Ning Zhuo analyzed this far and dared not neglect further.
Yuan Dasheng, possessing Immortal Aptitude, was extremely precious and valuable!
Because it had full Spiritual Nature, it could grow and, paired with the Life Hanging Thread, freely switch mechanical bodies.
In this way, if well-used and cultivated, Yuan Dasheng could accompany Ning Zhuo throughout his entire cultivation journey!
Not to mention the future, even now, Ning Zhuo greatly relied on it to give his competitors in the Immortal Palace some challenges and fun.
Let's put it this way, if it weren't for Yuan Dasheng, Ning Zhuo's mechanical traps alone would have long been broken through by Meng Chong.
Though not completely broken through, Meng Chong's record wouldn't have stopped at Room Three.
Ning Zhuo thought for a moment and recalled the scene when Yuan Dasheng lost control, went out of the city alone, and stayed motionless in a deserted wilderness.
"Since Yuan Dasheng wants to go there, it must hold significant meaning to him."
"I will take him directly and give it a try!"
As for how to leave?
Ning Zhuo's eyes spun, and he quickly came up with a reason to go out.
He summoned the Ning Family guards and told them that he and Zheng Jian had cooperated to create a new Mechanical Monkey.
He needed to go into the wild to find wild demon beasts to test his mechanical techniques in real combat.
The guards hesitated because the assassination had happened not long ago. Ning Zhuo going out of the city posed an incalculable risk.
Ning Zhuo didn't make it difficult for them and asked them to report it.
Ning Xiaoren received the report, pondered for a moment, and dispatched two more Foundation Establishment Stage guards, along with several protective items from the family vault, to Ning Zhuo.
The fact that Ning Zhuo and Zheng Jian had collaborated to create the Mechanical Monkey was already known by all three families.
Afterward, Zheng Jian praised the Mechanical Monkey and continually complimented Ning Zhuo's mechanical techniques.
On one hand, Ning Xiaoren was eager to know how strong this new Mechanical Monkey really was; on the other, he hoped Ning Zhuo's mechanical techniques would keep improving. This would benefit the entire Ning Family!
Ning Xiaoren's response was within Ning Zhuo's expectations.
The protective items sent over also satisfied Ning Zhuo. Especially notable was a Targeted Teleportation Talisman, locked onto the Ning Family's ancestral residence. In case of crisis, the talisman would burn itself, instantly teleporting Ning Zhuo back to the family.
"The Ning Family is a major cultivation clan. When they truly use some of their heritage, their strength becomes evident."
With such a sentiment, Ning Zhuo led a team of Ning Family guards out of the city in grand fashion.
He didn't follow Yuan Dasheng's previous path exactly but chose to circle around before finally settling near the deserted wilderness.
He ordered the team to set up camp there and then began controlling the Martial Fighting Ape·Dasheng to proactively hunt wild demon beasts for practice.
With everyone watching, Ning Zhuo couldn't let the Martial Fighting Ape·Dasheng act openly on its own.
Doing so would undoubtedly cause a major stir among the three families, no, the entire city!
Ning Zhuo's ten fingers were each connected to a thread of Mana. These ten threads formed the Hanging Thread, linking to the Martial Fighting Ape·Dasheng at their ends.
The Mana threads extended three to four zhang in length, some curving and some straight, forming a communication bridge between Ning Zhuo and Yuan Dasheng.
At first, Yuan Dasheng was in a mess while fighting the wild demon beasts.
This was because Ning Zhuo controlled it.
Although Ning Zhuo had quite profound mechanical techniques, the Martial Fighting Ape·Dasheng was a new creation and needed familiarization.
Once familiarized, Yuan Dasheng's combat had organization and structure, attacking and retreating with precision.
The guards also paid close attention to Yuan Dasheng's performance.
They discussed enthusiastically through clandestine communication.
"This Mechanical Monkey is really strong."
"It definitely has Foundation Establishment Stage combat power!"
"I don't understand mechanical techniques, but I know some artifact refining. The materials used for this Mechanical Monkey are of high quality. The base materials are Foundation Establishment Stage, and some are even top-notch Golden Core Level materials."
Seeing the timing was right, Ning Zhuo used the Mirror Stand Spirit Communication Technique to let Yuan Dasheng act more freely.
Yuan Dasheng had long been impatient, but unable to disobey its master's strict orders, it could only let itself be manipulated by Ning Zhuo.
Many opportunities were thus missed by Ning Zhuo's forced manipulation, making Yuan Dasheng increasingly irritable.
When Ning Zhuo allowed it to act freely, it immediately roared to the sky, startling both the guards and the demon beasts before it.
Yuan Dasheng took a step forward, crossing more than a zhang in distance, and charged at the demon beast.
Turning its body, raising its arm, and moving its elbow!
Bang.
The demon beast was sent flying, crashing through several large trees during its backward momentum.
The Ning Family guards were stunned.
At that moment, the Martial Fighting Ape·Dasheng seemed alive to them.
The demon beast, furious, stood up and charged again.
"Go easy, strike lightly."
"Play with it for a bit, no need to kill it too quickly."
Ning Zhuo quickly communicated with Yuan Dasheng.
Yuan Dasheng, obedient for now, complied immediately.
What followed was a spectacle of the Mechanical Monkey toying with the demon beast, entertaining the guards.
They watched in amazement, slack-jawed.
"This Mechanical Monkey is so agile, it's terrifying, stronger than me!"
"Not just you; even if we all joined forces, we might not be able to handle it."
"Is the true strength in the Mechanical Monkey? No! It's Ning Zhuo."
"Yes, exactly!"
The guards' view of Ning Zhuo changed dramatically as they exchanged these thoughts in secret.
Previously, they protected Ning Zhuo because of Ning Xiaoren's orders and because they knew Ning Zhuo was crucial to the Ning Family's plan to seize the Magma Fairy Palace.
Now, they genuinely respected Ning Zhuo from the bottom of their hearts.
Because Ning Zhuo's control over the Martial Fighting Ape·Dasheng exhibited combat power beyond their imagination, stronger than their combined efforts of three or four men.
The crowd marveled in disbelief, "This Mechanical Monkey seems alive! Ning Zhuo's control techniques are incredible!"
"He is only in the Qi Refinement Stage, in its early stage at that, but just by controlling this high-quality Mechanical Monkey, he possesses combat power surpassing ours!"
"That's basically typical for Mechanism Cultivators, Beast Taming Cultivators, Corpse Manipulation and Ghost Mastery practitioners, and so forth. Historically, there have been far more exaggerated cases than his."
The Martial Fighting Ape·Dasheng's bullying style of combat drove the demon beast wild boar to despair. Exhausted and covered in wounds, it eventually lay still on the ground, resigning itself to its fate.
Ning Zhuo laughed, not killing it but sparing its life.
He recalled the Martial Fighting Ape·Dasheng, disbanded the Mana Hanging Thread, and took out a dozen mechanical needles.
The mechanical needles varied in thickness and connected to the top of a staff.
Ning Zhuo instructed the nearby guards, "Next, I'll test a different control method to evaluate the long-distance endurance of the Martial Fighting Ape·Dasheng."
"If anything unexpected happens, please try to retrieve this Mechanical Monkey."
The guard leader immediately nodded, reassuring Ning Zhuo. His manner was much more positive than before; any previous pride from having superior cultivation was gone.
Only then did Ning Zhuo send Yuan Dasheng towards the deserted wilderness.
Yuan Dasheng, with the connected staff top needles, spun slowly over time.
When it reached the destination, Ning Zhuo felt a clearer connection with Yuan Dasheng, as if peeling off several layers of parchment paper.
Yuan Dasheng returned, and Ning Zhuo inspected the connected staff top needles. He removed some to check and twisted others back in place, infusing Divine Sense.
He sent Yuan Dasheng away again to the deserted wilderness, enhancing his control each trip.
After several repetitions, Ning Zhuo frowned slightly, thinking, "Not enough, far from enough."
It was like hundreds of layers of parchment between him and Yuan Dasheng. Each trip removed only a few layers, with diminishing results.
The outcome was mixed.
The good news was Ning Zhuo's hypothesis proved true; aligning with the spirit would gain greater control over Yuan Dasheng's Spiritual Nature.
The downside was the limited effectiveness, akin to a dripping bottle, insufficient for quenching thirst.
"What should I do?"
While Ning Zhuo pondered, shouts of battle and cries for help echoed from the woods.
The guards, alarmed, gathered around Ning Zhuo.
"Something's wrong!"
"Young Master Ning Zhuo, we should leave now!"
"It might be another assassination, prevent anyone from approaching."
Ning Zhuo wore a peculiar expression but stood firm, shaking his head slightly, "It is indeed an assassination, but not against me."
Through Yuan Dasheng's perspective, Ning Zhuo saw Yuan Er.
Yuan Er was being relentlessly pursued by several cultivators.
He looked panicked, with multiple wounds, desperately fleeing, leaving a trail of blood.
Yuan Dasheng recognized Yuan Er, its body quivering, emotions surging powerfully.
About to overwhelm the Spiritual Nature, Ning Zhuo had a sudden insight and decisively ordered, "Yuan Dasheng, save him!"
The moment the command was given, their connection grew drastically clearer!
Yuan Dasheng roared, leaping high over Yuan Er's head and landing amidst the pursuers.
Yuan Er looked up and saw the Martial Fighting Ape·Dasheng, exclaiming, "Uncle Dasheng?!"
Meanwhile.
Fire Persimmon Immortal City.
Black Market.
Sun Lingtong, leading a group of burly men, surrounded a stall.
He played with a dagger, taunting in a childish voice, "Hey, you have to pay protection fees to operate here! You haven't paid, how many days overdue now?"
The vendor knelt on the ground, crying, "Elder Sun, my mother is seriously ill. My earnings from this stall are meager. Can the protection fee be deferred?"
"Nonsense! Do you take me for a three-year-old?" Sun Lingtong kicked the vendor over, his tone scornful and his expression fierce. "Do I not know you?"
About to continue, he suddenly sensed danger, leaping aside.
Zhu Xuanji slowly revealed himself, "Interesting, Sun Lingtong. I got close, and you noticed. Those Spirit Eyes of yours...not bad."
"It's Lord Zhu!" Sun Lingtong hurriedly saluted.
Zhu Xuanji displayed a list, "I'm here for a simple reason: tell me where Youthful Guest is."