Ning Zhuo sat cross-legged on the futon, his mind a maelstrom of thoughts, clashing fiercely against each other.

The structural blueprint of Xue Shu Yu Xie was laid bare in his mind.

This was, after all, his own design.

His elevated realms in artifact refining and mechanism techniques, combined with Ling Mo’s lifetime of experience and memories, had significantly boosted Ning Zhuo’s foundational knowledge. He now had even better ideas for the design of Xue Shu Yu Xie!

“When I previously designed this mechanical puppet, the core idea revolved around the inferior Heavenly Aptitude, Snow Soul Ice Spirit, to maximize the utilization of this aptitude within the mechanical body.”

“However, constrained by my limits in ice-attribute arts, artifact refining, and mechanism techniques at the time, this mechanical battle puppet, despite possessing Golden Core stage combat power, was not an excellent design.”

“The ‘Eternal Ice-Forged Body Demonic Art’ will be the second core of my design this time!”

Once the design’s tone was set, a new main material naturally came into Ning Zhuo’s sight: Eternal Ice.

This unique ice crystal from Shuang Hou Gu ranged in quality from Qi Refining stage all the way to Integration stage! Furthermore, it was widely believed in the cultivation world that the deepest parts of Shuang Hou Gu might even harbor Mahayana stage Eternal Ice!

Beyond Mahayana lay transcending tribulation and becoming an immortal, the pinnacle of power in the cultivation world.

This was the prestige of a World Wonder.

Every World Wonder was the top resource production area in the world, the greatest cultivation holy land, but also a place of death.

Around each World Wonder, vast numbers of cultivators often gathered for mining operations.

Most of them could only gather resources on the periphery of the World Wonder throughout their lives. Many also suffered from various illnesses due to prolonged exposure to the principles within, which harmed their bodies.

“I hope the Commercial Hall has Golden Core stage Eternal Ice for sale.” Ning Zhuo estimated, feeling the possibility wasn’t small.

Bei Feng Guo and Fei Yun Guo were almost adjacent, with the buffering zone being the Yin Chao Hei Shi Zhao Di controlled by Bai Zhi Xian Cheng.

After Wen Ruan Yu reported for duty, the entire high-level leadership of Wan Xiang Zong was alerted, seeking an opportunity to exert influence over Bai Zhi Xian Cheng. This was due not only to Bai Zhi Xian Cheng’s own soul path resources but also its immense strategic geographical value.

Even better, Fei Yun Guo could not intervene in this competition.

Once a cultivation nation intervened, it would touch a sensitive nerve, inevitably triggering countermeasures from Bei Feng Guo. A slight oversight could escalate the conflict into a full-blown confrontation between the two nations.

As a super-force, Wan Xiang Zong, however, was entirely capable of intervening as long as it stayed within certain boundaries. Of course, it also needed a legitimate reason and had to strictly control the extent of its intervention.

“Perhaps, I could even try out Nascent Soul stage Eternal Ice?”

After selecting the main material, Ning Zhuo advanced boldly along this line of thought.

“Modify the Eternal Ice to make the new main material a base, carrying the spirituality of the Heavenly Aptitude, Snow Soul Ice Spirit.”

“Snow Soul Ice Spirit can create cold ice. With the help of the base, it cannot create Eternal Ice, but can it replenish it?”

“This is a feasible plan!”

Ning Zhuo didn’t use the Luo Shu for calculations; he simply felt, by intuition, that it would work.

He trusted his feelings.

This feeling was very strong, a physical sensation derived from his body having absorbed the principles of artifact refining.

Ning Zhuo’s ideas flowed smoothly, beginning to unfold.

“The skeletal frame needs to combine both strength and spiritual conductivity—Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart Iron for the bones, and Profound Ice Marrow for the marrow; that’s roughly the direction. The specific choice of similar materials will require testing.”

“The method of body transformation in the ‘Eternal Ice-Forged Body Demonic Art’ has great reference value.”

“Oh, right, I can also refer to the Demonic Contamination Blood Vein Art! How about creating meridians made of ice demonic power?”

“This way, not only can it conduct magical power and support the framework, but the meridian structure itself can also exert and retract force.”

“Good, that’s a brilliant idea.”

Ning Zhuo cheered himself on, a feeling of delight welling up in his heart.

He continued to delve deeper into his thoughts.

Innumerable ideas intertwined, flowing like a river through his spiritual sea, unstoppable.

He retained some of Xue Shu Yu Xie’s old structures, such as the six-sided Profound Ice Armor, and further developed them.

As a result, the main material of the new Xue Shu Yu Xie was completely changed, the method of body construction was greatly improved, and the combat style also changed accordingly.

“The characteristic of Eternal Ice is to absorb sound, accumulate it continuously, and then suddenly erupt when the limit is reached, forming a terrifying sound wave cold current.”

“The six-sided Profound Ice Armor, and the new ice sculpture body, will all have this characteristic—absorbing attacks, accumulating power, breaking limits, and erupting into a sound wave cold current!”

“After the Profound Ice Armor and the ice sculpture body are damaged, new Profound Ice will be created using the Heavenly Aptitude Snow Soul Ice Spirit to replenish themselves.”

“Marvelous, simply marvelous.”

This design combined “destruction” and “rebirth.”

Each powerful attack from the enemy would be accumulating power for the next, even more terrifying explosion!

He could almost see how, on the future battlefield, the new Xue Shu Yu Xie would shatter repeatedly under the enemy’s fierce attacks, and then repeatedly be reborn proudly from the destructive cold current, becoming an inescapable nightmare for all enemies.

The enemies would be caught in an awkward position: attack Xue Shu Yu Xie, and it would accumulate power. Don’t attack, and it would strike them.

“Haha, let the enemies solve this dilemma.”

Ning Zhuo continued his research.

Next, it was the improvement of the mechanical joints. Should the shoulder armor beast head be retained? That remained to be seen. The six mechanical spheres were definitely staying, serving as mid-range attacks and a means to lay out the battlefield.

Various details were continuously refined in Ning Zhuo’s thoughts.

A brand-new design blueprint, first with the framework established, then various details filling in like flesh and blood, each finding its place, interlocking.

At the same time, Ning Zhuo also determined the demand for a large number of precious materials.

He immediately contacted Gongsun Yan, asking him to go out and purchase them.

Gongsun Yan hurriedly left the Qing Shi Dong Fu.

Ning Zhuo’s material demands shocked him: “Young Master actually wants to buy Nascent Soul stage precious materials? What does he want to do? Could it be that he can already handle materials of that level?”

“Although he is a top-tier genius, he is still only a Foundation Establishment cultivator. And merely at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage!”

Gongsun Yan couldn’t understand, but it didn’t stop him from carrying out Ning Zhuo’s orders.

The Commercial Hall was bustling with people.

Gongsun Yan first inquired about the main material.

Upon hearing that it involved Nascent Soul stage precious materials, a manager was immediately summoned.

The manager said: “This is the main mountain gate of Wan Xiang Zong. Other outposts might be dangerous, but the Eternal Ice reserves here are more than sufficient. Not to mention Nascent Soul stage, we even have Soul Transformation stage.”

Gongsun Yan immediately breathed a sigh of relief. With the main material problem solved, he had completed most of Ning Zhuo’s task.

He then inquired about other precious materials; almost all were available.

For the remaining few items, the manager looked troubled: “I’ll check the latest situation for you. We don’t have them in stock, but as you know, there are so many cultivators in our Wan Xiang Zong. Transactions happen every moment, an immense volume.”

“Perhaps there are some precious materials that have just been acquired and not yet registered.”

A check indeed revealed some.

“You’re in luck. This batch of Profound Ice Marrow was just extracted from the Thousand-Year Ice Lake, all of them top-grade. The team of cultivators who carried out this mission just returned, and after completing the handover, someone in the team sold their share.”

“However, the Ice Sha you’re looking for is not available.”

“Perhaps you can try your luck in the black market?”

Gongsun Yan left the Commercial Hall. Almost all the items on Ning Zhuo’s list had been fulfilled, except for the Ice Sha.

Sha, a substance, was always difficult to preserve.

Gongsun Yan followed the Commercial Hall manager’s suggestion and headed to Qian Zao Feng.

Not long ago, Sun Ling Tong had bought the second batch of demonic souls in the black market there.

Gongsun Yan didn’t enter the black market but was drawn by an argument in the market outside.

“Give me my money back, you must give me my money back!”

“This Earth Yin Cold Spring of yours is clearly mixed with Nine Nether Ice Sha, with a strong Sha energy. How can I use it to refine warm jade artifacts?”

But the shopkeeper’s attitude was firm: “Bah, dreaming beautiful dreams!”

“Goods sold are non-refundable and non-exchangeable!”

“Who told you your eyesight was poor and you couldn’t spot the problem?”

“Besides, you wanted to buy Earth Yin Cold Spring, and I sold it to you. Just tell me, is this bottle of water Earth Yin Cold Spring or not!”

The buyer gritted his teeth, finding it difficult to retort for a moment.

Gongsun Yan’s ears twitched: “Nine Nether Ice Sha? This is a top-grade among Ice Sha. If I buy it, I can consider my mission over-fulfilled.”

He immediately approached the dispute, cupped his hands to the buyer, and said, “Greetings, fellow Daoist.”

He expressed his intention to purchase, and after inspecting and confirming the goods, he immediately completed the transaction.

The buyer became the seller, earning a good profit, overjoyed, he taunted the shopkeeper a few times and left with a swagger.

The shopkeeper, however, was not disheartened. Instead, he stopped Gongsun Yan, indicating he had similar goods that had been difficult to sell, and asked Gongsun Yan if he needed them.

Gongsun Yan immediately nodded: “Yes, buy as much as you have!”

Ning Zhuo was rich and powerful, having indicated on the list that some precious materials were to be bought without limit.

Gongsun Yan executed this order quite effectively.

His return and report surprised Ning Zhuo.

The big-headed young man estimated that gathering all these precious materials would take at least seven or eight days, but Gongsun Yan had accomplished it in one go.

Upon closer inquiry, Ning Zhuo learned many details.

“It seems my luck with this purchase was good!”

“The materials are all here; next is to reforge Xue Shu Yu Xie.”

With Yuan Da Sheng and Meng Ye Hu unable to participate in battle, this matter was very necessary.

Ning Zhuo immediately went into seclusion, fully dedicating himself to the urgent task.

At the same time.

In Duanmu Zhang’s Dong Fu, a heated debate was gradually coming to an end.

And the outcome of this debate was about to bring a hurricane-like impact to the Confucian cultivators of Wan Xiang Zong!

Duanmu Zhang’s face was stern: “Heaven’s principles are manifest and exist in all things. ‘The Great Learning’ begins by stating, ‘Those who wish to make their intentions sincere must first extend their knowledge; the extension of knowledge lies in the investigation of things.’ Therefore, the path to becoming a sage lies in extensively reading the books of sages and investigating all matters under heaven.”

“For instance, filial piety requires studying ‘The Classic of Filial Piety’ and observing ancient rituals to know how to practice filial piety. Therefore, seeking knowledge is primary, and respecting virtue comes after. Without investigating things, how can one know principles? Without knowing principles, how can one practice them?”

Zhao Han Sheng calmly responded: “What Master Duanmu says is seeking principles externally, separating the mind and principles into two distinct entities. May I ask, when seeing a child about to fall into a well, why does anyone immediately feel compassion? How many things did you investigate, how many books did you read, to acquire this feeling of compassion?”

Duanmu Zhang fell silent.

Zhao Han Sheng glanced at Chu Xuan Gui, Song Tao Sheng, and Li Guan Yu in the hall, and continued: “The mind is principle. How can there be matters outside the mind, or principles outside the mind in the world? Is filial piety cultivated from the father?

If the principle of filial piety resides in the father, after the father passes away, would my mind then be without the principle of filial piety? No! This principle of filial piety inherently resides in my mind; it manifests as filial acts when encountering the father. Therefore, the way of the sage is self-sufficient in our nature, not to be sought externally. Investigating things externally is like riding a donkey to look for a donkey, always keeping it one step removed.”

Chu Xuan Gui, Song Tao Sheng, and Li Guan Yu were deeply shaken.

Duanmu Zhang snorted: “Even if, as you say, principle is in the mind. But human desires obscure the mind, like a bright mirror covered in dust.

Without extensive learning, how can one wipe the mirror clean and distinguish right from wrong?”

Zhao Han Sheng had been waiting for a long time and immediately said: “Well asked! This is the greatest misunderstanding of the world, separating knowledge and action into two distinct things. I ask you, Master: if a person claims to know how to be filial to their parents, yet abuses them day in and day out, can we say that they truly ‘know filial piety’?”

“If someone ‘knows’ filial piety but does not ‘practice’ it, that is not true knowledge at all; it is merely knowing a few words or terms. True knowledge must lead to action; without action, it cannot be called knowledge. This is ‘the unity of knowledge and action’!”

Duanmu Zhang fell silent once more.

After a long time, he slowly spoke: “This ‘unity of knowledge and action’ sounds easy but is too vague. If everyone only sought their original mind, without reading classics or following rituals, wouldn’t the world descend into chaos? Governing a nation requires precisely these external, unified norms and knowledge!”

Zhao Han Sheng spoke faster: “Master Duanmu, how many years has ‘investigating things and extending knowledge’ been practiced, and has it ever produced a sage of our Confucianism?”

“How many scholars have spent their entire lives studying, speaking eloquently about principles, yet once in office, they become rampant with corruption, and when faced with challenges, they shrink back. Isn’t this clear evidence of a severe disconnect between learning and life, knowledge and action?”

“I completely agree that governing a nation requires norms. But where do these norms come from? Are they formulated out of thin air and imposed upon people?”

“‘The Great Learning’ says: ‘If what one commands is contrary to what one likes, the people will not obey.’ How can an official who does not genuinely have filial piety in his heart teach the people filial piety? How can an official who does not have a good conscience as a guide justly enforce laws?”

“Therefore, one must ‘extend innate knowledge’!”

“One does not need to imitate the words and actions of sages but should work on one’s own original mind like the sages.”

“With the innate knowledge of this mind, one can respond to endless changes!”

The hall was deathly silent.

Chu Xuan Gui, Song Tao Sheng, and Li Guan Yu had completely forgotten their original purpose. Their faces were pale, immersed in deep shock.

Zhao Han Sheng’s new understanding of “investigating things and extending knowledge” was nothing short of an upheaval of their lifelong understanding of Confucianism.

Even a great Confucian like Duanmu Zhang, faced with the fact that “investigating things and extending knowledge for countless years has not produced a single Confucian sage,” had to fall into profound introspection.