Chapter 176: Monster!

"Nephew Nie Li, how can I accept this..." Xiao Yunfeng straightened his expression and hastily protested.

"Ning'er has helped me a great deal recently. Think of it as a thank-you gift, Uncle. Please don't stand on ceremony with me," Nie Li said, pressing the item into Xiao Yunfeng's hands before flashing a smile at Ning'er.

Ning'er's pretty face flushed slightly red, but she said nothing.

Xiao Yunfeng glanced at Xiao Ning'er beside him. No one understood a daughter better than her father — he already grasped what was going on. He nodded. "Then I'll accept it." Although he'd heard that Nie Li was close to Ye Ziyun, Xiao Yunfeng didn't mind. After all, for noble scions, having multiple wives was perfectly normal. Nie Li was currently the number one genius of the City of Radiance, so Ning'er being with him was hardly a loss.

Beyond that, Xiao Yunfeng knew something else: Xiao Ning'er's entire cultivation and talent were gifts from Nie Li. As the legitimate daughter of the Wing Dragon Family, it was only right to repay such kindness.

Nie Li hadn't given it a moment's thought — he'd simply handed over a small gift, never imagining Xiao Yunfeng would read so deeply into it.

Watching Nie Li and Xiao Yunfeng chatting and laughing together from across the hall, Shen Hong's eyebrows twitched upward. The Wing Dragon Family had always been a vassal of the Sacred Family. Xiao Ning'er was even his own son's fiancée. But now the Wing Dragon Family had broken free from the Sacred Family's control — they wanted to call off the engagement, and on top of that, they'd beaten Shen Fei senseless. Though Shen Hong was known for his restraint, his anger only kept mounting.

Shen Hong glanced at Duan Jian beside Nie Li. The young man's steady gait and sharp gaze filled him with a vague sense of wariness.

"Shen Xiu," Shen Hong called in a low voice.

"Here, Brother. What is it?" Shen Xiu asked.

"Take Shen Yan with you and test the strength of that young man behind Nie Li. Also, have someone investigate what exactly their relationship is," Shen Hong said. If this young man was talented and not particularly close to Nie Li, it might be possible to recruit him.

"Understood." Shen Xiu swept a glance toward Nie Li and his group, a cold glint flickering through her eyes.

She rose and began walking toward them, with Shen Shen Yan trailing behind.

Noticing the Sacred Family members approaching, Xiao Yunfeng furrowed his brow slightly. Xiao Yi and the others tensed up. The Sacred Family might be suppressed by the Wind Snow Family, but their lingering intimidation remained — when it came to raw strength, the Wing Dragon Family was no match for the Sacred Family whatsoever.

On the elevated platform, Ye Xiu and Ye Shuo noticed the scene as well.

"Ye Xiu, Shen Hong has sent a Black Gold-tier expert over. Nie Li might not be able to handle it. Should we step in and help him out?" Ye Shuo turned to Ye Xiu and asked.

Ye Xiu shook his head with a smile. "If that kid Nie Li could actually be stumped, that'd be the real surprise. Let's just watch — he'll be fine. Besides, this is a perfect chance to see what kind of strength that young man beside him really has."

Ye Shuo looked at Ye Xiu with some surprise, not expecting such confidence in Nie Li. He nodded.

Nie Li glanced at Shen Xiu as she made her way over. She was dressed in an evening gown, her voluptuous figure drawing the eyes of several nearby family experts. The murmuring began immediately among them.

"Did you hear? The Wing Dragon Family was originally betrothed to the Sacred Family, but now they want to call it off. Shen Fei, the eldest son of the Sacred Family, was furious — he went to the Wing Dragon Family to make a scene, and Xiao Ning'er ended up beating him up. He was carried out."

"Is that really true? I heard Shen Fei has already cultivated to the Gold tier. He's still no match for Xiao Ning'er? She beat him? Did someone from the Wing Dragon Family step in to help?"

"You didn't know? Xiao Ning'er has recently cultivated to the Gold tier herself, and she fused with a Tempest Thunder Skyfinch Demon Spirit. That good-for-nothing Shen Fei never stood a chance against her!"

"The Sacred Family's luck has been terrible lately. The Wing Dragon Family kicking them while they're down is a bit ruthless."

"Please, we all know what kind of person Shen Fei really is. How many innocent women has he gotten into trouble? Xiao Ning'er is a fine girl — why should she be wasted on a waste like him?

The experts from these noble families chatted among themselves, their eyes darting this way and curiosity burning — how exactly did the Sacred Family plan to handle this? How would the Wing Dragon Family respond? Still, the vast majority of them were quietly siding with the Wing Dragon Family. After all, Shen Fei's reputation was genuinely terrible.

Shen Xiu had caught wind of the murmured gossip, and her face turned as cold as frost. When she had first learned that her nephew Shen Fei had been beaten up by Xiao Ning'er, she had been livid — this was an outright slap to the Sacred Family's face!

"Tsk, tsk, Xiao Ning'er — back at Sheng Lan Academy, I already saw you sneaking around with some random man behind Shen Fei's back, and now you're being this brazen about it? Have you no shame at all?" Shen Xiu crossed her arms and looked down at Xiao Ning'er with undisguised contempt.

"Shen Xiu, you're spouting utter nonsense! Whatever I, Xiao Ning'er, choose to do is none of the Sacred Family's business!" Xiao Ning'er had never heard such cutting words before. She shot to her feet, glaring at Shen Xiu with fury.

Xiao Yunfeng's brow furrowed slightly. He regarded Shen Xiu and Shen Yan with a frigid stare. It was abundantly clear that the Sacred Family had come looking for a fight — and he was eager to see what exactly they intended to do. Surely the Sacred Family wouldn't dare lay a hand on the Wing Dragon Family with so many witnesses present!

"Oh, did I strike a nerve? Hmph. If you don't want people to know, don't do it in the first place!" A cold smile curled at the corner of Shen Xiu's lips. "So many experts from the great families are watching right now. Today, I'm going to expose your wretched face for what it truly is!"

"You..." Xiao Ning'er was so furious she was on the verge of tears, her heart flooded with grievance. All these years, how much suffering had she endured — all because the Sacred Family kept tightening the noose around her. Would these people only be satisfied if they drove her to her death?

"What's the matter? Still unconvinced, are you? Hmph. Your engagement to my nephew Shen Fei was witnessed by the patriarchs of both families, and the betrothal contract still stands. Do you really think you can deny it? The Sacred Family is not so easily bullied. Come with me to the Sacred Family's estate and we'll let it go — but if you refuse, you won't have a choice!" Shen Xiu gazed down at Xiao Ning'er from on high.