Initially, I removed this chapter, but when I posted it in the "Related Works" section for everyone to casually look at, the reaction was quite good. Sigh, I might as well add it back in. It does make the narrative feel more cohesive anyway. Luckily, this isn't a paid chapter. If any readers dislike this slightly lighter tone, feel free to skip straight to the next chapter. …… News of Lingbao Pavilion hosting the "Thousand Spirit Medicine Assembly" in Jiyang City on the thirtieth of December spread throughout the Great Success Empire within just a few days.

The term "Thousand Spirit" didn't literally mean exactly one thousand types of spirit herbs; it was a general designation, but the variety of spirit medicines appearing at the "Thousand Spirit Medicine Assembly" would certainly not be small.

It was rumored that powerful clans like the Imperial Family, the Li Feng Qu family, the Ye Ge Que family, and the Jiyang Nie family had all received invitations from Lingbao Pavilion—which was to say, the Mu family of Luocheng. For these great families, every "Thousand Spirit Medicine Assembly" hosted by Lingbao Pavilion was an excellent opportunity for mutual exchange of goods.

Apart from the noble clans, several Spirit Master sects within the Great Success Empire, some mid-tier families, and even a few reputable Spirit Alchemists had received invitations from Lingbao Pavilion. Of course, at such a rare grand gathering, many smaller families or Spirit Masters would attend uninvited.

The main reason for this was that during every "Thousand Spirit Grand Assembly," some major families would put their surplus spirit medicines or herbs up for sale, often at comparatively lower prices. This was an opportunity that smaller families or Spirit Masters without strong backing could not afford to miss.

Thus, about six or seven days before the thirtieth, unfamiliar Spirit Masters began entering Jiyang City from all directions. Moreover, as the date of the "Thousand Spirit Medicine Assembly" hosted by Lingbao Pavilion drew nearer, the influx of people into Jiyang City began to grow explosively.

Amidst an atmosphere of fervent anticipation, Jiyang City finally arrived at December twenty-ninth.

There was still one day before the Medicine Assembly began. However, the area around Lingbao Pavilion was already swarming with people. Many Spirit Masters loitered there even if they had nothing specific to do, familiarizing themselves with the surroundings, as the next day's event would be held in the manors flanking Lingbao Pavilion.

Lingbao Pavilion had no complaints about the hubbub outside. In recent days, sales of their medicines and spirit herbs had tripled.

"Big Brother, look, isn't that Master Tianxin from the Nie family's Alchemy Hall?" Inside Lingbao Pavilion, a young man casually selecting herbs happened to glance up and noticed three figures entering the second floor. His eyes suddenly brightened, and he couldn't help but nudge the burly man standing beside him.

"That's him, indeed. Good eyesight, young man," the burly man grinned, patting the younger man's shoulder heavily, affecting the air of an "insider with all the scoops," and conspiratorially added, "Little brother, do you know who that youth behind the two elders is?"

"Who?"

The young man clearly took the bait and asked reflexively.

The burly man smiled slyly, "Judging by your look, you must have only arrived in Jiyang City a few days ago. Let me tell you, that youth is quite a big deal in the Nie family. My brother-in-law's brother's cousin works for the Nie family, and I heard it directly from him. I'm telling you this, but you must not spread it around."

"Mhm, I promise I won't tell a soul," the young man nodded repeatedly, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the burly man.

"That fellow was supposedly close to death since childhood, and after cultivating diligently for ten whole years, he only reached the first rank of Spirit Gathering... " Seeing the young man's shocked expression, and with several more listeners gathering around, the burly man became even more animated. "But just this September, his condition suddenly improved, and his cultivation skyrocketed along with it. In less than ten days, he went from the first rank of Spirit Gathering to the ninth rank. Then, in October, he entered the Nie family's Life and Death Illusory Realm for training, and not long after entering, he advanced to the second rank of Spirit Unveiling. Unfortunately, something went wrong when he came out; not only did his cultivation stall, but he nearly lost his life. Everyone thought his good luck had finally run out, but what happened next..."

"What happened next?" several people nearby urged in unison.

"What happened next... the rest is highly classified, you must not spread it around, understand?" the burly man put on airs and cautioned them.

"We know, we know, just tell us quickly!" everyone urged him on.

"Ahem, the result..."

The burly man's vanity was greatly satisfied. He cleared his throat, but just as he spoke two words, a scoff came from nearby: "The result? His good luck didn't run out; on the contrary, he was accepted as a disciple by two fifth-rank Spirit Alchemists of the Nie family! This news has been all over Jiyang City since last month. Now, if you ask any three-year-old on the street, they'll all tell you that person's name is Nie Kong. And you call that a secret?"

"Who! Who is stealing my lines?" The burly man was instantly enraged, two fierce glares shooting from his eyes as he scanned the crowd. Seeing a fourteen or fifteen-year-old youth making faces at him, he became furious and lifted the hem of his robe, ready to scramble over the herb shelves to teach the little brat a lesson.

"Hmph!"

A cold snort came from the counter. The old man who had been sitting behind the counter with his eyes closed suddenly opened them, two gazes shooting directly at the burly man. This crude fellow involuntarily shivered, reluctantly retracted the arm he had placed on the herb shelf, and slunk out of Lingbao Pavilion.

Although the burly man left, the crowd's enthusiasm for discussing Nie Kong only intensified.

……

At this moment, Nie Kong, the subject of the discussion, was following Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin up to the fourth floor of Lingbao Pavilion. Since five days prior, the area above the second floor had been closed to the public, with Spirit Masters stationed at the stairwell to prevent any disturbances, resulting in a much quieter atmosphere upstairs.

"Fifth Elder, Master Tianxin, I did not expect you two to visit today. Please forgive me for not greeting you sooner." A thin, blue-robed middle-aged man hurried forward, his face full of smiles layered with appropriate deference upon seeing Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin.

"No matter, no matter," Nie Xingyun waved his hand with a smile.

"This must be the disciple of Fifth Elder and Master Tianxin?" The middle-aged man's gaze shifted to Nie Kong, asking warmly.

"Nie Kong pays his respects to Mr. Mo."

Nie Kong recognized this middle-aged man. Back when Nie Kong came to Lingbao Pavilion to sell the "Spring Rejuvenation Dew," Mo Xingtu had chased after him to inquire about his whereabouts, and later even mobilized the Nie family to search all over Jiyang City for days. When the matter had been settled, Nie Kong had asked Nie Qingfeng about his background and learned he was Mo Xingtu, a fourth-rank Spirit Alchemist stationed by the Mu family of Luocheng at Jiyang City's Lingbao Pavilion.

"You know me?" Mo Xingtu was somewhat surprised.

"As a fourth-rank Spirit Alchemist, yet you refined two fifth-rank spirit medicines, the 'Golden Jade Gourd.' Everyone in Jiyang City knows Mr. Mo's name," Nie Kong said with a smile.

"Please don't say that. In front of Fifth Elder and Master Tianxin, I am utterly ashamed," Mo Xingtu repeatedly waved his hands, but the unconcealed smile playing at the corner of his mouth showed that Nie Kong's flattery had hit the exact spot that pleased him, making him somewhat self-satisfied. After a pause, Mo Xingtu added, "Fifth Elder, Master Tianxin, are you here to see Master Zisi? He arrived at Lingbao Pavilion today. Please, follow me this way."

"Haha, looks like we arrived right on time," Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin laughed, following Mo Xingtu's guidance forward...

……

There were only two people in the room. One was an old man who looked to be around sixty, very thin, with a goat-like beard under his chin and a face etched with the traces of wind and frost of years past. However, the eyes deep-set in their sockets were exceptionally bright, making him appear vigorous and energetic.

The other person was a green-clad young girl with a fresh, dewy appearance and a beautiful baby face.

The Ninth Elder of the Nie family also had a baby face, but on him, it looked quite comical. On this young girl, however, the baby face only made her look more exquisite, delicate and tender, making one desperately want to plant a hearty kiss on her faintly blushing cheeks.

Nie Kong also knew this green-clad girl. She was the one who accepted the bottle of "Spring Rejuvenation Dew." He seemed to recall Mu Hongling calling her "Little Sister Ling." She looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, but her actual age was older than Mu Hongling, something he had vaguely overheard after leaving that day.

As for the old man, he must be "Master Zisi" as Mo Xingtu mentioned.

Upon entering the room, Nie Xingyun unceremoniously plopped down opposite the old man and bantered, "Old Man Mu, how many years has it been since we last met? Nine? Ten? I heard you've spent all these years trying to break through to the sixth rank of Spirit Alchemist? Why are you finally willing to leave your nest and come to Jiyang City? I don't believe you're truly here just for this 'Thousand Spirit Medicine Assembly.'"

In the Nie family, Lian Tianxin often used the issue of low medicine potency fusion rate to needle Nie Xingyun, and since he lacked a sharp counter-weapon, he often felt stifled.

But in front of this old man, Nie Xingyun's confidence immediately returned.

Because, no matter what Mu Zisi refined, if it succeeded, the potency fusion rate was always exactly sixty percent, no more, no less. Even for the first-rank "Spring Rejuvenation Dew," it was the same. Compared to Mu Zisi, the spirit medicines Nie Xingyun refined often had fusion rates higher than sixty percent, giving him a huge sense of superiority and accomplishment.

It couldn't be helped; sometimes people needed to compare themselves to those inferior to them to regain confidence. If one constantly compared themselves to those stronger, they would likely only find self-loathing. Take Nie Xingyun, for instance; although he was Nie Kong's master, he never compared his medicine potency fusion rates with Nie Kong's.

After listening to Nie Xingyun's string of teasing remarks, Mu Zisi shook his head helplessly: "There's nothing I can do. I've worked hard for ten years, but I still haven't become a sixth-rank Spirit Alchemist. I might as well use the opportunity of this 'Thousand Spirit Medicine Assembly' to relax for a bit. Perhaps a bit of relaxation will improve my skill."

Nie Xingyun smiled until his eyes narrowed into thin slits: "Keep dreaming!"

Lian Tianxin couldn't help but cough twice as well. If relaxing one's mood could raise one from the fifth to the sixth rank, then every Spirit Alchemist would simply go relax. Frankly, Lian Tianxin had always been baffled as to how this old fellow Mu Zisi managed to become a fifth-rank Spirit Alchemist in the first place.

Lian Tianxin reminded them, "You two stop messing around; don't let the children laugh at you."

"Right, right, Old Five Nie, Tianxin, why not introduce that little fellow behind you?" Mu Zisi stroked his goatee and said with a chuckle.

Nie Xingyun laughed, "Does this require an introduction? I refuse to believe you haven't heard of him. Nie Kong, from now on, you just call him Martial Uncle."

"Nie Kong pays his respects to Martial Uncle Mu."

Nie Kong immediately bowed deeply. He could tell that his two masters were very familiar with this Mu Zisi, otherwise, they wouldn't dare to tease and curse him so casually.

Mu Zisi nodded and smiled, "Good, good. Old Five, Tianxin, your Nie family is producing talent. Unlike our Mu family, despite having the prestigious name of Lingbao Pavilion, we don't have many Spirit Alchemists within our own clan. In terms of alchemy, talented juniors are pitifully few."

"So-so, only Nie Kong and Nie Fenghua, that's all," Nie Xingyun deliberately adopted an air of casualness, but everyone could see the pride written plainly on his face.

Lian Tianxin shook his head speechlessly: "Old Five Nie, stop putting on airs here. Old Mu, have you received anything rare recently from Lingbao Pavilion?"

"We do have some good items. How about you?" Mu Zisi nodded.

"If we didn't, would we have come to find you today?" Nie Xingyun chuckled slyly.

"Good!"

Mu Zisi clapped his hands and smiled, addressing the green-clad girl, "Little Ling, you take Nie Kong to look around the second and third floors first. Grandpa will call you later."

"Okay,"

Little Ling nodded obediently and winked her dewy eyes at Nie Kong. Nie Kong looked at Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin with some suspicion, wondering what rare item required sending him and Little Ling, the two youngsters, away? While his thoughts were racing, Nie Kong was already walking out of the room. After Little Ling followed him out, the door behind them was softly closed by Mo Xingtu.

Watching Nie Kong walk ahead, Little Ling was about to call out to him, but when her gaze landed on his back, she couldn't help but freeze for a moment, a flicker of confusion crossing her eyes. Nie Kong turned back to face the baby-faced girl and said, "Little Sister Ling, where are you planning to take me? As a guest, I'll follow your lead."

"By age, you should be calling me elder sister."

"By seniority, I should call you martial niece, but I've already elevated your seniority by one rank."

"Huh?"

Seeing Nie Kong smile strangely, Little Ling immediately drooped, muttering in annoyance, "Then just keep calling me Little Sister Ling... Let's go to the third floor first; I'll introduce you to a few of Lingbao Pavilion's fifth-rank spirit medicines." After taking a few steps, she hesitated, "Nie Kong, have we met before?"

Of course, we have! Nie Kong smiled inwardly. Back then, he had changed his attire and altered his appearance, but he couldn't change his build. It seemed his appearance had stirred a vague memory in her. However, even if she recognized him now, it didn't matter; there was no need for deliberate concealment anymore.

"Perhaps we met in a dream," Nie Kong joked, then headed downstairs.

"Tch!"

Little Ling pouted and followed him down.

……

In the room, Lian Tianxin took out ten jade bottles from his robes and placed them sequentially on the table in front of him, then gestured to Mu Zisi across from him.

Mu Zisi asked curiously, "What spirit medicines are these?"

"Purple Lapis Pills!"

Lian Tianxin said calmly.

"Purple Lapis Pills? Second-rank spirit medicine, what's so rare about that?" Mu Zisi couldn't help but laugh, and Mo Xingtu, standing beside him, looked as if he wanted to laugh but dared not. After laughing, seeing Lian Tianxin calm and composed, and Nie Xingyun serene, Mu Zisi finally picked up a medicine bottle and pulled out the stopper.

"All are at ninety-five percent fusion rate!"

"Ninety-five percent..."

"Ninety-five percent! Wait, those two look like they might be ninety-six percent!"

"..."

"This one... ninety-seven percent!!"

Looking at one of the Purple Lapis Pills in the last bottle, Mu Zisi's expression turned astonished, and Mo Xingtu beside him was even more so. A display of nearly a hundred spirit medicines with fusion rates above ninety-five percent, even if they were all second-rank Purple Lapis Pills, carried an immense impact, let alone having several at ninety-six percent, even ninety-seven percent.

Nie Xingyun was very pleased with the expressions shown by Mu Zisi and Mo Xingtu: "These were all refined by our good-for-nothing disciple, Nie Kong. Recently, he refined Purple Lapis Pills one hundred and twenty times, and succeeded all one hundred and twenty times. The potency fusion rate of the Purple Lapis Pills was all above ninety percent, but only these hundred reached above ninety-five percent. Alas, barely acceptable; he needs more practice in the future."

Refining one hundred and twenty times, succeeding one hundred and twenty times, with all having a fusion rate above ninety percent, and five-sixths of those being above ninety-five percent—and the one achieving all this was merely a second-rank Spirit Alchemist at the Spirit Unveiling realm! And yet, this was deemed 'not good enough' and 'barely acceptable'?

Showing off! This was blatant, naked showing off!

Seeing the grinning Nie Xingyun and the constantly twitching eyebrows of Lian Tianxin opposite him, Mu Zisi suddenly had an intense urge to slap those two old faces until they split open in several directions. After a long while, Mu Zisi let out a long breath and subtly signaled to the somewhat stunned Mo Xingtu beside him.

Mo Xingtu snapped back to attention and placed a small medicine bottle on the table...

……

Meeting the questioning gazes of Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin, Mu Zisi smiled slightly and casually uttered three words: "Spring Rejuvenation Dew!"

"Spring Rejuvenation Dew?"

Seeing that what Mu Zisi brought out was actually the lowest-grade, first-rank spirit medicine, Lian Tianxin was stunned. But Nie Xingyun laughed so hard he nearly choked, bringing the bottle close to his nose as he spoke, "Old Man Mu, you aren't joking with us, are you? Such a tiny bottle of Spring Rejuvenation Dew, and you..."

Nie Xingyun's laughter abruptly ceased. His small eyes instantly glazed over, and his mouth hung open slightly: "Am I mistaken?" As he spoke, he took another deep sniff of the medicinal fragrance. His eyes darted around, and his face went through a rich spectrum of colors, "Ten-tenths? This is ten-tenths 'Spring Rejuvenation Dew'?"

"Ten-tenths?"

Lian Tianxin snatched the bottle from Nie Xingyun's hand in disbelief. A moment later, his entire body stiffened, only the right hand holding the bottle trembling slightly. The legendary ten-tenths medicine potency fusion rate actually appeared in this small bottle of "Spring Rejuvenation Dew"?!

Mu Zisi stroked his beard, feeling immensely satisfied. He looked at the stunned Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin and said, "Come to think of it, this bottle of 'Spring Rejuvenation Dew' was acquired right here in Jiyang City. The reason I came to attend this 'Thousand Spirit Medicine Assembly' was twofold: to relax and unwind, and second, for this."

Lian Tianxin's eyes moved, and he murmured, "I understand now. Last time Lingbao Pavilion asked the Nie family to search the entire city, it must have been to find the person who sold this Spring Rejuvenation Dew!"

"Correct."

Mu Zisi did not hide it and nodded with a smile.

Nie Xingyun, still holding a look of utter incredulity, became instantly furious upon hearing this: "How dare you, Old Man Mu! Your Lingbao Pavilion deliberately concealed such important information, causing our Nie family to mobilize so many people and turn Jiyang City upside down in chaos!"

Mu Zisi countered, "Don't you know it all now?"

Nie Xingyun scornfully rolled his eyes, "That's only because you people couldn't find the person, otherwise, would you ever willingly bring out this spirit medicine?"

Mu Zisi replied, "Old Five Nie, that's being deliberately unreasonable. Although we didn't tell you when we were searching for the person, I don't believe your Nie family would have handed over the matter intact if you had found the person first. Since you can extract the truth through coercion, what difference does telling or not telling make?"

"..."

Nie Xingyun was momentarily speechless; Mu Zisi's words were not wrong. If the Nie family had found the person first, they would absolutely have coerced out the entire story.

Lian Tianxin asked doubtfully, "Old Mu, why are you taking it out now?"

Mu Zisi pondered, "After this bottle of 'Spring Rejuvenation Dew' was sent back to Luocheng, I tested it for a period and finally confirmed that the refinement time for this bottle of 'Spring Rejuvenation Dew' absolutely did not exceed three months. Comparing that to the time it was acquired, I concluded that the Spirit Alchemist who refined it is in Jiyang City, and that person who sold the medicine is very likely the one who refined it."

Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin exchanged a glance, and they heard Mu Zisi continue, "With this, we can significantly narrow the search radius. We only need to check every single Spirit Alchemist in Jiyang City. Moreover, the fact that the person would bring such a spirit medicine out for sale indicates they are likely a novice, unable to accurately judge the potency fusion rate. They might even be self-taught in alchemy, and perhaps their family background isn't wealthy."

"These few points further reduce the scope of the search. Old Five, Jiyang City is practically the Nie family's city. Finding that person will require your assistance; we at Lingbao Pavilion cannot do it alone." Mu Zisi beckoned, and the "Spring Rejuvenation Dew" jumped from Lian Tianxin's hand into his own palm.

Lian Tianxin pondered, "If the Clan Head and the Elder Council hear this, they will likely agree."

"Novice? Self-taught alchemist? Not wealthy?"

The words flashed repeatedly in Nie Xingyun's mind, making his brain buzz. He didn't even hear what Mu Zisi and Lian Tianxin were saying.

Novice, self-taught alchemy, not wealthy—wasn't that describing that child Nie Kong? Could he have refined Purple Lapis Pills with a potency fusion rate reaching ninety-seven percent? Then refining a bottle of ten-tenths "Spring Rejuvenation Dew" was also quite possible. Furthermore, he had only started studying alchemy in the last few months.

It was him! It had to be him!

Nie Xingyun trembled with excitement, his backside itching as if pricked by needles, making him desperately want to leap up and run out to confirm things with Nie Kong. If that vial of ten-percent "Revitalization Dew" was truly refined by that boy, what heights might he reach in the future?

"Fifth Brother! Fifth Brother!"

"What is it?"

Nie Xingyun suddenly snapped back to attention.

Mu Zisi said testily, "What are you spacing out for? Tianxin and I are just discussing how to find the Alchemist who refined this 'Revitalization Dew'!"

Nie Xingyun snorted, "You two discuss away; this old man can't be bothered with such effort. I'm going out for some air." Saying this, he swept up all the Purple Lapis Pills from the table, muttering, "They should have produced the spirit medicine with a ten-percent fusion rate sooner, forcing this old man to almost lose face. Thankfully, that kid Nie Kong lived up to expectations."

Mu Zisi chuckled wryly. This old fellow couldn't handle a little setback. If he hadn't presented the Revitalization Dew today, based on those ten bottles of top-grade Purple Lapis Pills, who knew how smug he would have been! He didn't take it to heart and continued his discussion with Lian Tianxin.

Once out of the room and the door closed, Nie Xingyun could no longer suppress his excitement. He wildly swung both arms, looking like a child who had found a rare treasure, his face split by a massive grin. For a moment, even his bald pate seemed to gleam brighter.

After a good while, the old man stealthily slipped downstairs...

...

The finished spirit medicines in the Spirit Treasure Pavilion were incredibly numerous and varied, something the Nie family certainly couldn't compare to. As he walked along, Nie Kong listened to Xiao Ling's delicate voice whispering introductions in his ear, genuinely broadening his horizons. According to Xiao Ling, the Spirit Treasure Pavilion even possessed a Grade Six spirit medicine, though it was stored with extreme secrecy.

"Ahem!"

A cough interrupted Xiao Ling's melodious, oriole-like voice. It was Nie Xingyun, walking onto the second floor with a darkened expression. His face was slack like a donkey's, his lips twitching, his brow jumping—clearly enraged to the extreme. He hissed, "Nie Kong, come here!"

Nie Kong quickly bid farewell to Xiao Ling and hurried to Nie Xingyun’s side. Seeing the old man grab the collar behind Nie Kong's neck and drag him toward a small, open side room, Xiao Ling, already worried by the old man's face, grew even more anxious and followed on tiptoe.

As soon as they entered the room, Nie Kong broke free from the old man’s grasp and chuckled, "Master, what has made you so gleeful that your mouth is practically skewed? You look positively ecstatic!"

Nie Xingyun glared with his small eyes and scolded, "Nonsense! Your Master is angry!"

"Angry? Master, stop pretending." Nie Kong straightened his clothes, which had been ruffled by the grip.

"Your Master has no mood to pretend! I ask you, did you sell a vial of 'Revitalization Dew' to this Spirit Treasure Pavilion?" Nie Xingyun's eyebrows shot up fiercely.

"Master, you already know!" Nie Kong smiled, though a strange feeling stirred within him. Could it be that the vial they had observed on the top floor was that Revitalization Dew?

"It really was you who sold it!"

Nie Xingyun’s mouth twisted, then his expression turned grim as he glanced at the approaching young girl. He suppressed a bellow, "You little scoundrel! You refined 'Revitalization Dew' with a ten-percent fusion rate and didn't sell it to the family, but sold it to the Spirit Treasure Pavilion instead, causing the entire Jiyang City to stir up a fuss!"

Nie Kong shrugged, unconcerned. "How was I supposed to know that vial of 'Revitalization Dew' had a ten-percent fusion rate? If I had known, I wouldn't have bothered selling it. Instead, I lived in fear, and the gold I got from the sale was hard to spend, nearly costing me my life. Thankfully, I managed to trade that formula for some herbs."

Seeing Nie Kong portray the situation as so dire, Nie Xingyun felt a touch of lingering fear. He grunted, "I ask you, how did you refine that batch of medicine?"

"Just messed around a bit, and it came out," Nie Kong said leisurely.

"Messed around a bit?" Nie Xingyun snarled, baring his teeth. Messing around resulted in spirit medicine with a ten-percent fusion rate? What a joke!

Watching the old man act like he was having a fit, the little Xiao Ling outside paled slightly. Fearing Nie Xingyun might accidentally strike Nie Kong dead, she secretly scurried upstairs...

...

When Xiao Ling rushed with Lian Tianxin, Mu Zisi, and Mo Xingtu to the room on the second floor like a whirlwind, they saw the master and apprentice, Nie Xingyun and Nie Kong, talking and laughing amiably. There was no fierce argument Xiao Ling had described; it was completely a harmonious scene of master's affection and filial piety.

The group was somewhat dumbfounded, staring at Xiao Ling in shock. A blush rose on the young girl’s tender, pretty face as she stammered, "I... I... I... they... they..."

The girl stuttered for a long time without saying anything coherent. It was Lian Tianxin who bailed her out: "Fifth Brother, apprentice, what are you two doing here?"

Nie Xingyun winked at Lian Tianxin and said to Mu Zisi, "Old Man Mu, I heard your granddaughter is a Grade Two Alchemist, and my apprentice and Hong Mao’s apprentice are both Grade Two Alchemists too. Why don't we have the two youngsters spar a bit? Winning or losing isn't important; exchanging experience is what matters most."

"Good!"

Mu Zisi glanced at Xiao Ling and nodded with a smile, "I have no objection. This little girl's alchemy hasn't improved much recently; letting her see something new will be good for her." As her grandfather spoke, the girl looked towards Nie Kong and couldn't help but chuckle when she saw him standing there, mouth agape in a daze.

Nie Kong was truly stunned. He hadn't expected Nie Xingyun to suddenly pull a stunt like this, so he quickly signaled him with his eyes. Unfortunately, the old man acted as if he saw nothing.

Nie Kong subtly tugged his sleeve again, but the old fellow remained oblivious. Seeing Mu Zisi, Mo Xingtu, and Xiao Ling heading upstairs, Nie Kong lowered his voice and said with a strained smile, "Master, I don't think this spar is necessary, do you? Why don't you just cancel it?"

Nie Xingyun turned serious. "What kind of talk is that? One cannot go back on one's word in such matters. Later, you don't need to use your full power; eighty percent is enough. That way, you can handle that little girl without making Old Man Mu lose too much face. Ah, this is called having the best of both worlds."

The old man used the word "handle" () that he had unintentionally picked up from Nie Kong, feeling secretly pleased. Old Man Mu actually dared to show off the "Revitalization Dew" refined by my apprentice right in front of me, his master! If I don't teach him a quick lesson immediately, who knows how arrogant he'll become later!

Lian Tianxin frowned slightly and whispered, "Fifth Brother, what kind of scheme are you and Nie Kong pulling?"

"I'll tell you when we get back," Nie Xingyun replied with a smile.

"Don't blame me if you lose!"

While the two masters muttered in front, Nie Kong grumbled behind him, feeling extremely exasperated. Did he really have to explain that the apprentice had spent an hour this morning refining "Purple Lapis Pills" with a small cauldron, and it would take at least another eight or nine hours before he could refine that kind of top-quality spirit medicine again?

Without being able to use the "Cauldron Phantom Body," how could he possibly "handle" that little girl? He'd be lucky not to be handled by her! But the reasons were truly too complex to explain, so Nie Kong could only take things one step at a time. As for the final result...

...

The final result was that... barely half an hour later, Nie Xingyun transformed from the red-faced Guan Gong of Nie Kong's past life into the black-faced Bao Gong...

On the staircase between the second and third floors of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, the bald old man walked down, lamenting heartbrokenly, "You little brat, are you deliberately trying to anger your old Master? I told you to hold back, but I didn't tell you to lose to that little girl! You went and made the medicine's fusion rate a full ten percent lower than hers!"

Nie Kong rubbed his nose and forced a dry, helpless laugh, "Master, I warned you beforehand to cancel this spar; you wouldn't listen. You can't blame me. Alas, I refined several Purple Lapis Pills this morning and was utterly exhausted. For the 'Heart Returning Dew' just now to reach seventy percent fusion was already quite good."

Seeing Nie Kong adopt a look of utter indifference, Nie Xingyun grew even more agitated, blowing out his nose and glaring. Lian Tianxin intervened, "Alright, Fifth Brother, you should think about it properly. Nie Kong has only been in alchemy for two or three months, while that little girl has been studying for over ten years and has successfully refined Grade Three spirit medicines. Moreover, what she refined this time was 'Heart Returning Dew,' which he had never seen before. With this result, what more do you expect?"

Nie Xingyun conceded grudgingly, "Of course, I know what you're saying. It's just thinking about Old Man Mu's smug expression that irritates me. Nie Kong, Hong Mao is right. Master was indeed a bit carried away. Let's go; we need to prepare well for tomorrow's Alchemy Competition."

Hearing Nie Xingyun’s complaints, Lian Tianxin secretly chuckled. If Nie Kong had won this time, Nie Xingyun would probably be the one sporting the smug look!

Speaking of the Alchemy Competition, Nie Xingyun’s spirits lifted. He continued, "Nie Kong, you will face more formidable competitors then. With your current alchemy skills, winning will be very difficult, but the rewards if you manage to win in the end are very generous. Especially since most prizes for the Alchemy Competition are prepared by the Mu Family of Luocheng. I can't wait to see Old Man Mu's dark face, haha."

Seeing Nie Xingyun's mood lighten, a slight smile also appeared on Nie Kong's face.

If the spar with Xiao Ling earlier had been over a Grade Two spirit medicine familiar to Nie Kong, he might have had a chance of winning. But that old man Mu Zisi had been unconventional, presenting a Grade Two 'Heart Returning Dew' formula he had just acquired. Nie Xingyun had too much confidence in Nie Kong and, upon discovering that 'Heart Returning Dew' was merely a Grade Two spirit medicine used to treat external injuries of Spirit Masters, had agreed without a second thought.

Consequently, Nie Kong suffered a magnificent tragedy! In the end, the vial of 'Heart Returning Dew' the young girl refined achieved an eighty-percent fusion rate, while Nie Kong's only reached seventy percent.

Nie Kong truly didn't care much about the outcome of this contest. The reason he had acted so dejected just now was purely to save face for his two masters. If he had been happy after losing, it would have clearly been inviting Nie Xingyun to lash out at him.

To be honest, after the recent trial, Nie Kong truly held some admiration for the little girl.

Despite her delicate and refined appearance, her Fire Spiritual Power was exceptionally fierce. Almost the moment her palms touched the body of the cauldron, it boiled over. Then, the entire room was filled only with the roaring explosions from within her cauldron, completely drowning out the sounds of Nie Kong refining his medicine...

...

Spirit Treasure Pavilion, Fourth Floor.

Mu Zisi stood by the window, watching the figures of Nie Xingyun, Lian Tianxin, and Nie Kong leaving the pavilion below, sighing with regret. "This Nie Kong’s talent is truly excellent; he even possesses a mutated spiritual power, and his sense for medicine is remarkably acute. What a pity, his physique is Wood-attributed; no matter how hard he cultivates, it will be difficult for him to achieve much. Perhaps Grade Four Alchemist is his future limit; there is little hope for Grade Five."

Mo Xingtu nodded in agreement.

Xiao Ling, standing beside them, thought of the tiny cauldron Nie Kong had used—no bigger than her palm—and couldn't help but purse her lips into a smile. She looked out the window at Nie Kong's receding back and suddenly said, "Speaking of which, Grandfather, Master, his build looks very similar to that fellow who sold the 'Revitalization Dew.'"

Mo Xingtu started in shock and blurted out, "Xiao Ling, are you suggesting that the ten-percent fusion 'Revitalization Dew' was refined by Nie Kong?"

"I have reached the same conclusion."

Mu Zisi mused, "However, it's best if only the few of us know about this. Let's not disturb him for now, nor leak the information. After all, he is a Nie family member. Let's observe for a while longer. Xiao Ling, if you have a chance in the future, spar with him more. If he only refined one vial of high-fusion spirit medicine, that 'Revitalization Dew' could still be attributed to luck. But his refinement of large quantities of 'Purple Lapis Pills' at ninety-five percent fusion and above cannot be explained by luck alone. Perhaps he has truly discovered a knack we are unaware of."

...

On the walk back to the Nie family home, Lian Tianxin finally learned from Nie Xingyun about Nie Kong's connection to the ten-percent fusion 'Revitalization Dew.' He was greatly shocked; the person they had been trying to find while consulting with Mu Zisi was right beside them all along!

Listening to Nie Xingyun’s account, Nie Kong also felt a chill run through him.

He had thought his act of selling the "Revitalization Dew" at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion was very secretive, but he never expected that Mu Zisi had already gathered so many clues. Through the large quantity of "Purple Lapis Pills" with ninety-five percent fusion and above, Mu Zisi had likely already guessed his identity. Thankfully, he had the behemoth Nie Family backing him; otherwise, he might have ended up being a mere laboring alchemist for the rest of his life.