Chapter 68: A Sliver of Hope

“Uncle Monkey!” Yuan Er finally came to his senses. When he saw the fallen ape lying motionless on the ground, he cried out in alarm.

He rushed to the ape’s side.

But the ape did not stir.

For a moment, Yuan Er was overwhelmed with grief, tears and snot streaming down his face.

“Who can save Uncle Monkey!”

“Who can save him?!”

“Hurry, open the formation, open the formation—we need a healer, we need a healer!!”

Dragging Yuan Dasheng toward the edge of the formation in desperation, Yuan Er accidentally tore his arm right off.

Yuan Er sank to the ground, dazed, staring blankly at the scene before him.

“Open the formation.” Suddenly, Zhu Xuanji appeared beside Fei Si.

Fei Si’s heart gave a jolt; he couldn’t see through Zhu Xuanji’s stealth technique. “Lord Zhu, the situation is dire. This must be the work of the shadow demon cultivators. Let’s remain calm and wait—”

Zhu Xuanji fixed him with a piercing gaze, golden light flickering in his eyes, his expression stern. “I said, open the formation!”

Fei Si’s pupils contracted; he squeezed out a thin smile. “Since the Divine Constable wishes to apprehend the culprit, I will naturally cooperate.”

The formation opened.

Zhu Xuanji came to Yuan Er’s side, chanted a healing spell, and directed it at Yuan Dasheng.

Under his treatment, Yuan Dasheng’s severed arm was reattached, his wounds stabilized, his heart began to beat again, and a thread of life returned.

“My lord, thank you, my lord!” Yuan Er kowtowed repeatedly to the unfamiliar Golden Core cultivator, Zhu Xuanji.

Zhu Xuanji sighed softly. “His injuries are too severe. I’ve done all I can; this will only keep him alive for now.”

“This is the Autumn Survival Pill. Give it to him and it will preserve his life.”

“But from now on, he will only linger on a sickbed.”

Zhu Xuanji looked at the barely breathing Yuan Dasheng, filled with emotion.

He possessed Golden Eyes; while others’ sight was obscured by the explosion, he saw everything clearly.

At the moment of the blast, Yuan Dasheng wanted to activate his demonic arts for full defense. But he didn’t. Instead, he used his spiritual power to shield Yuan Er, whom he held in his arms.

He took the explosion head-on with his own flesh and blood, willingly sacrificing himself to save Yuan Er!

“He had demonic arts, yet chose not to use them.”

“He feared exposing his identity as a demon cultivator, causing misunderstanding, inciting an attack, and ultimately dragging Yuan Er into it.”

“This ape is loyal and righteous.”

Zhu Xuanji was deeply moved, which was why he revealed himself and personally intervened to save Yuan Dasheng’s life.

“Zhu Xuanji!!!” Halfway up the mountain, Ning Zhuo, who witnessed Zhu Xuanji saving Yuan Dasheng, had cold light in his eyes.

“You’ve ruined my plans!” Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth in secret.

He’d painstakingly devised this trap, skillfully manipulated the situation, calculated the reactions and mindset of most people—yet he hadn’t anticipated Zhu Xuanji’s actions.

“I lack intelligence on Zhu Xuanji.”

“What should I do?”

Because Zhu Xuanji interfered, Yuan Dasheng, who was supposed to die, survived.

“Don’t be fooled by his poor condition—he’s barely breathing, but his injuries are mostly physical; his soul is intact.”

“He can be extracted and sent to the palace.”

“If he encounters Meng Chong, Zhou Zhu, or Zheng Jian, any of those three powers will surely step in to rescue him.”

“Damn, damn!”

When Zheng Shuangou learned that Ning Zhuo had engineered the explosive mechanical monkey, he immediately showed interest in recruiting him. The four great powers’ thirst for mechanical talent was obvious.

If they learned Yuan Dasheng had managed to break through to Room Seven alone, they would go mad!

“What should I do? What can I do?” Ning Zhuo racked his brains, his face pale, his head throbbing.

It was too difficult!

Designing such a trap had already exhausted his ingenuity.

It had taken days of analyzing intelligence and relentless scheming to come up with it.

After all, he was only sixteen!

Fei Si’s face was equally grim.

Just now, Zhu Xuanji had forced him to open the formation, humiliating him in front of everyone, showing no regard for the occasion.

Fei Si, dark-hearted and ruthless, bit his lip and swore silently: he’d remember this, and one day, he’d pay Zhu Xuanji back. So what if he was a member of the Divine Constabulary and the royal family?

“We’re all righteous cultivators; we must follow the rules. Today you’ve made me lose face—fine, fine, just wait until I get my chance!”

“My lord, someone from the Flying Disk Workshop requests an audience,” a guard reported.

Soon, Ning Zhuo was brought in.

Fei Si was in a foul mood. “Boy, you’d better have something worthwhile to say—this had better be important!”

Ning Zhuo smiled and whispered, “Lord Fei, that Zhu Xuanji was truly impudent. I happen to have a plan that could relieve your worries.”

Fei Si immediately rebuked him, “Lord Zhu is a royal and a Divine Constable. What’s your status? A mere Qi Refining cultivator, daring to call him by name? You’re far too bold!”

Though he scolded him, Fei Si spoke in a whisper, so no third party could overhear.

Ning Zhuo chuckled to himself and continued, “I was thoughtless, my lord. But Zhu Xuanji, for reasons unknown, chose to save that ape. He shows no respect for our Fire Persimmon Immortal City!”

Seeing Fei Si frown in displeasure, Ning Zhuo hurried on, “My lord, the whole city knows Zhu Xuanji intervened to save the ape. He doesn’t want the ape to die. So what if the ape does die?”

Fei Si’s brows relaxed, and he pointed at Ning Zhuo. “Boy, your scheming is deep. Worried that the ape will recover and compete with you for the persimmon business?”

Ning Zhuo, seeing Fei Si had ‘seen through’ him, spoke plainly: “My lord’s insight is like a torch. How could my petty schemes escape your discerning eyes? In truth, I never intended to hide them from you.”

Fei Si shook his head. “This isn’t proper—let go of these thoughts. If others find out, what will they say? That I’m petty and at odds with Lord Zhu. My own reputation doesn’t matter, but I fear it might drag down the city lord, and tarnish the name of our Fire Persimmon Immortal City.”

Ning Zhuo smiled. “Your worries are well understood, my lord. Rest assured, I won’t act personally or leave any evidence for others. All I need is your token, and I’ll act accordingly… When the time comes, even if Zhu Xuanji comes looking for trouble, he’ll have no grounds!”

“Oh?” Fei Si thought it over and realized the plan might work.

He tossed a token onto the ground and deliberately said, “Ah, I’ve dropped a token. What should I do?”

Ning Zhuo quickly picked it up. “Please wait, my lord—I’ll retrieve it for you.”

He bowed and took his leave.

Fei Si watched his back and sighed inwardly. “That Ning boy has keen eyes.”

Whether the plan succeeded or not, Fei Si found himself increasingly admiring Ning Zhuo.

With the token in hand, Ning Zhuo quickened his pace, heading for the Monkey Gang’s temporary headquarters.

The plan was good, but its execution was uncertain.

He didn’t know if he would succeed, but he had to try, had to seize every possible chance.

Yuan Dasheng still had a sliver of hope—Ning Zhuo had only this sliver too!

If Yuan Dasheng survived, Ning Zhuo would have to die.

If Ning Zhuo was to live, Yuan Dasheng had to perish.

It was either him or me!

Ning Zhuo knew he was risking everything, but he had no other choice.

Between the four great powers, and in front of Zhu Xuanji, he was too ordinary, too weak, too alone.

He could only step into the game himself, act personally—and kill Yuan Dasheng!