"What? You want me to offer all the Night Wind Soft Iron?" Ning Zhuo furrowed his brows deeply upon hearing this.
"I'm just delivering a message." Zheng Hua raised his hands, showing his innocence.
"This is an order from your Ning Family's Golden Pill Ancestor. Ning Zhuo, my young brother, from my perspective, you have no means to refuse."
"Alas, according to our previous discussions, this Night Wind Soft Iron was intended for crafting."
"Now that such a large gap in materials has appeared, will you still continue to build your Mechanical Monkey?"
Zheng Hua intentionally asked, provoking and goading Ning Zhuo.
"Oh, by the way, it was someone from your Ning Family who informed the Golden Pill Ancestors that you possessed Night Wind Soft Iron."
"She is Ning Xiaohui!"
"Ning Zhuo, my young brother, in my opinion, you'd better give in to your family's main branch. Otherwise, such schemes, such hidden daggers, will continue to find you in the future."
Under Zheng Hua's expectant gaze, Ning Zhuo suddenly relaxed his furrowed brows, threw back his head, and laughed heartily three times.
"Good, very good."
"To serve my family's Golden Pill Ancestor is a blessing I've cultivated over eight lifetimes."
"Wonderful, wonderful!"
"I must thank Ning Xiaohui. I'm very grateful to her. Without her, how could I have such a great opportunity?"
Watching Ning Zhuo laugh so freely and heartily, it was Zheng Hua's turn to frown.
For a moment, he could not determine whether Ning Zhuo was gritting his teeth in deep hatred or if he genuinely saw the light.
Zheng Family.
Heaven-class Artifact Refining Room.
"Not bad, this Ning Zhuo isn't bad at all." Zhu Xuanji put down the jade slip after examining it.
The Zheng Family's Golden Pill Cultivator standing next to him picked up the jade slip and infused it with his divine sense.
The divine sense reflected a list Ning Zhuo had willingly compiled, filled entirely with Golden Core level materials.
Ning Zhuo had learned that he had to offer up the Night Wind Soft Iron and was overjoyed, abandoning his work on the spot and compiling the list of materials in front of the messenger, Zheng Hua.
He stated that serving the Golden Pill Ancestor was an immense honor and that having fortuitously acquired a high position, he was willing to offer all the Golden Core level materials he had to the ancestor.
This obedient attitude greatly disappointed Zheng Hua, who instantly became wary.
In contrast, Zhu Xuanji and others were very pleased.
The Divine Hunter pointed to the jade slip, laughingly scolded, "I am quite familiar with this Ning Zhuo."
"This young one is good at climbing the ranks and will surely become a prominent figure in the bureaucracy in the future."
"Ning Jiufan, your Ning Family has produced a talent."
Zhu Xuanji, with his heart set on the Magma Fairy Palace, had a pressing need to assist the Zheng Family in refining mechanical weapons.
Ning Zhuo's full cooperation made him feel at ease, significantly reducing the disgust he felt from the situation involving Yuan Dasheng.
The Ning Family's Golden Pill Ancestor, Ning Jiufan, smiled faintly, "Catching the eye of Lord Zhu Xuanji is an honor for the younger generation of our family."
Zhu Xuanji shook his head, "It's not just me; Fei Si also has a good opinion of Ning Zhuo."
Zhou Nongying suddenly spoke, "Ning Zhuo is quite a troublemaker. I heard that, as a branch member, he even pulled down the main family's young clan leader."
Her words hinted at provocation and ridicule towards the Ning Family Ancestor.
However, Ning Jiufan seemed oblivious, merely mumbling, "Hehe, let the younger generation worry about their own matters."
Zhu Xuanji acknowledged with a hum, then pondered, "Ning Zhuo's full support, his patriotic and loyal heart are commendable. Therefore, I will reward him with a mechanical artifact from the royal family's treasury, fitting for the Night Wind Soft Iron he contributed."
"As for the other materials, they all belong to him; let him take them back."
"Our royal family has always been fair in its rewards and punishments, never coveting the people's wealth."
The Zheng Family's Golden Pill, Zheng Shuanggou, laughed heartily, "Ning Zhuo, this lad, was saved by me from Fire Persimmon Mountain."
"Now, he has offered the Night Wind Soft Iron to help our family refine mechanical weapons."
"Such a fateful exchange brings joy."
"Since the mechanical weapon belongs to our Zheng Family, we must offer something in return."
"Come."
"Inspect the treasury and compile a suitable list. Send it to Ning Zhuo and let him choose any one item as a reward."
Zhou Nongying also nodded, "In that case, my Zhou Family cannot be stingy."
"Let's reward him with a Foundation Establishment level Spirit Gathering Formation Disk."
Then it came to the Ning Family Ancestor's turn.
Ning Jiufan coughed, pondered for a few breaths before slowly stroking his beard, and said calmly, "Ning Zhuo is a member of our family. Contributing to the family is his duty."
"Pass my words along—The ancestor remembers his contributions to the family!"
As soon as his words were spoken, the other Golden Pill Cultivators' expressions changed.
These orders from the Golden Pill Ancestors were conveyed and received by Ning Zhuo.
At home, Ning Zhuo threw back his head and laughed heartily.
He thought, "Just as I expected!"
He had anticipated the reactions of the Golden Pill Cultivators, especially Zhu Xuanji, which is why he took such a calculated risk.
"Zhu Xuanji, being a significant figure, no longer acts solely based on personal preferences, even sometimes going against them!"
In Ning Zhuo's mind, when Zhu Xuanji temporarily set aside the investigation to fully immerse himself in the Immortal Palace, his threat significantly decreased.
By ceasing his investigation, the pressure on Ning Zhuo decreased considerably. Revealing his true objective of seeking control over the Magma Fairy Palace made his actions predictable!
"Once Zhu Xuanji becomes the Master of the Immortal Palace, he will become a significant force in Fire Persimmon Immortal City."
"Hence, he allied with the three families, foreseeing that the Meng Family would also be his formidable rival!"
Ning Zhuo not only offered the Night Wind Soft Iron but also proactively presented all the Golden Core level materials he had, a submissive stance precisely what Zhu Xuanji needed.
Zhu Xuanji greatly desired to see all three families submit to him, making it easier for him to vie for the position of Immortal Palace Master and for future control over Fire Persimmon Immortal City to confront the Meng Family.
Thus, when Ning Zhuo set himself as an example before him, even if Zhu Xuanji had many aversions to Ning Zhuo, he had to hold his nose and give Ning Zhuo much encouragement and rewards.
Zhu Xuanji needed to demonstrate his capacity, to further draw the three families closer to him.
Ning Zhuo served as a benchmark. Zhu Xuanji could reward Ning Zhuo generously to show the outside world what kind of person he was, encouraging others to follow Ning Zhuo's example and submit to him!
"Zhu Xuanji, this Divine Hunter and outsider, is currently the leader of the alliance among the three families."
"As long as I manage to win him over, the other three Golden Pill Ancestors will surely follow!"
"Haha!"
"Thus, a Golden Core Cultivator is merely so, easily outwitted by me."
"Indeed, I am most suited to mix in the Righteous Path!"
Ning Zhuo was quite pleased.
What delighted him the most was not Zhu Xuanji's royal mechanical artifact, nor the rewards from the Zheng Family and Zhou Family, but a single sentence from the Ning Family Ancestor, Ning Jiufan!
In fact, Ning Zhuo believed the most valuable reward from the Golden Core Cultivators was this sentence.
He immediately summoned his subordinates, instructing them to spread the word with all their might—that Ning Zhuo had received recognition from the Ning Family's Golden Pill Ancestor!
"From now on, remember this: I am a meritorious person."
"I have assisted our family's Golden Pill Ancestor, something not everyone can achieve. I am a great hero!"
"I am a significant contributor to the Ning Family!"
"Hahaha!"
The news, like a wild wind, swept through the entire Ning Family.
With just a simple sentence, the entire Ning Family was shaken to its core!
The main branch was fearful, speculating about the intent behind the Golden Pill Ancestor's words.
The sub-branch, however, was jubilant, holding their heads high. Ning Zhuo being remembered by the Golden Pill Ancestor surely indicated that the ancestor had high hopes for this young man. Didn't it suggest that the ancestor expected Ning Zhuo to become a family elder in the future?
Previously, Ning Zhuo's talent, temperament, and methods had already garnered admiration.
Additionally, the main branch had been suppressing the sub-branch so harshly that the sub-branch's resentment had been simmering, cleverly harnessed by Ning Zhuo, allowing him to control a considerable number of Foundation Establishment subordinates, though he himself was just at the third level of Qi Refinement. These Foundation Establishment cultivators were all elite of their kind!
Now, Ning Zhuo had gained approval from the highest echelon of the Ning Family.
He had received recognition from the Ning Family's Golden Pill Ancestor, making his future incredibly promising!
As long as he grew stronger, he was destined to hold a significant position in the power structure of the Ning Family.
And Ning Zhuo was from the sub-branch!
The only future significant figure from the sub-branch!
This was of immense importance, and when the news spread, many subordinates promptly sought out Ning Zhuo, eager to serve him!
Initially, although Ning Zhuo had gathered a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators as subordinates, it was because he had leveraged a mistake made by the main branch to turn the situation to his advantage.
If it hadn't been for the main branch driving them away, those former stewards would have overwhelmingly preferred to serve as stewards within the family.
They had no choice but to find a means of subsistence in the black market.
The Ning Family was, after all, part of the Righteous Path. Working in the gray areas of the black market was a necessity driven by current circumstances, not a proper course for the Righteous Path.
The Ning Family's Foundation Establishment cultivators, even when patrolling, wore masks as a veil of decency.
However, this new group of Ning Family members genuinely admired Ning Zhuo, certain of his bright future, which led them to voluntarily come forward to pledge their service.
Ning Zhuo placed all of these people in the black market.
Many felt troubled by this arrangement, expressing willingness to disperse their cultivation to explore the Immortal Palace and follow Ning Zhuo. Some were even willing to work in the Mechanical Workshop to create mechanism artifacts for Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo insisted on his decision regarding the black market and explained to them, "We are from the sub-branch, ordinary people."
"We are inherently humble, people oppressed by the main branch."
"Being humble is not shameful; on the contrary, it can be an opportunity."
"Often, the soil is richer in nutrients!"
"If you want to follow me, you need to have this awareness."
"Go to the black market, experience humility, and then rise step by step from the mud, proving that we are united."
"Think of our former stewards from the sub-branch; they are all Foundation Establishment elites, and they are all working in the black market. What do you compare to them?!"
Ning Zhuo's words were powerful, stern, and compelling, convincing everyone present.
And this was just the beginning.