Facing Ning Jiufan's questions and concerns, Ning Zhuo immediately put on a bitter expression.
With a grievance-laden tone, he said, "Ancestor, how deeply you misunderstand me!"
"Ever since I established a branch family and left my hometown for adventures, it's all been for the sake of the family's future."
"The business at Yugang Mountain was achieved through my exhausting efforts, shuffling negotiations in many places, and a lot of hard work."
"Although I traveled far from home, I never forgot my family, nor my responsibilities as a branch family Clan Leader."
Ning Jiufan couldn't help but nod slightly.
Actions speak louder than words!
Ning Jiufan had seen with his own eyes how the Ning Clan's branch in Fire Persimmon Immortal City made the Jade Dark Steel business flourish so much that many members of the main family line were envious and spoke jealously.
Ning Zhuo had already sent a letter to Ning Jiufan when he left Mist Hidden Mountain, informing him about what had generally happened there.
When Ning Jiufan received the letter at that time, he smiled upon reading it. He was very satisfied with Ning Zhuo's performance on Mist Hidden Mountain.
Ning Jiufan nodded, "The affairs at Mist Hidden Mountain, you handled quite well."
Ning Zhuo beamed with a smile, "Ancestor, this time, I plan to emulate Mist Hidden Mountain and seek more cooperation with the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect."
Ning Jiufan stroked his beard and pondered, "Fire Persimmon Mountain and Ten Thousand Medicine Valley are quite far apart and establishing a Transmission Array would be costly. However, relying on post stations and trade routes involves even more risks."
"The Ten Thousand Medicine Sect's business is thriving; they don't urgently need us."
"These are the major obstacles in our cooperation with the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect."
Clearly, Ning Jiufan had been contemplating this cooperation since reading Ning Zhuo's letter.
Ning Zhuo nodded, "Ancestor, your words hit the nail on the head. To the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, our Ning Family is dispensable."
"But our Ning Family also has nothing substantial to offer that would make the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect eager to cooperate."
"I've thought about it for a long time and found nothing suitable to trade, so why not trade services!"
"Ancestor, the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect is weak in conflicts, and for this reason, they have specifically set up Little Struggle Peak's policies and strongly support external Cultivators. Some of the Elders at the Golden Core Level are also hired externally."
"These aren't their own people, so they use them cautiously."
"If our Ning Family becomes a close ally of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, we could gain more trust than these external Cultivators."
Ning Jiufan asked, "Why would that be?"
Ning Zhuo explained, "Firstly, our Ning Family has a foundation; 'the monk can run but not the temple'—from this point, we are naturally more trustworthy than Loose Cultivators and Demon Cultivators."
"Secondly, we are quite distant from the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, so we won't have frequent frictions in daily operations."
"Thirdly, during our migration, we once received help from the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect. Such old favor is also worth more mutual trust."
Ning Jiufan nodded slightly, agreeing with Ning Zhuo's analysis.
"But even so, negotiating with Lin Bufan could be tricky."
"I've met him a few times; he is very cunning and sharp, a Nascent Soul Cultivator who is really capable."
"Now, since we are seeking cooperation from the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect and taking the initiative, Lin Bufan will surely drive a hard bargain."
Ning Jiufan knew much more about Lin Bufan compared to Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo contemplated, "Perhaps we could spread rumors? Claim that the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect is in a perilous situation?"
Ning Jiufan immediately shook his head, "That's not advisable."
"Lin Bufan, as his name suggests, is very talented. He's much older than you and has been astutely managing this area for many years."
"He would easily see through such rumors and trace them back to their source."
"If we were to do this, it would backfire."
Ning Zhuo nodded, immediately discarding his earlier idea. After all, he had never even seen Lin Bufan's face, whereas Ning Jiufan had much more contact with him.
Ning Jiufan looked at Ning Zhuo and smiled, "Little Zhuo, you still have the Ice Heart Jade Pot with you, right? How much longer do you need it?"
Ning Zhuo chuckled, took out the Ice Heart Jade Pot, and offered it with both hands.
Without any explanation.
On the contrary, after retrieving the Ice Heart Jade Pot, Ning Jiufan explained to Ning Zhuo, "This pot is a heritage treasure of our Ning Clan, beneficial to the whole family. Keeping it with you alone does not bring out its true value."
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly, "Precisely speaking, it is of significant meaning to those in our main family line who practice the Ice Heart Technique."
Successful cultivation of the Ice Heart Technique often results in the Divine Sea in the Upper Dantian being far more profound than the other two Dantians. Under these circumstances, drinking Ice Jade Wine from the Ice Heart Jade Pot can save a Cultivator many hardships, allowing the cultivation in the Upper Dantian to enhance the other two Dantians.
Since Ning Zhuo had sent for the Ning Family Ancestor, he was naturally prepared for this conversation.
To be honest, having the Ice Heart Jade Pot in his possession, he found it not very useful too.
Its two main uses were producing Ice Jade Wine and enhancing healing effects.
The former, Ning Zhuo had already emptied out the Ice Jade Wine when he exchanged the pot. The latter, for healing, Ning Zhuo thoroughly replaced with Floating Ice Jade Hands.
"Empty?" The Ning Family Ancestor scanned with his Divine Sense and seeing the bottom of the Ice Heart Jade Pot, was surprised, "What do you need so much Ice Jade Wine for?"
"Even if sold, only Cultivators practicing frost techniques with outstanding Divine Sea cultivation would be suitable buyers."
"This wine has always been hard to sell,"
Ning Jiufan reminded.
Magic treasures suitable for the Ning Family may not be suitable for others.
Especially in Southern Bean Country, located in the south, where the air is moist and warm, the number of cultivators practicing Ice Attribute cultivation techniques is scarce, far less than those practicing Wood Element and Earth Element.
"At this moment, I have my uses for these wines," Ning Zhuo showed his firmness.
Ning Jiufan nodded and did not pursue further.
What a joke?
Pursue Ning Zhuo?!
Ning Jiufan knew very well, despite Ning Zhuo being only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, his combat power had reached the Golden Core Level, even the peak of Golden Core!
He had witnessed those mechanical artifacts, especially the Big Snake Scythe.
Therefore, after the struggle for the Lava Fairy Palace had temporarily subsided, Ning Jiufan's attitude towards Ning Zhuo also underwent significant changes.
Previously, he completely regarded Ning Zhuo as an outstanding younger member of his family. But now, in his heart, Ning Zhuo deserved equal treatment.
"Ancestor, take a look at this." Ning Zhuo took out a jade slip and handed it to Ning Jiufan.
"Poison Flame Chrysanthemum?" As Ning Jiufan swept it with his Divine Sense, a smile grew on his face, "This is a good item; I'll support the branch family in promoting it."
Ning Zhuo then said, "Currently, our branch family has limited manpower, mainly focused on the management of Jade Dark Steel, with a small part relying on the Lava Fairy Palace to guard their positions."
"Therefore, I am willing to cooperate with the main branch on the Poison Flame Chrysanthemum business and manipulate it together!"
"Oh? You're willing to?" Ning Jiufan was surprised.
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly: "Cultivating a mere flower, compared to future prospects, is just a minor profit."
"If we only use my branch's manpower, it's simply not enough. Not to mention several months, even two or three years wouldn't make much difference."
"Ancestor, as I cultivate now, I'm getting tighter on funds; I urgently need more money. The more, the better!"
"So, we should scale up the Poison Flame Chrysanthemum as much as possible!"
"However, if the main branch wants to get involved, it must be primarily led by my branch. In terms of profits, my branch takes eighty percent, the main branch twenty."
Ning Jiufan's eyes widened: "Twenty-eighty split?"
Ning Zhuo waved his hand: "No bargaining! If the Ning main branch does not agree, then I will seek cooperation with the Zhou Family."
Ning Jiufan scoffed, "As both are of Ning surname, Little Zhuo, you are somewhat harsh towards your own family."
Ning Zhuo sneered and directly gave Ning Jiufan a cold look: "Since I understood things, the Ning main branch has always treated me like this. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth; it's only natural justice."
Ning Jiufan sighed and changed the topic: "You've been grabbing money using the black market and Lava Fairy Palace, so why have your resources become tight in just a few months?"
Ning Zhuo then unwrapped the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon from around his waist and showed it to Ning Jiufan.
"A Nascent Soul Level mechanical artifact! Is this the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon? Good stuff," Ning Jiufan recognized, feeling emotional.
He had suspicions early on, and seeing the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon didn't surprise him too much.
At the same time, he also understood the reason behind Ning Zhuo's financial strain.
Ning Zhuo then told him that this Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon mechanism was supposed to be driven by a Nascent Soul. Now, he could only substitute it with Fire Essence, which consumed a vast amount every time it was used. By now, he was nearly unable to sustain it.
Ning Jiufan chided him: "For ordinary travel, why use the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon? This behavior is too extravagant. It should be used when you're in a dangerous situation to escape."
Ning Zhuo did not tell Ning Jiufan that in his eagerness for his mother, he had traveled at maximum speed directly.
"With the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon to protect you, I can also rest assured. Regarding the Fire Essence, I have some news that might be useful," Ning Jiufan then mentioned that a Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit had appeared in Fire Persimmon Mountain.
And Meng Kui was gathering Golden Core Cultivators from the Zhou Family and the Ning Family, having already taken Ning Jiufan's Fire Core Pomegranate to set a trap.
"This Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit already has substantial spiritual nature. If you get it, Little Zhuo, it should greatly reduce the consumption of the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon."
"As long as the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit hasn't completely perished, it can absorb Spiritual Energy from the surroundings and quickly recover."
Ning Zhuo's eyes lit up, but his face showed worry.
This was indeed good news, but how to obtain the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit under Meng Kui's watch?
After a detailed conversation with the ancestor, Ning Zhuo also learned: With Elder Yuan's lingering injuries, if he participated in the struggle for the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit, he might likely fall into Meng Kui's trap.
If Elder Yuan suffered any mishap, then both Ning Jiufan and the Ning Family would have truly suffered a double loss.
"Given the current situation, it's essential to ensure Elder Yuan's full recovery to have a chance at self-preservation."
"On the basis of assured self-preservation, perhaps with Elder Yuan's involvement, we might obtain the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit!"
Ning Zhuo and Ning Jiufan thus reached an agreement.
Ning Jiufan inquired about Ning Zhuo's recent situation.
Ning Zhuo gave all the information he had collected about the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect to Ning Jiufan.
He also shared his own experiences honestly to prevent Ning Jiufan from misjudging.
Ning Jiufan: …
After listening, he fell silent for a moment before exclaiming, "Lin Bufan's beloved daughter has been put under confinement because of you, and yet you say you haven't caused trouble?"
Ning Zhuo defended, "Miss Lin and I hit it off immediately, helping each other as friends, which is the true testament of friendship."
Ning Jiufan snorted and then asked, "So, this method of cultivating Poison Flame Chrysanthemums, did Lin Shanshan secretly give