Chapter 22: An Impasse (1/2)
Chapter Twenty-two: An Impasse
It was evening, and the tenacious glow of the setting sun pierced through the luxurious canopy of trees to cast light onto the rocky forest floor.
Nie Tian and Nie Qian were on their way back to Black Cloud City. After some time passed, Nie Tian broke his long silence and finally gave voice to the suspicion in his heart. “Auntie, I feel… from now on, I am afraid that our clan can no longer harvest flamecloud gems from those mines.”
Hearing his words, Nie Qian abruptly stopped in place.
Looking suspiciously at Nie Tian, and her eyes gradually turned serious and solemn. “What did you say? The flamecloud gems in the mines have been mined by our clan for many years. According to the Qi warrior who surveyed the mine recently, it should be several decades before the mine runs dry given our current mining speed, so how could it be drained now?”
The flamecloud gems in the mines could be said to be the lifeblood of the Nie clan, which traded their mining services for the protection of the Cloudsoaring sect.
Once the Nie clan could no longer mine flamecloud gems, it would be useless to the Cloudsoaring sect.
Even though she and Nie Donghai had been ill-treated after Nie Beichuan became the master of the clan, she definitely did not want to see the whole clan be tossed aside by the Cloudsoaring sect.
“I’m sorry.” Nie Tian bowed his head, took out the animal bone, and said, “It was all because of this. All the flame power consumed by the condensation of the drop of blood was from all the flamecloud gems in the mines! It took all of that power to condense the drop of blood! I’m pretty sure that all the flamecloud gems have turned to regular rocks which cannot generate a scrap of flame power.”
Nie Qian gasped with astonishment. “The condensation of a single drop of blood absorbed all the flame power of the flamecloud gems, this… how is this possible?”
“I don’t know, but that’s what happened.” Nie Tian put on a wry smile.
“Impossible, it’s absolutely impossible!” Nie Qian shook her head repeatedly, with a look of disbelief on her face.
“If you don’t believe me then just forget about it,” Nie Tian said, looking irritated.
“Now isn’t the time for arguing. It’s getting dark and we should try to get back to Black Cloud City as soon as possible.” Nie Qian surveyed the path ahead. “A serious accident has occurred in the mines. I have to inform your grandfather of the situation so that he will be ready for any consequences.”
“Fine.” Nie Tian spoke no more.
With that, they ceased arguing and continued on toward Black Cloud City.
A quarter of an hour later, Nie Qian suddenly froze.
“What’s wrong?” Nie Tian asked, puzzled.
Nie Qian looked around grimly, her breath coming in ragged pants. Waves of spiritual power were rippling out from Nie Qian, fluctuations too noticeable to be ignored even by Nie Tian.
RUSTLE!
Suddenly, the leaves of the trees stirred, despite the lack of even the slightest breeze.
“Nie Tian,” she shouted, “get to Cloudsoaring Mountain as quickly as you can!”
CLATTER!
The silver bracelets she wore on her arm instantly flew out towards the two trees in front of her, shining with silvery spiritual light.
CLANK! CLANK!
The sound of clanking metal could then be heard from behind the trees, accompanied by odd laughter.
In response, Nie Tian’s face fell, and he instantly realized that something was wrong.
With a muffled groan, Nie Qian looked back at Nie Tian, her eyes glittering with trepidation and anxiety.
“Go! ” she urged.
WHOOSH!
The silver bracelets she had thrown out were now spinning back towards her at a high speed.
They were followed by two men dressed in blue, with greasy smiles plastered across their faces.
One of them gave Nie Tian a cold glance. “Run? Where can he run to?”
BANG!
In that moment, the silver bracelets slammed into a water shield that Nie Qian had formed moments ago with spiritual power.
Nie Qian immediately staggered backward several steps. The silver bracelets didn’t immediately fall onto the ground, but stuck on the water wall like two pendants.