PS: Last night's second update... I didn't expect to get over ten more monthly votes today, thank you all so much. O(∩_∩) ha ha~

About a quarter of an hour later, Nie Kong walked into the residence where Shi Sixian and Meng Tianjun were staying in Sunset City. At this moment, Nie Kong was still feeling a sense of surprise; he had absolutely not expected to meet the City Lord's wife and her daughter here, much less that the two of them had come specifically to wait for him.

After not seeing each other for more than two months, Lin Sixian's complexion now was utterly different from before; she seemed to have suddenly become a dozen years younger, and the worry and sorrow that had once clouded her features were entirely gone.

As for Meng Tianjun, after days of recovery, not only had her spirit been restored, but even her entire demeanor had undergone a massive transformation. She was now like a drawn sword, its sharp glint piercing straight through the heavens, completely devoid of the former fragility.

"Are you surprised to find us waiting for you here?"

The brief excitement from reuniting with Gu Changgong and Nao Tian had settled down. Lin Sixian looked at Nie Kong with a gentle smile, but before he could answer, she continued with a slight curve of her lips, "This is because Tianjun recalled something very important, something that required a trip to Sunset City. You are about to enter the 'Inferno Spring.' If luck is on your side, that item will be extremely useful to you."

"Oh." Nie Kong instinctively glanced towards Meng Tianjun.

Back in Fallen Goose City, although Nie Kong had absorbed the soul of the 'Ghostly Eagle King,' Meng Tianjun's own soul had been suppressed by it for too long, causing her memories to be somewhat incomplete upon awakening. However, as time passed, the things she had forgotten were gradually beginning to return to her.

Noticing Nie Kong's gaze, Meng Tianjun remained silent. Instead, a dark shimmer flashed in her palm, and a small, exquisite short sword appeared—only half a foot long and two fingers wide, entirely jet-black. The moment it materialized, the surrounding light seemed to be devoured by it, causing the room to dim perceptibly.

"This is..."

Nie Kong asked, perplexed.

"Fifty years ago, Father, nine other Inner City disciples, and I came to Sunset City. We were invited to visit by the Zhan Clan Patriarch, and unintentionally, we spotted this hanging on the wall of their ancestral home. At the time, we paid it no mind. It wasn't until later, when we entered the 'Inferno Spring' and accidentally stumbled into the 'Dark Soul Hall'..."

"...That hall was built against the cliff face, and its rear door was completely sealed, leading to an unknown place. It was then that I realized the material of the 'Dark Soul Hall's' back door was identical to this small sword I had seen at the Zhan family residence. I intended to retrieve that small sword, but unfortunately, as soon as I exited the 'Inferno Spring,' I fell into a coma and wasn't woken by you until more than two months ago."

"My guess is that this small sword is very likely the key to opening the rear door of the 'Dark Soul Hall.' After recalling this matter a few days ago, I immediately came to Sunset City with Mother. Fortunately, it was still hanging on the wall of the Zhan ancestral home, used merely as decoration. So, I took it to give to you."

Meng Tianjun recounted the events of fifty years ago, her tone perfectly steady without the slightest ripple.

Nie Kong’s heart stirred upon hearing this: "The key to opening the 'Dark Soul Hall's' rear door?"

Wasn't the 'Ghostly Eagle King' the guardian spirit beast of the 'Dark Soul Hall'? Nie Kong had intended to release the remnant soul of the 'Ghostly Eagle King' from his Mindscape right then to identify it, but he decided against it. Lin Sixian was also a Heaven Spirit realm expert; if she noticed, things would become complicated.

"Correct," Meng Tianjun nodded lightly. "However, after you enter the 'Inferno Spring,' if luck isn't with you, finding that 'Dark Soul Hall' is still uncertain. Moreover, even if you find the 'Dark Soul Hall,' I cannot determine whether the door hides opportunity or danger. Nie Kong, consider carefully: do you still need this item?"

When her words faded, she watched Nie Kong silently.

"Of course, I need it."

Nie Kong nodded without hesitation.

Regardless of whether the key could be used or not, taking it along was definitely the right choice. Furthermore, finding the highly coveted spring eye might be difficult, but with the remnant soul of the 'Ghostly Eagle King,' finding the 'Dark Soul Hall' shouldn't be a major issue. As for what lay hidden inside, there would be time to figure that out later.

More importantly, the fact that Lin Sixian and Meng Tianjun had traveled thousands of miles to reach Sunset City meant they certainly weren't planning for him to open the 'Dark Soul Hall' door only to walk into a death trap. It was highly probable that in Meng Tianjun's estimation, the chance of encountering danger after opening the 'Dark Soul Hall' was significantly lower than the possibility of finding fortune!

It was simply that Meng Tianjun hadn't laid all her cards on the table.

With matters like this, it was rare to have absolute certainty. As long as the odds were sixty percent, Nie Kong felt the risk was worth taking. Though the primary objective of venturing into the 'Inferno Spring' was to find someone, he couldn't possibly return empty-handed from such a rare, once-in-fifty-years opportunity.

If he failed to locate the spring eye, then the 'Dark Soul Hall' certainly couldn't be ignored.

"Good."

Seeing Nie Kong’s decision was firm, Meng Tianjun said no more. Her palm vibrated subtly, and the jet-black small sword drifted lightly towards Nie Kong like a piece of floating willow fluff.

Taking the sword in hand, Nie Kong said sincerely, "Thank you, Madam and Miss Tianjun."

The five precious herbs Lord Lin had given him in Fallen Goose City—the 'Golden Peak Tassel,' 'Cold Snow Divine Heart Grass,' 'Black Ling Flower,' 'Nine-Leaf Withered Butterfly,' and 'Yellow Dragon Spirit Dew'—were already more than enough to repay her kindness for saving his life. He never imagined they would travel all the way to Sunset City just to deliver this item to him!

Lin Sixian smiled brightly and said, "Little brother, there's no need for thanks. You saved Tianjun's life; forget giving you the key to the 'Dark Soul Hall's' rear door—even more things would be deserved."

Recalling how fifty years of suffocating melancholy had vanished in a single moment, Lin Sixian felt an even stronger affection for Nie Kong, especially since this young man was a disciple of Spirit Guard City.

"..."

Meng Tianjun's expression remained calm as ever...

When Nie Kong left the residence of Lin Sixian and Meng Tianjun, night had already fallen. The city of Sunset City was now brightly lit, still bustling and vibrant, resembling a dazzling, radiant pearl beneath the heavens.

On the streets, the figures of Spirit Masters and 'Snow Wave Sand Camels' were visible everywhere.

"Nie Kong, Meng Tianjun's cultivation has increased so rapidly."

Qing Yue's voice echoed in Nie Kong's mind. "The last time in 'Fallen Goose City,' when you treated her illness, she was likely only at the ninth rank of Spirit Transformation. But in just over two months, her cultivation must already be at the second or third rank of Spirit Control."

"I felt it too," Nie Kong couldn't help but nod. The moment he first saw Meng Tianjun here, Nie Kong sensed that the current Meng Tianjun was likely the true one from fifty years ago. Someone like her must be intensely dedicated to cultivation. If he hadn't happened to save her, and if the key to the 'Dark Soul Hall's' rear door hadn't been something he needed, she would probably still be diligently cultivating in Fallen Goose City.

Similarly, Nie Kong could sense that the moment the key settled into his palm, the debt of saving Meng Tianjun's life had been completely settled. Lin Sixian might not see it that way, but at least in Meng Tianjun's heart, that was likely the prevailing thought. Perhaps, for her, nothing in this world—save her father, Meng Feiyang, and her mother, Lin Sixian—could create even a shred of attachment.

"Now that's a true cultivation fanatic!" Nie Kong chuckled inwardly. Compared to Meng Tianjun, Bai Yuqing couldn't be called a true fanatic. Although she appeared cold, that was merely a subtle effect imprinted by her Ice Spirit power, not an inherent frost from the inside out. At least Bai Yuqing had affection for family and friends, and curiosity about new things—traits that seemed difficult for Meng Tianjun to possess.

Only now did Nie Kong truly understand why Lin Sixian felt such deep dissatisfaction with Meng Feiyang.

How could a good daughter be molded into this sort of person by Meng Feiyang? It was unnatural for Lin Sixian, as a mother, to be pleased. To put it bluntly, if both her parents were gone, their daughter might quickly transform into a lunatic obsessed only with cultivation and nothing else.

However, Spirit Masters of this caliber, provided their aptitude wasn't poor, often saw terrifying rates of cultivation improvement. If she hadn't been controlled by the 'Ghostly Eagle King's' soul for a full fifty years, Meng Tianjun might already be a Heaven Spirit Master or frighteningly close to that realm.

Walking along the street for a while, Nie Kong quietly slipped into a secluded alley. He pulled out the jet-black small sword from his robe and then released the 'Ghostly Eagle King' from his Mindscape. With a flash of dark energy, the remnant soul of the spirit beast, under Nie Kong's guidance, began to circle the dark sword.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, a shrill scream pierced the air.

The 'Ghostly Eagle King' writhed as if thrown into a sizzling wok, leaping and struggling violently, yet utterly unable to escape the vicinity of the black sword. In the blink of an eye, the remnant soul weakened significantly, crying out hysterically, "Save m—! Help! Get this thing away from me!..."

"Cough." Nie Kong gasped in surprise. A dense plume of purple energy shot out from between his brows, enveloping the remnant soul of the 'Ghostly Eagle King,' forcibly pulling it away from the small black sword. After the separation, the spirit beast's soul power was less than two-tenths of what it had been.

"You promised not to kill me," the 'Ghostly Eagle King' grumbled, full of indignation but careful not to roar at Nie Kong. It could only put on a pitiful, wronged appearance, muttering aggrievedly, like a young bride who had been harassed by a scoundrel. However, it had indeed suffered a severe blow; its soul energy, already nearly depleted by Nie Kong, was now as thin as gossamer, seemingly on the verge of annihilation.

"Did you say this small sword is the key to opening the 'Dark Soul Hall's' rear door?"

Nie Kong ignored the 'Ghostly Eagle King's' complaints and asked the question. It was strange that this small black sword could devour soul power. Logically, his 'Purple Luo Illusionary Spirit Incense' in the Mindscape also contained the soul power of Xiangxiang, but it was unaffected when touching the little black sword. Did the devouring effect produced by the black sword specifically target the soul of the 'Ghostly Eagle King'?