After a long stretch, Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin withdrew their palms, their complexions rather grim.

They guided their spiritual energy through Nie Kong’s body several times, ultimately sensing a strange, elusive power nestled in the void between his "Three Spiritual Apertures." No matter how they strained, they couldn't truly touch this deeply hidden force, much less discern its origin. It was clearly there, yet entirely beyond their grasp—a profoundly unsettling sensation that furrowed the brows of both Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin.

From the prolonged attention their spiritual energy paid near the apertures, Nie Kong knew that the two masters had detected the mass of murky-green blood he had confined within his Yaochi Aperture.

The power contained within that blood had always lain dormant, yet never truly vanished. It existed inside Nie Kong like a buried explosive, poised to erupt with far greater ferocity should any anomaly occur, potentially reverting him to his original state, or worse, costing him his life.

Nie Kong had never understood what precisely it was. Now that Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin had discovered it, perhaps they possessed some insight.

As for the small, tender sprout floating inside the Yaochi Aperture, Nie Kong felt no worry whatsoever. As it stood, this little fellow displayed no discernible power, nor even any aura. Aside from Nie Kong, the master who inherited the theory of the Nine Ancestral Hidden Apertures, no outsider could ever detect its presence. Even if it showed a slight flaw, the strange mass of murky-green blood would swiftly mask it.

“Nie Kong…”

Nie Xingyun pondered for a moment, a rare seriousness clouding his expression. He glanced at Lian Tianxin, whose face mirrored the gravity, and asked, “Do you know where that power originated?”

Nie Kong replied, “Masters, it seems it has been there since birth. Because of its existence, I suffered illness constantly, and my cultivation remained stuck at the first tier of Spirit Gathering for ten years. Recently, for some unknown reason, it suddenly retreated between the Three Spiritual Apertures, which lifted my cultivation barrier, allowing my progress to surge. However, it is restless; it requires a constant suppression of medicinal power to remain tucked away there and not cause trouble.”

Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin exchanged a look, both finding the situation highly troublesome.

If they could just touch that power, perhaps they could devise a method to draw it out. But now, unable even to brush against it, how could they possibly expel it?

They fully believed Nie Kong’s explanation.

Nie Kong’s eighteen years of sickness and decade of stagnant cultivation were common knowledge in the Nie family. Furthermore, they had personally witnessed Nie Kong stuffing his mouth with herbs whenever he seized an opportunity recently. Many of those herbs were intended for refining third and fourth-grade spiritual medicines, and some could even be used for fifth-grade elixirs—a fact that had caused them considerable heartache at the time. For a Spirit Communicator to suddenly consume so many potent herbs should have damaged his Three Spiritual Apertures, yet Nie Kong remained completely unharmed.

The questions that had long puzzled Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin all found their answers in the presence of that bizarre power between the apertures.

Lian Tianxin said in a gentle voice, “Disciple, do not worry excessively. Regarding your illness, your master will discuss it thoroughly with Nie Laowu. As for the matter of the herbs, worry even less. You may consume as many herbs in this secret chamber as you wish, though those designated for refining fifth and sixth-grade elixirs must be reserved for the Nie family.”

Nie Xingyun, however, grumbled with vexation, “This child of yours! Why didn't you tell us something so crucial sooner? Do you not consider us your masters? If we had known the extent of your affliction, would Hongmao have been so incensed over those few herbs you ate?”

Lian Tianxin had been nodding along until Nie Xingyun’s last sentence, at which point he bristled: “Nie Laowu, weren’t you the one who was heartbroken then? Pouting and glaring? I am not so petty as to begrudge a few herbs meant for fifth-grade elixirs!”

“Oh? Who was it that got so angry they didn’t eat for an entire day that day…”

“……”

For the Nie family’s Spirit Alchemists, resources like Fragrant Silk Glazed Root and Icy Pan Water were usually available upon request. Medications required for refining third-grade elixirs or higher were allocated based on circumstance. As for Nie Kong, given his current cultivation, he would never have been permitted into this chamber or gained access to so many precious herbs—let alone consumed them—were he not the disciple of two fifth-grade Spirit Alchemists.

Seeing Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin red-faced and bickering again, Nie Kong felt gratitude mingled with a touch of shame.

He had merely intended to pilfer a few herbs from this secret room and discreetly probe whether they would agree to let him trade a portion of the spiritual medicines he refined in the future for necessary external herbs. After all, the family had rules; nurturing a Spirit Alchemist required immense investment. If an Alchemist, having matured through the family’s resources, then sold their refined elixirs externally instead of supplying the clan, it would seem somewhat dishonorable.

Yet, what Nie Kong hadn't expected was that before he could utter his probing questions, the two masters opened the supply of almost every herb in this chamber to him. Such treatment was something even the Nie family’s established fourth-grade Spirit Alchemists had never received.

In the future, I must refine more spiritual medicines for the Nie family as compensation, Nie Kong mused inwardly.

……

He didn't linger long. Nie Kong left the secret chamber carrying a medicinal cauldron and enough ingredients to refine fifty 'Purple Li Pills.' Hauled along with him was also a large sack of herbs intended for third and fourth-grade elixirs, which, by rough estimation, weighed at least fifty jin.

The moment Nie Kong vanished, the previously combative Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin sighed and slumped into their seats. Nie Xingyun gave a wry smile. “This young man says that fifty jin of herbs will barely last him half a month. Even plain rice, a single person couldn’t consume fifty jin in half a month.”

Lian Tianxin sighed deeply. “Indeed. Is this truly the envy of the heavens? Such an outstandingly gifted Spirit Alchemist harbors such a massive hidden danger within him. Had he not told us, even we old fellows would have assumed his illness was completely eradicated!”

“We must find a way to cure this sickness of his,” Nie Xingyun said, filled with worry. “The young man needs this many herbs just at the Spirit Communicator level. If he reaches Spirit Fusion, he’ll likely require massive quantities of 'Jade Snail Flower'—the kind used for fourth-grade elixirs—just to suppress the condition. If he reaches Spirit Transformation, perhaps herbs on the level of 'Electric Light Vine' will be necessary… If his cultivation advances to Spirit Controller, then…”

Carrying the extrapolation to its end, Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin were left dumbfounded. This boy was simply a bottomless pit; the higher his cultivation climbed, the rarer the herbs he would require. Never mind the subsequent stages of Virtual Spirit or Pill Spirit—even if Nie Kong only reached Spirit Controller, the entire Nie family probably couldn't sustain him.

To dedicate the entirety of the family's strength to supporting one person was clearly unrealistic and impossible. Perhaps by the time Nie Kong reaches the Spirit Fusion realm, he would have to become self-sufficient.

After a stunned silence, Lian Tianxin swallowed with difficulty. “At worst, when the time comes, we’ll explain it to the Clan Head and the Elders. The two of us old men will risk our lives refining fifth-grade elixirs to trade for the necessary herbs outside. We cannot let this child suffer; he is our only disciple!”

He paused, then added with exasperation, “Nie Laowu, you’ve reached Virtual Spirit, yet you can’t find a way to improve your medicinal power fusion rate? Other Virtual Spirit masters can typically refine sixth, or even seventh-grade elixirs. But you? You’re still stuck at fifth-grade, and your fusion rate is abysmal. Your own disciple is far stronger than you. In the future, if you tell people you are Nie Kong’s master, who will believe you?”

“Do you think I don’t want to become a sixth-grade Spirit Alchemist?” Nie Xingyun’s cheeks flushed hot, and he growled in vexed anger. The mere mention of this topic always plunged him into extreme frustration…

……