Faced with Ning Jiufan’s doubts and concerns, Ning Zhuo immediately put on a bitter expression.
With a wronged tone, he said, “Ancestor, how deeply you misunderstand me!”
“Ever since I founded the branch family, left my homeland, and ventured out, it has all been for the sake of the family’s plans.”
“The business of Jade Steel Mountain was precisely acquired through the efforts of this junior, exhausting mind and body, maneuvering on all sides, after many twists and turns, painstakingly secured.”
“Though I traveled far from home, I never forgot the family, nor the responsibilities of a branch family patriarch.”
Ning Jiufan couldn’t help but nod slightly.
Facts spoke louder than words!
He had seen with his own eyes how the Ning Family branch in Huoshi Immortal City ran the Jade Tempered Mysterious Steel business with great fervor. To the extent that many in the main bloodline were jealous and voiced sour comments.
Even before leaving Mist-Hidden Mountain, Ning Zhuo had already sent a letter to Ning Jiufan, informing him of the general events that had taken place atop the mountain.
When Ning Jiufan received the letter, he read through it and couldn’t help but smile. He was quite satisfied with Ning Zhuo’s performance at Mist-Hidden Mountain.Ning Jiufan nodded. “What you did at Mist-Hidden Mountain was indeed commendable.”
Ning Zhuo beamed. “Ancestor, this time, I intend to replicate the approach from Mist-Hidden Mountain and seek deeper cooperation with the Myriad Medicines Sect.”
Ning Jiufan stroked his beard and pondered aloud. “Mount Huoshi and Myriad Medicines Valley are quite far apart. Constructing a teleportation array would be costly. But relying on courier stations and trade routes carries even greater risk.”
“The Myriad Medicines Sect is flourishing in business and has no real need for us.”
“These two points are the major obstacles to our collaboration with the Myriad Medicines Sect.”
Clearly, after reading Ning Zhuo’s letter, Ning Jiufan had also been contemplating the potential collaboration.
Ning Zhuo nodded. “Ancestor, your words are truly incisive. To the Myriad Medicines Sect, our Ning Family is dispensable.”
“And we also lack anything of significant value to compel them into urgent cooperation.”
“This junior has thought long and hard—if we have nothing to sell, then we’ll sell our efforts!”
“Ancestor, the Myriad Medicines Sect is weak in martial strength. For this reason, they specifically formulated political strategies at Lesser Strife Peak to heavily support external cultivators. Even some of their Golden Core-level elders are hired from outside.”
“These people are not their own, hence they are used and guarded against at the same time.”
“If our Ning Family becomes a close ally of the Myriad Medicines Sect, we could earn more trust than those external cultivators.”
Ning Jiufan asked, “How do you reason that?”
Ning Zhuo explained, “Firstly, our Ning Family has a foundation. A monk can run away, but the temple remains—this makes us naturally more trustworthy than rogue cultivators or demon cultivators.”
“Secondly, we are located far from the Myriad Medicines Sect, so daily operations won’t lead to friction.”
“Thirdly, our Ning Family received assistance from the Myriad Medicines Sect during our migration. Such an old sentiment makes us worthy of deeper trust.”
Ning Jiufan nodded slightly, agreeing with Ning Zhuo’s analysis.
“But even so, to truly negotiate with Lin Bufan might not go smoothly.”
“I’ve met him a few times. He’s a man of deep scheming and great shrewdness—a practical talent among Nascent Soul cultivators.”
“We are currently in the position of seeking cooperation. If we approach him directly, we’ll surely be harshly undercut by Lin Bufan.”
Ning Jiufan clearly understood Lin Bufan far better than Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo contemplated aloud, “Perhaps we could spread some rumors? Spread word that the Myriad Medicines Sect is in a perilous situation?”
Ning Jiufan immediately shook his head. “Absolutely not.”
“Lin Bufan lives up to his name—truly remarkable. He’s far older than you, and this is his territory, cultivated meticulously for many years.”
“He would easily see through the rumors and trace them back to the source.”
“If we really did that, we’d be playing with fire.”
Ning Zhuo nodded and dismissed the idea at once. After all, he hadn’t even met Lin Bufan face-to-face, whereas Ning Jiufan had dealt with him many times.
Ning Jiufan looked at Ning Zhuo and smiled. “Little Zhuo, the Ice Heart Jade Flask is still in your possession, right? How much longer do you plan on borrowing it?”
Ning Zhuo chuckled, took out the Ice Heart Jade Flask, and respectfully presented it with both hands.
He gave no explanation whatsoever.
Instead, after receiving the flask, Ning Jiufan explained, “This flask is a treasured heirloom of our Ning Family, meant to benefit the entire clan. Keeping it solely for yourself doesn’t realize its true value.”
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly. “Strictly speaking, it holds exceptional significance only for those in the Ning Family main bloodline who practice the Ice Heart Sutra.”
With the Ice Heart Sutra cultivated to success, the foundation of the Upper Dantian in the Divine Sea often far surpassed the other two dantians. Under such circumstances, drinking the Ice Jade Wine produced by the Ice Heart Jade Flask could save cultivators a great deal of effort, allowing the cultivation of the Upper Dantian to drive the other two.
Since Ning Zhuo had called upon the family’s ancestor, he had naturally been prepared for this matter.
To be honest, the flask had little use for him.
Its two main uses were: producing Ice Jade Wine and enhancing healing effects.
As for the former, Ning Zhuo had already emptied it when exchanging the flask. For the latter, when it came to healing, he had the Ice Jade Hand to perfectly replace it.
“Empty?” The Ning Family Ancestor swept it with spiritual sense and, seeing the empty flask, couldn’t help but be surprised. “What did you need so much Ice Jade Wine for?”
“Even if sold, only cultivators who practice frost-based arts and have outstanding Divine Sea cultivation can use it.”
“This wine has never sold well.”
Ning Jiufan reminded him.
What suited the Ning Family might not suit others.
Especially since the Southern Dou Country was located in the south, with a humid and warm climate. Cultivators of frost-based techniques were few, far fewer than those of wood or earth attributes.
“I have my own uses for it,” Ning Zhuo said firmly at this moment.
Ning Jiufan nodded, choosing not to press the issue.
What a joke?
To interrogate Ning Zhuo?
Ning Jiufan knew well—even though Ning Zhuo was only in the early Foundation Establishment stage, his combat power was already at Golden Core level, perhaps even its peak!
Those few mechanical constructs, especially the Serpent Scythe... Ning Jiufan had seen them with his own eyes.
Thus, ever since the contest over the Lava Immortal Palace had concluded, Ning Jiufan’s attitude toward Ning Zhuo had shifted drastically.
In the past, he regarded Ning Zhuo as a promising junior of the family. Now, in his heart, Ning Zhuo deserved equal treatment.
“Ancestor, take a look at this.” Ning Zhuo took out a jade slip and handed it to Ning Jiufan.
“Toxic Flame Chrysanthemum?” Ning Jiufan swept it with spiritual sense, his smile deepening. “This is a fine thing. I will support the branch family.”
But Ning Zhuo said, “Currently, my branch family is short on manpower. Most are focused on managing Jade Tempered Mysterious Steel, while a small portion remains at the Lava Immortal Palace, guarding their duties.”
“So, regarding the Toxic Flame Chrysanthemum business, I’m willing to cooperate with the main bloodline and handle it together!”
“Oh? You’re willing to give it up?” Ning Jiufan was surprised.
Ning Zhuo smiled faintly. “A mere flower cultivation business is a trifling profit compared to future prospects.”
“If I used only the branch family’s manpower, it wouldn’t be enough. Even in two or three years, there wouldn’t be much progress.”
“Ancestor, I’m tight on resources now—urgently in need of funds. The more the better!”
“So, for the Toxic Flame Chrysanthemum, let’s scale it up as much as we can!”
“However, if the main bloodline wants to participate, the branch family must lead. Profit division: branch family eight, main bloodline two.”
Ning Jiufan’s eyes widened. “An eighty-twenty split?”
Ning Zhuo waved his hand. “Non-negotiable! If the Ning Family’s main bloodline refuses, I’ll work with the Zhou Family instead.”
Ning Jiufan snorted coldly. “You’re a bit too harsh with your own kin, Little Zhuo.”
Ning Zhuo sneered and directly showed his displeasure. “Since childhood, the Ning main bloodline has treated me this way. One retribution for another, what goes around comes around—that’s the law of heaven.”
Ning Jiufan sighed and changed the subject. “You amassed wealth through the black market and the Lava Immortal Palace. How is it that, in just a few short months, your resources are already strained?”
Ning Zhuo untied the Wanli Dragon coiled at his waist and displayed it for Ning Jiufan.
“A Nascent Soul-level mechanism! This is... Wanli Dragon? A fine item indeed.” Ning Jiufan recognized it, full of admiration.
He had already suspected as much. Now that he saw the Wanli Dragon, he wasn’t too surprised.
At the same time, he also understood the reason behind Ning Zhuo’s financial strain.
Ning Zhuo told him this Wanli Dragon mechanism was meant to be driven by a Nascent Soul. Now, it could only be powered with Fire Essence, with each activation costing a massive amount. By now, he was nearly unable to sustain it.
Ning Jiufan rebuked him, “For ordinary travel, what need is there to use the Wanli Dragon? That’s far too extravagant. It’s meant for escaping danger!”
Ning Zhuo didn’t tell him that he used it to hurry for the sake of his mother.
“With the Wanli Dragon to protect you, I’m at ease. As for Fire Essence, I do have news—it might help.” Ning Jiufan revealed that a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essence had appeared in Mount Huoshi.
And Meng Kui was already rallying Golden Core cultivators from the Zhou and Ning families, having taken Ning Jiufan’s Fire Core Pomegranate to set a trap.
“This Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essence is already highly sentient. If you obtain it, Little Zhuo, it should greatly reduce the Wanli Dragon’s energy consumption.”
“So long as the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essence isn’t destroyed completely, it can absorb spiritual energy from the outside and recover rapidly.”
Ning Zhuo’s eyes lit up, but a troubled expression followed.
It was indeed good news, but how could he obtain the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essence from under Meng Kui’s nose?
After discussing in detail with the ancestor, Ning Zhuo learned: Granny Yuan still carried injuries. If she participated in the fight for the Fire Essence, she might be outwitted by Meng Kui.
If anything happened to Granny Yuan, then Ning Jiufan and the Ning Family would suffer a double loss.
“In the current situation, we must ensure Granny Yuan’s recovery first—only then can we protect ourselves.”
“Once safety is assured, perhaps Granny Yuan can help obtain the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Essence!”
Thus, Ning Zhuo and Ning Jiufan reached a consensus.
Ning Jiufan inquired about Ning Zhuo’s current situation.
Ning Zhuo handed over all the intelligence he had gathered on the Myriad Medicines Sect to Ning Jiufan.
He also spoke candidly about his own experiences to prevent misjudgment on Ning Jiufan’s part.
Ning Jiufan: ......
After hearing it all, he paused for a moment before glaring. “Lin Bufan’s beloved daughter ended up grounded because of you. And you still say you didn’t cause trouble?”
Ning Zhuo defended himself. “I hit it off with Miss Lin at first sight. Friends helping each other is a true sign of friendship!”
Ning Jiufan snorted, then suddenly asked, “So you’re saying, this cultivation method for Toxic Flame Chrysanthemum—was it secretly handed to you by Lin Shanshan?”
Ning Zhuo shook his head immediately. “Of course not. This cultivation method came from Hua Guzi.”
Ning Jiufan: ......