Chapter 27

Fei Si looked at him with disdain: "With your reckless nature, you've already been led by the nose by the enemy without even realizing it."

He bowed again, looking toward the City Lord: "It is entirely thanks to your lordship's keen insight, your decisive handling of the chaotic situation, and your steadfast defense atop the volcano, immovable, that the enemy has found no opportunity."

"As long as you personally hold the fort, who could sneak into the Lava Immortal Palace right under your nose?"

"This is the perfect method of using the unchanging to meet the changing; it is masterful in its simplicity, leaving the hidden enemy to sigh at the sky, with no chance at all!"

Chi Dun was scolded again and immediately said angrily: "You've talked for so long, but you haven't touched on the main point. What about the demon cultivator hiding in the Fire Persimmon Forest? If they trigger a chain reaction of explosions in the Fire Persimmon Forest, won't the centuries of accumulation in Fire Persimmon City be destroyed?"

Fei Si shook his head and sighed: "Things have reached this point; we can only prepare for the worst."

"However, I believe the possibility of the opponent actively triggering it is low."

"They are a demon cultivator, and their brain isn't broken. If the entire Fire Persimmon Forest were to be detonated, the power would be so great that it would shake the entire Fire Persimmon Immortal Mountain, and they themselves would certainly be blown to smithereens and die on the spot."

After a pause, Fei Si continued: "They have already been struck by the Lime Heart technique; the longer it drags on, the more severe their injuries will be."

"We are the side with the advantage; we must proceed slowly and steadily, and absolutely must not be impatient, giving the enemy an opportunity."

"In my humble opinion, our side should contact the other three families to discuss together how to deal with this demon cultivator. This will increase unity and help distinguish loyalty. If there really is someone acting as the mastermind or an inside agent, it will be easier for us to discover them."

"In addition, it is best if we wait until after the Fire Persimmon Festival to take action. By then, the large-scale harvesting of fire persimmons will minimize our losses."

Chi Dun widened his eyes and shouted in disbelief: "You still want to hold the Fire Persimmon Festival?!"

"Do you want the whole city to die?"

"Once the Fire Persimmon Forest detonates in a chain reaction, how many casualties will it cause?"

"At that time, the City Lord will definitely be unable to shirk the blame and will very likely be dismissed directly!"

Fei Si had expected this: "Since I have proposed this, I naturally have a solution."

"City Lord, please look at this mechanical monkey."

As he spoke, Fei Si took out a mechanical creation from his storage bag.

This mechanism was half a person tall, with bright red monkey fur and bulging muscles, lifelike—who else could it be but the Fire-Exploding Monkey?

Fei Si continued with a hint of pride: "Just three days ago, Chen Cha presented this mechanism. Using it, we can easily harvest fire persimmons and avoid casualties."

The City Lord was expressionless; with a thought, he took the mechanical monkey and placed it before his eyes to examine it.

After a few breaths, he nodded slightly: "So-so, only the monkey-brain control center shows a little bit of clever thought."

He was at the Nascent Soul level and had a broad perspective. In his view, the design of the Fire-Exploding Monkey was mediocre and unremarkable.

"Who is Chen Cha?" The City Lord was somewhat interested in the creator.

Fei Si replied: "Many years ago, you ordered me to recruit mechanical engineers everywhere. Chen Cha is one of them, and I invited him to live in Fire Persimmon City."

"This person is a Foundation Establishment cultivator with solid formation skills and is good at setting up dynamic formations. But in mechanical arts, he lacks inspiration and has never had any outstanding works."

"Now, he finally has some results."

Hearing that Chen Cha was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the City Lord lost interest and waved his hand: "Let's handle it this way then."

"Chi Dun, from now on, you will fully cooperate with Fei Si."

Chi Dun was sullen: "I obey!"

The Ning family.

The Patriarch summoned the Young Patriarch to the study.

He first handed over a list.

Young Patriarch Ning Xiaoren took it to check. He first saw Ning Zhanji among the casualties, and then saw Ning Zhuo's name on the list of survivors.

The Patriarch sighed: "Ning Zhanji's death is a great loss for our Ning family."

Ning Xiaoren said: "It is also his glory to sacrifice for the family as a member of a branch."

The Patriarch said: "You are in charge of family logistics; you should be responsible for the compensation for this family cultivator."

Ning Xiaoren said hurriedly: "Father, rest assured, I will handle this matter properly."

"Hmm." The Patriarch nodded and tested him: "Xiaoren, what do you think about the emergence of the Lava Immortal Palace this time?"

Ning Xiaoren thought for a while before saying: "The emergence of the Immortal Palace forces us to speed up the exploration progress. Our family was the last to know about this, and the situation is even more unfavorable than before."

"We have never been able to invite an excellent mechanical engineer, and relying solely on our family's strength, it is difficult to compete with the other three parties."

The Patriarch sighed, his tone heavy: "At present, the selection criteria for the Immortal Palace have been lowered to the Qi Refining stage. Perhaps our family should organize a large number of cultivators to switch to the *Five Elements Qi Law*."

Ning Xiaoren frowned: "Father, this is what worries me the most."

"How many people should be organized to switch to the new cultivation method? What kind of people? Most importantly, how many from the main branch, and who? How many from the branch families, and who?"

"The situation is unclear, and how to do it is quite difficult."

Hearing this, the Patriarch couldn't help but show a look of relief: "Xiaoren, you can realize this point; you are a qualified Young Patriarch."

"I need to convene the family elders to discuss this matter properly."

"You go and handle your business."

Ning Xiaoren bowed and withdrew.

Back in his study, a family cultivator came to ask how the family compensation should be distributed.

Ning Xiaoren didn't hesitate: "Compensation? What compensation?"

"Aren't these Ning family members all from the Demon Hunting Association? The Demon Hunting Association has its own compensation."

The family cultivator looked troubled: "But they are all from our Ning family..."

Ning Xiaoren interrupted: "It is precisely because the family is in difficulty and financially poor that we encourage clansmen to join other organizations to make a living. As a member of the Ning family, one should think of the family!"

The family cultivator had no choice but to withdraw.

Ning Xiaoren was still very angry and summoned Ning Zhuo's uncle, Ning Ze.

Ning Xiaoren's face was livid, and he tapped the table with his knuckles: "Ning Ze, how did you act as an uncle? Ning Zhuo ran into the Red Flame Demon Lava Cave and almost lost his life; did you know that?"

Ning Ze wiped the sweat from his head and said hurriedly: "I know, I know!"

He had finally "thought of" a brilliant plan to provoke Ning Zhuo into joining the Demon Hunting Association. As a result, the Immortal Palace emerged, and Ning Zhanji, who was responsible for recruiting Ning Zhuo, died.

Ning Zhuo did not actually join the Demon Hunting Association, but instead, Ning Xiaoren saw through Ning Ze's arrangement. The latter was naturally furious!

Ning Ze smiled bitterly: "But Young Patriarch, it's not that I don't want to make arrangements for little Zhuo. It's just that he is too stubborn..."

Slap.

Before Ning Ze could finish speaking, he was hit on the head by the inkstone thrown by Ning Xiaoren.

Severe pain struck, and at the same time, a warm current flowed down his forehead to his chin.

Ning Ze's nose was filled with the smell of rust.

He knew that he had been hit on the forehead by the Young Patriarch again.

"Don't play dumb with me!" The Young Patriarch pointed to the door, "Get out, next time, I want to hear good news!"

Ning Ze was in great pain, blood flowing from his head, but he dared not treat it on the spot and gritted his teeth as he withdrew.