PS: That was the third update yesterday. I spent the entire day reinstalling the system twice today, dealing with antivirus scans and malware checks, which is why I finished yesterday's portion so late. My apologies. The network is still unstable now, which is terrible. Also, there is one more chapter, and this volume will conclude...

In the tranquil courtyard, the Feng Ling Sui stood upright on the steps, dark green energy surging forth incessantly, swirling around Nie Kong on the opposite side. After entering the Feng Ling Tablet, this power, coalesced from vitality and death energy, had merged with the poisonous fog already present inside, making it even mightier.

As Nie Kong cultivated using the “Yin Yang Shi Ling Jue,” the “Zi Luo Huan Ling Xiang” Heart Aspect also floated weightlessly in the void above Nie Kong’s head, its roots, stems, and leaves swaying gently. Faintly, wisps of dark green essence could be seen rising from Nie Kong’s brow, shooting like lightning into the “Zi Luo Huan Ling Xiang.”

Only after listening to his mother, Mu Xueyi’s, explanations did Nie Kong finally grasp the meaning of "Refinement Cultivation" (Jì Liàn).

This so-called "Heart Aspect Refinement" meant feeding the Heart Aspect with the power within one's body. Currently, although the Heart Aspect had successfully condensed, it was merely an empty shell. Only when it became substantial within could the Heart Aspect manifest its proper might.

This refinement process served another crucial function: it ensured the complete integration of the physical body and the Heart Aspect.

Just like several months ago, when Mu Lengxing was entangled with the spiritual consciousness of that “Da Yan Ling Zun,” her entire being merged into one with the “Qian Ci Mo Long Bian” Heart Aspect. Only when reaching that stage could the Heart Aspect be considered truly refined, allowing it to grow stronger gradually during future cultivation.

For other Half-Spirit races, although the Heart Aspect and spiritual power were mutually dependent, they could be considered two separate cultivation systems. Even someone with weak spiritual power could possess an extremely potent Heart Aspect. Just like the Mu Sect member in Yin Xu thousands of years ago who cultivated the “Xue Qilin Tree”; her spiritual power only reached the Spirit Control Realm, yet her true strength allowed her to stand firm even among Heavenly Spirit experts—this was the role of the Heart Aspect.

Their Heart Aspects were mostly manipulated by bloodline power, with spiritual power serving only an auxiliary role.

However, although Nie Kong was also a Half-Spirit clansman, he differed significantly from them. Nie Kong’s bloodline power had long been permeated by the “Ling Bao Jing Qi.” The connection between his bloodline power and spiritual power was far closer than that of other clansmen; although the two had not fully merged, they were already intrinsically linked within Nie Kong’s body.

Therefore, the total power Nie Kong mobilized during the Heart Aspect Refinement included not only spiritual power but also bloodline power.

Upon successful refinement, the power unleashed by the “Zi Luo Huan Ling Xiang” Heart Aspect would be equivalent to the combined effect of spiritual power and bloodline power exploding together, perhaps even surpassing it. While explaining this, Mu Xueyi, who was instructing Nie Kong, felt both astonishment and joy.

Currently, Nie Kong was only at the eighth rank of Spirit Transformation, so the amplification effect resulting from the combination of spiritual and bloodline powers within the Heart Aspect wouldn't be extremely pronounced. However, as his cultivation increased, this amplification would become more evident, potentially reaching a terrifying magnitude upon reaching the Heavenly Spirit Realm.

After hearing his mother’s prognosis, Nie Kong, while pleased, remained somewhat skeptical about those distant prospects, as Heavenly Spirit was still incredibly far off for someone at the Spirit Transformation level.

Gradually, the “Zi Luo Huan Ling Xiang” Heart Aspect began to subtly fluctuate.

What was originally a transparent, illusory shadow was now gradually congealing toward substance, though still illusory. The luminous glow emanating from the stems and leaves became increasingly magnificent and dazzling, the dense purple light shooting straight into the sky.

After a long while...

Nie Kong opened his eyes and sprang up. The residual dark green energy beside him receded like a tide, flowing back into the Feng Ling Tablet. With a thought, the Feng Ling Tablet disappeared into his Pet Backpack.

“Merge!”

In an instant, Nie Kong’s mind commanded, and the “Zi Luo Huan Ling Xiang” instantly descended from above his head, its brilliant purple light enveloping his entire body.

Before long, Nie Kong’s head began to fade, eventually dissolving completely into the Heart Aspect. However, the parts below his neck remained outside—a clear sign that the Heart Aspect refinement was not yet complete. Now, Nie Kong’s head felt as if it were encased in a soft, comfortable head covering. Although his eyes were also covered by the Heart Aspect, he could see the outside world with even greater clarity; even things dozens of meters away were visible in minute detail. This sensation was utterly marvelous.

After observing for a moment, Nie Kong paced enthusiastically within the courtyard, though his appearance was bizarre. A human torso and limbs, but topped with the head of a medicinal herb on his shoulders—any ordinary person outside Yin Xu seeing this would likely faint from fright.

“Puchi!” A clear, pleasant, bell-like laugh suddenly echoed from outside the courtyard. “Whoosh!”

The Zi Luo Huan Ling Xiang rapidly shrank, transforming into a streak of purple light that swiftly drilled back into Nie Kong’s brow. Nie Kong’s head reappeared simultaneously.

Just hearing that crisp sound, Nie Kong knew it was that girl, Mu Qingying. When leaving the “Zu Tian Shen Luo Tree,” Nie Kong had learned from his mother that the Ancestral Lord’s punishment for Mu Qingyi was confinement in the “Dan Hun Cave” for half a year, after which Mu Qingyi would leave Yin Xu to attend to a certain matter.

Mu Xueyi hadn't specified what that matter was, but Nie Kong surmised it must be related to the three “An Xue Ling Chong” within the Ancestral Lord’s body. In fact, when Nie Kong and his mother departed, the Ancestral Lord had already entered a deep slumber to better resist the invasion of the “An Xue Ling Chong.”

Speaking of which, the crisis in Yin Xu was not entirely resolved; the root cause remained the spiritual meridian.

The “Ling Ji Sheng Shui” originated from the Ancestral Lord and was extremely scarce; Yin Xu had no existing stock. Now that the Ancestral Lord was afflicted by the “An Xue Ling Chong,” there was no way to generate new “Ling Ji Sheng Shui,” and without it, there was no way for Spirit Imperial City to suppress the spiritual meridian.

However, judging by the looks of Mu Lengxing and the others, they didn't seem overly worried, suggesting they already had a solution. Thus, this was not something Nie Kong needed to fret about. What he needed to do now was spend time with his mother and seize the chance to complete his Heart Aspect refinement.

The only thing that worried Nie Kong was the matter of his marriage to Mu Qingying. If the major bosses in Yin Xu brought it up again, he wouldn't even have a place to run. That was why, after returning to Yin Yue City, Nie Kong hadn't left his residence, fearing an encounter with Mu Qingying—yet, he still hadn't managed to evade her.

Glancing back, Mu Qingying’s exquisitely beautiful face came into Nie Kong’s view.

Mu Qingying at this moment seemed like an entirely different person compared to the last time Nie Kong saw her. There wasn't a trace of weariness in her features; her face was alight with a broad, joyful smile. Her delicate, fair skin was tinged with a slight blush, shining brightly, as if she had encountered something especially happy.

Suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind, Nie Kong asked with a smile, “Just back from the ‘Dan Hun Cave’?”

Mu Qingying skipped joyfully into the courtyard, her face beaming, “Mu Kong, my mother will be out in half a year. Since we are already husband and wife, my mother will be your mother from now on, so I won't thank you.” As she spoke, Mu Qingying’s face was rosy, her delight evident.

Although half a year surpassed the previous longest punishment term, it was no problem for Mu Qingyi, with her Heavenly Spirit cultivation, to endure half a year in the “Dan Hun Cave.” Even though Mu Qingyi wasn't out yet, compared to twenty years, half a year was incredibly short.

At this moment, the joy in Mu Qingying’s heart was beyond words.

Seeing Mu Qingying speak so frankly, Nie Kong couldn't help but offer a dry chuckle. However, seeing Mu Qingying revert to her usual liveliness, his own mood lightened considerably: “Even if thanks are due, they shouldn't be directed at me. This time, before my mother and I could even utter a word of plea, the Ancestral Lord had already set your mother’s punishment to half a year. This was only because the Ancestral Lord knew of your mother’s steadfast resolve; otherwise, even this half-year might have been waived.”

“No matter what, I am very grateful to you.”

Mu Qingying stopped smiling in front of Nie Kong, and her bright black eyes suddenly became watery. “But my mother is still in the ‘Dan Hun Cave’ right now, so I can’t officially marry you yet. How about we have the formal wedding six months later, after my mother comes out? If you are anxious, we can live together before the wedding. We are going to live together eventually anyway.”

As she said this, Mu Qingying’s cheeks grew even more delicate, but her bright eyes flashed with a hint of excitement and anticipation: “Oh, and Mu Kong, perhaps by the time we have the formal wedding, our child will already be a few months old! My mother will surely be even happier then.”

“Ahem.”

Nie Kong rolled his eyes internally but sighed in relief that the marriage wasn't immediate. Only after Mu Qingying finished speaking did he clear his throat a couple of times: “Uh, Qingying, I’m not anxious, truly not anxious. There’s absolutely no need for us to live together before the wedding.”

Mu Qingying blinked her eyes in confusion: “Really? Look at Mu Feihe. I heard Third Aunt say he couldn’t leave women for even a day before. Now that Third Aunt has locked him up, he’s been miserable in there daily. And that Spirit Pharmacist Mu Hong, who competed against you in the last Grand Ceremony, his self-control is strong, but before coming to Yin Yue City, he also couldn’t do without women every day. Can you really hold out for half a year?”

It seemed that in this girl’s mind, the image of men had been solidified by those fellows in Yin Xu. Nie Kong smiled awkwardly: “I can! Not just half a year, even ten years would be no problem!”

“Ten years isn't necessary, half a year will do just fine.”

Mu Qingying chirped happily, “We’ll get married in six months. Then we can have one child every year—should we aim for ten, or twenty? Or maybe thirty… I don’t care, I just want to have lots and lots of children! I wonder what the difference will be between a naturally born child and one separated via tree seed? I haven't actually seen a naturally born child yet. Have you? Oh, right, you grew up outside.”

Nie Kong’s mouth twitched; he was utterly defeated by the girl’s naive ideas. Twenty or thirty children? Decades spent just being pregnant?

“Qingying, you still won’t be able to marry and have children in six months.” A gentle voice suddenly spoke. It was Mu Xueyi, accompanied by Mu Lengxing, Mu Tianfei, and the other five City Lords, who had all walked in. Looking at Mu Qingying, they all struggled to suppress their laughter, clearly amused by her innocent musings.