“What?! Ning Zhuo actually cleared all the way to the eighth trial?!” Ning Xiaohui exclaimed in disbelief upon hearing the news.

After confirming it again and again, Ning Xiaohui’s expression turned ashen and grim.

She recalled her experience leading Ning Zhuo through the trials, and sneered, “This Ning Zhuo is quite the actor.”

“I originally thought that time allowed him to fully witness the power of the Jade-Handed Ice Technique, and he would willingly submit.”

“Unexpectedly, he was secretly accumulating strength, ambitious and bold, and made such a big splash.”

“Daring to play me for a fool, very good, very good indeed.”

Ning Xiaohui felt her pride trampled upon by Ning Zhuo, and even spat a few times.

“Eighth trial?”

“I’m going too!”

“There’s no way Ning Zhuo can do it, but I, a direct descendant of the main branch, can’t!”

Ning Xiaohui was furious and began to summon the Qi Refining cultivators of the Modification Team.

Her grandmother learned of this and advised her gently, “That Ning Zhuo had a dozen people helping him. Xiaohui, you only have five on this trip. You’re at a disadvantage in terms of numbers. Do you really insist on exploring the Immortal Palace and surpassing Ning Zhuo’s achievements?”

Ning Xiaohui’s situation was somewhat awkward.

Mainly, when the Modification Team was initially established, the main branch members of the Ning family tried every possible way to shirk responsibility, ultimately allowing the branch members to occupy the vast majority of positions.

“Confirmed!”

Ning Xiaohui nodded slowly, her gaze resolute and sharp.

She looked at her grandmother, “Fewer people also have the advantage of fewer people. The difficulty of that Lava Immortal Palace varies from person to person. With fewer people, the difficulty of our trial will be lower. We don’t need the Lava Immortal Palace to add any more difficulty.”

“Therefore, even if we encounter the Mechanical Apes, it will definitely be in the latter half.”

Ning Xiaohui confidently speculated.

Not long after, she led five main branch Modification Team members, pushed open the first door, and officially entered Room Number Two.

The Jade-Handed Ice Technique froze the mechanisms along the way. Just as they were about to clear the trial, the second door was pushed open.

Yuan Dasheng brazenly entered the second trial from the third.

Ning Xiaohui: ?

The others: …

Bang bang bang bang bang…

Yuan Dasheng attacked, and after a series of muffled sounds, he smashed all of the Ning family’s mechanical puppets.

“Ah…”

Ning Xiaohui’s soul returned to her body, and she screamed to the heavens in anger.

Her grandmother comforted her, “Ning Zhuo only saw the Mechanical Apes when he reached the eighth trial. This shows that their strength is far inferior to your team, Xiaohui.”

“Judging by the location of the Mechanical Apes, that Ning Zhuo, despite his talent, is probably insignificant.”

Hearing her grandmother’s words, Ning Xiaohui’s distressed mood eased somewhat.

Ning Zhuo’s residence.

Ning Xiaoren, with a look of regret, said to Ning Zhuo, “That’s the situation.”

Ning Zhuo frowned, somewhat incredulous, “Uncle Xiaoren, is my merit not enough for the Ice Jade Wine?”

Ning Xiaoren said, “Nephew, you can’t say that. Ice Jade Wine is excellent for increasing mana cultivation.”

“But the mana of your Modification Team is limited to the peak of the third level. Without subsequent cultivation methods, you can’t break through. Using Ice Jade Wine would be wasting such a treasure!”

Ning Zhuo spread his hands, “I was planning to acquire some Ice Jade Wine and save it for later. Isn’t that a good plan?”

Ning Xiaoren chuckled, with a somewhat forced smile, “Nephew, many times, you don’t get what you want just because you want it.

“You’re only at the Qi Refining third level, a member of the Modification Team. The family elders are busy with countless matters and have to consider much more than you do.”

“You have to trust the family. The family arranges everything in a unified manner and must be considering the overall situation.”

“Pressing so hard for rewards is not a good look. Take my advice, don’t do that. It gives a bad impression.”

Ning Zhuo frowned, “Then what will the family reward me with? I cleared the eighth trial this time.”

Ning Xiaoren smiled and said a few things.

Ning Zhuo was dumbfounded and directly expressed his dissatisfaction, “Just this little bit of stuff? You’re sending a beggar!”

Ning Xiaoren felt as if he had been pricked by a needle, extremely disgusted, but then relaxed, “Nephew, you can’t say that.”

“The family’s resources are limited. Your cultivation and seniority are actually insignificant compared to many others.”

“Can you understand?”

Ning Zhuo shook his head, directly denying it, “I can’t understand.”

“Their cultivation or seniority might be higher than mine, but can they enter the Immortal Palace and reach the eighth trial?”

“If they can, I don’t mind them taking the high rewards.”

Ning Xiaoren finally couldn’t help but frown, “Nephew, there’s one thing you seem to have misunderstood.”

“Are you exploring the Lava Immortal Palace for rewards? You’re contributing to the family.”

“The Ning family needs you. This is your time to demonstrate the family’s prestige.”

Ning Zhuo shook his head again, “Uncle Xiaoren, I don’t know about others. I joined the Modification Team and explore the Lava Immortal Palace for rewards.”

“I like money. You know that.”

“I like lots and lots of money!”

“The more money, the better!”

Ning Xiaoren’s eyes twitched as he listened, and he wanted to whip Ning Zhuo in anger.

He took a deep breath, stabilized his mind, relaxed his brow, and smiled again, “Nephew, it’s good that you have such ambition.”

“Since we’ve talked about it, and you’re so mature, I’ll be honest with you.”

“The various rewards you want are not impossible, but…”

Ning Xiaoren did not speak aloud but transmitted his voice.

Ning Zhuo listened patiently, very displeased, “What? Let me join a faction of a high-ranking family member and sign a contract?”

“Is the distinction between branch and main family really that serious, Uncle Xiaoren?”

Ning Xiaoren sighed deeply, “Wherever there are people, there is Jianghu. Nephew, even if I appreciate you and want to help you, I can’t do anything.”

“I’m just the young patriarch, and my faction is only one of the eight main factions.”

Ning Zhuo fell into a long silence.

Seeing this, Ning Xiaoren persuaded him gently and tactfully with many words.

Ning Zhuo remained silent throughout.

Ning Xiaoren smiled slightly, patted Ning Zhuo on the shoulder, “I didn’t originally intend to tell you about this kind of thing. Your father saved my life, and I wanted to protect your youthful innocence.”

“But, Xiaozhuo, you’re too outstanding. You’ve come into contact with this layer so early.”
“Perhaps this is a trial bestowed upon you by the heavens. To those who are exceptionally talented, the heavens always give more trials.”

“This time, Uncle hopes you can actively adjust your mentality and overcome this trial.”

Ning Zhuo: “What should I do, Uncle Xiaoren?”

Ning Xiaoren’s smile deepened: “For example, in the Lava Immortal Palace’s maintenance room, you modified several mechanical components.”

“After practical testing, these mechanical components are indeed quite good.”

“I suggest you take the initiative to submit the relevant blueprints, regardless of which faction it is. In short, let the higher-ups see your eagerness to align yourself!”

“This way, your chances of applying for the Ice Jade Wine will greatly increase.”

Ning Zhuo’s face was grim: “Uncle Xiaoren, I want to think about it.”

“Take your time. There’s no rush. You’re currently at the peak of the third level, with no follow-up cultivation techniques. There’s no rush at all!”

Ning Xiaoren patted Ning Zhuo on the shoulder and slowly got up to leave.

But even as he walked out the door, he did not hear Ning Zhuo call out to him.

He let out a cold laugh, shook his head slightly, and returned to his normal pace, leaving Ning Zhuo’s residence.

Wang Lan had been waiting for a long time. She met Ning Xiaoren halfway to inquire about Ning Zhuo’s release.

Ning Xiaoren was harboring a gloomy aura from being angered by Ning Zhuo. Hearing Wang Lan’s request, he immediately put on a stern face and said in a stiff tone: “This will have to wait for the timing to be right. No need to ask further.”

Inside a private room in a restaurant.

Zheng Jian and Zhou Zeshen were invited over by Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo led the two to their seats and got straight to the point: “The reason I’ve invited you two here today is to sell some valuable intelligence related to the Lava Immortal Palace.”

Zheng Jian: “Brother Ning Zhuo, I heard that you displayed great prowess this time, clearing all the way to Room Eight. Is this true?”

Ning Zhuo nodded: “This intelligence is precisely what I discovered while clearing the eight rooms.”

“It’s definitely worth more than its price!”

“If you want to buy it, all it takes is this much!”

Ning Zhuo held up three fingers!

Zheng Jian and Zhou Zeshen exchanged glances and decided to purchase Ning Zhuo’s intelligence.

“So, there’s a trial disciple’s mark?”

“This intelligence is indeed worth more than its price.”

Zheng Jian was the first to express his affirmation.

Zhou Zeshen, with a tone seemingly concerned for Ning Zhuo, worriedly said: “Brother Ning Zhuo, won’t your family be angry if you sell such important intelligence?”

Ning Zhuo let out a cold laugh: “Hmph, there’s no need for Brother Zhou to worry about this matter. I have my own considerations.”

A dark glint flashed in Zhou Zeshen’s eyes, and he hurriedly cupped his fist: “Oh, oh, my apologies. I was being presumptuous.”

Zheng and Zhou both paid for the intelligence, providing Ning Zhuo with a generous sum of funds.

“Trial disciple’s mark?”

When Zhu Xuanji learned of this, his eyes immediately lit up.

He immediately contacted the Golden Core elders of the three families and extracted several Qi Refining cultivators who had received the mark to conduct an experiment.

He brought these Qi Refining cultivators to the front of the Lava Immortal Palace.

In the next moment, the Lava Immortal Palace burst forth with treasure light, absorbing everyone inside, including the Qi Refining cultivators.

“Effective!”

“The identity of the trial disciple’s mark can indeed allow them to enter the Immortal Palace as well.”

“And in fact, some of these people have mechanical skills that are utterly atrocious, akin to a blank sheet of paper.”

“Perhaps, I can make use of these people…”

Zhu Xuanji explored the Lava Immortal Palace with these people.

He soon discovered that many of the buildings and facilities in the Lava Immortal Palace were not open to him.

But they were available to trial disciples for a fee, or even for free.

In some respects, the trial disciples had more authority than him, a member of the royal family.

For example, the Abandoned Items Room.

This place contained a massive amount of mechanical creations, all of which were scrap.

Could the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit not repair them?

“Many mechanical creations only need a slight repair to be used again.”

Zhu Xuanji gained a deeper understanding of the Lava Immortal Palace through the trial disciples’ perspectives.

“Wait, what’s that?”

End of this chapter.