Upon hearing that members of the Renovation Team were talking more and more outrageously, Zheng Hua shouted coldly, "Enough!"
"Swallow these groundless speculations back."
"I know at this moment, you all are filled with grief and anger. But do not let these emotions cloud your judgment. Remember! You bear the Zheng surname and carry the honor of our Zheng Family."
"Don't give outsiders a laugh. Please invite Ning Zhuo inside."
Ning Zhuo walked into the hall.
At a glance, everything was covered in white mourning cloth.
Zheng Family Cultivators lined up on both sides. Some held their necks high, eyes tightly shut, silently shedding tears. Others knelt on the ground covering their faces, burning paper money. Most turned their heads to stare at Ning Zhuo with anger.
Zheng Jian's presence had been greatly esteemed in life, and his death had united the Zheng Family Renovation Team in both grief and rage, evoking a sense of mournful soldiers.
Ning Zhuo could not help but remember how these people had dared to confront and charge at the Golden Core Level Yang Chanyu.
At that time, Ning Zhuo was deeply moved—Zheng Jian truly had won people's hearts! The valiance of the Zheng Family was clear to see!
The air was filled with hostility toward Ning Zhuo from everyone in the Zheng Family.
With a face full of sorrow, Ning Zhuo walked to the coffin.
First, he paid his respects to Zheng Hua, then stood in front of Zheng Jian's body, silent.
His expression solemn, eyelids lowered, as if silently feeling the residual warmth of the departed hero.
A gentle breeze fluttered the hem of his robe, and Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes.
At this moment, his eyes were red, revealing endless grief.
"Brother Zheng Jian!" Ning Zhuo cried out sorrowfully, breaking the dead silence of the hall.
"Little brother remains in this world while you have departed!"
"From now on, the sun and moon will both be distant, heaven and man forever apart."
"At this moment, my heart feels as if it's being torn apart, the pain severing my liver and intestines!"
Ning Zhuo wailed, kneeling down, beginning to sob uncontrollably.
"Woe is me, Brother Zheng! Recalling the time we jointly refined the Mechanical Monkeys, your strategies profound and far-reaching, my craftsmanship assisting, our cooperation seamless, resulting in a masterfully crafted mechanism. Your unmatched talents, I hold deep admiration, having you as a friend was indeed a blessing of three lifetimes."
"Alas, Brother Zheng! Again recalling the trial obstacles, I stood with you side by side overcoming enemies, hand in hand breaking through barriers. Though the enemy was fierce, united in heart, we were invincible. Despite the setback due to Xiaohui, comfort from you focused on heroic spirit rather than gains or losses, which finally relieved my heart."
"Alas, Brother Zheng! Though we both toiled for our respective families, our hearts and intentions were aligned, having an agreement: I was willing to concede our positions in the hospital, in return you would offer substantial gold. Now, this person is gone, and promises are void, my heart burns with pain."
"Burning, indeed!"
Ning Zhuo tore at the front of his robe, tears gushing like springs, his cries loud and heart-wrenching, the pain piercing his heart.
Seeing Ning Zhuo's sincere expressions and intentions, everyone in the hall was visibly moved.
Many people greatly reduced their hostility, starting to cry. Even those few who remained skeptical about Ning Zhuo were now touched by the overwhelming sorrow and grief, silently shedding tears.
Crying voices merged, gradually increasing.
Ning Zhuo suddenly raised his tone, "Brother's death shall not be taken lightly! As a little brother, I must avenge you!"
"Numerous brothers of the Zheng Family in this hall, we must avenge you!!"
Amidst their grief, these words aroused the onlookers' hatred and all roared in response.
"Avenge, avenge!"
"I swear to kill Yang Chanyu within my lifetime!"
"I vow to slaughter the entire Bukong Sect!"
Zheng Hua trembled continuously, hearing his nephews' increasingly excessive comments, whose emotions were now completely stirred by Ning Zhuo.
The reason why Zheng Hua had been urgently dispatched here was partly to protect the Renovation Team and partly to stabilize the situation and the people's hearts.
Ning Zhuo's cries had turned the hall into a fervor, and the situation seemed on the verge of losing control.
This forced Zheng Hua to speak out forcefully once again, "Revenge is a must! But look at yourselves now, each at the Qi Refinement Realm, not even in the Foundation Establishment Stage. How can you possibly kill a Golden Core?!"
"Seek revenge now? Is it revenge, or is it suicide? Eh?!"
With significant authority, Zheng Hua's words silenced the young Cultivators in the hall.
In the ensuing silence, Ning Zhuo's body shook as he stood up.
He faced Zheng Hua and bowed, "Elder Zheng Hua."
"Previously, Brother Zheng Jian had almost finalized discussions with me. Most of our personnel were to withdraw from competing for hospital positions, retaining only a few spots, while your side would receive a substantial amount of gold as compensation."
"Brother Zheng Jian is a man I respect. Although he is gone, I am still willing to do what I can."
"How to exact revenge?"
At this point, Ning Zhuo stood erect, arms hanging down, surveying all around.
He then continued, "Although we are merely in the Qi Refinement Realm, we also have our unique method of revenge!"
He raised his fist, his voice resounding powerfully, "If the enemy does not want us to obtain positions in the Immortal Palace, we will ensure it happens, thwarting the enemy's plans!"
"I am willing to assist the Zheng Family, personally intervening, helping every member of the Zheng Family Renovation Team with repair tasks, speeding up the cultivation of Cultivators in the hall, ensuring you all enter the hospital and obtain Physician positions sooner."
"Also, I hereby promise all of you: going forward, the focus of the Ning Family Renovation Team in obtaining positions will never be the hospital!"
"Although the Ning Family has obtained some positions in the hospital, I swear on the honor of the Ning Family, our positions in the hospital will not be elevated!"
With these words, the entire room was moved!
Zheng Hua also regarded Ning Zhuo with newfound respect.
After waiting for Ning Zhuo to leave, the Zheng Family Cultivators exchanged views, significantly changing their impressions of Ning Zhuo.
"I didn't expect Ning Zhuo to be so responsible!"
"Such noble integrity, I misunderstood him."
"Hmph, even if he hadn't done this, couldn't our Zheng Family still defeat the Ning Family and take over the medical hall?"
"Don't underestimate Ning Zhuo. Only Brother Zheng Jian among us can suppress him!"
"I think I misjudged Ning Zhuo before. He didn't have to do this, but he did."
"He just mourned the leader, weeping bitterly. It seems that although he and the leader came from different families, heroes cherish heroes, and they had become confidants."
Ning Zhuo returned to his temporary residence and paid his respects to Ning Jiufan.
Before he acted, he had already reported to Ning Jiufan.
Ning Jiufan said, his expression revealing success, "Do you truly want to help the Zheng Family like this?"
Ning Zhuo solemnly responded, "Elder, that's what I think."
"Firstly, Zheng Jian indeed distracted the firepower for me. If Yang Chanyu had made a move on me first, how many strikes could the treasure talisman withstand? I owe my survival to his contribution!"
"Secondly, the feud between my Ning Family and the Zheng Family over the medical hall is still unresolved."
"Thirdly, by making this happen, I can gain much reputation on the Righteous Path. And if I didn't do this, given the Zheng Family's dominance and the spirit of their grieving soldiers, they would still have pushed back my Ning Family."
"Fourthly, allowing Zheng Family Cultivators to occupy positions in the medical hall is also good. Don't forget, the Taiqing Palace and Bukong Sect are enemies of the Zheng Family. Perhaps in the future, there will be opportunities."
After listening to this analysis, Ning Jiufan finally showed a joyful expression and stroked his beard, "Very well! At such a young age, yet your considerations are thorough."
"Bukong Sect wants to completely contain your actions. Yang Chanyu attacking Zheng Jian first must have sensed the treasure talisman on you."
"After all, she's a disciple of Bukong Sect and is very adept at sensing treasures. And since this treasure talisman wasn't refined by you and couldn't be absorbed into your body, its aura was always leaking, which makes its discovery quite normal."
"Therefore, you don't need to be so grateful to Zheng Jian. Blame it on his family's two Golden Core Ancestors for not caring enough about their own genius cultivator, providing too few or insufficient protective items."
Ning Zhuo suddenly realized and showed an enlightened expression, "I see!"
With this, he had dealt with both the Zheng Family and Ning Jiufan, clearing the way to openly assist the Zheng Family.
Ning Jiufan then said, "Give me that Oil Slick and Smooth Talisman, I will replenish your Mana."
"I'll also bestow upon you another talisman, called the Water Fish Movement Talisman. Though it lacks Spiritual Nature, after being refined with essence blood, it can still be used reluctantly."
"In a situation like today, when the Oil Slick and Smooth Talisman is triggered, use the Water Fish Movement Talisman. It will perfectly complement the oil and water vapor, significantly increasing your speed and agility, which is just right."
Ning Jiufan didn't need Ning Zhuo to remind him; he had already taken the initiative to provide him with more life-saving means.
After all, the downfall of Zheng Jian, a genius cultivator, was imminent.
In the following days, Ning Zhuo kept his promise, personally aided the Zheng Family Renovation Team, promoted their merits, and quickly helped them secure positions as physicians in the medical hall.
During this time, Ning Zhuo visited the Serious Injury Treatment Room and retrieved a new Spirit Box.
Yang Chanyu had seized Zheng Jian's soul. After it fell into Sun Lingtong's hands, it was refined by the Cremation Prajnaparamita Soul-Resolving Scripture and purified into a Spiritual Nature.
Since it was just the soul, the Spiritual Nature was only at thirty percent.
Ning Zhuo successfully crafted a Mechanical Ring, storing Zheng Jian's Spiritual Nature, and wore it on his left index finger.
Ning Zhuo sought after items belonging to Xiaohui and Zheng Jian, while also caring for the Ning Family, making arrangements for them to take positions in the Five Elements Turret.
He also reached an agreement with Zhou Zeshen to help them quickly take over the Command Platform. This earned Ning Zhuo substantial rewards.
At the summit of Fire Persimmon Mountain, in the depths of the cloudy mists.
Meng Kui's eyes shone brilliantly as he again performed the Divine Skill—Mountain Gaze.
Great Wind Talisman!
Yunyang Talisman!
A great wind arose, clouds flying; sitting atop the mountain, he listened to the pines' sound.
Meng Kui's view suddenly changed.
Immense flames blazed, and the Dragon Turtle, mountainous in size with an Immortal City on its back, trod upon cracked paving stones, raising its head to the sky with a long roar.
The night sky was pitch black, a colossal Mystical Bird emanating lightning, circling and dancing, nearly swooping down.
A massive tree, tall enough to touch the sky and tread the earth, extended its branches and roots deeply into the Dragon Turtle, piercing even deeper than before!
The Dragon Turtle was weakened, lava-like vibrant red blood-fire flowing from its rooted wounds.
Its situation was perilously unstable; the broken rock allowed its lower body to plunge into searing magma, with a severe tendency towards submersion.
Meng Kui strained his eyes, tears of blood streaming down.
"How is this possible?"
"Why? Why can't I see Bukong Sect's Qi Fortune? Where has the Qi Fortune represented by Sun Lingtong and Yang Chanyu gone?!"
This was the second time Meng Kui had employed this Divine Skill.
The first had been after the mayhem of the Golden Core battle.
But both times, he had failed to see any Qi Fortune of Bukong Sect!
This baffled him.
Suddenly.
The magma erupted violently, forming a huge tidal wave.
The scorching magma formed a whirlpool, fiercely sucking and dragging the Dragon Turtle down.
The Dragon Turtle cried out in anguish, desperately trying to crawl out, but only sank deeper!
Meng Kui, watching this scene, immediately forgot his previous question, his face tense with gravity.
"The terror of the Flame Demon Beast Tide begins to show!"
Meanwhile, in the real Fire Persimmon Mountain, a Nascent Soul Level Runaway Fire Snake let out a prolonged hiss, emerging and heading straight for the Lava Fairy Palace!