The cultivators of the Ning Family filed in with expressionless faces, continuously pouring into Ning Zhuo's small yard.
They spread out to the sides, faintly surrounding Ning Zhuo in the center.
A few others were scattered around the residence, vigilantly surveying the surroundings.
Ning Ze and Ning Fan stood in front of Ning Zhuo.
Ning Ze concisely explained their purpose.
Ning Zhuo raised an eyebrow: "I do have a large amount of spirit stones, but this is my business, right? It has nothing to do with the family, does it?"
"Do you really need to ask me about this personally, Uncle?"
The youthful, innocent face was full of incomprehension and disbelief.
Ning Fan remained silent.
Ning Ze shook his head slightly, his expression stern: "Little Zhuo, you're still young, so it's not surprising that you don't understand these principles. You just need to tell us honestly, where did this large sum of money come from?"
But Ning Zhuo shook his head, showing a difficult expression: "Sorry, Uncle, I can't say that."
Ning Ze and Ning Fan were momentarily puzzled.
Ning Ze lowered his voice, his expression becoming even more serious: "Why can't you say it? At this critical moment, you still won't say?"
Ning Zhuo shrugged, spreading his hands, displaying both indifference and a streak of youthful stubbornness: "What does it matter? It's my money. I can spend it however I like."
Ning Ze became anxious: "You don't understand your current situation, Little Zhuo!"
"Do you think you're still the same as before?"
"You're not!"
"You're now a key person the family is focusing on cultivating, the second-in-command of the Renovation Team. Do you know that?"
"Someone has reported you, saying you're spending lavishly and have a large, unknown sum of money."
"At the critical moment when the family wants to cultivate and support you heavily, you caused this issue! Shouldn't you explain clearly?"
"Little Zhuo, you're thinking too simply about the world."
"Before, you were unknown and unremarkable; no one paid attention to you, so it didn't matter. But now you're at the peak of three layers; everyone is watching you. The slightest flaw in you will be magnified and seized by those with ulterior motives, who will then criticize you fully, trying to bring you down!"
"Now you have such a huge suspicion on you, those people will spread rumors about you, saying you got secret funding from another family, that you've been turned, and are a spy planted in our family. Shouldn't the family conduct a detailed investigation for peace of mind?"
Ning Ze spoke a long paragraph, earnestly advising.
Ning Zhuo fell silent, finally saying after a while: "Uncle, there are indeed many hidden truths here. But I can assure you, I haven't done anything immoral. The money came from legitimate sources; my conscience is clear!"
Ning Ze glared, almost wanting to grab Ning Zhuo's ear: "My words were all in vain just now?"
"Did you listen carefully?"
"Your clear conscience, who can prove it? Who will believe it?"
"Fine, if you haven't done anything immoral, just say it. Now, you need to prove yourself to the family!"
Ning Zhuo remained silent.
"Did you listen to me at all?" Ning Ze's voice raised, his eyebrows knotted tightly in frustration and anger.
Ning Zhuo sighed and finally revealed some truth: "Uncle, you're my closest relative. You have to believe me, I really haven't done anything wrong."
"But about this matter, I really can't divulge it."
"I've made a contract with someone, and I can't speak about it. If I do, I'll suffer the contractual backlash."
Ning Ze was stunned, his frown deepening: "What matter would make you sign such a contract with someone else?"
"Oh, you child, you're really driving me crazy!"
Ning Ze pointed at Ning Zhuo, his fingers trembling with anxiety.
Ning Zhuo just lowered his head, remaining silent.
Ning Ze looked at him, then at Ning Fan beside him, forcing a smile and speaking softly to the latter: "Brother Ning Fan, may I have a word alone with my nephew?"
Ning Fan showed a troubled expression: "You know, I was sent here to supervise..."
Ning Ze couldn't care less now, quickly sending a sound transmission, promising some benefits.
Ning Fan struggled for a moment, then nodded: "You two uncles and nephews have bright futures. I don't want to offend you, so I'll give you half a tea's time."
Ning Ze led Ning Zhuo into the room.
"Go on, say what you can't say now."
"It's just the two of us here." Ning Ze's expression was as steady as water.
Ning Zhuo: "Uncle, what I just said is the truth. I'm not deceiving you. I indeed signed a contract with someone and can't reveal anything."
Ning Ze glared, pointing at Ning Zhuo's forehead, grinding his teeth: "Ning Zhuo, do you know the seriousness of this matter?"
"The family is now focusing on you, paying great attention to you, so they specifically sent a team to investigate."
"To prevent any misunderstandings, they specially sent me to talk to you."
"Now is the best time for you to confess. If you miss it, it will be a big mistake!"
Ning Ze took a deep breath: "Fine, even if you are constrained by a contract, it doesn't matter."
"Where there's a lock, there's a key."
"Tell me what kind of contract it is, and the family can use its power to remove it."
Ning Zhuo shook his head: "Uncle, I think it's best not to touch this matter."
"Sigh, if you really want me to speak, I can only tell you this matter involves a Golden Core expert!"
"What?" Ning Ze was aghast, involuntarily stepping back, "You're not deceiving me, are you?"
The highest combat power in the Ning Family was the Ning Family Ancestor, a Golden Core Cultivator.
Ning Zhuo sighed: "How could I deceive you, Uncle."
"So, I think this matter shouldn't be investigated any further. Let's end it here."
"If the family doesn't trust me, I'll withdraw from the Renovation Team and not participate in the exploration of the Magma Fairy Palace."
Ning Ze, hearing this, stomped his foot in anger: "Little Zhuo, how can you speak such nonsense?"
"It's cost me to get you into the Renovation Team."
"You think you can quit just because you want to?"
"Even if you quit, the family will still thoroughly investigate your matter."
"You, you, what on earth are you doing?"
"How did it come to this!!"
"Tell me, who is that Golden Core? It can't be the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator, can it?"
Saying this, Ning Ze's pupils contracted sharply, feeling a chill, involuntarily stepping back.
The next moment, he sent a sound transmission to Ning Zhuo, shouting sternly: "Quick, tell me, does it have anything to do with the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator?"
Ning Zhuo frowned: "Uncle, don't force me. I can't say it."
"What are you doing, signing such a contract? Oh my, oh my. My...our family will be implicated by you." Ning Ze was anxious, slapping his thighs.
Ning Zhuo sighed: "Uncle, I was also forced into it."
After hearing this, Ning Ze inclined more towards the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator as the answer.
He folded his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth, then suddenly stopped, staring closely at Ning Zhuo: "Little Zhuo, this matter is very serious. You can't avoid it just by trying to hide."
"Today, we must investigate thoroughly."
"Don't blame me, Uncle. It's really your fault!"
Ning Zhuo was stunned and quickly said: "Uncle, it's not as serious as you think..."
But Ning Ze shook his head, eager to distance himself from Ning Zhuo to prove himself, briskly walking outside and saying to Ning Fan: "My nephew indeed signed a contract. What should we do next?"
"Does the family have the means to break the contract? The key is, this matter involves a Golden Core expert."
Ning Fan was astonished.
He paused for a moment, then his face darkened, saying: "This is a serious matter, but as long as the contract wasn't made by the Golden Core expert personally, we can start to break it."
"Are you sure?"
"Ning Zhuo can't reveal the contract's details now, and we must continuously try. In the process, unavoidable harm may come to Ning Zhuo."
Ning Ze hesitated for a moment, then nodded decisively: "We were entrusted by higher-ups for this investigation, watched by the entire clan. Without doing this, how can we account for it? Do it!"
Ning Fan's eyes flickered: "You are Ning Zhuo's uncle and the main officer of this investigation team. You have the final say."
"However, it would be best if Ning Zhuo cooperates voluntarily; the effect would be best."
Right after Ning Fan finished speaking, Ning Zhuo said: "I refuse!"
Ning Ze turned back, glaring: "You unfilial son, this is not up to you."
Ning Ze looked around and shouted: "Why aren't you moving?"
Ning Fan sighed, gesturing secretly.
Two burly men from the investigation team stepped out, one on each side, grabbing Ning Zhuo, suppressing him easily with their mana.
Ning Fan took out a magic artifact, handing it to Ning Ze: "These are the Father-Son Rings. Wear the father ring on yourself, and the son ring on Ning Zhuo's wrist. You can then capture his thoughts."
"As they say, 'A father knows his son best.'
"Though Ning Zhuo is bound by a contract and can't reveal the truth, his thoughts are not restricted."
"We can forcibly capture the relevant thoughts from his Divine Sea and obtain the information."
"However, this may trigger the contract backlash. We'll try our best to suppress it."
"On the other hand, forcibly capturing thoughts itself can damage the Divine Sea. To avoid this, Ning Zhuo should cooperate voluntarily."
Ning Zhuo, being restrained, could only struggle in his seat: "I refuse! I absolutely refuse!"
Ning Ze snorted coldly, putting the rings on both himself and Ning Zhuo: "Little Zhuo, you're stubborn. As your elder and closest relative, how can I let you continue making mistakes?"
"If you cooperate obediently, you can suffer a bit less."
Ning Zhuo refused.
Ning Ze's expression turned icy, directly activating the Father-Son Rings.
The pair of bracelets on their wrists emitted blue-white light.
A strong force extended into Ning Zhuo's Divine Sea. It was about to rampage but collided with the Buddha Heart Demon Seal.
The suction force was like a storm; the Treasure Seal stood like a mountain, unmoving and perfectly defending.
But Ning Zhuo's eyes rolled back, his body convulsing continuously in the chair, with blood streaming from his nostrils.
Ning Ze's expression remained stern, single-minded in his actions.
Ning Zhuo, having prepared his thoughts, actively offered them, about to be captured by Ning Ze.
Bang.
A loud crash, the door to the house was flung open.
The Young Clan Leader, Ning Xiaoren, saw the scene in the hall, and his eyes nearly popped out in rage. Furiously, he shouted: "Stop!"