"Is the Nie family of Nie Zhengyu very famous?" Yuan Liang suddenly asked.
The four of them were chatting over a meal and happened to start talking about Nie Zhengyu.
The Myriad Spirits Continent was vast, with many families bearing the surname Nie.
Yuan Liang didn't know which Nie family Nie Zhengyu belonged to, as he'd never heard him talk about it.
"The most famous one," Guan Yushu said, sipping his soup.
Yuan Liang looked at Nie Zhengyu sharply, noticing a smug smile forming on Nie Zhengyu's face.
Yuan Liang frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "I don't know."
Nie Zhengyu: "…"
Guan Yushu: "…"
Xiang Dun burst out laughing, patting Yuan Liang on the shoulder.
"It's the imperial Nie family, the royal family of the Da'an Empire."
The current emperor of the Da'an Empire bore the surname Nie.
Yuan Liang was stunned; the imperial Nie family had quite a history.
A hundred thousand years ago, when the world was in chaos.
The first Da'an Emperor raised his banner, conquered the lands, and forged a legendary tale still popular in storytelling and theater to this day.
Back then, the previous dynasty was rife with internal and external troubles, collapsing into a world of turmoil.
Spirit Beasts left their territories, seeking to claim a portion of the Central Continent, a land of heroes and spiritual energy.
The Da'an Emperor fought endless battles, covering countless miles, quelling Spirit Beasts and compelling traitors and rebellious heroes to submit.
Geniuses in the Nie family emerged generation after generation.
Just when people thought the family's foundations had been depleted, a new talent would rise to support the empire.
Nie Zhengyu laughed heartily. "I am that genius who emerged to carry on the legacy of the Nie family."
"I don't think you're a genius," Yuan Liang said, recalling Nie Zhengyu's Arhat Fist, a move notorious for causing hair loss.
If Nie Zhengyu was truly the one to uphold the empire, then the Nie family's unbroken legacy might well end here.
…
Soon after, Yuan Liang parted ways with the others and returned alone to the Green Bamboo Peak.
Today, his One-Horned Caterpillar had eaten its fill and was now napping comfortably in his pocket.
In the grand hall of Green Bamboo Peak, Elder Huo sat cross-legged in a deep green robe, eyes closed, with a light haze drifting around him.
"Master, I'm here," Yuan Liang greeted him respectfully.
"Sit," Elder Huo said, opening his eyes and gesturing forward.
Suddenly, Elder Huo sniffed. "Did you drink today?"
Yuan Liang was startled; he had indeed had a few drinks with the others.
He expected Elder Huo to be angry, but unexpectedly, his master asked, "Do you have any left?"
"Have what?" Yuan Liang was puzzled.
"The wine. Do you have any more?"
"No, I didn't bring any back," Yuan Liang replied, nearly forgetting Elder Huo's preferences.
Elder Huo enjoyed smoking, drinking, and gambling.
She had every bad habit and no good ones.
"Master, what did you call me here for?" Yuan Liang suspected his master had summoned him just to gamble.
He clutched his coin pouch protectively.
Pretending not to notice, Elder Huo began, "The world is on the verge of turmoil. Hidden forces everywhere are stirring."
"The Da'an Empire may appear calm, but who knows how many calamities lurk within it?"
Yuan Liang's expression turned serious. "Turmoil?"
That night, Yuan Liang couldn't sleep.
Thoughts of the impending chaos filled his mind.
…
"Wow, you look like a panda." Nie Zhengyu was surprised to see Yuan Liang's dark circles.
Beside Nie Zhengyu stood Xiang Dun, dressed in a black robe and holding the core crystal of a formation, carefully observing it.
The contrast was striking; the burly man looked like a scholar.
"Let's get breakfast first." The three of them were standing outside a breakfast stall.
They each ordered a bowl of porridge and some pickled vegetables.
All three of them were cultivators at the early stages of the Black Iron Realm, still unable to go without regular meals.
"Xiang Dun found a mission that suits us. Do you want to join?" Nie Zhengyu asked.
Yuan Liang, who had never done a group mission before, thought it over and nodded.
"When are we leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning. It's better to go early to avoid complications."
After setting a time, they quickly parted ways to prepare the necessary items.
Yuan Liang patted his coin pouch and sighed.
A few days prior, Elder Huo had forced him into a gambling game.
At first, Yuan Liang hadn't anticipated his master's terrible luck.
Toward the end, Yuan Liang, watching his winnings grow, grew increasingly anxious.
So he began to deliberately lose money to Elder Huo.
In the end, Elder Huo was pleased, but Yuan Liang wasn't so lucky.
Now he missed Senior Brother Xu Hong and wondered where he had gone.
Yuan Liang was utterly broke.
He suddenly thought of going to the canteen to buy some supplies.
…
The canteen was located on the Red Cloud Peak, where the temperature was much higher than on Green Bamboo Peak.
Red Cloud Peak was also home to the Artifact Refining Faction, and the sound of hammering was frequently heard.
Following the sound, Yuan Liang spotted the canteen.
His skin tingled slightly, as if something were trying to burrow into him.
The One-Horned Caterpillar curled up immediately upon arrival; it clearly disliked the climate.
The canteen entrance was bustling, filled with smoke and people coming and going.
Suddenly, a loud, piercing scream echoed, then gradually faded.
"What happened?" Yuan Liang was startled.
A helpful Senior Sister passing by explained, "I think it's a disciple soaking in magma."
"He was screaming even louder a few days ago, but I suppose he's gotten used to it."
"Is it possible he's not used to it but rather… well-cooked?" Yuan Liang pictured someone soaking in magma and shuddered.
Suddenly, he felt that Elder Huo was rather gentle with him.
His training was almost free-range, as long as he wasn't starved.
The helpful Senior Sister led Yuan Liang to the canteen entrance, then stepped back.
"You'll have to buy it yourself."
With that, she vanished before he could even see how she'd disappeared.
Yuan Liang sighed; it seemed he'd have to rely on himself.
The canteen was like a marketplace, with vendors shouting about their wares.
The only difference was that it was even noisier, with the vendors practically bellowing.
Yuan Liang saw a Senior Brother holding a spine bone, which looked as sharp as a blade.
Seeing Yuan Liang approach, the Senior Brother hurried over, grabbing his hand to prevent him from leaving.
"Junior Brother, interested in a snake bone? It's from a Spirit Beast of the Silver Realm, extremely sturdy."
"It can be used as a weapon in battle or as food if you're hungry."
He bit off a piece of the snake bone with a loud crunch.
Yuan Liang was tempted but checked the price.
"Sorry, I can't afford it," he said apologetically and walked away.
The Senior Brother, not deterred, continued pitching to other customers.
Yuan Liang kept moving and spotted a Senior Brother kneading dough and pulling loaves of bread out of an oven with his bare hands.
The loaf was taller than Yuan Liang.
"Junior Brother, want one? Only one hundred Love Coins."
"This bread isn't just hard. It can also explode with tremendous force, taking the enemy by surprise."
"And it's edible if you get hungry."
The Senior Brother took a bite, and the bread popped in his mouth.
Aside from his cheek puffing out, nothing happened.
"Senior Brother, why is this bread both a weapon and a food? Is it even chewable?"
"This is body cultivation, a unique form of training," he explained patiently.
"Body cultivation requires not only inner refinement of organs and muscles but also training one's teeth."
The Senior Brother tapped his teeth, producing a metallic clink.
Yuan Liang understood: the canteen's foods were highly functional, serving two purposes.
One was as weapons for non-body cultivators, and the other was as food for body cultivators.
"Nie Zhengyu trains under Elder Bai, so as a genuine body cultivator, he should be able to chew it."
With this in mind, Yuan Liang bought a loaf of bread.
It was so heavy it felt like a hammer.