Ancestral Hall.
"Elder, there aren't enough seats." A subordinate reported.
The Ancestral Hall Elder's face was stern: "Bring over the desks and chairs from the school, fill the front and middle courtyards."
"There are too many people coming, and more seem to be on their way. Something's not right!"
The Ancestral Hall Elder smelled a whiff of conspiracy.
"Go and urge Ning Zhuo! Why is this kid moving so slowly? He still hasn't arrived, many elders are here already. Does he think so highly of himself?"
The Ancestral Hall Elder knew well: the longer this dragged on, the worse it would be for the main lineage.
At that moment, someone suddenly announced: "The Young Clan Leader is here—!"
The Ancestral Hall Elder and others immediately stood up and left the main hall to greet him.
Ning Xiaoren arrived at the Ancestral Hall ahead of schedule. Upon seeing the Ancestral Hall Elder, he quickly stepped forward and cupped his hands, his face calm and unhurried, but he secretly transmitted urgently: "Please, Elder, for the sake of my father, help me!"
The Ancestral Hall Elder's pupils contracted slightly upon hearing this.
Just then, Ning Youfu, Ning Ze, and their group also arrived.
The Ancestral Hall Elder made some polite remarks and quickly extricated himself from Ning Xiaoren to greet Ning Youfu.
The Ancestral Hall Elder smiled pleasantly: "Elder You, you've come! It's really rare, giving the juniors another chance to hear your teachings."
Ning Youfu chuckled: "I'm running out of days, I was hoping for a quiet life, but this matter arose, and I had to come. Beside me here is Ning Zhuo's uncle, Ning Ze."
The Ancestral Hall Elder let out an "oh" and took the initiative to lead Ning Youfu and Ning Ze into the Ancestral Hall.
During this, Ning Xiaoren transmitted a message to him, but he acted as if unaware, giving no response.
The people from the Ancestral Hall urged Ning Zhuo, saying to him: "Ning Zhuo, you're causing a big deal. Many elders have already gathered at the Ancestral Hall, yet you've only covered half the journey."
Ning Zhuo quickly apologized, explaining that too many clan members were inquiring, and each inquiry took some time to explain. He asked the messenger to return and say that Ning Zhuo would arrive soon.
After the person left, Ning Zhuo still did as he pleased, even slowing down a bit.
Thanks to his continuous explanations, more and more clan members gathered around him.
His entourage had grown to over sixty people.
When turning a corner, an elder with a cane, accompanied by three attendants, saw Ning Zhuo from afar and waved to him.
Someone in Ning Zhuo's group exclaimed: "Ah, it's Elder Ning Houjun!"
Ning Houjun was also once an elder, specifically a Battle Hall Elder. However, he had voluntarily stepped down more than a decade ago, enjoying a peaceful retirement at home.
Like Ning Youfu, Ning Houjun was also from the branch lineage and held great respect.
Ning Zhuo sped up his pace and came before Ning Houjun, paying deep respects.
Ning Houjun looked Ning Zhuo up and down and praised: "Good, a young man full of vigor and spirit, truly the fashion of youth."
"I've heard about your situation."
"This time, the old man will accompany you to the clan's Ancestral Hall."
Ning Zhuo thanked him, and the clan members around them cheered, saying that with Elder Ning Houjun accompanying them, their mission was sure to succeed!
Ning Zhuo and Ning Houjun walked side by side, conversing while secretly transmitting messages.
Ning Houjun asked: "Young man, do you know who the key person is in this action?"
Ning Zhuo replied without hesitation: "It's the Ancestor."
He was referring not to the forefather but to the Golden Pill Ancestor.
Ning Houjun glanced at Ning Zhuo with an appreciative look and continued transmitting: "Indeed, you see things clearly."
"Our clan's Ancestor is not from the main lineage; the Golden Pill Ancestor from the main lineage has bestowed great kindness upon him. Therefore, the Ancestor often looks after the main lineage. But he has no direct bloodline descendants."
"Hence, more than a decade ago, our branch lineage united in force against the main lineage. Though we failed, the Ancestor never intervened during the entire process."
Ning Zhuo nodded: "If that's the case, I'm bound to win this time."
"Exactly." Ning Houjun chuckled and continued transmitting: "The old man loves winning battles. Otherwise, why join you? This time, it's only a matter of how much we win."
Clan Ancestral Hall.
All the Ning Family Clan Leaders had arrived.
The Clan Leader's face was expressionless: "Ning Zhuo still hasn't come?"
Immediately, he sent someone to urge him.
The messenger, full of arrogance, saw Ning Zhuo, only to be scolded by Ning Houjun: "The old man is aged, walking slowly. What's wrong with that?"
"Tell the Clan Leader if he's in such a hurry, is it a urinary urgency or diarrhea that he needs to rush to relieve himself?"
The messenger returned dejectedly, naturally not daring to report the exact words, merely stating that Ning Houjun was there.
The Clan Leader took a deep breath and endured it.
The Battle Hall Elder laughed: "After so many years, Elder Ning Houjun's temper is still this fierce."
"I wonder how his son has been doing since being expelled from the clan?"
"In recent years, have there been any letters exchanged between him and Elder Ning Houjun?"
It wasn't until the sun was high, nearing noon, that Ning Zhuo and his group arrived at the clan's Ancestral Hall.
By then, the size of the entourage had exceeded a hundred people.
However, there were even more people inside the Ancestral Hall.
Most of the people around Ning Zhuo could only stand outside the walls of the Ancestral Hall, listening from the sides.
Even so, there were no good positions.
The entire Ancestral Hall was surrounded by clan members, layers inside and out.
Ning Zhuo, Ning Houjun, and Wang Lan were led into the Ancestral Hall.
All the high-ranking members of the Ning Family who could come, came.
Ning Zhuo saw Ning Ze, Ning Ji, the Clan Leader, and of course, Ning Xiaoren.
Ning Xiaoren's face was ashen, glaring at Ning Zhuo, his neck craned forward, like a vulture ready for a death match.
Ning Zhuo cupped his hands, about to speak, when Wang Lan suddenly burst into tears: "Husband, you've finally been rescued! That Ning Xiaoren didn't touch you again, did he?"
Ning Ze walked out of the crowd, embraced Wang Lan, and said in a deep voice: "It was Elder You who personally saved me! Pulled me from Ning Xiaoren's clutches!"
Along the way, Ning Ze had already learned the whole story.
Despite Ning Xiaoren's constant threats and temptations, Ning Ze had made up his mind!
What a joke.
"You think I enjoyed being hit on the head every time?!"
"You think I don't have a temper?!"
Wang Lan, Ning Ze's wife, had already taken the stage, and the branch lineage members of the Ning family were impassioned. The momentum was unstoppable, and the truth was that Ning Xiaoren indeed hadn't provided any cultivation resources to Ning Zhuo and had indeed framed Ning Ze.
The humiliation Ning Ze had endured, the resentment and anger accumulated over time, all made him choose Ning Zhuo's side without hesitation.
Hearing Ning Ze's words, Ning Xiaoren's heart sank to the bottom, his entire body cold.
His only chance lay with Ning Ze.
At that moment, like a leaf in autumn, it floated away.
With both witnesses and material evidence present, Ning Xiaoren had no room for refutation.
Back then, he had framed Ning Ze on a whim, provoked by Ning Zhuo's sudden rise. The flaws in the scheme were numerous, and with Ning Ze's cooperation, things might have worked out. But once he turned, there were countless pieces of evidence.
It would be incredibly easy for other clan members to verify.
Strong evidence piled up like mountains!
"Ning Xiaoren!" The Ning Family Clan Leader shouted in anger, tearing off his waist tag and throwing it directly at Ning Xiaoren.
The tag hit Ning Xiaoren's head, causing blood to flow immediately.
He knew that his defeat was certain, with no hope of salvation. In his final moments, he maintained his composure.
He let the blood flow, cupped his hands towards his father, and said: "Clan Leader, I made a mistake. I have no face to meet the family. I accept any punishment!"
And this was Ning Xiaoren's final act.
The Ning Family Clan Leader immediately announced the removal of Ning Xiaoren from the position of Young Clan Leader, imprisoning him in the dungeon for three years. After three years, he would be expelled from the family and exiled, only allowed to return during the grand clan festival to pay respects to the ancestors.
"The Clan Leader is wise, showing justice by sacrificing his kin!"
Upon hearing the sentence, countless members of the branch lineage cheered loudly, their voices shaking the area.
The elders of the main lineage watched Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo had won brilliantly, stepping over Ning Xiaoren, the Young Clan Leader. After today, he would surely be renowned throughout the family, his prestige skyrocketing.
Despite having "merely three layers of Qi Refining Level," with such character and actions, who would dare underestimate him?
That night.
A small banquet was held at Ning Ze's residence.
Ning Zhuo and Ning Ze hosted Ning Youfu, Ning Houjun, two former elders, and a few family stewards, including Ning Xiangguo.
Ning Zhuo frequently toasted, displaying humility and politeness, sincerely seeking advice.
Ning Youfu pointed out: "With this situation, Ning Zhuo, you've now confronted the main lineage. Especially the Clan Leader, don't expect to mend relations."
Ning Houjun sighed: "It's a pity the Clan Leader acted decisively today, sacrificing a limb to save the body, not dragging him down as well. Only bringing down one Young Clan Leader, the win is limited."
Ning Xiangguo added: "Even so, it's the only victory our branch has seen in over a decade. A branch member brought down the main lineage's Young Clan Leader, how inspiring!"
Ning Zhuo looked at the people around the table, wondering who among them was the Ning Family traitor secretly allied with Fei Si?
Ning Zhuo proactively inquired about how the main lineage would counter him.
Ning Youfu smiled: "Ning Zhuo, you're involved with the Renovation Team, exploring the Immortal Palace with remarkable skill. Plus, you're in the limelight now. The main lineage won't move against you to avoid another injustice that would escalate to the clan's Ancestral Hall."
He glanced at Ning Xiangguo and said: "The main lineage's retaliation will come soon, and you'll suffer."
Ning Xiangguo smiled faintly: "I'm mentally prepared. It doesn't matter! Even if I'm removed from office, so what? They can't remove too many people. After all, they are few in number, haha."
Ning Houjun sighed: "To this day, there's not a single elder position in the clan held by our branch. It's too passive, leaving us with no foundation. Although there are many stewards, we are at their mercy."
"Fortunately, Ning Zhuo, you have talent, and with steady progress, you'll undoubtedly become an elder one day."
"Our branch hasn't produced someone talented in a long time. To tell you the truth, for over a decade, I've been waiting for someone who can bear the burden."
"Though your cultivation level is weak now, you have great spirit and cunning."
"The key point, you have talent, worth investing in."
"Rest assured, as long as I'm alive, I'll support you all the way!"
"You are now the flag of our branch; you can't fall."
Ning Zhuo laughed heartily: "Since things have come to this point, it's partly due to the main lineage's pressure, but also due to my personal ambition."
"I have talent, I'm adept at exploring the Immortal Palace, and with your strong support, how could I fear failing?"
Everyone laughed heartily.
Amid the laughter, they clinked their cups.
Ning Ze downed his wine in one gulp, and as he set down his cup, he looked at Ning Zhuo with a particularly complex expression.
"Little Zhuo, Little Zhuo, so this is who you truly are."
"I misjudged you; I truly misjudged you."
"Such tactics, character, and capacity..."
Ning Ze felt that, for the first time in his life, he truly understood Ning Zhuo.