Outside Fire Persimmon Mountain.
A demon beast, as large as a mountain, opened its blood-red maw.
An immense suction force immediately followed, threatening to swallow the cultivators ahead in one gulp.
At this critical moment, a ruler shone with the brilliance of the sun, descending like a meteor.
Boom!
The demon beast died on the spot.
Zhu Xuanji descended from the sky.
The rescued cultivators recognized Zhu Xuanji, quickly prostrating and expressing endless gratitude.
Zhu Xuanji glanced at them, then looked towards Fire Persimmon Immortal City: "During this period, it's best if you stay away from the Immortal City. Go."
The cultivators saw Zhu Xuanji's stern expression and dared not draw close, retreating humbly.
Some of them heeded Zhu Xuanji's advice, while others had pressing matters and returned to the Immortal City.
Zhu Xuanji observed all these movements keenly.
He did not attempt further persuasion, his mood heavy.
After probing for the past couple of days, he was certain that this was Meng Kui working in secret, using the Mountain Gaze Divine Skill to create a fortune field centered on himself.
The fortune field covered the entire Fire Persimmon Mountain, including the Magma Fairy Palace and the Fire Persimmon Immortal City.
Moreover, the range of the fortune field continued to expand, forcing Zhu Xuanji to retreat repeatedly. The demon beasts within the field grew increasingly agitated and battle-hungry, triggering countless bloody conflicts over various incidents.
The more Zhu Xuanji saw, the colder his heart grew.
"Meng Kui..."
Meng Kui sat in the depths of the mist, coldly observing the turbulent world outside.
His primary focus remained the Magma Fairy Palace!
The battle at the peak of Fire Persimmon Mountain had lasted several days already.
Various Red Flame Demon Beasts continuously attacked the palace, while the palace's numerous mechanism artifacts formed a solid defense line.
Meng Kui's eyes suddenly flickered.
At the edge of the palace's defense line, a figure appeared out of nowhere, moving swiftly towards the palace.
The nearby demon beasts noticed and attacked the mysterious figure en masse.
The next moment, the mysterious figure burst forth with Golden Core energy, releasing fierce cold qi that froze and killed large numbers of demon beasts, allowing entry to the palace.
The various mechanism artifacts inside the palace showed no intention of attacking the mysterious figure.
"Oh, the Ice Heart Technique... It's the Golden Core of the Ning Family." Meng Kui identified.
The four Golden Core cultivators from the Zhou Family and the Zheng Family were already inside the formation gambling in battle, while the Ning Family's Golden Core Ancestor seized the opportunity to enter the palace.
Meng Kui sneered coldly: "The Ning Family's Golden Core has mastered the mechanical techniques, allowing him to enter the palace. This was something previously undiscovered."
"According to the Ning Family, they only discovered the Magma Fairy Palace this year."
"Is this true?"
It was possible that the Ning Family's Golden Core Ancestor had advanced his mechanical techniques this year, reaching the entry standard.
It was also possible that he had secretly entered the palace long ago, with the Ning Family's public statements being mere smoke and mirrors.
"Could he be that Black Shadow Demon Cultivator?" Meng Kui quietly speculated, playing with two walnuts in his hands.
The walnuts rubbed against each other in his palm, rotating.
Occasionally, a complex rune flickered on their surfaces.
New intelligence reached Ning Zhuo's hands.
"Someone outside Fire Persimmon Mountain was being hunted by demon beasts and was saved by Zhu Xuanji?"
"Zhu Xuanji is outside the city?"
Ning Zhuo's expression grew serious.
This information significantly impacted his previous assumptions.
He had originally believed that the one holding Sun Lingtong captive was Zhu Xuanji. After all, Zhu Xuanji had publicly interrogated Sun Lingtong before, only to be temporarily repelled by her tantrums.
"In fact, this indeed does not align with Zhu Xuanji's modus operandi."
"If it's truly not him, then who else can cause such trouble for Elder Sun?"
Ning Zhuo had lived here for sixteen years and was well-acquainted with the significant figures and forces within Fire Persimmon Immortal City.
Sun Lingtong, being at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment, had controlled the black market for years. There were very few individuals or forces capable of dealing with him in such a manner!
"Han Ming?"
With this line of thought, Ning Zhuo recalled the female demon cultivator he had captured.
It was indeed a possibility!
Since Ning Zhuo had publicly demonstrated some strength, he was no longer free to act as before.
After the tri-family test, he had not seen Han Ming again.
Even the time he boosted Yuan Dasheng's spirit, he did so remotely through the Golden Blooded War Ape - Dasheng.
"At that time, I indeed heard Han Ming's calls from the dungeon..."
Ning Zhuo felt equally constrained now.
"Should I send Yuan Dasheng to take a look?"
Ning Zhuo immediately dismissed the idea.
The news about Bao Chou had spread widely. This group was about to take action!
At this critical juncture, if Ning Zhuo pulled Yuan Dasheng away, what if he missed the chance to protect Yuan Er?
"It seems like two choices, but there is only one."
Ning Zhuo calmly analyzed: "If Han Ming has indeed been rescued, causing Elder Sun's predicament, then they likely have prepared something at the dungeon."
"If I send Yuan Dasheng over, it will surely alert them!"
"This is something that can wait."
Ning Zhuo chose to bide his time, constantly monitoring Yuan Dasheng.
Bao Chou and his group moved much earlier than Ning Zhuo had anticipated.
Night fell, the moon and stars sparse.
Through the lurking Yuan Dasheng, Ning Zhuo quickly discovered Bao Chou and his group moving through the Monkey Head Gang's headquarters.
Yuan Er huddled in the center of the gang's headquarters.
However, the defenses and guards around him were constantly being withdrawn by disloyal elders, creating numerous large gaps.
Following instructions, Bao Chou and his group homed in on Yuan Er's house without alarming any guards.
It wasn't until someone climbed through a window, triggering a talisman and activating a spell, that Yuan Er realized what was happening.
"Help! Help! Assassins! Assassins!" Yuan Er shouted, wildly activating the formation within the house.
The formation lasted only a few breaths before Bao Chou and his group destroyed it.
Evidently, the traitors' influence had reached the most critical areas.
"Father, Mother, today your child avenges you!!" Bao Chou roared, charging in first upon being discovered.
The people following him were equally determined, immediately behind him.
Yuan Er had several close attendants and servants by his side, forming a defensive line to fend off the assassins.
Bao Chou's group had prepared thoroughly; they broke through the defense with just a brief pause, advancing on Yuan Er.
Yuan Er fought back while trying to flee.
"Coward," Ning Zhuo coldly observed.
Yuan Er had panicked, losing his composure. This flight utterly disrupted their defensive arrangements, further shaking the confidence and morale of his attendants.
Yuan Dasheng had long been itching to act.
Ning Zhuo softly commanded: "Go."
The Martial Fighting Ape - Dasheng roared, leaping out to block Bao Chou.
Yuan Er's face lit with joy: "Uncle Ape!"
Yuan Dasheng's combat prowess was extraordinary; in a few rounds he had Bao Chou retreating step by step.
Several cultivators seeking revenge tried to bypass Yuan Dasheng, only to be intercepted and slain by him.
Eventually, when the gang members arrived, Yuan Dasheng had already ended the battle.
Most of the cultivators had perished, though Bao Chou survived, heavily injured.
Yuan Er, standing tall, approached Bao Chou.
Bao Chou, with his arms forcefully restrained by gang members, could only kneel.
"Your father couldn't surpass mine, so he was killed."
"Now, you also can't surpass me, so it's normal to be killed."
"Heh, who gave you the courage to harbor the illusion that you could kill me?"
Yuan Er felt confident again.
This confidence stemmed from the Martial Fighting Ape - Dasheng standing behind him!
Most people in the room occasionally glanced at Yuan Dasheng.
In the recent assassination attempt, Yuan Dasheng had fully displayed his strength and valor. The heavily armed Bao Chou and his group couldn't gain the upper hand and were defeated by Yuan Dasheng.
Bao Chou raised his head, his face smeared with blood and hatred.
"Pah!" He spat, but his saliva was blocked by the guards.
Yuan Er was cautious, standing behind the guards, gloating at Bao Chou from a safe distance.
Ning Zhuo was also pleased.
In this battle, he felt that his connection with Yuan Dasheng had become at least half clearer.
"One more assassination attempt might fully eliminate this hidden danger."
However, Bao Chou suddenly paused, his expression turning peculiar.
The next moment, he roared fiercely: "If not now, when?!"
Everyone found it strange.
Then, the gang guard closest to Yuan Er suddenly acted, drawing his blade and turning, the blade flashing like snow, fast as lightning!
Yuan Er's head flew off on the spot.
This scene stunned nearly everyone.
Yuan Er's head hit the ground. In his final moments, he looked at the Martial Fighting Ape - Dasheng.
Yuan Er wondered why Uncle Ape didn't save him?
He forgot: his Uncle Ape was no longer a being of flesh and blood, but a mechanism artifact, a soulless mechanism artifact.
This wasn't like before, when in a life-and-death crisis, Yuan Dasheng had sufficient reaction time to make a grand entrance and fight.
The guard's attack had been too swift.
Yuan Dasheng's spiritual nature required a stimulus process, and it hadn't had time to react.
Ning Zhuo realized: "There's still hope!"
This was a world of cultivation, where even being beheaded didn't mean one couldn't survive.
However, just as he wanted to fully control Yuan Dasheng to retrieve Yuan Er's head and attempt a rescue, Yuan Dasheng roared in fury, losing control again!
Roaring like a lion or tiger, it charged at the assailant.
The guard tried to block with his blade but was smashed to death, weapon and all, by Yuan Dasheng's fist!
The surrounding gang members scattered in terror.
Bao Chou, regaining his freedom, tried to escape, but was grabbed by Yuan Dasheng the next moment.
"Don't, don't kill me!"
Boom.
A faint popping sound.
Yuan Dasheng crushed his head directly.
But that wasn't enough!
Next, Yuan Dasheng continued to viciously pummel the assassins' corpses.
After smashing them into a pulp, it finally came to a halt.
"Oh no!" Ning Zhuo sensed grave trouble.
The green light in the mechanism's eyes rapidly faded, Yuan Dasheng stood still among the pile of bone fragments and flesh, shoulders sagging, motionless.
No matter how Ning Zhuo tried to sense it, he could no longer feel its spiritual nature.
An eerie silence.
More accurately, it was as if it had never existed.