“Indeed, there are such instances. Some individuals are simply exceptionally suited to a particular cultivation art, allowing them to cultivate with astonishing speed.”

“What is his name? Ning Zhuo, is it? He struck gold! How fortunate that he is so perfectly aligned with the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.”

“Alas, why didn’t such a blessing fall upon my head?”

The vast majority had never even heard of the name Ning Zhuo.

But now, he was the topic of their discussions.

Within the training grounds, the Ning clan cultivators were also making inquiries.

Being close to the water grants one the first glimpse of the moon. Many crowded around Ning Zhuo, introducing themselves with beaming smiles.

As if in an instant, the entire world’s attitude toward Ning Zhuo had undergone a drastic shift, from indifference and apathy to fervent enthusiasm.

Ning Chen and Ning Yong, who had originally been by Ning Zhuo’s side, were pushed out.

Ning Yong, feeling a surge of pride, raised his arm and shouted, “Ning Zhuo is my classmate! My classmate!”

A passing young Ning clan cultivator heard this and, turning his head, scoffed, “Who isn’t? I am too.”

Ning Yong let out a cry of protest, glaring, “The bond I share with him, can you compare? Ning Zhuo and I are comrades who have shared life and death!”

A Zhou clan cultivator, hearing the commotion, approached with a smile. “Young brother, from what you just said, you and Ning Zhuo have a close relationship?”

“Not bad,” Ning Yong immediately nodded, feigning indifference but unable to conceal his pride.

The Zhou clan cultivator promptly clasped his fist in respect, seeking guidance from Ning Yong.

Ning Yong was about to introduce Ning Zhuo when Ning Chen tugged at his sleeve, immediately alerting him to the situation. He kept his mouth shut.

Ning Chen then took over, “We two are indeed classmates with A-Zhuo, and we have also shared life and death together.”

“A-Zhuo is a simple and sincere person, kind and courageous. It is our honor to be his friend. At the same time, he is also a role model for us to emulate. I remember in the school…” Ning Chen began, readily launching into a boastful account of Ning Zhuo.

Facing outsiders inquiring, Ning Chen, of course, would amplify Ning Zhuo’s virtues to showcase the Ning clan’s foundation.

Besides, the journey to the Crimson Flame Demon Melting Cave, as well as the subsequent exposure of the dark shadow demonic cultivator, and their experiences hiding in the dungeon, had all filled them with admiration for Ning Zhuo.

They two, being from the Ning clan’s branch family like Ning Zhuo, also had a strong sense of belonging towards Ning Zhuo.

For a time, Ning Zhuo undoubtedly became the brightest star in the arena. Simply because of a cultivation test, he rose to prominence, as if he had stepped onto a new stage of his life.

The tests continued.

The remaining Ning clan cultivators, one by one, entered the testing formation, but their results were mediocre, attracting no attention.

It did not matter. Ning Zhuo alone had already changed the situation in the arena!

The joint test of the three families was not only a showcase and assessment of each family’s cultivation team, but also a basis for negotiating the distribution of benefits.

In the world of cultivation, extraordinary individuals, the higher their cultivation, the more they can transcend the collective.

To compare the strength of the three families, the most important thing to look at was still the top cultivators.

Without Ning Zhuo’s performance, the Ning family’s peak third layer was only Ning Xiaohui, the Zheng family had Zheng Jian, and the Zhou family had Zhou Zhu, but Zhou Zeshen’s talent was equally outstanding, comparable to Zhou Zhu. His Qi Refining cultivation was also only second to Zhou Zhu, and in time, he would surely rival the others.

Therefore, among the top cultivators, the Zhou family counted as one and a half, ranking first.

The Zheng and Ning families each had one talented cultivator, but the Zheng family’s other cultivators were clearly far ahead of the Ning family.

After the Ning family’s expansion, many cultivators’ mana cultivation was only at the first layer, which was laughable and insignificant.

Therefore, the Zheng family was second and the Ning family was third.

But with Ning Zhuo’s appearance, the Ning family had two top cultivators, immediately climbing to the top spot.

The Zhou family counted one and a half talented cultivators, ranking second.

The Zheng family was left behind, becoming third.

After the three-family joint test ended, the Ning clan leader returned to the family with a beaming face.

Although the distribution of benefits between the three families still had to be negotiated, with Ning Zhuo’s results, the Ning family swept away their previous passive position, making the negotiation prospects like clearing the clouds and seeing the sun, sweeping away the haze.

The Ning clan leader summoned the young clan leader with a smile on his face, “Xiaoren, a happy event happened in the martial arts arena today, you should have been informed, right?”

Ning Xiaoren immediately replied, “Father, I have heard. It was I who arranged for Ning Zhuo to join our family’s cultivation team!”

The Ning clan leader nodded, “Collect all of Ning Zhuo’s information, summarize it, I want to take a look.”

Ning Xiaoren replied, “I have already ordered my subordinates to do this.”

The Ning clan leader gave a hum, “I suspect that Ning Zhuo may possess some kind of talent, but it has not been detected.”

Ning Xiaoren said, “There are countless aptitudes. Even if our clan tests every year, how can we test comprehensively? Father’s suspicion has some truth, we can rearrange the testing methods and let Ning Zhuo test again.”

“However, if he has talent, and it is strange, it is likely that it cannot be detected.”

The Ning clan leader nodded, “If he has talent, that is the best. Having an inferior aptitude is also genius! In this way, our Ning family’s cultivation team can completely contend with the Zhou family.”

The Zhou family’s Zhou Zeshen and Zhou Zhu both have aptitudes.

Ning Xiaohui and Zheng Jian also have them.

In the three-family joint test, Ning Zhuo only showed his peak third layer cultivation, telling everyone that the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art was very suitable for him.

Ning Xiaoren then said, “Father, isn’t it up to us to say whether he has talent or not?”

“If the test can’t find it, or he is just very suitable for cultivating the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, it doesn’t matter. As long as we arrange one for him, we can completely show it to the outside world – that’s right, our clan has two genius cultivators!”

The Ning clan leader shook his head, “That’s not appropriate. This is not an internal family matter, not our say.”

“Once it is falsified, the other two families will definitely investigate and test it. After all, this kind of strength comparison affects our three families’ negotiations and distribution.”

“Our Ning family has finally joined hands with the Zhou family and the Zheng family with the help of the Magma Immortal Palace, and the relationship has broken through the past. We must have integrity. Once we fabricate it and it is verified, it will affect the Ning family’s general trend.”

Ning Xiaoren nodded, indicating that he had been taught.

The Ning clan leader sighed, “If Ning Zhuo is verified to have talent, it is actually not very good. Xiaoren, do you know what I mean?”

Ning Xiaoren nodded again, “I understand, Father. Ning Xiaohui is from my main line, and Ning Zhuo is from the branch line. The two have similar cultivation at the moment, but Ning Xiaohui is heavily cultivated by our Ning family, while Ning Zhuo is not.”

“In the Ning family’s cultivation team, the number of people from the branch line far exceeds that of the main line.”

“In the martial arts arena, as soon as Ning Zhuo showed his true cultivation, he was swarmed by the Ning family’s branch members and was very popular.”

“If he is tested to have talent, then I am very worried that Ning Xiaohui will not be able to suppress him.”

The Ning clan leader showed a look of relief, “Since you know this, I am not worried about how you will deal with Ning Zhuo. Go and do it.”

“Yes, Father. Don’t worry, I will definitely handle this matter beautifully. I will take my leave.”

His feelings towards Ning Zhuo were very complicated.

Sixteen years ago, the Ning family migrated as a group. During the escape, he was fortunate enough to board Ning Zhuo’s parents’ mechanical vehicle.

Ning Zhuo’s father had to get out of the car to stop the enemy in order to ensure that the mechanical vehicle escaped smoothly.

Ning Xiaoren was rescued as a result.

Ning Zhuo’s father was indeed his savior, and Ning Xiaoren even swore on the spot that he would treat Ning Zhuo’s mother and son well and fully support Ning Zhuo’s future cultivation.

Ning Xiaoren did not do it.

Ning Zhuo’s mother died fourteen years ago, and he basically did not care about Ning Zhuo’s growth stage.

He originally thought that Ning Zhuo was just an ordinary child, but he didn’t expect that one day, Ning Zhuo would suddenly shine, and he would make a splash in the three-family joint test!

When he heard the good news, his first feeling was not pleasant, but embarrassing.

Still a question in his heart: “Why him?!”

His own courtyard was faintly visible, and Ning Xiaoren sighed secretly as he walked on the road: “If it wasn’t Ning Zhuo, how good would that be?”

“Sixteen years old, already has his own ideas, not easy to persuade.”

Ning Xiaoren in contemplation thought of what Ning Ze had said.

Previously, after the results of the big list were announced, Ning Xiaoren wanted to extort money and forced Ning Ze several times.

Ning Ze reported to him at the time that Ning Zhuo was withdrawn in nature, his wings were stiff, and he did not listen to the elders, etc.

Thinking of this, Ning Xiaoren made a decision: “It is not appropriate to contact Ning Zhuo first in a short period of time.”

“This child’s nature is like this, I can’t win him over with a few words.”

“Ning Zhuo knows that his father is my savior, and he also knows that I have been indifferent to him for the past sixteen years. These all need a good explanation.”

“I still have to start with Ning Zhuo’s uncle.”