“The three factions are planning a joint campaign against Yuan Dasheng…” Ning Zhuo regarded this with utmost importance.

The enemy’s strength remained unclear, and Yuan Dasheng was still unable to unleash his full potential.

His efforts to rescue Sun Lingtong had exposed many of his techniques, such as the Shattering Sun Hand, the Surprise Backhand Strike, and the Adamantine Bone.

Of course, his Immortal Talent should still be a secret. Most people would assume it was due to the excellent materials used in his construction, allowing Yuan Dasheng to withstand the burning of ghostfire.

This could be inferred from the reactions of Meng Kui and the others after the battle.

If they had discovered his spiritual essence, his Immortal Talent, they would have launched a frantic city-wide search, instead of the current state of calm observation.

Even so, it was best to avoid showcasing both the Immortal Talent and Adamantine Bone again on the Golden Blood War Ape.

Ning Zhuo also considered the Golden Blood War Ape’s frame, constructed from low-grade materials, limiting any significant performance enhancements.

“How can I nurture Yuan Dasheng to maximize his strength?”

Reflecting on this, Ning Zhuo was grateful that he had focused on the Fire Burial Prajna Liberation Sutra for the past two weeks.

“Forging spiritual mechanical components through the Fire Burial Sutra to enhance Yuan Dasheng’s combat prowess.”

“This should be the way to break the deadlock!”

“However, why are the three factions confident that they can challenge Yuan Dasheng?”

“Nether Envoy Qi Bai has also appeared, so the three factions must be factoring Qi Bai into their plans.”

“Their confidence likely stems from the Refurbishment Rooms, perhaps?”

Within the Lava Immortal Palace, following Room Number Three, was a Refurbishment Room.

The Refurbishment Room contained numerous mechanical platforms and tools, allowing for the repair of puppet bodies upon payment of spirit stones.

In the subsequent two Refurbishment Rooms, one could purchase low-grade materials with spirit stones to modify the puppet bodies to a certain extent.

Humanity’s strength lies in its ingenuity, and the realm where ingenuity shines brightest is in tools.

A fulcrum and a lever can allow a person to move objects far exceeding their physical strength.

This is the simplest of mechanisms, yet its power is awe-inspiring.

The Hundred Crafts of Cultivation are about utilizing various resources in a more rational and cultivation-oriented manner.

Among the Hundred Crafts of Cultivation, the art of mechanisms is the pinnacle of tools.

Ning Zhuo’s gaze turned profound.

“The three factions’ modification teams have been exploring the Immortal Palace, and have now reached the peak of the third level in their cultivation.”

“Over the past few days, they have diligently practiced the art of mechanisms, becoming extremely familiar with puppet bodies and tools, like the hanging rings.”

“Now, they intend to fully utilize the Refurbishment Rooms, giving full play to their imaginative ideas, to unleash formidable combat power and overthrow Yuan Dasheng’s suppression in one fell swoop.”

Ning Zhuo’s mind was sharp, his insight piercing. With a little thought, he surmised the key to the three factions’ joint action.

It was the Refurbishment Rooms.

“Now the question is, should I have Yuan Dasheng appear in the first three trials to block them beforehand?”

The three factions’ joint campaign had a fatal weakness.

If Yuan Dasheng intercepted them, they would not even be able to enter the first Refurbishment Room.

However, this simplest, most direct solution was not the optimal one.

“If I do that, and they search for a full version, after one or two or three attempts, the three factions will become extremely suspicious of Yuan Dasheng’s precise interceptions.”

“If they are constantly unable to break through, the three factions might even cooperate with the City Lord’s Manor.”

This was entirely possible.

On the path of Soul Entry into the Immortal Palace, the City Lord’s Manor held the greatest advantage.

The three factions had been competing against Meng Chong and the others, but consistently remained at a disadvantage.

Meng Chong and his group dominated the leaderboards (or so they believed), while the three factions were unable to leverage their numerical superiority due to Yuan Dasheng.

If Ning Zhuo suppressed them too much, driving the three factions into despair, then desperation might lead to change. They would surely seek the City Lord’s Manor’s assistance.

Would the City Lord’s Manor agree?

It was hard to say for sure!

If Soul Entry into the Immortal Palace was the only path, Ning Zhuo believed that the City Lord’s Manor was unlikely to agree to cooperate.

But now, Body Entry into the Immortal Palace was also a viable path.

And on this path, the City Lord’s Manor had little competitive power, barely able to make it to the table.

The Zhou and Zheng families held the advantage.

But in the lead was Zhu Xuanji.

He had contributed three quasi-Golden Core level mechanical constructs in one fell swoop, a grand gesture that allowed him to leap ahead and become the current frontrunner.

“For the City Lord’s Manor, they need Meng Chong to progress faster, the faster the better, to surpass Zhu Xuanji’s pace.”

“Yuan Dasheng has repeatedly repelled Meng Chong, presenting a major obstacle, so joining forces to defeat Yuan Dasheng and uncover his internal mechanical structure would be a great incentive for the City Lord’s Manor.”

“Even if Yuan Dasheng is later repaired by the Immortal Palace and reintroduced into the trial stages, they would have obtained crucial intelligence, enabling them to defend against and target him.”

“Therefore, the key point in the City Lord’s Manor’s decision-making is whether the three factions advantages will outweigh Meng Chong after eliminating the ape mechanism.”

“If they do, they will not agree to cooperate.”

If they do not, there is a high probability they will cooperate.

As it stands, Yuan Dasheng already struggles to face Meng Chong alone.

Once the four forces unite, Yuan Dasheng will face a massive force led by Meng Chong, supported by other geniuses, and with a modification team exceeding one hundred members.

Even if Nether Envoy Qi Bai was brought in, sacrificing its last vestiges of spiritual energy to fight, the result would likely be more losses than victories.

“So, letting them enter the Refurbishment Rooms, allowing them to fully prepare for battle, and then having Yuan Dasheng appear, is the correct solution?”

“More accurately, this battle cannot end in a crushing defeat for the three factions. Yuan Dasheng must win, but leave them with a glimmer of false hope, creating the illusion that with a little more effort next time, they can defeat Yuan Dasheng.”

If Yuan Dasheng is too strong, the three factions will lose all hope and still contact the City Lord’s Manor.

The City Lord’s Manor would then think, ‘What’s going on? Yuan Dasheng is that strong?’

Sensing the pressure, they would push Meng Kui and Meng Chong to cooperate.

“Only by letting the three factions feel that they were only a little short of success this time will they not seek the City Lord’s Manor’s cooperation.”
They would eagerly seek to dismantle Yuan Dasheng themselves, allowing the repaired automaton to continue obstructing Meng Chong.

“Only such a scenario would be most beneficial to me.”

Ning Zhuo felt the pressure.

The complex situation dictated that he needed to pursue a complex outcome.

Yuan Dasheng defeated was unacceptable.

Yuan Dasheng achieving a resounding victory was also unacceptable!

He must achieve a narrow victory.

And he had to provide the united three families with a glimmer of false hope.

Only by achieving this could Ning Zhuo truly be considered the victor in this contest.

“Combat is merely a behavior.”

“It is a tool!”

Just like not long ago, when Zhou Zeshen proactively proposed a friendly spar, fighting with me, he used the tool of combat to accumulate friendship and improve our relationship.

And the battle between Yuan Dasheng and the united three families is a tool for me to continue maintaining control over the Lava Immortal Palace.

Ning Zhuo shared this information, along with his personal analysis of the situation, with Sun Lingtong.

Sun Lingtong praised him and remarked with emotion, “Little Zhuo, your understanding of the various factions and your insight into people’s hearts are even more profound than mine. In this regard, I am increasingly at ease.”

Ning Zhuo humbly replied, “Not at all, not at all, I still have many shortcomings!”

Sun Lingtong said, “Since that’s the case, I’ll also intensify my efforts recently, striving to unlock Qi Bai’s storage pouch.”

After Sun Lingtong was wanted, he remained in one of the few underground bases.

He relocated every so often.

His injuries had long healed.

On weekdays, in addition to cultivation and exploring the Immortal Palace, he dedicated himself to studying Qi Bai’s storage pouch.

It was only when Ning Zhuo interfered in the Black Market that he risked appearing in the city to give orders to the Turtle Breath Gang leader.

This was his only outing.

As cultivation developed to this day, cultivators’ storage items are equipped with verification, defense, and self-destruction measures.

Back then, when Ning Zhuo killed the three ghosts of the Huang family, he also pondered for a long time before opening the three storage pouches.

At that time, a little ghost head even flew out of the pouch, attempting to attack Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo was not careless and, being prepared, directly annihilated the little ghost.

Qi Bai, as a disciple of a major Demonic Dao sect, had a high standard of defense for his storage pouch.

Sun Lingtong was only in the Foundation Establishment stage and had been working hard to unlock Qi Bai’s storage pouch.

Although there was progress, it was very slow.

According to Ning Zhuo’s deduction, since the storage pouch was so tightly guarded, it must be very important to Qi Bai.

There were likely to be many of Qi Bai’s personal belongings inside.

These items, under the Releasing Scripture of Fiery Funeral Prajna, would add spirituality to the automaton puppet Qi Bai.

Ning Zhuo nodded, “If the Underworld Envoy Qi Bai can also participate in this battle, then I will be even more confident.”

“But don’t take too many risks, Old Boss Sun!”

“After Qi Bai’s death, the Soul Devouring Sect hasn’t made any moves, which is quite abnormal.”

“It’s likely that their people have already arrived!”

Sun Lingtong knew the importance of the matter and nodded, “I understand.”

He revealed a solemn expression: “The Soul Devouring Sect’s Hawk Nose and Three-Eyed are both imprisoned in the city lord’s mansion. I’m not worried about them – that’s a bait deliberately set up by the city lord’s mansion.”

“What I’m more worried about is Han Ming!”

“After that battle, Han Ming disappeared and hasn’t appeared. If she secretly met with the Soul Devouring Sect, the threat to us would be even greater!”

“Alas, we can only take things one step at a time!”

Ning Zhuo sighed.

After taking charge of the Black Market, he paid close attention to collecting information in this regard, but there were no results whatsoever.

A few days later, Ning Zhuo indeed received a notification to go to the Zhou family.

In an underground hall, all members of the modification team from the three families gathered.

The three family heads appeared together and formally announced the launch of a new joint operation.

“I’ve long been displeased with that automaton ape!”

“With our three families united and with five geniuses leading us, we will surely avenge our previous shame.”

“In recent days, my automaton techniques have improved a lot, and I am no longer the same.”

“Hahaha, then let’s have a great battle!”

The crowd exchanged enthusiastic words, and their morale was quite high.

The three family heads also made the following arrangements: The underground hall would be closed off for a few days of special training.

During this period, all modification team members would eat and live here, and they were forbidden from leaving at will.

After the meeting, Zhou Zeshen approached Ning Zhuo with a smile, “Brother Ning, come with me, we need to discuss the specific battle plan together.”

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly and took the initiative to strike up a conversation, “Brother Zhou, I must thank you for the Willow Nail Shooting Crossbow; it’s very useful!”

Zhou Zeshen laughed heartily, “In the next spar, I will definitely win Brother Ning’s automaton monkey blueprints.”

“This way, please!”

Zhou Zeshen gestured with his arm.

Ning Zhuo: “Please!”

End of Chapter.