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An emissary from the Ning Clan Patriarch has come seeking Ning Xiaohui.

Ning Xiaohui’s expression was less than pleasant. She had been immersed in her cultivation, only to be interrupted by an outsider.

“You had best have important matters to report, or else…” Ning Xiaohui fixed the emissary with a dangerous gaze.

Her cultivation was stuck at the third layer of Qi Refining, but she possessed the Heaven-sent Gift, the Ice Jade Hand. The latter was her primary focus of cultivation.

Not long ago, she participated in the Zheng Clan’s creation of the mechanical Black Serpent weapon, yielding significant gains, especially a profound understanding of the Ice Jade Hand’s true essence.

The Zheng Clan’s mechanical weapon was too savage, brimming with murderous intent.

Ning Xiaohui used her Gift to help the mechanical weapon snatch life back from the jaws of death.

This weapon-crafting process deeply affected her, allowing her, on the night of her return, to discover a great advancement in her own Gift, to the point where she could even repair items of Golden Core grade!

Previously, when her soul entered the Immortal Palace, she could also use her Gift to repair the wooden puppet body, but the grade of the items repaired by her Gift was not high.

This time, she discovered that she possessed a certain repair capability even for Golden Core level objects.

When Ning Xiaohui used her Heaven-sent Gift, the Ice Jade Hand, she could freeze damaged items into ice blocks.

After the ice melted, the damaged items could often replenish what was missing.

For example, cracks would be filled, and wounds or defects would heal and grow like trees, mending themselves.

The emissary waited a long time before finally seeing Ning Xiaohui.

He first congratulated her and then gave her a jade scroll.

Within the jade scroll was precisely the fourth to sixth layer of the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Sutra.

“Good, good, good. With this, I can finally advance to the middle stage of Qi Refining.”

“I will have more mana and be able to use my Gift more times.”

“Wait…”

Suddenly, Ning Xiaohui’s expression changed slightly, and a certain possibility occurred to her. She then asked, “How did this come to be? After I left, did the three families’ joint action successfully defeat the mechanical ape?”

The emissary knew the details and originally wanted to hide them, but since Ning Xiaohui specifically asked, he had no choice but to explain the truth.

Upon learning that the one who successfully passed the trial and obtained the subsequent cultivation method was Ning Zhuo, Ning Xiaohui’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Him?”

Ning Xiaohui’s lips twitched, still in disbelief: “How could it be Ning Zhuo? How could he have such strength?”

The emissary: “He truly does.”

“In this exploration of the Immortal Palace, Ning Zhuo single-handedly took the lead, displaying a variety of magical arts.”

“He led his confidants, barging straight through.”

“The Modification Team followed behind him, until the battle against the mechanical ape, when they played a slight role as cannon fodder.”

“Ning Zhuo ultimately defeated the mechanical ape, arrived at the second Dao gate, and obtained the subsequent cultivation method.”

“You must know, the City Lord’s Mansion recently revealed intelligence that Meng Chong and others were cultivating the fourth to sixth layer of the cultivation method.”

“That is to say, our Ning family’s Modification Team has caught up with the City Lord’s Mansion.”

“Uh!”

The emissary possessed a strong sense of family honor, and as he spoke, he became somewhat carried away, not noticing the dark clouds on Ning Xiaohui’s face, which grew thicker and thicker.

Sensing Ning Xiaohui’s cold gaze, the emissary immediately shut his mouth.

Ning Xiaohui’s fingers, clutching the jade scroll containing the cultivation method, turned white from excessive force.

“Good, good, good.”

Ning Xiaohui gritted her teeth and spat out three words.

For a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

She was forced to leave the Modification Team and take the path of entering the Immortal Palace because of Ning Zhuo.

Since leaving, she had sailed smoothly, with excellent momentum, and even participated in the creation of Golden Core grade artifacts.

But Ning Xiaohui was inherently proud. As a member of the main lineage, she could not accept being driven away by a branch lineage.

She hated Ning Zhuo and vowed revenge.

She was like a different person. Since leaving the Modification Team, she had cut off all entertainment and rest, cultivating every second.

Whenever she was extremely tired, feeling that she couldn’t hold on, she would think of Ning Zhuo’s face, and suddenly she would have twelve thousand points of motivation.

Her cultivation could be described as insane. Even her grandmother couldn’t stand it and forcibly interrupted her three times, ordering Ning Xiaohui to rest.

Ning Xiaohui’s plan was simple: to cultivate her Gift madly, preparing to find her way back in the future.

But at this moment, she suddenly heard that Ning Zhuo had achieved great success.

Ning Xiaohui was shocked.

She never thought that Ning Zhuo would one day catch up with Meng Chong.

You must know, Meng Chong possessed Immortal Talent!

But that was the reality.

“Perhaps, I may never be able to catch up with Ning Zhuo in this lifetime?”

Suddenly, she fully realized that there was a gulf between her and Ning Zhuo in the field of mechanism arts, a gap so large that she might not be able to shorten it even with a lifetime of hard work.

Ning Xiaohui was quite proud, always taking pride in her status as a member of the main lineage.

But now, she realized that she might never be better than Ning Zhuo, a member of the branch lineage.

This caused her great pain and frustration.

The material of the jade scroll recording the cultivation method was cold, but Ning Xiaohui felt it was extremely hot at this moment.

She wanted to throw it away directly, slam it hard on the ground, and shout with her head held high, “This is what Ning Zhuo has done, I disdain it! I will definitely strive to obtain the subsequent cultivation methods myself in the future!”

But she couldn’t do that.

After taking the path of entering the Immortal Palace, she discovered many new opportunities and understood that to obtain the subsequent cultivation method, she would probably only be able to start with the trial challenges.

She no longer had the face to enter the Immortal Palace with her soul.

Once discovered, she would definitely be ostracized and ridiculed.

Ostracism was one thing, but the thought of being ridiculed by other trial disciples made Ning Xiaohui lose the courage to enter the Immortal Palace with her soul.

This feeling was more uncomfortable than killing her.

She couldn’t stand it.

“So, to seek the subsequent cultivation method at the moment, I’m afraid it’s only available from Ning Zhuo here.”

“Damn it, hateful.”

Ning Xiaohui felt ashamed and brave. She wanted to become stronger, desperately wanting to become stronger.

But to become stronger, she had to cultivate the subsequent cultivation method that Ning Zhuo had obtained.

This made Ning Xiaohui feel like she had swallowed a fly, extremely uncomfortable and awkward.

The emissary observed her expression and, seeing Ning Xiaohui’s twisted face, quickly comforted and reassured her, telling her that this subsequent cultivation method had already been bought by the Ning Clan Patriarch.

“What?”

Ning Xiaohui was stunned.

She immediately felt much better.

She snorted coldly, demeaning, “This Ning Zhuo lacks overall perspective and is extremely selfish.”
“He is a member of the Ning family, sheltered by them since childhood. With the slightest accomplishment, he lords it over them?”

“Where is his loyalty?”

“He dares to openly use these things to bargain with the family?”

“What does he take the family for?”

“He is simply an ungrateful wretch!”

In all her life, Ning Xiaohui had never seen such a member of a branch family.

Ning Zhuo’s actions filled her with extreme antipathy and loathing.

The messenger hardened his scalp, “The jade slip containing the cultivation art has been delivered, and there is another important matter concerning the Flowing Cloud Stream Talisman.”

“I am under orders from the Clan Head to retrieve this talisman from you, Miss!”

Ning Xiaohui was stunned. “What?”

“That won’t do.”

She instinctively objected.

She had always kept the Flowing Cloud Stream Talisman close to her body, nurturing and refining it daily with her talent and magic power.

The sudden demand for the family to take back the talisman left Ning Xiaohui utterly unprepared.

She felt bewildered. “Why? I just received the subsequent cultivation art and am about to diligently cultivate. I need the Flowing Cloud Stream Talisman!”

The messenger hesitated.

Ning Xiaohui, being intelligent, realized a possibility and her face darkened with anger. “What does this mean?”

“Are you saying that you intend to give the Flowing Cloud Stream Talisman to that Ning Zhuo?”

“Precisely.”

The messenger sighed, his face full of bitterness. “This is one of the terms Ning Zhuo negotiated with the Clan Head.”

“Impudence!”

“He, a mere branch member, dares to make such demands, utterly audacious!”

“The Clan Head actually yielded to this extent? So spineless! Allowing a lowly branch member to get away with such disrespect?”

Ning Xiaohui screamed in fury.

“The Flowing Cloud Stream Talisman possesses spiritual essence and is a treasure of the family. Instead of prioritizing its use for the main lineage, it is to be given to a branch family?”

“This is utterly preposterous!”

“Who is truly in charge of this Ning family?”

Ning Xiaohui’s face was ashen with rage, and she scolded repeatedly.

The messenger lowered his head, obediently enduring the berating. He had anticipated Ning Xiaohui’s reaction.

Ning Xiaohui fiercely cursed Ning Zhuo, continuing for a long while until she was breathless and stopped.

Seizing the opportunity, the messenger explained that he was but a small figure. The order came from the Clan Head, and he pleaded for Ning Xiaohui to show mercy and not make things difficult for him.

Ning Xiaohui snorted coldly. “You wait. I will find my grandmother and discuss this matter thoroughly.”

However, upon hearing of this matter, Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother instead tried to dissuade her.

“Ning Zhuo is not someone to be trifled with.”

“He is cunning and resourceful, and is guided by a master from the branch family. Even Ning Xiaoren, the young Clan Head, was brought down by him.”

“He now controls the Black Market, commands numerous Foundation Establishment elites, and has the entire branch family standing behind him.”

“He also maintains close ties with the Zhou and Zheng families.”

“Most importantly, he has already caught the eye of our clan’s Old Ancestor. The Old Ancestor has publicly stated that Ning Zhuo has made contributions to our Ning family.”

“Xiaohui, a gentleman takes ten years to exact revenge.”

“Currently, Ning Zhuo is at the height of his power. We cannot confront him head-on. When his momentum wanes, it will not be too late to seek revenge.”

“A moment’s impatience can ruin great plans. Endure for now, it won’t be in vain.”

Ning Xiaohui pouted, hugging her grandmother’s arm, shaking it and cajoling her repeatedly.

But this time, her grandmother remained firm. “Xiaohui, how do you compare to Ning Xiaoren?”

“If you confront him at this critical juncture, you may very well end up imprisoned as well.”

Ning Xiaohui’s face paled. “Grandmother, with you protecting me, how could I possibly…”

Her grandmother interrupted her directly. “I am but an elder of the family. Look at the Clan Head, his position is much higher and more important than mine. Did he ultimately protect his own son?”

Ning Xiaohui’s lips trembled, unable to answer for a long time. Finally, with a livid face, she handed the Flowing Cloud Stream Talisman to the messenger.

Having obtained the talisman, the messenger hurriedly excused himself, not daring to linger.

Ning Xiaohui gazed intently at the departing figure of the messenger, almost biting through her pearly white teeth.

“Ning Zhuo!”

“Today’s humiliation, I will repay it a hundredfold!”

“Hmph, your good days won’t last for long either.”

“I have already realized that entering the Immortal Palace is the key. Once I accumulate enough contribution points, I can exchange them for a position within the Immortal Palace.”

“The highest position should be Palace Lord.”

“I have the Ice Jade Hand aptitude, and I am about to meet the standards for exchanging it for the position of Physician.”

“With the position of Physician, my rate of accumulating contribution points will be five times faster. From then on, I will advance at an astonishing pace.”

“My future cultivation, contribution points, and position will all overwhelm you.”

“I will remember our debts, every single one of them!”

“One day, I will settle them with you properly.”

End of Chapter.