Time rewinds to the moment before.

Ning Zhuo was still within the underground base.

“Human Life Threads?!” Sun Lingtong looked at Ning Zhuo, her face instantly alight with joyous surprise.

“Little Zhuo, this is incredible! This is a Divine Power, and one specifically left behind by the venerable elders of the Three Sects.”

“Excellent, simply excellent!”

“You’re only at the Qi Refining stage, yet you’ve already grasped a nascent Divine Power. Even the most exceptional disciples of the Bu Kong Sect would struggle to achieve this.”

Ning Zhuo recounted to Sun Lingtong the process by which he had acquired the Human Life Threads. Sun Lingtong was genuinely thrilled for Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo continued, “I’ve experimented with the embryonic Divine Power numerous times and have already yielded significant results. For example, many members of the Ning Clan have had Human Life Threads secretly implanted within them by me.”

“My thought is, Oldest Brother Sun, I want to implant one in you too!”

Sun Lingtong: “?”

Ning Zhuo elaborated, “My plan is as follows.”

“You see, I can already utilize the Human Life Threads to extract Yuan Dasheng’s spiritual essence and place it within another construct.”

“Extracting the soul is somewhat more difficult than extracting spiritual essence, but not by much!”

“That’s the faint intuition this fledgling Divine Power is giving me.”

“Therefore, I intend to further enhance this embryonic Divine Power and, after the soul enters the Immortal Palace, see if I can’t also extract your soul into it!”

“Once your soul is within the Palace, you can attempt the trials!”

“As long as you pass the first trial of the Buddhist Path, you can leverage the power of the Molten Lava Immortal Palace to obtain a refined mechanical creation.”

Sun Lingtong’s eyes flashed with brilliance, immediately understanding. “Are you suggesting that we emulate Yuan Dasheng’s creation and turn Qi Bai into a mechanical puppet?”

“A brilliant idea!”

“Once the Molten Lava Immortal Palace kills Qi Bai, even if the Soul Devouring Sect comes seeking vengeance, they’ll have to take it up with the Immortal Palace.”

“In that case, Meng Kui would surely disapprove, and the Nan Dou Kingdom should share that sentiment.”

“Marvelous!”

Sun Lingtong gave Ning Zhuo a thumbs up!

He had complete trust in Ning Zhuo. “Then let’s proceed. Give me a Human Life Thread as well!”

Ning Zhuo’s understanding of Sun Lingtong was profound. Implanting the Human Life Thread was almost instantaneous.

“It’s done? I don’t feel anything.”

Sun Lingtong patted his head, finding nothing amiss.

Pressed for time, Ning Zhuo didn’t elaborate and quickly parted ways with Sun Lingtong.

Afterward, Ning Zhuo returned to the clan, and Ning Xiaohui proactively sought him out to explore the Immortal Palace together.

Ning Zhuo was a thousand times willing in his heart, but on the surface, he acted hesitant and reluctant, then entered the Immortal Palace with an air of being forced.

Subsequently, he successfully deceived Ning Xiaohui and also resolved the matter of Meng Chong.

He first strengthened the embryonic Divine Power, then retreated through the trials, arriving at Room Number One.

After some experimentation, he was fortunate enough to pull Sun Lingtong’s soul inside.

At the moment of success, Sun Lingtong was bewildered, and the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was dumbfounded.

Its dragon head instinctively retreated into its tortoise shell, its neck extended long and thin, its eyes wide as saucers.

Overwhelmed by shock, it resembled a stone statue, its entire spirit motionless.

During this time, the fire whip lashed at it, but it didn’t stir, seemingly oblivious to the pain.

It was too shocked, utterly stunned.

What did Ning Zhuo pulling other people’s souls into the trial of Molten Lava Immortal Palace signify?

It meant that he possessed not only the Buddhist Demonic Heart Mark but also… also mastered the Divine Power – Human Life Threads!

It was Human Life Threads!

Human Life Threads!

How could this be?

Why was this happening?

He was clearly just a tiny Qi Refiner.

How had he managed to grasp the embryonic form of the Human Life Thread Divine Power?

Was this some kind of mistake?

What was happening to this world?

Could this also be a form of cheating?

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit couldn’t comprehend it at all.

It felt that the world was too surreal, like weasels were now acting as steeds for chickens.

How could this be?

Just what was this Ning Zhuo?

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit couldn’t wrap its mind around it. Extreme shock left it momentarily unable to react or process the situation!

It remained frozen for a dozen or so breaths. Then, the accumulating pain of the fire whip finally jolted it awake!

It howled in alarm, crying out in pain, spewing flames from its mouth and nostrils.

In its heart, in addition to disbelief, anger, hatred, and loathing, a sense of chilling horror arose and quickly intensified!

Just what was this Ning Zhuo?

A monster?

Grasping the seed of a Divine Power in the Qi Refining stage?

This left many true disciples of the super sects far behind.

Stop him.

It must stop him!

By any means necessary, with every ounce of effort, it must stop him.

If a treacherous, despicable, scheming fellow like Ning Zhuo became the new master of the Molten Lava Immortal Palace, how would it, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, ever regain its freedom?

Freedom!

Freedom!

Who didn’t desire freedom?

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was a sentient being too; it had its own desires.

As for freedom, it wanted it, longed for it, desperately yearned for it.

It didn’t want to be trapped within the Molten Lava Immortal Palace, never seeing the light of day. It didn’t want to face the endless assaults of demonic beasts anymore.

It was weary of the roles of guardian and watchman.

It didn’t want to be it anymore.

It wanted to go out, wanted to regain its freedom.

Once, it had been a free-spirited, unbridled fire dragon, bounding freely across Fire Persimmon Mountain.

So, as its spirit gradually progressed from the Necrotic Spirit stage to the Living Spirit stage over countless years, and then accumulated enough essence to undergo a qualitative change into the Sapient Spirit stage,

It had pondered how to escape the confines of the Immortal Palace and regain its freedom.

Though it bore a duty, it had always been studying it, seeking loopholes, and in the long years it was bound to discover one.

It could remain on guard while letting someone take the Buddhist Demonic Heart Mark.

It deliberately allowed the Demon General to suffer battle damage within the formation, let the Buddhist Healer wander off, leaving only the Daoist, a Golden Core-level mechanical puppet.

It intentionally offered slow commands, using each advance of the Crimson Flame Demonic Beasts to constantly weaken the Molten Lava Immortal Palace.

Each level the Molten Lava Immortal Palace weakened was another layer shaved off the cage that bound it.

The Four Powers of Volcano Immortal City protecting the Molten Lava Immortal Palace displeased the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit greatly.

When Ning Zhuo blew up the Immortal Palace, it was delighted beyond measure.

At one point, it had even regarded Ning Zhuo quite favorably.

However, as Ning Zhuo grew step by step, revealing the Buddhist Demonic Heart Mark and Human Life Threads one after another, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit no longer felt joy but terror.

Because, based on the current situation, Ning Zhuo was undoubtedly the strongest trial participant.
If he were to ascend to the throne of the Immortal Palace, would the Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit ever know peace?

Could it ever be free?

Unthinkable!

In the eyes of the Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit, Meng Chong was the ideal master.

Firstly, his mind was simple, very simple, exceedingly simple.

Deceiving Ning Zuo was an entirely different ordeal compared to deceiving Meng Chong. The difficulty was worlds apart.

Secondly, Meng Chong hailed from the Meng Clan, possessing formidable strength.

In the future, should the Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit break free from the Immortal Palace and wander as it pleased, the Meng Clan would possess ample power to safeguard the Immortal Palace and maintain the entirety of Fire Persimmon Mountain.

The Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit roared in desperation.

It raised its head and spewed forth blazing, blinding columns of fire, its entire being consumed by frenzy.

The Molten Lava Immortal Palace trembled violently once more, countless amounts of molten rock flying in all directions, even stirring up molten lava tides reaching ten feet in height.

Treasured light shot straight into the clouds, as an invisible wave of energy, originating from the Molten Lava Immortal Palace, swept outwards like a hurricane.

It blew away countless Crimson Flame Demonic Beasts, causing the clouds and smoke to surge and undulate ceaselessly.

“Alas! Here we go again…”

Meng Kui sighed, activating the Immortal City Array to suppress the main Immortal Palace.

But this time was different. The Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit was gripped by an extreme dread, driven almost to madness.

It leaped up and down within the main hall, using the pillars as targets to violently ram against, envisioning them as Ning Zuo.

To no avail. It couldn’t even scratch a single hair on Ning Zuo’s head.

The Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit gazed hopefully towards Meng Kui.

Its intention was straightforward and direct: “Attack me!”

“Meng Kui, attack me!”

“As long as you attack me, I can justifiably falter, allowing you, Meng Kui, to seize the throne!”

“Then, you can have the throne, and I can have my freedom! It’s a win-win!”

However, Meng Kui’s reaction was: “Again?”

Since the Molten Lava Immortal Palace had been blasted open, Meng Kui had personally guarded it, countless times.

He had experienced too many instances of the Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit’s rage, causing the Molten Lava Immortal Palace to erupt in turmoil.

Each time, he had personally intervened, sparing no effort or fatigue, to suppress the Molten Lava Immortal Palace.

Sometimes, when the Immortal Palace’s upheaval was particularly severe, Meng Kui would even activate the Immortal City Array to assist him in suppression, ensuring complete safety.

“Is this Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit going crazy again?”

Meng Kui took a deep breath, his expression gloomy.

Judging from the current intensity of the Immortal Palace’s turmoil, it was exceedingly fierce.

“Is it because the side hall was breached previously, causing the Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit to harbor new resentment?”

Meng Kui sighed.

He had not anticipated that his days as the City Lord of Fire Persimmon Immortal City would be so arduous.

But when he thought of his grandson, Meng Chong, who had been diligently progressing and had made great strides in this exploration of the Immortal Palace, he was willing to endure any hardship, feeling that it was all worthwhile.

Meng Kui once again activated the Immortal City Array to suppress the Molten Lava Immortal Palace.

Restricted by its authority, the Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit could only roar, crying out in its heart: “Attack me! Come on, attack me! Meng Kui, you’re a dignified Nascent Soul cultivator, don’t be a coward! You’re a Meng Clan Nascent Soul, charge!”

Meng Kui exerted all his strength to suppress the Molten Lava Immortal Palace, thinking to himself, “I am a dignified Meng Clan strategist, a ‘summit chancellor’, immovable as a mountain. The Molten Lava Immortal Palace is no small matter; it is key to suppressing Fire Persimmon Mountain. It must be kept safe.”

He hoped that Meng Chong would obtain the position of Palace Lord.

How could he possibly attack the Molten Lava Immortal Palace?

The Molten Lava Immortal Palace was the palace of the Three Sects’ Immortals, likely hiding powerful trump cards capable of annihilating Nascent Souls.

The Three Sects’ Immortals were deeply involved with and closely related to the Southern Bean Kingdom.

And he was one of the ministers in the Southern Bean Kingdom’s court, one of their own.

If the Molten Lava Immortal Palace could be collapsed, then Meng Kui would exert all his strength to protect it, after all, this was the best springboard and excuse for their Meng Clan to advance into Fire Persimmon Immortal City!

How many times had this happened? How many times had it erupted?

But Meng Kui simply would not attack the Immortal Palace, only suppress it.

Each time the Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit erupted, it was provoking, reminding him: “Attack me, Meng Kui, attack me!”

Each time, Meng Kui suppressed the eruption, never taking action.

He remained immovable.

The Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit was exceedingly anxious and furious, longing to roar these words into Meng Kui’s ear: “If you don’t act, then Ning Zuo will seize the Palace Lord’s position!”

“He has certainly grasped the rudimentary form of the Human Puppet Threads Divine Power! If he uses it against me in the future, how will I ever regain my freedom?”

“Danger! Your Meng Clan’s situation is perilous!”

“There is a treacherous, despicable, shameless monster here! He is hidden deep, too deep!”

End of this chapter