: Mother Ning's Hidden Legacy (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

2024-10-04 Author: Gu Zhenren

Ning Zhuo was growing older.

Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong caused a major disturbance in the black market.

In the alley, several lurking cultivators fell to the ground one after another.

Hearing the sound, Ning Zhuo spun around abruptly and was horrified to see these cultivators. If they had successfully ambushed him, his fate would have been dire.

Then, he cried out in surprise and joy, "Mother, why are you here? I haven't seen you in so long!"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin smiled. "I've been watching what you've done these past few days. You've done very well."

Seeing Ning Zhuo approach, she sighed emotionally. "You've grown so tall all of a sudden. It feels like just yesterday you were Little Zhuo, falling asleep to lullabies."

"Come with me."

Ning Zhuo followed Meng Yaoyin deep underground into a secret base.

Meng Yaoyin said, "I established several secret bases like this. This is the Ding-level base."

"I left some things here."

"Looking at you now, you are qualified to receive them. The inheritance isn't overwhelmingly vast, so it won't burden your spirit, nor are you like a child carrying gold through a marketplace—too young to handle the responsibility."

Ning Zhuo obtained the Cloud-Hidden Bud.

Ning Zhuo obtained the "Essentials of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace."

Ning Zhuo obtained a sickle mechanism.

Meng Yaoyin instructed him carefully: "The Cloud-Hidden Bud is a rare flower containing the principles of the Cloud Path. It can help you conceal many secrets."

"The 'Essentials of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace' is a collection of my experiences, summaries, and conjectures about the Immortal Palace's arrangements, including those related to the Three Sects' higher-ups."

"You must be most careful with this mechanical sickle! It is a Night Rain Demonic Weapon, extremely sharp and fiercely malevolent. The more cultivators it devours, the greater its power becomes. I paid a heavy price to subdue it, so it is most attached to me. Even so, I had to reforge it periodically to cleanse its accumulated malevolence. Otherwise, it would risk turning on its wielder."

"Before my death, I specifically sealed it with multiple layers of restrictions."

"This was a temporary measure."

"The longer time passes, the greater the chance it will break the seals. Once freed, it will become even more ferocious and murderous, like a starving beast, posing a danger even to those nearby."

"You carry an aura I left with you, so it won't target you immediately."

"If you encounter a powerful enemy you cannot handle, release its seals and let it attack the foe. Then, find an opportunity to reseal it."

"Do not do this too many times. The more enemies it devours, the harder it will be to control."

"Its greatest weakness lies in the seven-inch point when it is in its serpent form. That is where its malevolence concentrates. If you remove that part, its malevolence will significantly decrease."

"However, this malevolence has already been tamed by me."

"If, in the future, it devours too many cultivators and its malevolence grows stronger, remove the mechanical component at its seven-inch point. That will greatly weaken it."

"All Night Rain Demonic Weapons generate malevolence. Periodically, reattach the seven-inch component. Let the original malevolence and the newly generated malevolence fight and consume each other. This is one method to control it. You must preserve the original malevolence; it has been tamed by me. You are my flesh and blood, so it will be relatively closer to you."

"Remember, reforging, sealing techniques, and malevolence consumption are the three main methods to control this sickle. The specific details are recorded in the 'Essentials of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace' that I wrote."

Ning Zhuo nodded, promising to remember her instructions firmly, and then said, "Mother, I want to tell Boss Sun about our secrets, including this one. Do you think that's alright?"

Meng Yaoyin smiled slightly and stroked Ning Zhuo's hair. "You may."

"I previously asked you to keep secrets because I was worried about leaks. After all, strangers cannot be easily trusted."

"But over the years, I have observed Sun Lingtong's actions and behavior."

"I must say, Little Zhuo, your luck is really quite good."

"He is someone you can entrust your life and livelihood to."

"Of course, that's only true so far. People can change. You need to observe constantly and remain vigilant."

"Don't show him the 'Essentials of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace' for now. It's always wise to be cautious and leave yourself some room. If his resolve remains firm, you can show him the essentials later when the time is more appropriate."

Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly, his expression firm. "I believe in Boss Sun!"

Meng Yaoyin was slightly taken aback. "Little Zhuo, you've grown up. You have your own ideas now, and Mother is happy for you. Then, do as you think best."

Seeing his mother's support, Ning Zhuo was overjoyed. He looked up at Meng Yaoyin with determined eyes. "Mother, wait for me! I will definitely find a way to cure your illness. I will take you back from the Molten Rock Immortal Palace!"

Meng Yaoyin's heart trembled. She knew Ning Zhuo was clever; he must have realized the implication of her giving him this legacy now.

Coupled with the fact that her periods of amnesia had grown longer over the years, with only one or two weeks of lucidity annually, Ning Zhuo could hardly fail to guess that their separation was imminent.

She bent down and hugged Ning Zhuo tightly.

Ning Zhuo did not cry again. He just held onto Meng Yaoyin tightly.

Ning Zhuo brought Sun Lingtong to "discover" the underground base. They obtained the Cloud-Hidden Bud, the Night Rain Demonic Weapon, the Floating Cloud Handkerchief, and other cultivation resources.

The "Essentials of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace" was also among them.

Sun Lingtong sighed with emotion. "Little Zhuo, your mother really put great thought into this. She specifically arranged this hidden legacy instead of giving it to you before her death. On one hand, she worried someone might discover it and harm you to seize the treasure. On the other hand, she also worried that if you became wealthy at a young age, you might rest on her achievements, neglect your studies, become decadent, and lack ambition."

"You passed your mother's test, followed the clues, and found this place relying on your own abilities. This is what your mother wanted to see."

"You've done excellently!"

Ning Zhuo said, "If you hadn't taught me how to steal, Boss, how could I have discovered the clues and finally found this place? Thank you, Boss!"

Sun Lingtong immediately puffed up with pride, placed his hands on his hips, and chuckled. "Of course!"

Ning Zhuo took a deep breath, suppressing his nervousness, and prepared to tell Sun Lingtong everything.

Sun Lingtong said seriously, "The Cloud-Hidden Bud is a sharp tool. According to the jade slip, it should be able to counter various investigative spells like tracing origins."

"Little Zhuo, this is a supreme tool for your protection. You must use it well."

"If you want to seize the Molten Rock Immortal Palace, you will inevitably face various investigations in the future. I've always wanted to advise you to join the Bukong Sect because the sect has esoteric principles that can resist such investigations. But due to sect rules, only disciples are qualified to learn them."

"This Cloud-Hidden Bud fills a major vulnerability you had."

"However, I won't read this 'Essentials of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace'."

"Also, from now on, don't let me know about things your mother left for you."

Ning Zhuo was puzzled. "Huh? Why?"

"You dummy," Sun Lingtong said. "I just mentioned the Root-Tracing Art. Have I told you about the Southern Bean Kingdom's Divine Capture Division?"

"We need to keep our respective secrets. That way, if one of us is captured in the future, the loss is smaller, and it won't implicate the other."

Sun Lingtong, having been arrested multiple times for theft, had rich experience and authority on this matter.

"If you or I are captured in the future and our souls are searched, revealing each other, wouldn't that give others a chance to follow the clues and catch us all? On the contrary, as long as one of us remains free, there's more hope for rescue, right?"

Ning Zhuo suddenly understood. "No wonder you always advised me when I was little that keeping my own secrets was the right thing to do."

"Of course! I am your boss, after all." Sun Lingtong placed his hands on his hips, chuckling with pride.

Ning Zhuo secretly studied the "Essentials of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace."

The jade slip recorded how Meng Yaoyin infiltrated the Immortal Palace, continuously probed, exploited vulnerabilities, and used her position as Chief Maintenance Officer to enter the main hall, sit on the throne, and exercise a small part of the Palace Lord's authority.

The "Essentials" clearly stated: "There should be a Palace Spirit in the Molten Rock Immortal Palace, but I have never seen it."

Meng Yaoyin speculated that the Palace Spirit must be extremely weak, perpetually dormant, causing the Immortal Palace to operate on its own, continuously declining in standard.

"What? Mother actually had Golden Core cultivation?!"

"Well, she had the Cloud-Hidden Bud. Hiding her cultivation level would be easy."

Ning Zhuo was shocked but then quickly understood.

His thoughts ran wild, generating more questions: Why did Mother hide her identity? How did she meet and accompany Father? Was Father also a Golden Core cultivator?

Probably not!

Although Ning Zhuo had never met his biological father, he had gathered much information from his mother and surrounding clansmen.

He knew his father, Ning Zhong, was fiercely loyal to the clan, took pride in the family, and was a straightforward man. It was unlikely he had hidden his cultivation level like Meng Yaoyin.

"The Molten Rock Immortal Palace has many mechanical structures, such as the Five Elements Artillery Towers, the General's Platform, the Medical Hall, etc."

"Mother's official position came from one of these."

"In the future, I should emulate Mother, accumulate merits, and exchange them for a position."

"Hmm, positions have chains of command. Perhaps I should also make many friends, pool our strength to occupy one mechanical structure together, and monopolize the related positions?"

Ning Zhuo continued reading.

"The Zheng Family? Hmph!"

"The two Golden Core ancestors of the Zheng Family opposed Mother multiple times."

"Although they weren't the direct cause of Mother's injury and illness, it's a fact that they repeatedly clashed with her, hindering her treatment."

"When I get the chance in the future, I will repay them!"

Ning Zhuo did not forget the main point. He carefully studied how to control the mechanical sickle.

From the "Essentials of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace," he learned the sickle's true name—Great Serpent Sickle!

He studied the three control methods in detail.

First, the sealing technique, which actually required Golden Core cultivation.

Second, reforging, which was even more difficult and required a high-grade furnace.

Third, removing the seven-inch component and periodically reinstalling it, allowing the old and new malevolence to clash and consume each other.

Ning Zhuo was eight years old.

Watching the mechanical serpent devour the cultivators' corpses one by one, Sun Lingtong couldn't help but sigh. "It's really useful for cleaning up the battlefield."

"We've used it to eliminate many powerful enemies over the past two years. It's very handy. Do you really plan to 'gift' it to the Zheng Family?"

Ning Zhuo nodded. "It's getting more and more ferocious."

"The sealing power Mother left has been exhausted. Neither of us is a Golden Core cultivator; we can't reseal it."

"For reforging, we lack the furnace. Only the Zheng Family has one."

"We've used the malevolence consumption method too many times. The original malevolence isn't that strong anymore. If we continue, the new malevolence will completely destroy the original, and our control over the Great Serpent Sickle will drop to its minimum!"

"Let's find an opportunity to give it to the Zheng Family, along with the mechanism blueprints. In my opinion, given the temperaments of the Zheng Family's two Golden Cores, they definitely won't pass up the chance and will be eager to reforge the Great Serpent Sickle."

"We basically control the black market now. From now on, we'll continuously hoard Night Wind Soft Iron."

"In the future, when the Zheng Family reforges it, they will inevitably choose the best material, which is Night Wind Soft Iron."

"At that time, I will mix the original malevolence into the Night Wind Soft Iron, betting that the Zheng Family won't detect it!"

Sun Lingtong chuckled, his eyes shining. "A brilliant plan, truly brilliant! Things from the Night Rain Dynasty operate on principles vastly different from current cultivation methods. The chances of the Zheng Family detecting the original malevolence are minuscule."

"I'll take the Great Serpent Sickle into the Molten Rock Immortal Palace."

"Hmm..."

"We can't 'give' it directly to the Zheng Family's Golden Cores. We need a suitable intermediary, someone to handle it in between. Hehehe!"

(End of )