Chapter 205: Catching up to Meng Chong
“Everyone, if you want to practice in private, feel free to contact each other and arrange sparring sessions; it will be more effective.”
Ning Zhuo thought for a moment: “How about this, I will rent a martial arts field in the family land long-term, specifically for your use.”
“You just need to show your waist token and give your name, and you can use it for free.”
As soon as he said this, everyone cheered with joy.
Ning Zhuo provided convenience and also demonstrated various dazzling spells in front of everyone, intending to attract his peers to actively practice.
This was very beneficial to them.
Because after the second Dao Gate, they would need to rely on the Five Elements Mutual Generation and Restriction technique to choose the Five Elements Transformation Disk.
For the young cultivators, being skilled in the previous Five Elements spells would be a significant advantage at this stage.
Those who laid a solid foundation beforehand would find it easier to grasp the Five Elements Mutual Generation and Restriction technique, and naturally, they would be able to obtain higher quality Five Elements Transformation Disks.
Advantages were accumulated step by step in this way.
“My power base is the branch family members of the Ning family. But the core of my power is not the former deacons who are in the Foundation Establishment stage, nor are they former elders like Ning Youfu and Ning Houjun. It’s these people right in front of me.”
Though the cultivation of the others was stronger, they were already set in their ways.
Ning Zhuo understood clearly that the “Five Elements Qi Regulation Art” was the future!
He had already obtained the ninth level of the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art, and though he was not very familiar with the “Ice Heart Sutra”, based on external effects, the comprehensive value of the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art far surpassed the Ice Heart Sutra by a large margin.
The Ice Heart Sutra only excelled in ice-based spells and mental states, but the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art was just one of the Three Sect Ultimate Arts.
These people had a future, they admired Ning Zhuo, and they grew and learned alongside him with the camaraderie of old times.
They were still young, motivated, and full of ideals, unlike the older ones who had seen too much and were harder to inspire.
Just like now, Ning Zhuo merely displayed the dazzling offensive power of the Five Elements spells, and it made them yearn for it.
Ning Zhuo merely rented a martial arts field for them to use for free, and they were already deeply grateful.
The wonderful thing was, by controlling the other two cultivation methods, Ning Zhuo could firmly grasp the progression of their cultivation.
Those whom Ning Zhuo found pleasing, had enough talent, and had proven their loyalty and capability, he would secretly impart the other two cultivation methods to them.
Even if he only imparted the first three layers, without giving them the entire method, it would still be of great help to their Foundation Establishment.
Through this control over the cultivation methods, Ning Zhuo could ensure control over them, as long as the Lava Immortal Palace did not leak the secrets.
Ning Zhuo continued to press forward.
Various spells flowed from him effortlessly.
In the past, he had hidden his talents, but now he finally revealed a portion of them.
His peers were continuously astonished.
“I feel like I didn’t even need to come!”
“Brother Zhuo is too strong, he doesn’t need us at all.”
“This is the easiest time I’ve had exploring the Immortal Palace.”
“No, we still have our uses. At least we gave our spirit stone rewards to Brother Zhuo.”
“Brother Zhuo, when are we merging into one? I still want to give it a try!”
When they were idle, they couldn’t help but reminisce about the past when they worked together to assemble puppet bodies and break through the barriers.
Back then, at least they felt they had a part to play, but now they had all become mere spectators behind Ning Zhuo, only responsible for shouting words of encouragement and praise.
Many people felt empty and ashamed of their lack of contribution.
The eighth challenge, the ninth challenge…
The transit station, the first Dao Gate…
At the third challenge of the Dao Gate, they encountered the “Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng” blocking their path.
Ning Zhuo led the group into battle against Yuan Dasheng.
The battle was extremely intense at one point.
From the start of the battle, Ning Zhuo’s side was at a disadvantage.
Yuan Dasheng charged recklessly, displaying an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Ning Zhuo contributed most of the firepower, while his classmates, one by one, rushed forward fearlessly, trying to entangle Yuan Dasheng.
“Hurry, tangle up that Mechanical Ape!”
“Even if we have to sacrifice ourselves, as long as we can hold it down for a breath or two, Brother Zhuo’s spell can strike the ape.”
“The Mechanical Ape is slippery and fast. But if we throw ourselves at it, there’s hope of victory!”
Laughing heroically, the classmates threw themselves into the battle.
Ning Zhuo’s spells struck Yuan Dasheng, but his attacks also accidentally killed his classmates.
Before their “deaths,” the classmates laughed heartily, genuinely happy to have been of some help to Ning Zhuo.
Although this wasn’t real death, their willingness to contribute and the centripetal force centered around Ning Zhuo was becoming evident.
In the end, only two or three people were left, and Ning Zhuo had consumed over ninety percent of his spirit stone reserves when Yuan Dasheng suddenly stopped fighting.
He let out a low roar, and under the astonished gazes of the Ning family members, he slowly retreated, pushing open the door and leaving, heading towards the previous challenge.
“Did that Mechanical Ape just retreat on its own?”
Everyone felt like they were in a dream.
“Brother Zhuo, stop it!” someone shouted.
Ning Zhuo shook his head, “I’m already at the end of my rope; don’t chase a desperate foe.”
When Yuan Dasheng finally pushed open the door and completely left, the remaining Ning family youths were suddenly enlightened.
“We won?!”
“We won, we drove back that Mechanical Ape!”
“Oh my god, we did it.”
Ning Zhuo, however, shook his head, “I’ve nearly exhausted all my spirit stones. This victory was purely out of luck.”
But the others didn’t think so at all.
They looked at Ning Zhuo excitedly, praising him with eyes full of admiration.
“Brother Zhuo, Boss, we did it!”
“The alliance of three families couldn’t even drive back that Mechanical Ape, but we made it retreat!!”
“In fact, last time we almost succeeded, too. It was only because Ning Xiaohui stopped me…” Ning Zhuo shook his head, fully taking advantage of the situation to deepen the conflicts between the main and branch families.
“Yes, that was indeed a pity!”
“But I think I prefer this kind of victory.”
“Yeah, yeah, hahaha, I can’t wait to go out and show off. We defeated the Mechanical Ape!”
Ning Zhuo shook his head again: “We didn’t completely defeat it; it retreated on its own.”
“I think this is the Immortal Palace’s arrangement.”
“As long as our strength stays within a certain limit and we cause a certain amount of damage to the Mechanical Ape, it will voluntarily retreat.”
“Let’s keep moving forward.”
Ning Zhuo’s calm and composed demeanor made everyone suppress their inner excitement and follow him wholeheartedly.
Although Ning Zhuo had driven back the Mechanical Ape, he didn’t show a single trace of a smile. This commanding presence deeply impressed the remaining group.
Little did they know, Ning Zhuo was calculating the repair costs of the “Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.”
He hadn’t even figured out this Mechanical body yet.
Repairing Yuan Dasheng would require materials and tools provided within the trial stage.
Ning Zhuo was worried that using too many external materials might be considered foreign objects by the Lava Immortal Palace, making it impossible to bring it back into the palace.
In short, repairing the “Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng” was a troublesome matter at the moment.
With Yuan Dasheng gone, the road ahead was smooth.
Not long after, Ning Zhuo led the remaining group to the second transfer hall, where Meng Chong had arrived before.
They only saw one door.
When he touched the second Dao Gate, Ning Zhuo exclaimed in surprise, “It’s the continuation of the cultivation method!”
Immediately, the others rushed forward to touch the door.
After obtaining the cultivation method, they compared notes and found they were all the same.
“We did it!”
“We got the continuation of the cultivation method!”
“So, Meng Chong only reached this point as well. Even the revision team from the City Lord’s Mansion had only just started practicing the follow-up method.”
Everyone was thrilled.
On one hand, they had been stuck at the third layer of Qi Refining for days, and finally, they obtained the continuation of their cultivation method. Their excitement was indescribable.
On the other hand, they finally saw the shadow of the leading figures, and to their surprise, they realized that Meng Chong and the others were not far ahead of them!
At this moment, their morale was ignited.
“Without the cultivation level of the sixth-layer peak, we can’t push open this door.”
“No wonder the revision team from the City Lord’s Mansion was focused on cultivating in seclusion!”
“Hurry, let’s go back and seize the time. I’m going to train like crazy!!”
“Everyone.” Ning Zhuo suddenly spoke, “Please keep the follow-up method strictly confidential. I will handle all external negotiations, how about it?”
The remaining group had no objections.
They expressed that this exploration had been a great success, all thanks to Ning Zhuo. They had only played a minor role as cannon fodder in the final battle.
They left everything to Ning Zhuo to handle.
When Ning Zhuo and the others returned to their physical bodies and returned to the family land with the continuation method, the entire Ning family’s senior members were shocked!
“Is this really true?!”
“This junior, Ning Zhuo… really has a way.”
The clan leader and the main family’s elders had never expected such a situation to arise.
Ning Zhuo had emerged as a late-blooming talent in the family, his aptitude not yet tested, but he repeatedly performed outstandingly in the exploration of the Lava Immortal Palace.
This achievement firmly solidified Ning Zhuo’s position.
Even the Ning family’s main lineage had to admit that Ning Zhuo was indeed the backbone of the revision team! The true core figure!
The Ning family’s main lineage and the clan leader felt conflicted.
Normally, they would have started suppressing talented branch family members long ago, forcing them to yield.
But now, Ning Zhuo, relying on the Lava Immortal Palace, forced them to tolerate and even appease him.
Because they had previously underestimated Ning Zhuo, they made a blunder, and the young clan leader fell from grace, becoming a prisoner.
Now, the Ning family’s Golden Core ancestor, Ning Jiufan, had publicly acknowledged Ning Zhuo.
Moreover, Ning Zhuo also controlled the black market and had numerous Foundation Establishment elites under his command.
“His power is too great to be controlled. There must be a great figure behind Ning Zhuo giving him guidance!”
“Those two old fellows from the branch family must be playing an important role…”
The Ning family’s clan leader and main lineage felt anxious.
But that was all they could do.
Ning Zhuo took the initiative to visit the Ning family’s clan leader and, as previously agreed, handed over the continuation of the cultivation method.
He made a request: “Next, I will focus entirely on my cultivation. I heard that the family has a Flowing Cloud Talisman with its own spiritual nature, which can assist in collective cultivation and has excellent effects.”
“As per our agreement, I request that the clan leader grant me this talisman.”
The Ning family’s clan leader nodded slightly, “Very well.”
“The Flowing Cloud Talisman is currently in Ning Xiaohui’s possession. Today, I will send someone to retrieve it, and tomorrow you can come to collect it.”
Ning Zhuo then said, “My cultivation speed is already fast, and with this talisman, it will be like adding wings to a tiger.”
“However, rapid cultivation growth also has its drawbacks.”
“May I ask the clan leader if there is any way within the family to purify mana?”
The Ning family’s clan leader felt there was no need to hide anything and replied directly: “There is indeed a talisman called the ‘Profound Ice Pure Snow Talisman.'”
“This talisman is similar to the Flowing Cloud Talisman; both draw on natural spirituality. When activated, the cultivator will be frozen, and no matter which dantian they focus on, it will freeze the impurities and annihilate them.”
Among the myriad of cultivation techniques, mechanical arts belonged to the more obscure and less prominent fields.
If mechanical arts could utilize spirituality, other cultivation arts involving spirituality would certainly not be lacking.
The Ning family’s clan leader advised that these two talismans were very precious, and their usage must be strictly limited to prevent the depletion of the talismans’ spirituality.
Ning Zhuo thought of the “Fire Burial Prajna Spirit-Resolving Sutra.”
“Could I use this sutra to replenish the spirituality of these two talismans?”