Chapter 330: Family Division Ceremony
After a few more days.
The Zheng Family's ancestral land, oh no, the Ning Family's divided branch ancestral land, changed from a somber white to a vibrant red. Most of the grief and mourning had faded, and an atmosphere of joy spread everywhere.
Ning Zhuo stood on the high platform, first worshiping the heavens, then the earth, and finally burning paper money and lighting incense, informing the ancestors in the underworld—on this day, at this moment, he, Ning Zhuo, officially established the family division!
"Today's family division ceremony... has been made possible with the generous help of everyone... Zhuo is deeply grateful and will remember this forever."
"From today onwards, as the head of the family, I vow to be diligent, to give my all, and to dedicate myself to the prosperity of the family!"
"Today's achievement was not obtained overnight, nor by the strength of one person alone. Here, I especially need to remember Ning Xiaohui, Ning Xiangguo, Ning Xiaoren, and many other family martyrs! You all shed blood on the battlefield for the family, protecting its dignity and safety with your lives. Though your heroic souls have passed, your spirit lives on, and we will forever remember your sacrifices. We swear to expand and strengthen the family, to bring comfort to your souls in the heavens..."
"I shall inherit the will of the fallen heroes, remain loyal, and defend the family's peace. As for the treacherous factions like the Wukong Sect and their countless evil deeds, I, Ning Zhuo, vow never to share the sky with them. Any treachery will be eradicated. Zhuo vows to lead by example, forge ahead with resolve, and never back down."
"... To the elders and fellow villagers, your kindness is deeply remembered, and Zhuo will always hold a heart of gratitude, doing everything possible to give back to my hometown. I will also remain loyal, serving the City Lord's Mansion and the Southern Dou Kingdom with sincerity, vowing to protect the peace of this land with a loyal heart."
"... I thank everyone for joining this grand occasion, and may we all unite in heart and spirit, work together to build the family, and strive for greatness!"
Ning Zhuo's passionate speech stirred the hearts of countless branch disciples of the Ning family, who had long suffered under the main branch.
Among the invited guests who witnessed the event, many looked at Ning Zhuo on the high platform with complex emotions.
Some were envious, some were jealous, some were fearful, and some were dismissive...
After the family division ceremony, a grand banquet followed, hosting guests from all directions.
The former Zheng Family's ancestral land had changed ownership. The members of the Zheng Family were either imprisoned or taken away by Nascent Soul stage cultivators from the Taiqing Palace, while the members of the Ning Family enjoyed fine wine and food, toasting one another amidst a lively atmosphere. The intersection of rise and decline could be felt, and the cruelty of human fortune and reversal left those with insight shivering inside.
The seating arrangement was meticulously designed.
At the main table, Wang Lan sat in a high position. Ning Zhuo attended to her, frequently offering her food with great care and concern.
Wang Lan, feeling as if she was chewing wax, cried again while eating.
Ning Zhuo immediately set down his chopsticks and asked gently.
Wang Lan was overwhelmed with sorrow, lamenting that this beautiful moment felt like a dream, yet her husband and beloved son had fallen in the darkness before dawn, unable to enjoy this moment. It was truly heartbreaking.
Ning Zhuo earnestly comforted her, his words like a gentle breeze and soft rain, making the guests witnessing the scene silently praise and feel touched.
At the table next to the main one sat many widows and orphans.
After comforting Wang Lan, Ning Zhuo left the main table and personally led Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and others to toast each table in turn.
The first table was the one next to the main table.
The orphans and widows were anxious, but Ning Zhuo publicly announced that the descendants of meritorious figures would not be mistreated. He promised to establish a family branch school that would provide free education for these orphans.
Such a benevolent policy instantly made the widows so moved that their eyes reddened, and they began to cry. Some, with their children, knelt to thank him, and soon, the entire table of orphans and widows knelt in gratitude.
"No need for this!" Ning Zhuo’s eyes also reddened as he helped each of them back to their seats.
The commotion was so great that it drew the attention of nearly everyone present.
The guests all praised him, commenting that although Ning Zhuo was young, he indeed had the demeanor of a family head!
The welcoming announcer suddenly called out loudly, "The elder of the Ning Family School is here to offer congratulations!"
Immediately following, the gift list was recited: "Ten thousand top-grade spirit stones, three thousand catties of Chiyang Copper, one hundred thirty-six groups of Foundation Establishment-level Earth Fiend Flames, eighty roots of two-hundred-year-old Ginseng..."
The gift list was quite long.
Ning Zhuo quickly stood up, respectfully addressed the elder as his teacher, and invited him to the main table.
Among the many elders of the Ning Family’s main branch, Ning Zhuo was closest to the school elder. After all, Ning Zhuo had just graduated from the school this year.
After sitting down, the school elder took Ning Zhuo’s hand, smiling kindly, and spoke warmly.
Ning Zhuo could only sit beside the elder, laughing and chatting.
For those unaware, it seemed as though the elder and Ning Zhuo were very close. In reality, the elder never taught Ning Zhuo directly, and Ning Zhuo hadn’t seen him more than ten times in a year.
The elder’s gesture of goodwill, representing the Ning Family’s main branch, was something Ning Zhuo was happy to see. Expressing closeness now would benefit the future of the divided family.
Ning Zhuo was well aware of the reason behind the Ning Family’s main branch’s change in attitude.
He wasn’t privy to Ning Jiufan’s punishment of Ning Qingqiao or the disciplining of the Ning Family’s main branch elders.
Those who experienced the incident kept it a secret, even Ning Qingqiao.
However, the removal of Ning Qingqiao from his position as an elder was publicly announced.
"To strip an elder of their position isn’t something that could be done by the joint effort of the other elders. Now that the position of the Ning Family's patriarch is vacant and the elder positions are undergoing such drastic changes, the source can only be Ning Jiufan. There is no other possibility."
Ning Zhuo's newly established divided branch was in its infancy and desperately needed a peaceful external environment. Ning Zhuo secretly decided: "I can deal with the Ning Family's main branch later if they cause trouble. The most important thing right now is for the divided branch to stand firm."
"Ancestor Zhou Nongying of the Zhou Family is arriving—!" the announcer suddenly called out, his voice trembling slightly.
Everyone knew this was a Golden Core stage cultivator, one of the two ancestors of the Zhou Family.
The creation of the Ning Family’s divided branch had actually attracted such a heavyweight figure. This unexpected change caused everyone at the banquet to immediately stand, ready to greet Zhou Nongying.
The announcer continued to read Zhou Nongying's gift list.
"Forty Foundation Establishment-level Fire Serpents, thirty-two Foundation Establishment-level Spirit Gathering Formation Discs, four hundred forty-six catties of Moonlight Cold Iron!"
Although Zhou Nongying's gift list was much shorter than that of the Ning Family’s main branch, each item was of great significance.
This only deepened everyone's astonishment.
The Zhou Family valued the small Ning Zhuo family division to such an extent! Not only did the Golden Core ancestor personally attend, but they also brought such precious gifts. No one could understand it at all.
It felt as though a prince or noble was bringing riches to congratulate a beggar.
In the eyes of the public, Zhou Nongying's mere presence was enough to make Ning Zhuo proud for a lifetime.
The key point was, Zhou Nongying not only came in person but also brought a heavy gift.
"This is giving Ning Zhuo too much face! Haha, the prosperity of the family division is just around the corner!"
"Hmph, what do you know? Ning Zhuo is just a puppet, a figurehead. Zhou Nongying is clearly currying favor with the Ning Jiufan ancestor."
"Oh, you understand everything now? You’re such a know-it-all!"
The guests whispered among themselves, but Zhou Nongying never appeared.
Instead, Ning Zhuo, with an apologetic expression, said goodbye to the school elder and quickly ran out of the banquet hall. It was obvious that he had gone to greet Zhou Nongying personally.
The guests craned their necks, eagerly waiting for Ning Zhuo to return with Zhou Nongying.
But after waiting left and right, Zhou Nongying never came. Upon inquiry, they found out that Ning Zhuo had already led Zhou Nongying into a private room and would not be dining with the public.
At that moment, a collective sigh of disappointment swept through the crowd, clearly revealing everyone's regret.
Once Ning Zhuo and Zhou Nongying were alone in the private room, Ning Zhuo straightened his back, and the smile on his face became
reserved. He thanked Zhou Nongying for his presence with an attitude of equality.
Zhou Nongying had personally participated in the third round of the palace examination and was well aware of Ning Zhuo’s strength.
Putting everything else aside, just Meng Yaoyin, the Buddhist doctor, wielding the giant snake sickle was enough to make the Zhou Family’s two ancestors deeply wary.
Zhou Nongying began by mentioning how Zhou Zhenshen and Zhou Zhu had praised Ning Zhuo, using this as an introduction to convey the Zhou Family's willingness to be closer to Ning Zhuo's branch than to the main Ning family.
"Unfortunately, the bodies of Zhou Zhenshen and Zhou Zhu were not recovered." Ning Zhuo thought to himself, feeling a sense of regret.
These two rising stars of the Zhou Family had not died at Ning Zhuo’s hands.
When he entered the main hall through the teleportation gate, he found that Zhou Zhenshen and Zhou Zhu had already perished. They were killed by Meng Chong!
Before Ning Zhuo could speak, Zhou Nongying took the initiative to suggest that the Zhou Family was willing to send its best formation masters to help improve the various formations in Ning Zhuo’s divided branch, especially in the weapon refinement rooms.
Ning Zhuo was overjoyed and immediately expressed that close cooperation with the Zhou Family was something everyone in the divided branch eagerly anticipated.
The Zhou Family's expertise in formation arrays was unmatched.
In the past, the Zheng Family had offered a high price to invite the Zhou Family to upgrade and improve their formations, but the Zhou Family had declined.
For the Zhou Family, helping the Zheng Family was nearly aiding the enemy, especially with the large and small formations in the weapon refinement rooms. Once those formations were improved, the Zheng Family's prestige would have soared!
But this time, Zhou Nongying had personally offered to collaborate with Ning Zhuo, showing the Zhou Family’s sincerity.
Ning Zhuo understood the situation clearly: "On one hand, my combat strength exceeds expectations, far beyond what is typical for someone at the Qi Refining stage. On the other hand, with the Meng Family controlling the Lava Immortal Palace, the Zhou Family is under the most pressure and urgently needs allies to counterbalance the Meng Family."
After the matter of the Lava Immortal Palace had settled, the entire structure of Huoshi Immortal City had undergone a drastic shift.
The Zhou Family, being an old and established family, had already begun taking proactive steps in response to this major change.
While Ning Zhuo and Zhou Nongying were deep in discussion, the announcer called out loudly, "Lord Fei Si from the City Lord's Mansion has arrived—!"
Fei Si also brought many gifts.
Once again, the guests at the banquet were astonished.
Compared to Zhou Nongying, Fei Si was the acting City Lord and a trusted subordinate of the City Lord, Meng Kui. He was a true figure of authority in Huoshi Immortal City.
And now, such an important figure had personally come to offer congratulations!
"Am I hearing things?"
"This is beyond belief!"
"What merit does little Ning Zhuo have to deserve this?!"
Fei Si, however, did not join the banquet.
Ning Zhuo had no choice but to temporarily pause his conversation with Zhou Nongying and go out to greet Fei Si.
Zhou Nongying chuckled coldly to himself, smiling faintly, "Let’s welcome him together."
When Fei Si saw both Ning Zhuo and Zhou Nongying approaching, he smiled meaningfully, "Patriarch Ning Zhuo, it seems I may have interrupted your conversation."
Ning Zhuo cupped his hands, expressing his gratitude to Fei Si for his past care.
Fei Si squinted, looking Ning Zhuo up and down, and sighed deeply, "Patriarch Ning Zhuo, you overpraise me. Even without my help, with your strength, you would have overcome all difficulties. It is I, Fei Si, who failed to recognize a hero!"
These words were truly heartfelt.
After learning the truth from Meng Kui, Fei Si had been utterly shocked.
He never imagined that this young junior, Ning Zhuo, had hidden himself so deeply and planned so ruthlessly. The destruction of the Zheng Family was almost entirely his doing!
Fei Si admired Ning Zhuo even more, but at the same time, he became extremely wary and cautious.
After all, this young man, who was only at the Qi Refining stage, had fooled Fei Si multiple times. Such cunning and tactics were extraordinary! Anyone who underestimated him would pay a heavy price.
(End of this chapter)