Ning Zhuo began examining the items Chen Cha left behind.
First was a jade slip, as white as snow.
Pressing it to his brow, he infused it with his spiritual sense.
Upon inspection, he found it to be a collection of formations titled Curved Snake Elastic Formation Collection, authored by White-Scaled Hermit.
After briefly browsing, he showed a hint of surprise.
"This White-Scaled Hermit isn't human, but a male snake demon."
"In middle age, he suffered severe injuries and couldn't restore his serpent body, so he crafted mechanical constructs to substitute and reconstruct his serpent form."
"The formations recorded in this jade slip cover a variety of arrays set upon both mechanical and flesh-and-blood serpent bodies."
Though White-Scaled Hermit left few details, Ning Zhuo sensed that this demon likely possessed the strength of a Nascent Soul stage.
"It was through obtaining this jade slip and diligently studying it that Chen Cha earned the title of Formation Master and acquired his skill in crafting mechanical constructs."
"This means he's given me everything he had."
Ning Zhuo’s reasoning was based on the content of the jade slip, filled with Chen Cha’s personal annotations, insights, and records of his solo experiments in designing constructs.
Knowledge like this is invaluable.
It’s the foundation of Chen Cha’s life’s work—he would likely hold some back even from a disciple.
Yet, Chen Cha handed this jade slip directly to Ning Zhuo.
"This old Chen..."
Ning Zhuo sighed and opened the small pouch.
Inside were over twenty wooden beads of various sizes, some as large as a baby’s fist, others as small as a pinky nail.
Each bead had two faces: one pitch black, the other pure white.
The black side bore the character for “death,” and the white side, “life.”
"Half-Dead Half-Alive Pearls."
Having read the jade slip, Ning Zhuo instantly recognized these wooden beads.
These beads were Chen Cha's own invention, designed by combining White-Scaled Hermit's formation techniques, Chen Cha’s personal experience, and a flash of inspiration.
These wooden beads are foundational components for mechanical constructs, used at joints.
When the white "life" side faces up, the joint moves freely.
When the black "death" side faces up, the joint locks in place.
The brilliance of these beads lies in their hidden interconnection; by inscribing formation patterns onto the main mechanical part, they can form one or multiple active formations.
By manipulating these beads between "life" and "death" states, one can command the construct to perform various intricate movements.
"What a marvel."
"The Half-Dead Half-Alive Pearls have extensive applications."
"The Mechanical Fire Explosive Monkeys could use them, as could the wish-fulfilling rope. Their performance should exceed previous designs."
Ning Zhuo’s face lit up with joy.
He was exceedingly fond of such mechanical constructs.
To others, these wooden beads might seem of little value.
But to Ning Zhuo, they were rare treasures and would greatly aid him.
Lastly, Ning Zhuo opened the heaviest pouch.
Inside, he found 5,118 spirit stones.
The odd, precise number left Ning Zhuo silent for a moment.
"This must be all of old Chen's assets, no doubt."
Ning Zhuo sighed, feeling a pang of guilt.
He carefully put everything away, then began recuperating earnestly.
The effect of the Warm Nourishment Pill was excellent, helping Ning Zhuo’s body quickly adapt to his newfound five elements spiritual power.
Ning Zhuo focused on cultivation, striving to return to the third layer of Qi Refining as soon as possible.
"When I reach the third layer, will the Dharma Transmission Bell resonate throughout the city again?"
"I must seize every moment and give it my all!"
"Mother was right; I am just one person, ordinary, without the background and resources others possess."
"My current pace is probably already far behind others!"
Before her death, Ning Zhuo’s mother had urged him to strive for recognition, to become a Mechanical Seed and thus secure resource support.
Lacking key information, Ning Zhuo decided to take a gamble, choosing without hesitation to cultivate the Five Elements Qi Regulation Technique.
"In addition to cultivating the Five Elements Qi Regulation Technique, I must find a way to approach the Lava Immortal Palace."
Since the explosion at the Immortal Palace, the volcano's summit had been strictly guarded, barring any unauthorized persons.
"What will my family’s response be?"
"Gathering Qi Refining stage cultivators and collectively cultivating the Five Elements Qi Regulation Technique is the expected course."
"If I leverage Chen Cha's connections well, I might also gain access to the Immortal Palace through the City Lord's channels."
Ning Zhuo decided to wait, watching for the right moment as the situation unfolded.
He made the right choice.
A few days later, the family sent someone to inform him that he had been selected to join the Ning family's cultivation group for the Five Elements Qi Regulation Technique.
Following orders, he disguised himself and returned to the family to attend the first training session.
"Ah Zhuo, you’re here too?" Ning Yong greeted Ning Zhuo, clearly pleased.
Ning Chen also approached and gave Ning Zhuo a slight nod.
Ning Zhuo exchanged greetings with the two and surveyed his surroundings.
He noticed that most were members of the branch family, with relatively few from the main family.
"I heard an elder wanted Ning Xiaohui to participate, but she firmly refused, even causing quite a scene." Ning Yong whispered to Ning Zhuo.
Ning Xiaohui was their classmate, consistently ranked first, even in the grand exams.
Ning Chen remarked, "She has a talent we can only envy—the Ice Jade Hand. Why risk changing techniques? I think she made the right choice."
"Even I would prefer to cultivate the Snow Domain Talisman Diagram rather than the three-layer Five Elements Qi Regulation Technique!"
Ning Zhuo could detect a hint of bitterness in Ning Chen's words.
But what choice did they have? They were merely ordinary people.
The training session was briefer than expected, merely announcing that those selected should diligently cultivate the new technique, with rewards for the top ten.
By the afternoon, the session was declared over.
Based on his observations, Ning Zhuo noticed that the promise of rewards had generally motivated the family members to pursue the new technique.
But he had no intention of claiming any reward.
No one knew that he was already at the second layer of Qi Refining.
He would keep this secret, not revealing it voluntarily.
As he was about to leave the family grounds, Ning Ze, his uncle, intercepted him on the way.
"Cultivate diligently, Little Zhuo. I used a lot of resources to arrange for you to be included."
Ning Zhuo uttered a sound of surprise, his face flushed with both embarrassment and gratitude, and he bowed to thank Ning Ze. "Uncle, I… I’m truly grateful for all you’ve done."
Ning Ze nodded slightly. "As long as you understand."
He had no choice.
The young clan leader Ning Xiaoren had been pressuring him, even threatening to include Ning Ji in the cultivation list.
Faced with such threats, Ning Zhuo’s aunt Wang Lan had immediately yielded.
Ning Ze had to present the young clan leader with a generous gift.
As soon as he received it, the young clan leader promptly added Ning Zhuo to the cultivation list.
In the days that followed, Ning Zhuo secretly trained intensively, occasionally attending family training sessions, steadily displaying gradual progress in his mastery of the Five Elements Qi Regulation Technique.
He kept a low profile, with his progress unremarkable and middle-ranked.
But in secret, he spared no expense, burning through spirit stones as he rapidly accumulated power, rising from the second to the third layer of Qi Refining.
Tonight, Ning Zhuo reached the peak of the third layer.
"No further progress possible. This whole time, there’s been no sound from the Dharma Transmission Bell either."
Ning Zhuo sighed. "Ah… When will the Ning family’s reformation team finally enter the Lava Immortal Palace?"
He did not know that deep within the Lava Immortal Palace, a five-faced stone pillar was slowly revealing his name.
At the top of the Qi Refining ranking: Ning Zhuo!
In the next moment, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit atop the pillar roared.
Divine Ability—Life-Hanging Thread!
An invisible thread pierced through space, instantly binding Ning Zhuo.
Before he could react, his spirit was pulled by the thread, drawn through space, and transported directly into the Lava Immortal Palace!