The news that the sickly Nie Kong had returned years later spread like wildfire through the Nie family, startling nearly every clansman. The return itself was not the shock; what staggered everyone was that in the few short years since leaving Jiyang City, Nie Kong’s cultivation had miraculously leaped from the initial Tongling Realm to the first rank of the Dongling Realm. Furthermore, accompanying him was a peerlessly beautiful woman whose mere smile could overturn kingdoms.

A Dongling Master was a formidable expert, akin to the Second Elder, and there were few such figures in the entire Nie family. For someone as young as Nie Kong to reach the Tongling Realm was unprecedented in the ten-thousand-year history of the Tianling Continent.

This was the Tianxing Nie family. If Nie Kong maintained this momentum in his cultivation, achieving the Tianling Realm like the First Elder, Nie Shengong, was surely just around the corner!

The stunning woman accompanying Nie Kong also piqued immense curiosity. Rumor had it that just last night at the Four Seas Tower, the Eldest Young Master, Nie Fenglei, was brutally humiliated and forced to flee by Nie Kong. The cause? Nie Fenglei had tried to ‘solicit’ for Mo Ye, only to accidentally kick this immovable obstacle—Nie Kong!

Though unconfirmed, the rumor spread through the Nie family with such conviction that it became difficult to dismiss, leaving everyone astonished and bewildered. When had the most outstanding genius in Nie family history, the personal disciple of the Lord of Mount Moluo, sunk so low as to be involved in procuring women?

However, this incident also served as indirect proof of the woman’s transcendent beauty. Otherwise, why would the Holy Son of Moluo harbor admiration, and why would Eldest Young Master Nie Fenglei commit such a ridiculous, shameful act?

In an instant, the Nie clansmen, filled with various calculations, converged from all directions toward Nie Kong’s former residence. Those who had interacted with him before moved with even greater speed. Regrettably, by the time they reached the courtyard, it was completely empty.

They remained oblivious that upon returning to the Nie family, Nie Kong and Tai Yan had immediately gone with Nie Xingyun to the Elixir Hall.

Upon reaching the top floor, Nie Xingyun violently shoved the door open. Inside, Lian Tianxin sat cross-legged on a cushion, intense flames roaring between his palms, causing the alchemy cauldron before him to spin rapidly. Lian Tianxin’s solemn, focused expression clearly indicated that this refinement had reached a critical juncture.

Nie Xingyun paid him no mind, stomping inside with brazen casualness. He clapped Lian Tianxin heartily on the shoulder and roared with laughter, "Old Man Lian, come quickly and see who I’ve brought you..."

"CRASH!"

Before he could finish his sentence, a violent explosion erupted from in front of Lian Tianxin. The alchemy cauldron cracked, and the lid was launched skyward by the explosive force of the medicinal reaction, embedding itself diagonally into a roof beam above. Wisps of black smoke billowed from the cauldron’s mouth, carrying a sharp, acrid stench of burning.

Lian Tianxin froze for a moment, his fierce gaze suddenly snapping toward Nie Xingyun. His lips twitched violently a few times before he shot up to his full height, bellowing, "Nie Old Fifth, you, you, you... you spendthrift! Your own alchemy skills are mediocre and you refuse to improve, yet you come here to sabotage someone else’s refinement! Do you even know what I was refining? A sixth-grade spirit medicine! Do you know how many gold coins you just shattered with that slap? At least two million..."

"Ahem, well, this old man..."

The spray of spittle shooting from the front was so intense it made Nie Xingyun squeeze his eyes shut. Knowing he was in the wrong, he could only offer a nervous, awkward laugh.

Nie Kong, standing at the doorway, was momentarily stunned, forgetting to move his feet. In his memory, Lian Tianxin was usually extremely solemn and meticulous in all his actions. To see him erupt in anger was like a sudden squall, a clap of thunder intended to deafen a man.

Yet, beneath the shock, Nie Kong was quite pleased. Master Tianxin had apparently broken through to the Xuling Realm, possessing the spiritual foundation required to attempt refining sixth-grade spirit medicine. As for Tai Yan, she clung to Nie Kong’s arm, her eyes darting back and forth between the two old men with great amusement.

"It was so close to completion, only to be ruined by one slap! Nie Old Fifth, get out! Get out..." After a tirade that sounded like popping corn, Lian Tianxin seemed somewhat at a loss for words. He waved his hand with profound sorrow, "And you two weirdos standing dumbly at the door..."

Lian Tianxin turned his gaze to the entrance, about to sweep Nie Xingyun and the two individuals he brought out, when his eyes suddenly brightened. "Eh? Is that Nie Kong? When did you get back? Come in, come in, let your Master take a good look at you..." His previously furious face instantly morphed into one of ecstatic joy. He strode forward a few steps and pulled the 'dumbly' standing Nie Kong and Tai Yan inside.

"..."

Nie Xingyun blinked in astonishment. Earlier that day, when he first saw Nie Kong, he had hesitated for a long time before daring to acknowledge him. But this old fellow Lian recognized him instantly—what strangeness was this? Had he met him before? Judging by the tone of Old Man Lian’s voice, it didn’t sound like it, and Old Man Lian hadn't left Jiyang City for days.

In reality, the situation was quite understandable. In Nie Xingyun’s preconceived notions, the one who had humiliated Nie Fenglei was a young-looking expert who was incredibly old in cultivation, reaching Tianling. Although Nie Kong bore a slight resemblance to his own disciple when they met, he hadn't dared assume they were the same person.

Lian Tianxin, however, harbored no such reservations. The moment he found Nie Kong's face familiar, he recognized him instantly. It was as simple as eating or drinking; there was no need for complex deliberation.

Reunited with his disciple after a long separation, Lian Tianxin showed not a trace of sternness; instead, his face was brimming with warmth. "Hmm, you’ve grown much taller, and much stronger too. Very good, very good... And this wife of yours is excellent as well. Beautiful enough, and what’s rare is her temperament—she must be a virtuous wife."

"So 'wife' means 'Qi-zi' (spouse)."

Tai Yan nodded in sudden understanding, then her delicate cheeks flushed with a sweet smile. "Master, I am not Brother's wife; I am Brother's concubine."

"Concubine?"

Lian Tianxin paused, then couldn't help but glare. "You brat! You haven't even married yet and you’re already taking concubines? How many years have you been together? Do you have any children?"

"No. Brother and I haven't known each other for even half a year. Brother has always refused to fight with me," Tai Yan pouted slightly, showing a touch of frustration.

"Fight?" Lian Tianxin looked utterly bewildered. Nie Xingyun couldn't help but crane his neck to listen in.

"Fight... it means a fight, of course. Brother often fights with Sister Xuechan and Sister Meixian. Once, after he finished fighting with Sister Meixian, she had a baby in less than two months. Although the baby won't be born for another two years or so," Tai Yan said, her eyes sparkling with delight.

"Heh... heh..." So that's what fighting meant! The two old men couldn't help but chuckle, letting out a couple of knowing laughs, yet they were still perplexed. What kind of clan's women took two or three years to conceive? And who were that Xuechan and Meixian? Were they also concubines this boy had taken?

"Ahem, esteemed Masters, please, look what I’ve brought for you—spirit medicines I prepared especially." Nie Kong, feeling intensely awkward, could no longer stand still. He quickly pulled two medicine bottles from his embrace. That girl Tai Yan had no filter; she would say anything. If the questioning continued, who knew what further embarrassing jokes might unfold.

"We’ll look at those later. First, clear up this matter."

"Right, right. You little scoundrel, how many concubines do you actually have?"

"There are three: Sister Xuechan, Sister Meixian, and me... Wait, it should be five, including Pingping and Tingting. But like me, they haven't fought with Brother yet."

"..."

...

...RO