"If you want to practice in private, don't hesitate to contact each other and arrange sparring sessions. It will be more effective."
Ning Zhuo thought for a moment, "How about this: I will rent a training ground in the clan's territory for a long term, just for your use."
"You can go there, show your waist tokens, state your names, and use it for free."
Upon hearing this, everyone cheered joyously.
Ning Zhuo offered this convenience and displayed various impressive spells to inspire his peers to practice earnestly.
This would be extremely beneficial for them.
Because after the second Dao gate, they needed to use the Five Elements Generating technique to select the Five Elements Spiritual Conversion Disk.
Young cultivators being proficient in the previous five elements magic would greatly benefit at this stage.
With a solid foundation, they would find the Five Elements Generating technique easier to master, and consequently, they could obtain higher-quality Five Elements Spiritual Conversion Disks.
Such advantages were accumulated step by step.
"The foundation of my power is the branch members of the Ning Family. And the core of this power isn't the former elders in the Foundation Establishment Stage, nor Ning Youfu and Ning Houjun, but these people here."
Although others had higher cultivation levels, they were already set in their ways.
Ning Zhuo knew very well that the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art was the future!
He had already obtained the ninth level of the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art. Although he wasn't very knowledgeable about the Ice Heart Technique, the overall value of the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art, in terms of external effects, far surpassed the Ice Heart Technique.
The Ice Heart Technique was only better in ice magic and mental state compared to the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art.
Yet, the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art was merely one of the Three Superior Sect Techniques.
This group of people had a future; they admired Ning Zhuo, grew alongside him, learned together, and had bonds of old friendships. They were young, driven, and idealistic, unlike the older ones who had experienced too much and were harder to motivate.
Just like now, Ning Zhuo only needed to display the magnificent attacks of the five elements magic to captivate them.
Ning Zhuo merely needed to rent a training ground for free use, and they were already immensely grateful.
The clever part was that by controlling the other two cultivation techniques, Ning Zhuo could firmly manage their cultivation levels.
Those whom Ning Zhuo found promising, with sufficient talent and proven loyalty and abilities, would be secretly taught the other two cultivation techniques by him.
Even if they only received the first three levels and not the complete techniques, it would still greatly benefit their Foundation Establishment.
Through these techniques, Ning Zhuo could control them, provided that the Magma Fairy Palace's side remained undisclosed.
Ning Zhuo continued to forge ahead.
He effortlessly performed various spells. What he had previously concealed, he now began to reveal.
His peers were continually amazed.
"I feel like I don't need to be here at all!"
"Brother Zhuo is too strong; he doesn't really need us."
"This is my easiest venture into the Immortal Palace."
"No, we are still useful. At least we handed over our Spirit Stone rewards to Brother Zhuo."
"Brother Zhuo, when will you merge them? I still want to try!"
When everyone was idle, they couldn't help but reminisce about the times they had assembled puppet bodies together to pass the trials.
In those situations, they at least had some sense of participation. But now, they had all become spectators behind Ning Zhuo, only responsible for cheering and praising him.
Many felt empty and ashamed of not contributing.
The eighth pass, the ninth pass...
The transfer station, the first Dao gate...
At the third gate of the Dao gate, the Golden Blooded War Ape - Dasheng blocked their way.
Ning Zhuo led everyone in battle against Yuan Dasheng.
The fight was extremely intense.
From the beginning, Ning Zhuo's side was at a disadvantage.
Yuan Dasheng rampaged, showing a tremendous sense of oppression.
Ning Zhuo delivered most of the firepower, while his peers charged forward one after another, fearlessly entangling Yuan Dasheng.
"Quick, tangle up this mechanical monkey!"
"Even if it costs us our lives, as long as we hold him for a few breaths, Brother Zhuo's spell can hit the monkey."
"The mechanical monkey is too slippery and fast. But if we sacrifice ourselves to tangle him, we have a chance to win!"
The peers laughed heroically as they sacrificed themselves.
Ning Zhuo's spells struck Yuan Dasheng's body, also injuring his peers, killing them.
His peers laughed heartily before their "deaths," genuinely happy to provide Ning Zhuo with any help.
Though it wasn't true death, this willingness to contribute and the burgeoning camaraderie around Ning Zhuo were already evident.
In the end, with only two or three people left and having depleted over ninety percent of his Spirit Stone reserves, Yuan Dasheng suddenly ceased fighting.
He let out a low roar, and under the astonished gazes of the Ning Family members, he slowly retreated, pushed open the door, and left for the previous pass.
"Did that mechanical monkey just retreat on its own?"
Everyone felt like they were in a dream.
"Brother Zhuo, leave it there!" Someone shouted.
Ning Zhuo shook his head, "I am already at the end of my strength, don't chase a cornered enemy."
Only when Yuan Dasheng pushed the door fully open and truly left did the remaining Ning Family youths realize.
"We won?!"
"We did it, we drove back that mechanical monkey!!"
"My heavens, we've succeeded."
Ning Zhuo shook his head once more, "My Spirit Stones are almost completely consumed; this victory was very precarious."
However, the others did not think so at all.
They looked at Ning Zhuo excitedly, praising him with admiration in their eyes.
"Brother Zhuo, Leader, we did it!"
"Even the Three-Family Alliance couldn't drive away that mechanical monkey, but we forced it to retreat!!"
"In fact, last time we almost succeeded. It's just that Ning Xiaohui stopped me..." Ning Zhuo shook his head, fully seizing the chance to deepen the conflicts between the main and branch lines.
"That time was indeed unfortunate!"
"But I much prefer this kind of success."
"Yeah, yeah, now I can't wait to go out and boast. We defeated the mechanical monkey!"
Ning Zhuo shook his head again, "We didn't completely defeat it; it voluntarily retreated."
"I think this must be the Immortal Palace's design."
"As long as our strength is within a certain range and we inflict a certain amount of damage on the mechanical monkey, it will retreat voluntarily."
"Let's keep moving forward."
Ning Zhuo's calm demeanor made everyone suppress their inner excitement and wholeheartedly follow him forward.
After driving back the mechanical monkey, Ning Zhuo didn't show the slightest hint of a smile. His leader-like demeanor deeply impressed the remaining crowd.
Little did they know, Ning Zhuo was calculating the repair costs for the Golden Blooded War Ape - Dasheng.
This mechanical body was still a mystery to Ning Zhuo.
Repairing the Golden Blooded War Ape - Dasheng required materials and tools provided in the trial's stages.
Ning Zhuo worried that overusing external materials might be considered foreign objects by the Magma Fairy Palace, possibly leading to rejection.
In short, repairing the Golden Blooded War Ape - Dasheng was an undoubtedly troublesome task for now.
With the Golden Blooded War Ape - Dasheng gone, the way ahead was smooth.
Not long after, Ning Zhuo led the survivors to the second transfer hall, the place where Meng Chong had arrived.
They saw only one door.
He touched the second Dao gate and exclaimed, "It's the follow-up cultivation technique!"
Then, the others rushed forward to touch the door.
After obtaining the cultivation technique, they compared notes and found that they were all the same.
"We did it!"
"We got the follow-up cultivation technique!"
"So, Meng Chong only made it this far. The renovation team from the City Lord's Mansion also obtained the follow-up cultivation technique not too long ago."
Everyone was exhilarated.
On one hand, they had been stuck at the third level of Qi Refinement for days and finally had a follow-up cultivation technique, making their excitement indescribable.
On the other hand, they finally saw the backs of the leading figures and were surprised to find that Meng Chong and his group weren't far ahead of them!
At this moment, their morale was thus ignited.
"Without cultivation at the peak of the sixth level, we can't push this door open."
"No wonder the renovation team from the City Lord's Mansion is burying their heads in cultivation!"
"Hurry back, make the most of the time, I need to frantically train!!"
"Everyone," Ning Zhuo suddenly said, "Please keep the follow-up cultivation technique strictly confidential and let me handle all external negotiations, agreed?"
The survivors had no objections.
They expressed that this exploration's great success was all owed to Ning Zhuo, and they had merely played a minor role in the final fierce battle.
They left everything to Ning Zhuo to handle.
When Ning Zhuo and his group, carrying the follow-up cultivation technique, returned to their bodies and came back to the clan's territory, the entire Ning Family's upper echelon was astir!
"Is it really true?!"
"This youngster Ning Zhuo... is indeed impressive."
The Clan Leader and several elders of the main line hadn't expected such an occurrence.
Ning Zhuo was a newly emerging talent in the family, whose potential had yet to be tested, but he had repeatedly excelled in exploring the Magma Fairy Palace.
This achievement solidified Ning Zhuo's position.
Even the main line of the Ning Family had to admit that Ning Zhuo was the pillar of the renovation team, the true core figure!
The main line and Clan Leader of the Ning Family felt conflicted.
Normally, they would have already started suppressing geniuses from the branch line until they gave in.
But now, Ning Zhuo wielded the influence of the Magma Fairy Palace, forcing them to accommodate and appease him.
Previously, underestimating Ning Zhuo had led to a misstep, causing the fall of the Young Clan Leader and his imprisonment.
Now, Ning Family Ancestor Ning Jiufan had publicly acknowledged Ning Zhuo's talent.
Moreover, Ning Zhuo also controlled the black market and had many Foundation Establishment elites under his command.
"His influence is too strong to control. Ning Zhuo must have a high mentor behind him!"
"Those two old folks from the branch line must play a significant role..."
The Clan Leader and main line of the Ning Family were anxious.
But they couldn't do anything else.
Ning Zhuo actively sought an audience with the Clan Leader of the Ning Family and, as per their previous agreement, handed over the follow-up cultivation technique.
He made a request, "Next, I will focus on my cultivation. I've heard that the clan possesses a Flowing Clouds and Streaming Water Talisman with spiritual nature, which aids in joint cultivation. Its effects are excellent."
"As per our agreement, I ask the Clan Leader to bestow this talisman upon me."
The Clan Leader of the Ning Family nodded slightly, "Okay."
"The Flowing Clouds and Streaming Water Talisman is with Ning Xiaohui. I will have someone retrieve it today. Come by tomorrow, and I will give it to you."
Ning Zhuo added, "My cultivation speed is already fast, and with the additional support of this talisman, it's like adding wings to a tiger."
"But rapid cultivation also has its downsides."
"May I ask, Clan Leader, if the clan has any means to purify mana?"
The Clan Leader of the Ning Family felt there was no need to hide and straightforwardly replied, "We do have a talisman called the Mysterious Ice Purifying Snow Talisman."
"This talisman, like the Flowing Clouds and Streaming Water Talisman, contains some natural spiritual nature. When used, it freezes the cultivator. No matter which dantian is primarily cultivated, it freezes the impurities and eradicates them."
Among hundreds of cultivation arts, the Mechanical Techniques were considered esoteric and low-ranking.
Mechanical Techniques could harness spiritual nature, and naturally, other cultivation arts involving spiritual nature were not rare either.
The Clan Leader of the Ning Family advised that these two talismans were very precious and that the number of uses should be strictly limited to prevent depletion of their spiritual nature.
Ning Zhuo thought of the Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra.
"I wonder if I could use this sutra to augment the spiritual nature of these two talismans?"