Chapter 22: Not Wanting to Bully Ning Zhuo

**Underground Workshop.**

Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes, reaching out to wipe the blood from his nose.

The pale blue frost mana was no longer within his body.

Instead, it was the Five Elements mana!

The Five Elements mana possessed the white of metal, the green of wood, the black of water, the red of fire, and the yellow of earth. White, green, black, red, and yellow were intertwined, yet they did not permeate each other, remaining distinct and well-defined.

"In the natural world, the Five Elements spiritual power generates and overcomes each other, making it extremely difficult to maintain a stable balance and coexist for a long period."

"However, after the 'Five Elements Qi Rhythm Mantra' converts spiritual energy into Five Elements mana, they can coexist peacefully, with distinct layers."

"Worthy of being left behind by the Nascent Soul Grandmasters of the Three Sects!"

"Qi Refining Second Layer..."

Previously, Ning Zhuo was at the Qi Refining Third Layer. After fully converting his mana, he was only left with the Qi Refining Second Layer.

Converting mana also consumed energy.

This was to be expected, and Ning Zhuo had anticipated it.

The next step was to continue cultivating, accumulating mana to reach the Qi Refining Third Layer again.

"I wonder when I will hear the sound of the Scripture Transmission Bell again."

Exhausted both physically and mentally after the conversion, Ning Zhuo decided to rest and recuperate.

He took out a few Warm Nurturing Pills and swallowed them to help his body adapt to the new mana more quickly.

Warm Nurturing Pills had many advantages, such as their gentle medicinal effects, slow activation, and minimal burden on the body. Their biggest drawback was probably their cost. Each pill cost hundreds of spirit stones.

*Ding, ding, ding.*

Just as Ning Zhuo finished the pills, he heard a clear, wind chime-like sound.

This meant that suspicious individuals had appeared near his residence, triggering the alarm mechanism.

He went to his workbench and gently kicked the leg. The wall facing him creaked, and the bricks shifted to the sides, revealing a mirror.

From the mirror, Ning Zhuo saw the "suspicious person" - Chen Cha.

Chen Cha was pacing back and forth in front of Ning Zhuo's small courtyard, his hands behind his back, looking down at the road with a troubled expression.

Ning Zhuo's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Chen Cha? Why would he come looking for me?"

"It seems the matter of the Clockwork Fire Ape has had further developments."

Thinking of this, Ning Zhuo was slightly pleased.

Chen Cha paced in front of the small courtyard, his mind filled with the scene that had unfolded earlier.

Fei Si had summoned him, informing him that the Clockwork Fire Ape had been approved by the City Lord and that the city's clockwork workshops would be mobilized to mass-produce the creation for the upcoming Fire Persimmon Festival, to harvest the fire persimmons on a large scale.

Fei Si encouraged Chen Cha: "You are someone I recruited into the city."

"Work hard, go all out! If you succeed this time, your life will be completely different."

Chen Cha was stunned. Understanding Fei Si's intentions, he quickly explained: "Lord Fei Si, you misunderstand me."

"I came to report the existence of the clockwork ape, mainly to ask you to arrange a preferential policy to reduce some taxes and fees for the Flying Disc Workshop."

"In reality, the clockwork ape was not designed by me. The person who developed it is someone else."

Chen Cha was skilled in formations and clockwork mechanisms. People like him, who were dedicated to their craft and able to endure loneliness and hardship, often disliked being dishonest.

Taking credit for others' work was something he despised and would never do.

During his previous conversation with Ning Zhuo, he had even suspected that Ning Zhuo was claiming credit for a clockwork creation that wasn't his.

Fei Si paused, "It's not your work?"

He was truly unaware of this.

He smiled dismissively: "That's not a big deal. You are the workshop master. You decide whose contribution counts."

Chen Cha insisted on his principles, shaking his head firmly: "My lord, I am a man of limited ability and do not possess the talent to design such exquisite clockwork creations."

"Such a clockwork creation, from design to completion, goes through countless failures and hardships. The person who invented it must have devoted so much effort and thought to it!"

"To seize another's clockwork creation is no different from killing someone and stealing their child!"

"I implore you, my lord, to see the truth!"

A cold glint flashed in Fei Si's eyes, slightly angered.

In his view, the clockwork creation *had* to be Chen Cha's! Because Chen Cha was his subordinate, and Chen Cha's success meant his own success.

Fei Si put on a smile, patted Chen Cha on the shoulder, and praised him instead: "It is precisely your integrity that I admire."

"Although this creation is not yours, I believe that in the future, you will definitely design a clockwork creation even more outstanding than this one."

Chen Cha was moved: "Thank you for your appreciation, my lord!"

Years ago, he had moved to Fire Persimmon Immortal City to develop, precisely because of Fei Si's recruitment.

Who would have thought that it would be so difficult to live in the Immortal City! After diligently running the Flying Disc Workshop, it was now on the verge of collapse.

However, it was true that Fei Si had given him the opportunity in the first place. He had always been grateful for that.

Fei Si probed casually: "Tell me, which cultivator invented this clockwork ape?"

Since Chen Cha refused to do it, Fei Si decided to secretly intervene and "help" Chen Cha resolve the matter.

What did it matter if a few obscure clockwork masters disappeared in the vast Fire Persimmon Immortal City?

Without suspicion, Chen Cha gave a brief introduction to Ning Zhuo.

"A mere Qi Refining Third Layer..." Fei Si sneered inwardly, then perked up at the following words, "Hmm? A member of the Ning family?"

Fei Si frowned slightly.

This made it difficult to take action.

He immediately dismissed his previous dark thoughts.

Because it involved the Ning family, a Golden Core-level power. Provoking them would be very troublesome.

The Ning family's scale and overall power were recognized as the weakest among the four major forces in Fire Persimmon Immortal City. The Ning family only had one Golden Core cultivator.

However, the Ning family's Golden Core Ancestor had proven his combat prowess.

Sixteen years ago, during the Ning family's migration, they experienced a fierce battle. The Ning family ancestor fought two enemies alone, defeating the ambushers, saving most of the clansmen, and exhibiting remarkable combat strength.

It was precisely this that allowed the other three forces to watch the Ning family settle in Fire Persimmon City. Usually, although there were bound to be some frictions among the four forces, they were contained and controlled, trying to avoid violent conflicts.

To move against Ning Zhuo would mean potentially going up against the Ning family, against a Golden Core cultivator. Fei Si would never actively shoulder such a huge price.

It was not worth it for such a small contribution!

Failing this plan, Fei Si's mind raced, and another plan formed.

He sighed: "Chen Cha, you have misled me!"

Chen Cha was immediately suspicious: "My lord, you are my benefactor. Thanks to your promotion, I am able to cultivate in Fire Persimmon Immortal City. Why do you say this?"

Fei Si said: "During your report, you were vague, leading me to mistakenly believe that this was your clockwork creation."

"I have already vouched for you to the City Lord, and even requested a reward specifically for you."

"Alas, I always trusted you."

"Now that the matter is set in stone, how do you think the City Lord will deal with you and me if the truth is exposed?"

"I'm fine. I'm worried about you. For you, this would be the crime of taking credit for someone else's work!"

Chen Cha's face turned pale, and he panicked: "What can be done? Please save me, my lord!"

Fei Si remained silent, stroking his beard in thought, before saying: "Like this, go and discuss it with that Ning Zhuo, see if you can convince him to transfer the clockwork ape to you. You are much older than him, and Ning Zhuo is only sixteen years old. What has a cultivator from the Grand Clan Academy experienced? Hehe, have a good chat with him and discuss it properly."

Chen Cha was troubled: "This..."

From the bottom of his heart, he was unwilling to do so.

Fei Si sneered inwardly, but sighed aloud: "Chen Cha, this is for your own good! If you don't make the best of a bad situation, the one who will be punished when the City Lord finds out is you! The crime of falsely claiming credit is no small matter."

Fei Si casually gave a few examples, which made Chen Cha break out in a cold sweat.

"Alas, since things have come to this, I can only persuade Ning Zhuo. No, I must persuade him successfully!" Chen Cha lamented in his heart, forced to change his mind.

Although he greatly admired Ning Zhuo, regarding him as a kindred spirit, and even implicitly considering him a confidant.

However, with his life and reputation at stake, and possibly involving Lord Fei Si who had helped him, he could only do it!

Fei Si's strength and power were far greater than his. He was simply taking advantage of Chen Cha's inability to reach the highest levels and his unfamiliarity with the internal affairs of the City Lord's Mansion, easily manipulating Chen Cha with a few words.

Chen Cha had never thought of oppressing or dealing with Ning Zhuo, but in front of a Golden Core-level Fei Si, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator was just a small character.

Small characters could not help but be at the mercy of others.

After inquiring, Chen Cha came to Ning Zhuo's residence.

He did not knock on the door directly, but wandered around the courtyard gate, sighing in his heart.

"Old Chen, why have you come here?" The courtyard door opened, and Ning Zhuo had changed into clean clothes.

Chen Cha turned around and saw a young man wearing a white robe, his eyes clear, and his temperament extraordinary.

The young man stood tall and straight. The sunlight shone from above, making his outline particularly clear. Combined with the few flowers and plants in the small courtyard, the young man seemed so vibrant, full of purity and beauty.

Seeing Ning Zhuo's pristine appearance, Chen Cha's guilt instantly intensified tenfold!

He had been immersed in technical research for many years and was disgusted with the injustices of the cultivation world.

But today, he had to play the role of pressuring the younger generation, conveying the darkness and cruel realities of the world.

Chen Cha felt incredibly heavy and painful!