Clearly, Song Fuli had chosen this moment with great care.
As the banquet was drawing to an end and the guests would gradually start to leave, his action of blocking the main entrance would inevitably lead to an ugly scene.
The Guest, seeing what Song Fuli was doing, broke into a sweat and turned pale when he realized the implications.
He tried to muster the courage to continue negotiating, but a mere glare from Song Fuli froze him solid, unable to move.
Another Guest, seeing this, hurriedly turned and staggered into the banquet hall.
Around the main table, cultivators came and went continuously.
As the Clan Leader of the Ning Family branch, Ning Zhuo was always surrounded by a crowd. Even at this moment, he had to smile throughout, accepting toasts from others, also affirming his relationships and status with these people.
Ning Zhuo was not impatient; rather, he was enjoying himself.
The Guest finally managed to push through the crowd, squeezed in, and reported to Ning Chen via a sound transmission.
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly and said aloud, "Song Fuli, what is there to fear? Let's ignore him, I have already made arrangements."
Seeing Ning Zhuo's extraordinary confidence, the Guest had no choice but to leave, albeit skeptically.
Those around him, hearing Ning Zhuo's words, all exchanged glances and grew fearful.
Ning Zhuo remained unconcerned and continued to chat and laugh with the people around him. At first, those around him acted awkwardly, their smiles stiff. Gradually, they relaxed a bit.
Regardless, Ning Zhuo's demeanor, unchanging even if the heavens were falling, instantly won many people over.
Song Fuli stood at the entrance, expressionless, his arms folded and statue-like, exuding an aura that screamed 'keep out.'
Suddenly, a letter flew towards him, hovering before his face.
Song Fuli swept his divine sense over it, read through the contents, and discovered it was from Ning Jiufan.
He knew that this Golden Core Ancestor of the Ning Family was formidable in battle, but having taken this action, he had already considered he would have to face Ning Jiufan.
Song Fuli put away the letter and still blocked the doorway, clearly showing disrespect to Ning Jiufan.
Almost immediately after, another Flying Message arrived beside him.
This time, the letter was from the City Lord's Mansion's Fei Si.
The content was much like that from Ning Jiufan, advising Song Fuli to stand down and not to disturb the order.
Song Fuli shivered slightly, "Does the City Lord's Mansion really support Ning Zhuo this much?"
A look of hesitation appeared on Song Fuli's face.
The next moment, a third Flying Message also reached him.
This message bore the seal of the Southern Bean Royal Family. Song Fuli reached out to take the letter, checked it with his divine sense, and sure enough, it was from Zhu Xuanji.
Zhu Xuanji's intentions were much the same as the previous two letters.
However, the wording was softer and more domineering. In the letter, Zhu Xuanji advised calmly, asking Song Fuli not to be impulsive, to think more about the relations between the two countries, the future path of the Cloud Whale Trading Team, and to keep calm.
The critical point was, even if Ning Zhuo had Miss Rudie's mechanical artifact, it was still just his spoil of war!
Such straightforward words made Song Fuli show a flash of anger.
But quickly, he suppressed this anger and subconsciously looked up at the plaque above the door.
This plaque had been newly hung.
The feelings Song Fuli had towards it were now completely different from before.
These continuous three letters fully confirmed that Ning Zhuo's branch had firmly established itself.
Besides the main branch's Ning Jiufan, both the City Lord's Mansion and the Zhu Royal Family also recognized it.
What trouble was there to find?
Continuing to be "foolish" would only lead to his own loss!
Even though this was a newly branched-out force, it was still the local snake of Fire Persimmon Immortal City.
A strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake!
Song Fuli huffed indignantly, turned, and strode away.
The Guest, already sweated through, suddenly slumped down, watching Song Fuli's retreating back, his face full of lingering fears, "He finally left!"
The Guest who returned to report, however, suddenly turned back and looked towards the direction of the banquet hall.
His eyes gleamed with excitement, his heart pounding, "The Clan Leader's tactics are brilliant! Without even showing up himself, he managed to deal with a Golden Core Cultivator like Song Fuli! That's just too impressive!"
Now that the dust had settled in the Lava Fairy Palace and the Demon Beast Tide had completely dispersed, the Flying Trading Company seemed redundant, especially that huge Cloud Whale floating in the sky, which was particularly irritating!
Song Fuli realized this point as he stood in front of the door of the Ning's branch.
"Humph, the true face of the Righteous Path!"
He went to the City Lord's Mansion and met with Fei Si, stating outright that he and his Trading Team would be leaving the city soon for the next Immortal City.
Fei Si, showing a reluctant expression, confirmed the precise departure date of Song Fuli and his people. When he heard it was the day after tomorrow, his smile and reluctance grew even stronger.
Clan Leader Ning Zhuo was no longer subjected to uninvited guests making proprietary claims, and the banquet proceeded smoothly.
Many guests left and spread the grandeur of Clan Leader Ning Zhuo's clan division ceremony, including the numerous congratulatory gifts presented during the banquet.
As the news spread, it swirled throughout the city, altering public perception and once again stabilizing the clan's renowned status.
Ning Jiufan and Zhu Xuanji were in a secret discussion.
"Song Fuli has withdrawn," Zhu Xuanji received the latest intelligence, his expression unreadable.
Ning Jiufan sneered coldly, "At least he knows his place."
Zhu Xuanji slightly shook his head, "He is a Cloud Merchant, used to traveling far and wide, inherently pliable. His move to block our door was merely because he thought Ning Zhuo was weak and easy to bully. In truth, he's an outsider and didn't know what eventually transpired. Realizing the reality, he withdrew voluntarily. I'm not surprised by this at all."
At this point, Zhu Xuanji looked at Ning Jiufan, genuinely admiring, "The Ning Family has produced a unicorn."
Ning Jiufan stroked his beard and smiled.
Ning Zhuo was only a low-level cultivator, yet he managed to repulse Golden Core Cultivator Song Fuli by leveraging the power of alliances.
This showed Ning Zhuo's remarkable skillfulness. His capability in handling clan affairs as a leader was definitely sufficient.
In fact, Ning Jiufan had recognized Ning Zhuo's talents after hearing about the tripartite covenant of the Lava Fairy Palace; now it was just being confirmed again.
The two continued their secret discussion and eventually reached a consensus, signing a covenant.
Zhu Xuanji handed Ning Jiufan a jade slip and a magic treasure on the spot.
Ning Jiufan used his Divine Sense to scan the content of the jade slip and nodded in satisfaction.
The jade slip contained Beast Taming Official Techniques, and the magic treasure could disseminate official might. Together, they could help Ning Jiufan subdue the Nascent Soul Demon Ape!
Watching Ning Jiufan examine the jade slip, Zhu Xuanji confirmed in his heart: "This time, in the struggle of the Lava Fairy Palace, the Ning Family is the biggest winner!"
"Not to mention Ning Zhuo, just Ning Jiufan alone has gained incredibly!"
"The Nascent Soul Demon Ape he ultimately saved and subdued could become a powerful asset in guarding the Ning Family."
Certainly, to some extent, it could also compete with the Meng Family.
With possession of a Nascent Soul Level Demon Beast, the Ning Family had become the most powerful cultivator family in Fire Persimmon Immortal City.
Furthermore, with the Ning Family implementing a clan division, given time, the numbers and influence of both branch and main family members would inevitably be the greatest.
Strongest in combat, largest in influence!
The Southern Bean Royal Family vigorously supported the Ning Family, naturally playing into the ongoing political maneuvers between the royal family, the main house, and the influential Meng Family.
If Meng Chong succeeded and Meng Kui became the city lord, nominally it would be flawless. However, the reality was that Meng Kui's position as city lord was willingly conceded by the Ning Family cultivator. And according to the Recruitment Decree,
"There's no problem," Ning Jiufan checked the contents of the jade slip and showed satisfaction.
"For subsequent cooperation, Brother Ning can contact my uncle Zhu Hou," Zhu Xuanji said.
Ning Jiufan gave him a slight nod, and they parted ways.
Zhu Xuanji watched him leave, sighed, and turned to face Ning Zhuo's divided clan.
Though he really didn't want to deal with Ning Zhuo, he had no choice.
"I have to go there after all." Zhu Xuanji could only steel himself and secretly meet with Ning Zhuo.
Inside the clan leader's study, Ning Zhuo greeted him with a broad smile, overflowing with warmth: "Lord Divine Hunter, you've finally come. These days, I have been eagerly awaiting."
Zhu Xuanji stretched out his hand in a gesture that said we're not close: "Don't come any closer, stay there, just speak from there, that will be fine."
He continued, "I need to correct two points."
"First, you're no longer some young lad, you are the leader of a split clan. Don't lose your dignity."
"Second, what you're looking forward to is not me, but a position in our Southern Bean Kingdom. As of yesterday, I received our monarch's decree, there is only compensation for you, no official position."
Ning Zhuo immediately became agitated, exclaiming, "That's not fair, the Recruitment Decree clearly states..."
"Alright. Don't think you can easily bully our Zhu Family and the royal family, Clan Leader Ning Zhuo." Zhu Xuanji interrupted directly, "You are quite aware that transferring the Immortal Palace Master role to Meng Kui was unauthorized and not approved by our Zhu Family and the royal house."
"That's against the rules."
Ning Zhuo quickly retorted, "Lord Divine Hunter, your words are unfair. You were present at that time. If I hadn't transferred the position of Palace Master to Meng Kui, how could he, a Nascent Soul powerhouse, have intervened? Who among us could have suppressed the Flame Beast Tide?"
Zhu Xuanji: "I'm endowed with four Divine Skills and am capable of fighting a Nascent Soul. Clan Leader Ning Zhuo, your true combat power is not inferior to mine, so how could you not resist the Flame Beast Tide?"
Ning Zhuo hurriedly said, "How could that be possible? My cultivation level is weak, how could I compare to you, Lord Zhu? Please, Lord Zhu, show mercy and do not lift me so high."
"At that time, I was thinking of the clan, of the lives and properties of the entire city's citizens, that's why I passed the Palace Master role to Lord Meng Kui."
"Lord Meng Kui is now the current lord of Fire Persimmon Immortal City, surely it's more appropriate to entrust it to him, isn't it?"
"Heh heh heh." Zhu Xuanji laughed in frustration, "Ning Zhuo, you had already calculated all of this. Handing over the Palace Master position to the Meng Family was nothing but playing both sides, foreseeing that my Zhu Family wanted to oppose the Meng Family, and then your Ning Family would be the best partner."
"You succeeded!"
"Your family's Golden Core Ancestor, Ning Jiufan, has already been secretly granted an official position by our royal family. And a magic treasure was gifted to subdue that Nascent Soul Mother Ape."
"The royal family won't provide any compensation for you, Ning Zhuo, but will award 'entry standards.'"
Speaking these four words "entry standards," Zhu Xuanji emphasized his tone.