340: The Holy Son Ranking, the Accompanying Imperial Son

Moon Saint City is extremely prosperous. Both sides of the streets are lined with restaurants and inns, and there are countless merchants and Cultivators coming and going from various places. As a result, news from all over the Inner Sea circulates freely here.

The recent chaos in the Inner Sea has been very eye-catching, providing much fodder for these Cultivators' post-meal conversations.

In a certain restaurant.

The hall was full, with merchants and Cultivators everywhere, and their topics of conversation all revolved around the recent turmoil in the Inner Sea.

"Recently, the One Sect, Three Halls, Six Prefectures, Twelve Caves have been fighting really fiercely! I heard many people have died!"

"I heard that even many Elders from the major forces have died. A few days ago, many Saints and Prodigies died in Suspended City, and even a large number of Elders perished there. No one knows who exactly did it."

"I think, besides Qi Mo Sect, no other force has this capability. Canxing Hall and Feiyu Hall have been beaten so badly they can't raise their heads. Star Palace, however, has wisely retreated."

"Qi Mo Sect is backed by Holy Heaven Demon Sect and has been operating here for many years. Their strength is the greatest. It won't be easy for the Six Mansions and Twelve Caves to shake their position."

"Who knows? Rumor has it that they all have Great Sects supporting them from behind. If other forces from Eastern Continent, Southern Domain, Western Ridge, and Northern Barrens also make a move, Holy Heaven Demon Sect alone might not be able to stop them."

Cultivators who can hold their own in the Inner Sea are not weak; their vision is second to none.

Qi Mo Sect is very powerful, but the people of the Six Mansions and Twelve Caves are clearly not pushovers. At least, these Cultivators see through it quite clearly.

"It's fine if some ordinary Cultivators die, and even if Elders die, it's not that heartbreaking, as their potential is almost exhausted anyway."

"Now, many Saints of those top forces have died, but Holy Son Tian Que of Holy Heaven Demon Sect has been slaughtering all quarters, emptying out a lot of the holy son ranking in the Inner Sea. Now the holy son ranking has new people."

A burly, bearded man said, drinking wine and gloating.

He reeked of alcohol, and beside him lay a large axe, appearing to be as tall as a man, exuding a fierce aura.

"Oh, isn't this Third Master Tu? I heard you went to the deep sea. Your harvest this time must have been good, right? The entire Jiaomang race is full of treasures!"

Several Cultivators saw the burly man in front of them and immediately showed fawning expressions, indicating that this alcohol-soaked man had a considerable reputation in Moon Saint City.

"Third Master Tu, you said the holy son ranking has changed? Why hasn't the news spread yet?"

The Inner Sea holy son ranking records the strength of Saints from all top forces and major forces. Those who make it onto the list are future pillars of their respective forces.

They even have the potential to become companion Imperial Sons of Great Sects in various domains!

Almost every one of them has a chance to step into the Golden Body Realm!

This is their foundation.

Third Master Tu took a messy gulp of wine and said, "Three of the top ten on the holy son ranking have died. Except for the top five Saints, almost all the others have changed positions."

"Almost all of the top fifty have died, and most of them died in Suspended City."

"With these people gone, it has given many others an opportunity. Now, it's no longer just the top forces standing out."

If this news came from someone else's mouth, perhaps some would scoff!

However, coming from Third Master Tu, it was very convincing.

Because everyone knew that Third Master Tu's reputation in Moon Saint City had always been high. He himself was a Heavenly Phenomenon Realm Fifth Level master, long active in the deep sea, and no one dared to question the ferocity he had cultivated.

"Speaking of which, Third Master Tu, I recall someone. I heard that Nie Feiyang, the last descendant of the Nie Family, a force in the Inner Sea a hundred years ago that was no weaker than the Six Mansions and Twelve Caves, has already awakened the Nie Family Bloodline!"

"Half a month ago, I heard that Saint Yuan Mo of Immortal Bone Cave died at his hands!"

"What? Someone from the Nie Family Bloodline has awakened again? What kind of fate does that guy have, is it that good?"

Upon hearing this, the Cultivators immediately became interested.

The Nie Family was a formidable clan a hundred years ago, but unfortunately, because their strength increased too quickly, they were targeted by the Six Mansions and Twelve Caves.

No one knew how they fell; almost overnight, they were annihilated!

"Nie Feiyang, the Nie Family boy, ranked eighteenth on the holy son ranking, a formidable Nie Family Bloodline!"

"Holy Son Tian Que of Holy Heaven Demon Sect, Feng Wuliang and Ji Tiange of Dianxing Academy, if they didn't belong to the Inner Sea, they would definitely be in the top three positions on the Saint list."

"This turmoil in the Inner Sea will likely continue for a long time; the entire Inner Sea is going to be in chaos."

Third Master Tu drank heavily, as if he had something on his mind that he couldn't express, pouring it all into his drinking.

When the wine was finished, he hoisted the large axe onto his shoulder and staggered out of the restaurant.

The Cultivators in the hall continued to discuss the current situation, and no one paid attention to Third Master Tu's departure.

Starting from the top ten of the holy son ranking, the conversation once again turned to Nie Feiyang of the Nie Family, yet no one knew how this guy rose to prominence, full of mystery... Flying Star City, once incredibly glorious.

Because, a great clan once emerged here, the Nie Family!

In just a hundred years, relying on the Awakening of their Family Bloodline, every member of the Nie Family saw their cultivation and strength improve very quickly.

As the saying goes, a tall tree in the forest is bound to be destroyed by the wind!

Their rise was too fast!

After being targeted by the Six Mansions and Twelve Caves, overnight, the prosperous Flying Star City was almost razed to the ground!

In a large mountain in Flying Star City, ancient trees stood tall, and peaks soared into the clouds.

On one of the peaks, there was a dilapidated hilltop, with broken buildings everywhere, surrounded by dense weeds. If not for someone familiar with the place, one would probably not know that so many incomplete buildings were preserved here.

Nie Feiyang walked through the ruined mountain, reaching out to touch the dilapidated buildings, seemingly sensing what had happened here in the past, his eyes turning blood red.

He familiarized himself with the mountain path, turning around the mountainside and arriving at a cliff on the back mountain.

Here, only two lonely Tombs stood, with some withered flowers placed before the gravestones, along with extinguished candles and incense.

Thump!

Nie Feiyang knelt before these two solitary graves, tears streaming down his face.

These were his parents' Tombs. Every so often, he would return to clean them, so as not to forget the hatred of his annihilated Family!

"Father, Mother!"

"Your son has returned. I have already awakened the ancestral Bloodline. In just a few years, I will bring their heads to offer sacrifices to you!"

The people who acted that year in the Six Mansions and Twelve Caves, he knew them all clearly.

He was constantly preparing to kill those who had acted that year, bringing their heads back to offer sacrifices to his parents.

The Awakening of his Family Bloodline gave him an opportunity.

In just a few months, relying on the Bloodline Power and a Cultivation Technique he accidentally obtained that overdraws Lifespan, he finally reached the level of a Saint of a top force!

Revenge was within reach!

...Nie Feiyang kowtowed heavily before his parents' graves. Blood flowed from his bruised forehead, staining the ground in front of the grave red.

"Feiyang!"

From behind, a clear, melodious voice, like a nightingale's, full and mellow, drifted to him.

Nie Feiyang's body trembled, and he quickly stood up. Even without turning his head, he knew who the newcomer was.

"Sister... Sister!"

The woman who appeared before him wore a long white dress, her figure slender, her face exquisite.

Her eyes were large, yet carried a hint of vicissitude. Though only in her early twenties, she seemed to have experienced the world's dangers and witnessed great changes over time!

"I knew you would come here again."

Nie Qingxue followed her brother all the way back to Flying Star City. Everything he did was observed by her.

In her heart, Nie Feiyang at this moment had truly grown up, unlike many years ago when he was always under her protection.

He already had some of a man's responsibility, which made Nie Qingxue very relieved.

"I just miss them, so I came here to see them."

Nie Feiyang felt a little uncomfortable. Remembering his past willfulness made him feel somewhat guilty, but in front of his sister, he didn't want to show his vulnerability.

He only wanted to protect his sister in his own way, and at the same time, take on the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the Nie Family.

Nie Qingxue felt a pang of heartache. She took out a handkerchief from her bosom, walked quietly to him, and gently wiped the blood from his forehead.

"Come sit here."

Pulling Nie Feiyang, the siblings sat on a bluestone by the cliff. Not far away were their parents' Tombs, as if this was where they felt most relaxed, not having to think about too much hatred.

"Your strength is improving very quickly, but the Awakening of the Bloodline is also a gradual process. Honestly tell me, what method did you use?"

After Nie Feiyang returned from Suspended City, he first awakened his Bloodline, and then his strength advanced by leaps and bounds. He could calmly deal with some Prodigies and Saints of the Six Mansions and Twelve Caves.

Nie Qingxue noticed from that moment that her brother had changed a little.

He had become unfamiliar!

If not for her continued sisterly affection for him, she would even suspect if her brother had been possessed!

Such things were not uncommon in the Inner Sea. Many Cultivators with decent talent, especially those without powerful backing, were very likely to become targets for some masters.

Nie Feiyang's face turned pale. He knew that in front of his sister, he could never hide anything.

With just one glance, his secrets would be seen through by his sister.

"The earth qilin royal heart was obtained from Never Look Back Merchant Guild, you already know this."

"I once entered the Ancient Battlefield and accidentally had the opportunity to obtain an ancient demon Cultivation Technique."

"By burning Lifespan, one can quickly increase cultivation. Give me three more years, and I am confident I can reach the Golden Body Realm!"

Nie Feiyang no longer concealed anything, but instead recounted in detail how he obtained that demon Cultivation Technique.

Ancient demons were immensely powerful; this was well-known throughout the Inner Sea.

Especially in the Ancient Battlefield, many Cultivation Techniques of ancient demons, ghost Cultivators, and even Human Race Cultivators were left behind.

Obtaining even one could cause one's strength to advance by leaps and bounds!

This was also why all the top forces in the Inner Sea paid so much attention to Forbidden Grounds and the Ancient Battlefield!

As long as one dared to risk their life, the rewards from the Ancient Battlefield were often far richer than those from Forbidden Grounds!

"At the cost of your Lifespan, do you know what you're doing?"

"When that day comes, you'll be dead, so how will you avenge them?"

Nie Qingxue's face turned ashen.

Even though she was already a Heavenly Phenomenon Realm Fourth Level Cultivator, she felt fear after hearing his experience.

She... couldn't lose any more of her loved ones!

"As long as I can kill those beasts, even if I die, it will be worth it!"

Nie Feiyang's face was flushed, his eyes burning with red. This overwhelming hatred made it difficult for him to control himself.

Nie Qingxue stared at him, her heart softening.

"The Inner Sea is in chaos."

"We don't need to be too anxious, and I feel that an unimaginable force is infiltrating the Inner Sea."

"You've seen the recent situation; the One Sect and Three Halls are fighting fiercely with the Six Mansions and Twelve Caves and other major forces."

"We just need some time to lie low and wait for an opportunity!"

She tried her best to soothe Nie Feiyang's violent heart with her warmth.

Nie Feiyang's condition was very wrong. Although his cultivation had surged, and he had even entered the top twenty of the holy son ranking.

But all of this was achieved by burning his Lifespan.

When the day came that his Lifespan ran out and his Divine Soul withered, he would truly be beyond saving.

Nie Qingxue didn't want to see that day, so she had to make Nie Feiyang calm down.

"Sister..."

Seeing the worry in Nie Qingxue's eyes, Nie Feiyang's heart was finally disturbed.

"I will be careful. If it's not necessary, I will try not to use that Cultivation Technique in the future."

He wasn't afraid of death, but he was afraid of leaving too soon, which would leave his sister to face those guys alone.

Moreover, he was very clear about the situation in the Inner Sea that Nie Qingxue spoke of.

In reality, the faster he rose, the faster he would be exposed to his enemies. Once targeted again, his current cultivation would be unable to resist.

It was very likely to implicate his sister, and then the Nie Family would truly have no hope.

Nie Qingxue was very smart and did not continue to discuss this issue.

"These are your favorite persimmon cakes. I had a really hard time finding them."

Nie Qingxue held two golden persimmon cakes in her hand. This simple food in the Human Dynasty was indeed not easy to find in the Inner Sea.

Simply because this thing was too ordinary!

Golden and alluring, dotted with sugar frosting, exuding a faint fragrance.

Nie Feiyang felt as if he had returned to his childhood, to the persimmon tree by his home, which his parents reportedly brought back and planted from the Human Dynasty.

Sweet and soft, every time he was injured during Cultivation, his mother would give him a persimmon cake.

This was the taste of home.

However, the small courtyard that had given their Family many years of peace had long turned to ashes in his memory.

"Cultivate, always one step at a time."

"Don't be impatient. The Family Bloodline is very powerful, but being too hasty can lead to problems."

"You said that Never Look Back Merchant Guild has many Spirit Medicines we need for Cultivation. Let's work hard together to earn divine marrow, and then we can buy Spirit Medicines from the Trading Firm."

"Once the Bloodline Power is fully mastered, our strength will be enough for revenge."

Nie Qingxue comforted him, which gradually relaxed Nie Feiyang's somewhat violent mind.

The Nie Family ancestral land remained in ruins, but beneath this desolation, the glory it once possessed filled the siblings' hearts with determination.

One day, this place would once again shine with its former glory.