Ancestral Hall.

“Elder House Lord, there aren’t enough seats,” a subordinate reported.

The House Elder of the ancestral hall’s face was as dark as water. “Move tables and chairs from the academy. Fill the front courtyard and the central courtyard.”

“Too many people are coming, and there seems to be more on the way. This isn’t right!”

The House Elder sensed a conspiracy.

“Go, hurry Ning Zhuo! Why is that brat so slow? He’s still not here, even though many House Elders have arrived. Is he putting on airs?”

The House Elder knew that the longer things dragged on, the worse it would be for the main branch.

Just then, someone announced, “Young Clan Leader has arrived!”

The House Elder and others immediately stood up, leaving the central hall to greet him.

Ning Xiaoren arrived at the ancestral hall a step ahead. Seeing the House Elder, he quickly stepped forward and clasped his hands in a bow.

His face was calm, but he secretly transmitted his voice, “House Elder, please, for my father’s sake, save me!”

Hearing this, the House Elder’s pupils constricted slightly.

Just then, Ning Youfu, Ning Ze, and their entourage arrived.

The House Elder made a polite remark and quickly shook off Ning Xiaoren to greet Ning Youfu.

The House Elder forced a smile. “Elder Fu, you’re getting old. It’s truly rare to have this opportunity for the juniors to hear your teachings.”

Ning Youfu chuckled. “This old man doesn’t have much time left. I wanted to live a quiet life, but this matter arose, and I had to come! This one beside me is Ning Zhuo’s eldest uncle, Ning Ze.”

The House Elder made an “oh” sound, took the initiative to lead the way, and invited Ning Youfu and Ning Ze into the ancestral hall.

During this time, Ning Xiaoren transmitted his voice to him, but he pretended not to hear and did not respond.

A member of the ancestral hall came to urge Ning Zhuo, whispering, “Ning Zhuo, you’ve caused quite a stir. All the House Elders are at the ancestral hall, but you haven’t even covered half the distance.”

Ning Zhuo quickly apologized, saying that too many clansmen were inquiring, and explaining to each one had wasted some time. He asked the messenger to return and say that Ning Zhuo would arrive soon.

After the ancestral hall member left, Ning Zhuo continued to do things his own way, even slowing down his pace further.

Thanks to his constant explanations, more and more clansmen gathered around him.

His group swelled to over sixty people.

As they turned a street corner, an old man with a cane, accompanied by three attendants, looked at Ning Zhuo from afar and beckoned him slightly.

Someone in Ning Zhuo’s group exclaimed, “Ah, it’s Senior Ning Houjun!”

Ning Houjun was also once a House Elder, a War Hall Elder.

However, he had voluntarily resigned more than a decade ago and had been enjoying his twilight years at home.

Like Ning Youfu, Ning Houjun was also from a branch family and commanded great respect.

Ning Zhuo quickly quickened his pace, came before Ning Houjun, and bowed deeply.

Ning Houjun looked Ning Zhuo up and down, praising, “Good, Ning Zhuo, your bearing is dignified, and your spirit is vigorous. You have the appearance of a young man.”

“I’ve heard about your matter!”

“Let this old man accompany you on this trip to the clan’s ancestral hall!”

Ning Zhuo thanked him. The clansmen around him began to cheer, saying that with Senior Ning Houjun accompanying him, the journey would surely be successful.

Ning Zhuo and Ning Houjun walked side by side, conversing aloud while secretly transmitting their voices.

Ning Houjun transmitted his voice, asking, “Young man, do you know who the most crucial person in this action is?”

Ning Zhuo did not hesitate, transmitting back, “It’s the Old Ancestor!”

He was not referring to the Founding Ancestor, but to the Golden Core Old Ancestor.

Ning Houjun glanced at Ning Zhuo, a look of appreciation in his eyes, and continued to transmit his voice. “Not bad, you see things very clearly.”

“Our clan’s Old Ancestor is not from the main branch. The main branch’s Golden Core Old Ancestor has shown him great favor. Therefore, the Old Ancestor often takes care of the main branch, but he himself has no direct descendants!”

“Therefore, more than a decade ago, our clan’s branch families gathered their strength and launched an attack on the main branch. Although it failed, the Old Ancestor did not come forward to say anything throughout the entire process!”

Ning Zhuo nodded. “If that’s the case, then my victory this time is assured.”

“That’s right!”

Ning Houjun chuckled and continued to transmit his voice. “This old man has always liked to win battles. Otherwise, why would I join your group? This time, it’s only a matter of winning more or winning less.”

Ancestral Hall!

Even the Clan Leader of the Ning family had arrived.

The Clan Leader’s face was expressionless. “That Ning Zhuo still hasn’t arrived?”

Immediately, he sent someone to urge him.

When the messenger saw Ning Zhuo, he was initially arrogant, but he was rebuked by Ning Houjun. “This old man is old, what’s wrong with walking a little slower?”

“Go and tell the Clan Leader, is he in such a hurry because he has a urgent need to relieve himself? Is he rushing to relieve himself?”

The messenger retreated, crestfallen, and naturally dared not report the original words. He only said that Ning Houjun was there.

The Clan Leader took a deep breath and endured it.

The War Hall Elder chuckled. “So many years have passed, and Senior Ning Houjun’s temper is still so big!”

“I wonder how his son, since being expelled from the family, is doing?”

“In recent years, has he had any correspondence with Senior Ning Houjun?”

It wasn’t until the sun was high in the sky, approaching noon, that Ning Zhuo and his group arrived at the ancestral hall.

The size of the team had already exceeded a hundred people.

However, there were even more people inside the ancestral hall.

The vast majority of the people around Ning Zhuo could only stand outside the ancestral hall to listen.

Even so, there were no good spots.

The entire clan’s ancestral hall was surrounded by clansmen, layer upon layer.

Ning Zhuo, Ning Houjun, and Wang Lan were led into the ancestral hall.

All the Ning family’s high-level members who could come had come.

Ning Zhuo saw Ning Ze, saw Ning Ji, and saw the Clan Leader of the Ning family.

Of course, he also saw Ning Xiaoren.

Ning Xiaoren’s face was ashen as he stared at Ning Zhuo. He stretched his neck, hooked it, and looked as fierce as a vulture about to die.

Just as Ning Zhuo clasped his hands, wanting to speak, Wang Lan suddenly wailed, “My Ze’er, you’ve finally been rescued. Did Ning Xiaoren hurt you again?”

Ning Ze stepped out of the crowd, hugged Wang Lan, and said in a deep voice, “It was Elder Fu who personally rescued me, allowing me to escape Ning Xiaoren’s clutches.”

Along the way, Ning Ze had already learned the truth of the matter.

Although Ning Xiaoren had constantly threatened and lured him, Ning Ze had made up his mind.

“Are you kidding? Did you really think I felt good every time I was hit on the head?”

“Did you really think I had no temper?”

Ning Ze’s wife, Wang Lan, had already stepped onto the stage. The Ning family’s branch families were stirred up with emotion, and the momentum was complete. The truth was also clear.

Ning Xiaoren really had not given Ning Zhuo any cultivation resources, and he really had framed Ning Ze.
For a long time, the humiliation and resentment Ning Ze had suffered had made him unhesitatingly choose Ning Zhuo’s side.

Hearing Ning Ze’s words, Ning Xiaoren’s heart sank to the bottom, feeling utterly cold. His only chance of reversal rested on Ning Ze.

At this moment, that hope withered and faded away like an autumn leaf in the wind.

With both human and physical evidence stacked against him, Ning Xiaoren had no room for rebuttal.

He had only conceived of using Ning Ze on a whim, all because Ning Zhuo had emerged as an unexpected force.

There were too many flaws in the entire scheme. If Ning Ze had cooperated, it might have been salvageable, but his defection unleashed a torrent of evidence.

It would be effortless for the other clansmen to investigate and verify.

The irrefutable evidence was as solid as a mountain.

“Ning Xiaoren…”

The Clan Chief of the Ning Clan roared, snapping the cord of his waist token and hurling it directly at Ning Xiaoren.

The token struck Ning Xiaoren’s head, causing blood to flow immediately.

He knew the defeat was sealed, with no hope of escaping the consequences. In his final moments, he displayed a certain fortitude.

He allowed the blood to stream down his face and bowed to his father, saying, “Clan Chief, I have committed wrongdoings and have no face to face the clan. I accept all punishment.”

This was Ning Xiaoren’s final act.

The Clan Chief immediately announced the removal of Ning Xiaoren from his position as Young Clan Leader, imprisoning him in the dungeon for three years.

After three years, he would be banished from the clan, exiled to the outside world, and only allowed to return for ancestral sacrifices during major clan ceremonies.

“The Clan Chief is wise and righteous in his actions!”

As the verdict was announced, countless branch clansmen inside and outside the ancestral hall cheered in unison, their voices echoing through the area.

The elders of the main branch, however, fixed their gazes on Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo had won too beautifully, utterly crushing the Young Clan Leader Ning Xiaoren with a single blow.

After today, his fame would surely spread throughout the clan, and his prestige would soar.

Even with only a ‘Third Layer Qi Refining cultivation’, his disposition and actions were enough to make anyone wary.

That night.

A small banquet was held at Ning Ze’s residence.

Ning Zhuo and Ning Ze hosted the two former elders, Ning Youfu and Ning Houjun, as well as Ning Xiangguo and several other family stewards.

Ning Zhuo frequently offered toasts and thanks, displaying humility, courtesy, and sincere inquiries.

Ning Youfu pointed out, “With this matter, Ning Zhuo, you have directly confronted the main branch, especially the Clan Chief. Don’t harbor any hope of reconciliation.”

Ning Houjun sighed, “It’s a pity, the Clan Chief made a sacrifice today, abandoning a pawn to protect the chariot. He didn’t drag him down with him, only toppled a Young Clan Leader. The victory is limited.”

Ning Xiangguo stated, “Even so, it’s still the only victory our branch has had in over a decade. A branch member has brought down the main branch’s Young Clan Leader! It’s such an inspiring event!”

Ning Zhuo looked at everyone at the table, inwardly speculating: “Who among them is secretly colluding with Fei Si, a traitor to the Ning Clan?”

Ning Zhuo proactively inquired about how the main branch might retaliate against him.

Ning Youfu smiled. “Ning Zhuo, you are now participating in the modification team and are skilled at exploring the Immortal Palace. Coupled with your current fame, the main branch won’t touch you, lest you suffer unfair treatment again and cause another uproar in the ancestral hall.”

He glanced at Ning Xiangguo and said to him, “The main branch’s counterattack will come soon. Those who will suffer are you.”

Ning Xiangguo smiled slightly. “I am mentally prepared; it doesn’t matter. Even if I am dismissed, so what? The main branch wouldn’t dare dismiss too many of us, after all, there are too few of them. Haha…”

Ning Houjun sighed, “To this day, none of our branch members hold the position of clan elder. This is too passive, leaving us without even a basic foundation. Although there are many stewards, they can only be slaughtered at will.”

“Fortunately, Ning Zhuo, you have talent! With steady development in the future, you will surely become a clan elder!”

“It has been too long since our branch produced a talent!”

“To be honest, for the past decade or so, this old man has been waiting for someone who can handle things!”

“Although your cultivation is weak now, it’s fine. You have spirit and cunning.”

“Most importantly, you have talent, worth investing in!”

“Rest assured, as long as I am alive, I will support you with all my strength!”

“You are now the banner of our clan’s branch; you cannot fall!”

Ning Zhuo laughed heartily. “Now that things have reached this point, on the one hand, it is indeed the pressure from the main branch, but on the other hand, isn’t it also my personal desire to improve?”

“I have talent, I am exceptionally skilled at exploring the Immortal Palace, and I have the strong support of everyone. What worries do I have about not achieving great things?”

Everyone laughed heartily.

Amidst the laughter, everyone raised their glasses and clinked them together.

Ning Ze swallowed the wine in his cup in one gulp. When he put down the cup, he looked at Ning Zhuo, his eyes filled with complexity.

“Little Zhuo ah, Little Zhuo, so this is the real you!”

“I misjudged you, I misjudged you!”

“Such means, temperament, and measure!”

Ning Ze felt that for the first time in his life, he had truly recognized Ning Zhuo.

End of Chapter.