The last rays of the setting sun slanted across the Nie family’s Hidden Blade Courtyard, where Nie Shenggong lay quietly upon a long stone table, the former pallor of his face having regained a slight flush of color. “That should do it for now!”

After a long silence, Nie Kong let out a breath of profound relief, carefully withdrawing the final, slender Celestial Needle from Nie Shenggong’s spine and tucking it into his pet pack.

After nearly half a day’s strenuous effort, Nie Shenggong’s fractured three spirit orifices and meridians had been largely mended; the serpent venom that had invaded his body had been entirely drawn out by the little creature, and the injuries to his viscera, muscles, and bones had been treated with spiritual medicine. Complete recovery, however, would still require time to recuperate. Fortunately, since Nie Shenggong was a Heaven Spirit realm expert, his recovery speed would be exceptionally fast—a few days would suffice. Nie Kong felt a deep sympathy for the man; once a genius who held the world in his hands, his fate had taken a tragic turn through unfortunate circumstances. Delayed for decades by the ‘Yin Ruins Blood Toxin’ acquired while attempting to seize the ‘Seven-Colored Spirit Leaf,’ Nie Shenggong had already cultivated to the Ninth Grade of the Heaven Spirit realm, becoming a peak powerhouse standing tall on this continent. Though perhaps not comparable to She Qianbian, he was certainly not someone She Jun or others of his ilk could dare to insult.

A single misstep had not only ruined him but had nearly brought eternal disaster upon the Yin Ruins.

In a strange twist of fate, Nie Shenggong could be considered an indirect cause of Mu Xueyi’s twenty-year confinement. Yet, the reality was exquisitely tangled: the Nie family seemed connected to Su Tu, the supreme expert from Spirit Control City, which itself originated from the Yin Ruins. Furthermore, the Great Elder of the Nie family held an ancient enmity with Mu Xueyi of the Yin Ruins. Ironically, Nie Kong and Nie Qiong, dragged into this feud, were sent out of the Yin Ruins only to be rescued and raised by Nie Qingyang of the Nie family. Now, the Jiyang Nie family had faced near annihilation due to the wrath of the Serpent Spirit Clan brought upon them because of Nie Kong, yet ultimately, it was the Yin Ruins that saved the Nie family.

This tangled web of relationships gave Nie Kong a throbbing headache just contemplating it.

Fortunately, so many years had passed. The great catastrophe of the Yin Ruins was resolved; his mother had broken free from the Wood Spirit Hall, and Aunt Qing had successfully shaken off the control of Great Exalt Dayan’s spiritual thought. Moreover, the half piece of the ‘Seven-Colored Spirit Leaf’ seized by Nie Shenggong had finally returned to his possession.

This cycle of grievances should finally come to an end!

“Hah…”

Nie Kong exhaled lightly, pulling his thoughts away from the chaotic connections between the Nie family and the Yin Ruins. Faint sounds of cheering drifted to his ears—the residents of Jiyang City were still celebrating their deliverance from disaster. Though the better part of the day had passed, the excitement within the city remained palpable.

This was due to two reasons: first, Su Tu, the pride of the Great Accomplishment Empire, resided secretly in Jiyang City; second, the Nie family had produced another supreme expert—Nie Kong himself. Despite the current catastrophe being triggered by him, this world ultimately venerated the strong. Nie Kong’s feat of slaying seven Heaven Spirit realm experts of the Serpent Spirit Clan had long since evaporated any initial resentment the townsfolk felt toward him, leaving only profound admiration.

Especially since Nie Kong turned out to be the current husband of Mu Zong of the Yin Ruins! Through word of mouth, almost everyone in the city knew what the Yin Ruins represented—a mysterious, massive power that even the Spirit God Hall dared not provoke. The leader of such a force was a Nie family member’s wife; who would dare trouble the Nie family henceforth?

As for today’s crisis, it was merely an anomaly. Initially, the Serpent Spirit Clan was unaware of Nie Kong’s background, otherwise, they would never have dared launch such a massive assault. Once they knew the truth, they were already too committed to retreat. It was foreseeable that after She Jun and the others fled today, they would never lay siege to Jiyang City in such a manner again.

Even if they did, there was no fear, for Lord Su Tu was still in the city!

Nie Kong could infer the general sentiment from the snippets of conversation he overheard, merely offering a slight smile. What truly piqued his interest was Su Tu, who had vanished for three hundred years. Nie Kong was highly confident in his spiritual sense, yet before today, he hadn't detected the slightest trace of Su Tu.

Even the Nie family patriarch and the various elders were unaware. Most bizarrely, after the Serpent Spirit Clan retreated, Nie Kong, Mu Xueyi, Mu Qingyi, and Mu Jinzhu could no longer sense even a sliver of Su Tu’s presence; he had vanished without a trace yet again, as if he had never appeared at all.

Eventually, Nie Kong and the others had to abandon their spiritual searches.

“Three hundred years ago? Su Tu… I wonder if he has any connection to Patriarch Su Ba of Spirit Control City?” After conducting a final internal check on Nie Shenggong, Nie Kong finally rose to his full height. As he walked toward the exit of the Hidden Abode Courtyard, he pondered inwardly that once he reached Spirit Control City, he must find Patriarch Su Ba and ask him.

“Nie Kong, how is he?”

The moment he stepped out of the courtyard, Nie Kong was surrounded. The Patriarch Nie Qingsong, along with elders Nie Xingyun, Nie Xindong, and others, had gathered, eagerly awaiting news.

“There are no issues,”

Nie Kong smiled. “But let’s not disturb him for now; just let him wake up naturally.”

“That’s good, that’s truly good…”

Everyone sighed in collective relief, the great weight in their hearts finally lifted. For the Nie family, Nie Shenggong’s existence was paramount; he was their symbol. Of course, the Nie family now had an additional symbol: this young man barely in his twenties.

Thinking of this, the expressions of Nie Qingsong and the others grew complicated. Only the Fifth Elder, Nie Xingyun, maintained a perpetual, cheerful grin, delighted inwardly. No matter how powerful Nie Kong became in the future, he was still his and Lian Tianxin’s disciple; Nie Kong’s status was merely fleeting fame.

“Master, I have something I need to discuss with you and Master Tianxin,” Nie Kong added with a smile.

Nie Qingsong and Nie Xindong, being men of keen perception, noticed Nie Kong’s demeanor and took their leave in succession. This left Nie Xingyun utterly bewildered. Once everyone else had departed, he asked suspiciously, “Nie Kong, if you have something to say, just say it. Why the secrecy?”

“I’ll tell you both once we get to the Alchemy Hall,” Nie Kong replied, smiling.

“You rascal, then let’s hurry over.”

Nie Xingyun rolled his eyes, feeling as restless as if scratched by a cat’s claws. Seeing Nie Kong maintain his secretive air, he reluctantly curbed his impatience and accompanied Nie Kong to find Lian Tianxin. When they arrived, Lian Tianxin was engrossed in studying a medicinal formula. For him, the crisis had passed, and it was time to return to what he was doing before—focusing intently on the task he had been engaged in pre-crisis.

“What, the Spirit Mansion is yours?”

Yet, mere seconds later, Lian Tianxin sprang from his chair like a coiled spring, his mouth agape, eyes wide, staring at Nie Kong in utter disbelief. After a moment, his eyeballs rotated, meeting Nie Xingyun’s equally stunned expression. Their faces were etched with shock and incredulity.

Jiyang City was a major city of the Great Accomplishment Empire, and news from Wei Tian City and the Forbidden Spirit Marsh had long been transmitted by Spirit Masters via spirit slips. That green-robed bandit had become a hot topic among the Nie family disciples, who were intensely curious about his identity, his Flower Spirit, and his Ninth-Grade Spirit Beast mount.

But now, Nie Kong was declaring that the green-robed bandit was him, and the Spirit Mansion was his as well. How could this not leave Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin utterly dumbfounded?

Nie Kong had anticipated their reaction.

Since the Serpent Spirit Clan already knew that the person in the Forbidden Spirit Marsh belonged to him, his identity would soon be known throughout the world. Concealing it was futile; it was better to tell them proactively than wait for them to hear the news and inquire. Moreover, Nie Kong needed the help of his two masters for other matters.