Ning Zhuo had already acquired the **Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra** some time ago.
Judging from the title of the scripture, its main idea was: through the purification of flames, to liberate intelligent life from the shackles of the mundane world and extract the prajna's spiritual nature.
Indeed, the **Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra** possessed such powers.
Ning Zhuo had once relied on it to enhance and supplement Yuan Dasheng's spiritual nature, reaching a perfect ten out of ten, resulting in a qualitative change. From that moment, Yuan Dasheng was spiritually sufficient and could recover on his own.
Ning Zhuo had initially used the **Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra** merely to augment Yuan Dasheng's spiritual nature.
Now, he unexpectedly grasped a deeper understanding of the Cremation Sutra and immediately realized he had made significant progress in mechanical techniques as well!
He released more floating clouds and made his first attempt amidst the clouds.
He succeeded on the first try!
Ning Zhuo acquired a mechanical long whip. It moved on the ground like a snake.
However, after slithering for a while, the whip stopped, as if it were dead.
It wasn't that the mana within the mechanical long whip had been exhausted—it still had plenty. Rather, the spiritual essence that Ning Zhuo had extracted was depleted!
Ning Zhuo continued to try a few more times.
There were successes and failures.
Overall, failures were more frequent, and successes were rare.
This allowed Ning Zhuo to understand his own limitations.
He secretly evaluated: "So far, although I can create some mechanisms with spiritual charm, the charm is quite thin."
"The more complete the mechanism, the higher the failure rate and the shorter the time the spiritual essence can support it."
"But if I only make mechanism parts or even mechanism accessories, the support time of the spiritual essence is significantly prolonged."
"I should invest in higher-end raw materials."
"No, it's not just that."
"I need a lot of practice."
"My understanding and mastery of the **Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra** have much room for improvement too!"
This unexpected progress made Ning Zhuo feel very excited.
Because he only needed to master this spell proficiently to be able to tinker with spiritual charm mechanisms in the preparation room after entering the **Soul Entering Immortal Palace**.
As for raw materials, he could use the various demon beasts and spiritual wisdom from the Buddha Sect's coffin house.
After all, with the **Buddha Heart Demon Seal**, Ning Zhuo could come and go freely in the Magma Fairy Palace.
"All along, I had struggled with not being able to bring external resources into the **Soul Entering Immortal Palace**."
"The only ones able to come and go freely were **Golden Blooded War Ape – Dasheng** and **Underworld Envoy – Qi Bai**."
Due to Qi Bai's spiritual essence being almost exhausted, Ning Zhuo had no choice but to keep him in reserve.
Relying solely on Yuan Dasheng, a single mechanism artifact, it was challenging to resist the increasing number of trial disciples. Among them, Meng Chong posed an ever-growing threat.
Ning Zhuo's control over the trial checkpoints in the Magma Fairy Palace was rapidly declining!
Now, leveraging the **Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra**, Ning Zhuo found new hope to regain his former level of control.
Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian both came to report to Ning Zhuo.
This group of Ning Family's Foundation Establishment cultivators had been managing the black market for several days.
They had successively captured many cultivators who were causing trouble in the black market, engaging in public battles or committing fraud.
Ning Zhuo carefully examined the jade slips. After a moment, he said, "Interrogate these people and inquire about their backgrounds."
"Those with minor offenses can leave once they pay their ransom."
"As for this last group, hand them over to **City Lord Fei Si**. He'll be pleased."
Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian immediately looked over and simultaneously discovered that all the cultivators handed over to Fei Si were notorious criminals wanted in the Southern Bean Country.
Ning Xiangqian frowned: "Should we secretly escort them?"
Ning Zhuo shook his head: "There's no need for secrecy. We've done a great deed, shouldn't we publicize it widely?"
Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian exchanged a glance, realizing that Ning Zhuo had likely made some private agreement with Fei Si.
Sure enough, Fei Si was overjoyed upon receiving the captured criminals.
For him, these were political achievements!
"Lowering my share of the profits to thirty percent wasn't wasted."
"Ning Zhuo, you're very considerate."
"I wasn't wrong about you. In this regard, even the former Sun Lingtong wasn't as understanding as you are."
Fei Si praised highly in his heart.
He thought for a moment and wrote a letter, which he asked Ning Xiangguo to bring back.
Ning Zhuo opened the letter and found it to be a recommendation, written by Fei Si, seeking an audience with Shuzhong Jun on Ning Zhuo's behalf.
Shuzhong Jun was a Golden Core cultivator from the **Complete Book Pavilion**.
The Complete Book Pavilion was a super sect, much larger in scale compared to the **Soul Devouring Sect** and the **Bukong Sect**.
The first pavilion master who founded the Pavilion was moved by the fact that many in the cultivation world were too protective of their own knowledge. In his early days of cultivation, he had suffered greatly from the lack of access to excellent cultivation techniques, leading him astray many times.
So after achieving success in cultivation, he vowed to collect as many cultivation techniques, spells, and so on as possible.
Since its inception, the Complete Book Pavilion had always maintained neutrality. They profited by selling cultivation techniques, spells, and other classics, then used the profits to acquire more techniques, spells, and similar works.
Ning Zhuo immediately realized—Fei Si had written this recommendation as a subtle, small favor, expressing his unspoken gratitude.
Ning Zhuo set off immediately.
Not long after, with the help of the recommendation, he met Shuzhong Jun.
Shuzhong Jun was a Golden Core cultivator. For the sake of Fei Si, he personally received Ning Zhuo, asked a couple of questions, and gave him an identity token before letting him leave.
Ning Zhuo, holding the identity token, went to find the shopkeeper responsible for selling books.
Although the Complete Book Pavilion's branch in Fire Persimmon Immortal City was not yet established, Ning Zhuo's identity token allowed him special privileges.
The shopkeeper asked him: "What book would you like to buy?"
Ning Zhuo was in no hurry. He asked whether the shopkeeper was interested in purchasing the first three levels of the **Five Elements Qi Regulation Art**.
The shopkeeper told him: "The Complete Book Pavilion has already collected over two hundred copies of the first three levels of cultivation techniques. They have been sent to other branches for comparison and modification. Eventually, a more universal and concise technique will be produced."
Ning Zhuo marveled at the wealth and efficiency of the Complete Book Pavilion.
He then demonstrated the **Embrace Ice Technique** and other spells to the shopkeeper.
This immediately caught the shopkeeper's eye.
After all, the**Dharma Transmission Bell** had disseminated the spells, and the whole city knew about them. Therefore, it was very easy for the Complete Book Pavilion to collect the first three levels of techniques from the city's inhabitants.
But the **Embrace Ice Technique** and other spells were only mastered by the Qi Refinement talents of the Four Great Powers and the members of the Renovation Team.
There were very few of these people.
Moments later, the shopkeeper evaluated the spells and quoted a price to Ning Zhuo.
"Our Complete Book Pavilion's book trading usually involves two methods."
"The first is trading with spirit stones."
"The second is to convert it into equivalent **Pavilion Gold**."
Ning Zhuo didn't hesitate: "I choose Pavilion Gold."
Pavilion Gold was the currency of the Complete Book Pavilion, lacking physical form, as just a numeric record.
Trading with spirit stones wasn't cost-effective. Pavilion Gold transactions could yield more classics.
The Pavilion deliberately set up these two trading methods, primarily to display the superiority of Pavilion Gold, encouraging more people to use it for transactions.
Ning Zhuo sold **Embrace Ice Technique**, **Grasping Fire Technique**, and other spells, obtaining his first batch of Pavilion Gold.
He didn't hold on to it. He asked the shopkeeper what good books he could exchange for.
The shopkeeper replied: "Ning Zhuo, our Complete Book Pavilion embodies everything. Although your Pavilion Gold is not much, you can still exchange it for thousands of books. What exactly do you want?"
Ning Zhuo thought for a moment, he already had his main cultivation technique, and he had many spells with no time to practice, especially the **Five Elements Generating and Conquering Art**.
"What mechanical technique classics can I exchange?"
In the process of selecting, Ning Zhuo, however, was captivated by another book.
Ultimately, he bought a book titled the **Cloud's End Memoirs**.
This book was a travel journal, the author's name is unknown, identified only as **Luo Yunzi**.
There were many mechanical technique classics, but this book was quite rare, covering the topic of fortune.
"I have the mechanical technique classics left by my mother, and the content is excellent. With the Pavilion Gold I have now, it's essentially impossible to exchange for something of the same level as my mother's relics."
"Some classics would be helpful to me, but I find it difficult to sift through them."
"It's better to look at content related to fortune."
"The **Life-hanging Divine Ability** involves fortune, and maybe it will help me comprehend the complete divine ability."
Ning Zhuo had a premonition: once the prototype of the **Life-hanging Divine Ability** broke through, he would achieve a terrifying level of power!
By then, although he was only in the Qi Refinement Realm, he could still master a divine skill.
Most Golden Core cultivators found it difficult to accomplish such a feat.
The **Life-hanging Divine Ability** would become a powerful trump card for him!
Ning Zhuo boarded the carriage with the **Cloud's End Memoirs**, reading it throughout the journey, but the prototype of the divine skill's lotus flower did not show any sign of trembling.
Ning Zhuo had read through thirty percent of the **Cloud's End Memoirs**. Among its early chapters, one story left the deepest impression on him.
In the story, a villager rescued Luo Yunzi, who was on the brink of dehydration and starvation.
To express his gratitude, Luo Yunzi offered to perform a ritual for the villager, to change his destiny so he could enjoy worldly riches.
The villager didn't believe him, for a simple reason: Luo Yunzi was in such a sorry state, saved by the villager himself, what ability could he possibly have?
Luo Yunzi introduced himself: "I am a person of the idle clouds on the path, fell from the heavens into mortal dust. I once practiced in the Heavenly Track Mansion, running from misfortune towards the four seas."
Impressed by Luo Yunzi's displayed flair, the villager reluctantly agreed.
The villager followed Luo Yunzi's instructions, making generous purchases and setting up the arrangements one by one.
Eventually, the ritual was completed, and the villager's wealth increased significantly. Half a year later, he became quite affluent.
Before leaving, Luo Yunzi told the villager two things. First, "Your fortune will last for twelve years, make good use of it." Second, "Once you become wealthy, do not show the slightest kindness. If you see anyone, no matter how desperate or destitute they are, do not help them, else you'll bear the consequences."
Though the villager harbored a kind heart and couldn't stand to see people suffer, he persisted for a few years. Then, during a famine, he cast aside Luo Yunzi's advice and helped many poor people, saving many lives.
His health deteriorated, and he often felt exhausted. During the day, he would be drowsy and lack energy. At night, he frequently had nightmares, where countless ghosts weighed on him like a mountain, and he struggled to move even a step in the wilderness.
When Luo Yunzi sensed something was wrong and returned to the village.
The villager was on the brink of death.
On his deathbed, he sought answers from Luo Yunzi.
Luo Yunzi sighed: "You've encountered petty and evil spirits."
"I warned you against showing compassion."
"Your kindness was well-meant, but it provided an opportunity for resentful spirits to cling to you."
"In this world, many souls are restless due to resentment and greed, and they exploit your kindness to fulfill their needs."
"It's wrong to be unkind as a rich man, but indiscriminate kindness is self-destructive."
"Once you fail to help others correctly, you will be dragged down by those spirits, pulling you down to the underworld!"
"Being a good person is always harder than being a bad person."
After hearing Luo Yunzi's explanation, the villager, filled with strong emotions, asked: "How can I deal with these evil spirits? What is the right way to help people?"
Luo Yunzi replied: "You need to perform rituals to save them."
The villager smiled bitterly: "I am just a mortal."
Luo Yunzi added: "Salvation is not limited to spells. Mortals have ways too. Arrange jobs for them and make them work."
"Labour can save them."