After the ceremony ended, Nie Li made his way to the room that had been gifted to him by the Patriarch.

With his new status as the heir, his family was now the proud owner of a mansion, and both his father and uncle had received significant job promotions.

They were appointed as the manager and vice manager of agriculture for the family, overseeing everything from the sale of crops to the collection of taxes and the allocation of funds to farmers.

Nie Li knew his father and uncle were well-suited for these roles.

Having been farmers themselves, they had a deep understanding of the land and a strong connection with the local farming community.

Now, all they needed to do was adjust to their new responsibilities.

As he thought about this, Nie Li couldn't help but rub his belly, feeling a bit stuffed from the feast.

The sound of knocking pulled Nie Li from his thoughts.

Without needing to check, he knew who stood on the other side of the door—Grand Elder Nie Wei.

Nie Li's brow furrowed as he pondered the elder's motives.

"Is he here for revenge because I foiled his takeover plans?" he wondered silently. However, he quickly reassured himself, considering the security of his location within the heart of the Heavenly Marks Family territory.

"Even if he's here with ill intent, I can escape and hold my ground with the soul wings spell until the Patriarch intervenes."

Another knock interrupted his thoughts, leading to a realization.

Nie Li's thoughts were met with another knock as an idea clicked in his head.

"He wants to suck up to me so that I don't become his enemy. Interesting, I am sure many more members of the Heavenly Marks Family have the same idea when they saw my soul wings.

You want to suck up to me, well, I'll let you suck... Wait, that sounds wrong... Whatever, I'll let you suck until you realize I don't care what you give me, I was never on your side to begin with."

Opening the door, Nie Li was met with the sight of Grand Elder Nie Wei.

"Greetings, young master," said Nie Wei, his voice carrying a mix of respect and something else that Nie Li couldn't quite place.

Nie Li raised an eyebrow in surprise.

There was no trace of arrogance, no hidden contempt—just submission.

"So, the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Marks Family shows his true colors—strong with the weak, but spineless before the strong," Nie Li thought, a wry smile playing on his lips.

"Would you like to come in?" Nie Li offered.

Nie Li and Nie Wei sat together, wrapped in an awkward silence that seemed to stretch endlessly.

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Looking to break the ice, Nie Li ventured, "Would you like something to drink or eat?"

"No, thank you. I am full from the feast earlier," Nie Wei replied, his voice steady but devoid of warmth.

"That's nice," Nie Li said, the words hanging in the air between them.

Then, Nie Wei dropped a bombshell.

"You know, I am the reason you are now the heir."

Nie Li almost burst into laughter at the absurdity but managed to keep it in.

"How?" he asked, genuinely curious about Nie Wei's reasoning.

"Well, if I hadn't convinced the Patriarch about the competition, you wouldn't be in this position," Nie Wei explained.

The statement held some truth, but Nie Li sensed there was more to Nie Wei's visit than mere bragging.

"So, are you also the reason my family got hurt?" he asked, probing deeper into Nie Wei's intentions.

"No, that was the Patriarch. He was the one who approved taking funding from the education sector for the competition," Nie Wei quickly responded.

Nie Li raised an eyebrow, his mind racing. But aren't you in charge of the family's finances? Even if the Patriarch initiated the idea, you were part of the process. However, the competition itself was you and had nothing to do with the Patriarch.

As the pieces fell into place, Nie Li understood Nie Wei's true motive.

Nie Wei aimed to win him over, to have Nie Li support him over the Patriarch in the family's political games.

Nie Li's expression hardened.

"Is that all you wanted to say?" he asked, his voice dripping with indifference.

In response, Nie Wei took out a jade bottle from his storage ring.

"A gift. I am sure you will like it."

[ Item: Jade Pill Bottle ]

[ Grade: Rare ]

[ Description: Encased within this exquisite jade bottle are soul formation pills, renowned for their potent effects on cultivators seeking to enhance their soul force. These valuable pills accelerate the gathering of soul force, facilitating faster ascension and breakthroughs in cultivation levels. ]

[ Rarity: Rare ]

[ Effects: ]

- [ Soul Force Enhancement: Using this item grants the player an additional 200 soul force, significantly boosting their cultivation progress. ]

Nie Li's eyes widened in surprise as he glanced at the system screen.

Soul formation pills were known for being incredibly expensive.

From what he understood, a single pill could fetch a price of around 10,000, but a whole jade bottle like the one Nie Wei presented was valued at a staggering 50,000. It was clear then, Nie Wei was making a grand gesture, hoping to win Nie Li over to his side.

"That's a nice gift," Nie Li remarked, his voice calm as he took the bottle from Nie Wei.

[ Player Nie Li has equipped item: Jade Pill Bottle. ]

[ Status Update: Applying effects on the player. ]

[ Effect Integration: Additional 200 soul force is being added to the player's current reserves. ]

The moment Nie Li accepted the jade bottle from Nie Wei, it shattered into nothing, releasing orbs of soul force that rushed into Nie Li's body.

As the energy enveloped him, he glowed brightly, and he felt a significant shift within himself.

There was a crack, a boom, and suddenly, Nie Li knew he had made a leap from 1-star Bronze rank to 3-star Bronze rank in a matter of moments.

Turning around, he saw Nie Wei on his knees, bowing deeply in a gesture of utmost respect, or perhaps desperation.

Nie Li couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the sight.

"It must be quite the shock," Nie Li mused internally, "seeing someone ascend so quickly when he spent decades training. And here I am, achieving it in just a week."

"What are you doing?" Nie Li asked, his tone mixed with amusement and a hint of annoyance.

"Young master, I am but your humble servant. Please ask me anything," Nie Wei pleaded, his voice laced with eagerness to please.

Nie Li couldn't help but think, "This guy really knows how to lay it on thick. A professional suck-up for sure. Not exactly grand elder material."

But Nie Li also knew the value of keeping such a person around, at least for the time being, as long as they could be of use.

Cutting through the formalities, Nie Li got straight to the point.

"Tell me, Nie Wei, can you ensure that every member of my generation receives the proper education?"

He wanted to make sure others his age wouldn't miss out on opportunities simply because of their family's status or financial situation.

Life in Glory City is tough enough.

Let's not make it any harder for them.

"As long as the Young Master wishes it, your humble servant will see it done," Nie Wei responded almost too eagerly, his demeanor reminiscent of a dog eager to please its master.