Recent days found Ning Zhuo deep in thought, meticulously crafting a new mechanical body for Yuan Dasheng.

The Tree Martial Fighting Ape he previously designed and forged was utterly destroyed in the battle against Qi Bai.

The Golden Blood Battle Ape thrived within the Magma Immortal Palace, but its materials were inadequate for facing Golden Core cultivators outside. However, the Palace offered numerous opportunities for upgrades.

The three trials following the second Buddhist gate provided higher-grade materials specifically for enhancing the Golden Blood Battle Ape.

The Golden Blood Battle Ape’s triumph against the three allied forces was largely due to these material upgrades.

Its potential far surpassed that of the Tree Martial Fighting Ape.

The Golden Blood Battle Ape’s design remained a mystery to Ning Zhuo, as did the composition of its frame.

Forged in the Golden Furnace, which even the Reincarnation Stage grandees of the three sects only managed to set up eight within the Magma Immortal Palace (although Ning Zhuo was unaware of the Golden Furnace), the Golden Blood Battle Ape was undeniably extraordinary.

“Even if I never fully understand its structure, I can steadily improve its combat prowess simply by replacing its materials.”

“The Tree Martial Fighting Ape’s strength lay in its materials. Thanks to Zheng Jian, its components were of a much higher grade than those of the Golden Blood Battle Ape.”

“However, its design was unremarkable, and its innovations were commonplace.”

Moreover, the Tree Martial Fighting Ape’s schematics had been leaked. Zheng Jian knew them well. Of course, its value wasn’t high to begin with, which is why Ning Zhuo was willing to reveal it to Zheng Jian to deepen their relationship.

Ning Zhuo sought to replicate his success with the Tree Martial Fighting Ape. He aimed to create a mechanical ape with Golden Core-level combat power to ensure his safety.

Given the current influx of unfamiliar cultivators into Fire Persimmon Immortal City, and his position as the Black Market’s overseer, he was in a precarious situation, urgently requiring Golden Core-level protection.

Qi Bai the knight was a Golden Core combatant, his Golden Core hidden within the Nether Emissary automaton, powering it.

The Nether Emissary’s materials also needed upgrading. Forcing it to unleash Golden Core-level power risked its self-destruction. However, Qi Bai’s spirit was not yet at its peak, and even if it was, the difficulty of transcending the Awakening Phase made it a less desirable option.

Ning Xie, with his innate Heaven-Blessed Blood Soul of Ice, had been refined into the Weather Orb – Ice Crystal Snow.

Its material was superior and could be upgraded. Although its spirit was weak, it was a member of the Ning family, and his relics could be gathered to replenish its spirit, with a good chance of achieving complete qualitative change and advancing to the Awakening Phase.

However, Ning Xie had only been a Foundation Establishment cultivator in life, and the Ice Crystal Snow’s mechanical structure differed greatly from his previous existence. Unleashing Golden Core-level power through materials was possible, but unlikely.

After careful consideration, Ning Zhuo concluded that Yuan Dasheng was his best option.

Yuan Dasheng’s spirit didn’t need replenishing and had already passed the Awakening Phase.

In life, he had been a near-Golden Core combatant, skilled in close-quarters combat.

Most importantly, his Righteous Bones of Adamant were of Immortal-grade.

Yuan Dasheng had mastered the Demonic Infusion Blood Tendon Technique, and at a high level.

“As a mechanical construct, he can still utilize the Demonic Infusion Blood Tendon Technique, just as Qi Bai could still use the Nine Revolutions Soul Devouring Art.”

Using the Demonic Infusion Blood Tendon Technique required essence blood, so Ning Zhuo intended to refine the Blood Transformation Pool and Blood Oil Bottle components.

This realization sparked an idea within him.

Ning Zhuo secretly contacted Sun Lingtong again.

Ning Zhuo: “The Blood Transformation Pool consumes the bodies of other living beings, transforming them into essence blood to become Yuan Dasheng’s source of power. If Yuan Dasheng can use the flesh and blood of others to refine essence blood for his own use, why not use mine? He has the Demonic Infusion Blood Tendon Technique, so essence blood refined from my own flesh and blood would naturally resonate with me!”

“Then, if I have him infuse the essence blood back into me, wouldn’t that be a shortcut to cultivation?”

Sun Lingtong nodded, “Little Zhuo, there’s nothing wrong with the idea, but are you sure you want to do this?”

“You’ll have to constantly cut your flesh and release blood.”

Ning Zhuo’s face hardened with determination. “As long as I can cultivate faster, what does a little pain matter?”

“Elder Sun, do you remember when I was a child, you used to train me to endure pain by constantly hitting me with iron rods and steel whips?”

“Thanks to your special training, I’m not afraid of pain.”

“Now, I’m just cutting flesh and releasing blood, consider it a refresher of my childhood training.”

Sun Lingtong was moved.

He laughed and patted Ning Zhuo’s shoulder. “Good lad, my efforts weren’t in vain.”

Sun Lingtong was delighted.

As a member of the Demonic Path, he loved adventure and admired the strong.

Ning Zhuo’s strong character pleased him greatly.

A real man should be like this, daring and willing to take risks. Ruthless to others, but even more ruthless to himself.

“What do you need me to do?”

Ning Zhuo said, “Elder, I’ll give you the schematics, and you can forge a mechanical ape, equipped with the Blood Transformation Pool, Blood Oil Bottle, and so on.”

“I’m too busy here, and I’m under too much scrutiny. It’s not convenient for me.”

“No problem.”

Sun Lingtong confidently vouched.

Thanks to Ning Zhuo sharing the mechanical scriptures left by his mother long ago, Sun Lingtong, despite lacking natural mechanical talent, had diligently studied, meticulously researched, and accumulated enough mechanical skill over the past decade to be fully capable.

In just two days, Sun Lingtong forged the mechanical ape.

Ning Zhuo secretly took it for his own use.

In a secluded spot, he extracted Yuan Dasheng’s spirit and transferred it to the mechanical ape.

Then, Ning Zhuo took out a sharp dagger and first drew his own blood, then cut the flesh from his arms, thighs, and abdomen.
Waves of intense pain ceaselessly assaulted his body and mind, yet Ning Zhuo remained silent. Only his brow furrowed slightly, and his face paled a touch.

Yuan Dasheng had not disappointed. He refined his flesh and blood with the ninth layer of the Demon-tainted Blood Tendon Art, extracting essence blood.

Ning Zhuo received the essence blood, and his Essence Sea cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.

Three days later, Ning Zhuo arrived at the underground base and met Sun Lingtong, sharing the good news.

Sun Lingtong was astonished. “Little Zhuo, I knew your previous Essence Sea cultivation. How could you have reached the peak of the sixth layer so quickly?”

“Even though you shed blood and cut flesh to supply Yuan Dasheng, you still need to heal! Injuries take time to recover!”

Ning Zhuo chuckled. “Boss, after cutting myself a few times, I suddenly realized a better method.”

“I found that just cutting my own flesh meant I had to heal myself, which greatly hindered my cultivation speed.”

“Why not ask my clansmen for help?”

Sun Lingtong was taken aback.

Ning Zhuo then explained his method of operation.

Many of the Ning family’s clansmen had cultivation, mostly in the Qi Refining stage.

It was difficult for these people to make a living in the Immortal City. They could only engage in menial labor with low wages, such as weeding, forging iron, tending the fires, and preliminary processing of medicinal herbs.

Therefore, most of the Ning family members tended to rely on the family and work in family businesses.

But the scale of family businesses was limited, and the number of positions was finite.

Most of the Ning family members had limited cultivation and could only engage in menial labor.

Ning Zhuo, aware of this situation, ordered his Foundation Establishment cultivators to select some of the poorer clansmen and arrange for them to donate essence blood.

In return, Ning Zhuo would give each of them a sum of spirit stones after each bloodletting and flesh-cutting session.

Ning Zhuo said, “I’ve done the math.”

“Although they are injured, they receive a sum of spirit stones. They can use these spirit stones to purchase the cheapest healing elixirs, and still have a large portion left over.”

“They profit from this.”

“So, as soon as this was implemented, it was widely welcomed. Many clansmen who were not selected even volunteered.”

It was through so much flesh and blood that Yuan Dasheng cultivated the blood power of the ninth layer of the Demon-tainted Blood Tendon Art.

During the backflow to Ning Zhuo, this blood power would be purified by Ning Zhuo, leaving behind what suited his constitution. The rest would still be returned to Yuan Dasheng as his reserve energy source.

“With this method, my cultivation difficulties in the Essence Sea have been resolved. Hahaha.”

Ning Zhuo was very happy.

Sun Lingtong was the person he trusted the most.

He immediately shared his breakthroughs and progress with Sun Lingtong.

But Sun Lingtong’s next words were a bit ungrateful.

She frowned and pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized, “This method of yours… Aren’t you still exploiting your own clan? Treating them as materials for cultivation is essentially no different from those demonic practices.”

Ning Zhuo: ……

“Cough cough cough…”

He coughed violently a few times.

“Boss, you can’t put it that way!”

“I’m helping the clansmen, giving them work to do. Their income has increased because of me!”

“You didn’t see the sincere smiles on their faces when they received the spirit stones.”

“Seeing their smiles warms my heart.”

Ning Zhuo emphasized, “I’m helping them solve their livelihood problems and improve their standard of living.”

“And with their help, my cultivation has accelerated, leading to even greater achievements. This is a mutually beneficial and win-win situation, a successful model of righteous collaboration.”

After a pause, he added, “There is a fundamental difference between me and those demonic cultivators.”

“They are cruel and cold-blooded, willing to harm their own kin for their selfish desires. Such people are terrifying.”

“But my clansmen are all willing.”

“Our cooperation doesn’t harm their lives at all. Although it will injure them, these injuries can be healed with some medicine, and they’ll recover after some time.”

“After they recover, they can cooperate with me even more times.”

Sun Lingtong clapped her hands. “I see.”

“Those demonic cultivators slaughter their kin for a one-time deal, but you, my little brother, are planning for a long-term operation, constantly acquiring flesh and blood.”

“Cough cough cough…”

Ning Zhuo coughed violently again.

“Boss, I can’t talk to you anymore.”

“I am righteous.”

“I am righteous.”

Sun Lingtong spread her hands. “Alright, whatever you say.”

Ning Zhuo sighed and said sincerely, “Boss, you can’t be like this. Although you come from a wicked sect, you must broaden your horizons and open your mind. You can’t always look at things so darkly.”

“You’ve known me for over a decade. Tell me, am I that kind of person?”

Sun Lingtong: ……

End of Chapter.