: Catching Up to Meng Chong

"If you all want to practice privately, feel free to contact each other and arrange sparring sessions. It'll be more effective that way."

Ning Zhuo thought for a moment. "How about this: I'll rent a training ground in the clan territory long-term, specifically for you to use."

"Just go there, show your waist tokens, and give your names. You can use it for free."

Everyone cheered at his words.

By providing convenience and publicly showcasing the splendor of various spells, Ning Zhuo aimed to attract his classmates to practice actively.

This would be highly beneficial for them.

After the second Dao Gate, the selection of the Five Elements Spirit Conversion Disk would depend on their mastery of the Five Elements mutual generation and restriction techniques.

If the young cultivators honed their previous Five Elements spells, it would significantly aid them at that stage.

Those who built a solid foundation early would find it easier to grasp the Five Elements mutual generation and restriction techniques. With momentum on their side, they could obtain higher-quality Five Elements Spirit Conversion Disks.

Advantages were accumulated step by step like this.

"The foundation of my influence lies with the branch clan members of the Ning family. But the core of this influence isn’t the former stewards at the Foundation Establishment stage, nor former elders like Ning Youfu or Ning Houjun—it’s these people right here."

Though others had stronger cultivation, their paths were already set.

Ning Zhuo understood very clearly that the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art was the future!

He had already obtained the nine-layer Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art. While he didn’t know much about the Ice Heart Art, in terms of external effects, the comprehensive value of the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art far surpassed that of the Ice Heart Art.

The Ice Heart Art only excelled in ice-attribute spells and mental state cultivation compared to the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

And the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art was merely one of the three superior methods of the sect.

These people had a future. They admired Ning Zhuo, grew and learned alongside him, and shared past bonds. They were still young, full of drive and ideals, unlike older individuals who were harder to motivate due to their experiences.

Just like now, merely displaying the dazzling offensive power of the Five Elements spells had captivated these people.

Simply renting a training ground for their free use made them grateful.

The even better part was that by controlling the other two techniques, Ning Zhuo could firmly grasp their cultivation progress.

For those he favored, with sufficient aptitude and proven loyalty and talent, he would secretly impart the other two techniques.

Even if he only taught the first three layers instead of the entire method, it would greatly assist them in building their foundation.

Through this control over techniques, Ning Zhuo could keep them in check—as long as the secrets of the Molten Rock Palace weren’t leaked.

Ning Zhuo continued advancing.

He effortlessly employed various spells. Having previously hidden his abilities, he now revealed a portion of them.

His classmates exclaimed in amazement.

"I feel like there’s no need for me to be here!"

"Brother Zhuo is too strong. He doesn’t need us at all."

"This is the easiest time I’ve ever had exploring the palace."

"No, we’re still useful. At least we handed all the spirit stone rewards we received to Brother Zhuo."

"Brother Zhuo, when are we merging again? I want to give it another try!"

With nothing to do, everyone couldn’t help but reminisce about the past when they assembled their puppet bodies to tackle challenges together.

Back then, they at least had some sense of participation. But now, they were reduced to spectators following Ning Zhuo, only responsible for cheering and praising.

Many felt empty and ashamed of not contributing.

Eighth level, ninth level…

Transfer point, first Dao Gate…

Third level of the Dao Gate: Golden Blood War Ape · Da Sheng blocks the way.

Ning Zhuo led everyone into battle against Yuan Dasheng.

The fight was intense at times.

From the start, Ning Zhuo’s side was at a disadvantage.

Yuan Dasheng charged recklessly, exuding immense pressure.

Ning Zhuo contributed the most firepower, while his classmates threw themselves forward one after another, desperately trying to entangle Yuan Dasheng.

"Hurry, hold down this mechanical ape!"

"Even if we die, just holding it for a breath or two will let Brother Zhuo’s spells hit it."

"The mechanical ape is too slippery and fast. But if we sacrifice ourselves to hold it down, we have a chance to win!"

Laughing, his classmates marched to their deaths heroically.

Ning Zhuo’s spells struck Yuan Dasheng but also caught his classmates in the crossfire, killing them.

Before "dying," his classmates laughed heartily, genuinely happy to have been of some help to Ning Zhuo.

Though it wasn’t real death, this willingness to contribute and the centripetal force forming around Ning Zhuo were already becoming apparent.

Finally, with only two or three people left and Ning Zhuo’s spirit stone reserves nearly depleted, Yuan Dasheng suddenly stopped.

With a low roar, to the astonishment of the Ning clansmen, it slowly retreated, pushed the door open, and left for the previous level.

"The mechanical ape retreated on its own?"

Everyone felt as if they were dreaming.

"Brother Zhuo, stop it!" someone shouted.

Ning Zhuo shook his head. "I’m at the end of my strength. Don’t pursue a retreating enemy."

Only after Yuan Dasheng pushed the door open and completely left did the remaining Ning youths suddenly realize.

"We won?!"

"Victory! We drove back that mechanical ape!!"

"Heavens, we actually succeeded."

Ning Zhuo, however, shook his head. "I’ve almost exhausted my spirit stones. This victory was very precarious."

The others didn’t see it that way at all.

They looked at Ning Zhuo excitedly, praising him with gazes full of admiration.

"Brother Zhuo, Boss, we did it!"

"Even the three-family alliance couldn’t drive back this mechanical ape, but we forced it to retreat!!"

"Actually, we almost succeeded last time. It’s just that Ning Xiaohui stopped me…" Ning Zhuo shook his head, seizing the opportunity to deepen the conflict between the main and branch clans.

"That time was truly a pity!"

"But I think I prefer a success like this."

"Yeah, yeah, haha! I can’t wait to go out and boast. We defeated the mechanical ape!"

Ning Zhuo shook his head again. "We didn’t completely defeat it; it retreated on its own."

"I think this must be part of the palace’s setup."

"As long as our strength stays within a certain range and we inflict a specific level of damage on the mechanical ape, it will retreat automatically."

"Let’s keep moving forward."

Ning Zhuo’s unassuming and steady demeanor helped everyone suppress their excitement, wholeheartedly following him onward.

Having repelled the mechanical ape, Ning Zhuo didn’t show even a hint of a smile. Such composure made the survivors secretly admire him even more.

Little did they know, Ning Zhuo was actually calculating the repair costs for the Golden Blood War Ape · Da Sheng.

He hadn’t yet figured out this mechanical body.

Repairing the Golden Blood War Ape · Da Sheng required using the materials and tools provided within the trial levels.

Ning Zhuo worried that using too many external materials might be considered foreign objects by the Molten Rock Palace, leading to rejection in future entries.

In short, repairing the Golden Blood War Ape · Da Sheng was definitely troublesome at the moment.

With the Golden Blood War Ape · Da Sheng gone, the path ahead was smooth.

Soon, Ning Zhuo led the survivors to the second transfer hall, the place Meng Chong had reached.

They found only one door.

Touching the second Dao Gate, he exclaimed, "It’s the subsequent techniques!"

The others hurried forward to touch the door as well.

After obtaining the techniques, everyone compared notes and found they were all the same.

"We did it!"

"We got the subsequent techniques!"

"So that means Meng Chong only reached this point too. The city lord’s modification team also only started cultivating the subsequent techniques not long ago."

Everyone was thrilled.

On one hand, after being stuck at the third level of Qi Refining for days, they finally had the subsequent techniques. Their excitement was indescribable.

On the other hand, they had finally caught sight of the leaders’ backs and were surprised to find that Meng Chong and the others weren’t that far ahead!

Morale soared instantly.

"Without peak sixth-level cultivation, we can’t open this door."

"No wonder the city lord’s modification team has been burying themselves in cultivation!"

"Let’s hurry back and practice like crazy!!"

"Everyone," Ning Zhuo suddenly said, "please keep the subsequent techniques strictly confidential. Let me handle external negotiations, alright?"

The survivors had no objections.

They stated: This exploration was a great success, all thanks to Ning Zhuo. They only played a minor role as cannon fodder in the final battle.

They would let Ning Zhuo handle everything.

When Ning Zhuo and the others returned to their physical bodies with the subsequent techniques and went back to the clan territory, the entire upper echelon of the Ning family was shaken!

"Is it really true?!"

"This junior Ning Zhuo… certainly has some skills."

The clan leader, main lineage, and many elders never expected such an outcome.

Ning Zhuo was a talent who emerged later. His innate aptitude hadn’t been tested yet, but he consistently excelled in exploring the Molten Rock Palace.

This achievement solidified Ning Zhuo’s position entirely.

Even the main lineage of the Ning family had to admit that Ning Zhuo was indeed the pillar of the modification team! The true core figure!

The main lineage and clan leader felt quite conflicted.

In the past, they would have suppressed branch clan talents until they submitted.

But now, relying on the Molten Rock Palace, Ning Zhuo forced them to tolerate and appease him.

Their previous underestimation of Ning Zhuo led to a misstep, causing the young clan leader to fall from grace and become a prisoner.

Now, the Ning family ancestor, Ning Jiufan, had publicly acknowledged Ning Zhuo.

Moreover, Ning Zhuo controlled the black market and had many elite Foundation Establishment cultivators under his command.

"His influence is too great to control now. Ning Zhuo must have a master guiding him!"

"Those two old fellows from the branch clan are surely playing important roles…"

The clan leader and main lineage grew anxious.

But there was little they could do.

Ning Zhuo took the initiative to visit the clan leader and, as agreed, handed over the subsequent techniques.

He made a request: "Next, I need to focus entirely on cultivation. I’ve heard the clan possesses a Cloudflow Talisman with its own spirit nature, which can assist cultivators in joint practice with excellent results."

"According to our agreement, please grant me this talisman, Clan Leader."

The clan leader nodded slightly. "Granted."

"The Cloudflow Talisman is currently with Ning Xiaohui. Today, I will have it retrieved. Come tomorrow, and I will give it to you."

Ning Zhuo added, "My cultivation speed is already fast. With this talisman, it’ll be like adding wings to a tiger."

"But rapid cultivation growth also has drawbacks."

"May I ask, Clan Leader, what methods does the clan have to purify spiritual power?"

The clan leader saw no need to hide it and replied directly, "There is a talisman called the Mystical Ice Pure Snow Talisman."

"This talisman is similar to the Cloudflow Talisman, both having absorbed some natural spirit nature. When activated, the cultivator will be frozen. Regardless of which dantian they primarily cultivate, impurities will be frozen and annihilated."

Among the hundred arts of cultivation, mechanics was a niche, lower-tier field.

If mechanics could utilize spirit nature, other cultivation arts involving spirit nature certainly weren’t rare either.

The clan leader emphasized that these two talismans were quite precious and their usage should be strictly limited to prevent the depletion of the spirit nature within.

Ning Zhuo thought of the Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra.

"Can I use this sutra to enhance the spirit nature of these two talismans?"

(End of )