Zhu Xuanji furrowed his brow, his expression unrelaxed.
Defeating Ning Zhuo, Sun Lingtong, and Yang Chanyu in a one-versus-three battle brought him little joy.
He had always prioritized concealing his true strength. Few outsiders knew about his divine abilities, Golden Mountain Stance and Jade Pillar Body.
This time, concerning the Lava Immortal Palace and the遗藏 of a Reversion to Void mighty being, he reluctantly chose to reveal a part of his strength in public.

“Ning Jiufan fought against Zheng Shuangou, Meng Chong, and the Golden Core true successor of the Meng family. Ning Jiufan was defeated and eliminated, Zheng Shuangou was defeated and eliminated!”
This simple message contained far from simple information.
Zhu Xuanji pondered for a moment and understood the truth: “The Zheng family has betrayed the three-family alliance I built.”
He was mentally prepared for this, however.
He could even guess the reason why the Zheng family betrayed the alliance and secretly joined the Meng family –
The Supreme Clarity Palace was a sword hanging over the Zheng family’s head, ready to fall at any moment.
The Zheng family faced the crisis of annihilation!
Under such immense pressure, the attitude of the Southern Bean royal family remained ambiguous, without issuing a clear decree to protect the Zheng family. Thus, the Zheng family naturally had to save themselves and frantically search for a way out.
Meng Kui must have offered some promises, which the Zheng family seemed to grasp like a life-saving straw, leading them to firmly and secretly align with the Meng family and betray the alliance.
As for the alliance agreement Zhu Xuanji had signed with them, it was naturally dissolved by the Meng family.
Where there is poison, there is an antidote. Where there is an alliance agreement, there are means to dissolve it.

Zhu Xuanji secretly assessed the situation.
“Zhou Nanying, Ning Jiufan, the Golden Core true successor of the Purple Cloud Pavilion, Zheng Shuangou, Yang Chanyu, the Book Lord, and Ning Zhuo have all been eliminated.”
“Now, only I, Zheng Danlian, Meng Chong and the Golden Core body refiner of the Meng family, as well as Song Fuli and Sun Lingtong, remain in the Turn of Fortune Secret Pavilion.”
“The greatest threat to me should be Zheng Danlian! The Night Rain Demon Blade in his hands cannot be judged by conventional means.”
“Besides that, it is the combined strength of these individuals.”
“Once they realize my strength is too high, they will quickly unite against me.”
In fact, this was one of the reasons why Zhu Xuanji had always concealed his true strength.

“Who else can I ally with now?”
“Song Fuli?”
Born into the royal family, Zhu Xuanji possessed considerable ability in assessing the situation and forming alliances.
In fact, when he arrived at Fire Persimmon Immortal City alone, he had no one helping him except himself.
Zhu Xuanji first used the powerful reason of investigating a case to光明正大地 (openly and honestly) borrow manpower and resources from the City Lord’s mansion. Even Meng Kui in the early stages harbored hope and expectation towards the royal family and Zhu Xuanji.
Afterward, Zhu Xuanji used his identity and the prevailing circumstances to form a three-family alliance with the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families.
He not only leveraged the power of the local families but also avoided the awkward situation of being forced to fight multiple people, thus preventing the premature exposure of his true strength.
Although the Zheng family defected, to be honest, it was not Zhu Xuanji’s fault.
One could only blame the Southern Bean royal family for not issuing the decree in a timely manner.

“In fact, after such a long time, the royal family’s prolonged delay in issuing the decree already indicates their attitude!”
Zhu Xuanji’s ability to reach this point was not solely due to his identity and talent; he also constantly employed his strategies.
Zhu Xuanji thought for a moment but did not make up his mind to ally with Song Fuli.
In his opinion, the timing of Song Fuli and these merchant cultivators’ appearance carried a hint of coincidence.
He could ally with Song Fuli, but couldn’t the City Lord Meng Kui do the same? If it came down to bidding for their support, Zhu Xuanji was certain he couldn’t outbid Meng Kui.
If both sides vied for Song Fuli, the probability of him being on the losing side was high.
Given this, Zhu Xuanji, who had just been betrayed by Ning Zhuo not long ago, preferred to maintain distance from Song Fuli.

Of course, the main reason for all these decisions was Zhu Xuanji’s confidence.
He was confident that he could resist the combined strength of everyone else on his own.
The only thing that worried him was not the alliance, but the dispersal of everyone!

“Zhu Xuanji fought against the introductory standard, Yang Chanyu, and Ning Zhuo. Yang Chanyu was defeated and eliminated, Ning Zhuo conceded and was eliminated?”
Similar to Zhu Xuanji’s situation, Meng Chong and the Meng family’s Golden Core body refiner were also reviewing the battle reports of others.
“Why did Ning Zhuo go and confront Zhu Xuanji?” Meng Chong was surprised, then exclaimed, “Divine Constable Zhu Xuanji is formidable! He was suppressed to only the Foundation Establishment stage, yet he fought so many people. Can Sun Lingtong’s mechanical ape still not be used?”
The Meng family’s Golden Core body refiner sneered, “Either Ning Zhuo is still entangled with the Void Gate, or the Ning family also wants to get their hands on the Lava Immortal Palace! The barbarians from the North Wind Kingdom have always been so ambitious.”
Meng Chong shrugged and said indifferently, “I would do the same if I were them. Why not fight with all your might for the spoils of war you can seize?”
The Golden Core body refiner showed a pensive expression and said solemnly, “If the mechanical ape in Sun Lingtong’s hands could be used, then Zhu Xuanji’s true strength would be quite terrifying.”
“The Void Gate should also have another Foundation Establishment level mechanical puppet hidden. It wears a bamboo hat and can control ghosts.”
The City Lord’s mansion naturally collected intelligence on the three-family alliance battle.
Even without this, Ning Zhuo had repeatedly arranged for the Golden Blood War Ape, Dasheng, and the Underworld Emissary, Qi Bai, to disguise themselves as part of the trial challenges and intercept the trial disciples many times.
Therefore, the City Lord’s mansion had long since anticipated the Underworld Emissary, Qi Bai, as a hidden card.
“Don’t forget, the restrictions have weakened, and we can all use our own items. Although Ning Zhuo is only at the mid-stage Qi Refining level, similar in cultivation to you, Young Master, he is confirmed to have a Golden Core level mechanical ape with him.”
“Even if the mechanical ape is affected by the restrictions and suppressed to the Foundation Establishment level, it is still a huge threat.”
“Adding in Yang Chanyu, the Golden Core true disciple of the Void Gate…”
“Zhu Xuanji actually defeated these three people, his strength is quite terrifying! He usually hides his abilities very well.”
Meng Chong casually put his hands behind his head and said, “What’s the point of guessing so much? Wouldn’t everything be clear if we just fight Zhu Xuanji?”
The Meng family’s Golden Core body refiner felt exhausted and quickly waved his hand, “War is dangerous. It’s best to avoid fighting if possible. Military strategy says: The highest form of warfare is to attack the enemy’s plans, next to attack their alliances, next to attack their army, and the lowest is to attack their cities. We should try to avoid fighting and strive to achieve final victory in the most stable way.”
“Not fight Zhu Xuanji?!” Meng Chong’s eyes widened. He genuinely looked forward to this battle, but the person beside him said no fighting?
Meng Chong immediately said, “It’s rare to have such a good opportunity. Zhu Xuanji is suppressed at the Foundation Establishment stage, and I can fight him with my immortal aptitude. If we really fight, how enjoyable would that be.”
The Meng family’s Golden Core body refiner shook his head repeatedly, “No, no, Young Master, you seem to have forgotten. To seize the position of Palace Master of the Immortal Palace, we must find the most correct path in the Turn of Fortune Secret Pavilion, be the first to enter the main hall, and the one who sits on the throne will become the Palace Master of the Lava Immortal Palace.”
“That’s what you need to do, not engage in an uncertain battle with Zhu Xuanji.”
“If we have to fight, it will only be me, in alliance with Zheng Danlian, intercepting Zhu Xuanji to buy you time.”
However, Meng Chong’s eyes sparkled, “Precisely because it’s uncertain, fighting is more interesting. This might be a rare opportunity for our Meng family to compete with the Zhu royal family! I want to see why the Zhu family can压过 (suppress) my Meng family and act as the royal family of a kingdom.”
Too tired.
The Meng family’s Golden Core body refiner sighed inwardly. Seeing that he couldn’t persuade Meng Chong, he had no choice but to bring up Meng Kui.
“Young Master, please rein it in a bit.”
“Our mission this time is arduous, and these arrangements were not made by me, but are one of the strategies personally calculated by your grandfather.”
“Will you listen to Lord Meng Kui’s words?”
This time it was Meng Chong’s turn to sigh, “Alas! Yes, I must listen to grandfather’s words.”
His face was full of regret.
The Meng family’s Golden Core body refiner finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit breathed an even bigger sigh of relief. It had been watching Meng Chong and seeing the latter recklessly wanting to challenge Zhu Xuanji, it wished it could slap his head hard a few times!
Do you have a brain in your head?!
Zhu Xuanji, who possessed three divine abilities! Is such an opponent someone you, a mid-stage Qi Refining young cultivator, can provoke?!
The Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit observed several battles with keen insight and was very certain that Zhu Xuanji was the strongest existence in this palace examination. The only one who might be able to threaten him head-on was that Night Rain Demon Blade.

“Almost everyone has left.”
“Next, there will be a minor turn of fortune, which will rearrange the current positions in the Secret Pavilion again.”
“Under my guidance, Meng Chong might walk out of the Turn of Fortune Secret Pavilion and be the first to enter the main hall!”
*Clap, clap, clap…*
The Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit pondered while retracted within its shell.
Beside it, dozens of flaming whips lashed at it constantly.
The weakened restrictions allowed it to cheat and secretly tell Meng Chong which way to go. For example, to take the left door or the front door.
It still couldn’t reveal any information about other cultivators.
It would still suffer severe lashing for cheating! If it was more serious, flaming guillotines would even condense to decapitate it!

“Ning Zhuo is finished.”
“After the minor turn of fortune, Zhu Xuanji and Meng Chong will be far apart, and he won’t be able to stop Meng Chong from leaving the Secret Pavilion.”
Never had the Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit felt so close to success.
“As long as Meng Chong can become the Palace Master, all that I have sacrificed will be worth it!” It secretly encouraged itself.

Lava Immortal Palace.
The halo expelled Sun Lingtong.
As soon as he came out, he heard a beast roar and a fiery demon beast lunged towards him.
Sun Lingtong was startled and was about to raise his dagger when the fiery demon beast’s head was cut off, and hot blood like a spring gushed from its neck.
Sun Lingtong retreated in time, avoiding getting splattered with blood.
“Yang Chanyu!” Sun Lingtong saw his fellow disciple who had acted for him and dealt with the fiery demon beast.
Yang Chanyu didn’t look well. Her face was like golden paper, and her aura was very weak.