In the secret chamber, five Golden Core ancestors from three families gathered together.
"The three families' alliance... failed." Zhou Nongying sighed.
Zheng Danlian looked at the Ning Family Ancestor.
The jade slip clearly stated that the key reason for the failure of the combined expedition to the Immortal Palace was Ning Xiaohui's internal strife in public!
This behavior was exceptionally egregious.
The Ning Family Ancestor seemed entirely oblivious to the stares: "Even if we had won this battle, it would show the difficulty of exploring the Magma Fairy Palace."
"The path of Soul Entering the Immortal Palace is not that easy."
This analysis hit the mark for the others.
Even in bitter defeat, the Golden Core ancestors of the three families saw the prowess of Yuan Dasheng and Qi Bai increase.
In this battle, the materials of the two mechanism artifacts were evidently of a better grade than before. Additionally, they used many innovative mechanism components. The Self-Destruct Monkey Mechanism, the Wind Fire Wheel, and the mechanical ropes that captured Ning Xie, all achieved significant combat results and were not to be underestimated.
Naturally, the Golden Core ancestors attributed such enhancements to the Magma Fairy Palace and the special arrangements of the Three Ancestral Masters.
They would never have imagined that a mastermind was orchestrating all this!
"Even if the young Qi Refinement members of the three families regrouped and achieved successes, they couldn't break through everything effortlessly."
"The route of Soul Entering the Immortal Palace is still challenging."
"Meng Chong possesses immortal aptitude, and the renovation team of the City Lord's Mansion dominates the rankings. Defeating such opponents... is difficult!"
The Golden Core ancestors secretly communicated through Divine Sense and gradually reached a consensus.
That consensus was: to set out together, collaborate with Zhu Xuanji, delve into Fire Persimmon Mountain, and reclaim the Demon General Mechanism!
From the viewpoint of the three families, they preferred to see Zhu Xuanji ultimately acquire the Immortal Palace rather than Meng Kui.
If Meng Kui obtained the Immortal Palace, the Meng Family would largescale move into the Immortal City, greatly squeezing the living space of the three families.
However, granting it to Zhu Xuanji, if he ultimately won, the three families would gain favor with the Royal Family, which would undoubtedly strengthen their position in Fire Persimmon Immortal City!
Zheng Shuanggou spoke: "Fellow Daoists, delving into the volcano is life-threatening."
"Before taking action, our family urgently needs to forge that mechanism weapon!"
The other Golden Core ancestors were slightly stunned, then nodded simultaneously.
In earlier years, the Zheng Family had obtained a mechanical diagram from the Magma Fairy Palace. Following the diagram, the Zheng Family had invested great resources in secretly crafting a mechanism weapon.
This weapon was immensely powerful, and even before it was completed, it had already brought significant benefits to the Zheng Family.
Previously, in a wager between the four Golden Core elders of the Zheng and Zhou Families, the double immortals of the Zheng Family entered the Night Star Silken Sky Formation, relying on the weapon's advantage to successfully navigate the formation.
The dual cultivation Golden Cores of the Zhou Family thus learned of this weapon.
The Zheng Family actively traded Nine Yang Yellow Bull Balm to gain the acknowledgment of the Zhou Family's dual cultivators, who then agreed to assist in the subsequent forging of the mechanical weapon.
But relying solely on the Zhou Family's formation skills was insufficient.
Subsequently, the Zheng Family deliberately approached the Ning Family, hoping the latter would provide powerful extreme-cold quenching techniques to complete the weapon.
The Zheng Family and the Ning Family thus became very close, secretly exchanging many benefits.
For instance, Zheng Jian acquired the Heart of Ice Talisman, and Ning Xiaohui, under personal guidance from a Zheng Family cultivator, crafted the Ghost Blade.
Thus, the Ning Family Ancestor also knew of this mechanism weapon and had seen the mechanical diagram.
"If we can complete this item, it will indeed be very helpful!" Zhou Nongying was deeply impressed with the mechanism weapon.
The Ning Family Ancestor frowned inwardly.
Truth be told, he did not want to see the Zheng Family wield such a powerful weapon.
In his interactions with the Zheng Family Golden Core elders, he had pinpointed the Zheng Family's ambition and secured many benefits for the Ning Family.
In the Ning Family Ancestor's plan, he intended to use the mechanism weapon to keep the Zheng Family in check.
But now, with the impending exploration of Fire Persimmon Mountain, the Ning Family Ancestor also felt the crisis. The completion of the weapon by the Zheng Family would indeed help ensure everyone's survival.
The Ning Family Ancestor furrowed his brows tightly, sighed, and expressed that employing extreme-cold techniques would harm himself, significantly diminishing his combat ability.
He was unwilling to assist in quenching before the expedition to Fire Persimmon Mountain.
He preferred to find an opportunity to help the Zheng Family after the Fire Persimmon Mountain journey.
Zheng Danlian and Zheng Shuanggou exchanged glances, both recognizing each other's resolve.
The Ning Family Ancestor's evasiveness was within their expectations.
No problem!
The dual cultivation Golden Cores of the Zheng Family had their ways to compel the Ning Family Ancestor to comply.
That method was — Zhu Xuanji.
The dual cultivation Golden Cores of the Zheng Family found Zhu Xuanji, stating their change of plans. To enter Fire Persimmon Mountain, they needed to complete a mechanism weapon.
And this mechanism weapon required the extreme-cold technique of the Ning Family Ancestor for quenching.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Xuanji immediately expressed his willingness to assist. He soon found the Ning Family Ancestor. After a secret conversation, the Ning Family Ancestor, pressured by the Royal Family, reluctantly agreed.
Ning Zhuo arrived at the Clan Leader's mansion and met the Ning Family Clan Leader.
"Branch member Ning Zhuo pays respect to the Clan Leader!" Ning Zhuo cupped his hands, his etiquette flawless but his tone indifferent and aloof.
The Ning Family Clan Leader, however, wore a broad smile and beckoned Ning Zhuo: "Come, Little Zhuo, sit here. Don't just stand."
Ning Zhuo showed no emotion: "Clan Leader, please speak directly. I have some black market affairs to handle."
"Haha, I know, I know you're a busy person." The Ning Family Clan Leader chuckled a few times, his tone gentle, "This time I called you here mainly because of Ning Xiaohui."
"You already know..."
Ning Zhuo immediately interrupted: "Ning Xiaohui harmed me! Does the Clan Leader want to speak for her?!"
"It's not entrapment, not entrapment." The Ning Family Clan Leader repeatedly denied, "We're all family, how could it be entrapment?!"
"Ning Xiaohui is just too young. At the critical moment, she couldn't withstand the pressure and made a mistake."
The Ning Family Clan Leader emphasized it in the end: "A mistake, indeed a mistake!"
Ning Zhuo sneered coldly: "If that is how you see it, I have nothing more to say."
"But..."
"Do you really think that way? Are you lying to yourself?"
"Do all the elders of the Ning Family think that way? Or is it just the majority?"
The Ning Family Clan Leader's smile grew even broader: "So, I called you here specifically this time to clarify things. Everything can be negotiated!"
Ning Zhuo was slightly stunned, then his eyes lit up: "Oh?"
A moment later, he left the Clan Leader's study, satisfied.
After confirming Ning Zhuo had left, sounds of objects being smashed echoed from the study.
The noise continued for a long time before gradually subsiding.
Ning Zhuo sneaked into the underground base to secretly meet with Sun Lingtong.
Sun Lingtong was extremely happy to see Ning Zhuo, jumping and hugging his shoulder, patting him vigorously.
"Brother, you're here!"
Though the two met many times in the Magma Fairy Palace, their actual face-to-face meetings had recently been few.
Sun Lingtong had been holed up in the secret underground base, without seeing anyone outside, and it had made him quite restless.
Seeing his beloved brother, Sun Lingtong was naturally overjoyed.
What delighted him even more was the greatest spoils of their battle — the ghost cultivator, Ning Xie!
Ning Xie was affixed with more than a dozen talismans, sealing him tightly, rendering him immobile.
"Boss, how shall we deal with him? Do you have any ideas?" Ning Zhuo inquired.
Sun Lingtong shook his head: "If Qi Bai had the means to refine souls, I would have let him do it."
"But now, his Spiritual Nature has dropped to fifty-six percent; it's simply impossible."
Sun Lingtong sighed.
Before the battle, Sun Lingtong had risked unsealing Qi Bai's storage pouch and performed the Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra, burning Qi Bai's personal items to help the Netherworld Envoy · Qi Bai regain a large amount of Spiritual Nature.
His Spiritual Nature had once reached ninety-two percent.
But after the recent battle, Qi Bai's Spiritual Nature had plummeted, falling to fifty-six percent.
Originally, Ning Xie possessed the talent of Snow Soul Frost Spirit and was also a ghost cultivator, making him ideal for being transformed into a Ghost General.
Qi Bai's mastery of Ghost Generals during his lifetime had oppressed Ning Zhuo, leaving a lasting impression on the latter.
But for the Netherworld Envoy · Qi Bai to regain his soul-refining ability, he would have to pass the Spirit Movement stage and develop dense Spiritual Wisdom first.
The pace would be too slow!
Sun Lingtong preferred to utilize him now to enhance his strength.
Ning Zhuo understood: "So, we turn him into a mechanism component?"
"Mm-hmm!" Sun Lingtong nodded repeatedly.
The Ning Family was not like the Soul Devouring Sect or the Bukong Sect. They did not have enough imprinting of their family members to mark the perpetrator.
This allowed Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong the freedom to handle Ning Xie as they wished.
Without hesitation, the two opened the furnace and threw Ning Xie inside.
Then, they both activated the Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra together, collaborating to ignite the furnace, granting Ning Xie true peace in death.
"Too hot, too hot." Sun Lingtong concluded the refining process, allowing the furnace to cool.
He used his small palm as a fan, waving it over his flushed, sweat-drenched face.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He took out the Netherworld Envoy · Qi Bai and called to Ning Zhuo: "Little Zhuo, come here."
In the recent battle, Qi Bai had eradicated several renovation team members, using the Soul Devouring Technique multiple times.
"Boss, you go first!" Ning Zhuo quickly came to Sun Lingtong's side.
Sun Lingtong didn't stand on ceremony, controlling Qi Bai to infuse himself with a large amount of soul essence.
"So comfortable, so comfortable!" Sun Lingtong closed his eyes, elated.
"Little Zhuo, your turn, your turn." He absorbed half of the soul essence and then ceded his spot to Ning Zhuo.
Following this, Ning Zhuo also received the nourishment of the soul essence.
Their soul potency, a hundred times over, now approached the twofold mark decisively!
The pair took all the soul essence, feeling rejuvenated.
Once the furnace had completely cooled, they opened it to retrieve a mechanism sphere the size of a millstone.
The sphere's surface was covered with a glassy shell, with a strip of blue crystal forming a belt-like line around its midsection.
At both poles of the sphere, a round blue crystal disk was set.
Inside the shell, white vapors churned incessantly, expanding and contracting intermittently.
The mechanism sphere floated in midair, emitting a faint chill.
Spiritual Wisdom rated at thirty-six percent.
Mechanism — Weather Balloon · Ice Crystal Snow!