Ning Family.
Council Hall.
The Spirit Light Lamp emitted a bright glow.
The Ning Family Clan Leader, the Young Clan Leader, and all the Family Elders gathered here.
A few jade slips were being passed among them, recording the entire process of the major examination of the Ning Family this year.
The Clan Leader caressed the jade slip in his hand, his eyes slightly closed, and the scenes in the jade slip replayed continuously in his mind.
Unlike in previous years, this year he focused on the assessment of Mechanical Techniques.
This year, the content of the Ning Family's major examination in Mechanical Techniques had changed to the control of puppet strings.
The young cultivators infused mana, channeling it through the strings and into the puppet.
Through the dual effects of Divine Sense and mana, the puppet gained mobility and performed various actions.
However, even the best-performing young cultivators in this examination managed only to make the puppet walk, somersault in the air, and roll on the ground.
Overall, the situation was unbearable to watch.
The Clan Leader slowly opened his eyes, withdrew his Divine Sense from the jade slip, and placed it gently on the desk beside him.
"In this family examination, there were no seeds of Mechanism Masters among the juniors," the Ning Family Clan Leader sighed.
The Academy Elder, feeling the pressure, quickly spoke: "Clan Leader, esteemed Family Elders, our Ning Family excels in talismans. Among the hundred arts of cultivation, Mechanical Techniques is a specialized field. Our family's foundation in Mechanical Techniques is scant, and the teachers who instruct this art in our academy are all semi-skilled. How could we possibly cultivate seeds of Mechanical Techniques?"
The Ning Family Clan Leader reassured: "Calm down, I am not blaming you. It is just that the Lava Palace is a Mechanical Immortal City, where the Three Ancestral Masters once hid to suppress the eruption of Fire Persimmon Mountain. To obtain the treasures and the Mechanical Techniques legacy from the Magma Fairy Palace, the best approach is to start with Mechanism Masters."
"Our Ning Family discovered the Magma Fairy Palace only this year, whereas the other two great families and the City's Lord have been ahead of us for a long time. They had time to secretly nurture seeds of Mechanical Techniques, but we did not."
"We are latecomers, and it is too late. Our only chance to compete is to heavily recruit outsiders to serve as our Guest Elders."
The Ning Family Clan Leader took out another jade slip: "This contains information about the renowned Mechanism Masters in the Fire Persimmon Immortal City and its surroundings. Pass it around."
After the Family Elders had examined it, the Ning Family Clan Leader continued: "We must make contact with all these Mechanism Masters and strive to recruit them. Especially the Youthful Guest! He is a Mechanism Master in Persimmon Fire City, with considerable strength, and should be our primary target."
The Young Clan Leader said: "Youthful Guest's identity is mysterious and he has never publicly appeared. His mechanisms sell well, but they are all sold through a monthly black market."
"The black market is controlled by Sun Lingtong. He is an outer disciple of the Bukong Sect, and it is very difficult for us to truly contact Youthful Guest."
The Ning Family Clan Leader frowned: "Xiaoren, I don't want to hear about difficulties. I need you to solve this problem."
The Young Clan Leader, Ning Xiaoren, wiped the sweat from his forehead and hastened to assure: "Yes, Father. I have already sent people to find a way to contact him personally and will have results soon!"
Only then did the Ning Family Clan Leader stroke his beard: "Good. I will wait for the results."
...
After the meeting, the Young Clan Leader immediately summoned his subordinate, Ning Ze.
"Ning Ze, as the procurement manager of the Ning Family, I supported you. I told you to contact Youthful Guest, yet you have made no progress. What exactly are you doing?!" The Young Clan Leader frowned deeply.
Ning Ze, a middle-aged man with a bitter expression, would have avoided such tasks if it were possible.
"Young Clan Leader, I am ashamed and deserve to die for not accomplishing this task as per your instructions."
"But this Youthful Guest is genuinely hard to communicate with. I have bargained repeatedly during our trades in the black market, especially when purchasing the Top and Bottom Wishing Ropes, yet he remains unmoved. He refuses to discuss anything beyond the transaction."
"Youthful Guest is too mysterious. I have tried every possible way to investigate, but ended up provoking Sun Lingtong, the black market leader, costing us personnel and framing me. I paid a hefty sum of Spirit Stones out of my own pocket..."
"Enough!" The Young Clan Leader interrupted unhappily, "You were outwitted, which is embarrassing enough. How dare you expect the family to bear the consequences of your mistakes?"
"This time, our family needs to procure eighty Top and Bottom Wishing Ropes. You will handle this."
Ning Ze was astonished: "Eighty? That many?!"
The Young Clan Leader replied: "Leverage this big transaction and make every effort. You have approached Youthful Guest multiple times but failed to establish any connection."
"Your performance truly makes me doubt your capabilities, Ning Ze."
Ning Ze felt immense pressure and repeatedly vowed to do his utmost.
...
Ning Ze arrived in the southeastern region of Persimmon Fire City.
This area of the Fire Persimmon Immortal City was rife with chaos, theft rampant, and the worst security.
It was also where the black market was located.
At one entrance to the black market, Ning Ze displayed a token.
An eagle-eyed cultivator gave Ning Ze a cold once-over, carefully inspected the token, then tossed it back and said in a chilling tone: "Follow me."
He led Ning Ze into a small house, then uncovered a floorboard inside, revealing a hole.
He took Ning Ze through the hole, navigating a twisting tunnel, finally arriving at an underground trading space.
It resembled a small marketplace.
Ning Ze's eyes scanned the area and quickly spotted his target.
"Respected Youthful Guest, we meet again." Ning Ze approached Youthful Guest, his face full of enthusiastic smiles.
Youthful Guest was an elderly man, with a severely stooped back, leaning heavily on a cane. His haggard face bore deep wrinkles and dark, swollen eye bags. His long black hair was disheveled, extending from his head to his shoulders and down to his feet, like a large black cloak.