Qi Refining Second Layer!

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit withdrew its gaze and directed it towards 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 in the center of the headband on his forehead.

At this moment, Zheng Jian shook his head abruptly, his attitude resolute: "No, I am determined to cultivate the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art! No one can stop me."

One elder sighed: "Zheng Jian, you are the most outstanding person of this generation in our Zheng Family. You possess the talent of Heart-Piercing Insight, which complements our family's cultivation method perfectly. To switch to another method would truly waste such an excellent talent."

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

The elder shook his head: "In the family records, there are also ancestors with Heart-Piercing Insight. Heart-Piercing Insight can indeed grant cultivators astonishing intuition. But this does not mean it is always correct. The family history records multiple cases of incorrect intuition. Zheng Jian, you must not rely too much on this talent."

Zheng Jian shook his head: "From childhood to now, I have never encountered a situation where my intuition was wrong. This time, I still choose to trust my intuition. Two elders, thank you for your good intentions, there is no need to persuade me further."

The elder sighed and took a step back: "Alright, Zheng Jian, let the people in the branch family cultivate this technique first and see how it goes."

Zheng Jian laughed heartily: "There is absolutely no need to even suggest such a thing! What is the main family, and what is the branch family? Because there is a risk, you want the branch family to take it? If I were to act like that, I would be too cowardly and weak as the head of the main family."

"Precisely because I am a member of the Zheng Family's main line, I should set an example and forge ahead bravely. Otherwise, why should the main line govern the family?"

"Two elders, my mind is made up."

The two elders sighed deeply, both worried and relieved.

One of them said: "Very well. This Jade Slip shall be given to you then."

"This was personally bestowed by Lord Zheng Shuang Gou after he learned of your matter."

"The Jade Slip records a refining method called the Life Severing Flying Hook."

Zheng Jian was puzzled: "I need to disperse my cultivation and every second counts. How can I refine artifacts at this critical juncture?"

The elder smiled: "No rush, just take a good look first before you say anything."

Zheng Jian then placed the Jade Slip against his forehead and activated his divine sense to investigate.

Soon, his face lit up with joy.

"Wonderful."

"This refining secret technique is powerful, but it has drawbacks. First, it must be used in conjunction with our family's cultivation method. Second, for every hook refined, one layer of the cultivator's magic power is permanently reduced. If too many are refined, the cultivator's own magic power limit will become lower and lower and cannot be restored."

"But for me right now, it is precisely the most suitable."

"My entire magic power is going to be dispersed anyway, so it's better to make use of it and refine it into Life Severing Flying Hooks. Not only can it speed up the dispersion of my cultivation, but I can also have such a wonderful protective item."

"Thank you, Ancestor Zheng Shuang Gou, and thank you, two elders!"

The two elders either stroked their beards or smiled.

"This is what you deserve."

"Truly worthy of being a son of our Zheng Family. We hope you succeed in everything this time!"

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit watched Zheng Jian for a while, then changed direction and looked towards the Ning Family.

The Ning Family Patriarch and a group of elders were secretly discussing and finalizing the candidates.

The draft list was passed around among the people.

The School Elder frowned tightly: "The list is not appropriate."

"That Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, even though it comes from the Dharma Transmission Bell of the Immortal Palace, currently only has three layers. Cultivating this art has an unpredictable future, and it's difficult to get people to volunteer."

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

"There are too many people from the branch families on this list, and very few from the main family. If we announce this, it won't convince the masses."

The War Hall Elder didn't care: "Our Ning Family's main family has few people to begin with, while the branch families have many. It's only right for the branch families to provide more manpower."

"If the main family involves too many people, and they sacrifice themselves while exploring the Immortal Palace... even if they don't sacrifice themselves, once they can't get the subsequent cultivation methods in the future, they will all be half-crippled."

"This sacrifice for the main family is too heavy."

"I don't want to see the internal strife of more than ten years ago repeat itself!"

More than ten years ago, the Ning Family migrated from the North Wind Country, traveling thousands of miles to enter the South Bean Country.

Along the way, they were ambushed.

Many members of the main family sacrificed themselves, and the Golden Core ancestor was severely injured. After settling in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, the Ning Family's Golden Core has been recuperating year-round, making them the Golden Core cultivator with the weakest presence in Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

In this situation, with the large number of branch family members, seeing the situation like this, they developed ambitions and brazenly stirred up internal strife, attempting to overthrow the main family's rule.

In the end, the main family won a dangerous and tragic victory.

Because of this, the main family members are extremely wary of the family branches, using various means openly and secretly, trying every possible way to weaken the branches and strengthen the main family.

In a word, the core policy of the Ning Family is to strengthen the trunk and weaken the branches!

However, this policy is difficult to grasp when it comes to selecting personnel to cultivate the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

This is because they don't know the prospects of cultivating the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

If the prospects are great, they will heavily arrange for main family members. If the prospects are dim, they will put more branch family members.

Now, no one can guarantee the future.

The elders are generally conservative.

After discussing for a while, the branch family personnel were decided, but the main family was difficult to determine, accompanied by a lot of disputes. The elders present were all members of the main family, and they all had their own network of connections and vested interests behind them.

The Patriarch listened to the elders arguing for a long time, and taking advantage of their breathing space, he interjected: "No matter how many people the main family sends, it is absolutely impossible without a main general. The branch families have many people, and without capable personnel from the main family to suppress them, it is easy for the tail to wag the dog and the guest to usurp the host."

The elders' faces all fell. Listening to the Patriarch's meaning, he wanted to send truly good seedlings.

The Patriarch continued to ask: "Among the family's Qi Refining Stage cultivators, who can take on this important task?"

All the elders could only think of one person.

"Undoubtedly, it's Ning Xiaohui."

"She was born with a pair of Ice Jade Hands. When making Frost Talismans, she can move her heart with her hands, and the spiritual charm is natural, which will definitely produce high-quality goods!"

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

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

Another new dispute unfolded.

The Patriarch had a headache. After waiting for a long time, he seized the moment when the elders were catching their breath and said, "Why don't we first ask for Ning Xiaohui's own opinion?"

The Talisman Hall Elder suddenly stood up, pushed open the door, and stepped out of the council hall. "I'll go talk to her myself!"

Soon.

"Elder." Ning Xiaohui bowed.

The next moment, upon hearing about the matter, her expression changed instantly. "I have Ice Jade Hands, so I should naturally follow the path of talismans. This is a bright and open road."

"Now you want me to go into the obscure path of mechanisms? Which elder is it who can't stand me?"

"I'm going to complain to my grandmother!"

The Talisman Hall Elder's face was solemn. "I absolutely support you, Xiaohui. Let's go, I'll go with you."

Hearing Ning Xiaohui's evaluation, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was so angry it spat out a puff of fiery smoke, and a look of intense disdain appeared on its dragon face.

Observing up to now, among the four forces in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, it had the worst impression of the Ning Family.

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

Not far from the Ning Family's settlement, there was a simple small courtyard.

Underneath the small courtyard, there was a workshop.

Inside, a young man was sitting cross-legged, diligently cultivating.

Blood was slowly flowing from his nostrils.

His cultivation technique was none other than the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, and...

He was at the second level of the Qi Refining Stage!