: Call for Talents (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Author: Gu Zhenren

Date: 2024-07-31

Ning Zhuo busily tinkered, using the facilities in the preparation room to quickly process the previously selected mechanism parts like the hanging ring and small flying box.

The hanging ring was transformed into a Cocoon Hanging Ring. When thrown and making contact with an object, it would burst forth with countless silk threads, wrapping the target layer by layer to form a cocoon, hanging from the ceiling.

The small flying box was modified into a flying shield. The shield orbited around the puppet, capable of automatic defense and absorbing various incoming spells. Once the stored spell power reached its limit, the small flying box shield would self-destruct, with a considerable explosive force.

Ning Zhuo named it the "Honest Man."

Ning Zhuo processed these modified mechanism parts and distributed them to everyone else.

For a while, everyone tested them out in the preparation room, unanimously praising Ning Zhuo's craftsmanship.

Taking advantage of everyone's immersion in practice, Ning Zhuo stood before the five-sided stone pillar and, under the disdainful gaze of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, "fumbled" out the trial disciple mark.

"Come quick, everyone, look what I found!" Ning Zhuo exclaimed.

Everyone gathered around.

Ning Zhuo showed them the trial disciple mark he had "just" obtained.

Everyone was overjoyed.

Many said, "This discovery is too important!"

"It will be a huge help for exploring the immortal palace in the future."

"A Zhuo, with this contribution, I think you deserve some Ice Jade Wine!"

"Ice Jade Wine?!" Ning Zhuo immediately showed a longing expression. "I've heard about it since I was a child; I really want to taste it."

"Who doesn't?!" Everyone laughed, their morale rising again and again.

And so, Ning Zhuo led everyone, relying on the modified mechanism parts and his own exceptionally outstanding control ability, successfully broke through level after level until they reached the eighth level!

Yuan Dasheng appeared before everyone.

"That mechanical ape has finally shown up!"

"A Zhuo, I'm afraid we might have to stop here this time."

"But it's okay, this result is already quite impressive; we've broken the previous record!"

"Exactly, when we return to the clan, A Zhuo, you will definitely be heavily rewarded."

"Maybe you'll even get some Ice Jade Wine, haha."

By the time they reached this point, the Ning clan members were all at the end of their strength. Due to Ning Zhuo's deliberate arrangements, he had gradually "sacrificed" some of his companions in the previous levels.

By the time Yuan Dasheng appeared, his giant puppet had shrunk significantly, with only five companions left.

Ning Zhuo's fighting spirit was firm: "How can we admit defeat without even fighting? Let's work together and battle this mechanical ape with all our might!"

Everyone shouted in unison, their morale fully roused by Ning Zhuo.

However, Yuan Dasheng's strength was quite "formidable." The heads on the giant puppet were successively destroyed and exploded by him.

After only Ning Zhuo remained, Yuan Dasheng half-knelt on the ground: "My lord, this subordinate has committed a grave offense by daring to attack you. Please punish me!"

Ning Zhuo coughed, trying hard to play the role of the lord. First, he said it was a ruse, then he ordered Yuan Dasheng to atone for his crime through meritorious service.

Ning Zhuo picked and chose, equipped himself with various items, and had Yuan Dasheng lead the way through the ninth level, entering the transit hall.

He pushed open the first Buddhist door and cleared three levels in a row.

When it came to the reward phase, he no longer had the Illusory Truth Lotus Seed to choose from, so he selected a spell to enhance his simultaneous perception of multiple mechanism constructs.

He entered the second transit hall, activated the Mirror Platform Spiritual Insight Art at its peak sixth layer, and successfully pushed open the second Buddhist door.

"A brand new level, here I come!" He stepped inside.

He returned defeated.

He almost cleared the first level beyond the Buddhist door but fell just short.

When he awoke, he was met with the flattery and congratulations of his clansmen, and Ning Xiaoren personally came, full of joy, to encourage and praise him.

Ning Zhuo's performance this time was truly astonishing!

Ning Zhuo took the opportunity to make his request: "Uncle Xiaoren, with this achievement, can I get some Ice Jade Wine?"

Ning Xiaoren's eye twitched slightly. He smiled broadly, patted Ning Zhuo's shoulder, and said, "Alright, I'll do my best to get it for you!"

Nandou Capital.

Inside the Golden Luang Hall.

The King of Nandou frowned deeply as he looked at the memorial before him.

This memorial was jointly submitted by Meng Kui, the City Lord of Fire Persimmon Immortal City, and Zhu Xuanji of the Divine Arrest Department.

"As expected, problems have arisen regarding Fire Persimmon Mountain!"

"Sending reinforcements…"

The King of Nandou felt greatly troubled.

This world was not dominated by Nandou alone. Once news of a Void Refining-level legacy leaked, it would inevitably attract countless covetous eyes. Major forces would extend their触手.

Unless Nandou dispatched heavy troops, it would truly be unable to secure Fire Persimmon Mountain.

The King of Nandou knew all too well that currently, the cultivation nations had long been engaged in疯狂 military buildup, competing fiercely for nearly a century. Some major nations still had some reserves, but medium-sized nations like Nandou were already exhausted. As for the small nations, they had long fallen behind.

Nandou had heavy troops and generals stationed at various key points and borders, maintaining a stalemate with surrounding nations and forces.

Dispatching heavy troops would inevitably require transferring these soldiers and generals, a move that would affect the overall situation.

Of course, there were also idle military forces—the strongest army in Nandou: the Imperial Guards.

But this army was responsible for defending the capital, a matter of great significance that should not be lightly moved. Surely they couldn't dispatch the Imperial Guards just because something happened in Fire Persimmon Immortal City?

Moreover, Fire Persimmon Immortal City was still a relatively new city within Nandou, with relatively low cultivation resources and population.

Sending heavy troops was not feasible. What about抽调某些强者呢?

The King of Nandou quickly thought through the candidates, his frown deepening.

Nandou had been established for several hundred years. The势力 of the old ministers in the court were deeply entrenched. They were interconnected through marriages and alliances, their interests intertwined.

People from the Meng family, or those close to the Meng family, could not be chosen.

Then, could others be selected?

Those qualified to contend with the Meng family, such as the Su family. If someone from the Su family was chosen, wouldn't that be giving the Su family an opportunity to compete for the Lava Immortal Palace?

Were there people without connections to these old ministerial势力?

There were.

But wouldn't such candidates be targeted or co-opted?

In fact, this kind of thing had happened too many times.

The Zhu family's hold on the Nandou royal power had always been unstable. Fundamentally, the founding Emperor lacked the Mandate of King! It all relied on the supernatural powers of the Three Sects Sage.

The Zhu family, now in its third generation, still lacked the Mandate of King, and no descendants had inherited the supernatural powers.

"Since your Zhu family can be the rulers of a nation, why can't our clan?" Families like the Meng and Su, major cultivation clans, frequently entertained such thoughts.

The King of Nandou felt孤立 and寡, experiencing the loneliness of high position.

In such circumstances, only members of the royal family could be considered reliable!

However, the Nandou royal family lacked talent. Zhu Xuanji was already among the most outstanding of his generation.

If not for this, the King of Nandou would not have specifically sent Zhu Xuanji to Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

As the ruler of a nation, the King of Nandou thought it over and realized that among the满朝文武, there was no suitable candidate to send as reinforcements!

Now, with Fire Persimmon Immortal City风云纷起 and群雄觊觎, how should this be handled?

A difficult problem lay before the King of Nandou.

Several days later.

An imperial envoy from the Nandou capital floated high in the sky, proclaiming in a drawn-out tone: "By the King's decree, the City Lord of Fire Persimmon is to receive the decree."

"By the Mandate of the Land, the King proclaims: The Lava Immortal Palace belongs to the Three Sects Sage and is not the property of this nation. The Three Sects Sage, caring for the common people and pitying the world, left his traveling palace to suppress Fire Persimmon Mountain for many years."

"Nandou used this to construct the great formation and establish Fire Persimmon Immortal City. The Three Sects Sage's contributions are immense."

"Now, the Immortal Palace has emerged to select an heir. Nandou, grateful for the Sage's compassion, is happy to see this succeed and should not obstruct it."

"However, the Lava Immortal Palace suppresses the volcano,事关 the safety of hundreds of thousands of city residents, and cannot be moved. This was also the original intention of the Three Sects Sage."

"A Call for Talents is hereby established, widely recruiting worthy individuals regardless of origin, permitting free entry and exit to the Immortal Palace to compete for the right of inheritance, with no external restrictions."

"The person who inherits the Immortal Palace may enter the court as an official, ranked up to the fourth grade! Those unwilling to enter the court, according to the Call for Talents, must return the position of Palace Master. The Nandou court will provide adequate compensation."

"Those who enter the city or palace without signing the decree shall be considered enemies of Nandou and executed. Those who capture or kill them will receive heavy rewards from the capital…"

The imperial envoy's words, like a great bell, were clear and resonant, spreading throughout the entire Fire Persimmon Mountain.

Countless city residents looked up, listening quietly.

After hearing it, the previously silent Fire Persimmon Immortal City suddenly erupted in沸腾! Countless people cheered, countless people ran around spreading the news!

"Did you hear that?"

"The Three Sects Sage, he's a Void Refining-level expert."

"He's truly great; I only just found out that he's the main reason behind Fire Persimmon Mountain's stability!"

"He actually left behind his traveling palace, and the Lava Immortal Palace is selecting an heir?"

"Amazing! What a rare opportunity this is."

"I feel like I'm the future master of the Immortal Palace! So the turning point of my life is right here!"

Meng Kui stood up, received the floating decree with both hands, his eyes flickering with thoughtful light.

The King of Nandou's handling of the matter was somewhat出乎蒙岿预料.

Previously, spreading the news about the Lava Immortal Palace's emergence was Meng Kui's idea.

The reason was that Meng Kui could no longer stop Zhu Xuanji.

Zhu Xuanji was frequently entering and exiting the Immortal Palace with the Golden Core ancestors of the three major families. Meng Kui's purpose for staying here was reduced to suppressing any potential暴动 from the Immortal Palace.

On the contrary, his continued presence gave Zhu Xuanji the perfect reason to win over the three major families.

Meng Kui was worried that Zhu Xuanji might achieve a breakthrough, ultimately allowing the latter to inherit the Immortal Palace.

Especially since Meng Kui had witnessed Zhu Xuanji produce three quasi-Golden Core combat power mechanism beasts in a row, surrendering them to the Lava Immortal Palace in exchange for contribution points.

This move was quite substantial and showed that Zhu Xuanji had come prepared. Or, more accurately, the Nandou royal family was providing strong support behind Zhu Xuanji.

Coupled with the repeated setbacks on Meng Chong's side—the mechanical ape and mechanical puppet were too powerful—Meng Kui also saw little possibility of a short-term breakthrough.

Various reasons prompted Meng Kui to actively disseminate the information, thereby引狼入室 and拥兵自重, forcing the royal family to react.

The Meng family was well aware of the internal situation in the Nandou Kingdom.

Meng Kui断定 that the King of Nandou would be unable to transfer heavy troops to Fire Persimmon Immortal City to maintain order. In that case, he would send powerful reinforcements.

And these reinforcements would need to be at least at the Nascent Soul stage.

Meng Kui believed this was the most likely scenario. He had already notified the Meng family. Once this candidate was decided, the Meng family would act, making every effort to win them over.

But in the end, the imperial envoy brought a decree and a Call for Talents!

(End of )