Ning Zhuo quietly returned to his cave abode.

After a brief meeting with Kitchen Elder, Qing Chi, and Gongsun Yan, he immediately plunged into the training array to seclude himself.

His perceptions in many areas were vastly different from before.

The most direct change was in his five senses.

Ning Zhuo frowned slightly, his gaze focused, and his vision instantly became clearer. Distant scenes appeared magnified by half, while nearby objects were almost perfectly defined down to their slightest details.

He took out a stone and, by scrutinizing it closely, could discern the rock’s most minute stratifications. He picked up a wooden stake treasure material, and even if its surface was worn, he could still clearly see the patterns of the annual rings.

He summoned Gongsun Yan and had him use spiritual power to roughly control a Qingzhu Puppet to attack him.

Ning Zhuo, however, closed his eyes, blocked his sense of smell and touch, relying only on hearing.

Once in combat, his hearing immediately sharpened, precisely capturing all information related to the battle from the myriad sounds. The footsteps of the Qingzhu Puppet, the breathing of Gongsun Yan. Ning Zhuo could even sense a hint of curiosity and fighting spirit from Gongsun Yan.

After the Qingzhu Puppet engaged him for a moment, he heard from the sounds of their movements the interlocking rhythm of their internal mechanisms, the hum of spiritual power flowing, and so on. This allowed him to clearly grasp the strengths and weaknesses of these Qingzhu Puppets.

“The sounds captured during combat are due to the principles of the Military Dao benefiting me. Being able to hear the internal sounds of the Qingzhu Puppet is due to the principles of Mechanism Art integrating with me.”

These were abilities Ning Zhuo did not possess before.

He dismissed Gongsun Yan, put away the puppets, and began attempting to refine artifacts.

He activated his spiritual power, forming flames. As he burned wood, he listened carefully, hearing the subtle sound of the flames licking the wood surface, and the crackling sound of the wood.

At a certain point, he suddenly withdrew the flames and examined the wood, instantly realizing that, just as he heard, the roasting was perfectly done!

“From this, it seems that the principles of Artifact Forging have significantly boosted my material processing capabilities, by dozens of times.”

And that was a conservative estimate.

Ning Zhuo’s nostrils flared, and he tasted with his tongue, testing the improvement in his smell and taste.

He could now discern a vast array of subtle scents in the air and, to some extent, trace their origins. That is, follow a scent to its source.

Not to mention his perception of mechanical creations and the like.

His sense of touch also dramatically improved.

Ning Zhuo’s fingertips, brushing lightly over a rock, could clearly perceive its hardness and potential fracture planes.

He used his spiritual power to manipulate mechanical creations with suspended threads, finding that he could control the mechanisms with a subtlety far beyond what was possible before. A slight hook of a finger that used to be a single small action could now be broken down into at least three different detailed layers.

He took out a magic artifact and, simply by caressing it, could perceive the precise state of the array patterns and rune patterns on it, whether they were worn, and to what extent.

After testing his five senses, Ning Zhuo discovered an explosive growth in his perception abilities related to the Military Dao, mechanisms, and artifact forging.

The Military Dao enhanced his practical combat abilities, while mechanisms and artifact forging made him eager to immediately forge a large number of artifacts and create mechanisms.

Inside the array space of the training grounds, Ning Zhuo began to move his body.

He extended his arms and threw punches, flexing his muscles, discovering that when he exerted force, his muscles intertwined like finely tempered steel wires. When not exerting force, they were loose as usual.

His bones had become extremely hard, comparable to some metal treasure materials.

His raw strength hadn’t increased much, but his control over his strength became incredibly precise.

Ning Zhuo tried to grasp a piece of stone treasure material. As he gradually increased his force, he could completely control the extent of the stone’s damage.

His skin was much tougher than before, almost like donning a thin layer of armor, but without any change in weight.

Ning Zhuo used weapons such as swords, sabers, and staffs to try them on himself for a while. He found that he had a stronger resistance to piercing and cutting damage.

Click.

With just a slight flick of his arm, Ning Zhuo dislocated it.

Then, with gentle force, he retracted it.

Click.

The dislocation disappeared.

Ning Zhuo moved his limbs, performing various actions, and found that his control over his body had reached an unprecedented level.

“I feel like I’ve become a mechanical puppet myself. My joints are sturdy yet flexible, and every movement can be broken down and executed with extreme precision.”

He subjected himself to fire, frost, electricity, and wind blades—

“Indeed.”

“My physical body has gained great resistance to attacks involving the Five Elements and so on, increasing by at least seventy times compared to before.”

He activated the Shou Zhuo Wheel Slash Array and indeed found its manipulation to be hundreds of times easier than it was in Xuankui Cave.

After practicing for a while, inspiration surged in his sea of consciousness, allowing him to see many shortcomings in this battle formation and realize that it could be significantly improved.

Sun Lingtong had been observing Ning Zhuo through the Human Life Suspended Threads.

Much of the worry in his heart dissipated, and he exclaimed, “Xiao Zhuo, your physical body holds great secrets, it’s highly unusual!

With so many principles integrated, yet no conflicts whatsoever, this is simply a miracle.”

“Do you know what this means?”

Ning Zhuo nodded slightly: “I understand.”

Cultivators invariably have principles integrated into them during their practice.

For instance, a cultivator practicing a Wood Element cultivation method will absorb Wood Element spiritual power, circulating it constantly inside and outside their body along a certain path. While increasing their total spiritual power, the relevant principles of the Wood Element are gradually, bit by bit, imprinted upon them.

Whichever cultivation method one practices, the corresponding principles will be integrated.

Once integrated, the cultivator will gain insight into that aspect’s principles. Even if their original悟性 (wùxìng, comprehension) was poor, they will possess excellent comprehension due to their affinity.

To become something often means to understand it better.

Cultivators cannot arbitrarily practice multiple cultivation methods simultaneously.

On one hand, the foundation of cultivation methods lies in the three Dantian, with a maximum of three. On the other hand, different cultivation methods modify the cultivator’s physical body and soul differently, with different directions and effects.

Many times, these effects cancel each other out. For example, a soft technique and a hard technique. Sometimes, the effects of cultivation can even conflict, causing harm to the cultivator. For example, a cultivator simultaneously practicing a Fire Element and a Water Element cultivation method would usually result in a severe backlash of “fire and water incompatibility.”

Therefore, the Three Sect’s Supreme Arts are among the top cultivation methods in the world. This is because these three methods focus on the three Dantian, and their cultivation processes do not conflict.

“I cannot cultivate a fourth method simultaneously,” Ning Zhuo had learned a profound lesson on this point.

That was when he unconsciously cultivated the Tian Sheng Di Yang Tai Xi Da Fa (Heavenly Born, Earth Nurtured Fetal Breath Great Method) on his way to Qianfeng Forest, which resulted in a backlash.

“But I can use other methods to add principles to my physical body and soul, accumulating foundation!”

The three primary cultivation methods Ning Zhuo practiced did not offer much help to his physical body, but the Tian Sheng Di Yang Tai Xi Da Fa could. Ning Zhuo couldn’t cultivate it directly, but he could use the Tai Xi Ling Ge (Fetal Breath Spiritual Vessel) to assist himself.

So, even if he didn’t cultivate it, he could still gain the relevant principles.

“To some extent, the Tai Xi Ling Ge, the Shi Zhu Di Bao (Stone-Cast Earth Treasure), and the Shu Yu Ting (Rinsing Jade Pavilion) are similar. These three are a magic treasure, a divine ability, and a cave abode, respectively. They seem different, but they all imbue principles into other things,” Ning Zhuo realized.

The Tai Xi Ling Ge can enhance a cultivator’s physical foundation.

The Shi Zhu Di Bao can turn ordinary objects into earth treasures.

The Shu Yu Ting is similar, imbuing principles into stones to improve their quality, forming various types of beautiful jade.

Thinking of this, Ning Zhuo conjectured: “Being able to bear different principles means I can use any means under heaven to bolster myself and accumulate foundation.”

“Of course, there should be limits to this as well.”

“Could this be due to my Immortal Aptitude?”

Sun Lingtong pondered, “When we were at the Wan Yao Men (Myriad Medicine Sect), the Five Element Divine Lord specifically warned you not to investigate your Immortal Aptitude, as it would be detrimental to you.”

“Since he has already imparted the Five Element True Intent to you, he should not mean to harm you.”

“Xiao Zhuo, instead of investigating your Immortal Aptitude, you should focus on the current Feiyun Grand Assembly. Opportunities abound here!”

Ning Zhuo nodded, fully agreeing with Sun Lingtong’s perspective.

After the trial in Xuankui Cave, Ning Zhuo’s path of cultivation took on a completely new vista.

“I’ve made great progress in the Military Dao; I should be able to fully comprehend the Zhuang Shi Fu Huan Shu (Valiant Warrior Return Technique). Then, by using Jiang Shi Tong Kui (Warrior’s Shared Helmet) and Gao Sheng Yi Shu (Gao Sheng’s Last Will), I can acquire a second military battle formation.”

“I’ve become a Grandmaster of Mechanisms. Can the difficult ailments of Yuan Dasheng, Meng Yehu, and even my mother now be resolved?”

“In artifact forging, I’ve also become a renowned master. This is one of the Four Great Arts of cultivation, providing a comprehensive and fundamental boost to my cultivation of Mechanism Art and other crafts!”

“Even better, this reward is known only to me and Qing Wu Jun, with the outside world completely unaware.”

“If it were exposed, I’m afraid it would stir up a storm of public opinion!”

“Currently, what’s spreading my fame is merely that I won first place and defeated Ban Ji for the second time.”

“Ban Ji—”

Thinking of this opponent, Ning Zhuo’s eyes glinted with sharp light.

“It would be best to find out Ban Ji’s new movements.”

“This person and I seem quite fated. How do I feel that I can gain more from him?”

Just as Ning Zhuo was making his plans, a jade slip arrived at his cave abode, landing in his hand.

Ning Zhuo swept his spiritual sense over it, showing surprise: “Oh? Situ Xing and Zhu Fenxiang’s duel has already concluded, Situ Xing was heavily injured and defeated, and Zhu Fenxiang also suffered considerable injuries!”

“Excellent, once this battle result is out, the attention of the cultivators will immediately shift from me to the two of them.”

“Especially Zhu Fenxiang.”

Ning Zhuo picked up the jade slip: “I want to see the scene of this battle.”

Others couldn’t view the specific combat scenes, but Ning Zhuo was friends with Shen Xi and Lin Jinglong.

The two of them were present and secretly recorded the battle using spells.

This jade slip came from Shen Xi.

He proactively transmitted this information to Ning Zhuo also to help Ning Zhuo better guard against Situ Xing.

As Ning Zhuo’s spiritual power and divine sense infused into the jade slip, the battle scene involving Situ Xing and Zhu Fenxiang emerged in the high sky of Ning Zhuo’s sea of consciousness.

“Zhu Fenxiang, challenging me was your biggest mistake!” Situ Xing rebuked, and the space behind him rippled, revealing seven dazzling sword lights.

The sword lights encircled Situ Xing, immediately forming a Big Dipper Seven Luminaries Sword Array. The sword lights shone brightly, displaying deep blue starlight.

Zhu Fenxiang’s yellow robe fluttered, his hands rapidly forming seals, while he chanted ancient divine words.

Divine Summoning Art—Northern Xuanwu!

Divine light soared into the sky, instantly coalescing into a several-zhang-tall Xuanwu divine body. Its tortoise shell was vast and as hard as rock.

The snake head reared up, its gaze fixed on the Big Dipper Seven Luminaries Sword Array.

A sharp glint flashed in Situ Xing’s eyes, and he attacked first.

He pointed a finger, and the dual-star sword lights representing Tianxuan and Tianji in the Big Dipper Sword Array suddenly blazed brightly, shooting out sharply, piercing the air with a shrill whistling sound, striking towards the Xuanwu divine body.

The sword light and the Xuanwu divine body fiercely collided. Sword lights, starlight, and divine light splattered madly, and space twisted violently.

The Xuanwu divine body trembled intensely, cracks appearing on its tortoise shell, and the Xuanwu divine body was forced back several steps.

Zhu Fenxiang’s face paled slightly, and he again used the Divine Summoning Art.

The next moment, a giant divine body appeared on the battlefield, none other than the Ju Ling Shen (Giant Spirit God).

The Ju Ling Shen primarily attacked, while the Northern Xuanwu primarily defended, resisting Situ Xing’s onslaught.

Situ Xing was surrounded by seven sword lights, forming a battle array that was both offensive and defensive.

He didn’t engage in head-on clashes but instead attacked from various directions, leading to a stalemate.

Ning Zhuo watched the two exchange blows, sighing in his heart: “Northern Xuanwu and Ju Ling Shen are both bodies conjured from nothing, yet they both possess Golden Core level combat power.”

“Situ Xing’s Big Dipper Seven Luminaries Sword Array, once formed, can fight evenly with a Golden Core cultivator.”

Situ Xing and Zhu Fenxiang were both at the peak of Foundation Establishment, possessing profound accumulations and exceptional cultivation talents, thus both capable of Golden Core level combat power.

In just the first round of engagement, both revealed their true combat strength.

Ning Zhuo was not surprised in the slightest.

Every time the Feiyun Grand Assembly was held, it brought fame to the Wanxiang Sect within the Feiyun nation. At the same time, it also attracted outsiders to join, with very generous terms.

Among such a vast crowd, those geniuses who could stand out must be renowned or at least somewhat famous within a nation.

Their combat power being comparable to that of Golden Core cultivators was not surprising.

Zhu Fenxiang clapped his hands and again used the Divine Summoning Art, summoning a Martial God.

The three deities, controlling their temporary divine bodies, surrounded Situ Xing, making him scurry about.

Situ Xing gradually fell into a disadvantage, eager to turn the tide, but each time the outcome was vastly different from his expectations.

“Urgh!” Situ Xing roared like a beast, his eyes bloodshot.

He pushed his two-handed sword art to the extreme, his inner True Essence along with his vital blood burning wildly! The Yaoguang star position in the Big Dipper Sword Array erupted with unprecedentedly tragic light, and the lights of the other six stars were also forcibly drawn and gathered, combining to form a condensed sword light like an infant’s forearm.

The sword light, carrying Situ Xing’s hopes, shot through the air, piercing the Northern Xuanwu, and clashing with the Martial God, locked in an inextricable struggle.

Meanwhile, the Ju Ling Shen was freed up and attacked Situ Xing directly.

Situ Xing retreated repeatedly, barely maintaining the situation with his sword array.

However, this did not last long. The Ju Ling Shen seized the opportunity, unleashed a divine ability, and destroyed the sword array.

Once the sword array was gone, the seven sword lights around Situ Xing reverted to their original forms.

His face turned ashen, and he had no choice but to reveal a trump card early.

With the trump card revealed, the tide of the battle instantly turned.

But if Situ Xing had such a trump card, Zhu Fenxiang, who personally came to fight, naturally also had a corresponding trump card.