If Yu Heye dies, this matter will become a big deal.
The Myriad Images Sect encourages cultivators to resolve disputes through martial demonstrations, rather than this kind of situation.
This easily leads people to suspect that Yu Heye died from a covert attack. Once he dies, it will inevitably trigger inquiries and investigations by Myriad Images Sect, making it very likely to complicate matters further.
As for Shen Xi, it’s merely an add-on with room for development, but for now, it seems more like a disguise, neither essential nor unnecessary.
Ning Zhuo snorted coldly in his heart: "Deviation?"
"In front of me, I won’t allow you to deviate!"
He extended his hand, his five fingers spread open, mana surging, grabbing out of thin air.
He pulled Yu Heye into his palm, gripping his head like holding a ball.
Yu Heye had completely passed out, motionless.
Divine Skill - Life Hanging Thread!
Ning Zhuo examined the situation inside Yu Heye’s body and discovered the Heart Palace’s lava spewing, Liver Palace’s poison thorns piercing, Kidney Palace’s stagnant water counter-corroding, Lung Palace’s golden blades dancing wildly, Spleen Palace’s earth foundation collapsing! The Five Elements Mana and essence blood were in utter chaos, entangled, becoming a tangled mess.
If this continued, it would only take a few breaths for the Reverse Five Elements Golden Core to be affected, leading to the Golden Core’s detonation and the explosion’s devastation would engulf the entire cave mansion and mountain.
The power of a Golden Core’s detonation is extremely formidable.
Yu Heye, who is skilled in combat, is even more so.
Back then, Qing Yan detonated his Golden Core, able to obstruct a spatial storm for a breath, giving Ning Zhuo and Qing Chi crucial escape time.
Ning Zhuo snorted coldly again, pouring divine sense into his body, fully enveloping Yu Heye’s entire body. Meanwhile, the Life Hanging Thread directly connected and settled on the Reverse Five Elements Golden Core.
The next moment, he directly manipulated the Golden Core, unleashing a surge of violent Five Elements Mana.
The mana rampaged in Yu Heye’s body, causing significant injuries.
Blood oozed from Yu Heye’s mouth, his injuries were severe.
But by fighting violence with violence, the immediate effect was successful, temporarily stabilizing his condition, easing the crisis, buying enough time.
Ning Zhuo carefully manipulated, beginning to finely carve.
Yu Heye offered no resistance, so he began implementing his earlier reasoning, directly constructing a brand-new mana circulation within his body.
Beads of sweat gradually seeped from Ning Zhuo’s forehead. Fully focused, his spirit was rapidly consumed.
After a moment, Ning Zhuo exhaled a mouthful of turbid air, slowly retracting his hand.
His face was pale as paper, his eyes like cold stars, secretly relieved: "This is my first time, manipulating someone else’s Golden Core like this."
"Reverse Five Elements Golden Core is very difficult to control, the mana expelled naturally mingles all Five Elements, completely unable to precisely control the flow."
"Fortunately, I have similar experience..."
Ning Zhuo’s experience came from the Five Elements Golden Core Wheel.
This mechanism component is the core of Iron Han Armor, which Ning Zhuo had repeatedly damaged during the fierce battle with Lord of Wanchuan.
Frequent use during life-and-death battles also gave Ning Zhuo many insights into using the Golden Core.
These insights helped him painstakingly manipulate the Reverse Five Elements Golden Core, barely reaching the desired goal.
Ning Zhuo took out a cushion, immediately closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, both to rest himself and to secretly review, engraving his insights and inspirations in his mind.
This practice gave him new ideas about the Five Elements Golden Core Wheel.
He now memorized these ideas, planning to delve into them further when he has the opportunity.
"Perhaps I can make some improvements to the Five Elements Golden Core Wheel!"
After a cup of tea’s time, Yu Heye who was lying on the ground slowly opened his eyes.
"What happened to me?"
"Pain!"
"Wait, wasn’t I dead?!" He suddenly widened his eyes and sat up halfway.
A sharp pain transmitted, making him gasp coldly.
He instinctively used divine sense to introspect, discovering that he was heavily injured!
But he was ecstatic.
Because he realized that the desperate situation of Five Elements chaos before he passed out had completely disappeared. A new circulation had been established, revolving around the Reverse Five Elements Golden Core, operating on its own.
The mortal crisis was resolved.
"I’m still alive! I’m actually still alive!"
His gaze suddenly fixed on Ning Zhuo.
Only then did he realize: he was lying on the ground, while Ning Zhuo, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, was sitting in his position, sipping tea while browsing the cultivation technique jade slips on his bookshelf.
Yu Heye blinked a few times, looking at Ning Zhuo with surprise and doubt: "You saved me?"
Ning Zhuo directed his gaze toward him, his expression indifferent, only emitting a nasal sound: "Hmm?"
Yu Heye’s expression froze momentarily, suddenly awakening to the situation.
He endured the pain and forcefully stood up. With a solemn face, he bowed his hands to Ning Zhuo in gratitude: "Daoist fellow Ning Zhuo, I am deeply grateful for your life-saving grace, a debt I shall never forget!"
He wondered in his heart: Was it Ning Zhuo himself, or was it another high-ranking expert who aided him?
"Could Daoist fellow Ning Zhuo alone, merely at the Foundation Establishment Stage, resolve such a dangerous situation for me?"
"It’s more plausible that there’s an elder lurking near him. His previous exchange of words with me probably received guidance from an elder."
Yu Heye had just fainted, completely unaware of the world outside. Given his life experiences, it’s hard to imagine Ning Zhuo independently saving him from such dire straits.
But regardless of whether it was an elder or Ning Zhuo himself, both were his lifesavers.
Yu Heye maintained a posture of bowing and gratitude, speaking again to express his willingness to repay Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo felt secretly pleased; this Yu Heye was a rather perceptive individual.
This wasn’t outside Ning Zhuo’s expectations.
He had previously researched intelligence and analyzed Yu Heye’s character. The conflict between Yu Heye and the main peak had subjected him to long-term oppression; these life experiences imparted many lessons, granting him a keen sense of self-awareness and a strong understanding of societal etiquette.
If he had truly acted recklessly and according to whim, he would have long met his demise, unable to achieve the position he held today.
It was precisely because Ning Zhuo had this recognition of Yu Heye that he decided to lend a helping hand when Yu Heye fainted.
"You indeed need to repay me." Ning Zhuo first presented a Divine Contract, "But before that, you should sign this."
Yu Heye’s heart sank, fearing it was a slave contract.
But he accepted it nonetheless!
Eventually, upon inspection, he found it was merely a simple confidentiality contract.
He promptly signed this contract.
Ning Zhuo smiled: "Daoist fellow Yu Heye, I have no interest in the mountain you selected. I was unaware of this beforehand."
"Originally, I intended to take ten Mid Grade Spirit Stones and leave here to rent another Cave Mansion."
"Avoid trouble when possible."
"I’m new here and don’t wish to make enemies too easily."
"But who could have thought Shen Xi would come to me, telling me..."
Ning Zhuo used Shen Xi’s request as an excuse.
Yu Heye immediately accepted, nodding repeatedly: "I’ve heard of the Shen Family of the Nine Palace Immortal City before, renowned for the Formation set up, famous throughout the Flying Cloud Country, indeed remarkable."
"Daoist fellow Ning Zhuo, at such a young age, is also quite accomplished. Communicating with a genius like Shen Xi is indeed suitable!"
With that said, he clasped his fists once again: "Then I shall immediately pack my belongings and lead my subordinates to move away from here."
Ning Zhuo laughed heartily, gesturing with his hand: "No need, no need, that’s too conspicuous."
"I’m new here and don’t wish to stand out too much, better to observe the situation first."
Yu Heye understood, nodding again, expressing his willingness to follow Ning Zhuo’s arrangements.
Ning Zhuo said: "Since I’m leaving, I won’t return. It’s imperative that today’s matter between us remains strictly confidential."
"I need you to invite Shen Xi and Su Lingkou, that pair of cousins, to a banquet. At the feast, converse with me, adopting a stance of equality."
Yu Heye was stunned again.
Unexpectedly, Ning Zhuo’s request had turned out to be so easy!
Yu Heye felt pressure instead. He first expressed a willingness to cooperate actively with Ning Zhuo, then cautiously stated: Such an arrangement cannot truly repay the life-saving grace.
Ning Zhuo smiled at him: "The dispute between you and me is minor as dust. Were it not for Shen Xi... do you think I would be entangled here? Were it not for your dying in front of me, causing much trouble and attention, I wouldn’t have intervened."
"That’s my honest view; please don’t take offense."
To this day, even though Ning Zhuo was just at the Foundation Establishment Stage, he had enough confidence to stand shoulder to shoulder with a Golden Core Cultivator like Yu Heye.
Yu Heye opened his mouth to speak, harboring some persistence of his own.
Seeing this, Ning Zhuo said: "How about this? I’ll arrange for some subordinates to temporarily occupy your mountain. By my side, it’s not convenient at the moment. List the Cave Mansions here for me, and I’ll select a few."
Yu Heye did not doubt him, agreeing immediately.
Thus, Ning Zhuo’s genuine objective was achieved.
Soon after, the Flying Message reached Shen Xi.
Shen Xi was discussing the arrangement of a Formation with Su Lingkou when he read the message, a smile appearing: "Daoist fellow Ning Zhuo, it’s already done."
Su Lingkou extended Divine Sense: "Yu Heye is inviting us, naming Ning Zhuo as a guest. How did Ning Zhuo manage this?"
Shen Xi rapidly reviewed Ning Zhuo’s actions in his mind: "Most likely invited some elders; this person must be from a great family!"