Chapter 6: Side Story 2: Ning Clan's Posting of the Results

Nandou Kingdom.

Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

Ning clan's territory.

Today is the big day for the Ning clan to post the results.

Nearly a hundred youths, aged sixteen or seventeen, gathered in front of the list. These were the youths of the Ning clan with cultivation aptitude, the hope of the Ning clan.

"Don't squeeze me!"

"Hey, move aside."

"I see it, I see my name, I'm twenty-ninth! Heavens, I entered the top thirty."

In the crowd, a youth suddenly raised his arms and shouted.

The crowded crowd paused, and they all cast envious gazes at the cheering youth.

The results of this big exam were especially important to them. Because from now on, they could no longer stay in the family school to cultivate without producing, but had to enter various industries, work, and invest in production.

The youths in the top thirty of the big exam were qualified to join the Ning clan's own industries, and their future was undoubtedly broader.

Time passed, and the youths who squeezed into the top thirty either laughed loudly or cheered and jumped. Those after the thirtieth place had dim faces, with no light in their eyes.

Sixteen years ago, the Ning clan migrated as a whole clan, suffered heavy losses halfway, and fled in a sorry state into Fire Persimmon City.

In the time that followed, the Ning clan recuperated, slowly recovered its vitality, gradually took root, and still became one of the great immortal cultivation clans of Fire Persimmon City.

Ning clan disciples began testing their bone structure from birth, testing once a year until they were twelve or thirteen.

Those with cultivation aptitude were sent to the family private school, supplied by the family, and engaged in learning without production.

In this crowd, there was a youth, dressed plainly, with a relatively outstanding appearance, named Unlike Ning Zhuo.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was full of anxiety, staring intently at the list.

He saw his name, ranked thirty-first!

Very embarrassing, just outside the top thirty.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's movements stiffened, and then a look of astonishment appeared on his face.

He was quickly squeezed out of the crowd by the surrounding youths.

A tall and thin youth came over and patted his shoulder: "Cousin, your grades are usually in the top twenty, how did you perform so poorly in such an important big exam this time?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo didn't need to look up; hearing this voice, he knew who was coming.

He looked up.

Sure enough, the one speaking was Ning Ji.

Ning Ji looked sympathetic and concerned, but in fact, his eyes were full of schadenfreude. In the family school, his grades in every subject were usually suppressed by Unlike Ning Zhuo. Rarely, this time he actually surpassed Unlike Ning Zhuo, and it was such a critical big exam!

Unlike Ning Zhuo's gaze was somewhat dull, and he subconsciously looked at the list again, muttering in his mouth: "I don't know either..."

Among the surrounding classmates, there were many with similar expressions to his. This set off Ning Ji's happy face even more.

At this time, two youths approached.

Ning Ji glanced at the two, proudly patted Unlike Ning Zhuo's shoulder: "I'll go first, you should also hurry home, my parents are looking forward to this big exam result."

The two youths, one was named Ning Chen, and one was named Ning Yong.

Ning Yong was careless: "Unlike Ning Zhuo, I saw your grades. It seems you performed poorly this time."

Ning Chen poked Ning Yong with his elbow: "Even if he performed poorly, he still did better than the two of us."

Ning Yong muttered: "But, falling outside the thirtieth place, what's the difference from our grades? Neither of us can enter the family's industries."

Ning Chen looked at Unlike Ning Zhuo: "I heard people say that, in fact, within the thirty-fifth place, one can also enter the family's industries. It just requires asking someone to send gifts and pulling some strings."

"You have hope with this ranking."

Unlike Ning Zhuo said "Ah," his eyes seeming to light up again: "Is that really so?"

Ning Chen nodded: "Hurry up and go, find your uncle and aunt and talk about it. These quotas are actually limited; if you are late, you will be squeezed out by others."

Unlike Ning Zhuo couldn't help but show an anxious look: "I, I will go back now and explain the situation to my uncle and aunt. Thank you!"

Saying that, he ran away with small steps.

Ning Yong's expression was somewhat complicated, muttering: "It looks like Unlike Ning Zhuo might really be able to squeeze into the family's industries."

Ning Chen, however, shook his head: "I'm afraid it's a bit hanging."

"I accidentally heard about Unlike Ning Zhuo's situation."

"He lost his father before he was born. When he was one or two years old, his mother also died of a serious illness. His life in his uncle's house was not satisfactory, and he was often bullied by his cousin when he was young."

"His uncle and aunt don't treat him well. If he wants to pull strings and send gifts this time, the cost will be high, and I'm afraid they won't be willing."

Ning Yong was somewhat incredulous: "At this critical moment, his uncle and aunt wouldn't be unaware of the severity, right?"

Ning Chen shook his head and sighed: "Hard to say."

On the other side.

Inside the Ning clan's deep mansion.

"Young Lady, Young Lady, you made it, you are the first place in the big exam!" The maid ran into the room, her face flushed with excitement.

Main lineage member Ning Xiaohui was making talismans, not even raising her head.

She used the tip of her index finger to slide gently on the talisman paper. Where her fingertip passed, a trace of ice spread and turned, finally forming a frost talisman.

Ning Xiaohui looked at the frost talisman, a trace of complacency curling at the corner of her mouth.

She lowered her head to look at her hands and snorted coldly: "I have a pair of ice-fat jade hands; the talisman subject must be superior grade. Winning first place, what is so strange about that?"

"Those who are my classmates, without exception, are all mediocre and incompetent people; what do they have to compete with me?"

Ning Xiaohui's gaze kept flowing over her own hands.

Her appearance was above average, but her hands were beautiful, as if carved from white jade. Her ten fingers were slender and delicate, her nails neatly trimmed, bright and full, like pearls reflected on water waves.

The texture on the back of her hands was delicate and clear, exuding softness and elegance.

In the sunlight, the delicate blood vessels at her wrists were slightly cyan-blue, like jade-bright thin lines.

She turned her palms over, palms facing up.

She casually pinched a finger technique, her ten fingers bending respectively, her hands like blooming ice flowers. Under the reflection of the sunlight, the outline of her palms was faintly transparent, delicate and moving, ice-clear and jade-clean.

The maid on the side subconsciously held her breath, muttering foolishly: "So beautiful." ===== CHAPTER 7 =====