Chapter 7 The Cost of Victory

Are you all very excited? What, do you also want to stay in the mine for three years like Nie Tian?" Nie Beichuan said in a calm tone

"Second Uncle, that... it was Nie Hong who challenged me himself. Just now, he was the first to disregard the clan rules and struck at my vital points with poison." Nie Tian, who had just awakened from his confusion, seemed to suddenly understand his current situation. He straightened his chest and shouted with righteous indignation.

Well, he has no hope of reaching the ninth level of weapon refining and being accepted as a disciple by the Lingyun Sect before the age of fifteen in this lifetime

Upon these words being spoken, a hint of anger also emerged on Nie Xian's youthful face

I see. Nie Beichuan elongated his voice and said with feigned sincerity: "If elder brother insists on this, I will no longer persuade you. Rest assured, I will keep the matters concerning Qian'er and Jin'er in mind. I regard them as my own children and will do my utmost to seek justice for them."

"Go if you want to go, three years is just three years, what's so great about it!" Nie Tian shouted recklessly.

"Second Uncle, it was Nie Hongxian who intended to harm others, it has nothing to do with Mr. Wu." Nie Xian could not bear to see this and attempted to defend Wu Tao with a remark.

He clearly understood the ins and outs of the situation. At the moment when Nie Hong intended to strike Nie Tian's heart, he noticed that Wu Tao had inquired about Nie Beichuan's stance with his eyes. However, Nie Beichuan remained silent at that time, evidently not intending to intervene

The indignant youth of the Nie family fell silent upon hearing these words, revealing expressions of anger they dared not voice.

Before Nie Tian could react, he cast a resentful glance at the extremely awkward Wu Tao and shouted: "And you? As a guest elder in this arena, what have you been doing here?! Clearly witnessing Nie Tian taking lethal action, why did you not intervene at the first opportunity? Did our Nie family recruit you just to provide you with free meals?"

"Grandfather, I only intended to scare him; I never meant to seriously injure him!" Nie Hong gritted his teeth and glared fiercely at Nie Tian, arguing, "Before my power struck his chest, I had already consciously held back, intending to stop. I never expected that he would take advantage of my moment of restraint and suddenly launch a lethal attack when I was unprepared!"

Nie Xian, being young at heart, clearly knows that speaking up for Wu Tao is not advisable, yet he still cannot overcome his inner conflict

"When is it your turn to speak?" Nie Beichuan snorted coldly and glanced sideways at Nie Xian, "Who do you think you are? You are merely a collateral descendant of the Nie family. If you wish to have a say in the family, wait until you truly break through to the ninth level of Qi Refining and enter the Lingyun Sect before you come to talk to me"

It is not that simple; at the mine, there are occasional fatalities. Nie Tiancai is ten years old and has been in the mine for three years. I estimate that he may not be able to come out alive

Many young people from the Nie family, who still possess a childlike innocence and a sense of justice, initially intended to express the truth they had witnessed, just like Nie Xian. However, seeing that even Nie Xian, who was the most powerful among them and had the brightest prospects, was influenced by Nie Beichuan's imposing presence and dared not speak further, they too felt wronged and chose to remain silent.

Nie Tian did not say a word, silently following behind Nie Donghai, with a very poor expression on his face

Mr. Wu, let us handle this according to the clan rules, Nie Beichuan said calmly

... ...

Having spoken, he took the lead in walking out of the square, his silhouette imbued with a sense of the melancholy of a hero in decline

Exiled to the mines of Lingyun Sect at the age of ten, he became useless after three years. His original progress in cultivation was already slow, and with an additional three years wasted in the mines, it is feared that he will no longer have any hope of gaining the favor of the Lingyun Sect.

"Great-uncle, we have all seen it; the facts are not as such."

Nie Beichuan furrowed his brows slightly and said with a serious expression: "Elder brother, there are family rules and national laws; even if Nie Tian is young, and even if you are the head of the family, the family rules... still cannot be broken"

Nie Hongben aimed to severely injure Nie Tian in order to erase the humiliation of being defeated by him repeatedly over the years. At that time, he was clearly putting forth his utmost effort; how could he possibly give up midway?

The youths of the Nie family, who had originally dared not speak out, could not help but start shouting upon hearing the method of punishment, including many who had never liked Nie Tian

Outrageous

Especially, Nie Beichuan is very likely to truly replace Nie Donghai as the head of the Nie family within one or two years

Uncle, it is good that you have come; you must uphold justice

A flash of lightning streaked by, and Nie Beichuan had already darted to Nie Hong's side. He crouched down, helped Nie Hong up, and placed his large hand on Nie Hong's waist, abdomen, and sternum.

If it were in the past, upon hearing the punishment of Nie Beichuan, he would have leaped down instantly, landing in the square.

"Exiled to the Lingyun Mountain mine for three years." Wu Tao replied softly, his heart filled with bitterness and helplessness, and his eyes brimming with regret

Upon the utterance of these words, everyone present in the venue was suddenly rendered speechless

At the age of ten, he has already reached the age of understanding, and he naturally comprehends that Nie Donghai's initiative to step aside today is entirely for him

But now, he can only descend step by step, which requires a great deal of time and effort to arrive before the situation deteriorates to an irretrievable extent

Nie Beichuan raised his head, his gaze cold and sinister as he stared at Nie Tian, who appeared bewildered and was still sensing that unknown power, and said: "You scoundrel! While our clan does not prohibit fighting, who allowed you to resort to such lethal measures?"

Elder brother, how can this be? You are still highly respected within the clan, I...

Shameless

"Second brother, Nie Tian is still young, is it really necessary to do this?" At that moment, Nie Donghai, who had hurriedly come down from the high platform of the stone hall, finally arrived.

"Shut up!" Nie Beichuan shouted, interrupting Nie Tian's subsequent words. He then coldly looked at Wu Tao and said: "The process is not important; the current result is that Nie Tian has disregarded the clan rules and harmed Nie Hong with cruel means. Mr. Wu, as a guest elder of the Nie family, how should Nie Tian be punished according to the clan rules?"

Forget it, I will certainly give face to my elder brother. As for this matter, I will not pursue it any further said Nie Beichuan with a smile

However, after careful consideration, he still managed to hold back, knowing that, as Wu Tao had said, before he became a disciple of the Lingyun Sect, he was indeed still far from being significant in the Nie family

Isn't that too harsh

"What you just wanted to do, you know it best in your heart!" Nie Tian shouted.

I am tired and no longer have the energy to manage the Nie family, as you are aware of my situation. Previously, I wanted to leverage the family's strength to help Qian'er and Jin'er seek justice, which is why I stubbornly refused to step aside for so long. However, I have come to terms with it now and plan to give up. From now on, the Nie family will be in your hands, second brother.

Wu Tao and the young members of the Nie family watched his figure as he walked away, and they all understood that the era of Nie Donghai's control over the Nie family had come to an end today

Later, when Nie Tian suddenly erupted, seemingly regaining divine power, everything happened too quickly, so fast that Wu Tao had no time to intervene

At the age of ten, being exiled to the mine, and having to stay there for three more years, Nie Tian was truly doomed this time

Nie Beichuan also wore a puzzled expression, yet his eyes clearly revealed a hint of ecstasy as he said: "Elder brother! What do you mean by this?"

"Master of the house," Wu Tao said respectfully

Great-uncle

Then it shall be so. Nie Donghai, exhausted in body and mind, turned to Nie Tian and said: "Come with me."

Seeing his grandson lying on the ground severely injured, Nie Beichuan could no longer contain himself and suddenly rushed out

They all saw clearly that at the moment of the final strike, the excitement and ecstasy in Nie Hong's eyes showed no sign of wanting to hold back in the slightest

Nie Hong felt a warm current of spiritual energy gently flowing around his sternum, alleviating his pain. He couldn't help but call out in a tone of grievance: "Grandfather ... ... "

Most of the onlooking Nie family children are now silently calling out in their hearts, secretly disdainful of Nie Hong's distortion of the facts

I am no longer the head of the household now

Nie Donghai looked at him deeply, nodded, and said: "Nie Tian is still young, I hope ... ... "

Many children let out a sigh of relief upon seeing him arrive, and then they all began to shout excitedly

Nie Donghai waved his hand, interrupting his words, and said firmly: "I have made up my mind, tomorrow I will clarify to all the uncles and grandfathers, and I believe they will understand."

Wu Tao could only manage a bitter smile

As he was about to disappear from the square, he paused, turned to look at the spirited Nie Beichuan, and silently clenched his fist

Nie Tiancai is ten years old