Qingzhu Peak.

Inside the cave dwelling, Qinghuangzi, with a solemn expression, explained the general situation of his lineage’s inheritance to Ning Zhuo before the divine altar.

“Konggu Yinjie Qingji Tong!”

This was the name of this mechanical inheritance.

Its original source was the Zhushan Sect.

This sect no longer existed. At that time, its mountain gate was attacked by an extremely clever enemy who instigated internal strife within the sect. Before engaging the enemy, many disciples fled, leaving behind several cultivators who were loyal to the sect and preferred to die in battle.

With too few cultivators, their defenses were systematically breached, eventually forcing them to retreat into a bamboo forest in the valley.

At a critical moment of survival, two of the surviving cultivators, one skilled in music and the other adept at mechanisms, worked together to swiftly transform the bamboo forest. They modified sections of the bamboo into whistles.

When the enemy aggressively pushed in, the cultivators activated their formations, unleashing a great wind that swept through the bamboo forest, causing the bamboo whistles to sound sharply. Innumerable sonic blades emerged, swirling around the bamboo stalks, slaughtering the enemy and covering the ground in blood.

The enemy launched several assaults but could not overcome them, suffering heavy losses.

There was also a method to uproot the bamboo forest, depriving the defenders of their reliance. However, the leader considered these bamboo plants to be spirit plants of immense value, and thus preferred to bide their time and plan a slow approach.

The main mountain gate of the Zhushan Sect had been breached, with only this valley remaining.

At that time, war was the dominant theme in the entire cultivation world. After occupying that region, the leader faced various external pressures and had less and less energy to seize the final valley bamboo forest.

The Zhushan Sect had, in effect, been destroyed since its internal strife and dispersal.

Periodically, the leader dispatched several experts to the valley bamboo forest to persuade them to surrender. During the persuasion process, sparrings and competitions were inevitable.

Both sides, utilizing the wind-whistle bamboo forest, engaged in many offensive and defensive battles. Some were superficial, retreating when things went well, while others resulted in fatalities, igniting true fury.

Under such continuous tempering, the elders in the valley collaborated to constantly innovate. They deeply researched the initial inspiration of the wind-whistle bamboo forest, developing a complete system.

This system was then passed down through generations, continuously innovating. By the time it reached Qinghuangzi, he was the twenty-eighth generation.

Qinghuangzi stared sternly into Ning Zhuo’s eyes: “Ning Zhuo, you are the twenty-ninth generation successor of this Konggu Yinjie Qingji Tong!”

“Our inheritance does not belong to the Wanxiang Sect. Rather, the Wanxiang Sect absorbed the sect of the previous generation’s successor, which led to the current situation.”

“However, being in the Wanxiang Sect is not bad. Many times, with the help of the Wanxiang Sect, the inheritance was preserved from being lost.”

“In this long lineage, we have also had Nascent Soul stage cultivators. However, they had other primary cultivation methods.”

“The highest cultivation level achieved by the ancestors who truly fully cultivated this inheritance reached the Primordial Spirit stage. In today’s terms, this is a Primordial Spirit-level inheritance.”

At this point, Qinghuangzi sighed: “I see that you have successfully established your foundation and have another primary cultivation method. This is not a problem, as long as you successfully swear an oath before the divine statue: first, to carefully preserve this inheritance and, as much as possible, find the most excellent successor within your capabilities; second, if possible, to do your best to perfect, improve, and promote this inheritance.”

“Ning Zhuo, your cultivation talent is much stronger than mine. Your youthful spirit is as vibrant as the morning sun. Youth is truly wonderful.”

“I also know my limits, you can rest assured about that. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about acknowledging me as your master after inheriting this legacy.”

The master-disciple relationship is extraordinary!

This strong social bond can sometimes even surpass blood ties.

In a super sect like the Wanxiang Sect, where there are many factions and too many people, various intertwined interests, grievances, and personal animosities make the internal situation very complex.

Only when Ning Zhuo truly acknowledges a master in the future will he be considered fully joined to a certain faction.

“The talent and aptitude I displayed when I obtained the stone plaque made even Qinghuangzi not dare to take me as his disciple.”

“This can be considered one of the benefits of my choice to be high-profile.”

Had it been earlier, if Ning Zhuo hadn’t sufficiently showcased his excellence, Qinghuangzi might very well have required the successor to become his disciple.

Acknowledging a master prematurely would be a significant loss for Ning Zhuo!

After all, Qinghuangzi’s personal combat strength and network of connections were too weak; he himself wasn’t even a Core Formation true disciple. From this perspective, he was a marginal figure outside the power structure of the Wanxiang Sect.

Ning Zhuo faced the divine statue.

The statue’s posture was peculiar, unlike most divine statues.

It knelt on one knee, wearing a Chi-patterned hair-bundling crown. Three strands of bronze hair hung down from its forehead, their ends cut sharply like blades. Its left palm held a half-section of a frost blade horizontally across its chest, with its severed hair wrapped around the sword’s spine.

Ning Zhuo recognized it as the Duanfa Jianjun.

During his lifetime, his deeds of severing his hair to keep his oath were already famous throughout the world. Now, over a thousand years later, they are still widely circulated, truly making him a figure of historical renown.

Ning Zhuo raised his left hand in a sword-finger gesture, mimicking a blade, and held it across his neck.

After chanting the divine name, he immediately activated the statue’s power.

The statue emitted a steadfast white light, which condensed in mid-air to form a circular mirror. The mirror’s edge was embedded with nine hundred and ninety-nine copper nails, and its surface reflected a clear image of Ning Zhuo, the oath-taker.

Ning Zhuo, facing the divine statue, completed his oath.

The divine light mirror divided into two streams: one entered Ning Zhuo’s body, and the other merged into the divine statue.

The light quickly dissipated.

Qinghuangzi witnessed the entire process. Seeing Ning Zhuo successfully take the oath, he let out a sigh of relief, his face beaming with joy, and said, “Good, very good.”

Afterward, he led Ning Zhuo to an inner room and handed him a dozen jade slips and three storage bags.

“These bags contain essential items for cultivation, which are the foundation of our inheritance.”

“I don’t have much time left. Cultivating them myself won’t be very effective.”

“Besides these, the greatest wealth is this Qingzhu Peak.”

Qinghuangzi sighed, looking at the floor tiles beneath his feet: “This peak originally belonged to our lineage, tracing back to the eleventh generation successor.”

“The Wanxiang Sect annexed his sect and also moved this mountain in.”

“Now, this mountain is merely rented by us. The various spirit bamboos on the mountain were also painstakingly managed and planted by our successive successors.”

“The geology, water quality, and formations here are all very mature, making it the best place to cultivate bamboo.”

“When I pass away, you must immediately report it, handle the handover, and rent this mountain. All the spirit bamboos on this mountain are cultivation resources suitable for you.”

“Cough, cough, cough.”

At this point, Qinghuangzi looked sickly and coughed incessantly.

He was truly old and frail. Earlier, he had merely been putting on a strong front in public. Now that Ning Zhuo had become the successor, he no longer concealed his condition, coughing constantly, with the aura of death spreading.

Ning Zhuo opened his mouth, about to speak.

Qinghuangzi, however, smiled bitterly and waved his hand, saying, “Go now. After you acquired the stone plaque, I investigated you. Although the information was limited, only recording your actions since arriving at the Wanxiang Sect, it greatly reassured me.”

“You have such talent, yet you still work so hard. Your young age and your achievements have a reason.”

“Being by my side would only limit you. You would also feel out of place, wouldn’t you?”

“Go, go, do as you wish. I will guard this last post for you on Qingzhu Peak.”

Having completed the sect’s transmission, Qinghuangzi fulfilled his greatest wish, and the breath he had been holding onto finally dissipated.

Ning Zhuo, with a solemn expression, bowed deeply, then turned and left in silence.

It was clear that Qinghuangzi was nearing his end.

These were the last days of his life; let him choose his own way to depart. This was a cultivator’s final dignity and honor.

Ning Zhuo hosted several banquets at Zhenxiu Lou, inviting the cultivators who had participated in the Xingyun Xiaoshi with him earlier.

Ning Zhuo sat at the head of the table, dressed in a simple white robe, his expression gentle, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and lively chatter, many cultivators present soon had flushed faces.

Chen San’s voice, with its characteristic glibness, took the initiative to toast Ning Zhuo: “Young Master Ning! Ah, today was truly an eye-opener. While we toil and tinker with our little contraptions, in front of you, they’re truly like fireflies compared to the bright moon—utterly insignificant!”

He sighed dramatically, eliciting a chorus of echoing laughter from the table.

“That’s right, that’s right,” a unfamiliar cultivator, emboldened by alcohol, stood up. “Young Master Ning, how do you command so many bamboo puppet figures with sound control so exceptionally well? You direct them almost like a battle-hardened elite unit? I observed carefully and could tell you only used content from the ‘Yuanyin Huangpian Shu’.”

Although Ning Zhuo had already deduced the “Fuyin Huangpian Shu,” he deliberately held back and did not use it.

According to Qinghuangzi’s rules, these were not forbidden.

But Ning Zhuo, to convince everyone and to live up to his reputation, only used the “Yuanyin Huangpian Shu.”

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly, put down his jade chopsticks, and spoke in a clear, calm voice: “You all overpraise me. The essence of ‘sound control,’ I believe, lies in the harmonious flow of qi and melody, rather than in merely forcing the integration of spiritual power…”

The questioning cultivator probably hadn’t expected Ning Zhuo to actually offer guidance, and in such detail.

The more he listened, the more enthralled he became, and others present were in the same state.

Thus, the lively banquet quickly grew quiet, with only the sound of the wind outside the window, the clamor from the restaurant outside the private room, and the rustling of insects in Jiang Xiaobian’s bamboo tube audible.

When Ning Zhuo finished, the inquiring cultivator felt as if he had received a treasure, bowing deeply with激动: “Thank you, Young Master Ning, for your guidance! Your golden words are truly enlightening!”

“You flatter me. It’s merely a discussion and exchange,” Ning Zhuo smiled.

Jiang Xiaobian gritted her teeth, unable to hold back, and asked the second question.

Ning Zhuo smiled: “It is perfectly normal for Fellow Daoist Jiang to have this doubt. In my opinion…”

He not only answered Jiang Xiaobian’s question but also commented on her beetle-bamboo puppets, praising them highly.

Jiang Xiaobian hadn’t drunk any wine, but her small face turned red from Ning Zhuo’s compliments.

The few remaining resentments from her previous clash with Ning Zhuo completely vanished, and her heart was now filled with great admiration for Ning Zhuo: “He only sparred with me once, yet he saw many weaknesses in my beetle-bamboo puppets. He truly is a first-rate genius!”

After Jiang Xiaobian, everyone else asked questions in turn.

Ning Zhuo spoke eloquently, explaining profound concepts in simple terms, without the slightest arrogance. His accurate offhand comments and solutions that struck straight at the core problem made every questioning cultivator feel as if they had acquired a priceless treasure.

A banquet transformed into a conference on mechanism arts.

Ning Zhuo not only taught but also sought advice from other cultivators. Butcher Sun was the first, and when asked, he immediately stood up, his face filled with flattered surprise.

By the end of the banquet, everyone was still eager for more.

Chen San’s eyes gleamed, and his smile was much warmer and more sincere than before: “A casual remark from Young Master Ning is enough for us to ponder for half a lifetime! This humble one, Chen San, will not hesitate to go through fire and water for Young Master Ning, should you ever have an errand for me!”

The atmosphere at the table instantly shifted subtly because of these words.

Ning Zhuo smiled and nodded: “Fellow Daoists are too kind. The path of mechanisms is vast; only through mutual verification can we progress. Today’s small test also benefited me greatly—”

Chen San clearly wanted to attach himself to Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo did not directly refuse, nor did he agree on the spot, which made Chen San, who had actively pledged allegiance and remained standing, a bit awkward.

But then, a waiter from the restaurant brought a food box.

Ning Zhuo pointed to the food box and said gently, “One person is missing from today’s table. Fellow Daoist A Huo has a strong character, so he probably couldn’t bring himself to come. This ‘Eight Treasures Rare Birds Stew’ from Zhenxiu Lou is exquisite, rich in spiritual energy, and best for replenishing qi and blood. I trouble Brother Chen San, after the banquet, to make a trip for me and deliver it to A Huo.”

Chen San was stunned, then a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face. He immediately patted his chest and responded, “Young Master, rest assured! It’s on me! You are truly—magnanimous!”

Ning Zhuo smiled faintly: “Also, please tell him that today’s sparring was not entirely satisfying. This Ning is always ready for him to challenge again. His mechanical bamboo puppets actually have quite unique aspects.”

After the banquet dispersed, Chen San, carrying the food box, immediately found A Huo.

“What? Ning Zhuo actually thought of me and specially brought this for me?” A Huo was extremely surprised, as he had publicly offended Ning Zhuo during the Xingyun Xiaoshi.

When Chen San sincerely relayed Ning Zhuo’s words, A Huo’s face first showed astonishment, then transformed into a complex expression.

He opened the food box, looked at the spiritually rich delicacies inside, paused, then roughly wiped his face.

He gritted his teeth and said, “To be honest, I am indeed unwilling. My bamboo puppets didn’t display their true strength.”

“But Young Master Ning—he still agreed to spar with me. He—respects me!”

At this point, A Huo’s voice trembled slightly, his fists clenched, his face filled with the joy of being respected.

Chen San took in A Huo’s expression completely and sighed in his heart: “Tsk, a character like Young Master Ning—such tactics, they truly make one incapable of even feeling jealous.”

After bidding farewell to A Huo, Chen San, filled with excitement, flew towards the Qingshi Cave Dwelling.

He intended to report to Ning Zhuo that very night.

“Even if he closes his door and won’t see me, I will stand outside the cave dwelling and wait all night!”

“A genius like him is rare enough, and one with such tactics is even rarer; he must be from a great family!”

“If I don’t do my utmost to cling to such a powerful figure, I would truly be letting myself down.”

Chen San had a good understanding of himself; he knew that with his aptitude, he would at most hover around the Foundation Establishment stage. Attaching himself to a powerful individual would be a more promising path than self-cultivation!