Outside the hall.
Nan Yushan hurried over, with Nan Xiao close behind him.
They came into everyone's view.
Nan Xiao immediately turned to Pei Zimo and the others outside the door and asked urgently, "Where's the Ninth Ancestor?"
"She's inside the hall, helping our lord suppress his spiritual power," Pei Ziheng replied.
"How long has it been?" Nan Xiao pressed.
"Half an hour."
Nan Xiao froze at the answer and looked at Nan Yushan in puzzlement. Did it take that long?
Nan Yushan: "..."
These silly children. Ninth Sister would need at most fifteen minutes to completely suppress Ran'er's spiritual power. Who knows what she's been doing in there for the other fifteen?
He took a deep breath and shouted into the hall, "Ninth Sister!"
Inside, Nan Qingyuan heard the shout and felt a surge of annoyance. What perfect timing. She gritted her teeth and squeezed out, "Come in!"
Nan Yushan strode in, followed closely by the others.
Their gazes first fell on Nan Xunran. His complexion had clearly improved, his expression was as calm as still water, and his hair had been neatly tied up.
Everyone looked at the ribbon in his hair, their hearts full of questions.
Huh? Whose ribbon is that? How come we've never seen our lord wear it before?
After a brief moment of distraction, their wandering thoughts came to a halt as Nan Yushan stepped forward.
Nan Yushan went up to him and called, "Ran'er."
With a raise of his hand, an exquisite earring appeared in it.
"This artifact can suppress the spiritual power in your body and keep it at the peak of the True God Realm. Once you've gradually adapted, you can take it off."
Before Nan Xunran could make a move, Nan Qingyuan had already reached out and gently taken the earring.
She gently brushed aside Nan Xunran's long hair, revealing his ear. Her fingers lightly touched his earlobe from time to time, her movements tender.
For a moment, everyone around them stared blankly at the intimate, peculiar scene.
When Nan Qingyuan had finished, she said softly, "There!"
The earring swayed slightly beside Nan Xunran's ear. Several silver tassels hung down like strands of silk, each glimmering with flecks of silver light.
The earring swayed gently with his movements. He looked like an immortal who had descended from a painting, deeply captivating, yet one whom people dared not approach lightly.
Nan Xunran slowly stood and said softly, "Thank you, Thirteenth Ancestor, Ninth Ancestor."
Nan Yushan looked at him warmly and asked, "How do you feel?"
Nan Xunran nodded slightly and replied, "My spiritual power has been completely suppressed."
Relief appeared on Nan Yushan's face. He reached out and gently patted Nan Xunran on the shoulder. "That's good."
Then, with a slight movement, he concealed himself and vanished once more into the endless void.
Nan Qingyuan also waved gently and said to Nan Xunran, "I'm leaving too, Little Ran."
Nan Xunran nodded gently.
Just then, Nan Xiao strode forward and swept Nan Xunran into an embrace, tears streaming down his aged face. "My son, you've suffered!"
At this, Nan Xunran chuckled and said, "It wasn't nearly as bad as you make it sound."
Yet Nan Xiao's mood changed swiftly. The next moment, he said excitedly, "Tomorrow, I'll hold a banquet and invite all the top forces of the Sacred Domain to celebrate my son!"
Nan Xunran didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he obediently replied, "As you wish."
Nan Xiao acted as soon as he spoke. After releasing Nan Xunran, he said hurriedly, "I'm off! I'll draw up the guest list right away!"
"All right," Nan Xunran replied.
Watching Nan Xiao leave, Pei Zimo and the others hurried over.
Lin Hongyu couldn't help praising him. "I have to say, that earring makes our lord look even more handsome!"
Pei Zimo stroked his chin and said thoughtfully, "If I got one, would I become as handsome as our lord?"
Everyone couldn't help chuckling.
Nan Xunran slowly swept his gaze around and asked, "Where's Shangguan Xieyue?"
Pei Zimo quickly replied, "Something seems to have happened in the Shangguan Family. She went back."
Then he couldn't help shuddering, still shaken.
Good thing she left. If she'd seen what happened just now, wouldn't she have torn the roof off?
After hearing this, Nan Xunran merely nodded calmly without saying much, then asked, "Where's the Saint Lord?"
Pei Zimo replied, "He's with the people from Secret Sound Valley."
"Did they arrange rooms for you?"
Pei Zimo froze at the question.
"Eh?!" He scratched his head and said awkwardly, "I think they did, but we were so busy keeping watch over you that we forgot all about it."
For a moment, everyone looked a little embarrassed.
Nan Xunran gave them a dispassionate glance and said, "All the rooms in the hall are empty except the one next door. Take your pick."
They hurriedly nodded again and again, then turned and left.
Once they were gone, Nan Xunran slowly took out the Soul-Nourishing Jade.
There had been so much going on that he had nearly forgotten about Samsara Supreme, whom he had met in the secret realm.
Nan Xunran called softly, "Senior."
Yun Yi's soul floated slowly out of the Soul-Nourishing Jade. "Kid, you finally remembered me?"
Nan Xunran gave a slight nod in response.
Yun Yi then sat cross-legged in midair and said, "Go on, what is it?"
Nan Xunran said directly, "I can help you rebuild your body."
Yun Yi sprang upright at this, then quickly calmed down and asked, "What's the price?"
"Work for me."