Chapter 228: What Morality Can Be Talked About With Demon Cultivators?!
(Ps: Stayed up all night writing, feeling dizzy, made a mistake and uploaded it directly, also got the order wrong. Chapter 227 is later. Will contact the editor to see what to do about it.)
"Alright, as for the position of family head, you can compete for it fairly in the future. I won’t interfere with the regular affairs of the Ning family."
"Work hard. With your current age and talent, it's not impossible for you to one day lead the entire Ning family."
"But for now… it’s impossible!"
"How could the Ning family earn respect if a mere junior at the Qi Refining stage becomes the head of the family?"
"Fine, fine," Ning Zhuo sighed, then raised his eyes filled with anticipation, "Then, Old Ancestor, appoint me as the young head of the family. That way, when I inherit the position in the future, it’ll be legitimate."
Ning Jiufan: …
"Ning Zhuo, do not bring up such requests again!" His tone became even more displeased.
"Alright, alright," Ning Zhuo pouted. "Then please, Old Ancestor, bestow some treasures upon me—like magical garments or protective armor—to safeguard me."
"I'm about to take a risk as bait. I'm not afraid of unlikely events, but what if something happens? With treasures on me that can activate instantly, I'd feel more at ease."
Ning Jiufan shook his head and told Ning Zhuo that treasures couldn't be given out casually. He was concerned that the assassin, sensing the presence of magical items on Ning Zhuo, might not make a move.
Ning Zhuo then asked for the Ice Heart Sutra.
Ning Jiufan scolded him for being greedy, saying that this technique was the foundation of the family. Ning Zhuo's contribution to the family was far from enough to be worthy of learning the Ice Heart Sutra.
Ning Jiufan warned him not to take this opportunity to make excessive demands, violating the family's rules.
Suddenly, Ning Zhuo's eyes lit up, and he proposed, "Old Ancestor, may I split from the family?"
"If I separate, I won't need to be the head or young head of the main branch. I can directly become the head of a branch family. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?"
Ning Jiufan blew his beard in anger, his eyes widening, "You rebellious child! At such a young age, you’re thinking about splitting the family? And you're saying it right in front of me! Do you want to die, or do you want to be locked in the dungeon for life?"
Ning Zhuo quickly waved his hands and explained, "Old Ancestor, please hear me out."
"Look, you’re close to Lord Zhu Xuanji. The three great families of Huoshi Immortal City are all closely connected. That’s a good thing."
"But there's also a risk involved. What if, in the future, Lord Zhu fails to become the master of the Lava Immortal Palace?"
"At that time, he could just walk away, but our Ning family still has to live in Huoshi Immortal City."
"Even farmers know that you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket."
"So, you and the main branch align with Lord Zhu, while I take a portion of the branch family and side with the current City Lord's Mansion, the Meng family."
"This way, regardless of which side wins in the end, our Ning family will remain invincible."
Ning Jiufan: …
Zhu Xuanji: …
You know, Ning Zhuo's words actually made quite a bit of sense!
With this thought in mind, Ning Jiufan turned to Zhu Xuanji and said, "My family’s junior speaks childishly and has wild thoughts. Please forgive him, Lord Zhu."
Zhu Xuanji sighed faintly, "This is indeed a strategy for a family’s long-term survival."
"For example, the top family among cultivators—the Gu family. Gu Tian and Gu Le respectively serve as the Prime Minister and National Master of two opposing countries, Baiguang and Hongtao."
"This phenomenon is indeed common."
Ning Jiufan hurriedly tried to salvage the situation, "Hmph, Ning Zhuo is too young and shortsighted. If he knew that the City Lord’s Mansion was the one truly seeking his life, he would surely laugh at his own ignorance and stupidity!"
Zhu Xuanji waved his hand, signaling Ning Jiufan to stop talking, and pointed at Ning Zhuo.
Ning Jiufan understood the gesture and immediately transmitted a message to Ning Zhuo, "That’s enough, boy!"
How could he allow Ning Zhuo to continue making demands?
"I’ll lend you a defensive spiritual talisman that can withstand a full-strength blow from a typical Golden Core cultivator."
"I'll also give you three directional escape talismans, which can instantly teleport you to predetermined locations."
"Lastly, I’ll bestow upon you three taels of Ice Jade Wine. Do your task well, and you’ll be credited with great merit for the Ning family!"
Upon hearing this, Ning Zhuo’s eyes lit up. "Three taels… Three taels is a bit little, Old Ancestor."
"How about a whole jin? A nice, round figure. How about it?"
"Hmph!" The Ning Family's Old Ancestor could no longer hold back and unleashed an invisible pressure.
Caught off guard, Ning Zhuo was immediately pressed to the ground, his bones creaking as though he was carrying a mountain on his back.
He quickly begged for mercy.
Only then did Ning Jiufan withdraw his technique.
Regaining his freedom, Ning Zhuo, still shaken, raised his hand with five fingers extended, "Five taels then, Old Ancestor."
"I'm risking my life here!"
Ning Jiufan: …
Zhu Xuanji: …
"Hahaha," Ning Jiufan couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
He was laughing from sheer exasperation.
Moments later.
At Ning Zhuo’s courtyard.
Su Mo sat in a small pavilion, enjoying fine food and drink while sarcastically ridiculing Ning Zhuo.
"The food is good, but it’s a bit too soft."
"The wine is also nice, but it's not strong enough—too gentle."
"Hahaha, this fine food and drink, truly lives up to the Ning family’s name. It’s just like the Ning family, all the same."
The two Foundation Establishment guards serving him had faces as black as the bottom of a pot.
At that moment, Ning Zhuo’s voice rang out, "Su Mo, you're so arrogant!"
"I’ve treated you with good food and drink, hoping to form some goodwill, yet you don’t appreciate it."
"You refuse a toast, only to drink a forfeit!"
"And the key thing is, it’s one thing for you to insult me, but insulting my Ning family’s reputation is absolutely intolerable."
"How do you want to compete? Speak!"
"I’ll take on any challenge."
The two Foundation Establishment guards, seeing Ning Zhuo arrive, were both surprised and delighted. In their hearts, they praised: Indeed, Young Master Ning Zhuo, a sixteen-year-old genius, full of youthful vigor, unable to bear humiliation, and deeply concerned for the family. He truly is a fine son of the Ning family's branch!
Su Mo stood up, carefully scrutinizing Ning Zhuo. Although pleased, his expression remained solemn.
After a brief exchange, he cupped his hands toward Ning Zhuo and stated his request.
For this competition, if he won, he hoped Ning Zhuo would reveal to him the contents of the Demon Sect’s True Scripture.
Ning Zhuo sneered, "So it’s for that, after all."
He raised three fingers and swore in front of everyone, "I swear on the honor of my Ning family, I have never obtained even a single word from this so-called Demon Sect’s True Scripture."
"You came to visit me, asking for a competition, but you weren’t sincere."
"Then, you used the Ning family’s reputation to coerce me into accepting your challenge. That’s even more despicable."
"I don’t care who’s behind you or what orders you’ve received. This time, I’ll make sure you pay the heaviest price!"
Su Mo, now nervous, forced himself to remain calm and sneered, "What, Ning Zhuo? Are you planning to gang up on me, bullying me, a mere rogue cultivator?"
"Hmph, I won’t trouble you tonight," Ning Zhuo said. "Tomorrow morning, we’ll settle this on the dueling stage."
"If you want to be the first to break the rules, so be it. I also want to make an example out of someone."
Su Mo's face turned even more sour.
Ning Jiufan: …
Zhu Xuanji: …
The two exchanged glances in secret, both thinking: After receiving a defensive talisman and directional escape talismans, Ning Zhuo’s courage has soared, swinging from one extreme to the other.
The next day.
Early in the morning, the area around the dueling stage was packed with people.
On stage were two key figures—Ning Zhuo and Su Mo.
Soon, only one key figure remained: Ning Zhuo.
When it came to his specialty in talisman crafting, Su Mo was clearly inferior to Ning Zhuo. He lost decisively and without any complaints.
Considering that Ning Zhuo was only sixteen years old, the gap between the two felt even more exaggerated.
However, just as Su Mo stepped down, another challenger appeared.
The challenger walked up to the dueling stage and requested to compete with Ning Zhuo in formation techniques. His request, once again, was for the Demon Sect’s True Scripture.
Ning Zhuo heard this and let out a cold laugh.
Then, in front of everyone, he swore again, stating that before Zhu Xuanji had come looking for him, he had never even heard of the Demon Sect’s True Scripture. While there were many truthful parts in the rumors, the claim that the True Scripture belonged to him was pure fabrication, completely unfounded.
Ning Zhuo refused the second challenge, saying, "You all have come for the Demon Sect’s True Scripture, but you’ve found the wrong person."
"How can I fulfill your wishes, competing in one match after another, endlessly?"
"My Ning family is a prestigious clan of the righteous path. I, Ning Zhuo, was born and raised in the righteous path, witnessing nothing but virtuous deeds. From dawn to dusk, my elders have guided me with good conduct and noble actions, like spring rain nourishing the earth, subtly shaping my character."
"Yet, we righteous people, with clear consciences before heaven, earth, and our ancestors, are not without sharp blades. We will not be deceived by such petty schemes."
"From now on, anyone who challenges me and uses my Ning family’s name to coerce me, I will consider them an enemy, to be fought to the death!"
"Now, who dares to challenge me?"
For a moment, the crowd below the dueling stage fell silent.
In the distance, on the top floor of a tavern.
A disciple of the Taiqing Palace, a Golden Core cultivator, watched with a sinister gaze, his lips moving slightly, transmitting a message.
Among the crowd, someone received the command, pushed through the throng, and ascended the dueling stage.
"Ning Zhuo, I’ll challenge you to the death!" The man was burly and muscular, rolling up his sleeves and clenching his fists, which were as large as sandbags. At first glance, he was clearly a brute force body cultivator.
Ning Zhuo stared at the brute, his eyes flashing coldly, "I’ve already spoken my piece, yet you still come at me aggressively, full of malice. You must be a demonic cultivator!"
"Men, kill him for me."
In the next instant, the Foundation Establishment guards, who had been itching for action, leapt onto the stage and swarmed the body cultivator.
The brute was shocked, "Wasn’t this supposed to be a one-on-one duel?! Despicable… Ah!"
He was drowned in a wave of spells, only managing to let out a final scream before he died.
Ning Zhuo stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the crowd, "What morality can be talked about with demon cultivators? Naturally, it’s about slaying demons and defending the Dao. Everyone should be eager to do it."
"Did you really think we righteous people are so easy to bully?!"
Wherever his gaze fell, people avoided eye contact.
(End of the chapter)