Chapter 88: He Is the Creator of the Fiery Monkey!

Ning Xiaoren returned to his reception hall and soon summoned Ning Ze.

“Come, sit, have some tea,” Ning Xiaoren said with a smile, inviting Ning Ze to sit beside him.

Ning Ze hesitated, uncertain—this was the first time Ning Xiaoren had treated him with such courtesy.

He quickly replied, “If there’s anything you need, young clan leader, just order your subordinates, and I will make sure it’s done.”

Ning Xiaoren gestured toward the seat.

Ning Ze nervously took a seat.

Ning Xiaoren sipped his tea lightly, his expression tinged with emotion. “Ning Ze, you have raised a fine nephew.”

Ning Ze immediately stood up. “Sir, if the boy has done anything wrong, I will discipline him thoroughly at once!”

Ning Xiaoren narrowed his eyes slightly and waved his hand three times. “Sit, sit. No need to be so tense. It’s good news, a joyous matter.”

As Ning Xiaoren spoke, Ning Ze, who had only half-sat, gradually widened his eyes, then his mouth, stunned beyond belief.

Even after leaving Ning Xiaoren’s reception hall and returning home, the look of shock remained etched on his face.

Qi Refining, Peak of the Third Layer!

A stunning success in the tri-clan joint test!

Rivaling geniuses like Ning Xiaohui and Zheng Jian!

Is this really Ning Zhuo?

Is this the same Ning Zhuo he once knew?

“How did Ning Zhuo manage this? Is the Five Elements Qi Law truly so suited to his cultivation?”

Driven by curiosity and doubt, Ning Ze called his wife, Wang Lan. “Prepare a family feast tonight. Order some spirit food from the restaurant.”

Wang Lan was puzzled. “Ordering spirit food costs quite a bit. Husband, what’s the occasion today that calls for such a celebration?”

“It’s a family gathering. Invite Ning Zhuo over. I haven’t seen him in a long time,” Ning Ze said.

Wang Lan’s eyes widened, and she snapped sharply, “What? Invite Ning Zhuo to eat and drink here? And order spirit food? Husband, have you lost your mind?”

Ning Ze responded sharply, “Woman, what would you understand? This is an order from the young clan leader…”

He then briefly recounted Ning Xiaoren’s instructions.

Wang Lan stood there stunned for a long while.

“Ning Zhuo?”

“Are you sure it’s Ning Zhuo?!”

Ning Ze snorted coldly, “Would I lie to you? Would the young clan leader deceive me? The tri-clan joint test was witnessed by so many people; it cannot be faked!”

Wang Lan opened and closed her lips a few times, wanting to say something but ultimately remained silent.

Her eyes grew wide with a complex expression: disbelief, denial, resentment, envy, and loss.

Ning Ze’s face darkened. “What are you thinking about? Aren’t you going to make the arrangements?”

Wang Lan responded with a soft “Yes, husband, I’ll handle it right away,” but her gaze remained vacant, her steps stiff and spirit hollow as she left.

With no one else present, Ning Ze sighed deeply.

He was ordered by Ning Xiaoren to win over Ning Zhuo and try to glean some information from him.

At sixteen years old, this was the first time Ning Ze had bowed to invite Ning Zhuo to a feast.

Such an order hurt his pride and dignity as an elder.

Yet, he had no choice.

The young clan leader’s command was absolute.

Still, his rational mind told him that Ning Zhuo was no longer the same, and cultivating a good relationship would be beneficial.

After leaving the Zhou family, many people had accompanied Ning Zhuo for quite a distance, even though it wasn’t on their way.

At the last intersection, Ning Zhuo took the initiative to bid farewell to everyone except Ning Chen and Ning Yong, who remained by his side.

Once home, he invited Ning Chen and Ning Yong inside, served them tea, and exchanged a few words.

---

Though the time was short and the conversation sparse, Ning Chen and Ning Yong felt greatly honored after leaving, their faces flushed with excitement as they discussed how impressive Ning Zhuo was—famous yet humble, still sincere.

Ning Zhuo patiently awaited the invitation to Ning Ze’s family feast.

“Not even the clan chief or young clan leader personally summoned me?”

Ning Zhuo snorted inwardly but outwardly expressed sincere thanks to the messenger, smiling warmly and promising to attend punctually.

The feast was sumptuous!

In sixteen years, Ning Zhuo had never eaten such a fine meal at Ning Ze’s place.

But Wang Lan couldn’t eat a bite. She spoke little, abandoning her usual chatter, and rarely glanced at Ning Zhuo, as if a radiant light emanated from him that pierced her heart every time she looked.

Ning Ji also lost his appetite.

For him, everything happened too suddenly.

Ning Ze wore a cold expression, the weight of sixteen years’ seniority not easily shed.

Ning Zhuo ate and drank little, and whenever Ning Ze questioned him, he set down his utensils respectfully and replied concisely, unwilling to engage further, exuding a sense of distance.

Ning Ze knew well he needed to smile, bow his head, and better coax him.

Yet, by the end of the feast and Ning Zhuo’s departure, he had failed to do so.

Ning Ji quietly followed after Ning Zhuo.

He didn’t know why.

Perhaps it was curiosity: "How did he reach the peak of the third layer of Qi Refining? It just doesn’t add up!"

“Is it really because the cultivation method suits him so well?”

“No, I have to find out. He must have some secret!”

“Following him?”

Ning Zhuo had long noticed Ning Ji behind him and deliberately slowed his pace to allow the other to tail him.

Under Ning Ji’s watchful eyes, Ning Zhuo visited many pill shops, purchasing large quantities of pills—all for cultivation.

Ning Ji was stunned. “How does he have so much money? More than my father?”

“He’s only showing his cultivation, but the clan’s resources haven’t been distributed yet. Even if they had, there wouldn’t be this many spirit stones.”

“His money must have a shady origin! I must report this!”

Elated, Ning Ji hurried home to inform Ning Ze.

Ning Xiaoren learned of this even before Ning Ze did. After instructing Ning Ze to win over Ning Zhuo, he immediately dispatched a squad of cultivators to secretly protect Ning Zhuo and monitor and report.

“Ning Zhuo actually possesses such vast wealth?” Ning Xiaoren could hardly believe it as he examined the detailed list of pills Ning Zhuo had purchased.

His eyes blazed with fury. “If I had known Ning Zhuo was this wealthy, I would have cultivated a good relationship with him earlier.”

“Did his parents secretly leave this to him?”

“Or is this money ill-gotten, stolen? Or perhaps he’s being secretly funded by demonic cultivators?”

Pacing his study, Ning Xiaoren’s greed burned ever brighter.

“Ning Zhuo is a branch clan member, now at the same cultivation level as Ning Xiaohui. Now he carries a fortune…”

“This fortune’s origin is unclear. For the good of the clan, I must get to the bottom of it.”

“Besides, I don’t need to act personally—I can have Ning Ze do it. That’s perfect.”

At last, he stopped pacing and called out, “Send someone in!”

A servant immediately entered.

Half an hour later, Ning Ze and Ning Fan arrived with a squad of cultivators, surrounding Ning Zhuo’s small courtyard.

Ning Ze frowned deeply. “Do we really have to do this? It feels so improper.”

Ning Fan replied, “Didn’t the young clan leader give you clear orders? The cultivation team is crucial to the Lava Immortal Palace. We can’t afford negligence. Ning Zhuo’s fortune is indeed suspicious, and as his uncle, you must act.”

“The clan may still rely on Ning Zhuo. Being his relative, you’re the best choice.”

“Go quickly.”

Ning Ze was from a branch clan; Ning Fan from the main clan, sent specifically by Ning Xiaoren to supervise Ning Ze.

Ning Ze sighed and knocked on the courtyard door.

Ning Zhuo opened it, saluted respectfully, and asked the visitors’ purpose.

“We’ll speak inside,” Ning Ze said sternly, stepping in without waiting for an invitation.

The others followed in single file, pressing Ning Zhuo toward the door.

Meanwhile,

The three clan chiefs secretly met again to continue negotiations.

This time, they aimed to finalize the distribution of joint benefits.

“The Phoenix Soul Blood Fragrant Pill is highly effective at restoring soul power and should be evenly divided among the three clans.”

“No,” objected the Ning clan chief, “Our clan has two geniuses, Ning Xiaohui and Ning Zhuo, who deserve adequate supply. The Zheng clan has only one.”

The Zheng clan chief snorted coldly, “Ning Zhuo merely fits the cultivation method; he lacks true talent. He’s no genius. Not acceptable!”

Just then, a knock came at the door.

The three chiefs’ pupils contracted sharply, their hearts jolted.

“Who is it?”

“I, Zhu Xuanji!”

“Oh, it’s the Divine Detective,” the three chiefs quickly opened the door and welcomed Zhu Xuanji in.

They had stationed guards outside, but since Zhu Xuanji was a Golden Core cultivator, their protection was ineffective.

Zhu Xuanji smiled. “Gentlemen, I come with a request.”

He had obtained detailed records from the city lord, documenting cultivators who had entered the Lava Immortal Palace over the years.

But that was only the city lord’s record.

Zhu Xuanji hoped to acquire each clan’s own records to piece together a complete version.

All three chiefs were Foundation Establishment cultivators united against the city lord’s mansion, sharing interests with the royal family to some extent.

They immediately sent for their records and handed them to Zhu Xuanji.

Most were from the Zheng and Zhou clans; the Ning clan had only recently discovered the Lava Immortal Palace, so their records were sparse.

Zhu Xuanji glanced through and nodded in satisfaction.

As a royal insider, he did not want to see the Meng family expand its power by seizing the Lava Immortal Palace.

Before leaving, he offered a tip: “I heard a familiar name on the way here. If it’s Ning Zhuo, that boy is worth cultivating.”

“His virtue needs watching, but his talent for mechanisms is notable.”

“He designed and created the ‘Fiery Mechanism Monkey.’”

The three chiefs’ eyes widened in shock.

The Ning clan chief exclaimed, “Ah?!”

Zhu Xuanji smiled slightly. “Outwardly, it’s run by Chen Cha, master of the Flying Disc Workshop, but there’s more beneath the surface, related to Fei Si. Investigate, and you’ll find out.”

That brief explanation was enough.

Waving his hand, Zhu Xuanji vanished.

The three chiefs exchanged glances.

Gradually, the Ning clan chief raised his head, exhaled deeply, and smiled, “Did you both hear that clearly? That was from Lord Zhu Xuanji himself!”

The Zhou and Zheng chiefs fell silent.

Unaware amid their excitement, Ning Zhuo was enduring rigorous interrogation within the Ning clan.