Nie Kong murmured inwardly, yet he was keenly aware that while the map made finding the location of the Medicine Spirit Illusion Realm easy, obtaining it would be immensely difficult. Otherwise, the Spirit God Hall wouldn't have returned empty-handed over a decade ago, and Hua Chen wouldn't have taken such a long time to grasp even a glimmer of understanding.

At that moment, Qing Yue suddenly clapped her small hands in excitement: "I get it, Nie Kong! The reason you're so eager to find that illusion realm—is it to establish your own sect?"

Nie Kong couldn't help but smile: "What do you think?"

Qing Yue tilted her little head: "If you want to start a sect, it won't be some small-time affair. Well, to found a major sect, first, you must be powerful enough yourself. Although you possess Heavenly Spirit strength, your cultivation is only at Cave Spirit First Grade, which is currently far from sufficient. Second, you need numerous disciples—you have none. But hey, who made your old mother the former Wood Sect Master of Yin Xu? With her around, getting you some disciples to bolster your presence won't be an issue. Third, you need excellent connections. If you start a sect, the Nie Family of Jiyang will certainly support you, and the Mu Family of Luo City is much the same. Plus, Spirit Imperial City, the Ink Snow Sect which has good relations with Spirit Imperial City, Yin Xu, the Hua Spirit Race, the Fish Spirit Race, the Dragon Spirit Race… Tsk, tsk, that’s quite promising!"

A moment later, Qing Yue beamed, looking like a little girl awaiting praise from her parents: "Nie Kong, how do you think my analysis is?"

"Not bad!" Nie Kong chuckled helplessly. The three points the little imp brought up were all accurate, but she had overlooked the most crucial point, which was Nie Kong's absolute foundation.

"You really want to establish a sect?" the little one asked excitedly.

"We'll talk about it later," Nie Kong replied noncommittally.

"Nie Kong, once you start your sect, what position do you plan to give me?" Qing Yue was clearly dissatisfied with his vague answer and immediately pressed on.

"You? Aren't you skilled at cultivating herbs? You can just be my Chief Herb Farmer!" Nie Kong teased.

"Nie Kong, you are truly going too far! Asking me, a Heavenly Spirit Master, to grow herbs for you!"

"I’m just employing people according to their talents…"

"…"

Watching the two bicker, Tai Yan covered her mouth to stifle a soft laugh. She cared not one bit whether Nie Kong planned to establish a sect; as long as she could follow her brother like this every day, that was enough. Oh, right, she also needed to fight with her brother more often... and then, like Sister Mei Xian, manage to create a little baby.

Nie Kong and Tai Yan walking arm-in-arm so openly quickly attracted the eyes of many passing clansmen. To avoid being discovered, the little imp had no choice but to stop pestering Nie Kong and scampered into the Beast Tablet. Without her chirping, Nie Kong felt his ears considerably quieter.

Walking down this familiar path, scenes of him previously accompanying Hua Mei could not help but surface in his mind. It was a pity that Hua Mei was still remaining in the Butterfly Secret Realm, and now the one walking beside him was Tai Yan. If there was ever a chance in the future, he absolutely had to bring Hua Mei back here for a visit.

More and more clansmen followed behind him, their varied voices rising and falling.

Nie Kong paid no mind to the pointing and murmuring of the clansmen, quickly arriving with Tai Yan outside the courtyard from years ago. Only then did Nie Kong notice an even larger gathering of Nie Family members there. Fortunately, upon spotting them, the crowd automatically parted a path.

Walking through the throng, surrounded by gasps of amazement and gazes filled with envy, even Nie Kong couldn't help but feel a little puffed up. This shift in sentiment gave Nie Kong a great sense of reflection. No wonder people who achieved success as officials or businessmen always liked to return to their hometowns for a stroll and put on a show; perhaps a bit of vanity was at work. That saying, "Wealth and honor without returning home is like wearing brocade in the dark of night," was truly the ultimate maxim.

With a creak, the courtyard gate closed, and Nie Kong and Tai Yan quickly stepped into the freshly cleaned room. Yet, the incessant muttering from outside continued unabated: "…So, it really is Nie Kong!"

"I saw them on the street last night, but Nie Kong has changed too much compared to before... And the street lights weren't bright enough; I almost didn't recognize him."

"Tch, you were probably too busy looking at the woman beside him!"

"No way, but you have to admit, Nie Kong’s wife is truly beautiful. Fourth Miss is also beautiful, but she’s a bit too slender compared to her."

"Nie Kong is so blessed. He’s already a Cave Spirit Master before thirty, and he married such a beautiful wife. If his father knew, he could rest in peace!"

"…"

As dusk settled over a small herb shop in Jiyang City, the slightly narrowed eyes of Nie Shen Gong Hua Shuang suddenly snapped open, his aged face filled with disbelief.

"It's that little fellow Nie Kong!"

After a long while, Nie Shen Gong sighed softly, "I'm old, truly old. Are all young people this formidable nowadays? Reaching Cave Spirit First Grade before turning twenty-five, and especially comprehending the artistic conception of 'Melting Heaven and Earth' and elevating his Spirit Sense to the Heavenly Spirit Realm at this stage."

"In the future, once his cultivation catches up, breaking through to Heavenly Spirit will be a natural progression!"

"I wonder how many years it will take… Ten years? Hmm, perhaps too long. Maybe only five or six years, and our Nie Family will have another Heavenly Spirit Master…"

"…"

Muttering to himself, Nie Shen Gong's eyes slowly closed again, his brow filled with gratification. "Reaching Cave Spirit around thirty gives him plenty of time to endure the Spirit Tribulation and challenge Spirit God. Leaving that item here with this old man was a waste. Perhaps I can hand it to him now; maybe our Nie Family can even produce a Spirit God!"

The instant the words fell, Nie Shen Gong's figure vanished abruptly from the room. With just a few blurs, he was outside Jiyang City, then speeding rapidly away. Not long after, Nie Shen Gong entered the rolling, continuous mountain range, stopping in a valley about two or three minutes later.

Under the dim night sky, a small pool of water before Nie Shen Gong rippled slightly, its depths unfathomable.

"Thwump!"

Water splashed lightly as Nie Shen Gong plunged into the pool.

Nearly fifteen minutes later, Nie Shen Gong’s body shot out like a dark streak of light, floating gracefully onto the edge of the pool, not a single drop of water clinging to him. At this point, in his right palm, there was now a thick, square piece of jade stone, gleaming dazzlingly white, illuminating the space around him for over ten meters.

"Crack!" He slammed his left fist down fiercely, and the jade stone in his right palm instantly shattered into powder. A cluster of emerald green radiance burst forth, instantly suppressing the white glow emanating from the jade fragments. Nie Shen Gong opened his mouth and blew, scattering the white powder in specks, and the green light revealed its true form.

It was half of a thin, green leaf, crystalline and translucent like jade, its veins clearly visible.

"Seven-Colored Spirit Leaf!"

Looking at the half-leaf, Nie Shen Gong murmured the name softly. Over the years, he had always carried regret. If he had known earlier that that woman came from Yin Xu, he never would have dared to snatch it. For the sake of such a small, half leaf, he had suffered the torment of the Yin Xu Blood Poison for decades and worried about the fate of the Jiyang Nie Family for decades. Fortunately, Yin Xu's retaliation had never materialized, and he presumed it never would again.

Otherwise, he, Nie Shen Gong, would be the sinner of the Nie Family!

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