Ning Zhuo recognized Ning Xiaohui’s voice and left the dining table to find her in the courtyard. He saw his former classmate.

Ning Xiaohui and Ning Zhuo were students of the same cohort at the academy.

Ning Zhuo’s performance in the academy was mediocre, neither outstanding nor poor. In contrast, Ning Xiaohui, as a member of the main bloodline and possessing the rare “Ice Jade Hand” talent, had always held the top position, a celestial figure revered by all in the academy.

At this moment, Ning Xiaohui’s face was indifferent, her eyes clear and cold as she scanned Ning Zhuo, who was approaching.

She was slightly surprised inwardly. She hadn’t expected that this unremarkable classmate from the past was actually not bad-looking.

She looked him up and down.

“I truly wouldn’t have thought that you were the creator of the Mechanical Fire Monkey.”

Ning Zhuo let out an “ah” sound, a little embarrassed, and said, “This… I feel it was also a stroke of luck. If you really want me to create a new mechanical work, I’m afraid I can’t. I have no confidence at all.”

“Indeed.” Ning Xiaohui had also read all of Ning Zhuo’s information, including the many manuscripts and drawings that the Ning family’s investigation team had discovered and copied from his underground workshop.

From this, Ning Xiaohui saw that Ning Zhuo had been researching and developing the Mechanical Fire Monkey for at least five or six years since the initial idea.

This discovery greatly lowered her evaluation of Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo walked up to Ning Xiaohui: “May I ask why you called me out here? What is the matter?”

Ning Xiaohui frowned slightly, feeling that Ning Zhuo was a little too close to her. She took a small step back and asked in a questioning tone, “You actually gave this Mechanical Fire Monkey to an outsider. Why didn’t you report it to the family first?”

Ning Zhuo sighed, spread his hands, and revealed a look of depression and innocence on his face, “I also wanted to tell the family. But at the time, my Mechanical Fire Monkey still had flaws that needed to be fixed. It wasn’t complete at all!”

“I couldn’t show it to them.”

“I consulted Chen Cha at the time and solved the design problems on the mechanical monkey. But I didn’t expect that it would be exposed like this and eventually be noticed by some great figure.”

“What could I do?”

“Fortunately, they gave me money.”

“Hmph, are you talking about Lord Feisi?” Ning Xiaohui deliberately revealed the name.

Ning Zhuo immediately revealed a hint of surprise.

Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Ning Xiaohui’s lips curled slightly, and she sneered, “Ning Zhuo, you only care about money. You are simply short-sighted.”

“Don’t you know that in fame and fortune, fame comes before fortune? With fame comes fortune.”

“Fame is much more important than profit!”

“Creating the Mechanical Fire Monkey is such a great honor! Now, it has been taken away. How can such a loss be compensated by some money?”

“Is that so?” Ning Zhuo scratched his head, looking innocent and foolish, as if unfamiliar with the world.

Seeing Ning Zhuo’s foolish appearance, Ning Xiaohui immediately felt a wave of disgust in her heart and lost the desire to continue talking to him.

Little did she know that it was precisely because Ning Zhuo had seen through her nature of disliking the foolish and her arrogance that he could easily manipulate her.

Ning Xiaohui turned to leave: “I came to you specifically to tell you that there will be a small banquet tonight. I will take you there.”

“Clean yourself up specifically, and don’t embarrass our clan.”

Ning Zhuo was surprised: “May I ask, what kind of banquet is it? Who will be there?”

Ning Xiaohui continued walking, without turning her head: “It’s the people from the three-family joint team, Zheng Jian, Zhou Zeshen, and Zhou Zhu.”

“A dragon doesn’t associate with snakes. Just follow me at the time and say less.”

“Oh, oh, okay.” Ning Zhuo replied quickly, “Oh no, I still have to ask the Young Clan Leader for instructions.”

“As you wish.” Ning Xiaohui walked out of the backyard, her figure disappearing behind the doorway.

Ning Zhuo’s eyes were deep and thoughtful.

He mentioned asking the Young Clan Leader for instructions just to say it. He already knew that since Ning Xiaohui could break through to the back residence, it must have been approved by Ning Xiaoren.

“Ning Xiaohui is from the main bloodline, and I am just from the branch bloodline.”

“My cultivation and mechanical attainments have already had a certain impact on Ning Xiaohui.”

If it were the previous situation, then Ning Zhuo would have already received warnings and suppression.

But now that the three families are united and relatively fair, the Ning family is at a competitive disadvantage and also needs Ning Zhuo’s individual performance to help Ning Xiaohui.

Therefore, he is being treated with courtesy.

“But Ning Xiaohui is not someone who can tolerate others. In the future, if I continue to stand out and show my talent, she will become an obstacle in my path.”

“Only by moving this obstacle can I continue to move forward.”

Ning Zhuo takes one step and calculates three.

As the saying goes, “He who does not think long will find trouble near at hand.” He has already begun to think about how to move this obstacle, Ning Xiaohui.

After thinking for a while, he shook his head slightly, a bitter smile on his face.

He couldn’t think of any good way.

Ning Zhuo first reported to the Young Clan Leader Ning Xiaoren, informing him of the small banquet in the evening.

Seeing Ning Zhuo’s performance, Ning Xiaoren tested and found that the latter had obedience in his bones, which made him very happy. He immediately expressed his approval and said that Ning Zhuo’s clothes were not suitable for participating in the banquet and asked someone to tailor clothes for Ning Zhuo.

The Young Clan Leader is high in power and has many servants. In the world of cultivation, even tailoring ordinary clothes is extremely efficient.

By evening, there were finished products.

And not just one set, but three sets.

Ning Xiaoren did not miss this opportunity to show his goodwill.

He was present throughout Ning Zhuo’s fitting process, praising him repeatedly.

In the end, his eyes were red, and his voice was slightly choked: “If only Ning Zhong were still alive, he would be very pleased to see his nephew grow up to be so handsome.”

Ning Zhuo hurriedly asked about his father’s situation.

Ning Xiaoren didn’t know anything, coughed, and said that it was getting late, and that the uncle and nephew could reminisce later.

In his heart, he thought that he had to check all the information about Ning Zhong to see where he could fabricate and disguise the deep friendship of the previous generation.

“Oh, right.” Ning Xiaoren took out a money bag and handed it to Ning Zhuo.

“I know you have a lot of money, but please accept this allowance. Consider it a little meeting gift from your Uncle Ning.”

Ning Xiaoren’s action of handing it over was relatively slow.

Ning Zhuo’s eyes lit up, and he quickly reached out his hands and took the money bag.

The action was so swift that Ning Xiaoren was stunned for a moment.
“Many thanks, Uncle Ning!” Ning Zhuo’s gratitude this time was more forthright than ever before.

Then, the youth added, “Uncle Ning, where would I get a fortune from!”

“I’ve never felt like I had too much money. In fact, I really don’t have much at all.”

“Besides, can anyone ever have too much money?”

“Thank you again, Uncle Ning.”

Ning Zhuo expressed his gratitude once more.

Ning Xiaoren couldn’t help but cough lightly. “Alright, alright, I’m gratified that you’ll accept it.”

Watching Ning Zhuo examine the money pouch, his emotions were complex.

On one hand, Ning Zhuo’s attitude towards money perfectly echoed Ning Xiaoren’s own feelings.

A kindred spirit!

But this kind of kindred spirit… well, perhaps better to do without.

Especially since Ning Zhuo was taking Ning Xiaoren’s money.

On the other hand, it was perfectly reasonable!

Ning Xiaoren thought of all the intelligence he had seen.

When Ning Zhuo was young, he lived under the care of others and was treated harshly by Ning Ze and Wang Lan, barely receiving any pocket money. In contrast, Ning Ji lived in luxury, with ample food, clothing, and supplies.

Ning Zhuo was always short on cash, and after entering the academy, he frequently went out to do odd jobs.

With this kind of upbringing, Ning Zhuo’s desire for money must be very strong.

Therefore, it was not surprising that Ning Zhuo would agree to transfer the credit for creating the Mechanical Fire Monkey to Chen Cha, while he himself enjoyed the huge profits.

Leaving Ning Zhuo, Ning Xiaoren felt quite satisfied.

Because he discovered that Ning Zhuo was not difficult to win over!

To win someone over is actually very simple – cater to their preferences!

“Ning Zhuo’s first preference is mechanical arts. His second preference is money.”

“Hmm, I should use classical texts on mechanical arts to win him over.”

Because as for money, Ning Xiaoren himself was also very fond of it.

Night fell.

The carriage stopped, and Ning Zhuo was the first to jump down.

Afterward, Ning Xiaohui, stepping on the back of a servant, gracefully descended from the carriage.

“Ning Zhuo, your status is different now than before. You must pay attention to your every move.” Ning Xiaohui frowned. “Jumping out of the carriage so casually, the action is too flippant, not befitting of a disciple of a great clan.”

“Oh, oh, alright.” Ning Zhuo quickly indicated that he would take the advice.

Along the way, he looked around, seemingly never having been here before. Everything was quite new to him.

Ning Xiaohui frowned even more deeply. “Keep close to me.”

Ning Zhuo hurriedly followed closely.

Ning Xiaohui then said, “Don’t follow so closely, keep your distance.”

Ning Zhuo: “Oh, oh.”

“Welcome, welcome to you both.” Zheng Jian personally stood at the entrance of the private room to greet them.

He was hosting this small banquet.

Ning Xiaohui and Ning Zhuo entered the private room and found that Zhou Zeshen and Zhou Zhu were already there.

The few who gathered all wore smiles.

This experience alone made Ning Zhuo feel a little novel. He had never seen these geniuses smiling, conversing gently and amiably.

The dishes on the banquet were naturally exquisite.

Ning Zhuo’s eyes gleamed, staring intently at the table. He was the one who moved his chopsticks the most.

Zheng Jian and the others were paying close attention to Ning Zhuo.

They knew Ning Xiaohui quite well, but lacked sufficient understanding of the suddenly emerging Ning Zhuo.

Although their two families had also done their best to investigate, and possessed information that was not inferior to the Ning family’s.

But often, what was needed was direct probing and understanding.

Seeing Ning Zhuo trying to suppress himself, trying to appear indifferent, but always unable to resist eating and drinking, everyone gradually understood.

Combined with the intelligence, they quickly sketched out an image of Ning Zhuo in their minds – a low-level cultivator of the family displaying talent, a former marginal figure, who by chance entered the upper circles. In the beginning, during the adaptation period, every move was out of place, and every small look around revealed his humble past.

During the eating and drinking, Zheng Jian and the others naturally mentioned the Lava Immortal Palace.

Zheng Jian first raised his glass to Ning Xiaohui and said, “We must thank the Ning family for providing the talismans, allowing us to not have our souls drawn out by the Immortal Palace at will.”

“Now that our three families have joined forces, and all of you present have reached the peak of the third level of Qi Refining, we can all release the talismans together and enter the palace to explore at the same time.”

“I believe that if we join hands, we will surely be able to overcome the difficulties before us.”

Ning Zhuo perked up his ears, listening intently with a serious face. He spoke with an excited tone and a fervent expression, “That’s right, if we join forces, we will surely be able to overcome all obstacles and advance triumphantly!”

Zheng Jian: …

Zhou Zhu: …

For a moment, the small banquet fell into an unusual silence.