Prologue 2 - Ning Family's Announcement

Southern Cloud Country.

Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

Ning Family's territory.

Today is the day of Ning Family's announcement.

Nearly a hundred sixteen or seventeen-year-old youths gathered around the announcement board. These are all youths with cultivation potential in the Ning Family, the hopes of the Ning Family.

"Don't push me!"

"Hey, make some room."

"I see it, I see my name, I'm number twenty-nine! Oh my, I made it to the top thirty."

Suddenly, a youth in the crowd raised his arms and shouted.

The crowded people paused, casting envious glances at the jubilant youth.

The results of this examination were particularly important to them. Because from now on, they could no longer stay in the family school for cultivation, they must enter various industries, work, and engage in production.

The youths in the top thirty of the examination would have the opportunity to join the Ning Family's industry, undoubtedly expanding their future prospects.

As time passed, the youths who squeezed into the top thirty either laughed out loud or cheered with joy. Those beyond the top thirty had dim expressions, with no light in their eyes.

Sixteen years ago, the Ning Family migrated, suffering heavy losses midway, and ended up fleeing to Fire Persimmon City in a sorry state.

In the following years, the Ning Family recuperated, gradually recovered vitality, and slowly took root, still becoming one of the major cultivation families in Fire Persimmon City.

Since birth, the Ning Family's descendants had been testing their roots, undergoing annual tests until the age of twenty-three.

Those with cultivation potential were sent to the family's private school, provided for by the family, for full-time study.

Among this group of people, there was a youth named Ning Zhuo, who usually dressed plainly, with a more outstanding appearance.

Ning Zhuo's face was full of anxiety as he stared at the announcement board.

He saw his name, ranked thirty-first!

He was soon pushed out of the crowd by the surrounding youths.

A tall and thin youth came over and patted his shoulder, "Cousin, your usual performance ranks in the twenties, how did you underperform in such an important examination this time?"

Ning Zhuo didn't need to look up, he knew who it was from the voice.

He raised his eyes.

Sure enough, it was Ning Ji.

Ning Ji appeared sympathetic and concerned, but his eyes were filled with schadenfreude. Normally, Ning Zhuo was always outperformed by Ning Ji in all subjects at the family school. It was rare that this time he surpassed Ning Zhuo and in such a crucial examination!

Ning Zhuo's gaze was somewhat dull, and he subconsciously looked at the announcement board, murmuring, "I don't know either..."

Among his classmates, there were many who looked similar to him, which only highlighted Ning Ji's cheerful face.

At this moment, two youths approached.

Ning Ji glanced at the two and smugly patted Ning Zhuo's shoulder, "I'll go first, you should go home soon too. My parents are looking forward to the results of this examination."

The two youths were named Ning Chen and Ning Yong.

Ning Yong said carelessly, "Ning Zhuo, I saw your results. It seems like you really underperformed this time."

Ning Chen nudged Ning Yong with his elbow, "Even if he underperformed, he did better than the two of us."

Ning Yong grumbled, "But falling outside the top thirty, what's the difference between our results? We can't enter the family's industry."

Ning Chen looked at Ning Zhuo, "I heard that within the top thirty-five, you can still enter the family's industry. It just requires giving gifts and pulling some strings."

"Your ranking still has hope."

Ning Zhuo exclaimed, his eyes shining, "Is that so?"

Ning Chen nodded, "You should go quickly, talk to your uncles about it. These opportunities are limited, if you delay, someone else might take it."

Ning Zhuo couldn't help but show a sense of urgency, "I, I'll go back now and explain the situation to my uncles. Thank you!"

With that, he hurried away.

Ning Yong looked somewhat conflicted, muttering, "It seems like Ning Zhuo might actually squeeze into the family's industry."

Ning Chen shook his head, "It's probably a long shot."

He was often bullied by his cousin when he was young."

"His uncles didn't treat him well, and if he has to use connections and give gifts at this critical moment, the price would be high, and they might not be willing."

Ning Yong found it hard to believe, "At this crucial moment, wouldn't his uncles know what's at stake?"

Ning Chen shook his head, sighing, "It's hard to say."

On the other side.

Inside the Ning Family's mansion.

"Miss, Miss, you made it, you're the first in the examination!"

A maid rushed in, her face flushed with excitement.

The main family member, Ning Xiaohui, was making talismans, not even lifting her head.

She used her fingertips to lightly slide on the talisman paper. Where her fingertips passed, a frosty trail spread gracefully, eventually forming a frosty talisman.

Ning Xiaohui looked at the frosty talisman, a self-satisfied smile playing on her lips.

She looked down at her hands, coldly saying, "I have a pair of hands as smooth as ice and fat, my talisman skills are top-notch. Winning first place, what's so special about that?"

"Those who study with me, without exception, are mediocre and incompetent, what do they have to compete with me?"

Ning Xiaohui's gaze kept shifting between her hands.

She had an above-average appearance, but her hands were exceptionally beautiful, as if carved from white jade. Her ten fingers were slender and well-proportioned, with meticulously trimmed nails that were lustrous and full, resembling pearls reflecting on water ripples.

The back of her hands had delicate and clear patterns, exuding a soft and elegant charm.

Under the sunlight, the delicate veins on her wrists faintly glowed with a bluish-green hue, like fine threads of jade.

She turned her palms upward.

Casually performing a finger gesture, each of her ten fingers bent, and her hands bloomed like ice flowers. In the sunlight, her palms appeared translucent, tender and captivating, clear as ice and pure as jade.

The maid beside her subconsciously held her breath, murmuring in admiration, "Truly beautiful."