Underground secret base.
A gigantic Blood Conversion Pool, suspended like a coffin, hung from the ceiling beam of the room.
A thick metal pipe extended from the Blood Conversion Pool.
The pipe connected to a massive Blood Oil Bottle, filled with murky essence blood, blackish-red in color.
From the bottom of the Blood Oil Bottle, five or six more pipes extended.
These pipes eventually connected to the back of a Mechanical Monkey.
Inside the Mechanical Monkey, Yuan Dasheng's spiritual nature exerted the ninth layer of the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique with full force!
The essence blood was infused from the Blood Oil Bottle into Yuan Dasheng's mechanical body continuously. Then, under the operation of the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique, it transformed into demon-infused essence blood.
Ning Zhuo sat cross-legged opposite Yuan Dasheng.
Between him and Yuan Dasheng, as well as around them, was a simple and somewhat haphazard array.
The array emitted a faint red glow and a slight scent of blood.
The ninth layer of demon-infused essence blood that Yuan Dasheng cultivated was purified through this array and finally entered Ning Zhuo's body.
Ning Zhuo then used the seventh layer of the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique to continue the transformation, removing incompatible essence blood and constantly accumulating cultivation in his essence sea.
Often, out of ten portions of demon-infused essence blood, only two or three would be usable for Ning Zhuo.
But by doing this, Ning Zhuo didn't need to cultivate on his own, saving him a lot of time.
And as long as the scale was large enough, theoretically, the speed of his essence sea cultivation would be very exaggerated!
"It's good to have clan members."
"How can I expand the number of clan members so I can obtain more blood and flesh?"
Ning Zhuo was always pondering this question.
After tasting great success, it became hard for him to extricate himself.
But he didn't lose his rationality.
He was very clear: his large-scale public acquisition of clan members' blood and flesh was already in a very gray area. Just a small step forward, and he would be suspected of practicing demonic cultivation.
He had been too high-profile recently, going against his principle of keeping a low profile.
Now, many people were watching him, waiting for him to make a mistake.
Previously, his large-scale procurement of clan members' blood and flesh was like pulling chestnuts out of the fire, extremely risky. Although he did it under the guise of "puppet research" to inform the public.
Ning Houjun and Ning Youfu, two former elders of side branches, upon hearing of Ning Zhuo's actions, had successively sent people or letters to remind Ning Zhuo to be extremely mindful of his reputation!
The scale could not be expanded further.
If it were expanded further, it would be very easy to be falsely accused and have his reputation tarnished.
And reputation was extremely important for a righteous cultivator!
Crack.
Suddenly, there was a muffled sound from the Mechanical Monkey's left arm, and then it broke off entirely.
Then, as if triggering a chain reaction, fragments of mechanisms burst out from the shoulders, chest, and abdomen of the Mechanical Monkey.
A large amount of essence blood spurted out.
In the rushing blood flow, the Mechanical Monkey couldn't bear the load and shattered into pieces.
Ning Zhuo frowned.
He wasn't surprised or distressed, as the Mechanical Monkey was typically crudely made.
This was already the one hundred and thirty-second one.
The shattered fragments had already formed a small hill.
Ning Zhuo looked up at the ceiling beams.
The two mechanism artifacts, the giant Blood Conversion Pool and the Blood Oil Bottle, hanging there, also showed fine lines and signs of disintegration.
"It's time to properly craft a Mechanical Monkey," Ning Zhuo thought to himself.
Previously, he and Sun Lingtong had cowled crude work, mainly to break through the seventh layer quickly.
After reaching the seventh layer, Ning Zhuo's cultivation of essence, energy, and spirit broke through a bottleneck and could continue to rise.
Now that Ning Zhuo had reached the seventh layer, he needed to focus on the future.
On one hand, he needed a Golden Core-level Mechanical Monkey to fully utilize Yuan Dasheng's spiritual nature, on the other hand, he needed a Mechanical Monkey capable of producing higher quality essence blood.
The combination of both made Ning Zhuo determined to immediately start crafting a new mechanical body for Yuan Dasheng.
He took the initiative to invite Zheng Jian to co-craft the Mechanical Monkey.
Zheng Jian was delighted.
The last time he collaborated with Ning Zhuo, he learned a lot about mechanism knowledge and was quite impressed with Ning Zhuo's expertise.
"What ingenious ideas do you have this time, Brother Ning?" Zheng Jian inquired of Ning Zhuo.
But Ning Zhuo shook his head, "You might be disappointed, Brother Zheng. This time, my mechanism crafting is different from last time..."
After explaining, Zheng Jian indeed showed a disappointed expression.
It turned out that Ning Zhuo didn't intend to disclose the mechanism design; He only needed high-quality materials refined with the aid of the Zheng Family and Zheng Jian's skills.
Zheng Jian hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded, believing his friendship with Ning Zhuo warranted helping to refine materials.
Ning Zhuo took out Redsun Copper.
Zheng Jian was astonished.
"This type of Golden Core-level copper needs extremely high fire to melt."
"No wonder you came to me, Brother Ning."
"But I'm only in the Qi Refinement Realm. Brother Ning might be overestimating me."
Ning Zhuo suggested enlisting other cultivators from the Zheng Family for the task.
Only then did Zheng Jian nod, "As long as you can pay the price, given our friendship, I can surely invite experts from the clan!"
"The price is negotiable." Ning Zhuo seemed straightforward.
The Zheng Family experts invited by Zheng Jian quoted a high price.
Ning Zhuo laughed and haggled, "What if I need more than just Redsun Copper refined?"
He took out a second material.
The Zheng Family experts frowned at it, "This Wanji Xuan Iron requires tedious hammering, at least ten thousand strikes."
"Although it's Golden Core-level material, it demands too much labor."
"I don't have much time for private work. My clan duties are already numerous."
Ning Zhuo produced a third material.
This time, the Zheng Family expert shook his head and indicated it was impossible.
"Unless it's Golden Core Stage, directly refining it."
"I'm just at the Foundation Establishment Stage; I'd need to use the top-tier refining room to have a chance at melting it."
"But currently, the top-tier refining room is occupied."
Ning Zhuo inquired about how long it would be occupied.
"That's uncertain. I advise you not to expect much." The Zheng Family expert was candid.
After leaving the Zheng Family, Ning Zhuo soon contacted Zhou Zeshen.
Zhou Zeshen praised, "Brother Ning, you're indeed bold, aiming at Golden Core-level mechanism artifacts while still in the Qi Refinement Realm. Impressive, impressive!"
"I'm willing to fully assist!"
However, when Ning Zhuo explained the requirements, Zhou Zeshen appeared quite troubled.
"Brother Ning, you want these Golden Core-level materials to be arrayed, such a massive and dense layout, I can't manage that."
"Our Foundation Establishment cultivators can barely handle it, but it requires a lot of manpower, working together."
"Otherwise, the project duration will be very long."
Running the numbers, Zhou Family's high remuneration per person and the increase in numbers made the expense burdensome for Ning Zhuo.
Conversely, Ning Zhuo received positive feedback assigning talisman-making tasks to his ex-stewards.
These Ning Family elite Foundation Establishment cultivators all expressed they could refine various martial arts talismans for Ning Zhuo without charge.
But Ning Zhuo couldn't agree.
Sparing spirit stones was not crucial.
Ning Zhuo did not want to undermine his own rules and the atmosphere he had painstakingly built within his team.
Paying his subordinates was far more valuable than paying the Zheng Family and Zhou Family!
After calculating, Ning Zhuo found that even paying spirit stones, he barely covered a third of the project volume.
"This isn't the Zheng Family or Zhou Family intentionally inflating prices; their prices are actually quite fair in the market."
Materials reaching the Golden Core level made Ning Zhuo's financial reserves suddenly seem much thinner.
The idea of jointly refining mechanisms with various forces was good, but implementing it faced many challenges.
Reflecting on his situation, Ning Zhuo came up with a solution.
"It's time to reveal some information about Meng Chong!"
Through the Turtle Breath Gang, Ning Zhuo clandestinely "leaked" news to the Three Great Families about Meng Chong successfully breaking through and obtaining three to six layers of cultivation techniques.
Zhou Zeshen exclaimed, "Meng Chong is indeed impressive! The City Lord's Mansion is far ahead!"
Zheng Jian clenched his fists, "I must obtain the follow-up techniques. Being stuck at the third layer is unbearable."
The Ning Family Clan Leader and several elders discussed, "The Five Elements Qi Regulation Art left by the Three Ancestral Masters has great potential. Its follow-up techniques are a significant event for our clan."
The elders debated, "Who can take on this task?"
"Ning Xiaohui has left the renovation team."
After a brief discussion, the elders all thought of Ning Zhuo.
The Ning Family needed to acquire the follow-up techniques, and it seemed-indeed-should depend on Ning Zhuo!
With reluctance, the elders continued, "Though personally very repulsed, I have to admit, Ning Zhuo is capable."
"The key is, even if Ning Zhuo obtains the follow-up techniques, will he surrender them to the clan?"
With this concern, the elders fell silent, looking at each other.
After a long silence, someone broke it, looking at the Ning Family Clan Leader, "Ning Zhuo loves money; please, Clan Leader, communicate with him more."
The Ning Family Clan Leader nodded with a grim face, already feeling a headache just thinking about Ning Zhuo.
There were two paths to exploring the Magma Fairy Palace. Entering the palace earned merit points to exchange for various cultivation resources. Soul Entering the palace entailed many trials but could acquire the follow-up techniques of the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art.
And this reward was something that those who entered the palace physically couldn't obtain.
The arrangement by the Three Ancestral Masters was clear: physical entry was for outsiders and guest elders, while Soul Entry was for cultivating their own, never revealing True Transmission Secret Manuals to outsiders.
For the three families, who deeply studied the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art, even at three layers, they recognized its excellence. Their desire for the follow-up techniques always existed, quietly growing.
This desire was precisely what Ning Zhuo discovered and manipulated.
Without needing Ning Zhuo to approach them, Zhou Zeshen and Zheng Jian proactively sought him out.
How many trials were needed to obtain the technique reward was unknown to them.
But they knew Ning Zhuo was strong and at odds with the Ning Family's main line.
If they could invite Ning Zhuo to assist, it would benefit their exploration of the Immortal Palace. Strengthening ties with Ning Zhuo and supporting him would be advantageous in the likely second internal conflict within the Ning Family.
With such mutually beneficial interests, the Zhou Family and Zheng Family eagerly offered discounts to Ning Zhuo!
The problems troubling Ning Zhuo were thus resolved.
The Ning Family's main line learned of Ning Zhuo's cooperation with the Zhou and Zheng Families and fumed with rage.
Many wanted to act, portraying him as a colluder who disregarded the clan's interests, disastrously harming Ning Zhuo's reputation within the clan.
But they were persuaded to hold back.
The Ning Family Clan Leader, holding his nose, summoned Ning Zhuo once again.
Ning Zhuo gladly went.
After returning, the sound of things being smashed was once again heard from the clan leader's study.