: Ning Xiao Zhuo, Eager to Help Friends

July 31, 2024, Author: Gu Zhenren

Ning Ze's home also had a cultivation chamber.

After finishing his meal, Ning Zhuo entered the cultivation chamber and began his practice.

He first inspected the surrounding facilities and found no surveillance methods. Then he carefully examined the array laid out inside the chamber.

The array was complex and interconnected with the Ning family's main array.

The Ning family's main array, in turn, revolved around one of the array pillars of the Fire Persimmon Immortal City's grand array.

Through this layered and refined relationship, the array in Ning Ze's cultivation chamber could provide relatively abundant spiritual energy.

The source of this spiritual energy was the endless fire-attribute spiritual energy within the Fire Persimmon Mountain.

The vast fire-attribute spiritual energy, mixed with toxic煞 (sha), was purified by the Fire Persimmon Immortal City's grand array, resulting in refined fire-attribute spiritual energy.

This fire-attribute spiritual energy was then converted into neutral spiritual energy through some complex arrays.

By the time it reached the Ning family estate, the neutral spiritual energy was further converted into ice-attribute or water-attribute spiritual energy.

This was because the mainstream cultivation techniques of the Ning family were primarily ice-attribute or water-attribute techniques.

After switching his cultivation, the technique Ning Zhuo used for breathing and refining was the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, which boasted wide coverage – it could directly absorb any spiritual energy related to the five elements.

Therefore, this cultivation chamber was also suitable for him.

Soon, wisps of floating clouds drifted within the cultivation chamber.

The clouds layered upon each other, covering Ning Zhuo from head to toe, wrapping him into a large cotton-like ball.

However, because the cultivation chamber was spacious, the clouds only condensed around Ning Zhuo and couldn't fill the entire sealed room.

Back when the Ning family was setting up their family estate, they had put in great effort and invested heavily.

Wrapped in the clouds, Ning Zhuo first took out some spirit food pastries, enjoying their lingering flavor. Then he drank a bottle of specially made fruit juice worth over a hundred spirit stones, causing the spiritual power within his body to surge and his entire being to feel so full it was almost bloated.

After all, consuming too many elixirs leads to drug toxicity, so he refrained from taking any for now.

Spirit food didn't have this hidden risk; its drawbacks were that it spoiled easily, was difficult to preserve long-term, and was expensive.

Spirit food was much more expensive than elixirs.

But who told Ning Zhuo was rich now!

His current income included profits from the Mechanical Blaze Monkeys, periodic ranking rewards from the Molten Rock Immortal Palace, and the resources obtained by following his uncle's scheme.

The largest portion came from the cultivation resources jointly issued by the three families. Previously, the share was already substantial. This time, with the successive attacks on the talents of the three families, they were greatly stimulated, causing the resources they distributed to skyrocket three to four times compared to before!

Ning Zhuo had already demonstrated his cultivation level and his potentially undetected innate talent. The resource share he received was top-tier, completely on the same level as Zheng Jian and others!

So, Ning Zhuo had the means to indulge in this spirit food extravagantly.

After the spirit food, he also had elixirs prepared.

Additionally, his cushion magic tool was an excellent auxiliary cultivation instrument.

Today, the three families jointly issued a new batch of resources. The Advancing Needles and Icy Light Meridian Strengthening Talismans caught Ning Zhuo's eye. These were usually materials only talents like Ning Xiao Hui from the main branch were qualified to enjoy!

Breathing and refining the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, urging the refinement of the Demonic Tainted Blood Sinews Technique, meditating on the Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Art...

The progress speed of these three techniques, with resources maxed out, was practically visible to the naked eye.

At first, five-colored glorious light swirled around Ning Zhuo, dyeing the inner layers of clouds. Then, a red demonic light covered his face, with blood energy overflowing. Finally, his aura收敛 (converged), and a Buddhist nature rose, giving his face a compassionate expression.

Once his cultivation reached his body's limit, Ning Zhuo decisively stopped.

Cultivating techniques too quickly wasn't good either.

His body, especially his three dantians, needed a process of adaptation and buffering.

Rapidly increasing cultivation often led to an unstable foundation for this very reason.

However, among the resources Ning Zhuo used, there were also many good items that accelerated adaptation. He didn't hesitate to use them directly.

"Right now, for me, I must spare no effort and strive at the greatest speed to seize the Molten Rock Immortal Palace."

"Wealth is merely external. If I fail to seize the palace and lose my life in the future, no amount of spirit stones would be meaningful."

Ning Zhuo had a profound understanding of this aspect.

He opened the chamber door and walked out.

He wore a smile.

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

"Mainly, the Advancing Needles and Icy Light Meridian Strengthening Talismans are truly effective."

"If叠加 (stacked) with the Gathering and Dispersing at Will Spiritual Tide Array, it would surely be even better."

"Unfortunately, I can't go use it."

Ning Zhuo was very wary of the Zhou family's strength and their way of doing things.

Among the three families, Ning Zhuo understood the Ning family deeply and had some certainty. The Zheng family had a clear and straightforward style, making their next moves easy to guess.

The Zhou family was different.

In terms of strength, the Zhou family was undoubtedly first among the three families; even the Zheng family themselves felt there was a hard power gap with the Zhou family.

But in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, the most prominent family wasn't the Zhou family, but the Zheng family.

The Zhou family liked to plan before acting; they were generally deep and reserved. Zhou Zhu was somewhat an exception, while Zhou Ze Shen could be considered a representative of Zhou family cultivators. The latter possessed too many of the Zhou family's styles and characteristics.

"I used the Golden Blood War Ape - Great Victory and accidentally uncovered the Zhou family's little scheme."

"Until now, the Zhou family has remained tight-lipped about it."

Ning Zhuo, of course, wouldn't take the initiative to expose it.

The Zhou family temporarily keeping it secret was beneficial for him.

"Young masters, this way please. Young Master Ning Zhuo is in the side hall." Before long, a servant led Ning Chen and Ning Yong in.

Entering the side hall, the two saw Ning Zhuo.

"Ah Zhuo!" Ning Yong raised his arm high and waved, very excited.

Ning Chen smiled and cupped his hands in salute towards Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo waved his hand: "With our friendship, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down, let's chat while we eat."

"Exactly, why be polite with Ah Zhuo! We've been through life and death together." Ning Yong walked over casually, and upon seeing the variety of spirit food pastries on the round table, his eyes bulged.

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

Ning Chen also sat down with a look of surprise.

The two had been cultivating at home when they received a servant's report that Ning Zhuo had invited them.

Ning Zhuo was already different from before. The two felt particularly close to him, admiring him, and secretly harbored some guilt, along with much goodwill. They immediately欣然 (gladly) agreed and left home to come here.

The three chatted in the side hall.

Ning Yong's cheeks were puffed up and never deflated, eating voraciously.

Ning Chen was initially a bit reserved and somewhat拘谨 (restrained), but under Ning Zhuo's persuasion, he also consumed many pastries.

From the moment he saw the two, Ning Zhuo began activating his embryonic supernatural power, Thread of Human Life.

After chatting for the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, he finally succeeded in placing one Thread of Human Life above each of their heads.

These two Threads of Human Life were noticeably much thinner and semi-transparent compared to those on his cousin Ning Ji and his aunt Wang Lan.

"Understanding the target actually affects the execution of the Thread of Human Life this much!"

Ning Zhuo pondered inwardly.

The embryonic supernatural power only informed him that he had mastered this ability.

It was like having legs, letting Ning Zhuo know he could walk, run, and jump. But how far he could walk, how fast he could run, how high he could jump – all these required Ning Zhuo to实践 (practice) himself.

True knowledge comes from practice.

Now, seeing this, Ning Zhuo immediately realized that his previous estimates had been overly optimistic.

"Ning Chen and Ning Yong are both my classmates; we've been together for fourteen years. Although we weren't close friends usually, we were quite familiar with each other and knew each other's general information."

"My cultivation level is even higher than theirs, and even so, it took the time of two cups of tea to successfully place the Thread of Human Life."

From this, it was clear that the Thread of Human Life had limited practical combat value.

In battle, most opponents aren't very familiar.

With such intense combat, rapid shifts between offense and defense, and life-threatening danger, who could methodically connect a Thread of Human Life?

At least for now, Ning Zhuo couldn't do it.

"This supernatural power is primarily for managing influence; it cannot perform excellently in the field of combat."

"Unless I prepare in advance and lay down the Thread of Human Life."

"But based on the current situation, to place the Thread of Human Life, the distance must be very close. Beyond three steps, it's as difficult as climbing to the sky!"

With the Threads of Human Life finally in place, Ning Zhuo stopped the idle chat and took the initiative: "I invited you two here this time because I want to lend a hand."

"Your cultivation levels are temporarily behind mine. I've reached the peak of the third level and have gained some experience."

"I can pass on these experiences to you."

Ning Yong and Ning Chen looked at each other, both seeing惊喜 (pleasant surprise) in each other's eyes.

"That's fantastic!" Ning Yong cheered.

Ning Chen, however, stood up, with a solemn expression, and bowed 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 salute.

"We've been classmates for over ten years and have been through life and death together; there's no need for this." Ning Zhuo laughed heartily, "How about this: both of you come with me into the room, we'll go to the cultivation chamber, and I'll guide you personally."

The three then entered the cultivation chamber inside the main house.

"This is the main family's chamber. In our home, my grandfather uses it the most, then my father. I only get to use it occasionally when it's my turn." Ning Yong sighed, "Ah Zhuo, it seems your uncle is treating you quite well now."

Ning Chen chuckled lightly: "This must be a recent change from your uncle, Ah Zhuo! If the mistreatment was just a rumor, how could it have persisted throughout over ten years of school life?"

Ning Zhuo smiled, neither confirming nor denying: "My uncle has a secret mission and recently went out on assignment. That's why I can use this chamber."

This was the unified explanation对外 (to the outside).

Ning Ze's matter hadn't blown up; it was limited to only a few people.

On one hand, Ning Xiao Ren knew he had set the trap and wouldn't publicize it. On the other hand, Ning Ze cared deeply about face; he would rather die than reveal it. Finally, Ning Ze had no motivation to expose this scandal to the outside world. Wang Lan and Ning Ji would do everything possible to keep it secret; why would they spread it around?

Ning Zhuo asked the two to sit down.

They were also members of the technique-switching team. Taking out their cushions from their storage bags, they began their breathing exercises.

Ning Zhuo moved around them and immediately started applying needles.

They had also brought their own Advancing Needles and Icy Light Meridian Strengthening Talismans.

Ning Zhuo used their own set of Advancing Needles, but for the Icy Light Meridian Strengthening Talismans, he used some of theirs and some of his own.

This was a layer of concealment, a precaution for the future.

(End of )