The world outside was dim and oppressive, yet within the Hall of Life and Death, the radiant glow remained utterly brilliant. Half a day had passed, and the floor cushions encircling the Illusionary Realm now bore numerous empty spaces.

"Bang!"

A massive, seven-colored cocoon violently disintegrated, revealing the slender youth within. He collapsed onto the ground, eyes wide with terror, his body limp before he lost consciousness.

Seeing this, a middle-aged man rushed forward, scooped up the youth, and shot into the side door of the main hall like a whirlwind.

"Another one."

Observing the vacant cushion, the Ninth Elder shook his head with a sigh. The Seventh Elder, Nie Xinghai, and the Eighth Elder, Nie Longshan, also registered slight dissatisfaction on their faces.

Nie Qingsong chuckled, "Three Elders, don't be disappointed yet. Sixty-two people emerging in half a day is quite respectable. Don't forget, twice as many people entered the Life and Death Illusionary Realm this time compared to five years ago. Calculating by proportion..."

"Bang!"

Another loud explosion abruptly cut off Nie Qingsong's speech.

"Alas..."

The Ninth Elder and the others assumed another youth had perished within the Life and Death Illusionary Realm, his soul returned to his physical body. Even the other middle-aged man standing nearby was ready to carry someone out for healing. However, a moment later, the sigh that had just reached their lips halted abruptly, and their expressions shifted to surprise.

The giant cocoon that made the sound hadn't burst; instead, it pulsed with a dazzling, seven-hued radiance.

"This little fellow has actually broken through so quickly! Good, very good!" Gazing at the shimmering, colorful cocoon, the Ninth Elder burst into unrestrained laughter.

Nie Xinghai and Nie Longshan exchanged a knowing smile, a flicker of surprise crossing their eyes. Breakthroughs within the Illusionary Realm were not uncommon among clansmen, but achieving an advancement in cultivation realm in just half a day was rare. What kind of encounter might that young man be having inside the Illusionary Realm?

Nie Qingsong stroked his long beard and turned to the middle-aged man beside him, smiling, "Finally, some good news. Feng Han, do you still remember who that little fellow is?"

Nie Fenghan quickly replied, "It should be that young genius our family recently produced, Nie Kong!"

"Nie Kong?"

Nie Qingsong and the Ninth Elder exchanged stunned glances. Nie Kong was at the Ninth Grade of Spirit Gathering when he entered. If he advanced now, he should be at the First Grade of Spirit Communication?

He had only been at the Ninth Grade of Spirit Gathering for about half a month. To leap to Spirit Communication now was far too fast. While the ranks within a minor realm could be enhanced with spiritual medicines, crossing major realms allowed for no shortcuts—it demanded arduous cultivation or sudden enlightenment!

"A genius among geniuses! Truly a genius among geniuses!" the Ninth Elder, Nie Xingdong, exclaimed in praise.

"Indeed, moving from Spirit Gathering to Spirit Communication cannot be achieved through mere medicine. It seems his body's permeability is exceptionally good, perhaps not inferior to Feng Lei's," Nie Xinghai observed.

"Hmm," Nie Longshan said with a smile, "Old Nine, I hear you treated his illness before. You should have a clearer picture of his physical condition, right?"

"Ahem, you don't know. Back then, the more he cultivated, the worse his body's permeability became, eventually falling below that of an ordinary person. It's a miracle he managed to cultivate the 'Three Apertures of Spirit and Mind.' I haven't checked him recently, though. Perhaps after his illness was cured, the permeability of his body greatly increased? I must examine him closely when he emerges." Nie Xingdong stroked his chin, his gaze suddenly becoming intense.

"..."

Listening to the conversation between the three Elders, Nie Qingsong suddenly grew serious. "Fenghan, go immediately and notify Qing Peng. Have him arrange for all our Nie family personnel across various regions to search with all their might for Wood-elemental Spiritual Arts and Techniques. The moment there is a discovery, send it back to the family with the utmost speed."

"Yes!"

Nie Fenghan hastily retreated...

...

The Illusionary Realm.

Inside the stone cave, Nie Kong wore a satisfied smile. After reaching the First Grade of Spirit Communication, the Three Apertures of Spirit and Mind alone had nearly doubled in scope. At this moment, the spiritual energy within him had not yet settled; it surged like a tide, making Nie Kong feel as if his entire body was filled with infinite power.

The difference between Spirit Communication and Spirit Gathering was truly vast. Although Nie Kong's appearance remained unchanged, he felt as if he had undergone a complete metamorphosis.

Entering Spirit Communication meant possessing the initial power to protect himself among the myriad Spirit Communication Masters in the Life and Death Illusionary Realm. It meant that if he encountered someone like Nie Fengbo, even if he couldn't win, he wouldn't need to flee as shamefully as before! The feeling of possessing strength was truly intoxicating.

In this world, strength, much like power in his previous life, was addictive. If Nie Kong were suddenly returned to being an ordinary Chinese medicine doctor from his past life, it would be harder for him to accept than death itself.

After a long while, Nie Kong's mood finally calmed slightly. Sensing the Purple Luo Illusionary Spirit Incense slumbering in his Yaochi Acupoint, the smile on Nie Kong's face became impossible to suppress. For him, this was a double blessing: not only had he broken through to Spirit Communication, but the little fellow might also advance to the Second Tier.

Now, Nie Kong felt genuinely grateful to the white jade stone wall behind him. If not for the massive medicinal fragrance surging out from within it, neither he nor the little fellow would have had this fortunate encounter.

"Hm?"

Nie Kong, who was immersed in sentiment, suddenly had his pupils contract. He lowered his stance, hiding behind a large rock; someone had actually arrived outside.

In an instant, Nie Kong saw the inward-dented fissure begin to tremble, then part in two like a curtain. In the deep, dim night, a familiar figure burst in.

Bai Yuqing!

Why was she here?

Nie Kong was startled. To find the entrance with such accuracy, she must have known about this secret, anomalous stone cave before leaving the valley this afternoon! After the fissure closed again, Bai Yuqing staggered forward, her steps clumsy, seemingly already severely wounded.

Stopping in the center of the stone cave, she gasped for breath a few times. Suddenly, Bai Yuqing pulled at the loose tie of her sash, then gently tugged backward with her right hand. The unfastened robe immediately slid down her arms, revealing a shapely, seductive, fair and tender body, which came into Nie Kong's view.

With the white robe gone, she was left wearing only a thickly wrapped bandeau top and simple underpants, exposing large swathes of creamy skin that shone with a crystal-like luster under the white light filling the cave.

However, what drew the eye most was her figure. Her full, high breasts curved downward, the graceful, flowing lines tightly cinched to a waist that could be grasped by a single hand, immediately followed by an exaggerated, prominent swell, forming two round, full mounds brimming with boundless temptation—her pert buttocks. Below that curve, the lines gradually tightened again, with a pair of long, smooth legs standing close together, so tightly joined that almost no gap was visible.

At this moment, Bai Yuqing undid the bandeau top.

Soon, Nie Kong saw patches of dark bloodstains on the strip of cloth, and as the fabric unwound circle by circle from her chest, the bloodstains became increasingly vivid.

"Uh."

Apparently pulling at her injury, Bai Yuqing let out a muffled groan, and her delicate body tilted slightly. Nie Kong then confirmed that the wound was on her back. Crimson blood was already flowing along her slightly concave spine down to her hips, dyeing the back half of her white underpants a deep red.

Bai Yuqing looped her right hand around, and the last coil of the bandeau unwound. The two mounds of jade-like, plump fullness instantly sprang out with vivacity, shaking violently up and down like two startled white rabbits. The two scarlet protrusions at the tips resembled budding flower stamens, radiating a mesmerizing, magnificent color.

Viewing them from the side, the moment those two jade peaks emerged unleashed an even more breathtaking beauty: fair and delicate, high and full, perfectly rounded, elastic... every possible adjective rushed forth. Nie Kong couldn't help but sigh inwardly, 'Damn, she really is stacked!'

Bai Yuqing lifted her left arm, resembling a tender lotus root. Under her smooth armpit was a startling smear of blood-red. The gash extended from her back to her left rib cage. Gazing at the wound that was still oozing blood, Bai Yuqing’s delicate eyebrows furrowed tightly. Suddenly, the periphery of her vision caught sight of a faint footprint beside her...

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