Mu Piaopiao returned just as dawn broke, and upon seeing Nie Kong washing up, she immediately became rather self-conscious, clearly having grasped the mysteries of male and female intimacy. Nie Kong chuckled inwardly, his gaze sweeping past her to settle on the young woman standing behind her.

The woman who accompanied Mu Piaopiao back was, needless to say, exceptionally beautiful.

It seemed there were no ugly women in this Yin Ruins, at least not among the Half-Spirit Clan members in Fengyi Town. What surprised Nie Kong slightly was the woman’s intimidating height—easily over 1.9 meters. In his previous life, she would have been an excellent volleyball or basketball player.

“Sister Xinye, it’s him.”

Mu Piaopiao secretly winked at Nie Kong, a faint blush rising on her charming face.

Nie Kong’s heart stirred; so, this was Mu Xinyue.

Mu Xinyue gave a slight nod, walked up to Nie Kong, and sized him up from head to toe before suddenly asking, “You are called Mu Kong?”

Her voice was resonant, carrying a trace of metallic quality. If one only heard the voice, without observing her distinctly curvaceous figure, it would be hard to determine her gender.

Nie Kong remained silent, slowly ascending the few steps leading to the house.

“What are you doing?”

Mu Xinyue frowned.

Nie Kong stopped, turned around, and waited until his line of sight aligned with Mu Xinyue’s face before smiling faintly. “Being too close to you puts me under a lot of pressure, sister. This height difference is much more comfortable. You don’t need to lower your head to speak, and I don’t need to crane my neck to answer.”

“Interesting.”

Mu Xinyue paused, a smile curling at the corner of her lips. “Mu Kong, how old are you?”

“Twenty.”

Nie Kong smiled secretly. Mu Piaopiao was right; it seemed Mu Taoying truly intended to select a husband for her during the grand ‘Heart Ceremony,’ otherwise Mu Xinyue wouldn't be interrogating him about his age right away.

Mu Xinyue nodded. “Where are you from?”

“The Moon Ruins!”

“You are actually from the Moon Ruins?”

Mu Xinyue’s expression shifted with emotion.

“Indeed!”

Nie Kong smiled calmly.

This point had also been impressed upon him by the Wood Ancestor. In the Yin Ruins, the most suitable place to reside was naturally around the Yin Moon Mountain Range. Because of this, the vast majority of Half-Spirit Clan members congregated in the five cities and their surroundings. However, a minority preferred solitude in the remote, sparsely populated regions.

Beyond the Yin Moon Mountain Range, the most perilous area was undoubtedly the ‘Moon Ruins’—a crescent-shaped expanse of ruins with scarce vegetation and countless illusions. Moreover, when the Wood Ancestor reformed the Yin Ruins, he had deliberately relocated many vicious spirit beasts from the outside world to be confined there.

Survival in that region demanded formidable strength. After assessing Nie Kong once more, Mu Xinyue stated, “Mu Kong, would you permit me to inspect your Heart Manifestation?”

Nie Kong grinned. “Sister Xinye, that will depend on your skill!”

His implied meaning was perfectly clear. Mu Piaopiao gasped, nervously gesturing for Nie Kong to back down. Unfortunately, Nie Kong paid no mind. It wasn’t that he was deliberately seeking trouble with Mu Xinyue; sometimes, one had to make others aware of their true capabilities.

“Amusing.”

A flash of surprise crossed Mu Xinyue’s eyes. Her gaze sharpened like blades, fixed directly on Nie Kong, and an astonishing aura erupted from her body, making her already tall, delicate frame seem even larger. After a moment of silence, Mu Xinyue inclined her head. “You may begin.”

“Very well, I won’t hold back then!”

Nie Kong made no pretense. Spiritual power burst from his feet, and with a ‘Flower Shifting Shadow Evasion,’ he flashed lightning-fast before Mu Xinyue, his right arm sweeping out like a steel whip.

Instantly, the placid void seemed violently churned, and the surrounding spiritual energy elements undulated fiercely. Simultaneously, the majestic spiritual power within Nie Kong surged along his right arm, pouring from his palm like an ocean tide, turning the void within a radius of several meters a vibrant emerald green.

“Hmph!”

Mu Xinyue’s eyes narrowed, and she let out a faint snort. Her fist drove straight out, causing layers of invisible force to oscillate outward in its wake.

“Boom!”

Layered shadows of flowers erupted! Orbs of spiritual energy elements exploded violently around Mu Xinyue. The rampaging, fierce momentum clashed head-on with the stacked, invisible forces radiating from Mu Xinyue’s arm.

At that moment, a hurricane seemed to sweep through the gap between Nie Kong and Mu Xinyue.

Both figures surged forward simultaneously.

“They are nearly evenly matched!” Nie Kong was secretly astonished. His body also harbored Qingyue’s soul, and while his attack hadn't used his full strength, it was still quite formidable. Yet, Mu Xinyue showed no sign of defeat, indicating she possessed at least the cultivation of a high-grade Spirit Commander.

However, this was even better! Since entering the inner city of Lingyu City, Nie Kong had barely engaged in a true fight. Meeting the equally skilled Mu Xinyue now was the perfect opportunity to test the skills Xiangxiang comprehended upon advancing to the fourth rank, as well as the power of Qingyue’s Ethereal Spirit Realm.

“Again!”

Nie Kong roared with laughter, stomping down with the ‘Flower Shifting Shadow Evasion’ and darting once more toward the tall, graceful Mu Xinyue. The two figures weaved and danced, becoming intensely entangled, their speed increasing until they were blazing fast, pressing a terrifying pressure outward through the agitated void!

“Clang!”

“Boom!”

“……”

On the open ground before the house, the roar of exploding spiritual energy rose and fell incessantly.

Mu Piaopiao stood dumbfounded, though her body was constantly forced backward by the chaotic forces. When she snapped back to attention, she had retreated more than thirty meters from her original spot. She knew Mu Xinyue’s strength well but never expected this man could fight her to a standstill.

Could it be that he, like Sister Xinye, possessed the cultivation of a ninth-grade Spirit Commander? That seemed impossible; Sister Xinye was over forty, while Mu Kong was only twenty! Mu Piaopiao found it baffling. Or perhaps all those who hailed from the ‘Moon Ruins’ were this powerful?

The battle raged on…

Within the expanse of emerald green, only two figures could be discerned, flashing near and then receding, both faster than lightning. Mu Piaopiao felt dizzy, utterly mesmerized. Her small, tender fists had clenched without her noticing her mother had left the house and was standing beside her.

The commotion Nie Kong and Mu Xinyue caused not only drew out Mu Piaopiao’s mother but also attracted curious neighbors who gathered around. Although they were all women, they were awakened Half-Spirit Clan members, including several masters with astonishing cultivation bases.

“……”

“Oh, isn’t that the man who arrived in Fengyi Town yesterday?”

“This man’s cultivation isn’t bad; he’s actually on par with our Xinye. Xinye should be at least a ninth-grade Spirit Commander now, right?”

“I wonder how old this man is? Forty or fifty?”

“……”

“How could he be fifty! Mu Kong is only twenty, and he’s from the Moon Ruins!”

Hearing the murmurs around her, Mu Piaopiao couldn’t tear her eyes from the combatants but blurted out. This announcement instantly caused a ripple, and looks of astonishment crossed the faces of all the women nearby.

“Twenty? So young?”

“For such a young man to be this powerful, even if he grew up in that dreadful Moon Ruins, it’s impossible to reach high-grade Spirit Commander cultivation at such an age.”

“If he truly is from the Moon Ruins, it’s hard to say.”

“……”

As the crowd debated, the situation before the house changed drastically.

Nie Kong let out a clear cry and leaped into the air. A huge cyan phantom shot out from between his eyebrows. Amidst dense, crescent-shaped leaves, twelve cyan flowers descended like grappling hooks, exquisitely beautiful. In an instant, this cyan shadow enveloped Mu Xinyue entirely, while Nie Kong’s body pierced through the phantom, his right fist slamming violently toward Mu Xinyue’s shoulder.

At this critical juncture, Mu Xinyue actually froze momentarily. A moment later, seeing Nie Kong’s trajectory, her expression changed slightly. Countless green vines materialized out of thin air, rapidly intertwining densely to instantly form a thick barrier before her.

“Boom!”

Just as his palm was about to strike the green vines, the phantom of the Azure Moon Illusory Heart Orchid retracted entirely into Nie Kong’s palm, followed by a fierce burst of cyan mixed with a faint gleam. Nie Kong’s right palm, cloaked in violent kinetic energy, shattered the green vine barrier with irresistible force, his momentum unbroken.

“Clash!”

Mu Xinyue’s face paled slightly. The scattered vines wrapped swiftly around her fist, colliding fiercely with Nie Kong’s right punch.

With a resounding crash, Nie Kong landed steadily, but Mu Xinyue’s tall, delicate body was thrown backward, stumbling to a stop about twenty meters away, her face even paler. Nie Kong, too, had a flushed face, his chest rising and falling slightly; this bout had clearly cost him a great deal of energy.

Especially that final blow—Nie Kong had simultaneously deployed the ‘Heart Manifestation Phantom,’ the ‘Violet Phantom Illusion,’ and ‘Medicine Spirit Armor Break’ just to gain a slight upper hand. This battle with Mu Xinyue gave Nie Kong a clearer judgment of his own strength.

With Qingyue’s soul merged within him, he could indeed fearlessly face a Spirit Commander, but against an Ethereal Spirit Master, if the fight dragged on, Nie Kong would surely lose. The Heart Manifestation Phantom was, after all, not a true Heart Manifestation. Of course, as Nie Kong had predicted, his ability to save his own life remained intact.

“I haven’t had this much fun in ages!” Nie Kong laughed heartily, pulling a jade bottle from his robe, extracting a ‘Hundred Spirit Pill,’ and swallowing it. He then poured out another one and tossed it toward Mu Xinyue. “Sister Xinye, catch! This is a spiritual medicine I refined; it can help you recover some spiritual power.” Nie Kong shamelessly claimed credit for the alchemy that actually belonged to Gu Changgong. He wasn't afraid of others recognizing the origin of the medicine, as pills for restoring spiritual power were hard to identify by appearance alone, and even after consumption, only those intimately familiar with various spiritual medicines could discern them.

Mu Xinyue caught the pill, glanced at it briefly, and swallowed it, though a flicker of surprise involuntarily appeared in her eyes as she looked at Nie Kong.

“……”

“I didn’t see that coming; this young man is actually a Spiritual Alchemist.”

“Not only can he refine spiritual medicine, but his cultivation is also slightly superior to Xinye’s. A man like this is probably rare in our entire Yin Ruins!”

“Not rare, almost nonexistent! Heh heh, it’s a pity to let a man like this go. Your sister hasn’t tasted a man yet.”

“Oh, stop talking about tasting one; I doubt anyone in Fengyi Town has! Alas, there are simply too few men in the Yin Ruins. Next time, I must give birth to a son and make you all envious!”

“You’ve said that six times already, and yet you still only give birth to daughters every time.”

“……”

Nie Kong’s act of consuming and offering medicine caused an uproar among the onlookers. Many women grew animated, their gazes toward Nie Kong becoming soft and alluring.

Being surrounded by so many female wolves made Nie Kong’s skin crawl.

Who said having many women is a blessing for a man? When the number of women reaches a certain saturation point, it becomes torture for a man, especially as a rare commodity like a male in the Yin Ruins. Nie Kong had no doubt that if he beckoned, the vast majority of the women surrounding him would rush forward. In this place, even a man who could manage ‘seventy times in one night’ would be deemed insignificant, eventually ending up completely drained.

“Ahem.”

Mu Xinyue suddenly coughed heavily, her eyes swiftly sweeping over the crowd, and she smiled slightly. “Enough talk is enough; don’t frighten Mu Kong. Today, I will personally escort him to Yinyue City to attend Princess Qingying’s ‘Heart Ceremony.’”

“Alas, what a pity!”

A wave of sighs immediately arose from the crowd.

Princess Qingying, though not the biological daughter of the Wood Sect Leader, was deeply favored by him. Mu Xinyue taking Mu Kong to attend Princess Qingying’s ‘Heart Ceremony’ now made her intentions obvious to anyone who cared to guess. Thus, the crowd soon dispersed, though some beautiful women still shot suggestive glances at Nie Kong before leaving.

“Mu Kong, your strength is indeed astonishing. Now I am truly convinced you hail from the ‘Moon Ruins,’” Mu Xinyue said, walking up to Nie Kong, approval shining in her eyes. Then, a hint of suspicion followed. “Your Heart Manifestation is quite peculiar; it’s the first time I’ve seen anything like it. Can you tell me its name?”

“Azure Moon Illusory Heart Orchid, a medicinal herb that grows in the Moon Ruins,” Nie Kong replied with a smile.

“Azure Moon Illusory Heart Orchid?”

Mu Xinyue nodded but didn't press further. She smiled instead. “Mu Kong, judging by your appearance, you must have left the ‘Moon Ruins’ recently?”

Nie Kong nodded. “That’s right. After leaving the ‘Moon Ruins,’ I went directly into the Yin Moon Mountain Range to temper myself. I accidentally wandered into an illusion and ended up here.”

“No wonder!” Mu Xinyue realized suddenly. “You will encounter scenes like that often in the future; you need to adapt quickly. The Yin Ruins have always been like this: far too many women and a pitifully small number of men. It was better before, when our Half-Spirit Clan members could migrate freely, and the chance of encountering men was higher. But now… most of the girls born in the last twenty years have never even seen what a man looks like.”

Nie Kong faintly guessed the reason but asked knowingly, “Why is that?”

“Sigh!”

Mu Xinyue sighed, not answering, a shadow of worry clouding her brow.

“It’s all because the Wood Sect Leader changed,” Mu Piaopiao, who had just walked up, couldn’t help but interject. “Now, no one can leave their living area freely. I haven’t left Fengyi Town once since I awakened my bloodline, except for that time. That Green-robed Wood Sect Leader really is something, why issue such a pointless order? If only Xueyi…”

“Watch your mouth, Mu Piaopiao!” Her mother chastised her before Mu Piaopiao could finish. Mu Piaopiao pouted but didn't complain further.

Nie Kong felt a subtle joy upon hearing this. It seemed that Mu Qingyi was widely disliked in the Yin Ruins. If the Half-Spirit Clan members learned that their Wood Ancestor had been harmed by Mu Qingyi, she probably wouldn't remain Wood Sect Leader for long. However, that outcome would certainly ignite a bloody storm within the Yin Ruins—something the Wood Ancestor was unwilling to see.

Therefore, over the past two decades, although mothers were often seen accompanying their children to Giant Tree Village for bloodline awakening, no one had learned the true fate of the Wood Ancestor.

Nie Kong sighed inwardly. Alas!

The sun began to set again, and the brilliant sunset glow slanted across, bathing the entire mountain range in a faint golden hue. Amidst the continuous peaks, a wide road wound like a giant serpent. Crisp hoofbeats sounded from afar, echoing faintly in the vast forest, growing steadily louder.

Gradually, two red figures flashed through the woods—two large, robust spirit beasts, their fur entirely crimson, their four hooves galloping like the wind, carrying the two riders swiftly through the forest, leaping and weaving with lightning speed. In the blink of an eye, they covered dozens of meters.

Those two were Nie Kong and Mu Xinyue.

This was their second day since leaving Fengyi Town. Yesterday afternoon, Nie Kong had bid farewell to Mu Piaopiao and her mother and mounted a ‘Crimson Dragon Horse,’ common in the Yin Ruins, heading towards Yinyue City. Mu Xinyue had initially intended to visit other towns, but she delegated the task to other guards via a spiritual slip and chose to personally escort Nie Kong.

Nie Kong knew this exceptional treatment was due to his display of strength. However, thinking of the words Mu Piaopiao whispered in his ear with a flushed face as they parted, Nie Kong felt speechless; that girl was still preoccupied with having children. The sun gradually dipped lower, yet the two Crimson Dragon Horses maintained their initial pace after a full day’s ride. Before long, Nie Kong and Mu Xinyue burst out of the forest.

Before their eyes, a magnificent city became increasingly clear, reflecting the setting sun’s afterglow, appearing extraordinarily grand.

‘South Pole City!’

Nie Kong took a deep breath; he was about to enter South Pole City, one of the five major cities of the Yin Ruins!

Recalling his experiences since entering the Yin Ruins, Nie Kong felt as if he were in a dream. First, encountering the absurdly vast Ancestral Sky God Luo Village, then learning his own background from him, and witnessing the upheaval in the Yin Ruins twenty years prior. Finally, accepting the Wood Ancestor’s mission to scheme against the current Wood Sect Leader, Mu Qingyi. If others knew what he was undertaking, they would likely laugh themselves to death! A mere Spirit Transformation Master daring to challenge a Heaven Spirit master—one possessed by a Divine Spirit Sense at that? Speaking of which, no one would believe it; a Heaven Spirit Master could crush a Spirit Transformation Master with a single finger. And yet, he was actively provoking such a powerhouse? The word ‘madness’ was insufficient to describe such an action, and the outcome seemed almost predetermined.

Yet, he possessed no small amount of confidence!

His encounters after leaving the giant tree were equally bizarre. Ninety-nine point nine nine percent of the inhabitants of this Yin Ruins were women; compared to a population base of nearly a million, the number of men was negligible. Before, he had only assumed such a ‘Kingdom of Women’ existed in myths like Journey to the West from his previous life. He never expected such a peculiar realm to exist on this Heaven Spirit Continent. ‘This South Pole City must have a hundred thousand women,’ Nie Kong muttered inwardly, unable to suppress a shiver. A Fengyi Town with only a thousand people was frightening enough; what about South Pole City, home to over a hundred thousand women? Instantly, Nie Kong seemed to see that massive cloud of dark energy hovering above the city lunging toward him.

‘Mu Kong!’

Faintly hearing Mu Xinyue’s call, Nie Kong awoke as if from a trance.

Looking up, Nie Kong realized they were already at the walls of South Pole City. Standing at the city gate were twenty beautiful guards, all remarkably tall, nearly matching Mu Xinyue’s height. They held broadswords resembling halberds, standing proudly with stern expressions, projecting a commanding aura of deterrence. Fortunately, women as tall as Mu Xinyue and the gate guards were uncommon; otherwise, with Nie Kong’s medium build, walking among a crowd of giantesses would make avoiding feelings of inferiority difficult.

‘Look! Look! Another man has arrived!’

‘This man seems a bit different from the previous ones; he’s not as fair, nor as handsome, but look at his physique, he must be very sturdy.’

‘Tsk tsk, now that looks like a real man. I really want to pinch him!’

On both sides of the street were figures of women, each like a blooming flower, their figures graceful. The appearance of a man indeed provoked their curiosity again. Thus, Nie Kong was once more engulfed in a crowd, with various comments pouring into his ears, making him feel awkward all over. At this moment, Nie Kong felt like one of the animals being gawked at in a zoo—truly inhumane. Fortunately, the women in South Pole City had clearly seen more men than those in Fengyi Town; they merely discussed him freely, and no one exhibited the same intense curiosity as Mu Piaopiao and the others. As they proceeded, Nie Kong certainly gained an eye-opener.

South Pole City was indeed large. Although the shops along the streets couldn't compare to cities outside the Yin Ruins, they were far superior to the entirely shop-less Fengyi Town. On the way here, Nie Kong had subtly gleaned a significant amount of information from Mu Xinyue.

In this Yin Ruins, sustenance was easily procured; the Half-Spirit Clan never had cause to worry about basic needs. Thus, everyone devoted their time either to cultivation or venturing out in search of Moon Yin Stones—the very same peculiar stones Nie Kong had discovered amidst the frigid currents of the Senluo Ancient Cave, stones capable of enhancing bloodline power. These 'Moon Yin Stones' served as the currency of the Yin Ruins, equivalent to gold coins in the outside world. The sole difference was that gold coins were difficult to deplete, whereas Moon Yin Stones were strictly single-use items. Over the past two decades, as free movement became restricted, the Moon Yin Stones grew increasingly precious.

Following Mu Xinyi, Nie Kong stepped into an inn.

The gazes, sharp and predatory as those of hungry wolves, were finally shut out. Nie Kong let out a silent breath, feeling a profound sense of relief wash over him. Greeted by two beautiful women, Nie Kong and Mu Xinyi ascended to the second floor. However, as his eyes swept the room, he couldn't help but display a look of surprise.