Are you really trying to cultivate immortality? Something feels off.

The vermilion gates of the Nie Mansion in Nanchuan stand tall, and the continuous courtyards are built against the mountain, fully displaying the solemnity and grandeur of a century-old family.

"So big?" Shen Chunri exclaimed in surprise.

She came from the Shen family of Bishe and was used to grand occasions, but the Nie family mansion was even more magnificent than the Shen family mansion.

Xie Weixing sized him up for a moment, then raised an eyebrow slightly.

Nanchuan was filled with swords, guns, and cannons.

Anyone who dares to touch the two daughters of the Nie family will have their entire family buried in the ground and turned into ginseng by the afternoon for the trouble they caused in the morning, and they'll still have to say thank you to the leaders for their cultivation.

Nie Zhao snorted coldly, seemingly having no attachment to this place.

In the dim light of the night, lanterns flickered in front of the mansion gate, casting shadows on people.

Just as the two guards from the Nie family raised their hands to stop him, the man in black slowly removed his cloak and mask, then held them in his palm.

The woman's red hair was tied up high, pierced by a gold hairpin, and her phoenix eyes were cold and devoid of any warmth.

"The gatekeeper of the Nie residence doesn't recognize me?" Her voice was cold and sharp, carrying the chill and ruthlessness of someone who had long held a high position. Her eyes were calm, yet they made one's chest feel heavy and one's spine feel cold.

"Young Miss? What's wrong...?" The guard's face turned pale, and he hurriedly lowered his head and bowed, not daring to show the slightest disrespect. "This subordinate wouldn't dare!"

No one dared to stop them.

Nie Zhao stepped into the mansion gate, her crimson robes fluttering lightly with her steps.

Yu Xintang followed behind, her fingers flying, forming complex long seals as she walked, calmly striking down the Absolute Boundary Array.

Nie Zhao led his men straight ahead, through corridors and courtyards. Along the way, the servants and members of the Nie family that they encountered all looked up in shock, but dared not look any longer.

In Nanchuan, daring to look directly at the Phoenix Maiden's face is also a form of disrespect.

So they could only keep quiet and avoid the danger, no one dared to step forward even a fraction of an inch. The entire Nie mansion was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, but the underlying anxiety within could not be concealed.

Everyone knows that Nie Zhao is extremely protective of his own and is a notorious tyrant. His sudden return to the mansion today is definitely not without reason.

Unimpeded, Nie Zhao led his men to the main hall of the Nie family mansion.

The palace doors were open, and several people sat upright inside.

At the head of the table sat the husband, Shen Yuan, dressed in a light-colored brocade robe. His face was somewhat pale, and he looked sickly, but his eyebrows and eyes were gentle and refined.

Several white-haired elders stood on either side, all of them core members of the Nie family who were in charge of internal affairs. Each of them had a solemn expression, with a hint of panic hidden in their eyes.

Shen Yuan looked up, smiled slightly, and said calmly, "Ah Zhao? You returned from Feng Hua Sect with so many fellow disciples. Was the journey bumpy? Why didn't you send word in advance so that I could send someone to welcome you?"

His tone was gentle, and his expression remained unchanged.

Xie Weixing thought he was good-looking, so she waved and greeted him politely: "Hello, Uncle."

Tan Suiting took the lion's hand back, his expression indifferent: "He is bad."

Xie Weixing glanced at it before realizing what it meant: "Ah."

It's the eldest sister's ambitious father.

Why does the villain have to be so good-looking?

Isn't it said that men in the Nie family of Nanchuan are just breeding tools? Why do they have to find such good-looking tools?

Aunt Nie is indeed someone who treats herself very well.

Nie Zhao stopped in the hall, neither bowing nor kneeling, her posture upright, her phoenix eyes coldly staring at the person in the main seat, without the slightest hint of the gentleness of a young girl returning home.

She got straight to the point: "Bring your people out to see me."

Shen Yuan paused slightly, his expression remaining calm as he smiled gently, "You've been away from home for a long time. If you want anyone to serve you, just give the order. Everyone in the manor is at your disposal."

"I want Nie Shiyun."

These five words, falling like ice stones to the ground, instantly froze the air in the entire main hall.

The expressions of the elders in the hall changed slowly. They exchanged a subtle glance, and the panic in their eyes vanished in an instant.

Shen Yuan frowned slightly, revealing a confused and regretful expression. He sighed slowly, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Shi Yun... she is truly unruly. A month ago, she audaciously kept forbidden books of magic and secretly practiced evil arts. She even injured me, violating the rules of the Nie family."

"However, Ah Zhao need not worry. She knows that she has committed grave sins and feels extremely guilty. She has already confined herself to her room to reflect on her mistakes."

These words are spoken lightly.

Shen Yuan is clearly middle-aged, but his eyes are gentle and polite, and his eyelashes are long and expressive. He doesn't look like a man who already has two daughters.

The elder standing beside her immediately bowed and echoed her words, speaking solemnly: "Young Miss, you are absolutely certain that this matter is true. Nie Shiyun stole forbidden techniques, nearly causing a great disaster and disgracing the Nie family. The head of the family is kind-hearted and did not punish her severely, but only ordered her to stay at home to reflect on her mistakes. This is already exceptionally lenient."

Another elder quickly added, "That's right! She's been staying in a secluded courtyard these past few days, diligently repenting, and no one in the manor has disturbed her. Miss, there's no need to worry; she'll come out on her own once she realizes her mistakes."

The group worked together in perfect harmony, their lies airtight.

Anyway, the young lady has been in the sect for a long time, far away, and is unaware of the inner workings of the mansion. She has always been at odds with Nie Shiyun, so a few words of excuses will be enough to lightly dismiss the matter.

"Patriarch?" Nie Zhao spoke calmly, a mocking smile playing on her lips. She looked up at Shen Yuan, who sat in the main seat. "When did the head of the Nie family change? What, am I, as the Phoenix Maiden, not worthy to know?"

The elder choked up, and after a long while, he weakly explained, "Well... ever since the patriarch went into seclusion, it has been my husband who has been in charge of the affairs of the manor, so..."

Listening to their utterly hypocritical words and looking at her father's feigned kindness and sanctimonious face, Nie Zhao felt a growing anger rising in her heart.

"It is your duty to manage the affairs of the household," she said, staring intently at Shen Yuan with a cold, hard smile. "Your mother married you into the family, and that is your responsibility. Do you expect me to hand over the position of head of the family to you just because you did your duty? Besides, although my mother is no longer here, I am not dead. When did it become your place as men to speak in the Nie family?"

Everyone present froze.

"Confined to the quiet courtyard, to reflect on one's actions behind closed doors?" Nie Zhao's voice wasn't loud, but it was chilling, silencing the entire room. "Even if Nie Shiyun violated clan rules, Mother isn't here, so she should wait for me to return and decide. When did it become your place to act on your own? Nie Shiyun has phoenix blood flowing through her veins; her status in the clan is above yours. She's not someone you can dispose of at will. Besides, why haven't you mentioned this matter at all in the letters sent to the Feng Hua Sect in recent years?"

She raised her eyes coldly: "Are you planning a rebellion?"

Shen Yuan's heart tightened, his face almost translucent, the pale blue veins on his neck and wrists faintly visible: "A-Zhao...cough! cough!"

He coughed violently.

Several elders stood up: "Young Miss! Rules are rules! Nie Shiyun has violated the clan rules, how can we allow her to make excuses! Not taking her life is already lenient, Young Miss, please do not show favoritism or interfere with the clan's punishments!"