**Lord’s Manor.**

“We greet Young Master Meng Chong!” Sixteen cultivators declared in unison.

Their cultivation levels were consistent, all at the peak of the third layer of Qi Refining, practicing the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

Fei Si, standing beside Meng Chong, spoke up at the opportune moment, “Young Master Meng Chong, allow me to introduce them to you.”

“Many of them were personally recruited by me.”

“This one is called Li Duolun. He is skilled in using serrated wheels to attack enemies. When designing and constructing new contraptions, he also likes to use interconnected wheels.”

Li Duolun stepped forward and bowed to Meng Chong, “This humble one is willing to be at Young Master Meng Chong’s disposal!”

He was a portly man, quite tall, with a pleasant face, fleshy ears, and a head that brought to mind Buddhist statues in temples.

Fei Si continued, “This one is Feng Feidao. The flying dagger crossbows he designs are incredibly sophisticated, capable of firing more than a dozen flying daggers at once.”

“Each flying dagger can further split into four or five, countless daggers scattering in the air, able to coordinate with each other, forming an array, tearing the enemy to shreds.”

Meng Chong looked at Feng Feidao and saw a small, dwarfish figure in martial attire, masked, revealing only a pair of beady eyes.

Feng Feidao knelt on one knee, professing his loyalty to Meng Chong, “This humble one is willing to go through fire and water for Young Master Meng Chong.”

Fei Si finally introduced, “This one is Guan Tiesuo. His specialty is controlling a large number of magnetic stone lock mechanisms, climbing onto the target, the locks interlocking to form iron chains, ultimately binding the enemy completely, making it difficult for them to move even a fraction.”

Guan Tiesuo’s voice was deep and muffled, saying only, “This humble one has met Young Master Meng Chong!”

Li Duolun, Feng Feidao, and Guan Tiesuo were the three most outstanding leaders in the Lord’s Manor’s modification team.

Fei Si and Zhao Lan had put in some effort to acquire them.

Requiring cultivators in the Qi Refining stage with a certain level of proficiency in mechanisms was not easy.

The art of mechanisms was difficult to learn and master. Most Qi Refining stage cultivators, if they had the resources, would choose alchemy, artifact refinement, array formations, etc.

Those without resources would choose farming, fishing, hunting, and the like.

The art of mechanisms was generally considered a niche skill among the myriad arts of cultivation. Unless there was a fortuitous encounter or special circumstance, no one would make it their first choice.

“Good!” Meng Chong nodded, stating directly, “Next, we will explore the Immortal Palace together.”

“It’s simple. When I charge, you just follow me and charge together!”

Meng Chong lacked leadership skills. Fei Si coughed twice, proactively reminding him, “Although there is strength in numbers, there are also drawbacks.”

“According to what we know so far, the difficulty of the Lava Immortal Palace’s trials will be adjusted based on the number of participants.”

“This time, we have a large group. If we all enter the Immortal Palace together, it is likely to attract the attack of the Mechanical Apes, increasing the difficulty of this trial.”

“It’s even possible that multiple Mechanical Apes will attack us simultaneously.”

“If this happens, you must protect Young Master Meng Chong with your lives. Even with your bodies, you must try to hold back these Mechanical Apes as much as possible, creating opportunities for Young Master Meng Chong.”

“Understood!”

The modification team responded in unison, solemnly obeying.

The Lord’s Manor had informants and spies within all three families.

The information that the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape had won a great victory in the second room, ambushing the geniuses of the three families, had already been obtained by the Lord’s Manor.

Therefore, Fei Si attributed Yuan Dasheng’s appearance to a means of increasing the difficulty of the Lava Immortal Palace’s trials.

Meng Chong suddenly said, “Wait…”

“If that Mechanical Ape appears, none of you are to interfere. I will personally deal with it!”

“No one is allowed to interfere in our battle, understood?”

The members of the modification team looked at each other, then turned their gaze to Fei Si.

Fei Si smiled slightly, “Since Young Master Meng Chong has said so, you shall obey his orders!”

“Yes!”

The crowd responded in unison again.

But this time, their voices were noticeably softer than before.

Some people rolled their eyes, exchanging glances, clearly disapproving of Meng Chong’s choice to fight alone.

“What do you understand?”

Fei Si secretly sneered.

Meng Chong’s decisions all came from the heart, originating from his nature.

Each action allowed him to stimulate more of the Celestial Vein, gaining a deeper understanding of his Immortal potential.

Since exploring the Immortal Palace, Meng Chong had been failing and fighting repeatedly, his strength improving tremendously.

“And, he is far ahead of the geniuses of the three families.” Fei Si did not know the truth and always believed that Meng Chong was in first place, holding a huge advantage.

Especially after Meng Chong had told Fei Si the information on the leaderboard not long ago.

Fei Si specifically asked some questions, including whether the name could be changed, and he was also misled.

“Young Master Meng Chong has unlimited potential. The Lord of the City is far-sighted. If things continue like this, he will surely be able to take residence in the Lava Immortal Palace.”

“The only concern is Zhu Xuanji.”

“This person colludes with the three families, stirring up trouble, and under the pretext of investigating the truth, has entered the Immortal Palace! Lord Meng is not able to stop him directly!”

“Quite troublesome!”

The righteous path must act according to the rules of the game.

Directness is the style of the demonic path.

**Ning Family Estate.**

In Ning Ze’s secret cultivation room, Ning Zhuo was cultivating almost madly.

He was surrounded by floating clouds, so thick that they looked like cotton balls, enveloping him completely.

He lit divine incense, meditated on the Mirror Platform Spirit Conjuring Art, his face full of compassion, calm and peaceful.

He craned his neck, pouring a large amount of exquisite spiritual food into his throat, swallowing it in large mouthfuls while directly practicing the Demonic-Tainted Blood Tendon Art.

He sat cross-legged on a futon, actively breathing in the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, using the Ice Light Strengthening Meridian Talisman and the Sharp Advance Needle, boldly opening up new Qi meridians.

While Meng Chong, Zheng Jian, Ning Xiaohui, and others were stuck at the peak of the third layer of Qi Refining, Ning Zhuo’s Qi Refining cultivation had already reached the late stage of the fifth layer.

The Essence Refining level had broken through to the sixth layer.

The Spirit Refining cultivation was even further ahead, advancing to the late stage of the sixth layer.

“Since comprehending the embryonic form of the Human Life Hanging by a Thread divine ability, each time I refine my spirit, the effect is excellent, without any bottlenecks, smooth sailing.”

“The Demonic-Tainted Blood Tendon Art was able to quickly break through to the sixth layer, all thanks to my swallowing large amounts of spiritual food without regard for cost, along with various exquisite pills.”

“On the contrary, the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, which I started cultivating earliest, has fallen behind, only at the late stage of the fifth layer.”

“Even with the Ice Light Strengthening Meridian Talisman and the Sharp Advance Needle, it is still like this.”

“Unfortunately, for the sake of caution, I cannot use the Zhou Family’s Gathering and Scattering as One Spiritual Tide Array. If I used this array, perhaps I could make my magic power cultivation catch up to the sixth layer!”

Ning Zhuo thought of the message passed down from the upper echelons of the Ning Family.

The Ning Family Patriarch had personally spoken, strongly supporting the Ning Family’s modification team, giving out more unique and excellent cultivation resources.

“Three bottles of White Snow Yang Spring Pill are given to the entire modification team as a guarantee. With such excellent healing pills, there is no longer any fear of being injured due to cultivating too quickly!”

“The two Enlightenment Charts are also good. If I can comprehend the Proud Snow Art and the Surpassing Frost Art, then these two spells are naturally compatible with the Five Elements magic power, requiring no modification.”

“The most crucial thing is the Ice Heart Jade Kettle.”

“This is my Ning Family’s treasure, which can brew Ice Heart Jade Liquid Wine, also known as Ice Jade Wine.”

“After drinking this wine, the divine treasure can drive the Qi treasure, using the divine to supplement the Qi, which is the best cultivation resource for cultivating the Ice Heart Art.”

The Ning Family’s main line cultivators all practice the Ice Heart Art.

When this technique is successfully cultivated, it tends to lead to calmness, even ruthlessness, with no emotional fluctuations.

As the saying goes: Frost like a blade, ice heart like a mirror, guarding the heart like ice, ten thousand evils cannot invade.

The speed at which the Ice Heart Art accumulates magic power is not as good as most first-class cultivation methods, but Spirit Ocean cultivation is its absolute strength.

Relying on Ice Jade Wine can allow Spirit Ocean cultivation to drive Qi Ocean cultivation, perfectly compensating for the shortcomings of this technique.

“Although I have Five Elements magic power, Ice Jade Wine is also very suitable for me!”

Ning Zhuo’s Spirit cultivation far exceeds his magic power cultivation. After drinking Ice Jade Wine, he can improve his magic power cultivation.

Of course, the effect of drinking Ice Jade Wine is best for cultivators who practice the Ice Heart Art.

The purpose of creating this spiritual wine was to compensate for the slow accumulation of magic power for cultivators of the Ice Heart Art.

The same resource has different effects and values for different cultivators.

Ning Zhuo was secretly grateful for this.

If the four major forces were not competing for the Lava Immortal Palace, how could he, Ning Zhuo, a mere branch of the family, a peripheral small character, come into contact with the Ning Family’s core cultivation resources?

Not to mention the Enlightenment Chart, even the Ice Light Strengthening Meridian Talisman would be unattainable.

And now, Ning Zhuo only needs to perform at his best to be qualified to obtain Ice Jade Wine.

In normal circumstances, the Ice Jade Wine would only be supplied in sufficient quantities to the Golden Core ancestors. Others, including the Patriarch, would have to wait in line.

How could it be Ning Zhuo’s turn?

“Hmm?”

Ning Zhuo took the time to observe the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.

Yuan Dasheng was left in the Lava Immortal Palace by him.

Just like before.

Through Yuan Dasheng’s perspective, Ning Zhuo discovered the Lord’s Manor’s big move.

The modification team, led by Meng Chong, had a total of seventeen people entering the Immortal Palace together, marching forward in a mighty force, high in morale.

“The Lord’s Manor? What a big move!”

Ning Zhuo exclaimed in secret.

Now, it would be difficult for the three families to gather sixteen people even with their combined efforts.

The Lord’s Manor could produce sixteen on its own, showing that it had been prepared for a long time.

“Meng Kui, such a wise general, indeed has far-reaching plans!”

“The Lord’s Manor is so strong, no wonder the three families have to unite and become more and more united!”

While sighing, Ning Zhuo manipulated the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, to notify Sun Lingtong.

Sun Lingtong’s soul was still left in the Immortal Palace. He was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, his soul power was strong, and it was not a problem to support it for two or three days.

Sun Lingtong was hiding in the equipment room, using various mechanisms and tools to modify himself.

Sun Lingtong’s skills in mechanism construction were also not low.

Ning Zhuo had shared his mother’s mechanism books with Sun Lingtong when he was young.

In order to be reunited with his master as soon as possible, Sun Lingtong had always been extremely serious and hardworking when studying the art of mechanisms.

He was a person with talent, his comprehension ability could not be low.

Therefore, Sun Lingtong’s skills in mechanism construction, although not as good as Ning Zhuo’s, greatly exceeded the standard of entering the palace in person.

Sun Lingtong received Dasheng’s report and was startled, “Someone is coming?”

Then, he was overjoyed, “Good, good, good, just do as Xiaozhuo said, let them in first.”

End of this chapter.

Buddha Before Flowers New Book.