Sun Lingtong tossed a magic artifact, shaped like inner armor, into the furnace.

“Funeral Nirvana Spirit Liberation Sutra!”

The artifact gradually melted, turning into nothingness, but leaving behind a surge of abundant spiritual energy.

The spiritual energy rapidly poured into the Weather Orb – Ice Crystal Snow, raising its spiritual essence to the maximum, ten out of ten.

With full spiritual essence, the Weather Orb – Ice Crystal Snow could now recover on its own, even if its spirit was damaged.

The Weather Orb – Ice Crystal Snow’s spiritual essence originally came from the ghost cultivator, Ning Xie.

When Ning Zhuo refined it, its spiritual essence was only at thirty-six percent.

However, adding spiritual essence wasn’t actually that difficult.

One only needed to find the corresponding relics.

Back then, Ning Zhuo had also added spiritual essence to Yuan Dasheng in one fell swoop.

After Qi Bai created it, its spiritual essence was severely depleted, once falling below ten percent.

But after burning personal, private items from a storage bag, its spiritual essence immediately surged to over ninety percent.

Since obtaining the Weather Orb – Ice Crystal Snow, Ning Zhuo had been using his subordinates, the black market, and the branch family’s channels to gather Ning Xie’s belongings by any means possible.

He continuously accumulated its spiritual essence through these items.

And during Ning Zhuo’s second extortion of the Ning Family Patriarch, he had acquired some family-owned magical artifacts.

The inner armor artifact being burned was Ning Xie’s most important defensive tool during his life.

After being burned, it immediately filled the last gap in his spiritual essence, bringing it to ten out of ten.

Of course, Ning Zhuo obtained more than just this from the Ning Family Patriarch.

He secured a promise from the patriarch – the Ning Family would use all its strength to gather methods and resources to help Ning Zhuo measure his innate talent.

Ning Zhuo had to show a strong desire for this.

For a talented young cultivator possessing innate talent but ignorant of its extent and unable to further his development, it would be strange if he didn’t seek to uncover the secrets of his own talent.

“Fortunately, by handing this matter over to the Ning Family’s main branch, they definitely won’t let me easily measure my talent.”

Regarding the conflict between the main and branch families, those on the Ning Family Patriarch’s side would surely create obstacles and secretly sabotage.

“Don’t disappoint me, main branch.”

Ning Zhuo secretly cheered for the main branch.

Ning Zhuo also obtained a special permission from the patriarch.

This permission allowed Ning Zhuo to collaborate with the Zhou and Zheng Families in exploring the Lava Immortal Palace.

This way, Ning Zhuo helping the Zhou and Zheng Families achieve good results wouldn’t be criticized by the family members as Ning Zhuo betraying his family.

The permission also allowed Ning Zhuo to vigorously research the ‘Substitute Puppet’, thus necessitating increased collection of family members’ flesh and blood.

The patriarch’s endorsement cleared many invisible obstacles for Ning Zhuo.

Finally, the patriarch extracted many Golden Core-level materials such as Scarlet Yang Copper from the family treasury.

Ning Zhuo’s actions to refine Golden Core-level automatons began grandly and impressively.

Dozens of Zheng Family artisans were constantly working in the forging room, ceaselessly hammering Myriad Machine Mysterious Iron.

In order to smelt Golden Core-level rare materials, Zheng Hua was invited to use Heavenly Gold Spirit Stones as the ignition, resolving the difficulties.

Zheng Family, Heavenly Grade Forging Room.

This was the highest-standard forging room in the entire Zheng Family, no, in the entire Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

The blazing earth fire was vast and powerful, yet it was condensed into a small lamp flame.

Magic Treasure – Heavenly Artisan Lamp.

This was the Zheng Family’s clan-protecting treasure, capable of concentrating infinite firepower into a single point.

Any forging technique applied within the lamp flame would have its power at least doubled.

At this moment, within the lamp flame, a black serpent was meandering.

The black serpent’s posture was extremely fierce.

Its body was flat, constructed from countless iron strips. As it moved, the iron strips collided with each other, emitting a series of dense, crisp clang sounds.

Zhu Xuanji and many Golden Core cultivators were staring intently at the lamp flame, at the automaton black serpent within the fire.

Several Golden Core cultivators each displayed their abilities, casting various spells for investigation.

After a moment, Zhu Xuanji, using the Heavenly Gold Spirit Eyes, was the first to notice something.

Subsequently, two Zheng Family Golden Cores and two Zhou Family Golden Cores gradually discerned the peculiarity.

Zheng Shuanggou said, “The final part of this automaton weapon is located at its seven-inch position. This position connects the top and bottom, and is one of the central hubs for the automaton weapon’s operational changes.”

“Without this piece, we can only master the three basic forms of the automaton weapon.”

“We need an extremely sturdy yet flexible material to supplement it.”

The immortals discussed among themselves.

Zhou Nongying first suggested Jade Luster Mysterious Steel, Zheng Danlian suggested Dragon Scale Azure Iron, and Zheng Shuanggou said it could be Purple Haze Qiong Gold.

Zhu Xuanji said Moonbeam Cold Iron could be used.

Finally, when the Zhou Family’s second Golden Core elder mentioned Night Wind Gentle Iron, everyone’s eyes lit up, and they all agreed it was good.

This material was the most suitable.

Zheng Shuanggou stroked his chin, “If Night Wind Gentle Iron is to be used, the fire refining method needs to be pure. Previously, using the Fire Fiend power for forging would be absolutely impossible.”

Zheng Danlian added, “The most crucial thing is quenching.”

“Night Wind Gentle Iron contains vitality, and extremely cold quenching methods are very unsuitable. Truly using such quenching methods would greatly damage the material properties of Night Wind Gentle Iron.”

The Ning Family Golden Core elder pondered, “This is easy to handle.”

“My family has a Qi Refining junior with Ice Jade Hands. The profound meaning of this talent is that beneath extreme cold lies a wisp of vitality.”

“Wonderful!”

Zheng Shuanggou immediately praised. “In this way, we only need this junior to cooperate with us, and we don’t need to change our previous refining plan, saving a huge amount of time and energy.”

After reaching an agreement, the Ning Family Golden Core elder immediately sent an order.

Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother was extremely excited upon learning of this matter.

She actively sought out Ning Xiaohui, and upon meeting her, grabbed the latter’s shoulders, “Opportunity, Xiaohui, your opportunity has arrived.”

Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother explained everything in detail, but Ning Xiaohui still looked incredulous.

Her grandmother instructed her, “Xiaohui, when you see the Golden Core elders, you must be extremely respectful. They are all important figures. This time, you have helped them so much. If they just leak a little bit from their hands, it will be enough for you to benefit for many years.”

Ning Xiaohui was originally very depressed, but upon hearing this news, her expression gradually changed from numbness and discouragement to full of anticipation.

She followed her grandmother’s instructions, went to visit Zhu Xuanji and the three families’ Golden Core elders, and behaved very obediently.

The Ning Family elder treated her kindly.

Zhu Xuanji nodded slightly at her, telling her the current situation.

Hearing that Night Wind Gentle Iron was needed, Ning Xiaohui suddenly thought of a rumor that had recently appeared.

The rumor said that Ning Zhuo had destroyed the secret residence of a former Black Market Lord and plundered many rare items, one of which was said to be a large amount of Night Wind Gentle Iron.

Ning Xiaohui then said, “Elder, please allow this junior to report.”

She told the Golden Core elders about the night market, Ning Zhuo, and the matter of Night Wind Gentle Iron.

The Ning Family elder: “Oh? This Ning Zhuo actually has the Golden Core-level treasure Night Wind Gentle Iron, which is exactly what we need.”

He immediately issued an order, commanding Ning Zhuo to offer this item.

End of chapter.