The Muscle-Toning and Bone-Strengthening Decoction was certainly effective; Nie Kong had given the prescription considerable thought before presenting it. The potency of this spiritual medicine was quite strong; if everyone could absorb its medicinal power as completely as he could, it would indeed be too much for children. However, without the aid of the 'Nine Revolutions Golden Needle Technique,' absorbing even five or six tenths of the efficacy was considered good, and this particular dosage was just right for children just starting their cultivation journey.

Noticing the puzzled gazes surrounding him, Lian Tianxin spoke up, "The combination of Tianxinzi, Xuhudiedie Grass, and Crystal Jade Lotus Seed can neutralize the toxicity of the Crimson Demon Flower. I only heard about this from the Fifth Elder a few days ago, so it's understandable you all didn't know. Little fellow, could you tell this old man how you obtained this formula?" His gaze shifted to Nie Kong, revealing a rare gentleness on his face.

Nie Kong smiled. "Of course, I can. Since childhood, I've been frail and sickly, consuming vast amounts of herbs and spiritual medicines over more than ten years, which made me exceptionally familiar with their properties. This formula is something I figured out myself just the other day. I tested it twice afterward, and the results were very good; otherwise, I'd still be as thin as a skeleton now." In truth, the former Nie Kong had consumed countless medicines but understood none of them.

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Lian Tianxin’s figure flickered, and he instantly appeared before Nie Kong, placing a hand on his shoulder. Nie Kong made no move to evade; there was no need. Lian Tianxin was a First-Grade Spirit Alchemist, possessing at least the Spirit Control cultivation realm. Once he made a move, Nie Kong had no room to dodge.

In an instant, Nie Kong felt a scorching sensation penetrate from his shoulder into his body, spreading rapidly. In the blink of an eye, the hot current dispersed throughout his limbs and bones. Nie Kong knew Lian Tianxin was probing his internal condition and felt no worry; the cultivators of the Tianling Continent could never detect the Nine Hidden Acupoints within the human body, and the little fellow was currently nestled deep within the Yaochi Acupoint, safe from Lian Tianxin’s discovery.

Sure enough, after a moment, the heat receded like a tide back to the shoulder, and as Lian Tianxin lifted his palm, it vanished without a trace.

Seeing Nie Kong’s composed expression, Lian Tianxin praised him, "Indeed, your muscles and bones have only strengthened in the last few days. The reason for this must be your peculiar constitution, allowing you to completely absorb the medicinal power of this 'Muscle-Toning and Bone-Strengthening Decoction.'" After a pause, Lian Tianxin folded the formula. "Little fellow, I will accept your First-Grade Spirit Medicine formula. What do you wish to exchange it for?"

Finally achieving his goal, Nie Kong said with delight, "Thank you, Master Tianxin. I request fifty catties of Fragrant Silk Glazed Root and fifty catties of Dragon Sprout Algae, plus two hundred gold coins." Nie Kong had already calculated that the formula for such a simple medicine, requiring no refining, was worth about ten thousand gold coins. Fragrant Silk Glazed Root and Dragon Sprout Algae cost one hundred gold coins per catty, allowing for fifty catties of each. The extra two hundred gold coins were a bonus.

Lian Tianxin stroked the dark red beard beneath his chin and nodded. "Fragrant Silk Glazed Root and Dragon Sprout Algae—I will add ten extra catties of each for you. In the future, if you devise any other medicinal formulas, correct or incorrect, you can come directly to this Alchemy Hall to find me. Qingming, go fetch two hundred gold coins. Fengyan, you will take him to the Spirit Medicine Hall afterward to collect the herbs."

Then, Lian Tianxin snorted coldly at Nie Mazi, "As for you, you will serve as Fengyan's assistant from now on. I will notify you when you can refine medicine independently." With that, Lian Tianxin gave Nie Kong a slight nod, then turned, hands clasped behind his back, and walked barefoot toward the staircase.

"Yes!"

Everyone snapped out of their daze. Nie Qingming, Nie Fengyan, and Nie Mazi bowed in acknowledgment.

Nie Qingming was a man around thirty-five or thirty-six. He shot Nie Kong a look that was hard to discern—whether envy or jealousy—then hurried toward the small door on the left. Nie Fengyan, the middle-aged woman who had protected Nie Kong earlier, looked at him with soft smiles filling her eyes.

Nie Mazi, however, looked utterly devastated, on the verge of tears: He’d only had a brief spat with this brat, and now his right to refine medicine was revoked, and he was exiled to be an assistant to a woman younger than him and of a lower generation. Was it worth it? Nie Mazi’s pockmarked face shifted between grim and sullen. He dared not show displeasure toward Lian Tianxin, but the way he glared at Nie Kong was vicious, as if Nie Kong had somehow stolen his wife.

The expressions of the other Spirit Alchemists were far more complex, yet every single one of them felt intense envy and jealousy toward Nie Kong.

Regardless of whether the formula was right or wrong, the promise to approach Master Tianxin at the Alchemy Hall anytime was profoundly significant; they understood this better than anyone. Even they, who spent their days within the Alchemy Hall, had never received such treatment from Master Tianxin. To think such immense fortune had fallen upon this boy.

If this boy were a Spirit Alchemist, it would be his greatest destiny. After all, having Master Tianxin’s promise meant he could consult him on alchemy knowledge whenever he wished. What a waste! At that moment, they all wished they could trade bodies with Nie Kong...

...

Half an hour later, the sun was setting in the west.

Bathed in the magnificent afterglow of the sunset, Nie Kong happily walked home, hoisting three bulging sacks—one small and two large. Every so often, his right hand would dip into a sack, pulling out some Fragrant Silk Glazed Root which he chewed vigorously, treating the medicinal herbs like snacks.

He recalled Nie Qingfeng and Nie Qinghong, whose eyes had bulged like brass bells when he carried the herbs out of the Spirit Medicine Hall, which brought a faint smile to his face.

"Little thing, one hundred and twenty catties of herbs should last you quite a while," he murmured as he entered a secluded alley and quietly stuffed the three sacks into his pet backpack.

"Ah... Ya ya..." The little creature was busy absorbing medicinal energy and didn't have time to acknowledge Nie Kong, merely humming unconsciously.

Upon returning home, Huamei was preparing dinner. Seeing Nie Kong, her cheeks flushed slightly, looking quite shy, yet she hadn't removed the jade hairpin he had inserted for her earlier. On top of her coiled cloud-like bun, there was now an added pearl flower, which Nie Kong had bought at noon.

As a rare moment of leisure presented itself, Nie Kong sat by the stove to help stoke the fire. Watching Huamei busy herself with sidelong glances was an unexpected pleasure. As the sky grew darker and dimmer, time swiftly passed in this atmosphere, slightly tinged with ambiguity.

After dinner, Nie Kong returned to the bedroom, sitting in quiet meditation. His upper garments were entirely removed, and his expression appeared quite solemn under the flickering candlelight.

Silently circulating the Five Stars Shifting Art, Nie Kong brought his body to its optimal condition, then, with a sudden motion, nine golden needles materialized in his left palm out of thin air.

The golden light flickered ceaselessly. Nie Kong moved his hand swiftly and decisively, inserting the golden needles one by one into the Nine Hidden Acupoints without hesitation, achieving incredible speed.

"Buzz!"

Seconds later, Nie Kong held the Heavenly Needle, and a fierce humming vibrated from the half-embedded needles remaining outside his body. Internally, the nine golden needles seemed to connect into a perfect whole, their tips vibrating rhythmically, causing the meridians to expand and contract violently.

In that instant, his body boiled and burned. The spiritual energy condensed within the Sole Yin Gall Bladder Meridian and the Sole Yin Liver Meridian dissolved and melted away at an unprecedented rate under the stimulation of the nine golden needles, surging like a breached flood tide toward the three Spirit-God Apertures...