The hushed tones of their conversation were barely audible, yet they did not escape Bai Yuqing’s ears. She turned to Mu Hongling, her brow furrowed slightly. “Are you under the impression that Nie Kong and I have slept together?”

Without waiting for Mu Hongling’s reply, Bai Yuqing shook her head. “Nie Kong is right; you’ve misunderstood. I didn't sleep with him. That kind of thing means nothing to me. Of course, if I suddenly decide I want to have a child for fun down the line, I suppose I’ll ask Nie Kong for his assistance.”

“Huh?”

Neither Nie Kong nor Mu Hongling had expected Bai Yuqing to drop such a statement so casually. They instantly stopped whispering, staring at her with wide, stunned eyes.

Bai Yuqing had delivered her words with utmost seriousness, compelling belief. Yet, Mu Hongling, seeing the voluptuous figure and familiar face of the younger woman, found her pronouncements even more… unrestrained than her own. After a moment, Mu Hongling finally snapped out of her daze. She slapped Nie Kong on the shoulder, laughing so hard she nearly collapsed. “Oh, my goodness! Disciple, your younger sister Bai is utterly charming! Saying she might ask you for help in making a baby later!”

“...” Bai Yuqing didn't find her own statement amusing in the least. She stated calmly, “Is there something wrong with that?”

“Nothing! Nothing! Absolutely nothing is wrong with it!”

Mu Hongling frantically suppressed her laughter, but her shoulders still shook uncontrollably. “Disciple, you truly have remarkable fortune in women. Even I, your master, am a little envious. Speaking of which, what if I decide I want a child later on—should I perhaps ask you for assistance too?”

With that, Mu Hongling could no longer hold back, clutching her abdomen and doubling over with mirth, her clear laughter echoing far into the distance.

“...”

Nie Kong was unsure whether to laugh or cry. Bai Yuqing spoke whatever crossed her mind, and Mu Hongling gleefully joined the fray, clearly wishing for the world to erupt into chaos. Shaking his head in resignation, Nie Kong watched Mu Hongling, tears streaming from her eyes with laughter, and deftly changed the subject. “Alright, Little Master. If my senses aren’t mistaken, you were cultivating behind that rock just now, weren’t you? Flame Mountain—is this place suitable for a Fire Spirit Master’s cultivation?”

Nie Kong found this question utterly baffling.

At the location they had reached on Flame Mountain, the intensity of the heat was almost unbearable even for him, a Wood Spirit Master who had integrated Fire Spirit Energy elements. Even for Bai Yuqing, an Ice Spirit Master, the pressure was immense; her clothes were soaked through, and her skin was flushed a deep red, seemingly ready to bleed.

In stark contrast, Mu Hongling was thriving here, completely at ease. Not only did her expression remain normal, but not a single bead of sweat marked her skin. She was actively absorbing Fire Spirit Energy elements for her cultivation. If Nie Kong had relied solely on his spiritual cultivation to fight Mu Hongling here, without using his mind-link ability, he would have been defeated without question.

Not only him, but even Bai Yuqing, Lan Shang, Liu Heming, Nie Fenghua, and the others would have stood no chance against her in a one-on-one confrontation in this environment. Even two-on-one or three-on-one might not have been enough to subdue her. Within Flame Mountain, Mu Hongling could fearlessly face any Spirit Transformation Master who entered the ‘Nether Fire Deep Spring.’

“Disciple, are you utterly impressed by your master?”

Mu Hongling stood with her hands behind her back, adopting an air of seasoned authority, though a tiny flicker of smugness danced across her face. “After being confined to practice at home for a period the year before last, my spiritual power transformed into Extreme Realm spiritual power, just like your younger sister Bai. Later, the old man forced me to absorb a very strange and miraculous Fire Spirit Energy element he had collected back then. Tsk, tsk, that was a near-death experience back then, but thankfully, your master pulled through. Now, the hotter the environment, the more suitable it is for my cultivation. My reason for coming this time, to the ‘Nether Fire Deep Spring,’ was precisely to cultivate here in Flame Mountain. Two months should be enough for me to advance from the seventh grade of Spirit Transformation to the ninth grade, and perhaps even break through to the first grade of Spirit Control is highly possible.”

Hearing Mu Hongling mention the “old man” several times, Nie Kong was curious about his identity but didn't press the matter. He merely expressed his surprise. “Little Master, the Fire Spirit Energy element you absorbed back then—was it different from the Fire Spirit Energy elements surrounding us here?”

“Of course, it was different,” Mu Hongling said with a bright, unrestrained smile. “The old man told me that element is called ‘Blazing Flame Spirit Fire’—the most fundamental Fire Spirit Energy element. One must first convert their spiritual power into the Extreme Realm before they can absorb and integrate it. Disciple, judging by the exchange just now, your younger sister Bai also possesses Extreme Realm Ice Spiritual Power. If she could find that fundamental spirit energy element and integrate it, her cultivation would certainly leap forward exponentially.”

Bai Yuqing remained silent, but a hint of surprise flashed in her icy, clear eyes.

Nie Kong, however, felt a touch of doubt. His absorption of Vitality and Death Qi should correspond to the fundamental elements of Wood Spiritual Power and Dark Spiritual Power, respectively. Yet, before absorbing them, his spiritual power had not converted into Extreme Realm Spiritual Power, nor had he ever cultivated Dark Spiritual Power. Nevertheless, the Vitality and Death Qi had already fused directly inside him into ‘Spiritual Treasure Essence Qi.’ This situation drastically contradicted Mu Hongling’s rule that one must first convert to Extreme Realm Spiritual Power before absorbing fundamental spirit energy! Nie Kong secretly gave a bitter smile; ever since his spiritual power began its rapid ascent beyond the limitations of the Spirit Gathering first grade, his cultivation process had long since deviated from conventional wisdom.

As if suddenly remembering something important, Mu Hongling hurriedly spoke up. “Oh, right, Disciple. It’s been so long—what grade is your cultivation now? Little Ling mentioned that not long after Hua Mei left, you also departed from Taiyang and headed for Spirit Control City. Later, some disciples from Spirit Control City in the Great Success Empire said you became an inner-city disciple last year. Now, for you to obtain a quota for the ‘Nether Fire Deep Spring,’ you must have reached the Spirit Transformation realm, right?”

Nie Kong smiled faintly. “Ninth grade of Spirit Transformation.”

“What?”

Mu Hongling’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Spi—Ninth grade of Spirit Transformation? That’s… that’s actually two grades higher than even Master!”

Seeing Nie Kong smile and nod in confirmation, Mu Hongling immediately slapped her smooth forehead and lamented, “It’s over, it’s over! My cultivation is actually lower than my disciple’s! How embarrassing, how embarrassing! No wonder you only call me Little Master…”

As she spoke, Mu Hongling turned back towards the rocks.

Nie Kong quickly called out to stop her. “Where are you going?”

“Cultivating!”

Mu Hongling declared the two words with iron resolve, then ground her teeth. “This granny must reach the first grade of Spirit Control before the ‘Nether Fire Deep Spring’ closes! How can the master be surpassed by the disciple!”

Seeing Mu Hongling’s fierce expression, Nie Kong was torn between laughter and tears. Just as he was about to speak, he saw her suddenly look toward the base of the mountain. A thought flashed through his mind, and immediately he heard someone calling his name from below. He quickly turned his head sideways and saw Lan Shang, Liu Heming, and the others rushing up from the mountain path.

Mu Hongling looked surprised. “Disciple, are these all your fellow disciples from Spirit Control City?”

“That’s right. Let’s go down and see, Little Master. There’s also an old acquaintance of yours down there!”

Nie Kong gave a mysterious smile and led the way down with Bai Yuqing. Seeing their hurried pace, Nie Kong felt a pang of guilt. He knew Lan Shang and the others must have rushed up because they heard the commotion above, fearing he was in danger. However, their ascent slowed the higher they went, which was why they were only arriving now.

“My old acquaintance?”

Mu Hongling muttered skeptically, unable to help but follow Nie Kong and Bai Yuqing’s steps.

When the three of them reached the group of Lan Shang and the others below, not only had the Spirit Control City contingent gathered, but most of the Mo Xue Sect disciples had also arrived. Mu Hongling’s eyes swept over the crowd, she cleared her throat lightly, and then said with a mischievous smile, “Disciple, introduce me to your companions.”

Seeing Mu Hongling walking as if strolling through a garden, completely relaxed, everyone felt a sense of doubt, especially since this woman claimed to be Nie Kong’s master!

Lan Shang couldn't help but ask, “Junior Martial Brother Nie Kong, this is…” Nie Kong gave an awkward smile and quickly made introductions on both sides. Only then did everyone realize the situation. Lan Shang gave a wry smile. “Junior Martial Brother Nie Kong, we were truly startled by the noise up there just now. We thought some other Spirit Master had come here to fight you for medicinal herbs!”

“San Sao!”

Just as Nie Kong was about to offer a brief explanation, a voice rang out from the side. It was Nie Fenghua, whose graceful figure had suddenly emerged from behind a rocky mound nearby. Her beautiful eyes fixed on Mu Hongling, a slight look of astonishment in them—clearly, she hadn't expected to run into her on Flame Mountain.

“Stop! Stop!”

Mu Hongling froze, then in the next instant, she reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, sputtering in annoyance. “I am not your Third Sister-in-Law! Ever since your Third Brother died, I have had absolutely no relationship with your family. Of course, even if your Third Brother hadn't died, we wouldn't have had any relationship either.”

Hearing her words, Nie Fenghua’s delicate eyebrows furrowed tighter and tighter.

“Junior Martial Brother Nie Kong, since you are unharmed, then we should continue searching for herbs…” Sensing the atmosphere was turning sour, Lan Shang smiled faintly. Without waiting for Nie Kong’s response, he turned and departed. With his departure, Liu Heming and the others didn't linger either; even Bai Yuqing turned and headed back toward the mountain peak. In a moment, only Nie Kong, Mu Hongling, and Nie Fenghua remained.

“Regardless of what you say, until your engagement with my Third Brother is officially dissolved, you remain my Third Sister-in-Law,” Nie Fenghua stated calmly, letting out a soft breath.

“You… you are simply unreasonable!”

Mu Hongling glared angrily at Nie Fenghua, then turned and headed back up the mountain, delivering a sharp rap to Nie Kong’s head before leaving.

Nie Kong rubbed his head, secretly regretting his actions. If he had known Mu Hongling and Nie Fenghua would clash immediately over the title of “Third Sister-in-Law,” he shouldn’t have brought Mu Hongling down the mountain. Didn't Mu Xiaoling say that the two of them used to have a very good relationship?

“Nie Kong, you…”

Turning his gaze away from Mu Hongling’s retreating back, Nie Fenghua looked at Nie Kong, but before she could finish her sentence, Nie Kong interrupted her with a cheerful smile. “Sister Fenghua, have you forgotten the sentence I reminded you of twice already? Do you need me to remind you a third time?”

“Clan Brother!”

Nie Fenghua stared coldly at Nie Kong, and after a long silence, the title was almost squeezed out between her teeth. She said in a low voice, “You and my Third Sister-in-Law have a good relationship?”

“That’s more like it!”

Nie Kong waved his hand and followed Bai Yuqing and Mu Hongling up the mountain path, his voice drifting back. “It’s not bad; we’re friends.”

“Friends?”

Standing silently for a long moment, Nie Fenghua’s eyes widened slightly, and she softly uttered the word.