When the man in black uttered this number, gasps echoed around the small gathering. Many inner-city disciples shot glances filled with envy toward Nie Kong.

In the inner city, nothing mattered as much as points. Contribution points circulated throughout Lingyu City could indeed be exchanged for points, but the exchange rate was agonizingly unfavorable. Yet this young fellow managed to secure nearly one hundred and fifty points from a single supplementary trial.

Back when they first qualified as inner-city disciples after the Grand Competition of the Six Halls, they earned not a single point. Upon entering the inner city, they had to work themselves to the bone for several months just to barely amass enough points to enter the "Spirit Cultivation Illusory Realm." Recalling that period, the hardship was truly unbearable.

With so many points in hand, as soon as this boy finished the supplementary trial and completed the paperwork, he could immediately enter the "Spirit Cultivation Illusory Realm" to enjoy himself!

Furthermore, this boy was an Alchemist.

During the Grand Competition of the Six Halls, Alchemists held little advantage. In the illusory space, the main adversaries for outer-city disciples were Spirit Beasts and other inner-city disciples. Most potions that induced negative effects barely registered against those frenzied Spirit Beasts, and inner-city disciples were already on guard, meaning ordinary medicines posed little threat unless they were novel compounds developed by the Alchemists themselves.

The number of Alchemists capable of such innovation was exceedingly small.

However, once inside the inner city, the value of an Alchemist became apparent, especially those with high-level refinement skills—they were highly sought after.

For such individuals, accumulating points was astonishingly fast.

Take Nie Kong, for instance. If his skill truly matched the speculation, refining high-grade elixirs would see points pouring into his coffers like flowing water. Perhaps while he was feasting and living in luxury, his fellow sect members who entered the inner city alongside him would still be subsisting on thin gruel.

It was a case of comparing oneself to others—enough to breed intense frustration!

Recalling their past hardships while witnessing Nie Kong’s present fortune created such a stark contrast that the surrounding inner-city disciples found it impossible not to feel jealous.

Nie Kong was also somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected those who passed through the illusion first to receive bonus points. Sha Yan had not mentioned this back at the Lingxiao Hall. Still, he surmised that this bonus of twenty points was likely not included in the supplementary trial's main score.

A query to the man in black confirmed this.

That was fine; a score of one hundred and twenty-four points should certainly secure him the top spot in this year’s assessment!

Originally, Nie Kong intended to ask the man in black what he should do after registration, but seeing him already resting with his eyes closed, seeming utterly uninterested in conversation, Nie Kong didn't bother to seek further engagement. He walked directly to the base of the snow-white city wall and settled into a cross-legged position.

The inner-city disciples gathered around the table were still murmuring amongst themselves.

Nie Kong had lost all interest in their low, indistinct chatter. In a moment, he cleared his mind of distractions and submerged his consciousness into the "Four Apertures of the Spirit God," focusing on the medicinal essence absorbed from the "Mist Concealing Pill" outside the illusion. Nie Kong was intensely curious; it was his first encounter with such a spiritual medicine.

Broadly speaking, any substance on the Tianling Continent that contained spiritual energy elements, or required spiritual energy to be activated, could be termed a spiritual medicine. The poisons researched by Long Xuechan and the aphrodisiac "Bewitching Spirit Incense" Nie Kong used today both fell under this category.

Of course, when people spoke of spiritual medicines, they generally referred to the term in its narrow sense: substances that conferred positive effects upon the human body.

As far as Nie Kong knew, spiritual medicines in this world mainly fell into three categories: First, those used to elevate cultivation ranks; these were the most expensive and most favored by Spirit Masters. Second, spiritual medicines for recovering spiritual power. Third, those for healing various injuries.

Beyond these, there were also spiritual medicines possessing various strange effects, such as the "Mist Concealing Pill" refined by Tai Ji, which likely belonged to this category.

Nie Kong instructed Xiang Xiang to draw the ball of snowy medicinal essence back into the Yaochi Acupoint. After executing the "Smell Fragrance to Identify Medicine" technique once, eight clusters of medicinal essence of varying sizes were separated.

Nie Kong recognized seven of them.

The last, extremely subtle wisp separated out by the little fellow, was something he had never encountered before.

Nie Kong focused his mind and began mentally deducing the properties of each essence. To his surprise, if certain proportions of the first few medicines were refined together, they could successfully yield a spiritual medicine that promoted mental clarity and focus, somewhat akin to the "Clarity Spirit Pill."

However, when these were fused with the eighth medicinal essence, the effect changed drastically, acquiring a slight hallucinogenic quality. Yet, this effect was perfectly countered by the spiritual medicine refined from the first seven essences. It appeared the antidote Tai Ji had taken must have been precisely that.

As for that final, eighth essence, Nie Kong wondered how Tai Ji had ever discovered it.

Nie Kong speculated silently.

Having discerned the components of the "Mist Concealing Pill," Nie Kong’s interest waned somewhat. However, the little fellow, Xiang Xiang, seemed intensely intrigued by that eighth cluster of medicinal essence.

Xiang Xiang was a Yao Mo from the Demon God game, specializing in illusionary techniques, its full name being "Violet Spirit Illusory Incense." Its name contained the character for "illusion" precisely because it possessed a powerful illusion technique, "Mirror Flower Water Moon," which Nie Kong guessed was comparable to the "Blood Sea of Flower Mountain." Nie Kong theorized that the skill "Violet Spirit Illusory Heart" Xiang Xiang grasped upon advancing to the third tier was likely the initial form of this illusion technique.

In the "Mist Concealing Pill," the eighth essence was the component that triggered the hallucinogenic effect. It was perfectly logical that Xiang Xiang would be drawn to it.

Perhaps consuming more similar medicines could enhance the effect of the little fellow's illusion skills? Thinking this, Nie Kong felt a surge of eagerness.

"Ah—"

Suddenly, a piercing, agonizing howl stabbed into Nie Kong’s ears. Opening his eyes, he saw a black dot growing rapidly against the high sky.

That sound was somewhat familiar?

Nie Kong’s heart skipped a beat, but he suddenly realized that while looking down from above the abyss, one could only see vague clouds, but here in the inner city below, the view overhead was perfectly clear. The black dot descended faster and faster, transforming in the blink of an eye into a human silhouette, whose features were faintly discernible.

"Tai Hong!"

Seeing the figure flailing wildly in the air, Nie Kong froze for a moment. He hadn't expected the second person to jump down to be Prince Tai Hong of the Shatu Empire, with whom he had cooperated multiple times to seize maps!

He had previously perceived this fellow as straightforward, honest, and perhaps a bit simple-minded, assuming his courage must be extraordinary. He never anticipated that his shriek while jumping off the cliff would be so tragic, sounding as if he were being stripped naked and molested by several burly men—the sound was unbearable.

This image was a complete subversion; Nie Kong couldn't help but smile wryly!

The inner-city disciples nearby couldn't help but frown too. Compared to Nie Kong’s earlier composure, this fellow’s performance was utterly abysmal. It was a shame he possessed such a robust physique and managed to be the second to pass through the illusion into the inner city—heaven seemed unfair!

What irked the inner-city disciples even more was that even though his speed had slowed, the man was still screaming like a maiden being violated. How embarrassing!

He wasn't even as composed as the third person, the woman, descending next!

Gazing at the figure dropping straight down, clad in red, the inner-city disciples widened their eyes, hoping to catch a glimpse beneath her skirt. Alas, the distance was too great. Not only was it impossible for her to reveal anything untoward, but even if she did, they lacked the eagle eyes to appreciate it.

"Tai Ji!"

The third person to leap from the cliff was Tai Hong’s sister, Tai Ji.

He had just been thinking of her, and she appeared!

Nie Kong’s eyes darted around as he began contemplating how to learn the origin of the eighth component of the "Mist Concealing Pill" from Tai Ji.

"Thud!"

Tai Hong's tall, sturdy body finally made contact with the ground, landing in an extremely undignified posture—face-first into the dirt. Seeing no movement after he landed, Nie Kong and the inner-city disciples grew suspicious. He had reached the inner city; why was he still prone on the ground?

"Brother Tai?"

Nie Kong flashed over, moving swiftly to Tai Hong’s side, patting his shoulder only to realize that although his eyes were wide like bronze bells, the man had already lost consciousness. Nie Kong found it both amusing and frustrating. He quickly turned the body over and pinched his philtrum.

Tai Hong awoke as if from a deep dream, his face etched with terror.

Seeing Nie Kong, Tai Hong instantly clutched onto him like a lifeline, grabbing Nie Kong’s arm and wailing, "Nie Kong! Oh, Nie Kong, you scared me to death! Truly terrified me! I told them I’m afraid of heights, but that bastard up top still kicked me off..."

Nie Kong rolled his eyes. He knew the "bastard" Tai Hong referred to must be the man in blue above.

"Brother, get up. What are you doing lying there like that?"

Tai Ji descended slowly, drifting onto the ground like a celestial fairy. Seeing Tai Hong’s pathetic state, Tai Ji blushed slightly and scolded him sharply. Then, she nodded to Nie Kong with a touch of embarrassment and walked toward the group of inner-city disciples. Having such a timid brother was truly bothersome.

"Oh..."

Like a mouse encountering a cat, Tai Hong jumped up immediately. He bared his teeth awkwardly at Nie Kong, then scurried behind his sister with his head tucked down. Upon learning that the two who arrived consecutively were siblings, the inner-city disciples’ gazes toward Tai Hong took on a mocking tint.

These siblings are rather interesting!

Nie Kong shook his head with a slight smile and followed them.

Of course, he wouldn't look down on Tai Hong because of his earlier disastrous display. Apart from his fear of heights, Tai Hong’s strength was quite considerable. A cultivation level of Eighth Grade Spirit Fusion was respectable. Nie Kong knew that in a spar, unless he used his Mountain-Shattering Strike, he would find it hard to win against him.

"The maps?"

Seeing such a stunningly beautiful woman as Tai Ji, the man in black’s expression remained impassive. His gaze swept past her to land on Tai Hong behind her.

Tai Hong hurriedly slipped out from behind his sister, pulling a stack of maps from his robes and slapping them onto the table. Several gasps involuntarily sounded around them. Judging by the thickness of this map pile, it was nearly half as large as Nie Kong’s. How could someone so cowardly manage to acquire so many maps?

"Name?"

"Tai Hong!"

"Fifty-one maps. Minus your own one, that’s fifty points. Second arrival in the inner city earns a bonus of ten! Total sixty. These points are usable throughout the inner city!" The man in black’s tone remained utterly flat as he quickly recorded Tai Hong’s results.

He showed no reaction, but the surrounding inner-city disciples were dumbfounded. It was truly unfair that he managed to gather so many points!

At this moment, the man in black’s gaze shifted to Tai Ji.

"Name?"

"Tai Ji!"

"Thirty-six maps. Minus one, that’s thirty-five points... Outer-city disciples emerging when the Illusory Space sealed gain three bonus points, making it thirty-eight points! Third arrival in the inner city receives a five-point bonus, totaling forty-three! These points are usable throughout the inner city!"

The expressions of the inner-city disciples stiffened. The points amassed by the top three outer-city disciples who passed the trial summed up to the acquisition of over two hundred maps combined. It was already predictable that the outer-city disciple ranking one hundredth would have pitifully few maps.

If Nie Kong and Tai Ji, such paragons among outer-city disciples, managed to collect many maps, fine. But the fact that a good-for-nothing like Tai Hong also snatched fifty maps!

Sometimes in life, there truly was no rhyme or reason!

As the inner-city disciples were lost in deep contemplation, Tai Hong and Tai Ji moved past Nie Kong. After this short period of recovery, Tai Hong seemed to have reverted to his previous demeanor. He slapped Nie Kong on the shoulder, grinning heartily, "Nie Kong, since we’re idle, let’s spar a bit..."

Before he could finish the last word, a glare directed at him by Tai Ji instantly reverted Tai Hong to his timid state, and he zipped his mouth shut with a dry laugh.

Tai Ji then smiled sweetly, "Junior Brother Nie Kong, thank you so much today. If it weren't for you, I’d probably still be worrying about my brother. I truly don't know how to thank you."

"Brother Tai and I simply helped each other," Nie Kong replied with a smile. "However, if you truly wish to thank me, I won't be polite. I happen to have something I need your help with right now."

"Oh? Tell me!"

Although their previous interactions were superficial, having witnessed Nie Kong's banter with Miao Ge so often, she was somewhat familiar with his way of speaking. Hearing this, she couldn't help but smile.

Nie Kong stated directly, "Your 'Mist Concealing Pill' should be made from eight different medicinal components. I identified three of them. Two are relatively common, but the third is one I’ve never encountered before. Senior Sister Tai Ji, if I’m not mistaken, that must be a novel medicine you discovered yourself?"

Even with Nie Kong withholding much information by reducing the identified components from eight to three, a flicker of astonishment involuntarily crossed Tai Ji’s beautiful, azure eyes. Identifying the components of spiritual medicines was the most difficult task. Nie Kong managed to identify three components in such a short time just by absorbing the white mist created by the "Mist Concealing Pill" outside the illusion—this was already astonishing.

"I know exactly which medicine you are referring to,"

After a long moment, Tai Ji managed to quell her surprise. "That is indeed a new medicine. A few days ago, while refining medicine, I accidentally added a small remnant of its leaf into the crucible, and thus unintentionally created the 'Mist Concealing Pill.'"

"I named that herb 'Crescent Green Hook.'"

"Crescent Green Hook," Nie Kong murmured the name repeatedly.

"'Crescent Green Hook' was discovered by my brother, myself, and a few friends while we were training in the Heavenly Wolf Mountain Range. Unfortunately, the situation was quite perilous then, and I only managed to collect a few leaves. I used up the remaining amount yesterday. If you desire it, I can draw the appearance and location of the 'Crescent Green Hook' for you. However, I advise you not to go there for now; it is genuinely dangerous."

Note: The 'Crescent Green Hook' is very important. This chapter was written specifically to introduce it...