In the southeastern corner of the training grounds, before a rapidly spinning top, Nie Kong executed "Flying Flower Shadow," his body flickering in elusive movement, his hands darting in and out like flicking vipers. Months had passed; Nie Kong was no longer the novice he once was, and the top, set now to the medium speed, was still handled with practiced ease.

Cloud Flower Four Stacks! Cloud Flower Four Stacks...

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"..."

Amidst the fierce roar, bursts of dazzling green light shot forth. After cooperating with the little fellow dozens of times in succession, Nie Kong was executing "Cloud Flower Four Stacks" with increasing fluidity, yet the spiritual energy in his acupoints and meridians was rapidly depleting—those layered explosions consumed spirit power at an alarming rate.

Moments later, Nie Kong ceased training and sat down to cultivate the "Wood Sun True Spirit Art." Only after his spiritual energy had recovered did Nie Kong begin again.

Several cycles later, the sky was already growing dim.

"Last time, I'll try the 'Mountain Shattering Strike'!"

After recovering his spirit power for the third time, Nie Kong mused inwardly, harboring considerable anticipation for this Apothecary Skill. This "Mountain Shattering Strike," capable of unleashing three hundred percent attack power in the game, how potent would it be translated into a spirit art in this world?

The method for executing the skill surfaced in his mind, and Nie Kong pondered it carefully for a long while. Only when it was perfectly clear in his breast did he draw a shallow breath and fix his gaze ahead.

The spinning top, deprived of spiritual support, had long since stopped rotating.

"Hah!"

With a sharp shout from his mouth, his right fist suddenly plunged into the gap of the top. At that instant, Nie Kong was astonished; the moment he struck, the spiritual energy within his body, accompanied by the little fellow's cries of "Aiya-ya," wildly converged in one spot, instantly surging into his right fist like a monstrous tidal wave.

"Boom!"

The instant the fist made contact with the central pillar of the top, the spiritual energy erupted with an overwhelming, torrential force. Amidst the intense, deafening sound, the top was actually lifted from the ground, crashing down a dozen meters away before skidding along the earth for some distance, ultimately shattering into a pile of scrap.

Noticing the commotion, several members of the Nie Clan who were training nearby turned their astonished gazes toward the source. Upon recognizing Nie Kong, they were all staggered. If it were a Spirit Fusion Master who violently knocked the top away, it wouldn't be surprising, but Nie Kong was a Spirit Channeler. What spirit art had he just displayed that not only sent the top flying but utterly wrecked it so completely? That top was certainly beyond repair!

"Hoo!"

Nie Kong let out a long breath, bracing his hands on his knees, appearing utterly drained. The sheer power of the "Mountain Shattering Strike" had surprised him, but the corresponding drain on his spirit power made him offer a wry smile; a single strike had consumed nearly eighty percent of his reserves.

While still in the Spirit Channeling realm, it was best to use this "Mountain Shattering Strike" sparingly. If he fought against several Spirit Masters of equal cultivation, one strike might instantly kill one of them, but after killing that person, Nie Kong would be fated to be slaughtered himself.

Having made up his mind, Nie Kong ignored the strange looks from the nearby clansmen and walked toward home. As for the dismantled top, someone would surely clean it up.

"Huh, Nie Kong?"

Not long after leaving the training grounds, several youths emerged from the side, laughing cheerfully, their eyes toward Nie Kong filled with a mixture of admiration and curiosity.

Nie Kong noticed that Nie Qing'an was among them.

Seeing Nie Kong, Nie Qing'an's entire face fell. He tossed his head back, pretending not to see him. The looks his companions cast at Nie Kong made Nie Qing'an feel sour inside. So what if he won first place in the Thousand Spirit Gathering competition? It wasn't anything to boast about. If that little girl Nie Fenghua hadn't returned a few days late, and if she had participated in the gathering, would Nie Kong still have clinched first place?

Nie Kong merely nodded in acknowledgment and continued forward. But as he passed by them, a thought struck him, and he called out, "Oh my, isn't this Uncle Qing'an? Have you achieved Spirit Fusion?"

"Hmph!"

Nie Qing'an's face flushed crimson and white, and he glared fiercely at Nie Kong. Then, he suddenly noticed that the two eyes facing him had turned a deep emerald green. Within the emerald glow, a single spot of purple light spun like a tiny vortex, seemingly imbued with a strange, soul-capturing power. The moment Nie Qing'an looked, he felt his body rapidly shrinking, eventually being sucked into that small purple vortex, his consciousness growing hazy.

Nie Qing'an shook his head violently to clear his mind. He saw Nie Kong's eyes were the usual dark black, unchanged from before. Suspicion arose in his heart—was that just an illusion?

"Haha."

Nie Kong laughed loudly and walked away into the distance.

Nie Kong had seized the opportunity to deploy the "Purple Spirit Illusory Heart." Although it only managed to daze Nie Qing'an for a fleeting moment, he was quite satisfied. In a real life-or-death confrontation, that single instant could very well determine the fate of a Spirit Master.

"Third-tier skills are indeed powerful."

Nie Kong clenched his fist and swung it fiercely through the air.

For the next two days, Nie Kong worked hard to familiarize himself with the several newly comprehended skills. Currently, both Master Nie Xingyun and Lian Tianxin were engrossed in studying that piece of "Misty Spirit Incense," making it the perfect time for cultivation. Once they finished their research, Nie Kong wouldn't have this much free time.

While Nie Kong was diligently practicing his skills, Nie Fengxing, taking advantage of his fourth sister Nie Fenghua’s return, was granted a special five-day leave from confinement.

As evening fell, Nie Fengxing leaned back comfortably on a lounge chair, enjoying the massage from two beautiful serving maids, when an uninvited guest suddenly appeared in the private courtyard where he resided. That person was none other than the young man who had accompanied Nie Fenghua to the Nie family—She Yan!

About half an hour later, She Yan walked out of the courtyard with a faint smile.

"Third Young Master, are you truly planning to cooperate with him?" Wu Tong approached, confusion evident in his voice.

Nie Fengxing squinted his eyes and sneered disdainfully, "Tch, cooperate with him? I'm just planning to use this idiot. Once he drags that person away, you immediately notify that bastard. What do you think will happen when that bastard encounters this idiot?"

"They'll definitely fight. This idiot is a Spirit Fusion Master, and that bastard is a Spirit Channeler—he's surely doomed! Killing with a borrowed knife! Brilliant! Brilliant!" Wu Tong gave a thumbs-up, lavishing praise.

"At that time, I'll make my grand entrance, and the several Spirit Transformation Masters you found will arrive shortly thereafter. They can capture the murderer who harmed our Nie clansmen and rescue that young lady unharmed—killing two birds with one stone! You all need to coordinate and figure out how to time this precisely."

"Third Young Master, what if She Yan confesses you after being captured..."

"This is the Nie family. Who will people believe, him or me?"

Nie Fengxing finished speaking with smug satisfaction, then couldn't help but sigh, "This world outside is truly wonderful, it's a pity I can only be out for five days..."

...

"Idiot!"

Outside the courtyard, She Yan muttered with a grin, "Fenghua is so outstanding, yet to think she has such a useless third brother. Colluding with outsiders to harm his own clansmen—no matter the family, that is an unforgivable, grave crime. With this in hand, how can he possibly escape my grasp?"

She Yan spread his palm open. Resting on it was a white jade ball the size of an egg, intricately inscribed with dense, exquisite spirit patterns across its surface. As streams of black light burst forth from the patterns, two voices emanated from within the jade sphere. The owners of those voices were Nie Fengxing and She Yan themselves...