The group of Core Formation cultivators subtly concealed themselves, flying towards the summit of Fire Persimmon Mountain.

Leading this group was Zhu Xuanji. Behind him were Zheng Danlian of the Zheng family, Zhou Nongying of the Zhou family, and the Ning family’s venerable ancestor.

Having received Zhu Xuanji’s invitation, the Zhou and Zheng families were naturally included, and the Ning family’s ancestor was no exception.

Fei Si detected the movement, gazing into the distance with a grim expression. “As expected of a scion of the royal family, Zhu Xuanji has managed to win over these local families so quickly.”

“Alas, it seems Lord City Lord will have a difficult time preventing this!”

Led by Zhu Xuanji, the three Core Formation cultivators flew to the mountaintop, first paying respects to Meng Kui.

Meng Kui’s face was calm and unperturbed, like an ancient well. He even wished Zhu Xuanji a fruitful and rewarding venture into the Immortal Palace.

Since Zhu Xuanji carried a royal decree, using the guise of an investigation to enter and exit the Lava Immortal Palace, Meng Kui couldn’t even find a pretext to delay him.

Seeing Meng Kui discomfited secretly pleased the accompanying Core Formation cultivators.

These three local families had long been disgruntled with the City Lord.

This time, leveraging Zhu Xuanji’s status, they gained the upper hand over Meng Kui, allowing the Core Formation cultivators to vent their pent-up resentment.

“Lord Zhu, as long as we approach the Immortal Palace, a divine light will guide us!”

Zhou Nongying acted as a guide, “Of course, that’s assuming your mastery of mechanical arts meets the standards for entering the palace!”

Zhu Xuanji nodded, acting according to the instructions.

This was his first time entering the Immortal Palace.

As he approached the palace, a divine light indeed shone upon him.

The light emanated a faint suction force. Zhu Xuanji relaxed, offering no resistance, allowing the light to draw him into the Immortal Palace.

He entered the Immortal Palace.

Soon after, Zhu Xuanji stepped foot into the Lava Immortal Palace.

Behind him followed the three family patriarchs.

“Finally, we’re in!”

“How long has it been since the last time?”

“Hahaha, this time Meng Kui can’t easily interfere!”

The three family Core Formation cultivators were quite excited.

Zhou Nongying said, “Lord Zhu, you must have received the crucial information by now, correct?”

Zhu Xuanji nodded slightly. “Indeed! According to the message, as long as we contribute to the Lava Immortal Palace, we can exchange our contribution points for rewards within the palace!”

“The rewards are varied and diverse, not only including valuable materials related to the crimson flame demon beasts, but also spells, diagrams of mechanical constructs, and more!”

“Once our contribution reaches a certain level, we can utilize many of the palace’s facilities. Our range of action within the palace will also expand!”

“And the greatest reward is the position of City Lord of the Lava Immortal Palace!”

Hearing this, Zhou Nongying felt relieved. “Lord Zhu, our timing is excellent!”

“The Lava Immortal Palace is currently under siege by demon beasts, and a Core Formation-level beast has already fallen!”

“By joining the front lines and slaying demon beasts, we can easily acquire contribution points with minimal risk and considerable gains.”

Zhu Xuanji nodded. “Then let’s proceed as planned!”

Afterward, he joined the three Core Formation cultivators on the front lines of the Lava Immortal Palace.

The involvement of Core Formation cultivators was extraordinary. Wherever they went, the demon beasts met a miserable end, leaving behind piles of corpses.

Seeing this, the Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit’s eyes widened in fury.

Its truest desire was for the demon beasts to breach the Immortal Palace.

However, according to the restraints left by the Three Sect Forefathers, it had to do its utmost to assist in the normal operation of the Lava Immortal Palace.

Of course, as the state of the Lava Immortal Palace deteriorated, the constraints on the Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit were not as strict as they had been initially.

It was through exploiting various small loopholes that the Dragon-Turtle Fire Spirit had gradually brought the palace to its current state.

After slaying over a dozen crimson flame demon beasts, Zhu Xuanji gradually stopped.

The three family Core Formation patriarchs were still relentlessly fighting.

Such opportunities to quickly accumulate contribution points were rare.

Zhu Xuanji transmitted his voice to the three who were immersed in slaying demon beasts, telling them to look around.

Zheng Danlian hastily reminded him, “Lord Zhu, you may not know, but we can’t freely wander around this Lava Immortal Palace unless there are special circumstances.”

The Ning family patriarch sighed, touching the dent on his head.

That dent served as a constant reminder of how Meng Kui had thwarted his plans.

Zhu Xuanji was unfazed, waving his hand. “The three of you, do not fret. I have my ways.”

With that, Zhu Xuanji took out a talisman and activated it.

The talisman burned and melted, swiftly transforming into a peculiar light.

The light landed on Zhu Xuanji, then vanished, but his aura had gained something subtle, becoming different from before.

It was this difference that allowed Zhu Xuanji to wander around freely.

“This is the Spirit Concealing Jade!”

Zhu Xuanji arrived at a wall, reaching out to touch it. His heart stirred as he recognized it.

The wall was thick, with a massive talisman, the size of a window, affixed to the wall at intervals.

Zhu Xuanji slightly channeled some of his magical power, which was completely absorbed by the wall.

While absorbing the power, one could see straight lines of array patterns flashing on the wall.

The Spirit Concealing Jade was used to store various forms of spiritual energy.

Geothermal energy, magical power, and more could be accepted and stored within.

Even if the wall were destroyed, this geothermal energy, magical power, and so on would not explode. Instead, they would remain stored within the individual wall bricks.

When combined with specific formations, it could even forcibly absorb the magical power contained within spells launched by enemies.

Zhu Xuanji followed the wall, continuing his exploration.

Before long, he paused, discovering a well.

The well’s surface was sealed.

But Zhu Xuanji was certain that there was water inside.

“This is the Earth Dragon Well!”

“Beneath the Lava Immortal Palace lies an intricate network of Submerged Dragon Passages!”

“These passages crisscross in all directions, spanning almost the entire Lava Immortal Palace. The palace uses these passages to transport mechanical forces.”

“Alas, it’s impossible to enter!”

Zhu Xuanji continuously investigated, stopping to use his Golden Eyes and Root Tracing Art whenever he encountered damaged areas or obvious signs of battle.

One of the missions he bore in coming to Fire Persimmon Mountain was to uncover the secrets behind the Lava Immortal Palace’s premature emergence.

“What is that?”

Standing on a high platform, Zhu Xuanji gazed into the distance, seeing a row of bronze fire furnaces.

These furnaces resembled large gourds, sitting on the ground at equal distances from each other.

From afar, the furnaces looked like a forest, exceptionally orderly.

“Bronze furnaces, iron furnaces, silver furnaces, gold furnaces!”

Zhu Xuanji recalled the relevant information.

“There are four levels of furnaces in the Lava Immortal Palace, with the gold furnaces being the most valuable. There are eight in total, and they are damaged beyond repair. Only the Three Sect Forefathers can personally repair them!”

“It is these furnaces that create all kinds of mechanical constructs.”

“The Lava Immortal Palace has been operating until now, with an inexhaustible supply of various machines, all thanks to these furnaces!”

Zhu Xuanji stepped down from the platform, continuing his exploration.

He gradually realized that even with the talisman given by the royal family, there were not many places he could freely move around.

“It seems I still need to raise my contribution to the Immortal Palace!”

“Fortunately, I came prepared!”

With that thought, Zhu Xuanji took out three mechanical constructs from his storage bag.

A White Porcelain Swimming Dragon, a Thermal Phoenix, and a Spiral Earthworm.

The Swimming Dragon was as white as snow, its entire body constructed from exquisite porcelain.

The Phoenix’s wings were adorned with magnificent colors, and its tail was inlaid with thousands of gemstones that could absorb and release vast amounts of light and heat.

The Spiral Earthworm resembled an earthworm, but its metallic body was extremely resilient.

Its front end was menacing, with countless rotating saw teeth that excelled at underground excavation.

Each of the three mechanical constructs had a near Core Formation combat power.

Zhu Xuanji offered all three beast-shaped machines.

Instantly, his contribution to the Lava Immortal Palace skyrocketed, surpassing countless predecessors.

Deep within the clouds, Meng Kui let out a faint sigh.

He had witnessed Zhu Xuanji offering the three beast-shaped machines.

It was clear that Zhu Xuanji had come prepared.

Whether it was the talisman he used earlier or the three beast-shaped machines he took out later, Meng Kui quickly recognized the Southern Bean Royal Family’s true attitude towards the Lava Immortal Palace.

Meng Kui was not surprised.

The Southern Bean Grand Emperor and the Three Sect Forefathers had deep friendships.

The Lava Immortal Palace had a different significance to the Southern Bean Royal Family.

Even disregarding that, the Southern Bean Royal Family should care about the legacy of a Transformation Void stage great power under their rule.

Meng Kui had initially felt that Zhu Xuanji was not a significant threat because the royal family had only sent him, a Core Formation cultivator, which did not seem like a serious move.

Now, that hope had completely vanished.

The alliance between Zhu Xuanji and the three families put the City Lord’s Mansion at a clear disadvantage.

In particular, neither of Meng Kui’s two Core Formation subordinates qualified to enter the Immortal Palace.

Meng Kui transmitted his voice to Meng Chong, “My good grandson, you will face the others while exploring the Immortal Palace.”

“The situation is urgent, and the opportunity is fleeting!”

“Now that this chance is in our hands, we must seize it tightly!”

Meng Chong’s expression changed slightly, and he immediately nodded, replying loudly, “Grandfather, I understand!”

The City Lord’s Mansion’s modification team was even better than the Zhou family’s.

Meng Chong preferred to fight alone, but since his grandfather had personally sent a message, he would venture with a group this time.

Meng Chong summoned the modification team to meet him, emphasizing, “Let me make it clear in advance, if that mechanical ape appears, none of you should help.”

“I will defeat it alone!”

Three hours passed, and Meng Chong’s soul immediately entered the Immortal Palace.

Following closely behind were the sixteen modification team members that the City Lord’s Mansion had cultivated.

(End of this chapter)

(New novel by Hua Qian: Flower Offering Before the Buddha)