: The Golden Core Enters the Game

2024-07-31 Author: Gu Zhenren

: The Golden Core Enters the Game

It was the Zhou Family's turn.

The Zhou Family Head appeared: "My family made our fortune with a Spirit Gathering Array. As everyone knows, this array has nurtured an Array Spirit."

"The Spirit Gathering Array Spirit can consume some of its own spiritual nature to cast a spell that empowers soul bodies."

"With this spell, a cultivator can automatically absorb external spiritual energy, automatically convert it into personal magic power, and also reduce various costs associated with spellcasting."

The Zheng Family brought out the Ghost Martial Divine Soldier Training Art, the Zhou Family activated their Spirit Gathering Array Spirit, and the Ning Family produced the Foundation Establishment Ghost Cultivator Ning Xie, who possessed the innate Snow Soul Ice Prowess talent!

Ning Zhuo felt heavy-hearted.

These were the hidden strengths of each family, all significant moves. Usually kept under wraps, they were now being brought out for use.

Ning Zhuo thought about what the Ning Family Head had said regarding "a matter concerning the Golden Core Ancestors," which made the actions of the three families seem reasonable.

"Alright, you all continue the discussion. We won't delay you." The Zhou Family Head waved his hand and left the secret room.

The Ning Family Head followed him out.

Ning Xie remained floating mid-air, arms crossed, staring coldly at Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo acted as if he didn't notice, treating Ning Xie like air, which greatly frustrated him.

Zheng Hua continued: "These five jade slips record all the materials, spirit stones, and mechanical components we've managed to gather information on."

"Because it's extremely difficult to bring items into the Molten Rock Palace, the supplies we can use in this battle are limited to these."

The Ning Family's Ning Xie was the greatest achievement of the three families' joint research into the Molten Rock Palace, attempting to bring items inside.

In truth, each of the three families had hidden Ghost Cultivators as part of their foundational strength.

Ning Xie was the only one who succeeded because he possessed a talent that could mysteriously synergize with Ning Xiaohui's talent.

Ning Zhuo pressed a jade slip to his forehead. After reviewing its contents, his mood grew even heavier.

The information within the jade slip was extremely detailed, with even the spirit stones meticulously calculated.

It tallied the total number of explorers and calculated the maximum possible spirit stones the entire team could obtain if everyone chose the spirit stone reward.

It also calculated the amount if no one chose the reward.

Furthermore, it broke down scenarios for 30%, 50%, 70%, and 90% participation, providing precise numbers for each.

The quantities of mechanical components like the Hanging Rings and Small Flying Boxes were similarly detailed.

There were extremely precise calculations for the materials that could be purchased in the preparation room using spirit stones, and the time required to use each available crafting tool.

Moreover, the jade slip contained over a dozen categorized mechanical constructs.

Zheng Hua took the opportunity to explain: "These are all mechanical constructs carefully selected by our three families through discussion."

"Their functions and capabilities are described in detail. The materials, spirit stones, etc., needed to construct them have all been accurately calculated."

"If anyone has ideas for other good mechanical constructs, please suggest them, and we can discuss them further."

Ning Zhuo remained silent.

Zhou Zeshen, however, looked at Ning Zhuo, not letting him off the hook. With a smile and a sincere expression, he said: "Brother Ning, you must have noticed that most of these mechanical constructs originate from my sect, the Mudflow Sect."

"The Mudflow Sect specializes in mechanical constructs that alter terrain, which is also the sect's main business."

"The Drill Earth Mole is used to soften rock and dig tunnels. The Night Sky Bat is for terrain reconnaissance and creating 3D maps. The White Tiger Ram Cart is for opening large tunnels. The Mud Door Earth Shaker Hammer is for breaking large boulders and compacting foundations."

"Brother Ning's talent for mechanics is well-known. The mechanisms you designed, the Fire Furious Monkey and the Fire Bamboo Snake, are also adept at combat."

"So, your suggestions are very important!"

Ning Zhuo gave a slight smile: "I will certainly do my best, but these mechanisms need careful study before I can offer an opinion. This matter is significant; I dare not speak recklessly."

"Hahaha." Zhou Zeshen laughed. "Then we shall await Brother Ning's insightful comments."

Zheng Hua continued: "Next, I will introduce you to several tactics the three-family alliance has already prepared."

"The first is the Zhou Family Battle Formation."

After the discussion concluded, Ning Zhuo returned to his private room.

Along the way, he frowned, his heart heavy.

"The preparation room, the mature tactics, the three families' hidden strengths..." Ning Zhuo pondered and reflected, feeling an increasingly immense pressure.

His earlier assumptions were correct; the three-family alliance did indeed rely on the functions of the preparation room.

But he wasn't entirely right.

Whether it was the several major battle techniques of the alliance or the hidden strengths the families revealed, almost all were beyond his expectations.

The secret of "a matter concerning the Golden Core Ancestors" made it even harder for him to guess what was happening at the higher levels.

"The three-family alliance... their strength lies in numbers." Ning Zhuo deeply felt the advantage of having many people.

Even if none of their members made it to the ranking list to receive ample spirit stone rewards, the sheer number of通关 rewards accumulated through their personnel alone constituted a vast amount.

The three-family alliance consolidated all their resources, made incredibly精细 calculations, and based on that, researched the optimal allocation.

It could be said they fully exploited their combat potential.

Right now, Ning Zhuo's greatest relief was that the exploration path of entering the palace via soul prohibited bringing external items inside.

For Ning Zhuo, this was a significant layer of protection.

If external items could indeed be brought in, the three great families would be able to unleash even more terrifying combat power!

Ning Zhuo took out the Floating Cloud Kerchief, positioned himself within the depths of the cloud, and then sent his soul into the palace.

Sun Lingtong was already waiting for him.

Ning Zhuo informed him of the latest intelligence. Sun Lingtong's mood immediately turned heavy: "The enemy's forces are so strong. It seems we must deploy Qi Bai if we want any chance of victory."

Ning Zhuo sighed: "Relying solely on Yuan Dasheng is indeed becoming difficult."

"However, we mustn't be too rash."

"If absolutely necessary, I just won't accept the battle formation challenge this time."

"We must be extremely wary of the Soul Devourer Sect's hidden schemes."

Sun Lingtong nodded: "Don't worry, I know my limits!"

Sun Lingtong's soul returned to his body. Staring at Qi Bai's storage pouch before him, he frowned, his face filled with determination.

He had already made up his mind: "Xiaozhuo is set on seizing the Molten Rock Palace."

"This goal isn't just a major life opportunity for him; it's also his mother's entrustment, a task he must complete!"

"It holds far too much significance for him!"

"He says it lightly, thinking I don't know? If he doesn't accept the battle formation, the three-family alliance will advance unhindered, and it might even raise their suspicions."

"As his boss, if I don't back him up now, when will I?"

Sun Lingtong's progress in cracking Qi Bai's storage pouch was slow, but day after day, he had reached the final stage.

"Time is limited. I need to take a bit of a risk!"

As a member of a邪派, Sun Lingtong never lacked a spirit of adventure. Back in his Qi Refining stage, he stole treasures from Foundation Establishment cultivators. He had been caught stealing before, imprisoned and tortured by a gang.

He didn't冒险 out of necessity; he enjoyed it, finding physical and mental pleasure and excitement in刺激 activities like theft.

"Then let's do it!" Sun Lingtong puffed out his cheeks, mustered all his strength, and activated a spell.

Soon after, Qi Bai's storage pouch was opened. A wisp of black-gray smoke drifted upward.

Sun Lingtong, quick-eyed and deft-handed, snuffed out the wisp before it could drift far!

"Good!"

"My estimation was correct; there were no other defensive measures. Hahaha, I cracked a Golden Core cultivator's storage pouch!"

Sun Lingtong immediately checked inside. Qi Bai's storage pouch was rich in resources, worth a fortune.

There were seven magical instruments he didn't commonly use.

The cultivation resources were almost all closely related to soul cultivation.

The few unrelated materials were surprisingly all at the Golden Core level. Offloading such materials wasn't easy; it required finding the right auction or trading partner.

Thus, they had all accumulated in Qi Bai's possession.

The most valuable items were some of Qi Bai's personal effects.

"These are excellent fuel for the Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra." Sun Lingtong beamed with joy.

Ning Zhuo had long since transmitted the relevant sutra to Sun Lingtong.

Therefore, during Ning Zhuo's special training period, Sun Lingtong, relying on his own ability, could also burn items to add spirituality to Qi Bai.

Somewhere in the darkness, two will-o'-the-wisps suddenly lit up.

Looking closer, one would see these two wisps were actually the eyes of a cultivator.

Luo Shang!

A true disciple of the Soul Devourer Sect, tasked with the sect's mission of finding and avenging the killer of Qi Bai.

He had long since infiltrated Fire Persimmon Immortal City without attracting attention, concealing his identity all along.

"The two Soul Devourer Sect disciples in the City Lord's Manor dungeon were just bait and a trap."

"Why has Han Ming been missing and out of contact all this time?"

"Until now, she hasn't responded to my secret transmissions."

"Hmm?!"

At that moment, Luo Shang sensed Qi Bai's aura.

He had been continuously activating a sect secret technique.

"It's in that direction... inside the mountain!"

The will-o'-the-wisps vanished as Luo Shang immediately set off.

Not long after he disappeared, a female cultivator flashed onto the scene.

She had a face like a peach blossom and a tall, graceful figure. It was Yang Chanyu of the Not Empty Gate.

Yang Chanyu had been mingling in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, constantly changing her appearance daily, roaming around. One of her main objectives was to find Sun Lingtong.

In the sect, Sun Lingtong's soul tablet showed no abnormalities.

Even though the black market had been raided and Sun Lingtong was wanted, Yang Chanyu was convinced he was still in Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

"Where is that little rascal hiding?"

"I left behind secret signals, but none have been triggered by him."

"Hmph, he's deliberately avoiding me!"

Yang Chanyu couldn't find Sun Lingtong, but she unexpectedly discovered Luo Shang.

As soon as Luo Shang made a move, Yang Chanyu sensed it. After some thought, she decided to follow him secretly to see what Luo Shang had discovered.

Luo Shang carefully found a gap in the immortal city's defensive formation, took a long detour, and located the secret base inside the mountain.

However, when he entered the secret base, Sun Lingtong was long gone; the place was empty.

Sun Lingtong had gone to another underground base to replenish Qi Bai's spirituality.

Luo Shang thought about it, figured Sun Lingtong would return, and decided to wait for him like waiting for a rabbit by a tree stump!

"An underground base... Wait, that's Sun Lingtong's aura. Hmph, you little brat, I've finally found you." Yang Chanyu snorted coldly and also潜伏下来.

Meanwhile, in another secret room.

Zhu Xuanji gathered the three families' Golden Core Ancestors for a second round of secret discussions.

In the first discussion, Zhu Xuanji had proposed cooperation. He wanted the three families' Golden Core Ancestors to fully assist him in forming a team to charge into Fire Persimmon Mountain, directly attack the demon ape nest, and retrieve the Demon General's corpse!

This operation carried high risks; even Golden Core level cultivators faced the possibility of falling. But if the six Golden Core cultivators joined forces sincerely, there was a considerable chance of success.

Most crucially, the rewards were high!

Part of it was the rich spoils from destroying the demon ape nest, and another part was the remuneration Zhu Xuanji offered the Golden Core cultivators for their assistance.

The remuneration was very tempting.

Therefore, the three families' Golden Core cultivators were all in a state of hesitation.

Zhu Xuanji smiled and asked: "Fellow Daoists, I wonder how your considerations are proceeding?"

Zheng Shuang Gou was the first to speak: "Our side can have two people act, but... you'll have to increase the payment!"

(End of )