< Chapter 21: Qi Refining Second Layer! >
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit withdrew its gaze and focused on the Zheng family.
Two Zheng family elders were persuading Zheng Jian.
Zheng Jian was a young cultivator, with a pupil-shaped gem embedded in the center of his headband.
At this moment, Zheng Jian shook his head vigorously, his resolve firm: “No, I’m determined to cultivate ‘The Five Elements Qi Regulation Art’! No one can stop me.”
One elder sighed, “Zheng Jian, you are the most outstanding among our family’s current generation. You possess a talent that grants piercing insights, which complements our family’s techniques perfectly. Switching to another practice would truly waste such excellent talent.”
Zheng Jian shook his head, “It’s precisely because of my piercing insights that I know I must cultivate this technique swiftly. This will greatly benefit my path!”
The elder shook his head, “Our family records also mention ancestors with piercing insights. Indeed, it grants cultivators remarkable intuition. But that doesn’t mean it’s always right. Our family history records several instances where the intuition was wrong. Zheng Jian, you shouldn’t place too much trust in this talent.”
Zheng Jian shook his head again, “From childhood till now, I’ve never encountered a situation where my intuition was wrong. This time, I still choose to trust my intuition. Elders, I appreciate your concern, but there’s no need to persuade me further.”
The elder sighed, yielding a step, “In that case, Zheng Jian, let the members of a branch line practice this technique first to see how it goes.”
Zheng Jian laughed heartily, “There’s no need for that! What’s the main line, what’s the branch line? Because it’s risky, let the branch line take it? If I act like this as the main line, it’s too cowardly and weak.”
“Because I am from the main lineage of the Zheng family, I should lead by example and forge ahead courageously. Otherwise, what right does the main lineage have to lead the family?”
“The two elders, I have made up my mind.”
The two family elders sighed, both worried and reassured.
One of them said, “Well then. I will give you this jade slip.”
“This was personally bestowed by Elder Zheng Shuanggou after he heard of your situation.”
“The jade slip contains the method for forging a weapon called the ‘Deadly Flying Hook’.”
Zheng Jian was puzzled: “I need to disperse my power, which requires urgency. Why would I engage in weapon forging at such a critical moment?”
The elder smiled, “Don’t hurry, just take a good look first.”
Zheng Jian then pressed the jade slip against his forehead and activated his spiritual sense to probe inside.
Soon, his face lit up with joy.
“Wonderful!”
“This weapon forging secret technique is powerful, but it has drawbacks. First, it must be used in conjunction with our family’s techniques. Second, each hook forged permanently reduces a layer of the cultivator’s magical power. If too many are forged, the cultivator’s maximum magical power becomes increasingly lower, and it cannot be restored.”
“But for me at the moment, this is exactly what I need.”
“My own magical power is already dispersing; it would be better to make use of it and forge the Deadly Flying Hook. Not only can this accelerate the dispersion of my power, but it also provides me with such a marvelous protective object.”
“Thank you, Ancestor Zheng Shuanggou, and thank you to the two elders!”
The elders either stroked their beards or smiled.
“This is rightfully yours.”
“You truly are a son of the Zheng family, and we hope you succeed in every endeavor!”
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit glanced at Zheng Jian for a while, then shifted its gaze toward the Ning family.
The patriarch of the Ning family, along with a group of family elders, was engaged in a secretive discussion to finalize their selection of candidates.
The newly drafted list was being passed around among them.
The elder from the academy furrowed his brow, “This list is problematic.”
“That Five Elements Qi Regulation Art, even though it comes from the transmission bell of the Immortal Palace, only has three layers so far. Switching to this technique is unpredictable and difficult to undertake voluntarily.”
“Now, forcibly assigning people to it will certainly breed resentment.”
“There are too many people from the branch families on this list, and scarcely any from the main family. If we release it publicly, it won’t be accepted.”
The elder from the battle hall was unconcerned, “Our Ning family’s main line has always had fewer people than the branches. It’s only right for the branches to contribute more hands.”
“If the main line involves too many people, and if they were to sacrifice themselves while exploring the Immortal Palace… Even if they don’t sacrifice themselves, once they fail to obtain the subsequent techniques, they would be practically crippled.”
“The sacrifice from the main line would be too great.”
“I certainly do not want to see the internal strife from over a decade ago repeat itself!”
Over ten years ago, the Ning family had migrated from the North Wind Country, traveling thousands of miles to enter the Southern Dou Country.
Along the way, they were ambushed.
Many from the main line were sacrificed, and the Golden Core ancestor was severely injured. After settling in Puppet Immortal City, the Golden Core cultivator of the Ning family had been in constant recovery, becoming the weakest presence among the Golden Core cultivators in the city.
With the numerous branch family members seeing the situation as it was, ambition brewed among them. They audaciously stirred up internal strife, attempting to overthrow the main line’s rule.
In the end, the main line narrowly survived the fierce conflict.
From this, the main family members of the family were extremely cautious towards the family’s sub-branches, employing various overt and covert means to weaken the sub-branches while strengthening the main branch.
In a word, the Ning family’s core policy was “strong trunk, weak branches!”
However, this policy became difficult to implement when it came to selecting personnel for retraining in The Five Elements Qi Regulation Art.
This was because they did not know the prospects of retraining in The Five Elements Qi Regulation Art.
If the prospects were promising, they would arrange for members of the main branch with great effort. If the prospects were bleak, they would assign more people from the sub-branches.
Now, no one could guarantee the future.
The family elders generally tended to be conservative.
After some discussion, the personnel from the sub-branches were settled, but it was difficult to decide for the main branch, with a lot of disputes ensuing. All the family elders present were from the main branch, each with their own networks and interests behind them.
The clan leader listened to the elders’ argument for a long time, and taking advantage of their pause for breath, he interjected, “Regardless of how many people the main branch sends, having no leader is absolutely unacceptable. With many from the sub-branch and without capable hands from the main branch to suppress them, it’s easy for the tail to wag the dog and for guests to dominate the host.”
The elders’ faces fell in unison, understanding from the clan leader’s words that they needed to send out truly promising talents.
The clan leader continued to ask, “Among the family’s Qi Refining Stage members, who can take on a heavy responsibility?”
The elders could only think of one person.
“Undoubtedly, it should be Ning Xiaohui.”
“She was born with a pair of ice-jade hands, crafting frost talismans with her mind moving as her hands do, naturally graceful, sure to produce masterpieces!”
“To let such a fine talent go to…”
“I disagree!” Suddenly, an elder of the Fu Tang family sharply interrupted the other elders’ discussion, expressing strong opposition.
Another argument erupted.
The patriarch was troubled and, after waiting a long while, seized a moment when the elders were catching their breath to suggest, “Why not ask Ning Xiaohui herself?”
The Fu Tang elder abruptly stood up, pushed open the door, and stepped out of the council hall, declaring, “I’ll talk to her personally!”
Soon after.
“Elder.” Ning Xiaohui greeted him respectfully.
The next moment, upon learning of the matter, her expression changed dramatically: “I possess the Ice Jade Hands, which naturally suit the path of talisman crafting—a bright and clear path. Who among the elders wishes to see me fail by pushing me towards the obscure path of mechanism?”
“I must complain to my grandmother about this!”
The Fu Tang elder’s face was stern, “I absolutely support you, Xiaohui. Come, I’ll go with you.”
Hearing Ning Xiaohui’s comments, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit snorted out a puff of fire-smoke, its dragon face showing a deep disdain.
Observing until now, among the forces around Huoshi Immortal City, it held the poorest view of the Ning family.
Just as it was about to look away, something caught its eye.
Not far from the Ning family’s settlement, there was a simple courtyard.
Beneath this courtyard lay a workshop.
Inside, a young boy was sitting cross-legged, diligently cultivating.
Blood slowly trickled from his nostrils.
His cultivation technique was notably the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art and, furthermore…
He was at the second level of Qi Refining!