The dawn’s light illuminated Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

Atop the mountain peak, clouds and mist swirled, unable to conceal the increasingly frequent tremors.

The Lava Immortal Palace had emerged for some time, and more and more informed individuals were beginning to understand: “That Immortal Palace is restless again?”

Meng Kui overlooked the Immortal Palace, silently watching the crimson flame demonic beasts emerge in a ceaseless stream, assaulting the palace’s defenses.

The Ning Clan.

The Ning Clan Patriarch gazed at the mountain peak, receiving a report from the clan leader after a long while.

“The Zhou Clan’s two Golden Core cultivators and the Zheng Clan’s two Golden Core cultivators engaged in a duel and entered the formation together?”

“What a coincidence?”

The Ning Clan Patriarch slightly shook his head. Regardless of the veracity of this information, he had decided to personally investigate.

Since Meng Kui sealed off the lightning and personally took charge, the Ning Clan Patriarch had not ventured into the Immortal Palace for a long time.

“Sun Da hasn’t replied to me?”

More than half the night had passed, and Ning Zhuo had not received a response from Sun Lingtong.

He frowned deeply; this situation was highly unusual.

Ning Zhuo paced back and forth in his room, his hands clasped behind his back.

After several laps, he summoned a family servant: “The commotion on the mountain is quite significant; what’s happening?”

“Go and investigate, and report any other important news as well!”

Soon after, the servant returned with the most explosive news circulating in the city.

Ning Zhuo obtained what he sought.

“Zhu Xuanji sought out Sun Da?”

“Sun Da deliberately spread word of his victory over Zhu Xuanji to inform me of his true circumstances.”

“Sun Da originated from the Not-Empty Sect and possesses the ‘Emptiness Without End’ seal. Even if Zhu Xuanji abandoned his principles and disregarded his reputation, forcibly searching his soul without evidence would yield nothing!”

“He still hasn’t replied. What exactly has occurred?”

Ning Zhuo’s brow furrowed tightly. “Let’s wait and see!”

Trusting each other was their agreement, a tacit understanding cultivated since a decade or more ago.

At that time, Ning Zhuo was only two years old.

One day, Sun Lingtong returned injured.

“What are you doing?”

He discovered Ning Zhuo preparing a small package, and his expression darkened.

From the package, he recognized supplies for entering the Crimson Flame Demonic Cavern.

Ning Zhuo exclaimed with delight, “Little Sun Brother, you’re back! I was just about to look for you!”

“Ouch!”

Sun Lingtong couldn’t resist giving Ning Zhuo a flick on the forehead.

“I have the ability to collapse the Crimson Flame Demonic Cavern!”

“What are you going there for? To feed the demonic beasts?”

“How reckless and ignorant!”

Ning Zhuo’s chubby little hands covered his forehead, and he said with a hint of grievance, “But, but Little Sun Brother, you’ve been gone for so long this time, a full seven days!”

Sun Lingtong’s expression inevitably turned somber.

After his injuries healed, he would sneak into the Crimson Flame Demonic Cavern every so often, searching for any trace of his master, but to no avail.

This time, the middle section of the tunnel he entered had collapsed.

Fortunately, Sun Lingtong was already on his way back and decisively used the ‘Void Piercing’ technique several times in succession, barely making it through the collapsed section and narrowly escaping with his life.

But now, finding the Lava Immortal Palace would be more difficult.

He would have to scout a new, correct path.

Of course, there was no need to burden a two-year-old child with these worries.

Sun Lingtong patted his chest and smiled at Ning Zhuo, “You have to believe in me. Your brother is very strong.”

“Let’s make a pact, from now on, every ten days.”

“Within ten days, I’ll definitely be back!”

“So, as long as it doesn’t exceed ten days, don’t worry! I’ll definitely be fine!”

Ning Zhuo weakly said, “I understand.”

“Did you find your master when you went down into the tunnels this time?”

Sun Lingtong: “Although I didn’t see my master, I left some talismans in the passages. If my master leaves the palace, he should be able to sense them, right? Cough, cough!”

Sun Lingtong’s aura weakened. “I suffered internal injuries this time. Please brew some medicinal broth for me; here’s the formula. I urgently need to replenish my Qi!”

Ning Zhuo looked at the formula and, noticing a lack of ingredients, went out to buy some.

After inspecting them, Sun Lingtong discovered that many were fake.

After understanding the entire process of Ning Zhuo’s purchase, he helplessly shook his head and pointed out, “You’re just a child, and you went to buy them from small vendors with your face covered. Everyone knew something was up!”

“Next time, go to a large medicine shop, go openly, and present your Ning Clan token!”

“Pretend you’re buying medicine for an adult in your family, and no one will make things difficult for you. They’ll even give you the real ingredients!”

“You’re clever, but you lack experience in doing things!”

Someone from the Ning Clan had arrived!

The visitor smiled amiably and spoke gently to Ning Zhuo, attempting to trick him into signing a contract.

Sun Lingtong had already learned of this matter and had told Ning Zhuo the solution.

Ning Zhuo followed the plan and lured his uncle, Ning Ze, over.

Ning Ze’s face was like frost as he personally stepped forward, reprimanding the visitor and ruining their scheme.

However, afterwards, he couldn’t restrain Wang Lan.

The latter went to the Ancestral Hall and made a great disturbance, causing the elders present to lose face completely.

Ning Zhuo said to Sun Lingtong, “With such a big commotion, I’m afraid I’ll be living with my uncle soon. Alas, I don’t want to do that at all!”

But Sun Lingtong patted him on the shoulder and comforted him, “Don’t worry, you won’t be able to transfer your household registration.”

“I’m afraid you’ll be staying here for a long time!”

Ning Zhuo was curious: “Why?”

Sun Lingtong explained: “On the surface, the elder in the Ancestral Hall was removed from his position, but he is still an elder, coming from the main lineage with deep connections. This is just a superficial act, a temporary cooling-off period. He will surely rise again in the future.”

“Your aunt’s actions caused the prestige of the Ancestral Hall to suffer greatly, but the Ning Clan’s branch lineage doesn’t have a strong enough mission or faction to urge the Ancestral Hall to change its ways!”

“Therefore, the Ancestral Hall will likely stubbornly refuse to admit any fault, testing the reaction of the Ning Clan’s branch lineage!”

“If the reaction isn’t strong, then they will withhold your household registration to set an example. Although they will eventually transfer you to your uncle’s home, they will drag it out for as long as possible.”

“Your aunt made things worse! But she may not have been unintentional!”

Ning Zhuo opened his mouth slightly, listening in stunned silence.

Sun Lingtong looked at his foolish expression, patted him on the shoulder, and said, “This is the world of adults!”

“You’re too young; you’re only two years old!”

“Although you’re clever, adults are cunning!”

“You have much to learn!”
“For example, do you know the distinctions between gangs, clans, sects, and kingdoms? Are you clear on how these factions operate?”

Ning Zhuo could only shake his head, asking in confusion, “Are these things important?”

Sun Lingtong’s face was grave. “Extremely important.”

He then smiled. “Come, let me explain it to you properly.”

Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly!

Sun Lingtong’s popularization of faction knowledge to him was still vivid, echoing in his ears, as if it had just happened yesterday.

“Gangs, for the most part, prioritize profit. The first leader of the Monkey Head Gang possessed great personal charisma, but he is already dead!”

“The second leader, Yuan Er, struggles to command respect, especially after Yuan Dasheng’s demise!”

“Externally, there are old enemies harboring resentment, secretly waiting for revenge.”

“Internally, influential elders are dissatisfied with Yuan Er, coveting the gang leader’s throne!”

“Yuan Er is beset by internal and external troubles!”

“Old Man Sun has not reacted yet, so I will first arrange a strategic deployment!”

While awaiting Sun Lingtong’s reply, Ning Zhuo remotely controlled the Tree Martial Fighting Ape, Dasheng, attempting to infiltrate the Monkey Head Gang’s stronghold.

He was already quite familiar with the Monkey Head Gang’s base.

As a result, he succeeded with a slight attempt.

He directed the Tree Martial Fighting Ape, Dasheng, to smoothly enter the inner perimeter of the stronghold, getting very close to Yuan Er.

“I didn’t expect the Monkey Head Gang’s defenses to be so lax.”

“After the crushing defeat in the Fire Persimmon Festival, and the death of Yuan Dasheng, the entire Monkey Head Gang’s reputation has plummeted, and the gang members’ morale is gone.”

“With morale so scattered, even the protection of their headquarters is so poorly done!”

“No, something’s not right!”

“Perhaps this isn’t just pure negligence, it’s very likely that an elder has intervened, deliberately arranging things this way!”

Ning Zhuo analyzed for a moment, thinking of a possibility.

The deeper he pondered, the more likely he found this possibility to be.

“If the gang elders collude with old enemies to assassinate Yuan Er, I won’t need to trouble Old Man Sun!”

“This way, it will save me a lot of trouble!”

Black Market!

Sun Lingtong’s residence.

Inside the main room.

A gloomy aura filled the entire hall.

The Examining Judge was like a temple deity, his gaze like sharp swords, piercing Sun Lingtong’s soul, plundering his memories.

Ning Zhuo gradually grew up, reached the appropriate age, underwent testing, possessed spiritual roots, and entered the school.

He lived with his uncle’s family, his days spent in repression.

Sun Lingtong, relying on the arcane arts of the Bukong Sect, would secretly meet with him every so often.

This was the brightest ray of light in Ning Zhuo’s dark life.

Sun Lingtong stared at Ning Zhuo’s grades, his gaze sharp. “Xiao Zhuo, why are your results so good this time?”

“Have you forgotten how your mother instructed you before her death?”

“Conceal your talent, hide yourself away!”

Ning Zhuo lowered his head. “But, the school elder is a good person, always encouraging me, hoping I will do better in my exams!”

“And those classmates, they always laugh at my poor grades, don’t play with me, think I’m stupid!”

“But I’m clearly much smarter than them!”

“I just wanted to reveal a little bit of my strength, to make them look at me with new eyes!”

Sun Lingtong sighed silently in his heart. “Xiao Zhuo is indeed smart enough, but he has the heart of a child, unable to restrain himself, easily provoked.”

“How should I advise him?”

“No matter how I advise him, it won’t be foolproof.”

Sun Lingtong thought for a moment and decided to use intimidation. “Xiao Zhuo, you are not far from death!”

Ning Zhuo was immediately frightened. “Ah?”

Sun Lingtong, with a somber face, listed many examples, telling him that many geniuses were killed by jealous people, refined into elixirs, or used in forging artifacts.

“You are being too conspicuous in school, likely attracting suspicion, which could lead to the discovery of your talent, resulting in your murder.”

Ning Zhuo was terrified, his face pale, and his forehead covered in cold sweat. “But, but Ning Xiaohui also has talent!”

“Hmph, she is from the main branch, you are from the branch! Her grandmother is an elder, what about you?”

“Have you forgotten what I taught you about cultivator clans?”

“Have you forgotten the analysis of the Ning family’s current situation that I gave you?”

Ning Zhuo shook his head repeatedly!

“Come, compete with me!” Sun Lingtong thought about it, still not feeling secure, and decided to administer another dose of strong medicine.

Following the content of the school exams, Sun Lingtong, in front of Ning Zhuo, completed everything.

His results were naturally excellent, leaving Ning Zhuo far behind.

Sun Lingtong said, “I’m only one year older than you, look at how well I did, am I arrogant? Am I complacent?”

Ning Zhuo’s face was pale, like a lost soul, shaking his head.

Sun Lingtong patted Ning Zhuo’s shoulder. “There are too few of you Ning family members. Among the cultivator clans in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, you only rank at the bottom.”

“Compared to your classmates, you may be quite outstanding, but what about compared to all the children in the entire Immortal City?”

“Fire Persimmon Immortal City is just a corner of the world, a new city recently built in the Southern Bean Immortal Kingdom over the last hundred years.”

“What about compared to the children in those old cities?”

“Think again, this is just the Southern Bean Kingdom, what about other countries besides this one?”

“Can you rank among the best in those countries?”

Sun Lingtong held up a few fingers, shook them, and stated definitively, “You can’t!”

“You can’t even beat me, so don’t be so pleased with yourself!”

“I tell you, I can only be considered this in the Southern Bean Kingdom…”

Sun Lingtong pinched the very end of his little finger, fiercely belittling himself.

Ning Zhuo’s face was pale, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

Seeing that it had taken effect, Sun Lingtong patted Ning Zhuo’s shoulder with satisfaction. “You must know that there are people beyond people, and heavens beyond heavens.”

“Arrogant and conceited people are all fools!”

“You must always be humble, open-minded, and lower your mentality to recognize reality, to more quickly absorb unfamiliar knowledge, and grow faster.”

Having said this, Sun Lingtong had already made a decision, that in the future, every so often, he would personally come down and “compete” with Ning Zhuo.

To keep him from being proud and impatient.

Ning Zhuo was silent for a long time, finally raising his eyes to look at Sun Lingtong, his voice hoarse. “Brother Xiao Sun, I was wrong, my, my mother always warned me about this before she passed away.”

Sun Lingtong sighed. “Actually, these words were all taught to me by my master.”

The two looked at each other, and for a moment, both fell into silence.

End of chapter.