As if the night had suddenly descended upon the world, darkness enveloped everything around. Nie Kong’s vision was utterly obscured, the thick, almost tangible mist churning and leaping around him like ferocious dragons… At this moment, Nie Kong was already enveloped by emerald-green mutated Wood Spirit Energy, the little fellow’s innate medicinal power mixing within this spiritual force.

Sensing the black mist’s arrival, the little creature squeaked with excitement. Under its control, those streaks of green energy danced rapidly, and the black toxic fog, like threads of silk, seeped through the spiritual energy protecting Nie Kong’s body.

Like moths drawn to a flame, they drilled inside, where they were absorbed and then transformed into droplets of black liquid that sprinkled onto the leaves of the Fire Tree Silver Flower. “Screeech!” A mournful cry echoed from afar.

That sound belonged to the Ink Snow Thunder Eagle! He had thought it had managed to escape!

Nie Kong’s heart skipped a beat. If the surrounding toxic fog, upon first contacting the Wood Spirit Energy on his skin, hadn't been instantly drawn in and absorbed by Xiangxiang’s innate medicinal power, merely touching the black mist would have meant an ending no different from that of the Ink Snow Thunder Eagle, given his First Stage Spirit Transformation cultivation.

“Ah-yah-yah!” Inside the pet backpack, after absorbing the black venom converted from the toxic fog, the Fire Tree Silver Flower secreted red fluid beads several times faster than before, delighting the little creature, which seemed to be “dancing with joy,” its roots, stems, leaves, and nascent buds radiating merriment everywhere. “Hmm?” Nie Kong frowned slightly.

A tremendously powerful suction force surged out of the black fog, dragging his body forward. At this moment, Nie Kong felt as if he were trapped in a quagmire; the adhesive force came from all directions, making escape impossible no matter which way he tried to move.

“Is it retracting?” Nie Kong instantly judged the movement pattern of the toxic fog, settling his mind instead and remaining utterly composed. Since escape was difficult now, he might as well abandon the pointless struggle and allow the black mist to take him, to see what danger awaited at the fog's end.

Worrying now was useless. With his decision made, Nie Kong simply sat down cross-legged.

Gradually, Nie Kong began to sense something amiss. This black mist actually contained vitality, and the further his body moved forward, the richer this vitality became.

Although this vitality, much like the Blood Scale Pomegranate, exuded an extremely tyrannical aura, it was undoubtedly life force. If it were only this, it might have been acceptable!

What astonished Nie Kong, however, was that this vitality was the same type as the vitality of plants and trees. If Nie Kong were to cultivate here, he would certainly be able to draw this vitality into his body.

“Could the source of this toxic fog be some kind of poisonous herb?” Nie Kong found it quite incredible. If it were a poisonous herb, it would have to be an overwhelmingly vast cluster of them to generate such immense and concentrated toxic fog.

Perhaps—perhaps—he was mistaken? With that thought, Nie Kong tapped his brow with a finger.

Immediately, the Spirit Seed within bloomed with a soft emerald glow, and Nie Kong’s perception ability began to enhance at an astonishing speed. A moment later, Nie Kong’s frown deepened.

His feeling was correct; the toxic fog indeed contained the vitality of flora! Nie Kong was both suspicious and curious, his thoughts churning unsettledly.

The suction force emanating from the toxic fog grew stronger and stronger, accelerating Nie Kong’s movement forward. There was no light around him whatsoever, so Nie Kong could not discern any changes in the scenery beside him, yet he could tell that the black mist was winding him left and right, suggesting he was passing through a labyrinth.

“Plop!” After an indeterminate amount of time, the suction force suddenly vanished, and Nie Kong fell onto the ground. A wave of chill washed over him, causing Nie Kong to involuntarily shudder.

The little fellow was still absorbing the toxic fog, eager to drain it all instantly. But Nie Kong could not be as relaxed and content as it was.

The moment he landed, his fists were clenched, his body tense, constantly alert for any change, ready to react with utmost speed should anything occur. “Eh?” Faintly, a low murmur seemed to sound, barely audible, thin as a silk thread.

Someone was here? The instant this thought crossed Nie Kong’s mind, the surrounding black fog surged like a tidal wave.

In the next moment, Nie Kong’s vision gradually returned, and surprise involuntarily surfaced in his eyes—he had been brought by the toxic mist into a colossal black palace! The floor was black, the walls were black, the ceiling was black, and even the twelve pillars supporting the structure were black.

However, dense patterns were carved into the surface of these pillars, currently emitting a faint, soft light, which slightly illuminated the otherwise somber palace. This vast, circular palace possessed twelve open doorways.

Nie Kong landed near one of these doorways. Before him, the twelve tendrils of toxic fog had just retracted from the entrances, converging toward the center of the hall.

In the blink of an eye, the all-encompassing black mist condensed into a mass roughly ten meters in diameter, churning within the hall… Like a ferocious beast baring its fangs! When being pulled along by the mist, Nie Kong had imagined the end of the fog many times, but he had never conceived it would be a palace!

Taking a shallow breath, Nie Kong rapidly turned his thoughts over… The Shattered Illusion Realm belonged to the Beast Taming Sect; this palace must have also been constructed by them. But what exactly was this toxic mist?

Furthermore, upon entering the palace, he seemed to have heard a human voice. If the black fog was manipulated by humans, how could it contain the vitality of plants and trees?

Nie Kong became more bewildered the more he thought, turning back to glance. The exit was only a few meters away, but beyond the doorway lay impenetrable blackness, leading to an unknown destination.

If the black fog was indeed controlled by someone, the moment he showed any intention of fleeing, he would likely be overtaken instantly! With a sudden hardening of his resolve, Nie Kong sprang to his feet and slowly walked toward the center of the hall.

“Thud! Thud!” The sound echoed continuously.

In the vast hall, apart from Nie Kong’s footsteps, there was no other noise. An extreme sense of oppression permeated the air, and the black mist in the center of the hall seemed to be drawn by Nie Kong’s movement, undulating toward his advancing direction as if alive.

Even the boldest Nie Kong felt a fine film of cold sweat break out on his back at this bizarre sight, the chill spreading throughout his body. “Clack!

Thud…” After a while, Nie Kong was only about ten meters from the mass of black fog. It was then that Nie Kong suddenly realized that within the black fog, there seemed to be a patch of white light flickering in and out of view.

“Hee-hee-hee-hee—” A sound like silver bells suddenly echoed throughout the hall. The black fog vibrated more violently, instantly expanding by more than ten meters, rushing up to Nie Kong’s front.

There really was someone! And it was a woman!

Nie Kong’s heart leaped, and he abruptly stopped, staring intently at the black fog. The voice emanated from within the mist.

“Who are you?” Nie Kong narrowed his eyes, slowly uttering the three words, his voice already present. He no longer needed to be suspicious or jumpy; his mind settled, and he felt considerably more relaxed.

“Little fellow, you certainly have courage!” The clear laughter stopped abruptly. The black fog churned, “It’s been so many years since the Beast Taming Sect fell.

You are the first person unafraid of the toxic fog to enter this ‘Spirit Sealing Hall.’ Truly… lonely! Little fellow, since you’re inside, don’t even think about leaving!

Don’t worry, I won’t take your life. I’ll keep you here forever, so you can keep me company every day, hee-hee-hee-hee.

What do you think of my idea?” “Your idea is excellent!” “It seems you agree?” “No!” Nie Kong shook his head. The voice sank, followed by a cold snort: “Whether you agree or not is not for you to decide; it is for me to decide.

Once you enter this ‘Spirit Sealing Hall,’ do you think you can still get out?” As the voice faded, the black fog rolled over, enveloping Nie Kong completely once more. The little fellow cheered twice with “Ah-yah-yah,” quickly twisting its leaves and roots, busying itself incessantly.

The black mist was drawn into Nie Kong’s body thread by thread, then sent to the pet backpack. Around the Fire Tree Silver Flower, red fluid beads secreted by the plant piled up densely.

However, Nie Kong’s expression changed slightly. This time, the black mist brought not suction, but an unparalleled pressure.

The moment the mist descended, the pressure surged like a tide, crashing over him from all directions. While the little fellow could absorb the toxic fog, it could not resist this pressure.

“Hoo!” In just one or two seconds, Nie Kong’s face turned crimson, his breathing ragged, as if a massive weight had fallen from the sky, crushing him until he couldn't breathe. The voice chuckled lightly: “Little fellow, how does it feel?” “Hmph!” Nie Kong let out a cold laugh, suddenly sitting cross-legged and activating the Spring and Autumn Life Generation Art, beginning to cultivate right there in the hall.

Patches of vitality continuously separated from the surrounding black fog. Inside this ‘Spirit Sealing Hall,’ the vitality contained within the black fog was concentrated to the extreme.

In an instant, Nie Kong’s body was lush with green. “Ah!” A scream of terror pierced out from the black fog, as if it had encountered something utterly horrifying.

The black mist churned wildly, retreating toward the center like a receding tide, then growing fainter and fainter until it completely vanished from the hall without a trace. A dazzling white light burst forth, revealing a stone stele nearly two meters tall in the center of the hall!

Even so, large swathes of vitality still emanated from the pure white stele, coalescing around Nie Kong before being absorbed by him. “Ahhhhhh—” The voice grew increasingly panicked, “Stop!

Stop it quickly! You, you, you bastard… Who, who, who exactly are you?” “Hoo—!” Nie Kong ceased running the Spring and Autumn Life Generation Art and immediately opened his eyes, letting out a long breath, a faint joy rising in his heart.

Regardless of whether the owner of the voice was human or ghost, as long as the essence in the black fog was plant and tree vitality, it could be absorbed by his Spring and Autumn Life Generation Art. A reduction in vitality meant the dissipation of life.

Facing this situation, Nie Kong did not believe she could remain calm! Sensing the panic and fear in that voice, Nie Kong felt slightly reassured.

“Eh?” With no trace of the black fog remaining, Nie Kong felt a bit puzzled. Although he heard the voice calling out while cultivating, he hadn't noticed any movement from the fog itself.

The moment the surprised exclamation left his throat, Nie Kong’s gaze fell upon the snow-white stone stele beside him. Three blood-red characters were startlingly prominent: Spirit Sealing Stele!