Chapter 163: Great Reward for Ning Zhuo
Ning Ze’s residence.
Breakfast had already been finished, and Ning Zhuo arrived in the courtyard.
Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and the others were already there.
When the classmates saw Ning Zhuo, they all stood up to greet him.
Ning Yong, with dark circles under his eyes, cheerfully shouted, “Brother Zhuo, I couldn’t sleep at all last night! I was too excited, hahaha.”
The others echoed him, bursting into laughter.
Ning Zhuo cupped his hands, expressing his thanks once again. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he turned to the person behind him and said, “Cousin, just find a seat anywhere.”
“Today we are still discussing our insights and experiences in casting spells. Although you haven’t cultivated the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art, listening can still be beneficial in grasping related concepts.”
Ning Ji looked awkward, nodding repeatedly, “Alright, alright. I’ll follow your arrangements, cousin!”
Early that morning, his father, Ning Ze, had called him into the study and solemnly instructed him to devote himself entirely to Ning Zhuo.
Ning Ji didn’t dare defy his father’s orders, so during breakfast, he “voluntarily” requested to follow Ning Zhuo, even saying he didn’t want to return to the Talisman Hall.
Ning Zhuo didn’t directly accept his request, instead suggesting that Ning Ji continue to stay in the Talisman Hall.
He didn’t fully reject Ning Ji either, but advised him to join in their exchange and discussion on spellcasting insights.
Ning Zhuo’s response didn’t completely satisfy Ning Ze, but it also didn’t leave him entirely disappointed.
Ning Ji merged into the group, greeting others casually.
He was already Ning Zhuo’s classmate, so these fellow students in the revised team were all familiar faces.
Ning Ji had originally intended to sit in the spot closest to Ning Zhuo when Ning Chen suddenly spoke up, “That’s my spot, what are you trying to take?”
Ning Ji exclaimed, “Isn’t it just sitting anywhere?”
Ning Chen sneered, “Seats have rules too. At the very least, you should understand the concept of first come, first served. You arrived the latest, so you should sit at the back.”
Ning Ji chuckled, “Ning Chen, you’re so arrogant. Don’t forget, this courtyard belongs to my family. I’m the host, and you’re the guest. How could a guest bully the host?”
Ning Chen laughed heartily, pointing at Ning Ji, “Do you really think we care about your shabby courtyard? We’re only here because Brother Zhuo is staying here. Believe it or not, wherever Brother Zhuo moves to, we’ll follow him there.”
Ning Ji, unable to out-argue Ning Chen, turned to Ning Zhuo, “Cousin, look at this…”
Ning Zhuo smiled faintly, “Today, we’re discussing spells, sparring and learning from each other, just like in school.”
“In school, we don’t care about being cousins; we are all classmates.”
“Ning Ji, sit in the back, it won’t affect your learning.”
Ning Ji’s face immediately showed embarrassment and a trace of resentment as he gritted his teeth, “Since my father told me to follow you, I’ll listen to you.”
Ning Ji sat at the farthest, most remote spot in the group.
Closest to Ning Zhuo remained Ning Chen and Ning Yong.
Everyone who saw this scene had their own thoughts.
“The day before yesterday, we discussed the Ice-Embracing Technique. Today, I want to talk about the combination of the Ice-Embracing Technique and the One Breath technique.”
“If there’s anything I’ve missed or any mistakes, please feel free to correct me.”
Ning Zhuo began his explanation.
Everyone else listened intently and attentively.
Initially, many of them didn’t take Ning Zhuo seriously, thinking he just had good luck and happened to find a technique compatible with himself in the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art.
But after Ning Zhuo actively shared his insights on spellcasting, their opinions changed, realizing that Ning Zhuo was indeed a talented individual with an extraordinary understanding of spells.
Though Ning Zhuo humbly referred to it as an exchange and sparring, Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and the others knew that Ning Zhuo was actually imparting valuable spellcasting experiences to them!
Ning Zhuo, who had received early wisdom, benefited from his mother’s will and Sun Lingtong’s education. He had always hidden his abilities in school.
Later, through the rewards from the Lava Immortal Palace’s leaderboard, his spellcasting experience had soared. Teaching these classmates was overkill for someone like him, and it was more than sufficient.
Among the group, the one paying the least attention was undoubtedly Ning Ji.
Ning Ji felt indignant, thinking that his first time following Ning Zhuo, he had been treated unfairly.
“I’m your cousin, and you actually help outsiders instead of me!”
“What’s all this about?”
“I haven’t even learned the Ice-Embracing Technique or the One Breath technique!”
Ning Zhuo sensed Ning Ji’s resentment but didn’t point it out, allowing Ning Ji to stew in his own emotions.
It wasn’t until a family envoy arrived that Ning Zhuo interrupted the discussion.
The envoy said, “Ning Zhuo, the former young clan leader Ning Xiaoren has been imprisoned, and I’ve come to bring you your deserved rewards.”
“One Tornado Windmill magical item, one bottle of Three-Orifices Exquisite Heart Pills, three bottles of Qi Condensation Pills, one bottle of Marrow Cleansing Pills, and one bottle of Detoxification Pills.”
After the envoy read out the items, he handed Ning Zhuo a storage bag in front of everyone.
“Check it, and let’s complete the handover quickly.”
Ning Zhuo opened the storage bag and glanced through it, confirming the items before nodding slightly. He then asked, “There’s no Insight Diagram or Ice Jade Wine. May I ask why?”
“Yeah, Brother Zhuo broke through to the eighth level. At that time, he was still in the revised team, and according to the rules, he should’ve earned the chance to study the Insight Diagram and the Ice Jade Wine!” Ning Yong was the first to speak.
The other classmates chimed in, speaking up in support.
The envoy’s face changed slightly as he quickly waved his hand, “Everyone, please calm down. I’m only the first wave.”
“Since yesterday, the family elders have been discussing giving Brother Ning Zhuo additional compensation.”
“This reward is only part of it, the portion that could be gathered first and sent immediately by me.”
“There will be other envoys after me.”
Hearing this, the group’s expressions finally relaxed.
“I see, it was my misunderstanding,” Ning Zhuo smiled, inviting the envoy inside to rest.
The envoy declined to stay and left the courtyard after completing the handover.
Ning Zhuo fastened the storage bag to his waist and continued teaching spellcasting experiences and techniques.
About half an hour later, the second envoy arrived.
“A Five Elements Ruler magical item, a Quiet Heart Bell magical item, one bottle of Awakening Pills, a stack of Qi-Boosting Talismans, and six Harmony Talismans,” the envoy announced in a loud voice.
Ning Zhuo completed the handover and confirmed that the storage bag’s contents were accurate.
A thought crossed his mind, and he realized something.
The envoy, noticing that Ning Zhuo didn’t ask any questions, took the initiative to explain, “Brother Ning Zhuo, are you getting impatient? The Ice Jade Wine will be delivered, but such wine must be preserved in an Ice Heart Jade Flask to maintain its quality.”
“And the Ice Heart Jade Flask is a valuable family treasure, always in the possession of the clan’s Golden Core ancestor.”
“Thus, to obtain a portion of the wine, it’s necessary to meet with the ancestor, who will personally bestow it, and then the clan leader will pass it down.”
Ning Zhuo smiled, “I’m not in a rush. Envoy, you must be tired. Why not rest inside for a while?”
The envoy waved his hand, “No, no, I still have things to do.”
Ning Zhuo replied, “It must be tiring for the envoy to make so many trips. How about notifying me when everything has been prepared, and I’ll come collect it myself? It would be much more convenient to retrieve everything at once.”
The second envoy shook his head slightly, “I only follow orders.”
Ning Zhuo didn’t let it go easily, “Please convey my suggestion to the family.”
“Alright.” The second envoy also left.
Ning Zhuo walked back from the courtyard gate, hearing his classmates excitedly chatting.
“I didn’t expect the family elders to be so generous this time!”
“These are all great things, even Ning Xiaohui never received such treatment before.”
“This is all thanks to Brother Zhuo teaching the elders a serious lesson, making them realize what they should do!”
“Hahaha, that’s right! Even the young clan leader was brought down by Brother Zhuo. Now, who in the upper ranks would dare to mistreat Brother Zhuo? Aren’t they afraid of being brought down by him too?”
Ning Yong grumbled, “Why is
delivering rewards so troublesome? Back and forth, why can’t they deliver everything at once?”
Ning Chen, standing nearby, narrowed his eyes, “Maybe someone in the family’s upper ranks wants to make a point with these repeated trips, showing everyone that they’re no longer mistreating Brother Zhuo.”
Ever since Ning Yong had started calling Ning Zhuo “Brother Zhuo,” the nickname had gradually spread.
Especially after yesterday’s incident, all the classmates had changed how they addressed him, calling him “Brother Zhuo,” with no one daring to refer to him by name anymore.
On the third visit, the envoy finally brought the Ice Jade Wine.
“Two ounces of Ice Jade Wine, one Mysterious Ice Waist Token, two Insight Diagrams of Ling Shuang and Proud Snow, three stacks of Ice Light Strong Pulse Talismans, one bottle of White Snow Early Spring Pills, and ten top-grade spirit stones!”
After announcing the items, the envoy reminded Ning Zhuo that Ice Jade Wine couldn’t be stored for long and needed to be consumed soon. The Ling Shuang and Proud Snow diagrams were masterpieces drawn by renowned artists and contained profound insights but were not Ning Zhuo’s personal items, only loaned to him. After the time limit passed, Ning Zhuo would need to return them to the family vault.
The envoy was about to leave, but Ning Zhuo stopped him, frowning, “This reward is excessive, far beyond what I should receive. I can’t accept undeserved rewards. I’ll only take the part I deserve, and the rest should go back to the family vault.”
The envoy was prepared and quickly responded, “This isn’t just a reward; it’s also compensation from the elders.”
“Since Ning Xiaoren, as the young clan leader, was unqualified, Brother Ning Zhuo, your contributions in exploring the Immortal Palace are significant. These are meant to reassure you.”
“That’s the intention from above.”
“Once these things are given to you, they are yours. How you use them is up to you.”
“Farewell.”
The envoy left.
Ning Ji could no longer hold back and called out, “Cousin, with so many cultivation resources, how can you possibly use them all by yourself?”
“Look, I even helped in the ancestral hall yesterday.”
“Why don’t you lend me a look at those two Insight Diagrams or let me borrow the Tornado Windmill? If not, the Quiet Heart Bell would be fine too.”
Ning Zhuo quickly glanced at the others, noticing that many of them were somewhat tempted.
The family elders had indeed given too much, and these classmates were all sixteen or seventeen years old, most of them had never seen such generosity before.
Ning Ji had voiced what many were secretly thinking.
“You see, yesterday we worked hard together, creating an uproar that shook the entire family, bringing Ning Xiaoren down and allowing you, Ning Zhuo, to receive such abundant rewards.”
“The other pills are consumables. Once used, they’re gone, so we wouldn’t feel right asking for those.”
“But these magical tools are excellent for assisting in cultivation. Given our relationship, surely you can lend them to me, right?”
Under the eager gazes of the others, the faint smile on Ning Zhuo’s face vanished.
He shook his head coldly and expressionlessly, “Cultivation tools are personal items, not to be lent out. Don’t mention this again!”
“Alright, the family rewards have finally been distributed.”
“Let’s continue.”
Ning Zhuo returned to his seat and resumed his lecture, imparting spellcasting techniques and insights.
“So stingy, too stingy!” Ning Ji, having been rejected so directly and harshly, felt his jealousy quickly turn into resentment due to the excessive rewards.
Some of the classmates also seemed distracted.
But most of them quickly adjusted their attitudes, focused their minds, and listened carefully.
Ning Zhuo, without showing any emotion, silently took note of his classmates’ various reactions.