: Does Ning Zhuo Have a King's Destiny?

Zhu Xuanji didn't say much, but Ning Zhuo could infer that the Southern Bean Kingdom was also involved in the affairs of the Two Notes Kingdom, having made significant investments in Qianfeng Forest.

Ning Zhuo thought to himself, "The underlying message here is for me to assist Qianfeng Forest."

"But the Six Caves Sect is a faction within the Qianfeng Forest region; perhaps they've also received secret support from the Southern Bean royal family?"

His family elder, Ning Jiufan, had instructed him to gauge the situation and teach the Six Caves Sect a lesson if necessary.

On the other hand, Zhu Xuanji subtly suggested that Ning Zhuo should aid the forces in Qianfeng Forest.

The conflicting wishes from both sides left Ning Zhuo feeling somewhat torn.

After some thought, Ning Zhuo nodded to Zhu Xuanji, indicating he would act according to circumstances and lend a hand if possible.

Ning Zhuo then asked Zhu Xuanji to assist the Ning family in competing for the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essence.

"Divine Constable, the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essence is of great importance to me."

"The Mechanical Roaming Dragon consumes a lot of energy and is powered by a Nascent Soul. With the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essence, it could greatly alleviate this predicament."

Zhu Xuanji shook his head directly, expressing his inability to help.

"During the negotiations at the Brilliant Reflection Wall, Senior Shen made it clear that the royal family cannot easily interfere in the internal affairs of the Fire Persimmon Immortal City."

"After all, Meng Kui is the current city lord of Fire Persimmon Immortal City. Unless there's a legitimate reason, interfering arbitrarily would be tantamount to our Zhu royal family encroaching on the Meng family's interests. Such an action would severely disrupt the tacit understanding within our court, cause the royal family to lose popular support, and provoke distrust and even collective opposition from other important ministers."

Though these losses are intangible, anyone with a modicum of political acumen knows they are indeed substantial!

Just as Linghu Jiu once spared no expense in offering Fire and Metal Enlightenment Diagrams as compensation to Ning Zhuo to restore the reputation of the Ten Thousand Medicines Sect.

Such reputation and prestige may seem illusory, but they genuinely affect people's hearts and influence the choices of many talents and factions.

Each decision accumulates over time, forming a powerful momentum that exerts an influence beyond ordinary imagination!

"Precisely for this reason, our Zhu family has been vigorously supporting your Ning family and the Zhou family." Zhu Xuanji shook his head, indicating that the royal family would not interfere arbitrarily in this matter.

The royal family's concerns were also reflected in this multi-party cooperation.

On the surface, the alliance only involved the Ning family and the Ten Thousand Medicines Sect, with no apparent role for the royal family. In reality, the Zhu family played an extremely crucial role, providing guarantees for the Ning family and the Ten Thousand Medicines Sect, along with the strongest external oversight.

It must be said that Ning Zhuo's move to bring in the Zhu family was an extremely clever one!

Seeing his final effort fail, Ning Zhuo shifted to another request: "Obtaining the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essence in Fire Persimmon Mountain would naturally be best."

"If that's not possible, could I purchase it from the royal family?"

Zhu Xuanji chuckled and pointed at Ning Zhuo, "You rascal, this is your real request, isn't it?"

Having spent considerable time with Ning Zhuo, he had become familiar with many of Ning Zhuo's communication tactics.

Zhu Xuanji nodded slightly, "Our clan's treasury does indeed contain Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essences. However, their spiritual essence is far inferior to the one in Fire Persimmon Mountain."

Everyone had reviewed the relevant intelligence.

Zhu Xuanji continued, "You, who have mastered the Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra, understand better than anyone how important spiritual essence is."

"A Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essence with insufficient spiritual essence would take a long time to self-absorb and recover."

"So, your best option is still to seize the one in the mountain. Since you have the Ten-Thousand-Mile Roaming Dragon, why not return to your family at a critical moment to lend a hand?"

Ning Zhuo had actually considered this question long ago.

He decisively shook his head, "Divine Constable, you know the real purpose of my journey across the land."

"It's to replenish the spiritual essence for my mother's mechanism and heal her injuries!"

"The Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essence isn't a necessity for me. The top priority is to do everything possible to replenish the spiritual essence for my mother as quickly as possible."

"Everything else must be arranged later."

Zhu Xuanji nodded.

Back in the Molten Immortal Palace, he had used the Heavenly Fund Golden Eye, combined with the Root Tracing Art, to see Meng Yaoxin's two instances of using the golden furnace.

At the critical moment of the struggle in the Molten Immortal Palace, he was present, witnessing the "voluntary" submission of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal to Ning Zhuo, Ning Zhuo burning the throne to replenish his mother's spiritual essence, and Ning Zhuo's brilliant final move—inviting Meng Kui to serve as the palace master of the Immortal Palace!

It could be said that he knew more of Ning Zhuo's secrets than anyone else, even more than Ning Jiufan.

Zhu Xuanji smiled faintly, "So, you plan to burn the Fetal Breath Spirit Boat, is that it?"

Ning Zhuo nodded, admitting it frankly.

For the Divine Constable, this was easy to investigate and deduce.

After all, the records of Ning Zhuo's mother using the Fetal Breath Spirit Boat for pregnancy nurturing could be found in the Ten Thousand Medicines Sect's archives.

The Fetal Breath Spirit Boat was a heritage treasure of the sect, benefiting all. Its usage was always meticulously planned and recorded.

Zhu Xuanji had already suspected Ning Zhuo's intention in proposing to borrow the Fetal Breath Spirit Boat in the alliance. To that end, he had secretly assisted Ning Zhuo when finalizing the alliance terms.

Lin Bufan had wanted to add clauses to ensure the safety of such heritage treasures as the Fetal Breath Spirit Boat, prohibiting intentional damage and outlining penalties for loss or damage.

Zhu Xuanji had blocked these clauses, stating at the time that compared to the Brilliant Reflection Wall, the Fetal Breath Spirit Boat and the Hidden Spirit Willow, though important for managing a faction, were entirely insignificant. He believed anyone would cherish them and not intentionally cause damage.

He also argued that such restrictive and punitive clauses wouldn't serve as effective protection. Instead, if an enemy were to damage a heritage treasure someday, these clauses could create rifts within the alliance and internal conflicts, so it was better not to include them.

Lin Bufan had never imagined that Ning Zhuo was "so unscrupulous" as to covet burning the Fetal Breath Spirit Boat even before coming to the Ten Thousand Medicines Sect.

Lin Bufan didn't know about Buddha Physician Meng Yaoxin's injuries, nor was he aware that Ning Zhuo had mastered the Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra.

Since Zhu Xuanji put it that way, Lin Bufan pondered deeply and thought Zhu Xuanji,不愧 as the Divine Constable and an important member of the Southern Bean royal family, had great vision and made a lot of sense.

So Lin Bufan agreed.

Thus, when Ning Zhuo proceeded to cremate the Fetal Breath Spirit Boat, there were no alliance restrictions, granting him considerable convenience.

Ning Zhuo was a clever child; Zhu Xuanji's assistance at that time made him realize that Zhu Xuanji had subtly helped him.

At this moment, Ning Zhuo cupped his hands and bowed to Zhu Xuanji, "Troubling the Divine Constable to care and assist me in secret. I am deeply grateful and will surely remember this kindness, repaying it in the future!"

Zhu Xuanji, however, sidestepped to avoid the bow, "Don't bow so readily, and don't make promises so easily. Do you know these things can affect one's fate?"

"We often say that mouth seals, heart seals, and body seals aid in spellcasting, but their intrinsic meaning goes deeper."

"Every word we speak is a mouth seal. Every decision and thought we have is a heart seal. Every action we take is a body seal."

"These imprints influence us and alter our destinies."

"I won't accept this bow from you, and you don't need to repay me. I simply see your hardship, bearing the responsibility of saving your mother alone, and understand the anxiety and torment in your heart. Such pure filial piety truly inspires a desire to help."

"However, though your combat prowess is impressive and your mastery of the Five Elements has now surpassed mine, making me envious, this journey may not yield the ideal outcome."

"Have you considered this point?"

Ning Zhuo fell into silence.

Of course, he had thought about this issue, but he couldn't accept the consequence of failure.

Seeing the big-headed youth silent before him, Zhu Xuanji frowned slightly, "Most things in this world don't go as desired. If it were otherwise, '万事如意' (may all your wishes come true) wouldn't be an auspicious saying."

Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth, "I only know that I will give it my all!"

Zhu Xuanji sighed, waved his hand, and simply said, "Set off."

Ning Zhuo then bowed in thanks to Zhu Xuanji, stepped into the Ten-Thousand-Mile Roaming Dragon, and left the Valley of Ten Thousand Medicines.

As if sensing something, Linghu Jiu, fighting within the Brilliant Reflection Wall, paused slightly and was immediately pushed into a disadvantage by the demon beast.

In the boudoir.

Xiao Ju watched Lin Shanshan pacing around the room, "Miss, Young Master Ning Zhuo is about to depart. Are you really not going to see him off?"

Lin Shanshan, who had been hesitating,反而 felt resolved upon being urged.

"Forget it, I'm not going!"

She sat on the round stool, staring intently at the Mist Elegance Orchid in the vase on the table, murmuring, "Everything that needed to be said was already said at the farewell banquet. It's not like I won't see him again in the future."

"This big-headed guy is so capable—he even managed to kidnap me—and has higher immortal aptitude than even the senior brother. His fame is bound to grow."

"Plus, with the cooperation between our Ten Thousand Medicines Sect and the Ning family, and his promise to write to me, it should be fine."

These words,表面上 meant for Xiao Ju, were actually Lin Shanshan trying to convince herself.

"Miss..." Xiao Ju looked at Lin Shanshan with concern but didn't press further.

On the mountain peak, watching the Ten-Thousand-Mile Roaming Dragon disappear from sight, the golden light in Zhu Xuanji's eyes gradually faded.

Shen Lingshu arrived swiftly yet seemingly unhurried.

Zhu Xuanji glanced at Shen Lingshu, "Senior, I finally understand why our monarch insisted I maintain contact with Ning Zhuo."

"This Child of Tribulation is almost unnerving!"

"His fortune is so prosperous, his encounters so mystifying, it's hard to predict. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe his mastery of the Five Elements has far surpassed mine, with such progress in Five Elements spells."

"Our esteemed Zhu family, ruling a kingdom, has also benefited because of him."

"The Brilliant Reflection Wall... such a quasi-immortal artifact, how many practical talents it can cultivate for our Zhu family!"

Previously, Zhu Xuanji had wanted to stay as far away from Ning Zhuo as possible, but after this experience, he found it truly beneficial!

Zhu Xuanji then asked, "Senior, how did the divination go?"

"Does Ning Zhuo's immortal aptitude constitute a King's Destiny?"

"Or does he possess the supernatural power Human Fate Hanging by a Thread?"

The Southern Bean royal family dispatched Shen Lingshu not just to support Zhu Xuanji. He actually carried a more important mission from the Southern Bean monarch: to investigate Ning Zhuo and thoroughly ascertain his background!

King's Destinies vary in type, but regardless, they are all top-grade natural endowments, i.e., immortal aptitude!

As for major secrets like the supernatural power Human Fate Hanging by a Thread, Shen Lingshu, as a member of the royal family, was also informed.

If Ning Zhuo had a King's Destiny, the Southern Bean Zhu family would need to be fully vigilant and find ways to expel the Ning family.

Precisely on this point, the Five Elements Sovereign was reticent.

If he possessed the Human Fate Hanging by a Thread supernatural power, the royal family's reaction would be even more intense!

It could be said that the Southern Bean royal family's true attitude towards Ning Zhuo depended on Shen Lingshu's investigation results.

(End of )