Chapter 102: Yuan Dasheng vs. Meng Chong (Second Encounter)

Ning Zhuo’s bedroom.

The meditation chamber had been completed. Although compact in size, it was sufficient for Ning Zhuo’s needs. He infused the Floating Cloud Scarf with mana, causing billows of clouds to rise and fill the small room. Within this double-layered protection, Ning Zhuo was completely obscured from sight, leaving the four Ning family guards to sigh in frustration.

They reported the situation to the young clan leader, Ning Xiaoren, who dismissed it: "What secrets could a mere Ning Zhuo possibly have? Our previous intelligence gathering has already turned him inside out."

"Youngsters, heh, he still thinks he can keep a few little secrets!"

"Let him have his sense of mystery; it’s not a bad thing."

With this thought, Ning Xiaoren did not order a deep investigation. If Ning Zhuo were to discover it, it would surely damage the good relationship he had worked so hard to cultivate. Ning Xiaoren did not want to take that risk.

This reaction was exactly what Ning Zhuo had anticipated.

Blood energy, like tiny crimson rivers, surged and flowed through Ning Zhuo’s lower dantian, converging in the center. A pool of refined blood had accumulated there, resembling a small pond. As the blood energy continued to pour in, the pond suddenly shuddered and expanded rapidly, quickly tripling in size.

A breakthrough!

At this moment, Ning Zhuo had reached the fourth level of Essence Refining.

"Once the refined blood accumulates to its limit, it will be four times the previous capacity! The increase is significant."

"Hmm, the quality of the refined blood has slightly improved, allowing for faster formation of blood-energy fascia. I can save at least thirty percent of the time it previously took."

"At full operation, the speed of digesting medicinal efficacy has also more than doubled."

Ning Zhuo quickly mapped out the various improvements. What surprised him most was the boost in medicinal digestion. Generally, the further one progresses in cultivation, the slower the results become; the Demonic Blood-Tendon Art was no exception. However, having doubled his digestion speed meant that as long as he had sufficient resources, he could maintain his previous rate of progress—a rare and valuable advantage.

"The philosophy of the Three Sects Master seems to be 'change every three levels'!"

"Whether it’s the mechanism layout in the Lava Immortal Palace or the three cultivation techniques, it holds true. Beyond the third level, there is a qualitative leap."

Ning Zhuo reached this conclusion because his other two techniques had also broken through in recent days. It was a natural progression; all three had been at the peak of the third level, just a step away from the fourth. With the subsequent manuals in hand, it only took a little time and effort to surpass the old limits.

After reaching the fourth level of the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art, his five-element mana was not only more abundant but could also be freely split and merged. Previously, Ning Zhuo had to focus intensely to isolate a specific element for techniques like Ice-Embrace or Fire-Grasp. Now, with a single thought, he could instantly decompose the blended mana.

Often, it is not a lack of practice, but a lack of foundation. It is like a child who must jump to reach a windowsill; as they grow, they need only stand on tiptoe, and eventually, they can reach it just by reaching out.

Among the three techniques, the progress of the Mirror Platform Psychic Art was the most significant. It had reached the fifth level. Ning Zhuo wasn't entirely sure why, but his cultivation of this art had been exceptionally fast, with everything falling into place naturally. He vaguely sensed that this rapid progress in the Buddhist scripture was related to his seizing the opportunity to obtain the "Human Life Hanging Thread" divine ability embryo.

"Buddhist techniques emphasize sudden enlightenment; sometimes, a moment of insight is worth a hundred years of hard work."

"The Human Life Hanging Thread embryo I comprehended is closely linked to the Mirror Platform Psychic Art."

"The Mirror Platform Psychic Art communicates with all sentient things, while the Human Life Hanging Thread can forcibly control a target's every move. Combined with my Buddhist Heart Demon Seal, I can influence consciousness and guide thoughts."

Ning Zhuo was beginning to see the big picture of the Three Sects Master's control methods. After the Mirror Platform Psychic Art reached the fourth level, it underwent a qualitative change. Ning Zhuo discovered that the divine sense mirrors formed at the third level could be merged into a larger, more powerful mirror with a base. Though he lacked the time to practice, he knew intuitively that its psychic capability far exceeded that of the smaller mirrors—at least three times greater.

Now, at the fifth level, there was no qualitative change, but rather a quantitative one: he could summon an additional merged divine sense mirror.

"Hmm?"

Ning Zhuo felt a slight movement. A signal came from the Golden Blood War Ape, Da Sheng.

"Could it be..."

Ning Zhuo immediately stopped the Demonic Blood-Tendon Art and, through the divine sense mirror, observed Yuan Da Sheng’s situation. It was exactly as he suspected: it was Meng Chong.

"Come! Come! Come!" Meng Chong roared, charging recklessly. His puppet body was wreathed in lightning, crackling and popping, forcing Yuan Da Sheng to retreat step by step during the close-quarters brawl.

Ning Zhuo was startled and immediately used the Mirror Platform Psychic Art to manipulate the spiritual power within Yuan Da Sheng, unleashing the Ice-Embrace technique.

One moment, Meng Chong was roaring triumphantly; the next, he was sprayed with freezing mist. His joints were encased in frost, and his speed plummeted. Yuan Da Sheng seized the opportunity to counterattack, his straight punch driving toward Meng Chong’s chest.

Danger.

Meng Chong knew his defenses were weak; if hit, he would surely lose. "Swift Thunder Rush!" he bellowed. His lightning aura surged, transforming into intense electricity that enveloped his entire body. In the next instant, he flashed away like a lightning bolt.

Yuan Da Sheng’s punch hit empty air. He stood his ground, maintaining his stance, facing Meng Chong.

Meng Chong cowered in a corner, his heart still racing. He hadn't expected this mechanical monkey to be able to cast spells. This increased the danger level by at least twofold.

"You failed to finish me in one blow and have revealed your final trump card. Big monkey, today you cannot escape."

Meng Chong regrouped. In just a few breaths, his fear vanished, replaced by renewed fighting spirit. The puppet Meng Chong charged again.

*Crackle, crackle...*

Lightning accompanied his every movement, allowing him to accelerate instantly. Yuan Da Sheng clashed with him once more. The ape’s speed was far inferior, and after a few rounds, he was once again on the defensive.

Watching from the sidelines, Ning Zhuo understood clearly: "Meng Chong has improved again."

"Since his return, his use of the Swift Thunder Rush has reached a new level. While his top speed hasn't exceeded his previous limit, his precision has seen explosive progress."

In terms of pure martial arts, Yuan Da Sheng was still superior, but Meng Chong’s speed was simply far greater. As the saying goes, "All martial arts under heaven can be broken, except for speed." In a life-or-death struggle, being a fraction faster is an insurmountable advantage.

Yuan Da Sheng had managed to hold on this long only because his martial techniques inherited the foundation of his past life, allowing him to fight fast with slow and predict the opponent's moves by observing their start.

"However, Meng Chong, if that is all you have, it isn't enough!" A cold light flashed in Ning Zhuo’s eyes.

"Fire-Grasp!"

The hands of the Golden Blood War Ape, Da Sheng, suddenly ignited, flames coalescing into spheres. Yuan Da Sheng gripped them like balls of fire.

Ning Zhuo chanted silently: "Grasp the fire like a cinnabar heart, let the spirit dance as the strength surges. The flame armor rises in a roar, crimson flows to guard the frame."

Building upon the Fire-Grasp, he cast another spell: Fire-Grasp — Bath of Fire.

Yuan Da Sheng gently squeezed the fire spheres, shattering them into countless sparks. The sparks blossomed into a torrent of flame, rapidly coating his entire body. He stood wreathed in fire, as if encased in armor. The flames roared, radiating immense heat.

Meng Chong was dumbfounded. He stared at the towering inferno, then at his own wooden puppet body, and finally fixed his gaze on the Golden Blood War Ape’s golden bones and red-rock physique.

Envy.

Yuan Da Sheng was immune to the flames, but Meng Chong was not.

Yuan Da Sheng stood motionless, beckoning with a finger as if to say, "Keep attacking, come and hit me!"

"I..." Meng Chong couldn't help but curse.

Suppressing his rage, he gritted his teeth and attacked once more. Moments later, Meng Chong was covered in flames, burnt into large chunks of charred wood, scattered across the floor.