68: Chapter 68 Obtaining the Cultivation Method

The next day, at noon.

Nie Ning arrived at the door of Tracy's ex-husband and knocked.

Before long, the door opened to reveal Tracy wearing an apron, her face covered in soot.

Tracy invited Nie Ning inside and then served him a cup of tea.

"I originally wanted to bake some cake, but it looks like you'll have to settle for tea instead."

As she spoke, Tracy blushed with embarrassment.

She had always been waited on by nannies before and never thought she would one day be making food herself.

Nie Ning sniffed the tea, and after sensing no poison, took a small sip.

"At least the tea is good."

Since he needed her help, he had to force himself to praise it even though the tea tasted bad.

Afterward, Tracy kept chatting aimlessly with Nie Ning. Nie Ning felt she was acting a bit strange, but he couldn't figure out why for the moment.

However, Nie Ning remembered his purpose for coming clearly. After chatting for a while, he asked Tracy about it.

"Ms. Tracy, I wonder how the matter I mentioned yesterday is coming along?"

"Of course, I've brought everything, but could you do me a small favor?"

Tracy took a book out of her bag and said with a smile.

At this moment, Nie Ning's attention was drawn to the book in Tracy's hand. He nodded and said, "Of course, as long as it's nothing illegal."

"In that case, I'm relieved."

Tracy's expression relaxed, but she didn't give the book to Nie Ning, nor did she explain what the favor was.

"I wonder..."

Just as Nie Ning was about to ask, he felt his head spin.

"You..."

Nie Ning forced himself to stand up, but his limbs were weak, and he couldn't even stand steadily.

"It seems the time is about right."

Tracy glanced at the tea on the table, a bright smile on her face as if her scheme had succeeded.

She then stepped forward to catch Nie Ning as he was about to collapse.

At this moment, Nie Ning was drowsy. Even though he forced his mental power, he still couldn't resist the sleepiness. His vision went dark, and he fainted.

...

After an unknown amount of time, Nie Ning woke up from his slumber.

Recalling what had happened, Nie Ning immediately sat up and looked around vigilantly.

It was still Tracy's ex-husband's house, and he was currently sitting on the sofa.

At this moment, Nie Ning wanted to slap himself.

Because Tracy was an ordinary person and hadn't triggered Malice Perception, his great strength had made him completely disregard any small tricks she might play.

Nie Ning quickly checked his body and found no other abnormalities except for being a bit tired.

"Damn it, what exactly is going on?!"

Nie Ning's expression was grim.

He stood up to check the rooms; they were empty, and Tracy was nowhere to be found.

He went to the tea table. The teacup was still there, and next to it lay a book and a letter.

The content of the letter was simple: it thanked Nie Ning for his help and said the high-tier cultivation method was his reward.

It specifically stated that she hadn't poisoned Nie Ning and told him not to come looking for her again.

Looking at the letter, even a fool would know they had been taken advantage of for free.

Nie Ning just hadn't expected Tracy to be so wanton and to trick him in such a way.

Then, as if remembering something, Nie Ning quickly felt his buttocks.

'Fortunately, my butt doesn't hurt...'

Once he calmed down, Nie Ning's eyes flickered. After a moment of silence, he finally let out a sigh.

As flames ignited in his hand and burned the letter, Nie Ning picked up the cultivation method from the table and hurriedly left the apartment building.

...

Over the next few days, Nie Ning stayed hidden in the manor, practicing the technique he had obtained from Tracy.

With the help of the technique, the conversion speed of blood qi significantly increased. Especially with the support of those crystal cores, Nie Ning could feel his physical body strengthening almost every moment.

Nie Ning didn't know where the physical limit was, but he encountered problems on the wizard side.

Perhaps because the crystal cores hadn't fully condensed into mana yet, his mental power was nearing its limit, but he still hadn't felt the bottleneck for a breakthrough.

Furthermore, the crystal on his chest showed no signs of dissipating; instead, it seemed to be expanding.

For some reason, Nie Ning felt this wasn't a good thing.

He didn't even know if this was an effect of Supernatural Adaptability or if something was truly wrong with his body; everything was unknown.

"I wonder if that master at the City Lord's Mansion would know..."

Nie Ning sighed and climbed out of bed.

Today was the day of his appointment with Ivy. He wondered if he could get some useful information from that master.

...

West of the city.

As the greatest noble of Ska City, they lived in a massive manor covering a hundred acres.

The entire area was walled off, with an ancient castle standing in the middle and patrols wearing knight armor surrounding it.

When Nie Ning arrived at the main gate, a middle-aged man in a tuxedo and bowtie walked over.

"You must be Mr. Bronk. I am the butler here, Horun. The young lady is already waiting inside; please follow me."

The middle-aged man smiled politely and extended his hand in invitation.

Nie Ning couldn't help but steal a few glances at Horun.

One could only say he was worthy of being the City Lord's butler; given his current status, ordinary people couldn't be this humble.

If someone like him took a walk in the city, many family scions would likely come up to flatter him. Such were the benefits of status, even for just a City Lord's butler.

Of course, strength was also important. After all, a butler who was a High-Tier Knight was rare to see.

"Thank you for leading the way."

Nie Ning followed Horun into the manor.

Entering this place for the first time, Nie Ning looked around curiously.

Compared to the Hervis Family, the interior of the City Lord's Mansion was even more luxurious.

Even during the day, the crystal chandeliers in the hall were lit, and many paintings of famous people hung on the walls. Even the floor was made of expensive blue crystal tiles.

Moreover, most of the servants were young and beautiful, and the fabric of their clothes was the kind that ordinary families couldn't afford.

"It's good to be rich. I wonder when I'll be able to live in such a big house."

Nie Ning couldn't help but whisper.

"Mr. Bronk, you must be joking. A young and promising High-Tier Knight like yourself is rare to see. Talent is far more precious than external possessions."

Horun said with a smile as he walked beside Nie Ning.

Nie Ning smiled humbly. "Butler Horun, you flatter me."

Look at how well he spoke. No wonder he could be the City Lord's butler; Nie Ning really couldn't compare in this regard.

...

Following Horun past the hall, the two entered the back garden.

Besides various flowers and plants, three people were sitting in a pavilion in the center, talking and laughing.

Among them were two women and one man. Besides Ivy, the other man had a steady expression, exuding the majestic aura of a superior even while laughing.

When Nie Ning looked at the other woman, he instinctively froze for a moment.

'The world really is small...'

The woman was none other than the one Nie Ning had encountered when he accompanied Lilith to catch her husband cheating.

It was also because of this woman that for almost a year, Nie Ning hadn't dared to recall the Human-Faced Balloon, fearing she was conducting a sting operation to track him down.

...