The silhouette faded away, leaving the vast, empty hall where Nie Kong and Sha Yan once again sat facing each other in meditation.

Sha Yan regarded Nie Kong, his eyes brimming with satisfaction. After a moment, he smiled faintly. "Nie Kong, to make the 'Dragon Whisker White Face Flower' sprout, root, leaf, and ultimately blossom and bear fruit in such a short time—you must now understand what that vitality is all about, yes?"

"I do."

Nie Kong grinned back. The confusion that had plagued him for days, which he couldn't resolve through strenuous thought, was suddenly illuminated during today's assessment. The sheer relief and joy were beyond words. This was the happiest Nie Kong had felt since arriving at Spirit Guard City.

Sha Yan stroked his beard and nodded. "Mhm, very good! Excellent! It was not in vain that this old man specially prepared this topic for your 'Monthly Assessment.'"

"Specially prepared for me?" Nie Kong paused, finding the notion almost unbelievable.

Sha Yan chuckled. "Indeed. With your current cultivation and skill level, if the medicinal power you refined hadn't generated 'vitality,' it could have only managed to sprout the 'Dragon Whisker White Face Flower.' Entering the top ten would have been impossible, let alone seizing first place in the assessment. But with medicinal power imbued with 'vitality'—that changes everything."

He paused again. "Originally, I thought if you managed to infuse the medicinal power with 'vitality,' having the cultivated 'Dragon Whisker White Face Flower' reach the level of Feng Biao's would be quite good. I never expected you to far exceed my estimation, maximizing the 'vitality' within the medicine to the point where the 'Dragon Whisker White Face Flower' bore fruit. It startled even me. The topic I set had no single answer, but cultivating the seed was the optimal path. You executed it perfectly!" By the end of his speech, Sha Yan even let out a soft sigh of emotion.

Sha Yan didn't explain everything in explicit detail, but Nie Kong understood. This assessment topic had been designed precisely to guide him toward comprehending vitality.

It was indeed true. Although the liquid medicinal power he refined previously already contained vitality, the entire process—from the seed absorbing the medicine, sprouting, rooting, leafing, growing strong, until blossoming and fruiting—was saturated with vibrant life force, deepening Nie Kong's comprehension of the word "vitality."

"Thank you, Vice Hall Master."

Nie Kong rose to his full height and bowed deeply, offering his sincere gratitude.

Sha Yan waved his hand and smiled. "It brings me joy to see Spirit Guard City gain another outstanding Spirit Alchemist, especially one possessing a mutated Wood Spirit Power. The application of 'vitality' is vast, and your comprehension will deepen as your cultivation advances."

"Alright, you may return now."

Just as Nie Kong stepped out of the side hall door, a figure suddenly materialized from the side, blocking his path. The person had an ordinary appearance, but their gaze was like a sharp sword, startlingly keen.

It was Feng Biao!

"Nie Kong, I remember this."

Feng Biao glanced at Nie Kong, uttered this cryptic sentence, and departed.

Nie Kong knew Feng Biao had come to express gratitude because he had traded the 'Heavenly Dust Pill'—which Feng Biao should have received—for the 'Phoenix Eye Fruit.' Yet, Nie Kong couldn't help but feel a touch of absurdity; if overheard, people would assume he and Feng Biao harbored some deep grudge!

"In Spirit Guard City, few people manage to earn Feng Biao's thanks. Losing a 'Heavenly Dust Pill' to earn his gratitude is quite something. Although this person is arrogant, he never forgets those who have helped him." Miao Ge's bright, lovely figure floated out like a phantom, smiling at Nie Kong. "Junior Brother Nie Kong, congratulations on winning first place in this 'Monthly Assessment!'"

"Such heavy resentment."

Miao Ge's smile was radiant, but her expression held no hint of congratulation; rather, there was a grating quality to her words. The intense resentment raised goosebumps on Nie Kong's skin, sparking confusion in his mind. Was this woman angry that he had snatched her first place?

So, Nie Kong feigned sincerity. "Senior Sister Miao Ge, I truly apologize. I am still just a minor Spirit Caller, my strength limited. When nurturing the seed, I couldn't quite control it, and the 'Dragon Whisker White Face Flower' absorbed too much medicine. I accidentally took first place. How about this: in the next 'Monthly Assessment,' I will be sure to stop in time and will definitely not disappoint Senior Sister."

Limited skill yet accidentally getting first place? Miao Ge rolled her eyes at Nie Kong's ridiculous claims, and what was that about "not disappointing me"? She sounded like a petty person!

Miao Ge was furious, grinding her teeth. She wasn't angry that Nie Kong took the first place that should have been hers; she was furious that Nie Kong won first place and then showed no appreciation, trading the best reward—the third-grade Spirit Herb, the 'Heavenly Dust Pill'—for a mere 'Phoenix Eye Fruit'!

Of course, it was none of her business. The Spirit Herb was Nie Kong's; he could trade it however he wished. The problem was, Nie Kong had inadvertently learned her identity!

Sharing a secret easily fostered a sense of closeness between two people. Miao Ge hoped this person who knew her secret would become even more outstanding. She had no other intentions; she simply wanted to see someone she paid attention to become stronger.

Alas, Nie Kong traded away the hard-won Spirit Herb. If he had traded it for something good, fine. But he traded it for a 'Phoenix Eye Fruit'! This made her feel that he was a lost cause. When she saw Nie Kong return to his seat holding the 'Phoenix Eye Fruit,' she felt an urge to deliver a sound beating to the man.

"Your future Majesty, the Ice Queen, must maintain composure!"

Seeing Miao Ge's eyebrows sharply knitted and her delicate hands clenched into fists, Nie Kong immediately dropped his joking demeanor and continued, "Senior Sister Miao Ge, thank you for your goodwill, but that 'Phoenix Eye Fruit' is far more useful to me than a 'Heavenly Dust Pill.' Otherwise, do you think—"

Seeing Long Ting's cute appearance, Nie Kong suddenly had an idea. "Tingting, Tingting, do you two often see Long Xuechan looking like this?"

"Yes, yes!"

Long Ting nodded her small head like a pecking chicken. "Sister and I have followed Sister Xuechan since we were sensible. She was always like this back then. It wasn't until Sister Xuechan sent us to the Master that Sister Xuechan started acting strangely, sometimes like this, sometimes like that."

Long Ma added, "Sister Xuechan usually cultivates and doesn't talk much, but she was always very good to my sister and me."

Hearing their words, Nie Kong couldn't help but feel suspicious. Could Long Xuechan not possess a dual personality, but rather be twin sisters? The one who was seductive, charming, and fond of researching poisons was one person, while this clear-minded, serene Long Xuechan who raised the Ting sisters was another? Nie Kong thought about it more and more, finding this possibility increasingly plausible. He kept comparing the two personalities of Long Xuechan in his mind. After a long while, Nie Kong helplessly gave up the effort. The two personalities of Long Xuechan, just like the Ting sisters, showed almost no discernible difference in outward appearance.

Even after sleeping in the same bed for so long, Young Nie Kong still couldn't distinguish between Long Ting and Long Ting based on their looks alone. In the end, Nie Kong resorted to a crude method: having Long Ma wear white dresses and Long Ting wear pink dresses, making it instantly clear who was who. Nie Kong felt he had truly broadened his horizons. In his past life, no matter how alike twins looked, subtle differences could always be discerned. But with Long Ma and Long Ting, the experience of identifying twins from his past life was utterly useless; he could only attribute it to their spiritual bodies.

Giving up trying to figure out the reason for Long Xuechan's strange personality shifts, Nie Kong exchanged a few words with Long Ma and Long Ting before leaving the residence and heading toward the Red Tower Apothecary.

Long Xuechan must have chosen the underground secret chamber of the Apothecary to refine poisons because the herbs were too toxic. Although Nie Kong had the little creature to absorb toxins and the Fire Tree Silver Flower to receive residual poisons, Nie Kong was not careless. As soon as he passed the guards at the entrance and entered the passage to the secret chamber, he held his breath and simultaneously commanded the little creature to heighten its vigilance, ready to react at any moment, as some toxic gases were dangerous even when breathing was suspended.

At the end of the passage, the stone door was open. Nie Kong walked directly into the wide circular space. All the other secret chambers had their doors closed, except for the first one—the chamber where he had previously consumed the 'Jade Leaf Glazed Pill'—which was open a crack. Through the gap, Nie Kong could vaguely see half a table inside.

Nie Kong stepped forward and gently pushed the door open. Inside, there was a long table holding an alchemy cauldron, jade bottles, and several medicine boxes.

Seated at the table, Long Xuechan remained motionless, staring blankly at the alchemy cauldron before her, lost in thought, not even noticing Nie Kong enter the room. Nie Kong scanned the area and found half a slice of the Phoenix Eye Fruit meat in front of the cauldron, clearly taken from him moments ago.

"Sister Chan?"

Nie Kong called out tentatively.

"Oh, you're here."

Long Xuechan seemed to wake from a dream, lifting her eyes to look at Nie Kong. The familiar charming smile reappeared on her face, but it seemed rather forced.

The moment he saw her smile, Nie Kong knew the enchanting, alluring Long Xuechan from before had returned.

However, seeing Long Xuechan's expression, Nie Kong couldn't suppress a flicker of suspicion. "Sister Chan, you seem troubled?"

Long Xuechan covered her mouth and chuckled softly, instantly erasing the unusual expression from her face. "Why would big sister have anything on her mind? Stop overthinking."

Since she didn't wish to speak, Nie Kong didn't press further. "Sister Chan, you asked me to come help. What can I do for you?"

"Uh, well..."

Long Xuechan frowned slightly, bit her lower lip. "I want to refine a drug with a high degree of fusion. Last time I saw you refine that 'Jade Leaf Glazed Pill' with a fusion rate exceeding ninety-five percent, I knew you were extremely skilled in this area. In the medicines I refine, even for first-grade Spirit Herbs, the highest fusion rate I've achieved doesn't exceed ninety percent. So, I'll have to trouble you to handle the refining this time; the higher the fusion rate, the better."

"What kind of drug is it?" Nie Kong couldn't help asking.

Long Xuechan shook her head. "It's a formula I recently devised; I haven't named it yet. This drug is a bit peculiar; it can be considered both second-grade and third-grade. According to my estimation, the higher the fusion rate, the stronger the drug's potency. Conversely, if the fusion rate can exceed ninety percent, it should be classified as a third-grade Spirit Herb. If it's below ninety percent, it's a second-grade Spirit Herb. Furthermore, this drug is neither a Spirit Herb nor a poison. I'm getting more and more confused, so I thought I'd ask you to refine a high-fusion-rate sample for me to study."

Both second-grade and third-grade, neither spirit herb nor poison—this drug was indeed strange!

Nie Kong was stunned for a moment, then saw Long Xuechan hand him a piece of paper. Written on it were: Night Azure Fragrance one liang, Hook Thorn Grass three qian, Golden Silk Complacent Vine eight qian, Fine-Leaf Sunken Dragon Pearl two qian... Phoenix Eye Fruit seven qian, Pearl Bellflower six qian... In total, there were nineteen ingredients!

P.S.: Chapter Two is here, also 5,000 words. To keep the plot flowing smoothly, tomorrow morning's update at 8 AM will be moved to midnight tonight. Cough, the reason for midnight and not earlier is mainly to try and compete for the full attendance bonus for updating 10,000 characters daily this month. Friends who sleep late can wait until then; those who rest early can read tomorrow. Please be understanding, everyone. Sigh.

Finally, I earnestly request monthly tickets. Gulp.

"What use?" Miao Ge asked in astonishment.

Nie Kong's eyes darted around the surroundings, then he beckoned Miao Ge closer. Nie Kong's secretive manner instantly piqued Miao Ge's curiosity. She subconsciously leaned her head closer to Nie Kong, only to hear him whisper, "It's not very secure to discuss it here, Senior Sister. Come to my residence at midnight tonight, and I will quietly tell you. I guarantee it will shock you."

"Hmph!"

Miao Ge blinked, seeing Nie Kong's roguish grin, and immediately understood. A faint blush rapidly spread across her cheeks, and her delicate eyebrows shot up again as she chided playfully, "Go die!" She sent a kick flying toward Nie Kong, but he deftly dodged it.

Seeing this, Nie Kong laughed heartily and used "Flying Flower Flowing Shadow" to vanish quickly ahead.

Watching Nie Kong’s receding figure, Miao Ge couldn't help but giggle, her pretty face slightly flushed. But suddenly, she realized that after Nie Kong's antics, the resentment she felt had completely vanished. She blinked a few times and muttered to herself. Could that 'Phoenix Eye Fruit' really have some other major use?

Returning to his residence with the box, Nie Kong was about to take out the 'Phoenix Eye Fruit' to examine it when he was stunned by the bizarre scene before him.

In the main hall, Long Xuechan sat upright in a chair, with the two little girls, Long Ma and Long Ting, standing respectfully beside her. Long Xuechan was still wearing her favorite green dress, her body as full and graceful as ever, especially the pair of tall, plump jade peaks on her chest that seemed ready to burst the fabric of her robe. The only disharmonious element was the solemn and quiet look on Long Xuechan's face, emanating an invisible pressure that kept Long Ting and Long Ma frozen in silence, heads bowed, not daring to breathe loudly. This situation made the atmosphere in the hall feel somewhat oppressive and heavy.

Upon seeing Nie Kong appear, Long Ma and Long Ting both breathed a sigh of relief, then glanced at Long Xuechan before scurrying over to Nie Kong as if escaping. Sweet smiles immediately bloomed on their little faces. "Master!" Their delicate, pleasant voices revealed an unconcealed dependence on Nie Kong.

Nie Kong chuckled, pinching the soft cheeks of the two little girls, then shifted his gaze to Long Xuechan.

"Sister Chan?"

That elegant temperament instantly brought back the image of the Long Xuechan who had given him the Medicine Heart Hall token. After such a long time, had she reverted to that appearance again? He hoped this change was also fleeting; facing this personality of Long Xuechan all day long felt genuinely stressful.

Long Xuechan nodded slightly. "Nie Kong, I heard you won first place in the 'Medicine Heart Hall's' Monthly Assessment and then traded the third-grade Spirit Herb, the 'Heavenly Dust Pill,' for a 'Phoenix Eye Fruit' as a reward. I need a 'Phoenix Eye Fruit' for a medicine I'm currently refining. Give me half the fruit pulp, and when you cultivate to the seventh stage of Spirit Integration, I will give you a 'Heavenly Dust Pill,' how about that?"

"Fine, no problem!"

Facing this version of Long Xuechan, Nie Kong unconsciously suppressed his smile. He responded with utmost seriousness, even swallowing back a casual joke that was on his lips. His posture stiffened without him realizing it, an uncomfortable sensation.

As for half the 'Phoenix Eye Fruit' pulp, Nie Kong naturally didn't mind. He had already figured it out on the way here: in the Tian Ling Continent, it was the fruit pulp that was used in medicine, and Spirit Alchemists had completely mapped out its properties. This was unlikely to attract the little creature's attention.

The reason the little creature asked Nie Kong to bring it back was likely because there was some hidden mystery within it. The interior of the 'Phoenix Eye Fruit' was its core. The shell of the core probably held little use; the part most likely to attract the little creature's attention was the kernel inside the core!

Trading half the pulp for a 'Heavenly Dust Pill' that could advance cultivation by two grades, Nie Kong felt he was certainly not losing out!

As he spoke, Nie Kong took out the 'Phoenix Eye Fruit.' His index finger glowed with verdant light as he traced a circle around the fruit, easily separating the pulp and leaving only the black, shining core inside. This core was also eye-shaped but several times larger than a real eye. Faint striations were clearly visible on its surface.

Giving one slice of pulp to Long Xuechan, Nie Kong kept the remainder in the box and handed it to Long Ma beside him. As long as she didn't touch it directly, there was no need to worry about the fruit's medicinal power being completely absorbed by her.

"Good."

Long Xuechan's expression was calm, and her tone was unruffled. "It happens that I need your assistance refining this drug. Go to the secret chamber beneath the Red Tower Apothecary shortly; I will wait for you there." Without waiting for Nie Kong's reply, Long Xuechan's figure rapidly vanished amidst the rippling distortion of space.

Nie Kong frowned slightly and muttered, "She needs my help to refine a drug? Is she making a poison?" The moment the thought crossed his mind, Nie Kong laughed at himself. Long Xuechan studied various poisons and potent herbs; of course, the drug she was refining would be a poison! Could it possibly be a Spirit Herb?

Once Long Xuechan left, the two little girls completely relaxed.

Long Ting patted her slightly protruding chest and stuck out her small, pink tongue. "Master, every time we see Sister Xuechan looking like that, we get a little scared."

"Mm-hmm."

Long Ma nodded repeatedly in agreement. "She's right. It's much more comfortable staying with the other Sister Xuechan."

Nie Kong knew that the "other look" they referred to was when Long Xuechan became sexy and seductive. Indeed, that version of Long Xuechan was far more approachable; one could joke and tease without restraint in her company.

But the Long Xuechan just now was sacred and inviolable, someone to be admired from a distance but never touched casually. Moreover, she was extremely domineering, preferring to maintain complete control in conversation, leaving almost no room for objection or denial. Speaking with her, Nie Kong felt like...