: The Subsequent Techniques

Lava Immortal Palace.

Second Transfer Hall, Second Dao Gate.

"Wahahaha!" Meng Chong laughed heartily, hands on his hips, head thrown back, looking utterly delighted.

The wooden puppets standing behind him numbered only seven or eight now, each bearing some damage.

Though their appearances were battered and broken, every one of them was exceptionally excited, cheering loudly.

"We passed, we passed again!"

"A new record, this is a brand new record!"

"We're still in first place. The closest to us is the Ning family's Ning Zhuo team. But they've only just reached the first Dao Gate. Our lead is massive!"

"Truly worthy of being an Immortal Seed!"

The members of the City Lord's Mansion's modification team looked at Meng Chong with deep emotion.

They knew very well: Meng Chong's contribution to this achievement was enormous, truly pivotal.

Although Meng Chong's nature was childish, simple and straightforward to the point where many cultivators looked down on him, everyone had to admire him, admire his Immortal Seed quality.

The Wild Dash Through Thunder technique – its applicability was really broad, its power fierce, capable of what others couldn't achieve!

Main Hall of the Lava Immortal Palace.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit lay on the throne, its gaze piercing through layers of walls and floor tiles, witnessing the celebratory scene.

It snorted angrily.

The City Lord's Mansion's people had already entered the second transfer hall, but up to now, not a single person had noticed the oddity – if there was only one gate, why set up such a transfer hall?

However, this oddity went unnoticed by others.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit knew the reason well.

Because Yuan Dasheng often appeared in the transfer hall, it led people to form the wrong assumption.

"The mechanical monkey didn't show up."

"That's great!"

"I heard the three-family joint team, because they had too many people, suffered attacks from both the mechanical monkey and the soul-slave puppets. They lost badly."

"How come I heard they almost won? It's just that Ning Xiaohui wanted to settle a personal grudge. At the most critical moment, not only did she fail to seize the opportunity, but she also delayed the battle."

"Damn it." Meng Chong clenched his fists, his face full of regret.

In his understanding, these transfer halls were often guarded by either the mechanical monkey or the ghost-slave puppets.

Meng Chong was very much looking forward to another big fight with Yuan Dasheng.

But recently, he had encountered the mechanical monkey far too few times, leaving Meng Chong yearning intensely.

Without Yuan Dasheng guarding it, the transfer hall seemed empty.

Meng Chong stepped forward to push open the second Dao Gate.

The cultivators from the modification team hurriedly stopped him.

"Young Master Meng Chong, don't always charge ahead."

"Let us push the door, we'll do it."

"Yes, what if there's a trap behind this door? If you get seriously injured, our exploration will definitely end here."

"After the first transfer hall, we haven't found any preparation rooms. Young Master Meng Chong, take it easy!"

It had to be said, Ning Zhuo's various mechanical traps had left an extremely deep impression on everyone.

"You worry too much!"

Meng Chong pushed everyone aside and once again walked to the door: "If there really is a trap, I'm the one best suited to break it."

"All of you stay back, watch me clear this level!"

"Hahaha."

Meng Chong's laughter was hearty, full of drive.

But when he pushed the door, he immediately let out a sound of surprise: "Huh?"

"What's wrong?" The other cultivators grew tense.

The next moment, however, Meng Chong burst into loud laughter, even more boisterous and joyful than before: "Found it, I found the subsequent techniques!"

"As soon as we touch this door, we receive key information: the fourth to sixth layers of the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art."

Meng Chong's words brought great joy to everyone.

They had been stuck at the peak of the third layer for some time now, and it was very frustrating.

Now, they had finally obtained the subsequent techniques, allowing their stagnant cultivation to finally get back on track.

"The door won't open. We must cultivate to the peak of the sixth layer to open it." Meng Chong felt quite regretful.

Everyone else, however, was jubilant.

Watching this group's performance, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit anxiously scratched the back of the throne in the main hall with its claws.

It really wanted to tell the celebrating crowd that besides the Dao Gate, there were also Demon and Buddhist Gates.

Unfortunately, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's authority was limited and it could not interfere in this aspect.

While it was fuming with frustration at their failure to meet expectations, the culprit behind all this, Ning Zhuo, was summoning the trial disciple mark.

"It's here."

"I see it!"

In Ning Zhuo's field of vision, he saw a strand of the Human Life Thread descend from the sky, lowering to a point above his head.

Divine Ability – Human Life Thread!

The next moment, Ning Zhuo unleashed the complete divine ability.

The Human Life Thread from the Lava Immortal Palace was violently affected, swaying left and right like a willow branch in a strong wind, just unable to land on Ning Zhuo's head.

"Huh?!?" Sensing the abnormality, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit immediately cast its gaze over.

When it saw this scene, it couldn't help but blink repeatedly, feeling as if it were dreaming!

Was this real?

Ning Zhuo played with the Lava Immortal Palace's Human Life Thread for a bit, couldn't help but smile.

He stopped interfering, allowing the Human Life Thread to hang over the back of his head.

The next moment, Ning Zhuo once again influenced the Human Life Thread, letting it draw out his soul, accelerating his entry into the Immortal Palace.

This strange feeling, again?!

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit couldn't help but be shocked and suspicious. Subconsciously, it stood up, a pair of dragon eyes widening to an unprecedented, exaggerated degree!

Room One.

Ning Zhuo quickly assembled his wooden puppet body, leaped a few times, and descended from the small mountain of mechanical components.

By now, he was quite familiar with the wooden puppet body. His movements were very light and natural, no longer as rigid as before.

Room One wasn't occupied only by Ning Zhuo.

"Young Master Ning Zhuo?" The Zhou family's modification team saw a large-headed puppet approaching and quickly recognized Ning Zhuo.

"Ning Zhuo." Leading this small modification team was one of the Zhou family's talents, Zhou Zhu.

Ning Zhuo's relationship with Zhou Zeshen was relatively close, but he had less contact and interaction with Zhou Zhu.

Moreover, Zhou Zhu himself was a man of few words, and few people were close to him.

Zhou Zhu was well aware of Ning Zhuo's strength. Even though he was reticent, he now proactively proposed cooperation.

Ning Zhuo declined politely: "I am, after all, from the Ning family. My apologies, fellow Daoists of the Zhou family."

A puppet beside Zhou Zhu immediately spoke up: "Young Master Ning Zhuo, we all know that you were forced by the Ning main family to admit that Ning Xiaohui's action against you was just a mistake."

"But all of us, everyone who participated in that operation, knows that it was no mere mistake."

"It was deliberate, intentional. Fortunately, this is a trial stage, and we are all in puppet bodies."

"If this were outside the Immortal Palace, she would be your murderer!"

The Zhou family members were indignantly defending Ning Zhuo, unaware that Ning Zhuo was the one who had masterminded it all.

Ning Zhuo let out a deep sigh. He didn't respond directly but instead bowed slightly to the group in thanks, then pushed open the door and entered Room Two.

Hidden within the modification teams, given his current status and reputation, exploring the Immortal Palace alone wouldn't raise the slightest suspicion.

Relying on his spells, Ning Zhuo skillfully avoided all the traps in Room Two and soon stood before the second door.

The Zhou family cultivators followed closely behind Ning Zhuo and entered Room Two.

They witnessed the entire process of Ning Zhuo clearing the level alone.

"Incredible."

"I never thought Young Master Ning Zhuo's spellcasting was so proficient, simply effortless."

"No wonder he holds exchange meetings every few days. He actively shares his insights on spellcasting. Each time, the Ning family's modification team benefits greatly!"

Ning Zhuo glanced back and saw Human Life Threads hanging above the heads of the Zhou family's puppets. These were all ones he had placed earlier.

Basically, every cultivator in the three-family joint team had been visited by Ning Zhuo, each sporting a Human Life Thread!

At this moment, Ning Zhuo clearly noticed: the Human Life Threads of every Zhou family member present were rapidly thickening.

"Everyone is recognizing me more deeply now…"

Ning Zhuo waved to the Zhou family members, then pushed the door open and entered Room Three.

Ning Zhuo was already famous.

He was the master of the black market, had pulled his own young clan leader down, was at odds with the Ning main family. The events surrounding him were highly topical.

And in the recent joint battle, although everyone ultimately failed, Ning Zhuo had performed the best, leaving a rather deep impression.

Even though post-battle analysis revealed that Ning Zhuo had stubbornly held onto the Smoke Chariot throughout the fight, showing flaws in battle command.

But the flaws couldn't obscure the virtues!

Now, even within the large three-family joint team, Ning Zhuo was a heavyweight who could not be lightly ignored.

Ning Zhuo proceeded alone, passing through several checkpoints until he reached Room Eight.

Here, he reunited with the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Yuan Dasheng.

Afterwards, he used Yuan Dasheng to break through one obstacle after another.

To prevent any surprises from behind, he also borrowed Qi Bai and had him lie in ambush in Room Eight.

If any latecomers tried to catch up, Qi Bai would appear and eliminate them.

Each time, Ning Zhuo had Yuan Dasheng open the door first, meticulously controlling these details and avoiding mistakes.

Soon, he and Yuan Dasheng arrived at the second transfer hall.

Meng Chong and the others had already disappeared.

Having finally obtained the subsequent techniques, they were busy advancing their cultivation.

That they couldn't push open the Dao Gate didn't mean Ning Zhuo couldn't either.

Ning Zhuo pushed open the second Buddhist Gate.

His extremely relaxed manner further infuriated the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, gnashing its teeth.

Ning Zhuo was already somewhat familiar with the first checkpoint behind the second Buddhist Gate.

Here, he first had to choose materials nine times, then use the limited tools within a limited time to equip Yuan Dasheng with as much armor and weapons as possible.

Afterwards, he had to use Yuan Dasheng to pass various tests.

During this period, Ning Zhuo could not control Yuan Dasheng; he could only let its spiritual nature act on its own.

"However, now, I have a divine ability."

"Human Life Thread, let me see your power!"

Ning Zhuo resolutely used his divine ability.

Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit: !!!

It was utterly shocked.

At this moment, it finally confirmed that Ning Zhuo had mastered the complete divine ability, Human Life Thread!

The Immortal Palace erupted into turmoil once again.

Blinding flames and soaring lava reflected each other.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's roar reached Meng Kui's ears. The latter frowned slightly. What was going on?

He heard a hint of panic in the roar.

The Human Life Thread was effective!

Ning Zhuo didn't even need to use the My Buddha Heart Demon Seal. By using the Human Life Thread to command Yuan Dasheng in this cheating manner, he easily passed the successive tests.

Although Yuan Dasheng had intelligence, it retained its habits from life. It didn't like spellcasting at all, preferring close-quarters combat.

This flaw was completely negated with Ning Zhuo's cooperation.

That day, Ning Zhuo broke through three levels in a row, reaching the third transfer hall.

He touched the Buddhist Gate, the Dao Gate, and the Demon Gate in turn.

The seventh, eighth, and ninth layers of the Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Art, the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, and the Demonic Blood Sinew Technique all fell into Ning Zhuo's hands.

Before leaving, Ning Zhuo thoughtfully raised the stone walls of the Buddhist and Demon Gates.

Leaving only a single Dao Gate.

(End of )