Approximately half an hour later, Nie Kong returned to his attic lodging from the apothecaries' hall. Before even stepping inside, the medicine boxes containing the "Phoenix Plume Illusory Immortal Flower" and the "Crimson Back Sky Net" were quietly stowed away by Nie Kong into his pet backpack.

"Ayaya!" Along the way, the little creature had already grown quite impatient waiting. Sensing the "Phoenix Plume Illusory Immortal Flower" being tucked away, the little fellow instantly became invigorated, and a dense wave of emerald green surged out from the Yaochi Pool, rushing straight into the backpack.

It lightly coiled around the medicine box, and the latch sprang open. A fantastical, mesmerizing luminescence burst forth and...

The Phoenix Plume Illusory Immortal Flower possessed only four petals, each adorned with mottled patterns of red, white, blue, and green. The four colors interplayed, creating a dazzling array of hues, exceedingly beautiful.

The shape of those four petals was also quite peculiar, indeed resembling the quills upon a bird's wing. Yet, the flower was pathetically small, barely spanning the width of two fingers, despite being housed in such a large box.

When Nie Kong first saw it at the apothecaries' hall, he had inwardly scoffed for quite some time. "Ayaya!" Like a starved ghost who hadn't seen food for days suddenly catching sight of a rich, fragrant cut of meat, the little creature let out another cheer.

Dozens of streams of emerald green, condensed from its natal medicinal power, entered the pet backpack, completely enveloping the tiny "Phoenix Plume Illusory Immortal Flower" as if it were a minuscule silken cocoon. The little creature's roots and stems twisted vigorously, and after a brief moment, the green receded like a tide-washed river, shrinking back into the Yaochi Pool acupoint.

As for the "Phoenix Plume Illusory Immortal Flower," its luster was entirely gone, its petals drooped listlessly—the medicinal power it contained had been completely drained. "This little fellow's rate of consumption is getting faster and faster!" As this thought crossed his mind, Nie Kong’s attention shifted from the pet backpack toward the Yaochi Pool acupoint.

"Ah... ya..." The young cry carried a distinct note of contentment.

The little one swayed, seemingly in a drunken stupor, its roots and stems trembling and swaying as it circled the mass of inky-green blood several times before it finally collapsed limply. Its roots and stems began to contract relentlessly toward the center.

In mere moments, the tender young sprout curled into a ball and fell into a deep slumber, resembling a smooth, round seed of the Purple Illusionary Spirit Incense... "Finally asleep." Nie Kong displayed a look of joy, a slight smile touching his lips, and breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

Originally, Nie Kong's greatest worry was that the little creature's sensations might be misleading, and that consuming the "Phoenix Plume Illusory Immortal Flower" might not push it to the very limits of advancing to the Fourth Order. Now, it seemed that worry was utterly superfluous.

Now that the little one was deep in slumber, it would likely take even longer than before to awaken. He wondered what skills it might comprehend after advancing to the Fourth Order.

Reviewing the Pharmacist skills from the Demon Game and the skills of the "Purple Illusionary Spirit Incense" in his mind, Nie Kong felt quite expectant. Sensing the tranquil little creature within the Yaochi Pool acupoint, Nie Kong felt completely relaxed.

Having secured the "Phoenix Plume Illusory Immortal Flower" required for the little one's breakthrough, he could now dedicate all his efforts to cultivation, striving to break through to the Seventh Grade of Spirit Fusion soon, and then consume the modified "Spring Bloom Autumn Dream." Once the "Spring Bloom Autumn Dream" elevated his cultivation from the Seventh Grade of Spirit Fusion to the Ninth Grade of Spirit Fusion, the Spirit Manifestation realm would no longer seem so distant... While Nie Kong had his wishes fulfilled and felt quite triumphant, the Inner City seemed to have exploded into chaos.

In less than half a day, news of the "Spring Bloom Autumn Dream" emerging had spread through every street and alley of the Inner City. Regardless of whether they needed this spiritual medicine, the Inner City disciples were astonished by Nie Kong.

Following the astonishment, the newly admitted Inner City disciples this year—especially those formerly from the Heart of Medicine Hall—began to scheme, flocking to the Thirty-Third Floor Apothecary in the North City, exerting every means possible to secure a favorably priced "Spring Bloom Autumn Dream" from Miao Ge, Tai Ji, and the other four women. Among these schemers, quite a few harbored intentions of buying low and selling high.

Leveraging connections to acquire the "Spring Bloom Autumn Dream" at a low price from Miao Ge and the others, then reselling it at a higher price to fellow disciples who lacked the two hundred points but desperately needed the medicine, aiming to profit from the margin. Unfortunately, these individuals all hit a stone wall with Miao Ge and the others.

Two hundred points—not one point less. After all, possessing such a fine medicine meant there was no worry about finding buyers.

As for the veteran Inner City disciples below the Eighth Grade of Spirit Fusion, despite loudly cursing in the Ascension Hall, they ultimately had to scrape together two hundred points and sheepishly trot over to the apothecary to purchase the "Spring Bloom Autumn Dream." Before noon had even passed, five "Spring Bloom Autumn Dreams" had been sold. Compared to those five, there were even more Inner City disciples unable to accrue enough points.

Among these Inner City disciples were quite a few at the Spirit Manifestation realm, but also a great many at the Spirit Fusion realm. Unable to borrow points, yet wishing to take a shortcut to advance two grades of cultivation, they had only one option: venturing into the chilling currents of the "Senluo Ancient Cave" to scavenge.

Thus, immediately after Nie Kong’s second spiritual medicine auction concluded, the desolate "Senluo Ancient Cave" became extraordinarily bustling. The number of Inner City disciples enduring the cave daily rose to at least three hundred.

With the increase in numbers, disputes often arose when competing for better positions. Of course, no matter how fiercely the Inner City disciples fought, it had nothing to do with Nie Kong.

The Inner City instructors were responsible for their governance. Apart from refining a few spiritual medicines of high fusion level each morning to sell at the apothecary, he devoted virtually all his time to cultivation.

Spirit Cultivation Illusionary Realm, First Layer. "Heh..." The green energy swirling around him dissipated into the void as Nie Kong opened his eyes, letting out a soft breath.

He glanced around. In this wide expanse of grassland on the First Layer of the Illusionary Realm, those gathered were all Inner City disciples at the Spirit Fusion realm.

In the past, this area was packed with cultivators in the afternoon, but now, only about twenty-odd people remained near Nie Kong. He had become quite familiar with their faces over the past few days.

He knew they were either at the Ninth Grade of Spirit Fusion or extremely close to it—young experts who didn't need the "Spring Bloom Autumn Dream" to advance their cultivation, or who had already consumed the spiritual medicine Nie Kong had refined. As for those still requiring the "Spring Bloom Autumn Dream," they were, at this moment, mostly battling the bone-chilling, cold current within the "Senluo Ancient Cave." His gaze flickered slightly, and Nie Kong refocused his spirit on his "Four Spiritual God Apertures." "Cultivating on this first layer is still a bit slow!" Since breaking through to the Sixth Grade of Spirit Fusion, and when the spiritual god apertures began to reveal a faint trace of green, Nie Kong’s demand for vitality had reached an almost terrifying level.

Currently, Nie Kong’s spiritual power had moved beyond saturation; it was once again like the bottomless pit of before, constantly devouring the vitality attracted by the "Spring and Autumn Life-Nourishing Art." This was not inherently an issue, but what truly frustrated Nie Kong was that ever since the "Four Spiritual God Apertures" showed that faint green hue, they too began to require vitality. Moreover, their method of absorption differed from that of spiritual power; they demanded vitality that was condensed to its absolute extreme, in liquid form.

The small cluster of liquid vitality in his apertures had been completely absorbed the day after he broke through to the Sixth Grade of Spirit Fusion. All subsequent vitality was consumed by his spiritual power, with no opportunity to condense into liquid form.

Consequently, the "Four Spiritual God Apertures" remained in a state of extreme hunger. Lately, the more Nie Kong cultivated, the more he felt as if his "Four Spiritual God Apertures" were four infants crying out to be fed—a sensation that was intensely irritating.

Especially over the last two days, the hunger emanating from his apertures frequently caused his focus to waver, interrupting his cultivation. At such times, Nie Kong deeply missed the dense green pillar of light inside the Illusionary Space.

If he could re-enter the Illusionary Space, perhaps one session would be enough to saturate the vitality contained within his spiritual power, allowing it to condense into liquid vitality for the "Four Spiritual God Apertures" to absorb. Alas, such a wish was impossible to realize.

The Illusionary Space was a vital location specifically organized by the Spirit Command City for the Six Halls Grand Competition; how could it possibly be opened for a mere Inner City disciple? Never mind that Nie Kong lacked the status for such a request; even Gu Changgong, the Hall Master of the Heart of Medicine Hall, likely couldn't manage it.

"Perhaps I can try the second layer..." Catching the celestial ladder at the edge of the Illusionary World in his peripheral vision, an impulse stirred within Nie Kong. Having entered and exited the "Spirit Cultivation Illusionary Realm" several times, Nie Kong understood this place much better.

Generally, one needed to reach the Spirit Manifestation realm to enter the Second Layer of the Illusionary Realm. Those Spirit Manifestation masters, upon stepping onto that solitary peak, were not deposited onto this grassy lawn like the Spirit Fusion masters; instead, they proceeded directly to the second tier of the peak to access the true cultivation area.

"It's worth a try. Even if I can't enter the Second Layer, the loss won't be significant.

But if I'm lucky enough to ascend, both the speed of cultivation and the speed of vitality absorption will far surpass the First Layer!" With his decision made, Nie Kong stood up and strode toward the base of the celestial ladder. "What is that guy, Jian Kong, trying to do?" Glancing sideways at Nie Kong’s retreating figure, Ye Jun murmured softly.

After cultivating in the "Spirit Cultivation Illusionary Realm" for most of the morning, Ye Jun had already reached the limit his body could withstand. Thus, as he rested, he kept his eyes on Nie Kong, feeling a touch of suspicion upon seeing Nie Kong's actions.

An instant later, Ye Jun’s eyeballs nearly popped out of their sockets. Nie Kong was actually stepping onto the celestial ladder, slowly ascending.

"He... he's climbing the celestial ladder..." Ye Jun stammered the words out, his face etched with disbelief.

If one had not reached the requisite cultivation level, it was absolutely impossible to enter the upper layer by ascending from the solitary peak outside. The only way to ascend was via the celestial ladder from the lower layer of the Illusionary Realm, which was obviously impossible, as the pressure intensified with every step taken upward.

If one's cultivation was insufficient, they would be forced back down by that formidable pressure long before completing all the steps. Considering just the First Layer of the Illusionary Realm, one would need at least the cultivation equivalent of the Fifth Grade of Spirit Manifestation to ascend via the ladder.

But a Spirit Master with that level of cultivation could enter the Second Layer of the Illusionary Realm directly, rendering the celestial ladder essentially a mere decoration for them, the Inner City disciples. "He hasn't even reached the Ninth Grade of Spirit Fusion, yet he wants to climb the celestial ladder?" Ye Jun regained his composure, sneering inwardly, ready to witness Nie Kong tumble down the ladder in a humiliating fashion.

He himself had tried this celestial ladder, only managing to climb twenty steps before being forced back. Nie Kong's cultivation was far inferior to his; reaching the tenth step would be commendable.

However, the scene he had anticipated did not materialize. Nie Kong ascended leisurely, as if strolling through a garden.

Ten steps... twenty steps...

thirty steps... fifty steps...

Nie Kong’s figure grew smaller, eventually vanishing entirely into the clouds... Ye Jun stared with wide, unblinking eyes, looking blankly up toward where Nie Kong disappeared, his mind a complete blank, his mouth hanging agape for a long time without closing...

P: This chapter is a bit dry, but such transitional chapters are unavoidable. Please forgive me for this.