The sky was already bright.

    However, a certain courtyard of the Zheng family remained shrouded in darkness.

    Night Star Heavenly Silk Formation!

    Once this formation was set up, it created a night sky phenomenon within a certain area.

    This was still a restrained version; if the full power of the formation were unleashed, it would cover a range of more than ten miles.

    The darkness in the courtyard sky fluctuated and gradually transformed into a piece of silk.

    From the soft glow of the night silk, four figures flew out, growing from small torge.

    All four were Golden Core cultivators.

    They were the ancestors of the Zhou family and the Zheng family.

    Earlier, the four Golden Core cultivators had a bet.

    The Zhou family’s two Golden Core cultivators set up a formation, while the Zheng family’s two Golden Core cultivators broke through it.

    The stakes were the Zheng family’s Nine Suns Yellow Bull Paste and the Zhou family’s Southern Sky Vermilion Bird Constetion Formation Diagram.

    The four Golden Core cultivatorsnded on the ground.

    The two from the Zheng family appeared proud, their lips slightly curled.

    In contrast, the two from the Zhou family looked calm but somewhat gloomy. Zhou Nongying still had a trace of disbelief on his face.

    Seeing the two Golden Core cultivators of the Zheng family looking over, Zhou Nongying sighed, “Brothers of the Zheng family, you’ve won.”

    One of the Zheng family’s Golden Core cultivators, Zheng Danlian, said, “Ashamed. Our sess in breaking the formation was merely due to the advantage of our weapon.”

    These words immediately made the two Golden Core cultivators from the Zhou family recall the previous battle, and their expressions changed again.

    Zhou Nongying sighed again, “I didn’t expect that after so many years of secretly umting strength, your noble family would craft such a treasure.”

    “Losing to this is no shame at all.”

    “A bet is a bet. When we return to our family, I will personally deliver the Southern Sky Vermilion Bird Constetion Formation Diagram to your residence.”

    “Hahaha, good!” Zheng Shuanggouughed heartily and took out a bottle of pills, immediately tossing it to Zhou Nongying.

    Zheng Shuanggou said, “This is the Nine Suns Yellow Bull Paste! The future of the family rests with the younger generation.”

    “Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zhenshen are both outstanding talents. Treating their ailments is of utmost importance, and their foundation must not be neglected.”

    The two Golden Core cultivators from the Zhou family exchanged nces, and Zhou Nongying pretended to hesitate, asking, “This is…”

    Zheng Shuanggou cupped his hands, “Ah, we have a favor to ask.”

    “The Zhou family excels in formations, and Fellow Daoist Zhou Nongying is particrly skilled in arranging formations. In the previous battle, my brother and I were deeply impressed.”

    “Could we trouble Brother Zhou to personally set up a formation for our family’s weapon?”

    “Oh? This matter…” Zhou Nongying looked troubled. “Arranging a formation, of course, is within my abilities.”

    “But in that case, I would need to refer to the weapon’s blueprint.”

    “What’s so difficult about that? You can look at it as much as you want!” Zheng Shuanggou responded with great straightforwardness.

    Zheng Danlian added, “Many years ago, we obtained this mechanical blueprint from the Lava Immortal Pce.”

    Even so, the demeanor of the two Golden Core cultivators from the Zheng family still moved the two from the Zhou family.

    In the recent bet, the Zhou family lost to a mechanical weapon.

    The weapon possessed immense power and could change form through mechanical switches. Once transformed, the weapon would exhibit entirely different attack methods.

    By showing the mechanical blueprint to the Zhou family, the threat posed by this mechanical weapon to them would be greatly reduced.

    This was beneficial for the Zhou family, and the two Golden Core cultivators immediately nodded in agreement and inquired about the timeline for setting up the formation.

    Zheng Danlian said, “The weapon is not yet fully crafted. The finalponents need to be added, and a vast amount of fire energy is required to melt the key materials.”

    Only after the weapon was fully crafted would it be suitable for the formation to be attached.

    Zheng Shuanggou added, “Lastly, during the tempering process, an extreme cold force is needed. This is what our familycks.”

    Zhou Nongying said, “The Ning family originates from the North Wind Country, and their main cultivation techniques are all ice-based. They should be able to handle this.”

    Zheng Shuanggou nodded, “That’s what we thought as well.”

    After a brief conversation, the head of the Zheng family knocked on the door and entered respectfully, saluting, “Two seniors, two ancestors, something significant has happened in the city in recent days.”

    He then took out an invitation, “This is an invitation from Detective Zhu Xuanji, who wishes to gather all the Golden Core cultivators in the city to explore the Lava Immortal Pce together.”

    After hearing the report from the head of the Zheng family, the expressions of the four Golden Core cultivators changed.

    “Meng Kui! Sitting by and watching, always meddling from the sidelines… Hmph, he’s truly our city lord. He uses people without hesitation, disregarding the lives of the city’s inhabitants.”

    The four Golden Core cultivators, having learned they were being manipted, no longer felt in a good mood.

    “I said earlier, Meng Kui is one of the Four Generals of the Meng family. For him, bringing the Lava Immortal Pce and even the Huoshi Immortal City under the Meng family’s control is the best oue.”

    “It’s not surprising that as a Nascent Soul-level cultivator, a single move from him changes the entire situation.”

    “In my opinion, what he really wants to deal with is the Lava Immortal Pce, right? By using the Red me Demon Beasts, he’s weakening the pce while appearing justified and beyond reproach.”

    “After all, even the Soul-Devouring Sect’s true heirs have shown up.”

    “Could Qi Bai be that shadow demon cultivator?”

    “It’s hard to say.”

    “It’s rare for a true heir at the Golden Core level like Qi Bai to be defeated and captured.”

    “The one who acted was Sun Lingtong. He’s the master of the ck market and has been operating in Huoshi City for many years. He already has peak Foundation Establishment-levelbat strength, and most importantly, he hails from the No-Void Sect.”

    The No-Void Sect was a major demonic sect on par with the Soul-Devouring Sect.

    “Sun Lingtong didn’t show much in this battle. The one who truly defeated Qi Bai was… a mechanical cultivator named ‘young puppet master.’”

    “Does this mean that years ago, the No-Void Sect had already beenying their ns in Huoshi City?”

    Soul-Devouring Sect, No-Void Sect…

    The four Golden Core cultivators exchanged transmitted thoughts, their expressions growing even more solemn.

    The three sect leaders were Void Refining experts, and the Lava Immortal Pce was their legacy and inheritance, attracting all sorts of powerful factions.

    Compared to these two demonic sects, the Zhou and Zheng families were merely small forces limited to a corner.

    “The winds are turbulent…” The Golden Core ancestor sighed.

    “The only ones we can truly rely on are the Southern Dou Kingdom.”

    “Hahaha, Zhu Xuanji pointed out Meng Kui’s magical techniques in his invitation. This man, with his royal lineage, truly understands diplomacy and strategy.”

    “Right now, the top of Mount Huoshi has been dered a forbidden area by Meng Kui. Two of us who could have entered the Immortal Pce were directly blocked by Meng Kui.”

    “His reasoning is perfectly legitimate, and we have no choice but to obey.”

    “But this time, Zhu Xuanji’s reasoning is just as valid—he is concerned about the Lava Immortal Pce and wants to help by entering the pce to fend off external enemies!”

    “Hahaha, how must Meng Kui be feeling right now? He treats us like this, and Zhu Xuanji treats him the same way.”

    After some discussion, the four Golden Core cultivators decided to ept the invitation.

    It had been a long time since their two families’ Golden Core cultivators had entered the Immortal Pce.

    By using Zhu Xuanji to counter Meng Kui, they could also deepen their family’s ties with the royal family. If things turned sour in the future, they might rely on the royal family to back them up against the Soul-Devouring Sect and the No-Void Sect.

    As Meng Kui took action and the conflict between the No-Void Sect and the Soul-Devouring Sect escted, the four Golden Core cultivators felt the pressure, instinctively drawing closer together. They also moved swiftly to align with the Southern Dou royal family.

    At this moment, inside the Lava Immortal Pce.

    The Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, was leading the way for Ning Zhuo.

    The two advanced unimpeded.

    Yuan Dasheng had advanced to the first stage of the Intelligence Spirit phase, greatly enhancing hisbat power, despite his mechanical body remaining the same.

    Ning Zhuo hadn’t studied it carefully, but during his cooperation with the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, he had gained many insights.

    Yuan Dasheng’s intelligence was still not on par with a normal person’s. Hismunication with Ning Zhuo was limited to a few phrases, making him quite taciturn.

    Ning Zhuo tried to get him to express some opinions, deliberately starting conversations, but Yuan Dasheng remained silent.

    “Dasheng, is it really necessary for you to keep calling me ‘lord’? Can’t you change your way of addressing me?”

    Yuan Dasheng immediately shook his head, firmly refusing

    , “My lord jests. My lord is my lord, how could I change my form of address?”

    This made Ning Zhuo thoughtful.

    He suddenly realized that following his spiritual instincts actually meant finding a position within the deepest level of intelligence.

    To Yuan Dasheng, Ning Zhuo had fortunately risen to the highest level, recognized as the lord by Yuan Dasheng.

    “If I hadn’t reached the highest level, in Yuan Dasheng’s intelligence, I would have been considered the child of the lord or a colleague. In that case, I wouldn’t have been able tomand him fully.”

    “The intelligence of the Intelligence Spirit phase has its own set of beliefs. And these beliefs guide all their actions.”

    Ning Zhuo once again passed through the three barriers of the Buddhist Sect and imed the rewards.

    There was nothing more to say; they were all Phantom True Lotus Seeds.

    After collecting seven of them in a row, he paused by himself.

    The embryonic form of his divine ability, originally resembling three segments of lotus roots, now had a thin sprout with a small leaf attached. After absorbing the seven seeds, the sprout fully opened, forming a lotus leaf the size of an adult’s palm.

    With another great advancement, Ning Zhuo exited the Buddhist Sect’s tests, closed the door to the Buddhist Sect, and retreated all the way to the preparation room, eventually returning to Room One.

    The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit had been watching the entire time. Seeing this, its face was filled with confusion—what exactly was Ning Zhuo trying to do?!

    At the next moment, Ning Zhuo fully focused on sensing the Buddha Heart Demon Seal while simultaneously activating the Life Hanging by a Thread ability.

    His soul power was rapidly consumed, and the Life Hanging by a Thread ability suddenly jerked, pulling Sun Lingtong’s soul into it.

    Sun Lingtong: !!!

    Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit: ?!?!