Seeing that the two sides were on the verge of a fight, Zheng Hua hurriedly stepped in to mediate: "Everyone, please calm down!"
"The real battle hasn't even started yet, and we're having internal strife already..."
"If word gets out, it would tarnish the Ning Family's reputation."
Zhou Zeshen and others also chimed in, urging calm.
Under the persuasion of the crowd, Ning Zhuo, Ning Xiaohui, and the mysterious Snow Soul finally restrained their auras and temporarily put aside their differences.
When they sat down again, Ning Xiaohui and Ning Zhuo were already seated far apart.
Zhou Zeshen smiled and cupped his hands to the mysterious Snow Soul: "May I ask your esteemed name, senior?"
The mysterious Snow Soul, possessing the aura of Foundation Establishment, raised his head and said, "I am Ning Xie. In life, I was a Family Elder of the Ning Family, endowed with the Snow Soul Frost Spirit. After dying in battle, I turned into a Ghost Cultivator. This time, I have come out of seclusion for your joint action."
Zhou Zeshen asked puzzledly: "Senior is a Foundation Establishment Ghost Cultivator. Your cultivation is difficult to change. How can your soul enter the Immortal Palace?"
The Ghost Cultivator Ning Xie replied, "It's not difficult. I can reside within Xiaohui's soul body, temporarily merging as one."
"When Ning Xiaohui's soul enters the Immortal Palace, I can be brought in as well."
"However, if I appear to fight, I can only be present for up to thirteen breaths. Exceeding this time limit, I will be expelled by the Magma Fairy Palace."
At this time, Zheng Jian spoke up to confirm: "We have already verified this situation."
It turned out that he was in the know.
Zhou Zeshen's gaze darkened slightly.
He keenly sensed that the Ning and Zheng Families were perhaps closer than he had anticipated.
Outwardly, Zhou Zeshen cupped his hands and showed a joyful expression: "With senior's assistance, deploying the Snow Soul Frost Spirit, our chances of victory increase greatly."
Ning Xie snorted coldly: "Naturally."
Ning Zhuo also snorted coldly: "Only thirteen breaths of fighting time, what can be done? Can you freeze the entire checkpoint?"
Ning Xie squinted his eyes, looking extremely displeased: "Younger generation of the branch lineage, you are correct. I can indeed freeze the surroundings and modify the battlefield. If you do not believe me, you will have a taste of it!"
Ning Zhuo chuckled: "Freeze our own people? You died, and your brain died with you?"
"If you have the ability, freeze that Mechanical Monkey and the Servant Ghost Puppet!"
"Oh, that's right."
"If you get enslaved by the puppet, that would be hilarious!"
"Nonsense!" Ning Xie cursed angrily, "Youngster, sharp-tongued! Keep it up, and I'll tear your mouth apart."
Ning Zhuo's face turned solemn, his gaze darkened: "Who is arguing with you?"
"What I pointed out is the biggest hazard! I am considering the entire situation, while you think I am simply arguing with you?"
Ning Zhuo pointed at Ning Xie without any politeness: "My concern is straightforward. Can this Ghost Cultivator be brought in?"
"Do not let him become a weapon against us at the time!"
Ning Xie trembled with anger, his entire soul turning a shade whiter. Just as he was about to speak, an old voice interrupted: "Regarding this matter, I, the Clan Leader, can vouch for it."
Everyone's expressions varied.
Ning Xie immediately shut his mouth.
Then, the Ning Family Clan Leader walked in. He stared at Ning Zhuo with a smile, his gaze icy: "Ning Zhuo, you are quite thorough."
"But you are still too young and unaware of the mysteries of Ghost Cultivation, let alone the heritage of our Ning Family!"
Ning Zhuo cupped his hands in salute, his gaze calm as he fearlessly looked into the Clan Leader's eyes: "If that is the case, then I remain doubtful."
He then changed the subject: "But I still do not recommend acting so hastily."
"We currently lack accurate information."
"We can wait for the spells to be improved, then use the enhanced spells for reconnaissance."
"The opponents are merely two mechanical war puppets. Once we understand their foundation, their chances of success will be very low."
Zhou Zeshen thought it was brilliant.
He never expected Ning Zhuo to stand so firm, directly opposing the Ning Family's Foundation Establishment elders, even the Clan Leader.
"How much cultivation does he have? Only the third level of Qi Refinement. Truly brave!" Zhou Zeshen felt a hint of admiration.
Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu had similar thoughts.
Zheng Hua pondered: "Ning Zhuo is youthful and impetuous, actually confronting his Clan Leader publicly."
"However, looking at his actions, it is understandable."
"He has now become the Black Market Master, his power greatly increased, achieving unprecedented success. It's a time of euphoria."
"If I were in his position, I would be even more arrogant."
"If this youth continues to develop, the Ning Family will surely have a second internal conflict. It would be worth heavily supporting him!"
Hearing Ning Zhuo suggest further reconnaissance, Zhou Zeshen thought for a moment and agreed: "Please forgive my boldness, but I also think continuing to gather information would be better."
"Information is critical! Especially for battles like ours. Additional information could significantly impact the outcome."
"Hmm? Zhou Zeshen is so openly supporting Ning Zhuo?" Zheng Jian was also stirred.
Within Fire Persimmon Immortal City, the forces of the Four Directions jostled and cooperated, forming a complex web of competitive relationships.
Truly excellent family scions were keenly aware of the familial ties and estrangements of other families.
Zheng Jian thought for a moment and then spoke: "Indeed, we began improving our reconnaissance spells a long time ago."
"But it will still take some time to complete."
"In fact, our family has long been acquiring and borrowing related Understanding Law Maps."
"However, even with Understanding Law Maps, it tests the cultivator's comprehension. Those with average comprehension may gain little from the maps."
Ning Zhuo spread his hands: "Then we can wait."
"I believe our Renovation Team is full of talented people. Some will eventually gain insight, or we can wait until the three families complete the spell improvements. Once we have reconnaissance results, we can then attack with confidence!"
"Speaking of Understanding Law Maps, I have two of them. Perhaps I could contribute and share them with everyone."
"Shut up!" Ning Xiaohui almost jumped up, "The Understanding Law Maps are lent to you personally by the family. How can you share them with outsiders?"
The Ghost Cultivator Ning Xie also said: "Youngster of the branch lineage, do you not understand family rules? You have no authority to distribute these two Understanding Law Maps."
Ning Zhuo chuckled: "I was merely suggesting. Since the Clan Leader is also here, what do you say?"
The Ning Family Clan Leader felt momentarily disgusted, as if he had swallowed a fly.
As the Clan Leader, he could not take a stance akin to Ning Xiaohui.
Moreover, he now faced people from the Zheng and Zhou Families. Given the alliance between the three families, it was difficult for him to refuse outright.
In this situation, he felt cornered by this youngster, unable to extricate himself gracefully.
For the first time, the Ning Family Clan Leader regretted his hasty appearance, feeling it lacked consideration.
Zhou Zeshen suddenly laughed: "If the Ning Family is willing to offer two Understanding Law Maps, I propose our family also contribute two maps for the Renovation Team to share."
Zheng Jian started to speak, but Zheng Hua beat him to it: "Good! I can decide to offer our family's Flame Summit Steaming Cloud Chart and Earth Furnace Spouting Fire Chart for everyone to study."
The Ning Family Clan Leader laughed heartily, quickly making up: "Understanding Law Maps are no problem for the Ning Family to provide."
"However, even if we comprehend something in a short time, it requires much practice before it can be used in battle."
"Instead, it might be better to focus on special training, practicing coordination, and developing rapport, which would be far more useful than just comprehending spells."
"This battle must occur as soon as possible!"
"I cannot divulge specifics, but I can tell you that this matter concerns the Golden Pill Ancestors of our three families."
Everyone was immediately taken aback.
The Ning Family Clan Leader was implicitly warning them: do not consider this battle only. Because there were strong external factors urging a quick fight!
Combat was merely a tool.
"Combat is not the goal. So, what is the true purpose?" Ning Zhuo sighed.
He deliberately provoked and incited others to gather more information.
Anyway, the conflict between Ning Zhuo and the main line of the Ning Family had already become irreconcilable, so he did not care about maintaining surface harmony.
The rewards were indeed substantial.
He not only gathered a lot of information but also secured the opportunity to gain insights from four new Understanding Law Maps!
And the secret the Ning Family Clan Leader revealed—concerning the Golden Pill Ancestors—was good news for Ning Zhuo.
When reading history, Ning Zhuo often came across cases where, during military conflicts, monarchs or ministers, disregarding the actual situation, made unreasonable commands that led to disastrous defeats.
Initially, Ning Zhuo thought those people were foolish.
But as he grew older, especially in recent days, he profoundly understood human limitations and more deeply comprehended their "foolishness."
Are they foolish?
They are foolish, yet clever. It is also a matter of being compelled by circumstances.
In reality, everyone had their pressures and motivations, their desires, and fears.
Various motives intertwined, making what was once a pure battle become less so.
Just as Ning Zhuo needed Yuan Dasheng to achieve a minor victory, not a major victory or a defeat. Similarly, this hasty joint action by the three families stemmed from the mysterious decisions of their Golden Pill Ancestors.
In youth, one mocks the mundane while reading. Upon rereading, one finds oneself within the book.
The myriad affairs within the book, a poignant testament in a few fleeting words!
Zhou Zeshen sighed: "It seems we have no choice but to proceed."
Ning Zhuo looked at Zheng Hua: "Since this is the will of the Golden Pill Ancestors of the three families, no wonder Ning Xie was mobilized."
"Given this, the Zheng and Zhou Families must have also brought out some trump cards?"
Elder Zheng Hua of the Zheng Family chuckled: "I was just about to mention."
"An ancestor of our family once ventured into the Ghost Market, nearly losing half his life but gaining a benefit."
"This technique is called the Ghost Warrior Divine Weapon Forging Method. It consumes soul power to cleave off parts of the soul, forging them into ghostly weapons."
"Once perfected, it is equivalent to half of a natal weapon. When your soul enters the Immortal Palace, you can obtain the corresponding mechanical components in the first room."
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes turned to Zheng Jian.
A hook-shaped Magic Artifact floated beside Zheng Jian. When his soul entered the Immortal Palace, he also obtained a corresponding wooden hook component that floated around his body.
Zheng Jian quickly explained: "Mine is not a ghost weapon."