Since Nie Kong was unharmed, Long Xuechan did not linger long, departing gracefully. Nie Kong’s attention immediately returned to the newly formed minor acupoint.

Within the Yaochi Acupoint, the little fellow must have realized it was impossible to expel the intruder from its apex. It hovered over the mass of inky-green blood with soft whimpers, its stalk and leaves swaying listlessly. The little tender sprout radiated a distinct atmosphere of dejection.

Seeing Xiangxiang’s downcast demeanor, Nie Kong couldn’t help but chuckle. It was hardly surprising the little thing was unsettled; the Yaochi Acupoint where it resided was situated in the gap between the “Three Spiritual Apertures,” and this gap was now obstructed by the new acupoint, drastically shrinking its living space. It would be strange if it were happy.

But since this minor acupoint had appeared, no matter how awkward it felt, they would both have to learn to adapt slowly. The little fellow, and Nie Kong too...

Behind the Yaoxin Hall, on the top floor of the recessed pavilion, Sha Yan, who was meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly sensed something. His eyes snapped open, fixing his gaze straight ahead.

The void there rippled almost imperceptibly, and a figure suddenly materialized: a tall, burly old man dressed in black, with white hair and a youthful face. A conspicuous black mole sat between his eyebrows, and his eyes were as clear and bright as a child's, entirely lacking the usual cloudiness of old age.

“Hall Master!”

Sha Yan quickly rose, a look of undisguised reverence on his face...

In the courtyard of the Red Tower residence, Nie Kong sat motionless on a flat slab of bluestone, a barely concealed shock evident in his eyes.

Beside Nie Kong, a small, waist-high tree stood completely bare, its ground covered in withered yellow leaves. Just that morning, this small tree had been lush green, brimming with vitality, but now, not a shred of life emanated from within or without.

Nie Kong had been dumbfounded when he witnessed the change a few minutes earlier.

The last time he tentatively cultivated the “Spring and Autumn Life Creation Art,” although he had absorbed vital energy, it had only resulted in the extinction of a few blades of grass. This time, Nie Kong had only cultivated for half a morning, and the life force that had been cut off belonged to an entire tree, not counting the surrounding wild grasses.

After testing the minor acupoint previously, Nie Kong already knew it could accelerate his cultivation speed.

However, Nie Kong had never imagined that with four acupoints, the process of absorbing life essence via the “Spring and Autumn Life Creation Art” would become so ferocious.

Before, the vital energy would seep out strand by strand; now, it erupted in massive swathes. As a result, not only did Nie Kong’s cultivation speed increase dramatically, but even the speed at which the two little maids, Long Ping and Long Ting, sitting beside him, condensed their spiritual power increased again.

It seemed he would have to cultivate in places with lush vegetation outside the city next time!

“Master, someone is coming!”

Long Ping’s delicate voice broke Nie Kong’s thoughts. He looked up and indeed saw a figure cloaked in purple standing at the courtyard entrance. The person appeared to be around thirty, handsome, but his expression was extremely grim, as if someone in the courtyard owed him millions of gold coins.

The arrival of this uninvited guest surprised Nie Kong slightly. He stood up and laughed heartily, “A rare visitor indeed! Master Luo Ren, what wind blows you here?”

“Nie Kong, the Vice Hall Master is looking for you!”

Luo Ren offered no pleasantries to Nie Kong, letting out a cold snort, though inwardly he felt extremely vexed. What had this Nie Kong accomplished besides being good at testing medicines and having the luck to make the seeds of the ‘Dragon Whisker White Beauty Flower’ sprout and bear fruit during the last monthly assessment? The Yaoxin Hall had so many outstanding disciples—Miao Ge, Tai Ji, Feng Biao, Jiang Liu... all of them were Third Grade Alchemists who had successfully refined Fourth Grade spirit medicines, far superior to Nie Kong, a Second Grade Alchemist.

Yet, Sha Yan, the Vice Hall Master, had never shown such favor to any of them. Now, even Luo Ren, his introductory instructor, was reduced to a messenger. If he didn’t know that Sha Yan was strictly celibate, he would suspect Nie Kong was the Vice Hall Master’s illegitimate son!

“Fine, I understand. Master Luo Ren, you can return now.” Nie Kong nodded, a tiny bit of surprise stirring in his heart. The April monthly assessment was approaching; why would Vice Hall Master Sha Yan summon him at this time? Could it be about the assessment?

“Hmph—!”

Nie Kong’s nonchalant reply made Luo Ren’s face turn ashen, his nose nearly twisting into a snarl. Not only did he fail to express gratitude, but he actually told him, “You can return now”? Did Nie Kong truly regard him as a mere errand boy? Nie Kong hadn’t noticed his expression at all. After pondering for a moment, he said to the two little maids, “Ping Ping, Ting Ting, I’m going out. Don’t wait for me for lunch; just eat yourselves.”

“Yes, Master!”

Long Ping and Long Ting replied sweetly.

Master?

Hearing that word, Luo Ren finally noticed how exquisitely pretty and delicate the twin girls beside Nie Kong were—tender like dew-kissed, unopened blossoms. The faint trace of allure peeking through their purity made them even more captivating. If they were this lovely at their age, how much more appealing would they be in a few more years?

Luo Ren’s eyes became slightly heated. Seeing the look of attachment they cast toward Nie Kong, he felt an unbidden pang of envy. This fellow had such terrible luck—to acquire two such beautiful twin maids. Truly, two flowers adorning dung!

“Master Luo Ren, is there something else?”

Seeing Nie Kong’s half-smiling expression, Luo Ren’s face flushed with shame. When he saw Nie Kong had already walked out of the courtyard, Luo Ren quickly followed. However, as he looked at Nie Kong’s retreating back, the jealousy in his eyes intensified...

It was still the four-story pavilion behind the Yaoxin Hall.

The void rippled like water. The moment Nie Kong appeared on the top floor, Sha Yan’s smiling face came into view. After Nie Kong sat down opposite him, Sha Yan stroked his beard and smiled rather mysteriously, “Nie Kong, do you know why I called you over this time?”

“I do not.”

Nie Kong couldn’t be bothered to guess and shook his head honestly.

Sha Yan had intended to tease Nie Kong, but seeing his complete lack of cooperation, he could only laugh helplessly, “I have good news for you!”

“According to the rules of Lingyu City, one must serve a full year after enrollment before participating in the Six Hall Grand Competition to select inner city disciples. However, there are special circumstances where disciples enrolled for less than a year can be specially permitted to participate; whether they pass depends on their own capabilities.”

Nie Kong’s heart skipped a beat. He blurted out, “Vice Hall Master, you mean you have already approved me to participate in this year’s Six Hall Grand Competition?”

Sha Yan shook his head, “It is not I who permits you to attend, but the Hall Master himself who spoke of it.”

“The Hall Master?”

Nie Kong was stunned for a moment. In the time he had been in Lingyu City, the Hall Master of Yaoxin Hall had never shown himself. Nie Kong didn’t even know what he looked like, hearing only that he was perpetually in secluded cultivation. He never expected that this stranger would specifically approve him to enter the Six Hall Grand Competition.

Sha Yan smiled broadly, “If it were up to me, it would be more appropriate for you to remain in the Outer City Yaoxin Hall for a full year before entering the Inner City. However, since the Hall Master himself has already spoken, I cannot object. You’re lucky, kid!”

Hearing him say that, Nie Kong was secretly relieved that the final decision rested with the mysterious Hall Master, rather than Vice Hall Master Sha Yan. Otherwise, his wish to participate in the June ‘Six Hall Grand Competition’ and enter the Inner City might not have been so easily fulfilled.

Seeing Nie Kong beaming, Sha Yan suddenly shifted his tone, “Nie Kong, don’t celebrate too soon. Although the Hall Master agreed to let you participate in the Six Hall Grand Competition, he has a condition. If you meet it, there will be no question; if you cannot...”

Sha Yan did not explicitly state the consequence, but without guessing, it was clear: the chance to enter the Six Hall Grand Competition would vanish. Nie Kong quickly asked, “May I know what condition the Hall Master set?”

Sha Yan replied, “From now until June, there are two more monthly assessments. If you can secure first place in both, it will mean you have achieved first place three times in a row in the monthly assessments. If that happens, your name, Nie Kong, will certainly be on the list for this year’s Six Hall Grand Competition!”

“First place two more times?”

Nie Kong stiffened, feeling a sense of hesitation.

In last month’s assessment, although he had managed to win first place thanks to the blooming and fruiting ‘Dragon Whisker White Beauty Flower’ he cultivated, the strength displayed by Feng Biao, Jiang Liu, and Miao Ge had put immense pressure on him.

To surpass them again and claim first place—how easy could that be? Not to mention having to secure first place in the next two monthly assessments as well.

Sha Yan observed Nie Kong, “What? Have you lost confidence?”

“I have confidence!”

Nie Kong gritted his teeth. Even if he lacked confidence, he had to force it out! Since this was the prerequisite for entering the Six Hall Grand Competition, he had to fight for it no matter what. If he succeeded, the distance to the Inner City of Lingyu City would shrink significantly. If he failed... failure was absolutely unacceptable!

Sha Yan nodded and smiled, “Very good. The April monthly assessment will begin soon. Go back and prepare well. Whether you can enter the Grand Competition depends entirely on your results in these next two assessments. Nie Kong, work hard and do not disappoint the Hall Master’s expectations.”

Hearing Sha Yan mention the Hall Master with reverence once again, Nie Kong grew curious and asked, “Vice Hall Master, does the Hall Master know me?”

“Hm?”

This time it was Sha Yan’s turn to be surprised. “Nie Kong, judging by your words, it seems you don’t know the Hall Master? But judging by his tone, it sounded like he knew you?”

“Impossible.”

Nie Kong shook his head emphatically. Based on the information conveyed by Sha Yan, the Hall Master of Yaoxin Hall must be extremely old, perhaps much older than Sha Yan himself. Otherwise, Sha Yan wouldn’t refer to him as an elder. But Nie Kong mentally ran through everyone he had met since arriving in Lingyu City, and there was no such elder.

“This is strange!”

The two looked at each other, wide-eyed...