Chapter 308: Not Died in Vain

Ning Zhuo held the cup, took a light sip, and smiled at the Ning Clan Head: "Clan Head, don't you want your son to return to the clan?"

The Ning Clan Head was stunned.

He had never thought that this sentence would come from Ning Zhuo's mouth.

Because it was Ning Zhuo who pulled Ning Xiaoren down from his position!

According to the Ning Clan Head's understanding, Ning Zhuo should be extremely disgusted with Ning Xiaoren. How could he say such a thing?

The Ning Clan Head was shocked.

At this moment, he suddenly saw clearly a part of Ning Zhuo's true face!

The young man in front of him was well-versed in the righteous path, and he was the same kind of person as himself.

What kind of person?

Cold to the point of ruthlessness, placing interests above personal feelings!

Or rather, the emotions he revealed to the outside were just masks, the disguise for actions that best served his personal interests!

The Ning Clan Head considered himself to have seen through Ning Zhuo's essence.

Thus, he revealed a solemnity like never before.

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

"Xiaoren..." The Ning Clan Head mentioned his son, a touch of tenderness appearing on his face, "I do hope he can return. But how do you want me to believe that you can bring him back?"

Ning Zhuo was expressionless: "Since I could pull him down, I can naturally bring him back."

"For a period of time before, didn't he also want to attach himself to me?"

"I can promise this, let him work by my side. With my current status, arranging some things for him and giving him some credit, isn't that simple?"

"When the time comes, I will personally come forward and announce to everyone that Ning Xiaoren has turned over a new leaf and has already gained my forgiveness. Then, his political stain will be washed away."

"You see, what a perfect method. In the whole world, only I can do this."

"I believe this is also a scene that Old Ancestor Ning Jiufan would be happy to see."

"In the end, our branch lineage and your main lineage are both surnamed Ning, and we are all one family."

Hearing Ning Zhuo, who was trying his best to split the family, say this, the Ning Clan Head sneered: "How shameless!"

After pondering for a moment, the Ning Clan Head nodded slowly with a heavy expression.

The Ning Clan Head left, leaving Ning Zhuo alone in the room.

"Split the family, split the family..." He sighed in his heart.

He always brought up this idea, bringing it up whenever there was a chance, and it wasn't just for fun.

Sects have soul lamps, countries have registers, alliances have covenants, and families naturally have things to restrain their disciples.

When a newborn baby in the family is born, the cut umbilical cord is made into a magic tool, the bloodline umbilical cord, and sent to the ancestral hall for strict supervision.

After a baby is named, their name is also made with heart blood, tongue-tip blood, and foot blood, and depicted in the genealogy.

These are just two main conventional means, and there are more powerful means of restraint.

That is the ancestors in the underworld!

This world is divided into two sides: the yang world and the underworld.

The yang world is the world where Ning Zhuo is, with the sun rising and the moon setting, wind and clouds, flowers, birds, insects, and fish, full of vitality.

The underworld is full of ghosts, gloomy and dim, filled with death.

The entrance and exit between the underworld and the yang world is called the Ghost Gate Pass.

People are divided into yang lifespan and yin lifespan.

According to the natural rules of this world, cultivators and mortals will return to the underworld after death, residing in the underworld for many days, and only when their yin lifespan is exhausted are they truly extinguished.

Judging whether a family is a cultivation family depends not only on the size of the group in the yang world and the highest cultivation level, but also on the scale and highest cultivation level of the ancestors in the underworld.

The Ning clan is a genuine cultivation family. Don't look at their weak power in the yang world; in the underworld, they are actually very fierce.

This is because sixteen years ago, the Ning clan migrated all the way from the North Wind Kingdom, sacrificing too many clansmen, and even Jin Dan cultivators fell!

The power in the underworld was powerfully replenished.

The connection between the underworld and the yang world is very strong.

The Ning clan's annual family sacrifice, the addition of new juniors in the family, or funerals, all communicate with the underworld.

Therefore, for members of the family, violating family rules and executing family law is not just talk.

Ning Zhuo needs to obtain the name of acting independently.

If not, this will form a flaw for his subsequent actions.

If the family seizes this flaw and pursues it, it will be a big trouble.

Even if Ning Zhuo doesn't die, he will have to peel off a layer of skin.

Now, through interest exchange, the Ning Clan Head has loosened his mouth and agreed to this matter. The various clan elders of the Ning clan are controlled by other factions of the main lineage, and now they have also been persuaded by Ning Zhuo with the help of Grandma Xiaohui's matter.

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

He just started speaking when he was interrupted by Ning Ze: "What? Let the culprit go and let her go back?!"

"I don't agree!"

"I absolutely don't agree!!"

Ning Ze couldn't sit still and stood up directly: "Ning Zhuo, Ning Ji is your cousin, he grew up with you."

"Now, he has been killed by someone!"

"But you want to compromise with the main lineage, let the culprit go, and give her back to them?"

"If Ji'er knew in the underworld, what would he think of you?"

"I have supported you with all my might until now, the Ning clan branch lineage 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 lineage. Who knew that at this meeting, Ning Zhuo's first sentence was like a bolt from the blue, hitting him on the head.

Ning Ze couldn't figure out why Ning Zhuo's attitude toward the main lineage had turned so sharply!

"Little Zhuo, how can you do this, how can you be worthy of Ning Ji, how can you be worthy of us, how can you be worthy of the clan branch lineage that supports you!"

Ning Ze cried and complained, trying every means to bring out various names to pressure Ning Zhuo to make changes and withdraw his original decision.

Ning Xiangguo and others also looked at Ning Zhuo, casting inquiring gazes.

Ning Yong opened his mouth to say something, but was pressed on the arm by Ning Chen sitting on the side, stopping him.

Ning Zhuo sighed deeply: "Uncle, please sit down."

"I can't sit down! Little Zhuo, give me a definite answer, right now!" Ning Ze appeared very excited.

Ning Zhuo stopped looking at him, looked around, his expression heavy, his tone steady: "Of course I am worthy of you, worthy of the Ning clan's branch lineage."

"My cousin is dead, and I am deeply grieved. I believe that in this world, besides my uncle and aunt, I am the one who wants to punish the culprit the most."

"I wish I could split Grandma Xiaohui in half right now!"

"But at the critical moment, I thought of another aspect."

"I am not a loner; I am the hope of the Ning clan's branch lineage, the future flag-bearer. I want revenge, but that is just my own selfish desire."

"But if I vent my selfish desire and make the relationship between the Ning clan's branch lineage and the main lineage stiff, at such a critical moment, it will inevitably be taken advantage of by the enemy!"

"You say, isn't that the truth?"

Ning Zhuo paused and looked at the people in the hall.

Ning Xiangguo was the first to nod: "Indeed, Young Master Zhuo has considered it thoroughly. At the current stage, it is the critical moment of the palace examination. In fact, because this matter involves your energy and time, it is already very inappropriate. It is indeed not advisable to be too hasty."

Others also showed approval.

Ning Ze was indignant: "Even so, it is completely possible to detain the culprit, there is no need to send her back, right?"

Ning Zhuo sighed: "This is the second reason I want to say, and it is also the main reason."

"I have used this matter to reach a consensus with the important factions of the Ning clan's main lineage, and also reached a consensus with the Ning Clan Head."

"I will release the culprit, and at the same time recruit Ning Xiaoren to work by my side, and in the future, I will publicly announce reconciliation and help him return to the clan."

"And what we get is the unanimous decision of the Clan Head and the clan elders—to hand over the power of splitting the family to me."

A stone stirred up a thousand waves.

Everyone was shocked, and several people blurted out: "Split the family?!"

After reacting, Ning Xiangqian, Ning Yong, and others asked urgently.

"Is this true? I didn't hear it wrong, did I?"

"If we really split the family, that would be great!"

"I didn't expect Young Master Zhuo to have accomplished this great thing silently, how happy, how happy!"

Only Ning Ze was as dull as a stone statue, standing in place, eyes wide, staring at Ning Zhuo, fists clenched, saying nothing.

Splitting the family is not a simple matter; it can be said to be quite rare.

A family is a small country, and a country is a big family. The division of a country is a big event. Splitting a family is also a big event for a family!

After splitting the family, a family will inevitably fall into a period of weakness.

The clansmen who are split out can set up their own mountain and open up new foundations.

Everyone has huge room for promotion.

Ning Zhuo's clan branch lineage jumped out and became the clan head of the split family.

Ning Xiangguo, Ning Xiangqian, and others have the possibility of becoming clan elders of the split family.

Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and other juniors who have a close relationship with Ning Zhuo will receive key resources from the split family, and it is not impossible for them to be promoted to clan elders in the future.

As for the resources of the split family, not to mention anything else.

Just say that every sacrifice, one can use the identity of clan head and clan elder to communicate with the ancestors in the underworld and obtain huge benefits.

Looking back, before splitting the family, Ning Xiangguo and his group couldn't even be clan deacons.

Seeing the ecstasy on everyone's faces, Ning Zhuo sighed deeply: "Although I wish I could kill Grandma Xiaohui immediately, for the sake of the overall situation, for the future of all of us, I am willing to suppress my selfish desires and make this decision with blood and pain. I hope everyone can understand and support me."

The people in the hall were moved.

"Boss, I knew you were deep in affection and righteousness. Ning Ji was corrupt and exploited his power while he was alive, and many people reported him to you, but you suppressed it. You must have wanted to tear the culprit into pieces, I understand you!" Ning Yong said first.

Ning Chen sighed deeply: "Boss, you have made too many sacrifices and carried too many burdens. I misunderstood you just now, I am sorry for you. Now I understand your painstaking efforts, I was wrong!!"

Ning Xiangguo stood up and bowed to Ning Zhuo: "Clan Head, what to do next, please instruct. I am willing to be driven by you!"

As soon as this was said, everyone looked sideways.

Ning Chen thought secretly: "Learned, learned."

Ning Zhuo exhaled a turbid breath and nodded slightly: "I am very pleased to have everyone's support and understanding."

"Uncle, what are your thoughts?"

Ning Ze had been dull in place for a while.

Hearing Ning Zhuo's inquiry, he chuckled, looked at Ning Zhuo, and scanned the hall.

The joys and sorrows of people are not connected.

Seeing the hidden joy of everyone, Ning Ze, who was filled with the pain of losing his son, felt desolate; he felt out of place with his surroundings.

Others were cooking oil with fire and flowers, but he was in a world of ice and snow, as if abandoned by the world.

Finally, Ning Ze's gaze locked on Ning Zhuo.

Not long ago, he used righteousness to represent the Ning clan's branch lineage to pressure Ning Zhuo and force him to avenge Ning Ji.

But now, after Ning Zhuo lightly threw out the piece of meat of splitting the family, the entire Ning clan's branch lineage had been seduced and gone crazy, where could they still care about the death of a small Qi Refining junior?

Ning Ze's voice was hoarse: "Ning Zhuo, your cousin's death has been used as a bargaining chip by you, a tool to fight for interests!"

"What else can I say?"

"What else is there to say?"

"I'm just very cold, incomparably cold."

"Goodbye, goodbye."

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

Ning Zhuo hurriedly stood up, wanting to save him, but Ning Ze left quite decisively, his back hunched.

Ning Zhuo stood at the door, watching Ning Ze leave, and sighed painfully: "Time does not forgive, my uncle is so old."

"I am sorry for him! Everyone, my heart is blocked now."

"Did I do something wrong, or did I do something right? I don't know for a while."

Ning Xiangqian and others hurriedly crowded over, one word after another, affirming Ning Zhuo's approach and praising Ning Zhuo's sacrifice and dedication.

"For the sake of the entire clan branch lineage, you have carried too much!" Ning Xiangqian said.

"Yes, Clan Head." Ning Chen said.

Ning Xiangguo couldn't help but look at Ning Chen and comforted: "Ning Ze is understandable. After all, the white-haired sending the black-haired, losing a son in middle age, is indeed tragic."

"But I think he just didn't think it through for a while."

"He is not unable to give birth again. When he thinks it through, he will find that he is already of the clan elder lineage and is closest to you, Clan Head."

"To be utilitarian, Ning Ji did not die in vain."

This remark caused Ning Yong's strong approval, and he echoed loudly: "Yes, yes. Ning Ji did not die in vain!"

Ning Zhuo finally cautioned: "You must take good care of my uncle and aunt."

"I am participating in the palace examination and cannot get away, so I leave it to you."

The others hurriedly agreed.