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Chapter 84: Oh no, Young Master Meng Chong has fainted
Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

< 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 it landed 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 it landed, 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, glanced 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 before coming 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 become 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 a comeback, defeat it, and then successfully 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 black, and he fainted directly.

With a thud, he fell back onto the bed.

The attendants outside the door had heard the commotion 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.

“The combat power of the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, is much higher than that of Meng Chong.”

“This actual combat test showed that although Meng Chong's Immortal Technique, Wild Sprint Thunderclap, 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 Thunderclap anymore.”

Ning Zhuo speculated that this was likely due to the soul entering the Immortal Palace.

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 circulate it.

Meng Chong’s situation was the same.

Activating Wild Sprint Thunderclap 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 Thunderclap would be better!”

“In contrast, the combat power of the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, did not differ between inside and outside the Immortal Palace.”

“Dasheng’s close combat abilities were extremely strong; Meng Chong couldn’t compare 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 close combat 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 close combat, 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 breaths later, 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, combined 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 Palace 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 relatively refined practice mechanism.”

If the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit heard this analysis, it would surely be furious.

What did he mean by "relatively refined"?

Was this even human language?

The Lava Immortal Palace 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 not compare 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 Glaze.

If one looked closely at this body, they would find it faintly transparent.

The information conveyed by the Lava Immortal Palace, though lacking 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, planting it in the exposed areas of the body.

On the surface, it at least matched the large 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, occasionally 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 contemplating for a short while, Ning Zhuo made up his mind: "It's time to showcase some of my mechanical talents and make a splash."

Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master
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    Chapter 107: Three Families' Joint Investigation

    "Is this all the evidence?" Zhu Xuanji arrived at the Zhou family estate. The head of the Zhou family personally received him.

    Zhu Xuanji wasted no time, stating that he had rushed over immediately upon hearing about the attacks.

    "This might be the work of the Shadow Demon cultivators! According to our previous suspicions, someone has secretly released them," the Zhou family head said gravely. "This is a hidden, evil force lurking in the shadows. If we hadn't discovered it in time, I'm afraid our two Qi Refining geniuses would have perished."

    Zhu Xuanji examined the dead ants in his hand, his eyes glowing with golden light as he activated the Tracing the Roots Technique. He remained silent throughout.

    The Zhou family head, hopeful, asked if he had found anything.

    Zhu Xuanji shook his head. "The evidence from your family alone is not enough. I'll need to check with the other families."

    Zhu Xuanji then visited the City Lord's mansion, the Zheng family, and Ning Zhuo's small courtyard.

    As expected, the results of his investigation were consistent across the board. There were many clues—too many, in fact.

    The problem lay precisely in this abundance of clues. The Tracing the Roots Technique could detect closely related objects, but such close relationships could stem from multiple sources. For instance, from the toxic residue found in Ning Xiaohui, Zhu Xuanji traced it back to the raw materials, the herb-cooking boys, and the medicine-delivering servants.

    Does this alone prove that the herb-cooking boys and the medicine-delivering servants are the culprits? No, it does not.

    Could it be determined they are not the culprits? Also no, because they might have secretly added poison while cooking or delivering the medicine.

    The Tracing the Roots Technique could only uncover leads. To delve deeper, Zhu Xuanji would have to rely on various investigative methods.

    However, Zhu Xuanji decided to halt his investigation. There were simply too many clues. If he continued, the time and effort required would be overwhelming.

    Zhu Xuanji suspected that the abundance of clues was intentionally set up by the culprits to delay his investigation.

    Just like the incident during the Fire Persimmon Festival where the mechanized monkey attacked Yuan Er, Zhu Xuanji traced back many clues from the remnants of those mechanized fire-bombing monkeys. Were these clues useful? Only marginally.

    Zhu Xuanji preferred seeing only a few clues under the Tracing the Roots Technique. The fewer the clues, the more valuable they were for further investigation! But now, each piece of evidence had so many leads, making the culprit's intention to counter the Tracing the Roots Technique very clear.

    However, this was something Zhu Xuanji had anticipated. As the fame of the Tracing the Roots Technique grew, many powerful individuals or factions would consciously prepare defenses against it.

    All techniques in the world are merely tools to help cultivators achieve their goals. As tools, they can be countered. It is the invincible cultivator, not the invincible technique, that stands out.

    "Initially hoping the culprit would slip up was a bit naive on my part," Zhu Xuanji mused, deciding to proceed with his original investigation plan despite the recent events.

    "Perhaps my methodical investigation is putting pressure on the culprit, prompting these attacks to divert my attention!" Zhu Xuanji's brow furrowed. Throughout his investigation, he felt something was amiss, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was. When he tried to think it through, the unsettling feeling disappeared.

    Zhu Xuanji's subsequent actions left the heads of the three families disappointed. They secretly convened to discuss their next steps.

    "The Divine Inspector Zhu is truly disappointing," one remarked.

    "Perhaps he has already identified the responsible faction but is constrained by his position from making it public."

    "What do you mean?"

    The three family heads fell silent. Although not explicitly stated, they all understood it pointed to the City Lord's mansion.

    In both attacks, the City Lord's mansion suffered the least, or more accurately, benefited from the misfortunes. Meng Chong's success in eliminating the assassins twice had significantly boosted his reputation, overshadowing the Qi Refining talents of the other three families.

    "Since Meng Xiao took office, he has maintained good relations with our three families. This time, it may not have been his doing. After all, Meng Chong has consistently led in the exploration of the Immortal Palace," the Zheng family head said.

    The Ning family head analyzed, "Last time, I indeed suspected the City Lord's mansion. But this time, the intensity of the assassination attempt, aiming to kill all the Qi Refining talents of our three families, suggests there may indeed be a hidden force with malicious intent."

    The Zhou family head shook his head and let out a cold laugh, "None of our talented juniors from the three families died, did they? Even if someone had died, could we trace it back to the City Lord's mansion?"

    He sighed deeply, "The Meng family is a significant family in our Nandou Immortal Kingdom. Meng family cultivators are known for their aggressive and domineering nature. Particularly, the four generals of the Meng family are all battle-hardened, with numerous kills to their names. Apart from the other three fierce generals, Meng Xiao, who seems gentle and friendly, is also one of them, but this is merely a facade.

    "Think about it, since he took office, have our three families had a comfortable time? Isn't it much more oppressive compared to previous City Lords? Have you investigated Meng Xiao's past battle reports? He is even better at scheming than our Zhou family and has a nickname, 'Mountain Top Prime Minister.' Do you think someone like him is easy to deal with?"

    The Ning family head nodded thoughtfully, "Now that you mention it, I have had similar feelings. The City Lord's mansion was the first to discover the Lava Immortal Palace. Then it was the Zhou and Zheng families. According to our intelligence, your two families privately bribed Meng Xiao heavily to prevent him from reporting it to the court. But think about it, if Meng Xiao had reported it immediately upon discovery, would we have any involvement?"

    "On the surface, it seems like the Zhou and Zheng families sought his cooperation, but could this have been part of his scheme all along?"

    The Zheng family head snorted, "Very likely! Meng Xiao is actually more difficult to deal with than other Meng family members because he is more insidious."

    "Using the Lava Immortal Palace, he has made our three families cooperate actively with him, allowing him to govern the Immortal City smoothly and harmoniously over the years. Previously, he deliberately released information and relaxed surveillance, attracting countless rogue cultivators and wandering cultivators to explore the Crimson Flame Demon Cave. Over the years, countless people have died. These people used their lives to fill the void, killing countless Crimson Flame Demons, which reduced the pressure on the Immortal Palace and allowed the City Lord's mansion to gradually acquire detailed information about the Immortal Palace and the Crimson Flame Demon Cave."

    "If the City Lord's mansion had worked alone, by now, their city guards would have been wiped out."

    The Zhou family head added, "Since the Lava Immortal Palace emerged, Meng Xiao has personally sat in the seat, suppressing the palace and forbidding anyone from approaching."

    "Hmph! His excuse is impeccable and righteous, but in reality, he has completely prevented our three families' cultivators from entering the Immortal Palace to explore its secrets."

    Previously, for the Zhou and Zheng family cultivators to enter the Immortal Palace, it was a cumbersome process. They had to climb to the top of the volcano, enter the Crimson Flame Demon Cave, and choose the correct path to enter the palace inside the mountain.

    In the end, cultivators came into contact with the Immortal Palace but couldn't break through. Only those skilled in mechanisms, already recognized by the Palace Spirit, could enter the palace. Originally, with the emergence of the Immortal Palace, cultivators from the three families could conveniently enter and leave. But with Meng Xiao personally suppressing it, the three families were unable to access the palace.

    Although the City Lord's mansion also didn't have cultivators entering the palace, the three families were well aware that in this area, the City Lord's mansion's competitiveness was far less than that of the Qi Refining stage. In the Qi Refining stage competition, Meng Chong had a supreme talent—this advantage was tremendous!

    The head of the Zhou family, with a sincere expression, said, "At this stage, finding the real culprit is not as important. The critical thing is the Lava Immortal Palace!" The other two family heads nodded in agreement.

    The Zhou family head pressed on, "We can only counter the City Lord's mansion by uniting and cooperating more closely. To show my sincerity, I am willing to fully open the Gathering and Dispelling Spirit Qi Formation for use by your families." The heads of the Ning and Zheng families were somewhat surprised.

    Previously, during negotiations, the head of the Zhou family had been reluctant to open up the Gathering and Dispelling Spirit Qi Formation. Unexpectedly, the severe injuries sustained by the Zhou family's two talents during the assassination attempt had prompted the Zhou family head to make this decision.

    "Alright," the Zheng family head clapped his hands. "In that case, I will offer our family's prized possession—the Sharpening Needles." The Ning family head nodded, "Then our Ning family will present the Ice Light Reinforcement Talismans."

    The Gathering and Dispelling Spirit Qi Formation could help cultivators better accumulate and circulate their Qi. The Sharpening Needles could preemptively expand a cultivator's internal channels during the Qi Refining stage, saving them the effort of slowly carving them out. The Ice Light Reinforcement Talismans could coat a cultivator's internal channels with a layer of ice light, allowing them to circulate Qi at a speed 30% above their limit without risking damage to their channels from the increased Qi flow.

    The talents from the three families had been injured in succession and needed time to recover. They urgently needed other members of their cultivation teams to improve their levels. These assassination attempts made the three family heads acutely aware of the fierce competition and the strength and ruthlessness of their opponents. They decided to lower their pride and engage in more active cooperation.

    At the Ning family estate.

    In the dining room.

    "Mother, how much longer do we have to wait?" Ning Ji had just reached out with his chopsticks to pick up some food when his mother, Wang Lan, smacked his hand with her chopsticks.

    Ning Ji, in pain, quickly withdrew his hand. Wang Lan glared at her son, "What's wrong with waiting a bit longer?"

    "Your father is still in the private prison. How can you even think of eating?"

    Ning Ji, holding his hand, protested, "But there's no need to wait for Ning Zhuo to come before we eat. We never had this rule before. Didn't we always start eating first?"

    Wang Lan snorted, "How can now compare to the past?"

    "Ning Zhuo is highly regarded by the young clan leader. If he speaks a few good words for your father, pleads for some leniency, your father might be released!"

    Chapter 108: The Taste is Wonderful

    "Behave yourself later, or I'll smack you again!" Wang Lan's expression grew increasingly stern as she spoke.

    Ning Ji felt a sourness in his heart. He couldn't help but recall the past.

    When young Ning Zhuo would return late after playing and missing mealtime, there would only be cold leftovers on the table.

    "Who told you to come back so late? Hehe, you'll get nothing to eat," Ning Ji, having eaten his fill, would sit and mock him.

    Ning Zhuo would stick out his tongue and sit down, about to pick up the chopsticks to eat.

    Slap.

    Wang Lan would smack the chopsticks out of Ning Zhuo's hand, causing them to fall to the ground.

    "Have some manners!" Wang Lan's face would be cold. "There's dirt under your fingernails. Have you forgotten what I taught you? Go wash your hands!"

    "Yes," Ning Zhuo would respond, his face pale, holding his red hand as he hurriedly left the round stool to wash his hands.

    With this delay, the bell would ring.

    "Time's up. Clear the dining room. Oh dear, Ah Zhuo has nothing to eat!" Ning Ji would gloat, clapping his hands.

    "Husband?" Wang Lan would look at Ning Ze with hesitation.

    Ning Ze, with an indifferent expression, would slowly stand up and leave his seat. "Rules are rules and must not be relaxed."

    "Yes, husband," Wang Lan would lower her head in response.

    Ning Zhuo would step into the dining room.

    The child who once ran to wash his hands, holding his red hand, had grown into a sixteen-year-old youth.

    Dressed in white, with calm eyes, he walked in slowly.

    Both Ning Ji and Wang Lan felt a sense of time flying by, as if years had passed in an instant.

    Wang Lan collected her emotions and immediately stood up, showing Ning Zhuo a warm smile. "Ah Zhuo, you're here. Now we can start eating."

    Ning Zhuo bowed and greeted, "Aunt."

    Then he looked at Ning Ji and smiled slightly, "Cousin."

    Ning Ji nodded, his expression complicated.

    Wang Lan said, "Oh, you are still so polite. No need for such formalities here. Please, sit down."

    Wang Lan guided Ning Zhuo to sit next to her. However, she did not sit in the main seat. The main seat at the round table was empty, reserved for Ning Ze.

    Seeing this, Ning Zhuo understood Wang Lan's warm reception.

    Sure enough, not long after they started eating, Wang Lan mentioned Ning Ze, "Ah Zhuo, what your uncle did was indeed wrong, withholding what rightfully belonged to you."

    "You're a kind-hearted child, otherwise, you wouldn't have chosen to forgive your uncle. Your father's brother is your uncle, and we are truly a family!" As she spoke, Wang Lan felt an intense sense of grievance and hidden anger.

    She knew very well that this was all nonsense! But since Ning Xiaoren had already made his arrangements, Ning Ze had no choice but to go along with it, and Wang Lan had to follow suit.

    Ning Zhuo said, "Aunt, you're right. The closest people to me in this world are still you all. When I first heard this news, to be honest, I was very angry.

    But after some time, I came to terms with it. After all, he is my uncle, and you are my closest relatives. All I ask is for the embezzled money and resources to be returned."

    "We never embezzled anything! That Ning Xiaoren is a complete scoundrel, and you believe everything he says?!" Wang Lan raged internally, her anger twisting her smile into a grotesque expression.

    She forced herself to suppress her anger, saying, "Yes, we will return it. But it has to be done in installments because the amount is so large that we can't provide it all at once."

    "I understand completely," Ning Zhuo nodded.

    As he spoke, he observed Ning Ji and Wang Lan.

    The embryonic form of his divine ability had already been quietly activated.

    Unlike before, now his life thread divine ability lotus had already grown a segment of the stem.

    This embryonic form of the divine ability made him realize that he could now gather his power quietly and activate his divine ability without being noticed. As long as the target wasn't very strong, he could conceal his aura to the utmost degree, achieving complete stealth.

    The reason Ning Zhuo chose to stay at his uncle's house, apart from avoiding the heavy surveillance at Ning Xiaoren's residence, was also to test his divine ability.

    The life thread divine ability's control strength increased with the depth of understanding. In this world, he understood Ning Ze's family the best. After all, they had spent over a decade together, day and night.

    In Ning Zhuo's vision, a life thread gradually formed above Ning Ze's head. Unlike the life threads used during soul extraction in the Lava Immortal Palace, the one Ning Zhuo controlled was very thin and semi-transparent.

    Soon, a life thread appeared above Wang Lan's head as well. Neither mother nor son noticed anything.

    Ning Zhuo attempted to control it. Suddenly, Ning Ji grabbed his throat and made a choking sound.

    "What's wrong?" Wang Lan, who was about to continue persuading Ning Zhuo, was interrupted by Ning Ji's sudden condition.

    Ning Ji's face turned red as he said, "I ate some fish and got a bone stuck in my throat." Wang Lan snorted and ignored him.

    She continued, "Xiao Zhuo, you see, your uncle has been in the private prison for so many days. You know the conditions in that place; it's not fit for humans. I've tried to see the young clan leader, but he refused to meet us. Xiao Zhuo, I was hoping you could... cough, cough."

    Wang Lan suddenly started coughing.

    Ning Zhuo quickly handed her a cup. "Aunt, please speak slowly and don't get excited."

    Wang Lan thanked him, took the cup, and drank some water.

    "Ah, ah!" This time, she coughed even more severely because she choked on the water.

    "Forgive me, Xiao Zhuo." It took Wang Lan a long time to recover, losing the emotional buildup she had previously.

    Of course, Ning Zhuo didn't tell her that all of her reactions were the result of his experiment with the divine ability.

    Wang Lan sighed, just about to continue.

    Ning Ji once again grabbed his throat, his mouth wide open, making strange noises.

    "What now?" Wang Lan frowned.

    Ning Ji looked pitifully. "I, I got another fish bone stuck in my throat."

    "You're this grown and still can't eat fish properly! Unbelievable!" Wang Lan glared fiercely at Ning Ji.

    Ning Ji quickly bowed his head, looking submissive as he braced for the scolding.

    After Wang Lan reprimanded him a few more times, Ning Ji's face turned increasingly red, and he became visibly uncomfortable.

    "What's wrong now?" Wang Lan asked sharply.

    "Mother, I need to use the restroom," Ning Ji said.

    The intense urge to relieve himself made him desperate.

    "Go, quickly," Wang Lan said, not wanting to look at him anymore.

    Ning Ji immediately got up and walked out of the dining room quickly, moving awkwardly. As he crossed the threshold, he accidentally passed gas.

    Ning Zhuo manipulated the life thread, causing Ning Ji's left foot to trip over his right. Ning Ji had only taken a few steps past the door before he fell headfirst to the ground.

    Wang Lan's eyes widened, and she was just about to scold him when she choked on her own saliva, coughing uncontrollably for a long time.

    Ning Zhuo smiled slightly and raised his hand to stop Wang Lan from speaking further. "Aunt, I understand what you're trying to say. Don't worry, I will plead with the young clan leader to release my uncle as soon as possible."

    Hearing this, Wang Lan was so excited that she slapped her thigh. "Oh, Xiao Zhuo, you're such a good child, you're wonderful! Auntie is so grateful to you."

    Ning Zhuo said, "Let's continue eating."

    Wang Lan eagerly used the communal chopsticks to serve Ning Zhuo some food. However, midway through, the food fell onto the table.

    Wang Lan felt very embarrassed.

    "Aunt, there's no need for you to do this. I can serve myself," Ning Zhuo said as he used his chopsticks to pick up a fish eye and placed it into his mouth.

    Just a small taste was enough for Ning Zhuo to become deeply infatuated with this feeling.

    Life Thread!

    As long as it was used, as long as it attached to someone, the behavior and actions of the cultivator would be partially controlled.

    Take Ning Zhuo’s recent experiment for example, Wang Lan and Ning Ji both exhibited minor behaviors and made multiple mistakes.

    "This feeling, this feeling... it’s truly indescribably wonderful."

    It was as if everything could be easily influenced by him, as if everything was under his control!

    Ning Zhuo was deeply entranced by this.

    "How does it taste?" Wang Lan asked with concern, "I made this fish myself."

    While chewing the tasteless fish eye, Ning Zhuo nodded, his eyes showing a slight cold glint. He sincerely exclaimed, "The taste... it's really excellent."

    Chapter 109: Enthusiastic Friend Ning Xiao Zhuo

    Ning Que’s home also had a cultivation room.

    After finishing his meal, Ning Zhuo entered the cultivation room to begin his practice.

    First, he thoroughly inspected the surroundings and found no surveillance measures.

    He then carefully examined the array within the cultivation room.

    The array was intricate and interconnected with the main array of the Ning family. The Ning family’s main array, in turn, was linked to one of the array pillars of the Great Array of Lava Immortal City.

    This layered and refined relationship allowed the array in Ning Que’s cultivation room to provide abundant spiritual energy.

    The source of this spiritual energy was the endless fire elemental energy within the Lava Mountain.

    The massive fire elemental energy, laden with toxic elements, was purified by the Great Array of Lava Immortal City, yielding purified fire elemental energy. This energy was then converted into neutral spiritual energy through various complex arrays.

    By the time it reached the Ning family’s domain, the neutral spiritual energy had been further converted into ice elemental or water elemental energy.

    This was because the Ning family’s primary cultivation methods involved ice or water elemental techniques.

    After his alteration in cultivation techniques, Ning Zhuo now used the Five Elements Breathing Technique, which covered a wide range and could absorb any spiritual energy related to the five elements.

    Hence, this cultivation room was perfectly suitable for him.

    Soon, clouds began to drift within the cultivation room.

    The layers of clouds enveloped Ning Zhuo entirely, wrapping him into a large cotton-like ball.

    However, due to the large space in the cultivation room, the clouds only gathered around Ning Zhuo and did not fill the entire room.

    The Ning family had invested significant effort and resources when setting up their family compound.

    Wrapped in clouds, Ning Zhuo first took out some spiritual food pastries, enjoying the lingering taste on his tongue.

    He then drank a bottle of specially made juice worth hundreds of spiritual stones, causing spiritual energy to surge within him, making his whole body feel almost swollen with energy.

    Taking too many pills could lead to medicinal toxicity, so he avoided them for now.

    Spiritual food had no such drawbacks, although it spoiled easily, was difficult to preserve for long periods, and was expensive.

    Spiritual food was much pricier than pills.

    But Ning Zhuo was wealthy!

    His current income included profits from the Fireburst Monkeys, periodic rewards from the Lava Immortal Palace leaderboard, and the resources tricked out of his uncle.

    The largest portion came from the cultivation resources distributed by the three families in their joint effort. His share had always been substantial.

    The recent assaults on the three family prodigies had greatly alarmed the families, causing them to increase resource distribution by three to four times!

    Ning Zhuo had already demonstrated his cultivation level and potential innate talent, which had not yet been fully tested.

    As a result, the resources he received were top-tier, on par with those of Zheng Jian and others.

    Thus, Ning Zhuo had the means to lavishly indulge in these spiritual foods.

    After consuming spiritual food, Ning Zhuo prepared to take some pills. Additionally, his meditation cushion, a high-quality auxiliary cultivation tool, was ready.

    Today, the joint efforts of the three families had delivered a new batch of resources.

    Among these, the Sharp Advancement Needle and the Ice Light Strong Meridian Talisman caught Ning Zhuo's eye.

    These were usually reserved only for geniuses like Ning Xiaohui from the main branch!

    Using the Five Elements Breathing Technique, refining the Devil-Dyed Blood Vessel Technique, and meditating with the Mirror Platform Spiritual Communication Technique, Ning Zhuo's progress with these three cultivation methods was visibly rapid due to the abundance of resources.

    At the start, Ning Zhuo was surrounded by a halo of five colors, which dyed the surrounding clouds.

    Then, his face was enveloped in a red glow, and blood energy surged outward.

    Finally, his aura receded, and a Buddhist tranquility ascended, filling his face with a look of compassion.

    After reaching the physical limits of his body, Ning Zhuo decisively stopped.

    Progressing too quickly with cultivation techniques wasn't good either.

    The body, especially the three Dantians, needed time to adapt and buffer. Rapid improvement could lead to unstable foundations, which is why a balance was necessary.

    However, among the resources Ning Zhuo used were many items that accelerated the adaptation process.

    He didn't hold back and used them all.

    "Right now, I need to go all out, moving at the maximum speed to seize the Lava Immortal Palace."

    "Money is just an external thing. If I fail to capture the palace and lose my life, no amount of spirit stones will matter."

    Ning Zhuo understood this deeply. He opened the door of the secret room and walked out, smiling.

    The results of this cultivation session were greater than any before.

    "The Sharp Advancement Needle and the Ice Light Strong Meridian Talisman were indeed effective. If only I could also use the Gather-Disperse Wishful Spiritual Breath Formation, it would be even better. Unfortunately, I can't use it."

    Ning Zhuo was very wary of the strength and style of the Zhou family. Among the three families, he understood the Ning family well and had a certain grasp of their actions.

    The Zheng family was straightforward, making it easy to predict their next move.

    The Zhou family was different. In terms of strength, the Zhou family was undoubtedly the strongest among the three, a fact even the Zheng family acknowledged.

    However, the most prominent family in Lava Immortal City was not the Zhou family but the Zheng family.

    The Zhou family preferred careful planning and had deep strategies.

    Zhou Zhu was an exception; Zhou Ze Shen represented the typical Zhou family cultivator, embodying many of the family's traits and characteristics.

    "I accidentally uncovered the Zhou family's little secret while using the Golden-Blooded War Ape, Da Sheng. To this day, the Zhou family has kept silent about it."

    Ning Zhuo certainly wouldn't reveal it on his own.

    The Zhou family's secrecy was advantageous to Ning Zhuo.

    "Masters, this way, please. Young Master Ning Zhuo is in the side hall," a servant guided Ning Chen and Ning Yong.

    Entering the side hall, the two saw Ning Zhuo.

    "Ah Zhuo!" Ning Yong raised his arm and waved excitedly.

    Ning Chen smiled and bowed to Ning Zhuo.

    Ning Zhuo waved his hand dismissively, "With our friendship, there's no need for formalities. Let's sit down and chat while we eat."

    "Exactly, no need to be polite with Ah Zhuo! We've been through life and death together," Ning Yong said heartily, taking a seat and seeing the array of spiritual food and pastries on the round table.

    His eyes widened in amazement.

    "Oh my, so much spiritual food!" Ning Yong exclaimed.

    Ning Chen, also astonished, sat down. They had been cultivating at home when a servant came with a message saying Ning Zhuo had invited them.

    Given Ning Zhuo's elevated status, the two felt a mixture of affection, admiration, and hidden guilt, readily agreeing to come.

    The three chatted leisurely in the side hall. Ning Yong ate voraciously, his cheeks never deflating.

    Ning Chen initially felt reserved, but under Ning Zhuo's encouragement, he also indulged in many pastries.

    From the moment he saw them, Ning Zhuo began to use his embryonic spiritual ability, the Thread of Fate.

    It took two full tea breaks before he successfully wove a thread of fate above each of their heads.

    These threads were much finer and more translucent compared to those he had used on his cousin Ning Ji and aunt Wang Lan.

    "Understanding the target greatly influences the manifestation of the Thread of Fate!" Ning Zhuo thought to himself.

    The embryonic spiritual ability merely informed him that he had learned this skill.

    It was like growing legs, making Ning Zhuo realize he could walk, run, and jump, but how far he could go, how fast he could run, and how high he could jump still required practice.

    Upon observation, Ning Zhuo realized his previous estimates were too optimistic.

    "Ning Chen and Ning Yong have been my classmates for fourteen years. Although we weren't particularly close, we were familiar enough to know each other's general information. My cultivation level is also higher than theirs, yet it still took two tea breaks to establish the Thread of Fate."

    This showed that the practical value of the Thread of Fate in combat was limited.

    Most opponents in battle were not well-known to him.

    In the heat of battle, with rapid shifts in offense and defense and life-threatening situations, who could methodically establish the Thread of Fate?

    At least for now, Ning Zhuo couldn't.

    "This spiritual ability is mainly for managing influence rather than excelling in combat. Unless I set up the Thread of Fate in advance."

    "But as it stands, setting up the Thread of Fate requires us to be very close to each other. Anything beyond three steps is extremely difficult!"

    Once the Thread of Fate was established, Ning Zhuo stopped the idle chatter and said proactively, "I invited you both here to lend a helping hand. Your cultivation levels are currently behind mine. I've reached the peak of the third layer and have plenty of experience. I can share all this experience with you."

    Ning Yong and Ning Chen exchanged glances, each seeing the delight in the other's eyes.

    "That's fantastic!" Ning Yong cheered.

    Ning Chen stood up, his expression serious, and bowed deeply to Ning Zhuo.

    Ning Zhuo immediately stood up, smiling as he helped him up.

    Seeing this, Ning Yong also hurriedly expressed his thanks with a bow.

    "We've been classmates for over ten years and have faced life and death together. There's no need for such formalities," Ning Zhuo said with a hearty laugh. "Let's head to the training chamber in the main house. I'll personally guide you both."

    The three of them went into the main house's training chamber.

    "This is the main family's training chamber. In our house, it’s mostly used by my grandfather, then my father. I only get to use it occasionally," Ning Yong sighed. "Ah Zhuo, it seems your uncle isn't too bad to you."

    Ning Chen chuckled, "That must be a recent change! If mistreatment was just a rumor, it couldn't have been the case throughout all our years at school, right?"

    Ning Zhuo smiled, neither confirming nor denying, "My uncle has a secret mission. He's been away on duty recently, so I got to use this chamber."

    This was the official line they were sticking to.

    Ning Gui's situation hadn't become public knowledge, restricted to only a few individuals.

    On one hand, Ning Xiao Ren knew it was his own scheme and wouldn't publicize it.

    On the other hand, Ning Gui valued his reputation and would never admit to it. Lastly, Ning Ze had no incentive to reveal this scandal.

    Wang Lan and Ning Ji were doing everything to keep it a secret, let alone spread it around.

    Ning Zhuo had the two sit down.

    They were also part of the reform team and took out their meditation mats from their storage pouches, beginning to breathe and circulate their energy.

    Ning Zhuo circled around them and immediately began administering acupuncture.

    They had brought their own sets of Sharp Advance Needles and Ice Light Strong Pulse Talismans.

    They used their own sets of Sharp Advance Needles, but for the Ice Light Strong Pulse Talismans, Ning Zhuo used part of their supply and part of his own.

    This served as a layer of concealment, a precaution against unforeseen events.

    Chapter 110: Victory's Combo Feels Chilling

    Ning Zhuo occasionally came up behind Ning Chen or Ning Yong, placing his hand on their backs to help them manipulate the Sharp Advancement Needle, thereby opening various qi meridians ahead of time.

    Both were behind Ning Zhuo in terms of cultivation, and many of their qi meridians were still unopened.

    Ning Zhuo had long since reached the peak of the third layer and had now broken through to the fourth layer.

    He was very familiar with these qi meridians, akin to a local guiding outsiders.

    The Ice Light Strong Vein Talisman and the Sharp Advancement Needle formed a very ingenious combination.

    Newly opened qi meridians were still weak and unstable.

    At this moment, applying the Ice Light Strong Vein Talisman could stabilize them, saving cultivators a lot of subsequent nurturing and conditioning effort.

    Soon, both Ning Chen and Ning Yong made breakthroughs!

    Ning Zhuo monitored them closely, constantly providing guidance.

    At first, the new energy flow paths were difficult for Ning Chen and Ning Yong to operate.

    However, Ning Zhuo secretly manipulated the Thread of Fate to directly control their bodies, adjusting their breathing and optimizing their rhythm.

    Simultaneously, he also used a trace of the power from his Buddha Heart Devil Seal to guide their thoughts, ensuring they didn't realize the truth and instead believed that Ning Zhuo was simply an excellent teacher and that they were learning well.

    Cultivators have a daily limit to how much energy they can absorb.

    Ning Chen reached his limit first, followed shortly by Ning Yong. Only then did Ning Zhuo withdraw his hand from their backs.

    "Rest and adjust your breaths. I'll be waiting outside," he said before stepping out of the cultivation chamber.

    Not long after, Ning Chen and Ning Yong emerged, looking exhausted.

    Ning Chen, leading the way, bowed deeply to express his gratitude for Ning Zhuo's guidance.

    Ning Yong, scratching his head, couldn't match Ning Chen's eloquence but simply said, "I feel the same way!" Ning Zhuo laughed heartily, dismissing it as a small matter.

    Ning Chen, with a serious expression, bowed deeply, "If you ever need anything, Brother Ning Zhuo, just say the word."

    Ning Zhuo nodded and smiled, noting that Ning Chen was perceptive, unlike Ning Yong. Ning Yong, catching on, quickly added, "I mean it too!"

    Ning Zhuo then said, "In fact, there's something I could use your help with right now."

    Relieved, Ning Chen quickly asked what it was.

    Ning Zhuo explained that he needed them to go to the Monkey Head Gang's headquarters to find the current leader, Yuan Er.

    Yuan Er sat at the head of the hall, with numerous gang elders engaged in heated discussions below.

    Their voices were loud, and during arguments, they often banged the table, cursed, and competed to see who could shout the loudest.

    The once solemn council chamber of the Su Building now resembled a chaotic marketplace.

    Yuan Er's face was ashen. Without Yuan Da Sheng to back him up, the elders had become unruly!

    Yuan Er couldn't get a word in edgewise; he felt like a puppet, sitting in the main seat but with no respect from anyone.

    Ostensibly, the elders were arguing, but in reality, they were watching Yuan Er's reactions.

    Yuan Er could clearly feel his already meager authority quickly crumbling.

    "What should I do?"

    "Who can help me?"

    Perhaps hearing Yuan Er's inner plea, Ning Chen and Ning Yong were led in by members of the gang.

    Ning Chen wore a serious expression, while Ning Yong strode in confidently, taking the lead.

    Upon entering the council chamber, he loudly declared, "Yuan Er, our young master has matters to discuss with you."

    The chamber fell silent.

    The gang elders turned their heads to look at the two young Qi Refinement cultivators, their gazes converging on the identity badges at their waists.

    Ning Family?!

    A flash of delight crossed Yuan Er's eyes. Slowly standing up, he carefully chose his words, "Does Mr. Ning Zhuo have business with me?"

    Ning Chen nodded, "Indeed. We request the gang leader to step aside so we can discuss in detail."

    "Of course, of course." Yuan Er was already feeling out of place, like sitting on pins and needles.

    This was the best way to conclude the meeting.

    "Please, this way." Yuan Er gestured. Ning Chen walked ahead, and before leaving, Ning Yong nonchalantly waved to the gang elders, "Continue, keep discussing."

    The elders were no longer as heated as before. Though they continued their discussion, each of them was now distracted.

    "When did Yuan Er connect with the Ning Family?"

    "Who is Young Master Ning Zhuo? Never heard of him."

    "Check this out when we get back!"

    Yuan Er led Ning Chen and Ning Yong to a side room.

    Upon learning that they were there to collect all of Yuan Da Sheng's old belongings, he was puzzled.

    "Why?" Yuan Er asked, confused.
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    Supreme_Ancestor
    Supreme_Ancestor
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    #panic# this novel is not getting updated. Please update.
    Here is the link Chapter 85.
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      Insidious_human
      Insidious_human
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      You have my gratitude ancestor 🙏
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    Genmage
    Genmage
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    The novel is being updated on the translator’s website: novtales.com

    Right now we’re up to chapter 139
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    Eaon
    Eaon
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    Does anyone want me to continue sending chapters
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    Eaon
    Eaon
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    Chapter 85: The Tri-Family Joint Test

    Both the Zhou family, the Zheng family, and the Ning family took this joint test very seriously.

    In the reception hall:

    The Zhou family patriarch sat at the main seat, with the Zheng family patriarch on his left and the Ning family patriarch on his right.

    "Strange, that shadow demon cultivator, who on earth could he be, to just disappear without a trace!" The Zhou family patriarch took a sip of tea and put down his cup. "This time, our Fire Persimmon City has lost face."

    Though his words were stern, the Zhou patriarch's expression remained calm and composed, showing no signs of anger or embarrassment.

    It was clearly a probing statement.

    After the incident, the Zhou family elders began to suspect something.

    Just as Zhu Xuanji had speculated, the Zhou family was also pondering who the insider was, who might have secretly released the shadow demon cultivator.

    The Zheng family patriarch, with a booming voice, said directly, "In my opinion, that shadow demon cultivator must have escaped long ago! On the day of the Fire Persimmon Festival, our three families’ Golden Core ancestors joined forces to dig almost the entire mountain base, and we found nothing."

    The Zhou patriarch turned to the Ning patriarch, squinting his eyes, "Brother Ning, what do you think?"

    The Ning patriarch spread his hands, "It doesn't matter where the shadow demon cultivator came from or who he was connected with. What's important now is that City Lord Meng Kui is personally overseeing the volcano, preventing any cultivators from entering the Immortal Palace."

    "In this situation, only our Qi refining period disciples can compete for the Immortal Palace's inheritance through soul entry."

    "Meng Kui's grandson, Meng Chong, has a supreme celestial talent. You two must understand the significance of celestial talent."

    "Only by uniting our three families, working closely together, and fully supporting our juniors, can we possibly compete with Meng Chong."

    At this moment, the Ning patriarch did not know that Meng Chong had failed again in exploring the Immortal Palace and was already unconscious.

    However, his words drew agreement from the Zhou and Zheng patriarchs.

    The celestial talent of Meng Chong put immense pressure on their two families, which was one of the main reasons they agreed to ally with the Ning family.

    The desire to form an alliance was strong among the three families, and they were willing to contribute their resources to support their juniors.

    But the issue was how to allocate these resources.

    If one family got more, another would get less.

    None of the three families wanted to suffer a loss, so the initial alliance talks stalled on the distribution of benefits.

    They couldn't agree for the time being.

    "Let's see how the test goes first," said the Zhou patriarch.

    The Zheng patriarch nodded, "Yes, let's have a good look!"

    The Ning patriarch remained silent, a trace of worry in his eyes.

    He knew that this joint test not only assessed cultivation levels but also had a deeper meaning—the three families would judge the quality of each other's modified cultivation teams to decide on resource allocation.

    The Ning patriarch was well aware that his family was the weakest.

    He could only hope that the gap between them and the Zhou and Zheng families was not too wide.

    Ning Zhuo was led by a servant to the Zhou family's training ground.

    The square was already filled with many cultivators.

    Most of them had young faces, with few middle-aged or elderly individuals.

    The crowd was clearly divided into three groups: the Zhou family, the Zheng family, and the Ning family.

    "Ah Zhuo, you’re here." Seeing Ning Zhuo, Ning Yong immediately walked out of the crowd, running towards him.

    Ning Chen was also in the crowd, waving at Ning Zhuo.

    Ning Zhuo smiled and waved back.

    Since the incident where he blew up the Immortal Palace, Ning Yong and Ning Chen's relationship with him had transformed from ordinary classmates to comrades who had faced life and death together.

    The training ground was noisy.

    Ning Zhuo and Ning Yong joined the Ning family crowd, blending in.

    As he chatted casually with Ning Yong and Ning Chen, Ning Zhuo observed the people around him.

    "The Ning family's modified cultivation team has grown!"

    The Ning family had the largest number of people in the training ground, exceeding sixty.

    The Zhou and Zheng families had twenty-nine and forty-five people, respectively.

    The Ning family, gathered in one place, appeared to be a large and powerful group.

    Many young people scanned their surroundings, sometimes making direct eye contact with members of the other two families, showing a hint of rivalry.

    Ning Zhuo pondered quietly, "Among the three families, the Ning family started the latest and is the weakest overall."

    "Originally, the modified cultivation team was the smallest."

    "Has the family's high-ranking officials suddenly expanded the team because they feel lacking in confidence, using numbers to make up for it?"

    "The Ning family has a strong desire for the Lava Immortal Palace!"

    Ning Zhuo discreetly observed the Zhou and Zheng family cultivators.

    The Zhou family cultivators were generally silent, with little interaction among themselves, giving off a repressive feeling.

    In the center of the group stood two figures, one tall and one short, one robust and one thin, clearly leaders.

    "That's Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zesheng," Ning Zhuo recognized them from his intelligence reports.

    The Zheng family cultivators, on the other hand, were muscular and exuded a vigorous aura.

    Their eyes were sharp, and their gazes were like blades, causing many Ning family cultivators to avoid eye contact.

    Leading them was a young cultivator with a headband, his eyes closed.

    Floating around him were several hook-shaped magical tools.

    "That's Zheng Jian!" Ning Zhuo thought.

    After observing the other two families, Ning Zhuo looked back at his own, feeling that although the Ning family had many people, they had the air of a disorganized group.

    An elder from the Zhou family appeared before the crowd, activating the testing formation and announcing the start of the cultivation test.

    "Da Zhu, let's go," said Zhou Zesheng.

    "Mm," Zhou Zhu responded with a grunt.

    Although Zhou Zhu had higher cultivation, he followed behind Zhou Zesheng.

    Originally in the center of the crowd, as they moved forward, the Zhou family members seemed to instinctively step aside.

    As the two passed, the others immediately filled back in.

    The Zhou family moved like water, fluidly and seamlessly, demonstrating their formidable coordination and teamwork.

    Ning Zhuo's eyes flashed as he captured the critical clue, deducing, "These Zhou family cultivators are no ordinary group. Their coordination is exceptional, indicating deep expertise in battle formations."

    The Zhou family's modified cultivation team, though the smallest, was not to be underestimated!

    This display caused many knowledgeable cultivators to show serious expressions.

    More people, especially from the Ning family, didn't pay it much mind.

    With countless eyes watching, Zhou Zhu was the first to enter the testing formation.

    Once inside, he fully activated the Five Elements Breathing Technique, causing the formation to emit a five-colored light.

    The Zhou family elder glanced at it and loudly announced, "Zhou Zhu, third layer peak."

    Instantly, the Zhou family cultivators erupted in cheers.

    They were evidently prepared, shouting in unison, drawing the attention of the other two families.

    Next, Zhou Zesheng entered the formation.

    "Zhou Zesheng, mid-second layer!" the elder announced.

    The Zhou family cultivators cheered again.

    Someone from the Zheng family sneered, "And he's supposed to be a genius? Only mid-second layer? I've already reached the third layer!"

    Zheng Jian opened his eyes, glancing at the speaker, who immediately fell silent.

    This small scene did not escape Ning Zhuo's notice.

    "Hmm, another useful piece of information."

    "In the Zheng family, Zheng Jian is the absolute leader with high authority."

    In the reception hall:

    The Zheng family patriarch remarked, "Brother Zhou, your family's Gathering and Scattering Ruyi Spirit Formation is indeed effective."

    The Ning patriarch nodded slightly in agreement.

    They knew more details, understanding that Zhou Zesheng had not been cultivating the modified technique for long but had already reached the mid-second layer.

    This speed was very fast.

    The Zhou patriarch sighed, "Relying solely on the Gathering and Scattering Ruyi Spirit Formation can't achieve such results. Zhou Zesheng has been working desperately. Though he doesn't have Zhou Zhu's talent, he has been catching up madly with extensive healing methods."

    "There have been several times when he was on the verge of death, causing many in the family great concern."

    The Zheng patriarch was moved, "With such descendants, how can the family not prosper?"

    The Ning patriarch echoed the sentiment, though his heart grew heavier.

    Ning Zhuo continued to observe silently, knowing that both Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zesheng had trained at the Mudflow Gate and was curious about their mechanical skills.

    Unfortunately, there was no opportunity to showcase their mechanical techniques today.

    Chapter 86: My Rapid Advancement to the Peak of the Third Layer!

    After the two Zhou family geniuses finished, the entire Zhou family modified cultivation team took turns entering the testing formation.

    "Mid-third layer."

    "Mid-third layer."

    "Early third layer."

    ...

    There was a series of results for third-layer Qi refinement, ranging from mid to early stages, but none reached the late stage.

    Then came the second layer, from peak to late, mid, and early stages, but no one at the first layer.

    After these tests, the discussions among the Zheng and Ning family cultivators quieted significantly.

    Many Zheng family members grew more serious, while most Ning family members looked even more displeased.

    Despite their small numbers, the Zhou family's modified cultivation team was extremely elite.

    Next, it was the Zheng family's turn.

    Zheng Jian took the lead, entering the testing formation first.

    "Peak of the third layer," announced the elder.

    "Yes!!" The Zheng family cultivators cheered, their voices much louder than the Zhou family's earlier cheers, as if competing.

    Many young Zhou family cultivators watched silently, most with calm expressions.

    In the reception hall:

    The Zhou family patriarch praised, "The unity and spirit of the Zheng family are truly enviable, all thanks to your excellent management, Brother Zheng."

    The Zheng family patriarch laughed heartily, not modest at all, "It's like forging steel; it must endure countless hammer blows to become a good weapon."

    The Zheng family cultivators made a lot of noise, sometimes cheering, sometimes laughing, creating a competitive but positive atmosphere that even the Ning family patriarch envied.

    "Our Ning family was once like this too."

    "But we suffered great losses during the migration, and after entering the city, the branch families rebelled, forcing us to implement a strategy of strengthening the main branch and weakening the others."

    "Only when the main branch grows strong in both quality and quantity can we gradually ease the pressure on the branch families and foster a positive family culture."

    The Ning family patriarch, having held his position for many years, was well aware of the internal issues within the family.

    But he had no choice.

    As a member of the main branch, his position and responsibilities dictated his stance.

    He couldn't betray the main branch to support the branches; the branch cultivators wouldn't accept him, and the main branch would overthrow him.

    "Every family has its own difficulties," he thought, adjusting his mindset.

    He knew the state of his modified cultivation team well.

    Most were at the first layer of Qi refinement, and the upcoming test results would likely be disappointing.

    Now it was the Ning family's turn.

    Ning Xiaohui entered the testing formation with a cold expression, under the worried gazes of her fellow Ning family members.

    "Peak of the third layer," announced the elder.

    The Ning family cultivators erupted in cheers.

    Zheng Jian and Zhou Zesheng glanced at Ning Xiaohui as she exited the formation, still radiating arrogance.

    In the reception hall:

    The Zheng family patriarch looked at the Ning patriarch, "Your Ning Xiaohui hasn't been cultivating for long, yet she reached the peak of the third layer?"

    The Zhou family patriarch also looked over, curious.

    The Ning family patriarch stroked his beard and smiled, waiting for this moment, "Our family realized the importance of the Lava Immortal Palace too late and felt a significant gap. I requested the ancestors' approval to use a family talisman, the Flowing Water Talisman."

    "This talisman, made with water from an icy mountain spring containing some natural spiritual energy, aids cultivation."

    The Zhou family patriarch smiled and praised the Ning family, thinking they had some depth after all.

    The Zheng family patriarch said, "Brother Ning, our families should strengthen our ties. To be honest, we're currently forging a magical treasure and need extreme cold refining methods. Could your Ning family, coming from the Northern Wind Country, assist us?"

    The Ning patriarch nodded, "Of course."

    But he felt some regret.

    The Flowing Water Talisman, with its inherent spirituality, was effective but had limited uses.

    If they could make the Boat Leap Mountain Pass Talisman, it could link with the Flowing Water Talisman for mutual nourishment and replenishment, allowing for cyclical use with strict limitations.

    But now, using just the Flowing Water Talisman, the spiritual energy it consumed couldn't be restored.

    Luckily, Ning Xiaohui's cultivation was still low, so her use of the talisman was minimal.

    Using the talisman was necessary for several reasons.

    First, Ning Xiaohui had fallen asleep during the Transmission Bell event due to exhaustion from making talismans and didn't adapt the Five Elements Breathing Technique to herself, leading to inefficient cultivation.

    Second, her grandmother and the academy elders fought for her rights.

    Third, the Ning patriarch considered the competition with the Zhou and Zheng families.

    If Ning Xiaohui's cultivation was weak, the Ning family would suffer greatly in resource distribution.

    Thus, the Ning family temporarily infused the talisman into Ning Xiaohui, aiding her rapid progress.

    After Ning Xiaohui rejoined the team, the rest of the Ning family's test results were less impressive.

    The best had second-layer cultivation, but most were at the first layer.

    This was due to the Ning family's recent expansion.

    But during the joint test, the Zhou elder's announcements seemed to grow louder, making the first-layer Ning family cultivators feel humiliated.

    The young Zheng family cultivators often laughed, while the Zhou family kept their composure but showed increasing disdain.

    Ning Xiaohui, furious, glared at her fellow cultivators, "Useless!"

    Ning Chen and Ning Yong returned to the team, looking defeated, both at the peak of the first layer.

    "Since the modification, we've trained nonstop, pushing our limits daily."

    "I heard the Zheng and Zhou families provide resources for free, but only the main branch gets that treatment in our family!"

    "Yes, if we had the same resources and time, we could surpass them."

    Ning Chen and Ning Yong were indignant.

    Ning Zhuo patted their shoulders, "Watch me."

    Under their curious gazes, Ning Zhuo stepped forward and entered the testing formation.

    The training ground was noisy.

    By now, the strengths of the three families were clear.

    The Ning family had many cultivators, but most were at the first layer.

    No one expected much from Ning Zhuo.

    But the formation's light was unusually bright.

    The Zhou elder was momentarily stunned, then announced incredulously, "Ning Zhuo, peak of the third layer!"

    The place fell silent.

    Many asked their companions what they had just heard.

    As Ning Zhuo exited the formation, he was met with countless stares.

    The sixteen-year-old boy faced them calmly, smiling slightly.

    Then he walked confidently back to the Ning family team.

    Eyes followed him, even Zhou Zesheng, Zhou Zhu, and Zheng Jian looked at him curiously.

    "Who is he? Such cultivation!"

    "No intelligence mentioned him."

    "Does the Ning family have hidden talents?"

    Similar questions and emotions filled everyone's minds.

    Even the family patriarchs were intrigued.

    Normally, they wouldn't focus so much on their family's Qi refining cultivators.

    But with the Lava Immortal Palace on the mountain, these cultivators were crucial for exploration, deserving the attention.

    The Zhou patriarch said, "Didn't expect you had such a hidden talent, Brother Ning."

    The Ning patriarch smiled modestly, "You're too kind."

    He didn't explain further, leaving the Zhou and Zheng patriarchs with a higher impression of the Ning family.

    They didn't know the Ning patriarch shared their confusion!

    Ning Zhuo's return was met with cheers from the Ning family.

    Ning Chen and Ning Yong crowded around him, amazed, "Ah Zhuo, how did you suddenly reach the peak of the third layer?"

    "Yeah, you're as strong as Ning Xiaohui!"

    Everyone listened intently for Ning Zhuo's response.

    He smiled, "Maybe I'm just suited for the Five Elements Breathing Technique. My progress has been rapid, like a river flowing swiftly."

    The crowd fell silent.

    Chapter 87: Discussing Ning Zhuo

    "Indeed, there are such cases. Some people are just very suited to a certain cultivation method and progress incredibly fast."

    "What's his name? Ning Zhuo, right? He got lucky, being so well-suited to the Five Elements Breathing Technique."

    "Why didn't such good fortune fall on me?"

    Most people had never heard of Ning Zhuo's name before.

    But now, he was the topic of conversation.

    In the training ground, Ning family cultivators were also curious.

    Many surrounded Ning Zhuo, introducing themselves with smiles, eager to befriend him.

    It seemed the world's attitude towards Ning Zhuo had dramatically changed in an instant—from indifference to enthusiasm.

    Ning Chen and Ning Yong, who had been by Ning Zhuo's side, were pushed aside.

    Feeling proud, Ning Yong shouted, "Ning Zhuo is my classmate, my classmate!"

    A passing Ning family youth sneered, "Who isn't? I'm his classmate too."

    Ning Yong retorted, "Do you know our relationship? Can you compare? Ning Zhuo and I are comrades who have faced life and death together!"

    A Zhou family cultivator approached, smiling at Ning Yong, "Brother, you seem close to Ning Zhuo?"

    "Not bad," Ning Yong nodded, trying to appear indifferent but unable to hide his pride.

    The Zhou cultivator cupped his hands, asking Ning Yong more about Ning Zhuo.

    Ning Yong was about to introduce Ning Zhuo when Ning Chen pulled him aside, stopping him from talking.

    Ning Chen took over, "Indeed, we are classmates and have faced life and death with him."

    "Ning Zhuo is honest, brave, and kind. It's our honor to be friends with him. He is also a role model for us. I remember in the academy..." Ning Chen began praising Ning Zhuo.

    Facing outsiders' inquiries, Ning Chen exaggerated Ning Zhuo's qualities, highlighting the Ning family's depth.

    Additionally, their experience in the Crimson Flame Demon Cave and subsequent encounters with the shadowy demon cultivator, hiding in the dungeon, made him respect Ning Zhuo even more.

    Both Ning Chen and Ning Yong, belonging to the Ning family's branch, strongly identified with Ning Zhuo.

    In an instant, Ning Zhuo became the center of attention.

    Due to one cultivation test, he stood out, as if stepping onto a new life stage.

    The testing continued.

    The remaining Ning family cultivators entered the testing formation one by one, with mediocre results and little attention.

    But it didn't matter—Ning Zhuo alone had changed the situation!

    The joint test of the three families was both a display of their modified cultivation teams and a basis for negotiating resource distribution.

    In the cultivation world, the higher the individual cultivation, the more they stood out.

    When comparing the three families' strengths, the focus was on their top cultivators.

    Without Ning Zhuo's performance, the Ning family had only Ning Xiaohui at the peak of the third layer, the Zheng family had Zheng Jian, and the Zhou family had Zhou Zhu.

    But Zhou Zesheng was also highly talented, nearly matching Zhou Zhu's level, and would inevitably catch up with time.

    Thus, in terms of top cultivators, the Zhou family had one and a half, placing them first.

    The Zheng and Ning families each had one, but the Zheng family's overall cultivation level was clearly higher.

    After the Ning family's expansion, many cultivators had only the first layer of Qi refinement, making them almost laughable.

    So, the Zheng family was second, and the Ning family was third.

    However, with Ning Zhuo's appearance, the Ning family now had two top cultivators, immediately climbing to first place.

    The Zhou family, with one and a half top cultivators, was second.

    The Zheng family fell to third.

    After the joint test, the Ning family patriarch returned home, beaming.

    Although negotiations for resource distribution among the three families would continue, Ning Zhuo's achievements shifted the balance, clearing the way for more favorable negotiations.

    The Ning patriarch summoned the young patriarch, smiling, "Xiao Ren, you must have heard about the good news at the training ground today?"

    Ning Xiaoren immediately replied, "Father, I heard. I was the one who arranged for Ning Zhuo to join our modified cultivation team!"

    The Ning patriarch nodded, "Gather all information on Ning Zhuo and compile it for me."

    Ning Xiaoren said, "I've already instructed my subordinates to do so."

    The Ning patriarch said, "I suspect Ning Zhuo might have some special talent that hasn't been detected."

    Ning Xiaoren responded, "There are countless talents. Even though our family tests annually, we can't cover everything. Your suspicion makes sense. We can arrange for another test for Ning Zhuo."

    "However, if his talent is unusual, it might still not be detected."

    The Ning patriarch nodded, "If he has talent, that's ideal. Even a lower-tier talent makes him a genius! This way, our modified cultivation team can fully compete with the Zhou family."

    Both Zhou Zesheng and Zhou Zhu had talents.

    Ning Xiaohui and Zheng Jian also had talents.

    In the joint test, Ning Zhuo only showcased his peak third-layer cultivation, indicating his strong affinity for the Five Elements Breathing Technique.

    Ning Xiaoren then said, "Father, whether he has talent or not is up to us to determine."

    "If it's not detected or he's just highly suited to the Five Elements Breathing Technique, it doesn't matter. We can declare—yes, our family has two genius cultivators!"

    The Ning patriarch shook his head, "That's not appropriate. This isn't an internal matter where we can decide unilaterally."

    "If we falsify information, the other two families will verify and test it. Such strength comparisons affect our negotiations and distribution."

    "This time, we've finally allied with the Zhou and Zheng families thanks to the Lava Immortal Palace. We can't risk our credibility. If we're caught fabricating, it will harm our family's standing."

    Ning Xiaoren nodded, acknowledging the lesson.

    The Ning patriarch sighed, "If Ning Zhuo is found to have talent, it might also be problematic. Do you understand?"

    Ning Xiaoren nodded again, "I understand, Father. Ning Xiaohui is from the main branch, while Ning Zhuo is from the branch. Both have similar cultivation, but Ning Xiaohui receives significant support from our family, whereas Ning Zhuo does not."

    "In the modified cultivation team, there are far more branch members than main branch members."

    "At the training ground, Ning Zhuo's real strength attracted many branch members, making him very popular."

    "If he is also found to have talent, I'm worried Ning Xiaohui won't be able to overshadow him."

    The Ning patriarch looked pleased, "Since you understand this, I'm confident you'll handle Ning Zhuo's matter well. Go ahead."

    "Yes, Father. Rest assured, I'll handle it perfectly. I take my leave."

    His feelings toward Ning Zhuo were complicated.

    Sixteen years ago, during the Ning family's migration, he was lucky to board Ning Zhuo's parents' mechanical carriage.

    Ning Zhuo's father had to disembark to hold off enemies, ensuring the carriage's escape, saving Ning Xiaoren.

    Ning Zhuo's father was indeed his savior, and Ning Xiaoren had sworn to treat Ning Zhuo and his mother well and support Ning Zhuo's cultivation.

    But Ning Xiaoren hadn't fulfilled this promise.

    Ning Zhuo's parents died fourteen years ago, and Ning Xiaoren hadn't paid much attention to Ning Zhuo's upbringing.

    He had thought Ning Zhuo was just an ordinary child but suddenly, Ning Zhuo shone brightly, standing out in the joint test and making a name for himself!

    Upon hearing the news, Ning Xiaoren's first reaction was discomfort, feeling awkward.

    He still wondered, "Why him?"

    Approaching his courtyard, Ning Xiaoren sighed, "If only it weren't Ning Zhuo."

    "He's sixteen, has his own opinions, and is hard to persuade."

    Deep in thought, Ning Xiaoren recalled Ning Ze's words.

    Earlier, after the public rankings were announced, Ning Xiaoren had tried to extort money and pressured Ning Ze.

    Ning Ze had reported that Ning Zhuo was reclusive and defiant.

    Ning Xiaoren decided, "It's best not to approach Ning Zhuo right away."

    "He's not someone I can easily sway."

    "Ning Zhuo knows his father saved me, and he knows I've neglected him for sixteen years. These need good explanations."

    "I'll have to start with his uncle."
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      Eaon
      Eaon
      + 3 ⋅ 0 -
      Chapter 86: My Rapid Advancement to the Peak of the Third Layer!

      After the two Zhou family geniuses finished, the entire Zhou family modified cultivation team took turns entering the testing formation.

      "Mid-third layer."

      "Mid-third layer."

      "Early third layer."

      ...

      There was a series of results for third-layer Qi refinement, ranging from mid to early stages, but none reached the late stage.

      Then came the second layer, from peak to late, mid, and early stages, but no one at the first layer.

      After these tests, the discussions among the Zheng and Ning family cultivators quieted significantly.

      Many Zheng family members grew more serious, while most Ning family members looked even more displeased.

      Despite their small numbers, the Zhou family's modified cultivation team was extremely elite.

      Next, it was the Zheng family's turn.

      Zheng Jian took the lead, entering the testing formation first.

      "Peak of the third layer," announced the elder.

      "Yes!!" The Zheng family cultivators cheered, their voices much louder than the Zhou family's earlier cheers, as if competing.

      Many young Zhou family cultivators watched silently, most with calm expressions.

      In the reception hall:

      The Zhou family patriarch praised, "The unity and spirit of the Zheng family are truly enviable, all thanks to your excellent management, Brother Zheng."

      The Zheng family patriarch laughed heartily, not modest at all, "It's like forging steel; it must endure countless hammer blows to become a good weapon."

      The Zheng family cultivators made a lot of noise, sometimes cheering, sometimes laughing, creating a competitive but positive atmosphere that even the Ning family patriarch envied.

      "Our Ning family was once like this too."

      "But we suffered great losses during the migration, and after entering the city, the branch families rebelled, forcing us to implement a strategy of strengthening the main branch and weakening the others."

      "Only when the main branch grows strong in both quality and quantity can we gradually ease the pressure on the branch families and foster a positive family culture."

      The Ning family patriarch, having held his position for many years, was well aware of the internal issues within the family.

      But he had no choice.

      As a member of the main branch, his position and responsibilities dictated his stance.

      He couldn't betray the main branch to support the branches; the branch cultivators wouldn't accept him, and the main branch would overthrow him.

      "Every family has its own difficulties," he thought, adjusting his mindset.

      He knew the state of his modified cultivation team well.

      Most were at the first layer of Qi refinement, and the upcoming test results would likely be disappointing.

      Now it was the Ning family's turn.

      Ning Xiaohui entered the testing formation with a cold expression, under the worried gazes of her fellow Ning family members.

      "Peak of the third layer," announced the elder.

      The Ning family cultivators erupted in cheers.

      Zheng Jian and Zhou Zesheng glanced at Ning Xiaohui as she exited the formation, still radiating arrogance.

      In the reception hall:

      The Zheng family patriarch looked at the Ning patriarch, "Your Ning Xiaohui hasn't been cultivating for long, yet she reached the peak of the third layer?"

      The Zhou family patriarch also looked over, curious.

      The Ning family patriarch stroked his beard and smiled, waiting for this moment, "Our family realized the importance of the Lava Immortal Palace too late and felt a significant gap. I requested the ancestors' approval to use a family talisman, the Flowing Water Talisman."

      "This talisman, made with water from an icy mountain spring containing some natural spiritual energy, aids cultivation."

      The Zhou family patriarch smiled and praised the Ning family, thinking they had some depth after all.

      The Zheng family patriarch said, "Brother Ning, our families should strengthen our ties. To be honest, we're currently forging a magical treasure and need extreme cold refining methods. Could your Ning family, coming from the Northern Wind Country, assist us?"

      The Ning patriarch nodded, "Of course."

      But he felt some regret.

      The Flowing Water Talisman, with its inherent spirituality, was effective but had limited uses.

      If they could make the Boat Leap Mountain Pass Talisman, it could link with the Flowing Water Talisman for mutual nourishment and replenishment, allowing for cyclical use with strict limitations.

      But now, using just the Flowing Water Talisman, the spiritual energy it consumed couldn't be restored.

      Luckily, Ning Xiaohui's cultivation was still low, so her use of the talisman was minimal.

      Using the talisman was necessary for several reasons.

      First, Ning Xiaohui had fallen asleep during the Transmission Bell event due to exhaustion from making talismans and didn't adapt the Five Elements Breathing Technique to herself, leading to inefficient cultivation.

      Second, her grandmother and the academy elders fought for her rights.

      Third, the Ning patriarch considered the competition with the Zhou and Zheng families.

      If Ning Xiaohui's cultivation was weak, the Ning family would suffer greatly in resource distribution.

      Thus, the Ning family temporarily infused the talisman into Ning Xiaohui, aiding her rapid progress.

      After Ning Xiaohui rejoined the team, the rest of the Ning family's test results were less impressive.

      The best had second-layer cultivation, but most were at the first layer.

      This was due to the Ning family's recent expansion.

      But during the joint test, the Zhou elder's announcements seemed to grow louder, making the first-layer Ning family cultivators feel humiliated.

      The young Zheng family cultivators often laughed, while the Zhou family kept their composure but showed increasing disdain.

      Ning Xiaohui, furious, glared at her fellow cultivators, "Useless!"

      Ning Chen and Ning Yong returned to the team, looking defeated, both at the peak of the first layer.

      "Since the modification, we've trained nonstop, pushing our limits daily."

      "I heard the Zheng and Zhou families provide resources for free, but only the main branch gets that treatment in our family!"

      "Yes, if we had the same resources and time, we could surpass them."

      Ning Chen and Ning Yong were indignant.

      Ning Zhuo patted their shoulders, "Watch me."

      Under their curious gazes, Ning Zhuo stepped forward and entered the testing formation.

      The training ground was noisy.

      By now, the strengths of the three families were clear.

      The Ning family had many cultivators, but most were at the first layer.

      No one expected much from Ning Zhuo.

      But the formation's light was unusually bright.

      The Zhou elder was momentarily stunned, then announced incredulously, "Ning Zhuo, peak of the third layer!"

      The place fell silent.

      Many asked their companions what they had just heard.

      As Ning Zhuo exited the formation, he was met with countless stares.

      The sixteen-year-old boy faced them calmly, smiling slightly.

      Then he walked confidently back to the Ning family team.

      Eyes followed him, even Zhou Zesheng, Zhou Zhu, and Zheng Jian looked at him curiously.

      "Who is he? Such cultivation!"

      "No intelligence mentioned him."

      "Does the Ning family have hidden talents?"

      Similar questions and emotions filled everyone's minds.

      Even the family patriarchs were intrigued.

      Normally, they wouldn't focus so much on their family's Qi refining cultivators.

      But with the Lava Immortal Palace on the mountain, these cultivators were crucial for exploration, deserving the attention.

      The Zhou patriarch said, "Didn't expect you had such a hidden talent, Brother Ning."

      The Ning patriarch smiled modestly, "You're too kind."

      He didn't explain further, leaving the Zhou and Zheng patriarchs with a higher impression of the Ning family.

      They didn't know the Ning patriarch shared their confusion!

      Ning Zhuo's return was met with cheers from the Ning family.

      Ning Chen and Ning Yong crowded around him, amazed, "Ah Zhuo, how did you suddenly reach the peak of the third layer?"

      "Yeah, you're as strong as Ning Xiaohui!"

      Everyone listened intently for Ning Zhuo's response.

      He smiled, "Maybe I'm just suited for the Five Elements Breathing Technique. My progress has been rapid, like a river flowing swiftly."

      The crowd fell silent.
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        Eaon
        Eaon
        + 4 ⋅ 0 -
        Chapter 87: Discussing Ning Zhuo

        "Indeed, there are such cases. Some people are just very suited to a certain cultivation method and progress incredibly fast."

        "What's his name? Ning Zhuo, right? He got lucky, being so well-suited to the Five Elements Breathing Technique."

        "Why didn't such good fortune fall on me?"

        Most people had never heard of Ning Zhuo's name before.

        But now, he was the topic of conversation.

        In the training ground, Ning family cultivators were also curious.

        Many surrounded Ning Zhuo, introducing themselves with smiles, eager to befriend him.

        It seemed the world's attitude towards Ning Zhuo had dramatically changed in an instant—from indifference to enthusiasm.

        Ning Chen and Ning Yong, who had been by Ning Zhuo's side, were pushed aside.

        Feeling proud, Ning Yong shouted, "Ning Zhuo is my classmate, my classmate!"

        A passing Ning family youth sneered, "Who isn't? I'm his classmate too."

        Ning Yong retorted, "Do you know our relationship? Can you compare? Ning Zhuo and I are comrades who have faced life and death together!"

        A Zhou family cultivator approached, smiling at Ning Yong, "Brother, you seem close to Ning Zhuo?"

        "Not bad," Ning Yong nodded, trying to appear indifferent but unable to hide his pride.

        The Zhou cultivator cupped his hands, asking Ning Yong more about Ning Zhuo.

        Ning Yong was about to introduce Ning Zhuo when Ning Chen pulled him aside, stopping him from talking.

        Ning Chen took over, "Indeed, we are classmates and have faced life and death with him."

        "Ning Zhuo is honest, brave, and kind. It's our honor to be friends with him. He is also a role model for us. I remember in the academy..." Ning Chen began praising Ning Zhuo.

        Facing outsiders' inquiries, Ning Chen exaggerated Ning Zhuo's qualities, highlighting the Ning family's depth.

        Additionally, their experience in the Crimson Flame Demon Cave and subsequent encounters with the shadowy demon cultivator, hiding in the dungeon, made him respect Ning Zhuo even more.

        Both Ning Chen and Ning Yong, belonging to the Ning family's branch, strongly identified with Ning Zhuo.

        In an instant, Ning Zhuo became the center of attention.

        Due to one cultivation test, he stood out, as if stepping onto a new life stage.

        The testing continued.

        The remaining Ning family cultivators entered the testing formation one by one, with mediocre results and little attention.

        But it didn't matter—Ning Zhuo alone had changed the situation!

        The joint test of the three families was both a display of their modified cultivation teams and a basis for negotiating resource distribution.

        In the cultivation world, the higher the individual cultivation, the more they stood out.

        When comparing the three families' strengths, the focus was on their top cultivators.

        Without Ning Zhuo's performance, the Ning family had only Ning Xiaohui at the peak of the third layer, the Zheng family had Zheng Jian, and the Zhou family had Zhou Zhu.

        But Zhou Zesheng was also highly talented, nearly matching Zhou Zhu's level, and would inevitably catch up with time.

        Thus, in terms of top cultivators, the Zhou family had one and a half, placing them first.

        The Zheng and Ning families each had one, but the Zheng family's overall cultivation level was clearly higher.

        After the Ning family's expansion, many cultivators had only the first layer of Qi refinement, making them almost laughable.

        So, the Zheng family was second, and the Ning family was third.

        However, with Ning Zhuo's appearance, the Ning family now had two top cultivators, immediately climbing to first place.

        The Zhou family, with one and a half top cultivators, was second.

        The Zheng family fell to third.

        After the joint test, the Ning family patriarch returned home, beaming.

        Although negotiations for resource distribution among the three families would continue, Ning Zhuo's achievements shifted the balance, clearing the way for more favorable negotiations.

        The Ning patriarch summoned the young patriarch, smiling, "Xiao Ren, you must have heard about the good news at the training ground today?"

        Ning Xiaoren immediately replied, "Father, I heard. I was the one who arranged for Ning Zhuo to join our modified cultivation team!"

        The Ning patriarch nodded, "Gather all information on Ning Zhuo and compile it for me."

        Ning Xiaoren said, "I've already instructed my subordinates to do so."

        The Ning patriarch said, "I suspect Ning Zhuo might have some special talent that hasn't been detected."

        Ning Xiaoren responded, "There are countless talents. Even though our family tests annually, we can't cover everything. Your suspicion makes sense. We can arrange for another test for Ning Zhuo."

        "However, if his talent is unusual, it might still not be detected."

        The Ning patriarch nodded, "If he has talent, that's ideal. Even a lower-tier talent makes him a genius! This way, our modified cultivation team can fully compete with the Zhou family."

        Both Zhou Zesheng and Zhou Zhu had talents.

        Ning Xiaohui and Zheng Jian also had talents.

        In the joint test, Ning Zhuo only showcased his peak third-layer cultivation, indicating his strong affinity for the Five Elements Breathing Technique.

        Ning Xiaoren then said, "Father, whether he has talent or not is up to us to determine."

        "If it's not detected or he's just highly suited to the Five Elements Breathing Technique, it doesn't matter. We can declare—yes, our family has two genius cultivators!"

        The Ning patriarch shook his head, "That's not appropriate. This isn't an internal matter where we can decide unilaterally."

        "If we falsify information, the other two families will verify and test it. Such strength comparisons affect our negotiations and distribution."

        "This time, we've finally allied with the Zhou and Zheng families thanks to the Lava Immortal Palace. We can't risk our credibility. If we're caught fabricating, it will harm our family's standing."

        Ning Xiaoren nodded, acknowledging the lesson.

        The Ning patriarch sighed, "If Ning Zhuo is found to have talent, it might also be problematic. Do you understand?"

        Ning Xiaoren nodded again, "I understand, Father. Ning Xiaohui is from the main branch, while Ning Zhuo is from the branch. Both have similar cultivation, but Ning Xiaohui receives significant support from our family, whereas Ning Zhuo does not."

        "In the modified cultivation team, there are far more branch members than main branch members."

        "At the training ground, Ning Zhuo's real strength attracted many branch members, making him very popular."

        "If he is also found to have talent, I'm worried Ning Xiaohui won't be able to overshadow him."

        The Ning patriarch looked pleased, "Since you understand this, I'm confident you'll handle Ning Zhuo's matter well. Go ahead."

        "Yes, Father. Rest assured, I'll handle it perfectly. I take my leave."

        His feelings toward Ning Zhuo were complicated.

        Sixteen years ago, during the Ning family's migration, he was lucky to board Ning Zhuo's parents' mechanical carriage.

        Ning Zhuo's father had to disembark to hold off enemies, ensuring the carriage's escape, saving Ning Xiaoren.

        Ning Zhuo's father was indeed his savior, and Ning Xiaoren had sworn to treat Ning Zhuo and his mother well and support Ning Zhuo's cultivation.

        But Ning Xiaoren hadn't fulfilled this promise.

        Ning Zhuo's parents died fourteen years ago, and Ning Xiaoren hadn't paid much attention to Ning Zhuo's upbringing.

        He had thought Ning Zhuo was just an ordinary child but suddenly, Ning Zhuo shone brightly, standing out in the joint test and making a name for himself!

        Upon hearing the news, Ning Xiaoren's first reaction was discomfort, feeling awkward.

        He still wondered, "Why him?"

        Approaching his courtyard, Ning Xiaoren sighed, "If only it weren't Ning Zhuo."

        "He's sixteen, has his own opinions, and is hard to persuade."

        Deep in thought, Ning Xiaoren recalled Ning Ze's words.

        Earlier, after the public rankings were announced, Ning Xiaoren had tried to extort money and pressured Ning Ze.

        Ning Ze had reported that Ning Zhuo was reclusive and defiant.

        Ning Xiaoren decided, "It's best not to approach Ning Zhuo right away."

        "He's not someone I can easily sway."

        "Ning Zhuo knows his father saved me, and he knows I've neglected him for sixteen years. These need good explanations."

        "I'll have to start with his uncle."
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          Eaon
          Eaon
          + 4 ⋅ 0 -
          Chapter 88: He Created the Explosive Monkeys!

          Ning Xiaoren returned to his reception hall and soon summoned Ning Ze.

          "Come, sit, have some tea," Ning Xiaoren said with a smile, inviting Ning Ze to sit beside him.

          Ning Ze was surprised and uncertain.

          This was the first time Ning Xiaoren had treated him so warmly.

          He quickly said, "If there's anything you need, young patriarch, just tell me, and I'll take care of it."

          Ning Xiaoren gestured to the seat.

          Ning Ze nervously sat down.

          Ning Xiaoren sipped his tea, sighing, "Ning Ze, you've raised a good nephew."

          Ning Ze immediately stood up, "Sir, if Xiao Zhuo has done something wrong, I'll discipline him right away!"

          Ning Xiaoren glared slightly and motioned for him to sit down, "Sit, sit. No need to worry; it's good news."

          As Ning Xiaoren explained, Ning Ze's eyes widened, and his mouth gaped open.

          Even after he left Ning Xiaoren's reception hall and returned home, Ning Ze's face remained etched with astonishment.

          "Qi Refining Third Layer Peak!"

          "The joint test of the three families, making a stunning impression!"

          "On par with talents like Ning Xiaohui and Zheng Jian!"

          "Is this really Ning Zhuo?"

          "Is this the same Ning Zhuo I remember?"

          "How did Xiao Zhuo manage this? Is the Five Elements Breathing Technique really that suited to him?"

          Curious and puzzled, Ning Ze called for his wife, Wang Lan, "Prepare a family feast today and order some spiritual food from the restaurant."

          Wang Lan, confused, asked, "Ordering spiritual food will cost quite a bit. What's the special occasion, dear?"

          "It's a family dinner. Invite Xiao Zhuo over. I haven't seen him in a long time," Ning Ze replied.

          Wang Lan's eyes widened, her voice sharp, "What? Invite Xiao Zhuo for dinner and order spiritual food? Are you out of your mind, dear?"

          Ning Ze scolded, "What do you know? This is an order from the young patriarch..."

          He briefly recounted Ning Xiaoren's instructions.

          Wang Lan stood there, stunned for a long time.

          "Xiao Zhuo?"

          "Are you sure it's Xiao Zhuo?"

          Ning Ze scoffed, "Why would I lie to you? Would the young patriarch lie to me? The joint test of the three families, witnessed by so many people, can't be faked."

          Wang Lan's lips moved, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.

          Her eyes were wide, and her expression was complex, filled with disbelief, denial, resentment, jealousy, and disappointment.

          Ning Ze's face darkened, "What are you thinking? Hurry and make the arrangements."

          Wang Lan nodded absentmindedly, "Alright, dear, I'll take care of it."

          She turned to leave, still in a daze, her movements stiff and lifeless.

          Once alone, Ning Ze sighed deeply.

          He had been ordered by Ning Xiaoren to win Ning Zhuo over and to gather information from him.

          Ning Zhuo was sixteen years old now, and this was the first time Ning Ze had humbled himself to invite him to dinner.

          Ning Ze valued his pride, and such an order felt demeaning, a blow to his status as an elder.

          But he had no choice.

          The young patriarch's orders were absolute.

          Moreover, Ning Ze's rational side told him that building a good relationship with Ning Zhuo could be beneficial.

          As they left the Zhou family grounds, many people accompanied Ning Zhuo for a long stretch, even though their paths differed.

          At the last intersection, Ning Zhuo bid farewell to the others, keeping only Ning Chen and Ning Yong by his side.

          Upon returning home, he invited Ning Chen and Ning Yong inside, offering them tea and chatting briefly.

          Though their time together was short, Ning Chen and Ning Yong left feeling honored, their faces glowing with happiness as they discussed how Ning Zhuo remained humble and sincere despite his newfound fame.

          Ning Zhuo waited until he finally received the invitation to Ning Ze's family dinner.

          "So, it's not a summons from the family patriarch, nor even from the young patriarch Ning Xiaoren?" Ning Zhuo thought with a sneer, though he outwardly expressed sincere gratitude to the messenger, smiling warmly and promising to attend the dinner on time.

          The family feast was sumptuous.

          In sixteen years, Ning Zhuo had never eaten such fine food at Ning Ze's home.

          Faced with an array of spiritual delicacies, Wang Lan could hardly eat.

          She remained mostly silent throughout the meal, a stark contrast to her usual talkativeness.

          She scarcely glanced at Ning Zhuo, as if his presence was too dazzling for her to bear.

          Ning Ji also ate mechanically.

          For him, everything had happened too suddenly.

          Ning Ze maintained a stern demeanor, unable to easily drop the elder's facade he had upheld for sixteen years.

          Ning Zhuo ate and drank sparingly.

          Each time Ning Ze asked a question, Ning Zhuo put down his cup and bowl, responding respectfully but briefly, keeping his answers concise and maintaining a distant attitude.

          Ning Ze knew he needed to smile, to lower himself, to be more accommodating.

          But until the dinner ended and Ning Zhuo left, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

          Ning Ji quietly followed Ning Zhuo.

          He wasn't sure why he was doing it.

          Perhaps it was the question in his heart: "How did he reach the third layer peak? This doesn't make sense!"

          "Is it really because the cultivation technique suits him?"

          "No, I need to investigate. He must have a secret!"

          "He's following?" Ning Zhuo had already noticed Ning Ji, deliberately slowing his pace to make it easier for him to follow.

          Under Ning Ji's watchful eyes, Ning Zhuo visited many alchemy shops, buying a large 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 level, the family's resources haven't been distributed yet. Even if they had, there wouldn't be so many spirit stones."

          "This money can't be clean. It must be ill-gotten!"

          "I need to report this!"

          Ning Ji hurried home, eager to inform Ning Ze.

          Ning Xiaoren learned of this before Ning Ze did.

          After instructing Ning Ze to win Ning Zhuo over, he had immediately dispatched a team of cultivators to secretly protect Ning Zhuo.

          Of course, they were also there to monitor and report on him.

          "Ning Zhuo actually has such a large sum of money?" Ning Xiaoren couldn't believe it as he looked at the list in his hand.

          The list detailed the massive amount of pills Ning Zhuo had purchased.

          Ning Xiaoren's eyes burned with envy, "If I'd known Ning Zhuo was so rich, I would have tried to get closer to him."

          "Did his parents secretly leave him this money?"

          "Or is it ill-gotten gains, or perhaps funded by demon cultivators?"

          Ning Xiaoren paced in his study, his greed growing with each step.

          "Ning Zhuo is from the branch family and now has cultivation on par with Ning Xiaohui. And he has a large sum of money..."

          "This money's origin is unclear. For the family's sake, I must investigate thoroughly."

          "Moreover, I don't need to act personally. Ning Ze can handle it. Isn't that convenient?"

          He stopped pacing and called out, "Come in!"

          An attendant entered promptly.

          Half an hour later, Ning Ze and Ning Fan led a team of cultivators to surround Ning Zhuo's courtyard.

          Ning Ze frowned, "Do we really need to do this? It feels so wrong."

          Ning Fan replied, "Didn't the young patriarch explain it clearly? The modified cultivation team is crucial for the Lava Immortal Palace. We can't afford any negligence. Ning Zhuo's large sum of money is indeed suspicious. As his uncle, you must act."

          "The family may rely on Ning Zhuo. You are his closest relative, the best person for this task."

          "Just get on with it."

          Ning Ze, from the branch family, was being supervised by Ning Fan, from the main family, specifically sent by Ning Xiaoren.

          With a sigh, Ning Ze knocked on the courtyard door.

          Ning Zhuo opened the door, greeted them respectfully, and asked about their purpose.

          "We need to speak inside," Ning Ze said sternly, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

          The others followed, crowding Ning Zhuo towards the door.

          Meanwhile.

          The three family heads met again in secret to continue their negotiations.

          This time, they aimed to finalize the distribution of benefits from their alliance.

          "The Phoenix Soul Blood Fragrance Pills are crucial for soul recovery and should be distributed equally."

          "No," the Ning patriarch objected, "Our family has Ning Xiaohui and Ning Zhuo, two talents. We should be adequately supplied. Meanwhile, the Zheng family has only one."

          The Zheng patriarch snorted, "That Ning Zhuo only suits the technique, he doesn't have any special talent. He's not a genius!"

          At that moment, a knock sounded.

          The three family heads were startled.

          "Who is it?"

          "It's me, Zhu Xuanji!"

          "Ah, it's the Divine Constable," the three family heads quickly opened the door and welcomed Zhu Xuanji in.

          They had guards outside, but a Golden Core cultivator would easily bypass them.

          Zhu Xuanji smiled, "I have a request."

          Zhu Xuanji had obtained detailed records from the city lord, documenting those who had entered the Lava Immortal Palace over the years.

          But these were only the city lord's records.

          Zhu Xuanji hoped to gather records from the three families to piece together a complete version.

          The three family heads, all Foundation Establishment cultivators, often opposed the city lord's mansion, aligning their interests with the royal family to some extent.

          They promptly summoned someone to fetch their records for Zhu Xuanji.

          The main records came from the Zhou and Zheng families, while the Ning family's records were sparse, as they had only recently discovered the Lava Immortal Palace.

          Zhu Xuanji glanced at the records, nodding with satisfaction.

          As a member of the royal family, he didn't want to see the Meng family gain control of the Lava Immortal Palace, further expanding their power.

          Before leaving, he offered a hint, "I heard a familiar name mentioned earlier. If you mean Ning Zhuo, you might want to cultivate him."

          "In terms of virtue, he needs observing, but he has some talent in mechanisms."

          "He designed and created the Explosive Monkeys."

          The three family heads were stunned, their eyes widening in surprise.

          The Ning patriarch exclaimed, "Ah?!"

          Zhu Xuanji smiled, "Outwardly, the credit goes to the workshop owner Chen Cha, but there's a hidden story involving Fei Si. Investigate, and you'll find out."

          With that, Zhu Xuanji waved and vanished.

          The three family heads were left staring at each other.

          Gradually, the Ning patriarch looked up, exhaling deeply with a smile, "Did you hear that? Zhu Xuanji said it himself!"

          The Zhou and Zheng patriarchs remained silent.

          The delighted Ning patriarch was unaware that Ning Zhuo was currently facing a severe interrogation from within the family.
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            Eaon
            Eaon
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            Chapter 89: The Prodigal Son

            Ning family cultivators streamed in, expressionless, flooding into Ning Zhuo's small courtyard one after another.

            They spread out left and right, faintly surrounding Ning Zhuo in the center.

            Several others patrolled vigilantly around the four residences.

            Ning Zhe and Ning Fan stood in front of Ning Zhuo.

            Ning Gui succinctly explained their purpose.

            Ning Zhuo raised his eyebrows, "I do have a large sum of spirit stones, but isn't this my own affair, unrelated to the family? Uncle, do you really need to come personally to ask about this matter?" The young man's tender face was filled with incomprehension and incredulity.

            Ning Fan remained silent.

            Ning Zhe shook his head slightly, his expression serious, "Zhuo'er, you're still young, it's understandable if you don't understand these principles. Just tell us the truth, tell us about the source of this large sum of money."

            But Ning Zhuo shook his head, looking uneasy, "Sorry, Uncle, I can't say about this." Ning Gui and Ning Fan were momentarily surprised.

            Ning Zhe lowered his voice, his expression becoming even more serious, "Why can't you say? At this critical moment, you're not going to say?!"

            Ning Zhuo shrugged indifferently, showing a stubbornness typical of youth, "What's the big deal? This is my money, I'll spend it however I want."

            Ning Zhe became agitated, "You don't understand your current situation, Zhuo'er! You think you're still the same as before?"

            "You're not!"

            "You're now a key figure in the family's cultivation plans, the second most important person in the renovation team, do you know?"

            "Now someone has reported you, saying you're squandering money, possessing a large sum of money of unknown origin."

            "Just when the family wants to cultivate you, to vigorously support you, you get involved in this kind of thing! You should explain, shouldn't you?"

            "Zhuo'er, you're oversimplifying things."

            "Before, you were unknown, unremarkable, nobody cared about you, it didn't matter. But now you're at the peak of the third level, everyone is watching you, even the slightest flaw on you will be magnified, seized upon by those with ill intentions, criticized relentlessly, trying to bring you down!"

            "Now you have such a huge suspicion on you, those people will fabricate stories, saying you've received secret assistance from other families, that you've been turned, that you're trying to infiltrate our family's secrets. Don't you think the family needs to conduct a detailed investigation to feel reassured?"
            Ning Zhe spoke at length, with deep emphasis.

            Ning Zhuo fell into silence, before finally saying, "Uncle, there are indeed many hidden factors in this. But I can assure you that I haven't done anything outrageous. The money is legitimate, I have nothing to hide!"

            Ning Zhe's words failed to catch Ning Zhuo's attention: "No, did I just speak in vain?" "Did you listen carefully?"

            "Even if you have a clear conscience, who can prove it? Who will believe you?"

            "Fine, since you haven't done anything wrong, just say it directly. Now, you need to prove yourself to the family!" Ning Zhuo remained silent.

            "Do you even listen to what I'm saying?" Ning Gui's tone rose, his brows furrowed in frustration, a hint of anger on his face.

            Ning Zhuo sighed, finally revealing some truths: "Uncle, you're the closest person to me, you have to believe me, I really haven't done anything bad." "But this matter, I really can't disclose it."

            "I've made a contract with someone else, I can't say, if I do, I'll suffer from the backlash of the contract."

            Ning Gui's eyebrows furrowed even tighter: "What kind of thing would make you sign such a contract with someone else?" "Oh, you're driving me crazy!" Ning Gui pointed at Ning Zhuo, his fingers trembling with urgency.

            Ning Zhuo just lowered his head, remaining silent.

            Ning Gui looked at him, then at Ning Fan beside him, squeezed out a smile, and whispered to him, "Brother Ning Fan, can you please give us some time alone to chat?"

            Ning Fan looked hesitant: "You know, I was sent here to..."

            Ning Gui couldn't afford to wait now, quickly sending a message, promising some benefits.

            Ning Fan struggled for a moment, then nodded: "You two have bright futures ahead, and I don't want to offend you, so I'll give you half a cup of tea's time." Ning Gui led Ning Zhuo into the room.

            "Speak up, there's nothing you can't say now." "It's just the two of us here." Ning Gui's face was as serious as water.

            Ning Zhuo: "Uncle, I just told the truth. I'm not deceiving you. I did indeed make a contract with someone else and I can't reveal anything about it."

            Ning Zhe glared angrily, pointing his finger at Ning Zhuo's forehead, gritting his teeth: "Ning Zhuo, do you know how serious this matter is?"

            "The family values you now, values you very much, which is why they've specifically sent a investigative team."

            "They're worried you might misunderstand something, so they've specially sent me to talk to you."

            "Now is the best time for you to be honest, if you miss this opportunity, it could be disastrous!"

            Ning Zhe took a deep breath: "Fine, even if you're bound by a contract, it doesn't matter." "You should know that for every lock, there's a key."

            "Tell me what kind of contract it is, we can use the power of the family to remove the contract." Ning Zhuo shook his head: "Uncle, in my opinion, it's best not to touch this matter."

            "Sigh, if you really want me to say it, I can only tell you, this matter involves the major repair of the Golden Core!"

            "What?!" Ning Zhe was shocked, couldn't help but step back. "Are you, are you not lying to me?" The highest combat power in the Ning family is the ancestor of the Ning family, a Golden Core cultivator.
            Ning Zhuo sighed, "How could I lie to you, Uncle?"

            "So, I think, we shouldn't investigate this matter anymore, let's leave it at that."

            "If the family doesn't trust me, then I'll withdraw from the renovation team and not participate in the exploration of the Lava Immortal Palace."

            Hearing this, Ning Gui stomped angrily, "Ning Zhuo, how can you say such nonsense?"

            "You were able to join the renovation team because of my influence." "Do you think you can just withdraw if you want to?"

            "Even if you withdraw, the family will definitely investigate your matter thoroughly."

            "You, how did you become like this?"

            "Tell me, who is that Golden Core cultivator? Could it be that Shadowy Demon Cultivator?"

            Saying this, Ning Gui's pupils contracted, a chill running down his spine, unable to help but step back.

            The next moment, he messaged Ning Pi, sternly asking, "Quick, tell me, does it have anything to do with the Shadowy Demon Cultivator?"

            Ning Pi frowned, "Uncle, please don't force me, I can't say it."

            "How could you do this, how could you sign such a contract. Oh dear, oh dear. My, my family will be implicated by you."

            Ning Zhe slapped his thigh in frustration.

            Ning Zhuo sighed, "Uncle, I had no choice." Hearing this, Ning Gui couldn't help but lean towards the answer of the Shadowy Demon Cultivator.

            He paced with his hands behind his back, suddenly stopped, staring at Ning Zhuo, "Ning Zhuo, this matter is very serious, you can't just hide from it."

            "We must investigate it thoroughly today."

            "Don't blame me, it's you who did wrong!" Ning Zhuo was startled, hastily saying, "Uncle, the situation isn't as serious as you imagine..."

            But Ning Gui shook his head, eager to distance himself from Ning Zhuo, to prove himself.

            He quickly walked outside, asking Ning Fan, "My nephew did indeed sign a contract. What should we do next?" "Does the family have the means to break the contract? The key is, this matter is related to a certain Golden Core cultivator."

            Ning Fan was astonished. "But are you sure?"

            After hesitating for a moment, his expression turned serious, "The matter is very grave, but as long as the contract wasn't personally set by the Golden Core cultivator, we can start to try to break it."

            "Ning Zhuo can't disclose the details of the contract now, we have to keep trying. In the process, he may inevitably be harmed." Ning Zhe struggled for a moment, then nodded firmly,

            "This investigation is entrusted by the higher-ups, and the whole clan is watching. If we don't do this, how can we justify it? Let's do it!"

            Ning Fan's eyes flickered, "You are Ning Zhuo's uncle, and also the head of this investigation team, your decision matters."

            "However, it's best if Ning Zhuo cooperates voluntarily for the best effect."

            Just as Ning Fan finished speaking, Ning Zhuo said, "I refuse!" Ning Zhe turned around and glared, "You disobedient child, you don't have a say in this."

            Ning Zhe looked around and shouted, "What are you waiting for?!" Ning Fan sighed and subtly waved his hand.

            Two sturdy men from the investigation team stepped forward, one on each side, grabbed Ning Zhuo, and with their cultivation, easily suppressed him.

            Ning Fan took out a magical tool and handed it to Ning Zhe, "This is the Mind Capturing Father-Son Bracelet. You wear the father's bracelet and put the son's bracelet on Ning Zhuo's wrist to capture his thoughts."

            "As the saying goes, 'no one knows the son better than the father'."

            "Ning Zhuo may be bound by the contract and unable to reveal the truth, but he can't control his thoughts."

            "As long as we forcibly capture the relevant thoughts from his mind sea, we can obtain intelligence."

            "However, this action may trigger a backlash from the contract. Our investigation team will do our best to suppress it."

            "On the other hand, forcibly capturing thoughts will also cause damage to the mind sea. To avoid this, it's best for Ning Zhuo to cooperate voluntarily." Ning Pi struggled on the seat, "I don't want to, I don't want to at all!"

            Ning Zhe snorted coldly, took the father-son bracelets and handed them to himself and Ning Zhuo, "Ning Zhuo, as your elder and the person closest to you in this world, how can I let you go down the wrong path?"

            "Cooperate with me obediently, and you'll suffer a little less pain." Ning Zhuo resisted.

            Ning Zhe's face turned icy, and he activated the father-son bracelets directly.

            The pair of bracelets emitted a blue-white light on their wrists.

            A strong suction force reached into Ning Zhuo's mind sea. Just as it was about to rampage, it collided with the Imprint of Buddha's Heart Demon.

            The suction force was like a fierce wind, but the treasure seal stood firm, perfectly defending.

            Ning Zhuo's eyes rolled back, and he convulsed on the seat, blood streaming from his nose.

            Ning Zhe's face remained impassive, determined.

            The thoughts Ning Pi had prepared were offered up, about to be captured by Ning Zhe.
            Boom!

            The door of the house was pushed open.

            The deputy clan leader, Ning Xiaoren, saw the scene in the hall and immediately exploded with rage, roaring, "Stop!"
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              Chapter 90: Ning Zhuo, You've Suffered!

              Ning Ze and the others were all stunned.

              Ning Xiaoren glared at Ning Ze: "Won't you stop!?"
              As he spoke, he grabbed the identity badge hanging from his waist and threw it fiercely.

              The hard badge hit Ning Ze's head directly, causing him to tilt backward, almost falling to the ground.

              Ning Ze took a step back, steadying himself, and quickly saluted: "Greetings, Young Clan Leader!" As he spoke, a large stream of blood flowed down from his forehead.

              He was once again struck on the head by Ning Xiaoren, causing blood to flow from his scalp.

              The father-son bracelet naturally stopped its activation.

              Ning Xiaoren gave him a fierce look, then quickly ran a few steps to Ning Zhuo's side.

              He lifted his foot and kicked down one of the Ning family cultivators who were suppressing Ning Zhuo, then shouted at another person, "Get lost!" The two burly Ning family cultivators hurriedly retreated.

              Ning Xiaoren quickly reached out and supported Ning Zhuo, his eyes reddening, his face filled with guilt and concern: "Ning Zhuo, my nephew, Ning Zhuo, my nephew, I'm late, I'm so late, to let you suffer such hardship!

              Witnessing this scene is like a stab to my heart."
              As long as the father-son bracelet wasn't activated, Ning Zhuo wouldn't feel uncomfortable.

              But Ning Xiaoren still took out some top-grade pills and handed them to Ning Zhuo: "Ning Zhuo, my nephew, my powers are different from yours, and I can't personally treat your body.

              But these pills, when taken, have excellent healing effects!"
              Ning Zhuo's face was pale, panting heavily.

              He weakly pushed away the pills, showing the fear and suspicion of a young man: "Young Clan Leader, how could you..."
              Ning Zhuo saw himself on the verge of success.

              The arrival of the Ning family investigation team was one of the scenarios he had predicted.

              He had already made a name for himself in the joint tests of the three families, so he had long expected that he would be secretly investigated and followed by various forces.

              This doesn't matter!

              If they don't investigate, Fei Si and Zhu Xuanji will definitely investigate.

              Even if Fei Si and Zhu Xuanji don't investigate now, they will investigate in the future.

              Being investigated now is more advantageous for Ning Zhuo.

              This is a kind of unconventional opportunity.

              As long as Ning Zhuo uses it well, he can "explain" himself to the outside world, which is actually a further disguise.

              Moreover, it is also beneficial for him to demonstrate his own value.

              Ning Ze is influenced by my Buddha Heart Demon Seal.

              Of course, this is also based on his own fear and anxiety.

              Today, Ning Zhuo has reached the third level of Qi Refinement, Essence Refinement, and Spirit Refinement, much stronger than before.

              Although he still bleeds from the nose when using the treasure seal reluctantly, it is later than before.

              With the cover of the strong absorption of thoughts by the father-son bracelet, the nosebleed does not seem abrupt.

              Ning Zhuo needs to explain the reason for his rapid progress in cultivation to the outside world.

              Relying solely on the compatibility of techniques is not enough; he also needs to show externally that he has a huge amount of spirit stones, which means he has enough cultivation resources.

              At present, he must "publicly use" this large sum of money.

              Because Fei Si, Chi Dun, and Zhu Xuanji all know that he is the creator of the Mechanical Fire Monkey.

              In the business of the Mechanical Fire Monkey, he has obtained a large sum of money.

              From the perspective of a normal young cultivator, it is very unreasonable not to spend such a large sum of money, not to purchase a large amount of resources, and not to advance one's own cultivation!

              Being stingy and miserly is not the personality traits he has shown outwardly in the past sixteen years.

              As long as the explanation is successful, Ning Zhuo can openly use this money, openly go to various alchemy pharmacies to purchase a large number of cultivation resources, and fully promote his own cultivation.

              This is also very beneficial for him.

              Especially in the upcoming joint renovation team of the three families, he needs to have a place!

              When Ning Ze and others arrive, Ning Zhuo will have a performance.

              Instruments like the father-son bracelet have long been recorded in his database.

              In his mind, he has prepared some thoughts for this, as long as he sends them out, Ning Ze can obtain "answers".

              But just when success is imminent, Ning Xiaoren appears.

              Ning Zhuo really wants to know why Ning Xiaoren suddenly barged in.

              Ning Xiaoren was full of relief in his heart: "I made it in time, fortunately!"
              It turned out that when the three clan leaders were negotiating, Zhu Xuanji came to ask for records.

              Before leaving, Zhu Xuanji voluntarily revealed the secret of Ning Zhuo and the Mechanical Fire Monkey.

              As high-ranking members, the three clan leaders all believed Zhu Xuanji's words at the time.

              As a member of the royal family and a divine catcher, Zhu Xuanji's credibility is extremely high, and he is basically never wrong.

              Recently, the Mechanical Fire Monkey has been selling well, and all three families have sent a large number of Foundation Building cultivators to participate in the Fire Persimmon Festival, so the three clan leaders have a lot of understanding of the Mechanical Fire Monkey.

              Combining Zhu Xuanji's revelation, they quickly deduced the truth - Fei Si took credit for someone else's work, and Chen Cha secretly bought the identity of the inventor to impersonate it.

              The true creator is actually Ning Zhuo of the Ning family!

              Immediately, the two clan leaders of the Zhou and Zheng families congratulated the clan leader of the Ning family.

              The clan leader of the Ning family was overjoyed in his heart, but he remained modest and cautious on the surface, saying that this matter still needed to be investigated further to confirm.

              He immediately summoned a Ning family servant and instructed him to go back to the family and inform the deputy clan leader to conduct an investigation first, and then reward Ning Zhuo properly.

              The servant hurried back to the family and met Ning Xiaoren.

              Upon hearing the news, Ning Xiaoren was so scared that he almost jumped.

              He suddenly understood the source of Ning Zhuo's huge fortune, and then he realized that the investigative team he had ordered to be dispatched, where were they still staying at the clan headquarters?

              Although it was late at night, he rushed out of the mansion with all his strength and ran towards Ning Zhuo's residence like crazy.

              And thus, the scene just now occurred.

              Ning Xiaoren's eyes were red, and he sighed bitterly: "Ning Zhuo nephew, you've suffered, suffered!

              Uncle knows you're feeling wronged, you have your reasons." "Do you know?

              Throughout your sixteen years of growth, Uncle has been secretly watching over you."
              "I know your character, know you're not a bad kid.

              You wouldn't do anything majorly wrong." "I'll get to the bottom of the investigation team's matter and give you an explanation!"
              "But after this incident, I'm sure you've realized that your current situation is very complex and dangerous." "Blame it on your excellence."
              "Sigh, a tall tree catches the wind; a prominent rock in the river faces the rapids!

              You have many envious eyes on you." "Uncle, I'm genuinely worried about you."
              "You see, this investigation team came out of nowhere, even your own uncle was dragged into it." Ning Ze looked at Ning Xiaoren's performance, feeling bewildered: "Wasn't it you who personally summoned me to do this task?" Now you're pretending like you had no part in it at all!

              Although Ning Ze strongly criticized internally, he also knew that he absolutely couldn't expose his immediate superior at this moment.

              Isn't it the duty of a subordinate to take responsibility for their superior?

              So, Ning Ze just kept silent, secretly treating his forehead injury.

              Ning Zhuo looked at Ning Xiaoren, then at the bowed Ning Ze, and then at Ning Fan and others.

              His immature face revealed fear and confusion.
              "W-what should I do?" He cast a pleading gaze toward Ning Xiaoren.

              At this moment, Ning Xiaoren exerted all his efforts to show a gentle smile and spoke in the most friendly and sincere tone: "It's easy, nephew Ning Zhuo, come stay at Uncle's mansion.

              Uncle is the deputy clan leader, I'll personally protect you."
              Ning Zhuo hesitated, lowering his head slightly.

              Ning Xiaoren offered the medicine to Ning Zhuo again, his voice extremely gentle: "Take it." Ning Zhuo shook his head: "My injuries aren't severe, it's too wasteful to use such precious medicine."
              "Hehehe." Ning Xiaoren patted Ning Zhuo's shoulder, "Good kid, just accept it.

              Consider it a gift from Uncle to you.

              Come, let's go back to the mansion with Uncle.

              You may not know, but your father saved my life."
              "In the past, I had my own concerns and couldn't directly look after you.

              But now, you're in danger, so I can only step forward personally.

              I'll do my best to protect you!"
              Ning Zhuo slowly raised his head, deeply moved: "Th-thank you, Deputy Clan Leader..."
              "Oh, don't call me Deputy Clan Leader, just call me Uncle Ning." Ning Xiaoren extended the medicine again.

              Ning Zhuo hesitated before accepting the medicine with embarrassment.
              "Let's go, Uncle will take you home!" Ning Xiaoren put his arm around Ning Zhuo's shoulder, helping him up, ready to lead him away.

              Ning Zhuo took a few steps, hesitating slightly, "About the investigation regarding the spirit stone..."
              Ning Xiaoren said, "Uncle swears to you, I will never treat you in such a cruel way.

              Let's think of a solution together, see if we can bypass the contract.

              If not, Uncle will use the position of deputy clan leader to guarantee your safety, ensuring you can practice in peace."
              As Ning Zhuo heard this, his suspicions were nearing confirmation, "It seems Ning Xiaoren has learned the secret of the mechanism monkey from other channels.

              Either it's Chi Dun or Zhu Xuanji."
              Chi Dun and Fei Si don't get along, and Zhu Xuanji has a royal background, both are possible.

              Ning Zhuo welcomed this development.

              He planned to launch the mechanism monkey, partly to cover up the truth about the exploding immortal palace, and also to showcase his own expertise in mechanisms.

              Thinking this, Ning Zhuo no longer resisted.

              Ning Xiaoren intentionally concealed the fact that he learned the truth, hoping to show sincerity and fully win over Ning Zhuo, who also wanted to get closer to Ning Xiaoren.

              In the coming period, with the concealment provided by this deputy clan leader, he could better hide himself.

              Ning Xiaoren accompanied him all the way, speaking many gentle and comforting words.

              Upon arrival home, in front of Ning Zhuo, he loudly instructed the servants, "Clear out my bedroom, let my good nephew stay here!" Ning Zhuo hurriedly protested, but Ning Xiaoren's eyes reddened again, requesting Ning Zhuo to stay to make up for his guilt of not taking good care of the son of his benefactor.

              In the end, Ning Zhuo, also with tears in his eyes and a grateful expression, reluctantly agreed.

              As Ning Zhuo was about to sleep, Ning Xiaoren took out a talisman for him, "You just reached the peak of the third level recently, haven't you been soul drawn into the palace yet?"
              Ning Zhuo nodded, expressing curiosity about the Lava Immortal Palace.

              Ning Xiaoren explained gently, "Regarding the matter of the Lava Immortal Palace, it requires joint action with others to have a chance of success.

              There's no rush for now.

              Rushing into the palace will only damage your soul and delay your cultivation."
              "Stick this talisman on, it will slightly damage your soul, weaker than the standard soul drawing into the palace.

              It's all benefits and no harm to you." "Thank you, Uncle Ning!" Ning Zhuo quickly expressed his gratitude.

              Ning Xiaoren laughed heartily, patting Ning Zhuo's shoulder, advising him to rest well, then voluntarily left.

              Alone in the study, Ning Xiaoren's face no longer showed the previous warmth.

              He had a stern expression, summoning a close attendant, "Go gather a group of our own people and search Ning Zhuo's residence.

              Remember, leave no trace of disturbance and gather all the information you can."
              "Yes, sir!"
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                Chapter 91: Ning Holds Responsibility for Wronged

                Afterward, Ning Xiaoren secretly summoned Ning Zé.

                Ning Zé's forehead was wrapped in bandages when he met Ning Xiaoren, showing a respectful attitude.
                Ning Xiaoren sneered inwardly, knowing that Ning Gui could have easily healed the wound on his forehead but deliberately kept it to gain sympathy, to remind himself that he had merits and hardships.

                "Ning Zé, come, have a seat," Ning Xiaoren's face once again showed a gentle smile.

                Ning Zé sat down straightforwardly: "Subordinate is truly puzzled. Clearly, it was Lord Xiaoren who personally ordered the subordination. But why did Lord Xiaoren suddenly..."

                Ning Xiaoren raised his hand to stop Ning Zé from continuing: "I'll explain it in one sentence. The inventor of the Mechanical Fire Monkey is actually Ning Zhuo!" Ning Gui listened, his face full of astonishment, thinking he misheard: "Wh-what?"

                Ning Xiaoren no longer explained, instead leaned back in his chair, picked up his teacup, and sipped slowly.

                Ning Zé completely reacted, standing up in shock, unable to sit still. He widened his eyes and muttered, "Xiao Zhuo, Xiao Zhuo is actually the creator of the Mechanical Fire Monkey?!" Ning Xiaoren just glanced at him, never speaking.

                Ning Gui's mouth opened wide, his eyes vacant, lost in thought for a moment before refocusing.
                "This, this is such a huge sum of money he has."

                "But, according to him, this matter involves a Golden Core cultivator..."

                Ning Xiaoren put down the teacup, sighed: "It's Fei Si. Fei Si wanted to take credit and presented the Mechanical Fire Monkey to the Lord of the City. Chen Cha was his subordinate, not Ning Zhuo. So, Chen Cha secretly pressured Ning Zhuo and took away his honor."

                "This matter is still under investigation, but it's almost certain."

                "So that's how it is, so that's how it is." Ning Gui let out a relieved breath, showing a guilty look, "I blamed him wrongly." "But in that situation, I had no other choice."

                "I must give an explanation to the family, especially to you, Lord Xiaoren." Ning Xiaoren smiled, "I understand, I understand. Come, sit down." Ning Gui sat down again.

                Ning Xiaoren continued: "I know you are loyal, you have given me an explanation. But now, how do I give an explanation to Ning Zhuo?" "Huh?" Ning Gui puzzled.

                "You see, this is the situation now." Ning Xiaoren stood up, slowly walked around the table, and went to the front.

                "Ning Zhuo has reached the pinnacle of the third level of Qi refining. The Five Elements Qi Law is particularly suitable for him, and he can create the Mechanical Fire Monkey. So, he must be the main force of our clan's exploration of the Lava Immortal Palace!"

                "Our clan must use him, value him greatly!" "He is a rare talent in our clan."

                "But now, he feels wronged and distant from our clan. If you were in his shoes, how would you feel about today's events?" Saying this, Ning Xiaoren walked up to Ning Gui.

                Ning Zé quickly stood up, feeling a sense of unease growing in his heart, and said, "If I were Ning Zhuo, facing these investigations, what does it matter? It's not really an injustice. On the contrary, having the opportunity to prove one's innocence, I would be very grateful to the family for this opportunity! I am a member of the Ning family, being loyal to the family, contributing and sacrificing for the family is only natural."

                "Haha."

                Ning Xiaoren pointed at Ning Zé, nodding, "You are very insightful, Ning Zé, you are quite good."

                "I haven't misjudged you!"

                Ning Zé quickly expressed humility.

                Ning Xiaoren changed the subject: "But Ning Zhuo is not you, he's only sixteen years old, what can he understand? How much insight can he have like yours?"

                Ning Zé replied, "Yes, I will make sure to educate him well in the future and lead him onto the right path!"

                Ning Xiaoren nodded, "That's a matter for the future."

                "Now, Xiao Zhuo is hurt. As elders, we naturally need to take care of him more, soothe his heart, heal his wounds, let him grow happily, and practice happily, right?" Ning Zé felt more and more uneasy as he listened.

                Ning Xiaoren continued, "As elders, we should have a spirit of sacrifice. Ning Zé, do you have such insight?" Pressured by Ning Xiaoren, Ning Zé could only reluctantly agree.

                Ning Xiaoren then privately communicated his plan to him.

                Ning Zé was shocked and waved his hands hastily, "M-My lord, how can you do this? Where does this leave me?" It turned out that Ning Xiaoren's plan was to investigate Ning Zé next. Ning Gui, unable to bear the burden, would confess the "truth" - that over the years, Ning Xiaoren had been secretly supporting Ning Zhuo with a lot of spirit stones and resources for his cultivation.

                However, Ning Gui had embezzled from it and mistreated Ning Zhuo.

                Seeing Ning Zhuo rise to prominence, Ning Zé, driven by jealousy and greed upon hearing about Ning Zhuo's wealth, intended to extort him under the guise of an investigation.

                Fortunately, the kind and compassionate Ning Xiaoren intervened in time and uncovered the truth that had been concealed for over a decade.

                Ning Gui didn't want to bear this kind of blame at all!

                It was clearly Ning Xiaoren who was unjust, who didn't remember old friendships, who mistreated Ning Zhuo, not asking about him for over a decade, but in the end, he was falsely accused.

                This was too despicable, too petty!

                "Do you do it or not? Are you still my subordinate?" Ning Xiaoren stared, directly pressuring him.

                "Do you dare not do it? Think about the consequences!"

                "Think about your son, Ning Ji, right? He's doing quite well in the family business." A chilling feeling enveloped Ning Gui's heart.

                Looking at the stern Ning Xiaoren, he suddenly realized: So, he was appointed as the head of the investigation team by Ning Xiaoren not to strengthen his relationship with Ning Zhuo or to investigate the source of the large sum of money.

                "No, that damned Ning Xiaoren, he wants to covet Xiao Zhuo's money, and also wants to frame me, stepping on my body, coaxing Xiao Zhuo, trying to win him over!"

                Understanding the truth, Ning Zé was furious, his face flushed red, and his fists clenched, breathing heavily.

                Seeing his attitude, Ning Xiaoren sneered disdainfully.

                It was just this faint sneer, like polar ice water, extinguishing the flames of anger in Ning Gui's heart.

                After all, Ning Xiaoren was the Deputy Clan Chief, and also his immediate superior, what could he do?

                It was Ning Zé who had raised Ning Zhuo for over a decade, although not wholeheartedly, but Ning Zhuo had indeed been under his care.

                But now, Ning Xiaoren wanted to win over Ning Zhuo, wanted to pluck the peaches, so he framed and wronged Ning Zé to create a false impression and cover up his own mistakes.

                It was truly sinister, truly despicable!

                There was no way.

                Ning Zé had no choice.

                He could only grit his teeth and bear this blame and responsibility that wasn't his.

                Because he was a subordinate, he had to make a living under Ning Xiaoren's command.

                Ning Xiaoren was the Deputy Clan Chief, second only to the Clan Chief. Even if Ning Zé resisted to the death, he would still be forced to submit.

                At this moment, Ning Zé suddenly thought of Ning Zhuo whom he had pressured not long ago.

                "The feeling of being forced by others, unable to resist, is so painful and unbearable." He was filled with bitterness and despair.

                With this realization, he suddenly felt that he deserved his fate.

                "Deputy Clan Chief, indeed, I embezzled your covert assistance, it's all my fault!" Ning Zé's voice became extremely hoarse, his expression extremely gloomy.

                Only then did Ning Xiaoren pat his shoulder, "I won't mistreat you." "You'll stay in the family's dungeon for now." "I'll notify your wife to visit you."

                Ning Zé was stunned, he didn't expect it to happen so quickly, and couldn't help but look up at Ning Xiaoren.

                Ning Xiaoren had a smile on his face, but his eyes were full of coldness.

                Ning Gui could only bow his head, his tone extremely heavy: "Yes, I accept the command."

                The Clan Chief of the Ning family returned home with a smile on his face.

                This negotiation had gained many practical benefits for the Ning family, far exceeding previous expectations.

                When Ning Xiaoren came to report, he laid out the matter of framing Ning Zé and trying to win over Ning Zhuo.

                The Clan Chief of the Ning family stroked his beard and pondered, "You handled it quite well."

                "Remember, Ning Zhuo is different now. At least for now, the family needs to rely on his power. You need to rein in your greed." The Clan Chief of the Ning family was well aware of his son's greedy nature.

                He just quietly glanced at him, causing Ning Xiaoren to break out in a cold sweat and quickly nod, promising not to do it again.

                "Father, these are the results of the urgent investigation I conducted." Ning Xiaoren continued, handing over a lot of intelligence.

                The biggest commonality among the numerous pieces of intelligence was Ning Zhuo.

                All of this intelligence was closely related to him.
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                  Chapter 92: Investigating Ning Zhuo

                  The head of the Ning family was already quite curious about the sudden emergence of Ning Zhuo. Now, after examining numerous pieces of information, he said with some understanding, "So Ning Zhuo, this child, had already shown his talent for machinery long ago."

                  The first piece of intelligence stated: Ning Zhuo's mother, Meng Yaoyin, was a mechanical cultivator. Although she passed away early, she left behind many books on mechanical arts for Ning Zhuo. He treasured these books as relics of his mother and often fell asleep with them in his arms when he was young. As he grew older, he was deeply influenced by these books.

                  During his childhood, Ning Zhuo began to show a strong interest in mechanical arts. He often visited the orphanage to watch Li Leifeng's puppet shows.

                  The orphanage was a place for orphans, supported by the city lord's mansion and various large households in the Fire Persimmon Immortal City. This was a measure to address the problem of homelessness in the Southern Bean Country.

                  Li Leifeng was the director of the orphanage, possessing the Thunder Spirit Root and also being a mechanical cultivator.

                  The mechanical tower he built could draw external thunder and convert it into power to sustain the operation of the tower, without consuming any spiritual energy. When facing enemies, the stored electricity inside the mechanical tower could be released as lightning bolts, like chains, to trap and continuously shock the enemy.

                  "Old Li's puppet show is indeed superb." Seeing this, the head of the Ning family couldn't help but sigh sincerely.

                  He had watched many of Li Leifeng's puppet shows and found them amazing!

                  Perhaps influenced by Li Leifeng, Ning Zhuo had always liked puppets and similar toys since he was young. The dolls he often played with were named One Round, Two Crossed Legs, and Three Hairs.

                  When he entered the family school, his interest in mechanical arts peaked. He studied diligently, which led to neglect in other subjects.

                  It wasn't until he was ten years old that his performance in all subjects gradually improved, and he began to rank above average in the school.

                  The Ning family valued talismans, so Ning Zhuo's uncle and aunt naturally did not want him to go astray and ruin his future. They strictly disciplined him, smashing three large baskets of mechanical toys.

                  However, although Ning Zhuo was seemingly restrained on the surface, he still seized every opportunity to study mechanical arts. He even voluntarily went to some mechanical workshops as a child laborer, even without pay. For him, being able to come into contact with mechanical creations was a joyful thing.

                  Perhaps due to his persistence and passion, Ning Zhuo's proficiency in mechanical arts continued to grow.

                  At the age of fifteen, a mechanical parrot made by Ning Zhuo had already surpassed the level of all his classmates. It was accidentally seen by an elder in the family school, who praised it on the spot.

                  But Ning Zhuo, who was originally somewhat anticipated by some elders, performed poorly in the family exam.

                  "He was too nervous!" sighed the head of the Ning family after reading the jade slip, which detailed the specific scenes of Ning Zhuo's cohort in the family exam.

                  "Yes," agreed Ning Xiaoren. "At that time, the puppet strings unexpectedly tangled, and Ning Zhuo didn't notice. When it was time to perform, the strings became entangled, leaving Ning Zhuo with no room to perform."

                  "If I were the supervising elder, I would definitely give Ning Zhuo another chance to retake the exam."

                  The head of the Ning family shook his head. "The supervising elder did not make a mistake. According to the rules, the examinee should check carefully before the exam. Since this incident occurred, Ning Zhuo should be held responsible." As the father and son discussed, a servant came to report that Feng Jiqing had arrived.

                  "Please let him in," nodded the head of the Ning family.

                  Feng Jiqing was a middle-aged man with squinted eyes, long green hair, a tall and thin figure, and a windmill-like blade wheel on his back. Feng Jiqing was a wind spirit root cultivator with considerable proficiency in machinery. Although not a orthodox mechanical cultivator, the mechanical wind falcons he created and controlled were as fast as lightning and as sharp as a hurricane.

                  After the failure of the previous attempts to attract talents, the Ning family had never stopped recruiting outsiders. Until recently, the Ning family had continuously increased their efforts and finally attracted Feng Jiqing. He was the Ning family's biggest achievement in recruiting external talents so far.

                  "Chief, Young Chief." Feng Jiqing bowed respectfully with a straight posture. He was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage and well aware of the situation of mechanical cultivators. Therefore, he held a neutral attitude towards the two high-ranking members of the Ning family.

                  The Young Chief, Ning Xiaoren, smiled. "Master Feng, the reason for inviting you here this time is to have you identify these two mechanical fire monkeys and evaluate the expertise of the creator behind them."

                  Regarding Ning Pi as the inventor of the mechanical fire monkeys, the head and the Young Chief of the Ning family didn't want to reveal it too soon. On one hand, Ning Xiaoren wanted to pretend ignorance and fabricate his own image to make Ning Zhuo feel his "full sincerity." On the other hand, the matter of the mechanical fire monkeys was related to Fei Si. If it leaked out, it would cause trouble for Fei Si. The Ning family didn't want to offend Fei Si, who, as an actual fairy official, held considerable power and was not easy to deal with.

                  The concealment inadvertently led to some misunderstandings on Feng Jiqing's part, and he couldn't help but speculate, "Does the Ning family want to hire Chen Cha with a high price?" Feng Jiqing certainly didn't want this to happen. Keeping his composure, he began to inspect the two mechanical fire monkeys.

                  One of the monkeys was meticulously crafted with solid materials, representing the previous version. The other one, rough and poorly made, had suffered some damage, indicating it was a modified version after Ning Pi's improvements.

                  After inspecting them, Feng Jiqing said, "The main material of the monkey's skin is the fur of the Fire Fluff Rat, woven with traditional spiritual embroidery. Traditional craftsmanship doesn't need to be emphasized."

                  "It is necessary to use Tianjin for the framework because it needs to set up a storage array, and Tianjin is usually the best option."

                  "But if it were me, I would go further and choose the empty lungs of a Cloud Whale. This way, the array set up could store living creatures. The current design can only store dead objects."

                  Feng Jiqing only mentioned the advantages of his own plan and didn't mention the rarity of the Cloud Whale's empty lungs.

                  "The materials used in the monkey's body are good," one of the highlights was overshadowed by Feng Jiqing's remark.

                  "There are many formations in the array, and the way they are matched is relatively new, which is quite good." When Feng Jiqing praised, he would try to use less exaggerated terms.

                  "The walking bullets in the monkey's brain are, in my opinion, the most eye-catching part of this mechanical design," Feng Jiqing quickly praised before immediately changing the subject.

                  "However, although such material selection can save a lot of costs, it cannot be used without reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, which greatly limits the number of buyers."

                  "If it weren't for this drawback, the sales of the mechanical fire monkeys would increase several times, even more than ten times."

                  "This design has flaws," Feng Jiqing concluded with one sentence.

                  The head and Ning Xiaoren exchanged a glance. The former remained silent, while the latter asked, "Can the designer's mechanical expertise be considered strong?" Among all the cultivation arts, mechanical skills were at the bottom. Since the father and son were not involved in this field and were always preoccupied with family affairs or political struggles as high-ranking members of the family, they found it difficult to grasp the intricacies of the mechanical fire monkeys.

                  In fact, not to mention machinery, even a new prescription, they find it difficult to evaluate its merits. They are not alchemists, nor do they specialize in machinery. In ancient times, there were few Foundation Establishment cultivators. Families were generally weaker than sects, and the cultivation nations were extremely rare. In the first half of history, they were almost flashes in the pan.

                  But as cultivation progressed, the myriad arts of cultivation became profound. For most cultivators, it was like a separate world. Feng Jiqing pondered, "It took Chen Cha many years to manage the Flying Disc Workshop before finally producing such a mechanical creation. It's considered rare."

                  "This mechanical creation has some cleverness, but not much. Even if it sells well now, business will surely decline next year when it comes to picking fire persimmons. Its utility is also limited." "Overall, this mechanical creation can be considered average, slightly above average."

                  "As for the person who made the mechanism, I won't comment further." The head of the Ning family and Ning Xiaoren exchanged glances once again. The former thought, "Feng Jiqing is a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and rating it as average is a huge compliment to Ning Zhuo, who is in the Qi Refining stage."

                  The latter became more determined to support Ning Zhuo.

                  Meanwhile, at the Ciyu Orphanage, Zhu Xuanji concealed his figure and entered the courtyard. An old man was sunbathing in the courtyard when his brows furrowed suddenly, looking towards the hidden Zhu Xuanji. "Who goes there?!"

                  Zhu Xuanji was startled for a moment, then revealed his figure. He pinched his fingers and activated a certain detection spell, observing his surroundings. "So that's how it is. There's a flow of electric ions circulating in the courtyard, creating an invisible potential difference. As soon as I step in, creating a potential difference front and back, you would sense it." Zhu Xuanji praised while stamping his foot.

                  With a small thunderous explosion under his feet, a layer of mud was blasted away, revealing the bricks underneath. The runes on the bricks, when seen at a glance, were dazzlingly confusing. These bricks were laid every short distance apart, not forming a formation at all. It was precisely because it didn't form a formation that Zhu Xuanji found it difficult to grasp and remained vigilant. Since entering Huoshi Fairy City, it was the first time he had been exposed by someone.

                  "It turns out to be Lord Zhu Xuanji, please have a seat." The old man remained lying on the chair, unmoving. Zhu Xuanji had already appeared publicly in Huoshi Fairy City, and this matter was well known throughout the city. It was strange that the old man was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, and only in the early stage, but he remained quite casual in the presence of Zhu Xuanji, a Golden Core cultivator.

                  Zhu Xuanji did not feel offended at all. He approached the old man with a smile. "Senior Li Leifeng, the junior has long heard of your name and came specifically to see you." The old man, Li Leifeng, snorted coldly. "If you want to see an old man, Zhu Shenbu, you're too late."

                  "Saying it's to see me, but actually wanting to verify if I'm the one who ruined your cultivation?" Zhu Xuanji smiled awkwardly.

                  Li Leifeng sighed, "Old Shan has lived for so many years and has seen many things. Lord Zhu, your inquiry poses no harm." Zhu Xuanji cupped his hands, "I apologize for any offense."
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                  Chapter 93: Who Would Suspect a Two-Year-Old?

                  Since Li Leifeng said so, he didn't hesitate and immediately reached out to pulse Li Leifeng, infusing his mana into Li Leifeng's body, while a pair of golden lights shone from his eyes.

                  Soon, Zhu Xuanji probed Li Leifeng's physical condition thoroughly, instantly losing color.

                  "Elder Li, you..."

                  Li Leifeng persisted for a while before finally couldn't bear it and began to cough violently.

                  His breath once again declined, falling back to the Qi Refining stage, while coughing blood from the corners of his mouth, his face pale.

                  "I'm already old, my body decayed, even maintaining breathing is extremely difficult."

                  "Even if Mr. Zhu's mana is gentle, it still caused considerable damage to this old man."

                  "But, it's alright."

                  "If I hadn't had some adventures when I was young and taken a longevity Lingzhi, I wouldn't have lived to this age."

                  "I also have to thank Mr. Zhu for helping me to be relieved."

                  Zhu Xuanji sighed, his brows furrowed, unable to conceal his guilt.

                  "Elder Li, I deeply appreciate your contribution to the Ciyu Orphanage, why do you have to do this?"

                  He was a smart man and after being hit, he saw through Li Leifeng's tricks.

                  He felt very uncomfortable.

                  Li Leifeng smiled, "Mr. Zhu, if you really feel guilty, then represent the court properly and appoint a good headmaster for this orphanage."

                  "Otherwise, even if I die, I won't rest assured, I won't be able to close my eyes."

                  Zhu Xuanji looked up and couldn't help but sigh deeply.
                  His main purpose in coming here this time was to investigate Li Leifeng.


                  According to the information he collected from the Lord's Mansion and the three major families, Li Leifeng was undoubtedly the prime suspect.

                  Although he wasn't at the Golden Core stage, he possessed the Thunder Spirit Root. At his peak, he could operate the Mechanism Tower and possess the combat power of a half-step Golden Core!

                  Moreover, he had a profound knowledge of mechanism arts, recognized by the Lava Immortal Palace, becoming a candidate among the Foundation Establishment cultivators who could enter the Immortal Palace.

                  According to the records of the four major families, Li Leifeng had entered the Immortal Palace several times and gained considerable rewards.

                  That's just according to the records.

                  In fact, before the Lava Immortal Palace was blown up, there was no strict guard at the top of the Fire
                  Persimmon Mountain, and the path to the Crimson Flame Demon Melt Cave was fixed. Many cultivators could easily disguise themselves and enter the cave to explore.

                  The four major forces couldn't possibly record all the cultivators who entered the Immortal Palace.

                  In other words, Li Leifeng had entered the Immortal Palace far more times than recorded.

                  With this investigation, Zhu Xuanji confirmed that Li Leifeng's life was coming to an end, and there wasn't much time left.

                  And he, a Golden Core cultivator, had been schemed against by Li Leifeng.

                  Zhu Xuanji sighed inwardly.

                  He had been dealt with by this kind of trickery many times already.

                  Once he appeared in public, his past experiences and character preferences would be thoroughly investigated by those with ulterior motives.

                  Li Leifeng's move precisely hit Zhu Xuanji's weak point.

                  Every small person has their own way of survival!
                  Zhu Xuanji knew that this investigation would confirm Li Leifeng's life would be shortened by at least three months.

                  Feeling guilty, he had no choice but to promise to find an excellent headmaster for the Ciyu Orphanage in Huoshi Fairy City.

                  Li Leifeng nodded with a smile, "Mr. Zhu, after I pass away, there will be a legacy meeting where everything will be bequeathed to others."

                  "I know, Mr. Zhu, you come from the royal family and are also a divine catcher, with immense wealth and high status."

                  "But I still want to give you a gift as a token of respect."

                  "Of course, I don't have any treasures that would catch your eye, but I have a toy that I accidentally acquired in my early years, which is quite interesting."

                  "Mr. Zhu, please have a look."

                  Zhu Xuanji took over a wooden board.

                  The board was as large as a cutting board, quite heavy, with a pale yellow surface and many natural wood grain patterns.

                  Moreover, there were various circuits crisscrossing the surface of the board, cutting it into various-sized pieces.

                  Zhu Xuanji had a proficiency in mechanism arts himself, and with just one glance, he was intrigued.

                  He tried to press one of the wooden pieces with his finger, and then smoothly moved it to the side.
                  Just as he had anticipated, these wooden pieces were all movable.

                  "Quite interesting," Zhu Xuanji's fingers moved frequently, shifting many wooden pieces back and forth, gradually uncovering clues.

                  "This kind of mechanism wooden board hides some information. By moving and arranging the wooden pieces to the correct positions, we can obtain some information."

                  "And only when we have all the information can we piece together the entire message that this wooden board wants to convey." Zhu Xuanji frowned, "There are so many wooden pieces, how long will it take to move and arrange them to obtain all the content?"

                  Li Leifeng chuckled helplessly, "This is just a toy, like the spinning top, Erlang's legs, and Sanmao that I played with in my childhood."

                  "It's just that it's very complicated, able to pass the time."

                  Zhu Xuanji chuckled, "What I need most is time, how could I pass it away?" With that, he activated his golden eyes for insight.

                  By cheating like this, he immediately obtained all the information from the wooden toy: "Is this just a fairy tale? Not the full text?"

                  Li Leifeng sighed, "Mr. Zhu, this is just a toy."

                  "In my opinion, perhaps it was made by a mechanism cultivator in their old age, as a gift for their descendants."

                  Zhu Xuanji nodded and put the mechanism wooden board back, "I think this wooden board is more suitable to stay in the Ciyu Orphanage. Elder Li, I'll take my leave now. I'll do what I promised you."

                  Li Leifeng said, "Mr. Zhu, take care. Please forgive me for not being able to get up to see you off."

                  Zhu Xuanji quickly waved his hand, "No, no, no, you can just lie down, it's fine."

                  He was afraid that if Li Leifeng escorted him, he would lose another piece of his lifespan.

                  Leaving the Ciyu Orphanage, Zhu Xuanji couldn't help but sigh deeply, looking up at the sky, muttering to himself, "Heavens, why don't you give a little more leniency to the good people in the world?"

                  Zhu Xuanji felt despondent and regretful about Li Leifeng's imminent passing.

                  As for the time he would spend reporting to the court and personally searching for a suitable headmaster for the Ciyu Orphanage, it would all consume his energy and delay his investigation.

                  But he was willing to do it!

                  In the residence of the Ning family, Ning Zhou didn't sleep well.

                  In fact, it was worse than staying at his uncle's house.

                  What truly gave him a sense of belonging was the small courtyard left to him by his mother.

                  Breakfast was rich, with a variety of spiritual foods.

                  Ning Xiaoren specifically rushed over and shared breakfast with Ning Zhou.

                  He inquired about Ning Zhou's rest the previous night and whether the food suited his taste.

                  Ning Zhou appeared awkward and uncomfortable, unsure how to respond to Ning Xiaoren's concern.

                  Ning Xiaoren, sensing the discomfort, reduced his enthusiasm accordingly.

                  Ning Zhou gradually relaxed and began to eat the spiritual food. These things could enhance his cultivation!

                  Ning Xiaoren was surprised to see Ning Zhou eating more and faster.

                  He polished off most of a plate of spiritual food.

                  Some of the side dishes were already small in quantity, and they disappeared as soon as Ning Xiaoren lifted his chopsticks!

                  "Eat, eat well. Enjoy it. If you like it, eat more," Ning Xiaoren said with a smile.

                  Ning Zhou hesitated slightly in his chewing, once again showing his embarrassment.

                  Ning Xiaoren laughed heartily, "Good child, good child. Eating more will help you cultivate faster and explore the Immortal Palace more effectively."

                  "T-thank you, Uncle Ning," Ning Zhou mumbled with his mouth full.

                  Ning Xiaoren chuckled, "I told you, just call me Uncle Ning." Ning Zhou repeated it, "Uncle Ning."

                  "Good, from now on, let's address each other as uncle and nephew." Ning Xiaoren stood up.

                  "Eat well, eat until you're full. We'll practice later, so don't waste any spiritual stones. I heard you like mechanism arts, so I'll bring you some mechanism classics to read later."

                  Ning Zhou's face immediately lit up with joy, and he quickly stood up and thanked him.

                  Ning Xiaoren chuckled, waved his hand, and left the room.

                  Back in his study, his expression turned cold. Not being full at his own home was a first for him. He had to order another breakfast from the servants.

                  Ning Zhou looked at the classics.

                  These classics obviously came from the Ning family's secret library and were of much higher quality than those in the open library.

                  Ning Zhou appeared focused on the surface, but his mind was elsewhere.

                  If it were any other day, he would be thirsty for knowledge and wouldn't be able to put down these classics.

                  But now, he was well aware of his predicament.

                  Despite the kindness Ning Xiaoren showed him at this moment, the next moment he could turn hostile and throw Ning Zhou into a private cell.

                  Ning Zhou was walking a tightrope!

                  But he had no choice.

                  Yuan Dasheng's appearance forced him to get involved, and in a risky move, he eliminated this formidable enemy. He was on the brink of disaster.

                  Zhu Xuanji's early appearance and ongoing investigation brought immense pressure, forcing Ning Zhou to act quickly.

                  "When did my situation become so difficult?" Ning Zhou reflected back to when he decided to blow up that Immortal Palace!

                  As soon as he made that decision, it was like stepping onto a solitary boat, navigating through towering waves, needing to reach the other side to be safe.

                  If he made even a slight mistake or hesitated for a moment, the boat would be destroyed, and he would perish.

                  He couldn't turn back now.

                  As soon as the Immortal Palace was broken into by others, it would inevitably lead to an investigation into the bombing, exposing Ning Zhou as the true culprit.


                  He could only move forward, pushing through no matter how difficult it got, gritting his teeth and forging ahead!

                  "After a long night, Ning Xiaoren still treats me kindly, which means their investigation has yielded results."

                  "All of this is a defense I've woven since I was two years old. The roles I played and the evidence I manufactured are naturally scattered along my trajectory of growth."

                  "As long as they find these clues, they'll come to a reasonable explanation and realize my talent in mechanism arts."

                  "Even if they find the underground workshop, it doesn't matter. I've cleaned it up. And I've left behind plenty of modified blueprints for creating the Mechanism Fire Monkey, prototypes of failed mechanisms, and so on."

                  Although Ning Zhou was alone in his efforts, he had one advantage.

                  He had been preparing for this for over a decade, deliberately leaving behind many traces and clues during his growth.

                  These clues and information, when collected, formed intelligence.

                  And this intelligence was actually Ning Zhou's carefully prepared personal defense line—who would think that a two-year-old child had been acting all along?

                  As long as his early intelligence wasn't discovered, Ning Zhou could temporarily hold this line of defense.

                  Of course, Ning Zhou's love and obsession with mechanism arts were not feigned; they were genuine.

                  "Ning Zhuo, come out." Soon after, Ning Xiaohui's voice suddenly came from outside the room.
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                  Chapter 94: Attending the Banquet

                  Ning Zhou recognized Ning Xiaozong's voice, so he left the dining table and went to the courtyard, where he met his former classmate.

                  Ning Xiaohui and Ning Zhou were classmates at the academy. Ning Zhou performed decently in the academy, but nothing extraordinary.

                  In contrast, Ning Xiaozong, as a member of the main line, with her exceptional talent, always stood out, being the center of attention in the academy.

                  At this moment, Ning Xiaohui's expression was indifferent, her gaze cold as she scanned Ning Zhou who approached.

                  She was slightly surprised in her heart: She hadn't expected that a seemingly unremarkable former classmate would actually be quite good-looking.

                  Her eyes swept up and down.

                  "I really can't tell. You're actually the creator of the Mechanism Fire Monkey."

                  Ning Zhou chuckled awkwardly, feeling a bit embarrassed.

                  "Well, I feel like it was just a coincidence. If you ask me to create a new mechanism now, I'm afraid I won't be able to do it. I have no confidence."

                  "Yes," Ning Xiaohui also had access to all the information about Ning Zhou, including the many manuscripts and drawings discovered and replicated by the Ning family's investigative team in the underground workshop.

                  From these documents, Ning Xiaozong learned that Ning Zhou had been researching and developing the Mechanism Fire Monkey for at least five or six years from the inception of the idea.

                  This discovery significantly lowered her opinion of Ning Zhou.

                  Ning Zhou walked up to Ning Xiaohui. "May I ask why you called me out here?"

                  Ning Xiaohui frowned slightly, feeling that Ning Zhou was getting too close to her.

                  She took a small step back, her tone questioning.

                  "You actually gave this Mechanism Fire Monkey to an outsider. Why didn't you report it to the family first?"

                  Ning Zhou sighed and spread out his hands, his face showing frustration and innocence.

                  "I really wanted to tell the family. But at the time, my Mechanism Fire Monkey still had flaws that needed to be addressed. It wasn't complete!"

                  "I couldn't present it."

                  "I sought advice from Chen Cha at the time, to solve the design problems with the Mechanism Monkey. But unexpectedly, it was exposed like this, and it caught the eye of a certain big shot in the end."

                  "What could I do?"

                  "Fortunately, they paid me."

                  "Hmph, are you talking about Lord Fei Si?" Ning Xiaohui deliberately mentioned the name.

                  Ning Zhou immediately showed a surprised expression.

                  Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Ning Xiaozong's lips curled up slightly, and she sneered, "Ning Zhou, you're so short-sighted, only caring about money."

                  "You don't understand the importance of reputation. Fame comes before profit. With fame, comes profit."

                  "Fame is much more important than profit!"

                  "Creating the Mechanism Fire Monkey was such a great honor. Now, it has been taken away. Can money compensate for such a loss?"

                  "Is that so?" Ning Zhou scratched his head, looking naive and foolish.

                  Seeing Ning Zhou's foolish expression, Ning Xiaohui suddenly felt a sense of disgust, losing the desire to continue talking to him.

                  Taste ignorance, it was Ning Zhuo who easily saw through her disdainful and arrogant nature, effortlessly controlling her.

                  Ning Xiaozong turned and left, "I came to tell you that there's a small banquet tonight, and I'll take you there."

                  "Tidy up, don't embarrass our family." Ning Zhou was puzzled, "May I ask, what kind of banquet is it? Who will be there?"

                  Ning Xiaozong continued walking without looking back, "It's the people from the joint team this time, Zheng Jian, Zhou Zeshen, and Zhou Zhu."

                  "Dragons don't mix with snakes, just follow me and say less."

                  "Okay, got it." Ning Zhou quickly replied, "Oh wait, I also need to consult with the Junior Patriarch."

                  "Do as you please," Ning Xiaozong walked out of the backyard, her figure disappearing behind the door.

                  Ning Zhou's gaze was profound.

                  He only pretended to consult with the Junior Patriarch.

                  He already knew that since Ning Xiaohui was able to come all the way to the rear courtyard, she must have received Ning Xiaoren's approval.

                  "Ning Xiaohui is from the main line, and I'm just from the branch."

                  "My cultivation and mechanical skills have already posed a certain threat to Ning Xiaohui."

                  If it had been before, Ning Zhou would have been warned and suppressed long ago.

                  But now, with the three families united, relatively fair, and the Ning family in a competitive disadvantage, they also need Ning Zhou's personal contribution to support Ning Xiaozhi.

                  That's why he received special treatment.

                  "But Ning Xiaohui is not the accommodating type. In the future, as I continue to shine and show my talent, she will become an obstacle in my path."

                  "Only by removing this obstacle can I continue to move forward." Ning Zhou takes one step at a time, calculating three steps ahead.

                  As the saying goes, foresight prevents sorrow. He has already begun to consider how to remove Ning Xiaohui, this obstacle in his path.

                  After thinking for a while, he shook his head slightly, smiling bitterly in his heart. He couldn't think of a good solution.

                  Ning Zhou first reported to the Junior Patriarch, Ning Xiaoren, informing him about the banquet tonight.

                  Seeing Ning Zhou's obedient behavior, Ning Xiaoren was quite pleased and immediately agreed.

                  He also said that Ning Zhou's clothes were not suitable for the banquet and arranged for someone to tailor them.

                  As the Senior Patriarch, with great power and many servants, in the cultivation world, even making ordinary clothes was incredibly efficient.

                  By evening, the finished products were ready, and not just one set, but three.

                  Ning Xiaoren didn't miss this opportunity to show goodwill.

                  He was present throughout Ning Zhou's fitting, praising him repeatedly.

                  Finally, his eyes reddened, his tone choked up, "If only Brother Ning Zhong were still alive.

                  Seeing how you've grown now, he would be so proud.

                  You're truly talented.

                  He would be very pleased."

                  Ning Zhou hurriedly inquired about his father's condition.

                  Ning Xiaoren, unaware of it, coughed lightly, excusing himself by saying it was getting late and suggesting they could catch up another time.

                  In his mind, however, he was thinking about checking all the information on Ning Zhong to see where he could fabricate and disguise deep-seated camaraderie from the previous generation.

                  "Oh, by the way," Ning Xiaoren took out a money pouch and handed it to Ning Zhou. "I know you have a large sum, but please accept this pocket money as a token of my goodwill."

                  Ning Xiaoren's gesture was deliberate and slow.

                  Ning Zhou's eyes lit up, and he quickly reached out his hands to take the pouch. His movement was so smooth that it even startled Ning Xiaoren for a moment.

                  "Thank you, Uncle Ning!" Ning Zhou's gratitude was more straightforward than ever before.

                  Then he added, "Uncle Ning, I don't really have a huge sum of money! I've never thought of myself as wealthy. In fact, I don't have much at all. Besides, can one ever have too much money? Thank you again, Uncle Ning."

                  Ning Zhou expressed his gratitude once more. Ning Xiaoren couldn't help but clear his throat and said, "Alright, I'm glad you accepted it."

                  Ning Zhou, who was inspecting the money pouch, felt somewhat conflicted.

                  On one hand, Ning Zhou's attitude towards money was like Ning Xiaoren's own inner voice speaking out. This was true understanding!

                  But this kind of understanding... well, it was better to avoid it. Especially since Ning Zhou was taking money from Ning Xiaoren.

                  On the other hand, it was perfectly reasonable! Ning Xiaoren thought about the various pieces of information he had seen.

                  Ning Zhou had a tough childhood; he was mistreated by Ning Gui and Wang Lan and hardly had any pocket money.

                  Ning Xiaojun, on the other hand, lived a life of luxury, with plenty to spend on. Ning Zhou was tight on cash and often had to work part-time after school.

                  With this upbringing, Ning Zhou's desire for money must have been very strong.

                  So, it wasn't surprising at all that Ning Zhou agreed to transfer the credit for creating the Explosive Monkey to Chen Cha and enjoy huge profits himself.

                  Leaving Ning Zhou, Ning Xiaoren was quite satisfied. Because he realized that Ning Zhou wasn't difficult to win over!

                  To win someone over, it was actually very simple—just appeal to their interests! "Ning Zhou's first interest is mechanical arts.

                  The second one is money." "Hmm, I should use mechanical arts literature to win him over."

                  Because Ning Xiaoren himself also greatly valued money. Night fell.

                  The carriage stopped, and Ning Zhou jumped out first. Then, Ning Xiaozi stepped down from the carriage, stepping on the back of a servant.

                  "Ning Zhou, your status has changed now, so you must be mindful of your every move,"

                  Ning Xiaohui frowned. "Casually jumping out of the carriage with such a frivolous gesture is not becoming of a member of our prestigious family."

                  "Oh, okay," Ning Zhou quickly agreed to heed this advice.

                  Along the way, he looked around, as if he had never been here before. Everything seemed quite fresh to him. Ning Xiaohui's frown deepened.

                  "Stay close to me," Ning Zhou hurriedly complied.

                  Ning Xiaopeng added, "But not too close, keep your distance."

                  Ning Zhou responded, "Oh, okay." "Welcome, welcome,"

                  Zheng Jian personally stood at the door of the private room to greet them. This small banquet was hosted by him.

                  Ning Xiaoxin and Ning Zhou entered the private room and found that Zhou Zeshen and Zhou Zhu had already arrived.

                  The few of them gathered with smiles on their faces.

                  Just this experience alone made Ning Zhou feel somewhat curious because he had never seen these geniuses smile and converse with such warmth and friendliness before.

                  The dishes on the banquet table were naturally exquisite.

                  Ning Zhou's eyes sparkled as he kept his gaze fixed on the table, and he used his chopsticks more than anyone else. Zheng Jian and the others paid close attention to Ning Zhou.

                  They were somewhat familiar with Ning Xiaohui, but they lacked sufficient knowledge about Ning Zhou, who suddenly appeared.

                  Although both of their families conducted thorough investigations and had intelligence comparable to the Ning family's, often, what was needed most was face-to-face probing and understanding.

                  Seeing Ning Zhou trying to suppress himself, appearing indifferent but unable to resist eating and drinking, everyone gradually formed a picture of Ning Zhou in their minds based on the intelligence they had gathered—a talented member of the family's lower ranks, a former insignificant figure, who by chance entered the upper echelons.

                  At the beginning of his adaptation, every move he made seemed out of place. Every glance around revealed his humble past.

                  During the meal, Zheng Jian and the others naturally discussed the Lava Immortal Palace. Zheng Jian raised his glass to Ning Xiaopeng and said, "We must thank the Ning family for providing the talismans that prevented us from being soul-snatched by the Immortal Palace."

                  "Since our three families have formed an alliance, and all of us here have reached the peak of the third level of Qi refining, we can release the seals together and explore the palace together."

                  "I believe that if we join forces, we can overcome the current difficulties."

                  Ning Zhou listened intently, his face showing a serious expression. His tone was impassioned and his expression was excited as he said, "That's right, together we can surely break through all obstacles and make great strides forward!"

                  Zheng Jian: …

                  Zhou Zhu: …

                  For a moment, a rare silence fell over the small banquet.
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                  Eaon
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                  Chapter 95: Could Ning Zhuo Have Talent?!

                  “What’s wrong with you all?” Ning Zhuo asked with a puzzled look, as if sensing something off about the atmosphere.

                  Zheng Jian forced a smile and said, “Brother Ning Zhuo, you seem to have underestimated the situation.”

                  Zhou Zhu nodded, “That’s right.”

                  Ning Xiaozhi snorted coldly, “The Lava Immortal Palace was one of the residences of the three sects’ immortals in the past. It’s not to be taken lightly. These immortals were Void Refinement experts, and the trials they left behind are anything but easy.”

                  “Your fighting spirit is commendable, but you’re like a frog in a well, oblivious to the vast sky above. Don’t speak so recklessly in the future.”

                  Ning Pi gasped and quickly nodded in agreement, “Oh, oh.” He had been observing their expressions and behaviors closely.

                  He said this to provoke Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu, hoping to glean their families' future plans.

                  Unexpectedly, his reminder resurfaced painful memories, dealing a heavy blow to Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu.

                  Zheng Jian smiled bitterly, “The trials of the three sects’ immortals are extremely difficult. Don’t laugh at us, Brother Ning Zhuo. We couldn’t even pass the first checkpoint.”

                  “Ah?” Ning Zhuo’s eyes widened in surprise.

                  Among all present, Zheng Jian was the oldest. His straightforward nature made him openly share their dismal results without any concealment.

                  In fact, Ning Zhuo was bound to enter the Immortal Palace soon and would discover the truth, so there was no need to hide it from him.

                  “What exactly is the first checkpoint that could stump you and Brother Zhou Zhu?” Ning Zhuo couldn’t help but ask.

                  Ning Xiaohui chuckled softly, thinking, “Zheng Jian’s words are still quite mild. In reality, they haven’t even seen the full extent of the first checkpoint.” She had never entered the Immortal Palace, not even once.

                  Partly because she hadn’t been at the peak of the third layer for long, and partly because she was always protected by talismans, immune to soul extraction.

                  The Ning family, after obtaining intelligence from the other two families, concluded that Ning Xiaohui entering the palace wouldn’t make much difference, so they kept her in reserve, waiting for the right moment.

                  Because of this, Ning Xiaohui hadn’t tasted failure and had no empathy for Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu.

                  Seeing that Ning Zhuo was about to ask more questions, Zhou Zesheng quickly clapped his hands, interrupting him, “Everyone, just eating and drinking is getting dull.”

                  “Our Zhou family recently recruited a mechanical cultivator named Chu Xiaoyao, who is quite talented.”

                  “Brother Zheng, she has also accompanied us to this banquet and is currently waiting in the main hall.”

                  “How about inviting her to set up a little performance for everyone’s entertainment?”

                  Zheng Jian gave Zhou Zesheng a long, deep look before nodding, “Since Brother Zhou is so thoughtful, I’m more than happy to oblige. Please, bring in the talented Chu Xiaoyao.”

                  A moment later, Chu Xiaoyao entered, greeted everyone present, and bowed in respect.

                  She was a female cultivator, with above-average looks and a captivating aura. Her eyebrows drooped slightly, giving her an expression of sorrow, and her particularly slender waist and willowy frame made her look delicate and pitiful.

                  Although she was at the Foundation Establishment stage, she displayed a very humble attitude towards the Qi Refinement stage cultivators present. In the world of cultivation, strength is respected. However, in this context, her behavior was not surprising.

                  Firstly, the difference in combat power between the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement stages is not particularly vast; there are many situations where the gap can be bridged. Secondly, this was the righteous path, not the brutal jungle of demonic cultivation.

                  A significant part of Chu Xiaoyao’s respectful demeanor was due to the talents of Zheng Jian and the others. Cultivators with spiritual roots can cultivate. In ancient times, those with spiritual roots were very rare, so merely having spiritual roots was enough to command respect. As time progressed and more cultivators emerged, the pursuit of excellent spiritual roots began. Today, with spiritual energy becoming increasingly abundant, spiritual roots are no longer highly regarded; it is talent that is esteemed.

                  Chu Xiaoyao had only celestial roots and no exceptional talent. Given time, her cultivation level would be easily surpassed by Zheng Jian and the others. Thus, her respect was fundamentally still based on the principle that strength commands respect. Those present would become strong in the future. This is similar to how some sects immediately take in promising talent as personal disciples. Even if they are only at the Qi Refinement stage, they hold an elder-like status and receive the respect of the entire sect.

                  Ning Xiaozhi was curious, “Senior Chu, I’ve heard of your reputation. Our Ning family once offered a substantial amount to hire you. At that time, you refused, stating that you disliked constraints and valued your freedom. I’m quite curious to know what made you change your mind and join the Zhou family.”

                  Chu Xiaoyao sighed, “It’s all because of Zhu Xuanji.”

                  As it turned out, Chu Xiaoyao, being at the Foundation Establishment stage and skilled in mechanical arts, met the standards of the Immortal Palace, allowing her to enter and compete for inheritance rights. She had indeed entered the Immortal Palace, been injured, and also gained some benefits.

                  Zhu Xuanji, during the Fire Persimmon Festival, failed to catch the shadow demon cultivator. Although he still had some leads, he believed these might be traps deliberately left by the real culprit. Zhu Xuanji then gathered all the records from the four major forces of Fire Persimmon City and compiled a list of suspects. He started investigating from the top of the list.

                  Li Leifeng was the first person he checked. Next was Zhao Die, who was killed by Zhu Xuanji for resisting.

                  Chu Xiaoyao knew she was undoubtedly on this list. Not wanting to leave Fire Persimmon City and still hoping for another chance to enter the Immortal Palace, she decided to temporarily seek refuge with the Zhou family.

                  Why did she make this choice? She mainly considered two factors.

                  First, it definitely couldn't be the City Lord's Mansion. The City Lord's Mansion is under the jurisdiction of the Nandou Dynasty, which is already a form of subjugation. If Chu Xiaoyao joined them, there would be no reason to resist Zhu Xuanji's stringent investigation.

                  Second, the conditions of the three major families are much more lenient and far more tempting than those of the City Lord's Mansion. Even if Zhu Xuanji came to trouble her, the three major families might not be able to resist him directly, but they could still provide some degree of protection. At the very least, they could secretly release information, allowing Chu Xiaoyao to escape on her own.

                  The three major families, rooted in Fire Persimmon City, highly value maintaining their family honor.

                  After considering everything, Chu Xiaoyao chose the most powerful of the three major families—the Zhou family.

                  Ning Zhuo’s eyes flashed slightly.

                  He had gained attention, participated in the small banquet, and obtained the first valuable piece of information of the night.

                  “Zhu Xuanji’s actions have led cultivators to start banding together, huh?”

                  “Some cultivators with relatively clean backgrounds would likely choose to attach themselves to one of the four major forces. But there must be some demonic cultivators who don’t get accepted. They either flee far away or band together. There will hardly be any fools who continue to act alone.”

                  “Zhu Xuanji is investigating suspicious individuals one by one. I wonder if my mother is on that list?” Ning Zhuo felt the pressure again.

                  Chu Xiaoyao patted her storage bag and released a mechanical wooden box.

                  The box was square and solid. After it landed on the ground, it quickly disassembled, gradually forming a rectangular maze board.

                  Ning Zhuo immediately recognized that this board was modeled after the second room.

                  Although Zhou Zhu and Zheng Jian had both fallen to the heavy hammer at the door, they had seen the appearance and layout of the second room when the door opened.

                  After dying numerous times, they were able to collect some valuable intelligence.

                  After laying out the maze board, Chu Xiaoyao took out the game pieces and distributed them to Zheng Jian and the others.

                  The game pieces were small mechanisms resembling wheels, complete with spokes and an axle.

                  “Isn’t this a miniature version of a Yilun?” Zheng Jian observed the piece and commented.

                  Chu Xiaoyao nodded, “Yes, this is a Yilun.”

                  A Yilun is a kind of mechanical toy often favored by young cultivators. Children would channel their very limited bit of magical power into the Yilun, making the wheel move on its own. They would then compare whose wheel rolled the farthest.

                  The name “Yilun” came from the fact that the cultivator who invented it was weak and often got eliminated in the first round of competitions held by families, sects, and the state.

                  Chu Xiaoyao continued, “But the Yilun I modified can not only absorb magical power but also store a certain amount of divine sense. What we need to do is infuse it with magical power and divine sense, then put the piece into the maze board and see whose Yilun can travel the farthest.”

                  Zheng Jian, being highly proactive, immediately threw his piece into the maze as soon as Chu Xiaoyao finished speaking.

                  His Yilun moved swiftly through the maze, turning multiple times before finally stopping after hitting a barrier.

                  “Interesting,” Zheng Jian’s eyes shone brightly as he concluded, “Magical power and divine sense must be abundant and coordinated. Therefore, every step must be calculated precisely. Otherwise, any small mistake in coordination will quickly accumulate, magnify, and affect each other, leading to failure.”

                  Chu Xiaoyao smiled softly and immediately complimented Zheng Jian for his sharp insight and pinpoint accuracy.

                  After Zheng Jian, Zhou Zesheng, Zhou Zhu, and Ning Xiaohui took their turns.

                  Zhou Zhu's piece traveled the shortest distance. Although Zhou Zesheng had a lower cultivation level, his piece covered the longest distance.

                  Ning Xiaohui's Yilun moved elegantly and cleverly, covering a distance second only to Zhou Zesheng's.

                  "It's Brother Ning Zhuo's turn," Zhou Zesheng said with a smile.

                  All eyes turned to Ning Zhuo. Although Zhou Zesheng framed this as entertainment, it was essentially a test. In the world of cultivation, individual excellence is highly valued.

                  Undoubtedly, this joint test was setting the stage for the next phase of internal competition among the three families, focusing on those present at the banquet.

                  While the participants were mostly familiar with each other, Ning Zhuo was a dark horse. Despite the intelligence gathered about him, he remained the most enigmatic.

                  Ning Zhuo seemed oblivious to the covert and overt attention of the others. After throwing his piece, he followed its movements closely, his face showing nervous anticipation.

                  The Yilun navigated various obstacles, moving neither as swiftly as Ning Xiaohui's nor as precisely as Zhou Zesheng's, but it reached the farthest distance, setting an unprecedented record.

                  "How could this be?" Zhou Zhu was astonished.

                  Zheng Jian and Zhou Zesheng both looked at Ning Zhuo.

                  Even Ning Xiaohui was surprised, reassessing Ning Zhuo.

                  Chu Xiaoyao's eyes sparkled with understanding: "It's divine sense."

                  "This young master of the Ning family has an exceptionally abundant divine sense, unusual for a Qi Refinement cultivator. Therefore, he can maintain control over the Yilun for an extended period."

                  "Additionally, his minimal use of magical power maximized the coordination time between divine sense and magical power, achieving the best result."

                  Ning Zhuo scratched his head, "It seems so. My divine sense appears to be more abundant than my peers."

                  "Could it be... talent!?" For a moment, the same question crossed everyone's minds.
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                  Eaon
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                  Chapter 96: Illusory True Lotus Seed

                  Lava Immortal Palace.
                  Room One.
                  Puppet parts moved in sequence, assembling into several humanoid figures.

                  Soon, the puppets of Zhou Zhu, Zheng Jian, Ning Xiaohui, and Ning Zhuo gathered together. The group sized each other up.

                  Zhou Zhu was tall and burly, Zheng Jian was surrounded by several wooden hooks, and 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 exclaimed.

                  Zheng Jian nodded slightly, "Looking at it this way, you really do have hidden talent."

                  Having died so many times, Zhou Zhu and Zheng Jian had gradually learned many things, including the secrets related to puppet forms and talent.

                  Zhou Zhu asked, "What kind of talent makes one's head big?"

                  Ning Xiaohui replied calmly, though filled with amazement, "Many. For example, Divine Platform, Talented Scholar, Deeply Rooted Wisdom, Flying Thoughts, Divine Insight..." She couldn't help but be surprised; she didn't expect Ning Zhuo to actually possess talent! Moreover, this talent was highly compatible with mechanical arts.

                  Ning Zhuo's abundant divine sense, when evolved into divine consciousness at the Foundation Establishment stage, would make it easier to control beasts, manipulate insects, command souls, and control Dao soldiers, zombie puppets, and more. This naturally included various types of mechanical constructs.

                  "Is that so? My head is indeed a size bigger than yours," Ning Zhuo said as he looked around at everyone, touching his large head with a tone of delight.

                  Since the banquet, where Ning Zhuo had slightly showcased his divine sense advantage, he had successfully piqued the curiosity of the others.

                  Ning Zhuo's divine sense was astoundingly abundant, indicating a high likelihood of related talent. However, testing talent was quite challenging. Many rare and ancient talents were not easily identifiable.

                  Zhou Zesheng came up with a good idea, "We can enter the Immortal Palace with our souls."

                  "Based on our understanding of the Immortal Palace, our puppet bodies reflect our talents, each with unique phenomena. If Brother Ning truly has talent, it should be evident here. The Lava Immortal Palace was the residence of the three sects' immortals; it should have no problem testing talent!"

                  Everyone agreed enthusiastically and decided to adjourn, return home, and then arrange a time to enter the Immortal Palace with their souls simultaneously.

                  Now, everyone surrounded Ning Zhuo, scrutinizing his large head. Ning Zhuo had to demonstrate his talent in this aspect.

                  There was no other way.

                  As long as he entered the Immortal Palace with his soul, his large head would inevitably attract attention. This characteristic was too obvious!

                  When more and more people enter the Immortal Palace with their souls in the future, the distinctive features of the puppets with anomalies will stand out even more. Therefore, it was better for Ning Zhuo to proactively expose it in advance, making it easier for him to influence others' thoughts.

                  Fortunately, there are many talents that can result in the large head characteristic. Some talents require rigorous testing methods and a lot of resources to be confirmed.

                  Forcing Ning Zhuo to reveal this talent wasn't easy.

                  "This way, the Ning family also has two talents, just like our Zhou family," Zhou Zhu thought with a sigh.

                  Zheng Jian felt even more troubled. In the Zheng family, he was the only talent. The other two families each had two talents. If this trend continued, the Zheng family would lag behind for a long time.

                  Zheng Jian quickly spoke up, "Now that our three families are united, Brother Ning showing his talent is a great thing! After all, our enemy is Meng Chong. He has celestial talent. Even with Zhou Zesheng, we still struggle to deal with him."

                  Zheng Jian emphasized their opponent's strength to foster unity among the three families.

                  Zhou Zhu agreed, "Indeed, we've seen it. When Meng Chong opened the door, he moved like lightning, twisting and turning, passing through the second room in an instant and entering the third room. His progress in the Immortal Palace is far ahead of ours."

                  Ning Xiaohui snorted, unwilling to overly praise others, "But didn't Meng Chong recently faint? This shows that the later stages of the Immortal Palace inheritance are getting harder, even Meng Chong couldn't withstand it."

                  Ning Zhuo nodded, "Celestial talent is indeed strong! We should choose our rewards first, then proceed."

                  "Agreed," Zhou Zhu nodded.

                  The four of them touched the door in turn and selected their rewards.

                  Zheng Jian was about to guide Ning Zhuo on how to use the suspension ring when he saw Ning Zhuo tilt his head, think for a moment, and then exclaim, "Ah, so that's how it works. I get it." Saying this, Ning Zhuo shot the colored drill, which firmly embedded itself in the wall.

                  Zheng Jian felt a slight discomfort; Ning Zhuo's quick understanding surpassed his own.

                  "Did he already get hold of the information we accumulated?" Zheng Jian wondered.

                  "Let me teach you, it's like this," Ning Zhuo said, seeing Ning Xiaohui still figuring it out, he offered help.

                  Ning Xiaohui snorted, "No need!"

                  Just as she spoke, she successfully fired the colored drill as well.

                  Ning Xiaohui's mood, however, was not good. She thought, "I could quickly figure it out because of the shared information from the Zhou and Zheng families. Ning Zhuo didn't have access to any of that..."

                  Zhou Zhu only pushed the door open a tiny crack.

                  "If it were any wider, a war spear would shoot through the gap," Zhou Zhu said, sounding very experienced. "This is the maximum safe opening distance; I'm certain of it!"

                  Zheng Jian sighed softly, "When we first came in to explore, this mechanism wasn't here. As we've explored more, the difficulty of the Immortal Palace's trials has increased."

                  Ning Zhuo nodded, "I see."

                  Zhou Zhu continued, "Once the door is open, our feet will be bound, and then we'll be smashed to pieces by the heavy hammer. If we try to rush through quickly, we'll be caught by a net, dragged back, and smashed by the hammer again."

                  "If we walk along the edge, countless sharp spears will extend from the walls to pierce us, or they’ll push us into the middle to be smashed by the hammer."

                  Ning Xiaohui became increasingly serious after hearing this.

                  But Ning Zhuo suddenly said, "I might have a way to try."

                  "Before that, I want to ask, can we use the other mechanism parts in the room?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

                  Zheng Jian shook his head, "No, we can't use them."

                  "Oh, in that case, the only things I can use are you. Please disassemble yourselves first," Ning Zhuo said.

                  "What?" Zhou Zhu was stunned.

                  "Do you really have a solution?" Zheng Jian asked.

                  "Of course I do, but I can't guarantee it will work," Ning Zhuo replied.

                  Zheng Jian smiled, "No matter what the solution is, we should try it. What exactly is your plan?"

                  Ning Zhuo revealed his plan.

                  Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu were immediately taken aback, while Ning Xiaohui stepped back three steps, shaking her head vigorously and refusing, "No, I don't want to do that!"

                  Moments later, a giant puppet with four heads, eight arms, and eight legs forcefully pushed the door open.

                  The massive figure stood firmly in the middle of the passageway. When the mechanism was triggered, it used one of its limbs as a shield to block the incoming war spears.

                  Then, it raised its eight arms high and caught the heavy hammer just as it was about to fall. The hammer, unable to gather enough momentum, was deflected to the side by the giant puppet's interference, though this action caused three of the puppet’s arms to break under the strain.

                  "We did it! We succeeded!" Zhou Zhu's head exclaimed joyfully.

                  Zheng Jian's head was deep in thought, "It’s clear now, the three sects’ immortals indeed intended to encourage our cooperation. This painstaking effort is very much in line with their style."

                  "Hey, what are you all dawdling for? Hurry up and disassemble us!" Ning Xiaohui's head couldn't take it anymore.

                  Her head was placed under an arm, and every time the arm moved, it squeezed her forehead, making her very uncomfortable.

                  "Oh, I'll disassemble us right away," Ning Zhuo quickly said.

                  "Thinking about having to pass through the first door like this every time makes me feel awful," Ning Xiaohui complained.

                  Zheng Jian replied, "As long as it works, it’s a good method."

                  Zhou Zhu added, "Yeah, Miss Ning, your head is just under an arm. My head was in the crotch, and did you hear me complain?"

                  "Sorry, sorry. Next time, I'll switch places and let Brother Zheng be down there," Ning Zhuo said.

                  Zheng Jian made a sound of hesitation, "Actually, we can discuss this further."

                  Ning Xiaohui screamed, "In any case, I will never use this method to pass in front of others!"

                  Moments later, everyone returned to their original forms.

                  Ning Xiaohui’s arms were broken, and Zhou Zhu's body was riddled with holes from the war spears. Zheng Jian and Ning Zhuo's puppet bodies, however, remained relatively intact.

                  "Brother Ning, well done! You've truly impressed me," Zheng Jian said excitedly, patting Ning Zhuo on the shoulder.

                  Zhou Zhu looked around with deep emotion. After so many attempts, he finally stood proudly and securely on the other side of the door! It was not an easy feat.

                  "All of this is thanks to him," Zhou Zhu's opinion of Ning Zhuo rose even higher.

                  Ning Xiaohui remained silent.

                  Ning Zhuo suggested, "Let's continue to the next level."

                  "Good! I want to see what the second challenge has in store," Zheng Jian laughed heartily.

                  Zhou Zhu added, "Brother Ning, you go last. We’ll go ahead and scout the way."

                  Ning Xiaohui did not object. Although they hadn't known each other long, Ning Zhuo's performance had already won over the others.

                  Soon after, Zheng Jian and the others fell into traps, their senses overwhelmed, lost in a boundless darkness, their cries for help unanswered.

                  These traps were all deliberately set by Ning Zhuo. He had anticipated this situation perfectly.

                  With no one able to observe him, he used spells and the suspension ring to easily pass through the second room. After all, he had personally set up most of the mechanisms and traps.

                  Entering the third room, Ning Zhuo immediately triggered a large number of kung fu puppets. He activated Ai Dasheng to guard him.

                  This time, he didn't even need to use spells and walked through the third room, arriving at the preparation room.

                  As he passed the leaderboard, he glanced up and sighed inwardly.

                  Here was a flaw. He had changed his name and was now at the top of the leaderboard! Ai Dasheng had dropped off the list, but if he entered the preparation room in front of others, the leaderboard would not display the name Ning Zhuo. This would certainly raise suspicion among the others.

                  "Fortunately, right now, Yuan Dasheng is guarding the third room. It's uncertain if Meng Chong can overcome this obstacle. But the combined exploration team of the three families, lacking the lightning-fast speed, will find it very challenging."
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                  Chapter 97: Everyone Knows You're Innocent

                  Ning Zhuo's pace gradually quickened.

                  Taking Yuan Dasheng to explore the Immortal Palace carried its risks, especially since Meng Chong might enter at any moment. Without Ai Dasheng to hold back enemies in the third room, Meng Chong could easily reach the preparation room.

                  "I hope Meng Chong remains unconscious for a while longer, giving me as much time to explore as possible!" Thinking this, Ning Zhuo suddenly had an epiphany related to the theory of fate, gaining many new insights.

                  "The Lava Immortal Palace is like an arena, with Meng Chong and me in the ring. Even if we're not face to face, our fates are entangled and we compete with each other."

                  "I've gained an advantage by setting up traps to hinder Meng Chong, which puts me ahead. But he thrives under pressure, rapidly improving through special training."

                  "When I faced a crisis and had to change my name, I designed Han Ming. Yet, Meng Chong suddenly appeared at the Ziyang Villa, defeating Han Ming."

                  "If he had been more decisive or pursued relentlessly and killed Han Ming, I would have been out of options. Failing to change my name would have meant being indirectly defeated by Meng Chong."

                  "Recently, I narrowly eliminated Yuan Dasheng, boosting my fate, as Han Ming said."

                  "So, I used Yuan Dasheng to defeat Meng Chong, leaving him unconscious. Once again, I've suppressed him."

                  "But when he returns, what kind of powerful form and progress will he exhibit?"

                  As Ning Zhuo reflected, he arrived at the three doors once again.

                  "These three doors are also a flaw."

                  "Zhu Xuanji once witnessed Yuan Dasheng using the Demonic Blood Veins Technique. Even if it was brief, the aura was already exposed."

                  "In the future, if someone masters this technique, Zhu Xuanji will certainly notice the connection and suspect Yuan Dasheng's death anew."

                  "New suspicions will lead to new investigations."

                  "And such investigations are extremely dangerous for me."

                  "Ah, if only I could conceal this door."

                  Ning Zhuo had already tried this before. Unfortunately, even with his utmost effort using the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, he couldn't make the stone wall rise again to seal the demonic door.

                  "The urgent task is to seize every moment and opportunity to explore fully." Ning Zhuo needed to race against both Meng Chong and Zhu Xuanji.

                  "This time, I will first break through the Buddha's door!" Ning Zhuo was determined.

                  Primarily because the Golden Blood Battle Ape - Dasheng was highly advantageous for exploring the Buddha's door.

                  However, Ning Zhuo first opened the demonic door.

                  After a brief attempt at exploring the demonic door, he stopped. His main goal was to gather the blood energy within.

                  He didn't keep any of the blood energy for himself, directly infusing it into Ai Dasheng.

                  In an instant, the red muscles on Yuan Dasheng's body began to emit a dark red glow, filled with demonic energy, exuding a domineering and fierce aura.

                  The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, which had been keeping an eye on Ning Zhuo, saw this scene and was so angry that fire spewed from its nostrils.

                  Normal competitors, unable to retreat, would have to choose one of the three paths and face death head-on. But Ning Zhuo, relying on the Buddha Heart Demon Seal to cheat, managed to retreat from the challenge.

                  This retreat significantly enhanced Yuan Dasheng!

                  Protecting Ning Zhuo, he slaughtered his way through the Buddha's door's checkpoints, unmatched and invincible.

                  "As I expected, Yuan Dasheng had very high Essence Refinement in life, and the level of the Demonic Blood Veins Technique was likely very advanced. Using his entire body and soul as the main material, the resulting spirituality has a deep imprint of his past actions. Therefore, when using blood energy, he can even create large patches of blood veins."

                  Ning Zhuo, having fought his way through the three checkpoints of the Buddha's door, stood before the door once again.

                  "What kind of reward will there be this time?" He had a hunch the reward would be valuable because there was no reward for passing the second checkpoint of the Buddha's door.

                  As expected, when Ning Zhuo touched the door, he immediately received information.

                  The numerous options made him momentarily dizzy.

                  His first thought was, "Can I keep retreating and collect all these rewards?" "Choose one first and verify it. What should I choose?"

                  After some research, Ning Zhuo found that most options were spells or mechanical blueprints. The only unique option was an Illusory True Lotus Seed.

                  "What is an Illusory True Lotus Seed?" Ning Zhuo wondered.

                  The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, eager and impatient, began to explain, "The Illusory True Lotus Seed imprints the essence of a certain divine power. Once planted, it assists the cultivator in fully comprehending the divine power. It is extremely rare and precious, with a very limited supply..."

                  Snap, snap, snap. The fire whip lashed out wildly.

                  But the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, gritting its teeth, endured the beating and stopped speaking further.

                  Unable to hear the rest, Ning Zhuo instinctively believed that was all the information.

                  "A limited supply, extremely precious! Then I’ll choose it."

                  After selecting it, an illusion of a lotus seed immediately traveled through the door and reached the deepest part of Ning Zhuo's upper dantian divine sea.

                  "Is that it? What happens next?"

                  Ning Zhuo stood still for a moment, dumbfounded.

                  Once the Illusory True Lotus Seed was planted, it almost disappeared, and even Ning Zhuo found it difficult to locate.

                  He tried various methods, all of which failed.

                  "Perhaps, I need to return to my physical body to access it," Ning Zhuo speculated, hopeful.

                  Little did he know, in the main hall of the Lava Immortal Palace, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was laughing so hard it lay down, using its dragon claws to pound on its shell, laughing heartily!

                  Finally, it had managed to deceive Ning Zhuo once.

                  Though the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit felt the pain from the lashes, it was inwardly delighted!

                  What it had withheld was that while the Illusory True Lotus Seed is precious, the chance for a cultivator to comprehend divine abilities from it is extremely low. Many Golden Core cultivators had planted Illusory True Lotus Seeds but failed to comprehend anything. This is because the essence imprinted in these seeds all comes from one source—Life's Hanging Thread!

                  From the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's perspective, for Ning Zhuo, still at the Qi Refinement stage, to try and comprehend it was pure fantasy!

                  Ning Zhuo pushed through the door and entered another hall, facing the new Buddha, Dao, and Demonic doors.

                  He first tried to use the Buddha Heart Demon Seal to retreat but was shocked to find the door very difficult to open.

                  He couldn't help but feel uneasy, "Could it be that at this stage, the influence of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal is no longer enough?"

                  The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, watching this, felt increasingly at ease.

                  It knew the real reason—it's not that the Buddha Heart Demon Seal's influence was insufficient, but that Ning Zhuo, still at the Qi Refinement stage, could not draw much power from the seal. Reaching this point meant its influence on the doors was waning.

                  Unless Ning Zhuo's cultivation improved significantly, this wouldn't change anytime soon.

                  After paying a great price, Ning Zhuo managed to retreat successfully, returning to his previous position.

                  He touched the door again, found he could choose another reward, and selected a spell.

                  Ning Zhuo opened the door again, entered the hall, but did not continue retreating. The cost was too great!

                  He tried contacting the Buddha, Dao, and Demonic doors.

                  He found the mechanisms of the three doors were generally the same as before.

                  When he touched the doors, he obtained the fourth to sixth levels of each door's techniques.

                  "Finally, I can continue cultivating. These techniques came just in time!"

                  Ning Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief. Although he had suspected it, he only truly relaxed when his suspicions were confirmed by reality.

                  After another round of exploration, with no new discoveries, Ning Zhuo retreated again, selected another reward, and returned the way he came.

                  He went back to the third room and left Yuan Dasheng there.

                  Then he returned to the second room and found the others still trapped, unaware of the outside world.

                  Ning Zhuo then jumped into a trap pit and waited quietly.

                  After the others' souls were exhausted and they were sent back to their bodies, he waited a bit longer before using the Trial Disciple Mark to easily return to his body.

                  Two days later...

                  Ning Xiaoren brought Ning Zhuo into his study.

                  As they entered, Ning Zhuo noticed that Ning Ze had been struck on the head with an inkstone, causing blood to stream down his face, and he was now kneeling on the floor.

                  With a pained expression, Ning Xiaoren said to Ning Zhuo, "At first, I couldn't believe it until the evidence was placed right before my eyes, until I confirmed it personally with your uncle. Nephew Ning Zhuo, I never imagined, I never imagined that your uncle could be so disgraceful! He actually embezzled the cultivation funds I secretly sent you every year!!"

                  Ning Zhuo's eyes widened in disbelief, and anger flashed across his face.

                  "Uncle, is this true?!" Ning Zhuo shouted at Ning Ze.

                  Ning Ze's body trembled as he slowly lifted his head to look at Ning Zhuo. His gaze was murky, and his face looked extremely grim, showing signs of severe torture.

                  Ning Ze stared at Ning Zhuo and then at Ning Xiaoren, whose eyes were filled with intense anger.

                  With a look of utter despair, Ning Ze took a deep breath and said heavily, "Yes, I did it."

                  Ning Zhuo's body swayed, and he couldn't help but step back, only to be supported by Ning Xiaoren.

                  Unable to bear such a blow, Ning Zhuo closed his eyes tightly, tears streaming down his face, plunging his vision into darkness.

                  He thought back to the past.

                  "Kneel down!" Ning Ze demanded harshly, holding a bamboo stick.

                  Young Ning Zhuo raised his head defiantly, "Why are you punishing me? I told you, it wasn't me, I really didn't do it!"

                  Smack.

                  The bamboo stick struck hard.

                  A red mark immediately appeared on Ning Zhuo's cheek, swelling up quickly.

                  Ning Zhuo stubbornly kept his head up.

                  Furious, Ning Ze swung the bamboo stick again.

                  Smack! Smack! Smack!

                  The blows struck Ning Zhuo's knees, forcing him to kneel.

                  "Uncle, why don't you believe me? I’m innocent, I didn’t do it. Boohoo..." Ning Zhuo raised his arm to wipe his tears.

                  "Still being stubborn!" Ning Ze threw down the bamboo stick and turned to leave, "Today, you’ll kneel here until you admit your mistake, only then can you have dinner!"

                  That time, Ning Zhuo knelt from dusk till dawn, eventually fainting.

                  The next morning, Wang Lan said to Ning Ze, "Husband, little Zhuo has a wild nature but he is honest. He has never lied to us."

                  "I think this misdeed might not be his doing."

                  Ning Ze snorted coldly, "Of course I know he is innocent."

                  "But what else could I do?"

                  "The father of the child who did the wrong thing is an elder in the War Hall," Ning Ze continued. "We can't afford to offend him!"

                  "If Ning Zhuo admits to the fault, the matter will be settled. Stubbornly resisting will only bring greater trouble!"

                  Wang Lan whispered, "Ah, so that's how it is. Husband, you did the right thing."

                  "A little grievance and being wronged is nothing for a child, after all."
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                  Brother Ning Zhuo, I'm over here!" Zheng Jian laughed heartily as he saw Ning Zhuo get off the carriage. After taking a few steps, he reached him.

                  Ning Zhuo quickly greeted him with a bow, "Brother Zheng."

                  "No need for such formalities!" Zheng Jian grabbed Ning Zhuo's arm to stop him from bowing further. "Come on, let's go to the second floor." Behind them, Ning Xiaohui stepped down slowly, using a servant's back as a step.

                  Seeing Zheng Jian holding Ning Zhuo's arm and ignoring her, a cold expression covered her face.

                  Since their successful exploration of the Immortal Palace, Ning Zhuo had demonstrated his value to the high-ranking members of the three families, causing his status to rise rapidly.

                  To better align with Ning Zhuo, Ning Xiaoren accelerated the fabrication of evidence to frame Ning Ze.

                  It's important to note that Ning Ze had served under Ning Xiaoren for many years, contributing significantly. Ning Xiaoren's actions made Ning Zhuo secretly despise and remain wary of him.

                  Ning Zhuo and Zheng Jian walked arm in arm into a courtyard.

                  The plaque above the gate read "Ciyou Garden" in large characters.

                  Ciyou Garden was bustling with people. They were all talking about a man named Li Leifeng.

                  Li Leifeng had finally passed away, and according to his will, Ciyou Garden had organized an inheritance meeting to distribute his belongings.

                  "I didn't expect Old Li to finally pass. I grew up watching his puppet shows," Zheng Jian sighed.

                  Ning Zhuo also sighed, "Old Li was a respectable man. Since taking charge of Ciyou Garden, he saved countless orphans and wanderers."

                  Zheng Jian patted Ning Zhuo on the back, "Old Li's was a joyful funeral, and he died of old age. Look at how many people came today; it shows his great reputation. His life was truly worthwhile!"

                  Ning Zhuo nodded slightly and fell silent.

                  Most of the crowd gathered in a five-story pavilion where the inheritance meeting was being held.

                  Ning Zhuo and the others entered the building.

                  The pavilion was built in a square shape.

                  Climbing the stairs to the second-floor private rooms, Ning Zhuo saw the Zhou brothers.

                  "Come, sit down."

                  "The food Ciyou Garden is serving this time has the same nostalgic taste. It brings back memories."

                  "Indeed, I remember enjoying puppet shows as a child. That room across was where I often went."

                  "When I was young, I loved to watch the shows from the railing."

                  Ning Zhuo remained silent, his gaze falling to a corner of the main hall.

                  As a child, he would often sneak in when the ticket collectors weren't paying attention. Hiding in a corner or behind a pillar, he could not only watch the shows but also, after the performances ended, pick up leftover cakes or fruits that the guests had left behind before the garden was cleaned up.


                  Ning Zhuo, despite his early intelligence, also had a playful side. His uncle and aunt treated him harshly, often making Ning Ji eat sweets in front of him without giving him a single piece. Young Ning Zhuo would get cravings too.

                  He remembered once being caught and feeling anxious when Li Leifeng approached, patted his head, held his hand, and led him backstage to give him untouched, clean cakes and fruits.

                  People passing by saw this and were not surprised at all, casting kind looks toward Ning Zhuo.

                  He couldn't recall the exact details of that time. In his memory, the whole experience was enveloped in a gentle atmosphere, and every time he thought about it, a warm feeling spread through his heart.

                  That's why when Li Leifeng passed away, almost the entire city came to mourn him. Most of the cultivators participating in this inheritance meeting were prominent figures.

                  "With Li Leifeng gone, what will become of Ciyou Garden?"

                  "Rumor has it that the next director hasn't been decided yet."

                  "I know the reason. Li Leifeng entrusted Zhu Xuanji to find a successor."

                  Zheng Jian and Zhou Zesheng casually exchanged valuable information.

                  Ning Zhuo silently noted this.

                  "By the way, how is your soul recovery going?"

                  "Almost healed."

                  "Me too."

                  "When should we explore the Lava Immortal Palace again?"

                  As they asked this, everyone instinctively looked at Ning Zhuo. Last time, it was Ning Zhuo's performance that had led to a significant breakthrough.

                  Ning Zhuo wasn't eager to go back. He had already obtained the cultivation techniques and had been diligently practicing lately.

                  Of course, the Five Elements Qi Regulation Technique and the Demonic Blood Veins Technique were not easy to cultivate. The aura of the fourth to sixth levels differed significantly from the first three levels.

                  But he could practice the Mirror Platform Communing Technique. The treasure seal suppressed and fully gathered all movements. This allowed Ning Zhuo to often appear to be daydreaming while secretly practicing the Divine Refinement Technique.

                  Ning Zhuo said, "I haven't come up with any new ideas yet. If we continue to explore the Immortal Palace, we might repeat our mistakes and fall into those dark traps again."

                  Everyone shuddered at the memory. Last time, falling into the trap left them in a state of utter helplessness, unable to see, hear, or touch anything. They had to endure until their soul power was exhausted, and they were finally ejected from the Immortal Palace.

                  This nightmarish experience made them reluctant to face it again.

                  "Have you not thought of any solution during this time?" Zheng Jian asked.

                  Ning Zhuo shook his head.

                  Zhou Zhu sighed.

                  Zhou Zesheng encouraged everyone, "I'm close to reaching the peak of the third level. Once I achieve it, let's set off together and explore the Lava Immortal Palace again." Everyone nodded, agreeing to the plan.

                  At this moment, the inheritance meeting officially began.

                  Various items that belonged to Li Leifeng during his lifetime were put on public display for people to choose from. Whoever selected an item could take it directly as a donation. Some lower-level cultivators were overjoyed with their choices, gaining significant rewards. Some families or powerful cultivators also took items, usually trivial ones, and often donated a large sum of spirit stones or resources to Ciyou Garden in return.

                  Zhou Zesheng suddenly exclaimed, extending his hand to form an invisible force that pulled a mechanical wooden board up to the second floor.

                  He took it, played with it for a moment, and then laughed, "Just as I thought."

                  "I remember when I was little, my father brought me here, and I wouldn't stop crying. Old Li took out this toy to cheer me up. This mechanical toy is very complex; you have to piece together every variation to get a bit of information. Ultimately, putting all the pieces together forms a divine legend."

                  Saying this, Zhou Zesheng handed the mechanical toy to Zheng Jian.

                  Zheng Jian played with it for a while but lost interest and passed it to the others.

                  Zhou Zhu took it, curiously asking, "Did you ever complete the legend?"

                  "Of course," Zhou Zesheng replied, "It took an entire day. The divine legend I got was only a part of it, which made me so frustrated. But I still copied the story onto a jade slip and carry it with me."

                  "Because of this experience, I gained a lot of patience. Whenever I feel impatient, I take out this jade slip and rub it a few times to quickly calm down." With that, Zhou Zesheng took out the jade slip and passed it around for everyone to see.

                  Ning Zhuo played with the mechanical wooden board and read the story on the jade slip.

                  The jade slip contained the following divine legend:

                  According to the legend, a Supreme Immortal Master was traversing the void and got tired. He took out a mixed cloth bag, held the mouth of the bag, and prepared to shake it fifty times. At forty-nine shakes, he was too exhausted to continue, so he released the bag's mouth, producing a mechanical world.

                  In the mechanical world, the heavens and earth were upside down, water and soil were mixed, and smoke and fire swirled. The Supreme Immortal Master then took out a Five Elements Staff, threw it into the mechanical world, and allowed the five elements to circulate, placing the sky above, the earth below, oceans in their places, and rivers running through, creating order.

                  The Supreme Immortal Master entered the mechanical world to rest. To have attendants, he used three puppet strings and flicked them three times.

                  The first flick hit celestial energy, creating celestial puppets.

                  The second flick hit demonic energy, forming demonic puppets.

                  The third flick hit divine energy, resulting in divine puppets.

                  The three puppets served the Supreme Immortal Master with utmost care.

                  The Supreme Immortal Master, having rested enough, prepared to continue his journey. Before closing the mechanical world, the three puppets begged to follow him.

                  The Supreme Immortal Master told them that it was not that he was unwilling, but that they couldn't follow. Forcibly taking them would only lead to their demise.

                  The three puppets did not believe him.

                  The Supreme Immortal Master pointed out the strings on their bodies.

                  The puppets were enlightened.

                  The celestial puppet saw strings of ideals, wisdom, freedom, and betrayal.

                  The demonic puppet saw strings of strength, chaos, and emotion.

                  The divine puppet saw strings of reason, order, and fairness.

                  In an instant, Ning Zhuo felt a deep resonance within his heart.

                  He suddenly thought of himself.

                  He thought of the historical books he had read, the various characters in those books, and his countless attempts to understand their thoughts and choices at critical moments.

                  As he grew older, he gradually realized that these individuals, regardless of their strength, had patterns to their actions.

                  He thought of Yuan Dasheng.

                  Despite his strength, Yuan Dasheng was firmly controlled by a string of loyalty. The reason Ning Zhuo could deceive him was that he grasped this string.

                  He then thought of his uncle Ning Ze and Ning Xiaoren; they, too, had strings on them.

                  He thought of Han Wu. Even as a demonic cultivator, he had a string of greed.

                  "If I can grasp these strings, I can control them like I control mechanisms. Isn't that so?"

                  "Then...

                  "Do I have a string on me?"

                  At this thought, Ning Zhuo felt an inexplicable chill.

                  He slowly raised his head.

                  Slowly, he raised his head.

                  In a daze, he saw it.

                  He saw a nearly invisible, enormous string. It was—Life's Hanging Thread!

                  At that moment, the Illusory True Lotus Seed in his divine sea quietly sprouted.

                  In the Lava Immortal Palace.

                  The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit awoke from its slumber, pressing its chest, puzzled by a sudden, inexplicable sense of fear.

                  The Life's Hanging Thread disappeared from Ning Zhuo's vision, no longer visible.

                  Ning Zhuo lowered his head, his face expressionless.

                  "Quite an interesting little story," Ning Zhuo said with a smile as he handed the jade slip back to Zhou Zesheng.

                  "It certainly has its charm," Zhou Zesheng replied casually as he took the jade slip.

                  Little did he know that his casual gesture would provide Ning Zhuo with such a significant opportunity!
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                  Chapter 99: Life’s Hanging Thread

                  Fire Persimmon City.

                  Zhu Xuanji stopped in front of a small house and gently pushed open the door.

                  In the next moment, dense shadows surged out like a tide, engulfing him.

                  The surging tide of shadows swallowed Zhu Xuanji and then spread back, sinking the entire alley into darkness.

                  In the darkness, a pair of golden pupils suddenly lit up.

                  They were Zhu Xuanji's golden eyes.

                  His eyes shone with divine light, piercing through the rolling shadows, revealing what was hidden, and directly confronting the demonic cultivator.

                  The demonic cultivator was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Despite being exposed, he did not panic. Instead, he sneered coldly and charged at Zhu Xuanji.

                  Bang.

                  In the thick shadows, the two exchanged a heavy blow.

                  Zhu Xuanji took a small step back while the demonic cultivator grunted and flew back into the shadows at an even faster speed.

                  Zhu Xuanji did not pursue but frowned, feeling something peculiar.

                  "As expected of Lord Zhu, easily seeing through my disguise." The demonic cultivator's voice came from all directions. "But can you see through what comes next?"

                  As soon as the words fell, countless "demonic puppets" flew out from the shadows, surrounding Zhu Xuanji.

                  Zhu Xuanji gathered his mana, repeatedly destroying the incoming "demonic puppets."

                  The "demonic puppets" fell and scattered into heaps.

                  They were all mechanical constructs.

                  Although these constructs were dismantled, they quickly reassembled in the shadows and continued attacking Zhu Xuanji.

                  Standing his ground, Zhu Xuanji let the numerous mechanical constructs from the shadows attack, his defense steady and unshakable.

                  In the shadows, the demonic cultivator felt things were going poorly and was about to retreat when he suddenly heard Zhu Xuanji say, "Liu Ying, isn't it a bit late to leave now?"

                  The demonic cultivator, Liu Ying, was terrified under Zhu Xuanji's golden gaze.

                  He frantically retreated, but Zhu Xuanji locked onto his true form and followed closely.

                  Boom, boom...

                  After several fierce exchanges, Liu Ying fell, unable to rise. His chest was broken, with fractured bones piercing his lungs, causing him to cough up blood with every breath, making it extremely difficult.

                  "Don't, don't kill me. I surrender!" Liu Ying saw Zhu Xuanji walking slowly towards him and quickly begged for mercy.

                  Zhu Xuanji said, "It seems you merely replaced puppet strings with shadows to control mechanical constructs."

                  Liu Ying was stunned, "Lord Zhu, could there be some misunderstanding?"

                  Zhu Xuanji shook his head, "Just to be safe."

                  "If you speak of misunderstandings, the hundreds of people who died by your hands wouldn't consider it one."

                  Liu Ying's pupils suddenly contracted, and shadows surged like a swarm of snakes, attacking Zhu Xuanji from behind. However, when they reached within three feet of Zhu Xuanji, the shadows melted away like snow.

                  Liu Ying's desperate attack failed. In his final moments, he shouted, "I don't understand! I'm just at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Even though I've been in and out of the Lava Immortal Palace, why did you, Lord Zhu, prioritize dealing with me?"

                  Zhu Xuanji did not answer.

                  In the next moment, Liu Ying died at Zhu Xuanji's hands.

                  "Fifth one." Zhu Xuanji took out a list and crossed off Liu Ying's name.

                  Despite Liu Ying's shadow escape technique, he was left with no place to hide under the scrutiny of Zhu Xuanji's golden eyes.

                  Zhu Xuanji had arranged the order of this list not by cultivation level, but by suspicion and threat.

                  Liu Ying's methods bore many similarities to those of the shadow demonic cultivator.

                  The crucial point was that, in Zhu Xuanji's mind, Liu Ying might have mastered the divine ability Life’s Hanging Thread. Although the possibility was slim, it was enough to place him fifth on the list!

                  Before setting off, Zhu Xuanji received a private audience with the ruler of Nandou, who revealed many secrets.

                  The Nandou monarch warned him, "Xuanji, on your trip to Fire Persimmon City, you must be cautious. The Three Sect Immortals left behind the divine ability Life’s Hanging Thread in the Lava Immortal Palace. This divine ability can control one's kind, and the more one understands them, the deeper the control."

                  "If a Foundation Establishment cultivator masters this divine ability, even a Golden Core cultivator would be in great danger. This is because the divine ability's control over others is deeply rooted in their fate."

                  Zhu Xuanji was astonished, "Can Life’s Hanging Thread extract another person's fate?"

                  "Not exactly," the Nandou monarch slightly shook his head, his voice clear. "But Life’s Hanging Thread can cause fates to overlap and add up without internal conflict or mutual loss. Once a cultivator masters this divine ability, they can massively entangle others, linking and binding their own fate with others'."

                  "Our Empress started with nothing, without a royal mandate. It was with the help of the Three Sect Immortals who crafted the Life’s Hanging Thread divine ability for her. Relying on this divine ability, she was able to rally numerous friends and subordinates to act as her vanguard, bearing burdens on her behalf."

                  Zhu Xuanji accepted the mission with a solemn expression.

                  As a Golden Core cultivator, even though he was greatly restrained in the city, in a real battle, very few in Fire Persimmon City could stand against him.

                  The real fear was losing in the struggle of fate. Once his fate was weakened, he could easily fall into seemingly coincidental deadly traps. At that point, even a Golden Core cultivator would be hard-pressed to survive.

                  Liu Ying had been one of his suspects.

                  Now, with Liu Ying's death, Zhu Xuanji dismissed his suspicion, "It seems I was overthinking."

                  "Then again, most of these suspects are at the Foundation Establishment stage. How could they comprehend such a divine ability?"

                  The Nandou royal family was very wary of anyone possessing the Life’s Hanging Thread divine ability. Their founding Empress had used this as her foundation for growth and strength.

                  If someone with this divine ability appeared within the Nandou kingdom, the royal family would likely prefer to eliminate them quietly to prevent them from growing powerful enough to threaten the kingdom's rule.

                  The inheritance meeting ended, and Ning Zhuo returned to his clan's territory.

                  With his eyes closed and in deep meditation, he focused his mind on his upper dantian. In his divine sea, the lotus seed had already sprouted, emitting a faint glow.

                  "The divine ability seedling of Life’s Hanging Thread!"

                  Ning Zhuo had already grasped the utility of this divine ability.

                  The power and mystery of divine abilities often surpass mana. This is because divine abilities are founded on a profound understanding of the principles of heaven and earth.

                  For Ning Zhuo, on the surface, it seemed like he was inspired by the story of the Supreme Immortal Master and comprehended some essences, triggering the Illusory True Lotus Seed in his divine sea.

                  But in reality, this was just a catalyst.

                  A larger premise was that Ning Zhuo himself had many insights into societal operations, human behaviors, thoughts, and more.

                  These accumulated insights, under the influence of the Supreme Immortal Master’s story, underwent a qualitative change. On the foundation of the Illusory True Lotus Seed, they sprouted the embryonic form of the divine ability Life’s Hanging Thread.

                  Because this understanding was inherently his own, once the divine ability was comprehended, the cultivator naturally understood all its applications.

                  "If Han Wu's theory of fate is correct, then this is likely the opportunity I gained from my greatly increased fate after defeating Yuan Dasheng," Ning Zhuo realized.

                  The Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, should not be the source. Because its main material was Yuan Dasheng's corpse, it was originally something Ning Zhuo owned.

                  Opportunities often work this way.

                  For most people, a story is just a means of entertainment, and no one can derive great benefits from it.

                  But for a particular person, the same thing can yield unimaginable benefits.

                  If it’s not your opportunity, even if it’s placed right in front of you, you won’t benefit from it.

                  "Uncle Ning," Ning Zhuo took the initiative to pay respects to Ning Xiaoren.

                  Ning Xiaoren smiled and inquired about Ning Zhuo’s purpose.

                  But when he learned the reason, his smile stiffened for a moment, "You say you want to forgive your uncle, Ning Ze?"

                  Ning Zhuo nodded, "Yes."

                  "These days, this matter has been tormenting me. After much consideration, I have decided to forgive him. After all, he is my biological uncle, my closest family in this world."

                  Ning Xiaoren was reluctant for this to happen.

                  All these days, he had been trying his best to win over and show kindness to Ning Zhuo, aiming to make him feel that he was the closest and most reliable person.

                  "Little Zhuo, you truly are a kind-hearted child. Anyone else would definitely not forgive such an uncle. But you did, and you have earned my admiration."

                  Ning Zhuo smiled shyly, "After all, blood is thicker than water. Uncle Ning Ze and I are family... as long as he can repay the resources and spirit stones he embezzled from me over the past sixteen years."

                  "Uh," Ning Xiaoren was stunned, finally understanding Ning Zhuo's true intention for this visit.

                  He couldn't help but inwardly complain about Ning Zhuo, thinking—couldn't you just get to the point without all the suspense?

                  Ning Zhuo clasped his fists and bowed, "I humbly request the Young Clan Leader to advocate for me!"

                  "This is a very reasonable request," Ning Xiaoren thought for a moment, "Little Zhuo, I will advocate for you."

                  Shortly after, the two of them arrived at the family's private prison and saw Ning Ze, who was being held there.

                  When Ning Ze saw Ning Xiaoren arriving, he thought he was being released and quickly ran to the cell door.

                  But the next moment, Ning Zhuo explained his purpose.

                  "Uncle, I have thought it over."

                  "You are, after all, my biological uncle, and I do not want to see you suffer. As long as you agree to repay all the spirit stones and resources you have embezzled from me over the years, I will choose to forgive you and not report you!"

                  Ning Ze's eyes widened instantly. He glanced at Ning Zhuo and then quickly turned to Ning Xiaoren.

                  To his dismay, Ning Xiaoren was standing behind Ning Zhuo, glaring at him as if warning him not to spill any secrets, or else there would be severe consequences.

                  Ning Ze's lips quivered, and he felt extremely frustrated.

                  He had not embezzled Ning Zhuo's spirit stones and cultivation resources; Ning Xiaoren had never given any.

                  But he couldn't reveal the truth directly.

                  Seeing Ning Zhuo staring at him, he wished he could slap him right then and there.

                  But he knew that was impossible. Ning Zhuo's status had changed significantly, and he was now highly valued by the family, with even the Young Clan Leader Ning Xiaoren trying to win him over.

                  In the end, Ning Ze took a deep breath and gritted his teeth, "Fine, I will repay you!"

                  "Thank you, Uncle." Ning Zhuo smiled, then turned to Ning Xiaoren and bowed, "Thank you, Young Clan Leader, for upholding justice for me!"

                  Ning Xiaoren laughed heartily and patted Ning Zhuo's shoulder, though he thought to himself: This boy is still too greedy.

                  Meanwhile, Ning Ze roared internally, "Justice? What justice!!!"

                  Ning Zhuo had a substantial income from the Firecracker Monkey business, which provided him with a significant portion of the profits. Additionally, the resources allocated to him by the three families were abundant.

                  He didn't need to covet this "alleged" support.

                  But to ease Ning Xiaoren's mind and reinforce the impression that Ning Zhuo was greedy for wealth, Ning Zhuo chose to proceed this way.

                  A few days later, Ning Zhuo asked Ning Xiaoren for leave, expressing his desire to return home for a while.

                  Ning Xiaoren had long grown tired of Ning Zhuo eating and drinking at his residence without contributing financially. Given that Ning Zhuo had already distanced himself from his uncle Ning Ze and his family, Ning Xiaoren feigned reluctance but ultimately agreed after Ning Zhuo's persistent requests.
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                  Chapter 100: Racing Against Time

                  Four guards followed closely by Ning Zhuo's side.

                  Among them, two were at the Qi Refinement stage and two at the Foundation Establishment stage, all assigned by the Ning family to protect Ning Zhuo.

                  Ning Zhuo had become very important due to his significant contribution to the family's exploration of the Lava Immortal Palace. The presence of these four guards clearly indicated how much the Ning family valued him.

                  Ning Zhuo did not head home immediately after leaving the family estate. Instead, he visited several shops, purchasing various special bricks, array disks, and other materials for setting up formations.

                  The four guards noticed his actions and communicated silently among themselves.

                  "It looks like Ning Zhuo wants to build his own cultivation chamber."

                  "These chambers have good defensive properties and can block divine sense. How are we supposed to monitor him afterward? Using magical tools would be too conspicuous."

                  "Let's report this to the Young Clan Leader."

                  "But on another note, this kid really has some money."

                  "He's the Young Clan Leader's favorite now, and with the combined resources from the three families, he's naturally well-off."

                  After completing his purchases, Ning Zhuo spared no expense in hiring an array master to set up the formations.

                  By the afternoon, after leaving the family estate in the morning, Ning Zhuo's bedroom already had a newly constructed small compartment.

                  The compartment was entirely built of stone bricks and equipped with a stone door, which could be opened and closed by infusing it with mana and controlling it with divine sense.

                  However, the formations were not yet fully set up, so the compartment had little defensive capability for the time being.

                  Two of the Qi Refinement stage guards patrolled the courtyard and the surrounding area continuously. One of the Foundation Establishment guards concealed himself, while the other stood guard at the rear door of Ning Zhuo's residence, resting with his eyes closed.

                  As night deepened, Ning Zhuo opened his eyes, got up quietly, and moved a switch, entering his underground workshop.

                  "He's still a young man," one of the Foundation Establishment guards murmured, opening his eyes slightly and revealing a confident smile.

                  Ning Zhuo looked around the workshop, his expression tense. He first checked several spots to see if there were any changes.

                  These were detection measures he had set up himself. If anyone else had entered, these spots would likely show signs of change.

                  Finding everything unchanged, Ning Zhuo sighed in relief, his brows relaxing as he visibly calmed down.

                  He wandered around the workshop, touching this and that, exuding an aura of safety and comfort, as if he had returned to his nest.

                  He sat down on a chair, stretched lazily, and let out a big yawn.

                  After resting for a while, he slowly stood up.

                  From his storage bag, he took out a meditation cushion and placed it in the center of the room.

                  He then sat cross-legged on the cushion and took out several bottles of pills, placing them in front of him.

                  Whether it was the meditation cushion or the pills, both made the two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators envious.

                  Ning Zhuo was only at the Qi Refinement stage, but as one of the top members of the newly formed joint cultivation team of the three families, he received a significant allocation of resources.

                  Before starting his cultivation, Ning Zhuo thought for a moment and then took out a handkerchief from his pocket.

                  The handkerchief was as white as snow, soft in texture, and without any patterns.

                  Ning Zhuo infused it with mana.

                  Clouds began to gradually emerge from the handkerchief, surrounding Ning Zhuo.

                  The clouds piled up, slowly enveloping Ning Zhuo completely.

                  The two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators frowned deeply.

                  They communicated telepathically: "This seems to be the Floating Cloud Handkerchief?"

                  "Yes, that's the artifact produced in Feiyun Country."

                  "How does Ning Zhuo have it?"

                  "Well, it might be his mother's keepsake. Don’t you remember? The records mentioned that 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 monitor his cultivation."

                  "Floating clouds obscure the sight. The Floating Cloud Handkerchief is known for its strong concealment abilities, which is why it’s so renowned."

                  "It doesn’t matter. Our main task is to ensure Ning Zhuo’s safety, not to monitor him. Of course, we should report this situation in the morning."

                  Ning Zhuo had planned this well in advance, considering various scenarios.

                  As the two Foundation Establishment cultivators guessed, this handkerchief was indeed his mother's keepsake.

                  Using this artifact to create floating clouds provided excellent concealment.

                  With these clouds, his cultivation situation was difficult to detect.

                  Even if someone with keen eyesight tried to see, it would trigger a severe reaction from the clouds, giving Ning Zhuo enough warning and time to adjust.

                  Of course, there were still risks.

                  The cultivation world was full of endless means, talents, spells, and countless other techniques. There might be a method that could penetrate the clouds, observe Ning Zhuo’s actual condition, and even do so without triggering the clouds' reactions.

                  Ning Zhuo had considered this possibility.

                  But as always—he had no other choice. He had already done his best.

                  The four major forces were powerful, and the overall cultivation level of the joint cultivation team was progressing rapidly. Ning Zhuo’s previous measures to block enemies would inevitably fail.

                  Zhu Xuanji’s relentless investigation also added immense pressure.

                  Ning Zhuo had to race against time!

                  Holding out for too long would lead to failure.

                  Even if he had meticulously built up a counter-investigation defense over the past decade, it would eventually collapse.

                  He had to seize the Lava Immortal Palace before everyone else!

                  Therefore, taking some risks in these areas is necessary.

                  Using the Demon Blood Muscle Refinement Technique to refine essence blood.

                  Using the Five Elements Qi Regulation Technique to absorb and release mana.

                  Using the Mirror Platform Spiritual Art to forge divine sense.

                  He practiced these three techniques in rotation, consuming various expensive and rare pills one after another. Even the meditation cushion he sat on was a supplementary cultivation artifact provided by the three families, enhancing Ning Zhuo's cultivation speed.

                  The progress of practicing all three techniques was visibly noticeable.

                  "There are no problems with the cultivation techniques."

                  "But I can't practice any spells, nor the newly obtained embryonic divine power."

                  Whenever Ning Zhuo thought of the embryonic form of the Life Suspension Divine Thread, he felt an itch to use it and see its effects. But given the circumstances, he had to endure.

                  At the top of Fire Persimmon Mountain, amidst rolling clouds and smoke, Meng Chong was also cultivating.

                  He floated in the air, eyes closed, still unconscious.

                  The current City Lord of Fire Persimmon City, Meng Kui, hovered above Meng Chong, placing a hand over Meng Chong's head.

                  He channeled mana, mobilizing his essence, and infused it into Meng Chong.

                  Meng Chong was his biological grandson, sharing the same bloodline, allowing Meng Kui's essence blood to be naturally absorbed by Meng Chong.

                  Meng Chong benefited visibly, as his sunken eye sockets and protruding cheekbones gradually returned to normal, at a speed visible to the naked eye.

                  Meng Kui, however, grew noticeably weaker.

                  Though he was at the Nascent Soul stage, he was primarily a spellcaster and had not focused much on physical cultivation.

                  Of course, even without focusing on the body, a Nascent Soul cultivator's physical foundation was stronger than most Golden Core body cultivators.

                  The key issue was the significant loss.

                  The essence blood Meng Kui offered had to go through numerous purifications, and only a tiny portion was absorbed by Meng Chong. Although the loss was extremely high, this method ensured that Meng Chong's absorbed essence blood remained pure, free from any foreign impurities.

                  Meng Kui hadn't wanted to resort to this, but he had no choice.

                  He knew that the joint exploration of the Lava Immortal Palace by the three families had made considerable progress.

                  Meanwhile, Meng Chong was still stuck in the third room and remained unconscious.

                  Thus, he had to intervene.

                  "Meng Chong, my grandson, you are to become the new master of the Lava Immortal Palace. Why haven't you awakened yet?" Meng Kui transmitted his voice.

                  Meng Chong slowly opened his eyes, "Grandfather, I…."

                  Meng Kui instructed him to close his eyes and rest, to focus on recovery.

                  Cultivators possess the three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit.

                  Meng Kui continually replenished Meng Chong's essence until it was fully restored before he finally stopped.

                  His face had turned slightly sallow, and his eyes appeared a bit dimmer.

                  Meng Chong, now freed, began recounting his experience in the third room.

                  Meng Kui, still unaware that the Golden Blood Battle Ape - Dasheng was a setup by other competitors, stroked his beard in thought. After a moment, he said, "Your martial skills lag behind those of the mechanical ape. Even with special training, it will take a considerable amount of time."

                  "Your time is extremely precious, and you must seize the initiative!" he continued. "I have a method to quickly make up for the gap, but it will be painful."

                  Meng Chong was overjoyed and quickly responded, "Grandfather, your grandson does not know what pain is! What is the method?"

                  "Lightning strike," Meng Kui said.

                  Meng Chong blinked, "What am I striking with lightning?"

                  Meng Kui shook his head, "You will be struck by lightning."

                  "What?" Meng Chong started to speak, but suddenly, a thunderclap echoed, and a flash of blue light pierced through the clouds and smoke.

                  Meng Chong was struck hard, standing there in shock. His entire body turned charred black, his hair stood on end, and wisps of black smoke rose from him.

                  Boom... Boom...

                  Thunder roared continuously within the clouds and smoke.

                  Meng Chong gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, all the while thinking of the Golden Blood Battle Ape - Dasheng: "I will master this. I will reclaim my honor!"

                  At the Ning residence, Ning Xiaohui was also undergoing special training.

                  She extended her hands into a basin filled with ice.

                  Immediately, an extreme cold pierced her heart, making her face turn pale and causing her to shiver uncontrollably.

                  "Hang in there, Xiaohui," her grandmother said sternly, cheering her on from the side.

                  "You possess the talent of Ice Jade Hands, the best way to suppress that Ning Zhuo."

                  "Ning Zhuo's talent has not yet been fully assessed, and even if it is, there may not be methods to further develop it."

                  "But you are different. Your Ice Jade Hands have appeared multiple times in our family. This is the advantage of our lineage."

                  "We share the same bloodline, practice similar cultivation techniques, and consume similar resources."

                  "There are many cultivation methods for Ice Jade Hands, all gradually explored by our ancestors over the generations."

                  Ning Xiaohui's face was resolute. "I understand, Grandma. Ice Jade Hands have always been my greatest advantage. Once my special training is complete, what is Ning Zhuo to me?"

                  At the Zhou residence, Zhou Zesheng's body was connected to several tubes, through which medicinal liquids continuously flowed into his body.

                  He was cultivating with all his might.

                  At the Zheng residence, Zheng Jian tirelessly trained with mechanical puppets, fully engrossed, entering a state of complete immersion.

                  The competition for the Lava Immortal Palace had already progressed past its opening stage, entering a more intense phase.

                  Night had fallen deeply.

                  Ai Eryin tossed and turned, unable to sleep soundly. Ever since Ai Dasheng passed away, he felt an emptiness in his heart every night, lacking any sense of security.

                  "Why isn't Uncle Dasheng's mechanism completed yet?"

                  "Tomorrow, I'll go find that Ning Zhuo!"

                  Within the Lava Immortal Palace, the Golden Blood Battle Ape - Dasheng quietly crouched in the third room. When not activated, it was indistinguishable from the surrounding bricks and stones.
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                  Chapter 101: Yuan Er Comes Seeking Help

                  "Here it is!" Early in the morning, Yuan Er arrived at the entrance of Ning Zhuo's courtyard.

                  Seeing him trying to enter, the Ning family Qi Refinement guards quickly appeared to block his way, saying, "Stop."

                  Although Yuan Er was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, upon seeing the identity token hanging from the Qi Refinement cultivators' waists, he dared not act rashly. "I'm here to see Ning Zhuo. I'm Yuan Er, the current leader of the Monkey Head Gang."

                  "Please wait while I inform him," said the Qi Refinement guard, casting a glance at Yuan Er before giving a signal to his approaching companion. The companion nodded and stood at the courtyard gate, blocking Yuan Er.

                  Yuan Er felt a sense of unease, thinking to himself how ironic it was that, as the leader of a gang, he was being kept outside while seeking a mere Qi Refinement cultivator. However, in recent days, he had gathered quite a bit of information, learning that Ning Zhuo was highly valued by the Ning family and was a favored figure of the young patriarch, Ning Xiaoren.

                  "Why don't I have a powerful family to rely on?" Yuan Er sighed internally. Soon, the guard returned and said, "You may enter now." Yuan Er stepped into the courtyard, but after a few steps, he paused slightly. He sensed a hint of a Foundation Establishment cultivator's presence, which quickly disappeared. He realized this was a deliberate leak of aura, a warning for him not to misbehave.

                  Yuan Er was taken aback, thinking, "What on earth does Ning Zhuo have to warrant such high regard from the family, even to the point of assigning Foundation Establishment cultivators for his protection?" The details of the three-family joint reform were kept secret from the outside world, so Yuan Er was unaware of the full context.

                  "Master Yuan Er, please come in." At that moment, Ning Zhuo appeared, wearing a polite smile as he came out to greet him. Ning Zhuo led him into his bedroom instead of the study.

                  "Apologies, I need to set up a training room temporarily. Please bear with me, Master Yuan Er," Ning Zhuo explained.

                  Yuan Er saw three array masters working together on the setup. He instantly recognized them as renowned masters in the market, all at the Foundation Establishment level, none at Qi Refinement.

                  This sight made Yuan Er even more aware of Ning Zhuo's considerable wealth, heightening his own sense of caution. Ning Zhuo did not offer him a seat, leaving Yuan Er standing awkwardly at the door. While communicating with the array masters, Ning Zhuo kept a watchful eye on Yuan Er, observing his expressions.

                  After a moment, Ning Zhuo turned to Yuan Er and said, "Master Yuan Er, as you can see, I am quite busy at the moment. Is there something you need?"

                  Yuan Er replied, "Mr. Ning, could we speak privately?"

                  Ning Zhuo did not agree. Instead, he pointed to the training room being set up and said, "As you can see, I have to oversee this work and cannot step away at the moment. I think I have a good idea why you are here. You want a customized mechanical monkey, don't you?"

                  "Yes, yes," Yuan Er quickly nodded. "Mr. Ning, you do remember."

                  "I've kept it in mind all along," Ning Zhuo sighed. "But I've been very busy lately. Just a few days ago, I was staying at the family's residence."

                  "Although I had the privilege of staying at our young patriarch's mansion for several days, I decided it would be more convenient to move back here. I prefer living like this."

                  "So, as you can see, I first set up a small room for my cultivation. I'm quite busy, so you'll need to be patient and wait."

                  Yuan Er, of course, would not be so easily brushed off. He maintained a humble posture and politely asked Ning Zhuo for a timeline.

                  Ning Zhuo sighed again. "It's hard to say. In the next few days, the family will be preparing a test for me to determine my aptitude. I can't give you an exact answer right now, but rest assured, I will get to it."

                  "Aptitude test?" Yuan Er was taken aback. Even the three array masters who were setting up the formation glanced at Ning Zhuo.

                  Having a spiritual root wasn't rare, but possessing an aptitude was. Even a lower-level aptitude distinguished one from ordinary people and made them a genuine talent.

                  "Could it be that Ning Zhuo has shown signs of having an aptitude, which is why he's favored by the family?" Yuan Er couldn't help but make this connection.

                  Instantly, his assessment of Ning Zhuo rose to a new level. Although he was the leader of the Monkey Head Gang, he struggled to command respect and lacked strong allies. Faced with a talented cultivator like Ning Zhuo, a favored member of a prominent cultivation family, he dared not be forceful.

                  Thus, he endured being kept waiting for a while, but he couldn't stand the awkwardness and eventually asked to leave.

                  Ning Zhuo smiled again. "I'll see you out."

                  Despite his words, he only escorted Yuan Er to the bedroom door.

                  As soon as Yuan Er left, one of the Foundation Establishment guards from the Ning family sent a voice transmission to Ning Zhuo. "There's a tail following Yuan Er. Since Yuan Er entered the courtyard, this tail has been hiding around and hasn't left."

                  "Now that Yuan Er is leaving, the tail is also leaving. Should we warn Yuan Er?"

                  The guard wasn't sure about the relationship between Yuan Er and Ning Zhuo, so he reported promptly and in detail.

                  Ning Zhuo thought for a moment and then shook his head. "Master Yuan Er is powerful and doesn't need a warning."

                  The guard immediately understood and remained silent.

                  Ning Zhuo's eyes grew contemplative.

                  From the beginning, he had never intended to give Yuan Er the mechanical creation made from Yuan Dasheng's corpse. Yuan Er's problems weren't his to solve. The elders of the Monkey Head Gang, along with the numerous enemies Yuan Er and Yuan Dasheng had made over the years, would take care of it for him.

                  Ning Zhuo only needed to delay as much as possible. As for the family wanting to test his aptitude, that wasn't an issue either.

                  "Considering Ning Xiaohui, the family wouldn't easily test my aptitude."

                  "At most, they would make a show of it to prove to the Zhou and Zheng families that I indeed have an aptitude, but it just hasn't been tested successfully yet."

                  In the Ning family.

                  Ning Xiaohui was surrounded by a cold aura, her hands deeply immersed in ice blocks, her entire body shivering with blue lips. Her grandmother stayed with her the entire time, encouraging her, "Xiaohui, hold on! You need to carefully feel the meaning of the cold."

                  Ning Xiaohui shivered, "Gran...grandma... does it have to be this way? Can't we use another method?"

                  Her grandmother shook her head slightly, "This is the fastest way! Aptitude is the soil for divine powers. This method can fully stimulate your aptitude, making it more apparent. If you had grown up in the icy landscapes of Beifeng Kingdom, you would have a deeper understanding of your Frost Jade Hands."

                  "Unfortunately, we are in Nandou Kingdom, living on an active volcano. The different environment means you have little understanding of your aptitude."

                  "No, I can't, I'm going to freeze to death!" Ning Xiaohui couldn't hold on and eventually pulled her hands out.

                  All efforts were in vain!

                  Her grandmother sighed deeply but seeing Ning Xiaohui crying, the reprimanding words remained unsaid.

                  At the top of Huoshi Mountain, the clouds rolled.

                  Meng Chong floated in mid-air, his eyes wide open, staring intently at the surrounding clouds.

                  Boom.

                  A clap of thunder sounded, and the gray-white clouds suddenly flashed a brilliant blue. Lightning had pierced through the clouds, dyeing them blue.

                  Meng Chong had no time to react before a bolt of lightning struck him. He spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward.

                  "Damn it, damn it!"

                  "The clouds here obscure my vision. I can't see the lightning strikes coming." Meng Chong was extremely exhausted.

                  Although his essence blood had been replenished by his grandfather, his mana and spirit remained severely depleted. For these two aspects, even a Nascent Soul stage cultivator like Meng Kui could do little to help.

                  It wasn't that he couldn't provide mana and spirit-restoring pills, but after taking such pills, a cultivator needed to use corresponding profound techniques to quickly assimilate the medicinal power. Otherwise, the accumulated medicinal power would backfire, harming the body and potentially endangering the cultivator's life.

                  Meng Chong only had the first three levels of the Five Elements Qi Regulation Technique, which were inefficient in assimilating the medicinal power. He had no corresponding techniques for spirit and essence, making his assimilation ability very weak.

                  Boom!

                  Meng Chong was struck again, his entire body charred, with layers of blackened skin peeling off. Cracks spread across his hardened surface, oozing fresh blood. Though his body was on the brink of collapse, his fighting spirit grew even stronger.

                  "Come on!"

                  "Again!"

                  "More!!!"

                  Boom, boom, boom...

                  Struck by lightning again and again, he was on the verge of death when he suddenly had an epiphany.

                  Zzz...

                  Electric sparks flickered across his body, forming a woven shadow of lightning. This shadow clung tightly to his body and limbs, existing in close harmony.

                  When lightning struck again, Meng Chong's body swayed, leaving a shadow of lightning in place as his true form flashed past. The lightning pierced through the shadow, which absorbed the electrical power, crackling and solidifying even more.

                  "Using my aptitude this way consumes much less energy than before."

                  "The key is, I can accelerate specific parts of my body. With this, I can deal with that tricky mechanical ape."

                  "Hahaha, I'm coming, I'm coming for you!!"

                  Meng Chong raised his arms, laughing heartily.

                  Meng Kui nodded silently, his face showing approval. He thought to himself, "As expected of my grandson, brave and diligent, fearless, and bringing no shame to the Meng family."
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                  Chapter 102: Yuan Dasheng vs. Meng Chong (Second Battle)

                  Ning Zhuo's Bedroom

                  The cultivation chamber was now fully constructed. Despite its small size and limited internal space, it was sufficient for Ning Zhuo's needs. Infused with spiritual energy, the Floating Cloud Scarf produced clouds of mist. These clouds filled the entire chamber, enveloping Ning Zhuo in a thick fog, where he couldn't see his own hands.

                  The double protection left the four Ning family guards powerless. They reported the situation to the young clan leader, Ning Xiaoren, who was unconcerned:

                  "What secrets could little Ning Zhuo possibly have? Our prior intelligence gathering has already uncovered everything about him. These young people think they still have some secrets. Let him have his delusions, it's quite amusing."

                  With this thought, Ning Xiaoren decided against ordering a deeper investigation. Being discovered by Ning Zhuo would harm the hard-earned goodwill and relationship he had cultivated. Ning Xiaoren didn't want to take such a risk. This reaction was within Ning Zhuo's expectations.

                  His vital energy flowed like small red rivers in his lower dantian, converging at the center. A small pool of vital blood had already formed there, resembling a miniature pond. As the vital energy continued to pour in, the pool suddenly trembled, expanding rapidly to three times its previous size.

                  He had broken through.

                  At this moment, Ning Zhuo reached the fourth level of the Essence Refinement stage.

                  "Accumulated vital blood reaches its limit and increases fourfold. This substantial increase means the vital blood will form blood energy membranes more quickly, saving at least thirty percent of the previous time. Full operation allows for more than double the previous speed in digesting the medicinal power."

                  Ning Zhuo quickly grasped the improvements in various aspects. The most delightful surprise was the enhancement in medicinal absorption. Typically, the more advanced the cultivation, the slower the progress, and the Blood-Stained Muscle Technique was no exception. However, with the increased speed of medicinal absorption, as long as resources were sufficient, he could maintain his previous rate of progress. This was particularly valuable.

                  "The philosophy of the Three Great Sects seems to be 'change comes with the third.' Whether it's the mechanisms in the Lava Immortal Palace or the three cultivation techniques, passing the third level brings a qualitative leap."

                  Ning Zhuo had deduced this pattern because the other two techniques had also recently broken through to new levels.

                  This was a natural progression. Previously, all three of his cultivation techniques had reached the peak of the third level, just a step away from the fourth level. After obtaining the subsequent techniques, Ning Zhuo spent a bit of time cultivating and quickly broke through his former limits.

                  After the Five Elements Qi Regulation Technique reached the fourth level, not only could it accumulate more Five Elements mana, but it could also be freely split and combined. Previously, Ning Zhuo had to concentrate to extract a specific type of mana to perform techniques like Ice Embrace and Fire Grasp. Now, with just a thought, he could easily separate a mixed stream of Five Elements mana.

                  Often, it's not a lack of practice but insufficient foundation. It's like a child who needs to jump to touch a windowsill. As they grow, they can reach it by standing on tiptoe. When fully grown, the windowsill is only waist-high, and they can touch it with ease.

                  Among the three cultivation techniques, the progress in the Mirror Platform Spiritual Technique was the greatest, now reaching the fifth level. Ning Zhuo wasn't sure why this happened. When cultivating the later stages of the Mirror Platform Spiritual Technique, he progressed rapidly and naturally.

                  Ning Zhuo sensed that such swift progress in the Buddhist scriptures might be related to his grasping the opportunity and obtaining the embryonic form of the Human Fate String divine ability.

                  "Buddhist techniques emphasize sudden enlightenment. Sometimes, one moment of enlightenment can equal a hundred years of hard work. The embryonic form of the Human Fate String divine ability I comprehended is closely linked with the Mirror Platform Spiritual Technique."

                  "The Mirror Platform Spiritual Technique can communicate with all things with spirits. The Human Fate String can forcibly control the target's every move. Coupled with the Heart Seal of my Buddha Heart Demon Seal, which influences thoughts and guides ideas..."

                  Ning Zhuo had glimpsed a rough outline of the Three Sects' Masters' methods of mechanism control. When the Mirror Platform Spiritual Technique broke through to the fourth level, it also achieved a qualitative leap.

                  Ning Zhuo discovered that the spiritual mirrors formed by the third-level spiritual mind could merge to create a larger spiritual mirror with a base. Although Ning Zhuo had no opportunity to practice or demonstrate it, he instinctively knew that this larger spiritual mirror's communing ability far surpassed the smaller mirrors from before.

                  "At least three times better!"

                  Now, the Mirror Platform Spiritual Technique had reached the fifth level. Compared to the fourth level, the fifth level didn't bring a qualitative change but a quantitative one—the merged spiritual mirror gained an additional face.

                  "What's this?" Ning Zhuo's heart skipped a beat. He sensed movement near the Golden Blood Battle Ape - Dasheng.

                  "Could it be..." Ning Zhuo immediately stopped the Blood-Stained Muscle Technique, activated the Mirror Platform Spiritual Technique, and observed Yuan Dasheng through the large spiritual mirror.

                  As he suspected, it was Meng Chong.

                  "Come on, come on, come on!" Meng Chong roared continuously.

                  He charged recklessly, displaying unparalleled bravery, his puppet body entwined with crackling lightning shadows. In close combat, he was pushing Yuan Dasheng back step by step! Ning Zhuo was shocked and immediately used the Mirror Platform Spiritual Technique to commune with Yuan Dasheng's spirituality, manipulating the spiritual power within Yuan Dasheng to cast the Ice Embrace technique.

                  One moment, Meng Chong was exuberantly roaring and fighting, the next he was engulfed by icy frost. His joints froze, drastically reducing his speed. Yuan Dasheng seized the opportunity to counterattack, his long fist like a spear thrusting directly at Meng Chong's chest.

                  Danger! Meng Chong knew his defense was extremely weak; if hit, he would surely lose. "Wild Thunder Dash!" he roared in his heart. The lightning shadow around him suddenly expanded, transforming into intense electric light that enveloped his entire body. In the next instant, he shot out like lightning.

                  Yuan Dasheng's fist hit nothing but air, stopping in its tracks, with his posture still facing Meng Chong. Meng Chong crouched in a corner, still shaken. He hadn't expected this mechanical monkey to be capable of casting spells! This revelation doubled the danger level!

                  "Failing to take me down with one strike means you've revealed your last trump card. Big monkey, today you are doomed!" Meng Chong regained his composure, his fear completely dissipating in just a few breaths. Once more, his fighting spirit surged.

                  The puppet Meng Chong charged again. The crackling lightning shadows accompanied his entire body, making each of his movements accelerate instantly. Yuan Dasheng engaged him in battle once more.

                  However, Meng Chong's speed was far superior. After a few exchanges, Yuan Dasheng fell back into a passive position. This time, Ning Zhuo, observing from afar, saw everything clearly: "Meng Chong has improved again. This time, his mastery of the Wild Thunder Dash has reached a new level. Although his speed hasn't surpassed his previous limits, his finesse has improved explosively."

                  In terms of pure martial skills, Yuan Dasheng still surpassed Meng Chong. But Meng Chong's every movement was much faster than Yuan Dasheng's. As the saying goes, in martial arts, speed is the only unbreakable technique. In a real fight to the death, being a hair faster could be the difference between life and death. Meng Chong was much faster.

                  Yuan Dasheng could hold on for so long only because his martial skills had inherited his former expertise, allowing him to counter speed with technique, observing the start of movements to predict the opponent's next actions. "But Meng Chong, if this is all you've got, it's not enough," Ning Zhuo's eyes flashed with a fierce light.

                  Next moment... Fire Grasp! The hands of the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Yuan Dasheng, suddenly ignited, each forming a ball of fire. Yuan Dasheng tightly gripped the fireballs as if holding two spheres.

                  Next, Ning Zhuo silently recited in his heart:

                  "Grasping the fireball like a heart of fire, with the mind and body dancing with strength to victory. Blazing armor rises fiercely, red glow flowing to protect the whole body."

                  Building on the Fire Grasp technique, he cast another spell. Fire Grasp—Flame Bath!

                  In the next moment, Yuan Dasheng lightly squeezed the fireballs, causing them to shatter into countless fiery sparks. The fire blooms, forming molten streams that rapidly flowed over Yuan Dasheng's entire body. Yuan Dasheng was now engulfed in flames, as if clad in fiery armor!

                  The flames roared, emitting intense heat. Meng Chong was stunned.

                  He gazed at the towering figure shrouded in roaring flames, then looked at his own wooden puppet body, finally fixing his gaze on the golden bones and red rocky muscles of the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Yuan Dasheng.

                  Yuan Dasheng was unafraid of the flames, but Meng Chong could not withstand them.

                  Yuan Dasheng stood still, only extending a finger towards Meng Chong, beckoning him as if to say: "Keep attacking, come and fight me."

                  "Dammit!" Meng Chong couldn't help but curse.

                  Suppressing his anger, he gritted his teeth and charged in for another attack.

                  Moments later, Meng Chong was covered in flames, burnt into large chunks of charcoal that scattered all over the ground.
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                  Chapter 103: The Clash of Fortunes

                  In the small cultivation chamber, layers upon layers of clouds floated.

                  "Meng Chong, Meng Chong, truly impressive!" Ning Zhuo's face was filled with solemnity.

                  "As expected of someone with celestial talent."

                  Although Meng Chong was once again defeated in this confrontation, Ning Zhuo could already feel Meng Chong's powerful impact.

                  "Each time I push him back, he quickly returns with even greater strength. I am like a whetstone, constantly sharpening him, making him ever more formidable!"

                  "If this continues, there may come a day when he will break through the obstacles I have set, soar to great heights, and become unstoppable."

                  In the first battle, the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Yuan Dasheng, defeated Meng Chong because Meng Chong overused his celestial talent, leading to a severe depletion of his strength and a complete collapse.

                  But in the second battle, Meng Chong had already mastered a deeper level of his celestial talent's usage, greatly reducing wastage and accelerating parts of his body, allowing him to fight Yuan Dasheng to a standstill, even gradually suppressing him.

                  "This victory was because I relied on my spells."

                  "Having exposed this card, Meng Chong will surely find a way to counter it. The question is, how long will it take him this time?" Ning Zhuo had this premonition.

                  In fact, finding a solution wasn't difficult.

                  Meng Chong only needed to learn some spells to counter spells with spells.

                  Meng Chong was solely focused on breaking through, relying on his celestial talent without mastering and practicing the spells rewarded by the trials.

                  Ning Zhuo assessed the battle damage.

                  Yuan Dasheng had many injuries, more severe than in the first battle.

                  Currently, Ning Zhuo couldn't conveniently transport Yuan Dasheng back, so he directed him to open the door and head to the preparation room.

                  Once in the preparation room, Ning Zhuo controlled Yuan Dasheng to pay spirit stones and select many mechanical tools to repair himself.

                  Yuan Dasheng sat cross-legged on the ground, holding a piece of fire wood in one hand and using a wood-joining technique with the other.

                  The wood extended like a stream, weaving through and filling every wound completely.

                  Ning Zhuo then used Yuan Dasheng to cast the Flame Bath technique, burning the wood to ashes, filling in all the cracks and gaps.

                  This repair method was not perfect.

                  Ning Zhuo's previous repair methods were actually quite good.

                  Now, while Yuan Dasheng had treated the wounds, the scars were all black streaks of ashes. These charcoal-black scars spread all over his body, adding a fierce and savage look to him.

                  There was no other choice; Ning Zhuo couldn't openly use various tools to melt the related fire rocks and create filling materials under the watchful eyes of the four Ning family guards.

                  "Hmm? The spirituality seems to have diminished..."

                  While Ning Zhuo was repairing Yuan Dasheng, he discovered a concerning issue. Yuan Dasheng's spiritual essence had decreased from a full 80% to 79%. Ning Zhuo's heart sank, realizing, "I need to rely on Yuan Dasheng to stop Meng Chong, which means I need to find a way to replenish his spiritual essence."

                  Spiritual essence... Ning Zhuo knew little about it. Although he had memorized and mastered all the knowledge from the Ning family's library, these were public books and not of high caliber. Spiritual essence involved spiritual treasures, which were high-end forces in the cultivation world, recorded only in secret tomes.

                  The pressure on Ning Zhuo was increasing daily. He had planned for fourteen years, but once he began competing for the Lava Immortal Palace, unexpected events frequently occurred. Whether it was Yuan Dasheng or Zhu Xuanji, they forced Ning Zhuo to change his plans, leading him step by step to his current situation.

                  "Meng Chong is the grandson of Meng Kui, the City Lord, and surely carries life-saving items gifted by a Nascent Soul cultivator. I cannot design a trap for Meng Chong like I did for 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 I directly confront the City Lord's Mansion, how could the Ning family stand by me?" As a result, no matter how many times Meng Chong fails, he can always come back.

                  In contrast, Ning Zhuo's energy, combat power, and time are heavily constrained by Meng Chong, making it difficult to focus entirely on exploring the Immortal Palace.

                  "Take this battle, for instance. I have no spoils of war and instead have to spend resources to repair Yuan Dasheng."

                  "The only gain might be the deep understanding I get from experiencing Yuan Dasheng's battle state through the spiritual connection, significantly enlightening my martial arts. But this won't work in the long run. I'll only grow weaker with each fight..."

                  Ning Zhuo, with his strategic vision, wasn't blinded by the immediate victory. The deeper he thought, the more worried he became.

                  At the City Lord's Mansion, Meng Chong slowly opened his eyes. His facial muscles twitched—phantom pain. In the Lava Immortal Palace, he was burned alive, and the sensation was vividly imprinted in his memory.

                  For a moment, Meng Chong didn't get up, his eyes dazed. Mastering the thunder shadow technique had significantly reduced his consumption of energy, spirit, and essence. Although he could sit up and move freely this time, he didn't. He felt a wave of discouragement and frustration.

                  From a young age, Meng Chong had been identified as having celestial talent and had always been successful without facing such significant setbacks. And not just one setback, but repeated ones.

                  Even with Meng Chong's naturally bold and spirited nature, he couldn't help but feel depressed at this moment. "The difficulty of exploring the Lava Immortal Palace is truly too high!"

                  Meng Chong thought of the mechanical monkey engulfed in flames and was at a loss. He felt utterly helpless. His every move was closely watched by his attendants and servants. Seeing the young master in such a state upon his soul's return, vastly different from usual, the servants quickly reported the situation.

                  Meng Chong's condition was of the utmost priority. Very soon, Meng Kui learned of it.

                  "Hmm?" He immediately sensed something was wrong. Meng Kui, in his true form at the peak of Huoshi Mountain, emitted divine light from his eyes that pierced through the sky and obstacles, directly observing his grandson lying there, silent and dazed.

                  "Something's not right. Let me calculate." Meng Kui tried to divinate but couldn't find the answer. He immediately took out an abacus artifact, his fingers flying as he consumed vast amounts of mana and divine sense, constantly moving the abacus beads.

                  When the beads settled, Meng Kui deduced Meng Chong's fate energy.

                  "How could it be this low?" The Nascent Soul cultivator was taken aback. In his understanding, Meng Chong possessed celestial talent with naturally abundant fate energy, making such a low state extremely rare.

                  Unlike the Meng family ancestors, Meng Kui's talent was of the high-grade level, known as "Mountainous Perspective." This talent allowed him to stand like a mountain; as long as he remained still, his own fate energy would stabilize, allowing him to calmly observe his surroundings and perceive the entire landscape.

                  Because of this, he earned the nickname "Mountain Chancellor." In confrontations, he was always immovable like a mountain, observing the layout and luring the enemy to attack. His fate energy was stable and rarely shaken, leading to fewer losses compared to his enemies. This often resulted in the enemy exposing weaknesses over time. Meng Kui would remain motionless until enough weaknesses accumulated, then he would strike with full force, often securing victory with a single blow.

                  Meng Kui also practiced the art of divination, which was rare. In the cultivation world, mastering divination required rare spiritual roots or talent as a prerequisite. Mountainous Perspective was such a talent; when reaching a certain level of foresight, one could "observe" glimpses of the future.

                  Meng Chong's situation reminded Meng Kui of the chaos in the world and the rise of many contenders. Often, the dragons that initially garnered the most attention weren't the true kings. In the early to mid-stages of contention, they attracted too much firepower, leading to severe depletion of their fate energy through mutual strife. Meanwhile, the true king's seed would quietly grow stronger, eventually accumulating enough momentum to establish a lasting rule and create a cultivation kingdom.

                  "According to Zhu Xuanji, the Lava Immortal Palace was not meant to emerge at this time... Therefore, our forceful seizure of the palace is contrary to its fate energy."

                  "Chong'er is currently making the most progress and is at the forefront, leading to excessive depletion of his fate energy. If only we could obtain a fate-stabilizing treasure or a fate energy treasure from the Lava Immortal Palace, it could greatly mitigate this fate energy conflict!" Thinking of this, Meng Kui sent a distant transmission while using his abacus artifact to temporarily boost Meng Chong's fate energy.

                  "Foolish child, aren't you awake yet?"

                  "Ah, Grandfather!" Meng Chong's spirit suddenly rose, his fate energy returning to normal, clearing his mind entirely. His gaze sharpened, and a flash of insight struck him. "I've got it! I know what to do."

                  "If the opponent is using spells, I can use spells too. One of the rewards for passing the levels includes the Ice Embrace spell. I need to undergo special training to master this spell; then I can counter that monkey's flames, right?"

                  "Hahaha!"

                  Meng Chong laughed heartily, suddenly jumping up and leaping to the ground. He strode forward, pushing open the door. "Someone, bring me food. I need to eat, eat, eat!"

                  "After eating, I will train, train, train!"

                  The servants, seeing this, all sighed in relief. This was the Meng Chong they remembered.

                  Meng Kui, watching from afar, nodded slightly at the scene. He then turned his gaze toward the territories of the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families, his expression darkening.

                  "Chong'er and the Lava Immortal Palace's fate energy are in conflict, like two strong forces clashing. Now, with the three families united, even though combining their fate energy isn't easy, it ultimately makes it easier for them to pick up the pieces. Measures must be taken to curb this."

                  Ning family.

                  Ning Zhuo was led into the Treasure Pavilion.

                  "This is 'On Spirituality.' Please read it here, Ning Zhuo," a Zhou family cultivator instructed.

                  Ning Zhuo nodded, taking the jade slip. After inspecting it, he placed it against his forehead. Infusing his divine sense, he began to read the jade slip.

                  "On Spirituality" was not a cultivation method or secret technique but a compendium of knowledge about spirituality.

                  After finishing, Ning Zhuo's eyes sparkled with brilliance for a long while. His perspective had broadened significantly, marking a qualitative change with substantial gains.

                  "So, there are so many aspects to spirituality."

                  "On Spirituality" divides spirituality into five levels. The lowest level is 'Non-spiritual'. Then comes 'Dead Spirit'. After that is 'Living Spirit'. A higher level is 'Intelligent Spirit'. The highest level is 'Divine Spirit'.

                  The term 'utterly stubborn' refers to the 'Non-spiritual' stage, where there are no signs of spirituality.

                  The 'Dead Spirit' stage is further divided into Spirit Charm, Spirit Pattern, Spirit Root, Spirit Shadow, and Spirit Image.

                  The 'Living Spirit' stage, from lower to higher, includes Spirit Star, Spirit Activity, Spirit Growth, Spirit Movement, and Spirit Sensitivity.

                  According to the book, Yuan Dasheng's spirituality is at the 'Spirit Growth' stage within the 'Living Spirit' period.
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                  Chapter 104: Renewing My Buddha

                  At the 'Spirit Growth' stage, Yuan Dasheng needs to increase his spirituality until it reaches ten full levels. Ten levels signify a qualitative change! Once achieved, spirituality will be self-restoring, continuously regenerating. Otherwise, spirituality will deplete as it is used, which is a significant disadvantage.

                  This is Yuan Dasheng's current situation. Originally possessing eight levels of spirituality, it has dropped to seven-point-nine and cannot self-recover. Unless one day, it reaches ten full levels and undergoes a qualitative change, it won't be able to restore itself!

                  After reading the jade slip, Ning Zhuo's first thought was, "Choosing Yuan Dasheng's corpse was indeed the correct decision."

                  "According to the information from the Lava Immortal Palace, selecting any corpse would only yield a mechanism of the Spirit Charm level. This is merely the first stage of the Dead Spirit period." "But by using Yuan Dasheng's corpse, I obtained the Golden Blood Battle Ape, which spans seven stages, reaching the Spirit Growth stage."

                  Previously, Ning Zhuo knew that the Golden Blood Battle Ape's quality was exceptional. Now, after reading "On Spirituality," he fully understands the extent of its superiority!

                  "So, how can I increase its spirituality?"

                  The "On Spirituality" tome did not contain this information.

                  "Perhaps it does, but it’s not available to me."

                  "As an outsider, gaining access to this tome is thanks to the alliance of the three families." Although "On Spirituality" did not detail the method, it recorded relevant history.

                  In the cultivation world, there once was a notorious demonic sect, infamous and dominating, known as the Spirit Burial Sect. This sect practiced a technique called the Three Lives Spirit Sacrifice Method.

                  The term 'three lives' does not refer to three lives but is derived from the idea of 'Three giving birth to all things.' It means sacrificing all things to gain spirituality. The Spirit Burial Sect used this technique to slaughter countless beings, obtaining vast amounts of spirituality to mass-produce spiritual treasures and expand their influence.

                  Seeing the threat posed by the Spirit Burial Sect, righteous sects, evil sects, and even other demonic factions united against it, ultimately eradicating this immense threat to the cultivation world.

                  "The Three Lives Spirit Sacrifice Method..."

                  Ning Zhuo recalled that among the rewards after passing the three trials of the Buddha gate was a technique named "Fire Burial Prajna Spirit Unbinding Sutra."

                  "This might be the secret technique to increase spirituality," Ning Zhuo thought.

                  His guess wasn't baseless. He had evidence.

                  Previously, when he was exploring the first trial of the Buddha gate, he received related information upon selecting a corpse from the coffin. The message stated, "Choose one, send it to the furnace for fire burial, and obtain a Spirit Charm mechanism."

                  Fire Burial

                  The clues of obtaining a spirit-charmed mechanism through fire burial directly relate to the "Fire Burial Prajna Spirit Unbinding Sutra."

                  "Next time I venture into the Lava Immortal Palace, I'll choose this reward," Ning Zhuo thought, feeling a strong intuition that this was the right choice.

                  However, entering the Lava Immortal Palace is not easy. Things are different now.

                  Ning Zhuo is currently under the protection of four Ning family cultivators, and these aren't the same four individuals all the time. They rotate shifts periodically.

                  If Ning Zhuo's spirit enters the palace, the chances of being discovered would greatly increase.

                  He also worried about what to do if he encountered the three geniuses from the allied families or Meng Chong in the palace.

                  He couldn't ascertain Meng Chong's situation.

                  The three geniuses had protective talismans from the Ning family. To enter the palace, they could simply remove these talismans. This was entirely unpredictable!

                  "There are two ways."

                  "One, I stay outside the palace and remotely control Yuan Dasheng, letting it delve deeper into the palace. Since it's my creation, it counts as part of me."

                  "Two, I join forces with Zheng Jian and others to explore the palace together. This depends on Zhou Zeshan's cultivation progress."

                  Previously, at the Tziyou Garden, Ning Zhuo and the others had agreed to explore the palace together once Zhou Zeshan reached the peak of the third layer.

                  Ning Zhuo thought for a moment and decided the second method was better.

                  Upon leaving the Zhou family's treasure hall, he inquired with a nearby cultivator, "Do you know how far along Zhou Zeshan is in his cultivation?"

                  "Currently, he's in the late stage of the third layer," the Zhou family cultivator replied.

                  Ning Zhuo frowned slightly.

                  The Zhou family cultivator, eager to defend his family's reputation, quickly added, "Ning Zhuo, you must understand that our Zhou Zeshan possesses a top-tier talent called 'Water Accumulation into Abyss.' As the saying goes, 'Accumulate soil into a mountain, wind and rain arise; accumulate water into an abyss, dragons are born.' This talent requires constant accumulation of water energy, eventually forming an abyssal force and displaying immense power."

                  "Therefore, in the early stages, Zhou Zeshan's mana accumulates slowly, needing more resources, time, and patience than others."

                  "But with loss comes gain! Zhou Zeshan will surely experience a significant leap in cultivation in the later stages!"

                  Ning Zhuo nodded slightly, "So, how much longer do you estimate?"

                  The Zhou family cultivator smiled wryly, "Ning Zhuo, please don't put me on the spot. Why not ask Zhou Zeshan directly?"

                  Ning Zhuo went to find Zhou Zeshan and asked him personally.

                  Given Ning Zhuo's current status, reputation, and relationship with the three geniuses, he easily obtained a direct answer from Zhou Zeshan himself: "At most, I need seven more days."

                  "This timeframe is acceptable," Ning Zhuo thought.

                  If he forcibly relied solely on the Golden Blood Battle Ape, without participating himself, Yuan Dasheng would be severely damaged even if it managed to clear the challenges.

                  At present, Ning Zhuo's research on Yuan Dasheng's mechanical body is not thorough enough, and repairing Yuan Dasheng in the Lava Immortal Palace is also very difficult. Ning Zhuo's biggest concern is that using the Golden Blood Battle Ape: Dasheng at such high intensity will cause its spiritual energy to decline again.

                  Moreover, the decline is entirely predictable and will certainly be much more severe than when Yuan Dasheng fought Meng Chong!

                  However, upon returning home and resuming his daily cultivation, Ning Zhuo made a startling discovery. He found that the My Buddha Heart Demonic Seal in his spiritual sea had been activated again. Although it was only once, the timing coincided with his decision, made after deliberation at the Zhou family, to wait for Zhou Zeshan!

                  "A low fate energy can cause confusion and clouded judgment."

                  "But the My Buddha Heart Demonic Seal can suppress fate energy, making me clear-minded like a Buddha."

                  Ning Zhuo, reflecting on this, immediately realized that his decision to wait had been influenced by fate energy.

                  "In that case, doesn't it mean that the first option is the correct one?"

                  Ning Zhuo pondered deeply.

                  "According to 'Fate Energy Theory, Volume One,' Meng Chong and I are in a fierce struggle, and until one of us achieves a decisive victory, our fate energies will continue to clash."

                  "So, my fate energy is not as strong as that of the three-family alliance, which led to a moment of confusion?"

                  Ning Zhuo realized in shock.

                  "Yes, I am currently racing against time!"

                  "Why should I waste seven days waiting for Zhou Zeshan?"

                  Immediately, Ning Zhuo decided—to use the Golden Blood Battle Ape: Dasheng to break through the challenges!

                  He hid in the cultivation chamber within his bedroom and activated the Floating Cloud Handkerchief.

                  First, he took out the Golden Blood Battle Ape: Dasheng.

                  The transmission circle activated silently, successfully transporting Yuan Dasheng.

                  Then, Ning Zhuo activated the "Trial Disciple" seal, sending his soul into the palace along with the Golden Blood Battle Ape: Dasheng.

                  Only by doing this did he count as a new attempt at breaking through the challenges.

                  As before, he appeared in Room One.

                  Ning Zhuo did not even touch the first door; he immediately withdrew his soul and returned to his body.

                  The Golden Blood Battle Ape: Dasheng took his place, touched the first door, claimed the reward, and pushed the door open.

                  The next moment, Yuan Dasheng encountered Zhou Zhu, Zhou Zeshan!
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                  Chapter 105: The Victory Over the Zhou Family

                  In the Lava Immortal Palace, the first door was swiftly pushed open by Yuan Dasheng.

                  Zhou Zeshan, Zhou Zhu, and others immediately turned around. The two parties stared at each other.

                  "The Zhou family members!" Ning Zhuo, seeing this through Yuan Dasheng, felt his pupils contract slightly.

                  When he discovered that there were not only the two Zhou family geniuses in the second room but also three other Zhou family cultivators, he immediately understood.

                  "They must have used the method I had thought of earlier, combining puppet bodies to withstand the initial door trap."

                  "Besides Zhou Zeshan, who is already at the peak of the third level, there are actually three others with similar cultivation!" Ning Zhuo couldn't help but recall the three-family joint test.

                  During the Zhou family’s modification team test, besides Zhou Zhu, there was no second peak third-level cultivator, not even one at the late third level.

                  "The testing formation at that time was provided by the Zhou family."

                  "It seems that even then, the Zhou family had a plan, deliberately hiding the true cultivation of many of their cultivators."

                  "The Zheng family and the Ning family were both deceived; at least I didn't expect the Zhou family to have several late third-level cultivators already."

                  Ning Zhuo quickly deduced the truth.

                  Considering the cultivation speed, it was impossible for an ordinary cultivator to rise from the mid-third level to the peak third level in such a short time.

                  The most likely scenario was that the Zhou family had been concealing their cultivation for a long time.

                  "No wonder they are called the array masters, adept at formations and schemes."

                  "In the three-family joint test, where they led the process, they started their scheme."

                  "Fortunately, I stumbled upon it this time!"

                  The Zhou family cultivators had been tense since they heard the door creak behind them and had turned around, prepared for anything.

                  Zhou Zeshan smiled wryly, thinking that regardless of whether the visitor was from the Ning family, the Zheng family, or the city lord's mansion, their painstaking layout by the Zhou family would be exposed on their first attempt.

                  However, the figure that pushed open the door was something the Zhou family cultivators never expected.

                  It was a mechanical ape.

                  The ape was tall, robust, and muscular, with its golden bones exposed, resembling a layer of hollow armor. Its body was entirely red, with uniformly colored monkey hair, and was marked with black streaks of varying lengths, giving it an ominous aura.

                  Zhou Zeshan was about to greet it, already preparing his words, but was stunned to see such a creature.

                  "What is that thing?!" the Zhou family cultivators exclaimed.

                  In the next moment, without needing Ning Zhuo's command, the Golden Blood Battle Ape: Dasheng, having sensed the presence of others, began its attack.

                  It lifted its foot and took a giant step, covering a great distance, and directly approached one of the Zhou family cultivators.

                  The Zhou family cultivator felt a gust of wind rushing towards him. In the next moment, the towering body of the Golden Blood Battle Ape: Dasheng came down like a mountain, heavily crushing him.

                  The Zhou family cultivator raised his arms to block.

                  Boom!

                  With a heavy blow, the Golden Blood Battle Ape smashed down like a giant hammer, pulverizing the Zhou family cultivator from head to toe.

                  The ferocity of this attack made the Zhou family cultivators scream in unison.

                  Zhou Zeshan's voice turned sharp, "We can't face it head-on, spread out and delay it!"

                  True to his role as Zhou Zhu's trusted strategist, Zhou Zeshan quickly thought of the right tactic in the brief moment they were attacked.

                  However, while the tactic was sound, the battlefield conditions were not favorable.

                  The second room was much narrower than the first, being a long, narrow space with limited width on either side.

                  To create distance between themselves and the ape, the Zhou family cultivators had to move towards the second door.

                  As they moved, the floor tiles pulled back, attempting to drag them back to their original position.

                  With a roar, Yuan Dasheng spread his arms wide and attacked with full force.

                  Boom.

                  Another explosion rang out as the second Zhou family cultivator's puppet was shattered to pieces by Yuan Dasheng, leaving no room for resistance.

                  Only after passing the sixth level would a cultivator possess a spirit-rhyme mechanism. These mechanisms were notably powerful, often superior to the test disciples' own puppets.

                  The Golden Blood Battle Ape: Dasheng far exceeded the highest limits, being a spirit-long-term mechanism obtained through Ning Zhuo's crucial findings and the sacrifice of a celestial vessel.

                  "This... what is this thing?!" Zhou Zeshan yelled.

                  "I have no idea." Zhou Zhu was equally puzzled as to why this exploration of the Lava Immortal Palace was so different from any previous attempts.

                  Where did this incredibly powerful mechanical ape come from?

                  "You jump into the trap to attract the monkey, make it follow you into the dark trap," Zhou Zeshan quickly devised another tactic.

                  These dark traps were specifically arranged by Ning Zhuo. In a previous exploration with Ning Xiaohui, Zhou Zhu, and Zheng Jian, these traps had effectively trapped them, giving them an extremely unpleasant experience.

                  Zhou Zeshan's quick thinking led him to believe that, by sacrificing one of the Zhou family cultivators, they might temporarily deal with the mechanical ape.

                  If the trap could capture the mechanical ape, they would only need to find a way to get through the second room and open the door.

                  But that was not to be.

                  As the Zhou family cultivator jumped in, the Golden Blood Battle Ape: Dasheng halted its charge, standing right at the edge of the mechanical trap, without moving an inch further.

                  Joking aside, these traps were personally set by Ning Zhuo, who knew every detail about their positions.

                  Zhou Zeshan saw Dasheng turning back and staring at him with a cold gaze, and immediately felt a chill rise in his heart.

                  "Damn it!"

                  "Zhou Zhu, you go intercept him."

                  "I'll try to break through with all my might!" Zhou Zeshan shouted.

                  "Okay!" Zhou Zhu stepped forward, rushing towards Dasheng.

                  Though he was tall, compared to Dasheng, he was noticeably smaller.

                  Dasheng moved fluidly, deftly avoiding Zhou Zhu's attacks, then seized an opening and advanced.

                  Bang, bang.

                  After two light sounds, Zhou Zhu also fell to the ground.

                  Zhou Zeshan looked back and saw that Zhou Zhu hadn't lasted even three breaths, and his heart filled with dread.

                  He frantically rushed forward.

                  But the floor tiles continued to move back faster and faster, always pushing Zhou Zeshan closer to Dasheng.

                  "This damned mechanism is also working against me!"

                  Zhou Zeshan struggled with all his might but only managed to buy three breaths of time.

                  In the end, his head was taken by Dasheng. Then, Dasheng extended his arms, tilted at an angle, and directly threw Zhou Zeshan's head to the ground.

                  The Zhou family cultivators were completely wiped out!

                  Dasheng dealt with them effortlessly, despite there being five of them.

                  Firstly, they didn't possess the celestial talent and couldn't exert the same pressure as Meng Chong. Secondly, they knew very few spells. Amidst Dasheng's rampage, they mostly used air-based spells to increase speed or change direction.

                  As a result, these small maneuvers were insignificant in the eyes of Dasheng, a master of martial arts.

                  In the end, under Ning Zhuo's control, Dasheng voluntarily jumped into the dark trap, finishing off the remaining Zhou family cultivators.

                  Dasheng, carrying the broken puppets of the enemies, leaped out of the trap with ease.

                  These traps were originally set by Ning Zhuo himself, so he was fully aware of all their details. These traps posed no obstacle at all.

                  In the main hall, witnessing Dasheng's rampage and easily eliminating the Zhou family cultivators, the dragon turtle fire spirit clenched its dragon claws, repeatedly pounding the throne in anger.

                  Ning Zhuo had been too audacious, this time sending only one mechanism to break through.

                  It showed no respect for the Lava Immortal Palace at all!

                  The dragon turtle fire spirit lacked the authority to interfere and could only watch as Dasheng cleaned up the battlefield.

                  Ning Zhuo controlled the mechanical ape, dissecting each Zhou family cultivator and extracting their unused spirit stones.

                  "Not bad."

                  "If I had come alone, there's no way I could have gathered this many spirit stones in the second room."

                  "Oh, there are also two suspension rings."

                  With the contributions from the Zhou family's cultivators, Dasheng had a significant initial accumulation of power.

                  Ning Zhuo controlled it and resolutely moved deeper.

                  Meanwhile, at the Zheng family estate:

                  "Catch the assassin!"

                  "Hurry, he's running that way. Quickly, chase him!!"

                  The Zheng family estate was in chaos, with cultivators surging and frantically chasing the intruder.

                  "Young Master Zheng Jian, are you alright?" The family's alchemist hurried over to provide treatment.

                  Zheng Jian nodded slightly: "At the critical moment, my Heart-Piercing Foresight was triggered, alerting me in time to avoid walking into the assassin's ambush."

                  "How did this assassin get in? This is the inner circle of the estate, it's simply outrageous!" Zheng Jian clenched his fist, gritting his teeth in anger.

                  The alchemist suddenly let out a strange laugh, his previously deep, middle-aged voice turning into a sinister female tone: "What do you think?"

                  Zheng Jian's pupils shrank, and he instantly retreated.

                  But it was too late.

                  The next moment, the alchemist's body swelled and exploded, releasing a foul, corrosive toxin that splashed onto Zheng Jian.

                  Half of Zheng Jian's body was affected, his skin red, blistering, and festering at an alarming rate.

                  He quickly took out emergency pills and swallowed a bottle, barely managing to stop the spread of the toxin within his body.

                  "I still got hit!"

                  "They deliberately triggered my Heart-Piercing Foresight once, putting me on high alert."

                  "Without a calm mind, the chances of Heart-Piercing Foresight triggering are greatly reduced!"

                  "They came prepared." At this moment, his expression was extremely grim.

                  At the City Lord's mansion:

                  Meng Chong, surrounded by lightning shadows, beat the assassin black and blue.

                  He sneered: "You think you can assassinate me?"


                  At the Zhou family estate:

                  Zhou Zeshan and Zhou Zhu opened their eyes one after the other.

                  The next moment, intense pain surged through their bodies!

                  Zhou Zeshan saw his body covered in ants.

                  Countless ants swarmed densely, layer upon layer, having already gnawed the lower half of Zhou Zeshan's body down to the bone. His abdomen was half-devoured, intestines scattered, many severed and being greedily consumed by the ants.

                  Zhou Zeshan's pupils shrank to needle points, filled with extreme horror!

                  In the next moment, his five-elemental power erupted violently, whipping up a fierce wind that swept the ants away.

                  On the other side, Zhou Zhu was also desperately clearing away the ants. His situation was slightly better, but below his waist, nothing remained but bones.

                  "Someone set us up, there’s a traitor in the family!"

                  "Help, someone, help!"
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                15. Offline
                  Eaon
                  Eaon
                  + 2 ⋅ 0 -
                  Chapter 106: Ning Zhuo Under Attack

                  Ning family.

                  Ning Xiaohui had just taken a sip of tea when her expression suddenly changed drastically.

                  She dropped the cup in her hand, immediately kneeling to the ground, clutching her neck.

                  "I...I..." Ning Xiaohui struggled to breathe, her face turning a terrifying shade of purple.

                  The tea had numbed her nasal passages and tongue, the corrosive poison filling her nose and mouth, preventing her from breathing!

                  In the next moment, Ning Xiaohui extended her hand and clawed at her throat.

                  She ripped her own throat open, causing blood to gush out. But by doing so, she managed to draw in a fresh breath of air.

                  The Ning family guards, alerted by the commotion, rushed in and were shocked by what they saw. They hurried to report the situation.

                  Ning Xiaohui's face was fierce, a spell ready in her hand, aimed at anyone who tried to approach.

                  The Ning family guards dared not act rashly.
                  When Ning Xiaohui saw her grandmother appear, she finally relaxed and passed out.

                  Ning Zhuo's small courtyard.
                  Inside the small training chamber in the bedroom, Ning Zhuo sat with his eyes closed, fully focused.

                  Drops of blood fell from his nose, staining his chest and reddening his clothes.

                  This was a nosebleed.

                  Ning Zhuo was exerting all his effort, using the Mirror Terrace Communion Technique to observe, using the Heart Seal to control Yuan Dasheng, occasionally channeling Dasheng's internal spiritual power to cast spells.

                  When Yuan Dasheng reached the final door, he was covered in wounds. Three fingers on his left hand were broken, and his right leg had almost been severed. Ning Zhuo had to command Yuan Dasheng to retreat to the maintenance room, perform self-repairs, and only then was he able to continue exploring.

                  Although Ning Zhuo's puppet did not match Yuan Dasheng in overall strength, the two complemented each other perfectly, one attacking from afar, the other engaging in close combat, creating a synergistic effect.

                  Relying solely on Yuan Dasheng to force his way through would have significantly increased the difficulty.

                  Yuan Dasheng bravely charged through the three Buddha gates, once again standing before the reward selection door.

                  Without hesitation, Ning Zhuo directly chose the "Fire Cremation Prajna Liberation Sutra" this time!

                  The sutra's content quickly reached Ning Zhuo's mind.

                  "Just as I thought!" Ning Zhuo was initially thrilled, then stunned.

                  The teachings within the Fire Cremation Prajna Liberation Sutra moved him deeply!

                  He suppressed his tumultuous emotions and then commanded Yuan Dasheng to push open the door and enter another hall, encountering a new set of Buddha, Dao, and Demon doors.

                  These three doors required cultivation at the peak of the sixth level, beyond Yuan Dasheng's capability.

                  Ning Zhuo invoked the power of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, allowing Yuan Dasheng to retreat successfully and re-enter the reward phase.

                  The dragon turtle fire spirit was furious.

                  Previously, Ning Zhuo was only cheating himself, but now even his puppet is cheating!

                  In the mystical palace, turmoil ensues as Meng Kui intervenes once more.

                  The noble Nascent Soul cultivator is exhausted, constantly worried about a volcanic eruption that could cause a massive disaster, destroying life and land.

                  Within the palace, tranquility reigns, and Ning Zhuo has some small expectations.

                  "What should I choose this time?"

                  "Hmm? Another Mirage Lotus Seed?"

                  "If my guess is correct..."

                  Ning Zhuo thought for a moment and chose another Mirage Lotus Seed.

                  The second Mirage Lotus Seed followed the Lifeline Silk and was delivered to his Sea of Consciousness, quickly merging with the previous divine embryo.

                  Soon, the lotus bud, which had just sprouted, doubled in height after the merger!

                  Seeing this, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit suddenly felt less angry.

                  It had not expected that after Ning Zhuo suffered once, he would still gamble again, thus choosing the second Mirage Lotus Seed.

                  All the Mirage Lotus Seeds rewarded in the Lava Immortal Palace contain a portion of the essence of the Lifeline Silk divine power.

                  The quantity is limited, and it's first-come, first-served.

                  However, comprehending the divine power is extremely difficult.

                  Ning Zhuo's choice made the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit gloat!

                  Thus, under the puzzled gaze of the city lord, the previously turbulent Lava Immortal Palace suddenly calmed down.

                  "What on earth is going on with this palace spirit?" Meng Xiao furrowed his brows, utterly baffled.

                  Yuan Dasheng pushed the door open and then retreated again to receive another reward.

                  For the third time, Ning Zhuo still chose the Mirage Lotus Seed!

                  Seeing this, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit laughed so hard it rolled around, its mocking laughter echoing in the main hall.

                  The fourth time, also the last time.

                  Unable to continue, Ning Zhuo still chose the Mirage Lotus Seed.

                  After merging three Mirage Lotus Seeds, the lotus embryo had grown into a small lotus root arm.

                  Accompanying this was a flood of insights, like a river constantly washing over Ning Zhuo's mind.

                  Ning Zhuo hurriedly focused on his comprehension, and in the midst of this process, he suddenly opened his eyes.

                  He was in the small training chamber, surrounded by clouds obscuring his vision.

                  But Ning Zhuo turned his head and stared in a certain direction, his brows furrowed, and his eyes gleaming darkly.

                  At the courtyard gate, Ning family Qi Refining cultivators were patrolling.

                  Clip-clop, clip-clop!

                  A series of urgent hoofbeats approached.

                  A horse-drawn carriage seemed to have lost control, hurtling towards the small courtyard. The Ning family cultivators first shouted to stop it, then cast spells to try to halt it. However, the spells couldn't stop the carriage, which violently crashed through the courtyard gate and rushed into the yard.

                  After a slight adjustment in direction, it charged straight towards the bedroom where Ning Zhuo was.

                  "Enemy attack!"

                  A Foundation Establishment cultivator descended like a falling star, blocking the carriage just in time, but his expression changed dramatically.

                  "Bomb!"

                  In the next moment, the carriage exploded, sending intense heat and flames soaring into the sky, with the blast wave surging in all directions. The explosion turned everything white-hot. The roof of Ning Zhuo's house was first blown off, followed by the walls collapsing. Everything inside, including furniture and arrangements, was obliterated in the explosion.

                  The intense blast nearly flattened the surrounding area. Amidst the smoke and dust, the Ning family guards regrouped. Only two Foundation Establishment cultivators remained, as the other two Qi Refining cultivators had perished in the explosion.

                  One of the surviving Foundation Establishment cultivators, who had intercepted the carriage, was severely injured. Despite his injuries, he frantically searched for Ning Zhuo. Protecting him was their primary mission! But the house was gone, and the newly built training chamber was reduced to a small section of ruined walls.

                  "It's over, it's over. Ning Zhuo is dead!"

                  "No, we still have hope."

                  "Yes, yes, the basement, there's a basement here."

                  They quickly performed hand seals and frantically dug into the ground. Soon, they uncovered a passage leading to the basement. Inside, they found that most of the basement's structure had collapsed. However, to their immense relief, Ning Zhuo was indeed there.

                  "You're alive!"

                  "Thank heavens!"

                  The Ning family Foundation Establishment cultivators were nearly in tears of joy. Ning Zhuo, though breathing weakly and seemingly injured, said, "Brothers, there's no time for talk. Quickly set up protection around me. Also, send a message to the family and ask them to send reinforcements."

                  The two Foundation Establishment cultivators snapped to action, one nodding frantically. "Yes, yes, we must do that!"

                  A temporary formation was set up, with Ning Zhuo at its center. Outside the formation, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators stood guard, on high alert. At the slightest disturbance, they were ready to unleash their spells without hesitation.

                  Shortly after, a large contingent of Ning family cultivators arrived to provide support. Ning Xiaoren led the way, greeting Ning Zhuo as he emerged from the protective formation. "Nephew, nephew, when I heard you were attacked, I was so worried. I've been anxious the entire way here! Luckily, you have the favor of the heavens and survived this deadly ordeal."

                  "So dangerous!"

                  Ning Zhuo first saluted, then asked, "Uncle Ning, the assailant was incredibly vicious, blowing up my residence. This place was left to me by my mother, and now it's nothing but ruins. When will we catch the scum who attacked me? I can't rest easy until we do!"

                  Ning Xiaoren looked troubled, carefully choosing his words to calm Ning Zhuo. "For now, let's escort you back to the family estate. You should stay at my residence; it will be much safer."

                  This time, Ning Zhuo didn't have much room to refuse. However, he still said, "Uncle Ning, I don't want to trouble you constantly. When I was in school, I stayed at my elder uncle's house. How about I stay there this time? After all, they live within the inner perimeter of the estate."

                  Ning Xiaoren thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Very well. If you are uncomfortable at my place, I won't force you. I'll send more guards to protect you day and night."

                  "You may not know, but the geniuses in the Qi Refining stage from the four major forces of the Volcano Immortal City have all been attacked, each sustaining injuries. Ning Xiaohui is already unconscious. Your situation is relatively better."

                  Ning Zhuo showed a look of shock and fear, gasping in a low voice. Ning Xiaoren sighed, his brow furrowed in deep worry.

                  ******************************

                  Editor (Monk Doleey): Fellow Daoist, hope you're all loving the series! I split Gu Zhen Ren's bulk upload into three days over the past few days, with six chapters each day so we could all enjoy a big read.

                  But as you know, all good things must come to an end so we'll go back to our usual schedule of two chapters a day starting tomorrow.
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                16. Offline
                  Ars2004
                  Ars2004
                  + 2 ⋅ 0 -
                  Bro, where did you get the chapters from?
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                17. Offline
                  Eaon
                  Eaon
                  + 3 ⋅ 0 -
                  Novtales.com
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  6. Offline
    Supreme_Ancestor
    Supreme_Ancestor
    + 1 ⋅ 0 -
    Damn! Now they'll definitely ask how he fainted and there will be suspicion regarding this Golden Ape puppet which looks like Yuan Dasheng. pressure
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  7. Offline
    BookEater
    BookEater
    + 2 ⋅ 0 -
    Interesante
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  8. Offline
    EmpyreanSerenity
    EmpyreanSerenity
    + 1 ⋅ 0 -
    Is there a free chinese source of the novel available , if so can anybody inform me bond
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    1. Offline
      EmpyreanSerenity
      EmpyreanSerenity
      + 0 ⋅ 0 -
      No need now , in the links section it already had chinese source listed , i didnt look carefully before . Hmm there was 86 chapters there and i read them using Google translate..
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