Chapter 1: In the Midst of Turmoil

Seven. Han Yue whispered softly, lowering her head

"I am asking you, how many children are participating this time?" Nie Qian frowned and said

"What do you understand?" Nie Donghai suddenly glared, his face filled with a sense of sternness and anger. "Only I remain the head of the Nie family. The humiliation you suffered in the Yun family is the only opportunity for retribution! As for the person who deceived your sister, I can only utilize the power of the Nie family to have any hope of uncovering his identity!"

"Miss..." Han Yue said with a bitter smile, looking up at Nie Qian, and weakly said: "Although Nie Tian is the child of the Second Miss, the Second Miss... just like you, is merely a daughter, and moreover, before the Second Miss passed away, she never clarified who Nie Tian's biological father was"

For the Qi Refiners of the Lingyun Sect, those low-level and seemingly useless spiritual tools are, however, beneficial for the cultivation of the young members of the Nie family, and for a considerable period, they serve as the most suitable spiritual tools for the children of the Nie family

The Rejuvenation Pill, however, overdraws the potential and lifespan of the Qi Refining practitioners, ultimately causing significant harm to their physical and mental well-being.

Zhou Ma immediately brought out a bowl of finely minced meat and gently placed it on the table. Nie Tian's dark eyes suddenly brightened, and he picked up a silver soup spoon, skillfully digging in, his chubby little face full of satisfaction

The Qi Refiners of the Lingyun Sect will use those low-level spiritual tools to win the loyalty of the Nie family. The low-level spiritual tools presented at the drawing lots event will be given to the young members of the Nie family whose attributes are compatible.

In the dimly lit room, Nie Donghai, the current head of the Nie family, had a waxy yellow face that was full of fatigue. His once robust body was now as thin as a stick, and he leaned against the wall, gazing hesitantly at a dark red pill in the palm of his left hand

Nie Qian burst into Nie Donghai's pavilion and exclaimed angrily, "Father, Nie Tian is also..."

The alchemist sect affiliated with the Nie family is the Lingyun Sect, which is located near Heiyun City on Lingyun Mountain. The interior of Lingyun Mountain is rich in Huoyun Stone, a common low-grade spiritual material required for alchemists' cultivation. The alchemists of the Lingyun Sect are busy with their cultivation year-round and are unwilling to spend time mining this low-grade Huoyun Stone in the mountain's interior, so they arrange for the members of the Nie family to go instead

"Father, if it means sacrificing my lifespan to obtain the position of the family head, I would rather you step down early," Nie Qian said, her eyes glistening with tears.

She immediately recognized that the elixir in Nie Donghai's palm was the Spirit Restoration Pill. Consuming the Spirit Restoration Pill allows a Qi Refinement practitioner to temporarily be filled with abundant spiritual energy and vitality, possessing the effect of rejuvenation.

Although the old master is still the head of the family at present, this position is not secure at all After Nie Qian left in anger, Han Yue spoke to herself with a bitter expression

As night fell, Nie Qian, dressed in plain white clothing, leaned against the windowsill, gazing blankly at the rockery outside the window

Similarly, the lottery event held every five years causes great excitement within the Nie family. Any elder in the Nie family with a child around the age of one considers it a significant life event for both the child and the family, eagerly participating in the occasion.

"Alright, alright, don't act like a child who hasn't grown up. Speak up, what is it that you are so eager to find me for?" Nie Donghai took a deep breath, his expression returning to one of determination

"Meat, I want to eat meat..." Nie Tian continued to shout with a cheerful smile

What does it matter to live a few fewer years? Once I step down, I will no longer have the strength to fight for you all, and what difference would that be from being dead?

"Xiao Tian has just turned one year old, and he also shares the surname Nie. Why was I not informed and allowed to let Nie Tian attend this lottery event?" Nie Qian snorted coldly

"Father, the drawing lots event tomorrow is of great importance. Since you have allowed Xiao Tian to take the surname Nie, I hope that Xiao Tian can also participate. If Xiao Tian can find a suitable spiritual tool at the drawing lots event, it will greatly aid his future cultivation. Perhaps, with such a spiritual tool, he could reach the ninth level of Qi Refinement by the age of fifteen and thus enter the Lingyun Sect" Nie Qian pleaded.

If I step down, the second and third will certainly not care about the grievances between you and your sister! For the sake of you and Jin'er, I will stay in this position for one more day, if I can.

This time is no exception either

Indoors, just having turned one year old, Nie Tian impatiently pushed away the wet nurse, his mouth smeared with milk stains, yet he gazed longingly at Nie Qian, babbling, "Meat, eat meat..."

Generations of the Nie family have relied on the mining of fire cloud stone to pay tribute to the Lingyun Sect in exchange for its protection

The Qi Refiners of the Lingyun Sect, in addition to protecting the Nie family from the oppression of other family forces in Heiyun City, also visit the Nie family every five years to use some low-level spiritual tools to draw lots in order to assess the cultivation talent of the Nie family's young children

Listening to Nie Tian's "smacking" sounds while eating, Nie Qian felt inexplicably irritated. "Xiao Yue, how many children will participate in tomorrow's drawing?" Nie Qian suddenly asked.

This matter... Nie Donghai showed a difficult expression, "How could I not know? For this matter, I have already discussed it with the second and third brothers, but they insist that Xiao Tian is not a true son of the Nie family, and they are determined to exclude him based on clan rules.

Father! Nie Qian was already in tears, unable to speak.

Nie Qianxin felt as if her heart were being cut by a knife. She knew that her arrival only strengthened Nie Donghai's resolve. Unable to bear the thought of looking back, she hurriedly left in a state of panic.

I don't care about those broken rules; my father is still the head of the family. I will go find him to demand an explanation!" Nie Qian said angrily, and after speaking, she stormed off.

With his head lowered, Nie Donghai stared at the Returning Spirit Pill for a long time. Upon seeing Nie Qian arrive, he forced a smile and said with difficulty: "Since being severely injured by the Yun family and the Yuan family, my Qi Sea has shattered, and the accumulation of spiritual energy can no longer keep up with the rate of dissipation. My cultivation has lost all hope of ever stepping into the innate realm, and even this Middle Heaven realm... may soon be beyond my grasp."

Fuming with anger, Han Qian felt a pang in her heart, and her voice suddenly softened as she gently persuaded, "Father, please don't."

Looking at the smiling face of Nie Tian, who was trying to please her, Nie Qian thought of her deceased sister, her heart softened, and she gently nodded to the wet nurse, Aunt Zhou.

Every child, after birth, possesses certain unique attributes to varying degrees. In addition to the five elemental attributes of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, some children also contain rarer attributes such as lightning, wind, cloud, and ice. Each time the Qi Refiners from the Lingyun Sect come, they bring with them several low-level spiritual tools that possess similar attributes.

Nie Donghai remained silent for a long time, then gently nodded, "I understand. You may go back now. Tomorrow, you are to bring Nie Tian to attend the drawing lots meeting on time."

The Nie family is also a prestigious family in Heiyun City; however, in this world, it is the Qi Refiners who hold the highest status. The influence of mortal families is almost entirely dedicated to serving those powerful Qi Refiners, and the Nie family is no exception.

Nie Qian came to her senses, glared at the robust Nie Tian, and muttered, "This little rascal has already eaten two bowls of meat paste today, refuses to drink milk properly, and now wants to eat meat again. I wonder if he can digest it well."

In Nie Qian's tear-filled eyes, a hint of joy was evident, and she then bowed and withdrew

The rules of the Nie family are set; only the true grandsons and granddaughters are qualified to participate in the lottery held once every five years. Grandsons by marriage, however, are not included in this category

Father, your path of cultivation has come to an end, and my sister is no longer here, and I... this life is just like this. Our branch of the family is not prosperous, with only little Tian as the sole male heir. I hope you can do your utmost to secure an opportunity for little Tian

Generally speaking, only during life-and-death situations when a Qi Refinement practitioner is in combat with others will they resort to using the Revitalizing Pill to seek a glimmer of hope, as it is something they would never dare to consume under normal circumstances

At the entrance, the maid Han Yue hesitated for a moment and said softly: "Miss, as long as they are from the Nie family, bearing the surname Nie, and are around one year old, they will all participate. After all, every five years, the old immortal from Lingyun Mountain brings spiritual artifacts and comes here once, which is considered a reward for the Nie family's years of hard work. Any family with a one-year-old child would not want to miss this opportunity."

After a while

Heiyun City, Nie Family

The second and third brothers have been coveting my position as the head of the family for quite some time. Tomorrow, the people from Lingyun Sect will come. If they notice that my condition is deteriorating and then incite the second and third brothers, I am afraid I will truly have to relinquish my position.

Nanny Zhou's expression was awkward as she forced a smile and said, "Miss, you see..."

Her cry abruptly ceased

Children and spiritual tools with the same attributes can sense and attract each other, which allows for the determination of the attributes within the child. This enables the parents to take targeted measures, understanding the future cultivation direction of their child, thus making the path of cultivation more efficient.

Just as she stepped out of the door, about to leave, she heard the sound of Nie Donghai swallowing the rejuvenation pill, followed by a long sigh from Nie Donghai