Chapter 221: The Second Page?

A long while passed before Nie Hai, Nie En, and the others finally calmed down.

Nie Li's rate of growth was truly astonishing. They understood that Nie Li would be like an eagle spreading its wings and soaring to places they would never step foot in their lifetime, reaching realms beyond their imagination.

"Nie Li, with our limited knowledge, we probably can't offer you any more advice," Nie Hai said after a moment of silence. "You are undoubtedly the most outstanding among the younger generation of our Tian Hen Family. We cannot imagine the heights you will reach in the future. Since you've decided to go out and train, we won't stop you. You've already seen everything in the family treasury, and nothing left there interests you. I doubt you'd care for common items either, but this... this is an heirloom of our Tian Hen Family, passed down through generations, and only the head of the family can possess it..."

Hearing Nie Hai's words, Nie Li was a bit confused. What exactly was Nie Hai talking about? An item only the heads of the Tian Hen Family could possess through the generations?

Even Nie En looked at Nie Hai in puzzlement, wondering what he was referring to.

"Even Nie En and the others don't know this thing exists, though I myself don't know its true purpose," Nie Hai chuckled. He took a Space Ring from his bosom, opened it, and from within retrieved a small brocade box. Opening the box, he took out a red cloth bundle.

Watching Nie Hai's actions, Nie Li and the others grew even more curious. What exactly was it that Nie Hai had hidden so carefully?

Nie Hai slowly unwrapped the red cloth bundle, revealing the item inside.

Seeing it, Nie Li gasped in surprise. "It's this?"

Hearing Nie Li's exclamation, Nie Hai looked at him in astonishment. "You know what this is?"

Nie En and Nie Ming stared blankly at the object in Nie Hai's hand. It was a single torn page. No one knew what material it was made of; it was thin as a cicada's wing, and when sunlight hit it, it appeared somewhat translucent. The page was covered in dense, intricate text that was difficult to decipher.

Nie Li nodded. How could he not know what it was? His reincarnation into the past was directly tied to this very item.

In his previous life, Nie Li's cultivation had reached a realm unimaginable to mortals. Even powerhouses of the Heavenly Mandate level were nothing more than dust and ants before him. Yet even then, he had never fully understood the origins of the Book of Time-Space Demon Spirit.

Back then, the Book of Time-Space Demon Spirit had been incomplete. Eight torn pages were missing.

Nie Li had found one of the missing pages in the Empty Overlord's empty stone coffin. He never expected that Nie Hai would actually possess the second torn page. These pages had been passed down through generations of the Tian Hen Family heads. Could there be some deep connection between the book and the Tian Hen Family?

Nie Li couldn't quite figure it out, so he decided to let it go for now. These mysteries could be pursued later.

"I happen to have a page as well," Nie Li said, producing his own torn page from the Book of Time-Space Demon Spirit. "I have a feeling that these torn pages must conceal a tremendous secret. Please entrust this page to me for safekeeping, Family Head!"

Seeing the page in Nie Li's hand, Nie Hai's eyes widened. He had always known this page was no ordinary item, passed down from ancestors long past, but he never imagined Nie Li already had one of his own. He had no idea what great secret Nie Li referred to. Perhaps only Nie Li could answer that.

"Here, take it," Nie Hai said, handing the torn page over to Nie Li.

Nie Li accepted the page and compared the two. He realized with a frown that the two pages were identical, right down to the text—there wasn't a single difference. How could this be?

Could the Book of Time-Space Demon Spirit contain duplicate pages?

Unable to figure it out, Nie Li stopped thinking about it and put both torn pages away.

"Nie Li, since this has been passed down from our ancestors, you must safeguard it carefully," Nie Ming instructed. Nie Ming was a very cautious man. Although his son was now a Legendary Warrior, he remained as humble within the family as before, careful and meticulous in his duties. He naturally treated the family's inherited treasures with the utmost respect.

"Father, I understand," Nie Li nodded. "I will take good care of it."

Nie Li chatted with Nie Hai and the others for a while, then shared an evening meal with his family. He felt quite apologetic to his father and mother. Ever since his rebirth, he had been constantly busy trying to protect the City of Radiance, spending far more time apart from his family than with them. But it was a necessary sacrifice. Only when the City of Radiance was truly safe could Nie Li's heart finally be at peace.

Night gradually fell, passing uneventfully.

Come morning, Nie Li said his farewells to his family, made his preparations, and departed.

At the gates of the City of Radiance, Ye Ziyun, Xiao Ning'er, and the others had already gathered.

Nie Li gazed toward the distant city walls, where two figures stood watching silently—Ye Mo and Ye Zong. They remained at a distance, not coming forward to see Nie Li and his group off. The golden morning sun bathed them in light, draping them in golden robes.

Looking at those two majestic figures, steadfast as mountains and deep as pools, a faint glimmer of tears appeared in Nie Li's eyes. In his past life, it was these two who had fought bloodily, sacrificing everything to defend the City of Radiance. Under their protection, the City of Radiance had managed to survive. But people age, and the rise of a younger generation was needed to ensure the city could truly be at peace.