Father and Son Talk (Part Two)

Father and Son Talk (Part Two)

"What... what did you say?"

After a long while, Nie Xiaotian finally realized something and hurriedly looked at the son before him, who had shocked him several times in less than ten minutes.

Ever since that incident over a decade ago, the fact that Luoshui City's greatest prodigy could no longer cultivate his qi sea had been like a fishbone lodged in his throat, leaving him unable to eat or sleep in peace!

Though it pained him, he knew that once the qi sea was damaged, there was no hope of continuing cultivation for the rest of one's life. Yet now, his son suddenly said that his damaged qi sea could be restored. The lightly spoken words struck his ears like a bolt from the blue, leaving him unable to believe it.

Perhaps he really can do it...

Thinking of the master behind his son, who could casually produce a top-grade imperial cultivation technique, Nie Xiaotian felt inexplicably stirred, even faintly expectant!

"As long as Father can cultivate the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique to the major completion of the first level, I'm more than ninety percent certain that I can completely restore your damaged dantian!" Seeing the anticipation in his father's eyes, Nie Yun knew that no matter how much effort he had to expend, it would all be worth it. He nodded.

"Since you're so certain, Father will begin cultivating at once! Even if it doesn't work, I'll still have mastered another cultivation technique and be able to protect our family branch once more! Tell me how to cultivate the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique!"

Seeing his son answer with such certainty, Nie Xiaotian said with a smile.

"Mm!" Nie Yun answered, unable to keep from sighing inwardly.

It seemed his father still placed greater importance on qi sea cultivation. Earlier, when he had told him that the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique could likewise cultivate formidable strength, his father had not been particularly delighted. But the moment he heard that it could restore his qi sea, his passion immediately ignited!

That was only natural. If a sniper lost his gun, and someone told him that practicing martial arts could also kill enemies, he would surely feel dispirited and desolate! But if they told him that as long as he began practicing martial arts and passed the assessment, they would give his gun back, he would certainly leap up in excitement!

Qi sea cultivators began cultivating at the age of six or seven. After cultivating for decades, it had already become part of their lives—something impossible to let go of!

"The Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique has nine levels. The first level..."

By the time he had taught his father the entire Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique, day had fully broken.

"If you cultivate the first level of the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique step by step, it'll take at least a year to master. I have some Body Tempering Fluid my master refined for me. I'll bring some for Father later..."

Seeing that his father had thoroughly grasped the many key points of the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique, Nie Yun said.

Though the medicinal ingredients he had prepared might not be enough for two people, Nie Yun did not feel the slightest reluctance about using them for his father.

"Body Tempering Fluid? No need, haha. I've absorbed the eastern purple qi every day for more than ten years. My body has long undergone a qualitative transformation. I've read through the first level of the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique. Even without using anything, I'll definitely cultivate it to major completion within ten days!"

Nie Xiaotian knew that the Body Tempering Fluid had been given to his son by his master and must be extremely precious, so he immediately waved his hand.

"Ten days?" Nie Yun had not expected his father to be so certain, so he did not press the matter.

The first level of the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique tempered the tendons and bones. If what his father said was true, and he had indeed persisted in breathing in and out purple qi for more than a decade, then he truly might break through the first level in one stroke!

Though the eastern purple qi had not seemed especially useful to the human body in Nie Yun's memory, if one could persist in breathing it in and out for ten years, it might indeed produce a different effect!

"Father, since you're unwilling to tell me what exactly happened to our branch, the matter must be extremely serious. When you cultivate, it's best to be careful. If someone with ulterior motives sees something, I'm afraid we'll be uprooted and eradicated before we even have the chance to strike back!"

Nie Yun cautioned him.

"Don't worry. Since Father has been able to disguise himself for so many years, naturally I'm not a fool. I know what to do..."

At this point, Nie Xiaotian suddenly stopped. He looked at the son before him, his expression strange.

He had been disguising himself—was his son also disguising himself?

Could it be that he had already guessed what had happened to the family, which was why he had pretended to detest his father and never called him "Father"...

Yes, that had to be it. Perhaps even the early third-level qi sea strength he had seen before had been a disguise. Otherwise, how could he have reached the fourth level in just a few days?

Nie Xiaotian's heart trembled.

His son was only sixteen or seventeen, yet he had clearly guessed what was going on and still pretended to be someone else. Even he himself was far inferior to such patience and shrewdness!

"Yun'er, when did you meet your master?" Thinking of this, Nie Xiaotian asked probing question.

Having taken such a formidable master, his state of mind would surely have changed. Yet he himself had never noticed it, which meant his son must have begun disguising himself from the moment he met his master!

"My master..." Nie Yun had no idea his father had thought so much, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

How was he supposed to explain this? He couldn't exactly say that this master was actually nonexistent, and that these cultivation techniques were his because he had been reborn...

"About... about half a year ago!" Nie Yun casually muttered.

"Half a year ago? Just as I thought!" Nie Xiaotian nodded to himself, deeply moved. His son had disguised himself so well...

With such temperament and such composure, his future path would surely surpass his own by countless times. Faintly, Nie Xiaotian began to look forward to it.

If Nie Yun had known that the time he casually named had sent his father's imagination running wild, he would surely have fainted on the spot.

A three-hundred-year-old monster like me, pretending to be a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old who idled about all day and made little progress in cultivation... Pretending for half a year—cough, cough—even if I wanted to, would I have that kind of patience...

After discussing everything that needed to be discussed, father and son finally walked from the rear courtyard toward the front.

The people of the Nie Tian Branch were about to go mad today because they had suddenly witnessed something strange.

The master, who used to do nothing but drink himself into oblivion all day, had somehow stopped drinking and was walking together with the young master, who had always cursed the heavens and blamed others!

The young master had always detested the master. Usually, after just a few words, the two would part on bad terms. Yet now they were standing together, talking and laughing...

What was going on? Were they seeing things?

"Look at the master—his eyes are clear, and he doesn't look drunk at all... Has he gone mad?"

"Doesn't seem like it. Maybe the young master has gone mad..."

"..."

Seeing how close the two were, everyone in the branch wondered whether one of them had gone mad.

"Hmph, useless trash!"

"Go drink your wine! It'd be best if you drank yourself to death!"

Just as everyone was puzzled, the father and son, who had been happily walking together moments ago, suddenly glared furiously and berated each other. Each saw rage and disdain in the other's eyes.

After hurling their insults, both stormed angrily toward their own rooms without looking back.

"Uh... It seems neither the young master nor the master has gone mad. Rather... both of them have gone mad!"

Seeing them suddenly turn like this after getting along so well just moments earlier, everyone finally understood and nodded knowingly.