The entire valley was circular, its terrain sloping gradually inward from the surrounding perimeter toward the very center. Dotted across the valley floor were numerous exquisite, enclosed pavilions, arranged neatly in concentric circles following the valley’s shape and topography, appearing like ever-shrinking rings.

Though night had fallen, the red, orange, yellow, and blue jade beads embedded in the eaves of every pavilion shimmered with a brilliant, glowing light, illuminating the entire Valley of the Nether Spirits so brightly and magnificently that it seemed like dazzling daylight, mesmerizing to the eye.

Having just passed through the passage with Zhan Tianlun and arrived inside the "Valley of the Nether Spirits," Nie Kong was startled. This circular valley, so close to the Pill King Tower, felt like two utterly distinct worlds. Here, Nie Kong sensed an overwhelming density of death energy.

To Nie Kong, a visitor from the Celestial Spirit Continent, the death energy in the "Nether Source Dead Spirit Cave" on Fubo Mountain had already been potent enough. But comparing that cave to this "Valley of the Nether Spirits," they were not even in the same league. Back on Fubo Mountain, Zhan Tianlun had claimed that the cultivation area for Black Spirit Masters below the sixth tier in the Zhan Clan would certainly not be inferior to the Black God Sect’s "Nether Source." That statement was undeniably true.

If the cultivation grounds for those below the sixth tier were this intense, what terrifying concentration of death energy must exist in the Zhan Clan’s core "Nether Source"?

Zhan Tianlun turned his head slightly. "Brother Nie Kong, are you satisfied?"

"If this isn't satisfactory, then there’s likely nowhere on Black Earth that could meet my needs," Nie Kong replied, regaining his composure, a flicker of pleasure crossing his face.

"If you are satisfied, then I am at ease."

Zhan Tianlun let out a hearty laugh, then rapidly briefed Nie Kong. "There are five hundred pavilions here, more than enough to accommodate our Zhan Clan disciples for cultivation. Furthermore, the pavilions are assigned based on the number of times one has listened to the 'Heart Drum War Tones.' If the number of War Tone sessions is the same, assignment is then based on cultivation level; the higher the cultivation, the closer the pavilion is to the center of the Valley of the Nether Spirits."

Pausing there, Zhan Tianlun’s tone shifted abruptly, taking on a mysterious edge. "However, Zhan Clan disciples who have attained the Gold Edict are exempt from this rule."

"Exempt for the Gold Edict?"

A trace of curiosity flashed in Nie Kong's eyes, but he didn't press the matter. He would soon discover the answer anyway. With a slight nod, he followed Zhan Tianlun deeper into the "Valley of the Nether Spirits." Even at night, figures could occasionally be seen leaving or entering the pavilions throughout the valley.

A quarter of an hour later, the two reached the sunken bottom of the valley.

At this level, the smallest ring consisted of only three pavilions, and directly in the center of that ring stood the final, solitary pavilion.

Having walked such a distance within the valley, Nie Kong had already noticed a rather peculiar phenomenon. With every downward ring, the concentration of death energy intensified by a degree, layering progression until, at the very center of the "Valley of the Nether Spirits," the density of death energy had reached the absolute peak of this entire region.

"Brother Nie Kong, follow me."

Zhan Tianlun chuckled slyly and led Nie Kong directly to that innermost pavilion at the valley floor.

Bang!

Zhan Tianlun slammed his palm, saturated with death energy, against the wall. With a deep reverberating sound, the wall before him immediately retracted to both sides. This previously sealed pavilion instantly revealed a narrow doorway, about a meter wide, from which a magnificent crimson radiance streamed out.

Stepping aside, Zhan Tianlun smiled congenially. "Brother Nie Kong, I won't accompany you inside. Take your time and truly experience it. Also, you needn't worry about being disturbed while cultivating; from this day forward, this location is reserved exclusively for you."

"Good."

Nie Kong offered no unnecessary pleasantries and strode inside.

The interior space was quite large. Apart from the black cushion in the center and the perfectly smooth, round crimson jade bead set into the ceiling, there were no other furnishings or decorations; the floor was spotlessly clean, not a speck of dust visible.

After only a few glances around, Nie Kong heard two distinct clicks. The pavilion sealed itself rapidly, completely isolating all external sound. The interior settled into a silence so profound one could hear their own breathing.

"I wonder what it feels like to refine medicine here?"

An eager anticipation stirred within Nie Kong. He immediately sat cross-legged on the black cushion, and the images pertaining to the "War God Star Seal" flashed through his mind, one after another.

As the Zhan Clan’s number one Gold Edict, the "War God Star Seal" was naturally incomparable to the "Nether Path Shadow Art" he had learned earlier on Fubo Mountain.

Firstly, the frequency and amplitude of the pulsations from the "Nine Great Nether Stars" were incredibly complex; secondly, the pathways through which death energy circulated within the body were drastically different. When the "Nether Path Shadow Art" operated, only nine streams of death energy traversed the skeleton, connecting individually to the Nine Great Nether Stars. In contrast, the "War God Star Seal" mobilized the death energy within all the bones simultaneously, and the trajectory of this energy flow was erratic and unpredictable, completely divergent from standard spirit arts.

Nie Kong had only acquired the "War God Star Seal" from the "War Spirit Listening God Platform" that morning. It was clearly impossible to achieve mastery as quickly as he had with the "Nether Path Shadow Art" back on Fubo Mountain. Therefore, despite his impatience, Nie Kong showed no outward sign of agitation. He simply reviewed the diagrams applicable to cultivation, holding the Pill King Tower in his mind, over and over again.

In the uppermost room of the top floor, Zhan Feihong beamed, his skin radiating a healthy, ruddy glow, appearing as though he had suddenly grown twenty or thirty years younger.

Beside him, three elders sat cross-legged.

One, appearing about sixty, had completely white hair and beard and wore a white robe; another, dressed in a green robe, was completely bald—a careful look revealed this was a woman; the last elder looked seventy or eighty, his face a tapestry of deep wrinkles.

These were Zhan Bai Ge, Zhan Feixing, and Zhan Tianhe—high-tier Nether Alchemists of the Zhan Clan.

Zhan Feihong and these three formed the pillars supporting the peak of alchemy for the Zhan Clan in the present day. High-tier Nether Alchemists were exceedingly rare throughout the entire Underworld; even other super-tier sects outside the "Heaven-Escaping Sect" possessed only two or three such masters. The Zhan Clan having four was already exceptional.

However, at this moment, Zhan Bai Ge, Zhan Feixing, and Zhan Tianhe all wore expressions of utter disbelief and confusion, their eyes locked onto Zhan Feihong opposite them. For a long time, not a single sound escaped their lips, as if they had encountered something profoundly incredible.

"..."

"Tianlun, are you telling the truth? Is there truly someone like this in our Zhan Clan?"

"Yes! There must be some hidden secret we are unaware of. Otherwise, how could that young fellow Nie Kong figure out an entirely new and correct formula after only reviewing those few notes you wrote, plus tasting a few herbs and reviewing the list?"

"This old man is more concerned about how he could possibly refine a pill reaching sixty percent purity on his very first attempt?"

"..."

After another extended silence, the three elders finally snapped back to reality, muttering quietly amongst themselves. Having lived so many years, they considered themselves knowledgeable and experienced. But what Zhan Feihong described was too bizarre, making it exceedingly difficult to believe its veracity!

PS: Sadly, this is only two thousand characters, so I'll post it now.