Ning Zhuo walked over to the alchemy furnace in the corner.

Inside the furnace, fierce flames raged. Standing within the flames was a mechanical monkey, half a person tall, constantly enduring the scorching heat.

The monkey's skeleton stood ramrod straight, its vibrant red fur looked incredibly lifelike. However, its muscles were slowly degrading in the fire, oozing out from various seams.

The Molten Rock Immortal Palace hid within the volcanic magma. Ning Zhuo needed to control the Blaze Monkey to carry a thousand jin of Fire Essence, navigate through the thick magma, attach itself to the palace's surface, and self-destruct.

But right now, its muscles couldn't hold up.

"If Cloud-Pattern Soft Silver doesn't work, we'll try the next one."

Ning Zhuo went to the table and sat down. According to his plan, tonight he would attempt to use Oil-Smoke Mud.

The reddish-brown Oil-Smoke Mud emitted a pungent odor.

Ning Zhuo picked up a small wooden mallet and began pounding the mud.

Each time the small mallet struck the mud, it produced a dull *thump*, breaking up the clumps within. Whenever sparks appeared in the reddish-brown mud, the wooden mallet would emit a cold aura, promptly extinguishing them.

Ning Zhuo had specifically designed and developed this small wooden mallet for processing Oil-Smoke Mud.

If the examiners of the Grand Examination saw this, they would immediately award Ning Zhuo a "Superior" grade in the Talisman subject.

The ratings Lower, Middle, and Upper were the most commonly used.

"Superior" was extremely rare; there might not even be one in an entire examination cycle. It meant the standard evaluation criteria were insufficient to describe the young cultivator's excellence!

Once all the lumps in the Oil-Smoke Mud were completely dissolved, a layer of fire oil had accumulated on the surface of the red mud.

Ning Zhuo then took a square handkerchief made of cotton cloth and placed it over the Oil-Smoke Mud.

As he channeled his magical power, the array on the handkerchief activated, rapidly absorbing the fire oil.

This handkerchief was also designed by Ning Zhuo, but this time, it wasn't based on talismans; instead, he had set up a miniature array.

The skill level demonstrated in the array on this handkerchief was also worthy of a "Superior" grade.

Ning Zhuo carefully inspected it, confirmed the Oil-Smoke Mud was properly processed, and began kneading it.

The processed fire-oil mud had excellent viscosity and was kneaded by Ning Zhuo until it was pliable and fine. Other impurities within the mud were all flushed out under the infusion of Ning Zhuo's magical power.

Ning Zhuo detached one of the mechanical monkey's arms, took the processed Oil-Smoke Mud, and applied it to the arm's skeleton.

Ning Zhuo's ten fingers were pale white. Under the light of the spirit lamp, the movements of his fingers were agile and deft. He was utterly focused, completely absorbed, having entirely lost track of time. At this moment, the young man radiated a charm born of seriousness.

The Oil-Smoke Mud was quickly shaped by his hands. The bare arm skeleton now had full, blood-red muscles.

Of course, Ning Zhuo wasn't just shaping the exterior with his hands. Throughout the process, he continuously mobilized his magical power, channeling it into the mud to arrange its internal structure.

If one lightly cut open the muscle tissue with a knife, they would see that the interior of the red mud also resembled the form of muscles.

This astonishing skill in material shaping was enough to make the Academy Elder gasp in surprise.

If Ning Zhuo revealed this ability, he would definitely be promoted by the Academy Elder as the star student of the year. Producing such an outstanding seed talent in artifact refining would amply demonstrate the Academy Elder's own capability and effort.

After shaping was complete, Ning Zhuo began conducting various tests on the arm.

No good.

The Oil-Smoke Mud's fire resistance was excellent, but its compatibility with magical power was quite poor.

"It needs improvement."

Ning Zhuo began to recall.

"Mixing Oil-Smoke Mud with Thunder Sand can create explosives. Often used for blasting mountains or fighting demon beasts."

"Combining Oil-Smoke Mud with poison can refine poison pills. When the pill disintegrates, it releases fiery toxic smoke, used to hinder enemies or for defense."

"Oil-Smoke Mud can also be combined with Coal Stone and placed in a refining furnace to burn for a long time, maintaining high temperatures."

Over the years, Ning Zhuo had done his utmost to memorize all the knowledge he could access.

On his days off, he would often spend the entire day in the family's library, from morning till night, forgetting to eat and sleep.

No one knew that Ning Zhuo, who appeared ordinary on the outside, was actually a human-shaped library!

Ning Zhuo recalled all the knowledge related to Oil-Smoke Mud but found no method to improve it.

"No matter, I'll design the formula myself!"

The youth had his own bold spirit, his eyes shining with confident light.

"Oil-Smoke Mud is warm in nature, associated with the Heart and Liver meridians. Its fire-oil energy can dispel dampness and cold evils from the bones. A small amount can treat abdominal pain due to cold congealment."

"If mixed with Moonlight Water from the Well, the fire and water properties might harmonize, potentially reducing the weight."

"If using the tail feather dust of the First-Flight Bird as a guiding ingredient to refine together... perhaps borrowing the wind property's lightness and agility, and the moving property's dispersing nature, could allow the main ingredient, Oil-Smoke Mud, to perform at its best."

"Spirit-Hidden Willow catkins might also work. Taking willow catkins and refining them with Oil-Smoke Mud, the ratio could reference formulas like the Lightness Elixir or Clarity-Dispelling Powder. The resulting substance should be significantly lighter in weight."

Ning Zhuo's mind was quick and agile. Based on pharmacological principles and logical reasoning, he soon conceived multiple formulas.

Based on this performance alone, not to mention a "Superior" grade in the Alchemy subject, the Ning Family would certainly act to firmly secure Ning Zhuo within the family.

Ning Zhuo began attempting to refine the new material.

He checked his material inventory and found he could try at least seven different schemes.

Moonlight Water from the Well?

Failure.

The resulting mud had slightly reduced viscosity, slightly reduced weight, but its fire resistance was greatly weakened.

First-Flight Bird Feathers?

Major failure.

The result wasn't mud anymore, but a pile of dust.

Ning Zhuo, however, felt pleased: "The feather's wind nature is too strong. My understanding of this material has deepened another layer."

Third attempt: Spirit-Hidden Willow catkins.

The resulting clay displayed willow catkin patterns. Viscosity remained unchanged, fire resistance decreased only slightly, weight sharply reduced. All other tests passed.

"Lucky. I didn't expect the third attempt to yield the ideal... uh."

Before Ning Zhuo could rejoice for long, he saw the willow catkin patterns on the clay float upwards on their own. A transformation of clear rising and turbid sinking caused the clay's quality to deteriorate and decay.

This new clay's form was unstable!

Ning Zhuo tried a fourth scheme. Major failure.

He pondered for a moment but didn't rush to the next scheme. Instead, he buried himself in studying the Spirit-Hidden Willow scheme.

"This scheme is close to success; it adapts well to various magical powers. What I need to do is just stabilize its form."

"How should I do that?"

The old problem was solved, but a new one arose.

Ning Zhuo wasn't the least bit discouraged. Instead, he was eager to try, thinking even more intently. He immersed himself in this design process. Thinking didn't make him feel bored or weary; it brought him a heartfelt joy.

In this state of contemplation, he felt his own existence, felt his own value.

He knew he was creating something that originally did not exist in the natural world!

This anticipation, this sense of achievement, was something nothing else could give him.

What was torment for others was a beautiful enjoyment for him, a pleasurable experience for the spirit.

Time passed silently and unnoticed. Ning Zhuo, immersed in thought, didn't feel it at all.

He didn't know how much time had passed when his eyes suddenly lit up.

"To solve this technical problem, I need to use a Kinetic Array."

However, this level of knowledge was far beyond the curriculum; the Ning Family Academy didn't teach it.

Ning Zhuo stood up and paced back and forth a few times in the underground workshop.

After thinking for a while, he stopped, slightly raised his head, having made a decision: "Chen Tea... known as the Living Array Master, is most skilled in Kinetic Arrays. Crucially, he is also a mechanist."

"It's time to make contact with him."

(End of Chapter)