Elder Nine, Nie Xingdong, who had been sitting cross-legged in a corner of the hall for the better part of the day, opened his eyes. His gaze swept over the cocoons scattered sparsely throughout the hall before settling on the middle-aged man standing quietly beside him. "It's already the evening of the sixth day. Feng Han, how many people remain inside the Illusionary Realm of Life and Death?"

Nie Feng Han quickly replied, "Sixty-three people, Elder."

"Are all their identities clear?" Nie Xingdong inquired.

"Five from the Bai family, three from the Zhang family, seven from the Hai family, five from the Tong family, and one from the Lin family. The remaining forty-two are all our kin from the Nie clan," Nie Feng Han recited as if it were a treasured inventory.

"Mm."

Nie Xingdong nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction crossing his youthful, ruddy face...

...

Inside the Illusionary Realm, nearly all the Spirit Beasts were **aroused, and the mountains and plains were filled with the roars and growls of various beasts, the very heavens and earth boiling over.

In a stone cave deep in the valley, Nie Kong sat leaning against a jade arm, cross-legged with his eyes closed. Save for a pair of shorts, he was entirely **nude. Nie Kong was left with no choice; he had placed an outer garment in his pet pack, but a few days prior, he had secretly retrieved it and used the excuse of wearing a double layer of clothing to give it to Bai Yuqing, who was almost completely unclothed. After discarding the clothes he was wearing last night, Nie Kong had nothing left to change into, forcing him to make do like this.

Before Nie Kong, Bai Yuqing lay sprawled out, her delicate body resting, eyes closed in sleep.

This morning, the sound Nie Kong heard was made by Bai Yuqing. At the time, she was soaking wet, with numerous scars marring her flesh, skin peeling back in places. Seeing Bai Yuqing's state, Nie Kong knew she had fortunately found a source of water, allowing her a narrow escape.

Bai Yuqing's injuries this time were more severe than any previous encounter. Nie Kong had to employ the "Nine Revolutions Golden Needle Technique" and expend a full three bottles of Revitalization Dew just to close her wounds.

By now, the thirteen bottles of "Revitalization Dew" Nie Kong had refined this month were all exhausted within the Illusionary Realm of Life and Death—a cost that amounted to over two hundred thousand gold coins.

The thought of that sum made Nie Kong’s heart ache just a little.

"Mmm."

Bai Yuqing sleepily fluttered her eyelids open. Her gaze darted left and right, and then she abruptly sat up, muttering, "I'm actually still alive!"

Nie Kong, keeping his eyes closed, replied, "With me here, you can’t die even if you’re gravely wounded, as long as you haven't drawn your last breath before I decide to intervene."

Bai Yuqing turned her head and finally noticed Nie Kong’s entirely bare form. She couldn't help but frown and let out a cold snort. "Put on your clothes. I have no desire to stay near a man with exhibitionist tendencies."

Nie Kong was amused by her words. "I would love to wear them, believe me. Little Sister Bai, how about this: take off the garment you're wearing and give it back to me. You're still wearing your under-shorts and wrapped in that bodice underneath, so I certainly don't mind being around a half-naked woman."

Bai Yuqing glared, speechless. After a long moment, she stood up. "I'll go stand guard outside, lest we don't know if some Spirit Beast sneaks in."

"Remember, don't get too badly hurt. I've used up all the medicine I gathered," Nie Kong suddenly injected a dose of warning into the air.

"You should worry more about your own safety. There's only a little over a day left until the deadline, and the Spirit Beasts will only grow more frantic. Though we have our arrangement, I might not be able to fend off every single beast that charges into the valley," Bai Yuqing finished grimly, then exited the stone cave without looking back.

Nie Kong let out a faint smile and slowly opened his eyes. No medicinal fragrance wafted from the pale jade wall, and continuing to cultivate the "Five Stars Shifting Art" wouldn't yield significant progress in a short span. Nie Kong rose instead and began practicing the "Cloud Layer Burst" and "Flying Flower Shadow Stream" martial arts against the jade wall.

The battles last night and this morning had given Nie Kong a deeper comprehension of these two skills. Now, mulling them over carefully, he discovered many areas where he fell short. This moment was perfect to hone them with his little companion, allowing for more flawless execution.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Fierce impact sounds reverberated within the stone cave. The speed of Nie Kong’s movements and the speed of his attacks increased relentlessly, the continuous hissing sound of tearing air filling the space...

...

"Awooooo!"

Suddenly, a piercing shriek startled Nie Kong, who had been immersed in his training. Immediately following, a cacophony of chaotic collisions erupted outside the cave.

Nie Kong rushed out swiftly. Faint streaks of dawn were just beginning to illuminate the sky. Against the cliff face draped with vines, a Spirit Beast lay dead—its shape resembling a wild boar, but several times its size—frothing blood from its mouth, a wound frozen by ice crystals scarring its chest and abdomen.

Beside the beast stood Bai Yuqing, leaning on the broadsword she had scavenged, her posture proud. The slight immaturity on her delicate face remained cold and impassive, as if what had just transpired was a trivial matter. Nie Kong couldn't help but give her a thumbs-up, but she didn't seem to appreciate it, not even blinking.

"Roar! Roar!" "Aow!" "Wooo..."

Several cries rang out. Three figures suddenly materialized at the valley entrance, clearly drawn by the death cry of the previous beast. Spotting the two figures by the cliff face from a distance, the three Spirit Beasts instantly turned frantic, letting loose earth-shattering roars as they charged forward like bolts of lightning. Even across the long distance, Nie Kong could clearly see their scarlet eyes and the savage glint within them.

In mere breaths, the distance between them and Nie Kong and Bai Yuqing shrank to less than twenty meters.

The three Spirit Beasts were disparate in appearance: the Iron Armored Qiu, corpulent with a body covered in black scales; the Azure Spirit Twin-Horned Tiger, its fur a dark cyan, boasting two sharp, keen horns; and the Shadow Wolf, which always limped when it walked yet possessed incredible speed... all were Second Grade Spirit Beasts.

"Hah."

Bai Yuqing let out a sharp cry and shot forward, swinging her broadsword upward from the bottom against the lead Shadow Wolf. Nie Kong clearly saw the Shadow Wolf attempt to dodge sideways, but the tip of the broadsword followed as if by magic. With a flash of azure light, the Shadow Wolf shrieked and tumbled over, landing with stiff limbs. A narrow, frost-covered fissure stretched across its underbelly.

Dispatching the Shadow Wolf, Bai Yuqing did not pause, stepping diagonally to block the Iron Armored Qiu. As the beast lunged forward with bared fangs, Bai Yuqing brought her broadsword down with blinding speed. After a clang like metal striking metal, the Iron Armored Qiu split cleanly in two, its long head hanging limp. Its frozen internal organs spilled onto the ground.

"Awoo!"

Seeing the Shadow Wolf and the Iron Armored Qiu felled in succession, the remaining Azure Spirit Twin-Horned Tiger immediately turned in fury, roaring as it pounced upon Bai Yuqing.

Shriiiiik!

With another simple sword stroke, the Azure Spirit Twin-Horned Tiger lay dead.

Three strikes, three beasts slain—all of this occurred in the flicker of an eye, clean and efficient, leaving no lingering mess. Throughout the entire exchange, Nie Kong didn't even have a chance to act. Watching the enchanting figure return to her position, Nie Kong sighed inwardly; this young girl's combat capability was truly formidable.

In the time that followed, the Spirit Beasts throughout the entire Illusionary Realm of Life and Death descended into madness, and the number of creatures charging into the valley increased steadily.

In the morning, Bai Yuqing could manage them alone. But by afternoon, it was common for ten or twenty beasts to appear simultaneously, making it impossible for Bai Yuqing, even if she had three heads and six arms, to cope. Thus, Nie Kong finally got his opportunity to strike.

The further along they progressed, the stronger the Spirit Beasts entering the valley became. Through continuous fighting, Nie Kong’s application of the "Cloud Layer Burst" and "Flying Flower Shadow Stream" grew increasingly fluid, but the wounds on his body also accumulated. By evening, he was almost covered in blood.

"Eee-woo..."

Amidst a mournful whimper, the head of the last Spirit Beast was burst open by Nie Kong's five fingers. The claws it had rested on his shoulder slipped down with the corpse, leaving several scarlet gashes across his arm.

Thud, thud. Nie Kong and Bai Yuqing both collapsed almost simultaneously amidst the piles of slain beasts, gasping raggedly. The day-long battle had left them utterly exhausted, and the spiritual energy in their acupoints was completely depleted, not a single trace remaining.

"Chirp!"

However, Heaven seemed unwilling to grant Nie Kong and Bai Yuqing a moment's respite. Another figure emerged from the valley entrance accompanied by a strange hissing sound...

...