NOVPUBChapter 412 -57: You Still Say You Didn鈥檛 Cause Trouble?
Facing Ning Jiufan鈥檚 questions and concerns, Ning Zhuo immediately put on a bitter expression.
With a grievance-laden tone, he said, 鈥淎ncestor, how deeply you misunderstand me!鈥
鈥淓ver since I established a branch family and left my hometown for adventures, it鈥檚 all been for the sake of the family鈥檚 future.鈥
鈥淭he business at Yugang Mountain was achieved through my exhausting efforts, shuffling negotiations in many places, and a lot of hard work.鈥
鈥淎lthough I traveled far from home, I never forgot my family, nor my responsibilities as a branch family Clan Leader.鈥
Ning Jiufan couldn鈥檛 help but nod slightly.
...
Actions speak louder than words!
Ning Jiufan had seen with his own eyes how the Ning Clan鈥檚 branch in Fire Persimmon Immortal City made the Jade Dark Steel business flourish so much that many members of the main family line were envious and spoke jealously.
Ning Zhuo had already sent a letter to Ning Jiufan when he left Mist Hidden Mountain, informing him about what had generally happened there.
When Ning Jiufan received the letter at that time, he smiled upon reading it. He was very satisfied with Ning Zhuo鈥檚 performance on Mist Hidden Mountain.
Ning Jiufan nodded, 鈥淭he affairs at Mist Hidden Mountain, you handled quite well.鈥
Ning Zhuo beamed with a smile, 鈥淎ncestor, this time, I plan to emulate Mist Hidden Mountain and seek more cooperation with the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect.鈥
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Ning Jiufan stroked his beard and pondered, 鈥淔ire Persimmon Mountain and Ten Thousand Medicine Valley are quite far apart and establishing a Transmission Array would be costly. However, relying on post stations and trade routes involves even more risks.鈥
鈥淭he Ten Thousand Medicine Sect鈥檚 business is thriving; they don鈥檛 urgently need us.鈥
鈥淭hese are the major obstacles in our cooperation with the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect.鈥
Clearly, Ning Jiufan had been contemplating this cooperation since reading Ning Zhuo鈥檚 letter.
Ning Zhuo nodded, 鈥淎ncestor, your words hit the nail on the head. To the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, our Ning Family is dispensable.鈥
鈥淏ut our Ning Family also has nothing substantial to offer that would make the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect eager to cooperate.鈥
鈥淚鈥檝e thought about it for a long time and found nothing suitable to trade, so why not trade services!鈥
鈥淎ncestor, the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect is weak in conflicts, and for this reason, they have specifically set up Little Struggle Peak鈥檚 policies and strongly support external Cultivators. Some of the Elders at the Golden Core Level are also hired externally.鈥
鈥淭hese aren鈥檛 their own people, so they use them cautiously.鈥
鈥淚f our Ning Family becomes a close ally of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, we could gain more trust than these external Cultivators.鈥
Ning Jiufan asked, 鈥淲hy would that be?鈥
Ning Zhuo explained, 鈥淔irstly, our Ning Family has a foundation; 鈥榯he monk can run but not the temple鈥欌€攆rom this point, we are naturally more trustworthy than Loose Cultivators and Demon Cultivators.鈥
鈥淪econdly, we are quite distant from the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, so we won鈥檛 have frequent frictions in daily operations.鈥
鈥淭hirdly, during our migration, we once received help from the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect. Such old favor is also worth more mutual trust.鈥
Ning Jiufan nodded slightly, agreeing with Ning Zhuo鈥檚 analysis.
鈥淏ut even so, negotiating with Lin Bufan could be tricky.鈥
鈥淚鈥檝e met him a few times; he is very cunning and sharp, a Nascent Soul Cultivator who is really capable.鈥
鈥淣ow, since we are seeking cooperation from the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect and taking the initiative, Lin Bufan will surely drive a hard bargain.鈥
Ning Jiufan knew much more about Lin Bufan compared to Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo contemplated, 鈥淧erhaps we could spread rumors? Claim that the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect is in a perilous situation?鈥
Ning Jiufan immediately shook his head, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not advisable.鈥
鈥淟in Bufan, as his name suggests, is very talented. He鈥檚 much older than you and has been astutely managing this area for many years.鈥
鈥淗e would easily see through such rumors and trace them back to their source.鈥
鈥淚f we were to do this, it would backfire.鈥
Ning Zhuo nodded, immediately discarding his earlier idea. After all, he had never even seen Lin Bufan鈥檚 face, whereas Ning Jiufan had much more contact with him.
Ning Jiufan looked at Ning Zhuo and smiled, 鈥淟ittle Zhuo, you still have the Ice Heart Jade Pot with you, right? How much longer do you need it?鈥
Ning Zhuo chuckled, took out the Ice Heart Jade Pot, and offered it with both hands.
Without any explanation.
On the contrary, after retrieving the Ice Heart Jade Pot, Ning Jiufan explained to Ning Zhuo, 鈥淭his pot is a heritage treasure of our Ning Clan, beneficial to the whole family. Keeping it with you alone does not bring out its true value.鈥
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly, 鈥淧recisely speaking, it is of significant meaning to those in our main family line who practice the Ice Heart Technique.鈥
Successful cultivation of the Ice Heart Technique often results in the Divine Sea in the Upper Dantian being far more profound than the other two Dantians. Under these circumstances, drinking Ice Jade Wine from the Ice Heart Jade Pot can save a Cultivator many hardships, allowing the cultivation in the Upper Dantian to enhance the other two Dantians.
Since Ning Zhuo had sent for the Ning Family Ancestor, he was naturally prepared for this conversation.
To be honest, having the Ice Heart Jade Pot in his possession, he found it not very useful too.
Its two main uses were producing Ice Jade Wine and enhancing healing effects.
The former, Ning Zhuo had already emptied out the Ice Jade Wine when he exchanged the pot. The latter, for healing, Ning Zhuo thoroughly replaced with Floating Ice Jade Hands.
鈥淓mpty?鈥 The Ning Family Ancestor scanned with his Divine Sense and seeing the bottom of the Ice Heart Jade Pot, was surprised, 鈥淲hat do you need so much Ice Jade Wine for?鈥
鈥淓ven if sold, only Cultivators practicing frost techniques with outstanding Divine Sea cultivation would be suitable buyers.鈥
鈥淭his wine has always been hard to sell,鈥
Ning Jiufan reminded.
Magic treasures suitable for the Ning Family may not be suitable for others.
Especially in Southern Bean Country, located in the south, where the air is moist and warm, the number of cultivators practicing Ice Attribute cultivation techniques is scarce, far less than those practicing Wood Element and Earth Element.
鈥淎t this moment, I have my uses for these wines,鈥 Ning Zhuo showed his firmness.
Ning Jiufan nodded and did not pursue further.
What a joke?
Pursue Ning Zhuo?!
Ning Jiufan knew very well, despite Ning Zhuo being only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, his combat power had reached the Golden Core Level, even the peak of Golden Core!
He had witnessed those mechanical artifacts, especially the Big Snake Scythe.
Therefore, after the struggle for the Lava Fairy Palace had temporarily subsided, Ning Jiufan鈥檚 attitude towards Ning Zhuo also underwent significant changes.
Previously, he completely regarded Ning Zhuo as an outstanding younger member of his family. But now, in his heart, Ning Zhuo deserved equal treatment.
鈥淎ncestor, take a look at this.鈥 Ning Zhuo took out a jade slip and handed it to Ning Jiufan.
鈥淧oison Flame Chrysanthemum?鈥 As Ning Jiufan swept it with his Divine Sense, a smile grew on his face, 鈥淭his is a good item; I鈥檒l support the branch family in promoting it.鈥
Ning Zhuo then said, 鈥淐urrently, our branch family has limited manpower, mainly focused on the management of Jade Dark Steel, with a small part relying on the Lava Fairy Palace to guard their positions.鈥
鈥淭herefore, I am willing to cooperate with the main branch on the Poison Flame Chrysanthemum business and manipulate it together!鈥
鈥淥h? You鈥檙e willing to?鈥 Ning Jiufan was surprised.
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly: 鈥淐ultivating a mere flower, compared to future prospects, is just a minor profit.鈥
鈥淚f we only use my branch鈥檚 manpower, it鈥檚 simply not enough. Not to mention several months, even two or three years wouldn鈥檛 make much difference.鈥
鈥淎ncestor, as I cultivate now, I鈥檓 getting tighter on funds; I urgently need more money. The more, the better!鈥
鈥淪o, we should scale up the Poison Flame Chrysanthemum as much as possible!鈥
鈥淗owever, if the main branch wants to get involved, it must be primarily led by my branch. In terms of profits, my branch takes eighty percent, the main branch twenty.鈥
Ning Jiufan鈥檚 eyes widened: 鈥淭wenty-eighty split?鈥
Ning Zhuo waved his hand: 鈥淣o bargaining! If the Ning main branch does not agree, then I will seek cooperation with the Zhou Family.鈥
Ning Jiufan scoffed, 鈥淎s both are of Ning surname, Little Zhuo, you are somewhat harsh towards your own family.鈥
Ning Zhuo sneered and directly gave Ning Jiufan a cold look: 鈥淪ince I understood things, the Ning main branch has always treated me like this. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth; it鈥檚 only natural justice.鈥
Ning Jiufan sighed and changed the topic: 鈥淵ou鈥檝e been grabbing money using the black market and Lava Fairy Palace, so why have your resources become tight in just a few months?鈥
Ning Zhuo then unwrapped the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon from around his waist and showed it to Ning Jiufan.
鈥淎 Nascent Soul Level mechanical artifact! Is this the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon? Good stuff,鈥 Ning Jiufan recognized, feeling emotional.
He had suspicions early on, and seeing the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon didn鈥檛 surprise him too much.
At the same time, he also understood the reason behind Ning Zhuo鈥檚 financial strain.
Ning Zhuo then told him that this Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon mechanism was supposed to be driven by a Nascent Soul. Now, he could only substitute it with Fire Essence, which consumed a vast amount every time it was used. By now, he was nearly unable to sustain it.
Ning Jiufan chided him: 鈥淔or ordinary travel, why use the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon? This behavior is too extravagant. It should be used when you鈥檙e in a dangerous situation to escape.鈥
Ning Zhuo did not tell Ning Jiufan that in his eagerness for his mother, he had traveled at maximum speed directly.
鈥淲ith the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon to protect you, I can also rest assured. Regarding the Fire Essence, I have some news that might be useful,鈥 Ning Jiufan then mentioned that a Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit had appeared in Fire Persimmon Mountain.
And Meng Kui was gathering Golden Core Cultivators from the Zhou Family and the Ning Family, having already taken Ning Jiufan鈥檚 Fire Core Pomegranate to set a trap.
鈥淭his Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit already has substantial spiritual nature. If you get it, Little Zhuo, it should greatly reduce the consumption of the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon.鈥
鈥淎s long as the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit hasn鈥檛 completely perished, it can absorb Spiritual Energy from the surroundings and quickly recover.鈥
Ning Zhuo鈥檚 eyes lit up, but his face showed worry.
This was indeed good news, but how to obtain the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit under Meng Kui鈥檚 watch?
After a detailed conversation with the ancestor, Ning Zhuo also learned: With Elder Yuan鈥檚 lingering injuries, if he participated in the struggle for the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit, he might likely fall into Meng Kui鈥檚 trap.
If Elder Yuan suffered any mishap, then both Ning Jiufan and the Ning Family would have truly suffered a double loss.
鈥淕iven the current situation, it鈥檚 essential to ensure Elder Yuan鈥檚 full recovery to have a chance at self-preservation.鈥
鈥淥n the basis of assured self-preservation, perhaps with Elder Yuan鈥檚 involvement, we might obtain the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fire Spirit!鈥
Ning Zhuo and Ning Jiufan thus reached an agreement.
Ning Jiufan inquired about Ning Zhuo鈥檚 recent situation.
Ning Zhuo gave all the information he had collected about the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect to Ning Jiufan.
He also shared his own experiences honestly to prevent Ning Jiufan from misjudging.
Ning Jiufan: 鈥
After listening, he fell silent for a moment before exclaiming, 鈥淟in Bufan鈥檚 beloved daughter has been put under confinement because of you, and yet you say you haven鈥檛 caused trouble?鈥
Ning Zhuo defended, 鈥淢iss Lin and I hit it off immediately, helping each other as friends, which is the true testament of friendship.鈥
Ning Jiufan snorted and then asked, 鈥淪o, this method of cultivating Poison Flame Chrysanthemums, did Lin Shanshan secretly give
