Magma Fairy Palace.
Main Hall.
"Ah!" The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit suddenly screamed, waking up from a nightmare.
Instinctively, it reached out and touched its head.
"Still there!"
It relaxed, realizing it hadn't been destroyed.
It survived!
A being like it had no real vital points. So, being beheaded and having its limbs severed were almost the same.
The difference was in the amount.
If too much of its spiritual nature was lost, once it reached a critical limit, the remaining spiritual nature would collapse and dissipate. Unless, in the countdown to its demise, it could continue to replenish its spiritual nature from external sources.
At this moment, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's body had shrunk by one-third, leaving only sixty to seventy percent of its previous size.
Moreover, it emitted a bright glow, much more vibrant than before. This actually proved its weakness.
Previously, its foundation was deep, and its firelight was intense but restrained, giving a solid and heavy sensation. Now, although its body shone brightly, there was an air of lightness and fragility.
Just then, a voice calling out like distant smoke drifted into the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit's heart.
"Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit of the Immortal Palace, only you can ignite the flames in my heart."
"The blaze of the Fire-Walking Jiao Dragon, essence condensed from heaven and earth, burn everything to ashes, transforming into spiritual light."
"With a heart of sincerity and a sense of solemnity, I call upon you. Respond, respond..."
"Your requests can all be discussed. I am a member of the Meng Family. Please answer my call, respond to my voice..."
This was the Meng Family cultivators, consistently and persistently trying to contact the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit.
At the same time.
Ning Zhuo's voice also came quietly. He was more straightforward: "Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit..."
"Ah!" the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit yelled, shaking its head vigorously, "So annoying! So annoying!"
It retracted its dragon head into its turtle shell on the armrest of the throne.
It roared in its heart.
"What Meng Family? I don't care about them. The only one I have my eye on is Meng Chong!"
"What Ning Zhuo, lesser lord? Bah!"
"The Historical Records Pavilion could be destroyed, thanks to me. What use are you?"
"All you do is act!"
"Once Zhu Xuanji fixes his gaze on you, you become demoralized and useless!"
"I've figured it out. None of you are worth it!"
"I still have to rely on myself."
Ning Zhuo couldn't call out to the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit.
He followed closely behind Ning Jiufan.
Ning Jiufan, being followed so closely, seemed somewhat unaccustomed and stopped to look at him: "What are you doing following me so closely, you brat?"
Ning Zhuo cupped his hands, his face pale: "Ancestor, ancestor, I'm afraid."
Earlier, after confessing his crimes to the Golden Core Cultivators, Ning Zhuo had drawn Ning Jiufan's harsh scolding.
But it was just scolding.
After all, even Zhu Xuanji had forgiven and accepted Ning Zhuo, allowing him to make amends for his crimes. The three Golden Core Cultivators couldn't say much.
Except for Ning Jiufan.
According to the rules of the Righteous Path, as the head of the Ning Family, Ning Jiufan naturally had the authority to deal with Ning Zhuo, one of the Ning Family members.
But Ning Jiufan only scolded him, didn't even hit him. Although his tone was extremely stern, any slightly senior Righteous Path cultivator could understand Ning Jiufan's protective intent.
After Zhu Xuanji left, the Golden Core Cultivators discussed for a while and decided to act separately.
Ning Zhuo followed closely behind Ning Jiufan.
Ning Zhuo said: "Ancestor, I am in great danger."
"Ning Xiaohui's death is just around the corner. She was of the main family line, secretly working for Lord Zhu Xuanji, and under the protection of many Golden Core Cultivators..."
"With such protection, she still died!"
"This Bukong Sect is too terrifying, too evil."
"I have now defected to the righteous side, and they have definitely noticed. I don't want to die. I beg you, show great mercy and save me!"
Ning Jiufan snorted coldly: "You don't understand the situation at that time."
"The Historical Records Pavilion was the primary target. Demon Beasts swarmed, and it was difficult to defend in a rush."
"But if not for the bombardment of the Five Elements Turret, we would have succeeded!"
Ning Zhuo spread his hands: "The Historical Records Pavilion is in ruins. This small body of mine is too weak to withstand such calamity."
Ning Jiufan, infuriated, flicked his fingers and gave Ning Zhuo a knock on the head.
"Ouch." Ning Zhuo clutched his head and cried out in pain.
"When did the Ning Family produce such a coward? Where is the spirit of our North Wind Country?" Ning Jiufan scolded angrily.
Ning Zhuo looked at Ning Jiufan with hopeful eyes: "Ancestor, look at what you're saying! If I weren't afraid of death, I might have been killed by Bukong Sect's demon cultivators long ago."
"And as for the spirit of the North Wind Country, what is that? When I was born, our Ning Family had already migrated to Southern Bean Country. Isn't our clan the one driven out of North Wind Country?"
Ning Jiufan immediately huffed and puffed, repeatedly knocking on Ning Zhuo's head, muttering: "It was our clan that voluntarily withdrew, voluntarily withdrew!"
Ning Zhuo stepped back, dodging Ning Jiufan's hits: "Ancestor, ancestor, stop it, or I'll become dumb."
Ning Jiufan chuckled coldly: "You still think you're not dumb? You're too cunning. You concealed your crimes. Zhu Xuanji barely had to press you before you confessed and defected."
"You should be a bit dumber; it would do you good."
"You are called Ning Zhuo. Where has your clumsiness gone?"
Ning Zhuo let out an "ah" as if realizing something: "Ancestor, you mean that Zhu Xuanji was testing me? He only suspected me and had no actual evidence?"
Ning Jiufan sneered: "What do you think? Did you see him produce any evidence?"
Ning Zhuo widened his eyes, incredulous: "Then... this... Lord Zhu was too cunning!"
Ning Jiufan coldly snorted again.
Ning Zhuo blinked repeatedly, looked at Ning Jiufan, and rubbed his hands: "Actually, I was mostly worried. I was afraid, but more importantly, I didn't want to bring shame to the Ning Family or trouble you, Ancestor."
"Heh." Ning Jiufan's lips twitched.
He still couldn't resist being amused by Ning Zhuo's shameless demeanor.
Ning Zhuo's collusion with Bukong Sect's demon cultivators wasn't a big deal to Ning Jiufan.
He knew that the Righteous Path often used demon cultivators as pawns, occasionally playing the role of demon cultivators themselves.
Ning Zhuo's situation was merely that of a young, weakling being subtly controlled by demon sect cultivators.
Even if he participated in some Immortal Palace bombing plots, the Magma Fairy Palace still stood, didn't it?
No big deal!
Now that Ning Zhuo had been exposed and had broken free from Bukong Sect's control, it was a great blessing.
Ning Zhuo's unexpected defection to Zhu Xuanji surely put Ning Jiufan in a passive position.
But after all, one's own child must be protected.
Even if they made mistakes, who among the young didn't?
Just close the door and educate him properly. Once well-educated, when the door opens, Ning Zhuo will still be a Ning Family member and potentially a pillar in the future.
Ning Xiaohui was already dead, leaving Ning Zhuo as the only genius in the Qi Refinement Realm of the Ning Family.
If Ning Zhuo died or defected to the Evil Sect, the Ning Family would lose an entire generation.
This would be detrimental to the Ning Family.
Ning Jiufan was deeply saddened by Ning Xiaohui's death. Ice-jade Hands... This sorrow only strengthened his resolve to protect Ning Zhuo.
Zhu Xuanji returned earlier than expected.
He reassembled all the Golden Core Cultivators.
"I have reached an alliance with Meng Kui City Lord. I am here to inform you of this good news."
As he spoke, Zhu Xuanji fixed his gaze on Ning Zhuo.
Among the Golden Core Cultivators, Ning Zhuo, being in the Qi Refinement Realm, was indeed out of place.
Seeing Zhu Xuanji looking at him, Ning Zhuo quickly bowed: "Greetings, Lord Zhu!"
He displayed impeccable respect and etiquette.
Ning Jiufan spoke: "Now, Ning Zhuo is the only genius left among the younger generation of our Ning Family. During this period, he will stay by my side."
"He committed a grave mistake. I will enforce the family laws and punish him severely!"
Zhu Xuanji nodded slightly, tacitly agreeing that Ning Zhuo could stay.
The Divine Hunter secretly sighed.
From Ning Jiufan's response, he sensed the Ning Family's Golden Core's dissatisfaction.
Ning Xiaohui was dead.
She had been working for Zhu Xuanji, and to some extent, had been used as bait and sacrificed.
Heartbroken, Ning Jiufan was now set on protecting Ning Zhuo, and understandably so.
At this moment, Zhu Xuanji became more convinced that not performing a Soul Search on Ning Zhuo was the right choice!
If a Soul Search had resulted in Ning Zhuo, the genius, being crippled, Ning Jiufan would have erupted.
"The Ning Family differs from the Zhou Family and Zheng Family."
"They wandered here from the North Wind Country. It is said that the Ning Family left North Wind Country due to dissatisfaction with its rule, decisively giving up interests and connections. Such fierceness cannot be underestimated."
As the thought flashed through his mind, Zhu Xuanji officially announced that the two sides would now cooperate closely. No matter which family's cultivator secured positions in the Immortal Palace, they would retain them!
This announcement brought joy to the three families' Golden Core Cultivators.
Ning Zhuo felt a sense of wonder.
After exposing Sun Lingtong, he had predicted that Zhu Xuanji and Meng Kui would ally.
He hadn't expected Zhu Xuanji and Meng Kui to cooperate to such an extent!
"No!" Ning Zhuo suddenly realized, "This wasn't Zhu Xuanji's initiative."
"He had already allied with the three families. There was no need for him to offer future chips for wooing."
"Since it wasn't him, then it was Meng Kui."
"Why did Meng Kui make such a proposal to bring the three families closer?"
"Interesting!"
Ning Zhuo's eyes flashed with brilliance: "It's possible that among the three families' Golden Core Cultivators present, someone has already secretly contacted Meng Kui."
"Who could it be?"
Ning Zhuo first thought of the Zheng Family.
Before, Zhu Xuanji wooed the three families, and they formed a close alliance. It was a masterful move.
But then, the ploy with the Demon Dao True Scripture, set by Ning Zhuo, triggered a chaotic Golden Core battle. The Zheng Family killed a Taiqing Palace disciple, causing a rift between Zhu Xuanji and the Zheng Family.
"The Zheng Family now faces immense pressure from Taiqing Palace. The royal family has yet to make a statement."
"The Zheng Family might desperately seek help due to this pressure. Aligning with the Meng Family would be reasonable."
"Besides, the Zhou Family might also be an option."
Previously, if the Meng Family acquired the Magma Fairy Palace, the Zhou Family's interests would suffer the most.
Thus, the Zhou Family was the staunchest opponent of Meng Kui.
But if Meng Kui took the initiative to compromise, privately expressing willingness to coexist with the Zhou Family?
Previously impossible, as Meng Kui looked down on a mere Golden Core-level power like the Zhou Family.
But after the three families united under Zhu Xuanji, posing a threat to Meng Kui, they now held value to be divided and wooed.
Zhu Xuanji utilized the three families, and they in turn used him to elevate their value.
Alliances and betrayals, maneuvering with finesse, such was the intricate game of the Righteous Path.