A jab at Zhan Feihong, Nie Kong barely registered it, instead lightly licking his lips with an air of lingering satisfaction. He smiled faintly, "If Uncle San is willing to provide more herbs, I certainly wouldn't refuse."

"Eh?"

Zhan Feihong was choked with anger, then quickly said in a deep voice, "Little fellow, you’ve read the notes, you’ve tasted the Nether Pills and the herbs. Now it’s time to discuss your profound theories. My patience is limited; I don't have time to dawdle and drag things out here with you."

Nie Kong smiled, "There is one small matter I wish to consult Uncle San about, and I hope Uncle San will deign to enlighten me."

Zhan Feihong started, then sneered, "In the Underworld, where the skill level for refining Nether Pills in this Nether Well is extremely backward, naturally, the skill of a high-tier Nether Pill Master like myself cannot be very high. I’m quite surprised you still have questions for me!"

Nie Kong’s expression remained unchanged, his smile unwavering, "This question is very simple. If Uncle San is unwilling to teach me, I can always ask these three senior brothers of the Zhan Clan." As he spoke, Nie Kong’s eyes shifted toward the three young men across from him.

Seeing Nie Kong mention them, the three young men were greatly surprised. After regaining their composure, their eyes instinctively flickered towards Zhan Feihong.

Zhan Feihong grunted, "Go on then!"

"Th-th-th-this..."

Nie Kong suddenly picked out the tasted herbs one by one from the medicine box and arranged them in a line on the nearby table. Only then did he turn back to Zhan Feihong, who was utterly bewildered, "Uncle San, what are the names of these eight kinds of herbs?"

"Hmm?"

Zhan Feihong finally snapped back to reality, saying with disbelief, "Little fellow, did I hear you right? This is your question?"

"Indeed!"

Nie Kong nodded gently, "Uncle San, this question shouldn't be difficult, right?"

"It is certainly not difficult."

Zhan Feihong’s nose was nearly crooked with rage.

This question was not just easy; it was ridiculously simple. Not to mention a high-tier Nether Pill Master like himself, even the three apprentices standing by, or even that scoundrel Zhan Tianlun hiding outside the door, could answer it! After all this fuss, the little rascal wanted to ask about something so trivial. For a moment, Zhan Feihong felt an intense urge to smash Nie Kong’s smiling face with a single punch!

Controlling the impulse, Zhan Tianlun took a deep breath, glared darkly at Nie Kong, and then pointed to the herbs one by one: "Xu Ling, Ghost Dragon Flower, Yan Xi King..."

"Very good," Nie Kong nodded. "Three qian of Xu Ling, five qian of Ghost Dragon Flower, two qian of Yan Xi King... three qian of Ink Feather Grass... Uncle San, I’ll trouble you to send someone to fetch these measured amounts of herbs."

"What do you mean?"

Zhan Feihong didn't immediately grasp Nie Kong's intention.

Nie Kong smiled, "This is a formula I devised after studying the notes for so long and tasting so many Nether Pills and herbs. Among those ten Nether Pills just now, one was for boosting cultivation, correct? The Nether Pill refined using my formula is also for boosting cultivation, and its efficacy will definitely be much better than that last pill."

"What?"

Zhan Feihong froze for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud laughter, tears streaming down his face. The accumulated anger in his chest instantly dissipated by more than half.

This young fellow before him must have decent talent in cultivation to become an adopted disciple of the Zhan Clan, but his mind was definitely flawed, otherwise, he would never dare say such a thing in front of him without showing the slightest sign of guilt.

In such a short time, let alone a high-tier Nether Pill Master like himself, even the handful of Super-tier Nether Pill Masters in the Underworld couldn't devise a brand new, superior formula. Even if this formula were a low-tier one, it would be impossible.

Yet, Nie Kong had only looked at the notes for a brief while, tasted ten Nether Pills and about a hundred types of herbs, and now confidently claimed that the Nether Pill refined using his self-devised formula would surpass a pill formula that had been passed down for hundreds of years!

How could this be possible?

How could someone who knew absolutely nothing about Nether Pills just a few hours ago—not even yet an apprentice—achieve what even a Super-tier Nether Pill Master could not? If Nie Kong wasn't mentally unsound to say such thoughtless things, what else could explain it?

He realized he had been wasting time arguing with a simpleton! Even if he severely punished a foolish young fellow like this, there would be no pleasure in it. Zhan Feihong shook his head, and even the residual flicker of anger in his heart vanished completely. He waved his hand, "Little fellow, go with that guy outside. I won't pursue this matter today."

Outside the door, Zhan Tianlun was overjoyed to hear Uncle San's words and hurriedly winked at Nie Kong, urging him to leave quickly.

"Huh?"

Nie Kong hadn't noticed Zhan Tianlun’s subtle actions at all, and Zhan Feihong’s sudden shift in attitude left him momentarily stunned.

Seeing this, Zhan Tianlun grew anxious, wishing he could rush into the room and drag Nie Kong out, but glancing at Zhan Feihong, he suppressed the urge. He scratched his head outside the door, racking his brain, trying to find a way to snap Nie Kong out of his daze.

Nie Kong never expected that after presenting what he believed was a perfect formula, Zhan Feihong's expression would change so drastically. Suddenly, Nie Kong noticed a look of pity and sympathy in Zhan Feihong’s eyes, which left him greatly astonished.

In a flash of thought, Nie Kong dimly grasped the reason. It seemed he had overplayed his hand, causing the situation to swing in the opposite direction. He couldn't help but feel a mixture of frustration and amusement. His eyes darted around, and Nie Kong abruptly said, "It seems Uncle San was right about one thing earlier."

"What did I say?"

Now that he had calmed down, Zhan Feihong's voice was no longer as harsh.

Nie Kong chuckled, "Earlier, when I asked for the names of the herbs, Uncle San once said, 'In the Underworld, where the skill level for refining Nether Pills in this Nether Well is extremely backward, naturally, the skill of a high-tier Nether Pill Master like myself cannot be very high.' I wonder if Uncle San still remembers?"

Zhan Feihong felt that Nie Kong's tone was off, "That’s right, I did say that. Is there a problem?"

"No problem," Nie Kong's expression turned strange. "I just feel that what you said is profoundly correct. If Uncle San’s skill were truly high, he couldn't fail to see the ingenuity of my formula. Since Uncle San only heard it once and told me to leave, it seems he has some self-awareness after all."

"You... you..."

Zhan Feihong pointed at Nie Kong, his face rapidly reddening at a visible rate. The anger that had just subsided surged back up, "You... you’ve really angered this old man to death!"

Zhan Feihong’s original remark was meant to mock Nie Kong for seeking his advice, not to genuinely admit that his skill as a high-tier Nether Pill Master was merely average. However, Nie Kong was now using that statement to provoke him, and Zhan Feihong could no longer tolerate it!

Outside, Zhan Tianlun pounded his forehead, sighing inwardly, "Oh dear, what exactly does this Brother Nie Kong want to do?"

"Uncle San, am I wrong?"

Nie Kong raised his hand, pinched a small clump of herbs from the tray, and chewed them contentedly. Nether Pills seemed intensely bitter, but very few herbs in the Underworld reached that level of bitterness. At least, among the hundred or so herbs Nie Kong had tasted, none reached that intensity.

Compared to the Heavenly Spirit Continent, the herbs of the Underworld offered a unique flavor all their own.

"Yes! Very correct! Extremely correct!"

Zhan Feihong's eyes snapped wide open. Nie Kong's statement was like pouring oil on a fire, making the anger in his chest burn even more fiercely. He immediately glared at the three young men beside him and snarled, "Go! Go down to the first floor and fetch all the herbs this little scoundrel needs."

The sheer ingratitude of it! Zhan Feihong had made up his mind: regardless of whether this little scoundrel named Nie Kong was mentally ill, he would certainly teach him a lesson today.

"Yes!"

The three Nether Pill apprentices were stunned by the sudden turn of events. Woken up by Zhan Feihong’s roar, they scrambled out of the room to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

Once the three were gone, only Zhan Feihong and Nie Kong remained in the room. Zhan Feihong looked like an enraged bull, his eyes bloodshot as he fiercely glared at Nie Kong, fire seemingly ready to leap from his pupils, his breathing quite ragged. As for Nie Kong, he sat leisurely in his chair, squinting his eyes, chewing herbs with a look of utter ease.

Two people, two completely opposite demeanors, created a stark contrast in the room, making the atmosphere quite peculiar.

"Alas!"

Outside the door, Zhan Tianlun let out a soft sigh. Judging by Uncle San's expression, he was truly furious now; neither he nor Nie Kong would escape unscathed today.

"Zhan Tianlun!" Zhan Feihong suddenly called out.

"Here!"

Zhan Tianlun, who had been squatting on the steps, flinched violently and jumped up quickly.

Zhan Feihong roared, "Get in here!"

"Uncle San, what are your venerable orders?" Zhan Tianlun scurried up to Zhan Feihong, a sheepish grin plastered on his face.

"Stand right here and wait. Once I deal with the junior, I’ll deal with the senior," Zhan Feihong snarled menacingly, the scar above his brow twitching violently.

"Sigh..."

Zhan Tianlun stood dejectedly beside Nie Kong, looking like a eggplant frost-bitten. He stole a glance and saw Nie Kong’s lips twitching violently, looking as if he wanted to laugh but dared not. Zhan Tianlun grew even more frustrated, muttering under his breath in muffled complaint.

A short while later, the three young Nether Pill apprentices hurried back to the upper room on the second floor, each carrying two or three small medicine boxes. After they placed them on the table and opened them, Nie Kong realized that the amounts of herbs were all far greater than what he required. It seemed they had simply grabbed the boxes without measuring, explaining their speed.

"Three qian of Xu Ling, five qian of Ghost Dragon Flower, two qian of Yan Xi King... three qian of Ink Feather Grass..."

Zhan Feihong used his bare hands to quickly scoop out the herbs one by one. After a dozen seconds, he sneered, "Little scoundrel, the herbs you requested are ready! I will begin refining them now. I’d like to see exactly what marvel lies in this Nether Pill formula you devised!"