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Chapter 19: Exclusive Monkey and Ning Zhuo

He then clasped his hands together, looking towards the lord of the city: "It is all thanks to your lordship’s keen insight, decisively managing the chaos, always standing guard at the summit of the volcano, unmoving like a mountain, leaving no opportunities for the enemy."

"As long as you personally oversee, who can sneak into Lava Immortal Palace right under your nose?"

"This is indeed the art of unchanging response to all changes, a masterstroke of ingenuity, leaving the hidden enemy only able to look to the heavens and sigh, without a chance!"

Chi Dun was scolded again and immediately said angrily, "You’ve talked a lot, yet you haven’t touched on the main point. What about the demon cultivator hiding in the Fire Crystal Grass forest? What if he triggers a chain explosion in the Fire Crystal Grass forest, won’t the centuries of accumulation in Huoshi City be destroyed?"

Fei Si shook his head and sighed, "At this point, we can only prepare for the worst."

"However, I believe it is unlikely that he will trigger it himself."

"He is a demon cultivator, not insane. The entire Fire Crystal Grass forest exploding would unleash a force that could shake the whole Mount Huoshi, and he himself would certainly be blown to pieces, dying a gruesome death on the spot."

Pausing for a moment, Fei Si continued, "He has already been afflicted by the Limestone Heart Technique, the longer the time drags on, the more severe his injuries will become."

"We are the ones in a superior position, we should slowly strategize, absolutely must not be hasty, giving the enemy an opportunity."

"In my humble opinion, we should contact the other three families to discuss together how to deal with this demon cultivator. This will strengthen our unity and help us distinguish the loyal from the traitors. If there are indeed hidden manipulators or collaborators among us, they will be more easily exposed," suggested one advisor.

"Moreover, it would be best to act after the Fire Crystal Grass Festival. By then, the mass harvesting of Fire Crystal Grass will minimize our losses."

Chi Dun widened his eyes in disbelief and exclaimed, "You still want to hold the Fire Crystal Grass Festival?!"

"Do you want to send the entire city to its death?"

"What would happen if the Fire Crystal Grass forest triggered a chain explosion? How many casualties would that cause?"

"At that time, the city lord would definitely be unable to shirk responsibility and would likely be directly dismissed!"

Fei Si, having anticipated this reaction, replied confidently, "Since I have proposed this plan, naturally I have prepared a response."

"Lord City Mayor, please look at this mechanical monkey."

Saying this, Fei Si took out a mechanical creation from his storage bag.

The mechanical device was half a person tall, with vivid red fur and a swollen muscular body; it was none other than the Exclusive Monkey.

Fei Si, with a hint of pride, continued, "Just three days ago, Chen Cha presented this mechanism. Using it, we can easily harvest the Fire Crystal Grass and avoid casualties."

The city lord, expressionless, moved his spiritual sense and drew the mechanical monkey closer to examine.

After a few moments, he nodded slightly, "Mediocre, but the monkey\'s brain control center has some clever tricks."

Being at the Nascent Soul stage, his vision was broad. In his view, the design of the Exclusive Monkey was plain and unremarkable.

“Chen Cha? Who is that?” the city lord asked, showing a hint of interest in the creator.

Fei Si responded, “Years ago, my lord, you ordered your subordinates to recruit puppet masters from various places. Chen Cha was one of them, invited by me to live in Huoshi City.”

“This person is a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, solid in formation techniques and adept at setting up mobile formations. However, in the field of puppetry, he lacks spiritual finesse and has not produced any notable work until now.”

“Finally, he seems to have achieved some results.”

Hearing that Chen Cha was just a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, the city lord lost interest and waved his hand dismissively, “Let the matter be handled this way.”

“Chi Dun, going forward, you will fully cooperate with Fei Si.”

Chi Dun, somewhat sullen, responded, “As you command!”

At the Ning family residence.

The family head summoned the young clan leader to his study.

He first handed over a list.

The young clan leader, Ning Xiaoren, looked through it. He first noticed the name Ning Zhanji among the casualties, then found Ning Zhuo’s name among the survivors.

The family head sighed, “The loss of Ning Zhanji is a great blow to our Ning family.”

Ning Xiaoren said, “For a member of a branch family to sacrifice himself for the clan is also his honor.”

The family head continued, “You manage the clan’s logistics; the compensation for the family\'s cultivators this time should be overseen by you.”

Ning Xiaoren quickly replied, “Father, rest assured, I will handle this matter properly.”

“Hmm,” the family head nodded, then inquired thoughtfully, “Xiaoren, what do you make of the emergence of the Lava Immortal Palace?”

Ning Xiaoren pondered for a moment before saying, "The emergence of the Immortal Palace forces us to accelerate our exploration progress. Our clan was the last to learn of this matter, and our situation is more disadvantageous than before."

"We have never been able to invite an excellent Puppet Master, and relying solely on our clan\'s strength, it\'s difficult to compete with the other three parties."

The clan leader sighed heavily, his tone grave, "Currently, the selection criteria for the Immortal Palace have been lowered to the Qi Refining Stage. Perhaps, our clan should fully organize a large number of cultivators to modify the ‘The Five Elements Qi Regulation Art\'."

Ning Xiaoren\'s brows furrowed deeply, "Father, this is what worries me the most."

"How many people should be organized, and who should modify the new technique? Most crucially, how many people from the main vein and whom to choose? And how many from the branch veins and whom to choose?"

"With the situation unclear, it\'s quite difficult to proceed."

Hearing this, the clan leader showed a relieved expression, "Xiaoren, realizing this makes you a qualified young clan leader."

"I need to convene the elders to discuss this matter thoroughly."

"You go and take care of your own affairs."

Ning Xiaoren bowed and excused himself.

Returning to his study, a clan cultivator came to ask, "How should the clan\'s compensation be distributed this time?"

Ning Xiaoren responded without hesitation, "Compensation? What compensation?"

"Aren\'t all these members of the Ning family part of the Monster Hunting Association? The Association has its own compensation."

The clan cultivator looked troubled, "But they are all our Ning family’s…"

Ning Xiaoren interrupted, saying, "It is precisely because the family is in distress and lacks financial resources that we encourage our clan members to join other organizations to sustain their livelihood. As a member of the Ning family, one must consider the family\'s interests!"

The family cultivator had no choice but to step back.

However, Ning Xiaoren was still very angry and summoned Ning Zhuo\'s uncle, Ning Ze.

Ning Xiaoren\'s face was livid, his knuckles rapping on the tabletop with a thudding sound: "Ning Ze, how do you serve as an uncle? Ning Zhuo ran into the Red Flame Demon Molten Cave and almost lost his life, did you know?"

Ning Ze, wiping the sweat from his forehead, hurriedly said, "I know, I know!"

He had finally come up with a clever plan on his own, goading Ning Zhuo to join the Monster Hunting Association. As a result, when the Immortal Palace emerged, Ning Zhanji, who was responsible for recruiting Ning Zhuo, ended up dead.

Ning Zhuo had not truly joined the Monster Hunting Association, instead, Ning Xiaoren had seen through Ning Ze\'s arrangements. The latter was naturally furious!

With a bitter smile, Ning Ze said, "It\'s just, my lord, the young clan leader, it\'s not that I don\'t want to make arrangements for little Zhuo. It\'s really that he\'s too stubborn…"

Snap.

Before Ning Ze could finish, he was struck in the head by an inkstone thrown by Ning Xiaoren.

A surge of pain hit him, and at the same time, a warm flow ran down his forehead quickly to his chin.

Between the wings of his nose, all he could smell was the scent of iron rust.

He knew then that his forehead had been smashed open by the young clan leader again.

"Don\'t play dumb with me!" the young clan leader pointed at the door, "Get out, and next time, I want to hear good news!"

With a face full of pain and his head bleeding profusely, Ning Ze did not dare to treat his wounds on the spot. Clenching his teeth, he retreated.