Chapter 195: Golden Core Enters the Game

In the secret room, the five Golden Core ancestors of the three families gathered together.

"The three families' alliance... lost." Zhou Nongying sighed.

Zheng Danlian looked at the Ning family ancestor.

The jade slip stated very clearly that the key point for the failure of the three families' alliance to explore the Xian Gong this time was that Ning Ning Xiaohui actually engaged in internal strife in public!

The nature of this behavior was too vile.

The Ning family ancestor seemed completely unaware of this gaze: "Even if this battle was won, one can see the difficulty of exploring the Lava Xian Gong."

"This route of 'Soul Entering the Xian Gong' is not so easy."

This analysis spoke to the bottom of the others' hearts.

Even though they lost narrowly, the Golden Core ancestors of the three families all saw the combat power improvement of Yuan Yuan Dasheng and Qi Bai.

In this battle, the materials of the two mechanism creations were clearly one grade better than before. Furthermore, they also used many novel mechanism parts. The self-destructing ape mechanism, Wind-Fire Wheels, the mechanism ropes that captured Ning Ning Xie, etc., all achieved obvious combat results and could not be underestimated.

The Golden Core ancestors naturally attributed such an improvement to the Lava Immortal Palace, and to the deliberate arrangement of the Three Sects' superiors.

They would never have thought that there was a black hand manipulating all of this!

"Even if the Qi Condensation juniors of the three families reorganize and achieve good results, it is impossible to be like a hot knife through butter."

"This route of 'Soul Entering the Xian Gong' still has difficulty."

"Meng Chong possesses Immortal Talent, and the City Lord's Mansion's renovation team monopolized the rankings; for our renovation team to defeat such an opponent... difficult!"

The Golden Core ancestors secretly communicated with their spiritual sense for a while, gradually reaching a consensus.

That was: set off together, cooperate with Zhu Zhu Xuanji, go deep into Fire Persimmon Mountain, and take back the demon general mechanism!

From the perspective of the three families, they would rather see Zhu Zhu Xuanji finally obtain the Xian Gong, rather than Meng Kui.

If Meng Kui obtains the Xian Gong, the Meng family will move into Fire Persimmon Xiancheng on a large scale, greatly squeezing the living space of the three families.

And if it is given to Zhu Zhu Xuanji, once Zhu Zhu Xuanji finally wins, the three families will have merit to the royal family, which will inevitably be more conducive to the stability of the three families' status in Fire Persimmon Xiancheng!

Zheng Shuanggou said: "Fellow Daoists, going deep into the volcano involves life-threatening risks."

"Before taking action, my family urgently needs to forge that mechanism weapon!"

The other Golden Cores were slightly stunned, then nodded at the same time.

In the early years, the Zheng family obtained a mechanism blueprint in the Lava Xian Gong. According to the blueprint, the Zheng family spent a huge price to secretly forge a mechanism weapon.

This weapon was extremely powerful; it hadn't even been finished forging yet, and it had already brought huge help to the Zheng family.

Previously, the four Golden Cores of the Zheng family and Zhou family gambled, and the two immortals of the Zheng family entered the Night Star Silk Array, relying on the benefit of this weapon to successfully break through the array.

The two immortals of the Zhou family thus learned of this weapon.

The Zheng family took the initiative to trade 'Nine Yang Yellow Cow Paste' to obtain the recognition of the Zhou family's two immortals, and the latter two agreed to help the Zheng family complete the subsequent forging of the mechanism weapon.

But relying on the Zhou family's array-setting means alone was not enough.

Afterwards, the Zheng family consciously approached the Ning family, hoping that the Ning family would provide powerful extreme cold quenching means to help forge this mechanism weapon.

The Zheng family and Ning family therefore walked very close, secretly exchanging many benefits.

For example, Zheng Jian obtained the 'Ice Heart Talisman', and Ning Ning Xiaohui, under the personal guidance of Zheng family cultivators, forged a Ghost Martial.

Therefore, the Ning family ancestor also knew about this mechanism weapon and had seen the mechanism blueprint.

"If this item is forged, it will indeed be very helpful!" Zhou Nongying had a deep impression of the mechanism weapon.

The Ning family ancestor secretly furrowed his brows.

To tell the truth, he did not want to see the Zheng family master such a powerful weapon.

In his dealings with the Zheng family Golden Cores, he targeted this scheme of the Zheng family and fought for many benefits for the Ning family.

In the Ning family ancestor's plan, he wanted to use this mechanism weapon to hang the Zheng family's appetite.

But now, with the exploration of Fire Persimmon Mountain imminent, the Ning family ancestor also felt a crisis. The Zheng family forging this item would indeed help guarantee everyone's survival.

The Ning family ancestor furrowed his brows, shook his head and sighed, indicating that his extreme cold means would damage himself and greatly affect his combat power.

He was unwilling to assist in quenching before going deep into Fire Persimmon Mountain.

He would rather seek an opportunity to help the Zheng family after the Fire Persimmon Mountain trip.

Zheng Danlian and Zheng Shuanggou looked at each other, both seeing the determination of the other.

The Ning family ancestor's prevarication was also within their expectations.

This didn't matter!

The two immortals of the Zheng family had their own methods to force the Ning family ancestor to submit.

This method was—Zhu Zhu Xuanji.

The two immortals of the Zheng family found Zhu Zhu Xuanji and indicated that they had changed their minds; to enter Fire Persimmon Mountain, they had to forge a mechanism weapon.

And this mechanism weapon needed the Ning family ancestor's extreme cold means to serve as quenching.

Hearing this, Zhu Zhu Xuanji immediately indicated his willingness to help. He soon found the Ning family ancestor. After a secret conversation, the Ning family ancestor, under pressure from the royal family, had to agree.

Unlike Ning Zhuo came to the clan head's mansion and met the Ning family head.

"Ning family branch Unlike Ning Zhuo, pays respects to the clan head!" Unlike Ning Zhuo bowed, his etiquette was flawless, but his tone was flat and distant.

The Ning family head, however, piled up a smile and beckoned to Unlike Ning Zhuo: "Come, Little Zhuo, sit here. Don't stand."

Unlike Ning Zhuo was expressionless: "Clan head, if you have something to say, please speak directly; I still have black market affairs to handle."

"Haha. I know, I know you are a busy person." The Ning family head laughed a few times, his tone gentle: "I invited you here this time, mainly because of Ning Ning Xiaohui's matter."

"You also know..."

Unlike Ning Zhuo immediately interrupted: "Ning Ning Xiaohui harmed me! Is the clan head trying to speak for her?!"

"Not harm, not harm." The Ning family head repeatedly denied, "Everyone is family, how can there be talk of harm?!"

"Ning Ning Xiaohui is just too young; at the critical moment, she didn't withstand the pressure and made a mistake."

The Ning family head finally emphasized: "It is a mistake, indeed a mistake!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo sneered: "If the clan head thinks so, I have nothing to say."

"It's just..."

"Do

"Do the elders of the Ning family all think this way? Or is it just the majority?"

The smile on the Ning family patriarch's face grew even more intense: "That is why I specifically invited you, Little Zhuo, to come here this time—I want you to step forward and clarify this matter. Any remuneration is open to negotiation!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo was slightly taken aback, then his eyes lit up: "Oh?"

A moment later, he left the patriarch's study, feeling completely satisfied.

Once it was confirmed that Unlike Ning Zhuo had left, the sound of things being smashed suddenly erupted from the patriarch's study.

The noise continued for a long time before it gradually ceased.

Unlike Ning Zhuo snuck to the underground base and met with Sun Lingtong in secret.

Sun Lingtong was quite happy to see Unlike Ning Zhuo; he jumped up, hugged Unlike Ning Zhuo's shoulders, and patted them vigorously.

"Little brother, you're here!"

Although the two had met many times within the Lava Xian Gong, the number of times they had truly met in person recently could be counted on one hand.

Sun Lingtong had spent his days in the underground secret base without seeing any outsiders, which had nearly driven him stir-crazy.

Seeing his dear little brother, Sun Lingtong was naturally exceptionally happy.

And what made him even happier was that the two brothers were going to inspect the greatest trophy of this battle—the ghost cultivator Ning Ning Xie!

Ning Ning Xie was covered in over a dozen talismans, pasted all over his body, sealing him tight so he couldn't move an inch.

"Boss, how should we deal with him? Do you have any good ideas?" Unlike Ning Zhuo asked.

Sun Lingtong shook his head: "If Qi Bai had the means to refine souls, I would have let it refine him."

"But right now, its spirituality has fallen to fifty-six percent; it's simply impossible."

Sun Lingtong looked up and sighed.

Before the battle began, Sun Lingtong had risked opening Qi Bai's storage bag and used the Cremation Prajna Spirit-Unlocking Scripture to burn Qi Bai's personal items, helping the Nether Envoy Qi Bai regain a large amount of spirituality.

Its spirituality had once reached as high as ninety-two percent.

But after the recent great battle, Qi Bai's spirituality had plummeted, falling to its current fifty-six percent.

Originally, Ning Ning Xie possessed the innate talent of Snow Soul Ice Spirit and was a ghost cultivator, making him very suitable for transformation into a Ghost General.

The Ghost General that Qi Bai had mastered during its lifetime had suppressed Unlike Ning Zhuo, leaving a deep impression on the latter.

But if the Nether Envoy Qi Bai were to regain the ability to refine souls, it would only be possible after it had passed the Spirit Agility Stage and developed rich intelligence.

That pace was just too slow!

Sun Lingtong hoped even more to utilize him now to increase their own strength.

Unlike Ning Zhuo understood: "So, we refine him into a mechanical component?"

"Mm-hmm!" Sun Lingtong nodded repeatedly.

The Ning family was not a major sect like the Soul-Devouring Sect or the Non-Empty Gate; the marks on their family disciples were not yet sufficient to tag a murderer.

This allowed Unlike Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong to dispose of their enemy, Ning Ning Xie, as they pleased.

Without hesitation, the two opened the furnace and threw Ning Ning Xie inside.

Afterward, the two simultaneously channeled the Cremation Prajna Spirit-Unlocking Scripture, working together to ignite the furnace and grant Ning Ning Xie true peace after death.

"Too hot, too hot." Sun Lingtong finished the refining and let the furnace cool down.

He used his small palms as fans, fanning his flushed, sweat-covered cheeks.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up; he took out the Nether Envoy Qi Bai and called to Unlike Ning Zhuo: "Little Zhuo, come over here."

In the battle not long ago, Qi Bai had wiped out several members of the modification team and had used the Soul-Devouring Technique multiple times.

"Boss, you go first!" Unlike Ning Zhuo walked quickly to Sun Lingtong's side.

Sun Lingtong stood on no ceremony, controlling Qi Bai to channel a large amount of soul essence into himself.

"Comfortable, so comfortable!" Sun Lingtong closed his eyes, unable to contain his joy.

"Little Zhuo, you come, you come." He absorbed half the soul essence and gave his spot to Unlike Ning Zhuo.

Afterward, Unlike Ning Zhuo also received the nourishment of the soul essence.

Their soul foundation, already over a hundred times greater, was striding toward the two-hundred mark!

The two took all the soul essence and became full of energy.

The furnace cooled completely; the two opened it and took out a mechanical sphere the size of a millstone.

The surface of the sphere was a layer of glazed glass, and a blue strip of crystal ran around the middle line of the cover, like a blue belt.

There was a circular blue crystal at both the top and bottom poles of the sphere's cover.

White mist churned constantly inside the cover, expanding and contracting by turns.

The mechanical sphere floated in mid-air, emitting a faint chill.

Spirituality: thirty-six percent.

Mechanism—Weather Sphere: Ice Crystal Snow!