: Han Ming Reports the Case

After the first round of the palace examination, the ranking list was reduced to twenty-three names.

Moreover, the ranking situation had changed significantly.

Previously, Golden Core cultivators had directly dominated the first half of the list. Now, cultivators were intermixed, with Qi Refining, Foundation Building, and Golden Core stages appearing in a chaotic, disorganized manner.

Of course, Golden Core cultivators still made up the majority, occupying more than half of the entire list.

Looking at it this way, Golden Core cultivators were clearly the main players in the palace examination, while the Foundation Building and Qi Refining cultivators seemed to be merely there to make up the numbers.

A sharp glint flashed in Ning Zhuo's eyes; he saw hope of removing the surveillance measures placed on him.

At that moment, another new piece of information arrived.

It was an introduction to the second round of the palace examination.

Simply put, the second round would adopt a ranking tournament format, allowing every cultivator to engage in a relatively fair match against each other.

After this information was conveyed, the ground of the palace square began to tremble.

Then, the floor tiles shifted, swallowing all the desks before spitting out ten circular dueling platforms.

Once these platforms were fully revealed, the tiles closed up again, forming a tight and tidy ground.

Teleportation rings appeared beside each person once more.

Many cultivators quickly stepped into the rings, seizing every second to prepare for the upcoming second round.

Some cultivators who had failed the exam lingered reluctantly, only to find themselves suddenly unable to move. The teleportation rings beside them then expanded, swallowing them and forcibly teleporting them away.

After stepping out of the teleportation ring, Ning Zhuo returned to his temporary residence.

He hurried out of his room and went next door to pay respects to Ning Jiufan.

"Ancestor," Ning Zhuo said, "The next round is the second palace examination, and the competition will surely be more intense. But I have hidden dangers on me and fear being secretly harmed."

Ning Jiufan stroked his beard, understanding what Ning Zhuo meant.

Ning Zhuo was referring to the various surveillance measures placed on him by several Golden Core cultivators.

Ning Zhuo told Ning Jiufan that he had previously thought these surveillance measures were his protective talismans. But now that the situation had developed to this point, did these measures have hidden control mechanisms?

If there were indeed such control or influence mechanisms, it would be extremely disadvantageous for Ning Zhuo, who was about to step onto the dueling platform.

Ning Jiufan said, "Then I will try to remove these measures for you."

But Ning Zhuo replied, "There's no need to trouble you, Ancestor. The second round of the palace examination is imminent, and you are our Ning family's greatest hope!"

"I think it's only reasonable for our Ning family to obtain the Molten Rock Palace."

"My idea is to seek help from Lord Zhu Xuanji and have him apply pressure to remove all the surveillance measures on me."

Ning Jiufan nodded slightly. "That is indeed a good idea. I will write a letter to inquire about Lord Zhu's intentions."

While Ning Jiufan was writing his letter, Zhu Xuanji was also writing one.

He was sending it to Meng Kui!

In the letter, Zhu Xuanji recorded the fragmented parts related to the three techniques from the exam: the Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Art, the Demonic Blood Tendon Art, and the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

He wanted to ask Meng Kui to deduce the relationship between these three techniques and whether they were the Three Supreme Methods.

"I hope to receive a reply soon."

Zhu Xuanji gazed at the breach in the light shield and the constant stream of Blaze Flame demon beasts rushing in, sighing deeply.

With the departure of the Nascent Soul-level Raging Fire Snake, the Blaze Flame beast tide had become larger and more threatening than before.

Especially recently, due to the covert efforts of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, a breach had appeared in the light shield, allowing Blaze Flame demon beasts to continuously break through.

The difficulty of invading the palace had been greatly reduced compared to before.

This change greatly stimulated the Blaze Flame demon beasts. Their attacks became more violent and rampant.

As a result, it became even more inconvenient for cultivators to enter and exit the Molten Rock Palace.

In the past, Zhu Xuanji might have taken action personally. It wasn't far, after all; he could go meet Meng Kui directly and urge him to perform the deduction on the spot.

But now, Zhu Xuanji preferred to just send a flying letter.

After all, he needed a lot of time to properly prepare for the second round of the palace examination!

"According to the information given earlier, the second round of the palace examination is individual combat."

"Does 'relatively fair' mean that higher-level cultivators will be suppressed by the palace, reduced to the same actual performance as the lower-level side?"

"After all, the ranking list includes Golden Core cultivators, Foundation Building cultivators, and even Qi Refining cultivators."

"The palace examination rules state that only mechanisms-related methods are allowed. This description is actually quite vague."

"If I have a large number of mechanism puppets, can I use them directly on the platform?"

"What if these mechanism puppets of mine possess Golden Core-level combat power? What would happen then?"

While Zhu Xuanji was pondering, Ning Jiufan's letter flew before him.

He opened it and saw it was about Ning Zhuo's matter.

The concerns expressed in Ning Jiufan's letter were acknowledged by Zhu Xuanji.

The Divine Constable thought about it. Ning Zhuo's matter was small, but it highlighted a major internal problem within the three-family alliance—as the competition intensified, the three great cultivation families, once united, would also disintegrate, each acting for their own interests.

This was clearly not what Zhu Xuanji wanted to see.

He immediately decided to use Ning Zhuo's request to invite the Golden Core cultivators from the three families to gather and discuss important matters, consolidating the alliance!

A short while later.

The Golden Core cultivators from the three families surrounded Ning Zhuo and successively revoked the surveillance measures they had placed on him.

Throughout the process, Zhu Xuanji activated his Golden Eyes to observe.

Ning Jiufan breathed a sigh of relief.

If he had tried to resolve these surveillance measures alone, he might not have succeeded in all cases, and it would have been time-consuming and laborious. Having the Golden Core cultivators remove them personally was the best outcome.

Finally, at Ning Zhuo's own request, he retained the surveillance measures placed by Ning Jiufan and Zhu Xuanji.

Zheng Shuang Gou suddenly proposed a transaction to Ning Zhuo.

He wanted to purchase the mechanism ape in Ning Zhuo's possession.

Not the Blaze Ape, but the Golden Core-level one that Ning Zhuo had been preparing for a long time with great fanfare, coordinating multiple parties.

Ning Zhuo, of course, was unwilling and excused himself, saying it wasn't fully constructed yet.

Zhu Xuanji, standing nearby, immediately saw through his lie.

Zheng Shuang Gou didn't mind: "Even if it's not completed, it's fine. My Zheng family is willing to buy the semi-finished mechanism at a high price."

This time, Ning Zhuo outright refused, causing Zheng Shan Lian to snort coldly in anger.

Meanwhile, Meng Kui's reply flew to Zhu Xuanji.

The letter recorded that Meng Kui had personally deduced and confirmed that Zhu Xuanji's guess was correct. Those three techniques were indeed a set, the Three Supreme Methods.

Meng Kui also deduced the general power of the Demonic Blood Tendon Art. The Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Art involved creating mirrors in the Divine Sea Dantian to directly communicate with spiritual entities. Initially, the number of these mirrors was very few, but as cultivation progressed, the number would increase, and their quality would improve!

To win others over, Zhu Xuanji proactively shared the contents of the letter.

Ning Zhuo, watching from the side, was astonished, fully appreciating the profound understanding of cultivation possessed by Golden Core and Nascent Soul experts. Even with just fragments, they could quickly grasp the essence.

With the announcement of the second round of the palace examination, Ning Zhuo began actively preparing for battle.

But his days were not peaceful.

People approached him one after another, offering large sums of money—not only to buy his Golden Core-level mechanism ape materials but also attempting to bribe him to throw his matches.

Ning Zhuo refused them all. The demeanor he displayed even surprised Ning Jiufan.

First courtesy, then force.

Many people and forces, revolving around the second round of the palace examination, began employing more drastic measures.

A Foundation Building-level rogue cultivator was tragically killed at night, only discovered at noon the next day. The cause of death was a pierced heart, with his soul completely vanished.

Various properties of the Ning, Zheng, and Zhou families were simultaneously targeted.

Even the branch of the Complete Book Tower in Fire Persimmon Immortal City was burglarized.

According to eyewitnesses, the perpetrator was a shadowy demonic cultivator.

However, it was clear that being able to target a super sect so precisely likely meant another super sect was taking advantage of the situation!

"The second round of the palace examination..."

"Hmph, they are having quite a fun time, aren't they?"

"Why don't we make a move too, participate a bit? What do you think, Han Ming?"

Luo Shang, residing in the immortal city, looked towards the direction of Fire Persimmon Mountain's peak and sneered.

Han Ming lowered her head and eyebrows, appearing extremely obedient: "Lord Luo Shang, what would you have me do?"

Her heart was filled with helplessness.

After hiding for a long time, the demon beast siege had ultimately exposed her traces. Discovered by Luo Shang, she was forcibly recruited and kept by his side.

Luo Shang said, "Go contact the City Lord's Manor."

"They will definitely be interested in your information."

"That Ning Zhuo is just a Qi Refining junior, but he advanced to the second round. If something happens to him, Meng Kui's side can seize the handle to attack Zhu Xuanji's faction fiercely."

"Two tigers fighting—that scene will be much more entertaining."

"Hahaha!"

(End of )