Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Ning Jiufan brought Ning Zhuo with him and returned to his residence.

“You will stay in the side room,” Ning Jiufan arranged Ning Zhuo’s accommodation nearby, right next to his study.

After settling in, Ning Zhuo was summoned to the study by Ning Jiufan.

Ning Jiufan observed Ning Zhuo and asked him to make a few talismans in front of him.

After Ning Zhuo drew them, Ning Jiufan scanned them with his spiritual sense.

At first, he nodded slightly but then shook his head after seeing the last two.

“Your talisman-making skills are quite good. Your foundational skills are solid, but there’s still a gap between you and the top level.”

Ning Zhuo replied, “Old Ancestor, making talismans has never been my passion. What I love most is mechanical creations.”

“Your expectations for me are a bit high. To reach the top level you’re talking about isn’t easy. In all the years of the academy, only a few have managed it.”

Ning Jiufan glared at Ning Zhuo sternly and said, “The foundation of our Ning family is built on talisman-making. No matter how proficient you are in mechanics, you cannot neglect talisman-making!”

“First, it’s our family’s specialty, and second, talisman-making is part of the myriad skills in cultivation, including mechanical arts.”

Ning Zhuo immediately bowed and said, “Old Ancestor, your teaching is right. I will remember it firmly.”

Ning Jiufan continued, “The insights on talisman-making that I gave you before, you must study them carefully.”

Ning Zhuo quickly assured him that he would read them whenever he had the time.

Ning Jiufan glared at him again. This junior Ning Zhuo was quite smooth, unlike how others treated him!

Even the Patriarch of the Ning family was always extremely respectful in front of Ning Jiufan.

But Ning Zhuo did not have this attitude; he was rather unruly.

However, Ning Jiufan didn’t reprimand him too harshly.

The reason was that very few people dared to treat him like this.

Ning Jiufan knew quite a bit about Ning Zhuo’s upbringing. He understood that in some ways, Ning Zhuo had been overlooked by the family and grew up like a wild child.

For this wild child, it was understandable that Ning Zhuo treated him this way.

On the other hand, Ning Jiufan was also well aware of Ning Zhuo’s talent and skill in mechanics. Deep down, he felt a certain fondness for this rising star among the juniors.

So Ning Zhuo’s unruly behavior in front of him wasn’t just tolerated by Ning Jiufan but even seen as refreshingly straightforward.

After Ning Zhuo cleaned up the desk, Ning Jiufan deliberately tested him and asked, “Recently, Lord Meng Kui and Detective Zhu agreed on a contract. It was decided that no matter what positions anyone among us holds in the Lava Immortal Palace, those positions will be retained afterward.”

“In the future, regardless of who becomes the Palace Lord, the positions of the others will not be casually revoked.”

“What’s your view on this?”

“And how do you think our Ning family should respond?”

Ning Zhuo immediately looked at Ning Jiufan and, without hesitation, said, “This is a great opportunity for our Ning family!”

“If I were the family head, I would call an assembly of the entire clan as soon as I heard this news and mobilize them to strive for as many positions as possible.”

Ning Jiufan remained expressionless and continued to ask, “Why would you do that?”

Ning Zhuo continued, “It’s simple. The more positions we control, the more influence we’ll have over the entire Lava Immortal Palace.”

“No matter who becomes the Palace Lord, the Lava Immortal Palace will still be the core of Mount Huoshi in the future.”

“The main function of the Lava Immortal Palace is to suppress Mount Huoshi, preventing it from erupting, continually absorbing the underground flames from the mountain, and eliminating the proliferating Red Flame Beasts.”

“And these underground flames, the Red Flame Beasts, and other underground resources are massive, a huge natural treasure.”

“The more positions our Ning family holds, the more cultivation resources we can obtain from the Lava Immortal Palace.”

“In fact, it’s not just these tangible resources. There’s also merit. The Lava Immortal Palace suppresses Mount Huoshi, benefiting Huoshi Immortal City and serving Southern Dou Kingdom. These merits are also intangible resources.”

“Our Ning family’s situation is somewhat awkward. After drifting here from the North Wind Country, we’ve been rooted in Huoshi Immortal City for over ten years. But in terms of overall strength and status, we are at the bottom among the four powers.”

“This opportunity is incredibly rare. We may not encounter another one in decades.”

“If our Ning family can seize this opportunity, we can definitely use the Lava Immortal Palace to change our entire situation, enhance our overall strength, foundation, and status in Southern Dou Kingdom.”

Ning Jiufan stroked his beard. “If, according to you, this is a great thing, are you suggesting mobilizing the entire clan to switch to a different cultivation method?”

Ning Zhuo immediately shook his head. “Of course not!”

“Our Ning family’s talent lies in cultivating frost-type techniques.”

“This advantage cannot be lost, nor can it be changed.”

“In my opinion, we should have the majority of ordinary cultivators who don’t possess frost talent switch to cultivating the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art.”

“In this way, with sheer numbers, we can compete against the Zhou family, the Zheng family, and the City Lord’s mansion to seize more positions in the Immortal Palace!”

“As for the talented individuals that emerge later, they can continue cultivating their original techniques.”

Ning Jiufan remained noncommittal.

In his heart, however, he was quite satisfied with Ning Zhuo’s response.

Thinking further, considering that Ning Zhuo was only sixteen years old, it made the Golden Core Ancestor of the Ning family even more hopeful for Ning Zhuo’s future!

He glanced at Ning Zhuo and said, “I will write to the current Patriarch. Do you think his opinion will align with yours?”

Ning Zhuo immediately shouted, “Old Ancestor, are you still counting on the Ning family’s main branch? His response is predictable; he will surely prioritize the main branch.”

“In my opinion, if the Ning family truly wants to develop, we need to carve out a new path, establish a new foundation.”

“The people of the main branch have already become a major obstacle to our Ning family’s progress.”

“If I could split from the family and become the head of a separate branch, I’m certain I could lead the entire Ning family to new heights!”

This statement earned Ning Zhuo a sharp flick on the forehead from Ning Jiufan.

“Always talking about splitting the family. Can’t you live without splitting? Don’t bring it up again!”

In the Ning family’s ancestral land, within the Ning family’s council hall.

The head of the Ning family sat in the main seat, while the elders of the Ning family sat on either side.

The head of the Ning family handed Ning Jiufan’s letter to the others.

The elders quickly finished reading it, and everyone fell silent.

The atmosphere in the council hall was heavy.

The Ning family’s head sighed deeply and said, “Let’s hear everyone’s opinions.”

The elder of the War Hall spoke first. “The situation is quite dire! If we allow the revisionist faction to seize positions in the Lava Immortal Palace, the branch family will receive enormous support, and it will be difficult to suppress them.”

“In the future, who will be the branch, and who will be the main family, will be uncertain.”

The elder of the Academy Hall agreed. “We’ve controlled the family through our mastery of techniques. But if our cultivators switch to the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art, we won’t be able to control them through the techniques anymore.”

The elder of the Talisman Hall sneered. “You old fools still don’t understand the situation?”

“On the surface, this is a letter from the Old Ancestor asking for our opinion. But in reality, it’s a polite, indirect suggestion. Do you think we can refuse?”

“This policy was devised by Zhu Xuanji and Meng Kui. It’s obvious they want to push us into competing for positions in the Lava Immortal Palace, even at the cost of future rights.”

“We have no other option but to go all out!”

“The Zhou family and the Zheng family will do the same. The more positions they control in the Lava Immortal Palace, the more power they will hold over Mount Huoshi in the future.”

“This is a blatant scheme!”

“We have no way to stop it.”

The elder of the Academy Hall shouted, “But our family’s talent lies in frost-type techniques. This is determined by our bones.”

“Now, you want the majority of our family to switch to the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art and crazily compete for positions in the Lava Immortal Palace?”

“Isn’t this neglecting the essential and wasting our talent?”

The elder of the Talisman Hall sneered again. “Indeed, our family’s talent is in frost-type techniques, but there’s no obstacle to cultivating the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art.”

“Moreover, the majority of our clan members don’t have innate talents like the Ice Jade Hand. For them, cultivating frost techniques or the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art makes little difference.”

“The problem isn’t about choice. It’s that we can only accept this.”

“However, with this trend, it’s hard to say who will be in charge of the Ning family in the future!”

Upon hearing this

, the Ning family head and the elders all fell silent.

The situation was quite severe for the Ning family’s main branch!

Previously, Ning Zhuo had ousted Ning Xiaoren and united a group of former deacons, taking control of the black market overnight.

This heavy blow had left the main branch of the Ning family reeling.

In fact, Ning Zhuo had already caused a split within the family, with some members of the branch establishing a new foundation in the black market.

The main branch hadn’t found a way to counter this and had once hoped for support from the City Lord’s mansion and other forces, but Ning Zhuo’s subsequent handling was impeccable, earning even Fei Si’s praise for being more tactful than Sun Lingtong.

The main branch could only pin its hopes on the future. After all, it was a consensus among the higher-ups that the black market should not fall under the control of any of the three families. However, the current situation was special.

In the end, the main branch received this new policy!

This would greatly bolster Ning Zhuo’s faction!

Originally, Ning Zhuo’s group relied on the black market, earning resources for cultivation.

Now, with the policy ensuring that positions would be retained, the Lava Immortal Palace would likely become another source of wealth for Ning Zhuo’s group.

And this time, the policy regarding the retention of positions in the Lava Immortal Palace had received confirmation from the highest authorities, unlike the black market, which was an unstable foundation.

The high-ranking members of the Ning family could already foresee this grim future.

However, what frustrated them the most was that they couldn’t stop it!

(End of Chapter)