Little Struggle Peak, Martial Arts Arena.
The Ten Thousand Medicine Sect's disciple guarded the entrance of the martial arts arena, carefully checking identities and collecting entry Spirit Stones before allowing cultivators to enter.
Due to the intense competitive environment at Little Struggle Peak, the business of this martial arts arena was booming all year round.
A cultivator approached the disciple, a smile plastered on his face, asking if there was any vacancy in the Sky Martial Arts Arena.
The disciple glanced at him indifferently, "You again? I already made it clear last time, the Sky Martial Arts Arena is booked until the end of next month."
The cultivator nodded, lowering his voice, "I know, but I've heard that it's actually possible to jump the queue. Just..."
"Stop!" the disciple immediately interrupted him, "What you mentioned did exist, but that was during the previous person's tenure. Since I took over, there has been no such thing as allowing newcomers to cut in."
"You're thinking of bribing me?"
The disciple shook his head firmly, "That's not going to work!"
"Eh?"
As they were speaking, the disciple suddenly changed his expression.
He hurried forward and bowed deeply, "Senior Sister Lin, what brings you here?"
The disciple felt a bit puzzled.
Given Lin Shanshan's status, even if she used the martial arts arena, it would only be on Yuanlai Mountain.
That was the main base of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, where facilities like the martial arts arena were much more sophisticated. Important figures like Lin Shanshan rarely came here.
Lin Shanshan seemed slightly flustered, but instead of explaining, she regained her composure and said, "Get me a martial arts arena. Do you have any available?"
"Of course!" the disciple immediately patted his chest, "You're in luck, Senior Sister Lin. A Sky Martial Arts Arena is available now."
Lin Shanshan didn't question further and nodded.
"Who is this young man who wishes to spar with Senior Sister Lin?" the disciple glanced at Ning Zhuo, uncertain of his background.
Ning Zhuo noticed his gaze and gave him a slight nod, to which the disciple responded with a smile.
"Senior Sister Lin, this way please," the disciple led the way.
As they passed by the earlier cultivator, he quickly stepped back, making way for them and watched enviously as Ning Zhuo and the others entered the martial arts arena.
"With this incident, the rumors connecting me and Lin Shanshan will certainly spread."
Ning Zhuo was pleased with this outcome.
In fact, one of his purposes for asking Lin Shanshan to come to the martial arts arena was for this very reason.
After all, being new to the area, he naturally needed a reliable support. Undoubtedly, Lin Shanshan was an excellent option.
The development of events was exactly as Ning Zhuo had anticipated.
Along the way, the disciples they passed bowed to Lin Shanshan and cast curious glances at Ning Zhuo.
Many visiting cultivators also witnessed this scene.
"I've never seen Lin Shanshan bring someone else to use this martial arts arena before."
"Who is that young cultivator with her? Why haven't I seen him before?"
"With his bearing, he does not seem simple. Perhaps he's a senior disciple from some major sect, with a status similar to Senior Sister Lin, right?"
These discussions reached Lin Shanshan's ears, making them burn.
Therefore, when they entered the Sky Martial Arts Arena, Lin Shanshan said to the disciple, "Alright, you can leave now. I'll handle it here."
The disciple was slightly surprised again. Lin Shanshan rushing him gave him the impression that she was eager to be alone with the young cultivator.
The disciple, older than Lin Shanshan, had never seen her treat a strange male cultivator this way.
"Could it be..." The disciple thought of a possibility, immediately shook his head instinctively, casting aside the terrifying conjecture.
Lin Shanshan was known as the pearl in the palm of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect Leader, beloved by all in the sect. Many cultivators secretly admired her. Unlike them, the disciple felt more like an elder who was fond of a younger family member.
Lin Shanshan activated the Array of the martial arts arena, instantly isolating the interior from the outside.
She quietly exhaled a breath of murky air, her tense mood gradually relaxing.
"It's strange, I often enter the martial arts arena with senior brother to practice and spar. Why do I feel so nervous this time, even somewhat flustered?"
Ning Zhuo didn't speak, looking around the martial arts arena, giving Lin Shanshan time to adjust her emotions.
Gathering her thoughts, Lin Shanshan finally spoke to Ning Zhuo, "Young Master Ning Zhuo, you may showcase your combat techniques first, so that I can have a clear understanding of your capabilities. It's like diagnosing an illness; this way, I can provide the appropriate remedy."
Ning Zhuo nodded and immediately performed Five Elements Magic.
His combat strategy now mainly involved Mechanical Artifacts.
Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin, Big Snake Scythe, Heavy Blood Ape·Great Victory, Floating Ice Jade Hands, and Weather Balloon·Ice Crystal Snow—these were all excellent Mechanical Artifacts, potent enough for Ning Zhuo to stand a chance against a Golden Core.
With these, Ning Zhuo's combat power far exceeded his Foundation Establishment Cultivation, reaching the brink of Golden Core.
But of course, at this moment, he would not reveal the true nature of his methods to Lin Shanshan.
On the one hand, he was keenly aware of his own deficiencies and took this opportunity to train himself by using Little Struggle Peak. If he used Mechanical Techniques to crush a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the effect on his training would be minimal.
On the other hand, he also needed a reason to continue interacting with Lin Shanshan. Excessive strength would arouse Lin Shanshan's loyalty and vigilance.
Showing relative "weakness" was more conducive to his overall plan.
Ning Zhuo took turns casting many spells, mostly of the Five Elements type.
Seeing this, Lin Shanshan's beautiful eyes shone, and she sincerely admired, "I did not expect, Young Master Ning Zhuo, that you had such deep mastery in spells! You have surpassed me, and with your own strength alone, you have a significant chance of winning against Hanzhou."
Ning Zhuo performed the Five Elements Magic, each one was very proficient.
What surprised Lin Shanshan the most was that the transformation of the Five Elements Mana in Ning Zhuo's hands was very natural and extremely smooth.
"Are you really only sixteen years old?" Lin Shanshan couldn't help but ask.
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly and confirmed.
Lin Shanshan exclaimed, "I don't mean to disbelieve you; it's just that such a mastery in spells is extremely rare at the age of sixteen."
"At least, I have only heard of two or three cases."
"Did not expect to see one today!"
Ning Zhuo slightly demonstrated his strength, which immediately made Lin Shanshan even more curious about him.
Lin Shanshan asked, "Are you a War Cultivator?"
"Since childhood, besides accumulating mana, how much time do you spend each day practicing these spells?"
Ning Zhuo carefully said, "I haven't put much effort into practicing these spells. Compared to these spells, I am more interested in Mechanical Techniques."
"In addition to casting spells myself, I can also use Mechanical Arms to assist me in combat."
"Miss Lin, please look."
Saying this, Ning Zhuo took out six mechanical arms from his Storage Waist Belt.
These arms floated in mid-air, surrounding Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo controlled these mechanical hands, making them cast various spells of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
In an instant, the spells were brilliant, and five colors competed with each other, dazzling yet with a deadly danger.
Lin Shanshan involuntarily stepped back, secretly shocked by Ning Zhuo's aggressive demonstration.
Ning Zhuo slightly made a move then paused, withdrawing the mechanical arms.
He took the initiative to say, "Miss Lin, I am better at long-range attacks with spells. What I fear most is being approached by Hanzhou. Once I'm caught in such a predicament, I become too passive, with the odds of losing far greater than those of winning."
Lin Shanshan then said, "Then let's practice hand-to-hand first."
Ning Zhuo and Lin Shanshan then sparred in close combat skills.
This time, he did not hold back but fully displayed his martial skills, yet was suppressed by Lin Shanshan throughout.
"That's enough," Lin Shanshan took a step back voluntarily, distancing herself from Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo panted, his face pale.
Lin Shanshan smiled, "Do you know how to use weapons?"
Ning Zhuo shook his head, "Not at all."
Lin Shanshan nodded, "Compared to spells, Young Master Ning Zhuo, you indeed fall a bit short in close-combat martial arts."
Ning Zhuo gave a wry smile, "Miss Lin is too polite. I am well aware of my severe shortcomings in this area. More criticism from you would allow me to improve faster."
Lin Shanshan was five years older than Ning Zhuo. From childhood, she had received the strictest training from Lin Bufan. After all, the latter's only blood descendant was Lin Shanshan.
Lin Shanshan, fully nurtured by Lin Bufan, although not as adept in casting spells as Ning Zhuo, was nonetheless not far behind. However, in close-combat martial arts, she far surpassed Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo, in comparison, was primarily self-taught, even the education at schools being generalized and not as specialized as Lin Shanshan, who from birth, had been given extra attention and coaching by Nascent Soul Level existences.
Thus, though many of Ning Zhuo's fundamentals were solid, they were also ordinary, especially when compared to a sect prodigy like Lin Shanshan.
Of course, if Ning Zhuo had deployed several mechanical artifacts, ten Lin Shanshans would not have been enough to challenge him.
"Please teach me martial skills, Miss Lin!" Ning Zhuo didn't hesitate at all in making his request.
He had long noticed his shortcomings in this area.
But he couldn't help it; over the past sixteen years, he had not wasted time but had diligently practiced every day. However, his focus had been on Mechanical Techniques, not close-combat fighting.
During the contest for the Lava Fairy Palace, Ning Zhuo had been inspired by a Kung Fu Doll and thought about addressing this weakness. But he never had the time.
"This," Lin Shanshan hesitated.
Even though the Buddha Heart Demon Seal continued to influence her, she still felt this request was too presumptuous.
Men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving.
To teach martial skills effectively, many actions require hands-on guidance, sometimes even close body contact. Physical contact was inevitable.
Thus, as Lin Shanshan grew up, neither her eldest senior brother Linghu Jiu nor Sect Leader Lin Bufan continued teaching her but had specifically hired a female master to be Lin Shanshan's martial arts instructor.