Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

Dungeon.

Han Ming looked at Fe Si, a chill in her heart, and sneered: “You’re daydreaming!”

Fe Si’s eyes flickered with a sinister light, and he said slowly: “If you refuse to cooperate with my investigation, then don’t blame me for using torture.”

“Just the tattooing penalty will be enough for you.”

“From now on, your face will bear the mark of a criminal record. As long as you move within the borders of the Southern Bean Kingdom, you will reveal your presence because of this mark and be known at all times.”

“This mark will also suppress your cultivation, making your progress difficult.”

“And to remove the mark, you must at least find a Nascent Soul level figure, only then is it possible.”

“Do you want to try?”

Han Ming’s heart felt even colder, but outwardly, she remained fearless, raising her head and saying: “What’s the use of saying so much?”

“Come on, bring on any torture you have.”

“Since I took the initiative to surrender, I already had the worst in mind.”

“Fe Si, you want me to serve you and help you cultivate? Humph, dream on!”

Fe Si chuckled: “Since you were used as a pawn by Luo Shang and sacrificed here, what are you still being stubborn about?”

“How could I not know the ways of you demonic cultivators?”

“What, do you really want to die for Luo Shang?”

“How about this, I’ll give you two choices. First, you help me increase my soul foundation. Second, you reveal Luo Shang’s whereabouts.”

“Think about it carefully.”

For a moment, Han Ming hesitated.

But she quickly became tough again: “Fe Si, you’re a disgrace to the righteous path’s Golden Core! I won’t choose anything, bring on whatever methods you have.”

Fe Si let out a cold snort, his palm like a blade, and directly struck.

Immediately, a spell shot out, like a sharp weapon, aimed at Han Ming’s neck.

Han Ming immediately felt a strong sense of death threat, alarm bells ringing in her heart, but she was bound in place and couldn’t move.

“Am I going to die?!” At this moment, Han Ming roared unwillingly in her heart.

She did not die.

At the critical moment, a ghostly hand emerged from her body, directly grabbed Fe Si’s spell, and crushed it with a squeeze.

The Ghost General then moved out of Han Ming’s body, emitting Luo Shang’s voice: “Alright, Fe Si, don’t scare a junior anymore.”

“Luo Shang! When did he plant this method on me?” Han Ming was shocked.

At the same time, she also felt fortunate.

She made the right choice!

She didn’t escape before this, enduring the hardship to surrender to the City Lord’s Mansion, and just now she didn’t succumb to Fe Si’s tyranny, and consistently didn’t provide Luo Shang with any opportunity to eliminate the sect’s traitors.

Fe Si saw the appearance of the Golden Core level Ghost General and showed no surprise on his face.

The Golden Core level Ghost General, acting as Luo Shang’s mouthpiece, slowly floated into the air: “Alright, Fe Si, your actions are nothing more than wanting to force me to appear. What do you want to do?”

Fe Si indeed changed his previous attitude, stroking his beard and smiling: “Luo Shang, you sent Han Ming here to report, nothing more than wanting to sow discord, create chaos, and profit from it yourself.”

“Let me tell you, my side and Zhu Xuanji’s side have already united and reached a secret alliance.”

“How could our Southern Bean Kingdom easily let outsiders like you take advantage of opportunities!”

“However…”

“Our side also knows that your sect’s goal is not the Molten Lava Immortal Palace, but the abundant soul treasures at the bottom of Fire Persimmon Mountain. As long as you don’t covet the Molten Lava Immortal Palace, we actually have a basis for cooperation.”

Regarding this intelligence, the City Lord’s Mansion side had pried open the mouths of the hook-nosed and triangular-eyed Soul Devouring Sect disciples to obtain it.

Even without this intelligence, based on the Soul Devouring Sect’s past actions, goals, and plans, it would not be difficult to guess.

Luo Shang was silent for a moment, then spoke and asked: “How to cooperate?”

“And how can I trust you? What kind of cooperation do you righteous cultivators want with me, a demonic cultivator?”

“I won’t be used as a pawn by you!”

Fe Si stroked his beard, possessing a calm and unhurried demeanor: “Let me tell you, recruiting you evil outsiders is not only the intention of Lord City Lord Meng Kui, but also Zhu Xuanji’s attitude.”

“As long as your side fully assists in defending the city, our side is willing to secretly cooperate with the Soul Devouring Sect and jointly develop the massive soul treasures at the bottom of Fire Persimmon Mountain!”

Luo Shang fell silent again.

He pondered for a long time, and then said: “I am indeed very interested in this cooperation!”

He came to Fire Persimmon Immortal City this time carrying a sect mission. On one hand, it was to seek an explanation for Qi Bai’s death and uphold the sect’s reputation. On the other hand, it was also to continue Qi Bai’s unfinished business and explore how many soul treasures were at the bottom of Fire Persimmon Mountain.

If at this moment, he could cooperate with the City Lord’s Mansion and Zhu Xuanji’s side, it would be of great help in completing these two tasks!

Luo Shang’s declaration made Han Ming secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

She understood that she was saved!

Immediately, Luo Shang and Fe Si began initial negotiations.

This news reached Meng Kui’s ears, and it also made the current City Lord breathe a sigh of relief.

Currently, he is stationed at the peak of Fire Persimmon Mountain, feeling immense pressure.

The terrifying beast tide seems endless.

The Molten Lava Immortal Palace has already begun the palace examination, and the cultivators are competing fiercely for the position of palace master.

In addition, the Empty Gate has been discovered, and this major evil sect has been operating for many years.

And there’s the disloyal Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit…

Meng Kui has been dealing with these, which has occupied his main energy and time.

If the Soul Devouring Sect were to cause any more trouble, Meng Kui’s pressure would be even greater!

Another point, others might have forgotten, but Meng Kui would never forget – that is, Zheng Danlian’s mistake in killing the Taixuan Palace’s Golden Core true disciple.

Taixuan Palace will definitely come looking for trouble.

But Taixuan Palace has remained silent.

Do they not want to act?

Hehe, how is that possible?

Meng Kui doesn’t need to deduce, just using his brain, he knows that the best time for Taixuan Palace to act is now!

This is because various large and small forces are competing around the Molten Lava Immortal Palace. When these large and small forces are exhausted, Taixuan Palace’s sudden insertion will surely catch others off guard.

The key is that this time, Taixuan Palace has a justifiable reason.

Although the person from Taixuan Palace was not killed by Meng Kui, the Zheng family, as a major cultivation family in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, their existence and safety also hold some responsibility for Meng Kui.

Therefore, this time the City Lord’s Mansion put aside its dignity and proactively approached Luo Shang to seek cooperation. In essence, this is preparing for a rainy day, and it is also a matter of necessity.

Meng Kui needs to reduce his burden!

Although he is at the Nascent Soul level, he would also feel considerable pressure if he had to simultaneously resist major sects like the Empty Gate, the Soul Devouring Sect, and Taixuan Palace.

If he can convert a portion of his enemies into his own fighting strength, the effect of this going in and out is quite significant.

“As for the Molten Lava Immortal Palace, the Dragon Tortoise Fire Spirit…”

“Humph!”

Meng Kui sat deep in the cloud and smoke, his eyes filled with cold light.

He lacks the corresponding mechanism techniques, so he cannot enter the Immortal Palace.

“But so what?”

“I just need to restrain my fighting strength and maintain the beast tide. Let this beast tide continue to destroy and erode the Immortal Palace.”

“There will always be a moment when the Immortal Palace’s mechanism collapses, allowing me to directly intervene!”

Meng Kui never thought of being led by the nose.

In a sense, he has shown leniency, allowing the beast tide to damage the Molten Lava Immortal Palace.

When the Molten Lava Immortal Palace weakens to a certain extent, he can unleash the power of a Nascent Soul and directly interrupt the palace examination, becoming the final winner.

Meng Kui will only act with full force when necessary, and once he truly acts with all his might, it will surely be earth-shattering!

Molten Lava Immortal Palace.

Ning Zhuo held the jade slip “Ice Sculpture Secret Canon” while looking at the small ice sculpture he had just created on the table.

His eyes shone brightly, full of spirit.

“This ice sculpture mechanism book is unique and has its own characteristics.”

“Ice sculptures are carved from a large raw material, formed in one piece, rather than assembled from mechanism parts in the normal sense.”

“To sculpt the desired shape, one needs to be proficient in the carving technique, one of the hundred arts of cultivation.”

“Not just external carving, but more importantly, internal carving.”

“It requires carving all array patterns and talismans on the inner wall of the ice sculpture in a confined space.”

“Speaking of which…”

“This ice sculpture mechanism technique and my Ning family’s ice attribute talismans are a perfect match!”

Ning Zhuo gained quite a bit from studying the “Ice Sculpture Secret Canon” briefly.

This unique mechanism technique greatly broadened his horizons, letting him know that the mechanism techniques he currently mastered are only a small part of what exists in the world.

At the same time, he also sensed Ning Jiufan’s clear intention of nurturing him from this jade slip.

“This Ning family Golden Core ancestor…”

Just as Ning Zhuo was contemplating, a message entered his mind – the second round of the palace examination had officially begun!

In front of Ning Zhuo, a white light erupted, then spread into a circle.

The light circle quickly grew larger, large enough for Ning Zhuo to step into.

Ning Zhuo didn’t hesitate at all, tidied his clothes slightly, then took a step and disappeared from the room. In an instant, he arrived at the plaza again.

On the plaza of the main hall of the Molten Lava Immortal Palace, ten arenas had risen.

Ning Zhuo, like the other nineteen cultivators, appeared directly on the arena.

On the plaza, only the remaining three cultivators were watching with their arms crossed.

It was unclear.

The scene on the arena was blurry and seemed impossible to watch.

New messages continued to enter their minds, letting everyone know the more detailed rules of the competition.

The remaining twenty-three slots would take turns ascending the arena for one-on-one matches. Only when everyone had competed against everyone else would the second round of the palace examination be considered over.

For each win, each person would gain one point. A draw would be zero points, and a loss would be minus one point.

Each arena match had a time limit.

The arena matches would primarily involve confrontations of mechanism constructs! The specific content would slightly change with the change of rounds.

Cultivators were not allowed to attack each other’s main body, violators would be eliminated!

Items from the trial stages could be used directly in the second round of the palace examination.

Finally, the scores would be consolidated to form the ranking of the second round of the palace examination.

The new ranking list would change based on the score ranking, and the bottom ten in the final ranking would be eliminated!