Ning Family's territory.
In the cultivation chamber.
The Ning Family Ancestor was sitting inside a massive block of ice, meditating.
In his arms, a pot-shaped magical treasure emitted a layer of bright white light.
The ice block gradually melted away, until it was completely gone.
The Ning Family Ancestor slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a breath of stale air. Afterward, he reached up and touched his forehead.
Even now, there was still a dent on his forehead, though it was not as obvious as before.
The Ning Family Ancestor's heart was filled with anger and hatred.
To him, this had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
He had already entered the Immortal Palace, waiting for the moment when the side hall would be breached, just about to enter. Then, out of nowhere, the *Peach Core of External Fate* descended from the sky, seriously injuring him.
The Ning Family Ancestor was fully aware of Meng Kui's mountain-watching divine ability and the *Peach Core of External Fate*.
After being severely injured by the peach core, the Ning Family Ancestor could only flee with his head in his hands, leaving the Lava Immortal Palace on his own.
Just like that, the brilliant opportunity was utterly ruined by Meng Kui!
"Meng Kui is truly too domineering."
"The Lava Immortal Palace is originally an ownerless object, left for those fated. Anyone should have a chance."
"My Ning Family was already a latecomer. This time, we were fortunate enough to enter the side hall, yet Meng Kui couldn't even tolerate that and had to intervene!"
"He probably thinks the Lava Immortal Palace has long been his personal property."
"He really won't let anyone else lay a finger on it!"
The Ning Family Ancestor caressed the *Ice Heart Jade Pot*, gradually calming down.
The *Ice Heart Jade Pot* was the Ning Family’s treasured heirloom.
The entire jade pot was carved meticulously from a single block of pure, ice-like cold jade, its body clear and transparent, resembling a pristine icy lake, radiating a faint chill.
When the Ning Family Ancestor touched the pot, he never felt a biting cold, but instead, a warmth like that of smooth jade.
The Ning Family Ancestor pondered the current situation.
"Meng Kui has already reached the Nascent Soul stage and is also the city lord of Huoshi Immortal City."
"His reason for sealing the volcano’s mouth is justified and proper, appearing aboveboard. If I want to enter the Immortal Palace, I have to go in disguise. But once I’m disguised, I lose the identity of a righteous cultivator and will be shamelessly targeted by Meng Kui."
"Sigh, looking at it this way..."
"My family's greatest hope still lies in the Qi Refining stage competition."
"But in the Qi Refining stage competition, can Ning Xiaohui really compete with Meng Chong?"
Thinking of Meng Chong, who had immortal aptitude, the Ning Family Ancestor felt a heavy burden.
He couldn't help but wonder: Had Meng Chong already reached the later stages of the competition? Was he already close to the end?
Touching the dent on his forehead again, the Ning Family Ancestor's gaze firmed.
"It seems I must increase my support for the family’s reform team."
After a moment of reflection, the Ning Family Ancestor promptly gave an order.
Ning Xiaohui was the first to receive the good news within the reform team.
"Oh? The Ancestor himself gave the order, taking out the *Frost and Proud Snow Comprehension Diagram* and even activating three bottles of *Snow in Spring Pills* to distribute to the entire reform team. He’ll even use the *Ice Heart Jade Pot's Ice Jade Wine* to reward the most outstanding cultivators in the team?"
"Heh."
Ning Xiaohui glanced at her own hands and curled her lips, "Reward the most outstanding? They might as well just give it to me directly. This is completely unnecessary."
After experiencing a near-death crisis, Ning Xiaohui's mentality had undergone a massive transformation.
Later, with the help of her grandmother, she had initially mastered the innate *Ice Jade Hand*.
In this process, the power of the *Ice Jade Hand* completely healed Ning Xiaohui's injuries.
As a result, Ning Xiaohui, as a latecomer, had surpassed the Zhou family’s duo, as well as Zheng Jian of the Zheng family. While the other three were still recovering from their injuries, Ning Xiaohui had already begun special training.
The outline of the adult monkey head was more vivid and lifelike compared to the baby monkey’s head before.
Moreover, while it hovered in midair, Yuan Dasheng’s spirit was now enveloped in a layer of radiance.
This was a feature that hadn’t existed before.
Based on this, Ning Zhuo quickly thought of the relevant records in *On Spirits*.
"This layer of radiance is called ‘spirit glow’."
"When the spirit becomes abundant enough to overflow, reaching a certain threshold, spirit glow will appear."
"As the spirit
continues to grow, the spirit glow will become more and more intense, allowing it to interact with and analyze all things."
"So, Yuan Dasheng has already entered the *Wisdom Spirit Stage*!"
The stages of spirits are classified as follows.
The first stage is the *Non-Spirit Stage*, the second is the *Dead Spirit Stage*, the third is the *Living Spirit Stage*, the fourth is the *Wisdom Spirit Stage*, and the fifth is the *Divine Spirit Stage*.
The *Dead Spirit Stage* is divided into five levels, as is the *Living Spirit Stage*. From lowest to highest, the *Living Spirit Stage* is divided into: Spirit Star, Spirit Agile, Spirit Long, Spirit Active, and Spirit Keen.
Previously, after Yuan Dasheng’s spirit had become full, he had reached the *Spirit Active* level. At this level, the spirit was lively and active, greatly influenced by emotions.
According to Ning Zhuo’s research, as long as he commanded in line with the spirit’s tendencies, he could once again regain full control.
After the *Spirit Active* stage came the *Spirit Keen* stage.
"Looking at it now, Yuan Dasheng skipped the *Spirit Keen* stage and directly advanced to the first stage of the *Wisdom Spirit Stage*—*Spirit Connection*."
"The *Living Spirit Stage* is also called the beast spirit stage, as it follows instinct. The *Wisdom Spirit Stage* spirit, on the other hand, is a wise spirit. The first major transformation that occurs is the ability to communicate."
"This explains why Yuan Dasheng can speak."
The first stage of the *Wisdom Spirit Stage*, *Spirit Connection*, refers to the spirit’s ability to start normal communication with its surroundings.
Ning Zhuo placed Yuan Dasheng’s spirit into the *Golden Blood Battle Ape* puppet but did not immediately communicate with him, instead putting it away in a storage bag.
Wrapped tightly in layers of floating clouds, Ning Zhuo took out a meditation cushion and began his daily cultivation.
*Mirror Platform Spirit Technique*, sixth level.
*Five Elements Qi Regulation Art*, fifth level.
*Demonic Blood Tendon Technique*, fifth level.
"My cultivation is still too weak, far too weak."
"This time, I only defeated Qi Bai thanks to Meng Kui’s peach core, and secondly, my years of accumulated preparation."
"When will I be able to rely on my own cultivation to defeat powerful enemies?"
"What other methods are there to help me cultivate faster?"
"I must cultivate faster. I must become stronger!"
Having just survived a life-and-death battle, Ning Zhuo’s desire for cultivation was ten times stronger than before!
At the same time.
In another part of the Ning Family’s territory.
"Third layer peak of Qi Refining, *Ice Jade Hand*! Just based on these two points, how could Zhou Zhu, Zhou Zhenshen, or Zheng Jian be my match?"
Ning Xiaohui’s face was filled with pride.
This was all because the talents of Zheng Jian and the other two were not suited for combat.
But *Ice Jade Hand* was different!
"*Frost and Proud Snow Comprehension Diagrams*..." Ning Xiaohui unfolded the two scrolls, examining them carefully.
"I have the *Ice Jade Hand*, which gives me a natural affinity for understanding this."
"As long as I comprehend the *Frost Technique* and *Proud Snow Technique*, I will be like a tiger with wings!"
"By then, only Meng Chong could be considered my true rival."
"As for the others, they are not worth worrying about."