: The Response

September 30, 2024 by Gu Zhenren

Zhu Xuanji frowned, his brow remaining furrowed.

Having just defeated Ning Zhuo, Sun Lingtong, and Yang Chanyu single-handedly against three opponents, he felt little joy.

He had always prioritized concealing his true combat strength. Very few outsiders knew about his two divine abilities: the Golden Mountain Stance and the Jade Pillar Body Technique.

This time, however, it concerned the Molten Rock Immortal Palace and the legacy of a Void Refinement Great Adept. That was why he had chosen to act publicly, revealing a portion of his true power.

"Ning Jiufan fought Zheng Shuang gou, Meng Chong, and the Meng Family's Golden Core True Successor. Ning Jiufan was defeated and eliminated. Zheng Shuang gou was defeated and eliminated!"

This simple message contained far-from-simple intelligence.

After pondering it briefly, Zhu Xuanji understood the truth: "The Zheng Family has betrayed the three-family alliance I established."

Truthfully, he had long been psychologically prepared for this.

He could even guess the reason why the Zheng Family betrayed the alliance and secretly sided with the Meng Family—

The Taiqing Palace was a sword hanging over the Zheng Family's head, ready to fall at any moment.

The Zheng Family already faced a crisis of annihilation!

Under such immense pressure, the Southern Bean Royal Court had maintained an ambiguous stance, never issuing a clear decree to firmly protect the Zheng Family. Naturally, the Zheng Family had to save itself, desperately seeking a way out.

Meng Kui had likely offered some promises, making the Zheng Family feel they had grasped a lifeline, thus firmly siding with the Meng Family in secret and betraying the alliance.

As for the covenant Zhu Xuanji had signed with them, the Meng Family had undoubtedly intervened to secretly nullify it.

Where there is poison, there is an antidote. Where there is a covenant, there are means to dissolve it.

Zhu Xuanji quietly assessed the situation.

"Zhou Nongying, Ning Jiufan, the Violet Heaven Pavilion's Golden Core True Successor, Zheng Shuang gou, Yang Chanyu, Shu Zhongjun, and Ning Zhuo have all been eliminated."

"Now, within the Pivot Secret Pavilion, only myself, Zheng Danlian, the Meng Family's Meng Chong and their Golden Core Body Refiner, as well as Song Fuli and Sun Lingtong remain."

"The greatest threat to me should be Zheng Danlian! That fellow's Night Rain Demonic Weapon cannot be judged by common sense."

"Besides that, it's the potential alliance of the others."

"Once they realize my strength is too high, they will quickly unite against me."

In fact, this was one reason Zhu Xuanji had always concealed his true combat strength.

"Who is left now that I can potentially ally with?"

"Song Fuli?"

Zhu Xuanji, coming from the royal family, possessed considerable skill in assessing situations and forming alliances.

Indeed, when he first arrived at Fire Persimmon Immortal City alone, he had no one to assist him except himself.

Zhu Xuanji first used the powerful pretext of investigating the case to legitimately borrow personnel and resources from the City Lord's Mansion. Even Meng Kui, in the early stages, held some hope and anticipation towards the Royal Court and Zhu Xuanji.

Later, leveraging his status and adapting to the situation, Zhu Xuanji formed a three-family alliance with the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families.

He not only utilized the strength of these local powers but also avoided being forced into fighting multiple opponents alone, thereby preventing the premature exposure of his true strength.

Although the Zheng Family had defected, honestly, it wasn't Zhu Xuanji's fault.

The blame lay with the Southern Bean Royal Court for not issuing a timely decree.

"In fact, the Royal Court's prolonged delay in issuing a decree over such a long time already indicates their stance!"

Zhu Xuanji had reached his current position not solely by relying on his status and talent; he had consistently employed his own strategies.

Zhu Xuanji thought for a moment but didn't firmly decide to ally with Song Fuli.

In his view: The timing of Song Fuli and his group of Cloud Merchants' appearance carried a hint of coincidence.

Could he ally with Song Fuli? But couldn't City Lord Meng Kui do the same? If it came down to competing offers to win them over, Zhu Xuanji was certain he couldn't outbid Meng Kui.

If both sides vied for Song Fuli's allegiance, the probability of him being the loser was very high.

Therefore, having just been betrayed by Ning Zhuo, Zhu Xuanji preferred to keep his distance from Song Fuli.

Of course, the primary reason for this decision was Zhu Xuanji's confidence.

He was confident that even alone, he could withstand a united front from all the others.

What worried him most wasn't their potential alliance, but rather the possibility of everyone remaining dispersed!

"Zhu Xuanji fought the Entry Standard, Yang Chanyu, and Ning Zhuo. Yang Chanyu was defeated and eliminated. Ning Zhuo surrendered and was eliminated?"

Similar to Zhu Xuanji's situation, Meng Chong and the Meng Family's Golden Core Body Refiner were also analyzing the battle reports of others.

"Why did Ning Zhuo go after Zhu Xuanji?" Meng Chong was surprised, then exclaimed, "Inspector Zhu is formidable! Suppressed to only the Foundation Establishment stage, he fought so many people. Could Sun Lingtong's mechanical ape still not be used?"

The Meng Family Golden Core Body Refiner sneered, "Either Ning Zhuo is still entangled with the Unempty Gate, or the Ning Family also wants a piece of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace! Those Northern Wind Kingdom barbarians have always had such wolfish ambitions."

Meng Chong shrugged, indifferent. "I'd do the same if I were them. If there's loot to be seized, why not go all out to grab it?"

The Golden Core Body Refiner looked thoughtful, his tone grave. "If Sun Lingtong could have used that mechanical ape, then Zhu Xuanji's true combat strength is truly terrifying."

"The Unempty Gate should still possess another Foundation Establishment-level mechanical puppet. It wears a bamboo hat and can command ghosts."

Information about the battle of the three-family alliance had, of course, been collected by the City Lord's Mansion.

Even without that, Ning Zhuo had repeatedly deployed the Golden Blood War Ape - Da Sheng and the Nether Envoy - Qi Bai, disguised as parts of the trial stages, to intercept the trial disciples many times.

Therefore, the City Lord's Mansion had long since deduced the existence of the Nether Envoy - Qi Bai as a hidden card.

"Don't forget, the restrictions have weakened, and we can all use our own items. Although Ning Zhuo is only at the mid Qi Refining stage, similar to your cultivation level, young master, he was confirmed to be accompanied by a Golden Core-level mechanical ape."

"Even if the mechanical ape is suppressed to the Foundation Establishment level by the restrictions, it still poses a significant threat."

"Add to that the Unempty Gate's Golden Core True Successor disciple, Yang Chanyu..."

"For Zhu Xuanji to defeat these three, his strength is quite terrifying! He usually hides his depth very well."

Meng Chong casually placed his hands behind his head. "What's the point of guessing so much? Let's just fight Zhu Xuanji directly, and everything will become clear."

The Meng Family Golden Core Body Refiner felt weary at heart and quickly waved his hand. "War is perilous; avoiding battle is naturally best. The Art of War says: The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. The next best is to break their alliances. Next is to attack their army. The worst is to besiege their city. We must try to avoid combat, striving for the most stable way to achieve final victory."

"Not fight Zhu Xuanji?!" Meng Chong widened his eyes. He genuinely looked forward to this fight, and now his companion was saying not to fight?

Meng Chong immediately said, "This is such a great opportunity. Zhu Xuanji is suppressed to the Foundation Establishment stage; I can fight him relying on my Immortal Aptitude. If we really fight, how exhilarating would that be!"

The Meng Family Golden Core Body Refiner shook his head repeatedly. "No, no, no, young master, you seem to have forgotten. To seize the position of Immortal Palace Lord, we must find the correct path within the Pivot Secret Pavilion. The first person to enter the main hall and sit on the throne will become the Lord of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace."

"Your task is this, not to fight an uncertain battle with Zhu Xuanji."

"If we must fight, it would only be me joining forces with Zheng Danlian to intercept Zhu Xuanji and buy time for you."

But Meng Chong's eyes shone. "It's precisely because it's uncertain that fighting would be more interesting! This might be a rare chance for our Meng Family to measure ourselves against the Zhu Royal Family! I want to see why the Zhu Family gets to be the royal family of this kingdom, above our Meng Family."

So tiresome.

The Meng Family Golden Core Body Refiner sighed inwardly. Seeing that he couldn't persuade Meng Chong, he had no choice but to bring up Meng Kui.

"Young master, please restrain yourself."

"Our mission this time is arduous, and these arrangements didn't come from me; they are one of the strategies personally calculated by your grandfather."

"Will you listen to Lord Meng Kui's words?"

This time it was Meng Chong's turn to sigh. "Sigh! Listen, of course I have to listen to Grandfather's words."

His face was full of regret.

The Meng Family Golden Core Body Refiner finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit also heaved a huge sigh of relief. It had been watching Meng Chong closely. Seeing the latter so recklessly wanting to challenge Zhu Xuanji, it desperately wanted to smack him on the head a few times!

Do you have a brain in there?!

Zhu Xuanji, possessing three divine abilities! How could a young Qi Refining mid-stage cultivator like you think of challenging such an opponent?!

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had a clear view of the battles in several locations and was certain that Zhu Xuanji was the strongest presence in this palace examination. The only thing that might pose a frontal threat to him was that Night Rain Demonic Weapon.

"Almost everyone has moved on."

"Next, it's time for a minor pivot, to scramble the current locations within the Secret Pavilion again."

"Under my direction, Meng Chong has a chance to exit the Pivot Secret Pavilion and be the first to enter the main hall!"

*Slap, slap, slap...*

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit retreated into its shell, thinking.

Beside it, dozens of flaming whips continuously lashed at it.

The weakening restrictions allowed it to cheat, secretly telling Meng Chong which way to go—for example, take the left door or the door straight ahead.

It still couldn't reveal the slightest information about other cultivators.

It would still suffer severe lashings for cheating! In more serious cases, flaming executioner's blades would even materialize to behead it!

"Ning Zhuo is already out of the picture."

"After the minor pivot, Zhu Xuanji and Meng Chong will be separated by distance. He won't be able to stop Meng Chong from breaking out of the Secret Pavilion."

Never before had the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit felt so close to success.

"As long as Meng Chong can become the Palace Lord, all this suffering will have been worth it!" it encouraged itself silently.

Molten Rock Immortal Palace.

A ring of light spat out Sun Lingtong.

As soon as he emerged, he heard a beastly roar in front of him. A flaming beast pounced towards him.

Sun Lingtong's heart jumped in alarm. He was about to raise his dagger when the flaming beast's head was severed. Scalding blood gushed like a spring from its neck.

Sun Lingtong quickly stepped back, avoiding getting splattered.

"Yang Chanyu!" Sun Lingtong saw his fellow disciple who had acted to save him, dispatching the flaming beast.

Yang Chanyu didn't look well. Her face was as pale as gold paper, and her aura was very weak.

(End of )