"Ning Fa, you actually came out from Small Bamboo Island. It seems you're really going to participate in the family's Heir Competition."
Ning Nanqing said with a smile.
Ning Wanyun appraised Ning Fa with her apricot eyes, her beautiful jade-like face filled with joy. She was clearly very happy to unexpectedly see Ning Fa today.
Although Ning Fa had previously rejected their marriage proposal, it was evident the young lady hadn't given up.
Ning Fa's heart stirred. Ning Nanqing would definitely know more about this Heir Competition.
After all, the Yongchang Island lineage was also participating in this competition.
It was possible that the person representing their branch was Ning Nanqing himself.
"Since we've met today, let's go to Yunxiang Residence and chat. I'll treat,"
Ning Fa said with a smile.
Ning Nanqing and Ning Wanyun naturally agreed with smiles.
In a quiet private room at Yunxiang Residence.
Ning Fa's expression was thoughtful.
He had just finished listening to Ning Nanqing's detailed explanation of the family's Heir Competition.
This competition was unlike any before, and it would be unprecedentedly fierce.
A total of thirty-two branch families had registered to participate, with each branch family sending one representative.
The competition format was simple and brutal.
They would draw lots on the spot, with each person getting a number. Number one would face number thirty-two, number two would face number thirty-one, and so on.
This would determine sixteen people, and then they would draw lots again, followed by matches.
This would continue until the top eight were decided.
This method of competition naturally had a large element of luck, as it was possible for two very strong individuals to meet early on.
This would result in some being eliminated.
However, the remaining participants would still have a chance.
Branch families that were not satisfied could re-register, and these individuals would again determine the top four through this method.
These top four would then have the opportunity to challenge the previously victorious top eight.
If the challenge was successful, they could replace them.
This way, it could basically guarantee that the top eight participants were the strongest eight among all the contestants.
The original four direct descendant branch families would also participate in the competition, in addition to the Yuan Chang Island lineage, where Ning Ruiming was from, and the Yongchang Island lineage, where Ning Nanqing was from.
And just as Ning Fa had expected, the person representing Yongchang Island was indeed Ning Nanqing.
Ning Nanqing directly stuffed a piece of beast leg meat, overflowing with spiritual energy, into his mouth. After swallowing it whole, he wiped his mouth with his large hand.
He said carelessly, "Honestly, why bother participating in the competition? With your current status in the family, you're practically a direct descendant even if you're not. Let me tell you, if you happen to meet me, I won't hold back."
Ning Fa couldn't help but feel both amused and annoyed. He thought to himself, If you really meet me, you'll be crying.
At this moment, Ning Wanyun blinked her beautiful eyes and asked with a sweet laugh, "Ning Fa, I heard from my grandfather that the Third Elder officially nominated you to be promoted to a Quasi-Second-grade Pill Master in the Elder Council, and also appointed you as a Deputy Hall Master. This has already received the unanimous agreement of the other Foundation Establishment elders."
Ning Fa thought to himself, You're quite well-informed. He immediately nodded without hiding anything.
Ning Nanqing looked at Ning Fa with envy and muttered, "I run myself ragged at Blazing Wind Hall just to barely get promoted to Deputy Hall Master. You, kid, just by refining pills, you've achieved it, and your rank is even half a level higher than mine. It's truly a case of comparing people and driving yourself to death."
Ning Fa rolled his eyes and couldn't be bothered to reply.
At this moment, Ning Nanqing seemed to recall something and sat up, asking, "How is Qinghui now? Is she still on Small Bamboo Island?"
Ning Fa's expression turned somewhat strange.
If Ning Nanqing, and some of Liu Qinghui's other admirers, knew that Liu Qinghui had already been... intimate with him, and that Liu Qinghui had actively thrown herself into his arms, would they go mad with anger?
He coughed dryly and said, "I'd say you're quite a smart person. Didn't you realize that Liu Qinghui was so obviously stringing you and the others along?"
Ning Nanqing sighed, "What if I did realize it? Who told me to like her? Although there are many competitors, I believe I will be the final victor."
Ning Fa immediately fell silent.
At this moment, Ning Wanyun secretly glanced at him, then frowned and asked, "Ning Fa, you don't still like Liu Qinghui, do you?"
As soon as she said this, Ning Nanqing spat out the tea he was drinking.
He looked at Ning Fa nervously. If that were true, Ning Fa would immediately become a strong competitor.
"Absolutely not!"
Ning Fa uttered this sentence and then decisively fled.
Two days later.
Ning Family ancestral land, Ningchang Island.
On the vast bluestone plaza, spanning thousands of square meters.
This normally quiet place was now bustling with activity, with over two hundred Ning Family cultivators gathered.
On a high platform, nine figures were seated.
On this grand occasion, besides the Fifth Elder Ning Huarong, all nine other elders of the Ning Family were present.
On the left side, four individuals exuded extremely powerful spiritual pressure, clearly being four Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The person on the far left possessed a spiritual pressure significantly stronger than the other three.
He had evidently reached the Mid Foundation Establishment realm.
This person was none other than the Ning Family's First Elder, Ning Zhongyuan, who had been absent for a long time.
Seeing Ning Zhongyuan appear, many Ning Family members couldn't help but cheer.
After all, ever since the Ning Family defeated the Qian Family several years ago, this First Elder had not appeared in public for an extended period due to recuperating from injuries.
There were even rumors that Ning Zhongyuan, due to the severity of his injuries, had fallen from the Foundation Establishment realm.
Now that Ning Zhongyuan appeared safe and sound, it naturally put many Ning Family members at ease.
Below the high platform, thirty-two people stood in a line.
These individuals were naturally the participants sent by their respective branches to compete.
Each of them possessed a deep aura, with almost all being cultivators at the Late Qi Condensation realm.
Except for one person.
That was Ning Fa, who had just advanced to the sixth layer of Qi Condensation.
He was also the only one at the Qi Condensation Mid-stage.
This caused many present to cast their gazes upon him.
However, Ning Fa's status was now vastly different from before.
News of Ning Fa becoming a family Quasi-Second-grade Pill Master and the Deputy Hall Master of the Pill Hall had spread throughout the entire family these past two days.
Ning Fa had also instantly become a highly sought-after figure in the family, with a status almost second only to the ten elders.
Therefore, others could at most express their envy in hushed tones, but no one dared to joke about Ning Fa's participation.
Some of the participants, however, were secretly worried.
If they drew Ning Fa later, should they go all out or not?
What if they injured Ning Fa and incurred his resentment?
After all, how Ning Fa retaliated against Ning Ruiming had spread throughout the entire family.
It was said that even after two years, Ning Ruiming still hadn't emerged from the trauma.
He remained confined to his home on Yuan Chang Island, not venturing out.
Ning Shaohong's beautiful eyes were fixed on Ning Fa, a gentle smile in her eyes.
Ning Fa first smiled at her, then naturally turned his head away.
He casually surveyed his other opponents.
He discovered that there were eleven cultivators at the peak of the ninth layer of Qi Condensation.
These eleven were clearly the strongest besides Ning Fa.
Among them was not only Ning Nanqing but also another person who caught Ning Fa's attention.
This person was named Ning Jikun. He wore black robes, and his entire aura was sharp as a sword, giving Ning Fa an extremely dangerous feeling.
Ning Fa inwardly felt a sense of dread. This person felt even stronger than Ning Nanqing to him, likely the strongest besides himself.
At this moment, the Fourth Elder Ning Weize flew out from the crowd.
His hand seals shifted, and with a flick of his finger, a white light shot into the air.
The white light then suddenly transformed into thirty-two smaller clusters of light.
He announced loudly, "These are thirty-two numbers. Each of you choose one."