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...
The guest courtyard of the Silver Winged Family was a place of stark contrasts. Its high walls, etched with the elegant forms of silver-winged beasts, loomed over the cobblestone paths below, casting long shadows that danced in the flickering light of hanging lanterns.
A gentle breeze rustled through the garden at its heart, carrying the faint fragrance of desolation, yet the air was heavy with the unspoken weight of captivity. Beyond the arched entrance, guards stood in silent vigil, their silver armor catching the dim glow of the evening sky. Their eyes, sharp and unyielding, tracked every movement within, a reminder that freedom here was an illusion. (Image)
Nie Li sat on a carved wooden chair, its armrests worn smooth by time, his posture relaxed yet commanding. His blue eyes gleamed with a quiet satisfaction as he gazed at Duan Jian, who knelt before him, shackled and battered but unbroken.
The youth's chest heaved with steady breaths, his tattered clothes clinging to a frame marked by bruises and dried blood. Even as a prisoner, stripped of power and bound by chains, Duan Jian exuded a defiance that could not be tamed. His eyes—those fearless, vengeful eyes—burned with a fire that had not dimmed, even under the lash or Nie Li's earlier scrutiny.
Nie Li tilted his head slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He remembered those eyes from the moment Duan Jian had been dragged into the courtyard, lashed and beaten yet staring back at the world with unyielding pride.
Even when Nie Li had tested him, pushing him to the edge with words and presence, those same eyes had held firm. A man like that, tempered by suffering and fueled by vengeance, was a rare find. If treated with sincerity, Nie Li mused, such a soul would never betray the one who lifted him from the ashes.
"I have a method," Nie Li said, his voice steady and deliberate, "that can help activate the Black Dragon blood in your body." He rose from his seat, his blue eyes radiating a quiet splendor as he looked down at Duan Jian. "However, you'll experience great torture and pain. But I suppose that's not an issue for you."
Duan Jian's gaze met his without flinching, his voice rough but resolute. "Pain will only make me stronger."
Though his wrists were bound tight by iron chains and his cultivation sealed, an indomitable aura still clung to him, a testament to the will that refused to break.
A faint beep sounded in Nie Li's mind.
[Beep! 36-point acupuncture technique transferred to the host!]
The knowledge flooded into him, an intricate map of meridians and energy points unfolding in his consciousness.
'Guide me through the process as well,' Nie Li commanded silently. 'I don't want any mistakes.'
[Beep! Guidance mode activated.]
The AI chip responded, its voice a cool, mechanical hum in his thoughts.
[The 36-point acupuncture technique targets key meridians to awaken dormant bloodlines. Begin with the Shenque point at the navel to stabilize qi flow, then proceed to the Baihui at the crown to unlock spiritual potential. Insert needles into the Qihai and Guanyuan points below the abdomen to ignite the dragon blood, followed by the Fengchi points at the base of the skull to harmonize the surge. Continue along the twelve primary meridians—Taiyin, Shaoyin, Jueyin—and the eight extraordinary vessels, striking the Yongquan at the soles and the Shanzhong at the chest last to anchor the transformation. Precision is critical; deviation risks meridian collapse.]
With a subtle wave of his right hand, a faint shimmer of light danced across Nie Li's fingers, and several fine silver needles appeared in his grasp. He held them up, their tips glinting faintly in the lantern light. (Image)
"With this technique," he said, "your body cultivation could soar to an unbelievable height. My estimate is Legend rank. As for your soul cultivation, that will depend on your own efforts."
Duan Jian's body trembled slightly, his eyes widening as he stared at Nie Li in disbelief. "What you're saying is… you're able to make me a Legend rank expert?"
"Yes," Nie Li replied, his tone calm but unyielding. "If your body can endure ten days of inhumane torture, your constitution will gain the strength of Legend rank. I assure you, this pain will be worse than anything you've ever experienced."
"I'll do it," Duan Jian said without hesitation, his voice firm as iron.
"I know." Nie Li's gaze softened briefly, a flicker of approval passing through his eyes. This boy, this unbroken soul had the potential to become more than a pawn.
Before, Nie Li had been reluctant to build his own force, preferring to rely on his own cunning and strength. But now, with the stakes rising and the Silver Winged Family's resources at his disposal, he saw the need for capable, loyal subordinates. Duan Jian, with his unyielding will and thirst for vengeance, was the perfect candidate.
Duan Jian straightened his posture as best he could, kneeling with his chest upright despite the chains. "Come," he said, his voice a quiet challenge.
Nie Li reached into his sleeve, producing a small jade vial. He uncorked it, revealing a cluster of glossy, crimson pills that pulsed faintly with energy. "Eat these Nine Realm Condensing Pills," he said, tipping the vial into his hand and passing them to Duan Jian. "They'll restore your strength to its peak."
Duan Jian opened his mouth without question, swallowing the pills in one swift motion. He closed his eyes, his breathing deepening as he began to refine their energy. (Image)
Within moments, a faint warmth spread through his battered frame, his pallor improving as the elixirs worked their magic, replenishing the vitality that had been drained by captivity and torment.
Nie Li stepped forward, the silver needles poised between his fingers. Guided by the AI chip's precise instructions, he began the acupuncture technique. His movements were swift and assured, each needle finding its mark with unerring accuracy.
The first pierced the Shenque point at Duan Jian's navel, eliciting a faint wince. The second struck the Baihui at the crown of his head, and a ripple of energy pulsed through the youth's frame. One by one, Nie Li inserted the needles—Qihai, Guanyuan, Fengchi—until over thirty of Duan Jian's meridian points bristled with silver tips. The pain was sharp but bearable at first, and Duan Jian merely furrowed his brows, his jaw tight.
But when Nie Li placed the thirty-sixth needle, striking the Shanzhong point at the center of his chest, Duan Jian's composure shattered. His face twisted in agony, his body convulsing as a primal scream tore from his throat.
"Arghh!" The sound was raw, filled with endless torment, echoing off the courtyard walls and into the night beyond. (Image)
His body felt as though it were ablaze, waves of searing heat rolling through his veins as the dormant Black Dragon blood within him awakened. Sweat poured from his brow, his muscles trembling uncontrollably as the needles channeled energy through his meridians, forcing the transformation to take root.
'I guess that went well,' Nie Li thought, stepping back to observe his work. The AI chip's guidance had been flawless, and the process was underway.
The scream reverberated beyond the courtyard, reaching the ears of the guards stationed outside. They exchanged uneasy glances, their hands tightening on their spears.
Duan Jian's cries sent a chill down their spines, a stark contrast to the silence he'd maintained even under the cruelest lashings. They knew him well—a traitor cast aside by his kin, yet a man who had never bowed, never broken. His resilience had earned him a grudging respect among them, a quiet admiration for his unyielding spirit.
But now, after mere minutes in Nie Li's presence, he was screaming in a way they'd never heard. "That guy is far too fearsome," one guard muttered, his voice low as he glanced toward the courtyard. "Such incredible strength at such a young age. The Patriarch was right to tread carefully around him."
Another guard shivered, his scalp prickling. "I just hope we don't have to take whatever medicine he's testing in there."
"We won't, right?" a third chimed in, his tone laced with nervous hope. "He can't possibly be thinking of torturing us all."
"Let's hope those slaves and traitors endure the pain for us," the first guard replied, his eyes darting back to the courtyard. "If they can help him craft a proper treatment, I'll take that over whatever's happening in there."
A Few Days Later: Silver Winged Family's Patriarch Courtyard
The Patriarch's courtyard was a grander affair, its walls adorned with silver tapestries depicting the family's storied lineage. A long, polished table dominated the center, surrounded by chairs upholstered in rich velvet. (Image)
Sikong Yi sat at its head, his imposing figure clad in robes of deep silver and black, his face etched with the weariness of illness and the burden of leadership. Beside him stood his daughter, Sikong Hongyue, her sharp features set in a mask of barely concealed frustration.
A guard knelt before them, his head bowed as he delivered his report. "Lord Patriarch, Young Master Nie Li has begun testing the medicine. I've heard that Duan Jian is being miserably tortured. When we lashed that brat for days on end, he didn't even make a sound. But now, not long after entering the guest courtyard, his screams could be heard from miles away!"
Sikong Yi's brows twitched, a flicker of curiosity passing through his stern gaze. He couldn't imagine what method Nie Li had employed to draw such a reaction from Duan Jian. "If such a technique were used in an interrogation," he mused aloud, his voice low and gravelly, "it would be absolutely effective."
"It seems he is just torturing him for fun, I have looked into those demonic blue eyes daring defiance, he was probably quite disgusted by that vermin traitor." Sikong muttered.
The guard hesitated before continuing. "Milord, he has already handed us the relief potions. We tested them on some slaves and dying elders. They're quite useful—though they can't stop the disease's progress, they relieve the pain and slow the rejection significantly."
Sikong Yi nodded, his fingers brushing against a small jade vial on the table before him. The relief potion shimmered faintly within, its pale blue liquid catching the light. He lifted it carefully, his movements deliberate as he uncorked it and brought it to his lips. (Image)
The scent was sharp, herbal, with a hint of something metallic. He tilted his head back and drank deeply, the cool liquid sliding down his throat with a faint burn.
For a moment, there was silence. Then Sikong Yi doubled over, a violent cough wracking his frame. His hand gripped the table's edge, his knuckles whitening as he hacked, flecks of spittle staining his sleeve.
Sikong Hongyue's eyes flashed with rage, her fists clenching as she whirled toward the guard. "This is an outrage!" she snapped, her voice sharp as a blade. "Call the guards—summon the elders! I'll have that insolent brat—"
"Enough!" Sikong Yi's voice cut through her tirade, hoarse but firm. He straightened slowly, his coughing subsiding as a relaxed expression spread across his weathered face.
He exhaled deeply, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "The medicine… it's remarkable. I feel many times better. The constant, sickening pain—it's eased, more than I thought possible."
Hongyue froze, her anger faltering as she stared at her father. "Father…?"
He waved a hand dismissively, turning to the guard. "Tell me more. And find a way to get the formula for this relief elixir from Nie Li. We need it."
The guard shifted uncomfortably, his gaze dropping. "Milord..."
Sikong Yi's eyes narrowed, a spark of irritation flaring. "Hmph! Are you afraid of him? Don't be a coward—"
"No, Milord, he has already given us the elixir recipe." the guard interrupted hastily, bowing deeper. "It's not that. The alchemists—ours and those from we have trading relations with, can't recreate it. The formula is too complex. Some say the expertise required is beyond anything they've seen. When they learned Master Nie Li crafted it himself, they've been clamoring to meet him, to study under him. Some even want to take him as their teacher. They say his achievements in alchemy surpass anyone in our realm. If they study the formula wholeheartedly, they might manage it, but the success rate would be pitiful."
Sikong Yi leaned back in his chair, his expression a mix of awe and calculation. "So, Nie Li is a fearsome existence indeed," he murmured. "No family would hesitate to fight for his favor."
Sikong Hongyue stepped closer, her voice low but insistent. "Father, I've been thinking about this since I returned. He's too arrogant and dangerous. We must find a way to neutralize his threat."
Sikong Yi shook his head slowly, his eyes distant. "He's our only hope to cure the sickness plaguing our family. He must remain. And his strength…"
Fear flickered in his gaze, a rare vulnerability from the hardened Patriarch. "Even at my full power, I couldn't fight him. He reminds me of a time long ago, when I was young. I went on an exploration with your grandfather and uncle—both Legend rank, unbeatable, or so we thought. We crossed paths with a demon beast, a monster of unbelievable power. My brother died fighting it. My father was gravely wounded and passed years later. Our family only survived those times, because of me breaking through to Legend rank and neutralizing external threats. That encounter still haunts me."
He paused, his voice dropping. "That boy gives me the same feeling. A fight with him would be catastrophic. Even if we killed him, our losses would leave us vulnerable to every rival family."
"Thankfully, he's ruthless, like us—unlike his soft-hearted companions. His alchemy alone makes him invaluable. We must bind him to us. Hongyue, if you could get close to him, it would be ideal."
Hongyue frowned, her pride bristling. "Father, I don't think he'd fancy me. I hate to admit it, but he's leagues above me."
Sikong Yi's gaze sharpened. "Men are victims of beauty. Your cultivation has been enough until now, but for this, use your wit and charm. A man of his caliber likely has a powerful family behind him. If I'm not mistaken, the Heavenly Mark Family of the Black Pearl Clan was once among the strongest—they may still hold that glory. With him, we might even escape this wretched place."
The weight of his words settled over the room, a silent pact forming between father and daughter. Nie Li was a storm they could neither fight nor ignore—and they would do whatever it took to harness his power for their own.