Not long after, Ning Fa arrived at the stone hall of Changning Mountain and met the First Elder, Ning Zhongyuan.
Ning Zhongyuan sized him up carefully and said with a look of relief, "Little Fa, I represent the entire Ning Family in thanking you. If Yuwen can successfully establish his foundation, you will be credited with the first merit."
After speaking, Ning Zhongyuan was filled with emotion.
He already knew that Ning Fa was also a key factor in Ning Shaohong's successful foundation establishment.
Ning Fa politely responded and then inquired about the recent frequent attacks by Calamity Cultivators.
He couldn't help but ask, "First Elder, has the Ironclad Alliance really produced a fourth Foundation Establishment Cultivator?"
Ning Zhongyuan's eyes narrowed slightly, but he slowly shook his head. "Not to my knowledge."
Ning Fa couldn't help but find it strange. He thought of a possibility, and his brow furrowed. "The Ironclad Alliance wouldn't have been instigated by the Xue Family, would they?"
A strange look appeared in Ning Zhongyuan's eyes, and then he chuckled heartily. "Little Fa, you don't need to worry about the Calamity Cultivators for now."
Ning Fa looked at him strangely and asked, "As the Hall Master of Blazing Wind Hall, it is my duty to combat Calamity Cultivators. I was planning to make an example of them, so why shouldn't I be concerned?"
Ning Zhongyuan shook his head and said seriously, "I was just about to tell you about this. You will have to put aside your Blazing Wind Hall affairs for now. Nominally, you are still the Hall Master, but I will find someone else to execute the duties of the Hall Master on your behalf."
Ning Fa was stunned.
What's going on? Have I been dismissed?
Ning Zhongyuan's expression turned solemn. "Little Fa, don't overthink it, because the family has more important things for you to do."
Ning Fa frowned and asked, "What is it?"
A sharp glint flashed in Ning Zhongyuan's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "Your main task from now on is Pill Refining. Take a look at this jade slip and see which pills you are skilled at refining. In the coming period, you need to refine these pills with all your might, the more the better. The family will supply you with ample Spiritual Materials."
With that, Ning Zhongyuan handed a jade slip to Ning Fa.
Ning Fa, somewhat bewildered, took the jade slip and began to examine it.
After he finished reading, a strange expression appeared on his face.
"Golden Marrow Pill, Essence Supplementing Pill, Azure Lotus Pill, Water Radiance Pill, Blood Essence Powder, Jinlu Pill..."
These were all mid-to-high grade healing and recovery pills.
There was even the Jinlu Pill, a second-tier healing pill that Ning Fa was already very familiar with.
What was the First Elder's purpose in having him refine these pills specifically?
Ning Fa sensed that something was unusual.
Suddenly, his entire body trembled, and he looked at Ning Zhongyuan with disbelief.
The most likely reason for refining so many healing and recovery pills was undoubtedly that the family was preparing for war.
"First Elder, could it be..." Ning Fa asked in shock.
Ning Zhongyuan waved his hand, signaling him not to continue.
He looked at Ning Fa meaningfully, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. "I cannot tell you what is about to happen yet, but your upcoming Pill Refining is extremely important. Every high-grade pill might save the life of a clan member. I will announce to the outside world that you are in closed-door cultivation. For the time being, you will focus on Pill Refining on Small Bamboo Island and go nowhere else. I will have the Third Elder deliver Spiritual Materials to you regularly."
"Remember, this matter is the highest secret of the family, and no one is to reveal it!"
Ning Zhongyuan emphasized it again.
Ning Fa felt a surge of emotion.
Although Ning Zhongyuan had not admitted it, it was equivalent to a tacit confirmation.
The Ning Family was clearly preparing to launch an external war, and the identity of the opponent was already obvious.
The only one in the entire Thousand Wave Lake that the Ning Family would treat so solemnly was the Xue Family.
Ning Fa felt it was incredible and couldn't help but worry, "First Elder, although our Ning Family is not weak, the Xue..."
Before he could finish, Ning Zhongyuan stopped him with a look.
He said meaningfully, "Little Fa, you just focus on refining pills with peace of mind. Leave the rest to us old folks."
Ning Fa gave him a deep look and asked no further questions.
Afterward, Ning Zhongyuan discussed some more details with him, and Ning Fa got up to leave.
He couldn't help but secretly wonder if Ning Huarong had successfully established her foundation, which was why Ning Zhongyuan had the confidence to launch a war against the Xue Family.
But even so, the Ning Family's strength was still significantly weaker than the Xue Family's.
Ning Fa really couldn't figure it out.
However, he believed that Ning Zhongyuan was definitely not crazy and must have some reliance.
It could be foreseen that before long, Thousand Wave Lake would experience a major upheaval.
Just as Ning Fa, whose mind was in turmoil, flew away from Changning Mountain, a streak of cyan light flew towards him.
Ning Fa quickly stopped and respectfully said, "Greetings, Fourth Elder."
The person who arrived was the family's Fourth Elder, Ning Weize.
He had a gentle smile on his face, appearing very happy to see Ning Fa.
Ning Fa also had a good impression of this Fourth Elder.
Besides his excellent reputation within the family.
When he competed in pill refining with Ning Ruiming back then, this Fourth Elder had also spoken up in his defense.
Ning Weize sized Ning Fa up, his eyes filled with surprise.
He then said gently, "Xiao Fa, it's been a while since I've seen you. I didn't expect you to have already advanced to the Eighth Level of Qi Condensation. This is truly commendable. Perhaps you've already broken through the limitations of your Incomplete Lightning Spiritual Root."
Ning Fa scratched his head and humbly replied, "It was just good luck."
Ning Weize smiled and asked again, "Xiao Fa, did you just see the First Elder? Is something the matter?"
Ning Fa recalled what Ning Zhongyuan had instructed him earlier.
He chuckled, "It's nothing major. I just had some fortunate encounters while traveling recently, so I plan to go into seclusion for a period of cultivation. I want to see if I can break through to the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation as soon as possible. This will save some time, and my hopes for Foundation Establishment in the future will also be greater."
Ning Weize's eyebrows shot up, and he then said with pleasure, "Very good. I eagerly await the day you achieve Foundation Establishment, Xiao Fa. Our Ning Family's strength will undoubtedly increase greatly then."
Ning Fa expressed his thanks.
Just as the two were about to part ways, Ning Weize seemed to remember something and asked, "Has Xiao Yu contacted you recently?"
Ning Fa replied, "Not recently. The last time she wrote, she said she was entering a secret area of the Zhao Family for secluded cultivation and might not come out for a long time."
Ning Weize's eyes flickered, and then he nodded, "Xiao Fa, you should still communicate with Xiao Yu more often. The Zhao Family is, after all, one of the ten great immortal cultivation families in the Jiang Kingdom. If we can establish a connection with the Zhao Family, it would be very beneficial for our Ning Family."
Ning Fa, however, wore a wry smile.
He naturally knew this. The First Elder also knew.
He had just reminded him about it.
But the problem was, judging by the Zhao Family's reaction, they didn't seem to want too much involvement with the Ning Family.
To be precise, they simply looked down on them.
A month after Xiao Yu left with Zhao Yanhua.
A messenger from the Zhao Family visited, leaving behind many precious Spiritual Materials. They claimed it was to thank the Ning Family for nurturing Xiao Yu.
However, the messenger then politely, but very clearly, stated that they did not want Xiao Yu to have too much contact with the Ning Family anymore.
The implication was already very obvious.
In the face of the Zhao Family envoy, who was at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, the First Elder and the others could only agree.
But the few Foundation Establishment Elders had clearly not given up and asked him to maintain contact with Xiao Yu as much as possible.
In their view, since Xiao Yu was so valued by the Zhao Family, she would likely hold a high position within the Zhao Family in the future. Therefore, this connection could not be severed.
Ning Fa chatted with Ning Weize for a couple more sentences, then took his leave.
Ning Weize watched him disappear on the spot, his expression turning serious. He then also rode a beam of light towards Changning Mountain.