Based on the knowledge from his previous life, Nie Yun had a very clear understanding of the power structure in Divine Wind City.

Divine Wind City was said to have the Four Great Venerables: the Royal Family’s old ancestor Fengg Yu, and the old ancestors of the three great families—Luo, Zhao, and Huo. These four individuals held control over the entire Divine Wind Empire!

Of course, these four were only the ones known to the public. There were also Ultimate Venerables among Loose Cultivators and hidden factions. The simplest example was the peerless genius Mo Yanqing, whom Tie Lan and the others endlessly admired! He was not one of those four, and yet his strength couldn’t even compare to the Zhao Family’s old ancestor!

There was also the Mi Tian Sect Master, Venerable Mi Hong, and the Sect Master of Baihua Flowers Sect, Venerable Baihua. None of them were counted among the Four Great Venerables.

In short, the waters of the Divine Wind Empire ran much deeper than the legends suggested. It was impossible to determine who had captured his parents and the others based on mere speculation!

’In my past life, the Four Great Families and the Mi Tian Sect wanted to kill me and seize my treasures because of the Zihua Cave Mansion. In this life, the Purple Splendor Jade Seal has only just appeared, and many people don’t even know about it. I shouldn’t have any grudges with them. The only one I’ve had any dealings with is the Luo Family!’

Thinking of the Luo Family, Nie Yun then shook his head.

The Luo Family’s power in Divine Wind City was not weak, but even they probably couldn’t deploy eight Qi Sect experts at once. He really couldn’t think of any faction in the Divine Wind Empire that could act so extravagantly!

’The Mi Tian Sect is rumored to have ties to *that place*, so perhaps they could afford to be so generous. But I have no enmity with the Mi Tian Sect, and the matter of the Phecda Sword was never leaked. They wouldn’t come after me, would they?’

Nie Yun pulled off the mask of the man in black, as well as those of the other seven, and looked them over. Finding that he didn’t recognize a single one, he couldn’t help but shake his head.

"Yangg Yan, throw this man in a pickling jar and scald him with boiling water a few times every day. Here are some life-preserving elixirs. You can do whatever you want with him, just make sure he doesn’t die!"

Nie Yun picked up the man in black, whom he had carved into a human torso, and casually tossed him to Yangg Yan as he gave the order.

’Since this man has a Lifebound Lamp, I won’t kill him for now. Still, I can’t let him off easy. He must be tortured mercilessly so he learns the price of offending me!’

"Alright!" Hearing the youth’s proposed punishment, the corner of Yangg Yan’s mouth twitched.

Carved into a human torso, thrown in a pickling jar, scalded with boiling water, and not even allowed to die... Yangg Yan offered a moment of silent prayer for the poor bastard.

"You two, stay in Luoshui City. Here are some Qi Sect-level Demon Cores and some elixirs. See if you can use them to break through. If you succeed, guard Luoshui City well!"

With a flip of his palm, Nie Yun threw out a pile of items and gave his detailed instructions.

"Nie Yun, what are you planning to do?"

Hearing the youth speak as if he were giving his last words, Yangg Yan’s expression changed.

"Here are some of the Royal Family’s Martial Arts and weapons. Take these too. They’ll be a great help to you if you can break through to the Qi Sect."

Ignoring Yangg Yan’s question, Nie Yun continued to take out more items.

After plundering all of Liu Chengze’s savings and killing every Demon at Two Realms Mountain, the amount of good stuff Nie Yun had accumulated was staggering. Yangg Yan and Feng Xiao were brothers he could trust, so helping them improve their strength quickly meant they could be of more help to him in the future.

"The Royal Family’s Martial Arts and weapons? So many elixirs? Nie Yun, where did you get all this...?"

Seeing more and more items being placed on the table, both of them were stunned.

"This is ten million taels in silver notes. Use it well. I hope that the next time I come, Luoshui City will no longer be so vulnerable and will have developed its own formidable power!"

Nie Yun tossed out another stack of silver notes.

"Ten... million?" The two of them jumped in shock.

The assets of each of the four great families in Luoshui City were only around a million taels. Even if all four combined their wealth and sold their manors, they still couldn’t possibly come up with ten million. And now, the young man had casually produced ten million taels in silver notes...

Just what heights had he reached?

Yangg Yan suddenly felt that this friend he had known for several years was becoming more and more indistinct, the distance between them growing ever wider.

It wasn’t a gap in status or mentality, but that the other party had transformed from an ordinary little fish into a soaring celestial dragon, one he could only gaze up at in awe!

’Nie Yun, I won’t lose to you...’

Yangg Yan gritted his teeth, making a secret vow in his heart.

’I will definitely cultivate hard and catch up to you!’

Feng Xiao had the same thought, his fists clenched tightly.

"Alright, I’ve told you everything I need to. I’m leaving for Divine Wind City now!"

’As long as I know my parents and the others are being held in Divine Wind City, I can investigate. I’m sure I’ll find some clues!’

"Go to Divine Wind City? Isn’t... isn’t that too reckless! Why don’t we think this through?"

Yangg Yan and Feng Xiao were both taken aback.

As the Imperial Capital of the Empire, Divine Wind City was teeming with experts. To them, rushing over so recklessly did indeed seem rash.

"Reckless? Heh, it seems you still don’t know my true strength!"

Seeing that their concern was genuine, Nie Yun smiled, and his body grew light as he slowly floated into the air.

"I have already reached the Ultimate Venerable Level. Even if the Imperial Capital is teeming with experts, and even if my parents’ captors are there, anyone who wants to move against me will have to consider their own strength first!"

Floating in mid-air, a deep sense of pride welled up in Nie Yun’s eyes.

Ultimate Venerable—the highest realm for a Qi Sea Cultivator. Once he unleashed the Momentum of the Earth, there were probably few who could even harm him!

This wasn’t arrogance, but confidence!

A confidence born from strength!

"Ultimate Venerable... he’s really an Ultimate Venerable?" The man in black had previously shouted that Nie Yun had reached the Ultimate Venerable Level, but at the time, Yangg Yan and Feng Xiao had been skeptical. Now, seeing the youth standing in mid-air and hearing him admit it himself, their eyes rolled back in their heads, feeling as if they were about to faint.

How old was he? Seventeen?

Not even seventeen years old, and already an Ultimate Venerable. Such talent had to be the greatest in the entire history of the Divine Wind Empire!

A moment ago, they were both thinking about catching up and surpassing him. Now that they knew he had truly reached the Ultimate Venerable Level, they couldn’t help but look at each other, feeling that it would be impossible to ever catch up to him in this lifetime!

"The enemy could dispatch eight Qi Sect experts. Even if you’re an Ultimate Venerable, two fists are no match for four hands. I’m afraid you’ll still be in danger..."

Despite their shock, Yangg Yan and the others were still concerned for Nie Yun’s safety.

An Ultimate Venerable Powerhouse was formidable, but the Empire had several of them. If the enemy’s faction was too strong, you would be outnumbered and still suffer a loss...

"Two fists are no match for four hands? Xiaohai, Xiaolang, Xiaoton, come on in!"

Previously, Nie Yun had communicated with Hei Yan through his Beast Taming Dantian, so Feng Xiao and Yangg Yan didn’t know its true strength.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

At his call, the three great Demon Beasts appeared before the two friends like a whirlwind.

"These two are my friends. Go ahead and say hello," Nie Yun instructed.

"I, Hei Yan, greet you both!" The three great Demon Beasts all spoke at once, their voices overlapping as each announced their name.

"Demon Beasts... speaking human words... at the Ultimate Venerable Level? You actually have three Ultimate Venerable-Level Demon Beasts?"

Yangg Yan and Feng Xiao were frozen on the spot, utterly at a loss for words. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)