Chapter 99: Life Hanging by a Thread (Seeking First Subscription)

Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

Zhu Xuanji paused before a small hut and gently pushed the door open.

In the next moment, a thick tide of shadows surged out like a flood, engulfing him. The shadows roared, and after swallowing Zhu Xuanji, they expanded backward, plunging the entire alley into darkness.

Suddenly, a pair of golden pupils ignited within the darkness.

It was the Golden Eyes of Zhu Xuanji.

Divine light overflowed from his pupils, piercing through the rolling shadows, shattering the concealment, and staring directly at the demonic cultivator.

The demonic cultivator was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. Seeing his form revealed, he did not panic, but instead offered a cold laugh and lunged directly at Zhu Xuanji.

Bang!

Amidst the heavy shadows, the two exchanged a blow.

Zhu Xuanji took a small step back, while the demonic cultivator groaned and flew backward into the shadows at an even greater speed.

Zhu Xuanji did not press his advantage, but instead frowned, sensing something subtle.

"As expected of Lord Zhu, you easily saw through my disguise!" the demonic cultivator's voice echoed from all directions. "But can you see through what comes next?"

As the words fell, countless 'demonic cultivators' flew out from the shadows, surrounding Zhu Xuanji in a tight circle.

Zhu Xuanji gathered his mana and struck down the encroaching 'demonic cultivators' one after another.

As the 'demonic cultivators' fell to the ground, they scattered into pieces.

They were all mechanical creations.

Although these mechanical creations were shattered, they quickly reassembled within the shadows and continued to swarm Zhu Xuanji.

Zhu Xuanji stood his ground. Regardless of the countless mechanical creations attacking from the shadows, his defense remained solid and unshakable.

Within the shadows, the true body of the demonic cultivator felt something was amiss and was about to retreat when he suddenly heard Zhu Xuanji say, "Liu Ying, isn't it a bit too late to try to leave now?"

The demonic cultivator, Liu Ying, felt his hair stand on end as he was locked onto by those golden eyes.

He retreated frantically, but Zhu Xuanji, having locked onto his true form, followed close behind.

Boom, boom, boom...

The two sides engaged in several rounds of intense combat.

Liu Ying collapsed, unable to rise. His chest had been smashed in, his broken ribs piercing his lungs, making every breath a struggle as he spat blood from his nose and mouth.

"Don't, don't kill me! I'm willing to surrender!" Liu Ying cried out for mercy as he watched Zhu Xuanji slowly pace toward him.

Zhu Xuanji remarked, "It seems you were merely using shadows to replace the strings, manipulating those mechanical creations."

Liu Ying was stunned. "Did Lord Zhu misunderstand something?"

Zhu Xuanji shook his head. "Just a precaution. If we are talking about misunderstandings, the hundreds of people who died miserably at your hands would certainly not consider this a misunderstanding."

Liu Ying's pupils constricted sharply. Shadows, like a swarm of pythons, lunged at Zhu Xuanji from behind.

But within three feet of Zhu Xuanji, the shadows dissolved like snow.

Liu Ying’s desperate final strike proved futile. Before he died, he shrieked, "I don't understand! I am only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. Although I entered the Magma Immortal Palace, why did you, Divine Catcher Zhu, target me first?"

Zhu Xuanji did not answer.

In the next moment, Liu Ying died at the hands of Zhu Xuanji.

"The fifth one!" Zhu Xuanji took out a list and crossed off Liu Ying's name.

Although this demonic cultivator possessed an art of shadow-based escape, he could not hide from the illumination of the Golden Eyes.

The order of this list was not based on cultivation, but on suspicion and threat level.

Liu Ying’s methods shared many similarities with those of the Shadow Demon. More importantly, in Zhu Xuanji's mind, Liu Ying might have grasped the supernatural ability known as "Threads of Human Life."

Though unlikely, it was enough to place him at the fifth position.

Before departing, Zhu Xuanji had been granted a private audience with the Sovereign of Nandou, where he learned many secrets.

***

The Sovereign of Nandou had cautioned him, "Xuanji, you must be careful and cautious upon going to Fire Persimmon Immortal City. Beware of the supernatural ability 'Threads of Human Life' left behind by the Three Sects Master in the Magma Immortal Palace."

"This ability can control one's own kind. The more one understands their kind, the deeper the level of control."

"If a Foundation Establishment cultivator masters this ability, even if you are a Golden Core, you will be in great danger!"

"This is because this ability's control over one's kind reaches deep into the realm of destiny."

Zhu Xuanji was astonished. "Can 'Threads of Human Life' drain the destiny of others?"

"Not quite that," the Sovereign of Nandou shook his head slightly, his voice clear and resonant. "But 'Threads of Human Life' allows destiny to overlap and accumulate, never suffering from internal friction or mutual depletion."

"Once a cultivator masters this, they can involve others on a massive scale, binding and tying their own destiny to those of others."

"Our country's Empress Dowager built her fortune from scratch with nothing, relying entirely on the Three Sects Master for her success; he crafted the 'Threads of Human Life' ability for her!"

"It was precisely by relying on this ability that she could make numerous relatives, subordinates, and pioneers suffer the consequences in her stead."

Zhu Xuanji wore a solemn expression and accepted the order with reverence.

He was a Golden Core cultivator. Even if suppressed by the grand formation within the Immortal City, there were only a handful of people in the entire Fire Persimmon Immortal City who could be his match in a real, head-on fight.

What he feared was a failure in the battle of destiny. Once his destiny was weakened, it would be easy for him to fall into a trap that appeared to be a mere coincidence. At that point, even a Golden Core cultivator would have little to rely on.

Liu Ying had been one of his suspects. Now that Liu Ying was dead, Zhu Xuanji discarded his suspicions. "It seems I was overthinking it."

"Come to think of it, that makes sense."

"These suspects are all at the Foundation Establishment stage; how could they possibly comprehend such a supernatural ability?"

The Nandou royal family was highly sensitive regarding the possessors of the Life Ability, as their founding empress had used it as the foundation for her rise to power. If such an individual appeared within their borders, the royal family preferred to eliminate them secretly to prevent them from growing strong enough to threaten the stability of the Nandou Kingdom's rule.

***

The gifting ceremony ended, and Ning Zhuo returned to his clan’s ancestral land.

Ning Zhuo closed his eyes in meditation, focusing his spirit on his Upper Dantian.

In his sea of consciousness, the lotus seed had already sprouted, emitting a faint, brilliant light.

"The embryonic form of the 'Threads of Human Life' ability."

Ning Zhuo had already grasped the purpose of this ability. The power and profundity of supernatural abilities often transcend mere mana. This is because they are built upon a profound understanding of the laws of heaven and earth.

As for Ning Zhuo, on the surface, he was inspired by the stories of immortals and gods, which triggered the Phantom Truth Lotus Seed in his sea of consciousness. But in reality, that was merely a catalyst. The greater prerequisite was Ning Zhuo's own deep insights into how society functions, and the behaviors and thoughts of the human race.

These accumulations underwent a qualitative change under the influence of the stories of the Most Holy Immortal Teacher...

Based on the Phantom Truth Lotus Seed, the prototype of the 'Threads of Human Life' ability sprouted. Because the comprehension was his own to begin with, once the ability was mastered, the cultivator naturally understood all its uses.

"If Han Ming's theory of destiny is correct, then this must be the opportunity I gained because my destiny flourished after defeating Yuan Dasheng."

Ning Zhuo had a realization.

The Golden Blood War Ape, Dasheng, was likely not it. Its primary material was the corpse of Yuan Dasheng, which was something Ning Zhuo already possessed.

Opportunities are often like this. For most people, a story is just a pastime, and no one can derive huge benefits from it. Yet, for a specific individual, the same thing can yield unimaginable rewards.

If an opportunity isn't yours, you cannot benefit from it even if it is placed right in front of you.

***

"Uncle Ning!"

Ning Zhuo took the initiative to visit Ning Xiaoren.

Ning Xiaoren smiled and asked Ning Zhuo the purpose of his visit. But when he learned the reason, his smile stiffened. "You say... you want to forgive your eldest uncle, Ning Ze?"

Ning Zhuo nodded. "Yes."

"I have been tortured by this matter for days. After thinking it over, I have decided to forgive him!"

"After all, he is my closest kin."

Ning Xiaoren was not pleased by this development. Had he not been working hard all these days to win Ning Zhuo over, trying to make him believe that he was the closest and most reliable person?

"Little Zhuo, you really are a kind and good child!"

"An ordinary person would certainly not forgive such an uncle, but you have done so. You have truly impressed me!"

Ning Zhuo showed a shy smile. "Blood is thicker than water, after all. Ning Ze and I are family."

"As long as he can repay me for the resources and spirit stones he embezzled from me over these past sixteen years, that is all!"

"Uh!" Ning Xiaoren was stunned, only then realizing the true intention behind Ning Zhuo’s visit.

He couldn't help but inwardly grumble: Can this kid stop speaking in such cliffhangers?

Ning Zhuo cupped his fists and bowed. "I ask for the Young Clan Leader to preside over this for me."

"That is a perfectly reasonable request." Ning Xiaoren thought for a moment. "Little Zhuo, I will preside over this for you."

Not long after, the two arrived at the private family prison and saw the incarcerated Ning Ze.

When Ning Ze saw Ning Xiaoren arrive, he thought he was there to release him and hurried to the cell door. But in the next moment, Ning Zhuo stated his purpose.

"Uncle, I have thought about it."

"You are my own uncle, after all, and I do not wish to see you suffer."

"As long as you promise to repay me for all the spirit stones and resources you embezzled from me all these years, I will choose to forgive you and not report you."

Ning Ze's eyes widened. He looked at Ning Zhuo and then quickly turned to Ning Xiaoren.

However, Ning Xiaoren was standing behind Ning Zhuo, glaring at him intensely, as if warning him: *Don't you dare spill the beans, or there will be consequences.*

Ning Ze’s lips trembled, feeling incredibly stifled.

He hadn't embezzled any of Ning Zhuo’s spirit stones or cultivation resources; Ning Xiaoren hadn't given him any in the first place! But he could not point this out directly.

Watching Ning Zhuo stare at him, he wished he could slap him across the face right now. But he knew that was impossible.

Ning Zhuo’s status was no longer what it once was; he was highly valued by the clan, and even the Young Clan Leader, Ning Xiaoren, was doing everything he could to win him over.

Finally, Ning Ze took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, "Fine, I will pay you back!"

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Ning Zhuo beamed, then bowed to Ning Xiaoren. "Thank you, Young Clan Leader, for upholding justice for me."

Ning Xiaoren laughed heartily and patted Ning Zhuo on the shoulder, though he thought to himself: *This child is still a bit too greedy for money!*

Ning Ze roared in his heart: *Justice, my foot!*

Ning Zhuo himself already had a forty percent share of the mechanical fire-breathing monkey business, and with the three families combined, the resources provided to him were already very rich and abundant.

He didn't need to covet this 'non-existent' subsidy. But in order to put Ning Xiaoren at ease and further deepen the impression that he was greedy for money, Ning Zhuo chose to do this anyway.

Several days later, Ning Zhuo bade farewell to Ning Xiaoren, saying he missed home and wanted to go back to live for a while.

Ning Xiaoren had long since grown impatient with Ning Zhuo eating, drinking, and sleeping in his bedroom without paying a cent. Considering that Ning Zhuo had already cut ties with Ning Ze’s family, he feigned reluctance until Ning Zhuo pleaded repeatedly, and only then did he agree.