"I am making a contribution to the family."
"Look, I am in such a dangerous situation right now, won't you give me some more means of protection?"
"Can you bear to watch the younger generation of our family being harmed by that wicked criminal?"
Ning Jiufan pointed at Ning Zhuo and laughed as he scolded: "Look at him, everyone, look. This is the fine descendant of our Ning Family; I was not mistaken."
Zhou Nongying and Zhu Xuanji also laughed upon hearing this, and the atmosphere suddenly lightened.
Ning Jiufan continued: "Last time, I already gave you numerous talismans for your protection, and I did not take them back."
"This time, what else do you want?"
"You are indeed making contributions to the family, but the family will definitely acknowledge your merits later. You won't be left out!"
Ning Zhuo quickly responded: "Actually, I would like to separate branches, Ancestor, can I split the family branch?"
"As for those merit acknowledgements and rewards, I'm not too hopeful! The main branch giving me rewards would be good enough if they don't pin any crimes on me."
Ning Jiufan's face immediately showed anger: "How dare you!"
He was about to say something to reprimand when Zhou Nongying suddenly laughed heartily, interrupting him.
Zhou Nongying's worries turned into joy.
Earlier, he had seen Ning Zhuo's excellence and was deeply concerned.
Although the strength of the Ning Family did not match that of the Zhou Family, Ning Zhuo, this younger member, had recently gained much prominence and was indeed quite outstanding, surpassing both Zhou Zhu and Zhou Zeshen.
This made Zhou Nongying feel a small threat, which did not sit well with him.
But now, seeing Ning Zhuo openly revealing the flaws of the Ning Family and candidly speaking of the conflicts between the sub-branch and the main branch,
Zhou Nongying couldn't help but look forward to the scene where Ning Zhuo fell out with the main branch in the future.
After laughing a few more times, Zhou Nongying took out a magic artifact from his storage waist belt and tossed it to Ning Zhuo directly.
It was a handkerchief.
The handkerchief was covered with countless chaotic and unpatterned array patterns.
But in fact, it only appeared to lack order.
Zhou Nongying explained: "This is the Four-Sided Inversion Array Plate. In times of crisis, you just need to throw it out, and it may help you seize a critical chance for survival."
After receiving it, Ning Zhuo was overjoyed and quickly thanked him.
A flash of sharp light flickered in Ning Jiufan's eyes; he knew that Zhou Nongying was giving him some eye drops, but outwardly, he had to express his gratitude to Zhou Nongying.
Zhu Xuanji smiled faintly, descended to the ground, and walked a few steps to Ning Zhuo's side.
"You indeed are a meritorious minister."
"Recently, the renovation team members have made great progress, thanks to you generously sharing your experience with them."
"So, let me examine you."
Ning Zhuo snorted coldly in his heart, fully aware of Zhu Xuanji's suspicion. But outwardly, he showed a very joyful expression, actively cooperating with Zhu Xuanji.
Zhu Xuanji then placed his palm on Ning Zhuo's back, activated a spell, and at the same time, a faint golden light flickered in his eyes.
After a thorough inspection, Zhu Xuanji confirmed that his surveillance methods had not been tampered with.
Only then did he relax.
Ning Zhuo looked eagerly at Zhu Xuanji: "Lord Zhu, investigating the truth and finding any clues about the real culprit is our unshirkable duty; we go all out, regardless of life and death."
"At present, it appears that I have taken the risk to probe the medical hall. The real culprit should not be present in the medical hall."
After pausing for a moment, Ning Zhuo changed his tone: "However, I think the medical hall can only be considered temporarily safe."
"Right now, with the rampant demon beasts, that wicked villain only needs to slaughter a large number of demon beasts to gain merit, which is much more convenient and faster than before."
"If he really has mastered some shortcut or loophole to join the medical hall, then we would be in trouble!"
"However, whenever I think of how important Magma Fairy Palace is and that I have such an opportunity to contribute to the family and shine for Southern Bean Country, my heart fills with motivation, and my blood feels like it is going to boil, I..."
"Alright, alright." Zhu Xuanji waved his hand, showing a helpless expression, interrupting Ning Zhuo's words.
"I know what you want to say and understand your point."
"Here, take this as a reward for your recent good performance."
As he spoke, he threw an item.
Ning Zhuo quickly caught it and, on closer inspection, saw that it was a crystal stone.
The crystal stone was completely transparent, relatively heavy, and seemed to be made of pure glass without any impurities.
Ning Zhuo was taken aback and exclaimed softly: "This is a top-grade crystal stone!"
Zhu Xuanji explained: "Originally, this crystal stone was filled with ice attribute natural spiritual power, but I have already used it up."
"But it is still extremely valuable!"
"Because any top-grade crystal stone will automatically absorb spiritual energy to replenish itself."
"However, an ice-attribute top-grade spirit stone can only be filled with ice-attribute spiritual power."
"I know you like making mechanisms. This top-grade crystal stone is a natural mana pool and is very suitable for you."
"However, if you want to fill it with ice attribute mana, in a place like Fire Persimmon Mountain, in Magma Fairy Palace, you will need to put in a bit more effort."
Ning Zhuo expressed his thanks repeatedly, holding the top-grade crystal stone in one hand and the array plate handkerchief in the other, looking eagerly at Ning Jiufan.
He did not speak, but his eyes said it all.
Zhou Nongying and Zhu Xuanji also looked at Ning Jiufan.
Ning Jiufan coughed and said expressionlessly: "If you are worried about the merit acknowledgements and rewards, then let me inform you. This time, the merit acknowledgements and rewards will be personally handled by me. Are you satisfied now?"
Ning Zhuo quickly expressed his satisfaction, just about to continue speaking.
Ning Jiufan had already turned and flew away from the place.
Zhu Xuanji and Zhou Nongying chuckled to themselves and also flew away.
As the three Golden Core Cultivators flew out of Ning Zhuo's sight, he finally let out an almost imperceptible breath of relief.
He had long anticipated such a scene.
Sun Lingtong's warning was very reasonable.
If just now, he had used those three drops of The Highest Good is Like Water in the serious injury treatment room, perhaps the three Golden Core Cultivators would have immediately planted new surveillance methods on him.
Ning Zhuo stored the array plate handkerchief and the top-grade crystal stone in his storage waist belt.
It seemed that each time, he could always glean a few benefits from the hands of the Golden Pill Ancestors.
He understood the reasons very well.
"The potential and capability I have shown make the Golden Pill Ancestors believe that in the future Fire Persimmon Immortal City, I will surely have a place."
"Whether they intend to invest in me or suppress Ning Family by instigating internal conflict, they all lean towards drawing me in during my inconspicuous stage."
"After all, at this stage, the cost of drawing me in is the smallest. Once I reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, it would be different."
Ning Zhuo returned to his dwelling.
Unexpectedly, he found an extra jade slip on the bedhead.
After inspecting it and reading the content, he discovered that this jade slip actually came from Ning Jiufan.
In the jade slip, Ning Jiufan deliberately left a message for Ning Zhuo, telling him: This is his annotated notes on Ning Family's talismans, meant for Ning Zhuo to secretly read. He should not say anything unnecessary.
Ning Zhuo understood what Ning Jiufan meant.
On the one hand, he had just maintained his dignity in front of Zhu Xuanji and Zhou Nongying and did not directly reward Ning Zhuo. This jade slip was compensation.
On the other hand, he was also worried that Ning Zhuo would take advantage of the situation and publicly boast about this jade slip, raising his own prestige within the Ning Family.
Ning Jiufan's concern was not excessive.
If Ning Jiufan had not specifically left that message, Ning Zhuo indeed intended to do just that.
Ning Zhuo stored the jade slip away.
It was a valuable item, but for now, he had neither the time nor the energy to study it.