Chapter 212
“Yuan Dasheng?!” Zhu Xuanji’s pupils slightly contracted, as he stood in place, dazed for quite some time.
“It really is Yuan Dasheng?”
He hadn’t dismissed this possibility before, but as soon as the thought emerged, he quickly dismissed it.
In Zhu Xuanji’s view, the Mechanical Demon General definitely had the combat strength of the Golden Core stage!
Within its body, the magical arts recorded on the Blood Path Diagram were at least at the Golden Core level.
If not, the Blood Path Diagram wouldn’t be of much use to a Golden Core-level Mechanical Demon General.
Yuan Dasheng wasn’t a Golden Core-level demon cultivator; it had always displayed only Foundation Establishment-level combat strength.
Before revealing its demonic skills, even the entire Monkey Head Gang believed that it had no cultivation at all.
Not long ago, Zhu Xuanji had led three Golden Core ancestors deep into Mount Huoshi to fight against the Fire Fusion Demon Apes.
Those Fire Fusion Demon Apes were fierce beasts, relying on their robust bodies to possess Golden Core-level combat strength, without cultivating any techniques.
Yuan Dasheng had always given the impression that it was merely a demon beast raised by Yuan Yi, rather than a demon cultivator.
“Yuan Dasheng, at most, had combat strength equivalent to a quasi-Golden Core.”
“If it possessed a Golden Core-level technique, why didn’t it cultivate it?”
“If it had cultivated, possessing a Golden Core-level technique, how could it still only have Foundation Establishment-level combat strength?”
“If it were a Golden Core-level demon cultivator, it wouldn’t have failed to protect Yuan Er, nor would it have been unable to save its own life.”
Although Zhu Xuanji had observed during the Huoshi Festival that Yuan Dasheng had some demonic cultivation foundation, he knew very well that this foundation was far from reaching the Golden Core level!
At this moment, Zhu Xuanji’s mind was in turmoil, thoughts racing chaotically.
Scenes from past memories kept flashing in his mind.
It was as if he had returned to the day of the Huoshi Festival, and under the vision of his Celestial Golden Eyes, he saw Yuan Dasheng.
It had wanted to activate its demonic skills, but forcibly suppressed them and, in the end, did not use them.
It had been gravely injured and on the brink of death; if Zhu Xuanji hadn’t saved it, it would have died long ago!
Zhu Xuanji also recalled the time when he, the Zhou Family’s Golden Core ancestor, and Fei Si broke into Chen Cha’s Mechanical Workshop by tearing off the roof.
The three of them inspected Yuan Dasheng’s corpse separately, discovering that although it had just begun to be processed, the blood inside its body had already been drained.
Seeing this, Zhu Xuanji’s heart trembled slightly, and he couldn’t help but think: “Many components of the Mechanical Demon General are related to blood essence.”
“The demonic skills on the Blood Path Diagram likely specialize in cultivating blood essence.”
“But by the time we arrived at the workshop, Yuan Dasheng was already dead, and all its blood essence had been extracted.”
“Whoever did this acted really fast.”
Yuan Dasheng, the demonic scripture related to blood essence, and a key figure at the Qi Refining third layer, a young cultivator, an insignificant figure—Ning Zhuo!
“Well, well, what a clever little character, Ning Zhuo!”
“I, Zhu Xuanji, have actually been deceived by you.”
Realizing this, Zhu Xuanji immediately put away the Mechanical Demon General, broke through the roof, and flew into the sky.
…
Ning Zhuo’s soul returned to his body, descending into his family’s underground secret chamber.
He activated the Floating Cloud Cloth, which enveloped him in layers of white clouds.
Not long after.
Wrapped in the floating clouds, Ning Zhuo’s face was filled with doubt.
After his soul returned to his body, he immediately began to comprehend the method of Foundation Establishment.
Upon careful contemplation, he found that this Foundation Establishment method differed significantly from what he had imagined.
“The Foundation Establishment method I obtained focuses on the Sea of Consciousness as the main point, with the other two dantians as auxiliary, for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.”
“But according to my previous understanding, shouldn’t all three dantians be of equal importance, without favoring one over the other, and break through simultaneously?”
“The method I obtained clearly prioritizes the Mirror Platform Spirit Technique, with the other two techniques as supplements.”
“Is this the true arrangement of the Three Sect Lords? Or are there two other Foundation Establishment methods, with different focal points from the one I possess?”
“Next time I explore the Immortal Palace, should I ask the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit?”
“If I can’t reach it, I’ll need to open up the other two paths, gather all the Foundation Establishment methods, and only then will I uncover the truth.”
Ning Zhuo felt an inner intuition telling him that his guess was correct.
Only by collecting all the Foundation Establishment methods, merging them, and breaking through could he achieve true simultaneous cultivation of the three dantians!
“If I had known this earlier, I should’ve asked the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit at the time.”
Ning Zhuo sighed.
His breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage would have to be delayed.
…
Deep within the main hall of the Immortal Palace, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit also sighed.
After Ning Zhuo’s soul returned to his body and left the Lava Immortal Palace, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit cast its gaze upon him.
It refrained from spying on Ning Zhuo, to avoid triggering the severe consumption of the floating clouds.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit sighed inwardly, “The true method of Foundation Establishment won’t be hidden from Ning Zhuo for long.”
Ning Zhuo’s conjecture was indeed correct!
The true, complete Foundation Establishment method required trial disciples to fully clear all three paths, gather all three parts, and fuse them to succeed.
This didn’t mean that the method Ning Zhuo currently possessed was incomplete; in fact, he could use it.
This was a deliberate arrangement by the Three Sect Lords.
This technique was primarily for those who had cleared the Buddhist path but lacked talent on the other two paths.
For these people, they could still use this method to establish their foundation, ensuring they wouldn’t be stuck and unable to progress in their cultivation.
When communicating with Ning Zhuo, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had intentionally avoided this topic.
At the time, Ning Zhuo hadn’t delved deeply into the Foundation Establishment method and hadn’t noticed this issue, allowing the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit to temporarily deceive him.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit knew the truth: only by gathering the complete Foundation Establishment method could one achieve the simultaneous breakthrough of all three dantians.
A cultivator who ascended this way would gain the close attention and strong support of the Lava Immortal Palace.
In short, those who truly cultivated the three dantians simultaneously would become the true inheritor candidates of the Lava Immortal Palace!
…
Within the depths of the floating clouds.
Ning Zhuo temporarily set aside the Foundation Establishment method and quietly sensed the Chief Physician’s Command in his mind.
This official badge was actually a magical treasure, and so it could be directly stored in Ning Zhuo’s dantian for nurturing.
By communicating with the Chief Physician’s Command, Ning Zhuo could immediately sense the Lava Immortal Palace’s medical center.
At the same time, he could also vaguely sense the general situation of his subordinates.
When he sensed Ning Xiaohui and the large block of ice before her…
The next moment, Ning Xiaohui extended her slender, jade-like finger and lightly tapped the surface of the ice.
The ice suddenly shattered, and the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape was completely restored, its entire body returned to its prime!
Ning Zhuo couldn’t help but sincerely admire her: “Ice Jade Hand… what incredible talent.”
“This time, Ning Xiaohui really helped a lot.”
Talent! The soil from which divine abilities grow, and divine abilities themselves are deep applications of the principles of heaven and earth.
Thus, talent defies reason.
And yet, talent is also the most reasonable thing.
Compared to Ning Zhuo, Ning Xiaohui knew even less about the structure of the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape. But with her innate talent, she was able to repair it!
Ning Zhuo had gradually learned through various channels more and more information about the Ice Jade Hand.
“The essence of the Ice Jade Hand is survival after a desperate situation! It’s the manifestation of the saying that heaven leaves a way out.”
“Mechanical constructs are inherently lifeless, which unexpectedly makes them more compatible with the Ice Jade Hand’s talent, resulting in far better healing than with living beings.”
“It’s just that such a talented person as Ning Xiaohui—when will she ever be willing to truly work for me?”
Ning Zhuo felt an immense benefit.
Having a capable subordinate was truly a blessing!
He was currently concealing the truth with the Lava Immortal Palace as a barrier, indirectly making Ning Xiaohui work for him.
Once Ning Xiaohui learned the truth, she would surely turn against him.
Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly.
He knew that his own power had grown substantially, but he still couldn’t accomplish one thing—making talented cultivators willingly work for him!
Most of his followers now were drawn to him because of his talent and the promise of a bright future.
Ning Zhuo’s current subordinates didn’t possess talent. This small force of his couldn’t retain such gifted individuals.
The temple was too small to accommodate a great Buddha!
Talented cultivators would receive widespread attention and recruitment, gaining more support in families, sects, or nations, and there was no way
they would remain under Ning Zhuo’s command.
Ning Zhuo’s current power was too small and offered no space for these talents to thrive.
“Unless I take control of the Lava Immortal Palace and become its master!”
Ning Zhuo gazed into the future with anticipation, completely unaware that Zhu Xuanji had transformed into a rainbow and was rushing toward him at high speed.
Zhu Xuanji’s movements were not concealed, instantly attracting the attention of countless cultivators within the city.
Only the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit knew the full story.
“It’s coming, it’s coming!” The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was extremely excited.
It lay on the main hall’s seat, its eyes glowing, eager to watch the upcoming drama.
In the underground cultivation chamber.
The floating clouds around Ning Zhuo suddenly consumed themselves fiercely.
Ning Zhuo immediately became alert, retracting the clouds and activating his defensive techniques, shouting, “Who is it?!”
Boom.
In the next moment, Zhu Xuanji arrived directly above Ning Zhuo’s home.
He extended his hand, his palm aimed downward, gently grasping and pulling.
An invisible force grabbed the roof and lifted it away.
Zhu Xuanji grabbed again, tearing away the floor.
Ning Zhuo, who was in the underground chamber, was now completely exposed.
“Lord Zhu Xuanji!” Ning Zhuo raised his head and saw Zhu Xuanji, shocked and frightened, hurriedly bowing in respect.
Zhu Xuanji descended from the sky, slowly landing in front of Ning Zhuo.
His brow was filled with killing intent, his square face radiating authority.
In the center of his pitch-black pupils, golden light flickered—clearly, he had activated his Celestial Golden Eyes.
Zhu Xuanji wore a crimson brocade robe with black embroidered edges, and the large characters of “Detective Division” on his waist badge were eye-catching, exerting immense psychological pressure on those who saw it.