: Qi Refinement Second Layer!

Author: Gu Zhenren

Date: 2024-07-31

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit withdrew its gaze and turned its attention to the Zheng family.

Two Zheng family elders were trying to persuade Zheng Jian.

Zheng Jian was a young cultivator with a pupil-shaped gem set vertically in the center of his forehead headband.

At this moment, Zheng Jian shook his head firmly, his attitude resolute: "No, I am 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 of our Zheng family's current generation. You possess the innate talent 'Heart-Piercing Insight,' which complements our clan's techniques perfectly. Switching to another method would truly waste such an excellent talent."

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

The elder shook his head: "The family records also include ancestors with Heart-Piercing Insight. While it does grant cultivators astonishing intuition, that doesn’t mean it’s always correct. There are multiple recorded cases in our clan's history where the intuition was wrong. Zheng Jian, you must not rely too heavily on this talent."

Zheng Jian shook his head: "From childhood until now, I have never experienced my intuition being wrong. This time, I still choose to trust my intuition. Elders, thank you for your concern, but there is no need to persuade me further."

The elder sighed and took a step back: "Very well, Zheng Jian. Why not have someone from a branch family cultivate this art first to see how it goes?"

Zheng Jian laughed loudly: "There's no need to even suggest such a thing! What is the main family line, and what are the branch lines? Just because there's risk, we let the branch lines take it? If I, as a member of the main family, acted like that, I'd be far too cowardly and weak."

"Precisely because I am of the Zheng family's main line, I should lead by example and charge forward bravely. Otherwise, what right does the main line have to lead the family?"

"Elders, my decision is final."

The two elders let out long sighs, both worried and欣慰.

One of them said: "So be it. This jade slip is for you."

"This was personally bestowed by Lord Zheng Shuang gou after he learned of your situation."

"The jade slip records an artifact forging method called the 'Fatal Flying Hook.'"

Zheng Jian was puzzled: "I need to disperse my cultivation base; every moment counts. How can I take time to forge artifacts at a time like this?"

The elder smiled: "No rush. Take a good look first."

Zheng Jian then pressed the jade slip to his forehead, activating his spiritual sense to explore its contents.

Soon, his face lit up with joy.

"Marvelous!"

"This artifact forging secret technique is powerful, but it has drawbacks. First, it must be used in conjunction with our clan's techniques. Second, for every hook forged, the cultivator's法力permanently decreases by one layer. Forging too many will progressively lower the cultivator's own法力上限, and it cannot be recovered."

"But for my current situation, it's恰恰most suitable."

"My cultivation base was going to be dispersed anyway. Might as well put it to use and forge Fatal Flying Hooks. Not only will it speed up the dispersion process, but I'll also gain such a useful protective item."

"Thank you, Ancestor Zheng Shuang gou! Thank you, Elders!"

The two elders, one stroking his beard, the other smiling.

"This is what you rightfully deserve."

"Worthy of our Zheng family's son. May you succeed smoothly this time!"

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit watched Zheng Jian for a while longer, then turned its gaze towards the Ning family.

The Ning family head and a group of elders were secretly discussing, finalizing the candidate list.

The newly drafted list was being passed around among them.

The Academy Elder frowned deeply: "The list is not suitable."

"Even though the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art comes from the Immortal Palace's Law Transmission Bell, it currently only has three layers. Switching to this method has an unpredictable future; it's hard to get volunteers."

"Now, if we forcibly assign people, there will inevitably be resentment."

"This list has too many people from branch families; those from the main family are extremely few. Announcing it like this will not convince the masses."

The War Hall Elder didn't mind: "Our Ning family's main branch has always been small in number, while the branch families are numerous. It's only natural for the branch families to provide more people."

"If too many main family members are involved, and they sacrifice themselves while exploring the Immortal Palace... Even if they don't die, if we can't obtain the subsequent techniques in the future, they will be half-crippled."

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

"I don't want to see a repeat of the internal strife from over a decade ago!"

Over ten years ago, the Ning family relocated entire clan from the North Wind Kingdom, traveling a great distance to enter the South Bean Kingdom.

During the journey, they were ambushed.

Many main family members sacrificed their lives, and the Golden Core Ancestor was severely injured. After settling in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, the Ning family's Golden Core cultivator spent years recuperating and is the Golden Core cultivator with the weakest presence in the city.

Under these circumstances, the branch families, with their larger numbers, seeing the situation as it was, bred ambition and boldly instigated an internal rebellion, attempting to overthrow the main family's rule.

In the end, the main family narrowly and bitterly won.

Since then, the main family members have been extremely wary of the branch families, using various means, both overt and covert, to weaken the branch families and strengthen the main family.

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

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

The reason is that they don't know the prospects of switching to this art.

If the prospects are great, they would heavily assign main family members. If the prospects are dim, they would assign more branch family members.

Right now, no one can guarantee the future.

The elders generally leaned towards conservatism.

After some discussion, the branch family personnel were decided, but the main family candidates were difficult to determine, accompanied by much dispute. The elders present were all from the main family, each with their own network of relationships and interests involved.

The Family Head listened quietly to the elders' arguments for a long time. Seizing a moment when they paused for breath, he interjected: "Regardless of how many main family members are sent, it is absolutely essential to have a leader. The branch families have many people; without capable main family members to keep them in check, it's easy for the tail to wag the dog, for the subordinate to overshadow the master."

The elders' faces fell in unison. Judging by the Family Head's tone, he intended to send a truly promising seedling.

The Family Head continued asking: "Among the family's Qi Refinement stage cultivators, who can shoulder this responsibility?"

The elders could only think of one person.

"Undoubtedly, it's Ning Xiao Hui."

"She is born with 'Ice Fat Jade Hands.' When creating frost talismans, her hands follow her heart's intent, the spiritual charm is natural, and she always produces superior quality!"

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

"I disagree!" Suddenly, the Talisman Hall Elder shouted, interrupting the elders' discussion and expressing strong opposition.

A new round of arguments began.

The Family Head had a headache. After waiting for a long time, he seized another moment when the elders paused for breath: "Why don't we first seek Ning Xiao Hui's own opinion?"

The Talisman Hall Elder sprang to his feet, pushed open the door, and strode out of the meeting hall: "I'll go talk to her myself!"

Soon.

"Elder." Ning Xiao Hui bowed.

The next moment, upon learning of the matter, her expression changed immediately: "I have Ice Fat Jade Hands; I should naturally follow the path of talismans. This is a bright and smooth road."

"Now you actually want me to go into some obscure side path like mechanical arts? Which elder has it in for me?"

"I'm going to tell my grandmother!"

The Talisman Hall Elder wore a solemn expression: "I absolutely support you, Xiao Hui. Come, I'll go with you."

Hearing Ning Xiao Hui's evaluation, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit angrily puffed out a plume of fire smoke, its dragon face showing a strong look of disdain.

Having observed up to now, among the four powers of Fire Persimmon Immortal City, it had the poorest impression of the Ning family.

Just as it was about to shift its gaze, its eyes suddenly paused.

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

Underground in the courtyard, there was a workshop.

Inside, a young man was sitting cross-legged, actively circulating his energy.

Blood was slowly trickling from his nose.

The technique he practiced was clearly the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, and moreover...

Qi Refinement Second Layer!

(End of )