Chapter 342

A few more days passed.

The Zheng family territory, oh no, the Ning family branch territory changed from a piece of white to a large group of fiery red; the sadness and mourning faded by more than half, and the joyful atmosphere spread all around.

Ning Zhuo stood on the high platform, first sacrificing to heaven, then to earth, and finally burning paper money and lighting incense to inform the ancestors in the underworld—he, Ning Zhuo, was officially splitting the family today, at this very moment!

"Today's family splitting ceremony... thanks to everyone's full support... Zhu is grateful and will keep it in mind."

"From today on, I am the clan head, and I will be determined to be diligent, work hard, and swear to take the prosperity of the family as my own responsibility!"

"Today's achievement was not obtained overnight, nor could it be achieved by one person's strength. Here, I especially need to cherish the memory of Ning Xiaohui, Ning Xiangguo, Ning Xiaoren, and many other martyrs of the family! You shed blood on the battlefield for the family and protected the dignity and safety of the family with your lives. Although your heroic souls have passed away, your spirit will last forever; we will always remember your kindness in our hearts and swear to strengthen the family to comfort your spirits in heaven..."

"... will inherit the legacy of the martyrs, be loyal and unswerving, and defend the peace of the family. For the treacherous and evil people like the Un-Empty Gate, who have committed many evil deeds, I, Ning Zhuo, swear to be irreconcilable with them. Whoever has evil, will be eradicated; Zhu is willing to lead by example, forge ahead, and never retreat."

"... he elders of the hometown are deeply affectionate, Zhu will never forget, always keep a grateful heart, and do his best to give back to the hometown. I will be loyal and report to the City Lord's Mansion and the Nandou Kingdom, willing to protect the peace of one side with a sincere heart."

"... hank you all for your support, may we be of one heart and one mind, work together to prosper the family, and plan for a great cause together!"

Ning Zhuo's impassioned speech made countless Ning family branch disciples feel excited; they had really suffered from the main line for a long time.

There were also guests invited to observe the ceremony, who saw Ning Zhuo on the high platform, each with complex and unspeakable expressions.

Some were envious, some jealous, some wary, some contemptuous...

? o

After the family splitting ceremony, there was a flowing banquet to entertain guests from all sides.

The former Zheng family territory had a new master. The Zheng family members were either in prison or taken away by the Taiqing Palace Nascent Soul cultivator, while the Ning family members were drinking and eating here, clinking glasses, the atmosphere was warm, the rise and decay merged here, and the cruelty of the change in human prosperity made the hearts of those who cared feel cold.

The seating arrangement was carefully designed.

At the main table, Wang Lan sat in a high position. Ning Zhuo served on the left and right, often picking up food for her, showing great care.

Wang Lan felt like she was chewing wax, and as she ate, she sobbed again.

Ning Zhuo quickly stopped his chopsticks and asked gently.

Wang Lan was extremely sad, sighing that such a beautiful moment was like a dream, but her husband and beloved son had fallen in the darkness before dawn and did not enjoy this moment, which really made her sad.

Ning Zhuo comforted her well at the time, his words like a gentle breeze and drizzle, making the guests who witnessed this scene praise and feel moved.

At the table next to the main table sat many widows and orphans.

After Ning Zhuo comforted Wang Lan, he left the main table and personally took Ning Chen, Ning Yong, and others to toast each table in turn.

The first table was the neighboring table.

The orphans and widows were uneasy; Ning Zhuo announced in public that the descendants of heroes would never be treated unfairly, and that a branch family school would be set up to provide free education for these orphans.

Such good governance immediately made the widows' eyes red and tearful; some of them took their children to kneel and thank him, and then all the orphans and widows at the table knelt down to thank him.

"Why go so far!" Ning Zhuo's eyes also turned red, and he helped them up one by one and let them sit down again.

The commotion was so great that it attracted almost everyone's attention.

The guests praised one after another, saying that although Ning Zhuo was young, he had the appearance of a family head!

The usher suddenly sang loudly: "The Ning family school elder is here to congratulate!"

Immediately, the gift list was recited: "Ten thousand high-grade spirit stones, three thousand catties of Red Sun Copper, one hundred and thirty-six groups of Foundation Establishment-level Earth Fiend Fire, eighty roots of two-hundred-year-old ginseng..."

The gift list was quite long.

Ning Zhuo quickly stood up, respectfully called him teacher, and welcomed the school elder to the main table.

Among the many elders of the Ning family main line, the school elder had the closest relationship with Ning Zhuo. After all, Ning Zhuo had just graduated from the school this year.

After the school elder sat down, he held Ning Zhuo's hand, his face full of kind smiles, and his words were earnest.

Ning Zhuo had no choice but to sit next to the school elder, talking and laughing.

Those who didn't know the truth would think that the school elder and Ning Zhuo had a very good private relationship. In fact, the school elder did not teach, and Ning Zhuo hadn't seen the school elder more than ten times in a year.

The school elder came to show favor on behalf of the Ning family main line, which was something Ning Zhuo was happy to see; expressing closeness now was also beneficial to the future of the branch family.

Ning Zhuo knew the reason for the change in the attitude of the Ning family main line.

He didn't know about Ning Jiufan punishing Ning Qingqiao and beating the Ning family main line elders.

The elders who experienced this were all tight-lipped. Even Ning Qingqiao was no exception.

However, Ning Qingqiao being stripped of his elder status was a major event announced to the outside world.

"To strip an elder of his duties is not something other elders can do together. Now that the position of Ning family head is vacant, the source of the drastic change in the elder position can only come from Ning Jiufan. Apart from this, there is no other choice."

Ning Zhuo's branch family had just been established, and for now, he very much needed a peaceful external environment. Ning Zhuo secretly planned: it wouldn't be too late to find trouble with the Ning family main line in the future. For now, the most critical thing was for the branch family to stand firm.

"Zhou family ancestor Zhou Nongying is here—!" The usher sang loudly, his voice even trembling.

You know, this is a Jin Dan-level cultivator, one of the two ancestors of the Zhou family.

The creation of the Ning family branch attracted such a heavyweight figure; such a surprise made everyone at the banquet stand up immediately, preparing to salute Zhou Nongying, who was about to take his seat.

The usher continued to recite Zhou Nongying's gift list.

"Forty Foundation Establishment-level Fire-Deviated Snakes, thirty-two Foundation Establishment-level Spirit-Gathering Array Discs, four hundred and forty-six catties of Moon-Glow Cold Iron!"

Although Zhou Nongying's gift list was much shorter than the Ning family main line's, each item was heavyweight.

This made everyone even more surprised: the Zhou family actually attached such importance to the family splitting of little Ning Zhuo. Not to mention the Jin Dan ancestor personally congratulating him, he also gave such a heavy gift. Can't figure it out, really can't figure it out.

This feeling is like a royal noble carrying a lot of money to congratulate a beggar.

In the eyes of the public, Zhou Nongying's personal attendance alone was enough to make Ning Zhuo shine and be proud for a lifetime.

The key is that Zhou Nongying not only came, but also brought a heavy gift.

"This is giving Ning Zhuo too much face! Hahaha, my branch family's prosperity is just around the corner."

"Hmph, what do you know? Ning Zhuo is just a puppet, a confession pushed to the front desk. The whole thing is just hahaha, Zhou Nongying is clearly showing favor to ancestor Ning Jiufan."

"You know again. You know everything!"

The guests argued in low voices, but they never waited for Zhou Nongying to appear.

Instead, Ning Zhuo apologized, said goodbye to the school elder, and ran a few steps out of the banquet hall. Obviously, he went to welcome Zhou Nongying.

The guests waited and hoped that Ning Zhuo would lead Zhou Nongying over.

As a result, they waited and waited, and only after asking did they know that Ning Zhuo had already led Zhou Nongying into a separate private room and would not take a seat with the public.

So the next moment, a collective sigh expressed everyone's regret.

After entering the private room, with only Ning Zhuo and Zhou Nongying left, Ning Zhuo straightened his back, his surface smile became very reserved, and he thanked Zhou Nongying for his support with an equal attitude.

Zhou Nongying personally participated in the third round of the palace examination and knew Ning Zhuo's strength well. Not to mention anything else, just the Buddha-Doctor Meng Yaoyin holding the Snake Sickle made the two ancestors of the Zhou family deeply wary.

Zhou Nongying first expressed that Zhou Zeshen and Zhou Zhu had once praised Ning Zhuo, and used this to open the conversation, telling the Zhou family's attitude, which was very willing to be close to Ning Zhuo's branch family, even more so than the Ning surname main family.

"It's a pity that the corpses of Zhou Zeshen and Zhou Zhu were not obtained." Ning Zhuo thought of this and felt a pity.

These two rising stars of the Zhou family did not die at Ning Zhuo's hands.

After he passed through the teleportation gate and entered the main hall, he found that Zhou Zeshen and Zhou Zhu had already died in battle. They died at the hands of Meng Chong!

Without letting Ning Zhuo speak, Zhou Nongying took the initiative to propose that the Zhou family was willing to send the most excellent array-building cultivators to change and upgrade various arrays for Ning Zhuo's branch family, such as the arrays in the major weapon-refining rooms.

Ning Zhuo showed joy and immediately indicated that close cooperation with the Zhou family was a good thing that the branch family was looking forward to.

You know, the Zhou family's ability to build arrays is unique; the Zheng family once offered a high price to invite the Zhou family to upgrade and improve their arrays, but they were all politely refused by the Zhou family.

For the Zhou family, this is almost helping the enemy, especially the large and small arrays in the weapon-refining room. Once these arrays are improved, it will inevitably make the Zheng family's prestige even greater!

But this time, Zhou Nongying took the initiative to loosen his mouth and cooperate with Ning Zhuo on this matter, which shows the Zhou family's sincerity.

Ning Zhuo knew very well: "On one hand, my combat power is over the standard and cannot be treated as Qi Refining cultivation at all. On the other hand, the Meng family controls the Magma Immortal Palace, and the Zhou family is under the greatest pressure, urgently needing allies to jointly resist the Meng family."

After the matter of the Magma Immortal Palace was settled, the pattern of the entire Fire Persimmon Immortal City had changed drastically.

The Zhou family is worthy of being an old family and has already actively acted on the great changes.

Just as he was talking in detail with Zhou Nongying, the usher sang loudly: "City Lord's Mansion official Fei Si is here—!"

Fei Si also gave a lot of gifts.

Everyone at the flowing banquet was shocked again.

Compared to Zhou Nongying, Fei Si is the acting City Lord, a capable subordinate of City Lord Meng Kui, and a big figure who truly rules Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

Now, such a big figure has come to congratulate in person!

"Did I have auditory hallucinations?"

"This is simply unbelievable!"

"What virtue and ability does little Ning Zhuo have?!"

Fei Si did not take a seat either.

Ning Zhuo had to temporarily interrupt his communication with Zhou Nongying and go out to welcome Fei Si.

Zhou Nongying sneered in his heart, with a smile on his face: "Welcome together, welcome together."

Seeing Ning Zhuo and Zhou Nongying coming over at the same time, Fei Si also smiled meaningfully: "Clan Head Ning Zhuo, it seems I have disturbed you."

Ning Zhuo bowed to Fei Si, expressing his gratitude for Fei Si's care for him in the past.

Fei Si narrowed his eyes, looked Ning Zhuo up and down, and sighed faintly: "Clan Head Ning Zhuo is too modest; without me, your strength is enough to overcome various difficulties; it is I, Fei Si, who had eyes but didn't recognize a hero!"

He was truly speaking from his heart.

After learning the truth from Meng Kui, he was completely shocked at the time.

He didn't expect that Ning Zhuo, a younger generation, had hidden so deeply and designed so viciously; the destruction of the entire Zheng family was basically because of him!

Fei Si appreciated Ning Zhuo even more, but at the same time, he became extremely wary and guarded.

After all, this young man in front of him, only in the Qi Refining stage, had kept Fei Si in the dark many times. Such strategy and wrist are no small matter! Whoever underestimates him will surely pay a heavy price.