Chapter 83

Inside the room, Nie Tian briefly described his experiences in the Qinghuan Realm to Nie Donghai and Nie Qian.

The trials in the Qinghuan Realm had a significant impact on him, not only in terms of his realm but also in his mental maturity, which had improved even more prominently.

Compared to half a year ago, he was much more composed and mature. He knew what he didn't need to tell Nie Donghai and Nie Qian, and he also knew what they wanted to hear.

He even kept the killing of Yuan Feng and Yun Song a secret from Nie Donghai and Nie Qian, as well as his encounter with the Ice Serpent in the desert, which he deliberately didn't mention.

Even the several battles with the demoness Yu Tong and the great help the spirit beast meat provided him, he kept to himself.

However, he openly mentioned his breakthrough from the sixth layer of the Qi Condensation Realm to the eighth layer.

He was very clear that the news Nie Donghai and Nie Qian were most concerned about and wanted to hear was this.

Sure enough.

"What? You're now at the eighth layer of the Qi Condensation Realm?" Nie Qian was immediately excited.

Nie Donghai was also visibly moved, his eyes shining with surprise, and his body trembling slightly.

Nie Tian grinned, "Yes, if there are no unexpected events, I should be able to break through to the ninth layer of the Qi Condensation Realm before I turn fifteen, and then be accepted by Lingyun Sect."

"That's great!" Nie Qian was overjoyed.

Nie Tian was only eleven years old, and to reach the eighth layer of the Qi Condensation Realm at this age made her realize that the hope she had placed on him was absolutely achievable.

She had always been instilling in Nie Tian the idea that only by becoming a disciple of the Lingyun Sect could he turn things around.

Over the years, she had been working hard, hoping that one day Nie Tian would smoothly break through to the ninth layer of the Qi Condensation Realm by the age of fifteen and become a true disciple of the Lingyun Sect.

All the Nie family members took pride in entering the Lingyun Sect, believing it was the key to changing the family's fate.

Nie Beichuan's ascension to the head of the Nie family was due not only to Nie Donghai's severe injuries but also to Nie Han.

Nie Han, as Nie Beichuan's eldest grandson, successfully reached the ninth layer of the Qi Condensation Realm at the age of fifteen and was accepted by the Lingyun Sect.

As long as Nie Han could steadily grow within the Lingyun Sect, the Nie family would benefit. If one day Nie Han held a high position in the Lingyun Sect, the Nie family would surely become an important part of it.

Back then, Nie Donghai's firm control over the Nie family was also closely related to his mother, Nie Jin.

Nie Tian, at only eleven years old, had advanced to the eighth layer of the Qi Condensation Realm. In Nie Qian's eyes, he might enter the Lingyun Sect even earlier than Nie Han.

Perhaps in another one or two years, Nie Tian could join the Lingyun Sect and completely change his fate.

"Grandpa, when I came back, I heard that there was a lot of commotion within the clan?" Nie Tian asked tentatively.

Nie Donghai frowned slightly and said calmly, "Compared to your breakthrough to the eighth layer of the Qi Condensation Realm, those are minor issues. Don't worry about clan matters; I will find a way to resolve them. You just need to focus on your cultivation."

"I, I hope I can help," Nie Tian said.

"For now, you can't help much," Nie Donghai shook his head. "Once you become a true disciple of the Lingyun Sect, you will have a say within the clan."

When the topic turned to clan matters, Nie Qian's expression darkened, and she suddenly fell silent.

Nie Tian wanted to help but didn't know how to make Nie Beichuan and the clan elders stop holding Nie Qian and Nie Donghai responsible.

"Status, it's still too weak..." he thought to himself.

"Rest well today. In the future, don't think about anything else; just focus on your cultivation," Nie Donghai comforted him. "Once you break through to the ninth layer of the Qi Condensation Realm and are officially accepted by the Lingyun Sect, you will have a real say in Nie family matters. It's not the right time yet."

"Okay," Nie Tian nodded.

At that moment.

Nie Beichuan, the head of the Nie family, was convening a meeting with several clan elders in the council hall.

After a discussion, they had decided to force Nie Donghai and Nie Qian to take the blame for the mine incident and apologize to the Lingyun Sect.

The clan elders had reached a consensus and were preparing to join forces to force Nie Donghai to comply.

"Nie Tian is back!"

"He really had a stroke of luck. Even Yuan Feng from the Ash Valley and Yun Song from the Yun family died in the Qinghuan Realm, but he returned safely."

"Really didn't expect that."

Soon, the news of Nie Tian's return reached the council hall.

Inside the hall, the clan elders were somewhat surprised to hear that Nie Tian had successfully returned from the Qinghuan Realm.

In their eyes, Nie Tian had never been considered a true member of the Nie family.

Because Nie Tian's father, whom they had never met, did not have the surname Nie.

In their hearts, only children whose fathers had the surname Nie were considered true members of the Nie family.

Nie Tian did not fall into this category.

Because they did not truly recognize Nie Tian's status, they did not care whether he lived or died in the Qinghuan Realm.

Now, even though they knew he had returned alive, they were only surprised, not happy.

"That kid really has a lot of luck," a clan elder named Nie Yaotu said, slightly surprised, then dismissed the matter, "In the Qinghuan Realm, the trial participants from the four sects were brutally killed by the Ghost Sect and the Blood Sect. The Lingyun Sect is definitely in a bad mood. If we don't take the initiative to admit our responsibility soon, the Lingyun Sect's anger will only grow."

Nie Beichuan's face was grim, "That's right, we can't delay any longer!"

"Anyway, Donghai's injuries are unlikely to heal, and he has little time left. He won't be able to help the family much in the future," another clan elder named Nie Feiyun said coldly. "To help the Nie family smoothly get through this crisis, he must make a sacrifice. Besides, this incident was caused by Nie Qian!"

Nie Feiyun had always been a staunch supporter of Nie Beichuan. In the past, when Nie Donghai was in power, they had some conflicts, so he naturally wouldn't be lenient.

The other clan members, though some were reluctant, still nodded lightly.

They knew that the mine incident required an explanation to the Lingyun Sect. Since everyone was pointing the finger at Nie Donghai and Nie Qian, for the family's benefit, they could only agree.

"Let's do it tomorrow. Tomorrow, we'll call them to the main gate and have them take the blame," Nie Beichuan said coldly.

...

That night.

Nie Tian quietly took out the hidden bone from a stone brick in the wall and fondly played with it.

A thread of his spiritual consciousness seeped into it, and he felt a sense of peace when he sensed the drop of blood inside the bone.

The bone had been away from him for half a year, but it hadn't changed. However, when he held it, he felt that the bone seemed to miss him.

Without much thought, after the harsh trials in the Qinghuan Realm, he returned to the Nie family and had a truly relaxing sleep.

The next day, he resumed his diligent cultivation as usual.

In the afternoon, while he was cultivating, he suddenly heard a knock on the door.

With a puzzled look, he went downstairs and opened the door, seeing Wu Tao, a guest of the Nie family, standing at the door with a complex expression. "Mr. Wu, why are you here?"

Wu Tao first looked around and, seeing no one nearby, whispered, "The clan and the elders decided this morning in the council hall to have your grandfather and aunt take the blame and apologize to the Lingyun Sect. At this moment, they are already at the main gate, about to leave."

After saying this, Wu Tao was slightly nervous and added, "Don't say I came, and don't say you saw me."

After explaining the situation, he hurriedly left, not daring to stay for long.

"Nie Beichuan!" Nie Tian's face showed anger.

He had thought that with his grandfather's long-standing reputation and years of service to the family, Nie Beichuan wouldn't dare to act so recklessly.

He thought Nie Donghai could handle the matter properly.

He never expected that just one night after his return, Nie Beichuan would take such harsh action.

With a grim face, he ran to the main gate of the Nie family.

"Hey, isn't that Nie Tian?"

"How did he hear the news?"

"So what if he knows? He's not a disciple of the Lingyun Sect. Even if he returned alive from the Qinghuan Realm, what can he do? Can he change the decision of the clan elders and the head of the family?"

"He's not like Nie Xian; he can't make the clan elders wary of him."

"Right."

Many clan members, seeing him, whispered, thinking that he could only come to see Nie Donghai and Nie Qian off.

...