Ning Zhuo’s bedroom.

The cultivation chamber had been constructed. Although small and compact, its interior space was sufficient for Ning Zhuo’s use.

The Floating Cloud Scarf was infused with mana, causing wisps of floating clouds to rise.

A large amount of floating cloud filled the entire cultivation chamber, rendering Ning Zhuo invisible within.

Double protection only caused the four Ning family guards to sigh helplessly.

They reported the situation, and the young clan leader Ning Xiaoren said it was fine: “What secrets could little Ning Zhuo possibly have? Previous intelligence gathering has already investigated him thoroughly.”

“Young people, heh, still think they retain some small secrets!”

“Let him feel that way, it’s quite nice.”

Ning Xiaoren, thinking this way, did not order further probing.

If Ning Zhuo discovered it, it would inevitably affect the good relationship he had painstakingly cultivated.

Ning Xiaoren didn’t want to take such a risk.

This reaction was also within Ning Zhuo’s expectations.

Blood essence surged, like rivers of crimson flowing through Ning Zhuo’s lower dantian, converging in the very center.

In the center of his lower dantian, a small pool of refined blood had already accumulated, like a miniature pond.

As blood essence continued to pour in, the small pool suddenly vibrated, its edges rapidly expanding, quickly tripling in size.

A breakthrough!

At this moment, Ning Zhuo broke through to the fourth level of Refining Essence.

“The accumulation of refined blood continues, and upon reaching the limit, it will be four times the previous amount! Such a significant increase!”

“Mm, the refined blood has undergone a slight qualitative change, able to condense into blood qi meridians faster, saving at least thirty percent of the previous time!”

“When operating at full power, the speed of digesting medicinal power is more than double the previous rate.”

Ning Zhuo quickly identified all aspects of the improvement.

What surprised him the most was the increase in medicinal power digestion.

Basically, all cultivation techniques become slower and less effective in the later stages.

The Blood Sinew Demon Art was no exception.

But with the digestion speed increasing by more than double, it meant that as long as he had enough resources, he could maintain his previous rate of progress.

This was quite rare.

“The philosophy of the Three Sects Grandmaster seems to be that a change occurs every three levels!”

“Whether it’s the arrangement of mechanisms in the Lava Immortal Palace or the three cultivation techniques, they all follow this principle! After passing the third level, a qualitative improvement will occur.”

Ning Zhuo summarized this rule because the other two cultivation techniques had all broken through in recent days.

It was a natural occurrence.

Previously, his three cultivation techniques had all reached the peak of the third level, only a small step away from the fourth level.

After obtaining the subsequent techniques, Ning Zhuo invested a little time in cultivation and broke through the original limits.

After reaching the fourth level of the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, the Five Elements mana could not only be generated in greater quantities but also be freely separated and merged.

In the past, when Ning Zhuo used Five Elements mana, he had to concentrate his mind to draw out a specific type of mana to perform Freezing Ice Technique, Grasping Fire Technique, and so on.

Now, he only needed a thought to easily decompose a mixed stream of Five Elements mana instantly.

Often, it wasn’t a lack of practice but a lack of foundation.

It was like when a child had to jump to reach a windowsill. After growing up, they could reach it with just a tiptoe.

When fully grown, the windowsill only reached their waist, and they could touch it with a slight reach.

Among the three cultivation techniques, the progress of the Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Art was the greatest.

Currently, it was already at the fifth level.

Ning Zhuo wasn’t quite sure why.

He cultivated the subsequent techniques of the Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Art extremely quickly, and everything was a natural process.

Ning Zhuo faintly felt that this rapid progress should be related to his seizing the opportunity and obtaining the Embryo of the Fate Thread Divine Power.

“Buddhist cultivation techniques all have a characteristic, which is to emphasize sudden enlightenment. Sometimes, a sudden enlightenment can be worth a hundred years of hard work.”

“The Fate Thread Divine Power that I comprehended is closely related to the Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Art.”

“The Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Art can communicate with all things with a spirit, and the Fate Thread Divine Power can forcibly control the target’s every move. Combined with my Buddha Heart Demon Seal, I can influence their minds and guide their thoughts.”

Ning Zhuo had glimpsed the general outline of the Three Sects Grandmaster’s method of controlling mechanisms.

After breaking through to the fourth level, the Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Art also underwent a qualitative change.

Ning Zhuo discovered that the spiritual mirrors condensed in the third level of Refining Spirit could be merged with each other to form a larger spiritual mirror.

Moreover, this mirror came with a base.

Although Ning Zhuo didn’t have the opportunity to practice, he knew instinctively that this spiritual mirror’s ability to communicate with spirits far exceeded the previous small mirror.

“At least three times higher.”

And now, Ning Zhuo’s Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Art had reached the fifth level. Compared to the fourth level, the fifth level was not a qualitative change but a quantitative change—an additional spiritual mirror was merged.

“Hmm?”

Ning Zhuo’s heart stirred slightly.

Movement came from the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng.

“Could it be…”

Ning Zhuo hurriedly stopped cultivating the Blood Sinew Demon Art and mobilized the Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Art to observe Yuan Dasheng’s situation through the spiritual mirror.

As Ning Zhuo suspected—it was Meng Chong.

“Come on, come on, come on!”

Meng Chong roared constantly.

He charged around recklessly, incomparably brave. The puppet body was wrapped in lightning shadows, crackling and buzzing, suppressing Yuan Dasheng step by step in close combat.

Ning Zhuo was shocked and quickly used the Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Art to communicate with the spirit, manipulating the mana in Yuan Dasheng’s body to perform the Freezing Ice Technique.

One moment, Meng Chong was triumphantly roaring and fighting fiercely; the next moment, he was sprayed with icy frost.

His joints were frozen, and his speed plummeted.

Yuan Dasheng took the opportunity to counterattack, his long fist like a spear, aimed straight at Meng Chong’s chest.

Meng Chong knew that his defense was extremely weak, and if he was hit, he would definitely lose.

“Thunderous Dash!”

He roared in his heart, and the lightning shadows suddenly expanded, turning into intense electric light that enveloped his entire body.

The next moment, he flew out like lightning.

Yuan Dasheng’s fist missed and stopped in place, maintaining a fist stance, facing Meng Chong head-on.

Meng Chong shrank into a corner, still shaken.

He didn’t expect that the mechanical monkey in front of him could also release spells.

In that case, the danger had at least doubled.

“You didn’t take me down in one strike; you’ve already exposed your last trump card. Big monkey, today you are doomed.”

Meng Chong regrouped. In a short few breaths, the terror in his heart completely dissipated, and he became full of fighting spirit again.

The puppet Meng Chong charged over again.

Zzzzzz…

Lightning shadows accompanied his whole body, allowing his every movement to accelerate in an instant.

Yuan Dasheng and he engaged in battle again.

The former’s speed was far inferior to Meng Chong’s. After a few rounds, he fell into a passive state again.

This time, Ning Zhuo, who was watching from the sidelines, completely understood: “Meng Chong has improved again.”

“This time, he has returned with a completely new understanding of the Thunderous Dash.”

“Although the speed has not exceeded the previous limit, the precision has exploded.”

Purely in terms of martial arts, Yuan Dasheng was still a step ahead of Meng Chong.

But the speed of Meng Chong’s every movement was much faster than Yuan Dasheng’s.

As the saying goes, in the world of martial arts, speed is the only true weapon.

In a real life-and-death battle, being faster by a hair’s breadth is infinitely better.

What’s more, Meng Chong was so much faster.

Yuan Dasheng was able to persevere for so long because his martial arts inherited his pre-death foundation, allowing him to use slowness to counter speed, observing the starting stance to predict the opponent’s subsequent movements.

“However, Meng Chong, if you are only this much, it’s not enough!” A sharp glint flashed in Ning Zhuo’s eyes.

The next moment.

Grasping Fire Technique!

The hands of the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, suddenly burst into flames, condensing into a fireball in each hand.

Yuan Dasheng clenched the fireballs tightly, as if holding two orbs.

Then, Ning Zhuo silently recited in his mind: “Initially grasping the fireball like a true heart, the heart dances with the mind, the strength surges. A blazing armor rises, circulating red, protecting the entire body.”

He cast a spell again on the basis of the Grasping Fire Technique.

Grasping Fire Technique—Bathing in Fire Technique.

The next moment, the fireballs were gently crushed by Yuan Dasheng, turning into countless flames.

The flames bloomed, forming streams of fire that quickly spread all over Yuan Dasheng’s body.

Yuan Dasheng was bathed in fire, as if covered in armor.

The flames blazed, emitting intense heat.

Meng Chong was dumbfounded.

He looked at the roaring flames that were more than ten feet high, then at his wooden puppet body, and finally focused his gaze on the golden bones and red rock flesh of the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng.

Envy.

Yuan Dasheng was not afraid of burning, but Meng Chong couldn’t.

Yuan Dasheng stood still, only extended his finger at Meng Chong, his finger beckoning, as if to say, “Keep attacking, come hit me!”

“I XXX.”

Meng Chong couldn’t help but swear.

He suppressed his anger, gritted his teeth, and attacked again.

A moment later, Meng Chong was covered in flames and burned into large pieces of charcoal, scattered all over the ground!