「January 28th.」
The Ning Family’s annual eting.
Every year at the annual eting, everyone from the entire Ning Family would gather here.
Martial Artists often traveled far and wide, exploring the world. Although they were family, many of them might not even see each other once a year.
Thus, a major reason for the annual eting’s existence was to maintain their familial bonds.
Even relatives would grow distant if they didn’t see each other often over a long period of ti.
Besides strengthening their bonds, it was also a ti to discuss successes and failures and to plan for the future.
The annual eting also served to resolve conflicts among family mbers. Any grievances were settled on the spot, preventing grudges from festering into feuds that could harm the family’s unity.
Inside the Ning Family Mansion, mbers from every branch had already arrived.
There was Ning Shoujing’s branch, as well as his several brothers and sisters, each with flocks of children and grandchildren.
However, among the younger generation, the one who currently stood at the forefront was Ning Feng, who had broken through to the Innate Realm. All the others paled in comparison.
The mont Ning Feng appeared, all the other youths turned to look at him.
"Huh?"
Everyone was a little puzzled. Ning Feng’s face was pale and his complexion was poor, as if he were injured.
"Ning Changhan, you’ve raised a fine son."
"Ning Feng has truly surpassed his father."
A group of elders was already singing Ning Feng’s praises.
Ning Feng forced a few laughs. He was still thinking about being defeated by a single finger from Ning Jiang last night. That incident had dealt a heavy blow to his confidence.
"Feng, co on in with us," Ning Shoujing said.
"Yes, Grandfather."
Ning Feng nodded and followed Ning Shoujing and a group of elders through the main hall and into the inner chamber.
A house was typically divided into two parts: the hall at the front and the chamber at the back.
Juniors like them could only stay in the main hall. Only elders of high status or the most outstanding mbers of the Ning Family were allowed to step into the inner chamber.
This was what it ant to "ascend the hall and enter the chamber."
Entering the inner chamber ant one had entered the core of the Ning Family.
Among the entire younger generation of the Ning Family, only Ning Feng was qualified to step inside. The other juniors watched on with quiet envy.
"Ning Jiang, you injured Big Brother Ning Feng last night. I suggest you go apologize and show so humility."
Ning Shan walked over to Ning Jiang and said, "Maybe you had so fortuitous encounter outside. Maybe you got lucky, found so treasure, and managed to refine your physique. But injuring soone is still wrong."
In her subconscious, she believed that Ning Jiang had only managed to cultivate the Great Sun Glazed Golden Body through sheer luck. How could she possibly know of the unimaginable pain he had endured to possess such strength?
"Apologize?" Ning Jiang gave her a cool glance. "Who do you think you’re talking to?"
His calm voice drifted out, yet it carried an imnse authority that sent a shiver through Ning Shan.
In that instant, she felt as if the Ning Jiang before her had transford into a supre, unassailable expert—one who could swallow the heavens and earth, and seize the sun and moon.
But the feeling vanished as quickly as it ca.
’Was that just my imagination?’ Ning Shan wondered, surprised. She imdiately shook her head. "Since you’re so stubborn and intent on making one mistake after another, don’t bla for not warning you."
"I wonder who will co to visit this year?"
The surrounding juniors chattered amongst themselves. During every Ning Family annual eting, mbers from each branch would invite friends to attend, and those friends would bring congratulatory gifts.
This was always the ti for each branch to show off its connections.
If you didn’t even have a single person visit you, wouldn’t that just prove you had poor social standing and weren’t doing well for yourself?
Anyone in that situation would inevitably be subjected to so ridicule.
"Ning Yu’an, I bet not a single person will visit you this year. Just wait and see how you beco a laughingstock," Ning Ding sneered.
In truth, Ning Yu’an’s parents, Ning Changfeng and Li Qingyun, were both Innate Realm experts and had their own networks of connections.
Normally, there would be no need to worry. This ti, however, the two had traveled far away to Golden Cauldron City and had not yet returned.
Since the couple wasn’t even here, they hadn’t invited any of their friends. So why would anyone show up to offer new year’s greetings?
If you don’t invite people, how could they have the nerve to just show up?
"So what?" Ning Yu’an huffed proudly. "With my little brother here, even if every power in Baiquan Town showed up, their combined weight wouldn’t be worth as much as him alone."
"How ridiculous."
Ning Ding sneered relentlessly, and even the surrounding juniors jeered, thinking Ning Yu’an had lost her mind.
Ning Jiang was just a sixteen-year-old boy without any reputation in Baiquan Town. On what basis could he compare to all the powers of Baiquan Town combined?
Even Song Ziwen was nowhere near that influential.
"We’ll see who’s laughing soon enough," Ning Yu’an said, refusing to argue further.
While the younger generation chattered in the main hall, the inner chamber was filled with the elders—the core figures of the Ning Family.
At the head seat sat an old man who looked to be around a hundred years old, his head full of white hair, appearing the most ancient of all.
This was the Old Patriarch of the Ning Family. His cultivation had reached the Postnatal Late Stage, and he was the father of Ning Shoujing and his siblings. He had founded the Ning Family with his own two hands.
He was of the highest generation, followed by Ning Shoujing and his brothers and sisters.
Next was the third generation, which included people like Ning Changhan.
Among the third generation, not many were qualified to enter the inner chamber.
Of Ning Shoujing’s sons, only Ning Changhan had stepped into the Innate Realm, thus earning him the qualification to be here.
Beside Ning Changhan was his son, Ning Feng. From the mont he entered until now, Ning Feng had frequently earned the praise of the crowd, and even the Old Patriarch had expressed his admiration.
He was called young and promising, with a boundless future.
Bathed in everyone’s praise, much of the gloom in his heart began to dissipate.
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