The Ice Flame Cave, the back secret chamber of the Pill Refining Hall, home... In this perpetual triangle of existence for Nie Kong, the days melted away, and suddenly it was December. The climate of Jiyang City grew steadily colder; several consecutive days of heavy snow left the entire city draped in a silver shroud.

The second section of the Ice Flame Cave, specifically Chamber Eighteen, felt transformed into a roaring furnace. Heat shimmered and circulated, the very void subtly taking on a reddish glow.

On the meditation cushion, Nie Kong’s body trembled, his face flushed crimson. Beads of sweat, large as beans, seeped from his upper body at a speed visible to the naked eye, soaking the trousers beneath. Two streams of tangible, scorching energy constantly jetted from his nostrils, the small chamber echoing with harsh, heavy breaths.

"Buzz!"

A clear, sharp resonance suddenly swept through the chamber. A golden needle materialized instantly in Nie Kong's hand, stabbing with lightning speed into the Xinhai Acupoint.

In the next breath, another golden needle appeared in Nie Kong’s palm, accompanied by a faint hum, as it plunged into the next hidden point... Golden needles leaped forth one by one from thin air. Nie Kong's speed increased with every insertion, his movements seamless, flowing without the slightest pause, like water running over smooth stones.

When the final, slender golden needle pierced the Yaochi Acupoint, the nine needles vibrated violently. The stone chamber erupted with a deafening clamor, as if tens of thousands of bees were buzzing simultaneously. Accompanying this sound were bursts of vibrant, emerald-green luminescence.

Nie Kong rapidly rotated them, and the glow coating the golden needles immediately began to swirl, mimicking tiny, dancing dragons. In stark contrast to the fierce vibration of the needles, Nie Kong’s body gradually settled. His breathing grew even, and the flush slowly faded from his face.

After sustaining high-speed rotation for a significant time, Nie Kong’s hand movements finally began to slow, until, at last, the golden needles came to a complete standstill.

"Hoo!"

Nie Kong let out a long breath, seemingly expelling all the searing heat within him.

"Spirit Manifestation Fourth Grade..."

Feeling the surging spiritual energy within his core, a smile of surprise touched the corners of Nie Kong's mouth. Honestly, even he hadn't expected to advance a full grade after cultivating in the Ice Flame Cave for a month, even if he had utilized the power of the golden needles at the critical juncture.

Advancing from Spirit Manifestation Third Grade to Fourth Grade in just one month—if this news ever got out, it would surely shock everyone senseless. However, Nie Kong knew that Spirit Masters cultivating in the Ice Flame Cave certainly experienced rapid initial breakthroughs, but the pace would inevitably slow thereafter.

If he could advance a grade every month while training here, wouldn't the other Spirit Masters of the Nie family just want to bang their heads against a wall?

Sitting quietly for a moment, Nie Kong began to withdraw the golden needles one by one.

These nine needles were what Nie Kong had retrieved from the Second Elder just the previous evening. They were still needles, but their quality was immeasurably superior to the set brought back by Huamei. Especially since these nine were forged personally by the Second Elder, and each one was inscribed with spirit patterns by his own hand.

This was Nie Kong’s first time truly feeling the might of spirit-patterned artifacts.

Just now, when he executed the 'Nine Revolutions Golden Needle Technique,' the nine needles seemed to spring to life, instantly merging with the spiritual energy inside him. Then, as the needles vibrated, the spiritual flow within Nie Kong's meridians was stimulated, its activity soaring in a straight line, wildly surging toward his acupoints.

If his previous spiritual energy was a quietly burning campfire, then the nine golden needles were nine barrels of gasoline. Once the 'Nine Revolutions Golden Needle Technique' was deployed, it was as if all the gasoline had been doused onto the flames; the once slow-burning fire instantly leaped high, exploding forth with blinding light.

Therefore, as soon as Nie Kong began to work the needles, almost instantaneously, that already tenuous, invisible barrier shattered into nothingness.

"Vibrating..."

Nie Kong circulated his spiritual power, and the nine needles laid out sequentially in his palm became enveloped in an ethereal green glow. The minute patterns on the surface of the needles moved with uncanny vitality, mirroring the spiritual energy that flared up like leaping flames. In that instant, nine dragons coiled and danced above Nie Kong’s palm, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.

"The power of these needles is doubled now. They can be used for healing and cultivation, and also as weapons—how convenient. Once my cultivation rises higher, perhaps I can even create my own spirit art with them!"

Nie Kong pondered this internally. He then withdrew his spiritual power, stored the nine golden needles in his Pet Backpack, dressed, and stepped out of the chamber.

"Aiya, Nie Kong, you’re out already?"

The moment he crossed the red line separating Section Two from Section One, the doors to several nearby chambers opened simultaneously. Nie Qing'an and a few others whose cultivation levels were close to the Spirit Fusion realm emerged, their faces etched with resentment, speaking with the sour tone of those who couldn't taste the grapes.

This scene had repeated itself many times, and Nie Kong had always bothered to ignore them. This time, as he prepared to stride past them with long steps, a thought struck Nie Kong, and he chuckled, "You all seem to have plenty of free time? Nie Qing'an, last month I heard you were just shy of reaching the Spirit Fusion realm. Seeing how utterly bored you look these days, I presume you’ve broken through already, my Spirit Fusion Uncle!"

"Cough, cough!"

Nie Qing'an had a whole string of sarcastic barbs prepared, but they choked in his throat when Nie Kong spoke. Although he didn't grasp the exact meaning of 'having time to play with one's eggs,' he knew it wasn't complimentary. His face cycled between green and red as he forced a smile, "Almost there, still just a little bit away."

Nie Kong nodded knowingly, adopting the tone of a senior lecturing a junior, "Then you need to work harder, don't just occupy the latrine without doing your business every day."

Hearing the last few words, the surrounding clan members couldn't help but let out muffled snickers, then quickly grew indignant as they realized they too fell under that description.

Nie Qing'an's face bloated to a deep purplish-red. He sneered, "You... why are you lecturing me? How much better are you? Don't you come out looking like a drowned rat every time! Going to Section Two to cultivate? I think you’re just going there to roast yourself. Be careful you don't raise your cultivation, but end up turning into a roasted pig instead!"

As he finished, a thick wave of envy permeated the air. If Nie Qing'an could enter Section Two, he would gladly accept being a drowned rat afterward.

Nie Kong teased back, "My apologies, but I just broke through to Spirit Manifestation Second Grade. So, I won't trouble you with my concerns." With that, Nie Kong laughed heartily and walked away, a faint sigh drifting back, "I thought it would take half a month, never expected it to take a full month. Such slow progress!"

"Spirit Manifestation Second Grade?"

Advancing from First Grade to Second Grade in one month purely through cultivation, without any medicinal aid? And he considered that slow?

Nie Qing'an and the others stared, their faces stiff, glancing wordlessly at each other. After a long moment, Nie Qing'an finally tore his gaze from where Nie Kong's figure had vanished, forcing a cold smile that looked uglier than any grimace. He spat out resentfully, "That's intentional! That bastard is clearly trying to humiliate me!"

Yes, Nie Kong was being intentional!

If he didn't use their mouths to create a gradual impression of his progress, wouldn't revealing his Spirit Manifestation Fourth Grade later cause even more suspicion? Once the speed of his 'showing off' caught up to the speed of his actual cultivation, Nie Kong would have no need to play such games.

While Nie Qing'an and the others muttered their sour curses, Nie Kong was already heading toward the Pill Refining Hall...

...