Throw Them All Away!

Sun Lie parted his lips slightly after hearing this, then shook his head after a long while. "Only a handful."

"So, the Magma Immortal Palace's true value does not lie in its Mechanism Art inheritance, but in the foundational cultivation methods of the Three Gates Three Dantians?"

Fei Si nodded. "The City Lord is farsighted and deeply calculating. How could people like us presume to guess at his intentions?"

"Among the hundred arts of cultivation, Mechanism Art has always been an obscure path among obscure paths, from ancient times until now. What is there to pursue?"

"Foundational cultivation methods from three sects like these are the truly valuable treasures!"

Sun Lie nodded and sighed. "So that was it."

Meng Chong clenched his fists, his fighting spirit ignited. "I must obtain those three cultivation methods and cultivate the upper, middle, and lower Three Dantians together!"

"I can barely wait any longer. Old Sun, quickly tell me—how can Raging Thunder Rush help with Power Dispersion?"

Sun Lie chuckled. "It's very simple."

"After this battle, you should be able to control Raging Thunder Rush on your own."

"When you undergo Power Dispersion, activate Raging Thunder Rush at the same time, and it will accelerate the process."

"This Raging Thunder Rush talent has a vast range of uses. It can accelerate not only Power Dispersion, but also the accumulation of mana while cultivating."

"In fierce battle, it can help you add the might of lightning to your attacks and restrain enemies of yin affinity."

"Ordinary cultivators must begin with their life-bound spells and advance step by step to cultivate divine powers. You possess the Immortal Talent Rampaging Thunder, which is equivalent to a Divine Power Seed. If you grow it in an orderly fashion, it can become a divine power!"

"There are other applications as well. You can slowly experience and uncover them in the future."

"But take note: this talent consumes your Essence, Qi, and Spirit Three Treasures. You must never use it without restraint."

Meng Chong gave an "oh," then clasped his hands in thanks.

Sun Lie turned to Fei Si again. "Han Ming came to probe me again and again before, always coveting the Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pill."

"Previously, I tolerated her in private because I was wary of her being a disciple of the Soul Devouring Sect, and did not pursue the matter too deeply."

"This time, she actually tried to take my life. She and I are now mortal enemies!"

"I added an extra layer of scentless medicinal fragrance to each of those six Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills. I only need to refine a bottle of medicine; after you consume it, you will be able to smell that medicinal fragrance."

"Follow the scent, and you will be able to track down the Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills! Even if a cultivator has consumed them, so long as it has not been discovered or dispelled, you can still smell it for several months."

Though Sun Lie was rough and bold and careless about trifles, he had wandered the cultivation world for so many years. He was no easy prey.

In truth, how could someone capable of setting up a scheme to awaken Meng Chong's nature possibly lack strategy?

Fei Si nodded. Changing his previous attitude entirely, he clasped his hands and said, "As expected of a Grandmaster of Alchemy. I misunderstood you before; please forgive me."

A dignified Golden Core cultivator saluting a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator like this instead made Sun Lie think more highly of him.

Sun Lie was an old hand himself. He nodded faintly and no longer mocked Fei Si, instead offering a deeply meaningful compliment. "The Fire Persimmon City Lord truly has a good subordinate."

After dividing the spoils, Sun Lingtong bid farewell to Tassel-Haired Wanderer Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo's voice was hoarse and his expression indifferent. "Boss Sun, I have you to thank for your help this time. I will keep this favor in mind."

Sun Lingtong giggled. "Hey, little brother, why not reconsider my earlier proposal?"

"Join the Unempty Gate?" Ning Zhuo shook his head. "I have no interest."

In Ning Zhuo's eyes, he belonged to the Ning Clan, to the righteous path. He wanted to seize the Magma Immortal Palace—why abandon a good life to throw himself into the devil path?

Strictly speaking, the Unempty Gate did not yet count as a Devil Dao Sect, but it was certainly a heretical sect.

Sun Lingtong shook her head as well. "But you are perfectly suited to join my sect."

Those words stirred Ning Zhuo's heart.

He thought of his own speculation within the Magma Immortal Palace. He most likely possessed a hidden talent, one superior to Early Wisdom.

Ning Zhuo tested her. "I heard that the Unempty Gate likes to recruit cultivation seeds with hand-related talents. Such as the Fragrance-Stealing Jade-Snatching Hand, Void Displacement Hand, Flowing Light Weaving Shadow Hand, Seven Orifices Hand, Cloud Piercing Hand, and so on."

"Could it be that I possess such a talent, which is why you have always valued me so highly, Boss Sun?"

Sun Lingtong shook her head. "I'm not one of the sect's reception elders. How could I tell?"

"I think your nature makes you a devil path person from birth."

Ning Zhuo's tone darkened. "Do not make such jokes again."

Sun Lingtong widened her eyes and shouted, "Don't you believe me! These eyes of mine are the most accurate at judging people!"

"Enough." Ning Zhuo interrupted her.

Sun Lingtong gave a hey. "Fine, then. How should we deal with these seized pills?"

Ning Zhuo said, "Capturing Han Ming alive was my true objective. These pills are too hot to handle. Get rid of them all."

"I don't believe Sun Lie, after Han Ming probed him so many times, did not tamper with the pills."

Sun Lingtong raised a thumb. "Little brother, you are as cautious as ever. But wouldn't it be a pity to dispose of all of them?"

"With the methods of my Unempty Gate, as long as you give me some time to examine them, I can detect even the most secretive hidden measures."

"After all, Sun Lie is only at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm."

Ning Zhuo shook his head. "I strongly advise against doing that."

"This time, we unexpectedly ran into Meng Chong. He is the grandson of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Our actions could very likely be interpreted as a scheme against Meng Chong."

"I fear Fei Si has already begun investigating us."

"Time is pressing. You cannot afford to examine them slowly. No matter how careful we are, it is warranted. Dispose of every one of these pills immediately!" Ning Zhuo emphasized again.

Sun Lingtong patted her chest and nodded. "You are right. I still want to remain in Fire Persimmon Immortal City."

"But how should we dispose of them?"

Ning Zhuo snorted coldly. "Isn't that simple? Throw them directly into the Fire Persimmon Forest."

Sun Lingtong froze, then her eyes lit up. Clapping her hands, she praised, "Brilliant, brilliant—truly brilliant!"

After parting from Sun Lingtong, Ning Zhuo brought the spoils of war back to the Underground Base.

Within a dark underground prison cell.

A basin of cold water was splashed onto Han Ming's face.

Han Ming lowered her head, her eyes tightly shut, without moving.

Tassel-Haired Wanderer Ning Zhuo let out a hoarse, cold laugh. "Stop pretending, Han Ming. You recovered your senses half a cup of tea ago."

Han Ming gritted her teeth and abruptly opened her eyes, her killing intent and hatred completely undisguised. "You actually dared to rob the robbers!"

"I am a disciple of the Soul Devouring Sect. If you kill me, think about the consequences!"

Ning Zhuo sighed inwardly. He had wanted to hide himself, work diligently in secret, and conquer the Magma Immortal Palace. He had never intended to offend a major devil sect.

But there was no other way.

In his current situation, he could only steel himself and press onward. To take one step back—no, even to slow by a single step—would mean a bottomless abyss and eternal damnation.

"Even a rabbit bites when driven to desperation, much less a person."

There was no need to voice the helplessness in his heart.

Ning Zhuo looked at Han Ming and stared at her silently.

Han Ming felt her scalp tingle beneath Ning Zhuo's gaze.

She gradually misunderstood him. Her expression softened, and she put on a weak appearance of helpless resignation, as though she had no choice but to yield herself for survival. "Fine, I admit defeat this time. Let me go, and I will agree to do anything for you."