The sky had already brightened.

However, a certain residence within the Zheng family remained shrouded in darkness.

Night Star Heavenly Silk Array!

Once this array was deployed, it would create a localized phenomenon of nighttime.

This was a deliberately restrained version. If the array’s full power were unleashed, it wouldn’t just affect this residence, but a radius of several *li* (a Chinese unit of distance, roughly half a kilometer) around it.

The darkness above the courtyard rippled, gradually transforming into a length of silken fabric.

From the soft glow of the nocturnal silk, four figures emerged, growing larger as they descended.

All four were Golden Core cultivators.

They were none other than the ancestors of the Zhou and Zheng families.

Previously, the four Golden Cores had engaged in a duel of strategies.

Two Golden Core cultivators from the Zhou family set up an array, and two from the Zheng family attempted to break through it.

The stakes were the Zheng family’s Nine Yang Yellow Ox Paste and the Zhou family’s Southern Vermillion Bird Constellation Array Diagram.

The four Golden Core cultivators landed on the ground.

The two from the Zheng family stood tall and proud, a slight smile playing on their lips. In contrast, the two from the Zhou family wore calm but somber expressions.

A trace of disbelief lingered between Zhou Nongying’s brows.

Seeing the two Zheng family Golden Cores looking their way, Zhou Nongying sighed. “Zheng family brothers, you have won.”

Zheng Danlian, one of the Zheng family Golden Cores, said, “We are ashamed. Our successful array breaking was merely due to the advantage of our weapon.”

These words immediately reminded the two Zhou family Golden Cores of the previous battle, and their expressions shifted once more.

Zhou Nongying sighed again. “I didn’t expect your clan to have been secretly accumulating resources over the years, forging such a treasure.”

“We lost because of this. We have no complaint!”

“We accept our loss willingly! After we return to our clan, I will personally deliver the Southern Vermillion Bird Constellation Array Diagram to your estate!”

“Hahaha, good!”

Zheng Shuanggou laughed heartily and took out a bottle of pills, throwing it to Zhou Nongying.

Zheng Shuanggou: “This is the Nine Yang Yellow Ox Paste. The future of the family rests on the younger generation.”

“Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zeshen are both talented individuals. Healing their ailments is crucial, and their foundations must not be neglected!”

The two Zhou family Golden Core cultivators immediately exchanged glances. Zhou Nongying feigned hesitation and asked, “This is…?”

Zheng Shuanggou cupped his fist in salute: “Ah, we have a request.”

“The Zhou family excels at array formations, and Fellow Daoist Zhou Nongying is particularly skilled in manipulating them. Our previous engagement has left a deep impression on my brother and myself.”

“Could we ask Fellow Daoist Zhou to personally imbue our weapon with a dynamic array?”

“Oh? This matter…”

Zhou Nongying looked troubled. “Imbuing a dynamic array is certainly within my capabilities.”

“However, doing so would require me to examine the weapon’s blueprints.”

“What’s so difficult about that? Look at them! By all means, take a look!”

Zheng Shuanggou was remarkably forthright.

Zheng Danlian added, “Years ago, we obtained this mechanical diagram from the Lava Immortal Palace.”

Even so, the demeanor of the two Zheng family Golden Cores moved Zhou and his companion.

In the duel that had just concluded, they had been defeated by a mechanical weapon.

The weapon was not extremely large, but it could change forms through the rotation of its gears.

After the transformation, the weapon would exhibit completely different offensive capabilities.

The Zheng family was showing the Zhou family the mechanical blueprints, which would greatly reduce the threat this weapon posed to the Zhou family.

This was a good thing for the Zhou family, and the two Golden Core cultivators immediately nodded in agreement, inquiring about the specific time frame for setting up the array.

Zheng Danlian said, “The weapon has not yet been fully forged. The final components must be added, which requires immense flame power to melt the key materials. Only after a complete weapon is forged is it suitable for adding an array.”

Zheng Shuanggou: “Finally, the quenching process requires extreme cold. This is what our clan lacks.”

Zhou Nongying said, “The Ning family originates from the Northern Wind Kingdom, and their primary cultivation methods are all ice-based. They should be able to resolve this matter.”

Zheng Shuanggou nodded. “That’s what we were thinking as well.”

After a series of discussions, the Zheng family patriarch knocked on the door, entered, and respectfully bowed. “Two seniors, two ancestors, great events have been happening in the city these past few days.”

He then took out a formal invitation. “This is a summons sent by Divine Catcher Zhu Xuanji. He wishes to invite all Golden Core cultivators in the city to explore the Lava Immortal Palace together.”

Upon hearing the Zheng family patriarch’s report, the expressions of the four Golden Core cultivators changed.

“Meng Kui, watching from the sidelines, seeking personal advantage, hmph, truly worthy of being our city lord. He uses them when he likes, without a moment’s thought for the lives of the city’s people!”

The four Golden Cores were in ill-humor, realizing they were being manipulated.

“I said before that Meng Kui is one of the Meng family’s four generals. For him, incorporating the Lava Immortal Palace and even Fire Persimmon Immortal City into the Meng family’s control is the best outcome.”

“As expected of a Nascent Soul cultivator, with a single move, he has altered the entire situation.”

“In my opinion, what he wants to deal with even more is the Lava Immortal Palace, right? By using the crimson flame demon beasts, he weakened the Immortal Palace, yet he is doing so under a pretext that no one can criticize.”

“After all, even a true disciple from a Demonic sect like the Soul Devouring Sect has emerged!”

“Is this Qi Bai the shadowy demonic cultivator?”

“It’s hard to say!”

“It’s truly rare for Qi Bai, a true disciple Golden Core, to be defeated and captured!”

“Sun Lingtong was the one who made the move. He is the Lord of the Black Market, and has operated in Fire Persimmon City for many years. He himself has late-stage Foundation Establishment battle strength, and, most importantly, he comes from the Non-Emptiness Gate.”

“The Non-Emptiness Gate is an evil sect that is in no way inferior to the Soul Devouring Sect!”

“Sun Lingtong didn’t show much during the battle, the one that really defeated Qi Bai was a mechanical puppet cultivator called ‘Dangling Sideburns Guest.'”

“Does this mean that the Non-Emptiness Gate had already been setting up a plan in Fire Persimmon City many years ago?”

Soul Devouring Sect, Non-Emptiness Gate…

The four Golden Core cultivators exchanged thoughts via spiritual transmission, their expressions growing increasingly solemn.

The Three Sects Forefather was a Refinement Void Almighty, and the Lava Immortal Palace was his legacy and inheritance. The forces attracted here would definitely not be small.

Compared to these two major evil factions, the Zhou and Zheng families were merely small forces confined to a corner.

“A storm is brewing…”

A Golden Core ancestor sighed.

“What we can truly rely on is still the Southern Dou Kingdom!”

“Hehehe, Zhu Xuanji clearly stated Meng Kui’s divine abilities in the invitation. He truly lives up to being from the royal family. He knows so well how to combine and conquer!”

“Right now, Meng Kui has designated the top of Fire Persimmon Mountain as a forbidden zone. Two of us could have entered the Immortal Palace, but Meng Kui directly prevented us!”

“His reasons are impeccable, we can only comply!”

“But this time, Zhu Xuanji’s reasons are just as legitimate — he is concerned about the Lava Immortal Palace and wants to assist it, entering the palace to resist external enemies!”

“Hehehe, what is Meng Kui’s mood at this moment? The way he treats us, Zhu Xuanji is using on him!”

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

It had been a long time since the Golden Cores of their two families had entered the Immortal Palace.

While using Zhu Xuanji to contend against Meng Kui, they could also deepen the connection between their clans and the royal family. If things go awry in the future, perhaps they could rely on the royal family to support them from behind to deal with the tentacles of the Soul Devouring Sect and the Non-Emptiness Gate.

With the confrontation between Meng Kui’s tentacles and the Non-Emptiness Gate and Soul Devouring Sect, the four Golden Cores felt the pressure.

They subconsciously united more closely.

At the same time, they rapidly leaned towards the Southern Dou Kingdom’s royal family.

At this moment, within the Lava Immortal Palace.

The Golden Blood Battle Ape was victoriously clearing the way, guiding Ning Zhuo.

The two were making unstoppable progress.

Yuan Dasheng had advanced to the first stage of the Spiritual Intelligence Phase, greatly increasing his combat power.

Although the Golden Blood Battle Ape’s mechanical body remained the same.

Ning Zhuo hadn’t studied it carefully, but in his cooperation with the Golden Blood Battle Ape, he had gained many insights along the way.

Yuan Dasheng’s phospholipid still wasn’t as refined as a normal person’s. When communicating with Ning Zhuo, he would only speak a few words, going back and forth between the same phrases.

He was economical with words.

Ning Zhuo had him express some opinions, deliberately trying to start conversations, but Yuan Dasheng didn’t say anything.

“Dasheng, there’s no need to call me ‘Lord’ every time, right? Can you change the title?”

Yuan Dasheng immediately shook his head, explicitly refusing. “Lord is joking. Lord is this humble general’s Lord. How can I change the title?”

This made Ning Zhuo thoughtful.

He suddenly understood that following the movement of spirituality was actually about finding a position in the underlying cognition of that spirituality.

For Yuan Dasheng, Ning Zhuo had the fortune of arriving at the uppermost layer, recognized by Yuan Dasheng as his Lord.

“If I hadn’t reached the uppermost layer, if I was considered to be the Lord’s child or a colleague in Yuan Dasheng’s spirituality, then I wouldn’t be able to completely command him!”

“The spirituality of the Spiritual Intelligence Phase has a set of concepts that belong to them, and these concepts guide all their actions.”

Ning Zhuo once again cleared the three Buddhist stages and claimed the reward.

There was nothing to say — they were all Phantasmagoric Lotus Seeds.

He claimed seven in a row and temporarily stopped.

The nascent divine ability was originally like a three-section lotus root, with a tiny sprouting bud and leaf.

After absorbing seven lotus seeds, the bud fully opened, becoming a lotus leaf the size of an adult’s palm.

After making great progress once again, Ning Zhuo retreated through the stages, closed the Buddhist gate, arrived at the preparation room, and finally retreated all the way to room number one.

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit paid attention the whole way. Upon seeing this, his face was full of doubt — what did Ning Zhuo want to do?

In the next moment, Ning Zhuo fully sensed the Myriad Buddhist Heart Demon Seal, while mobilizing the Life Thread.

His soul power was rapidly consumed, and the Life Thread suddenly twitched, pulling Sun Lingtong’s soul in.

Sun Lingtong: …

Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit: ?

End of Chapter