Ning Fa's expression changed slightly, and he blurted out, "This is... the Immortal Extermination Bead."
Ning Daozhen looked slightly surprised, then sneered, "It's good that you recognize this item. Do you still intend to fight me now?"
Ning Fa looked at the Immortal Extermination Bead in Ning Daozhen's hand, a flicker of fear in his eyes, and slowly retracted his aura.
Ning Daozhen let out a cold snort and put away the Immortal Extermination Bead.
He continued, "It's normal for you not to trust me now, but as a gesture of sincerity, I will also help break the inner barrier of the Ten Thousand Peaks Mountain Range when the time comes.
The Tianli are currently blockading the entire Ten Thousand Peaks Mountain Range. I imagine you must be troubled by this."
Ning Fa's heart stirred, "You know how to get in?"
Ning Daozhen said proudly, "Of course. The Tianli's reaction was within my expectations.
That's why when I previously confirmed the location of the treasure refining site, I had already left a hidden contingency that allows me to bypass the outer barrier and enter directly.
In fact, if we want to obtain the Innate Five Elements Qi, breaking that barrier in the Ten Thousand Peaks Mountain Range is a necessary step.
After all, the Tianli's treasure refining site is also protected by this grand formation.
If this formation isn't broken, we won't be able to infiltrate the treasure refining site at all."
Hearing this, Ning Fa's expression softened.
He then asked several more crucial questions, most of which Ning Daozhen answered readily.
However, when Ning Fa inquired about the exact location of the treasure refining site, Ning Daozhen remained silent.
He said that if Ning Fa agreed to cooperate, he would bring Ning Fa along.
Ning Fa's eyes flickered, and he had already decided to cooperate with Ning Daozhen.
He then asked, "What about those Ancient Spirits? You cooperated with them before, so do they also know about the treasure refining site?"
"Don't worry about that. They were just assisting before.
Only I know the precise location of the treasure refining site. I will send them to a fake treasure refining site then. By the time they realize, we should have already succeeded."
Ning Fa narrowed his eyes, "That's still not secure enough. Why don't we lure them out and kill them directly?"
Ning Daozhen immediately shook his head, "Don't underestimate these Ancient Spirits. For some reason, their power has been significantly revived, and they have all recovered to the Nascent Soul realm.
Even if their strength is not comparable to Great Cultivators, they are not to be trifled with like ordinary Nascent Souls. Furthermore, their Divine Abilities are strange. It's best not to create unnecessary trouble."
Ning Fa had to abandon that idea, but his eyes flickered as he said, "You must make a Heart Demon Oath, guaranteeing that you won't leak that you met me."
Ning Daozhen was furious, "Don't push your luck too far!"
Seeing Ning Daozhen's anger, Ning Fa thought for a moment, grabbed the void with his right hand, and a golden scroll instantly appeared in his hand. Golden runes floated on its surface, making it look extraordinary.
"Since you're unwilling to take the Heart Demon Oath, then sign this Golden Profound Spirit Contract."
"Golden Profound Spirit Contract? I didn't expect you to possess such a precious spirit contract..." Ning Daozhen stared at the golden scroll, his expression moved.
"Alright, but you have to sign it too," Ning Daozhen said in a deep voice after a moment of thought.
"Okay."
Ning Fa began writing on the Golden Profound Spirit Contract with his spiritual power. After checking it and finding no issues, both of them signed their names, and the atmosphere between them eased considerably.
After they discussed some more details, Ning Daozhen looked at Ning Fa, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and chuckled:
"To be honest, I only had a 20-30% chance of success for this operation initially. Now that I've met you, that chance can increase by another 20%. Of course, that's assuming you have the strength to match your reputation."
With that, a flash of blood-red light appeared around him, and he vanished in an instant.
Ning Fa's eyes flickered, and he felt a surge of excitement. This was truly a case of 'a bend in the road leads to a new vista'.
Then, Ning Fa immediately returned to Aisa City and urgently sent messages to the others to meet him.
In the private room of the inn, Ning Fa briefly explained the situation, not even withholding Ning Daozhen's identity.
After all, they were all his teammates, and honest cooperation was necessary, especially given the considerable danger of this mission.
However, regarding the Innate Five Elements Qi, Ning Fa vaguely referred to it using some fifth-tier material.
If the others acted with him and they succeeded and retreated safely, he would not give up the Innate Five Elements Qi, but he would compensate the others with other precious resources.
After hearing Ning Fa's explanation, the others were both surprised and delighted, even Sang Wen, who had been cold towards Ning Fa recently.
Sang Wen's expression was moved, "No wonder, according to the intelligence we gathered before, even when the Savage Beasts in the Ten Thousand Peaks Mountain Range were basically under control in the later stages, the Tianli were still on high alert, with abnormal resource allocation. It turns out they were gathering the strength of their entire tribe to forge a Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure Replica."
She then stated resolutely, "In that case, we must disrupt their spiritual treasure refining this time, no matter what. Its priority should even be higher than disrupting the grand formation of the Ten Thousand Peaks Mountain Range."
Bai Yueqiu also rarely dropped her cheerful demeanor and said solemnly, "Although that Ning Daozhen is a remnant of the Blood Heaven Sect, since Captain has signed the Golden Profound Spirit Contract with Ning Daozhen, we can trust him.
After all, the Golden Profound Spirit Contract is one of the seven great spirit contracts of ancient times. It is said to be able to restrain even Spirit Transformation Cultivators. As expected of Captain, to possess such a spirit contract."
However, Xiao Pengyuan showed a troubled expression and hesitated, "If that's the case, the risk will increase significantly. Even if we succeed, it might be difficult for us to escape."
Hearing this, Ning Fa's expression remained unchanged, and he showed no displeasure.
This couldn't be said to be Xiao Pengyuan being selfish. After all, attacking the treasure refining site was not part of the original plan.
Facing such a high-risk endeavor, it was normal for Xiao Pengyuan to hesitate, and Ning Fa would not force him.
To be honest, even if the others went with him, he couldn't guarantee their safe retreat.
But before Ning Fa could speak, Ji Lianxing, who had been silent with a slight flicker in her eyes, suddenly raised her voice and said, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, why are you so cowardly, retreating before the fight?
Our Cangyuan is already at a disadvantage. Now that we've learned this news, if we just sit by and watch the Tianli people complete the refinement of that Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure Replica, our chances of winning will be even lower. Aren't you afraid of having a guilty conscience later?
I support the captain's idea. After destroying that barrier, we should go directly to disrupt the refinement of the spirit treasure replica. This is also for the sake of our Cangyuan."
Ji Lianxing's righteous words caused a hint of embarrassment to appear on Xiao Pengyuan's face.
After some thought, he reluctantly said, "Since everyone has this opinion, then I can only risk my life to accompany you gentlemen."
"Good, since everyone agrees, then it will be easy to handle," Ning Fa said with a smile.
However, his gaze inadvertently swept over Ji Lianxing, and he felt a little strange.
If Sang Wen or Bai Yueqiu had said this, he wouldn't have found it odd.
But for Ji Lianxing to say this, for some reason, it felt abrupt to him.
After all, Ji Lianxing was the core successor of the Wushi Demonic Palace, the top sect of the Demonic Path, and the people of the Demonic Path were generally selfish and self-serving.
At this moment, Ning Fa recalled that when they had just heard about the sealing order of the Ten Thousand Peaks Mountain Range, Xiao Pengyuan had also been hesitant to retreat due to the difficulty. It was Ji Lianxing who had first stepped forward to oppose him.
Thinking of this, Ning Fa's heart suddenly felt a sense of vigilance.
But his expression remained unchanged, and he discussed the details of the operation with the others before they each departed.
Not long after, Ji Lianxing returned to her residence.
She was seen sitting cross-legged in the quiet room, cultivating as usual.
When it was deep in the night, in the room illuminated only by the faint moonlight, Ji Lianxing suddenly opened her eyes.
Her enchanting face, capable of captivating all beings, was expressionless. Then, opening her delicate mouth, she exhaled a puff of pink mist that quickly dispersed throughout the room, emitting a strange power of confinement.
Next, Ji Lianxing reversed her right hand and took out a small, exquisite black oil lamp.
The woman squeezed a drop of vital blood from her wrist and dripped it into the black oil lamp.
With a "whoosh," the oil lamp immediately ignited a ball of black flame.
As the black flames drifted, they slowly formed a woman's face, and her noble and beautiful features could be vaguely seen.
And this woman was Ji Lianxing's master, and also the second Great Cultivator to reach their level in the Wushi Demonic Palace – Crimson Night Demoness Shen Xinlan.
"Disciple greets Master," Ji Lianxing said respectfully.
Shen Xinlan said in a calm, unruffled tone, "You actually used this Night Soul Lamp to contact me. Could it be that something major has happened?"
Ji Lianxing nodded. "Ning Fa suddenly summoned us just now, he said..."
Not long after, Ji Lianxing recounted the entire incident.
After listening, Shen Xinlan's black flame face couldn't help but tremble slightly.
"There's actually such a thing... No wonder we felt that the Tianli people's actions were somewhat unusual before. Hmph, these Tianli people are really tight-lipped."
"Master, what should this disciple do?" Ji Lianxing asked nervously.
Shen Xinlan pondered for a moment, then said expressionlessly, "You did very well before. As for the destruction of the treasure refinement site, you should go along with it.
After all, with that spirit treasure I privately gave you to assist you, self-preservation and escape should not be a problem.
Just remember, no matter what happens, you must stay close to Ning Fa, do you understand?"
"Disciple understands," Ji Lianxing nodded.
A woman's light laughter echoed, and the black flames forming Shen Xinlan's face trembled, returning to their original state before slowly dissipating.
Ji Lianxing breathed a sigh of relief, then let out a faint sigh and whispered, "Ning Fa, Ning Fa, don't blame me. I have no choice..."
Just then, a gentle male voice suddenly came.
"Oh, is that so? Ning is very curious about how exactly you, Fellow Daoist Ji, were forced into this situation."
Ji Lianxing was instantly greatly alarmed and turned around abruptly.
In a corner of the room, a man in black robes had appeared at some point, looking at her with a faint expression.
Who else could it be but Ning Fa?
At this moment, Ning Fa was enveloped in a strange moon shadow, appearing as if he were merely an illusion.
Even with Ning Fa standing there, Ji Lianxing's spiritual sense could not detect his presence at all.
Even in her line of sight, Ning Fa's figure was blurry and indistinct, seeming both far and near, making him impossible to grasp.