Chapter 2: Ning Zhuo

**Ning Clan Estate.**

Today was the day of the list unveiling for the Ning Clan.

Ning Ze and his wife, Wang Lan, were seated in the main hall early in the morning, awaiting the results of the grand examination for the two younger generation members of their household.

From birth, the Ning Clan's children were tested for their spiritual root, once every year until they reached the age of twelve or thirteen.

Those with cultivation aptitude were sent to the clan's private school, provided for by the family, to engage in full-time study until they reached the age of sixteen or seventeen, when they would take the graduation exam.

This annual grand examination was crucial to the fates of the young cultivators.

The top thirty examinees would qualify to join the Ning Clan's core businesses, undoubtedly paving the way for a brighter future.

Wang Lan outwardly sipped her tea, but her gaze frequently darted towards the main gate, unable to conceal her nervousness and anticipation.

Ning Ze, however, seemed distracted, his mood profoundly despondent.

He had waited until the break of dawn, yet the Three Fiends of the Huang Family had failed to return with a report.

"They failed!"

"I never imagined that little whelp would be so ferocious and insidious."

"It's alright, it's alright."

"When I contacted the Three Fiends of the Huang Family, I did not reveal my true face. That whelp won't be able to discover it was me."

"The Three Fiends of the Huang Family are all bark and no bite, possessing a Spirit-Suppressing Talisman and the Green Mantis pet, yet they still lost in a three-on-one fight! I truly misjudged them."

"Alas, that little whelp... What should I do next?"

Ning Ze was forced into a corner, taking a risky gamble that ended in a bitter defeat. He had a splitting headache and did not know how to explain this to the young clan leader.

"Father, Mother, I passed! I made it into the top thirty!" Just then, a young man burst into the room, shouting excitedly.

"Really? Ji'er, you really passed?!" Wang Lan immediately stood up, her face full of joy.

The young cultivator, Ning Ji, raised his voice: "Of course! Mother, don't you believe your own son?"

"Oh?" Ning Ze looked up and saw his son, Ning Ji's unrestrained, triumphant smile.

Usually, Ning Ji's scores were around fortieth place, but unexpectedly, this time he had performed exceptionally well.

This unexpected good news slightly diluted Ning Ze's worries.

Ning Ji's tone was exuberant: "Father, Mother, your son has brought honor to the family this time! I told you, I knew what I was doing. My usual grades weren't good, it was just that I didn't want to exert myself fully."

"Unlike some people!"

"Usually, his grades are very good, consistently within the top thirty. But this time, he revealed his true colors, only scoring thirty-first place. Alas, a failure!"

As he spoke, Ning Ji turned to look at the white-robed youth who followed behind him, his face filled with mockery.

The white-robed youth was dressed plainly, his eyes clear, carrying a heavy expression of guilt and disappointment.

"Grand Uncle, Grand Aunt." The white-robed youth, Ning Zhuo, bowed in greeting.

Wang Lan looked at the youth and shrieked: "What? Little Zhuo, you messed up this time?!"

Ning Ze's face darkened, and he reached out, demanding: "Let me see the grade sheet."

Ning Zhuo then took out the grade sheet and handed it to his Grand Uncle, Ning Ze.

Ning Ze lowered his head and scanned it, his face as dark as water.

The next moment, he shook the paper in his hand, lamenting: "Little Zhuo, how could you make such a serious mistake this time?"

"I recall that you had some minor achievements in mechanical arts."

"Before, the mechanical parrot you made even received praise from the elders."

"Mechanical arts are clearly your strength, so how could you score a bottom rank this time?"

"Alas, if it weren't for this bottom rank, you would have been in the top thirty!"

The Grand Aunt's gaze was sharp: "Little Zhuo, tell me, have you been taking on private jobs from the mechanical workshops again recently?"

Without waiting for Ning Zhuo to answer, the Grand Aunt sighed regretfully: "Alas, how many times have I told you not to be greedy for money. At your age, you should be studying properly."

"You put your energy into earning money, simply picking up sesame seeds and losing the watermelon."

"Look at you now, how wonderful! Outside of the top thirty!"

"You can't get into the clan's core businesses!"

Hearing this, Ning Zhuo finally mustered his courage: "Grand Aunt, I heard from my classmates that you can use connections..."

Before he could finish, the Grand Aunt interrupted him loudly: "Use connections? Do you know how many spirit stones it takes to use connections? Do you know how many people we have to find to use connections?"

"Oh, you did poorly on the exam, and with a light sentence, your Grand Uncle and I have to go up and down, wear out our legs, and pull strings for you everywhere?"

"You still have the face to say that!"

"If I had known this would happen, why did I even bother in the first place?"

"I told you long ago to focus on cultivation and not take private jobs, earning so few spirit stones."

"What's the use?!"

"If you had made it into the top thirty and entered the clan's core business, you would earn much more. The important thing is that there would be fewer matters, more time, allowing you to continue cultivating."

Ning Zhuo suddenly raised his head, his face flushed with shame. He gritted his teeth and said in a firm voice: "Grand Uncle, Grand Aunt, Ning Zhuo takes responsibility for his own actions!"

"Since I am thirty-first, then so be it."

"Over the years, I have received care from you two, and I am grateful in my heart. I am fully aware of the consequences of my poor performance, and it is entirely my fault!"

"I take responsibility for my own actions!"

"I refuse to believe that I cannot find a way to support myself outside."

Saying this, Ning Zhuo bowed and took his leave: "Grand Uncle, Grand Aunt, my classmates are still waiting for me to have a gathering. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave first."

The Grand Uncle stared at Ning Zhuo, remaining silent.

The Grand Aunt waved her hand, saying with disgust: "Go, go, go. You have quite the nerve, having the mood to have a gathering after performing so poorly!"

Ning Zhuo could not bear to stay any longer, turning and walking away in a huff.

His cousin, Ning Ji, then sat down leisurely.

The Grand Aunt looked at Ning Ji, changing her face as if by magic, turning anger into joy: "My son is truly excellent!"

She pushed the refreshments on the low table: "Hurry up and try it. This is the Golden Dew Jade Cake from the Golden Cuisine Hall. After eating it, it can add to the foundation of your Sea of Consciousness, strengthen your divine sense, greatly helping your cultivation and even your future Foundation Establishment!"

Ning Ji's eyes lit up, and he eagerly picked one up and put it in his mouth.

The Golden Dew Jade Cake had a unique texture, the cake itself soft and glutinous, the golden threads crisp and hard, with a liquid filling inside.

Ning Ji swallowed it in three bites and felt a surge of pure energy rising from his abdomen, directly冲向 the crown of his head, making him feel invigorated.

Ning Ji sincerely praised: "Delicious, delicious!"

"Then eat more, it's all for you." His mother said with a smile.Ning Ji devoured the remaining three pastries, licking his lips with lingering delight. "As expected of the Gold Cuisine Hall, simply divine! But only four? Are there no more?"

His father snorted coldly. "Each of these pastries is worth twenty spirit stones. You've just consumed nearly a hundred! Do you dare ask for more?"

"Then you must strive harder, without slacking! In the future, perform well within the clan, and endeavor to earn enough spiritual food for yourself with your own two hands as soon as possible."

Ning Ji protested loudly, "Father, your son has brought you glory this time! Just think, if I had achieved my previous results, you would have had to run around, pull strings, and bribe your way to get me placed in a family business. My outstanding performance in the grand examination has saved you hundreds of spirit stones. What's the harm in eating a few pastries from the Gold Cuisine Hall?"

"Besides, consuming these will boost my spirit, allowing me to cultivate better and strive harder."

"If I had access to this level of resources sooner, my results would have been at the top long ago."

Ning's father glared at his son, about to reprimand him for talking back.

Ning's mother quickly interjected, "Alright, alright, both of you, say no more."

She glared at her husband. "My son's good performance deserves praise. After only a few words, you're already criticizing him."

"Don't think my son is just playful. He's reliable when it matters."

"Unlike Ning Zhuo, whose usual performance makes people lower their guard, and who ends up causing the most worry!"

"Look at him, turning away and leaving after just a word or two of criticism. He's utterly incorrigible! Am I wrong to say so?"

"Hmph, he even ran off to eat. He certainly has the appetite!"

Ning Ji chuckled derisively. "His heart is too proud, and he is overly self-important. He simply can't take in parents' earnest advice."

"By the way, are we really going to use our connections and favors for him?"

Ning's father snorted coldly. "That's not something you need to worry about."

Seeing his father's anger, Ning Ji instinctively shrank back, but then, remembering his grand examination results, he raised his voice. "Mother, if Ning Zhuo can go out to eat, I want to dine out at a restaurant too, and eat spiritual food. Give me some money, you have no idea how much I sacrificed for this grand examination!"

"Alright, alright." Ning's mother happily retrieved a pouch of spirit stones and handed it to Ning Ji.

Ning Ji took the money pouch, stood up, and left.

He exited the Ning family residence and walked onto the street, but he didn't rush to his favorite restaurant. Instead, he strolled along, observing the area.

He wanted to see where Ning Zhuo was eating.

Such an opportunity didn't usually present itself, and now that he had the chance, Ning Ji wanted to mock him for his own amusement.

However, he searched high and low without success.

He asked several shopkeepers and waiters, confirming that Ning Zhuo had not been seen at all.

Ning Ji slapped his forehead, realizing the truth. "That kid is just putting on airs. What kind of meal could he possibly be having? He's probably in that dilapidated hut where his mother died, crying his eyes out!"

"Never mind him. I'll feast first."

Spiritual food was not only delicious but also enhanced one's cultivation, filling Ning Ji with anticipation.

His guess, as it turned out, was partially correct.

Ning Zhuo had already returned to his own home.

Compared to his uncle and aunt's residence, Ning Zhuo's house was simple and dilapidated.

Ning Zhuo quietly closed the courtyard gate, walked through the small courtyard, and entered the main room, then went into the inner chamber.

This was his bedroom, as well as his study.

Although the furniture was old and simple, it was kept very clean.

Ning Zhuo touched the lion paperweight on his desk.

A faint glimmer of light flashed across the lion paperweight, indicating that no one had been there during his absence.

Ning Zhuo turned and went to the bedside. He gently twisted the railing next to the bed, and a series of creaking sounds echoed.

The bed shifted sideways, revealing an underground passage.

He stepped onto the wooden ladder and descended, step by step, into the underground chamber.

After his feet touched solid ground, he turned the switch on the wall, moving the bed back into place above his head.

The light from above disappeared, but the runes on the walls of the underground chamber glowed, illuminating the small space even more brightly.

At that moment, the disappointment, grief, and suppression on Ning Zhuo's face vanished without a trace, replaced by an expression of calm.

He sat down at his familiar workbench, which was covered with various mechanical parts.

Ning Zhuo pulled open the drawer on his right, revealing a drawer completely filled with pastries.

Each pastry was wrapped in paper.

The papers bore the insignia of the Gold Cuisine Hall.

He grabbed a handful, five or six in total, and channeled his magical power. In an instant, the paper wrapping the pastries was reduced to ashes without damaging the Golden Jade Dew Cakes in the slightest.

Clearly, he had performed this action countless times and had become extremely skilled.

Ning Zhuo chewed on the pastries, his gaze slightly unfocused. He was mentally reviewing his performance from the day.

He had maintained this excellent habit for over ten years.

"There shouldn't be any problems."

"I just didn't expect the others to make mistakes in this grand examination, failing to fully display their abilities."

"When I saw the rankings, I almost thought I had failed to control my score and ended up in the top thirty."