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Ning Zhuo held the cup, took a small sip, then smiled at the Ning family patriarch: “Patriarch, do you not wish for your son to return to the family?”

The Ning family patriarch was taken aback.

He had never imagined those words coming from Ning Zhuo’s mouth.

Because it was Ning Zhuo who had brought down Ning Xiaoren!

According to the patriarch’s understanding, Ning Zhuo should utterly despise Ning Xiaoren. Why would he say such a thing?

The Ning family patriarch was shocked.

At this moment, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Ning Zhuo’s true nature!

This young man before him was deeply versed in the righteous path; he was the same kind of person as himself.

What kind of person?

One who is so cold as to be heartless, placing self-interest above personal feelings!

Or rather, the emotions he displayed were merely masks, disguises that best served his personal interests!

The Ning family patriarch believed he had seen Ning Zhuo’s true essence.

Thus, he displayed an unprecedented solemnity.

For the first time, he treated Ning Zhuo as an equal.

“Xiaoren…” The patriarch’s face softened slightly as he spoke of his son. “I truly hope he can return. But how can you convince me that you can bring him back?”

Ning Zhuo’s expression was impassive: “Since I could bring him down, I can naturally lift him back up.”

“Didn’t he also want to rely on me for a while?”

“I can agree to this matter, let him stay by my side and work for me. With my current status, isn’t it simple to arrange some tasks for him and grant him some merit?”

“Then, I will personally come forward and announce to everyone that Ning Xiaoren has turned over a new leaf and has received my forgiveness. In that case, his political stain will be washed away.”

“Look, what a perfect method. Only I in this world can achieve this.”

“I believe this is also a situation that Old Ancestor Ning Youfan would be pleased to see.”

“After all, our branch family and your main family share the surname Ning; we are all one family.”

Hearing Ning Zhuo, the man who had strenuously advocated for division, say this, the Ning family patriarch sneered: “What shamelessness!”

After a moment of thought, the Ning family patriarch slowly nodded, his expression immensely heavy.

The Ning family patriarch departed, leaving Ning Zhuo alone in the room.

“Separate, separate…” He sighed deeply in his heart.

He kept bringing up this idea, whenever there was an opportunity, not just saying it idly.

Sects had Soul Lamps, states had registers, alliances had covenants, and families naturally had means to restrain their disciples.

When a newborn infant in the family cried out, the severed umbilical cord would be crafted into a magical item, a bloodline umbilical cord, and sent to the ancestral hall for strict safekeeping.

After the infant was named, their heart blood, tongue tip blood, and foot blood would be used to form the name, inscribed in the family tree.

These were just two main conventional methods; there were also more potent means of restraint.

That was the ancestors in the Underworld!

This world was divided into two sides: the Yang World and the Underworld.

The Yang World was the world Ning Zhuo inhabited, where the sun rose and the moon set, wind surged and clouds drifted, flowers, birds, insects, and fish thrived, full of vitality.

The Underworld, however, was overrun by ghosts, gloomy and dim, filled with the aura of death.

The entrance and exit between the Underworld and the Yang World was called the Gate of Hell.

People had a Yang life and an Yin life.

According to the natural rules of this world, when cultivators and mortals died, their souls would return to the Underworld and reside there for many days, only truly perishing when their Yin life was exhausted.

To judge whether a family was a cultivation family, one not only had to look at the scale of the clan and the highest cultivation level in the Yang World but also the scale of ancestors and the highest cultivation level in the Underworld.

The Ning family was a genuine cultivation clan. Although their power in the Yang World was weak, they were very formidable in the Underworld.

This was because sixteen years ago, the Ning family migrated all the way from the Northern Wind Kingdom, sacrificing too many clansmen, even Golden Core cultivators had fallen!

The forces in the Underworld were strongly supplemented.

The connection between the Underworld and the Yang World was very strong.

The Ning family’s annual grand ancestral worship, the addition of new descendants to the family, or funerals, all involved communicating with the Underworld.

Therefore, for members of the family, violating family rules and enforcing family law was not a laughing matter.

Ning Zhuo needed a legitimate reason to act independently.

Without one, it would create a flaw in his future actions.

If the family seized upon this flaw and pursued it, it would be a great trouble.

Even if Ning Zhuo didn’t die, he would be severely injured.

Now, through an exchange of interests, the Ning family patriarch had yielded and agreed to this matter. The various family elders of the Ning family, controlled by other factions of the main family, had also been persuaded by Ning Zhuo using the matter of Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother.

Ning Zhuo then summoned Ning Xiangguo, Ning Xiangqian, Ning Ze, Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and others.

He had just begun to speak when he was directly interrupted by Ning Ze: “What? Forgive the murderer and let her go back?!”

“I disagree!”

“I absolutely disagree!!”

Ning Ze couldn’t sit still and stood up directly: “Ning Zhuo, Ning Ji is your cousin, you grew up together.”

“Now, he has been killed!”

“But you want to compromise with the main family, let the murderer go, and even return her to them?”

“If Ji’er knew in the afterlife, what would he think of you?”

“I have supported you with all my strength until now, the Ning family branch has supported you to this extent, your bones cannot be soft!”

Ning Ze originally had no worries, knowing the deep conflict between Ning Zhuo and the main family. Who would have thought that in this meeting, Ning Zhuo’s first sentence would be like a bolt from the blue, striking him directly?

Ning Ze couldn’t understand why Ning Zhuo’s attitude towards the main family had taken such a sharp turn for the worse!

“Xiao Zhuo, how can you face Ning Ji, how can you face us, how can you face the family branch that supports you by doing this!”

Ning Ze cried out, trying every possible way, using various titles to pressure Ning Zhuo to change his mind and retract his original decision.

Ning Xiangguo and the others also looked at Ning Zhuo, their eyes seeking answers.

Ning Yong opened his mouth to say something, but was stopped by Ning Chen, who was sitting next to him, by pressing his arm.

Ning Zhuo sighed deeply: “Uncle, please be seated.”

“I can’t sit! Xiao Zhuo, give me a clear answer, right now!” Ning Ze appeared very agitated.

Ning Zhuo no longer looked at him, but scanned his surroundings, his expression heavy, his tone steady: “I am certainly worthy of you, worthy of the Ning family branch.”

“My cousin is dead, I am heartbroken. I believe that in this world, besides my uncle and aunt, the one who most wants to severely punish the murderer is me.”

“I wish I could cleave Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother in half right now!”

“But at this critical moment, I thought of another aspect.”

“I am not a lone person; I am the hope of the Ning family branch, the future standard-bearer. My desire for revenge is merely my personal selfish desire.”

“But if I, in order to vent my selfish desires, cause the relationship between the Ning family branch and the main family to become strained, at this critical moment, the enemy will surely take advantage of it!”

“Don’t you think that’s the case?”

Ning Zhuo paused, looking at the people in the hall.

Ning Xiangguo was the first to nod: “Indeed, Master Zhuo’s considerations are thorough. This is a critical moment for the palace examination. In fact, because this matter is involving your energy and time, it is already greatly inappropriate. It is indeed not advisable to act too hastily.”

The others also showed expressions of agreement.

Ning Ze was indignant: “Even so, the murderer can be imprisoned. There’s no need to send her back, is there?”

Ning Zhuo sighed: “This is the second reason I want to talk about, and it is also the most important reason.”

“I have already used this matter to reach an agreement with important factions of the Ning family’s main branch, and also with the Ning family patriarch.”

“I will release the murderer and at the same time recruit Ning Xiaoren to work by my side. In the future, I will publicly announce reconciliation and help him return to the family.”

“And what we have gained is the unanimous decision of the patriarch and elders – to hand over the authority to separate the family to me.”

A single stone stirred up a thousand waves.

Everyone was shocked, several of them exclaiming: “Separate the family?!”

After recovering, Ning Xiangqian, Ning Yong, and others eagerly questioned.

“Is this true? I didn’t mishear, did I?”

“If we really separate the family, that would be great!”

“I didn’t expect Master Zhuo to have accomplished such a great feat without a sound, how delightful, how delightful!”

Only Ning Ze remained as still as a stone statue, standing rooted to the spot, his eyes wide, staring intently at Ning Zhuo, his fists clenched, not uttering a word.

Separating the family was not a simple matter; it could be said to be quite rare.

A family was a small state, a state was a large family. A state splitting was a major event. Separating a family was also a major event for a family!

After separating the family, a family was bound to enter a period of decline.

However, the clansmen who separated would be able to establish their own base and start a new foundation.

Everyone would have huge room for advancement.

Ning Zhuo, this branch family, would leap out and become the patriarch of the separated family.

Ning Xiangguo, Ning Xiangqian, and others might become the elders of the separated family.

Junior members like Ning Chen and Ning Yong, who were closely related to Ning Zhuo, would receive focused allocation of resources from the separated family, and it was not impossible for them to be promoted to elders in the future.

As for the resources of the separated family, not to mention other things.

Just during each sacrifice, they could communicate with the ancestors in the Underworld under the name and identity of the patriarch and elders, gaining immense benefits.

In contrast, before the separation, people like Ning Xiangguo couldn’t even become family stewards.

Seeing the expressions of ecstasy on everyone’s faces, Ning Zhuo sighed deeply: “Although I wish I could kill Ning Xiaohui’s grandmother immediately, for the greater good, for the future of all of us, I am willing to suppress my selfish desires and make this decision with bleeding heart, hoping that you can understand and support me.”

The people in the hall were instantly moved.

“Boss, I knew you were full of affection and righteousness. That Ning Ji, before he died, was corrupt and abused his power, many people complained to you, but you suppressed it all. You must have wanted to kill the murderer in a thousand cuts, I understand you!” Ning Yong was the first to speak.

Ning Chen sighed deeply: “Boss, you have made too many sacrifices, carried too many burdens. I misunderstood you just now, I apologize to you. Now I understand your painstaking efforts, I was wrong!!”

Ning Xiangguo stood up and bowed to Ning Zhuo: “Patriarch, please instruct us on what to do next. I am willing to be at your service!”

As soon as these words came out, everyone looked sideways.

Ning Chen thought to himself: “Learned, learned.”

Ning Zhuo exhaled a breath of stale air and nodded slightly: “I am very pleased to have everyone’s support and understanding.”

“Uncle, what are your thoughts?”

Ning Ze stood frozen in place for quite a while.

Hearing Ning Zhuo’s question, he let out a chuckle, looked at Ning Zhuo, and then scanned the hall.

The joys and sorrows of people are not shared.

Seeing the faint joy of the crowd, Ning Ze, who was filled with the pain of losing his son, felt immense desolation. He felt out of place with his surroundings.

While others were in the midst of a raging fire and blooming flowers, he was in the freezing cold, abandoned by the world.

Finally, Ning Ze’s gaze locked onto Ning Zhuo.

Not long ago, he had used righteousness, representing the Ning family branch, to pressure Ning Zhuo and force him to avenge Ning Ji.

But now, after Ning Zhuo lightly threw out the chunk of meat that was separating the family, the entire Ning family branch had gone mad with temptation. How could they still care about the death of a minor Qi Refining realm junior?

Ning Ze’s voice was hoarse: “Ning Zhuo, the death of your cousin has been treated by you as a bargaining chip, a tool to gain benefits!”

“What else can I say?”

“What else is there for me to say?”

“I just feel so disheartened, incredibly disheartened.”

“Farewell, farewell.”

After Ning Ze finished speaking, he left without looking back.

Ning Zhuo quickly stood up, wanting to stop him, but Ning Ze’s departure was quite resolute, his back stooped.

Ning Zhuo stood at the doorway, watching Ning Ze leave, and said mournfully: “Time spares no one, my uncle has become so old.”

“I am ashamed of him! Everyone, my heart is heavy right now.”

“Did I do the wrong thing, or the right thing? For a moment, I am not sure.”

Ning Xiangqian and others quickly gathered around, one after another affirming Ning Zhuo’s actions and greatly praising Ning Zhuo’s sacrifice and dedication.

“For the sake of the entire family branch, you have truly carried too much!” Ning Xiangqian said.

“Yes, Patriarch,” Ning Chen said.

Ning Xiangguo couldn’t help but glance at Ning Chen and spoke to comfort him: “Ning Ze is understandable. After all, a white-haired person sending off a black-haired person, losing a son in middle age, is indeed painful.”

“However, I think he just hasn’t figured it out yet.”

“He is not unable to have more children. When he figures it out, he will realize that he is now part of the elder lineage, and closest to your line, Patriarch.”

“To put it pragmatically, Ning Ji did not die in vain.”

This statement received strong agreement from Ning Yong, who loudly echoed: “Yes, yes. Ning Ji did not die in vain!”

Ning Zhuo gave his final instructions: “You must take good care of my uncle and aunt.”

“I am participating in the palace examination and cannot spare the time, so I entrust them to you all.”

The others quickly agreed.

(End of this chapter)