: What Honor Is There to Discuss with a Demonic Cultivator?!

2024-08-24 Author: Gu Zhenren

: What Honor Is There to Discuss with a Demonic Cultivator?!

(PS: Stayed up all night coding, head fuzzy, made an operational mistake and uploaded directly, messing up the order. is later. Will contact the editor later to see what can be done.)

"Alright, you can fully compete for the clan leader position legitimately in the future. I will not interfere in the routine affairs of the Ning family."

"Work hard. With your age and talent, it's not impossible for you to lead the entire Ning family someday."

"But right now... it's impossible!"

"A mere Qi Refining junior becoming the clan leader? Who would respect the Ning family then?"

"Alright, alright." Ning Zhuo sighed, then raised his eyes full of expectation. "Then, Ancestor, appoint me as the Young Clan Leader. That way, when I inherit the position in the future, it will be rightful and proper."

Ning Jiufan: ...

"Ning Zhuo, do not bring up such requests again!" His tone grew even more displeased.

"Alright, alright." Ning Zhuo pouted. "Then, Ancestor, could you bestow upon me some magical treasures, like protective robes or armor, for my safety?"

"I'm taking a risk as bait; it's not the 'what if' but the 'just in case.' Having magical treasures on me that activate instantly would put my mind at ease."

Ning Jiufan shook his head, telling Ning Zhuo that magical treasures couldn't be given out freely. He was worried that if the assassins detected from afar that Ning Zhuo had magical treasures, they wouldn't make a move.

Ning Zhuo then asked for the Ice Heart Art.

Ning Jiufan scolded him for being greedy, saying this technique was the foundation of the family. Ning Zhuo's contributions to the family were far from sufficient; how could he be taught the Ice Heart Art?

Ning Jiufan warned him not to try using this opportunity to make excessive demands that violated the family's rules.

Ning Zhuo's eyes suddenly lit up with an idea. "Ancestor, may I branch off and form my own branch family?"

"If I branch off, I won't need to be the clan leader or young clan leader of the main family. I'll directly be the clan leader of my branch family. Wouldn't that be wonderful!"

Ning Jiufan was so angry he bristled. "You little troublemaker! At such a young age, you want to split the family? And you dare suggest it to my face? Are you seeking death? Or do you want to be locked in the dungeon for life?"

Ning Zhuo quickly waved his hands in explanation. "Ancestor, please hear me out."

"You see, you are very close with Lord Zhu Xuanji. The three major families of Fire Persimmon Immortal City are all very close. That's correct."

"But there are great risks involved. What if, in the future, Lord Zhu fails in his competition and doesn't become the master of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace?"

"At that time, he can just leave with a pat on the back, but our Ning family still has to make a living here in Fire Persimmon Immortal City."

"Look, even an old farmer knows not to put all his eggs in one basket."

"So, you and the main lineage can align with Lord Zhu, and I'll take some branch families, branch off, and pledge allegiance to the current city lord's residence, the Meng family."

"This way, no matter which side ultimately wins, our Ning family will remain undefeated."

Ning Jiufan: ...

Zhu Xuanji: ...

You have to admit, Ning Zhuo's words actually made a lot of sense!

With this thought, Ning Jiufan said to Zhu Xuanji, "The child of my clan speaks without thinking, his wild fancies have made Lord Zhu laugh, forgive his nonsense."

Zhu Xuanji sighed softly. "This is indeed a technique for a family's long-term survival."

"For example, the foremost family among cultivators—the Gu family. Gu Tian and Gu Le are the Left Chancellor and State Preceptor of the two rival nations, White Edge Country and Vast Wave Country, respectively."

"This phenomenon is indeed common."

Ning Jiufan hurriedly tried to make amends. "Hmph, Ning Zhuo is too young, short-sighted. If he knew that the city lord's residence is the one who truly wants his life, he would surely laugh at his own current foolishness and stupidity!"

Zhu Xuanji waved his hand, signaling Ning Jiufan to say no more, then pointed a finger towards Ning Zhuo.

Ning Jiufan understood the meaning and immediately sent a voice transmission to Ning Zhuo: "Enough, boy!"

He didn't dare let Ning Zhuo make any more requests.

"I will lend you one protective spirit talisman that can withstand a full-power strike from an ordinary Golden Core cultivator."

"I will also bestow upon you three Directional Void Escape Talismans, which can instantly teleport you to a pre-arranged location."

"Finally, I grant you three taels of Ice Jade Wine. Do your job well, and it will be counted as a great merit for the Ning family!"

Upon hearing this, Ning Zhuo's eyes shone. "Three taels... three taels is a bit little, Ancestor."

"One jin, make it a round number, how about one jin?"

"Hmph!" The Ning Family Ancestor could no longer hold back and used his power to release an invisible pressure.

Caught off guard, Ning Zhuo was immediately pressed to the ground, flat on his face, his bones creaking as if carrying a mountain.

He hurriedly begged for mercy.

Only then did Ning Jiufan withdraw his pressure.

Ning Zhuo, free again, his face full of lingering fear, raised his hand and extended five fingers. "Five taels, make it five taels, Ancestor."

"I'm risking my life here!"

Ning Jiufan: ...

Zhu Xuanji: ...

"Heh heh heh." Ning Jiufan couldn't help but laugh.

He was laughing out of anger.

A moment later.

Ning Zhuo's courtyard.

Su Mo, in the small pavilion, was enjoying fine wine and food while sarcastically mocking Ning Zhuo.

"The food is good, but a bit too soft."

"The wine is good too, but not strong, too mild."

"Good, good, this fine wine and food truly live up to the Ning family's name, exactly like the Ning family."

The two Foundation Establishment guards hosting him had faces as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Just then, Ning Zhuo's voice came: "Su Mo, you are so arrogant!"

"I treated you with fine wine and food, wanting to build a good relationship, but you don't appreciate it."

"You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"

"The key is, insulting me is one thing, but insulting my Ning family's reputation is truly despicable."

"What kind of spar do you want? Speak!"

"I'll accept it all."

The two Foundation Establishment guards saw Ning Zhuo and were both surprised and delighted, inwardly praising: He really is Young Master Ning Zhuo, a sixteen-year-old genius, youthful and spirited, unable to bear humiliation, caring for his family, truly a fine son of the Ning family's branch lineage!

Su Mo stood up, carefully examined Ning Zhuo, felt happy inside, but maintained a solemn expression.

After some conversation, he cupped his hands towards Ning Zhuo and stated his demand.

If he won this spar, he asked Ning Zhuo to tell him the contents of the Demonic Sect True Classic.

Ning Zhuo sneered. "So it's for this."

He raised three fingers and swore publicly: "I swear on my Ning family's reputation that I have never obtained even a single word or phrase from this so-called Demonic Sect True Classic."

"You came to visit me, seeking a spar, without any sincerity."

"Furthermore, using the Ning family's reputation to threaten and coerce me, forcing me to agree to spar with you, shows even more ill intent."

"I don't care who is behind you or what orders you've received. This time, I will definitely make you pay the heaviest price!"

Su Mo grew nervous from his words, forced himself to stay calm, and sneered. "What? Ning Zhuo, do you want to bully a lone cultivator like me by ganging up?"

"Hmph, I won't make things difficult for you tonight." Ning Zhuo said. "Tomorrow morning, we'll meet on the martial stage and settle this for real."

"You want to be the first to try the crab? Very good, I also want to make an example to warn the others."

Su Mo's expression changed again, growing even uglier.

Ning Jiufan: ...

Zhu Xuanji: ...

The two exchanged a glance in secret, both thinking: After getting the protective talisman and Directional Void Escape Talismans, Ning Zhuo's courage has multiplied instantly, going from one extreme to the other.

The next day.

Early in the morning, the area under the martial stage was packed with people.

There were two main figures on the stage: one was Ning Zhuo, the other was Su Mo.

Soon, only Ning Zhuo remained on the stage.

In their best skill, talisman making, Su Mo was clearly outmatched by Ning Zhuo. He lost decisively, without any room for dispute.

Considering Ning Zhuo was only sixteen, this gap felt even more exaggerated.

However, as soon as Su Mo stepped down, a second challenger appeared.

The challenger stepped onto the martial stage, wanting to spar with Ning Zhuo in array formation. The demand remained the same: the Demonic Sect True Classic.

Hearing this, Ning Zhuo let out a cold sneer. He then publicly swore that he had been approached by Zhu Xuanji beforehand and had no knowledge of this Demonic Sect True Classic. While the rumors contained many truths, the part about the classic belonging to him was pure rumor, unable to withstand any scrutiny.

Ning Zhuo refused the second challenge: "You all come for the Demonic Sect True Classic, but unfortunately, you've targeted the wrong person."

"How could I do as you wish, sparring match after match, endlessly!"

"My Ning family is a righteous great clan. I, Ning Zhuo, was born and raised in a righteous land, hearing and seeing only the ways of benevolence. Day and night, the teachings of my elders, acts of kindness and righteousness, have all seeped into my heart like spring rain."

"However, we righteous people can look up and down without shame towards heaven, earth, or ancestors. Our kindness is not without its edge. How can we be schemed against by such petty tricks?"

"From now on, anyone who wants to spar with me, who uses my Ning family's reputation to pressure me, will be considered an enemy unto death!"

"So, who will challenge me?"

For a moment, the crowd below the stage fell silent.

In the distance, top floor of a tavern.

A Golden Core disciple of the Taiqing Palace had a sinister gaze, his lips moving slightly as he sent a voice transmission.

Someone in the crowd received the order, pushed through the people, and walked onto the martial stage.

"Ning Zhuo, I challenge you, unto death!" The newcomer was burly, rolled up his sleeves, clenched his fists—each fist like a sandbag. He looked like a brute physical cultivator.

Ning Zhuo stared at the brute, a cold light in his eyes. "I've said my piece, yet you still come pressing aggressively, full of malice. You must be a demonic cultivator!"

"Men, kill him."

The next moment, the already eager Foundation Establishment guards leaped onto the stage and swarmed the brute.

The brute was greatly shocked. "Isn't this a one-on-one?! So卑鄙... Ah!"

He was淹没 by spells, only managing to let out a final scream before dying.

Ning Zhuo stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the crowd below. "What honor is there to discuss with a demonic cultivator? Naturally, in eliminating demons and upholding the Dao, everyone should strive to be first."

"Do you really think us righteous people are easy to bully?!"

Wherever his gaze fell, people avoided it.

(End of )