Ning Jiufan took the initiative and said, "Fellow Daoists, why don't we go to my place for a cup of tea first?"
"Sure, sure," Zheng Danlian nodded.
Ning Jiufan looked at Zhu Xuanji: "Divine Hunter, the previous alliance was arranged too hastily. Why don't we discuss it over tea?"
Zhu Xuanji smiled faintly: "Then Zhu must impose on you."
...
Ning Zhuo sat cross-legged on a meditation mat, surrounded by layers of floating clouds.
The Magic Artifact, Dragon Tornado Windmill, closely adhered to his chest, slowly rotating.
Under the effect of the Magic Artifact, a tornado formed in Ning Zhuo's Middle Dantian Qi Sea.
The tornado swept around the surrounding Mana, absorbing it and continually grinding and refining it in the wind.
Numerous impurities were eradicated, the coarse parts were cleared away, leaving behind a purer portion.
Ning Zhuo was currently at the peak of the eighth level of the Qi Refinement Realm, with a vast Qi Sea and excessive Mana.
He continued to activate the Magic Artifact for a while, only then did he feel some relief in his Middle Dantian.
Originally, he had ten parts of Mana, but after refining, only six parts remained.
Of course, these six parts of Mana were still somewhat coarse, but the degree was much less than before and could still be further refined.
"But this requires me to find another method; relying solely on the Dragon Tornado Windmill can only achieve this much," Ning Zhuo understood this clearly.
The increase and purification of Mana, corresponding to quantity and quality, were issues that cultivators encountered throughout their lifelong cultivation.
Ning Zhuo cultivated with the Essence, Qi, and Divine simultaneously, and the situation in his Middle Dantian Qi Sea was relatively the best, with the aid of the Dragon Tornado Windmill.
As for the Essence Sea and the Divine Sea, he could only constantly consume Blood Qi and Divine Sense, then operate the cultivation technique to produce new Blood Qi and Divine Sense, using this cumbersome method to purify them.
"I should buy some Pure One Elixirs," Ning Zhuo thought to himself.
This type of elixir was the most classic and popular for refining one's cultivation level.
It was suitable for the Essence, Qi, and Divine.
Regardless of which of the Three Elixir Fields it was, it could be effective and perform the corresponding purification.
Having diligently practiced for a while, Ning Zhuo's mood became slightly irritable, so he stopped the cultivation of the Three Superior Sect Techniques.
He took out the Five Elements Measuring Ruler and divided his Five Elements Mana into five individual streams, repeatedly practicing the Five Elements Generating and Conquering Technique.
Ever since he obtained this technique, he had been continuously practicing it. The practice was the most extensive among all the techniques.
Ning Zhuo made visible progress in this regard.
After practicing the technique for a while, Ning Zhuo turned back and resumed cultivating the Three Superior Sect Techniques.
Going back and forth like this, Ning Zhuo felt his body reach the limit for operating the techniques, only then did he finally stop.
He no longer practiced the Five Elements Generating and Conquering Technique, put away the Floating Cloud Handkerchief, and concealed the Cloud Concealed Bud in his mouth, displaying the appearance of having three levels of cultivation.
He left his residence, accompanied by four Foundation Establishment Guards, and went to the Ning Family Clan Land.
"I need to consult some texts," Ning Zhuo arrived at the Secretary's Tower.
The Ning Family's Library was open to the public, while the Secretary's Tower was a higher level, aimed at the family elite.
Ning Zhuo, at this moment, undoubtedly had the qualification.
He entered the Secretary's Tower and searched around, accompanied by the four Foundation Establishment Guards, each with a peculiar expression.
Because Ning Zhuo was consulting texts related to dual cultivation.
"Hahaha, after all, Young Master Ning Zhuo is already sixteen,"
"Yes, he is transitioning from a boy to a man,"
"However, back then, I started reading these at eleven,"
The four Foundation Establishment Cultivators communicated privately through sound transmission.
Ning Zhuo spent several hours consulting, then walked out of the Secretary's Tower with a furrowed brow and a look of deep thought on his face.
On the way back home, he sat in the carriage, pondering all the way.
After this consultation, he gained a deeper understanding of dual cultivation.
"The most mainstream method of dual cultivation is the union of yin and yang,"
"The male is predominant with yang, the female with yin, the convergence of yin and yang generates the power of two essences, which can enhance the body and boost cultivation."
"But this method has significant drawbacks,"
"As Elder Sun said, using someone else's energy during cultivation leads to impurities within one's own Qi,"
"If one wishes not to affect the foundation and future, purification must be done to remove the foreign energy,"
"Therefore, after dual cultivation, one must go through a purification process. Without good methods, the results of dual cultivation will be minor and not as beneficial as solitary cultivation."
Ning Zhuo also understood that the union of Origin Yang and Origin Yin would produce the optimal results in dual cultivation.
However, doing so would mean that the other person's energy would be deeply ingrained in one's core, making it impossible to completely remove it, thus the best course was to form a Dao partner with the other person.
"No wonder so many people become Dao partners!"
"However, once a Dao partner dies, the other's cultivation will suffer a massive negative impact,"
"The risk is too high!"
"It is not worth it."
Ning Zhuo preferred solitary cultivation over exchanging his Origin Yang for temporary rapid advancement, which would bury immense hidden dangers for the future.
"My previous dual cultivation was just a shallow union of Yin Qi and Yang Qi, which was not problematic,"
"The acquired foreign Qi, after thorough purification, can be entirely eliminated,"
"Additionally, dual cultivation with nature, aligning with the cosmos, is another method with fewer foreign elements,"
Cultivators inhaled the Qi of the heavens and earth, absorbing the Yang energy of the sun and the Yin energy of the moon; this was of such kind.
"Even celestial alignment requires self-purification,"
"Is there a way for me to dual cultivate with myself? In doing so, there would be no need for subsequent purification."
Ning Zhuo's thought process was as follows: since dual cultivation with others resulted in foreign Qi as a side effect, dual cultivation with himself could fundamentally eliminate the side effect, requiring no purification or methods like the Dragon Tornado Windmill or Pure One Elixir.
This was completely feasible in theory.
Normal personal cultivation was essentially the movement of Yang Qi to generate Yin, and the stillness of Yin Qi to produce Yang, thus achieving the harmony of Yin and Yang.
Male was predominant with Yang, possessing more Yang Qi than Yin Qi, using Yang Qi to generate Yin Qi.
Female was predominant with Yin, possessing more Yin Qi than Yang Qi, using Yin Qi to generate Yang Qi.
"Is there a way to extract my own Yin Qi, place it in a mechanism component, let it operate through a specific method and increase the Yin Qi?"
"When I need to dual cultivate, I would just extract this Yin Qi."
"Since the Yin Qi originated from my body, it would be in harmony with me. Thus, after dual cultivation, there would be no need for purification!"
Ning Zhuo instinctively thought of mechanism artifacts.
Undeniably, the previous dual cultivation had significantly inspired and touched Ning Zhuo.
Before this, he intended to create a Golden Core rank mechanism body for Yuan Dasheng, assisting him in making a breakthrough in his demonic cultivation.
Ning Zhuo envisioned an enticing design for a mechanism—one that could assist cultivators in speeding up their cultivation!
"I have already figured out the path for Yuan Dasheng,"
"By utilizing the blood and flesh voluntarily contributed by clansmen, and with Yuan Dasheng's ability to perform the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique, I could obtain an endless supply of Essence Blood."
"After purification, this Essence Blood would be extra cultivation strength for me!"
"As for Yin and Yang Dual Cultivation..."
Ning Zhuo was still contemplating.
The biggest technical challenge lay in how to allow Yin Qi to increase independently!
"How about creating a puppet, refining its spirituality, letting it use the techniques learned in life to increase Yin Qi?"
"If there is no suitable candidate to turn into a puppet, I would need to find a true scripture dedicated to increasing Yin Qi,"
"No, that won't work,"
"I cultivate the Three Superior Sect Techniques. If the puppet used another method to increase Yin Qi, the Qi wouldn't naturally align with mine and would require subsequent purification."
"Unless..."
"I could create a fourth technique based on the Three Superior Sect Techniques, specifically to increase Yin Qi!"
With this thought, Ning Zhuo shook his head immediately.
The method of cultivating the Three Elixir Fields simultaneously was already extremely rare and precious. Based on his understanding of Yin and Yang and the Three Superior Sect Techniques, it was impossible to create a fourth technique.
"This path is not workable," Ning Zhuo sighed, continuing to immerse himself in thought.
...
Ning Jiufan and Zhu Xuanji's tea session had already reached the third round.
With the Mechanical Demon General in his hand as a significant bargaining chip, Ning Jiufan demanded that Zhu Xuanji promise to protect the entire Ning Family. Even if they failed to contest the Magma Fairy Palace in the future, they needed assurance of relocation to another Immortal City.
The even wiser move by Ning Jiufan was to draw the Zhou Family and Zheng Family into the negotiation. Beyond the exchange of interests, Ning Jiufan hoped Zhu Xuanji would extend the same promise to these two families!
Zhu Xuanji pondered for a long time, calculating the expenses multiple times before finally nodding in agreement with immense difficulty.
Thus, under the great joy of the three Golden Core families, they immediately signed a higher-tier alliance with Zhu Xuanji!
Zhu Xuanji paid a hefty price but finally obtained the Mechanical Demon General.
"Submitting this will significantly elevate my status in the Magma Fairy Palace, an equivalent leap!"
"Alas, I have made a huge gamble!"
Zhu Xuanji bet on his own victory.
In doing so, at the critical moment of competing for the Immortal Palace, he would gain full support from the three major families. Later, after defeating the Meng Family, he wouldn't need to arrange the relocation of the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families.
The appearance of the Mechanical Demon General was fierce and rugged, but its internal mechanism was meticulously precise, resembling a human body's intricacies.
Due to multiple severe damages, the mechanism couldn't be activated.
So, Zhu Xuanji's upcoming crucial task was to perform the maintenance.
When Zhu Xuanji eventually held the Mechanical Demon General in his hand and carefully inspected it, his face changed dramatically, his heart sinking to the bottom.
He stared at a sheet of mechanism iron.
The Blood Path Diagram Plate!
"This piece of the mechanism diagram is smooth; once, it must have had a true scripture recorded on it."
"Where did the true scripture go?"
The true scripture was inscribed and infused with true meaning.
Compared to ordinary script, it perfectly conveyed the profound mysteries and the exact intent of the original author, without the slightest loss in transmission.
The way that can be spoken of is not the constant way.
Words and language often fail to capture the essence and depth.
But the true scripture wouldn't fail in this regard!
"Because true scripture contains true meaning, it will transfer on its own as soon as a more suitable host appears."
"Let me see..."
Zhu Xuanji activated his divine Golden Eyes and employed the Trace Origin Technique.
The next moment, he saw an image from the past.
The battlefield was in chaos.
The Mechanical Demon General was rampaging through hordes of demon beasts under the control of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, heedless of its own life.
Ultimately, it was caught in a flaw, defeated, and fell to the ground.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit quickly retreated.
The Mechanical Demon General became a spoil of war, passed through several hands. But none could comprehend the true scripture.
Until a young little monkey inadvertently touched the Mechanical Demon General while playing.
The true scripture on the diagram plate was triggered, immediately transferring from the iron plate into the young monkey's body!
"Wait."
"This little monkey looks familiar!"
"Strange."
"Why do I have a vague familiarity with it?"
Zhu Xuanji looked puzzled.