Chapter 400

Great Struggle Peak.

Behind the mountain, inside the Myriad Demon Cave.

Ning Zhuo stood up, swaying, and cupped his hands to express his sincere gratitude to Linghu Jiu.

"This time, I obtained this opportunity entirely thanks to the gift of Brother Linghu. This kindness, Ning Zhuo will keep in his heart and never dare to forget!"

"Five Viscera Temple Spirit Divine Art"!

The complete technique reaches the Void Refinement level. It is evident that the Five Elements Divine Lord is an existence of the same level as the Three Sects Masters.

The Three Sects Supreme Method that Ning Zhuo practices, although it comes from the Three Sects Masters, is currently only at the Foundation Establishment level. But the complete "Five Viscera Temple Spirit Divine Art" has already been obtained by Ning Zhuo.

This gain is extremely astonishing!

Linghu Jiu shook his head and smiled: "My role was small; this is your opportunity. You must know that to obtain the inheritance of a sage, you must enter the eyes of that sage. If they don't look upon you favorably, they will never teach you anything."

"Ning Zhuo, the fact that you could continuously receive the inheritance for such a long time shows that this sage who taught you the technique holds you in high regard. That is the first point."

"Secondly, if your comprehension were not up to par, the sage would have stopped the inheritance after teaching you a portion, feeling you were unable to understand it."

"Therefore, everything you have obtained is due to your own strength; the role I played was far less significant than you imagine."

Speaking of this, Linghu Jiu looked at the two empty wine jars and sighed: "When I obtained the Lonely Sword Scripture, it only cost me one jar of Nether-Thought Brew."

"The technique you obtained is worth a fortune, congratulations. Have you considered re-cultivating?"

Ning Zhuo, however, shook his head.

The Five Viscera Temple Spirit Divine Art is an ancient method; Ning Zhuo had never even heard of the Five Elements Divine Lord.

You must know that Ning Zhuo is well-read and has an understanding of the capable people and sages of the current generation as well as the previous few generations.

Ning Zhuo confirmed he had never seen the name of the Five Elements Divine Lord. This indicates that this person must be a figure from a much earlier era.

Ning Zhuo stated frankly: "The technique I primarily practice comes from the Molten Rock Immortal Palace and originates from the Three Sects Masters; its grade is in no way inferior to this technique."

"I have a hobby for mechanism arts, and the Three Sects Supreme Method is particularly suitable for me."

"Moreover, this new technique I obtained is an ancient method, and its style differs greatly from contemporary terminology. Ancient spiritual energy was thin, while contemporary spiritual energy is very abundant; ancient methods are likely inferior to modern ones."

One aspect here is the problem of adapting to the environment, and the other is that the inheritance of techniques in the cultivation world is orderly and constantly innovating.

Even if a sect is destroyed and an entire family slaughtered, sages in the underworld still hold the knowledge. Once a descendant with thin bloodline performs a sacrifice, it is very likely they can receive the ancestor's teachings.

Of course, the Three Sects Supreme Method also has flaws. That is, Ning Zhuo only knows the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining parts; the subsequent content of the technique still needs to be obtained in the Molten Rock Immortal Palace.

Additionally, the grade of the Three Sects Supreme Method may not necessarily reach the Void Refinement level. Although it was created by the Three Sects Masters, not all techniques created by Void Refinement-level Three Sects Masters necessarily reach the Void Refinement level.

However, the Five Viscera Temple Spirit Divine Art only cultivates the Qi Sea, while the Three Sects Supreme Method cultivates all three dantians; from this point alone, it has already far surpassed it.

"I will use this technique as a reference; it will be very helpful for my future practice of the Three Sects Supreme Method."

Ning Zhuo told Linghu Jiu: "This technique is named 'Five Viscera Temple Spirit Divine Art', originating from the sage Five Elements Divine Lord. Brother Linghu, why don't we study it together?"

Immediately following this, Ning Zhuo recited the opening content of the technique.

Linghu Jiu hurriedly reached out, refusing: "Stop, Young Master Ning Zhuo, this is your opportunity, not mine."

"The Law is not easily transmitted!"

"This technique delves into the mysteries of the five elements and is not suitable for me."

"I have already said, I only paid some Nether-Thought Brew. It is not worthy of such a heavy reward!"

Ning Zhuo was stunned: "This..."

Lin Bufan's Nascent Soul-level spiritual sense was fluctuating violently: "Foolish! Jiu'er is foolish."

"In the past, the Five Elements Divine Lord traversed the world, controlling the five elements as if a Heavenly Monarch ruled the world. This is his primary cultivation technique; even if it is an ancient style, it contains profound principles of the five elements."

"Placed in today's world, it still has immense value. If placed in my sect, it would be a sect-suppressing inheritance!"

Lin Bufan could not help but become impatient.

His spiritual sense spread to Great Struggle Peak, and the first thing he saw was his own eldest disciple pouring Nether-Thought Brew wildly for Ning Zhuo, an outsider.

And this brat Ning Zhuo was not at all reserved, gulping it down, drinking with such satisfaction!

Lin Bufan's eyes went dark as he watched.

Next, he saw Ning Zhuo wanting to share the divine art, only to be directly refused by Linghu Jiu, which made him so angry he wanted to rush to Great Struggle Peak and hang his eldest disciple up to beat him.

"Who told you to be so noble and upright? Is this how I taught you?!"

Lin Bufan locked onto Ning Zhuo, still holding expectations in his heart.

As a result, Ning Zhuo loudly praised Linghu Jiu's dashing demeanor and never mentioned sharing the divine art again.

Lin Bufan's eye twitched: "This brat Ning Zhuo is really too tactless."

"The Nether-Thought Brew is one thing, but the Five Viscera Temple Spirit Divine Art..."

"I pushed the boat with the current, letting Ning Zhuo meet Jiu'er, never expecting him to be taken for such a huge bargain! Sigh, what kind of situation is this?"

Ning Zhuo also knew that this time, he had taken a huge advantage.

He could not help but be filled with emotion: "First Lin Shanshan, then Linghu Jiu, Myriad Medicine Valley is truly a good place, truly my blessed land."

He never expected to have such a huge harvest!

Originally, Ning Zhuo just wanted to meet Linghu Jiu and properly probe this future Myriad Medicine Sect leader.

As a result, his opportunity arrived.

"Oh my, once an opportunity arrives, it really cannot be stopped."

Ning Zhuo wished he could immediately go into seclusion to properly ponder the newly obtained divine art. But leaving now would be too awkward; it would be very bad.

Ning Zhuo restrained himself, took out Ice Jade Wine, filled it for Linghu Jiu, and filled his own.

He sat down, toasted Linghu Jiu, and communicated actively, wanting to ask what Linghu Jiu needed to see if he could satisfy it, so as to repay this immense favor.

Linghu Jiu stated frankly that he was fond of fine wine. If Ning Zhuo had the chance in the future to find some fine wine to gift him, that would be the best.

Ning Zhuo indicated he would remember this, and today he would treat Linghu Jiu to drink Ice Jade Wine to his heart's content.

"If it really doesn't work, I'll just have my ancestor make some more. I just returned the Ice Heart Jade Pot to him."

Ning Zhuo's attitude toward Ning Jiufan was so casual that it made Linghu Jiu quite curious.

He immediately sighed: "Young Master Ning Zhuo's relationship with his own Jin Dan ancestor is so close, it is truly enviable."

Ning Zhuo was drinking until he was dizzy; just now Linghu Jiu had helped him greatly, allowing him to successfully obtain the complete divine art, all of which made Ning Zhuo speak the truth: "Although I lost my parents when I was young, suffered harsh criticism from others, and was treated poorly by the family, I have the legacy of my mother, and I have made great progress with the help of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace."

"Don't look at me as only being at the Foundation Establishment level; in terms of combat power alone, ordinary Jin Dan cultivators cannot stump me."

"My ancestor is no match for me."

"Of course, that was before. Now that he has Yuan Lao by his side, he is completely stronger than me!"

Ning Zhuo's cultivation is only at the Foundation Establishment stage, but his true combat power has already surpassed his own cultivation realm, reaching the Jin Dan stage.

Linghu Jiu showed a look of surprise, but not too much.

This was because he was also only at the Foundation Establishment cultivation, yet he also possessed Jin Dan-level combat power!

Ning Zhuo continued: "However, Ancestor Ning Jiufan does treat me well. My setting up a branch family was also supported by him."

"He appreciates me very much!"

"Among all the Ning family juniors, I am the only one who has stood out. It is not strange that he treats me this way."

"In the future, when the ancestor passes, the vast family business will still have to be inherited by me."

"Hmph! Those vermin in the main branch, how can one govern the family well while living with them? The branch family is just my first step; next, I will work hard to manage it and eventually swallow the main branch."

"By then, I will be the main branch, and this will be the Ning family!"

Ning Zhuo rarely revealed his schemes and ambition.

Linghu Jiu raised his wine bowl and laughed loudly: "Young Master Ning Zhuo has great ambition, I toast you a bowl!"

The two finished a bowl, and Ning Zhuo looked at Linghu Jiu: "To be honest, Brother Linghu, I envy you. I can only start from scratch, yet you have a Nascent Soul-level master who loves you like a son, and in the future, you will inherit the great foundation of the Myriad Medicine Sect."

Linghu Jiu smiled bitterly: "I have long known my master's expectations for me, but I am naturally lazy, and taking care of these junior brothers and sisters has already exhausted me. What I truly want to live is a life like a carefree crane."

Ning Zhuo immediately shook his head: "How can that be? Any kind of cultivation requires resources. The higher the cultivation, the more resources it consumes."

"Brother Linghu, if you want a life like a carefree crane, you must have strong strength to guarantee it. Otherwise, a demonic cultivator with slightly higher cultivation could make your life worse than death."

"And to have strong strength, you must have a continuous supply of cultivation resources. Precisely because you want a life like a carefree crane, you must manage the Myriad Medicine Sect even more outstandingly."

Linghu Jiu let out a light "Oh," and looked at Ning Zhuo with burning eyes.

Ning Zhuo's face was flushed, staring with hazy, drunken eyes: "What?"

Linghu Jiu pointed at Ning Zhuo and laughed loudly: "Young Master Ning Zhuo, you are naturally frank and sincere. After drinking so much, I find you even more adorable."

Ning Zhuo was silent for a moment, trying to straighten his tongue: "Brother Linghu, you and I hit it off immediately, and you helped me so much, it can be called a great effort! How can there be no reason to repay it?"

"It's just that right now, my family foundation is thin, and I have several heavy treasures that are extremely important and cannot be taken to repay you; I can only keep it in my heart and plan to repay you later."

"Therefore, hearing your words just now, I felt anxious and wanted to persuade you, and my words were a bit..."

Linghu Jiu waved his hand, stopping Ning Zhuo's apology: "Boring, Young Master Ning Zhuo has become boring again."

Although he said this, Linghu Jiu could not stop admiring Ning Zhuo.

Even though Linghu Jiu knew well that the youth opposite him had an unclear entanglement with his junior sister, he did not harbor hostility toward Ning Zhuo because of personal feelings.

He had his own perspective and could correctly view Ning Zhuo, knowing that the youth before him was indeed excellent.

Not just his past achievements, but also his nature.

Hearing Linghu Jiu's evaluation of being boring, Ning Zhuo decisively changed the subject: "Drinking like this is indeed boring. Brother Linghu, do you know how to play drinking games? Do you know how to play finger-guessing?"

Linghu Jiu: "I have heard of it and seen it, it seems to be a game."

Ning Zhuo was strange: "Brother, you are a hero among drinkers, how can you not even know how to play finger-guessing?"

Linghu Jiu smiled, his face bitter, and poured out his grievances to Ning Zhuo, saying that he was addicted to alcohol and had long since become a negative example. He was often criticized and punished with confinement; under such circumstances, who would dare to drink with him?

Moreover, he still had to maintain the demeanor of an eldest brother on weekdays to facilitate teaching his junior brothers and sisters.

There was not a single confidant or drinking buddy of his own generation within the sect.

And outside the sect, Linghu Jiu's status was special, and he feared acting inappropriately, implicating his master and the sect, making people look down on him. "An experience like drinking with Young Master Ning Zhuo is truly rare in my life!" Linghu Jiu sighed.

"So that's how it is." Ning Zhuo's eyes shone, "Being able to drink with Brother Linghu like this is also my honor."

"Brother, please don't call me Young Master anymore, just call me by my name."

Linghu Jiu: "Hahaha, then I won't be polite."

Saying this, he cupped his hands in a salute: "Brother Ning Zhuo."

Ning Zhuo returned the salute, his tone high-spirited: "Brother Linghu!"

The two changed their forms of address, and their relationship became another layer closer.

Both were very happy and could not help but raise their bowls, clink them, and drink them dry.

Lin Bufan:...

Linghu Jiu put down his wine bowl, and Ning Zhuo immediately filled it with Ice Jade Wine.

While pouring the wine, Ning Zhuo said: "Since Brother doesn't know how to play finger-guessing, I might as well teach you."

"It's actually very simple; you and I extend one hand at the same time and make gestures representing the six numbers from zero to five. At the same time, we speak, guessing the sum of the numbers represented by the two people's gestures."

"Whoever guesses correctly wins. The person who loses is punished with a cup of wine."

Linghu Jiu asked strangely: "Eh? Then isn't this punishment a reward?"

Ning Zhuo was stunned, then laughed loudly.

Lin Bufan saw his eldest disciple learning attentively and starting to learn finger-guessing, and could not help but be even more speechless.

Soon, Xiaoju walked hurriedly to the Myriad Demon Cave.

She shouldered the heavy responsibility given to her by Lin Shanshan to look after Ning Zhuo and Linghu Jiu, preventing the two from fighting until they were inseparable, red-faced, and escalating their conflict.

As a result, before she even entered the cave, she heard the sound of finger-guessing.

"Six, six, six, who drinks first."

"Five leaders, who drinks first."

"Hahaha, I lost." Linghu Jiu picked up his wine bowl, drank it dry, and rolled up his sleeves, "Let's continue."

"Six, six, six (four joys and wealth)!"

"Seven clever ones (nine linked rings)!"

Ning Zhuo suddenly stared.

He lost.

Linghu Jiu laughed loudly, raising his arms and shouting: "Drink, drink quickly."

Ning Zhuo drank a bowl.

Xiaoju stood at the cave entrance, seeing this scene, her face full of disbelief, her mouth hanging open, almost dropping her jaw.

"What is the situation?"

"Although Young Master Ning Zhuo and the eldest brother are fighting until they are inseparable and red-faced, there seems to be no conflict at all."

"Are the two of them actually getting along so harmoniously?"

Xiaoju felt it was inconceivable; this was completely different from what she had expected.

"Someone is coming." Ning Zhuo's spiritual sense spread, and he had long known of Xiaoju's arrival.

The two let Xiaoju enter to report, and upon learning of Lin Shanshan's worries, Linghu Jiu and Ning Zhuo looked at each other and smiled.

Linghu Jiu waved his hand: "Junior sister is overthinking, just go, just go."

Xiaoju did not dare to leave, still remembering Lin Shanshan's instructions; she worried that if she left now, and they caused a conflict later, that would not be good.

So she said: "How about letting Xiaoju pour wine for the two lords?"

Linghu Jiu thought for a moment and immediately understood Xiaoju's thoughts: "Fine, it's fine if you come to pour the wine."

He and Ning Zhuo began to "fight" again.

At first, the two were just sitting on stone stools. Gradually, the two stood up, Linghu Jiu rolled up his sleeves, stepped on a stone stool with one foot, and every time they guessed fingers, they shouted indulgently, their voices very loud.

Ning Zhuo leaned on the stone table with one hand, his body leaning forward, launching a "strong attack" on Linghu Jiu every time.

The two drank three jars of wine in a row and could no longer stand; both sat on the stone table, hooking shoulders and backs, shaking their heads.

Linghu Jiu was in high spirits and sang folk songs.

After listening to a few segments, Ning Zhuo also learned to sing and responded.

"Hahaha!" The two laughed at each other, both drunk.

Linghu Jiu's hair was disheveled, like a monkey, running wildly inside the stone cave. His long sleeves fluttered, fast as the wind, extremely dashing.

Ning Zhuo sat upright on the ground, head drooping, shoulders hunched, silent.

Linghu Jiu suddenly stopped, looked up at the sky outside the cave, and recited a poem.

Ning Zhuo immediately responded with a poem!

Linghu Jiu clapped his hands in praise: "Young Master Ning Zhuo, great talent."

Ning Zhuo shook his head and smiled bitterly: "What kind of Young Master am I? Compared to me, you are the Young Master."

"Young Master Linghu!"

He cupped his hands in a salute, quite comically.

Linghu Jiu raised his head and nodded, saying "Hmm": "Young Master Ning Zhuo."

Ning Zhuo was already spinning: "I am just a little thief."

After joking, he could no longer support himself, fell to the ground, and fell into a deep sleep.

Linghu Jiu shook his head: "Little thief Ning Zhuo, what did you steal? Did you steal my junior sister's heart?"

Xiaoju's heart was shocked, and she immediately looked at Linghu Jiu.

Linghu Jiu leaned against the mountain wall, slowly sat on the ground, looked at the sky outside the cave, and a melancholy mood appeared on his face.

He hummed a folk song softly and also fell into a deep sleep.

Xiaoju:?!

After being stunned for a moment, she let out a long sigh of relief.

The two did not fight in the end, they just drank and guessed fingers.

Xiaoju began her actions.

She came here just to take care of Ning Zhuo and Linghu Jiu.

She dragged both of them onto the stone bed, guarded by the bedside, and kept serving them.

Ning Zhuo and Linghu Jiu slept foot-to-foot for a day and a night.

The next morning, Linghu Jiu woke up first, saw Ning Zhuo in his sleepy eyes, and laughed, his voice hoarse.

Seeing Xiaoju again, he thanked her.

Xiaoju hurriedly said that if she were to be thanked, it should be Lin Shanshan, as she was acting under orders.

By the second day at noon, Ning Zhuo also woke up, communicated warmly with Linghu Jiu for a while, and then reluctantly said goodbye.

He returned to the cave dwelling on Small Struggle Peak and immediately began to copy the "Five Viscera Temple Spirit Divine Art".

Soon, the entire text was written down.

Ning Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief, rejoicing that he had not ruined things by being drunk!

"It seems that after drinking Nether-Thought Brew and receiving teachings from ancestors, things are deeply engraved in the heart and will not be easily forgotten."

"Boss, come help me look at this divine art!"

Sun Lingtong came out of the mechanical dragon, took the jade slip, and muttered: "What does Nether-Thought Brew taste like? Little Zhuo, you didn't leave any for me, let me taste it too!"

Ning Zhuo smiled sheepishly: "Next time I go to ask, based on Brother Linghu's character, he will definitely share some with me."

"I plan to give the special-grade cloud tea in the storage cabin to Linghu Jiu, Boss, what do you think?"

Sun Lingtong shrugged: "Up to you."

He gradually showed a solemn face: "Good technique, the Five Viscera Temple Spirit Divine Art is definitely a top-tier technique. Your branch family has a sect-suppressing technique, far higher than the Ice Heart Technique of the main branch."

"It's just a pity you can't practice it."

"Speaking of which, Little Zhuo, your five-element spiritual roots are balanced, making you extremely suitable for practicing this kind of five-element technique. Perhaps this is also an important reason why you obtained the favor of the Five Elements Divine Lord."

Ning Zhuo said: "Boss, you study it first. I will go under the Spirit-Hiding Willow to comprehend it and see how much I can borrow from the 'Five Viscera Temple Spirit Divine Art'."

Ning Zhuo came to the spirit plant cabin, chatted with the Spirit-Hiding Willow for a while, and his mood calmed down completely.

He sat cross-legged under the tree and began to comprehend.

Suddenly, he actually "saw" the Five Elements Divine Lord again.

"Spirit-Hiding Willow?" The Five Elements Divine Lord smiled slightly at Ning Zhuo, "Junior, you actually don't go to re-practice my divine art, but still cling to old things. Spirit-Hiding Willow? It is indeed a treasure plant."

"Watch closely, this is the Dao and principle of the five elements!"

"Sigh, for you, it is still too early. Comprehend as much as you can."

For a time, Ning Zhuo once again received the teachings of the Five Elements Divine Lord.

The Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao!

He closed his eyes tightly, his brows furrowed, his body swaying, blood flowing from his seven orifices, his head burning hot, and white smoke rising from his sweat.

The willow branches of the Spirit-Hiding Willow withered rapidly at a terrifying speed, countless willow leaves falling and drifting, looking miserable.