Beneath the earth lay a clandestine base.

A colossal Blood Transformation Pool, akin to a coffin, hung suspended from the chamber’s roof beam.

Extending from the Blood Transformation Pool was a thick, robust metal conduit.

This conduit connected to a massive Blood Oil Flask, brimming with turbid, vital essence, its hue a dark crimson.

From the base of the Blood Oil Flask, five or six more conduits snaked out.

These conduits ultimately pierced the back of a mechanical simian.

Within the mechanical ape, Yuan Dasheng’s spiritual essence was exerting its utmost, wielding the ninth level of the Demonic Taint Blood Tendon Art.

Vital essence surged from the Blood Oil Flask, ceaselessly pouring into Yuan Dasheng’s mechanical frame.

However, under the operation of the Demonic Taint Blood Tendon Art, it was transformed into Demonic Tainted Vital Essence.

Ning Zuo sat cross-legged opposite Yuan Dasheng.

Between them, and encompassing their surroundings, was a simple, somewhat hastily drawn array.

The array emitted a faint red glow and a subtle, bloody aroma.

The ninth-level Demonic Tainted Vital Essence cultivated by Yuan Dasheng was precisely refined through this array, ultimately entering Ning Zuo’s body.

Ning Zuo then utilized the seventh level of the Demonic Taint Blood Tendon Art for continuous transformation, discarding the portions of vital essence that did not align with his essence, and constantly accumulating his Vital Essence Sea cultivation.

Often, of ten portions of Demonic Tainted Vital Essence, only two or three could ultimately be utilized by Ning Zuo.

But in this manner, Ning Zuo required no personal cultivation, saving him a great deal of time.

Furthermore, as long as the scale was large enough, theoretically, his Vital Essence Sea cultivation speed would be exceptionally astonishing.

“Having clansmen is truly advantageous.”

“What if I expand the number of clansmen, allowing me to obtain even more flesh and blood?”

Ning Zuo pondered this question incessantly.

Having tasted such immense benefits, he found it somewhat difficult to extricate himself.

However, he had not lost his reason.

He was well aware that this large-scale public acquisition of clansmen’s flesh and blood was already in considerably dubious territory.

Merely taking one step further, and he would be suspected of practicing demonic arts.

He had been too conspicuous recently, violating his principle of remaining hidden.

Many were currently fixated on him, awaiting his error.

Previously, his large-scale purchase of clansmen’s flesh and blood was akin to plucking chestnuts from a fire, fraught with risk.

Although he had proclaimed to the public that it was for the purpose of developing puppet automatons.

Ning Houjun and Ning Youfu, two former elders of the branch family, upon hearing of Ning Zuo’s actions, had successively sent people or letters, reminding Ning Zuo to pay extreme attention to his reputation.

The scale could not be expanded further.

Any further expansion, and it would be extremely easy to be falsely accused, have one’s faults seized upon, and ruin Ning Zuo’s reputation.

And reputation was of utmost importance to righteous cultivators.

Crack.

Suddenly, the mechanical ape’s left arm emitted a muffled sound, and then snapped off completely at the shoulder.

Subsequently, as if triggering a chain reaction, mechanical fragments burst from the mechanical ape’s shoulders, chest, abdomen, and other areas.

A vast amount of vital essence gushed out.

Amidst the surging torrent of blood, the mechanical ape, unable to bear the strain, disintegrated into scrap.

Ning Zuo frowned. He was not surprised, nor did he feel any heartache.

After all, the mechanical ape was a typical piece of crude craftsmanship.

It was just that this was already the one hundred and thirty-second.

The broken remnants of the carcasses had already accumulated into a small mountain.

Ning Zuo looked up at the roof beam of the room.

The giant Blood Transformation Pool and Blood Oil Flask, two mechanical creations suspended there, also displayed fine cracks, showing signs of disintegration.

It was time to properly build a mechanical ape.

Ning Zuo thought to himself.

Previously, he and Sun Lingtong had engaged in crude construction primarily to break through to the seventh level as soon as possible.

Upon reaching the seventh level, Ning Zuo’s cultivation in the three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit would break through its shackles, and continue to rise.

Now that Ning Zuo had reached the seventh level of cultivation, he needed to look to the future.

On the one hand, he needed a Golden Core-level mechanical ape to fully unleash the value of Yuan Dasheng’s spiritual essence.

On the other hand, he also needed a mechanical ape that could produce higher quality vital essence.

Combining the two, Ning Zuo resolved to immediately begin refining a new mechanical body for Yuan Dasheng.

He took the initiative to approach Zheng Jian, inviting him to jointly craft the mechanical ape.

Zheng Jian was very surprised.

Last time, when he cooperated with Ning Zuo, he had learned a lot of mechanical knowledge.

He greatly admired Ning Zuo’s mechanical skills.

“I wonder what ingenious ideas Ning Brother has this time?”

Zheng Jian asked Ning Zuo for guidance.

Ning Zuo shook his head: “I may disappoint Zheng Brother. This time, my refining of the automaton is different from last time.”

After he explained, Zheng Jian looked indeed disappointed.

It turned out that Ning Zuo did not intend to publish the automaton design drawings, but only wanted to refine high-quality materials, and needed to borrow the power of the Zheng family and Zheng Jian for refining.

Zheng Jian hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded, feeling that with his friendship with Ning Zuo, he could refine the materials for Ning Zuo once.

Ning Zuo took out Red Sun Copper.

Zheng Jian was amazed.

“This kind of Golden Core-level copper material requires extremely high firepower to melt. No wonder Ning Brother came to me.”

“It’s just that I’m only at the Qi Refining stage. Ning Brother thinks too highly of me.”

Ning Zuo said: He could invite other cultivators from the Zheng family to do this work.

Zheng Jian then nodded: “As long as Ning Brother can afford the price. Based on our friendship, I will definitely be able to invite experts from the clan for you.”

“The price is negotiable.” Ning Zuo seemed very straightforward.

The experts from the Zheng family invited by Zheng Jian quoted a high price.

Ning Zuo smiled and bargained: “What if I want to refine not just Red Sun Copper?”

He took out the second material.

As a result, the Zheng family’s refining expert frowned upon seeing it: “The forging of this Myriad Machine Profound Iron requires brute force, at least ten thousand strikes.”

“Although it is a Golden Core-level material, it consumes too much manpower.”

“I don’t have much time to take on private work. There are still many important tasks on my shoulders in the clan!”

Ning Zuo took out the third material.

This time, the Zheng family’s refining expert shook his head directly, saying that it was impossible.

Unless it was a Golden Core stage, they could directly refine it.

He was only at the Foundation Establishment stage and needed to use the Number One Refinement Room to have a hope of melting it.

But currently, the Number One Refinement Room was already occupied.

Ning Zuo then asked how long it would take to be occupied.

“That’s hard to say. I advise you not to have too many expectations.”

The Zheng family expert was very honest.

After Ning Zuo left the Zheng family, he soon contacted Zhou Zeshen again.
Zhou Zeshen exclaimed, “Brother Ning, truly you possess a grand ambition! To dabble in golden core-level artifices at the mere Qi Refining stage – such a bold undertaking! I am willing to lend my full support.”

However, when Ning Zhuo articulated his specific requirements, Zhou Zeshen expressed considerable difficulty.

“Brother Ning, you wish to engrave formations onto these golden core-grade materials, and on such a massive, intricate scale? Zhou Zeshen is incapable! The Foundation Establishment cultivators in my family could barely manage, but it would necessitate a large workforce to labor in concert. Otherwise, the construction period would drag on for an unacceptably long time.”

Ning Zhuo calculated the costs. The Zhou family’s unit price was already high. With an increased number of workers, the expenditure would be quite burdensome.

However, when Ning Zhuo summoned his former stewards and assigned them the task of crafting talismans, he received favorable feedback. These elite Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Ning clan expressed their willingness to create various martial art talismans for Ning Zhuo without compensation.

How could Ning Zhuo possibly agree? Saving spirit stones was not the priority. Ning Zhuo had no desire to break his own rules and spoil the team atmosphere he had painstakingly cultivated. The money paid to his subordinates was far more valuable than payments to the Zheng or Zhou families.

After a thorough accounting, Ning Zhuo discovered that, at the current rate, he could barely complete one-third of the project. This was not due to price gouging by the Zhou or Zheng families; their prices were already quite fair in the market.

With materials at the golden core level, Ning Zhuo’s accumulated wealth immediately appeared insignificant. His idea of leveraging the power of various factions to jointly craft the artifice was sound in theory, but in practice, many difficulties arose.

After a moment of contemplation, Ning Zhuo devised a solution. It was time to reveal information about Meng Chong.

Through the Tortoise Breath Gang, Ning Zhuo secretly leaked to the three major families that Meng Chong had successfully cleared stages in the palace and obtained the fourth to sixth layers of the Five Elements Qi Law Scripture.

Zhou Zeshen exclaimed in surprise, “Meng Chong is indeed formidable! The City Lord’s Estate is far ahead!”

Zheng Jian clenched his fists. “I must obtain the subsequent techniques! Being stuck at the third layer is unbearable!”

The Ning clan head and several elders deliberated. “The Five Elements Qi Law Scripture was left behind by the Immortals of the Three Sects and has immense potential. Its subsequent techniques are of great importance to our clan.”

The family elders discussed, “Who can shoulder this responsibility?”

“Ning Xiaohui has already left the modification team.”

After a brief discussion, the name Ning Zhuo surfaced in the minds of the Ning clan elders. It seemed they could only rely on Ning Zhuo to acquire the subsequent techniques.

The elders continued to deliberate. “Although some of us personally dislike him, I must admit that Ning Zhuo is capable.”

“The key is, even if Ning Zhuo obtains the subsequent techniques, will he hand them over to the family?”

The elders exchanged glances and fell silent.

After a long silence, someone spoke, looking at the Ning clan head. “Ning Zhuo loves wealth. Clan Head, please communicate with him more.”

The Ning clan head nodded with a grimace. The mere thought of Ning Zhuo caused his head to ache.

There were two routes to explore the Lava Immortal Palace. One could enter the palace physically and exchange merits for various cultivation resources. Or one could enter the palace spiritually, facing trials and challenges to obtain the subsequent techniques of the Five Elements Qi Law Scripture.

This was a reward unavailable to those who physically entered the palace. In the arrangements of the Immortals of the Three Sects, physical entry was for outsiders and retainers, while spiritual entry was to nurture their own people, not to release true teachings to outsiders.

For the three families, they had deeply researched the Five Elements Qi Law Scripture, and even with only three layers, they recognized its excellence. Their desire for the subsequent techniques had always been present, accumulating silently.

This desire was precisely what Ning Zhuo had discovered and used as his ‘puppet strings’.

Ning Zhuo no longer needed to seek them out. Zhou Zeshen and Zheng Jian took the initiative to approach him. They did not know how many stages one had to clear to obtain the technique reward. But they knew that Ning Zhuo was powerful and had significant conflicts with the Ning clan’s main branch.

Inviting Ning Zhuo to help would be advantageous to their exploration of the Immortal Palace itself. Moreover, strengthening ties with Ning Zhuo and supporting him would be conducive to a second internal conflict within the Ning clan. This was a win-win, causing the Zhou and Zheng families to be enthusiastic and proactively lower their prices for Ning Zhuo.

The difficulties that had plagued Ning Zhuo were thus resolved.

The Ning clan’s main branch was furious when they learned of Ning Zhuo’s collaboration with the Zhou and Zheng families. Many wanted to use this as an excuse, painting him as colluding with outsiders, disregarding the family’s interests, and greatly damaging Ning Zhuo’s reputation within the clan.

However, they were dissuaded.

The Ning clan head reluctantly summoned Ning Zhuo again.

Ning Zhuo happily accepted the invitation.

After his departure, the sound of smashing objects echoed from the Ning clan head’s study once more.

End of chapter.