The underground workspace.
The gentle light from the spirit lamp filled the entire space evenly.
Ning Zhuo sat at the table, conducting a final inspection on the storage bags he held.
These were spoils he had obtained from the Huang Family’s Three Ghosts at the Black Market.
After confirming their safety, Ning Zhuo began dismantling the miniature formations on the first storage bag, forging the original owner’s aura and spiritual sense, successfully tricking the bag into opening.
The first storage bag contained a few spirit stones, a green blade mantis as a spirit pet, and some materials suitable for ghost cultivators, like dark essence, soul essence, and nether flowers.
The second storage bag held several hundred spirit stones and a few ghost cultivation materials, including a wisp of yin wind and a jade slip of ghost cultivation techniques, titled Yin Bone Technique, which could be used to alter one’s bones.
The third storage bag belonged to the leader of the Huang Family’s Three Ghosts, and its formation had two layers, significantly increasing the difficulty and duration required for Ning Zhuo to unlock it.
“Interesting,” he muttered, his eyes shining.
The greater the challenge and resistance, the more it fueled his fighting spirit.
Pouring his heart and soul into it, he relished the thrill of overcoming a difficult problem.
After nearly half an hour, he finally succeeded in breaking the seal.
As soon as the bag opened, a tiny ghost head lunged toward Ning Zhuo’s face.
With a low hum, Ning Zhuo, already prepared, watched as his Buddha Heart Demon Seal flashed within his sea of consciousness, capturing the ghost head.
Then, the defense formation on his worktable activated, instantly obliterating the ghost head.
This ghost head appeared to be the last act of defiance from the Huang Family’s leader.
With that, the storage bag was now defenseless against Ning Zhuo.
Inside were over a thousand spirit stones and two jade slips containing ghost cultivation techniques: Nether Heart Sutra and Soul Summoning Art.
There was also a large collection of cultivation materials, not exclusively for ghost cultivators.
“Fire essence?!” Ning Zhuo’s pupils dilated slightly as he discovered roughly ten pounds of fire essence.
A look of delight spread across his face.
Suppressing his excitement, Ning Zhuo opened a drawer, pulling out a handful of golden silk jade dew cakes.
With a surge of spiritual power, he incinerated the wrapper around each cake, scattering a few ashes, reminiscent of crematory ashes from a furnace.
Opening his mouth, he stuffed the cakes in.
Chewing.
In the light of the spirit lamp, his lips glistened red, occasionally revealing white teeth.
The golden silk jade dew cake was crushed between his lips and teeth, the filling oozing out, mingling.
It was as if the many cultivators who had fallen by his hand were screaming in despair, ground to dust to nourish Ning Zhuo’s growth.
The world of cultivators is ruthless; without the shadowy business of the wish-fulfilling ropes or the contributions of demonic cultivators, how else could Ning Zhuo afford so many golden silk jade dew cakes?
As he ate, Ning Zhuo counted his gains from the Black Market with satisfaction.
Selling wish-fulfilling ropes had brought him 24,000 spirit stones.
Among them, his uncle Ning Ze had purchased 80 ropes for the Ning family, accounting for a substantial portion of the sales.
Compared to that, the spirit stones from the Huang Family’s Three Ghosts were meager.
“The wish-fulfilling ropes I make are the best underground ropes on the market, so business has been consistently good.”
“It seems the Ning family is gearing up for something big, judging by these preparations.”
“Sigh, the cultivation world is dog-eat-dog!”
“There’s always someone with ill intentions, trying to take advantage of an ordinary youth like me.”
“Those three ghost cultivators came out to rob because they were poor, of course. But finding ten pounds of fire essence—that was a pleasant surprise.”
“With this, I’ve gathered over a thousand pounds of fire essence. It’s more than enough!”
For the past few years, Ning Zhuo had been secretly amassing fire essence.
For safety, he purchased only small amounts from the market each time, accumulating it bit by bit. At his pace, it would take over a month to gather ten pounds.
Now, with this sizable haul, his final shortfall was immediately filled.
After tallying up his gains, Ning Zhuo also assessed the losses from last night at the Black Market.
He reached into his robe and retrieved a silver-gray token.
The front of the token bore the character for “Azure,” while the back had the character for “Steel.”
Ning Zhuo tossed it lightly, and the token disassembled mid-air, unfolding and expanding with a brilliant glow.
When the light faded, an Azure Iron Armor floated silently in the air.
He opened a section of the armor’s spine, revealing a foundation establishment pill embedded within.
“Only a third of the foundation establishment pill is left.”
This pill was essential for the armor to display foundation establishment-level strength. Ning Zhuo himself was only at the qi refining stage.
“Once the pill is used up, the Azure Iron Armor will be unusable.”
“Sigh, acquiring foundation establishment pills is very difficult.” Ning Zhuo’s brow furrowed slightly.
This was his biggest loss from the previous night.
He’d also added a new scratch to the armor.
This was the final blow inflicted by the leader of the Huang Family’s Three Ghosts, which Ning Zhuo couldn’t do much about.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that the surface of the armor was riddled with scars.
Some were old injuries, while others were marks left by battles Ning Zhuo had fought while wearing it.
“Mother…” Ning Zhuo’s gaze turned sorrowful as he caressed the armor’s worn scars.
Fourteen years ago, when he was only two, his mother had given him her final instructions before passing away.
Through her, he learned that Fire Persimmon Mountain contained a Lava Immortal Palace, a mechanical Immortal City where the palace spirit secretly chose cultivators to inherit it.
His mother was one of the chosen foundation establishment cultivators.
However, the trials were difficult, and because of her strength, she became a target, eventually succumbing to her injuries.
“The Immortal City’s condition continues to decline, and the selection criteria will lower accordingly. By the time you’re fourteen, the Mechanical Immortal City will have lowered its requirements to the qi refining stage. That will be your greatest opportunity!”
“Zhuo’er, you must diligently study Mechanical Arts and never let others know of your dedication to this field.”
“You must design mechanical constructs yourself, assemble them personally, and operate them alone—these are all part of the Immortal City’s assessment.”
“If you rank among the top candidates, you’ll be recognized as a ‘mechanical seed’ and receive special nurturing from the city. This is especially important for you because you lack the background others have, making the Immortal Palace’s resources essential for your cultivation.”
“Never cultivate to foundation establishment using the Ning family’s techniques! I was chosen as a ‘mechanical seed’ at the foundation establishment stage, but my dantian was fixed, making it impossible to change techniques. Many trials within the Lava Palace were harder for me because I hadn’t practiced the techniques left by the Sages of the Three Sects, and ultimately, I could not progress further.”
“Cough, cough…”
Two-year-old Ning Zhuo cried in terror, “Mother, don’t talk anymore. You’re spitting blood!”
His mother gently touched his small head, her eyes filled with reluctance and worry, “Zhuo’er, I’m sorry. I can’t protect you. With your father and me gone, you’ll be alone from now on and must rely on yourself.”
“Don’t be too loyal to the family. Your father made that mistake!”
“Before he died, your father asked the young clan leader, Ning Xiaoren, to look after you. But I’ve seen through him—he’s deceitful and unreliable.”
“Your uncle is obsessed with reputation, and your aunt is stingy beyond measure. They are not compassionate people, so be cautious.”
“Sometimes, those closest to you—relatives and friends—are even more dangerous than your enemies!”
“Don’t stand out too much. With your father and me gone, there’s no one who truly has your back. Keep yourself hidden. Don’t be too extraordinary, but don’t be too mediocre either. Grow up quietly, build your strength in secret, and avoid drawing attention.”
“I’ve seen too many gifted children perish young…”
“My Azure Iron Armor will protect you. It has the power of foundation establishment.”
“And this magical artifact—the Buddha Heart Demon Seal! I obtained it by a stroke of luck in the Lava Immortal Palace. Never let anyone know about it.”
As she spoke, her voice grew weaker.
She shed silent tears, gazing intently at the two-year-old Ning Zhuo, wanting to watch him forever, but her vision grew dim.
In her final moments, she hesitated, “I don’t even know if what I’m teaching you is right, Zhuo’er.”
“Please, take care of yourself. If it comes to it, give up on the Lava Immortal Palace.”
“Life is paramount. I want you to live, to live well.”
“If you’re alive, I’ll be happy.”
Two-year-old Ning Zhuo clutched his mother’s bloodstained robes tightly, “Mother, don’t say any more. I don’t want you to die. Please, don’t die…”
With her last breath, she murmured, “Dear Zhuo’er, don’t be afraid… Mother is here… Mother will watch over you from the underworld…”
In the next instant, her heart stopped beating, and her hand fell slowly from Ning Zhuo’s head.
Two-year-old Ning Zhuo’s body trembled violently, his small face awash with tears. He lifted his head—now at the age of sixteen.
The innocent face of the child he once was had matured into the resolute expression of a youth.
He had grown, bearing his mother’s dying wishes and hopes.
“Mother, the situation has changed!”
“The city lord has joined forces with the Zhou and Zheng families to intensify their raids on the Demon Lava Cave, reducing the Lava Immortal Palace’s defensive pressures and losses. With no external threats, the palace has maintained its condition, and the spirit hasn’t lowered the selection criteria further.”
“This year, the Ning family has discovered the Lava Immortal Palace’s secret. If they join in its defense, when will I ever see the criteria lower?”
“Perhaps never in my lifetime!”
“The major forces of Fire Persimmon Immortal City are trying every way to conceal the Lava Immortal Palace, wanting to keep the opportunity within their circle. How can I allow that?”
“So, I have to act myself!”
“Now, I’ve amassed enough fire essence. It’s sufficient to damage the Immortal Palace, forcing the standards down.”
“I just need the Fire Explosive Monkey.”