Chapter 272: What? You want me to curry favor with Ning Zhuo?!
This was a matter personally discussed by Meng Kui and Zhu Xuanji, and it was also approved by the Golden Core cultivators of the three families.
This was the trend.
The two dominant forces in Huoshi Immortal City of Southern Dou Country made this decision to suppress the third party, the No-Void Sect.
Under such a trend, even the upper echelon of the Ning family was like a mantis trying to stop a cart. They didn’t have Golden Core cultivators backing them, only a group of Foundation Establishment elites gathered together.
Facing such a terrifying tidal wave, they could only go with the flow rather than resist it.
An elder of the family broke the silence, "If only we had sent more of our main branch's cultivators to join the Reform Team back then."
Everyone had an awkward look on their faces, as if a boomerang had smacked them right in the face.
From the outcome, this was indeed true.
If the Ning family's main branch had formed most, or even the entire Reform Team, the main branch would have gained tremendous benefits at this moment!
The Elder of the School Division said, "The decision made back then wasn’t wrong. After all, the future of the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art was uncertain. In fact, even now, we've only unearthed the first to sixth layers of the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art."
The Elder of the Battle Division said, "Who could have expected a monster like Ning Zhuo to appear? Who could have foreseen that the No-Void Sect had infiltrated and laid out plans for over a decade, forcing the royal family and the Meng family to join forces and make such a concession for future benefits?"
The Ning family patriarch slowly spoke, his voice hoarse, "In light of this, our Ning family main branch must actively align with the Lava Immortal Palace and send as many cultivators as possible to undergo the reform, then compete for positions within the Lava Immortal Palace."
"Otherwise, if we let things develop naturally, the power of our main branch will shrink rapidly and become utterly weakened."
After saying this, the Ning family patriarch couldn't help but reveal a strong sense of loss and fatigue.
As soon as he expressed his view, many elders in the hall immediately agreed.
The Elder of the Battle Division said, "As expected of the patriarch, this is a wise approach! If this is the case, I suggest we do everything in our power to win over Ning Zhuo."
"If our Ning family's main branch wants to compete for positions in the Lava Immortal Palace, this child is the most crucial figure."
The Elder of the Talisman Division directly said, "I remember Ning Zhuo hasn’t married or had children yet. He’s only sixteen years old. This is a perfect age for a marriage alliance with our main branch."
The Elder of the School Division stroked his beard and said, "From what I know about Ning Zhuo, I’m well aware that he is particularly fond of cultivation, especially mechanisms. We can cater to his interests."
The Ning family patriarch felt a moment of bewilderment, as if he were in a dream.
He never imagined that there would come a day when he and the elders would discuss how to curry favor and win over Ning Zhuo!
His perception of Ning Zhuo was not good at all.
On one hand, his son, the former young patriarch Ning Xiaoren, had been brought down by Ning Zhuo.
On the other hand, Ning Zhuo repeatedly showed disdain and resistance towards the Ning family upper echelon and authority, which was an enormous insult to the Ning family patriarch.
The Ning family’s Golden Core Ancestor, Ning Jiufan, found Ning Zhuo's straightforwardness endearing, but that was because Ning Jiufan, being in the Golden Core stage, didn’t feel threatened by Ning Zhuo.
However, the Ning family patriarch was at the Foundation Establishment stage, and Ning Zhuo’s promotion to Foundation Establishment was already a certainty.
Moreover, Ning Zhuo had established his own faction in the black market, gathering a group of followers.
This action violated the Ning family patriarch’s greatest taboo and posed a significant challenge to his authority.
But now, the situation had forced the entire Ning family main branch to win over Ning Zhuo with all their might!
The many elders who had supported and rallied around him in the past all shared this sentiment.
What made the Ning family patriarch even more disheartened was that even he himself knew—at this moment—it was absolutely necessary to win over Ning Zhuo.
Although he loathed and hated Ning Zhuo, his rationality told him that he must curry favor with him!
As the dignified patriarch of a family, he had to bow and scrape to this young junior, this mere mid-stage Qi Refining brat, with a smile on his face!
It was suffocating!
He was furious!
But what could he do about it?
"Ning Zhuo, this kid, has had such incredible luck. He soared by clinging to the Lava Immortal Palace! He's too adept at exploiting opportunities, and now, he’s already in the favor of the Golden Core cultivators!"
Look at this!
Zhu Xuanji attended Zhu Hou’s succession ceremony and brought Ning Zhuo along with him.
After Ning Xiaohui’s death, the Ning family’s Golden Core Ancestor brought Ning Zhuo to his residence and even arranged a room for him there.
The Ning family patriarch had once hoped for Ning Xiaohui to receive such treatment.
But the reality was cruel—Ning Xiaohui was already dead, while Ning Zhuo had caught the attention of Golden Core cultivators like Zhu Xuanji and Ning Jiufan.
From Ning Zhuo, the Ning family patriarch felt a massive, intense threat!
It was clear that Ning Zhuo was going to receive considerable nurturing!
Ning Zhuo had long become the face of the branch family, the flag bearer.
He controlled the black market, had men and influence, and now he had also gained the approval of the highest echelons. His rise was unstoppable.
Although the Ning family patriarch was still at the prime of his life, at this moment, sitting in his chair, he felt utterly exhausted. Facing the challenge of this younger generation, Ning Zhuo, he felt his own decline.
He sensed that the tide of a new era was sweeping over him.
It was obvious that those cultivators still practicing the old techniques belonged to the old era, while those who had reformed with the Three Sect Arts were stepping into the new era.
The unchanged positions in the Lava Immortal Palace had completely transformed the future of Huoshi Immortal City.
Don’t underestimate those weak Qi Refining cultivators who have reformed. As long as they hold positions, they will have a continuous supply of resources, and in the future, their chances of advancing to Foundation Establishment will be great.
This force would grow stronger over time until it overshadowed the Ning family main branch.
As the leader of the Reform Team, the face of the Ning family’s branch, and the leader of the black market, Ning Zhuo was also the most prominent figure of this era, and without a doubt, he would reap the most benefits.
Considering his yet untested mysterious talent, Ning Zhuo's future prospects were unimaginably bright.
"His momentum has already formed, and for now, we can only go along with it."
"But who knows what will happen in the future?"
"Hmph, geniuses often die young..."
For the first time, the Ning family patriarch harbored a murderous intent toward Ning Zhuo.
Previously, even when Ning Zhuo had toppled his son or established his own faction in the black market, the Ning family patriarch had never thought of killing him.
But this time, it was different. Ning Zhuo had become a threat to his authority.
The family elders could curry favor with Ning Zhuo because they were just elders.
But for the Ning family patriarch to win over Ning Zhuo? To win him over to the point of making him the future patriarch?
The Ning family patriarch wasn’t that foolish!
"Let me in, let me in." Suddenly, there was a commotion outside.
The Ning family patriarch, already in a foul mood, frowned and shouted, "Who dares make a ruckus outside?"
Just as he finished speaking, the door to the council hall was abruptly pushed open from the outside.
An old woman stormed in.
Her eyes were bloodshot, and her body radiated anger and hatred. Her once kindly face was now twisted with rage.
It was none other than Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother.
After barging into the hall, her gaze locked onto the Ning family patriarch, and she shouted, "Where is Xiaohui, my granddaughter Xiaohui?!"
The Ning family patriarch’s anger instantly dissipated, and he sighed, "Things have come to this, please, restrain your grief! Our Ning family will never forget Ning Xiaohui’s sacrifice and contributions."
"Don’t talk to me about sacrifice and contributions!" Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother raised her hand and shrieked, "I want Xiaohui, I want my granddaughter."
"I don’t believe it, I don’t believe my granddaughter is dead."
"This must be fake, everything is fake!"
"My granddaughter must still be alive in the Lava Immortal Palace."
"There were so many Golden Core cultivators, how could they not protect a mere Qi Refining junior?"
"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible."
"My granddaughter, Ning Xiaohui, must have already gained Zhu Xuanji’s favor by now, hahaha."
Everyone remained silent.
Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother was devastated. Her hair was disheveled, and her behavior verged on madness. It was clear she couldn’t handle the heavy blow.
When Ning Xiaohui was born, her grandmother had doted on her immensely.
She
had raised Ning Xiaohui from a young age, and after discovering Ning Xiaohui’s talent in the Ice Jade Hand, she had devoted all her efforts to nurturing her.
Ning Xiaohui’s death meant that the pillar of her grandmother’s life had collapsed.
The Ning family patriarch sighed deeply and stood up. He walked over to Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother and patiently tried to comfort her.
However, Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother only grew more hysterical. She screamed, "I won’t listen, I won’t listen, it’s all fake, it’s all fake!"
As she yelled, she turned and ran out of the council hall.
The Ning family patriarch watched her retreating figure, sighed again, and summoned a subordinate, instructing him to keep a closer eye on Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother.
After thoroughly recognizing the situation, the actions of the Ning family’s main branch became even more decisive and sharp than before.
They drafted a large number of Qi Refining cultivators from the main branch and forcefully ordered them to reform with the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art.
Would it be too late to act now?
Everyone had such concerns, but no one voiced them—this was something that had to be done!
At the same time, any main branch cultivator with sufficient expertise in mechanisms and capable of entering the Immortal Palace was dispatched to fight for positions with all their might.
After issuing these orders, the Ning family patriarch went alone to the family’s prison.
"My son." He once again saw Ning Xiaoren.
Ning Xiaoren, delighted, ran to the bars of the cell and said, "Father, why have you come? Has there been a turn of events? Has Ning Zhuo finally fallen? Did Ning Xiaohui manage to suppress him?"
Ning Xiaoren’s hatred for Ning Zhuo ran deep, and the boredom and monotony of prison life were driving him mad.
Every bit of suffering he endured only deepened his hatred for Ning Zhuo!
The Ning family patriarch sighed, "Ning Xiaohui is dead. As for Ning Zhuo... let's not talk about him for now."
"Indeed, great changes have occurred!"
"I’ve thought it over and decided I can't let you waste your time here. If you could secure a position in the Immortal Palace, it would be extremely beneficial for your future."
Ning Xiaoren asked, "What Immortal Palace position?"
The Ning family patriarch replied, "You’ll understand once you’re out. I came here today to inform you that the plan has been greatly accelerated."
"Next, you’ll contribute talismans in exchange for your freedom."
"When you’re out, you must give your all to carve out a future in the Lava Immortal Palace!"
"You have enough expertise in mechanisms to enter the Immortal Palace. From now on, it’s up to you to fight your way through."
"Afterward, our family’s main branch will fully ingratiate itself with Ning Zhuo. Don’t expect any support from me."
"If you can obtain Ning Zhuo’s forgiveness, that would be even better. If you can curry favor with Ning Zhuo, that would be the best possible outcome!"
Ning Xiaoren was stunned, his eyes wide with disbelief, "Wha-what? You want me to curry favor with Ning Zhuo? Are you really my father?"
(End of Chapter)