Several elders exchanged glances.
Nie Li was being overly bold, showing no regard for the family head at all.
However, Nie Hai and Nie En thought nothing of it; they didn't want to speak up against Nie Li.
Moreover, the family head had just issued an order that from now on, in the Heavenly Mark Family, Nie Li's status was equal to his!
This command puzzled the elders, but since the family head had decreed it, they could only comply.
"I just received news that the Divine Sacred Family has invited several families from Glory City to participate in the battle of the younger generation's talents, and they sent an invitation to our Ye family. Should we join?" Nie Hai turned to Nie Li and asked.
This battle of talents was held every few years and usually led by one of the three peak families, inviting more than a third of families to participate.
If it were just an ordinary battle of talents, it wouldn't matter much.
Nie Hai was worried the Divine Sacred Family might have ulterior motives, wanting to target the Heavenly Mark Family.
"Of course we should participate! Why wouldn't we? Just send a letter to the Alchemist Association and invite them to come and watch!" Nie Li replied calmly.
Since the Divine Sacred Family had sent an invitation, how could they not join?
Hearing Nie Li’s words, the elders looked at him in surprise.
The Alchemist Association could not just be called upon at will.
Unlike the other elders, Nie Hai and Nie En felt it was only natural.
"Then it will trouble you to write a letter to Director Yang!" Nie Hai said with a smile.
He had been waiting for Nie Li to say this.
If the Alchemist Association also sent people, the Divine Sacred Family would surely be wary.
"This time, we can send three representatives. Nie Li, do you want to take the stage?" Nie En asked, looking at Nie Li.
He knew Nie Li's strength had reached the silver level and that he had already fused with his demon spirit.
"Of course I want to take the stage!" Nie Li nodded calmly.
He had just fused with the Tiger Tooth Panda and wanted to test its power in actual combat.
Adding to his previous agreement with Shen Fei, there was no way Nie Li would back down.
When Nie Hai and Nie En spoke to Nie Li, they used a tone of inquiry, which left the elders feeling a bit unaccustomed.
However, recalling how much Nie Li had contributed to the family with pills, they calmed down.
They understood that Nie Li's standing in the family had completely changed from before.
Besides Nie Li, the other two participants were Nie Xiaofeng and a family junior named Nie Yu, both at the silver two-star level.
Young masters in their twenties with silver two-star demon spirits were already quite impressive, though their actual demon spirit strength was lacking.
Since they were talents of their own family, Nie Li generously had Nie Hai gift them two superior-grade silver demon spirits.
"This contest won't take place for another half a month, so Nie Li, make sure to prepare well! We have news that the Divine Sacred Family will send at least five-star silver competitors!" Nie Hai said, feeling a weight in his heart.
They also needed to guard against any dirty tricks from the Divine Sacred Family during the battle of talents.
"Okay!" Nie Li responded lightly, feeling relaxed.
Worry about the Divine Sacred Family’s underhanded tactics? Nie Li wasn't worried at all.
What kind of schemes could escape his notice?
Next, Nie Hai, Nie En, Nie Ming, and the others discussed the development of the Heavenly Mark Family, including spending some money to hire many civilian experts to bolster the family's strength.
Strengthening the Heavenly Mark Family was beneficial for Nie Li.
"There's no problem with anything else. I can contribute one hundred million demon spirit coins for this matter, but when hiring, be extremely careful not to let in spies from the Divine Sacred Family or the Dark Guild!" Nie Li said after some thought.
Contributing one hundred million demon spirit coins? Nie Ming, Nie Kai, and the other elders almost had their eyes pop out.
That was one hundred million demon spirit coins, which Nie Li mentioned so casually!
Just imagine how many things could be done with one hundred million demon spirit coins; hiring a hundred elite gold-level experts would be absolutely feasible!
This time, Nie Hai and Nie En remained calm.
They knew well that Nie Li's wealth was astonishing; one hundred million demon spirit coins was merely a drop in the bucket! With one hundred million demon spirit coins, the power of the Heavenly Mark Family could expand several times over!
The elders finally understood why Nie Hai placed Nie Li on the same level as himself.
Any lingering dissatisfaction they had toward Nie Li vanished.
The Heavenly Mark Family was their foundation, and as long as it benefited the family, they would support it.
Any family member who contributed to the family deserved everyone's respect!
Even a family member of lower status would be treated with respect if they could contribute one hundred million demon spirit coins!
After several hours of discussion, Nie Hai and the others began to implement their plan, sending people to the Demon Spirit Master Guild and Warrior Guild to recruit experts.
Unlike the Alchemist Association, the Demon Spirit Master Guild and Warrior Guild were not significant powers.
They only registered all civilian demon spirit masters and warriors.
Typically, civilian demon spirit masters and warriors would choose to join various families so they could receive better cultivation resources and a stable income to support their families.
For the families, recruiting these civilian demon spirit masters and warriors greatly enhanced their power.
Each family maintained a certain protective force, but due to past financial difficulties, the Ye family had even disbanded their protective army.
Now they finally had the opportunity to recruit again.
In addition to the contribution of one hundred million demon spirit coins, Nie Li also provided some powerful techniques to the family for all the clan members to practice, helping to boost the family’s strength.
At the Divine Sacred Family, Elder Shen Ming was managing various clan affairs when three young individuals walked in.
The leader was Shen Fei, accompanied by two others appearing to be in their twenties, with stern expressions.
"Elder!" Shen Fei offered a slight bow.
"Greetings, Elder!" The two young men behind Shen Fei bent their backs in respect.
They were both juniors from affiliated branches of the Divine Sacred Family, their status far below Shen Fei.
Though their strength surpassed Shen Fei, they were much more humble.
"Mm."
Shen Ming nodded slightly, feeling a sense of regret.
Shen Fei's talent was decent, having reached the silver three-star demon spirit master level.
However, compared to these two branch juniors, he fell significantly short.
The younger Shen Ning, only twenty years old, had already reached five-star silver demon spirit master level, while the slightly older Shen Xiao, at twenty-three years, was already a gold-level demon spirit master.
It was unprecedented for the main family's young master to have less talent than juniors from the branches in the previous generations.
"Young Master Shen Fei, are you sure you want to participate in the battle of talents?" Shen Ming asked respectfully.
"Are you sure that Nie Li from the Heavenly Mark Family will participate in the contest?" Shen Fei inquired, raising an eyebrow.
His heart was filled with hatred toward Nie Li because of Xiao Ning'er.
Upon hearing that the Heavenly Mark Family would also join the battle of talents, he eagerly requested to participate, even though his strength was not yet sufficient.
"We have received a reply from the Heavenly Mark Family confirming their participation! That Nie Li will likely take the stage as well!" Shen Ming nodded lightly.
"In that case, I must participate! I will trample that brat underfoot and thoroughly humiliate him!" Shen Fei said with a chilling gaze, his heart filled with bitter resentment toward Nie Li when he thought about Xiao Ning'er.
(End of this chapter)