(ps: Writing overnight left me dizzy and I made a mistake uploading it directly and got the order wrong. 227 is behind. I'll contact the editor to see what can be done.)
"Alright, the position of Clan Leader, you can legitimately compete for it in the future. I will not interfere with the regular affairs of the Ning Family."
"Work hard. With your age and talent, it is not impossible for you to lead the entire Ning Family in the future."
"But right now... it is impossible!"
"A mere Qi Refinement junior, if you become the clan leader, who would take the Ning Family seriously?"
"Alright, alright." Ning Zhuo sighed, then lifted his eyes full of expectation, "Then, Ancestor, appoint me as the Young Clan Leader. In the future, when I inherit the position of Clan Leader, it will be justifiable."
Ning Jiufan: …
"Ning Zhuo, do not make such requests again!" His tone became more displeased.
"Alright, alright." Ning Zhuo pouted, "Then please, Ancestor, bestow me some magical treasures, such as vestment robes or treasure armor, to protect me. Is that alright?"
"I am taking a risk by being bait. It's not fear of an accident, but rather the fear of a disaster. Having magical treasures on me, which can activate instantly, would give me some peace of mind."
Ning Jiufan shook his head and told Ning Zhuo that magical treasures could not be given at will. He was concerned that assassins, detecting the magical treasures on Ning Zhuo from afar, would refrain from making any moves.
Ning Zhuo then asked for the Ice Heart Technique.
Ning Jiufan scolded him for being greedy, saying that this cultivation technique was the family's foundation. Ning Zhuo's contributions to the family were far from meeting the standard for being taught the Ice Heart Technique.
Ning Jiufan warned him not to seize this opportunity to make excessive demands and violate family rules.
Ning Zhuo's eyes suddenly twitched, and he mentioned, "Ancestor, can I split from the family?"
"After splitting, I wouldn't have to be the Clan Leader or Young Clan Leader of the main family. I could directly be the Clan Leader of the branch family. Wouldn't that be wonderful!"
Ning Jiufan, furious, blew his beard and glared: "You unfilial child! At such a young age, you already want to break up the family? And right in front of me! Are you looking for death? Or do you want to be locked in the dungeon for life?"
Ning Zhuo hurriedly waved his hand and explained, "Ancestor, please hear me out."
"You see, you are very close to Lord Zhu Xuanji. The three major families of Fire Persimmon Immortal City are close together. This is correct."
"But there are also great risks involved. What if one day, Lord Zhu fails in the competition and does not become the Master of Magma Fairy Palace."
"By then, he would walk away, and our Ning Family would still have to make a living in Fire Persimmon Immortal City."
"Even a peasant knows that all eggs should not be put in one basket."
"So, while you and the main family support Lord Zhu, I could take some branch lineages and join forces with the Meng Family of the City Lord's Mansion."
"This way, regardless of which side wins in the end, our Ning Family would survive without falling."
Ning Jiufan: …
Zhu Xuanji: …
You have to admit, Ning Zhuo's words indeed made a lot of sense!
Ning Jiufan, with this thought in mind, said to Zhu Xuanji: "My descendant speaks without restraint, imagining wildly. Lord Zhu, I apologize for the offense."
Zhu Xuanji sighed gently: "This is indeed the art of family longevity."
"For example, the number one family among cultivators—the Gu Family. Gu Tian and Gu Le are the Chief Minister and State Preceptor of two rival countries, Baimang Kingdom and Hongtao Kingdom."
"This phenomenon is indeed common."
Ning Jiufan quickly added: "Hmph, Ning Zhuo is too young, short-sighted. If he knew that the City Lord's Mansion was the one who actually wanted him dead, he would laugh at his current ignorance and stupidity!"
Zhu Xuanji waved his hand, signaling Ning Jiufan to stop explaining, and then pointed at Ning Zhuo with his finger.
Ning Jiufan understood the meaning and immediately transmitted a message to Ning Zhuo: "Enough, boy!"
He dared not let Ning Zhuo make more requests.
"I will lend you one Spirit Talisman for protection, which can withstand a full strike from an ordinary Golden Core cultivator."
"I will also grant you three Targeted Teleportation Talismans, which can instantly transport you to predetermined locations."
"Lastly, I will give you three taels of Ice Jade Wine. Do your job well, and this achievement will be credited to the Ning Family as a great contribution!"
Ning Zhuo's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "Three taels… three taels is a bit too little, Ancestor."
"How about a pound, round it up, a full pound. Will that do?"
"Hmph!" The Ning Family Ancestor couldn't bear it any longer and exerted pressure through invisible means.
Caught off guard, Ning Zhuo was instantly pressed to the ground, kneeling with five parts of his body touching the floor, his bones creaking as if carrying a mountain.
He quickly begged for mercy.
Ning Jiufan finally released the pressure.
As Ning Zhuo regained his freedom, his face still showed lingering fear. He raised his hand, spread his five fingers: "Five taels, five taels then, Ancestor."
"I'm risking my life here!"
Ning Jiufan: …
Zhu Xuanji: …
"Ha ha ha." Ning Jiufan couldn't help but burst into laughter.
He was laughing out of frustration.
A moment later.
In Ning Zhuo's courtyard.
Su Mo was in a small pavilion, eating fine wine and dishes while sarcastically mocking Ning Zhuo.
"The food is decent, but too soft."
"The wine is good, but not strong, too mild."
"Alright, alright, this fine meal truly befits the Ning Family, just like them, soft and mild."
The faces of the two Foundation Establishment Guards serving him were as dark as a pot's bottom.
At this moment, Ning Zhuo's voice came through: "Su Mo, you are so arrogant!"
"I treated you with fine wine and food, hoping to form a good relationship with you, yet you didn't appreciate it."
"You don't accept my toast, you must drink a forfeit!"
"What's worse, you insulted me, and insulted the Ning Family's reputation, which is utterly abhorrent."
"How do you want to compete? Speak!"
"I will accept any challenge."
The two Foundation Establishment Guards, seeing Ning Zhuo, were both surprised and delighted. Their hearts were filled with admiration: Ning Zhuo, after all, is a young master, a sixteen-year-old genius, young and spirited, unwilling to be humiliated, and holding the family's honor in high regard. He is truly a good son of the Ning Family's branch lineage!
Su Mo stood up and carefully observed Ning Zhuo, feeling both pleased and serious.
After a conversation, he cupped his hands to Ning Zhuo and stated his request.
If he won this competition, he asked Ning Zhuo to provide the contents of the Demon Sect's True Scripture.
Ning Zhuo sneered: "So it was for this."
He raised three fingers and swore on his family's honor: "I swear, on the honor of my Ning Family, I have never obtained a single word from the Demon Sect's True Scripture."
"You visited me, seeking a challenge, without any sincerity."
"You also used the reputation of the Ning Family to coerce me, forcing my hand to accept your challenge. This is ill-intentioned."
"I don't care who is behind you or what orders you received. This time, I must make you pay the heaviest price!"
Su Mo, growing anxious from Ning Zhuo's speech, forced himself to remain calm and retorted with a sneer: "What? Do you Ning Zhuo intend to bully me, a mere loose cultivator, with numbers?"
"Hmph, I won't make things difficult for you tonight." Ning Zhuo said, "Tomorrow morning, we'll see who's who on the arena."
"You want to be the first to eat a crab, very well, I also want to set an example by killing one."
Su Mo's expression changed once more, becoming even more unpleasant.
Ning Jiufan: …
Zhu Xuanji: …
The two exchanged glances in the dark, both thinking: After obtaining the protection talisman and teleportation talisman, Ning Zhuo's courage had instantly multiplied, swinging from one extreme to the other.
The next day.
Early in the morning, the arena was already packed with people.
There were two main characters on the stage: Ning Zhuo and Su Mo.
Not long after, only Ning Zhuo remained.
In talisman making, where Su Mo excelled, he was still clearly outmatched by Ning Zhuo, who handily defeated him without dispute.
Considering that Ning Zhuo was only sixteen years old, the gap between them felt even more pronounced.
However, just after Su Mo stepped down, a second challenger appeared.
Setting foot on the stage, the challenger demanded to compete in array formation. The requested stakes were still the Demon Sect's True Scripture.
Upon hearing this, Ning Zhuo let out a chilling laugh. He then swore in front of the crowd that he had no knowledge of the Demon Sect's True Scripture before Zhu Xuanji had approached him. While the rumors contained some truths, the specifics about the True Scripture's ownership being his were pure fabrications, utterly baseless.
Ning Zhuo declined the second challenge: "You all come for the Demon Sect's True Scripture, but unfortunately, you have found the wrong person."
"How can I satisfy your wishes, one challenge after another, endlessly?!"
"Our Ning Family is a major clan of the Righteous Path, and I, Ning Zhuo, have been raised in a righteous environment, surrounded by virtuous actions and teachings."
"We righteous people act with a clear conscience towards heaven and ancestors. Kindness does not mean we lack a sharp edge. Why should we fall for such petty schemes?"
"From now on, anyone who coerces me into a challenge by exploiting the Ning family's name will be considered an enemy, with no rest until one of us is dead!"
"Now, who dares challenge me?"
For a moment, the crowd around the arena fell silent.
From a distance, at the top floor of a restaurant.
A Golden Core disciple of Taiqing Palace watched with a sinister expression, his lips moving as he sent a voice transmission.
Immediately, someone in the crowd received the order, pushed through the crowd, and climbed onto the arena.
"Ning Zhuo, I hereby challenge you, a fight to the death!" The man, with a towering build, rolled up his sleeves and clenched his fists, which were like sandbags. Clearly, he was a brute body cultivator.
Ning Zhuo glared at the brute, eyes cold: "I have spoken, yet you come, forcing me, full of malice. You must be a Demon Cultivator!"
"Men, kill him for me."
In the next moment, the Foundation Establishment Guards, who had been eager to act, leaped onto the stage and surrounded the body cultivator.
The brute was shocked: "Isn't this supposed to be a one-on-one fight?! Despicable… ah!"
He was drowned in spells and, before he died, could only let out a scream.
Ning Zhuo stood with his hands behind his back, overlooking the stage: "Talking about morality with a Demon Cultivator is pointless. Naturally, we should eradicate evil and uphold justice, everyone vying to be first."
"Did you really think that we righteous people are easy to bully?!"
Wherever his gaze fell, everyone avoided it.