Before Fei Si's departure, and in the presence of Zhou Nongying, he was particularly solicitous towards Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo, however, appeared indifferent, almost to the point of being the polar opposite of his former self.
Such an attitude naturally pleased Zhou Nongying greatly; he understood that this junior, Ning Zhuo, was extremely astute, fully aware of the current political landscape and who the real allies and foes were.
At present, the Lava Fairy Palace had already fallen into the hands of the Meng Family.
It was inevitable that Meng Kui would not relinquish it easily. Given time, with the Lava Fairy Palace as a strategic fulcrum, the Meng Family would possess an almost perfect justification to continuously dispatch their cultivators to garrison Fire Persimmon Immortal City.
Ultimately, this could lead to Fire Persimmon Immortal City being fully absorbed by the Meng Family, turning it into a private domain of their clan.
Under such circumstances, the Zhou and Ning families naturally needed to band together for warmth, countering the wolfish ambitions of the Meng Family.
Since Ning Zhuo acted thusly, Fei Si did not linger, choosing instead to take his leave ahead of schedule.
Ning Zhuo saw him out with full propriety, all the way to the main gate.
Before parting, Fei Si smiled faintly, mentioning Chi Dun. He said that Chi Dun, this Body Cultivator, had been preoccupied with Buddhist Physician Meng Yaoyin, burning with a strong desire for a rematch to regain lost ground and soothe the discontent in his heart after the quelling of the Demon Beast Tide.
Ning Zhuo also smiled faintly. He immediately discerned that Fei Si was threatening him through Chi Dun.
Thus, he did not indulge the other party, simply saying, "I may be young and frail, but I, too, possess a heart eager for victory. If the esteemed Chi Dun has such refined tastes, then I must accompany him to the utmost. Only, I worry... under the Big Snake Scythe, an accidental lack of restraint could tragically lead to the fall of the esteemed Chi Dun. That would be disastrous!"
Fei Si instantly dropped his smile, gave Ning Zhuo an indifferent nod, then turned and swept away in his sleeves.
Watching his ascending silhouette disappear into the sky, Ning Zhuo's gaze turned profound, well aware that from this point on, his close ties with Fei Si had been completely severed and they now stood on opposing sides.
"The Headmaster of the Ciyou Garden, His Excellency Zhu Hou arrives—!" The greeter once again called out loudly, followed by the announcement of the list of congratulatory gifts Zhu Hou brought.
Many hearts were once again shaken!
Although Zhu Hou only had a Foundation Establishment cultivation, he was born into the Southern Bean Royal Family, carrying inherent prestige and a high status. Particularly since the Royal Family had placed him there to serve as a wedge, firmly embedded to monitor the situation of the Immortal City and to counter Meng Kui's influence as much as possible.
Ning Zhuo had just returned from the main gate when he heard the announcement. He immediately turned around, approached Zhu Hou with a warm smile, and welcomed him.
But Zhu Hou was different from the others.
Upon entering the banquet hall, he immediately caused a sensation.
Only after he mingled extensively among the guests at the banquet, forging good relationships, did he leave his seat to discuss matters with Ning Zhuo and Zhou Nongying.
This time, he represented the Southern Bean Royal Family and wanted to support both the branch Ning Family and the Zhou Family—in hopes that they could thwart the Meng Family's future encroachment upon Fire Persimmon Immortal City.
The three of them chatted merrily, with strong intentions of cooperation evident.
When the meeting dispersed, Ning Zhuo returned to the floating banquet.
After taking his seat at the main table, the cultivators who had been anxiously waiting all approached, offering their respects to Ning Zhuo with raised cups.
Foremost were Ning Youfu and Ning Houjun, two former Family Elders of collateral branches.
Now that Ning Zhuo was the head of the branch family, his status far surpassed that of the two elders.
Ning Youfu assumed a clearly subservient posture, while Ning Houjun was even more deferential, for he had a favor to ask. He hoped that his blood descendants could return to Ning Zhuo's branch family and have their sentence of exile revoked.
Ning Zhuo did not agree outright, instead saying that it would require inspection before a decision could be made.
This simple response already moved Ning Houjun to the edge of tears, filled with emotion.
"From now on, in the branch family, I hope the two elders will serve as family pillars, shielding the younger generations from wind and rain for a time," Ning Zhuo cordially invited.
Ning Youfu and Ning Houjun exchanged glances and agreed on the spot. Their retirement from the position of Family Elders had not been solely out of personal volition.
Beside them, the Academy Elder's face was dark with frustration; he could only watch helplessly and with resentment as Ning Zhuo's branch family openly absorbed members from the collateral lines, quickly expanding and strengthening itself.
Ning Xiangqian and the other former stewards also came to Ning Zhuo's side, eagerly hoping to be included in Ning Zhuo's branch family.
Ning Zhuo announced that a list would be made public before long.
Following this were Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and other schoolmates and members of the Renovation Team.
Ning Zhuo gave them some encouraging words. Among this group, his reputation had always been high—a status largely owing to his previous sharing of experiences.
Now that his position as the head of the branch family was solidified, he naturally inspired their loyalty even further.
The leaders of the Monkey Head Gang and the Crane Beak Gang were present as well, occupying the most remote seats.
Nevertheless, they quivered with excitement.
This was what they had dreamt of before pledging loyalty to Ning Zhuo. As Ning Zhuo's status soared, so too did they benefit, finally integrating into the circles of the Righteous Path.
Having personally witnessed Zhou Nongying, Fei Si, Zhu Hou, and others coming forward to offer their congratulations to Ning Zhuo, their loyalty surged a hundredfold.
Chen Cha, Feng Heizi, Unclean, and the One-Armed Craftsman all left their seats to come forward and express their congratulations.
Chen Cha, with a complex expression, exclaimed deeply moved, "Ning Zhuo, without seeing it with my own eyes, I would never have imagined you could reach this point. Congratulations!"
Ning Zhuo rose and clasped Chen Cha's hand, showing an exceptional closeness that incited envy from Feng Heizi, Unclean, and the One-Armed Craftsman.
At the banquet, Feng Jiqing boasted to the cultivators at the same table.
"Back when the Ning Family Clan Leader was still alive, he asked me to evaluate Ning Zhuo's Mechanical Fireworks Monkey."
"When I laid eyes upon it, I was astounded! Without getting into details, just take the Storage Formation—it was designed to perfection. If it were me, I'm afraid I would have to opt for a Cloud Whale's empty lung."
"Ha ha ha, compared with such a prodigy, I am truly too ordinary to mention."
"Being in the same city as Lord Ning Zhuo is already a great honor for me!"
...
Lava Fairy Palace.
Meng Kui hovered slightly above the ground, sitting above the crater where the throne once stood.
In front of him, a spell-formed mirror reflected scenes from within Ning Zhuo's separated family branch.
The protagonist in the mirror was none other than Ning Zhuo himself.
Meng Kui observed the white-clothed youth with profound eyes.
He would never have believed, before the dust settled, that he could be defeated by such a junior.
Who would have thought that within Fire Persimmon Mountain, a little cultivator at the Qi Refining level could pretend and endure for over a decade, only to seize the Lava Fairy Palace by blowing it up and temporarily blinding all involved parties?
"Grandfather!" Meng Chong burst through the main hall doors, rushing to Meng Kui's side.
"Is that Ning Zhuo opening his estate today? I want to fight him! I haven't lost yet!!" Meng Chong yelled loudly, vowing to seek vengeance.
Meng Kui snorted coldly and flicked his finger slightly, hitting Meng Chong with such force that Meng Chong ducked his head, holding his forehead, and howling in pain.
"Grandfather, why did you hit me?"
Meng Kui: "I told you to practice diligently and master more of the Cultivation Hundred Skills, but you never listened."
"Did you see this time?"
"With his proficiency in Mechanical Techniques, Ning Zhuo left you streets behind. The Mechanical Monkey you saw as your life's greatest foe is merely one of his mechanical artifacts. In the end, the position of Palace Master, my dear grandson, was something he chose to relinquish voluntarily!"
"Look at him, only sixteen years old, even younger than you."
"At such a young age, he caused your efforts to fail utterly, splitting your spirit from your body. With such cunning and outstanding skill in mechanical artifacts at such a young age, he is even establishing his own branch today."
"Chong'er, you should really learn from those geniuses who are more talented than you!"
Meng Chong was stunned.
Grandfather Meng Kui had always taken pride in him. Yet now, he spoke words that made Meng Chong feel unfamiliar. After all, in the past, Meng Chong was the sole protagonist in such talks.
Now, Ning Zhuo had successfully pushed Meng Chong off his pedestal.
"Alright, Chong'er, it's understandable that you were defeated this time. Even you and I were deceived by that cunning brat, weren't we?" Meng Hu revealed himself.
He walked up behind Meng Chong, lifting him up: "I'll take Chong'er with me. The Three Superior Sect Techniques are foundation establishment by the three Dantians, with a focus on Mechanical Techniques, but since the opportunity has been lost and is unsuitable for Chong'er..."
"Coincidentally, the Thunderclap Nation Master from Thunderclap Nation is openly recruiting direct disciples. Chong'er has the Immortal Aptitude of Frenzied Rushing Thunder, and if he can become a direct disciple of the Thunderclap Nation Master, the outcome would be even better."
Meng Kui nodded: "That sounds good, take him then."
No matter how much Meng Chong struggled and screamed, Meng Hu carried him away, turning into a rainbow and departing.
Meng Kui was left alone, sighing deeply.
Had he been in possession of the complete Three Superior Sect Techniques, it would have been a good option for Meng Chong to stay and continue his cultivation.
However, the true scriptures of the three techniques were only contained within the body of the Daoist Master of Mechanical Techniques.
The connection to the Soul Entering Immortal Palace would at most grant the Qi Refining Realm's Three Superior Sect Techniques.
The subsequent cultivation technique was hidden within the Dharma Transmission Bell, but for Meng Kui to unlock this bell, it was not just challenging, but he had nowhere to even start!
Understanding the mysteries of lifespan all too well, Meng Kui knew: the lifespan of the Lava Fairy Palace had already been seized by others. A step ahead is steps ahead, and the subsequent blessings of lifespan would favor those who had taken them first, not him, Meng Chong.
For Meng Chong to catch up would be extremely difficult, and he had already lost the initiative, wasting years without good progress—it would be better to make a clean break and start anew on another path.
Divine Sense spread out, Meng Kui once again surveyed the Lava Fairy Palace.
"The losses are too great!" he shook his head repeatedly.
From the bottom of his heart, he didn't want to take over this mess.
But there was no choice, as the Meng Family needed the whole Fire Persimmon Immortal City.
And if the Meng Family was to maintain long-term control of Fire Persimmon Immortal City, they needed a reason to counter the Royal Family's city lord rotation policy.
Undoubtedly, the identity of the Immortal Palace Master of the Lava Fairy Palace could help the Meng Family achieve this.
This was why Meng Kui, a great strategist, knowing full well that it was a trap, still fulfilled Ning Zhuo's wishes, voluntarily taking over and bearing the burden.
"Rebuilding the entire Lava Fairy Palace consumes a staggering amount, only by seeking help from the family can it be possible." Even Meng Kui, at the Nascent Soul level, couldn't personally bear the maintenance of the Immortal Palace, which showed the immense cost of repairing the palace.
What truly troubled Meng Kui wasn't the repair issue, but the positions.
The Lava Fairy Palace had various positions, and even though the mechanical structures had fallen, the positions had not been abolished.
According to the previous agreement between Meng Kui and Zhu Xuanji, no matter who obtained the title of Immortal Palace Master, these positions wouldn't be audited.
So, although Meng Kui was now the Palace Master, he had a substantial number of positions under him falling into the hands of the cultivators from the three renovation teams.
Their existence, controlling many positions within the Immortal Palace, undoubtedly greatly reduced the Meng Family's control over the Lava Fairy Palace!
This was also the most important foundation for Zhou Nongying and Ning Zhuo to join forces against the Meng Family.
The separation was drawing to an end, and suddenly a guest announcer called out high: "Lord Song Fuli has arrived—!"
Ning Zhuo tensed slightly, knowing trouble had come to his doorstep.
Song Fuli, expressionless, stood upright; he neither brought gifts nor showed any willingness to step through the gate.
He blocked the entrance.