As the two sides faced off, on the verge of blows, Zheng Hua hastily intervened, attempting to mediate, “Everyone, please calm down!”

“The true battle has yet to begin, yet internal strife already arises…”

“If word gets out, it will tarnish the reputation of the Ning family.”

Zhou Zeshen and the others echoed in agreement.

With everyone’s persuasion, Ning Zhuo, Ning Xiaohui, and the mysterious Snow Soul restrained their auras, temporarily ceasing their conflict.

Upon resuming their seats, Ning Xiaohui and Ning Zhuo were now distanced from each other.

Zhou Zeshen smiled, cupping his fist towards the mysterious Snow Soul, “May I inquire as to this esteemed senior’s honorable name?”

The mysterious Snow Soul, emanating the aura of Foundation Establishment, raised its head and declared, “I am Ning Xie, formerly a family elder of the Ning clan, blessed with the innate Snow Soul Ice Essence. After falling in battle, I transitioned to the path of ghost cultivation. This time, I emerge to aid in your joint operation.”

Zhou Zeshen was perplexed, “Senior is a Foundation Establishment ghost cultivator, whose cultivation is difficult to alter. How can you enter the Immortal Palace?”

The ghost cultivator Ning Xie explained, “That is not difficult. I can temporarily reside within Xiaohui’s soul, merging as one.”

“If Ning Xiaohui enters the Immortal Palace, I can also be brought in.”

“However, if I manifest to fight, I can only exist for thirteen breaths. Exceeding that time, I will be expelled by the Molten Lava Immortal Palace.”

Zheng Jian spoke up at this moment, verifying from the side, “We have already confirmed this situation.”

He was indeed privy to this information.

Zhou Zeshen’s gaze subtly darkened.

From this, he keenly sensed that the Ning and Zheng families seemed to be closer than he had anticipated.

On the surface, Zhou Zeshen cupped his fist, his face displaying a joyful expression, “With Senior’s assistance, wielding the innate Snow Soul Ice Essence, our chances of success greatly increase!”

Ning Xie coldly snorted, “That is only natural.”

Ning Zhuo followed with a cold snort of his own, “Only thirteen breaths to make a move, what can you even accomplish? Freeze an entire checkpoint, perhaps?”

Ning Xie narrowed his eyes, his expression extremely displeased, “Offshoot junior, you speak correctly, I *can* freeze the surroundings, modifying the battlefield!”

“If you don’t believe me, you will have a good taste of it when the time comes.”

Ning Zhuo chuckled, “Freeze our own people? You died, and your brain died with you?”

“If you’re so capable, freeze those mechanical simians and the puppet thralls.”

“Ah, that’s right!”

“If you get enslaved by a puppet, that would be a laughingstock!”

“Nonsense!”

Ning Xie, enraged, cursed loudly, “Junior, sharp-tongued and quick-witted, spout such drivel again, and I’ll tear your mouth apart!”

Ning Zhuo’s expression turned serious, his gaze somber, “Who is spouting drivel with you?”

“What I pointed out is the greatest hidden danger. I am considering the overall situation, yet you believe I am merely arguing with you?”

Ning Zhuo, with no pretense, pointed a finger at Ning Xie, “My concern is straightforward: can this ghost cultivator even be brought in?”

“Don’t let him become a weapon against us.”

Ning Xie trembled with fury, his very soul paling slightly. As he was about to speak, an aged voice echoed, “Regarding this point, this Clan Head can vouch.”

The expressions on everyone’s faces varied.

Ning Xie immediately closed his mouth.

Subsequently, the Ning family Clan Head entered, fixing his gaze upon Ning Zhuo, a smile gracing his lips, yet his eyes were as cold as ice, “Ning Zhuo, your considerations are thorough.”

“However, you are still too young, unaware of the mysteries of ghost cultivation, and even less aware of the depths of my Ning family’s heritage.”

Ning Zhuo bowed respectfully, his gaze calm, meeting the Ning family Clan Head’s stare without fear, “Since that is the case, this junior can only remain skeptical.”

Then, his tone shifted, “But this junior still does not recommend such swift action.”

“We currently lack solid intelligence. We can certainly await the improvement of magical arts and use the improved spells for reconnaissance.”

“After all, our opponents are merely two mechanical war constructs. Once we understand their foundation, their chances of victory are quite slim.”

Zhou Zeshen inwardly praised, “Excellent!”

He hadn’t expected Ning Zhuo to display such unyielding strength, directly challenging the Ning family’s Foundation Establishment elder, even the Ning family Clan Head!

“What is his cultivation level? Qi Refining Level Three! Truly courageous!”

Zhou Zeshen even felt a hint of admiration.

Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu shared his sentiments.

Zheng Hua mused, “Ning Zhuo is young and impetuous, unexpectedly confronting his own Clan Head in public.”

“However, considering his actions, it is understandable.”

“Now that he has become the Lord of the Black Market, his power has greatly increased, achieving accomplishments he had never before attained in his life, this is a period of inflation of his ego.”

“If I were him, I would be even more arrogant.”

“If this son continues to develop, the Ning family will inevitably have a second internal war in the future. He should be heavily supported.”

Hearing Ning Zhuo’s suggestion to continue reconnaissance, Zhou Zeshen pondered and echoed, “Please forgive my rudeness, but this junior also believes that continued reconnaissance would be better.”

“Intelligence is paramount. Especially for battles such as this, more intelligence could affect the ultimate success or failure of our operation.”

“Hmm? Zhou Zeshen is standing so firmly on Ning Zhuo’s side?”

Seeing this scene, waves also stirred within Zheng Jian’s heart.

Within Fire Persimmon Immortal City, the four powers play against each other, back and forth, with you and me, forming a very complex competitive relationship.

The truly outstanding family disciples are very sensitive to the close or distant relationships between other families.

Zheng Jian thought for a moment, then immediately spoke, “Indeed, long ago, we began to improve reconnaissance spells.”

“But it will take some time before they are completed.”

“In fact, my family has long since begun procuring and borrowing related Enlightenment Charts from the outside.”

“However, even with Enlightenment Charts, the cultivator’s comprehension is also tested. Those with mediocre comprehension will hardly benefit from Enlightenment Charts.”

Ning Zhuo spread his hands, “Then we can wait.”

“I believe that our modification team is full of talent. Someone will eventually comprehend it. Or wait until the three families have completed the spell improvements, and we have reconnaissance results. Then, we can go all out, and victory will be assured.”

“Speaking of Enlightenment Charts, I happen to have two in my possession. Perhaps I can contribute them and share them with everyone.”

“Shut up!”

Ning Xiaohui nearly jumped, “The Enlightenment Charts were merely lent to you personally by the family. Why are you sharing them with outsiders?”

The ghost cultivator Ning Xie also said, “Ning family offshoot junior, do you know nothing of family rules? You do not have complete control over these two Enlightenment Charts.”

Ning Zhuo chuckled, “I was merely making a suggestion. The Clan Head is here as well, what do you say, Sir?”
The Ning Clan Head felt as if he had swallowed a fly; utterly disgusted.

As the head of his clan, he couldn’t simply voice his stance like Ning Xiaohui.

Furthermore, he was currently facing members of the Zheng and Zhou families.

Given the backdrop of their alliance, it was difficult for him to refuse.

The situation was akin to being cornered by a junior like Ning Zhuo, leaving him with no graceful way out.

For the first time, the Ning Clan Head regretted his hasty appearance, feeling he had acted without sufficient consideration.

Zhou Zeshen suddenly chuckled, “If the Ning Clan is willing to offer two Enlightenment Diagrams, I shall propose that my family also contribute two diagrams for the betterment of the modified cultivators.”

Zheng Jian was about to speak, but Zheng Hua preempted him, “Excellent! I can decide right now to provide the Zheng Clan’s Fiery Peak Vapour Diagram and Earth Furnace Fire Spout Diagram for everyone’s perusal.”

The Ning Clan Head laughed heartily, hastily adding, “A mere Enlightenment Diagram? The Ning Clan will naturally provide them without question.”

“However, even if something is comprehended in short period, it will require extensive practice, making it difficult to apply in battle!”

“It would be better to concentrate our efforts on special training, cultivating coordination and fostering understanding, which will be of greater benefit than grasping spells.”

“This battle must be concluded swiftly.”

“I cannot reveal the specifics, but I can tell you that this matter concerns the Golden Core ancestors of our three families.”

Everyone present was immediately taken aback!

The Ning Clan Head was cautioning everyone not to view the matter solely through the lens of the battle. There were external factors compelling them to achieve a swift victory.

The battle was merely a tool.

The battle was not the end goal. So, what was the true objective?

Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly.

He had deliberately provoked, probed, and goaded others to extract more information.

In any case, the conflict between Ning Zhuo and the Ning Clan’s main lineage had already reached an irreconcilable point.

The gains were substantial.

He had not only gleaned a wealth of intelligence but also secured the opportunity to study four new Enlightenment Diagrams.

Moreover, the secret revealed by the Ning Clan Head after being pressured – concerning the Golden Cores – was good news for Ning Zhuo.

When reading historical records, Ning Zhuo often encountered cases where, during battles, the monarch or ministers would issue misguided orders, disregarding the actual situation on the battlefield, ultimately leading to disastrous defeats.

Initially, Ning Zhuo found these individuals foolish.

However, as he grew older, particularly in recent days, he deeply felt the limitations of human beings and gained a deeper understanding of the ‘foolishness’ of those individuals!

Was it truly foolishness?

It was foolishness, but also intelligence, and an act driven by overwhelming emotions and helplessness.

In reality, everyone has their own pressures and motivations, their own desires and fears.

All these driving forces intertwined, causing the originally pure battle to become impure.

Just as Ning Zhuo needed Yuan Dasheng to achieve a small victory, not a crushing one or a devastating defeat, this joint operation by the three families stemmed from the mysterious decisions of the Golden Core Ancestors.

In youth, one reads and laughs at the mundane, but rereading, one finds oneself within the story.

The affairs of the world are contained within books, cherish this single, boundless sheet of paper.

Zhou Zeshen sighed, “It seems that we have no choice but to act now, like an arrow already nocked.”

Ning Zhuo then looked at Zheng Hua: ‘Given that this is the will of the three families’ Golden Core Ancestors, no wonder Ning Xie was deployed.’

“Since the Ning Clan has done so, the Zheng and Zhou families must have also brought out some trump cards, haven’t they?”

The Zheng Clan Elder, Zheng Hua, chuckled, “I was just about to mention that!”

“One of our ancestors stumbled into a Ghost Market, losing half his life but gaining something in return.”

“This technique is called the Ghost Martial Divine Weapon Forging Method, which allows one to expend soul force and sever a portion of the soul to forge Ghost God Weapons.”

“Upon mastering it, you will essentially possess half of a natal weapon. Later, when your soul enters the Immortal Palace, you will obtain corresponding mechanical components in the very first room.”

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Zheng Jian.

Hook-shaped magical artifacts floated around Zheng Jian.

When his soul entered the Immortal Palace, he also had corresponding wooden hook components floating around his body.

Zheng Jian quickly explained, “Mine is not Ghost Martial, though.”

End of Chapter.