Fire Persimmon Immortal City.
Zhu Xuanji stood in front of a small house, gently pushing the door open.
In the next moment, thick shadows surged forth like a tidal wave, engulfing him.
The tide of shadows surged powerfully, swallowing Zhu Xuanji and rolling back, plunging the entire alley into darkness.
Within the darkness, a pair of golden eyes suddenly glowed.
They were none other than Zhu Xuanji's golden eyes.
Divine light radiated from his gaze, piercing through the rolling shadows, unraveling the concealment, and locking directly onto the demon cultivator.
The demon cultivator, at the mid-foundation establishment stage, was unfazed at having his disguise seen through. Instead, he sneered coldly, charging straight at Zhu Xuanji.
Bang.
In the thick shadows, the two clashed.
Zhu Xuanji took a small step back, while the demon cultivator grunted and flew backward into the shadows at an even faster speed.
Zhu Xuanji did not pursue but frowned, sensing something unusual.
"As expected of Lord Zhu, easily seeing through my disguise."
The demon cultivator's voice echoed from all directions, "But can you see through what follows?"
As soon as he finished speaking, countless "demon cultivators" flew out from the shadows, surrounding Zhu Xuanji.
Zhu Xuanji channeled his spiritual power, repeatedly dispelling the approaching "demon cultivators."
The fallen "demon cultivators" scattered to the ground.
They turned out to be mere mechanical constructs.
Although these mechanical constructs disintegrated upon defeat, they quickly reassembled within the shadows, continuing their assault on Zhu Xuanji.
Zhu Xuanji stood motionless, holding his ground as countless mechanical constructs attacked him from the shadows.
Realizing things were going awry, the demon cultivator’s true form began to retreat, but Zhu Xuanji’s voice rang out: "Liu Ying, trying to leave now is a bit late, don't you think?"
The demon cultivator Liu Ying shuddered under the golden gaze, a chill running down his spine.
He tried to flee frantically, but Zhu Xuanji had locked onto his true form and followed closely.
Boom, boom, boom…
After a few intense rounds of combat, Liu Ying collapsed to the ground, his chest bones fractured, puncturing his lungs, each breath causing him to spew blood from his mouth and nose in great agony.
"Please… don't kill me. I surrender!" Liu Ying begged as Zhu Xuanji slowly approached.
Zhu Xuanji replied, "It seems you simply used shadows as a substitute for puppet strings to control mechanical constructs."
The demon cultivator Liu Ying froze. "Lord Zhu, have you perhaps misunderstood something?"
Zhu Xuanji shook his head. "Just taking precautions."
"If it’s a misunderstanding, then the hundreds who died by your hand would hardly see it that way."
Liu Ying's pupils contracted sharply, shadows surging around Zhu Xuanji like serpents in a desperate final attack.
But within three feet of Zhu Xuanji, the shadows melted away like snow.
Liu Ying’s last-ditch effort failed, and with his final breath, he shouted, "I don’t understand! I’m merely at the mid-foundation establishment stage. Even though I’ve been to the Lava Immortal Palace, why are you, Zhu the Divine Constable, targeting me?"
Zhu Xuanji did not answer.
In the next instant, Liu Ying died by Zhu Xuanji’s hand.
"The fifth." Zhu Xuanji pulled out a list, crossing out Liu Ying's name.
Despite the demon cultivator’s shadow escape technique, he could not hide under the illumination of the golden gaze.
Zhu Xuanji’s order on the list was not based on cultivation but on suspicion and threat level.
Liu Ying's methods bore many similarities to those of the Shadow Demon Cultivator.
More crucially, Zhu Xuanji suspected Liu Ying might possess the Life-Hanging Thread divine ability, though the chance was small.
This suspicion alone placed Liu Ying fifth on his list.
Before departing, Zhu Xuanji had received a private audience with the Empress of the Southern Bean Kingdom, learning of many secrets.
The Empress had cautioned him: "Xuanji, as you go to Fire Persimmon Immortal City, be extremely vigilant."
"The Sage of the Three Sects left the Life-Hanging Thread divine ability within the Lava Immortal Palace."
"This divine ability enables control over others. The more you understand someone, the stronger the control."
"If a foundation establishment cultivator has mastered this divine ability, it would pose a significant danger, even to a golden core cultivator like you."
"This is because this divine ability influences fate energy."
Zhu Xuanji was astonished. "Could the Life-Hanging Thread extract another’s fate energy?"
"Not exactly."
The Empress shook her head slightly, her voice clear and steady.
"But the Life-Hanging Thread can aggregate fate energies, without causing internal depletion or mutual conflict."
"A cultivator with this ability could entangle and bind others, linking their fate energies to themselves."
"Our founding Empress had no birthright for the throne. She relied entirely on the support of the Sage of the Three Sects, who created the Life-Hanging Thread divine ability for her."
"It was through this divine ability that numerous relatives and subordinates willingly sacrificed themselves for her cause."
With a solemn expression, Zhu Xuanji accepted the mission.
As a golden core cultivator, he remained unchallenged in Fire Persimmon Immortal City.
Even under the suppression of the city's grand formation, few could rival him in direct combat.
The only concern was losing in a contest of fate energy.
A diminished fate energy could lead him into seemingly coincidental, fatal traps.
At that point, even a golden core cultivator would find it hard to escape.
Liu Ying had long been one of his prime suspects.
Now, with Liu Ying dead, Zhu Xuanji’s doubts were dispelled. "It seems I was overthinking."
"After all, most of these suspects are foundation establishment cultivators. How could they comprehend such a divine ability?"
The Southern Bean Kingdom's royal family deeply feared any individual possessing a divine ability related to fate.
The founding Empress had risen to power with this as her foundation.
If such a person appeared within the Southern Bean Kingdom, the royal family would likely eliminate them secretly to prevent any threat to the stability of their rule.
The bequest gathering ended, and Ning Zhuo returned to his family grounds.
Closing his eyes in meditation, he focused his mind on his upper dantian.
Within his Divine Sea, the lotus seed had already sprouted, emitting a faint radiance.
"The divine ability seedling of the Life-Hanging Thread!"
Ning Zhuo had grasped the purpose of the divine ability.
The power and mystery of divine abilities often surpassed spiritual power because they stemmed from profound comprehension of the world’s principles.
For Ning Zhuo, it seemed that he had been inspired by a tale of immortals and deities to gain certain insights, triggering the Illusory True Lotus Seed within his Divine Sea.
But this was merely a catalyst.
A deeper foundation lay in Ning Zhuo’s many insights into the functioning of society, human behavior, and thoughts.
Accumulated over time, these realizations underwent a qualitative transformation with the story of the Supreme Immortal, giving rise to the embryonic form of the Life-Hanging Thread.
Because the comprehension stemmed from his own thoughts, once the divine ability was realized, its uses became naturally clear to him.
"If Han Ming’s Theory of Fate is correct, then this must be the opportunity I won by defeating Yuan Dasheng, with my fate energy greatly enhanced." Ning Zhuo had an epiphany.
The Golden Blood Battle Ape Dasheng didn’t count since its main component was Yuan Dasheng’s corpse, which already belonged to him.
Opportunities often worked this way.
For most people, a story was merely entertainment, and none would gain substantial benefit from it.
Yet for a certain individual, the same experience could yield unimaginable advantages.
If it isn’t your opportunity, even if placed right before you, you would gain nothing.
"Uncle Ning." Ning Zhuo respectfully paid a visit to Ning Xiaoren.
Ning Xiaoren smiled, inquiring about Ning Zhuo’s purpose.
However, upon hearing it, his smile froze momentarily. "You’re saying you want to forgive your uncle Ning Ze?"
Ning Zhuo nodded. "Yes."
"These days, the matter has been weighing on me. After much thought, I’ve decided to forgive him."
"After all, he is my dear uncle, my closest family in this world."
Ning Xiaoren didn’t wish for such a situation.
For days, he had been currying favor and showing kindness, hoping Ning Zhuo would see him as the most trustworthy, closest relative.
"My dear Zhuo, you’re truly a kind-hearted child."
"An ordinary person would never forgive such an uncle. But you’ve done it, making me view you in a new light."
Ning Zhuo smiled shyly.
"After all, blood is thicker than water. Uncle Ning Ze is family…"
"As long as he can repay the resources and spirit stones he’s embezzled from me over these sixteen years."
"Uh." Ning Xiaoren was stunned, finally understanding Ning Zhuo’s intent behind this visit.
He internally grumbled about Ning Zhuo’s way of speaking—why keep us on edge like this?
Ning Zhuo clasped his hands and bowed, "I respectfully ask the Young Clan Leader to seek justice for me!"
"This is an extremely reasonable request." Ning Xiaoren pondered for a moment, "Zhuo, I’ll ensure justice is done for you."
Not long after.
The two arrived at the family’s private prison, where they saw Ning Ze detained.
Seeing Ning Xiaoren, Ning Ze thought he had come to release him, so he eagerly ran to the cell door.
But in the next moment, Ning Zhuo revealed his intentions.
"Uncle, I’ve thought it through."
"You are, after all, my dear uncle. I don’t wish to see you suffer."
"As long as you agree to repay all the spirit stones and resources you’ve embezzled from me over the years."
"I’ll forgive you and won’t press charges!"
Ning Ze’s eyes widened as he looked at Ning Zhuo, then quickly turned to Ning Xiaoren.
But Ning Xiaoren stood firmly behind Ning Zhuo, glaring at him as if warning him: Don’t let anything slip, or face the consequences!
Ning Ze’s lips trembled with frustration.
He hadn’t embezzled Ning Zhuo’s spirit stones or resources; Ning Xiaoren had simply withheld them.
Yet he couldn’t reveal the truth.
Glaring at Ning Zhuo, he wished he could slap him right then.
But he knew it was impossible.
Ning Zhuo’s status had greatly risen, receiving the clan’s full support, and even the Young Clan Leader Ning Xiaoren was vying for his favor.
Finally, Ning Ze took a deep breath, gritting his teeth, "Fine, I’ll return it to you!"
"Thank you, Uncle." Ning Zhuo beamed, bowing to Ning Xiaoren.
"Thank you, Young Clan Leader, for seeking justice for me!"
Ning Xiaoren laughed heartily, patting Ning Zhuo on the shoulder, though inwardly thinking, "This boy is far too greedy."
Meanwhile, Ning Ze silently roared in his heart, "Justice, my foot!!!"
Ning Zhuo held a 30% share in the Mechanical Fire Explosive Monkey business, with 40% going to Fei Si.
With the combined resources from the three families, the resources he received were already abundant.
He didn’t actually need this “imagined” subsidy.
But to keep Ning Xiaoren at ease and reinforce the impression of Ning Zhuo’s greed, he still chose to go through with it.
A few days later.
Ning Zhuo bid farewell to Ning Xiaoren, expressing a desire to return home for a while.
Ning Xiaoren was more than eager to see him leave, tired of Ning Zhuo feasting at his expense, sleeping in his room, and not paying a dime.
Feigning reluctance, Ning Xiaoren finally agreed after Ning Zhuo's repeated pleas.