Chapter 22: Reluctant to Bully Ning Zhuo (Special thanks to "Thank You, Gu Yue Fang Yuan" for the Golden Alliance!)

Underground workshop.

Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes and reached up to wipe the blood from his nose.

Within his body, the pale blue frost mana had vanished. In its place surged mana of the Five Elements—white for metal, green for wood, black for water, red for fire, and yellow for earth. The five colors intertwined but did not mingle, each distinct and well-defined.

"In the natural world, the spiritual power of the Five Elements generates and restrains itself; stabilizing and balancing them for coexistence over time is exceedingly difficult."

"Yet with the cultivation art of the Five Elements Qi Law, spiritual energy can be transformed into elemental mana, which then remains in harmony and clear layers."

"No wonder it was passed down by the masters of the Three Sects!"

"Second level of Qi Refinement..."

Previously, Ning Zhuo had been at the third level of Qi Refinement; after fully transforming his mana, he was left at the second. The conversion of mana came at a cost—something to be expected, and Ning Zhuo had anticipated it.

Now, he had only to continue his cultivation, accumulating mana until he reached the third level again.

"I wonder when I’ll hear the bell of the Law Transmission again."

Exhausted in both body and spirit after the transformation, Ning Zhuo decided to rest and recuperate. He took a few Nourishing Pills to help his body adapt more quickly to the new mana.

The Nourishing Pill had many virtues: its medicinal effect was gentle, acting slowly and placing almost no burden on the body. Its greatest drawback was its price—one pill cost more than a hundred spirit stones.

Just as he finished taking the pills, a clear, bell-like chime rang through the room.

This was the alarm mechanism: a notification that someone suspicious was near his residence.

Ning Zhuo approached his work desk and gave the table leg a gentle kick. Instantly, the wall facing him rattled; the bricks slid aside to reveal a mirror.

Within the mirror, he saw the "suspicious visitor"—Chen Cha.

Chen Cha stood at the gate of Ning Zhuo’s small courtyard, hands clasped behind his back, pacing uncertainly and wearing a troubled expression as he stared at the ground.

A glint of speculation flashed in Ning Zhuo’s eyes. "Chen Cha? Why is he coming to see me of his own accord?"

"It must be something to do with the Mechanical Fire Monkey. There must be new developments."

The thought brought Ning Zhuo a touch of delight.

Chen Cha paced restlessly at the courtyard entrance, his mind replaying the events that had led him here.

Fei Si had summoned him to inform him: the Mechanical Fire Monkey had been approved by the City Lord, and the entire network of mechanical workshops in the city was to be mobilized to produce this device for the mass harvest of fire persimmons during this year’s Fire Persimmon Festival.

Fei Si had encouraged him: "You are the talent I recruited to the city. Do your best—give it your all! If you succeed, your whole life will change."

Chen Cha had been taken aback and quickly explained, "Lord Fei Si, you misunderstand me. The reason I brought you the Mechanical Monkey was to request a favorable policy, to ease the taxes and fees on the Disc Workshop."

"In fact, I am not the one who designed this mechanical monkey. The true creator is someone else."

Chen Cha specialized in formations and mechanical arts. He was the sort who could endure solitude and hardship for the sake of his craft, disdaining deceit and never willing to claim another’s work as his own.

He had once suspected Ning Zhuo of doing just that when they had previously spoken.

Fei Si paused in surprise. "Not your work?"

He truly hadn’t known. With a dismissive laugh, he said, "It’s nothing important. You’re the workshop master—whose credit it is, is up to you."

But Chen Cha had his principles. He shook his head decisively. "My lord, I am not capable enough to have designed such an exquisite device."

"To develop such a mechanism, from concept to completion, must have required countless failures and hardships. The inventor must have poured endless effort and thought into it!"

"To claim another’s creation is no different from killing a man and stealing his child."

"I beg your discernment, my lord."

A cold glint flashed in Fei Si’s eyes, a sign of his annoyance.

To him, the credit for this device must go to Chen Cha—because Chen Cha was his subordinate. Chen Cha’s achievements would reflect on his own.

But Fei Si’s face broke into a smile; he patted Chen Cha’s shoulder and praised him instead. "It’s precisely this character of yours that I admire."

"Though this invention isn’t yours, I believe you’ll create something even more brilliant in the future."

Chen Cha was moved. "Thank you for your trust, my lord!"

Years ago, it was Fei Si’s invitation that had brought Chen Cha to Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

He had not realized then how hard life in the city would be. He had poured his heart into managing the Disc Workshop, but by this year, it was on the verge of collapse.

Still, Fei Si had truly given him an opportunity, and for that, Chen Cha remained deeply grateful.

Fei Si now asked casually, "Tell me, which cultivator invented this mechanical monkey?"

Since Chen Cha would not act, Fei Si decided he would intervene himself and "assist" by removing this problem for Chen Cha.

In a city as vast as Fire Persimmon Immortal City, what did it matter if one or two obscure mechanical craftsmen disappeared?

Chen Cha, suspecting nothing, simply gave a brief introduction of Ning Zhuo.

"Only at the third level of Qi Refinement..." Fei Si sneered inwardly, but then caught the rest, "Hmm? A member of the Ning family?"

Fei Si’s brow furrowed slightly.

That complicated matters.

He immediately abandoned his previous dark intentions.

For this involved the Ning family—a force at the Golden Core level. Provoking them would be most troublesome.

Of the four great powers in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, the Ning family was acknowledged to be the weakest; they had but a single Golden Core cultivator.

However, their Golden Core patriarch had proven his strength in real battle.

Sixteen years ago, during the Ning family’s migration, they had been ambushed. The patriarch had fought two enemies alone, repelled their attackers, and saved most of his kin—a feat that had earned him a formidable reputation.

It was this reputation that allowed the other three factions to accept the Ning family’s settlement in the city. Though minor frictions occurred among the four major powers, these were kept in check and rarely escalated.

To lay a hand on Ning Zhuo was to risk a conflict with the Ning family and their Golden Core master—a price Fei Si would never willingly pay for such a trivial reward.

It simply was not worth it.

Thwarted, Fei Si’s mind quickly devised another plan.

He sighed, "Chen Cha, you’ve put me in a difficult position."

Chen Cha was instantly alarmed. "My lord, you are my benefactor. It was only because of your patronage that I was able to cultivate in Fire Persimmon Immortal City. Why do you say such a thing?"

Fei Si continued, "Your report was ambiguous, leading me to believe the mechanical monkey was your invention."

"I’ve already vouched for you before the City Lord and even secured a merit award for you."

"Ah, I have always trusted you."

"But now the matter is settled. If the truth comes out, what do you think the City Lord will do to us?"

"I’ll be fine. My concern is for you. For you, this is the crime of falsely claiming credit!"

Chen Cha turned pale with panic. "What should I do? Please, my lord, help me!"

Feigning deep thought, Fei Si stroked his beard and finally said, "Here’s what you must do: go speak with Ning Zhuo. See if you can persuade him to transfer the rights to the mechanical monkey to you. You’re much older than he is—Ning Zhuo is only sixteen. What does a young academy cultivator know of the world? Talk to him, reason with him."

Chen Cha was dismayed. "But..."

In truth, he was utterly unwilling.

Fei Si gave a cold laugh inwardly, but outwardly sighed. "Chen Cha, this is for your own good! If you don’t go along with it and the City Lord discovers the truth, you’ll be the one to suffer. The punishment for falsely claiming credit is not a light one."

A few casual examples from Fei Si had Chen Cha breaking out in a cold sweat.

"Ah, things have come to this—I must persuade Ning Zhuo. No, I must succeed in persuading him!" Chen Cha lamented inwardly, forced to change his resolve.

He admired Ning Zhuo greatly, saw in him a kindred spirit, perhaps even a confidant.

Yet when his own reputation and life were at stake, and with Fei Si, who had once helped him, now involved, he had no choice but to proceed.

Fei Si’s status and power were far above his own. Chen Cha was just a humble Foundation Establishment cultivator, unable to appeal directly to the City Lord, and unfamiliar with the inner workings of the government. With a few words, Fei Si could manipulate him completely.

Chen Cha had never wanted to oppress or harm Ning Zhuo, but in the presence of a Golden Core master like Fei Si, he was just a small figure.

And small figures are always at the mercy of others.

After making his inquiries, Chen Cha arrived at Ning Zhuo’s residence.

He did not knock, but paced anxiously at the gate, sighing inwardly.

"Master Chen, what brings you here?" The gate opened, and Ning Zhuo emerged in fresh, clean robes.

Chen Cha turned to see a youth in immaculate white, his eyes clear and bright, temperament extraordinary.

The young man stood tall and straight. Sunlight poured down from above, casting his figure into sharp relief; with the flowers and greenery of the courtyard as a backdrop, he seemed brimming with youthful vitality, pure and radiant.

Seeing Ning Zhuo so fresh and unspoiled, Chen Cha’s guilt surged tenfold.

He had spent many years immersed in technical study and had always resented the injustices of society.

Yet today, he must act the part of one who forces a junior, who delivers the darkness and harshness of reality.

A crushing weight of sorrow and pain settled upon Chen Cha’s heart.