As Nie Kong stepped out from the side of the high platform, he saw Cheng Zixuan beaming, waving to the crowd from the stage, looking every bit the triumphant general returning from victory. Meanwhile, Mu Xiaoling and the other three girls were gathered near the judges' table.

Mu Xiaoling, in particular, looked quite displeased, casting a dark, sidelong glance at Cheng Zixuan on the stage. Qu Xinyi and Yu Qingguan showed no overtly obvious reactions, but the little loli, Gu Qi, had her cheeks puffed out, her lips moving slightly, muttering something indecipherable.

Finally, what caught Nie Kong's attention were the six Shadow-Green Bone Beasts. Of these, two remained lively and energetic, but two others lay listlessly on the ground, looking sickly, while the final two were simply prone, motionless—likely poisoned to death.

The two vigorous spirit beasts were easy to account for: one was reserved for him, and the other had certainly been cured by the Fourth Prince. The remaining four were harder to distinguish, given that the commotion caused by Mu Xiaoling and her companions was far less pronounced than Cheng Zixuan’s, making a definitive judgment difficult.

Waving to Mu Xiaoling, Nie Kong walked directly toward the platform, while Cheng Zixuan descended, the roar of enthusiastic cheers showing no sign of abating.

Just as the two were about to pass each other, the Fourth Prince smiled faintly and murmured, "Nie Kong, did you see? The first place in this Medicine Assembly Grand Competition is already mine. There’s absolutely no way for you to win. If you’re smart, you should give up early and save yourself the embarrassment."

The two had nearly come to blows backstage, so the Fourth Prince showed no mercy upon seeing Nie Kong. Nie Kong acted as if he had just noticed Cheng Zixuan’s presence and exclaimed, "Oh, Your Highness, the Fourth Prince! You must have been exhausted just now, so much sweat on your forehead. I bet you gave it your all. Alas, I thought with your skills, Your Highness would only need half your strength."

"Sharp tongue!"

The Fourth Prince sneered, suddenly recalling a previous comment Nie Kong had made. He hastily pulled a handkerchief from his robe and began wiping his forehead. After a few swipes, he realized his brow was perfectly dry. Only then did he understand Nie Kong had tricked him, and his face flushed an angry greenish hue. However, as he tucked the handkerchief back into his robes, his face instantly resumed the gentle, humble smile he had worn before.

The judges noticed the simmering tension between Nie Kong and the Fourth Prince but paid it no mind.

Watching Nie Kong ascend the steps, Mu Zisi smiled, "Young man, before you, Mu Xiaoling, Yu Qingguan, and the Fourth Prince all successfully detoxified the beasts within a quarter of an hour, with the Fourth Prince being the most exceptional. The final outcome of this Grand Competition now hinges on you."

Cheng Feiliu, Que Yu, Qu Tingyun, and Fu Erong nodded with reserved smiles. The Fourth Prince’s prior excellence had tempered their expectations for Nie Kong, yet as life is unpredictable, perhaps the young man, who had excelled in the first four rounds, might spring a surprise in this final test.

As Nie Kong's master, Lian Tianxin merely inclined his head slightly to avoid any appearance of partiality and remained silent.

After bowing respectfully to the judges, Nie Kong reached the center of the platform. At that moment, a middle-aged man, pulling a "Shadow-Green Bone Beast" with a chain, led it to the front of the stage. The spirit beast was clearly aware of its imminent fate and struggled violently.

Mo Xingtu produced a black medicinal pill, looked at Nie Kong, and stated in a deep voice, "This is the 'Poison Dragon Pill.' The materials used to refine it include Star-Shattering Begonia, Four-Toothed White Bark, Rush Flower, Hundred-Stamen Crooked-Back Grass, and the blood of a second-grade spirit beast, the 'Black Moon Flood Dragon.' After ingestion, the beast's blood will coagulate and kill it within a quarter of an hour. Are you prepared?" Mo Xingtu’s voice grew louder until it boomed like thunder, drowning out all surrounding noise.

"Begin!"

Nie Kong wasted no time on excuses.

"Good!"

Mo Xingtu praised him.

Even Cheng Zixuan had paused momentarily before this point, contemplating which herbs to use to neutralize the toxicity of the 'Poison Dragon Pill.' But Nie Kong responded with such immediate decisiveness, without any hesitation, that Mo Xingtu inwardly awarded him several points.

Mo Xingtu no longer delayed. He forced open the spirit beast’s mouth and dropped the 'Poison Dragon Pill' inside, then slapped its throat to ensure the medicine dispersed rapidly. The Shadow-Green Bone Beast roared, but its struggles weakened until the chain around its neck was subsequently loosened.

"Tick... tock..."

Mo Xingtu waved his hand, and the instant the timer sounded, Nie Kong’s right arm shot upward. His palm, shimmering with a pale green light, struck the spirit beast directly on the head.

The Shadow-Green Bone Beast let out a low moan and immediately fell unconscious.

"..."

In that moment, the judges—Cheng Feiliu and the others—and Mu Xiaoling and her group were stunned into silence. The countless spectators below were equally dumbfounded. The noisy courtyard fell into an abnormal, profound quietude as everyone stared in astonishment at Nie Kong, who had simply knocked the beast out with his first move.

Snapping out of their shock, the judges exchanged bewildered glances, speechless.

"What is he doing?"

Nie Xingyun scratched his bald scalp in confusion. He had finally waited for the moment his apprentice would compete, only to witness a performance so contrary to convention. Instead of immediately searching for an antidote for the 'Poison Dragon Pill,' he had knocked the beast senseless?

He didn't know that the spirit beast needed to be conscious for the antidote’s efficacy to spread faster? However, trusting Nie Kong, the old man remained calm and continued watching, refusing to believe his young apprentice would act without sound reason.

If the old man could maintain his composure, the group by the judges' table, led by Mu Xiaoling, was beginning to lose patience, as they were pinning their hopes on Nie Kong surpassing Cheng Zixuan.

"What is that big liar trying to do?" The little loli's eyes were wide, her soft face a canvas of question marks. Qu Xinyi and Yu Qingguan both furrowed their brows, looking toward Mu Xiaoling, who was most familiar with Nie Kong.

"Who knows?"

Mu Xiaoling shook her head with a wry smile, speculating, "Let's keep watching; perhaps he has some specific purpose for doing this."

"Showboating!"

The Fourth Prince scoffed aloud.

Just as everyone was questioning his actions, Nie Kong still hadn't glanced at the three rows of red-clad maids, nor had he moved to search for an antidote. Under the scrutiny of countless eyes, Nie Kong suddenly reached into his robe and pulled out nine gleaming golden needles.

"Aren't those the Spirit-Patterned Gold Needles forged for Nie Kong by the Second Elder?" Lian Tianxin and Nie Xingyun’s confusion deepened upon seeing the needles.

"Are those needles? Gold needles?"

"What does he plan to do with that thing? Treat the 'Shadow-Green Bone Beast'?"

"Is this kid joking? Why isn't he rushing to find the herb to counteract the poison, just standing there wasting time? Does he really think he can beat the Fourth Prince like this?"

"..."

The moment the gold needles appeared, the silent courtyard erupted into an uproar, with fierce waves of questioning surging everywhere...