Lu Zeng, through the mass sale of mechanical components, acquired cultivation resources to enhance his own cultivation level.
After gifting a jade pendant, Lu Zeng immediately sent another jade pendant, in front of Ning Zhuo, directly to Ban Ji.
"You two are exceptional talents in the art of mechanical techniques. If there’s business to be conducted in the future, the more the better."
A gleam flashed in the eyes of both Ning Zhuo and Ban Ji.
Through this act, Lu Zeng demonstrated his neutral stance: I do business, I make friends with both, and I offend neither!
This aligns with his background as an outer sect servant and matches the intelligence describing his temperament.
After exchanging a few words with Lu Zeng, Ning Zhuo chose to take his leave.
He approached the other side, standing before the Golden Core Cultivator, Tie Zheng.
Tie Zheng stood tall at eight feet, wearing a bronze beast mask, donned in martial artist’s martial clothing, with exposed joints like elbows and knees replaced by refined steel bone balls.
He carried a Qilin Beast Head Saber on his back, a chain wrapped around his waist with twelve beast head copper bell balls hanging from it.
Ning Zhuo approached warmly, but Tie Zheng responded coldly.
After a few exchanges, Ning Zhuo chose to depart.
He was aware of Tie Zheng’s intelligence and didn’t mind the latter’s cold response.
Tie Zheng hailed from a noble family but had faced betrayal multiple times. Parents, wife, sworn brothers... These betrayals made him disdainful and disgusted with humanity, prompting him to leave his family and become a rogue cultivator, spending his days cultivating alone in the wilderness.
He trusted his own saber more than anyone else.
It was in the wilderness where he found an opportunity to cultivate blade beasts. To this day, he has cultivated twelve blade beasts, primarily composed of Golden Core level blade soldiers, thus the blade beasts are also Golden Core level.
This greatly enhanced his combat strength, making him a renowned Golden Core rogue cultivator in Flying Cloud Country.
Ning Zhuo then approached Ao Pan, greeting him gracefully: "Junior Ning Zhuo, may I ask for Senior’s name? I hope Senior will forgive my ignorance."
Among the three Golden Core cultivators present, Ning Zhuo recognized the first two but not Ao Pan.
Ning Zhuo had thoroughly studied the intelligence he possessed and was certain that it didn’t mention anyone named Ao Pan.
This only indicated that Ao Pan had recently arrived at the Wanxiang Sect’s Main Mountain Gate.
Ao Pan was seven feet tall, hunched like an old ape. His left cheek had three claw marks, and his eyes were mismatched; the right one was smaller and cloudy like stone, while the left one was larger with vertical pupils and a golden base.
"Ignorance is forgivable. I come from Fubo Country, having just arrived yesterday."
"Ning Zhuo, I know you. Like me, you’re also an outsider."
Among the three Golden Core cultivators, Ao Pan showed the most enthusiasm toward Ning Zhuo.
"Fubo Country?" Ning Zhuo immediately showed interest, following this topic, and chatted with Ao Pan for a bit.
Ning Zhuo had read extensively and knew many common facts, including the customs and culture of Fubo Country.
Ao Pan talked about things familiar to him, briefly feeling a sense of kinship, wishing to converse further with Ning Zhuo, but Ning Zhuo politely excused himself instead.
"This person may practice body cultivation, but his thoughts are complex. Using the topic of Fubo Country, I tested him several times, yet he responded tactfully, evading each inquiry."
In a brief conversation, Ning Zhuo gained a rough understanding of Ao Pan’s character.
By comparison, Tie Zheng seemed to be more reliable.
Ning Zhuo decisively withdrew.
Ao Pan stared at the youth’s retreating figure, his mismatched eyes narrowing slightly: "This kid is even slicker than me. Although he passed through The Three Questions of the Heart righteously, he’s not straightforward and has deep social skills."
"He gathered much about my situation through discussions about Fubo Country, yet I still don’t know where he’s from!"
Taking advantage of the Xingyun Trial not yet starting, Ning Zhuo continued to meet surrounding cultivators.
Soon, his gaze fixed on Zhang Wangxing.
Because this person emanated the aura of Foundation Establishment Peak, quite obviously.
Zhang Wangxing had a large build but wore an even larger coarse gray robe, a huge hood covering his face, further using a spell to create shadows that concealed his appearance.
Though it was daytime, bright outside the Xuan Armor Cave, Ning Zhuo could only see the shadows outlining the edge of Zhang Wangxing’s hood, sketching the curve of his chin. This curve often subtly wavered.
"May I ask if you are Mr. Zhang Wangxing?" Ning Zhuo proactively greeted.
Zhang Wangxing nodded slightly, his voice raspy: "It is indeed I, Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo."
Ning Zhuo knew about his intelligence. Although Zhang Wangxing was only at Foundation Establishment Cultivation, he possessed combat strength at the Golden Core level. He practiced the Blood and Flesh Transformation Scripture, complementing his low-level talent. Despite his amiable tone now, he was in fact an evil cultivator, hired for various tasks, taking on any job to earn high rewards supporting his own cultivation.
Zhang Wangxing transmitted thoughts through divine sense: "Daoist fellow wants to deal with Ban Ji in the Xingyun Trial, I can lend a hand. I believe Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo of noble background will not underpay me."
Ning Zhuo didn’t refuse, responding through divine sense: "Certainly, certainly. Though the current situation is unclear, if assistance is needed, I will surely contact Mr. Zhang."
Zhang Wangxing chuckled lightly: "Do be careful, fellow cultivator. Honestly speaking, were Ban Ji to hire me, I would agree as well."
His tone indicated a veiled threat, boldly raising his price.
This put Ning Zhuo in a subtly passive position. Knowing he could not linger, he decisively took his leave.
"By acting high-profile, I gained the stone token first wave, showing no fear toward the Ban Family and challenging Ban Ji, earning equal treatment from the Golden Core cultivators."
"Yet before a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I find myself at a disadvantage. Quite intriguing."
Ning Zhuo reflected thoughtfully.
Upon leaving Fire Persimmon Immortal City, he traveled widely, witnessing vast landscapes and meeting various people. At this particular moment, under the Myriad Images Sect’s Feiyun Conference, gathering cultivators from all directions, it broadened his horizons and stirred his spirit repeatedly.
"Young Master Ning Zhuo!" At this point, a Mechanism Cultivator approached, greeting Ning Zhuo.
This person was also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, with a stocky build, broad shoulders and waist, dark shining skin resembling an iron lump. Carrying a square iron shield on his back, he moved slowly.
Seeing this person, Ning Zhuo smiled and called out his name: "Zhang Dadan."
A familiar acquaintance.
Zhang Dadan had participated in Qinghuangzi’s Xingyun Trial before, with Ning Zhuo hosting him. In addition to him, there were Patchwork Sun, Chen San, Jiang Xiaobian, and Ahuo.
Ning Zhuo still had a fairly deep impression of these individuals.
Ning Zhuo patted Zhang Dadan’s shoulder: "What about the others?"
Upon inquiry, he learned that Patchwork Sun wanted to come with Zhang Dadan but was delayed by another Xingyun Trial. Luckily, the Nine-layered Profound Armor’s Xingyun Trial had several rounds, similar to the Evil Slaying Hall, so he didn’t miss the opportunity.
Chen San had already pledged to Ning Zhuo, undertaking tasks on his behalf.
Jiang Xiaobian and Ahuo showed no interest in the Nine-layered Profound Armor. It didn’t align with their cultivation paths.
For them, there were many other Xingyun Trials better suited to their needs.
After exchanging a few words with Zhang Dadan, other cultivators began approaching for conversation.
Ban Ji, previously with a cold and aloof demeanor that repelled strangers, coupled with a reputation as a Demon Cultivator, notorious particularly due to Ning Zhuo’s rumors, even those wishing to associate would hesitate, weighed down by caution.
Not so with Ning Zhuo.
He arrived and provoked Ban Ji, seizing the upper hand and showcasing strength. More cultivators believed that Ning Zhuo’s backing was no less potent than the Ban family, otherwise, his assertiveness couldn’t be explained.
Moreover, Ning Zhuo engaged proactively, interacting amiably even with individuals like Zhang Dadan, sparking admiration among observing cultivators.
Thus following, Ning Zhuo didn’t need to take initiative; numerous cultivators approached willingly.
Ning Zhuo handled them one by one, maintaining a consistently friendly and pleasant demeanor.
Instantly, this scene contrasted sharply with Ban Ji. Ban Ji stood alone by the mountain wall, looking visibly neglected.
Ban Ji watched Ning Zhuo, surrounded by a crowd, his eye twitching ceaselessly.
Curse it!
This familiar situation has occurred again.
It’s not good.
If this continues, is Ning Zhuo about to rally a bunch of fools to come against me?
It’s vexing!
Truly troublesome!
Ning Zhuo had barely arrived, yet after just a few rounds of socializing, he put Ban Ji under pressure once more.