Chapter 21: Qi Refining Stage Two

Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit retracted its gaze, focusing on the Zheng family's direction.

Two Zheng family elders were currently advising Zheng Jian.

Zheng Jian was a young cultivator, with a pupil-shaped gemstone embedded in the center of his forehead circlet.

At this moment, Zheng Jian shook his head vehemently, his attitude resolute: "No, I'm determined to cultivate the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art! No one can stop me."

One of the elders sighed: "Zheng Jian, you are the most outstanding talent among the Zheng family's current generation. You possess the innate 'Piercing Insight,' which complements our clan's techniques perfectly. To change to another method would be a waste of such exceptional talent."

Zheng Jian shook his head: "It is precisely 'Piercing Insight' that tells me I must cultivate this art as soon as possible. This action will greatly benefit my path!"

The elder shook his head: "Family records also mention ancestors with 'Piercing Insight.' While it does grant cultivators astonishing intuition, it doesn't mean it's always correct. Clan history records many instances of incorrect intuition. Zheng Jian, you mustn't rely too heavily on this innate gift."

Zheng Jian shook his head: "From my youth until now, I've never experienced a single instance where my intuition was wrong. This time, I will still choose to trust my intuition. Two elders, thank you for your kindness, but please don't try to dissuade me any further."

The elder sighed, proactively taking a step back: "In that case, Zheng Jian, allow the members of the branch family to practice this art first and see how it goes."

Zheng Jian laughed heartily: "There's absolutely no need to bring up such a thing! What is the main lineage, what is the branch lineage? Just because it's risky, you want the branch lineage to take it on? How cowardly and worthless would that make me as a member of the main lineage?"

"Precisely because I am a member of the Zheng family's main lineage, I should lead by example and press forward bravely. Otherwise, on what basis should the main lineage control the family?"

"Two elders, my mind is made up."

The two elders sighed, feeling both worried and gratified.

One of them said: "Very well. Then this jade slip is for you."

"This was personally bestowed by Lord Zheng Shuanggou upon learning of your matter."

"The jade slip records an artifact forging method, named 'Doomed Flying Hooks.'"

Zheng Jian was puzzled: "I'm about to dissipate my cultivation, time is of the essence. How can I forge artifacts at this juncture?"

The elder smiled: "There's no rush, take a good look at it first."

Zheng Jian placed the jade slip against his brow, activating his divine sense to investigate.

Soon, his face lit up with joy.

"Marvelous."

"This artifact forging secret art is immensely powerful, but it has drawbacks. First, it must be used in conjunction with our clan's techniques. Second, each hook forged permanently reduces the cultivator's layer of mana. Forge too many, and the cultivator's mana limit will become lower and lower, and it cannot be recovered."

"But for me right now, it's precisely the most suitable."

"My entire cultivation is about to dissipate anyway, might as well put it to good use and forge Doomed Flying Hooks. Not only will it accelerate the dissipation of my cultivation, but I'll also have such wondrous items to protect myself."

"Thank you, Ancestor Zheng Shuanggou! Thank you, two elders!"

The two elders either stroked their beards or smiled.

"This is what you deserve."

"Worthy of being a son of the Zheng family, we hope you will be triumphant in this endeavor!"

Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit watched Zheng Jian for a while, then changed direction, gazing towards the Ning family.

The Ning family's patriarch and a group of elders were secretly discussing, finalizing their selections.

The newly drafted list was being circulated among them.

The academy elder frowned deeply: "The list is inappropriate."

"That Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, even though it comes from the Immortal Palace's Transmission Bell, currently only has three layers. Switching to this art, the future is uncertain, it will be difficult to make people volunteer."

"Now, if we forcibly assign personnel, resentment is inevitable."

"There are too many branch family members on this list, and the main lineage is incredibly sparse. Announcing it will fail to convince the public."

The battle hall elder didn't take it seriously: "My Ning family has always had fewer main lineage members and more branch lineage members. It's only natural for the branch lineage to provide more manpower."

"If too many main lineage members are involved, what if they sacrifice themselves while exploring the Immortal Palace... Even if they don't sacrifice themselves, once they fail to obtain the subsequent cultivation methods in the future, they will all be half-crippled."

"The sacrifice for the main lineage would be too heavy."

"I don't want to see the internal strife of more than ten years ago re-enacted!"

More than ten years ago, the Ning family migrated as a whole from the Northern Wind Country, traveling thousands of miles to enter the Southern Bean Country.

Along the way, they were ambushed.

The main lineage suffered extreme casualties, and the Golden Core ancestor was seriously injured. After settling in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, the Ning family's Golden Core cultivator was in constant recuperation, making him the least noticeable Golden Core cultivator in Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

Under these circumstances, with the branch lineage possessing a large number of members, seeing the situation like this, they developed ambitions and brazenly launched an internal strife, attempting to overturn the rule of the main lineage.

In the end, the main lineage won a perilous and tragic victory.

As a result, the main lineage members became extremely wary of the family's branch lineage, using various means, both openly and secretly, to weaken the branch lineage and strengthen the main lineage.

In a word, the Ning family's core policy is to strengthen the trunk and weaken the branches!

However, this policy is difficult to grasp when selecting personnel to switch to the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

All because, they don't know what the prospects are for switching to the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

If the prospects are bright, they will vigorously arrange for main lineage members. If the prospects are dim, they will send more branch lineage members.

Right now, no one can guarantee the future.

The elders generally tend to be conservative.

After discussing for a while, the branch lineage personnel were finalized, but the main lineage was difficult to determine, accompanied by a large amount of debate. The elders present were all main lineage members, with their own networks of connections and vested interests behind them.

The patriarch listened to the elders arguing for a long time, seizing the gap between their breaths to interject: "No matter how many main lineage members are sent, it is absolutely impossible to not have a commander. With a large number of branch lineage members, without capable main lineage members to suppress them, it will easily lead to the tail wagging the dog, subordinates usurping power."

The elders' faces all fell, hearing the patriarch's intention, he wanted to send out truly good seedlings.

The patriarch continued to ask: "Among the family's Qi Refining stage cultivators, who can shoulder this great responsibility?"

The elders only thought of one person.

"Undoubtedly, it is Ning Xiaohui."

"She is born with a pair of ice-jade hands, crafting frost talismans, she can control them as she wishes, the spiritual rhyme is natural, and high quality products are assured!"

"To let such a good seedling go..."

"I disagree!" Suddenly, the talisman hall elder shouted, interrupting the elders' discussion, expressing strong opposition.

Another new dispute was unfolding.

The patriarch had a headache, waiting for a long time, seizing the moment when the elders were catching their breath: "Why not first ask Ning Xiaohui for her own opinion."

The talisman hall elder suddenly stood up, opened the door, and stepped out of the conference hall: "I'll go talk to her personally!"

Soon.

"Elder." Ning Xiaohui bowed.

The next moment, she learned of the matter, and her face instantly changed: "I have ice-jade hands, I should naturally walk the talisman path, this is a bright and open road."

"Now you actually want me to pursue mechanical and obscure methods, which elder can't stand to see me succeed?"

"I'm going to complain to my grandmother!"

The talisman hall elder's face was full of solemnity: "I absolutely support you, Xiaohui. Let's go, I'll go with you."

Hearing Ning Xiaohui's evaluation, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit spat out a mouthful of fire smoke in anger, its dragon face revealing a strong look of disdain.

Having observed this long, of the four forces in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, its impression of the Ning family was the worst.

It was about to shift its gaze when it suddenly paused.

Not far from the Ning family's settlement, there was a simple small courtyard.

Underneath the courtyard, there was a workshop.

A young boy was sitting cross-legged, actively circulating his energy.

Blood was slowly flowing from his nostrils.

His cultivation method was clearly the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, and...

Qi Refining Second Layer!