After many days, Ning Zhuo returned to his abode.

He cast his gaze around, and everything was brand new!

The house, the furniture, even the underground chamber, had all been rebuilt.

Ever since Ning Zhuo became the Lord of the Black Market, the speed of his humble abode’s reconstruction had soared, becoming more than ten times faster than before!

More importantly, the array formations within his home were linked to the grand array of Fire Persimmon Immortal City, allowing him to tap into the city’s defensive power.

Before, Ning Zhuo’s little home was devastated.

If the previous assault were to occur again, the defensive formations would ensure that such a catastrophe would never happen again.

In the courtyard of his home, Ning Zhuo gathered his fellow students from the Modification Team. Once again, he critiqued and purchased their mechanical creations, followed by lecturing on the intricacies of spellcasting.

Everyone listened with rapt attention.

Only Ning Ji appeared attentive, but his mind was drifting far beyond the nine heavens.

As the gathering came to an end, Ning Zhuo departed from his usual demeanor and spoke to everyone with sincere earnestness, “There is a matter that I believe everyone has already heard.”

“Indeed, yesterday I publicly declared that Ning Xiaohui’s actions in the previous battle were a mistake, an accidental injury to me, and not intentional.”

Upon hearing Ning Zhuo broach this topic, everyone’s expressions changed drastically.

Ning Yong clenched his fist in indignant anger. “Brother Zhuo, did the main lineage force you to do this? It’s alright, we stand with you.”

As soon as Ning Yong finished speaking, others echoed his sentiment.

“Ning Xiaohui has gone too far!”

“If she hadn’t meddled, we would have already defeated that mechanical ape, Yu Ao.”

“At worst, we’ll storm the ancestral hall again.”

Ning Zhuo raised his hand and pressed down several times, immediately silencing the courtyard.

Ning Zhuo sighed deeply. “The infighting between the main and branch lineages of my Ning family has reached this point.”

“To tell you the truth, the Ning Clan Leader personally sought me out for negotiations, offering a hefty sum to persuade me to vouch for Ning Xiaohui’s innocence.”

“Initially, I was unwilling. But later, I thought of the Ning family and its reputation.”

“If I were to continue to pursue Ning Xiaohui, igniting a costly struggle and conflict between the main and branch lineages, wouldn’t we become a laughingstock for outsiders?”

“Alas! Even though Ning Xiaohui treated me this way, I cannot allow it to tarnish the family’s prestige!”

“Therefore, I accepted the Ning Clan Leader’s bribe and even fiercely inflated the price.”

“I publicly vouched for Ning Xiaohui, ultimately choosing this course of action. I tell you all this now, hoping that you will no longer dwell on this matter and instead focus your energy and time on your own cultivation.”

Ning Zhuo’s words moved everyone deeply.

“Brother Zhuo, you have sacrificed so much for the family,” Ning Yong exclaimed.

Ning Chen wiped away tears. “Brother Zhuo, you are truly bearing the burden of humiliation. But who can understand your good intentions?”

Others chimed in: “Brother Zhuo, I was wrong. I misunderstood you, thinking you were bought off by the main lineage’s wealth.”

“Brother Zhuo, with your magnanimity, you are easily taken advantage of. The main lineage should learn more from you.”

“No one has ever inspired such respect in me. Brother Zhuo, from now on, I’m following you.”

As he watched the excited expressions of the people in the courtyard, Ning Zhuo simultaneously noticed the Threads of Life hanging above their heads expanding and becoming more solid.

For a moment, Ning Zhuo was moved, and a spark of inspiration ignited in his mind.

He suddenly understood: “To strengthen and deepen the Threads of Life, more recognition is needed. The greater the degree of recognition, the more solid and stable the Threads of Life become.”

“This recognition is actually mutual.”

“When I understand someone, understand their past, present, and anticipate their future, that is a form of recognition.”

“After I recognize them, the Thread of Life can be planted. And when the object of that thread also recognizes me, the Thread of Life is reinforced in reverse.”

“Furthermore, recognition is not expectation, nor is it subservience.”

“Recognition is simply recognition.”

This enlightenment was not much, but it was the final piece of the puzzle.

In an instant, the bud of the nascent Divine Ability, Threads of Life, slowly opened, blooming suddenly.

White lotus roots, like jade, crystal clear. Green leaves, like emeralds, verdant and lush. Pink lotus blossoms, like rosy clouds, delicate and alluring.

White Lotus Root, Green Leaves, Pink Lotus Blossom, Divine Ability Threads of Life – complete!

Completely successful, no longer a nascent form, but a complete Divine Ability!

Divine Ability, Divine Ability.

Ning Zhuo was overjoyed, his heart pounding.

He was only at the Qi Refining stage, yet he had mastered a Divine Ability.

What a rare and precious achievement!

If he were to tell anyone, no one in the Immortal City would believe him.

After all, most Golden Core cultivators never attain even a single Divine Ability in their entire lives.

But soon, Ning Zhuo shook his head, telling himself: What I have achieved is nothing.

“It wasn’t something I comprehended on my own, but rather a shortcut I took.”

“I relied entirely on the legacy of the Three Sect Ancestors to advance by leaps and bounds, ultimately mastering the complete Divine Ability, Threads of Life.”

“I also owe a great deal to my mother’s dying words. That was the foundation for my recent progress.”

“Mother!”

Thinking of his mother, Ning Zhuo couldn’t help but feel a few wisps of sorrow.

“You wouldn’t have imagined it, would you? Your good son, even though he is only at the Qi Refining stage, has mastered a Divine Ability!”

Suddenly, Ning Zhuo became vulnerable at this moment.

He wanted to share his hard-won achievement with his mother.

But he could not.

His mother had long passed away, and he had no impression of his father.

Fortunately, there was someone else he could share it with.

In the underground base.

Ning Zhuo met Sun Lingtong again. “Boss Sun, I did it, I did it!”

“I have mastered the complete Divine Ability—Threads of Life.”

“Really?”

Sun Lingtong’s eyes widened, and then she joyfully raised her arms, “Haha, Little Zhuo, with your personality, if you say so, then it must be true!”

“Amazing!”

“You are really amazing!”

“Mastering a Divine Ability at the Qi Refining stage, if such an achievement were to be spread, you would surely be snatched up by the super sects.”

“Little Zhuo, you are a genius, you are a true genius.”

Ning Zhuo laughed heartily a few times, then lowered his head and took a deep breath: “Boss, you praise me too much. I know, I am still far from good enough!”

“This Divine Ability originates from the Illusionary True Lotus Seeds. I was just lucky to have obtained them and have them on my person.”

Sun Lingtong opened her mouth, “Uh, Little Zhuo.”

Ning Zhuo ignored her, humbly denying his abilities for a long time, gradually calming down.
Sun Lingtong watched him with a smile the entire time, watching this talented young cultivator she had raised from a child.

Suddenly, Sun Lingtong understood something: Ning Zhuo’s self-deprecation had taken root in the deepest part of his heart. It was ingrained in his very being, a sharp tool for quickly adjusting his mentality.

Only after Ning Zhuo stopped rambling did Sun Lingtong say, “Quickly, tell me about the wonders of your Divine Ability, Threads of Human Fate. Young one.”

Ning Zhuo scratched his head and grinned. “After the Divine Ability was completed, I could feel a qualitative change.”

“The qualitative change is in all aspects.”

“It’s hard to explain just by talking. How about this, Boss Sun, let me demonstrate it for you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Zhuo used the Threads of Human Fate to transmit certain information to Sun Lingtong.

Sun Lingtong immediately received the information.

Just like the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit transmitted crucial information to the trial disciples through the Threads of Human Fate.

Ning Zhuo could now do the same.

Ning Zhuo then cast an enhancement spell.

The spell followed the Threads of Human Fate and directly affected Sun Lingtong.

Sun Lingtong’s hair immediately stood on end, and his body swelled, becoming at least thirteen times larger. His entire body was covered in bulging muscles, but his childlike face remained unchanged.

Sun Lingtong: …

Ning Zhuo directly manipulated the Threads of Human Fate.

Sun Lingtong tiptoed stealthily, involuntarily sticking out his buttocks, and began to dance gracefully.

Sun Lingtong: “Alright, alright, the Divine Ability is indeed powerful. Stop trying it, Xiao Zhuo.”

Sun Lingtong felt that something was not quite right and stopped Ning Zhuo in advance.

Ning Zhuo let out an “Ah” and quickly said, “Boss, let me try it again, just one more time. I promise, this is the last one.”

Sun Lingtong sighed, “I really can’t do anything with you. Hurry up.”

Ning Zhuo grinned, stared at Sun Lingtong, and then stared again.

“It’s over?” Sun Lingtong asked inexplicably.

Ning Zhuo nodded. “It’s done.”

He continued to explain, “Boss, you didn’t feel it. Just now, I cancelled the Threads of Human Fate and then planted new ones on your head.”

Sun Lingtong instantly realized, “So, you can use it in actual combat now?”

Ning Zhuo nodded heavily. “It seems so, for now.”

The range, time, and difficulty of casting the Threads of Human Fate had all plummeted.

“Of course, the most important factor is still the degree of mutual recognition.”

Sun Lingtong clapped his hands happily and then frowned. “Degree of recognition?”

Ning Zhuo didn’t hide anything from him and told Sun Lingtong everything he knew and felt about the Divine Ability, Threads of Human Fate.

After listening, Sun Lingtong immediately felt enlightened.

“You… you have a high aptitude.”

Sun Lingtong sincerely exclaimed.

Ning Zhuo: “I’m still far from it. Compared to those real geniuses, I’m nothing!”

Sun Lingtong: …

The Ning Family Clan Land!

The door to the cultivation chamber was opened, and Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother entered, looking distressed.

“Xiaohui, my dear Xiaohui, eat something. How can you go on without eating or drinking?”

Ning Xiaohui, gaunt and withered, slowly turned around, her expression numb. “Grandma, why did I hurt Ning Zhuo? I don’t understand why I did it.”

Seeing Ning Xiaohui’s expression, the grandmother felt a sharp pain in her heart and asked mournfully.

She quickly went to Ning Xiaohui’s side, opened her arms, and hugged her granddaughter tightly, comforting her.

Ning Xiaohui cried in her grandmother’s arms for a long time before finally calming down.

“Xiaohui, I’ve discussed it with the Clan Leader and the others.”

Her grandmother said, “We don’t need to enter the Immortal Palace through Soul Merge anymore. Getting too close to Ning Zhuo and his branch family will only bring trouble.”

“Starting tomorrow, you will join the family’s team and enter the Immortal Palace through Body Merge.”

Ning Xiaohui looked up at her grandmother.

After a long while, she nodded slightly and softly replied, “Mm!”

Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother finally exhaled a breath of stale air and felt a little relieved.

“Ning Zhuo!” The grandmother gritted her teeth. “You’ve caused my granddaughter so much suffering. Sooner or later, I’ll make you pay back a hundredfold.”

End of this chapter.