Chapter 171

Ning Zhuo took the lead and was the first to push open the courtyard gate.

Behind him were more than twenty classmates. Ning Chen and Ning Yong followed most closely.

Wang Lan was the last to step out quickly, closing the courtyard gate before leaving.

But in fact, before they all left the courtyard together, a large number of communication talismans had already flown out.

Wkд

This was all because Ning Zhuo had requested everyone to spread this news as much as possible before heading to the ancestral hall; making it known to everyone was a good thing.

These talismans flew in mid-air, spreading rapidly, like countless small pebbles falling into the large pond that was the Ning family territory.

The influence began to spread.

"The Young Clan Leader Ning Xiaoren wants to recruit Ning Zhuo as a dog, so he framed Ning Zhuo's own uncle?"

"The Young Clan Leader actually imprisoned Ning Ze and even used his life and freedom as leverage?"

"This news must be fake!"

"It's too outrageous, who spread this rumor?"

"Hmph, has this guy Ning Xiaoren done few excessive things?"

"Even so, if he really did this this time, isn't it going too far?"

Even members of the main branch, upon learning this news, felt that Ning Xiaoren had gone too far and had completely crossed the bottom line!

According to the rumors, Ning Zhuo's father, Ning Zhong, was Ning Xiaoren's savior, and Ning Xiaoren had once promised to promote Ning Zhuo before Ning Zhong died in battle.

But in fact, over the dozen years Ning Zhuo grew up, Ning Xiaoren had not given him a single bit of resources, breaking his word completely.

Ning Zhuo displayed talent and aptitude for mechanisms, which made Ning Xiaoren see the value in recruiting and winning him over.

To make up for his previous failures, he employed schemes and plots, framing Ning Zhuo's uncle and fabricating that the uncle had embezzled the resources he intended for Ning Zhuo, causing Ning Zhuo and Ning Ze's family to turn against each other.

Ning Zhuo achieved great results exploring the Immortal Palace, but Ning Xiaoren rewarded him unfairly. When Ning Zhuo was so angry he quit the renovation team, Ning Xiaoren used life and freedom to threaten Ning Ze and made Wang Lan kneel in public to force Ning Zhuo to submit.

Is this something a Young Clan Leader should do?

Is this something a righteous cultivator can do?

If it is true, Ning Xiaoren, as the Ning family's Young Clan Leader and a solid member of the upper echelon, using such methods to deal with his own clansmen, is absolutely unworthy of the status of Young Clan Leader.

"If Ning Xiaoren really did this, then he is simply acting too recklessly!"

"He wouldn't really do that, would he? That's too stupid."

"I feel it's more like a smear by Ning Zhuo."

Regarding the name Ning Zhuo, Ning family members had heard it frequently in this recent period.

Ning Zhuo was previously an inconspicuous little figure from a branch family, but he emerged suddenly during the joint test of the three families.

If he was particularly suited to the Five Elements Qi Law and made people envious and jealous of his luck, then after he displayed his talent, most people were optimistic about his future.

And after Ning Zhuo helped his classmates repeatedly, more and more people had a shallow good impression of him.

Recently, Ning Zhuo explored the Immortal Palace and reached the eighth level, which made him famous overnight!

After all, such results completely trampled Ning Xiaohui underfoot. The key was that Ning Zhuo came from a branch family, while Ning Xiaohui came from the main branch, which made the branch clansmen who were usually suppressed feel happy in their hearts when they heard this news.

They didn't enjoy it for long before they heard the news that Ning Zhuo had suffered unfair treatment and voluntarily quit the renovation team.

Although Ning Xiaoren deliberately spread news to try to distort public opinion, the vast number of branch clansmen kept discussing the "unfair treatment."

Regarding Ning Zhuo's action of quitting the team, many branch clansmen expressed sympathy and admiration.

But there were also some branch members who were secretly quite repulsed by Ning Zhuo.

"When I was under pressure from the main branch, I retreated and accepted my fate. You did this, standing firm and resisting in public. Compared to you, Ning Zhuo, what does that make me?"

Human hearts are just that subtle.

Ning Zhuo's affair was already something the whole clan had been discussing recently.

Now, with this explosive news about Ning Xiaoren and Ning Ze suddenly spreading, the public opinion was like a splash of oil poured onto a burning fire.

With a boom, the flames rose explosively and burned fiercely!

One told ten, ten told a hundred, a hundred told a thousand...

"If the Young Clan Leader really did this, then his character is truly too poor."

"Is it really true?"

"Ning Zhuo and his group are heading to the ancestral hall. Why don't we go and see?"

"Let's go, I'm also from a branch family and have been bullied and squeezed out by the main branch before. I want to go support Ning Zhuo!"

Countless clansmen set off one after another, all heading toward the Ning family's ancestral hall.

If one looked down from high above, one would find clansmen walking out of their respective residences, gathering on streets and paths, forming streams of people, all converging toward the ancestral hall.

"What's going on?" The elder guarding the ancestral hall sensed something was wrong.

Before Ning Zhuo's group had arrived, other clansmen had already reached the hall.

"Presumptuous! Gathering here for no reason and disturbing the peace of the ancestors, what are you trying to do?" The ancestral hall elder stepped out and scolded the clansmen who had already gathered.

Some clansmen showed expressions of fear.

A deacon from a branch family stepped out of the crowd, first bowed to the ancestral hall elder, and then said: "Elder, a major event has occurred."

"Today, we must get to the bottom of this."

"Otherwise, if someone is wronged, the ancestors, if they know in the afterlife, will be even more furious and criticize us descendants for being unfilial."

The ancestral hall elder frowned; he had brought up the ancestors, and this deacon had used the ancestors' name as well.

The elder's expression was quite displeased: "Ning Xiangguo, what exactly happened?"

Ning Xiangguo, who spoke up for justice, concisely and comprehensively recounted the whole matter quickly.

The ancestral hall elder's expression changed slightly.

He was from the main branch, and being able to guard the ancestral hall meant he was a core member of the upper echelon; he knew a lot about Ning Xiaoren's style of doing things.

"Given the Young Clan Leader's temperament, this kind of thing is probably something he could really do."

"At this time... is it still possible to remedy it?"

Thinking of this, the ancestral hall elder nodded slightly, his expression softening, and he said to the crowd: "As the ancestral hall elder, I have always acted impartially."

"Since this matter has reached such a level, then please invite the Clan Leader and all the elders to witness it."

"You all have the right to supervise, but what does it look like gathering at the door?"

"Disperse for now, let my subordinates open the three gates, clear out a venue, and allow you all to be seated."

"You, go quickly and notify the Clan Leader and all the elders!" The ancestral hall elder openly let a subordinate go to tip them off.

In the time it took to say this, another large group of clansmen arrived at the ancestral hall.

The ancestral hall elder clicked his tongue in secret: "This is definitely a major event that has shocked the entire clan."

"It's hard to imagine that it was stirred up by a youth at the third level of Qi Refining."

The ancestral hall elder knew that he could only go with the flow; he definitely couldn't cover it up, and even delaying for a little while might lead to the clansmen secretly cursing him for being negligent.

Being from the main branch, he could only hope that Ning Xiaoren was being falsely accused and had really not done these things.

The Clan Leader soon learned of this news and was so shocked he stood up from his seat.

As a father, he knew Ning Xiaoren's style of doing things too well.

He immediately cast a spell, flew out a talisman, and notified Ning Xiaoren.

Ning Xiaoren was in seclusion, breathing and replenishing his magic power, and was displeased to be disturbed by the communication talisman.

However, he quickly recognized that this was his father's handiwork, and couldn't help but be a little curious: "Why is Dad looking for me? He seems so urgent..."

"Ah!" After seeing the content of the communication talisman, Ning Xiaoren jumped up as if his backside were on fire.

"That little brat Ning Zhuo wants to harm me!"

Ning Xiaoren had no heart to continue cultivating; he pushed open the door of the secret room and ran out.

He ran with all his might toward the private prison.

At this critical moment of extreme urgency, Ning Ze was the most crucial person.

As long as he compromised with Ning Xiaoren and denied everything, then Ning Xiaoren would still have hope.

As a result, when he arrived at the private prison, he saw a group of branch clansmen surrounding the place.

"Move aside!" Ning Xiaoren shouted, "Gathering here, are you trying to rebel?"

The branch clansmen were a bit panicked when they saw it was the Young Clan Leader.

But at this moment, an old voice came: "Young Clan Leader, you are a step late. Ning Zhuo's uncle has already been brought out by this old man."

Ning Xiaoren's heart sank as he saw the crowd part to make a path and saw an old man walking out slowly. Behind the old man was Ning Ze, who looked shocked and suspicious.

Ning Xiaoren saw the old man and his vision went black for a moment, but he still cupped his hands and said in a strained voice: "Elder Fu."

The old man was named Ning Youfu, a member of the branch family who had once served as the Talisman Hall elder and had accumulated considerable prestige.

Ning Xiaoren still wanted to make an effort: "Elder Fu doesn't know, this is all Ning Zhuo's trick. Ning Ze is suspected of multiple counts of embezzlement and has been under investigation. Ning Ze's wife, Wang Lan, has requested me many times to release Ning Ze. But I didn't agree, after all, the embezzlement hasn't been cleared up yet."

Ning Youfu chuckled at Ning Xiaoren: "I am taking Ning Ze away personally, Young Clan Leader. If you want to stop me, you'll have to step over my dead body."

Ning Xiaoren quickly said: "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare, Elder Fu, you are joking, and you have some misunderstandings about me."

"Regardless of whether there is a misunderstanding, there will definitely be a result in the ancestral hall. Young Clan Leader, please." While speaking, Ning Youfu led Ning Ze out of the crowd and arrived in front of Ning Xiaoren.

Ning Xiaoren gritted his teeth and really wanted to persist, but under the gaze of everyone, he was facing Ning Youfu, who had great prestige.

He could only take a step back and yield the path.

Ning Youfu laughed and continued walking.

Once he passed Ning Xiaoren's shoulder, Ning Xiaoren changed his expression and stared fixedly at Ning Ze, as if warning him—if you say anything you shouldn't, you're finished!

Ning Ze quickly lowered his head, not daring to make eye contact with Ning Xiaoren.

His heart was filled with countless doubts; Ning Youfu hadn't told him much just now.

"So, what on earth happened?!"

The group led by Ning Zhuo walked majestically through the clan territory.

Compared to when they just left their residence, Ning Zhuo's team had more than doubled, with at least fifty more people.

And as Ning Zhuo continued to walk, more people joined his ranks.

People were chattering, asking Ning Zhuo many questions, very gossipy.

Ning Zhuo had an angry look on his face and responded continuously.

Ning Yong was not very satisfied and whispered to Ning Zhuo privately: "Brother Zhuo, we are walking and stopping like this to answer questions for other clansmen, it's delaying our journey too much."

Ning Zhuo just glanced at Ning Yong without explaining.

Ning Chen transmitted his voice: "Stupid! In the current situation, of course, the more people who know, the better. The more people who support us, the more successful we will be later, do you understand?"

Ning Yong said "ah" and nodded repeatedly: "Understood, understood."