As the "Yin-Yang Soul Devouring Art" spun into motion, the suction force within the dark green vortex grew steadily stronger, gradually… More and more black energy was dragged out from the center of Lin Tianjun’s brow. "Ah…" Another scream echoed from within the black energy, immediately followed by a voice seething with rage, "Stop! You meddling bastard, if you continue to absorb my soul power, I will perish along with this woman! Then, let's see how you intend to explain yourself to her mother!"

"It can actually speak?" Upon hearing the soul's voice, Nie Kong felt a slight surprise, then narrowed his eyes, "Are you threatening me?"

"Not a threat, a piece of advice!" The voice carried a hint of grinding teeth.

"And if I choose not to heed your advice?" As he spoke, Nie Kong’s "Yin-Yang Soul Devouring Art" showed no sign of stopping; a large amount of black energy was sucked away.

"Then the last thing you will see is this woman’s corpse! If you cause her death, how will her mother ever let you off…" At this point, the voice suddenly shrieked and cursed, "Damn it! Despicable! Shameless!" Just then, Qing Yue transformed into a wisp of green vapor and silently merged into Lin Tianjun’s head.

"Nie Kong, Granny has already protected Lin Tianjun's soul. Hurry up and suck this scoundrel dry!" Qing Yue’s playful laughter emanated from Lin Tianjun’s head. Instantly, a bizarre scene clearly unfolded in Nie Kong’s mind through his mental link with Qing Yue.

It was a space shrouded in deep darkness. In the very center of this space, a small figure in white, exquisitely beautiful, sat cross-legged and utterly still, like a sculpture. This small figure was covered in a thick layer of green vapor, while at the edge of the space, a small, eagle-shaped black bird frantically flapped its wings, its beady black eyes flashing fiercely, appearing both anxious and furious.

Nie Kong knew this was Lin Tianjun’s soul space. The white-robed woman was Lin Tianjun, the green vapor was Qing Yue's soul power made manifest, and the eagle-shaped little bird was naturally the spirit beast residing within Lin Tianjun. Within Lin Tianjun's soul space, Nie Kong could vaguely sense that the spirit beast's soul was immensely powerful.

If he hadn't been outside absorbing the spirit beast’s soul power with the "Yin-Yang Soul Devouring Art," Qing Yue, who was merely at the Void Spirit Realm, might very well have been devoured by it. But the current situation was different; this spirit beast needed to resist the pull of his soul art, leaving it with no spare energy to contend with Qing Yue.

Since it posed no serious threat to Qing Yue, the spirit beast's earlier threats were rendered utterly useless.

"Stop!"

In the soul space, the little spirit beast flapped its wings desperately and roared, "Why must you oppose me? I only wish to occupy this woman's soul; it has nothing to do with you and will cause you no harm. Earlier, I retreated and lay dormant; if you had been smart enough, you could have easily obtained the 'Golden Top Tassel.' But look at you—not only did you reject my goodwill, but you became greedy! Do you really think I’m afraid of you?"

This soul residing within Lin Tianjun knew what was happening in the room, so its awareness was unsurprising. Nie Kong had no interest in engaging this creature and merely continued circulating the "Yin-Yang Soul Devouring Art," ceaselessly absorbing its soul, causing the spirit beast to howl in agony while simultaneously raging uncontrollably.

"Stop absorbing! Stop absorbing!"

The spirit beast cried out urgently again, "I want this body! You want her mother's herbs! Although our goals differ, we can cooperate perfectly. As long as you stop absorbing my soul, I guarantee I won't appear for two years. Moreover, I can even allow her to show some signs of recovery, perhaps even awaken briefly, allowing you to easily obtain the 'Golden Top Tassel' and the 'Icy Snow Divine Heart Grass'…"

After listening to its incessant jabbering for so long, Nie Kong couldn't indefinitely ignore it, so he smiled playfully, "I'm truly sorry, but after I absorb your entire soul, Lin Tianjun will still wake up, and I will still obtain the 'Golden Top Tassel' and the 'Icy Snow Divine Heart.' Furthermore, I can relieve Lin Tianjun of future troubles. Why should I cooperate with you? Cooperation, it seems, only benefits you, and I gain nothing."

"I… I am the guardian spirit beast of the 'Prison Fire Nether Spring'! If you stop now, I will tell you the secret method to locate the spring eye. Hmph, don't tell me you don't want to use the spring water of the 'Prison Fire Nether Spring' to condense your Second Incarnation!" In desperation, the spirit beast couldn't help but reveal its identity.

"Guardian spirit beast?" Nie Kong's heart stirred, but the vortex’s suction did not ease in the slightest.

"Exactly, the guardian beast!"

The spirit beast exclaimed, "The eye of the 'Prison Fire Nether Spring' moves location constantly; others can only find it by sheer luck. Not one in a hundred people might get such good fortune. But with me, the guardian spirit beast, it's different; I can lead you straight to the eye! Looking at you, you must not yet be in the Spirit Control Realm. In July of this year, the 'Prison Fire Nether Spring' opens, and you can enter exactly then."

Nie Kong smiled faintly, "I'm still very sorry. While I am quite interested in entering the 'Prison Fire Nether Spring,' I have absolutely no interest in locating the spring eye." "You… you… ah…"

The spirit beast trembled with anger at Nie Kong's words, then couldn't help but cry out again in pain as the dark soul space seemed to brighten slightly. The spirit beast's wing beats became somewhat frantic, and it roared in fury, "What exactly do you want to stop absorbing my soul?" Nie Kong chuckled lightly, "Very simple—you must leave Lin Tianjun's body."

"Leave her body? Are you joking? I finally found a physical vessel truly suited for me! In just a few more years, I could completely overtake her soul and become a real human. And now you ask me to leave?" The soul laughed in exasperation.

"Then there's nothing to be done!"

Nie Kong adopted an expression of helpless inability.

The dark green vortex spun even more wildly, and black energy was continuously absorbed; the spirit beast wailed miserably. In Lin Tianjun's soul space, the surrounding darkness grew increasingly thin. In a short while, the small soul space became completely illuminated, and even Lin Tianjun’s face, previously obscured by shadows, became remarkably clear.

"Ah…"

The sharp cry turned into a piercing wail. Once the space was fully transparent, the black energy began to leak directly from the little eagle-shaped bird. For a moment, the spirit beast looked like a chick whose throat had been cut, leaping frantically, its cries sounding like the lament of the cuckoo—unbearably tragic.

Nie Kong, however, was stone-hearted, his expression unwavering. No matter how miserable the