Chapter 343

Even in Zhou Nongying's presence, Fei Si was exceptionally solicitous toward Unlike Ning Zhuo.

Unlike Ning Zhuo, however, remained indifferent, a near-polar opposite of his former self.

This attitude of his naturally left Zhou Nongying extremely satisfied, as he knew this junior, Unlike Ning Zhuo, was incredibly clever and understood the current situation—who was an ally and who was a formidable enemy.

At present, the Lava Xian Gong already belonged to the Meng family.

Meng Kui would certainly not let it go easily. In time, relying on the Lava Xian Gong as a key support point, the Meng family would possess a nearly perfect excuse to grandiosely and continuously dispatch Meng family cultivators to station themselves in Fire Persimmon Xiancheng.

Ultimately, this would lead to Fire Persimmon Xiancheng being annexed by the Meng family and becoming their private city.

Under these circumstances, the Zhou family and the Ning family naturally had to huddle together for warmth to resist the wolf-ambitioned Meng family.

Seeing Unlike Ning Zhuo like this, Fei Si did not linger and took his leave early.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was courteous and saw him all the way to the main gate.

Before leaving, Fei Si smiled slightly and mentioned Chi Dun. He said that since the beast tide was quelled, Chi Dun, that body cultivator, had been obsessed with the Buddhist healer Meng Yaoyin, harboring a strong desire for a duel to settle the score and soothe the resentment in his heart.

Unlike Ning Zhuo also smiled slightly. He immediately understood that Fei Si was using Chi Dun to threaten him.

Since that was the case, he would not indulge the other party, merely saying: "I am young and physically weak, but I also possess a heart that strives for victory. Since Lord Chi Dun has such refined interests, this junior will certainly accompany him to the end. I only worry... that under the Great Snake Sickle, I might not know my own strength, leading to Lord Chi Dun's demise. That would be terrible!"

Fei Si immediately retracted his smile, nodded indifferently at Unlike Ning Zhuo, then turned and walked away, flicking his sleeves.

Watching his back as he soared into the sky, Unlike Ning Zhuo's gaze was deep; he knew that from this point on, his close relationship with Fei Si had vanished completely, and the two sides stood in opposition.

"Director Zhu Hou of the Benevolent Nursery has arrived—!" the usher chanted loudly once more, followed by a recitation of the gift list brought by Zhu Hou.

A massive earthquake stirred in the hearts of many!

Although Zhu Hou only had Foundation Establishment cultivation, he hailed from the Nandou royal family, carried his own prestige, and held a high status. Especially since the royal family had planted him here, it was nothing more than acting as a nail, driven in to observe the city's situation and minimize Meng Kui's influence as much as possible.

Unlike Ning Zhuo had just turned back from the main gate when he heard the chanting; he simply turned around, wearing a warm smile, and went to welcome Zhu Hou.

Zhu Hou, however, was different from the others.

He first entered the flowing banquet, immediately causing a sensation.

He moved around the banquet multiple times, forging good relations, before leaving his seat to confer with Unlike Ning Zhuo and Zhou Nongying.

This time, he represented the Nandou royal family, intending to support Unlike Ning Zhuo's branch family and the Zhou family, hoping they could stop the Meng family's future erosion of Fire Persimmon Xiancheng.

The three talked happily, all harboring strong intentions for cooperation.

Once they dispersed, Unlike Ning Zhuo returned to the flowing banquet.

After he sat at the main table, the cultivators who had been waiting anxiously stepped forward one after another, taking the initiative to toast Unlike Ning Zhuo.

First to step forward were Ning Youfu and Ning Houjun, the two former elders of the branch lineage.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was now the branch family head, his status far exceeding that of the two elders.

Ning Youfu displayed an obvious posture of submission, while Ning Houjun's posture was even lower because he had other requests. He hoped his blood descendants could return to Unlike Ning Zhuo's branch family and have their heavy crimes of exile revoked.

Unlike Ning Zhuo did not agree immediately, saying instead that he would need to observe them before making a judgment.

This simple response was enough to make Ning Houjun's eyes redden, moved beyond measure.

"In the future branch family, I still hope the two elders can act as pillars, shielding the younger generations from the wind and rain for a time," Unlike Ning Zhuo invited proactively.

Ning Youfu and Ning Houjun looked at each other and agreed on the spot. They hadn't stepped down from their elder positions entirely out of personal will in the first place.

To the side, the academy elder looked gloomy, yet he had no choice; he could only watch with helplessness and grief as Unlike Ning Zhuo's branch family absorbed members of the lineage, rapidly expanding and strengthening itself.

Former stewards like Ning Xiangqian also came to Unlike Ning Zhuo's side one after another, eagerly hoping that Unlike Ning Zhuo's branch family could take them all in.

Unlike Ning Zhuo indicated that a list would be posted before long.

Afterward, it was the turn of Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and other classmates and members of the modification team.

Unlike Ning Zhuo encouraged them well. Among this group, his prestige had always been high, mainly thanks to the experience Unlike Ning Zhuo had imparted to them multiple times previously.

Now that his status as branch family head was solidified, completely towering over them, it further ignited their desire to follow him.

The leaders of the Monkey Head Gang and the Crane Beak Gang both came, sitting in the very corner.

Even so, they were trembling with excitement in body and mind.

This was something they had dreamed of before they threw their lot in with Unlike Ning Zhuo. As Unlike Ning Zhuo's status rose, they benefited as well, truly mixing into the circles of the righteous path.

Having personally witnessed Zhou Nongying, Fei Si, Zhu Hou, and others coming to offer congratulations, their loyalty to Unlike Ning Zhuo immediately skyrocketed a hundredfold.

Chen Cha, Feng Heizi, Bu Gan Bu Jing, and the One-Armed Craftsman also left their tables one after another, proactively walking up to express their congratulations.

Chen Cha's expression was complex, sighing endlessly: "Unlike Ning Zhuo, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed you could reach this step. Congratulations!!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo stood up, grasped Chen Cha's hand, and displayed unusual closeness, drawing envy from Feng Heizi, Bu Gan Bu Jing, and the One-Armed Craftsman.

At the banquet, Feng Jiqing boasted to the cultivators at his table.

"Back then, when the Ning family head was still alive, he asked me to critique Unlike Ning Zhuo's mechanism fire-burst monkey."

"When I saw it, I was astonished! Not to mention anything else, just the storage array was designed perfectly. If it were me, I'm afraid I would have had to choose the Cloud Whale's empty lungs."

"Hahaha, compared to such a heaven-favored child, I am truly too ordinary and mediocre, not worth mentioning."

"Being in the same city as Lord Unlike Ning Zhuo is already my greatest honor!"

Lava Xian Gong.

Meng Kui floated slightly, sitting above the circular pit where the throne once stood.

Before him, a mirror formed by a spell reflected scenes from everywhere in Unlike Ning Zhuo's branch family.

There was only one protagonist in the mirror, and that was Unlike Ning Zhuo.

Meng Kui observed this white-clad youth, his gaze deep.

Before the dust settled, he would never have believed that he would lose to such a junior.

Who could have imagined that in this Fire Persimmon Mountain, there was a small Qi Condensation cultivator who could disguise and endure for over a decade, blowing up the Xian Gong to seize it, temporarily blinding all parties?

"Grandfather!" Meng Chong burst through the main hall doors, rushing before Meng Kui.

"Is that Unlike Ning Zhuo opening his manor today? I want to fight him! I haven't lost yet!!" Meng Chong shouted loudly, threatening to take revenge.

Meng Kui snorted coldly, flicking his finger lightly; a powerful force made Meng Chong shrink his head, clutching his forehead, crying out in pain.

"Grandfather, why did you hit me?"

Meng Kui: "I told you to practice diligently and master more cultivation arts, but you never listened."

"This time, did you see it too?"

"Unlike Ning Zhuo used his mastery of mechanism arts to leave you several streets behind. The mechanism ape you considered your lifelong enemy was merely one of his mechanism creations. In the end, your grandfather's position as Palace Master was something he voluntarily yielded!"

"Look at him, only sixteen, just a little older than you."

"So young, yet he made you fail at the last step, separating your human soul. So young, yet he has such methods and such excellent mechanism mastery, and today he even establishes his own branch family."

"Chong'er, learn well from geniuses who are better than you!"

Meng Chong was stunned.

His grandfather Meng Kui had always been proud of him. At this moment, he said such things, making Meng Chong feel extremely estranged. One must know, in the past, Meng Chong was the only protagonist of such words.

Now, Unlike Ning Zhuo had successfully squeezed him out.

"Alright, Chong'er's defeat this time is understandable. Even you and I were fooled by that cunning brat, weren't we?" Meng Hu revealed his form.

He walked behind Meng Chong and lifted him up: "I'll take Chong'er away first. Although the Three Sects' Supreme Method is a three-dantian Foundation Establishment, it focuses on mechanism arts, and since the opportunity is lost, it is not suitable for Chong'er."

"Coincidentally, the National Master Wu Ting of the Resounding Thunder Kingdom is publicly recruiting personal disciples. Chong'er has the immortal aptitude for Galloping Thunder; if he can become the personal disciple of the Resounding Thunder National Master, the result will be even better."

Meng Kui nodded: "That is fine, take him away."

No matter how Meng Chong struggled or shouted, Meng Hu carried him away, turning into a rainbow.

Leaving Meng Kui alone, sighing deeply.

If he could have the complete Three Sects' Supreme Method, Meng Chong staying to continue his cultivation would not have been a bad option.

But the Three Laws True Scripture only had one copy, inside the body of the Mechanism Dao Master.

The path of the soul entering the Xian Gong could at most obtain the Qi Condensation stage of the Three Sects' Supreme Method.

The subsequent cultivation techniques were hidden within the Dharma-Transmitting Bell, but for Meng Kui to crack this bell was not just difficult—it was impossible to even begin!

Meng Kui, who was well-versed in the mysteries of fate, knew clearly: the fate of the Lava Xian Gong had already been seized by others first; one step ahead meant every step ahead, and the subsequent fate would only bless the one who seized it first, not his Meng Chong.

It would be extremely difficult for Meng Chong to catch up, and having already lost the initiative, wasting years with poor progress would be worse than cutting off his own arm, decisively withdrawing, and walking another path.

With his spiritual sense scattered, Meng Kui observed the Lava Xian Gong once more.

"The losses are too devastating!" He shook his head endlessly.

From the bottom of his heart, he did not want to take over this mess.

But there was no help for it; who told the Meng family to have requests of the entire Fire Persimmon Xiancheng?

And to let the Meng family hold onto Fire Persimmon Xiancheng for the long term, the Meng family needed an excuse to resist the Nandou royal family's national policy of rotating city lords.

Without a doubt, the status of Lava Xian Gong Master could help the Meng family achieve this goal.

This was why Meng Kui, a dignified wise general, even knowing this was a pit, had to fulfill Unlike Ning Zhuo's wish, proactively taking it over and bearing the burden.

"Refurbishing the entire Lava Xian Gong will cost a staggering amount; only by seeking help from the family will it be possible." Meng Kui, dignified as a Nascent Soul level, could not personally bear the maintenance of the Xian Gong, which showed the huge cost of restoring it.

What truly troubled Meng Kui was not the repair issue, but the positions.

The Lava Xian Gong possessed various positions, and now, even though the mechanism buildings had fallen, the positions had not been revoked along with them.

According to the previous agreement between Meng Kui and Zhu Xuanji, no matter who obtained the position of Palace Master, these positions would not be liquidated.

Therefore, although Meng Kui was the Palace Master, a large number of positions under his command had fallen to the cultivators of the three modification teams.

The existence of these people, holding onto many positions in the Xian Gong, would undoubtedly greatly reduce the Meng family's control over the Lava Xian Gong!

This was also the most important cornerstone for Zhou Nongying and Unlike Ning Zhuo to join forces and resist the Meng family.

Branch family.

The flowing banquet was nearing its end when suddenly the usher shouted: "Lord Song Fuli has arrived—!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo froze slightly, knowing an unwelcome guest had come to the door.

Song Fuli was expressionless, his body straight; he neither offered a gift nor wanted to step inside the gate.

He blocked the gate.