Ning Family.

Assembly Hall.

Luminous lamps emitted a bright light.

The Ning Family Clan Leader, Young Clan Leader, and a group of Elders had all gathered here.

Several jade slips were passed around among them. Recorded within these slips was the entire process of the Ning Family's recent Grand Examination.

The Clan Leader rubbed the jade slip in his hand, his eyes slightly closed. The scenes recorded within the slip played back continuously in his mind.

Unlike previous years, his primary focus this year was the assessment for the Mechanical Arts subject.

This year's Grand Examination for the Mechanical Arts had been altered. It now involved controlling marionette puppets.

The young cultivators channeled their magical power through the attached strings, feeding it directly into the wooden puppet.

Through the dual application of spiritual sense and magical power, they gave the puppet motive force, enabling it to perform various actions.

However, even the best-performing young cultivator in this exam had only managed to make the puppet walk, perform a mid-air flip, and roll on the ground satisfactorily.

The overall results were abysmal.

The Clan Leader slowly opened his eyes, withdrew his spiritual sense from the jade slip, and gently placed it on the table beside him.

"There are no seeds of a future Mechanist among our juniors in this Grand Examination," the Ning Family Clan Leader sighed.

The Elder in charge of the academy felt the pressure and quickly spoke up: "Clan Leader, honored Elders, our Ning Family's expertise lies in talismans. Among the Hundred Crafts of Cultivation, Mechanical Arts has always been a niche field. Our family has very little foundation in it. The teachers instructing Mechanical Arts at the academy are barely proficient themselves. How could we possibly nurture a seed of talent for Mechanical Arts?"

The Ning Family Clan Leader placated him: "Peace. I do not mean to blame you. It's just that the Molten Rock Immortal Palace is a city of mechanisms. The Three Sects' Master buried it within the mountain in the past to suppress the eruption of Fire Persimmon Mountain. If we wish to obtain the immortal treasures and the Mechanical Arts inheritance within the Molten Rock Immortal Palace, the best approach is to start with a Mechanist."

"Our Ning Family only discovered the Molten Rock Immortal Palace this year. The other two great families and the City Lord's faction have had a head start. They had time to secretly cultivate mechanical talents, but we do not."

"We are latecomers; it's too late for us now. Only by heavily recruiting outsiders to serve as our family's guest advisors do we stand a chance to compete."

The Ning Family Clan Leader took out another jade slip: "This contains information on the famous mechanists within Fire Persimmon Immortal City and the surrounding areas. Please review it."

After the Elders had looked it over, the Clan Leader said, "We must make contact with all these mechanists and try our best to recruit them. Especially the Childlike Guest! He is a mechanist right here in Fire Persimmon City, with considerable skill. He should be our primary target."

The Young Clan Leader said, "The Childlike Guest's identity is mysterious; he has never appeared in public. The mechanisms he creates sell very well, but they are only sold through the black market, which operates once a month."

"The black market is controlled by Sun Lingtong. This person is an outer disciple of the Unempty Gate. It's very difficult for us to actually make contact with the Childlike Guest."

The Ning Family Clan Leader frowned: "Xiaoren, I don't want to hear about the difficulties. I need you to solve this problem."

Young Clan Leader Ning Xiaoren broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly assured him: "Yes, Father. I have already sent people to find a way to contact him directly. We will surely have results soon!"

The Clan Leader then stroked his beard: "Good. I will await the results."

After the meeting, the Young Clan Leader immediately summoned his subordinate, Ning Ze.

"Ning Ze, I was the one who put you in the position of Procurement Manager for the Ning Family. I tasked you with contacting the Childlike Guest, but you've made no progress. What exactly have you been doing?!" The Young Clan Leader's brows were tightly furrowed.

Ning Ze was a middle-aged man with a pained expression. If possible, he wanted nothing to do with this kind of task.

"Young Clan Leader, this subordinate has failed your trust and handled matters poorly. I truly deserve death."

"But the Childlike Guest is genuinely difficult to communicate with. I've repeatedly traded with him in the black market, purchasing Upper-Lower Flexible Ropes, and tried hard to persuade him, but he remains unmoved. He refuses to speak on any topic outside of the transaction itself."

"The Childlike Guest is too mysterious. I've tried every means to investigate, but ended up angering the black market owner, Sun Lingtong. Not only did I lose personnel, but I was also framed and had to pay a large sum of spirit stones. To this day, that money is still an advance from my own pocket…"

"Enough!" the Young Clan Leader interrupted displeased. "Being tricked is shameful enough. Do you expect the family to bear the cost of your mistake?"

"This time, our family needs to purchase eighty Upper-Lower Flexible Ropes. You will handle it."

Ning Ze was shocked: "Eighty? So many?!"

The Young Clan Leader said, "Use this large order to make your utmost attempt. You've contacted the Childlike Guest multiple times now but still haven't found a way to befriend him."

"Your performance really makes me doubt your capabilities, Ning Ze."

Ning Ze felt immense pressure and repeatedly promised he would do his absolute best.

Ning Ze arrived in the southeastern district of Fire Persimmon City.

Within Fire Persimmon Immortal City, this area was the most chaotic, rife with thieves and plagued by the worst public security.

It was also where the black market was located.

At one of the black market entrances, Ning Ze displayed a token.

A cultivator with a sinister expression glanced at Ning Ze, carefully inspected the token, then tossed it back to him and said coldly, "Follow me."

He led Ning Ze into a small shack behind him, then inside the shack, lifted a floorboard to reveal an opening.

He took Ning Ze through the opening and, after winding through a tunnel, finally arrived at an underground trading space.

It resembled a small marketplace.

Ning Ze scanned the area and quickly spotted his target.

"Honored Childlike Guest, we meet again." Ning Ze approached the Childlike Guest, his face wearing an enthusiastic smile.

The Childlike Guest was an elderly man, stooped with age, leaning heavily on a cane, his posture curved like a lobster. His face was weathered, with dark purple eye bags and wrinkles deep enough to trap mosquitoes. His long, black hair was messy, spreading from the top of his head over his shoulders and down to his feet, resembling a large black cloak.

The Childlike Guest stood behind a mechanical cart. He merely glanced at Ning Ze indifferently and did not speak.

The Childlike Guest was always like this. Ning Ze felt helpless, but anger also steadily built within him.

He was a cultivator of the Ning Family, yet the Childlike Guest gave him no face at all!

However, the Young Clan Leader was determined to recruit the Childlike Guest. Suppressing his frustration, Ning Ze forced a smile: "Honored Childlike Guest, this time I bring a significant transaction."

"A full eighty Upper-Lower Flexible Ropes!"

"Seeing such a large order, might you offer a more favorable price?"

"I am a regular customer, supporting your business like this. There will be more such business in the future. The price has always been two hundred spirit stones per rope; keeping it rigidly so seems a bit unreasonable, don't you think?"

The Childlike Guest nodded slightly, his voice hoarse and aged: "You are right."

"Then it will be two hundred and fifty spirit stones per rope."

Ning Ze was taken aback, then let out a disbelieving laugh: "Honored Childlike Guest, please don't jest with me. Lowering the price isn't done that way."

To his surprise, the Childlike Guest snorted coldly: "Fifty spirit stones more for every unnecessary word."

Ning Ze stared, momentarily frozen in place.

Rage boiled in his stomach; he truly wanted to slap the old man to the ground. But he ultimately suppressed his anger and said sullenly, "Fine! We'll accept your price!"

"However, my clan wishes to add some additional functions to better complement our clan's techniques. The specific modifications…"

The Childlike Guest interrupted sharply: "No modifications. Take it or leave it. If you don't want it, get lost."

Ning Ze was stymied.

After taking a deep breath, he nodded with a bitter smile and agreed to the transaction.

The Childlike Guest made no move himself, but from the top of his mechanical cart, several small mechanical dolls descended, suspended by strings.

These dolls, animated by the strings, seemed almost alive, chattering and laughing.

They tumbled, jumped, even wrestled and pushed each other, before finally opening a round hatch on the cart.

One by one, they crawled into the opening below the hatch and, like dragging out pythons, pulled out the Upper-Lower Flexible Ropes.

Every time Ning Ze saw this, he was filled with awe.

This level of skill in controlling the marionette strings was exquisite to the extreme; the little puppets seemed truly alive.

If the young cultivators from the Ning Family's exam had even one percent of this control, their results in the Mechanical Arts subject would have been outstanding!

"Mechanical Arts ranks near the bottom among the Hundred Crafts of Cultivation. It has many weaknesses. The most obvious is the control method!"

"Take these little puppets, for example. If you sever the strings, they become instantly paralyzed."

Ning Ze delivered the spirit stones, took the Flexible Ropes, and left the black market. Only then did he allow a trace of sinister fury to show on his face.

"Childlike Guest! I've been polite and gentle with you every time, really giving you face."

"This time, I've specially hired the Huang Family Three Ghosts for you! And prepared a 'gift' carefully!"

"Since you refuse the toast, you'll have to drink the penalty wine."

Ning Ze had been pushed to the brink with no other options; he had to take a risk.

His plan was simple: First, have the Huang Family Three Ghosts attack the Childlike Guest, then he himself would appear to rescue him, thus showing goodwill. If the Childlike Guest was severely injured, Ning Ze wouldn't rule out forcing him to comply.

In short, the first priority was to break the deadlock and complete the task assigned to him.

As for other problems... that would be a matter for the rest of the Ning Family!

After the black market closed, the Childlike Guest, laden with his earnings, walked through dark alleys.

Suddenly.

A Soul Suppression Talisman!

A talisman activated instantly, sealing the surrounding space.

The Childlike Guest halted, standing motionless.

"Giggle…"

Ethereal laughter echoed as three small ghosts emerged from nearby, attacking the Childlike Guest.

The Childlike Guest remained still as stone. Only when the ghosts closed in did his body shudder slightly.

Several mechanical birds were shaken loose from him, shooting out like lightning.

Mechanism — Thunder-Silent Birds!

In the darkness, several arcs of electricity flashed, bursting into silent blossoms of lightning.

In an instant, the Thunder-Silent Birds pierced through and killed the three small ghosts.

"How is this possible?"

"We used the Soul Suppression Talisman! You shouldn't be able to use your spiritual sense to control mechanisms!"

"Something's strange. These are clearly mechanical puppets, but we didn't see him use any strings."

"Never mind, attack together!"

The Huang Family Three Ghosts leaped out simultaneously, each displaying their skills as they surrounded and attacked the Childlike Guest.

Dozens of vengeful spirits spewed forth instantly. Malevolent ghosts filled the surroundings, clawing and snarling, sinister and savage.

The Childlike Guest stood firm as a mountain. His long, messy black hair, which reached his feet, suddenly began to coalesce, forming into long whips.

The black whips danced wildly like dragons and snakes, yet without a whisper of wind. In the utter silence lay terrifying killing intent.

Mechanism — Childlike Hanging Death Whips!

The whip strikes were ferocious, seeming to devour everything in their path. Where they passed, souls scattered and spirits vanished.

The Huang Family Three Ghosts' eyes blazed with ferocity, preparing to counterattack.

Within the Childlike Guest's mind, a magical treasure seal, as large as a treasure mountain, embodying both Buddha and Demon, suddenly emitted a strange light.

Magical Treasure — My Buddha, Demon Heart Seal!

The three ghosts simultaneously faltered, revealing fatal openings. In horror and desperation, they scrambled to retreat, but it was too late.

Two screams rang out as two ghosts died.

The eldest brother's eyes bulged with rage, hatred soaring to the sky. He desperately channeled all the power from his Foundation Establishment dantian, launching a final, desperate counterattack against the Childlike Guest.

The dagger, imbued with his hopes of revenge, shot out like lightning, instantly striking the center of the Childlike Guest's forehead.

*Clink.*

A crisp sound of metal striking metal.

The eldest Huang brother froze in disbelief.

*Thump, thump, thump.*

The next moment, over a dozen Childlike Hanging Death Whips converged, piercing through him from all directions—above, below, front, back, left, and right.

The eldest Huang brother's eyes widened. His body, impaled by the Death Whips, hung suspended in mid-air. Blood rained from his wounds, splattering on the ground and walls, but was concealed by the thick darkness.

By the time nearby cultivators heard the strange commotion and came to investigate the alley...

"What happened?" a cultivator wondered aloud.

Not a single corpse or drop of blood could be found in the alley.

Ning Ze, who had been waiting anxiously without news, grew increasingly cold with dread. "Why is there still no news? It should have succeeded by now."

"The Childlike Guest is Foundation Establishment, and the Huang Family Three Ghosts are also Foundation Establishment. Even with power suppression within Fire Persimmon Immortal City, three against one, there's no reason they should fail." He tried to reassure himself.

"I gave them the Soul Suppression Talisman and also the Spirit Pet Green Blade Mantis that can cut the control strings. With such preparations, a mechanist should be severely countered!"

"Just wait a little longer."

This wait was destined to be fruitless.

The Childlike Guest walked through an underground passage.

Three Childlike Hanging Death Whips trailed behind him, each suspending a cultivator's corpse. As he moved, their shadows cast monstrous shapes on the tunnel walls.

A red glow appeared ahead, and the temperature grew scorching hot.

Turning a corner, a large alchemical furnace came into view before the Childlike Guest.

He opened the furnace door and, with practiced ease, tossed the three corpses inside.

After closing the door, he went to a nearby storage room.

He deposited several jin of Fire Essence purchased from the black market into the storage room.

Years of accumulation had formed a small hill of Fire Essence within.

"Only ten more jin of Fire Essence are needed."

The Childlike Guest went to the transmission room and activated the formation.

The next moment, he was back in his underground workshop.

The Childlike Guest's body began to change.

His strange, floor-length black hair rapidly retracted. His stooped posture gradually straightened. Under the black robe, the old man's body shimmered with light and shadow, gradually reverting to its original form—

It was a silver-grey mechanical battle armor.

The armor's surface flowed with a faint treasure light. Talismanic scripts and formation patterns covered its body. A fresh scar marred the helmet—the result of the eldest Huang brother's final desperate strike.

The chest plate, abdominal plate, and leg plates of the armor opened symmetrically to the sides.

A youth stepped out from within.

The youth had a pale complexion, eyes clear as water, and an aura of calm tranquility.

The battle armor was named: Cang Tie Han Armor.

The youth: Surname Ning, given name Zhuo.

(End of Chapter)