With the sound came a figure, tall and graceful, moving with astonishing speed; one moment she was dozens of meters away, the next she was at the main gate.

Nie Kong looked up and saw a woman who appeared to be around forty, her robes flowing, her posture elegant, still possessing a captivating allure, yet her eyes were filled with sorrow, and her fair complexion looked rather haggard; however, one could still faintly discern the beauty of her youth between her brows.

The instant that sound resonated, the ground calmed, and the earth-shattering footsteps vanished without a trace. Xi Mu Lengxing swayed slightly, drawing herself and Nie Kong closer, a hint of gravity in her expression, clearly wary of the woman who had appeared.

The old man finally managed to stand firm and steady himself. Upon seeing the woman’s figure, he urgently called out, "Madam, these two are causing trouble at our Lin residence!"

Hearing this, Nie Kong did not rush to defend himself, merely speculating on the woman's age. Since the old man called her "Madam," she must be the mistress of the Lin residence. Fifty years ago, his daughter fell into a deep slumber; it seemed this Madam Lin was far from as young as she appeared.

Madam Lin frowned slightly. Contrary to the old man's expectation, she did not immediately glare at Nie Kong and Mu Lengxing without distinction. Instead, she sharply reprimanded the old man, "Lin Tong, what are those eyes of yours for? Would a Heaven Spirit Master cause trouble like this at my Lin residence?"

"Heaven... Heaven Spirit... Heaven Spirit..."

After hearing Madam Lin's words, the old man named Lin Tong instantly became like a fish deprived of water, his eyes wide as saucers, muttering incoherently. The face that had just regained a bit of color turned deathly pale again. This woman, who looked only twenty or thirty years old, was actually a Heaven Spirit expert? Lin Tong had assumed she was at most a high-grade Dan Spirit Master, perhaps a Cave Spirit Master, but never a Heaven Spirit expert!

Nie Kong’s gaze sharpened. This Madam Lin could discern the cultivation level of San Yi just from her recent movements, indicating that Madam Lin herself was exceptionally formidable. Perhaps she, like San Yi, was a Heaven Spirit Master. No wonder she dared to offer the 'Golden Tassel Brocade' as payment for healing without fear.

Madam Lin paid no further attention to Lin Tong. Her gaze slowly swept over Nie Kong before finally resting on Mu Lengxing beside him, yet she did not speak immediately, seemingly considering how best to phrase her words. After a moment, Madam Lin asked with a slight smile, "May I ask what brings the two esteemed guests to my Lin residence...?"

"To heal an illness!" Mu Lengxing took up her words.

"Oh? That is excellent. Are you a Seventh-Grade Spirit Pharmacist, or perhaps... an Eighth-Grade Medicine King?" Upon hearing this, Madam Lin's face immediately lit up with joy. A Heaven Spirit expert, if she were also a Spirit Pharmacist, would be at least a Sixth or Seventh-Grade Spirit Pharmacist, perhaps even an Eighth-Grade Medicine King!

Nie Kong somewhat helplessly stroked his chin; he was the Spirit Pharmacist meant to treat the Lin young lady. However, this situation was understandable. Since his own cultivation was only at the Eighth Grade of Spirit Transformation, when he and San Yi stood before Madam Lin, she naturally focused on the Heaven Spirit expert first.

Mu Lengxing replied calmly, "Although I am a Spirit Pharmacist, I do not understand the art of healing. However, this nephew of mine, despite being only a Fourth-Grade Spirit Pharmacist, is quite adept in that field."

"Oh?"

Seeing Madam Lin's scrutinizing gaze turn toward him, Nie Kong bowed slightly and smiled, "Madam, my surname is Nie and my given name is Kong. This lady is my Third Aunt, Mu Lengxing. Earlier, the steward insisted on blocking us even after seeing my Fourth-Grade Spirit Pharmacist credentials, which caused quite a commotion. I hope Madam can be understanding. Now that the misunderstanding is cleared, may I enter to examine your daughter's condition?"

The steward guarding the gate of the Lin residence was unremarkable, but Madam Lin left Nie Kong with a very good impression, so his words were quite polite.

"Very well then. Please follow me, young man, and Madam Mu."

Madam Lin managed a faint smile, the joy in her brow involuntarily turning to disappointment. The vitality that had appeared in her eyes due to Mu Lengxing being a Heaven Spirit expert dimmed once more. She did not believe that Nie Kong, a mere Fourth-Grade Spirit Pharmacist, could do anything about her daughter's ailment. If it had been Mu Lengxing who was a 'Seventh-Grade Spirit Pharmacist or an Eighth-Grade Medicine King, then perhaps there might have been a slim, faint sliver of hope.

Back then, Madam Lin set the minimum standard for Spirit Pharmacists entering the residence to treat her daughter at the Fourth Grade, harboring a sliver of luck. The Heaven Spirit Continent was vast; perhaps some Spirit Pharmacists possessed highly effective, unconventional methods. Lowering the threshold increased the chance of a blind cat stumbling upon dead rats.

Situations where high-grade Spirit Pharmacists were helpless yet low-grade ones succeeded in curing stubborn diseases were not unprecedented. Since news of the 'Golden Tassel Brocade' spread, many Fourth-Grade Spirit Pharmacists had come to the Lin residence to treat her daughter, but the outcome she hoped for never materialized.

Now, Madam Lin held no further expectations for low-grade Spirit Pharmacists. Of course, if a Fourth-Grade Spirit Pharmacist came calling, Madam Lin wouldn't be foolish enough to refuse. After so many years, since no one could cure her daughter's illness, all she could do was leave it to fate and do her best.

Seeing Madam Lin's look of disappointment, Nie Kong knew she had little confidence in him. He couldn't be bothered to explain; after all, he hadn't even understood the patient's actual condition. Any solemn guarantee now would be useless. Everything would have to speak for itself through results.

Nie Kong and Mu Lengxing exchanged a glance and followed Madam Lin. In a short while, the three passed through the front hall, which was visible from tens of meters away, and turned into a corner nearby...

Only when their figures completely disappeared did Lin Tong let out a sigh of relief, his back icy cold, his clothes damp with sweat. Several minutes passed before the Spirit Pharmacists lying scattered about and the four middle-aged guards also awoke.

Remembering Mu Lengxing's footsteps from before, everyone felt lingering fear. Thankfully, although they had been knocked unconscious by the vibrations, their bodies had suffered no harm...

Led by Madam Lin, they wound their way through the estate's corridors, turning left and right for several minutes before arriving at an exquisite pavilion. Nie Kong expected to finally see the patient, but instead, Madam Lin opened a hidden door within the pavilion, revealing a passage as bright as day.

Within the passage, steps descended in tiers, extending obliquely deep underground. Nie Kong was puzzled—was Madam Lin hiding her sick daughter underground? After traversing the passage, an even more astonishing sight appeared: a grand door forged from Spirit Nullifying Jade lay ahead.

What kind of illness afflicted Miss Lin that even Spirit Nullifying Jade had to be used? If the door was made of Spirit Nullifying Jade, the walls inside must surely be constructed of the same material. Nie Kong had only ever seen such a setup in the room within the Beast Taming Sect used to house the shattered Illusionary Realm.

"Creaaak!"

The door was pushed open, and Nie Kong's gaze swept the room, several figures successively entering his view.

The first person Nie Kong saw was a black-clothed old woman, benevolent and kind-faced, appearing to be around sixty or seventy, though her true age was likely much greater. This old woman had withered skin and sparse hair, clearly showing old age, but her hands were exceptionally well-preserved, their skin fair and supple, without a single wrinkle.

The Lin Tong had mentioned earlier that several people were examining the Lin young lady, one of whom was the Seventh-Grade Spirit Pharmacist, Tai Runxiang. This old woman must be her!

Nie Kong had heard the name "Tai Runxiang" more than once from Tai Ji. Tai Runxiang originated from the royal family of the Shatu Empire. She had been obsessed with medicinal herbs since childhood, and after growing up, she dedicated herself to cultivation and alchemy, remaining unmarried to this day—a point strikingly similar to Cheng Feiliu of the Dacheng royal family.

Next to Tai Runxiang stood a middle-aged man, slender and tall, dressed in cyan robes. If one only saw his back, he would possess a rather ethereal and dashing bearing. Unfortunately, Nie Kong saw his face as soon as he entered the room, and the man's features were truly difficult to compliment. Setting aside the pointed mouth and monkey cheeks, the most offensive sight to the eyes was the patches of white spots on his face, looking as if several pieces of cloth had been crudely stitched together.

There was no doubt this man was the Sixth-Grade Spirit Pharmacist Pei Yuan, also from the Shatu Empire.

The main reason Nie Kong could identify him so quickly was the elder standing next to Pei Yuan: square-featured, large and imposing, with snow-white hair and a white beard cascading down to his chest. Most remarkably, Nie Kong could discern a faint shadow of Cheng Feiliu in his face.

This confirmed it: this must be the Grand Emperor Emeritus of the Dacheng Empire, the Sixth-Grade Spirit Pharmacist Cheng Feixing, without a doubt.

Standing beside Tai Runxiang, Pei Yuan, and Cheng Feixing were several other figures, likely the attendants to these three high-grade Spirit Pharmacists. Nie Kong had merely glanced casually but was very surprised to spot an old acquaintance among them: the Fourth Prince of the Dacheng Empire, Cheng Zixuan.

During the final detoxification round of the 'Thousand Spirit Medicine Convention' in Jiyang City, Nie Kong had surpassed the commendably performing Cheng Zixuan using his 'Nine Revolutions Golden Needle Technique,' successfully winning first place in the convention, which resulted in Cheng Zixuan holding a grudge against him ever since.

What followed was quite dramatic. At the auction during the 'Thousand Spirit Medicine Convention,' Cheng Feiliu spent a massive sum of gold coins to acquire the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower.' Later, to ensure the precious medicine's safety, he quietly arranged for Cheng Zixuan and his brother to take the 'Fire Tree Silver Flower' into seclusion elsewhere, never expecting it would ultimately benefit Nie Kong.

In Nie Kong's memory, the Fourth Prince Cheng Zixuan at that time was arrogant and impulsive. After more than a year apart, Nie Kong noticed that this fellow had actually become considerably more mature and restrained.

More than a year ago, if Cheng Zixuan had seen Nie Kong, his sharp eyes would have looked as if they wanted to tear Nie Kong to shreds. But now, upon seeing Nie Kong, amidst his surprise, he actually managed a slight smile and nodded to him. Regardless of whether this smile was genuine or not, it suggested a definite change in him. Nie Kong returned a smile to Cheng Zixuan, his gaze then settling on the space between Tai Runxiang, Pei Yuan, and Cheng Feixing, where a wooden bed lay, upon which a white figure rested quietly...