Next, Ning Fa flew towards Yun Chang Island.
Since he had advanced to Late Qi Condensation, he felt obligated to inform Ning Shaohong, both out of propriety and reason.
Although, he wasn't sure how he should face Ning Shaohong.
On the way.
Ning Fa recalled the first mission the First Elder had given him.
It could be said to be quite difficult.
This involved another cultivation family, the Huang Family.
The Huang Family did not have any Foundation Establishment Cultivators; they were one of the many Qi Condensation families around Thousand Wave Lake.
However, their strength could be considered among the stronger ones.
The unique aspect of this family lay in a peculiar place within their territory called Blood Fang Valley.
This valley could cultivate a very high-quality spiritual rice: [Blood Fang Rice].
This spiritual rice was considered the highest quality among the many first-tier spiritual rice varieties around Thousand Wave Lake.
Not only did it contain dense spiritual energy, but long-term consumption even had a certain effect of strengthening the physical body.
The Huang Family became famous because of this spiritual rice, with more than half of the family's income coming from this Blood Fang Rice.
Naturally, even Foundation Establishment powers like the Ning Family had long been purchasing this Blood Fang Rice from the Huang Family.
The Huang Family navigated skillfully among these powerful forces, managing to maintain their independence.
And they profited handsomely.
The Ning Family, however, was in a rather special position.
Because twenty years ago, when the Huang Family patriarch was traveling, he was pursued by Calamity Cultivators.
He happened to be saved by the Ning Family's Fourth Elder, who was on a journey at the time.
The Huang Family patriarch then promised to sell at least thirty percent of their Blood Fang Rice production to the Ning Family from then on.
This was partly out of gratitude, but more so to rely on the Ning Family's influence.
The Huang Family had indeed followed this arrangement for the past twenty years.
However, the problem was that they were now unwilling to continue doing so.
The original patriarch of the Huang Family had abdicated, and the former young patriarch had officially taken over the reins of the Huang Family.
This individual was ambitious and dissatisfied with the terms his father had agreed to with the Ning Family.
He had begun to deviate from the previous agreement.
A few days ago, when the merchant caravan sent by the Ning Family went to the Huang Family to procure goods.
They were politely informed that the Huang Family's Blood Fang Rice production had decreased, and they could only supply twenty percent of the Blood Fang Rice to the Ning Family for now.
However, the Secret Wind Hall, responsible for intelligence within the Ning Family, was not incompetent.
They soon discovered that the Huang Family's Blood Fang Rice production had not only not decreased but had actually increased significantly.
It was clear that the Huang Family no longer wanted to sell such a large quantity of Blood Fang Rice to the Ning Family.
And it was estimated that the twenty percent they offered was merely a test; if the Ning Family showed no reaction, it might be reduced to ten percent, or even nothing at all in the future.
If they wanted Blood Fang Rice, they would have to pay a higher price, just like other forces.
The Huang Family was merely a Qi Condensation family, and their daring defiance of the Ning Family was certainly not due to a lack of sense.
It was because the current situation around Thousand Wave Lake had changed somewhat.
In recent years, with the expansion of Calamity Cultivator forces.
Many small and medium-sized powers around Thousand Wave Lake had become increasingly fearful for their safety.
Many factions began to band together for mutual protection.
One of the most significant developments was the establishment of the Rogue Cultivator Alliance.
Led by the most renowned Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator in Thousand Wave Lake, [Nine Wood Hermit], along with two other Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators, this Rogue Cultivator Alliance was formed.
Because its base was on Chang Kong Island, it was also known as the Chang Kong Alliance.
Although many rogue cultivators were unwilling to be constrained by others, they joined under the threat of the rampant Calamity Cultivators.
This alliance quickly became the second-tier power in Thousand Wave Lake, at least on paper, comparable in strength to the Calamity Cultivator organizations.
It also received overtures from numerous smaller factions.
These small factions were willing to pay substantial Spirit Stones annually in exchange for the protection of the Chang Kong Alliance, which became the alliance's largest source of income.
The Huang Family was one of them, even considered a major client of the Chang Kong Alliance.
Furthermore, the current Huang Family patriarch, Huang Shuheng, was quite ambitious. He had also joined forces with several other nearby families of similar scale to form a more tightly-knit offensive and defensive alliance.
Most of these families, like the Huang Family, possessed their own rare special products, such as Blood Fang Rice.
With these families united, their influence increased significantly.
They could be considered Yun Chang Island's most distinguished guests.
Under the mutual checks and balances of other major powers, they couldn't casually act against any single one of these families.
This was precisely why the Huang Family dared to defy Ning Fa, failing to uphold their previous promises.
Furthermore, as Ning Zhongyuan had mentioned before, ever since the Ning Family defeated the Qian Family.
They had retracted their claws over the years, appearing much calmer.
This gave the smaller factions the false impression that the Ning Family was very accommodating now.
And Ning Huarong's failure to establish a Foundation was also a significant factor.
Walls have ears, and after so much time had passed, the news of Ning Huarong's failed Foundation Establishment and damaged foundation had still spread.
The failure of this Witch, renowned throughout Thousand Wave Lake, to establish a Foundation was a relief for countless factions in Thousand Wave Lake.
This might have even included the Xue Family.
If Ning Huarong had successfully established a Foundation, the Huang Family, even with the protection of the Chang Kong Alliance, likely wouldn't have dared to break their promise.
Ning Zhongyuan's task for Ning Fa was to make the Huang Family honestly adhere to their previous agreement.
Considering the current situation in Thousand Wave Lake, it was clear this task would not be easy.
The Huang Family not only had their own small alliance but also the protection of the Chang Kong Alliance.
Moreover, Ning Fa was currently only the Deputy Hall Master of the Blazing Wind Hall, and could only utilize the power of a Deputy Hall Master.
He couldn't use the entire Ning Family's strength to suppress the Huang Family.
Especially since the Huang Family's strength was not insignificant.
Ning Zhongyuan handed Ning Fa a jade slip containing detailed intelligence on the Huang Family.
Their family had nearly a hundred cultivators, with about ten to twenty cultivators at Late Qi Condensation.
Their ancestral land, Bright Yellow Island, even possessed a second-tier grand formation.
Although Ning Fa didn't know the exact strength of the Blazing Wind Hall, he assumed it was definitely inferior to the entire Huang Family.
What's more, he was only the Deputy Hall Master and could at most mobilize half of the Blazing Wind Hall's strength.
Ning Fa couldn't help but ponder countermeasures, thinking to himself that being the Hall Master of the Blazing Wind Hall was truly not an easy job.
Firstly, a direct frontal assault on the Huang Family would definitely be the worst possible strategy.
Especially since the Huang Family was so defiant towards the Ning Family, they would likely have made relevant preparations.
Even if it were successful, it would certainly result in heavy casualties.
Furthermore, it would inevitably cause friction between the Chang Kong Alliance and the Ning Family, worsening the Ning Family's diplomatic situation.
Although the Ning Family might not care, it would undoubtedly cause him to lose significant standing among the family's higher-ups.
However, not using military deterrence was also out of the question. Ning Zhongyuan clearly intended for the Huang Family to be taught a lesson, to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys.
Therefore, this task was not only difficult to complete but also required great precision.
Ning Fa couldn't help but grumble inwardly, realizing that family resources were not easily obtained.
He had received such a troublesome task right after taking office.
But if he didn't demonstrate his capabilities through such missions, how could he gain the trust of others and truly become the Hall Master of the Blazing Wind Hall?
So, Ning Fa accepted this challenge.
Ning Fa arrived at Yun Chang Island.
He hadn't seen Aunt Hong in a long time.
After the direct lineage competition, when he returned to Small Bamboo Island, Ning Shaohong had come to find him several times.
However, upon learning that Ning Fa was preparing to break through to the Late Qi Condensation realm, she didn't visit again so as not to disturb him.
After not seeing each other for over half a year, upon meeting, Ning Shaohong stared intently at Ning Fa, her beautiful eyes seeming to hold a thousand unspoken words.
This made Ning Fa feel a prickle of unease.