As dusk deepened, the chamber was illuminated by crimson candles, their flickering light casting dancing shadows everywhere.

Hiss! A sharp sound echoed through the room. Unceasingly, the emerald spiritual energy in Nie Kong’s palm retracted, burning fiercely. The small, exquisitely crafted medicine cauldron spun rapidly, enveloped by the rising heat. A faint aroma of medicine curled out from the small vent holes in the lid.

Not far away, Long Ting, Long Ting, looked back and forth incessantly—from Nie Kong, who sat cross-legged, to the medicine cauldron, and then to the emerald flames. Every time her gaze settled on Nie Kong, her pair of bright, dark eyes would involuntarily light up with a crystalline sparkle.

“Boom!”

Suddenly, a violent tremor erupted from within the cauldron. The intensely burning spiritual energy in Nie Kong’s palm slowly receded. The spinning medicine cauldron decelerated in tandem. When the last trace of emerald light merged back into Nie Kong’s body, the cauldron slowly settled into his palm, as light and weightless as a drifting feather.

Click!

With a soft sound, the lid sprang open, emitting a faint azure luminescence from the mouth of the cauldron. Immediately, a small azure leaf floated out slowly.

The Jade Leaf Glazed Elixir!

Nie Kong grasped the spiritual medicine. After a moment of admiration, a faint smile curved his lips.

Compared to the last time, refining the “Jade Leaf Glazed Elixir” this time was significantly easier; he only felt slightly fatigued, and his internal spiritual energy was not completely depleted. This was primarily because Nie Kong now had experience refining this type of spiritual medicine, coupled with his cultivation having risen from the Sixth Grade of Spiritual Comprehension to the Ninth Grade.

However, in terms of integration, this leaf-shaped “Jade Leaf Glazed Elixir” was far inferior to the spherical spiritual medicine he had refined the first time.

Nie Kong estimated the medicinal efficacy integration to be between eighty-five and ninety percent.

The spiritual medicine he was currently refining, Nie Kong intended to let the Red Chamber take out for auction to repay him for the consumption of precious spiritual herbs. There was absolutely no need to aim for a ninety-five or ninety-six percent integration. If he could precisely control the integration level during the refining process, Nie Kong even considered lowering it below eighty-five percent.

As for the “Vitality,” even if Nie Kong could produce it, he would not imbue it into such spiritual medicine. Moreover, he was still completely bewildered by this so-called “Vitality,” and he had no intention of trying to enter that “Void Realm” state while refining medicine this time.

“Come, you two take a look too.”

Seeing the two little maids staring eagerly at the “Jade Leaf Glazed Elixir” in his hand, Nie Kong couldn’t help but smile as he handed the medicine over.

“Thank you, Master.”

Long Hun and Long Ting beamed, taking the delicate little leaf and turning it over and over in their hands, utterly captivated. No matter the world, little girls always have little resistance to pretty trinkets. Seeing their delight, Nie Kong felt infected, his face full of smiles.

Suddenly, Long Ting mumbled, “Hey, Sister, it’s gotten smaller?”

“It really is a bit smaller.”

Long Hun’s beautiful brow furrowed slightly.

Hearing the voices of the two little maids, Nie Kong froze for a moment, then looked at the “Jade Leaf Glazed Elixir.” His eyes instantly glazed over. The spiritual medicine had indeed shrunk. It was originally a small leaf about two fingers wide, but now it was barely an inch and a half wide—a full quarter smaller.

“Oh no, Sister, it’s bad, they seem to have absorbed it!”

Long Ting suddenly cried out in alarm. Long Ting beside her paused, then instantly reacted as if stung by a snake, hastily placing the spiritual medicine on Nie Kong’s lap.

It wasn't ‘seemed like’; it was definite. Nie Kong truly felt like crying without tears this time. Spirit Bodies could not only actively absorb Heaven and Earth spiritual energy but also absorb anything that could be converted into spiritual energy, such as the vital essence of Xiang Xiang, or this spiritual medicine. He hadn't considered this point just now.

Now that the “Jade Leaf Glazed Elixir” was so much smaller, its medicinal power would absolutely not be enough to raise a Spiritual Comprehension Master by two entire grades! If it could only raise one grade, who would pay a huge price to buy this shrunken version of the “Jade Leaf Glazed Elixir”? He was careless, truly too careless! Nie Kong felt helpless in his heart.

“Master, we…”

The eyes of the two little maids were tinged with red, tears welling up, on the verge of weeping, their small faces filled with regret.

Although the spiritual medicine’s power had been absorbed by them, it wasn't really their fault. Nie Kong couldn't bear to reprimand them. He hurriedly smiled, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. This spiritual medicine is ruined. Master will refine another one tomorrow; it’s just a Grade Two spiritual medicine, nothing major.”

Long Hun sobbed quietly, “But… but, I heard Sister Xue Chan say that one ‘Jade Leaf Glazed Elixir’ is worth several million!”

“Several million? I’ll earn that back in one day,” Nie Kong laughed. “Since this spiritual medicine is useless now, it’s perfect to use it to test exactly how you Spirit Bodies absorb spiritual energy. Speaking of which, I should thank you two. If you hadn't unintentionally absorbed the medicinal power, I wouldn't have thought of this method so soon.”

“Really?”

Although they knew Nie Kong was comforting them, the two little maids couldn't help but break into smiles through their tears. Long Ting then blushed slightly and quickly volunteered, “Master, I’ll try!”

Nie Kong nodded, “Good, you try. I’ll go clean the medicine cauldron and be right back to apply the needles for you.” Saying this, he took the cauldron and walked out of the room. Cleaning the cauldron was just an excuse; Nie Kong simply wanted an opportunity to leave the sight of the two little maids and interrupt this “Medicine Cauldron Illusion Body” session.

A moment later, Nie Kong returned to the room, only to be stunned by the scene inside.

Long Hun was leaning against the head of the bed, her face and ears flushed bright red like fire. ** Long Ting sat cross-legged, her upper garment having slipped down to her waist, revealing a half-naked, tender body with slightly protruding curves. Her cheeks were also flushed, and a faint hint of seductive charm lingered between her brows.

Sensing Nie Kong enter, the two figures stiffened… a different feeling!

Fang Jiao looked away shyly, lowering her head. Long Ting was bolder than her sister. Although her clear, watery eyes also held shyness, she looked directly into Nie Kong’s gaze without flinching.

Nie Kong walked quickly to the window, unsure whether to laugh or cry, “Long Ting, why did you take off your clothes?”

Long Ting’s small face burned red, and she looked somewhat confused, “Master, when you applied needles to Sister last time, didn’t you always have her take off her upper clothes?”

What do you mean, ‘always’? As if I have a special fetish