Chapter 403 - 375: 500 Drops of Spring Water

Chapter 403: Chapter 375: 500 Drops of Spring Water

"60 points?"

"11 points higher than the person with the best affinity in the Ancient City?"

The two women staggered, staring at the young man before them as if he were a monster.

’Is... is he even human?’

We’re disciples from the outskirts of the Ancient City, and we’ve been studying this for so long without gaining a single point of affinity. You studied it for less than twenty minutes and already have 60 points?

If this news got out, everyone in the Ancient City would probably kill themselves. They’d feel like they’ve wasted their entire lives...

"Are you sure you’re not lying? Is it really 60 points of affinity?"

After a long moment, Mu Qing could no longer hold back and asked hesitantly.

"What would I gain from lying to you about this? There’s no benefit!" Nie Yun shook his head. With a grasp of his hand, he pulled his brother Nie Tong’s body over.

He dipped a finger into the gourd and took out a drop of spring water.

The spring water on his fingertip was now as docile as a gentle lamb, spinning obediently. It showed no signs of its usual wildness.

"It’s true... If he hadn’t reached 60 points of affinity, the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water would never be this obedient..."

Seeing the young man’s actions, even if Mu Qing and Mu Xia were idiots, they would have understood. They shook their heads helplessly, their faces full of dejection.

’From now on, we should never compare ourselves to him. We’d just be asking for a blow to our confidence...’

After a while, the two finally came to an understanding, and they felt a lot better.

Honestly, only a masochist or someone with a screw loose would try to compare themselves to Nie Yun!

"Brother, the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water is here. Brace yourself, and try not to cry out in pain!"

Gazing at his brother’s lifelike body, preserved by the Water Spirit Pearl, Nie Yun murmured softly. He pointed his finger downward, and the drop of Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water on his fingertip entered the body’s acupoints like a mist.

BUZZ!

As the mist entered his acupoints, Nie Tong’s body immediately became translucent and lustrous. His cellular activity began to increase, and it seemed as if he could wake up at any moment.

"It’s working!" Seeing the change in his brother’s body, Nie Yun breathed a sigh of relief. With a single motion, he poured out all the droplets from the Little Gourd. His ten fingers danced, turning them all into a mist that burrowed into his brother’s body.

WHOOSH!

As the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water entered his body, Nie Tong’s form grew even more translucent. His skin became as tender as a baby’s, and it seemed the side effects from his rapid cultivation had completely vanished.

"Don’t worry, little brother. I will definitely summon your soul back so you can fight alongside me!"

Looking at his brother’s face, which seemed as if he were merely asleep, Nie Yun’s eyes reddened slightly, and he let out a soft hum.

"Nie Yun..."

Seeing the young man, who usually had a smile on his face, react this way to his brother’s condition, both Mu Qing and Mu Xia felt their eyes redden as well.

This young man was ruthless and showed no mercy to his enemies, but toward his family, he was full of tenderness. A man of steel with a soft heart.

"Hm? They’re here. I’m going out for a bit!"

After an unknown amount of time, Nie Yun snapped out of his monologue. With a flicker, his body returned from the Zihua Cave Mansion to the room in Lixuan Pavilion.

’The Five Great Manor Masters and the City Lord are here!’

’It seems they’ve prepared the 500 drops of Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water.’

He pushed open the door and stepped out of the room, and sure enough, he saw several people standing in the courtyard, smiling at him.

"Nephew Mu Yun, here are the 500 drops of Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water you asked for. You can take them and report back to your master!"

The City Lord said, holding out a gourd.

This gourd was different from the previous two. It was carved entirely from that black stone that his Celestial Eye couldn’t penetrate. When the stopper was removed, countless droplets could be seen floating inside. A scan with his Spirit confirmed the number—exactly 500 drops, no more, no less!

"Heh, you’re too kind!"

Nie Yun saw that the man wasn’t placing the gourd on the ground but handing it directly to him, likely hoping to make a fool out of him. Instead of taking it, he smiled and said, "My master’s knowledge is vast and profound. He knew that without affinity, it would be impossible to handle the Spirit Rhinoceros Spirit Liquid, so he gave me a trump card!"

As he spoke, he flipped his wrist, revealing a jade tablet in his palm, and gently crushed it.

BUZZ!

A peculiar wave of energy spread through the air, forming a giant hand that reached out and grabbed the gourd.

WHOOSH!

The gourd was lifted by the hand and vanished into thin air.

"Ah?"

"This... How is this possible?"

"He took the spring water without any affinity? This..."

Seeing this, the Five Great Manor Masters and the City Lord all jumped in shock, seeing the astonishment reflected in each other’s eyes.

As far as they knew, it was impossible to handle the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring Water without affinity. How could he take it so easily with just a jade tablet?

’Unfathomable!’

This word popped into everyone’s mind, and a shiver ran through them.

’With such means at his disposal, it seems we’ve underestimated this Mu Yun’s master. He’s probably far more than a simple Secret Realm Fourth Layer expert!’

"I’ll accept this generous gift from you, City Lord and Manor Masters. We won’t trouble you any longer. My sister and I will take our leave now!"

Seeing their strange expressions, Nie Yun knew exactly what they were thinking and just gave a faint smile.

’Of course, that was all an act. If I had revealed that I have 60 points of affinity, it would have caused a lot of trouble. So, I deliberately used a fake jade tablet and invoked my master’s name to easily store the gourd in my Storage Dantian.’

’This way, I can hide my own trump card while making them even more wary of my master.’

"Since Nephew wishes to leave, I won’t keep you!" The City Lord chuckled. With a flick of his finger, a peculiar aura stuck itself to Nie Yun.

’Tracking Qi...’ Nie Yun was a Tracking Master himself, so he naturally recognized the aura for what it was. He didn’t say anything, pretending to be completely oblivious as he walked into the courtyard and pushed open a side door.

"Sister, let’s go!"

As he called out, he released Mu Xia from the Zihua Cave Mansion. To any onlookers, it would seem as if Mu Xia had just finished her cultivation and was now walking out of the room.

"We’ll be on our way!"

Mu Xia knew Nie Yun’s plan, so she didn’t say much. She cupped her fists at the group, and then they both flew off, heading away from the Ancient City.

"Farewell, we won’t see you out..."

Watching Nie Yun and his companion leave, Mu Ruo and the others breathed a collective sigh of relief, as if they had just sent off a plague god. They exchanged glances, their faces filled with excitement.

"Alright, now that they’re gone, I say we don’t postpone the Holy Spirit Disciple Competition any longer. Let’s start it right away!" Mu Ruo said.

"Yes, let’s start immediately to avoid any further complications. Whichever manor wins the championship and gains control of the Spirit Rhinoceros Spring should move in quickly to prevent any sneak attacks from Mu Yan’s group!"

Another Manor Master nodded.

"Alright, since everyone has decided, let’s all go back and prepare our respective disciples. This afternoon, we’ll open the Lingxi Celestial Palace and let them enter!"

The City Lord nodded as well, showing his agreement.

"Agreed!"

The other Manor Masters all agreed. They flew up, each heading toward their own clan, and vanished into the sky in the blink of an eye.

* * *

"Nie Yun, are we really leaving the Ancient City?"

Outside the Ancient City, two figures were flying through the air. Mu Xia asked, her face full of doubt.

"Heh, of course not. Alright, let’s stop here."

With a flicker, Nie Yun landed on a mountain peak. This peak was over a thousand kilometers from the Ancient City, impossible to see without the Celestial Eye Talent.

"Mu Jie, come out!"

After stopping, Nie Yun flicked his wrist, and Mu Jie, whom he had previously turned into a puppet, dropped from the air.

"Take this Tracking Qi..."

With a faint smile, Nie Yun grasped and pulled the Tracking Qi the City Lord had left on his body, casually transferring it to Mu Jie.

’Since I’m also a Tracking Master, I can easily remove the Tracking Qi he planted on me without him noticing.’

"Now, fly straight ahead from here. Keep flying without stopping!"

As a Tracking Master, Nie Yun knew that the person who planted the Tracking Qi could sense its general location and distance. He placed it on Mu Jie and had him continue flying to mislead his pursuers.

"Yes!" Mu Jie, now devoid of his own consciousness, followed the command without hesitation. He flew straight ahead and quickly disappeared from their sight.

"Mu Xia, go back to the Zihua Cave Mansion. I’m going back to the Ancient City now!"

After saying this, Nie Yun put Mu Xia back into the Cave Mansion. The Disguise Qi in his body shifted, and he transformed into the likeness of Mu Jie, flying rapidly back toward the Ancient City.

He was now very familiar with the Ancient City and soon returned to Dieyi Manor. Just as he landed, a middle-aged man called out to him.

"Mu Jie, where have you been? Everyone’s been looking for you! Hurry, the Manor Master is waiting for you in his room!"

Seeing Nie Yun, the middle-aged man’s eyes lit up with excitement as if he had found a treasure, and he quickly pulled him along.

"The Manor Master is looking for me?" Nie Yun was taken aback.

"Yes, hurry up!" the middle-aged man nodded.

’Why is the Manor Master looking for me at this hour?’ Nie Yun was puzzled. ’Didn’t I already tell him everything I needed to? Why is he looking for Mu Jie now, at such an odd time?’

"You don’t know yet? The Holy Spirit Disciple Competition has been moved up! It’s about to start. The Manor Master is looking for you because he has something to tell you, of course!"

The middle-aged man seemed to have inside information, he said.

"The Holy Spirit Disciple Competition is starting early? This..." Nie Yun was sharp; it only took a moment for him to understand.

’It looks like these guys were afraid I’d go back on my word, so they rushed to start the competition. Once it begins and the Lingxi Celestial Palace is closed, I won’t be able to participate even if I turn back!’

Having figured it out, he didn’t ask any more questions, instead putting on an expression that was both excited and nervous.

’Imitating expressions is easy, anyway. No one, no matter how skilled, would be able to see through it.’

"You’re here. The Holy Spirit Disciple Competition is about to begin. I’m going to warn you about a few things, and you must remember them!"

Soon, the two arrived at the Manor Master’s courtyard. When Manor Master Mu Ruo saw "Mu Jie" approach, he gestured for the others to leave and spoke with a grave expression.

"Yes, sir!"

Nie Yun quickly adopted a solemn expression and sat up straight, listening attentively.