Chapter 157: Ning Xiaoren vs Ning Zhuo

"This wind must not be allowed to grow!"

"Ning Zhuo must be severely punished!!"

Ning Xiaoren made up his mind.

This time, Ning Zhuo had crossed his bottom line. Ning Xiaoren knew that if he ignored or indulged this behavior, it would bring no small risk and hidden dangers to the ruling of the main bloodline.

He had to strike swiftly and precisely!

However, Ning Xiaoren was not a demon cultivator. In the righteous path, it was crucial to have a justified reason for one's actions.

The righteous path's style was to always leave room for the future, whereas the demonic path typically eradicated problems at the root.

Even though Ning Xiaoren was the Young Clan Leader, he had to be careful in his approach when dealing with Ning Zhuo, who was from the branch bloodline.

He first gathered the reactions of the clan members.

Regarding Ning Zhuo's voluntary withdrawal from the reform team, there were generally two voices within the clan.

One voice believed that Ning Zhuo, in his youthful arrogance, became inflated with a bit of success, not knowing his own limits. His actions were wrong, angering the upper echelon of the family and ruining his own future. What if he didn't contribute? The main bloodline still had Ning Xiaohui, so they didn't lack his combat power.

The other voice understood and admired Ning Zhuo. Many of the branch members were ashamed that they lacked the courage to resist, expressing concern for Ning Zhuo's future and amazement at his actions.

"The public opinion is not favorable!" Ning Xiaoren frowned, thought for a moment, and issued an order, asking his confidants to spread a perspective—that Ning Zhuo's actions were selfish, disregarding the collective interest. How would the Zhou and Zheng families think? What would the City Lord's Mansion think? Wasn't he just making a joke of himself to outsiders?

But a day later, when Ning Xiaoren once again gathered public opinion, he found that more of the clan members were discussing how severely the main bloodline had been unfair in their rewards and punishments!

Ning Xiaoren didn't get the result he wanted, and instead, the clan's opinion turned against him.

His attempt to divert most of the clan members' attention and win their support had failed!

This made it even more difficult to deal with Ning Zhuo.

"Be patient and wait."

"Within this day, both Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhenshen personally visited to meet Ning Zhuo, clearly knowing about Ning Zhuo's withdrawal from the Ning family's reform team."

"The intentions of these two families are too obvious. Hehehe."

Ning Xiaoren decided to remain passive for now because he saw a glimmer of hope in the intelligence reports.

Zheng Jian was the first to approach Ning Zhuo.

He was a typical Zheng family member, decisive and efficient. After visiting Ning Zhuo, he got straight to the point and invited Ning Zhuo to join the Zheng family's reform team.

He had previously collaborated with Ning Zhuo to create the Tree Martial Ape, Dasheng, and held Ning Zhuo in high regard.

Zhou Zhenshen was the second. His words were more tactful, and even though he expressed an interest in recruiting, it was subtle. From Ning Zhuo's perspective, he suggested that Ning Zhuo could secretly cooperate with the Zhou family, sparing him from facing the Ning clan's kin.

Chen Cha was the third.

He personally delivered a sum of spirit stones, which were the profit dividends from the Mechanical Explosive Monkey.

Of course, this was just an excuse.

Chen Cha brought with him an invitation from the City Lord's Mansion.

During the crisis with Yuan Dasheng, Ning Zhuo had no choice but to involve himself, and his various actions had earned Fei Si's recognition and appreciation.

The source of this invitation came from Fei Si, a Golden Core stage cultivator!

However, after making the invitation, Chen Cha also expressed his thoughts.

With a complicated expression, he advised Ning Zhuo, "Little Zhuo, you've earned Lord Fei Si's favor, but this may not be a blessing."

"Right now, your three families are united in resisting the City Lord's Mansion. Jumping to their side would be extremely risky."

"If you really make this move, there may be no way back."

"In fact, even if you collaborate with the Zhou or Zheng families, it's very dangerous. People's hearts are unpredictable, and the Ning family members who support you now may change their stance and oppose you. You must be extremely cautious!"

Ning Zhuo responded, "I understand, Elder Chen. Thank you for your concern."

The young man cupped his hands and bowed deeply to Chen Cha.

He called Ning Chen and Ning Yong.

Ning Yong, brash as always, declared, "Brother Zhuo, I support you!"

"This is too much! The main bloodline is so unfair in its rewards and punishments."

"If this place doesn't accept me, there will be another that does. We won't suffer this injustice."

"No matter which family you cooperate with, Brother Zhuo, I'll follow you!"

Ning Yong patted his chest, more outraged than Ning Zhuo himself.

Ning Chen, on the other hand, furrowed his brows and sighed deeply. "I think, maybe we should have a proper discussion with the family elders?"

"After all, the Lava Immortal Palace is only temporary, and the king has issued a recruitment order. I believe, at most, in two or three years, the palace will have a new master."

"And we are still young. We have a long life ahead of us, and Brother Zhuo, you must consider your future."

Ning Yong glared, "Are you serious? You still want Brother Zhuo to shamelessly stay in the reform team?"

"Look at Ning Xiaohui, her progress isn't even half of ours, yet she's already enjoying the benefits of the Enlightenment Map."

"And what about us?"

Ning Zhuo stretched out both arms, placing his hands on Ning Chen and Ning Yong's shoulders, smiling, "Don't worry so much."

"I know you both mean well."

"To be honest, this time, it may seem impulsive, but I've actually thought it through carefully."

Ning Yong turned to Ning Zhuo, "Then, Brother Zhuo, tell me what we should do next, and I'll follow you!"

Ning Zhuo laughed heartily, "I did call you here for something."

"Just say the word," Ning Chen immediately replied.

Ning Zhuo said, "Today, I've been practicing the Lava Immortal Palace's techniques and have gained some insights. I need you two to inform the members of the reform team."

"If they're interested, we'll discuss some spell-casting techniques here today. How about that?"

"Ah, that's what this is about?" Ning Yong was surprised.

Ning Chen furrowed his brows and asked the key question, "Among the reform team, there are also members from the main bloodline..."

Ning Zhuo waved his hand, "Naturally, we'll only invite those from the branch bloodline."

"Alright." A sharp glint flashed in Ning Chen's eyes.

"Good!" Ning Yong clenched his fist and raised his arm, feeling relieved. "We'll leave out the main bloodline and play by ourselves."

They quickly gathered almost all the fellow students from the branch bloodline.

These people were highly interested.

Because earlier, Ning Zhuo had taken the initiative to help them, using the "Life Hanging by a Thread," the "Sharp Progress Needle," and the "Ice Light Strong Pulse Talisman" to boost their mana and cultivation quickly.

Later, Ning Zhuo led them through challenges, breaking family records and achieving outstanding results.

Just as the clan leader and young clan leader had seen, Ning Zhuo's influence over them was incredible.

"What? Ning Zhuo didn't accept the invitations from the Zhou and Zheng families, and in the past two days, he's been gathering fellow students, sharing his insights on spells?" When Ning Xiaoren learned of this, he frowned.

When he looked at the clan's public opinion again, he found that even more clan members were praising Ning Zhuo.

After every session of teaching, the returning cultivators couldn't stop praising Ning Zhuo's spell-casting skills and felt they had greatly benefited.

Many people started to discuss Ning Zhuo's talent, as his comprehension of spells this time had been astonishing.

With this came increased sympathy from many branch bloodline members for Ning Zhuo.

The more talented Ning Zhuo appeared, the more the clan's upper echelon's harshness and neglect seemed unjust.

Ning Xiaoren could no longer sit still.

He stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and began pacing around the study.

He hadn't expected Ning Zhuo to not make a mistake!

If it were him, at Ning Zhuo's age, he would have probably thrown himself into the Zhou or Zheng families, then worked desperately to perform better, to achieve more outstanding results, and to prove that the Ning family's upper echelon was blind and unfair in their rewards and punishments.

If Ning Zhuo had done that, then Ning Xiaoren could have taken the opportunity to act, turning the public opinion and branding Ning Zhuo as a traitor to the family, leaving him isolated and abandoned.

Once that was accomplished, Ning Xiaoren would

have a legitimate reason to impose further punitive measures on Ning Zhuo.

"Ning Zhuo didn't make a mistake!"

"At his age, could he have understood the underlying intricacies? Or was it just a lucky, unintentional move?"

Ning Xiaoren was the Young Clan Leader of the Ning family, holding this position for a long time, without anyone challenging him. Just based on this, it was enough to demonstrate his ability.

After frowning in thought for a moment, he came up with a plan: "I need to provoke Ning Zhuo and make him commit a serious mistake!"

"Ning Ze can be of use to me."

"Ning Zhuo is extremely greedy and has a poor relationship with Ning Ze. The key point is that Wang Lan still hasn't compensated Ning Zhuo with any resources."

"What will Ning Zhuo think?"

"Hehehe."

Ning Xiaoren, understanding the critical points, immediately opened the door and went to the private prison to meet with Ning Ze.

He didn't hide anything and directly told Ning Ze the truth: "If you can persuade Ning Zhuo to return to the reform team and bow his head to the family elders, I will release you!"

Upon hearing this, Ning Ze, like a drowning man clutching at a final straw, grasped the opportunity.

Ning Xiaoren then arranged for Wang Lan to visit Ning Ze in prison.

"Husband, what's happened to you?" Wang Lan exclaimed.

The couple faced each other across thick bars.

Ning Ze's body was covered in wounds.

Of course, the private prison had powerful healing methods, but Ning Xiaoren deliberately held back, only healing a small portion of Ning Ze's injuries to highlight his dire situation.

Thus, when Wang Lan visited, she saw that Ning Ze still had many bleeding wounds.

Despite the pain, Ning Ze spoke urgently, "Ning Zhuo has wronged me, wronged me!"

"I learned everything from the Young Clan Leader."

"That little bastard Ning Zhuo had the audacity to withdraw from the reform team! What does he take my efforts for?"

"Back then, I spent money and greased palms so he could join the reform team."

"Now, the Young Clan Leader wants us to persuade Ning Zhuo to return to the team. You must ensure this is done!"

"If we succeed, the Young Clan Leader will release me."

Wang Lan's eyes widened, "Really?"

"Sigh!" Ning Ze sighed, "At this point, I can only believe in the Young Clan Leader's promise."

"Look at me, covered in injuries!"

"My cultivation is sealed here, and I'm not a body cultivator. I won't last long."

Wang Lan nodded repeatedly, "Husband, I will do everything I can to persuade Ning Zhuo to change his mind."

"You must succeed!" Ning Ze said. "Even if it takes money, it's worth it!"

Wang Lan's eyes flickered. "Yes, alright."

Ning Ze knew his wife too well. Noticing her hesitation, he immediately spoke more sternly, "You foolish woman, you don't understand the gravity of this situation!"

"Don't let that boy Ning Zhuo make any outrageous moves!"