Chapter 581: Cultivation Advancement

In an instant, many cast glances of envy and jealousy upon Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong exchanged a look, smiled slightly, and stepped forward proactively to receive the room token from the silver-robed steward.

The silver-robed steward nodded slightly to him, speaking no further in public.

Soon, he had distributed all the room tokens and, after a final instruction, turned and departed impatiently: "Take your room tokens and settle in accordingly. Should there be any error, the consequences are yours to bear."

The room token was a magical artifact. Ning Zhuo infused it with his spiritual sense, and guided by the token, swiftly arrived at a small dwelling.

The door of the dwelling was ajar.

Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong exchanged a glance, both raising their guard.

Sun Lingtong stepped forth first, cautiously pushing open the door, to find a person already waiting within.

Sun Lingtong uttered an exclamation and quickly paid his respects.

Ning Zhuo also entered the dwelling shortly thereafter to pay his respects: "Sir Qing Yan!"

The one who had arrived was none other than Qing Yan, the Nascent Soul stage ghost cultivator who had gone to support White Paper City midway.

Seeing Ning Zhuo, Qing Yan nodded, rose to his feet, and walked to Ning Zhuo's front: "A riot erupted today; the paper statues at the south gate were all burned."

"For a period hereafter, the entire White Paper Immortal City will be under strict control. Both of you must be careful and not err."

"You must know, this time my assistance in securing you a steward position at the Hidden Sun Manor has consumed a considerable sum of wealth."

"If you violate the city regulations of White Paper Immortal City and are apprehended and cast into the prison, I possess not the ability to extricate you."

These simple words instantly made Sun and Ning understand why they had been assigned to Class A, Room Number One.

Ning Zhuo promptly cupped his hands in thanks, and at the end, added, as if "drawing a snake and adding feet": "Even if it were not a superior dwelling, I am not one who detests poverty and loves wealth; I can accept it."

Qing Yan chuckled: "Since you have become a male consort, remain here contentedly."

"Do not entertain thoughts of my daughter; you are not suited!"

"According to your Jiao family's core cultivation technique, the 'Three Jiaos True Yang Scripture', you are bound to distinguish yourself among the male consorts. Perchance, in half a month, you may even ascend to the Vigorous Yang Manor."

Ning Zhuo's heart stirred slightly, and he could not help but muse: "Vigorous Yang Manor? This implies that besides the Hidden Sun Manor, there exist other manors."

"And from Qing Yan's words, it seems the rank of Vigorous Yang Manor surpasses that of Hidden Sun Manor."

He was acutely sensitive to every piece of new information.

"Reside well in this dwelling; for newly arrived male consorts, this is truly crucial," Qing Yan stated.

Ning Zhuo remained silent for a moment before finally saying: "How much wealth is required?"

Qing Yan laughed heartily: "Though you and my daughter are not suited, you are nonetheless from our village. Your old Jiao family has always been a prominent household in the village. Do not inquire about the trifle I used to bribe the steward; consider it a parting gift from me."

"I depart."

Before departing, Qing Yan patted Ning Zhuo's shoulder, then swiftly exited the dwelling, quite decisively.

After Qing Yan departed, Ning Zhuo completely closed the door.

He and Sun Lingtong examined the dwelling together, stopping their actions only after inspecting it two or three times.

They communicated using spiritual sense between them.

Sun Lingtong proudly said to Ning Zhuo: "See, Xiao Zhuo, my plan was not mistaken. By disguising yourself as Jiao Ma, how many benefits did you gain freely from this fellow Qing Yan? Hehe."

Ning Zhuo nodded: "However, this is also our fortune. We happened to choose such a deceased person."

Sun Lingtong: "Alright, I am more interested in what marvels this Class A, Room Number One holds. Quickly use the room's token and utilize this place."

The room token not only possessed the function of communication but also the power to control the dwelling's formations.

Ning Zhuo immediately manipulated the token, activating the formations within.

The formations were manifold; the spirit-gathering formation for cultivation was exceptionally effective, and there were also anti-corrosion formations, chilling preservation formations, reflection formations, silencing formations, and others.

The two arrived at the underground chamber.

It was very spacious, and densely covered with formation patterns and talismans, clearly the most essential area.

Ning Zhuo then manipulated the artifact room token.

Rumble...

After a rumbling sound, the central plate of the entire floor shifted outward, revealing a vast wellhead.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh...

From the well emanated mournful sounds, and then the temperature of the air in the underground chamberplummeted, yin energy surged, sweeping forth.

The yin energy quickly became dense enough to be visible to the naked eye, like a pallid green wind continuously ascending from the wellhead.

Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong had long cast their gazes towards the wellhead, both revealing a hint of astonishment.

"Such a vast torrent of yin energy!"

"What kind of place is this?"

"According to the message specifically left within the token, all this yin energy originates from the White Paper City Lord!"

"Had I not witnessed it with my own eyes, I would not believe it in the slightest. What is the identity of the White Paper City Lord, to have accumulated such a vast amount of yin energy?"

"She is merely a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, is she not? This level of yin energy... perhaps even Transformation God stage..."

Sun and Ning discussed incessantly.

Both had seen the world; they had witnessed the battle between Du Tiechuan and the Ginseng Whisker Dragon King, and experienced what it meant for a Transformation God stage expert to strike!

The yin energy in the well was excessively vast, clearly a power that could only be borne by one who had reached the Transformation God stage, and not just an ordinary one.

This caused Sun and Ning to regard the White Paper City Lord with newfound admiration, and at the same time, they simultaneously recalled the words spoken by the White Bone Crocodile Demon when they were attacked in the segment of the Nether Dragon River.

The gist of these words was that the White Paper City Lord had accumulated too much yin energy over the years, and the burden was now too heavy to reverse, something that the current supply of yang energy could not resolve.

The White Paper City Lord's condition was dire; she was about to perish!

This was the primary reason for the Cover the City Alliance's wanton actions.

Previously, Sun and Ning had paid no heed, both believing this was the enemytrying to gain some advantage during the confrontation by deliberately intimidating them.

But now, both were speechless.

"With such yin energy, it is difficult to believe how the White Paper City Lord has endured until now."

"Unexpectedly, the White Bone Crocodile Demon was quite honest and did not lie," Ning Zhuo sighed with emotion.

Sun Lingtong shrugged: "The White Paper City Lord is the sole Nascent Soul stage cultivator in the Immortal City. If she encounters problems, this Immortal City will also be finished."

"Putting other matters aside, just consider if this yin tide were to lose control and leak out indiscriminately, the entire White Paper Immortal City would suffer disaster."

"This is a bit too stimulating."

Sun Lingtong clicked his tongue.

Ning Zhuo, however, furrowed his brow slightly and said with a solemn tone: "Therefore, we should find the Mournful Music幽伶 as soon as possible, calculate the clues to my mother's遗物, and depart from here as quickly as we can."

He had previously harbored the intention of taking risks and seeking opportunities.

Now, witnessing this yin tide, the scale was simply too exaggerated, causing Ning Zhuo's confidence in the White Paper City Lord to plummet sharply.

Although he also possessed a spirit of adventure, he was more aware of his own limitations.

"On the battlefield in the Two Kingdoms, it was also because the Transformation God and Nascent Soul stages were mutually restrained and severely depleting each other, which allowed me room to maneuver."

"I had originally believed the White Paper City Lord could serve as the cornerstone, supporting the ghost tide. Now it seems, it is truly perilous!"

"To make haste and flee is to be responsible for oneself."

Ning Zhuo, however, lacked the spirit of self-sacrifice for others.

From childhood to adulthood, he had always endured and schemed, with the City Lord's Mansion and Meng Kui as his hypothetical enemies, the pressure was immense.

Moreover, he had been cared for and guided by Sun Lingtong since childhood, and the latter hailed from the Boundless Gate, who were certainly not good people.

In Ning Zhuo's heart, White Paper Immortal City was merely a way station along the journey; the lives and deaths of all beings were arranged by fate. Furthermore, he had even more important matters to attend to!

After inspecting it, the two finally understood the function of this dwelling.

To say nothing of it, the facilities were too comprehensive, and the power of the formations was superior; this was the first time Sun and Ning had ever enjoyed such amenities.

Even the Myriad Miles Roaming Dragon could not compare to this place.

In terms of rank, the Myriad Miles Roaming Dragon, being an artifact of the Treasure level, naturally far surpassed this dwelling.

However, after the Myriad Miles Roaming Dragon was forged, it was akin to a blank slate, possessing only the most basic functions, with most of the cabins empty, and all having great potential for improvement.

When Ning Zhuo was at the Myriad Medicine Sect, he had converted one cabin into a spirit plant cabin. This was already his most significant modification, but it was still a minor alteration.

"I shall cultivate first," Ning Zhuo said.

Sun Lingtong waved his hand: "Mm, go, go, I shall guard you."

Ning Zhuo went to the cultivation chamber, but did not activate the spirit-gathering formation and such, merely sat cross-legged, and then closed his eyes to cultivate.

The Three Enclosures Interlocking Treasure Talismans were affixed to his forehead, chest, and near his navel, slowly emitting a warm glow.

The Bright Mirror Spiritual Light Dantian.

The Five Qi Celestial Axis Dantian.

The Blood Earth Demonic Tendon Dantian.

The three seas each emitted their own aura, and continuously absorbed the aura of the other two seas, resulting in dense clusters of precious medicines within the three great Dantian seas.

This was the second stage of the Foundation Establishment realm, known as the Proliferation of Precious Medicines.

When he first began cultivating, Ning Zhuo's ears roared, his vision turned white, and he felt an exquisite sensation, as if returning to the time of creation.

As he adapted, this sensation gradually faded.

As more precious medicines proliferated, each time he cultivated, it was like bathing in a spring breeze, his essence, energy, and spirit merging into one, feeling fewer and fewer flaws within himself, and the harmony between essence, energy, and spirit growing ever greater.

And now, his cultivation sensation was as bland as plain water, almost feeling monotonous.

However, this was not a bad thing, but rather a symbol that he was nearing the end of the Proliferation of Precious Medicines cultivation stage!

The degree of integration between his essence, energy, and spirit was rapidly approaching its limit.

His three dantian's adaptation to each other had also reached a point where it could no longer increase.

A sense of perception, inexplicable, arose within Ning Zhuo: "The culmination of the Proliferation of Precious Medicines should occur within these next few days."

Thinking thus, Ning Zhuo felt a more active emotion arise, cultivating diligently without ceasing.

Sun Lingtong, observing Ning Zhuo's cultivation, could not help but feel joy: "Xiao Zhuo's aura is highly contained; I fear he is not far from breaking through."

When Ning Zhuo finished cultivating, Sun Lingtong voiced his conjecture, and Ning Zhuo gave a positive response.

Sun Lingtong, however, grew puzzled: "Xiao Zhuo, it is strange that you possess this sense of perception."

Ning Zhuo uttered an exclamation: "Could it not be that my foundation has accumulated deeply, and thus I naturally gained this sense?"

Sun Lingtong shook his head: "Unless you have achieved success in cultivating a certain divination technique, or possess a profound realm, talent, or divine ability..."

Ning Zhuo furrowed his brow, immediately thinking of his mysterious talent.

The Five Elements Divine Lord had affirmed that he possessed a second talent, yet also warned Ning Zhuo not to detect its result too early, as it would not benefit him.

The two discussed for a while without reaching a conclusion, and being weary, they went to rest.

On the second day, when Ning Zhuo awoke, he found that Sun Lingtong had already risen.

Several spiritual dishes were arranged on the dining table.

Sun Lingtong: "We are in Class A, Room Number One, and there are specialized paper figures to deliver meals."

"Oh, and they also conveyed two messages. One is to let us rest for three days, after which we are to choose cultivation techniques."

"The other is that it is recommended we expend more Yang energy to neutralize the rampant Yin energy within the well. Even if it is a mere drop in the bucket, every bit will be counted as merit. These merits will be of great benefit for the subsequent selection of cultivation techniques, as well as other arrangements and activities."

Ning Zhuo immediately shook his head, adamantly refusing: "This I cannot do. How about you contribute a little, Senior Brother?"

Neutralizing Yin energy would inevitably cause external Yin to enter the body, mixing with his own aura. He was currently in the critical final stage of the Proliferation of Precious Medicines; foreign杂气 would be a huge hindrance to his cultivation progress.

Sun Lingtong spread his hands in vexation: "You are making things difficult for me."I practice the Pure Yang technique, my Yang energy is not leaked. Have you forgotten what happened in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, when you cultivated dual cultivation?"

Ning Zhuo immediately displayed an embarrassed expression, waved his hand, telling Sun Lingtong to stop, which caused the latter to chuckle mischievously, teasing Ning Zhuo with winks.

"However, I do have other methods," Sun Lingtong suddenly offered a good suggestion, "Xiao Zhuo, you may have forgotten your Yin Yang Harmonizing Pot."

Ning Zhuo was indeed stunned, then immediately slapped his forehead: "I was too focused on the matter of my cultivation advancement; I truly forgot about this."

Sun Lingtong then chuckled and took back Ning Zhuo's Yin Yang Harmonizing Pot, going off to study it himself.

As for Ning Zhuo's cultivation this time, everything was as usual, when suddenly the precious medicines ceased to proliferate.

No matter how he urged the Three Sect Sovereigns, he was unable to proliferate new precious medicines.

Furthermore, the feeling of integration of essence, energy, and spirit was even more bland than drinking plain water, almost akin to ordinary breathing.

"Could it be time for a breakthrough?" Ning Zhuo's heart stirred, and he cultivated with even greater effort. However, after cultivating intensely for half a day, he still remained motionless.

He interrupted his cultivation to consult Sun Lingtong.

Sun Lingtong then guided him: "Xiao Zhuo, your heart is anxious; this means your Spirit Sea is unstable, your desires too strong. You must know that the final step requires the perfect integration of essence, energy, and spirit. One side must not be too strong, nor one side too weak."

Ning Zhuo immediately understood the crux of the matter and returned to the cultivation chamber to cultivate again.

This time, he calmed his heart and mind, his Spirit Sea tranquil, and immediately there was a reaction.

The aura that had originally flowed incessantly between the three seas suddenly solidified, and all the proliferated precious medicines trembled in unison, then burst open, transforming into endless magnificent and beautiful energy.

This vibrant energy filled the three great Dantian, continuously expanding the three Dantian seas, expanding them tenfold in an instant!

The Dantian space was still expanding, and the inner walls of the Dantian were also being reshaped during the expansion, undergoing a qualitative improvement.

Although the vibrant and beautiful energy was vast, it ultimately originated from the precious medicines, like water without a source.

Before long, it all dissipated.

And Ning Zhuo at this moment had officially concluded the Proliferation of Precious Medicines stage, formally entering the third stage of the Foundation Establishment realm - Dantian Radiance!