Chapter 21: Second Level of Qi Refinement!

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit withdrew its gaze and turned it toward the Zheng family.

Two elders of the Zheng family were trying to persuade Zheng Jian.

Zheng Jian was a young cultivator, with a headband on his forehead set with a gemstone shaped like a vertical pupil.

At this moment, Zheng Jian shook his head firmly, his attitude resolute. “No, I have made up my mind to cultivate the Five Elemental Energy Laws! No one can stop me.”

One of the elders sighed. “Zheng Jian, you are the most outstanding of your generation in the Zheng family. You possess the Heart-Piercing Insight, which perfectly complements our family’s techniques. To abandon it for another path would truly squander such a fine talent.”

Zheng Jian shook his head. “It is precisely my Heart-Piercing Insight that tells me I must cultivate this technique as soon as possible; it will greatly benefit my path!”

The elder shook his head. “Our family records include ancestors with the Heart-Piercing Insight. It can indeed grant cultivators astonishing intuition, but that does not mean it is always right. There are many recorded instances where intuition has been wrong. Zheng Jian, you must not trust this gift too blindly.”

Zheng Jian shook his head again. “From childhood until now, my intuition has never failed me. This time, I will still choose to believe it. Elders, I appreciate your kindness, but there’s no need to persuade me further.”

The elders sighed and stepped back. “Very well, Zheng Jian, allow the branch families to cultivate this technique first and observe the results.”

Zheng Jian laughed aloud. “There’s no need to even suggest such a thing! What is the main line, and what is the branch? Just because there’s risk, we send the branch families? That would make me a cowardly heir indeed.”

“Precisely because I am of the main line, I must lead by example and forge ahead. Otherwise, what right would we have to lead the family?”

“Elders, my mind is made up.”

The two elders sighed deeply, both worried and gratified.

One of them said, “So be it. This jade slip is for you.”

“It was bestowed personally by Lord Zheng Double Hook when he learned of your decision.”

“Within the jade slip is recorded a forging technique called the Death Hook.”

Zheng Jian was puzzled. “I am about to disperse my cultivation, and time is of the essence. How will I have time to forge weapons at such a critical moment?”

The elder smiled. “There is no hurry. Take a look first.”

Zheng Jian pressed the jade slip to his brow and sent his consciousness inside.

Soon, his face brightened with joy.

“Marvelous.”

“This secret forging art is powerful, but it has drawbacks. First, it must be used together with our family’s techniques. Second, for each hook forged, one layer of the cultivator’s power is permanently lost. If too many are made, the cultivator’s maximum power will continually decrease, and it cannot be restored.”

“But for me right now, it is perfect.”

“I must disperse my cultivation anyway. Why not put it to good use and forge the Death Hooks? Not only will this speed up the dispersal, but I will also gain such an extraordinary self-defense tool.”

“Thank you, Ancestor Zheng Double Hook, thank you both, elders!”

One elder stroked his beard, the other smiled.

“This is but your rightful due.”

“No wonder you are a true son of the Zheng family. May success attend you in this endeavor!”

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit watched Zheng Jian a while longer, then shifted its gaze toward the Ning family.

The Ning clan’s patriarch and a group of elders were in secret council, finalizing candidates.

A freshly drafted list circulated among them.

The academy elder frowned deeply. “The list is not right.”

“That Five Elemental Energy Laws, even though it comes from the Celestial Palace’s Transmission Bell, currently has only three layers. Switching to this method is a leap into the unknown. It will be hard to find volunteers.”

“Now that we are forcibly assigning people, resentment is inevitable.”

“The list is filled with branch line members, and hardly any from the main line. If we announce it, it will not convince anyone.”

The war hall elder was dismissive. “Our main line is small; the branches are many. It is only right that more branch members are chosen.”

“If the main line is too involved, and should there be casualties exploring the Celestial Palace—or even if not, if we cannot obtain further methods in future, then they too will be crippled.”

“That would be too great a sacrifice for the main line.”

“I do not wish to see a repeat of the civil strife from over a decade ago!”

More than ten years before, the Ning family had migrated en masse from the Northern Wind Kingdom, journeying a thousand miles into the Southern Bean Kingdom.

Along the way, they were ambushed.

The main line lost many, and even their Golden Core ancestor was gravely wounded. After settling in Persimmon Immortal City, the Ning family’s Golden Core spent years in convalescence and became the least conspicuous Golden Core cultivator in the city.

In these circumstances, with the branch lines outnumbering the main, ambition festered, and they started a rebellion, seeking to overthrow the main line’s rule.

In the end, the main line prevailed by a hair’s breadth, but the experience left them extremely wary of the branches, both overtly and covertly using every means to weaken the branches and strengthen the main.

In short, the Ning family’s core policy was to strengthen the trunk and weaken the branches!

However, this policy was hard to apply to the matter of selecting people to cultivate the Five Elemental Energy Laws.

All because they had no idea what the future held for those who switched to this method.

If the prospects were bright, they would send main line members. If bleak, they would send more from the branches.

At present, no one could guarantee the outcome.

The elders leaned toward caution.

After some discussion, the branch members were decided upon, but the main line candidates were bitterly disputed. Every elder present was from the main line, each with their own network and interests.

The patriarch listened to their arguments for a long time, then, as they paused for breath, he interjected, “No matter how many from the main line, we cannot do without a leading figure. With so many from the branches, if there is no strong hand from the main line to keep order, it will be impossible to control them, and the tail may wag the dog.”

The elders’ faces all fell; it was clear the patriarch meant to put forward a truly promising candidate.

The patriarch continued, “Among the family’s Foundation Establishment juniors, who is fit for such a task?”

The elders all thought of one person.

“It can only be Ning Xiaohui.”

“She was born with hands like icy jade, perfect for crafting frost talismans—the symbols flow from her fingertips, naturally imbued with spiritual grace. She is certain to produce masterpieces!”

“To send such a prodigy…”

“I disagree!” Suddenly, the elder of the talisman hall interrupted, loudly voicing his objection.

Another heated dispute broke out.

The patriarch, headache mounting, waited until the elders ran out of breath, then said, “Why not first seek Ning Xiaohui’s own opinion?”

The talisman hall elder sprang to his feet, flung open the doors, and strode out. “I will speak to her myself!”

Soon after—

“Elder,” Ning Xiaohui greeted him.

The moment she learned of the matter, her expression changed. “With my icy jade hands, I am destined for the path of talisman-making, a bright and proper road.”

“And now you want me to take up mechanisms and detours? Which elder cannot bear to see me succeed?”

“I will go complain to my grandmother!”

The talisman hall elder’s face was stern. “I absolutely support you, Xiaohui. Come, I will go with you.”

Upon hearing Ning Xiaohui’s reply, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit snorted a plume of smoke, its dragon face filled with scorn.

Of all the powers in Persimmon Immortal City, its opinion of the Ning family was the lowest.

It was just about to turn its attention elsewhere when its gaze suddenly paused.

Not far from the Ning family’s compound, there was a humble little courtyard.

Beneath it, in a workshop, a young boy was seated cross-legged, cultivating with great effort.

Blood trickled slowly from his nostrils.

He was clearly using the Five Elemental Energy Laws. And—

Second level of Foundation Establishment!