The Nanming Fire Furnace now has a new master, and the Xingyun Trial was soon announced to be concluded.
Ning Zhuo didn’t hurry to leave; instead, he stayed at Danxia Peak, using the venue to meet key figures for individual discussions and settlements one by one.
This time, it was Ning Zhuo’s turn to set the order.
The first choice was already decided, and there could be no other—Zhong Limei!
Upon meeting Ning Zhuo, Zhong Limei smiled, "Your performance was truly astonishing, quite beyond my expectations, and opened my eyes."
"Let’s put other matters aside for the moment."
"Are you willing to join Danxia Peak, my young friend?"
Ning Zhuo shook his head, about to reply.
Zhong Limei extended his hand to add, "Ning Zhuo, I’m asking again on behalf of Peak Master Wang Yu. Of course, Peak Master Wang Yu is mindful of your relationship with Lord Zhong Dao."
"Therefore, here and now, Peak Master Wang Yu guarantees on behalf of Danxia Peak that as long as you join us, he will handle things with Zhong Dao!"
"Previously, Peak Master Wang Yu offered three core treasures from the main peak, and now he adds another one. Along with the Nanming Fire Furnace in your hands, you would have five core treasures at once."
"Moreover, in the future, you’ll receive first-tier resource support from our peak, nurturing you with all our strength. Once you achieve the Golden Core, you’ll automatically bee a steward of our peak. If you reach Nascent Soul, you will be our Elder!"
"The forces behind you, whether righteous or unrighteous, can engage in long-term trade with our peak. The only difference is whether it’s public or private."
Ning Zhuo had no hesitation and decisively shook his head, graciously declining.
Wang Yu indeed demonstrated genuine sincerity, and he definitely could ensure Zhong Dao would not trouble Ning Zhuo.
However, Ning Zhuo also possesses profound insights into the Righteous Path and deeply understands that if he agrees to switch to Danxia Peak, the hidden losses would be unimaginably huge!
"So be it," Zhong Limei sighed, "That was the first question. Peak Master Wang Yu also instructed me to bring a second."
Ning Zhuo extended his hand, "Please speak frankly, Elder Zhong."
Zhong Limei’s gaze sharpened, staring into Ning Zhuo’s eyes, "Peak Master Wang Yu inquires whether Ning Zhuo, my young friend, had long possessed the ability to have the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit recognize you as master?"
Ning Zhuo’s heart skipped slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. He shook his head again, denying without hesitation, "How could that be?"
"I was merely trying."
"Otherwise, during the final round, I wouldn’t have borrowed so many treasures from the Evil Slaying Hall."
"I was merely choosing to take a gamble before repairing the artifact."
"These treasures were unused and will be returned to the Evil Slaying Hall shortly."
Ning Zhuo paused and continued, "The reason I was able to obtain the Nanming Fire Furnace was simply because I grasped the deep thoughts of the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit. I admit, I possess such Spirit munication Technique, a rare advantage."
"But the advantage is not enough for me to be confident in such arrangements. Peak Master Wang Yu overestimates me."
Zhong Limei quietly listened to Ning Zhuo’s explanation, his gaze subtly conveying the meaning—since you succeeded, you are the only one who managed to pacify the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit and municate with it, whatever you say is right!
Ning Zhuo continued to praise Wang Yu, saying that he was sharp-eyed, possibly even recognizing Ning Zhuo’s unique advantage earlier, thus visiting personally to solicit in the middle of the night.
Zhong Limei said, "In truth, the various treasures you borrowed from the merce Hall were indeed under the guidance of our peak."
Ning Zhuo nodded, "I’ve long suspected that, and I’m grateful for Danxia Peak’s regard. Lord Zhong, let’s nonetheless settle the debts between us."
Zhong Limei sighed once more, feeling helpless facing the unyielding Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo looked troubled, "The other treasures can easily be appraised. But as for the hundred-year-old Pill Qi you consumed, Elder Zhong, how should we calculate that?"
Zhong Limei’s eye twitched.
In his bid for the Nanming Fire Furnace, he extracted a full three hundred years of accumulated Pill Qi from himself and invested it into the Nanming Fire Furnace.
Using such abundant Pill Qi to nourish the Pill Furnace Spirit may not show effects in the short term, but in the long run, the Vermilion Bird Artifact Spirit will benefit, growing more intelligent and clear.
Zhong Limei sacrificed selflessly, volunteering to make such a sacrifice mainly because his lifespan was nearing its end.
As an Elder of Danxia Peak, naturally, he didn’t want to see the Nanming Fire Furnace fall into the hands of outsiders.
Therefore, he made such a heavy bet.
Yet, despite his best efforts to retain it, it ultimately went to Ning Zhuo, an outsider to Danxia Peak.
At this moment, Zhong Limei couldn’t help but recall the Divine Sense Transmission from Wang Yu to him earlier.
Wang Yu directly told Zhong Limei not to underestimate Ning Zhuo. Despite his young age, his tactics are mature, well versed in the rules of the Righteous Path.
Based on Ning Zhuo’s rank, the possibility of him agreeing to recruitment was extremely small, practically impossible.
As for Danxia Peak’s efforts in helping Ning Zhuo pletely repair the Nanming Fire Furnace, the proposal was even less necessary.
Ultimately, Wang Yu told Zhong Limei the primary goal this time—not to recruit Ning Zhuo, but to reduce the likelihood of Ning Zhuo joining the Evil Slaying Hall.
The more Wang Yu understood Ning Zhuo, the more he valued the latter’s future, not wishing to see such a promising junior join Zhong Dao’s side, strengthening the Evil Slaying Hall!
Zhong Limei posed the clutter in his Divine Sea, speaking to Ning Zhuo, "We’ll leave the Pill Qi aside for now. There’s another deal—if my young friend swears not to join the Evil Slaying Hall in the future, half of your debt to our peak will be directly forgiven!"
Ning Zhuo was slightly stunned.
In the last round of Zhong Limei’s trial, he used the most treasure materials of everyone. He even won five chirps!
For Ning Zhuo, repaying this debt in a short time was basically a fantasy.
In fact, the debts Ning Zhuo owed to Danxia Peak also included the subsidies he received from the merce Hall, such as Nine Heavens Profound Iron, Purple Mansion Spiritual Liquid, Flowing Cloud Sand, Taibai Gold Essence, Heavenly Crystal, Thick Earth, and so on.
The refining furnace and fire seed he used were also rented from the merce Hall.
Besides these, there were debts to other individuals.
For instance, Jiang Ping, Shen Hongyao, Qin Ke, and the last round’s Red Robe Guest.
The debt Ning Zhuo owed to these people was actually backed by Danxia Peak.
Therefore, the condition set by Zhong Limei to waive half of the debt was indeed very generous!
This shows how much effort and cost Danxia Peak put into keeping the Nanming Fire Furnace.
Seeing Ning Zhuo ponder silently, Zhong Limei added that if Ning Zhuo was not satisfied with the offer to waive half of the debt, the specific proportion could be discussed in detail.
Ning Zhuo shook his head, then nodded, "I agree."
This time it was Zhong Limei’s turn to be stunned, and he couldn’t quite believe his ears, so he asked again, "Little friend Ning Zhuo, what did you just say?"
Ning Zhuo extended his hand: "We can draft the contract right now."
A moment later, Zhong Limei looked at the signed contract in his hand, his expression plex and hard to describe.
The contract explicitly stated: If Ning Zhuo activates this condition, waiving half of Danxia Peak’s debt, then he cannot join the Evil Slaying Hall.
"Although the initiative is still in Ning Zhuo’s hands, just having this contract is enough to create a rift between Zhong Dao and Ning Zhuo."
Zhong Limei felt quite satisfied, thinking, "And this is sufficient for me to report back to Wang Yu."
"Danxia Peak went all out in an attempt to keep the Nanming Fire Furnace, and that is correct. But... Who let Ning Zhuo master such an excellent Spirit munication Technique?"
Zhong Limei left full of emotion.
If contributions were calculated, the second place would undoubtedly be the Nine Fire Dragon Lord. But Ning Zhuo, understanding the status of Demon Cultivators, chose to settle accounts with the second cultivator, who was — Chun Yangzi.
"Elder Chun Yangzi, please have a seat so we can discuss in detail." Ning Zhuo stood up and cupped his hands in salute.
Chun Yangzi naturally wouldn’t be polite. He sat down directly and saw that Ning Zhuo took out a Jade Slip and handed it to him.
Chun Yangzi took it, used his Divine Sense to read it, and found it to be an inventory, listing the treasure materials he had used over time to repair the Nanming Fire Furnace.
The first two items were the Pure Yang Golden Pill and the Pure Yang True Fire Pearl, followed by a long list of treasures, including Spiritual Treasures.
Chun Yangzi’s expression became somewhat grave.
These were not just his personal resources, but also the resources of the Pure Yang Palace. This event had greatly depleted the foundation of the Pure Yang Palace, causing significant damage.
Chun Yangzi put down the Jade Slip, looked at Ning Zhuo, and praised his outstanding acumen.
Ning Zhuo: "Senior Chun Yangzi, you flatter me. It was just a lucky victory, not worthy of such praise."
Chun Yangzi: "Little friend Ning Zhuo, let me be straightforward. I still wish to purchase the Nanming Fire Furnace. Name your price."
Ning Zhuo shook his head: "Senior, I’ve already made my position clear on this in public. It is part of my family values: no rewards without merit, no wealth without fate."
Chun Yangzi’s eyebrows moved slightly: "Family values? Little friend, I am quite curious — which family might your background belong to?"
Ning Zhuo chuckled lightly: "Senior, this question was personally asked by Peak Master Wang Yu last night. I did not answer him. When the time es for this question to be revealed, it will naturally be revealed."
Chun Yangzi looked at Ning Zhuo, and a strange feeling surged in his heart.
This young man sitting opposite him was only at Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage, yet he showed no fear facing a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator like him.
Ning Zhuo was neither arrogant nor too humble, calm and unhurried. This posure was not an act, nor was it forcibly maintained, but more like... a habit.
Ning Zhuo seemed to be familiar with Nascent Soul Cultivators, as if he had been in talks with Divinity Transformation Cultivators.
"This child might have a very deep background, possibly from a superpower, and he is probably a genius among them," Chun Yangzi thought to himself, as his gaze grew deeper, and Ning Zhuo’s weight in his heart kept increasing.
Little did he know, Ning Zhuo had been plotting against Nascent Soul Level Immortal City Lords since childhood. Recently, he even defeated a Transforming Spirit Level Monarch.
Naturally, he had demystified Nascent Soul Great Cultivators.
Chun Yangzi carefully calculated and acknowledged the debt list presented by Ning Zhuo, intending to determine a deadline for repaying the debt.
Ning Zhuo shook his head and directly refused: "Elder Chun Yangzi, clarifying the debt with you is already the limit of what I can do at the moment."
"There is no way I can set a fixed deadline because I don’t know when I can repay this debt either."
Chun Yangzi was left speechless.
This younger generation could be quite cheeky but surprisingly candid at the same time!
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