"So, let Ning Zhuo recruit Yuan Dasheng?"
The success rate was almost zero.
The four major forces could use their power to coerce people, but Ning Zhuo could not. He was only at the third level of Qi Refinement, a marginal figure in the Ning Family.
The Monkey Head Gang itself had nearly ten Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, not to mention a formidable presence like Yuan Dasheng. What right did Ning Zhuo have to recruit them?
Cooperation?
The same principle applied. With his small stature, what qualifications did Ning Zhuo have to discuss cooperation with the Monkey Head Gang or Yuan Dasheng?
Expose his Buddha Heart Demon Seal and show his true advantage?
In Ning Zhuo's view, that was an incredibly foolish move!
Once he did that, he would be gambling his life on the kindness of others.
Were the Monkey Head Gang or Yuan Dasheng kind?
A gang that prioritized profit, and a monkey who had built his way up from scratch through sheer slaughter, kind?
All these pieces of information were in Ning Zhuo's hands.
It could be said that the experiences of Yuan Yi and Yuan Dasheng were very inspiring, but there was no way to judge them as kind! In fact, quite the opposite.
The situation was extremely dangerous for Ning Zhuo.
He knew very well that he was like someone walking on the edge of a cliff; the next step would see him fall into the abyss of failure.
"I must eliminate Yuan Dasheng in secret!"
This was the only solution Ning Zhuo could think of.
But how to kill?
The Zheng Family.
Two Golden Core cultivators from the Zheng Family appeared simultaneously to entertain Zhu Xuanji.
Chi Dun accompanied them.
Zhu Xuanji studied the medicine bottle in his hand.
The bottle was almost completely transparent, allowing one to see a cloud of black smoke inside from the outside.
Zhu Xuanji's eyes sparkled with a golden gleam for a moment: "This was made with Fire Poison."
Zheng Shuanggou had fought with the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator. Though the latter had escaped, some items had been collected. For example, this peculiar black smoke, which could seal off Divine Sense during a fight, had caused Zheng Shuanggou considerable trouble.
Zheng Shuanggou had absorbed some and stored it away to study and break it, preparing for the next battle.
When Zhu Xuanji arrived, Zheng Shuanggou naturally did not dare to hide it and provided it directly.
Zheng Shuanggou said, "To be precise, it is Heart-burning Fire Poison."
"Five years ago, a Golden Core cultivator from the Holy Ape Sect came to Fire Persimmon Immortal City. During his stay, his cultivation went awry, and his soul merged with his spiritual pet, the Angry Heart Ape."
"We joined forces to kill him in the Flame Demon Melting Cave. But before the Angry Heart Ape died, it still had a massive impact on Fire Persimmon Mountain."
"Many demon beasts, spirit plants, geothermal energies, Earth Flames, Fire Poisons, and killing auras were all tainted with his anger, creating varying degrees of mutations."
Zhu Xuanji nodded slightly and put down the medicine bottle.
He had observed many items here but had not found good leads.
"It seems I must visit Fire Persimmon Mountain." Zhu Xuanji said, "Daoist Zheng Shuanggou, please take me to the previous battle site."
Zheng Shuanggou looked distressed: "Is it necessary, Zhu Divine Capture?"
"The Magma Fairy Palace has already emerged, and the former Flame Demon Melting Cave has been destroyed. While it can regenerate, the newly formed tunnels and caves are very unstable."
"Especially since the Magma Fairy Palace occasionally erupts, causing mountain shakes and molten rock flows that destroy most of the new tunnels."
"We would need to dig our own tunnel to get there, facing immense geothermal energy, Earth Flames, and magma. What's even more troublesome is that some native demon beasts wouldn't let us go."
Zhu Xuanji replied, "No matter how difficult, we must take a look. Daoist Chi Dun will also come to assist me."
Chi Dun frowned slightly but still nodded.
Zheng Shuanggou sighed. As one of the involved parties, he couldn't push aside the responsibility, so he had to brace himself, "Fine, I will accompany Zhu Divine Capture."
Ning Zhuo came to see Sun Lingtong.
"This is the latest information about the Monkey Head Gang and Yuan Dasheng that you wanted to buy before." Sun Lingtong tossed a jade slip to Ning Zhuo, the Youthful Guest.
Ning Zhuo's voice was hoarse: "Thank you."
"I still need monkeys. On one hand, buy more wild monkeys! On the other hand, continue hiring people; the more monkey pets of the Monkey Head Gang we kill, the more rewards I give." Ning Zhuo threw out a storage bag filled with spirit stones.
"Understood." Sun Lingtong chuckled, "Little brother, nicely done!"
"Now, the entire Monkey Head Gang is on edge."
"The Fire Persimmon picking business is highly profitable. Replacing the Monkey Head Gang, you can make a great profit every year."
"Acting first gives you the advantage, and this style suits me well. You really should join our Bukong Sect."
Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly, showing no happiness: "As long as Yuan Dasheng is around, the Monkey Head Gang is not to be underestimated."
A fierce look flashed across Sun Lingtong's chubby boyish face. He extended his hand and made a cutting gesture: "If you ask me, why not hire some demon cultivators to work together, find an opportunity to catch Yuan Dasheng alone, and take him out!"
"This requires careful planning!" Ning Zhuo immediately shook his head, "Yuan Dasheng has fought countless battles and is not simple. Various clues indicate he has hidden powerful cards."
Sun Lingtong raised his neck arrogantly: "If we don't try, how will we know? We could hire some demon cultivators as cannon fodder. Even if we fail, we can still test out his hidden cards."
Ning Zhuo frowned. Sun Lingtong's attitude made him uneasy: "If it were that simple to force out his cards, why has no one succeeded all these years?"
"Let me give you a piece of precise information."
"On the surface, Yuan Dasheng has no cultivation level, but in reality, he has practiced dark arts, and his cultivation level is definitely not low!"
Sun Lingtong was immediately moved.
Yuan Dasheng was originally a Magma Demon Ape, known for his brutal hand-to-hand combat skills. Once he displayed his dark arts, his combat power could soar by tenfold.
"The Monkey Head Gang has also obtained Fei Si's permission to participate in the Fire Persimmon Festival. If we make too much noise, the City Lord's Mansion will be the first to deal with us." Ning Zhuo continued.
Sun Lingtong clicked his tongue and waved: "Then forget it."
Unexpectedly, Ning Zhuo said: "We won't go after Yuan Dasheng, but we can assassinate Yuan Er. Before the assassination, send him a warning letter. The assassination must fail and cannot succeed."
Sun Lingtong rolled his eyes: "Little brother, what are you planning?"
Fire Persimmon Mountain.
"Hurry, I can't hold on much longer!" Zheng Shuanggou used all his strength to maintain the temporary tunnel.
Chi Dun, covered in blood, silently resisted several raging demon beasts.
"Just a little longer." Zhu Xuanji's eyes gleamed gold, his hands continuously forming hand seals.
Upon hearing this, Zheng Shuanggou was nearly driven to spitting blood, as Zhu Xuanji had said the same thing half an incense stick ago.
Chi Dun actually did spit out a mouthful of fresh blood, revealing a flaw.
A Runaway Fire Snake noticed and immediately charged forward with its horn.
This Runaway Fire Snake could be considered a fire dragon, with a horn growing on its head. If Chi Dun were hit, it would undoubtedly result in severe injury or even death.
But at the next moment, Zhu Xuanji indeed completed his work. He used talismans to take the two Golden Core cultivators and flew away in a rainbow light.
In a few breaths, the three of them had escaped the volcano.
"Safe!" Zheng Shuanggou exhaled a sigh of relief.
Chi Dun began silently healing his wounds.
Zheng Shuanggou looked at Zhu Xuanji: "Did you gain anything, Zhu Divine Capture?"
Zhu Xuanji revealed a slight smile: "I gained a lot. Using the Trace Origin Technique, I saw that the assault on the Immortal Palace was conducted by a Thousand Catty Fire Essence. The essence was released by a monkey mechanism."
"When I return to Fire Persimmon Immortal City and use the Trace Origin Technique again, I will surely find the related persons and items. Capturing the culprit is not far off."
Zheng Shuanggou and Chi Dun looked at him in surprise.
Zhu Xuanji looked up at the sky: "With my Golden Eyes, the culprit will have nowhere to escape!"
A moment later.
Zhu Xuanji activated the Trace Origin Technique and operated his Golden Eyes, staring blankly at the special vision showing red-glowing monkey mechanisms distributed throughout the city.
"Why aren't we moving, Zhu Divine Capture?" Zheng Shuanggou asked, puzzled.
Zhu Xuanji: ...