Chapter 10

If I remember correctly, Mother went to the Xialuo Mountain to gather herbs because I was in a coma. Why does she still need to go now that I’m awake?

What’s going on? Could it be that the rebirth has changed history, making it different from what I remember?

Others may not know what happened during this herb-gathering trip, but Nie Yun, who has experienced a previous life, knows very well that Mother never returned from this trip, having fallen to her death from a cliff!

"Tell me in detail, what’s going on!"

Anxious, Nie Yun reached out and grabbed the butler Nie Chong’s shoulder, asking urgently.

Even if he has lived for hundreds of years and has experienced two lifetimes, when it comes to the safety of his loved ones, Nie Yun cannot remain calm!

The chance to cherish and protect Mother was missed in the previous life, and this time, he absolutely cannot let the tragedy repeat!

"This morning, shortly after Young Master left, Lady Shen Gui from the Nie Zhang branch came. She said she had discovered a thousand-year-old Pengxin Snow Lotus on Xialuo Mountain and asked if Lady would like to go. At first, Lady was hesitant, as Xialuo Mountain is steep and covered in snow all year round, making it very dangerous! After some discussion, she suddenly said that the thousand-year-old Pengxin Snow Lotus could help Lord recover his damaged qi sea... So, Lady went with her, and we couldn’t stop her no matter what!"

Nie Chong recounted the events.

"Nie Zhang branch? How despicable!"

Hearing this, a cold light flashed in Nie Yun’s eyes.

Pengxin Snow Lotus is a medicinal herb for healing injuries, effective for ordinary wounds, but it has no effect on Father’s damaged qi sea! Claiming it could help Father recover his damaged qi sea is utter nonsense!

Lady Shen Gui from the Nie Zhang branch fabricated this lie to deceive Mother into going to the dangerous Xialuo Mountain, which is unforgivable!

The Nie Zhang branch, like the Nie Tian branch, is a fallen branch. Because they manage similar marginal industries within the family, they often interact. After Father gave up, Mother used strong business tactics to force the Nie Zhang branch into a difficult situation. It seems they harbored resentment and came up with this plan to retaliate!

Going to Xialuo Mountain to gather herbs is a matter of life and death. If Mother dies, they can crush the branch’s industry, expand their own, and might even return to the family as an inner branch!

To achieve their own interests, they dare to scheme against Mother like this, how ruthless!

According to the memory of his previous life, they seemed to succeed. After Mother’s death, they quickly took over the Nie Tian branch’s industry, which is why the branch lost its chance to recover and became increasingly destitute!

"Xialuo Mountain is treacherous, but I hope they haven’t gone far, and I can still catch up!"

Understanding the situation, Nie Yun wasted no time. He pushed off the ground and used his fastest movement technique, dashing straight toward Xialuo Mountain.

Although he was only at the initial stage of the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, Nie Yun had many light body techniques in his mind. The qi in his qi sea surged and flowed continuously, making his speed even faster than when he left in the morning!

His speed increased, and the rate at which the qi in his qi sea was nurtured also sped up. After less than an hour of rushing up the mountain, Nie Yun felt that the qi in his qi sea had been nurtured completely, and his strength had reached the peak of the late Qi Cultivation Realm, seemingly ready to break through at any moment!

"How can I cultivate so fast? Could it be related to the bloodline factor activated by that nameless technique?"

Feeling the changes in his qi sea, Nie Yun was somewhat puzzled.

Logically, even with the activation of the bloodline factor and the presence of a dantian, it would take at least three to five months, or even half a year, to nurture all the qi. The fact that he nurtured all the qi in less than a day is truly strange!

However, although it is strange, he is not shocked.

Since rebirth can happen to him, faster cultivation is not impossible!

"The thousand-year-old Pengxin Snow Lotus is in this area. Everyone, be careful. This thing has its own will and can escape. Once you spot it, act immediately, don’t hesitate!"

While moving forward, Nie Yun suddenly heard a voice from ahead. He jumped onto a tree branch and couldn’t help but feel relieved.

Ahead were the people who came to gather the Pengxin Snow Lotus, and Mother was among them, her eyes sharp as she scanned the surroundings, not wanting to miss any corner.

Usually, it is said that "a thousand years make a demon." The thousand-year-old Pengxin Snow Lotus has its own will and can escape by burrowing into the ground. Even if you see it, without the right methods, it is very difficult to catch.

"There it is!"

Just as Nie Yun was about to go over to persuade Mother to return home, he suddenly heard her shout and saw her dash forward.

Although Mother’s talent is far inferior to Father’s, it is still considerable, possessing the strength of the fourth level of the True Qi Realm. Without this power, it would be impossible for her to maintain a branch as a woman!

Swish!

Mother quickly reached a cliff, and with a flick of her wrist, a red spider web shot out from her sleeve.

"Luopao Net? I didn’t expect Mother to be such an expert in herb gathering!"

Seeing this, Nie Yun was afraid of disturbing her and did not approach.

A thousand-year-old herb, due to its will, is very difficult to catch and requires special methods. The Luopao Net is made from blood-soaked clothes from the battlefield, carrying a heavy aura of death. Once a thousand-year-old herb touches it, it will be frightened and unable to escape!

The accuracy and skill with which Mother threw the Luopao Net showed that she had definitely gathered herbs before. As for when, he had never heard her mention it and was not very clear.

"Caught it!"

The Luopao Net fell, and Mother reeled in a white snow lotus with a flick of her wrist.

This snow lotus emitted a cold aura, was crystal clear like jade, slightly transparent, and its fragrance floated in the air. Just one whiff made one feel refreshed and rejuvenated, as if ten years younger.

It was indeed a thousand-year-old Pengxin Snow Lotus!

Mother carefully placed the snow lotus into a medicine box.

Once a precious herb is removed from the ground, its efficacy will gradually diminish without special protection. Mother’s medicine box is made of cold jade, which can preserve the herb’s efficacy without any loss.

"Truly worthy of being the top herb gatherer of Luoshui City in the past. We came here seven or eight times and couldn’t catch it, but you did it in one go. Ha ha, with this thousand-year-old herb, our branch will definitely become an inner branch when we contribute it to the patriarch!"

Seeing Mother catch the snow lotus, everyone gathered around, and one of them laughed.

"Hmm..."

Hearing this, seeing their actions, Nie Yun’s eyebrows shot up.

It seems these people had planned this from the beginning, knowing they couldn’t catch the Pengxin Snow Lotus, they deliberately lured Mother into it, making her work for them!

No wonder Mother, with her fourth-level True Qi Realm strength, fell off the cliff. It was the people from the Nie Zhang branch who did it!

His fists clenched, and the veins on his forehead bulged. Since his rebirth, this was the first time his blood boiled, and he wanted to kill to vent his anger!

"Your branch? Didn’t we agree that whoever catches it gets it? Are you going to go back on your word?"

Seeing everyone gather, Mother took a step back, but behind her was a cliff. Just a small movement caused her to slip on a rock and fall, her voice echoing for a long time, indicating the great height.

"If I rush over now, they might panic and attack, putting Mother in danger..."

Although his heart burned with anger, Nie Yun knew he couldn’t rush over. The Nie Zhang branch had over ten people, all at least at the second level of the Spirit Valley Realm. He couldn’t kill all of them in one move, and if he forced them, Mother would be in danger!

From such a high cliff, even an eighth-level Qi Master would die if they fell!

"Going back on our word? Ha ha, we never changed our mind. We asked you to help us gather this Pengxin Snow Lotus! Hand it over quickly, or we won’t be gentle!"

The person who spoke before said again.

This woman, Nie Yun recognized, was Lady Shen Gui, the one the butler Nie Chong mentioned. Her strength was similar to Mother’s, both at the initial stage of the fourth level of the True Qi Realm.

"Fine, fine, are you going to ignore the clan rules?" Mother was so angry at their shameless words that her face turned red, and she shouted.

"Ignore the clan rules? Ha ha, don’t joke. Here, we are the clan rules. Stop talking nonsense and hand over the snow lotus. We won’t kill you. Otherwise, today will be your end!"

Lady Shen Gui sneered.

The Nie family is a large clan, and the blood ties between branches are so thin as to be negligible. Even brothers fight for the throne, let alone branches with no significant blood ties! For the sake of interests, branches plotting against each other is very common.

"Mother, Aunt Shen Gui is right. Give her the Pengxin Snow Lotus. It’s useless to us. If their Nie Zhang branch becomes an inner branch, we might benefit too..."

Just as Mother was at a loss due to their firm stance, a clear voice sounded from a distance.

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