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But now, with his Divine Skills in hand and a Magic Treasure by his side, he also had a convenient means.
Watching Linghu Jiu down his second big bowl in pain, Ning Zhuo saw a flash of brilliance in his eyes that quickly disappeared.
Divine Skill—Life Hanging...
"Hm?!"
At that moment, Ning Zhuo almost lost his composure.
It was because a strong intuition told him: If he were to activate his Divine Skill now, even if he could successfully implant it, Linghu Jiu would notice!
This was the first time Ning Zhuo had encountered such a situation.
His heart was greatly shaken.
"I have Foundation Establishment Cultivation, and even Cultivators of the Golden Core Level are not exempt, unable to detect it. Ning Jiufan, the second generation of the Zhou Family, the Fox God of Mist Hidden Mountain. Even someone as powerful as Zhu Xuanji had the Life Hanging Divine Power added to him by me."
Although Ning Zhuo had planted the Life Hanging on Golden Core Level beings, it was only to enhance some of his own sensations, not to forcibly control them.
On one hand, even if he did control them forcibly, the extent of control was extremely minimal, at most moving a pinky or perhaps sneezing.
On the other hand, once he controlled them forcibly, the Golden Core Cultivators who were previously undetected would surely find out, giving rise to suspicion. They might find Ning Zhuo and then beat him up furiously in their anger.
"I cannot add the Hanging Thread onto those of Nascent Soul Level."
This was something Ning Zhuo had secretly tried after meeting Elder Yuan.
It was useless; he couldn't place it at all.
When the Hanging Thread came above his head, a strong invisible force, like a fierce wind, made it impossible for the Hanging Thread to succeed.
"For beings of Foundation Establishment Level, my Divine Skill has always been infallible, yet today it failed on Linghu Jiu!"
In the Ten Thousand Medicine Valley, people like Hua Guzi, Lin Shanshan, and others had been planted with the Life Hanging by Ning Zhuo.
Lai Wuying, Zheng Xingchen, and others had not yet been treated this way. This was because Ning Zhuo maintained a good habit of not openly using his Divine Power in public.
Ning Zhuo felt that once he implanted the Life Hanging in Linghu Jiu, although he could succeed and control it, it would definitely be detected by the other party.
"Linghu Jiu has a deep foundation, and he can, to some extent, resist my Divine Skill!"
"It seems he, like me, is adept in the art of concealing his abilities. It's just unknown between us who hides more, and deeper."
Ning Zhuo was inwardly shaken, but his face showed no trace of disturbance.
Since Linghu Jiu loved wine, he poured repeatedly.
"Please."
"Please!"
"Please again!"
Linghu Jiu had drunk ten bowls, yet he seemed to long for more.
His face was flush red, his brows lively and spirited, his breath smelled strongly of alcohol, and his gestures had become more exaggerated.
"Good wine, good wine."
Aiding the poetic spirit, he began:
"Frosty jade down the throat, chills to the bone, in drunkenness a clear heart sees human emotions."
"Sweet lingering taste coats the tongue long, Divine Sea and Qi Sea ascend together!"
A glint flashed in Ning Zhuo's eyes, admiring Linghu Jiu's literary style, just as he was about to reply with a poem suited to the occasion, unexpectedly Linghu Jiu suddenly spoke.
He said, "Young Master Ning Zhuo, what are your intentions towards my junior sister Shanshan?"
Ning Zhuo lightly ah-ed, feeling Linghu Jiu's words to be like an abrupt stab, catching him off guard.
He gently placed his cup down on the stone table, his face showing a solemn and serious expression: "Miss Lin and I hit it off at first sight."
"Coming to this precious place, I seek to ask for guidance and alliance."
"Miss Lin is of pure heart and warm hospitality, repeatedly assisting me, to the extent of confinement."
"Friend's kindness weighs heavily on my heart, a rich reward will surely come in the future!"
Linghu Jiu, with drunken blurred eyes, stared at Ning Zhuo, breath heavy with alcohol.
Yet, at this moment, Ning Zhuo felt as if Linghu Jiu could see right through him, without any cover.
Linghu Jiu pointed at Ning Zhuo, "Good lad, speaking with true heart!"
"Ha ha ha."
"Hahaha!"
He laughed heartily, his eyes moist without any concern for his image, wiping away tears in front of Ning Zhuo.
Linghu Jiu's emotions were complex and hard to express.
On one hand, he felt relieved as his beloved junior sister had not caught the eye of an outsider.
On the other hand, he felt frustrated and stifled that his beloved junior sister, despite her assistance, had still not caught the eye of an outsider!
Seeing Ning Zhuo silent and puzzled, Linghu Jiu sighed deeply, "I apologize, Young Master Ning Zhuo. I have an innate in me known as 'Drunk Moon Seeking Immortal.'"
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"Just by deeply drinking the wine and getting drunk, I could let my spirit fly high, continuously enlightened, penetrating the complexities of life."
"Just now, when you asked me, I used my innate abilities to know that you were speaking sincerely."
"To tell the truth, not only Lao De and the others misunderstood you, but I also misunderstood you!"
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly, "Drunk Moon Seeking Immortal?"
"No matter what, resolving this misunderstanding is indeed a great fortune for me."
"Brother Linghu, there's no need for apologies. On the contrary, I should thank you."
With that, he lifted his cup.
Linghu Jiu also picked up his bowl, and their cups clinked, both draining them in one gulp.
Linghu Jiu sized up Ning Zhuo and suddenly sighed, "I now know why my junior sister favors you."
He pointed towards Ning Zhuo, "My junior sister always followed my master, her father, the sect leader of our sect."
"You are upright and proper, very much like my master."
Ning Zhuo quickly humbled himself, saying he was unworthy of being compared to a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator like Lin Bufan.
Linghu Jiu suddenly stood up, "Wait a moment, don't rush with the Ice Jade Wine. I'd also like to invite you to a drink."
He strode over to the stone bed in a few steps.
Touching something on the side of the bed, he lifted out a jar of wine.
Linghu Jiu returned to his seat, placed the jar on the stone table, and proudly boasted, "I've been confined many times, so I had someone set up a secret storage formation here to keep some good wines."
"Whenever I feel unbearable loneliness and thirst, I take out a bottle to soothe my craving."
"This wine is called Netherworld Thoughts Brew, and it will be quite useful to you, Young Master Ning Zhuo."
Linghu Jiu picked up the jar and poured some for Ning Zhuo.
He introduced, "The main ingredient of this wine is Netherworld Water mixed with Night Wander Grass, and the secondary ingredients are Moon Dew, Netherworld Jade, and Nine-Tailed Fox Tears."
"After drinking it, your thoughts will extend, reaching down to the Netherworld, to comprehend the wisdom of your predecessors and receive guidance from the depths."
Linghu Jiu sighed and continued, "I have the innate ability Drunk Moon Seeking Immortal, so my master specifically asked a spiritual chef to brew this wine for my cultivation, benefiting greatly from it."
"Please!"
Ning Zhuo, intrigued, carefully lifted the cup and examined it.
He saw that the Netherworld Thoughts Brew had a deep blue color with flecks of faint light.
As he brought it close to his nose, the faint aroma of the wine seemed almost nonexistent, yet it instantly cleared Ning Zhuo's mind and brought peace.
"Boss, I'm going to drink it," Ning Zhuo communicated telepathically.
Inside the Mechanical Dragon, Sun Lingtong swallowed a mouthful of saliva, "Damn kid, enjoying good food and drinks outside, and still needing me, the boss, to watch over you. Remember to leave some for me."
Ning Zhuo centered his mind, took a light sip.
The liquor glided across his tongue, sweet with a hint of bitter, much like the ups and downs of life.
As the liquor settled in his stomach, a warm sensation spread outward from within, the mysterious power of the spiritual wine flowing inside, bringing an unprecedented tranquility and calm.
In a trance, Ning Zhuo "saw" a figure.
"I am the Five Elements Divine Master! The mysteries of the Five Elements are in my hands. The Five Spirits obey my commands, none dare disobey."
"Descendant, do you seek my Five Organs Temple Spirit Divine Skill?"
"Ha ha ha, listen well!"
"The Five Elements are metal, wood, water, fire, and earth; and the Five Organs are the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Each Element corresponds to each Organ, conducting their functions, generating and controlling each other, cycling endlessly..."
Ning Zhuo listened intently.
However, as the Divine Master continued, his voice grew fainter, weaker, until even his figure disappeared.
"What happened?" Ning Zhuo suddenly opened his eyes.
He was sober.
Ning Zhuo was left feeling lost and disappointed.
Linghu Jiu laughed heartily, "It appears that Young Master Ning Zhuo has understood the benefits of this wine."
"Another drink?"
Ning Zhuo unhesitatingly replied, "Please pour."
After drinking another cup, he saw that ancient-faced, majestic Five Elements Divine Master again.
The Divine Master repeated his teaching of the Five Organs Temple Spirit Divine Skill.
This time, after a short segment, he disappeared again.
Ning Zhuo opened his eyes, "More, more."
Linghu Jiu laughed heartily.
Ning Zhuo took his glazed cup directly, looking at Linghu Jiu, "Brother, have you got a bowl?"