Nie Kong pocketed two of the floral spirit medicines, then picked up the last one, calling out loudly, "No matter. I wonder if any friend here in the Ascending Sovereign Hall happens to be at the Seventh Grade of Spirit Fusion. I will sell this single 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream' to him for twenty contribution points. He can consume it publicly right here in the hall. If there are no blemishes..."

Here, Nie Kong paused his tone slightly, then broke into a smile, "If it proves ineffective, I will return the full twenty points, and furthermore, I will personally refine a Third Grade spirit medicine for him. He can designate the type of spirit medicine, and I guarantee the fusion rate will not be lower than ninety percent!"

"I will!"

Ye Jun suppressed a chuckle deep within his heart. As soon as Nie Kong’s voice fell, he hurried to leap onto the high platform. Only after steadying his footing did Ye Jun suddenly realize that he was not alone in ascending; a female disciple from the Inner City had jumped up with him, possessing a delicate appearance and a rather graceful figure.

Ye Jun knew this woman. Her name was Tang E, and she was also a Spirit Alchemist. She had only entered the Inner City last year and was precisely at the Seventh Grade of Spirit Fusion cultivation.

Staring at Ye Jun, Nie Kong’s smile held a strange quality: "Are you Seventh Grade of Spirit Fusion?"

"Naturally."

Ye Jun smiled faintly, "Junior Brother Nie Kong, all Inner City disciples who know me, Gan Ye Jun, are aware of my Seventh Grade Spirit Fusion cultivation. For me to test your 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream' couldn't be more fitting."

As he spoke, Ye Jun scoffed internally. It was true that many Inner City disciples knew he was at the "Seventh Grade of Spirit Fusion," but that was what he had told them; his true cultivation was actually the Ninth Grade of Spirit Fusion. The spiritual technique he cultivated allowed him to conceal his cultivation level. To this day, no Inner City disciple had detected his real power, and in numerous sparring matches, he often defeated opponents by suddenly unleashing immense spiritual power.

This trick had never failed him.

"You?"

Nie Kong looked at Ye Jun with a half-smile. "Senior Brother, in the early hours more than ten days ago, there was a peeping tom lurking outside the pavilion where I reside. Do you happen to know him?"

"Huh?"

Ye Jun was utterly dumbfounded. This fellow had noticed his presence long ago.

Below the platform, an explosion of laughter erupted. Those Inner City disciples who knew Ye Jun looked at him with strangely knowing glances, clearly understanding who the peeping tom Nie Kong mentioned was.

The two little lolis, Long Hun and Long Ting, were rather confused. Had someone been peeping outside the pavilion back then? Why had their Master never mentioned it?

Ye Jun composed himself, forcing a strained smile onto his face: "I don't know him. Of course, I don't know such a scoundrel!"

As he uttered the word "scoundrel," Ye Jun cursed inwardly. He had initially been angry that Nie Kong refused to refine a spirit medicine for him, and he jumped onto the stage specifically to cause trouble when he saw Nie Kong was about to invite someone to test the medicine publicly. Unexpectedly, he had ended up exposing something he thought he had kept secret.

"He was certainly enough of a scoundrel," Nie Kong chuckled. "Since Senior Brother doesn't know the scoundrel, so be it. However, if Senior Brother wishes to taste the 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream,' the price is now two hundred points."

"On what grounds?" Ye Jun bristled.

"No grounds. Because I feel like it!" Nie Kong teased playfully.

"You, you......"

More strange laughter rose from the crowd below the platform. Ye Jun’s face flushed white then red, and finally, he turned away in indignation and jumped down. Nie Kong’s lips twitched slightly, and his gaze shifted to the female Inner City disciple who had ascended the stage at the same time as Ye Jun. He smiled brightly, "Senior Sister Tang E, what a coincidence seeing you again. Thank you for lending me your medicine cauldron."

Last time, to exchange for the 'Chilling Red Palm Leaf Grass,' Nie Kong publicly refined two spirit medicines with fusion rates exceeding ninety percent outside the Ascending Sovereign Hall, and that medicine cauldron was the one Tang E had lent him.

Hearing Nie Kong mention that, Tang E pursed her lips and smiled: "I should be the one thanking you. If it weren't for your 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream,' it probably would have taken me a very long time to advance to the Ninth Grade of Spirit Fusion. Buying such a fine spirit medicine for twenty points, I certainly got the better end of the bargain."

Nie Kong feigned astonishment: "Aren't you afraid my spirit medicine might be ineffective?"

"You said the 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream' can raise one's cultivation by two grades, so it surely will. I don't believe you would put an ineffective spirit medicine up for auction," Tang E said with a sweet smile. Although it was incredibly improbable that Nie Kong had personally researched and refined a spirit medicine capable of raising cultivation by two grades, having witnessed his public refinement that day, she felt that any miracle arising from Nie Kong was now entirely normal.

Because of this conviction, she hadn't hesitated in the slightest to step onto the stage to try the medicine.

Nie Kong was surprised that Tang E, whom he had only met once, had such confidence in the spirit essence he had "researched." He felt a surge of emotion and smiled: "Senior Sister Tang E, the facts will prove that your decision today was extremely wise. The efficacy of this 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream' lasts for half an hour. Please take the medicine."

"Good."

Tang E accepted the spirit medicine, then immediately sat cross-legged on the high platform, placing the 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream' into her mouth without hesitation to chew it slowly.

"......"

"Is this Tang E really Seventh Grade of Spirit Fusion?"

"It couldn't be wrong. Her pavilion is not far from mine, and I saw her using the Spirit Testing Stone just yesterday. She was definitely Seventh Grade of Spirit Fusion!"

"Nie Kong really dares to let her try. Could it be......"

"......"

Watching Tang E consume the medicine, the Inner City disciples below the platform exchanged hushed words, confirming her identity and cultivation level. A faint premonition arose in their hearts: perhaps the efficacy of this 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream' that Nie Kong researched and refined truly surpassed the 'Heavenly Dust Pill'?

In the northwest corner of the Ascending Sovereign Hall, Lan Shang's gentle gaze swept over Tang E, and she smiled slightly: "That 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream' will undoubtedly raise the cultivation by two grades."

"Indeed. Last time, Nie Kong refining the 'Nine Heavens Azure Nether Pill' with a fusion rate of ninety-seven percent was astonishing enough. I didn't expect he would now independently research a spirit medicine that directly enhances cultivation by two grades. He may not surpass me now, but in the future......"

After a long pause, Liu Hemin let out a soft sigh, "I will certainly not surpass him!"

"Why worry so much about the future?" Shan Xiong waved his hand dismissively, patting Liu Hemin’s shoulder while trying hard to suppress his voice. "This lad’s body’s resistance to poison is even more astonishing. I truly hope his cultivation advances quickly; then, perhaps he can be of great help to us."

"Mm."

Hearing Shan Xiong’s words, not only Lan Shang and Liu Hemin, but also Wei Zhao and Jing Lan nodded with smiles......

Time flew quickly. After she stopped chewing, Tang E on the high platform remained motionless, like a statue.

Suddenly, Tang E let out a soft hum, and her body slumped limply onto the platform. A delicate, rosy glow appeared on her pale face, making her look quite enchanting, like a begonia asleep in spring.

Seeing this, everyone’s hearts involuntarily tightened. But before long, they heard a faint, peaceful snoring sound coming from the high platform.

She actually fell asleep?

Everyone found it incredibly unbelievable. Could one actually fall asleep after consuming a spirit medicine that could continuously raise cultivation by two grades? Even if she didn't feel pain, the spiritual energy fluctuation within her body when the medicine took effect should have startled awake even a dead pig, yet Tang E appeared completely unaffected.

About another twenty minutes passed......

"Mmm!"

Tang E stirred as if waking from a dream, groggily straightening her body to survey her surroundings before snapping fully awake. She hurriedly sensed the condition within her body, and her pretty face instantly flushed crimson with excitement: "Ninth Grade of Spirit Fusion! It really is Ninth Grade of Spirit Fusion! Junior Brother Nie Kong, your spirit medicine is truly magical. I didn't feel a thing."

Upon hearing this, the Ascending Sovereign Hall erupted in an uproar. Just then, an Inner City disciple suddenly tossed up a palm-sized Spirit Testing Stone: "Tang E!"

Tang E didn't hesitate. After catching the stone, a streak of fiery-red spiritual power permeated it. A magnificent, sunset-like radiance burst forth, and the lines on the "Spirit Testing Stone" began to shift and twist. In just a moment, they formed four characters: Ninth Grade of Spirit Fusion!

Ninth Grade of Spirit Fusion!

The small characters made the surrounding crowd’s eyes sting from the sheer brilliance. Ninth Grade of Spirit Fusion! In just half an hour, a Seventh Grade Spirit Master had been directly elevated to the Ninth Grade of Spirit Fusion, and the process was as easy as taking a nap—something the Heavenly Dust Pill could never achieve.

"......"

"Sigh, if only I had gone up instead. Twenty points for an increase of two cultivation grades—where can you find such good fortune?"

"Brother, it’s all your fault. I was already moving my feet, and you pulled me back."

"I am currently Eighth Grade of Spirit Fusion. If I had taken one of these 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream' just now, I would definitely be Ninth Grade of Spirit Fusion today. What a pity, what a pity, I missed such a perfect opportunity. Buying one now would be too wasteful, and I don't have enough points anymore."

"......"

Looking at the still smiling Tang E on the stage, those Inner City disciples at the Seventh and Eighth Grades of Spirit Fusion were filled with deep regret, their gazes toward Tang E brimming with envy and jealousy. They hadn't rushed to snatch the twenty-point spirit medicine earlier, and now, even for a hundred points, they might not be able to bid for a single 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream'!

"Now, I trust you all have no more doubts," Nie Kong said, nodding slightly toward Tang E before letting out a long laugh. "The spirit medicine auction officially begins. The first 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream,' with a fusion rate of ninety-five percent, has a starting bid of one hundred points, with subsequent bids no less than five points each. My Senior Brothers and Sisters at the Seventh and Eighth Grades of Spirit Fusion, seize the opportunity, as it won't come again! Such fine medicine that can comfortably elevate your cultivation by two grades—you must not miss it! Gentlemen, please begin your bids..."

"One hundred and ten points."

Before Nie Kong could finish speaking, a young man suddenly shouted out, his gaze burning as he looked at the 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream' held aloft in Nie Kong's hand. Although the Inner City possessed the 'Spirit Cultivation Illusory Realm,' he had been stuck at the Seventh Grade of Spirit Fusion for too long. Today, he was determined to acquire one, no matter what. He noted that the quantity available today was large enough—three pills per bottle, totaling thirty bottles—so competition might not be too fierce towards the end.

"One hundred and fifteen!"

"One hundred and twenty!"

"......"

"One hundred and fifty!"

"One hundred and sixty-five!"

"......"

The price soared rapidly......

This first auctioned 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream' was finally sold at the high price of one hundred and ninety points. After paying the contribution points, the number in that Inner City disciple's badge dropped to zero. One hundred and ninety points was all the property he had managed to scrape together, but for an increase of two cultivation grades, it was entirely worthwhile.

The Inner City disciple was so happy his mouth couldn't close. After hopping off the platform laughing, Nie Kong was already holding up the next 'Spring Flower Autumn Dream'......