: Actually an Immortal Talent

Author: Gu Zhenren

Date: 2024-07-31

: Actually an Immortal Talent

After searching continuously for a full day and night, the numerous Golden Core cultivators still hadn't managed to dig out the shadowy demonic cultivator.

Faced with this fact, the four major powers of Huoshi Immortal City all felt somewhat embarrassed.

The city's lockdown hadn't been lifted, but the restrictions couldn't stop the spread of rumors and the undercurrents swirling beneath the surface.

Zhu Xuanji asked Fei Si for some of the mechanical fragments.

These fragments all came from the out-of-control, rampaging mechanical monkey that had attacked Yuan Er.

Since the shadowy demonic cultivator hadn't shown themselves, these mechanical fragments became the only clue.

Zhu Xuanji fiddled with the fragments.

He had also managed to get his hands on the design blueprints for the Blast Monkeys. After a few glances, he committed them to memory.

Spending the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, he pieced together the fragments in his hands as best he could, reconstructing three mechanical monkeys.

The mechanical Blast Monkeys were utterly dilapidated, barely able to stand upright before him.

Zhu Xuanji took out control threads, channeled his magic power, and began manipulating these mechanical Blast Monkeys.

If Fei Si had seen this, he would surely have been astonished: So Zhu Xuanji had this skill too.

Zhu Xuanji had his own attainments in the art of mechanics. This was one of the reasons he was chosen to come here and investigate the case.

A short while later, Zhu Xuanji retracted all the control threads and sighed. He hadn't discovered any valuable clues.

"Let's review it again."

Zhu Xuanji closed his eyes and retraced his investigation process. First the mechanical monkeys, then the thousand-catty fire essence, and finally the shadowy demonic cultivator.

"Using the mechanical monkey's self-destruction was clearly to guard against the Root Tracing Art."

"The thousand-catty fire essence left no trace in the market. If one of the four major powers did it, that would be easy to accomplish."

"The shadowy demonic cultivator's disappearance most likely means there's a mole who let him go privately!"

All the clues hinted to Zhu Xuanji that one of the three great families within Huoshi Immortal City might be the mastermind behind bombing the Immortal Palace and playing the role of the shadowy demonic cultivator.

"But if the shadowy demonic cultivator had already escaped beforehand, why cause the mechanical monkey explosion during the Huoshi Festival to frame the Monkey Head Gang?"

"Isn't that just unnecessary?"

Zhu Xuanji's thoughts delved deeper.

"Perhaps the other party wanted to use this to disguise themselves, creating the false impression that the shadowy demonic cultivator was present at the scene."

"Additionally, eliminating the old ape was probably because its performance was too outstanding. Publicly getting rid of it could weaken the City Lord's Mansion's authority."

"Finally, the other party also seems to want to confuse me and hinder my investigation progress."

*Bam!*

Zhu Xuanji clenched his fist and slammed it on the jade table.

He felt the enemy's provocation. These mechanical monkey fragments seemed to be mocking his incompetence, as if saying: Come on, investigate! I've left you clues!

But Zhu Xuanji had already learned his lesson from the mechanical monkeys. He knew full well that since the other party had done this, he likely wouldn't be able to find anything, and it would only waste his precious time and energy.

"If the mechanical monkeys were the other party's provocation, then was the old ape's mistake really an accident?" It was precisely because Zhu Xuanji thought of this possibility that he turned back midway during the Huoshi Festival,不惜 using a top-grade potion to verify whether the old ape's mind had been influenced.

Zhu Xuanji's verification result was negative.

After pondering for a long time, he slowly opened his eyes and thought to himself: "The most suspicious thing is still that explosion!"

The night was deep.

Zhu Xuanji concealed his form and returned to the Monkey Head Gang's headquarters. Using a spell, he put Yuan Er into a death-like sleep.

Then, he took out the top-grade potion and carefully dripped a drop onto Yuan Er, but saw no effect.

Zhu Xuanji was discouraged: "What was I thinking? The possibility of Yuan Er's mind being influenced is too small!"

"Hmph, this wretched creature even wasted a drop of my top-grade potion."

Zhu Xuanji looked at the sleeping Yuan Er, his mood unpleasant.

As he turned to leave, he flicked his sleeve. The gust of air generated struck Yuan Er's cheek with a sharp *smack*.

Zhu Xuanji quietly left the Monkey Head Gang headquarters and, under the starry sky, went again to the peak of Mount Huoshi to see the City Lord.

"City Lord Meng Kui, I want to review all records and thoroughly investigate everyone who has entered or exited the Molten Rock Immortal Palace over all these years!"

Ning Zhuo returned home, rested for a while, patiently waited until deep night, then put on the Cangtie Han Armor and once again disguised himself as the Childlike Guest.

He teleported to the dungeon and met Han Ming.

As soon as he pushed open the cell door, he saw Han Ming squatting on the ground, scratching her head and ears, her posture very unladylike.

Han Ming started, hurriedly stood up, waved her hands at Ning Zhuo, and said with a panicked expression: "S-Sir, please don't give me any more monkey souls. My soul needs time to digest, to purify!"

"Right now, my soul has already become deformed, developing many monkey-like characteristics."

"My behavior has also unconsciously started to change!"

Ning Zhuo nodded. He also knew he couldn't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. He said gently, "You've worked hard recently. Next, you only need to absorb this ape's soul. I'll give you a vacation so you can rest properly for a while."

Ning Zhuo had frantically purchased wild monkeys and handed them all over to Han Ming for her to absorb.

Ning Zhuo benefited from this, his soul foundation increasing to more than eighty times what it was when he first met Han Ming.

He was well aware of Han Ming's rapidly deteriorating condition.

*Thud.*

Yuan Dasheng's corpse was taken out of the storage bag and thrown on the ground.

Han Ming was startled, her hair standing on end. Her first glance told her this old ape was extraordinary!

"Devour its soul, and you can go on vacation," Ning Zhuo said.

When disposing of the corpse, Ning Zhuo had specifically worn down Yuan Dasheng's soul and confined it within the corpse.

Yuan Dasheng hadn't cultivated any soul-related techniques, so he was completely at Ning Zhuo's mercy.

But doing this still carried risks.

Ning Zhuo's best option was to let Han Ming absorb it first, then absorb it from Han Ming himself, maximizing the utilization of this trophy.

"Thank you for your consideration, Sir!" Han Ming swallowed saliva and began to perform the Soul Devouring Art.

But the next moment, a golden light flashed from Yuan Dasheng's corpse.

*Pfft!*

Han Ming violently spat out a mouthful of blood, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted on the spot.

Ning Zhuo was shocked. While controlling several puppet figures to administer aid, he warily inspected Yuan Dasheng's corpse.

Han Ming soon regained consciousness. Shaken, she cried out: "Righteous Bone, Golden Hardness!"

"This... this is a supreme-grade natural talent!!"

Ning Zhuo raised his eyebrows, surprised inwardly: "Supreme-grade natural talent? This old ape had immortal talent? Are you sure?"

Han Ming nodded, staring firmly at the old ape's corpse, and said decisively: "Absolutely correct! I've read my sect's classics extensively and confirm this is the characteristic of 'Righteous Bone, Golden Hardness.' Those who possess it are often inherently loyal and unyielding, steadfast and unshakable."

"Their bones are the hardest in their body, comparable to diamond,连带 making their physical body solid, strong, and tough. The soul, attached to the bones, becomes firm and unwavering, not easily moved by external things."

"In my current state, I can't absorb its soul. I'm afraid even at my peak, I might not necessarily succeed."

At this point, Han Ming also recognized the old ape's identity. She sighed with emotion: "I never thought... I never thought the old ape of the Monkey Head Gang, Yuan Yi's pet monkey, actually had immortal talent!"

Then, Han Ming was struck by a thought.

She hurriedly looked up at Ning Zhuo, her eyes shining brightly.

(End of )