Chapter 101: Yuan Er Comes Seeking Help

“Right here!” Early in the morning, Yuan Er arrived at the entrance of Ning Zhuo’s small courtyard.

As he tried to enter, a Ning family cultivator in the Qi Refining stage on patrol quickly appeared to block his way. “Halt.”

Yuan Er was at the Foundation Establishment stage, but upon seeing the identity belt worn by the Qi Refining stage cultivator, he dared not act rashly. “I’m here to find Ning Zhuo. I am Yuan Er, the current leader of the Monkey Head Gang.”

“Please wait a moment. I’ll report this,” the Qi Refining cultivator glanced at Yuan Er, then exchanged a look with his companions who had just arrived.

His companions nodded and stationed themselves at the courtyard entrance, blocking Yuan Er.

Yuan Er was inwardly dismayed. How could the leader of a gang be stopped outside the courtyard by a mere Qi Refining cultivator while seeking someone?

However, over the past few days, he had gathered quite a bit of intelligence. He knew Ning Zhuo was highly valued by the Ning family and was a favorite of the young clan leader, Ning Xiaoren.

“Why don’t I have a great family to rely on?” Yuan Er thought bitterly. Just then, the cultivator who went to report returned and said, “You may enter.”

Yuan Er stepped into the courtyard, walking a few steps before pausing slightly.

He sensed a trace of Foundation Establishment stage energy, but it vanished quickly.

He immediately understood—it was deliberately leaked as a warning not to act recklessly.

Yuan Er’s heart jolted. “What could Ning Zhuo have done to earn such favor from the family that they would assign a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator to protect him?”

The tripartite alliance for cultivation was confidential to outsiders.

Yuan Er still didn’t know the full story.

“Leader Yuan Er, please come in!” At this moment, Ning Zhuo appeared with a polite smile to greet him.

Instead of leading him to the study, Ning Zhuo took him to the bedroom.

“Apologies, I had to set up a cultivation room temporarily. Please don’t mind,” Ning Zhuo explained.

Yuan Er then saw three formation masters busily arranging something.

He immediately recognized these three as renowned masters in the market, all at the Foundation Establishment stage—none were Qi Refining.

Yuan Er instantly felt Ning Zhuo’s wealth and influence, deepening his sense of restraint.

Ning Zhuo did not invite him to sit, so Yuan Er awkwardly stood near the doorway.

Ning Zhuo communicated with the formation masters, occasionally glancing at Yuan Er askance, gauging his reactions.

After a moment, Ning Zhuo turned to Yuan Er. “Leader Yuan Er, as you can see, I’m busy here. What brings you?”

Yuan Er said, “Mr. Ning, may we speak somewhere more private?”

Ning Zhuo declined, pointing to the cultivation chamber. “As you see, I have to watch over this. I can’t leave.”

“I can guess why you’re here.”

“You want a customized mechanical monkey, right?”

“Yes, yes!” Yuan Er hurriedly nodded. “Mr. Ning, you really remember!”

“I’ve kept it in mind,” Ning Zhuo sighed. “But I’ve been slow recently.”

“A few days ago, I was still living on the family estate.”

“Though I was fortunate to stay for many days at the residence of our young clan leader, I thought it more convenient to move back. I’m more accustomed to this way of living.”

“So, as you can see, I first set up a small space for cultivation.”

“I’m a bit busy. You’ll have to be patient and wait.”

Yuan Er naturally wouldn’t be so easily brushed off.

He lowered his stance, politely inquiring about Ning Zhuo’s timeline.

Ning Zhuo sighed. “It’s hard to say. The family is about to prepare a test to assess my innate talent.”

“I can’t give you a definite answer yet, but rest assured, I will.”

“Test innate talent?” Yuan Er was startled.

Even the three formation masters paused and glanced at Ning Zhuo.

Having a spiritual root was common, but possessing innate talent was rare.

Even inferior innate talent marked a genuine prodigy.

“Could it be that Ning Zhuo has shown innate talent, thus earning the family’s favor?” Yuan Er inevitably speculated.

In an instant, his evaluation of Ning Zhuo rose to a whole new level.

Though he was the leader of the Monkey Head Gang, he struggled to command respect and lacked powerful aides.

Facing a prodigious cultivator favored by a great cultivation family, he dared not be forceful.

After being given the cold shoulder for a while, unable to endure the awkwardness, Yuan Er took the initiative to leave.

Ning Zhuo smiled again. “I’ll see you out.”

Though he said so, he only escorted Yuan Er to the bedroom door.

Just after Yuan Er left, a Foundation Establishment stage Ning family guard whispered to Ning Zhuo, “There’s a tail following Yuan Er!”

Since Yuan Er entered the courtyard, this tail had been quietly trailing him, never leaving.

“As soon as Yuan Er leaves, the tail will leave too.”

“Should we warn Yuan Er?”

The guard was unsure of the true relationship between Yuan Er and Ning Zhuo, so he reported promptly and in detail.

Ning Zhuo thought for a moment and shook his head. “Leader Yuan Er is strong. There’s no need to warn him!”

The guard immediately understood and fell silent.

Ning Zhuo’s gaze was deep and inscrutable. From beginning to end, he never considered handing over the mechanical creation made from Yuan Dasheng’s corpse to Yuan Er.

Yuan Er’s problem did not require his intervention because the elders of the Monkey Head Gang, as well as Yuan Yi and Yuan Dasheng, had spent most of their lives embroiled in enmities that would handle this matter.

Ning Zhuo only needed to delay matters as much as possible.

As for the family’s intent to test his talent, that was not a problem.

“For Ning Xiaohui’s sake, the family would hardly reveal my talent easily.”

“At most, they’ll put on a show to prove to the Zhou and Zheng families that I do have talent—it’s just that the results haven’t manifested yet.”

The Ning family!

Ning Xiaohui’s entire body radiated cold, her hands plunged deep into the ice. Her lips had turned a shade of blue from the cold.

Her grandmother stayed by her side the whole time, encouraging her. “Xiaohui, hold on.”

“You need to truly feel the icy chill.”

Ning Xiaohui shivered. “Grandma, must it be like this? Can’t we try another method?”

Her grandmother shook her head gently. “This is the fastest way.”

“Innate talent is the soil for divine abilities. This method fully stimulates your talent, allowing more to manifest.”

“If this were the Northern Wind Kingdom, where you grew up among ice and snow, you would better understand the icy jade hands.”

“Unfortunately, this is the Southern Bean Kingdom, and we live atop an active volcano. The environment is different, giving you little understanding of your talent.”

“No, I can’t! I’m freezing to death!” Ning Xiaohui couldn’t hold on and finally withdrew her hands, failing the attempt.

Her grandmother sighed deeply but, seeing Ning Xiaohui cry, did not rebuke her.

Atop Fire Persimmon Mountain, clouds and mist swirled!

Meng Chong hovered midair, eyes wide, staring intently at the surrounding smoke.

Boom!

A thunderclap sounded as gray-white mist suddenly flashed with azure light!

Lightning pierced the mist, dyeing it blue.

Meng Chong didn’t have time to react before a bolt struck him. He threw back his head, coughing up blood, and was thrown backward.

“Damn it! How hateful!”

“The clouds blocked my view—I couldn’t see the lightning’s approach!”

Meng Chong was utterly exhausted.

Though Meng Kui had replenished his vital essence, his magical power and spirit remained weak.

Even Meng Kui, at Nascent Soul stage, could do little for these aspects.

It wasn’t that Meng Kui lacked pills to restore magic and spirit, but cultivators must also exercise the appropriate profound arts to absorb the pill’s power quickly.

Otherwise, the accumulation of medicinal power would backfire, damaging the body or even endangering life.

Meng Chong only knew the Five Elements Qi Regulation Technique, and only its first three levels—too inefficient at digesting the pill’s power.

Moreover, he had no corresponding technique for spirit or soul cultivation—his absorption ability was extremely weak.

Boom!

Another fierce strike hit Meng Chong, his charred skin peeling in layers. Cracks appeared over his hardened body, leaking fresh blood.

He had become a bloodied figure, his body unable to bear the burden, yet his fighting spirit burned ever stronger.

“Come on!”

“Again!”

“Again!”

Boom, boom, boom...

Struck nearly to death, his life hanging by a thread, suddenly he gained insight.

Sizzle...

Electric sparks danced over his body, forming a phantom woven from lightning.

This apparition clung closely to his body and limbs, mutually dependent.

When another bolt came, Meng Chong’s body flickered, leaving behind a lightning shadow while his true form evaded.

He dodged the lightning; the remaining shadow was pierced but instead absorbed the electric power.

The sizzling sound grew louder and the form more solid.

“Using my innate talent this way consumes far less energy than before!”

“The key is, I can accelerate only certain parts of my spiritual body. That alone can handle that special mechanical monkey!”

“Hahaha, I’m coming! I’m almost there!”

Meng Chong raised his arms and laughed heartily.

Meng Kui nodded silently, a look of admiration on his face. He thought, “As expected of my grandson—brave, diligent, fearless. He hasn’t brought shame to the Meng name!”