The spiritual power within the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and the Twelve Main Channels surged to life the instant the energy coursed through Long Ting's body, converging under the pull of the Heavenly Needles. Where it passed, it was like a tidal wave, surging and roaring; thankfully, Nie Kong’s meridians were broad enough, otherwise, such a powerful influx of spiritual energy would surely have caused him to vomit blood.

The rigor lasted only a few seconds before Long Xi’s rigid, taut body softened. Her lips parted slightly, her breath like orchid fragrance, and the surging Wood Spiritual Power abruptly ceased. Nie Kong manipulated the Heavenly Needle, probing slightly, and discovered that all the meridians within her were now completely empty.

A pleased look spread across Nie Kong’s face. If he had thought of this earlier, he wouldn't have had to painstakingly push the “Nine Revolutions Golden Needle Art” to the sixth cycle.

At this moment, all the Wood Spiritual Power condensed inside Long Ting had entered Nie Kong’s meridians. Perhaps due to the identical nature of their essences, they coexisted with Nie Kong’s mutated Wood Spiritual Power without interfering with one another.

But to utilize them, Nie Kong still needed to refine and absorb them.

Nie Kong didn't have time for that now, as Long Ting began to hum softly again. Unlike the previous time, influenced by her sister, this was the effect of the potion she had drunk beginning to take hold. Nie Kong quickly carried her to the bedside, switched places with her sister, and his expression immediately became focused.

About ten minutes later, the main hall door creaked open. Nie Kong hurried out, beckoning in a middle-aged woman who had been waiting outside the courtyard. He himself quickly settled into a cross-legged position in the courtyard and began circulating the “Wood Sun True Spirit Art.” Absorbing the Wood Spiritual Power of just Mother Long alone was more than sufficient for Nie Kong, but having the spiritual energy of both sisters enter him made the space feel congested. Especially at the moment Long Ting’s spiritual energy surged in, despite Nie Kong being prepared, his meridians were nearly burst open.

If he had followed Long Xue Chan's method, he would have avoided this near panic entirely. After all, receiving so much spiritual energy just as he was finishing up meant he should first refine and absorb it. It was impossible to immediately begin the next session right after the buffer period of that thing ended.

His acupoints vibrated, and Nie Kong’s mutated spiritual power began to surge through his meridians. To Nie Kong’s surprise, the Wood Spiritual Power from both sisters showed absolutely no resistance; instead, they integrated madly into Nie Kong’s power like moths to a flame.

Like snow under the scorching sun, the two streams of Wood Spiritual Power rapidly melted away, while Nie Kong’s mutated Wood Spiritual Power grew stronger and larger with frenetic energy—the speed was far exceeding that of when he refined and absorbed the Wood Spiritual Power that had originally condensed in his own meridians.

In almost the blink of an eye, Nie Kong felt that invisible barrier signaling an imminent breakthrough at the “Three Spiritual Apertures of the Spirit God.”

“Coming so fast.”

Though he had anticipated it, Nie Kong was still startled by the speed. However, before he could examine it closely, the invisible barrier was shattered by the continuously surging, mutated Wood Spiritual Power, pulverized as if crushing dry wood, leaving no trace of its existence behind.

“Spirit Communication Seventh Grade!”

A thrill of joy involuntarily flickered across Nie Kong’s brow.

A significant amount of Wood Spiritual Power from Mother Long and Long Ting still remained, dissolving at an incredibly swift pace, and Nie Kong’s mutated Wood Spiritual Power continued to grow rapidly. After absorbing all the spiritual power from the twin sisters, consuming the "Jade Leaf Glazed Pill" meant breaking through to Spirit Communication Ninth Grade was essentially guaranteed.

When about half of the two streams of spiritual energy remained, the fusion speed began to slow. Nie Kong remained unhurried, maintaining a calm mind and continuing to circulate the Spirit Art.

After a while, Nie Kong let out a satisfied breath of white air, having completely absorbed the spiritual power of the Ting Ting sisters. He sensed that invisible barrier again in his acupoints. Though not as clear as the previous time, it clearly informed Nie Kong that his personal cultivation was infinitely close to Spirit Communication Eighth Grade.

“Flower Burst! Cloud Layer Flower Burst! Four-Layer Cloud Flower!”

Nie Kong sprang up, stretched his limbs a few times, and suddenly threw three consecutive punches into the void, resulting in seven explosive sounds that almost overlapped: Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang. Nie Kong paid little attention to the first two punches; what truly held his focus was that the power of the “Four-Layer Cloud Flower” had clearly increased significantly.

If he could cultivate to the Spirit Fusion Realm, the “Four-Layer Cloud Flower,” when unleashed, would undoubtedly double in power, especially the “Mountain Breaking Strike,” which consumed almost all of his strength—its power would likely be even more astonishing. If he used it, a situation like when She Yan was struck and still had the chance to use the “Troublesome Snake Heart Aspect” would certainly never happen again!

Nie Kong grew increasingly eager for the Spirit Fusion Realm. He put his fists away, brushed the dust off, and started walking toward the room, only to run straight into the middle-aged woman coming out carrying a pile of clothes and sheets. The woman looked at Nie Kong with a very strange expression, as if looking at a pervert.

Nie Kong felt a bit awkward. He wanted to tell the woman that he truly hadn’t done anything, just that he had given the two little girls a bowl of bitterness each—the medicine was brewed by Nie Kong from several common spirit herbs. Its effects, besides being slightly inappropriate for children, were excellent tonics for nourishing the body. It wouldn't cause any harm to Mother Long and Long Ting; on the contrary, it would benefit them by helping them grow healthier.

Thanking the woman, Nie Kong returned to the room and saw the two little