(P.S. I was up all night coding, and my head is swimming. I made a mistake and uploaded directly, and messed up the order. Chapter 227 is at the end. I’ll contact the editor later to see what can be done.)

“Alright, the position of Clan Head, you can compete for it fairly in the future. I won’t interfere with the routine affairs of the Ning Clan.”

“Work hard. With your age and talent, it’s not impossible for you to one day be in charge of the entire Ning Clan.”

“But right now… impossible!”

“A mere Qi Refining junior, if he were to become the head of the clan, who would respect the Ning Clan?”

“Fine, fine,” Ning Zhuo sighed, then raised his eyes, full of expectation. “Then Ancestor, appoint me as Young Clan Head! That way, when I inherit the Clan Head position in the future, it will be rightful and justified.”

“Ning Zhuo, don’t bring up such requests again!” His tone grew even more displeased.

“Fine, fine.” Ning Zhuo pouted. “Then, please, Ancestor, bestow upon me some magical treasures, such as magical robes or protective armor, to safeguard my life, alright?”

“I’m risking my life as bait. I’m not afraid of the unlikely, but rather the impossible. With magical treasures on my person that can be activated instantly, I can rest a little easier.”

Ning Jiufan shook his head, telling Ning Zhuo that magical treasures couldn’t be given out casually. He feared that assassins might scout from afar, detect magical treasures on Ning Zhuo’s person, and then refrain from taking action.

Ning Zhuo then requested the Ice Heart Art.

Ning Jiufan scolded him for being greedy, saying that this cultivation art was a fundamental treasure of the clan. Ning Zhuo’s contributions to the clan were far from meeting the standard, so how could he be taught the Ice Heart Art?

Ning Jiufan warned him not to try to use this opportunity to make excessive demands or violate the clan’s rules.

Suddenly, Ning Zhuo’s eyes darted around, and he mentioned, “Ancestor, may I request to split the family?”

“If I split off, I wouldn’t have to be the main family’s Clan Head or Young Clan Head anymore. I would directly be the Clan Head of the branch family! Wouldn’t that be wonderful!”

Ning Jiufan was so angry that his beard bristled and his eyes widened. “You unfilial brat! At such a young age, you want to divide the family? And you’re bringing it up in front of me? Are you looking for death? Or do you want to be locked in the dungeon for life?”

Ning Zhuo quickly waved his hands, explaining, “Ancestor, please hear me out.”

“You see, you and Lord Zhu Xuanji are very close. The three great families of Fire Persimmon Immortal City are all very close. This is good.”

“But there’s also a great risk in this. What if in the future, Lord Zhu fails in his competition and doesn’t become the Palace Lord of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace?”

“When that time comes, he’ll just dust off his robes and leave, but we, the Ning Clan, will still have to make a living in Fire Persimmon Immortal City!”

“You see, even an old farmer knows that you can’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

“Therefore, you and the main branch can align with Lord Zhu, while I take some of the branch families and split off to rely on the current City Lord’s Mansion, the Meng Clan.”

“That way, no matter which side ultimately wins, our Ning Clan will be able to remain invincible!”

Zhu Xuanji: …

You have to admit, what Ning Zhuo said actually made a lot of sense!

With this thought in mind, Ning Jiufan said to Zhu Xuanji, “This child of my clan is speaking nonsense without thinking. Please forgive his foolishness, Lord Zhu.”

Zhu Xuanji sighed softly, “This is indeed a technique for a family to survive for a long time.”

“For example, the number one family among cultivators – the Gu Clan. Gu Tian and Gu Yue are respectively the Left Minister and National Preceptor of the opposing nations, White Radiance Country and Torrential Wave Country.”

“This phenomenon is indeed common.”

Ning Jiufan quickly continued to make amends, “Hmph, Ning Zhuo is too young and short-sighted. If he knew that the City Lord’s Mansion is the one that truly wants his life, he would surely be ashamed of his current ignorance and foolishness!”

Zhu Xuanji waved his hand, telling Ning Jiufan to stop talking, and then pointed his finger at Ning Zhuo.

Ning Jiufan understood the meaning and immediately transmitted his voice to Ning Zhuo, “Enough, brat!”

How could he dare let Ning Zhuo continue to make demands?

“I will lend you a protective spirit talisman that can withstand the full power of an ordinary Golden Core cultivator’s strike.”

“I will also bestow upon you three Directional Void Escape talismans, which can instantly teleport you to a pre-arranged teleportation location.”

“Finally, I will give you three taels of Ice Jade Wine. Do your job well, and afterward, it will be counted as a great contribution to the Ning Clan!”

Upon hearing this, Ning Zhuo’s eyes lit up. “Three taels… three taels is a bit too little, Ancestor.”

“A catty, make it a round number, can it be a catty?”

“Hmph!” Ning Clan Ancestor couldn’t hold back any longer and used his powers to release invisible pressure.

Caught off guard, Ning Zhuo was instantly pressed to the ground, prostrating himself with his limbs flat on the ground, his bones creaking as if he were carrying a mountain on his back.

He quickly begged for mercy.

Only then did Ning Jiufan withdraw his power.

Ning Zhuo regained his freedom, his face filled with lingering fear, raising his palm and extending five fingers. “Five taels, five taels then, Ancestor.”

“I’m risking my life here!”

Zhu Xuanji: …

“Hehehe.” Ning Jiufan couldn’t help but laugh.

He was laughing out of anger.

A moment later.

Ning Zhuo’s courtyard.

Su Mo was in a small pavilion, eating fine wine and delicious food while sarcastically mocking Ning Zhuo.

“The food is good, but too soft.”

“The wine is also good, but not strong enough, too gentle.”

“Good, good, this fine wine and food are worthy of being made by the Ning Clan, just like the Ning Clan.”

The two Foundation Establishment guards who were entertaining him had faces as black as the bottom of a pot.

Just then, Ning Zhuo’s voice came, “Su Mo, you’re too arrogant!”

“I’m treating you with fine wine and delicious food, hoping to establish a good relationship with you, but you don’t cherish it.”

“You won’t accept a toast, so you force me to punish you!”

“Moreover, it’s one thing for you to insult me, but insulting the reputation of my Ning Clan is extremely hateful.”

“How do you want to spar? Speak!”

“I’ll accept it all.”

When the two Foundation Establishment guards saw Ning Zhuo, they were both surprised and delighted, secretly praising him in their hearts: As expected of Young Master Ning Zhuo, a sixteen-year-old genius, full of youthful spirit, unable to bear humiliation, and cherishing the clan! Truly a good son of the Ning Clan’s branch family!

Su Mo stood up, carefully sized up Ning Zhuo, his heart filled with joy, but his face was full of solemnity.

After some conversation, he cupped his hands towards Ning Zhuo, stating his request.

If he were to win this spar, he would like Ning Zhuo to tell him the contents of the Demonic Sect’s True Scripture.

Ning Zhuo sneered, “As expected, it’s for this.”

He extended three fingers, swearing in public, “I swear on the honor of my Ning Clan, I have never obtained even a single word from this so-called Demonic Sect’s True Scripture.”

“You’re visiting me without sincerity to find me to spar.”

“You’re also using the reputation of the Ning Clan to threaten me, to kidnap me, forcing me to agree to spar with you, which is even more malicious.”

“I don’t care who’s behind you or what orders you’ve received. This time, I will definitely make you pay the most terrible price!”
Su Mo, flustered by the accusations, feigned composure and sneered, “What? Ning Zhuo, do you intend to bully the few with the many, to oppress a mere rogue cultivator like myself?”

“Hmph, I won’t make things difficult for you tonight,” Ning Zhuo declared. “Tomorrow morning, we shall meet on the martial arts stage to settle this like true cultivators.”

“You want to be the first to taste the crab, very well. I also intend to kill one to warn a hundred.”

Su Mo’s face changed once more, becoming even more unsightly.

Zhu Xuanji: …

The two exchanged a silent glance, both thinking: Ning Zhuo, emboldened by the protective talisman and the fixed-point escape talisman, has become much more daring, jumping from one extreme to another!

The next day.

Early in the morning, the area below the martial arts stage was already overflowing with people.

The protagonists on the stage were two: Ning Zhuo and Su Mo.

Soon after, only one protagonist remained: Ning Zhuo.

In the area of talisman crafting, his forte, Su Mo was clearly outmatched by Ning Zhuo. He was defeated decisively, leaving no room for doubt.

Considering that Ning Zhuo was only sixteen years old, it made the disparity between them seem even more exaggerated.

However, as soon as Su Mo stepped down, a second challenger appeared.

The challenger ascended the martial arts stage, seeking to spar with Ning Zhuo on the subject of array formations. The demand put forward remained the same: the Demonic Sect True Scripture.

Upon hearing this, Ning Zhuo let out a cold snicker. Immediately, he swore publicly that Zhu Xuanji had already sought him out, and that he had no knowledge of this so-called Demonic Sect True Scripture. There were many truths to the rumors, but the part about the scripture belonging to him was pure fabrication, unable to withstand any scrutiny.

Ning Zhuo refused the second challenge: “You all come for the Demonic Sect True Scripture, but unfortunately, you’ve sought the wrong person.”

“How can I allow you to have your way, one spar after another, endlessly!”

“My Ning Clan is a righteous and venerable family. I, Ning Zhuo, was born in a land of righteousness, and all that I have seen and heard has been the way of the benevolent. From dawn till dusk, my teachers have taught me, and acts of kindness and righteousness have been like a gentle spring rain, subtly shaping my heart.”

“However, we righteous cultivators have nothing to be ashamed of before heaven and earth, before our ancestors. Our kindness is not without a blade, and we shall not be manipulated by such petty schemes.”

“From this point forward, anyone who seeks to spar with me, using the reputation of my Ning Clan to pressure me, shall be regarded as an enemy, until death do us part!”

“So, who dares to challenge me?”

For a moment, silence fell upon the crowd below the stage.

Far away, on the top floor of a tavern.

The golden core disciple of the Taiqing Palace had a sinister look in his eyes. His lips moved as he transmitted a message.

A person in the crowd received the order, pushed through the throng, and stepped onto the martial arts stage.

“Ning Zhuo, I will challenge you, to the death!” The newcomer was burly and robust, rolling up his sleeves and clenching his fists, which were as large as sandbags. It was clear that he was a body refiner.

Ning Zhuo stared at the brute, his eyes gleaming with cold light. “I have made my position clear, yet you still come to force my hand, filled with malice. You must be a demonic cultivator!”

“Guards, strike him down!”

In the next moment, the Foundation Establishment guards, who had been itching for action, leaped onto the stage and swarmed the body refiner.

The brute was shocked. “Isn’t this supposed to be a one-on-one fight?! You are despicable… ah!”

He was drowned in spells, only managing to let out a miserable cry before dying.

Ning Zhuo stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the crowd. “What is the point of talking about morality with demonic cultivators? Naturally, we must eliminate evil and defend the righteous path, with everyone striving to be the first to act.”

“Do you really think that righteous cultivators are easy to bully?!”

Wherever his gaze fell, people averted their eyes.