Once upon a time.

Grandma: “A-Xiang, do you know the biggest difference between our Zhu family and other forces?”

Young Zhu Fenxiang: “I know, Grandma. Other families and sects cultivate specific primary techniques, but our family cultivates a single art!”

Grandma nodded: “Exactly, good child, you’re right. The foundation of our Zhu family lies not in cultivation techniques, but in a spiritual art—the Spirit Summoning Art.”

“For a family to become a super-force, the Spirit Summoning Art must naturally be profound and extensive.”

“To master this art is both easy and difficult. Succeeding once is nothing, and failing countless times doesn’t matter.”

“Child, you have the talent for celestial incense to ascend; mastering this art will be much easier for you than for your peers.”

“But you need to be even more mentally prepared. You must understand: to truly summon a great deity, your talent merely adds a few chips to your hand.”

Grandma’s training of Zhu Fenxiang was quite rigorous.

Zhu Fenxiang’s childhood memories were filled with cold, hard bluestone slabs where she knelt; lengthy, complex divine incantations that were difficult to memorize and pronounce; and the profound darkness of exhausted divine sense, cold and heavy.

With careful nurturing from her elders, the diligent efforts of the junior generation, and the boost of her natural talent, Zhu Fenxiang displayed astonishing cultivation efficiency from a young age, consistently achieving remarkable results.

This was a flourishing era of cultivation, with countless deities!

Initially, she summoned demigods and false gods, then minor gods with official positions, and after that, Zhu Fenxiang set her sights on great gods.

Even among great gods, there were varying levels of power.

Several years ago, for the Feiyun Grand Assembly of the Wanxiang Sect, Zhu Fenxiang began seeking assistance from a great god.

After careful selection and a fortuitous coincidence, she obtained a statue related to Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun.

It was a priceless treasure!

Zhu Fenxiang entered secluded cultivation.

The stone chamber isolated her from the outside world’s noise and temptations. She confined herself, stubbornly kowtowing to the statue, continuously offering sacrifices, and sincerely chanting prayers.

Amidst the swirling incense smoke, time passed.

The statue remained unresponsive for several months.

Zhu Fenxiang felt like a stubborn rock abandoned in a corner. In the dead of night, she painfully curled up, questioning whether her persistence was foolish. Sometimes, despair would overwhelm her like a tide, leaving her lost and unsure of the way forward.

Until one day, the statue emitted a warm, jade-like yellow light, pulling Zhu Fenxiang’s soul into a divine realm.

Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s body was immeasurably vast, like a mountain.

He sat high on his divine throne, eyes closed, appearing to be asleep, yet seemingly gazing down upon Zhu Fenxiang.

Zhu Fenxiang knelt at his feet, her soul trembling slightly from excitement and the long-term exhaustion of her prayers.

She offered a devout prayer, knowing this might be her only chance.

After praying, she huddled her soul-body, listening intensely and nervously, awaiting Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s “judgment.”

Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun remained with closed eyes, offering no response.

Soon after, Zhu Fenxiang’s soul returned to her body. She cried tears of joy: “I succeeded, my Spirit Summoning Art worked this time!”

“Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun really responded to me!!”

The first success, establishing contact between a cultivator and a deity, was the most crucial.

With the first time, there would be a second, and a third.

After dozens of attempts, having nearly exhausted her family’s resources, Zhu Fenxiang’s soul was once again pulled into the divine realm.

She prostrated herself on the ground, offering another sincere prayer.

Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s eyelids twitched slightly, barely opening a sliver, seeing the ant-like Zhu Fenxiang at his feet, then slowly and sparingly uttered a single word: “May.”

From then on, Zhu Fenxiang was able to summon Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun to aid her in battle!

At this moment.

On the altar, Zhu Fenxiang’s heart was filled with a sense of disparity.

The scenes from her memory formed a stark contrast with the current situation.

Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun, who had always been aloof, now with an unprecedentedly gentle expression and an appreciative tone, actively invited a fellow cultivator to be his protective god!

The young man reacted quickly, agreeing on the spot.

“I disagree!” Zhu Fenxiang almost cried out.

How could one summon a great god so casually?

But she ultimately dared not voice her true feelings.

She then heard the statue laugh heartily: “Hahaha, good!”

But Ning Zhuo then added: “But how does one summon a spirit? I have never cultivated the Spirit Summoning Art.”

Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun was genuinely pleased by Ning Zhuo’s promptness. He directly ordered Zhu Fenxiang: “Zhu Fenxiang, you have done well in this matter. Given your sincerity, now teach Ning Zhuo and impart to him the Spirit Summoning Art.”

Zhu Fenxiang: “Huh?”

Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun: “Act quickly.”

Zhu Fenxiang hesitated.

Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun then said to Ning Zhuo: “The Spirit Summoning Art is very easy to cultivate, Ning Zhuo, you can master it on the spot. Once mastered, a single thought will allow you to contact me.”

Ning Zhuo nodded: “I understand.”

He looked at Zhu Fenxiang.

The statue also looked at Zhu Fenxiang.

Zhu Fenxiang dared not hesitate further. Gritting her teeth, she immediately began to teach: “This is the incantation. First, Daoist Ning Zhuo, please memorize it, then I will teach you the core principles!”

As she spoke, she began to chant: “The Dao of Spirits is subtle and profound, not to be attained without sincerity; the Zhu lineage inherits from heaven, with incense as its vessel. Burn dragon marrow to pierce the nine abysses, ignite heart flame to knock on divine grace. A blood pact as a guide, connecting myriad spirits in an instant; ancestral names as a boat, crossing waves of calamity in desperate prayers—”

Ning Zhuo listened carefully, his expression gradually becoming astonished.

He realized this was not the common, widely circulated basic Spirit Summoning Art, but the Zhu family’s unique Spirit Summoning Art!

“Why is Zhu Fenxiang teaching me her family’s Spirit Summoning Art?”

Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun was also listening. The divine avatar looked down at Zhu Fenxiang, his gaze playful: “The Zhu family’s Spirit Summoning Art, passed on to an outsider just like that?”

“It seems Zhu Fenxiang and Ning Zhuo have an uncommon relationship, very good, very good.”

Then he recalled the scene he had just observed when he used his divine art to silently contemplate mortal destinies, and he suddenly understood more: “No wonder I saw female cultivators fighting fiercely over Ning Zhuo. Zhu Fenxiang was among them.”

“Oh, and her mother too.”

Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun did not simply gather believers.

Zhu Fenxiang was quite important to him.

Therefore, he had a deep understanding of the Zhu family.

After Zhu Fenxiang finished chanting, the divine avatar nodded repeatedly: “Very good, Zhu Fenxiang, you have done very well.”

Zhu Fenxiang immediately kowtowed, humble and unwilling to take credit, simply obeying the divine command.

Ning Zhuo’s expression was somewhat complex: “I didn’t expect my visit this time would cause Daoist Zhu to pay such a price—”

Zhu Fenxiang turned slightly, looking at Ning Zhuo with a smile, showing no sign of the disparity in her heart: “Daoist Ning Zhuo, as the saying goes, Dharma is not lightly transmitted. My transmission of our clan’s Spirit Summoning Art indeed used up my sole authority.”

“Later, when family members arrive, please cooperate and explain the specific reasons to them.”

“Our clan’s Spirit Summoning Art has more profound content beyond this level. Of course, to acquire that, you would have to pay a price.”

Ning Zhuo, delighted to hear that he could gain more, immediately expressed his joy and bowed in gratitude.

He was not afraid of the cost, only of lacking the channel.

Ning Zhuo sincerely said: “Daoist Zhu’s great kindness is deeply etched in my heart, and I will surely repay it in the future.”

Zhu Fenxiang smiled, nodding slightly without a word.

During her moment of hesitation, she had already overcome her sense of disparity and thought things through clearly.

Ning Zhuo himself was worth befriending!

He was a genius and had passed the three questions of the Zhuxie Hall, making him an upright person one could trust.

Ning Zhuo had refused Ban Jie’s reconciliation gifts and still troubled Ban Ji, and this time, he won the small trial in Xuanjia Cave, eliminating Ban Ji. This indirectly showed his strong background, unafraid of the Ban family, and also revealed his unyielding fighting spirit.

Such a person, if he stood with Situ Xing, would be terrifying.

Now, Zhu Fenxiang had pulled him over to confront Situ Xing together—this business was a huge gain!

“Furthermore, I couldn’t see it, but the Lord of Spirits seems to have glimpsed some of Ning Zhuo’s hidden depths. He even condescended to actively offer to be Ning Zhuo’s protective god!”

“With the Lord of Spirits acting this way, how could I be foolish?”

“I must strike hard and make friends with Ning Zhuo with all my might!”

“As for teaching the Zhu family’s own Spirit Summoning Art—”

“This privilege is usually for a husband, and I do have the authority!”

“It’s just that the current situation is special and unique. After the fact, I will report back to the family and explain. The family will surely understand! This is just a small matter.”

After this thought process, Zhu Fenxiang immediately took action.

Ning Zhuo meditated, quickly comprehending the Zhu family’s Spirit Summoning Art.

His comprehension was extraordinary, and with various methods to aid his learning, he immediately gained insight.

While results continuously appeared, new problems also arose.

Moments later, Ning Zhuo asked Zhu Fenxiang three crucial questions.

Upon hearing them, Zhu Fenxiang’s expression changed, and she deeply scrutinized Ning Zhuo, amazed that he had comprehended the core essence of the Spirit Summoning Art so quickly.

However, she immediately recalled Ning Zhuo’s exaggerated performance in Xuanjia Cave, where he learned as he practiced and ultimately won first place, and she felt that his current performance was also normal.

Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun, transmitting divine power across the two realms of yin and yang to maintain his avatar, was originally impatient.

But seeing Ning Zhuo’s performance, he held back.

Zhu Fenxiang elaborated on the answers for Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo listened, pondered for a moment, and then asked another question.

Zhu Fenxiang’s heart jolted, and she shook her head slightly: “Daoist Ning Zhuo, this question involves a deeper layer of the Spirit Summoning Art, and I cannot answer it.”

Ning Zhuo quickly thanked her again.

“Alright, now cultivate the Spirit Summoning Art,” urged the divine avatar.

Ning Zhuo attempted it for the first time, but being his first time casting the Spirit Summoning Art, he failed midway.

Zhu Fenxiang’s heart jolted again. Ning Zhuo’s progress on his first attempt far exceeded her highest expectations.

Therefore, Zhu Fenxiang was even more optimistic about Ning Zhuo’s subsequent performance.

But Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s avatar waved his hand: “Alright, alright, no need to try again, it’s enough.”

With that, he proactively intervened and responded enthusiastically.

The next moment, a mysterious connection was established between Ning Zhuo and him.

Zhu Fenxiang: ————

Although she had already figured out her attitude and strategy towards Ning Zhuo, at this moment, she still couldn’t help but feel her eye twitch.

Is this right?!

She thought back to her own hardships, countless attempts at the Spirit Summoning Art, which only intermittently advanced her relationship with the divine, eventually leaving her utterly exhausted before her wish was granted.

Now, she personally witnessed Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun cooperating actively, not caring that it was an incomplete Spirit Summoning Art, “impatiently” establishing a connection.

“The Spirit Summoning Art is not cast this way!” Zhu Fenxiang felt a pang of heartache.

With the successful summoning, Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s divine avatar laughed loudly, waved his small hand, and declared grandly: “All of you, step back! I will exert my full power to rescue this mechanism puppet.”

The divine avatar’s eyes gleamed with divine light, locking onto Meng Yehu.

He extended his small hand and grabbed at Meng Yehu from afar!

Shashasha—

The hazy yellow sandy mist enveloping Meng Yehu instantly boiled, transforming dramatically into countless grains of Wutu divine sand!

The divine sand continuously shot out, gathering into a heap nearby.

However, the hazy yellow sandy mist on Meng Yehu’s body continued to emerge, as if inexhaustible.

The newly appearing sandy mist was immediately converted into Wutu divine sand by Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s method and separated out.

Ning Zhuo understood: “Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun did not confront it directly, but rather transformed the sandy mist into divine sand under his control. The solution is quite flexible.”

The hazy yellow sandy mist on Meng Yehu’s body was merely water without a source; it emerged more sparsely until it completely dissipated.

Meng Yehu was no longer restricted, completely regaining his freedom.

However, he remained motionless, as if in a昏迷 state.

Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s avatar revealed a trace of realization: “So this mechanism puppet already possesses sentience. No wonder you, Ning Zhuo, went to such lengths to rescue him.”

Zhu Fenxiang’s pupils constricted.

She had not noticed this hidden aspect before, but after Wutu Zhenyu Zhenjun pointed it out, she looked at Ning Zhuo and genuinely said: “Mechanism creations with sentience are extremely rare! With future growth, it will surely reach the level of a spiritual treasure! Daoist Ning Zhuo, congratulations!”

Ning Zhuo smiled: “I ask Daoist Zhu to keep this as confidential as possible for me.”

Zhu Fenxiang nodded: “No problem, no problem.”

The stronger Ning Zhuo became, the happier she was.

After all, their relationship was now different from before.

Ning Zhuo examined Meng Yehu, then stored him in his storage belt: “This mechanism’s sentience is dim and requires a long period of recovery. I’m afraid it won’t be usable in this Feiyun Grand Assembly.”

Zhu Fenxiang nodded: “Methods concerning sentience are rare in the world. However, I know of a technique within the Wanxiang Sect that is exactly what you need.”

Ning Zhuo was overjoyed and quickly inquired.

Zhu Fenxiang, being straightforward, directly said: “Xuanhuang Mother Qi.”

“Years ago, a mass of Xuantian Yellow Cloud formed deep within the Wanxiang Cloud Sea. A powerful figure from the Wanxiang Sect accidentally detected it and spent ten years successfully capturing it.”

“Afterward, that powerful figure cut off a portion of the Xuantian Yellow Cloud and refined it to extract wisps of Xuanhuang Mother Qi.”

“This item is extremely precious and is currently controlled by Danxia Peak.”

“Perhaps Daoist Ning Zhuo can seek connections and trade for it.”