Chapter 125: Hanging Thread Ning Xiaoren

"Uncle Xiaoren, that is how things are." Upon returning to the family, Ning Zhuo informed Ning Xiaoren about the Immortal Palace exploration that Zheng Jian had mentioned.

"I thought, as a member of the Ning family, it would be inappropriate for me to agree on the spot."

"Therefore, I specifically came to seek your opinion, Uncle Xiaoren. Do you think I should agree?"

"That you could tell me such an important matter and let me help you decide shows that you trust me. Uncle is very happy!" Ning Xiaoren patted Ning Zhuo’s shoulder and sighed, his expression pleasant.

He felt very gratified that Ning Zhuo was so sensible.

In fact, he had long known about this decision agreed upon by the three families.

The Ning family was bound to send Ning Zhuo to participate!

On one hand, they needed to maintain the Ning family’s influence in the three-family alliance and needed to contribute constantly to ensure their current share of the allocation.

On the other hand, according to the contract agreed upon by the three families, Ning Zhuo’s combat power was intact; it would be unjustifiable for him not to participate.

Ning Zhuo actually had no right to choose.

Whether he agreed or not, he had to agree.

Of course, Ning Xiaoren would not say this directly.

That Ning Zhuo did not make the decision himself this time, but came back to ask for his instructions, was the kind of obedience that satisfied Ning Xiaoren the most.

Ning Xiaoren’s deepest feeling at this moment was that the cost he had spent to win over Ning Zhuo had not been in vain; it was completely worth it!

"Since everyone values you so much, you should go."

"Perform well; the Ning family will soon have its third cultivator at the peak of the third layer."

"This time, you alone represent our Ning family."

"There is no need to be timid; remember, remember, the entire Ning family is your backing!"

After a pause, Ning Xiaoren continued: "It’s just that this time, although you are appointed as the leader, you have no clansmen by your side to help you."

"However, the Zheng family cultivators should take the initiative to unite with us."

"The Zhou family is the object you must be wary of. They have the largest number of people and likely will not obey your orders. You must be mentally prepared for this."

Ning Zhuo showed a look of astonishment, and in his heart, he was indeed slightly surprised.

From these words of Ning Xiaoren, Ning Zhuo quickly realized that the Young Patriarch before him possessed keenness and foresight regarding power.

His analysis of the internal structure of the three-family alliance was very accurate; although the operation had not yet officially begun, he had already judged the future.

This coincided with Ning Zhuo’s own expectations.

Ning Zhuo thought about it, and it was reasonable for Ning Xiaoren to have such attainments.

"The Ning family has always implemented a policy of strengthening the trunk and weakening the branches. Ning Xiaoren has been personally suppressing many branch families. Conversely, the Patriarch remains firmly behind the scenes. Only when things get too big and out of hand does he step in."

"Ning Xiaoren has effectively been on the front lines; if he didn't have the ability for power struggles, how could he have sat in the position of Young Patriarch for so many years?"

Ning Zhuo bowed: "I will keep your advice in mind, Uncle!"

"If this situation arises, what should I do?"

Ning Zhuo asked, looking innocent.

Ning Xiaoren pondered: "On one hand, you must take good care of the Zheng family cultivators and give them some tangible partiality. On the other hand, you need to achieve success. If you can lead them to continuously penetrate deeper into the Lava Immortal Palace and achieve breakthroughs, others will naturally attach themselves to you. Even the Zhou family will acknowledge your strength."

Ning Zhuo nodded: "I understand, Uncle."

"Then, if I lead them to explore successfully, does the family have any rewards?"

The Young Patriarch was stunned.

Since taking office, he had never encountered such a direct request.

A wave of disgust and aversion surged in Ning Xiaoren’s heart.

On the surface, his smile did not diminish in the slightest; he pointed his finger at Ning Zhuo: "You, aren't you already quite wealthy? I heard you even take care of others, being generous enough to share spirit food with them."

Ning Xiaoren said it nonchalantly, but deep down, he was quite wary of this move by Ning Zhuo!

What was the nature of this?

This was forming cliques and engaging in factionalism!

It was only because Ning Zhuo was at the Qi Refining stage, not the Foundation Establishment stage, and because Ning Zhuo was currently being heavily used by the Ning family, that Ning Xiaoren was holding back.

Ning Zhuo had long prepared his excuse; he scratched his head: "Uncle Xiaoren, they are all my classmates; I naturally wanted to help them."

"Especially Ning Chen and Ning Yong; the two of them have lived and died with me. I help them, and they help me; we trust each other."

"Speaking of money, I have never felt that I am very wealthy."

"I have never felt that I have too much money!"

Ning Xiaoren felt the same way about this; he had never felt he had too much money either.

That Ning Zhuo was so fond of money, Ning Xiaoren felt it was reasonable and never doubted it.

It could be seen from the intelligence that Ning Zhuo had lived in poverty for over a decade. Such an upbringing must have made him exceptionally frugal. And at the same time, he had a pathological desire and obsession for resources.

Ning Xiaoren was vague with Ning Zhuo: the family would not forget Ning Zhuo’s contribution and would certainly have rewards.

Ning Zhuo had long anticipated Ning Xiaoren’s performance and immediately followed up: "Uncle Xiaoren, I have read the Zhou family’s 'On Spirituality' and found it very inspiring."

"I wonder if our family has any such classics?"

"Hehe." Ning Xiaoren smiled, "Of course! When our Ning family was in the North Wind Kingdom, we were an old-fashioned cultivation family, far stronger than the Zhou family, almost exclusively occupying a city."

"Our Ning family has a long history and has produced Nascent Soul-level figures."

"Unfortunately, in the North Wind Kingdom, we were framed by villains and had to relocate the entire clan."

"Little Zhuo, if you perform well this time and bring great honor to our Ning family, I will risk my old face to apply for you to read the relevant secret manuals and treasures."

Ning Zhuo nodded repeatedly and said again: "Uncle Xiaoren, I heard that Ning Xiaohui used the Cloud-Walking Flowing-Water Talisman and her strength improved by leaps and bounds; could you give me one too?"

A flash of sharp light crossed Ning Xiaoren’s eyes, and the disgust in his heart rose sharply.

He thought: "The Cloud-Walking Flowing-Water Talisman! Even I, the Young Patriarch, cannot afford to use it. You, a mere branch member, what qualifications or face do you have to ask for it?"

Ning Xiaoren suppressed the disdain and anger in his heart and said kindly: "The Cloud-Walking Flowing-Water Talisman is a spirit talisman that possesses a wisp of heaven and earth spirituality and is exceptionally rare. There is only one in the whole clan, and giving it to Ning Xiaohui was a special case for a special situation."

"Even I dare not covet this talisman."

"However, you still have hope, Little Zhuo!"

"As long as you break through the Immortal Palace barriers and make a contribution so great that the whole clan is proud of you and has to admire you, then giving you this precious talisman to use will be a matter of course."

Ning Zhuo acted as if he had been inspired and said again: "Uncle Xiaoren, I have been a bit tight on money recently; the spirit stones from before are almost used up."

"Do you think you could lend me some spirit stones?"

Ning Xiaoren took a deep breath, trying his best to maintain a smile: "The subsidies for the three families were only issued a few days ago, right? Little Zhuo, are you using them so fast? How about this, I will make the decision privately to advance you some subsidies. What do you think?"

"That would be great! Many thanks, Uncle Xiaoren." Ning Zhuo showed great joy.

Ning Xiaoren couldn't help but care: "Little Zhuo, you can't be so extravagant with money. There's no need to buy some spirit food; pills are cheaper than spirit food and have very good effects."

Ning Zhuo acted as if he was listening to advice: "Okay, Uncle Xiaoren, I will eat less in the future."

He looked at the top of Ning Xiaoren’s head, where a Life-Thread had fallen, connecting him and Ning Xiaoren.

This tug-of-war, Ning Zhuo deliberately dragged out, was to plant the prototype of the divine ability for Ning Xiaoren.

He discovered: although the Life-Thread was difficult to connect in actual combat, as long as it was planted in daily life, it would be maintained for a long time.

As for how many days it could be maintained, Ning Zhuo had not yet tested the limit.

In short, through this time, Ning Xiaoren had also become an object connected to his divine ability prototype.

Watching Ning Zhuo’s departing back, Ning Xiaoren fell into deep thought.

Ning Zhuo possessed abundant cultivation resources, and more importantly, he was willing to share!

So much so that in a very short time, a group of people had gathered around him.

And this group of people were almost all branch members!

Regardless of whether this was Ning Zhuo’s unintentional act, this action had already aroused Ning Xiaoren’s vigilance.

The Ning family’s branch families had always lacked figures to carry the banner, so for these years, the branch families had been loose.

Ning Zhuo’s appearance filled this vacancy.

He revealed his third-layer peak cultivation and stole the show. The family’s gesture of testing his talent for him only earned him more fame.

Now, the whole clan knew that Ning Zhuo possessed talent; the specifics hadn't been measured, but in short, his future was bright.

People are all inclined to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.

Many people thought this way: invest when Ning Zhuo is weak, and when he becomes successful in the future, as long as he remembers old feelings and helps a little, it would be a huge profit!

Ning Xiaoren was very clear that the Ning family’s branch families had begun to slowly revolve around Ning Zhuo.

"The bad thing is that Ning Xiaohui is injured, and the main branch cannot suppress the modification team."

"Ning Zhuo has already begun to build momentum; if he continues to succeed, the momentum around him will only grow larger."

"But fortunately, the difficulty of the Lava Immortal Palace is extremely high, and there must be many barriers. Even if Ning Zhuo can break through in a short time, it will be at most one or two levels."

"This time is enough for Ning Xiaohui to recover as before, participate in the exploration of the Immortal Palace, and take back the power she lost from Ning Zhuo."

Thinking of this, Ning Xiaoren’s slightly nervous mood relaxed a little.

Ning Zhuo returned to his uncle’s house.

Wang Lan served fruit and took the opportunity to ask: "Little Zhuo, I heard you just came back from the Young Patriarch. You..."

"Oh, Aunt, don't worry, I specifically mentioned it to Uncle Xiaoren and pleaded for Uncle."

Wang Lan immediately showed joy: "Then, did the Young Patriarch say when he would release your uncle?"

Ning Zhuo shook his head: "Uncle Xiaoren didn't say."

"Aunt, I need to start cultivating."

Saying this, Ning Zhuo made a gesture to close the door.

Wang Lan suppressed her anger and squeezed out a smile: "Then you cultivate well, Little Zhuo, I’ll go now, I’ll go now!"