This is the Azure Stone Cave Dwelling.

Ning Zhuo sat in the main seat, raised his wine cup, and thanked the invited cultivators, saying, “Our victory over Ban Ji this time is entirely due to our unity and concerted effort. Come, let’s all drink another cup!”

After returning from Qing Zhu Peak, Ning Zhuo seized the opportunity to invite the other eleven winners.

Some Golden Core cultivators were not invited, and some, considering the upcoming competitive relationship, also declined Ning Zhuo’s invitation. In the end, five people came.

Ning Zhuo invited these five to his cave dwelling, where Kitchen Elder prepared a feast of spirit foods.

The spirit grain wine was mellow, the golden thread cod was fragrant and crispy, the braised Hundred Treasures Mushrooms were so delicious they’d make your tongue fall off, and there were also iced Jade Marrow Fruits, which, when eaten, brought an instant cool sweetness and a very unique flavor.

“Although Ban Ji is from the Ban family, his usual behavior is almost no different from a Demonic Cultivator. He snatches any excellent mechanism he sees. I’ve been displeased with him for a long time.”

The speaker was a young cultivator.

His hair was curly and yellowish, and his face and hands bore many marks from burns or gunpowder smudges.

His nickname was Huo Nian’er, and those close to him simply called him A Huo.

He enjoyed creating explosive mechanisms and had a strong sense of justice, hating evil like fire.

Hei Yaozi Chen San took over the conversation, “Heh, I know some gossip. This Ban Ji isn’t cultivating the normal功法 of the Ban family; it’s said to be a Demonic Cultivation Art!”

Ning Zhuo immediately nodded, “I know about that. It’s the *Tan Ji Mo Xin Gong*. This cultivation art is said to be: ‘Greed feeds the devil, and when the devil grows strong, the machine becomes fierce; seizing machines nourishes greed, and when greed is rampant, the devil goes mad.'”

“So, Ban Ji’s demonic thoughts are quite troublesome. We all deeply understand this, don’t we?”

Ning Zhuo spotted an opportunity and immediately seized it, speaking decisively to share some intelligence he had purchased at a high price.

His words immediately drew widespread agreement.

Huo Nian’er laughed heartily, nodding repeatedly, “Of course, of course! Ban Ji’s divine sense is not easy to deal with!”

Zhang Dadan’s voice was muffled, “Indeed it is.”

He was stocky, broad-shouldered, with dark, shiny skin, like a lump of iron. He gave off a simple, even somewhat dull impression, and spoke in a booming voice.

But his divine sense was quite “hard,” being the most stubborn and tough among the many divine senses that besieged Ban Ji.

As they talked about their common enemy and their experience fighting side-by-side, the atmosphere of the banquet grew a bit more lively.

A young female cultivator looked at Ning Zhuo and directly asked how he became enemies with Ban Ji.

Ning Zhuo gave her a grateful look, then showed a bitter smile, sighed, and said, “If I were to say that today’s Xing Yun Minor Trial was the first time I ever saw Ban Ji with my own eyes, I wonder if you all would believe me?”

As he spoke, he took out a letter from his storage belt and handed it to everyone to examine in turn.

This letter was, of course, the one Ban Ji had sent earlier, expressing his desire for a sparring match.

As everyone read, Ning Zhuo continued, “However, regarding the conflict between me and Ban Ji, I also have some theories and validations.”

“I dispatched my subordinate to personally deliver my reply to Ban Ji. At that time, he was drinking and feasting with Pi Fu Jie…”

“And Pi Fu Jie and I just happen to have had a conflict.”

Ning Zhuo told everyone that Shen Xi had once invited him to join them, but the Shen family of Jiu Gong Immortal City and the Pi family were sworn enemies, so he was also hated by Pi Fu Jie.

Pi Fu Jie proactively provoked him, and Ning Zhuo didn’t tolerate it.

“In the end, I directly killed a demon cultivator subordinate he had recently recruited.”

“Everyone, please look.”

Ning Zhuo then took out the tiger pelt, specifically showing the locations of the Qian Chong Lin Pi Talisman and the Ran Xue Ben Teng Talisman.

After this round of storytelling, everyone’s gaze toward Ning Zhuo subtly changed.

“I didn’t expect Ning Zhuo to be with Shen Xi, Lin Jing Long, and Situ Xing.”

They didn’t know Ning Zhuo, but they had more or less heard of Shen Xi and the other two.

Ning Zhuo’s ability to associate with them immediately elevated everyone’s evaluation of him to the same level as Shen Xi and the others.

“This tiger demon’s combat power before its death must have been formidable. With two powerful demonic talismans, it was still killed by Ning Zhuo…”

“This big-headed youth should not be underestimated. Although his divine sense isn’t much, he definitely has combat power.”

“His mechanisms could kill a tiger demon and were coveted by Ban Ji, so they must be exceptionally good.”

“What is his backing force? His foundation must be quite deep!”

Bu Ding Sun looked at Ning Zhuo, showing concern, “The Pi family, at first, were genuine Demonic Cultivators. They only bribed high-ranking officials of the state to switch to the righteous path.”

“The Pi family’s foundation isn’t clean!”

“Young Master Ning, you must be careful in the future.”

“Bu Ding Sun” was naturally his nickname. He was a small old man with a hunched back, his face deeply wrinkled like ravines, always wearing a worried expression.

He perpetually wore a faded, patched coarse cloth jacket and carried a large, patched rattan basket wider than himself.

At the banquet, this large basket was already placed in the corner.

Zhang Dadan sighed, “The Ban family is a famous mechanism-making family in our country. I didn’t expect a rebellious fellow like Ban Ji to appear in this generation.”

In his words, he expressed considerable regret for the Ban family.

The young female cultivator, Jiang Xiao Bian, snorted coldly, “Pi Fu Jie and Ban Ji, it seems neither are good people, associating with each other, they’re all from the same nest!”

Ning Zhuo secretly nodded, adding in his heart, “Exactly, that’s right.”

His purpose for hosting this banquet had largely been achieved.

In Ning Zhuo’s view: Ban Ji had one major weakness, and that was—he was a Demonic Cultivator.

Being a Demonic Cultivator, his reputation would be very bad, and he would easily be besieged.

In comparison, although Ning Zhuo had no reputation, at least it wasn’t completely negative like Ban Ji’s.

Therefore, in Qing Huangzi’s first Xing Yun Minor Trial, he used this weakness to successfully unite a large group of cultivators.

Ban Ji’s own arrogant offensive posture also, from another angle, helped Ning Zhuo.

After all, most people knew Ban Ji and had a sense of apprehension.

As for whether ganging up on him was unfair?

Of course not—what fairness do you talk about with Demonic Cultivators? Everyone just goes at it together!

During the previous conversation, Ning Zhuo once again solidified the fact to everyone—Ban Ji is a Demonic Cultivator, I, Ning Zhuo, am of the righteous path, we are all good people, and dealing with Ban Ji together is a righteous act!

For this, Ning Zhuo presented many pieces of evidence, convincing everyone.

Hei Yaozi Chen San turned his gaze to Ning Zhuo, “Young Master Ning, you still need to be extra careful. I wonder if you have any elders accompanying you?”

“Both Pi Fu Jie’s and Ban Ji’s families are well-known in our country.”

Chen San was lean, dark-skinned, with sharp eyes that held a hint of shrewdness and wariness. He feigned concern, but was actually probing Ning Zhuo’s background.

When you’re out and about, you naturally have to talk about your background.

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly, “To tell you the truth, this is my first time at the Wan Xiang Sect’s main mountain gate; I’m quite new here.”

“I hold the belief of being kind to others and never thought of offending anyone.”

“However, for evil people like Pi Fu Jie and Ban Ji, I’ll offend them if I offend them.”

“My elders didn’t blame me; they just told me not to be cowardly!”

Ning Zhuo didn’t provide specific information, but everyone else’s eyes flickered slightly.

Facing the Pi and Ban families, Ning Zhuo’s elders still maintained a tough stance, which indirectly showed that Ning Zhuo’s background was not small!

Ning Zhuo’s tone softened, not wanting to be overly aggressive, “After this Fei Yun Grand Assembly, I will become a disciple of the Wan Xiang Sect.”

“If Ban Ji and Pi Fu Jie also successfully join, we will be fellow disciples. Our conflicts can be resolved face-to-face in the Yan Wu Hall.”

“If they both fail, and I am a Wan Xiang Sect disciple, I will fear them even less.”

Ning Zhuo’s optimistic attitude and forward-looking outlook immediately resonated with everyone, successfully diverting the topic.

The five cultivators present came to the Wan Xiang Sect’s main mountain gate at this time, naturally also wishing to join.

According to Ning Zhuo’s recent conversations with them, he learned that these five were all rogue cultivators, each skilled in some aspect of mechanism arts.

For example, Bu Ding Sun specialized in repairs, Zhang Dadan had a knack for refining tools and was good at heavy mechanisms, while Huo Nian’er had profound experience in explosive mechanisms…

“Joining the Wan Xiang Sect, it’s easy and not easy at the same time!”

“If I can obtain Qing Huangzi’s inheritance, can I ensure my entry into the Wan Xiang Sect?”

“That’s definitely possible. Haven’t you heard? Qing Huangzi’s inheritance even includes the Peak Master Token of Qing Zhu Peak.”

Everyone had the same goal, so their discussion was lively.

Ning Zhuo listened for a while, occasionally interjecting.

Someone then naturally brought up the *Yuan Yin Huang Pian Shu*, and everyone’s topic shifted to the rewards of this Qing Huangzi Minor Trial.

Including Ning Zhuo, a total of twelve winners, each received a copy of the *Yuan Yin Huang Pian Shu*.

Zhang Dadan expressed his concern, “I’m completely ignorant of music; participating in the subsequent minor trials might be disastrous.”

Huo Nian’er raised an eyebrow, “What’s there to fear? At worst, you just lose.”

Chen San looked at the young female cultivator, “I think Daoist Friend Jiang has the most hope.”

The young female cultivator, Jiang Xiao Bian, didn’t look old. She was sallow and thin, with dry yellow hair, always tied into a small braid at the back of her head.

At her waist hung several bamboo tubes, from which occasional rustling insect sounds emanated.

Jiang Xiao Bian specialized in creating tiny insect-like mechanisms using spirit insects as the main material.

Whenever she faced an enemy, she would open the bamboo tubes and pour out large swarms of small mechanical insects.

Because there were so many insects, she certainly couldn’t control each one with spiritual threads. Instead, she played an insect flute, using sound to control the various small mechanical insects.

And in Qing Huangzi’s mechanism style, music also played a huge role.

The *Yuan Yin Huang Pian Shu* was a mechanism classic, detailing the creation of mechanism parts. It contained twenty types of reeds, each capable of producing different *yuan yin* with varying effects. And conversely—cultivators could emit *yuan yin* to induce resonance in specific reeds, thereby manipulating mechanisms out of thin air.

Jiang Xiao Bian said, “Speaking of which, I’ve already quickly scanned the *Yuan Yin Huang Pian Shu*.”

“What do you all make of the passage—’Western mountain fine copper casts pure sound teeth, between the teeth lie echoes of empty valleys. Bathed in the dawn’s heavenly dew for forty-nine cycles, when the dew dries, the teeth are clear like ice crystals. Placed in the *shanzhong*, it draws wind and circulates *qi*, and the vibration of the teeth cleanses the eight directions’?”

Thus, everyone’s discussion focused on this passage, each expressing their views, making for a lively debate.

Ning Zhuo smiled, participating throughout.

Although he had a deeper understanding, at this moment and in this setting, he deliberately concealed his abilities.

There was no need to display his superior side. Because Ban Ji had already been eliminated, Ning Zhuo’s opponents in the upcoming Qing Huangzi Minor Trial would be the other eleven.

This also included the five people present.

Despite Ning Zhuo’s young age, he was quite precocious, having no emotional need to flaunt his intelligence or show off in front of others.

Everyone conversed for a while, each holding their own opinion, and began to argue.

Ning Zhuo immediately interjected to stabilize the situation, “Everyone, please listen to me. How about we pause our discussion of the *Yuan Yin Huang Pian Shu* for now? We might as well face the upcoming Qing Huangzi Minor Trial according to our respective understandings.”

“Let’s agree beforehand, whoever among us ultimately obtains the complete inheritance, that person has to treat everyone to a meal!”

“We are not like Ban Ji. Since we can meet, it is fate. Isn’t that right?”

Ning Zhuo, as the host of the banquet and with his unusual status, immediately garnered support for his words.

Zhang Dadan had already foreseen that he wouldn’t make it to the end, “Even if I only get this scripture, it’s a significant gain.”

Bu Ding Sun comforted Zhang Dadan, “In fact, Senior Qing Huangzi was also a rogue cultivator, similar to us.”

“Although his mechanism art is unique, it’s not considered top-tier.”

“Exactly.” Chen San nodded, “Within our Wan Xiang Sect, there’s a very top-tier mechanism family. That’s the Meng family on Zi Lei Peak!”

Ning Zhuo’s heart stirred upon hearing this.

This wasn’t the first time he’d heard of it.

As early as Huo Shi Immortal City, Ning Zhuo had heard about this family from Song Fu Li.

When Ning Zhuo came to the Wan Xiang Sect and collected intelligence, he also saw information related to the Meng family.

“Although my mother’s surname is Meng, she has no connection to this Meng family.”

“If there were, she would have told me long ago.”

“However, this is also quite good.”

“Zi Lei Peak is quite weak. If I were implicated in this relationship, I’m afraid I would be trapped in the deepest and most terrifying internal power struggle currently within the Wan Xiang Sect.”

“Perhaps I wouldn’t even know how I died!”

Chen San continued, “If the Meng family cultivators of Zi Lei Peak held a Xing Yun Minor Trial, I would break my head to participate!”

“It’s a pity that the Meng family has been keeping a low profile these years, with not many noticeable movements.”

“This time at the Fei Yun Grand Assembly, they will probably still maintain a secretive stance.”

The banquet ended, with guests and host alike enjoying themselves, bidding a reluctant farewell.

Ning Zhuo, alone, took out the jade slip *Yuan Yin Huang Pian Shu* and began to study it.

He also recalled the conversations and introductions of the others, and couldn’t help but evaluate in his heart:

“Bu Ding Sun is confined by ‘instrument’ and seeks its ‘technique,’ Chen San is skilled in ‘change’ but overlooks its ‘purity,’ Zhang Dadan adheres to ‘orthodoxy’ and solidifies its ‘form,’ Jiang Xiao Bian is adept at ‘life’ but confused by ‘spirit,’ Huo Nian’er sees the ‘use’ but is ignorant of its ‘mystery.'”

“In reality, the poetic metaphor of ‘heavenly dew,’ ‘forty-nine,’ and ‘ice crystal clarity’ has a threefold guidance.”

“One points to the distinction between clear and turbid; heavenly dew does not necessarily mean ordinary dew, but values ultimate clarity and purity. The second points to the law of the celestial cycle; forty-nine is not a fixed number, but aligns with the cycle of pure sound generation. The third points to the extreme of spirituality; ice crystal clarity does not describe its appearance, but metaphors sound like a cold spring cleansing the soul…”

For Ning Zhuo, this classic was simple and easy to understand; after reading it a few times, he had no further doubts.

However, to be safe, he still used his *Hui Yi Bi*, and with the help of the Luo Shu pages, he “read” it again.

This time, he gained an unexpected new insight.