A flash of purple light illuminated the room as a small bulge appeared on Nan Gong Jie Ming’s shoulder. The bulge moved steadily toward the wound, and soon, a blood-red gu worm was expelled, landing on the table. It wriggled grotesquely, fattened from feeding on Nan Gong Jie Ming’s spiritual energy over the years.

  Nan Gong Jie Ming’s expression darkened, and he immediately crushed the gu worm with a swift slap.

  No wonder his cultivation had stagnated and even regressed over the years! No matter how many spiritual energy potions he consumed, his energy always seemed to dissipate. This had to be Shen Ye Rong’s doing!

  "Shen Ye Rong, since you’re heartless, don’t blame me for being merciless!" Nan Gong Jie Ming’s brows furrowed, his eyes filled with a deep, cold resolve.

  But his expression quickly softened as he remembered his granddaughter was still by his side. He didn’t want to frighten her.

  "Huan’er, what about your face?" Nan Gong Jie Ming gently touched her cheek, noticing that the dark spots had indeed faded compared to before.

  "My face will gradually return to normal, Grandpa. You don’t need to beg others for help anymore," Nan Gong Huan pointed to the secret letter on the table. The outrageous demands in it made her want to tear it up on the spot.

  Nan Gong Jie Ming chuckled. Thankfully, Nan Gong Huan had arrived in time, or he might have tried to negotiate with those people.

  "Huan’er is right," Nan Gong Jie Ming said decisively, tearing the letter into pieces.

  "By the way, Huan’er, today is your birthday. I’ve been busy these past few days and couldn’t celebrate with you, so I’ll give you your gift now and make it up to you later. Open it and see if you like it." Nan Gong Jie Ming smiled as he handed her a beautifully crafted box.

  A birthday gift! Nan Gong Huan’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she eagerly opened the box. Inside lay an exquisitely made dagger named the Radiant Gold Blade.

  The hilt was black, adorned with intricate wind patterns, and embedded with a precious wind-attributed spirit crystal from a seven-spirit-level Void Wind Eagle. The blade itself was engraved with dark golden runes that enhanced its power. Only a seventh-grade weaponsmith could have crafted such a masterpiece!

  Nan Gong Huan marveled at the dagger, gripping the hilt and giving it a few test swings. The blade sang with a sharp, clear tone, its edge gleaming coldly. It felt almost weightless in her hand—a true treasure!

  "Thank you, Grandpa! I love it!" Nan Gong Huan’s eyes shone with joy as she continued to admire the dagger, finding it perfectly balanced and easy to wield.

  "I’m glad you like it. It’s for your protection," Nan Gong Jie Ming nodded with a smile. Now that Huan’er could cultivate, this dagger would serve her well.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  After playing with the dagger for a while, Nan Gong Huan remembered her main purpose.

  "Oh, Grandpa, this is for you," Nan Gong Huan took out a potion bottle and placed it on the table. "This will help replenish the energy the gu worm drained from your body."

  She had specifically added the Nine-Leaved Lingzhi Ginseng Fruit to the potion. If her grandfather was lucky, not only would it repair his damaged foundation, but it might even help him break through to the seven-spirit level!

  Nan Gong Jie Ming looked curiously at the transparent, water-like potion. "Where did you get this potion?"

  "Grandpa, if I said I made it myself, would you believe me?" Nan Gong Huan smiled innocently. Most people wouldn’t believe such a claim, not even a three-year-old.

  But Nan Gong Jie Ming laughed heartily. "I believe you! Of course, I believe you!"

  With that, he uncorked the bottle and drank the potion in one go. It tasted slightly sweet.

  Seeing her grandfather drink the potion, Nan Gong Huan felt reassured.

  As soon as the potion entered his system, Nan Gong Jie Ming felt his spiritual energy surge, his entire body warming up. It was a sensation he hadn’t felt in years, as if he had been transported back to his prime.

  "Grandpa, I’ll head back to rest now. You should get some sleep too," Nan Gong Huan noticed her grandfather’s spiritual energy was about to expand, signaling the need for cultivation. She quickly made an excuse to leave.

  "Go ahead," Nan Gong Jie Ming nodded, his face glowing with vitality.

  Nan Gong Huan quickly left with Dong Yan Cuo in tow.

  Guided by Yan Ji and Xue Ji, the two made their way out of the Nan Gong mansion and arrived at a dilapidated courtyard in the eastern part of the city.

  The alley was dark and narrow, the path stretching into the shadows, exuding an eerie chill.

  "Master, this is where Shen Ye Rong keeps her dead soldiers. Most of them are at the second or third spirit level, with one at the fifth level. Be careful," Yan Ji whispered.

  Nan Gong Huan quietly released her spiritual energy, using it to scan the area like a form of X-ray vision. She detected the dead soldiers inside the house, standing in orderly rows as if sleeping. There were about forty of them, with two more stationed on the roof as lookouts.

  Most of them were at the second spirit level, with four at the third level. However, she didn’t see the fifth-level soldier Yan Ji had mentioned—perhaps they weren’t here.

  "There are two on the roof outside," Nan Gong Huan glanced at Yan Ji and Xue Ji, who were eager to prove their worth.

  "Leave them to us, Master!" Yan Ji and Xue Ji said excitedly. It was time to show their master what they could do!

  "Go ahead," Nan Gong Huan nodded. Spirits could severely damage other spirits. Once their spirits were gone, their bodies would be nothing more than lifeless husks.

  Yan Ji and Xue Ji each flew toward one of the lookouts, moving silently behind them. With a swift strike to their backs, they forced the soldiers’ spirits out of their bodies. Then, using their spiritual energy, they absorbed the spirits into themselves.

  Spirit combat was simple and brutal—either you consumed the other, or they consumed you.

  Their spiritual energy grew slightly stronger.

  With their spirits gone, the two soldiers’ bodies collapsed. Yan Ji and Xue Ji quickly possessed the bodies, gaining control over them, and flew down to stand before Nan Gong Huan.

  In simpler terms, it was a form of possession.

  Next, Nan Gong Huan peeked over the wall to observe the situation inside the courtyard.

  Dong Yan Cuo followed suit, poking his head out as well. Hmm, there was nothing to eat here, not even wild vegetables.

  The courtyard wasn’t large, but it was clean and free of clutter, making it ideal for a fight.

  However, with so many enemies, a direct confrontation would likely alert the others.