After the two Zhou Family geniuses stepped down, the entire Zhou Family renovation team took to the stage, each entering the formation one by one.
"Middle stage, third level."
"Middle stage, third level."
"Early stage, third level."
...
Next came a series of third-level Qi Refinement levels, starting from the middle stage to the early stage; there were no late stage third levels.
Then came the peak, late stage, middle stage, and early stage second levels, but no cultivators of the first level at all.
After this test, the discussions among Zheng and Ning Family cultivators quieted notably. Many Zheng Family cultivators had solemn expressions, while most of the Ning Family cultivators looked more perturbed.
Though the Zhou Family's renovation team was small in number, it was very elite.
Following the order, it was now the Zheng Family's turn.
Zheng Jian took the lead and was the first to enter the testing formation.
"Peak, third level," the Family Elder announced loudly.
"Oh!!" The Zheng Family cultivators cheered, raising their arms in triumph, causing a much louder commotion than the Zhou Family's cheers.
They seemed to be competing in this manner.
Many young Zhou Family cultivators watched silently, most of them with calm expressions.
In the reception hall.
The Zhou Family Clan Leader complimented, "The Zheng Family's unity is admirable, fostering prosperity and harmony. This is all thanks to your excellent management, Brother Zheng."
The Zheng Family Clan Leader laughed heartily and didn't feign modesty, "Just like forging steel, it needs to withstand countless hammer blows and unite tightly to become a good weapon."
The Zheng Family cultivators were quite boisterous, sometimes cheering, sometimes jeering.
It was evident that the Zhou Family had pre-tested a round of cultivation levels, entering the formation in descending order of their levels.
The Zheng Family had not done this.
This resulted in variable outcomes when each Zheng Family cultivator entered.
When a cultivator's test result was good, they cheered loudly. If a companion's result was subpar, some laughed loudly, but it was not malicious.
This positive competitive atmosphere made the Ning Family Clan Leader secretly envious.
"The Ning Family used to be like this too."
"Unfortunately, during the migration, we suffered severe damage. After entering the city, the branch families mutinied, forcing us to implement the strong-over-the-weak strategy."
"Sigh, only when the main branch is strong in both quality and quantity can we lift the suppression of the branch families step by step, consolidating a fine family tradition."
The Ning Family Clan Leader, having held a high position for many years, was well aware of the internal issues within the family.
But he had no solution.
He was from the main branch, and his origin determined his stance.
He couldn't betray the main branch to support the branch families. The branch cultivators wouldn't accept him, and the main branch cultivators would overthrow him.
"Every family has its own problems," the Ning Family Clan Leader thought as he adjusted his mindset.
He was well aware of his renovation team's situation. A large portion was at the first level of Qi Refinement; the upcoming test results would undoubtedly be grim.
Next, it was the Ning Family's turn.
Ning Xiaohui, with a stern face, walked into the testing formation under the worried gazes of her fellow Ning Family members.
"Peak, third level," the Family Elder announced.
The Ning Family cultivators erupted in cheers as well.
Zheng Jian and Zhou Zeshen glanced at Ning Xiaohui as she stepped out of the formation, her face still cold, exuding an air of arrogance.
In the reception hall.
The Zheng Family Clan Leader glanced at the Ning Family Clan Leader, "Your Ning Xiaohui hasn't been training long, yet she reached the peak of the third level?"
The Zhou Family Clan Leader also looked over with a curious expression.
The Ning Family Clan Leader stroked his beard with a smile, having long awaited this moment, and said nonchalantly, "Our family was late in realizing the gap after the Magma Fairy Palace discovery. So, I pleaded with our Ancestor, who upon agreeing, granted us a talisman from the family treasury, known as the Flowing Clouds and Streaming Water Talisman."
"To make this talisman, our ancestors used water from an ice mountain cold spring, containing a bit of the world's spiritual nature. Hence, it helps cultivators train together, providing additional aid."
The Zhou Family Clan Leader smiled, complimenting the Ning Family, while thinking the Ning Family indeed had some depth.
The Zheng Family Clan Leader then said, "Brother Ning, our two families should foster closer ties. To be honest, we are completely forging a magical treasure and are in desperate need of extreme cold refinement methods. Since your family came from North Wind Country, we wonder if you could lend a hand?"
The Ning Family Clan Leader stroked his beard, "It's doable, it's doable."
However, he felt quite regretful inside.
This Flowing Clouds and Streaming Water Talisman had its own spiritual nature, which helped cultivators train together well. But its usage was limited.
If they could make a Boat Leap Mountain Pass Talisman with its own spiritual nature, according to Ning Family's secret technique, the two talismans could interact, nurturing and replenishing each other's spiritual nature. Though the accumulation would be slow, strictly limiting the usage frequency could achieve a cycle of reuse.
Unlike now, using a single talisman only drained the spiritual nature without recovering.
Thankfully, Ning Xiaohui, after remodifying her cultivation, was only at the first three levels of Qi Refinement, with a weak cultivation level, thus consuming less of the Flowing Clouds spirit talisman's spiritual nature.
Using this talisman was a helpless measure as well.
Firstly, the night of the Dharma Transmission Bell, Ning Xiaohui was too exhausted from talisman making and fell asleep, missing out on the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art tailored to her. She had to use a general version understood by others, which was less efficient.
Secondly, Ning Xiaohui's grandmother and the academy elder fought for many rights for her.
Thirdly, the Ning Family Clan Leader thought about competing with the Zhou and Zheng families. If Ning Xiaohui, as a leader, had poor cultivation, the Ning Family would suffer greatly in the three families' interests distribution.
Thus, the Ning Family temporarily infused the Flowing Clouds and Streaming Water Talisman into Ning Xiaohui's body to help her refine mana and progress rapidly.
After Ning Xiaohui rejoined, the rest of the Ning Family cultivators' test results were less pleasing.
Some had second-level cultivation, but most were at the first level.
This was understandable, given the Ning Family's recent temporary expansion.
But now, in the joint test of the three families, every time the Zhou Family elder announced results, his voice grew louder, publicly shaming the Ning Family's first-level cultivators.
The young Zheng Family cultivators, full of vigor, often burst into laughter.
The Zhou Family cultivators maintained their demeanor, but the contempt in their eyes grew more evident.
Ning Xiaohui's face turned livid with anger as she looked at her fellow cultivators and said coldly, "A bunch of trash!"
Ning Chen and Ning Yong rejoined the cultivators with defeated looks, both having peak first-level cultivation.
"Since the renovation, we have been exhausting ourselves daily, reaching our limits every day."
"I heard the Zheng and Zhou families provide resources free of charge, but in our Ning Family's renovation team, only the main branch gets such treatment!"
"Yes, if we had such treatment and the same time, we might surpass them."
Ning Chen and Ning Yong were very unconvinced.
Ning Zhuo stepped forward and patted their shoulders, "Watch me."
Amidst the confused looks from Ning Chen and Ning Yong, Ning Zhuo walked out of the group and stepped into the testing formation.
The whole training field was buzzing.
By this point, the performance of the three families was clear.
Although the Ning Family had many cultivators, most were only at the first level. With so many cases like this, no one expected much from Ning Zhuo's performance.
The light from the testing formation shone brightly.
The Zhou Family elder was stunned for a moment, then confirmed before announcing loudly with disbelief, "Ning Zhuo, peak third level Qi Refinement!"
The whole place fell silent.
Many began asking their companions what they had just heard.
As Ning Zhuo stepped out of the formation, he was immediately met with countless gazes.
Faced with everyone, the sixteen-year-old boy showed no sign of fear and smiled slightly. Then, he walked back to the Ning Family group with his head held high, full of confidence.
Many eyes followed him, even Zhou Zeshen, Zhou Zhu, and Zheng Jian looked at him with curiosity.
"Who is this? How does he have such cultivation?"
"The intelligence didn't mention this."
"Does the Ning Family have hidden gems too?"
Similar questions and thoughts lingered in everyone's minds.
Even the Clan Leaders of the three families were no exception.
Usually, they wouldn't take the Qi Refinement cultivators in their family so seriously.
But now, with the Magma Fairy Palace on the mountain top, the family's Qi Refining cultivators were the main force in exploring the palace, so paying more attention was justified!
The Zhou Family Clan Leader looked at the Ning Family Clan Leader, "I didn't expect you to have such an ace up your sleeve, Brother Ning."
The Ning Family Clan Leader stroked his beard and smiled calmly, "Brother Zhou flatters me."
He didn't explain much, which made the Zhou and Zheng Family Clan Leaders exchange a look, raising their impression of the Ning Family.
Little did they know, the Ning Family Clan Leader had the same doubts!
Ning Zhuo's return was met with cheers from Ning Family cultivators.
Ning Chen and Ning Yong surrounded him with unbelievable joy, "A Zhuo, how did you suddenly reach the peak of the third level?"
"Yeah, you're as strong as Ning Xiaohui now!"
Countless ears perked up, all listening for Ning Zhuo's reply.
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly, "Maybe I'm just more suited for the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art. When I practice this technique, my progress is rapid, just like a river flowing a thousand miles a day."
Everyone fell silent.
(ps: I forgot to mention—everyone, if you have monthly tickets, please save them for when this book officially goes on sale at noon on June 3rd. There will be a monthly ticket event. Thanks! Thanks!)