Chapter 385: You Still Say You Didn't Cause Trouble?

Facing Ning Jiufan's questions and concerns, Ning Zhuo immediately put on a bitter expression.

He said in a wronged tone, "Old Ancestor, how deeply you misunderstand me!"

"Ever since I established the branch family, left my homeland, and ventured out on adventures, it has all been for the family's plans."

"The Jade Steel Mountain business was only acquired after I exhausted my efforts, moved around, circled many times, and worked tirelessly in negotiations."

"Although I've traveled far from home, I have never forgotten the family, nor forgotten my responsibility as the branch family head."

Ning Jiufan couldn't help but nod slightly.

Actions speak louder than words!

Ning Jiufan had personally witnessed the Ning family branch in Fire Persimmon Immortal City conducting the Jade Run Black Steel business with great success. So much so that many members of the main lineage were envious and spoke many sour words.

Ning Zhuo had already sent a letter to Ning Jiufan when he left Misty Hidden Mountain, informing him roughly what had happened there.

When Ning Jiufan received the letter at the time, he read through it and his mouth couldn't help but curl upwards. He was very satisfied with Ning Zhuo's performance at Misty Hidden Mountain.

Ning Jiufan nodded, "You did well regarding Misty Hidden Mountain."

Ning Zhuo smiled widely, "Old Ancestor, this time, I plan to follow the example of Misty Hidden Mountain and seek more cooperation with the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect."

Ning Jiufan stroked his beard and mused, "Fire Persimmon Mountain and Ten Thousand Medicine Valley are quite far apart. Building a teleportation array is costly. But relying on relay stations and trade routes carries more risk."

"The Ten Thousand Medicine Sect's business is prosperous, so they don't necessarily need us."

"These two are major obstacles to our cooperation with the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect."

Evidently, Ning Jiufan had also been considering this cooperation since reading Ning Zhuo's letter.

Ning Zhuo nodded, "Old Ancestor, your words are spot on. The Ning family is dispensable to the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect."

"But our Ning family doesn't have anything we can offer that would make the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect desperately want to cooperate."

"I have pondered for a long time. If there is nothing to buy or sell, then let's sell our lives!"

"Old Ancestor, the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect is weak in combat, and for this reason, they have specially set up a political strategy of Small Conflict Peak, strongly supporting驻外修士 (literally 'stationed outside cultivators', meaning external cultivators). Some Golden Core level elders are also externally hired."

"These are not their own people, so they are used with caution."

"If our Ning family becomes a close ally of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, we can gain more trust than these external cultivators."

Ning Jiufan: "How so?"

Ning Zhuo explained, "Firstly, our Ning family has a foundation. A monk can run away, but his temple cannot. From this point, we are naturally more trustworthy than rogue cultivators and demonic cultivators."

"Secondly, we are relatively far from the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, so we won't generate friction in our daily operations."

"Thirdly, our Ning family received assistance from the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect during our migration. Such old friendship is also worthy of more trust between us."

Ning Jiufan nodded slightly, agreeing with Ning Zhuo's analysis.

"But even so, a real negotiation with Lin Bufan might not go well."

"I've met this person a few times. He's very calculating and quite shrewd, a pragmatic talent among Nascent Soul cultivators."

"We are currently seeking the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, actively approaching them for talks. Lin Bufan will surely drive a hard bargain."

Ning Jiufan knew Lin Bufan much better than Ning Zhuo did.

Ning Zhuo mused, "Perhaps we can spread rumors? Propagate that the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect is in a dangerous situation?"

Ning Jiufan immediately shook his head, "No."

"Lin Bufan, as his name suggests (Bufan means extraordinary), is very capable. He is much older than you, and this is his territory, which he has meticulously managed for many years."

"He will easily see through rumors and trace them back to the source."

"Doing so would be counterproductive."

Ning Zhuo nodded and immediately dismissed his recent idea. After all, he hadn't even met Lin Bufan once, while Ning Jiufan had interacted with him far more times.

Ning Jiufan gazed at Ning Zhuo, a smile appearing on his face, "Little Zhuo, the Ice Heart Jade Pot is still with you, isn't it? How much longer do you need to borrow it?"

Ning Zhuo chuckled, took out the Ice Heart Jade Pot, and presented it with both hands.

There was no explanation.

Instead, after Ning Jiufan retrieved the Ice Heart Jade Pot, he explained to Ning Zhuo, "This pot is a treasured inheritance of our Ning family, benefiting the entire clan. If you keep it solely for yourself, it cannot display its true value."

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly, "To be precise, it is of extraordinary significance to the main lineage of the Ning family who cultivate the Ice Heart Art."

Those who cultivate the Ice Heart Art successfully often have a much deeper foundation in their Divine Sea Dantian than the other two Dantians. In this situation, drinking the Ice Jade Wine produced by the Ice Heart Jade Pot can save cultivators a lot of painstaking effort, allowing the cultivation of the upper Dantian to drive the other two Dantians.

Since Ning Zhuo had sent a letter to summon the Ning family's Old Ancestor, he was naturally mentally prepared for this matter.

To be honest, even he found that the Ice Heart Jade Pot wasn't very useful when it was in his hands.

Its greatest uses were two: one was to produce Ice Jade Wine, and the other was to enhance the healing effect.

For the former, Ning Zhuo had already emptied the Ice Jade Wine when exchanging the Jade Pot. For the latter, for healing, Ning Zhuo had the Floating Ice White Jade Hand as a perfect substitute.

"Empty?" The Ning family's Old Ancestor swept his divine sense and saw the bottom of the Ice Heart Jade Pot, immediately surprised, "What do you want so much Ice Jade Wine for?"

"Even if you sell it, it's only suitable for cultivators who practice ice techniques and have very prominent Divine Sea cultivation."

"This wine has always been difficult to sell."

Ning Jiufan reminded him.

A magic treasure suitable for the Ning family is not necessarily suitable for others.

Especially since Nando Country is located in the south, where the air is humid and warm, the number of cultivators who practice ice-attribute techniques is scarce, far fewer than those who practice wood or earth attribute techniques.

"I have my own use for these wines." At this moment, Ning Zhuo showed his backbone.

Ning Jiufan nodded and did not pursue the matter.

What a joke?

Questioning Ning Zhuo?!

Ning Jiufan knew clearly that despite Ning Zhuo only being in the early Foundation Establishment stage, his combat strength had reached the Golden Core level, even the peak of the Golden Core!

Those several mechanical creations, especially the Great Snake Scythe... Ning Jiufan had also witnessed them firsthand.

Therefore, ever since the competition for the Lava Immortal Palace came to a temporary halt, Ning Jiufan's attitude towards Ning Zhuo had also undergone a significant change.

Previously, he had completely regarded Ning Zhuo as an excellent junior of his own. Now, in his heart, Ning Zhuo was worthy of equal treatment.

"Old Ancestor, please look at this." Ning Zhuo took out a jade slip and handed it to Ning Jiufan.

"Poison Flame Chrysanthemum?" Ning Jiufan swept his divine sense over it, and the smile on his face grew stronger, "This is a good thing. I will support the branch family."

Ning Zhuo, however, said, "Currently, the branch family is short-handed. Our main focus is on the management of Jade Run Black Steel, and a small number of people rely on the Lava Immortal Palace to guard their positions."

"Therefore, for the business of the Poison Flame Chrysanthemum, I am willing to cooperate with the main lineage and manage it together!"

"Oh? You're willing to part with it?" Ning Jiufan was surprised.

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly, "Compared to future prospects, the cultivation of a mere flower is a trifling profit."

"If we only use the manpower of our branch family, it's simply not enough. Not to mention a few months, even two or three years, there won't be much improvement."

"Old Ancestor, my cultivation requires increasingly tight funds, and I urgently need capital. The more capital, the better!"

"Therefore, let's expand the scale of the Poison Flame Chrysanthemum as much as possible!"

"However, if the main lineage is to participate, it must be led by our branch family. In terms of profit, our branch family gets eight, and the main lineage gets two."

Ning Jiufan stared, "Eight-two split?"

Ning Zhuo waved his hand, "No bargaining! If the main lineage of the Ning family doesn't agree, then I will find the Zhou family to cooperate with."

Ning Jiufan snorted coldly, "Both are of the Ning surname, Little Zhuo is a bit harsh on his own people."

Ning Zhuo sneered and spoke directly to Ning Jiufan, "Since I was sensible, the main lineage of the Ning family has always treated me like this. It's a tooth for a tooth, karma is unyielding, which is the way of heaven."

Ning Jiufan sighed and changed the subject, "You have amassed a great fortune using the black market and the Lava Immortal Palace. How could your resources become scarce in just a few months?"

Ning Zhuo then untied the Myriad Miles Roaming Dragon wrapped around his waist and showed it to Ning Jiufan.

"A Nascent Soul level mechanism! This is... Myriad Miles Roaming Dragon? Good stuff." Ning Jiufan recognized it and sighed with emotion.

He had already suspected it, and seeing the Myriad Miles Roaming Dragon at this time was not too surprising.

At the same time, he also understood the reason for Ning Zhuo's tight funds.

Ning Zhuo told him that this Myriad Miles Roaming Dragon mechanism should have been driven by a Nascent Soul. Now, it can only be replaced by fire essence, and each activation consumes a huge amount. By now, he is almost unable to sustain it.

Ning Jiufan reprimanded him: Why use the Myriad Miles Roaming Dragon for ordinary travel? This behavior is too extravagant. The situation where it should be used is when you are in danger, to escape using the Myriad Miles Roaming Dragon.

Ning Zhuo didn't tell Ning Jiufan that he had traveled at maximum speed out of concern for his mother.

"With the Myriad Miles Roaming Dragon protecting you, I can rest assured. As for the fire essence, I do have some news that might be useful." Ning Jiufan then revealed that a ten-thousand-year fire essence had appeared in Fire Persimmon Mountain.

And Meng Kui was gathering the Golden Core cultivators of the Zhou and Ning families and had already taken Ning Jiufan's Fire Core Pomegranate to set up a trap.

"This ten-thousand-year fire essence already has quite a bit of spiritual intelligence. If you had this, Little Zhuo, it should greatly reduce the consumption of the Myriad Miles Roaming Dragon."

"As long as the ten-thousand-year fire essence doesn't completely perish, it can absorb spiritual energy from the outside world and quickly recover."

Ning Zhuo's eyes lit up, then a worried expression appeared on his face.

This was indeed good news, but how could he get the ten-thousand-year fire essence from under Meng Kui's nose?

After carefully communicating with the Old Ancestor, Ning Zhuo also learned that Yuan Laozu's injuries remained, and if she participated in the competition for the ten-thousand-year fire essence, she might be tricked by Meng Kui instead.

Once something untoward happened to Yuan Laozu, then Ning Jiufan and the Ning family would truly be losing the battle along with the wife.

"Given the current situation, Yuan Laozu must recover in order to have the possibility of self-preservation."

"On the basis of self-preservation, perhaps we can get the ten-thousand-year fire essence with the help of Yuan Laozu!"

Ning Zhuo and Ning Jiufan thus reached an agreement.

Ning Jiufan inquired about Ning Zhuo's recent situation.

Ning Zhuo handed over all the information he had collected about the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect to Ning Jiufan.

He also told the truth about his own experiences to prevent Ning Jiufan from misjudging the situation.

Ning Jiufan: ...

After listening, he was silent for a moment before staring and saying, "Lin Bufan's precious daughter is even in solitary confinement because of you. And you say you didn't cause trouble?"

Ning Zhuo argued, "Miss Lin and I hit it off right away. Friends helping each other is a testament to friendship."

Ning Jiufan snorted and suddenly said, "So, this cultivation method for the Poison Flame Chrysanthemum was also secretly given to you by Lin Shanshan?"

Ning Zhuo immediately shook his head, "Of course not. This cultivation method comes from the Flower Gourd."

Ning Jiufan: "..."

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