Yu Heye ate very little himself, mostly serving food to Ning Zhuo.
This kind of attentiveness was a bit excessive. Ning Zhuo also felt a bit uncomfortable and pretended to speak coldly: "I can help myself. Senior Yu is too polite; please feel free."
Yu Heye laughed heartily: "Thank you for your concern, Young Master Ning!"
Shen Xi remained silent.
Su Lingkou felt puzzled, thinking to himself: "Why does the information say Yu Heye is quick-tempered and irritable, but in reality, he is quite the opposite, so amiable?"
Seeing Ning Zhuo decline, Yu Heye quickly stopped what he was doing.
He switched his focus and patiently waited for Ning Zhuo to take a few bites before saying, "Young Master Ning, there are some difficulties in cultivation, and I need your guidance."
Su Lingkou: "?! "
The intelligence didn’t say Yu Heye was so eager to learn and humble, right?
The public opinion often says he is quick-tempered and irritable; could he be a fake?
Shen Xi twitched the corner of his mouth, thinking: "Yu Heye is treating a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with such an attitude. To seek advice under the guise of being respectful is a bit much, losing the dignity of a Golden Core Cultivator."
But then, Yu Heye openly sought advice from Ning Zhuo in front of Shen Su, discussing the key points in the "Reverse Five Elements Demon Technique."
Ning Zhuo put down his chopsticks, his expression serious and solemn, to express his opinion.
Shen Xi became more speechless inwardly: "It actually seems like a real thing."
But as he listened more, his expression changed, becoming serious and earnest as well.
Ning Zhuo’s responses hit the essence accurately, and more importantly, he cleverly used analogy, making what was initially quite complex sound simple and clear from his mouth, benefiting everyone greatly.
Su Lingkou also immediately noticed this.
The cousins stopped eating gradually and focused on listening. As for Yu Heye, he showed an appearance of seeking knowledge, and already had stopped eating. The dining table had turned into a lecture hall.
Ning Zhuo spoke fluently and became the controller of the entire scene.
He knew that Yu Heye’s Five Elements Realm was insufficient, particularly the Gold Element and Earth Element, so he focused on these aspects extensively.
Yu Heye initially listened with attentiveness, became overjoyed and enlightened midway, but towards the end, his eyes turned vacant, and he became increasingly dazed.
Ning Zhuo, noticing his expressions, immediately knew that this person had limited comprehension. Continuing further would not be beneficial, so he wisely chose to stop.
This left Shen Su greatly regretting.
Su Lingkou looked at Ning Zhuo, her eyes bright with admiration, thinking: "This Young Master Ning Zhuo is insightful! After all, my cousin is amazing to have discovered such a talent among the crowd at once."
Shen Xi, on the other hand, cupped his hands towards Ning Zhuo, sincerely admired, and said: "Listening to your words is better than studying for ten years! Daoist Fellow Ning, today I am so fortunate to dine with you at this table."
He also cupped his hands to Yu Heye in thanks, grateful to him for giving him such a great opportunity to benefit immensely.
Yu Heye waved his hands, first expressing his respect for the Shen Family of the Nine Palace Immortal City, and then his respect towards Shen Xi, before turning to Ning Zhuo, expressing his gratitude and admiration for him.
This time, Shen Xi no longer felt that Yu Heye was just flattering.
The reason is simple: Ning Zhuo has true talent and knowledge!
Shen Xi’s eyes were bright and focused on Ning Zhuo, his tone fervent: "I wish I could drink and be joyful with Daoist Fellow Ning, chatting through the night without sleeping."
Ning Zhuo waved his hand: "As the saying goes, every weapon has its advantage; every implement has its limitation. My Qi Sea and Dantian mainly cultivate the Five Elements Technique, so I only have some insights about the transformation and planning of the Five Elements."
"I am still far, far from being truly capable."
At this moment, Ning Zhuo thought of the Five Elements God Master and the Lord of Wangchuan.
Su Lingkou stuck out her tongue: "So this is just ’some insights’?"
Yu Heye’s Adam’s apple moved a bit, feeling that Ning Zhuo was being overly humble. According to his nature, he is quite averse to this kind of noble play from aristocratic young men.
If it were him, he would surely raise his head and proudly state that this is my personal ability and my excellence, which ordinary people cannot reach.
But Ning Zhuo said this...
Yu Heye accepted it.
After all, it was Ning Zhuo who saved his life.
Even if it was a hidden elder beside Ning Zhuo who acted, without showing themselves, it was clearly intended to place this kindness upon Ning Zhuo.
Yu Heye understood this aspect; thus, he placed the life-saving favor on Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo’s humble attitude greatly suited Shen Xi’s preferences!
Shen Xi, who came from the Shen Family of the Nine Palace Immortal City, was from childhood strictly educated, who, if put in the same position, would also show such humility.
This made Shen Xi fond of Ning Zhuo, feeling that the other party is the same kind as him.
Ning Zhuo then looked up at Shen Xi, sincerely saying: "The great name of the Shen Family of Nine Palace Immortal City, I’ve long heard as thunderous in my ear."
"Meeting Daoist Fellow Shen Xi today is an immense honor for me."
"To be honest, I’ve always had a strong interest in learning about formations. But I am not very familiar with the Nine Palace Formation, usually, the one I use most frequently is still the Five Elements Formation."
Shen Xi laughed heartily, feeling very pleased.
Ning Zhuo’s compliments to the Shen Family made him feel greatly dignified!
Previously, such flattery from Ning Zhuo would have hardly made Shen Xi so happy. But now, through Yu Heye’s questioning, comprehension, confirmation, and re-question process, Ning Zhuo demonstrated his profound mastery of the Five Elements Realm.
As to how profound, Shen Xi still couldn’t gauge its depths, but he could confirm that Ning Zhuo far surpassed him in this regard!
This alone was enough!
After all, knowing how young Ning Zhuo is to have greatly surpassed Shen Xi in this area, and even being able to be a teacher to someone like Yu Heye, a Golden Core Cultivator, is already an immense achievement!
Of course, in the cultivation world, there are countless means, with many marvelous methods for retaining youthful appearances. But interacting with Ning Zhuo, Shen Xi felt that the other person’s actual age couldn’t be very much.
Mainly because Ning Zhuo himself still harbors a sense of innocence and curiosity, far from the twilight nature usually seen in the middle-aged or elderly.
Shen Xi, holding a position within the Nine Palace Immortal City, had met quite a number of people, which was also part of the deliberate nurturing from his family. Therefore, Shen Xi had a decent ability in discerning people’s natures.
"Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo’s actual age should be slightly older than me, possibly a decade older." Guessed the thirty-year-old Shen Xi.
He grossly underestimated Ning Zhuo’s Five Elements Realm, but the perceived gap seemed to suggest to Shen Xi that Ning Zhuo’s age was much greater.
Shen Xi immediately stated: "Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo has such profound mastery in the Five Elements, which is truly enviable. Your Five Elements Array must be extraordinary indeed."
Ning Zhuo’s eyes brightened: "Lately, I indeed had some realizations, still needing to seek some advice from Daoist Fellow Shen."
Shen Xi quickly said: "I don’t dare, I don’t dare."
Nonetheless, Ning Zhuo voluntarily shared the Five Elements Array he designed.
Yu Heye recognized a lot of the mechanisms within the "Reverse Five Elements Demon Technique."
Shen Xi listened carefully, his brow slightly furrowed: "Daoist Fellow Ning, are you aiming to design a Five Elements Array Plate?"
Ning Zhuo spoke truthfully: "Daoist Fellow Shen guessed most of it correctly, precisely, it’s about designing a Five Elements Mechanism Part."
This wasn’t an excuse he deliberately pulled out.
The actual situation was like this: he gained insights from the "Reverse Five Elements Demon Technique" and also manipulated Yu Heye’s Chaotic Five Elements Golden Core. After practical manipulation, many inspirations emerged within him.
His prior battle with the Lord of Wangchuan saw him with too low a cultivation level, relying on the Iron Han Armor, Golden Swallow, for constant movement, repeatedly skirting the edge of death. This extremely stimulating battle experience created a dire drive within him to continue refining the Iron Han Armor.
"Currently, it’s only some preliminary concepts, not yet mature." Ning Zhuo shared some of his thoughts directly.
Shen Xi’s brow furrowed even deeper: "I can tell from your words that you intend to improve the mechanism parts, making them serve as sources of mechanical magical power."
"But... using a Golden Core as the core, isn’t that too extravagant?"
Shen Xi spoke tactfully, implying that, as small Foundation Establishment Cultivators, using another’s Golden Core as a consumable might be reaching beyond our grasp?
Yu Heye listening, felt a cold sweat, thinking about the Five Elements Golden Core in his own body.
Little did he know that Ning Zhuo had a hundred or so Golden Cores at his disposal!