This was a matter personally discussed by Meng Kui and Zhu Xuanji, and it had the approval of the Golden Core cultivators from the three families.

This was the prevailing trend.

The decision was made by the two dominant forces of the Southern Bean Kingdom in Fire Persimmon Immortal City to exclude the third party, the Unhindered Gate!

Under this overwhelming tide, the higher echelons of the Ning family were merely mantises under the wheels of a chariot. They had no Golden Core cultivators to back them, only a collection of Foundation Establishment elites.

Facing such a colossal wave, they could only go with the flow, not try to stop it with a mantis’s arm.

An elder broke the silence: “If only our main lineage had been able to spare more cultivators to join the reformation team back then.”

A look of embarrassment crossed everyone’s faces, as if a boomerang had just smacked them in the face.

From the outcome, that was indeed the case.

If the majority of the Ning family’s main lineage, or even the entire reformation team, had been comprised of their members, the Ning family’s main lineage would be reaping immense benefits at this moment!

The Academy Elder said: “The decision back then wasn’t necessarily wrong. After all, the prospects of reforming to cultivate the Five Elements Qi Rhyme Art were unclear. In fact, even now, we’ve only unearthed the first to sixth layers of the Five Elements Qi Rhyme Art.”

The War Hall Elder added: “Who could have imagined a monstrous talent like Ning Zhuo would emerge? Who could have imagined that the Unhindered Gate had already infiltrated and laid out its plans for over a decade, forcing the royal family and the Meng family to join hands, even at the cost of future benefits?”

The Ning family patriarch slowly opened his mouth, his voice hoarse: “Looking at it this way, our Ning family’s main lineage must actively align ourselves with the Molten Lava Immortal Palace, and we must dispatch as many cultivators as possible to undergo reformation, and then compete for positions in the Molten Lava Immortal Palace.”

“Otherwise, if we let things develop, our main lineage’s power will rapidly shrink and wither away.”

After saying this, the Ning family patriarch couldn’t help but show a strong expression of loss and weariness.

As soon as he spoke, many elders in the hall immediately agreed.

The War Hall Elder said: “As expected of the Patriarch, this is a wise response! If this is the case, then I suggest we go all out to win over Ning Zhuo.”

“If our Ning family’s main lineage is to contend for positions in the Molten Lava Immortal Palace, this child is the most crucial figure.”

The Talisman Hall Elder directly stated: “I remember Ning Zhuo hasn’t married or had children yet. He’s only sixteen. This is a great age for him to be married into our main lineage.”

The Academy Elder stroked his beard and said: “Based on my familiarity with Ning Zhuo, I know he’s particularly fond of cultivation, especially mechanism arts. We can cater to his preferences.”

The Ning family patriarch was in a daze for a moment, as if in a dream.

He had never imagined there would be a day when he and the elders would be discussing how to show favor and win over Ning Zhuo!

He had a very poor impression of Ning Zhuo.

On one hand, it was because his son, the former young patriarch Ning Xiaoren, had been overthrown by Ning Zhuo.

On the other hand, Ning Zhuo had repeatedly shown disdain and resistance towards the Ning family’s higher echelons and authority, which was a tremendous offense to the Ning family patriarch.

The Ning family ancestor Ning Jiufan felt that Ning Zhuo was straightforward and lovable because Ning Jiufan, being in the Golden Core stage, didn’t feel threatened by Ning Zhuo.

The Ning family patriarch, however, was in the Foundation Establishment stage, and Ning Zhuo’s future advancement to Foundation Establishment was a sure thing.

Moreover, Ning Zhuo had even established his own faction in the black market and gathered a group of people.

This action was a great taboo in the Ning family patriarch’s heart and posed a great challenge and harm to the Ning family patriarch’s authority.

But now, the situation was forcing the entire Ning family’s main lineage to fully support Ning Zhuo!

All the elders who had supported and surrounded him before now shared this same thought.

What made the Ning family patriarch even more disheartened was that even he himself knew that winning over Ning Zhuo was extremely necessary at this moment.

Although he was extremely disgusted and hateful towards Ning Zhuo, reason told him that he must win over Ning Zhuo!

He, the dignified patriarch of a family, had to bow and scrape, and greet this young junior, this mere low-level Qi Cultivation realm fellow, with a smiling face!

Frustrating!

Infuriating!

But what could he do?

“That kid Ning Zhuo is too lucky. He’s risen rapidly thanks to the Molten Lava Immortal Palace! He’s too good at maneuvering. Now, he’s already a favorite in the eyes of the Golden Core cultivators!”

Look!

Zhu Xuanji attended Zhu Hou’s succession ceremony and directly brought Ning Zhuo with him.

After Ning Xiaohui’s death, the Ning family ancestor took Ning Zhuo with him and arranged a room for him directly in his own residence.

The Ning family patriarch had once hoped that Ning Xiaohui would receive such treatment.

Reality was cruel – Ning Xiaohui had sacrificed herself, but instead, Ning Zhuo had caught the eye of Golden Core ancestors like Zhu Xuanji and Ning Jiufan.

From Ning Zhuo, the Ning family patriarch felt a threat, a huge, intensely strong threat!

It was clear that Ning Zhuo would be greatly cultivated!

Ning Zhuo had long been the face of the branch lineage, the banner bearer.

He controlled the black market, with people and prestige. Now he had even gained the recognition of the highest authorities. His rise was unstoppable.

The Ning family patriarch was clearly in his prime, but at this moment, sitting in his seat, he felt physically and mentally exhausted. Facing the impact of this young junior Ning Zhuo, he felt his own feebleness!

He felt a wave of the times crashing down on him.

It was clear that cultivators who primarily practiced the old cultivation methods were in the old era, while cultivators who reformed to practice the three sect supreme arts had entered the new era.

The positions in the Molten Lava Immortal Palace remained unchanged, but this policy completely altered the prospects of the entire Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

Don’t underestimate these reformed Qi Cultivation stage cultivators, who are still very weak now. But as long as they occupy positions, they will have a steady stream of resources, and it is very likely that they will advance to the Foundation Establishment stage in the future.

Such a force will grow stronger and stronger over time, eventually surpassing the Ning family’s main lineage.

Ning Zhuo, as the leader of the reformation team, as the prominent figure of the Ning family’s branch lineage, as the leader of the black market, and also the most conspicuous wave-maker of this era, would undoubtedly gain the most.

Considering that he still had a mysterious talent that had not been tested, Ning Zhuo’s future prospects were so bright that they were immeasurable.

“The momentum has formed. For a short time, we can only go with the flow.”

“But in the future, who can say?”

“Hmph, geniuses often die young…”

For the first time, a killing intent towards Ning Zhuo arose in the Ning family patriarch’s heart.

Before, when Ning Zhuo had overthrown his son and established his own faction in the black market, the Ning family patriarch had never thought of taking Ning Zhuo’s life.

But this time was different. Ning Zhuo threatened his position of power.

The elders of the main lineage could show favor and win over Ning Zhuo because they were just elders.

The Ning family patriarch trying to win over Ning Zhuo? To win him over so that he could become the future patriarch?

The Ning family patriarch wouldn’t be that foolish!

“Let me in, let me in.” Suddenly, a dispute came from outside the door.

The Ning family patriarch was in a bad mood. Hearing this, he frowned and low-voiced: “Who is making noise outside!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the door of the council hall was violently pushed open from the outside.

An old woman burst in directly.

Her eyes were bloodshot, her whole body radiating anger and hatred. Her once kind face was now severely distorted with rage.

This was none other than Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother.

After bursting into the hall, her eyes were locked on the Ning family patriarch, and she cried out: “Xiaohui, where is my granddaughter Xiaohui?”

The Ning family patriarch’s anger just now instantly disappeared. He sighed: “Things have come to this. Please grieve and cherish the memory! Our Ning family will never forget Ning Xiaohui’s sacrifice and contribution.”

“Don’t talk to me about sacrifice and contribution!” Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother raised her hand and shrieked: “I want Xiaohui, I want my granddaughter.”

“I don’t believe it, I don’t believe my granddaughter is dead.”

“This must be fake, all of this is fake!”

“My granddaughter is in the Molten Lava Immortal Palace, she must be alive and well.”

“With so many Golden Core cultivators, how could they not protect a junior in the Qi Cultivation stage?”

“Impossible, absolutely impossible.”

“My granddaughter Ning Xiaohui must have already gained the appreciation of Lord Zhu Xuanji by now, hahahaha!”

A moment of silence fell among the crowd.

Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother was heartbroken. At this time, her hair was disheveled, and her behavior showed signs of madness. It was clear that she could not bear such a heavy blow.

When Ning Xiaohui was born, she loved her immensely.

She had raised Ning Xiaohui from childhood. After learning that Ning Xiaohui possessed the talent of an Ice Jade Hand, she spared no effort in cultivating her.

Ning Xiaohui’s death meant that Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother’s life support had collapsed.

The Ning family patriarch sighed deeply, stood up, walked over to Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother, and patiently tried to comfort her.

Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother became even more frantic from being comforted, screaming wildly: “I won’t listen, I won’t listen, it’s all fake, it’s all fake!”

As she screamed, she turned and ran out of the council hall.

The Ning family patriarch looked at the back of Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother, sighed deeply again, called a subordinate, and instructed him to strengthen the care and attention given to Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother.

After fully recognizing the situation, the Ning family’s main lineage acted much more decisively and fiercely than before.

They transferred a large number of main lineage Qi Cultivation cultivators and ordered them to reform their cultivation to the Five Elements Qi Rhyme Art.

Would doing this be too late?

Everyone had this concern, but no one voiced it – this was something that had to be done!

At the same time, any cultivators from the Ning family’s main lineage who had sufficient proficiency in mechanism arts and could enter the Immortal Palace were sent in to strive with all their might and compete for positions.

After issuing these orders, the Ning family patriarch went alone to the prison of the clan grounds.

“My son.” He saw Ning Xiaoren again.

Ning Xiaoren was overjoyed and ran to the prison bars: “Father, why are you here? Has everything turned around? Has that kid Ning Zhuo fallen? Has Ning Xiaohui suppressed him?”

Ning Xiaoren’s hatred for Ning Zhuo was extremely deep. The boring and monotonous days in prison were driving him crazy.

Every bit of pain he endured deepened his hatred for Ning Zhuo by a bit!

The Ning family patriarch sighed: “Ning Xiaohui is dead. Ning Zhuo… let’s not talk about him for now.”

“A great change has indeed come!”

“I thought it over and over and decided I couldn’t let you waste your time here. If you have a position in the Immortal Palace, it will be extremely beneficial to your future.”

Ning Xiaoren: “What Immortal Palace position?”

The Ning family patriarch: “You will find out after you come out. I am here this time to inform you that the plan has been moved up significantly.”

“Next, you will contribute talismans in exchange for your freedom.”

“After you get out, you must do your utmost to carve out a future in the Molten Lava Immortal Palace!”

“You have enough mechanism proficiency to enter the Immortal Palace. Now, you can only rely on yourself to fight this battle with all your might.”

“After this, our clan’s main lineage will fully show favor and win over Ning Zhuo. Don’t expect any support from me.”

“If you can gain Ning Zhuo’s understanding, that would be even better. If you can curry favor with Ning Zhuo, that would be the best situation!”

Ning Xiaoren was stunned, gaping in disbelief: “W-What? You want me to curry favor with Ning Zhuo? Are you… are you my father?”