Situ Xing suddenly said, "What do you two think? Will you follow me and establish your own school, or join Brother Ning?"
Lin Jinglong and Shen Xi exchanged a glance, both looking deeply conflicted.
One of them said, "We are both hesitating."
The other continued, "To be honest, this is a significant decision."
Situ Xing was surprised. Lin Jinglong was outwardly slow, but inwardly shrewd, often acting unexpectedly. Shen Xi was always steady, preferring to plan in advance before moving. These two were outstanding individuals; what situation was so plex that made them hesitant?
Situ Xing pondered, "Let me heal for a moment, then I’ll go discuss with Ning Zhuo."
As soon as he spoke, he paused.
He originally thought he was injured, but surprisingly there wasn’t a single wound, and his condition was excellent.
Situ Xing looked at Shen Xi, then at Lin Jinglong: "Was it you who..."
Shen Xi shook his head, Lin Jinglong replied, "Ning Zhuo’s ice wall that trapped you was actually a healing method."
Situ Xing fell silent again.
To think he was actually hindered by a healing method!
Thirty minutes later.
Three Lights Heavenly Dao Cave Mansion.
Situ Xing stood in front of the cave mansion’s entrance, surveying the surroundings. He saw the sunlight pouring down, distant mountains like ink, a sea of clouds surging beneath his feet, giving him the illusion of being above all living things.
Ning Zhuo previously lived in the Bluestone Cave Mansion, but because he wished to avoid suspicion during the Nanming Fire Furnace trial, he vacated early, avoiding various covert attacks.
The day after the Nanming Fire Furnace trial ended, Ning Zhuo rented this cave mansion.
The Three Lights Heavenly Dao Cave Mansion is the only cave mansion at the peak of this mountain, Golden Core Level, with its unique wonders.
Gongsun Yan opened the cave mansion door, inviting Situ Xing: "Young master hasn’t finished his tasks today, Situ, please wait a moment. He instructed me to guide you around the cave mansion. Are you interested?"
Situ Xing nodded, looking around: "It’s my first time inside a Golden Core Level Cave Mansion, I’ll take a look to pass the time."
Gongsun Yan gestured: "This way, please."
The most important facility in the Three Lights Heavenly Dao Cave Mansion is the Three Days Light Refining Array.
It is a vast square, spacious in size.
The dome above hangs like an inverted canopy of the heavens, mostly hollowed out, forming a large circular skylight.
The floor is paved with Heavenly Track Crystal Stones, its array patterns intricate and precise, as if condensing a realm within inches. Among the patterns are thirty-six small circles, which are the array eyes. Cultivators sit here to control the refining array and collaborate in refining.
In the center of the array is a huge sun pillar. Its body is transparent like glass, with golden light flowing inside, constantly absorbing the blazing sun through the skylight.
At the top of the sun pillar sits a moon dial.
The dial’s surface is carved from Cold Jade, and its needle is forged from Lunar Silver. When moonlight spills, the needle gently moves, gathering moonlight.
The dome and walls are adorned with star symbols. The star symbols are numerous and densely packed, arranged in celestial sequences. Hidden during the day, they collect starlight at night.
The sun pillar, moon dial, star symbols, and large array together constitute the Three Days Light Refining Array!
Situ Xing admired the array with genuine praise: "What a refining array, capable of generating Heavenly Fire, aligning perfectly with the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit. Pairing this array with the Nanming Fire Furnace, and enough manpower, producing spiritual pills and elixirs is within reach."
After browsing the refining array, Gongsun Yan led Situ Xing into the Martial Arts Array.
Gongsun Yan set the Jade Slip in place, activating the Martial Arts Array.
Array patterns lit up successively, focusing sunlight, moonlight, and starlight into a cluster of light and shadow. The light and shadow transformed rapidly into a clear human silhouette, indistinguishable from Situ Xing.
Situ Xing’s eye twitched slightly.
Gongsun Yan explained, "This Martial Arts Array uses the Three Days Light to evolve corresponding light shadow illusions based on the intelligence in the Jade Slip, as sparring partners."
"Situ, sometimes battling ’yourself’ provides profound insights."
"Alternatively, I also have an intelligence Jade Slip regarding young master, and you can spar with ’young master’ again in here."
Situ Xing was disinterested in fighting ’himself’, but the opportunity to spar with Ning Zhuo again, even if just an illusion, stirred his excitement.
He was about to speak when Ning Zhuo’s voice suddenly came: "Brother Situ, please e inside for a chat."
Ning Zhuo had finished his tasks for the day and sensed Situ Xing’s arrival, immediately sending a message.
Situ Xing followed the sound, walking through corridors into a study room.
The study was small, furnished simply. A bookshelf stood against the wall with rows of Jade Slips and books. By the window, there was a table with a cup and pot, tea aroma wafting.
Ning Zhuo was seated behind the table, poured two cups of tea as Situ Xing entered, steam rising.
"Brother Situ, please have a seat."
Situ Xing casually sat opposite him, picked up the tea cup, and took a sip.
"Ugh. What terrible tea." Situ Xing instantly frowned, nearly spitting it out but enduring it to maintain the noble family demeanor.
Ning Zhuo smiled, "Just mortal tea. Brother Situ, don’t mind. I’m burdened with huge debts, spending where necessary, saving where not. I’ve also rented this cave mansion, so economizing in small things like tea can’t be wrong."
Situ Xing shook his head, "The Three Lights Heavenly Dao Cave Mansion, truly worthy of a Golden Core Level Cave Mansion, is indeed extraordinary. Though the rent is high, once the Nanming Fire Furnace is repaired, money will flow in, repaying debts won’t be a concern. Even if it’s not immediately repaired, simply having this as a reason can delay Myriad Images Sect, and still attract new creditors, right?"
Situ Xing is a noble son, receiving cultivation since childhood, with political acumen far superior to others.
He is more challenging to negotiate with than someone like Tao Liang, a Golden Core Cultivator.
Exerting all his strength, he could also break through to the Golden Core Level.
Foundation Establishment Peak is just his façade, not his true essence.
Ning Zhuo’s previous Bluestone Cave Mansion was long deemed too small, so he took the opportunity to retire from it after a small trial of the furnace, without any regret. His choice of residence would naturally not be the Evil Slaying Hall, and he would keep a distance from Danxia Peak.
Therefore, buying the Cao Family’s cave mansion was also a wrong choice. Renting a cave mansion was still necessary!
Now, when renting a cave mansion, the primary need is for alchemy. Secondly, it must be spacious enough to acmodate the chef, Qing Chi, and potentially more people in the future. Lastly, the defensive measures must be impressive.
Thus, even though the rent is expensive, Ning Zhuo quickly finalized this place.
Ning Zhuo smiled, took a sip of tea, and remained silent.
Situ Xing secretly gritted his teeth and, with a dry laugh, candidly said, "In the previous battle, I lost."
His tone and expression were both calm, once again displaying the posed demeanor of a noble son.
Ning Zhuo smiled as he set down the teacup, shaking his head slowly, "Brother Situ is too modest. In that battle, I too was at my wit’s end. Do not be deceived by the momentum at that time; in reality, I was already unable to control much. Had you held on a moment longer, victory and defeat would still be uncertain."
These words made Situ Xing, although doubtful, feel somewhat relieved.
He said, "I also reached my limits. Rather than being worn down in exhaustion, it was better to concentrate my remaining strength into one strike, hoping for a chance to turn the tables. Success would mean reversing the qiankun; failure would simply mean lacking skill, with nothing more to say."
"Brother Situ is frank and open." Ning Zhuo praised and discussed the debt between them.
He proposed a solution: once the Nanming Fire Furnace is repaired, it can be used to refine Spirit Pills, aiding Situ Xing’s Divine Sense.
"Paying the debt with elixir pills, is that acceptable?" Ning Zhuo asked Situ Xing.
Situ Xing pondered, "Actually, our debt needs to be divided into two parts. The first part is my personal assets, which I can agree to now. But the second part is funded by my family. I must report to the family first."
"However, they will most likely agree."
After saying this, his Adam’s apple moved as if wanting to express his true request.
But Ning Zhuo spoke first, "Brother Situ, although I was lucky to win, I cannot take the lead."
"Hmm?" Situ Xing raised an eyebrow, "Could it be Shen Xi or Lin Jinglong?"
This is indeed a possible solution.
After all, the Shen Family, Lin Family, and Situ Family are all forces of the same level, so letting one of them act as the leader would not disgrace the family.
However, Ning Zhuo shook his head in the next moment, "Neither of them. The one sitting in this seat must at least be a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator."
Situ Xing was stunned, "What do you mean?"
Ning Zhuo did not answer but asked back, "Brother Situ, what do you think of Flowing Cloud Peak?"
Situ Xing was once again at a loss.
Without waiting for his answer, Ning Zhuo detailed his plan.
Situ Xing was stunned again.
He never expected Ning Zhuo’s vision to be so vast, his courage so bold, and his methods so aggressive and adventurous!
"But wait..."
"Ning Zhuo has the Nanming Fire Furnace, which is the foundation for establishing a sect. With so many creditors, it is indeed a great opportunity."
"Such a cunning strategy and skill!"
Situ Xing thought carefully and found that it indeed had great feasibility.
Situ Xing reassessed Ning Zhuo, feeling as if he truly recognized the person before him.
Ning Zhuo’s plan was far bigger than his previous small group!
Ning Zhuo’s eyes glowed brightly: "At this Feiyun Conference, Brother Situ will surely enter the sect smoothly. But after entering the sect, how your status is, will still require effort."
"If, with such a great opportunity, we unite together and eventually occupy a corner of Flowing Cloud Peak, wouldn’t it mean gaining an additional identity and a large amount of cultivation resources?"
"This would also have a significant positive impact on Brother Situ and the reputation of the Situ Family."
Situ Xing was silent for a moment, suddenly asking, "Could it be the Nine Fire Dragon Lord?"
"This lord has borrowed a lot from the black market, with many debts. Daoist Fellow Ning Zhuo might not know, but behind the scenes of this black market is a big shot. The main body closed-door cultivates for a thousand years, while their Divine Separation oversees the black market business."
Ning Zhuo raised an eyebrow, "Transforming Spirit Level?"
Situ Xing nodded.
Normally, when cultivators reach the Transforming Spirit Level, they can split a Divine Separation from the Primordial Spirit. Divine Separation roots in Divine Skills. This means each Divine Separation at least masters one Divine Skill!
Ning Zhuo said, "Thank you, Brother Situ, for informing me of this matter. The Nine Fire Dragon Lord is indeed possible, but I have also persuaded other Nascent Soul Great Cultivators, each of whom is possible."
"I will announce openly in three days when forming this alliance."
"So, the oute of this matter will be clear in three days."
"At that time, if Brother Situ sees that the Nine Fire Dragon Lord takes the lead, you can leave. If it is another Nascent Soul Cultivator, Brother Situ can declare your joining on the spot, how about it?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)