Ning Fa's face flashed with anger, but he suppressed it. He knew that begging further would be pointless.
Wei Chengzong, being an old hand, wouldn't go against the currently favored Ning Ruiming for a disgraced family disciple like himself. Any more words would just be humiliating.
At this moment, Wei Chengzong coughed and said, "Ning Fa, I still have alchemy to do. If you have nothing else, you may leave."
Ning Fa gave him a blank look, chilling Wei Chengzong to the bone. Then Ning Fa stood up and left the place, slowly walking towards the dock.
His brow furrowed. The current problem seemed unsolvable.
Even if he had a ten-tenths chance of passing the assessment, what good was it? With Ning Ruiming's meddling, he wouldn't even get the chance to take the assessment.
Unless someone else could speak up for him, and that person had to hold a significant position in the family, someone who could suppress Ning Ruiming.
However, after thinking it over, Ning Fa couldn't think of anyone who would speak for him, which made his heart heavy.
Just then, he spotted Ning Zonglie, who was on duty at the dock, in the distance. His eyes lit up. Perhaps this person could help?
Whether it worked or not, he had to try.
Ning Fa walked over quickly. Ning Zonglie also noticed him immediately. Seemingly sensing that Ning Fa had something to say, he greeted the other members of the guard and walked towards Ning Fa.
"Seeing you come out so quickly, you must have failed the assessment again. I advise you to give up on that idea. You'd be better off thinking about how to please the Fifth Elder and see if you can get her protection in the future."
Ning Zonglie said to Ning Fa without much warmth.
Ning Fa shook his head and then explained Ning Ruiming's scheme. After speaking, he looked at Ning Zonglie with anticipation.
Ning Zonglie frowned upon hearing this. Noticing Ning Fa's expectant gaze, he shook his head and said, "It seems you want me to speak up for you, but it's no use. I can't help you."
Although he hadn't held out much hope, Ning Fa couldn't help but feel disappointed when Ning Zonglie directly refused.
Ning Zonglie said helplessly, "It's not that I don't want to help you. Given my friendship with your father, I would definitely help if I could. But my speaking up won't make a difference."
"You should know Ning Ruiming's status. He's being groomed by the family as the future chief alchemist, his position is not comparable to mine. Moreover, his faction is not only a direct lineage but also has close ties with the Third Elder. My words as a mere member of the Blazing Wind Hall speaking for you would be completely ineffective."
Ning Fa's heart sank, but he knew Ning Zonglie was telling the truth.
But if he couldn't pass the family's alchemist assessment, was he really destined to become Ning Huarong's dual cultivation cauldron?
He was so unwilling. After finally transmigrating to this mysterious Cultivation World, possessing that heaven-defying Mysterious Scroll, and fully mastering the refinement of the Essence Replenishing Pill.
But now, due to the machinations of a villain, there was no way to break through. How could he accept this?
As for revealing the Mysterious Scroll to the family, Ning Fa wouldn't even consider it.
Exposing the scroll to the family might earn him their attention, but it was more likely that the Foundation Establishment elders would kill him for the treasure.
In the face of such a heaven-defying treasure, blood ties and kinship were all nonsense.
Therefore, he was determined never to tell anyone about the secret of the Mysterious Scroll.
At worst, he would obediently dual cultivate with that Witch. Even if his Dao Foundation was damaged, with that heaven-defying Mysterious Scroll, he might still have a chance to turn things around in the future.
If nothing else, with his current skill in refining Essence Replenishing Pills, he could definitely earn a substantial income just by selling them. Then he could find ways to obtain some precious spiritual materials to mend his body.
Although it would be difficult, it wouldn't be a dead end.
Thinking this, Ning Fa's heavy heart felt somewhat relieved.
"Uncle Lie, I understand. I'll be going back now."
Ning Fa cupped his hands at Ning Zonglie and walked towards the dock.
"Kid, wait a moment."
At this moment, Ning Zonglie called out to him. His tiger-like eyes darted back and forth on his mustachioed face.
After a long while, he looked at Ning Fa and said in a deep voice, "Kid, perhaps there's someone who can help you."
After saying that, he glanced around and walked up to Ning Fa, whispering something to him.
Upon hearing him finish, Ning Fa's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "Thank you, Uncle Lie. I'll go try now."
Ning Zonglie sighed helplessly and cautioned him again, "Remember, don't say I told you this, or I'll be in trouble. You should take that Spirit Boat, the [Blue Wave]. It's heading to Yun Chang Island to deliver Spiritual Materials soon. I'll put in a good word for you."
Ning Fa nodded repeatedly, thanked Ning Zonglie again, and then ran towards a light blue Spirit Boat docked at the shore.
Yun Chang Island was very close to Lingchang Island, only a little over a hundred kilometers away. In less than half an hour, Ning Fa arrived at the island.
The island was shrouded in a hazy white mist, with undulating mountains vaguely visible. Occasionally, immortal cranes and spiritual birds circled overhead, their melodious cries echoing out, making it seem more like the spiritual island Ning Fa had envisioned.
Ning Fa had come to visit the Ninth Elder of the family, Ning Shaohong, who resided here. She was another female elder among the family's ten elders, besides Ning Huarong.
She was also the twin sister of the Second Elder, Ning Weidong, and held a prominent position within the family.
However, Ning Shaohong's position as the Ninth Elder was not due to her connection with the Second Elder, Ning Weidong.
This was because Ning Shaohong was a rare Spirit Embroiderer.
Among the hundred arts of cultivation, besides well-known professions like alchemy, talisman crafting, artifact refining, formations, and spiritual planting, there were also many niche professions. Spirit Embroiderer was one of them.
As the name suggests, a Spirit Embroiderer could sew all kinds of Cultivator Robes, a profession derived from artifact refining.
Although the profession of Spirit Embroiderer was niche, its ability to earn Spirit Stones was not weak, ranking among the top in the hundred arts of cultivation.
This was because Cultivator Robes were generally very expensive, and the profit margins were naturally high. Those who could afford them were usually cultivators with substantial wealth.
The reason Spirit Embroiderers are unpopular is similar to Alchemy; the barrier to entry is too high. It requires investing a large amount of resources to even begin practicing, and most cultivators simply cannot afford the expenses involved.
However, cultivator robes are not as essential as pills. They are more of a luxury item in the Cultivation World, which is why the profession of Spirit Embroiderer is so rare.
Not only is Ning Shaohong a Spirit Embroiderer, but her rank has reached the second tier, allowing her to sew robes for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The family even established a dedicated Spirit Embroidery Hall, with Ning Shaohong serving as its head. She recruits suitable female cultivators from the family to learn the art of spirit embroidery in the hall.
Over years of development, this Spirit Embroidery Hall has produced numerous cultivator robes, earning the family a significant amount of Spirit Stones. The cultivator robes produced by the Spirit Embroidery Hall have also become a signature product of the Ning Family.
The Ning Family opened a specialized shop in the nearby large market, Tianshui Market, to sell these robes, and the business has been very successful.
Because of this contribution, Ning Shaohong was appointed as the Ninth Elder of the family, and everyone in the family was convinced of her merit.
Ning Fa's current trip is to seek help from this Ninth Elder, a suggestion he received from Ning Zonglie just now.
The reason is quite simple: the Ninth Elder, Ning Shaohong, and Ning Fa's father, Ning Zhiyuan, were once lovers, but they separated for reasons unknown.
Not many people in the family know about this. Ning Zonglie only found out by chance.
Furthermore, he believes that Ning Shaohong might still have feelings for Ning Fa's father. Otherwise, she wouldn't have refused the dual cultivation partners the family introduced to her for over twenty years and remained single to this day.
Therefore, Ning Shaohong might help Ning Fa out of consideration for his father. If she were to speak up, Wei Chengzong would definitely not dare to follow Ning Ruiming's orders anymore and would not even deny Ning Fa a chance at a fair assessment.
Ning Fa couldn't help but inwardly grumble, realizing his father was quite the ladies' man. However, considering Ning Zhiyuan's appearance and demeanor in his memory, it seemed quite plausible.
Upon arriving at the dock on Yun Chang Island, Ning Fa discovered that the inspection intensity here was no less than that on Lingchang Island. More than ten cultivators were diligently inspecting the incoming and outgoing Spirit Boats.
What was particularly eye-catching was that all the members of the guard on duty here were female cultivators.
Without a transit token, Ning Fa was immediately intercepted. A female cultivator stared at him and asked coldly, "Who are you, and why have you come to Yun Chang Island without a transit token?"