Surprise or Shock

Ning Muchun's willow brows shot up as she snapped, "What are you standing there like an idiot for? Have you gone senile?"

Ning Xilin jolted awake. An awkward smile appeared on his aged face, then was replaced by an expression of utter excitement as he said fervently, "Please calm your anger, Sister Chun. I heard some news on the way here, which is why I was late."

Seeing Ning Xilin looking so overjoyed, everyone could not help but feel utterly baffled.

Ning Muchun said impatiently, "Whatever the news is, what does it have to do with our branch? How is it that the older you get, the more nosy you become? If you can't handle affairs, I'll replace you with someone else."

Alarm flashed across Ning Xilin's aged face, and he hurriedly said, "The news I heard is related to our branch—very much related!"

After saying that, he swept his gaze across the room and announced in an extremely excited tone, "The news is that Little Fa has officially joined the family Alchemy Hall and become a family alchemist!"

The room fell silent at those words. Everyone found it hard to believe their ears, thinking they had misheard.

After all, Ning Fa had struggled for five or six years to enter the Alchemy Hall, expending countless resources, yet he had failed every assessment without exception. They had long concluded that Ning Fa would never become a family Pill Master in this lifetime.

Ning Fa's eldest uncle, Ning Zhengqian, was the first to react. Excited yet incredulous, he hurriedly asked, "Xilin, where did you hear this? It isn't some rumor, is it?"

With everyone in the room staring intently at him, Ning Xilin hurriedly replied, "It's absolutely true! The Ninth Elder's personal maid came to deliver the message herself. The Alchemy Hall token has already been given to Little Fa. Ning Chuanwei, Little Fa's neighbor, saw it with his own eyes. There's no way it could be fake!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was already more than half convinced.

Ning Fa's eldest uncle, Ning Zhengqian, wore an Excited Look as he shouted, "This is truly wonderful!"

Ning Zifeng was initially astonished, but a smile soon spread across his face. Clearly, he was delighted as well.

After their initial surprise, Ning Baiquan's entire family also wore expressions of excitement.

After all, for ordinary members of the Ning Clan, entering the family Alchemy Hall was no different from a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate.

Among the family's many halls, the Alchemy Hall was unquestionably one of the most important. Family Pill Masters held lofty positions; even a First-grade Low-rank Pill Master ranked above ordinary Late Qi Condensation clansmen.

A First-grade Mid-rank Pill Master already held a status comparable to the deputy heads of most family halls.

Once one advanced to a First-grade High-rank Pill Master, their status and treatment within the family would be little different from that of a family elder.

If someone from a collateral branch became an official family Pill Master, that branch's standing within the family would rise greatly. Even if it could not become part of the family's direct line, it would still surpass many other collateral branches.

And an increase in family standing brought tangible benefits, allowing every member of their branch to benefit.

For instance, the number of spirit stones the branch needed to hand over each year would decrease to a certain extent, the family duties it was required to undertake would be reduced, and it would receive preferential treatment when sharing in the family's benefits...

All of this was explicitly stipulated in the Ning Clan's rules, intended to encourage the various collateral branches to cultivate outstanding descendants.

Compared with the excitement of Ning Fa's eldest uncle and fourth uncle's families, Ning Fa's eldest aunt Ning Muchun's family felt far more shock than surprise.

Ning Furong's eyes widened as he cried out in disbelief, "How is that possible?! How could that good-for-nothing possibly pass the family Pill Master assessment?! There must be some mistake!"

A flash of panic crossed the eyes of the usually forceful Ning Muchun. Her son's words reminded her, and she hastily said, "That's right! Wasn't Ning Fa supposed to go to the Fifth Elder's residence and become a dual-cultivation Cultivation Cauldron? How did he suddenly become a family Pill Master? This must be a rumor!"

Ning Zhengqian refuted her, "If I remember correctly, Little Fa's wager with the Fifth Elder does not officially expire until tomorrow. Now that Little Fa has become a family Pill Master, he has won the wager against the Fifth Elder. Naturally, he no longer needs to become a dual-cultivation Cultivation Cauldron. Though the Fifth Elder has a forceful temperament, she has always kept her word."

At those words, Ning Muchun's expression became even uglier.

Even Meng Jinliang, who had always been composed, could not stop a gloomy look from flashing through his eyes. He said, "Let me verify it. I remember Brother Yi He is on duty at Lingchang Island. He should know."

As he spoke, a flash of fire appeared in his hand, revealing a palm-sized crimson talisman. Mysterious runes covered its surface, and it radiated a dazzling fiery glow.

"A First-grade Mid-rank Sound Transmission Talisman!"

Everyone was startled. Sound Transmission Talismans were common, but they were usually First-grade Low-rank. A First-grade Mid-rank Sound Transmission Talisman was relatively precious, worth at least thirty spirit stones.

But Pingchang Island was hundreds of li from Lingchang Island, and only a Sound Transmission Talisman of this grade could reach that far.

This also showed how eager Meng Jinliang was to confirm the news, using such a precious talisman without hesitation.

A trace of pain flashed through Meng Jinliang's eyes as well, but his anxiety left him no time to care about the waste. After rapidly speaking a few words toward the crimson talisman before him, it transformed into a ball of fire and vanished into the void.

For a time, no one in the hall spoke. The atmosphere sank into an indescribable silence. Everyone wore different expressions, but all anxiously awaited a reply. Never had they felt time pass so slowly.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, a flash of fire suddenly appeared in the air. A crimson talisman emerged before Meng Jinliang, then turned into a burst of flames as a deep, weighty voice rang out clearly:

"Under the Ninth Elder's care, Ning Fa passed the Alchemy Hall assessment yesterday with outstanding results. The family's council of elders unanimously decided to make Ning Fa the family's sixth official Pill Master. Jinliang, congratulations. In the future, this little brother may even need to ask you to make an introduction or two."

Meng Jinliang's mouth twitched. He truly could not bring himself to feel happy now.

Ning Fa becoming an official family Pill Master was, at the very least, absolutely not good news for his family.

After all, they were still plotting to seize Ning Fa's shop, and judging by the unpleasant way their last meeting had ended, that nephew was also deeply dissatisfied with them.

Ning Muchun's face turned pale, and she slumped back into her chair. Ning Furong, meanwhile, looked as though he had seen a ghost, endlessly muttering, "Impossible, impossible..."

Ning Zhengqian and Ning Baiquan's families, along with Ning Xilin, were ecstatic. With the news truly confirmed, they were clearly overjoyed beyond measure.

Ning Baiquan stroked his long beard and laughed heartily. "From the sound of it, Little Fa has not only become a family Pill Master, but also seems to share a close relationship with the Ninth Elder. This is truly wonderful! It seems the Ninth Elder still has feelings for Second Brother. Back then..."

"Baiquan, watch your words! The Ninth Elder's affairs are not for you to discuss!"

Ning Zhengqian hurriedly stopped him from continuing.

Ning Baiquan knew he had misspoken and quickly covered his mouth, but the smile on his face would not fade.

At that moment, Meng Jinliang seemed to think of something. The unnatural expression on his face disappeared, and he put on an equally delighted look as he said:

"This is truly good news. Now that Little Fa has not only become a family Pill Master but also earned the Ninth Elder's favor, as long as Little Fa is willing to help, we will be even more certain of obtaining a Spirit Stabilizing Pill."