Since Li Leifeng had said so, Zhu Xuanji did not stand on ceremony. He immediately extended his hand to check his pulse, channeling Mana into Li Leifeng's body while his pair of Golden Eyes emitted divine light.
Soon, Zhu Xuanji fully understood Li Leifeng's physical condition and was instantly discolored with shock.
"Elder Li, you..."
Li Leifeng endured for a moment before he finally couldn't hold back and started coughing violently.
His breath declined once more, falling back to the Qi Refinement level, and he coughed up blood from the corners of his mouth, his face pale as snow.
"I am already old, my body decayed, even maintaining breath is exceedingly difficult."
"Lord Zhu's Mana, despite being gentle, has still caused the old man considerable harm."
"Nevertheless, it's all right."
"If it weren't for a fortunate encounter in my youth, consuming a life-extending Lingzhi, I wouldn't have lived to this age."
"I must thank Lord Zhu for relieving this old man."
Zhu Xuanji sighed, frowning, unable to hide his guilt: "Elder Li, I deeply understand your contributions to Ciyou Garden, why must you do this?"
He was a clever man, and after being hit, he saw through Li Leifeng's trickery.
He felt discomfort in his heart.
Li Leifeng laughed: "Lord Zhu, if you truly feel guilty, then represent the court well and arrange for a good director for this Ciyou Garden. If not, this old man won't rest easy even in death."
Zhu Xuanji looked up, couldn't help but sigh deeply.
His primary purpose for coming this time was to clarify matters with Li Leifeng.
According to the intelligence collected from the City Lord's Mansion and the three major families, Li Leifeng was undoubtedly the prime suspect.
Although he had not yet reached the Golden Core Stage, he possessed the Thunder Spiritual Root, at his peak, he held command over the Mechanism Tower, assuredly possessing half-step Golden Core strength!
Furthermore, with significant expertise in Mechanical Techniques, he was recognized by the Magma Fairy Palace and became a candidate among Foundation Establishment cultivators to enter the Immortal Palace.
According to the records of the four major families, Li Leifeng had entered the Immortal Palace multiple times, gaining many rewards.
And these were just the documented instances.
In reality, before the Magma Fairy Palace was blown open, Persimmon Mountain Peak was not under strict lockdown, the path to the Flame Demon Melting Cave was fixed, many cultivators could easily disguise themselves and explore the cave.
The four major forces could not possibly have documented every cultivator who entered the Immortal Palace.
That means Li Leifeng's actual number of explorations in the Immortal Palace far exceeded the records.
With this investigation, Zhu Xuanji now confirmed that Li Leifeng's lifespan was nearing its end, with little time left.
And as a dignified Golden Core Cultivator, he had still fallen into Li Leifeng's design.
Zhu Xuanji sighed inwardly.
He had been subjected to such tactics many times already.
Whenever he appeared in public, his past, personality, and preferences were all scrutinized by those with intentions.
Li Leifeng's actions had hit Zhu Xuanji's weakness directly.
Lesser figures had their own ways of survival!
Zhu Xuanji knew this investigation confirmation would shorten Li Leifeng's lifespan by at least three months.
Feeling guilty, he could only promise to find an outstanding director for the Ciyou Garden in Fire Persimmon Immortal City.
Li Leifeng nodded and smiled: "Lord Zhu, after this old man passes, there will be a bequeathing ceremony, wherein I will bestow my possessions upon others."
"I know you hail from the Royal Family, and as a Divine Hunter, you are wealthy and hold high status."
"But this old man still wishes to gift you something as a token of respect."
"I naturally have nothing like Magical Treasures that would catch your eye, but I have a small toy collected in my early years, full of interest."
"Lord Zhu, please take a look."
Zhu Xuanji accepted a wooden board.
The board was as big as a chopping board, very heavy, light yellow in color, with many natural wood grain textures. Moreover, its surface was crisscrossed with various lines, dividing it into many small pieces of different sizes.
Given Zhu Xuanji's expertise in mechanisms, he was captivated at a glance.
He tried pressing one of the small blocks, moving it smoothly to the side.
Just as he had discerned, these small blocks were all movable.
"Interesting." Zhu Xuanji moved his fingers rapidly, transferring many blocks back and forth, gradually uncovering a pattern.
"This mechanical board hides some information, once these blocks are moved and placed in the right positions, they will reveal part of the information."
"And only when all the information is obtained can the message of the entire board be understood."
Zhu Xuanji frowned at these words: "These numerous blocks, how long will it take to move and place them to get all the content?"
Li Leifeng chuckled: "This is indeed a mechanical toy, like when I was a child, playing with wheels, Erlang, and so on."
"But it's very intricate, it can pass the time."
Zhu Xuanji chuckled: "Time is the one thing I can't afford to waste."
As he spoke, he activated his Golden Eyes to inspect deeper.
Using such a cheat, he immediately obtained all the information from the wooden toy: "This is just a fairy story? And it's not the full text?"
Li Leifeng sighed: "Lord Zhu, it is just a toy."
"In this old man's view, it may be a piece made by a senior Mechanism Cultivator in their later years, for their own descendants while playing with them."
Zhu Xuanji nodded and handed the wooden board back: "I think it's more suitable for this board to remain in Ciyou Garden. Elder Li, I shall take my leave now. I'll fulfill what I promised you."
Li Leifeng: "Lord Zhu, take care. Please forgive this old man for not being able to see you off."
Zhu Xuanji hurriedly waved his hand: "No, no, you should just lie down, it's fine."
He was deeply afraid that seeing him off would cost Li Leifeng another portion of his lifespan.
Leaving Ciyou Garden, Zhu Xuanji couldn't help but look up at the sky and sigh deeply, thinking: "Heavens, why can't you spare more kindness for the good people of this world?"
Zhu Xuanji felt a deep sadness for Li Leifeng's impending passing.
As for the time he would have to spend reporting to the court and his efforts in selecting a suitable director for Ciyou Garden, all would take up his energy and delay the investigation.
But he was willing to do it!
Ning Zhuo did not sleep well in Ning Xiaoren's mansion.
In fact, it was even worse than at his uncle's house.
What truly gave him a sense of belonging was still the small courtyard left to him by his mother.
Breakfast was sumptuous, containing many Spirit Foods.
Ning Xiaoren specially came over to share breakfast with Ning Zhuo.
He asked concernedly about Ning Zhuo's rest last night and whether the food was to his taste.
Ning Zhuo appeared awkward and uncomfortable, unsure how to respond to Ning Xiaoren's care.
Ning Xiaoren, perceptively, toned down his enthusiastic concern.
Only then did Ning Zhuo gradually relax and start to eat the Spirit Food. These things could enhance his cultivation level!
Ning Xiaoren was surprised to find Ning Zhuo eating more and faster.
He consumed most of a plate of Spirit Food.
Some small Spirit Food dishes were small in quantity, just for the taste. As Ning Xiaoren reached with his chopsticks—they were gone!
"Eat, eat as much as you like if you enjoy it." Ning Xiaoren said, smiling.
Ning Zhuo's chewing paused slightly, showing awkwardness again.
Ning Xiaoren laughed heartily: "Good child, good child indeed. The more you eat, the faster you cultivate, and the more prosperous your exploration of the Immortal Palace."
"Th-thank you, B-big Uncle Ning." Ning Zhuo's mouth was full, his voice muffled.
Ning Xiaoren laughed again: "I told you, just call me Uncle Ning."
Ning Zhuo then called him Uncle Ning.
"Good, we will call each other uncle and nephew from now on." Ning Xiaoren stood up, "Eat well, eat your fill. After breakfast, go cultivate, don't waste the Spirit Stones. I heard you like Mechanical Techniques, I'll send you some classics later to read."
Ning Zhuo immediately showed joy, quickly stood up, and cupped his hands in thanks.
Ning Xiaoren laughed heartily, waved his hand, and left the room.
Back in his study, his expression turned cold, having not eaten enough was a first in his own mansion. He had to order another breakfast, asking the servant to prepare it.
Ning Zhuo was flipping through the classics.
These classics evidently came from the Ning Family's secret library, of significantly higher quality than the public library's collections.
On the surface, Ning Zhuo appeared focused, but in reality, he was distracted.
If it were normal times, he would have eagerly immersed himself in these classics.
But now, he was acutely aware of his situation.
No matter how well Ning Xiaoren treated him at this moment, there was no guarantee that the next moment wouldn't see him thrown into a private prison.
Ning Zhuo was treading a dangerous path!
But he had no choice.
Yuan Dasheng's appearance forced him into the game, a perilous game, to eliminate this formidable foe. He barely avoided exposure.
Zhu Xuanji's early arrival and continuous investigation had exerted tremendous pressure, pushing Ning Zhuo to act quickly.
"When did my situation start becoming this difficult?"
Ning Zhuo reflected on the beginning, it was when he decided to blow up the Immortal Palace!
Once he did that, it was like boarding a fragile boat, needing to navigate through towering waves to reach the other shore safely.
A single mistake, or even a slight delay, would result in shipwreck and death.
He could not disembark.
If others commandeered the Immortal Palace, they would inevitably uncover the explosion's scenario, exposing Ning Zhuo as the true culprit.
He could only move forward, continuously move forward, clenching his teeth, and face any obstacle head-on, however formidable!
"After a long night, Ning Xiaoren still shows courtesy and kindness, indicating their investigation has produced results."
"These are the defenses I meticulously crafted starting at age two. The numerous evidence I fabricated appears naturally throughout my life."
"As long as they uncover these, they will receive rational explanations, recognizing my talent in Mechanical Techniques."
"Even if they find the underground workshop, it doesn't matter. I've cleaned it up and left many research and creative drafts of the Explosive Flame Monkey, and many failed mechanism prototypes, and so on."
Although Ning Zhuo was alone, he had an advantage.
He had prepared for over a decade, and during his growth period, he had deliberately laid out many clues and traces.
These clues, when aggregated, formed intelligence.
Such intelligence was actually the personal defense line meticulously arranged by Ning Zhuo—who would suspect a two-year-old child of acting?
As long as his early wisdom talents remained undiscovered, Ning Zhuo could hold this line of defense for now.
Of course, his love and obsession with Mechanical Techniques were not an act, but his true self shining through.
"Ning Zhuo, come out." Shortly after, Ning Xiaohui's voice suddenly called from outside the room.