: The Fire of Spectatorship Burns Oneself

While eavesdropping on the conversation between Zhu Xuanji and the other Golden Core cultivators near the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, it didn't take long for the spirit to feel utterly disturbed.

It clenched its dragon claws into fists, pounding them repeatedly against the armrests of its throne.

"The one who blew up the immortal palace wasn't the City Lord's Mansion—it was Ning Zhuo!"

"What are you all doing? What are you even doing?!"

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit gritted its teeth, its face filled with frustration and disappointment.

It desperately wanted to eliminate Ning Zhuo because, among all the competitors, Ning Zhuo posed the greatest threat to it.

Yet Zhu Xuanji, whom it had placed high hopes on, had single-handedly led all the Golden Core ancestors astray.

"What kind of divine investigator are you?"

"What have you been doing? You're a disgrace to the title of divine investigator!"

However, as the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit continued listening, it gradually fell into silence.

"Well, well, well... you know what?"

"Based on the clues Zhu Xuanji gathered, his speculations actually make a lot of sense."

Putting itself in Zhu Xuanji's shoes, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had to admit—it really did seem that way! The City Lord's Mansion was the prime suspect.

"But... how did things end up like this?" the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit asked itself.

It quickly found the answer.

"It's all Ning Zhuo's fault!"

"He's just too good at pretending, too good at hiding."

"Then again, who would have thought that a mere sixteen-year-old boy, only at the third level of Qi Refining, would dare to blow up the immortal palace?"

Such behavior was beyond audacious—it was the epitome of greed. Within that young boy's slender chest lay ambitions far beyond anyone's imagination!

One must understand that the entire Molten Rock Immortal Palace was a legacy left behind by a mighty Void Refining expert.

It would be most reasonable for a Void Refining cultivator of the same level to become the master of the immortal palace.

A Nascent Soul cultivator would barely qualify, while a Golden Core cultivator would already be insufficient.

And Ning Zhuo was none of the above—he was only at the Qi Refining stage, the very bottom of the cultivation world.

It was like a tiny ant trying to eat a tiger or a leopard—utterly laughable.

But the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit couldn't bring itself to laugh.

Because it had witnessed firsthand how Ning Zhuo survived in the cracks between major powers, scheming against them and gradually gaining control over parts of the situation.

It had seen how he expanded his cultivation, mastered the complete divine ability "Human Life Hanging by a Thread," and seized opportunities to build his own small faction.

Step by step, quietly, Ning Zhuo was approaching the throne of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace!

So far, no one had noticed him!

Such experiences and such a character were thrilling and inspiring, but from the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's perspective, the feeling was entirely different.

It wanted to regain its freedom. If Ning Zhuo really became the palace master, it would have no confidence left to escape!

"Ning Zhuo is a little monster." Though only at the Qi Refining stage, Ning Zhuo instilled the most genuine and heaviest fear in the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit continued listening.

When it heard that the Golden Core ancestors planned to use Ning Zhuo as bait to lure the City Lord's Mansion into making a mistake by assassinating him, it showed a satisfied and pleasantly surprised expression for the first time.

"But... will the City Lord's Mansion really make a move against Ning Zhuo?"

Although the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit eagerly anticipated this scenario, reason told it that the possibility was quite low.

"If the City Lord's Mansion really acts, Ning Zhuo will be in trouble and might even lose his life."

"If the City Lord's Mansion doesn't act, Zhu Xuanji and the others will notice something odd, reflect on it, and Ning Zhuo will still face more trouble."

Realizing this, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit understood that no matter the outcome, it would benefit. It couldn't help but grin and laugh.

"Either way, Ning Zhuo is in big trouble!"

"Hahaha, serves him right!"

"Who told him to covet the Molten Rock Immortal Palace with such meager strength?"

"Putting everything else aside, just the Golden Core ancestors secretly watching him will be enough to stop Ning Zhuo from cultivating as freely as before."

"Under such circumstances, he will inevitably be heavily monitored, and breaking through to Foundation Establishment will be even more impossible!"

Seeing Ning Zhuo in such a miserable state filled the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit with genuine joy. It couldn't help but throw its head back and laugh heartily three times.

But not long after it finished laughing, it heard the Golden Core cultivators discussing Ning Xiaohui.

It heard Zhu Xuanji issue an order for Ning Xiaohui to compete for the position of chief historian of the Historical Records Pavilion.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's laughter died instantly.

At that moment, it suddenly realized that the one in the worst situation was actually itself!

The Historical Records Pavilion!

This unique mechanical pavilion recorded every major and minor event since the founding of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace, along with detailed accounts of each incident.

Many of the records in the Historical Records Pavilion were extremely valuable!

Once Ning Xiaohui became the chief historian, she could easily access and review them.

Every event that had occurred in the Molten Rock Immortal Palace would be laid bare before her eyes.

In that case, all the little tricks, schemes, and escape plans the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had devised to free itself would be completely exposed!

It felt like being struck at its most vulnerable spot. The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit fell into a state of extreme panic.

"What do I do? What do I do?!"

"As soon as Ning Xiaohui takes the position, everything will be revealed."

Unfortunately, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's authority was limited, and it couldn't interfere.

It could only watch helplessly as Ning Xiaohui, in the near future, quickly accumulated merits and smoothly became the chief historian of the Historical Records Pavilion.

Ning Xiaohui's success was almost inevitable because she had no competitors.

On the path of entering the immortal palace, she was the only one with the status of a trial disciple.

Ning Xiaohui was currently a medical officer and possessed the innate talent "Jade Hands of Ice and Fat," making her exceptionally skilled at repairing mechanical constructs. Her rate of accumulating merits far surpassed that of others in the past or present.

The position of chief historian wasn't high-ranking, and even if she didn't become the chief, a role like verifier would still allow Ning Xiaohui to access the records in the Historical Records Pavilion!

"What do I do? What do I do?"

"Zhu Xuanji! You useless fool—utterly incompetent against Ning Zhuo, but you sure know how to hit me where it hurts!"

"You're too ruthless, too ruthless! Why are you targeting me like this?"

"And why did the Ning family have to report Ning Xiaohui's achievements at this time, making Zhu Xuanji notice the Historical Records Pavilion?"

"Why am I so unlucky?"

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit paced anxiously around the main hall.

It had been watching the drama from the sidelines, only to suddenly find the fire burning itself!

It could no longer stay calm.

"I have to stop Ning Xiaohui!"

However, doing so alone was completely impossible because it was the palace spirit of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace.

Facing someone with the status of a trial disciple, it couldn't take action, couldn't casually reveal their information, and couldn't even lie.

Struggling in the abyss of despair, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit suddenly halted.

"Wait a minute!"

"I can't do it, but someone else can."

"To be precise... that person is Ning Zhuo!"

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit wanted to use Ning Zhuo.

"Ning Zhuo and I share the same goal."

"Ning Zhuo blew up the immortal palace, and Ning Xiaohui will definitely find out through the Historical Records Pavilion."

"Ning Zhuo can help me!"

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit grew excited.

In fact, aside from Ning Zhuo, it didn't dare contact anyone else.

When it had previously revealed some key information to Meng Chong, it had done so from the perspective of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace without exposing its true identity.

"At this point, I can only contact Ning Zhuo."

Forced into a corner, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had no choice but to take this path to save itself.

Ning Zhuo's residence.

The overturned house and floor had already been repaired.

Ning Zhuo sat cross-legged on a cushion, silently healing his injuries.

A group of Foundation Establishment cultivators surrounded him, their faces full of concern, probing repeatedly about what had happened.

"This is not something you need to know. All of you, leave," Ning Zhuo said coldly, slowly closing his eyes.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators had no choice but to exit the room.

After closing the door, they exchanged glances. Everyone looked uneasy, their brows furrowed with doubt.

Under Zhu Xuanji's pressure, the faction Ning Zhuo had just built was already showing signs of collapse.

The loyalty of these former stewards toward Ning Zhuo was questionable.

As for the branch family members who had later voluntarily joined Ning Zhuo, most were optimistic about his prospects—they were there for profit, not to risk their lives.

Some admired Ning Zhuo's achievements, but the majority supported him only because there was no other option within the Ning family branch.

"What did Ning Zhuo do to make Lord Zhu Xuanji act so forcefully?"

"If he won't say anything, how are we supposed to know?"

"We need to keep a close watch on this. The situation doesn't seem right."

"Indeed, Lord Zhu Xuanji's attitude is clearly hostile. Could it be that Ning Zhuo did something wrong?"

(End of )