: Teaching Ning Zhuo the Family Rules

"Recruitment Decree..." Meng Kui sneered inwardly.

The monarch's move wasn't surprising; the Recruitment Decree was within his expectations, and there were ways to deal with it.

In the days following the decree's announcement, three Golden Core cultivators entered Fire Persimmon Immortal City and were successfully "recruited" by the city lord's mansion.

The Meng family had discovered the Molten Rock Immortal Palace many years ago.

For the Meng family, controlling the Molten Rock Immortal Palace provided a legitimate reason to occupy Fire Persimmon Immortal City. While the city's resources weren't exceptional, its location was excellent. It wasn't an isolated enclave for the Meng family. Controlling it would allow their sphere of influence to expand significantly outward.

Throughout Southern Bean Kingdom, the Meng family's influence would rise substantially as a result.

These benefits were what the Meng family truly valued!

"The winds are changing!"

The proclamation's announcement echoed throughout the city, and Ning Zhuo naturally heard it.

He frowned, his gaze heavy, feeling the pressure intensify.

To compete for the succession rights to the Molten Rock Immortal Palace, there were currently two paths.

The first, the old path, was open to Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul stages and above. Each cultivation level had a standard for mechanism artistry proficiency. Meeting this standard allowed participation in the competition. By performing various tasks to aid the Molten Rock Immortal Palace, one could earn corresponding Palace Contribution Points.

Accumulating enough contribution points allowed one to exchange for resources. The highest level of contribution likely corresponded to the position of Palace Lord itself.

The second, new path, was only for Qi Refining cultivators, specifically those who practiced the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

Reaching the peak of the third layer of the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art granted eligibility for the 'Life-Thread Soul Extraction' entry into the palace.

Within trial stages specially arranged by the three honored masters, Qi Refining cultivators, in the form of wooden puppets, would continuously breakthrough barriers. They would learn and grow during this process.

Whether this new path ultimately led to the Immortal Palace throne, Ning Zhuo couldn't be entirely sure, but he suspected it did.

The discovery of this new path was a significant advantage for Ning Zhuo.

However, as he progressed and broke through barriers, he also encountered many unexpected events, several of which were life-threatening crises.

From initially appearing on the leaderboard, to Yuan Dasheng's sudden appearance, to Qi Bai capturing Sun Lingtong...

Reaching this point had consumed most of the resources he had accumulated over more than a decade. The mechanical constructs he had stockpiled were almost entirely depleted in the battle with Qi Bai.

Sun Lingtong was currently hiding in one of the few remaining underground bases, but even that wasn't safe.

The issuance of the Recruitment Decree would inevitably attract countless external cultivators, with a large wave of newcomers joining the competition.

Ning Zhuo felt uncertain about this.

The world was full of talented individuals, like fish swimming across a river. It wouldn't be strange at all for a true dragon among fish to leap forth.

"Especially those from famous sects and great clans. Those cultivators receive the finest education and superior cultivation resources from childhood. What do I have to compare with them?"

"My proficiency in mechanism artistry stands out within the Ning family, but the Ning family itself is known for its talisman expertise."

"Among the incoming cultivators, there will certainly be those whose mechanism artistry far surpasses mine."

"My advantage in mechanism artistry will become insignificant in comparison!"

"My greatest advantage now is being first. My progress through the trial stages is the fastest, and I hold first place in all five 'Entry Standard' leaderboards."

"But how long can I maintain this advantage?"

"Getting to this point, I've already exhausted my full capabilities."

Ning Zhuo desperately wanted to quickly clear the upcoming stages.

Currently, he had a Divine Sea cultivation at the sixth-level peak, allowing him to push open the second Buddhist Gate.

However, the first stage beyond the Buddhist Gate was quite difficult.

Ning Zhuo discovered through attempts that the challenger first enters half a room.

This half-room is a mechanism workshop.

The challenger temporarily has access to a limited number of mechanical tools and workbenches.

The stage provides some materials, allowing the challenger to choose one out of three.

After making nine consecutive choices, the challenger uses the selected materials to forge something.

Regardless of what mechanical construct is forged, it must cooperate with the Golden Blood War Ape, Dasheng, to face the subsequent test.

During the test, the other half of the room moves over, combining with the mechanism workshop to form a complete room.

Sometimes, the other half contains various obstacles and traps that the challenger's sentient construct must navigate.

Other times, the other half contains spell puppets, martial arts puppets, or groups of mechanical beasts that the sentient construct must defeat.

There are also times when the combined room includes a cage imprisoning a live Scarlet Flame demon beast, which the sentient construct must slay.

Ning Zhuo successfully passed seven tests consecutively but made a mistake on the eighth attempt, resulting in immediate failure.

There was no option to retreat and re-enter the stage; he was directly ejected from the Molten Rock Immortal Palace, his soul returning to his body.

Afterwards, Ning Zhuo repeatedly reflected on the experience, gaining many insights.

"Just as Boss Sun said earlier, the sentient construct forged by trial disciples within the Molten Rock Immortal Palace is a key element."

"Subsequent challenges are based on this sentient construct, building upon it for further development."

"Well, at least that's the case for this Buddhist Gate path."

"The grade of materials provided in the stages after the second Buddhist Gate is noticeably higher than before."

"Following this trend, the materials in later stages should be even better."

"The difficulty of the stages after the second Buddhist Gate far exceeds the previous ones. The trial content has increased nearly tenfold, and since the bottom hasn't been reached yet, the full extent of the content is still uncertain."

"Each test's battlefield can be scavenged. The various mechanical traps, obstacles, puppets, and Scarlet Flame demon beasts are all new materials that can be used to repair the sentient construct, create more mechanical components and parts, add modifications to the sentient construct, or even directly manufacture individual mechanical units."

"The remaining reward options from the first Buddhist Gate can provide direct assistance in this stage."

"The reward options from the first gate and the Demonic Gate offer less direct help. That's because throughout the entire test process, I cannot command Yuan Dasheng; I must rely on him to act on his own initiative."

"From this, it's also evident that the sentient construct forged at the first Buddhist Gate is extremely important! The greater its spiritual nature, the greater the advantage in tackling subsequent stages."

"Others trying to reach this point will face far greater difficulties than I did, and will undoubtedly expend much more energy and time than I have."

"Oh, I almost forgot."

"I closed both the Buddhist Gate and the Demonic Gate."

"They can't get in now."

Ning Zhuo thought about it; there were still loopholes.

The second transfer hall still had a Demonic Gate and a Buddhist Gate.

He needed to cheat again to close them.

The main issue was that this time, his exit from the Immortal Palace was abrupt. After failing the stage, he was directly thrown out.

"It's fine. Next time I have a chance, I'll try closing the gates first."

While Ning Zhuo was pondering the stages, the Ning Family Clan Leader and the Young Clan Leader were discussing him.

"Ning Zhuo has indeed rendered great service this time," the Clan Leader sighed.

Young Clan Leader Ning Xiaoren agreed, "That boy is indeed a seed talent in mechanisms, showing astonishing aptitude in mechanism artistry."

"However..." Ning Xiaoren's tone shifted, "His initiative in expressing his desire to taste the Ice Jade Wine to me gave me a very unfavorable impression."

Clan Leader Ning narrowed his eyes, speaking meaningfully, "Xiaoren, you need to pay attention to something."

"This time, Ning Zhuo organized a team and acted independently without informing us."

"Among those who acted with him, not a single one was from the main lineage."

Ning Xiaoren took a light breath, "Father, I also noticed—Ning Zhuo merely raised his arm and called, and these people gathered around him to act together. His influence among the branch lineages cannot be ignored!"

"Perhaps he's only at the Qi Refining stage now, but his reputation for talent has already caught the attention of countless branch families."

"If we don't curb him while he's still a sapling, it will be too late once he grows into a towering tree. We would regret it deeply."

Clan Leader Ning nodded slowly, "Good. Having this awareness shows my years of careful training haven't been wasted."

"Ning Zhuo is indeed a good seedling, talented, but he's too young. Young people are always somewhat unruly."

"He has overstepped somewhat. It's time to make him understand the principle that the family comes first, the individual second."

"Let him know that some rules must be obeyed."

"Go and give him a warning. Teach him well, so that he becomes a sharp blade for our main lineage in the future."

"Yes, Father. I take my leave." Ning Xiaoren bowed with cupped hands, stepped back a few paces, then turned and left.

(End of )