Ning Zhuo hammered and tinkered, utilizing the facilities in the workshop to quickly modify the chosen grappling hook and small flying box mechanisms.

The grappling hook was transformed into a Cocoon Binding Grappling Hook. Once thrown, it would erupt with countless silk threads, wrapping the target in layers, forming a silken cocoon suspended from the ceiling.

The small flying box was converted into a flying shield. The shield orbited the puppet, automatically defending, and absorbing various incoming spells. When the accumulated magical energy reached its limit, the flying box shield would self-destruct, generating a considerable blast.

Ning Zhuo named it “Honest Man”.

Ning Zhuo modified these mechanisms and distributed them to everyone else.

For a time, everyone in the workshop practiced, praising Ning Zhuo’s craftsmanship.

While everyone was immersed in their practice, Ning Zhuo stood before the five stone pillars and, under the contemptuous gaze of the Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit, ‘fumbled’ for the Trial Disciple’s mark.

“Come and see, everyone, look what I’ve found!” Ning Zhuo exclaimed.

The others gathered around.

Ning Zhuo displayed the Trial Disciple’s mark that he had ‘just’ obtained.

Everyone was overjoyed.

Many said, “This discovery is too important!”

“It will be a great help in exploring the Immortal Palace in the future!”

“A Zhuo, with this contribution, I think you can get the Ice Jade Wine.”

“Ice Jade Wine?” Ning Zhuo immediately revealed a yearning expression, “I’ve heard about it since I was little, I really want to have a sip!”

“Who doesn’t?”

Everyone laughed, their morale soaring.

In this way, Ning Zhuo led everyone, relying on the modified mechanisms and his own outstanding control abilities, to successfully pass one level after another, until the eighth level.

Yuan Dasheng appeared before them.

This mechanical ape had finally appeared.

“A Zhuo, this time we may have to stop here!”

“But it doesn’t matter, this achievement is already quite remarkable, we have broken the previous record.”

“That’s right, when we return to the family, A Zhuo, you will surely receive a great reward!”

“Maybe there will be Ice Jade Wine, hahaha…”

Having reached this point, everyone in the Ning family was at the end of their strength.

Because Ning Zhuo had deliberately arranged for the sacrifice of some companions in the previous levels.

When Yuan Dasheng appeared, his puppet giant had shrunk significantly, leaving only five companions.

Ning Zhuo’s fighting spirit was firm: “How can we say we’ve lost before we’ve even fought! Let us work together and fight this mechanical ape to the death!”

Everyone shouted in unison, their morale fully mobilized by Ning Zhuo.

However, Yuan Dasheng’s strength was very ‘powerful’. The heads of the large puppet were shot and blown apart one by one.

After only Ning Zhuo was left, Yuan Dasheng knelt on one knee, “Master, this subordinate has committed treason, actually attacking the Master, please punish me.”

Ning Zhuo coughed and tried to play the role of the Master, first saying it was a self-inflicted injury to deceive the enemy, then ordering Yuan Dasheng to redeem himself.

Ning Zhuo carefully selected, taking a set of equipment, had Yuan Dasheng clear the path, passed the ninth level, and entered the transfer hall.

He pushed open the first Buddhist gate and passed three levels in a row.

At the reward stage, he had no more Illusory Lotus Seeds to choose, so he chose a spell to enhance his simultaneous connection to multiple mechanical creations.

He entered the second transfer hall and activated the sixth-level peak Mirror Platform Spiritual Art, successfully pushing open the second Buddhist gate.

“A brand new level, here I come!”

He stepped inside.

He returned defeated.

He was a little short of passing the first level after the Buddhist gate.

When he awoke, he was greeted by the compliments and congratulations of his clansmen, and Ning Xiaoren came in person, with a happy face, offering encouragement and exhortation.

Ning Zhuo’s performance this time was truly amazing.

Ning Zhuo seized the opportunity to make his request: “Uncle Xiaoren, with this merit, can I get the Ice Jade Wine?”

Ning Xiaoren’s eyes twitched slightly, his face filled with smiles, he patted Ning Zhuo on the shoulder: “Okay, I will do my best to get it for you.”

South Bean Capital.

Inside the Golden Luan Hall.

The South Bean Emperor looked at the memorial before him, his brow deeply furrowed.

This memorial was jointly submitted by Meng Kui, the city lord of Fire Persimmon Immortal City, and Zhu Xuanji, the Divine Catcher.

“Something really went wrong with Fire Persimmon Mountain.”

“Dispatch reinforcements…”

The South Bean Emperor felt embarrassed.

This world is not dominated by the South Bean alone, and once the news of the Void Refinement level legacy leaks out, it will inevitably attract countless covetous eyes.

All major forces will extend their tentacles.

Unless South Bean dispatches a large army, it will not be able to guard Fire Persimmon Mountain.

The South Bean Emperor knew very well that the cultivation kingdoms had been frantically arming themselves for nearly a century.

Some large countries still had some spare capacity, but medium-sized countries like South Bean were already exhausted.

As for those small countries, they had long been left behind.

South Bean had heavily guarded key locations and border lines with heavy troops and generals.

Forming a balanced confrontation with the surrounding countries and forces.

To dispatch a large army, it was necessary to transfer these generals, which was a major event that affected the whole body.

Of course, there were idle troops, still the strongest army of South Bean – the Imperial Guard.

But this army was responsible for protecting the capital, which was of great significance and should not be moved lightly.

Could they dispatch the Imperial Guard just because something happened to Fire Persimmon Immortal City?

Moreover, Fire Persimmon Immortal City was still a new city in South Bean, with relatively low cultivation resources, national population, and so on.

Dispatching a large army was immature, how about transferring some strong people?

The South Bean Emperor quickly thought through the list of candidates, his brow furrowing even more.

The South Bean Kingdom had been established for hundreds of years, and the power of the old ministers in the court was deeply rooted.

They were intermarried, allied, and their interests were intertwined.

People of the Meng family, and those close to the Meng family, could not be chosen.

So could other people be chosen?

Could those who were qualified to confront the Meng family, such as the Su family!

If they chose someone from the Su family, wouldn’t they be giving them an opportunity to participate in the Lava Immortal Palace competition?

Were there people who had no connection with these old minister forces?

There were.

Wasn’t such a candidate targeted and drawn in?

In fact, this kind of thing had happened too many times.

The Zhu family’s control of the South Bean royal power had always been unstable.

Because from the root, the founding Supreme Emperor had no mandate of heaven.

It all depended on the supernatural powers of the three Supreme Sect elders.

By the third generation of the Zhu family, there was still no mandate of heaven, and no descendants inherited the supernatural powers.
“If the Zhu Clan can rule a nation, why can’t my clan do the same?”

The Meng and Su families, these powerful clans of cultivators, were stirred by such thoughts.

The ruler of the Nan Dou Kingdom felt increasingly isolated; the higher one stands, the lonelier it becomes.

Under these circumstances, only members of the royal family could be considered truly reliable.

However, the Nan Dou royal family was suffering from a dearth of talent, and Zhu Xuanji was among the most outstanding of the bunch.

If not for this, the Nan Dou monarch wouldn’t have specifically dispatched Zhu Xuanji to Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

As the sovereign of a nation, the Nan Dou Kingdom’s ruler pondered deeply, finding no suitable candidate among his court officials to send as reinforcements.

Now, chaos was brewing in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, coveted by various ambitious factions. How should he deal with this?

This thorny issue was placed before the Nan Dou Kingdom’s ruler.

Several days later.

A royal envoy from the Nan Dou capital floated high in the sky, intoning in a drawn-out voice: “By order of the King, let the City Lord of Fire Persimmon receive the decree!”

“Ordained by Heaven, decreed by the King: The Lava Immortal Palace belongs to the exalted masters of the Three Sects, and is not the property of this kingdom. The masters of the Three Sects, in their compassion for all living beings, left behind the palace to suppress Fire Persimmon Mountain for many years.”

“The Nan Dou Kingdom built a grand array and established Fire Persimmon Immortal City upon this foundation. The contributions of the Three Sects’ masters are immeasurable!”

“Now, with the Immortal Palace emerging, seeking one to inherit its power, the Nan Dou Kingdom, in gratitude for the masters’ benevolence, is pleased to see this happen and shall not obstruct it.”

“However, the Lava Immortal Palace suppresses the volcano, which concerns the safety of hundreds of thousands of city residents. It must not be moved. This was also the original intention of the Three Sects’ masters.”

“Therefore, a call for heroes is hereby issued, widely inviting talented individuals, regardless of their origins, to freely enter and exit the Immortal Palace and compete for the right of inheritance, without setting any external restrictions.”

“The one who inherits the Immortal Palace may enter the court as an official, rising to the fourth rank. Those who do not wish to enter the court must, according to the call for heroes, return the position of City Lord. The Nan Dou Kingdom will provide ample compensation.”

“Those who enter the city and palace without signing the decree shall be deemed enemies of the Nan Dou Kingdom, to be executed, and a substantial reward shall be claimed from the capital.”

The words of the decree-proclaiming envoy resonated like a great bell, each syllable clear, spreading throughout Fire Persimmon Mountain.

Countless city residents looked up, listening silently.

After hearing it, the silent Fire Persimmon Immortal City suddenly erupted in excitement. Countless people cheered and spread the news.

“Did you hear that?”

“The masters of the Three Sects! Those are powerhouses at the Void Refinement stage!”

“They are truly great! Only now do I realize that the greatest benefactor of Fire Persimmon Mountain is them!”

“They actually left behind a palace! And the Lava Immortal Palace is selecting an heir?”

“Fantastic! What a rare opportunity!”

“I feel it! I am the future master of the Immortal Palace! It turns out that the turning point of my life is right here!”

Meng Kui stood up, accepting the decree floating towards him with both hands, his eyes gleaming with contemplation.

The Nan Dou Kingdom’s ruler’s handling of this situation was somewhat beyond Meng Kui’s expectations.

Previously, Meng Kui had been the one to spread the information about the emergence of the Lava Immortal Palace.

The reason was that Meng Kui could no longer stop Zhu Xuanji.

Zhu Xuanji, along with the Golden Core elders of the three great families, frequently entered and exited the Immortal Palace. Meng Kui’s role here was reduced to merely suppressing any potential outbursts from the Immortal Palace.

On the contrary, his continued presence gave Zhu Xuanji the best reason to win over the three great families.

Meng Kui worried that Zhu Xuanji would achieve a breakthrough and ultimately inherit the Immortal Palace.

Especially since Meng Kui had personally witnessed Zhu Xuanji offering three quasi-Golden Core battle puppets to the Lava Immortal Palace in exchange for contribution points.

This was a significant move, and it showed that Zhu Xuanji had come prepared.

Or, more accurately, the Nan Dou royal family was providing strong support behind Zhu Xuanji.

In addition, Meng Chong had suffered repeated setbacks. The mechanical apes and mechanical puppets were too powerful, and Meng Kui saw no possibility of a breakthrough in the short term.

All these reasons prompted Meng Kui to actively spread the information, inviting trouble upon himself, amassing troops, and forcing the royal family to react.

The Meng family knew the internal affairs of the Nan Dou royal family very well.

Meng Kui was certain that the Nan Dou Kingdom’s ruler would be unable to dispatch a large force to Fire Persimmon Immortal City to maintain order.

Therefore, the only option was to send a powerful reinforcement.

And that powerhouse would have to be at least at the Nascent Soul stage.

Meng Kui believed that this scenario was the most likely.

He had already informed the Meng family that once this candidate was chosen, the Meng family would make every effort to win them over.

But in the end, the envoy brought a decree, bringing a call for heroes.