"We definitely can’t let the enemy have their way!"
However, relying solely on Ning Zhuo himself to assist was definitely not viable.
His cultivation level was too low, only at Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage, making it difficult to aid the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.
But this is the Golden Age of Cultivation, where the Cultivation Hundred Skills flourish, so Ning Zhuo naturally had other ways.
In the next moment, he took out a mechanical component from his bosom—the Five Elements Wheel.
This was a new wheel, capable of accommodating three Golden Cores simultaneously.
Currently, three Ghost Dao Golden Cores were embedded on the wheel, which Ning Zhuo directly used at once.
The wheel slowly rotated, extracting the power of the Golden Core, gathering it into a force that poured into Ning Zhuo’s Divine Sea, directly into the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.
The Buddha Heart Demon Seal trembled violently, drawing on the Golden Core’s power, its aura skyrocketed, quickly calming down.
At that moment, thousands of miles away, in the Ban Family Ancestral Hall.
Bang bang bang...
A series of muffled explosions, as a significant portion of the Clan Fate Mechanism Chain’s machinery exploded, lines breaking chaotically, several Supreme Family Elders spat blood on the spot, their aura weakened.
In a crisis, the Supreme Family Elder shouted with determination, disregarding his own lifespan depletion, stepping forward to support the situation. It was only then that the situation was barely stabilized.
The Supreme Family Elder’s hair was originally half black and half white, now visibly turning as if covered in a layer of frost.
However, even so, the Clan Fate Mechanism Chain, as if crushed by an invisible force, still had components collapsing, just at a much slower pace than before.
The Supreme Family Elders couldn’t help but show panic.
At this rate, not only would the Clan Fate Mechanism Chain be destroyed, but they would also suffer backlash, leading to either death or serious injury.
Wanxiang Sect’s Main Mountain Gate.
Mechanical Cave Mansion.
Ban Ji floated naked in mid-air.
He was maneuvering a Golden Core, rolling it within his entire body.
The Golden Core was as big as an adult’s fist, rolling along Ban Ji’s skin, leaving a faint golden powder wherever it passed.
The golden powder, within a few breaths, quickly integrated into Ban Ji’s body and disappeared.
Ban Ji felt increasingly at ease.
The obscure truths of the Monster Path, Mechanical Techniques, and Demon Sect embedded in his body, initially like disorderly strands of hay, were harmonized considerably under the golden powder’s effect.
Reflecting on Ban Ji himself, aside from the physical lightness, even his inner state was significantly calmer and more peaceful.
While he was manipulating the Elixir Pills, a jade pendant on his neck suddenly emitted a burst of emerald light.
The emerald light was extraordinarily bright, temporarily filling the entire cultivation secret room.
Almost simultaneously, in the Ban Family Ancestral Hall.
A component of the Clan Fate Mechanism Chain also emitted a blinding emerald light, which immediately alleviated much of the pressure on the Supreme Family Elders. The whole qi fortune mechanism resumed slow functioning, practically dissipating the stagnation.
"What’s happening?!" Everyone was taken aback.
The emerald light surged fiercely and faded just as quickly.
"Not good!" Observing this trend, the Supreme Family Elders immediately grew anxious.
One of them abruptly looked up, his gaze resolute.
"For the Ban Family!"
He stepped forward a few paces, stood before the Clan Fate Mechanism Chain, and laid his hands forcefully on a crucial mechanical component.
In the next three breaths, this Supreme Family Elder rapidly aged, wrinkles spread, his back hunched, and his life force quickly faded.
At the critical moment, he sacrificed himself, exhausting his lifespan.
This act resulted in the Clan Fate Mechanism Chain completing its operation, fully transforming Ning Zhuo’s qi fortune!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh...
All the Supreme Family Elders were panting heavily, drenched in sweat, thoroughly disheveled.
The light on the Clan Fate Mechanism Chain gradually dimmed; only thirty percent of the machinery remained, surpassing previous records of damage.
Gradually, everyone focused their gaze on the clan member who had voluntarily sacrificed.
In a solemn atmosphere, everyone remained silent.
They sacrificed a Nascent Soul Cultivator! A loss they hadn’t anticipated before.
"Will there be more significant sacrifices in the future?" A murky shadow plagued everyone’s minds.
The Supreme Family Elder boosted morale, greatly rewarding the sacrificed individual’s lineage and appointing a few to thoroughly investigate the anomaly’s cause.
Ning Zhuo, too, was drenched in cold sweat, appearing disheveled.
"Finally, it has quieted down."
He looked at the Buddha Heart Demon Seal in his Divine Sea, which was gradually calming, and couldn’t help but feel a lingering fear.
During this period, he had consumed more than twenty Ghost Dao Golden Cores in total, depleting their entire mana, rendering them useless.
"Fortunately, I had prepared multiple Golden Core Wheels, otherwise, I might have been trapped by this disaster."
"This is the price of standing out."
"The Ban Family is highly suspect, but whether it’s truly them remains to be investigated."
Tall trees attract wind.
There’s no avoiding it.
Ning Zhuo had anticipated this scenario long ago.
With a cautious mindset, he began resting and recuperation.
Half a day later, the Buddha Heart Demon Seal remained inactive, slightly easing Ning Zhuo’s concern.
He kept this upheaval secret, locking it deep in his heart.
Ning Zhuo didn’t even plan to investigate, as there were absolutely no leads. Random investigations would undoubtedly consume massive amounts of time, energy, resources, and manpower.
After deep reflection, Ning Zhuo decided to restrain himself.
Patience.
He had endured patiently in Fire Persimmon Immortal City for over a decade and was quite familiar with such actions.
After half a day, the Chef returned.
He had contacted cultivators from Danxia Peak, explaining his identity and his intention to purchase Xuanhuang Mother Qi.
The other party didn’t directly refuse but informed Chef of several Xingyun Trials.
Chef: "Their intention is for you, Young Master, to choose one of these trials, participate fully, and it would be best if you win first place."
"But after that, don’t participate in any other trials."
"They will secretly arrange for you to reside at Danxia Peak until the Feiyun Conference stage."
Having heard this, Ning Zhuo remained silent, just shaking his head.
Danxia Peak’s message was clear—they wanted Ning Zhuo to join them directly through the Xingyun Trials.
Ning Zhuo was interested in the Xuanhuang Mother Qi in their possession, while they were interested in acquiring Ning Zhuo himself.
Ning Zhuo’s reputation as a genius had already spread. His conflicts with Ban Ji further enhanced his fame.
"Although Xuanhuang Mother Qi is precious, abandoning other trials just for it is utterly unreasonable!"
"The Mengye Tiger problem was already resolved."
"Due to full spiritual nature, there’s a natural power to recover. However, relying solely on it to heal would take too long, possibly missing the Xingyun Trial phase."
"It seems my weight is not heavy enough yet, so let’s halt the transaction around Xuanhuang Mother Qi for now."
Ning Zhuo had a very clear understanding of the situation.
The other party, upon learning of Ning Zhuo’s transaction proposal, never clearly agreed, merely implying that Ning Zhuo should abandon other factions and fully join Danxia Peak to demonstrate sincerity.
This arrogance was almost overwhelming.
Yet, Ning Zhuo could understand.
"Each Xingyun Trial often reveals talented cultivators like me."
"This year alone, over twenty to thirty exceptional participants emerged during the initial phase of the trials."
"Cultivators like Ban Ji also have sufficient strength but are simply unfortunate not to catch the first wave."
"From Danxia Peak’s perspective, they have many talented cultivators to choose from. I am not particularly noticeable among them."
Regarding the Xuanhuang Mother Qi transaction, Ning Zhuo already knew the difficulty and had low expectations.
Without expectations, there’s naturally less disappointment.
What Ning Zhuo truly anticipated now was another transaction.
Promoting this transaction quietly was precisely Sun Lingtong.
Sun Lingtong went to the Black Market, meeting the cultivator who had previously taken the order.
"Where’s the soul of the Demon Path Confucian Cultivator I asked for?" Sun Lingtong inquired bluntly.
The cultivator looked troubled, spreading his hands: "Apologies, esteemed customer, I couldn’t obtain it!"
Sun Lingtong hesitated for a moment, as the cultivator’s previous assurances brimmed with confidence.
Yet now, he was met with a failed result.
Sun Lingtong immediately spoke with a stern tone, her expression unfriendly: "You kept me waiting for so many days, only to produce this result? What exactly do you intend with such deception?!"