I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 171 Reconciliation
At noon, the main hall of the Ning family was bathed in golden light.

The high-hanging glass skylight let in beams of sunlight, making the entire hall shine like fire.

Heavy ebony beams and pillars pierce the dome, their surfaces carved with coiled dragons and cloud patterns, their scales and claws menacing.

The hall was paved with bluestone tiles, which were polished by hand until they were as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the shadows of the guests.

At this moment, the lobby was already full of distinguished guests.

Guests from the Shen, Lü, and Lou families arrived and sat on both sides, all dressed in fine clothes, adorned with brocade belts and jade ornaments, with their entourages lined up behind them, their expressions solemn.

With just the number of people and the pomp and circumstance, the powerful and wealthy families were enough to exude an imposing aura, seemingly determined to crush Xue Xiang, who was making his grand entrance today, under their feet.

In this chilling atmosphere, the Ning family displayed their true strength and resources.

A large gilded plaque hangs high in the center, inscribed with the four characters "A Family of Loyal and Valiant Men," written in a vigorous and powerful style. It was personally inscribed by the former governor.

The walls are covered with imperial banners, their embroidered patterns vibrant and colorful. They flutter in the wind, their radiance shining through, proclaiming the glory of our ancestors.

On the front table were displayed a gold book, a jade belt, and a tiger tally. A royal halberd lay across the table, its blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight, as if it could pierce one's eyes.

The fragrant smoke from the bronze incense burner mingled with the blazing sun, making the entire hall appear both solemn and intense.

All of this demonstrates to the guests that the Ning family has a solid foundation, generations of glory, and an unshakeable legacy.

Suddenly, three drumbeats sounded, and a voice announced from outside the door: "Lord Xue Xiang, Acting Dean of the Third Court of the Ninth Hall of Canaan County, has arrived!"

The hall fell silent instantly, and all eyes turned to that direction.

Five men and one woman, a group of six, entered through the gate.

The young man in the blue robe who was leading the group had a stern face and a calm expression; it was Xue Xiang.

Everyone instinctively held their breath.

No matter how much they deny, slander, or despise him, they have to admit that this person is truly an anomaly and a formidable enemy of powerful families.

Xue Xiang's expression was calm, his gaze was cold and sharp, and his steps were composed, as if he were stepping on everyone's hearts.

Behind Xue Xiang, there were only five people following him, without flags or drums.

Compared to the dozens or even hundreds of people lined up in the hall, it seemed exceptionally desolate.

Just then, a cough came from inside the hall.

An elderly man with white hair and beard slowly rose to his feet. He was Feng Jing, Xue Xiang's mentor from when he took the city examination years ago.

Today, he and a group of Canaanite dignitaries were invited to act as intermediaries to witness the signing of a settlement agreement between the two parties.

As soon as he stood up, Xue Xiang quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully from a distance.

Feng Jing smiled and nodded, taking Xue Xiang's arm and saying, "Back then, I knew you were destined for greatness, but I never expected that in just one or two years you would have grown to such a level. It is truly a cause for celebration."

"It is all thanks to the teacher's guidance."

Xue Xiang asked knowingly, "May I ask what brings you here, Master?"

Feng Jing smiled and said, "I am honored by the high regard of the patriarchs. Please allow this old man and the virtuous men of our county to bear witness."

I know you and the others have a long-standing misunderstanding. Today is a good day to clear things up, sign a peace agreement, and leave a good story for future generations.

Immediately, several prominent figures and scholars in the city echoed his sentiments.

"Thank you for your help, teacher."

Xue Xiang was extremely respectful in his manners.

"In that case, I will take the liberty of doing this."

As he spoke, he took out a jade box, opened it, and inside was a roll of frost paper.

Feng Jing immediately picked up a pen and wrote a letter that saved face for all parties.

At that moment, Feng Jing handed the ink brush to Xue Xiang.

Xue Xiang gave this cheap teacher a lot of face and signed his name on the book on the spot.

Ning Haitao and Shen Junyuan both breathed a sigh of relief.

Before long, the names of the heads of each family and the outstanding members of the second generation were all written down.

Feng Jing was extremely pleased with himself; he had gained both fame and fortune this time.

He carefully rolled up the signed agreement, placed it in a jade box, and personally placed it on a vermilion lacquered table.

Hundreds of eyes were fixed on the jade box, as if the dust had finally settled.

Ning Haitao said loudly, "The misunderstanding between our families and Lord Xue is the root of the problem."

Lord Xue is a handsome young man who prioritizes the greater good. His willingness to visit my Ning family demonstrates his extraordinary magnanimity.

This also shows that we can still be friends.

From now on, we will only discuss official matters and avoid creating unnecessary complications.

We are all pillars of Canaan, and we should work together to live up to the expectations of the court and the people.

As soon as he finished speaking, he smiled and cupped his hands in a gesture of great magnanimity, as if he had already forgotten the deep-seated hatred for Ning Qianjun's death.

Xue Xiang stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the fake faces in the hall. "Patriarch Ning is right. Once the treaty is signed, we will keep to ourselves."

"That would be best."

Shen Junyuan stared at Xue Xiang with a complicated expression. He still didn't believe that Xue Xiang would give up so easily, which was completely out of character for him.

The heads of the Lü and Lou families both expressed their opinions.

Although he harbored deep hatred for Xue Xiang, he softened his tone outwardly.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall seemed to really relax.

"Everyone."

Ning Haitao raised his wine cup with a smile, "Now that we have resolved our past grievances, let us pledge our oath with this wine."

May we work together with one heart and one mind to create a prosperous future!

All the family heads raised their cups, and Feng Jing also picked up his white jade wine cup, turned around and smiled at Xue Xiang.

Inside the lobby, hundreds of eyes were fixed on him.

The atmosphere was lively, and it seemed that all that was missing was for him to raise his glass, and the whole commotion would truly disappear.

However, Xue Xiang did not reach out to touch the wine.

He smiled and said casually, "Not busy."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the previously boisterous atmosphere suddenly froze.

A cold glint flashed in Ning Haitao's eyes, but he still smiled: "Oh? Does Lord Xue have any further instructions?"

Xue Xiang raised his hand, pulled a scroll of documents from his sleeve, and gently placed it on the table.

That soft sound struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer blow.

His voice was clear and resounding: "This is the dossier on the Flying Tiger Sect's encroachment on the Spirit Sand Mine."

Although the Flying Tigers were destroyed, their mines quietly fell under the Ning family's control within just a few days.

The room fell silent as soon as the words were spoken.

Xue Xiang turned his gaze, his expression cold as frost: "Patriarch Ning, your Ning family previously encroached on the spirit fields, but I have already pardoned you because it was your first offense."

This time, the Ning family has once again forcibly seized spiritual property; this is their second offense.

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a sharp blade, piercing straight into people's hearts.

"First offenses may be lenient. Second offenses will be punished according to the law. According to the law, the head of the Ning family should go to prison and be questioned."

boom!
Like a bolt from the blue, the entire hall was shaken.

The wine cup hovered in mid-air, and someone's fingers trembled, spilling a few drops of wine that soaked their brocade robe.

Some people's expressions changed drastically, and their eyes flashed with undisguised horror.

Ning Haitao's face was ashen, his palm gripping the wine cup tightly, his knuckles turning white.

After a moment, he managed a forced smile: "Isn't Lord Xue's statement a bit too extreme?"
"The spirit sand mine belonging to the Flying Tiger Sect was purchased by my Ning family. Even if it's an encroachment on spirit property, it's the Flying Tiger Sect's doing, what does it have to do with my Ning family?"

Xue Xiang's gaze was sharp as lightning, and he coldly interrupted, "So you say there's no connection! This file contains testimonies from mine slaves, spirit ticket ledgers, and the official seal of the government office—all here. The Ning family's misappropriation of spirit property is irrefutable."

Ning Haitao, do you really think you can deny it?

“Mr. Feng, the agreement you presided over was signed, but your student went back on his word and clearly didn’t respect you at all.”

Ning Haitao was furious.

He never expected that, despite having signed the peace treaty, this scoundrel would turn on him so soon. Feng Jing swallowed hard, but before he could speak, Xue Xiang said loudly, "Master Feng's coordination in signing the peace treaty is a benevolent act that brings peace to the world, and I, Xue, will naturally comply."

However, public matters are public matters, and private matters are private matters.

Personally, we signed a settlement agreement, and from now on, we'll each go our own way.

As an official, Xue would not let personal matters interfere with public duties.

And this is precisely the principle that Teacher Feng taught me.

Ning Haitao, stop your wailing. The evidence against your Ning family for encroaching on the Lingsha mine is irrefutable.

"I now summon you to the spiritual property clearing room for questioning. Will you comply or not?"

Under the glass palace lanterns, Feng Jing's wine cup froze in his hand, and he almost dropped it.

He stared intently at the files on the desk, feeling cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

I thought today was just a formality, a way to settle things. We would write a letter of agreement, sign it, and the family would save face. Xue Xiang would get a way out, and I would give him the money. Everyone would be happy.

But to his utter surprise, Xue Xiang, after the letter was signed, publicly presented irrefutable evidence and demanded that Ning Haitao be held accountable.

"broken……"

Feng Jing's heart sank, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

He knew very well that he held a limited place in Xue Xiang's heart.

Xue Xiang always saved face for himself, repeatedly calling him "Teacher Feng".

But if he dared to adopt the demeanor of a teacher and order Xue Xiang around, he feared his own face would immediately be shattered.

So he simply put down his wine cup slowly, silently took half a step back, and stopped talking.

"Ning Haitao, I'll ask you one more time, will you turn yourself in or not?"

After Xue Xiang finished speaking, he took out an official document with a red seal and slapped it on the table where he had previously signed and written.

reconciliation?

After his home was ransacked and his family members were implicated, Xue Xiang had only one thought in his mind.

No sooner had Xue Xiang finished speaking than a loud shout echoed throughout the hall.

"presumptuous!"

A figure flashed, and a middle-aged cultivator exuding a murderous aura stepped out from the Ning family's banquet.

His green robe fluttered in the wind, and his aura was as deep and profound as the sea. The imposing presence of a Foundation Establishment cultivator spread out, causing the guests at the banquet to change color.

"Mr. Su, please step back."

Ning Haitao said loudly.

This man was a bodyguard he kept, whose real name was Su Guanhuo.

He had taken care of Su Guanhuo for many years, never asking him to do anything for him, waiting for the crucial moment.

“Master, I have been supported by the Ning family for many years and have no way to repay them. This is truly the time for me to serve them with my life.”

Su Guanhuo glanced at the summons document on the table, his palm pulsating with spiritual power.

With a crisp "bang," the document bearing the official seal was crushed into dust and scattered by the wind.

"You, a mere lowly official, dare to humiliate Lord Ning!"

Su Guan's eyes flashed with bloodlust, and his voice boomed like thunder, "The Ning family has treated me with great kindness and righteousness. Today, I, Su, will slay you to repay your life."

He spoke loudly and resolutely, which made everyone's blood boil. They all wished that Su Guanhuo could kill Xue Xiang on the spot.

What made Xue Xiang feared by the great families was never his cultivation level, but his official position and the power that official position granted him.

Anyone who wants to resolve the issue of Xue Xiang by force will face enormous consequences.

If Su Guanhuo first kills Xue Xiang, then he can turn himself in.

At most, the Ning family bears responsibility for oversight; with some financial resources, they can certainly extricate themselves from the situation.

This is already the least costly way to resolve the issue with Xue Xiang.

Su Guanhuo lunged forward, and Xue Xiang also moved. He moved like a wisp of smoke, and the sword spirit in his hand materialized as he aimed his long sword straight at Ning Haitao.

Ning Haitao was taken aback. He never dreamed that Xue Xiang would be so bold as to make the first move without a word.

Shocked by Xue Xiang's speed, he slammed out his palms, striking the longsword in Xue Xiang's hand.

Xue Xiang was sent flying backward, blood spurting wildly in mid-air.

"court death!"

Ning Haitao shouted loudly, his aura radiating outwards, revealing his strength as a cultivator in the early stage of Core Formation.

At that moment, everyone in the arena was so shocked by what they saw that their blood boiled.

“Xue deserves to die. Kill him, and we only need to send one person to pay for it. If no one is willing to pay, I will go.”

"Yes, kill this bastard, who will speak up for him? In the prefecture and the state, they are all opportunists. As long as one person pays the price, we can give the central government an explanation."

“If this thief is not eliminated, my family will never have peace.”

"........."

The scene instantly became heated, as the resentment of the young masters from various noble families could no longer be contained.

Ning Haitao glanced at the other family heads. The heads of the Lou and Lü families both had resolute expressions, but the head of the Shen family, Shen Junyuan, had a furrowed brow.

Shen Junyuan felt as if he were surrounded by a thick fog.

The scene before us was basically set up at Xue Xiang's request.

After it was set out, Xue Xiang broke it himself. Why was that?
Looking at the angry young faces, Shen Junyuan even wondered if Xue Xiang had anticipated that these young people would lose their temper and shout.

Suddenly, Shen Junyuan locked onto the button on Xue Xiang's lapel, and suddenly remembered something. He shouted sharply, "Shadow Button! Quickly grab the Shadow Button!"

Back then, Shen Ao, the second steward of the Shen family, was first killed by Xue Xiang. After that, Xue Xiang used the Shadow Sound Trap to trick everyone.

Shen Junyuan's words jolted everyone awake from their daze.

Ning Haitao, like an enraged dragon, pounced on Xue Xiang.

If he had hesitated before about whether to resist, now he had no way out.

If Xue Xiang were to hand over the recordings, the scene of a group of noble families clamoring to kill the officials would surely spread throughout the county.

Shen Junyuan felt a chill run down his spine. He suddenly understood why Xue Xiang insisted that the younger generation also participate in the signing ceremony.

This was another calculated move; he had anticipated that the younger generation would become outspoken and reckless due to their heightened emotions.

But what makes him so sure that he can get away unscathed?

Shen Junyuan was racking his brains when Su Guanhuo and Ning Haitao pounced on Xue Xiang from the left and right respectively.
The head of the Lou family had already shouted, "Leave no one alive!"

The already panicked Feng Jing and his group had huddled together, and some of the quick-thinking ones were already shouting, "We will never utter a word about what we saw today, and we are willing to swear a blood oath."

Ning Haitao was furious, his palms slamming into the air with the force of a mountain pressing down.
Su Guanhuo's body surged with murderous aura, and the flames in his palms exploded with a deafening roar. The two violent forces, one on the left and one on the right, almost engulfed Xue Xiang.

At the same time, a murderous intent suddenly arose in the hall.

Several elders from the Lou and Lü families roared and their figures transformed into streaks of light as they rushed straight at Xue Xiang's entourage.

In an instant, spiritual light burst forth, chairs and tables were all blown away, and the hall became like a battlefield, with roars and magical power intertwining.

Seeing Xue Xiang about to be swept away by the storm, Feng Jing and the others turned pale and almost stopped breathing.

At that moment, an elderly man with gray hair and simple clothes stepped forward slightly from among Xue Xiang's entourage.

The originally honest and unassuming but incompetent official was like a sword drawn from its sheath.

The old man lightly flicked his sleeves, and his figure flashed like lightning in the void, already positioned in front of Xue Xiang.

He stretched out a withered hand, seemingly slowly but actually swiftly, and casually flicked it in the air.

boom!
The all-out attack by Ning Haitao and Su Guanhuo collapsed in an instant, like waves crashing against the void, turning into bubbles and disappearing without a trace.

The loud noise echoed, but no residual force was released. Instead, it caused the walls of the hall to tremble and the lights to flicker.

Everyone was stunned.

Ning Haitao's face turned ashen, and Su Guanhuo's eyes widened in horror as he stared intently at the white-bearded old man, his voice trembling slightly: "Who...who are you?!"

Even with their toes, they could tell that the old man was no ordinary person.

The next instant, the old man's large hand seemed to reach out from the void, gently stretching out and passing through the spiritual energy shield that Ning Haitao had hastily gathered, twisting his head off.

(End of this chapter)