to nourish Ning Zhuo¡¯s body.


    "Come, little brother, let big brother treat you to some wine." Sun Lingtong pushed a cup of wine to Ning Zhuo.


    Both of them were disguised as grown men by the transformation talismans.


    Ning Zhuo took a sip and coughed continuously: "It''s too spicy, it tastes awful!"


    Sun Lingtong shook his head: "You don''t understand. Wine is a wonderful thing."


    He hadn¡¯t originally liked drinking either, but over the years, waiting in caves for his master, he gradually started drinking to drown his sorrows and discovered the benefits of wine.


    "I have an idea." Sun Lingtong called for some sweet wine.


    This time, Ning Zhuo could drink it down. The wine was sweet, not spicy at all.


    And then he got drunk, his eyes misty, his face flushed.


    Sun Lingtong supported him as they left the restaurant.


    Halfway home, Ning Zhuo saw someone calling out to him: "Gentlemen,e in and have some fun."


    He curiously pointed at the sign of the Yan Hong Lou: "Brother Sun, this must be a fun ce."


    "Every time we pass by, I see peopleing in and out, and I can hear people singing and ying music inside."


    "It¡¯s the most lively ce at night!"


    "Let¡¯s go in and have some fun. It must be great."


    But this time, Sun Lingtong''s face darkened: "No, we¡¯re not going!"


    "Little brother, you''re still too young. This ce is not for you yet."


    "Let¡¯s go home. I¡¯ll take you home!"


    ¡­


    The soul-searching continued.


    In Sun Lingtong''s home, he had be a prisoner.


    His soul and body were separated, his soul held in the hands of Judge Cha.


    "Judge Cha is one of the Four Great Ghost Judges."


    "I used the treasure seal to summon a god. Even though it was only a projection, a Foundation Establishment peak cultivator like Sun Lingtong wouldn¡¯t be able to resist it."


    "No matter how powerful the Empty Mind Seal is, it shouldn¡¯t withstand such intense, continuous soul searching!"


    The blind judge Qi Bai''s face was cold.


    However, despite Sun Lingtong¡¯s soul enduring the agony of the soul search for more than half a day, Qi Bai still hadn¡¯t gained any results.


    "How could this be?"


    Qi Bai was surprised, and with a cold snort, he finally used his top-tier talent.


    The Dead Eye of Nether Communication!


    In an instant, he regained his sight.


    What appeared in his vision was a dim and gray world.


    Only ghostly beings emitted faint green, blue, and other ghostly lights.


    Qi Bai saw Judge Cha and Sun Lingtong¡¯s soul.


    The projection of Judge Cha was radiating a majestic blue light, extremely stable, shining like a gem.


    Sun Lingtong''s soul was emitting a green light, which fluctuated like water waves, surging violently. This indicated that his soul was suffering severe damage, while his emotions were also in turmoil.


    Whenever a wave of light was about to burst out, a seal would appear deep within Sun Lingtong¡¯s soul.


    The seal was weak but tenacious, and whenever the light tried to break free, it was suppressed by the seal and immediately vanished.


    Seeing this, Qi Bai immediately understood: "Judge Cha¡¯s divine power is immense, Sun Lingtong cannot stop the soul search interrogation."


    "But the information obtained through the soul search is all erased by the Empty Mind Seal, leaving only a nk."


    "Ordinary outer disciples absolutely can¡¯t do this."


    "I didn¡¯t expect that, even though Sun Lingtong hasn¡¯t practiced the orthodox techniques of the No-Void Sect, he has such an understanding of the sect¡¯s great path."


    "What a pity he only cultivated a boy¡¯s technique. If he had practiced the sect¡¯s orthodox methods, his achievements would have been remarkable!"


    Qi Bai only looked for a moment before he deactivated his talent.


    The Dead Eye of Nether Communication was extremely powerful. In terms of its potency, it was definitely at the celestial level.


    However, it had a significant drawback, one that was difficult to avoid.


    Every time it was used, it consumed his eyes. Over time, not only would his vision deteriorate, but his eyes would bepletely ruined.


    Qi Bai had already overused his talent, leading to his blindness, which was nearly impossible to cure.


    Many powerful healing methods could restore his normal vision


    , but they would damage his talent.


    Once both eyes werepletely blind, every time he used the Dead Eye of Nether Communication, it would shorten his lifespan.


    So, each use reduced his lifespan by a little, and the price was steep.


    "One use is enough." Qi Bai returned Sun Lingtong''s soul to his body.


    Qi Bai sneered coldly: "Next, Sun Lingtong, scream to your heart¡¯s content."


    "My soul punishment is unique in the entire sect."


    Qi Bai activated a spell, summoning various small ghosts that crawled onto Sun Lingtong, pressing him down.


    His entire body exuded Yin energy, cold winds swirling around him.


    He took out coffin nails and ruthlessly drove them into the back of Sun Lingtong''s hands.


    Tap, tap.


    Two soft sounds, and Sun Lingtong''s hands were nailed to the pir, his small body hoisted up, feet hanging off the ground.


    Sun Lingtong''s eyes widened, a hoarse sound escaping his throat, and he stared at Qi Bai with eyes full of rage.


    Qi Bai, however, was surprised: "Why aren¡¯t you screaming?"


    "It doesn¡¯t make sense."


    "I specifically returned your soul to your body, using physical punishment to affect your soul, increasing your pain."


    "Under my soul punishment, how are you not making a sound?"


    "Did you use some special spell to block the pain?"


    "No, that¡¯s not right. If you really had, I wouldn¡¯t have missed it when I used my talent earlier!"


    Qi Bai felt doubtful and called in the hooked-nosed man and the man with triangr eyes.


    He cast a spell on both of them, one using coffin nails and the other using soul punishment. The man with triangr eyes screamed miserably in pain, while the hooked-nosed man rolled his eyes and foamed at the mouth, passing out after only a few breaths.


    "Now that¡¯s more like it." Qi Bai rxed, turning back to Sun Lingtong, his expression cold and grim. "I didn¡¯t expect that in such a small body, you¡¯d have the courage of a real tough guy!"


    "Hehe, I want to see how long you can hold out!"


    Qi Bai¡¯spetitive spirit was ignited by Sun Lingtong.


    He began torturing Sun Lingtong, using all sorts of severe punishments. He wanted to see Sun Lingtong weeping in pain, to hear his cries and wails!

 Chapter 130: Thus, the Agreement is Reached

    Another early morning.


    "Still no response from Boss Sun?" Ning Zhuo paced in the room, his face dark.


    "If his secret signal doesn¡¯t change today, it will be the third day."


    Sun Lingtong and Ning Zhuo had agreed on many ways tomunicate.


    In theory, as long as everything was normal, this secret signal would change once a day.


    "Since thest public questioning of Boss Sun, Zhu Xuanji hasn''t shown up again."


    "Could he have secretly made a move against Boss Sun?"


    Through extensive information gathering, Ning Zhuo had probed a lot of ck market intelligence: In the past two days, Sun Lingtong had appeared normally and even handled a few small disputes in the ck market.


    "Boss Sun is likely caught in some kind of dangerous situation. His outward normalcy is just a facade.""It might not even be him!"


    Ning Zhuo guessed the truth.


    Sun Lingtong was being impersonated by Han Ming, who wasmanding Sun''s subordinates and rapidly infiltrating the entire ck market organization, intending to turn it to their own use.


    There were also some rumors circting about Yuan Er.


    "Someone wants revenge and is targeting the Monkey Head Gang!"


    "The leader is named Bao Qiu, whose entire family was ughtered by Yuan Yi. He narrowly escaped, changed his name but not his surname, and has been practicing diligently while contacting those with deep grudges against the Monkey Head Gang."


    "After the Huoshi Festival, the Monkey Head Gang fell into a slump. Bao Qiu raised his banner and brought his years of umted strength to the forefront, seeking revenge!"


    Ning Zhuo wasn''t surprised by this situation at all.


    He had long predicted that something like this would happen.


    "If Bao Qiu really takes action, I can use him. Let them make their move, and then I can direct Yuan Dasheng to protect Yuan Er."


    "However, the rumors about Bao Qiu have been too loud and plentiful."


    Ning Zhuo felt something strange.


    Over the years, he had never stopped gathering intelligence.


    As a result, he had developed a keen sense. Sometimes, just by feeling, he could determine which pieces of information were false and which were true.


    The information about Bao Qiu didn¡¯t feel false, but it gave him a subtle sense of unease.


    Ning Zhuo thought carefully and came up with a possibility.


    "If I were Bao Qiu, I wouldn''t make such a big fuss when seeking revenge!"


    "So, it''s very likely that this is the work of the elders within the Monkey Head Gang."


    "Bao Qiu might have made a deal with someone, or even several elders in the gang, to increase the chances of a sessful revenge while reducing risks and losses."


    "But the elders also have their own selfish motives."


    "They need to spread the word first, letting the outside world know that Bao Qiu is going after the Monkey Head Gang and Yuan Er."


    "Once Yuan Er is assassinated, they can more easily take over the entire gang because by then, they would have already proven to the public that Bao Qiu is the real culprit!"


    At this thought, Ning Zhuo became even more certain that Bao Qiu and the others would take action.


    And judging by the rumors, the action was likely in the next few days.


    "It seems I need to keep a closer eye on Yuan Er."


    Yuan Er couldn¡¯t die just yet.


    Ning Zhuo still nned to use him to deepen his control over Yuan Dasheng and eliminate potential threats in the Qi Refining stage.


    "There''s trouble with Boss Sun, but it''s not the first time."


    "Now, more than ever, I need to be patient and calm."


    In Ning Zhuo¡¯s memory, the first time Sun Lingtong was captured, he was eight years old.


    You can''t always walk by the riverside without getting your feet wet.


    Sun Lingtong always used theft to obtain resources for his daily cultivation, and sooner orter, he was bound to get into trouble.


    This time, he had been captured by a local gang and thrown into a private prison.


    Sun Lingtong had been beaten until his body was a bloody mess, huddled in the corner of his cell, motionless.


    Thud.


    Suddenly, two guards copsed simultaneously, lying still.


    Startled by the noise, Sun Lingtong nervously approached the cell door, then saw Ning Zhuo''s figure slowly materializing.


    "Big Brother Sun, I¡¯vee to save you!" Ning Zhuo¡¯s face was filled with tension, and he became very excited when he saw Sun Lingtong.


    "Little Zhuo, why did youe alone?!" Sun Lingtong was shocked, his face turning cold as frost. "Have you forgotten what I taught you? If I get caught, you should go to the authorities and report it! Let the city guardse and search, cause chaos, and give me a chance to escape!"


    "I did! I reported it to the authorities," Ning Zhuo quickly exined. "But they were too slow, and I was worried about you. You''ve been missing for three days! I was scared, I was really scared for you¡­"


    Sun Lingtong waved his hand. "Alright, alright, no more talking, just unlock the door."


    "The situation is dangerous right now, so don¡¯t waste any more time."


    "Whatever you have to say, we¡¯ll talk about it after we escape."


    "The key is on that big guard. Be careful when searching him!"


    "Got it!" Ning Zhuo ran to the big guard, using the techniques Sun Lingtong had taught him, and sessfully found the cell key.


    He inserted the key into the lock.


    Ning Zhuo infused his mana, struggling to turn it.


    A stream of light quickly spread from the lock, flowing over the lock, the chains, and most of the cell¡¯s bars, revealing numerous formation patterns.


    Ning Zhuo opened the door and helped Sun Lingtong out.


    There were still patrolling cultivators outside the prison.


    The two of them used talismans and magical tools, taking advantage of the shadows and blind spots, spending quite a while before finally escaping the enemy gang''s headquarters.


    Shortly after they escaped, the headquarters erupted into chaos.


    "Someone escaped!"


    "That little thief is gone!!"


    "Quick, chase them! They haven¡¯t gotten far!"


    From the shouts, Sun Lingtong recognized the voices of the two guards who had been watching over him.


    He red at Ning Zhuo, his eyes wide. "You used the soporific incense I gave you, so why didn¡¯t they die?"


    Ning Zhuo avoided Sun Lingtong''s gaze, sheepishly replying, "I was afraid they¡¯d die, so I mixed in some herbal mud to wrap the incense before lighting it."


    Sun Lingtong''s eyes shed with anger. "Enough! We¡¯ll talk about this at home!"


    After a thrilling chase, Sun Lingtong sustained several more injuries, his body covered in blood. He paid a great price, but finally, with Ning Zhuo¡¯s help, he managed to escape to a safe ce.


    "How are you? Are you hurt? Check yourself!" Sun Lingtong was so weak that he could barely release his spiritual sense.


    Ning Zhuo checked himself over and found only a few scrapes.


    "Good," Sun Lingtong sighed in relief before ring at Ning Zhuo and giving him a light flick on the forehead.


    "You idiot!" he scolded.


    "Big Brother Sun, I saved you, so why are you still hitting me?" Ning Zhuo clutched his head, wincing in pain, feeling wronged.


    "Why didn¡¯t you kill those two guards?"


    "If you¡¯d killed them, we would have had more time to retreat safely."


    "Instead, we were chased down, and almost got hacked to death!"


    Ning Zhuo was speechless under the barrage of criticism.


    "It was my fault!" Ning Zhuo pulled out pills and bandages from his storage bag. "Big Brother Sun, calm down, your wounds are still bleeding."


    After a while.


    Sun Lingtong sat, while Ning Zhuo hunched over, wrapping him up in white bandages like a mummy.


    "Big Brother Sun, you should hide and recover for a while," Ning Zhuo said apologetically.


    "It was my fault."


    "Actually, if we¡¯d followed our previous n and waited for the city guards to cause chaos, with your skills, you definitely could have escaped on your own."


    "Mying to save you only brought you more trouble."


    Sun Lingtong exhaled a breath of foul air, his anger slightly dissipating. "Your biggest mistake was showing mercy when you should have killed!"


    "If you had to do it all over again, would you still make the same mistake?"


    Ning Zhuo hesitated. "Well¡­"


    Sun Lingtong snorted coldly, no longer speaking.


    In the tunnel, the light from the torches cast their shadows onto the ground.


    Sun Lingtong stared at the shadows, his eyes glinting coldly.


    He suddenly realized, "I¡¯ve protected Little Zhuo too well."


    "Looking back, I was already killing people when I was six or seven years old, led by my master."


    "Actually, it¡¯s my fault¡­"


    "What does Little Zhuo understand?"


    "He''s already nine years old now. If not for today¡¯s incident waking me up, I¡¯d still


    be making mistakes."


    Sun Lingtong asked himself, why had he gone wrong like this?


    He thought of his master.


    When he was six or seven, his master had patted his head, rarely showing hesitation on his face. "Ah, Little Tong, I don¡¯t want you to experience this."


    "But I know you have to go through it."


    "Maybe for a while, you¡¯ll feel pain and difort, but when you grow up, you¡¯ll understand."


    Sun Lingtong collected his thoughts, his gaze fixed on Ning Zhuo¡¯s shadow, murmuring to himself, "Master, I understand now."


    Sun Lingtong devised a n.


    He falsely imed he wanted revenge and acted alongside Ning Zhuo to ambush members of the enemy gang.


    In the process, he pretended to be outmatched and captured, creating the illusion that he was about to be killed.


    Ning Zhuo fell into the trap.


    In his panic, Ning Zhuo killed a powerful enemy.


    After a moment of stunned bewilderment, Ning Zhuo stared at the fallen enemy, pale-faced, then suddenly bent over and vomited.


    Sun Lingtong stayed by his side.


    He watched as Ning Zhuo vomited again and again, until there was nothing left but bile in his stomach.


    Sun Lingtong chuckled. "Little Zhuo, you''re far worse than I was back then. Hahaha."


    Ning Zhuo, exhausted from vomiting, sat on the ground, staring nkly at his bloodstained hands.


    Sun Lingtong finished cleaning up the battlefield and led him to a small riverbank.


    "Come, let me wash your hands."


    Ning Zhuo, like a puppet, obediently let himself be led.


    Halfway through washing, he suddenly snapped out of it. "Big Brother Sun, you were acting, weren¡¯t you? Actually, at thest moment, my movements were full of ws, and that enemy could have easily dodged."


    "But at the time, he moved stiffly, as if controlled by strings."


    Sun Lingtong¡¯s movements paused, then he nodded and admitted frankly, "Yes, I was controlling him."


    "And I should thank you for letting me see the mechanical manual your mother left you."


    "You!" Ning Zhuo was furious.


    Sun Lingtong giggled. "Are you going to scold me or hit me?"


    Ning Zhuo couldn¡¯t find the words. He withdrew his hands angrily and said, "I¡¯ll wash them myself!"


    But, unusually, Sun Lingtong firmly pulled his hands back and continued washing them. "Don¡¯t move!"


    "For the first time, I¡¯ll wash them for you."


    "My master did the same for me."


    Hearing Sun Lingtong mention his master, Ning Zhuo was momentarily stunned and stopped resisting.


    Under the moonlight, the two young boys washed their hands by the small river in the immortal city.


    Oddly enough, the younger one was taking care of the older one.


    Blood flowed downstream, quickly diluted. By the time it reached the stone bridge forty steps away, there was almost no trace of it.


    Sun Lingtong suddenly spoke, "We are cultivators, and cultivators must fight for their lives."


    "We fight against others, we fight against heaven¡­ In this gamble, our lives are the basic wager!"


    "He lost because he gambled and lost his life. His soul will take on a new form of life and return to this world."


    "And we must keep gambling¡­ until the moment we lose our stakes."


    Sun Lingtong looked at Ning Zhuo''s clean, white hands, his expression extremely serious and solemn.


    Ning Zhuo took a deep breath. "Big Brother Sun, I know you mean well, and I¡¯ve taken it all to heart."


    Sun Lingtong shook his head. "Taken it to heart?"


    "That¡¯s not enough!"


    "Every time I went out to steal, I would tell myself beforehand that this time, I might note back, I might lose my life."


    "If that¡¯s the result of my life¡¯s gamble, I ept it."


    "I¡¯m always ready to face my death, even in the next second."


    "That¡¯s my determination!"


    "What¡¯s your determination?"


    Ning Zhuo was deeply shaken, unable to speak.


    Never before had he felt such greatness emanating from Sun Lingtong¡¯s small frame!


    Sun Lingtong continued, "If one day I die, don¡¯t grieve for me, Little Zhuo."


    "If one day I fall into an even more hopeless situation than before, with absolutely no chance of survival, don¡¯t try to save me, Little Zhuo!"


    "There¡¯s no point in risking a second life, do you understand?"


    Ning Zhuo opened his mouth, wanting to speak.


    But in the next moment, Sun Lingtong interrupted him. "If you fall into a desperate situation, I won¡¯t save you either."


    "Because I need to keep my life to continue gambling."


    "Of course, if I have the chance, I will avenge you."


    "Right now, about this matter, I make a pact with you!"


    Sun Lingtong raised his hand.


    Under the pressure of his gaze, Ning Zhuo reluctantly raised his hand as well.


    The silver-white moonlight spilled over the river, casting shimmering waves that danced like countless tiny diamonds on the surface.


    The leaves on both sides of the river rustled slightly in the night breeze.


    p.


    The two young boys standing by the river gently pped their hands together.


    Ning Zhuo lowered his head, pressing his lips tightly together.


    Sun Lingtong, his face bathed in the moon¡¯s clear glow, finally grinned, showing his white teeth.


    His voice was soft, but firm: "Thus, the agreement is reached."

 Chapter 131: The Death of Spirit

    Outside of Mount Huoshi.


    The demonic beast was as massive as a mountain, opening its bloodthirsty maw.


    A powerful force of suction was immediately generated, aiming to swallow the cultivators in front in one gulp.


    At the critical moment, a ruler shone with the radiance of the sun, descending like a meteor.


    Boom!


    The demonic beast died tragically on the spot.


    Zhu Xuanji descended from the sky.


    The rescued cultivators recognized Zhu Xuanji¡¯s identity and hurriedly knelt, expressing endless gratitude.


    Zhu Xuanji nced at them and looked far off at Huoshi Immortal City: "During this time, you''d best stay away from the city. Go."The cultivators saw the stern expression on Zhu Xuanji''s face and didn''t dare to stay, retreating obediently.


    Some of them heeded Zhu Xuanji¡¯s advice, while others had their own important matters and returned to the city.


    Zhu Xuanji saw all of this clearly.


    He did not try to persuade them further, his heart heavy.


    After observing for a day or two, he was now certain that Meng Kui was acting behind the scenes, using his Divine Watching power to form a fate field centered around himself.


    The fate field covered the entire Mount Huoshi, including the Lava Immortal Pce and Huoshi Immortal City.


    Moreover, the fate field was expanding outward, forcing Zhu Xuanji to repeatedly move farther away. The demonic beasts within its range grew restless and agitated, their battle spirits ignited, leading to countless bloody battles over minor matters or idents.


    The more Zhu Xuanji saw, the colder his heart grew.


    "Meng Kui¡­"


    Meng Kui sat in the depths of the mist, coldly watching the storms of the outside world.


    His focus had always been on the Lava Immortal Pce!


    The battle at the top of Mount Huoshi had been raging for several days.


    A variety of Scarlet me Beasts continued to assault the pce, while the pce¡¯s mechanical constructs emerged endlessly, forming a solid defense.


    Suddenly, Meng Kui¡¯s eyes flickered.


    At the edge of the pce¡¯s defenses, a figure appeared, moving at great speed, attempting to enter the pce.


    The nearby beasts noticed and swarmed to attack the mysterious figure.


    In the next moment, the figure released the aura of a Golden Core and unleashed a frigid energy, freezing arge number of beasts to death, sessfully entering the pce.


    The mechanical constructs within the pce showed no intention of attacking the figure.


    "Oh, Ice Heart Sutra¡­ it¡¯s a Golden Core from the Ning family," Meng Kui recognized.


    The Golden Core cultivators from the Zhou and Zheng families were already inside the formation, gambling in their fight, while the Ning family¡¯s Golden Core ancestor took the opportunity to enter the pce.


    Meng Kui let out a coldugh: "The Ning family''s Golden Core possesses mechanical expertise, able to enter the pce. This was never discovered before."


    "ording to the Ning family, they only discovered the Lava Immortal Pce this year."


    "Is that really true?"


    It was possible that the Ning family''s Golden Core ancestor had improved his mechanical skills this year, reaching the standard required to enter the pce.


    It was also possible that he had already secretly entered the pce before, and the Ning family¡¯s ims were just a smokescreen.


    "Could he be that shadow demon cultivator?" Meng Kui quietly watched the Ning family¡¯s ancestor, continuously ying with two walnuts in his hand.


    The walnuts rubbed against each other, rotating in his palm.


    asionally, aplex rune would sh across their surfaces.


    New information reached Ning Zhuo''s hands.


    "Someone outside Mount Huoshi was being chased by a demonic beast and was saved by Zhu Xuanji?"


    "Zhu Xuanji is outside the city?"


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s expression became solemn.


    This information greatly impacted his previous assumptions.


    He had originally thought that the person who trapped Sun Lingtong was Zhu Xuanji. After all, Zhu Xuanji had publicly interrogated Sun Lingtong before, only to be temporarily dismissed by thetter¡¯s tantrum.


    "In truth, this isn''t Zhu Xuanji¡¯s style."


    "If it really wasn¡¯t him, then who could have caused such a big problem for Big Brother Sun?"


    Ning Zhuo had lived here for sixteen years, and he was well-acquainted with the major figures and forces within Huoshi Immortal City.


    Sun Lingtong, at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, had been in charge of the ck market for many years. There were very few people or forces capable of dealing with him in this way.


    "Han Ming?"


    As his thoughts opened up, Ning Zhuo thought of the female demon cultivator he had captured.


    There was indeed a possibility!


    Since Ning Zhuo had revealed some of his strength in public, his actions were no longer as free as before.


    After the three-family test, he hadn¡¯t seen Han Ming again.


    Even when he helped Yuan Dasheng replenish his spirit, he had controlled the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape remotely.


    "At that time, I did hear Han Ming calling from the dungeon¡­"


    Ning Zhuo found himself simrly unable to act freely now.


    "Should I send Yuan Dasheng to check?"


    Ning Zhuo immediately dismissed the thought.


    News about Bao Chou''s situation had already spread widely. This group was about to make a move!


    At this critical moment, if Ning Zhuo were to send Yuan Dasheng away and miss the chance to protect Yuan Er, what then?


    "It seems like there are two choices, but in fact, there¡¯s only one."


    Ning Zhuo calmly analyzed: "If Han Ming was really rescued, causing Big Brother Sun to fall into a difficult situation, then they likely set something up in the dungeon."


    "If I send Yuan Dasheng over, it will surely alert them!"


    "This matter isn¡¯t urgent for now."


    Ning Zhuo decided to remain patient, closely monitoring Yuan Dasheng.


    Bao Chou and his group''s assassination attempt came even earlier than Ning Zhuo expected.


    As night fell, the moon hung sparse in the sky.


    Through the covertly lurking Yuan Dasheng, Ning Zhuo quickly discovered Bao Chou and his group moving through the Monkey Head Gang¡¯s base.


    Yuan Er had huddled at the center of the gang''s headquarters.


    However, the defensive line and guards around him had been constantly drawn away by elders who had turned disloyal, creating numerousrge gaps.


    Guided by the traitors, Bao Chou and the others silently reached the outside of Yuan Er''s residence without alerting any guards.


    It wasn¡¯t until someone climbed through a window, triggering a talisman, that the assassination spell activated, causing Yuan Er to react.


    "Help, help! Assassins, there are assassins!" Yuan Er shouted as he frantically activated the formation inside his house.


    The formationsted only a few breaths before being destroyed by Bao Chou''s group.


    Clearly, the traitors'' influence had reached the most critical areas.


    "Father, Mother, your son is avenging you today!!" Bao Chou, realizing they had been discovered, roared to the sky and charged in, leading the assault.


    The group behind him also rushed in without hesitation.


    Yuan Er still had several close guards and servants around him, forming a defensive line to resist the assassins.


    Bao Chou¡¯s group had prepared thoroughly, breaking through the defense after only a brief dy and advancing toward Yuan Er.


    While fighting back, Yuan Er attempted to escape.


    "Useless." Ning Zhuo coldly observed.


    Yuan Er had already lost hisposure, panicking. His retreatpletely disrupted the defensive setup, further demoralizing his guards and lowering their morale.


    Yuan Dasheng had long been itching to act.


    Ning Zhuo quietly called out in his heart: "Go."


    The Tree Martial Ape, Dasheng, roared and leaped out, blocking Bao Chou''s path.


    Yuan Er was overjoyed: "Uncle Monkey!"


    Yuan Dasheng possessed exceptionalbat strength, and after only a few rounds, Bao Chou was forced to retreat step by step.


    Several of the vengeful cultivators tried to bypass Yuan Dasheng, but they were swiftly cut down by him in an overwhelming disy of power.


    By the time the Monkey Head Gang members arrived, Yuan Dasheng had already finished the fight.


    Most of the cultivators were dead, and although Bao Chou survived, he was gravely injured.


    Yuan Er, standing tall and proud, approached Bao Chou.


    Bao Chou, held down by the gang members, could only kneel.


    "Your father couldn¡¯t beat mine, so he was killed."


    "Now, you can¡¯t beat me, so it¡¯s only natural for you to die too."


    "Heh, who gave you the courage to think you could kill me?"


    Yuan Er''s confidence surged once again.


    This confidence came from the Tree Martial Ape, Dasheng, standing behind him!


    Most of the onlookers also nced asionally at Yuan Dasheng.


    During the assassination attempt, Yuan Dasheng had shown tremendous strength and ferocity. Bao Chou''s heavily armed group had been utterly defeated by him.


    Bao Chou raised his head, his face covered in blood and hatred.


    "Ptui!" He spat, but the guard blocked it.


    Yuan Er was cautious, standing behind the guards, separated by


    at least four people, as he taunted Bao Chou with excitement.


    Ning Zhuo was also pleased.


    In this battle, he felt that the connection between him and Yuan Dasheng had be at least half clear.


    "One more assassination attempt, and the hidden danger should bepletely resolved."


    However, Bao Chou suddenly froze, his expression bing strange.


    In the next moment, he roared furiously: "If not now, then when?!"


    Everyone else felt puzzled.


    Suddenly, the guard closest to Yuan Er drew his de and turned, the de shing like snow, as fast as lightning!


    Yuan Er''s head flew into the air on the spot.


    This scene stunned almost everyone.


    Yuan Er''s head fell to the ground, and in his final moments, he looked toward the Tree Martial Ape, Dasheng.


    Yuan Er wondered why Uncle Monkey didn¡¯t save him.


    He had forgotten: his Uncle Monkey was no longer a living being of flesh and blood but a mechanical construct, one without a soul.


    This wasn¡¯t like before, when during a life-and-death crisis, Yuan Dasheng would react immediately, making a grand entrance to fight.


    The guard¡¯s strike just now had been too fast.


    Yuan Dasheng¡¯s spirit needed to be stimted, but it hadn¡¯t responded in time.


    Ning Zhuo realized: "There¡¯s still a chance!"


    This was a world of cultivation; even if one¡¯s head was severed, it didn¡¯t mean death was inevitable.


    However, just as Ning Zhuo was about to fully control Yuan Dasheng to retrieve Yuan Er¡¯s head and attempt to save his life, Yuan Dasheng roared to the sky, losing control once more!


    It bellowed like a lion or tiger, charging furiously at the assassin.


    The guard raised his de to block, but Yuan Dasheng''s fist smashed down, killing him on the spot!


    The surrounding gang members scattered in terror.


    Bao Chou, who had regained his freedom, tried to flee, but the next moment, Yuan Dasheng grabbed his head.


    "Don¡¯t, don¡¯t kill me!"


    Bang.


    A soft explosion rang out.


    Yuan Dasheng crushed his head instantly.


    But that wasn¡¯t enough!


    Yuan Dasheng then began repeatedly beating the corpses of all the assassins.


    Only after smashing them into bloody pulp did it finally stop.


    "Not good!" Ning Zhuo sensed that something was terribly wrong.


    The green light in the mechanical eyes quickly faded, and Yuan Dasheng stood motionless amidst the blood and bones, head bowed and shoulders slumped.


    No matter how Ning Zhuo tried to sense it, he could no longer feel its spirit.


    A dead silence.


    To be more precise, it was as if the spirit had never existed.

 Chapter 132: Following the Right Person

    A difficult beast fight had ended.


    The young Yuan Yi and the young Yuan Dasheng walked through an empty alley.


    Yuan Dasheng''s body was covered in wounds, and every step he took tugged at his injuries, causing him to grimace in pain.


    Yuan Yi patted his pocket, where there were only three and a half spirit stones left.


    He gritted his teeth and finally said, "Dasheng, stay here for now. I''ll go check the pharmacy over there. At the very least, I can get you some ointment!"


    Yuan Yi left, and Yuan Dasheng stumbled, leaning against the cold wall and slowly sitting down on the ground.


    He panted heavily, and the motion of sitting down also pulled at his wounds, causing his heart to race from the pain.


    The alley was empty, and the light was dim, as if only he was left in the world.


    Suddenly, the sound of a gong rang out.Yuan Dasheng instinctively raised his eyes to look; the sound hade from the other side of the wall.


    Then, the sound of drums followed, and a host called out, "Next, we invite Lord Li Leifeng to perform a puppet show for the old family head. The name of the y is ¡®Qin Lie Goes to Battle''!"


    In the next moment, a mechanical tform slowly rose, and puppets of various shapes and designs appeared, beginning the performance.


    Yuan Dasheng looked up through the gaps between the trees, watching as the puppets moved like real people, speaking and interacting, attacking and fleeing. It was quite a spectacle.


    Li Leifeng''s puppetry skills were masterful, perfectly synchronized with the gongs, drums, zithers, and bells. Yuan Dasheng gradually forgot the pain in his body,pletely captivated by the show.


    The y progressed, reaching its climax.


    A treacherous plot wasid out, falsely using General Qin Lie of abusing military power and harboring treacherous intentions. The young lord issued three imperial decrees in a row, disregarding the fact that General Qin Lie was gravely injured, and insisted he lead the charge.


    General Qin Lie, with three battle gs stuck into his back, struggled to his feet, raised his long spear, and, heavy as a mountain, marched step by step toward the battlefield ahead.


    He sang:


    "From childhood, I was raised by thete lord, his kindness like a mountain, etched deep in my heart. He taught me loyalty and righteousness to protect thend, granting me wisdom and courage to stand tall in the world."


    "Thete lord''s kindness, like a father, like a brother, helped me grow. He taught me loyalty, he taught me righteousness, and granted me wisdom and courage¡­"


    The sound of the gong was deep and powerful, as if proiming the weight and tragedy of this battle.


    He sang again:


    "The young lord is still tender, and I support him as if he were my own, giving all my strength. Though I face suspicion, I bear no grudge. I only wish for the kingdom to remain strong."


    "The young lord is young, and I supported you to ascend the throne, like protecting a sapling, hoping you''d grow into a forest. Though I am wronged, I bear no resentment, only wishing for the country''s fortune to be restored¡­"


    The jinghu yed high and clear, sometimes mournful, tugging at the heartstrings, and other times resounding, expressing Qin Lie''s deep longing.


    Qin Lie charged into the battlefield, like a fierce lion, ughtering enemies and sending heads rolling, striking fear into the enemy troops.


    He sang again:


    "Though my body is old, my spirit remains undimmed. I shed my blood on the battlefield to repay the country''s kindness. Thete lord''s spirit in heaven smiles, and I have no regrets as I go to war."


    The drumbeat intensified, thick and stirring, like the sound of galloping warhorses, grand and majestic. Yuan Dasheng felt his blood boil!


    Qin Lie fought for a long time without retreating, but his injuries worsened, and his strength was depleted. In the end, he was surrounded on the battlefield, unable to break through the thick enemy lines despite repeated charges.


    Knowing his fate was sealed, Qin Lie raised his head and sang loudly:


    "Thete lord''s kindness will forever be remembered, my heart tied to the young lord''s revival. I shed my blood on the battlefield, not in vain, and my soul will return to my homnd tofort thete lord."


    "What fear do I have of the enemy? Thousands of troops and horses are nothing to fear!"


    "My death is not for fame or fortune, but for pure loyalty and devotion."


    "Looking back on thete lord''s heavy kindness, how could I retreat in the face of the nation''s peril?"


    "Younger lord, I hope you understand. A loyal minister has no regrets, even if his life is forfeit. After I die, I hope you know, I gave my life to protect the kingdom with loyalty and courage."


    The rhythm of the gongs and drums shifted repeatedly, reflecting both the intense battle and the tragic farewell.


    Finally.


    Qin Lie and the enemy general nearly perished together.


    In his final moments, he faced the capital, half-kneeling on the ground, bowing his hands in salute: "My lord, your servant is leaving!"


    A loud drum sounded, shaking the entire stage.


    Suddenly, the suona horn red, its sound high-pitched and filled with sorrow, piercing through time and space, directly striking Yuan Dasheng''s heart.


    The suona yed for a while, and then the flute joined in. The flute''s sound was crisp and pleasant, sometimes lingering and mncholic, and sometimes soaring and passionate.


    Finally, the sound rose higher and higher, like a bluebird flying into the sky, its distant figure gradually disappearing into the vast blue.


    Yuan Dasheng looked up, speechless for a long time.


    This was his first time watching a puppet show, and he could already understand human speech. His heart and mind were deeply moved.


    "Dasheng, Dasheng!" Yuan Yi ran back, holding several pieces of ointment.


    He smiled and said, "Lucky day! The pharmacy was clearing stock, and I got a good deal. I managed to get a few extra sters."


    "Come, let me apply it for you."


    Yuan Dasheng let Yuan Yi treat his wounds. He nced at Yuan Yi, then looked at the puppets on the tform. Thentern light was like fire, casting its glow on his face. On the other side of the wall, the sounds of the crowd celebrating and apuding continued to echo in his ears.


    "Let''s go, what are you still sitting there for?" Yuan Yi got up and started walking.


    Yuan Dasheng reached out and pointed to the tform across from them.


    Yuan Yi turned back, unconcerned, "Oh, it''s just a puppet show."


    Yuan Yi nced again, "It''s the y ¡®Qin Lie Goes to Battle,'' a famous show."


    "Too bad he followed the wrong person."


    Yuan Yi walked ahead, while Yuan Dasheng followed behind.


    Just as they were about to leave the alley, Yuan Dasheng turned back for onest look at the mechanical stage.


    The stage was slowly lowering, and the puppet portraying General Qin Lie was still half-kneeling.


    Yuan Dasheng looked at Yuan Yi''s back and suddenly let out a few grunts.


    Yuan Yi, puzzled, turned to look at Yuan Dasheng, not understanding what he wanted to say, and just waved his hand, "Come on, let''s go home, fill our bellies, and get some sleep!"


    ¡­


    Relying on each other, beast fighting, Monkey Head Gang.


    ¡­


    "Look, Dasheng, this is my child. He is my child!" Yuan Yi was overjoyed, "I have a child now. I have descendants in this world."


    "I named him Yuan Er. Dasheng, my life is not as long as yours."


    "If one day I am no longer here, let Yuan Er take my ce, and continue to stay with you."


    ¡­


    Yuan Er was hungry and began to cry.


    Yuan Dasheng squeezed the juice from a peach the size of a basin and poured it for him, drenching Yuan Er like a soaked rat.


    Yuan Er fell ill.


    Yuan Dasheng sped through the Immortal City at night like the wind, rushing into the medical hall. He grabbed the apothecary by the throat, dragging him along as he flew and leapt, the apothecary''s screams breaking the quiet of the moonlit night.


    Yuan Er began to climb.


    He grabbed onto Yuan Dasheng''s thick monkey fur, challenging heights. Every time he fell, Yuan Dasheng would catch him in his palm with perfect uracy.


    Yuan Er could walk and jump.


    "Uncle Monkey, they bullied me!" Yuan Er brought Yuan Dasheng to settle the score, scaring the other children so badly they wet themselves and burst into tears.


    ¡­


    Yuan Er grew bold andpetitive, curious about one thing: "Uncle Monkey, between you and my father, who''s stronger? Have you two fought? I asked my father, but he never answers."


    Yuan Er ran up to Yuan Dasheng, his face full of admiration and excitement, "Uncle Monkey, you''re amazing, so fierce! When will I be like you?"


    ¡­


    "Father, I heard you''re looking for a demon


    cultivation technique for Uncle Monkey? Please don''t do this!" Yuan Er burst into the study, shouting.


    Yuan Yi''s face turned dark, and he shouted angrily, "Shut up! Who''s been filling your ears with nonsense?"


    "Father, Uncle Monkey''s strength is already uncontroble. His monkeys, they''re not just spirit pets, they''re the real masters. Those cultivators are merely ves feeding them."


    "Now that things are like this, if Uncle Monkey''s power continues to rise, things will get even worse."


    "When that timees, who will the Monkey Head Gang belong to?" Yuan Er tried his best to persuade.


    Several houses away, Yuan Dasheng, who was imbued with demonic power, heard every word clearly.


    His brows drooped, and he no longery down but prostrated on the ground, staring at the floor, whimpering softly.


    ¡­


    The monkeys were ughtered, and Yuan Dasheng extended his finger, lightly tapping Yuan Er''s heart.


    Yuan Er was nearly assassinated, but Yuan Dasheng injured his own soul to guard him.


    During the explosion at the Huoshi Festival, Yuan Dasheng shielded Yuan Er in his arms.


    On his deathbed, Yuan Dasheng extended his finger once again. In a daze, he seemed to hear the tune of "Qin Lie Goes to Battle."


    ¡­


    Yuan Er died.


    The Monkey Head Gang fell into temporary chaos, but an elder quickly took over, stabilizing the situation.


    Yuan Dasheng also died!


    This was Ning Zhuo''s greatest realization.


    He had reimed the Battle Ape Mechanism, Dasheng, and repaired the entire apparatus, but he could no longer find any trace of spirit, as if it had never existed.


    "The secret mark left by Old Sun hasn''t changed."


    Ning Zhuo clenched his fists. Whenever he wanted to personally intervene and investigate Sun Lingtong''s situation, the Buddha Heart Demon Seal in his spiritual sea would start to tremble, emitting dazzling Buddhist light.


    The Buddha only saves himself!


    The treasure seal was a warning!


    It advised Ning Zhuo that if he got involved, it would be walking right into someone else''s trap.


    ¡­


    Qi Bai''s face was ashen.


    He stared at Sun Lingtong in disbelief that someone could withstand his soul torture!


    Sun Lingtong''s hands and feet were nailed with coffin nails, his entire body pinned to a pir.


    His brow furrowed, and his eyes rolled back, trembling asionally from the pain caused by some spell.


    Despite the torture, Qi Bai had gained nothing.


    To maintain the Judge Cha technique, the soul power and mana he was using increased with every passing moment.


    Normally, he would have stopped torturing Sun Lingtong by now. After all, torturing Sun Lingtong to extract the whereabouts of the young puppet master was merely to make it easier to recruit Han Ming.


    It was apletely losing deal.


    But in the Tiger Fight Luck Field, Qi Bai''spetitive spirit red, and his desire to win became particrly fierce.


    "Perhaps his copse is just around the corner!" Qi Bai snarled with twisted anticipation, "Very good, I like a tough bone like you."


    "Next, you''ll endure ten times the pain from before!"


    "Hehehe."


    "Death will be a blessing for you. Too bad you angered me."


    Qi Bai unleashed his spell, striking Sun Lingtong directly.


    Sun Lingtong felt as if a mountain was crushing him, the pain so intense that he imagined his body and soul being ground to pieces by the weight.


    The boundless pain seeped into every inch of his skin, but he couldn''t pass out.


    He felt like a small boat in a raging storm, plunging into an endless whirlpool at the bottom of the sea.


    His memories appeared like a beam of light, faint but stubborn, shining through the darkness.


    They were all about Ning Zhuo.


    "Others can control the ck market, so why can''t we?"


    "Interesting, let''s join forces as brothers and take control of the ck market!"


    "Xiao Zhuo, don''t reveal your true face, use the Cang Tie Han Armor to disguise yourself. Anyway, people already know me, so it doesn''t matter."


    Ning Zhuo smiled and changed his form of address: "From now on, I''ll just call you Boss Sun!"


    "Boss, the goods are wrong."


    "Boss Sun, I''m right behind you."


    "Boss, charge!"


    "Boss Sun, don''t worry, I''ll follow you forever."


    The pain was like an ocean, like an abyss, engulfing Sun Lingtong.


    He opened his eyes, and his once bright eyes were filled with blood.


    Sun Lingtong gave a tragic smile, knowing that the effect of the Void Seal was limited, and he couldn''t hold on much longer.


    He fiercely unleashed his final method!


    Qi Bai keenly sensed something was wrong and was shocked: "What? You''re actually destroying your own soul!"


    Sun Lingtong activated the Void Seal and attacked his own soul to resist Qi Bai''s soul-searching.


    Qi Bai''s eyes widened in disbelief: "What is that young puppet master to you? You''re willing to let your soul scatter just to protect him?!"


    "Are you really a disciple of the No-Void Sect? Are you even a demon cultivator?!"


    "Could it be that he''s your fellow disciple? Is he the Holy Son of the No-Void Sect?"


    "Hehehe." Sun Lingtong forced out a finalugh with great difficulty, "He''s not my fellow disciple, he''s my brother."


    "Brother?" Qi Bai was even more confused, "Aren''t brothers meant to be betrayed? You''re willing to give up your life for a bit of information? What is it you want?"


    Sun Lingtong lowered his eyes; he was too weak. His voice was very faint: "I¡­ I just want to prove¡­ he didn''t¡­ follow the wrong person."


    Qi Bai leaned in to listen, only to hear those words.


    "Iprehensible!" Qi Bai was furious to the extreme.


    Never in his life had he been so enraged!


    He felt deeply vited.


    He hadpletely lost his patience.


    At this moment, he forgot about recruiting Han Ming and the young puppet master.


    With his fingers shaped like a sword, he viciously stabbed toward Sun Lingtong''s forehead.


    This strike would surely pierce Sun Lingtong''s skull and kill him for good!


    Boom!!!


    An explosion suddenly erupted.


    Qi Bai sneered,pletely disregarding it, determined to kill Sun Lingtong.


    But in the next moment, the formation''s runes appeared, firmly protecting Sun Lingtong and blocking the fatal blow.


    The violent explosion swept over, apanied by surging mes.


    The explosion sted Qi Bai away, engulfing him.


    In contrast, Sun Lingtong, under the protection of the formation''s runes, was moved outside the house.


    The next moment, hended beside an old man.


    This old man was withered with age, his face deeply lined, with dark purple bags under his eyes. His wrinkles were so deep they could trap insects.


    His hair was ck and messy, spreading from the top of his head down to his shoulders and trailing to the ground, like a wide ck cloak.


    He leaned on a cane, his back hunched severely, his whole body curled like a lobster.


    He called himself the young puppet master.


    He was Sun Lingtong''s¡­ brother!

 Chapter 133: Stealing Formation, Absorbing Power

    A great fire zed before Sun Lingtong, with thick smoke billowing into the sky.


    The sound of killing and shouting also erupted.


    Triangr Eyes and Hooked Nose were under siege.


    These were the many subordinates of Sun Lingtong that Ning Zhuo had contacted beforeunching his attack.


    "Lord Qi Bai!"


    "He''s a dignified Golden Core; how could such an explosion kill him? We should worry more about ourselves."


    "Where did Han Ming go?"


    "Not long ago, the arrangements we made in the underground prison were triggered, and she went to investigate secretly."


    "Damn it! The timing couldn''t be more coincidental. The enemy used our setup to divide our forces!"Triangr Eyes and Hooked Nosemunicated telepathically, seeing through Ning Zhuo''s method, but it was already toote.


    They were heavily surrounded, trapped in a bitter battle.


    "Interesting, very interesting."


    From the zing mes, Qi Bai calmly walked out.


    The violent explosion just now hadn''t harmed him in the slightest.


    A faint golden light always shrouded him, protecting himpletely.


    Qi Bai''s face was gloomy, his gaze locking tightly onto the young puppet master.


    "You actually came to save him?"


    "You''re so old; you should understand the gap between the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment stage."


    "Heh, just a mere Foundation Establishment peak. Are you here to save him, or to send yourself to death?"


    As he spoke, Qi Bai''s gaze fell on the unconscious Sun Lingtong, and his eyes showed aplicated emotion.


    "However, I can somewhat understand you."


    Qi Bai revealed a cruel smile, like a venomous snake spitting out its tongue in the shadows.


    "This makes me even more eager to destroy your beautiful moment."


    "I''ll dismember you right in front of him, hahaha!"


    Qi Baiughed wildly, hisughter utterly rampant.


    Amid hisughter, the surrounding scarlet mes suddenly shifted, turning into a ghastly green cold me.


    Ghost fire!


    He pointed with a finger.


    The ghost fire condensed into a pack of wolves, charging toward the young puppet master.


    Several strands of the puppet master''s ck rope-like hair extended, binding Sun Lingtong and swiftly retreating with him.


    While retreating, Mechanical Thunder Silent Birds continuously flew out from beneath the puppet master''s cloak.


    The Thunder Silent Birds struck the ghost fire wolf pack, asionally erupting with thunderbolts, shattering the ghostly wolves.


    Qi Bai''s figure soared, shooting toward the puppet master.


    But in the next moment, the Immortal City''s grand formation surged, countless formation patterns gathering in mid-air like a cage, blocking Qi Bai''s attack path.


    "The Golden Core of the Soul-Devouring Sect, you should deal with the formation first beforeing after me."


    The young puppet master sneered, carrying Sun Lingtong into the shadows of the alleyways.


    "Interesting!"


    Qi Bai looked at the formation patterns around him, which blocked and seemed to be tightening, yet his demeanor remained leisurely, calm, andposed without a hint of tension.


    The puppet master leaped several times with Sun Lingtong, crossing two or three streets, then diving into the sewers.


    The teleportation array activated, and they immediately entered an underground base.


    Of course, this was not the base where Han Ming had been imprisoned earlier.


    After some emergency treatment, Sun Lingtong still hadn''t awakened.


    Not only that, but his life force was gradually fading.


    His injuries were too severe!


    A pill was fed into Sun Lingtong''s mouth and quickly digested with the help of mana.


    It was the Late Autumn Life Preservation Pill!


    This pill had originally been given to Yuan Er by Zhu Xuanji to save Yuan Dasheng''s life.


    In the end, after various twists and turns, it ended up in Ning Zhuo''s hands.


    Indeed, a royal family''s offering, its efficacy was excellent.


    With the use of the Late Autumn Life Preservation Pill, Sun Lingtong''s life fire finally stabilized.


    But before Ning Zhuo could rx, an overwhelming pressure bore down.


    Soon after, the ground trembled, and a figure pierced through nearly ten zhang of earth, killing its way into the underground base.


    Blind Judge Qi Bai''s spiritual sense quickly enveloped the area.


    "Where do you think you can escape to?"


    "I''ve nted my exclusive mark on Sun Lingtong¡­"


    "Hehehe, young puppet master, unless you abandon him, you have no chance of surviving. Otherwise, you''re doomed!"


    The puppet master''s voice was hoarse, filled with anger and hatred.


    "You''re really full of crap!"


    In the next instant, the formation patterns surged again, trapping Qi Bai.


    "This trick again?"


    Qi Bai snorted coldly, his expression disdainful.


    But in the next moment, the formation patterns red brightly, pressing Qi Bai so hard that blood began to flow from his nose, ears, and eyes.


    The puppet master sneered.


    "The base above ground was deliberately restrained to avoid implicating Big Brother Sun."


    "But down here, deep underground, even if we¡¯re discovered, they can''t trace it back to Big Brother Sun, so we can go all out."


    "Enjoy yourself, Qi Bai!"


    The formation patterns shone brightly, madly eroding Qi Bai''s defenses.


    "Damn it!"


    Qi Bai clenched his lips, sweeping away his previous arrogance, and fully resisted the Immortal City''s grand formation.


    The timeline rewinds several years.


    In the underground base.


    "Xiao Zhuo, your mother was quite skilled as a mechanical cultivator," Sun Lingtong remarked, ncing around the underground base in admiration.


    While practicing mechanical techniques, Ning Zhuo had identally discovered a map hidden in the underground workspace.


    Following the map, they passed through a section of the sewers and eventually arrived at the underground base.


    "Your mother was very thoughtful."


    "She hid this mechanical map on purpose, only revealing it once your mechanical skills reached a certain level."


    "This ce isn''t very safe!" Sun Lingtongmented.


    "I understand."


    Ning Zhuo nodded.


    "Inside and outside Mount Huoshi, there is the Immortal City''s grand formation. It''s extremely difficult to open up a secret space underground within the city."


    "If you touch any of the formation''s patterns, you''ll be discovered."


    "I''m actually quite surprised this underground base has remained hidden for so many years without being found."


    Sun Lingtong chuckled.


    "I get it now."


    Ning Zhuo asked, "What?"


    Sun Lingtong said, "Normally, the Immortal City''s formation needs to be restructured and re-nned periodically.


    Although it costs a lot, it ensures the formation''s reliability, preventing enemies with ulterior motives from probing it over time and disabling it at a critical moment."


    "The situation with Huoshi Immortal City might be special, maybe rted to the Lava Immortal Pce, causing the Immortal Formation to remain unchanged."


    "Or perhaps one of the previous City Lords was corrupt and never truly restructured the formation."


    "Then again, Huoshi Immortal City is located in the heart of the Southern Dou Immortal Country. Even if a war breaks out, it wouldn''t reach here for some time."


    "Perhaps the City Lords thought they''d have enough time to adjust the formation when the mes of war finally reached them."


    Suddenly, Ning Zhuo''s eyes lit up.


    "In that case, we can set up more underground bases like this."


    "We''ve just established our gang, and we need funds to maintain it. We have to do business!"


    "We can use underground bases as transit points for smuggling operations. This ce can also serve as our warehouse."


    Sun Lingtong pped his hands in admiration.


    "Brilliant! That way, we can raid other forces'' warehouses, but they won¡¯t be able to find ours!"


    "But once this ce is discovered, it won''t hold for long. Its defenses are too weak."


    The underground base couldn''t have defensive formations.


    Any formation''s operation would interfere with the Immortal City''s grand formation, leading the City Lord''s mansion to investigate and eventually trace it back to this location.


    Sun Lingtong stroked his chin.


    "I''ll set up some talismans from the No-Void Sectter to minimize this ce''s presence."


    "When I reach the peak of Foundation Establishment, I''ll be able to barely use the magical treasure my master gave me to set up some formation patterns here."


    "These patterns can connect faintly with the Immortal City''s grand formation. Even if it¡¯s discovered, the grand formation will mistake it as part of itself."


    Ning Zhuo''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "That powerful?"


    Sun Lingtong smiled proudly.


    "Our No-Void Sect has deep research in formations. Because in this world, the most valuable treasures are almost always protected byyers of formations."


    "My method is called stealing formation and absorbing power."


    "When we have our own gang¡¯s headquarters, I¡¯ll use this method to steal a lot of spiritual power from the Immortal City''s grand formation while paying very little."


    ¡­


    During the operation to control the ck market and eliminate opposition.


    The two led their subordinates to surround the enemy gang''s base.


    "Xiao Zhuo, are you confident?"


    Sun Lingtong sent a voice transmission.


    "Big Brother Sun, just watch."


    Ning Zhuo was full of confidence.


    He waved his hand, and mechanical vehicles charged forward, each loaded with explosives.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The enemy gang raised their defensive formation, and the explosions didn''t harm a single person.


    The enemy gang membersughed mockingly.


    Ning Zhuo, however, stood by with arms crossed, calmly counting down aloud.


    "Three, two, one!"


    At the count of one, the enemy''s defensive formation suddenly copsed.


    The gang''s top members were all struck by bacsh, either severely injured or dead.


    Sun Lingtong cheered loudly and curiously sent a voice transmission.


    "Xiao Zhuo, how did you do it?"


    Ning Zhuo replied, "It was simple. Big Brother Sun, didn¡¯t you teach me the technique of stealing formation and absorbing power?"


    Sun Lingtong was even more curious.


    "But I¡¯m restricted by the sect''s rules, I never taught you the rted spells or talismans."


    Ning Zhuo shrugged.


    "That¡¯s simple. You taught me the principle, and I used other methods to achieve the same result."


    "After some practice, it works, right?"


    Ning Zhuo looked at Sun Lingtong, seeking approval.


    Sun Lingtong kept a calm expression and nodded slightly.


    "Mm, not bad."


    ¡­


    Finally, they became the rulers of the ck market.


    Sun Lingtong looked pale.


    "Xiao Zhuo, was it really necessary to secretly bury so many explosives around my residence?"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head.


    "Boss, it was very necessary. We must be cautious, humble, and prepared for every possible worst-case scenario."


    "For instance, if a cultivator far stronger than both of uses looking for trouble."


    "Let''s not worry about Nascent Soul-level cultivators or higher; the gap is too big."


    "But as for Golden Core cultivators, we can make an effort."


    "That Fei Si is treacherous and sinister, not a good person at all. Maybe one day, he''ll personallye to wipe out our ck market forces."


    "We have to be fully prepared!"


    Sun Lingtong could only nod helplessly.


    "If a Golden Corees, can''t we just run?"


    "Oh well."


    "Better to be over-prepared than under-prepared."

 Chapter 134: Ning and Sun vs Qi Bai

    Qi Bai cast a spell, causing ghostly spirits to dance in the air and a chilling wind to surge violently.


    The formation patterns were pierced by countless ghosts and quickly dissolved.


    Qi Bai no longer restrained himself, his long hair billowing, and his robe flying as his Golden Core aura spread in all directions.


    "If this were the core of the Immortal City''s grand formation, perhaps I wouldn''t be able to overturn the situation."


    "But here, it''s just the fringes of the formation, and all you''ve done is activate a subsidiary array to bring forth part of the city''s protective power."


    "How can that stop me!"


    Qi Bai waved his sleeve, releasing a fierce ghostly wind that shrieked so loudly it could pierce one''s eardrums, rushing towards the young puppet master and Sun Lingtong.


    Ning Zhuo, controlling the Cang Tie Han Armor, stood fearlessly with the still unconscious Sun Lingtong.


    "Qi Bai, if you want to kill us, you''re still far from it.""If you have the guts,e after us!"


    The next moment, Ning Zhuo pped the wall, activating a hidden teleportation array.


    He and Sun Lingtong were instantly transported, disappearing without a trace.


    Qi Bai roared in frustration, retracting his hand, but the ghostly wind still destroyed most of the teleportation array.


    He flew to the teleportation array, identifying its formation and materials, then cast a spell.


    "Setting up a teleportation array within the gaps of the Immortal City''s formation leaves little room for actual teleportation."


    "Found it!"


    "Heh, do you think a few teleportation arrays can shake me off?"


    "Today, I will definitely kill you both!"


    Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong arrived at another underground base.


    The spell¡ªSoul Travel for a Thousand Miles.


    Qi Bai caught up in just a dozen breaths.


    Such speed gave Ning Zhuo an intense sense of pressure.


    Golden Core cultivators often overwhelmed Foundation Establishment cultivators in terms ofbat power. Qi Bai was no ordinary Golden Core, though. He hailed from the Soul-Devouring Sect, possessing exceptional talent, and was a true disciple of the sect.


    This meant he was an elite among Golden Cores!


    Ning Zhuo continued to activate the Immortal City''s grand formation, temporarily blocking and resisting Qi Bai.


    Qi Bai cast a spell, eroding the formation patterns, and sneered, "Very good, young puppet master. I want to see how many holes you''ve dug and how many nests you''ve made in Huoshi Immortal City!"


    "Let me tell you the truth¡ªI''ve nted a mark on Sun Lingtong. As long as you''re with him, I can always find you."


    "Heh heh, in fact, if you stay in contact with Sun Lingtong for long enough, the mark''s power will also spread to you."


    "If you abandon him now, maybe I won''t be able to track you."


    "But once the mark is nted, I''ll be able to sense you at all times. I will hunt you down relentlessly until you are tortured and torn apart!"


    Qi Bai''s face was full of killing intent. He didn''t even know why he was so furious.


    He anticipated that Ning Zhuo would abandon Sun Lingtong to save himself.


    But Ning Zhuo never did.


    He gritted his teeth silently and teleported again with Sun Lingtong.


    "Ah!" Qi Bai howled in rage, feeling like he was losing his mind because of Ning Zhuo.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    One underground base after another was overturned by Qi Bai.


    Themotion was so great that it had already been detected by the City Lord''s mansion and reported to Fei Si.


    Fei Si quickly sent a flying message to inform Meng Kui.


    Meng Kui sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, hidden within thick clouds of mist. Hearing the report, he smiled, and the walnuts spinning in his palm moved even more smoothly.


    "A newly-advanced Golden Core cultivator?"


    "The aura of ghosts, seems like it''s a technique from the Soul-Devouring Sect."


    "Could he be one of the shadow demon cultivators?"


    "Oh, and many underground bases have been exposed, all using the gaps in the Immortal City''s formation?"


    Meng Kui felt curious, wondering what kind of sinister forces were still hiding in the vast Huoshi Immortal City.


    He was in a good mood, sitting on the mountain peak, watching the unfolding chaos with a smile as others fought fiercely, while he remained calm and at peace.


    Of course, Meng Kui''s main attention had always been fixed on the Lava Immortal Pce.


    The battle within the Lava Immortal Pce was raging.


    Countless Red me beasts had fallen under the formation, magical treasures, and various mechanical creations.


    But the beasts were endless, and they had already breached the first and second defensive lines, with even the third line barely holding on.


    This made the Ning Family''s Golden Core Ancestor frown, "The assault of these Red me beasts is truly terrifying. No wonder the Lava Immortal Pce has gradually floated up and can no longer suppress Mount Huoshi."


    He blended into the third defensive line, killing Red me beasts while keeping an eye out, searching for the secrets within the Lava Immortal Pce.


    "If the Lava Immortal Pce is breached, even if one building is overtaken by the beasts, my opportunity wille!" The Ning Family Ancestor was in no hurry, patiently waiting for the right moment.


    Meanwhile, dozens of miles outside Mount Huoshi, Zhu Xuanji''s eyes gleamed with golden light as he used a spell to gaze towards the mountain''s peak.


    His vision pierced through theyers of clouds and smoke, seeing the battlefield within the Lava Immortal Pce clearly.


    "The Lava Immortal Pce is much weaker than I expected."


    "What happened to the pce spirit, Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit? Many parts of the defense could have been handled better, given its capabilities."


    "Has it also suffered irreparable damage during the long suppression?"


    Zhu Xuanji spected in his heart.


    "Meng Kui¡­" Finally, his gaze locked onto the Nascent Soul cultivator hidden within the clouds of mist.


    "You used your ¡®Sitting on the Mountain'' divine ability, and that''s the main reason the Lava Immortal Pce is being assaulted by this horde of beasts."


    "Once the pce is breached by the beasts, you, Meng Kui, will bear the me!"


    "Your Peach-Linked Destiny Cores are only two in number, so I hope you don¡¯t overy your hand."


    Zhu Xuanji, who hailed from the Detective Division and was also a member of the Southern Dou Kingdom''s royal family, knew quite a bit about Meng Kui''s secrets.


    He had been personally reminded by the King to focus on Meng Kui''s ¡®Sitting on the Mountain'' divine ability.


    Zhu Xuanji knew: Though the divine ability was powerful and mysterious, it had its drawbacks.


    Once activated, Meng Kui had to remain seated on the mountain, unable to move until the fate energy field dissipated.


    If he broke this rule, the bacsh would be terrifying.


    Not only would his physical body and soul be damaged, but his fate would also plummet to an extreme low for a long time.


    Meng Kui was, of course, well aware of this, which was why he had specially chosen immortal materials and spent a fortune to invite a master artifact refiner to craft two Peach-Linked Destiny Cores for him.


    Only with these two peach cores could he directly intervene in the fate energy field.


    Once the peach core was thrown, it was incredibly powerful, and its first ability was that it never missed its target!


    Beyond that, it had other mysterious powers, which even the royal family could not fully uncover.


    This was Meng Kui''s trump card, and he used it sparingly, guarding its secret with all his might.


    The spell¡ªCountless Ghostly Shadows!


    Numerous ghostly shadows circled and danced around Qi Bai, rapidly wearing down the formation patterns.


    Ning Zhuo activated the teleportation array and disappeared from the spot.


    Qi Bai sensed Sun Lingtong''s location, realizing they were no longer underground but had returned to the surface.


    Heughed wildly, his face twisted with malice, "A dozen or so underground bases, quite the achievement you¡¯ve made!"


    "And now?"


    "What will you use to stop me!"


    Boom!


    In the next moment, the underground base erupted in terrifying mes, instantly engulfing Qi Bai.


    Whoosh¡­


    Ning Zhuo gasped for breath.


    He had abandoned over a dozen underground bases, continuously teleporting and retreating to lure Qi Bai into a false sense of security, all for this final moment.


    ¡­


    "Boss Sun, this spot is perfect. It''s deep within Mount Huoshi, and the surrounding formations can be used to construct a trap." Ning Zhuo had been excited when he first discovered the location, exining his idea.


    Sun Lingtong nodded in agreement but also wore a strange expression, "Xiao Zhuo, you seem to have developed an obsession with explosions recently."


    Ning Zhuo nodded, "Explosions are beautiful."


    "I love explosions!"


    "It doesn''t matter what''s being detonated; they all erupt in a brilliant and dazzling disy at that moment."


    "And that terrifying burst of power in a single moment is the result of countless instances of suppression, built up in silence."


    "It may onlyst for an instant, and afterward, everything is unrecognizable or evenpletely erased."


    "But it''s worth it!"


    Sun Lingtong


    couldn''t help but grind his teeth.


    In recent years, he had noticed that Ning Zhuo had grown up, but his thoughts had be dangerous.


    Many times, Sun Lingtong didn¡¯t know how to advise him, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel worried.


    After a moment of contemtion, Sun Lingtong finally said, "Xiao Zhuo, life is actually very long. There¡¯s no need to live it so suppressively, and even less need to pursue a brief moment of brilliance."


    "As cultivators, we seek longevity, even immortality, right?"


    Ning Zhuo nodded, "Boss, I understand. Keep the green hills, and you won¡¯t worry about firewood."


    Sun Lingtong nodded repeatedly, "Exactly, exactly. You''ve been smart since you were a child. Be rational, stay calm, and make the right choices!"


    ¡­


    "Ning Zhuo, you idiot!" Sun Lingtong transmitted his voice to Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo was pleasantly surprised, "Boss, you¡¯re finally awake!"


    Sun Lingtong was extremely weak, "Get lost! Qi Bai is no ordinary Golden Core; he must have nted a mark on me. And you still came here!"


    "Don¡¯t forget, we had a deal."


    Ning Zhuo suddenly smiled, "It¡¯s toote, Boss. He¡¯s here."


    Qi Bai, with disheveled hair, appeared once again.


    Compared to before, he indeed looked somewhat disheveled.


    Ning Zhuo felt his heart sink and spoke in the young puppet master¡¯s voice, "I didn¡¯t expect such an explosion to fail to hurt you. Blind Judge, you truly deserve your reputation as a formidable fighter."


    Qi Bai''s throat moved as he sneered, "Now that you realize the gap between us, you must be truly senile."


    "Don¡¯t think a little ttery will save you¡ªprepare to die!"


    As soon as the words left his mouth, ghostly spirits filled the sky, rushing toward them.


    Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, stomped his foot, and countless Mechanical Thunder Silent Birds flew out from the surrounding buildings!


    The thunderbirds self-destructed, fiercely shing with the army of ghostly spirits.


    For a moment, lightning shed, and the ghostly spirits howled as both sides fought to a standstill.


    Qi Bai sneered, standing motionless in the air.


    Suddenly, a ghostly general with a single horn appeared behind Ning Zhuo, swinging a massive ghost-head saber in a horizontal sh.


    "When did it sneak up on me?!" Ning Zhuo was caught off guard and had no choice but to turn and block with his left arm.


    As the saber struck his left arm, the Cang Tie Han Armor''s mechanical left arm shed with a silver shield.


    The shield shattered instantly but bought Ning Zhuo the most crucial moment.

 Chapter 135: The Peach Core Beyond the Matter

    Ning Zhuo seized this opportunity, swiftly retreating and sessfully distancing himself from the One-Horned Ghost General.


    "A Ghost General at the Foundation Establishment peak, that ghost-head broadsword is no ordinary weapon!" Ning Zhuo''s expression turned solemn.


    He nced at the silver shield magical instrument embedded in his left arm. With just one strike, a crack had appeared on the instrument.


    The One-Horned Ghost General vanished from sight.


    Ning Zhuo''s heart tightened with rm, and he frantically activated his Cang Tie Han Armor, yet he couldn''t detect any trace of the enemy.


    At the critical moment, Sun Lingtong warned, "Jump backward!"


    Ning Zhuo didn''t hesitate and leaped backward with all his strength.


    The next instant, a ghostly shadow shed, rapidly solidifying, and the Ghost General, wielding a battle axe, struck nothing but air.


    A second Ghost General!Ning Zhuo''s heart sank.


    "Jump again, southeast!" Sun Lingtong called out once more.


    His spiritual eyes were glowing brightly.


    Ning Zhuo evaded sessfully once again, realizing it was a spear-wielding Ghost General.


    All three Ghost Generals were at the Foundation Establishment peak. Their unpredictable movements and sessive attacks forced Ning Zhuo into a desperate flight, with no chance to retaliate.


    Sun Lingtong, lying on the young puppet master''s shoulder, exerted all his strength to activate his innate ability. If he hadn''t been able to barely perceive the approaching Ghost Generals, Ning Zhuo''s situation would have been even worse.


    "Xiao Zhuo, Qi Bai''sbat style is very simr to yours. You control mechanical creations, and hemands Yin Soul Ghost Generals," Sun Lingtong urgently transmitted his voice.


    "Don''t get too entangled with these Ghost Generals. Since you can''t run away, then go straight for the source and charge at him!"


    Sun Lingtong, being a disciple of the No-Void Sect, was decisive and ruthless. With things at this point, he no longer advised Ning Zhuo to leave. At this critical juncture, fighting together was the best strategy.


    Ning Zhuo pped his storage belt and released hundreds of mechanical creations. Though they were all mass-produced items, their sheer number far exceeded the usual standard.


    Even though Qi Bai was a Golden Core stage cultivator, his expression darkened.


    "A mere young puppet master at the Foundation Establishment stage can actually control so many mechanical beasts?!"


    What he didn''t know was that Ning Zhuo''s true cultivation level was only at the mid-stage of Qi Refining. His ability to control these mechanical creations seemed to rely on the staffs embedded in them, but the real key was the Buddha Heart Demon Seal!


    All of these machines had been imnted with mind seals, causing minimal burden on Ning Zhuo and making them extremely responsive.


    The mechanical creations surged forward in a mighty wave, charging at Qi Bai.


    Qi Bai raised both hands, summoning a powerful Yin Wind, sweeping away thirty percent of the machines.


    With a loud shout, he unleashed a parasol-shaped magical treasure. The parasol soared into the sky, and after opening, it cast arge shadow.


    The machines caught in the shadow felt as though they were mired in a swamp, their movements slowing to an extreme crawl.


    With that, another fifty percent of the machines were dealt with.


    Only twenty percent remained, rushing at him.


    Qi Bai was forced to retreat.


    This retreat immediately alerted Sun Lingtong and Ning Zhuo to something unusual.


    Sun Lingtong and Ning Zhuo spoke simultaneously, "The Gloomy Ghost Domain!"


    This spell could create a special battlefield where Yin Souls and Ghosts would experience a significant boost in strength and could move unpredictably.


    Ning Zhuo furrowed his brows. "When most people use this spell, ghostly energy pervades the air, and heaven and earth change color. But Qi Bai''s use of it is extremely restrained, almost undetectable."


    Sun Lingtong added, "He has the innate talent of Ghostly Dead Eyes, which grants him an extraordinary affinity andprehension of Yin Soul and Ghostly path techniques."


    "Reaching a level with such spells that ordinary people can''t achieve is quite normal for him."


    Spell¡ªGhost mes Scorch the World!


    Qi Bai cast the spell while retreating.


    Pale green ghost mes silently burned, and the remaining twenty percent of the mechanical creations quickly lost all power, severing their connection with Ning Zhuo, and then disintegrated.


    Too strong!


    Qi Bai''s strength was undoubtedly among the top-tier Golden Core cultivators.


    For Ning Zhuo and the others, even dealing with the lowest-level Golden Core cultivators was already extremely difficult, let alone facing someone like Qi Bai.


    Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong soon found themselves in a desperate struggle.


    Qi Bai''s Gloomy Ghost Domain spell was deployed again, silently and without any outward manifestation.


    With the spell''s reinforcement, the three Foundation Establishment peak-level Ghost Generals once again became silent and elusive, and Ning Zhuo could only rely on Sun Lingtong for warnings.


    Seeing the situation deteriorating, Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong tried to break away from the battlefield.


    But at every critical moment, Qi Bai would personally intervene, casting spells to block their escape.


    To maintain the situation, Ning Zhuo continuously deployed his mechanical creations.


    The mechanical army he had painstakingly built over more than a decade was being rapidly consumed, and all it earned him was a brief extension of his survival on the battlefield.


    Meanwhile, at the Lava Immortal Pce.


    A Fire Fusion Demon Ape had just appeared, breaking through the pce''s third line of defense.


    Golden Core-level strength!


    The Demon Ape charged ahead, and every mechanical battle puppet in its path was destroyed. Under the terrifying strength of the Demon Ape, no matter what materials the battle puppets were made of, they were as fragile as paper.


    Boom!


    The Immortal Pce shook as the Demon Ape smashed through a wall, charging into a side hall.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit roared in fury, quickly dispatching mechanical battle puppets into the side hall.


    "There''s hope!" The Ning Family Ancestor also received the message, calling him to assist in the battle.


    The Ning Family Ancestor hesitated briefly before choosing to refuse. He remained at the battlefront, fending off the attacks of the Red me Demonic Beasts.


    The Demon Ape rampaged through the side hall, causing both Meng Kui and Zhu Xuanji to frown deeply, thinking, "Has the Lava Immortal Pce really be so weak?"


    The next moment, a special mechanical puppet floated down.


    It exuded the aura of a Golden Core, and as it activated the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, with a flick of its feathered fan, five energies rose and fell, casting various spells onto the Demon Ape, forcing it to cry out in pain.


    Meng Kui''s eyes shed with surprise as he carefully observed.


    "A Daoist Master!" Zhu Xuanji silently eximed, revealing the name of this Golden Core-level mechanism.


    ording to royal intelligence, the Lava Immortal Pce had three great mechanical battle generals: the Demon General, the Daoist Master, and the Buddhist Doctor.


    With the Daoist Master on the scene, the Fire Fusion Demon Ape''s rampage was quickly curtailed.


    The Daoist Master puppet, with its home-field advantage, soon drove the Demon Ape out of the side hall, forcing it into a retreat.


    "Now''s the chance!" Seizing this opportune moment, the Ning Family Ancestor abandoned his position on the front line and dashed toward the side hall.


    He had just received the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit''s permission. Since there was still fire burning in the side hall, even if he went to extinguish the mes, it would be considered a contribution to the battle, and the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit wouldn''t deem him a deserter.


    Though putting out the mes was a minor contribution, the Ning Family Ancestor valued the opportunity to explore the side hall more.


    Meng Kui witnessed this scene, sighing lightly as he tossed out a peach core beyond the matter.


    The peach core disappeared in an instant, falling from the sky and striking the Ning Family Ancestor squarely on the head.


    A sh of emerald green spring thunder burst forth, breaking through theyers of smoke.


    The Ning Family Ancestor resisted with all his might, but his heavy defenses were all shattered by the spring thunder.


    The peach core tore through multipleyers of protection and struck the Ning Family Ancestor''s skull.


    With a cry, the Ning Family Ancestor''s head was dented.


    The force of the thunder prated his body, paralyzing him almostpletely.


    He immediately activated a spell, freezing his internal organs to temporarily protect his life.


    Without looking back, he fled from the Immortal Pce!


    The Strangling Death Whip!


    Ning Zhuo''s long whip danced wildly, dispersing the oing Yin Souls. However, he was surrounded, with countless ghosts hungrily closing in around him.


    Qi Bai''s methods were endless, and the Yin Souls under hismand seemed inexhaustible.


    Since the battle began, Qi Bai had only voluntarily retreated once.


    For the rest of the time, he had held the absolute advantage.


    Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong were in a perilous situation, repeatedly on the brink of death.


    With no other choice, Ning Zhuo had to prematurely reveal one of his trump cards.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    Multiple explosions erupted both inside and outside the battlefield.


    Qi Bai sneered, "What are you blowing up? I''m right here."


    But Ning Zhuo responded, "I''m blowing up the Immortal City Grand Formation."


    Qi Bai''s expression instantly changed.


    In the next moment, the enormous formation patterns appeared, crisscrossing and covering the entire battlefield.


    The Immortal Formation''s power was vast and


    majestic, unstoppable, unmatched by anyone.


    Everything and everyone on the battlefield was indiscriminately targeted!


    Ning Zhuo''s remaining mechanical creations, few as they were, didn''t bother him if they were destroyed. However, Qi Bai''s vast army of Yin Souls, being so numerous, was entirely wiped out in one fell swoop!


    Even Qi Bai himself was firmly bound in mid-air, subject to the grinding force of the grand formation.


    Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong did not seize the opportunity to attack.


    Because they too were covered by the formation patterns, though as citizens of the city, they merely lost their freedom and couldn''t move.


    Qi Bai was furious!


    The vast Yin Soul army that had taken him years to umte had nowpletely vanished, the loss so immense it caused him unimaginable pain.


    But what hurt him even more were his three Ghost Generals, each painstakingly cultivated, possessing the strength of the Foundation Establishment peak!


    All gone!


    The Immortal City Grand Formation''s terrifying power, when fully activated, could protect the entire city.


    And this was one of its strongest nodes.


    Thus, the three Foundation Establishment-level Ghost Generals had no power to resist, beingpletely ground to dust, leaving only three soul essences.


    "Break for me!" Qi Bai roared, his face contorted in rage.


    He had to fight with all his strength, or he would be crushed to pieces by the formation.


    Spell¡ªInferno of the Underworld!


    Spell¡ªGhostly Shadow Senluo!


    Spell¡ªWailing of the Nether Ghosts!


    The ghostly mes turned from pale green to a sickly yellow-green, burning fiercely, rising six zhang high.


    Ghostly shadows surged upward like giants, as if they were holding up the heavens, trying to break free from the formation''s bindings.


    The eerie wailing of the ghosts seemed to pierce the eardrums, drilling straight into people''s hearts, shaking the entire battlefield.


    Qi Bai cast three spells in quick session, simultaneously activating his innate talent, Ghostly Dead Eyes, causing the power of his spells to increase severalfold!


    For a time, the formation patterns wavered, rapidly disintegrating.


    The bindings on Ning Zhuo''s body loosened, and he gradually regained his freedom.


    "He''s so strong!" Sun Lingtong clicked his tongue in amazement, his face full of shock.


    This was the Immortal City Grand Formation.


    And yet, Qi Bai, relying solely on his own strength, was able to shake it!


    This was what Qi Bai looked like when he unleashed his full power. In the previous battle, Ning Zhuo had never truly forced him to go all out.


    The difference in strength between the two sides was far too great.


    However, Ning Zhuo wasn''t shaken in the slightest. This gap in strength was something he had anticipated.


    He gazed up at the peak of Mount Huoshi, his eyes filled with anticipation, as he murmured softly, "Come on,e on, hurry up ande!"


    At the mountain peak, amidst the clouds.


    Meng Kui turned his head slightly, his brows furrowed as he gazed into the distance at Qi Bai''s battlefield.


    Meanwhile, all across the Immortal City, countless disputes were breaking out. Many battles arose from mere misunderstandings or minor conflicts.


    Watching tigers fight from the mountain!


    "Fortunes are surging."


    "This ritual has reached its climax, and the end is near."


    Meng Kui came to a realization.


    In his pupils, the image of Qi Bai''s arrogant posture was reflected with perfect rity: "You seek to shake the Immortal City Grand Formation? Even if you''re a true disciple of the Soul-Devouring Sect, you shouldn''t be so reckless."


    "Go."


    Meng Kui tossed another peach core.


    The peach core descended from the sky, apanied by a burst of spring thunder.


    The spring thunder struck Qi Bai squarely, causing his eyes to roll back as his head split open, blood gushing out!


    "Ah!" he screamed in agony, unable to maintain his spells, and suffered a fierce bacsh.


    The more power he had poured into his spells, the stronger the bacsh he now suffered!


    In an instant, Qi Bai was severely injured!!


    "It''s time!" Ning Zhuo, who had been painstakingly nning, finally saw the opportunity he had been waiting for.


    He had set explosives, not to destroy the Immortal City''s defensive formation.


    He triggered the Immortal City''s grand formation primarily to provoke Meng Kui into taking action.


    "Whenever I think about getting involved to investigate Boss Sun''s situation or attempt a rescue, the Buddha Heart Demon Seal would warn me."


    "That''s not normal!"


    "The most likely exnation is that Meng Kui has been using his divine ability, the Mountain Watch."


    Ning Zhuo''s intelligencework was far inferior to Zhu Xuanji''s, but he had at least learned of Meng Kui''s most powerful technique.


    "When Meng Kui uses the Mountain Watch, during the duration of the divine ability, he can only utilize those Peach Cores Beyond the Matter."


    "That''s a Nascent Soul-level offensive technique. No matter how strong Qi Bai is, he''s still just a Golden Core!"


    Meng Kui set the trap, and Ning Zhuoid the n.


    "Meng Kui, you''re sitting high up there, aloof on the mountain peak."


    "But when someone tries to break the Immortal City Grand Formation, will you do something?"


    "If you want to deal with Qi Bai, I bet you''ll at least throw one peach core!"


    To save Boss Sun, Ning Zhuo, despite knowing how unpredictable fortune could be, had no choice but to step onto the battlefield himself.


    But he never believed that he was merely a pawn.


    Even a Nascent Soul might not be beyond his use!

 Chapter 136: Last Chance to Strike

    "It''s now!" Ning Zhuo frantically activated the Cang Tie Han Armor, charging towards Qi Bai without hesitation.


    Qi Bai''s head was bleeding, his vision ckened, and he was on the verge of fainting.


    In the next moment, the Cang Tie Han Armor sliced through the air.


    The "Hanging Whip of the Puppet Master"!


    More than a dozen long whips danced wildly like a swarm of serpents, franticallyshing at Qi Bai.


    Qi Bai was whipped and thrown about in the air, unable tond for a while.


    Every time the whips struck his body, ripples of golden light shimmered, yet they couldn''t break through his protective technique.


    "Is it a spell, a divine ability, or a protective treasure?" Ning Zhuo''s eyes turned red, and his heart grew anxious.


    This was the counterattack he had painstakingly devised.If Qi Bai managed to catch his breath, the suspense of this battle wouldpletely vanish.


    However, the "Hanging Whip of the Puppet Master," which usually worked so well against Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, couldn''t break through Qi Bai''s defense.


    Sun Lingtong hurriedly transmitted a message: "Little Zhuo! Qi Bai is not a body cultivator. He excels at controlling Yin souls and ghost creatures. His natural talent is the ¡®Dead Eye of Communication,'' so it''s very unlikely his defense is a spell or divine ability."


    "I can see that the weakest point of the golden light is at the wound on his head, and it''s healing quickly."


    "The strongest point of the golden light is three inches below his navel, where the lower dantian is located!"


    "Use your strongest attack!"


    Ning Zhuo''s eyes shed with determination as he simply replied, "Got it!"


    He pushed the Cang Tie Han Armor to its maximum power.


    Spirit stones were consumed rapidly, turning into vast spiritual energy that flooded into two palm-sized, intricately patterned talismans of wind and thunder.


    The talismans unleashed wind and thunder forces, which intertwined within the internal formation of the Cang Tie Han Armor, merging to form a new power¡ª


    "Wind and Thunder Movement!"


    Green-blue electric light surrounded the Cang Tie Han Armor.


    In an instant, the speed of the Cang Tie Han Armor soared to the extreme, charging directly at Qi Bai.


    "Iron-Cold Armor!"


    The defensive formation within the Cang Tie Han Armor was activated to its fullest, humming with power.


    The metal and water elemental forcesbined perfectly within the formation, releasing a sharp coldness mixed with metallic energy, enveloping the entire armor and enhancing both offense and defense to their peak.


    "Azure Dragon Strike!"


    The armor tes on the back, shoulders, elbows, and wrists of the Cang Tie Han Armor opened, revealing hidden explosive talismans.


    The talismans ignited, glowing with brilliant white light, fully boosting Ning Zhuo''s attack and pushing it to the limit in an instant!


    The ck robe disguised as the young puppet master was torn apart, revealing the true form of the Cang Tie Han Armor. It looked like a silver dragon breaking through the sky, carrying blinding white light, tearing through all darkness!


    Punches rained down like arrows, and kicks followed like a storm.


    The punches and kicks wove together into a terrifying torrent of attacks,pletely overwhelming Qi Bai.


    The punches and kicks mmed into the golden light, causing it to splinter into fragments of light.


    Cracks began to appear in the golden shield, rapidly fading and dimming.


    The defensive power of the golden light weakened quickly, unable to withstand the force of the punches and kicks, allowing Qi Bai inside to suffer from the attacks.


    One punchnded, twisting his head and forcing his neck to the limit.


    A knee struck violently at Qi Bai''s waist, bending him like a shrimp, his eyes bulging as he spat out a mouthful of blood.


    Another punchnded on Qi Bai''s chin, causing his teeth to m shut, nearly biting off his tongue.


    Qi Bai''s head jerked back violently, sending him flying higher into the air!


    But in the next moment, green lightning shed, and a silver, agile figure suddenly appeared above Qi Bai.


    Ning Zhuo sped both hands tightly, forming fists. He raised them above his shoulders before using the Cang Tie Han Armor to propel his entire body, diving down towards Qi Bai like a meteor.


    The golden light protecting Qi Bai had already weakened to near transparency.


    Meanwhile, blood continued to flow from the wound on his head, the spot where he had been struck by the "Peach Core of the Beyond," and the weakest point of his golden light shield.


    Ning Zhuo''s gaze was as sharp as a knife, locking onto the enemy''s weakest point.


    Heunched his full-strength attack!


    Ning Zhuo''s fist smashed down with immense force, like a meteor chasing the moon. The power was so great that the silver fist glowed red from the friction with the air.


    At the brink of life and death, Qi Bai finally awakened from his desperate survival instincts!


    "Meng Kui! The Peach Core of the Beyond!!"


    Qi Bai''s heart trembled, filled with icy dread.


    "If he used the Peach Core of the Beyond, he must have already employed the ¡®Mount-Watching'' divine ability earlier."


    "Why?!"


    As a true disciple of the Soul-Devouring Sect, Qi Bai had been sent to Mount Huoshi fully prepared.


    He knew all about Meng Kui''s signature divine ability, "Mount-Watching," and the power of the Peach Core of the Beyond.


    But Qi Bai couldn''t understand.


    Why had Meng Kui suddenly used this divine ability, and in Puppet Immortal City no less!


    "He''s the city lord! Isn''t he afraid that one mistake could lead to riots among the city''s residents, causing them to ughter each other?"


    "There must be something I''m unaware of, something that forced Meng Kui to take such drastic action."


    For a moment, Qi Bai felt utterly wronged.


    This was his first time entering the city, and he had only intended to subdue three of his fellow disciples.


    To explore the Soul Treasuryter, he first needed to secure a foothold and then slowly make his move.


    He hadn''t expected such bad luck. The moment he arrived, he was caught in the Mount-Watching divine ability.


    "Misfortune has blinded me, causing me to make mistake after mistake!"


    "Why didn''t I just kill Sun Lingtong? There was more than one way to subdue Han Ming."


    "I shouldn''t have pursued them so relentlessly. These two Foundation Establishment cultivators were indeed troublesome, but I didn''t need to make such a bigmotion."


    ording to Qi Bai''s original n, he was supposed toy low and act when the opportunity presented itself.


    "Why did I keep casting spells? In the Immortal City, spells are weakened the most, and it''spletely counterproductive."


    "I should have quickly killed these two. Using my natural talent wouldn''t have mattered, but instead, I released Yin souls and ghost generals to torture and kill them, wasting too much time."


    "I should have used my strongest method, killed them swiftly, and ended the battle decisively to avoid unnecessaryplications. I wasted too many chances during this fight!"


    "These two have been operating in the Immortal City for far too long. Their various underground bases are everywhere, and when I couldn''t kill them in time, I should have withdrawn immediately."


    "I nted my technique on Sun Lingtong, which can only be resolved by a Golden Core cultivator. I should have let them go, then hunted them down when the time was right. Wouldn''t that have been better?"


    "The one who deserves death the most is that young puppet master!"


    "Layer uponyer of traps, forcing me to exhaust myself against the city''s grand formation, leaving me no choice but to go all out."


    "If it weren''t for that, Meng Kui might never have thrown that peach core at me."


    Qi Bai was fully awakened by this blow.


    Various thoughts shed through his mind like lightning.


    As he lifted his head, he saw Ning Zhuo''s full-power strike.


    "Death!" Qi Bai''s hair stood on end, filled with terror.


    "I absolutely cannot let him hit the wound on my head."


    However, he didn¡¯t have time to cast a stronger defensive method.


    He couldn¡¯t even activate his protective treasure in time.


    Magical Artifact¡ªGhost Mist Veil.


    In desperation, he used his spiritual sense to pull out a veil from his storage belt.


    This was a magical artifact he frequently used during the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages. It cloaked him in ghostly mist when venturing into eerie, terrifying ces, disguising him as a Yin soul.


    The Ghost Mist Veil had been a great help to him, allowing him to get close to ghostly spirits and capture them.


    This veil had apanied him through his difficult beginnings, gradually umting his progress step by step, until he eventually became a true disciple of the Soul-Devouring Sect.


    After he advanced to the Golden Core stage, the frequency of using this reliable artifact had rapidly decreased, and he used it less and less.


    Qi Bai had kept it in his storage belt more as a memento.


    He hadn''t expected that, at this moment of life and death, the only artifact he could quickly activate was this one.


    Bang!


    Ning Zhuo''s full-powered strike pierced through the ghostly mist,nding heavily on Qi Bai''s chest.


    In that instant, the golden light shield covering Qi Bai''s entire body could no longer hold up, shattering into countless fragments, which flickered in the air before dissipatingpletely.


    Four or five of Qi Bai''s ribs fractured, his chest caved in, and his lungs and other internal organs were severely damaged, almost shattered.


    He plummeted to the ground like a falling meteor, crashing through a building and mming into the ground, causing a tremor.


    Immediately after, the building copsed, raising dust and debris that buried Qi Bai.


    "He''s not dead!" Sun Lingtong had been closely watching the battlefield, ignoring the fact that blood was already streaming from his eyes.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s heart sank as he clenched his teeth hard, mustering up his strength and diving into the dust and debris.


    The Ghost Mist Veil had been destroyed.


    However, it was because of its cover that Ning Zhuo''s attacknded on Qi Bai''s chest instead of his head, indirectly saving Qi Bai''s life.


    As Ning Zhuo charged toward him, Qi Bai had more time than before to react.


    He pulled out a magical treasure.


    The Soul-Stirring Rattle Drum!


    The drum''s surface was deathly pale, made from human skin, slightly transparent, and it emitted a faint glow in the darkness.


    The edges of the drum were crafted from ck jade, exuding a chilling aura.


    The handle of the drum was made from the grayish-yellow finger bones of an adult, pieced together section by section.


    Qi Bai shook the Soul-Stirring Rattle Drum.


    Thump, thump, thump.


    The drumbeats were crisp, each one resonating in the hearts of Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong, violently shaking their souls.


    Sun Lingtong, already heavily injured, immediately began bleeding from his seven orifices when he heard the drumbeats. His eyes lost their luster, and he could no longer activate his spiritual vision, forcing him to stop.


    Ning Zhuo felt as if the world around him was shaking, his vision spinning. His steps faltered, and he nearly copsed to the ground.


    As a result, the attack he had been preparing was interrupted.


    "Little Zhuo!" Sun Lingtong¡¯s voice of rm reached Ning Zhuo''s ears.


    Years of cooperation allowed Ning Zhuo to instantly understand what Sun Lingtong was trying to convey¡ªthis was theirst chance!


    They had to seize this opportunity to eliminate Qi Bai. If they missed it and allowed Qi Bai to recover from this critical moment, they would be doomed.


    Ning Zhuo was almost at his limit.


    The mechanical creations he had umted over more than ten years had been mostly consumed, and what remained was of little use.


    There was only one left!


    The Tree Martial Fighting Ape!


    Ning Zhuo half-knelt on the ground and released the mechanical fighting ape. In preparation for this battle, Ning Zhuo had reced the coreponents, and all parts that could be changed were swapped, causing the Tree Martial Fighting Ape to undergo a massive transformation. Its new appearance had almost no resemnce to the old one.


    The fighting ape bore a heart mark, with a staff head inserted into its body.


    Ning Zhuo flicked his arm, and his ten fingers shot out strings of magical power, connecting to key points on the Tree Martial Fighting Ape.


    Under his triplemand, the Tree Martial Fighting Ape charged toward Qi Bai.

 Chapter 137:

    Qi Bai red angrily, shaking the Soul-Stirring Rattle madly while summoning his treasured seal.


    Summoning Technique¡ªOx-Head Ghost Soldier!


    The Ox-Head Ghost God manifested a doppelg?nger,nding heavily on the ground and joining the battlefield.


    It had an ox head and a human body, tall and sturdy, standing over ten feet high. At that moment, it lowered its head, horns pointed forward, resembling a section of a city wall as it charged toward the Tree-Fighting Ape.


    Ning Zhuo hurriedly controlled the mechanical ape, dodging with difficulty.


    As it narrowly passed by the Ox-Head Ghost Soldier, the ghost suddenly reached back, grabbing the tail of the Tree-Fighting Ape.


    Its agility,bined with its massive body, appeared extremely abrupt.


    Ning Zhuo, controlling the mechanical ape, couldn''t retract the ape''s tail in time.


    Whoosh!The next moment, the mechanical ape was yanked by the Ox-Head Ghost Soldier and flung into the air with tremendous force.


    The force was so immense that it stirred a gust of wind, instantly clearing away the dust from the copsed building.


    Qi Bai slowly stood up, hiding behind the Ox-Head Ghost Soldier. He stared at Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong, his gaze mostly focused on the Cang Tie Han Armor.


    "Mechanical puppet? You cowardly rats hiding your heads and showing your tails!" Qi Bai''s eyes were filled with deep hatred.


    With each breath, his injuries recovered a little.


    By the time he finished speaking, his condition had already improved significantly, turning from severe injuries to minor ones.


    He had recovered!


    That critical breath, which he had struggled to hold onto, finally stabilized.


    "I was so close, so close to being defeated!" A strong sense of lingering fear filled his heart, the intense sensation causing his heartbeat to race at an unprecedented speed.


    Anger, hatred, relief, and various other emotions mixed together, finally making Qi Bai curl his lips into a sinister cold smile. "Hehehe, very good, very good. Two Foundation Establishment-stage rats nearly killed me."


    "You did well, very impressive, but also unfortunate."


    "Now that you''ve earned my praise, it''s time to die!"


    In the next moment, the Ox-Head Ghost Soldier and Qi Bai split into two groups, attacking from both sides.


    "There¡¯s no chance, Xiao Zhuo. You go, I¡¯ll cover you!" Sun Lingtong transmitted urgently.


    "One misstep, damn it!" Ning Zhuo clenched his fists, gritting his teeth, as his heart was in turmoil, unable to calm down.


    Qi Bai was too powerful, hisbat strength clearly on another level.


    Ning Zhuo had the advantage of fighting in the familiar environment of the immortal city, utilizing its local terrain. With the Immortal City''s grand formation, even external Golden Core stage cultivators were greatly weakened.


    At the start of the battle, Ning Zhuo had intentionally turned it into a chase, using the many underground bases to buy time and drain Qi Bai¡¯s strength.


    Although the traps exploded sessfully, the actual effect in battle was poor.


    If it were against Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, they would¡¯ve long turned to dust, and even ordinary Golden Core stage cultivators would have been blown into a sorry state, struggling to survive.


    But Qi Bai¡¯sbat power remained intact, and even the protective golden light barrier hadn¡¯t broken.


    Seeing this, Ning Zhuo immediately understood that even if he used all the remaining underground bases to deplete his enemy, it would have little effect.


    He decisively shifted to surfacebat.


    He fought Qi Bai head-on, using every bit of his strength and nearly exhausting all the mechanical creations he had umted over a dozen years, just to maintain a stalemate.


    And this was all predicated on Qi Bai being mesmerized by the fortune field, intent on capturing Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong alive to torture them for amusement in front of each other.


    Qi Bai had never unleashed his full strength.


    Seeing that the situation was turning unfavorable, Ning Zhuo had no choice but to destroy the immortal formation and activate its passive defenses.


    If it were any other Golden Core cultivator, they would¡¯ve been suppressed by now.


    But Qi Bai disyed immense strength, single-handedly resisting the Immortal City¡¯s formation and actually wearing down its formation patterns!


    However, this also led to Meng Kui¡¯s intervention.


    The appearance of the Peach-Core of Fate matched Ning Zhuo''s expectations.


    This blow finally caused the first reversal in the battle.


    Qi Bai was severely injured, his mind confused.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s Young Puppet Master''s Death-Whip struck his body, yet it failed to break through the golden light barrier.


    It wasn¡¯t until he pushed the Cang Tie Han Armor to its limit that he gradually extinguished the protective golden light.


    However, when Qi Bai regained consciousness, the time left for Ning Zhuo became extremely limited.


    Despite his best efforts, Ning Zhuo was still dyed by Qi Bai''s endless stream of magical tools and treasures, which allowed Qi Bai to recover.


    When Qi Bai summoned the Ox-Head Ghost Soldier¡¯s ghostly doppelg?nger, he once again regained his footing.


    In just a few breaths, his severe injuries turned into minor ones.


    Qi Bai''s healing ability was truly astonishing.


    He was indeed worthy of being a true disciple of the Soul-Devouring Sect, capable of being entrusted with the task here, with enough strength to stand alone in battle!


    A trace of despair spread in the hearts of both Sun and Ning.


    Sun Lingtong, with an unprecedentedly serious expression, transmitted his voice: "Qi Bai nted a mark on me. I can¡¯t escape."


    "I¡¯ll stay behind to cover you."


    "Xiao Zhuo, give me all your mechanical creations."


    "You go!"


    "No!" Ning Zhuo refused firmly, controlling the Tree-Fighting Ape to block the Ox-Head Ghost Soldier.


    He formed a palm with his left hand, a lightning talisman appearing in his palm.


    Boom!


    The palm thunder shot out, striking Qi Bai, who had just arrived.


    Qi Bai allowed the palm thunder to hit him, grinning sinisterly.


    The next moment, his entire body transformed into a mass of ghostly fog, enveloping Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong.


    Both of them groaned coldly in pain, their hearts wracked with agony.


    The ghostly fog, like a deadly poison, prated their bodies and mechanisms, eroding their souls with ferocity.


    Ning Zhuo was severely affected and lost control of the Tree-Fighting Ape. Thetter¡¯s movements became sluggish and was immediately swept away by the Ox-Head Ghost Soldier.


    The Ox-Head Ghost Soldier roared and charged into the ghostly fog.


    Its millstone-sized fists smashed heavily onto the Cang Tie Han Armor.


    The Cang Tie Han Armor was like a cannonball, sent flying backward, crashing through over a dozen buildings before embedding itself into a wall.


    The Cang Tie Han Armor was severely damaged, with Ning Zhuo''s forearm almost fully exposed. The armor''s chest had arge chunk missing, and the helmet was full of cracks, as if it couldpletely shatter in the next second.


    "Boss!" Ning Zhuo didn¡¯t bother checking his own injuries and immediately searched for Sun Lingtong.


    Sun Lingtongy in the rubble of the building ahead, struggling with all his might, but his body was weak, pinned down by bricks and half arge beam, unable to break free.


    Ning Zhuo urged the Cang Tie Han Armor to rush over.


    He bent down, ready to clear away the debris and pull Sun Lingtong out.


    But in the next moment, Sun Lingtong''s face suddenly twisted in a ferocious expression, his five fingers like knives, slipping through therge gaps in the Cang Tie Han Armor, and plunging into Ning Zhuo''s abdomen.


    "Boss¡­" Ning Zhuo was caught off guard, suffering a heavy blow.


    Sun Lingtong''s expression shifted between ferocity and sorrowful anger.


    "I''m¡­ I''m possessed by a ghost. Go, leave now!" he shouted.


    Qi Bai stood on the shoulder of the Ox-Head Ghost Soldier, looking down at them with disdain. "How does it feel to be betrayed by your brother?"


    "Puppet Master, you''re good with mechanical arts, but I excel in controlling ghosts. Your brother is already under my control. Hurry and kill him, or he''ll kill you. Hahaha!"


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s heart trembled violently.


    The next moment, the poisonous ghost fog rose again, enveloping both Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong.


    Agony struck once more.


    Qi Bai took out the Soul-Stirring Rattle and repeatedly drummed it¡ª*thud thud thud*.


    This caused Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong to bleed from their seven orifices, worsening their plight, leaving thempletely powerless to resist.


    "Ghost Soldier, take their lives!" Qi Bai softlymanded.


    The Ox-Head Ghost Soldier let out a low growl, charging like a meteor, its momentum terrifying. Its millstone-sized fist smashed down, a blow certain to im the lives of Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong on the spot.


    Too strong, too powerful!


    When Qi Bai regained hisposure, he disyed an excellent tactical prowess.


    The Ox-Head Ghost Soldier applied frontal pressure, the poisonous ghost fog targeted the Cang Tie Han Armor, and the secret possession by a ghost made Ning Zhuo unable to advance or retreat. His verbal threats were not just meant to intimidate but served as a distraction, creating an opportunity for the Ox-Head Ghost Soldier to deliver a fatal strike.


    The massive figure of the Ox-Head Ghost Soldier cast a shadow of death,pletely enveloping Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong.


    It was difficult for the two of them to even stand, let alone parry or dodge.


    In Ning Zhuo''s perception, time suddenly seemed to slow down.


    This intense feeling of impending death was not new to him.


    Once, during a street battle in the ck market.


    He was too young then, and made the grave mistake of bing careless in battle, putting himself in a dangerous situation where he was almost killed.


    It was Sun Lingtong who suddenly appeared and, in a moment of urgency, used his own body to block a knife aimed at Ning Zhuo.


    "Boss!" Ning Zhuo had cried out in shock, his face full of fear.


    Sun Lingtong waved it off, pulling the dagger from his chest, blood instantly soaking his clothes. "It''s nothing!"


    "Boss¡­" Ning Zhuo had been overwhelmed with guilt and self-reproach. If it hadn¡¯t been for his own carelessness, Sun Lingtong wouldn¡¯t have been gravely injured.


    Sun Lingtong had pressed his fingers to stop the bleeding, grinning, "Heh heh, Xiao Zhuo, don¡¯t be sad. You call me boss, so what does it matter if I take a knife for my brother?"


    Now.


    Sun Lingtong''s hand, formed like a knife, was deeply embedded in Ning Zhuo''s abdomen.


    Sun Lingtong red, his eyes bleeding, wishing he could end his own life immediately!


    The giant fist smashed down, the Yin Wind howled, and the terrifying killing intent was suffocating.


    Ning Zhuo raised his head, ring fiercely at the Ox-Head Ghost Soldier.


    *Boom!*


    The Ox-Head Ghost Soldier¡¯s attack was suddenly blocked.


    Out of nowhere, a figure appeared like a mountain, standing tall in front of Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s eyes widened, staring at the figure in front of him in astonishment, his heart crying out, "Yuan Dasheng?!"


    The mechanical ape blocking the Ox-Head Ghost Soldier stood proudly, its green eyes radiating light in all directions, overflowing with powerful spiritual energy, exuding an aura of invible majesty.


    It was¡ª


    ¡°Though betrayed, my will remains unshaken; my righteous bones are as hard as gold.¡±


    ¡°Through life and death, my spirit persists, returning only to fulfill my oath!¡±


    Yuan Dasheng turned slightly, then suddenly spoke, his voice deep and powerful: "My lord."


    "I have arrived!"


    It was as if he had traversed a lifetime, crossing the boundary between life and death. At this critical moment, Yuan Dasheng was reborn, his spirit fully restored, offering his aid!


    "Yuan Dasheng can talk now?!" Ning Zhuo was utterly shocked.


    At this moment, he felt that there was no longer any barrier between him and Yuan Dasheng, and his control over the ape was even clearer and more precise than before.


    There was no doubt¡ªthis was a qualitative change!


    In an instant, Ning Zhuo understood: It was his selfless effort to save Sun Lingtong, even at the risk of his own life, that greatly resonated with Yuan Dasheng''s spirit.


    "But how did it suddenly learn to speak?"


    Yuan Dasheng spoke again, "My lord, what are your orders?"


    Suppressing his doubts, Ning Zhuo pointed at Qi Bai. "Kill him!"


    "At yourmand!" Yuan Dasheng charged forward.


    The Ox-Head Ghost Soldier roared, blocking his path.


    *Boom!*


    Yuan Dasheng directly overturned the Ox-Head Ghost Soldier, his momentum unstoppable.


    "What¡¯s with this mechanical puppet?!" Qi Bai panicked, quickly retreating.


    He scattered poisonous ghost fog to interfere with Yuan Dasheng.


    But Yuan Dasheng pressed forward,pletely ignoring the ghost fog.


    Continuing the charge!


    Qi Bai frantically shook the Soul-Stirring Rattle.


    Yuan Dasheng showed no reaction!


    Qi Bai''s heart raced, his mouth dry, as he unleashed his Heavenly Talent Ghostly Death Eyes.


    What he discovered was that Yuan Dasheng¡ªhad no soul!


    "No soul residing within, so how does it have such intelligence?!" Qi Bai couldn¡¯tprehend.


    Yuan Dasheng closed in, while Qi Bai frantically activated many magical tools and treasures, striking Yuan Dasheng.


    A surge of vigorous blood energy rose from Yuan Dasheng¡¯s body¡ªthis was from the Blood Oil Bottle Ning Zhuo had previously installed!


    Yuan Dasheng disyed masterful martial techniques, either blocking or deflecting, stubbornly resisting all the magical tools and treasures, advancing until he was right in front of Qi Bai.


    With brutal force, Yuan Dasheng attacked relentlessly, without concern for its own life.


    "The problem is¡ªit¡¯s just a mechanical creation, what life does it even have to lose?!" Qi Bai found himself getting beaten once again.


    But this time, it was different from before.


    His mind was clear, and though hisbat power was suppressed, he could still fully exert himself to the current limit.


    However, Yuan Dasheng had been able to tear apart a half-step Golden Core stage Fire Serpent when he was alive. Now, with a mechanical body even stronger than before, and ample blood energy to fully use the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique, his power had increased even further!


    Yuan Dasheng also possessed Golden Core stagebat power! Moreover, he was far less affected by the formation¡¯s suppression than Qi Bai!


    Qi Bai retreated in defeat, his forces crumbling.


    ¡°Damn it, the Golden Thread Armor is broken and can''t protect me. How is this mechanical puppet fiercer than those Golden Core body cultivators?!¡±


    The rhythm of the battle waspletely controlled by Yuan Dasheng.


    The advantage gradually turned into victory.


    Qi Bai spat blood, once again severely injured.


    He desperately wanted to escape from Yuan Dasheng, but he couldn¡¯t.


    The Immortal City¡¯s grand formation had already been activated, prohibiting any escape talismans from being used.


    Qi Bai¡¯s magical tools, treasures, and spells mostly targeted souls, which became awkward when used against Yuan Dasheng!


    "Brother, is this mechanical ape your creation?" Sun Lingtong watched in shock.


    Ning Zhuo himself was incredulous. ¡°It seems¡­ yes.¡±


    Even he hadn¡¯t expected Yuan Dasheng¡¯s realbat power to be so high!


    Ning Zhuo thought to himself, ¡°It seems like this isn¡¯t just about awakening its spirit, but a breakthrough to an even higher level. Yuan Dasheng¡¯s martial skills are more agile and natural than before, as if he¡¯s never died.¡±


    Yuan Dasheng swung his fist, ttening Qi Bai¡¯s forehead.


    He clung to Qi Bai¡¯s body, twisting and breaking Qi Bai¡¯s left arm.


    Yuan Dasheng¡¯s monkey tail coiled around Qi Bai, throwing him off bnce, then he kicked sideways, directly shattering Qi Bai¡¯s kneecap!


    Qi Bai¡¯s magical tools and treasures struck Yuan Dasheng, leaving his mechanical body riddled with wounds.


    The fierce confrontation was brutal.


    But the problem was, Qi Bai was flesh and blood, while Yuan Dasheng was merely a mechanical shell.


    In such an exchange, Qi Bai was at an extreme disadvantage!


    He tried to create distance, doing everything he could, but all attempts ended in failure.


    Qi Bai specialized in controlling ghostly generals and spirits while using spells and magical tools for ranged attacks. That was his main fighting style.


    He wasn¡¯t a body cultivator, and his defense relied on the Golden Thread Armor, but after being worn down repeatedly by Ning Zhuo, it had already shattered.


    In his fight against Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong, Qi Bai had no weaknesses, but when facing Yuan Dasheng, his ws were immediately exposed.


    ¡°If this continues, I¡¯ll die!¡±


    Qi Bai never expected the situation to turn so quickly.


    At that moment, he was pushed to the edge of the cliff, and he could only risk it all in one final desperate move.


    Hellfire Ignition!


    His entire body ignited with pale blue Hellfire, an incredibly cold me capable of burning anything to ash.


    Qi Bai frantically activated the Heavenly Talent Ghostly Death Eyes and cast the Yellow Springs Protection spell.


    The Yellow Springs steamed and hissed under the scorching Hellfire, producingrge amounts of vapor, temporarily shielding Qi Bai.


    But Yuan Dasheng had no such protection, and his entire body began rapidly disintegrating under the Hellfire.


    ¡°This is bad!¡± Sun Lingtong cried out, extremely anxious.


    Yuan Dasheng¡¯sbat power was rapidly decreasing.


    If Qi Bai were given time to recover, the situation would surely repeat itself.


    Yuan Dasheng suddenly let out a long howl toward the sky!


    His entire skeletal frame began to glow brilliantly, radiating dazzling golden light.


    Under the protection of the golden light, Yuan Dasheng¡¯s body, which had been almost entirely burned down to a skeleton, remained intact.


    Yet he still moved freely!


    Immortal Talent¡ªRighteous Bone Gold Frame!!


    This was the first time Ning Zhuo had seen Yuan Dasheng use his Immortal Talent.


    ¡°Why can Yuan Dasheng use his Immortal Talent even in this new mechanical body?¡± Ning Zhuo wondered.


    Even the terrifying Hellfire couldn¡¯t destroy Yuan Dasheng!


    Once again, Yuan Dasheng charged toward Qi Bai, their faces nearly touching.


    Yuan Dasheng unleashed his ultimate martial technique.


    He reached forward violently.


    Seizing a vital point, Qi Bai was utterly horrified, a cold chill running through him.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡±


    Sun-Crushing Hand!


    In life, Yuan Dasheng had practiced endlessly, crushing wood balls, stone balls, iron balls¡­


    And now, crushing a human!


    So what if Qi Bai was a Golden Core cultivator? Even an immortal would be rendered helpless.


    Besides, Qi Bai wasn¡¯t a body cultivator.


    Qi Bai''s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, his face turning deathly pale as he let out an involuntary howl: "Ohhh¡ª!"


    If he were like Han Ming, having practiced the Immortal Zombie Life Creation Method, it might have been a different story.


    But now¡­


    The pain, excruciating pain, too much pain¡ªunbearable!


    He immediately fainted from the agony!

 Chapter 138: Cloud Hand Seeking Treasure

    "Don''t kill!" Sun Lingtong shouted.


    No need for his reminder, Ning Zhuo had already given the order to the Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    Yuan Dasheng was a martial arts master, able to act freely, and in an instant, he stopped his hand.


    "Xiao Zhuo, use the talismans I gave you!" Sun Lingtong added.


    Ning Zhuo nodded, "Don''t worry, boss, I''m familiar with this."


    Ning Zhuo took out several talismans, rushed to stand in front of Qi Bai, and stuck them on his three dantians and other vital spots.


    The talismans took effect, the light they emitted intertwined and sealed Qi Baipletely.


    "Hurry and go!" Sun Lingtong urged. After this, his eyes went dark, and he could no longer hold on, passing out.


    On the peak of Mount Huoshi.Meng Kui¡¯s face subtly shifted, capturing the results of Qi Bai and Ning Sun¡¯s battle.


    The oue of this battle slightly surprised him.


    When he saw that Ning Zhuo ced the talismans but didn''t take Qi Bai¡¯s life on the spot, his brows furrowed slightly.


    Immediately, he murmured under his breath, sending a message out.


    Chi Dun and Fei Si had been on standby.


    Chi Dun instantly rushed into the sky, heading toward the location of Qi Bai''s defeat.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s retreat was very timely.


    By the time Chi Dun descended to the ground, the ce was already in ruins, with no one in sight.


    "Sigh, toote." Chi Dun quickly used a spell, attempting to catch some clues.


    How could Ning Zhuo have left any obvious clues?


    Seeing Chi Dun¡¯s movement, Zhu Xuanji, who was hundreds of miles away, immediately had a thought, "The City Lord¡¯s mansion is starting to take action."


    "Meng Kui''s divine power technique is about to end!"


    Zhu Xuanji immediately realized this.


    When the entire fortune field was activated, the City Lord¡¯s mansion, under Meng Kui¡¯s order, had retracted all its influence, remained inactive, watching from the sidelines.


    Zhu Xuanji understood: this was because the City Lord¡¯s mansion and Meng Kui¡¯s fortunes were connected, especially Fei Si and Chi Dun, who were Meng Kui¡¯s right-hand men, their fortunes intertwined and inseparable.


    If the two of them were drawn into the fortune field, Meng Kui would not sitfortably and would be implicated as well.


    "Meng Kui¡¯s divine power technique this time ended much faster than I expected."


    "ording to past battle examples, he could continue for much longer. This time, he restrained himself a lot, likely out of concern for the citizens of Huoshi Immortal City."


    "Perhaps, he¡¯s also considering the Lava Immortal Pce."


    "After all, Lava Immortal Pce¡¯s performance under the siege of the beast horde was far below expectations. Sigh, it¡¯s much weaker than I anticipated."


    Zhu Xuanji stopped watching the battle and moved again.


    He cautiously advanced toward Huoshi Immortal City. During this process, whenever the bell rang, he would stop and retreat a distance, ensuring his fortune was not affected.


    Just as Zhu Xuanji had guessed, the intangible fortune field was rapidly shrinking. Moreover, the speed of this shrinkage was increasing.


    Ning Zhuo put away the Battle Ape, Dasheng, and took Sun Lingtong and Qi Bai to an underground base.


    For over a decade, he and Sun Lingtong had secretly sought out the cracks in the Immortal City, building more than twenty underground bases in secret.


    Many of these bases had never been used since their construction.


    In his daily life, Ning Zhuo mostly used only one of these underground bases¡ªthe one his mother had left for him, which had also once held Han Ming.


    This underground base was small. Since it was built, Ning Zhuo had not returned to it.


    Mainly, it housed a healing formation. Due to the solid materials used and the disregard for cost, the healing effects were outstanding.


    At the beginning of his battle with Qi Bai, Ning Zhuo had continuously teleported, deliberately exposing over a dozen underground bases, trying his best to exhaust the powerful enemy.


    This underground base, which was focused on healing, didn''t need to be exposed. Such exposure would be a pointless giveaway, and Ning Zhuo wasn¡¯t foolish.


    Therefore, when Sun Lingtong woke up again, weakly opening his eyes, he found himself in a formation.


    Countless green light spots gathered into his body, vigorously repairing the damage to his physical body.


    As soon as Sun Lingtong woke up, he shouted, "Xiao Zhuo! Help me up, I need to disarm Qi Bai!"


    Ning Zhuo immediately stopped the healing formation and brought Sun Lingtong out.


    Sun Lingtong was extremely weak. In the recent battle, both his body and soul had suffered heavy damage, and his injuries were terrifying. If not for taking the Late Autumn Life Preservation Pill, he would likely have been dead by now.


    Sun Lingtong, unable to walk on his own, leaned on Ning Zhuo for support, breathing rapidly, his face pale, and soon ayer of sweat appeared on his forehead.


    "Boss, can you handle it?" Ning Zhuo asked with concern.


    Sun Lingtong stretched out his small hand, "Give me a Great Vigorous Pill."


    This type of pill could allow a cultivator to explode with great power for a short period, rapidly restoring their mana, energy, and spiritual power, sweeping away any exhaustion. The side effect was that the user would fall into a state of extreme weakness and fatigue for a long time afterward.


    In fact, Ning Zhuo had already taken one during his fight with Qi Bai.


    At that time, he had controlled the Cang Tie Han Armor, bursting out with extreme power, but failed to hit Qi Bai¡¯s fatal point, striking his chest instead.


    Later, with Sun Lingtong¡¯s reminder, Ning Zhuo had pushed himself to fight again, regaining his momentum and charging at Qi Bai among the ruins.


    It was at that moment that Ning Zhuo, hidden inside the Cang Tie Han Armor, had secretly taken a Great Vigorous Pill.


    A Great Vigorous Pill could only be taken once a day; taking more would have no effect.


    For those with weak constitutions, taking one rashly could lead to death.


    Sun Lingtong had taken it many times.


    When he had lost contact with his master and was saved by Ning Zhuo, he was only at the Qi Refining stage. In the vast Huoshi Immortal City, he had struggled to survive. Sometimes, when facing danger, he had no choice but to take a Great Vigorous Pill to deal with immense crises.


    Because he had taken it so many times, Sun Lingtong had gained a lot of experience.


    At this moment, after taking one, his breathing immediately deepened, his pale cheeks flushed again, and his energy and spirit surged dramatically, with light once more shing in his eyes.


    His hair stood on end as if he had been electrocuted.


    He lowered his head, pulled open his pants, and nced inside, nodding in satisfaction, "This pill is top grade."


    A top-grade Great Vigorous Pill made everything on Sun Lingtong''s body stand tall.


    The middle-grade ones couldn''t do that.


    So far, Sun Lingtong had not taken a supreme-grade Great Vigorous Pill.


    Supreme-grade pills were extremely rare and often had miraculous effects.


    Sun Lingtong puffed out his chest, walking with great vigor to Qi Bai¡¯s side.


    Qi Bai had talismans pasted all over his body and was ced within the formation. He was unconscious, showing no signs of waking, and his energy, spirit, and three dantians were all precisely suppressed by the talismans.


    Sun Lingtong stretched out his delicate little hand and gave Qi Bai a light p on the cheek.


    Qi Bai didn¡¯t move at all, but the pped part of his face visibly swelled up.


    Sun Lingtong snorted angrily and sat cross-legged, hands sped together, eyes closed, head lowered, chanting a profound incantation under his breath.


    After chanting for a while, he slowly opened his eyes.


    His whites and pupils were covered in spiritual light, his hands began to emit smoke, the smoke was wisps of white, like clouds and mist. Dots of silver light flickered in the smoke like countless tiny diamonds, brilliantly shining.


    Sun Lingtong''s chanting became softer and softer until it was nearly inaudible.


    A few breathster, his hands disappearedpletely, reced by two streams of cloud smoke connecting to his wrists.


    No-Void Sect Technique¡ªSea-Gazing Cloud-Catching Hand!


    The white cloud smoke touched Qi Bai¡¯s body and quickly seeped into his upper dantian sea of consciousness.


    The cloud smoke rolled in, continuously.


    Momentster, the cloud smoke withdrew. Unlike before, it was now swollen, clearly wrapping around something.


    Sun Lingtong controlled the cloud smoke, which floated to an empty spot beside him, then slowly dispersed.


    A seal was revealed.


    It was a square jade seal, its body as ck as ink, cold and sinister. On the top of the seal was a human skull, like transparent crystal, clear and gleaming. Inside the skull¡¯s teeth was a spiritual pearl, and within the pearl, a blue ghostly fire was burning.


    The inscription on the


    bottom of the seal was four characters¡ªUnderworld Ghost Deity!


    The Underworld Ghost Deity Seal.


    This wasn¡¯t a magical instrument, but a treasure!


    Qi Bai had relied on this treasure to summon the two avatars of Judge Cha and the Bull-headed Ghost Soldier.


    This was Qi Bai¡¯s most important treasure, the core of his overall strength, and the first thing Sun Lingtong took.


    "This kind of jade seal can be refined as long as it¡¯s infused with yin-attributed mana."


    "Even though we aren¡¯t ghost cultivators, if we ever explore the underworld, this will be a powerful weapon!"


    "Seal it first."


    Sun Lingtong took out talismans and ced them on the front and back of the treasure.


    He once again summoned the white smoke, which surged into Qi Bai¡¯s sea of consciousness.


    Not long after, the smoke returned, bringing back a rattle drum.


    It was the Soul-Stirring Drum that had given Ning and Sun such a hard time during the battle.


    Like the Underworld Ghost Deity Seal, it was also a treasure.


    Sun Lingtong easily sealed it with talismans.


    After all, it wasn¡¯t a spiritual treasure and didn¡¯t contain any inherent spirit.


    There were no more treasures in the upper dantian sea of consciousness.


    But Sun Lingtong still extracted a lot of spiritual thoughts, storing them all in a jade slip.


    Next, he used the Sea-Gazing Cloud-Catching Hand to probe Qi Bai¡¯s qi sea.


    There were no tangible treasures in the qi sea, but there were many spell seeds.


    When a cultivator practices a certain spell to a certain level, it forms spell seeds. Continuing down this path, it can eventually develop into a divine ability.


    However, the difficulty and cost far exceed natural talent. Moreover, the divine abilities formed in this way are often quite ordinary.


    Natural talent is recognized as the soil for divine abilities, and the abilities condensed from it are either immensely powerful or uniquely extraordinary.


    Sun Lingtong used the cloud smoke to gather the spell seeds, but he only obtained some of their shadows.


    He took out talisman paper, and the cloud smoke deposited the spell seed shadows onto it, instantly transforming the paper into talismans.


    "They¡¯re all high-quality, they¡¯ll fetch a good price!" Sun Lingtong nodded in satisfaction.


    Ning Zhuo remarked, "It¡¯s better to keep some on hand for ourselves first."


    In the recent battle, he had nearly exhausted ten years¡¯ worth of mechanical creations, leaving him feeling uneasy.


    Finally, Sun Lingtong used the cloud smoke to extract arge amount of Qi Bai¡¯s mana and infused it into a Spirit Storage Orb.


    The cloud smoke officially entered the essence sea lower dantian.


    Sun Lingtong fumbled for a moment, then suddenly his body shook, a look of delight appeared on his face, and he blurted out, "It¡¯s actually this thing, what a treasure, what a treasure!"

 Chapter 139: Escaping Death with the Ghost Gate Grass

    Ning Zhuo''s interest was immediately piqued.


    Earlier, when Sun Lingtong had taken out the Underworld Ghost God Seal and the Soul Dispersing Rattle Drum, there had not been such a look of surprise on his face.


    Could it be that the treasure hidden within Qi Bai''s sea of essence was even more valuable than the previous two magical treasures?


    Under Ning Zhuo''s watchful gaze, Sun Lingtong withdrew the mist and revealed a treasure nt.


    It was a small patch of grass.


    The nt was about three feet tall. Its roots were thick, covered with bark-like textures, and at the base, the roots were white, gradually darkening towards the leaves until they turnedpletely ck.


    The leaves could be divided into two distinct parts.


    The lower half of the leaves were withered and curled, resembling ancient scrolls weathered by time; the upper half of the leaves were full of vitality, with clear veins and a faint glow at the edges, like a glimmer of hope in the darkness.


    Without needing Sun Lingtong to exin, Ning Zhuo eximed, recognizing the origin of the treasure nt: "Ghost Gate Escaping Grass?"This world is divided into two sides: the Yang Realm and the Yin Realm.


    The Yang Realm was the world where Ning Zhuo resided, where the sun rose and set, and life thrived.


    The Yin Realm, on the other hand, was filled with wandering ghosts, shrouded in perpetual gloom and deathly aura.


    The passage between the Yin and Yang Realms was called the Ghost Gate Pass.


    Ghost Gate Pass was a one-way gate.


    One could only enter the Yin Realm from the Yang Realm, or enter the Yang Realm from the Yin Realm.


    Only near the Ghost Gate Passes that led from the Yin Realm into the Yang Realm could the Ghost Gate Escaping Grass grow.


    Its roots were buried deep in the soil of the Yin Realm, absorbing death energy, while its leaves stretched towards the Yang Realm, brimming with life.


    Born from death and full of vitality, this grass possessed an extraordinary ability to heal.


    Even a mortal on the brink of death could recover quickly just by inhaling its fragrance.


    At that moment, Ning Zhuo recalled the battle that had just taken ce.


    Qi Bai had only needed to catch his breath to quickly recover, turning his serious injuries into minor ones.


    It was likely due to this treasure nt!


    Sun Lingtong sighed and said, "Every single Ghost Gate Escaping Grass is a Nascent Soul-level treasure. Qi Bai was fortunate to obtain such an opportunity."


    "The power he cultivated is Yin-based, making the Ghost Gate Escaping Grass a perfect fit for him!"


    Ning Zhuo counted and found that the patch of Ghost Gate Escaping Grass had seven leaves.


    "Fortune smiles upon us!" Ning Zhuo stated concisely.


    The market value of each leaf far exceeded the cost of all the mechanical constructs he had used in the battle! Moreover, these leaves were highly sought after but rarely avable.


    The disparity between cultivators was vast, and the higher one ascended, the greater the gap became, even with treasure nts.


    The mechanical constructs Ning Zhuo lost in battle were at most made with Foundation Establishment materials. However, the Ghost Gate Escaping Grass was a Nascent Soul-level treasure nt, rted to life and healing, which greatly boosted its market price.


    "Now that''s great news, Big Boss. You don''t need to worry about the injuries to your body anymore," Ning Zhuo said with a smile.


    Sun Lingtong nodded slightly. "It''s a pity that my power isn''t Yin-based. To make full use of it, I''ll need to set up a formation."


    Every cultivation resource was used differently and with varying effectiveness depending on the cultivator.


    After carefully storing the Escaping Grass, Sun Lingtong continued to search for more treasures.


    Not long after, he pulled out a set of miniature clothing from Qi Bai''s sea of essence.


    The clothes were only the size of an adult''s palm, woven from golden threads. With such exquisite craftsmanship, it was clear that it was at least the work of a grandmaster tailor.


    It was precisely this set of Golden Thread Garments that had produced the protective golden light, rendering Ning Zhuo''s Strangling Puppet Whip ineffective.


    Now, the Golden Thread Garments were badly damaged and unusable. Repairing them would be troublesome, requiring a high level of expertise in cultivation tailoring techniques.


    After failing to extract any more treasures using the cloud mist, Sun Lingtong forcefully drew out most of Qi Bai''s essence blood and infused it into his Blood Gourd.


    As a result, Qi Bai''s essence, energy, and spirit had been mostly depleted, greatly reducing his threat.


    The Underworld Ghost God Seal, Soul Dispersing Rattle Drum, Ghost Gate Escaping Grass, and Golden Thread Garments were Qi Bai''s most valuable treasures.


    Three of them were magical treasures, while the Ghost Gate Escaping Grass was a Nascent Soul-level treasure nt.


    Only magical treasures were worthy of being nurtured within a cultivator''s three major dantian points.


    Just like Ning Zhuo''s Buddha Heart Demon Seal within his sea of spirit.


    Qi Bai, as expected from a true disciple of a major demonic sect, possessed three magical treasures and a Nascent Soul-level treasure nt¡ªa very impressive fortune.


    It should be noted that most ordinary Golden Core cultivators primarily used magical tools. Even if they owned a magical treasure, they would typically only have one.


    Qi Bai, bearing the title of Blind Judge, was not an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, possessing three magical treasures. The Nascent Soul-level treasure nt was worth a fortune, coveted even by Nascent Soul cultivators.


    "If it weren''t for us being in Puppet Immortal City, if it weren''t for Meng Kui''s divine ¡®Observing the Mountain'' ability, and if it weren''t for your mechanical ape, little brother, defeating Qi Bai would have been nearly impossible!" Sun Lingtong sighed.


    The battle against Qi Bai had been exceptionally difficult and perilous, but the rewards were equally immense.


    The three magical treasures and the treasure nt were the highlights, but Qi Bai''s clothing and essories were also magical tools. Items like storage belts and storage bracelets were all taken by Ning Zhuo beforehand.


    As for the valuable treasures hidden within the three seas of essence, Ning Zhuocked the ability to retrieve those.


    The wealth stored in items like the storage belt remained a mystery, but it gave the two much to look forward to.


    With the valuables from the three seas of essence taken, Sun Lingtong had effectively disarmed Qi Bai.


    However, Sun Lingtong had expended tremendous energy. His once rosyplexion turned pale again, and his previously restored energy plummeted back to its lowest point.


    "Qi Bai must die."


    "If he doesn''t, he wille after us for revenge."


    "But it''s best if we don''t kill him ourselves. He is a true disciple, destined to rise in the Soul-Devouring Sect''s ranks. If we kill him, his soul imprint will be marked by the Soul-Devouring Sect."


    "If the Soul-Devouring Sect seeks vengeance, we won''t be able to withstand it."


    Sun Lingtong sighed, furrowing his brows as he racked his brain on how to deal with Qi Bai.


    But Ning Zhuo suddenly said, "I might have a solution."


    "Oh? What kind of solution?"


    "Let the Lava Immortal Pce kill Qi Bai!"


    Sun Lingtong was intrigued. "What''s your n?"


    Ning Zhuo, however, didn''t immediately reveal it. "I¡¯m not sure if it will work yet. I need to try it first."


    "Big Boss, excuse me for what I''m about to do."


    "Huh?" Sun Lingtong was bewildered, not understanding what Ning Zhuo meant.


    At the same time.


    Puppet Immortal City had entered a state of full lockdown.


    Chi Dun left the City Lord''s mansion, disappointed.


    He had just finished reviewing the various records of the formations with Fei Si but did not find what he was looking for.


    Fei Si said, "The formation on that battlefield was first tampered with by Sun Lingtong using the methods of the No-Void Sect."


    "Later, Qi Bai wiped out all the formation patterns. It''s not surprising there are no detailed records of the battle with him."


    Chi Dun nodded.


    Although they despised each other, he and Fei Si cooperated closely under the City Lord''s orders.


    The two Foundation Establishment demon cultivators from the Soul-Devouring Sect with hooked noses and triangr eyes had already been arrested by the City Lord''s mansion.


    Sun Lingtong, Han Ming, and the young puppet master had all been ced on the wanted list, with significant efforts to capture them.


    Sun Lingtong''s ck market had been dismantled, and Han Ming''s whereabouts remained unknown.


    "Sun Lingtong¡­" Fei Si sighed internally, feeling it was a pity.


    Over the past few years, Sun Lingtong had secretly funneled many benefits his way.


    Fei Si had grown fond of someone like Sun Lingtong¡ªnot just for the benefits, but because he had brought order to the ck market, saving Fei Si a lot of trouble.


    Chi Dun remarked, "Previously, Han Ming''s whereabouts were unknown, but I suspect she''s hiding in some underground base."


    "After today¡¯s observation, I realized just how many gaps there are in the grand formation of Puppet Immortal City!"


    Fei Si pondered, "A full citywide search would be meaningless. I suspect there are still many such underground bases."


    "Why don''t we report to the City Lord and request permission to overhaul the grand formation of the city, reducing the gaps between the formations as much as possible!"


    Chi Dun thought for a moment and agreed.


    Together, they climbed to the mountaintop to seek an audience with the City Lord.


    The City Lord


    was in the midst of discussing the city''s grand formation with Zhu Xuanji.


    Zhu Xuanji said, "When the royal family originally constructed the city''s grand formation, they were mindful of the Lava Immortal Pce. Arge amount of space was left vacant for fear that the formation''s operation would interfere with the pce."


    Meng Kui replied, "Now that the Lava Immortal Pce has re-emerged, if the royal family were to rebuild the city''s formation¡­"


    Zhu Xuanji shook his head. "I didn''te to discuss that with you."


    "City Lord Meng Kui, if you have opinions, feel free to report them."


    "My main reason foring here is to inform you and request your cooperation. Soon, I will enter the Immortal Pce myself!"

 Chapter 140: Wisdom Spirit Stage

    Ning Family''s territory.


    In the cultivation chamber.


    The Ning Family Ancestor was sitting inside a massive block of ice, meditating.


    In his arms, a pot-shaped magical treasure emitted ayer of bright white light.


    The ice block gradually melted away, until it waspletely gone.


    The Ning Family Ancestor slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a breath of stale air. Afterward, he reached up and touched his forehead.


    Even now, there was still a dent on his forehead, though it was not as obvious as before.


    The Ning Family Ancestor''s heart was filled with anger and hatred.


    To him, this had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!He had already entered the Immortal Pce, waiting for the moment when the side hall would be breached, just about to enter. Then, out of nowhere, the *Peach Core of External Fate* descended from the sky, seriously injuring him.


    The Ning Family Ancestor was fully aware of Meng Kui''s mountain-watching divine ability and the *Peach Core of External Fate*.


    After being severely injured by the peach core, the Ning Family Ancestor could only flee with his head in his hands, leaving the Lava Immortal Pce on his own.


    Just like that, the brilliant opportunity was utterly ruined by Meng Kui!


    "Meng Kui is truly too domineering."


    "The Lava Immortal Pce is originally an ownerless object, left for those fated. Anyone should have a chance."


    "My Ning Family was already ater. This time, we were fortunate enough to enter the side hall, yet Meng Kui couldn''t even tolerate that and had to intervene!"


    "He probably thinks the Lava Immortal Pce has long been his personal property."


    "He really won''t let anyone elsey a finger on it!"


    The Ning Family Ancestor caressed the *Ice Heart Jade Pot*, gradually calming down.


    The *Ice Heart Jade Pot* was the Ning Family¡¯s treasured heirloom.


    The entire jade pot was carved meticulously from a single block of pure, ice-like cold jade, its body clear and transparent, resembling a pristine icyke, radiating a faint chill.


    When the Ning Family Ancestor touched the pot, he never felt a biting cold, but instead, a warmth like that of smooth jade.


    The Ning Family Ancestor pondered the current situation.


    "Meng Kui has already reached the Nascent Soul stage and is also the city lord of Huoshi Immortal City."


    "His reason for sealing the volcano¡¯s mouth is justified and proper, appearing aboveboard. If I want to enter the Immortal Pce, I have to go in disguise. But once I¡¯m disguised, I lose the identity of a righteous cultivator and will be shamelessly targeted by Meng Kui."


    "Sigh, looking at it this way¡­"


    "My family''s greatest hope still lies in the Qi Refining stagepetition."


    "But in the Qi Refining stagepetition, can Ning Xiaohui reallypete with Meng Chong?"


    Thinking of Meng Chong, who had immortal aptitude, the Ning Family Ancestor felt a heavy burden.


    He couldn''t help but wonder: Had Meng Chong already reached theter stages of thepetition? Was he already close to the end?


    Touching the dent on his forehead again, the Ning Family Ancestor''s gaze firmed.


    "It seems I must increase my support for the family¡¯s reform team."


    After a moment of reflection, the Ning Family Ancestor promptly gave an order.


    Ning Xiaohui was the first to receive the good news within the reform team.


    "Oh? The Ancestor himself gave the order, taking out the *Frost and Proud Snow Comprehension Diagram* and even activating three bottles of *Snow in Spring Pills* to distribute to the entire reform team. He¡¯ll even use the *Ice Heart Jade Pot''s Ice Jade Wine* to reward the most outstanding cultivators in the team?"


    "Heh."


    Ning Xiaohui nced at her own hands and curled her lips, "Reward the most outstanding? They might as well just give it to me directly. This ispletely unnecessary."


    After experiencing a near-death crisis, Ning Xiaohui''s mentality had undergone a massive transformation.


    Later, with the help of her grandmother, she had initially mastered the innate *Ice Jade Hand*.


    In this process, the power of the *Ice Jade Hand*pletely healed Ning Xiaohui''s injuries.


    As a result, Ning Xiaohui, as ater, had surpassed the Zhou family¡¯s duo, as well as Zheng Jian of the Zheng family. While the other three were still recovering from their injuries, Ning Xiaohui had already begun special training.


    Ning Zhuo returned to the family¡¯s headquarters.


    Along the way, he smiled and nodded at the familiar nsmen he encountered.


    After disarming Qi Bai and having a brief conversation with Sun Lingtong, Ning Zhuo rushed back in secret.


    At this critical moment, he had to return to public view as soon as possible to prevent Han Ming from being captured and revealing that she had seen Yuan Dasheng¡¯s corpse.


    On the surface, it was Ning Zhuo who had acquired Yuan Dasheng¡¯s corpse.


    Even though there was no evidence linking Ning Zhuo and the young puppet master, if Ning Zhuo was investigated, he had plenty of excuses¡ªsuch as selling the corpse on the ck market or it simply being stolen by someone else.


    However, it could indeed draw attention to Ning Zhuo himself.


    To prepare for any potential investigations, Ning Zhuo couldn¡¯t stay long at the underground base.


    Ning Ze¡¯s residence.


    "Little Zhuo, you¡¯re finally back. The whole city was in chaos yesterday with conflicts everywhere. You weren¡¯t injured, were you?" Wang Lan hurried over, asking with concern.


    Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly, "Aunt, you can rest assured. Ever since I was ambushed, I''ve been very cautious. Besides, I also have the family¡¯s assigned guards protecting me. Nothing can happen."


    "That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good." Wang Lan suddenly sighed, "Sigh, you¡¯re fine, but your uncle has suffered."


    "The prisoner in the cell next to his suddenly lost his mind. Just over a small quarrel, he grabbed your uncle¡¯s hair and mmed his head repeatedly against the bars."


    "Your uncle is bleeding profusely and urgently needs a good environment to recover."


    "Little Zhuo, please go and beg the Young n Leader again. Ask him to release your uncle!"


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s expression darkened, showing sadness, as he sighed, "Aunt, I didn¡¯t know such a thing happened!"


    "Uncle has truly suffered this time."


    "But I already pleaded with the Young n Leaderst time. Begging him again now has very little chance of sess."


    "Unless¡­"


    "Aunt, you can repay all the cultivation resources you owe me from these past years."


    "This¡­" Wang Lan¡¯s face changed instantly, her brows furrowing, a look of distress covering her face, while a surge of anger rose fiercely within her.


    She screamed in her heart, "That Ning Xiaoren never gave any cultivation resources at all, the truth isn¡¯t like that at all!"


    But she could only shout silently in her heart.


    "Little Zhuo, to be honest, your uncle''s household is really poor. We have so many daily expenses that there¡¯s hardly any surplus."


    "It¡¯spletely unrealistic for me to give it all at once."


    Ning Zhuo cut her off, "Aunt, I still need to cultivate. Pay back part of it first. You haven¡¯t repaid anything so far."


    Unwilling to continue entangling with Wang Lan, Ning Zhuo politely declined and then shut himself in the cultivation room.


    He summoned the *Floating Cloud Scarf*, shrouding himself inyers of clouds, and took out the *Wooden Martial Ape: Dasheng* and the *Golden Blood Battle Ape* puppet.


    The former had been reduced to just a skeleton after the fierce battle.


    Had it not been for Yuan Dasheng¡¯s use of his immortal aptitude, even the skeleton would have been burned away by the Nether Fire.


    Ning Zhuo inspected the skeleton and found that its material was still the same, but it had be much more fragile than before.


    "Is it because it bore the *Righteous Bone Gold Frame*?"


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s eyes flickered slightly.


    He had always been puzzled as to how Yuan Dasheng had managed to use the *Righteous Bone Gold Frame* inside the *Wooden Martial Ape*. He nned to search for some rted books to studyter.


    With the *Wooden Martial Ape: Dasheng* almostpletely destroyed, Ning Zhuo took out the *Golden Blood Battle Ape* puppet.


    Divine ability prototype¡ª*Life Hanging by a Thread*!


    He used the same method to extract Yuan Dasheng''s spirit from the *Wooden Martial Ape* skeleton and ced it into the *Golden Blood Battle Ape* puppet.


    "Yuan Dasheng¡¯s spirit has undergone a significant change!"


    The moment it was drawn out, Ning Zhuo made a discovery.


    Previously, Yuan Dasheng¡¯s spirit had appeared as a pink light sphere, with the surface of the sphere asionally morphing into the shape of a baby monkey¡¯s head.


    Now, though Yuan Dasheng''s spirit was still a pink light sphere, its size had increased more than threefold. The monkey head that emerged was no longer that of a baby monkey, but of an adult monkey.


    The outline of the adult monkey head was more vivid and lifelikepared to the baby monkey¡¯s head before.


    Moreover, while it hovered in midair, Yuan Dasheng¡¯s spirit was now enveloped in ayer of radiance.


    This was a feature that hadn¡¯t existed before.


    Based on this, Ning Zhuo quickly thought of the relevant records in *On Spirits*.


    "Thisyer of radiance is called ¡®spirit glow¡¯."


    "When the spirit bes abundant enough to overflow, reaching a certain threshold, spirit glow will appear."


    "As the spirit


    continues to grow, the spirit glow will be more and more intense, allowing it to interact with and analyze all things."


    "So, Yuan Dasheng has already entered the *Wisdom Spirit Stage*!"


    The stages of spirits are ssified as follows.


    The first stage is the *Non-Spirit Stage*, the second is the *Dead Spirit Stage*, the third is the *Living Spirit Stage*, the fourth is the *Wisdom Spirit Stage*, and the fifth is the *Divine Spirit Stage*.


    The *Dead Spirit Stage* is divided into five levels, as is the *Living Spirit Stage*. From lowest to highest, the *Living Spirit Stage* is divided into: Spirit Star, Spirit Agile, Spirit Long, Spirit Active, and Spirit Keen.


    Previously, after Yuan Dasheng¡¯s spirit had be full, he had reached the *Spirit Active* level. At this level, the spirit was lively and active, greatly influenced by emotions.


    ording to Ning Zhuo¡¯s research, as long as hemanded in line with the spirit¡¯s tendencies, he could once again regain full control.


    After the *Spirit Active* stage came the *Spirit Keen* stage.


    "Looking at it now, Yuan Dasheng skipped the *Spirit Keen* stage and directly advanced to the first stage of the *Wisdom Spirit Stage*¡ª*Spirit Connection*."


    "The *Living Spirit Stage* is also called the beast spirit stage, as it follows instinct. The *Wisdom Spirit Stage* spirit, on the other hand, is a wise spirit. The first major transformation that urs is the ability tomunicate."


    "This exins why Yuan Dasheng can speak."


    The first stage of the *Wisdom Spirit Stage*, *Spirit Connection*, refers to the spirit¡¯s ability to start normalmunication with its surroundings.


    Ning Zhuo ced Yuan Dasheng¡¯s spirit into the *Golden Blood Battle Ape* puppet but did not immediatelymunicate with him, instead putting it away in a storage bag.


    Wrapped tightly inyers of floating clouds, Ning Zhuo took out a meditation cushion and began his daily cultivation.


    *Mirror tform Spirit Technique*, sixth level.


    *Five Elements Qi Regtion Art*, fifth level.


    *Demonic Blood Tendon Technique*, fifth level.


    "My cultivation is still too weak, far too weak."


    "This time, I only defeated Qi Bai thanks to Meng Kui¡¯s peach core, and secondly, my years of umted preparation."


    "When will I be able to rely on my own cultivation to defeat powerful enemies?"


    "What other methods are there to help me cultivate faster?"


    "I must cultivate faster. I must be stronger!"


    Having just survived a life-and-death battle, Ning Zhuo¡¯s desire for cultivation was ten times stronger than before!


    At the same time.


    In another part of the Ning Family¡¯s territory.


    "Thirdyer peak of Qi Refining, *Ice Jade Hand*! Just based on these two points, how could Zhou Zhu, Zhou Zhenshen, or Zheng Jian be my match?"


    Ning Xiaohui¡¯s face was filled with pride.


    This was all because the talents of Zheng Jian and the other two were not suited forbat.


    But *Ice Jade Hand* was different!


    "*Frost and Proud Snow Comprehension Diagrams*¡­" Ning Xiaohui unfolded the two scrolls, examining them carefully.


    "I have the *Ice Jade Hand*, which gives me a natural affinity for understanding this."


    "As long as Iprehend the *Frost Technique* and *Proud Snow Technique*, I will be like a tiger with wings!"


    "By then, only Meng Chong could be considered my true rival."


    "As for the others, they are not worth worrying about."

 Chapter 141: Ning Xiaohui vs Meng Chong

    Lava Immortal Pce.


    Room One.


    Various mechanical parts were piled into small hills.


    The puppet Ning Zhuo jumped down from the mountain.


    ¡°You''re a bit slow,¡± the puppet Ning Xiaohui said, folding her arms and staring at Ning Zhuo with a trace of arrogance.


    Ning Zhuo shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve been obsessed with improving the Mechanical Tree Martial Apetely, so I¡¯m not in great shape. Ning Xiaohui, you''re insisting on dragging me through this challenge with just the two of us. Are you confident?¡±


    Ning Xiaohui snorted coldly. ¡°The opportunity in Lava Immortal Pce is right in front of us. The four factions arepeting fiercely in Huoshi Immortal City, and our Ning Family is currently inst ce.¡±


    ¡°I called you here only because you are part of the Ning Family.¡±


    ¡°I don''t need you to do anything. This time, just follow me.¡±After saying this, Ning Xiaohui turned and left.


    Ning Zhuo paused slightly, thinking, ¡°Ning Xiaohui¡¯s demeanor ispletely different from before. Her confidence is so high¡ªshe must have made a major breakthrough or gained some huge advantage.¡±


    Ning Zhuo became somewhat curious.


    Though he had shown reluctance when Ning Xiaohui called him to join her in the pce, he was actually quite happy.


    Joining the reformation team had been the right decision! This action had been giving him positive feedback all along. Ning Zhuo had been worrying about how to find a reason to enter Lava Immortal Pce, and now Ning Xiaohui hade to him voluntarily, like a pillow sent to someone who was feeling sleepy.


    Regarding Ning Xiaohui¡¯s arrangements, Ning Zhuo was also happy to follow behind her and ck off.


    The first gate.


    Ning Xiaohui and Ning Zhuo both stepped forward to im their rewards.


    ¡°You take the spirit stones. I¡¯ll need them,¡± Ning Xiaohui instructed.


    ¡°Understood!¡± Ning Zhuoplied smoothly.


    Now, in the Ning Family, only the two of them had reached the peak of the thirdyer of Qi Refining. Ning Zhuo¡¯s true cultivation level had not been exposed. Therefore, in the family, Ning Xiaohui really had no choice but to call on him to participate.


    After receiving the spirit stones, Ning Zhuo handed them directly to Ning Xiaohui.


    This action satisfied Ning Xiaohui. She nodded and epted them. ¡°At least you¡¯re sensible.¡±


    Ning Zhuo chuckled softly. ¡°As long as you can lead me deeper, I¡¯m willing to cooperate.¡±


    ¡°Watch closely,¡± Ning Xiaohui said as she pushed open the door.


    But she only opened a small crack.


    That was enough.


    Then, she silently activated her talent.


    Ice Jade Hand!


    The puppet Ning Xiaohui¡¯s hands emitted white light, spreading a strong freezing aura.


    The freezing aura quickly permeated, following the crack in the door, covering the walls and ceiling of Room Two.


    Only the door was spared.


    Ning Xiaohui pushed the door open and walked in leisurely.


    Ning Zhuo followed closely behind, praising her non-stop. ¡°Amazing, absolutely amazing!¡±


    ¡°Ning Xiaohui, you really live up to your name.¡±


    ¡°What spell is this?¡± Ning Zhuo asked deliberately.


    ¡°Hmph, with your knowledge, all you know about are spells,¡± Ning Xiaohui snorted coldly. She liked hearing ttery and praise, but on the surface, she remained indifferent, as if aplishing these things was a trivial matter for her.


    ¡°This is my talent¡ªIce Jade Hand!¡± Ning Xiaohui announced calmly, raising her chin slightly.


    ¡°Ice Jade Hand?!¡± Ning Zhuo eximed in surprise, widening his eyes as he stared at Ning Xiaohui.


    ¡°Your talent can achieve this level?¡± Ning Zhuo looked extremely shocked.


    This made Ning Xiaohui feel immensely pleased.


    Ning Zhuo continued, ¡°If you can do this, why didn¡¯t you use it before?¡±


    Ning Xiaohui snorted coldly. ¡°For one, I hadn¡¯t fully mastered it yet and couldn¡¯t use it freely. And secondly, are you a pig-brain? There were outsiders before¡ªwhy would I reveal my trump card?¡±


    Ning Zhuo nodded repeatedly. ¡°Understood, only you could think that far ahead, Xiaohui.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve always been brilliant, ever since we were young!¡±


    ¡°No wonder you said earlier that I just need to follow you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re truly amazing.¡±


    ¡°With you in the Ning Family, we will surely rise to the top, leaving the other three factions far behind!¡±


    Ning Xiaohui thoroughly enjoyed Ning Zhuo¡¯s praise.


    This time, she had deliberately brought Ning Zhuo along to subdue this talented branch member, making sure the entire reformation team would recognize who the leader was!


    From the looks of it, her n was progressing very smoothly.


    ¡°You¡¯re from the Ning Family. As long as you know this, that¡¯s enough.¡±


    ¡°From now on, as long as you follow me, you will keep winning!¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which, you also have talent.¡±


    ¡°But you need to develop it. First, we need to determine exactly what kind it is.¡±


    ¡°I look forward to your future performance!¡±


    ¡°Understood! I¡¯ll do my best,¡± Ning Zhuo replied, humbly ying along with Ning Xiaohui.


    Ning Xiaohui continued to clear the levels.


    She kept using her talent, unleashing freezing auras that gradually froze Room Two, starting from the front section, spreading to the middle, and finally reaching the rear.


    Ning Xiaohui grew increasingly exhausted, her soul power rapidly diminishing. There was no other way¡ªthis was just a puppet body, not her true physical form.


    The energy transfer through the Life-Hanging-by-a-Thread connection caused significant losses.


    After all, Ning Xiaohui didn¡¯t have the rted divine ability as a prototype.


    While Ning Xiaohui was as tired as a dog, Ning Zhuo leisurely followed behind, rxed and carefree.


    Of course, he didn¡¯t show the slightest bit of ease outwardly.


    He acted very nervous, constantly speaking¡ªsometimes offering high praise to Ning Xiaohui, sometimes expressing concern about their progress, and sometimes even suggesting that Ning Xiaohui take a break.


    Ning Xiaohui coldly rejected the idea of resting.


    The freezing aura she released wouldn¡¯tst long before it dissipated.


    Thus, Ning Xiaohui could only push herself to the limit, aiming to reach the second gate as quickly as possible¡ªthat was the wisest choice.


    ¡°Xiaohui, you¡¯re absolutely amazing!¡±


    ¡°In just a dozen more steps, we¡¯ll reach the second gate and pass this level.¡±


    ¡°Why is there still such a long way to go?¡± Ning Xiaohui felt the struggle intensely, but she had to maintain her strong facade, gritting her teeth and giving it her all.


    Just as she and Ning Zhuo were about to seed, the door behind them suddenly opened.


    In the next moment, the puppet Meng Chong walked in.


    He saw Ning Zhuo and Ning Xiaohui and couldn¡¯t help but be startled.


    ¡°It¡¯s Meng Chong!¡± Ning Zhuo shouted, his voice trembling slightly, showing deep fear.


    ¡°Meng Chong¡­¡± Ning Xiaohui¡¯s eyes narrowed. In her mind, Meng Chong was her only true rival, her biggestpetitor.


    But Meng Chong merely nced at the two Ning Family members before withdrawing his gaze.


    Crackle.


    Lightning shed as Meng Chong darted around the room, bouncing off the walls and ceiling like a bolt of electricity.


    ¡°You¡­¡± he began, standing at the first gate.


    ¡°You¡¯re too slow.¡± After saying this, Meng Chong dissipated the lightning and had alreadynded at the second gate.


    Ning Xiaohui: !!!


    Meng Chong¡¯s dominance deeply shocked her.


    She took a deep breath. ¡°Meng Chong, we both benefit from cooperation. You¡¯ve seen my strength. Let¡¯s team up and explore the pce together.¡±


    Ning Xiaohui proactively extended an invitation.


    However, Meng Chong raised his hand, pointing it at her. ¡°Just you?¡±


    Celestial Talent¡ªWild Sprint Thunderp.


    Spell¡ªOne Burst of Qi.


    With the power of lightning, the speed of the qi flow became incredibly fast. Originally, it was just a support spell, but now it was forcefully turned into an offensive one.


    Too fast!


    Ning Xiaohui had no time to react before the qi flow knocked her away, smashing her into a wall, triggering a trap. A heavy hammer mechanism fell and crushed her to pieces.


    Ning Zhuo rushed to save Ning Xiaohui, but halfway through, he stepped on another trap. Once again, he fell into darkness, trapped until his soul power ran out.


    ¡°Two small fry,¡± Meng Chong sneered dismissively, turned to im his reward, and walked into the third gate with a serious expression.


    His fighting spirit soared, and upon entering Room Three, he shouted loudly, ¡°I, Meng Chong, have returned!¡±


    ¡°That Mechanical Ape, today I will settle the score!¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°Where is it?!¡±


    Meng Chong scanned the room, then looked around a second time, but he still couldn¡¯t find the ¡°Mechanical Ape¡± he had been longing to defeat.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Where is that Mechanical Ape?!¡±


    Meng Chong felt utterly deted, as if his punch hadnded on cotton. The disappointment was overwhelming.


    He had trained diligently, making significant progress in strength, only to find that the opponent he had been determined to surpass was gone!


    ¡°If I keep clearing the levels, will I encounter it again?¡± Meng Chong wondered, rekindling hope.


    Without Yuan Dasheng, the puppet fighters in Room Three were numerous but couldn¡¯t stand up to Meng Chong at all.


    After spending some time, Meng Chong knocked down all the mechanical puppets and pushed open the door, officially entering the preparation


    room.


    ¡°This checkpoint seems a bit special?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    His eyes immediatelynded on the ranking stone pir.

 Chapter 142: Yuan Dasheng vs Meng Chong (The Third Round)

    Lava Immortal Pce.


    It was Meng Chong''s first time entering the preparation room.


    The Five-faced Stone Pir Leaderboard was quite eye-catching, especially as it rotated slowly and continuously.


    Meng Chong immediately spotted the stone pir.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had been keeping an eye on him. Upon seeing Meng Chong enter the preparation room, its half-open eyelids widened slightly out of excitement.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was in poor condition.


    Earlier, when the Lava Immortal Pce was under siege by the Red me Beasts, the situation had be quite dangerous.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit personally intervened, entering the Dao Master''s mechanical puppet to take control and fight. After a fierce battle, it managed to turn the tide and finally killed the Golden Core-level Fire Fusion Demon Ape.


    Its spiritual essence had been heavily depleted.This was mainly because the mechanical creation of the Dao Master did not match it at all.


    Even now, many Red me Beasts were still besieging the Lava Immortal Pce. The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had to organize the mechanical creations to set up defenses, arrange for various repairs, and also oversee the trials for the Qi Refining disciples.


    This overwhelming workload was a constant and draining consumption of its spiritual essence.


    Even so, upon seeing Meng Chong approach the leaderboard, it couldn¡¯t help but feel excited and transmitted some crucial information.


    In an instant, a me whip materialized andshed at it!


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit retracted its head and ws into its shell, enduring the pain in silence.


    Meng Chong received the hint and, with a refreshed spirit, realized this was the preparation room and not a ce of great danger.


    He slightly lowered his guard and walked toward the Five-faced Stone Pir Leaderboard.


    Following the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit''s guidance, Meng Chong first touched the stone pir and obtained the Trial Disciple¡¯s Mark.


    Then, he raised his head to examine the leaderboard.


    The leaderboard disyed rankings for the Qi Refining List, Essence Refining List, Spirit Refining List, Progress List, and Speedrun List.


    Among these five leaderboards, Meng Chong ranked second on the Qi Refining List, Progress List, and Speedrun List. He was not listed on the Essence Refining List or Spirit Refining List.


    Meng Chong felt a sense of indignation. From a young age, he had always strived to be number one.


    He was blessed with immortal potential, a genius among geniuses, destined to surpass others and stand at the peak.


    How could he settle for second ce?!


    However, when Meng Chong saw the name at the top, he became at ease.


    The name upying the first ce on all five lists was the same ¡ª ¡°Entry Standard.¡±


    "Only by surpassing this standard can one be epted into the Lava Immortal Pce?"


    "The three masters of the sect truly live up to their reputation as great powers at the Void Refining level. Every trial here is incredibly difficult, and even the entry standard is so high."


    "Good!"


    "This makes me even more eager for the challenge."


    "Moreover, there are rewards for being ranked on the leaderboard. That¡¯s really nice."


    "Hahaha!"


    Meng Chong¡¯s fighting spirit soared. After studying the room for a while, he proceeded to open the door and entered Room No. 4.


    Inside the main hall of the Lava Immortal Pce.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, still curled up in its shell, shuddered as the me whip struck it, and it rolled its eyes at Meng Chong in frustration.


    It had clearly given Meng Chong a heads-up, specifically informing him that he ranked ¡°second¡±! Yet Meng Chong didn¡¯t think much of it and evenughed happily.


    This gave the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit the feeling of wanting to spit blood.


    It had already done everything within its ability, but Meng Chong failed to notice the strangeness of the situation.


    Well!


    It had endured that whip for nothing.


    Checkpoint No. 2.


    After Meng Chong left, Ning Zhuo quickly crawled out of the mechanical trap.


    He first went to the first door and used the Buddha Heart Demon Seal to crack it open slightly, peeking into Room No. 1.


    After confirming no one was there, he closed the door and summoned Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, inside.


    Things weren¡¯t like they used to be.


    As more and more participants joined, even Ning Zhuo himself had difficulty entering and exiting the Lava Immortal Pce, let alone summoning Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    The trend was bing clear.


    In the future, the risk of Ning Zhuo summoning Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, would grow higher and higher.


    A teleportation circle appeared, bringing Yuan Dasheng to Ning Zhuo¡¯s puppet.


    ¡°Your subordinate greets the lord!¡± Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, knelt on one knee before Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo was very interested in Yuan Dasheng''s performance during his Intelligence Spirit stage, but now was not the time for a detailed examination.


    "The mechanical body of the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape is far inferior to the Tree Martial Ape."


    "But it¡¯s the only entity recognized by the Lava Immortal Pce, allowing it to freely enter and exit the pce."


    "Just for this reason, the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape is of immense value and cannot be reced."


    Ning Zhuo took Yuan Dasheng through the second checkpoint and approached the second door.


    To avoid the possibility that Meng Chong might still be in Room No. 3, Ning Zhuo left his puppet behind and had Yuan Dasheng push the door open to check the situation first.


    What they found was chaos in Room No. 3 ¡ª the mechanical puppets had all been reduced to piles of scrap, scattered across the floor.


    "As expected." When Ning Zhuo pushed open the door and saw this scene, he wasn¡¯t surprised at all.


    He had anticipated this.


    Every time Meng Chong faced a setback or obstacle, he would return with a significant boost in strength.


    "This is the potential of immortality, as well as the will of fate!"


    Ning Zhuo sighed and led Yuan Dasheng through Room No. 3, arriving at the third door.


    Once again, it was Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, who pushed open the door first.


    They didn¡¯t find Meng Chong.


    Ning Zhuo didn¡¯t rush in. Instead, he had Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, retrieve the surveinceponents from a corner.


    After reviewing them, Ning Zhuo obtained critical information through Yuan Dasheng. He now knew every step of Meng Chong''s movements in this room.


    First, Meng Chong examined the leaderboard stone pir, then interacted with various mechanical tforms and tools, and finally left the room to proceed to the next checkpoint.


    "Meng Chong obtained the Trial Disciple''s Mark¡­ Strange, it¡¯s as if he already knew the precise steps here and didn¡¯t need to experiment. He justpleted it effortlessly."


    Ning Zhuo passed by the leaderboard stone pir.


    At that moment, two names once again appeared on the leaderboard.


    Previously, Yuan Dasheng had been the one ranked.


    But after Yuan Dasheng was secretly plotted against by Ning Zhuo and eventually turned into his mechanical creation, there had only been Ning Zhuo''s name on the leaderboard for a while.


    Ning Zhuo had put a lot of thought into what name to use.


    Firstly, he couldn¡¯t change the name to someone else from the immortal city. Once the city lord¡¯s mansion or the other factions conducted a thorough investigation, they could easily capture the individual and verify the truth. From there, they would deduce that the names on the leaderboard could be altered or someone was cheating. This would be extremely disadvantageous to Ning Zhuo.


    Secondly, he couldn¡¯t use a dead person¡¯s name.


    Because Yuan Dasheng had been removed from the list.


    This proved that deadpetitors would be excluded.


    Ning Zhuo needed his name to remain on the leaderboard without drawing suspicion.


    "Living people¡¯s and dead people¡¯s names won¡¯t work. I guess I¡¯ll have to y a trick."


    That was Ning Zhuo''s thought at the time.


    In the end, he changed the name to "Entry Standard."


    There were many advantages to this.


    The first was that it concealed his identity as apetitor.


    The second was that it corresponded with the Trial Disciple¡¯s Mark, mutually "confirming" each other.


    In Ning Zhuo¡¯s judgment, since he had figured out the Trial Disciple''s Mark, others would likely do so as well.


    By then, each Trial Disciple''s Mark would serve as the best endorsement for Ning Zhuo.


    The third benefit was that it allowed for flexibility in his ranking.


    If, in the future, someone surpassed the "Entry Standard," they would think, "I made the cut; I met the requirements to be an entry disciple."


    And if the "Entry Standard"ter surpassed others, they would think, "Oh, the entry standard is flexible." It¡¯s like many family assessments that only reward the top ten. The entry standard of the Lava Immortal Pce also adjusts based on the trial disciples¡¯ performance.


    Ning Zhuo passed by the leaderboard stone pir.


    Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, pushed open the door to Room No. 4 first.


    Through the surveinceponents, Ning Zhuo discovered that when Meng Chong entered the room, he paused slightly, then cast several spells in session, obtaining mechanicalponents corresponding to each spell.


    Ning Zhuo muttered, ¡°Strange! It¡¯s as if Meng Chong already knew what to do. There was no exploration, and he just found the answers directly.¡±


    Ning Zhuo quickened his pace with Yuan Dasheng.


    There was no sign of Meng Chong in Room No. 5 either.


    The surveinceponents showed Meng Chong¡¯s rxed demeanor as he cleared the checkpoint.


    Ning Zhuo carefully reviewed everything and confirmed once again that


    Meng Chong had made significant progress ¡ª he had learned how to channel his immortal potential into his spells!


    This made Ning Zhuo even more solemn.


    Room No. 6.


    Meng Chongughed heartily, "Now this is interesting. Wild Sprint Thunderp!"


    With a shout, his body moved like lightning, dodging several spell strikes.


    He then used his immortal potential again, this time enhancing the Ice-Embracing Technique and a breath of Qi.


    The Ice-Embracing Technique and the breath of Qi merged, forming a straight st of freezing air. In the flicker of lightning, it swiftly hit a spell-casting puppet.


    The spell-casting puppet was instantly frozen.


    Meng Chong created an opening and took the opportunity to break out of the puppet¡¯s encirclement.


    However, just as he was about to revel in his sess, Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, suddenly appeared!


    "Ah, it''s you!!" Meng Chong was wildly excited upon seeing it.


    Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, charged forward, wreathed in mes, to engage Meng Chong in closebat.


    Meng Chong was unafraid, even thrilled, "Last time, I was burned to death by the mes. This time, I won¡¯t. I have spells to protect me."


    Meng Chong cast the Ice-Embracing Technique and a breath of Qi,bining them with the Release Qi Ring, surrounding himself with a thickyer of freezing air.


    With the freezing air countering the mes, Meng Chong no longer feared being burned.


    But in the next moment, Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng¡¯s palm mmed into Meng Chong¡¯s chest.


    The spell ¡ª Five Elements Disorder Technique!


    This was a reward from Dao Gate¡¯s third checkpoint, and Ning Zhuo was using it in actualbat against Meng Chong for the first time.


    As for its effect¡­ it was outstanding!


    In an instant, the spiritual energy inside Meng Chong''s body went from being well-ordered to a chaotic mess.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Meng Chong''s body was immobilized, while also suffering from the bacsh of the interrupted Ice-Embracing Technique and other spells.


    Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, struck again, easily plucking off Meng Chong¡¯s puppet head.


    Then, with a powerful squeeze, he crushed the puppet head instantly.


    Meng Chong could only return to his body outside the pce with overwhelming reluctance, his soul flying out.


    Inside the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.


    He suddenly opened his eyes, still in disbelief, ¡°What kind of spell was that? It seemed topletely counter the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art?¡±


    ¡°Lost again!¡±


    ¡°No matter, this time I gained a lot.¡±


    Meng Chong was filled with anticipation for the next time he would enter the pce, his fighting spirit burning even brighter.


    ¡°By the way, send thetest intelligence to Fei Si and my grandfather. Let them help me figure out if there¡¯s a faster way to clear the checkpoints.¡±

 Chapter 143: Cheating Again!

    The sky was already bright.


    However, a certain courtyard of the Zheng family remained shrouded in darkness.


    Night Star Heavenly Silk Formation!


    Once this formation was set up, it created a night sky phenomenon within a certain area.


    This was still a restrained version; if the full power of the formation were unleashed, it would cover a range of more than ten miles.


    The darkness in the courtyard sky fluctuated and gradually transformed into a piece of silk.


    From the soft glow of the night silk, four figures flew out, growing from small torge.


    All four were Golden Core cultivators.


    They were the ancestors of the Zhou family and the Zheng family.Earlier, the four Golden Core cultivators had a bet.


    The Zhou family¡¯s two Golden Core cultivators set up a formation, while the Zheng family¡¯s two Golden Core cultivators broke through it.


    The stakes were the Zheng family¡¯s Nine Suns Yellow Bull Paste and the Zhou family¡¯s Southern Sky Vermilion Bird Constetion Formation Diagram.


    The four Golden Core cultivatorsnded on the ground.


    The two from the Zheng family appeared proud, their lips slightly curled.


    In contrast, the two from the Zhou family looked calm but somewhat gloomy. Zhou Nongying still had a trace of disbelief on his face.


    Seeing the two Golden Core cultivators of the Zheng family looking over, Zhou Nongying sighed, "Brothers of the Zheng family, you¡¯ve won."


    One of the Zheng family¡¯s Golden Core cultivators, Zheng Danlian, said, "Ashamed. Our sess in breaking the formation was merely due to the advantage of our weapon."


    These words immediately made the two Golden Core cultivators from the Zhou family recall the previous battle, and their expressions changed again.


    Zhou Nongying sighed again, "I didn''t expect that after so many years of secretly umting strength, your noble family would craft such a treasure."


    "Losing to this is no shame at all."


    "A bet is a bet. When we return to our family, I will personally deliver the Southern Sky Vermilion Bird Constetion Formation Diagram to your residence."


    "Hahaha, good!" Zheng Shuanggouughed heartily and took out a bottle of pills, immediately tossing it to Zhou Nongying.


    Zheng Shuanggou said, "This is the Nine Suns Yellow Bull Paste! The future of the family rests with the younger generation."


    "Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zhenshen are both outstanding talents. Treating their ailments is of utmost importance, and their foundation must not be neglected."


    The two Golden Core cultivators from the Zhou family exchanged nces, and Zhou Nongying pretended to hesitate, asking, "This is¡­"


    Zheng Shuanggou cupped his hands, "Ah, we have a favor to ask."


    "The Zhou family excels in formations, and Fellow Daoist Zhou Nongying is particrly skilled in arranging formations. In the previous battle, my brother and I were deeply impressed."


    "Could we trouble Brother Zhou to personally set up a formation for our family¡¯s weapon?"


    "Oh? This matter¡­" Zhou Nongying looked troubled. "Arranging a formation, of course, is within my abilities."


    "But in that case, I would need to refer to the weapon¡¯s blueprint."


    "What¡¯s so difficult about that? You can look at it as much as you want!" Zheng Shuanggou responded with great straightforwardness.


    Zheng Danlian added, "Many years ago, we obtained this mechanical blueprint from the Lava Immortal Pce."


    Even so, the demeanor of the two Golden Core cultivators from the Zheng family still moved the two from the Zhou family.


    In the recent bet, the Zhou family lost to a mechanical weapon.


    The weapon possessed immense power and could change form through mechanical switches. Once transformed, the weapon would exhibit entirely different attack methods.


    By showing the mechanical blueprint to the Zhou family, the threat posed by this mechanical weapon to them would be greatly reduced.


    This was beneficial for the Zhou family, and the two Golden Core cultivators immediately nodded in agreement and inquired about the timeline for setting up the formation.


    Zheng Danlian said, "The weapon is not yet fully crafted. The finalponents need to be added, and a vast amount of fire energy is required to melt the key materials."


    Only after the weapon was fully crafted would it be suitable for the formation to be attached.


    Zheng Shuanggou added, "Lastly, during the tempering process, an extreme cold force is needed. This is what our familycks."


    Zhou Nongying said, "The Ning family originates from the North Wind Country, and their main cultivation techniques are all ice-based. They should be able to handle this."


    Zheng Shuanggou nodded, "That¡¯s what we thought as well."


    After a brief conversation, the head of the Zheng family knocked on the door and entered respectfully, saluting, "Two seniors, two ancestors, something significant has happened in the city in recent days."


    He then took out an invitation, "This is an invitation from Detective Zhu Xuanji, who wishes to gather all the Golden Core cultivators in the city to explore the Lava Immortal Pce together."


    After hearing the report from the head of the Zheng family, the expressions of the four Golden Core cultivators changed.


    "Meng Kui! Sitting by and watching, always meddling from the sidelines¡­ Hmph, he¡¯s truly our city lord. He uses people without hesitation, disregarding the lives of the city¡¯s inhabitants."


    The four Golden Core cultivators, having learned they were being manipted, no longer felt in a good mood.


    "I said earlier, Meng Kui is one of the Four Generals of the Meng family. For him, bringing the Lava Immortal Pce and even the Huoshi Immortal City under the Meng family¡¯s control is the best oue."


    "It¡¯s not surprising that as a Nascent Soul-level cultivator, a single move from him changes the entire situation."


    "In my opinion, what he really wants to deal with is the Lava Immortal Pce, right? By using the Red me Demon Beasts, he¡¯s weakening the pce while appearing justified and beyond reproach."


    "After all, even the Soul-Devouring Sect¡¯s true heirs have shown up."


    "Could Qi Bai be that shadow demon cultivator?"


    "It¡¯s hard to say."


    "It¡¯s rare for a true heir at the Golden Core level like Qi Bai to be defeated and captured."


    "The one who acted was Sun Lingtong. He¡¯s the master of the ck market and has been operating in Huoshi City for many years. He already has peak Foundation Establishment-levelbat strength, and most importantly, he hails from the No-Void Sect."


    The No-Void Sect was a major demonic sect on par with the Soul-Devouring Sect.


    "Sun Lingtong didn¡¯t show much in this battle. The one who truly defeated Qi Bai was¡­ a mechanical cultivator named ¡®young puppet master.¡¯"


    "Does this mean that years ago, the No-Void Sect had already beenying their ns in Huoshi City?"


    Soul-Devouring Sect, No-Void Sect¡­


    The four Golden Core cultivators exchanged transmitted thoughts, their expressions growing even more solemn.


    The three sect leaders were Void Refining experts, and the Lava Immortal Pce was their legacy and inheritance, attracting all sorts of powerful factions.


    Compared to these two demonic sects, the Zhou and Zheng families were merely small forces limited to a corner.


    "The winds are turbulent¡­" The Golden Core ancestor sighed.


    "The only ones we can truly rely on are the Southern Dou Kingdom."


    "Hahaha, Zhu Xuanji pointed out Meng Kui¡¯s magical techniques in his invitation. This man, with his royal lineage, truly understands diplomacy and strategy."


    "Right now, the top of Mount Huoshi has been dered a forbidden area by Meng Kui. Two of us who could have entered the Immortal Pce were directly blocked by Meng Kui."


    "His reasoning is perfectly legitimate, and we have no choice but to obey."


    "But this time, Zhu Xuanji¡¯s reasoning is just as valid¡ªhe is concerned about the Lava Immortal Pce and wants to help by entering the pce to fend off external enemies!"


    "Hahaha, how must Meng Kui be feeling right now? He treats us like this, and Zhu Xuanji treats him the same way."


    After some discussion, the four Golden Core cultivators decided to ept the invitation.


    It had been a long time since their two families¡¯ Golden Core cultivators had entered the Immortal Pce.


    By using Zhu Xuanji to counter Meng Kui, they could also deepen their family¡¯s ties with the royal family. If things turned sour in the future, they might rely on the royal family to back them up against the Soul-Devouring Sect and the No-Void Sect.


    As Meng Kui took action and the conflict between the No-Void Sect and the Soul-Devouring Sect escted, the four Golden Core cultivators felt the pressure, instinctively drawing closer together. They also moved swiftly to align with the Southern Dou royal family.


    At this moment, inside the Lava Immortal Pce.


    The Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, was leading the way for Ning Zhuo.


    The two advanced unimpeded.


    Yuan Dasheng had advanced to the first stage of the Intelligence Spirit phase, greatly enhancing hisbat power, despite his mechanical body remaining the same.


    Ning Zhuo hadn¡¯t studied it carefully, but during his cooperation with the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, he had gained many insights.


    Yuan Dasheng¡¯s intelligence was still not on par with a normal person¡¯s. Hismunication with Ning Zhuo was limited to a few phrases, making him quite taciturn.


    Ning Zhuo tried to get him to express some opinions, deliberately starting conversations, but Yuan Dasheng remained silent.


    "Dasheng, is it really necessary for you to keep calling me ¡®lord¡¯? Can¡¯t you change your way of addressing me?"


    Yuan Dasheng immediately shook his head, firmly refusing


    , "My lord jests. My lord is my lord, how could I change my form of address?"


    This made Ning Zhuo thoughtful.


    He suddenly realized that following his spiritual instincts actually meant finding a position within the deepest level of intelligence.


    To Yuan Dasheng, Ning Zhuo had fortunately risen to the highest level, recognized as the lord by Yuan Dasheng.


    "If I hadn¡¯t reached the highest level, in Yuan Dasheng¡¯s intelligence, I would have been considered the child of the lord or a colleague. In that case, I wouldn¡¯t have been able tomand him fully."


    "The intelligence of the Intelligence Spirit phase has its own set of beliefs. And these beliefs guide all their actions."


    Ning Zhuo once again passed through the three barriers of the Buddhist Sect and imed the rewards.


    There was nothing more to say; they were all Phantom True Lotus Seeds.


    After collecting seven of them in a row, he paused by himself.


    The embryonic form of his divine ability, originally resembling three segments of lotus roots, now had a thin sprout with a small leaf attached. After absorbing the seven seeds, the sprout fully opened, forming a lotus leaf the size of an adult¡¯s palm.


    With another great advancement, Ning Zhuo exited the Buddhist Sect¡¯s tests, closed the door to the Buddhist Sect, and retreated all the way to the preparation room, eventually returning to Room One.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had been watching the entire time. Seeing this, its face was filled with confusion¡ªwhat exactly was Ning Zhuo trying to do?!


    At the next moment, Ning Zhuo fully focused on sensing the Buddha Heart Demon Seal while simultaneously activating the Life Hanging by a Thread ability.


    His soul power was rapidly consumed, and the Life Hanging by a Thread ability suddenly jerked, pulling Sun Lingtong¡¯s soul into it.


    Sun Lingtong: !!!


    Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit: ?!?!

 Chapter 144: He Hid Too Deeply!

    The time returned to before.


    Ning Zhuo was still in the underground base.


    "Life Hanging by a Thread?!" Sun Lingtong looked at Ning Zhuo, quickly revealing a look of surprise and joy.


    "Xiao Zhuo, this is amazing! This is a divine ability, and it''s one specifically left by the Three Sect Lords."


    "Great, just great!"


    "You''re only at the Qi Refining stage, and you''ve already grasped the embryonic form of a divine ability. Even the true disciples in the No-Void Sect would find it hard to achieve this."


    Ning Zhuo exined to Sun Lingtong how he had obtained Life Hanging by a Thread, and Sun Lingtong was sincerely happy for him.


    Ning Zhuo continued, "I have tested the embryonic form of the divine ability many times and have achieved many results. For instance, many of the Ning family members have secretly been imnted with Life Hanging by a Thread by me."


    "My idea is, Boss Sun, I¡¯ll nt it on you too."Sun Lingtong: ?!


    Ning Zhuo continued, "Here''s my n."


    "Look, I can already use Life Hanging by a Thread to extract Yuan Dasheng''s spirituality and ce it into another mechanical creation."


    "Extracting the soul is a bit harder than extracting the spirit, but not by much."


    "This is what the embryonic form of the divine ability has allowed me to faintly feel."


    "So, I n to further enhance the embryonic form of the divine ability, and when we enter the Immortal Pce, see if I can extract your soul as well."


    "Once your soul enters the pce, you can challenge the trials."


    "As long as you pass the first trial of the Buddha¡¯s path, you can use the power of the Lava Immortal Pce to obtain an excellent mechanical creation."


    Sun Lingtong''s eyes shed with brilliance, and he immediately understood, "You mean, to imitate Yuan Dasheng¡¯s creation method and turn Qi Bai into a mechanical puppet as well?"


    "Great idea!"


    "If the Lava Immortal Pce kills Qi Bai, even if the Soul-Devouring Sect wants to cause trouble, they would have to seek the Immortal Pce for it."


    "In this case, Meng Kui would definitely not allow it, and the Southern Dou Country would probably have the same attitude."


    "Brilliant." Sun Lingtong gave Ning Zhuo a thumbs up.


    He fully trusted Ning Zhuo. "Then go ahead, nt Life Hanging by a Thread on me too!"


    Ning Zhuo had an in-depth understanding of Sun Lingtong, and nting Life Hanging by a Thread was almost instantaneous.


    "Is it done? Why don''t I feel anything?" Sun Lingtong touched the top of his head but felt nothing.


    To save time, Ning Zhuo didn''t exin much and quickly parted ways with Sun Lingtong.


    Afterward, Ning Zhuo returned to the family, where Ning Xiaohui proactively came to him to explore the Immortal Pce together.


    In his heart, Ning Zhuo was more than willing, but outwardly, he appeared hesitant and reluctant, then unwillingly entered the Immortal Pce.


    He sessfully deceived Ning Xiaohui and then dealt with Meng Chong.


    First, he enhanced the embryonic form of the divine ability and then retreated all the way to Room No. 1.


    After several attempts, he luckily managed to pull Sun Lingtong¡¯s soul into the pce.


    At the moment of sess, Sun Lingtong was dumbfounded, while the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was utterly stunned!


    Its dragon head instinctively stretched out of its shell, its neck extended long, and its eyes widened.


    The extreme shock made it resemble a statue, its entire spirit motionless. During this time, the fire whipshed at it, but it didn¡¯t move, as if it couldn¡¯t feel the pain anymore.


    It was too shocked, utterly shocked.


    Ning Zhuo pulling other people¡¯s souls into the trial stage of the Lava Immortal Pce, what did this mean?


    It meant he not only possessed the Buddha Heart Demon Seal but also had mastered the divine ability¡ªLife Hanging by a Thread!


    Ah!


    It¡¯s Life Hanging by a Thread!


    Life Hanging by a Thread!!!


    How is this possible?


    Why is it like this?!


    He was clearly just a small Qi Refining stage cultivator! How could he have grasped the embryonic form of Life Hanging by a Thread?!


    Is this a joke?!


    What in the world is happening?


    Could it be that you can cheat even in this world?!


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit couldn¡¯t figure it out no matter how much it thought. It felt as if the world had turned surreal, like a weasel was about to ride a chicken!


    How on earth did this happen?


    Just who on earth was this Ning Zhuo?!


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit couldn¡¯tprehend it at all. The extreme shock left it unsure how to react or how to handle the situation.


    It waspletely dazed for over a dozen breaths, and then the umting pain from the fire whips finally snapped it back to its senses.


    It let out a scream, howling in pain, and fire spewed wildly from its mouth and nose.


    Besides disbelief, its heart surged with anger, hatred, and disgust, along with a chilling sense of terror that rapidly grew.


    What on earth was this Ning Zhuo?


    A monster?!


    A Qi Refining stage cultivator had mastered the embryonic form of a divine ability? This was something that even the true disciples of super sects could hardly achieve!


    Stop him!


    He must be stopped!!


    At all costs, by any means, we must stop him!!!


    If someone like Ning Zhuo, so cunning, devious, and scheming, were to be the new master of the Lava Immortal Pce, how could it, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, ever regain its freedom?


    Freedom¡­


    Freedom.


    Freedom!


    Who wouldn''t want it?


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was a living being too and had its own desires.


    It longed for freedom, truly longed for it, desperately longed for it.


    It didn¡¯t want to be trapped in the Lava Immortal Pce, never seeing the light of day again. It didn¡¯t want to face endless waves of beast attacks. It was tired of being a guardian, a warden.


    It didn¡¯t want to do it anymore.


    It wanted to leave, to regain its freedom!


    Once, it was a Fire Serpent Dragon, freely roaming the vast Mount Huoshi.


    So, when its spirit evolved over the long years, advancing from the dead spirit stage to the living spirit stage, and eventually umting enough to transform into the intelligent spirit stage¡­


    It had been pondering how to escape the prison of the Immortal Pce and regain its freedom!


    Although it had duties, in the endless years, it had constantly studied, always finding loopholes.


    It did everything it could to exploit those loopholes.


    It intentionally stayed behind, allowing someone to take the Buddha Heart Demon Seal. It deliberately let the Demon General be defeated in battle, causing the Buddhist Doctor to go missing, leaving only a single Golden Core level puppet, the Daoist Master.


    It deliberately gave slowmands, using each Red me Beast attack to continually weaken the Lava Immortal Pce.


    With every weakening of the Lava Immortal Pce, anotheryer of its prison was stripped away.


    The four forces around the volcanic city acted to protect the Lava Immortal Pce, much to the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit¡¯s displeasure.


    When Ning Zhuo blew up the Immortal Pce, it was overjoyed and had even found Ning Zhuo quite pleasing to the eye at one point!


    However, as Ning Zhuo continued to grow, sessively revealing the Buddha Heart Demon Seal and Life Hanging by a Thread, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit no longer felt joy, only fear!


    Because, at this rate, Ning Zhuo was undoubtedly the strongest trial disciple!


    If he were to be the master of the Immortal Pce, would the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit have any good days ahead? Would it ever regain freedom?


    Don¡¯t even think about it.


    In the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit¡¯s view, the best master would be Meng Chong!


    On one hand, he was simple-minded, very simple, extremely simple. Deceiving Ning Zhuo and deceiving Meng Chong was a world of difference.


    On the other hand, Meng Chong came from the Meng family, which was powerful. In the future, when the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit left the Immortal Pce and roamed freely, the Meng family would be strong enough to guard the pce and maintain all of Mount Huoshi.


    Roar!


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit roared in anxiety.


    It raised its head and spat out a scorching, blinding pir of fire, its entire spirit falling into chaos.


    The Lava Immortal Pce trembled violently once more, with boundless magma sshing everywhere, even raisingva waves as high as a zhang!


    Treasure light shot straight into the sky, and an invisible wave of energy, centered on the Lava Immortal Pce, spread out like a hurricane in all directions.


    It blew away countless Red me Beasts and made the clouds churn endlessly.


    "Sigh, again¡­" Meng Kui sighed and activated the grand formation of the immortal city, suppressing the Immortal Pce.


    But this time was different.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was deeply afraid, nearly hysterical! It was jumping around in the main hall, ramming the pirs as if it were Ning Zhuo.


    It was useless. It couldn¡¯t even hurt a single hair on Ning Zhuo.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit looked hopefully at Meng Kui.


    Its thoughts were simple and direct¡ªHit me!


    Meng Kui, hit me!!


    As long as you hit me, I can justifiably fail to defend, and the throne will fall into your hands. By then, you can sit on the throne, and I will have my freedom. It¡¯s a win-win situation.


    However, Meng Kui


    ¡®s response was¡ª¡°Again?!¡±


    Since the Lava Immortal Pce was blown up, Meng Kui had personally guarded it, and this had happened far too many times.


    He had experienced the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit¡¯s rage countless times, leading to violent outbreaks in the Immortal Pce.


    Each time, he personally acted, tirelessly andboriously suppressing the Lava Immortal Pce. Sometimes, the pce would go into a severe upheaval, and Meng Kui would have to activate the grand formation of the immortal city to help him suppress it, ensuring absolute safety.


    ¡°This Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit is going crazy again?!¡± Meng Kui took a deep breath, his expression dark and gloomy.


    Judging by the severity of this Immortal Pce¡¯s upheaval, it was incredibly intense.


    ¡°Is it because the side hall was breached, causing the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit to be resentful?¡± Meng Kui sighed.


    He hadn¡¯t anticipated that being the Lord of the Volcanic Immortal City would be such a grueling task.


    But thinking of his grandson Meng Chong, who was constantly improving and had made great progress in the pce exploration, he felt that no matter how hard or tiring it was, it was all worth it.


    Meng Kui once again activated the grand formation of the immortal city, suppressing the Lava Immortal Pce.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, constrained by its limitations, could only roar and shout in its heart, ¡°Hit me! Come on, hit me, Meng Kui. You¡¯re a Nascent Soul cultivator, don¡¯t be a coward! You¡¯re from the great Meng family, charge!¡±


    Meng Kui gave his all, suppressing the Lava Immortal Pce, thinking, "I am a dignified general of the Meng family, a prime minister standing atop the mountain, unmoved! The Lava Immortal Pce is no ordinary thing. It¡¯s the key to suppressing Mount Huoshi, and I must ensure its safety."


    He was hoping that Meng Chong would secure the position of pce master.


    How could he possibly attack the Lava Immortal Pce?


    The Lava Immortal Pce was the residence of the Three Sect Lords and might have hidden trump cards capable of killing Nascent Soul cultivators.


    The Three Sect Lords had deep ties to the Southern Dou Country, and Meng Kui was one of the ministers of the Southern Dou Court, making him an ally.


    If the Lava Immortal Pce were to fall, Meng Kui would have to step in and protect it with all his might. After all, this was the Meng family¡¯s best stepping stone to gain control of the Volcanic Immortal City and the perfect excuse!


    So many times, so many outbursts!


    But Meng Kui still refused to attack the Immortal Pce.


    He would only suppress.


    Every time the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit raged, provoking, reminding: Hit me, Meng Kui, hit me.


    And each time, Meng Kui suppressed the outburst, never making a move.


    He remained unmoved!


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was furious and filled with anger, wanting to roar in Meng Kui''s ear: "If you don''t make a move, Ning Zhuo is going to take the position of pce master!"


    "He¡¯s confirmed to have grasped the embryonic form of the divine ability Life Hanging by a Thread. If hees after me in the future, how can I ever regain my freedom?!"


    "Danger! Your Meng family is in grave danger!"


    "There¡¯s a cunning, despicable, and shameless monster here. He¡¯s hiding deeply, too deeply!!"

 Chapter 145: Mechanical Puppet Qi Bai

    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was in a frenzy, its heart burning with rage, spraying fire all over the main hall, roaring continuously.


    Meng Kui struggled to suppress it, refusing to take even half a step beyond his limits.


    The Red me Beasts had not been driven away and continued to attack the Immortal Pce inrge numbers.


    In an instant, the situation on the mountaintop becameplicated, making it much more difficult for Meng Kui to suppress, causing him great hardship.


    But there was no choice.


    He was, after all, the current City Lord of Huoshi Immortal City.


    Ensuring that the Lava Immortal Pce was not lost was his responsibility.


    He could only endure the suffering.


    Meanwhile, within the trial grounds, there was a peaceful and serene atmosphere.Ning Zhuo looked at Sun Lingtong''s soul and tilted his wooden head: "Does this count as a sess?"


    If one were to call it a sess, Sun Lingtong''s soul had indeed been drawn in.


    But if one were to say it was unsessful, there was also a reason.


    Normally, when a trial disciple first entered Room One, their soul would be lodged within the initial puppet torso, then they would activate the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art to attract other mechanical parts and assemble them.


    However, although Sun Lingtong''s soul had entered, it was floating in mid-air, with no mechanical parts responding to it.


    A red soul me was swirling around Sun Lingtong''s soul.


    This was the Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pill he had recently taken to heal his soul.


    The red soul me swayed like the tail feathers of a phoenix, containing the profound meaning of rebirth through nirvana.


    "Since you haven''t been assigned the initial mechanical parts, I''ll try to arrange one for you," Ning Zhuo said as he took the initiative to select mechanicalponents like the puppet body and limbs for Sun Lingtong.


    He first let Sun Lingtong''s soul reside within the puppet body, then guided and helped him to assemble his puppet body.


    "So this is what it feels like to be a mechanical puppet? It''s really fascinating!" Sun Lingtong looked at his puppet hands, stomped his feet, and jumped a few times, feeling quite excited.


    "Let''s go. Room One might not be safe for long; another cultivator soul might enter the Immortal Pce any moment," Ning Zhuo urged.


    Sun Lingtong nodded repeatedly.


    Understanding the urgency, he quickly walked dozens of steps forward, arriving at the first door.


    He touched the door, but received no information, let alone the three rewards.


    Ning Zhuo''s heart sank slightly, knowing it was because Sun Lingtong had entered through a cheat. Since he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator through techniques, and hadn''t cultivated the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, he couldn''t gain recognition from the trial.


    So, how about trying the Buddha Heart Demon Seal?


    In the next moment, Ning Zhuo''s soul power was rapidly consumed, and Sun Lingtong immediately received the information.


    "Which of the three rewards should I choose¡­ uh," Sun Lingtong had just started speaking when he noticed that the three rewards had disappeared, and he could no longer choose.


    Ning Zhuo, however, reassured him, "Don''t worry, I just stopped activating Life Hanging by a Thread."


    Of course, this was a lie.


    In truth, Ning Zhuo had used the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.


    When it came to telling such lies to Sun Lingtong, Ning Zhuo felt no guilt.


    Because when Ning Zhuo was only two or three years old, Sun Lingtong had clearly told him: Everyone may have their own secrets, and you must respect others and the little secrets they keep.


    Sun Lingtong, who had a deep understanding with Ning Zhuo, immediately understood his intention after hearing his words: "Indeed, this needs to be tested."


    The result of the test was that Ning Zhuo had to use the Buddha Heart Demon Seal each time, in coordination with Life Hanging by a Thread, to deepen their connection and temporarily solve Sun Lingtong¡¯s unregistered status, allowing him to qualify for the Lava Immortal Pce¡¯s recognition and obtain the rewards.


    "This is amazing!" Ning Zhuo praised, "With this, Big Brother Sun, you might not even need to appear on the leaderboard."


    He led the puppet Sun Lingtong through the challenges and into the preparation room.


    Sure enough, the leaderboard only showed two names: ¡°Entry Standard¡± and ¡°Meng Chong.¡±


    Sun Lingtong looked at the "Entry Standard" and gave Ning Zhuo a thumbs up: "Not bad, not bad! Little brother, you''re really skilled."


    Ning Zhuo, together with the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape Dasheng, had brought Sun Lingtong through the challenges.


    They reached the first test of the Buddhist sect.


    When Sun Lingtong entered the coffin room, Ning Zhuo fully focused on sensing the Buddha Heart Demon Seal and activating Life Hanging by a Thread.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit raised its head and roared in anger and grief, but due to its responsibilities, it had no choice but to ry the information.


    Outside, Meng Kui was gasping for breath while suppressing the Immortal Pce.


    Sun Lingtong shouted, "Alright, I''ve received the message!"


    Following Ning Zhuo¡¯s earlier steps, Sun Lingtong began to do the same.


    Soon, his puppet body scattered to the ground, and his soul returned to his fleshly body.


    In the underground base, he re-infused the previously extracted divine sense, mana, and blood essence back into himself.


    Following the n he had discussed with Ning Zhuo, Sun Lingtong also stuffed the Underworld Ghost God Seal, the Soul-Chasing Rattle Drum, and the shattered golden-threaded robe back into their respective dantians.


    Even the Ghost Gate Escape Grass, Sun Lingtong broke off three leaves and tucked them into his lower dantian sea of essence.


    Afterpleting this step, Sun Lingtong could only wait for Ning Zhuo to bring him back.


    Soon, Ning Zhuo drew the soul back into the pce, pulling Sun Lingtong into his previous puppet body.


    As this happened, a teleportation circle appeared, and Qi Bai was ejected.


    "Sess!"


    "We did it!"


    Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong excitedly pped hands in celebration.


    "Lava Immortal Pce, I''m going to use it to create a mechanical construct!" The Golden-Blooded Battle Ape Dasheng dragged Qi Bai to the doorway as Sun Lingtong shouted.


    Standing behind him, Ning Zhuo was his strongest supporter! At this moment, Ning Zhuo was fully invoking the Buddha Heart Demon Seal while wildly activating Life Hanging by a Thread.


    "Roar¡ª!" The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit wailed in sorrow.


    Meng Kui pressed his lips together tightly, struggling to maintain the suppression.


    At that time, Ning Zhuo had used Yuan Dasheng, who, despite having immortal potential, was essentially an elderly Fire Fusion Demon Ape at the Qi Refining stage.


    But this time was different.


    Qi Bai was a legitimate Golden Core cultivator, and he carried two magical treasures and three leaves from Nascent Soul-level treasure nts.


    In the Lava Immortal Pce, there were copper, iron, silver, and gold furnaces, four levels of refining furnaces.


    To refine immortal materials, one had to use the gold furnace. And once it was used to refine immortal materials, even the gold furnace could only be used once!


    Qi Bai''s talent wasn''t high enough to use the gold furnace, but using the silver furnace with upper-tier talent was certain.


    The problem was that one silver furnace was not enough.


    Qi Bai had too many things on him!


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had no choice but to grudgingly refine for Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong with all its might.


    This was one of the main reasons it hated living in the Lava Immortal Pce.


    It had no freedom.


    Even if it didn¡¯t want to, it still had toply!


    Boom, boom, boom¡­


    One silver furnace after another exploded, unable to bear the load.


    After twenty-one silver furnaces were destroyed, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit finally refined a mechanical puppet.


    During this time, Meng Kui breathed a sigh of relief.


    It was because the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had to focus all its attention on refining, leaving it with less energy to cause trouble, reducing the risk of a Lava Immortal Pce riot.


    In the end, the mechanical puppet waspleted!


    Even though the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was extremely unwilling, it still teleported the mechanical puppet back, delivering it in front of Sun Lingtong.


    Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai!

 Chapter 146: Sun Lingtong Felt Terrified

    Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai.


    The body was mainly ck, with gray and white ents.


    It stood six feet five, extremely thin. Its head seemed to wear a bamboo hat, but it was actually part of its body. The skull looked like a pitch-ck conical hat, spreading out around it.


    Beneath the shadow cast by the top of the hat, its entire grayish-white head was hidden, reminding one of pale human bones.


    On its head, its eyes formed a ck strip, horizontally ced above the bridge of the nose. A faint grayish-white line crossed the center of the strip, barely visible.


    Its body surface was also engraved with talisman markings. Theplex talisman patterns were outlined with grayish-white lines, faintly visible. If one didn¡¯t pay close attention, it looked like ghostly figures were entwined around its body.


    "What a marvelous machine!" Ning Zhuo excitedly ran forward.


    Behind him, Sun Lingtong saw Ning Zhuo¡¯s excitement and smiled faintly while shaking his head.


    He knew: Ning Zhuo genuinely loved all kinds of mechanical creations.When Ning Zhuo was only two or three years old, he lingered around small street vendors. When he started school, he still couldn¡¯t let go of mechanical toys like ¡°Er Lang¡¯s Leg¡± and ¡°San Mao.¡± Since Ning Zhuo had little money, he could only look and couldn¡¯t buy anything.


    It was only after Sun Lingtong observed this many times that, on Ning Zhuo¡¯s birthday, he bought him a mechanical toy. Ning Zhuo was so excited and happy that heughed foolishly for a long time.


    "The frame seems to be made of Nether Blue Dark Iron, which is ideal for handling Yin-attributed mana."


    "The joints are made of hundred-year Soul Wood, which is quite flexible and can also serve as a dwelling ce for ghosts."


    "The core is made of Yin Deficiency Spirit Jade. This natural special spirit stone can store arge amount of Yin-type spiritual power!"


    Finally, Ning Zhuo grabbed the edge of the hat and lifted it at an angle to carefully examine Qi Bai¡¯s eyes.


    "It seems to be made of Deadlight ss. That''s just the primary material. The eyeponents must have used mixed materials!" Ning Zhuo dered confidently.


    "If that¡¯s the case¡­" Ning Zhuo suddenly pped his hands. "This mechanical puppet should be able to use natural talent! The special structure of the eyes is prepared for using the Nether Death Gaze."


    Thinking of this, Ning Zhuo abruptly turned his head, shifting his entire face backward, and said to Sun Lingtong, "Boss Sun, what information did you receive?"


    Sun Lingtong responded, "Huh? I didn¡¯t receive any information."


    "My fault, my fault. I got too excited!" Ning Zhuo patted his wooden head, making a ¡°thunk-thunk¡± sound.


    The next moment, he summoned the Buddha Heart Demon Seal and activated Life Hanging by a Thread.


    "I got a long piece of information," Sun Lingtong said.


    Ning Zhuo nodded. "Just like what happened to me!"


    Sun Lingtong ryed, "This mechanical puppet is called Netherworld Envoy. Underneath the mark on its forehead is the Mechanical Underworld Official¡¯s Seal, which can summon ghosts and deities from various ces."


    "There¡¯s a mechanism in the throat called the Soul-Shaking Drum, which can emit sound attacks that cause severe tremors in the souls of living beings."


    "Further down, there areponents like the Booming Cavity and Sound Projection Bottle, which work together with the Soul-Shaking Drum."


    "Scattered across the body are spray nozzles that, when activated, can eject Gold Thread Ghost Silk. The ghost silk can instantly form a ck robe for protection."


    As Ning Zhuo listened, he nodded slightly.


    The puppet Qi Bai was clearly different from the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng. The key distinction was therge number of mechanicalponents.


    Ning Zhuo understood the reasoning behind this: "Before the refining process, Boss Sun incorporated the Underworld Ghost Seal, the Soul-Shaking Rattle Drum, and the shattered Golden Silk Robe into Qi Bai¡¯s dantian."


    "During the refining, the Lava Immortal Pce melted these treasures together and made them into corresponding mechanicalponents."


    Sun Lingtong suddenly widened his eyes. "Six levels of spiritual consciousness, capable of using Nether Death Gaze twelve times? Each time this talent is activated, it damages the eye structure. Theponents must be reced in time for it to be used again."


    "Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai possesses both the Nine Nether Formation and the Spirit Communication Formation. The former can draw on Yin-type spiritual power to replenish itself or enhance the power of its spells. Thetter canmunicate with intelligent lifeforms within a certain range."


    "Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai retains the Soul-Devouring Golden Core. Using the Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art, it can absorb the enemy¡¯s soul, enhancing its own state or supplementing its Yin Army of ghost creatures."


    This point wasn¡¯t unexpected for Ning Zhuo, as the mechanical puppet Dasheng could also use the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique.


    "There are twelve Ghost Raising Jars ced within the body. If filled with the ashes of ghosts in life, the effect of raising ghosts will be even better."


    "There are thirty-six spell talismans in total, including¡­"


    Sun Lingtong trailed off.


    Ning Zhuo, who had been deeply engrossed, quickly asked, "Boss Sun, what¡¯s wrong?"


    Sun Lingtong¡¯s voice trembled. "This¡­is a bit terrifying."


    "What do you mean?" Ning Zhuo inquired.


    Sun Lingtong scratched his head. "Little Zhuo, you know about the Burial Spirit Sect, right?"


    Ning Zhuo immediately nodded. "Yes, a demonic sect, very powerful, but they sacrificed lives and buried the spirits of all things, seeking only spirituality."


    "Because of their extreme cruelty, they were besieged and wiped out."


    Sun Lingtong nodded. "The Burial Spirit Sect sacrificed tens of thousands of lives just to extract spirituality, and they were besieged by the righteous path, demonic sects, and heretical factions."


    "Now, look at the Lava Immortal Pce!"


    "Not only can they extract spirituality, but they even thoughtfully arrange a mechanical body for the spirit to inhabit."


    "Although Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai is limited by its structure and is frail, with only three key mechanicalponents, its potential for development could definitely reach Golden Core-levelbat power."


    "If outsiders discover that the Lava Immortal Pce has this capability, Little Zhuo, what do you think will happen?"


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s heart trembled slightly, and he immediately fell silent.


    Back then, the Burial Spirit Sect was targeted by almost the entire cultivation world just for extracting spirits from sacrificed lives. They were annihted entirely before it ended.


    Now, the Lava Immortal Pce not only extracts spirits but even thoughtfully provides a mechanical body for the spirit to use.


    What would happen if this were discovered?


    Ning Zhuo thought for a moment, referencing the fate of the Burial Spirit Sect, and couldn¡¯t help but shudder.


    Sun Lingtong raised his head and sighed. "Tsk tsk, the strength of the Three Sect Lords is truly remarkable. It seems he once participated in the campaign to annihte the Burial Spirit Sect."


    "He even joined the Demonic Sect and practiced there for quite some time."


    "Look at the mechanical puppets they¡¯ve refined, full of demonic nature!"


    One of the fundamental differences between the demonic path and the righteous pathy in that the demonic path¡¯s cultivation resources came from the cultivators themselves.


    The Lava Immortal Pce, refining mechanical constructs using corpses as materials, was clearly a demonic practice.


    Ning Zhuo shook his head. "Boss Sun, these are all just tools. Used for good, they are good. Used for evil, they are evil."


    "Just like when we ruled the ck market and reorganized it, we eliminated countless crimes and ugliness. That was a righteous act!"


    Sun Lingtongughed. "Little brother, weren¡¯t we originally doing it for revenge?"


    "Later, as our influence grew, we fought many battles to gather information and profit, eventually bing the overlords of the ck market and finally its masters."


    Ning Zhuo coughed twice. "We did indeed prevent a lot of bloodshed and indirectly saved many innocent lives. Boss, wouldn¡¯t you agree?"


    "You¡­" Sun Lingtong chuckled, "Right, right, right!"


    If it were anyone else being so hypocritical, Sun Lingtong would have rolled his eyes, maybe even spat in their face.


    Too dishonest, too hypocritical.


    But since it was his good brother Ning Zhuo saying this, he let it slide.


    Sun Lingtong could only shake his head with a fond smile, silently thinking, ¡°I see through it but won¡¯t say it.¡±


    "In fact, this isn¡¯t entirely Little Zhuo¡¯s fault."


    "Think about the so-called righteous figures he encountered when he was young."


    "Ning Ze, Wang Lan, Ning Ji, and Ning Xiaoren¡­weren¡¯t they all saying one thing and doing another?"


    "So, in Little Zhuo¡¯s early understanding, the righteous path was supposed to be like this."


    Ning Zhuo mused, "With only sixty percent spiritual consciousness, we should aim to raise it to one


    hundred percent next!"


    "Spirituality is the most valuable and precious part of this mechanical puppet."


    "We need more information on Qi Bai."


    "That¡¯s a bit difficult," Sun Lingtong spread his hands. "I¡¯m already wanted throughout the city, and we¡¯ve lost the ck market. Most of our former information channels are gone."


    Ning Zhuo sighed. "Well, we¡¯ll have to take it one step at a time."


    Sun Lingtong said, "Now that Qi Bai is dead, the Soul-Devouring Sect will definitely respond. We should lie low and not rush to investigate Qi Bai¡¯s matters; otherwise, it¡¯ll be easy for people to pick up our trail and track us down."


    "Mm, I¡¯ll follow your lead, Boss." Ning Zhuo nodded repeatedly.


    This exploration of the Immortal Pce yielded great rewards for Ning and Sun. They sessfully dealt with the hidden danger of Qi Bai¡ªkeeping him sealed wasn¡¯t a viable long-term solution.


    Imprisoning Han Ming previously had already been a painful lesson.


    Next, Sun and Ning used the checkpoint to test the power of Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai.


    However, Qi Bai¡¯sbat power turned out to be much lower than they had imagined.


    Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai was made of ordinary materials, so when its Golden Core power was activated, the mechanical body couldn¡¯t handle it.


    This was rather awkward.


    Qi Bai¡¯s two mainponents were the Underworld Official¡¯s Seal and the Soul-Shaking Drum.


    The Underworld Official¡¯s Seal could summon ghosts and deities. The ghosts and deities weren¡¯t controlled by Sun Lingtong but by Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai. With only sixty percent spiritual consciousness, Qi Bai couldn¡¯tmunicate with the summoned ghosts and deities, even weaker than Dasheng had been.


    Although the Soul-Shaking Drum was powerful, the puppets in the checkpoint had no souls. It was like earlier when Qi Bai tried to shake Dasheng¡¯s soul, only to find there was no soul to shake.


    Qi Bai could still use the talent Nether Death Gaze, but with only sixty percent spiritual consciousness, it could only be used twelve times.


    Moreover, since this talent was mainly for reconnaissance, Ning and Sun had no desire to test it.


    Ning Zhuo also noticed that Sun Lingtong¡¯s control over Qi Bai was much weaker than his control over Dasheng.


    The two spected that it might be because Boss Sun was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, while Qi Bai had retained its former Golden Core. The servant was stronger than the master, making it disobedient.


    Sun Lingtong pondered, "The purpose of the Three Sect Lords in setting up the three Buddha checkpoints might be to ensure that each trial disciple gains a fairly sophisticated mechanical construct."


    "This mechanical construct can serve as the main general. Initially, the materials are ordinary and cheap."


    "I suspect that in the uing checkpoints, there will be many opportunities to gradually modify and enhance the main general puppet."


    "Through this process of assembling and upgrading the main general, the trial disciples¡¯ proficiency in mechanical skills will steadily increase!"


    No matter what, thebat power of Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai still had immense potential. It would require future investment to truly realize its Golden Core-level power.


    "Time¡¯s almost up, Little Zhuo. We should head back," Sun Lingtong reminded.


    Ning Zhuo, however, said, "We still have a little time. We must make the most of every opportunity to explore the Immortal Pce! I have a good idea now."


    "Oh? Let¡¯s hear it."

 Chapter 147: Zhu Xuanji Enters the Immortal Palace

    A group of Golden Core cultivators slightly concealed themselves and flew towards the peak of Mount Huoshi.


    Leading the group of Golden Core cultivators was Zhu Xuanji. Following behind him were Zheng Jianlian of the Zheng Family''s Golden Core, Zhou Nongying of the Zhou Family''s Golden Core, and the Ning Family''s Golden Core Ancestor.


    The Zhou Family and Zheng Family had both received Zhu Xuanji¡¯s invitation, and naturally, the Ning Family¡¯s Ancestor was no exception.


    Fei Si sensed themotion, looked into the distance, and his face turned gloomy: "Zhu Xuanji truly lives up to being of royal descent, to have so quickly drawn in the local families."


    "s, it seems that the City Lord will not be able to stop him this time."


    Zhu Xuanji, leading the three Golden Core cultivators, flew to the mountain''s peak to first meet Meng Kui.


    Meng Kui¡¯s expression was calm and indifferent, like an ancient well, and he even gave his blessing to Zhu Xuanji, wishing him abundant gains within the Immortal Pce.


    Zhu Xuanji carried the royal decree and used the excuse of investigating the case to enter and leave the Lava Immortal Pce. Meng Kui couldn¡¯t even find a reason to dy him.


    Seeing Meng Kui¡¯s frustration, the apanying Golden Core cultivators secretly rejoiced.The three local families had long suffered under the City Lord¡¯s oppression.


    This time, under the guise of Zhu Xuanji¡¯s authority, they managed to suppress Meng Kui, allowing the Golden Core cultivators to finally vent some of their frustration.


    "Sir, as long as we get close to the Immortal Pce, a beam of treasure light will guide us inside," Zhou Nongying, acting as a guide, exined. "Of course, that''s provided our expertise in mechanical arts meets the pce¡¯s entry standards."


    Zhu Xuanji nodded and acted ording to the guidance.


    It was his first time entering the Immortal Pce.


    As they neared the pce, a beam of treasure light indeed shone down on him.


    The treasure light emitted a faint pulling force. Zhu Xuanji rxed and didn¡¯t resist at all, allowing the treasure light to pull him into the Immortal Pce.


    He had entered the Immortal Pce!


    Soon after, Zhu Xuanji finally set foot inside the Lava Immortal Pce.


    Behind him were the three Golden Core Ancestors.


    ¡°We¡¯ve finally made it in.¡±


    ¡°How long has it been since thest time?¡±


    ¡°Haha, this time Meng Kui won¡¯t dare act against us face to face.¡±


    The three family Golden Core cultivators were quite excited.


    Zhou Nongying said, ¡°Lord Zhu, by now, you must have received the key information, right?¡±


    Zhu Xuanji slightly nodded: ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve received it. ording to the information, as long as we contribute within the Lava Immortal Pce, we can exchange our contributions for rewards from the pce.¡±


    ¡°The rewards are diverse, including many rare materials from the Scarlet me Beasts, as well as spells, mechanical blueprints, and more.¡±


    ¡°Once our contributions reach a certain level, we can use many of the facilities within the Immortal Pce. Our movement range within the pce will also expand ordingly.¡±


    ¡°And the greatest reward is the position of the Pce Master of the Lava Immortal Pce!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Nongying felt relieved. ¡°Lord Zhu, our timing is excellent.¡±


    ¡°It coincides with the Lava Immortal Pce being under siege by demonic beasts, and even the Golden Core-level beasts have already fallen.¡±


    ¡°If we blend into the frontlines and y the beasts, we can easily gain contributions. The risk is low, but the rewards are substantial.¡±


    Zhu Xuanji nodded, ¡°Then let¡¯s proceed as nned.¡±


    After that, he, along with the three Golden Core cultivators, joined the battle lines of the Lava Immortal Pce.


    When the Golden Core cultivators made their moves, it was extraordinary. Wherever they went, demonic beasts were ughtered, leaving behind piles of corpses.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit saw this scene, its eyes widened, and it snorted angrily. Its true desire was to see the demonic beasts breach the Immortal Pce. But due to the constraints left behind by the Three Sect Lords, it had no choice but to help the Lava Immortal Pce operate properly.


    Of course, as the state of the Lava Immortal Pce deteriorated, the constraints on the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit were not as tight as before.


    It was precisely through exploiting these small loopholes that the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had gradually dragged the pce down to its current state.


    Zhu Xuanji had already in more than a dozen Scarlet me Beasts and slowly stopped.


    The three Golden Core Ancestors from the local families were still going all out.


    Opportunities to quickly umte contributions like this were rare.


    Zhu Xuanji transmitted a message to the three, telling them to take a look around the surroundings.


    Zheng Jianlian quickly reminded him, ¡°Lord Zhu, you may not know, but we can¡¯t wander around the Lava Immortal Pce unless it¡¯s under special circumstances.¡±


    The Ning Family¡¯s Ancestor sighed and rubbed the dent on his head. That dent still carried a trace, constantly reminding him of how Meng Kui had once ruined his ns!


    Zhu Xuanji didn¡¯t mind and waved his hand: ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry, my friends. I have my own methods.¡±


    With that, Zhu Xuanji took out a talisman and activated it.


    The talisman burned and quickly transformed into a strange light.


    The strange light fell onto Zhu Xuanji, and immediately disappeared. However, Zhu Xuanji¡¯s aura had subtly changed, bing different from before.


    It was precisely this change that allowed Zhu Xuanji to wander around freely.


    ¡°This is the Hidden Spirit Wall.¡± Zhu Xuanji arrived at a wall, reached out to touch it, and immediately felt a sensation in his heart, identifying it.


    The wall was thick, and every certain distance along the surface was arge talisman that resembled a window.


    When Zhu Xuanji activated a bit of magic power, the wall absorbed itpletely.


    As it absorbed the power, one could see straight lines of formation patterns flickering on the wall.


    The Hidden Spirit Wall was used to store various spiritual energies.


    Earth heat, magical power, and other energies could all be absorbed and stored within.


    Even if the wall was destroyed, the stored earth heat and magical power wouldn¡¯t explode. Instead, they would remain stored within the bricks.


    Moreover, when paired with special formations, it could even forcibly absorb the magical power within enemy spells.


    Zhu Xuanji continued walking along the wall, exploring further.


    After a while, he paused slightly and discovered a well.


    The surface of the well was sealed, but Zhu Xuanji was certain that there was no water inside.


    ¡°This is a Dragon Vein Well.¡±


    ¡°Beneath the Lava Immortal Pce is an intricatework of hidden dragon tunnels.¡±


    ¡°The tunnels crisscross in all directions, extending beneath almost the entire pce. The transportation of mechanical troops within the pce is all done through these tunnels.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, I can¡¯t enter.¡±


    Zhu Xuanji continued his investigation, stopping at any damaged areas or obvious battle scars. He would then use his Celestial Golden Eyes and Trace Back Art to investigate further.


    One of his missions ining to Mount Huoshi this time was to uncover the secret of the Lava Immortal Pce¡¯s early appearance.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Zhu Xuanji stood on a high tform, looking into the distance, and saw a row of bronze furnaces.


    These furnaces resembledrge gourds, sitting on the ground with equal distances between them. From afar, they formed a forest of furnaces, arranged in a perfectly orderly manner.


    ¡°Bronze furnaces, iron furnaces, silver furnaces, golden furnaces!¡± Zhu Xuanji immediately recalled the relevant information.


    ¡°There are four grades of furnaces within the Lava Immortal Pce, with the golden furnaces being the most precious, of which there are only eight. If damaged, they are nearly impossible to repair. Only the Three Sect Lords could fix them.¡±


    ¡°These furnaces are responsible for creating all sorts of mechanical creations.¡±


    ¡°The Lava Immortal Pce has been operating until now, still producing endless mechanisms, all thanks to these furnaces.¡±


    Zhu Xuanji descended from the high tform and continued his exploration.


    He gradually realized that even with the talisman given by the royal family, the areas where he could move freely were still limited.


    ¡°It seems I will need to increase my contributions within the Immortal Pce.¡±


    ¡°Fortunately, I came prepared!¡±


    With that thought in mind, Zhu Xuanji took out three mechanical creations from his storage bag.


    A White Porcin Dragon!


    A Thermal Energy Phoenix!


    A Spiral Dragonworm!


    The White Dragon was as white as snow, its entire body made of exquisite porcin.


    The Phoenix had luxurious, brilliant wings, especially its tail, which was adorned with over a thousand gems that could absorb and emitrge amounts of light and heat.


    The Spiral Dragonworm resembled an earthworm, but its metal body was incredibly flexible. Its front mouth was terrifying, with countless rotating serrated teeth, best suited for underground digging.


    Each of these three mechanical creatures possessed near-Golden Core levelbat strength!


    Zhu Xuanji presented these three beast-shaped mechanisms.


    In an instant, his contributions to the Lava Immortal Pce skyrocketed, surpassing countless predecessors.


    In the misty depths, Meng Kui let out a faint sigh.


    He had witnessed Zhu Xuanji offering the three beast-shaped mechanisms.


    It was clear that Zhu Xuanji hade prepared.


    Whether it was the talisman he had used earlier or the three mechanical creatures he had just taken out, Meng Kui quickly recognized that the Southern Dou Royal Family had


    a definite stance regarding the Lava Immortal Pce.


    Meng Kui was not surprised.


    There had always been deep ties between the Southern Dou Emperor and the Three Sect Lords.


    The significance of the Lava Immortal Pce to the Southern Dou Royal Family was unique.


    Even setting that aside, the Southern Dou Royal Family would surely pay attention to a legacy left behind by a Void Refining cultivator under their rule.


    Meng Kui¡¯s previous belief that Zhu Xuanji wasn¡¯t serious had stemmed from the fact that the royal family had only sent one Golden Core cultivator, which didn¡¯t seem like a real show of force.


    But now, that fleeting hope hadpletely vanished.


    Zhu Xuanji¡¯s alliance with the three families had put the City Lord''s Mansion at a clear disadvantage.


    Especially since the two Golden Core cultivators under Meng Kui¡¯smand weren¡¯t qualified to enter the Immortal Pce.


    Meng Kui sent a voice transmission to Meng Chong: ¡°Good grandson, when you explore the Immortal Pce next, you must bring others along.¡±


    ¡°The situation is urgent, and opportunities are fleeting.¡±


    ¡°This chance is still in our hands, and we must seize it!¡±


    Meng Chong¡¯s expression shifted slightly, and he immediately nodded, responding loudly: ¡°Grandfather, I understand!¡±


    The City Lord''s remodeling team was even more skilled than the Zhou Family¡¯s.


    Although Meng Chong preferred to act alone, since his grandfather had personally instructed him, he decided to bring a group to face the challenges together.


    Meng Chong summoned the remodeling team to meet him and gave them specific instructions:


    ¡°Let me make this clear¡ªif that mechanical ape appears, none of you are to interfere.¡±


    ¡°I can defeat it alone!¡±


    After three hours passed, Meng Chong¡¯s soul entered the Immortal Pce.


    Following closely behind were the City Lord''s long-trained team¡ªsixteen remodeling team members!

 Chapter 148: City Lord’s Mansion in Full Force

    City Lord¡¯s Mansion.


    "We pay respects to Young Master Meng Chong!" Sixteen cultivators greeted in unison.


    Their cultivation levels were uniform, all at the peak of Qi Refining Stage, thirdyer, practicing the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    Standing next to Meng Chong, Fei Si spoke at the right moment, "Young Master Meng Chong, allow me to introduce them briefly."


    "Many of them were personally recruited by me."


    "This one is named Li Duolun, skilled in using saw des to attack and kill enemies. When designing new mechanical devices, he likes to use interlocking wheels."


    Li Duolun took a step forward and cupped his hands towards Meng Chong, "I am willing to serve Young Master Meng Chong."


    He was a tall, fat man with a decent appearance, chubby-faced, and big-eared, resembling the statues of Buddha in temples.


    Fei Si continued, "This is Feng Feidao. His flying knife wrist crossbow is extremely precise, capable of shooting over a dozen knives at once.""Each knife can split into four or five more. The countless knives scatter in the air, coordinating to form a formation that will slice the enemy into pieces."


    Meng Chong looked at Feng Feidao, noticing that he was a short, masked man wearing a martial artist¡¯s outfit, with a pair of small, narrow eyes.


    Feng Feidao knelt on one knee and swore allegiance to Meng Chong, "I will go through fire and water for Young Master Meng Chong!"


    Lastly, Fei Si introduced, "This is Guan Tiesuo. His specialty is controllingrge numbers of maic locks, which climb onto the target. The locksbine with each other to form chains, binding the enemypletely, making it impossible for them to move."


    Guan Tiesuo''s voice was deep and muffled as he said, "I greet Young Master Meng Chong."


    Li Duolun, Feng Feidao, and Guan Tiesuo were the three most outstanding leaders in the City Lord¡¯s Mansion¡¯s modification team.


    Fei Si had spent considerable effort recruiting them.


    It was rare to find cultivators in the Qi Refining Stage with a certain level of skill in mechanics.


    Mechanics was hard to learn and master. Most Qi Refining stage cultivators, if they had the resources, would choose to study alchemy, weapon forging, or formation setting. If not, they would resort to farming, fishing, or hunting.


    Among the hundred arts of cultivation, mechanics was notoriously obscure. Unless one had a unique opportunity or specific circumstances, few would choose it as their first path.


    "Good." Meng Chong nodded and said straightforwardly, "Next, we¡¯ll explore the Immortal Pce together."


    "It¡¯s simple. When I charge forward, just follow me."


    Meng Chongckedmand skills.


    Fei Si coughed twice and tactfully reminded, "While numbers give us strength, they also have drawbacks."


    "From what we know, the difficulty of the Lava Immortal Pce¡¯s trial adjusts based on the number of participants and their strength."


    "This time, with so many of us, entering the pce together might attract the Mechanical Apes to attack us, increasing the difficulty of the trial."


    "There¡¯s even a possibility of multiple Mechanical Apes attacking at once."


    "If that happens, you must protect Young Master Meng Chong at all costs. Even if you have to use your bodies, do your best to divert the apes and create opportunities for Young Master Meng Chong!"


    "Understood!" The modification team responded in unison, fully prepared to obey.


    The City Lord¡¯s Mansion had spies and informants in all three major families.


    The news that the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, was blocking the geniuses of the three families in Room Two had already reached the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.


    Because of this, Fei Si attributed Yuan Dasheng¡¯s appearance to the trial¡¯s increased difficulty.


    Suddenly, Meng Chong said, "Wait!"


    "If that Mechanical Ape appears, none of you should interfere. I will handle it myself."


    "No one is allowed to interfere in our battle. Do you understand?"


    The members of the modification team exchanged nces and then looked at Fei Si.


    Fei Si smiled slightly, "Since Young Master Meng Chong has said so, you should obey."


    "Understood." The group responded again in unison.


    This time, however, their response was noticeably weaker than before.


    Some of them exchanged looks, clearly unimpressed with Meng Chong''s decision to face the ape alone.


    "What have you all understood?" Fei Si thought disdainfully.


    Meng Chong¡¯s decisions came from his heart, driven by his nature.


    Each action allowed him to tap deeper into his nature and gain a deeper mastery of his innate immortal potential.


    Since exploring the Immortal Pce, Meng Chong had experienced defeat after defeat, but his strength had improved tremendously.


    "And he is far ahead of the geniuses from the three families!" Fei Si, unaware of the full truth, always believed that Meng Chong was in the lead, holding a huge advantage.


    Especially after Meng Chong had recently shared the ranking information with Fei Si.


    Fei Si had even asked some specific questions, and after receiving the answers, he was misled even further.


    "Young Master Meng Chong has boundless potential, and the City Lord has great foresight. At this rate, he will undoubtedly take control of the Lava Immortal Pce!"


    "The only concern is Zhu Xuanji!"


    "This person colludes with the three families, stirring up chaos. He entered the pce under the guise of investigating the truth. Even Lord Meng Kui finds it difficult to confront him directly."


    "This is quite troublesome¡­"


    In the righteous path, one had to follow the rules. Going head-to-head was more of the demonic path¡¯s style.


    The Ning family¡¯s territory.


    In Ning Ze¡¯s cultivation chamber, Ning Zhuo was madly cultivating.


    Clouds surrounded him, dense like cotton,pletely covering him.


    He lit a stick of God-Assisting Incense, meditating on the Mirror tform Spirit Technique, his face serene and peaceful, full ofpassion.


    He raised his neck and gulped downrge amounts of exquisite Spirit Food while practicing the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique.


    Sitting cross-legged on a cushion, he actively inhaled and exhaled, practicing the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, while using the Ice Light Strong Pulse Talisman and Sharp Progress Needle to boldly open new meridians.


    While Meng Chong, Zheng Jian, and Ning Xiaohui were all stuck at the peak of the Qi Refining Stage, thirdyer, Ning Zhuo¡¯s cultivation had already reached thete stage of the fifthyer. His essence refining had advanced to the sixthyer, and his spirit cultivation had soared to thete sixthyer!


    "Since I grasped the embryonic form of the divine ability ¡®Life Hanging by a Thread,'' every time I cultivate my spirit, the results have been extraordinary, with no bottlenecks, progressing smoothly."


    "My Demonic Blood Tendon Technique quickly broke through to the sixthyer, thanks to my relentless consumption of Spirit Food, along with high-quality elixirs."


    "But the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, which I began cultivating first, has fallen behind, only at thete stage of the fifthyer."


    "Even with the help of the Ice Light Strong Pulse Talisman and Sharp Progress Needle, it''s still like this."


    "Unfortunately, to be safe, I can''t use the Zhou family¡¯s Gather-Disperse Spirit Tide Formation. If I could use it, perhaps I could push my mana cultivation to the sixthyer."


    Ning Zhuo recalled the message passed down from the higher-ups of the Ning family.


    The Ning family¡¯s Golden Core Ancestor had personally decreed that the family¡¯s modification team would receive strong support, with ess to more unique and excellent cultivation resources.


    "Three bottles of White Snow Spring Pill are provided to the entire team as a safety. With these excellent healing pills, there¡¯s no fear of suffering damage from rapid cultivation."


    "Two Dao Comprehension Diagrams are also valuable. If I canprehend the Proud Snow Art and the Frost Dominion Art, these two techniques naturally align with the Five Elements Mana and require no modification."


    "The most critical resource is the Ice Heart Jade Pot!"


    "This is the Ning family¡¯s treasured artifact, capable of brewing Ice Heart Jade Liquor, also known as Ice Jade Wine."


    "After consuming this wine, one can use the treasure of the spirit to enhance the treasure of the body, making it the best resource for cultivating the Ice Heart Sutra."


    The main branch of the Ning family all cultivated the Ice Heart Sutra.


    This technique, when practiced to a certain level, often led to a calm and even cold-hearted demeanor, with no emotional fluctuations.


    As the saying goes: Frost is like a de, and the ice heart polishes the mirror. Guard your heart like ice, and no evil can invade.


    The mana umtion of the Ice Heart Sutra was not as fast as most top-tier techniques, but its strength in spiritual cultivation was unmatched.


    By relying on Ice Jade Wine, one could use their spiritual cultivation to enhance their mana cultivation, perfectlypensating for the technique¡¯s shorings.


    "Although I cultivate the Five Elements Mana, the Ice Jade Wine is also very suitable for me."


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s spirit cultivation far exceeded his mana cultivation. Drinking Ice Jade Wine would elevate his mana cultivation.


    Of course, the effects of Ice Jade Wine were most beneficial to those who practiced the Ice Heart Sutra. The spiritual wine was created topensate for the slow


    mana umtion of Ice Heart Sutra cultivators.


    The same resource had different effects and values depending on the cultivator.


    Ning Zhuo felt secretly fortunate.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fiercepetition around the Lava Immortal Pce, how could someone like him, from a minor branch of the family, have ess to the Ning family¡¯s core cultivation resources?


    Let alone the Dao Comprehension Diagrams, even the Ice Light Strong Pulse Talismans would have been out of his reach.


    But now, as long as he performed well, he had a chance to obtain the Ice Jade Wine!


    In normal times, only the Ning family¡¯s Golden Core Ancestor would have full ess to the Ice Jade Wine. Even the main branch¡¯s high-level members, including the n leader, had to wait in line. How could it ever be Ning Zhuo¡¯s turn?


    "Hmm?" Ning Zhuo took a moment to observe the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    Yuan Dasheng had been left in the Lava Immortal Pce, just like before.


    Through Dasheng¡¯s perspective, Ning Zhuo noticed arge movement from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.


    Led by Meng Chong, a modification team of seventeen people had entered the Immortal Pce, advancing in a grand and high-spirited manner.


    "The City Lord¡¯s Mansion? What a bold move." Ning Zhuo marveled in secret.


    Nowadays, the three familiesbined could barely gather sixteen people.


    The City Lord¡¯s Mansion alone could produce sixteen people, showing they had long been prepared. Meng Kui, a strategist of such caliber, was indeed far-sighted.


    "With such strength from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, no wonder the three families have joined forces and grown increasingly united."


    As Ning Zhuo sighed, he had the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, send a message to Sun Lingtong.


    Sun Lingtong¡¯s soul still lingered in the Immortal Pce.


    He was at the Foundation Establishment stage, and his soul power was abundant, allowing him to persist for two or three days without issue.


    At that moment, Sun Lingtong was hiding in the preparation room, using various mechanical tools to modify his body.


    Sun Lingtong was also quite skilled in mechanics.


    When Ning Zhuo was younger, he had shared his mother¡¯s mechanical manuals with Sun Lingtong.


    Sun Lingtong had always studied diligently, eager to reunite with his master as soon as possible, so he had devoted himself fully to learning mechanics.


    He was talented, and hisprehension skills were by no means inferior.


    As a result, although Sun Lingtong¡¯s mastery of mechanics didn¡¯t surpass Ning Zhuo¡¯s, it far exceeded the requirements for entering the Immortal Pce.


    Receiving Dasheng¡¯s report, Sun Lingtong was startled, "Someone¡¯sing?"


    Then, he smiled in delight, "Good, good, good. Just as Xiao Zhuo said, let them in first."

 Chapter 149:

    Sun Lingtong did not intercept in advance but left the preparation room and headed deeper inside.


    Ning Zhuo was not by his side now, so Sun Lingtong was like a cklisted person, unable to receive rewards or open doors.


    Thus, Sun Lingtong waited for the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, to push open the door first, and then he would squeeze in afterward.


    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, upon seeing this, ground its teeth in fury!


    Meng Chong took the lead, breaking through the second and third checkpoints, bringing sixteen identical puppets into the preparation room.


    In an instant, the speed run, progress, and Qi Refining leaderboards were filled with names.


    The leaderboards only recorded the top ten, and many others were ranked in the teens, unable to make the list.


    Ning Zhuo exhaled a turbid breath, feeling a bit joyful in his heart.


    In this way, when he entered the preparation room in the future, it would be entirely reasonable for his name not to be on the leaderboard.If the leaderboard had been empty before, not being listed would have been a huge w!


    By leveraging the enemy, Ning Zhuo solved this hidden danger.


    "Charge, charge, charge!" Meng Chong shouted as he aggressively pushed forward.


    With him leading the way, the sixteen puppets behind him remained unscathed, lying t all the way to Room Nine.


    "Finally here." Sun Lingtong hid in the corner, disguising himself with multipleyers of camouge, fully demonstrating the No-Void Sect¡¯s expertise in concealment.


    Sun Lingtong peered through two small holes, observing the outside world.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Meng Chongughed heartily, engaging in a fierce fight with the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    After charging all the way through, he finally found the target he wanted to challenge, his fighting spirit soaring, and his body surrounded by electric light, thoroughly enjoying the battle.


    As for the other members, they were engaged inbat with various Kung Fu puppets and magical puppets, fighting chaotically without any formation, and the battlefield was in disarray.


    Sun Lingtong waited patiently for a while, and when the time was ripe, he smiled secretly and quietlymanded Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai, to take action.


    The Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai,y t in a temporarily constructed coffin, which was buried beneath the floor tiles.


    Qi Bai didn¡¯t reveal himself, lying down as he cast his spell.


    Immediately, wailing ghosts and howling spirits erupted!


    Various beast souls emerged from the ground, rushing towards the reconstruction team.


    Where did these beast soulse from?


    This was thanks to a good idea from Ning Zhuo.


    After understanding the Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai, Ning Zhuo had thought of the first checkpoint of the Buddhist Sect.


    There were many coffins there, sealing and storing many corpses, both of demonic beasts and spiritual nts.


    Did these have souls?


    Most likely, they did!


    Because when constructing spiritual mechanism puppets, the body, soul, mana, essence blood, and divine sense should all be preserved as intact as possible.


    Thus, Ning Zhuo took Sun Lingtong and the Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai, to the first checkpoint of the Buddhist Sect.


    With the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, all the souls in those coffins were summoned out. The Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai, took the opportunity to fiercely replenish arge amount ofbat power!


    The reconstruction team had just defeated all the Kung Fu and magical puppets, and were watching the battle between Meng Chong and Dasheng, in a state of fatigue and rxation.


    In the sudden turn of events, many were slow to react and were pounced on by the ghosts, with their own souls being struck, even torn apart inrge bites, causing screams of pain.


    The scene became chaotic.


    The temperature in the air plummeted, with wraiths rising all around, flying through the air.


    The reconstruction team from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion was in disarray, scattered in panic.


    ¡°An ambush?!¡± Meng Chong nced over, only to be taken advantage of by Dasheng, whounched a sessful counterattack, sending him flying into the wall.


    ¡°Roar!¡± Dasheng raised his head and roared, pounding his chest, fully disying his ferocity.


    Then, he beckoned to Meng Chong with his index finger, the challenge evident in his expression.


    Meng Chong''s eyes widened in disbelief¡ªhe was being looked down upon by a mere mechanical creation!


    He let out a low growl, charging back in to engage in battle with Dasheng once again.


    After a few rounds, Dasheng suddenly abandoned defense, stretching out his arms as if to embrace Meng Chong.


    Meng Chong¡¯s eyes gleamed, thinking, ¡°A w!¡±


    Wild Sprint Thunderp!


    In an instant, Meng Chong shot forward like a bolt of lightning.


    Dasheng¡¯s arms crossed, but they grabbed nothing.


    Almost at the same time, Meng Chong reappeared behind Dasheng like a sh.


    Meng Chong struck hard at Dasheng¡¯s back.


    Just as he seeded, a shadow floated by, attacking him.


    Caught off guard, Meng Chong couldn¡¯t dodge in time and was struck on the back by the shadow.


    It was the Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai, lying in wait for the right moment to act!


    With just this blow, Meng Chong lost all mobility, and his soul was forcibly extracted from his puppet body!


    Meng Chong: ?!


    The reconstruction team, being chased and fleeing in panic from the beast souls, finally came to their senses upon seeing this.


    ¡°Young Master Meng Chong!¡±


    ¡°Quick, save the young master!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s another special mechanical puppet!!¡±


    Ignoring their own safety, they rushed toward Qi Bai.


    Qi Bai retreated silently and swiftly.


    Roar!


    Dasheng leaped in front of them, bing an insurmountable roadblock.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Meng Chong screamed miserably.


    His soul fell into Qi Bai¡¯s hands, like a fully inted balloon being poked, rapidly deting.


    Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art!


    Though Qi Bai had died, his Golden Core remained, and the Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art was still intact.


    In life, he had easily extracted Sun Lingtong¡¯s soul. Now, in this ambush, he simrly extracted Meng Chong¡¯s soul.


    He activated the Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art, devouring Meng Chong¡¯s soul!


    Meng Chong gripped Qi Bai¡¯s arms, kicking his legs wildly, instinctively trying to use his immortal ability, Wild Sprint Thunderp.


    But Sun Lingtong was prepared, giving a precise order, ¡°Use the Soul-Scattering Throat Drum!¡±


    The Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai, gently vibrated his throat, emitting a drum-like sound.


    The sound hit Meng Chong, who immediately felt dizzy, his arms and legs going limp like noodles, ceasing to struggle.


    Qi Bai took this chance to fiercely devour his soul.


    Meng Chong¡¯s soul shrank to its limit, on the verge of copse, when the Life-Hanging Thread above his head was triggered, gently pulling him out of the Immortal Pce and sending him back to his body.


    Without Meng Chong, even though the reconstruction team had many people, they were no longer a threat.


    Under thebined assault of the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, and the Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai, their souls were quickly captured and devoured. Just before their souls were utterly annihted, they were sent back to their bodies by the Life-Hanging Thread.


    ¡°We won!¡±


    ¡°That was too easy.¡±


    Sun Lingtong emerged from his hiding spot, pping his hands in excitement.


    He stretched his legs and ran over to the Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai, giving him amand.


    Qi Bai knelt down and extended his palm, pressing it against Sun Lingtong¡¯s puppet body.


    In the next moment, pure soul essence was infused into Sun Lingtong¡¯s soul.


    Sun Lingtong raised his head, taking a deep breath, shouting with satisfaction.


    His soul had originally been injured, and though he had the Phoenix Soul Fragrance Pill for treatment, there was still a ways to go before full recovery.


    But now, with the infusion of soul essence, his soul rapidly healed, reaching peak condition and even growing beyond his limits, advancing swiftly!


    ¡°Amazing, truly amazing!¡± Sun Lingtong¡¯s eyes danced with joy.


    ¡°Stop, stop.¡± He quickly called out.


    He absorbed half of the soul essence, intending to leave the other half for Ning Zhuo.


    ¡°My soul ispletely healed now.¡±


    ¡°From now on, all the soul essence will be left for Xiao Zhuo. The more his soul power grows, the more Phantom True Lotus Seeds he can obtain!¡±


    He called out to the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, ¡°Xiao Zhuo,e quickly, there¡¯s something delicious!¡±


    Ning Zhuo, watching the entire process through Dasheng, couldn¡¯t help but swallow.


    It had been a long time since he absorbed soul essence.


    Han Ming had lost hers, and Qi Bai had been made into a mechanical puppet, only now allowing him to regain a way to obtain soul essence.


    ¡°The City Lord¡¯s Mansion is wealthy and powerful, treating soul injuries for Meng Chong and the others will be effortless.¡±


    ¡°This is fantastic!¡±


    Ning Zhuo couldn¡¯t help but daydream about the future.


    With the Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai, Ning Zhuo suddenly realized that all the cultivators participating in the trial were resources for his cultivation!


    ¡°Speaking of which, when will the joint reconstruction team of the three families enter the pce?¡±

 Chapter 150: Ning Zhuo Satisfied Them

    The status of a direct disciple was very high and quite important to a sect, being one of the core forces and the future leadership of the sect.


    At that moment, an elder pondered and said, "I remember this matter. Not long ago, Qi Bai took on a mission to investigate Huoshi Immortal City of the Southern Dou Country. There were rumors that in Mount Huoshi, a Puppet Immortal Pce might have emerged, which was the Lava Immortal Pce of the Three Sect Lords from back in the day."


    The Soul-Devouring Sect''s sect master¡¯s gaze slightly darkened. "The Three Sect Lords¡­"


    "This person was extraordinary, possessing a cultivation of the Void Refinement stage but capable of contending against someone of the Body Integration stage."


    "He practiced the techniques of the demonic, Daoist, and Buddhist sects simultaneously, which indeed demonstrated his talent. However, in hister years, he faced misfortune, seemed to have gone mad, andmitted suicide."


    The sect master thought for a moment and looked at one of the sect elders, asking, "Elder Luo, what do you think should be done in this matter?"


    Elder Luo pondered and said, "Since our sect¡¯s direct disciple has fallen, we must investigate the true culprit and punish them severely! However, since the Lava Immortal Pce is located within Huoshi Immortal City, sending elders might cause unnecessary misunderstandings."


    "This old one believes it is more appropriate to dispatch one or twopetent Golden Core stage cultivators, along with a few ghost generals to escort them."


    "We should first investigate the true culprit and then discuss how to proceed."The sect master smiled. "This is the wise counsel of an experienced statesman. Then, Elder Luo, which direct disciple do you think is most suitable?"


    Elder Luo, knowing the sect master¡¯s intention in asking him directly, immediately said, "I rmend my nephew, Luo Shang."


    "Very well, Luo Shang it is." The sect master immediately gave the order, sending Luo Shang to Huoshi Immortal City to investigate, and assigned a Nascent Soul stage ghost general to protect him on his journey.


    This was already the operational limit under normal circumstances.


    For arge demonic sect like the Soul-Devouring Sect, its elders were at least of Nascent Soul cultivation. Dispatching an elder would undoubtedly make the Southern Dou Country uneasy and could possibly lead to unnecessary conflicts.


    If a misunderstanding escted, causing the Soul-Devouring Sect to provoke a massive power like the Southern Dou Country, it would be quite unwise.


    In the cultivation world, great power often resided in one individual.


    A Nascent Soul-level figure could defend a region, just like how Meng Kui guarded Huoshi Immortal City. Likewise, a Nascent Soul cultivator could invade a region.


    Such individuals at this level could not be moved lightly.


    Therefore, when the Soul-Devouring Sect previously sent someone to investigate the soul reserve within Mount Huoshi, they had only dispatched the Golden Core direct disciple Qi Bai. It wasn''t because the Soul-Devouring Sectcked Nascent Soul cultivators, but because under normal circumstances, sending Qi Bai was the most appropriate choice.


    Now that Qi Bai was suspected to have died in Huoshi Immortal City, the Soul-Devouring Sect had a valid reason to send a stronger figure to investigate.


    This figure didn¡¯t necessarily have to be a Nascent Soul cultivator, but they at least had to possess Nascent Soul-level abilities. Therefore, dispatching a ghost general with Nascent Soul-levelbat power to protect Luo Shang was still within the bounds of epted norms.


    As for why a mighty demonic sect like the Soul-Devouring Sect needed to abide by rules, the reason was simple.


    With stable resourceses a stable mind.


    The Soul-Devouring Sect controlled vast territories and numerous cultivation resources. Being arge, established power, it naturally had many concerns to consider.


    After receiving the order, Luo Shang immediately set out for Huoshi Immortal City.


    Not long after he left, a disciple of the Soul-Devouring Sect secretly sent out a message.


    The message passed through several intermediaries, eventually arriving in a certain town.


    The leader of the town then forwarded the message to the nearest sect¡¯s secret base.


    In that base, several cultivators were discussing and analyzing various pieces of intelligence.


    "A direct disciple of the Soul-Devouring Sect died? This is a big deal!"


    "The Soul-Devouring Sect has tentatively determined that he died in Huoshi Immortal City of the Southern Dou Country."


    "Isn¡¯t there a rumor that an Immortal Pce has appeared over there?"


    "The Lava Immortal Pce? That''s just one of the twelve pces of the Three Sect Lords, indeed buried within Mount Huoshi. This has been confirmed."


    "Wait a minute, doesn¡¯t our No-Void Sect have disciples in Huoshi Immortal City?"


    "Yes, there''s Sun Lingtong, who manages the ck market in Huoshi Immortal City, and he¡¯s quite well-informed. However, he hasn''t confirmed whether the Immortal Pce has really appeared, only reporting some strange movements."


    "Sun Lingtong¡­ Isn''t he the only disciple of Xu Wuyan?"


    "Yes. Many years ago, Elder Xu got trapped in the Lava Immortal Pce. Sun Lingtong has stayed in the city ever since, always believing that his master isn''t dead, just trapped inside the pce. The sect once considered bringing him back because of his talent, but he refused."


    "Haha, what a fool."


    "I actually think this kid¡¯s mindset is admirable! Even if he returned to the sect, it might not be a good choice. Don¡¯t forget, Elder Qing is Elder Xu¡¯s old rival and is now very powerful within the sect."


    "Enough gossip. Let¡¯s report this matter first."


    "Whether it¡¯s the Soul-Devouring Sect or Huoshi Immortal City, we should send our sect¡¯s disciples to investigate further."


    Several days passed.


    The No-Void Sect¡¯s secret base had gathered a lot more information.


    Once again, the cultivators of the No-Void Sect began discussing.


    "Strange, the number of reports about the appearance of Huoshi Immortal City has suddenly increased dramatically."


    "We¡¯ve confirmed the source. It¡¯s from the Meng family of the Southern Dou Country."


    "The Meng family?"


    "Meng Kui, one of the four generals of the Meng family, is the city lord of Huoshi Immortal City. Why would he be spreading such news so widely?"


    "It is indeed strange."


    "Has the upper echelon of the sect decided to send any elite disciples to investigate Huoshi Immortal City? I feel there might be an opportunity."


    Just as they were discussing, a voice suddenly came, "I¡¯m already here."


    In the secret room, the cultivators were startled and scattered in fear, rapidly channeling their mana, ready for a fierce battle.


    A female cultivator slowly revealed her figure, shing her identification token, causing the others to lower their guard and greet her with respect.


    The female cultivator acted swiftly, and after appearing, she demanded all the information rted to Huoshi Immortal City and immediately set out for Mount Huoshi.


    "It¡¯s the direct disciple Yang Chanyu."


    "The sect actually sent her!"


    "Yang Chanyu is Elder Qing¡¯s beloved disciple. This time, her purpose is definitely not simple. Sun Lingtong is going to be in trouble."


    Huoshi Immortal City.


    Ning Zhuo reviewed the recent intelligence, frowning slightly. "The atmosphere in the city seems a bit off recently!"


    Without ess to the ck market, Ning Zhuo had to rely mainly on street gossip for gathering information, which significantly reduced the quality of the intelligence.


    Even so, Ning Zhuo still sensed a subtle change in the atmosphere. "There seem to be many more unfamiliar faces in the city recently. The inns¡¯ businesses have improved. Fights and idents have frequently urred in certain areas, and when you look closely, you¡¯ll notice that these areas are all near important locations or key buildings in the city."


    For the past few days, he had been staying at the Ning family¡¯s residence, hardly stepping out. He was either diligently cultivating or tinkering in a temporary workshop he had set up.


    The Tree Martial Fighting Ape had been destroyed, and the remaining skeleton had be fragile after bearing the weight of the Righteous Bone Gold Frame in the aftermath of the battle.


    Ning Zhuo had no choice but to start over and rebuild the Mechanical Ape.


    This time, however, it wasn''t as convenient as thest time, as Ning Zhuocked many materials.


    Last time, he had been at the Zheng family¡¯s ce, and with Zheng Jian¡¯s support, he had used many precious materials to create the Tree Martial Fighting Ape.


    This time, Ning Zhuo wasn¡¯t so lucky.


    During his cultivation, a messenger arrived with an order to assemble.


    Ning Zhuo obeyed the order and secretly met with Zheng Jian and the others.


    "Brother Ning Zhuo, we finally meet." Zheng Jian greeted him cheerfully with a heartyugh.


    Ning Zhuo not only saw Zheng Jian but also Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zhenshen.


    "Congrattions on your recovery!" Ning Zhuo smiled sincerely.


    Zhou Zhu remained silent, while Zhou Zhenshen said, "I heard you and Ning Xiaohui explored the Immortal Pce and encountered Meng Chong?"


    Ning Xiaohui snorted coldly.


    "Shameful." Ning Zhuo sighed deeply, a look of fear appearing on his face. "The gap between us and Meng


    Chong is too big. We had no power to resist at all."


    "To be honest, I¡¯ve felt heavy-hearted these past few days, unable to feel at ease."


    "With Meng Chong in front of us, how could we possibly be a match for him?"


    Zhou Zhenshen nodded, his expression bing more somber.


    Zheng Jian patted Ning Zhuo on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Together, we might not necessarily lose. It¡¯s still too early to talk about failure, Brother Ning Zhuo."


    Ning Zhuo forced a smile, his demeanor that of someone deeply discouraged after being severely beaten. "To fight against Meng Chong, I can¡¯t do it. I¡¯ll have to rely on all of you!"


    Ning Xiaohui snorted again, "Ning Zhuo, with that kind of mentality, how can you still bear the surname Ning?"


    "Defeat and humiliation should drive you to hold your head high and fight with all your might to wash away your shame."


    "Just follow behind me and watch carefully!"


    Thus, in the following action, Ning Xiaohui was the first to have her soul extracted by the Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai. Amidst her screams, her soul was on the verge of copse, triggering the Immortal Pce¡¯s mechanisms and returning her soul to her body.


    Zhou Zhenshen continued, "This operation is critical. We must clear as many checkpoints as possible and catch up to Meng Chong."


    Ning Zhuo satisfied him.


    During the subsequent action, Ning Zhuomunicated with Sun Lingtong and deliberately let the three-family alliance team reach the preparation room.


    The cultivators from the three families were all shocked when they saw the leaderboard.


    "Meng Chong is indeed in first ce!"


    "There are so many people from the city lord¡¯s renovation team on the leaderboard."


    "Outrageous! Meng Chong must have made great progress while we were recovering!"


    "Just as we suspected, the city lord¡¯s team is far ahead of us."


    Zhou Zhenshen was the second to have his soul extracted.


    Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong¡¯s nned attack order made sense.


    The first to be attacked was Ning Xiaohui, as her talent could not only counter various mechanisms but also freeze wounds for treatment.


    The second was Zhou Zhenshen, whose intelligence andmand skills were formidable. Leaving him on the battlefield for too long would be a liability.


    "I¡¯ve heard that Meng Chong is so powerful. I¡¯d like to fight him personally. Even if I lose, it¡¯s no big deal. I can see the gap between us and him and then work twice as hardter," Zheng Jian said with anticipation.


    Ning Zhuo satisfied him twice over¡ªby letting Yuan Dasheng focus his attention on him.


    "I¡¯m going to die! Going to die! Going to die!" Zheng Jian¡¯s talent activated, frantically warning him as Yuan Dasheng charged toward him.


    Zheng Jian became the third to have his soul devoured.


    Zhou Zhu, who was always silent and withdrawn, was left forst. Seeing how slow-witted he seemed, Ning Zhuo chose him to be the witness, allowing him to see with his own eyes Ning Zhuo¡¯s "death."

 Chapter 151: The Divine Lotus Blooms

    After the two geniuses of the Zhou family recovered from their injuries, they couldn''t wait to form a joint team with three families to explore the Lava Immortal Pce together.


    The three forces clearly hadn''t figured out the true situation of the City Lord''s Mansion. Before setting off, they were still fantasizing about how, if they encountered the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, again, they would gather everyone¡¯s strength to deal with Yuan Dasheng!


    In the end, the joint teamunched a heavy strike, repeating the City Lord''s Mansion''s mistake. More than twenty Qi Refining stage cultivators were all devoured by souls, letting Ning Zhuo feast heartily!


    Ning Zhuo arrived at the third gate of the Buddhist Sect, repeatedly entering and exiting with an arrogant demeanor, angering the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit so much that its fists hardened, pounding the throne repeatedly.


    The Phantom True Lotus Seed was his only option.


    The prototype of his divine ability, "Life Hanging by a Thread," surged again. The once palm-sized lotus leaf expanded fiercely, bing asrge as a basin, vibrant green like jade.


    At Sun Lingtong''s initiative, Ning Zhuo also nted "Life Hanging by a Thread" in Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai.


    In this way, even if Sun Lingtong¡¯s soul returned to his body and he was no longer within the trials of the Lava Immortal Pce, he could still leave Qi Bai behind for Ning Zhuo to control.


    "Qi Bai''s spirituality has decreased by eighteen percent." Ning Zhuo felt regretful.When Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai participated in battles and devoured others¡¯ souls, the biggest price he paid was the loss of his spirituality.


    Without reaching ten percent, the spirituality couldn¡¯t sustain itself, which meant it couldn¡¯t recover.


    But despite trying several methods, Ning Zhuo had yet to find a way to restore his spirituality.


    "Look on the bright side, little brother!" Sun Lingtong was more carefree in this regard.


    "I think this deal is worth it!"


    "We lost some spirituality, but in exchange, you absorb the Phantom True Lotus Seed faster and more abundantly, boosting your ¡®Life Hanging by a Thread'' divine ability."


    "This is a huge profit."


    "So, even if all the spirituality is consumed, it''s still worth it."


    Ning Zhuo sighed, knowing that Sun Lingtong had a valid point. But he had always been fond of mechanical creations and didn¡¯t want to see the ¡°death¡± of Mechanized Qi Bai from the bottom of his heart.


    For the next ten or so days, Ning Zhuo had a rare period of peaceful cultivation.


    Meng Kui continued to sit on the mountaintop, sealing the surroundings, but he couldn¡¯t stop Zhu Xuanji from leading the three families¡¯ Golden Core cultivators.


    Zhu Xuanji understood the severity of the situation. Since he discovered the Lava Immortal Pce''s weakness, he had set aside the investigation. He frequently entered the Immortal Pce, exploring while increasing his contributions.


    After the City Lord''s Mansion recovered, they followed Meng Chong''s lead and attacked twice.


    The three families¡¯ modification teams regrouped after their failures. After a secondplete defeat under thebined assault of Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai and Golden-Blooded Battle Ape Dasheng, they decisively abandoned the idea of full-scale operations.


    ording to their analysis, the Lava Immortal Pce had a mechanism that adjusted the difficulty of trials based on the strength of the challengers.


    Therefore, as long as they acted alone or in groups of two or three, they wouldn''t encounter the overly strong mechanized creations, Yuan Dasheng and Qi Bai.


    Ning Zhuo, as they predicted, greatly reduced the appearances of Yuan Dasheng and Qi Bai.


    On one hand, Qi Bai''s spirituality had dropped to less than ten percent after these rounds of massive soul devouring. Although Sun Lingtong didn''t mind, Ning Zhuo decided to preserve what remained.


    As for the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, it wasn¡¯t without battle damage. Ning Zhuo¡¯s current mechanical crafting skills couldn¡¯t truly repair him, at most patching him up. Overall, the battle strength of the mechanized creature was steadily declining.


    On the other hand, Ning Zhuo didn¡¯t want topletely crush the morale of the three-family alliance or the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.


    He needed to give these people some hope, to motivate them to keep moving forward and to continue pouring resources into their efforts.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s cultivation had advanced so greatly thanks to the variety of cultivation resources the three-family alliance provided.


    Using the Soul Essence returned by Qi Bai, Ning Zhuo''s soul foundation had once again increased massively.


    Compared to when he hadn¡¯t encountered Han Ming, his growth was more than one hundred and fifty times!


    This allowed Ning Zhuo¡¯s soul power to be unmatched among Qi Refining cultivators, and he could invoke the power of the "Buddha Heart Demon Seal" more frequently, helping him crazily select rewards.


    The Phantom True Lotus Seeds¡­ were all chosen by him.


    The prototype of "Life Hanging by a Thread" had also changed form. In Ning Zhuo¡¯s spiritual sea and dantian, the jade-green lotus leaf now bore a bud of pink and white, full and about to bloom, giving off an air of vibrant readiness.


    "Only a little more to perfection."


    "No, still a long way to go¡­"


    The divine ability prototype gave Ning Zhuo a contradictory understanding.


    After discussing and guessing with Sun Lingtong, they both believed that the divine ability prototype was very close to perfection! But thisst step, though it seemed small, was extremely crucial. It was difficult to cross, and without crossing it, there could be no qualitative change to achieve full perfection.


    Just like reaching ten percent spirituality before.


    So, the divine ability was just a little bit away from perfection, but also far away.


    "Why can''t there be more Phantom True Lotus Seeds?" Sun Lingtong felt regretful.


    Ning Zhuo shook his head, "I believe that thest step must be crossed by the cultivator alone."


    He wasn¡¯t guessing wildly, but had a basis for his belief.


    Ning Zhuo said, "Thest dozen Phantom True Lotus Seeds I absorbed had very little effect on the divine ability prototype. The growth rate of the divine ability has been minimal, and the benefit from the seeds has been diminishing."


    Sun Lingtong pondered for a moment and nodded, agreeing with Ning Zhuo''s spection.


    But what should they do next?


    How could they make the divine ability reach perfection?


    The two of them discussed for a long time, but couldn¡¯te up with a reliable guess.


    ¡­


    At the peak of the volcano, in the depths of the clouds and mist.


    Meng Kui invited Zhu Xuanji for a conversation.


    "Master Zhu, rumors are spreading, and the winds are getting louder."


    "Although I stay here all day, I can''t stop the news from spreading further."


    "Recently, more and more outsiders have been entering Huoshi Immortal City. There''s even news that the Soul-Devouring Sect and the No-Void Sect have sent true disciples."


    "Both the Taiqing Pce and the Zixiao Pavilion have also sent invitations, using the excuse ofbating demonic cultivators, seeking to send their true disciples into Huoshi Immortal City."


    "In this situation, relying on me alone will not be enough. I hope Master Zhu can join me in submitting a memorial, requesting reinforcements from the court!"


    Zhu Xuanji gave Meng Kui a deep look. The development of the situation over this period had been seen clearly by him, and he nodded slightly, "Very well, I will join you in submitting the memorial."


    ¡­


    Early-stage of the sixthyer of Qi Refining.


    Mid-stage of the sixthyer of Essence Refining.


    Peak of the sixthyer of Spirit Refining!


    Ning Zhuo finished a day of grueling cultivation and exhaled a breath of turbid air.


    In just over ten days, his cultivation had advanced significantly.


    Typically, by the mid-stage of Qi Refining, the pace of cultivation would slow down significantlypared to earlier stages.


    But the three techniques arranged by the Three Sect Lords all had advantages in terms of cultivation speed.


    As long as the resources were sufficient.


    And Ning Zhuo¡¯s resources were plentiful from every source.


    His strongest cultivation remained his spiritual sea, steadily progressing with no slowing, reaching the peak of the sixthyer.


    At this point, Ning Zhuo could finally push the door open and advance once more.


    "It¡¯s time to show off my outstanding mechanical crafting talent again." With this thought in mind, Ning Zhuo summoned Ning Chen and Ning Yong.

 Chapter 152: Lava Immortal Palace.

    Ning Zhuo, Ning Yong, Ning Chen, and others gathered in Room 1.


    "This time, with everyone''s help, I, Ning Zhuo, express my gratitude first!" Therge puppet Ning Zhuo stood in front of the first door, cupping his hands to thank the Ning family members.


    "A Zhuo, no need to be so polite. Thanks to your help earlier, how else could I have reached the peak of the thirdyer so quickly?"


    "Nothing to say, when I heard you needed help, I came."


    "We were going to explore the Immortal Pce anyway. A Zhuo, feel free to call on me in the future, and I wille."


    The Ning family members were all enthusiastic.


    Previously, Ning Zhuo had taken care of his ssmates, helping them to cultivate faster without asking for anything in return. In the process, nting the Life Hanging by a Thread technique was a small matter, hardly worth mentioning.


    Of course, the enthusiasm of the Ning family cultivators also had to do with the internal situation of the Ning family.


    The main and branch families had been at odds for a long time.The Ning family had always upheld a policy of strengthening the main family while weakening the branches, and the branch family had long harbored considerable dissatisfaction and resentment from being suppressed.


    Many branch family cultivators, in order to advance, were forced to serve the main family, and few could remain untouched by this.


    Ning Zhuo had emerged as a dark horse. Not only could he remain independent, but he could also help others.


    The branch family members had long hoped for such a figure to appear. Although Ning Zhuo was only at the Qi Refining stage, his talent had be widely known.


    In the eyes of almost everyone, Ning Zhuo was a genius with great potential!


    If nothing went wrong, as long as he grew smoothly, he would inevitably be a banner, a pir of support that others could rely on.


    Thus, the branch family members of the Ning n had naturally and intentionally gathered around Ning Zhuo.


    On one hand, it was to support each other; on the other, they were betting on the future.


    This was the game of righteousness.


    The weak would never allow themselves to be oppressed without resistance. They would do everything they could to resist the strong and fight for more space to survive.


    Just like the three major families of Huoshi City, unable to resist Meng Kui, they obediently followed orders. But when Zhu Xuanji appeared, with just a little invitation, the three families immediately flocked to him.


    By doing so, they could use Zhu Xuanji to counterbnce the powerful Meng Kui and secure more benefits for their families.


    The three families gathering around Zhu Xuanji and the branch family members of the Ning n supporting Ning Zhuo were essentially the same.


    Ning Zhuo nced around and saw that everyone''s spirits were high, so he nodded slightly.


    This time, he had made up his mind to disy his mastery of mechanical techniques.


    "Everyone, before we act, I must first make an agreement with all of you!" Ning Zhuo spoke.


    "Next, we will work together, with me as the leader, controlling the spiritual power and your bodies."


    "Only when it''s time to use spells, I hope everyone will cooperate."


    The Ning family members responded immediately:


    "Understood!"


    "No problem."


    Ning Zhuo thanked them again, "Thank you all for your understanding and support."


    "If anyone suffers a loss or sacrifices themselves during this exploration of the Immortal Pce, I will personally providepensation afterward."


    After a pause, Ning Zhuo''s tone deepened, "Let me speak from the heart. Our branch family members are notcking in talent, so why are we always overshadowed by the main family?"


    "Is it because we don''t work hard enough?"


    "The truth is quite the opposite, we work even harder than they do!"


    "But the resources are all in the hands of the main family, and every member of the main family is clearly favored."


    "Ning Xiaohui has talent, but I refuse to ept being overshadowed."


    "This time, we are exploring the Immortal Pce to show the main family that we, the branch family, are strong and resilient too!"


    Ning Zhuo''s motivational speech hit the hearts of the crowd.


    "Hahaha, well said."


    "Exactly right!"


    Ning Yong raised his arm and shouted, "I''ve been annoyed with Ning Xiaohui for a long time. Brother Zhuo, we''ll follow your lead!"


    "Alright, now everyone dismantle yourselves." After Ning Zhuo finished speaking, he sat down heavily on the ground and began dismantling theponents of his legs.


    The others followed suit.


    Momentster, they had all disassembled themselves and then reassembled, forming arge mechanical creation.


    Ning Zhuo''s head was positioned at the highest point of the mechanical creation,manding everyone.


    First, he activated the spiritual power.


    The spiritual power quickly flowed through thebined body, constructing the cirction path of the thirdyer of the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    Everyone sensed this scene.


    Some began to praise on the spot: "A Zhuo, you''re amazing!"


    "Although we''re both at the peak of the thirdyer, A Zhuo''s mastery of the technique far surpasses mine."


    "Indeed, I can''t help but be impressed."


    Ning Zhuo pushed the spiritual power to its peak, then forcefully opened the first door and pushed himself into Room 2.


    In an instant, countless spears shot out from both sides of the walls.


    Above his head, a massive hammer-like mechanical trap was about to release, ready to fall.


    At this critical moment, Ning Zhuo remained calm, extending more than twenty arms.


    The spears were urately caught by several arms, then skillfully pulled out and used for himself.


    Ning Zhuo''s body gently rotated, the arms on the left side used the momentum to hurl the spears toward the holes in the right wall. The arms on the right side grabbed the spears and threw them toward the traps on the left.


    With just one spin, the spear traps were broken by using their own force against them.


    As the giant hammer trap came crashing down, Ning Zhuo extended more than twenty arms, simultaneously making contact with the hammer. Using the rotational force from his arms, he hurled the giant hammer forward.


    Right ahead, arge trap had been triggered, rising from the ground with a colorful.


    Just as the appeared, the giant hammer mmed into it.


    With a dull thud.


    The giant hammer pressed down on the, and the counteracted the hammer''s momentum, bothing to a halt midway.


    Ning Zhuo,manding more than twenty legs, stepped over them with ease, standing firmly before the long Room 2.


    At this moment, the others finally reacted.


    "Holy crap, crap, crap, crap!" This was Ning Yong''s voice.


    "What just happened? What just happened!"


    "We passed! We just passed! A Zhuo, how did you do it?"


    Ning Zhuo smiled, "Dear ssmates, over this time, I have been training hard behind closed doors in the art of controlling mechanisms. I especially trained in controlling multiple mechanisms at once, mastering the ability to multitask. This breakthrough is the time to test the results!"


    As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Zhuo moved forward, charging ahead with more than twenty legs.


    The others were about topliment Ning Zhuo, but immediately fell silent.


    The Ning family¡¯sbined puppet looked like a bulky, enormous caterpir, with more than twenty wooden legs moving in perfect order, and more than twenty arms either supporting or blocking, cooperating seamlessly.


    One after another, giant wooden beams swung across, but Ning Zhuo either jumped high to dodge them or had the arms work together to block them.


    Some traps were triggered, but only a few legs were left hanging, while the remaining long legs were firmly nted outside the trap on solid ground.


    Ning Zhuomanded the massive body, navigating through the obstacles and traps with flowing ease, reaching the second door.


    "We passed! We passed!" The wooden heads of the Ning family cultivators shouted in unison.


    They had personally experienced it and felt a lot.


    Many could not believe that they had passed the second checkpoint just like that.


    The entire process was incredibly simple, like walking on t ground.


    But everyone knew how not simple this seemingly simple performance was.


    "A Zhuo, you''re truly amazing!"


    "You''ve made us see you in a new light."


    "If I hadn''t experienced it myself, I wouldn''t have believed it."


    "Our coordination is this perfect?"


    "Nonsense, it''s all thanks to A Zhuo''smand!" Ning Yong''s voice rang out.


    Ning Zhuo, however, remained humble: "The real fight is still ahead. Let''s not talk for now. Everyone, follow mymand and collect your rewards. I have a n."


    The Ning family¡¯srge puppet stood in front of the door, carefully selecting for a while before finally receiving the rewards.


    "A Zhuo, go ahead and do your thing."


    "Our legs, our arms, our heads are all yours to use!"


    "A Zhuo, charge forward!"


    Everyone''s morale was high.


    Ning Zhuo pushed open the door.


    In the battle against the kung fu puppets, Ning Zhuo held back some of his strength, deliberately "sacrificing" severalpanions, and defeated all the kung fu puppets.


    "We won, we won!"


    "The victory is glorious, so glorious."


    "A Zhuo, you''re amazing. How can you control the mechanisms so effortlessly?"


    The answer was simple.


    Life Hanging by a Thread!


    In many ces, Ning Zhuo had made subtle adjustments, ensuring that each leg and arm moved in a precise, coordinated manner.


    With such precise movements, there was no mutual hindrance or interference. The collective power could be fully unleashed, leaving everyone in awe.


    Of course, Ning Zhuo would not answer this way.


    The young manughed, "It''s thanks to everyone trusting me unconditionally, allowing me to use you all."


    "There were still a few ssmates who were sacrificed, which was my fault, my shoring. I will continue to work hard and train in the future!"


    "I''m truly sorry, everyone."


    The young man''s humble and modest attitude made his ssmates feelfortable.


    "Not at all, not at all!"


    "A Zhuo, you''re perfect in every way, just a little too modest."


    "Do you even realize what you did? It was such a brilliant performance."


    Ning Zhuoughed again, "Haha, stop ttering me. We still have many more checkpoints to pass."


    He led the group into the preparation room.


    There, he dismantled himself and the others, returning to their original forms.


    "Why are we separating?" Many expressed their reluctance.


    Ning Zhuo exined to them, "During these days of intense training, I came up with many ideas, and I can implement them here."


    "Everyone, please trust me."


    "Let me craft some useful mechanicalponents for you, which will be very advantageous for the uing checkpoints."


    Hearing this, the Ning family members all agreed.


    Many wanted to watch Ning Zhuo''s modifications, but at this moment, Ning Chen stepped forward.


    "Go, go, go, what are you all doing here?"


    "These are the mechanical designs A Zhuo came up with, so let''s not look."


    "If we watch, are we being fair to A Zhuo?"


    His words left everyone speechless, and they turned away, facing their backs to Ning Zhuo.

 Chapter 153: The Summoning Order

    Ning Zhuo knocked and hammered, quickly processing the selected suspension rings, small flying boxes, and other mechanicalponents using the facilities in the preparation room.


    The suspension rings were modified into cocoon-binding suspension rings. When thrown, upon contact with an object, countless threads would burst out, wrapping the targetyer byyer into a cocoon, then hanging it from the ceiling.


    The small flying box was transformed into a flying shield. The shield circled around the puppet, automatically defending and absorbing various spells cast against it. Once the spell energy reached its storage limit, the small flying shield could self-destruct, and the explosion''s power was considerable.


    Ning Zhuo named it ¡°The Honest One.¡±


    Ning Zhuo distributed these modified mechanicalponents to everyone else.


    For a moment, everyone in the preparation room rehearsed, praising Ning Zhuo''s craftsmanship.


    While everyone was immersed in practice, Ning Zhuo stepped to the five-faced stone pir. Under the scornful gaze of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, he "fumbled" and found the trial disciple''s mark.


    "Come and take a look, everyone, see what I¡¯ve discovered!" Ning Zhuo eximed.


    Everyone gathered around.Ning Zhuo showed them the trial disciple''s mark he had just "found."


    Everyone was overjoyed.


    Many people said, "This discovery is too important!"


    "It will greatly help in exploring the Immortal Pce in the future."


    "A Zhuo, with this contribution, I believe you can get Ice Jade Wine!"


    "Ice Jade Wine?!" Ning Zhuo¡¯s face instantly showed a look of longing, "I¡¯ve heard about it since I was little, and I¡¯ve always wanted to take a sip."


    "Who hasn¡¯t?!" Everyoneughed, and morale soared.


    Thus, relying on the modified mechanicalponents and his exceptional control skills, Ning Zhuo led the group through challenge after challenge until they reached the eighth trial!


    Yuan Dasheng appeared in front of everyone.


    "This Mechanical Ape has finally shown up!"


    "A Zhuo, this time, we might only make it this far."


    "But it doesn¡¯t matter, this result is already quite extraordinary, we''ve broken previous records!"


    "That''s right, when we return to the family, A Zhuo, you will surely be richly rewarded."


    "Maybe there will even be Ice Jade Wine, hahaha."


    By the time they reached this point, the Ning family members were already at the end of their strength. Due to Ning Zhuo¡¯s deliberate arrangement, he had "sacrificed" a fewpanions during several previous stages.


    By the time Yuan Dasheng appeared, Ning Zhuo¡¯s giant puppet had greatly shrunk, leaving only fivepanions.


    Ning Zhuo''s battle intent was firm: "If we haven¡¯t fought, how can we say we¡¯re defeated? Let¡¯s all work together and fight this Mechanical Ape with all we¡¯ve got!"


    Everyone shouted in unison, fully energized by Ning Zhuo¡¯s motivation.


    However, Yuan Dasheng¡¯s strength was indeed "powerful," and he exploded the heads of the giant puppet one by one.


    After everyone but Ning Zhuo was defeated, Yuan Dasheng knelt on one knee: "My lord, your servant has acted rebelliously by striking at you. Please, my lord, punish me!"


    Ning Zhuo coughed, doing his best to y the role of the lord, first iming it was part of a ruse, then ordering Yuan Dasheng to make amends with merits.


    Ning Zhuo, after picking and choosing his equipment, had Yuan Dasheng clear the path, passing through the ninth trial and entering the central hall.


    He pushed open the first Buddhist door, clearing three trials in session.


    When it came time for rewards, since there was no Phantom True Lotus Seed avable, he chose a spell that enhanced his ability to sense multiple mechanical creations simultaneously.


    He entered the second central hall and activated the Mirror tform Spirit Technique at the peak of the sixthyer, sessfully pushing open the second Buddhist door.


    "A brand-new trial, here Ie!" He stepped inside.


    He returned, defeated.


    At the first stage behind the Buddhist door, he was just a bit short and did not pass.


    When he woke up, he was greeted by his n''spliments and congrattions, as well as Ning Xiaoren personally arriving, full of joy and offering words of encouragement.


    Ning Zhuo''s performance this time was truly astonishing!


    Ning Zhuo took the opportunity to make his request: "Uncle Xiaoren, with this achievement, can I get some Ice Jade Wine?"


    Ning Xiaoren¡¯s eye twitched slightly, but he kept a smile on his face, patting Ning Zhuo on the shoulder: "Alright, I¡¯ll do my best to get it for you!"


    ¡­


    Southern Dou Capital.


    Inside the Golden Throne Hall.


    The King of Southern Dou looked at the memorial in front of him and frowned deeply.


    This memorial was jointly submitted by Meng Kui, the lord of Huoshi Immortal City, and Zhu Xuanji from the Detective Division.


    "There really is trouble at Mount Huoshi!"


    "Sending reinforcements¡­"


    The King of Southern Dou was in a difficult position.


    In this world, Southern Dou was not the dominant power. Once the matter of the Refining Void-level relic leaked, it would inevitably attract countless covetous eyes, and various forces would reach out their hands.


    Unless Southern Douunched a full-scale military operation, they wouldn¡¯t be able to hold onto Mount Huoshi.


    The King of Southern Dou was well aware that the nations of the cultivation world had been engaged in a mad arms race for nearly a century. Somerger nations still had some strength left, but mid-sized nations like Southern Dou were already exhausted. As for the smaller countries, they had long fallen behind.


    Southern Dou had stationed heavy troops and generals at various strategic locations and borders, forming a bnced standoff with neighboring countries and factions.


    Tounch a major military campaign would mean pulling these troops and generals away, a move that would affect the entire bnce of power.


    Of course, there was idle military force avable¡ªthe Southern Dou Kingdom¡¯s strongest army, the Imperial Guard.


    However, this army was responsible for defending the capital and was of immense importance; it could not be easily moved. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to send the Imperial Guard just because something happened at Huoshi Immortal City, right?


    Moreover, Huoshi Immortal City was still rtively new in Southern Dou, with fewer cultivation resources and a smaller poption.


    Sending heavy troops was impractical, so what about sending some strong individuals?


    The King of Southern Dou quickly reviewed possible candidates, frowning even more deeply.


    Southern Dou had been founded for hundreds of years, and the influence of old ministers in the court was deeply entrenched. They were bound together by marriages and alliances, their interests intertwined.


    Choosing someone from the Meng family or those close to the Meng family was not an option.


    Then could others be chosen?


    If someone from the Su family, for instance, were chosen, wouldn¡¯t that give the Su family the opportunity topete for the Lava Immortal Pce?


    Were there people unrted to these old factions?


    There were.


    But wouldn¡¯t such candidates be targeted or drawn into alliances?


    In fact, this kind of situation had happened countless times already.


    The Zhu family, which controlled the Southern Dou throne, had always been unstable. From the very beginning, the founding emperor didn¡¯t have the royal mandate! Everything relied on the Three Sect Lords'' divine abilities.


    By the third generation of the Zhu family, there was still no royal mandate, and no heirs had inherited divine powers.


    "If the Zhu family can be the rulers of a country, why can¡¯t my family?" Families like the Meng and Su families were filled with these thoughts.


    The King of Southern Dou felt isted and lonely, cold atop his high position.


    In such circumstances, only members of the royal family could be considered reliable!


    However, the Southern Dou royal family had few talented individuals left. Zhu Xuanji was already considered one of the best among them.


    If not for this, the King of Southern Dou wouldn¡¯t have specifically sent Zhu Xuanji to Huoshi Immortal City.


    As a ruler, after much thought, the King of Southern Dou realized that there was no suitable candidate among the court officials to send for reinforcements!


    Now, with turmoil brewing at Huoshi Immortal City and countless forces eyeing it, how should it be handled?


    This difficult question weighed heavily on the King of Southern Dou.


    Several dayster.


    An imperial envoy from the Southern Dou capital flew high above, chanting in a long, drawn-out tone: "The King has decreed, the lord of Huoshi City is to receive the imperial edict."


    "By the King¡¯smand: the Lava Immortal Pce belongs to the Three Sect Lords and is not the property of our nation. The Three Sect Lords, out ofpassion for the people, left their pce to suppress Mount Huoshi for many years."


    "Southern Dou built a great formation here and established Huoshi Immortal City. The Three Sect Lords'' contributions cannot be overstated."


    "Now, as the Immortal Pce emerges, selecting its sessor, Southern Dou, in gratitude for the Sect Lords''passion, wees this development and will not interfere."


    "However, the Lava Immortal Pce suppresses the volcano, which concerns the safety of hundreds of thousands of city residents, and cannot be relocated. This was also the original intention of the Three Sect Lords."


    "Therefore, a Summoning Order is now established, recruiting talents from all walks of life. Regardless of background, they are free to enter the Immortal Pce topete for session without external restriction."


    "The sessor of the Immortal Pce may enter the court and hold an official position up to the fourth rank! Those unwilling to enter the court must return the position of pce lord, and Southern Dou will provide amplepensation."


    "Anyone who enters the city or pce without signing the order shall be considered an enemy of Southern Dou


    and will be killed, with great rewards given to those who bring their heads to the capital¡­"


    The envoy''s words were as loud as a bell, each word pronounced clearly, resounding throughout Mount Huoshi.


    Countless city residents looked up, quietly listening.


    After hearing the decree, the previously silent Huoshi Immortal City suddenly boiled over, with countless people cheering and spreading the news!


    "Did you hear that?"


    "The Three Sect Lords, they are at the Refining Void level."


    "He¡¯s truly great. I didn¡¯t know until now that the greatest contributor to Mount Huoshi was him!"


    "He even left behind a pce, and the Lava Immortal Pce is going to select a sessor?"


    "How amazing! What a rare opportunity this is."


    "I feel like I¡¯m the future lord of the Immortal Pce! Turns out, my life''s turning point is right here!"


    Meng Kui stood up, taking the floating imperial decree with both hands, his eyes shing with contemtion.


    The King of Southern Dou''s handling of this matter somewhat exceeded Meng Kui¡¯s expectations.


    Previously, the dissemination of information about the Lava Immortal Pce¡¯s emergence had been Meng Kui¡¯s idea.


    The reason was that Meng Kui could no longer stop Zhu Xuanji.


    Zhu Xuanji, along with the Golden Core ancestors of the three major families, frequently entered and exited the Immortal Pce, leaving Meng Kui''s presence here merely to suppress any unrest in the pce.


    In fact, by staying here, Meng Kui gave Zhu Xuanji the best opportunity to draw the three major families to his side.


    Meng Kui feared that Zhu Xuanji might achieve a breakthrough here and ultimately be the sessor of the Immortal Pce.


    Especially after Meng Kui personally witnessed Zhu Xuanji present three quasi-Golden Core-level mechanical beasts to the Lava Immortal Pce in exchange for contributions.


    This was quite a grand gesture, showing that Zhu Xuanji hade prepared. Or, more urately, that the Southern Dou royal family was providing him with strong support.


    In addition, Meng Chong had suffered repeated setbacks. The Mechanical Ape and the mechanical puppets were too powerful, and Meng Kui couldn¡¯t see any short-term breakthroughs.


    These factors prompted Meng Kui to actively spread information, inviting outsiders in to increase his leverage, forcing the royal family to react.


    The Meng family knew Southern Dou''s internal affairs very well.


    Meng Kui was certain that the King of Southern Dou wouldn¡¯t be able to send heavy troops to Huoshi Immortal City. As a result, they would likely send strong individuals instead.


    And these experts would have to be at least at the Nascent Soul stage.


    Meng Kui thought this was the most probable oue. He had already notified the Meng family that once this person was chosen, the family would make every effort to win them over.


    But in the end, the envoy brought an imperial decree, along with a Summoning Order!

 Chapter 154: Teach Ning Zhuo the Family Rules

    "Recruitment Order¡­" Meng Kui sneered in his heart.


    This move by the king wasn¡¯t surprising. The Recruitment Order was within his expectations and something he had ways to deal with.


    In the days following the promation of the Recruitment Order, three Golden Core cultivators entered Puppet Immortal City and were sessfully "recruited" by the City Lord''s Mansion.


    The Meng family had discovered the Lava Immortal Pce many years ago.


    For the Meng family, controlling the Lava Immortal Pce gave them a reason to upy Puppet Immortal City. The city''s resources weren''t exceptional, but its location was advantageous. For the Meng family, it wasn¡¯t an isted area. Their influence could smoothly expand a great deal outward from here.


    Within the Southern Dou Country, the Meng family¡¯s influence would also rise significantly.


    These were the benefits the Meng family truly cared about!


    "Things are changing!"


    The voice of the imperial edict echoed throughout the city, and Ning Zhuo naturally heard it as well.He frowned, his expression solemn, feeling an immense pressure.


    Currently, there were two paths to vie for the inheritance of the Lava Immortal Pce.


    The first was the old path, open to cultivators of the Foundation Establishment stage, Golden Core stage, Nascent Soul stage, and above. Each cultivation level had standards for proficiency in mechanical arts, and as long as one met these standards, they couldpete. Through various actions, they could assist the Lava Immortal Pce and earn corresponding pce contributions.


    When pce contributions reached a certain level, they could be exchanged for equivalent resources. The highest contribution should be the position of pce master.


    The second path was the new one, exclusively for Qi Refining stage cultivators, specifically those who practiced the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    Once they reached the thirdyer peak of the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, they would qualify to have their souls extracted and enter the pce through the technique, "Life Hanging by a Thread."


    In the trial checkpoints set by the Three Sect Lords, Qi Refining stage cultivators would take on the form of puppets and continuously break through challenges, learning and growing along the way.


    As for whether this new path could ultimately lead to the pce throne, Ning Zhuo wasn¡¯t entirely certain, but he spected it could.


    The discovery of this new path was a major advantage for Ning Zhuo.


    However, as he continued advancing and breaking through, he encountered many unexpected dangers, some of which were life-threatening.


    Starting from having his name on the leaderboard, to Yuan Dasheng¡¯s sudden appearance, and then Qi Bai capturing Sun Lingtong¡­


    Ning Zhuo had spent the majority of the umtion he¡¯d built over the past ten-plus years to get to where he was now. Almost all of the mechanical creations he had were consumed in his battle with Qi Bai.


    Sun Lingtong was currently hiding in one of the few remaining underground bases, which wasn¡¯t entirely safe either.


    The promation of the Recruitment Order would undoubtedly attract countless foreign cultivators, bringing in a massive wave of neers topete.


    Ning Zhuo felt uncertain about this.


    There were too many talents in the world, like fish swimming in a river. It wasn¡¯t surprising that a few of them would leap out as dragons.


    "Especially those from the prestigious sects. Those cultivators have been receiving the best education and cultivation resources since childhood. How can Ipare with them?"


    "My proficiency in mechanical arts stands out in the Ning family, but the Ning family excels in talismans."


    "Among the cultivatorsing in, there will definitely be those far superior to me in mechanical arts."


    "My advantage in this area will diminish oncepared to them!"


    "My biggest advantage now is my head start. My progress in the trial checkpoints is the fastest, and I''m first in all the ¡®entry-level'' categories of the Five Rankings."


    "But how long can this advantagest?"


    "I¡¯ve already pushed myself to my limits to get this far."


    Ning Zhuo desperately wanted to break through the next set of checkpoints quickly.


    Currently, he had reached the peak of the sixthyer of his Spiritual Sea cultivation, allowing him to open the second Buddha Gate.


    However, the first checkpoint beyond the Buddha Gate was extremely difficult.


    After attempting it, Ning Zhuo realized that the challenger would first enter half of a room.


    That half of the room was a mechanical workshop.


    The challenger would temporarily have a limited number of mechanical tools and tforms.


    The checkpoint would provide some materials, allowing the challenger to make three selections.


    After selecting nine times in total, the materials chosen would be used for crafting.


    Whatever mechanical creation was made had to work alongside the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, to face the following tests.


    During the test, the other half of the room would shift into ce, merging with the workshop to form aplete room.


    Sometimes, the other half of the room contained various obstacles and traps that the mechanical creation needed to navigate through.


    Other times, the other half would contain spell puppets, martial puppets, or a group of mechanical beasts that the mechanical creation needed to defeat.


    There were also times when the room itself came with a cage, within which a living Red me Demon Beast was confined, and the mechanical creation had to kill the beast.


    Ning Zhuo had passed seven tests in a row, but he made a mistake during the eighth one, resulting in an outright failure.


    There was no room for retreat or re-entry. He was directly expelled from the Lava Immortal Pce, his soul returning to his body.


    Afterward, Ning Zhuo constantly reflected on his experience and gained many insights.


    "Just as Boss Sun said earlier, the sentient mechanical creation crafted by the disciples during the trials is crucial."


    "In the subsequent challenges, the sentient mechanical creation is the foundation upon which further progress is built."


    "At least, this is the case along the Buddha Gate route."


    "After passing the second Buddha Gate, the level of materials provided by the checkpoints was clearly a tier higher than before."


    "Following this trend, the materials in theter checkpoints should be even better."


    "The difficulty of the checkpoints beyond the second Buddha Gate far exceeds the previous ones. The content of the trials has increased nearly tenfold. Since I haven¡¯t reached the limit yet, I can¡¯t be certain exactly how much more there is."


    "Each test site is also one that can be scavenged. The various traps, obstacles, puppets, and Red me Demon Beasts all serve as new materials to repair the sentient mechanical creation, create more mechanicalponents, and even directly produce new mechanical entities."


    "The remaining items from the first Buddha Gate''s rewards can all directly help in these checkpoints."


    "The rewards from the first Buddha Gate and the Demon Gate weren¡¯t as directly helpful. Throughout the trial, I couldn¡¯tmand Yuan Dasheng and had to rely on him attacking on his own."


    "This point also shows how important the sentient mechanical creation crafted during the first Buddha Gate is! The more spiritual it is, the greater the advantage it has in the subsequent checkpoints."


    "For others to reach this point, the difficulties they¡¯ll face will be far greater than mine, and the effort and time they¡¯ll have to put in will undoubtedly be much more."


    "Oh, I almost forgot."


    "The Buddha Gate and Demon Gate have both been closed by me."


    "They won¡¯t be able to enter."


    Ning Zhuo pondered for a moment and realized there were still ws.


    In the second transit hall, there were still Demon and Buddha Gates.


    He needed to cheat again to close them.


    The unexpected departure from the Immortal Pce had caught Ning Zhuo off guard. After failing the trial, he was directly expelled.


    "No worries. Next time, when I get the chance, I¡¯ll try to close the gates."


    While Ning Zhuo was contemting the checkpoints, the Ning family patriarch and young patriarch were discussing him.


    "Ning Zhuo has indeed made great contributions this time," the Ning family patriarch sighed.


    The young patriarch, Ning Xiaoren, echoed, "This boy is indeed a seed of mechanical arts, and his talent in it is astonishing."


    "But¡­" Ning Xiaoren''s tone shifted, "He took the initiative to express to me his desire to taste the Ice Jade Wine, and this attitude made me feel very ufortable."


    The Ning family patriarch narrowed his eyes, his expression meaningful. "Xiaoren, you need to pay attention to one thing."


    "This time, Ning Zhuo organized the manpower and acted independently without informing us."


    "None of the people who acted with him were from the main family line."


    Ning Xiaoren took a deep breath. "Father, I also noticed that¡ªwhen Ning Zhuo simply raised his arm and called out, all those people immediately gathered around him and acted together. Ning Zhuo¡¯s influence among the branch families cannot be ignored!"


    "He may only be in the Qi Refining stage now, but his talent has already gained the favor of countless branch families."


    "If we don¡¯t suppress him while he¡¯s still a sapling, once he grows into a towering tree, it¡¯ll be toote, and we¡¯ll regret it."


    The Ning family patriarch nodded slowly. "Good, it¡¯s excellent that you have this awareness. It wasn¡¯t in vain that I¡¯ve carefully nurtured you all these years."


    "Ning Zhuo is indeed a good seedling with talent, but he¡¯s too young. Young people always have a bit of rebelliousness in them."


    "He has overstepped in some areas, and it¡¯s time to make him understand that the familyes first, and the individuales second."


    "Make him realize that some rules must be followed."


    "Go, give him a knock on the head. Teach him well so that in the future, he can be a sharp de for our main family line."


    "Yes, father. I will take my leave now." Ning Xiaoren bowed and, after stepping back a few steps, turned and left.

 Chapter 155: Unable to Understand

    "What, Ning Zhuo actually cleared the eighth level in one go?!" Ning Xiaohui eximed in disbelief upon learning the news.


    After confirming the situation multiple times, Ning Xiaohui''s face turned pale and grim.


    Recalling her experience of helping Ning Zhuo through the levels, she sneered, "This Ning Zhuo really knows how to put on an act."


    "I originally thought that after witnessing the power of the Ice Jade Hand, he would willingly submit."


    "Unexpectedly, he secretly gathered strength, with ambitious ns, and did something like this as soon as he acted."


    "He actually yed me, very well, very well!"


    Ning Xiaohui felt her pride was trampled by Ning Zhuo and spat a few times in frustration.


    "The eighth level?"


    "I''ll go too!""There''s no way Ning Zhuo can do it, but I, a member of the main lineage, can''t."


    Furious, Ning Xiaohui began to gather the Qi Refining cultivators from the modification team.


    Her grandmother, upon hearing about this, gently advised, "That Ning Zhuo had more than ten people helping him. Xiaohui, you''re only bringing five. You''re already at a disadvantage in numbers. Are you sure you want to venture into the Immortal Pce to surpass Ning Zhuo''s achievement?"


    Ning Xiaohui found herself in a bit of an awkward position.


    When the modification team was first formed, members of the main lineage of the Ning family made every excuse to avoid involvement, so the branch lineage ended up taking the majority of the positions.


    "Yes, I''m sure!" Ning Xiaohui nodded slowly, her gaze sharp and determined.


    She looked at her grandmother and said, "Having fewer people has its own advantages. The difficulty of the Lava Immortal Pce varies depending on the number of participants. With fewer people, our difficulty will naturally increase, but the pce won''t further amplify it."


    "So even if we encounter those Mechanical Apes, it will likely be in theter stages." Ning Xiaohui confidently spected.


    Not long after.


    She led five members of the main lineage''s modification team, pushed open the first door, and officially entered the second room.


    The Ice Jade Hand froze the mechanisms along the way. Just as they were about to clear the stage, the second door was pushed open.


    Yuan Dasheng entered the second level from the third in a grand manner.


    Ning Xiaohui: ?!!


    The others: ¡­


    Bang bang bang bang bang.


    Yuan Dasheng attacked, and with a series of muffled sounds, he blew up all the Ning family''s mechanical puppets.


    "Ah¡ª!" Ning Xiaohui''s soul returned to her body, and she screamed angrily towards the sky.


    Her grandmotherforted her, "Ning Zhuo only saw the Mechanical Apes when he reached the eighth level. This shows that their strength is far inferior to yours, Xiaohui."


    "Looking at the location of the Mechanical Apes, Ning Zhuo may have talent, but it''s still insignificant!"


    Hearing her grandmother''s words, Xiaohui finally felt somewhat relieved.


    At Ning Ze''s residence.


    Ning Xiaoren, with a regretful expression, exined the situation to Ning Zhuo, "That''s the way it is."


    Ning Zhuo frowned and said incredulously, "Uncle Xiaoren, my aplishments aren''t enough to earn some Ice Jade Wine?"


    Ning Xiaoren replied, "Nephew, it''s not that simple. Ice Jade Wine is excellent for improving mana cultivation, but your team''s mana is limited to the thirdyer peak. Without follow-up techniques, there''s no way to break through. Using Ice Jade Wine would be a waste of such a treasure."


    Ning Zhuo spread his hands, "I was nning to acquire some Ice Jade Wine, store it away, and save it forter use. Isn''t that a good n?"


    Ning Xiaoren chuckled, somewhat insincerely, "Nephew, it''s not always about what you want, and the family will just give it to you."


    "After all, you''re only at the thirdyer of Qi Refining, just a member of the modification team. The family leaders have far more to consider than you do."


    "You need to trust the family. The family manages everything with the big picture in mind."


    "Being so assertive in asking for rewards doesn''t reflect well. Take my advice, don''t do that; it leaves a bad impression."


    Ning Zhuo frowned, "So what will the family reward me with? I made it all the way to the eighth level this time."


    Ning Xiaoren smiled and said a few words.


    Ning Zhuo was dumbfounded and immediately expressed his dissatisfaction, "That''s it? Are they treating me like a beggar?!"


    Ning Xiaoren''s heart felt as if it had been pricked with a needle. The intense resentment and disgust made him frown briefly, but he quickly rxed, "Nephew, you can''t say that."


    "The family''s resources are limited. Compared to many others in the family, your cultivation and qualifications don''t stand out."


    "Can you understand that?"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head and tly refused, "I can''t understand!"


    "If their cultivation or qualifications are higher than mine, can they enter the Immortal Pce and reach the eighth level?"


    "If they can, I wouldn''t mind them receiving the higher rewards."


    This time, Ning Xiaoren couldn''t help but frown, "Nephew, I think you''ve misunderstood something."


    "Your exploration of the Lava Immortal Pce isn''t for rewards; it''s to contribute to the family."


    "This is a time when the Ning family needs you, a time for you to enhance the family''s reputation."


    Ning Zhuo shook his head again, "Uncle Xiaoren, I don''t know about others, but I joined the modification team and explored the Lava Immortal Pce purely for rewards."


    "I like money, you know that."


    "I like a lot of money."


    "The more, the better!"


    Ning Xiaoren''s eye twitched as he suppressed the urge to whip Ning Zhuo.


    Taking a deep breath to calm his emotions, he smiled again, "Nephew, your ambition ismendable."


    "Since we''vee this far, and you''re so mature, I''ll be frank with you."


    "If you want various rewards, it''s not impossible, but¡­"


    Ning Xiaoren stopped speaking and transmitted his words directly into Ning Zhuo''s mind.


    Ning Zhuo listened patiently, but his expression darkened, "What? You want me to join a certain faction of the family leaders and sign a contract?"


    "Is the division between the main and branch lineages really this serious, Uncle Xiaoren?"


    Ning Xiaoren sighed deeply and said, "Where there are people, there are conflicts. Nephew, even though I admire you and want to support you, my hands are tied."


    "I''m just the young n leader, and my faction is only one of the eight main branches."


    Ning Zhuo fell into a long silence.


    Seeing this, Ning Xiaoren gently tried to persuade him with many kind words.


    Ning Zhuo, however, remained silent throughout.


    Ning Xiaoren smiled slightly and patted Ning Zhuo on the shoulder, "Originally, I wasn''t going to tell you about these matters. Your father saved my life, and I wanted to protect your youthful innocence."


    "But little Zhuo, you''re too outstanding, encountering this level so early."


    "Perhaps this is a test from the heavens. For exceptional people, the heavens always give more trials."


    "This time, I hope you adjust your mindset and pass this trial."


    Ning Zhuo asked, "What should I do, Uncle Xiaoren?"


    Ning Xiaoren''s smile deepened, "For example, you''ve modified several mechanicalponents in the Lava Immortal Pce''s preparation room."


    "After practical testing, theseponents have proven to be quite good."


    "I suggest you proactively submit the relevant designs. No matter which faction you choose, the leaders will appreciate your proactive approach."


    "Doing so will greatly increase your chances of obtaining the Ice Jade Wine."


    Ning Zhuo''s face turned grim, "Uncle Xiaoren, I need to think about it."


    "Take your time, there''s no rush. You''re still at the thirdyer peak with no follow-up techniques, so there''s no need to hurry." Ning Xiaoren patted Ning Zhuo on the shoulder and stood up to leave slowly.


    But until he reached the doorway, Ning Zhuo did not call him back.


    Ning Xiaoren sneered inwardly, shook his head slightly, then returned to his normal pace and left Ning Ze''s residence.


    Wang Lan had been waiting for some time and met Ning Xiaoren halfway, mentioning Ning Ze''s release.


    Ning Xiaoren, still seething from his conversation with Ning Zhuo, immediately put on a stern face and responded stiffly, "This has to wait until the time is right, no need to ask further."


    ¡­


    In a private room at the restaurant.


    Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhenshen were invited by Ning Zhuo.


    After seating them, Ning Zhuo got straight to the point, "I invited you two here today to sell highly valuable information rted to the Lava Immortal Pce."


    Zheng Jian asked, "Brother Ning Zhuo, I heard you performed remarkably, clearing levels continuously until the eighth room. Is that true?"


    Ning Zhuo nodded, "This information is what I discovered while clearing the eight levels."


    "It''s absolutely worth the price."


    "If you''re interested, it will cost this much."


    Ning Zhuo raised three fingers.


    Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhenshen exchanged nces and both decided to purchase the information.


    "So, there''s also a Trial Disciple''s Mark?"


    "This information is indeed worth the price," Zheng Jian was the first to acknowledge.


    Zhou Zhenshen, in a tone that seemed to show concern for Ning Zhuo, said, "Brother Ning Zhuo, selling such critical information, won''t your family¡­


    be upset?"


    Ning Zhuo sneered, "Hmph, there''s no need for Brother Zhou to worry about that. I know what I''m doing."


    A flicker of dark intent shed in Zhou Zhenshen''s eyes as he quickly sped his hands, "Oh, sorry, I overstepped."


    Zheng and Zhou both paid for the information and handed Ning Zhuo a generous sum.


    ¡­


    "Trial Disciple''s Mark?" Zhu Xuanji''s eyes lit up when he heard this.


    He immediately enlisted several Qi Refining cultivators who had received the mark through the Golden Core ancestors of the three families for an experiment.


    Zhu Xuanji brought these cultivators to the front of the Lava Immortal Pce.


    In the next moment, the pce emitted a brilliant light, absorbing everyone inside, including those Qi Refining cultivators.


    "It works!"


    "The Trial Disciple''s Mark does indeed grant ess to the pce."


    "And some of these people are absolutely terrible at mechanism arts, as if they know nothing."


    "Maybe I can use these people¡­"


    Zhu Xuanji, along with these trial disciples, began exploring the Lava Immortal Pce.


    He soon discovered that many buildings and facilities within the pce were inessible to him but avable to the trial disciples, either for a fee or even for free.


    In some aspects, the trial disciples'' authority far surpassed that of him, a member of the royal family!


    For example¡ªthe Disposal Room.


    This room stored a vast number of mechanical creations, all discarded as scrap.


    "Even the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit couldn''t repair them?"


    "Many of these mechanical creations could be reused with just minor repairs."


    Through the trial disciples'' perspective, Zhu Xuanji gained a deeper understanding of the Lava Immortal Pce.


    "Wait, what''s that?!"

 Chapter 156: How Dare He?

    Zhu Xuanji''s expression changed as he made a new discovery.


    He immediately gave the order for the trial disciples to retrieve a severed arm from the pile of discarded items.


    The severed arm was a deep red color, shimmering with a metallic luster. It was extremely heavy and exuded a strong demonic aura.


    "The quality is high, absolutely made from Golden Core-grade materials. And it¡¯s not just a single material; it¡¯s a newly forgedposite material created using alchemical methods," Zhu Xuanji muttered to himself.


    "Is this mechanism also part of the Lava Immortal Pce?"


    "What kind of mechanism would use such materials?"


    Zhu Xuanji¡¯s mind immediately recalled the three great mechanical creations of the Lava Immortal Pce¡ªDaoist Master, Buddhist Doctor, and Demon General.


    "Could this be the arm of the Demon General?" Zhu Xuanji naturally came to this conclusion.


    He became very interested and ordered the trial disciples to take out the red iron severed arm.But they failed.


    One of the trial disciples looked troubled and said, "Lord Zhu, I can''t do it. My contribution points are too low."


    Zhu Xuanji smiled and said, "No problem. The Lava Immortal Pce is not at peace; there are still constant attacks by the Scarlet me Beasts on the pce. You can take advantage of this opportunity to umte arge number of contribution points."


    After following his suggestion, the trial disciples soon discovered that killing the same Scarlet me Beast earned them far more contribution points than others.


    Zhu Xuanji also noticed that the trial disciples received key information from time to time, giving them more opportunities to earn contribution points.


    However, others rarely received such information from the pce, and their primary way to earn contribution points was by ying Scarlet me Beasts.


    But this method was dangerous, involving many risks.


    In contrast, the trial disciples had a broader range of options. For example, they could retrieve discarded mechanical parts from the storage rooms for repairs and assembly.


    Zhu Xuanji observed their actual gains and was surprised to find that the rewards from these repair jobs were even better,parable to ying the Scarlet me Beasts.


    "So, this is the kind of treatment enjoyed by those who cultivate using the techniques provided by the Three Sect Lords?"


    "Inparison, it¡¯s clear that people like us are being treated differently¡­"


    Zhu Xuanji couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    For a brief moment, Zhu Xuanji entertained the fantasy of switching his cultivation technique.


    But it was only a fleeting thought.


    He was already at the Golden Core stage. If he were still in the Foundation Establishment stage, there might be a sliver of a chance to start over.


    But once a Golden Core was formed, the foundation was set, and it was impossible to rebuild in this lifetime.


    As the saying goes, "The Golden Core leaves no regrets," and that was the truth.


    The trial disciples quickly umted contribution points, and soon someone had saved enough to redeem the red iron severed arm from the storage room.


    When Zhu Xuanji touched the arm, he used his innate ability, Celestial Golden Eyes, along with the Trace Back Art, to investigate it.


    He saw an undergroundva cave.


    The cave was vast, with countless pirs, some thick, some thin, supporting the cave¡¯s walls.


    A massive demonic ape, exuding the aura of a Golden Core, was sleeping with its eyes closed.


    Among the stone pirs where it slept, there was an opening where the ape¡¯s various spoils of war were stored. One of these was a severely damaged mechanical puppet.


    "A mechanical Demon General!" Zhu Xuanji''s eyes lit up.


    "From the looks of it, this undergroundva cave must be the demonic ape¡¯sir, something akin to a royal court."


    "The mechanical Demon General fell here, but if I can retrieve it, I¡¯ll certainly earn a massive amount of contribution points."


    "And if I can repair it and return it, I should receive even more!"


    Zhu Xuanji could easily deduce that recovering the mechanical Demon General¡¯s parts would earn him far more contribution points than all the contributions he made by donating three quasi-Golden Core mechanical beastsbined. After all, the mechanical Demon General was a Golden Corebat power and perfectly suited to the Lava Immortal Pce.


    The king¡¯s recruitment order had led Meng Kui to lift the blockade of the mountain and the Lava Immortal Pce.


    Countless people rushed toward the Lava Immortal Pce. The vast majority were turned away, but a small portion met the standards and entered the pce.


    The Lava Immortal Pce became even more bustling than it had been before the blockade.


    Zhu Xuanji could also feel the increasing pressure ofpetition.


    He urgently needed to umte a massive amount of contribution points to widen the gap between himself and the pursuers behind him, ensuring his advantage.


    The three Golden Core ancestors of the three major families of Huoshi Immortal City were Zhu Xuanji''s helpers.


    The three families made two investments.


    The first path was to rely on Zhu Xuanji and pledge their loyalty to the royal family.


    The second path was to nurture their own teams to break through the challenges of the Lava Immortal Pce.


    This was how cultivation families operated¡ªthey never put all their eggs in one basket.


    Thus, the truly influential cultivation ns had high-level cultivators holding positions in different countries, sometimes even in rival nations.


    ¡­


    Smack!


    Ning Xiaoren pped the table in anger, roaring, "He really did this?!"


    "Good, very good."


    "I originally thought it was the Zhou Family and the Zheng Family who cracked the setup and managed to obtain trial disciple marks."


    "Who would have thought it was Ning Zhuo!"


    "For the sake of a mere thousand spirit stones, he sold such critical information to Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhenshen!"


    "Does he not realize that our Ning Family could use this opportunity to gain an advantage and close the gap between us and the Zhou and Zheng families?"


    "He disregarded the overall interests of the family just to satisfy his own selfish desires!"


    "Ning Zhuo¡¯s vision is too narrow, too petty, and too selfish."


    "Just because we didn¡¯t promise him some ice jade wine, he immediately sold the information to outsiders."


    "He¡¯s betraying the family!"


    "Is he even still a member of the Ning Family? After all these years of schooling, what has he learned?!"


    "It seems he needs to be taught a lesson, to make him realize how terribly wrong his actions were."


    Ning Xiaoren paced back and forth in the study, and after a moment, he issued an order to cut off Ning Zhuo¡¯s resource supply from the modification team.


    But then he remembered that Ning Zhuo had many other sources of ie besides that, quite substantial ones.


    Ning Xiaoren thought of Ning Xiaohui, how she rallied the main branch members yet only made it to the second chamber, while Ning Zhuo broke through all the way to the eighth chamber.


    "Ning Xiaohui is so disappointing."


    "If she could have suppressed Ning Zhuo, would that boy still be as ambitious and daring as he is now?!"


    Ning Xiaoren continued pacing before issuing a second order.


    Since Ning Zhuo had joined the modification team, Ning Xiaoren had the authority tomand him and assign tasks.


    "So, you¡¯re so obsessed with studying mechanical creations?"


    "Very well, Ning Zhuo."


    "From now on, you won¡¯t have even half an hour to spare to study your machines," Ning Xiaoren sneered inwardly.


    Ning Zhuo refused the order.


    Ning Zhuo quit the modification team.


    "What?!" When Ning Xiaoren heard this, he was dumbfounded on the spot.


    After a moment of realization, rage filled his heart.


    "Audacious, absolutely audacious!"


    "How dare he, how dare he!"


    "How dare he refuse the family¡¯s orders and unterally withdraw from the modification team?!"


    "Ahhhhh!"


    Ning Xiaoren was furious, grabbing the inkstone on the table and smashing it on the floor.


    After smashing it, he felt that something was still missing.


    So he went to the private prison to see Ning Ze.


    "You¡¯ve raised a fine nephew!" Ning Xiaoren lifted a long whip andshed at Ning Ze to vent his anger.


    Ning Ze: "Ahhh!"

 Chapter 157: Ning Xiaoren vs Ning Zhuo

    "This wind must not be allowed to grow!"


    "Ning Zhuo must be severely punished!!"


    Ning Xiaoren made up his mind.


    This time, Ning Zhuo had crossed his bottom line. Ning Xiaoren knew that if he ignored or indulged this behavior, it would bring no small risk and hidden dangers to the ruling of the main bloodline.


    He had to strike swiftly and precisely!


    However, Ning Xiaoren was not a demon cultivator. In the righteous path, it was crucial to have a justified reason for one¡¯s actions.


    The righteous path''s style was to always leave room for the future, whereas the demonic path typically eradicated problems at the root.


    Even though Ning Xiaoren was the Young n Leader, he had to be careful in his approach when dealing with Ning Zhuo, who was from the branch bloodline.


    He first gathered the reactions of the n members.Regarding Ning Zhuo''s voluntary withdrawal from the reform team, there were generally two voices within the n.


    One voice believed that Ning Zhuo, in his youthful arrogance, became inted with a bit of sess, not knowing his own limits. His actions were wrong, angering the upper echelon of the family and ruining his own future. What if he didn¡¯t contribute? The main bloodline still had Ning Xiaohui, so they didn¡¯tck hisbat power.


    The other voice understood and admired Ning Zhuo. Many of the branch members were ashamed that theycked the courage to resist, expressing concern for Ning Zhuo¡¯s future and amazement at his actions.


    "The public opinion is not favorable!" Ning Xiaoren frowned, thought for a moment, and issued an order, asking his confidants to spread a perspective¡ªthat Ning Zhuo''s actions were selfish, disregarding the collective interest. How would the Zhou and Zheng families think? What would the City Lord¡¯s Mansion think? Wasn¡¯t he just making a joke of himself to outsiders?


    But a dayter, when Ning Xiaoren once again gathered public opinion, he found that more of the n members were discussing how severely the main bloodline had been unfair in their rewards and punishments!


    Ning Xiaoren didn¡¯t get the result he wanted, and instead, the n''s opinion turned against him.


    His attempt to divert most of the n members'' attention and win their support had failed!


    This made it even more difficult to deal with Ning Zhuo.


    "Be patient and wait."


    "Within this day, both Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhenshen personally visited to meet Ning Zhuo, clearly knowing about Ning Zhuo''s withdrawal from the Ning family''s reform team."


    "The intentions of these two families are too obvious. Hehehe."


    Ning Xiaoren decided to remain passive for now because he saw a glimmer of hope in the intelligence reports.


    Zheng Jian was the first to approach Ning Zhuo.


    He was a typical Zheng family member, decisive and efficient. After visiting Ning Zhuo, he got straight to the point and invited Ning Zhuo to join the Zheng family¡¯s reform team.


    He had previously coborated with Ning Zhuo to create the Tree Martial Ape, Dasheng, and held Ning Zhuo in high regard.


    Zhou Zhenshen was the second. His words were more tactful, and even though he expressed an interest in recruiting, it was subtle. From Ning Zhuo''s perspective, he suggested that Ning Zhuo could secretly cooperate with the Zhou family, sparing him from facing the Ning n¡¯s kin.


    Chen Cha was the third.


    He personally delivered a sum of spirit stones, which were the profit dividends from the Mechanical Explosive Monkey.


    Of course, this was just an excuse.


    Chen Cha brought with him an invitation from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.


    During the crisis with Yuan Dasheng, Ning Zhuo had no choice but to involve himself, and his various actions had earned Fei Si''s recognition and appreciation. ?????????S


    The source of this invitation came from Fei Si, a Golden Core stage cultivator!


    However, after making the invitation, Chen Cha also expressed his thoughts.


    With aplicated expression, he advised Ning Zhuo, "Little Zhuo, you¡¯ve earned Lord Fei Si¡¯s favor, but this may not be a blessing."


    "Right now, your three families are united in resisting the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Jumping to their side would be extremely risky."


    "If you really make this move, there may be no way back."


    "In fact, even if you coborate with the Zhou or Zheng families, it¡¯s very dangerous. People''s hearts are unpredictable, and the Ning family members who support you now may change their stance and oppose you. You must be extremely cautious!"


    Ning Zhuo responded, "I understand, Elder Chen. Thank you for your concern."


    The young man cupped his hands and bowed deeply to Chen Cha.


    He called Ning Chen and Ning Yong.


    Ning Yong, brash as always, dered, "Brother Zhuo, I support you!"


    "This is too much! The main bloodline is so unfair in its rewards and punishments."


    "If this ce doesn¡¯t ept me, there will be another that does. We won¡¯t suffer this injustice."


    "No matter which family you cooperate with, Brother Zhuo, I¡¯ll follow you!"


    Ning Yong patted his chest, more outraged than Ning Zhuo himself.


    Ning Chen, on the other hand, furrowed his brows and sighed deeply. "I think, maybe we should have a proper discussion with the family elders?"


    "After all, the Lava Immortal Pce is only temporary, and the king has issued a recruitment order. I believe, at most, in two or three years, the pce will have a new master."


    "And we are still young. We have a long life ahead of us, and Brother Zhuo, you must consider your future."


    Ning Yong red, "Are you serious? You still want Brother Zhuo to shamelessly stay in the reform team?"


    "Look at Ning Xiaohui, her progress isn¡¯t even half of ours, yet she¡¯s already enjoying the benefits of the Enlightenment Map."


    "And what about us?"


    Ning Zhuo stretched out both arms, cing his hands on Ning Chen and Ning Yong''s shoulders, smiling, "Don¡¯t worry so much."


    "I know you both mean well."


    "To be honest, this time, it may seem impulsive, but I¡¯ve actually thought it through carefully."


    Ning Yong turned to Ning Zhuo, "Then, Brother Zhuo, tell me what we should do next, and I¡¯ll follow you!"


    Ning Zhuoughed heartily, "I did call you here for something."


    "Just say the word," Ning Chen immediately replied.


    Ning Zhuo said, "Today, I¡¯ve been practicing the Lava Immortal Pce''s techniques and have gained some insights. I need you two to inform the members of the reform team."


    "If they¡¯re interested, we¡¯ll discuss some spell-casting techniques here today. How about that?"


    "Ah, that¡¯s what this is about?" Ning Yong was surprised.


    Ning Chen furrowed his brows and asked the key question, "Among the reform team, there are also members from the main bloodline¡­"


    Ning Zhuo waved his hand, "Naturally, we¡¯ll only invite those from the branch bloodline."


    "Alright." A sharp glint shed in Ning Chen¡¯s eyes.


    "Good!" Ning Yong clenched his fist and raised his arm, feeling relieved. "We¡¯ll leave out the main bloodline and y by ourselves."


    They quickly gathered almost all the fellow students from the branch bloodline.


    These people were highly interested.


    Because earlier, Ning Zhuo had taken the initiative to help them, using the "Life Hanging by a Thread," the "Sharp Progress Needle," and the "Ice Light Strong Pulse Talisman" to boost their mana and cultivation quickly.


    Later, Ning Zhuo led them through challenges, breaking family records and achieving outstanding results.


    Just as the n leader and young n leader had seen, Ning Zhuo''s influence over them was incredible.


    "What? Ning Zhuo didn¡¯t ept the invitations from the Zhou and Zheng families, and in the past two days, he¡¯s been gathering fellow students, sharing his insights on spells?" When Ning Xiaoren learned of this, he frowned.


    When he looked at the n''s public opinion again, he found that even more n members were praising Ning Zhuo.


    After every session of teaching, the returning cultivators couldn¡¯t stop praising Ning Zhuo¡¯s spell-casting skills and felt they had greatly benefited.


    Many people started to discuss Ning Zhuo¡¯s talent, as hisprehension of spells this time had been astonishing.


    With this came increased sympathy from many branch bloodline members for Ning Zhuo.


    The more talented Ning Zhuo appeared, the more the n''s upper echelon''s harshness and neglect seemed unjust.


    Ning Xiaoren could no longer sit still.


    He stood up, sped his hands behind his back, and began pacing around the study.


    He hadn¡¯t expected Ning Zhuo to not make a mistake!


    If it were him, at Ning Zhuo''s age, he would have probably thrown himself into the Zhou or Zheng families, then worked desperately to perform better, to achieve more outstanding results, and to prove that the Ning family¡¯s upper echelon was blind and unfair in their rewards and punishments.


    If Ning Zhuo had done that, then Ning Xiaoren could have taken the opportunity to act, turning the public opinion and branding Ning Zhuo as a traitor to the family, leaving him isted and abandoned.


    Once that was aplished, Ning Xiaoren would


    have a legitimate reason to impose further punitive measures on Ning Zhuo.


    "Ning Zhuo didn¡¯t make a mistake!"


    "At his age, could he have understood the underlying intricacies? Or was it just a lucky, unintentional move?"


    Ning Xiaoren was the Young n Leader of the Ning family, holding this position for a long time, without anyone challenging him. Just based on this, it was enough to demonstrate his ability.


    After frowning in thought for a moment, he came up with a n: "I need to provoke Ning Zhuo and make himmit a serious mistake!"


    "Ning Ze can be of use to me."


    "Ning Zhuo is extremely greedy and has a poor rtionship with Ning Ze. The key point is that Wang Lan still hasn¡¯tpensated Ning Zhuo with any resources."


    "What will Ning Zhuo think?"


    "Hehehe."


    Ning Xiaoren, understanding the critical points, immediately opened the door and went to the private prison to meet with Ning Ze.


    He didn¡¯t hide anything and directly told Ning Ze the truth: "If you can persuade Ning Zhuo to return to the reform team and bow his head to the family elders, I will release you!"


    Upon hearing this, Ning Ze, like a drowning man clutching at a final straw, grasped the opportunity.


    Ning Xiaoren then arranged for Wang Lan to visit Ning Ze in prison.


    "Husband, what¡¯s happened to you?" Wang Lan eximed.


    The couple faced each other across thick bars.


    Ning Ze¡¯s body was covered in wounds.


    Of course, the private prison had powerful healing methods, but Ning Xiaoren deliberately held back, only healing a small portion of Ning Ze¡¯s injuries to highlight his dire situation.


    Thus, when Wang Lan visited, she saw that Ning Ze still had many bleeding wounds.


    Despite the pain, Ning Ze spoke urgently, "Ning Zhuo has wronged me, wronged me!"


    "I learned everything from the Young n Leader."


    "That little bastard Ning Zhuo had the audacity to withdraw from the reform team! What does he take my efforts for?"


    "Back then, I spent money and greased palms so he could join the reform team."


    "Now, the Young n Leader wants us to persuade Ning Zhuo to return to the team. You must ensure this is done!"


    "If we seed, the Young n Leader will release me."


    Wang Lan¡¯s eyes widened, "Really?"


    "Sigh!" Ning Ze sighed, "At this point, I can only believe in the Young n Leader¡¯s promise."


    "Look at me, covered in injuries!"


    "My cultivation is sealed here, and I¡¯m not a body cultivator. I won¡¯tst long."


    Wang Lan nodded repeatedly, "Husband, I will do everything I can to persuade Ning Zhuo to change his mind."


    "You must seed!" Ning Ze said. "Even if it takes money, it¡¯s worth it!"


    Wang Lan''s eyes flickered. "Yes, alright."


    Ning Ze knew his wife too well. Noticing her hesitation, he immediately spoke more sternly, "You foolish woman, you don¡¯t understand the gravity of this situation!"


    "Don¡¯t let that boy Ning Zhuo make any outrageous moves!"

 Chapter 158: Fatal Mistake

    "Once he cooperates with the Zhou family and the Zheng family, what will our family members think?"


    "They will definitely see him as a traitor to the family!"


    "At that time, his reputation will be ruined."


    "The key is, we, as his closest rtives, will also be implicated. If Ji performs well in the future and has the chance to advance to a higher level, just being Ning Zhuo''s cousin will get him eliminated."


    "Do you understand?!"


    Wang Lan gasped, her face showing a look of panic. She nodded nervously, "I understand, I understand, head of the family!"


    "I will do my best to persuade Ning Zhuo to return to the remodeling team!"


    "Even if, even if it means sacrificing my¡­"


    Ning Ze was startled for a moment, and then heard Wang Lan say, "¡­even if it means sacrificing my dignity, I will kneel and beg him, but I will make him return!"Only then did Ning Ze secretly breathe a sigh of relief, adding, "If you kneel, make sure to do it in public; he won''t be able to take it!"


    "And, the most crucial thing is, when necessary, don''t hesitate to give enough money."


    "As long as I make aeback, there is hope. I can recover everything we''ve lost."


    Wang Lan kept nodding, "I understand, I understand, head of the family, I will go!"


    "You must seed."


    "Understood!"


    Watching Wang Lan''s departing figure, Ning Ze, still uneasy, added, "If you don''t seed, we can think of other ways. Don''t do anything foolish."


    Wang Lan turned her head and squeezed out a faint smile, "Don''t worry, head of the family."


    Seeing Wang Lan''s pitiful expression, Ning Ze felt uneasy and even more worried.


    Ning Xiaoren was in the study, receiving a detailed report.


    The report recorded, word for word, the conversation between Ning Ze and Wang Lan.


    Ning Xiaoren nodded slightly, feeling satisfied.


    Whether Wang Lan''s persuasion seeded or not, it would heavily damage Ning Zhuo''s reputation.


    Right now, the only thing restraining Ning Xiaoren from taking action was Ning Zhuo''s reputation.


    As a victim of unjust rewards and punishments, Ning Zhuo had gained a lot of empathy from the Ning family''s many branches!


    "If Ning Zhuo bes disgusted with Ning Ze''s family and develops a rebellious attitude, really cooperating with the Zheng family or the Zhou family, that would be a fatal w." ??¦­?????


    Ning Xiaoren''s eyes flickered with cold light, and he eagerly anticipated it.


    Wang Lan carefully prepared her appearance, waiting for the moment when Ning Zhuo was demonstrating spells to his ssmates, the time when there were the most people.


    She burst into the courtyard.


    "Xiao Zhuo." She walked straight toward Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and the others curiously nced over.


    Ning Zhuo stopped casting his spell, "Aunt, is there something you need?"


    Under everyone''s gaze, Wang Lan walked up to Ning Zhuo and then suddenly knelt, crying out, "Xiao Zhuo, your aunt is kneeling before you, I beg you!"


    "I beg you to save your uncle!"


    "He''s your own uncle, the only rtive you have left in this world!"


    Everyone in the courtyard was shocked.


    Bang.


    Before anyone could react, Ning Zhuo also knelt down.


    He knelt on both knees and emotionally said to Wang Lan, "Aunt, please get up! How can I ept such a grand gesture from you!"


    "Although we''re not rted by blood, you''ve raised me into adulthood. I owe you a great debt and will definitely repay it."


    "Even though my uncle embezzled my cultivation resources for over ten years, he is still my uncle."


    "If his life is in danger, I will do everything in my power to rescue him!"


    "Ning Chen, Ning Yong!"


    Ning Zhuo shouted in a low voice.


    Ning Chen and Ning Yong immediately stepped out from the crowd, each taking one of Wang Lan''s arms and helping her to her feet.


    Only after Wang Lan stood up did Ning Zhuo rise.


    Wang Lan cried, "Xiao Zhuo, actually, you''ve wronged your uncle. He never embezzled or withheld any of your cultivation resources. That was all a lie from the Young n Leader, Ning Xiaoren!"


    Ning Zhuo was taken aback, "Aunt, what do you mean?"


    The people in the courtyard were confused, listening without understanding.


    Wang Lan''s next words gradually made everyone understand the situation.


    Wang Lan said, "Everything was part of Ning Xiaoren''s scheme. He discovered your talent and aptitude and wanted to recruit you, so he deliberately framed your uncle, falsely using him of embezzling arge amount of cultivation resources."


    "But the truth is, he never gave you anything over the past ten years. He just wanted to drive a wedge between you and your uncle, so he could take advantage of the situation and win your favor."


    "He wanted you to think that he was the only one in this world who treated you well, so you''d be endlessly grateful to him and serve him in the future!"


    "What?!" Ning Zhuo was shocked, "Aunt, you can''t say such things lightly¡­"


    Wang Lan shook her head firmly, "This is indeed the truth, but our family has always been afraid of Ning Xiaoren''s authority and didn''t dare to speak up."


    "But this time, he''s gone too far!"


    "He used your uncle''s life to threaten me, forcing me to use our family ties to pressure you, to make you return to the remodeling team, obediently ept all the unfair treatment."


    "I can''t take it anymore, and your uncle can''t take it anymore either! He secretly contacted me and told me to do this."


    "Because if Ning Xiaoren continues like this, he''s pushing you and our family to a dead end."


    After hearing this, everyone looked at each other in astonishment.


    Ning Zhuo lowered his head, frowning deeply. After thinking for a long time, he slowly raised his head, "Aunt, is everything you''re saying true?"


    "To be honest, I''m hesitant right now because I don''t know who to believe!"


    Wang Lan was prepared for this and gritted her teeth, saying, "Ning Xiaoren framed your uncle and fabricated a lot of false evidence. I¡¯ve collected quite a bit, and you should have some too."


    "When he hurriedly tried to separate you from your uncle, he couldn''t have been thorough. There must be many ws in those fake pieces of evidence!"


    "And another thing, if Ning Xiaoren had really been supporting you all these years, there would be traces. It''s impossible for there to be nothing."


    "You just need to check, and you can prove all of this!"


    "Alright." Ning Zhuo shouted in a low voice, "Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and my fellow ssmates."


    "I ask for your help in thoroughly investigating this matter by tonight!"


    The ssmates, who had all benefited from Ning Zhuo¡¯s kindness, did not hesitate, as it wasn¡¯t a battlefield, and they all responded.


    Indeed, Ning Xiaoren¡¯s framing of Ning Ze had been done hastily and couldn¡¯t withstand such a meticulous and thorough investigation.


    When all the small ws were pieced together, the truth gradually became clear to everyone.


    "The dignified Young n Leader actually did something like this!"


    "He was never a good person. I remember my grandfather¡¯s pension was also withheld by him."


    "With him in charge, our family can never expect fairness in rewards and punishments. Look at Ah Zhuo, he has talent and skill, and we admire him deeply. If someone like him is treated this way, what hope is there for the rest of us?"


    For a time, the crowd was in an uproar.


    "The time is almost ripe," Ning Zhuo thought to himself.


    He decisively made a request, hoping that everyone would help spread the news, the more people who knew, the better.


    "This is intolerable!"


    "Does Ning Xiaoren really deserve to be the Young n Leader?"


    "I¡¯m going to the family shrine to demand an exnation!"


    Ning Zhuo raised his arm and shouted.


    Everyone else: "We¡¯ll go together, we¡¯ll go together!"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 159: Branch Line Assistance

    Ning Zhuo took the lead, pushing open the courtyard gate first.


    Behind him were more than twenty fellow disciples. Ning Chen and Ning Yong followed closely.


    Wang Lan was thest to step out quickly, closing the gate before leaving.


    But in fact, before they even left the courtyard together, many transmission talismans had already flown out.


    It was because Ning Zhuo requested that everyone spread this news as much as possible before heading to the n ancestral hall, making it widely known for good measure.


    These talismans flew through the air, quickly dispersing, like countless small pebbles being thrown into therge pond of the Ning family estate.


    The ripples of influence began to spread.


    "Young n Leader Ning Xiaoren wants to recruit Ning Zhuo as a dog, so he framed Ning Zhuo¡¯s own uncle?"


    "The Young n Leader actually imprisoned Ning Ze and used his life and freedom as leverage?""Is this news fake?"


    "This is too outrageous. Who spread such rumors?"


    "Hmph, hasn''t Ning Xiaoren done plenty of over-the-top things before?"


    "Even so, if he really did this, he''s gone too far this time!"


    Even the members of the main family felt that Ning Xiaoren had crossed the line when they heard the news¡ªit was simply too much!


    ording to the rumors, Ning Zhuo''s father, Ning Zhong, was Ning Xiaoren¡¯s savior, and Ning Xiaoren had once promised, before Ning Zhong¡¯s heroic death in battle, to take care of Ning Zhuo.


    But in reality, Ning Xiaoren had given Ning Zhuo no resources during his years of growth,pletely breaking his promise.


    When Ning Zhuo demonstrated talent in mechanics and great potential, Ning Xiaoren saw the value in recruiting him.


    To make up for his earlier neglect, he schemed, framing Ning Zhuo''s uncle, falsely using him of embezzling the resources meant for Ning Zhuo, turning Ning Zhuo and Ning Ze¡¯s family against each other.


    Ning Zhuo had achieved great sess in exploring the Immortal Pce, but Ning Xiaoren unfairly punished him. Furious, Ning Zhuo withdrew from the restoration team, and Ning Xiaoren then threatened Ning Ze¡¯s life and freedom, forcing Wang Lan to kneel in public, pressuring Ning Zhuo to submit.


    Is this something a Young n Leader should do?


    Is this something a righteous cultivator should do?


    If it¡¯s true, Ning Xiaoren, as the Young n Leader of the Ning family, a high-ranking figure, was using such despicable methods against his own n members. He definitely didn¡¯t deserve his position.


    "If Ning Xiaoren really did this, he''spletely lost his mind!"


    "He wouldn¡¯t really do this, would he? That would be incredibly stupid."


    "I feel like this is more likely Ning Zhuo ndering him."


    The name Ning Zhuo had been frequently mentioned among the Ning family members in recent times.


    Ning Zhuo used to be an insignificant figure in a branch line, but he suddenly rose to prominence during the three-family joint test.


    If it was just his affinity with the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art that made people envious of his luck, then after he showed his potential, most people had high hopes for his future.


    And after Ning Zhuo repeatedly helped his fellow disciples, more and more people started to have a favorable impression of him.


    Recently, when Ning Zhuo reached the eighth level of the Immortal Pce exploration, he became famous in one fell swoop!


    After all, such an achievementpletely overshadowed Ning Xiaohui. The key point was that Ning Zhuo came from a branch family, while Ning Xiaohui was from the main family. For the branch members, who were usually suppressed, hearing this news gave them a sense of satisfaction.


    They hadn¡¯t been happy for long before hearing that Ning Zhuo had suffered injustice and voluntarily withdrew from the restoration team.


    Although Ning Xiaoren tried to manipte public opinion by spreading misleading information, the branch members were still focused on the "unfair treatment."


    Many branch members expressed sympathy and admiration for Ning Zhuo¡¯s decision to leave the team.


    But there were also some branch members who secretly resented Ning Zhuo.


    "When facing the main family¡¯s oppression, I retreated and gave in. But you, Ning Zhuo, stood firm and publicly resisted. Compared to you, what does that make me?"


    Human nature is just this subtle.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s case had already been a hot topic within the n.


    Now, the explosive news about Ning Xiaoren and Ning Ze was like pouring gasoline onto a burning fire.


    With a loud bang, the mes exploded and roared furiously!


    One person told ten, ten told a hundred, and a hundred told a thousand¡­


    "If the Young n Leader really did this, his morals are truly appalling."


    "Is it really true?"


    "Ning Zhuo and his group are headed to the ancestral hall. Why don¡¯t we go check it out?"


    "Let¡¯s go! I¡¯m also from a branch family and have been oppressed and excluded by the main family. I¡¯m going to support Ning Zhuo!"


    Countless family members began to move, all heading to the Ning family¡¯s ancestral hall.


    From a bird¡¯s eye view, you would see one family member after another walking out of their homes, gathering on the streets and paths, forming streams of people all converging towards the ancestral hall.


    "What¡¯s going on?" The elder guarding the ancestral hall noticed something was wrong.


    Before Ning Zhuo¡¯s group even arrived, other family members were already gathering at the ancestral hall.


    "How dare you! Gathering here without reason, disturbing the peace of the ancestors¡ªwhat are you trying to do?" The ancestral hall elder stepped forward and scolded the assembled family members.


    Some of the family members showed fear.


    A steward from a branch family stepped out from the crowd, saluted the elder, and then said, "Elder, something serious has happened."


    "We must get to the bottom of this today."


    "Otherwise, if someone is wronged, and the ancestors know about it, they will be furious with us, their descendants, for being unfilial."


    The elder of the ancestral hall frowned deeply. He had invoked the name of the ancestors, but this steward had also done the same.


    The elder¡¯s expression grew increasingly displeased. "Ning Xiangguo, what exactly happened?"


    Ning Xiangguo, who had spoken up for justice, quickly and concisely exined the situation.


    The ancestral hall elder''s expression changed slightly.


    He belonged to the main family and, as the elder of the ancestral hall, was a core member of the high-ranking leadership. He was well aware of Ning Xiaoren¡¯s methods.


    "With the Young n Leader¡¯s temperament, this is something he could very well have done."


    "At this point¡­ is it still possible to fix it?"


    With this in mind, the elder of the ancestral hall nodded slightly, his expression softening as he addressed the crowd, "As the elder of the ancestral hall, I have always acted impartially."


    "Since things have reached this point, we shall invite the n leader and all the elders to witness it."


    "You all have the right to supervise, but gathering at the entrance like this¡ªwhat does that look like?"


    "Disperse now, and let my subordinates open the three gates, clear the hall, and prepare seats for you all."


    "You, go quickly and notify the n leader and the elders!" The elder of the ancestral hall, in a straightforward and honorable manner, sent a subordinate to ry the news.


    As they were speaking, anotherrge group of family members arrived at the ancestral hall.


    The elder of the ancestral hall secretly marveled, "This has be a matter that has stirred the entire n."


    "It¡¯s hard to imagine that this was caused by a boy at the thirdyer of Qi Refining."


    The elder of the ancestral hall knew that he could only go along with the flow now. Trying to cover this up was impossible, and even dying things slightly could lead to the n members secretly using him of negligence.


    As a member of the main family, he could only hope that Ning Xiaoren had been falsely used and hadn¡¯t done such things.


    The n leader quickly received the news, startling him so much that he stood up from his seat.


    As a father, he knew Ning Xiaoren¡¯s style all too well.


    He immediately cast a spell, sending out a talisman to notify Ning Xiaoren.


    Ning Xiaoren was in seclusion, meditating and replenishing his mana, when themunication talisman interrupted him, making him unhappy.


    However, he quickly recognized that it was from his father, and couldn¡¯t help but wonder, "What does Father want? It seems urgent¡­"


    "Ah!" Upon reading the contents of the talisman, Ning Xiaoren felt like his rear had caught fire and immediately jumped up.


    "That little brat Ning Zhuo is trying to ruin me!"


    Ning Xiaoren had no intention of continuing his cultivation. He forcefully pushed open the door of his secret chamber and rushed out.


    He headed straight for the private prison with all his might.


    At this critical moment, Ning Ze was the key figure.


    As long as Ning Ze yielded to Ning Xiaoren and kept denying everything, Ning Xiaoren still had hope.


    When Ning Xiaoren arrived at the private prison, he saw that a group of branch family members had already surrounded the ce.


    "Move aside!" Ning Xiaoren shouted, "Gathering here like this, are you trying to cause a


    disturbance?"


    The branch members, seeing that it was the Young n Leader, immediately became a bit flustered.


    But at that moment, an old voice rang out, "Young n Leader, you''re a step toote. I¡¯ve already taken Ning Zhuo¡¯s uncle out myself."


    Ning Xiaoren¡¯s heart sank as he saw the crowd part, revealing an old man slowly emerging, followed by a confused Ning Ze.


    Upon seeing the old man, Ning Xiaoren¡¯s vision darkened, but he still sped his hands in salute and spoke with difficulty, "Elder Fu."


    The old man¡¯s name was Ning Youfu, a member of the branch family, and he had once served as an elder of the Talisman Hall, amassing considerable prestige.


    Ning Xiaoren tried onest effort, "Elder Fu, you may not know the whole story. This is all Ning Zhuo¡¯s trick. Ning Ze is suspected of multiple counts of embezzlement and has been under investigation. Ning Ze¡¯s wife, Wang Lan, has asked me several times to release him, but I didn¡¯t agree because the embezzlement charges have yet to be cleared."


    Ning Youfu chuckled at Ning Xiaoren, "I¡¯m personally taking Ning Ze away, Young n Leader. If you want to stop me, you''ll have to step over my dead body."


    Ning Xiaoren quickly responded, "I wouldn¡¯t dare, Elder Fu. You¡¯re joking and have misunderstood me."


    "Whether it''s a misunderstanding or not, the ancestral hall will have the final say. Young n Leader, please lead the way." As he spoke, Ning Youfu, with Ning Ze in tow, walked out of the crowd and approached Ning Xiaoren.


    Ning Xiaoren gritted his teeth, wanting to stand his ground, but under the eyes of the crowd, and facing an elder with such high prestige, he could only step aside, allowing the way to be cleared.


    Ning Youfuughed heartily and continued walking.


    As he passed by Ning Xiaoren¡¯s shoulder, Ning Xiaoren''s expression changed. He red at Ning Ze as if to warn him¡ªsay something you shouldn¡¯t, and you¡¯re finished!


    Ning Ze quickly lowered his head, not daring to make eye contact with Ning Xiaoren.


    His mind was filled with countless doubts. Ning Youfu hadn¡¯t said much to him earlier.


    "So, what exactly is going on?!"


    Ning Zhuo led arge group of people, walking through the n¡¯s estate.


    Compared to when they left their residence earlier, Ning Zhuo¡¯s group had more than doubled, with at least fifty more people joining them.


    Moreover, as Ning Zhuo continued walking, more and more people joined his ranks.


    The people chatted incessantly, asking Ning Zhuo numerous questions, their curiosity piqued.


    Ning Zhuo, with an angry expression, kept responding to them.


    Ning Yong, feeling somewhat dissatisfied, quietly advised Ning Zhuo in a low voice, "Brother Zhuo, walking and stopping like this, answering the other family members¡¯ questions, it¡¯s really dying our progress."


    Ning Zhuo only nced at Ning Yong without exining.


    Ning Chen transmitted his thoughts, "Idiot! In this situation, the more people who know, the better. The more support we have, the better our chances of sess. Do you understand?"


    Ning Yong let out an "ah" and nodded repeatedly, "I get it, I get it."

 Chapter 160: Ning Zhuo Attends!

    The Ancestral Hall.


    "Esteemed Elder, there aren''t enough seats." A subordinate came to report.


    The elder of the ancestral hall''s face darkened, "Bring tables and chairs from the school and fill both the front and middle courtyards."


    "Too many people areing, and more are on the way. Something feels off!"


    The elder of the ancestral hall smelled a conspiracy.


    "Go, hurry up Ning Zhuo! Why is that kid walking so slowly? Many elders have already arrived, is he putting on airs?"


    The elder of the ancestral hall knew well: the longer the dy, the worse it would be for the main branch.


    At this moment, someone suddenly reported, "The young patriarch has arrived¡ª!"


    The elder of the ancestral hall and others immediately rose, leaving the main hall to greet him.Ning Xiaoren arrived at the ancestral hall first. Upon seeing the elder of the ancestral hall, he quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands respectfully. His expression was calm, but he urgently sent a secret message, "Elder, for the sake of my father, please help me!"


    Hearing these words, the elder''s pupils contracted slightly.


    At that moment, Ning Youfu and Ning Ze''s group also arrived.


    The elder of the ancestral hall said a polite phrase and quickly extricated himself from Ning Xiaoren, going to greet Ning Youfu.


    The elder smiled broadly, "Elder Fu, you''vee! It¡¯s truly an honor, giving the younger generation another opportunity to hear your teachings."


    Ning Youfu chuckled, "This old man doesn''t have many days left. I wanted to live a quiet life, but I had no choice but toe when this matter arose. Next to me is Ning Zhuo''s eldest uncle, Ning Ze."


    The elder of the ancestral hall responded with an "Oh" and took the initiative to lead Ning Youfu and Ning Ze into the ancestral hall.


    During this time, Ning Xiaoren continued to send secret messages, but the elder ignored him, showing no response.


    People from the ancestral hall went to hurry Ning Zhuo, whispering, "Ning Zhuo, you''ve caused quite a stir. All the elders are waiting, yet you haven¡¯t even covered half the distance."


    Ning Zhuo quickly apologized, exining that too many nsmen were asking questions, and he spent some time answering each one. He asked the messenger to return and inform them that he would arrive shortly.


    After the person from the ancestral hall left, Ning Zhuo continued at his own pace, even slowing down a little.


    Thanks to his constant exnations, more and more nsmen gathered around him.


    The size of his group swelled to over sixty people.


    As they turned a street corner, an old man leaning on a cane, apanied by three attendants, gazed at Ning Zhuo and waved slightly.


    Someone in Ning Zhuo¡¯s group immediately eximed, "Ah, it''s Elder Ning Houjun!"


    Ning Houjun was also a former elder, specifically of the War Hall. However, more than a decade ago, he voluntarily retired and had since enjoyed his twilight years at home. ??


    Like Ning Youfu, Ning Houjun was a member of the branch family and had a high reputation.


    Ning Zhuo quickly increased his pace, arriving before Ning Houjun and bowing deeply.


    Ning Houjun looked Ning Zhuo up and down, praising, "Good. This young man is dignified and full of spirit. A proper young person."


    "I¡¯ve heard about your situation."


    "This time, I¡¯ll apany you to the ancestral hall."


    Ning Zhuo expressed his gratitude, and the nsmen around him cheered, saying that with Elder Ning Houjun apanying him, their mission would surely seed!


    Ning Zhuo and Ning Houjun walked side by side, conversing openly while sending secret messages to each other.


    Ning Houjun asked through a secret transmission, "Young man, do you know who the key figure in this situation is?"


    Without hesitation, Ning Zhuo replied via secret transmission, "It¡¯s the ancestor."


    He wasn¡¯t referring to the ancestral founder, but the Golden Core ancestor.


    Ning Houjun nced at Ning Zhuo, his eyes showing approval, and continued through the secret transmission, "Correct, you have a clear understanding."


    "Our ancestor does not belong to the main branch. The main branch''s Golden Core ancestor owes him a great favor. As a result, he often looks after the main branch. But he himself has no direct descendants."


    "That¡¯s why, over a decade ago, the branch family gathered forces to challenge the main branch. Although we failed, throughout the whole ordeal, the ancestor never expressed any stance."


    Ning Zhuo nodded, "In that case, I¡¯m sure to win this time."


    "Indeed." Ning Houjun chuckled and continued, "This old man enjoys winning battles. Otherwise, why would I join your cause? The only question now is how big our victory will be."


    At the ancestral hall.


    The Ning family patriarch had already arrived.


    The patriarch''s face was expressionless, "And Ning Zhuo still hasn''te?"


    He immediately sent someone to hurry him.


    The messenger, upon seeing Ning Zhuo, originally intended to be arrogant, but was scolded by Ning Houjun, "This old man is getting on in years. What¡¯s wrong with walking a bit slower?"


    "Go tell the patriarch that if he''s in such a hurry, is it because he urgently needs to relieve himself or has diarrhea and is rushing to the toilet?"


    The messenger hurried back with his tail between his legs, not daring to repeat the exact words, simply reporting that Ning Houjun was present.


    The patriarch took a deep breath and held back his anger.


    An elder of the War Hall chuckled, "After all these years, Elder Ning Houjun still has such a temper."


    "I wonder, ever since his son was expelled from the family, how is he doing now?"


    "In recent years, has there been any correspondence between him and Elder Ning Houjun?"


    It wasn¡¯t until the sun was high in the sky, close to noon, that Ning Zhuo¡¯s group finally arrived at the ancestral hall.


    The size of the group had now swelled to over a hundred people.


    However, there were even more people inside the ancestral hall.


    Most of the people apanying Ning Zhuo had to remain outside the hall to listen from the courtyard.


    Even so, there was hardly any space left.


    The entire ancestral hall was surrounded by nsmen, packed inside and out.


    Ning Zhuo, Ning Houjun, and Wang Lan were led inside the hall.


    The high-ranking members of the Ning family who could attend were all present.


    Ning Zhuo saw Ning Ze, Ning Ji, the family patriarch, and, of course, Ning Xiaoren.


    Ning Xiaoren''s face was ashen as he red at Ning Zhuo. His neck was stretched out like a vulture preparing for a final, deadly strike.


    Just as Ning Zhuo cupped his hands, intending to speak, Wang Lan suddenly burst into tears, "Husband, you¡¯re finally safe! Ning Xiaoren didn¡¯t hurt you again, did he?"


    Ning Ze stepped out from the crowd, embracing Wang Lan and saying in a deep voice, "It was Elder Fu who personally saved me! He freed me from Ning Xiaoren''s clutches!"


    Along the way, Ning Ze had already learned the whole story.


    Despite Ning Xiaoren¡¯s constant threats and bribes, Ning Ze had made up his mind!


    What a joke.


    "Did you really think I enjoyed getting hit on the head all those times?!"


    "Did you think I had no temper?!"


    Wang Lan had already stepped up to the front, and the branch family members were filled with righteous indignation.


    The truth was now out, and indeed, Ning Xiaoren had not provided Ning Zhuo with any cultivation resources and had framed Ning Ze.


    All the humiliation and umted resentment Ning Ze had endured made him stand firmly on Ning Zhuo''s side.


    Hearing Ning Ze¡¯s words, Ning Xiaoren¡¯s heart sank to the depths, a chilling cold enveloping his entire body.


    His only hopey with Ning Ze.


    But now, like a leaf in the autumn wind, that hope had blown away.


    With both witnesses and physical evidence present, Ning Xiaoren had no room for rebuttal.


    When he had framed Ning Ze, it had been a spur-of-the-moment decision because of Ning Zhuo¡¯s sudden rise. There were too many ws in the plot. If Ning Ze cooperated, it would¡¯ve been fine, but once he turned against him, there were countless pieces of evidence.


    If any other nsmen wanted to investigate, it would be incredibly easy.


    The evidence was overwhelming!


    "Ning Xiaoren!" The patriarch roared in anger, snapping the cord of his waist token and throwing it directly at Ning Xiaoren.


    The waist token struck Ning Xiaoren''s head, causing blood to flow immediately.


    He knew that his defeat was sealed, and there was no hope of avoiding punishment. In his final moment, however, he maintained a semnce of dignity.


    He allowed the blood to flow from his head as he cupped his hands towards his father, saying, "Patriarch, I was wrong. I have no face left to face the family. I ept any punishment."


    And with that, Ning Xiaoren''s final act wasplete.


    The patriarch of the Ning family immediately announced the cancetion of Ning Xiaoren¡¯s position as young patriarch. He was to be imprisoned in the dungeon


    for three years. After three years, he would be expelled from the family and exiled, only allowed to return to the family during the annual ancestral worship ceremony.


    "The patriarch is wise, upholding justice even against family!"


    As soon as the judgment was announced, countless branch family members cheered in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.


    The elders of the main branch, on the other hand, fixed their eyes on Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo had won decisively, stepping on Ning Xiaoren, the young patriarch. From this day on, his name would spread throughout the family, and his reputation would soar.


    Even though he only had "Qi Refining thirdyer cultivation," his boldness and actions were not to be underestimated.


    That night.


    Ning Ze¡¯s home hosted a small banquet.


    Ning Zhuo and Ning Ze entertained former elders Ning Youfu and Ning Houjun, along with several family stewards, including Ning Xiangguo.


    Ning Zhuo frequently offered toasts in gratitude, acting humbly and politely while earnestly seeking guidance.


    Ning Youfu advised, "After today¡¯s events, Ning Zhuo, you are now directly at odds with the main branch. Especially with the patriarch, don''t expect any reconciliation."


    Ning Houjun sighed, "It¡¯s a pity the patriarch sacrificed a pawn to save the king today. He didn¡¯t bring him down with him, only taking out the young patriarch. The victory is limited."


    Ning Xiangguo added, "Even so, this is our family¡¯s first victory in over a decade. A branch family has brought down the young patriarch of the main branch¡ªit¡¯s truly inspiring!"


    As Ning Zhuo looked around at the group, he silently pondered: who among them was the Ning family traitor secretly aligned with Fei Si?


    Ning Zhuo took the initiative to ask what the main branch would do to deal with him.


    Ning Youfu smiled, "Ning Zhuo, you¡¯re now involved in the Immortal Pce exploration team and have impressive skills. On top of that, you¡¯re currently in the spotlight. The main branch won¡¯t touch you, lest they provoke another injustice, and you cause anothermotion in the ancestral hall."


    He nced at Ning Xiangguo and said, "The main branch¡¯s counterattack wille soon, and you¡¯ll be the ones to suffer."


    Ning Xiangguo smiled slightly, "I¡¯m already mentally prepared. No problem! Even if I lose my position, what of it? The main branch can¡¯t remove too many people, after all. They¡¯re short on manpower, haha."


    Ning Houjun sighed, "It¡¯s a shame that none of the elders of our familye from the branch family. We¡¯re in such a passive position that we have no real foundation. Even though we have many stewards, they¡¯re just pawns to be yed with."


    "Fortunately, Ning Zhuo, you have talent. With steady growth, you¡¯ll undoubtedly be an elder."


    "It¡¯s been a long time since our branch family produced someone with true talent. To be honest, I¡¯ve been waiting for over a decade for someone who can bear the weight of responsibility."


    "Although your cultivation is weak, you have spirit and cunning."


    "The key point is that you have talent, and you¡¯re worth investing in."


    "Don¡¯t worry. As long as this old man is alive, I¡¯ll do everything I can to support you!"


    "You are now the banner of the branch family. You must not fall."


    Ning Zhuoughed heartily, "Things havee to this point, and while the main branch has indeed pressured me, isn''t it also true that I personally wish to advance?"


    "I have talent, I excel in the exploration of the Immortal Pce, and with all of you supporting me, how can I not achieve great things?"


    Everyoneughed heartily.


    Amidst theughter, they raised their sses to toast.


    Ning Ze drank his wine in one gulp. As he put down his cup, he looked at Ning Zhuo with aplex expression.


    "Little Zhuo, little Zhuo, so this is the real you."


    "I misjudged you. I misjudged you indeed."


    "Such skill, character, and capacity¡­"


    For the first time in his life, Ning Ze felt like he truly understood Ning Zhuo.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 161: Be Careful of Ning Zhuo

    Ning Family Dungeon.


    Ning Xiaoren sat on the straw, leaning against the wall, his expression dazed.


    Since he had been escorted here, he had been in a trance, his gaze unfocused, like a statue.


    Soft footsteps echoed.


    Ning Xiaoren''s ears twitched slightly, and he immediately realized that a guard had left their post.


    Then, the door opened, and a familiar sound of footsteps approached.


    Ning Xiaoren seemed to wake up suddenly, his expression lively again. He stood up and walked a few steps toward the cell¡¯s bars.


    ¡°Father!¡± Sure enough, the next moment, he saw a familiar figure walk out of the shadows from the direction of the cell door, entering the torch-lit area.


    It was none other than the head of the Ning family.At this moment, the Ning family head finally revealed his true emotions, with a gloomy expression on his face. ¡°Xiaoren, I¡¯vee to see you.¡±


    Ning Xiaoren¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved a few times, and he spoke with a choked voice, ¡°Father, I¡¯ve disappointed you.¡±


    The Ning family head nodded, his tone carrying a hint of disappointment. ¡°You have greatly disappointed me.¡±


    ¡°Do you know where you lost this time?¡±


    Ning Xiaoren nodded. ¡°I know!¡±


    ¡°First, I lost the people''s hearts a long time ago. Over the years, as the Young Master, I offended too many people from the branch families. This time, when I was knocked down, everyone turned against me, and I couldn¡¯t resist.¡±


    ¡°Second, I wasn¡¯t thorough enough. If I wanted to frame Ning Ze, I should have acted more decisively. After framing him, I should have taken his life. Without Ning Ze turning against me, I wouldn¡¯t have been so passive, even if Wang Lan and others used me.¡±


    ¡°Third, I was toocent. I¡¯ve been the Young Master for many years, used to seeing the branch family members harboring anger but not daring to speak out, used to seeing them tolerate me. I underestimated them, and I underestimated Ning Ze. I spared Ning Ze because he had been my subordinate for many years.¡±


    ¡°Fourth, and most importantly, I underestimated Ning Zhuo!¡±


    ¡°That young man is not simple. He took advantage of the people''s hearts within our family and the situation at the Lava Immortal Pce.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s only at the thirdyer of Qi Refining, seemingly weak, but his methods are extremely sophisticated.¡±


    ¡°I never thought that such mature handling coulde from a sixteen-year-old boy.¡±


    The Ning family head nodded and sighed. ¡°You¡¯ve analyzed it well, very methodical. It seems you haven¡¯t lost your fighting spirit.¡±


    ¡°However, while Ning Zhuo is indeed a key figure¡­ today''s situation might not be entirely his doing.¡±


    ¡°Ning Zhuo has influence, but not enough to rally everyone at hismand. For Ning Youfu, Ning Houjun, and the others to appear almost simultaneously, someone must have secretly coordinated everything in advance.¡± ?


    ¡°The n members were mobilized too quickly. Among them, some were likely already prepared, just waiting for things to escte.¡±


    ¡°The Elder of the Ancestral Hall smelled a strong conspiracy, which is why he didn¡¯t defend you.¡±


    Ning Xiaoren''s face darkened, and he nodded heavily. ¡°I don¡¯t hate him anymore. The Elder of the Ancestral Hall made a rational decision. At the time, I couldn¡¯t face the overwhelming evidence. If he had defended me, he might have lost his position as well.¡±


    The Ning family head replied, ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand.¡±


    Ning Xiaoren said, ¡°Father, what should I do next? You must have a n, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± The Ning family head nodded. ¡°ording to my arrangement, you will be imprisoned for three years.¡±


    ¡°But this is actually your opportunity!¡±


    ¡°While in the dungeon, you must diligently practice making talismans and develop outstanding ice talismans to contribute to the family and atone for your crimes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already prepared the relevant talisman materials for you, from a certain cultivator¡¯s inheritance in the North Wind Country.¡±


    ¡°About a yearter, when things havepletely settled, you can slightly modify the talismans and present them to the family.¡±


    ¡°And in theing days, you will focus on your cultivation here in the dungeon.¡±


    Ning Xiaoren nodded. ¡°Understood, Father. I¡¯ll treat this as a retreat for cultivation.¡±


    The Ning family head said, ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m relieved you have such a mindset. Such setbacks are also opportunities for growth.¡±


    ¡°In a person''s life, mistakes and failures are inevitable. The true hero rises again after every fall.¡±


    Ning Xiaoren sighed deeply. ¡°I will always remember Father¡¯s teachings.¡±


    The Ning family head said, ¡°Once you present the talismans, I will, ording to the family rules, reduce your punishment.¡±


    ¡°At that time, you will still remain in the family, rather than being exiled.¡±


    ¡°This Ning family is under the control of the main branch. As long as you stay within the family, there will be no shortage of opportunities for you to make contributions and climb your way back up.¡±


    Ning Xiaoren frowned. ¡°What about the other members of the main branch? Do they have any objections?¡±


    The Ning family head snorted coldly. ¡°I¡¯ve alreadymunicated with them.¡±


    ¡°The branch families unting their power this time has made the main branch vignt. They are all well aware of the merit you have earned by suppressing the branch families in the past. Therefore, they unanimously believe that we must show the branch families who is in charge.¡±


    ¡°In the future, I will continue to negotiate with them. Perhaps I can even gain some credit for you from them, further reducing your punishment.¡±


    ¡°For now, you need to obediently stay in the dungeon and wait for the storm to pass.¡±


    ¡°Father, I understand!¡± Ning Xiaoren¡¯s heart finally calmed down. ¡°What should we do next to clean up the aftermath?¡±


    ¡°As for Ning Zhuo¡­¡±


    The Ning family head interrupted him. ¡°Regarding Ning Zhuo, the main branch won¡¯t trouble him immediately, nor will we suppress him in the slightest.¡±


    ¡°He is currently in the spotlight, and the whole n''s branch family members are watching him.¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s even a hint of unfair treatment, the branch families will sympathize with him even more, support him, and boost his influence.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, in the near future, we will give him many resources to ease the tensions between the main branch and the branch families.¡±


    Ning Xiaoren¡¯s eyes gleamed with cold light, and he gritted his teeth. ¡°Give him, give him more, the more the better!¡±


    ¡°That kid is extremely greedy, not much different from me.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe he won¡¯t fall for the trap!¡±


    ¡°Let him enjoy the family''s favoritism and assistance. I don¡¯t believe the branch family members won¡¯t feel envious and jealous.¡±


    ¡°Use this to sever his ties with the branch families!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re only wary of him because he¡¯s be a symbol for the branch families, right?¡±


    The Ning family head chuckled, looking pleased. ¡°Xiaoren, it wasn¡¯t in vain that I raised you.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve already nned to act this way.¡±


    ¡°But it may not work.¡±


    ¡°ording to our discussions, most believe that Ning Zhuo has someone advising him from behind.¡±


    ¡°Today, the speed at which the branch family members gathered was too fast. Ning Youfu, Ning Houjun, and the others acted as if they had nned andmunicated beforehand.¡±


    Ning Xiaoren nodded, gritting his teeth, his gaze icy. ¡°If we can catch him coborating with outsiders, that would be perfect!¡±


    ¡°Ning Zhuo!¡±


    ¡°I never expected to be defeated by such a young brat. It¡¯s a disgrace.¡±


    ¡°One day, I will repay this humiliation twofold!¡±


    Ning Xiaoren swore bitterly, unable to suppress the immense hatred he felt for Ning Zhuo.


    The Ning family head nodded, satisfied with Ning Xiaoren''s mental state. ¡°Son, carry this hatred with you and cultivate well.¡±


    After exchanging a few more words, the Ning family head turned to leave.


    ¡°Father!¡± Ning Xiaoren called out as he saw his father about to disappear into the shadows. ¡°Be careful of Ning Zhuo!¡±


    ¡°Looking back now, I feel more and more that Ning Zhuo is not simple, far from it!¡±


    The Ning family head stopped and turned, looking at Ning Xiaoren, nodding slightly. ¡°I will pay close attention to him.¡±


    ¡°If today¡¯s events weren¡¯t orchestrated by someone behind the scenes, but rather nned by him alone, then that is truly terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see what he does next.¡±


    ¡°Today, he has won a great victory and his reputation has soared. This is an extremely rare opportunity.¡±


    ¡°We''ll see if he can recognize and seize it, truly building his momentum.¡±


    Ning Ze¡¯s residence.


    In the master bedroom, Ning Zhuo¡¯s uncle and aunt were sitting by the bed.


    Aunt Wang Lan was performing a spell to check Ning Ze¡¯s body and treat his injuries.


    Her eyes were red, and she choked up. ¡°Husband, you¡¯ve suffered this time.¡±


    Ning Ze sighed. ¡°It was all thanks to you this time. How did you make the decision to tell Ning Zhuo the truth?¡±


    Wang Lan said, ¡°I never nned to.¡±


    ¡°After visiting the prison, I was preparing to follow our n¡ªto kneel before Ning Zhuo the next day and force him to return to the correctional team.¡±


    ¡°But that night, I opened the door and was startled by Ning Zhuo.¡±


    ¡°Ning Zhuo had already entered the room, waiting for me.¡±


    Ning Ze raised his eyebrows. ¡°Hmm? Tell me more.¡±


    Wang Lan said, ¡°I don¡¯t know where Ning Zhuo got


    his information, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he exposed the secret that ¡®I visited the prison and Ning Xiaoren wanted to use me and you to force him to submit.¡¯¡±


    ¡°I was very flustered at the time.¡±


    ¡°Ning Zhuo then told me that after you were framed for embezzling his cultivation resources, he had secretly investigated and found many ws, raising numerous suspicions.¡±


    ¡°He then revealed his guess. He had figured out the truth!¡±


    ¡°Then he asked me, could I still trust Ning Xiaoren¡¯s character? Would I still allow Ning Xiaoren to use us?¡±


    ¡°To truly save you, Ning Xiaoren was unreliable. We had to rely on ourselves!¡±


    Wang Lan sighed as she continued, ¡°Husband, he convinced me.¡±


    ¡°He made so much sense.¡±


    ¡°Then he told me that Ning Xiaoren had made a fatal mistake, with too many ws. He had already contacted important figures in the branch family and was ready to turn the world upside down the next day and strike at Ning Xiaoren!¡±


    ¡°I was shocked when I heard his n. I wanted to join, but I was very worried about failure, fearing it would ultimately harm you.¡±


    ¡°Ning Zhuo forced me!¡±


    ¡°He threatened me that if I didn¡¯t cooperate, he would confirm the charges Ning Xiaoren had fabricated against you, ruining your reputation and leaving you unable to hold your head up in the family for the rest of your life.¡±


    ¡°Husband, I know you too well. If Ning Zhuo actually did that, you would be better off dead.¡±


    ¡°In the end, I had no choice but to follow his n.¡±

 Chapter 162: Blooming a Thread of the Flower

    Ning Ze quietly listened, his gaze flickering frequently.


    "So that''s how it is." Only now did he understand part of the situation.


    Ning Ze slowly nodded, "Lan''er, you''ve done well."


    Wang Lan said, "I''m still terrified even now. Today was so thrilling, I never thought that little Zhuo would actually pull it off!"


    "I¡­ I don''t know how to face him."


    "After all, he''s the one who saved you, and also brought down that damned Ning Xiaoren."


    Ning Ze sighed, "This is exactly what I want to talk to you about."


    "Little Zhuo¡­"


    "I misjudged him before. I underestimated him too much.""Regardless of whether someone was secretly guiding him this time or not, just based on his behavior at the banquet, he''s definitely no ordinary person."


    "From now on, we need to follow behind him closely and support him as much as possible."


    "Let Ji''er follow him. After all, they''re cousins!"


    Wang Lan was surprised, "Ah? Husband, you mean¡­"


    Ning Ze red, "Can''t you see it yet? With Little Zhuo''s reputation and his talent, he''ll at least be an elder of the family in the future."


    "Didn''t you notice that Ning Houjun, Ning Youfu, and the other senior members of the branch families all stepped up to back him and show their goodwill?"


    "Does Ji''er have talent? Little Zhuo''s future isn''t something Ji''er can match. Now, if Ji''er follows Little Zhuo, thetter might lend him a hand out of their past connection, saving Ji''er a lot of hardship."


    Wang Lan was deeply worried, "Ji''er and Little Zhuo''s rtionship¡ªHusband, aren''t you aware? Although they''re cousins, they''ve never gotten along since childhood. Their rtionship isn''t good at all."


    Ning Ze shook his head, "You, you''re still just a woman."


    "You haven''t seen it clearly."


    "Let me ask you, what kind of rtionship do we have with Little Zhuo?"


    Wang Lan hesitated and shook her head, "Not very close."


    Ning Ze snorted, "To be precise, it''s very poor!"


    "But this time, he cleared my name and saved me. Why? Is it because he''s filial to us? Because he remembers the kindness of our care?"


    Wang Lan blinked and hesitated, "Although we favor Ji''er more, it is true that we raised Little Zhuo."


    Ning Ze shook his head, "The main reason Little Zhuo saved me is that he could use me to pull Ning Xiaoren down."


    "Another reason is that I''m his biological uncle, his closest rtive in this world."


    "If he wants to progress and rise higher, his character must be wless. Therefore, he will definitely take care of us, purely because of this blood rtionship." ?


    "From what happened at the banquet, I am already certain¡ªLittle Zhuo understands this and has such magnanimity!"


    Wang Lan said, "If that''s the case, why don''t we just live our own lives? Why bother ttering Little Zhuo?"


    Ning Ze shook his head again, "Little Zhuo will treat us well because of our close blood ties."


    "For the same reason, the family¡¯s main branch will see us as being on the same side as Little Zhuo."


    "Especially today, when we both testified against Ning Xiaoren! That means, even if we don''t want to, we are now seen as part of Little Zhuo''s faction."


    "We are already tied to Little Zhuo¡ªif he prospers, we prosper; if he suffers, we suffer."


    Wang Lan''s eyes widened, "So that''s how it is."


    Ning Ze added, "Since we are already so deeply bound to Little Zhuo, why not fully support him and join him?"


    "He has talent and such magnanimity; relying on him isn''t a bad thing."


    Wang Lan fell into silence.


    The boy she once looked down on had now be the person her entire family needed to curry favor with and depend on.


    For a moment, she found it hard to adjust her mindset.


    After a long while, she slowly nodded, her voice bleak, "Husband, you''re right. We¡­ we''ll depend on Little Zhuo."


    Ning Ze nodded, "Tomorrow morning, I''ll exin this decision to Ji''er."


    The couple made their n, then went to bed.


    In Ning Ze''s cultivation chamber, Ning Zhuo was still working on today''s training.


    Amidst the thick clouds, his entire body was emitting blood light, which condensed into sheets of fascia, covering his entire upper body, with a few covering the lower half. He looked as if he were d in a thinyer of blood armor.


    The Mirror tform Spirit Technique had now reached the peak of the sixthyer.


    However, the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique and the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art still had much room for improvement.


    Ning Zhuo focused his attention on the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique.


    Because, ording to his estimation, "After bringing Ning Xiaoren down, I''ll be in the limelight for a while, bing the focus of discussions among the n members."


    "The main branch won¡¯t be foolish enough to withhold my rewards anymore."


    "Ning Xiaohui''s performance is far inferior to mine. The chance of me obtaining the Ice Jade Wine is extremely high!"


    Ning Zhuo nned to use the Ice Jade Wine to enhance his mana cultivation, so the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique, which had no shortcuts, became his primary focus.


    The hard work of refining his blood essence finally ended.


    Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.


    He began to contemte the current situation.


    "Today, I brought down Ning Xiaoren and became famous within the n, known far and wide."


    "In theing period, I need to gather more forces, unite as many branch family members as possible, and formally rise to power."


    "I mustplete this as quickly as possible¡ªthe sooner, the better."


    "If I miss this favorable wind, it''ll be exponentially harder to riseter on!"


    "As for Ning Ze''s family''s debt, it can be settled slowly in the future."


    Sun Lingtong had always taught him to repay kindness with kindness and enmity with enmity.


    Ning Zhuo had grown up in the Ning family and knew the family¡¯s situation like the back of his hand.


    It was precisely because he understood the conflicts between the main branch and the branch families so well that he was able to easily exploit those contradictions to help himself take down Ning Xiaoren.


    Ning Xiaoren''s existence had already be an obstacle to Ning Zhuo''s progress, so he had to be eliminated.


    Ning Zhuo had never considered breaking away from the family or rashly cooperating with outsiders.


    He understood the value of his identity as a Ning family member very clearly.


    This identity allowed him to grow steadily and make progress in learning.


    Without the Ning family identity, people like Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhenshen would treat him quite differently.


    The pressure from Zhu Xuanji¡¯s investigation also made Ning Zhuo choose to continue hiding within the family.


    After obtaining the embryonic form of the divine ability Life Hanging by a Thread, Ning Zhuo was even more certain that his Ning family identity could not be easily discarded.


    This was because once Life Hanging by a Thread was nted, it could exist for a long time. It was quite beneficial for his destiny, allowing Ning Zhuo to understand that uniting more n members around him would be greatly advantageous.


    "Speaking of Life Hanging by a Thread¡­ today I identally noticed that many of my fellow students'' threads have be thicker and sturdier."


    "But I clearly didn''t use the embryonic divine ability on them again."


    "Could it be that because I brought Ning Xiaoren down, my reputation has soared, and they''ve be more inclined to see me as their leader?"


    With this thought, Ning Zhuo realized another key point.


    "Has mymunication jade slip already been transferred from Chen Cha to Fei Si?"


    Ning Zhuo had secretly used his connection with Fei Si to deal with Ning Xiaoren.


    Fei Si had already admired Ning Zhuo to some extent, and causing internal strife within the Ning family was beneficial to the City Lord''s side. Thus, it was highly likely that Fei Si had persuaded the City Lord''s office to activate their mole within the Ning family for Ning Zhuo.


    And sure enough, it had worked!


    However, the City Lord''s office would never expose their crucial mole to Ning Zhuo because of this. That''s why, during the banquet, Ning Zhuo could only guess which of the branch family members present was the mole from the City Lord''s office.


    "The Ning family''s main branch, the branch families¡­ and the City Lord''s mole¡­"


    "I managed to achieve all of this without even using the Buddha Heart Demon Seal or Life Hanging by a Thread."


    "Everyone''s desires, the conflicts between different groups, the rules of operation of the orthodox powers¡ªaren''t these all just strings that can be pulled?"


    "I only need to follow the trends and guide them, and I can make them act as I want."


    "When all their actionsbine, I can shape the situation the way I want it to be."


    "Isn''t this another form of ¡®moving ording to the spirit''?"


    Ning Zhuo recalled how he had been taking actions aligned with spiritual forces to strengthen his control over Yuan Dasheng, who was in the Spirit Movement stage.


    "My sess this time came from following the thoughts of these people and guiding them."


    "Life Hanging by a Thread¡­"


    At this point, a sh of inspiration appeared in Ning Zhuo''s mind.


    The moment that inspiration appeared, Ning Zhuo instinctively tried to grasp it, but it quickly vanished.


    "Was that an illusion?"


    "I seemed to feel the bud of the divine ability''s lotus tremble just now, as if it opened slightly?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 163: Great Reward for Ning Zhuo

    Ning Ze''s residence.


    Breakfast had already been finished, and Ning Zhuo arrived in the courtyard.


    Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and the others were already there.


    When the ssmates saw Ning Zhuo, they all stood up to greet him.


    Ning Yong, with dark circles under his eyes, cheerfully shouted, "Brother Zhuo, I couldn''t sleep at allst night! I was too excited, hahaha."


    The others echoed him, bursting intoughter.


    Ning Zhuo cupped his hands, expressing his thanks once again. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he turned to the person behind him and said, "Cousin, just find a seat anywhere."


    "Today we are still discussing our insights and experiences in casting spells. Although you haven¡¯t cultivated the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, listening can still be beneficial in grasping rted concepts."


    Ning Ji looked awkward, nodding repeatedly, "Alright, alright. I¡¯ll follow your arrangements, cousin!"Early that morning, his father, Ning Ze, had called him into the study and solemnly instructed him to devote himself entirely to Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Ji didn¡¯t dare defy his father¡¯s orders, so during breakfast, he "voluntarily" requested to follow Ning Zhuo, even saying he didn¡¯t want to return to the Talisman Hall.


    Ning Zhuo didn¡¯t directly ept his request, instead suggesting that Ning Ji continue to stay in the Talisman Hall.


    He didn¡¯t fully reject Ning Ji either, but advised him to join in their exchange and discussion on spellcasting insights.


    Ning Zhuo''s response didn¡¯tpletely satisfy Ning Ze, but it also didn¡¯t leave him entirely disappointed.


    Ning Ji merged into the group, greeting others casually.


    He was already Ning Zhuo¡¯s ssmate, so these fellow students in the revised team were all familiar faces.


    Ning Ji had originally intended to sit in the spot closest to Ning Zhuo when Ning Chen suddenly spoke up, "That¡¯s my spot, what are you trying to take?"


    Ning Ji eximed, "Isn¡¯t it just sitting anywhere?"


    Ning Chen sneered, "Seats have rules too. At the very least, you should understand the concept of firste, first served. You arrived thetest, so you should sit at the back."


    Ning Ji chuckled, "Ning Chen, you¡¯re so arrogant. Don¡¯t forget, this courtyard belongs to my family. I¡¯m the host, and you¡¯re the guest. How could a guest bully the host?"


    Ning Chenughed heartily, pointing at Ning Ji, "Do you really think we care about your shabby courtyard? We¡¯re only here because Brother Zhuo is staying here. Believe it or not, wherever Brother Zhuo moves to, we¡¯ll follow him there."


    Ning Ji, unable to out-argue Ning Chen, turned to Ning Zhuo, "Cousin, look at this¡­"


    Ning Zhuo smiled faintly, "Today, we¡¯re discussing spells, sparring and learning from each other, just like in school."


    "In school, we don¡¯t care about being cousins; we are all ssmates."


    "Ning Ji, sit in the back, it won¡¯t affect your learning."


    Ning Ji¡¯s face immediately showed embarrassment and a trace of resentment as he gritted his teeth, "Since my father told me to follow you, I¡¯ll listen to you."


    Ning Ji sat at the farthest, most remote spot in the group.


    Closest to Ning Zhuo remained Ning Chen and Ning Yong.


    Everyone who saw this scene had their own thoughts.


    "The day before yesterday, we discussed the Ice-Embracing Technique. Today, I want to talk about thebination of the Ice-Embracing Technique and the One Breath technique."


    "If there¡¯s anything I¡¯ve missed or any mistakes, please feel free to correct me."


    Ning Zhuo began his exnation.


    Everyone else listened intently and attentively.


    Initially, many of them didn¡¯t take Ning Zhuo seriously, thinking he just had good luck and happened to find a techniquepatible with himself in the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    But after Ning Zhuo actively shared his insights on spellcasting, their opinions changed, realizing that Ning Zhuo was indeed a talented individual with an extraordinary understanding of spells.


    Though Ning Zhuo humbly referred to it as an exchange and sparring, Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and the others knew that Ning Zhuo was actually imparting valuable spellcasting experiences to them!


    Ning Zhuo, who had received early wisdom, benefited from his mother¡¯s will and Sun Lingtong¡¯s education. He had always hidden his abilities in school.


    Later, through the rewards from the Lava Immortal Pce¡¯s leaderboard, his spellcasting experience had soared. Teaching these ssmates was overkill for someone like him, and it was more than sufficient.


    Among the group, the one paying the least attention was undoubtedly Ning Ji.


    Ning Ji felt indignant, thinking that his first time following Ning Zhuo, he had been treated unfairly.


    "I¡¯m your cousin, and you actually help outsiders instead of me!"


    "What¡¯s all this about?"


    "I haven¡¯t even learned the Ice-Embracing Technique or the One Breath technique!"


    Ning Zhuo sensed Ning Ji¡¯s resentment but didn¡¯t point it out, allowing Ning Ji to stew in his own emotions.


    It wasn¡¯t until a family envoy arrived that Ning Zhuo interrupted the discussion.


    The envoy said, "Ning Zhuo, the former young n leader Ning Xiaoren has been imprisoned, and I¡¯vee to bring you your deserved rewards."


    "One Tornado Windmill magical item, one bottle of Three-Orifices Exquisite Heart Pills, three bottles of Qi Condensation Pills, one bottle of Marrow Cleansing Pills, and one bottle of Detoxification Pills."


    After the envoy read out the items, he handed Ning Zhuo a storage bag in front of everyone.


    "Check it, and let¡¯splete the handover quickly."


    Ning Zhuo opened the storage bag and nced through it, confirming the items before nodding slightly. He then asked, "There¡¯s no Insight Diagram or Ice Jade Wine. May I ask why?"


    "Yeah, Brother Zhuo broke through to the eighth level. At that time, he was still in the revised team, and ording to the rules, he should¡¯ve earned the chance to study the Insight Diagram and the Ice Jade Wine!" Ning Yong was the first to speak.


    The other ssmates chimed in, speaking up in support.


    The envoy¡¯s face changed slightly as he quickly waved his hand, "Everyone, please calm down. I¡¯m only the first wave."


    "Since yesterday, the family elders have been discussing giving Brother Ning Zhuo additionalpensation."


    "This reward is only part of it, the portion that could be gathered first and sent immediately by me."


    "There will be other envoys after me."


    Hearing this, the group¡¯s expressions finally rxed.


    "I see, it was my misunderstanding," Ning Zhuo smiled, inviting the envoy inside to rest.


    The envoy declined to stay and left the courtyard afterpleting the handover.


    Ning Zhuo fastened the storage bag to his waist and continued teaching spellcasting experiences and techniques.


    About half an hourter, the second envoy arrived.


    "A Five Elements Ruler magical item, a Quiet Heart Bell magical item, one bottle of Awakening Pills, a stack of Qi-Boosting Talismans, and six Harmony Talismans," the envoy announced in a loud voice.


    Ning Zhuopleted the handover and confirmed that the storage bag¡¯s contents were urate.


    A thought crossed his mind, and he realized something.


    The envoy, noticing that Ning Zhuo didn¡¯t ask any questions, took the initiative to exin, "Brother Ning Zhuo, are you getting impatient? The Ice Jade Wine will be delivered, but such wine must be preserved in an Ice Heart Jade sk to maintain its quality."


    "And the Ice Heart Jade sk is a valuable family treasure, always in the possession of the n¡¯s Golden Core ancestor."


    "Thus, to obtain a portion of the wine, it¡¯s necessary to meet with the ancestor, who will personally bestow it, and then the n leader will pass it down."


    Ning Zhuo smiled, "I¡¯m not in a rush. Envoy, you must be tired. Why not rest inside for a while?"


    The envoy waved his hand, "No, no, I still have things to do."


    Ning Zhuo replied, "It must be tiring for the envoy to make so many trips. How about notifying me when everything has been prepared, and I¡¯lle collect it myself? It would be much more convenient to retrieve everything at once."


    The second envoy shook his head slightly, "I only follow orders."


    Ning Zhuo didn¡¯t let it go easily, "Please convey my suggestion to the family."


    "Alright." The second envoy also left.


    Ning Zhuo walked back from the courtyard gate, hearing his ssmates excitedly chatting.


    "I didn¡¯t expect the family elders to be so generous this time!"


    "These are all great things, even Ning Xiaohui never received such treatment before."


    "This is all thanks to Brother Zhuo teaching the elders a serious lesson, making them realize what they should do!"


    "Hahaha, that¡¯s right! Even the young n leader was brought down by Brother Zhuo. Now, who in the upper ranks would dare to mistreat Brother Zhuo? Aren¡¯t they afraid of being brought down by him too?"


    Ning Yong grumbled, "Why is


    delivering rewards so troublesome? Back and forth, why can¡¯t they deliver everything at once?"


    Ning Chen, standing nearby, narrowed his eyes, "Maybe someone in the family¡¯s upper ranks wants to make a point with these repeated trips, showing everyone that they¡¯re no longer mistreating Brother Zhuo."


    Ever since Ning Yong had started calling Ning Zhuo "Brother Zhuo," the nickname had gradually spread.


    Especially after yesterday¡¯s incident, all the ssmates had changed how they addressed him, calling him "Brother Zhuo," with no one daring to refer to him by name anymore.


    On the third visit, the envoy finally brought the Ice Jade Wine.


    "Two ounces of Ice Jade Wine, one Mysterious Ice Waist Token, two Insight Diagrams of Ling Shuang and Proud Snow, three stacks of Ice Light Strong Pulse Talismans, one bottle of White Snow Early Spring Pills, and ten top-grade spirit stones!"


    After announcing the items, the envoy reminded Ning Zhuo that Ice Jade Wine couldn¡¯t be stored for long and needed to be consumed soon. The Ling Shuang and Proud Snow diagrams were masterpieces drawn by renowned artists and contained profound insights but were not Ning Zhuo¡¯s personal items, only loaned to him. After the time limit passed, Ning Zhuo would need to return them to the family vault.


    The envoy was about to leave, but Ning Zhuo stopped him, frowning, "This reward is excessive, far beyond what I should receive. I can¡¯t ept undeserved rewards. I¡¯ll only take the part I deserve, and the rest should go back to the family vault."


    The envoy was prepared and quickly responded, "This isn¡¯t just a reward; it¡¯s alsopensation from the elders."


    "Since Ning Xiaoren, as the young n leader, was unqualified, Brother Ning Zhuo, your contributions in exploring the Immortal Pce are significant. These are meant to reassure you."


    "That¡¯s the intention from above."


    "Once these things are given to you, they are yours. How you use them is up to you."


    "Farewell."


    The envoy left.


    Ning Ji could no longer hold back and called out, "Cousin, with so many cultivation resources, how can you possibly use them all by yourself?"


    "Look, I even helped in the ancestral hall yesterday."


    "Why don¡¯t you lend me a look at those two Insight Diagrams or let me borrow the Tornado Windmill? If not, the Quiet Heart Bell would be fine too."


    Ning Zhuo quickly nced at the others, noticing that many of them were somewhat tempted.


    The family elders had indeed given too much, and these ssmates were all sixteen or seventeen years old, most of them had never seen such generosity before.


    Ning Ji had voiced what many were secretly thinking.


    "You see, yesterday we worked hard together, creating an uproar that shook the entire family, bringing Ning Xiaoren down and allowing you, Ning Zhuo, to receive such abundant rewards."


    "The other pills are consumables. Once used, they¡¯re gone, so we wouldn¡¯t feel right asking for those."


    "But these magical tools are excellent for assisting in cultivation. Given our rtionship, surely you can lend them to me, right?"


    Under the eager gazes of the others, the faint smile on Ning Zhuo¡¯s face vanished.


    He shook his head coldly and expressionlessly, "Cultivation tools are personal items, not to be lent out. Don¡¯t mention this again!"


    "Alright, the family rewards have finally been distributed."


    "Let¡¯s continue."


    Ning Zhuo returned to his seat and resumed his lecture, imparting spellcasting techniques and insights.


    "So stingy, too stingy!" Ning Ji, having been rejected so directly and harshly, felt his jealousy quickly turn into resentment due to the excessive rewards.


    Some of the ssmates also seemed distracted.


    But most of them quickly adjusted their attitudes, focused their minds, and listened carefully.


    Ning Zhuo, without showing any emotion, silently took note of his ssmates'' various reactions.

 Chapter 164: Ning Family’s Battle Hall.

    A branch member, Ning Xiangqian, had a face full of anger: "Two elders, I do not ept this!"


    "Revoking my position as a battle hall steward without reason, this is against the family rules!"


    The two elders smiled faintly, and one of them said, "Ning Xiangqian, calm down. How could the family arbitrarily strip you of your steward position?"


    "ording to the family rules, the steward of the battle hall should be selected based onbat strength. To ensure the best personnel, the steward positions have always been limited, adopting an elimination policy. Neers wanting to serve must challenge their predecessors and take the position with realbat power."


    Ning Xiangqian nodded, "Of course, I know this."


    "But no one has challenged me."


    "I haven''t even had a single duel, yet my position was taken away. It seems the main branch holds a grudge against me for helping Ning Zhuo yesterday."


    The elder smiled faintly, "Ning Xiangqian, you misunderstand us. We are actually looking out for you, worried that you would be injured in battle. Recovering from injuries would dy things too much."


    Ning Xiangqianughed coldly, "I haven''t even fought, and you''ve already decided I''d lose. This is simply unreasonable. Who exactly has their eye on my steward position?""I must fight them; I won''t rest until I do."


    "Otherwise, I absolutely won''t give it up, and I''ll make sure to raise this matter in the ancestral hall!"


    At the mention of the ancestral hall, the two elders'' faces turned grim.


    One of them snorted coldly, "For such a trivial matter, you want to stir trouble in the ancestral hall? As a descendant, you''re not considering the peace of our ancestors¡ªthis is truly unfilial!"


    "Ning Xiangqian, you''re judging us with the heart of a petty person. Very well then, let me tell you who your opponent is."


    Saying this, the elder signaled a subordinate with his eyes.


    The subordinate retreated and quickly returned with a person.


    This person had a slender figure, handsome features, flowing white hair, and a pair of white eyebrows, appearing as a young man.


    But upon seeing this person, Ning Xiangqian¡¯s expression changed dramatically, and he eximed, "Ning Qingqiao?"


    Ning Qingqiao raised his eyebrows and sneered at Ning Xiangqian, "You should be grateful to the two elders; all of this is for your own good. Obediently step down and save everyone some time."


    Ning Xiangqian clenched his fists, his face full of anger.


    Ning Qingqiao was a Foundation Establishment cultivator with the rare talent of Silent Frost. If Ning Xiaohui was the only banner bearer among the Ning Family''s Qi Refining cultivators, then Ning Qingqiao was one of the geniuses among the Ning Family''s Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Ning Xiangqian gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, alright, alright, the main branch sends a genius to pressure me and take away my steward position. Truly a big move!"


    Ning Qingqiao sneered, "Naive! You supported Ning Zhuo yesterday and shouted the loudest, so you should have been prepared for this. Did you think this was a joke?"


    "Hurry up, get lost!"


    Ning Xiangqianughed aloud, his rage making him irrational, "Get lost? Impossible!"


    "Come on, let''s fight."


    "I want to see what qualifications you, a long-famous genius, have to be so arrogant!"


    The battle lost all suspense from the start.


    Ning Qingqiao held an absolute advantage,pletely suppressing Ning Xiangqian throughout the fight.


    "Don''t kill him," one of the elders said as he watched, unable to resist speaking up when he saw Ning Xiangqian, covered in blood.


    "Tsk, boring." Ning Qingqiao stopped just in time, knocking Ning Xiangqian to the ground.


    Ning Qingqiao walked over to Ning Xiangqian, stepping on his head: "How does it feel now?"


    "This was really for your own good, but too bad you couldn''t appreciate it. You refused a toast and insisted on drinking punishment wine."


    "Spit!" Ning Xiangqian struggled in vain, spitting a mouthful of blood at Ning Qingqiao.


    A cold light shed in Ning Qingqiao¡¯s eyes as he slightly increased the pressure with his foot, knocking Ning Xiangqian unconscious.


    "Take this trash from the branch family away!"


    Almost at the same time, in the Talisman Hall.


    An elder pointed at some inferior talismans and said to Ning Xiangguo, "These are under your responsibility. You''d better have a perfect exnation, or else¡­"


    Ning Xiangguo smiled faintly, "An exnation? I don''t need to exin."


    He took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to the elder, "I resign from my position as steward of the Talisman Hall."


    The elder was stunned, then his expression softened as he sighed deeply, "Xiangguo, who told you to be from the branch family? And yesterday, you even spoke out to help Ning Zhuo."


    "Sigh, I pity you. That Ning Zhuo received an extremely generous reward, but what about you? You lost the steward position you''ve fought for nearly ten years to obtain."


    Ning Xiangguo shook his head, "If I had to do it all over again, even knowing this would be the result, I would still make the same choice."


    "Farewell."


    With that, he turned and left without hesitation.


    Watching Ning Xiangguo''s departing figure, the elder¡¯s expression turned sour.


    Ning Xiangqian, Ning Xiangguo¡­ It wasn¡¯t just the two of them. Many stewards from the branch family had been approached by the main branch and dismissed for various reasons.


    The news spread throughout the entire family.


    The branch family members, who had been excited about yesterday''s victory at the ancestral hall, were like those hit with a heavy blow, their recently raised morale scattered.


    With morale dissipated, people began to say all sorts of things.


    "I told you not to go, but you wouldn''t listen. Now look, you''ve lost your steward position."


    "The main branch is going too far! All the stewards dismissed and driven out today are from our branch family. This is clearly revenge for yesterday''s events."


    "The problem is that they acted ording to the family rules, with solid reasoning. We can''t refute them."


    "Just like Old Master Ning Houjun often says, our branch familycks a family elder. If we had just one elder, things like this wouldn¡¯t happen!"


    If dismissed stewards could rely on a branch family elder, they wouldn''t be returned to their original state as ordinary family members like they were now.


    Some of the branch family members who had lost their steward positions wanted to seek help from Ning Youfu and Ning Houjun.


    Ning Youfu closed his doors to visitors, but Ning Houjun received them.


    Ning Houjun said, "Even the Young Patriarch was pulled down from his position, so the main branch¡¯s retaliation was not entirely unexpected."


    "Can we gather a crowd and go to the ancestral hall like Ning Zhuo?" someone asked.


    Ning Houjun snorted coldly, "Do you think the ancestral hall is a joke? Do you want to be thrown into the dungeon? The main branch brats are just waiting for you to cause trouble."


    Someone asked, "Then why could Ning Zhuo do it and seed?"


    "He had solid evidence, with witnesses and physical proof. Even the main branch couldn''t refute it. Do you have any?" Ning Houjun red, "You have nothing!"


    He pointed at the seeking branch family members, "The main branch dismissed you all with proper reasons."


    "Who told you to be so careless in your duties? Now, you¡¯ve been caught, lost your steward positions, and still have the nerve toe to me!"


    The branch family members looked at each other in dismay.


    Someoneined, "Old Master, you don¡¯t understand. Our branch family¡¯s days are hard enough, and we still need to cultivate. It¡¯s difficult. We have entire families to support. If we don''t abuse our power for personal gain, how could we have enough resources?"


    "The main branch, even the idle members, can lie around all year without evercking cultivation resources."


    Ning Houjun sighed, "That''s why I stepped forward to personally help Ning Zhuo."


    "He has talent. If he grows, he will definitely be a family elder."


    "Only when our branch family has an elder can we have some power to resist the main branch."


    Someone scoffed, "Old Master, that¡¯s exactly how you persuaded me to get involved in the ancestral hall matter yesterday. But now, I think we helped the wrong person."


    Ning Houjun asked, "What do you mean by that?"


    Another person said, "That Ning Zhuo received extremely generous rewards, far exceeding the previous standard. However, he is extremely stingy. Even his cousins were directly refused when they asked to borrow from him."


    "This kind of person is easy to share hardships with but difficult to share wealth with. Is it really right for us to pin our hopes on him?"


    Ning Houjun snorted coldly, "If not on him, then


    on whom? On you?"


    "Do you have talent?"


    The crowd was silent.


    One family member stood up to exin for Ning Zhuo, "He¡¯s only sixteen, after all. He¡¯s young. Expecting him to have your kind of understanding isn''t very realistic."


    Ning Houjun, hearing these words, furrowed his brows.


    He recalled yesterday¡¯s banquet. Ning Zhuo''s performance had left a deep impression on him, and on the way home, he had felt delighted, thinking that Ning Zhuo was both talented and mature, a blessing to the branch family.


    But today, Ning Zhuo¡¯s behavior deeply disappointed him: "So stingy, how can he win over people''s hearts and aplish anything?"


    Ning Houjun felt uneasy. After thinking it over, he decided to give Ning Zhuo some advice.


    "Someone,e here." He called for a servant, "Go and take a message to Ning Zhuo. I would like to have two taels of his Ice Jade Wine as a token of thanks for yesterday¡¯s help. Go quickly and return."


    Hearing Ning Houjun¡¯s instructions, the branch family members all stayed to see what Ning Zhuo¡¯s reaction would be.


    Ning Zhuo was currently inspecting the family¡¯s rewards.


    The generosity of this reward surprised him slightly.


    "The Tornado Windmill must be ced near the middle dantian. Once activated, it can create waves in the sea of qi and produce a mana tornado, increasing the speed of mana refinement and slightly purifying mana."


    "The Five Elements Ruler, when held in hand, can quickly divide spiritual power and mana into the five elements. It¡¯s primarily for crafting, but since I''m cultivating the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art, using it to separate the five elements of mana would greatly facilitate practice."


    "The Meditation Bell, each time it rings, can quickly bring one into a meditative state. Repeated ringing allows cultivators to deepen their meditation."


    "The Profound Ice Waist Token is an identity token, but wearing it constantly gathers spiritual energy, helping Ning family members refine their mana."


    Ning Zhuo carefully inspected these four magical artifacts and found no issues.


    To be safe, he nned to take these four items to Sun Lingtong for a second check. Sun Lingtong, with his Spirit Eyes, was a disciple of a major sect and had once managed the ck market, giving him a broad perspective.


    Not just the artifacts, but the pills and talismans also needed to be checked.


    Since Ning Zhuo had taken down Ning Xiaoren, his conflict with the main branch was irreconcble. He couldn''t afford to be careless with anything the main branch gave him.


    At this moment, Ning Houjun''s servant arrived with Ning Houjun''s request.


    After hearing it, Ning Zhuo sighed softly, "The old man is reminding me to spread wealth and gather support. The main branch''s differential treatment is meant to undermine my reputation."


    "Please convey my greetings to Old Master Ning Houjun and express my thanks."


    "I understand that the old man wants me to use the Ice Jade Wine to show everyone that they didn¡¯t help the wrong person, that I''m not stingy."


    "But I have my own ns."


    "The Ice Jade Wine won¡¯t be given, but please take this letter back to the old man."


    The servant returned with the letter.


    Ning Houjun opened it with a frown.


    After reading it, his brow rxed, and heughed heartily, "Ning Zhuo, Ning Zhuo, rough on the outside but sharp on the inside! I worried for nothing. All of you, take a look at this letter."


    The former stewards quickly passed the letter around. Some smiled while others remained doubtful, "Will this¡­ really work?"

 Chapter 165: Huoshi Immortal City.

    Monkey Head Gang''s headquarters.


    Ning Xiangqian, Ning Xiangguo, and other former stewards of the Ning family walked with their heads held high, striding directly towards the gates of the Monkey Head Gang.


    "Stop! Halt, whoever you are!" The usually arrogant guards of the gang were suddenly pale with fear as they saw this intimidating group approaching, shouting in panic.


    Ning Xiangqian and Ning Xiangguo had both reached the Foundation Establishment stage in cultivation, qualifying them to be stewards of the Ning family.


    After the main line of the Ning family dismissed several stewards from various branches, nearly twenty were removed.


    Ning Zhuo, leveraging Ning Houjun''s reputation, rallied more than ten people to his side.


    This group of Foundation Establishment cultivators doubled the entirebat power of the Monkey Head Gang''s upper ranks!


    The gang members were already intimidated just by seeing these Foundation Establishment cultivators. When they noticed the Ning family waist tokens hanging from their belts, their hearts sank.


    "That''s the Ning family, one of the three great families! Why have theye to cause trouble for us?""Not good, not good! Chief! Chief!" Some gang members frantically shouted as they rushed toward the back of the headquarters.


    The newly appointed chief of the Monkey Head Gang had not been in position for long, but with his seasoned tactics and stable rtionships, his grip on the leadership was far more secure than that of Yuan Er.


    Hearing the urgent report from his gang members, his brows furrowed deeply, sensing trouble ahead. "This doesn''t look good. They havee with ill intentions!"


    After a moment of thought, he stood up and said, "Invite¡­ Invite the heroes of the Ning family inside¡­"


    Boom!


    In the next moment, the gates to the chief''s courtyard were shattered.


    The guards at the entrance were sent flying, crashing into the debris of bricks and broken gates, groaning in pain as they fell to the ground.


    Amidst the dust and debris, the Ning family group boldly entered the courtyard, exuding arrogance.


    Even more ostentatious was arge, magnificently designed mechanical carriage that crushed the broken debris along the way and stopped slowly in front of the Monkey Head Gang''s chief.


    Ning Xiangguo opened the carriage door from the outside, while several Foundation Establishment cultivators lined up behind him.


    As Ning Zhuo stepped out of the carriage, each Foundation Establishment cultivator lowered their heads in a show of respect.


    The new chief of the Monkey Head Gang narrowed his eyes. He had assumed the person in the carriage would be at least an elder from the Ning family, but it turned out to be a young cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining.


    However, despite this, the chief did not dare to underestimate him and quickly forced a smile as he stepped forward.


    "Stop!" Ning Xiangqian blocked his path coldly before he could approach.


    The Monkey Head Gang chief didn''t dare to force his way through, so he stood still and cupped his hands, calling out loudly, "So it is Young Master Ning Zhuo who has graced us with his presence! My apologies for not weing you properly earlier, please forgive me!"


    Ning Zhuo nced at him, then sneered coldly, "It''s good you''re here. Let''s go inside. I''m here to settle a score with you!"


    The Monkey Head Gang chief was shocked, his face pale. "What¡­ What are you talking about? There must be some kind of misunderstanding!"


    Ning Zhuo had no patience to engage in conversation with him. With a wave of his hand, the Foundation Establishment cultivators beside him moved forward in a line, quickly forming a small encirclement.


    A murderous aura filled the air, cold and oppressive.


    The Monkey Head Gang chief felt like he had fallen into an icy pit, panic written all over his face. "Misunderstanding! This must be a misunderstanding! Someone, help! Someone!!"


    Themotion caused by Ning Zhuo''s arrival had stirred up the entire Monkey Head Gang, and several Foundation Establishment elders of the gang rushed over.


    However, none of them dared to intervene, choosing instead to watch cautiously from the sidelines.


    It was simply too terrifying!


    Ning Zhuo had brought nearly twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators with him, a force powerful enough to sweep through the entire Monkey Head Gang.


    More importantly, they were from the Ning family!


    One of the three great families, possessing Golden Core level power. Compared to them, the Monkey Head Gang was like an egg before a boulder.


    Ning Zhuo scanned the gathered gang members with a sharp gaze and shouted, "Yuan Er was my friend. Although we didn¡¯t meet often, our bond ran deep."


    "After your gang''s Yuan Dasheng passed away, Yuan Er entrusted his body to me. I put all my efforts into crafting the Mechanical Ape¡ªShu Wu Dou Yuan. You are all aware of this."


    "However, despite having Shu Wu Dou Yuan, my friend still ended up dead, right here in your headquarters."


    "Now, someone from within your ranks has informed me. I suspect this was not just a simple act of revenge but a conspiracy!"


    At this, the gang members exchanged nces, their earlier anger and fear significantly lessened.


    Ning Zhuo''s reasoning was perfectly legitimate.


    Several gang elders had their eyes narrow, their morale deting. They knew the truth behind the situation: certain gang elders, dissatisfied with Yuan Er''s performance, had colluded with Bao Qiu to orchestrate an assassination.


    "But since when did Ning Zhuo and Yuan Er have such a close rtionship?"


    "Hard to say! Yuan Er did entrust Yuan Dasheng''s body to Ning Zhuo, and Ning Zhuo did send Shu Wu Dou Yuan to protect Yuan Er."


    "During that time, Ning Zhuo also dispatched two Ning family envoys to support Yuan Er."


    The elders secretlymunicated with each other, and after some discussion, they realized Ning Zhuo¡¯s ims were not baseless.


    The new Monkey Head Gang chief was filled with regret.


    Indeed, he was the mastermind behind the plot to assassinate Yuan Er.


    Originally, he had feared Ning Zhuo''s possible reaction, so after Yuan Er''s death, he didn¡¯t rush to seize power, instead waiting for a period of calm to gauge the situation.


    In the end, nothing happened. Ning Zhuo had little to no reaction.


    With the other gang elders growing impatient and the situation pressing, the new chief finally took the position and became the third-generation gang leader.


    He cherished the fruits of hisbor, correcting many of the gang¡¯s ws, increasing the gang members¡¯ pay, and sacrificing his own interests to win over other elders.


    From the day he took office, he worked tirelessly, sleeping only two hours a night, devoting himselfpletely to stabilizing the gang and shifting the atmosphere in a positive direction.


    Yet now, Ning Zhuo hade knocking!


    He couldn''t win.


    And he couldn''t afford to offend Ning Zhuo!


    The Monkey Head Gang chief wanted to surrender, but Ning Zhuo wouldn¡¯t allow it.


    Ning Zhuo dered openly that he was seeking revenge for his friend, leaving the chief feeling utterly aggrieved.


    "If this was going to happen, why didn¡¯t youe sooner, Ning Zhuo?"


    "Did you wait until I became the chief to start causing trouble?"


    "Even if that¡¯s the case, why didn¡¯t youe when I had just taken office?"


    "Why wait until I¡¯ve almost finished straightening everything out and only nowe to make a scene?"


    "What are you trying to do?"


    "I haven¡¯t even had a single day to enjoy myself!"


    Staring at Ning Zhuo, the Monkey Head Gang chief was furious but didn¡¯t dare to speak his mind.


    Ning Zhuo looked at the chief and sneered.


    Ning Xiangqian stepped forward and reported, "Young Master Zhuo, we checked the house, and there¡¯s nothing wrong."


    "Good," Ning Zhuo said as he looked at the chief. "Let''s go inside. You better be honest with me!"


    He then ordered, "Uncle Xiangqian, take some men inside with me. Uncle Xiangguo, take a group and stand guard outside. See if any other elders of the gang are willing to use their chief."


    "Let''s go!" Ning Xiangguo and four Foundation Establishment cultivators approached the gang chief, their tone and expressions cold.


    The Monkey Head Gang chief gritted his teeth, "I¡¯m innocent! I¡¯m innocent!"


    He frantically looked around, hoping that some of the gang elders woulde to his aid.


    But what he saw only deepened his despair.


    Feeling utterly hopeless, the Monkey Head Gang chief returned to the house, only to see Ning Zhuo seated in the main seat.


    "Kneel!" Ning Xiangguo kicked him.


    Already terrified, with his legs weakened, the chief copsed to his knees as his legs were struck, hitting the ground with a thud.


    The next moment, shame and anger surged through him, prompting him to stand. However, two Foundation Establishment cultivators pressed down on his shoulders, and white frost quickly spread, freezing his shoulders in ce.


    "Dare to resist?" Ning Zhuo sneered. "Then I¡¯ll send you to your death."


    The Monkey Head Gang chief was utterly terrified and didn¡¯t dare move.


    Seeing this, Ning Zhuo continued, "Yuan Er was my friend. He died, and


    you are the murderer!"


    The chief took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Young Master Ning Zhuo, you use me of being the murderer. What evidence do you have? If you show me the evidence, I will admit it."


    Ning Zhuo sneered, "I certainly have evidence. It¡¯s in your hands. Hand it over."


    The chief froze on the spot.


    "W-what do you mean?"


    His eyes widened as he looked at Ning Zhuo, "You want me to present evidence that would incriminate myself and get myself killed?"


    Ning Zhuo nodded, "Get yourself killed? Depends on how you behave."


    The Monkey Head Gang chief trembled with rage. He had never met someone so unreasonable and overbearing!


    No evidence, yet they came here with such righteous confidence!


    Was the Ning family still righteous?


    Bringing a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators straight to someone''s headquarters and forcing the leader to present evidence to incriminate themselves?


    Wasn''t this too outrageous?


    Too arrogant!!


    Was there now left?!


    Ning Zhuo seemed to understand what the gang chief was thinking. Narrowing his eyes, he sneered, "You seem to have misunderstood something."


    "I''m neither an official nor a detective."


    "When I handle things, I don¡¯t rely on evidence."


    "My friend was assassinated and left behind a legacy that you now possess. Based on that alone, you''re the murderer!"


    "Because you''re the one who gained the most."


    Ning Zhuoughed heartily and leaned back in his chair, pointing at the chief. "I never said I needed evidence. You¡¯re the one who brought that up."


    Cold sweat broke out on the chief¡¯s forehead.


    His face turned pale as paper. "Young Master Ning Zhuo, does that mean I''m doomed to die today?"


    "No, no, no, I¡¯ve just taken over as gang leader¡­ It''s only been a short time!"


    "I beg you, spare my life. Please, spare me!"


    "From now on, I will pay you tribute every year, offering a generous sum for protection!"


    "Whatever else you want, as long as I have it, you can take it."


    "Please, just don''t kill me."


    "I¡¯ve only been chief for such a short time!!"


    Ning Zhuo smiled, his tone softening. "Hmm, not bad."


    "You''re a smart man."


    "Sparing your life is possible."


    "But from now on, I want you to work for me. I want the entire Monkey Head Gang to work for me!"


    The gang chief¡¯s pupils shrank sharply as he hastily responded, "Understood, understood! From now on, I will follow only your orders!"


    "Hahaha!" Ning Zhuoughed wildly in satisfaction.


    Suddenly, he stoppedughing, fixing the chief with a sharp, hawk-like gaze. "In that case, hand over the evidence of Yuan Er''s murder."


    The chief froze again.


    His heart turned cold, and he fully understood¡ªhe had to surrender everything.


    Only after Ning Zhuo obtained the evidence would he trust him. In the future, if the chief ever betrayed him, Ning Zhuo could simply release the evidence, and the chief¡¯s position would be over.


    Stiff as a statue, the chief¡¯s face twisted in a struggle for several breaths before he finally took a deep breath and bowed to Ning Zhuo. "Yes, I will obey your orders!"

 Chapter 166: The Death of the Venomous Snake

    Late at night.


    "Kill, kill them!"


    "Charge forward!"


    "Take down a Qi Refining stage cultivator, and you''ll be rewarded with a magical weapon. Take down a Foundation Establishment stage, and you¡¯ll be an elder of the gang!"


    The monkeys let out sharp cries,unching a fierce attack under themand of the cultivators.


    The attacked faction was both furious and bewildered, unable to understand why the Monkey Head Gang was targeting them!


    "Don¡¯t be afraid!"


    "We have a defensive formation protecting us. If the Monkey Head Gang dares to attack, they will have to pay a heavy price."


    "No matter what madness has possessed them, with such argemotion, the City Guard will definitelye!"The elders and leaders of the faction were doing their best to stabilize morale.


    On the highest floor of a certain tavern, Ning Zhuo used talismans to enhance his vision, observing the attack and defense battle with rity.


    The leader of the Monkey Head Gang looked extremely troubled. Standing next to Ning Zhuo, he whispered, "Master, if this continues, the losses for the Monkey Head Gang will be too great!"


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s face remained expressionless.


    The battle continued for a while.


    Even Ning Xiangqian couldn''t bear it anymore, asking, "Young Master Zhuo, should we charge into the formation?"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly, "There¡¯s no need for that."


    The leader of the Monkey Head Gang felt as though he was standing in the dead of winter, his heart and body ice-cold.


    Ning Zhuo showed no mercy for the Monkey Head Gang, using human and monkey lives to wear down the enemy''s defensive formation. It was exceedingly cruel, like a cold-blooded general on the battlefield.


    But he had no choice.


    After surrendering, not only did he sign a strict and harsh contract, but he also handed over the evidence of his plot to kill Yuan Er to Ning Zhuo.


    He had no other path but to obey Ning Zhuo.


    The enemy faction hurled insults from within the defensive formation.


    "They''ve gone mad! The Monkey Head Gang has gone insane!"


    "When did we ever provoke them?"


    "Where is the City Guard? Are they blind?!"


    The enemy was shaken by the Monkey Head Gang''s ferocious assault. They were weaker than the Monkey Head Gang. If it weren¡¯t for the strong defensive formation, they would have copsed long ago. ??


    "Master, should we continue the attack?"


    "If this goes on, all of our oldrades will be dead!"


    The elders of the Monkey Head Gang approached their leader,ining bitterly.


    They had certainly considered fleeing orunching a counterattack against Ning Zhuo, but with nearly twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators standing beside him, the moment that thought arose, they swiftly crushed it themselves.


    Attacking the enemy gang still held a chance of survival, but striking at Ning Zhuo and his group would undoubtedly lead to a more miserable fate!


    "It¡¯s about time. Pull the frontline back and rece them with the reserve troops," Ning Zhuomanded.


    "Yes, Master," the leader of the Monkey Head Gang responded.


    "Wait, use this talisman," Ning Zhuo handed over a talisman.


    The leader of the Monkey Head Gang took it, overjoyed, "It''s a Formation-Breaking Talisman!"


    Not long after.


    With the power of the Formation-Breaking Talisman, the defensive formation copsed, the enemy gang¡¯s morale broke, and many either died or surrendered.


    "What should we do with these captives?" The leader of the Monkey Head Gang sought Ning Zhuo''s instructions.


    Ning Zhuo smiled faintly, "This faction hasmitted countless evil deeds. Is there even one among them who isn¡¯t guilty of heinous crimes? Hmph, they all deserve to die! Kill them all."


    His light words sent chills through everyone present. Even the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Ning family felt a cold shiver run through them.


    Ning Zhuo was only sixteen years old and had previously spent his life in the academy.


    What he had shown the public was his talent, his diligence, his clever strategies, and his resistance against the main branch.


    But tonight¡¯s battle revealed the coldness and ruthlessness buried deep within Ning Zhuo.


    Not long after, the leader of the Monkey Head Gang reported that everything had gone ording to Ning Zhuo¡¯s orders. None of the enemy faction survived.


    Ning Zhuo pped his hands and sighed, "Eradicating evil and promoting righteousness truly is one of life¡¯s greatest pleasures! It¡¯s a pity there¡¯s no wine, or else we could drink heartily."


    Ning Xiangguo smiled slightly and pulled out a fine wine from his storage belt, "I have wine with me."


    Ning Xiangguo poured a cup for Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo praised it but didn¡¯t drink. Instead, he handed the cup to the leader of the Monkey Head Gang, "I¡¯ll give this to you. Drink."


    The leader of the Monkey Head Gang hurriedly thanked him and obediently drank the cup in one gulp.


    "I must congratte you, leader," Ning Zhuo said to him, "From now on, the Monkey Head Gang will rece this faction and make a strong entrance into the ck market."


    The leader of the Monkey Head Gang swallowed hard, his heart filled with a mixture of anger and hatred.


    His gang had only just found a legitimate business by harvesting Fire Crystal Persimmons. After years of hard work cleaning up their image, this battle hadpletely ruined everything, dragging them back into being a ck-market gang!


    Ning Zhuo took out a storage bag from his waist and tossed it to the leader of the Monkey Head Gang, "Today¡¯s battle has shown me the loyalty of the Monkey Head Gang. This is your reward."


    The leader of the Monkey Head Gang thanked him again, opened the bag, and upon sensing its contents with his spiritual sense, his expression changed, "Mechanical Explosive Monkeys?!"


    "That¡¯s right," Ning Zhuo nodded, "You¡¯ve lost too many monkey pets today. These Mechanical Explosive Monkeys will serve aspensation. In the future, work well for me and for the Ning family, and I won¡¯t treat you poorly."


    "Thank you, Master!!" The leader of the Monkey Head Gang knelt in gratitude, so enraged that he could almost grind his teeth to dust.


    Ning Zhuo had gone too far, forcing them relentlessly!


    He clearly had the Formation-Breaking Talisman from the start, yet he waited until the Monkey Head Gang had suffered heavy losses before using it.


    He did it on purpose, to ensure that the Monkey Head Gang lost nearly all of their monkey pets, only to rece them with Mechanical Explosive Monkeys.


    The leader of the Monkey Head Gang immediately saw through Ning Zhuo¡¯s intention: "He wants to use the Mechanical Explosive Monkeys to further tighten his control over the Monkey Head Gang!"


    The leader of the Monkey Head Gang was filled with despair.


    With the contract, the incriminating evidence, and the Mechanical Explosive Monkeys, Ning Zhuo¡¯s threefold control left him and the Monkey Head Gang with little hope for freedom.


    Almost none!


    He nced at Ning Zhuo. Although thetter was only at the thirdyer of Qi Refining, the leader could feel Ning Zhuo¡¯s overwhelming dominance.


    Many times, cultivation level wasn¡¯t everything.


    The people from the Ning family shared a simr sentiment.


    Ning Zhuo''s firm and ruthless methods had erased thest trace of underestimation from their hearts.


    Ning Zhuo then instructed the leader of the Monkey Head Gang, "You go surround the base of the Crane Beak Gang. Bring the heads of our enemies and directly tell the Crane Beak Gang that the ck market has been taken over by me, Ning Zhuo."


    "If they don¡¯t surrender, they will meet the same fate as these heads!"


    "Yes." The leader of the Monkey Head Gang epted the order and left.


    Ning Xiangguo¡¯s face showed concern, "Young Master Zhuo, you said you want to take over the ck market and asked us to support you."


    "We can n this carefully. For now, we can move as youmand, there¡¯s no need to rush."


    "Tonight, we¡¯ve already wiped out one gang, and the Monkey Head Gang is already exhausted. If they go to war with a second fully intact gang, this¡­"


    "Our control over the current leader of the Monkey Head Gang is solid. This control cannot be easily replicated with the leaders of other gangs."


    "Such a force should help us secure the ck market in the future. After the battle just now, the Monkey Head Gang has already suffered considerable losses. Letting them continue to bleed won¡¯t be beneficial for therger picture."


    Ning Zhuo smiled slightly, "Uncle Xiangguo, there¡¯s no need to call me ¡®Young Master¡¯ when there are no outsiders around."


    "We alle from the same background. We are all from the branch family, after all."


    "As for the Crane Beak Gang, I believe there¡¯s a high probability that they will surrender."


    "I know quite a bit about the ck market, and I also have some ns and strategies in ce."


    "Uncle Xiangguo, you¡¯ll just have to wait and see."


    Seeing that they couldn¡¯t persuade Ning Zhuo, and noticing his confidence, Ning Xiangguo and the others stopped trying to dissuade him.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s eyes turned deep as he recalled the conversation he had with Sun Lingtong before the operation.


    "Big Brother Sun, this time I¡¯m going to step forward and take back the ck market for us!" Ning Zhuo informed Sun Lingtong of the current situation.


    Sun Lingtong pped his hands excitedly, "Haha, brilliant! The two of us worked so hard to take over the ck market, and now that I¡¯m wanted, you stepping in is the best move."


    "However, you are a member of the Ning family, one of the three major families. By openly taking over the ck market, wouldn¡¯t you be breaking the tacit agreement in the Lava Immortal City?"


    Ning Zhuo smiled faintly, "I¡¯ve thought it through, that¡¯s not something to worry about."


    "First, I will try not to act personally. In the early stages, I¡¯ll use the Monkey Head Gang. The Monkey Head Gang has already cleaned up their reputation, so I¡¯ll use the pretext of avenging Yuan Er to openly cause trouble for them, forcing them toply."


    "Myself and the Foundation Establishment members of the Ning family will try not to make any moves, leaving the Monkey Head Gang to attack fiercely."


    "Second, my rtionships with the Zhou family, the Zheng family, and Fei Si of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion are not bad. If it were another member of the Ning family, they would definitely step in to stop it. But as for me taking over the ck market, they will only be happy to see it."


    "That¡¯s because they all want to see internal conflict between the main and branch families of the Ning family. Even though I¡¯ve greatly offended the main family, these people will support me!"


    "Right now, the main family has set me up, forcing me to dismiss arge number of branch family deacons while giving mevish rewards. They want to force me to share my cultivation resources and weaken my reputation."


    "I have no choice but to seek another way out. I am still young, and even if I break some of the city¡¯s tacit rules by extending my hand into the ck market, it won¡¯t be a big deal. The other three forces will surely ¡®understand''!"


    Sun Lingtong thought for a moment and nodded, acknowledging Ning Zhuo¡¯s analysis, "Little Brother, you see things very clearly. This is indeed a rare opportunity for you to take over the ck market as a member of the Ning family."


    "Then let¡¯s go big!"


    Sun Lingtong continued his analysis, "If we want to take over the ck market quickly, the main obstacles are the three gangs and three loose cultivators."


    "The three gangs are the Viper Gang, Turtle Breath Gang, and Crane Beak Gang. The three loose cultivators are Feng Hei Zi, the One-Armed Craftsman, and Bu Gan Bu Jing."


    "That¡¯s right." Ning Zhuo nodded.


    As the young puppet master, he had spent years assisting Sun Lingtong in consolidating the ck market. He was very familiar with the forces and figures in the ck market.


    Ning Zhuo said, "The Viper Gang has been the most aggressive, especially after you were wanted. They made bold moves to take over our base of operations."


    "Hmph!"


    "This time, I will have the Monkey Head Gangunch a strong attack on the Viper Gang, killing one to warn the others and establishing dominance!"


    "Then, with the deacons of the Ning family and the Monkey Head Gang, we will force the Crane Beak Gang into submission."


    Sun Lingtong agreed, "That¡¯s feasible! The leaders and elders of the Crane Beak Gang are mostly cowards who bully the weak and fear the strong. That¡¯s how we handled them back in the day."


    "As for the Turtle Breath Gang, that¡¯s where I¡¯ll need to step in." Ning Zhuo said to Sun Lingtong.


    Sun Lingtongughed heartily, "Who would have thought that the mysterious Turtle Breath Gang of today was once just a group of beggars practicing the Turtle Breath Technique to enter a hibernation state and dy hunger?"


    "It was you, Little Zhuo, who felt pity for them and saw their potential, which led me to step in and secretly teach their leader some thieving techniques."


    "Those beggars were determined and gradually developed into today¡¯s Turtle Breath Gang."


    "I will personally step forward and secretly give orders to the leader of the Turtle Breath Gang, instructing him to infiltrate your side, monitor you, and await my return."


    The leader of the Turtle Breath Gang didn¡¯t know the true identity of the young puppet master, but he had always been grateful to Sun Lingtong for his kindness.


    On the surface, the rtionship between the Turtle Breath Gang and Sun Lingtong had grown distant. In reality, the Turtle Breath Gang had always been a loyal subordinate of Sun Lingtong.


    Much of Sun Lingtong¡¯s intelligence came from the Turtle Breath Gang¡¯s investigations.

 Chapter 167: Taking Control of the Black Market Again

    The first leader of the Crane Beak Gang was an herbalist. He owned an ancestral Crane Beak Hoe magical instrument, which was highly effective in harvesting wild spiritual nts.


    The herbalists banded together for mutual protection against extortion, eventually forming the Crane Beak Gang.


    Thus, the foundation of this gang was not very strong.


    During Sun Lingtong''s era, the Crane Beak Gang surrendered under pressure.


    When Sun Lingtong was wanted, the Viper Gang rose to power and seemed poised to take control of the ck market, prompting the Crane Beak Gang to be the first to send them a congrattory gift.


    Now, when the Monkey Head Gang¡¯s leader presented the Viper Gang leader¡¯s head as a greeting gift to the Crane Beak Gang, the leader of the Crane Beak Gang did not feel threatened but rather full of emotion.


    Watching him rise, watching him feast with guests, and then watching his building copse.


    Not long ago, the high-spirited leader of the Viper Gang was reduced to just a head, dying with eyes open in disbelief.


    Not long ago, the Viper Gang, which had seemed poised to dominate the ck market, had vanished overnight, copsing and falling apart."The old gang leader was right!"


    "Those who kill will always be killed in return."


    "Fighting and killing should only be done when absolutely necessary."


    "The way we live now is quite good: gathering herbs, selling them for money, and paying some protection fees."


    "There is always someone stronger than you."


    "Without natural talent, without an excellent spiritual root, and without a reliable background, if you want to survive in this world for long, then you must be like an herb, serving as a spiritual nt."


    "Then you contribute your fruits, demonstrate your value, instead of showing your fangs."


    The leader of the Crane Beak Gang sighed deeply.


    He had his own survival strategy.


    The Monkey Head Gang leader issued him a warning, informing him that the Monkey Head Gang was stepping into the ck market, with the Ning family backing them. He hoped the Crane Beak Gang would recognize the situation.


    The Crane Beak Gang leader said he needed to gather the elders of the gang for discussion, politely asking the Monkey Head Gang leader to wait for a moment.


    The Monkey Head Gang leader waited only for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before receiving the Crane Beak Gang leader¡¯s response¡ªthe Crane Beak Gang was willing to submit, but the specific terms would have to be discussed face-to-face with Ning Zhuo. ?


    The Monkey Head Gang leader was overjoyed. The Monkey Head Gang had suffered great losses while exterminating the Viper Gang and urgently needed to recover. It would be ideal for the Crane Beak Gang to surrender.


    He immediatelyughed and said, "It''s good you know your ce! Come with me. Don¡¯t keep Young Master Zhuo waiting."


    ¡­


    Ning Xiangqian stood at the window, staring at the Crane Beak Gang¡¯s headquarters. His brows were furrowed, constantly observing the situation.


    The Monkey Head Gang leader had entered the headquarters some time ago and had not been seen since, causing Ning Xiangqian¡¯s anxiety to grow.


    "Why is there still no movement?"


    He couldn¡¯t help but nce at Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo sat in the main seat, and since he had sat down, he hadn¡¯t stood up again.


    Clouds of pure white floated around him, tightly encasing him, concealing all his cultivation fluctuations.


    "So diligent¡­" Ning Xiangqian thought to himself.


    Before going to the n''s ancestral hall to publicly support Ning Zhuo, he had never had close contact with Ning Zhuo.


    This was the first time he had worked with Ning Zhuo when thetter invited them to intervene in the ck market.


    Ning Zhuo''s performance greatly exceeded his expectations.


    "His cultivation is incredibly diligent, making the most of every moment!"


    "He¡¯s very skilled, nothing like a student fresh out of the academy."


    "But he¡¯s still young and acts impulsively!"


    Ning Xiangqian believed that Ning Zhuo''s order for the Monkey Head Gang leader to persuade the Crane Beak Gang to surrender was too aggressive and risky.


    The Monkey Head Gang leader was crucial for helping Ning Zhuo control the entire gang.


    The battle to exterminate the Viper Gang showed the Ning family the value of the Monkey Head Gang leader.


    In that battle, hemanded well, fully utilizing all of the gang members, constantly boosting morale, and maintaining discipline.


    This showed that the third leader had the people''s support and held sufficient control over the Monkey Head Gang.


    There was no second person who could match him.


    This was evident during the battle.


    No one else had the Monkey Head Gang leader¡¯s reputation or performed exceptionally well in the fight.


    "If the Monkey Head Gang leader dies, the whole gang will be hard to control, possibly bing a scattered force."


    "Sigh¡­"


    This was Ning Xiangqian''s greatest concern.


    The sound of several footsteps approached, and then the door was knocked.


    Ning Xiangguo¡¯s voice came through, "Young Master Zhuo, the Monkey Head Gang leader haspleted his mission. He has brought the Crane Beak Gang leader to meet you."


    Ning Xiangqian¡¯s eyes widened. He had been watching the gang headquarters from the window but hadn¡¯t seen anyone leave the premises.


    It turned out the Crane Beak Gang leader had taken the underground tunnel and brought the Monkey Head Gang leader over.


    The specific terms needed to be discussed and negotiated before a decision could be made.


    ording to the terms, the Crane Beak Gang would determine in what manner they would surrender.


    The Crane Beak Gang leader entered the room and respectfully saluted the floating clouds.


    The clouds gradually dispersed, and Ning Zhuo''s cold voice came through first: "Since you are surrendering, why don''t you kneel before me?"


    "Kneel!" Ning Xiangqian immediately shouted coldly.


    The Crane Beak Gang leader¡¯s heart trembled. Arge number of spiritual senses were locked onto him from inside and outside the room, and the gazes of Ning family¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivators were fixed on him.


    Forced by the pressure, the Crane Beak Gang leader gritted his teeth and knelt.


    The clouds dissipated, and Ning Zhuo saw the Crane Beak Gang leader, who was an old acquaintance to him.


    The Crane Beak Gang leader had met the young puppet master many times, but this was the "first" time he saw Ning Zhuo. He didn¡¯t know that Ning Zhuo was the young puppet master.


    "Too young!" was the Crane Beak Gang leader¡¯s first impression.


    Ning Zhuo was only sixteen years old¡ªreally too young.


    This youthful face immediately gave the Crane Beak Gang leader a surge of courage.


    He opened his mouth and made his request, attempting to retain some autonomy.


    Ning Zhuo sneered, "It seems you still don''t understand the current situation. What you''re holding onto are nothing but delusions and fantasies!"


    The Crane Beak Gang leader replied, "Lord Ning Zhuo, this old man might be able to offer you unexpected assistance."


    "For instance, right now, it seems like you want to unify the ck market. Perhaps you don''t know that there are three major gangs in the ck market."


    "Any individual or force wishing to control the ck market cannot bypass these three major gangs."


    "Currently, among these three gangs, the Viper Gang has been wiped out by you, and my Crane Beak Gang is submitting to you. The third gang is the most mysterious and has always remainedrgely unknown, but its influence is immense."


    Ning Zhuo chuckled, "Are you talking about the Turtle Breath Gang?"


    "Uh." The Crane Beak Gang leader¡¯s expression froze.


    Ning Zhuo lifted his eyes and looked toward the door, his gaze seemingly able to pierce through: "By my calctions, he should be arriving soon."


    The next moment, a loud shout came from the Ning family cultivators outside the door, "Who goes there?!"


    "It is I, the leader of the Turtle Breath Gang. Thanks to the envoy''s persuasion, I havee to pledge allegiance to Lord Ning Zhuo." A middle-aged man''s voice came.


    Ning Zhuoughed heartily, "Let him in."


    The Turtle Breath Gang leader, dressed in ck, walked in.


    Two Ning family Foundation Establishment cultivators followed closely behind him, their expressions vignt, and they transmitted messages to the others: "Be careful! This man¡¯s stealth skills are strong. I only noticed him when he was within a single zhang of me, triggering my magical item¡¯s rm."


    The Ning family Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately looked grim, their gazes and spiritual senses focused on the Turtle Breath Gang leader.


    The Turtle Breath Gang leader¡¯s expression remained emotionless, but inwardly, he felt a trace of disdain. He had been taught by Sun Lingtong and was highly skilled in stealth techniques. Just now, he had deliberately leaked his presence to be detected.


    If he had exerted his full abilities, even if he had reached the Ning family cultivators'' backs, they wouldn¡¯t have noticed him.


    "It¡¯s really you!" The Crane Beak Gang leader¡¯s eyes widened.


    He found it hard to believe!


    Because in his understanding, the Turtle Breath Gang was very mysterious, with no conventional headquarters. The identities of its members were unclear, even to each other, oftenmunicating through single lines of contact.


    Even during Sun Lingtong¡¯s time, the Turtle Breath Gang had remained independent.


    When the Viper Gang rose up and swallowed Sun Lingtong¡¯s territory, in their moment of triumph, the gang leader woke up one morning to find a letter on his bedside, written by the Turtle Breath Gang leader.


    This incident spread quickly.


    The Viper Gang had since restrained itself considerably, sweeping away their previous arrogance.


    "How


    could such a gang, with such a leader, suddenly pledge allegiance to Ning Zhuo?!" The Crane Beak Gang leader felt extremely puzzled.


    "So Ning Zhuo truly has a strategy and n!"


    "Besides us, this young genius seems to have another force at his disposal."


    "Impressive, his involvement in the ck market wasn¡¯t a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a well-nned move!"


    For a moment, even the Ning family Foundation Establishment cultivators frequently cast admiring nces at Ning Zhuo.


    Though Ning Zhuo only had the cultivation of the "thirdyer of Qi Refining," his methods made him someone they couldn¡¯t underestimate.


    The Monkey Head Gang leader was stunned by Ning Zhuo.


    He had heard plenty of rumors about the Turtle Breath Gang.


    Ning Zhuo had quietly subdued this gang, far exceeding his wildest imagination.


    "The Turtle Breath Gang has always dealt in intelligence. With such people monitoring us, we must be extremely cautious under Ning Zhuo''smand!"


    The Monkey Head Gang leader¡¯s heart grew heavier.


    He had originally nned to stir up some trouble, but with the Turtle Breath Gang¡¯s submission, he decided to abandon any such ns!


    The Monkey Head Gang leader took a deep breath and suddenly spoke up, loudly congratting Ning Zhuo on unifying the ck market, flipping his hand to summon clouds and rain overnight, with a remarkable record.


    The Turtle Breath Gang leader remained silent.


    The Crane Beak Gang leader, on the other hand, turned pale.


    The Turtle Breath Gang¡¯s submission had thrown him into disarray. Ning Zhuo had be even more dominant, while the Crane Beak Gang he represented was too weak to negotiate anything.


    But to his surprise, Ning Zhuo, after hearing the Monkey Head Gang leader''s ttering words, shook his head.


    "There''s still a long way to go."


    "To control the ck market, at least the Three Gangs and Three Scattered Ones must be in hand."


    "Now, the Viper Gang has been reced by the Monkey Head Gang, and both the Crane Beak Gang and Turtle Breath Gang have submitted to me."


    "Next, we need to deal with Feng Heizi, the One-Armed Craftsman, and Filthy Not Clean."


    Hearing these words, the Ning family cultivators exchanged confused nces.


    They were unfamiliar with the inner workings of the ck market and were hearing these names for the first time.


    The Crane Beak Gang leader¡¯s face grew even paler.


    The Turtle Breath Gang leader remained expressionless, though his pupils shrank ever so slightly.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s deep understanding of the ck market surprised them all.

 Chapter 168: Blooming of a Single Line

    Ning Zhuo asked, "What are your three names?"


    The leader of the Monkey Head Gang was about to answer, but Ning Zhuo waved his hand.


    Thetter said, "Forget it, there¡¯s no need for such trouble."


    "I will give each of you a code name. If you die, your sessor will still be called by the same code name."


    "You will be called Monkey Head." Ning Zhuo pointed at the leader of the Monkey Head Gang, his gaze carrying an imposing air.


    The leader of the Monkey Head Gang gritted his teeth, his face showing a smile, expressing his joy. "Yes! Thank you, sir, for giving me a code name."


    Ning Zhuo then pointed to the leader of the Crane Mouth Gang, "From now on, you will be called Crane Head."


    The leader of the Crane Mouth Gang opened his mouth, wanting to say, "I came here to negotiate with you, our Crane Mouth Gang hasn¡¯t surrendered yet."


    "We¡¯ll only surrender if the terms are right!"But in this situation, he could only shout in his heart and couldn¡¯t say anything out loud.


    After a few breaths of silence, the leader of the Crane Mouth Gang lowered his head, his eyebrows drooping, and cupped his hands in response, "Yes."


    Ning Zhuo then looked at the leader of the Turtle Breath Gang, "As for you, you will be called Turtle¡­"


    The face of the leader of the Turtle Breath Gang changed!


    "Turtle Shell." He interrupted Ning Zhuo before he could finish, answering quickly, "Sir, my childhood nickname is Turtle Shell. If you call me that, I will feel like I¡¯ve found home and seen my elders."


    "You are fully qualified to call me that!"


    "Hmm¡­" Ning Zhuo hummed, lost in thought.


    The leader of the Turtle Breath Gang¡¯s heart raced slightly, and he quickly said, "Lord Ning Zhuo, we hold much evidence of Feng Heizi''s smuggling and selling of prohibited captives."


    "Turtle Shell requests permission! Let me personally go and deal with Feng Heizi, he will surely submit."


    "In that case." Ning Zhuo waved his hand, "You go then. If you fail to recruit Feng Heizi, I will hold you ountable."


    "Yes, sir." The leader of the Turtle Breath Gang turned and left immediately, walking quickly without the previousposure, giving off an urgent impression.


    Ning Zhuo then looked at the leader of the Crane Mouth Gang, "The impure medicinal herbs are almost all purchased from your gang."


    "You go invite him. With this rtionship, can you manage it?"


    The leader of the Crane Mouth Gang was shocked. How did Ning Zhuo know about this secret business transaction?


    He quickly nodded, "I will do my best."


    Ning Zhuo then looked at the leader of the Monkey Head Gang.


    Thetter hurriedly said, "Monkey Head is here, ready to follow your orders!"


    Ning Zhuo said, "You go find the One-Armed Craftsman. This person has a fiery temper and loves refining self-exploding magical tools. His arm was lost from one of his own explosions."


    "Talk to him properly. Under no circumstances should you use force."


    "This person despises threats the most, so remember to speak gently!"


    "No matter what method you use, get him to acknowledge my control over the ck market and return to business. Without his self-exploding magical tools, the ck market would lose a big draw."


    The leader of the Monkey Head Gang sped his hands, "Understood!"


    Ning Zhuo issued three orders in session, then summoned the Floating Cloud again, enveloping himself and silently began cultivating.


    "He really doesn''t waste a single moment!"


    The Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Ning family transmitted their thoughts to each other, filled with admiration.


    Since the beginning of their actions, Ning Zhuo had repeatedly exceeded their expectations.


    Especially tonight''s performance, which made the Ning family members feel that Ning Zhuo had everything under control, directing the situation with strategy and mastery of the overall picture.


    Time gradually passed.


    The three gang leaders sessively brought good news.


    The leader of the Crane Mouth Gang was the first to seed. "Impure" was an alchemist,zy by nature and disliked trouble.


    For him, the change in the ck market¡¯s ruler didn¡¯t matter, he continued selling his pills.


    The leader of the Turtle Breath Gang was the second to seed.


    His aplishment was much greater than that of the Crane Mouth Gang''s leader ¡ª under his threats and promises, Feng Heizi had no choice but to sign a contract, fully joining them.


    Thest to return was the leader of the Monkey Head Gang.


    He returned disheveled, with injuries on his body.


    Convincing the One-Armed Craftsman had been quite difficult.


    The One-Armed Craftsman, sensing the chaos in Puppet Immortal City, had nned to relocate, with his belongings almost packed.


    The leader of the Monkey Head Gang tried everything, even offering his own assets aspensation, but it was still unsessful.


    In the end, he risked provoking him and fought a battle with the One-Armed Craftsman.


    The One-Armed Craftsman won, but he took a liking to the Mechanical Explosive Monkey used by the leader of the Monkey Head Gang.


    This mechanical monkey could self-detonate with impressive power, something the One-Armed Craftsman had known for a long time.


    What he didn¡¯t know was that it was Ning Zhuo who had created the Mechanical Explosive Monkey. After learning that Ning Zhuo was now controlling the ck market, the One-Armed Craftsman became much more favorable and changed his mind, deciding to stay.


    As morning light shone upon the city, the ck market weed a brand-new day.


    The demise of the Viper Gang.


    The joint announcement by the Monkey Head Gang, Crane Mouth Gang, and Turtle Breath Gang.


    As well as Feng Heizi, the One-Armed Craftsman, and "Impure" reopening the market simultaneously.


    All these things shocked the people and left them full of wonder: "How did the ck market undergo such a massive transformation overnight?"


    "What exactly happenedst night?!"


    "It¡¯s said that a noble son from the Ning family personally came down. Originally, it was to avenge his friend, Yuan Er, forcing the Monkey Head Gang to submit, and then he took control of the entire ck market."


    For a time, the townspeople were filled with chatter, and rumors swirled.


    City Lord''s Mansion.


    Fei Si began handling official matters.


    Since the issuance of the recruitment decree, cultivators from outside continued to flood into Puppet Immortal City.


    The top of Mount Huoshi was no longer a restricted area, and under Fei Si¡¯s arrangement, it had returned to the grand scene it had been before the Immortal Pce¡¯s emergence.


    The city guard¡¯s defense was just for show. Various cultivators came in waves, heading to the Lava Immortal Pce to try their luck.


    Mostcked sufficient skill in mechanisms and could only look on in vain. However, a few met the requirements, entered the Immortal Pce, and became the envy of everyone.


    All kinds of businesses in Puppet Immortal City became bustling, whilew and order sharply declined, with incidents ofwlessness rising. Fei Si¡¯s responsibilities also grew heavier.


    The ck market¡¯s upheaval had a significant impact on the structure of Puppet Immortal City.


    This matter¡¯s report was ced in third position, urgently needing Fei Si¡¯s attention.


    After reading it, Fei Si¡¯s face showed delight: "This kid actually aplished such a thing overnight!"


    For Ning Zhuo to take control of the ck market, his first obstacle was not the three gangs or the three scattered individuals, but the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.


    Sun Lingtong had been able to control the ck market because he had connected with Fei Si and voluntarily offered profits, gaining the City Lord¡¯s tacit approval.


    Ning Zhuo had written a secret letter in advance and had it delivered to Fei Si through Chen Cha.


    When Fei Si read the secret letter, Ning Zhuo''s ambitious gaze immediately appeared in his mind.


    "Like!"


    "Just like me when I was young."


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s performance in creating the Mechanical Monkey, andter in the matter involving Yuan Dasheng, had left a deep impression on Fei Si.


    Fei Si had grown very fond of Ning Zhuo.


    "I was also unappreciated in the past."


    "I also climbed step by step through research and constant risks."


    "Yesterday''s Fei Si is today''s Ning Zhuo."


    "Why not give such an outstanding young man a hand?"


    After Ning Zhuo returned to the family, although Fei Si was busy with many affairs, he had not forgotten to keep an eye on him from the shadows.


    Seeing Ning Zhuo¡¯s rising status in the family often brought Fei Si a sense of heartfelt joy.


    In his view, no one understood Ning Zhuo¡¯s true nature better than he did!


    He looked forward to Ning Zhuo¡¯s continuous ascent.


    Because the higher Ning Zhuo climbed, the more it validated Fei Si''s own life philosophy, proving his own sess.


    And the greater Ning Zhuo''s value, the more Fei Si could benefit from their rtionship.


    "Climb."


    "Climb higher, and higher still."


    "When the Meng family takes control of Puppet Immortal City in the future, you will control the Ning family, wouldn''t that be wonderful?"


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s talent convinced Fei Si that he had great potential for development, making him worth investing in.


    So, when Ning Zhuo sought Fei Si¡¯s permission to unify the ck market, Fei Si agreed without much thought.


    "I just didn¡¯t expect you to aplish it overnight."


    "How interesting, how brilliant."


    "Using the Ning family¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivators to make the first move, you greatly


    intimidated all the small fry, and throughout the process, you didn¡¯t lift a hand, leaving no evidence."


    "Using force to make the Monkey Head Gang take the lead, you caused great turbulence in the ck market. The Monkey Head Gang suffered heavy casualties and became obedient pawns."


    "Precisely recruiting key forces and individuals, you tightly controlled the critical points, achieving twice the result with half the effort!"


    As Fei Si was secretly praising him, Chen Cha came to see him.


    Chen Cha brought another secret letter from Ning Zhuo.


    Fei Si opened the letter and saw that Ning Zhuo had generously offered to hand over fifty percent of the profits to him.


    Such a tactful gesture made Fei Siugh heartily.


    These past few days, it was the first time he hadughed so freely.


    "Fifty percent is too much, handing over thirty percent is enough."


    "As for the ck market, I¡¯ll only let you control it for a while."


    "During this period, manage it well, don¡¯t cause trouble for me to clean up!"


    "When the timees, you¡¯ll have to let go. Before that, make all the preparations you can."


    Fei Si replied with a secret letter and carefully stored Ning Zhuo''s letter.


    These were pieces of evidence, keys to controlling Ning Zhuo in the future.


    Just like how the leader of the Monkey Head Gang collected evidence to hand over to Ning Zhuo, Ning Zhuo had also intentionally left behind something to gain Fei Si''s trust.


    Fei Si''s secret letter reached Ning Zhuo''s hands.


    Ning Zhuo remained expressionless, with no waves in his heart.


    He had already anticipated Fei Si''s attitude and thoughts.


    "The four major powers of Puppet Immortal City: the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, the Zhou family, the Zheng family, and the Ning family, cooperate while alsopeting, maintaining a certain bnce."


    "The ck market is one of the buffer zones in the power struggles of the four major forces."


    "It can be controlled by Sun Lingtong, but it cannot be controlled by any of the four major forces, not even in the shadows, through an agent."


    "The only reason I was able to rise to power is because the timing was too special."


    "On one hand, with the recruitment decree, cultivators from outside continue to pour in. A stable ck market benefits not only the entire city but also the four forces. And the incident with Boss Sun happened too suddenly. The four forces didn¡¯t have time to properly discuss and find a suitable person to take control of the ck market."


    "On the other hand, although I am part of the Ning family, I am from a branch, with irreconcble conflicts with the main line! Fei Si of the City Lord''s Mansion is happy to see me seed. The Zhou and Zheng families also hope for internal strife within the Ning family, and they will support me in establishing my own faction. So when I intervene in the ck market, they¡¯ll think it¡¯s a great idea."


    "Once the situation changes, outsiders stoping, and Puppet Immortal City returns to its former state, their need for the ck market will no longer be as pressing."


    "Once I control the ck market for too long, or if I show signs of aligning with the Ning family¡¯s main line, triggering concerns among the other three forces, they will quickly react and drive me out of the ck market."


    Control over the ck market had a time limit.


    Ning Zhuo had long understood this.


    "It doesn¡¯t matter!"


    "My goal is the Lava Immortal Pce."


    "Once I seize the Immortal Pce and be its master, what does it matter if I let go of the ck market?"


    "At this critical moment, I need to make my mark, win over the Ning family¡¯s branch, and thwart the schemes of the main line."


    "The ck market is just right for that!"


    "Heh heh."


    Ning Zhuo''s lips curled into a smile.


    At this moment, he had a strong sense of seeing the whole picture and strategizing from afar.


    "This is the feeling, this feeling of control¡­"


    "Ah, it¡¯s so wonderful!"


    For a while, Ning Zhuo was deeply immersed in this beautiful feeling, unable to extricate himself.


    At the same time.


    In his Upper Dantian Sea of Consciousness, the bud of his embryonic divine ability, *Life Hanging by a Thread*, trembled slightly, and the bud opened up a single line.


    The change in the embryonic divine ability immediately caught Ning Zhuo¡¯s attention.


    A feeling of joy surged into his heart.


    "Very good!"


    "I can feel that the next change in the embryonic divine ability will be a qualitative transformation, and it will fully bloom."


    "At that time, I will truly master a divine ability ¡ª *Life Hanging by a Thread*!"

 Chapter 169: Ning Family Territory.

    Ning Xiangguo, Ning Xiangqian, and others gathered at Ning Houjun''s mansion.


    They reported to Ning Houjun about Ning Zhuo''s recent activities.


    ¡°I thought, this time, getting involved with the ck market, there would definitely be a battle. Unexpectedly, the most intense action was breaking down the Monkey Head Gang¡¯s gate.¡±


    ¡°In hindsight, the whole operation was part of Ning Zhuo¡¯s n.¡±


    ¡°Is he really only sixteen? Quite remarkable!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think of him as an ordinary academy graduate. Don¡¯t forget, he is a person with talent.¡±


    ¡°Even if he has talent,pared to Ning Xiaohui and Ning Qingqiao, Ning Zhuo is still very special. What I want to say, you should all understand.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps¡­ it¡¯s rted to his talent? His talent might be connected to his mind, which makes his thinking very agile.¡±


    ¡°ording to the reconstruction team, after Ning Zhuo''s soul entered the Immortal Pce, his puppet body had an extremelyrge head.¡±¡°Looking at reality, I also think his head is pretty big.¡±


    Ning Houjun chuckled and waved his hand, saying, ¡°Alright, alright. Ning Zhuo intervened in the ck market and controlled the situation overnight. His actions were highly sessful!¡±


    ¡°What are your ns moving forward?¡±


    The room fell silent.


    Soon, Ning Xiangguo said, ¡°Ning Zhuo recruited us and offered quite generouspensation. From now on, we will wear masks and serve as patrollers andw enforcers in the ck market.¡±


    ¡°Before the main branch rehires us, what else can we do?¡±


    Ning Houjun nodded, ¡°In that case, just focus on doing your job well.¡±


    ¡°Everyone can now see clearly Ning Zhuo¡¯s potential, especially after this event.¡±


    ¡°His biggest w is that he¡¯s too young, with only a Qi Refining thirdyer cultivation. But that¡¯s also his greatest advantage.¡±


    ¡°How old is he? He¡¯s only sixteen¡­¡±


    Ning Houjun¡¯s sigh resonated with the Foundation Establishment cultivators present.


    After Ning Xiangguo, Ning Xiangqian, and others left, Ning Houjun went to the backyard to meet Ning Youfu.


    The two former family elders sat in a pavilion in the backyard, continuing the chess game that had been interrupted by the stewards¡¯ visit.


    As they yed, they discussed Ning Zhuo.


    ¡°I underestimated Ning Zhuo. His capabilities are beyond my imagination,¡± Ning Houjun sighed.


    ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s been a long time since a branch like ours has produced such an outstanding junior!¡± Ning Youfu wholeheartedly agreed.


    Ning Houjun stared at the chessboard. ¡°Even in the main branch, there are very few talents like Ning Zhuo.¡±


    Ning Youfu looked at Ning Houjun with deep meaning. ¡°This young man knows too much about the ck market, almost excessively so. Someone must be guiding him from behind.¡±


    Ning Houjun was surprised. ¡°Isn¡¯t it you?¡±


    Ning Youfu pointed his finger at Ning Houjun,ughing, ¡°You¡¯re being proactive, turning the tables on me.¡±


    Ning Houjun shook his head. ¡°Stop joking.¡±


    Ning Youfu also shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re the one spouting nonsense.¡±


    The two red at each other.


    After a few breaths, Ning Houjun frowned. ¡°Whether it¡¯s you guiding him or not, the current situation is indeed not bad. At least, the branch family members now have a ce to survive.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Ning Youfu smiled. ¡°Now, the main branch is in a difficult position.¡±


    ¡­


    The Ning Family patriarch looked at the intelligence report in his hand, reading it twice in disbelief. ¡°Is this information true?¡±


    ¡°Ning Zhuo alone led the Ning Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivators and pacified the ck market?¡±


    The subordinate gave a positive answer, with some corrections. ¡°Patriarch, our Ning Family didn¡¯t formally intervene. The ones who really acted were the Monkey Head Gang, and they suffered significant losses.¡±


    The Ning Family patriarch¡¯s face darkened.


    Just two days ago, the Ning Family¡¯s main branch had dismissed several branch elders and heavily rewarded Ning Zhuo. Yet after just one day and night, the situation hadpletely changed!


    ¡°Ning Zhuo now controls the ck market, giving him a base from which he can support many subordinates.¡±


    ¡°He actually managed to achieve this!¡±


    ¡°Is someone guiding him from behind?¡±


    What is momentum?


    This is momentum.


    Ning Zhuo made a decisive move, using thunderous methods to break through difficulties and create a favorable situation for himself.


    He now officially had a force under his control.


    ¡°This situation has be quite troublesome! If we continue dismissing stewards, it will only send talent straight to Ning Zhuo,¡± the Ning Family patriarch felt a tightness in his chest.


    This was originally a tactic to pressure the branch family, but Ning Zhuo had broken the deadlock.


    At its root, Ning Zhuo had discovered the opportunity in the ck market and seized it!


    Did the Ning Family patriarch not see it?


    Not exactly.


    The ck market served as a power buffer zone for the four major forces. After Sun Lingtong was ced on the wanted list, the Ning Family patriarch had kept a close eye on it.


    But such matters couldn¡¯t be handled by just any Ning Family member.


    Only Ning Zhuo could achieve this oue.


    ¡°Will the Zhou Family or Zheng Family take action?¡±


    ¡°Will the City Lord¡¯s Mansion expel Ning Zhuo?¡±


    ¡°He has disrupted the delicate bnce between the four major forces by intervening in the ck market!¡±


    The Ning Family patriarch waited for others to make a move.


    ¡­


    Zhou Family.


    ¡°This Ning Zhuo is quite interesting,¡± the Zhou Family patriarch smiled slightly. ¡°Go and summon Zhou Zhenshen.¡±


    When Zhou Zhenshen came to see the Zhou Family patriarch, thetter handed him the relevant intelligence to read.


    ¡°Ning Zhuo?!¡±


    ¡°He actually aplished such a feat¡­¡±


    ¡°Impressive!¡±


    Zhou Zhenshen couldn¡¯t help but praise.


    The Zhou Family patriarch said, ¡°The conflict between Ning Zhuo and the Ning Family¡¯s main branch is irreconcble. Not long ago, he just pulled down the Ning Family¡¯s young patriarch, and now he¡¯s taken control of the ck market.¡±


    ¡°At this rate, another internal war could erupt within the Ning Family.¡±


    Back then, the internal battle caused by the Ning Family¡¯s branch attempting to overthrow the main branch had shocked both the Zhou and Zheng Families.


    Zhou Zhenshen nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve greatly underestimated him.¡±


    ¡°For him to intervene in the ck market overnight, even with someone advising him, he is no ordinary person.¡±


    The Zhou Family patriarch remarked, ¡°But he is still too young.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with him?¡±


    Zhou Zhenshen replied, ¡°Our friendship could be better!¡±


    ¡°Hahaha,¡± the Zhou Family patriarchughed. ¡°From now on, try to draw closer to Ning Zhuo. Last time, Zheng Jian and he coborated to refine a Mechanical Ape, and Zheng Jian even used Golden Core-level materials.¡±


    ¡°We, too, have such resources.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m giving you the authority to build a good rtionship with Ning Zhuo.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I will do my best not to let you down, Patriarch!¡± Zhou Zhenshen withdrew.


    ¡­


    Ning Ze¡¯s residence.


    Ning Ze held the ck market intelligence and showed it to Wang Lan.


    ¡°What do you think? Didn¡¯t I say it right?¡±


    ¡°Xiao Zhuo is no ordinary person. In just one night, he became the master of the ck market.¡±


    Wang Lan¡¯s mouth gaped open and didn¡¯t close for a long time.


    It took her a while to ept this fact, and her emotions were quiteplicated. ¡°Husband, you always see things more clearly than I do.¡±


    ¡°But did Xiao Zhuo really achieve this?¡±


    Ning Ze nodded slightly. ¡°Even if someone is guiding him, he is now the master of the ck market.¡±


    ¡°Let Ji''er closely follow Xiao Zhuo and find some work in the ck market.¡±


    ¡°They are cousins. This bond needs to be strengthened. When we grow old, Xiao Zhuo will be Ji¡¯er¡¯s greatest support.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s only sixteen now.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to imagine what great achievements he will have in the future.¡±


    ¡°If we judge by his talent alone, at the very least, he¡¯ll be a family elder.¡±


    ¡°In fact, look!¡±


    ¡°He already controls the ck market and holds real power. How is he any different from a family elder?¡±


    ¡­


    Ning Zhuo continued his cultivation.


    He took out the Ice Jade Wine.


    The Ice Jade Wine had a pale blue color, sparkling and translucent, like morning frost glimmering under the sunlight.


    Ning Zhuo gently swirled the wine in his cup.


    In the jade-carved cup, the liquid resembled molten sapphire, with a faint silver halo swirling on its surface, giving off a refreshing aura.


    The wine¡¯s fragrance was unique, light and elegant, carrying a distinctive icy scent.


    Ning Zhuo brought it close to his nose, savoring it. In an instant, he felt as if he were standing on a snowy northern in. Then, from the bone-chilling cold, he detected faint floral and herbal scents, which made him feel refreshed.


    He took a sip.


    The first sensation was an extreme coolness, like an icy spring flowing across his tongue.


    This coolness quickly spread through his body as the wine flowed, dispelling all heat and fatigue.


    The wine was smooth and mellow, melting in his mouth like snow, leaving a lingering sweetness.


    The Ice Jade Wine had a rich body, and the vor was thick, with no harshness. Instead, it carried a subtle sweetness and a refreshing aftertaste.


    Ning Zhuo couldn¡¯t help but close his eyes, lost in the sensation.


    After a long time.


    He finally opened his eyes and praised aloud, ¡°What a fine wine!¡±


    The effects of the wine gradually kicked in. Ning Zhuo sat cross-legged on the mat and began his breathing exercises.


    Unlike his previous cultivation sessions, this time, a grand light burst from his Spiritual Sea at the upper dantian, like a waterfall cascading down, directly pouring into his middle dantian, the Qi Sea.


    In the Qi Sea, clouds surged, and waves of energy rolled, as his Five Elements Mana surged wildly.


    The Ice Jade Wine allowed Ning Zhuo to use his Spiritual Sea cultivation to enhance his Qi Sea cultivation.


    In just the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the effects of the Ice Jade Wine were exhausted. Ning Zhuo¡¯s Qi Sea cultivation had undergone a terrifying surge, directly reaching the peak of the sixthyer, matching his Spiritual Sea cultivation!


    ¡°No wonder it¡¯s called Ice Jade Wine!¡±


    ¡°The Ice Jade Vessel truly deserves its ce as the Ning Family¡¯s treasured heirloom.¡±


    With this, Ning Zhuo, possessing the peak sixthyer mana cultivation, could now open the second Dao Gate.


    However, Ning Zhuo wasn¡¯t overly excited about it.


    Based on his understanding of the Lava Immortal Pce, the difficulty of the second Dao Gate should be simr to that of the second Buddha Gate.


    ¡°Thest time I took the Buddha Gate route, although I failed, I explored the challenge¡¯s difficulty.¡±


    ¡°To pass through the Buddha Gate, I still need to im more rewards from the first Buddha Gate. Only after my strength increases will I have a greater chance of sess.¡±


    ¡°The Dao Gate is likely set up in the same way.¡±


    ¡°Unless I encounter something like the coffin room in the first Buddha Gate.¡±


    Ning Zhuo silently pondered.


    The possibility of encountering a coffin room was small, but Ning Zhuo still needed to push open the door to confirm.


    What if?


    Through his tireless efforts, Ning Zhuo¡¯s status had greatly changed!


    He no longer needed to wait for Ning Xiaohui or others to invite him to form a team.


    He couldpletely organize a group around himself to explore the Lava Immortal Pce.

 Chapter 170: Five Elements Mutual Generation and Mutual Conquest Technique

    Ning Zhuo only brought ten people to explore the Lava Immortal Pce together.


    They opened Door No. 1, Door No. 2, and Door No. 3, and everything went smoothly along the way.


    Soon, the group arrived at the preparation room.


    Many people''s gazes focused on the leaderboard on the five stone pirs.


    On the leaderboard were the names of people from the City Lord''s Mansion.


    Meng Chong firmly upied the second ce.


    The first ce was the immovable "Entry Standard."


    "Meng Chong is still the first. No wonder he''s a celestial talent!" Ning Yong eximed.


    Ning Chen sighed, "With Meng Chong around, the renovation team of the City Lord''s Mansion always dominates the leaderboard. I really want to know what kind of rewards they receive from the Immortal Pce each time."Someone else said, "If it weren''t for Meng Chong, we would definitely be on the leaderboard. In this case, Brother Zhuo would surely be ranked first!"


    Ning Zhuo smiled slightly, "I already am, and have always been, the first."


    "And the real second ce is not Meng Chong, but Boss Sun. It''s just that he didn''t appear on the list."


    In this regard, Ning Zhuo hid it quite well.


    So far, no one had discovered the trick behind the "Entry Standard."


    Next, the Ning family cultivators discussed the entry standard. Everyone marveled at how high the vision of the Three Sect Lords was, being great cultivators of the Void Refining stage. Despite undergoing trials for so long, they still hadn¡¯t reached the entry standard. Even a celestial talent like Meng Chong was no exception.


    Some spected about Meng Chong''s actual progress. They wondered how far he had reached, being able to firmly hold the second ce.


    With the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, acting as an insider, Ning Zhuo was naturally clear about Meng Chong''s true progress¡ªhe was stuck at the first Dao Gate level.


    This was the result of Ning Zhuo deliberately going easy on him.


    The Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, hadn¡¯t appeared frequently to intercept Meng Chong.


    Although every time Meng Chong entered, he would shout and make a fuss, constantly calling for the Mechanical Ape. He desperately wanted to fight Yuan Dasheng again to regain his honor.


    Ning Zhuo needed Meng Chong to make some achievements.


    Ning Zhuo also needed his cultivation to "progress." His publicly dered cultivation of the thirdyer of Qi Refining was indeed too low. He needed a suitable reason to disy a stronger Qi Refining cultivation. ??


    To be stronger, he had to let the fourth to sixthyers of the *Five Elements Qi Regtion Art* be revealed.


    Ning Zhuo''s n was to first let Meng Chong achieve such a result, and then he would follow, reaching the checkpoint where the subsequent techniques could be obtained.


    Meng Chong had to do it first.


    On one hand, for the sake of the leaderboard. On the other hand, Ning Zhuo needed to maintain a secret cooperative rtionship with the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.


    Once Ning Zhuo¡¯s achievements surpassed Meng Chong''s, the City Lord''s Mansion would likely take action to suppress him. By then, no matter how much Fei Si appreciated Ning Zhuo, he wouldn''t be able to go against the will of Meng Chong and Meng Kui. They would target Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo had regained control of the ck market, and he didn¡¯t want Fei Si to drive him away so soon.


    "Anyway, I¡¯ve already closed off the Demon Sect and the Buddhist Sect."


    "The difficulty of the subsequent Dao Gate levels has increased sharply, and it won¡¯t be easy for Meng Chong to surpass me with his strength."


    "Based on the current investigation, the possibility of Meng Chong surpassing me is extremely slim."


    "Judging by the style of the Three Sect Lords''yout, it¡¯s highly likely that there is a third Dao Gate, which requires mastering the *Five Elements Qi Regtion Art* to the peak of the ninthyer to open."


    To say nothing of other aspects, Meng Chong¡¯s cultivation was truly at the thirdyer of Qi Refining.


    For him to open the second Dao Gate, he would need to cultivate to the peak of the sixthyer of Qi Refining. But up until now, he still hadn¡¯t mastered the fourth to sixthyers of the Qi Refining technique.


    Room No. 4, Room No. 5, Room No. 6¡­


    The wooden giant puppet formed by the group, under Ning Zhuo''s control, charged forward with unstoppable force.


    "Brother Zhuo, charge! Break through all the way!"


    "Brother Zhuo, you¡¯re even stronger than before!"


    "Yeah, I feel the same way."


    Ning Yong and the others were ecstatic, being swept along by Ning Zhuo, shouting and cheering all the way.


    At this moment, their mindset toward Ning Zhuo was different from before.


    Ning Zhuo now controlled the ck market,manding with ease. Especially when the Foundation Establishment cultivators, who were like uncles to them, went to work in the ck market and became Ning Zhuo''s subordinates, this left a deep impression on Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and the others, shaking them to the core.


    If they had previously been wholeheartedly convinced of Ning Zhuo¡¯s abilities,


    Now, they worshipped Ning Zhuo withplete admiration.


    Ning Zhuo keenly sensed their change in attitude, all thanks to his ability to see the threads of life.


    The life threads of these people appeared more resilient and solid than ever before.


    "We¡¯ve passed the eighth checkpoint!"


    "Brother Zhuo¡¯s strength has clearly increased. He¡¯s like apletely different person!"


    "Use my thigh, Brother Zhuo!"


    "No, use my arm to beat the enemies. Brother Zhuo, I¡¯m too idle!"


    "The ninth checkpoint, the ninth checkpoint! Wow, this is my first time here. So, this is what it looks like."


    Amidst the cheers of the group, Ning Zhuo broke through the ninth checkpoint and reached the transit hall.


    "Roar!"


    At the right time and ce, the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, appeared.


    After a brutal battle, the gigantic puppet copsed, leaving only Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo returned to his individual form, quickly leading Yuan Dasheng forward.


    He pushed open the second Dao Gate and entered, pleasantly surprised to discover that the Dao Gate checkpoint was indeed special!


    Ning Zhuo was imparted with a spell called the *Five Elements Mutual Generation and Mutual Conquest Technique*.


    The principle of this technique was quite simple: the mutual generation of the five elements (Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, and Water generates Wood), and the mutual conquest of the five elements (Wood conquers Earth, Earth conquers Water, Water conquers Fire, Fire conquers Metal, and Metal conquers Wood).


    But using it was veryplicated.


    At its simplest, the spell could be divided into ten small techniques, corresponding to both the mutual generation and mutual conquest.


    On this foundation, the spells could be linked together. For example, after Wood generates Fire, Fire then generates Earth, resulting in the Wood elemental energy ultimately transforming into Earth elemental energy.


    It wasn¡¯t just about generation, but also about the chain of conquest.


    These spellsbined to form a highlyplexwork of rtionships.


    Ning Zhuo gave it a simple try and quickly realized that this *Five Elements Mutual Generation and Mutual Conquest Technique* held extraordinary significance for the *Five Elements Qi Regtion Art*.


    "Previously, when I wanted to use the *Ice Embracing Technique*, I had to extract the Water element from the Five Elements Mana first."


    "But now, I can convert the other four elements into Water element mana."


    "In this way, I will have pure Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water elemental mana at my disposal. This not only makes casting the *Ice Embracing Technique* easier but also ensures ample mana, making the spell more powerful!"


    After acquiring the *Five Elements Mutual Generation and Mutual Conquest Technique*, Ning Zhuo faced another selection.


    On the walls of the room, numerous palm-sized discs were hanging. Some were perfectly round, others oval, resembling formation discs.


    Each formation disc had symbols of the five elements and intricately engraved formation lines.


    "These mechanisms are called *Five Elements Spirit Transformation Discs*. I need to use the Five Elements Mana to unravel the locks on the formation discs before I can take them for my own use."


    Clearly, the moreplex the puzzle on the *Five Elements Spirit Transformation Disc*, the higher its difficulty and quality.


    This encounter wasn¡¯t as advantageous as it had been at the Buddhist Sect.


    In the first checkpoint of the Buddhist Sect, he had taken out Yuan Dasheng¡¯s corpse and obtained the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, reaping a huge benefit of celestial talent.


    But in the special checkpoint of the second Dao Gate, he could only rely on his proficiency in the Five Elements spells to solve the puzzles and obtain a *Five Elements Spirit Transformation Disc*.


    He was still too young andcked time to practice spells. The reason he often shared insights on spellcasting with others was mostly due to the leaderboard rewards, which had allowed his spellcasting experience to umte unnaturally.


    After a brief attempt, Ning Zhuo voluntarily exited the Dao Gate and entered the Buddhist Sect path, trying to pass the checkpoint.


    His Qi Sea cultivation was elevated through his Divine Sea cultivation, having been directly boosted by the Ice Jade Wine.


    Ning Zhuo was clear-headed, knowing that his greatest advantage stilly in his Divine Sea. Therefore, the Buddhist Sect path was the one most suitable for him to focus on.


    However, the attempt still failed.


    When his soul returned to his body, Ning Zhuo once again received the praise of the entire n!


    He broke through the ninth checkpoint


    , entered the transit hall, and saw the Dao Gate. His achievements were the best in the Ning family, breaking his previous records.


    Praises came from all directions, but Ning Zhuo remained calm.


    On one hand, this was due to Sun Lingtong¡¯s many years of teaching. On the other hand, Ning Zhuo was very clear about the situation.


    With the recruitment order in ce, the situation had be much moreplicated than before!


    Ning Zhuo needed to ensure that he maintained a dominant position in the soul-enteringpetition of the Immortal Pce, while also closely watching thepetition of the body-entering route.


    Zhu Xuanji was a standout in thetterpetition.


    This made Ning Zhuo feel pressured, but also fortunate that Zhu Xuanji had shifted his focus from investigating cases to the Immortal Pce.


    In the arena of soul-entry into the Immortal Pce, Meng Chong, with his celestial talent, posed the greatest challenge to Ning Zhuo.


    In his exploration of the Lava Immortal Pce, Ning Zhuo had also encountered a bottleneck, getting stuck at the first checkpoint of the second Buddhist Sect and Dao Gate.


    What Ning Zhuo needed to do now was to advance his cultivation with all his might!


    Based on his understanding of the Lava Immortal Pce, it was highly likely that a third Buddhist Sect, Dao Gate, and Demon Sect would appear next. When that time came, he would need the corresponding cultivation level to open the doors.


    Ning Zhuo wasn¡¯t like Meng Chong or Ning Xiaohui, who had their family backing them. They only needed to focus on one thing.


    Ning Zhuo had to navigate between the major forces, seizing every opportunity to carve out space for his development, and do his utmost to absorb external resources.


    For instance, the Ice Jade Wine was something Ning Zhuo urgently needed.


    With it, Ning Zhuo saved himself several months of hard work, allowing his Qi Sea cultivation to soar directly to the peak of the sixthyer!


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s exploration of the Lava Immortal Pce once again bore fruit!


    When Ning Xiaohui heard the news, her face turned somewhat pale.


    Recently, Ning Zhuo had absolutely been the most prominent figure in the Ning family! He pulled down the young n leader, Ning Xiaoren, and in no time, unified the ck market, bing its new master.


    Then, Ning Zhuo rallied most of the renovation team members and once again seeded in his exploration, reaching the transit hall.


    Ning Xiaohui felt enormous pressure!


    Every time Ning Zhuo made progress in the Immortal Pce, Ning Xiaohui felt like an invisible hand was pping her face, filling her with shame and frustration.


    Ning Xiaohui knew well that she bore the dignity of the main bloodline!


    "I must explore the Immortal Pce and surpass Ning Zhuo''s achievements to prove myself!"


    "I¡¯m exploring alone, so that Mechanical Ape shouldn¡¯t find me so quickly, right?"


    "Lava Immortal Pce, here Ie!"


    Ning Xiaohui opened her eyes and, in puppet form, pushed open the first door.


    Yuan Dasheng had long been waiting, grinning menacingly at Ning Xiaohui.


    Ning Xiaohui felt like she had fallen into an icy abyss.

 Chapter 171: Ning Zhuo’s Enlightenment

    City Lord¡¯s Mansion.


    Fire, frost, rolling logs, sharp des of gold, and massive stones, each belonging to the Five Elements, continuously attacked Meng Chong.


    Meng Chong¡¯s eyes flickered with a sharp light as he used his immortal technique, Wild Sprint Thunderp.


    His body moved like lightning, unusually swift, weaving through the gaps between the spells.


    It was only until the veryst wave of spells that his shoulder was grazed by a gold de.


    His subordinates, responsible for sparring with him, immediately congratted him.


    Meng Chong had made great progress.


    ¡°Hahaha.¡± Meng Chongughed. ¡°Ten more sessions of special training like this, and when I charge through the next time, I won¡¯t be afraid of those spell puppets¡¯ attacks anymore.¡±


    After resting for a while, the Meng family¡¯s servants immediately offered carefully prepared refreshments, all of them being Spirit Food.Meng Chong ate and drank a few bites, and then he heard thetest intelligence.


    ¡°What?¡± He raised his eyebrows slightly.


    ¡°Ning Xiaohui entered the Immortal Pce three times today, and each time she was intercepted by the mechanical apes, suffering defeat and losing badly, unable to even reach the preparation room.¡±


    ¡°How is she so unlucky?¡±


    ¡°Why is it that I hardly encounter that mechanical ape anymore?¡±


    Meng Chong had been thinking about the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, for a long time.


    After all, he had faced Yuan Dasheng many times and had always lost, holding a grudge and truly wanting to get his revenge.


    However, under Ning Zhuo¡¯s arrangement andmand, Yuan Dasheng had rarely intercepted Meng Chong anymore.


    On the rare asions he did, it was when Meng Chong was in the heat of battle, where Yuan Dasheng would sneak in and ambush him during his fights, achieving frequent sess.


    This made Meng Chong even angrier. In the beginning, he had cursed out loud.


    Later, perhaps realizing that the mechanical ape couldn¡¯t understand human speech, he simply shut his mouth.


    For Ning Xiaohui, Yuan Dasheng had be a nightmare.


    But for Meng Chong, he was a coveted and unattainable opponent.


    The Zheng Family.


    Mechanical trap training room.


    Zheng Jian walked across the wooden floor.


    His gaze was calm, his body exuding a cold aura, and his steps were slow.


    Every step he took, he lifted his legs high and slowly lowered them down.


    During the descent, his innate ¡°Heart-Piercing Perception¡± would frequently activate, alerting him to danger.


    Zheng Jian walked from the beginning to the end without triggering a single trap beneath the floor.


    This kind of special training had been conducted many times.


    Zheng Jian had gained a deeper mastery of his innate talent, and his training results were significant.


    However, what made Zheng Jian sigh was the talismans from the Ning family.


    ¡°This Ice Heart Talisman really suits me.¡±


    ¡°When I use this talisman, I can enter an absolutely calm state. My innate ¡®Heart-Piercing Perception¡¯ almost always activates!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the Ice Heart Talisman can only be refined by cultivators who specialize in the Ice Heart Sutra.¡±


    ¡°And the Ice Heart Sutra is the core technique of the Ning family¡¯s main lineage. This talisman involves the mysteries of the Ice Heart Sutra and is rarely circted in the outer markets.¡± ?


    ¡°I only had the opportunity to enjoy this benefit thanks to the coboration of the three families.¡±


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    The Zhou Family.


    Underground martial arena.


    Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zhenshen were preparing for a sparring match.


    Both of them took out their medicine pouches, which contained a pile of silver-gray powder.


    They tilted their heads back, opened their mouths wide, and directly poured the silver-gray powder into their mouths.


    This was the Distraction Powder.


    The effects of the powder quickly kicked in, causing subtle changes in the expressions of these two Qi Refining talents from the Zhou family.


    ¡°Let¡¯s fight!¡± Zhou Zhenshen shouted in a low voice.


    Zhou Zhu responded with a muffled grunt.


    Zhou Zhenshen first activated his spell,unching a rapid attack.


    Zhou Zhu defended himself and then took out a mechanical war hammer.


    Mud Gate Ground-Shaking Hammer!


    The war hammer was almost as tall as Zhou Zhu himself, and its weight was considerable.


    Relying solely on Zhou Zhu¡¯s physical strength to wield it was quiteborious.


    Several round holes appeared on the surface of the hammer, from which violent gusts of air shot out.


    The air currents propelled the hammer, assisting Zhou Zhu in attacking Zhou Zhenshen.


    Zhou Zhenshen didn¡¯t dare to face the hammer head-on, retreating continuously.


    As he retreated, he opened his storage bag, from which arge number of mechanical bats flew out.


    Mechanical¡ªNight Sky Bats.


    Arge swarm of mechanical bats flew into the air, releasing thick ck mist along their path.


    The ck mist swirled around the battlefield, obstructing Zhou Zhu¡¯s visibility.


    Zhou Zhu tried several methods, but when he found he couldn¡¯t disperse the mist, he decisively patted his storage belt.


    From the belt, a swarm of mechanical rats scurried out.


    Mechanical¡ªEarth-Burrowing Rats.


    The mechanical ratsnded on the ground and, under Zhou Zhu¡¯s control, cast a spell¡ªMuddy Ground Technique.


    The solid ground quickly turned into a swampy mire.


    Zhou Zhu swung his hammer forcefully, sending a shower of yellow mud flying.


    The hammer¡¯s head plunged deep into the swampy mud, and the numerous round holes on the hammer simultaneously spewed out bursts of air.


    The hammer shook violently, sinking even deeper into the mud, pulling Zhou Zhu in as well.


    Arge number of Night Sky Bats lost their primary target, and under Zhou Zhenshen¡¯smand, they swooped down into the swamp to capture the Earth-Burrowing Rats.


    The Earth-Burrowing Rats used the swampy terrain to defend themselves.


    Whenever a Night Sky Bat missed its mark, the rats¡¯ spiral drill heads would pierce through the bats¡¯ thin bodies.


    However, once a bat caught a rat, its built-in spell would immediately seal the rat, severely restricting its spiritual energy.


    Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zhenshen were locked in a stalemate, fighting until nearly all of their mechanical rats and bats were depleted, at which point they tacitly agreed to stop.


    The ck mist dissipated, and the two of them sat cross-legged, each taking out a Multi-Heart Pill.


    They immediately consumed the Multi-Heart Pills to consolidate the results of their training.


    After a long while, Zhou Zhenshen was the first to open his eyes.


    Just a few breathster, Zhou Zhu also opened his eyes.


    With a hint of joy, Zhou Zhenshen sighed, ¡°Thebination of the Distraction Powder and Multi-Heart Pill is indeed effective. It allows us to master deeper levels of multitasking, controlling even more mechanical creatures.¡±


    ¡°If we continue training like this, we¡¯ll be able to simultaneously control thirty mechanical bats and rats.¡±


    Zhou Zhu, rarely speaking in long sentences, said, ¡°Not enough mana. The longer the fight, the better the results in battle.¡±


    Zhou Zhenshen sighed, ¡°There¡¯s no helping it. We haven¡¯t found any follow-up cultivation techniques yet.


    The good news is that we¡¯re all at the thirdyer of Qi Refining, equally weak.¡±


    Zhou Zhu asked, ¡°Is there really follow-up cultivation in the Lava Immortal Pce?¡±


    Zhou Zhenshen replied, ¡°From the current trend, it seems more likely.


    We just need to keep an eye on Meng Chong.


    He¡¯s the one with the highest progress.


    If he breaks through to the fourthyer, it means there are follow-up techniques in the Lava Immortal Pce.¡±


    By this time, the reconstruction teams of the four major factions had generally reached the peak of the thirdyer of Qi Refining.


    Without follow-up techniques, they couldn¡¯t advance further.


    Only the geniuses of each family could still make progress through training their innate talents.


    Everyone else had almost universally chosen to study and refine their mechanical skills to strengthen themselves from that path.


    Progress was made, but not by much.


    Even Meng Chong had entered a rtively stable bottleneck.


    Wrapped in a cloud of floating mist, Ning Zhuo quietly breathed in and out, continuing to improve his cultivation.


    The magical tool, the Tornado Windmill, clung to his chest, slowly rotating.


    In Ning Zhuo¡¯s middle dantian and sea of qi, a tornado was stirring.


    Countless threads of mana were drawn into the tornado, grinding and diminishing each other.


    This was a process of refinement.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s mana was impure and mixed, as it had been rapidly elevated through the Ice Jade Wine shortcut in the Sea of Spirits realm.


    But now, through this process, his mana¡¯s quality was being significantly enhanced.


    Purity of mana was incredibly important.


    The purer the mana, the more positive its effects in all aspects, and the greater the cultivator¡¯s personal advantages.


    Those with innate talents like the Pure Yang Physique had mana naturally imbued with pure yang energy, free of impurities.


    Among the Seven mes, the zed Purifying Fire was highly sought after because it could burn away impurities, leaving a cultivator¡¯s spiritual sense, mana, and blood essence as


    pure as possible.


    Cultivators universally pursued the purification of their mana with relentless dedication.


    ¡°The purification ability of the Tornado Windmill is only a secondary function. Its main role is to elerate the refining of mana.¡±


    ¡°If I had a dedicated purification tool, it would be even better.¡±


    After one round of purification, Ning Zhuo¡¯s mana had been reduced from ten parts to less than six, a significant difference.


    Ning Zhuo continued to breathe in spiritual energy, refining it into Five Elements Mana.


    After two or three cycles, Ning Zhuo restored his purified mana back to ten parts.


    He paused his dantian cultivation, intending to let the purified mana nourish his middle dantian and sea of qi.


    He then began his essence cultivation.


    The source of his essence refinement was his physical body.


    And the condition of his body was primarily influenced by abundant Spirit Food and pills.


    Ning Zhuo never skimped on his cultivation.


    Not only that, but he also used one Washing Marrow Pill and one Detoxification Pill.


    These two pills were gifts from the Ning family¡¯s main branch.


    Not long ago, after a thorough examination by Sun Lingtong, Ning Zhuo had meticulously tested them himself.


    The Washing Marrow Pill could slightly improve his physique, while the Detoxification Pill primarily removed umted toxins from his body.


    The effects were not particrly obvious.


    On the one hand, Washing Marrow Pills needed to be taken over a long period and inrge quantities to gradually show results.


    Ning Zhuo had just begun taking them.


    On the other hand, since Ning Zhuo relied mainly on Spirit Food, supplemented by pills, the toxins he had umted weren¡¯t significant.


    Before long, Ning Zhuo¡¯s essence cultivation session for the day ended.


    He then started practicing spells.


    He took out the Five Elements Ruler, holding it in his hand, quietly urging his Five Elements Mana, and casting the Five Elements Mutual Generation and Restraint Technique.


    The floating clouds roiled, barely concealing Ning Zhuo¡¯s spell fluctuations.


    The Five Elements Ruler allowed the Five Elements Mana to quickly separate, making it quite beneficial for Ning Zhuo¡¯s spell practice.


    ¡°Complicated.¡±


    ¡°This spell is tooplicated, the likes of which I¡¯ve never encountered before!¡±


    ¡°Sigh, if only there were corresponding rewards on the leaderboard.¡±


    ¡°Maybe there will be in theter stages of the Immortal Pce?¡±


    Ning Zhuo had just started practicing this spell, and the road ahead was long.


    After practicing for a while, Ning Zhuo took out twoprehension paintings, the Frost-Lingering Painting and the Proud-Snow Painting.


    Staring at them for a long time, Ning Zhuo rubbed his forehead, still at a loss.


    ¡°No rush.¡±


    Ning Zhuo took out an Enlightenment Pill and immediately swallowed one.


    He stared at the twoprehension paintings again, his eyes fixed on them.


    His thoughts gradually drifted, and Ning Zhuo didn¡¯t hold them back, letting them wander freely.


    Ning Zhuo slowly began to feel a subtle sensation brought about by theprehension paintings.


    It was a feeling he hadn¡¯t experienced before.


    However, theprehension paintings only gave him a faint impression.


    Instead, the mechanical blueprints in his mind, and the mechanical ssics left to him by his mother, became exceptionally vivid.


    In addition, the various techniques and spells he had obtained in the Lava Immortal Pce also became clear.


    ¡°The Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra!¡±


    In the end, the entire text of the Fire Burial Sutra clearly appeared in Ning Zhuo¡¯s mind, word for word.


    Ning Zhuo suddenly had a new understanding of this sutra.


    He beamed with joy.


    ¡°So there¡¯s a deeper interpretation of this scripture!¡±


    ¡°Wonderful!¡±


    ¡°I can now refine spiritual devices on my own.¡±


    It was truly a case of ¡°the flower you seek refuses to bloom, but the willow you nt by chance thrives.¡±


    Ning Zhuo had never expected that by taking the Enlightenment Pill toprehend the mysteries of theprehension paintings, he would end up gaining new insights into the Fire Burial Sutra.

 Chapter 172: Clouds Falling at the End of the World

    Ning Zhuo had obtained the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra for quite some time.


    Just by looking at the title of the scripture, its meaning was clear: through the purification of mes, one could liberate sentient beings from the shackles of the mundane world and extract the spiritual nature of Prajna.


    The Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra indeed possessed such power.


    Ning Zhuo had once relied on it to enhance and replenish Yuan Dasheng''s spiritual essence, pushing it to ten percent, achieving a qualitative change.


    From that moment, Yuan Dasheng''s spiritual essence was fully restored and able to recover on its own.


    At that time, Ning Zhuo had used the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra only to add spiritual essence to Yuan Dasheng.


    Now, he had unexpectedly grasped a deeper understanding of the Fire Burial Sutra, and immediately realized that he had made great progress in his mastery of mechanical arts as well!


    He released more floating clouds and immediately tried his hand at them for the first time within the clouds.


    He seeded on his very first attempt!Ning Zhuo had created a mechanical long whip; it moved like a snake, capable of slithering on the ground by itself.


    However, after moving for a while, the long whip stopped, as if it had died.


    It wasn''t because the mana within the mechanical long whip had been depleted¡ªit still had plenty.


    Rather, it was because the spiritual essence Ning Zhuo had refined had run out!


    Ning Zhuo tried several more times.


    There were both sesses and failures.


    Overall, failures outweighed the sesses, with sess being quite rare.


    This made Ning Zhuo clearly see the limits of his ability.


    He evaluated himself privately: "So far, although I can create some mechanical constructs with spiritual resonance, the spiritual resonance is quite thin."


    "The moreplete the mechanism, the higher the failure rate, and the shorter the duration of the spiritual essence."


    "But if I only make mechanicalponents, or even essories, the duration of the spiritual essence significantly increases."


    "I should invest in higher-quality raw materials."


    "No, it''s not just that."


    "I need a lot of practice."


    "My understanding and mastery of the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra also have a lot of room for improvement!"


    This unexpected progress excited Ning Zhuo greatly.


    Because once he fully mastered this spell, he would be able to craft spiritual resonance mechanisms in the preparation room after entering the Soul-Entering Immortal Pce.


    As for raw materials, he could use the various beasts and sentient beings from the Buddha Sect''s coffin chamber.


    Anyway, with the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, Ning Zhuo could freelye and go within the Lava Immortal Pce.


    "All this time, I''ve been unable to bring external resources into the Immortal Pce during my soul entry."


    "The only ones that can freelye and go are the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape Dasheng and the Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai."


    Qi Bai, with his spiritual essence nearly exhausted, had been sealed away by Ning Zhuo.


    Relying solely on Yuan Dasheng, the mechanical creation, it had be increasingly difficult to fend off more and more trial disciples. Among them, Meng Chong posed an ever-growing threat to him.


    Ning Zhuo''s control over the trial stages of the Lava Immortal Pce was rapidly declining!


    Now, with the help of the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra, Ning Zhuo found new hope, regaining his former level of control.


    Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian both came to report to Ning Zhuo.


    This group of Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Ning family had been overseeing the ck market for several days.


    They had captured many cultivators who caused trouble, openly fought, or severely deceived others in the ck market.


    Ning Zhuo carefully reviewed the jade slip and, after a moment, said, "Interrogate these people and ask about their backgrounds."


    "Those whose crimes are less severe can leave after paying their ransom."


    "Keep thest group and hand them over to Lord Fei Si of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. He''ll appreciate it."


    Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian immediately looked over, both noticing that all the cultivators to be handed over to Fei Si were notorious criminals wanted by the Southern Dou Nation.


    Ning Xiangqian frowned and asked, "Should we transport them in secret?"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head. "There''s no need for that. We''ve done a good deed, shouldn¡¯t we publicize it widely?"


    Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian exchanged nces, both realizing that Ning Zhuo had already reached some private agreement with Fei Si!


    As expected, when Fei Si received the wanted criminals, he was filled with joy.


    To him, these were all political achievements!


    "It''s worth it that I voluntarily reduced my share to thirty percent."


    "Ning Zhuo, you''re quite considerate."


    "I wasn''t wrong about you. In this regard, even Sun Lingtong back then wasn¡¯t as thoughtful as you."


    Fei Si was full of admiration.


    After some thought, he personally wrote a letter and asked Ning Xiangguo to take it back.


    When Ning Zhuo opened the letter, he found it was an invitation, arranged by Fei Si, for him to meet the Booklord.


    The Booklord was a Golden Core cultivator from the All-Book Pavilion.


    The All-Book Pavilion was a super sect, and in terms of scale, it was muchrger than the Soul-Devouring Sect and the No-Void Sect.


    The first Pavilion Lord who founded the All-Book Pavilion was deeply troubled by the selfishness of many in the cultivation world. In his early years, he struggled to find suitable and excellent cultivation methods, which dyed him for many years and caused him to take many detours.


    So, after achieving sess in cultivation, he devoted himself to collecting as many cultivation methods, spells, and other techniques as possible.


    Since its founding, the All-Book Pavilion had always maintained neutrality. They profited by selling cultivation methods, spells, and other books, using the profits to acquire more methods and techniques.


    Ning Zhuo immediately realized that Fei Si had written this invitation as a subtle, small gesture of goodwill, expressing an unspoken gratitude.


    Ning Zhuo set off at once.


    Not long after, with the help of the invitation, he met the Booklord.


    The Booklord, a Golden Core cultivator, personally received Ning Zhuo purely out of respect for Fei Si, asked a couple of questions, gave Ning Zhuo an identity token, and then let him leave.


    With the identity token in hand, Ning Zhuo went to the shopkeeper responsible for selling books.


    Although the branch of the All-Book Pavilion in Huoshi Immortal City hadn¡¯t been built yet, Ning Zhuo¡¯s identity token gave him the privilege of special treatment.


    The shopkeeper asked him what kind of books he wanted to buy.


    Ning Zhuo wasn¡¯t in a hurry and instead asked if the All-Book Pavilion was willing to purchase the first threeyers of the Five Elements Qi Regtion Art.


    The shopkeeper informed him that the All-Book Pavilion had already collected over two hundred versions of the first threeyers of cultivation methods. These had been sent to other branches, where powerful cultivators wouldpare and revise them to eventually produce a more universal and simplified version.


    Ning Zhuo marveled at the wealth and efficiency of the All-Book Pavilion.


    He then disyed spells like the Ice-Embracing Technique to the shopkeeper.


    This immediately caught the shopkeeper''s attention.


    After all, when the transmission bell transmitted the methods, the entire city knew about it. As a result, the All-Book Pavilion had easily collected the first threeyers of the city¡¯s citizens'' cultivation methods.


    But spells like the Ice-Embracing Technique were only possessed by the Qi Refining geniuses of the four major factions and members of the modified cultivation team.


    There were very few such people.


    Momentster, the shopkeeper appraised these spells and offered a price to Ning Zhuo.


    "In the All-Book Pavilion, there are generally two ways to conduct transactions for books."


    "The first is through spirit stone transactions."


    "The second is through exchanging for equivalent pavilion credits."


    Ning Zhuo did not hesitate: "I choose pavilion credits."


    Pavilion credits were the currency of the All-Book Pavilion, with no physical form, merely a numerical record.


    Using spirit stones wasn¡¯t cost-effective. Pavilion credits could be exchanged for more books.


    The All-Book Pavilion had deliberately set up these two transaction methods topare and highlight the superiority of pavilion credits, encouraging more people to use them.


    Ning Zhuo sold spells like the Ice-Embracing Technique and Fire Grasping Technique, gaining his first sum of pavilion credits.


    He didn¡¯t hold onto them and instead asked the shopkeeper what good books he could exchange for.


    The shopkeeper responded, "Young Master Ning, our All-Book Pavilion has an extensive collection. While your pavilion credits aren''t much, you can still exchange them for thousands of books. What exactly are you looking for?"


    Ning Zhuo thought for a moment. He already had a main cultivation method, and he had so many spells that he didn''t have time to practice them all, especially the Five Elements Interactions and Counteractions Technique.


    "What mechanical-rted books can I exchange for?"


    However, during the selection process, Ning Zhuo''s attention was drawn to another book.


    In the end, he purchased a book titled Clouds Falling at the End of the World.


    This book was a travelogue, with the author¡¯s name unknown, only self-styled as Falling Cloud Master.


    There were many books on mechanical arts, but this one was rare, as it involved the concept of fate.


    "I have the mechanical arts left behind by my mother, and the content is excellent. Given my current pavilion credits, it''s basically impossible to exchange for something on the same level as my mother¡¯s legacy."


    "Some of these books would help me, but it''s hard for me to choose."


    "I might as well take a look at something rted to fate."


    "The Life Hanging by a Thread divine ability involves fate, so perhaps this will help me inprehending theplete divine ability."


    Ning Zhuo had a premonition: once the embryonic form of the Life Hanging by a Thread divine ability broke through, he would experience a terrifying boost!


    At that time, even though he was only in the Qi Refining stage, he would be able to master a divine ability.


    Most Golden Core cultivators couldn¡¯t aplish such a feat.


    The Life Hanging by a Thread divine ability would be one of his powerful trump cards!


    Ning Zhuo took Clouds Falling at the End of the World and got on a carriage, reading it all the way, but the embryonic lotus form of his divine ability didn''t show even the slightest tremor.


    Ning Zhuo had read about thirty percent of Clouds Falling at the End of the World, and the story in the early part left the deepest impression on him.


    In the story, a viger saved Falling Cloud Master, who was on the verge of dying from thirst and hunger.


    To express his gratitude, Falling Cloud Master offered to perform a ritual to change the viger''s fate, allowing him to enjoy wealth and prosperity.


    The viger didn''t believe him. The reason was simple¡ªFalling Cloud Master was too pitiful, and since the viger had saved him, what abilities could he possibly have?


    Falling Cloud Master then introduced himself: "I am a man of the idle clouds, my nature rising against heaven and falling into the mortal world. I once cultivated in Tian Gui Mansion, but misfortune gued me, and I wandered the four seas."


    Faced with the impressive disy of Falling Cloud Master, the viger reluctantly agreed.


    The viger followed Falling Cloud Master''s instructions, making purchases and arrangements as requested.


    In the end, the ritual waspleted, and the viger began to umte wealth rapidly. Within half a year, he became quite wealthy.


    Before leaving, Falling Cloud Master warned the viger: First, your good fortune willst for twelve years, so seize the opportunity. Second, after you be rich, do not show any mercy. No matter how pitiful or destitute someone may seem, do not help them, or you¡¯ll face the consequences.


    The viger, with a kind heart, couldn¡¯t bear to see others suffer. He held out for a few years, but during a famine, he threw Falling Cloud Master''s warning aside and helped many poor people, saving their lives.


    His own body grew weaker, and he often felt exhausted. During the day, he was constantly sleepy, his energy drained. At night, he had frequent nightmares, in which countless ghosts clung to him like mountains, making it difficult for him to walk in the wilderness.


    By the time Falling Cloud Master sensed something and returned to the vige, the viger was on the verge of death.


    With hisst breath, the viger asked Falling Cloud Master, seeking answers.


    Falling Cloud Master sighed and said, "You¡¯ve encountered little ghosts and evil spirits."


    "I told you not to act out of kindness and save people."


    "Your kindness was well-intentioned, but it gave these resentful spirits a chance to cling to you."


    "There are many souls in this world who, due to resentment and greed, cannot find peace. They use your kindness to fulfill their needs."


    "To be rich and heartless is wrong, but excessive kindness can be even more damaging to oneself."


    "Once you fail to help others properly, these evil spirits and little ghosts will cling to you, dragging you down to the underworld!"


    "Being a good person is always harder than being a bad one."


    After hearing this, the viger grew agitated and asked, "Then how can I deal with these evil spirits and little ghosts? What¡¯s the right way to help people?"


    Falling Cloud Master replied, "You need to transcend them."


    The viger smiled bitterly. "But I¡¯m just a mortal."


    Falling Cloud Master said, "Transcendence isn¡¯t limited to spells. Mortals have their ways too. You can give them tasks, make them work."


    "Labor can save souls."

 Chapter 173: Discovery of an Internal Traitor?

    The "Record of Clouds Falling to the Horizon" that Ning Zhuo exchanged for was quickly read.


    The book narrated from the perspective of Falling Cloud Master, detailing his unfortunate experiences, wandering the world and traveling far and wide.


    The story was quite interesting, and Ning Zhuo also felt he learned a lot about the customs and cultures of different ces.


    However, when it came to matters of fate, techniques to change fortune, and simr topics, it only touched on the surface and didn¡¯t delve deeply into any of them.


    And this was already the best book Ning Zhuo could exchange for in the Entire Book Tower. The other books rted to fate that he skimmed through were even worse than the "Record of Clouds Falling to the Horizon."


    "Matters rted to fate are not widely known and are only passed down in a small circle."


    "As of now, the ce that seems to possess the most knowledge about such mysteries is Tian Gui Mansion."


    "Although Tian Gui Mansion is a super sect, it has very few members and is extremely mysterious. ording to Falling Cloud Master''s ount, he once studied at Tian Gui Mansion, but there is no mention of Tian Gui Mansion in the ¡®Record of Clouds Falling to the Horizon.''"


    "However, Falling Cloud Master could, within a certain period and range, change someone else''s fortune.""He could give someone wealth, official rank, romantic encounters, and so on."


    "But all these techniques had drawbacks. Once certain taboos were touched, the oue would be even worse."


    Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly.


    His previous n had fallen through, as he couldn''t rely on the "Record of Clouds Falling to the Horizon" to enhance the embryonic form of the Divine Ability¡ªLife Hanging by a Thread¡ªinto a qualitative transformation.


    But it wasn''t without any gains.


    At least he understood that changing another person''s fortune carried many drawbacks.


    "So, what drawbacks does Meng Kui''s ¡®Mountain Watching Divine Ability'' have when it creates different fortune fields?"


    Ning Zhuo pondered this question.


    To him, Meng Kui was also apetitor in the race for the Lava Immortal Pce.


    Reality was cruel.


    Just because Meng Kui was in the Nascent Soul stage and Ning Zhuo was only in the Qi Refining stage didn¡¯t mean they wouldn¡¯t bepetitors.


    When the final moment arrived, Ning Zhuo would inevitably face Nascent Soul-stage Meng Kui.


    "But if I can find the weaknesses of his divine ability before then, it will undoubtedly increase my chances of victory."


    Ning Zhuo continued his arduous cultivation.


    His spiritual sea cultivation had reached its limit.


    His qi sea cultivation had also reached its upper limit, but his mana needed further refinement.


    His essence sea cultivation still had room for improvement, and Ning Zhuo''s cultivation speed was considerable, thanks to consumingrge quantities of spirit food and pills. ??


    "However, even if the essence sea cultivation reaches the peak of the sixthyer, it won''t break through the current bottleneck."


    Ning Zhuo was almost certain that the difficulty behind the second demonic gate was on par with that of the Buddhist and Daoist gates. It was expected that he would still face an obstacle.


    "The second gate is a special checkpoint that grants the Five Elements Spirit Transformation Disk. The more skilled I am in the art of the Five Elements mutual generation and restraint, the higher quality the transformation disk I¡¯ll receive."


    "Based on the coffin room in the first Buddhist gate, I can probably only choose once, so I must be extremely cautious."


    "I need to raise my proficiency in the Five Elements mutual generation and restraint as much as possible before selecting the transformation disk."


    Mastering the Five Elements mutual generation and restraint technique required diligent practice, and even more so with the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra.


    After Ning Zhuo''s assessment, this cultivation technique was the key to breaking through his current dilemma!


    After all,pared to the Daoist gate and the demonic gate, the Buddhist gate was his strongest path forward.


    With that, Ning Zhuo focused on cultivating the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra, followed by the Five Elements mutual generation and restraint technique, and finally the Demonic Blood Tendon Technique.


    He scheduled his daily activities, from eating and drinking to personal hygiene, down to the split second.


    Ning Zhuo''s diligence and determination left those around him in awe.


    "I always thought I worked hard enough, butpared to Brother Zhuo, what am I?"


    "To be so industrious and tireless, it''s no wonder Brother Zhuo has achieved so much. I¡¯mpletely convinced."


    "Brother Zhuo is so excellent and still works this hard¡ªwhat right do we have to ck off?"


    Ning Yong, Ning Chen, and others were greatly inspired.


    They all took Ning Zhuo as a role model and began their own frenzied cultivation.


    As Ning Zhuo¡¯s status continued to rise, his continued sesses led to a surge in his influence.


    Without any deliberate effort, Ning Zhuo could directly change the mental and physical states of those around him.


    Noticing that Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and others were following his example, Ning Zhuo decisively told them, "We¡¯re all at the peak of the thirdyer of Qi Refining. If we want to explore the deeper parts of the Immortal Pce, we must focus on improving our mechanical skills."


    "Here¡¯s the n: I can introduce you to the Flying Disk Workshop."


    "Once you''re there, you can craft various mechanical creations and umte hands-on experience, which will be very beneficial for you."


    Ning Yong, Ning Chen, and the others had no objections.


    Since Ning Zhuo had said so, they trusted his reasoning.


    These young cultivators all chose to follow his advice, with no one refusing.


    Thus, Ning Zhuo introduced them to Chen Cha.


    Ning Zhuo also handed Chen Cha new mechanical blueprints. "This is a new model of the Mechanical Explosive Monkey that I modified. It''s mainly used forbat."


    Chen Cha took one look and nodded in satisfaction. "The materials are much sturdier thanst time."


    Ning Zhuo smiled. "It''s primarily for the Monkey Head Gang. This type ofbat mechanism needs to be reliable, after all, as it concerns lives."


    Ten days passed quickly.


    That afternoon, as nned, Ning Zhuo took a short break to listen to reports from Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian.


    Most of the stewards dismissed from the main family had been recruited by Ning Zhuo, with Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian being the most outstanding. Ning Zhuo appointed these two as leaders.


    After unifying the ck market and setting rules, Ning Zhuo had nearly be a hands-off overseer.


    For the past half month, the Ning Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivators had been maintaining order.


    With the Lava Immortal Pce reappearing and the call for talent attracting many outsiders, people had been continuously pouring into Huoshi Immortal City. Consequently, the ck market¡¯s business had be ten times busier than before.


    As ck market profits soared, so did the difficulty of managing it.


    Fortunately, the Ning Family¡¯s cultivators were all in the Foundation Establishment stage, and not just any ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. Those selected as stewards by the main family naturally had their own specialties.


    These cultivators were the elites among Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    The frost techniques they used were also quite suitable for capturing people. Once frozen, a captured person could often be kept alive.


    If it had been up to Sun Lingtong''s previous arrangements and forces, they would not have been able to handle the ck market as it stood now.


    But with these former Ning Family stewards, the ck market was managed in an orderly fashion.


    "You¡¯ve all worked hard these days," Ning Zhuo said after hearing the reports, and then proceeded to allocate resources.


    He had already investigated the specific sries these Foundation Establishment cultivators received when they served as stewards in the Ning Family. Ning Zhuo took out eighty percent of the ck market''s profits for their payment.


    This reached the monthly sry standards they once had.


    "It¡¯s the end of the month, so we¡¯ll distribute the sries now."


    Ning Xiangguo said, "Young Master Zhuo, I think there''s a miscalction. We¡¯ve only been working for half a month, yet this is a full month''s sry."


    Ning Zhuo nodded. "The extra portion is a wee gift from me to everyone."


    "From now on, every n member who joins us will receive half a month''s sry as a joining gift in their first month."


    Ning Xiangqian was delighted. "That¡¯s a great idea! Everyone will love it!"


    Ning Zhuo continued, "Next, we¡¯ll calcte bonuses based on individual performance and contributions for this month."


    "ording to the rules I set before, the calctions will be detailed. Both the process and results will be avable for each person to verify."


    "These bonuses will be distributed at the end of next month along with the sry for next month."


    "In short, sries will be distributed at the end of each month, and bonuses at the end of the following month. This way, if anyone has disputes over the bonus calction, they can report and correct them."


    Ning Xiangqian nodded repeatedly. "This is a good method. That way, everyone working in the ck market will at least earn the same as they did in the family. The more someone contributes, the more they get. It''s fair!"


    Ning Xiangguo, however, frowned


    slightly. "But this way, there will hardly be any profits left from the ck market. Young Master Zhuo, you should keep some for yourself. Forgive my bluntness, but you''re giving away too much."


    Ning Xiangqian was momentarily stunned, then thought carefully and nodded. "That does seem to be the case."


    Ning Zhuo smiled and waved it off. "It¡¯s only for the first month. I believe we¡¯ll have even better days ahead."


    "There will be more outsidersing to the ck market."


    "In fact, as long as the Lava Immortal Pce hasn¡¯t chosen its master, cultivators will keeping from far and wide."


    "These people will liven up business in the city, and the ck market will keep growing, won¡¯t it?"


    Ning Xiangqian grinned. "That makes sense!"


    Ning Xiangguo, however, had a deeper look in his eyes and said, "But Young Master Zhuo, do you really n to control the ck market indefinitely?"


    "I personally don¡¯t think this is a long-term solution."


    "We need legitimate businesses. After all, the ck market isn¡¯t a righteous endeavor."


    "Holding onto it for too long and getting too deeply involved will harm the Ning Family¡¯s reputation."


    "For now, it''s fine, as people will think: The four major forces have reached an understanding, allowing the Ning Family to step into the ck market for the sake of maintaining the greater stability of the city."


    "But in the future, once there are fewer outsiders and the Immortal Pce finds its master, we won''t be able to hold onto this ce, and we''ll have to let it go."


    Ning Xiangqian immediately frowned, puzzled, and asked, "Why can¡¯t we hold onto it? The ck market is something we fought for!"


    Clearly, Ning Xiangguo was more strategic and perceptive, able to see the situation clearly and think long-term.


    Ning Xiangguo continued, "That¡¯s why I sincerely suggest, Young Master Zhuo, you shouldn''t be so generous. It''s better to take advantage of this rare opportunity to umte more wealth and keep it in your hands. When we eventually leave the ck market, at least we¡¯ll have a supply of resources."


    Ning Zhuo gave Ning Xiangguo a deep look.


    Although Ning Zhuo had been staying behind the scenes recently, he still used his spare time every day to meet one-on-one with the Ning Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    During this process, Ning Zhuo also gathered more detailed information about each of them through the Tortoise Breath Gang.


    Now, the majority of Ning Family¡¯s Foundation Establishment cultivators had already been ced under Life Hanging by a Thread.


    Both Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian were among them.

 Chapter 174: Zhou Zhenshens Challenge Invitation

    Ning Xiangqian''s "Life Hanging by a Thread" was normal, but Ning Xiangguo''s "Life Hanging by a Thread" was the smallest and most transparent.


    Based on Ning Zhuo''s understanding of this divine ability, he spected that either Ning Xiangguo was hiding many secrets or his heart was elsewhere, not truly loyal to Ning Zhuo.


    Considering the City Lord''s Mansion''s infiltration of the three major families and their consistently superior intelligence advantage, Ning Zhuo made an initial judgment: Ning Xiangguo was likely a spy developed by the City Lord''s Mansion.


    Divine Ability¡ªLife Hanging by a Thread.


    As Ning Zhuo used it, he increasingly realized its wonderful uses.


    When Ning Zhuo activated it, he could forcibly control another person''s movements. As for the specific actions, the range of movement, etc., these depended on the strength of both parties.


    Ning Zhuo had discovered that he could extract Yuan Dasheng''s spirituality and Sun Lingtong''s soul. However, these were based on the voluntary and full cooperation of thetter two. For others, under resistance or ignorance, Ning Zhuo was unable to achieve this.


    At least, for now, this was the case.


    "Since setting up ¡®Life Hanging by a Thread,'' it has remained in ce without requiring me to replenish it.""Even without activating ¡®Life Hanging by a Thread,'' I can infer the size of a target''s hidden secrets and their true intentions through the state of the thread."


    This meant that Ning Zhuo could, to some extent, detect the "loyalty" of his subordinates.


    This was already incredibly powerful!


    Not to mention, it had other wonderful uses as well.


    "Furthermore, after setting ¡®Life Hanging by a Thread,'' the luck between people can gather together and fullybine."


    "No matter how you look at it, this divine ability is an unparalleled tool for managing power!"


    "I wonder what the divine ability will look like after the lotus fully blooms and undergoes its final transformation."


    Ning Zhuo grew increasingly curious about the answer to this question.


    As for Ning Xiangguo, Ning Zhuo pretended not to know and still entrusted him with important tasks.


    It had to be said, among all the Foundation Establishment cultivators, Ning Xiangguo had the best vision and handled matters meticulously. Assigning tasks to him gave people peace of mind.


    Inparison, although Ning Xiangqian was the strongest inbat, having once been the steward of the family''s battle hall, he was not as reliable as Ning Xiangguo. ?


    After handling the matters of the ck market, Ning Zhuo returned to his secluded cultivation.


    He reduced his external activities to a minimum.


    What used to be a spell exchange session every three days was now held every five days.


    The content of the exchange also changed.


    In the past, it was only about sparring and exchanging insights on spellcasting experiences. Now, there was an additional segment on reviewing mechanical creations.


    Ning Zhuo''s ssmates would bring out the Mechanical Explosive Monkeys and other creations they made in Chen Cha''s workshop and hand them over to Ning Zhuo.


    After inspecting them, Ning Zhuo would give one-by-one feedback on the Explosive Monkeys.


    Each time he pointed out ws, he made it simple and easy to understand, causing the creators to have sudden realizations. Ning Zhuo also exined how to better and more quickly create mechanical devices.


    This behavior greatly benefited his ssmates in the modification team.


    As a result, Ning Zhuo''s authority among the group was firmly established.


    When he encountered mechanical creations that met the standard, Ning Zhuo would publicly take out spirit stones and purchase them on the spot at market price.


    Seeing their mechanical creations being purchased by Ning Zhuo, the creators all stood tall with pride.


    If there were any innovative gadgets, Ning Zhuo would even exchange pills or spirit food for them. This was a higher level of recognition, and the young cultivators who received such treatment were all overjoyed.


    Zhou Zhenshen sat in a corner, watching the lively scene, his eyes shing with brilliance.


    "Like the stars surrounding the moon, Ning Zhuo haspletely taken control of this team."


    "And in Ning Family''s modification team, the main branch of the Ning Family is small in number, while the coteral branches are the majority. In other words, Ning Zhuo has essentially be the actual controller of Ning Family''s modification team."


    Since being summoned by the Zhou Family patriarch and ordered to build a good rtionship with Ning Zhuo, Zhou Zhenshen had been actively inviting Ning Zhuo, trying to increase the frequency of their meetings to foster cooperation between the two sides.


    However, Ning Zhuo had been focused on cultivation these past days and politely declined all of Zhou Zhenshen''s invitations.


    Zhou Zhenshen was quite persistent. Seeing that constant refusal was not a solution, Ning Zhuo told him that he held a modification team exchange meeting every five days. If Zhou Zhenshen was interested, he could attend; otherwise, he''d have to wait seven days until Ning Zhuo visited the Kindergarten for Benevolence.


    Zhou Zhenshen decisively chose to participate, finding a corner in the courtyard to sit.


    He watched coldly and soon noticed someone in the Ning family who was out of ce with the enthusiastic atmosphere.


    "It¡¯s Ning Ji, Ning Zhuo''s cousin."


    Ordinarily, Zhou Zhenshen wouldn¡¯t pay special attention to a small character like Ning Ji.


    But Zhou Zhenshen remembered every piece of information about Ning Zhuo, and thus, he knew about Ning Ji.


    "This guy once asked for a share when Ning Zhuo was heavily rewarded by the main branch of the family, even requesting to borrow Ning Zhuo''s magic tools for cultivation."


    "In the end, Ning Zhuo sternly rejected him."


    Zhou Zhenshen looked at Ning Zhuo again, silently admiring him.


    So far, Ning Zhuo had handled everything perfectly!


    If Ning Zhuo had relented back then, he would have undoubtedly fallen into a trap.


    Such unconditional assistance would only fuel others'' greed, leading to endless entanglements.


    How could someone like Ning Ji ever be satisfied?


    Likewise, it would incite more people to swarm to cling to Ning Zhuo.


    Over time, even the greatest fortune would be lost.


    On the surface, it would seem like Ning Zhuo had won the people''s favor and garnered admiration, but it would all be an illusion!


    Once Ning Zhuo stopped offering aid, those who had benefited before and whose expectations were unmet would grow resentful, even hateful.


    Thus, from the beginning, Ning Zhuo had cleanly and decisively refused.


    What followed was even more crucial!


    Ning Zhuomanded his ssmates to participate in the production of Mechanical Explosive Monkeys.


    And once the mechanical monkeys were produced, Ning Zhuo would evaluate them. Then, he would purchase most of them with spirit stones, and a few exceptional ones would receive additional rewards.


    Through this, even though Ning Zhuo expended resources, it wasn¡¯t an unconditional ouy. It wasn¡¯t about giving away things for free to those who merely extended their hands and wanted to gain without effort.


    This created a positive cycle, and more importantly, it established the foundation of the team¡ª


    Fairness and justice!


    Every word of Ning Zhuo¡¯s feedback was public and explicit. This brought about clear rewards and punishments, open and transparent, eliminating favoritism and corruption while fostering an upwardly positive atmosphere, thus winning over more people.


    Watching the eloquent and smiling Ning Zhuo in front of him, Zhou Zhenshen found it hard to believe that Ning Zhuo had once been a marginal figure from the coteral branch!


    "Isn¡¯t someone like this supposed to have been cultivated by the family since childhood, personally taught by the elders?"


    "This is the kind of awareness and skill only possessed by a cultivator raised from childhood to be an heir."


    Who would have expected Ning Zhuo to have such depth?


    Zhou Zhenshen thought secretly, "Ning Zhuo is very good at hiding his talents. He hides it too well!"


    "It was precisely because no one realized he was such a person that the main branch of the Ning family suffered a major loss this time."


    It was understandable.


    A typical sixteen-year-old cultivator spent most of their life in school¡ªwhat could they know?


    Especially Ning Zhuo, who had lost his parents at a young age and had been raised by his uncle, enduring hardship and harsh treatment his whole life.


    "How could he have such understanding, such vision, such skills?"


    Zhou Zhenshen couldn''t figure it out.


    He believed that the main branch of the Ning Family¡¯s great defeat this time was mainly due to underestimating Ning Zhuo, thinking that such a scheme could easily solve him.


    As a result, Ning Zhuo had effortlessly defused it.


    Ning Zhuo avoided the pitfall, organized his ssmates, and turned the tables by getting involved in the ck market, leaving the main branch of the Ning Family to suffer a great loss instead!


    Now, Ning Zhuo had be the master of the ck market.


    A sixteen-year-old, at the thirdyer of Qi Refining, the master of the ck market!


    Hemanded nearly twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators, and these Foundation Establishment cultivators were not ordinary¡ªthey were elites among their ranks.


    Ning Zhuo''s series of actions left Zhou Zhenshen filled with admiration and he couldn¡¯t help but marvel at their brilliance.


    Zhou Zhenshen, skilled in strategy, greatly enjoyed such intellectual confrontations.


    In his view, thepetition in the righteous path was far more interesting, deeper, and more meaningful than direct bloody battles, and far more worthy of appreciation!


    "Among the Qi Refining geniuses in the four major forces of Huoshi Immortal City, only Ning Zhuo and I are alike. We are the same kind of people


    !" Zhou Zhenshen¡¯s admiration for Ning Zhuo grew immensely.


    He appreciated Ning Zhuo and also envied him quite a bit.


    "Ning Zhuo¡¯s current power¡ªhow is it any different from that of an elder?"


    "Though I have talent, I¡¯m restricted everywhere in my family. Even though I am the son of an elder, I am far from free."


    "How can Ipare to Ning Zhuo¡¯s glory?"


    "More crucially, it¡¯s the profits!"


    "Ning Zhuo is now reaping the benefits of the ck market."


    "Oh, right. The members of the modification team all follow Ning Zhuo''s lead. These are his manpower, for him to use!"


    After Ning Zhuo finishedmenting on all the mechanical creations, he began to exchange insights on spellcasting.


    Zhou Zhenshen quietly listened, growing more and more astonished¡ªso Ning Zhuo¡¯s talent wasn¡¯t just in mechanical techniques; he had terrifyingprehension in traditional spells as well.


    The five-faced leaderboard was filled with people from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.


    The Zhou and Zheng families were still clueless about the rewards tied to the leaderboard.


    The more Zhou Zhenshen listened, the more engrossed he became, and a fascinated expression gradually appeared on his face. The corners of his mouth slightly curled up, unable to hide his joy at the immense benefits gained from listening to this session.


    When it came time for the question-and-answer segment, Zhou Zhenshen joined in, asking a few questions.


    After careful thought, Ning Zhuo provided detailed answers.


    Zhou Zhenshen was deeply touched, having gained so much, and sincerely expressed his gratitude.


    This made the other Ning Family cultivators feel a great sense of pride, thinking that Ning Zhuo had "convinced" the Zhou family genius with his personal talent.


    Zhou Zhenshen didn¡¯t only take from the session¡ªhe was well aware that his purpose here was to perform and build a rtionship with Ning Zhuo.


    During the exchange, he also shared his own insights into spellcasting and even actively invited Ning Zhuo to a public mechanical technique duel, to be held in front of everyone present.


    Ning Chen and Ning Yong''s eyes sparkled with excitement, feeling greatly anticipated.


    Ning Zhuo only pondered for a moment before decisively agreeing: "Then I will respectfully ept Brother Zhou''s challenge."


    He had always wanted to spar with Zhou Zhenshen and Zhou Zhu, to experience the mechanical techniques of the Mud Flow Sect.


    Now that Zhou Zhenshen had brought it up himself, it was precisely what Ning Zhuo wanted.


    How could Ning Zhuo not agree?


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 175: Ning Zhuo vs Zhou Zhenshen (1)

    Everyone arrived at the Ning Family''s martial arts training ground.


    Ning Zhuo originally wanted to rent a training ground in Huoshi Immortal City, but Zhou Zhenshen said there was no need to waste that money.


    There was also no need to go all the way to the Zhou Family; it would be better to have a small sparring match at the Ning Family''s training ground.


    This statement made Ning Zhuo nce at Zhou Zhenshen at the time, his heart beginning to contemte something.


    Ning Yong immediately stood up, raising his hand, "Then I''ll go contact the family''s training ground."


    Seeing Ning Zhuo nod, Ning Yong excitedly ran out of the courtyard.


    Zhou Zhenshen, with a smile on his face, suggested, "Big bets hurt the body, small bets bring joy. Brother Ning, why don''t we bet on something?"


    Ning Zhuo also smiled and said, "It seems Brother Zhou was already prepared beforeing here."


    Zhou Zhenshen spread his hands, "You¡¯ve caught me, Brother Ning. I thought, I couldn''t visit you empty-handed, so I brought this."As he spoke, Zhou Zhenshen took out a crossbow from his storage belt.


    The crossbow was small, only about thirty percentrger than an adult''s palm, and finely crafted with a bronze texture.


    Notably, itcked a traditional arrow quiver, reced by a small rectangr wooden box.


    "This is a rivet shooting crossbow, slightly modified by me. Its power is not small." Zhou Zhenshen revealed a confident smile. "Brother Ning, if you win, I''ll give this to you, along with the mechanism blueprint."


    Ning Zhuo''s heart stirred, and he took out a Mechanical Explosive Monkey. "If you win, I¡¯ll give this to you, also with its blueprint. I''m just worried that I won¡¯t be able to give it away."


    "Hahaha." The two exchanged nces andughed simultaneously.


    Ning Yong soon returned, panting as he said he had reserved the Ding-character training ground.


    Everyone immediately left the courtyard, gathering in groups as they made their way to the training ground.


    The branch family cultivator in charge of the training ground was respectful and enthusiastic towards Ning Zhuo, asking what kind of battlefield they needed.


    Ning Zhuo looked at Zhou Zhenshen.


    Zhou Zhenshen said, "Since there are mountains all around, let¡¯s go with a mountainous terrain."


    Thus, several formations of the training ground were activated in session.


    The previously t ground immediately saw countless red earth being piled up, getting higher and higher.


    It was as if an invisible force was molding the red soil into two small hills, the height greatly surpassing the Ning Familypound walls.


    But that wasn¡¯t all.


    The power of wood was applied to the hills, causing grass and trees to grow and mature within just a dozen breaths, forming a dense forest.


    A cloud gathered, floating over the battlefield, and rain poured down.


    Water also flowed out of nowhere, forming a small river between the two hills.


    As per Zhou Zhenshen''s request, the concealment formations of the training ground were not activated.


    Such a grand spectacle quickly attracted other members of the Ning Family.


    With introductions from Ning Zhuo''s ssmates, everyone soon understood the situation.


    "It''s Young Master Ning Zhuo, going to spar with the genius of the Zhou Family, Zhou Zhenshen!"


    "Why?"


    "Zhou Zhenshen initiated the challenge."


    "Uh oh, Zhou Zhenshen looks treacherous. Is our Young Master Ning Zhuo being set up? Is Zhou Zhenshen using him to make a name for himself?"


    "Ahem, that''s a bit much. Zhou Zhenshen is already famous, long before Young Master Ning Zhuo."


    "Can''t you see the two of them are getting along quite well? Both are smiling."


    "This is bad. I¡¯ve heard Zhou Zhenshen possesses the talent of ¡®Water umtes into Abyss'' and has been nurtured by his family for a long time. But although Young Master Ning Zhuo has talent, it hasn''t even been fully tested yet. How can he win?" ?


    "Young Master Ning Zhuo, fight on!"


    "We¡¯re all supporting you!"


    More and more Ning Family members gathered, and after some discussion, they all began cheering for Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo waved to greet everyone, drawing even louder cheers and shouts from the crowd.


    Once the battlefield was set up, Ning Zhuo and Zhou Zhenshen entered the training ground simultaneously, each standing on top of a hill, facing each other.


    Zhou Zhenshen transmitted a message, "Brother Ning, please."


    Ning Zhuo replied, "Brother Zhou, you¡¯re the guest, so please go first."


    "Alright, then I¡¯ll go first." Zhou Zhenshen patted his storage belt and immediately released ten Mechanical Drilling Rats.


    The Drilling Rats were very fast and nimble, weaving through the dense forest with ease.


    Each Mechanical Rat was connected to a mana string that trailed behind them. As the distance between the rats and Zhou Zhenshen grew, the strings extended, flowing smoothly and steadily.


    Ning Zhuo also patted his belt, releasing five Mechanical Explosive Monkeys.


    He also used mana strings to control them, making the monkeys leap and fly through the branches and leaves.


    The training ground had limited space, and both sides'' mechanisms were fast. They quickly met at the foot of the hill where Ning Zhuo stood.


    The front ends of the Drilling Rats were equipped with spiral drills, sharp enough to pierce holes in the Mechanical Monkeys upon impact.


    However, the Mechanical Monkeys were muchrger than the Drilling Rats and had greater strength. They moved very flexibly and could coordinate with each other, quickly gaining the upper hand.


    Bang, bang, bang¡­


    Zhou Zhenshen''s mana strings were connected to his ten fingers. After the sh, three of his fingers trembled slightly, and the mana strings snapped.


    This meant that he had lost three Mechanical Drilling Rats in a row!


    Seeing the unfavorable situation, Zhou Zhenshen quickly clenched his ten fingers inward, making the remaining seven Drilling Rats retreat simultaneously.


    "Good!" The Ning Family spectators erupted in cheers.


    Earlier, much of their view had been blocked by the forest, and with so many mechanisms involved, the battle scene had been chaotic and hard to follow.


    Now, as Zhou Zhenshen''s Drilling Rats retreated, both sides were clearly separated, allowing everyone to see what had happened.


    Zhou Zhenshen had lost three Drilling Rats, while Ning Zhuo''s side had barely taken any damage, with only one Explosive Monkeygging behind during the chase.


    Apparently, its mechanical leg had been damaged, affecting its movement.


    In this first probing exchange, Zhou Zhenshen decisively retreated, trying to create distance between his Drilling Rats and the opponent.


    Ning Zhuo, of course, refused to let him go, directly increasing his mana output,manding his Mechanical Explosive Monkeys to pursue.


    However, the Drilling Rats were faster than the monkeys, having a clear advantage in speed.


    Seeing that the monkeys couldn''t catch up, Ning Zhuo called out, "Brother Zhou, be careful, I¡¯m about to use weapon attachments."


    In the next moment, the Explosive Monkeys opened their mouths and spat out red firecrackers.


    The Mechanical Monkeys hurled the firecrackers with force.


    Boom, boom, boom¡ªexplosions rocked the battlefield, sending dirt and stones flying, trees copsing, and smoke billowing everywhere.


    When the smoke cleared, only a few mechanical remains were left at the explosion site.


    It turned out that at the critical moment, the Drilling Rats had burrowed into the ground to escape.


    However, two of them, despite also burrowing, were unlucky enough to be at the center of the explosion and were blown to pieces.


    "Only five left," Ning Zhuo calcted silently.


    He frowned slightly.


    This was because the Drilling Rats had burrowed into the mountains, causing him to lose track of their location.


    They might have returned to Zhou Zhenshen''s side, or they could be preparing tounch a surprise attack from underground.


    "Should I continue attacking or cast a detection spell?"


    Ning Zhuo decided to cast a spell to scan his surroundings.


    "Choosing to defend first?" Zhou Zhenshen, standing atop the hill, saw this and a sharp gleam shed in his eyes.


    He silently noted this detail.


    In battle, a person¡¯s character was often revealed more directly and honestly.


    This was one of the reasons Zhou Zhenshen suggested this sparring match.


    The Zhou Family wanted to win over Ning Zhuo, and Zhou Zhenshen keenly understood that Ning Zhuo had immense potential.


    If he continued at his current pace, he was destined to be a pivotal figure in Huoshi Immortal City.


    And to win over key figures, the prerequisite was to understand them well.


    A friendly sparring match often allowed cultivators to quickly build rapport and deepen their understanding of each other.


    "The Explosive Monkeys are only five, so Ning Zhuo doesn¡¯t have much pressure controlling them."


    "He could easily cast detection spells while alsomanding the Mechanical Monkeys."


    "Indeed."


    "He understands my main intention for this spar."


    "As expected of a genius like me."


    Zhou Zhenshen''s lips curved slightly, feeling that dealing with someone as smart as Ning Zhuo wasfortable. Many things didn¡¯t need to be said; they could just understand each other.


    Ning Zhuo deliberately slowed the pace of the battle, while Zhou Zhenshen threw out a storage bag.


    The bag fell to the ground, its mouth wide open, releasing over a dozen mechanical bats¡ªNight Sky Bats.


    The Night Sky Bats flew across the air, heading towards Ning Zhu


    o.


    Seeing this, Ning Zhuo patted his belt, releasing a flock of Thunderstorm Birds.


    These mechanical birds were verymon, widely praised for their simple control and ease of use.


    The Thunderstorm Birds shed with the Night Sky Bats in mid-air, beginning the second frontal confrontation between Ning Zhuo and Zhou Zhenshen.


    The Thunderstorm Birds attacked in a straightforward manner, while the Night Sky Bats were erratic, with sharp turns and great evasion capabilities, far superior to the Thunderstorm Birds.


    The Night Sky Bats were mechanisms from the Mud Flow Sect, clearly outperforming the Thunderstorm Birds in terms of performance.


    Ning Zhuo had more Thunderstorm Birds than Night Sky Bats, but after the sh, the Thunderstorm Birds quickly dwindled, clearly at a disadvantage.


    The Ning Family spectators looked serious, some frowning, secretly worried for Ning Zhuo.


    "He''s holding back," Zhou Zhenshen thought.


    Earlier, Ning Zhuo had controlled the five Mechanical Monkeys with great precision, demonstrating high control skills.


    But in this aerial battle, Ning Zhuo¡¯s Thunderstorm Birds were barely maneuvered, moving in straight lines, making their attack paths easy to predict.


    This gave Zhou Zhenshen a huge advantage.


    "Is it because my Drilling Rats retreated in the first exchange? Is Ning Zhuo intentionally giving me face by losing this round?"


    "This guy¡­"


    Zhou Zhenshen gritted his teeth, feeling conflicted.


    He was grateful for Ning Zhuo¡¯s consideration for his reputation, showing such tacit understanding.


    But he also felt ufortable, as Zhou Zhenshen, a genius, rarely experienced being let off like this.


    "Although this is a friendly sparring match, I have always taken it seriously."


    "I¡¯m giving my all, yet you¡¯re holding back¡­"


    "While it¡¯s kind, to me, it¡¯s also a form of subtle insult."


    "Ning Zhuo!"


    "I want you to take me seriously!"


    Zhou Zhenshen shouted in his heart.


    Fueled by this, he took out a medium-sized mechanism from his storage belt.


    This mechanical creation resembled a fierce tiger, about twenty-five feet long, five feet tall at the shoulder, with three-inch ws, two-inch-long teeth, white fur with ck stripes, and golden tiger eyes, looking extremely imposing.

 Chapter 176: Ning Zhuo vs Zhou Zhenshen (2)

    "This kind of sparring is a bit boring." Ning Zhuo let the Thunder Silence Bird above his head be mostly destroyed, feeling somewhat bored deep inside.


    "Zhou Zhenshen took the initiative to suggest a sparring match, wanting to get closer to me."


    "During the first exchange, he deliberately lost and held back, letting me gain the upper hand and giving me face."


    "In the second round, I should reciprocate and let him show off a bit."


    "Oh?"


    At that moment, Ning Zhuo''s eyes brightened as he saw Zhou Zhenshen take out the White Tiger Mechanical Beast.


    "So, Brother Zhou, you''re also feeling bored and want to add some excitement, huh¡­"


    "Very well."


    "This is the perfect time to let it make an appearance."Ning Zhuo touched his storage belt.


    A sh of fire appeared, and a giant python emerged before him.


    The python was about five zhang long and about one chi five cun in circumference, entirely red, made of wood, with eyes made of red crystal, coiled like a giant tree, looking majestic.


    Zhou Zhenshen raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of joy: "Very good, this is more like it."


    "Show your full strength, Ning Zhuo!"


    Zhou Zhenshen''s fighting spirit surged.


    At this moment, Ning Zhuo transmitted his voice, speaking gently: "Brother Zhou, look closely, this Fire Bamboo Snake is a new mechanism I recently created, used as an elite tool."


    Zhou Zhenshen''s pupils slightly contracted: "A newly created mechanism by Brother Ning? Interesting, you''ve piqued my curiosity."


    "But Brother Ning, do be careful."


    "My White Tiger Ram Car is a ssic mechanism from the Mud Flow Sect, tested and refined, equipped with three different heads."


    "If you lose, don''t say I didn''t warn you in advance."


    Ning Zhuoughed heartily and said no more, using mana to control the Fire Bamboo Snake, sending it forward.


    The White Tiger Ram Car, under Zhou Zhenshen''smand, also moved its four limbs, galloping through the forest.


    Then, it suddenly leapt, its body gracefully stretching in midair, crossing over ten zhang in a single jump,nding on the opposite mountain.


    Bang!


    The mechanical tiger and snake collided hard on the mountainside, with their heads hitting each other, making a loud explosion.


    The snake''s head raised high, while the tiger''s head shrank back into its neck.


    The wheels inside the tiger''s body spun, and when it extended again, the beast''s head had been reced with a ramming head.


    Although the ram''s head was carved with tiger patterns, it was a solid piece, made from durable materials, incredibly tough.


    The White Tiger Ram charged forward, kicking up a strong gust of wind.


    The Fire Bamboo Snake, under Ning Zhuo''s control, dodged nimbly.


    Suddenly, white light burst from the White Tiger''s body, shining on the Fire Bamboo Snake, making its skin transparent, revealing the internal structure of the mechanism.


    Inside the Fire Bamboo Snake, there wererge round spheres connected to the snake''s skeleton at regr intervals.


    One side of the sphere was pitch ck, while the other side was pure white. The ck side bore the word "death," while the white side had the word "life."


    With each movement of the Fire Bamboo Snake, the spheres would spin and pause, some stopping on the ck death side, others on the white life side.


    When the sphere faced the white life side, the joints would move freely. When it faced the ck death side, the joints would lock in ce.


    The ingenious part was that the spheres and snake bones were arranged with formations, forming a tightly integrated whole.


    "An interesting mechanicalponent¡­" Through the White Tiger Ram Car, Zhou Zhenshen saw this scene up close and immediately understood part of the reason behind the Fire Bamboo Snake''s agility.


    The spherical mechanismponent was the Half-Life, Half-Death Pearl.


    Back then, Chen Cha, feeling guilty, gave all his savings to Ning Zhuo aspensation.


    The Half-Life, Half-Death Pearl was one of Chen Cha''s original creations.


    In addition, there was a collection of formations called the "Serpentine Flexure Formation Collection," which was a serendipitous find from Chen Cha''s early years.


    With these two items, plus Ning Zhuo''s mechanical expertise and some idental inspiration, the Fire Bamboo Snake was finally created.


    The snake and tiger shed fiercely, trees snapped one after another, dust billowed around the battlefield, and for a time, it was hard to tell who had the upper hand.


    Zhou Zhenshen''s ten fingers twitched like he was plucking strings, constantly flexing. His main focus was on controlling the White Tiger Ram Car.


    The remaining portion of his attention was on the Burrowing Mice.


    Although the first exchange had been unfavorable, the retreating Burrowing Mice did not return to Zhou Zhenshen''s side but burrowed underground, tunneling toward Ning Zhuo.


    Although there were more Night Bats in the sky, and they could fly, allowing them to reach Ning Zhuo faster, Zhou Zhenshen cared about his dignity.


    He thought: Since Ning Zhuo deliberately held back during the aerialbat, it wouldn''t be appropriate for him to exploit this advantage that was given on purpose.


    So, he chose the Burrowing Mice.


    When the Burrowing Mice were within ten zhang of Ning Zhuo, he noticed them.


    Ning Zhuo had been maintaining a spell for scouting.


    After discovering the Burrowing Mice, he didn''t move, instead taking out a new Mechanical Explosive Monkey to guard his surroundings.


    Zhou Zhenshen''s pupils contracted at this sight.


    Ning Zhuo''s control ability was clearly superior to his.


    At this moment, Ning Zhuo was simultaneously controlling the Fire Bamboo Snake and the five Mechanical Explosive Monkeys from the first wave, sending them toward Zhou Zhenshen.


    At the same time, he added five more Mechanical Explosive Monkeys.


    Under Ning Zhuo''smand, the second wave of Explosive Monkeys was equally agile, as if they were real monkeys.


    Zhou Zhenshen knew he couldn''t achieve such a level of precision.


    His current limit was controlling nearly thirty mechanisms.


    But there were two conditions for this number. One was that it only counted simpler mechanisms like Night Bats or Burrowing Mice. The second was that Zhou Zhenshen had to take Split Mind Powder or other pills.


    Controlling the White Tiger Ram Car required more effort to unleash its true power.


    This one mechanism alone took up most of Zhou Zhenshen''s attention. He also controlled three Burrowing Mice, leaving only a fraction of his attention for emergency spellcasting.


    In short, Zhou Zhenshen had already pushed his normal control abilities to the limit.


    Meanwhile, Ning Zhuo, still calm, took out five more Mechanical Explosive Monkeys and controlled them with ease.


    If Zhou Zhenshen wanted to improve his control, he would have to take pills.


    "Indeed, Ning Zhuo''s talent lies in his intellect."


    "This allows him to have far superior control under normal conditions."


    "What percentage of his strength is this now? Eighty percent? Or ny percent?"


    Zhou Zhenshen pondered, constantly analyzing.


    Ning Zhuo used the five Explosive Monkeys for defense, giving the Burrowing Mice no opportunity. He also used the powerful Fire Bamboo Snake to hold off the White Tiger Ram Car.


    Finally, when Zhou Zhenshen saw the five Explosive Monkeys surrounding him, he exhaled heavily,ughed aloud, and admitted defeat.


    The sparring match ended, and the onlookers from the Ning family began discussing it enthusiastically, talking about the mechanisms and control methods disyed in the match.


    What was most discussed was Ning Zhuo''s new Fire Bamboo Snake.


    In front of everyone, Zhou Zhenshen handed over the Riveted Strong Crossbow and the mechanism blueprint to Ning Zhuo.


    Ning Zhuo developed a newfound respect for Zhou Zhenshen.


    He thought to himself: "Zhou Zhenshen proposed the sparring match, deliberately held back, and voluntarily admitted defeat to boost my reputation and fame."


    "This was his true gift."


    "He knew I had just risen and needed fame, so he didn''t mind sacrificing his own face to help me."


    "This level of generosity surpasses the ordinary."


    Zhou Zhenshen looked at Ning Zhuo, observing his reactions, and felt that Ning Zhuo had be much friendlier.


    He thought: "A passionate fight often reveals as much as an intimate conversation."


    "Although this full-strength sparring match didn¡¯t reach the level of baring our hearts, it was enough to show our sincere personalities."


    "The only regret is that I couldn''t test Ning Zhuo''s upper limit in normalbat."


    "Unless I take Split Mind Powder or simr pills¡­"


    But that was clearly not possible.


    Once pills were involved, the friendly nature of the sparring would be lost, signaling desperation and an urgent desire for victory.


    Thinking of this, Zhou Zhenshen still felt a bit unwilling.


    He couldn''t help but probe Ning Zhuo with words, secretly transmitting his voice and using provocation: "Brother Ning, this time I was just ying around and lost to you. But next time, I''ll be a bit more serious and use at least fifty percent of my strength."


    Ning Zhuo''s heart stirred: "As expected, Zhou Zhenshen hasn''t even used half of his strength."


    He smiled slightly and responded with honesty: "Brother Zhou, if you''re so inclined, I''ll do my best to apany you. Next time, I''ll use at least forty percent of my strength."


    Zhou Zhenshen patted Ning Zhuo''s shoulder,ughing heartily, "You¡­"


    At the same time, he secretly cursed: "Such a braggart!"


    "You know


    I''m testing you, so you''re using this method to brush me off, huh?"


    "Heh."


    "Of course, I shouldn''t have expected to figure out your strength with just one sentence."


    Zhou Zhenshen felt that Ning Zhuo was the same type of person as himself, and Ning Zhuo also felt a certain tacit understanding with Zhou Zhenshen.


    The two of them exchanged smiles, both realizing that the other was a smart person, with many things unspoken but understood between them.


    Back at the small courtyard, the group chatted for a while longer.


    Zhou Zhenshen took the opportunity to ask Ning Zhuo for help, requesting his assistance with the Zhou family''s modification team to challenge the leaderboard in the Lava Immortal Pce, aiming to push some of the City Lord''s Mansion''s cultivators out of the top ten.


    "Of course, if we could keep advancing and exceed the entry standards, that would be even better!"


    Ning Zhuo shook his head: "Brother Zhou''s ambitions are admirable."


    "Exceed the entry standards?" Ning Zhuo sighed, "That''s beyond my capabilities. Please forgive me, but I truly cannot ept."


    Zhou Zhenshen did not give up: "Brother Ning, why don''t you first listen to the conditions our Zhou family offers for your assistance?"


    He then listed a long string of resources, which left Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and others in shock.


    After reacting, they were all breathing heavily, clearly enticed by the massive and generous rewards.


    However, Ning Zhuo still shook his head, smiling gently, his attitude polite, firm, and unwavering.


    In return, Ning Zhuo proposed a new coboration: "The Lava Immortal Pce holds mechanical legacies. We''re all stuck at the peak of the thirdyer and can only umte more knowledge in mechanical techniques."


    "Since our three families are allied, why not establish a joint school specifically for teaching mechanical techniques?"


    "The teachers could be the various mechanism cultivators."


    "In my opinion, the guest cultivator you recruited, Chu Xiyao, would be very suitable."


    Zhou Zhenshen listened, his eyes flickering as he thought: "Among the three families, the Ning family''s knowledge and umtion in mechanical techniques are the weakest."


    "If the joint school seeds, the Ning family stands to benefit the most."


    "But this is indeed a good suggestion and would also help my Zhou family."


    With this in mind, Zhou Zhenshen expressed his appreciation for the idea, saying he liked and supported it. However, this was not a decision he could make alone, and he needed to report it to his family.


    Ning Zhuo agreed.


    As he was leaving, Zhou Zhenshen transmitted a message to Ning Zhuo as a gesture of goodwill: "The three family patriarchs have nearly finalized a n to gather the elite members of our three families for a full-scale exploration of the Immortal Pce."


    "We aim to encounter and defeat the Mechanical Ape!"


    "Many specte that the Mechanical Ape may be a challenge set by the Three Sect Lords. If defeated, we could likely receive significant rewards from the Three Sect Lords."


    "If we can truly kill the Mechanical Ape, we can study its internal structure and develop targeted countermeasures for the future."


    Ning Zhuo was surprised: "There''s such a thing? Thank you for telling me. When will it start?"


    Zhou Zhenshen replied: "In the next few days. Before the full exploration, all participants will be summoned for secret training."


    "Brother Ning, you might want to prepare more."


    Ning Zhuo looked serious, nodding deeply and meaningfully: "Indeed, I need to be well-prepared!"

 Chapter 177: The battle is just a tool

    "The three families are going to join forces to attack Yuan Dasheng¡­" Ning Zhuo took this matter very seriously.


    The enemy''s strength was unclear, and Yuan Dasheng could not yet exert his full power.


    Due to the rescue of Sun Lingtong, many of Yuan Dasheng''s techniques had been exposed, such as the Sun Crushing Hand, Backhand Grab, and the Righteous Bone Gold Frame.


    Of course, the immortal material aspect should still be kept confidential. Normally, people would think that the materials used were of exceptional quality, allowing Yuan Dasheng to resist the burning of ghost fire.


    This point could also be inferred from the reactions of Meng Kui and others after the battle.


    If they had discovered anything spiritual or rted to immortal materials, they would have franticallyunched a city-wide search, rather than maintaining the current calm and observant state.


    Even so, the Righteous Bone Gold Frame made of immortal material should not be revealed again on Yuan Dasheng, the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape.


    Ning Zhuo also considered that Yuan Dasheng''s mechanical body was made of low-grade materials, so there was no way to expect much improvement in its performance.


    "How can we increase Yuan Dasheng''s strength as much as possible?"While pondering this question, Ning Zhuo couldn''t help but feel fortunate¡ªfortunately, over the past ten days, he had focused on the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra.


    "By forging spiritual mechanicalponents through the Fire Burial Sutra, I can enhance Yuan Dasheng''sbat power!"


    "This should be the way to break the current situation."


    "But why are the three families so confident that they can challenge Yuan Dasheng?"


    "The Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai, has also appeared, so in the three families'' n, they must also be factoring in Qi Bai."


    "Their confidence probablyes from the preparation rooms, doesn''t it?"


    In the Lava Immortal Pce, beyond Room No. 3, there was a preparation room.


    The preparation room contained many mechanical tforms and tools, and with just a few spirit stones, they could repair puppet bodies.


    In the next two preparation rooms, spirit stones could even be used to purchase many low-grade materials for a certain degree of modification to the puppet bodies.


    The strength of the human race lies in its wisdom, and the area where wisdom shines the most is in the use of tools.


    With just a fulcrum and a lever, a person could lift an object far exceeding their physical strength. This was the simplest mechanism, yet it had a power that could move the heart.


    Cultivation techniques epass the art of how to use all types of resources in the most reasonable and true-to-cultivation ways. Among these techniques, mechanical arts could be considered the pinnacle of tools.


    Ning Zhuo''s eyes glimmered faintly.


    "The three families'' modification teams exploring the Immortal Pce are now all at the thirdyer peak of Qi Refining."


    "Over the past few days, they have been diligently practicing mechanical arts, and have be extremely familiar with the puppet bodies, as well as tools like the Suspension Ring."


    "Now, they intend to make good use of the preparation room, fully unleash their creativity, and thus explode with great strength, aiming to overthrow Yuan Dasheng in one fell swoop."


    Ning Zhuo''s mind worked swiftly, and his understanding of the situation was razor-sharp. With just a bit of thought, he pinpointed the key to the three families'' joint action.


    It was the preparation room!


    "Now the question is, should I let Yuan Dasheng appear ahead of time in the first three levels to block them?"


    Therge joint operation of the three families actually had a fatal weakness.


    As long as Yuan Dasheng intercepted them ahead of time, these people wouldn¡¯t even make it to the first preparation room.


    However, this simplest and most brutal answer was not the optimal solution to the problem!


    "If I do this, it might work once. But if it happens twice or three times, the three families will develop great suspicion because of Yuan Dasheng''s precise interceptions."


    "If they consistently fail to break through, the three families might even coborate with the City Lord''s Mansion!"


    This was entirely possible.


    On the path of soul-entry into the Immortal Pce, the most advantageous party was the City Lord''s Mansion.


    The three families had united topete with Meng Chong and others, but they were consistently on the losing side.


    Meng Chong and his group dominated all the leaderboards (or so it seemed to them), and the three families, because of Yuan Dasheng, couldn¡¯t leverage their numerical advantage.


    If Ning Zhuo suppressed them too much and drove the three families to despair, then, when forced into a corner, they would undoubtedly seek the assistance of the City Lord''s Mansion.


    Would the City Lord''s Mansion agree to help?


    It was hard to say.


    If the soul-entry route was the only path, Ning Zhuo felt that the likelihood of the City Lord''s Mansion agreeing to cooperate was very low.


    But now, the body-entry route was also avable. On this path, thepetitiveness of the City Lord''s Mansion was minimal, almost insignificant.


    The ones with the advantage were the Zhou and Zheng families.


    And the first ce belonged to Zhu Xuanji. He had previously contributed three quasi-Golden Core-grade mechanical creations in one go, and such a bold move had catapulted him to the top, making him the current frontrunner.


    "For the City Lord''s Mansion, they need Meng Chong to progress faster, the faster the better, to surpass Zhu Xuanji''s progress!"


    "Yuan Dasheng''s repeated defeats of Meng Chong have be a major obstacle. Therefore, joining forces to attack Yuan Dasheng, defeat him, and uncover the secrets of his internal mechanical structure is a strong motivator for the City Lord''s Mansion."


    "Even if Yuan Dasheng is repaired by the Immortal Pce and reintroduced into the trial checkpoints in the future, they will have obtained critical intelligence, allowing them to defend and target him more effectively."


    "So, the key to the City Lord''s Mansion''s decision lies in whether eliminating the monkey puppet would allow the three families'' advantage to surpass that of Meng Chong."


    If it would surpass them, they wouldn¡¯t agree to cooperate.


    If not, they would most likely coborate!


    In his current state, Yuan Dasheng was already struggling to face Meng Chong alone.


    Once the four major forces united, Yuan Dasheng would be up against a massive team led by Meng Chong, with other geniuses as secondary leaders, and the modification teams numbering over a hundred.


    Even if they brought in the Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai, and exhausted its remaining spirituality to join the battle, the chances of victory would still be slim.


    "So, letting them enter the preparation room, allowing them to make full pre-battle preparations, and then letting Yuan Dasheng appear¡ªis that the correct solution?"


    "More precisely, this battle cannot let the three families'' joint forces suffer a crushing defeat. Although Yuan Dasheng will win, they must be left with a false hope¡ªa feeling that if they try a little harder next time, they can defeat Yuan Dasheng."


    If Yuan Dasheng appeared too strong, the three families'' alliance would despair and still turn to the City Lord''s Mansion.


    The City Lord''s Mansion, seeing this, would think, how could this be? Yuan Dasheng is this strong?


    Feeling the pressure, they would also push Meng Kui and Meng Chong to cooperate.


    Only by letting the three families believe that they were just a step away from sess would they avoid seeking cooperation with the City Lord''s Mansion.


    They would desire to defeat Yuan Dasheng themselves, allowing the repaired Yuan Dasheng to continue being a thorn in Meng Chong''s side.


    "Only in this situation will it be most advantageous for me."


    Ning Zhuo felt the weight of the pressure.


    Theplexity of the situation required him to pursue aplex result in battle.


    Yuan Dasheng losing was not an option.


    Yuan Dasheng winning by andslide was also not an option.


    He had to win by a small margin and leave the three families with a glimmer of false hope. Only by achieving this could Ning Zhuo be considered the true victor in this struggle.


    "Battle is just an action."


    "It is a tool."


    "Just like when Zhou Zhenshen recently proposed a sparring match, using battle as a tool to build friendship with me and strengthen our rtionship."


    "And the battle between Yuan Dasheng and the three families'' joint forces is my tool to continue maintaining control over the Lava Immortal Pce!"


    Ning Zhuo shared this information, along with his analysis of the situation, with Sun Lingtong.


    Sun Lingtong praised him and said with emotion, "Xiao Zhuo, your understanding of the various forces and your grasp of human nature have surpassed even mine. In this aspect, I am increasingly assured."


    Ning Zhuo humbly responded, "Not at all. I still have many shorings."


    Sun Lingtong said, "In that case, I will also work harder to unlock Qi Bai''s storage bag!"


    After being put on the wanted list, Sun Lingtong had remained in a few underground bases, moving once every few days.


    His injuries had long since healed.


    On a daily basis, aside from cultivating and exploring the Immortal Pce, he was focused on cracking Qi Bai''s storage bag.


    Ning Zhuo only intervened in the ck market once, when Sun Lingtong took the risk to make an appearance in the city and issued orders to the leader of the Turtle Rest Gang. That was his only venture outside.


    With the development of cultivation reaching this point, storage tools used by cultivators often had verification, defense, and self-destruction measures.


    Back when Ning Zhuo killed the Huang Family Three Ghosts, it took him a long time to unlock their three storage bags. During that time, a little ghost head even flew out from the bag and attempted to attack Ning Zhuo


    . However, Ning Zhuo was not careless and, having been prepared, directly killed the little ghost.


    As a disciple of a major demonic sect, Qi Bai¡¯s storage bag had a high level of defense.


    Sun Lingtong, only at the Foundation Establishment stage, had been painstakingly trying to unlock Qi Bai''s storage bag. Although there had been progress, it was extremely slow.


    ording to Ning Zhuo''s spection, the storage bag''s tight defense indicated that it must be very important to Qi Bai.


    It was very likely that this bag contained many of Qi Bai¡¯s personal belongings.


    Under the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra, these items would all enhance the spirituality of Qi Bai''s mechanical puppet.


    Ning Zhuo nodded, "If this battle involves the Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai, I will feel much more confident."


    "But don''t take too many risks, Boss Sun."


    "After Qi Bai''s death, the Soul-Devouring Sect has made no moves, which is quite strange."


    "It''s highly likely that their people are already here."


    Sun Lingtong understood the seriousness of the situation and nodded, "I understand."


    He revealed a solemn expression, "The hooked-nose and triangr-eyed members of the Soul-Devouring Sect are both imprisoned by the City Lord''s Mansion. I''m not worried about them¡ªthis is clearly bait set by the City Lord''s Mansion."


    "My bigger concern is Han Ming."


    "Since that battle, Han Ming has not appeared. If she has secretly contacted members of the Soul-Devouring Sect, the threat to us will be even greater."


    "Sigh¡­ we''ll just have to take it one step at a time." Ning Zhuo sighed. After taking over the ck market, he had paid close attention to gathering information on this matter, but so far, there had been no results.


    A few dayster, Ning Zhuo received a notification to go to the Zhou Family.


    In an underground hall, the entire modification team of the three families had gathered.


    The three family patriarchs appeared together, officially announcing the start of a new joint operation!


    "I''ve long been annoyed by that mechanical monkey."


    "With the three of our families united, led by five geniuses, we will definitely wash away our previous humiliation."


    "Over these past few days, my mechanical arts have improved significantly. I am no longer the same person!"


    "Hahaha, then let''s give it our all."


    Everyone was enthusiastically discussing, and morale was quite high.


    The three family patriarchs made the following arrangements: the underground hall would be sealed off, and there would be several days of special training. During this time, all modification team members would live and train there, and casual outings were prohibited.


    After the meeting, Zhou Zhenshen, with a smile on his face, actively approached Ning Zhuo, "Brother Ning,e with me. We need to focus on discussing the specific battle n."


    Ning Zhuo smiled slightly and started a conversation, "Brother Zhou, I must thank you for the rivet rapid-fire crossbow; it has been very useful."


    Zhou Zhenshenughed heartily, "Next time we spar, I will definitely win your mechanical monkey blueprint, Brother Ning."


    "This way, please." Zhou Zhenshen extended his arm, indicating the way.


    Ning Zhuo replied, "Please."

 Chapter 178: How Arrogant Can a Branch Family Be?

    The joint team of three families had five Qi Refining stage geniuses as the clear leaders, the core figures of the battle.


    Anybat n essentially revolved around these five people.


    Ning Zhuo''s decision to hide his abilities proved to be beneficial at this moment. He made up his mind to listen carefully, remember attentively, and then think of counter-strategies.


    Ning Zhuo and the other four entered a secret chamber.


    Theyout of the chamber resembled a ssroom, with a middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator standing at the front.


    The five of them each found a ce to sit.


    "My name is Zheng Hua," the middle-aged cultivator introduced himself, "I''m here to exin the general strategy for this joint operation."


    Ning Zhuo immediately recalled the information about Zheng Hua.


    He was a mid-Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, yet he already served as an elder of the Zheng family due to his unique talent¡ªhe could handle many materials that were difficult to refine, known as "Gold and Stone Opener."Zheng Hua also had considerable expertise in artifact refinement, reaching the level of a master, making him one of the top artifact cultivators in the entire Huoshi Immortal City.


    Zheng Hua released his mana, and it condensed into the form of a Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, vividly lifelike in midair.


    Zheng Hua said, "Everyone should be familiar with this mechanical ape, or at least deeply impressed by it."


    Zhou Zhenshen, Zhou Zhu, Zheng Jian, and others all looked serious.


    Ning Xiaohui''s face was grim.


    Ning Zhuo frowned deeply.


    Zheng Hua continued, "ording to the current intelligence gathered, this ape puppet primarily engages in closebat."


    "Its body seems to be made of Zhu Fire ze, a material refined from Zhu me Stone. The best way to deal with this material is by using ice-based techniques."


    "Its skeleton contains Scarlet Gold Mysterious Iron, and the surface of the bones is inscribed with prohibitions."


    "Judging by the pattern of these prohibitions and itsbat behavior, it''s likely a defensive prohibition. I personally suspect it''s a Vajra Body Protection Technique."


    "So, using lightning-based techniques to erode the prohibitions is also a meaningful tactic!"


    "The puppet''s brain likely contains a special calctionponent. If we can destroy this part, it will significantly affect the battle."


    "Because, although the puppet''s material isn''t particrly outstanding, itsbat skills are extraordinary. To achieve this, the calctionponent must be highly sophisticated." ??


    "If we can''t destroy its head, then its hands are the next primary target."


    "There are probably several martial arts talismans hidden in its hands. Destroying these talismans will also reduce itsbat ability."


    Zheng Hua''s analysis slightly eased the expressions of the five.


    Next, with a thought, the image of Yuan Dasheng formed by mana suddenly copsed. When it reformed, it had turned into the Netherworld Envoy, Qi Bai.


    Zheng Hua''s expression grew much more serious. "In my opinion, although this puppet has appeared fewer times, it''s even more dangerous than the mechanical ape."


    "Its skeleton is made of Ghostly Blue Underworld Iron, and parts of its bones have been reced with Soul Wood. While the exact age of the Soul Wood is unknown, based on the specifications of the mechanical ape, it should be at least a hundred years old."


    "But just these materials alone aren''t enough to allow this puppet to control so many ghosts."


    "There must be other criticalponents on its body that help it manipte the ghosts."


    "This puppet has the ability to weaken souls in its attacks, and judging by the mana fluctuations, it closely resembles the Soul Devouring Art."


    "There''s aponent in its neck that can emit drum-like sound waves, causing intense tremors in living souls. Once this sound is released, it''s very difficult to defend against it with just our bodies."


    "Its eyes are a key design, made from mixed materials, though their exact power is unknown. I suspect they contain some sort of trump card!"


    "All over its body are small holes for projectile attacks. Once activated, these small holes can rapidly shoot out Yin-attribute Silk Gold. The Silk Gold can merge in an instant, forming a ck robe as a protective barrier with excellent defensive capabilities."


    "Based on this, perhaps we can use mud-based spells to block all the holes."


    Zheng Hua concluded by saying, "This ghost ve puppet has at least two arrays on its body. There are at least eighteen spell talismans, making it clearly a long-range type of puppet. I strongly rmend engaging it in closebat."


    The five once again grew serious, each thinking: There''s too little information! There was clearly far less intelligence on the ghost ve puppetpared to the mechanical ape, and only a few countermeasures had been devised. It seemed it would be very difficult to deal with it.


    Ning Zhuo''s brow furrowed even tighter, thinking to himself: Too much information has been leaked. Zheng Hua''s analysis was almost entirely urate, worthy of being one of the Zheng family''s key figures in artifact refinement.


    As for the Soul Devouring Art, although its nature was seen through, no one had connected it to the Soul-Devouring Sect.


    Because of the many variations of the Soul Devouring Art, not only Soul-Devouring Sect cultivators could use it.


    It''s just that Soul-Devouring Sect disciples wielded this art with far greater power.


    In fact, the Soul Devouring Art existed long before the creation of the Soul-Devouring Sect.


    ording to legend, its originy with one of the ten ancient beasts, the Ghost Sh¨¡ Soul Devourer.


    The Ghost Sh¨¡ Soul Devourer was thirty feet long, resembling a lion-tiger hybrid, with a massive and imposing body. Its limbs were thick and powerful, its ws sharp as knives.


    Its body was covered in dark scales, which glowed faintly at night.


    The Ghost Sh¨¡ Soul Devourer had three eyes on its head, with the central eye able to see the presence of ghosts.


    Its mouth was wide, with sharp teeth that could easily tear apart any soul.


    Its tail was snake-like, with a tip shaped like a snake¡¯s head. The snake''s head contained a blue-glowing gem that could store endless soul power.


    On its back were a pair of massive ck wings, bat-like in shape, enabling it to fly at incredible speeds, easily catching up to fleeing ghosts.


    Zheng Hua dispersed his mana, looking seriously at the five people. "The above is merely a conjecture based on the current information."


    "It¡¯s possible that if we all deploy, the difficulty of the challenge will increase, making the puppets even stronger."


    "And there''s also the possibility that a third or even fourth puppet might appear!"


    "Alright, if anyone has any questions, feel free to ask, and I¡¯ll do my best to answer."


    Zhou Zhenshen was the first to ask, "These are both puppets, so why not target that aspect? I want to know, have we discovered how these two puppets are controlled?"


    Zheng Hua shook his head, "No."


    "Strings, rods, and spiritual sense are the ssic methods of control, but none apply to these two puppets."


    "We suspect they are controlled by spiritual intelligence."


    "The Lava Immortal Pce possesses the pce spirit, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, which can control puppet automatons."


    "Previously, when the Lava Immortal Pce was attacked by demon beasts, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was rumored to have taken action, driving a humanoid puppet to control the battlefield."


    "This is a rted battle report, which everyone can review."


    Zheng Hua took out a jade slip and handed it to the five below.


    When it reached Ning Zhuo, he pressed the jade slip against his forehead and saw the defensive battlefield atop the volcano, witnessing the deployment of Golden Core-level puppet Daoists.


    "This should have been during the fight between me and Brother Sun against Qi Bai."


    "Who recorded this scene? To manage such a feat right under Meng Kui¡¯s nose!"


    "This vantage point¡­ it seems to be from a distance?"


    A name shed in Ning Zhuo''s mind¡ªZhu Xuanji.


    He was right.


    It was indeed Zhu Xuanji who provided the jade slip to the three families'' Golden Core ancestors.


    Afterward, the three family ancestors copied the image and transmitted it back to their respective families.


    Zheng Hua continued speaking as the group examined the jade slip, "If it is indeed controlled by spiritual intelligence, then both the mechanical ape and ghost ve puppet can be considered spiritual treasures."


    "Spiritual treasures?!" Zheng Jian couldn''t help but exim.


    Symbolic treasures, magic tools, magic treasures, spiritual treasures.


    From the perspective of quality, spiritual treasures were already at the highest level. Throughout history, the town-guarding treasures of the great sects, families, and immortal nations were invariably spiritual treasures.


    "This person seems to be the Golden Core ancestor of my family?" Ning Zhuo observed the jade slip, naturally seeing the scene where his family''s ancestor was struck on the head by a walnut and forced to retreat.


    Without showing any emotion, he passed the jade slip to the next person.


    "The three families'' understanding of Yuan Dasheng and Qi Bai is already quite deep."


    "They''ve even guessed the truth about spiritual intelligence control!"


    "Indeed, to be a great family in Immortal City, they possess the foundations and strength not to be underestimated."


    "However, they¡¯ve only guessed part of it and are


    still some distance from the truth."


    But that wasn¡¯t their fault.


    They were simply missing key information. Once they had it, they would be able to fill in the gaps and uncover the truth!


    "It¡¯s easy to imagine that if they reached the coffin chamber and learned about the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra, they would quickly suspect the true identities of Yuan Dasheng and Qi Bai."


    "But I¡¯ve already raised all the stone walls of the Buddhist and Demon Sects."


    Previously, Ning Zhuo had a w.


    In the second transfer hall, the Buddhist and Demon Sects were still visible.


    However, as the embryonic form of his divine ability, "Life Hanging by a Thread," nearedpletion and Ning Zhuo''s cultivation and soul power greatly improved, he finally managed to fully raise the stone walls in the second transfer hall,pletely blocking them off.


    Ning Zhuo deliberately said, "With just this information, I don''t think we stand a high chance of defeating the mechanical ape and ghost ve puppet."


    "I suggest dying the operation, continuing to investigate, and gathering moreprehensive information."


    "Only after fully preparing should weunch arge-scale exploration of the Lava Immortal Pce!"


    Zhou Zhenshen immediately gave Ning Zhuo an approving look, thinking, "Ning Zhuo thinks the same as me. We''re both people who use our brains."


    Ning Xiaohui snorted coldly, "Ning Zhuo, how can you be so timid before even fighting?"


    "You want to gather information, but we can use this opportunity to have a good fight with that damned mechanical ape!"


    "Once we tear it apart, won¡¯t we have gathered all the key information?"


    Ning Zhuo snorted coldly, "Ning Xiaohui, I know you¡¯ve often been ughtered by the mechanical ape. I understand your eagerness for revenge."


    "But that doesn''t mean you can fight recklessly."


    "Your recklessness will only bring more failure!"


    "You!" Ning Xiaohui red, her face full of anger and disbelief.


    No one had ever, or rather, no peer had ever been so blunt with her!


    Ning Zhuo was the first.


    And he did it right in front of others, directly ridiculing her.


    "You, a mere branch family¡­" Ning Xiaohui gritted her teeth, her eyes practically shooting mes.


    Ning Zhuo mercilessly interrupted, "And you, as the main family, can''t even match half of my achievements, so what are you?"


    Ning Xiaohui suddenly stood up straight, her entire body radiating cold air.


    A ghost as white as snow and icy cold rose from her body, ring sinisterly at Ning Zhuo, "When did the Ning family¡¯s branch be so arrogant?"


    Ning Zhuo''s pupils shrank, and he quickly leaped back, creating distance while staring intently at the ghost, "What are you?!"


    The ghost trembled with anger, "I am also from the Ning family''s main branch!!"

 Chapter 179:

    Looking at the confrontation between the two sides, seemingly on the verge of a fight, Zheng Hua quickly stepped in to mediate: "The three of you, calm down!"


    "The real battle hasn''t even begun, and you''re already turning on each other¡­"


    "If word of this gets out, it will tarnish the Ning family''s reputation."


    Zhou Zhenshen and others also chimed in to mediate.


    Under everyone''s persuasion, Ning Zhuo, Ning Xiaohui, and the mysterious Snow Soul finally restrained their auras and temporarily stopped.


    When they sat back down, Ning Xiaohui and Ning Zhuo were already sitting far apart.


    Zhou Zhenshen smiled and cupped his hands towards the mysterious Snow Soul: "May I ask this senior''s esteemed name?"


    The mysterious Snow Soul, exuding a Foundation Establishment aura, raised his head proudly and said, "I am Ning Xie. In life, I was an elder of the Ning family, possessing the innate Snow Soul Ice Spirit. After dying in battle, I became a ghost cultivator. I havee out this time for your joint operation."


    Zhou Zhenshen was puzzled: "Senior is a Foundation Establishment ghost cultivator, with your cultivation difficult to change, how will your soul enter the Immortal Pce?"Ghost cultivator Ning Xie exined, "That''s not difficult. I can attach my soul to Xiaohui''s spirit body, temporarily merging with her."


    "When Ning Xiaohui''s soul enters the Immortal Pce, I can also be brought inside."


    "However, if I appear to fight, I can only remain for thirteen breaths at most. Exceeding that time limit, I will be expelled by the Lava Immortal Pce."


    At this point, Zheng Jian spoke up to verify, "We''ve already confirmed this situation."


    It turned out he was in the know.


    Zhou Zhenshen''s gaze darkened subtly.


    He was quick to detect that the Ning family and the Zheng family seemed to be closer than he had initially thought.


    Outwardly, Zhou Zhenshen cupped his hands, his face showing joy: "With senior''s assistance, and the innate Snow Soul Ice Spirit in y, our chances of sess greatly increase."


    Ning Xie coldly snorted: "Naturally."


    Ning Zhuo followed with a cold snort: "With only thirteen breaths of action, what can you do? Freeze the entire checkpoint?"


    Ning Xie squinted his eyes, his expression extremely displeased: "You young junior, you are right. I can freeze the surroundings, altering the battlefield. If you don''t believe me, you''ll have a taste of it when the timees!"


    Ning Zhuo chuckled: "Freeze your own people? You died, and your brain must have died with you too?"


    "How about freezing the mechanical ape or the puppet ves instead?"


    "Oh, right."


    "If you get enved by the puppet, it''ll be hrious!"


    "Rubbish!" Ning Xie shouted angrily, "You little brat, sharp-tongued! Keep this up, and I''ll tear your mouth apart."


    Ning Zhuo''s face turned serious, his gaze dark: "Who''s arguing with you?"


    "I''m pointing out the biggest hidden danger here! I''m thinking about the overall situation, but you think I''m just quarreling with you?"


    Ning Zhuo pointed directly at Ning Xie: "My concern is clear: can this ghost cultivator really be taken inside?"


    "Let''s make sure he doesn''t end up bing a weapon used against us!"


    Ning Xie trembled with rage, his soul visibly paling. Just as he was about to speak, an elderly voice interjected: "Regarding this, I, the n patriarch, can vouch for it."


    Everyone''s expressions shifted.


    Ning Xie immediately shut his mouth.


    Afterward, the Ning family patriarch entered the scene, fixing his gaze on Ning Zhuo with a faint smile and a chilling look: "Ning Zhuo, your consideration is thorough."


    "But you''re still too young. You don''t understand the mysteries of ghost cultivation, nor do you grasp the depth of the Ning family''s foundation!"


    Ning Zhuo cupped his hands in respect, his gaze calm as he fearlessly met the Ning family patriarch''s eyes: "If that''s the case, then this junior will remain doubtful."


    He then shifted his tone: "But this junior still does not rmend acting so hastily."


    "We currentlyck solid intelligence."


    "We canpletely wait for the spell techniques to be improved and use the refined spells for reconnaissance."


    "After all, the enemy is just two mechanical battle puppets. Once we understand their nature, their chances of winning will be very slim."


    Zhou Zhenshen marveled inwardly.


    He hadn''t expected Ning Zhuo to be so unyielding! He was actually standing firm against the Ning family''s Foundation Establishment elders, even the patriarch.


    "What''s his cultivation level? He''s only at the thirdyer of Qi Refining. Truly brave!" Zhou Zhenshen even felt a sliver of admiration for Ning Zhuo.


    Sharing his sentiments were Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu.


    Zheng Hua thought silently: "Ning Zhuo, young and impulsive, dares to openly oppose his own n patriarch."


    "But, looking at his actions, it makes sense."


    "Now that he''s be the lord of the ck market, his power has soared, achieving things he''s never aplished in his life. It''s the height of his arrogance."


    "If I were him, I''d be even more conceited."


    "If this young man continues to rise, the Ning family will inevitably face a second internal conflict in the future. He¡¯s worth heavily supporting!"


    Hearing Ning Zhuo''s suggestion to continue reconnaissance, Zhou Zhenshen pondered and agreed: "Forgive my rudeness, but I also think it would be better to continue scouting."


    "Information is extremely important! Especially in battles like ours, a little more intelligence could very well affect the final oue of the operation."


    "Hmm? Zhou Zhenshen is clearly siding with Ning Zhuo so openly?" Zheng Jian felt a ripple of surprise in his heart upon witnessing this scene.


    In Huoshi Immortal City, the four forces vied for dominance in aplex web of power struggles, where every faction''s rtionships with others were always shifting.


    Truly outstanding family members were keenly aware of the subtle dynamics between different families.


    After thinking for a moment, Zheng Jian spoke: "Indeed, we''ve been improving reconnaissance spells for a long time."


    "But it will still take some time before they''re perfected."


    "In fact, our family has already begun procuring and borrowing rtedprehension diagrams from outside."


    "However, even with these diagrams, it still tests theprehension abilities of the cultivators. For those with averageprehension, they may not gain much from them."


    Ning Zhuo spread his hands: "Then we can wait."


    "I believe we have plenty of talent in the improvement team, and someone will eventuallyprehend it. Or, we wait until the three families havepleted refining the spells. Once we have results from the reconnaissance, we can fully focus on the battle and have victory in hand!"


    "Speaking ofprehension diagrams, I happen to have two of them. Perhaps I could contribute them and share with everyone."


    "Shut up!" Ning Xiaohui almost jumped in anger, "Thoseprehension diagrams were lent to you by the family for personal use. What right do you have to share them with outsiders?"


    Ghost cultivator Ning Xie also added, "Junior from the Ning family branch, do you not know the n rules? You have no right to distribute those twoprehension diagrams."


    Ning Zhuo chuckled: "I was merely offering a suggestion. Since the patriarch is here, what do you think, patriarch?"


    The Ning family patriarch immediately felt as if he had swallowed a fly, his expression turning sour.


    As the patriarch of a family, he couldn¡¯t speak as bluntly as Ning Xiaohui.


    And now, in front of members from the Zheng and Zhou families, with the alliance of the three families in the background, it was difficult for him to outright refuse.


    In this situation, it was as if Ning Zhuo, this junior, had cornered him and left him with no way out.


    For the first time, the Ning family patriarch regretted his hasty appearance, realizing that it was a bit ill-considered.


    Suddenly, Zhou Zhenshenughed: "If the Ning family is willing to offer twoprehension diagrams, I propose my family also contribute two to share with the improvement team."


    Zheng Jian was about to speak when Zheng Hua jumped in: "Great! I can make the decision right now for the Zheng family to offer the me Summit Cloud Diagram and the Ground Furnace me Diagram for everyone to study."


    The Ning family patriarchughed heartily, quickly trying to recover: "A mere twoprehension diagrams are no problem for the Ning family."


    "But even if something isprehended in the short term, it will still require extensive practice, making it hard to use in battle."


    "On the contrary, focusing our efforts on special training, building teamwork and coordination, will be far more useful than understanding new spells."


    "This battle must be fought swiftly!"


    "The specific details cannot be revealed, but I can tell you all that this matter concerns the Golden Core ancestors of our three families."


    Everyone was taken aback.


    The Ning family patriarch was warning everyone: don''t merely consider this battle at face value. There are powerful external factors forcing you to fight quickly!


    The battle was merely a tool.


    "The battle isn''t the goal, so what is the real objective?" Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly.


    He had deliberately provoked and challenged others to gather more information.


    In any case, the conflict between him and the main line of the Ning family had already reached an irreconcble point, so Ning Zhuo didn''t care about maintaining surface-level harmony anymore.


    The rewards were also abundant.


    He not only obtained a lot of intelligence but also gained the opportunity toprehend four newprehension


    diagrams!


    Furthermore, the secret the Ning family patriarch had revealed regarding the Golden Core ancestors was good news for Ning Zhuo.


    When reading history books, Ning Zhuo often saw cases where two armies fought, but the rulers or ministers behind the scenes ignored the actual battle situation, giving absurdmands, leading to a disastrous defeat.


    At first, Ning Zhuo thought these people were foolish.


    But as he grew older, especially in recent days, he hade to deeply realize the limitations of people and understood more about the "foolishness" of those individuals.


    Were they foolish?


    They were foolish, yet also clever, driven by circumstances beyond their control.


    In reality, everyone had their own pressures and motivations, their own desires and fears.


    These various factors intertwined, turning what was once a pure battle into something far moreplex.


    Just like how Ning Zhuo needed Yuan Dasheng''s "small victory" rather than a big win or a crushing defeat, and just like how this hurried joint action of the three families stemmed from the mysterious decisions of their Golden Core ancestors.


    When young, he hadughed at the mundane world in books, but now, upon rereading, he realized he had be part of the story.


    The vast mysteries of the worldy beyond the pages of the book, but the sense of purpose within a single sheet of paper must be cherished!


    Zhou Zhenshen sighed: "In that case, we have no choice but to proceed, as the arrow has already been drawn and must be released."


    Ning Zhuo then looked at Zheng Hua: "Since this is the will of the Golden Core ancestors from the three families, no wonder Ning Xie has been dispatched."


    "If the Ning family is like this, then surely the Zheng and Zhou families have also brought out some hidden cards?"


    Zheng family elder Zheng Hua chuckled: "I was just about to mention it."


    "One of our ancestors identally stumbled into the ghost market, nearly losing his life, but he did gain something."


    "This technique is called the Ghost Martial Spirit Weapon Forging Method, which can consume soul power, cut off parts of the soul, and forge ghost spirit weapons."


    "Once it''s cultivated, it''s as if you possess half of a life-bound weapon. Afterward, when your soul enters the Immortal Pce, you''ll receive the corresponding mechanical parts in the first room."


    As soon as these words were spoken, everyone turned to look at Zheng Jian.


    Around Zheng Jian floated a hook-shaped magical tool. When his soul entered the Immortal Pce, there were corresponding wooden hook parts floating around his body.


    Zheng Jian quickly exined: "This is not a ghost martial weapon."

 Chapter 180: Golden Core Involvement

    It was the Zhou Family''s turn.


    The Zhou Family Patriarch appeared: "Our family became prosperous with the help of a Spirit Gathering Formation. As everyone knows, this formation gave birth to a formation spirit."


    "The Spirit of the Spirit Gathering Formation can consume a portion of its own spirituality to cast spells and enhance the soul and body."


    "With this spell in ce, cultivators can automatically absorb spiritual energy from the outside world, automatically convert it into their own mana, and even reduce the various costs of casting spells."


    The Zheng Family brought out the Ghost Martial Divine Weapon Tempering Art, the Zhou Family activated their Spirit Gathering Formation Spirit, and the Ning Family presented Ning Xie, the Foundation Establishment ghost cultivator with innate talent in Snow Soul Ice Essence!


    Ning Zhuo''s mood grew heavy.


    These were all the foundational resources of each family, great efforts indeed. Normally kept hidden, now they were brought out.


    Ning Zhuo recalled the Ning Family Patriarch''s words, "This concerns the Golden Core Ancestor," and the actions of the three families made sense.


    "Alright, you continue your discussions, we won¡¯t dy you any longer." The Zhou Family Patriarch waved his hand and left the secret chamber.The Ning Family Patriarch also followed suit.


    Ning Xie, however, still floated in mid-air, arms crossed, staring at Ning Zhuo with cold eyes.


    Ning Zhuo acted as if he couldn¡¯t feel it, his indifferent posture making Ning Xie quite frustrated.


    Zheng Hua continued, "These five jade slips record all the materials, spirit stones, and mechanicalponents we¡¯ve gathered."


    "Since it''s extremely difficult to bring items into the Lava Immortal Pce, the only supplies we can use in this battle are these."


    Ning Xie of the Ning Family was considered the greatest achievement of the three families'' joint research into how to bring items into the Lava Immortal Pce.


    In fact, all three families had ghost cultivators hidden as part of their family foundations.


    Only Ning Xie seeded, due to his talent, and some mysterious coordination with Ning Xiaohui''s abilities.


    Ning Zhuo ced the jade slip against his forehead. After checking its contents, his mood grew even heavier.


    The information in the jade slip was incredibly detailed, with even the spirit stones being meticulously ounted for.


    It calcted the total number of explorers, and estimated the maximum number of spirit stones the entire exploration team could obtain if everyone chose the spirit stone reward.


    If no one chose spirit stones, it calcted how many there would be.


    It broke down the stages into 30%, 50%, 70%, and 90%, providing detailed figures for each stage.


    The quantities of mechanicalponents like the Suspension Ring and Small Flying Box were calcted the same way.


    The materials and crafting tools that could be purchased with spirit stones in the preparation room, and how long each tool could be used, all had extremely precise calctions.


    Not only that, the jade slip also contained over ten different mechanical constructs, categorized and listed.


    Zheng Hua exined at the right moment: "These were carefully selected by our three families during our discussions."


    "Their functions and power are described in detail, and the materials, spirit stones, and other resources required to construct them have all been calcted."


    "If anyone has any good ideas for mechanical constructs, feel free to bring them up, and we can further discuss."


    Ning Zhuo remained silent.


    Zhou Zhenshen looked at Ning Zhuo, not letting him off the hook, smiling earnestly: "Brother Ning, you must have noticed that most of these mechanical constructs originate from my Mud Flow Sect."


    "The Mud Flow Sect excels in terrain-modifying mechanisms, which is also our sect''s main livelihood."


    "The Earth-Drilling Rat is used to soften mountain bodies and dig tunnels, the Night Bat is used to detect terrain and create three-dimensional maps, the White Tiger Assault Vehicle is for openingrge tunnels, and the Mud Flow Hammer is for breaking boulders and consolidating foundations."


    "Brother Ning¡¯s mechanical skills are well known. Your designs of the Mechanical Explosive Monkey and the Fire Bamboo Snake are also adept atbat."


    "So, your suggestions are crucial!"


    Ning Zhuo gave a faint smile: "I will certainly do my best, but these mechanisms require careful study before I can give any opinions. This matter is too important for me to speak carelessly."


    "Hahaha." Zhou Zhenshenughed, "Then we will await Brother Ning''s insights."


    Zheng Hua continued, "Next, I will introduce a few battle tactics that the three families have already prepared."


    "The first is the Zhou Family¡¯s battle formation."


    ¡­


    After the discussions ended, Ning Zhuo returned to his private room.


    On the way, he furrowed his brows, feeling a heavy weight on his mind.


    "The preparation room, the mature battle tactics, the three families'' resources¡­" Ning Zhuo reflected, and the more he thought about it, the greater the pressure he felt.


    His previous assumptions were correct, the three families were indeed relying on the functions of the preparation room.


    But it wasn¡¯t entirely correct.


    Whether it was the battle tactics of the three families or the resources they had brought out, almost all of it was beyond his expectations.


    The secret "This concerns the Golden Core Ancestor" made it even harder for him to guess what was happening at the upper levels.


    "The three families'' alliance¡­ there really is strength in numbers," Ning Zhuo deeply felt the advantage of numbers.


    Even if none of them made it onto the leaderboard to im ample spirit stone rewards, the clearance rewards amassed through sheer numbers alone would already be an enormous sum.


    The three families had consolidated all their resources and made incredibly precise calctions, researching the most optimal distribution.


    They had fully tapped into theirbat potential.


    Right now, Ning Zhuo¡¯s greatest relief was that the soul-entering exploration route of the Immortal Pce prohibited carrying external objects inside.


    This was a significantyer of protection for Ning Zhuo.


    If external items were allowed, the three families would have unleashed even more terrifying power!


    Ning Zhuo took out the Floating Cloud Cloth, entered its depths, and then his soul entered the Immortal Pce.


    Sun Lingtong had long been waiting for him.


    After Ning Zhuo ryed thetest information, Sun Lingtong immediately grew solemn, "The enemy¡¯s strength is so overwhelming. It seems we must let Qi Bai enter the battle if we want any chance of victory."


    Ning Zhuo sighed, "Relying on Yuan Dasheng alone is indeed difficult."


    "However, we can¡¯t be too aggressive."


    "If things don¡¯t work out, I simply won¡¯t take part in the formation."


    "Above all, we must guard against the Soul-Devouring Sect¡¯s covert schemes."


    Sun Lingtong nodded, "Don¡¯t worry, I know what to do."


    Sun Lingtong¡¯s soul returned to his body. He looked at the storage bag in front of him that belonged to Qi Bai, his brows furrowed, his expression resolute.


    He had already made up his mind: "Xiao Zhuo is determined to seize the Lava Immortal Pce."


    "For him, this goal is not just a major life opportunity, but also a task entrusted by his mother¡ªsomething he must aplish!"


    "To him, it¡¯s of immense importance!"


    "He speaks lightly, as if I don¡¯t know? If he doesn¡¯t take part in the formation, the three families will push forward relentlessly, and it could even arouse their suspicions."


    "As his big brother, if I don¡¯t support him at this critical moment, when will I?"


    Sun Lingtong made slow progress unlocking Qi Bai¡¯s storage bag, but after umting efforts over time, he was finally at the final stage.


    "Time is running out, I¡¯ll have to take a bit of a risk."


    As a member of the demonic sect, Sun Lingtong had nevercked the spirit of adventure. Back in the Qi Refining Stage, he had stolen Foundation Establishment-level treasures and was once caught stealing, even imprisoned and tortured by a gang.


    He didn¡¯t have to take risks; he enjoyed the thrill of it, relishing the excitement from theft and other dangerous activities, finding both body and mind exhrated and satisfied.


    "Let¡¯s do it!" Sun Lingtong puffed up his cheeks, gathering his strength, and cast his spell.


    Soon after, Qi Bai¡¯s storage bag was opened, and a wisp of ck-gray smoke floated into the air.


    Sun Lingtong, quick-eyed and swift-handed, snuffed out the wisp before it drifted too far.


    "Good!"


    "My calctions were correct¡ªno other defensive measures. Haha, I¡¯ve unlocked a Golden Core cultivator¡¯s storage bag!"


    Sun Lingtong immediately checked the contents. Qi Bai¡¯s storage bag was rich with treasures, their value immeasurable.


    There were seven magical tools alone that were rarely used.


    Most of the cultivation resources were closely rted to soul cultivation.


    The unrted materials were all Golden Core level. These materials would be difficult to sell, requiring the right auction or trade partner.


    Thus, they had umted in Qi Bai¡¯s hands.


    But the most valuable items were some of Qi Bai¡¯s personal belongings.


    "These are all excellent fuel for the Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra." Sun Lingtong grinned from ear to ear.


    Ning Zhuo had already passed the relevant scriptures to Sun Lingtong.


    Thus, under Ning Zhuo¡¯s special training, Sun Lingtong could, with his own power, refine items and add spiritual essence to Qi Bai.


    Somewhere in the darkness, two ghostly mes suddenly lit up.


    Upon closer inspection, one could see that these ghostly mes were actually the eyes of a cultivator.


    It was Luo Shang!


    A true disciple of the Soul-Devouring Sect, tasked with finding the real murderer of Qi Bai and seeking vengeance for the sect.


    He had long since infiltrated Huoshi Immortal City, drawing no attention, quietly hiding his identity.


    "The two Soul-Devouring Sect disciples in the city lord''s dungeon were merely bait and a trap."


    "Why has Han Ming remained missing and out of contact?"


    "Up until now, she hasn''t responded to my secret transmissions."


    "Hmm?!"


    At this moment, Luo Shang sensed Qi Bai¡¯s aura.


    He had been continuously using the sect¡¯s secret technique.


    "It¡¯sing from that direction¡­ inside the mountain!"


    The ghostly mes disappeared, and Luo Shang immediately set off.


    Not long after he vanished, a female cultivator appeared.


    Her face was as beautiful as a peach blossom, and her figure was tall and graceful¡ªit was Yang Chanyu of the No-Void Sect.


    Yang Chanyu had been roaming Huoshi Immortal City, constantly changing her appearance as she wandered around. One of her primary goals was to find Sun Lingtong.


    In the sect, Sun Lingtong¡¯s soul que showed no signs of abnormality.


    Though the ck market had been shut down and Sun Lingtong had been put on the wanted list, Yang Chanyu was certain that Sun Lingtong was still in Huoshi Immortal City.


    "Where is this little rascal hiding?"


    "I left coded messages, but none have been triggered by him."


    "Hmph, he¡¯s deliberately avoiding me!"


    Yang Chanyu couldn¡¯t find Sun Lingtong, but she unexpectedly discovered Luo Shang.


    The moment Luo Shang made a move, Yang Chanyu sensed it. After thinking it over, she decided to secretly follow and see what Luo Shang had uncovered.


    Luo Shang cautiously found a gap in the Immortal City¡¯s formation, circled around arge distance, and located a hidden base within the mountain.


    However, by the time he entered the secret base, Sun Lingtong had long since vanished.


    Sun Lingtong had gone to another underground base to replenish Qi Bai¡¯s spiritual essence.


    Luo Shang thought for a moment and decided to wait for Sun Lingtong¡¯s return, nning to lie in wait.


    "An underground base¡­ wait, that¡¯s Sun Lingtong¡¯s aura. Hmph, little ghost, I¡¯ve finally found you." Yang Chanyu snorted coldly and also concealed herself to observe.


    Meanwhile, in another secret chamber.


    Zhu Xuanji was gathering the Golden Core Ancestors of the three families, engaging in their second secret discussion.


    In their first meeting, Zhu Xuanji had proposed cooperation. He sought the full support of the three Golden Core Ancestors,bining forces to enter Mount Huoshi, break into the demon ape''sir, and retrieve the demon general¡¯s body!


    The operation carried high risk¡ªeven for Golden Core cultivators, there was a chance of falling. But if the six Golden Core cultivators worked together in earnest, the chances of sess were not small.


    The key was that the rewards were substantial!


    Part of the reward came from the rich spoils of destroying the demon ape''sir, while the other part was the payment Zhu Xuanji offered to the Golden Core cultivators for their assistance.


    The payment was highly tempting.


    Thus, the three Golden Core cultivators were all hesitant.


    Zhu Xuanji smiled and asked, "Fellow Daoists, have you made your decision?"


    Zheng Shuanggou was the first to speak, "Our two people can take part, but¡­ you need to increase the payment!"

 Chapter 181: Giant Ghost Axe

    "Add more money?" Zhu Xuanjiughed heartily, "That can be arranged!"


    However, what came next caused Zhu Xuanji''s expression to change when Zheng Shuanggou quoted the exact amount of spirit stones.


    His expression was one of shock, and his gaze seemed to ask¡ªAre you serious?


    Thus, the second round of discussions broke down, as Zheng Shuanggou''s price was too high. Both parties failed to reach an agreement and could only say they would reconsider before scheduling a third meeting.


    "These local cultivation families¡­" Zhu Xuanji gritted his teeth in secret.


    Ever since the recruitment order, his pressure had doubled.


    More and more cultivators had flooded into Huoshi Immortal City, and the City Lord''s Mansion had sessfully "recruited" several Golden Core cultivators who possessed significant expertise in the art of puppetry.


    These Golden Core cultivators entered the Lava Immortal Pce, working together closely, and were quickly catching up to Zhu Xuanji.


    The gap between them was visibly shrinking at an rming rate.Zhu Xuanji was well aware that this was actually the work of the Meng family, using this method to bring in reinforcements and help Meng Kuipete for control of the Lava Immortal Pce.


    The Meng family needed the Lava Immortal Pce as a stepping stone to seize control of the entire Huoshi Immortal City!


    Zhu Xuanji''s n was to retrieve the lost Golden Core mechanical puppet demon general.


    Through the Trace Back Art, he saw that the mechanical demon general was lost deep within Mount Huoshi, in the royal court of the Fire Fusion Demon Apes, ruled by a Golden Core-level demon ape king, with the possibility of other Golden Core-level demon apes present as well.


    In such a situation, relying on Zhu Xuanji alone would never be enough to retrieve the mechanical demon general.


    Therefore, he sought out the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families to borrow the strength of five Golden Core cultivators to storm their of the Fire Fusion Demon Apes deep within Mount Huoshi and retrieve the mechanical demon general.


    The first round of talks ended in failure, and the second round also encountered setbacks¡­


    As a divine detective, Zhu Xuanji pondered for a while, finally realizing, "The three families'' Golden Cores are deliberately stalling for time."


    "After all, entering Mount Huoshi with me means risking their lives."


    "They want to confirm whether they have another chance on a different path. If the opportunity is significant, they won¡¯t agree to risk their lives with me."


    "Judging by this, the reconstruction teams from the three families must be nning something big."


    At the Zhou family.


    In the underground hall.


    All members of the reconstruction teams from the three families gathered together, attentively listening to Zheng Hua exining the "Ghost Martial Divine Soldier Refining Art."


    "Remember, using this technique will cut off thirty percent of your own soul. During this process, you will experience intense pain."


    "Our family has already prepared the corresponding pills for you. If you can''t endure it, you can take one to alleviate the pain."


    "However, I don''t rmend you do this."


    "Because the intense pain signifies the close bond between the soul fragments. Maintaining this connection will be highly beneficial for the forging of the ghost weapon."


    "But if you take the pill, it will greatly weaken this bond. Even if you manage to forge the ghost weapon, it won¡¯t be perfectlypatible with your body."


    "Of course, when necessary, you should still take the pill."


    "If you pass out from the pain, the consequences will be even worse!"


    Zheng Hua gave a detailed exnation and then demonstrated his own ghost weapon to everyone.


    After that, he had a cultivator from the Zheng family''s reconstruction team publicly cut a fragment of their soul, depleting their soul power to condense their own ghost weapon.


    After understanding and mastering this special refining technique, someone began forging their weapon.


    "It hurts so much, heavens!" The first person to try it, under the watchful eyes of countless people, stubbornly refused to take the pill.


    As a result, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot.


    Fortunately, Zheng Hua and others were closely monitoring him, and seeing the situation deteriorate, they intervened early.


    The unconscious cultivator was quickly stabilized with their treatment, preventing the bacsh from endangering his life.


    Witnessing this vivid example and the bloody lesson, the other members of the reconstruction team chose a more conservative approach.


    Whenever they could no longer endure the pain, they immediately took the pill.


    "Ah¡ª!" Ning Yong screamed, his voice hoarse, yet he stubbornly refused to take the pill.


    In contrast, Ning Chen swallowed the pill as soon as he felt a slight twinge from the soul-cutting pain.


    Ning Zhuo carefully pondered the essence of the technique and had yet to act.


    He looked at the other geniuses.


    Zheng Jian, a member of the Zheng family, had long since practiced the Ghost Martial Divine Soldier Refining Art. He demonstrated his ghost weapon in the form of a bow and arrow.


    Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zhenshen followed the technique one after the other. Zhou Zhu let out a muffled groan, while Zhou Zhenshen furrowed his brows, his face contorted in pain. Both of them managed to hold on without taking the pill.


    Ning Xiaohui nced at Ning Zhuo and sneered, "How long are you going to wait? Are you afraid? Ning Zhuo!"


    Ning Zhuo smiled, "You are the main branch of the Ning family, and I am merely a branch member. Of course, I have to let you go first. Otherwise, if you lose to me again, wouldn''t it be a disgrace to the entire main branch?"


    Provoked by Ning Zhuo''s words, this time, Ning Xiaohuiughed heartily.


    She revealed a ghost sword in public, "Open your dog eyes wide and take a good look at this!"


    Seeing this, Zhou Zhenshen''s pupils contracted. He became even more convinced that the Ning and Zheng families had grown close and had already begun cooperating.


    Ning Zhuo was slightly startled, then let out a mockingugh, "You got the refining technique in advance, and only cared about yourself, forgetting about the rest of us in the reconstruction team."


    "You secretly refined it and took the pill in private without anyone knowing. Clever, very clever."


    Ning Xiaohui''s face turned pale with anger, "How dare you! You¡¯re just a branch member, yet you dare to nder the main branch."


    Ning Zhuo responded, "Then prove to everyone that you didn¡¯t secretly take the pill when refining your ghost weapon."


    Just as Ning Xiaohui was about to retort, Ning Xie finally couldn''t bear it anymore, "Enough! There¡¯s no need to argue about this. Ning Zhuo, why haven''t you started yet?"


    "Or do you need my help?"


    Ning Zhuoughed and stopped wasting words, immediately activating the refining technique in public.


    His body trembled slightly as thirty percent of his soul was cut off, causing excruciating pain. But outwardly, he merely furrowed his brows, his gaze unwavering, showing no signs of hesitation.


    "I did it, I did it!"


    "Look at my ghost hammer! Uh, why is it so small?"


    "I clearly intended to make a sword, but ended up with a little knife?"


    Zheng Jian, Zheng Hua, and others witnessed various results from the ghost weapon refining process, their expressions unchanged as they had anticipated such oues.


    This technique required cutting thirty percent of the soul body, consuming soul power, and condensing it into a ghost weapon.


    If the cultivator''s soul wasn¡¯t strong enough and their soul power was weak, the ghost weapon created would be much smaller than nned.


    "Hmm?!"


    "What¡¯s going on!"


    "Ning Zhuo, you, this, this¡­"


    Ning Zhuo sessfullypleted the refining process, and in front of him floated a ghost axe.


    This axe was massive, almost like a door had been taken off its hinges.


    The size of this gigantic ghost axe stood in stark contrast to the miniature ghost weapons of the others.


    Zheng Jian and Ning Xiaohui''s ghost weapons were instantly overshadowed. Their ghost weapons were only of normal size.


    "Brother Zhuo is mighty!" Ning Yong was the first to raise his arm in celebration.


    Soon, the cultivators of the Ning family branchughed and shouted, sincerely celebrating Ning Zhuo''s sess.


    Zhou Zhenshen looked at the normal-sized soul fan in his hand and couldn''t help but ask, "Brother Ning, why is your soul so vast and powerful?"


    "Thanks to the contribution of the Soul-Devouring Sect cultivators," Ning Zhuo certainly didn¡¯t reveal his true thoughts and merely said, "I only realized it recently¡ªafter each exploration of the Immortal Pce, my soul was depleted, but when it fully recovered, it seemed to be slightlyrger than before."


    Everyone was speechless.


    After a few breaths of silence, someone suddenly asked, "Brother Ning, what exactly is your talent?"


    "I do not know either," Ning Zhuo spread his hands.


    Having an unidentifiable talent was his best and most convenient excuse!


    Ning Xiaohui snorted coldly and turned her head away.


    After obtaining their ghost weapons, Zheng Hua distributed various pills, mainly for healing the soul or elerating its recovery.


    Then, under the guidance of another elder of the Zheng family, everyone actively practiced using their ghost weapons.


    Afterward, they practiced mechanical refining, trained for three major tactics, and so on.


    A few dayster.


    The entire reconstruction team waspletely transformed! Theirbat power had skyrocketed!


    The three family patriarchs urged them repeatedly, and the reconstruction team, without resting, headed straight for the Immortal Pce.


    Lava Immortal Pce.


    The pupp


    ets arrived at the first door.


    They lined up in an orderly manner to receive their rewards for passing through.


    Everyone''s movements were swift and without hesitation. This was because the options and quantities of the rewards had been discussed and predetermined long ago.


    Room one, room two, room three.


    "No mechanical apes found!" the crowd cheered.


    They happily entered the first preparation room.


    The cultivators divided the work, with Ning Zhuo and Zheng Jian leading the effort to manufacture various mechanical creations with all their strength.


    Room four, room five, room six.


    In the second preparation room, the cultivators purchased higher-grade materials and made another batch of items.


    Room seven, room eight!


    The Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, appeared.


    "Finally, we¡¯ve encountered it."


    "The eighth room is much deeper than we anticipated."


    "This time, we must win!"


    The joint forces of the three families were filled with high morale.


    Yuan Dasheng roared and charged directly at the group.


    The three families'' joint forces were on full alert, as if facing a formidable enemy!


    "Thunderbolt crossbows, fire!" Zheng Jian shouted.


    In the ranks, eight crossbow machines were instantly activated. The arrows were covered in lightning and shot out.


    Eight bolts of lightning shot straight forward, striking Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    The Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, froze in ce, pierced by eight thunderbolt-wreathed arrows, each eight feet long, which buried themselves deep into the ground, pinning Dasheng in ce.


    Yuan Dasheng struggled, but the result was him twitching uncontrobly from the strong electric current, as broken mechanical parts spilled from his wounds.


    "We¡­ we did it!"


    "Hahaha, who would''ve thought it would be a one-hit kill."


    "The thunderbolt crossbows are incredible, even if they can only fire once. The power is exceptional, definitely worth it."


    The crowd cheered.


    "Hurry, dismantle the mechanical ape."


    "Don''t let the electric current damage the internal parts; we need to gather more information!"


    Several cultivators quickly rushed forward.


    Boom!

 Chapter 182: Ning Xiaohui, What Did You Do?!

    Boom!


    A fiery explosion soared into the sky, blowing several puppets that had rushed forward into fragments.


    "Something''s wrong! Everyone, be careful," Ning Zhuo shouted, warning the others.


    "Did we really get rid of the Mechanical Apes?" Zhou Zhenshen frowned deeply.


    The next moment, the door before them was pushed open, and three more Mechanical Apes entered in single file, all resembling the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    "How can there be so many?"


    "Is it because we have more people, so the Lava Immortal Pce increased the difficulty?"


    "But this is just too hard, isn¡¯t it?"


    Before the crowd could react, the three Mechanical Apesunched into an attack."Change formation, use the battle array!" Zhou Zhenshenmanded in a low voice.


    The Zhou family cultivators stepped forward, forming a wall to block the three Mechanical Apes.


    However, before they could activate the battle array, another violent explosion urred.


    Amid the fire and smoke, the Zhou family cultivators were covered in dust, but their casualties were not severe.


    Their battle array had significantly boosted their defenses, making them much sturdier than if they fought individually.


    However, taking advantage of the explosion, the two remaining Mechanical Apes had already charged to the back of the formation.


    The rear cultivators were thrown into chaos.


    Their coordination could notpare to that of the Zhou family cultivators, and more crucially, there were numerous mechanical constructs in the middle of the group.


    Boom!


    Another violent explosion urred.


    The explosion destroyed more than twenty mechanical constructs, turning their previous efforts into waste before they could even be of any use.


    The remaining Mechanical Apes rampaged, forcing everyone to retreat, fearing they might be blown up.


    In an instant, the cultivators¡¯ formation fell into disarray.


    At this critical moment, Ning Zhuo stepped forward. "Move aside, let me handle it!"


    The crowd quickly stepped back as Ning Zhuo wielded a giant axe and charged forward.


    The axe was evenrger than his entire puppet body. When Ning Zhuo swung it, the momentum was fierce and overwhelming.


    Floating hands hovered around him, constantly releasing various spells, bombarding the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    Following their secret rehearsal, the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, moved nimbly, narrowly dodging all the spells, before arriving in front of Ning Zhuo and delivering a powerful palm strike.


    Ning Zhuo quickly raised his massive axe to block the strike, but he was still sent flying.


    As the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, was about to pursue, Zhou Zhu blocked its path.


    After a few rounds, Zhou Zhu was also sent flying.


    However, by this time, Zhou Zhenshen, Zheng Jian, and Ning Xiaohui had already surrounded Dasheng.


    Thanks to the full efforts of these genius cultivators, the three families finally managed to stabilize the situation.


    "This is the real Mechanical Ape. The others are simple constructs, designed only to self-destruct!" In the midst of the intense battle, a cultivator examined the battlefield and discovered the truth. He quickly shouted to inform the others.


    Everyone¡¯s hearts sank.


    They had been deceived!


    They had wasted a tremendous amount of resources, and the eight crossbows they had crafted were nowpletely useless.


    "We''re ready. Quickly, lure it in!" The Zhou family¡¯s battle array was fully activated, exerting its maximum power.


    Each Zhou family puppet forming the array was under immense pressure, responsible for maintaining and operating the entire living formation.


    Zhou Zhu and the others fought while retreating.


    Yuan Dasheng didn¡¯t chase them; he focused solely on destroying the mechanical constructs.


    Seeing that Yuan Dasheng wasn¡¯t falling into their trap, the crowd became even more anxious.


    "Damn it!"


    "This guy has be sentient."


    Ning Zhuo said, "It¡¯s likely being controlled by the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit!"


    Upon hearing this, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, who had been observing the battle, was so enraged that it spat out a mouthful of crimson fire, scratching its heart in frustration.


    "Indeed, it''s no wonder that treasures like spirit artifacts can suppress ns, sects, and even nations."


    Thebined forces of the three families immediately steeled their resolve, giving their all.


    They pursued and blocked the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, with many even sacrificing themselves to buy a breath or two of time.


    While fiercely battling, Ning Zhuo was also doing his utmost to assist Yuan Dasheng.


    During special training, he had learned the power of the Zhou family¡¯s battle array. Once Yuan Dasheng was trapped, it would be nearly impossible for him to escape.


    At that point, all the mechanical constructs prepared for him would be unleashed, and Yuan Dasheng would be doomed!


    "Qi Bai, enter the battle!" Ning Zhuo secretly manipted the Life-Hanging by a Thread technique andmanded Qi Bai.


    Qi Bai pushed open the door and charged into the battlefield, causing everyone to gasp in unison.


    "It¡¯s here!"


    "The ve ghost puppet has appeared."


    "Quick, restrain it as nned!"


    Zhou Zhu led the charge, wielding the Earthshaking Hammer, rushing toward Qi Bai.


    Zheng Jian temporarily switched to his bow and arrowponents, firing arrows at Qi Bai¡¯s face before Zhou Zhu arrived.


    However, Qi Bai merely lowered his head slightly, using his straw-hat-like head to deflect the arrows. Sparks flew as the arrows glided off his head and shot into the air.


    Zheng Jian¡¯s pupils contracted in surprise.


    ording to the intelligence, the ve ghost puppet¡¯s defense wasn¡¯t supposed to be this strong.


    "Its materials have been upgraded!"


    "No, it¡¯s not just him, the Mechanical Ape too!"


    Zheng Jian quickly turned his head and observed for a while, confirming that Yuan Dasheng, though seemingly consistent with the intelligence, had undergone significant material upgrades.


    "Damn it, the Lava Immortal Pce really did increase the difficulty!"


    In the original n, Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu were supposed to engage Qi Bai in closebat. But now that Qi Bai had grown stronger, Zheng Jian¡¯s confidence in their battle n wavered.


    "Don¡¯t panic! I¡¯ll handle this!!" Ning Zhuo roared.


    He donned the mechanical constructs he had crafted onto his body.


    Within two breaths, he was wearing suspension rings around his neck, wrists, ankles, and other parts of his body.


    These suspension rings, of course, had been modified.


    Ning Zhuo charged at Yuan Dasheng with his giant axe. During the fight, the suspension rings all over his body continuously shot out threads that attached to the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.


    Yuan Dasheng¡¯s movements slowed dramatically, giving the others an opportunity.


    The Zhou family¡¯s mobile array finally ensnared Yuan Dasheng.


    "Good job, Ning Zhuo!" Zheng Jian praised.


    "Haha, Brother Ning, you truly are reliable in critical moments," Zhou Zhenshen transmitted his voice as well.


    Yuan Dasheng roared and, for the first time, cast a spell¡ªFire Grasping Technique.


    The Fire Grasping Technique ascended to a higher level, bathing its entire body in crimson mes.


    The mes burned, scorching Ning Zhuo¡¯s threads away.


    Yuan Dasheng roared again, and the door opened once more. This time, arge number of mechanical Wind-Fire Wheels flew out.


    The Wind-Fire Wheels moved incredibly fast, spewing mes as they rolled, causing massive destruction.


    Many puppet bodies were instantly incinerated into ash.


    The cultivators from the three families struggled under the onught of the Wind-Fire Wheels, retreating again and again.


    "Why are these wheels so agile?" Many cultivators cast spells but repeatedly missed.


    The mechanical Wind-Fire Wheels were far more nimble than anyone had imagined.


    "Of course, they¡¯re nimble! I¡¯ve cremated each one and infused them with spirituality. In this battle, they will disy all their brilliance," Ning Zhuo thought to himself.


    "We can¡¯t go on like this!"


    "We¡¯ve lost too many people."


    "Use the Smoke Cart!!" Some people shouted.


    "No, that¡¯s reserved for the Soul Army puppet," Ning Zhuo immediately rejected the suggestion.


    The intense battle continued.


    The Wind-Fire Wheels wreaked havoc, burning puppets one after another.


    Their casualties had reached forty percent.


    "Deploy the Smoke Cart. It can stop those wheels!" someone suggested again.


    "No, if we use it now and the enemy releases ghosts, we won¡¯t have any effective countermeasures," Ning Zhuo rejected once more.


    Their casualties reached sixty percent.


    "Ah!" A cultivator roared, unable to hold back any longer, preparing to activate the Smoke Cart.


    But Ning Zhuo quickly stopped him, "Hold on, just hold on! If we don¡¯t endure the small setbacks, we¡¯ll ruin the grand n!"


    Not long after, Yuan Dasheng broke through the Zhou family¡¯s battle array and was about to break out of the encirclement.


    "Where do you think you''re going?" Ning Xie finally lost his patience andunched an attack.


    "Senior Ning Xie, let me assist you," Ning Xiaohui unleashed her Ice Jade Hand.


    Ning Xie cast Snow Soul Ice Soul!


    The


    two of them joined forces, and theirbined power was extraordinary, unleashing the strength of a Foundation Establishment peak expert.


    The temperature in the air dropped dramatically, and frost quickly spread, turning the entire room white.


    Yuan Dasheng was heavily targeted and could barely move.


    The mes on his body fought desperately against the extreme cold and ice.


    "Let me deliver the finishing blow!" Ning Zhuo shouted, leaping high into the air and descending from above.


    He raised his massive axe overhead and then brought it down fiercely!


    However, just as everyone watched with anticipation, Ning Xiaohui inexplicably redirected her spell, enveloping Ning Zhuo in it as well.


    Frost quickly formed on Ning Zhuo''s body, freezing him solid.


    Bang.


    In the next moment, Yuan Dasheng attacked, piercing Ning Zhuo¡¯s chest. Then, he lifted his leg and swept it sideways, sending Ning Zhuo¡¯s upper body, including his head, flying far away.


    "Ning Xiaohui!" Ning Zhuo roared in fury.


    Everyone was shocked and enraged, finding it hard to believe what they were witnessing.


    With the enemy right in front of them, someone had actually used the battle as an excuse for personal revenge. And the method was so crude that it was tantly obvious.


    "Ning Xiaohui, you have disgraced the main bloodline of the family!" Ning Chen shouted.


    Ning Yong roared, "Ning Xiaohui, what are you doing? Without Brother Zhuo, how will we deal with the Mechanical Ape?"


    Ning Xiaohui was dumbfounded. "I-I, did I do this?"


    She didn¡¯t know why she had acted that way.


    In her dazed state, she left herself wide open.


    Three mechanical Wind-Fire Wheels charged at her from three different directions, smashing into her and shattering her.


    Without a host body, Ning Xie roared in frustration, knowing he was about to be expelled from the Lava Immortal Pce.


    But the next moment, Qi Bai arrived, pointing a finger as a swarm of mechanical ropes flew out from his sleeve.


    The mechanical ropes coiled around Ning Xie like a swarm of snakes, tying him up tightly.


    "Someone save me!" Ning Xie was rendered powerless, his face changing dramatically.


    And in the next moment, Qi Bai approached, standing before him.


    Both formation and spells activated, forcefully sealing and suppressing Ning Xie!


    The battle continued for the time it took to drink a cup of tea.


    Yuan Dasheng and Qi Bai were both heavily injured, narrowly winning the fight.


    The joint forces of the three families were defeated!


    After the battle, countless people left the Immortal Pce, ring at Ning Xiaohui with hostile expressions, their resentment like a volcano on the verge of eruption.


    Ning Xiaohui walked away with a solemn expression, her head down, hurriedly distancing herself from the crowd.


    Many people approached Ning Zhuo to offerfort.


    Ning Zhuo¡¯s face was grim. "We were so close. We almost had it!"


    "This wasn¡¯t your fault."


    "Take it easy, Brother Zhuo! You were the best performer."


    "Ning Zhuo, this time I stand with you. Ning Xiaohui must give us all an exnation!"


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