“...The pet ‘Violet Illusory Scent’ successfully upgraded to Tier Three, gaining two extra slots in the pet inventory; learned the Tier Three Symbiotic Combat Skill ‘Cloud Flower Four Folds’; learned the Tier Three Symbiotic Combat Skill ‘Sea Embraces All Rivers’; learned the Tier Three Symbiotic Combat Skill ‘Violet Spirit Illusory Heart’; learned the Tier Three Symbiotic Combat Skill ‘Mountain Breaking Strike’; learned the Tier Three Auxiliary Skill ‘Spring Breeze Turns Rain’; ‘Medicine Cauldron Phantom Body’ advanced to Tier Three...”

After lunch, Nie Kong retreated to his private chambers. He centered his mind and, after a moment of profound stillness, finally managed to locate the faint mental imprint left by the little creature upon waking.

As he registered the array of new skills being transmitted through that mental connection, the smile on Nie Kong’s face deepened.

Among these abilities, “Cloud Flower Four Folds” needed no further discussion; it was the Tier Three manifestation of the Tier Nine skill “Flower Mountain Blood Sea,” an evolution of “Cloud Fold Flower Burst.” Though Nie Kong hadn't tested it yet, analysis of the name alone suggested its function: the manipulation of spiritual energy for four successive detonations, undoubtedly possessing power far surpassing “Cloud Fold Flower Burst.”

The Tier Three Symbiotic Combat Skill, “Sea Embraces All Rivers,” belonged to the ‘Apothecary’ class. In the game Demon and Fiend, this skill allowed absorption of incoming damage, up to twenty percent, lasting only sixteen seconds but possessing a lengthy three-minute cooldown, and its effect could not stack with similar skills.

It was useless when grinding monsters. While marginally helpful in PvP during the early stages, it became completely obsolete later on as superior skills emerged. Naturally, for Nie Kong, who rarely engaged in PvP within the game, it was trash, regardless of the stage.

On the Celestial Spirit Continent, where there were no damage values to absorb, “Sea Embraces All Rivers” might instead serve to neutralize or weaken an opponent's attacks—a utility that promised significant use in actual combat.

The Tier Three Symbiotic Combat Skill, “Violet Spirit Illusory Heart,” originated directly from the ‘Violet Illusory Scent’ itself. According to Nie Kong’s sensing, utilizing this skill in tandem with the little creature could induce brief hallucinations in the target. Just how brief the ‘briefness’ truly was, Nie Kong couldn't yet ascertain.

As for “Mountain Breaking Strike,” Nie Kong was intimately familiar with it; it was also a Tier Three skill for the Apothecary class. It boasted a mere half-minute cooldown but delivered immense force, capable of manifesting three hundred percent of standard attack power—an absolute trump card when dueling lower-tier players from other professions!

Then there was the auxiliary skill, “Spring Breeze Turns Rain”...

Based on Nie Kong’s perception, this skill harnessed the little creature’s innate medicinal power to restore vitality to other entities. Nie Kong felt a touch of exasperation regarding this particular ability; wasn't this clearly designed to feed the pet ‘Fire Tree Silver Flower’?

Finally, the advancement of “Medicine Cauldron Phantom Body” to Tier Three meant the duration the little creature could sustain its transformation into a medicine cauldron increased to two full hours, while the required rest period after use shortened to eight hours. If this promotion continued, the little one would eventually be able to transform into a cauldron anytime, anywhere. At that point, Nie Kong might finally be able to discard the cumbersome small cauldron he currently carried for concealment.

“Cloud Flower Four Folds, Sea Embraces All Rivers, Violet Spirit Illusory Heart, Mountain Breaking Strike, Spring Breeze Turns Rain...”

Nie Kong softly repeated the names, his smile widening. This Tier Three promotion had granted him a major windfall; at the very least, his repertoire of spiritual arts was no longer limited to the monotonous “Cloud Fold Flower Burst.” His sole current concern was whether his cultivation—Spirit Connection Fifth Grade—was sufficient to wield all these skills, given that Tier Three skills, by corresponding measure, equated to Spirit Fusion cultivation.

Fortunately, the skill system of Demon and Fiend was distinct from the spiritual cultivation system of this world; surely, it wouldn't demand his cultivation reach Spirit Fusion before these skills could be utilized. However, knowing for certain required a practical test.

“Little one, come on, let’s go practice a bit!” When accompanying Hua Mei shopping, Nie Kong had felt nothing, but now, back in his own quarters, he felt an undeniable impatience.

“Aiya ya!”

The little creature twisted its stalk and leaves, continuing to channel drops of its innate medicinal essence into the pet inventory. The essence then burst forth, sprinkling evenly over the leaves of the ‘Fire Tree Silver Flower.’ Concurrently, the blood-red nectar secreted from the base of the ‘Fire Tree Silver Flower’ also increased in volume.

Having advanced to Tier Three, the creature now possessed three small purple leaves, and its stalk had grown slightly longer. The number of tiny root tendrils increased from six to twelve. Most strangely, a small, round mass had formed at the tip of the stalk—what looked decidedly like a nascent flower bud.

With every drop of essence it delivered, a wave of green light circled the roots of the ‘Fire Tree Silver Flower,’ scavenging all the red nectar, feeding itself while consuming its bounty, clearly delighting in the activity to the point of reluctance to stop when Nie Kong spoke.

“Xiang Xiang!” Nie Kong’s tone turned serious. For the creature to master “Spring Breeze Turns Rain” so quickly demonstrated startling efficiency.

“Aiya ya!” the little one whined, twisting its stem and leaves in protest.

“...”

After calling several more times, the creature still refused to leave the ‘Fire Tree Silver Flower.’

If it weren't tethered to Nie Kong’s body, it probably would have already plunged itself directly into the jade basin housing the ‘Fire Tree Silver Flower.’

Damn it! Having a pet meant ignoring the master’s commands! It was like this at only Tier Three; how much worse would it be at higher ranks? Nie Kong’s nose practically flared with annoyance.

“Xiang Xiang!” Nie Kong sent a direct command.

“Aiya ya... ah... ya ya...”

The green energy immediately receded like a tide from the pet inventory, flowing back into the ‘Yaochi Acupoint.’ The little creature froze for a moment, then its small tender sprout listed sideways, collapsing onto the pool of dark green blood. Its stalk writhed, and its three leaves and twelve root tendrils thrashed wildly over the surface of the blood.

“Is it crying?”

Listening to the creature’s sounds, Nie Kong’s eyes widened in astonishment. He had never conceived that the little one could cry; it was utterly too humanized! The little Xiang Xiang now resembled a child throwing a tantrum after having a cherished toy snatched away, leaving Nie Kong feeling both exasperated and amused.

Nie Kong huffed, “Crying won't help. We’re going to cultivate! I haven't even settled the score with you about the last incident—you could have just entered the pet inventory to eat your medicine, but you insisted on having me feed you constantly, giving me indigestion every day—outrageous! From now on, you eat by yourself!”

“Aiya ya?”

The creature’s wailing ceased abruptly. It nervously contracted into a tight ball, but after a few seconds, three root tendrils stealthily crept out from within, gently tickling the side wall of Nie Kong’s “Three Spiritual Orifices,” as if testing whether Nie Kong was genuinely angry.

Sensing its clandestine maneuver, Nie Kong nearly burst out laughing.

“Aiya ya, aiya ya...”

The creature gathered a bit of courage; the tiny flower bud poked out from the sphere, and its root tendrils began to tickle with greater vigor, accompanied by appeasing chirps.

“Flattery won't work; time to cultivate!”

“Ah... ya ya...”

“...”