Ning Zhuo Enters the Immortal Palace

Ning Zhuo began to examine the items Chen Cha had left behind.

First was the Jade Slip, white as snow.

Ning Zhuo placed it against his brow, immersing his divine sense. After examining it, he found it was a collection of array formations titled Serpentine Dynamic Array Collection, authored by White Scale Hermit.

Ning Zhuo browsed through it briefly, a hint of surprise appearing on his face.

"This White Scale Hermit is not human, but a male snake demon."

"He suffered severe injuries in middle age, and his snake body couldn't recover. So he built mechanical contraptions as replacements, striving to make his snake body complete."

"And what's recorded in this Jade Slip are the various array formations arranged on mechanical snake bodies and flesh-and-blood snake bodies."

Although White Scale Hermit didn't leave much information, Ning Zhuo felt that this demon had at least Nascent Soul level strength.

"Chen Cha obtained this Jade Slip, diligently studied it, and only then earned the title of Living Array Master and gained the ability to create mechanical constructs."

"He's given me his entire foundation."

The evidence for Ning Zhuo's judgment was the large number of Chen Cha's personal annotations, insights, and records of his independent experiments, mechanical designs, and experiences within the Jade Slip's content.

Knowledge is priceless.

This was Chen Cha's very foundation for survival. He would likely hold back even if he took on a disciple.

But unexpectedly, Chen Cha directly gave this Jade Slip to Ning Zhuo.

"This old Chen..."

Ning Zhuo sighed, then opened the bag.

Inside the bag were over twenty wooden balls. The wooden balls varied in size, the large ones like a baby's fist, the small ones like the tip of a little finger.

Each wooden ball was divided into two sides, one side black, the other white. The black side had the character for 'dead', and the white side had the character for 'living'.

"Half-Dead Half-Alive Pearls." Having browsed the Jade Slip's content, Ning Zhuo recognized these wooden beads at a glance.

These wooden beads were Chen Cha's original creation. Based on White Scale Hermit's array collection, combined with his own experience and moments of inspiration, he designed these mechanical wooden beads.

These wooden beads were basic components in mechanical constructs, used at the joints.

When the wooden bead was flipped to the white 'living' side, the joint would move freely. When the wooden bead was flipped to the black 'dead' side, the corresponding joint would be locked.

The clever part was that there were hidden connections between these wooden beads. If array patterns were carved on the main mechanical component, one or more dynamic arrays could be formed.

By controlling these wooden beads, making them 'dead' or 'living', the mechanical construct could perform various intricate movements.

"Good stuff."

"The application range of these Half-Dead Half-Alive Pearls is very wide."

"The Mechanical Fire Ape can use them, and the As-You-Wish Rope seems like it can too. The actual performance should be a notch better than before."

Ning Zhuo's face showed joy.

He really liked this kind of mechanical construct.

For others, these wooden beads would be of very low value. But for Ning Zhuo, they were rare treasures that would be of considerable help to him.

Finally, Ning Zhuo checked the heaviest bag.

He found 5118 Spirit Stones inside.

The odd number, with both large and small denominations, once again plunged Ning Zhuo into a brief silence.

"This is probably all of Old Chen's savings, isn't it?"

Ning Zhuo sighed, feeling a hint of guilt.

He put these things away and began to actively recuperate.

The Nurturing Pill was very effective, helping Ning Zhuo's body quickly adapt to the brand new Five Elements Power.

Ning Zhuo cultivated with all his might, striving to return to the third level of Qi Refining as soon as possible.

"When I cultivate to the third level, will the Dharma Transmission Bell continue to boom throughout the city?"

"I must race against time and go all out!"

"Mother was right, I'm just an ordinary person, unlike others who have background and resources."

"I'm afraid my current progress is already far behind others!"

Before Ning Zhuo's mother died, she had instructed him to try his best to get a good ranking and become a Mechanical Seed, only then would he receive resource allocation.

Ning Zhuo lacked crucial information, but he chose to take a gamble and, without any hesitation, switched to cultivating the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

"Besides cultivating the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, I also need to find a way to get close to the Magma Immortal Palace."

Since the Immortal Palace was blown up, the top of the volcano has been completely sealed off, with no unauthorized personnel allowed.

"What will the family's reaction be?"

"Organizing Qi Refining Stage cultivators to collectively switch to cultivating the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art is a matter of course."

"If I can make good use of Chen Cha's connection, it seems I can also enter the Magma Immortal Palace through the City Lord's channel."

Ning Zhuo decided to wait and see, to wait for the situation to develop into a suitable opportunity.

His choice was correct.

A few days later, someone from the family came to his small house and informed him that he had been selected to become a member of the Ning Family who would switch to cultivating the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

Ning Zhuo obeyed the order, disguised himself, returned to the family, and participated in the first training session.

"A Zhuo, you're here too?" Ning Yong was very happy to see Ning Zhuo.

Ning Chen also walked over and nodded slightly at Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo greeted the two of them and looked around.

He found that most of them were from the branch families, and members of the Ning Family's main lineage were quite rare.

"I heard that an elder in the clan wanted Ning Xiaohui to participate, but Ning Xiaohui flatly refused, and even caused a big scene." Ning Yong whispered in Ning Zhuo's ear.

Ning Xiaohui was their classmate, and she had been the first place from beginning to end, even during the Grand Examination.

Ning Chen said, "She has a talent that we can only envy - Ice Jade Hands. Why would she risk switching? I think this decision is not wrong."

"Even I would rather choose to cultivate the Snowy Region Talisman Compendium than the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, which only has three layers!"

From Ning Chen's words, Ning Zhuo heard a clear sense of resentment.

But there was nothing they could do; they were just small figures.

The intensive training was much shorter than expected. It only announced that the selected Ning Family members should actively switch to cultivating the new cultivation technique, and the top ten would receive different resource rewards. Then, that same afternoon, the dissolution was announced.

Based on Ning Zhuo's observation, he found that the family members generally had strong motivation to switch cultivation due to the rewards.

But Ning Zhuo definitely wouldn't claim this reward.

No one knew that he was already at the second layer of Qi Refining.

He would definitely keep this secret for now and wouldn't actively expose it.

Just as he was about to leave the family grounds, Ning Zhuo was stopped halfway by his uncle, Ning Ze: "Cultivate well, Little Zhuo. I spent money to arrange for you to get in."

Ning Zhuo let out a sound, his face flushed red with shame and embarrassment. He bowed to Ning Ze in thanks: "Uncle, your nephew has caused you trouble and worry."

Ning Ze nodded slightly: "It's good that you know."

He had no choice either. The Young Clan Leader, Ning Xiaoren, was pressing him hard, even threatening to arrange Ning Ji into the list of those switching cultivation.

Facing such a threat, Ning Zhuo's aunt, Wang Lan, instantly compromised and was willing to let go.

Ning Ze could only offer a heavy gift to the Young Clan Leader.

As soon as the Young Clan Leader received the gift, he immediately arranged for Ning Zhuo to be on the list of those switching cultivation.

For a period of time after that, Ning Zhuo secretly cultivated with all his might while also taking time to participate in the family's intensive training, gradually revealing his cultivation of the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

He deeply hid his abilities, his progress in switching cultivation was average, completely unremarkable.

But in secret, he spared no Spirit Stones, using them frantically. His power accumulated extremely quickly, soaring from the second layer of Qi Refining all the way to the third layer.

Tonight, Ning Zhuo reached the peak of the third layer.

"There's nowhere further to advance. During this time, the Dharma Transmission Bell has also been completely silent." Ning Zhuo sighed, "Alas... when will the Ning Family's cultivation switching team be able to enter the Magma Immortal Palace?"

He didn't know that deep within the Magma Immortal Palace, on a slowly rotating five-sided stone pillar, his name, Ning Zhuo, was slowly appearing.

Qi Refining Board, first place, Ning Zhuo!

The next moment, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit on the throne let out a high-pitched cry.

Divine Ability—Life Hanging by a Thread!

An invisible thread pierced through space, instantly suspending Ning Zhuo.

Before Ning Zhuo could react, his soul was drawn away by the thread, penetrating space, and directly entering the Magma Immortal Palace!