Chapter 428

One day ago.

Ning Jiufan flew rapidly, the lush green mountains beneath his feet slowly receding backward.

"Senior, according to the map, we are about to arrive at Jade Steel Mountain." Hanzhou sat beside Ning Jiufan.

The two were sitting on a massive flying block of ice.

The cold made Hanzhou feel particularly close, all because he originally came from the Northern Lands. Therefore, he also felt quite close to the owner of the flying ice block, Ning Jiufan.

"Jade Steel Mountain is indeed already in sight." Ning Jiufan's vision was much stronger than Hanzhou's; after all, he was at the Golden Core level.

He had already seen a glimpse of Jade Steel Mountain on the horizon.

But just as he relaxed slightly, the world changed color in an instant.

A great formation suddenly unfolded, instantly enveloping Ning Jiufan and Hanzhou.

In the blink of an eye, the world returned to its original state, as if everything just now had been an illusion. Ning Jiufan and Hanzhou had completely disappeared.

Ning Jiufan fell into the formation, both shocked and angry.

He saw that the world was a dim yellow, with light halos like spheres covering all directions.

Three blurry figures stood apart, surrounding Ning Jiufan and Hanzhou from afar.

"Who is trapping me?" Ning Jiufan shouted sternly, "I am Ning Jiufan, the Golden Core ancestor of the Fire Persimmon Mountain Ning family; have the three fellow Daoists surrounded the wrong person?"

Someone among the three figures spoke: "Ning Jiufan, we have finally waited for you to come. It is you we want to eradicate!"

Hanzhou was shocked and immediately became nervous. He never expected that following a Golden Core cultivator on a journey would instead lead to a life-and-death crisis.

Ning Jiufan's heart sank suddenly; since the other party was specifically waiting for him, their background was likely not small.

He thought for a moment and immediately took out his official seal from his bosom: "You lot should not ruin yourselves by being instigated by others! I am a hidden official of the Southern Bean Kingdom's imperial court; if you stop now and leave, I promise not to pursue you."

"Otherwise, if anything happens to me here, the entire Southern Bean Kingdom will issue a warrant for your arrest."

The enemy laughed loudly: "Ning Jiufan, it is precisely you, this corrupt official, that we are killing!"

Ning Jiufan was shocked again.

Since the other party knew his identity and was willing to kill an official to take action, it was very likely the Meng family.

After all, the Ning family had migrated to Fire Persimmon Xiancheng, and their only powerful external enemy at present was the Meng family.

Apart from that, it was that group of enemies from the Northern Wind Kingdom. However, this possibility was far less significant than the Meng family.

Hanzhou transmitted his voice: "Ancestor Ning, these three all have Golden Core auras; why not release Yuan Lao directly and break the formation with force!"

Ning Jiufan shook his head in his heart. He did not want to do that.

If this ambush was truly the work of the Meng family, how could they not be prepared for his Nascent Soul-level demonic beast?

If he truly released Yuan Lao, he would likely fall into the other party's trap.

Considering this, Ning Jiufan gave a cold snort, both in response to Hanzhou and to the enemy: "Since that is the case, then let you lot see the fighting spirit of a man from the Northern Lands!"

"Watch my move!"

As soon as Ning Jiufan finished speaking, he took action.

For a time, the northern wind blew, causing heavy snow to drift, and bone-chilling coldness permeated the air instantly.

Among the three Golden Core cultivators, one revealed his figure and cast a spell to resist the wind and snow filling the sky.

Ning Jiufan's wind and snow spell was contained, so he took out a talisman and activated it directly.

The talisman floated in mid-air, erupting with strong light, rapidly condensing into an ice and snow giant.

Snow clouds formed beneath the ice man's feet, and it held a long-handled ice-carved broadsword in both hands, charging toward another Golden Core opponent.

Seeing the ice man approaching, that Golden Core cultivator hurriedly cast spells, suppressing it continuously to delay the ice man's forward pace.

Ning Jiufan used one mind for three purposes, shooting out a magic treasure-level ice awl toward the third person.

Seeing the ice awl shoot over with awe-inspiring momentum, that Golden Core cultivator knew that ordinary spells could not resist it, so he immediately took out a large tripod.

The large tripod flew to the front and collided with the ice awl, emitting a loud clanging sound, but it was finally blocked temporarily.

Ning Jiufan laughed loudly, his heroic spirit soaring: "Is that all you three have? If you have any other means, feel free to use them!"

Hanzhou watched from the side, feeling extremely astonished; he never expected this Ning family ancestor to be so powerful while facing three opponents alone.

But he soon associated this with Ning Zhuo.

"Like grandson, like grandfather. From Young Master Ning Zhuo, one can glimpse the excellence and strength of the Ning family."

"That the Ning family's Golden Core ancestor has such a performance is actually already foreshadowed."

Hanzhou thought again that their side still had the powerful trump card of the Nascent Soul-level Yuan Lao, and his heart gradually calmed down, no longer so nervous.

He did not know that although Ning Jiufan appeared this way, he was actually very nervous in his heart; having fallen into the formation, he had already lost the geographical advantage. Since the three Golden Core cultivators were chosen by the Meng family, they must have some tricks up their sleeves.

"This place is close to Jade Steel Mountain; if only there were reinforcements."

The garrison on Jade Steel Mountain was no longer Meng Zizhong, having been replaced by a Golden Core cultivator dispatched by the Zhu family royal family.

Before Ning Jiufan came, he had already sent a letter, and the two sides had exchanged letters once.

But Ning Jiufan thought again: "Since the other party set an ambush here, how could they not have considered the Golden Core garrison on Jade Steel Mountain?"

"Therefore, taking action within this formation, I fear no movement can be transmitted out."

"No, if it truly were transmitted out, it would be even worse. It must be that they did it on purpose to attract the Golden Core garrison to support, making it convenient to wipe us all out!"

Hanzhou did not understand the true situation; he did not know much about the existence of the Golden Core level.

But Ning Jiufan's considerations also had their own limitations.

Even the three Golden Core cultivators who set the ambush did not know that their ambush had already been exposed.

High in the clouds, Zhu Xuanji and Shen Lingshu stood side by side, overlooking the battlefield below.

Although the battlefield was wrapped in the formation, Zhu Xuanji used his Heavenly Golden Eyes, cooperating with spells, to see through the scene inside.

Then, through spiritual sense communication, he let Shen Lingshu know the real-time battle situation.

Zhu Xuanji said: "Senior Shen, it is just as you expected; Ning Jiufan has encountered an ambush on this trip."

"You also calculated that he would be in danger but not in peril."

"Hehe, with us here, he is naturally in danger but not in peril."

After Shen Lingshu pinched his hand seals, he said: "I have already calculated this formation; it is the Nine-Tailed Bewitching Demon Formation."

"The formation lines and formation patterns are all woven using the fur of a nine-tailed fox."

"There are a total of eight formation eyes and one formation heart. The formation heart is hidden within the formation eyes; at first glance, they look no different, making it difficult for people to pinpoint the key position."

"Right now, these three Golden Core cultivators, one occupies the formation heart, two occupy the formation eyes, and there are three formation eyes burning bewitching incense, one formation eye set with a demon-slaying platform, one formation eye placed with a demon-binding rope, and the last formation eye is actually placed with a Profound Mystery Qi-Absorbing Bag."

Hearing this, Zhu Xuanji couldn't help but sigh: "The other party is well-prepared."

"The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Demon has the power to bewitch all demons; using its nine-tailed fox fur to set up a formation is a grand gesture."

"The bewitching incense and the bewitching demon formation can cause Yuan Lao to be bewitched as soon as it is released, and it might even counterattack its master."

"Then, in a daze, it will walk onto the demon-slaying platform itself, have its head chopped off by the guillotine, and lose its life."

"At the line between life and death, Yuan Lao might erupt with survival instincts and gain a glimmer of clarity. Therefore, the other party also prepared a demon-binding rope to strangle its last bit of vitality."

"What kind of magic treasure is this Profound Mystery Qi-Absorbing Bag?"

Shen Lingshu said: "This treasure specifically targets fate; it can absorb the fate of other objects, causing their fate to decline."

"With this treasure here, it can prevent some accidents from happening. Many people with strong fate often have their fate erupt at the critical moment of life and death to save themselves."

"Even for mortals, as long as their fate is strong, after it erupts, they can even fall off a cliff and not die, and have future blessings."

"So that's how it is." Zhu Xuanji nodded and asked the most critical question: "Can Senior Shen calculate the clues, or even evidence, that these three Golden Core cultivators originate from the Meng family?"

Shen Lingshu shook his head: "I cannot calculate it."

"This might be the work of Lord Meng Kui; it is very rigorous. At the beginning of the layout, he already guarded against calculations."

"Can't you trace the source? Can't you see the connection between the other party and the Meng family?"

Zhu Xuanji gave a bitter laugh: "I only see that these three people successively accepted this mission at the Ghost Thorn Pavilion."

The Ghost Thorn Pavilion is a famous assassination organization, very secretive, and distributed in various large and small cultivation countries.

With such a large scale and the ability to survive to this day, it naturally has a foundation.

That Zhu Xuanji could distinguish at first glance that the three Golden Core cultivators opposite were all members of the Ghost Thorn Pavilion already lived up to his name as a divine catcher.

Shen Lingshu smiled slightly, but was not surprised: "The Meng family's action this time is probably in retaliation for the Jade Steel Mountain incident."

"We removed Meng Zizhong, so the Meng family set an ambush here to eradicate Ning Jiufan as a warning."

"If Ning Jiufan and Yuan Lao both sacrifice themselves, the pattern of Fire Persimmon Xiancheng will tilt toward Lord Meng Kui's side, and the remaining Zhou family will be unable to support the situation alone."

"And in the imperial court, the impact of these two people's sacrifice will go deep into people's hearts, greatly weakening the prestige of the royal family!"

Zhu Xuanji said: "This Ning Zhuo and the Ning family's fate can be considered to have turned from bad to good."

"Our plan was to come to Mount Wuyin to investigate the Fox God, but we ended up hitting the mark by mistake; we will not sit idly by and watch Ning Jiufan die in battle."

Shen Lingshu revealed a solemn face: "It looks like this is a coincidence."

"But it cannot be ruled out that it is the work of Human Life Hanging by a Thread, or the Wang Ming."

"Ning Jiufan must be saved, but it wouldn't hurt to watch the battle for a moment and let his fate be absorbed."

Shen Lingshu continued to state his plan: "If Ning Zhuo has mastered the divine ability Human Life Hanging by a Thread, it is highly likely that he planted it on Ning Jiufan."

"In this way, the fates of both sides are connected. If Ning Jiufan's side declines, it will inevitably affect Ning Zhuo's side."

"If Ning Zhuo also planted Human Life Hanging by a Thread on others, their fate will be low, and it will manifest, ranging from mental confusion to suffering disasters."

"This is a good opportunity for verification."

Zhu Xuanji recalled the many secrets he learned in the royal capital: "In the past, the Retired Emperor also suffered a major defeat because of this drawback of Human Life Hanging by a Thread, nearly causing the country to perish and himself to die."

In this world, there has never been a perfect thing.

Where there are strengths, there are weaknesses.

Where there are advantages, there are naturally drawbacks.

Human Life Hanging by a Thread connects fate; the Retired Emperor had bad luck, his fate fell, and others shared it together. In this way, it caused the effect of a substitute king suffering the consequences.

But after all, it is not the true Wang Ming; once everyone encounters a disaster, or a part of the people's fate falls too severely, the Retired Emperor will also suffer bad luck because of it.

In the past, it was precisely because of this that the Southern Bean Retired Emperor encountered a disaster and nearly died but survived.

"Wait a minute." A flash of inspiration crossed Zhu Xuanji's mind, and he asked, "What if my Buddha Heart Demon Seal truly has the power to suppress fate?"

Shen Lingshu pondered: "This depends on how great the power of the Buddha Heart Demon Seal is in suppressing fate. Is it only able to protect himself, or can it benefit others?"

"Even if the treasure seal is powerful, Ning Zhuo is only at the Foundation Establishment cultivation level right now and simply cannot exert its true power."

"Back then, didn't the Retired Emperor also have a magic treasure that could suppress his own fate?"

"In any case, trying it out will do no harm."

Zhu Xuanji nodded slightly: "That's fine, let's do it this way."

The Ten Thousand Mile Wandering Dragon traveled rapidly through the void.

Silver lines appeared from time to time under the black curtain.

The lower half of the Ten Thousand Mile Wandering Dragon's body shone with blood-colored light. This was the work of the Blood Shadow Cave Master.

The front suddenly became bright, and the next moment, the Ten Thousand Mile Wandering Dragon drilled out of the void and arrived in the present world.

Sun Lingtong did not dare to be careless in the slightest, continuing to drive the Ten Thousand Mile Wandering Dragon to drill into the dense mountain forest.

After shifting and moving for most of the day, they finally stopped.

"So dangerous, so exciting!" Sun Lingtong licked his lips, his heartbeat gradually slowing down.

He looked down at his hands.

Half of his palm had already turned into stone skin, just like the appearance of the stone ball at the bottom of the cave.

Sun Lingtong gritted his teeth and could only continue to use his magic power to suppress it, then control the mechanical dragon to check on Ning Zhuo's situation.

Seeing Ning Zhuo fainted on the ground but still breathing, Sun Lingtong's eyes turned slightly red, and he wished he could slap himself twice.

"It's fine if I take risks alone to find excitement."

"This time, I implicated Xiao Zhuo; sigh, how could I be so unwise, I truly deserve a beating!!"

Sun Lingtong was extremely self-reproachful, but in his current state, he did not dare to approach Ning Zhuo rashly.

Fortunately, Sun Lingtong also had quite a bit of mechanical attainment. Immediately, he took out a mechanical puppet, controlled it with his spiritual sense, indirectly contacted Ning Zhuo, and helped him wake up quickly.

After Ning Zhuo woke up and learned that they had escaped, he breathed a sigh of relief, his heart filled with lingering fear.

Sun Lingtong sighed: "Xiao Zhuo, I implicated you and nearly cost you your life."

Ning Zhuo shook his head: "Boss, it was my concern for your injuries, and my own eagerness to take revenge on the Six Cave Sect, that made me not stop you from continuing to take risks. I am also at fault!"

"How are your injuries now?"

Sun Lingtong told Ning Zhuo truthfully.

He shrugged his shoulders and gritted his teeth: "I originally wanted to follow the vine to find the melon and investigate the information on the old monster Shi Zhong. I never expected the other party to be able to see through the Ten Thousand Mile Wandering Dragon!"

He was so angry he wanted to slap his own head.

Thinking back now, what was going on?

His love for excitement and pursuit of excitement was his nature, but before this, he had been too inconsiderate.

"Is it because I have lived in Fire Persimmon Xiancheng for too long and have had too many comfortable days, so I have become slack?"

"Sigh, it would be fine if I were the one in trouble, but if I implicated Xiao Zhuo..."

"He has immortal potential and a bright future; he has painstakingly planned for more than ten years, his life has just started to get better, and he has family and friends, and is liked by female cultivators. Unlike me, who is a loner; if he were to die here because of me..."

Sun Lingtong's heart was filled with self-reproach, and he secretly warned himself that from now on, as long as Ning Zhuo was by his side, he must never take such risks.

This escape experience deeply touched Sun Lingtong's heart.

Throughout the whole process, Ning Zhuo was indeed implicated by Sun Lingtong. If he had been in the dragon-head cabin and discovered the stone ball at the bottom of the cave, he would definitely not have been as eager to mine it as Sun Lingtong.

However, Ning Zhuo was used to it.

In Fire Persimmon Xiancheng, he had taken action many times to fish Sun Lingtong out of the prison.

His deep friendship with Sun Lingtong was not only about being able to entrust his back to the other party without any scruples at the critical moment of life and death. It went even deeper—even if the other party made a mistake, he would easily forgive them and even make up for them.

Ning Zhuo comforted him: "Although Nascent Soul cultivators can travel through the void, they can only do so by relying on their Nascent Soul; it is very difficult to do so while carrying their physical body."

Therefore, the difficulty of completely killing a Nascent Soul cultivator is quite high. Once their physical body is destroyed, their Nascent Soul can leave the body and escape, drill into the void, find an opportunity to possess another body, and then come back for revenge.

"The Ten Thousand Mile Wandering Dragon, however, can carry us together to travel through the void; even if those Nascent Soul cultivators want to chase us, it is unlikely they would take out their Nascent Soul, leave their main body, and risk their lives to pursue us."

A cultivator's Nascent Soul is the result of a lifetime of cultivation and is tied to their future path, making it extremely important. Unless forced to the last resort, they will not easily take out their Nascent Soul to take risks.

"It is precisely because of this point that we went into the Six Cave Sect to explore, isn't it?"

"Our successful escape this time also proves this point. If that Demonic Heart Cave Master truly wanted to abandon his physical body and use his Nascent Soul to pursue us, I fear the other two Cave Masters would have taken action against his physical body."

"Boss."

"We also gained a lot this time."

"For example, I saw the mechanical carriage my mother rode in back then and learned that Lin You will obtain it. I must take this carriage back!"

"Without this risk, how would I have known such important news?"

Sun Lingtong shook his head and spoke through the puppet: "Xiao Zhuo, don't comfort me."

"We suffered quite a loss this time."

"The Ten Thousand Mile Wandering Dragon was attacked by the Demonic Heart Cave Master before, and about thirty percent of it needs repair."

"The latter half of the mechanical dragon's body was eroded by blood shadow. This should be the Blood Shadow Cave Master's tracking method; if we can't clear it, we will be detected by the Blood Shadow Cave Master when we approach the Thousand Peaks Forest in the future."

Ning Zhuo shook his head and slowly sat up: "These are not important, Boss."

"The most urgent task is to solve your injury."

"Xiao Zhuo..." Even though Sun Lingtong and Ning Zhuo had been together day and night for more than ten years, he felt a warm current in his heart at this moment.

Sun Lingtong: "But now, the mechanical dragon can no longer approach the Thousand Peaks Forest. If we act alone, relying on our cultivation and combat power, I fear we cannot infiltrate the depths of the Thousand Peaks Forest. After all, the great war is about to start, and the Thousand Peaks Forest is already heavily guarded. Faces like ours, coming from the outside, will be very conspicuous."

Ning Zhuo laughed: "Don't worry, Boss, I have already thought of a way."