Chapter 87: The Center of Attention (1/2)

During the following three days, Nie Tian showed Pan Tao around Black Cloud City.

After Nie Donghai decided for Nie Tian to join the Cloudsoaring sect, Pan Tao’s father, Pan Bai, had returned with An Rong to the An clan for a temporary visit.

Meanwhile, Li Fan and Jiang Lingzhu stayed in the Nie clan to wait for Nie Tian to get ready to leave for the Cloudsoaring sect.

Although three days was a short period of time, the efficiency of the Nie clan elders was extremely amazing.

The next day, Nie Yaozu the other elders and declared that Nie Beichuan’s position as clanmaster would be removed due to his dereliction of duty with regards to the mining accident.

On that afternoon, under Li Fan’s observance, the Nie clan elders elected Nie Donghai to be their clanmaster again.

On the other hand, Nie Beichuan and Nie Nanshan spent the three days mostly in their rooms, totally dispirited and no longer daring to interfere with clan affairs.

Li Fan was like a giant mountain weighing down on the two brothers. As long as he was still in the Nie clan, they could only follow his words obediently without the slightest thoughts of revolting.

The Nie clan members who had treated Nie Donghai and Nie Qian coldly in the past, started to fight for their favor once again. At the same time, Nie Donghai moved back into the big mansion which represented the clanmaster’s status.

Pan Tao knew that he wouldn’t be able to turn Nie Tian’s decision around. Therefore, after touring in Black Cloud City for several days with him, he went back to the An clan to prepare for his return with his father to the Spiritual Treasure sect.

This morning, just as the first cracks of light emerged, Nie Tian went to the square where the clan members trained.

On the square, many Nie clan youngsters were sitting cross-legged with their hands on their knees, breathing the spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth. Others were moving their fists and bodies as they practiced spiritual techniques.

Nie Hong and Nie Yuan were also sitting there, cultivating quietly.

However, unlike before, the other Nie clan youngsters now intentionally kept their distance from these two, and chose other spots to cultivate at.

If it were three days ago, wherever they went, the other youngsters would automatically gather around them, attempting to gain their favor.

Nie Tian had never come back to the square again since he had injured Nie Hong.

Now that he suddenly appeared, many of the cultivating Nie clan youths were shocked, and gazed towards him with a mixture of surprise, envy, and respect.

“All of you, go back to your cultivation!” Wu Tao shouted with his low-pitched voice.

The agitated youngsters gradually quieted down after hearing his rebuke.

However, their eyes were still locked onto Nie Tian, who walked towards Wu Tao.

In merely three days, Nie Tian’s name had spread to every corner of Black Cloud City.

Even in the nearby Dim Star City, Frost Stone City, and Bone Shatter City, many people were talking about him.

Because of him, Pan Bai from the Spiritual Treasure sect had personally come to the Nie clan; because of him, the Cloudsoaring sect had broken a rule that had stood for decades, and took him in before he had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining.

To every one of the Nie clan youngsters in the square, Nie Tian was a legend.

They couldn’t understand how Nie Tian, who, a year ago, used to train with them on the same square and fight with Nie Hong and Nie Yuan all the time, could improve so drastically, and attain such a miraculous success in such a short time.

Nie Tian bowed respectfully towards Wu Tao. “Mr. Wu, thank you for taking care of me all these years. I will soon be going to the Cloudsoaring sect, and I have specially come today to say goodbye to you.”

When his grandfather and aunt were being forced by Nie Beichuan and his allies to go to the Cloudsoaring sect to admit their guilt, the entire Nie clan had intentionally hid it from him.

Only Wu Tao had taken a great risk and secretly informed him.

Furthermore, when he previously trained on the square, Wu Tao had also treated him well, unlike the other clan members who had treated him coldly because his grandfather had lost his power within the clan.

Therefore, he was there to express his gratitude towards him before he left the Nie clan.

“Oh, there’s no need.” Wu Tao hurriedly went forward to help him up.

After that, Wu Tao looked deeply into his eyes, smiled broadly, and said, “I always knew that you were different, even though I couldn’t figure out what exactly it was. I always felt that you would be taken in by the Cloudsoaring sect, just like Nie Xian.” With these words, he paused for a moment before continuing, “But I underestimated you…”

Both of them were children of the Nie clan, and both were regarded highly by Wu Tao. Nie Xian had been formally accepted by the Cloudsoaring sect after he stepped into the ninth level of Qi Refining.

However, Nie Tian was different.

Not only had Pan Bai from the Spiritual Treasure sect come for him, but the Cloudsoaring sect even broke a rule that had been enforced for decades for him.

Wu Tao also knew that Nie Tian was actually the reason why the Cloudsoaring sect was willing to drop the matter of the collapsed mine, and why Nie Beichuan was removed from his position, allowing Nie Donghai to regain his former position as clanmaster.

Because of Nie Tian, the whole situation of the Nie clan had been turned around!

The shocking potential that he had exhibited and the changes he had caused far exceeded Nie Xian.

“Perhaps something happened in the Green Illusion dimension…” Wu Tao speculated inwardly, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Nie You, who had her hair wrapped up in a braid on top of her head, curiously looked at him and asked with a naive voice. “Elder Brother Tian, what stage are you at now?”

The innocent Nie You had always stood by Nie Tian, and had accused Nie Hong and Nie Yuan for being shameless every time they battled Nie Tian.

“The eighth level of Qi Refining,” replied Nie Tian, smiling.

“Ahhh?!” Nie You exclaimed.

A lot of the other youngsters also seemed astonished after hearing his answer.

They could still remember that Nie Tian was at the third level of Qi Refining when he fought with Nie Hong last time.

It had only been a year, but Nie Tian had already exceeded everyone’s expectations and reached the eighth level. Such a rapid advancement was simply unimaginable.

“Elder Brother Tian, you’re so awesome!” Nie You’s face was full of admiration. “No wonder the Cloudsoaring sect would make an exception for you.”