Random Recommendation:

“What? You want me to offer up all of my Night Wind Gentle Iron?” Ning Zhuo furrowed his brow instantly upon hearing this.

“I’m just here to deliver the message,” Zheng Hua said, waving his hands to indicate his innocence.

“This is your Ning family’s Golden Core Ancestor speaking, a decree issued from on high. Young friend Ning Zhuo, in my opinion, you have no room to refuse.”

“Alas, according to our previous agreement, this Night Wind Gentle Iron was intended to be used for forging.”

“Now that such a large shortfall in materials has appeared, will you still continue to build your mechanical ape?”

Zheng Hua deliberately inquired in this way, stirring up and provoking Ning Zhuo.

“Oh, that’s right. It was your Ning family who revealed the fact that you possessed Night Wind Gentle Iron.”

“It was Ning Xiaohui.”

“Young friend Ning Zhuo, in my opinion, you should soften your stance with your family’s main branch. Otherwise, you will suffer from such conspiracies and subtle knives in the future.”

Under Zheng Hua’s secretly expectant gaze, Ning Zhuo’s furrowed brow relaxed, and he raised his head and laughed heartily three times.

“Good, very good!”

“To be able to serve my clan’s Golden Core Ancestor is a blessing that I, Ning Zhuo, have cultivated for eight lifetimes.”

“Excellent, excellent.”

“I must thank Ning Xiaohui. I am very grateful to her. Without her, how could I have such a wonderful opportunity?”

Seeing Ning Zhuo laughing so happily and heartily, it was Zheng Hua’s turn to frown.

For a moment, he couldn’t figure out whether Ning Zhuo was gritting his teeth, harboring deep hatred, or whether he had truly seen things clearly.

Zheng family, Heaven-grade Forging Room.

“Not bad, this little Ning Zhuo is not bad at all.”

After examining it, Zhu Xuanji put down the jade slip in his hand.

The Zheng family Golden Core cultivator standing beside him picked up the jade slip and immersed his divine sense in it.

Within the divine sense was a list actively compiled by Ning Zhuo, a list filled with Golden Core-level materials.

Ning Zhuo, upon learning that he was to offer up his Night Wind Gentle Iron, was overjoyed and ecstatic. He put aside his own affairs and, in the presence of the messenger Zheng Hua, drew up the list of materials.

He stated: that he could serve the Golden Core Ancestor, was an unparalleled honor. He had been fortunate enough to attain a high position, but he felt like he was walking on thin ice, and he was willing to offer up all the Golden Core-level materials in his possession for the Ancestor’s use.

Such an obedient attitude left Zheng Hua greatly disappointed and, subsequently, harbored hidden apprehensions.

Zhu Xuanji and the others were greatly satisfied.

Divine Catcher pointed at the jade slip, laughing and scolding, “I know this little Ning Zhuo. This junior knows how to climb the pole. He will definitely be a good candidate to be an official in the future.”

“Ning Jiufan, your Ning family has produced a talent.”

Zhu Xuanji was concerned about the Magma Immortal Palace and had an urgent need to help the Zheng family forge mechanical weapons.

Ning Zhuo’s full cooperation made him feel comfortable.

The unpleasant feelings caused by Yuan Dasheng before were also reduced a lot.

Ning family Golden Core Ancestor, Ning Jiufan, smiled slightly, “To be able to enter the sights of Lord Zhu Xuanji is an honor for my clan’s junior.”

Zhu Xuanji shook his head, “It’s not just me. Fei Si is also quite optimistic about Ning Zhuo.”

Zhou Nongying suddenly said, “Ning Zhuo is quite a troublemaker. I heard that, as a branch family member, he even brought down the Ning family’s young clan leader from the main branch.”

Her words were filled with subtle provocations and mockery of the Ning family ancestor.

Ning family ancestor Ning Jiufan acted as if he didn’t hear it, and only vaguely said, “Hehe, let the juniors worry about the affairs of the juniors.”

Zhu Xuanji hmm’d and pondered, “Ning Zhuo is fully assisting us, thinking of the country, loyal to his family. Therefore, I will reward him with a mechanical creation. This machine is a royal treasure, worthy of the Night Wind Gentle Iron he surrendered.”

“As for the other materials, they are his. Let him take them back.”

“Our royal family has always acted with clear rewards and punishments, how could we covet the people’s hard-earned wealth?”

Zheng family Golden Core Zheng Shuanggou laughed loudly, “I was the one who saved this little Ning Zhuo’s life from Mount Huoshi back then.”

“Now, he has offered up Night Wind Gentle Iron to help our clan forge mechanical weapons.”

“Such karma and fortune, it’s truly delightful.”

“The mechanical weapons are the property of our Zheng family, so a return must be given.”

“Someone!”

“Inspect the treasury and list a suitable list, give it to Ning Zhuo, let him choose any one of them as a reward.”

Zhou Nongying also nodded, “Since that’s the case, my Zhou family can’t be stingy either.”

“Then reward him with a Foundation Establishment-level Spirit Gathering Array.”

It was the Ning family ancestor’s turn.

Ning Jiufan coughed, and after thinking for a few breaths, he slowly stroked his beard, his expression calm, “Ning Zhuo is a member of my clan, and it is his duty to contribute to the family. But… pass on my words, I will remember his contribution to the family.”

As soon as these words came out, the other Golden Core cultivators immediately had different expressions.

The orders of the Golden Core Ancestors were passed down and received by Ning Zhuo.

In the family home, Ning Zhuo looked up and laughed heartily.

He thought to himself, “As expected, as I expected.”

He had guessed the reactions of the Golden Core cultivators, especially Zhu Xuanji.

Therefore, he would take such a risk.

“Zhu Xuanji is a big shot. A big shot’s actions are no longer entirely based on personal preferences. He may even violate personal preferences and wishes.”

In Ning Zhuo’s heart, when Zhu Xuanji temporarily put aside the investigation and fully immersed himself in exploring the Immortal Palace, the threat plummeted.

His failure to continue investigating the case reduced the pressure on Ning Zhuo a lot.

His exposure of his true purpose, to compete for the Magma Immortal Palace, made his behavior more predictable.

“Once Zhu Xuanji becomes the Lord of the Immortal Palace, he will become a pivotal force in Huoshi Immortal City.”

“Therefore, he united with the three families because he was following the future development trend. The Meng family is also a powerful political enemy of Zhu Xuanji.”

Ning Zhuo not only handed over the Night Wind Gentle Iron, but also actively took out all the Golden Core-level materials (on the surface). Such a submissive posture was exactly what Zhu Xuanji urgently needed.

Zhu Xuanji very much wanted to see that the three families all submitted to him. It would be convenient for him to compete for the position of Lord of the Immortal Palace now, and even more convenient for him to deal with the Meng family and notify Huoshi Immortal City in the future.

Therefore, when Ning Zhuo, this example, was sent to him.

Even if he had many feelings of disgust towards Ning Zhuo, he would have to hold his nose and greatly encourage and reward Ning Zhuo.

Zhu Xuanji wanted to show his magnanimity and continue to further win over the three families.
Ning Zhuo was a veritable beacon. By richly rewarding Ning Zhuo, he could prove to the outside world what kind of person he was, encourage everyone to emulate Ning Zhuo, actively rally around him, and submit to him.

“Zhu Xuanji, this Divine Catcher, an outsider to the city, is currently the leader of the three families united.”

“As long as I can handle him, once he makes a statement, the other three Golden Core ancestors will definitely follow.”

“Hahaha, such a Golden Core is nothing more than this. I easily outsmarted him. It seems that I am most suited for the righteous path after all.”

The Anonymous Desk was quite delighted.

What made him most happy was not Zhu Xuanji’s royal mechanisms, nor the rewards from the Zheng and Zhou families, but a single sentence from Ning Zhuo’s ancestor, Ning Jiufan.

In fact, Ning Zhuo believed that the most valuable reward from this Golden Core cultivator was this very sentence.

He immediately summoned his subordinates and ordered them to publicize it with all their might.

—That he, Ning Zhuo, had gained the recognition of the Ning family’s Golden Core ancestor.

“From now on, you must remember, I am a meritorious subject!”

“I helped my clan’s Golden Core ancestor, something that ordinary people cannot do. I am a great meritorious subject.”

“I am a great meritorious subject of the Ning family.”

“Hahaha.”

The news spread like a whirlwind throughout the entire Ning family.

Just a simple sentence, yet it caused a violent earthquake throughout the Ning family, both high and low.

The main lineage was terrified, speculating about the meaning behind the Golden Core ancestor’s words.

The branch lineages, on the other hand, were overjoyed, holding their heads high.

The fact that Ning Zhuo was remembered by the Golden Core ancestor clearly indicated that the ancestor was optimistic about this young junior, didn’t it?

Didn’t it also mean that the ancestor expected Ning Zhuo to become a clan elder in the future?

In the past, Ning Zhuo was only favored for his talent, character, and methods.

In addition, the main lineage’s suppression of the branch lineages was too severe, and the energy of the branch lineages had long been accumulating in the dark, waiting to erupt. Ning Zhuo cleverly utilized this, allowing him to command a large number of Foundation Establishment subordinates despite being only at the third level of Qi Refining.

Moreover, these Foundation Establishment cultivators were all elites of their level.

But now, Ning Zhuo had gained the recognition of the highest level of the Ning family.

He had received the approval of the Ning family’s Golden Core ancestor, which made his future incredibly certain.

As long as he grew up, he would definitely have a place in the power structure of the Ning family.

And Ning Zhuo was from a branch lineage.

The only future big shot among the branch lineages.

This significance was extremely profound. The moment the news spread, Ning Zhuo received many inquiries from his subordinates.

Ning Zhuo confirmed to them that this was indeed true.

The news swept through the entire Ning family like a storm. After brewing all night, the next day, a large number of Ning family members actively sought out Ning Zhuo, wanting to serve him.

Previously, although Ning Zhuo had taken in a batch of Foundation Establishment cultivators as subordinates, it was the result of Ning Zhuo seizing upon the mistakes made by the main lineage and turning the situation to his advantage.

If the main lineage hadn’t driven them out, if those former stewards were given a free choice, ninety-nine percent of them would have preferred to serve as stewards in the family.

But there was no choice; they had to earn a living in the black market.

The Ning family was, after all, a righteous sect. Being involved in the black market was only a necessity due to the current situation, and not what a righteous sect should be doing.

When the Ning family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators patrolled, they even wore masks as a layer of shame.

But the current batch of Ning family members truly admired Ning Zhuo and were certain that Ning Zhuo had a bright future, a promising prospect, so they actively joined his service.

Ning Zhuo arranged for all of these people to work in the black market.

Many people found this difficult and expressed their willingness to scatter their cultivation and follow Ning Zhuo, exploring Immortal Palaces.

Some were also willing to work in the mechanism workshops, creating mechanical constructs for Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo insisted on the decision to have them work in the black market. He explained to these people, “We of the branch lineages are ordinary people.”

“We were originally humble, people suppressed in the soil by the main lineage.”

“Humility is not shameful, but rather an opportunity.”

“Often, there is more nourishment in manure.”

“If you want to follow me, you must have this understanding.”

“Go to the black market, experience humility, and step out of the mire step by step, proving that we are united.”

“Think about those former stewards of our branch lineages, they are all elites of the Foundation Establishment stage, and they all work in the black market. What are you compared to them?”

Ning Zhuo’s words were sonorous and forceful, his power and authority awe-inspiring, and everyone was convinced.

And this was just the beginning.