"What's the matter? Is there a problem?"
"Reporting to the Ancestor, the cultivation technique I practice is called the Wind Thunder Wing Dragon Art. A friend taught it to me, and without that friend's permission, I'm afraid I cannot share this technique with the Ancestor,"
"I just wanted to take a look at what kind of technique it is — I wouldn't steal your technique..." Ye Yan said, his face reddening. Having to swallow his pride and ask Xiao Ning'er about her technique was already an incredibly difficult thing to do. He simply couldn't suppress his curiosity about the Wind Thunder Wing Dragon Art, but not being able to see it made him feel as if several cats were scratching at his heart.
"Forgive me, but Ning'er cannot comply," Xiao Ning'er said stubbornly. In her eyes, handing over the Wind Thunder Wing Dragon Art to someone else would be tantamount to betraying
"Why don't I offer you something in exchange? You let me look at the Wind Thunder Wing Dragon Art, and I can teach you ten incredibly powerful cultivation techniques..." Ye Yan coaxed temptingly.
Just as Ye Yan was talking with Xiao Ning'er, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Ning'er, don't believe this old swindler. How could his pile of junk techniques possibly compare to your Wind Thunder Wing Dragon Art?" Nie Li said.
"You — you brat! How dare you call me an old swindler!" Ye Yan was about to explode with rage, and inside he felt the humiliated fury of having his sore spot poked.
"What's wrong? Trying to trade a few lousy techniques for the Wind Thunder Wing Dragon Art — absolutely shameless. And you call yourself the Ancestor of the City of Radiance! Someone who has lived for hundreds of years trying to deceive an innocent girl — you've got no shame at all!" Nie Li continued to berate him without the slightest restraint.
"You... you... you..." Ye Yan was practically going mad. Nie Li's words showed absolutely no mercy.
"Nie Li, how are you here? How can you speak inside my head?" Xiao Ning'er asked in confusion. Right now, she was sitting cross-legged in a cultivation state, and Nie Li's voice seemed to be coming straight from within her mind.
Xiao Ning'er's words left Ye Yan somewhat stunned as well. He had died long ago and was currently in a soul form, which was the only reason he could communicate with Xiao Ning'er through soul transmission. But how was Nie Li managing to do it?
"Soul Projection — it's a very simple ability," Nie Li said with a faint smile.
Soul Projection? Ye Yan had never even heard of such a thing during his lifetime, and Nie Li was saying it was a very simple technique. Ye Yan was about to lose his mind — who on earth was this kid?
"Old swindler, what else do you want?" Nie Li snorted.
Hearing Nie Li address Ancestor Ye Yan that way, Xiao Ning'er's expression showed a hint of suspicion as well.
Ye Yan's soul was practically bursting with fury. "I'm already dead — I couldn't care less about your techniques, let alone try to swindle them from you!"
"If you don't care, then why were you trying to get Ning'er to hand over the Wind Thunder Wing Dragon Art? Hmph, if you don't want anyone to know, don't do it in the first place!" Nie Li showed absolutely no regard for Ye Yan's feelings.
"You—" Ye Yan was jumping with rage. "This is absolutely infuriating! I merely wanted to see what flaws the Wind Thunder Wing Dragon Art might have!"
Flaws? With your level, it'd be a miracle if you could spot any flaws in the Wind Thunder Wing Dragon Art!
"It's not that we can't let you take a look at the Wind Thunder Wing Dragon Art..." Nie Li said with a slight smile.
Ye Yan raised an eyebrow. He could clearly sense that this kid was up to something, but he still couldn't resist his intense curiosity. During his lifetime, Ye Yan had been obsessed with martial arts and loved studying all kinds of techniques. He had seen many powerful cultivation methods, and when he discovered that what Nie Li and Xiao Ning'er practiced were two techniques he had never encountered before, he was thrilled and eager to examine them.
He had originally wanted to take Nie Li as his disciple so he could study Nie Li's technique, but that fellow turned out to be far too monstrous and had dealt him a crushing blow. Thinking that since he couldn't see Nie Li's technique, he'd settle for looking at Xiao Ning'er's — only to be ruthlessly called out by Nie Li as well.
Ye Yan had thought there was no hope left, but Nie Li's words reignited a spark within him.
"Say what you want — get to the point!" Ye Yan understood that Nie Li was far too cunning. If he wasn't direct, he might end up being played.
"Ancestor Ye Yan truly lives up to being one of the founding figures of the City of Radiance — straightforward indeed. Then I'll say it plainly: I want the Heaven-Fallen Divine Thunder Sword," Nie Li said with a faint smile.
"Impossible!" Ye Yan blurted out.
Heaven-Fallen Divine Thunder Sword? What was that? Xiao Ning'er looked somewhat bewildered — she had never heard of it before.
Ever since Ancestor Ye Yan had appeared, Nie Li had already been scheming against him. His goal was precisely the Heaven-Fallen Divine Thunder Sword. The Heaven-Fallen Divine Thunder Sword was an incredibly powerful weapon that had become astonishingly formidable after devouring countless Demon Spirits in battle.
"Then forget it..." Nie Li shrugged.