"Not Heaven Spirit, merely the first stage of Cave Spirit." Nie Kong smiled faintly. "Did the Grand Elder misjudge?" Nie Xingyun stared in astonishment.

"That's not quite right. My spiritual sense has already reached the Heaven Spirit realm," Nie Kong explained.

"I see."

Nie Xingyun finally understood, though a tumultuous wave was already surging within his heart.

Before arriving, he, Nie Qingsong, and the others had assumed Nie Kong was just an old man of eighty, merely using spiritual elixirs to appear young. They hadn't been overly amazed by his potential Heaven Spirit strength. But now, discovering the person before them was their own disciple, Nie Kong, the feeling was entirely different.

One must remember that Nie Kong was not yet twenty-five, significantly younger than Nie Fenglei. Even with Nie Fenglei's talent, he was only at Void Spirit. Yet, Nie Kong not only possessed the cultivation of Cave Spirit First Stage but also had his spiritual sense reaching the Heaven Spirit realm. Such speed of cultivation could not be adequately described by the term "divine speed."

It was often said that Nie Fenglei was the most outstanding genius in the history of the Nie family, but now, that title was far more fittingly placed upon Nie Kong.

No one knew what experiences Nie Kong had endured during his years away from Jiyang City, to have reached a height that others might not attain in decades in such a short span. Given Nie Kong's current age, as long as no unexpected accidents occurred, reaching Heaven Spirit Ninth Stage was virtually a certainty.

At this moment, not only Nie Xingyun, but also Nie Qingsong and Nie Xinghai standing nearby, felt an irrepressible surge of ecstasy after their initial shock subsided.

Once Nie Kong cultivated to the Heaven Spirit realm, coupled with Grand Elder Nie Shengong, the Nie family would possess two Heaven Spirit Masters.

Such strength would be in no way inferior, even when compared to the imperial family of Chengguo. For a moment, everyone looked at Nie Kong with increasingly fervent gazes.

"Oh yes, Master, Clan Head, and esteemed Elders, why have you come here today...?" Nie Kong's voice suddenly pulled the daydreaming crowd back to reality.

"..."

Recalling the purpose of their visit, everyone exchanged uneasy glances, feeling somewhat awkward.

Finally, it was Clan Head Nie Qingsong who glared fiercely at Nie Fenglei, clearing his throat dryly. "Nie Kong, we have brought Fenglei here to apologize to you."

When Nie Fenglei awoke last night and learned the whole story, Nie Qingsong had desperately wanted to slap him twice and tell him to properly accompany the Holy Son of Moluo Holy Mountain. But he never told him to forcibly seize a woman to offer to Mo Ye for his enjoyment! Although using the term "forcibly seize" was perhaps inappropriate, his actions were no different from such an act.

Moreover, doing something so despicable right here in their own Jiyang City.

The Nie family had always valued its reputation. Although the entire prosperity of Jiyang City stemmed from the Nie family, they never engaged in bullying men and women. If such behavior was discovered, severe punishment was guaranteed. Because of this, the Nie family enjoyed an excellent reputation in Jiyang City. If the matter of Nie Fenglei got out, the Nie family's supposed honor would become a complete joke.

Therefore, even without the Grand Elder's instructions or reminders, they would have come to apologize. While this was somewhat shameful, it was necessary to salvage their reputation.

But discovering that the person they needed to apologize to was Nie Kong, the clan members couldn't help but feel a mixture of frustration and amusement. After all this commotion, the woman Nie Fenglei wanted to give to Mo Ye turned out to be a woman of the Nie family. Although Nie Kong referred to the woman as his sister, listening to the clan members' descriptions, they understood there was definitely an intimate connection between the two. This was an absolute taboo for the Nie family. Fortunately, Nie Kong's astonishing strength prevented Nie Fenglei from succeeding, otherwise, they wouldn't know how to resolve the situation.

For a moment, the clan members looked at Nie Fenglei with rather strange expressions.

At this moment, Nie Fenglei was consumed by shame and anger. His handsome face flushed crimson, wishing he could immediately find a hole to crawl into.

Since birth, due to his extraordinary talent, he had been the favored son of heaven in the Nie family. After joining Moluo Holy Mountain, he was similarly the darling among disciples. If it weren't for Mo Ye, the son of the Moluo Mountain Master, among the disciples of his generation, Nie Fenglei would undoubtedly have already become the Holy Son of Moluo Holy Mountain.

Such an upbringing had always made him look down on others, radiating an air of arrogance.

Yet, upon returning to Jiyang City, not only did he tumble down from the Sihai Tower in full view of everyone last night, but now he had to apologize to the very person who brought him such humiliation. How could his proud heart endure this? If that person had truly been an ancient Heaven Spirit expert, so be it. But who would have thought he would be Nie Kong!

Regarding Nie Kong, Nie Fenglei had long heard rumors. Back when he was still in the Nie family, he had heard about this sickly fellow who had cultivated for many years yet remained at Spirit Gathering First Stage. He had glimpsed him a few times but never took this character, destined for elimination, seriously.

Later, he repeatedly heard news of Nie Kong.

It was rumored that the death of his third brother, Nie Fengxing, was closely related to him. His fourth sister, Nie Fenghua, also mentioned him two years ago when she went to Moluo Holy Mountain. However, in his fourth sister's eyes, this Nie Kong had transformed into a genius of outstanding aptitude, not only becoming the chief disciple within Lingyu City but also seizing the 'Water Spirit Prison Fire Nether Spring.'

At that time, Nie Fenglei still hadn't taken Nie Kong to heart.

Cultivation, this sort of thing, the later the stage, the slower the progress, especially the advancement between major realms. He was far ahead of Nie Kong; the possibility of being caught up by him was almost zero. However, what he never expected was that when he met Nie Kong again, the 'destined for elimination' Nie Kong had already become a Cave Spirit master!

And not only could Nie Fenglei no longer look down on him as he did before, but he also had to bow his head and apologize in front of him.

"Fenglei, apologize now!"

Seeing his son remain unmoved, Nie Qingsong scolded with a grim face.

Although the death of Nie Fengxing back then had left him with some lingering resentment towards Nie Kong, making him consider punishing him, now that he knew Nie Kong's strength, that bit of resentment had vanished. For him, the prosperity of the family was far more important than any personal grudge. He also knew that his son's actions last night were somewhat for the family's consideration, but when compared with Nie Kong, it seemed rather petty; his son just had to endure this slight humiliation.

"I..."

Nie Fenglei clenched his fists tightly, his teeth nearly grinding to dust, his face looking as if it might bleed, but after much effort, the words of apology simply would not leave his lips.

Nie Kong chuckled heartily. "Since we are family, let's forget about apologies. I just hope Cousin Fenglei can act more steadily in the future..."

"Brother."

Before he could finish speaking, Taiyan's figure appeared at the doorway.

With a joyful cry, she threw her voluptuous and alluring figure into Nie Kong's embrace like a fledgling bird returning to its nest. Her large, bright eyes curiously swept over the faces of the assembled people. Seeing Nie Fenglei, she suddenly asked, "Brother, isn't he the one arranging things for that Holy Son last night?"

"Arranging things?"

The people around were momentarily stunned, then suddenly burst into laughter. Nie Qingsong looked ashamed, while Nie Fenglei's face cycled from red to white, and from white to black, like a chameleon. A few black lines also appeared across Nie Kong's forehead—did she really have to say such a thing in public?

Noticing everyone's expressions, Taiyan paused, then muttered suspiciously, "Brother, wasn't it called arranging things? I remember you saying it last night."

"Alright, alright, Master, let's go back to the Nie family."

"Yes, yes, let's go back quickly..."

"..."