Chapter 184

Unlike Ning Zhuo had already possessed the "Fire Cremation Prajna Spirit-Resolving Scripture" for some time.

Judging solely from the title of the scripture, the general meaning was: through the purification of fire, sentient beings are liberated from worldly constraints, extracting the spiritual nature of Prajna.

The Fire Cremation Prajna Spirit-Resolving Scripture indeed possessed exactly this power.

Unlike Ning Zhuo had once relied on it to enhance and supplement Yuan Dasheng's spiritual nature, reaching ten parts and forming a qualitative change. From that moment on, Yuan Dasheng was full of spiritual nature and could recover on his own.

At that time, Unlike Ning Zhuo used the Fire Cremation Prajna Spirit-Resolving Scripture only to add spiritual nature to Yuan Dasheng.

Now, having unexpectedly grasped the deeper connotations of the Fire Cremation Scripture, he immediately knew that he had also made huge progress in mechanism arts!

He released more floating clouds and immediately tried his hand for the first time within the clouds.

He succeeded on the first try!

Unlike Ning Zhuo obtained a mechanical long whip, which was like a snake, capable of slithering on the ground by itself.

However, after slithering for a while, the long whip stopped moving, as if it were dead.

It was not that the magic power within the mechanical long whip was exhausted—it still had plenty. Rather, the spiritual nature Unlike Ning Zhuo had refined was used up!

Unlike Ning Zhuo then tried a few more times.

There were successes and failures.

Overall, failures occupied the majority, and successes were relatively rare.

This allowed Unlike Ning Zhuo to see his own limits clearly.

He secretly assessed: "So far, although I can make some mechanisms with spiritual charm, the spiritual charm is quite thin."

"The more complete the mechanism, the higher the probability of failure, and the shorter the time the spiritual nature can support it."

"But if I only make mechanism parts, or even mechanism accessories, the time supported by the spiritual nature is significantly lengthened."

"I should invest in higher-end raw materials."

"No, it's not just that."

"I need a lot of practice."

"My understanding and mastery of the Fire Cremation Prajna Spirit-Resolving Scripture also have huge room for improvement!"

This unexpected progress made Unlike Ning Zhuo feel very excited.

Because he only needed to master this spell to maturity, he would be able to tinker with spirit-imbued mechanisms in the preparation room after his soul entered the Xian Gong.

As for raw materials, he could use the various demonic beasts and spiritual intelligences in the coffin room behind the Buddhist gate.

In any case, with the Buddha Heart Demon Seal, Unlike Ning Zhuo could move freely in the Magma Xian Gong.

"All along, when my soul entered the Xian Gong, I have been troubled by the inability to bring in resources from the outside world."

"The only ones that can enter and exit freely are the Golden Blood Battle Ape, Dasheng, and the Nether Envoy, Qi Bai."

Because Qi Bai's spiritual nature was about to be exhausted, Unlike Ning Zhuo had no choice but to shelve him.

Relying solely on Yuan Dasheng, a single mechanical creation, it was already difficult to resist the increasing number of trial disciples. Among them, especially Meng Chong, the threat he posed was growing larger.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's control over the trial levels of the Magma Xian Gong was rapidly declining!

Now, relying on the Fire Cremation Prajna Spirit-Resolving Scripture, Unlike Ning Zhuo had new hope of returning to his previous level of control.

Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian both came to report to Unlike Ning Zhuo.

This batch of Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Ning family had been guarding the black market for several days.

They had successively captured quite a few cultivators who were causing trouble in the black market, engaging in open warfare, or deceiving people in a very malicious manner.

Unlike Ning Zhuo carefully examined the jade slip, and after a moment, said: "Interrogate these people and ask about their backgrounds."

"These people have committed lesser offenses; once they have paid their ransoms, they can leave."

"Keep this last part and transfer them to Lord Seeing Fei Si of the City Lord's Mansion. He will like them."

Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian immediately looked, and both discovered: the cultivators to be transferred to Flying Silk were all wanted criminals, listed on the Nandou Kingdom's wanted list.

Ning Xiangqian frowned: "Should we transport them secretly?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo shook his head: "There is no need for that. We have done a great good deed, shouldn't we publicize it widely?"

Ning Xiangguo and Ning Xiangqian looked at each other, both realizing: Ning Zhuo had already reached some private agreement with Flying Silk!

Sure enough, when Seeing Fei Si received these captive wanted criminals, his heart was filled with joy.

For him, these were all political achievements!

"It was not in vain that I took the initiative to lower my share to thirty percent."

"Unlike Ning Zhuo, you are very understanding."

"I did not misjudge you; on this point, even the former Sun Lingtong was not as sensible as you."

Seeing Fei Si sighed in admiration in his heart.

He thought for a moment and took the initiative to write a letter, letting Ning Xiangguo take it back.

Unlike Ning Zhuo unfolded the letter and saw that it was a visiting card; Seeing Fei Si was asking to see Lord Shu Zhongjun on Unlike Ning Zhuo's behalf.

Lord Shu Zhongjun was a Golden Core cultivator from the All-Book Tower.

The All-Book Tower was a super sect, and in terms of scale, it was much larger than the Soul-Devouring Sect or the Non-Empty Gate.

The first Tower Master who founded the All-Book Tower, feeling that there were too many people in the cultivation world who cherished their own brooms, had suffered in his early years of cultivation from being unable to find suitable excellent techniques, which delayed him for many days and led him down many wrong paths.

Therefore, after achieving success in his cultivation, he vowed to collect as many types of cultivation techniques, spells, etc., as possible.

Since its founding, the All-Book Tower had always strictly adhered to neutrality. They profited by selling techniques, spells, or other classics, and then used the profits to acquire more techniques, spells, etc.

Unlike Ning Zhuo immediately realized—Seeing Fei Si writing this visiting card for him was a subtle little favor, indicating the gratitude Seeing Fei Si could not state directly.

Unlike Ning Zhuo set off immediately.

Not long after, with the help of the visiting card, he met Lord Shu Zhongjun.

Lord Shu Zhongjun was a Golden Core cultivator; purely for Seeing Fei Si's sake, he personally received Unlike Ning Zhuo, asked a question or two, gave Unlike Ning Zhuo an identity token, and let the latter leave.

Holding the identity token, Unlike Ning Zhuo went to find the shopkeeper responsible for selling books.

Although the branch of the All-Book Tower in Fire Persimmon Immortal City had not yet been built, the identity token Unlike Ning Zhuo held gave him the right to have special matters handled specially.

The shopkeeper asked him: what books he wanted to buy.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was not in a hurry, asking the other party if they were willing to acquire the first three layers of the Five-Element Qi Law.

As a result, the shopkeeper told him: the All-Book Tower had already collected more than two hundred copies of the first three layers of the technique and had even passed them on to other stations, letting the great cultivators in the stations compare and modify them, eventually completing a more universal and concise technique.

Unlike Ning Zhuo marveled in his heart at the All-Book Tower's wealth and ability to act.

He then showed the shopkeeper spells like the Ice-Holding Art.

This immediately made the shopkeeper's eyes light up.

After all, when the Dharma-Transmitting Bell transmitted the technique, the whole city knew about it. Therefore, it became very easy for the All-Book Tower to collect the first three layers of techniques from the city's residents.

And spells like the Ice-Holding Art were only mastered by the Qi Condensation geniuses of the four major forces and the members of the reform teams.

These people were too few.

A moment later, the shopkeeper evaluated these spells and gave Unlike Ning Zhuo a price.

"There are usually two ways to trade classics in my All-Book Tower."

"The first is trading with spirit stones."

"The second is exchanging for corresponding Tower Gold."

Unlike Ning Zhuo did not hesitate: "I choose Tower Gold."

Tower Gold was the All-Book Tower's own currency, which had no physical form and was just a digital record.

Trading with spirit stones was not cost-effective. Trading with Tower Gold could exchange for more classics.

The All-Book Tower deliberately set up these two trading methods, mainly to make comparisons, highlight the superiority of Tower Gold, and encourage more people to use Tower Gold for trading.

Unlike Ning Zhuo sold the Ice-Holding Art, Fire-Grasping Art, etc., and possessed his first sum of Tower Gold.

He did not keep it either, asking the shopkeeper what good books could be exchanged.

The shopkeeper replied: "Young Master Unlike Ning Zhuo, our All-Book Tower encompasses everything. Although your Tower Gold is not much, you can exchange it for thousands of books; what exactly do you want?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo thought for a moment; he had his main cultivation technique, and he had more spells than he had time to practice, especially the Five-Element Mutual Generation and Restraint Art.

"What mechanism classics can I exchange for?"

As a result, in the process of choosing, Unlike Ning Zhuo took a fancy to other books.

In the end, he bought a copy of "Record of Clouds Falling to the End of the World."

This book was a travelogue, the author's name was unknown, and he called himself Falling Cloud.

There were many mechanism classics, but this book was quite rare, involving classics about fate.

"I have the mechanism classics left by my mother, and the content is very excellent. According to my current Tower Gold, it is basically impossible to exchange for something at the same level as my mother's relics."

"Some classics will be helpful to me, but it is difficult for me to filter them out."

"It's better to look at content related to fate."

"Human Life Hanging by a Thread involves fate; perhaps it will be helpful for me to comprehend the complete divine ability."

Unlike Ning Zhuo had a premonition: once the prototype of the Human Life Hanging by a Thread divine ability broke through, he would have a terrifying improvement!

By then, he would only be at the Qi Condensation stage, yet he would be able to master a divine ability.

The vast majority of Golden Core cultivators found it difficult to do such a thing.

The Human Life Hanging by a Thread divine ability would become a powerful trump card for him!

Unlike Ning Zhuo boarded the carriage with "Record of Clouds Falling to the End of the World" and read it all the way, but the lotus of the divine ability prototype did not tremble in the slightest.

Unlike Ning Zhuo had already read thirty percent of "Record of Clouds Falling to the End of the World," and a story in the first part left the deepest impression on Unlike Ning Zhuo.

In the story, it was said that a villager rescued Falling Cloud, who was about to die of thirst and hunger.

To thank him, Falling Cloud offered to perform a ritual for the villager to change his luck, thereby allowing him to enjoy human wealth.

The villager did not believe him. The reason was simple: Falling Cloud was too disheveled and was rescued by the villager, so what ability could he have?

Falling Cloud introduced himself: I am a person of the Idle Cloud Dao, rising against heaven to fall into the mortal world. I once cultivated in the Heavenly Track Mansion, and now I run across the four seas with bad luck.

Facing Falling Cloud, who displayed his demeanor, the villager reluctantly agreed.

The villager followed Falling Cloud's requirements, purchasing vigorously and arranging everything one by one.

In the end, the ritual was completed, and the villager's wealth grew from then on; after half a year, he became very wealthy.

Before leaving, Falling Cloud told the villager: First, this wealth luck can last for twelve years, so grasp it well. Second, after you become a rich man, you must not have a shred of kindness; if you see anyone, no matter how difficult, down-and-out, or pitiful they are, do not save them, otherwise, you will bear the consequences.

The villager possessed a kind heart and could not bear to see people suffer. After persisting for a few years, he encountered a famine. He took the initiative to throw Falling Cloud's advice to the back of his mind, helping many poor people and saving many lives.

His own body became weaker and weaker, and he often felt exhausted. He was drowsy during the day and lacked energy. At night, he often had nightmares, where countless ghosts pounced on him, heavy as small mountains, and he walked in the wilderness, struggling at every step.

By the time Falling Cloud sensed something and returned to the village.

The villager only had one last breath left.

Before he died, he asked Falling Cloud, wanting to resolve his confusion.

Falling Cloud sighed: "You have encountered small ghosts and evil ghosts."

"I told you not to be kind and save people."

"Your kindness is well-intentioned, but it also provides an opportunity for ghosts and resentful spirits to attach themselves."

"In this world, there are actually many souls who cannot rest because of resentment and greed; they will use your kindness to satisfy their own needs."

"Being rich and unkind is wrong, but being indiscriminately kind is even more harmful to yourself."

"Once you cannot help others correctly, you will be dragged down by those evil ghosts and small ghosts, dragging you all the way down!"

"Being a good person is always much harder than being a bad person."

After hearing Falling Cloud's words, the villager appeared very excited and asked again: "Then how can I deal with these evil ghosts and small ghosts? What counts as helping people correctly?"

Falling Cloud said: "Transcend them."

The villager smiled bitterly: "I am just a mortal."

Falling Cloud said again: "Transcendence is not just about spells; mortals also have means. You arrange work for them and let them labor."

"Labor can save people."