For the first time in many days, Ning Zhuo returned to his home.
Looking around, everything was brand new!
The house, the furniture, even the underground chambers, had all been rebuilt.
Ever since Ning Zhuo became the Black Market Master, the speed of the home's reconstruction had skyrocketed, accelerating more than tenfold compared to before!
More critically, the arrays in the house were now interconnected with the Great Array of Fire Persimmon Immortal City, allowing them to leverage the power of the Great Array for formidable defense capabilities.
Previously, Ning Zhuo's home had been destroyed in an explosion. If a similar attack were to occur again, the defensive arrays would ensure that it would not suffer the same fate.
In the small courtyard at home.
Ning Zhuo gathered his classmates from the Renovation Team and began reviewing and purchasing their mechanism artifacts once again, followed by sharing his insights on spellcasting.
Everyone listened intently, except for Ning Ji, who appeared attentive but was actually daydreaming.
When it was time to conclude, Ning Zhuo, in a rare display of earnestness, addressed everyone: "There's something that I'm sure you all have already heard."
"Yes, yesterday I publicly testified that Ning Xiaohui injured me 'accidentally' during the previous battle, and it wasn't intentional."
As soon as Ning Zhuo brought up this topic, everyone's expressions changed dramatically.
Ning Yong clenched his fists in indignation: "Zhuo, was it the main line that forced you? Don't worry, we're all with you!"
As soon as Ning Yong finished speaking, others chimed in.
"Ning Xiaohui was really too much!"
"If it weren't for her interference, we would have already defeated that Mechanical Monkey."
"If worst comes to worst, we'll stir up trouble at the clan hall again!"
Ning Zhuo raised his hand and gestured downward several times, immediately quieting the courtyard.
Ning Zhuo let out a deep sigh: "The internal conflict between the Ning Family's main line and branch lines has come to this!"
"To tell you the truth, the Ning Family Clan Leader personally came to negotiate with me, offering a substantial sum to have me prove Ning Xiaohui's 'innocence.'"
"At first, I was unwilling. But then I thought about the Ning Family, about its reputation."
"If I held onto this grudge against Ning Xiaohui, provoking a feud between the main and branch lines, wouldn't that make us a laughingstock to outsiders?"
"Sigh…"
"As much as Ning Xiaohui wronged me, I cannot let the family's prestige suffer."
"So I accepted the bribe from the Ning Family Clan Leader and even raised the price significantly."
"I publicly testified for Ning Xiaohui, choosing this way to resolve the matter. I'm telling you all this now so that you won't dwell on it anymore and instead focus your energy and time on your own cultivation."
Ning Zhuo's words deeply moved everyone.
"Zhuo, you've sacrificed so much for the family!" Ning Yong exclaimed.
Ning Chen wiped away tears: "Zhuo, you really bear the burden with fortitude. But who can understand your heartfelt intentions?"
Others: "Zhuo, I misjudged you. I thought you were bought off by the main line's money!"
"Zhuo, with such a magnanimous heart, you're prone to suffer losses. Those in the main line should really learn from you."
"No one else commands my respect like this. Zhuo, from now on, I will follow you wholeheartedly!"
Seeing the excited expressions in the courtyard, Ning Zhuo noticed that the Life-hanging Thread above their heads was expanding and becoming more solid.
In an instant, Ning Zhuo was touched, and a sudden flash of inspiration struck his mind.
He suddenly understood: "To strengthen and deepen the Life-hanging Thread, more recognition is needed. The higher the level of recognition, the more solid and stable the Life-hanging Thread becomes."
"This recognition is actually mutual."
"When I understand someone, know their past and present, and anticipate their future, that's recognition."
"Once I recognize them, the Life-hanging Thread is planted. And when the recognized person acknowledges me in return, the Life-hanging Thread gets reinforced."
"Moreover, recognition is not expectation, nor is it submission."
"Recognition is simply recognition!"
The enlightenment that came was sparse, but it was the final piece of the puzzle.
In an instant, the budding form of the Life-hanging Divine Ability began to bloom.
White lotus roots, as translucent as jade; green leaves, vibrant and dripping with color; pink petals, radiant and vivid.
White roots, green leaves, pink petals!
The Life-hanging Divine Ability—it had succeeded!
Complete success, no longer just a prototype, but a fully realized divine power.
Divine power, divine power!
Ning Zhuo was filled with boundless joy, his heart raced.
He was just in the Qi Refinement Realm, yet he had mastered a divine power. What an extraordinary achievement!
If he were to announce it, no one in the Immortal City would believe it.
After all, most Golden Core Cultivators never attain a divine power in their lifetime.
But soon, Ning Zhuo shook his head and reminded himself:
"This doesn't really count for much."
"It's not like I discovered it on my own, I took a shortcut!"
"It's all thanks to the legacy of the Three Ancestral Masters that I advanced so rapidly and finally mastered the complete Life-hanging Divine Ability."
"Also due to my mother's dying words, which set my ambition to take the Magma Fairy Palace. That's the basis for all my recent progress."
"Mother…"
Thinking of his mother, a few strands of grief rose in Ning Zhuo's heart.
"You couldn't have imagined this, could you? Even in the Qi Refinement Realm, your son has mastered a divine power."
Suddenly, in this moment, Ning Zhuo felt vulnerable.
He wanted to share his hard-earned achievement with his mother.
But he couldn't.
His mother was long gone, and he had no memory of his father.
Luckily, he had someone else to share it with.
In the underground base.
Ning Zhuo met with Sun Lingtong again: "Elder Sun, I did it, I did it!"
"I've mastered a complete divine power—the Life-hanging Thread!"
"Really?!" Sun Lingtong's eyes widened, then he joyfully raised his arms, "Haha! Little Zhuo, given your nature, if you say so, it must be true."
"Impressive."
"You're truly impressive!"
"Mastering a divine power at the Qi Refinement Realm, if word gets out, the major sects will definitely fight over you."
"Little Zhuo, you're a genius, a true genius!"
Ning Zhuo laughed heartily a few times, then lowered his head and took a deep breath: "Elder, you flatter me. I know I still have a long way to go."
"This divine power came from the Illusion True Lotus Seed, I just got lucky and happened to obtain them, using them on myself."
Sun Lingtong opened his mouth: "Um, Little Zhuo…"
Ning Zhuo ignored him, continuing to modestly downplay his achievements, gradually calming down.
Sun Lingtong watched him with a smile the entire time, gazing at the genius young cultivator he had nurtured since childhood.
Suddenly, Sun Lingtong had an epiphany: Ning Zhuo's humility had taken root deep within him, becoming a part of his nature, a powerful tool for quickly adjusting his mindset.
Only when Ning Zhuo stopped rambling did Sun Lingtong speak: "Come on, tell me about the wonderful applications of the Life-hanging Divine Ability, young man!"
Ning Zhuo scratched his head and giggled: "With the complete divine power, I can feel a qualitative change."
"A qualitative change in every aspect!"
"It's hard to explain with just words. How about this, Elder Sun, let me demonstrate for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Zhuo used the Life-hanging Thread to transmit some information to Sun Lingtong. Sun Lingtong instantly received the message.
Just like the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit conveying crucial information to the trial disciples through the Life-hanging Thread, Ning Zhuo could now do the same.
Ning Zhuo then cast a supportive spell.
The spell traveled along the Life-hanging Thread, directly enhancing Sun Lingtong.
Sun Lingtong's hair stood on end, his body swelled, growing at least thirteen times its original size, his muscles knotted, while his face remained unchanged, still a baby face.
Sun Lingtong: …
Ning Zhuo directly controlled the Life-hanging Thread.
Sun Lingtong tiptoed, his buttocks raised, and started dancing involuntarily.
Sun Lingtong: ?!
"Alright, alright, the divine power is indeed powerful, no need to test any further, Little Zhuo." Sun Lingtong felt something was amiss and stopped Ning Zhuo prematurely.
Ning Zhuo let out a sound of regret, and quickly said: "Elder, let me try one more thing, just one more time, I promise!"
Sun Lingtong sighed: "You're impossible, hurry up then."
Ning Zhuo giggled, focused on Sun Lingtong for a moment, then took a second look.
"Finished?" Sun Lingtong asked, baffled.
Ning Zhuo nodded: "Yes, done."
He continued to explain: "Elder, you might not have felt it. Just now, I removed the Life-hanging Thread and set a new one on you."
Sun Lingtong suddenly realized: "Does this mean you can use it in actual combat?"
Ning Zhuo nodded emphatically: "It seems so, for now."
"The range, time, and difficulty of setting the Life-hanging Thread have all drastically decreased."
"Of course, the most crucial factor is still the level of mutual recognition."
Sun Lingtong clapped his hands in joy, then frowned: "Mutual recognition?"
Ning Zhuo didn't hide anything, sharing all his understanding and insights about the Life-hanging Divine Ability with Sun Lingtong.
After listening, Sun Lingtong felt he had gained much.
"Little Zhuo, you have great comprehension!" Sun Lingtong sincerely praised.
Ning Zhuo: "I still have a long way to go. Compared to true geniuses, I'm nothing."
Sun Lingtong: …
In the Ning Family Clan Land.
The door to the cultivation secret room opened, and Grandma Ning Xiaohui entered, her expression full of pity.
"Xiaohui, my dear Xiaohui, have some food. You can't go on without eating or drinking."
Ning Xiaohui, emaciated, slowly turned around, her expression numb: "Grandma, why did I hurt Ning Zhuo? I don't understand, why would I do such a thing!"
Seeing her granddaughter so anguished, Grandma Ning Xiaohui felt her heart shatter.
She hurried to Ning Xiaohui's side, opened her arms, and comforted her beloved granddaughter.
Ning Xiaohui curled up in her grandmother's embrace, crying for a long while before calming down.
"Xiaohui, I've discussed it with the Clan Leader." Her grandmother said gently, "We don't need to enter the Immortal Palace's soul trial anymore. Nothing good comes from associating too closely with Ning Zhuo and the branch lines!"
"Starting tomorrow, you will join the family team and enter the Immortal Palace together."
Ning Xiaohui looked up at her grandmother. After a long time, she nodded slightly and softly replied: "Okay."
Only then did Grandma Ning Xiaohui let out a sigh of relief, feeling a bit more at ease.
"Ning Zhuo!" Grandma Ning Xiaohui gritted her teeth, "You've made my granddaughter suffer so much, one day I will make you pay back a hundredfold!"