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In the presence of Zhou Nongying, Fei Si also went out of his way to court Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo, on the other hand, appeared calm and detached, a stark contrast to his former self.

His attitude naturally pleased Zhou Nongying greatly. She knew this junior, Ning Zhuo, was exceedingly clever and understood the current situation, who was an ally and who was a great enemy.

Currently, the Lava Immortal Palace was owned by the Meng family.

Meng Kui would certainly not let go easily. Given time, relying on the Lava Immortal Palace as a crucial support point, the Meng family would have a nearly perfect reason to continuously send Meng family cultivators to station in Fire Persimmon Immortal City with perfect justification.

Ultimately, this would lead to Fire Persimmon Immortal City being swallowed by the Meng family and becoming a private family city.

Under these circumstances, the Zhou and Ning families naturally had to band together to resist the ambitious Meng family.

Seeing Ning Zhuo’s demeanor, Fei Si did not linger and took his leave early.

Ning Zhuo was polite and accompanied him to the main gate.

Before leaving, Fei Si smiled slightly and mentioned Chi Dun. He said that Chi Dun, the body cultivator, had been obsessed with the Buddha Physician Meng Yaoyin since the beast tide was quelled, having a strong desire for a rematch to regain face and soothe his inner frustration.

Ning Zhuo also smiled slightly. He immediately understood that Fei Si was using Chi Dun to threaten him.

Since that was the case, he would not indulge the other party, simply stating: “This junior is young and frail, but I also have a heart for victory. Since Senior Chi Dun has such refined taste, this junior will certainly accompany him to the end. I only worry… under the Great Snake Scythe, there’s no telling what might happen, leading to Senior Chi Dun’s demise. That would be terrible!”

Fei Si immediately put away his smile, gave Ning Zhuo a cool nod, then turned around and flicked his sleeves as he departed.

Watching his soaring back figure, Ning Zhuo’s gaze was distant. He knew that from this point on, his close relationship with Fei Si was gone, and the two stood on opposing sides.

“Head of the Orphanage, Senior Zhu Hou arrives!” the usher announced loudly again, followed by the recitation of the list of congratulatory gifts Zhu Hou brought.

Many hearts once again trembled greatly!

Although Zhu Hou only had Foundation Establishment cultivation, he came from the royal family of Nando, inherently possessing fame and high status. Especially since the royal family had placed him here, it was no different from planting a nail to observe the situation in the immortal city and minimize Meng Kui’s influence as much as possible.

Ning Zhuo had just turned back from the main gate. Hearing the recitation, he simply turned around and welcomed Zhu Hou with a warm smile.

However, Zhu Hou was different from the others.

He first entered the flowing banquet, immediately causing a stir.

He circulated among the banquet tables, fostering many good connections, before finally leaving his seat to converse with Ning Zhuo and Zhou Nongying.

He represented the Nando royal family this time, seeking to support Ning Zhuo’s branch family and the Zhou family, hoping they could prevent the Meng family’s future encroachment on Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

The three conversed happily, all having strong intentions to cooperate.

After they dispersed, Ning Zhuo returned to the flowing banquet.

After he sat down at the main table, the cultivators who had long been waiting anxiously came forward one after another, actively toasting Ning Zhuo.

The first to come forward were Ning Youfu and Ning Houjun, the two former elders of the branch lineage.

Ning Zhuo was now the branch family head, his status far exceeding that of the two elders.

Ning Youfu showed a clear posture of submission, and Ning Houjun’s posture was even lower, as he had other requests. He hoped that his blood descendants could return to Ning Zhuo’s branch family and have their serious crime of exile revoked.

Ning Zhuo did not agree immediately, but said that a judgment could only be made after investigation.

This simple response already made Ning Houjun’s eyes red and deeply moved.

“In the future branch family, I hope the two elders can serve as pillars of the family, shielding the younger generations from wind and rain for a period of time,” Ning Zhuo actively invited.

Ning Youfu and Ning Houjun exchanged glances and immediately agreed on the spot. Their initial retirement from the position of elders was not entirely out of personal will.

The school elder at the side had a gloomy expression, yet he was powerless and could only helplessly and indignantly watch Ning Zhuo’s branch family openly absorb members from the branch lineage, rapidly expanding and strengthening itself.

Ning Xiangqian and other former deacons also came to Ning Zhuo’s side, earnestly hoping that Ning Zhuo’s branch family could take them all in.

Ning Zhuo said that a list would be announced soon.

After that were Ning Chen, Ning Yong, these classmates and members of the cultivation reform team.

Ning Zhuo encouraged them well. His reputation among this group had always been high, mainly thanks to his previous extensive teaching of experience.

Now, his position as branch family head was solidified, completely surpassing them, further fueling their desire to follow him.

The Monkey Head Gang Leader and the Crane Beak Gang Leader were also present. They sat in the outermost corner.

Despite this, they were so excited that their bodies trembled.

This was something they had longed for before joining Ning Zhuo. As Ning Zhuo’s status rose, they also benefited from it, truly entering the circle of the righteous path.

They personally witnessed Zhou Nongying, Fei Si, Zhu Hou, and others actively coming to congratulate him, and their loyalty to Ning Zhuo immediately increased by a hundredfold.

Chen Cha, Feng Heizi, Bu Gan Bu Jing, and Du Bi Jiang also left their tables one after another and came forward to express their congratulations.

Chen Cha’s expression was complex, filled with emotion: “Ning Zhuo, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I never would have guessed you could achieve this step. Congratulations!!”

Ning Zhuo stood up, shook Chen Cha’s hand, showing an extraordinary closeness that made Feng Heizi, Bu Gan Bu Jing, and Du Bi Jiang envious.

At the banquet, Feng Jiqing boasted to the cultivators at his table.

“Back then, the Ning family head was still alive and asked me to evaluate Ning Zhuo’s mechanical fire monkey.”

“When I saw it, I was simply amazed! Leaving aside other things, just the storage formation was designed just right. If it were me, I’m afraid I would have to choose the void lung of a cloud whale.”

“Hahaha, compared to such a heavenly talent, I am truly too ordinary, not worth mentioning.”

“To be in the same city as Senior Ning Zhuo is already a great honor for me!”

Lava Immortal Palace.

Meng Kui floated slightly, sitting above the circular pit where the throne used to be.

In front of him, a mirror formed by a spell reflected the various scenes of Ning Zhuo’s branch family.

There was only one protagonist in the mirror: Ning Zhuo.

Meng Kui observed the young man in white with deep eyes.

Until the dust settled, he would never believe that he had been defeated by such a junior.

Who would have thought that in this Fire Persimmon Mountain, a small cultivator at the Qi Refining level could disguise and endure for more than a decade, exploding the immortal palace to seize the Lava Immortal Palace, temporarily deceiving all parties?

“Grandfather!” Meng Chong burst through the main hall door and rushed to Meng Kui.

“Is that Ning Zhuo opening his residence today? I want to fight him! I haven’t lost yet!!” Meng Chong shouted loudly, claiming to seek revenge.

Meng Kui snorted coldly and flicked his finger lightly. The strong finger force made Meng Chong shrink his head, cover his forehead with his hand, and yelp in pain.

“Grandfather, why are you hitting me?”

Meng Kui: “I told you to practice diligently and master a few more hundred arts of cultivation, but you never listened.”

“This time, you’ve seen it too?”

“Ning Zhuo, with his mastery of mechanical arts, has left you several streets behind. The mechanical monkey you considered your lifelong great enemy is just one of his mechanical creations. In the end, my position as palace master was even yielded to him!”

“Look at him, he’s only sixteen, just a little older than you.”

“So young, he made your efforts go to waste and separated your soul from your body. So young, he has such skills and such excellent mechanical attainments, and he’s even branching out and starting a family today.”

“Chong’er, learn from geniuses who are better than you!”

Meng Chong was stunned.

His grandfather Meng Kui had always been proud of him. At this moment, he said such words, making Meng Chong feel strangely unfamiliar. One should know that in the past, he, Meng Chong, was the sole protagonist of such words.

Now, Ning Zhuo had successfully pushed him, Meng Chong, aside.

“Alright, Chong’er’s defeat this time is understandable. Even you and I weren’t tricked by that cunning little devil, were we?” Meng Hu revealed his figure.

He walked behind Meng Chong and lifted him up: “I’ll take Chong’er away for now. Although the Three Sects’ Supreme Law is Foundation Establishment of the Three Dan Tian, it focuses on mechanical arts, and the opportunity has been lost, so it’s not suitable for Chong’er.”

“It just so happens that National Master Wu Ting of the Thunder Country is publicly recruiting direct disciples. Chong’er has the immortal potential of the Rushing Thunder, and if he can become the Thunder National Master’s direct disciple, the outcome will be better.”

Meng Kui nodded: “Alright, take him.”

No matter how Meng Chong struggled and shouted, Meng Hu carried him and turned into a rainbow, flying away.

Leaving Meng Kui alone, sighing faintly.

If he could have the complete Three Sects’ Supreme Law, it wouldn’t be a bad option for Meng Chong to stay and continue cultivating.

But there is only one copy of the Three Dharma True Sutra, which is inside the Mechanical Dao Master.

Following the line of soul entering the immortal palace, at most, one could obtain the Three Sects’ Supreme Law at the Qi Refining stage.

The subsequent cultivation methods were hidden within the Dharma Imparting Bell, but cracking this bell was not just difficult for Meng Kui, it was impossible to even start!

Meng Kui, who was well-versed in the profound mysteries of Qi, knew that the Qi of the Lava Immortal Palace had already been obtained by someone else. With one step ahead, every step is ahead. The subsequent Qi would only benefit the person who seized it first, not his Meng Chong.

It would be extremely difficult for Meng Chong to catch up, and he had already lost the first opportunity. Wasting time and not making good progress, it would be better to cut off a limb like a brave warrior, resolutely withdraw, and take another path.

His divine sense spread out, and Meng Kui once again observed the Lava Immortal Palace.

“The losses are too heavy!” He kept shaking his head.

From his heart, he didn’t want to take over this mess.

But there was no other way. Who made the Meng family have a request for the entire Fire Persimmon Immortal City?

And for the Meng family to control Fire Persimmon Immortal City for a long time, the Meng family needed a reason to counter the Nando royal family’s national policy of rotating city lords.

Undoubtedly, the identity of the Lava Immortal Palace Master could help the Meng family achieve this goal.

This was why Meng Kui, a dignified strategist, knowing this was a trap, still went along with Ning Zhuo’s wishes, actively took it over, and bore the burden.

“Rebuilding the entire Lava Immortal Palace will require astonishing expenses. Only by seeking help from the family will it be possible,” Meng Kui, as a Nascent Soul cultivator, could not personally bear the cost of repairing the immortal palace, which shows how enormous the cost of restoring the immortal palace is.

What truly troubled Meng Kui was not the repair problem, but the positions.

The Lava Immortal Palace had various positions. Although the mechanical buildings had fallen, the positions were not canceled along with them.

According to the previous agreement between Meng Kui and Zhu Xuanji, no matter who obtained the position of Immortal Palace Master, these positions would not be liquidated.

Therefore, although Meng Kui was the palace master, a large number of positions under him had fallen to the cultivators of the three families’ cultivation reform teams.

The existence of these people, and their control of many positions in the immortal palace, would undoubtedly greatly reduce the Meng family’s control over the Lava Immortal Palace!

This was also the most important cornerstone of Zhou Nongying and Ning Zhuo’s joint effort to resist the Meng family.

Branch family.

The flowing banquet was nearing its end when suddenly the usher shouted: “Senior Song Fuli arrives!”

Ning Zhuo’s expression tightened slightly, knowing that an unwelcome guest had arrived.

Song Fuli was expressionless, his body straight. He neither brought gifts nor intended to enter the main gate.

He blocked the main gate.