Ning Zhuo started to examine the items left by Chen Cha.
First was the jade slip, as white as snow.
Pressing it against his forehead and injecting Divine Sense, Ning Zhuo found that it was a compilation of formations titled "Curved Serpent Activation Formation Collection," authored by White Scale Hermit.
After browsing through it briefly, Ning Zhuo revealed a trace of astonishment.
"This White Scale Hermit is not of the Human Race, but a male serpent demon."
"He was severely injured in his middle age, unable to restore his serpent body, thus he crafted mechanisms as replacements, striving to make his serpent body whole again."
"The formations recorded in this jade slip are those used on mechanical serpent bodies and flesh and blood serpent bodies."
Although White Scale Hermit left little information, Ning Zhuo felt that this demon was at least of Nascent Soul level strength.
"Chen Cha must have obtained this jade slip and studied it diligently, earning the title of 'Living Array Master' and gaining the ability to create mechanism artifacts."
"He has given me his entire foundation."
The evidence for Ning Zhuo's judgment was the jade slip content, which included a large number of Chen Cha's personal annotations, insights, and records of solo experiments and experiences in designing mechanisms.
Knowledge is priceless.
This was Chen Cha's foundation for establishing himself, likely something he wouldn't reveal even if he took on a disciple.
But unexpectedly, Chen Cha directly gave the jade slip to Ning Zhuo.
"This old Chen..."
Ning Zhuo sighed, then opened the other bag.
Inside were over twenty wooden balls. The sizes varied, some as large as a baby's fist, others as small as a little finger's tip.
Each wooden ball had two sides, one side pitch black and the other pure white. The black side bore the word "Dead," while the white side bore the word "Alive."
"Half-Dead Half-Alive Beads," Ning Zhuo immediately recognized these wooden beads after browsing the jade slip's content.
These wooden beads were Chen Cha's unique creation, designed based on White Scale Hermit's formation collection, combined with his own experience and sudden inspiration.
The wooden beads were basic components of mechanism artifacts, used for joint areas.
When the bead turned to the white "Alive" side, the joint would move freely. When it turned to the black "Dead" side, the joint would be locked in place.
The brilliance lay in the hidden connection between these wooden beads. If formation patterns were engraved on the main mechanical component, it would create one or multiple living formations.
Controlling these wooden beads, switching between dead and alive, allowed the mechanism artifact to perform various intricate actions.
"These are excellent!"
"The application range of these Half-Dead Half-Alive Beads is extensive."
"They can be used in the Explosive Flame Monkey and maybe even the Top and Bottom Wishing Ropes. Their performance should greatly surpass previous levels."
Ning Zhuo's face lit up with joy.
He absolutely loved these mechanism artifacts.
To others, these wooden beads might hold little value. But to Ning Zhuo, they were rare treasures, offering significant help.
Finally, Ning Zhuo examined the heaviest bag.
Inside, he found 5,118 Spirit Stones.
With such an exact number, Ning Zhuo fell silent for a moment.
"This must be all of Old Chen's possessions," he sighed, feeling a touch of guilt.
He carefully stored the items and began his recovery.
The Warming Cultivation Pill worked excellently, quickly adapting Ning Zhuo's body to his new Five Elements Mana.
Ning Zhuo focused entirely on his cultivation, striving to return to the third level of the Qi Refinement Realm as soon as possible.
"When I reach the third level, will the Dharma Transmission Bell resound through the city again?"
"I must seize every second and give it my all!"
"Mother was right. I am just an ordinary person with no background or resources."
"I'm probably already far behind others at this pace!"
Before Ning Zhuo's mother passed away, she had advised him to strive for ranking and become a mechanism seed to receive resource support.
Ning Zhuo lacked crucial information, but he chose to take a gamble, changing his cultivation to the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art without hesitation.
"Besides cultivating the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art, I need to find a way to get close to the Magma Fairy Palace."
Since the explosion, the volcano summit had been on complete lockdown, with no unauthorized personnel allowed.
"What will the family's response be?"
"Organizing Qi Refinement Realm cultivators to collectively change to the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art is a given."
"If I can leverage Chen Cha's connections, I might be able to enter the Magma Fairy Palace through the City Lord's channel as well."
Ning Zhuo decided to wait and see, looking for the right moment as the situation evolved.
His choice was correct.
A few days later, a family member came to his small house, informing him that he had been selected to join the Ning Family's team to change to the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art.
Ning Zhuo obeyed the orders, disguised himself, and returned to the family to participate in the first training session.
"A Zhuo, you're here too?" Ning Yong greeted him happily upon seeing him.
Ning Chen also walked over, nodding slightly at Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo greeted them and looked around.
Most of the people present were from the branch family; members of the Ning Family main line were quite sparse.
"I heard that a Family Elder wanted Ning Xiaohui to participate, but she firmly refused and even caused a big scene," Ning Yong whispered in Ning Zhuo's ear.
Ning Xiaohui was their classmate and consistently ranked first, even in major exams.
Ning Chen said, "She has a talent we can only envy—Icejade Hands, why would she risk changing her cultivation? I think it's the right decision."
"Even if it were me, I'd rather cultivate the Snow Region Talisman Scripture than the Three-layered Five Elements Qi Regulation Art!"
Ning Zhuo detected a strong sense of resentment in Ning Chen's words.
But there was nothing they could do, being small figures themselves.
The training was much shorter than expected, simply announcing: Those selected Ning Family members should actively change their cultivation technique, with different resources awarded to the top ten. That afternoon, the training was adjourned.
From his observations, Ning Zhuo found that the rewards had generally motivated the family members to change their cultivation.
But Ning Zhuo had no intention of claiming the rewards.
Nobody knew that he had already reached the second level of Qi Refinement.
He intended to keep this secret, not revealing it voluntarily.
Just as he was about to leave the family grounds, Ning Zhuo was intercepted by his Uncle Ning Ze, "Cultivate well, Little Zhuo. I spent money to get you in."
Ning Zhuo blurted out in surprise, his face flushing with shame and gratitude as he bowed to Ning Ze, "Uncle, I'm sorry to have troubled you."
Ning Ze nodded slightly, "It's good that you know."
He had no other choice. Young Clan Leader Ning Xiaoren pressured him, even threatening to include Ning Ji in the changing list.
Facing such threats, Ning Zhuo's Aunt Wang Lan immediately compromised, willing to back down.
Ning Ze had to offer significant gifts to the Young Clan Leader.
The Young Clan Leader accepted the gifts and soon included Ning Zhuo in the changing list.
In the following days, Ning Zhuo quietly focused on his cultivation, occasionally attending family training sessions, gradually revealing his cultivation level in the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art.
He hid his true progress deeply, maintaining a moderate pace within the middle range, drawing no attention.
But secretly, he used Spirit Stones lavishly, accumulating mana rapidly, soaring from the second to the third level of Qi Refinement.
That night, Ning Zhuo reached the peak of the third level.
"I can't advance any further. During this time, the Dharma Transmission Bell has been silent," Ning Zhuo sighed, "Alas... when will the family's renovation team be able to enter the Magma Fairy Palace?"
Unbeknownst to him, deep within the Magma Fairy Palace, a slowly rotating five-sided stone column was gradually revealing Ning Zhuo's name.
First place on the Qi Refinement Ranking, Ning Zhuo!
At that moment, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit on the throne let out a cry.
Divine Skill—Life Hanging Thread!
Invisible threads pierced through space, instantly hooking onto Ning Zhuo.
Before Ning Zhuo could react, his soul was pulled out by the threads, piercing through space, and directly entering the Magma Fairy Palace!