**: Blaze Monkey and Ning Zhuo**

Author: Gu Zhenren

Date: 2024-07-31

Fei Si glanced at him disdainfully. "You reckless fool, you're being led by the nose by the enemy and don't even realize it."

He then cupped his hands and turned to the City Lord. "It all relies on your Lordship's keen discernment, your decisive handling of the chaotic situation, and your unwavering presence at the volcano's peak, standing firm and unyielding, leaving the enemy no opportunity to exploit."

"As long as your Lordship personally oversees things, who could possibly infiltrate the Molten Immortal Palace right under your nose?"

"This is precisely the ingenious method of responding to constant change with constancy, where great skill appears effortless. It leaves the hidden enemy with no choice but to sigh in despair at the heavens, utterly without chance!"

Chi Dun, having been scolded again, immediately retorted angrily, "After all that talk, you still haven't gotten to the point. What about the demonic cultivator hiding in the Fire Persimmon Grove? What if he triggers a chain explosion of the grove? Wouldn't the accumulated wealth of Fire Persimmon City over centuries still be destroyed?"

Fei Si shook his head and sighed. "Given the situation, we must prepare for the worst."

"However, I believe the likelihood of the opponent initiating an explosion is small."

"He's a demonic cultivator, but he hasn't lost his mind. If the entire Fire Persimmon Grove were to explode, the force would shake the entire Fire Persimmon Immortal Mountain. He himself would undoubtedly be blown to pieces, dying a miserable death on the spot."

Pausing for a moment, Fei Si continued, "He has already been hit by the Limestone Heart Technique. The longer this drags on, the worse his injuries will become."

"We are the ones holding the advantage. We should proceed steadily and carefully, absolutely must not rush things and give the enemy an opening."

"In my humble opinion, we should contact the other three families to discuss together how to deal with this demonic cultivator. This will strengthen our unity and help identify loyalties. If there truly is a mastermind or an inside agent, they will be easier to expose."

"Additionally, it's best if we wait until after the Fire Persimmon Festival to act. By then, the large-scale harvesting of fire persimmons can minimize our losses."

Chi Dun widened his eyes, shouting in disbelief, "You still want to hold the Fire Persimmon Festival?!"

"Do you want to send the entire city to their deaths?"

"If the Fire Persimmon Grove chain-explodes, how many casualties would there be?"

"At that time, the City Lord would certainly be held accountable and could very likely be dismissed directly!"

Fei Si had anticipated this: "Since I proposed this, I naturally have a countermeasure."

"City Lord, please take a look at this mechanical monkey."

As he spoke, Fei Si took a mechanical construct out of his storage bag.

This construct was half a person's height, with vivid crimson monkey fur and bulging muscles, incredibly lifelike. It was none other than the Blaze Monkey.

Fei Si, with a hint of pride, continued introducing it, "Just three days ago, Chen Cha presented this construct. Using it should allow for easy harvesting of fire persimmons, avoiding personnel casualties."

The City Lord's expression remained unchanged. With a thought, he summoned the mechanical monkey to his front for inspection.

After a few breaths, he nodded slightly. "Passable. Only the control center in the monkey's brain shows a somewhat clever idea."

As a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, his vision was vast. The design of the Blaze Monkey seemed ordinary and unremarkable to him.

"Who is Chen Cha?" The City Lord showed some interest in the creator.

Fei Si responded, "Years ago, you ordered me to recruit mechanics far and wide. Chen Cha was one of them, invited by me to live in Fire Persimmon City."

"This person is a Foundation Establishment cultivator with solid formation skills, specializing in dynamic formations. However, he lacks inspiration in mechanics and has never produced any outstanding work until now."

"Now, he has finally produced some results."

Hearing that Chen Cha was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the City Lord lost interest and waved his hand. "Handle the matter accordingly then."

"Chi Dun, from now on, you will fully cooperate with Fei Si."

Chi Dun replied unhappily, "Understood!"

***

The Ning Family Residence.

The Clan Leader summoned the Young Clan Leader to his study.

He first handed over a list.

Young Clan Leader Ning Xiaoren took it and looked it over. He first saw Ning Zhanji's name among the deceased, and then saw Ning Zhuo's name on the list of survivors.

The Clan Leader sighed. "Ning Zhanji's death is a great loss to our Ning Family."

Ning Xiaoren said, "As a member of a branch line, sacrificing for the family is also his honor."

The Clan Leader said, "You are in charge of the family's logistics. The compensation for the family cultivators this time should be handled by you."

Ning Xiaoren quickly said, "Rest assured, Father. I will handle this matter properly."

"Mm." The Clan Leader nodded, then tested him, "Xiaoren, what are your thoughts on the emergence of the Molten Immortal Palace this time?"

Ning Xiaoren thought for a moment before replying, "The emergence of the Immortal Palace forces us to accelerate our exploration progress. Our clan was the last to learn of this matter, putting us in a more disadvantageous position than before."

"We still haven't managed to invite any skilled mechanics. Relying solely on our clan's strength, it will be very difficult to compete with the other three parties."

The Clan Leader sighed, his tone heavy. "Currently, the selection criteria for the Immortal Palace have been lowered to the Qi Refining stage. Perhaps our clan should fully mobilize a large number of cultivators to switch to cultivating the 'Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art'."

Ning Xiaoren frowned deeply. "Father, this matter is what worries me the most."

"How many people should we organize to switch to the new technique? What kind of people should we choose? Most crucially, how many from the main lineage, and who? How many from the branch lineages, and who?"

"The current situation is unclear. Deciding how to proceed is quite difficult."

Hearing this, the Clan Leader couldn't help but show a pleased expression. "Xiaoren, being able to grasp this point shows you are a qualified Young Clan Leader."

"This matter requires me to convene the family elders for careful discussion."

"You go and handle your duties."

Ning Xiaoren bowed and took his leave.

Returning to his own study, a family cultivator came to ask how the family compensation should be distributed this time.

Ning Xiaoren answered without hesitation, "Compensation? What compensation?"

"Weren't these Ning family members all part of the Demon Hunting Association? The Association has its own compensation."

The family cultivator looked troubled. "But, they are all our Ning family's..."

Ning Xiaoren interrupted, "Precisely because the family is in difficult straits and financially poor, we encourage clan members to join other organizations to make a living. As members of the Ning Family, they should consider the family's well-being!"

The family cultivator had no choice but to withdraw.

Ning Xiaoren, however, was still angry. He summoned Ning Zhuo's uncle, Ning Ze.

Ning Xiaoren's face was livid. He rapped his knuckles loudly on the desk. "Ning Ze, how are you fulfilling your role as an uncle? Do you know that Ning Zhuo ran into the Crimson Flame Demon Molten Cave and nearly lost his life?"

Ning Ze wiped the sweat from his forehead and hurriedly said, "I know, I know!"

He had好不容易 (with great difficulty) "thought of" a clever plan himself: to provoke Ning Zhuo into joining the Demon Hunting Association. But then the Immortal Palace emerged, and Ning Zhanji, who was responsible for recruiting Ning Zhuo, ended up dead.

Ning Zhuo hadn't officially joined the Association, and instead, Ning Xiaoren saw through Ning Ze's arrangement. The latter was naturally furious!

Ning Ze said with a bitter smile, "It's just, Young Clan Leader, it's truly not that I'm unwilling to make arrangements for Xiao Zhuo. It's just that he is too stubborn..."

*Thwack.*

Before Ning Ze could finish, an inkstone thrown by Ning Xiaoren hit him square on the head.

Intense pain shot through him, followed by a warm fluid quickly flowing from his forehead down to his chin.

The smell of iron filled Ning Ze's nostrils.

He knew his forehead had been split open by the Young Clan Leader again.

"Don't play dumb with me!" The Young Clan Leader pointed at the door. "Get out! Next time, I want to hear good news!"

Ning Ze's face was full of pain, blood streaming unabated from his head. Yet, he didn't dare to treat the wound on the spot. Gritting his teeth, he retreated.

(End of )