Chapter 30

For the next three months, Li Fan stayed at the Nie family residence, and specifically at the location where the spatial rift had appeared.

Unfortunately, despite waiting for three months, Li Fan did not see the spatial rift reappear.

However, news of the formation of a chaotic spatial zone at the Nie family residence quietly spread throughout Black Cloud City. Many unfamiliar cultivators began to appear in Black Cloud City, often active around the Nie family residence.

Since Li Fan had been staying at the Nie family residence, Nie Donghai and Nie Qian rarely sought Nie Tian for conversation, adopting a laissez-faire attitude towards him. They both understood that as long as Li Fan was around, their conversations with Nie Tian could easily be detected.

Nie Tian also knew the situation was complex. For three months, he had stayed indoors and rarely went out, even refraining from re-experiencing the boxing technique he had comprehended in the other world, for fear that Li Fan might unravel the truth.

At the An family residence.

Three cultivators from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, who had traveled a long distance, returned from the Nie family residence late at night and found An Shiyi.

The leader, a short and plump man named Qiu Heng, always wore a warm smile. He was An Shiyi's uncle and had some knowledge of the mysteries of spatial forces.

"Girl, the chaotic spatial zone hasn't reappeared for three months. During this time, I've quietly surveyed the area at night and found no spatial anomalies," Qiu Heng said after a moment of contemplation. "In my opinion, it was probably just a one-time incident, and the chaotic spatial zone is unlikely to reappear."

"We took turns waiting for three months and can guarantee that there were no anomalies during this period," the other two added.

The three of them had been taking turns monitoring the Nie family. If there were any spatial anomalies, they would have sensed them.

After such a long time with no activity, they privately believed that the brief spatial anomaly at the Nie family residence might have been a mere coincidence.

They held important positions at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion and had many responsibilities, making it impossible for them to stay in Black Cloud City indefinitely.

Now, by finding An Shiyi and saying these words, it was clear they intended to leave.

"It seems we need to change our approach," An Shiyi said, her alluring figure nestled in a soft recliner, one hand supporting her delicate chin, her beautiful eyes sparkling with intelligence. "A boy named Nie Tian from the Nie family mysteriously disappeared for ten days before the incident. During those ten days, the Lingyun Sect was unusually concerned, and Li Fan used many connections to search for the boy's whereabouts."

"The Yun family and the Yuan family were thoroughly searched by Li Fan."

"This is not normal."

"When I detected the spatial anomaly from the Nie family, I immediately noticed that boy."

"At the time, I didn't know he was the same Nie Tian who had disappeared for ten days."

"His mysterious disappearance for ten days, followed by his reappearance at the Nie family residence coinciding with the spatial tear, leads me to believe that he must have entered a peculiar, torn space during those ten days."

"Moreover, that space must have been able to accommodate living beings, otherwise, he wouldn't have returned alive."

At this point, An Shiyi recalled the conversation she had with Nie Tian three months ago and couldn't help but chuckle.

The three powerful cultivators from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, who had been listening intently to her speculations, felt as if the dim room suddenly brightened when she smiled.

When they looked at An Shiyi, they seemed to be momentarily lost in her stunning charm.

Qiu Heng was the first to regain his composure, glaring at her and scolding, "Focus on the matter at hand!"

An Shiyi playfully stuck out her tongue and said, "Since there have been no further anomalies at the Nie family residence, we might need to focus on that boy, Nie Tian, to find out where he went during those ten days."

"I have a feeling that the spatial anomaly at the Nie family residence is closely related to that boy."

"Caused by a person?" Qiu Heng's expression changed, as if he had an idea. He nodded and said, "That's indeed possible. Some people with special constitutions or possessing extraordinary items can indeed trigger strange spatial anomalies. However, that boy... is only a little over ten years old, with a low cultivation level. Could it really be him?"

"Uncle, please stay a few more days. I will set up a plan to see if I can uncover the truth from Nie Tian," An Shiyi pleaded.

"Alright," Qiu Heng agreed.

The sudden appearance of an unknown chaotic spatial zone was a significant matter, potentially capable of reversing the fate of a cultivator sect.

That's why, upon hearing about the anomaly at the Nie family residence, they had rushed from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion to try to get a share from the Lingyun Sect.

After waiting for three months and finding no anomalies, they would have a hard time explaining their failure to the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, so they were willing to let An Shiyi try again.

...

"Father! Something big has happened!"

At the same time, at the Nie family residence, Nie Kan, despite the late hour, burst into Nie Beichuan's cold room, his expression dark and grim.

"What is it?" Nie Beichuan exhaled a cold mist, displeased at being interrupted during his cultivation. "What's the big emergency? With Li Fan at the Nie family residence, he wouldn't just sit by if something serious happened."

"I just received news that the mine, which we had sealed, has finally been reopened after our efforts," Nie Kan said.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Nie Beichuan asked, puzzled.

The mine where fire cloud stones were extracted was the lifeblood of the Nie family. After the collapse, they had taken the opportunity to have Nie Xiang step down and appointed another elder from their side to oversee the mine's operations.

This elder, to demonstrate his capabilities, had hired a large number of laborers in Black Cloud City to clear the fallen rocks from the mine.

What would have taken much longer was completed ahead of schedule due to his tireless efforts.

"That mine... seems to no longer have any fire cloud stones!" Nie Kan's voice trembled.

"Impossible!" Nie Beichuan suddenly stood up, exclaiming, "Not long ago, the Lingyun Sect sent a cultivator skilled in mineral exploration to check the mine. He said that with our current extraction rate, the mine could last for several more decades. How could he be wrong?"

"They checked all the tunnels and conducted a thorough investigation, but they couldn't find even a single piece of fire cloud stone," Nie Kan said, his face a picture of despair.

"Impossible! How can this be?" Nie Beichuan was also stunned.

He knew very well that the Nie family's acceptance and protection by the Lingyun Sect were due to their continuous extraction of fire cloud stones from the mine.

If the Nie family lost this, they might be abandoned by the Lingyun Sect, becoming a clan without a patron.

A clan without a patron would struggle to survive in Black Cloud City, and the An and Yun families would no longer have any reservations in dealing with the Nie family.

"This news must be kept confidential. I will personally go to the mine to verify if it's true!" Nie Beichuan panicked.

...

The next day.

After waiting in vain for three months, Li Fan decided not to wait any longer. Before leaving, he did not visit Nie Beichuan but went to the five-story building where Nie Donghai lived.

Upon arrival, he asked Nie Donghai to call Nie Tian down.

Nie Tian came down from the third floor and bowed to Li Fan, "Greetings, Mr. Li."

"There's no need for such formality. Call me Uncle Li in the future," Li Fan said, giving him a disapproving look.

From his master Jiang Zhisu, he had learned that Nie Tian had dared to tell a huge lie to his master. This made him feel that Nie Tian was a devious boy.

Therefore, when he saw Nie Tian again, he found the boy somewhat detestable and did not show him any good face.

"Alright, Uncle Li," Nie Tian said obediently.

"Three months have passed, and no spatial anomalies have appeared here. I can't stay at the Nie family residence indefinitely, so I'm leaving for the Lingyun Sect today," Li Fan said, looking at Nie Tian and ignoring Nie Donghai. "You were pulled into the spatial rift and must have been quite panicked. You might have temporarily forgotten some things due to fear..."

He paused and continued, "If you remember anything later, you can come to the Lingyun Sect and tell me."

"I've said everything I need to say," Nie Tian said weakly.

"Really?"

"Really."

Li Fan pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and then smiled. "Alright, I won't ask you any more questions today. If you remember anything, remember to come to the Lingyun Sect and find me."

"If what you remember has a significant impact on the Lingyun Sect, you will have done a great service."

"Our Lingyun Sect is generous to those who make great contributions. Your great service could allow you to be directly taken to the Lingyun Sect to become a true disciple, without waiting until you are fifteen or reaching the ninth level of Qi Cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Nie Donghai's eyes lit up, and Nie Tian was also deeply moved.

Becoming a disciple of the Lingyun Sect had always been the ultimate goal for the younger generation of the Nie family, and he was no exception.

Li Fan's words made him realize that the so-called rules were entirely determined by those who set them!

Being fifteen years old and reaching the ninth level of Qi Cultivation were the conditions for the Lingyun Sect to accept Nie family members, a rule set decades ago.

The Nie family had never dared to think of breaking this rule.

However, the rule-makers were the Lingyun Sect, and a single word from them could change decades of rules, making him a disciple of the Lingyun Sect instantly!

To be honest, this temptation was extremely attractive to him!

"And that's not all."

Seeing that Nie Donghai and Nie Tian were moved, Li Fan chuckled and added, "If your contribution is significant enough, I can guarantee that your grandfather will be reinstated as the head of the Nie family! Even his injuries are not entirely without a solution. Because of you, your grandfather might even achieve a breakthrough in his cultivation!"

Nie Donghai, who was thin and gaunt, trembled at these words, his eyes shining with renewed hope.

...

PS: Today, we finally reached 10,000 collections and have eight patrons. I, Lao Ni, am grateful for everyone's support.

To be honest, before coming to Zongheng, I was prepared for the worst and was ready to start over. But fortunately, you are still supporting me, even coming here to cheer me on. I am truly grateful.

I don't know how to repay you, but I will do my best to write this book well and make it as satisfying as possible for you.

Thank you!