Chapter 27: Father and Son (Part 2)
"Wh-what did you say?"
After a long moment, Nie Xiaotian finally processed what he'd heard. He hurriedly looked at his son, who in less than ten minutes had given him one shock after another.
Ever since that incident over a decade ago, the fact that Luoshui City's number one genius could no longer cultivate his Qi Sea had been like a fish bone stuck in his throat, robbing him of his appetite and his sleep.
As agonizing as it was, he knew that a damaged Qi Sea meant he could never continue his cultivation in this lifetime. Now, suddenly hearing his son say that his ruined Qi Sea could be restored… The softly spoken words struck his ears like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, leaving him in utter disbelief.
'Maybe he can really do it...'
Thinking of the master behind his son, one who could casually produce a Royal Family's Top-Grade Cultivation Technique, Nie Xiaotian found himself inexplicably thrilled, even hopeful!
"As long as you can cultivate the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique to the First Layer of Great Success, I am more than ninety percent certain I can completely restore your damaged Dantian!" Seeing the hopeful look in his father's eyes, Nie Yun knew that any effort he made would be worth it, and he nodded firmly.
"Since you're so sure, I'll start cultivating right away! Even if it doesn't work, I'll have mastered another cultivation technique and will be able to protect our branch of the family again! Tell me the method for the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique!"
Nie Xiaotian said with a smile, seeing his son's confident reply.
"Alright," Nie Yun agreed, sighing to himself.
'It seems Father is still fixated on Qi Sea cultivation. When I told him before that the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Fusion Technique could also be used to build immense strength, he wasn't particularly excited. But the moment I mentioned it could repair his Qi Sea, his passion was instantly ignited!'
'It's no wonder, really. It's like telling a sniper who lost his rifle that he can still kill enemies by practicing martial arts; his morale would surely plummet. But if you tell him that if he starts training and passes an assessment, he'll get his rifle back, he'd jump for joy!'
Qi Sea Cultivators begin their training at six or seven years old. After decades of cultivation, it becomes a part of their very being, something impossible to let go of.
"The Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique is divided into nine layers. The first layer is…"
By the time he had finished teaching his father the entire Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique, the sky had completely brightened.
"Cultivating the first layer of the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique step-by-step would normally take a year. I have some Body Tempering Liquid that my master prepared for me. I'll go get some for you in a bit…"
Nie Yun said, seeing that his father had completely grasped the many secrets of the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique.
Although the medicinal materials he had prepared might not be enough for two people, Nie Yun didn't feel the slightest bit of regret about giving them to his father.
"Body Tempering Liquid? No need, hehe. I've been absorbing the East Coming Purple Qi every day for over ten years. My body underwent a qualitative change long ago. I've looked over the first layer of the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique. Even without any aid, I am certain I can reach Great Success within ten days!"
Nie Xiaotian knew the Body Tempering Liquid was a gift from his son's master and must be incredibly precious, so he immediately waved his hand in refusal.
"Ten days?" Surprised by his father's confidence, Nie Yun didn't insist.
The first layer of the Spirit Rhinoceros Body Cultivation Technique was for tempering muscles and bones. If his father was right, and he had truly persisted in absorbing the purple qi for over a decade, it was indeed possible for him to break through the first layer in one go.
'In my memory, the East Coming Purple Qi doesn't have a significant effect on the human body. But if one could persist in absorbing it for ten years, it would likely produce an entirely different result!'
"Dad, since you're unwilling to talk about what happened to our branch, the matter must be extremely serious. You should be careful when you cultivate. If someone with ill intentions were to see something, I'm afraid we would be wiped out completely before we even have time to fight back!"
Nie Yun cautioned.
"Don't worry. I've been able to keep up this disguise for so many years; I'm no fool. I know what to do…"
At this, Nie Xiaotian suddenly stopped and looked at his son with a strange expression.
'I'm putting on a disguise... but is my son doing the same?'
'Could it be that he figured out what was happening with the family long ago? Is that why he pretended to despise me, his own father, and never even called me "Dad"...'
'Yes, that must be it. The Third Layer Early Stage Qi Sea strength I saw before must have also been a disguise. Otherwise, how could he possibly have reached the Fourth Layer in just a few days?'
A chill ran through Nie Xiaotian's heart.
'My son is only sixteen or seventeen, yet he figured out what was going on and still maintained such a convincing act. That level of patience and cunning... I am far from being his match!'
"Yun'er, when did you meet your master?" Thinking of this, Nie Xiaotian asked probingly.
'Accepting such a powerful master would certainly change a person's mindset. The fact that I never noticed anything means my son started his disguise the moment he met his master!'
"My master…" Nie Yun's mouth twitched. He had no idea his father was thinking so much.
'How should I explain this? I can't just say that this "master" is completely fictitious and that I know all these cultivation techniques because I'm a reincarnator, can I...'
"About… about half a year ago!" Nie Yun said offhandedly.
"Half a year ago? So it's true!" Nie Xiaotian nodded to himself, marveling internally. 'My son's disguise is truly impeccable...'
'With such a temperament and self-control, his future path will surely be countless times greater than my own.' A faint sense of anticipation grew within Nie Xiaotian.
If Nie Yun knew that his casual remark had sent his father's imagination running wild like this, he would have probably fainted on the spot.
'An old monster who's lived for over three hundred years, pretending to be a sixteen or seventeen-year-old who does nothing all day and makes little progress in his cultivation... and keeping up that disguise for half a year? *Cough, cough.* Even if I wanted to, I don't think I'd have that kind of patience…'
With all necessary matters discussed, the father and son finally walked from the backyard toward the front of the compound.
...
The people of the Nie Tian Branch were about to go crazy today, because they had just witnessed something truly bizarre.
The Master, who used to do nothing but drink all day, had for some reason stopped drinking and was now walking alongside the Young Master, who was always complaining about his lot in life!
The Young Master had always detested the Master. Usually, they couldn't exchange two sentences without parting on bad terms, but now they were standing together, talking and laughing…
What was going on? Were their eyes deceiving them?!
"Look, the Master's eyes are clear! He doesn't look drunk at all… He hasn't gone mad, has he?"
"Doesn't look like it. Maybe the Young Master has gone mad…"
"…"
Seeing the two acting so friendly, everyone in the branch suspected that one of them must have lost their mind.
"Hmph, you waste!"
"Go on and drink your wine! It'd be for the best if you just drank yourself to death!"
Just as everyone was wondering what was going on, the father and son, who had been walking together so happily just a moment ago, suddenly glared and cursed at each other. They could each see the fury and contempt in the other's eyes.
After trading insults, they both stormed off toward their own rooms in a huff, neither one looking back.
"Uh… I guess it's not that the Young Master is mad, or that the Master is mad, but… they're both mad!"
Seeing them go from perfectly fine to this in an instant, the crowd finally understood. They all nodded in tacit understanding.