Xiao Yi looked at Xiao Ninger coldly. "This isn't just an excuse, is it?" He glanced at Xiao Yunfeng. This father and daughter were definitely hiding something!
Xiao Ninger raised an eyebrow and looked at Xiao Yi. "Uncle, isn't that a little excessive? I, Xiao Ninger, swear to heaven that every word I've said is true!"
Hearing Xiao Ninger's words, Xiao Yi was somewhat convinced. He knew Xiao Ninger's character quite well. After a moment's silence, he said, "Since that person is your friend, Ninger, why not go and ask him to return the Purple Mist Grass?"
Xiao Ninger's expression changed. "What do you mean by that, Cousin Uncle? He entrusted me with buying that Purple Mist Grass. If I went and asked for it back, wouldn't I be going back on my word and making myself a petty person?"
"This concerns the interests of the Lineage!" Xiao Yi flushed red as he tried to defend himself.
"Xiao Yi, let's leave this matter here. Even if we went and asked him for it, would he give it back?" Xiao Yunfeng glanced at Xiao Yi indifferently. He naturally wouldn't let Xiao Yi pressure Ninger like this.
"There may still be room to maneuver. We'll have to see what kind of background the other party has!" Xiao Yi sneered. "If he doesn't have much backing, we might as well make him cough up the Purple Mist Grass!"
Hearing Xiao Yi's words, Xiao Ninger became agitated. The Wind Thunder Winged Dragon Art inside her was impossible to suppress; it began circulating on its own. Her Soul Sea trembled incessantly, and the faint sound of wind and thunder seemed to rumble within it. A streak of cyan light shot into the sky, and a powerful aura spread in every direction.
In that instant, her intense emotions caused Xiao Ninger's Soul Power to surge by several dozen percent. Her Soul Sea seemed to be undergoing a fierce transformation.
"What's going on? What happened to Ninger?" Xiao Yunfeng's eyes flew open. He stared at Xiao Ninger in astonishment. She had only just reached Bronze 1-star, so why was her Soul Power so powerful? The Soul Power emanating from her made even him, a Gold Demon Spirit Master, feel faintly oppressed.
Xiao Yi stared at Xiao Ninger in amazement. Whatever cultivation method she had practiced, the strength of her Soul Power was nothing like that of a Demon Spirit Master who had only just reached Bronze 1-star.
Light flowed around Xiao Ninger, and strands of Soul Power encircled her like ribbons. Their pearly glow made her look even more holy in her white silk dress, like a celestial maiden descending from the heavens. As her Soul Power condensed, it gradually took the shape of transparent wings behind her.
"Soul Power Manifestation!" Seeing this, all six elders, Xiao Yi included, sprang to their feet, their faces filled with shock.
Even Xiao Yunfeng was utterly astonished. He hadn't expected his daughter's cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds, reaching the realm of Soul Power Manifestation!
Soul Power Manifestation was a sign that one's Soul Power had been purified to the utmost! Demon Spirit Masters capable of manifesting their Soul Power were exceedingly rare. Usually, only the most talented Demon Spirit Masters of at least Gold Rank could manage it. Not even one in ten Gold Demon Spirit Masters could reach this realm. Yet any Demon Spirit Master who achieved Soul Power Manifestation possessed immensely powerful Soul Power, and their future achievements would be at least Black Gold, with even Legendary Rank within reach!
Xiao Ninger lifted her head and stared coldly at Xiao Yi. "The person who entrusted me with buying the Purple Mist Grass has been as kind to me as a mountain. If Cousin Uncle intends to harm him, then even though I'm no match for you, I'll stop you, even if it costs me my life!"
Xiao Ninger's expression was resolute. Her voice was like icicles that would never thaw, striking straight at the heart.
To achieve Soul Power Manifestation at Bronze Rank meant one's talent had reached unimaginable heights. Xiao Ninger was only thirteen years old. What would she be like in a few more years? A genius like her would advance at an astonishing pace. It wouldn't take long for her to reach Silver, Gold, or even higher ranks!
Xiao Yi finally backed down. According to the Lineage's rules, now that Xiao Ninger had demonstrated Soul Power Manifestation, her standing in the Lineage would henceforth be even higher than Xiao Yunfeng's!
The Winged Dragon Family's ancestral rule stated that in every generation, any martial arts genius born into the family would hold an exalted position. If they possessed a Cyan Soul Sea or Blue Soul Sea, the family would spare no expense in cultivating them, granting them a place of honor, because a single genius could bring the family to the pinnacle of its glory!
Although Xiao Ninger had only a Green Soul Sea, being able to manifest her Soul Power at Bronze Rank was even rarer than having a Cyan Soul Sea! Throughout history, many Demon Spirit Masters with Cyan Soul Seas had gradually faded into obscurity. Only one in ten had reached Gold Rank or above. But those who could manifest their Soul Power were entirely different: not one of them had ever fallen short of Gold Rank!
Once a junior was confirmed to be a supreme genius, everyone in the Lineage had to pave the way for them!
The elders exchanged glances. Even the two who had been at odds with Xiao Yunfeng immediately sided with him without hesitation.
"For Ninger to manifest her Soul Power at Bronze Rank—her future is sure to be extraordinary!"
"Congratulations, Patriarch! Congratulations, Ninger! At last, our Winged Dragon Family will have its day!"
The elders who had been pressuring Xiao Ninger to hand over the Purple Mist Grass now all wore obsequious smiles, lavishing praise on her. Xiao Ninger's talent was simply too astonishing. No one could imagine how far she might go.
Hearing the elders' praise, Xiao Yunfeng felt a rush of exhilaration and burst into laughter.
"But what about the engagement with the Sacred Family?" Xiao Yi murmured. Xiao Yunfeng had only one daughter. If Xiao Ninger married into the Sacred Family, Xiao Yi could reclaim the Patriarch's position. But now, everything had gone completely against his expectations.
"Xiao Yi, are we supposed to give the Sacred Family the only genius junior capable of reviving our Lineage?" one elder retorted. If Xiao Ninger married into the Sacred Family, she would become one of their people and have nothing more to do with the Winged Dragon Family. They absolutely would not let that happen.
Xiao Yi was miserable. He had originally rallied several elders, planning to seize the Patriarch's position from Xiao Yunfeng. But after Xiao Ninger revealed her talent, every one of them had sided with Xiao Yunfeng.
"Compared to the good news Ninger has brought us, that little bit of Purple Mist Grass is nothing," another elder chuckled.
The elders' sudden change in attitude took Xiao Ninger by surprise. In the heat of the moment, her Soul Power had broken through without her realizing it, reaching the realm of Soul Power Manifestation. Without the Wind Thunder Winged Dragon Art, she would never have been able to awaken the powerful talent within her Soul Sea!
Even with the Wind Thunder Winged Dragon Art, the chance of awakening Soul Power Manifestation was exceedingly low. Xiao Ninger had turned misfortune into fortune.
Xiao Ninger felt even more grateful to Nie Li. Without him, she couldn't imagine what her circumstances would be like now.
"We still can't afford to offend the Sacred Family just yet. There are two years left before the engagement deadline. We'll stall for now; there's no need to rush," Xiao Yunfeng said with a proud smile. Though he was the Patriarch, several elders had always kept him under their thumb. Today, he had finally let off some steam. Ninger had truly done him proud.
"Ninger, how high is your Soul Power now?" Xiao Yunfeng asked, looking at her.
"My last test was 105," Xiao Ninger replied. After manifesting her Soul Power just now, it seemed to have grown a little stronger.
"Test it with the Soul Crystals," Xiao Yunfeng said with a slight smile.
Xiao Ninger took out the Soul Crystals and slowly poured her Soul Power into them. Their glow grew brighter and brighter, dazzling to behold, while the faint sound of wind and thunder seemed to rumble within.
However, Xiao Yunfeng and the others were paying attention only to the strength of her Soul Power.
"362 Soul Power?" Xiao Yunfeng and all the elders sucked in a sharp breath.
Just a few days ago, Xiao Ninger had tested at only 105. How had her Soul Power reached 365 in just a few days? That was Bronze 3-star!
"As expected of a genius who has comprehended Soul Power Manifestation!" The elders were astonished and overjoyed. Only Xiao Yi wore a gloomy expression.
Xiao Ninger was surprised too. She had never expected her Soul Power to increase so quickly. The elders in her Lineage wouldn't pressure her to marry into the Sacred Family anymore. Thinking about it, everything had happened because of Nie Li. As she recalled all the moments she had shared with him, a trace of sweetness drifted through her heart.
Xiao Ninger clenched her fists. She would keep working hard. Once she had enough strength, she wouldn't have to yield to pressure from the Sacred Family and marry Shen Fei!
The stillness of the dead of night.
Nie Li sat cross-legged in cultivation, gradually entering a state of complete oblivion. His Soul Sea was calm and undisturbed.
As he circulated the Heavenly Dao Divine Art, the natural energy of heaven and earth continuously gathered around Nie Li, and his Soul Power steadily grew stronger.
A faint breeze whistled past, and the night grew ever more peaceful.
Under Nie Li's control, Soul Power swirled around him. The muscles throughout his body quivered and strengthened in a certain rhythm, like strings being plucked. These were some of the effects that came with the Heavenly Dao Divine Art: it allowed him to cultivate Soul Power while also strengthening his physical body.
After midnight, Nie Li stopped cultivating. Practicing in the middle of the night when one's Soul Power wasn't strong enough could cause some side effects.
He took out the Soul Crystals and tested his Soul Power. It had already reached 82. His cultivation over the past few days had been going quite well.
Looking into the distance, he saw several figures walking back and forth. They were the people on night watch.
Suddenly, a strange smell wafted over, like the scent of some kind of demon beast. Nie Li's expression changed. He sprang to his feet.
If the camp was attacked by demon beasts, they'd be in trouble!
Nie Li immediately headed toward the dense forest nearby.
Before you continue