Chapter 84

In front of the Nie family's gate, the Nie clan members, led by Nie Beichuan, looked at Nie Donghai and his daughter with various expressions.

Nie Beichuan's face was cold and expressionless, while the elder Nie Feiyun had a sneer on his lips, seemingly pleased in secret.

The other elders had somewhat complicated looks, as if they felt guilty, but no one spoke to try to retain them.

More clan members, knowing that Nie Donghai and his daughter were going to Lingyun Sect to atone, had come to see them off. They looked at Nie Donghai and his daughter with a mix of resentment and helplessness.

Nie Donghai, knowing that the matter was settled, remained quite calm and did not argue with Nie Beichuan and the others in front of the many clan members.

"Donghai, don't worry too much about this trip to Lingyun Sect," the oldest elder, Nie Yaotu, said after a moment of contemplation at the gate. "Over the years, you have been diligent and responsible to Lingyun Sect. Regarding the mine... they might not investigate it too deeply."

Nie Yaotu believed that the mysterious disappearance of all the Fire Cloud Stones in the mine was probably just an accident and had nothing to do with Nie Qian.

However, since the incident had happened, the Nie family had to give Lingyun Sect an explanation. Nie Donghai was no longer the head of the Nie family, and he had been severely injured by the Yuan and Yun families, so he would no longer be able to help the Nie family. Letting him take the responsibility seemed appropriate.

But in his heart, he still felt a bit guilty towards Nie Donghai and his daughter, so he offered a few words of comfort.

"I understand," Nie Donghai nodded lightly and said, "I will go to Lingyun Sect to atone. But Nie Tian is still young. If I am punished by Lingyun Sect and cannot return to the Nie family, I hope you will remember my actions today and take care of Nie Tian for me."

"You can rest assured," Nie Yaotu promised.

Nie Donghai said no more, turned around, and was about to take Nie Qian to Lingyun Sect.

"Grandpa!"

At that moment, Nie Tian shouted and ran out from within the clan.

Under the watchful eyes of many clan members, he rushed to Nie Donghai and Nie Qian, blocking their way and shouted, "The disappearance of the Fire Cloud Stones in the mine is my fault. I will go to Lingyun Sect to atone!"

"Xiao Tian! What are you doing? Go back quickly!" Nie Qian said anxiously.

Nie Donghai glared at him and shouted, "I didn't see you before I left to avoid distracting you. Don't be so unreasonable!"

Nie Tian did not retreat because of their scolding. He stood straight and looked up at Nie Beichuan and said, "Clan Head, my grandpa is old and cannot bear the wrath of Lingyun Sect. Moreover, I was present when the mine collapsed. If the clan really needs a scapegoat, let me go!"

"Ridiculous!" Nie Beichuan snorted. "What do you mean by a scapegoat? When the mine collapsed, both you and Nie Qian were there, but why do you think it was your fault? What is your status? How old are you? Handing you over to Lingyun Sect would disgrace the clan and make Lingyun Sect think this is a joke!"

"Nie Tian! Stop being unreasonable. This is not a place for you!"

"Exactly! Handing a child over to Lingyun Sect is a joke!"

"Get out of here quickly!"

Several elders also echoed Nie Beichuan, scolding him harshly.

They had finally convinced Nie Donghai and his daughter to take the blame for Lingyun Sect. How could they let Nie Tian ruin it?

To them, Nie Tian's words were nonsense.

Only Nie Tian himself knew that the strange changes in the mine were indeed caused by him.

He couldn't explain to everyone that the Fire Cloud Stones had been drained of their fire energy by the beast bone, turning them into ordinary stones.

But he couldn't just watch his grandpa and aunt go to Lingyun Sect to atone and bear the wrath of Lingyun Sect because of him.

"Nie Qiu! Take Nie Tian back. Don't let him make a fool of us!" Nie Donghai's third brother, Nie Nanshan, glared and ordered his son to take Nie Tian back to the clan.

At this moment, many people from Heiyun City, hearing the argument at the Nie family's gate, gathered quietly.

In a short time, more than a dozen people had gathered in front of the Nie family's gate.

"Nie Tian! Go back!" Nie Donghai said sternly.

"No!" Nie Tian shook his head and shouted, "I will go to Lingyun Sect to atone myself!"

Before Nie Qiu could come over, he suddenly walked out.

"Nie Tian! What are you doing? I came all the way from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion to find you. You can't just leave without greeting me, can you?"

At that moment, a voice from the back of the crowd called out.

Nie Tian paused, looking puzzled, and searched for the source of the voice.

"Move aside!" a loud voice came from the crowd.

"An Rong, the head of the An family!"

"It's actually the head of the An family!"

The crowd suddenly burst into chatter, and many people moved aside, making a clear path.

Soon, Nie Tian saw Pan Tao and a middle-aged man who looked similar to him, accompanied by An Rong, the head of the An family, walking over slowly.

An Rong, around sixty years old, was tall and slender with a long beard. He had a stern face, exuding authority.

Many people from Heiyun City, after moving aside, bowed slightly and greeted him with smiles.

"Hello, Old Master An."

"Hello, Master An."

"Hello, Master An, it's been a while."

An Rong ignored their greetings and instead led the way for the middle-aged man beside Pan Tao, guiding him to where the Nie clan members were.

The An family was the most powerful of the three major families in Heiyun City, a position they had held for decades.

In the eyes of most people in Heiyun City, An Rong, as the head of the An family, was essentially the city lord, the most powerful person in Heiyun City.

Now, the city lord had personally come to the Nie family and was even leading the way for a stranger, which left many people puzzled.

"An Rong, what are you doing here?" Nie Beichuan felt a bit insecure but, in name, he was the head of the Nie family and thus on equal footing with An Rong.

"Is Heiyun City your family's property, Nie Laoer?" An Rong, with a fiery temper, retorted, "Do I need to inform you before I walk around in Heiyun City?"

Nie Beichuan was speechless but helpless, "Anyway, our Nie family didn't invite you!"

"Your Nie family is a mess, and I wouldn't come even if you invited me!" An Rong laughed strangely and said, "Since Nie Laoer was injured, your Nie family has been in chaos, fighting among yourselves. Do you find it amusing?"

"The affairs of the Nie family are none of your business!" Nie Beichuan countered.

"Ha, who the hell has the time to care about your mess!" An Rong mocked, "I heard you messed up Lingyun Sect's mine? Hey, this will be entertaining! You just became the head of the family, and the mine collapsed. That's not a good omen!"

"The mine is the foundation of your Nie family. If the mine collapses, I think your position won't be far behind."

An Rong laughed loudly, mocking Nie Beichuan's pain points without giving him any face.

Many onlookers, hearing his words, thought deeply and found them reasonable.

Even some members of the Nie family, after some thought, wondered if Nie Beichuan's ascension to the head of the family had brought bad luck.

"Don't talk nonsense!" Nie Beichuan was furious but couldn't find a reason to refute him.

At this moment, Pan Tao and the middle-aged man had reached Nie Tian's side.

"Nie Tian, this is my father," Pan Tao pointed to the middle-aged man and introduced him with a smile, then pointed to Nie Tian and said, "Dad, this is my good friend, Nie Tian."

"Hello, Uncle Pan," Nie Tian hurriedly bowed.

Pan Bai smiled gently and said, "When Tao returned to the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, he urged me to come to Heiyun City with him. On the way, he told me that you fought side by side with him in the Qinghuan Realm, sharing hardships, and he values you highly."

"Pan Bai! He is Pan Bai from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion! He personally came to take An Shiyi to the Spirit Treasure Pavilion years ago. He is the son of the Great Elder Pan Hong!"

"The Spirit Treasure Pavilion's recruitment is always handled by him. He seems to be at the late-stage Central Heaven Realm!"

"Why would he come to Heiyun City?"

One person in the crowd had been staring at Pan Bai all along. Now, having confirmed his identity, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"Pan Bai!"

Everyone in the Nie family, including Nie Donghai, was stunned and looked at Pan Bai with strange expressions.

At this moment, they finally understood why An Rong, the head of the An family, had treated him with respect.

Even with An Shiyi, the An family was still a subordinate family of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, while Pan Bai was a core figure of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion. His father, Pan Tao's grandfather, held a position second only to the head of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.

"Nie Laoer, you're in luck. Mr. Pan has come to Heiyun City specifically for Nie Tian," An Rong, no longer teasing Nie Beichuan, turned to Nie Donghai and said, "Mr. Pan is responsible for recruiting talented disciples for the Spirit Treasure Pavilion. As long as he approves, they don't need to reach the ninth level of the Qi Condensation stage to be accepted."

"He has come to Heiyun City to take Nie Tian back to the Spirit Treasure Pavilion for cultivation, just like he did for my family's girl years ago."

An Rong said solemnly.

Upon hearing this, all the onlookers, including the Nie family members, were stunned.

...