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Nie Li and his group were led to a courtyard within the Silver Winged Family's territory, an elegant yet confining space enclosed by high walls.
The courtyard within the Silver Winged Family's territory was a paradox of beauty and captivity. Its walls rose high, adorned with intricate carvings of winged beasts that seemed to glare down at the occupants below, while the air carried the faint scent of blooming flowers from a meticulously tended garden at its center. Yet, for Nie Li and his group, it was little more than an elegant prison. (Image)
Guards stood sentinel beyond the arched entrance, their presence a constant reminder that every step, every word, was being watched. Their silver armor glinted faintly in the sunlight, and their eyes followed the group with a vigilance that bordered on paranoia.
Xiao Xue paced the cobblestone path, her boots clicking softly against the stone as she moved back and forth, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her brows were knitted together, her lips pressed into a thin line of frustration. Finally, she stopped in front of Nie Li, her petite frame casting a small shadow over him as he sat calmly on a stone bench, his hands resting casually in his lap.
"Nie Li," she began, her voice sharp with exasperation, "why would you offer to help these people? They're awful! If you treat their sickness, they'll only become stronger—stronger to enslave more, to bring more pain and suffering to others!" Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and confusion. She couldn't fathom why Nie Li, with all his cunning and foresight, would extend a hand to the very people they despised.
"What if they find a way to get out of here and attack Glory City one day!"
The rest of the group lingered nearby, their silence heavy with unspoken thoughts. Lu Piao leaned against a pillar, his arms crossed and his usual carefree grin absent. Du Ze stood with his back straight, his expression unreadable but his eyes flickering with the same unease that Xiao Xue voiced. Cao Wang hovered at the edge of the group, his posture deferential as always, while Xiao Ning'er sat quietly on a low wall, her gaze fixed on Nie Li with an unwavering trust that needed no words.
Before Nie Li could respond, Lu Piao pushed off the pillar, his voice unusually serious cutting through the tension. "Xiao Xue, stop questioning Nie Li already. He must have a plan, he always does. We should follow him instead of doubting him every step of the way." His tone was firm, though there was a hint of impatience in it, as if he couldn't understand why Xiao Xue didn't see what he did.
Du Ze nodded, his deep voice steady and resolute. "No matter what Nie Li is planning, I will always support him. He hasn't led us astray yet." His words were a quiet anchor, grounding the group's wavering emotions.
Cao Wang offered a faint, subservient smile, his hands clasped before him. "I am but a humble servant of my master. His will is my will. If he says this is the path, then I walk it without question." His loyalty was absolute, a reflection of his unwavering devotion to Nie Li.
Xiao Ning'er remained silent, her delicate features calm and composed. She didn't need to speak, her trust in Nie Li was a quiet, unshakable force, forged through trials. Her eyes met his briefly, and in that glance, an entire conversation passed without a single word.
Nie Li regarded them all with a small, knowing smile, his sharp eyes glinting with quiet amusement. He leaned back slightly, resting one arm along the back of the bench as he turned his attention to Xiao Xue. When he spoke, his voice was calm, measured, yet laced with an unshakable confidence that commanded attention.
"I am not beyond speaking lies, Xiao Xue," he said, his tone almost playful. "Even if I were to treat the disease of the Silver Winged Family and they grow stronger, it means nothing. Legend-ranked individuals are not at my level. As for being a threat, The Ten Thousand Beast Array alone is enough to deal with them." He paused, letting his words sink in, watching as Xiao Xue's eyes widened slightly in realization.
"There is no need to worry, I am not planning on helping them. Even if their illness is cured, it would take them decades to make any impact and by that time, they would be akin to ants for us. " he continued, his voice steady as a rock in a storm. "As for everything else, I will take care of it. You all should focus on training with the blood crystals they're sending us. Refine your strength, push your limits. In the meantime, I'll see how we can acquire the Stones of Light and leave this place as soon as possible." His gaze swept over the group, lingering on each of them for a moment, as if silently reinforcing his resolve.
Xiao Ning'er exhaled softly, her shoulders relaxing as the tension drained from her frame. If Nie Li said there was nothing to worry about, then there was nothing to worry about. It was a truth she had come to accept long ago.
"Strive to reach peak Gold Rank," Nie Li instructed, his tone shifting to one of authority. "When the time comes, you'll understand why this is necessary. Trust me."
The group nodded in unison, their eyes alight with renewed determination. Whatever doubts lingered were swept away by the certainty in Nie Li's voice, the unspoken promise that he held their future in his hands.
The days that followed were a quiet storm within the courtyard's high walls. The air buzzed with the faint hum of cultivation as Nie Li's companions threw themselves into their training, their every breath fueled by the blood crystals provided by the Silver Winged Family. The crystals glowed faintly in their hands, pulsing with a crimson energy that seeped into their bodies, strengthening their meridians and pushing their ranks ever higher.
Lu Piao sat cross-legged on the stone floor, his brows furrowed in concentration as he teetered on the edge of breaking through to Gold Rank. Sweat beaded on his foreheads, their breathing ragged but controlled. Xiao Xue, her petite frame rigid with focus, channeled the energy of the crystals into her dantian, her cultivation climbing steadily to One-star Silver Rank.
Cao Wang, ever the diligent servant, worked in silence, his aura solidifying as he stepped into Three-star Gold Rank. The fear of weakness—of being left behind—drove them all, a silent fire that burned brighter with each passing hour.
Meanwhile, Nie Li secluded himself in a corner of the courtyard, his mind occupied with a far greater game. This was the true reason he had agreed to aid the Silver Winged Family—not out of kindness, but out of calculation. The tools and resources they provided were a means to an end, a stepping stone toward his ultimate goal.
Sikong Yi, the Patriarch of the Silver Winged Family, was desperate for a cure to the plague that ravaged his people. His eagerness made him pliable, and he spared no effort in fulfilling Nie Li's every request. Rare herbs, meticulously cataloged and delivered in wooden crates, lined the shelves of the makeshift laboratory within the courtyard.
Experiment equipment—vials, burners, and mortars—gleamed under the soft light of hanging lanterns. Even the corpses of recently deceased elders were brought to him, their lifeless forms laid out on stone slabs for study. And when Nie Li requested living test subjects, the Silver Winged Family offered slaves—expendable lives in their eyes—without a second thought.
In his secluded workspace, Nie Li activated his AI chip, a faint hum resonating in his mind as data streamed across his vision. The chip analyzed the Silver Winged Family's disease with cold precision, cataloging symptoms, tracing patterns, and compiling possibilities. He wasn't planning to cure them—not yet. For now, a relief potion would suffice, a temporary balm to ease their suffering and tighten his grip on their trust. It would be enough to show them his alchemical prowess, to make them hunger for more.
His fingers moved with practiced grace, crushing herbs into fine powders, distilling essences with a steady hand. The laboratory was a marvel of efficiency, its tools far more advanced than anything he'd expected from the Silver Winged Family. It was his stage, and he performed with the confidence of a master alchemist, every motion deliberate, every calculation precise.
The rhythm of Nie Li's work was interrupted one afternoon when a group of guards marched into the courtyard, their boots thudding against the stone. They dragged a figure bound in chains, his tattered clothes hanging loosely over a battered frame. The leader of the guards stepped forward, bowing low before Nie Li. (Image)
"Mister Nie Li, we've brought the traitor here," he said, his voice laced with deference.
Nie Li turned his gaze toward the youth in chains. Bruises marred his skin, dried blood crusted over fresh wounds, and his cultivation had been sealed, leaving him powerless. Yet, there was something arresting about him—his eyes. They burned with a fierce, unyielding hatred, a pride that refused to be broken even in the face of torment. The guards forced him to his knees, but he kept his head raised, his jaw set in defiance.
Nie Li studied him for a long moment, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. Unyielding. Defiant. Reminded him of someone.
"Let the Patriarch prepare more people to test my potions," Nie Li said, waving a hand dismissively. "The relief potion will be ready in a few days."
The guards nodded quickly. "I will relay the message to Lord Patriarch." With another bow, they turned and left the courtyard, their footsteps fading into the distance.
Silence settled over the space, thick and heavy.
The youth—Duan Jian—remained kneeling, his gaze locked on Nie Li with a hatred that seemed to pierce the air itself. He had heard the guards' words. He knew he was to be a test subject, a pawn in Nie Li's plans.
Nie Li took a step forward, then another, his boots clicking softly against the stone.
Without warning, he reached out and grabbed Duan Jian's face, his fingers firm against the youth's bruised skin, forcing their eyes to meet.
"Your eyes are very defiant," Nie Li said, his voice low, almost a whisper.
Duan Jian's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
Nie Li smirked, releasing him and stepping back. "What's your name?"
For a moment, the youth hesitated, his lips parting slowly. Then, in a voice rough with pain but steady with resolve, he answered.
"…Duan Jian."
Nie Li's eyes gleamed with intrigue. This one had potential. This one could be of great use.
And so, the pieces began to fall into place.
Nie Li settled into a chair, its wooden frame creaking faintly under his weight. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest as he observed Duan Jian, still kneeling before him. The youth's wrists were bound in heavy shackles, his body a map of bruises and dried blood, yet his gaze remained unbroken. Those eyes—they were a storm of fire and steel, a testament to a will that refused to bow. (Image)
Nie Li leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his voice calm but carrying an edge of curiosity. "Why?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Why do you still defy them?"
Duan Jian's breathing was slow, deliberate, but he offered no response.
Nie Li pressed on, his tone growing sharper. "You have no power. No strength. No allies. You are alone, beaten, bruised, and orphaned. You are incapable of taking revenge. You are caged, living at their mercy. Even if you refuse to bow your head, what does it matter? You cannot change your fate."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "So why do you still persist? Why do you still push forward? Even when death is certain?"
The air grew heavy, the silence stretching taut between them. Duan Jian lifted his head slowly, his dark eyes locking onto Nie Li's with an intensity that seemed to burn through the space between them. Despite his wounds, despite his suffering, the fire within him blazed brighter than ever.
"Because I refuse to die a dog," he said, his voice hoarse but unyielding, each word forged in defiance.
Nie Li's eyes flickered with interest. Duan Jian continued, his words steady as iron. "They can take my strength. They can take my freedom. They can take my family, my home, my future. But they will never take my will. I would rather be crushed into dust than submit to those who believe themselves gods. Even if I am powerless today, that will not always be the case."
His fists clenched, the chains rattling faintly. "Even if I have to crawl through hell, even if I must endure a thousand more beatings, I will endure. Because one day, I will return that suffering a hundredfold."
Nie Li studied him in silence, his expression unreadable. Then, a slow smile curved his lips.
"Interesting," he said, leaning back in his chair, his fingers tapping together thoughtfully. "If I were to give you a way to get revenge… what would you give me in return?"
Duan Jian's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of confusion breaking through his stoic mask. He didn't understand why Nie Li would ask such a thing, not after everything he'd endured. But he met Nie Li's gaze without hesitation, his voice firm.
"Everything."
Nie Li's smile deepened. That was the answer he wanted to hear.
Nie Li can see a spark flared in Duan Jian's dull eyes, a chilling light cutting through the haze of despair. "If you're willing to give me such an opportunity," he said, his voice gaining strength, "I will swear my allegiance to you for the rest of my life in the name of my dead parents, and I will never betray you!"
He inhaled deeply, the air hissing through his clenched teeth.
"If you can give me ten years' time, I'll definitely have the head of that old bastard, Sikong Yi! If you're able to help me with this, I, Duan Jian, vow to serve you as my lord. For the rest of my life, I'll swear my allegiance to you and will never betray you! If I were to break my vow, I'm willing to suffer the curse of the heavens."
Nie Li watched him, his expression calm but his mind racing. Duan Jian was a wounded beast, a soul forged in the fires of loss and hatred. His blood feud with the Silver Winged Family was a chain that bound him, but it was also a weapon—one Nie Li could wield.
"Then so be it," Nie Li said softly, his voice carrying a quiet finality. "I hope you don't die."
He closed his eyes for a moment, his thoughts shifting inward. 'A.I. Chip, transfer the 36-point acupuncture technique to me.'
The hum of the chip activated in his mind, a stream of knowledge flowing seamlessly into his consciousness. The technique was intricate, a method to unlock hidden potential within the body, to push beyond natural limits.
It was a tool, a gift—perfect for Duan Jian, it might just be the key to his revenge.
'If the purpose of the reward was for me to help this guy, then it must mean he is an important individual. The system is pretty much compelling me to take this guy under my wings.'