Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon.
Storage Cabin.
The Stone Ball enveloped the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat, which concealed Sun Lingtong within.
The Magic Prohibition that recorded the complete "Heavenly Birth and Earthly Nourishment Fetal Breathing Technique" glittered on the surface of the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat.
When the time came, Ning Zhuo arrived beside the Stone Ball to help Sun Lingtong out of his predicament.
Divine Skills—Stone Cast Earth Treasure!
The Stone Skin that wrapped Sun Lingtong's entire body crumbled off, scattering on the ground.
Sun Lingtong stretched and gave a little giggle, "Little Zhuo, I feel like I've gotten a lot stronger again."
Saying that, he reached out and grabbed.
Divine Sense Grabs!
Sun Lingtong captured a large military knife. He, being small and the knife large, handled the knife as if swinging straw.
Following that, Sun Lingtong used the large knife to repeatedly chop at his chest.
Clang clang clang...
A series of rapid chops sparked countless sparks.
The blade of the large knife was curled, yet the skin on Sun Lingtong's chest turned only slightly red.
Sun Lingtong was very pleased, "Without using any techniques, my flesh alone can already withstand common weapons."
"Little Zhuo, the effects of such cultivation are truly fantastic, you should try it too."
"Oh, wait, you can employ the power of four countries, that's even more efficient!"
Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly, "Big brother, I merely tried once and did not truly utilize it."
Sun Lingtong: "Ah, why is that?"
Sun Lingtong did not attend the feast with Ning Zhuo.
He had to watch over the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon.
There were indeed too many illicit goods, no, spoils of war inside the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon. Should any means detect them and find them on Ning Zhuo, that would be terrible.
Therefore, even within the Three Generals Camp, Ning Zhuo and the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon kept as much distance as possible.
Ning Zhuo then told him about the offer from Shuangjing and the matter with household retainers.
Sun Lingtong felt it strange, "Since he didn't restrict your freedom, you could leave if you wanted, why not join?"
"Being a retainer is just bad in name. But your National Power tile, it's as if it increased threefold. That's a huge advantage!"
Ning Zhuo shook his head and sighed, "Big brother, I am of the Righteous Path."
"If I just took advantage and left, what would people think of me, Ning Zhuo, and of the Ning Family?"
"Shuangjing deliberately offered such generous conditions precisely because he saw through my identity. He is a noble family's son, not a spoiled one, and he's quite capable."
"This was evident from the previous surprise attack when he decisively ordered the re-stocking of the arsenal, delaying us."
Sun Lingtong, using his hand as a pillow: "Tch, the Righteous Path sure is troublesome!"
Ning Zhuo continued, "Being recruited by Shuangjing as a retainer does not carry a bad reputation."
"I am not someone overly prideful; I've been of low status since I was little. If I were arrogant, how could I have endured for fourteen years and covertly schemed against the Lava Fairy Palace?"
"In fact, having been a royal master's retainer with Foundation Establishment Cultivation, that counts as quite an impressive record already."
"It's just that I have two concerns."
Sun Lingtong: "Oh? Let's hear them."
Ning Zhuo raised his left index finger, "The first concern is Liu, Guan, and Zhang, the three generals."
"Big brother, as I told you before, I can use Life Hanging Thread to plant Divine Skills in Guan Hong and Zhang Hei, but somehow it won't work on Liu Er."
"Liu Er has substance!"
"He was able to subdue Guan Hong and Zhang Hei at the time of their sworn brotherhood. And in the recent war, he played the main role, capturing Ma Feitui, all of which proves his exceptionality."
"What I value more is his interpersonal skills, very astute."
"Such a talented person is only limited by his status and not appreciated. Once he gets an opportunity, he will soar."
"Right now, becoming friends with him will lead to greater benefits in the future."
"Therefore, if I agree to Shuangjing, it will greatly weaken my relationship with Liu, Guan, and Zhang, the three generals."
"At present, the loss is much greater than declining Shuangjing. But in the long run, it's not necessarily the case!"
Sun Lingtong was slightly stunned, "I didn't expect you to have such high hopes for Liu Er."
"But I think, you don't need to be so calculating."
"If I were you, I would immediately accept Shuangjing's offer, become a retainer, and use that National Power."
"An advantage is only an advantage once it's in your mouth, securing it in pocket is what counts."
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"Compared to Liu, Guan, and Zhang, I'd rather look out for your well-being, Little Zhuo. How can those three compare to you?"
"So everything should prioritize your development."
"Didn't you say not long ago that you almost died in battle? Going forward, as you're going to participate in this war, the higher your cultivation level, the better, of course."
"Who knows, at some critical moment, that extra bit of cultivation might just save your life."
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Ning Zhuo was taken aback for a moment.
He looked at Sun Lingtong, feeling a warmth in his heart, and secretly thought: "Liu Er has Guan Hong and Zhang Hei, his sworn brothers, supporting him, and I am not lacking either, having the boss on my side!"
In this world, no one valued Ning Zhuo more, had more confidence in him, understood him better, and cared about him more than Sun Lingtong.
Ning Zhuo then raised his middle finger of his left hand: "Now, onto my second concern."
"I am wondering if becoming a servant to the Shuangjing Family and then absorbing national power is really the most efficient way?"
"Back when Shuangjing made the offer to recruit me, I immediately recalled an old event."
"Boss, do you remember when General Mu Lan was injured, and Zhang Zhongyi proposed dual cultivation?"
Sun Lingtong giggled: "How could I forget such a fun event, huh?"
"Little Zhuo! Do you want to engage in dual cultivation with Mu Lan?" Sun Lingtong's eyes shone with excitement, finding the idea very amusing.
Ning Zhuo sighed and said seriously, "If I enter into dual cultivation with Mu Lan, then I would belong to the Upper General Mansion. With such a status, would absorbing national power be higher than a servant of the Shuangjing Family?"
Sun Lingtong responded without hesitation: "Of course! You now have an official position as a Military Adviser. It's actually quite difficult to rise any higher."
"Unless you give up your identity as a citizen of Southern Bean Country and become a national of Liangzhu Country, you could then be eligible for a promotion."
"It's really rare to give preferential treatments to people from other countries."
Sun Lingtong continued her analysis: "Aside from an official position, there is the honorary one."
"Becoming a servant to the Shuangjing Family could triple your efficiency. By engaging in dual cultivation with Mu Lan, at least ten times, right?"
"Shuangjing is just nobility related to the Royal Family of Liangzhu Country, but Mu Lan is the only heir to the Upper General Mansion!"
Ning Zhuo nodded: "So, from this perspective, it would be better for me to accept Mu Lan's offer rather than Shuangjing's, right?"
Sun Lingtong blinked: "You make a lot of sense."
"But, Little Zhuo, I find something strange."
"With your cleverness, you could not have failed to realize the benefits of joining the Upper General Mansion, nor the award of national power after making achievements."
"If that's the case, why did you refuse the dual cultivation before?"
"Your cultivation of the Three Superior Sect Techniques does not require you to preserve your own Origin Yang."
Ning Zhuo gave a wry smile: "Boss, people change, and how could I be an exception?"
"The ambush battle I fought in earlier shocked me to the core."
"You're right. The battlefield is perilous, and dangers lurk everywhere. I should be doing everything I can to improve myself!"
"National power is the fastest shortcut, and I must fully utilize it."
"In Southern Bean Country, the Zhu Family would not award me with national power just because our Ning Family is competing against the Meng Family."
"It's only in Liangzhu Country, due to such warfare, and with generous Royal Families, that such an opportunity exists."
At this point, Ning Zhuo's gaze became sharp.
"So, I actually only have two choices."
"Either, I absorb national power solely with the identity of a Military Adviser, or I agree to dual cultivation to absorb national power at least ten times more efficiently."
"The compromise of being a servant to the Shuangjing Family was never under my consideration from the start!"
"Boss, what do you think I should choose?"
Sun Lingtong didn't hesitate: "Close your eyes and choose the second option, of course. Dual cultivation, dual cultivation, I want to see you engage in dual cultivation, Little Zhuo!"
Sun Lingtong cheered excitedly, waving her arms.
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly: "Dual cultivation?"
"I don't want that at all!"
"I only want the reputation of dual cultivation, to indirectly gain the status of being the son-in-law of the Upper General Mansion."
"Mu Lan previously let enemies attack us, if I help her clear hidden dangers by engaging in dual cultivation now, wouldn't it be too cheap for her?"
"Besides, although the Three Superior Sect Techniques don't require Origin Yang, I only have one, and it's always better to keep it than not, right?"
Sun Lingtong got even more excited: "Little Zhuo, you want to have your cake and eat it too, giving nothing in return. Good, good, I always said you were suited to join the Bukong Sect."
"Do you already have some wicked idea in your mind?"
"Come on, spill it."
Ning Zhuo nodded: "I do have some thoughts. Boss, from tomorrow on, you'll do this..."
Sun Lingtong nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling, a mischievous grin spreading across her childlike face.
After listening, she looked at Ning Zhuo with admiration: "It's really just like you, Little Zhuo, truly someone I've raised, hehe!"
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