Zhu Xuanji didn't say too much, but Ning Zhuo had already figured out that the Southern Bean Country was also involved in the affairs of Liangzhu Country, making significant bets under Thousand Peak Forest.
Ning Zhuo silently calculated, "The implication of his words is that he wants me to assist Thousand Peak Forest."
"But the Six Cave Sect is a gang within the territory of Thousand Peak Forest, perhaps it has also received secret support from the Royal Family of Southern Bean?"
His family's elder, Ning Jiufan, had instructed him to observe the situation and show the Six Cave Sect a bit of force.
On Zhu Xuanji's side, however, he subtly suggested that Ning Zhuo assist the forces within Thousand Peak Forest.
The desires of both parties seemed to conflict, making Ning Zhuo feel a bit troubled.
After thinking for a moment, Ning Zhuo nodded to Zhu Xuanji, indicating that he would act according to the situation and, if possible, lend his support.
Ning Zhuo then asked Zhu Xuanji to intervene and assist the Ning Family in the struggle for the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit.
"Lord Divine Hunter, the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit is of great significance to me."
"The Mechanical Dragon consumes a lot of mana and is activated by a Nascent Soul. If I had the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit, it would greatly alleviate the predicament."
Zhu Xuanji directly shook his head, expressing his inability to help.
"Previously, in the negotiation within the Luminous Mirror, Senior Shen explicitly stated that the Royal Family should not meddle in the internal affairs of Fire Persimmon Immortal City."
"After all, Meng Kui is the current City Lord of Fire Persimmon Immortal City. Unless there is a prior legitimate reason, meddling arbitrarily in the city's internal affairs would be tantamount to the Zhu Royal Family encroaching on the interests of the Meng Family. Such an action would significantly damage the tacit understanding within our nation's court, cause great loss of support from the people for our royal family, and provoke the vigilance and possibly collective opposition of other important ministers."
Though intangible, anyone with a slight political acumen knows that the magnitude of such a loss is truly immense!
Just like how Linghu Jiu once offered the Understanding Law Maps of the fire-attribute and gold element to compensate Ning Zhuo, all to salvage the reputation of Ten Thousand Medicine Sect.
Such reputations and prestige may seem elusive, but they indeed concern public sentiment, influencing the choices of many outstanding individuals and forces.
The accumulation of such choices creates an immense trend, having an impact on the entity far beyond ordinary imagination!
"Exactly because of this, our Zhu Family heavily supports both your Ning Family and the Zhou Family," Zhu Xuanji shook his head, indicating that the Royal Family would absolutely not meddle casually in this matter.
The Royal Family's concerns were also reflected in this multi-party cooperation.
On the surface, the alliance only involved the Ning Family and Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, with no matter concerning the Royal Family. In reality, however, the Zhu Family played an extremely crucial role, offering guarantees to the Ning Family and Ten Thousand Medicine Sect and providing the strongest external monitoring force.
Undoubtedly, Ning Zhuo bringing in the power of the Zhu Family was a brilliant move!
Seeing his last effort fail, Ning Zhuo then made another request, "The best scenario would be to seize the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit from Fire Persimmon Mountain."
"If that's not possible, might I buy it from the Royal Family?"
Zhu Xuanji just laughed, pointing at Ning Zhuo, "You rascal, that's your real request, isn't it?"
Having dealt with Ning Zhuo for a long time, he had grown familiar with many of Ning Zhuo's negotiation tactics.
Zhu Xuanji nodded slightly, "Indeed, we do have Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit in our family's treasury. However, its spiritual nature pales in comparison to the one in Fire Persimmon Mountain."
The relevant information had been reviewed by everyone.
Zhu Xuanji said, "You, holding the Cremation Prajna Spirit Liberation Sutra, know best how important spiritual nature is."
"The spiritual nature-deficient Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit will have a comparatively lengthy self-absorption and recovery process."
"Thus, the best option for you is still to seize the one in the mountain. Since you possess the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon, why not turn back when it's crucial and assist your family?"
Ning Zhuo had already considered this issue early on.
He decisively shook his head, "Lord Divine Hunter, you know the real purpose of my travels around the world."
"It is to replenish the spiritual nature and heal the mechanisms used by my mother!"
"The Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit is not essential for me. The urgent priority is to replenish the spiritual nature for my mother as swiftly and completely as possible."
"As for other matters, they must be planned for later."
Zhu Xuanji nodded.
Originally, within the Lava Fairy Palace, using his Innate Golden Eye paired with the Trace Origin Technique, he had seen Meng Yaoyin utilizing the Golden Furnace on two occasions.
At the final moment of the strife in the Lava Fairy Palace, he was also present, personally witnessing the Buddha Heart Demon Seal "actively" embracing Ning Zhuo and Ning Zhuo burning the throne to replenish his mother's spiritual nature, as well as Ning Zhuo's final brilliant move—inviting Meng Kui to become the City Lord!
One could say he knew more secrets about Ning Zhuo than even Ning Jiufan.
Zhu Xuanji smiled slightly, "So, you mean to burn the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat, don't you?"
Ning Zhuo nodded, frankly admitting.
For the Divine Hunter, this was an easily deduced and calculated matter.
After all, Ning Zhuo's current use of the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat for nurturing purposes could have easily been accessed through the sect records of Ten Thousand Medicine Sect.
The Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat is a heritage treasure of a sect, blessing all associated. The usage of the Spirit Boat would be planned in detail and recorded.
Zhu Xuanji had already suspected the motive behind Ning Zhuo proposing to lend out the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat in the alliance. For this reason, when concluding the specific content of the alliance, he had subtly assisted Ning Zhuo.
Lin Bufan had intended to add some clauses to ensure the safety of such heritage treasures like the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat, prohibiting intentional damage, as well as establishing penalties for loss or damage.
Zhu Xuanji had blocked these clauses, saying at the time that, compared to treasures like the Reflected Wall, the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat and Spirit Hidden Willow were trivial. Anyone would cherish them and not deliberately damage them.
He also said: Designing these restrictive and punitive clauses wouldn't provide any real protection. Moreover, if one day, inharmonious events led to the destruction of heritage treasures by enemies, these punitive clauses could cause rifts within the alliance and internal conflicts, so it might be better not to design them at all.
Lin Bufan had not expected Ning Zhuo, being "mentally unhinged," to have been obsessed with the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat from before he even arrived at the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, wanting to destroy it.
Furthermore, Lin Bufan was unaware of the injuries sustained by Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin and even less aware that Ning Zhuo had mastered the Cremation Prajnaparamita Soul-Resolving Scripture.
Since Zhu Xuanji had spoken thus, Lin Bufan pondered deeply at the time and even felt that Zhu Xuanji, deserving of his title as Divine Hunter and an important member of the Southern Bean Royal Family, possessed great vision and spoke quite sensibly.
Thus, Lin Bufan agreed.
Consequently, Ning Zhuo's subsequent act of cremating the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat was no longer restricted by any pact, granting him considerable convenience.
Ning Zhuo was a clever child. When Zhu Xuanji helped him at that moment, Ning Zhuo realized that Zhu Xuanji had secretly assisted him.
At that moment, Ning Zhuo bowed deeply to Zhu Xuanji, saying, "I am deeply grateful to Lord Divine Hunter for your concern and covert aid. I am profoundly touched and will remember your kindness, aiming to repay it in the future!"
However, Zhu Xuanji stepped aside to evade, saying, "Do not always perform formalities nor make promises so readily; do you not know that these things can affect one's fate?"
"We often speak of Oral Seal, Heart Seal, and Body Seal, mentioning their help in spell casting, but their inner significance is even greater."
"Every word we utter forms an Oral Seal. Each decision or thought we make is a Heart Seal. Every actual action we take constitutes a Body Seal."
"These imprints influence us and can alter our destinies."
"I will not accept your gesture, nor do you need to repay me. I only helped because I saw the hardships you bore alone, striving to save your mother, understanding the urgency and turmoil within your heart. Such pure filial actions sincerely compel one to assist."
"However, although your strength is exceptional and your attainment in the Five Elements Realm is profound and beyond my reach, the outcome of this journey may not be as desired."
"Have you considered this?"
Ning Zhuo fell silent.
Of course, he had considered this issue, but he couldn't accept the consequences of failure.
Seeing the silent adolescence before him, Zhu Xuanji slightly furrowed his brows, "Most things in this world turn out contrary to one's wishes. If that were not the case, 'May all your wishes come true' wouldn't be a blessing."
Ning Zhuo clenched his teeth, "All I know is that I will give my all!"
Zhu Xuanji sighed and waved his hand, only saying, "Begin your journey."
Ning Zhuo then bowed to Zhu Xuanji, took steps forward, and entered the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon, departing from Ten Thousand Medicine Valley.
Seemingly sensing something, Linghu Jiu, who was fighting within the Luminous Mirror, paused slightly and was quickly overwhelmed by demon beasts.
Inside the boudoir.
Xiaoju watched as Lin Shanshan paced around the room, "Miss, Young Master Ning Zhuo will soon depart. Aren't you going to see him off?"
Lin Shanshan, who had been hesitant, made up her mind upon these words.
"Forget it, I won't go!"
She sat down on a stool, staring intently at the Mist Embroidery Orchid in the vase on the table, murmuring, "I've already said everything during the farewell banquet. Could it be that I won't see him again in the future?"
"This capable fool managed to kidnap even me and possesses an Immortal Aptitude higher than my elder disciple brother. His fame will surely grow."
"Plus, with the cooperation between my Ten Thousand Medicine Sect and the Ning Family and his promise to write to me, it should be fine."
Though these words were outwardly addressed to Xiaoju, they were also meant to reassure herself.
"Miss..." Xiaoju looked towards Lin Shanshan worriedly but did not persuade further.
On the mountain peak, watching the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon disappear, the golden light in Zhu Xuanji's eyes slowly faded.
Shen Lingshu appeared leisurely yet quickly, floating over.
Zhu Xuanji glanced at Shen Lingshu, "Senior, now I finally understand why the Monarch wanted me to keep in touch with Ning Zhuo at all times."
"This Son of Destiny is nearly sinister!"
"His flourishing fate and mysterious opportunities are beyond prediction. Had I not witnessed it myself, I would never believe that his attainment in the Five Elements Realm far exceeds mine, and his progress in Five Elements Magic is substantial."
"My Zhu Family, ruling an entire country, benefits from him as well."
"Luminous Mirror, oh... Such a Quasi-Immortal Artifact could cultivate so much talent for my Zhu family!"
Previously, Zhu Xuanji had wanted to distance himself from Ning Zhuo as much as possible, but after this incident, he realized that it was indeed delightful!
Zhu Xuanji then inquired, "Senior, how did the assessment go this time?"
"Is Ning Zhuo's Immortal Aptitude indeed a divine mandate?"
"Or perhaps, does he possess the Divine Power Life Thread?"
The Southern Bean Royal Family had sent Shen Lingshu, not merely to support Zhu Xuanji. He also bore an even more important mission from the Southern Bean Monarch, which was to scrutinize Ning Zhuo and thoroughly investigate his details!
Divine mandates differ in their categories, each possessing unique traits. However, every divine mandate signifies premium innate talent, hence Immortal Aptitude!
As for significant secrets like the Divine Power Life Thread, Shen Lingshu, as part of the Royal Family, was also informed.
If Ning Zhuo possessed a divine mandate, then the Southern Bean Zhu Family would have to be extremely vigilant and find ways to expel the Ning Family.
In this matter, the Five Elements God Master was deeply secretive.
If Ning Zhuo possessed the Divine Power Life Thread, the Royal Family's reaction would be even more intense!
In essence, the Southern Bean Royal Family's true attitude towards Ning Zhuo depended on Shen Lingshu's investigative results.