Nie Kong reviewed the departing Inner City disciple’s demeanor and expression once more in his mind, only relaxing when he was absolutely certain the man had left only after seeing the information on his wooden plaque. Thus, Nie Kong no longer felt the urgent need for the ‘Chilling Red Palm Leaf Grass,’ spending the waiting time in casual conversation with Xi Yue beside him. Xi Yue’s expression and tone were rife with an impulse to ask Nie Kong to refine medicine, yet Nie Kong played dumb, leaving Xi Yue fidgeting anxiously but too embarrassed to voice his request. Though not a Spirit Alchemist himself, he knew how incredibly difficult it was to refine a spirit medicine with a ninety percent fusion rate. The higher the fusion rate of the spirit medicine being refined, the more taxing it was on the spirit and mind; sometimes, even great expenditure of mental focus failed to yield success. Even if Nie Kong was certain he could achieve a ninety percent fusion rate, it would not be an easy feat. “Who needs the ‘Chilling Red Palm Leaf Grass’?”

With a whoosh, a figure bolted out from the alley entrance beside the Ascending Sovereign Hall. A quick sweep of his eyes brought him instantly before Nie Kong and Xi Yue. A faint red glow coated his dark face, whether from excitement or the sheer haste of his run, it was impossible to tell. About thirty meters behind him, another figure rushed out—the very Inner City disciple who had hastily left the front of the Ascending Sovereign Hall earlier. “I do!” Nie Kong offered a slight smile. “Do you have the herb?” “I do.” The dark-faced man scrutinized Nie Kong with suspicion. “Brother, you look completely unfamiliar. Are you perhaps a new Inner City disciple this year? What rank Spirit Alchemist are you now? And you dare guarantee you can refine a spirit medicine to a ninety percent fusion rate? That… seems rather difficult, doesn’t it?” Nie Kong became serious. “Though I haven’t undergone the assessment at the ‘Medicine Platform,’ I possess the strength of a third-rank Spirit Alchemist.” “Oh?” The dark-faced man remained quite hesitant. Seeing this, Nie Kong laughed. “Senior Brother, whether I succeed or not, you’ll find out if you just try. I still have over one hundred thirty points on this waist token; if I fail, or if the fusion rate doesn’t reach ninety percent, I will give you every point inside. I swear it.” The dark-faced man exclaimed, “Over one hundred thirty points? Are you Nie Kong?” “Precisely.” Nie Kong stroked his chin, chuckling dryly. It seemed his reputation in the Inner City was rather significant; some random person off the street had actually heard his name. But it was normal, too; with only a few hundred people in the Inner City, even the smallest incident could spread throughout in a day or two, especially given the commotion he had recently caused. The dark-faced man appeared to be searching for the right words. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke slowly, “Junior Brother Nie Kong, I have heard of you. You won the monthly assessment three times immediately upon entering the Medicine Heart Hall; your alchemy skills should be decent. For refining ordinary third-rank spirit medicines, what you just said might be plausible. However, for the spirit medicine I need refined, two of the required herbs cannot currently be bought even with points. If I can’t acquire the herbs, what good are your extra points to me? If I cannot confirm your ability, how can I confidently entrust you with refining my medicine?” Nie Kong frowned slightly. What the man said was not unreasonable. In the future, if he had the time, he needed to go to the Medicine Platform and get an official rank certificate for a Spirit Alchemist; it was like a diploma here. Diplomas in his previous life could easily be faked, but identification proving one’s status as a Spirit Alchemist here could not. His eyes darted, and Nie Kong suddenly smiled. “Do you have the ‘Chilling Red Palm Leaf Grass’ with you?” “I brought it.” The dark-faced man retrieved a handful of herbs from his robe. The snow-white leaves, marked with crimson veins, were each the size of a palm and had been dried. Judging by the thick stack, there was at least half a jin, far exceeding Nie Kong’s need. “I have six liang of this ‘Chilling Red Palm Leaf Grass.’ I collected it some time ago, intending to give it to my nephew for practice. If you can refine the third-rank spirit medicine I require, I wouldn’t mind giving it all to you.” “Deal!” Nie Kong smiled and nodded, then turned to Xi Yue. “Senior Brother Xi Yue, I wonder if you trust my standard for refining third-rank spirit medicines?” Xi Yue was stunned for a moment, then grasped the implicit meaning behind Nie Kong’s words, his face lighting up with unexpected joy. “Junior Brother Nie Kong, you’re going to help me refine medicine?” Seeing Nie Kong nod, Xi Yue, who had been hesitant to ask, was now offered the help outright. How could he refuse? Xi Yue was so delighted his mouth almost couldn’t close. “Yes, yes! Junior Brother Nie Kong, shouldn't we find a quiet place before we start?” Nie Kong waved his hand. “No need. Right here.” “Here?” Xi Yue looked somewhat bewildered. This place was noisy, and the occasional shouts erupting from the Ascending Sovereign Hall could easily distract a Spirit Alchemist. Refining under such conditions would certainly increase the failure rate. However, this opportunity was too rare to pass up. After all, the herbs could be found in the Inner City’s Medicine Hall; even if it failed, it would only cost about ten points at most. If successful, it would yield an exquisite spirit medicine. Xi Yue gritted his teeth. “Alright, Junior Brother Nie Kong, I trust you!” As he spoke, Xi Yue reached into his robe and pulled out seven small pouches. Nie Kong put down his wooden plaque and opened the seven pouches one by one. The contents of the bags were immediately revealed. Nie Kong had personally tasted six of the seven medicines; the last one, a black, seed-like object, was something he was seeing for the first time. “Senior Brother Xi Yue, do you have the formula?” “Yes! Yes!” Xi Yue quickly produced a piece of paper. Since he had specifically come here to ask a Spirit Alchemist for refining help, things like the recipe had to be prepared in advance, as not every Spirit Alchemist would know the refining method for this particular spirit medicine or the precise quantities required for each component. Nie Kong unfolded the paper. The unfamiliar medicine was named “Hibiscus Seed.” After quickly scanning the contents, Nie Kong handed the recipe back, laughing. “I’ve never heard of this ‘Thousand-Layer Pill’ before.” “…” “Thousand-Layer Pill? It’s the ‘Thousand-Layer Pill’!” “It is rumored that even if a fifth or sixth-rank Spirit Alchemist refines this third-rank spirit medicine, they might not achieve a fusion rate above eighty percent!” “True or false, is it that hard?” “Of course. I heard that the fusion of two specific herbs in it is extremely difficult.” “That fellow is probably regretting everything now, aren’t you? If he were refining other third-rank spirit medicines, reaching ninety percent fusion might not be impossible with good luck. But refining this ‘Thousand-Layer Pill’—if he still expects a ninety percent fusion rate, he’s just waiting to fail!” “Exactly! I tried refining this spirit medicine last year and failed ten times in a row. No wonder Xi Yue didn’t write out the name of the spirit medicine; he was setting a trap for someone to jump into. It’s a pity we didn't go in, allowing this newcomer to fall for it instead.” “He wants to refine a spirit medicine to prove his skill? That hope is likely to be dashed.” “…”

A crowd of Inner City disciples had already gathered around Nie Kong and Xi Yue. The moment the words ‘Thousand-Layer Pill’ were uttered, a stir erupted among the Inner City disciples. Even the dark-faced man frowned slightly. The ‘Thousand-Layer Pill’ wasn't an esoteric spirit medicine; it was said to allow a Spirit Master’s spiritual power to undulate in wave-like layers, producing miraculous effects for the Spirit Master in certain situations. However, its medicinal effect only seemed to last for about an hour. Nonetheless, among all third-rank spirit medicines, the ‘Thousand-Layer Pill’ was unequivocally one of the most difficult to refine. Many Spirit Alchemists’ initial attempts ended in failure. From the tone of Nie Kong’s words, it was clear this was his first time hearing of the ‘Thousand-Layer Pill,’ meaning it was his first attempt to refine it, leaving the odds of success slim. This spirit medicine could indeed test a Spirit Master’s skill to the utmost, but it lacked general applicability. The dark-faced man couldn’t help but say, “Junior Brother Nie Kong, you don’t have to refine the ‘Thousand-Layer Pill.’ If you can refine a spirit medicine like the ‘Clear Dew Pellet’ or the ‘Clarity Pill’ to a ninety percent fusion rate, I will still entrust my medicine to you. As long as the fusion rate is no less than eighty percent, this ‘Chilling Red Palm Leaf Grass’ will still be yours.” To exchange six liang of ‘Chilling Red Palm Leaf Grass’ for a spirit medicine with an eighty-five percent fusion rate would still be an immense profit for him. But the moment he said this, Xi Yue became quite displeased! His eyes practically flared. I finally found a Spirit Alchemist to help me refine my medicine, and this guy has to interfere? Isn't he deliberately trying to cause trouble? “Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother, but it will be this ‘Thousand-Layer Pill.’” Nie Kong shook his head with a smile. Xi Yue secretly breathed a sigh of relief, the half-risen posture of his body settling back down. If Nie Kong gave up on refining the ‘Thousand-Layer Pill’ because of this, he would certainly have to pick a fight with that black-faced bastard. At this moment, Nie Kong calmly picked up a few ‘Hibiscus Seeds’ and placed them in his mouth, immediately instructing the little fellow to use ‘Scent Recognition of Herbs’ once. Xiangxiang, having recently received Nie Kong’s promise to try and procure the ‘Phoenix Feather Illusory Immortal Flower’ for her, was working exceptionally hard this time. “Aiya ya!” Waving its stems and roots, the little fellow chirped sweetly for a while, and Nie Kong soon obtained the pharmacological properties and nature information regarding the ‘Hibiscus Seed.’ Quietly, Nie Kong ran a calculation between this ‘Hibiscus Seed’ and the other six herbs. As marked on the formula, the ‘Hibiscus Seed’ fused exceptionally poorly with another herb called ‘Citrus Fruit,’ as the medicinal powers of these two herbs shared almost no nexus for integration. “…” “He’s eating y, then closing his jiong eyes—what is he trying to do? Is he trying to uiu?” “Unlikely. That dark gui Cang jiong Hai clearly offered him an out just now. If he wanted to uiu, he would have agreed to change the jiong spirit y for refinement.” “Perhaps he feels it’s hard to start?” “…” The onlookers muttered amongst themselves. Seeing someone outside the Ascending Sovereign Hall boldly claim he could publicly refine a spirit medicine to a ninety percent fusion rate, the curiosity of many was greatly piqued. Almost all the Inner City disciples setting up stalls outside the Hall crowded over, and even a few from inside the Ascending Sovereign Hall emerged. “Which Senior Brother, might I borrow a medicine cauldron?” Just then, Nie Kong suddenly opened his eyes and called out loudly. “I’ll lend you my cauldron,” replied a beautiful Inner City female disciple, smiling sweetly as she handed over the cauldron she held. With a playful tone, she added, “But I am a Senior Sister, not a Senior Brother.” Her medicine cauldron was exquisite and rather small, only about the width of two palms, roughly twice the size of the cauldron conjured by Xiangxiang. “Then I thank you, Senior Sister.” Nie Kong smiled with ease, accepting the cauldron into his palm. The inside of the cauldron had been meticulously cleaned, so Nie Kong didn't need to waste time. After a brief moment of contemplation, he placed measured amounts of the five herbs, excluding the ‘Hibiscus Seed’ and ‘Citrus Fruit,’ into the cauldron. “Chaa!” The lid snapped shut. The medicine cauldron rested lightly on his right palm. Nie Kong’s ‘Four Spiritual Apertures’ vibrated sharply. Verdant spiritual energy surged madly from his palm. A scorching aura pushed outward, and the heat lifted the cauldron, causing it to suspend in the air. Fierce spiritual flames erupted, the dense emerald green almost completely enveloping the cauldron. The heat intensified. Under the impact of the flames, the cauldron began to spin faster and faster. In moments, its shape was no longer discernible; only a quick, flashing blue shadow could be seen amidst the intense emerald green… The murmuring had stopped at some unknown point, and even the activity inside the Ascending Sovereign Hall had gone silent. The crowd surrounding Nie Kong and Xi Yue had noticeably thickened without them realizing it. Everyone watched quietly; hardly anyone made a sound. If this were in the Outer City, the onlookers might have continued to grumble incessantly, but the Inner City was different. Perhaps because they couldn't leave at will and were heavily reliant on Spirit Alchemists, whenever a Spirit Alchemist was refining, others would instinctively try to minimize noise. “Weng weng…” Amidst a heavy, dull tremor, a faint white mist began to seep from the cauldron’s openings. From the start of the refinement, Nie Kong’s fire became astonishingly fierce. The dazzling, brilliant emerald green light around the cauldron almost blinded the surrounding Inner City disciples. Ordinary Spirit Masters might not think much of it, but the Spirit Alchemists nearby were filled with confused doubt. Many of them had attempted to refine the ‘Thousand-Layer Pill’ before, only to end up with failure or spirit medicines with pitifully low fusion rates. Regardless of the outcome, they all knew that when refining this type of spirit medicine, one should start by tempering it with a gentle fire. But Nie Kong did the exact opposite, using raging fire from the outset! Wasn't he worried that the five medicinal powers would explode inside the cauldron? Even the fair-skinned girl who lent him the cauldron couldn't help but feel a little worried. She had kept it with her since childhood and had grown quite attached to it; it would be a terrible waste if it shattered into pieces from Nie Kong's completely unconventional refining method. “Eh?” Several minutes later, someone finally couldn’t help but gasp. A medicinal fragrance was drifting out of the cauldron, rich, intoxicating, and soul-refreshing. Everyone unconsciously sniffed, seemingly trying to inhale all the fragrance dispersing into the void. The Spirit Alchemists were even more astonished… This never happened when they refined the ‘Thousand-Layer Pill’; never mind such a dense fragrance, not even a faint wisp of aroma had appeared. What exactly was this Nie Kong doing? Even if he wanted to be unconventional, this wasn't the way! The Spirit Alchemists seemed to foresee the cauldron shattering from an explosion… … However, several more minutes passed. The cauldron continued to spin rapidly under the impact of the heat, but the fragrance leaking from the lid’s openings began to fade, eventually retracting entirely. The surrounding crowd could no longer smell anything. “Chaa!” A muffled sound echoed as the cauldron lid sprang up nearly half a foot high. Nie Kong’s left hand flashed subtly. He grabbed ten ‘Hibiscus Seeds’ and two ‘Citrus Fruits’ and tossed them into the cauldron simultaneously. The moment the herbs entered, the spiritual fire abruptly retracted into his palm like a receding tide, and the once blinding green virtually vanished instantly. This sudden shift stunned the onlookers. Some quick-witted Spirit Alchemists couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Adding the ‘Hibiscus Seed’ and ‘Citrus Fruit’ at the same time clearly meant he intended to make the cauldron explode! The natures of these two herbs were inherently antagonistic; fusing them sequentially was difficult, let alone adding them simultaneously! Let’s wait and see; if this fellow’s cauldron doesn't get blown to pieces by the erupting medicinal power, then there’s no justice in heaven! “Dong!” Lacking the support of fire, the cauldron rapidly descended, its feet nearly touching Nie Kong’s palm as the lid closed. Chī chī! Spiritual energy burst out, and the flames surged violently again, making even the void seem to ignite. “Boom!” Suddenly, a fierce booming sound emanated from the cauldron, piercing the ears of the crowd and making their eardrums ring persistently. “It exploded!” Almost every mind nearby simultaneously jumped to those two words. Yet, to their surprise, the moment the loud blast began, Nie Kong’s raised index finger had already tapped the cauldron. With a sharp weng vibration, the half-formed explosion was forcibly interrupted. “Weng!” “Weng!” “…” Nie Kong’s left index finger flicked repeatedly. Dense green light flickered in succession from his fingertip and was driven into the cauldron. Almost every time the sound of the impending explosion arose, he struck the side of the cauldron, completely suppressing the force that hadn't fully erupted. As time passed, the activity coming from inside the cauldron actually grew quieter. The surrounding crowd watched, slack-jawed. Especially the Spirit Alchemists, whose wide, round eyes were filled with astonishment. What they expected had happened: adding the ‘Hibiscus Seed’ and ‘Citrus Fruit’ together in the cauldron absolutely triggered a medicinal explosion. However, Nie Kong had managed to suppress the explosion using his own spiritual energy. This was utterly unbelievable! If it were the medicinal power coalesced into a mass, or if the nearly formed spirit medicine showed a crack, striking it with spiritual energy at the precise moment could indeed enhance and mend it. But here, the substance inside the cauldron wasn't showing a crack; it was actively exploding. The difference between these two situations was vast, almost like heaven and earth. It wasn't just that a third-rank Spirit Alchemist at the Soul Fusion stage couldn't suppress a medicinal explosion with a tap; even a fourth-rank, fifth-rank, or even a sixth-rank Spirit Alchemist might not be able to achieve it. Yet, Nie Kong had done it. From the start of refining the ‘Thousand-Layer Pill,’ this marked the third time Nie Kong had acted against conventional wisdom: first, refining with intense fire; second, adding the ‘Hibiscus Seed’ and ‘Citrus Fruit’ simultaneously; and finally, suppressing the medicinal explosion with spiritual energy, and doing so repeatedly. Of these, the third act was the most inexplicable. Did refining spirit medicines with mutated wood spiritual energy truly offer such a significant advantage? “Weng!” With a tremor barely audible, Nie Kong withdrew his left index finger. Under the gaze of numerous eyes, the fire in Nie Kong’s left palm began to slowly diminish. This process was agonizingly slow; it took nearly five minutes before the spiritual energy flames in his hand completely vanished. “Hah…” The medicine cauldron settled back into his palm, and Nie Kong let out a soft breath. “Junior Brother Nie Kong?” With the refinement complete, Xi Yue could no longer contain himself, looking at Nie Kong with eager eyes. Among the many Inner City disciples surrounding them, Xi Yue had been the most nerve-wracked by the intermittent booming sounds from the cauldron, as Nie Kong was refining the ‘Thousand-Layer Pill’ for him. Fortunately, the most feared outcome never materialized, and judging by Nie Kong’s expression, the refinement hadn't failed. Xi Yue’s face was full of expectation. “It went well.” Nie Kong smiled slightly, tapped the cauldron body with his finger, and the lid was pushed open by spiritual energy. A small ball of pale yellow light floated out from the cauldron’s mouth. “It succeeded?” The surrounding crowd exchanged glances. They had already guessed this outcome since the cauldron never exploded. But seeing the light radiating from the spirit medicine now, everyone was momentarily stunned. Logically, this spirit medicine should have been impossible to refine successfully, yet the result contradicted conventional understanding. “It succeeded!” Xi Yue threw a triumphant punch. Nie Kong took the medicine into his hand, sniffed it lightly under his nose, nodded with satisfaction, and then surveyed the crowd with a cheerful smile. “The ‘Thousand-Layer Pill’ is refined successfully. Senior Brothers and Sisters, if you are sensitive to medicinal fusion rates, feel free to inspect it here.” Judging the fusion rate required long-term cultivation accumulated over years. Nie Kong could only gauge it roughly right now; achieving the ability to know the exact fusion rate just by smelling the aroma, like his master Nie Xingyun or Lian Tianxin, would take at least another half a year. “Junior Brother Nie Kong, I’ll go first.” The fair-skinned woman who had lent the cauldron stepped forward with a sweet smile. She took the ‘Thousand-Layer Pill’ from Nie Kong’s hand, took a light sniff, and her smile was instantly replaced by astonishment. After staring in stunned silence for a long moment, she looked at Nie Kong in disbelief. “Nine point two… no, nine point three fusion rate.” “Nine point three!!!” “How is that possible, that high?” “Didn’t they say that even high-rank Spirit Alchemists find it hard to refine the ‘Thousand-Layer Pill’ to a high fusion rate? How did he casually produce nine point three?” “Impossible! Absolutely impossible!” “…”

The vicinity erupted in a clamor, gasps rising one after another. Several Apothecaries immediately rushed toward the delicate-featured girl at their fastest pace, each reaching out for the "Thousand-Layer Pill," desperate to confirm the precise degree of medicinal power fusion.

Unlike them, after a brief moment of astonishment, Xi Yue’s eyebrows were completely veiled in an expression of sheer ecstasy. Originally, his expectation was that Nie Kong could refine a "Thousand-Layer Pill" with an eighty percent fusion rate; even seventy-five percent would have sufficed. Unexpectedly, when the "Thousand-Layer Pill" finally materialized, the fusion rate surpassed ninety percent, reaching an astonishing ninety-three percent!

Cang Hai’s dark complexion betrayed a profound sense of surprise that he couldn't conceal. To refine a "Thousand-Layer Pill" to such a level made the new inner-city disciple’s alchemy skill immediately clear! He realized with a pang of regret that he had worried too much earlier.

Nie Kong narrowed his eyes with a slight smile as he watched the Apothecaries scramble to examine the "Thousand-Layer Pill."

Nie Kong was immensely satisfied with his improvisational skill in alchemy. What seemed irrational to other Apothecaries was perfectly logical in his own mind.

He had used fierce flames to refine the first five ingredients, repeatedly tempering the fused medicinal power, softening what was originally a rigid mass of energy into something supple as cotton. Then, the "Hibiscus Seed" and "Cloud Scent Fruit" were enveloped by this softened mass the very instant they were added to the crucible.

Subsequently, the medicinal powers of the "Hibiscus Seed" and "Cloud Scent Fruit" did indeed cause an explosion, but the surrounding mass of energy delayed the blast for a crucial instant. That brief moment was enough for Nie Kong to utilize the residual liquid vitality within his body to continue fusing the compounds in the crucible.

Since the "Hibiscus Seed" and "Cloud Scent Fruit" had almost no natural fusion points, vitality became the catalyst! With the aid of this vital energy, the fusion of the medicinal powers became inevitable.

"Senior Brother..."

Nie Kong turned to Cang Hai with a genial smile.

Before he could finish speaking, Cang Hai thrust the stack of "Cold Red Palm Leaf Grass" into Nie Kong's arms, then pulled out nine small medicine pouches from his own person, placing them on the tray before Nie Kong, his demeanor quite urgent: "Junior Brother Nie Kong, it’s up to you." He seemed fearful that Nie Kong might refuse.

At this juncture, even if Nie Kong had chosen to make things difficult for him, Cang Hai would have had no choice but to comply. However, such an action would harm others without benefiting himself, and Nie Kong held no interest in such trivialities.

Putting away the "Cold Red Palm Leaf Grass," Nie Kong opened all nine pouches Cang Hai had provided. Fortunately, they all contained ingredients he was familiar with.

Ignoring the attention the inner-city disciples were lavishing upon the "Thousand-Layer Pill," Nie Kong accepted the prescription Cang Hai handed him next and immersed his mind within the text...

...

"Hiss!"

About ten minutes later, the crucible lid was lifted, and a single, flawless white medicinal pill floated out. Although this pill required more complex ingredients, the actual refining process was considerably easier; it required neither the use of his dwindling liquid vitality nor the need to imbue the pill with life essence.

This pill was meant for others; there was absolutely no need to make it perfect. Achieving a ninety percent fusion rate was sufficient to fulfill the promise he had written on the wooden board!

Imbuing it with vitality would be a complete waste.

Nie Kong smiled: "The fusion rate will definitely exceed ninety percent. Senior Brother Cang Hai, secure this medicine. We are now square."

"Good! Excellent!" Cang Hai laughed heartily.

"Junior Brother Nie Kong, allow me to inspect it first." That same delicate-featured woman slipped over, taking the pill before Cang Hai could. "A medicinal fusion rate of ninety-two percent!" This time, the astonishment and strangeness on her face were diminished, replaced by a faint glimmer of respect.

Another spirit medicine with a fusion rate over ninety percent!

The surrounding inner-city disciples looked at Cang Hai with envy. This fellow was incredibly lucky to possess exactly the "Cold Red Palm Leaf Grass" Nie Kong needed—a trash herb most people wouldn't even bother to pick up—which could be exchanged for a ninety-two percent fusion pill.

Everyone could foresee that, before long, Nie Kong’s reputation as a master alchemist would once again spread throughout the entire inner city, and disciples seeking his services would follow ceaselessly...