With just a single step forward, Nie Kong slipped through the curtain of vines, reappearing moments later, soundlessly, behind that first wall of greenery. In less than a second, Nie Kong had turned danger into safety, while the four figures of Lan Shang were simultaneously swallowed by the overwhelming tide of inky green stems and leaves!

Such a bizarre turn of events left the onlookers utterly dumbfounded. What kind of Wood Spirit Skill had this Nie Kong employed?

Wood Spirit Masters had always been exceedingly rare on the Celestial Spirit Continent; the most powerful among them had only ever reached Spirit Tamer, and yet no one had ever heard of a deceased Spirit Tamer creating such a miraculous spirit technique! Could Nie Kong have invented it himself?

Invented it himself? The thought brought a sudden realization: they had all overlooked a crucial point.

It seemed that in all the inner city competitions today, none of the spirit skills Nie Kong had displayed were familiar to anyone. Moreover, the inky green spiritual power he wielded no longer appeared to be purely mutated Wood Spiritual Power that had fused with Fire Spirit elements.

While they stood lost in speculation, Miao Ge and Tai Ji, seeing Nie Kong suddenly escape his predicament, could not help but exhale a silent breath of relief. The little loli Gu Yi, however, was even more excited, vigorously pumping her tiny fists and shouting loudly outside the boundary line.

“Jia!” Just then, a world-shaking explosion erupted from the combat circle. Dozens of cyan rays, like razor-sharp sword blades, tore through the thick dome woven from stems and leaves.

Four figures shot into the air, swooping down towards Nie Kong like eagles diving for prey, their fierce power seeming almost tangible. “Rise!” Seeing this, Nie Kong offered a faint smile, spitting the syllable out forcefully.

Those stems and leaves of the "Violet Illusionary Spirit Fragrance" recoiled, enveloping him before Lan Shang could reach him. “Boom!

Boom! Bang!

Boom!” Four nearly overlapping impacts unleashed a massive wave of sound, drowning out all the murmurs and shouts within the Ascendant Palace. These were the four figures of Lan Shang, encased in dense cyan light, slamming down onto the newly formed inky green sphere like meteorites from beyond the heavens.

The crowd assumed that this time Lan Shang would, as in previous exchanges, tear the layer of stems and leaves protecting Nie Kong into four pieces. However, an unexpected scene unfolded before them once more.

The sphere woven from stems and leaves sank deeply, like a sponge, and then suddenly snapped back taut, like a spring pulled to its absolute limit, the four depressions instantly smoothing out. “Whoosh!” The four figures were simultaneously rebounded outwards.

“Swish!” Instantly, Nie Kong’s figure shot out of the inky green sphere, his body like a drawn sword slicing through the air, angling upwards toward the second figure. Under the stunned gazes of the assembly, Nie Kong’s fist, wreathed in inky green energy, slammed fiercely into Lan Shang’s chest.

Flower Scatter, Layered Shadow! “Boom!” The space within several meters echoed with dense, explosive sounds.

The next instant, Lan Shang’s body wavered slightly, falling to the ground. After staggering back a few paces, the other three identical figures dissolved into scattered points of light, swiftly merging back into the void and vanishing without a trace.

Nie Kong paused for no moment. He swooped down towards Lan Shang, and the sphere formed by countless stems and leaves of the "Violet Illusionary Spirit Fragrance" detached from the ground behind him, floating towards his back.

At that moment, a spark of cyan light emanated from between Lan Shang’s brows. “Spiritual Thought Attack?” A faint, sharp stinging sensation quickly spread across Nie Kong’s brow, and he immediately understood.

This Inner City Premier, Lan Shang, had indeed grasped the mystery of commanding spiritual power, already having one foot inside the Spirit Tamer realm. However, the slight pain on Nie Kong’s brow was neutralized by his Heart-Form.

Nie Kong’s attack suffered no delay; his spirit-power-charged fist continued its trajectory towards Lan Shang. “Hmm?” At this juncture, a subtle change finally appeared on Lan Shang’s face.

He let out a low, questioning murmur, pushing both palms forward against Nie Kong’s fist. “Boom!” Mountain Breaker Strike!

For this blow, Nie Kong had channeled nearly all the spiritual power within his body. A flash of inky green intent erupted as surging power roared forth from his fist.

Lan Shang’s face suddenly flushed deep red, and he retreated rapidly; with almost every footfall, a deafening tremor shook the Ascendant Palace. When Lan Shang finally stabilized his stance, the ground before him was marred by more than a dozen deep footprints.

The base of each print was reduced to fine dust, and the surrounding area was laced with jagged cracks. “Whoosh!” At almost the same moment, the "Violet Illusionary Spirit Fragrance" stems and leaves swept over Nie Kong’s head, once again completely enveloping Lan Shang.

They then constricted tighter and tighter, instantly wrapping Lan Shang into a massive inky green cocoon that spun out of the combat circle like a top. “……” Silence descended upon the Ascendant Palace.

When they had witnessed Nie Kong’s fist strike Lan Shang’s chest, the crowd had already vaguely sensed that the outcome of this match might not be as certain as they had initially imagined, but fraught with variables. Now, the biggest variable—the one most difficult for them to accept—had appeared!

Lan Shang had been sent out of the combat circle just like that by Nie Kong. “Sigh!” The green cocoon swiftly detached and floated back to hover before Nie Kong, then dissolved back into his body.

The onlookers watched Lan Shang’s figure, letting out silent sighs. Compared to them, Lan Shang, aside from his face fading from crimson to pale, appeared remarkably calm, as if he found the defeat quite acceptable.

“Nie Kong, Victor!” This time, the Vice City Lord, Nao Tian, personally announced the result of this final match, drawing a close to this year's inner city competition. “Starting today, Nie Kong is this year’s Inner City Premier!

Now, everyone may proceed to the Great Virtue Hall to collect the rewards for this inner city competition…” The rewards were (points). Nie Kong, the Inner City Premier, would receive a full fifty thousand points.

Lan Shang, in second place, earned twenty thousand. Bai Yuqing, Jing You, Liu Heming, Gu Ruofei, and others who placed in the top ten received ten thousand.

Those in the top twenty got three thousand, and those who achieved five consecutive victories to place in the top forty received one thousand. For the inner city disciples who failed to advance past the second round, four consecutive wins earned five hundred points; three wins, three hundred; two wins, one hundred; a single victory yielded thirty points; and those who won none would receive only a symbolic five points as encouragement.

“Fifty thousand points.” The number flashed through Nie Kong’s mind, and he shook his head with a faint smile. For the present Nie Kong, these inner city points held little practical significance.

Given the merits he had established for the Spirit Tamer City over the past half year, even greater rewards could not fully compensate him; how could the foundation of Spirit Tamer City be measured by mere inner city points? Patriarch Xuba and Gu Changgong, among others, were clearly aware of this as well.

Therefore, they had never expressed any intention of rewarding Nie Kong with points. However, from the information subtly conveyed by Gu Changgong, Nie Kong knew that in the future, if he needed the precious medicinal herbs of Spirit Tamer City, he would no longer need to exhaust himself earning points for exchanges.

Of course, the inner city points won through this competition were not to be dismissed entirely. With a shift in thought, Nie Kong put the matter aside and began walking out of the combat circle.

As Nie Kong approached him, Lan Shang suddenly spoke in a gentle voice: “Junior Brother Nie Kong, your rate of growth has completely exceeded my expectations; even I am no match for you now. With you alongside us, our chances are much greater.

There is still more than a month until we enter; try not to break through to Spirit Tamer before then.” Nie Kong smiled. “Senior Brother, rest assured.

My cultivation will absolutely not advance further before we depart.” At this point, Nie Kong was completely certain that Lan Shang truly held no grudge stemming from his earlier match against Lan Qian and Lan Xin; rather, he had been misled by the words of others. Indeed, Lan Shang subsequently laughed.

“That’s good to hear! As for the matter with Shang Qian, you don’t need to worry about me holding it against you.

I used to protect Lan Xin because I feared she would suffer the slightest grievance when she was young. Now that she is older, some matters she should handle herself.” After a pause, Lan Shang suddenly lowered his voice and asked a question without preamble: “Junior Brother Nie Kong, what do you think of that girl Lan Xin?” Nie Kong was momentarily taken aback, and answered honestly: “She’s pretty, and her figure is excellent, but she can be a bit ruthless when she strikes!” “Indeed!” Lan Shang nodded in agreement.

“I have spoiled that girl too much, and I’ve told her many times, hoping she can gradually correct it in the future. Once a girl gets older, she must start thinking about marriage.

If she doesn't correct this habit, I fear she will have trouble finding a good match.” Lan Shang sighed at the end, sounding somewhat helpless. Nie Kong, however, was left utterly bewildered.

What did Lan Xin’s ability to find a husband have to do with him? Why would he bring this up with him now?

Did he...? A sudden, bizarre idea flashed through Nie Kong’s mind, making him shiver involuntarily.

He couldn't help but glance at Lan Shang, who was still sighing mournfully. Was this mention of the matter unintentional, or was it a deliberate statement?

Whether Lan Shang intended it or not, Nie Kong did not wish to linger near him any longer, especially since Nao Tian, that old fellow, was walking towards him with a knowing grin. “Senior Brother Lan Shang, I’ve been competing all day.

I need to go back and rest. I shall take my leave now.” Before Lan Shang could reply, and without even having time to greet Bai Yuqing, Miao Ge, Tai Ji, or Gu Yi and Tai Hong, Nie Kong hurried through the small groups of people gathered outside the combat circle and exited the Ascendant Palace.

Watching Nie Kong’s retreating figure, a faint smile touched Lan Shang’s lips, a smile that seemed layered with hidden meaning. On his way back to the North City pavilion, Nie Kong’s mind was still turning over those few sentences Lan Shang had spoken.

After much deliberation, Nie Kong concluded that Lan Shang must have had an intention behind saying those things to him. This left Nie Kong quite speechless.

Could it be that because he had accidentally squeezed Lan Xin’s chest once and slapped her on the backside another time, Lan Shang was now trying to rope him in as his future brother-in-law? However, this was likely just Lan Shang’s wishful thinking.

Seeing the way Lan Xin had gnashed her teeth at him earlier, he knew she detested him to the extreme. After pondering for a while, Nie Kong finally felt slightly relieved.

But just at that moment, the figure Nie Kong least wanted to see appeared once again before him...