Chapter 49

City Lord's Mansion

Hearing the guards words, Ye Zong's face immediately turned dark, "What did he say?"

Just now, his two guards commanded to bring Nie Li returned but they didn't bring Nie Li with them. Ye Zong was confused at first and thought something happened to Nie Li but after asking, they immediately explained that he refused to come to City Lord Mansion.

"My Lord, that brat was extremely rude as he refused to accompany us, He said that the City Lord needs him so, he should come to his house not the other away around." One of the guards explained with gritted teeth. Ye Zong can easily make the sense of the anger as well as a bit of malice in his voice and he squinted his eyes and released his pressure on both of them.

"Why are you injured?" A man like Ye Zong cannot be easily fooled, He is a peak Black Gold Rank Demon Spiritualist just a bit away from Legend Rank so, he could easily see that they were hiding something, "Don't even dare think about lying."

Succumbed under the gigantic pressure of Ye Zong, the guards legs began to shake and their breathing become laboured, "Forgive us City Lord, After we were denied entry for a while before his gate. We were angry so, we reprimanded him and were a bit pressing in fulfilling your command, as a result he shrugged us off. After being humiliated, we tried to bring him here forcefully but he has a few silver experts, one gold rank fighter and a gold Rank Demon Spiritualist who threw us out."

Ye Xiu who was also here sighed and said, "This isn't good, Nie Li is genius of Glory City he shouldn't be treated in this manner. I have investigated and come to know that he broke all relations with Alchemist Association because they were pressuring him. It could be seen that he hates being commanded and is a bit eccentric, His request is also not unreasonable, I think I should go personally and clear this misunderstanding."

Ye Zong was extremely furious. In order to protect talents, he arranged these guards from the City Lord's Mansion. Who would have thought that they were actually this foolish. Ye Zong isn't an unreasonable man, he understand that Nie Li as an ideal student and a genius shouldn't be treated like this but for him to outright refuse to enter City Lord Mansion. Does Nie Li dislike the snow wind family? Although Ye Zong has much better things to take care off, but he isn't so blind to draw a wedge between their family and a future pillar of Glory City. Nie Li is renowned for his intelligence and even being the same age as his daughter and from a struggling aristocratic family, and possessing inferior talent Nie Li is more accomplished in his cultivation than her.

Despite of his understanding, Ye Zong still disliked Nie Li's behavior. As a superior he cannot tolerate disobedience but he kept this in because Nie Li is after all still a kid.

Ye Zong was unhappy within his heart, but there is nothing he could do. Afterall, he's not someone who'd ignore the general interest. He waved his hand and said, "You'll go and invite him."

"Yes, City Lord!" Ye Xiu nodded his head and said, bowing as he left.

Ye Zong looked at the two guards and stationed them in the City Lord Mansion taking away the responsibility of protecting Nie Li. He won't punish them because to him, it's not a big deal.

...

Nie Li's Yard

When Ye Xiu entered, he wasn't stopped outside rather he was allowed immediately without any pause, he looked around. The conditions here were quite good, this house isn't very big but for a 13 year old to establish himself like this is quite respectable.

Nie Li used the money he made from selling the treasures to buy this place so, he is well accounted for and to spend money without raising eyebrows Nie Li has also established some business and some other means.

Just when Ye Xiu was preparing to walk inwards, a tall young teen walked out from inside. This teen is Nie Li.

Nie Li was looking straight at him with a smile and his eyes were very steady, he knew about the arrival of this elder and decided to meet him here.

Nie Li was wearing white dress and his presence had a bit of regal prestige to it. He appeared confident and unyielding as he looked at Ye Xiu.

Nie Li said, "May I know why Senior came to visit me about?"

Ye Xiu's gaze fell on Nie Li, looking him over. This teen in front of him is an informed genius teen? But Ye Xiu felt a strange feeling from being stared by him. Although Nie Li wasn't disrespectful, his gaze was as if he was being gauged.

"I heard that an erudite and informed teen appeared in our Glory City, so I came to have a look." Ye Xiu said, lightly smiling. He wasn't angry at Nie Li's attitude.

"Its an honor for me to welcome elder here." Nie Li casually said as he nodded towards a maid who immediately went inside to call a few others.

"The weather today is quite good, why don't we speak over a cup of tea." Nie Li invited him as the maids brought a set of chairs and table and set it up outside. Nie Li gestured Ye Xiu to sit as the servants were preparing tea and snacks.

Ye Xiu shook his hands and signalled Nie Li to send his servants away which he did. Ye Xiu was looking at Nie Li with a contemplating glance because he figured that Nie Li somehow knew about his arrival as well as his identify which is quite impressive.

"I would first of all like to express my heartfelt apology for the reception the City Lord guards received." Nie Li said in a probing voice as his eyes were a bit squinted trying to gauze the response and attitude of the City Lord Mansion.

'This kid is terrifying!' Ye Xiu thought, as he adjusted his attitude. He did not continue to treat Nie Li as a young teen and smilingly said, "Its nothing, they were in the wrong. If you don't mind I have a request."

Nie Li originally thought that Ye Xiu was sent here by City Lord Ye Zong to pass a message or suppress him for the previous episode with the guards hence, Nie Li was wary against Ye Xiu. But since Ye Xiu is here to make a request himself, Nie Li will think about helping out. Afterall, he got the intelligence that Ye Xiu is the number three of the Snow Wind Family.

"Senior please don't embarrass me and say it out straight." Nie Li said smiling, but Ye Xiu noticed how Nie Li didn't claim to help out without listening.

Ye Xiu dry coughed for a while, took out a book and said, "Nie Li, when Lord Ye Mo and I traveled, we found this thing. Can you take a look at what this is?"

When Ye Xiu took out that mysterious small book, Nie Li could feel that pure soul breath.

This object is definitely extraordinary!

"Please!" Nie Li was interested as he took the book from Ye Xiu and examined it.

The surface of this book was filled with all sorts of mysterious words, drawings and inscription patterns. It was extremely exquisite.

"A.I. Chip Scan!" Nie Li continued to check the book with great intrest but he was using the A. I. Chip to do it's job.

[Beep! Scan Complete! Language of Woodland Empire! The book is a masterpiece of a inscription master called 'Legend Exile'. The book records an array named The Ten Thousand Demonic Beast Array. It's able to control thousands to tens of thousands of demon beast that are Black Gold rank and above, creating a super array. Even Legend rank Demon Spiritualists, when entering this array, can be easily killed.] The A. I. Chip intoned coldly.

Nie Li was shocked but he tried to keep his emotions in check not wanting to expose anything to Ye Xiu but a true expert Ye Xiu could caught a slight change in his expression and more importantly his demeanor as he asked," Do you perhaps know what this is?"

Nie Li sighed inwardly but decided to share.' I should definitely create this around my mansion and in order to create this array I would need many black gold rank beasts, I could make beast of greater growth quality but I don't have the time to nurture them all to become Black Gold Rank. I can ask them for payme-oh well never mind.'

"It seems to be some kind of demon spirit control technique. This inscription pattern should be some kind of demon spirit manipulation inscription pattern." Nie Li said not very interested, he dropped the idea of telling him the whole truth.

"I don't know where Senior got this book from, but this book is a good item, I could vaguely make out that this is about an amazing ancient array but I need to inspect and study deeply to decipher it. Senior has to carefully safeguard it." Nie Li said, after closing and passing the book over to Ye Xiu.

Ye Xiu took the book from Nie Li's hands, thought for a moment and asked, " According to your estimation What would happen if there's this Array near the City Lord's Mansion?"

"No one would able to break into the City Lord's Mansion, not even Legend rank Demon Spiritualist," Nie Li said without reservation. He wanted to see what the City Lord Mansion would offer to create something like this, if it was good enough he might just go ahead and make it.

Hearing Nie Li's words, Ye Xiu was stunned for a moment and shockingly asked, "Really?"

Nie Li nodded his head and said, "I speak the truth."

"Then can you lay down this Array?" Ye Xiu asked. The huge underground area beneath the City Lord Mansion can accommodate the whole population of Glory City. If they are able to put a Ten Thousand Demonic Spirit Array near the City Lord's Mansion, they can save everyone in distressing times.

"I am sorry, Laying down an Array like this requires a huge amount of time, and also great skills. The materials needed is also very hard to gather." Nie Li shook his head and said, "Please try to understand, I cannot dedicate all of time in this, I still have to practice."

"How much time would be needed to complete it?" Ye Xiu asked.

Nie Li thought for a moment and said, "If I were to count the time needed to decipher it and then install it without any error. This will require about five to ten years."

"Oh?" Ye Xiu said, He really cannot ask Nie Li to dedicate all of his youth for this but this could be a trump card for the Glory City.

Nie Li raised his head, looked at Ye Xiu and asked, "I would have to apologize."

Nie Li wanted to create pressure and relay the idea that this endeavor would only bring him drawbacks and then observe their hands.

Ye Xiu waved his hands and said, "As a representative of the City Lord's Mansion. I, Ye Xiu, request for your help making this Ten Thousand Demonic Spirit Array. Don't worry the City Lord will reward you handsomely."

Nie Li eyes twitched, He said request but it definitely was nothing but an order. He would definitely not help unless he see solid profits, things like reward handsomely is too vague for his liking. Nie Li looked coldly at Ye Xiu, and said" I'm not free."

"Not free?" Ye Xiu was stunned for a moment and immediately said, "This array concerns the safety of Glory City. Being one of Glory City's member, how can..."

Before Ye Xiu finished speaking, Nie Li interrupted, "I'm a member of the Glory City. But I don't have any obligation to help the City Lord's Mansion in this matter, right? I am a filial person who is contributing at my highest level to the city. It's not impossible to help you guys laying down this Ten Thousand Demonic Spirit Array, but Senior you need to also provide appropriate remuneration. I am not a slave of the City Lord, as a free citizen and a respectable individual you cannot order me to sacrifice myself and my future aspirations. This is my time to cultivate and strengthen myself, Why don't the City Lord Mansion make this array at my house I am a talent of the City, what could be more important than protecting the future?"

Nie Li has a chance to squeeze the biggest family of the Glory City and he won't squander it and more importantly Nie Li's cultivating speed is shocking, reaching Black Gold rank would require at least half a year or longer. Although he lied about the time needed to create the array but it would take two months at least, he doesn't want to waste his valuable time for meagre gains. More importantly, after Breaking through to Black Gold rank the City Lord vault would also be at his mercy! Nie Li was actually in favour of not helping, the only thing he would have wanted was the beast which isn't a problem now.

Hearing Nie Li's words, Ye Xiu was slightly stunned. He understood Nie Li's meaning and said, "Nie Li, as long as you are willing to help us to lay down the Ten Thousand Demonic Spirit Array, you will make a huge contribution to the entire Glory City. We can provide you with a large amount of training resources..."

"Wait! Do senior perhaps want to imply that I haven't made substantial contribution to the city, does that mean my work so far has no meaning! I am just 13 years old, what more could I do?" Nie Li waved his hand and asked, "As well in Senior's opinion, what training resources can the City Lord's Mansion provide me even?"

"We can get you get any pill you need. No matter what cultivation technique, as long as you want it, we can help you get it..." Ye Xiu proudly said. Within Glory City, is there anything that the City Lord's Mansion is unable to do?

Hearing Ye Xiu's words, Nie Li felt nothing. Pills? Cultivation techniques? These aren't worth anything to him.

'It is not a great decision to agonize the biggest family of Glory City and their friendship could be useful but.... Can they even be trusted? They are the protectors who are staying mute and without action as the various warriors who were crippled protecting the city are rotting in the slums and the families of those deceased soldiers are battling with hunger and poverty on daily basis. Can this family which let the other serving family dwindle while a family like Sacred Family rose. I check the record and it seems with every beast tide, the casualties of the sacred family was lesser and lesser as their influence rose, how? This rise was definitely by devouring others rightful share. I can see this but City Lord can't? No I refuse to believe this.' Nie Li looked at Ye Xiu and was half tempted to open his mind but that would be stupid since he would achieve nothing and offend a colossal family. Nie Li is definitely not a good person himself but he has apprehension towards these kind of people. Either the City Lord mansion is ignoring this or even worse they are so incompetent to even notice. Both ways Nie Li isn't willing to become neither friend or foe with them. The previous mindset about making connection was long abandoned by him, only the pursuit of true strength is his goal.

"Okay, I would try but I need to first properly read the technique as well as translate it. I don't know how much time that would take? If you are willing to wait then I guess it would be only appropriate for me to help. After all, we all have responsibility towards Glory City!" Nie Li shamelessly decided to first squeeze them for some resources for a couple of years, if nothing else it could bear the cost of train Nie Yu and his guards. The favour to City Lord would also be good enough for sometime. After he is finished and has confidence in his strength, Nie Li can even go through and help them but yeah it would cost them dearly.

"The City would remember your contribution!" Ye Xiu smiled as Nie Li also shared a soft smile but inwardly he wanted to roll his eyes.

*Snap*

Nie Li snapped his fingers as Cao Wang appeared instantly, he has already broken through to Gold Rank after being guided by Nie Li. He was also gifted an extraordinary rank Demon Beast to merge with.

Nie Li is sure to be able to contain Cao Wang that is why he didn't hesitate to empower his guards and servants, as he grow stronger his demands for other would also increase and a stagnant group of servants would only be a liability.

Cao Wang escorted Ye Xiu outside as Nie Li looked at the book and stepped inside his room.

"A.I.Chip, Begin the optimization of the array technique, try to further increase its ability and also remove the trouble of putting up array pillars and formulate a way to utilize inscription formation in its place."

[Beep! Task Established! Optimizing....! Estimated Time for completion: 14 days, 19 hours.... ]

"Two weeks! Fair enough, I could tend other issue till then and also see what I have got!" Nie Li mused as he wasn't in room anymore but rather a field.

There were various herbs seedlings planted all around the field as a lush serenity was appearing here. This is Nie Li inventory.

Nie Li walked forward looked at the various plants with a side glance and turned his attention to the gigantic pile of demon spirit stones!

.....

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