"Life Hanging by a Thread!" Zhu Xuanji's heart tightened.
If Ning Zhuo had mastered this divine power, he would certainly not let him go.
However, the next moment, Shen Lingshu changed the subject, "But the high position of Ning Jiufan's lifespan could also be due to his own reasons."
"In terms of lifespan, there is the saying, 'After extreme bad luck comes good fortune.'"
"When a person's qi fortune hits rock bottom but they endure this nadir, it's bound to rise."
Shen Lingshu continued, "There's another reason, which is the aid of external forces."
"Powerful external forces can also make Ning Jiufan's qi fortune surge, climbing higher and higher."
"For example, our treatment of Ning Jiufan in Yugang Mountain has influenced the current Yugang Mountain Town Mayor, making him, and consequently the Ning Family, treat him with warmth."
"We also added an official skill to his official seal, allowing him to draw on the national power to aid his cultivation."
"There is another more important factor, which is Yuan Lao."
Since Ning Jiufan was rescued, Zhu Xuanji took the initiative to teach him the ways of a demon cultivator.
Ning Jiufan immediately passed it on to Yuan Lao, and over these days, had been actively assisting the latter in his cultivation.
Yuan Lao was originally a demon beast, and due to being part of the monkey family, was smarter than most demon beasts but less intelligent than the average person, still driven by emotion and instinct.
The Meng Family employed assassins to ambuscade, prepared tactics specifically targeting the weaknesses of demon beasts.
But as soon as Yuan Lao began cultivation, transitioning from demon beast to demon cultivator, wisdom would emerge, continually increasing to at least equal that of an average person.
In such case, tactics aimed at demon beasts would no longer be effective, which would significantly enhance the strength of Ning Jiufan and the entire Ning Family.
From this point of view, it made sense that Ning Jiufan's qi fortune was so robust.
Zhu Xuanji was bewildered, "If you put it that way, doesn't it still fail to prove that Ning Zhuo has mastered the Life Hanging Divine Power?"
Shen Lingshu nodded, "Do you think divination is so easy to definitively predict outcomes? The more powerful a target's lifespan is, especially when it concerns critical personal events, the harder it is to predict accurately. The result might even prompt you to take the wrong actions, leading to more unfavorable consequences."
"The backlash of divination is exactly like this."
"Besides, we are trying to divine Ning Zhuo's secrets, but the real target is not in front of us, we can only make indirect inferences, which undoubtedly makes it even more difficult."
Zhu Xuanji was left speechless.
He looked at the Xuanqi Capturing Bag in Shen Lingshu's hands and asked, "When will the lifespan inside be returned to Ning Jiufan?"
"The deadline is approaching, Ning Jiufan is already planning to leave for Fire Persimmon Immortal City to partake in the conflict over the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit."
"The Meng Family's attempt to ambush him failed this time, so they will surely have new moves against Ning Jiufan."
"In such a situation, it's better to let him give it his all."
Ning Jiufan was extremely pivotal.
Even more so than Yuan Lao!
Without Yuan Lao, the Nandou Royal Family could still find other ways to sustain his combat power. Of course, this would not be without cost. The Ning Family would inevitably have to give more in the contracts.
The Ning Family was like a nail hammered into Fire Persimmon Immortal City, helping the Royal Family contend with Meng Kui and prevent the Meng Family from annexing this youngest-built Immortal City.
An Immortal City involves immensely vast interests, and Fire Persimmon Immortal City, sitting atop Fire Persimmon Mountain, generates continuous benefits.
Given its potential, it could become the strongest artifact-refining place in the whole Southern Bean Country.
But for the moment, it hasn't been further developed.
This Immortal City is currently in a fierce struggle between the Zhu Family and the Meng Family.
The Zhou Family and Ning Family had become the Royal Zhu Family's outposts, with the Zhou Family being a local clan that displayed weakness during the Lava Fairy Palace conflict.
Thus, the Zhu Family valued the Ning Family more.
To Zhu Xuanji, Ning Jiufan himself had considerable combat prowess, especially since Ning Zhuo left him with a profound impression.
Daring to covet the Lava Fairy Palace, he planned for his mother's cause for over a decade, showing restraint, adept at strategizing, and fearlessly stepped forward at the critical moment, disregarding his own life. Such loyalty and courage revealed the character of the Ning Clan!
Zhu Xuanji's impression was also reflective of the Zhu Family's outlook.
The Nandou Royal Family commonly believed that the Ning Family had upright integrity, making them the prime choice to counteract and thwart the Meng Family's encroachment on Fire Persimmon Immortal City.
"Did the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit really escape on its own or could it be a scheme concocted by Meng Kui?"
"Even if it's a coincidence, he is bound to set a trap, targeting Ning Jiufan."
"Ning Zhuo is out, and his cultivation level is weak; we can only say the future is promising. Ning Jiufan is a Golden Core; he is the key person right now."
Zhu Xuanji elaborated on the importance of Ning Jiufan to Shen Lingshu.
Shen Lingshu nodded, "Relax, Xuanji."
"How could I not know the value of Ning Jiufan."
"But I will still keep his lifespan in my hands for now, not releasing it just yet."
"On one hand, I can delve deeper into his qi fortune details, as well as whether Ning Zhuo possesses the Life Hanging Divine Power. On the other hand, this is actually a strategy aimed at Meng Kui."
"Meng Kui is also proficient in divination, and before the battle, he will definitely divine Ning Jiufan's fate."
"If Meng Kui divines Ning Jiufan's lifespan, it will likely lead him to underestimate the enemy."
"At the crucial moment, I will suddenly release the lifespan, paired with my spell, causing Ning Jiufan's qi fortune to skyrocket more than tenfold!"
"At that time, we will surely take Meng Kui by surprise."
Hearing this plan, Zhu Xuanji immediately understood that Shen Lingshu had long been plotting and thus, he eased his mind.
In Liangzhu Country, Canglin Immortal City.
The roaring flames gradually died out.
Jin Li wore an exhausted expression.
He had been sitting in front of the Artifact Refining Furnace for several days. During this time, he had neither slept nor rested, intermittently performing finger techniques and casting spells, with his mind in constant worry.