Ning Zhuo took the lead, pushing open the courtyard gate.

Behind him were more than twenty fellow disciples, with Ning Chen and Ning Yong following closely.

Wang Lan was the last to hurry out, closing the courtyard gate before leaving.

But in truth, before they had even left the courtyard together, a large number of transmission talismans had already been sent out.

This was because Ning Zhuo had requested everyone to spread the news as much as possible before heading to the ancestral hall, believing that making it widely known was the best course of action.

These talismans flew into the air, rapidly spreading, like countless small stones falling into the large pond that was the Ning Clan’s territory.

The impact began to spread.

“Young Clan Leader Ning Xiaoren wants to use Ning Zhuo as a dog, so he framed Ning Zhuo’s uncle?”

“The Young Clan Leader actually imprisoned Ning Ze and threatened him with his life and freedom?”

“This news is false, right?”

“Too outrageous, who started this rumor?”

“Hmph, hasn’t Ning Xiaoren done enough excessive things?”

“Even so, if he really did this, it’s too much!”

Even members of the main lineage felt that Ning Xiaoren had gone too far and completely crossed the line upon hearing the news.

According to the rumors, Ning Zhuo’s father, Ning Zhong, was Ning Xiaoren’s savior, and Ning Xiaoren had even promised to support Ning Zhuo before Ning Zhong died in battle.

But in reality, Ning Xiaoren hadn’t provided any resources to Ning Zhuo during his teenage years, greatly breaking his promise.

Ning Zhuo’s demonstration of mechanical talent and aptitude made Ning Xiaoren see the value of recruiting and co-opting him.

To make up for his previous omissions, he resorted to conspiracies, framing Ning Zhuo’s uncle, falsely claiming that the uncle had embezzled his resource assistance to Ning Zhuo, causing Ning Zhuo and Ning Ze’s family to become enemies.

Ning Zhuo achieved great success in exploring the Immortal Palace, but Ning Xiaoren’s rewards and punishments were unfair.

Ning Zhuo was so angered that he withdrew from the modification team, so Ning Xiaoren used life and freedom to threaten Ning Ze, forcing Wang Lan to kneel in public, coercing Ning Zhuo into submission.

Is this something a Young Clan Leader should do?

Is this something a righteous cultivator should do?

If true, Ning Xiaoren, as the Ning Clan’s Young Clan Leader, a high-ranking figure, uses such methods to deal with members of his own clan, he absolutely does not deserve the position of Young Clan Leader.

“If Ning Xiaoren really did this, then it’s simply too absurd!”

“He wouldn’t do this, would he? That’s too foolish!”

“I feel like it’s more like Ning Zhuo’s slander!”

The Ning Clan had been hearing about the name Ning Zhuo quite frequently recently!

Ning Zhuo was previously an insignificant figure from a branch lineage, but he emerged as a dark horse in the three-family joint test.

If his exceptional adaptation to the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Technique was simply envy of his luck,

then after he displayed his talent, most people were optimistic about his future.

And after Ning Zhuo repeatedly helped his fellow disciples, more and more people developed a slight positive impression of him.

Recently, Ning Zhuo’s exploration of the Immortal Palace, reaching the eighth level, made him an overnight sensation.

After all, such achievements completely eclipsed even Ning Xiaohui.

The key was that Ning Zhuo came from a branch lineage, while Ning Xiaohui came from the main lineage.

This made the branch lineage clansmen, who were usually subjected to oppression, secretly rejoice.

They didn’t rejoice for long before they heard the news that Ning Zhuo was being treated unfairly and had taken the initiative to withdraw from the modification team.

Although Ning Xiaoren deliberately spread rumors in an attempt to distort public opinion, the vast majority of branch lineage clansmen were still discussing ‘unfair treatment.’

Many branch lineage clansmen expressed sympathy and admiration for Ning Zhuo’s actions.

But there were also some branch lineage members who secretly resented Ning Zhuo.

“When I was subjected to pressure from the main lineage, I retreated, I gave in, but you do this, standing firm, publicly resisting, compared to you, Ning Zhuo, what was I before?”

The human heart is so subtle.

Ning Zhuo’s affairs were already a matter of discussion throughout the clan recently.

Now, suddenly, explosive news about Ning Xiaoren and Ning Ze came out.

Public opinion was like a splash of oil poured on a burning fire.

With a “boom,”

the flames erupted like an explosion, burning fiercely.

One person told ten, ten told a hundred, a hundred told a thousand.

“If the Young Clan Leader really did this, then his character is truly terrible!”

“Is it really true?”

“Ning Zhuo and his party are going to the ancestral hall! Why don’t we go and see?”

“Let’s go, I’m also from a branch lineage, I’ve been subjected to oppression and exclusion from the main lineage, I want to support Ning Zhuo!”

Countless clansmen set off, all heading towards the Ning Clan’s ancestral hall.

If viewed from above, it could be seen that clansmen were leaving their homes, gathering in the streets and alleys, forming streams of people, all converging towards the ancestral hall.

“What’s going on?”

The elder guarding the ancestral hall sensed something was wrong.

Ning Zhuo and his party had not yet arrived, but other clansmen had already come to the ancestral hall.

“Impudent! Gathering here for no reason, disturbing the peace of the ancestors, what do you want to do?”

The ancestral hall elder stepped forward, scolding the gathered clansmen.

Some clansmen showed fear.

A branch lineage steward stepped out of the crowd, first bowing to the ancestral hall elder, then saying, “Elder, a major event has occurred.”

“We must get to the bottom of this today!”

“Otherwise, if someone is wronged, our ancestors in the afterlife will be even more angry and condemn us descendants for being unfilial!”

The ancestral hall elder frowned. He invoked the ancestors, but this steward also invoked the name of the ancestors.

The elder’s expression was quite displeased: “Ning Xiangguo, what exactly happened?”

The righteous Ning Xiangguo concisely and quickly explained the whole matter.

The ancestral hall elder’s expression changed slightly.

He was from the main lineage of the clan, able to guard the ancestral hall, and even more so a core member of the higher echelons.

He had a good understanding of Ning Xiaoren’s style of doing things.

“According to the Young Clan Leader’s temperament, this kind of thing is probably really possible.”

“Is there still time to remedy this?”

Thinking of this, the ancestral hall elder nodded slightly, his expression softening, and said to the crowd, “As the ancestral hall elder, I have always acted impartially.”

“Since this matter has reached this point, then let’s invite the Clan Leader and all the elders to witness it!”

“You all have the right to supervise, but what does this rabble at the door look like?”
“Disperse yourselves, and allow my subordinates to open the three gates and clear the venue. Then you may enter and be seated.”

“You, quickly go and inform the Clan Head and the esteemed Elders.”

The Hall Elder of the Ancestral Shrine openly ordered a subordinate to deliver the message.

Even as he spoke, another large group of clansmen arrived at the Ancestral Shrine.

The Hall Elder clicked his tongue inwardly. “This is definitely a major event that has alarmed the entire clan!”

“It’s hard to imagine that it was actually stirred up by a youth at the third level of Qi Refining.”

The Hall Elder knew that he could only go with the flow; there was no way to suppress it.

As a member of the main lineage, he could only hope that Ning Xiaoren was falsely accused and truly hadn’t done these things.

The Clan Head quickly learned of the news and stood up in shock from his seat.

As a father, he was all too aware of Ning Xiaoren’s style of doing things.

He immediately cast a spell, sending out a talisman to notify Ning Xiaoren.

Ning Xiaoren was in seclusion, practicing his breathing exercises to replenish his vital energy, and was displeased to be disturbed by the message talisman.

However, he quickly recognized that it was his father’s handwriting, and couldn’t help but be curious. “Father, what do you need me for? It sounds so urgent.”

“Ah!”

After seeing the contents of the message talisman, Ning Xiaoren jumped up as if his backside was on fire.

“That little rascal Ning Zhuo is trying to frame me!”

Ning Xiaoren no longer had the mind to continue cultivating. He abruptly pushed open the door of the secret room and ran out.

He rushed towards the private prison with all his might.

In this urgent and critical moment, Ning Ze was the key figure.

As long as he compromised with Ning Xiaoren and denied everything, then Ning Xiaoren would still have a chance.

However, when he arrived at the private prison, he saw a group of branch lineage clansmen surrounding the place.

“Everyone, make way!”

Ning Xiaoren shouted, “Gathering here, are you trying to rebel?”

The branch lineage clansmen were momentarily flustered when they saw it was the Young Clan Head.

But at this moment, an aged voice rang out, “Young Clan Head, you’re a step too late. Uncle Ning Ze has already been brought out by this old one.”

Ning Xiaoren’s heart sank. He saw the crowd part, and an old man slowly walked out.

Behind the old man was Ning Ze, his face full of surprise and doubt.

When Ning Xiaoren saw the old man, his vision dimmed, but he still cupped his hands and bowed, saying with difficulty, “Elder Fu!”

The old man was Ning Youfu, a member of the branch lineage who had once served as an Elder in the Talisman Hall, accumulating considerable prestige.

Ning Xiaoren still wanted to make an effort. “Elder Fu, you may not know, but this is all Ning Zhuo’s scheme. Ning Ze is suspected of multiple counts of embezzlement and is currently under investigation.”

“Ning Ze’s wife, Wang Lan, has repeatedly requested me to release Ning Ze.”

“But I have not agreed, as the embezzlement has not yet been cleared up.”

Ning Youfu chuckled at Ning Xiaoren. “I personally took Ning Ze away. Young Clan Head, if you want to stop me, you’ll have to step over my dead body.”

Ning Xiaoren quickly said, “How dare I, how dare I. Elder Fu, you jest and misunderstand me.”

“Regardless of whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, the ancestral shrine will surely have a result. Young Clan Head, please!”

As he spoke, Ning Youfu led Ning Ze, already walking out of the crowd and arriving in front of Ning Xiaoren.

Ning Xiaoren gritted his teeth, wanting to insist, but under the watchful eyes of the crowd, and facing Ning Youfu, who possessed great prestige, he could only take a step back and make way.

Ning Youfu laughed and continued walking.

When he passed Ning Xiaoren’s shoulder, Ning Xiaoren changed his expression and stared intently at Ning Ze, as if warning him—you’re finished if you say something you shouldn’t.

Ning Ze quickly lowered his head, not daring to make eye contact with Ning Xiaoren.

His heart was filled with countless doubts.

Ning Youfu hadn’t said much to him just now.

“So, what exactly happened?”

Ning Zhuo, at the head of a group, walked grandly through the clan grounds.

Compared to when he had just left his residence, Ning Zhuo’s team had more than doubled in size.

There were at least fifty more people.

And as Ning Zhuo continued walking, more people joined his ranks.

People chattered, asking Ning Zhuo many questions, full of gossip.

Ning Zhuo wore an angry expression and kept responding.

Ning Yong was not very satisfied and whispered to Ning Zhuo, “Brother Zhuo, we’re stopping and going, explaining to other clansmen, it’s delaying our journey too much.”

Ning Zhuo only glanced at Ning Yong without explaining.

Ning Chen, on the other hand, transmitted his voice, “Idiot, in this situation, the more people who know, the better. The more people who support us, the more successful we’ll be. Do you understand?”

Ning Yong exclaimed and nodded repeatedly. “Got it, got it.”

End of chapter.