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Ning Zhuo took the lead and pushed open the courtyard gate first.
Behind him were more than twenty classmates. Ning Chen and Ning Yong followed closely.
Wang Lan was the last to walk out quickly, closing the courtyard gate before leaving.
But in fact, before they all left the courtyard together, many Message Talismans had already flown out.
All because Ning Zhuo had requested everyone to spread this news as much as possible before heading to the clan's ancestral hall, so that everyone knew it was a good thing.
These talismans flew into the air, rapidly spreading out, like countless small stones falling into the big pond of the Ning Family Clan Land.
The impact began to spread.
"Young Clan Leader Ning Xiaoren wants to make Ning Zhuo his dog, so he framed Ning Zhuo's dear uncle?"
"The Young Clan Leader actually imprisoned Ning Ze and threatened him with his life and freedom?"
"This news can't be true!"
"It's too outrageous, who spread this rumor?"
"Hmph, has Ning Xiaoren done few excessive things?"
"Even so, this time if he really did it, it's too much, isn't it?"
Even the main branch members, upon hearing this news, felt that Ning Xiaoren had gone too far, completely breaking the bottom line!
According to the rumor, Ning Zhuo's father, Ning Zhong, was Ning Xiaoren's savior, and Ning Xiaoren once promised to support Ning Zhuo before Ning Zhong made his final stand in battle.
But in fact, for the decade or so that Ning Zhuo had grown up, Ning Xiaoren hadn't given him any resources, completely going back on his word.
Ning Zhuo displayed talent and ingenuity in mechanism arts, which made Ning Xiaoren see value in recruiting and winning him over.
To make up for his previous mistakes, Ning Xiaoren devised a scheme, framing Ning Zhuo's uncle and falsely accusing him of embezzling the resources meant for Ning Zhuo, turning Ning Zhuo and Ning Ze's family against each other.
Ning Zhuo achieved significant results in exploring the Immortal Palace, but Ning Xiaoren was unjust in his rewards and punishments. Angered, Ning Zhuo left the Renovation Team, and Ning Xiaoren then threatened Ning Ze with his life and freedom, forcing Wang Lan to kneel in public to coerce Ning Zhuo.
Is this something a Young Clan Leader should do?
Is this something a righteous cultivator could do?
If true, Ning Xiaoren, as the Ning Family's Young Clan Leader and a high-level member, using such methods against his clan members, absolutely did not deserve his position.
"If Ning Xiaoren really did this, then he's gone too far!"
"He wouldn't actually do this, would he? This is too stupid."
"I think it's more likely that Ning Zhuo is slandering him."
The name Ning Zhuo had been frequently heard among the Ning Family Members recently.
Ning Zhuo used to be an inconspicuous figure from a minor branch, but he suddenly emerged in the joint testing of the three families.
If he was particularly well-aligned with the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art, making people envious of his luck, then when he showed his talent, most people were optimistic about his future.
And after Ning Zhuo repeatedly helped his classmates, more and more people had a favorable impression of him.
Lately, Ning Zhuo's exploration of the Immortal Palace, reaching the eighth level, made him even more astonishing!
After all, such achievement completely overshadowed Ning Xiaohui. The key was that Ning Zhuo hailed from a minor branch, while Ning Xiaohui came from the main branch. This news brought great joy to the minor branch members who usually suffered suppression.
They didn't enjoy it for long before hearing the news of Ning Zhuo suffering unjust treatment and voluntarily leaving the Renovation Team.
Though Ning Xiaoren deliberately spread the news trying to twist public opinion, the widespread minor branch members continuously discussed the "unjust treatment."
Many minor branch members expressed sympathy and admiration for Ning Zhuo's action of leaving the team.
However, some minor branch members secretly resented Ning Zhuo.
"When we faced oppression from the main branch, I backed down and conceded. But you did this, standing firm and confronting openly. Compared to you, Ning Zhuo, what does that make me in the past?"
Such is the subtlety of human nature.
Ning Zhuo's matter had already been a topic of discussion among the entire clan recently.
Now, suddenly, explosive news came out about Ning Xiaoren and Ning Ze, causing public opinion to feel like a splash of oil on a burning fire.
With a boom, the flames exploded, burning fiercely!
One person told ten, ten told a hundred, a hundred told a thousand...
"If the Young Clan Leader truly did this, his character is really too poor."
"Is it true or not?"
"Ning Zhuo and his group are heading to the ancestral hall. Why don't we go and see for ourselves?"
"Let's go; I am also from the minor branch and have suffered oppression and exclusion from the main branch. I must support Ning Zhuo!"
Countless clan members set off, all heading to the Ning Family's ancestral hall.
From a bird's-eye view, you would see clan members walking out of their residences, converging on the streets and small paths, forming rivers of people, all flowing towards the ancestral hall.
"What's going on?" The Family Elder guarding the ancestral hall noticed something was wrong.
Ning Zhuo and his group had not yet arrived, and already other clan members had gathered at the ancestral hall.
"How dare you! Gathering here for no reason, disturbing the peace of the ancestors, what do you want to do?" The Family Elder appeared and scolded the already gathered clan members.
Some clan members showed fearful expressions.
A steward from a minor branch stepped out from the crowd, bowed to the Family Elder, and said, "Family Elder, a major event has occurred."
"Today, we must get to the bottom of it."
"Otherwise, if someone is wronged, and the ancestors know, they will be furious, criticizing us descendants for our unfilial conduct."
The Family Elder frowned deeply. He invoked the ancestors, but so did the steward.
The Family Elder looked quite displeased, "Ning Xiangguo, what exactly happened?"
Ning Xiangguo, speaking out of righteousness, concisely recounted the entire incident.
The Family Elder's expression changed slightly.
He belonged to the main branch and was able to guard the ancestral hall; hence, he was at the core of the high-level members. He understood Ning Xiaoren's style of conduct well.
"Given the Young Clan Leader's temperament, he might indeed have done something like this."
"At this time…is it still possible to remedy this?"
At that thought, the Family Elder nodded slightly, softened his expression, and said to everyone, "As the Family Elder of the ancestral hall, I have always acted impartially."
"Since this matter has escalated to this extent, let us invite the Clan Leader and many Family Elders to witness it."
"You all have the right to supervise, but gathering at the gate like this, what does it look like?"
"Disperse for now, let my subordinates open the three gates, clean up the venue, and allow you to sit."
"You, quickly notify the Clan Leader and all the Family Elders!" The Family Elder, with open honesty, instructed a subordinate to relay the message.
In the meantime, another large group of clan members arrived at the ancestral hall.
The Family Elder secretly clicked his tongue, "This is definitely a major event that has alarmed the entire clan."
"It's hard to imagine that it's a fifteen-year-old Qi Refinement cultivator who caused this."
The Family Elder knew he could only go with the flow; any attempt to cover it up would be impossible. Even slight delays might lead to secret criticisms from the clan members.
Being from the main branch, he could only hope that Ning Xiaoren was falsely accused and hadn't actually done these things.
The Clan Leader quickly learned of this news, standing up in shock from his seat.
As a father, he knew Ning Xiaoren's style of conduct all too well.
He immediately cast a spell, sending out a talisman to notify Ning Xiaoren.
Ning Xiaoren was in seclusion, replenishing his mana, when the Message Talisman disturbed him, causing annoyance.
However, he quickly recognized it as his father's work, and couldn't help but be curious, "What is Father looking for me for? So urgent..."
"Ah!" Upon seeing the contents in the Message Talisman, Ning Xiaoren jumped up as if his tail was on fire.
"That little brat Ning Zhuo is trying to ruin me!"
Ning Xiaoren had no mind to continue his cultivation; he slammed open the chamber door and rushed out.
He sprinted towards the private prison with all his might.
In this critical and urgent time, Ning Ze was a key figure.
As long as he compromised with Ning Xiaoren and denied everything, Ning Xiaoren still had hope.
However, when he reached the private prison, he found a group of minor branch members surrounding it.
"Get out of the way!" Ning Xiaoren roared, "Gathering here, are you trying to cause trouble?"
The minor branch members were momentarily flustered seeing the Young Clan Leader.
But then, an old voice came, "Young Clan Leader, you are a step late. Ning Zhuo's uncle has already been brought out by this old man."
Ning Xiaoren's heart sank as he saw the crowd part, revealing an old man slowly walking out. Behind the old man was Ning Ze, looking bewildered.
Seeing the old man, Ning Xiaoren's vision darkened, but he still cupped his hands in salute, speaking with difficulty, "Elder Fu."
The old man was Ning Youfu, a member of the minor branch, who had previously served as the Talisman Hall Elder, accumulating significant reputation.
Ning Xiaoren still wanted to try, "Elder Fu, you may not be aware, but this is all Ning Zhuo's trick. Ning Ze is involved in multiple embezzlement cases and is under investigation. Ning Ze's wife, Wang Lan, had repeatedly begged me to release Ning Ze, but I refused because the embezzlement had not been cleared up."
Ning Youfu chuckled at Ning Xiaoren, "I will personally take Ning Ze away, Young Clan Leader. If you want to stop me, you will have to cross over my dead body."
Ning Xiaoren quickly said, "I dare not, I dare not. Elder Fu, you're joking and have misunderstood me."
"Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, it will be clarified in the ancestral hall. Young Clan Leader, please." As he spoke, Ning Youfu led Ning Ze out, stepping right up to Ning Xiaoren.
Ning Xiaoren gritted his teeth, wanting to hold his ground, but under the watchful eyes of everyone, facing the highly regarded Ning Youfu, he could only step aside and make way.
With a hearty laugh, Ning Youfu continued to walk.
As he passed Ning Xiaoren, the latter's expression changed, staring at Ning Ze as if warning him—if you say what you shouldn't say, you are finished!
Ning Ze quickly lowered his head, not daring to make eye contact with Ning Xiaoren.
He was filled with countless doubts, as Ning Youfu hadn't said much to him.
"So, what exactly happened?!"
A large group, led by Ning Zhuo, continued to walk through the clan land.
Compared to when they had first left their residence, Ning Zhuo's team had more than doubled, their numbers increasing by at least fifty.
And as Ning Zhuo continued to walk, more people joined his ranks.
People chattered incessantly, asking Ning Zhuo many questions, full of curiosity.
Ning Zhuo's face showed anger as he continuously responded.
Ning Yong was not satisfied and quietly advised Ning Zhuo, "Brother Zhuo, we're delaying our journey too much by stopping and explaining things to other clan members like this."
Ning Zhuo only glanced at Ning Yong without explaining.
Ning Chen then transmitted his voice, "Fool! In our current situation, the more people who know, the better it is. The more people who support us, the more likely we are to succeed in the next steps. Do you understand?"
Ning Yong exclaimed with a series of nods, "Got it, got it."
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