Chapter 52: An Unexpected Incident

Peak of the third layer of Qi Refining!

Zheng Jian’s soul was forcibly drawn into the palace.

The moment he received this information, his innate ability, Heart-Piercing Insight, was also triggered.

“Through Room One, enter Room Two?”

Instinctively, he activated the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Technique.

Moments later, he touched the portal. When it came time to choose a reward, he once again focused his mind, hoping to trigger Heart-Piercing Insight.

Nothing happened.

Zheng Jian wasn’t discouraged. He analyzed the situation and chose the hanging ring among the mechanical components.

Though he wasn’t skilled in mechanism arts, his profound experience in artifact refinement quickly allowed him to discover its true purpose.

But just as he was about to push open the door, an incomparable sense of dread crashed through his mind!

“Death! Death! Death!!”

The intuition granted by Heart-Piercing Insight made his whole body tremble.

Gritting his teeth, Zheng Jian found himself filled with greater courage: “So, there’s a deadly threat behind this door?”

“How can I know if I don’t see it myself?”

He opened the door.

He stepped inside.

Bang!

He shattered.

...

Dungeon.

Ning Zhuo gently lengthened the chains and said to Han Ming, “You’ve worked hard these days. Rest well for a while.”

He had always used chains to keep Han Ming standing.

Since Han Ming’s attitude changed, she had cooperated willingly with Ning Zhuo, transferring the essence of her soul. Ning Zhuo, in turn, relaxed the restraints more and more; this time, by lengthening the chain, Han Ming could lie directly on the ground.

Han Ming was exhausted. She collapsed, closed her eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

Ning Zhuo absorbed the soul essence from the Soul Capturing Shuttle, discovering that his soul power was now nearly fifty times what it had been!

“The foundation of my soul, the Golden Silk Jade Dew Cakes, and various elixirs have all kept my spirit refinement advancing at a rapid pace.”

“Demonic techniques are supposed to be the fastest, but the speed of the Mirror Platform Spirit Communion Technique is nearly equal.”

Now, he had cultivated both techniques to the first layer.

This was the fastest progress he had ever made.

Nearly every day, there was visible improvement.

It made him deeply addicted to cultivation, unable to extricate himself.

...

Zheng Jian exerted all his strength and pushed open the first door.

Bang.

Zhou Zhu clenched his teeth and crashed through the first door.

Bang.

Zheng Jian: “Hmph, let’s change tactics. This time, I’ll use the hanging ring’s cord to block the overhead sledgehammer. That should buy me some time.”

Bang.

Zhou Zhu: “Following the method Ashen taught me, I should be able to break through this time.”

Bang.

...

First place in all five rankings!

Refining Essence: Layer Two. Refining Spirit: Layer Two.

In a cheerful mood, Ning Zhuo collected his rewards.

He had to choose spirit stones, and he did so twice.

Immediately, two hundred spirit stones were in his hands.

There was no other way—with Zhou Zhu and Zheng Jian joining in, Ning Zhuo’s mechanical traps were being consumed faster.

With three remaining choices, Ning Zhuo selected two sets of spells and one mechanical component.

He had already tested it: if he chose a spell he had already learned, the experience and insights he gained were greater, saving him vast amounts of time and energy. It was the most cost-effective option.

As for the mechanical component, he confirmed his previous theory. Components selected from the ranking would be treated as legacy items, inherited by the next round of exploration.

However, most of the components Ning Zhuo exchanged were used to set up traps.

...

Thanks to Ning Zhuo’s arrangements, Zhou Zhu and Zheng Jian’s exploration quickly shifted from initial wonder to shock, then pain, and finally descended into despair.

“Why? Why is it so hard?!”

“We’ve been at it for so long, yet we still can’t get through the first door?”

Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu looked at each other.

They had long since met and confirmed each other’s identity.

“This can’t go on. Zhou Zhu, we’ll only have a chance if we cooperate,” Zheng Jian offered.

Zhou Zhu nodded, “Fine, you go first.”

Zheng Jian was taken aback, staring at him: “Are you kidding? You’re built like a pillar—if we rush in together, you can take the brunt of the hammer, giving me time to get through.”

“Why shouldn’t you shield me?” Zhou Zhu retorted.

Neither could persuade the other, and so they reached an impasse.

Neither was willing to make sacrifices for the other.

...

Through hidden mechanical components, Ning Zhuo observed the scene afterward.

“It seems the day when the Zhou Family, Zheng Family, and City Lord’s Mansion join forces isn’t far off,” Ning Zhuo thought with clarity.

It was inevitable.

Without cooperation, they couldn’t even get through the first door—only by working together did hope exist.

In fact, the higher-ups of the Zhou Family and Zheng Family had already reached a consensus: only sincere cooperation could be the foundation for passing the trial!

Zhou Family: “The three patriarchs are compassionate, guiding us toward peaceful coexistence and mutual cooperation.”

Zheng Family: “It must be so. The Lava Immortal Palace has emerged, and rumors are spreading far and wide. We must seize the moment, work together, and strive to claim the palace before the outside world reacts!”

After reaching this consensus, the Zhou Family and Zheng Family secretly contacted the City Lord’s Mansion.

Meng Chong was approached. Upon hearing their intent, he snorted disdainfully: “Only the weak gather together. True strength is solitary!”

Having completed his special training, Meng Chong was once again drawn into the Lava Immortal Palace.

Under the excited gaze of the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, he pushed open the door and entered.

Click!

A soft sound—a flash of lightning.

The fishing net swung in, just a beat too late.

The sledgehammer struck, but hit nothing.

Everywhere between the walls were tough, transparent threads.

Meng Chong identified the position of each thread, slipped through the gaps, and passed every obstacle!

He stood tall and proud before the second door: “Hmph, Room Two is nothing special.”

He selected the spirit stone reward, then forcefully pushed open the door and entered Room Three.

Inside Room Three, thirty or forty martial puppets lifted their heads in unison, pairs of eyes shining with piercing yellow light.

These had all been frozen by Ning Zhuo, painstakingly moved from later levels to Room Two.

Meng Chong: ...

Moments later, his soul returned to his body.

Having used immortal resources too many times, Meng Chong’s cheekbones were now sharply protruding, his eye bags swollen and dark.

“Room Three is even harder!” He glared, wanting to get up and continue cultivating. But he was too exhausted; as soon as he tried to rise, his vision blacked out, and he collapsed in sleep.

...

“Truly extraordinary talent,” Ning Zhuo sighed sincerely after reviewing Meng Chong’s breakthrough.

“Though Meng Chong hasn't teamed up yet, still working alone, his success will surely push the Zhou and Zheng Families to join forces.”

“Once the truth is known, these three factions will urge everyone to switch their training methods.”

“So next, I’ll be facing more and more teams of cultivators.”

Ning Zhuo was beginning to feel he couldn't keep up.

The more people there were, the greater another problem became: Ning Zhuo's comings and goings in the immortal palace were more likely to be noticed, increasing the risk of exposure sharply.

That day, he once again entered the Lava Immortal Palace.

“What’s going on?!”

He entered Room Two to find all the mechanisms destroyed.

The thousand-jin sledgehammer platform had been pushed to the wall.

The massive horizontal logs were snapped.

The scene was a complete mess.

He quickly retrieved hidden mechanical parts to review the previous events.

In the next moment, Ning Zhuo’s entire being was shaken to the core.