“Brother Ningzhuo, I am here!” Zheng Jian boomed with laughter, spotting Ningzhuo descend from the carriage. He strode forward, closing the distance in a few paces.

Ningzhuo hastily clasped his hands in greeting, “Brother Zheng.”

“No need for such formalities!” Zheng Jian seized Ningzhuo’s arm, preventing further bows. “Come, let us ascend to the second floor.”

Behind them, Ning Xiaohui slowly descended, her foot resting on the back of a family servant.

Seeing Zheng Jian pulling Ningzhuo away, completely ignoring her presence, a layer of frost settled upon her face.

Since their successful exploration of the Immortal Palace, Ningzhuo’s value had become undeniably clear to the three families’ leadership, his status soaring swiftly.

Ning Xiaoren, seeking to further secure Ningzhuo’s loyalty, accelerated the fabrication of evidence, framing Ning Ze.

It was well known that Ning Ze had served Ning Xiaoren for many years, deserving at least some consideration for his efforts, if not meritorious service.

Ning Xiaoren’s actions disgusted Ningzhuo in secret, and made him wary.

Ningzhuo and Zheng Jian walked arm in arm, entering a courtyard.

The plaque above the courtyard gate bore three large characters: “Benevolent Orphanage.”

The orphanage teemed with people, engaged in lively conversation, all discussing the name Li Leifeng.

Li Leifeng had finally reached the end of his lifespan. In accordance with his will, the Benevolent Orphanage was preparing a bequest convention to distribute his belongings.

“I never thought that Old Li would eventually leave us. I grew up watching Old Li’s puppet shows,” Zheng Jian sighed.

Ningzhuo also lamented, “Old Li was a respectable man. Since taking charge of the orphanage, he has rescued countless orphans and stray children.”

Zheng Jian patted Ningzhuo on the back. “Old Li’s passing is a happy one – he died of old age! Just look at how many people have come today; it shows Old Li’s reputation. His life was absolutely worthwhile!”

Ningzhuo nodded slightly, falling silent.

The vast majority of the crowd converged upon a five-story pavilion.

The bequest convention would be held here.

Ningzhuo and the others entered the building.

The pavilion was built in a U shape.

Ascending the stairs to a private room on the second floor, Ningzhuo found the Zhou brothers.

“Come, take a seat.”

“The food served by the Benevolent Orphanage still has that old taste, evoking memories.”

“Indeed. I remember I loved watching puppet shows when I was little. That room across from us was my regular spot.”

“I preferred to lean on the railings and watch the show as a child.”

Ningzhuo remained silent, his gaze falling upon a corner of the hall.

As a child, he would often sneak in, taking advantage of the ticket collectors’ inattention. He would shrink into the corner or behind a pillar, where he could not only watch the show but also, sometimes, after the performance, scavenge leftover pastries or fruits that the guests had left behind.

Although Ningzhuo possessed early wisdom, he also had a playful heart.

His aunt and uncle were cruel, and Ning Ji would often eat snacks in front of him without sharing even a single sweet fruit.

The child Ningzhuo would also crave such things.

He remembered once being caught, consumed with fear, when Li Leifeng approached him, stroked his head, took his hand, and led him backstage, giving him his untouched portion of pastries and fruit.

People around them came and went, seeing this scene without surprise, casting kind glances toward Ningzhuo.

Ningzhuo could not recall the specific details clearly.

In his memory, the entire experience was bathed in a gentle light, filling him with a warm current whenever he recalled it.

This was why, when Li Leifeng passed away, almost the entire city came to mourn him. The cultivators participating in this bequest convention were all figures of importance.

“Now that Li Leifeng is gone, what will become of the Benevolent Orphanage?”

“It is said that the next director has yet to be decided.”

“I know the reason. Li Leifeng asked Zhu Xuanji to have the Divine Constable find a successor.”

Zheng Jian and Zhou Zeshen exchanged information casually, revealing valuable intelligence.

Ningzhuo secretly committed it to memory.

“By the way, how is your soul recuperation going?”

“Almost fully recovered.”

“Mine is about the same.”

“When shall we explore the Molten Lava Immortal Palace again?”

As they asked, everyone’s eyes unconsciously turned toward Ningzhuo.

Last time, it was Ningzhuo’s contributions that had allowed them to make a qualitative breakthrough.

Ningzhuo, however, was reluctant. He had already acquired the cultivation method and had been diligently practicing it every day recently.

Of course, the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art and the Demon-tainted Blood Tendon Skill were impossible to cultivate. The fourth to sixth layers of these techniques had significant differences in their aura compared to the first three.

But the Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Skill could be practiced.

All movements were suppressed and completely contained by the Treasure Seal. This caused Ningzhuo to often appear lost in thought, while secretly practicing the soul refining technique.

Ningzhuo said, “I can’t think of any solutions for the time being. If we continue exploring the Immortal Palace, we might repeat our mistakes and fall into that dark trap again.”

Zheng Jian and the others shuddered inwardly.

Falling into that trap last time had been a torment, leaving them unable to live or die, unable to hear, see, or touch, forced to endure until their soul power reached its limit before finally being ejected from the Immortal Palace.

This nightmarish experience made them never want to go through it again.

“Have you not thought of any good solutions during this time?” Zheng Jian asked.

Ningzhuo shook his head.

Zhou Zhu sighed.

Zhou Zeshen boosted their morale, “I am almost at the peak of the third layer. When I reach it, we will set off together and explore the Molten Lava Immortal Palace again.”

Everyone nodded, reaching an agreement.

At this moment, the bequest convention officially began.

Various items from Li Leifeng’s life were publicly displayed for people to choose from.

Whoever selected an item could take it directly – that was the donation.

Some low-level cultivators were overjoyed with their choices, finding great value in them.

Some families or powerful cultivators also took items, usually insignificant things. They would often donate a large sum of spirit stones or materials to the Benevolent Orphanage in return.

Zhou Zeshen suddenly let out a soft exclamation, reaching out with his hand, forming an invisible force that retrieved a piece of mechanical wooden board and brought it to the second floor.

He took it, played with it for a moment, and then chuckled, “It really is this.”
“I remember when I was a child, my father brought me here, and I wouldn’t stop crying. Old Man Li took out this toy to cheer me up,” Zhou Zeshen said with a touch of nostalgia.

“This mechanical toy is extremely intricate. We need to shift and rearrange the pieces to reveal various patterns, each containing a sliver of information.”

“Ultimately, piecing together all these fragmented clues will form a tale of immortals and gods,” he explained.

With that, Zhou Zeshen handed the contraption to Zheng Jian beside him.

Zheng Jian played with it for a while but quickly lost interest, passing it on to someone else.

Zhou Zhu took it, asking curiously, “Did you ever manage to decipher the complete legend?”

“Of course,” Zhou Zeshen replied, “It took me an entire summer. But the resulting myth was only a fragment, which infuriated me to no end.”

“Nevertheless, I meticulously transcribed the story onto a jade slip, which I carry with me at all times.”

“Because of this experience, I cultivated a great deal of patience. Whenever I feel agitated, I take out this jade slip and run my fingers over it a few times, and it quickly calms my mind.”

As he spoke, Zhou Zeshen retrieved the jade slip and passed it around for everyone to examine.

Ning Zhuo toyed with the mechanical puzzle and then studied the jade slip containing the story.

The jade slip chronicled the following legend of immortals and gods.

The tale spoke of a Supreme Sage Immortal traversing the void, growing weary from his journey.

He withdrew his Bag of Primordial Chaos, grasped the opening, and prepared to shake it fifty times. However, after forty-nine shakes, he was too exhausted to continue. He released the bag, and it disgorged a mechanical world.

Within this clockwork realm, the heavens and earth tilted haphazardly, water and earth were mixed, and smoke and fire filled the air.

The Supreme Sage Immortal then plucked the head of his Five Elements Staff and tossed it into the mechanical world, setting the Five Elements in motion. Thus, the sky ascended, the earth descended, oceans spread, and rivers flowed, bringing order to the chaos.

The Supreme Sage Immortal entered the mechanical world to rest. Desiring attendants, he used three thousand threads, flicking them three times.

The first flick of the threads landed on immortal energy, creating an Immortal Automaton.

The second flick caught on demonic energy, giving rise to a Demonic Automaton.

The third flick struck divine energy, resulting in a Divine Automaton.

The three automatons served the Supreme Sage Immortal with utmost care.

When the Supreme Sage Immortal had rested enough, he resumed his journey. As he prepared to leave the mechanical world, the three automatons begged to accompany him.

All three yearned to follow the Supreme Sage Immortal.

But the Supreme Sage Immortal told them that while he wished he could, it was impossible.

Forcibly taking them would only lead to their demise.

The three automatons refused to believe him.

The Supreme Sage Immortal then instructed them, “Behold the threads that bind you.”

The three automatons fell into a daze.

The Immortal Automaton saw that its threads were woven from ideals, wisdom, freedom, and betrayal…

The Demonic Automaton witnessed its threads as made of power, chaos, and carnal desires…

The Divine Automaton observed its threads as formed by principles, order, and justice…

In that instant, Ning Zhuo’s mind was profoundly stirred!

He suddenly thought of himself.

He thought of all the history books he had devoured, the figures within those pages, and the countless times he had contemplated their thoughts and choices at crucial moments.

As he had grown older, he had come to realize that these people, regardless of their strength, were all guided by unseen forces!

He thought of Yuan Dasheng.

Although Yuan Dasheng was powerful, a thread of loyalty and righteousness firmly bound him. Was it not by grasping this thread that Ning Zhuo had been able to plot against him?

He also thought of his Grand Uncle Ning Ze, and Ning Xiaoren. Threads bound them as well.

He thought of Han Ming. Even demonic cultivators were bound by threads called greed.

“If I can grasp these threads, I can control them as if they were mechanical puppets. Isn’t that right?”

“Then…”

“Are there threads binding me as well?”

The thought sent a chill down Ning Zhuo’s spine!

He slowly raised his head.

Slowly raised his head…

In a fleeting moment, he saw it.

He saw a colossal thread, almost entirely transparent. It was—Life Hanging by a Thread!

At that moment, a nascent shoot sprouted from the Illusionary Truth Lotus Seed within his spiritual sea.

Within the Lava Immortal Palace…

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit awoke from its slumber, startled. It pressed its chest, perplexed by a sense of dread that arose from nowhere.

The thread of Life Hanging by a Thread vanished from Ning Zhuo’s sight, never to be seen again.

Ning Zhuo lowered his head, his face expressionless.

“A rather interesting little tale,” Ning Zhuo said with a smile, returning the jade slip to Zhou Zeshen.

“Indeed, it has a certain charm,” Zhou Zeshen replied, taking the jade slip back without a second thought.

He would never have imagined the immense opportunity his casual gesture had bestowed upon Ning Zhuo!