Returning to his quarters, Nie Kong immediately washed the four poisonous herbs and stored them in his pet backpack.

The little fellow resumed its tireless work; separating the medicinal power without needing meticulous discrimination of properties was certainly much easier. The little fellow directly extruded three tendrils of green energy: one burrowed into the round snowball, another rested on the leaves of the "Fire Tree Silver Flower," and the last one adhered closely to Nie Kong’s acupoints.

Not long after, milky-white venom and jade-green medicinal fluid were separately injected into the "Fire Tree Silver Flower" and the "Spirit Nerves Three Acupoints," flowing endlessly like silk threads. Meanwhile, the leaves of the snowball began to yellow, its vitality gradually fading, and the round orb itself slowly shrank and withered.

This continued for about a quarter of an hour...

In Nie Kong's acupoints, a considerable lump of viscous green fluid materialized. Beside it lay a larger pool of "Yellow Dragon Spirit Dew," and two smaller, even more minute globs of green fluid—these were the pure wood spirit energy elements extracted from tasting the "Black Heart Wood Butterfly" and the "Jade Exquisite."

"Aiya ya!"

The green energy withdrew from the completely yellowed and withered snowball, and the little fellow suddenly cheered with excitement. Only then did Nie Kong notice that the roots of the "Fire Tree Silver Flower," clinging to the soil, had secretly secreted two drops of glistening, blood-red **. Like a starved wolf suddenly spotting two pieces of fat meat, the little fellow showed almost no hesitation; the green energy lunged forward and swallowed those two drops of blood-red **.

After absorbing them, the little fellow was instantly revitalized, its lethargic state completely vanishing.

Nie Kong was now entirely certain that the "Fire Tree Silver Flower" needed to absorb sufficient toxicity before it could secrete those small clusters of red **. He had communicated with the little fellow about it, but even Xiang Xiang couldn't ascertain what the red ** was, only possessing an instinctive fondness for it.

In the future, perhaps he should let the little fellow reserve two drops of ** and taste it himself, just to see what it tastes like.

Nie Kong thought to himself, then sat cross-legged on the **, focusing his mind within the "Spirit Nerves Three Acupoints," and began circulating the "Wood Yang True Spirit Art."

The acupoints vibrated, and spirit energy surged through the meridians.

In the blink of an eye, the medicinal power of the small mass containing the pure wood spirit energy element from the "Jade Exquisite" dissolved, drawn by the vibration of the "Spirit Nerves Three Acupoints" and gradually absorbed and refined by Nie Kong, merging indistinguishably with the mutated wood spirit energy within him.

After the Jade Exquisite came the Black Heart Wood Butterfly and the Snowball...

Just as Nie Kong had initially guessed, this wood spirit energy element separated from the poisonous herbs was extremely violent. When the snowball mass was halfway refined, it felt as if a hurricane had swept through Nie Kong’s meridians; the previously slightly undulating spirit energy rose up like towering waves, surging powerfully.

Faintly, Nie Kong sensed a barrier approaching breakthrough near the "Spirit Nerves Three Acupoints," and as the medicinal power of the "Snowball" continued to be refined, that sensation grew clearer, and the formless barrier in his acupoints showed signs of loosening, seemingly ready to shatter at any moment.

Soon, the medicinal power from the snowball mass containing the pure wood spirit energy element was completely absorbed, and the signs of breakthrough became increasingly apparent.

"Almost at the sixth rank of Spirit Communication!"

So close to another elevation, Nie Kong was filled with joy and, without pausing, continued refining the last remaining mass of "Yellow Dragon Spirit Dew."

Although the name contained the character for "dew," the nature of this "Yellow Dragon Spirit Dew" was entirely different from "Rejuvenation Dew." That Rejuvenation Dew was a finished spiritual medicine, whereas the "Yellow Dragon Spirit Dew" was naturally engendered—a distinction Nie Kong gathered from Long Xuechan’s words.

"Boom!"

The moment the Yellow Dragon Spirit Dew dispersed, a thunderous roar erupted within Nie Kong's body, causing his seated form to nearly spring up from the **.

As the "Wood Yang True Spirit Art" spun rapidly, the large mass of "Yellow Dragon Spirit Dew" suddenly shattered, instantly reaching every part of his limbs and bones, integrating into his muscles, skeleton, blood, meridians, and organs...

Instantly, the cracking sounds of shifting joints, the pounding beats of his organs, the rushing sound of flowing blood... intertwined within his body.

As the medicinal power gradually fused with his physique, Nie Kong discovered that his body was beginning to undergo slow changes.

This was the first time since bathing in the "Muscle and Bone Strengthening Soup" that medicinal power was acting directly upon Nie Kong's physical body.

His bones became harder, his fascia more pliable, his muscles more robust, his organs stronger and more vigorous, and his meridians and blood vessels were slowly widening...

Although the speed of this transformation was not fast, the effect was extremely pronounced; Nie Kong could clearly feel almost every subtle change.

"Truly good stuff!"

Amidst his pleasant surprise, Nie Kong noticed that under the effect of the "Wood Yang True Spirit Art," spirit energy began surging out from all parts of his body. He quickly collected his mind, concentrating wholeheartedly on refining it...

...

Not far from the Red Chamber Pharmacy, in the small pavilion atop the highest floor of that tavern, a woman in white reclined quietly on an exquisitely carved lounge chair.

She appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six. Beneath her crescent-moon-like eyebrows, her eyes were closed, but her beautiful eyelashes trembled lightly like a feather fan. Below her small, delicate nose, her vermilion lips parted slightly, seemingly releasing a fragrance as delicate as orchids. On her melon-seed face, the snow-white skin seemed to radiate a subtle, crystalline luster, making it impossible to discern any fine pores on her cheeks.

Beneath her smooth jade neck, two mounds of jade rose high, making the clothing across her chest look ready to burst, revealing expanses of fair, tender skin where the collar gaped. Below her slender, graspable waist, her plump, rounded hips swelled against the confinement of her skirt, from which extended two shapely, crossed legs. Full breasts, a narrow waist, prominent hips, and long legs—they collectively formed a curve overflowing with boundless temptation.

However, inconsistent with the woman's ethereal, fairy-like beauty, a dragon-shaped phantom hovered above her delicate body. Its crystalline, lustrous form was studded with scales as white as snow. Its refined neck was held high, radiating an aura of supreme arrogance.

"Meixian, Meixian, good news, good news, gegegege..."

Amidst a sweet, charming giggle, the room door swung open, and Long Xuechan's graceful figure slipped inside, waving three sheets of paper covered in writing.

"What good news warrants such delight from you?"

The beautiful white dragon phantom suddenly retracted into her body, and the white-clad woman named Meixian opened her lovely eyes, rising gracefully to her feet, a faint smile playing on her lips.

If Nie Kong were present, he would be astonished to find that Long Xuejun and this Meixian shared an identical appearance. The only difference was that Long Xuejun was charming and seductive, radiating allure with every glance and smile, whereas this Meixian, despite having an equally voluptuous figure, possessed a pure and detached temperament...