Upon hearing news of the Flower Spirit Clan, Nie Kong had intended to use the "Phantom Eagle King" to draw attention, then slip away to search for them. However, the unexpected movement from the "Prison Fire Nether Spring" completely derailed Nie Kong’s plans.

As soon as he saw its approach, Nie Kong knew he wouldn't be able to hide.

Reality quickly confirmed his suspicion.

Instead of slipping in from the ground, the "Prison Fire Nether Spring" traveled right through the feathers of the "Phantom Eagle King’s" wing and landed precisely on Nie Kong’s shoulder. The moment it arrived, his face was fully exposed to everyone’s gaze.

Clatter!

With a crisp sound, the "Prison Fire Nether Spring" gently rubbed against Nie Kong’s neck, writhing its body like a child begging its parents for a treat.

Witnessing this bizarre scene, both Bai Yuqing and Mu Hongling, who had already opened their eyes, wore expressions of astonishment.

A strange atmosphere, a mix of burning heat and coolness, pierced through the skin and rapidly spread inside, causing Nie Kong to experience a bizarre sensation of alternating cold and heat. It wasn't unpleasant; rather, it brought an inexplicable comfort. But Nie Kong had no mind to enjoy it.

"Damn it!"

Cursing inwardly, Nie Kong ignored the "Prison Fire Nether Spring" on his shoulder and lowered his voice. "Little Master, Sister Bai, I’ll go out first. You two stay here." Before they could agree, Nie Kong sprang up and shot toward the front of the "Phantom Eagle King."

Jingling!

The instant his feet touched the ground, a sweet and melodious sound suddenly echoed in his mind. Nie Kong froze for a moment—Xiang Xiang was awake.

"..."

"Someone is really there!"

"That spirit beast hasn't moved; it must be a statue."

"Damn it, this bastard lied to us for so long, truly hateful, making me believe there was a powerful spirit beast there!"

"The 'Prison Fire Nether Spring' is on that guy! Catch him, don't let him escape!"

The crowd at the hall entrance was stunned for a moment when Nie Kong’s figure appeared, followed by an uproar.

The anger from being deceived for a day or two, the relief from the threat of a powerful spirit beast being gone, and the excitement of potentially acquiring the "Prison Fire Nether Spring" erupted from everyone’s hearts—the crowd became overwhelmingly agitated.

Whoosh! Whoosh…

In an instant, the hundreds of figures within the hall rushed toward Nie Kong almost simultaneously...

Xiang Xiang really advanced at this critical moment!

Nie Kong felt speechless. He had quietly remained in a corner of this hall for two days with nothing happening. Yet, in these brief ten-plus seconds, a string of events had unfolded in rapid succession...

First, his cultivation broke through to Spirit Controlling First Grade, and his Mental Aspect Realm advanced to Void Spirit First Grade... Then, he immediately learned the Flower Spirit Clan had arrived... Before he could enjoy that happiness for even a few seconds, the "Prison Fire Nether Spring" rushed over, exposing him... As soon as he appeared, Xiang Xiang successfully advanced and awakened!

Seeing all those Spirit Masters charging over, Nie Kong had no time to gauge the changes in Xiang Xiang after ascending to the Fifth Grade or what skills she had grasped. With a flash of movement, Nie Kong chose a sparsely populated space and shot away, dark green spiritual energy blooming like flowers beneath his feet.

Whoosh!

Having advanced to the Spirit Controlling realm, Nie Kong’s speed was extreme, like a shooting star. At this moment, his only choice was to burst out of the hall; otherwise, Bai Yuqing and Mu Hongling would have no chance to escape in the chaos. If others learned they were his accomplices, both women would be in grave danger.

Seeing Nie Kong rushing toward them from behind the "Phantom Eagle King," several Spirit Masters quickly approached. Bai Yuqing frowned slightly, about to rise, but Mu Hongling quickly pulled her back: "Sister Bai, wait a moment. Going out now won't help the disciple; it will only drag us into trouble. We should slip out when they aren't paying attention—that way, we won't arouse their vigilance and can strike while the confusion reigns!"

Bai Yuqing's slightly raised hips settled back onto the ground, acknowledging Mu Hongling's suggestion, but the five fingers gripping her sword hilt tightened.

Seeing Nie Kong charging toward them, those few Spirit Masters were surprised by his speed, but more delighted.

"Bastard! You hid behind enjoying the show while making us wait miserably!"

A burly young man roared viciously, a sinister grin twisting his scarred face. As the words left his mouth, two balls of purple light, shimmering intensely, shot from his broad, fleshy palms. Thunder and lightning crackled within the spheres, radiating an aura of sheer frenzy.

"Die for me!"

The distance rapidly closed. A moment later, the scarred man suddenly overtook several Spirit Masters to his side, bellowing, and unleashed the two prepared lightning orbs. They smashed ferociously toward Nie Kong’s head, eliciting a sharp crackling shockwave through the void.

"Seventeenth Spirit Ninth Grade, and you dare be so arrogant?"

Nie Kong sneered inwardly. After absorbing so much Source Soul Flame Fire, not only had his spiritual power cultivation broken through to Spirit Controlling First Grade, but his Mental Realm had advanced to Void Spirit First Grade. The current Nie Kong truly did not regard a Spirit Master at Spirit Transformation Ninth Grade with much concern. He abruptly raised both hands, his index fingers pointing directly at the lightning orbs.

Hiss! Hiss!

Piercing sounds of air tearing erupted as two beams of dark green spiritual energy shot forth from his fingertips.

"Wood Spirit Master?"

Sensing the dense Wood Spiritual energy, the scarred man’s smile grew even more vicious.

Bang! Bang!

The moment the two streams of dark green energy contacted the lightning orbs, intense explosions ignited. The purple light shattered instantly, and the two lightning orbs dissipated immediately, their violent momentum scattering in all directions. This sight greatly exceeded the scarred man's expectations, and his vicious grin froze on his face.

Nie Kong’s two index fingers did not pause in the slightest.

Pfft! Pfft! Like two bubbles being popped, Nie Kong’s fingers touched the scarred man’s left and right chest, respectively. Two jets of blood spurted from his back, splashing onto the faces of the two Spirit Masters charging behind him. The scarred man’s face contorted sharply, agony flashing across it.

Whoosh! Nie Kong did not spare him a second glance. He slipped past while the surrounding Spirit Masters were momentarily stunned by his thunderous strike. In this environment, Nie Kong showed no mercy; if he held back, others certainly wouldn't show mercy for the sake of the "Prison Fire Nether Spring."

If the scarred Spirit Master’s attack had landed a moment ago, Nie Kong’s head would have been split open. At this juncture, only by delivering swift, brutal blows could he intimidate these people and extinguish their greed for the "Prison Fire Nether Spring," thereby avoiding endless entanglement and harassment.

Thud!

The scarred man convulsed and collapsed to the ground, blood pouring steadily from his back.

The sight of the scarlet blood stinging their eyes finally jolted the surrounding Spirit Masters awake. By then, Nie Kong was already ten meters away. Seeing their companion fall, the surrounding Spirit Masters felt a sense of relief mixed with increased fury, yelling hoarsely: "He murdered someone! This bastard murdered someone!"

"How dare he kill in public! Unforgivable!"

"Stop him! Don't let him run!"

"Yes! Make him pay with his life! Even if he willingly hands over the 'Prison Fire Nether Spring,' we can't let him go!"

The death of that scarred Spirit Master galvanized the throng of Spirit Masters in the hall. Their shouts rose and fell as figures swarmed toward Nie Kong.

Nie Kong moved like a ghost, weaving through the gaps in the crowd. Hearing the sanctimonious cries around him, he could only sneer internally. These people, at the end of the day, only wanted the "Prison Fire Spring." If the "Prison Fire Nether Spring" hadn't been on him, let alone killing one person, even if he had slaughtered that man and all his companions, perhaps few people would have even spared a second glance, let alone talk of "paying with his life!"

However, after advancing just ten meters toward the exit, there were no longer any gaps for Nie Kong to slip through.

"Where do you think you're going?"

A slender man finally met Nie Kong head-on, sneering. His spirit-patterned longsword flashed with a sky full of red light, swooping down toward Nie Kong’s head. The scorching aura seemed ready to burn the surrounding space for several meters, while his left hand lightning-fast snatched toward the "Prison Fire Nether Spring" on Nie Kong’s shoulder.

Nie Kong's expression darkened. A large swath of "Purple Luo Illusionary Spirit Incense" stalks and leaves surged from his palm, coiling around the slender man's spirit-patterned longsword layer upon layer.

Boom!

Spirit-patterned weapons were indeed stronger than weapons condensed from elemental spiritual power, but now that the little fellow was awake, the power of the "Purple Luo Illusionary Spirit Incense" had doubled. With just a thought from Nie Kong, the stalks rippled like waves, and the longsword instantly shattered piece by piece.

At this moment, however, the "Prison Fire Nether Spring" spun mischievously, bypassing Nie Kong’s neck, moving from his left shoulder to his right, continuing to rub against his skin, demanding "Essence of Spirit Treasure." Nie Kong ignored the "Prison Fire Nether Spring's" entanglement, and as the slender man watched in astonishment, his left palm fiercely pressed against his chest—Floating Flower Layered Shadow.

Boom!

Amidst a burst of violent explosions, a layer of dazzling crimson halo diffused from the man's body, instantly neutralizing more than half of the force unleashed by Nie Kong's explosion of "Floating Flower Layered Shadow."

Although the slender man was inevitably affected, he was merely blasted away by Nie Kong's palm, his life spared. But the three Spirit Masters around him were not so lucky; caught off guard, they had their chests mangled by the "Floating Flower Layered Shadow" Nie Kong employed.

One palm strike, and four Spirit Masters were downed! Seeing the might Nie Kong displayed, the nearby Spirit Masters were stunned into silence. As Nie Kong's figure shot toward them like lightning, they snapped back to reality. Especially those Spirit Masters below Spirit Transformation Ninth Grade, who instinctively retreated to the sides, with some crying out in alarm: "Spirit Controlling! Be careful, this bastard has definitely broken through to Spirit Controlling!"

Whoosh!

A gap finally appeared ahead. Nie Kong surged forward, covering the last ten-plus meters in a flash, finally reaching the main doorway of the hall.

Slap! Slap! Waving his palms like swatting dry leather, he batted away the two Spirit Transformation Masters blocking his path. Just as Nie Kong prepared to charge out of the hall in one go, five stealthy figures suddenly materialized several meters ahead. The young woman in the center was peerlessly beautiful; in the last two years, her exquisite face had appeared countless times in Nie Kong's mind...