"Were those who ambushed us from the Heavenly Doctors?"
"Who else could it be? They boast that they are of the righteous path, claiming our Ning family's Nether Doctor legacy is evil, heretical, and stagnant. Therefore, they joined forces with the Misty Immortal Palace to launch a surprise attack on our Ning family."
Ning Yu closed his eyes, his lips trembling slightly as he spoke, as if reluctant to recall those past events. He then suddenly opened his eyes and stared at the Nether Doctor, "Ning Yuan, where is he?"
"He is currently detained by the National Security Bureau. Not long ago, he manipulated zombies to kill a member of the bureau and severed another's arm. Due to his special identity, he is now held there awaiting trial."
The Nether Doctor said, "However, before that, he spoke with me at length about the past of the Ning family."
"He... is actually still alive." Ning Yu paid no mind to what Ning Yuan had done, only expressing his emotion with a hint of melancholy, "Over a hundred years have passed, and he has reappeared. And to have encountered you… this, perhaps, is fate."
"Fate?"
The Nether Doctor did not understand what fate was. He only knew that knowledge changes destiny.
"He was the most prodigious disciple of the Ning family back then, and I was always one step behind him," Ning Yu said. "If it weren't for his absence, this position of Family Head would not have fallen to me."
"You, at such a young age, are now only one step away from the Void Profound realm. You must also be a prodigy of the Ning family."
Ning Yu continued, "You, I believe, are the clarion call for our counterattack against the Misty Immortal Palace."
"Counterattack?!"
Upon hearing these words, the Nether Doctor understood. His great-grandfather had never shown himself all these years, but this time not only did he appear, but he also repelled that shadowy figure. It was likely because he saw the possibility of a counterattack.
The Ning family had endured too much in silence over the years.
"Yes, a counterattack."
A deep killing intent flared in Ning Yu's eyes. "I have dedicated myself to cultivation all these years, not slacking for a single day. Now, even if I face the old timers of the Misty Immortal Palace, I am confident I can kill them."
He clenched his fist as he thought this, but then relaxed it. He looked at the Nether Doctor, "Since the two of you are here, I presume you are searching for the true reliance of the Ning family, something that the clan disciples have been forbidden to practice since that time."
"The Xuan Yu Hand, when cultivated to the end, envelops the entire body in Xuan Yu. Aside from the Corpse Herding Art, there is also the Corpse Nurturing Art, the method for refining Unmelting Bones, and the forbidden bloodline scriptures..."
The Nether Doctor recounted everything he had seen moments ago. "These are things that our current disciples have never learned. They have only heard of them, seen brief introductions, but have never found a way to cultivate them."
"These were the compromises made by our Ning family back then."
Ning Yu shook his head and said with a sigh, "We lost back then. Fortunately, although we lost, we paid with all our Unmelting Bones, prodigies, and elders, causing the Misty Immortal Palace to suffer heavy losses as well. They are no better off than we are."
"Therefore, we could only settle for the next best thing. Because they also couldn't do more. If they hadn't concealed their mountain gate, closed their doors, and recuperated, they would have been annexed later."
"Annexed by the Artifact Sect?"
"You know of the Artifact Sect too?"
Hearing this, Ning Yu became even more curious. "What else do you know? Tell me everything you can."