: Inviting the Ancestor to Emerge! (Bonus for National Day Event!)

2024-10-26 Author: Gu Zhenren

Han Zhou couldn't help but look Ning Zhuo up and down: "The Enlightenment Charts are far more valuable than my little bit of bitter water! I can still refine that bitter water now. So, losing some isn't a great pity."

"But you and I have only met twice before. This is just the third time, and you're lending me these two Enlightenment Charts."

"Aren't you worried I might take these two charts and simply leave the Ten Thousand Medicines Sect?"

"You must know, charts like these are all inheritance treasures, their value is extremely high."

Han Zhou's bitter water was difficult to ingest; those unqualified to drink it would actually suffer harm. However, the Enlightenment Charts didn't have such severe drawbacks.

The bitter water contained the true essence of the Bitter Cold Scripture. Absorbing too much of this essence could shake a cultivator's resolve, gradually inclining them towards the Bitter Cold Scripture, leading them to change their cultivation method and start anew.

The Enlightenment Charts only involved spells, not cultivation methods, making them much more universally applicable.

Ning Zhuo smiled inwardly, thinking, "Of course I'm not afraid. I have the Thread of Human Fate planted on you long ago; I can sense your location at any time."

Outwardly, however, he waved his hand: "The value of the Enlightenment Charts only manifests for those who can use them."

"Brother Han Zhou gifted me bitter water from which I benefited greatly; I should reciprocate."

"The ancients said, 'A drop of kindness deserves a fountain of回报.' My virtue is meager; I cannot reach that standard."

"But lending out two Enlightenment Charts is something I can do!"

"As long as you return them to me before I leave Contention Peak to continue my travels elsewhere."

"After all, these belong to my Ning Family, not to me personally."

Seeing that Ning Zhuo wasn't just putting on a show but genuinely lending them, Han Zhou was momentarily stunned.

"This kid Ning Zhuo... no, this junior does indeed have some bearing of a scion from a great clan."

"However, this could also be social tactics deliberately trained by great clans…"

My Buddha's Heart Demon Seal!

"To tell the truth, I've met countless people. With my beggar-like appearance, few think highly of me."

"Even those who ask me to take action, like Li Jingqing and his ilk, though their strength is far inferior to mine, still order me around arrogantly."

"To directly lend out two Enlightenment Charts, and it's only our third meeting... Young Master Ning Zhuo is indeed magnanimous!"

Han Zhou's admiration quickly overwhelmed his doubts.

He then thought of his own plans.

"Speaking of which, my intentions towards Ning Zhuo are not sincere; I've been secretly wanting to convert him, to guide him to practice the Bitter Cold Scripture."

"No, no, he has such aptitude for the Bitter Cold Scripture. Is his current cultivation method really suitable for him? What I'm doing is actually helping him."

My Buddha's Heart Demon Seal!

"Even so, I am still scheming against him, am I not?"

"But Young Master Ning Zhuo treats me with such genuine sincerity!"

"Ah, this matter I'm handling improperly; I feel quite guilty…"

Han Zhou felt both respect and shame.

Ning Zhuo had lived in Fire Persimmon Immortal City for sixteen years, constantly contemplating human nature. He could, based on his own judgment, draw out a trace of the power of the My Buddha's Heart Demon Seal to influence others.

Now, he had mastered the supernatural ability, Thread of Human Fate. Once someone was implanted with the thread, as long as they were face-to-face within a few steps, Ning Zhuo, using the combination of the thread and the My Buddha's Heart Demon Seal, could perceive vague thoughts and emotions in the other person's heart.

Although it was quite模糊, relying solely on these perceptions, it was impossible to clearly distinguish anything. But Ning Zhuo could rely on his grasp of human psychology to guess many things. Thereby, he could perform targeted amplification or reduction.

Using the Thread of Human Fate and the My Buddha's Heart Demon Seal to amplify and reduce gave him a huge advantage in interpersonal communication.

Han Zhou's fondness for him greatly increased in a short time. The key was that he didn't find it strange or abrupt at all; everything felt as natural as a spring breeze turning into rain. He would only think these were his own thoughts.

He wanted to convert Ning Zhuo, unaware that he himself was being gradually led by Ning Zhuo, slowly coming under his control.

Wanting to make up for his feeling of guilt, Han Zhou put even more effort into their sparring session.

When they bid farewell, he proactively suggested: "Friend Ning Zhuo, if you are troubled by being unable to utilize the martial techniques within the Bitter Cold Scripture, I have a method here that might solve your worries."

Ning Zhuo: "Oh? What wonderful method is it?"

Han Zhou smiled: "Actually, it's not surprising when said aloud—it's simply mechanics arts."

"I've seen you cast Five Elements spells, sometimes using flying mechanical arms to assist in combat."

"So I thought, perhaps we could rely on mechanical constructs to break through the obstacles in performing martial techniques!"

Ning Zhuo truly hadn't thought of this. His eyes immediately lit up, and he thanked Han Zhou sincerely.

After they parted, Ning Zhuo fell into reflection: "I was careless."

"Blinded by the joy of my gains. This method is so simple, and I'm proficient in mechanics arts; how did I not think of it?"

"Is it because I already have the Demonic Blood Tendon Skill and can transform myself, so I didn't think further?"

"Or is it because I've been fighting with my own body recently, temporarily putting mechanics arts aside?"

"No, these aren't reasons."

"It's because I'm gradually becoming arrogant. After entering the Ten Thousand Medicines Sect, I discovered the immense advantage the combination of My Buddha's Heart Demon Seal and Thread of Human Fate gives me in interpersonal communication, allowing me to easily reap huge benefits without needing to fight and kill, or spend long periods cultivating cooperation, mutual trust, or emotional foundations."

"Ning Zhuo, oh Ning Zhuo, you still have a long way to go."

"Your cultivation is only early Foundation Establishment. Your mechanical design for the Mengye Tiger hasn't even started. Your knowledge of cultivation is minimal. You've only added a few offensive wood-element spells; the other four elements are still lacking."

"Furthermore, the spiritual plant cabin for the Thousand-Mile Wandering Dragon is only roughly set up, and the Hidden Spirit Willow has been heavily consumed. The mechanical Wandering Dragon itself also consumes a great deal of fire essence, none of which you have resolved yet!"

"Most importantly, Mother's injury is still only on the path to seeking treatment; a根治 method hasn't been found!"

Thinking this, Ning Zhuo's mood calmed, and his entire body exuded a steady, low-key aura.

He went to Origin Mountain again and, unsurprisingly, was stopped once more.

When he inquired about Lin Shanshan's news, he was also reprimanded: don't ask about things you shouldn't!

Thus, Ning Zhuo knew that the people dispatched by the Ten Thousand Medicines Sect to Fire Persimmon Immortal City to gather intelligence had not yet returned.

If they had returned, their cooperation could enter the next negotiation stage, and the other party wouldn't have such an attitude.

"These Ten Thousand Medicines Sect people move too slowly, don't they?"

"Calculating the days, my letter should have reached Fire Persimmon Immortal City by now."

Based on the distance between Ten Thousand Medicines Valley and Fire Persimmon Mountain, if Ning Zhuo relied solely on his own法力 to send a flying letter, it would lose accuracy after flying five or six *li*, and would fall after ten *li* when his法力 was exhausted.

His letter was delivered through relay stations.

Immortal cultivation nations like Southern Bean Country all had officially established relay stations.

These stations were divided into large, medium, and small types, responsible for transmitting information, transporting goods, and providing accommodation, food, drink, and cultivation environments.

All stations had garrison troops.

The garrison troops of large stations, once mobilized, could even pacify regions and clear out gangs and sects.

The letter Ning Zhuo sent back was delivered through these relay stations, being assigned and transported step by step, finally arriving at its destination—Fire Persimmon Mountain.

Fire Persimmon Mountain summit.

Molten Immortal Palace.

After this period of arduous salvage work, Meng Kui had already pieced together the missing parts of the Immortal Palace and restored a small portion of its power.

Numerous cultivators bustled around the replenished sections, tapping and hammering, setting up formation arrays, as busy as bees.

This kind of meticulous and precise work wasn't something Meng Kui could handle all by himself.

The cultivators he hired weren't just from the Zhou Family; using the Meng Family's channels, he had recruited talent from various immortal cities across Southern Bean Country with high pay.

The Fire Persimmon Immortal City's城主府 also bore a small part of this cost.

It was precisely this part that made Fei Si look gloomy all day, feeling the financial pressure.

Ning Jiufan and Zhou Nongying were invited to the Molten Immortal Palace to discuss important matters with Meng Kui.

Meng Kui displayed a scene depicting the depths of Fire Persimmon Mountain.

In a vast sea of magma, molten rock surged and奔腾 like rivers. A spirit flickered with dazzling light, playing happily, now entering, now exiting the sea of magma.

At times it transformed into a Flame Molten Ape,振奋 its arms, tearing through the magma, stirring up blazing winds. At times it became a Fire Vole, darting about like lightning. At times it changed into a Raging Fire Snake, proud and aloof. At times it turned into a Treading Flame Lizard, imposing and fierce.

It even took human form, draped in a robe of flames, sitting cross-legged in the sea of fire, imitating the appearance of cultivation and breathing!

Whenever it did this, the surrounding flames seemed drawn by some invisible force, gathering towards it yet respectfully maintaining their distance, like subjects paying homage to their monarch.

Every slight fluctuation of the Fire Essence could cause the surrounding flames to resonate, forming beautiful whirlpools of fire, a breathtaking and astounding sight!

Meng Kui said: "As you can see, this is a Ten Thousand Year Fire Essence!"

Zhou Nongying and Ning Jiufan were both silent for a moment, quite astonished.

A treasure material like Ten Thousand Year Fire Essence had already surpassed the Nascent Soul level, reaching the Transformation Spirit level!

Meng Kui continued: "The previous volcanic unrest attracted it up from the deep depths. While routinely inspecting with the Molten Immortal Palace, I accidentally discovered it."

"Today, I called your two families here to discuss a method to capture it."

Ning Jiufan showed worry: "I'm afraid with our current strength, capturing it will pose many difficulties. It holds a great terrain advantage, and the Molten Immortal Palace is still far from being able to participate in battle."

Zhou Nongying sighed: "Although that's true, this matter must be done; we can't delay much longer. Look, this Ten Thousand Year Fire Essence can already take human form, though the human form is still blurry and rather strange, retaining many bestial characteristics."

"I think it was probably attracted by the unrest of Fire Persimmon Mountain. After coming up, it discovered it could absorb spiritual energy, so it has been lingering, unwilling to leave."

"Back when exploring the Molten Immortal Palace, many cultivators sacrificed themselves here."

"It was precisely this 'gift' that allowed the Ten Thousand Year Fire Essence to rapidly transform towards human form. If it truly succeeds in this step, its intelligence will surely greatly increase, and the difficulty of capture will skyrocket by at least ten times!"

Ning Jiufan pondered silently.

A wild Ten Thousand Year Fire Essence, born of heaven and earth, possessing human-like intelligence but without the slightest constraint of rules, and immensely powerful…

One didn't need to think hard to know that its existence posed a huge threat to the entire Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

Meng Kui said directly: "Both of you, prepare well. When I am ready, I will lure it up and we will hunt it together. Friend Ning Jiufan, I know you possess a Fire Core Pomegranate. Please lend it to me to use in the trap."

"The corresponding compensation will not shortchange you."

Ning Jiufan agreed.

After flying back to the clan territory, a servant handed him Ning Zhuo's letter.

Ning Jiufan unfolded the letter and read: "Huh? This kid actually reached Ten Thousand Medicines Valley? Thinking back to the old days…"

Reading further, Ning Jiufan raised an eyebrow: "What? He wants me to最好 bring Granny Yuan and make a trip there?"

(End of )