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

Dragons are one of the races with the most direct and intense emotions.

Having grown up in such an environment, Tan Suiting had no idea what it meant to have love unspoken.

"Just the fact that you were willing to sacrifice your own cultivation to give birth to Nie Shiyun shows that you are not a heartless person. I believe that what you said just now was not entirely false, but I don't believe that you hate your daughter because of it."

"That's enough," Nie Qingyi stood up. "My bloodline power is backfiring. Killing just two people today has thrown my spiritual energy into chaos. I won't last much longer."

She turned her head to look at Nie Zhao, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes for a moment before turning cold again: "You must take on the responsibility of Nanchuan Chidi as soon as possible."

Nie Zhao frowned: "What do you mean by 'can't hold out for long'?"

"Literally," Nie Qingyi said coldly, "you'd better watch yourselves."

After saying that, she turned and left.

"Ayi," Shen Yuan staggered to his feet and followed after her, "Sister."

Watching the two walk away, Nie Zhao bit her lip.

Why would my mother say that? What does "can't hold on for long" mean?

She would rather exhaust her own life force to give birth to herself and A-Yun. Why did she send herself to Feng Hua Sect back then, leaving only her younger sister in the mansion?

No, she needs to find out.

Just as Nie Zhao lifted his leg, Yu Xintang grabbed him.

"Senior sister," he said, "you're both in a bad mood right now. Why don't you sort out your thoughts and go see Aunt Nie later?"

Nie Zhao remained silent.

"Yes, Senior Sister," Shen Chunri said, "believe me, Aunt Nie is really injured. According to what you said before, she cares so much about her cultivation, she's such a strong-willed person. If she didn't love you, if she didn't love Nie Shiyun, how could she be willing to sacrifice herself to give birth to the child? Today, she even risked the backlash of her internal energy to come out of seclusion early. You know how important the power of bloodline origin is to alien races."

Nie Zhao pondered for a moment, then turned to Xie Weixing: "What do you think?"

Xie Weixing paused for a moment, then raised an eyebrow: "There are only two possibilities. First, she has some unspeakable secret that she can't tell. Second, she's just not good at expressing emotions and feels ashamed to express her true feelings."

"No matter which possibility it is, she loves you. Cook a bowl of noodles for her later and bring it over. Don't say anything, just sit next to her and cry. Ignore whatever she says, just cry. It's more effective than any coercion or bribery."

Nie Zhao frowned slightly: "Really?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Xie Weixing said. "I've discovered that none of you in the Nie family have mouths, and the only one who does is a hopeless henpecked husband. What future do you have?"

After much persuasion, Nie Zhao finally calmed down. She summoned the servants: "Go and prepare the guest rooms. You all go and rest first. If you have the energy tomorrow, go out for a stroll. Haven't you been curious about Nanchuan for a long time?"

"Alright," Xie Weixing reached out and put his arm around Shen Chunri, "Come out, little snake, your senior brother has something to tell you."

"Ouch, you're stepping on my hair."

Yu Xintang, standing beside her, tugged at her braid: "What's wrong with grabbing at this head of straw?"

"Are you trying to die?"

Tan Suiting quickly caught up with Xie Weixing and grabbed his hand: "Senior brother, what did you say to the little snake? Can't I listen?"

The others left one after another, leaving only the Nie sisters in the hall.

"Go back and recover from your injuries," Nie Zhao said calmly.

"Sister," Nie Shiyun tugged at her sleeve, and after a long while spoke, "Was I really born from my mother exhausting all her bloodline essence? Then why doesn't she love me?"

Nie Zhao looked at her: "Is she the only one who cares about me?"

"At least you were born out of love. I am just a child who appeared in accordance with the inheritance of Nanchuan. If I were not the Phoenix Maiden of this lineage, it would be hard to say whether I could have grown up in the Nie family. You ask me if my mother loves you. Where would I get the answer?"

"That's not what I meant," Nie Shiyun said urgently. "What I meant was, if Mother didn't love me, then why did she choose to give birth to me? Sister, don't you find that strange?"

Nie Zhao began, "When my mother was pregnant with you, I was about four years old and could remember things. I only remember that many doctors and physicians came to the manor. Even my senior uncle, who is now the head of the Medicine Sect, came to take my mother's pulse. At that time, many elders advised my mother that she should not keep you."

"So," Nie Shiyun's pupils trembled, and he gripped her clothes tightly, "I really am my father's child?"

"Hmm," Nie Zhao said, "I've inquired. Since giving birth to Phoenix Girl, Mother gradually dismissed everyone in the backyard except for Shen Yuan. Everyone thought they wouldn't have any more children, but you were an exception. Mother resisted the elders for you, exhausted her bloodline essence for you, and then ignored you after giving birth to you. I don't know why. Perhaps she only loved Shen Yuan, not you or me."

Nie Shiyun loosened her fingers, her brows furrowing.

After a long pause, she spoke up: "Sister, haven't you ever wondered who your father is?"

"My father?" Nie Zhao looked at her. "Naturally, it's Shen Yuan."

"What?"

Nie Zhao lowered his long eyebrows slightly: "Who is my mother's wife? Who is the head of the Nie family? That is my father. What's wrong with that?"

Nie Shiyun was speechless.

She was raised by Shen Yuan and the male elders, and her understanding of the hierarchy of women and men in Chidi was not as profound as Nie Zhao's.

"Go back and get some rest. I'll have someone take care of you," Nie Zhao said. "By the way, your maid has returned as well. If you hadn't asked her to deliver the message, I would still be in the dark. You did a great job."

Nie Shiyun's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she pursed her lips gently: "She took my invisibility artifact. It was only with Lu Qingyou's help that she was able to evade the search and leave Nanchuan. I contacted Lu Qingyou through the previous..."

She was just about to show off her intelligence.

"Lu Qingyou?" Nie Zhao frowned, interrupting, "Your fellow disciple from the Tianxuan Sect?"

"Yes."

The Lu family and the Nie family of Nanchuan are old friends. Lu Qingyou and Nie Shiyun grew up together, which is why they know the situation in Chidi so well.

"Stay away from him," Nie Zhao coldly rebuked. "It's obvious she's another narrow-minded and jealous vixen. If she marries into the Nie family, you won't have a peaceful day in your harem. You haven't learned any of your mother's good qualities, but you definitely inherited her poor judgment."

Caught off guard by the reprimand, Nie Shiyun was stunned for a moment before she reacted: "What did I do? Lu Qingyou even helped me, so why are you saying I have bad taste?"

"Your Lu Qingyou is so powerful, why didn't he come to save you?" Nie Zhao replied, "At such a young age, you've been bewitched by the seductive tricks of the outside world. I think you've given up all hope of cultivation."

She scoffed, "Suit yourself. Your business is none of my concern."