The first update is here; assuming there will be three today, as usual.

The new book desperately needs support, brothers, please click to bookmark it, thank you...

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Hearing Nie Kong's provocation, the corner of Nie Xiuzhu's brow twitched several times involuntarily. "Whoosh!" A sound of breaking air, so faint it was almost inaudible, followed, and Nie Xiuzhu’s figure vanished again from Nie Kong’s sight.

Nie Kong swung his right arm, striking directly behind him.

However, he also knew that at Nie Xiuzhu's speed, his right hand stood almost no chance of connecting.

Thus, the instant Nie Xiuzhu disappeared, Nie Kong's three Ling Shen Qiaos and nine great Yin Xue vibrated simultaneously, the spiritual power within the Qiaoxue converging with the dissolved spiritual energy into a surging torrent.

Suddenly, the skin on Nie Kong's left shoulder blade tingled faintly, a sensation akin to a blade's edge drawing near, the skin stimulated by the chill radiating from the tip of the blade. "Buzz!" Nie Kong jabbed his left index and middle fingers into the Yao Chi Xue, and in an instant, a massive wave of spiritual power reached the tingling spot on his left shoulder blade. "Bang!" The left shoulder blade received a heavy blow, and the spiritual power immediately surged violently like a wave, rapidly weakening the immense force pressing upon his body.

Nie Kong’s frame merely swayed slightly before he turned around.

Not far to his oblique side, Nie Xiuzhu stared at his own right palm in disbelief.

Last time, he had managed to put Nie Kong in such a sorry state; this time, his attack was heavier, yet the power seemed diminished? Recalling the sensation when he struck Nie Kong, Nie Xiuzhu was filled with suspicion and uncertainty.

He felt as if he had just slapped a hard, massive lump of flesh, leaving his palm numb and the center feeling as if it had been lashed sharply by a thick bamboo rod—a burning sting.

The surrounding crowd was utterly astonished; the cheers that had rushed to their lips were choked back down. "Good nephew, your uncle is still standing right here in front of you.

Haven't you eaten enough? Come on, again, haha..." Nie Kong laughed heartily, beckoning to Nie Xiuzhu.

Nie Kong found it inconvenient to use the Golden Needles when fighting an opponent.

Therefore, he compressed his spiritual power into needles to stimulate the Yin Xue, and while drawing in spiritual power, he dissolved the energy within the six major meridians.

As the nine great Yin Xue vibrated, Nie Kong’s sensory perception of external attacks sharpened severalfold, allowing him to channel spiritual energy to the precise location about to be struck at maximum speed.

This method consumed spiritual power extremely rapidly.

Two or three exchanges could completely drain the energy from the Ling Shen San Qiaos.

If it weren't for the twelve blocked meridians providing an inexhaustible source of spiritual energy, Nie Kong would never dare to employ this technique; otherwise, once the energy in the Qiaoxue was depleted, he would be left open to a brutal beating. "Last time you were lucky; this time I won't give you any chance!" Having previously spoken condescendingly about making Nie Kong lie down, only to be countered by Nie Kong now, Nie Xiuzhu's fair face instantly flushed crimson.

Casting aside thoughts about why Nie Kong was still standing, he roared in shame and anger, his figure vanishing before Nie Kong like a phantom. "Bang!" Moments later, his lower right back was struck.

Neutralizing the incoming force, Nie Kong turned with a loud laugh, grinning and winking at the dumbfounded Nie Xiuzhu. "Good, good, you truly are Uncle’s good nephew, knowing to show mercy to your uncle.

But even though your Uncle Nie Kong is physically weak, taking a few hits is no problem." "You..." Feeling the doubtful gazes of his companions around him, Nie Xiuzhu, having failed again to achieve his goal, wished he could find a hole to crawl into.

Hearing Nie Kong's teasing words only made his lips tremble with rage, and he charged at Nie Kong with a roar, like a wounded beast.

Nie Kong watched the fiercely approaching Nie Xiuzhu with a smile.

Knowing he couldn't match his opponent's speed, he gave up on employing "Flower Burst" to counterattack.

Instead, he lightly placed the index and middle fingers of his right hand over his lower abdomen’s Dantian, ready to manipulate the nine great Yin Xue at any moment.

Despite his fury, Nie Xiuzhu hadn't completely lost his reason.

In the blink of an eye, Nie Kong's eyes registered his figure as gone. "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang..." This time, Nie Xiuzhu pushed his own advantage to the extreme.

A white blur flashed rapidly around Nie Kong, and loud impacts echoed continuously through the woods.

However, when he paused slightly, breathing heavily, he saw Nie Kong still calm and collected, completely unruffled, as if his strenuous efforts had achieved nothing at all. "You, you..." Nie Xiuzhu pointed at Nie Kong, his cheeks burning red, his expression uncertain—was it shame or shock? Only his fingers trembled slightly; his palm was already swollen high.

Nie Kong "understandingly" advised, "Nephew Xiuzhu, why don't you take a rest first? Otherwise, shall I send someone to fetch a wet nurse to help you replenish some energy?" "Haha, have some milk and then fight again..." The crowd around them had swelled, and hearing Nie Kong's mocking remark, a burst of strange laughter erupted from the onlookers. "Again! Let’s see how long you can last!" Veins bulged visibly on Nie Xiuzhu’s forehead as he roared ferociously, lunging towards Nie Kong like an arrow released from a bowstring.

By this point, his ears were ringing; he could barely hear anything around him.

He had only one thought in his mind: he had to knock down this scoundrel, no matter what! The sounds of impact rang out repeatedly. "Bang!" "Good nephew, that one wasn't bad, had some strength." "Bang!" "See? You slackened right after I praised you." "Bang!" "Faster! Faster! A man, no matter how much bitter or tiring the toil, must remain firm.

How can you be soft all over like a woman?" "Bang!" "..." The crowd had fallen silent.

In the woods, only the rhythmic bang of impacts and Nie Kong's teasing remarks rose and fell.

Everyone watched, dumbfounded, as Nie Xiuzhu, whose figure was a white streak, darted about, while Nie Kong occasionally turned in place.

A sparring match between a Spirit Gathering Ninth Grade and a Spirit Gathering Seventh Grade had devolved into this bizarre scene.

While utterly incomprehensible, the onlookers were also secretly shocked by the toughness of Nie Kong's physique.

Just a few days ago, he was a skin-and-bones invalid, seemingly ready to be blown over by a gust of wind.

Now, after enduring nearly a hundred attacks from a Spirit Gathering Ninth Grade spirit master, not only was he completely unharmed, but he could still joke freely? Such a strange occurrence—who would believe it if they hadn't witnessed it firsthand? After several more impacts, the flickering white silhouette circling Nie Kong finally stilled. "Hoo, hoo..." Nie Xiuzhu was drenched in sweat, gasping deeply, his crimson eyes fixed viciously on Nie Kong, burning with raging fury. "Good nephew, you shouldn't keep spinning around like that; it makes Uncle dizzy.

Why don't you just charge straight at me? Uncle guarantees he won't dodge." Nie Kong patted his left chest and chuckled gently.

He felt like a strange uncle wantonly humiliating a young boy, almost unable to continue the abuse.

However, this humiliation had to go on, because he realized Nie Xiuzhu’s attacks were accelerating his absorption and refinement of spiritual energy.

Amidst that series of impacts, Nie Kong’s cultivation level was inching upward, and he faintly seemed to touch that intangible barrier within his Dantian Qiaoxue once more. "Ah!" Nie Xiuzhu roared and lunged forward madly.

He abandoned trying to use his speed, instead driving a palm strike directly at Nie Kong’s chest. "Bang!" "Harder, a little harder!" "Bang!" "Nephew Xiuzhu, are you tickling me?" "Bang!" "..." Despite Nie Kong’s incessant verbal goading, Nie Xiuzhu’s attack speed grew progressively slower.

In the end, both his arms flailed weakly against Nie Kong’s chest like soft noodles.

It looked less like a fight and more like a child whining to an adult. "That's enough." A look of satisfied relief suddenly flashed across Nie Kong’s face as he gently poked Nie Xiuzhu’s shoulder with his finger.

The poor fellow tumbled backward, landing on his back like a fish out of water, his mouth opening and closing in gasps.

His face was flushed crimson, his clothes soaked with sweat, and both his palms were swollen into thick pig trotters.

Nie Kong squatted down and smiled gratefully. "Good nephew, let's stop here for today.

Thank you for cultivating with me for so long; my cultivation has reached Spirit Gathering Eighth Grade." "You...

you..." Nie Xiuzhu’s eyes flew wide open, and he immediately fainted.

The eyes of the surrounding crowd were practically popping out of their sockets.

Damn it all, what kind of monster was this? Could one actually raise their cultivation level by being beaten? ...